Endangered Species Bulletin - Spring 2011

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Spring 2011 Volume 36, No.1

Wildlife Stewardship
and National Defense

In This Edition

The Department of Defense and the
military services work hard to ensure
that soldiers have high-quality natural
environments in which to train. They
also work to sustain our nation’s natural
resources for future generations.
Achieving these dual missions requires
commitment and perseverance. A few of
the many projects dedicated managers Spring 2011 Volume 36, No. 1
have undertaken in the past 10 years are
featured in this edition of the Endangered
Species Bulletin. These projects not only Editor: Mike Bender
enable the military mission, but also help to
defend and sustain endangered species and Associate Editor: Sarah Leon
their habitats. Art Director: Jennifer A. Hennessey
To learn more about DoD’s stewardship
efforts and successes, take time to read the
stories in this edition of the Bulletin. You Contributors
L. Peter Boice R. Fischer Priya Nanjappa
can also learn more at its website, Alison Dalsimer M. Convertino Ernesto Garcia
www.DoDNaturalResources.net. Erica Evans M. Chu-Agor Michael Lannoo
Kathryn Sabella G. Kiker Christopher Dobony
Jane Mallory C.J. Martinez Eric Britzke
Hannah E. Anderson R. Muñoz-Carpena Mark Ford
Send Us Your Comments David Clouse H.R. Akçakaya Raymond Rainbolt
Todd Zuchowski M. Aiello-Lammens Dr. Joseph M. Szewczak
We are very interested in your comments and Bernd Blossey Richard A. Fischer Jim Brannen
suggestions about the Endangered Species Victoria Nuzzo Jonathon J. Valente Josh Wilhelm
Aaron Moody Michael P. Guilfoyle Howard Jelks
Bulletin. Please send them to esb@fws.gov Donald George Sidney A. Gauthreaux Bill Tate
or mail them to Endangered Species Bulletin, Nancy Natoli T. Mitchell Aide Frank Jordan
Carlos Corrada-Bravo
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Suite 420, Tammy Conkle
Robert E. Lovich
Eric Wolf
Lorri Schwartz Verl Emrick
4401 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA I. Linkov Chris Petersen Douglas Ripley
22203-1610.

You can also call us at 703-358-2171. The Endangered Species Bulletin is available online at www.fws.gov/en-
dangered//news/bulletin.html. To be notified when a new on-line edition
has been posted, sign up for our list-serv by clicking on “E-Mail List”
on the Bulletin Web page.
The Bulletin welcomes manuscripts on a wide range of topics related
to endangered species. Please send an inquiry before drafting the
article.

We invite you to visit the Endangered Species Program web site ( www.
fws.gov/endangered ), where you can download podcasts and find links
to follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

On the cover: 2011 has been designated “The Year of the Turtle”
by Partners in Amphbian and Reptile Conservation (parcplace.org),
an organization that counts the Department of Defense as a member.
Last summer, personnel with the Air National Guard participated in
a green sea turtle nesting beach clean-up on the Hawaiian island of
O’ahu in cooperation with “Malama nu Honu,” a non-profit group that
works to protect the species through education, public awareness and
conservation. Photo by © Martin Strmiska / Alamy.

Endangered Species Bulletin Spring 2011 www.fws.gov/endangered

FEATURES

4 Why We Care About 31 Radaring in on Migrating
Endangered Species Birds

6 Defense Secretary 32 Automated Biodiversity
Announces Monitoring
Environmental Awards
34 Developing a Strategic
7 National Public Lands Plan for Herpetofauna
Day on Military Lands

8 Cooperative 36 Do Frogs Still Get Their
Conservation on the Kicks on Route 66?
Puget Sound Prairies
40 DoD Joins the Battle to
10 Sustaining the Mission Save Bats
at Joint Base Lewis
McChord 42 A Call in the Night

12 Conservation Frontiers 44 Restoring the Pallid
Sturgeon
16 Banking Seeds for the 46 Weapons Testing and
Future Endangered Fish Coexist
in Florida
18 Connecting Landscapes
for Biodiversity 48 Defending Mussel
Populations on Military
20 The Readiness and Lands
Environmental
Protection Initiative 50 Conserving Biodiversity
on Military Lands
22 Partnerships from
Hawaii to North Carolina

24 From Sea to Shining Sea 51 USFWS Contacts

28 The Proof of Sea-level
Rise is in the Plover
www.fws.gov/endangered Spring 2011 Endangered Species Bulletin

by Kathryn Sabella,
interviewing L. Peter Boice Why We Care About
Endangered Species
The DoD Natural Resources Program

T
he Department of Defense driven DoD’s successes during his KS: Why does DoD care about
(DoD) mission is to defend career. Our conversation provides a endangered species?
our nation, train our troops, glimpse into the extensive conservation LPB: DoD protects endangered
and test equipment needed for efforts underway within the United species to comply with the Endangered
national defense, peacekeeping, and States military, and reveals that the Species Act and to avoid the need for
emergency response. It requires air, link between our military services and critical habitat designations, which
land, and sea space for training and environmental stewardship is clear. could restrict training. To achieve this
testing activities. Such activities may wildlife protection goal, the military
not immediately conjure thoughts of KS: What is DoD’s natural resources services must also comply with the
environmental stewardship. However, mission? requirements of another law, the Sikes
L. Peter Boice, Deputy Director of LPB: DoD’s core mission is to enable Act. Congress passed this law in
Natural Resources for the Office of our military service men and women, 1960, requiring DoD to assess natural
the Secretary of Defense, offers 20 soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines to resources on installations, complete
years of experience and a different train as they would fight. DoD pursues Integrated Natural Resources
perspective on this subject. During its natural resource goals to provide Management Plans (INRMPs), and
a short interview near his office in realistic training lands while at the coordinate with the U.S. Fish and
Arlington, Virginia, Peter spoke same time meeting legal requirements Wildlife Service (FWS) and state fish
with me about DoD’s commitment to to provide habitat for a wide variety of and wildlife agencies to manage natural
natural resources conservation, and he threatened, endangered, and at-risk resources with no net loss to the
discussed some of the natural resource species. military mission. However, legislative
policies and partnerships that have compliance is not the sole reason for


