an ecosystem management approach to riparian zones joy o’keefe clemson university

An Ecosystem Management An Ecosystem Management Approach to Riparian ZonesApproach to Riparian Zones

Joy O’KeefeJoy O’Keefe

Clemson UniversityClemson University

Ecosystem ManagementEcosystem Management

Promotes sustainability of ecological Promotes sustainability of ecological processesprocesses

Recognizes ecosystems are dynamic and Recognizes ecosystems are dynamic and complexcomplex

Considers future economic, social, ecological Considers future economic, social, ecological factorsfactors

Necessitates cooperation across boundariesNecessitates cooperation across boundaries Requires accurate complex data and toolsRequires accurate complex data and tools Integrates research and managementIntegrates research and management

Ecosystem ManagementEcosystem Management

Adaptive management necessary to Adaptive management necessary to deal with uncertainty and new data deal with uncertainty and new data

No more stand-level management No more stand-level management now landscape-levelnow landscape-level

Shift from single species to Shift from single species to ecosystem approach, but consider ecosystem approach, but consider keystone specieskeystone species

Riparian ZonesRiparian Zones

““land near streams and rivers”land near streams and rivers”

unique characteristics and functionsunique characteristics and functions

But, as a land manager, how do you But, as a land manager, how do you define and manage a riparian zone?define and manage a riparian zone?

Riparian Zone FunctionsRiparian Zone Functions

filter sediments, nutrientsfilter sediments, nutrients stabilize stream banksstabilize stream banks energy source for energy source for

aquatic systemsaquatic systems provide shadeprovide shade moist habitatmoist habitat travel routetravel route economic, social, recreational useseconomic, social, recreational uses

Impacts on Riparian ZonesImpacts on Riparian Zones

Intensive land useIntensive land use Changes in Changes in

disturbance (e.g. disturbance (e.g. lack of fire)lack of fire)

PollutionPollution Introduction of Introduction of

exotic pests (e.g. exotic pests (e.g. hemlock adelgid)hemlock adelgid)

Multidisciplinary ApproachMultidisciplinary Approach

Research riparian zone structure & functionResearch riparian zone structure & function vegetation, wildlife, nutrients, sediments, CWD, vegetation, wildlife, nutrients, sediments, CWD,

water quality, keystone spp., ecosystem serviceswater quality, keystone spp., ecosystem services Management OptionsManagement Options

timber harvest buffers, rhododendron control, timber harvest buffers, rhododendron control, fire, fertilization, plantingfire, fertilization, planting

EvaluationEvaluation Riparian zones responses: structure, function, Riparian zones responses: structure, function,

and ecosystem servicesand ecosystem services

Bats: Tools to Study FunctionBats: Tools to Study Function

For bats, riparian zones provide For bats, riparian zones provide foraging, drinking, and roosting foraging, drinking, and roosting

habitat, and serve as flight corridorshabitat, and serve as flight corridors

Again, how do you define and Again, how do you define and manage riparian zones for manage riparian zones for

bats?bats?

geographically seasonally by stream size by bat species by function

Definition and management strategies will vary:

11stst or 2 or 2ndnd Order Streams ?? Order Streams ??

55thth of Higher Order of Higher Order Streams ??Streams ??

Rivers ??Rivers ??

Instream structure

Streamside buffers

Streamside vegetationcommunity composition

Instreammanagement

Streamsidemanagement

Roost siteavailability andcharacteristics

Clutter

Water

Prey availability

From Hayes and Loeb presentation, Bats and Forests Symposium, 2004

Riparian ManagementRiparian Management

Instream StructureInstream Structure

Maintain water quality by controlling Maintain water quality by controlling pollution and sediment inputpollution and sediment input

Maintain bank trees for stabilityMaintain bank trees for stability Encourage retention of coarse woody Encourage retention of coarse woody

debrisdebris Use indicator species presence as Use indicator species presence as

monitoring toolsmonitoring tools

Instream structure

Streamside buffers

Streamside vegetationcommunity composition

Instreammanagement

Streamsidemanagement

Roost siteavailability andcharacteristics

Clutter

Water

Prey availability

From Hayes and Loeb presentation, Bats and Forests Symposium, 2004

Riparian ManagementRiparian Management

Streamside Vegetation and Streamside Vegetation and Community CompositionCommunity Composition

Retain trees that function as shade trees Retain trees that function as shade trees (e.g. hemlock) or roosts (e.g. birch)(e.g. hemlock) or roosts (e.g. birch)

