The Utility of State Parks as a Conservation Tool for Isolated and Ephemeral Wetlands: A Case Study From the Southern Blue Ridge
Biodiversity management has been confined to parks and protected areas and these types of formally-protected areas may help mitigate the effects of climate change and habitat loss by preventing further habitat fragmentation. State parks (SP’) may provide a type of a priori conservation, allowing ecologically significant areas within SP boundaries to be more rapidly prioritized for conservation. Our goals for this study were to use the SC state park system to examine the structural and functional differences between wetlands located inside vs. outside the SP system. We hypothesized that wetlands within SPs would have better water quality and higher species richness compared to non-park wetlands. We collected environmental and biotic community data from each study wetland (N = 41, park pool = 19, non-park pools = 22) during 2010 and 2011. Our study revealed that wetlands outside of SPs exhibited less variable depths and were deeper on average than park pools. We found significant differences in total taxonomic richness, invertebrate tolerance values and wetland depth between park and non-park wetlands. We relied heavily on local ecological knowledge (LEK) for location information on wetlands within parks. Additionally, our interactions with the public during our site visits were educational for both researchers and citizens. State parks provided important study sites, various personnel with LEK, and an a priori framework for conservation at the local scale which can help bolster conservation efforts at larger scales. We posit that state parks are an under-utilized but extremely important resource for filling the gaps in conservation.
1 Clemson University, School of Agricultural, Forestry & Environmental Sciences; 2Bloomsberg University, Dept of Biological and Allied Health Sciences
184 • Ryan C. Ernstes, John E. Quinn
Shift in Songbird Vocalizations Suggest Possible Threats of Acoustic Masking for Human Health
Global change, including increased anthropogenic noise, has been linked to multiple human health concerns. To further examine potential impacts of rising anthropogenic noise on health, we conducted an acoustic analysis of the response of songbird vocalizations in upstate South Carolina to traffic noise across an urban-rural gradient. Our data demonstrate that even moderate levels of noise alter the structure of avian vocalizations. In particular, Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) bottom of vocalizations shifted upward to avoid overlap with the increased ambient noise associated with vehicular traffic. Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) bottom of vocalizations display the same shift, though only in the final ‘tea’ component of their call. Vocalization adjustment to overcome acoustic masking reduces reproduction and survival and the effects of noise pollution on inter-species reactions are only now being identified. Understanding the impacts of anthropogenic noise on bird health provides insignt into ecosystem health as well as human health. Thus it is essential that we understand the impact of this noise pollution on the ecosystem and implement effective and efficient conservation strategies to protect global ecosystem and human health.
Furman University
185 • John E. Quinn
Protecting Species in Unexpected Places: An Opportunity for Conservation in Managed Ecosystems
The need for species conservation beyond protected areas is evident. However, for efforts to be successful, data are needed to identify novel conservation opportunities. Thus, to assess the conservation value of shrubland habitat embedded in different land uses, we evaluated nesting success of a shrubland bird species of conservation concern, Bell’s Vireo (Vireo belllii). We classified field sites in one of three landscape categories; protected area, conventional farmland, and organic farmland and estimated percent cover of different local land uses at 50m from each nest. Estimates of daily nest survival rate were modeled in Program MARK. We located sixty-five nests between May 1 and August 1, 2012. We found most nests in shrubland embedded in protected habitats, followed by organic, and conventional farmland. Of these, fifty-six had at least one egg. Percent nest success (measured as at least one fledgling leaving the nest) was not different between landscape categories, nor was there any difference based on the type of dominant land cover. Seven nests were parasitized by Brown-headed Cowbirds. No difference in rates of parasitism was evident between farmland and protected areas. Analysis of nests not parasitized suggests DSR is influenced by both crop and non-crop land use patterns. DSR was lowest at nests embedded in alfalfa fields and adjacent to roads. DSR was greatest at nests adjacent to mowed grass strips and soybean fields. These data identify costs and benefits of multiple land use types not always considered in conservation for species of conservation concern.
Dept of Biology, Furman University, Greenville, SC
186 • Samantha L. Poarch, Joseph M. Morrissey, Theodore V. Khleborod, Jonathan J. Storm
Small Mammal Community Structure Within Urban Greenways
Urbanization leads to the removal of natural habitats and is a major contributor to the loss of biodiversity. The retention of greenways is one method to mitigate the loss of wildlife habitat within urban and suburban areas. Urban greenways are linear parklands maintained in a more natural condition than typical urban parks. Although several studies have addressed the use of urban greenways by birds, little is known regarding their impact on mammal populations. We sought to determine if urban greenways in Spartanburg, South Carolina have a small mammal community similar to that of forests in rural Spartanburg County. In addition, we wanted to determine whether vegetation density influences the abundance of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus). During May and August of 2013, we live-captured small mammals at 4 urban greenways and 2 rural forests. We then used a profile board to visually estimate the density of vegetative cover at 20 randomly selected locations within each study site. The white-footed mouse was the most abundant small mammal at 5 of the 6 sites, comprising 50 - 100 % of all individuals captured at urban greenways and 59 - 83 % of all individuals at rural forests. The golden mouse (Ochrotomys nuttali) was the second most abundant small mammal. Vegetation density was significantly higher within urban greenways than at rural forests. Across all study sites, we found a positive trend between vegetation density and the abundance of white-footed mice. Our results suggest that urban greenways provide suitable habitat for native small mammals in SC.
Division of Natural Sciences and Engineering; 2 University of South Carolina Upstate; 3 Spartanburg, SC
