To this date, little research has been done evaluating the quality of wildlife habitat provided by open space in residential areas. Quality wildlife habitat for the purposes of this study is defined as those areas which contain the physical and biological characteristics necessary to support native wildlife species of the region. This thesis critiqued a wildlife habitat assessment method used in a nationwide study of residential open space for the purpose of better understanding the research conducted by the study and to inform similar, future habitat evaluations of landscapes altered by human activity to accommodate residential land use. The methodology critiqued was a low resolution, habitat based, rapid assessment. The methodology provided information on the ecological function of the open space in each development and related that information to individual wildlife species needs to provide an estimation of habitat quality. However, an increase in sampling frequency and additional data collection would have improved the assessment.

Butternut (Juglans cinerea L.), a lesser-known relative of black walnut (Juglans nigra L.), is a native tree species beneficial for wildlife, valuable for timber, and part of the great diversity of species in the eastern forests of North America. Populations of butternut are being devastated by butternut canker disease, caused by the fungus Sirococcus clavigignenti-juglandacearum (V.M.G. Nair, Kostichka, & Kuntz), which is thought to be introduced to North America. The disease causes multiple branch and stem cankers that eventually girdle trees. Small population sizes, lack of sprouting, and shade intolerance exacerbates the disease and results in permanent losses of butternut across the native range. Fortunately, healthy, canker-free butternut trees have been found proximal to diseased trees, indicating that a breeding approach could be a feasible strategy for producing and reintroducing resistant butternuts. A successful restoration program will require an understanding of genetic variation in open-pollinated seedlings, genetic basis of disease resistance, seedling establishment procedures, site requirements, and a greater understanding of disease development over time. This dissertation is divided into six parts, with the overall goal of insight into butternut ecology and management techniques which could be used to guide restoration decisions for this important species. The first two parts are an introduction and a literature review. In the third section, butternut seedlings were propagated in nursery progeny plantings to determine the genetic and phenotypic variability among one-year-old seedlings in a controlled environment. Part four outlines the disease development of butternut seedlings across progeny in resistance screening plantings at various locations. Part five aims at aiding restoration techniques by determining the impact of phenotypic and genetic variables on establishment success across various planting sites with different silvicultural treatments. Part six describes the dynamics of a large population of healthy and diseased butternut trees including disease development across temporal scales. The information gained from this research will be directly used in gene conservation strategies, the construction of disease resistant breeding orchards, and in determining appropriate restoration techniques.

Ecosystem services, or the benefits humans obtain from natural ecosystems, have long been recognized as critical to human health. Efforts have been taken by many to determine the non-market values of these services but few have offered a direct market valuation. Increasing awareness, scarcity, and regulation have fostered transactions, and markets are emerging that can allow for direct valuation and could provide landowners the opportunity to merchandise this natural capital. This paper provides a valuation and comparison, as a case study, of a traditional management scheme, including the marketing of fiber and recreational leases, and an ecosystem services management scheme, including the marketing of fiber, recreational leases, carbon sequestration, watershed services, and biodiversity. The traditional forest management scheme had an estimated present value at three pricing scenarios ranging from “pessimistic” at $538,714.63 to “optimistic” at $868,528.27 for the entire 3,976-acre project area. The ecosystem services management scheme had an estimated present value at three pricing scenarios ranging from “pessimistic” at $621,508.61 to “optimistic” at $1,363,628.13 for the entire 3,976-acre project area. This paper concludes that even in these early stages of ecosystem markets, an ecosystem services management scheme may offer more revenue to landowners than a traditional management scheme.

