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 James Dyer
Associate Professor of Geography


Abstracts of Graduate Student Theses

Lisa King, 2008. Using Landscape Variables to Assess Stream Health in Ohio’s Western Allegheny Plateau.
For twenty years the Ohio EPA has characterized stream health using fish and macroinvertebrate community assemblages, as well as by local habitat within the stream. Since the adjoining landscape may also influence stream health, this research explores a variety of easily attainable GIS land use/cover, population, and forest connectivity data to find which best correlate with stream health. Four different metrics (percent native fish, darters/sculpins, intolerant, and sensitive species) were evaluated against forty-eight different independent variables using multiple regression. Three variables were important for predicting stream health: density of abandoned mine openings in the upstream catchment, forest connectivity in a 66 ha area surrounding the sample point, and percent wetlands (from NLCD) within the HUC-14 subwatershed. Percent forest cover (GIRAS) in the upstream riparian buffer was also important for intolerant species. Despite known macro- and micro-controls on fish communities, landscape variables were able to explain up to half the variance in these fish metrics.



Scott Snider, 2004. Predicting Infestations of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park Tennessee/North Carolina, USA.
The hemlock wooly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) is a non-native, invasive pest killing eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) trees in the eastern United States.  The purpose of this research is to evaluate wind and people as dispersal mechanisms and the factors limiting spread of the adelgid in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  The results from binary discriminant analysis indicate that people have the biggest influence on spreading HWA, wind was not a significant factor of dispersal, and cold temperatures can limit the range to which it will spread.  This information can be applied in the fight against the adelgid because it can help to define a search area with a higher probability of infestation and to define monitoring and treatment standards for these areas.


Kaabe Shaw, 2002. Exotic Plant Colonization of the Forest Adjacent to Transmission Line Corridors in Athens County, Ohio.
The colonization of exotic species in forested areas is a growing concern to the biological diversity of our forests. It is known that exotic species are more common in highly fragmented, disturbed landscapes (e.g. forested landscape with transmission line corridors present) with higher levels of light, temperature and photosynthetically active radiation. This study concentrates on the colonization of exotic species along the transmission line corridor/forest edge, and their ability to spread into the forest interior. In Athens County, Ohio, a landscape has been created in which exotic species can potentially use transmission line corridors as a conduit to move along the corridor as well as from the corridor to the forest.  Edge or interior position, aspect (cool or warm) and topographic position (ridge or valley) are environmental factors that may affect the ability of exotic species to move along the corridor/forest edge, then spread into the forest interior by providing environmental conditions favorable to the exotic species.

Overall, 90 pairs (one ridge or one valley) of sites were sampled. At each of these 180 sites, plots were established on warm/cool aspects, and at forest edge/interior, resulting in 720 sample sites. At 2 and 30 meters inside the forest on each side of the corridor, nested circle quadrats of 1-m2 for herbs and 5-m2 for shrubs and trees were constructed and percent cover per species was estimated using the Modified Daubenmire Scale. A Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCO) was performed, and PCO scores then served as input to a MANOVA to determine if there is a significant difference in exotic species abundance from edge or interior position, warm or cool aspect and ridge or valley topographic position (interactive effects of the three environmental variables were also analyzed).  MANOVA results indicate that edge or interior position and an interactive effect of edge or interior position and aspect significantly influence the abundance of exotic species. Although not statistically significant, topographic position may also play a role in the abundance of exotic species.  Potential exotic species colonization and displacement of native interior species may increase in a forested landscape that is dissected by transmission line corridors. Eradication and prevention of further exotic species colonization may be the best solution to control exotic species from dominating local forests.  


Galo Zapato-Rios, 2001. Linking Spatial Data with Population Viability Analysis: Reserve Network Design in the Northeastern Ecuadorian Amazon.
This research evaluates the effectiveness of two protected areas of the northeastern Ecuadorian Amazon (Cuyabeno Fauna Production Reserve and Yasuní National Park) in protecting wildlife populations in the long-term. Because, currently, there are no methods to determine the efficiency of protected areas with reference only to ecosystem characteristics, five large mammal species were chosen as indicator species (Myrmecophaga tridactyla, Ateles belzebuth, Alouatta seniculus, Panthera onca, and Tapirus terrestris). The methodology combined remote sensing, geographic information systems, and population viability analysis in order to estimate the current carrying capacity of the protected areas and the extinction probability of the indicator species during the next one hundred years. The results suggest that individually Cuyabeno and Yasuní cannot be considered efficient because, under current management conditions, they do not protect minimum viable populations. Persistence probability is higher if migration and gene flow are allowed between the protected areas. Finally, a reserve network joining Cuyabeno and Yasuní with a biological corridor was designed to increase the conservation potential of both areas.

