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1995 Annual Research and Extension Report

Biological Monitoring for Buck Island Agro-Ecology Study

Patricia Werner, George Tanner, and Jeff Mullahey

Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

Separately, the South Florida Water Management District contracted with Archbold Biological Station and the University of Florida to install and equip 16 isolated watershed pastures (8, 50-acres pastures on bahiagrass and 8, 80-ac pastures on native slough vegetation). Bahiagrass pastures will receive stocking rate treatments during the growing season, and the slough pastures will receive stocking rate treatments during the dormant season. This project, funded separately by SFWMD to UF, represents a 1-year study to document the vegetation, insects, small mammals, herps and birds using these pastures before the grazing treatments are installed.

METHODOLOGY

Vegetation production in the pastures will be estimated throughout the year using grazing exclosures and paired grazed plots. This process also will allow an estimation of forage utilization by the livestock. Animal populations within the respective pastures will be assessed using standard sampling methodology. Full description of the statement of work accompanies this document.

ACCOMPLISHEMENTS
 
 

Dr. Steve Christman was employed in June to conduct the field sampling and monitoring. Locations of the 16 pastures have been marked on aerial photographs to install sampling points for plant and animal populations.

Grazing exclosures will be constructed and placed in the pastures during June 1995. Vegetative growth will be measured monthly on the bahia grass pastures and quarterly on slough pastures. Animal population sampling will begin in July and proceed for 1 year. Hopefully, pastures (watersheds) can begin to be isolated and fenced in Fall 1995. Complete time schedules accompanies this document.

Proposals to continue monitoring vegetation and wildlife populations following grazing treatment installation will be developed and submitted to SFWMD and other funding sources during the next year.

The senior author can be reached at:
Dr. Patricia Werner
Tel: (904) 846-0556
Fax: (904) 392-6984
E-mail: pawe@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu

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