protecting endangered species on Readiness and Environmental in Flight, a public/private conservation
military lands. DoD manages over Protection Initiative Program works partnership, is celebrating its 20th
29 million acres of land and more with communities that surround year by working with airfield operators
listed, threatened, endangered, and military installations and training areas to promote better habitat for species
at-risk species per acre than any to create buffer zones of protected and reduce bird/animal aircraft strike
other federal agency. As development habitats. This allows our soldiers to hazards, resulting in potential cost
increases in areas surrounding military have more training space while the savings. The Nature Conservancy
installations, some installations have species that depend on those habitats works with DoD to identify lands on
become islands of biodiversity that can better flourish. The Strategic or surrounding bases that are prime
provide habitat for certain species. In and Environmental Research and for protection. Together, DoD and
fact, more than 40 species occur only Development Program (SERDP) The Nature Conservancy populated a
on DoD lands. DoD recognizes that and the Environmental Security database for future land management
part of defending our nation involves Technology Certification Program decisions aimed at preventing the need
defending these natural resources for (ESTCP) fulfill DoD-specific needs to list at-risk species in places such as
future generations. for all DoD environmental programs, Fort Lewis, Washington, in the Puget
including munitions, restoration, Sound area.
KS: Which DoD programs weapons platforms, and natural
are involved with threatened, resources. SERDP focuses specifically KS: What do you hope readers will
endangered, and at-risk species on research and development, take away from this issue of the
conservation efforts? while ESTCP funds technology Endangered Species Bulletin?
LPB: There are four main programs demonstration and validation. LPB: I hope that our readers will
involved with conservation efforts understand that DoD’s mission is to
within DoD. I head the Natural KS: What are some key conservation defend our nation and its resources.
Resources Office, which is part of successes that have resulted from Our natural resource managers
DoD’s Environmental Management DoD partnerships? care about and protect threatened,
Office. We implement the Secretary of LPB: DoD conservation successes endangered, and at-risk species, and
Defense’s priorities; conduct program not only prevent critical habitat I hope readers will appreciate the
oversight, advocacy, and outreach; designation and loss of training, but range of habitats and species under
and develop policy. The DoD Legacy also create realistic training grounds DoD stewardship. Most importantly,
Resource Management Program is the for soldiers. During my career, many I hope that our readers leave with
funding arm for the Natural Resources accomplishments have resulted from the knowledge that defending these
Office, and it provides money for DoD partnerships with programs species and other natural resources
national and regional projects in such as Partners in Flight and The truly enables the military’s testing and
support of stewardship needs. The Nature Conservancy. DoD Partners training mission.

L. Peter Boice, Deputy Director of
Natural Resources at the Department
of Defense, can be reached at peter.
boice@osd.mil.

(Opposite page): L. Peter Boice visiting O‘ahu,
Hawaii.

(This page): Capt. Aaron Cudnohufsky, Commanding
Officer, Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF),
along with Dennis Rowley, Tom Clements, Don
Heacock, and Bobby Ragassa, carry an injured
green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) to an all-terrain
vehicle at Nohili Ditch on PMRF. The turtle was
later transported to O‘ahu for medical treatment and
released back into the wild. Photo by MC2 Jay C. Pugh,
U.S. Navy.


Defense Secretary Announces
Environmental Awards
by Erica Evans and Kathryn Sabella

T
he Secretary of Defense and the promotion of the cultural • Mr. Stephen M. Seiber, Eglin
recognizes the importance of resources ethic; Air Force Base, Florida: Natural
defending our nation’s natural Resources Conservation
resources to support the military • prevent or eliminate pollution at – Individual/Team
training and testing mission. Each the source, including practices that
year since 1962, the Secretary has increase efficiency and sustainability • Mr. Awni M. Almasri, Naval
honored military installations, teams, in the use of raw materials, energy, Facilities Engineering Command
and individuals for their outstanding water, or other resources; Europe Africa Southwest
achievements to sustain the natural Asia: Environmental Quality
and cultural resources entrusted to • protect human health and the – Individual/Team
the Department of Defense (DoD). environment by cleaning up
For 2010, DoD’s Environment, Safety identified DoD sites in a timely, cost- • Ms. Regina Dixon Butler, Patrick Air
and Occupational Health Policy efficient, and responsive manner; and Force Base, Florida: Environmental
Board approved 17 awards within Restoration – Individual/Team
the categories of natural resources • incorporate environmental,
conservation, cultural resources safety, and occupational health • Aeronautical Systems Center
management, environmental quality, requirements into the weapon Environmental and Occupational
pollution prevention, environmental system acquisition program’s Health Team, Wright-Patterson Air
restoration, and environmental decision-making process. Force Base, Ohio: Environmental
excellence in weapon system Excellence in Weapons Systems
acquisition. The 2010 Environmental Award Acquisition – Team
winners are:
The DoD environmental awards Each year, a growing number of
recognize small and large military • Fort Custer Training Center, outstanding nominees present their
installations, teams, and individuals Michigan Army National Guard: work for consideration. These awards
that: Natural Resources Conservation acknowledge some of the premier
– Small Installation environmental projects that DoD
• promote natural resources supports. For more information on
conservation, including the • Camp Guernsey, Wyoming Army DoD’s award winning environmental
identification, protection, and National Guard: Cultural Resources efforts, visit http://www.denix.osd.
restoration of biological resources Management – Installation mil/awards/.
and habitats; the sound management
and use of the land and its • Marine Corps Base Hawaii:
resources; and the promotion of the Environmental Quality – Non- Erica Evans, with the consulting
conservation ethic; industrial Installation firm Booz Allen Hamilton,can be
reached at evans_erica@bah.com,
• promote cultural resources • Fleet Readiness Center Southwest, and Kathryn Sabella, also with Booz
management, including the California: Sustainability – Industrial Allen Hamilton, can be contacted at
identification, protection, and Installation sabella_kathryn@bah.com.
restoration of historical buildings
and structures; archaeological sites; • Hill Air Force Base, Utah:
Native American tribes and Native Environmental Restoration
Hawaiian sacred objects and sites; – Installation


National Public Lands Day
Engaging Volunteers in Natural Resources Conservation

by Jane Mallory

S
ince 1991, the Department ofprojects, and teams of volunteers long way toward conserving species
Defense (DoD) has participated
provide the labor. Throughout the and habitat under DoD stewardship.
in National Public Lands Dayyears, they have worked together on
(NPLD), an annual event that bringsa variety of projects: building bat
volunteers and public land managersboxes, bee condos, and bird houses; Jane Mallory (contracted support), a
together to work for the restoration,
pulling invasive plants; planting native botanist working with the Department
conservation, and protection of essential
species; creating pollinator gardens; of Defense Legacy Resource
natural resources. With the help ofand clearing trash. Whether it is work Management Program, can be
thousands of on- and off-post volunteers
that benefits a specific sensitive species contacted at Jane.Mallory.ctr@osd.
since 1999, and with funding from the
(such as clearing debris from desert mil.
DoD Legacy Resource Management tortoise habitat on the Marine Corps
Program, more than 320 individual Logistics Base in Barstow, California)
projects throughout the country, and
or improving landscapes to benefit
Volunteers installing native plants and weeding
on Kwajalein Atoll and Guam in the multiple species (such as planting invasive species to improve coastal marsh habitat on
Pacific, have benefitted military base
healthy native trees, shrubs, and Naval Weapons Station, Seal Beach, CA.
environments. forbs on Greenbury Point at the Naval Photo by Robert Schallmann.
Academy in Annapolis, Maryland), the
The DoD Legacy Resource Management annual NPLD events prove that a little
Program provides supplies for NPLD hard work from volunteers can go a