 
Michael Wehling, 2001. Land Use Land Cover Change From 1915 to 1999 in The Gwynns Falls Watershed, Baltimore County, Maryland: Creation of a Suburban Social Ecology.
The study describes land use land cover (LULC) change in the Gwynns Falls Watershed of Baltimore County, Maryland during the 20th century.  Procedures include (1) mapping the extent of LULC change by integrating air photos from 1938, 1957, 1971 and 1999, with a digitized forestry map from 1915 into a GIS, (2) performing landscape pattern analysis on forest cover for each year, and (3) overlaying LULC maps in the GIS to determine change over time.  LULC categories mapped were Urban-High Tree Density, Urban-Low Tree Density/High Permeability, Urban-Low Permeability, Agriculture, Old Field & Pasture, Forest, Water, and Transitional.  Minimum mapping unit is 1 ha. 

The Gwynns Falls Watershed transformed from an area covered by relatively equal proportions of Agriculture, Old Field/Pasture, Forest, and Urban-Low Permeability surfaces, to an area dominated by Urban-Low Permeability surfaces during the 20th century.  From 1938-1957, 46% of the landscape in the common study area changed, 37% change in LULC occurred 1957-1971, and 35% of LULC changed 1971-1999.  Transitions in agriculture allowed the expansion of forest cover onto old fields, similar to the pattern seen elsewhere in the eastern deciduous forest.  Increasing development reduced and dispersed the Forest patches, potentially affecting species persistence and dispersal. 

Through simultaneous and sequential changes in agriculture, forest structure, preservation, and urban expansion, both sociocultural and biophysical processes transformed the LULC of the Gwynns Falls Watershed.  Further inquiry into these reciprocal relationships will aid in understanding their functioning and management.  


Emily Whitfield, 1998.  The Biogeography of Gapper's Red-backed Vole (Clethrionomys gapperi): A Comparison of Genetic and Morphological Variation in Eastern North America.
Species located in habitat islands tend to show similar isolation effects to those found on true islands. The isolation often causes a reduction in fitness usually directly related to decreased genetic variation. The study species, Clethrionomys gapperi, Gapper's red- backed vole, is a boreal species restricted to mountaintops in the southern part of its range. Populations of C. gapperi from eastern North America were examined for evidence of this reduction in variation through both genetic and morphological means. Tissue from live- trapped voles from New Hampshire, West Virginia, and Tennessee was analyzed for heterozygousity using microsatellite primer pairs. Bilateral characters on skulls from four museum collections were measured and then used in a comparison of fluctuating asymmetry levels among different groups. The DNA analysis reveals that populations found in the south had a lower number of banding patterns in the southern populations, both within an individual population and overall. Morphological analysis of skulls for evidence of fluctuating asymmetry reveals higher levels of fluctuating asymmetry for more southern populations. As high levels of fluctuating asymmetry are often related to low levels of genetic variability, these results are in agreement with the genetic analysis that the southern populations had lower levels of genetic variability. The southern mountaintops are therefore acting as habitat islands, isolated from each other and the more northern "mainland", and have the expected reduction in genetic variation in the isolated populations.


Evan Moffett, 1997. Landscape Suitability: A Case Study of Wolf Habitat in North Dakota.
The wolf is identified by the federal government as endangered in the 48 contiguous states, excluding Minnesota where it is listed as threatened; North Dakota's Turtle Mountain pack is listed endangered. Over the past two decades, a relationship has been identified in the Great Lakes Region between wolf presence/absence, road density and human population density. Road density, in particular, has been described as a "yardstick" to measure habitat suitability, resulting in the use of this variable in recovery efforts. Road density and human population density together serve as surrogates for human access to the species. Access, resulting in poaching, increases the difficulty in preserving this keystone species  

