|
Adirondack Research and Publications
The Adirondack Communities and Conservation Program aims to be an information provider in the community, supplying solid research that can be used as the basis for sound decisionmaking. Both social and ecological research have been part of our efforts.
These research projects have been published as working papers (as part of the Wildlife Conservation Society's working paper series), technical papers (as part of our own technical paper series), journal articles, and one book, The Adirondack Atlas, which was released in 2004.
Our research topics include:
Wildlife Biology and Human Dimensions of Wildlife
Bears New Spring 2008!
Beavers
Bicknell's Thrush
Coyotes
Conservation Easements and Biodiversity New Spring 2008!
Development and Wildlife
Loons
Lynx
Mesocarnivores
Roads and Wildlife
Wolves
Forest ecology
Conservation Easements and Biodiversity
Maple regeneration
1995 Blowdown
Social ecology
All-Terrain Vehicles
Communities and Conservation
The Economics of Communities and the Forest Preserve
Forest Preserve Education
Scenic Byways
The Adirondack Atlas
Wildlife Biology and Human Dimensions of Wildlife
Bears
Coexisting with Black Bears: Perspectives from Four Case Studies Across North America. Jon P. Beckmann, Leslie Karasin, Cecily Costello, Sean Matthews and Zoe Smith. WCS Working Paper Series 33. March 2008. (74 pp.)
The working paper combines the field-based research and observations of scientists from four locations across the United States with an extensive section on research-based management recommendations.
Download the working paper (1.2 mb)
Beavers
Beaver in the Adirondacks: Their History, Status, and Effects on Wetlands and Birds. Peter Houlihan and Jerry Jenkins. (Work in progress.)
Motivated by a desire to understand the role of beaver-modified wetlands in determining breeding bird diversity, the paper provides comprehensive background on the species and the results of a field study to identify the species of birds at beaver-modified and not-beaver-modified wetlands. These results are extrapolated, along with available data on beaver activity and wetland modification, to allow for some generalizations about the impacts of beaver on bird diversity.
Paper is not complete; this page will be updated when it is available.
Bicknell's Thrush
Use of Whiteface Mountain by Bicknell's Thrush and Other Montane Forest Bird Species. Michale Glennon and Leslie Karasin. Wildlife Conservation Society.
End-of-season reports submitted to the Olympic Regional Development Authority summarizing field work and results from a study of five montane bird species on Whiteface Mountain.
2004 end of season report is available (pdf, 176 kb)
2005 end of season report is available (pdf, 427 kb)
Coyotes
The Ecology of Northeast Coyotes: Current Knowledge and Priorities for Future Research. Matthew Gompper. WCS Working Paper Series No. 17, 2002. (48 pp.)
A survey of existing knowledge concerning morphology, genetics, behavioral ecology, demographics, and habitat use, with specific recommendations for research.
Complete report is available for download here as a pdf (735 kb.) or from the Working paper series page.
Conservation Easements and Biodiversity
Conservation Easements and Biodiversity in the Northern Forest Region. Jerry Jenkins. The Open Space Institute and the Wildlife Conservation Society. 2008.
Conservation easements are an increasingly popular tool, allowing open space protection along with other land uses, including active forestry. This report provides a detailed assessment of whether the increasing acreages of conservation easements in the Northern Forest Region are effective in protecting the sensitive flora and fauna of these lands. It also makes recommendations about tools that would enhance biodiversity protections on these lands.
Documents available for download (Caution - note the file sizes.
Download the entire report (22 mb)
The executive summary, introduction and first chapter (3.5 mb)
Chapter VI Biodiversity Conservation in Working Forest Easements (3.2 mb)
Chapter VII Synthesis: A Blueprint for High-Level Biodiversity Protection (3.9 mb)
Development and Wildlife
Impacts to Wildlife from Low Density, Exurban Development: Information and Considerations for the Adirondack Park. Michale Glennon and Heidi Kretser. ACCP Technical Paper Series, No 3. October 2005. (53 pp.)
A summary of current scientific literature on the ecological consequences of low density, exurban development, with particular attention to the implications of this type of development for the Adirondack Park. Potential solutions to the challenges of low density development are also addressed.
