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Plant benefits from longleaf pine restoration
Species had not been collected in Virginia since 1971
The Kidney Sedge (Carex reniformis G4SH) was last collected in Virginia in 1971. In late May 2013, while inspecting a longleaf restoration area at Antioch Pines Natural Area Preserve in Isle of Wight County, the DCR Natural Heritage Program’s sharp-eyed Southeast Region Steward, Darren Loomis, noticed a robust sedge growing in a low area that had recently been harvested, burned and planted to longleaf pine. Initial identification suggested that it was the Kidney Sedge, last collected in that area in 1946. The identification was confirmed by Natural Heritage Program Botanist Johnny Townsend in late 2013.
This is likely another of several documented instances where plant species associated with open, fire-maintained coastal plain community types have benefited from DCR’s longleaf pine restoration efforts.
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Kidney Sedge (Carex reniformis)
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Virginia natural community classification updated
The DCR Natural Heritage Program has made a number of revisions to the Natural Communities of Virginia and the associated website for the classification: www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/nchome.shtml.
Improvements include bringing all scientific and common names into compliance with the Flora of Virginia standard, updating of the introductory material, making a few changes to the classification units based on recent work, and adding more than 100 new plant photos.
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Vegetation classification and mapping for National Park sites expanded
In 2008, the DCR Natural Heritage Program produced vegetation maps for Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park and Richmond National Battlefield, following the protocols of the U.S. Geological Survey-National Park Service Vegetation Characterization Program. In 2012, the National Park Service contracted with the Natural Heritage Program to expand the maps and classifications to cover an additional 3,419 acres of land added to the parks since the initial mapping effort.
Expanded map products and reports submitted to the park service in January 2014 include updated vegetation maps for the two parks, as well as revised vegetation field keys and local vegetation descriptions. These tools will be used by park managers to help guide the management of forest resources, to provide vegetation information for monitoring programs, and to assist in training park staff about ecosystems in their parks.
During the course of this project, four new exemplary natural communities were documented and recommended to NPS as targets for protection and management. These high-quality natural communities on NPS lands meet appropriate standards for size, condition, and landscape context, and so will be added to the Natural Heritage Program’s resource databases.
Vegetation characterization products for national parks in Virginia can be found on the USGS-NPS Vegetation Characterization Program website: www.usgs.gov/core_science_systems/csas/vip/states/va.html
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Bat populations studied for white-nose syndrome
The DCR Natural Heritage Program is partnering with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and Radford University to study hibernating bat populations in the wake of White Nose Syndrome (WNS), a devastating wildlife epidemic that resulted in up to 99% mortality in some cave bat species.
In an effort to assess survivorship as a function of geography and association with other species, the bat hibernacula team has been visiting caves across western Virginia for which data on tricolored bats (Perimyotis subflavus) were available prior to the onset of WNS in 2009. In most of the caves visited this winter, tricolored bats remain present, but in lower numbers than before WNS. However, apparent survivorship varies greatly. In one cave visited in the upper James River basin in January, the team discovered a hibernacula of nearly 200 little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus). All but one of these bats appeared to be WNS free and may be part of a population that is critical for long-term recovery of this species. Prior to this monitoring trip, available data suggested that this species had all but disappeared from Virginia’s landscape.
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Crow's Nest great blue heron nest count completed
DCR Natural Heritage Program staff Mike Lott, along with staff from Stafford County and the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT), completed the annual great blue heron nest count Feb. 7 within the Potomac Creek Heronry.
The heronry is largely located within the Crow’s Nest Natural Area Preserve and an adjacent parcel owned by the NVCT. The nest count rebounded to 246 from a low of 153 in 2013. The nest count in 2013 was affected by the derecho that occurred the previous summer that damaged many nest trees. An article about the nest count and the heronry was published in the Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star in February.
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Natural Heritage employees receive Thomas Jefferson Award for Conservation
DCR Natural Heritage Program biologists Christopher Ludwig, John Townsend and Bland Crowder, along with Alan Weakley of the University of North Carolina, received the Thomas Jefferson Award for Conservation at the 27th annual awards ceremony held March 20 at the Virginia Museum of Natural History.
The award honored these scientists for their work in compiling Flora of Virginia, which was published in late 2012. This exhaustive 1,554-page compendium of all of the plants of the Commonwealth is the first complete treatment of Virginia plants since 1752 and is already in its second printing. It is used extensively by naturalists, biologists, environmental consultants, gardeners and other students of Virginia’s natural environments.
Funded through a unique private-public partnership, this project would not have succeeded if not for the unwavering, 13-year support of the Department of Conservation and Recreation. The Library of Virginia is hosting the exhibition, "Flora of Virginia," which runs through Sept. 13.
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Natural Heritage staff co-author significant cave publication
The latest issue of Banisteria (Journal of the Virginia Natural History Society) features “The Invertebrate Cave Fauna of Virginia” (Banisteria, Number 42, pages 9-56), a comprehensive look at the current state of knowledge of obligate cave-dwelling invertebrates in the Commonwealth.
