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The development of graduate students in the sciences preparing for careers in academia has long included elements to advance students as science researchers, but recent emphasis is being placed on developing students as instructors and education researchers as well. As such, objectives of this study included assessments of seedling responses to hydrology typical of floods in urban settings, the role of created microtopography in community development of a bottomland hardwood forest, and the influence of geographic information systems (GIS) on student motivation and conceptual knowledge. Substantial losses of bottomlands in Texas necessitate restoration to regain the ecosystem services that they provide. Restoration of proper hydrology is the most important aspect of wetland restoration, but this can prove difficult in urbanizing environments where hydrology has been irreversibly altered. Microtopography has been shown to be an important component of bottomland hardwood forests, and its restoration may aid in hydrologic restoration as gradients are created that support a diverse community. Tree seedlings were subjected to experimental flooding regimes typical of floodplain forests in rural and urban settings. Growth rates of seedlings varied over time and differed depending on species and treatment. Created microtopography resulted in a spatially heterogeneous system similar to that of natural bottomlands and strongly influenced hydrology, soil properties, survival of planted seedlings, and abundance and distribution of colonizing species. Proper bottomland restoration in urbanizing environments should include species selection based on current and potential future hydrologic conditions. In addition, restoring microtopography may improve survival of a variety of species introduced during restoration, as well as enhance colonization of a diverse plant community under changing hydrologic regimes. Trends indicated a slight improvement in attitude and performance for students that used GIS. More important, the authenticity of the experience appeared to affect student attitude. The effective use of GIS in teaching may be scale-dependent. Smallscale phenomena may be assessed as easily in a field exercise as with GIS. Using GIS to assess large-scale, complex patterns may have a substantial impact on student understanding. Further studies are needed to determine direct benefits of teaching with GIS in undergraduate ecology classrooms.

The Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) contained vast bottomland hardwood forests into the 20th century. Humans cleared forests, and altered hydrology, yet the MAV remains important for North American waterfowl and other wildlife. To estimate standing crops of aquatic invertebrates as food in hardwood bottomlands for wintering waterfowl, I quantified dry mass of invertebrates in naturally flooded forests (NFFs) and greentree reservoirs (GTRs) during winters 2008–2010. The MAV had greater invertebrate mass in NFFs (x̄ = 18.39 kg/ha; SE = 2.815 [CV = 15.3%]) than GTRs (x̄ = 5.16; SE = 0.492 [CV = 9.5%]), compared with lesser masses in Mississippi Interior Flatwoods’ GTR (x̄ = 2.26; SE = 0.320) and NFF (x̄= 1.45; SE = 1.305). Invertebrate diversity was greatest in NFFs and in depths from 10–40 cm. Flooding GTRs ≤ 40 cm and managing naturally dynamic hydrology may benefit invertebrates, ducks, and associated bottomland hardwood communities

Research documenting the functional changes of wetlands in response to harvest disturbance has often been limited to initial-response time frames of one or two years. A cypress (Taxodium distichum L. Rich.)-water tupelo ~ aQuatica L.) swamp located in the Mobile-T ensaw River Delta of Southwestern Alabama was harvested in the fall of 1986. Harvest treatments included: c1earcutting the entire study area with helicopter log removal, or with an added simulated rubber-tired skidder transport, or with herbicide control of all regenerating vegetation. An adjacent nondisturbed stand served as a reference area. Remeasurement of the area was initiated seven years after harvest. The helicopter logged and skidder simulation treatments have produced stands of comparable diameter, height, density, and basal area. ~ aqyatica was dominant in the skidder simulation treatment~ ~ tica, ~ nigra, and Fraxinus caroliniana dominated the helicopter treatment. Overstory biomass was less in the helicopter logged areas (20,981 kg/ha) than in the skidder simulation treatment (30,533 kglha). Lowerstory trees in both treatments were of comparable diameter and height, however, the helicopter treatment contained a greater density, basal area, and biomass ofFraxinus caroliniana. The rutting and mounding associated with the skidder simulation treatment favored a greater diversity of both diversity of both lowerstory and herbaceous species. Groundflora biomass was greatest in the herbicide controlled treatment (13,127 kg/ha), comparable in both the helicopter logged and skidder simulation treatments (5128 kg/ha; 5648 kglha, respectively), and least in the reference area (1495 kglha). Sediment accumulation reflected these differences in groundflora biomass; 104 mm in the herbicide controlled treatment, 79 mm and 63 mm in the helicopter logged and skidder simulation treatments, respectively, and 37 mm in the reference area. Three gradients were identified in the study areas via the tests of Latin squares, rows, and columns which actually corresponded to gradients of hydrology and! or sediment deposition. Square two was wetter than squares one or three because square two had fewer residual pullboat runs, which facilitate greater water movement. The rows are indicative of the distance from the main river channel; rows nearer the river are slightly higher in elevation, less inundated, and favor the less flood tolerant species. The columns reflect the sediment trapping patterns of the vegetation and the subsequent effects of site hydrology and nutritional status. / Master of Science