The paper is available for download here as a pdf (1.3 mb.)
Loons
The Common Loon in the Adirondack Park. Nina Schoch. WCS Working Paper Series, No 20. 2002. (60 pp.)
A thorough examination of the natural history of the common loon, as well as natural and anthropogenic threats to the species in the Adirondacks. The paper also includes descriptions of regional efforts to monitor, study and protect the loon.
The complete report is available for download here here as a pdf (1.4 mb) or from the Working paper series page.
Get the Lead Out! brochure. Adirondack Cooperative Loon Program.
An informational brochure on the risks of lead sinkers in aquatic systems and information for anglers about alternatives to the use of lead sinkers. Available for download here as a pdf (195 kb.)
The Cycle of the Common Loon brochure.
A guide to the seasonal cycle of Common Loons and conservation concerns affecting their population. Available for download here as a pdf (253 kb.)
Lynx
Lynx Survey in the Adirondack Park. John Weaver. 1999. (18pp.)
This survey attempted to determine whether there is a population of Canada lynx within the area around the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks. The survey methodology involved a non-invasive technique capitalizing on the natural cheek-rubbing behavior of cats for hair collection and DNA analysis. This was a follow-up survey to the release of 83 translocated lynx by a team of biologists from SUNY ESF in the late 1980's.
This paper is not available digitally at this time. Contact us to receive a copy.
Mesocarnivores
Mesocarnivores of Northeastern North America: Status and Conservation Issues. Justina Ray. WCS Working Paper Series, No 15. 2000. (84 pp.)
A comprehensive synopsis of conservation issues pertaining to mesocarnivores in the region, with general discussion of threats and status, and species-specific descriptions of history, range, habitat requirements, and responses to human-induced disturbances.
Complete report is available for download from the WCS Working Paper Series page.
Roads and Wildlife
Roads and Wildlife in the Adirondack Landscape: A Preliminary Look at the Rooftop Highway, I-87 Tunnels, and Wildlife Issues. Stacey Low. Adirondack Communities and Conservation Program Technical Paper No 1. 2003.
The proposed Rooftop Highway of Northern New York would expand an east-west road corridor roughly in the Route 11 footprint. This paper discusses the status of the road project, possible impacts on wildlife, general research on roads and wildlife, and known methods for reducing wildlife impacts caused by roads.
This paper is not yet available for public distribution. This page will be updated when it is available.
A Preliminary Investigation into the Effectiveness of Interstate 87 Culverts in Promoting Wildlife Movement within the Adirondack Park. Scott LaPoint, Roland Kays and Justina Ray. Adirondack Journal of Environmental Science Vol 10, No 1. Spring/Summer 2003.
19 existing culverts under Interstate 87 were monitored for use by wildlife with camera traps and supplemental tracking. The study was intended to provide some insight into the question of the proposed Rooftop Highway and wildlife impacts, discussed more completely in Roads and Wildlife in the Adirondack Landscape.
The study is available for download at the AJES website under Vol 10 number 1.
Wolves
An Assessment of Potential Habitat for Eastern Timber Wolves in the Northeastern United States and Connectivity with Occupied Habitat in Southeastern Canada. Daniel Harrison and Theodore Chapin. WCS Working Paper Series, No 7. 1997. (12 pp.)
This working paper attempts to answer questions about the feasibility of wolf recovery, potential and dispersal habitat, and prey. Specifically, the authors attempt to quantify and map the extent, distribution, and connectivity of habitat in the northeastern U.S. that is in forested land cover, and below thresholds of 0.70 km roads/km2 and 4 humans/km2. To provide insight into the potential for natural reestablishment of wolves via emigration from extant populations, they also map potential dispersal corridors between wolf populations in southeastern Canada and potential habitat in the northeastern U.S.
The paper's abstract and full report are available for download from the WCS Working Paper Series page.
Wolf Restoration in the Adirondacks?: The Questions of Local Residents. Angie Hodgson. WCS Working Paper Series, No. 8. 1997. (85pp.)
