Southern Appalachian Field Branch

Southern Appalachian Field Branch

USGS/Leetown Science Center
Southern Appalachian Field Branch
Department of Forestry, Wildlife & Fisheries
274 Ellington Plant Sciences Building
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996
PHONE: (865) 974-0739
FAX: (865) 974-3555

Branch Chief: Joseph Clark
Staff • Research Studies • Directions
Elk

SCIENTIFIC FOCUS

PURPOSE
The mission of the Southern Appalachian Field Branch is to provide technical assistance and to facilitate cooperative research in the biological, geophysical, and social sciences with emphasis on upland ecosystems in the southern Appalachian Highlands.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS/GOALS
• Become a leader in landscape modeling to predict the ecological consequences of anthropogenic impacts to the southern Appalachians

• Provide expertise in wildlife habitat and population analysis with emphasis on management of large mammals

• Assume a leadership role in demonstrating concepts of sustainable development, both regionally and globally

• Continue to develop and refine procedures for I&M in National Parks

RESEARCH

FOCUS
• Dr. Joseph Clark
To conduct hypothesis-driven experimental wildlife research directed toward management population analysis

• Dr. John Peine
To study the social, economic, and political parameters that best predict the nature and magnitude of human influences on ecosystem processes and biodiversity.

• Dr. Charles Parker
To conduct basic inventories of natural resources of the Southern Appalachians and integrate the data models of landscape patterns.

• Dr. Frank van Manen
To evaluate the spatial relationships between plants and animals and the environments where they are found.

CURRENT RESEARCH

Wildlife research directed toward management problems with emphasis on habitat and population analysis.
Environmental impacts on the structure and functioning of naturally-managed ecosystems
Inventories of natural resources of the Southern Appalachians and integration of the data into models of landscape patterns.
Social, economic and political parameters that best predict the nature and magnitude of human influences on ecosystem processes and biodiversity.

FACILITIES

CAPABILITIES
• Landscape modeling using Geographic Information Systems as a tool to predict and mitigate effects of human disturbance on wildlife
• Wildlife habitat and population analysis with emphasis on management of large mammals
• Development of protocols for inventory and monitoring both natural and human resources in upland ecosystems in the Southeast.

U.S. Department of the Interior || U.S. Geological Survey
11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA
URL: http://www.lsc.usgs.gov
Maintainer: lsc_webmaster@usgs.gov
Last Modified: January 31, 2008 jmn
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SCIENTIFIC FOCUS PURPOSE The mission of the Southern Appalachian Field Branch is to provide technical assistance and to facilitate cooperative research in the biological, geophysical, and social sciences with emphasis on upland ecosystems in the southern Appalachian Highlands. ACCOMPLISHMENTS/GOALS • Become a leader in landscape modeling to predict the ecological consequences of anthropogenic impacts to the southern Appalachians • Provide expertise in wildlife habitat and population analysis with emphasis on management of large mammals • Assume a leadership role in demonstrating concepts of sustainable development, both regionally and globally • Continue to develop and refine procedures for I&M in National Parks
RESEARCH FOCUS • Dr. Joseph Clark To conduct hypothesis-driven experimental wildlife research directed toward management population analysis • Dr. John Peine To study the social, economic, and political parameters that best predict the nature and magnitude of human influences on ecosystem processes and biodiversity. • Dr. Charles Parker To conduct basic inventories of natural resources of the Southern Appalachians and integrate the data models of landscape patterns. • Dr. Frank van Manen To evaluate the spatial relationships between plants and animals and the environments where they are found. CURRENT RESEARCH Wildlife research directed toward management problems with emphasis on habitat and population analysis. Environmental impacts on the structure and functioning of naturally-managed ecosystems Inventories of natural resources of the Southern Appalachians and integration of the data into models of landscape patterns. Social, economic and political parameters that best predict the nature and magnitude of human influences on ecosystem processes and biodiversity.
FACILITIES CAPABILITIES • Landscape modeling using Geographic Information Systems as a tool to predict and mitigate effects of human disturbance on wildlife • Wildlife habitat and population analysis with emphasis on management of large mammals • Development of protocols for inventory and monitoring both natural and human resources in upland ecosystems in the Southeast.