Assessing the Effects of Timber Management on Mammal and Bird Communities at Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge

Project Abstract

Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge (CRNWR) is mostly characterized as Bottomland Hardwood Forests, along with some of the last remaining xerohydric flatwoods. These systems are important to support unique flora and fauna, as well as providing important sources of revenue for the state. In 2019, the refuge implemented a forest management plan and the objective of our study was to evaluate avian and mammalian responses to this management. We began sampling the mammalian communities at 63 locations in areas with and without planned forest management throughout CRNWR in 2019. Since then, we have sampled the mammalian community most fall and springs through 2026 and we conducted acoustic sampling for birds in Spring 2021, 2022, and 2026.  We identified the camera photos using Wildlife Insights and used Cornell’s BirdNet analyzer and manual vetting to identify birds via their vocalizations. Identifications and analyses are currently in progress. For the mammals, we will calculate a relative abundance index for species with sufficient detections. Additionally, for both mammals and birds, we will calculate species richness and conduct multispecies occupancy modeling. We will then assess the influence of timber management on each of these dependent variables using a before after control impact design. The information we learn can be used to inform future timber management practices for CRNWR and other areas comprised of similar bottomland hardwood ecosystems.

Conference Name

80th Annual Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Conference

Conference Details

Sponsoring Body: Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Conference Website: https://seafwa.org/conference/2026#registration

Funding Type

Travel Grant

Academic College

Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology

Area/Major/Minor

Wildlife Biology

Degree

Bachelor of Science

Classification

Junior

Name

Dr. Andrea Darracq

Academic College

Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology

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