A critical component of SFS semester programs is the Directed Research project. Guided by the SFS Five Year Research Plans (5YRP), Directed Research projects introduce students to the real-world challenges of conservation-based field research.

Upon finishing the program, many students have the opportunity to present their research at national and international conferences. Here are a few recent presentations:

Elliott Diggs
Center for Rainforest Studies; Yungaburra, Australia, Fall 2009
Guilford College
Presented at the Guilford Undergraduate Symposium in Greensboro, NC, February 2010
Presenting at the North Carolina Academy of Science meeting in Greensboro, NC, March 2010
Presenting at the Association of Southeastern Biologists/Beta Beta Beta meeting in Asheville, NC, April 2010

Age and sex ratios of Australian freshwater turtles in the North Johnstone River catchment

An understanding of age and sex ratios is critical for freshwater turtle conservation as it aids in our knowledge of their ecological niches and demography. Age ratios can influence the diet of freshwater turtles with juveniles often having different diets to adults. Sex ratios of freshwater turtles are an indicator of current breeding pairs in the case of adults and future breeding pairs in the case of juveniles. I examined age and sex ratios of Elseya stirlingi and Wollumbinia latisternum at four pools in the North Johnstone River, north Queensland, Australia. W. latisternum populations favored juveniles for most pools while E. stirlingi populations favored juveniles for two pools and adults for the remaining pools. For E. stirlingi, half the pools favored females and half favored males. For W. latisternum, half the pools had more females and half had more males. For adult E. stirlingi, the same trend occurred within all pools; however, for W. latisternum, most pools had more adult males than adult females. When all the sexes of both species were pooled together, the ratio of males to females was almost equal for both species. Such ratios are consistent with the hypothesis that populations for both species would be skewed towards adults specifically females, thus showing signs of stable populations.

Monica Stowe
The Center for Coastal Studies; Baja, Mexico, Fall 2008
Guilford College
Presented at the Guilford Undergraduate Symposium in Greensboro, NC, February 2009

Osprey behavior patterns according to nest location

Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) are known for their unique behaviors. This study aimed to determine the relationship of osprey behavior by pairs of birds based on the distance each pair nested from shore and based on the distance between nests. Behaviors monitored were aggression, being away from the nest, mating, feeding, and resting. Behavior changed the farther away from shore a nest was located. Behavior also differed when nests were built close together versus a long distance apart. Resting and spending time away from the nest were the prominent behaviors noted for all nests. This data agrees with previous studies done on osprey behavior.

Stowe, M. 2009. Osprey behavior patterns according to nest location. Guilford Undergraduate Symposium; 2009, Feb 27; Greensboro, NC. Oral presentation.

Norah Stevens-Kittner
The Center for Coastal Studies; Baja, Mexico, Fall 2008
Guilford College
Presented at the Guilford Undergraduate Symposium in Greensboro, NC, February 2009

A Behavioral Study on the Effects of Whale-Watching Boats on Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus) in Bahía Magdalena, Mexico

Whale-watching has become an increasingly popular tourist activity along the Baja California Peninsula of Mexico and in many coastal regions around the world. In recent years, some studies have reported that the increase in tourist boats has resulted in negative effects on various aspects of whale behavior. This study examines the effects of whale-watching boats on the behavior of Pacific grey whales (Eschrichtius robustus) during the months of February and March in Bahía Magdalena. A total of 107 observations were made, recording both numbers and types of whales and vessels within the study area. All boats or vessels were between 15 to 20 feet in length and were recorded as being either a tourist boat or a common fishing vessel. I determined that with an increase in vessel number, whales were negatively affected by boat presence, as revealed by a general increase in behaviors that indicated disturbance. Further research would be beneficial to determine long-term effects of boat presence on whale behavior and may assist in further defining whale watching regulations and efforts in whale conservation and protection around the world.

Stevens-Kitter, N., Specht, S., and Perez-Cortez, H. 2009. A Behavioral Study on the Effects of Whale-Watching Boats on Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus) in Bahía Magdalena, Mexico. Guilford Undergraduate Symposium; 2009, Feb 27; Greensboro, NC. Poster presentation.