Cooperative
Conservation on the
Puget Sound Prairies
The Joint Base Lewis-McChord Army
Compatible Use Buffer Program
by Hannah E. Anderson

N
ative prairie habitat once species and preclude the need to list candidates. The overall goal is to
occupied 150,000 acres them under the ESA. preclude the need to list or, if listing
(60,000 hectares) in the does occur, minimize the consequences.
southern Puget Lowland of western One significant conservation program
Washington State. Ninety percent of in the region is the JBLM Army The team does this through acquiring
this habitat has disappeared or been Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) important prairie lands, restoring
ecologically degraded. Human uses program. Most ACUB programs degraded habitats, and increasing
incompatible with conservation, along throughout the nation are geared the numbers and sizes of candidate
with the suppression of fire across the towards acquiring and protecting land species populations on the acquired
landscape, threaten the remaining around military installations to serve lands. By supporting conservation
prairies. Conifers and non-native as a buffer, which reduces the threat actions on lands outside the base, the
vegetation are encroaching on the once of “encroachment” (constraints on military shares the burden of recovery
open ecosystem. military training) due to incompatible with the other ACUB partners: The
development. The JBLM ACUB is Nature Conservancy, the Washington
A variety of rare species rely on prairie different. In 2006, a team began using Departments of Fish Wildlife and
habitat for survival. Among them are a cooperative approach to help sustain Natural Resources, and Wolf Haven
four that are candidates for listing military readiness by implementing International. The partners have
under the Endangered Species Act conservation actions for the four listing acquired the prairie preserves and the
(ESA): two rare butterflies - Taylor’s
checkerspot (Euphydryas editha
taylori) and the Mardon skipper
(Polites mardon) - the streaked
horned lark (Eremophila alpestris
strigata), and the Mazama pocket
gopher (Thomomys mazama). The
largest expanse and the highest quality
prairie habitat in the region occurs on
Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM),
a 91,000-acre (37,000-ha) military
installation 40 miles (65 kilometers)
south of Seattle, Washington. If any of
these species were to become listed, the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service could
impose significant military training
restrictions. A group of concerned
partners in the south Puget Sound
are working together to recover these


Department of Defense has provided ha) that were already in conservation when working together rather than
essential funding support ($3.3 million status, and reintroduced Taylor’s individually. Each entity is able to learn
to date) for on-the-ground conservation checkerspots and Mazama pocket from the others, exchange information,
actions. gophers onto several ACUB properties. and integrate its expertise into the
The team has answered significant collaborative effort. Most of the
The team is overcoming a common questions about the target species, projects involve multiple years, sites,
problem in conservation: insufficient such as specific habitat requirements and partners. The goal is to promote
resources for managing protected and predator identification. It has continued military training, species
lands. In this case, management also conducted wall-to-wall vegetation recovery, open space protection, and the
includes activities such as controlling mapping of all protected sites, mutual respect and trust that come with
invasive plants; using prescribed fire information that has already been cooperating toward a common purpose.
to restore historic natural ecological extremely useful for identifying new
processes; growing, planting, and non-native species infestations and
seeding native plants; breeding and targeting areas for intensive habitat Hannah E. Anderson of The Nature
reintroducing butterflies; reintroducing restoration. The JBLM ACUB Conservancy of Washington can be
pocket gophers to ACUB properties; projects have contributed significantly reached at handerson@tnc.org.
and planning, monitoring, and research. to the regional recovery of these rare
native species.
(Opposite page top): Streaked horned lark
Since the program’s inception, the
(Eremophila alpestris strigata). Rod Gilbert.
JBLM ACUB has acquired 1,025 The collaborative nature of the JBLM (Opposite page bottom): Managers prepare for a
acres (415 ha) of new conservation ACUB is one of the main strengths prescribed burn. Photo by DoD.
land, conducted ongoing restoration of the program. The partners agree (This page): Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly.
of these lands and 3,222 acres (1,303 that they accomplish much more Photo by Aaron Barna.


Sustaining the
Mission at Joint
Base Lewis McChord
by David Clouse and Todd Zuchowski

A
t the Joint Base Lewis current and future uses of the area creates habitat for nesting bald eagles.
McChord (JBLM) in western for training purposes. Compatibility Since 1982, eagle nesting territories
Washington State, each of its is based on the requirements of the have increased from two to 10.
major ecosystems -- late-successional species targeted for augmentation
forests, wetlands, and prairies -- and reintroduction. The following are In addition to managing forests, natural
provide unique opportunities to support examples from each of our ecosystems resource managers at JBLM work to
both conservation and the military in which this process has been protect wetland habitats for various
mission. In fact, projects to improve successful for both military training plant and fish species. Wetlands
wildlife habitat frequently enhance and species recovery. management focuses on controlling
military training opportunities. This non-native plant species and protecting
makes it possible for managers to Managing for late-successional forests Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus
maintain viable populations of native on the military installation maintains tshawytscha), steelhead
flora and fauna, including listed species. overhead cover for training and a (Onconrhynchus mykiss), and water
relatively open understory. This allows howellia (Howellia aquatilis), an
Natural resource personnel manage trainers to maneuver through the area aquatic plant federally listed as
sites on military lands for the recovery and potentially enhances the site for threatened. A major management
of listed and federal candidate the western gray squirrel (Sciurus problem within wetlands and streams
species, but they focus on areas of the griseus), a species of concern and at JBLM is the spread of reed canary
installation that are compatible with a state threatened species. It also grass (Phalaris arundinacea). This

10 Endangered Species Bulletin Spring 2011 www.fws.gov/endangered

non-native grass species can completely
choke off stream channels and displace
other wetland plants. Sites that are
overgrown with reed canary grass
can lose their effectiveness for such
military training uses as practice zones
for airdrops.

