Hardwood bottomland ecosystems provide critical habitat for various wildlife among numerous ecosystem services. Since the 1800s, these forested wetlands have been logged and drained for agriculture. The federal government passed a series of legislative acts that protected wetlands and provided monetary support for restoration. The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) was established in 1990 with the goal of restoring ecological function in wetlands. Although several studies have measured plant and wildlife responses to WRP restorations, no standard protocol has been developed to monitor the state of ecological restoration at sites. Index of biotic integrity (IBI) models are commonly used to evaluate ecological function by assigning scores derived from biological characteristics measured at disturbed sites and comparing them with reference sites. Therefore, the objectives of my study were to: (1) characterize vegetation, amphibian and bird communities among 17 WRP restoration and 4 reference bottomland sites, and (2) develop IBI models for these communities to use in monitoring ecological restoration. My study was conducted across 10 counties in western Tennessee from March – August 2008, and communities were measured using standard sampling techniques. I detected 15 amphibian and 95 bird species at bottomland WRP sites, which ranged 2 – 21 years old. Anurans were common among sites, but salamanders were only detected at reference sites containing mature forests. The bird community changed predictably in response to succession, with grassland birds dominating young restoration sites and scrub-shrub and forest birds dominating older restoration and reference sites. Vegetation structure was related to site age, and a good predictor of bird community composition. Variables retained in the vegetation IBI model included density of snags, logs and overstory trees, basal area, and percent vertical cover measured using a profile board. The bird IBI model contained relative abundance of bark feeding, branch nesting, and twig nesting guilds. Presence of salamanders was the only variable in the amphibian IBI model. My results indicate that the WRP is contributing to the regional biodiversity of western Tennessee. The IBI models that I developed can be used for monitoring ecological restoration in Tennessee hardwood bottomlands; however, their applicability outside this region should be validated.