Attempts to answer the most common questions arising from the topic of wolf restoration, including: wolf biology and history, genetics, mechanics of reintroduction, prey and habitat availability in the Adirondacks, population dynamics, livestock predation, economics, hunting, and land regulations. The working paper aimed to improve public understanding of these issues in light of calls for wolf reintroduction in the Adirondacks.
The paper's abstract and full report are available for download from the WCS Working Paper Series page.
Hearing a Chorus Among the Howls: public responses to proposed wolf reintroduction in the Adirondacks. Robb A. Cowie. Antioch University 2001.
This MA thesis, funded by WCS, was an analysis of how environmental dispute resolution could be applied to the debate over wolf reintroduction in the Adirondacks. The work also provides a portal into the question of how opposing sides on a variety of contentious Adirondack issues might find common ground.
The potential for wolf recovery in the northeastern United States via dispersal from southeastern Canada. Adrian Wydeven, William Weber, Kristi MacDonald & Todd K. Fuller. Wildlife Society Bulletin 1998, 26(4): 776-784.
The paper includes: review of scientific literature on wolf dispersal and recolonization; analysis of potential southeastern Canadian source populations of wolves; discussion of connectivity between potential source populations and potential wolf habitat (drawing on the work of Harrison and Chapin, 1997, discussed above); and analysis of potential habitat in the northeastern US. The paper concludes with a number of recommendations that could enhance the likelihood of natural wolf recovery, and serve other important interests as well.
Way of the Wolf: Can timber wolves come back to the Northeast? Bill Weber. Weber, Bill. Wildlife Conservation. November/December 1999. 102(6) p36-41.
This article provides insight into a number of the social, as well as ecological, factors affecting the viability of a natural or introduced wolf recovery in the northeast, with particular attention to transboundary issues and public opinion.
Forest Ecology
Maple Regeneration
Hardwood Regeneration Failure in the Adirondacks: Preliminary Studies of Incidence and Severity. Jerry Jenkins. 1997. Wildlife Conservation Society Working Paper No. 9. (67pp.)
The results of a study to assess natural regeneration rates among hardwood species in the eastern and western Adirondacks, with comparisons of test plots in Vermont. Particular attention is paid to the apparent failure in regeneration among sugar maples, especially in the western Adirondacks, with discussion about potential causes.
The complete paper is available for download here as a pdf (685 kb.)
1995 Blowdown
Notes on the Adirondack Blowdown of July 15th, 1995: Scientific Background, Observations, and Policy Issues. Jerry Jenkins. 1995. Wildlife Conservation Society Working Paper No. 5. (93pp.)
An assessment of meteorological, ecological, and socio-political issues associated with the 1995 blowdown in the western Adirondacks. The paper includes the results of fieldwork conducted in the blowdown, historical information on New York storms, and discussion about the legal and political issues associated with salvage logging.
The complete paper is available for download here as a pdf (2.3 mb.)
Social ecology
All-Terrain Vehicles
All Terrain Vehicles in the Adirondacks: Issues and Options. Leslie Karasin. WCS Working Paper Series, No 21. 2003. (72 pp.)
An examination of national research and management for all-terrain vehicles, and a focused look at ATV issues in the Adirondacks, including: legal issues, illegal use of forest preserve land, economic and ecological impacts, the perspectives of ATV users, and management options for the future.
The complete report is available for download here as a pdf (2.6 mb) or from the WCS Working Paper Series page.
Communities and Conservation
The Wildlife Conservation Society in the Adirondacks: Building Capacity for Conservation. Human Dimensions Research Unit. Cornell University. HDRU Series No. 16-13. October 2006.
This report synthesizes the results of a series of focus groups facilitated by Bruce Lauber, the preparer of the report. In the focus groups, Lauber asked WCS' partners about the effectiveness of WCS' approach to conservation in the Adirondacks.
The report is available as a pdf (322 kb) from the link above.
Adirondack Communities and Conservation Program: Linking Communities and Conservation Inside the Blue Line. Heidi Kretser. WCS Working Paper Series, No. 16. 2001. (62pp.)