Prairies in the Puget Sound region are
the focus of yet another stewardship
effort. They were once naturally
maintained by periodic burning, but
fires have been suppressed there for
more than 100 years. As a result,
trees and invasive species, such as
the nonnative Scotch broom (Cytisus
scoparius), have colonized prairie
habitats. This shrub, which can grow
up to 10 feet (3 meters) in height,
significantly impedes military training
and reduces habitat for prairie-
dependent species. The Joint Base
Lewis-McChord Fish and Wildlife
program has responded by using the likelihood of federal listing and squirrel augmentation are now a
prescribed burning, which benefits both significant impacts on military training. cornerstone of management practices
the ecosystem and military training. In some cases, limited disturbance of on the installation, and a model for
non-native ground cover can benefit the recovery of rare species on other
When present on a site, Scotch broom a native species by recreating open military bases.
degrades open prairie habitat for four habitat. Such is the case with the
federal listing candidates. Eliminating streaked horned lark (Eremophila
this noxious shrub is the first step alpestris strigata), which prefers David Clouse, Joint Base Lewis-
to recover a site’s natural state, some bare ground on which to locate McChord Fish Wildlife Program
although efforts to restore habitats its nests. Other species, such as the Manager, can be reached at david.
for native plants take place only on Taylor’s checkerspot (Euphydryas c.clouse@us.army.mil or - -
sites where the designated military editha taylori) butterfly, require nectar . Todd Zuchowski, Joint Base
use is compatible. By increasing the producing native plants and larval host Lewis-McChord Wildlife Biologist,
populations of rare species, we reduce plants, which grow on sites with limited can be reached at todd.zuchowski@
ground disturbance, such as drop us.army.mil or - -.
zones.

(Opposite page top): Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly
By focusing on a regional cooperative (Euphydryas editha taylori). Photo by DoD.
approach to natural resources
management with partners such as the (Opposite page bottom): Muck Creek Channel filled
Nisqually Indian Tribe, Washington with reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea)
State Department of Fish and Wildlife, before and after mechanical removal enhancement.
Photo by Rod Gilbert.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and The
Nature Conservancy, JBLM is working
(This page top): Taylor’s checkersport. Photo by Ted
to conserve rare species and prevent Thomas, USFWS.
Endangered Species Act impacts on
Photo by Rod Gilbert.

training. JBLM’s use of sustainable (This page bottom): Mazama pocket gopher
programs, such as ecological (Thomomys mazama). Photo by Rod Gilbert.
burning, Taylor’s checkerspot
reintroduction, and Western gray

www.fws.gov/endangered Spring 2011 Endangered Species Bulletin 11

Conservation Frontiers fragmentation, the spread of invasive
plants, animals, and diseases and
climate change. Protecting the last
remaining populations of rare plant
Plants Conservation on Military Lands and Beyond species from extinction, re-building and
restoring larger populations of these
species, and preventing further decline
by Bernd Blossey and Victoria Nuzzo of species currently at risk of extinction
is paramount to conservation efforts.

With funding provided by the

H
undreds of plant species often at the center of conservation Strategic Environmental Research and
in the United States face actions for land managers at military Development Program (SERDP), a
extinction, despite significant installations, their declines are team of ecologists from the Department
efforts to protect these species and troubling and threats are often multi- of Natural Resources at Cornell
their habitats. Because plants are facetted, among them habitat loss and University is working to disentangle
the effects of various threats, or
stressors, that contribute to the rarity
of four state-listed or vulnerable plant
species in New York – beaked agrimony
(Agrimonia rostellata), Virginia
snakeroot (Aristolochia serpentaria),
reflexed sedge (Carex retroflexa) and
red trillium (Trillium erectum). The
team conducts their work at West
Point Military Academy (USMA), 50
miles (80 km) north of New York City
in the Hudson Highlands ecoregion.
Established in 1802, USMA is the
oldest of five service academies in
the United States. The site, which
overlooks the Hudson River, boasts
significant forested areas and wetlands,
where the team is able to investigate
different stressors including invasions
by a number of European and Asian
earthworms, particularly Amynthas
and Lumbricus spp.; invasions by
three plant species, garlic mustard
(Alliaria petiolata), barberry
(Berberis thunbergii), and Japanese
stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum);
invasions by European slugs, mainly
Arion subfuscus, and root weevils
(Barypeithes pellucidus); nutrient
loading through aerial deposition; and
the impact of overabundant white-
tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus).

This work is conducted in multiple
venues: large (30x30 m) deer exclosures
erected at USMA paired with
similar-sized unfenced control areas,


experimental plantings and seedings to
assess potential restoration techniques,
and a variety of common garden and
laboratory experiments to tease apart
the contribution of individual and
combined stressors on demography
of the four state-listed plant species.
The team selected the target plant
species not only for their status as
regionally listed species, but also for
their assumed different vulnerability
to earthworm invasions, or deer
herbivory.

Based on the results of previous
research, the team assumed deer
herbivory and earthworm invasions
would overwhelm the importance of
other stressors in the demise of these
rare target plant species. In an attempt
to assess deer browse intensity at the
various field sites, the team employs a
sentinel approach using 3-month old
oak seedlings. The team monitors these
oak seedlings, along with individually
marked specimens of the target native
plant species growing inside and
outside of deer exclosures, for their
survival, growth, and deer browse
intensity.

After only 2 years of field observation,
the team’s results show that deer
herbivory on oak seedlings and three
of the four ‘rare’ plant species is
excessive, and considerably reduces
growth, flowering, and fruiting. This is
further increasing concerns for long-
term survival of rare browse-sensitive
species.

Work by other scientists demonstrates
that for the closely related white
trillium (Trillium grandiflorum),
browse intensity exceeding 15 percent
of reproductive individuals leads to

(Opposite page): Virginia snakeroot.

(This page top): West Point oak seedling.

(This page bottom): Red trillium. Photos by Bernd Blossey.

www.fws.gov/endangered

long-term population decline. Unlike importance of deer herbivory in
individuals exposed to deer, individuals the decline of many plant species in
of the listed plant species growing eastern forests. Conservation efforts,
inside exclosures show strong signs of particularly managing invasive plant
recovery, and the taller, more robust species in preserves or on military
plants bear little resemblance to the installations, should focus on the source
tiny individuals initially encountered. of degradation to prevent further
In the absence of deer herbivory, native decline. Merely removing invasive
plants are better able to stand their plant species will not achieve the same
ground against invasive plants, at least level of conservation benefits for state
against the three invasive plants that and federally listed browse sensitive
the team monitors in eastern deciduous plant species as reducing overabundant
forests. deer herds across much of North
America would.
Managers often blame invasive
plants for deteriorating native plant
(Inset): A good example of rich groundlayer
communities, but the team’s work
vegetation protected from deer herbivory.
indicates it is a complex of stressors Photo by Victoria Nuzzo.
responsible for this degradation. The
results of this research, although (Opposite page): Deer exclosure.
preliminary, point to the overwhelming Photo by Bernd Blossey.


D
epartment of Defense (DoD)-

Banking Seeds for managed lands contain
habitats that support 186
plant species that are listed under

the Future
the Endangered Species Act or are
candidates for listing. Because listed
species on DoD lands can lead to
restrictions on training and operations,
working towards species recovery
An Essential Tool for Plant Recovery whenever possible benefits not only the
species but also installation operations
and the military mission. To conserve
these rare species, the DoD Legacy
by Jane Mallory Resource Management Program
enlisted the assistance of the Center
for Plant Conservation, a non-profit
network of institutions dedicated to
conserving and restoring America’s
native plants.