Sediment accumulation and loss were measured in a water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica)- baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) forested wetlandin years 2, 7, 10 and 12 following harvesting disturbance. A 3 X 3 Latin Square design was replicated three times and compared to a psuedo-replicate reference stand (REF). Disturbance treatments were chainsaw fellind of trees with (1) helicopter removal of logs (HELI), (2) helicopter removal of logs followed by a simulated skidder removal (SKID), and helicopter removal of logs follwed by glyphosphate application (GLYPH). Measurements of sediment accretion show little difference between treatments and reference in the first two years following harvest. After two years the harvest treatments accumulate more sediment than the REF. Of the harvest treatments, the GLYPH plots accumulate the greatest quantities of sediment. The difference in sediment accretion between the harvest treatments begins to fade in the 12th year of recovery. Results show that skidder and helicopter removal of logs differ very little in the amount of sediment trapped, while glyphosphate application increased the wetland's ability to trap sediment beginning in the second year. In addition, sediment trappin is associated with herbaceous cover that slows flood waters and allows soil particles to precipitate from flood water. / Master of Science

Ecological restoration of a converted wetland was characterized within a recently drained impoundment along the James River in Charles City County, Virginia. Colonizing vegetation was assessed over three growing seasons in both tidal and non-tidal environments. Study objectives were to (1) examine geospatial relations of recruitment patterns among colonizing species over three growing seasons, (2) quantify species composition and potential differences between extant species cover and soil seed banks across restored and natural wetland habitats and (3) assess geospatial patterns to develop a GIS model of bald cypress (Taxodium distichum L.) recruitment. The two most common native colonizing species during 2009, 2010 and 2011 growing seasons were narrow-leaf cattail (Typha angustifolia L.) and rice cutgrass (Leersia oryzoides L.). Vegetative communities dominated by these two species covered 72% of the basin in each growing season. Differences were observed between extant species cover in the field and seed bank species across habitats. Two hundred and eighty T. distichum individuals have been located in wetland habitats at the VCU Rice Center. Using a GIS weighted suitability model we identified potential areas within the restored wetland for natural and facilitated bald cypress recruitment. At the VCU Rice Center ~9.7 ha have potential for natural regeneration and ~48.5 ha have potential for facilitated restoration of T. distichum.

Vernal pools are small seasonally-ponded wetlands that provide crucial habitat for amphibian reproduction and support trophic levels beyond their boundaries. The Ridge and Valley physiographic province in Pennsylvania is known to have vernal pools, but a regional inventory and geomorphology assessment is needed. My research is split into two independent parts focusing on the higher elevation areas of this region to determine vernal pool distribution and characteristics. Vernal pools were mapped using a LiDAR based suitability model and leaf-off aerial imagery interpretation. Four terrain rasters derived from a 1-meter DEM (modified wind modified wind exposure, terrain surface convexity, topographic position index, and a multiresolution index of valley bottom flatness) were used in the suitability model. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's HSD test found a significant difference using the model between terrestrial (non-wetland) habitat and vernal pools. Photo interpretation and field surveying lead to an inventory of 1011 vernal pools. Geomorphology was assessed from 13 variables to determine the best for vernal pool prediction. Three variables were significant for the occurrence and frequency of vernal pools; saddles with higher surface area, 0.6 to 1.5 kilometers between the summits of parallel ridgelines, and the presence of periglacial related solifluction. Vernal pool distribution is greater than previously known and they occur in predictable settings. Further research should focus on how and where vernal pools form, their impact on water quality, role in forest ecology, and ways to legally protect them at the state level. / Master of Science / Vernal pools are seasonally-ponded wetlands that are very important for amphibian reproduction. The Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania are known to have vernal pools, but comprehensive inventory is lacking. My research consists of two parts that focus on the higher elevation areas and assess the distribution and qualities of the vernal pools. Vernal pools were mapped using a LiDAR based suitability model and leaf-off aerial imagery interpretation. Statistical analysis was completed to prove that there was a significant difference in terrain morphology between non-wetland habitat and vernal pools. This research resulted in a total inventory of 1011 vernal pools. Results found that vernal pools were likely occur in landscape positions with higher surface area, 0.6 to 1.5 kilometers between the summits of parallel ridgelines, and the presence of topographic features indicative of glacial processes. Vernal pools are much more abundant than previously known and they occur in predictable settings. Further research could focus on the formation of vernal pools, impact on water quality, role in forest ecology, and ways to legally protect them at the state level.

Sediment accretion and elevation change in tidal forests, and the corresponding ability of these wetlands to keep pace with sea-level rise (SLR), represent data gaps in our understanding of wetland sustainability. Surface Elevation Tables and marker horizons were installed in three mature tidal forests and a restored tidal marsh, allowing us to measure elevation change, accretion, and subsidence. Additionally, we measured predictor variables to test for their significance in explaining accretion and elevation change rates. Mean accretion at our sites was 11.67 +/- 3.01 mm yr-1 and mean elevation change was -20.22 +/- 8.10 mm yr-1, suggesting subsidence occurring beneath the sites. Processes contributing to accretion and elevation change at our sites may be driven by hydrologic patterns. Comparing our elevation trends with SLR trends suggests that our study sites may not keep pace with SLR. However, we may be observing short-term oscillations that do not indicate true long-term trends.