Peggy McKay
The Center for Coastal Studies; Baja, Mexico, Fall 2008
Davidson College
Presented at the Southern Anthropological Society 2009 Annual Meeting in Wilmington, DE, March 2009

Preliminary results on public participation in sea turtle conservation in Baja California Sur, Mexico

Sea turtle populations have declined world wide due to human consumption, accidental capture and pollution. Mexico’s Pacific coast along Baja California Sur (B.C.S.) is an important sea turtle feeding and nesting ground. Despite a growing sea turtle conservation movement in B.C.S., Mexico, there is a widely acknowledged black market of sea turtle meat and eggs. To better understand the public’s response to sea turtle conservation we investigated the prevalence and influence of the sea turtle conservation movement of B.C.S. More specifically, we documented public participation, behaviors, and attitudes regarding sea turtle protection and the sea turtle conservation movement. We conducted a combined total of 203 open-ended surveys and semi-structured interviews using convenience and snowball sampling. Preliminary findings suggest that sea turtle volunteerism may be prevalent in B.C.S. and that Mexican citizens may be willing to financially support sea turtle organizations.

Mckay, M. 2009. Preliminary results on public participation in sea turtle conservation in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Southern Anthropological Society Annual Meeting; 2009, March; Wilmington, DE.

Justin Dohn
Center for Rainforest Studies; Yungaburra, Australia, Spring 2008
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Presented at Ecological Society of America, New Mexico, August 2009 

Effectiveness of three weed control methods on the removal of Lantana camara in Australian dry rainforest

Lantana camara poses a serious threat to the biodiversity of dry rainforest vegetation at Forty Mile Scrub National Park in Queensland, Australia. In areas of recent disturbance or open canopy, it can form dense thickets that are able to out-compete native species. High densities of L. camara have also been associated with an increase in the frequency and intensity of forest fires, which kills native dry rainforest species and promotes further invasion by L. camara. This study tests three common weed control methods for their effectiveness in removing L. camara, their threat to native species, and their success in reducing L. camara fuel loads. In doing so, this study aims to provide an ecosystem-specific management plan for a weed that has been shown to drastically reduce biodiversity. The removal of L. camara and the threat to native species were quantified by counting the numbers of dead and live L. camara plants and native species, and the effects of the treatments on L. camara fuel loads are evaluated through biomass and fuel height comparisons. The three weed control treatments were hand pulling, foliar spraying with a glyphosphate herbicide, and a basal bark application of a picloram and triclopyr based herbicide. Due to its high efficiency and low costs, the foliar spray is recommended for the remainder of the park targeted for L. camara treatment.

Dohn, J., Berry, C. Carter, Curran, T. 2008. Effectiveness of three weed control methods on the removal of Lantana camara in Australian dry rainforest. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting; 2008, August; Albuquerque, NM. Poster presentation.

Austin Griggs
Center for Wildlife Management Studies; Kimana, Kenya, Fall 2007
University of San Diego
Presented at Ecological Society of America, New Mexico, August 2009 

An exploratory economic analysis of conservation initiatives and corresponding community perceptions regarding wildlife in Loitokitok District, Kenya

Involvement of local communities in conservation has been recognized since the 1950s as essential to the success of wildlife conservation in developing nations. This study is an exploratory examination of community perceptions and the cost of conserving wildlife in the Loitokitok District of the Amboseli region, southern Kenya. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, 349 community members were interviewed. Key informants, including the senior warden of Amboseli National Park and eco-tourism lodge managers, were interviewed as well. Data were analyzed using contingency tables and chi-square goodness of fit tests. Respondents were mostly Maasai (62%), lacking secondary school education (83%), and practicing either agriculture or pastoralism (>99%). Negative affects from wildlife (81%), through crop damage or livestock predation, were omnipresent. Most of the population (94%) believed that the presence of monetary benefits positively influence the success of community conservation, though most feel the distribution of benefits is inequitable. Fifty-nine percent of respondents noted the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) as the biggest beneficiary from wildlife conservation, and 73% felt that the local community should receive more than 50% of the revenue generated by Amboseli National Park each year. Lodges have attempted to involve the community in the booming tourist industry, although their efforts only reach the Maasai surrounding the park. The lack of interaction between KWS and local community members has devastated conservation success in recent years, and tensions are high. The future success of community conservation in the Amboseli region hinges on sufficient revenue sharing between KWS and those community members affected most by dispersing wildlife.