Control rhododendron Control rhododendron Leave standing dead trees (potential Leave standing dead trees (potential

roosts)roosts) Pest control (e.g. hemlock wooly adelgid)Pest control (e.g. hemlock wooly adelgid) Burn and/or thin to reduce clutter and Burn and/or thin to reduce clutter and

control community compositioncontrol community composition

Instream structure

Streamside buffers

Streamside vegetationcommunity composition

Instreammanagement

Streamsidemanagement

Roost siteavailability andcharacteristics

Clutter

Water

Prey availability

From Hayes and Loeb presentation, Bats and Forests Symposium, 2004

Riparian ManagementRiparian Management

Streamside BuffersStreamside Buffers

Identify optimal width:Identify optimal width: To maximize timber harvestTo maximize timber harvest Varies with topography and stream Varies with topography and stream

orderorder Depends on function to be maintained:Depends on function to be maintained:

Retention of roostsRetention of roosts Sheltered flight corridorSheltered flight corridor Suitable prey base (by diversity and Suitable prey base (by diversity and

abundance)abundance)

Tools to Study BatsTools to Study Bats

Acoustic SamplingAcoustic Sampling Activity levelsActivity levels Species presenceSpecies presence Temporal patternsTemporal patterns Spatial patternsSpatial patterns

Capture/Radio Capture/Radio TelemetryTelemetry Species presenceSpecies presence Roost habitatRoost habitat Foraging habitatForaging habitat Temporal patternsTemporal patterns Spatial patternsSpatial patterns

Acoustic SamplingAcoustic Sampling

Allows simultaneous sampling in a Allows simultaneous sampling in a variety of habitatsvariety of habitats

Record calls of free-flying bats within Record calls of free-flying bats within 50 ft radius of microphone50 ft radius of microphone

System can be left System can be left unattended for several unattended for several daysdays

Anabat II detectors, Anabat II detectors, CF Storage ZCAIMsCF Storage ZCAIMs

Detectors record calls Detectors record calls from 20:30 to 6:30 each from 20:30 to 6:30 each nightnight

Calls stored on flash Calls stored on flash cardcard

Examine calls with Examine calls with Analook softwareAnalook software

Identify species with Identify species with discriminant function discriminant function modelmodel

Determine activity by Determine activity by habitat using call counthabitat using call count

75

0

Stream

Primary Experimental DesignFour treatments

3 Anabats per trtmnt

150

0

150

75

0

150

0

75

150

30 ft

100 ft75

0 ft

Control

To be harvested

No harvest

Secondary ExperimentSecondary Experiment

Simultaneous acoustic surveys in multiple habitats for comparison

Two watersheds 7 – 10 July 2004

(an active time for bats in the mountains)

  Habitat Type

(number of nights sampled)

Small Stream

Medium Stream

Large Stream

Small Pond

Interior Forest

Gated, Grassy Road

Open, Gravel Road

Wildlife Opening

Species (n = 4) (n = 6) (n = 5) (n = 2) (n = 4) (n = 6) (n = 6) (n = 6)

EPFU ● ● ● ● ● ●

LABO ● ● ● ●

LACI ● ●

MYLE ● ● ● ●

MYLU ● ● ●

MYSE ● ● ● ●

PISU   ● ●   ● ● ● ●

Presence by Habitat TypePresence by Habitat Type

< 1%

< 1% < 1%

< 1%

10%

11%

12%66%

Activity varied by habitat type (p=0.002)

Activity by Habitat TypeActivity by Habitat Type

CaptureCapture

Mistnet over roads, streams, and pondsMistnet over roads, streams, and ponds Survey as often as possible!Survey as often as possible! Collect data on individual batsCollect data on individual bats

species, sex, age, weight, forearm length,species, sex, age, weight, forearm length,

reproductive state, and band #reproductive state, and band # Select some captures for radio Select some captures for radio

telemetrytelemetry

Radio TelemetryRadio Telemetry

Attach transmitters to Attach transmitters to bats that roost in bats that roost in foliage (eastern red foliage (eastern red bat and eastern bat and eastern pipistrelle) pipistrelle)

and crevices/bark and crevices/bark (northern bats, small-(northern bats, small-footed bats, big footed bats, big brown bats)brown bats)

Radio TelemetryRadio Telemetry

Track bats to roost trees dailyTrack bats to roost trees daily

Radio TelemetryRadio Telemetry

Collect data on roosts and random Collect data on roosts and random treestrees

Brief Telemetry ResultsBrief Telemetry Results

Eastern red bat (foliage)Eastern red bat (foliage) Hickory, oak, birch, sourwood treesHickory, oak, birch, sourwood trees Not restricted to riparian zone or to one stand Not restricted to riparian zone or to one stand

type/agetype/age Eastern pipistrelle (foliage)Eastern pipistrelle (foliage)

Birch and oak trees very close to small streamBirch and oak trees very close to small stream Northern bat (crevice/bark)Northern bat (crevice/bark)

Large hardwood snags in older stand on upland Large hardwood snags in older stand on upland sitesite