THE DUKE FOREST

A bulletin from the Office of the Duke Forest LOG Fall/Winter 2011 - 2012 Exploring the Wild Side of Duke Forest THE DUKE FOREST comprises over Creature Feature: Eastern Box Turtle 7,000 acres of land in Durham, We all know the Duke Forest as a wonderful resource for teaching, research, and recreation, but for a variety Orange, and Alamance counties of wildlife, it is also home. For many animals, habitat in the Duke Forest provides a critical source of food, and has been managed for water, and shelter - a role that is increasingly important as more people move into the area. One animal research and teaching purposes that benefits from the habitat in the Duke Forest is North Carolina’s State Reptile, the Eastern Box Turtle since 1931. The mission of the (Terrapene carolina carolina). Its upper shell, or carapace, is characteristically dome shaped and often Forest is to facilitate research brightly colored; while the lower shell, or plastron, is hinged, allowing the animal to completely “box itself that addresses fundamental and applied questions concerning in” when facing danger. Eastern Box Turtles are long-lived with an average lifespan in the wild between forested and aquatic ecosystems 30 and 60 years, but since they are late to mature, they do not produce many offspring. Not very picky and to aid in the instruction of about what they eat, these turtles often feast on any fruit, mushroom, or insect they happen across. They students so that they will be also are not very selective about where they live and occupy a variety of habitats from wooded swamps informed citizens and effective to fields; although, they prefer moist forested areas. While Eastern Box Turtles remain relatively common, stewards of our natural resources. they are a priority species for conservation across the state because of concerns over habitat loss and In addition to supporting road mortality (NC Wildlife Action Plan). As we see from the story below, the perils of crossing the road are education at local universities, all too familiar for one of Duke Forest’s resident turtles. But fortunately, they are resilient - especially when the Forest also participates in community outreach through there are some helpful humans around! tours and other events.

INSIDE: 2 Greetings 3 Year in Review 5 Annual Gathering The rescued and rehabilitated Eastern Box Turtle on her release The lower shell, or plastron, of an Eastern Box Turtle is hinged so day - note the healed shell above her left rear leg. Photo it has the ability to completely seal its shell. Photo courtesy of 6 Certification courtesy of Marissa Lee. Jeff Pippen. 7 Deer Management A Survival Story Life of the Forest Marissa Lee and I were on our way back to the Jeff Pippen, an instructor with the Nicholas School of 8 Upcoming Events lab (Justin Wright’s community ecology lab) after the Environment, is teaching a new course entitled collecting soil cores at a nearby Duke Forest gate Terrestrial Wildlife Surveys. This course aims to when we saw this Eastern Box Turtle in the middle introduce students to a variety of survey skills that of Highway 751. I made Marissa stop the truck, and I can be used to detect and identify various animals ran out into traffic to get the turtle, which had been – many of which they will find in the Duke Forest. recently hit by a car and had a major break in her In preparation for the course, Jeff, with the help shell above her left rear leg. The shell was bleeding of his friend Jeff Beane, the Collections Manager and little pieces of it seemed like they could easily for Amphibians and Reptiles at the NC Museum of puncture her soft tissue, which luckily had not Natural Sciences, developed the first ever amphibian been damaged by the car. Marissa and I took her and reptile species list for the Duke Forest. With the to the Triangle Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic (www. release of this list, Jeff plans to track sightings of trianglewildlife.org), a nonprofit clinic for injured animals reported to him by the public and other wildlife. After nearly three months of rehabilitation users of the Forest. By helping the Duke Forest better www.dukeforest.duke.edu she was ready to go home. When I picked her up at understand its life on the wild side, Jeff’s efforts the clinic I saw that her shell had healed together contribute to the Forest’s wildlife management goal beautifully (see photo) and she looked very healthy. – to maintain diverse and healthy populations of Early the next morning, Marissa and I released her animals native to the North Carolina Piedmont. exactly where she was headed - into the Duke To download a copy of the Duke Forest Amphibian and Reptile List, visit: Forest. By Bonnie McGill www.dukeforest.duke.edu/forest/wildlife.htm DUKE FOREST STAFF: From the Resource Manager

Judson Edeburn, Resource Manager

Sara Childs, Program Director Greetings to all, and best wishes for the FSC standard, which required revisiting New Year. Busy, busy, busy has been our our management plan and operational George Pendergraft, Grounds and norm for the past year on the Duke Forest. A procedures for a fairly extensive update. Maintenance Supervisor dedicated staff, able student assistants, eager Preparations and revisions began in early volunteers, and generous donors have made 2011, and by the time the audit happened in