The article documents the taxonomic status and distribution of each species and subspecies and is a significant milestone in our understanding of Virginia’s subterranean fauna. The article highlights a total of 121 terrestrial (troglobiotic) and 47 aquatic (stygobiotic) species and subspecies, including 17 stygobiotic species known from non-cave groundwater habitats in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont.
The richest terrestrial groups are Coleoptera (beetles), Collembola (insects known as springtails), and Diplopoda (millipedes), and the richest aquatic group is Amphipoda (a crustacean group). The manuscript is co-authored by Dr. John R. Holsinger (Old Dominion University), Dr. David Culver (American University), David A. Hubbard, Jr. (Virginia Speleological Survey), and two DCR Natural Heritage Program staff: Karst Protection Coordinator Wil Orndorff, and Field Zoologist Chris Hobson.
Banisteria is edited by Natural Heritage Program Zoologist Dr. Steven M. Roble. Holsinger, Culver, and Hubbard have all served multiple terms on the Virginia Cave Board, and continue to work closely with the DCR Natural Heritage Program to further our understanding and conservation of Virginia’s globally significant karst resources.
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Environmental review summary
The DCR Natural Heritage Program serves as a valuable source of reliable information, both for public agencies meeting their environmental review responsibilities for agency projects and for the interested public.
In 2013, Natural Heritage staff responded to 2,333 written/electronic environmental review requests. All but 13 of these requests were answered within established deadlines that ranged from a few hours to 30 days. Five percent came from federal agencies, 8% local governments, 8% private individuals and non-profits, 22% consultants and 57% from state agencies.
Forty-one percent of overall requests were submitted for review through the Natural Heritage Data Explorer website, up from 30% in 2012.
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Virginia Cave Board meets
Former board chairman John Holsinger recognized
The Virginia Cave Board held its winter meeting Feb. 22 at the Melrose Caverns Lodge near Harrisonburg. The board’s 11 members are appointed by the governor and charged by law with fostering the protection of Virginia’s significant cave and karst resources.
The meeting agenda included:
- Consideration of land conservation strategies for caves and karst areas.
- Development of the latest Cave Owners Newsletter.
- Plans for Virginia Cave Week scheduled for April 20-26 with the theme “On Hollowed Ground."
- Initial review of a Virginia Cave and Karst Trail website under development by the Natural Heritage Program.
- A tribute to former board chairman, Dr. John Holsinger. Two other former chairmen, Tom Lera and David Hubbard, joined current board members in recognizing Dr. Holsinger for his many years of service to the Cave Board and for his lifetime commitment to the research and conservation of caves and karst areas in our state.
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Talk highlights Scott County karst landscapes
DCR Natural Heritage Program Karst Protection Coordinator Wil Orndorff delivered a presentation entitled “Underground Waters of Scott County” March 11 at Natural Tunnel State Park. Local residents and park guests attended the talk. Orndorff highlighted the globally significant, rare invertebrates, bats, and natural communities associated with this karst landscape, and he stressed the importance of implementing conservation measures informed by science.
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Multiple agencies attend fire training
During the week of March 10, DCR Natural Heritage Program Eastern Fire Manager Rebecca Wilson served as an instructor in a basic fire training class for staff from Americorps, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. This week-long training focused on fire safety and skill-building, and provided an introduction and orientation to both implementing prescribed fires and to suppressing wildfires.
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Prescribed burns completed at Chub Sandhill Natural Area Preserve
DCR Natural Heritage Program staff on March 27 led a combined crew from The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Americorps to apply prescribed fire to four burn units totaling 114 acres at Chub Sandhill Natural Area Preserve in Sussex County.
Two units contained 6-year-old longleaf pine burned to release pines and native groundcover plants from heavy hardwood competition. Two other units contained previously thinned loblolly pine and were burned to maintain an open understory and grassy groundcover in preparation for longleaf pine underplanting in 2015.
Completion of these four prescribed burns in one day resulted from the combination of near-perfect weather conditions, advanced planning and site preparations, and strong interagency cohesion and support.
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Partners assist in Difficult Creek prescribed burn
Burns foster habitat for preserve's rare plant and animal species
Two management units totaling 92 acres at Difficult Creek Natural Area Preserve in Halifax County were safely and successfully treated on March 27 with prescribed fire. The burn crew from the Natural Heritage Program was supported by fire management partners from DCR State Parks, The Nature Conservancy and AmeriCorps. These burns are part of an aggressive strategy to restore a rare Southern Piedmont Hardpan Forest, which supports at least nine rare plant species.
Prescribed fire enhances suitable habitat conditions for the federally-endangered smooth coneflower (Echinacea laevigata), currently found in remnant populations within a power line right-of-way and in forest openings within the natural area preserve. Fire stimulates prairie plant reproduction, increases grassland species vigor and biomass production, and greatly benefits rare species, native prairie plants, and grassland nesting birds. In addition, prescribed fire reduces hazardous fuels, thereby mitigating the risk of catastrophic wildfire.