Griggs, A. 2008. The School for Field Studies. An exploratory economic analysis of conservation initiatives and corresponding community perceptions regarding wildlife in Loitokitok District, Kenya. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting; 2008, August; Albuquerque, NM. Poster presentation.

Sean Landsman
SFS Center for Marine Resource Studies; Turks and Caicos, B.W.I., Spring 2008
University of Illinois/Urbana-Champaign
Presented at the 61st Conference of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute, Guadeloupe, November 2008

Investigation of the Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) fishery in the Turks and Caicos Islands: Implications for conservation and management

As tourism grows in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), increased demand on local finfish stocks, particularly on the endangered Nassau grouper (Epinephlus striatus), may result.  Because of their life history traits, Nassau grouper are particularly vulnerable to over-fishing and warrant necessary protection.  Currently, the TCI has no restrictions on Nassau grouper harvest.  Dockside monitoring, fishermen surveys, GIS technology, and restaurant phone interviews revealed several for Nassau grouper in the TCI related to size distributions, localization of fishing effort, CPUE, and restaurant demand. It is suggested that restrictions such as size limits, closed seasons, and/or quotas be established, in conjunction with co-management, to protect the Nassau grouper fishery from over-harvest.

Landsman, S. 2008. Investigation of the Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) fishery in the Turks and Caicos Islands: Implications for conservation and management. 61st Conference of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute; 2008 November; Guadeloupe.

Eric Braden and Jennifer Goodwillie
SFS Center for Rainforest Studies; Yungaburra, Australia, Spring 2008
Braden: Texas Tech University; Goodwillie: Simon's Rock College of Bard
Presented at the Ecological Society of America, in Milwaukee, WI in August 2008.

Leaf phenology and specific leaf area influence the frost resilience of Australian upland rainforest seedlings

This study examined the effects of a severe frost that occurred in June and July of 2007 on restoration plots of riparian rainforest seedlings in North Queensland, Australia. We quantified frost resilience (recovering after damage) three months after the frost event, by measuring several plant traits on individuals that had lost 100% of foliage from the frost: Specific leaf area was positively correlated with resilience, wood density was not, and leaf phenology determined the influence of wood density on the resilience of a species. Overall, deciduous species drove the trends in resilience. These findings have important implications for restoration plantings in frost prone areas; we recommend resilient deciduous species or resistant evergreens. This study and others like it may be instrumental in helping to build a global synthesis of functional ecology, to aid the accurate construction of future climate change vegetation models.

Braden, E., Goodwillie, J., and Curran, T. 2008. Leaf phenology and specific leaf area influence the frost resilience of Australian upland rainforest seedlings. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting; 2008 August; Milwaukee, TN. Poster presenation.

Roger Shaw
SFS Center for Rainforest Studies; Yungaburra, Australia, Spring 2008
Swarthmore College
Presented at the Ecological Society of America, in Milwaukee, WI in August 2008.

Plant functional trait correlations as indicators of drought resistance strategies in trees of the Australian rainforests

Plant functional traits are attributes that allow plants to survive under certain environmental conditions, for example the stressful conditions associated with drought. To assess the generality of trait correlations across a rainfall gradient in the North Queensland wet tropics, we measured four traits related to drought resistance. Those traits were specific leaf area, leaf angle, stem density, and wood density (WD), and leaf phenology. Results of the study suggest that deciduous species are able to survive with only one drought resistant trait due to the flexibility that deciduousness allows, while evergreen species have developed multiple drought tolerant traits in order to survive. This study has implications for plant adaptability to global climate change.

Shaw, R. and Curran, T. 2008. Plant functional trait correlations as indicators of drought resistance strategies in trees of the Australian rainforests. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting; 2008, August; Milwaukee, TN. Poster presenation.

Kenneth Jones
SFS Center for Marine Resource Studies; Turks and Caicos, B.W.I., Fall 2007
Belmont Abbey College 
Presented at the North Carolina Collegiate Academy of Science in Greensboro, NC in March 2008

A Study of Blowouts in South Caicos and the Species Found in Them (with Emphasis on Nassau Grouper).