According to the Center, a number
of recovery plans for federally-listed
plants propose the reintroduction
of nursery-grown stock as one way
to increase wild populations to a
sustainable level. Such reintroductions
originate from ex-situ (off-site)
collections of plant cuttings, seeds,
spores, and/or tissue cultures.
However, existing collections are
distributed widely among many
institutions, and there was no public
database on the amount, condition, and
age of material potentially available
for restoration work. The DoD Legacy
Program addressed this problem
by funding the Center to conduct a
comprehensive study on the state of
ex-situ material for all DoD-protected
plant species.

The Center’s report provides detailed
information for each species, a
description of ex-situ material and
the collection sites, and identifies
species that lack such material.
DoD installations and the military
services can use this information
to examine efforts to secure the
genome of vulnerable plant species
and improve the potential for any
future reintroductions. For example,
the study revealed that 130 of the


186 imperiled plant species found on and restoration work. They will store DoD managers and presented it during
DoD lands lack any DoD site-specific the actual seeds and cuttings at the a workshop in Honolulu, Hawaii, an
collections. They also found that ex- U.S. Department of Agriculture’s area that supports the lion’s share of
situ material for 61 of the 186 species National Center for Genetic Resources imperiled plants in the United States.
had never been collected and stored Preservation in Ft. Collins, Colorado. Thirty DoD personnel, state agency
anywhere, possibly hindering recovery This effort will secure DoD site-specific personnel, DoD contracted support,
efforts and leaving these species wild-collected seed for the most and partners attended this workshop.
particularly vulnerable to extinction. vulnerable species and help safeguard Over the course of six days, nine PhD
the genetic integrity of declining faculty members taught 17 different
In 2010, the DoD Legacy Program populations. This research can be topics, such as Concepts of Rarity
awarded the Center additional funding used to provide a seed bank resource and Imperiled Plants, Importance of
to use the study results as a guide for for immediate and future restoration Systematics, Population Evaluation
the next DoD endeavor, the “Seed needs and create a safety net against using Demography Population Viability
Banking Federally-listed Mainland unforeseen threats to wild populations. Analysis, and Recovery Criteria. The
Plant Species on DoD Lands” project. These seed collections could also be course was such a success that the
This is a multi-year effort to collect used for additional research tasks Center presented it again in 2009 in
seeds and other material from species identified in recovery plans and serve California, and is hoping for a third
found on DoD mainland installations. as a source material for possible offering in North Carolina in the near
Field biologists from the Center out-planting efforts by DoD natural future.
and its partner institutions, such resources managers.
as botanical gardens, arboreta, and (Opposite page): Ute ladies’-tresses (Spiranthes
universities, are now working with In addition to collecting data and diluvialis). Photo by Bekee Hotze, USFWS.
natural resource managers at military material that could one day help
installations to collect material for the recover rare plants on military (This page): Golden paintbrush (Castilleja levisecta).
Photo by Ted Thomas, USFWS.
20 highest priority species and will installations, DoD is also providing
collect additional species in the coming training for its natural resources
year. Scientists will store collection managers in topics that relate
information in the Center’s central specifically to plant conservation. In
database to track various attributes 2007, the Center used funding from the
(propagule counts, age, location, etc) DoD Legacy Program to tailor their
of ex-situ material for future research plant conservation training course for


Connecting Landscapes for
Biodiversity
Habitat Conservation On and Around DoD Lands

by Aaron Moody

H
abitat fragmentation due lands to preserve is challenging,
to land-use changes near especially for multiple species that
military bases poses major vary in their abilities to disperse
challenges for wildlife conservation through different natural, managed, or
on Department of Defense (DoD) developed habitats (Ricketts 2001).
lands. Fragmentation isolates species
populations, thereby increasing their Historically, lands have been selected
exposure to risks from demographic, using expert opinion on a species-by-
genetic, and environmental factors species basis (Beier et al. 2009). More
(Gilpin and Soule 1986). This recently, computational approaches
potentially undermines the wildlife have been developed to reduce
recovery efforts on installations by subjectivity and automate the process
DoD land managers. of quantifying the value of land for
habitat connectivity (Calabrese and
Fort Bragg, situated in the Sandhills Fagan 2005). For most species, these
ecoregion of North Carolina, is approaches are limited by a lack of
emblematic of this situation. One information about how landscape
of the largest and most active U.S. features affect movement behavior and
military bases, Ft. Bragg is an island by the persistence of a single-species
of nearly intact forest surrounded focus for connectivity assessment.
by agriculture and development. As
a result of fire management that Study species include not only the
USFWS

mimics natural processes, Fort Bragg red-cockaded woodpecker and Saint
contains some of the most extensive Francis’ satyr but also two amphibian
The Saint Francis’ satyr survives only on Fort Bragg.
high-quality long-leaf pine habitat species, the eastern tiger salamander
for the endangered red-cockaded (Ambystoma tigrinum tigrinum) and
woodpecker (Picoides borealis). It Carolina gopher frog (Rana capito
fully encompasses the known range capito), both of which are listed by
of an endangered butterfly, the Saint accommodating the base’s military North Carolina as threatened at the
Francis’ satyr (Neonympha mitchellii readiness mission. state level. The team collected detailed
francisci). Fort Bragg also is home to data on movement behavior for these
three other endangered species and One approach to offsetting the isolating species using multiple methods,
approximately 70 species of concern. effects of fragmentation is to preserve including radio-telemetry, in-situ
Our research team is working on behalf connections among protected habitats (on site) observations, experimental
of DoD’s Strategic Environmental (Beier Noss 1998, Tewksbury et releases of captive-bred animals and
Research and Development Program al. 2002). The DoD has accelerated translocated animals into different
to determine how to conserve habitat land acquisition around some bases to landscape types and at landscape
connectivity between on- and off-base enhance connectivity among existing boundaries, tracking movement paths
habitats where multiple species must habitats for rare species (Herring using fluorescent dye powder, and
be managed simultaneously, while also 2004). However, identifying the best pit-trapping for amphibians near