American chestnut was once an abundant species that dominated the Eastern U.S. deciduous forests. Although this species is currently functionally extinct due to the chestnut blight, researchers are working on blight-resistant hybrids in hopes of restoring the species. As one potential vector for chestnut reintroduction and dispersal, the reclamation of mine sites are being considered. Recent research has found that reforestation efforts on these reclaimed mine sites provide productive tree growth while also complying with mine-reclamation laws. Understanding how American chestnut performs physiologically on mine sites will aid in the restoration of this species and reclamation of mine sites. The objective of this study was to determine the effect planting treatments have on survival, physiology, and performance of American chestnut. The response of American chestnuts under planting treatments varying in planting method, slow-release fertilizer, a hydrophilic root polymer (Terra-Sorb), and the addition of native forest soil were examined at three sites: a mine site, a quarry, and a greenhouse. Results from this study suggest that fertilizer, hydrophilic root polymers and soil microorganisms produce varying effects on dissimilar sites. Greatest overall survival was found in greenhouse-grown bare-root seedlings. The introduction of fertilizer to the soil substrate lowered emergence and survival of directly-seeded trees at the mine site and quarry, but increased tree growth at all sites and photosynthetic rate at the quarry. However, use of fertilizer resulted in a more negative water potential at the mine site and higher transpiration rate, potentially increasing moisture stress and demand. Increased seed survival, growth, and water status can be accomplished through the use of Terra-Sorb, but only in direct seeded trees on sites with potentially deficient plant-available water. Native forest soil can increase survival in both direct seeded and bare-root planted trees. However, more research is needed on the benefits of native forest soil, as growth and physiological results conflict. It is recommended that site characterization be performed prior to selection of planting treatments. Results of this study can prove beneficial to reclamation specialists with an interest in using mine site reclamation in conjunction with American chestnut restoration.

The Atlantic Forest of south-eastern Brazil is a hot-spot for biodiversity and should be conserved. It is also at the center of the largest municipalities in Brazil and therefore has a severely fragmented landscape. Iracambi, a working farm near the Serra do Brigadeiro state park in Minas Gerais, is working for conservation in an area of intense agricultural production and expanding forestry industry. Most households in this rural area have some amount of eucalyptus on their property and consequently the director of Iracambi is developing the preliminary foundation for a forest corridor program comprised of primarily eucalyptus with the goal of integrating native species whenever possible. In this research, an exploratory case study was conducted with the purpose of determining if an integrated forest corridor should be considered as a viable option for Iracambi in the greater Serra do Brigadeiro region (near the communities of Araponga, Ervália, Fervadouro, Miradouro, Pedra Bonita, and Sericita). The majority of the survey participants revealed interest in the proposed forest corridor program and many expressed further interest if this would help them achieve compliance with the environmental law requiring a Legal Reserve Area (ARL) on private property. There is a need and a desire for programs that would subsidize ARL adherence in this area, since many studies recognize that adherence levels are at approximately ten percent nationally. Barriers to implementation, however, include cultural barriers that would primarily require acceptance with influential community members, knowledge and cost barriers associated with proper stand management, and current economic circumstances which lack a market for sustainably produced, higher quality eucalyptus timber. Additionally, policy barriers, which do not provide sufficient incentives to comply with environmental laws, further impede implementation of an integrated forest corridor program in this area. If these key barriers to implementation could be addressed, an integrated forest corridor program could prove as a viable option for Iracambi and this area and therefore, this thesis offers some recommendations for the successful implementation of this proposed program.

