Participation Type
Poster
Session Title
Session 3.09 Poster Session
Presentation #1 Title
The Soundscape of Appalachian Mountaintop Grasslands: Assessing the Ecological Potential of Coal Mined Lands
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Forestlands lost to mountaintop removal will likely never return to their former glory; much of this land will probably be converted to grassland after mining activities cease. While the ecological function of these converted lands will never match that of the original forests, we must not entirely dismiss the ecological potential of these “novel” Appalachian landscapes. For instance, reintroduced Elk in southern Appalachia utilize both forests and abandoned coal mine grasslands. The goal of this project is to assess the potential of mountaintop grasslands to serve as wildlife habitat taking into consideration the size, age, and management history of these altered landscapes. A soundscape is the sum total of all the sounds (biological, geologic, and anthropogenic) competing for acoustic space in an environment, and these acoustic data provide information about a site’s ecology including biological sound diversity, levels of disturbance by human equipment, and even weather conditions. Acoustic recordings are made by autonomous recording devices which can collect data multiple times an hour. Autonomous recording allows regular collection of data without disturbing the site and at a low cost. Indices of ecological potential calculated from acoustic data are computed for multiple mountaintop grasslands along with spatial and vegetation data. Comparisons are made between grassland sites highlighting major differences between the sites. Results of this research have implications for the management of wildlife resources within the highly disturbed Appalachian coalfields region.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Anne Axel is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. She specializes in the use of sensor technology (e.g., satellite images, acoustic recorders) to study wildlife in disturbed landscapes.
The Soundscape of Appalachian Mountaintop Grasslands: Assessing the Ecological Potential of Coal Mined Lands
MSC Lobby
Forestlands lost to mountaintop removal will likely never return to their former glory; much of this land will probably be converted to grassland after mining activities cease. While the ecological function of these converted lands will never match that of the original forests, we must not entirely dismiss the ecological potential of these “novel” Appalachian landscapes. For instance, reintroduced Elk in southern Appalachia utilize both forests and abandoned coal mine grasslands. The goal of this project is to assess the potential of mountaintop grasslands to serve as wildlife habitat taking into consideration the size, age, and management history of these altered landscapes. A soundscape is the sum total of all the sounds (biological, geologic, and anthropogenic) competing for acoustic space in an environment, and these acoustic data provide information about a site’s ecology including biological sound diversity, levels of disturbance by human equipment, and even weather conditions. Acoustic recordings are made by autonomous recording devices which can collect data multiple times an hour. Autonomous recording allows regular collection of data without disturbing the site and at a low cost. Indices of ecological potential calculated from acoustic data are computed for multiple mountaintop grasslands along with spatial and vegetation data. Comparisons are made between grassland sites highlighting major differences between the sites. Results of this research have implications for the management of wildlife resources within the highly disturbed Appalachian coalfields region.