Swamp rabbit and eastern cottontail populations have declined substantially in Illinois within the last half-century. Habitat loss and fragmentation, particularly of bottomland hardwood (BLH) forest, have left swamp rabbit populations patchily distributed along major rivers in the southern portion of the state. In addition, the decline of early-successional upland habitats due to changes in farming techniques have led to as much as 90% declines in cottontail populations in Illinois. Managers need information on basic vital rates and habitat use to conserve both species in southern Illinois; however, many questions regarding demography and behavior have not been investigated. My research examined the importance of several factors that may influence survival and habitat use among swamp rabbits and eastern cottontails. My specific research objectives were to 1) estimate seasonal and annual survival rates and identify primary mortality agents, 2) examine the influence of intrinsic factors and habitat variables on annual and seasonal 50% core area (CA) and 95% home range (HR) sizes, 3) assess differences in space use and habitat use by season, and 4) evaluate differences in space and habitat use between species for swamp rabbits and cottontails in BLH forests in southern Illinois. During December-March 2009-2013, I live-trapped and radiocollared adult swamp rabbits (>1.9 kg) and cottontails (>1.0 kg) at 7 BLH sites along the Cache River and Cypress Creek within the Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge in southern Illinois. I monitored rabbits for survival every 24-48 hr and estimated radiolocations by triangulation more than twice weekly during morning (0500-0900 hr), daytime (0900-1700 hr), and evening (1700-2400 hr) time periods on a rotating schedule. I delineated annual and seasonal 50% CA and 95% HR isopleths using kernel density estimators, comparing winter-spring (W/S; 21 Dec-19 Jun) and summer-fall (S/F; 20 Jun-21 Dec) seasons. During May-August 2012, I sampled microhabitat in 0.02-ha circular plots (3.5 plots/ha) randomly placed throughout home ranges of rabbits at each site. In ArcGIS, I classified macrohabitat patches into 1 of 4 cover types: agriculture, early-successional BLH (EBLH), mature BLH (MBLH), or upland. I also measured the distance from all radiolocations to the nearest patch of each cover type and the nearest river or creek. I modeled the influence of species, sex, and season on annual survival using parametric survival regression models. Then, I used the best model (based on AICc) to examine the influence of habitat covariates on survival. I also modeled the influence of habitat on annual and seasonal CA and HR sizes using generalized linear and generalized linear mixed effects models with AIC model selection. Finally, I estimated conspecific and heterospecific CA and HR overlap for swamp rabbits and cottontails, and examined differences between species in space and habitat use. I documented causes of mortality and estimated survival for 129 swamp rabbits and 75 cottontails during the period of study. Predation (71%) was the primary mortality agent for both species, followed by weather (9%) and hunter harvest (6%). Models with survival rates differing by species and season received the most support; swamp rabbits had higher estimated annual survival (0.37  0.05) than did cottontails (0.20  0.05), and survival for both species was lowest during the W/S season (βW/S=-2.28  0.46). None of the habitat covariates that I measured apparently influenced survival. Core areas and HRs were estimated for 60 swamp rabbits (SR; 34 M, 26 F) and 21 cottontails (CT; 10 M, 11 F) during the W/S season; of these, 57 swamp rabbits and 11 cottontails lived long enough to estimate S/F seasonal and annual home ranges. The average annual CA and HR for swamp rabbits were 2.49  1.42 ha and 11.60  5.81 ha, respectively. Cottontails had an average annual CA and HR size of 2.48  1.26 ha and 13.54  7.24 ha, respectively. Core areas and HRs for both species during the were larger during W/S than S/F (CA: βW/S=0.59  0.11, wi=1.0; HR: βW/S=0.53  0.11, wi=1.0). Seasonal CA sizes increased with decreasing proportions of woody ground cover within CAs (SR: βShrubs=-2.75  0.50, wi=1.0; CT: βShrubs=-2.30  0.74, wi=0.91). Few macrohabitat variables influenced space use for either species. The coefficient of variation in patch size within 1 km of study sites was positively associated with space use for both swamp rabbits (CA; β=0.01  0.004, wi=0.81; HR: β=0.01  0.003, wi=0.95) and cottontails (CA; β=0.02  0.01, wi=0.29; HR: β=0.02  0.01, wi=0.23); I did not detect significant differences between species in pairwise conspecific overlap within CAs or pairwise conspecific volume of intersection (VI) over the entire utilization distribution. Median conspecific CA overlap was higher during W/S than S/F, with mean CA overlap proportions of 0.20 ± 0.21 (range: 0−0.87) and 0.10 ± 0.18 (range: 0−0.73) respectively. Median conspecific VIs also differed between seasons, with mean pairwise VIs of 0.32 ± 0.19 (range: 0−0.77) during winter-spring and 0.19 ± 0.18 (range: 0−0.73) during S/F. Heterospecific CA overlap was 48% and 46% lower than conspecific overlap during W/S and S/F, respectively. Differences in habitat use between species were apparent. Swamp rabbits had HRs and CAs in areas with higher basal area compared to cottontails during both seasons (all U≥483, Z≥2.83, p≤0.005). Multivariate tests for both CAs and HRs indicated a significant effect of species on habitat use (CA: T2=0.58, F3, 71=13.70, p<0.001; HR: T2=0.24, F3, 71=5.80, p=0.001). During W/S, swamp rabbits had CAs and HRs composed of significantly higher proportions of EBLH (CA: F1, 73=16.46, p<0.001; HR: F1, 73=8.55, p=0.005) and MBLH (CA: F1, 73=17.99, p<0.001; HR: F1, 73=7.78, p<0.007). Swamp rabbits were located significantly closer to a permanent watercourse (F1, 79=24.18, p<0.001) than cottontails. Indeed, 95% of all swamp rabbit radiolocations were ≤332.0 m away from a permanent watercourse (mean=169.0  100.0 m; range=1.0−571.0 m; Figure 18), whereas 95% of cottontail radiolocations were ≤536.0 m away from a permanent watercourse (mean=289.0  142.0 m; range=1.7−670.0 m; Figure 18). Swamp rabbits also were significantly closer to MBLH patches (F1, 79=9.05, p=0.003) and farther from agriculture (F1, 79=12.36, p=0.001) than cottontails. My study represents the most complete record to date on survival and habitat use by swamp rabbits. Rabbit survival was positively associated with basal area so management actions that provide woody cover for concealment and thermoregulation may benefit both species. Although cottontails in my study used early-successional BLH, patterns of space and habitat use described here demonstrate that cottontails remained on the periphery of bottomlands. My study confirms the utility of early-successional BLH to both species; however, stands that are located too far from a permanent water sources are unlikely to be used by swamp rabbits, and may be less suitable for other BLH specialists as well. Allowing grasslands and crop fields to succeed into old fields containing bushes, vines, and other woody species will benefit both cottontails and swamp rabbits. Within BLH forests, canopy gaps can be created to promote tree regeneration and woody ground vegetation such as vines and shrubs. Finally, upland early-successional habitats that border bottomland forests are especially important as refugia for swamp rabbits during flooding.