There is a need to define a more efficient and accurate approach to aquatic habitat mapping. Traditional approaches have focused on intense biological/non-biological sampling and observation analysis within specific and restrained scales. Therefore, an underwater video mapping system (UVMS) has been developed in efforts to identify federally protected aquatic species’ habitats within the Obed Wild and Scenic River (OBRI). The UVMS kayak apparatus provides georeferenced video footage correlated with GPS (global positioning systems) for GIS (geographic information systems) mapping applications. Based on its fluvial and geomorphological trends, OBRI was dissected quantitatively and integrated into databases for species-specific GIS habitat queries. Substrate type, depth, above water river characteristics (pool/riffle/run), and substrate embeddedness were extracted to access specific habitats. To better pinpoint optimal microhabitat locations, a physical habitat suitability model was developed to rank preferred habitat locales. Rankings were sequentially broken into five categories: optimal, sub-optimal, marginal, sub-marginal, and poor habitat criteria. Habitat suitability findings for the interested species habitats varied tremendously, favoring fish species. Spotfin chub, Erimonax monacha, optimal habitat was found to cover 22.14 km of river length within OBRI (30 % of OBRI’s spatial extent). The blackside dace, Phoxinus cumberlandensis, (38.9 km) and the duskytail darter, Etheostoma percnurum, (50.9 km) met optimal habitat conditions that yielded 51% and 69% of OBRI’s spatial extent, respectively. In general, optimal habitats for the six mussels were sporadically distributed and had low occurrences. Primarily, these mussel species prefer highly embedded areas with very specific depths and pool/riffle/run conditions. Cumberland elktoe, Alasmidonta atropurea, optimal habitat ranges spanned across 4.32 km (6% of OBRI’s spatial extent) with most of the habitat characteristics in OBRI being marginal. The purple bean, Villosa perpurpurea, optimal habitat was identified within 2.61 km of OBRI (3.5% of OBRI’s spatial extent). Most of the physical conditions of OBRI supplied poor to sub-marginal habitat for the purple bean, at least from a thalweg perspective. Only 385 m coincided with optimal habitat for the cumberland bean, Villosa trabalis, (0.5% of OBRI’s spatial extent) with most habitats in long sub-marginal reaches. Optimal habitats for the cumberlandian combshell, Epioblasma brevidens, the tan riffleshell, Epioblasma florentina walkeri, and the littlewing pearlymussel, Pegias fibula, were deficient, only occurring in 484 m, 276 m, and 252 m of OBRI, respectively (0.7%, 0.4%, and 0.3% of OBRI’s spatial extent). Marginal to sub-marginal habitats dominated the park for these three mussel species.

The topic of protected area management serves as the focal point of my thesis. The fundamental question I seek to answer is; what constitutes effective environmental management and how is it exemplified in the National Park Service (NPS)? How exactly does the NPS continually earn the trust and confidence of the American people when so many other government agencies are viewed in a negative light? How does the Channel Islands National Park, in particular, shape the economic and political framework in which it operates to achieve its goals? How does this agency effectively manage such a complex ecosystem spanning across five unique islands and the surrounding waters? More specifically, I examine how the NPS designs and implements strategies to simultaneously monitor a variety of endemic species, some of which are on the endangered species list, into feasible tasks and fundable projects. A wealth of information exists providing salient recommendations for improving endangered species recovery efforts, but this paper provides a detailed comparison of two contemporary recovery programs dealing with independent declines of the same species: the island fox. Finally, there is an overlapping mix of jurisdiction responsible for protecting the Channel Islands and I will also be examining the collaborative processes that take place among the multiple stakeholders such as the U.S. Navy, Catalina Island Conservancy, and The Nature Conservancy. The primary purpose of this thesis is to assess the relationships the NPS develops with other agencies in order to fulfill its mission within the context of the Channel Islands.

This thesis uses an efficiency analysis of agricultural systems to assert that, in lieu of rising prices of fossil fuel, people need to come into more direct contact with their food systems. With a switch to smaller, more efficient farms that rely less on fossil fuel and are connected with the communities they supply for, we can avoid an energy crisis turning into a famine. These smaller-scale systems can help create self-contained, carbon-neutral communities.