GREETINGS Michael Burke, Forestry Technician it all happen and continue to provide good October, we had successfully put our house Beverly Burgess, Administrative stewardship for such an important resource. in order (see story on page 6). Assistant I want to express my sincere appreciation to We also completed field work for our all who have put in countless hours over the forest-wide inventory this past year. The year. data collected enables us to plan forest 2 ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Midyear, our former Program Director, management activities for the next 10 years Marissa Hartzler, left us to move to New and satisfies a certification requirement. As Bill Chameides Jersey with her family and accept a position I mentioned this time last year, Haywood Dean of the Nicholas School of the with the Schiff Natural Lands Trust. Marissa Community College grad, Johnny Manuel, Environment - Chair accomplished a lot during her time with our performed much of the field work, and we Emily Bernhardt office, and we wish her well. In August, Sara are now in the process of data analysis. Erin Associate Professor of Biogeochemistry Childs joined the team as our new Program Fulton, who will graduate from the Nicholas Director and hit the ground running. Sara, School this spring, and Sara are crunching Norm Christensen Professor of Ecology and Founding a 2008 graduate of the Nicholas School, the numbers. Dean of the Nicholas School came to us after 3 years as a conservation On subsequent pages of this issue of planner with the North Carolina Sandhills the LOG, research, teaching, community Pat Halpin Conservation Partnership in Southern Pines. outreach, management activities, and Gable Associate Professor of the She brings a great set of skills, energy, special projects are summarized. We are Practice of Geospatial Analysis and enthusiasm. Sara was immediately especially pleased that over 20 institutions Bill LeFevre immersed in preparations for our Forest are affiliated with more than 60 individual Executive Director, Sarah P. Duke Stewardship Council™ (FSC®) audit and research projects on the Forest and that over Gardens quickly demonstrated her abilities. 900 students have been able to participate in Ram Oren Forestry Technician, Mike Burke, celebrated a wide variety of field trips and class projects. Professor of Ecology his 35th year at Duke University this year. Our tours and presentations reached out to After several years in the Duke Electric Shop, 800 members of the public, and we hope that Dan Richter Mike came to us in 1985 and shepherds many each participant enjoyed and learned from Professor of Soils and Forest Ecology of the forest management projects including their experiences. David Singleton harvesting, prescribed burning, timber stand Be sure to check our website for Associate University Counsel improvement projects, and boundary line announcements about field trips, volunteer maintenance. opportunities, and special programs. Our David Stein One of our major accomplishments, and annual Spring Flora and Fauna Tour is Senior Program Coordinator for the reason for much of our busyness, coming up, and don’t forget the third annual Community Affairs was the successful completion of the FSC Pine Cone Pacer, which will be held on reassessment audit. Though annual audits Saturday, April 21st. As always, please do not CONTACT INFORMATION: are required, a major reassessment involving hesitate to contact us with any questions, evaluation of Forest operations against suggestions, or comments you might have Office of the Duke Forest the entire standard is done every 5 years. about management of the Duke Forest. Room 412, North Building Duke University, West Campus This audit also involved a newly revised Thanks for your continued interest and PHONE: 919-613-8013 support. FAX: 919-613-8077 E-MAIL: [email protected] Judd Edeburn Resource Manager WEBSITE:

www.dukeforest.duke.edu

TO SUBSCRIBE:

Subscriptions to this and other Duke Forest publications are free. To subscribe, send an e-mail to [email protected]. Duke Forest Program Director, Sara Childs (right), leads a group of women scientists on a tour of Duke Forest. Year in Review July 2010 - June 2011

Management REVIEW IN YEAR Every year, the Duke Forest Staff manages hundreds of acres to support its teaching and research mission, to protect and enhance wildlife populations, to provide recreation opportunities for the public, and to generate revenue for operations. In the past fiscal year, over 300 acres were included in management activities such as thinning of overstocked stands, removal of invasive species, and various types of harvests that maintain structural diversity in the forest ecosystem. By promoting forest health, management operations ensure that Duke Forest remains a vital and healthy resource for years to come.

