SW CT Ecology symposium
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Teresa Gallagher
Nov 12, 2009, 3:07:25 PM11/12/09
to shel...@googlegroups.com
If anyone is interested, I’m going to that symposium about forest ecology in SW CT in Redding tonight at 7:00. They probably have room if you call 203 938-8809. For more info: http://www.highstead.net/ . Looking at the agenda, I have a feeling a lot of it will be related to the effects of deer on the ecology, including effects on native and invasive species and forest regeneration.
Teresa G
Nov 13, 2009, 9:38:02 AM11/13/09
to Shelton Conservation Commission
Some notes from the CT Forest Ecology Mini-Symposium in Redding last
night (about 30 people attended).
Steve Patton, The Nature Conservancy, Director of Devil's Den:
TNC revised their CT policy to allow hunting on their properties, but
recognized that the problem is regional, and has been encouraging deer
control throughout SW CT. They help and encourage the Fairfield
County Municipal Deer Management Alliance, with 18 towns as members
(this is a group I have recommended that Shelton join). http://www.deeralliance.com/
He listed 8 Fairfield County towns that allow hunting on open space,
and there is hunting on the nearby Centennial State Forest.
Their target deer population is 8-12 deer. They have been able to
reduce their population at Devil's Den through hunting, but not to the
level needed. Still, they are seeing plants come back, such as Red
Trillium, Bloodroot, Pink Azalea, and Maple Leaf Viburnum.
He suggested recreational hunting will not be enough to reduce the
deer population because as the population decreases, it takes longer
to get a deer, and the hunters lose interest. He thinks a practical
answer might be to establish a commercial market for venison.
Ed Faison, The Effects of Deer on Oak Forests:
Deer are a keystone species that are "Ecosystem Engineers", meaning
their numbers have dramatic effects on the ecosystem as a whole. 90%
of the animal diet of the Mohicans was deer.
Oaks are in decline in CT, especially in Fairfield County.
Historically, 25% of the trees were White Oak (favored by wildlife).
Most of the Oaks today are Red Oak (very bitter acorns). One theory
for the switch is that Passenger Pigeons once ate huge amounts of Red
Oak acorns during the spring migration (they didn't eat White Oak
acorns because those had sprouted in the fall).
Today maples and birch are much more predominant. Deer are important
factors, especially in Fairfield County, but do not explain the full
cause of decline statewide, which is unknown.
In the deer exclosure at Highstead, there are 9 times more tree
seedlings within the exclosure than in the surrounding area.
Mountain Laurel is in decline throughout CT, largely due to a heavier
canopy.
Dr Jeff Ward, CT Ag Station
Showed a slide of a carpet of maple seedlings 6" high, the average age
of which was 17 years.
They conducted a study of seed dispersal of deer. Conclusions: A deer
poops 25 times per day, with 500 viable seeds in the poops per day, of
which 70% are exotic species, including Autumn Olive, Japanese
Honeysuckle, Multiflora Rose, Wineberry, Lambs Quarters, Black
Nightshade, and they even found Petunias and Green Peppers from
people's gardens.
Barberry & Tick study: In thick patches of Barberry they found 166
infected ticks per acre but only 20 infected ticks per acre in the
surrounding areas.
Another problem in barberry areas is a higher number of earthworms,
which eat all the leaf litter and expose the area to erosion. They are
seeing forests with new gullies forming and soil being washed away,
which should not be happening in a CT forest.
On Nov 12, 3:07 pm, "Teresa Gallagher"
night (about 30 people attended).
Steve Patton, The Nature Conservancy, Director of Devil's Den:
TNC revised their CT policy to allow hunting on their properties, but
recognized that the problem is regional, and has been encouraging deer
control throughout SW CT. They help and encourage the Fairfield
County Municipal Deer Management Alliance, with 18 towns as members
(this is a group I have recommended that Shelton join). http://www.deeralliance.com/
He listed 8 Fairfield County towns that allow hunting on open space,
and there is hunting on the nearby Centennial State Forest.
Their target deer population is 8-12 deer. They have been able to
reduce their population at Devil's Den through hunting, but not to the
level needed. Still, they are seeing plants come back, such as Red
Trillium, Bloodroot, Pink Azalea, and Maple Leaf Viburnum.
He suggested recreational hunting will not be enough to reduce the
deer population because as the population decreases, it takes longer
to get a deer, and the hunters lose interest. He thinks a practical
answer might be to establish a commercial market for venison.
Ed Faison, The Effects of Deer on Oak Forests:
Deer are a keystone species that are "Ecosystem Engineers", meaning
their numbers have dramatic effects on the ecosystem as a whole. 90%
of the animal diet of the Mohicans was deer.
Oaks are in decline in CT, especially in Fairfield County.
Historically, 25% of the trees were White Oak (favored by wildlife).
Most of the Oaks today are Red Oak (very bitter acorns). One theory
for the switch is that Passenger Pigeons once ate huge amounts of Red
Oak acorns during the spring migration (they didn't eat White Oak
acorns because those had sprouted in the fall).
Today maples and birch are much more predominant. Deer are important
factors, especially in Fairfield County, but do not explain the full
cause of decline statewide, which is unknown.
In the deer exclosure at Highstead, there are 9 times more tree
seedlings within the exclosure than in the surrounding area.
Mountain Laurel is in decline throughout CT, largely due to a heavier
canopy.
Dr Jeff Ward, CT Ag Station
Showed a slide of a carpet of maple seedlings 6" high, the average age
of which was 17 years.
They conducted a study of seed dispersal of deer. Conclusions: A deer
poops 25 times per day, with 500 viable seeds in the poops per day, of
which 70% are exotic species, including Autumn Olive, Japanese
Honeysuckle, Multiflora Rose, Wineberry, Lambs Quarters, Black
Nightshade, and they even found Petunias and Green Peppers from
people's gardens.