American chestnut was once an abundant species that dominated the Eastern U.S. deciduous forests. Although this species is currently functionally extinct due to the chestnut blight, researchers are working on blight-resistant hybrids in hopes of restoring the species. As one potential vector for chestnut reintroduction and dispersal, the reclamation of mine sites are being considered. Recent research has found that reforestation efforts on these reclaimed mine sites provide productive tree growth while also complying with mine-reclamation laws. Understanding how American chestnut performs physiologically on mine sites will aid in the restoration of this species and reclamation of mine sites. The objective of this study was to determine the effect planting treatments have on survival, physiology, and performance of American chestnut. The response of American chestnuts under planting treatments varying in planting method, slow-release fertilizer, a hydrophilic root polymer (Terra-Sorb), and the addition of native forest soil were examined at three sites: a mine site, a quarry, and a greenhouse. Results from this study suggest that fertilizer, hydrophilic root polymers and soil microorganisms produce varying effects on dissimilar sites. Greatest overall survival was found in greenhouse-grown bare-root seedlings. The introduction of fertilizer to the soil substrate lowered emergence and survival of directly-seeded trees at the mine site and quarry, but increased tree growth at all sites and photosynthetic rate at the quarry. However, use of fertilizer resulted in a more negative water potential at the mine site and higher transpiration rate, potentially increasing moisture stress and demand. Increased seed survival, growth, and water status can be accomplished through the use of Terra-Sorb, but only in direct seeded trees on sites with potentially deficient plant-available water. Native forest soil can increase survival in both direct seeded and bare-root planted trees. However, more research is needed on the benefits of native forest soil, as growth and physiological results conflict. It is recommended that site characterization be performed prior to selection of planting treatments. Results of this study can prove beneficial to reclamation specialists with an interest in using mine site reclamation in conjunction with American chestnut restoration.

There is a need to define a more efficient and accurate approach to aquatic habitat mapping. Traditional approaches have focused on intense biological/non-biological sampling and observation analysis within specific and restrained scales. Therefore, an underwater video mapping system (UVMS) has been developed in efforts to identify federally protected aquatic species’ habitats within the Obed Wild and Scenic River (OBRI). The UVMS kayak apparatus provides georeferenced video footage correlated with GPS (global positioning systems) for GIS (geographic information systems) mapping applications. Based on its fluvial and geomorphological trends, OBRI was dissected quantitatively and integrated into databases for species-specific GIS habitat queries. Substrate type, depth, above water river characteristics (pool/riffle/run), and substrate embeddedness were extracted to access specific habitats. To better pinpoint optimal microhabitat locations, a physical habitat suitability model was developed to rank preferred habitat locales. Rankings were sequentially broken into five categories: optimal, sub-optimal, marginal, sub-marginal, and poor habitat criteria. Habitat suitability findings for the interested species habitats varied tremendously, favoring fish species. Spotfin chub, Erimonax monacha, optimal habitat was found to cover 22.14 km of river length within OBRI (30 % of OBRI’s spatial extent). The blackside dace, Phoxinus cumberlandensis, (38.9 km) and the duskytail darter, Etheostoma percnurum, (50.9 km) met optimal habitat conditions that yielded 51% and 69% of OBRI’s spatial extent, respectively. In general, optimal habitats for the six mussels were sporadically distributed and had low occurrences. Primarily, these mussel species prefer highly embedded areas with very specific depths and pool/riffle/run conditions. Cumberland elktoe, Alasmidonta atropurea, optimal habitat ranges spanned across 4.32 km (6% of OBRI’s spatial extent) with most of the habitat characteristics in OBRI being marginal. The purple bean, Villosa perpurpurea, optimal habitat was identified within 2.61 km of OBRI (3.5% of OBRI’s spatial extent). Most of the physical conditions of OBRI supplied poor to sub-marginal habitat for the purple bean, at least from a thalweg perspective. Only 385 m coincided with optimal habitat for the cumberland bean, Villosa trabalis, (0.5% of OBRI’s spatial extent) with most habitats in long sub-marginal reaches. Optimal habitats for the cumberlandian combshell, Epioblasma brevidens, the tan riffleshell, Epioblasma florentina walkeri, and the littlewing pearlymussel, Pegias fibula, were deficient, only occurring in 484 m, 276 m, and 252 m of OBRI, respectively (0.7%, 0.4%, and 0.3% of OBRI’s spatial extent). Marginal to sub-marginal habitats dominated the park for these three mussel species.