Desired forest conditions, or DFCs, are recently created parameters which strive to create diverse stands of hardwoods of various species and age classes, along with varying densities and canopy gaps, through the use of uneven-aged silvicultural methods and repeated stand entries. Little research has been conducted to examine residual stand composition and hardwood regeneration after DFC installment. The objectives of this study were to characterize forest overstory and midstory conditions after DFC treatments, assess the natural regeneration, and to characterize available light in the treatment and control areas. Residual stand conditions after application of DFC harvest guidelines indicate that shade tolerant species will be the future occupants of the sites and oaks will diminish or disappear over time. This documented initial forest response to DFC treatments can be used by forest and wildlife habitat managers when assessing the potential outcomes of DFC management.

The importance of bottomland hardwood (BLH) forests to support the economy through timber production and carbon sequestration is acknowledged; however, their full potential is yet to be explored. This study developed variable density yield models for BLH oak-gum-cypress forests along the US Gulf Coast and Lower Mississippi River Delta. The models, with an adjusted R2 of 98% for cubic foot growing stock volume and 77% for Doyle board foot sawlog volume, are expected to be valuable tools for landowners and managers seeking to make informed decisions about BLH forest management. A carbon stock model was also developed, and carbon sequestration was explored based on basal area increment. The results showed potential for carbon sequestration with an average carbon stock of 30.56 tons/acre and a maximum average discounted present value of carbon accumulation of $15.94/ton/acre/year. This provides valuable information to managers and landowners willing to participate in carbon credit markets.

This study presents the integration of light detection and range (LiDAR) and hyperspectral remote sensing to create a three-dimensional bird habitat map in the Greenbelt Corridor of the Elm Fork of the Trinity River. This map permits to examine the relationship between forest stand structure, landscape heterogeneity, and bird community composition. A biannual bird census was conducted at this site during the breeding seasons of 2009 and 2010. Census data combined with the three-dimensional map suggest that local breeding bird abundance, community structure, and spatial distribution patterns are highly influenced by vertical heterogeneity of vegetation surface. For local breeding birds, vertical heterogeneity of canopy surface within stands, connectivity to adjacent forest patches, largest forest patch index, and habitat (vegetation) types proved to be the most influential factors to determine bird community assemblages. Results also highlight the critical role of secondary forests to increase functional connectivity of forest patches. Overall, three-dimensional habitat descriptions derived from integrated LiDAR and hyperspectral data serve as a powerful bird conservation tool that shows how the distribution of bird species relates to forest composition and structure at various scales.

Timber and wildlife habitat management may be conflicting objectives, but both benefit from increasing light in bottomland forests through harvesting and midstory control, and a target residual basal area may be used to optimize both. Six areas were used to evaluate effects of partial harvest and midstory control on oak regeneration, diameter growth of residual trees, and white-tailed deer carrying capacity. Partial harvest treatments consisted of residual basal areas of 70ft2/ac (16.07m2/ha), 60ft2/ac (13.77m2/ha), 50ft2/ac (11.48 m2/ha), 40ft2/ac (9.18m2/ha), 30ft2/ac (6.89m2/ha), and untreated controls. All partial harvest areas received midstory control using injection with imazapyr. Available light was related to residual basal area (R2 = 0.808). Treatments with 50ft2/ac residual basal area exhibited the optimal amount of oak regeneration and white-tailed deer carrying capacity. Treatments with 30ft2/ac had greatest diameter growth. This research provided guidelines for managers that wish to optimize white-tailed deer habitat and oak regeneration.

Rafinesque’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii) and southeastern myotis (Myotis austroriparius) are listed as species of concern in Mississippi. They use bottomland hardwood forests for roosting habitat; however, much of these forests in Mississippi have been lost or degraded. I seek to characterize availability and evaluate use of diurnal tree roosts for these presumably rare bats. Approximately 1,250 ha of bottomland hardwood forest on Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge were surveyed. I measured characteristics of 622 cavity trees. Analyses revealed that these bats most often used cavities of large diameter trees (≥70 cm DBH). Rafinesque’s big-eared bat and southeastern myotis roosted commonly in baldcypress (Taxodium distichum), black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica), and American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis). This research will be used to provide guidance for management plans to conserve these bats and their habitat.