breeding ponds. The team is linking open areas, these habitats may serve as Calabrese JM and Fagan WF. 2004.
these data with detailed environmental dispersal barriers. A comparison-shoppers guide to
maps derived from field data, satellite connectivity metrics. Fron. Ecol.
remote sensing, and aircraft-based To streamline the process of developing Environ. 2: 529-536.
light detection and range (LiDAR), and integrating connectivity models,
which uses a laser pulse return to map the team developed a user-friendly Gilpin ME and Soule ME. 1986.
the 3-D structure of the land surface, software package called “CONNECT” Minimum viable populations: Processes
to understand how different landscape that operates seamlessly with of species extinction. In: ME Soule (ed.)
features affect animal movement mainstream geographic information Conservation Biology: The Science
and dispersal and to map habitat software (ESRI ArcGIS 9.3). of Scarcity and Diversity. Sinauer
connectivity. The goal is to provide CONNECT combines habitat data Associates. Sunderland. Mass.
information on the habitat connectivity and resistance surfaces (maps that
value of each land parcel that might be depict how difficult it is for animals Herring H (2004 -winter) Room to
acquired for conservation. to move through the landscape) to maneuver. Nature Conservancy. 54:
generate likely dispersal corridors
The team developed statistical models and habitat networks. CONNECT Ricketts T (2001) The matrix matters:
of habitat connectivity for the red- also allows combining connectivity effective isolation in fragmented
cockaded woodpecker by using radio- models for multiple species to identify landscapes. Am. Nat. 158: 87-99.
telemetry data from dispersing juvenile the highest value locations for multi-
females as they searched for breeding species connectivity. CONNECT Tewksbury JJ, Levey DJ, Haddad
sites. Dispersing birds avoided open makes it easy for users to incorporate NM, Sargent S, Orrock JL, Weldon
and developed areas and preferred to animal movement models into larger A, Danielson BJ, Brinkerhoff J,
disperse through forested landscapes, work flows and to explore the affects Damschen EI, and Townsend P (2002)
including forest types that are not of alternate land management, Corridors affect plants, animals,
used for nesting. The research team conservation, and restoration scenarios and their interactions in fragmented
used the data to measure the relative on regional-scale habitat connectivity landscapes. PNAS 99: 12923-12926.
resistance of the landscape to dispersal for wildlife conservation.
and to map those lands that promote
dispersal. Our research team is using data, Aaron Moody, Department of
models, and CONNECT to address Geography Curriculum for the
For the Saint Francis’ satyr, models questions relevant to wildlife Environment and Ecology, University
of habitat connectivity are based on conservation on and around of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, can be
the simulated dispersal of butterflies DoD installations. The Sandhills contacted at aaronm@email.unc.edu
through a virtual representation Conservation Partnership, a multiple- or 1--0.
of Fort Bragg and surrounding stakeholder group that coordinates
landscapes. The simulation is based conservation activities in the Sandhills
on movement behaviors observed from ecoregion, can use the information
butterflies in their natural habitats and and methods developed through this
butterflies experimentally translocated project to set land acquisition priorities
and released into different types of in order to benefit both the base and
natural and developed habitats. To the fauna and flora of the region.
map habitat connectivity, the team
recorded the frequency with which References:
simulated butterflies passed through
each grid cell in the virtual landscape. Beier P Majka DR, and Newell SL.
,
Interestingly, butterflies make longer, 2009. Uncertainty analysis of least-
straighter movements in upland cost modeling for designing wildlife
forests, suggesting that this may be linkages. Ecol. App. 19: 2067-2077.
important dispersal habitat. Butterfly
behavior at riparian forest edges Beier P and Noss RF. 1998. Do habitat
indicated that these lands also function corridors really provide connectivity?
as dispersal corridors. In contrast, Cons. Biol. 12:1241-1252.
because butterflies rarely enter large


The Readiness and conserve their habitat on lands off
the military base. Installations can
accrue credits and alleviate restrictions

and by contributing to a species’ recovery
on these non-DoD lands. Similarly,
installations can receive credits for

Environmental protecting off-post habitat, which can
be applied to mitigate construction or
other on-post habitat uses.

Protection While a number of REPI projects

Initiative
have preserved valuable habitats and
allowed DoD missions to continue,
the project at Cape Canaveral Air
Force Station in Florida illustrates
the mutually beneficial relationship
between species conservation and
Conserving Off-base DoD’s readiness efforts.

Habitat Opens Defense Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is the
Lands to Military Use only U.S. space launch site capable of
placing satellites into geosynchronous
orbit (an orbit that places a satellite
stationary over a given spot). Both
government and commercial space
operations rely heavily on Cape
Canaveral’s launch capability.
by Donald George However, because Cape Canaveral
AFS is a critical conservation area
for the threatened Florida scrub-jay
(Aphelocoma coerulescens), current
launch programs are confined to their
existing footprints to prevent loss of
scrub habitat. The only available land
for any new “heavy” launch vehicle or
processing facilities is mostly scrub jay
habitat, and all activities that impact
scrub habitat on the base incur a 4:1
mitigation requirement to offset the
habitat loss.

O
ne of the core purposes of for species migration, and provides Since the Station is only 15,800
the U.S. Department of greater opportunities for adapting to, acres (about 6,395 hectares) and
Defense’s (DoD) Readiness and mitigating, the effects of climate surrounded on three sides by water,
and Environmental Protection change. the land available for new facilities
Initiative (REPI) projects is to is limited. Cape Canaveral has only
conserve such environmental assets When threatened and endangered 8,000 acres (3,240 ha) of undeveloped
as wildlife in a manner that supports species are present on installation lands remaining, with 2,000 acres
military mission readiness and habitat, training can be severely (8,000 ha) acres of that land currently
national security. These projects restricted. To alleviate this problem, set aside for conservation as a result
also demonstrate a commitment installations are working with an of endangered species consultations
to landscape-level planning, which off-post local conservation entity to with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
helps preserve biodiversity, allows promote the recovery of listed species Service (FWS). Based on the offset


requirements, only 1,200 acres (500 successful REPI project in Air Force for alleviating training restrictions is
ha) on the base remain available for Space Command will allow continued being closely inspected as a model for
military mission use. launches of satellites to support other installations. Lessons learned
GPS, communications, and weather from the Army’s efforts at Camp Bullis
To protect its military mission and forecasting for the entire nation. will help a number of other installations
conserve habitat, Cape Canaveral currently discussing recovery efforts
partnered with Brevard County and In another example of the REPI with the FWS, such as Marine Corps
its voter-approved Environmentally program, Camp Bullis Military Base Camp Lejeune.
Endangered Lands Program to Training Reservation in Texas will
preserve nearby undeveloped scrub protect off-post habitat to support
habitat. The County acquired 188 acres the recovery of the golden-cheeked Donald George, U.S. Air Force, can be
(76 ha) of scrub habitat, and the Air warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia). contacted at donald.george@patrick.
Force received a conservation easement Through a consultation with the FWS af.mil or 1--.
on 101 acres (40 ha) of that parcel. This under section 7 of the Endangered
project will help protect the survival of Species Act, Camp Bullis will be able
(Opposite page): Florida scrub jay.
the Florida scrub-jay and, in working to clear unoccupied warbler habitat
Photo by Thomas G. Barnes.
with the FWS, Cape Canaveral may on post for medic field training,
receive Recovery Credits to alleviate which is its primary training mission. (This page): Golden-checked warbler.
future mitigation requirements Warbler habitat conserved off-post Photo by Gil Eckrich.
when mission development exceeds will mitigate for the on-post loss. This
the1,250-acre level. This first innovative use of REPI as a new tool