( AT A GLANCE 2010 - 2011

Harvesting 129 acres Clearcut 47 3 Commercial thinning 2 Salvage harvest 2 Seed tree harvest 61 Selection harvest 17

Hardwood Control (Herbicide Application) 97 acres

Invasive Control (Herbicide Application and Manual Removal) 31 acres

Pre-commercial thinning 22 acres

Prescribed burning 27 acres

A prescribed fire conducted in a Longleaf Pine stand to maintain Planting 17 acres an open understory. Research and Teaching Between 2010 and 2011, the Duke Forest continued to serve as an important hub for teaching and research on a wide variety of topics related to natural resources. While some major experimental treatments ended, such as the Free-Air Carbon Enrichment, other novel and exciting work began. Professor Kathleen Donohue and her lab (Duke Biology Department) began experiments to understand how climate change might affect important plant traits like germination and flowering time. Once again, hundreds of students and educators from across the region took advantage of the Duke Forest as an outside classroom. They considered topics from soils to wildlife and learned skills such as planning and leadership. The Office of the Duke Forest prioritizes efforts to facilitate teaching and research on the Forest and recently revised its guidelines and registration procedures to improve the support it can offer. Check them out under the Research or Education links on the website: www.dukeforest.duke.edu.

( AT A GLANCE 2010 - 2011

Number of research projects 60

Number of research affiliations 20

Total research dollars $5,003,881

Number of teaching activities 30

Number of educators 19

Number of visits 79

The colorful Arabidopsis thaliana plots used by Dr. Donohue’s lab to Number of students 926 investigate how plants respond to environmental changes. Year in Review July 2010 - June 2011

Community Outreach The general public and Duke Alumni are just a sample of As a member of the community, the Office of the Duke Forest the community served by outreach events hosted by the looks forward to offering more events in the coming year. To Duke Forest during the past fiscal year. Activities ranged receive notifications about upcoming activities, sign-up for from specialized programs created to teach high schools the list serve at: www.dukeforest.duke.edu/events/index.html. students about ecosystem change and succession to the YEAR IN REVIEW regularly scheduled, annually offered tours about flora and fauna, history, research, and management. ( AT A GLANCE 2010 - 2011 Outreach 4

Number of tours and activities 37

Number of participants 802

Total outreach hours 82

Volunteers Again this year, an army of volunteers supported proj- ects throughout the Forest, many of which were focused on improving recreational access while also diminishing recreational impacts on the ecosystem. Durham Academy students made significant contributions to marking and cleaning up the trail system during their four visits to the Forest. Graduate students from Duke University helped to construct a bridge along the New Hope Creek bypass trail, The Office of the Duke Forest continues to rely on volunteer ef- and many members of the general public donated time to forts to get important work accomplished; look for more op- work on other trail issues throughout the Korstian Division. portunities to participate on the website, or submit a volun- teer interest form at: www.dukeforest.duke.edu/volunteer/ info.htm ( AT A GLANCE 2010 - 2011 Volunteers

Number of projects 10

Number of participants 114

Total volunteer hours 30 ANNUAL GATHERING 5 Thank you for your support! for your you Thank 2004 A. Angle Marcia Dr. H. HalkiotisStephen Becky M. Heron BarryJacobs M. Masten Jeffrey Olive B.B. 2006 Pippen S. Jeffrey 2005 Gail Boyarsky Norman Jr. L. Christensen, Dr. Newborg Barbara Dr. the Durham Division and Gate 25 in Division. the Korstian If you enjoy the Forest like and to would help paths, improve its environmental opportunities, wooded and education programs, we other invite you to make special a donation by visiting www.dukeforest. duke.edu/giving. Secure boxes are also donation available at Gate 3 in 2007 Bobbie Reeves - Durham Academy Volunteer Student Program Past recipients of the Korstian Award Korstian of the recipients Past 2010 SouthernDavid 2009 Whitfield Sue 2008 John Kent the hire of Judd Edeburn whom he also taught. Judd considers him one of his most important mentors. Forest Fred still often walks the and over its beauty. to visitors the years, has introduced countless Many thanks to Fred Forest! the to given and have they everything all of the past recipients for

Fred Fred an expanded tour series for the series for tour an expanded schools, local for programs educational and site web the Duke Forest trail maintenance, including the maintenance, trail along roads of danger trees removal University communityUniversity and beyond. • community • of charge all free • including the LOG publications, the Duke Forest to contributions Future will help support Fund Improvement including Plan, the goals of the Strategic increasing maintenance, trail continued and providing public outreach, the Duke for programming educational Forest Improvements Forest Improvement Gifts the Duke Forest to supported a variety have of Fund including: the past year, projects over • installing water for required materials bars and bridges in the Korstian Division • the Forest throughout and trail . Fred received his year’s year’s recipient was White Master of Forestry degree from Duke in after 1953 a and short industry, forest for working time away came back to Duke. He is regarded by the students he taught for many years ever instructor finest the as at the School of Forestry. Fred served as Director of prior to the Duke Forest