Catastrophic wind events can play an important role in the stand structure and composition in Bottomland Hardwood Forests. Regeneration and stand structure following these events depends on a variety of factors, including disturbance severity, past land use, and post-disturbance management. This study revisits a 2004 survey conducted at Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area in Southern Illinois following a tornado and subsequent salvage logging operation. We established 164 plots on four different disturbance types as mapped by the original survey: Undisturbed, Transition, Wind Damaged Only, and Wind Damaged Salvaged. The objective of this study was to see how recovery differed among these. Data collected included density, basal area, and Shannon’s H, as well as visual evidence of remaining soil rutting resulting from the salvage logging operation, tree height as a metric for productivity, and invasive percent cover. There were slight but significant differences in the densities, basal area, and diversity among disturbance types, although diameter distributions revealed similar age distributions and there was no impact of the salvage logging on productivity. Evidence of soil rutting was still present, adding to microsite diversity that contributed to the significantly higher species diversity of Wind Damaged Salvaged areas. The proportion of Quercus spp. in both Wind Damaged Only and Wind Damaged Salvaged areas was lower than in Undisturbed and Transition areas, while the proportion of other species, including Fraxinus pennsylvanica and key bottomland taxa Salix spp., Taxodium distichum, and Nyssa aquatica, were higher. Invasive non-native species cover was higher in Wind Damaged Salvaged and Wind Damaged Only areas than in Transition and Undisturbed but was confined to forest edges and did not differ between Wind Damaged Salvaged and Wind Damaged Only areas. The results indicate that twenty years after the disturbance, forest structure is still recovering in tornado-damaged areas and has shifted in composition away from Quercus toward domination by Acer spp., Ulmus spp., Fraxinus pennsylvanica, and Liquidambar styraciflua species in both Wind Damaged Only and Wind Damaged Salvaged areas. The salvage logging operation did not have any negative impacts on forest recovery and supported biodiversity by further diversifying overstory community composition to include key wetland species that support the conservation area’s bottomland restoration efforts. Active management should be considered in both Wind Damaged Only and Wind Damaged Salvaged areas to prevent the spread of non-native species and ensure the persistence of Quercus and other key bottomland species in support of conservation objectives.

Title: Natural and Historical view of the area Dolní Poohří between Libochovice and Budyně nad Ohří. Abstract: This presented thesis deals with detailed characteristics of Dolní Poohří in the area between Libochovice and Budyně nad Ohří. The theoretical part presents a general research of the area from the natural scientific and historical points of view. It outlines geological and pedological situation of the area which influences plant composition. Majority of the thesis is dedicated to the ecosystem of bottomland woods and to their historical evolution in the area of Dolní Poohří. It focuses on the flora and dendroflora of the observed locality and links them to mutual connection. It also summarizes individual local species of vegetation. This thesis also describes the history of the area and points out especially castle area Libochovice and Budyně nad Ohří from the historical point of view. It offers a brief historical overview of modifications of castle garden and park, as well as their current situation and plant composition. In the practical part, an educational tourist trail from Libochovice to Budyně nad Ohří has been designed. Route description, graphics and contents of the information panels, as well as work-lists for elementary and high school students are parts of the project design. An...

The purpose of this research was to model the growth and yield of bottomland hardwood forests of the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley and to explain the economic tradeoffs of even- and uneven-aged management. The US Forest Service (USFS) Forest Vegetation Simulator was used to model growth and yield for four different bottomland hardwood forest types using USFS inventory data. Even- and uneven-aged management scenarios were optimized for timber revenue maximization using the Land Expectation Value formula. Analyses suggested that growth and yield of even-aged and uneven-aged management approaches differ in terms of end products and harvesting time. The even-aged management scenarios performed better over the uneven-aged management scenarios with few exceptions; however, the magnitude of the economic tradeoff depended upon initial stand conditions and required rates of return. These analyses will allow landowners to understand how much economic gain or loss they may realize by adopting an alternative management.