1. Examining the potential ecological correlations of wildlife presence and successional landscape in New England stonewall ecosystems. Stonewall Ecology and Successional Landscapes

2. Stonewalls In New England  Estimated between100,000-250,000 miles of stonewall in New England  Constructed during pastoral clearing by early settlement

3. Samuel A. Tamposi Water Supply Reserve (SATWaSR) In 2001 the Town of Barrington, NH acquired ~1,400 acres of land in the southeast corner of town A “bargain sale” from the Tamposi Corporation, the owners, A grant facilitating the acquisition from the N.H. Department of Environmental Services “Water Supply Protection Program.”

4. Research Proposal  Problem Statement: Research and analyze the potential ecological impacts on the surrounding ecosystems in different successional phases.  Research Question  Hypothesis  Materials  Methodology

5. Objectives  Survey stonewalls for wildlife usage.  Classify vegetation communities into successional phases.  Measure abiotic and biotic characteristics and compare within the different successional phases.  Analyze data to build connections between the successional characteristics and wildlife presence.

6. Research Question  What correlations exist between small mammal usage of stonewalls with vegetative communities and physical environmental characteristics (temperature, rainfall, etc.)?

7. Hypothesis  Original Hypothesis Small mammal usage in the Tamposi will be greater in late successional ecosystems due to cover provided by stonewalls and the development of vegetation in the surrounding ecosystem.  Alternative Hypothesis Small mammal usage in the Tamposi will be greater in early successional ecosystems due the ease of travel that less vegetation provides.

8. Successional Phases  Huston and Smith’s (1987) compilation of physiological and life-history characteristics of early and late successional plants was used to define characteristics of each phase.  The characteristics from Huston and Smith that were considered included shade tolerance, growth rate, relative mature size, and maximum life span.

9. Species Composition  Common tree species within the Tamposi were categorized by genus;  Hemlock (Tsuga spp.)  Pine (Pinus spp.)  Maple (Acer spp.)  Beech (Fagus spp.)  Oak (Quercus spp.)  Birch (Betula spp.)  Witch-hazel (Hammamelis spp.).

10. Successional Characteristics

11. Site Determination

13. Site Location E.S. 1 = Early Succession 1 E.S. 2 = Early Succession 2 L.S. 1 = Late Succession 1 L.S. 2 = Late Succession 2

14. Setting Up the Site  Measured and a 10 meter transect along stonewall at all four Successional Sites  Marked points at each end  Marked center point; tree against stonewall

15. Site Layout Note: diagram not to scale

16. Materials  Wildlife Cameras  HOBO Outdoor/Industrial, 4-Channel External temperature reader