Barberry & Tick study: In thick patches of Barberry they found 166
infected ticks per acre but only 20 infected ticks per acre in the
surrounding areas.
Another problem in barberry areas is a higher number of earthworms,
which eat all the leaf litter and expose the area to erosion. They are
seeing forests with new gullies forming and soil being washed away,
which should not be happening in a CT forest.
On Nov 12, 3:07 pm, "Teresa Gallagher"
<conservat...@cityofshelton.org> wrote:
> If anyone is interested, I'm going to that symposium about forest ecology in
> SW CT in Redding tonight at 7:00. They probably have room if you call 203
> 938-8809. For more info:http://www.highstead.net/. Looking at the agenda,
> If anyone is interested, I'm going to that symposium about forest ecology in
> SW CT in Redding tonight at 7:00. They probably have room if you call 203
James W Tate
Nov 13, 2009, 12:18:55 PM11/13/09
to shel...@googlegroups.com
Interesting... I have always found that one practice typically does not
solve all.. its site specific and long range management that works best for
the protection of species and diversity.
I find this booklet informative, a basis for a forest management
philosophy. Right now I find the control of invasive plant species a real
problem, with survivability and diversity of wooded habitats being
threatened. I'm a proponent of controlled 'burns'....not something anybody
would like to entertain here in Fairfield County but perhaps the most
successful proven practice throughout history to; control, balance, and
protect species diversity.
Its interesting to see that Red Maple will dominate on the poorly drained
wetland type soils and quickly establish itself. The dryer more well drained
soils are preferred by the Oak , Beech, Hard Maples in areas suitable for
septic systems and developable areas.. so we need to preserve more these
upland soil and meadow habitats in balance with our wetlands. Obviously as
our water based open space is protected we protect more of Red Maple
dominance.
solve all.. its site specific and long range management that works best for
the protection of species and diversity.
I find this booklet informative, a basis for a forest management
philosophy. Right now I find the control of invasive plant species a real
problem, with survivability and diversity of wooded habitats being
threatened. I'm a proponent of controlled 'burns'....not something anybody
would like to entertain here in Fairfield County but perhaps the most
successful proven practice throughout history to; control, balance, and
protect species diversity.
Its interesting to see that Red Maple will dominate on the poorly drained
wetland type soils and quickly establish itself. The dryer more well drained
soils are preferred by the Oak , Beech, Hard Maples in areas suitable for
septic systems and developable areas.. so we need to preserve more these
upland soil and meadow habitats in balance with our wetlands. Obviously as
our water based open space is protected we protect more of Red Maple
dominance.
Teresa G
Nov 13, 2009, 1:36:25 PM11/13/09
to Shelton Conservation Commission
Very good pamphlet. The top author listed was one of our speakers last
night.
One thing that was noted with control of invasive species is that
FIRST you have to get the deer under control. If, for example, you
remove a patch of barberry, and the deer population is high, the deer
are just going to eat anything else that tries to come up in its
place. I think there should be a requirement for these invasive
species removal grants that some measure is being taken to keep the
deer population below a certain level, otherwise it's just waste of
taxpayer money.
> (this is a group I have recommended that Shelton join).http://www.deeralliance.com/
> forestregeneration.pdf
> 1794KViewDownload
night.
One thing that was noted with control of invasive species is that
FIRST you have to get the deer under control. If, for example, you
remove a patch of barberry, and the deer population is high, the deer
are just going to eat anything else that tries to come up in its
place. I think there should be a requirement for these invasive
species removal grants that some measure is being taken to keep the
deer population below a certain level, otherwise it's just waste of
taxpayer money.
> 1794KViewDownload
Teresa Gallagher
Nov 16, 2009, 2:30:22 PM11/16/09
to shel...@googlegroups.com
I just noticed that Google maps now shows property lines. That can be handy.
Tom Harbinson - Personal
Nov 16, 2009, 5:29:18 PM11/16/09
to shel...@googlegroups.com
Yeah, that's been on there for a couple of weeks now. Not sure how updated it is. It's public domain data from the CT GIS maintained by UConn's "MAGIC" dataset.
Bill Dyer
Nov 16, 2009, 5:40:02 PM11/16/09
to shel...@googlegroups.com
Turkey Hill Estates on Buddington is still shown as two parcels, rather than 8 housing lots and open space - at least 3 years ago.
j...@tatellc.com
Nov 17, 2009, 8:02:31 AM11/17/09
to shel...@googlegroups.com
> I'm not sure I know how I feel about this imagery... its going to be a
terrific tool to monitor encroachment. I have seen parcels throughout
Shelton slowly take over wetland area and open space for personal use...
and now more annoying and without cause, commercial storage of vehicles
and equipment.
I can see this as a great benefit... but also an invasion of privacy.
terrific tool to monitor encroachment. I have seen parcels throughout
Shelton slowly take over wetland area and open space for personal use...
and now more annoying and without cause, commercial storage of vehicles
and equipment.
I can see this as a great benefit... but also an invasion of privacy.
Tom Harbinson - Personal
Nov 17, 2009, 1:41:15 PM11/17/09
to shel...@googlegroups.com
public data, formerly difficult to access, is now becoming quickly organized and available when digital. It is, for good and bad, the future. You can't fight that tidal data wave, so better to surf it and make use of it.
Whether it was telegraph, radio, tv, or internet: he who has access to information, and then is first to make use of it, wields an advantage. Currently, we have power to do good on enforcement and planning with the map data. Not sure what the bad side of having info so accessible is yet - operative word being yet.
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