Date of Award

August 2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Forestry and Environmental Conservation

Committee Member

Althea Hagan

Committee Member

Patrick Hiesl

Committee Member

Elizabeth Baldwin

Abstract

This thesis provides insight on best management practices for a longleaf pine restoration project occurring at the Camden Battlefield and Longleaf Pine Preserve (hereon referred to as the Camden Battlefield or battlefield). Chapter one is a literature review to summarize all the knowledge collected to design, implement, and analyze the work conducted in the subsequent chapters. Chapter two aims to identify and quantify the vegetative species currently found at the battlefield, to characterize vegetative and soil conditions before and after a prescribed fire to part of the battlefield, and to establish a monitoring protocol that could be done indefinitely in conjunction with the restoration management plan to record how the habitat changes. Chapter three presents experiments, done at the battlefield and in a greenhouse, comparing different seed sources of the regionally important bunchgrass species little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium (Michaux) Nash) and site preparation techniques to advise how to best increase the local population with broadcast seeding. Chapter four is an attempt to connect a broader audience to an endangered, unique ecosystem by creating online environmental resources highlighting the ecology of the longleaf pine savanna and dispersing them to local and national interest groups to provide educational content during a global pandemic (COVID-19).

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.