Inventory Of The Herpetofauna At Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site

An inventory of amphibians and reptiles at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site (HOFU) was conducted from July 2000 through November 2001. Two methods were used: general herpetological collecting and anura calling surveys. These methods were used to inventory the herpetofauna in 14 habitat types: upland forest, lowland forest, weedy fields, pastures, animal pens, hay fields, corn fields, open wetlands, vernal pools, runs (small streams), French Creek, rock fields, buildings and associated grounds, and mixed habitats (consisting of two or more of the above). These 14 habitat types encompassed virtually the entire park. For all habitat types combined, 33 surveys were conducted, averaging 6.5 person-hours per survey.

This inventory project was intended to meet the objectives of the Five Project Statement with respect to the herpetofauna at VAFO and also to determine the conservation value at VAFO in terms of supporting a diverse herpetofuana community.

Evidence is mounting that top carnivores and other large mammals play a pivotal role in regulating ecosystem health and function, yet those are the species that are most likely to have been eliminated by past human activities. In recent decades, numerous efforts have been undertaken to return some of the species that were previously extirpated on local or regional scales. Large Mammal Restoration brings together for the first time detailed case studies of those efforts, from restoring elk in Appalachia to returning bison herds to the Great Plains to the much-publicized effort to bring back the gray wolf to Yellowstone National Park. Together these case studies offer important lessons and new ways of thinking for wildlife managers and conservation biologists involved with restoration programs. Sections examine: approaches to determining the feasibility of a restoration program critical hands-on aspects of restoring large mammals obtaining public input into the process and gaining community support for programs the potential of some species to return without direct human intervention, and what can be done to facilitate that natural colonization An introductory chapter by Reed F. Noss explores some of the reasons for restoring large mammals, as well as some of the ecological and social complications, and a concluding overview by David S. Maehr discusses the evolutionary importance of large mammal restoration. Contributors include Paul C. Paquet, Barbara Dugelby, Steven H. Fritts, Paul R. Krausman, Larry D. Harris, Johnna Roy, and many others. Large Mammal Restoration brings together in a single volume essential information on the lessons learned from previous efforts, providing an invaluable resource for researchers and students of conservation biology and wildlife management as well as for policymakers, restoration advocates, and others involved with the planning or execution of a restoration program.

This report summarizes annual forest inventories conducted in Ohio from 2001 to 2006 by the Northern Research Station's Forest Inventory and Analysis unit. Ohio's forest land covers 7.9 million acres or 30 percent of the State's land area, changing little in forest land area since 1991. Of this land, 5.8 million acres (73 percent) are held by family forest owners. The current growing-stock inventory is 12.3 billion cubic feet--2 percent more than in 1991--and averages 1,603 cubic feet per acre. Yellow-poplar continues to lead in volume followed by red and sugar maples. Since 1991, the saw log portion of growing-stock volume has increased by 35 percent to 41 billion board feet. In the latest inventory, net growth exceeded removals for all major species except elm.

Barry Kent combines the historical and archaeological records to interpret the culture of the peoples who formerly occupied the Susquehanna Valley of central and eastern Pennsylvania until they vanished in the mid-eighteenth century. The book provides the reader with a timeline of the Susquehanna people and a discussion of archaeological findings.