Blowouts are the natural or artificial erosion of patches of seagrass. In general blowouts have been viewed solely as the result of seagrass habitat destruction (J. Claydon personal communication.) This study attempts to change this view by highlighting the amount of species that use blowouts as habitats, especially Nassau groupers which are now commercially extinct in many areas of the world. The study was conducted by measuring the circumference, diameters, overhang, ledge height, depth of the blowout and the number of species seen in the blowout. A total of 45 species were seen in the blowouts studied. Blowouts with larger circumferences and overhangs tended to have greater species diversity. The results all highlight the fact that blowouts area a potentially important habitat for many marine species.

Laura Chartier
SFS Center for Coastal Studies; Baja, Mexico, Fall 2004
Oxford University
Presented at the Student Conference on Conservation Science in Cambridge, U.K. in March 2008

Trends in Sea Turtle Mortality in Bahía Magdalena, Baja California Sur, México

In Bahía Magdalena, Baja California Sur, Mexico, endangered sea turtle populations struggle against anthropogenic forces, particularly human consumption of turtles. With the School for Field Studies, we researched trends in turtle mortality in the region. Mortality survey results showed that sites with the largest human populations had the highest numbers of consumed turtles. The majority of dead turtles found were below reproductive size, and this, in addition to other results, may point to the possibility of a continued population decline. Though human consumption remains a threat to sea turtles – especially since many turtles are extracted and eaten before they reach reproductive size – our data also suggests that environmental education may have the potential to reduce consumption rates over time.

Chartier, L. 2008. Trends in Sea Turtle Mortality in Bahía Magdalena, Baja California Sur, México. 9^th Student Conference on Conservation Science; 2008, Mar 25-27; Cambridge, U.K. Poster presentation.

Dan Gurdak
SFS Center for Rainforest Studies; Yungaburra, Australia, Spring 2006
Oxford University
Presented at the Student Conference on Conservation Science in Cambridge, U.K. in March 2008

Aspect and edge orientation explain patterns of cyclonic disturbance in fragmented Australian tropical rainforest

We assessed whether patch-scale factors influenced levels of disturbance to fragments of critically endangered 'Mabi' rainforest in north Queensland, following Cyclone Larry (20 March 2006).  We measured damage by estimating loss of canopy cover and by categorizing plots on a disturbance scale.  Directly exposed edge orientations had significantly more plots with severe disturbance levels and aspect influenced the percentage of canopy cover at sites sampled within plots. We recommend conserving and restoring Mabi on a wide range of aspects and topographic positions to provide refugia from future cyclones and to establish shelterbelts of cyclone resistant tree species to protect existing patches.

Lauren Gersbach
SFS Center for Rainforest Studies; Yungaburra, Australia, Fall 2006
Butler University
Presented at the Forum on Education Abroad Conference in Boston, MA in April 2008

Resistance vs. Resilience: Alternative Mechanisms to Survive Severe Cyclones in Mabi Type 5b Rainforest Tree Species of North Queensland, Australia

Ecological theory suggests that there is a trade-off between plant traits that enhance survival and those that enhance growth. The trade-off between safety (resistance) and growth (resilience) was investigated among tropical rainforest tree species in North Queensland, Australia, by examining damage and recovery following a severe cyclone. We classed individuals in six species into damage categories (no damage, severe branch damage, snapped, uprooted) in sites located in heavily impacted areas of three rainforest fragments on the Atherton Tablelands. Wood density and growth rate, characterized as mean total biomass accumulated, mean biomass per unit size (diameter at breast height), and mean rate of biomass accumulation were estimated in all species. Species differed in damage patterns sustained by the cyclone. We found a significant negative correlation between species wood density and (1) percent of individuals with snapped stems; and (2) percent of individuals with snapped stems or severe branch damage. This supports similar findings that suggest that high wood density is associated with greater ability to resist cyclone damage. A negative relationship was also found between wood density and each of the three biomass accumulation variables used to assess growth rate, suggesting that high wood density translates to a reduction in a tree's ability to accumulate biomass post-disturbance. Collectively, these findings support the existence of a trade-off between resistance and resilience and confirm that the position of a species along that spectrum can be predicted by wood density.

Gersbach, L., Curran, T. 2008. Resistance vs. resilience: alternative mechanisms to survive severe cyclones in Mabi type 5b rainforest tree species of North Queensland, Australia. Forum on Education Abroad Conference; 2008, April 2-4; Boston. Invited oral presentation.