Partnerships
from Hawaii to
North Carolina
The Readiness and Environmental
Protection Initiative
by Nancy Natoli

T
he U.S. Department of for Public Land to protect the two Camp Pendleton’s conservation efforts
Defense’s (DoD) Readiness locations. involving REPI aim to create and
and Environmental Protection maintain linkages between San Diego
Initiative (REPI) supports public- The Trust for Public Land supports County’s North County Multiple
private conservation partnerships that the Army with aggressive land Species Conservation Plan, California’s
work on a cost-share basis. These management of these parcels, Santa Ana-Palomar Mountains Linkage
mutually beneficial partnerships assisted by a large coalition of other Conceptual Area Protection Plan,
succeed when a partner’s focus area partners including the FWS, the and the Mount Olympic Magee Ridge
includes habitat for endangered species City and County of Honolulu, the Reserve Conceptual Area Protection
regulated on nearby military lands, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and the Plan. In addition to working with these
or when partners are interested in Hawaii Department of Land and conservation efforts, Camp Pendleton
areas where open space is important Natural Resources. Together, these has partnered with the Trust for Public
to maintaining the military’s ability to organizations protect endangered Land and San Diego County to pool
test and train nearby. REPI’s purpose species habitat from development, and more than $4 million to conserve nearly
is to sustain the military mission by have conserved an additional 3,004 1,300 acres (526 ha) of wildlife habitat.
proactively conserving the landscape acres (1,215 hectares) of open space
and natural infrastructure beyond adjacent to DoD lands. North Carolina
DoD owned land. For six years, this In the late 1990s, training activities at
initiative has helped protect threatened California Fort Bragg—one of the most combat-
and endangered species and their Camp Pendleton, a Marine Corps ready and active military installations
habitat across the country. training base in Southern California, in the country—were heavily restricted
is the largest oasis of undeveloped due to the presence of the endangered
Hawaii coastal open space between Los red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides
A biological opinion resulting from Angeles and San Diego. It is also borealis). In 2000, the Army and
endangered species consultation with home to 14 threatened and endangered The Nature Conservancy initiated an
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service animal species including San unconventional partnership to protect
(FWS) requires the Army to manage Diego fairy shrimp (Branchinecta habitat for the species on private
75 pairs of ‘elepaio (Chasiempis sandiegonensis), Riverside fairy lands. Thanks to this partnership, the
sandwichensis ibidis), a small bird shrimp (Streptocephalus wootori), FWS and the Army can now celebrate
native to Hawaii that inhabits DoD arroyo southwestern toad (Bufo having met their goal of recovering
land. REPI funding supports the californicus microscaphus), steelhead 350 potential breeding groups of
permanent protection of ‘elepaio salmon (Oncorhynchus mykiss), woodpeckers in the Sandhills East
habitat at the Honouliuli Preserve and tidewater goby (Eucyclogobius Recovery unit, a core recovery area
Moanalua Valley on the island of O‘ahu. newberry), Stephens’ kangaroo rat for the species. In fact, this goal was
The U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii has a (Dipodomys stephensi), Pacific pocket achieved in 2006, five years earlier
cooperative agreement with the Trust mouse (Perognathus longimembris than anticipated. Fort Bragg’s success
pacificus), and seven species of birds. served as the model Congress used for


creating the enabling legislation that is
now the foundation for REPI.

Integrating DoD’s conservation of
endangered species into a larger
landscape through REPI allows the
agency to use its own real estate more
effectively to support the current and
future military mission. Conserving
endangered species both on and near
military lands across the country is a
mission enabler.

Nancy Natoli, the Department of
Defense Readiness and Environmental
Protection Initiative Coordinator, can
be reached at nancy.natoli@osd.mil or
0-0-10.

(Opposite page): O’ahu elepaio.
Photo by Eric Vander Werf of Pacific Rim Conservation.

(This page): Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris).
Photo by the Department of Defense Military Services.

www.fws.gov/endangered

From Sea to
Shining Sea
Conservation and the U.S. Navy

by Tammy Conkle and Lorri Schwartz

T
he U.S. Navy strives to species populations can thrive while cooperation with the U.S. Fish and
be a good steward of the ensuring that there is a no net loss to Wildlife Service, the Navy’s coastal
environment while carrying out critical training and operations. The and inland installations in this region
its primary mission of national security following examples from the Pacific work to conserve more than 40
at sea. On its bases, which encompass Southwest and along the Atlantic Coast federally listed species. Two island
2.1 million acres (0.8 million hectares) illustrate some of the Navy’s successful ecosystems, San Clemente Island
of land, and in surrounding areas, the INRMP-driven conservation programs. (SCI) and San Nicolas Island (SNI),
Navy manages ecosystems that support highlight the Navy’s efforts. SCI has
more than 100 federally listed species. Flagship Efforts in the Pacific the highest number of endemic species
These lands are distributed across Southwest of all the California Channel Islands.
seven “Navy regions” in the United It is part of the southern California
States. Navy lands in the Southwest contain Range Complex, a Navy range that
some of the nation’s most diverse supports simultaneous ship to shore,
Many of the Navy’s conservation ecosystems in terms of plant and air to ground, and ground troop
successes stem from using ecosystem wildlife communities. Due to massive training. The Navy’s natural resources
principles as the foundation of its growth and urbanization, Navy programs have dramatically benefitted
Integrated Natural Resources lands have become some of the last the San Clemente loggerhead shrike
Management Plans (INRMPs). remaining islands of biodiversity (Lanius ludovicianus mearnsi), once
INRMPs are designed to ensure that within a sea of development. In considered the most endangered bird


