Land Use Change

Research Team: Dr. L. Michael Conner (Associate Scientist), Dr. Lora L. Smith (Assistant Scientist), Dr. William K. Michener, Micah Perkins (Research Technician III), Christopher Borg (Research Technician III), Anna Liner (Research Technician)

The Coastal Plain region of the southeastern US encompasses much of the area that was once occupied by the longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) ecosystem. This region has historically experienced a diverse array of natural and human disturbances. High plant biodiversity in longleaf pine savannas has been associated with frequent summer fires that were initiated by lightning strikes. Broad-scale timber harvesting, conversion to agriculture, and intensive pine silviculture have resulted in extensive regional alterations in land use. As a result of these regional land use changes and alteration of natural disturbance regimes, the longleaf pine ecosystem is now endangered and much of the Coastal Plain has been targeted as a high-priority region for biodiversity conservation.

The primary objectives of this study are to:

Document impacts of human land use and land use change on selected natural habitats (e.g., isolated depressional wetlands, pine-dominated upland forests, sandhill scrub) within the Coastal Plain portion of the Flint River basin.
Use landscape-scale, empirically-based, multivariate models and ground validation studies to assess corresponding impacts on selected species or groups of species associated with these habitats.

In addition, we will develop up-to-date landcover maps and Geographic Information System (GIS) data layers for the Coastal Plain portion of the Flint River basin and assess wetland loss and alteration over approximately two decades. Resulting information from the project will appear in technical reports and peer-reviewed scientific publications. Other information products (e.g., maps and GIS data layers) will be accessible through the World Wide Web via the Georgia GIS Data Clearinghouse.

Additional information:

Conner, L. M. A technique for locating isolated populations using satellite imagery. The Wildlife Society Bulletin. In Press.

Funded by: Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center.