Tag: Panel A: “Habitats and Climate”

Climate Change Response in the National Park Service: Analyzing Changes in Science, Education, and Management Policies

Presenter: Kelsey Ward (Environmental Science)

Mentor: Mark Carey

Oral Presentation

Panel A: “Habitats and Climate” Maple Room

Concurrent Session 3: 1:45-3:00pm

Facilitator: Drew Terhune

The language of the Organic Act of 1916 explicitly defines the national park mission: “to conserve…scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein…as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” As the world around national parks changes, unimpairment is increasingly difficult, bordering on impossible. Climate change is conceptualized as an “unprecedented challenge” for park managers because of technical/scientific uncertainty. It has the potential to reshape our understanding of the National Park System as well as the national park idea. In the face of large and diverse uncertainties, thus far the National Park Service has taken a “safe-to-fail” approach to management, which emphasizes neither ensuring success nor avoiding failure in adaptation and mitigation. Through analysis of management documents, observation, and interviews this paper illustrates how science, education, and management within parks has evolved as a result of climate change. I argue that though climate change presents a challenge, it also is creating positive new ideas about national parks, including the view of these protected areas as vital cores of much larger ecosystems, and the emerging idea of national parks assuming a more prominent role in public education. While climate change threatens the “natural state” of national parks as set in the Organic Act, it also provides a unique opportunity to re-emphasize the multiple values of protected areas.

Establishing Baseline Data for Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Evaluating Riparian Planting Success in the McKenzie Watershed

Presenter: Ashley Sosa (Environmental Science)

Co-Presenters: Breanna Senate and Matt Keeler

Mentor: Peg Boulay

Oral Presentation

Panel A: “Habitats and Climate” Maple Room

Concurrent Session 3: 1:45-3:00pm

Facilitator: Drew Terhune

Salmon are valued not only as food and symbol, but as bioindicators of broad ecological functions related to aquatic systems. Countless projects across the Pacific Northwest focus on creating quality habitat and connectivity for salmonids and other aquatic species. Thus, pre and post project monitoring of stream restoration techniques such as large woody debris placement and riparian plantings provides crucial information on the success and validity of current techniques. We are partnering with the McKenzie Watershed Council and the US Forest Service at two sites of active restoration in the McKenzie Watershed. At the Berggren Watershed Conservation Area we conducted riparian vegetation effectiveness monitoring as well as in-stream baseline monitoring. At Cougar Creek we conducted in-stream baseline monitoring as well as snorkel surveys for fish inventory. The results of our in- stream monitoring will allow for quantifiable measurements of change in stream channel morphology and substrate due to restoration activities. Snorkel survey data will inform future efforts with site specific data on fish presence and demographics. Results of vegetation monitoring will guide future riparian vegetation plantings. This research will give our community partners valuable information to improve future restoration of aquatic habitat.

Delta Ponds Riparian Restoration Assessment

Presenter: Jessica Scott (Environmental Science)

Co-Presenter: Wayland Huynh

Mentor: Peg Boulay

Oral Presentation

Panel A: “Habitats and Climate” Maple Room

Concurrent Session 3: 1:45-3:00pm

Facilitator: Drew Terhune

Wetlands play an important part in the provision of ecosystem services; they improve drinking water by filtering out various pollutants, can serve as temporary storage basins for rain and snowmelt, as well as reduce the amount of destruction that result from severe flooding. They also create temporary and permanent habitat for a variety of both endemic and endangered species. Located in Eugene, Delta Ponds is a 150-acre waterway site owned by the City of Eugene that borders the Willamette River. Once owned by Eugene Sand and Gravel, the site was largely unmanaged until restoration efforts began in 2004 and continued into 2012. One of the main objectives during that time was to improve in-stream and riparian habitat for a variety of species. Members of the Wetland Research team collected data on restored habitat of Western Pond Turtles, Northwestern Salamanders, Northern Pacific Chorus Frogs and various other species. We also monitored the growth and vigor of various riparian plantings. This data shows the results of previous restoration efforts, and will inform where improvements may be needed in the future. It will be an important aspect of assisting the City in the prioritization of management resources and can serve as a baseline for future restoration efforts.

Marine Mammal Monitoring on Guam

Presenter: Robert McNulty (Biology)

Mentor: Valerie Brown

Oral Presentation

Panel A: “Habitats and Climate” Maple Room

Concurrent Session 3: 1:45-3:00pm

Facilitator: Drew Terhune

Data on marine mammals, specifically information on their stock numbers, seasonal migrations, population structure, habitat use, and behaviors is limited. This study of island associated resident pods of the long nosed spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) was conducted near the island of Guam, part of the Mariana Archipelago, south of Japan. These spinner dolphins may be negatively impacted by an increased United States military presence on Guam which leads to expanded training activity, population growth, coastal development and associated tourism. This study compiles historical and current data on marine mammal sightings and behaviors to study possible impact of US military presence. The long nosed spinner dolphins (S. longirostris) are of particular interest because of their proximity to shorelines, their habitat use, and their daily activity schedule. Current data was collected from interviews and sighting events. Standard photo documentation and field survey protocols developed by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) were used. This study created a preliminary marine mammal database for Guam and has expanded the limited information available. In addition, sighting information was used along with geographical information system (GIS) software to combine NOAA benthic habitat maps with multibeam bathymetry to gain a better understanding of the habitats occupied by documented species. Preliminary results suggest that S. longirostris populations in Guam have similar circadian and seasonal rhythms as Hawaiian S. longirostris populations. The results also demonstrate that Guam spinner dolphins show a preference for clear, relatively shallow open water bays with underlying, unconsolidated sediment (sandy bottoms). An increase in military use of shallow bays and dolphin-associated ecotourism could therefore negatively impact resident populations of the Guam spinner dolphins.

Evaluating Oregon White Oak Habitat Restoration Projects in the South Eugene Ridgeline

Presenter: Brooke Bilyeu (Environmental Studies)

Co-Presenter: Everett Baker

Mentor: Peg Boulay

Oral Presentation

Panel A: “Habitats and Climate” Maple Room

Concurrent Session 3: 1:45-3:00pm

Facilitator: Drew Terhune

Over the past 150 years, fire suppression techniques and the encroachment of conifer forests have drastically reduced the area of historic Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana) savanna. Recent restoration efforts have focused on removal of coniferous species to promote oak vigor and growth. Working with the City of Eugene as part of the Environmental Leadership Program, the goals of our study are to evaluate the success of past restoration project’s attempts to improve Oregon white oak canopy. We will do this through post-management monitoring as well as conducting baseline monitoring studies on oak savanna habitat along the South Eugene Ridgeline. We are re-visiting three study sites from 2010 monitoring efforts and completing tree inventory surveys for two sites newly acquired by the City of Eugene, as well as monitoring heritage trees, analyzing understory habitat, and attempting to ground-truth the City of Eugene’s GIS layers by using the latest GPS technology. With the implementation of this effectiveness monitoring, we hope to show that oak canopy release is a valid method for oak savannah habitat restoration, and provide baseline data for future oak release management and monitoring efforts.