An examination of the linkages between communities and conservation through three case studies of Adirondack towns and a tourism case study; each study discusses the particulars of the locality and the work that the Adirondack Communities and Conservation Program has been involved in locally. The paper includes general recommendations for developing ties with, within, and between communities.
The complete report is available for download from the WCS Working Paper Series page.
Empty Spaces Offer a World of Opportunity. Heidi Kretser. 2000. Adirondack Journal of Environmental Studies. 7(1) p7-9.
Explores the potential for turning abandoned storefronts into Community Information Centers, using a concept inspired by similar community centers in the Abruzzo National Park in Italy, and currently underway in the Adirondacks.
A pdf of this article is available from the Adirondack Journal of Environmental Studies website.
Tourism Business, Community, and Environment in the Adirondacks: The Perspective of Business Owners and Managers in the Central and Western Adirondack Park. Timothy Holmes and Bryan Higgins. February, 1999.
An assessment of the tourism industry in the Central and Western Adirondacks, according to responses to a questionnaire distributed among tourism-related business owners. Topics of discussion include the local labor pool, the relationship between tourism and the natural environment, community and regional planning, the seasonality of tourism revenue, and key recreation interests.
This report is available to download or view online from the website of Holmes & Associates.
Adirondacks Alive!: Balancing Human Needs with Conservation. Joyce and Richard Wolkomir. Wildlife Conservation. 105(4): July/August 2002 p34-5.
Do Public Lands Constrain Economic Development in the Adirondack Park? Andrew Keal and David Wilkie. Adirondack Journal of Environmental Science Vol 10, No 1. Spring/Summer 2003.
A GIS and statistical analysis to test whether zoning laws and state-ownership of land dampen economic development. The paper examines the relationship between the percentage of state-owned land within a town and several economic indicators from census data, including unemployment levels, poverly levels, per capita income, median house value, and median household income.
The study is available for download from the AJES website under Volume 10 number 1.
The Wildlife Conservation Society's Adirondack Communities and Conservation Program. Leslie Karasin, Zoë Smith and Michale Glennon. Adirondack Journal of Environmental Science Vol 10, No 2. Fall/Winter 2003.
Describes the approach that WCS-ACCP takes in working with communities to promote conservation initiatives and respond to community needs.
The paper is available for download from the AJES website under Volume 10 number 2.
Forest Preserve Education
Survey of Education and Information Providers in the Adirondack Region Regarding Forest Preserve Education. Jack Drury and Tim Holmes. March 2002.
As part of the Adirondack Forest Preserve Education Program, the authors surveyed DEC staff, outdoor guides, outdoor educators, chamber of commerce staff, and a number of other types of information providers to gather input about mechanisms for education of users of the Forest Preserve.
The survey summary report is available in pdf form for download from the Holmes & Associates web site.
Recreation
Ten Favorite Hikes in the Townships of Clifton and Fine. Wildlife Conservation Society, Clifton Fine Economic Development Corporation Five Pond Partners, and the Ranger School of SUNY-ESF. 2005.
This brochure is an introduction and a general guide to several easy to moderate hikes in the Clifton-Fine area. It was developed in partnership by the organizations listed above, as a means to provide information to visitors about recreational opportunities in the area.
The brochure is available for download here as a pdf (1.4 mb.) Note that it is meant to be folded, and thus a portion of it will appear upside down on download.
Scenic Byways
Olympic Trail Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan. Zoe Smith. (Work in Progress).
ACCP is the local facilitator for the corridor management plan for the Olympic Trail between the town of Fine and the hamlet of Ray Brook.
Adirondack Trail Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan. Zoe Smith. (Work in Progress).
ACCP is the local facilitator for the corridor management plan for the Adirondack Trail between the towns of Altamont and Duane.
Atlas of the Adirondacks
Adirondack Atlas. Jerry Jenkins with Andy Keal. Syracuse University Press. 2004.
A book-length atlas that combines limited text with attractive maps to bring to life the mix of history, culture, economics, and wilderness that characterizes the Adirondack region.
Expected publication date: Spring, 2004.
Learn more about this project -- go to the Atlas page.
|