Patrick and Mary O’DonnellPatrick Miles Pfeifer Sarah and MichaelSarah Burdick and Reita Masten Frank Michael Walter Bryan Nixon Thomas and Jane Patterson Thomas Faircloth Timothy Brown Robert and Treeby Mike Duckwall Mike and KimberlyGeorge Hutcherson Bell Ramon Billy and Helen Olive Daniel and Susan Richter Reuben Goetzl Cork Travis Richard Cowperthwait and Gail Boyarsky Fowler Walter GoodSearch Forest Improvement Fund in the 2010 - Fund Improvement Forest year: 2011 fiscal David and Sue Ellen Biswell The Office of the Duke Forest would like Forest OfficeThe of the Duke donors who following the recognize to the Duke to contributed generously Honor Roll of Donors Honor November 2011 November Award Award for exemplary support of Duke Forest was given out by Judd Edeburn, the Duke Forest Resource Manager. This great food, drink,great food, and discussion, and the Office of theDuke Forest appreciated the enthusiasm demonstrated of stakeholders present. wide range by the In keeping with the annual tradition, the Clarence Korstian management management activities on the Duke Forest. The audience also listened to an in-depth presentation sustainable on management the certification. Forest’s Everyone enjoyed November November 10th. Members of Durham and Orange the County community University, members were in as well attendance as to hear about current teaching, research, and The Duke Forest held its 2011 Annual Gathering on Forest Hosts Annual Gathering of Stakeholders of Gathering Annual Hosts Forest 6 CERTIFICATION when conducting forest when conducting taking management By activities. remnants ofourpast–oldhomesites, mills, andcemeteries – around areas buffer preserving sites, cultural unique of tection pro the to committed is Forest management the Additionally, timber operations. from excluded are growing, and 1200 acres over totaling areas, These Forests. Value Conservation fiestwelve sites that contain natural important habitats asHigh identi currently It areas. environmentallysensitive conserving True to FSC principles, Duke Forest has expanded its focus on factors. societal and ecological of variety a for account also but vests har timber from benefits financial consider only not managers that ensure standards These standards. economic and social, environmental, strict of set a to according managed be must tices. To obtain a FSC Forest Management Certification, a forest prac management responsible promoting for initiatives tant impor most regardedthe becomewidely of has one it as then, initially established as a response to global deforestation. Since was FSC guidelines. (FSC®) Council™ Stewardship Forest upon Duke based Certification 2001, Management Forest a in obtained first project Forest research a in participation Through tainable forest management. sus for certification a holds and Forestmanaged the actively is education, and recreation. You may be less aware however, that research,for opportunities countlessare there backyard, our in to offer. With over 7,000 acres of land and 87 miles of trailsright Duke and the local community for the variety of resources it has both of members attracted Foresthas Duke the 1931, Since By Betsy Cook, Office of the Duke ofthe Office Cook, Betsy By Forest Education Outreach and Student Assistant Sustainable Forest Management ontheDuke Forest routinely identifies such areas when developing harvest maps and protocols. and streamquality habitat. Duke Forest Forestry Technician, Burke, Michael water sur protect to harvest a areas during aside set are are that courses water rounding SMZs (SMZ). Zone Management Streamside a team audit the showing are Staff Forest Duke picture, this recentIn of activities. locations management the visiting involves process audit the of part major A ------grocery store; it allows consumers to purchase products they products purchase to consumers allows it store; grocery the in label food organic an to similar is trademark FSC The dled through FSCCoC. the trademark isonlyallowed that onproducts have beenhan brand, this of integrity the maintain Torequirements. FSC the under sold be to potential the have Forest the from products timber that ensures practices CoC Forest’s Duke on approval of stamp A procedures. (CoC) Chain-of-Custody FSC their on evaluatedForest also Duke reassessment,was the of part As organization.credited FSCcertifying ac an Alliance,Rainforest the representativefrom a by ground the on completed was evaluation The Standards. Certification Management Forest the of update 2010 FSC’s since audit first the was and audits, year one intensive less the to opposed as reassessment, five-year a both was it that in was notable especially audit This certification. FSC its maintain to necessary dit au an completedForest October,Duke of beginning the In strates itscommitment to theFSCmission. demon Forest the management, forest to approach holistic a of Sustainability.)2011 onlinenewsletter oftheDuke Office article was(This adapted from the original content published in the October 26, responsible worldwide. practices encourage helps and management forest sustainable to ment commit own its this reinforces Forest Duke certification, voluntary acquiring By grow. for will support and management forest forest sustainable their certifying of benefit the ognize rec will managers forest more bought, are products certified controlled forest, FSC more as Ideally, sources. managed recycled verified and/or sources, responsibly a from came know gating a recently installed culvert. gating arecently installedculvert. investi team audit the shows picture This certification. FSC for requirement a also is It Pendergraft. George Supervisor, Maintenance and Grounds Forest and facilitate timber management activities is part of the daily routine of Duke health forest protect to condition excellent in culverts and roads Maintaining ------DEER MANAGEMENT 7 - ources - NC Wildlife Resources Commission and NC Department Commission Resources - NC Wildlife of Transportation ources