The objective of this thesis is to examine fine-grained habitat suitability throughout the state of North Dakota. The anthropogenic factors examined include human population density and road density. This thesis reclassifies the state based on parameters from North Rolette Unorganized, the minor civil division (MCD) in the Turtle Mountains in which wolves are denning. In addition, this thesis examines the importance of prey biomass on potential wolf numbers and the significance of spatial scale in defining habitat.  
Results suggest the following: (1) large areas of habitat exist within North Dakota in which human population density and road density are low; (2) models of habitat suitability for wolves are formation specific; differences exist as to threshold values from the GLR (forest type formation) and North Dakota (prairie formation); (3) differences between the MCD and county spatial scale exist with regards to wolf habitat suitability in North Dakota; (4) no predictive model can express wolf habitat adequately as long as humans continue to view this endangered species as destructive. Based on the variables examined, the state of North Dakota can support a wolf population. As indicated by numerous authors, wolves will not successfully reestablish their former range so long as people destroy them. 


Lisa DeChano, 1997. Catastrophic Windthrow: A Case Study of the Allegheny River Wilderness Islands.  
On May 31, 1985, a series of tornadoes ripped through the Allegheny National Forest, in northwestern Pennsylvania. One of the tornadoes, an F4, hit Baker Island, an Allegheny River Wilderness Island, and the surrounding upland. This thesis investigates the woody species regeneration of this riparian site as it compares with the eastern and western upland sites, eleven years after the devastating natural event.

From aerial photographs, three distinctive areas were chosen for sampling on Baker Island and both sides of the Allegheny River: (1) an undisturbed zone, (2) a disturbed zone, and (3) a transitional zone (a designated "edge" area in the upland sites). Island sampling used belt transects consisting of contiguous 20x50m (1000 m2 quadrats, while the upland sites were sampled with a single 20x50m quadrat in each area, for all trees (h ≥10cm dbh) and large saplings (h ≥ 2m, <10cm dbh). The small saplings and seedlings were sampled inside a nested 5x10m (50m2) quadrat and a 2x5m (10m2) quadrat, respectively, on the upland sites and within a 1x1 m (1m2) quadrat on Baker Island. Species identification and counts were taken at all sites and dbh measurements were recorded for trees and large saplings. Ordination, TWINSPAN, and cluster analysis helped determine if the regeneration processes were similar between each area.   

Results indicate that succession is proceeding on the upland sites; early successional species dominate the eastern and western uplands, such as sassafras and quaking aspen. Beech has a significant presence in the understory on the upland. In contrast, Baker Island has no regeneration occurring, with the exception of a few patches of choke cherry and American elm. The main reason suggested for the limited recovery of woody species on the island is reed canary grass. It dominates the understory everywhere on the island, suppressing any seedling growth that might establish.  

Basal area and density decreased in all areas, which is expected after a tornado of this intensity. Within the disturbed areas there was no selectivity in which trees were damaged. Everything in the path of the tornado was either snapped or uprooted. A species-specific response did occur on Baker Island as the damaged lessened, however. Based on existing evidence, silver maple suffered more snapping, while sycamore was more likely to uproot.  

Riparian environments are very unique and have not been studied as deeply as upland forest areas have been. This study is significant in helping to bridge the gap in the literature in how a riparian system responds to a natural disaster of this intensity. It also adds to the body of knowledge already established concerning upland forest recovery from a devastating tornado. 


Ian Kitch, 1994. A Spatial Analysis of an Urban Fishery: A Case Study of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
With increasing population and urbanization, the need for understanding resource users and the environment in which they reside is necessary for proper management of urban fisheries. For urban residents to enjoy nature within city limits, managers must plan for aquatic amenities such as fishing and other aquatic activities.  

Understanding the needs of the fishery user ultimately will help managers to increase the quality of the resource and life in the city. The purpose of this study was to identify the key resource concerns and attitudes of anglers of a fishery located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The spatial variations within the city and analysis of data in terms of accessibility, use, and perception was the focus of the study.  
 The user base was sampled by conducting 269 personal interviews from May to August over three distinct areas of the city (Red River south of the forks, Red River north of the forks, and Assiniboine River). The results revealed that there were two primary spatial variations in perceptions of Winnipeg anglers. Firstly, water quality concerns were highest in the North area of the city and secondly, safety concerns were greatest in the Assiniboine area.  

The current managers of the resource will use the results to assess urban fishing strategies within Winnipeg. Urban fishing studies are important to managers and planners because with the knowledge of the user base and the resource, the fishery can be enhanced, promoted, and protected.     

 

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