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Prescribed fire helps restore longleaf pine in Isle of Wight
Longleaf pines are in "grass stage"
DCR Natural Heritage staff, with assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservancy, conducted a 108-acre prescribed burn at Antioch Pines Natural Area Preserve Feb. 21 in Isle of Wight County.
This area is being restored by DCR to longleaf pine natural communities. The previous loblolly pine plantation was removed in 2011, a site preparation burn was completed, and the area was planted in March 2012 with more than 50,000 native Virginia longleaf pine seedlings. These 2-year-old longleaf pines are currently in the “grass stage” of development.
Fire at this stage of longleaf stand development is critical to reduce competition from hardwoods and loblolly pines, and to increase the abundance and diversity of fire-adapted native groundcover plant species essential for longleaf pine community restoration.
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Volunteers pitch in to clean up Cleveland Barrens
300 bags of litter were collected
The town of Cleveland, Friends of Cleveland Barrens Natural Area Preserve (CBNAP), and Litter Control Officers from Dickenson, Wise, Buchanan and Russell Counties descended on Cleveland Barrens Natural Area Preserve for a cleanup of the old dump site just south of the Town’s water tank.
In total, four Litter Control Officers, 10 volunteers -- including the Mayor of Cleveland -- DCR Southwest Natural Areas Operation Steward John Hartley, and approximately 35 inmates and community service workers participated. Three hours of cleaning produced approximately 300 bags of garbage at an estimated weight of six tons. While there is still more to do, this project made a huge dent in cleaning the site. Heartfelt gratitude goes out to Mayor David Sutherland, Town Secretary Cathy Johnson, Friends of CBNAP chairperson Elaine Sutherland and to Russell County Litter Coordinator Brian Ferguson, who made this event possible.
After the cleanup, all participants were invited to the Town’s Recreational Facility for a huge homemade lunch catered by the residents of Cleveland.
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Channels parking lot expanded
In response to growing demand for additional parking space at the Channels State Forest and Natural Area Preserve in Washington and Russell counties, the Department of Forestry, the Department of Transportation and DCR have carried out a cooperative venture to double the size of the parking lot on Route 80. The expanded lot on DOF property now accommodates 10-12 vehicles. Zachery Olinger of DOF and John Hartley of DCR spent a day in February clearing trees, and VDOT supplied and installed new surface material.
The Channels Natural Area Preserve saw 2,300 hikers in 2012 and is quickly growing in popularity.
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A worker clears the way for expanded parking at The Channels State Forest and Natural Area Preserve.
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Master Naturalist volunteers learn about invasives
Stewardship biologist speaks to two groups
DCR Natural Heritage Stewardship Biologist Kevin Heffernan presented a three-hour training workshop for 30 new Virginia Master Naturalists March 10 at Pocahontas State Park.
Participants learned about ecological and economic impacts of invasive species, how to identify five early detection invasive plant species, and how to map and report invasive species using web-based tools and smartphone apps.
An “early detection invasive species” is one that has only recently arrived in Virginia or is known in only very small numbers in Virginia.
On March 12, Heffernan spoke on invasive grass species to the Potowmack Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists at Green Springs Garden Park in Alexandria. He gave particular emphasis to wavyleaf grass (Oplismenus hirtellus ssp. undulatifolius), an early detection invasive species, currently known from only 19 sites in Virginia. Wavyleaf grass could become the most aggressive invader of forest ground layer in Virginia and would displace many native herbaceous species and reduce regeneration of woody species.
Virginia Master Naturalists perform 40 hours of community service each year and are an important part of the invasive species early detection network.
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Wavyleaf grass blades are flat, up to 4 inches long, with rippling waves from base to tip. Photo by Kerrie L. Kyde, Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Bugwood.org.
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Native plants topic of forum
The Native Plant Marketing Forum drew participants from across Virginia
On Jan. 28, the Coastal Zone Management Program, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and Wetlands Watch employed video meeting technology to host the Virginia Native Plant Marketing Forum at Germanna Community College (Culpeper Campus) and Tidewater Community College (Norfolk Campus).
The forum examined the potential for developing a Commonwealth-wide strategy to increase the use of plants native to Virginia in public and private landscaping. Forum topics included an overview of regional native plant campaigns currently being implemented on the Eastern Shore, the Northern Neck, Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, the development of a Virginia-specific native seed propagation protocol, and the initiation of a Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional certification.
DCR Natural Heritage Eastern Shore Region Steward Dot Field gave a presentation on the considerations needed to develop a standardized native seed propagation protocol and led the group discussion on the topic. The forum was attended by staff from Commonwealth natural resource agencies, staff from municipal localities, representatives from non-government organizations, and nursery and landscape industry professionals. Approximately 50 attended the forum.
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