in North America. Its numbers have lizard (Xantusia riversiana) due to (Euphydryas editha quino), arroyo
increased from a low of 13 to about 300. recovery. toad (Bufo californicus), coastal
Six of the island’s listed plants are also California gnatcatcher (Polioptila
showing trends toward recovery. Mainland resources found on Naval californica californica), least Bell’s
Base Coronado, Naval Base Ventura vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus), and
San Nicolas Island supports research, County, and Naval Weapons Station Stephens’ kangaroo rat (Dipodomys
development, testing, and evaluation Seal Beach are key contributors toward stephensi). The last four of these
of air weapons and associated the recovery of the California least species are managed in concert with
aircraft systems while managing tern (Sterna antillarum browni). the Navy munitions storage mission at
two federally listed species and This bird’s nesting numbers have Detachment Fallbrook.
four marine mammals. Some of dramatically increased in conjunction
California’s threatened southern sea with management programs began The Tortoise and the Hare
otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) were in the early 1980s. In addition,
translocated from coastal waters to management of beach and dune Installations in the Navy’s Southeast
SNI several decades ago to create a ecosystems as well as coastal marshes region encompass more than 130,000
separate population in case the main on many Navy installations has proven acres (52,609 ha) across seven states
population is struck by a catastrophic effective for the western snowy plover and Cuba (Naval Station Guantanamo
oil spill or disease event. The SNI (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus), Bay Cuba). These properties support
population now numbers 30 to 40 salt marsh bird’s-beak (Cordylanthus
adults. Our management programs maritimus ssp. maritimus), and light-
(Opposite page): The threatened California sea otter
at both SCI and SNI have prevented footed clapper rail (Rallus longirostris
is one of the rare animals found in Navy-managed
the need for federal listing of island levipes). Our management of inland waters. Photo by Lilian Carswell, USFWS.
fox (Urocyon littoralis) subspecies on ecosystems, including coastal sage
Navy islands and has also supported a scrub and riparian areas, has benefited (This page): The gopher tortoise depends at least in
request for delisting of the island night the Quino checkerspot butterfly part on Navy lands in the Southeast. Photo by U.S. Navy.


habitat for more than 30 federally-
listed species and other state-listed
species. The unique plants and
animals range from delicate flowers
to huge whales, from Caribbean
corals to ancient cactus plants, and
from the gopher tortoise (Gopherus
polyphemus) to the lower keys marsh
rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris hefneri).
For many of these species, Navy
properties contain some of the last
vestiges of their habitat. In addition
to our own management efforts,
partnerships (such as Southeast
Regional Partnership for Planning
and Sustainability) allow the Navy
to collaborate with other interests on
the recovery of listed species while
supporting its military mission.

Many of the Navy’s efforts in the
Southeast focus on range-wide
conservation and management,
specifically in the native longleaf pine
ecosystem. Listed species such as
the endangered reticulated flatwoods
salamander (Ambystoma bishopi),
Mississippi gopher frog (Rana capito),
and eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon
corais couperi), as well as keystone
species like the gopher tortoise,
depend on this ecosystem. On Naval
Air Station Whiting Field’s Outlying
Landing Field Holley, a cooperative
effort with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service allowed habitat managers
to conduct a prescribed burn, which
benefits fire-adapted species like the
salamander. The effectiveness of
restoring fire to the longleaf forest
was demonstrated by the discovery
of a gravid (pregnant) adult female
flatwoods salamander where no
individuals had been documented in 12
years.

A significant portion of the lower
keys marsh rabbit population can
be found on Naval Air Station Key
West. Navy ecosystem management
strategies focus on eliminating invasive
plant species, restoring native plants,


prescribed burning, and predator
control.

The Navy’s management efforts often
encompass estuarine and near-shore
environments. The West Indian
manatee (Trichechus manatus) is an
endangered species that can be found
at several Navy installations in coastal
waters of Georgia and Florida. The
Navy program centers on methods to
avoid manatees, such as the use of no-
wake zones, manatee lookouts, manatee
sightings reporting, and elimination
of such human-caused attractants as
freshwater discharges.

For additional information about the
Navy’s natural resources programs,
as well as news about energy and
environmental initiatives, we invite
you to explore Currents, the Navy’s
environmental magazine. It can
be found online at http://www.
enviro-navair.navy.mil/currents.cfm,
or by visiting the Navy’s energy,
environment, and climate change
website at http://greenfleet.dodlive.mil.

For more information please
contact Tammy Conkle, with the
Navy Installations Command in
Washington, D.C., at tamara.
conkle@navy.mil or 0--.
Lorri Schwartz, a natural resources
specialist with the Naval Facilities
Engineering Command Headquarters.
in Washington, D.C., can be reached at
Lorri.A.Schwartz@us.army.mil.

(Opposite page top): San Clemente loggerhead
shrike.

(Opposite page bottom): Lower Keys marsh rabbit.

(This page top): Prescribed fire at OLF Field Holley
maintains habitat for species that depend on long-
leaf pine forest.

(This page bottom): Reticulated flatwoods
salamander. Photos by U.S. Navy.


The Proof of Sea-level Rise
is in the Plover
Climate Change and Shorebirds in Florida
by I. Linkov, R. Fischer, M. Convertino, M. Chu-Agor,
G. Kiker, C.J. Martinez, R. Muñoz-Carpena,
H.R. Akçakaya, and M. Aiello-Lammens

M
any of Florida’s military dependent bird species. Potential frequency and intensity, pose difficult
installations are near sizeable land-cover and terrain changes, management challenges for natural
coastal barrier islands that coupled with uncertain predictions for resource managers.
provide habitat for many shoreline- sea-level rise and increases in storm


For example, Eglin Air Force Base high-quality intertidal and near-shore balance multiple, potentially-conflicting
and Tyndall Air Force Base maintain habitats for foraging. The snowy objectives.
coastal areas that provide breeding and plover also needs undisturbed beach
wintering habitats for the snowy plover and dune habitat for nesting. The U.S. Department of Defense’s
(Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus), (DoD) Strategic Environmental
wintering habitat for the piping plover The main use of coastal beaches on Research and Development Program
(Charadrius melodus), and migratory military installations is to provide provided funding to the U.S. Army
stopover habitat for the red knot realistic training areas for the U.S. Engineer Research and Development
(Calidris canutus). Unfortunately, Armed Forces. For example, the Center, University of Florida,
all three species are imperiled at barrier island habitat on Eglin Air
the state or national scales, making Force Base is being assessed for future
any changes in habitat a matter of engineering projects (e.g., access road (Facing page, background image): The distribution of
importance from both a policy and armoring, dune rebuilding, shoreline the snowy plover breeding/nesting areas (red dots)
conservation perspective. The limited nourishment to protect infrastructure in Florida. A snowy plover male and a fledgling is at
human disturbance at these military and maintain training sites, and the top-right corner, a piping plover is below, and a
sites, along with the conservation of creation of seawalls and bulkheads) red knot is at the left-bottom. Photos by NASA and USFWS.

other habitats on parcels of shoreline to maintain suitable conditions for
(Below): Favorable nesting habitat for the snowy
managed by the National Park Service training. Land and facility managers
plover: forefront dune areas comprised of fine white
and the state of Florida, are major must meet this primary military sand and scattered debris at East Santa Rosa Island,
factors contributing to the survival mission while conserving natural Florida. A snowy plover nest is shown in the inset.
of these species. All three require resources to the extent possible and to Photos by M. Convertino and R.A. Fischer.


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