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The University of Georgia Stated i n broad terms t h e ecological studies being conducted by the University of Georgia have two objectivest mental conditions and population levels of important organisms in order t h a t future changes may be determined and future management aided, Within the limitations set by the primary function of the SRQ site4 contributions to basic ecological problems where the Unique features of the area appear t o provide opportunities not available elsewhere. In the first instance techniques which have already been developed are being used thus permitting immediate comparisons vTth results obtained elsewhere, and thereby providing data which MY be put to practical use if the need object being t o contribute something new t o ecological. principles, especi ally those pertaining to natural control of abundance and distribution Inthe second case the approach is esserrtially experimental, the The University of Georgia research team consists of three staff student research assistants as follows: port, Robert Huraphries, Edward J. Kuenzler and Robert Pearson. research assistants are spending approximately six months full time in the field, and six months on the University campus each year, In working on a specific phase of the project and is responsible f o r gathering field data o r undertaking field experiments pertaining t o his EXAMPLES OF SPECIFIC RESULTS Two examples win suffice to illustrate how the two objectives mentioned Since t h e f a t e of game and fur animals on the SRCrabove are being pursued. area will be of interest to many persons, population in aces (and where possible densities on a "per area" basis) have been established using standard methods that can be repeated easily in later years. Quail, for example, have increased during the first three years of the SRO project, apparently due t o the increase i n available cover and food inthe abandoned fields. Density inthe late fall of 1953 ranged from one bird in 5 acres t o one i n 10 acres over much of t h e upland. ratio is norma (72% juveniles) and the food being eaten still contains an appreciable percentage (13%)of volunteer lespidesas remaining from previous This is high but not unusual. The age
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cultivation. In the future the quail population may decline as reforestation occurs, but i n any event a basic "measuring stick" is available f o r detecting such future changes as may occur. other economic species including insects of medical importance such as the biting gnats, ticks and mosquitoes. of home ranges and territories (defended home ranges) may be cited as a result of a more fundamental type of study. The large areas of abandoned fields all in a similar stage of vegetative succession provided an opportunity to study home ranges of certain birds and ground spiders (Lycosidae) has been developed which makes possible for the first time comparison o f different individuals on a statistically sound basis. It was found that the frequency distribution of nactivity radi in in birds which defend their land was normal but with marked platykurtosis, i n contrast with normal but non-platykurtic distribution in mammals which do not defend their home ranges. Knowledge of the nature of areas occupied by individuals i n a population i s very important i n ascertaining the needs of the species, and in interpreting various measures of total populatian density. Sirnilar ffindices" are being obtained f o r The development of a new method for quantitative measurement of the size Results of several of the studies are pointing tothe importanae of the time factor in the growth of natural. populations. fields are changing so rapidly that,for example, large increases i n certain old field rodents did not occur as had been expected; the evidence indicates t h a t exponential growth has not occurred because favorable conditions f o r any one species d i d not last long enough, This is important since much current ecological theory i s based on the st uw of laboratory populations of colonies i n which the time factor has not been considered. The need for cantrolled ex per he nts which take time intau consideration i s Conditions in the o l d RESUME OF PRQJECTS The following outline indicates ' the kinds of things that are baing dwei without attempting at this time t o summarize the result a ; 1. Ecological succession on abandoned fields - The auddsn wbwdoruaant of agri cult urd. lands proviaeh-G'opport6n- routine abasrvatioa of successional changes i n wild plant "crops" and animal popuLa%iaanr, are being followed on 482 f i e l d s which were mapped at the bagilnnirq Q% thQ project when the fields still contained the lath oropa ho be cultivated, a difficult but important problem. restricted to aquatic and cultivated area, little being known about n m - cultivated t e - res trial communities. which support uniform standa of plants on parts of the SRO area appear t o provide a simplified situation that is promising. So far we have attempted t o determine the biomass of the 'Istanding crop" of arganhms a t Work i n tMs field has Zargely been The relatively unfsrtile eandy adla
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different seasonsg and are studying certain limiting nutrients (phosphorus) and microorganism activity in the soils of limited sawle areas. 3. Insect opulations - Three studies as follows: (1) Samples at four seasons,using+two metho of soil extraction and m e method of sweep sampling of the vegetation have been completed on 13 areas representing the being tested with these data. insects, the orthoptera, which are important inthe old field series. This involves not onlya survey of species present but field experimental work t o determine just how much of the standing crop of plants is actually eaten by grasshoppers, ceiving special attention, g ical life history - ofthe old field mouse, Peromyscus polionotus, the most abundant animal inthe abandoned field series. and seeding of pines has also been briefly studied, William * s "diversity index" and other recent concepts are ( 2 ) An intensive study of me group of (3) As indicated above, medical insects are re4. Mammal Populations - (1) Qccurrence and distribution, sampling by The relation between rodents 5 , Ereeding b i r d populations - Density on 75 sample areas comprising 1,644 acres has been determined for one season and will be repeated a 6. Home range study - A s dsscribed above.--- taken for fossil pollen analysis by Er. D. G, Frey, Indiana University. -I n addition t o surface samples, a number of cores have been 8. Game resources - Population indices f o r quail, mowning doves and -.other game species are being established a s described above. 9. Fish migration study - Beginning inthe Summr of 1953, larg eI numbers x catfish and other species are being trapped, marked and r e - leased a t several stations on Upper Three Runs and the Savannah River. The traps are operated continuously except during the winter months. The object of the study is t o determine the extent t o which fish move up and down the streams and from the streams i n and out of the river. Also, useful data on growth rates and life history will be obtained in this way.