Restoration and wildlife management

As an applied lab, we work on various restoration projects - generally monitoring the outcome of a restoration action on terrestrial wildlife. Our work has focused on the effects of the removal of Arundo donax (giant reed) on birds and butterflies in Big Bend National Park, Texas, and the influence of the rewatering of the Lower Owens River on riparian habitat and birds. Future projects will focus on restoration activities along the LA River.

Former graduate students, Julie Coffey and Heather Mackey, are finishing up a survey of birds in a burn scar along the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park. The National Park Service burned large swaths of Arundo donax to remove the invasive grass from the system. Our work focused on monitoring the recovery of wildlife in the floodplain following the management activities.