An Ecosystem Management Approach to Riparian Zones Joy O’Keefe Clemson University

Ecosystem Management Promotes sustainability of ecological processes Promotes sustainability of ecological processes Recognizes ecosystems are dynamic and complex Recognizes ecosystems are dynamic and complex Considers future economic, social, ecological factors Considers future economic, social, ecological factors Necessitates cooperation across boundaries Necessitates cooperation across boundaries Requires accurate complex data and tools Requires accurate complex data and tools Integrates research and management Integrates research and management

Ecosystem Management Adaptive management necessary to deal with uncertainty and new data Adaptive management necessary to deal with uncertainty and new data No more stand-level management  now landscape-level No more stand-level management  now landscape-level Shift from single species to ecosystem approach, but consider keystone species Shift from single species to ecosystem approach, but consider keystone species

Riparian Zones “land near streams and rivers” unique characteristics and functions But, as a land manager, how do you define and manage a riparian zone?

Riparian Zone Functions filter sediments, nutrients filter sediments, nutrients stabilize stream banks stabilize stream banks energy source for aquatic systems energy source for aquatic systems provide shade provide shade moist habitat moist habitat travel route travel route economic, social, recreational uses economic, social, recreational uses

Impacts on Riparian Zones Intensive land use Intensive land use Changes in disturbance (e.g. lack of fire) Changes in disturbance (e.g. lack of fire) Pollution Pollution Introduction of exotic pests (e.g. hemlock adelgid) Introduction of exotic pests (e.g. hemlock adelgid)

Multidisciplinary Approach Research riparian zone structure & function Research riparian zone structure & function vegetation, wildlife, nutrients, sediments, CWD, water quality, keystone spp., ecosystem services vegetation, wildlife, nutrients, sediments, CWD, water quality, keystone spp., ecosystem services Management Options Management Options timber harvest buffers, rhododendron control, fire, fertilization, planting timber harvest buffers, rhododendron control, fire, fertilization, planting Evaluation Evaluation Riparian zones responses: structure, function, and ecosystem services Riparian zones responses: structure, function, and ecosystem services

Bats: Tools to Study Function For bats, riparian zones provide foraging, drinking, and roosting habitat, and serve as flight corridors

Again, how do you define and manage riparian zones for bats?  geographically  seasonally  by stream size  by bat species  by function Definition and management strategies will vary:

1 st or 2 nd Order Streams ??

5 th of Higher Order Streams ??

Rivers ??

Instream structure Streamside buffers Streamside vegetation community composition Instream management Streamside management Roost site availability and characteristics Clutter Water Prey availability From Hayes and Loeb presentation, Bats and Forests Symposium, 2004 Riparian Management

Instream Structure Maintain water quality by controlling pollution and sediment input Maintain water quality by controlling pollution and sediment input Maintain bank trees for stability Maintain bank trees for stability Encourage retention of coarse woody debris Encourage retention of coarse woody debris Use indicator species presence as monitoring tools Use indicator species presence as monitoring tools

Instream structure Streamside buffers Streamside vegetation community composition Instream management Streamside management Roost site availability and characteristics Clutter Water Prey availability From Hayes and Loeb presentation, Bats and Forests Symposium, 2004 Riparian Management

Streamside Vegetation and Community Composition Retain trees that function as shade trees (e.g. hemlock) or roosts (e.g. birch) Retain trees that function as shade trees (e.g. hemlock) or roosts (e.g. birch) Control rhododendron Control rhododendron Leave standing dead trees (potential roosts) Leave standing dead trees (potential roosts) Pest control (e.g. hemlock wooly adelgid) Pest control (e.g. hemlock wooly adelgid) Burn and/or thin to reduce clutter and control community composition Burn and/or thin to reduce clutter and control community composition

Instream structure Streamside buffers Streamside vegetation community composition Instream management Streamside management Roost site availability and characteristics Clutter Water Prey availability From Hayes and Loeb presentation, Bats and Forests Symposium, 2004 Riparian Management

Streamside Buffers Identify optimal width: Identify optimal width: To maximize timber harvest To maximize timber harvest Varies with topography and stream order Varies with topography and stream order Depends on function to be maintained: Depends on function to be maintained: Retention of roosts Retention of roosts Sheltered flight corridor Sheltered flight corridor Suitable prey base (by diversity and abundance) Suitable prey base (by diversity and abundance)

Tools to Study Bats Acoustic Sampling Activity levels Activity levels Species presence Species presence Temporal patterns Temporal patterns Spatial patterns Spatial patterns Capture/Radio Telemetry Species presence Roost habitat Foraging habitat Temporal patterns Spatial patterns

Acoustic Sampling Allows simultaneous sampling in a variety of habitats Allows simultaneous sampling in a variety of habitats Record calls of free-flying bats within 50 ft radius of microphone Record calls of free-flying bats within 50 ft radius of microphone System can be left unattended for several days System can be left unattended for several days

Anabat II detectors, CF Storage ZCAIMs Detectors record calls from 20:30 to 6:30 each night Detectors record calls from 20:30 to 6:30 each night Calls stored on flash card Calls stored on flash card Examine calls with Analook software Examine calls with Analook software Identify species with discriminant function model Identify species with discriminant function model Determine activity by habitat using call count Determine activity by habitat using call count

75 0 Stream Primary Experimental Design Four treatments 3 Anabats per trtmnt ft 100 ft 75 0 ft Control To be harvested No harvest

Secondary Experiment Simultaneous acoustic surveys in multiple habitats for comparison Two watersheds 7 – 10 July 2004 (an active time for bats in the mountains)

Habitat Type (number of nights sampled) Small Stream Medium Stream Large Stream Small Pond Interior Forest Gated, Grassy Road Open, Gravel Road Wildlife Opening Species(n = 4)(n = 6)(n = 5)(n = 2)(n = 4)(n = 6) EPFU●●●●●● LABO●●●● LACI●● MYLE●●●● MYLU●●● MYSE●●●● PISU ●● ●●●● Presence by Habitat Type

< 1% 10% 11% 12% 66% Activity varied by habitat type (p=0.002) Activity by Habitat Type

Capture Mistnet over roads, streams, and ponds Mistnet over roads, streams, and ponds Survey as often as possible! Survey as often as possible! Collect data on individual bats Collect data on individual bats species, sex, age, weight, forearm length, species, sex, age, weight, forearm length, reproductive state, and band # reproductive state, and band # Select some captures for radio telemetry Select some captures for radio telemetry

Radio Telemetry Attach transmitters to bats that roost in foliage (eastern red bat and eastern pipistrelle) Attach transmitters to bats that roost in foliage (eastern red bat and eastern pipistrelle) and crevices/bark (northern bats, small- footed bats, big brown bats) and crevices/bark (northern bats, small- footed bats, big brown bats)

Radio Telemetry Track bats to roost trees daily Track bats to roost trees daily

Radio Telemetry Collect data on roosts and random trees Collect data on roosts and random trees

Brief Telemetry Results Eastern red bat (foliage) Eastern red bat (foliage) Hickory, oak, birch, sourwood trees Hickory, oak, birch, sourwood trees Not restricted to riparian zone or to one stand type/age Not restricted to riparian zone or to one stand type/age Eastern pipistrelle (foliage) Eastern pipistrelle (foliage) Birch and oak trees very close to small stream Birch and oak trees very close to small stream Northern bat (crevice/bark) Northern bat (crevice/bark) Large hardwood snags in older stand on upland site Large hardwood snags in older stand on upland site