Section Topics

 

 

Ecological Research

Past research

ACCP has a strong history of ecological research and publications spanning topics from beavers to mesocarnivores to hardwood regeneration failure in the Adirondacks.  See the
 Research and Publications page for more about past research. 

Current research

The Adirondack Living Landscapes Program establishes a framework for conservation planning and applied ecological research on specific species, suites of species, and threats in the Adirondack landscape.

Current research projects include:

Bicknell's Thrush Survey

Bicknell's Thrush is a Species of Special Concern in New York State.  The species breeds only above approximately 2800' at this latitude, and its breeding range is limited to higher elevation peaks of the northeast and southern Canada; the Adirondacks constitutes a significant portion of the species' breeding range.  Threatened by deforestation on its wintering grounds in Hispaniola and by climate change and development on its breeding grounds, the species has been named the neotropical migrant of highest conservation priority in the northeast. 

In addition to studying Bicknell's Thrush on Whiteface Mountain, WCS has actively promoted participation in Mountain Birdwatch, a citizen science effort in the Adirondacks and across the Northeast to monitor Bicknell's and other high elevation species.

A proposed ski area expansion on Whiteface Mountain above 2800' has raised concerns about potential impacts on Bicknell's Thrush.  A group of regional partners, including the Olympic Regional Development Authority, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Adirondack Park Agency, and concerned non-profit organizations have met several times to ensure that the project takes possible impacts on Bicknell's Thrush into account.  This group has benefitted from the advisement of the Vermont Institute of Natural Science, a regional expert in Bicknell's Thrush.  As one outcome of these discussions, WCS has launched a study on Whiteface to examine the potential impacts of the ski trail expansion and have conducted surveys for the past two years in control areas, glades, existing trails, proposed trails, and proposed glades, monitoring Bicknell's Thrush and four other high elevation species.  The end-of-season reports from our initial years' work are available from the Research and Publications Page

Support and funding for this project has been generously provided by the Olympic Regional Development Authority.

Boreal Bird Survey

Pilot surveys that ACCP conducted for three-toed woodpecker yielded limited results for this elusive species and suggested a need to broaden the focus to a suite of boreal birds which inhabit primarily boreal wetland habitats, are generally at the southern edges of their ranges in the Adirondacks, and are at risk from climate change.  The suite of species includes:  three-toed woodpecker, black backed woodpecker, palm warbler, gray jay, Lincoln's sparrow, olive-sided flycatcher, yellow-bellied flycatcher, boreal chickadee, rusty blackbird and spruce grouse.  To better understand these birds and the habitats they occupy, ACCP has conducted annual surveys for these birds at a total of approximately thirty sites so far, with the intention of eventually including approximately sixty sites.  This study has three main purposes: (1) to map the boreal, (2) to gather data on the abundance and distribution of these species in boreal habitats throughout the park, and (3) to use the resulting info to contribute toward a long term conservation plan for the boreal in the Adirondacks. 

The boreal bird survey, together with the Bicknell's Thrush survey, will be funded by a State Wildlife Grant through the New York State DEC.  Matching funds for the Bicknell's Thrush survey are generously provided by the Olympic Regional Development Authority. 

Moose Population Survey

One of the goals of the Adirondack Living Landscapes Program currently is to better understand the population distribution and trends of the region's moose population.  Moose were extirpated from the Adirondack landscape and absent for more than a century, but have returned to the area within the last few decades.  The Adirondack Atlas includes maps of moose sightings reported to the DEC between 1980 and 1997, which indicates a clearly growing and spreading population. 

To better understand the current status of the population and these trends, ACCP has partnered with the DEC to survey hunters in the Northern Zone about whether they have observed moose while hunting.  We hope that, over time, this survey will provide a valuable source of information about moose population status and growth.

 

In addition, we gather moose sighting information from the public.  You can help us better understand the Adirondack landscape by reporting a sighting of a moose or another species to us here.

Low density (exurban) development study

Low density, or exurban, development has been identified as a major driver of land use change in a variety of landscapes, including the Adirondacks.  Characterized by large lots of approximately five to forty acres, exurban development has been gaining attention in the Rocky Mountain west and has been the subject of a limited number of studies.  Very few studies have been conducted in eastern systems, however.  ACCP believes that exurban development is a key factor affecting wildlife populations now and into the future, and sees localized research on this topic to be a key information need. 

To meet the need for local understanding of this development pattern, Michale Glennon and Heidi Kretser wrote Impacts to Wildlife from Low Density, Exurban Development:  Information and Considerations for the Adirondack Park, which includes a thorough literature review of the scientific research on low density development.  The paper is available from the Research and Publications page

ACCP plans ongoing research to better understand the impacts of exurban development in the Adirondack landscape.  Currently we are pursuing funding to advance this research.  In addition, Heidi Kretser, ACCP Affiliate Scientist, is pursuing a Ph.D. looking at the social impacts of exurban development, and particularly the impact that low density development has on negative human - wildlife interactions.

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