Deer feed on both and grassy woody vegetation in the The forest understory. destruction of tree seedlings by deer can change how the forest and regenerates, in particular, what types primaryor bud, terminal a shows photo This canopy. forest the into grow to able are trees of this that likely is It deer. a by off chewed been has that pine loblolly young a of point, growth years. for several will be stunted growth tree’s Overbrowsing by deer can also affect the results of experiments. Researchers are sometimes are Researchers experiments. of results affect also the can deer by Overbrowsing to forced install additional at infrastructure their sites to deer keep out. These structures are between understory inside vegetation difference the see to easy Itoften is ‘exclosures’. called and outside of an exclosure. When too many deer live in the same area, a ‘browse line’ often becomes apparent. Much of Much apparent. becomes often line’ ‘browse a area, same the in live deer many too When leaving the understory, is gone, reach height a deer can the maximum below the vegetation or lower layer of the forest structure, mostly bare. This can impact how the forest grows, as well as the kind of habitat that is for available other wildlife. Photo courtesy of Metro Parks, Serving Summit County.

the recommended level. the recommended The current estimate of deer in North of is 1.1 million animals. estimate current Carolina The deer. every involve car accidents year 90% of the 20,000 or so animal related Approximately than least 2x greater which is at mile, of deer density is 30 - 44 deer per square in Durham 2010 estimate County and Orange The In 1900, the deer population in North Carolina was estimated around 10,000 animals. around In in North estimated 1900, the deer population was Carolina September 19 - December 16, 2011 September 19 - December lation are being planned for February and March of this year, and the results will be used to inform the design of the 2012 program. of the 2012 program. the design inform will be used to and the results of this year, and March February planned for being are lation sunset. sunrise to from enjoyment recreational again open for are then, all divisions of the Forest Until closure, which they cited as a setback to their efficacy. their efficacy. as a setback to which they cited closure, impact on population greatest the as they have the program of the target which are does, 75% were over Out the 81 deer, of Surveys of the deer popu largest. the Durham harvested Division, the Forest’s from 50% of the animals were than More numbers. Monday through Friday while a select group of hunters worked to decrease the population. the population. decrease to worked of hunters while a select group Friday through Monday This 2,400 hours and harvested 81 deer. working over spent in the Durham, Korstian, and Blackwood Divisions, hunters, The crop acorn the large that is hunters, by favored an explanation and the 123 deer taken last year, reduction from number is a slight during the users out in the Forest recreational more also noted hunters year, This piles. in food interest deer reduced have may Deer population surveys at the end of the 2010 season suggested that the Deer Herd Reduction Program had realized some some had realized Reduction the Deer that Herd Deer surveys population the 2010 season suggested the end of Program at shortened week Forest by one season the 2011 the Officethe of Duke Based on this information, the herd. in reducing success recreation closed for was the Forest 16th. During September 19th and December between this time, and conducted program the Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. The purpose of the program is to minimize the negative impacts of an over abundant abundant impacts of an over the negative minimize is to purpose of the program The Commission. Resources Wildlife Carolina per to 20 deer of 15 level recommended the until continue will Office expectsThe program the health. on forest deer population mile is reached. square The Office of the Duke Forest once again participated in the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) offered by the by the offered North (DMAP) Program participated again once Assistance in the Forest Deer Management OfficeThe the of Duke Fourth Season of Deer Herd Reduction Program Ends ReductionSeason Fourth Herd of Deer Program S • • • Some North Deer Facts Carolina • NonProfit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Durham, N.C. Office of the Duke Forest • Duke University • Box 90332 • Durham, NC 27708-0332 Permit No. 60

THE DUKE FOREST LOG

Save the Date

Spring Flora and Fauna Tour Pine Cone Pacer Saturday, April 7th Saturday, April 21st UPCOMING EVENTS

The beautiful bloom of the Eastern Redbud Runners, come find out who is the fastest (Cercis canadensis) is a harbinger of spring. pine cone pacer of all!

For more information and to register, please visit the Duke Forest website: www.dukeforest.duke.edu/events