| Overall Rating | Bronze |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 34.48 |
| Liaison | Rebecca Jones |
| Submission Date | Feb. 9, 2022 |
Austin College
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Rebecca
Jones Coordinator Center for Environmental Studies |
Does the institution own or manage land that includes or is adjacent to legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, or regions of conservation importance?:
A brief description of the legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/or regions of conservation importance:
Our 100-acre Sneed Prairie Restoration site is bounded on one side by Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, which is managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior and includes wetland habitat. Hagerman NWR is a hotbed of migratory bird activity.
Has the institution conducted an assessment to identify endangered and vulnerable species (including migratory species) with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution?:
A list of endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution, by level of extinction risk:
Painted Bunting - Near Threatened
Has the institution conducted an assessment to identify areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution?:
A brief description of areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution:
The Blackland Prairie habitat is critically endangered, with less than 1% of it remaining. Painted Buntings are classed as Near Threatened. Our Sneed Prairie site attempts to protect both and restore the prairie ecosystem that used to exist on the land. Other migratory birds also use Sneed Prairie.
The methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or areas of biodiversity importance and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:
At our Sneed Prairie restoration site, we are attempting to restore the native Blackland Prairie that is critically endangered (with less than 1% of it remaining). We monitor restoration progress by measuring presence/absence of various native and nonnative grass species, trees, and soil cover at dozens of sampling locations in each field. Each measured variable passed a test for correspondence with expert assessment of prairie condition across six sites rank ordered in terms of biological integrity by Blackland Prairie expert Dr. George Diggs. Collectively, the measurements provide information on species composition and indicators of ecosystem functioning. Dr. Wayne Meyer studies the threatened Painted Bunting at Sneed Prairie, and we also get many migratory birds that come through the area. Additionally, one of our other field sites, Buckner Woods, is a rare example of Post Oak-Blackjack Oak woodland.
A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):
Austin College owns five pieces of property in Grayson County that serve as research areas, field laboratories, and nature preserves. The Barry Buckner Biological Preserve and Research Area is a diverse 115-acre site containing native deciduous forest, pine forest, sandstone outcrops, and successional communities. The Lee Harrison Bratz Field Laboratory, located on the sandy soil of the East Cross Timbers vegetational area, is a 76-acre site that consists primarily of deciduous forest, including both upland and bottomland vegetation.
The Clinton and Edith Sneed Environmental Research Area (mentioned above), a 100-acre site in the Blackland Prairie vegetational area, is adjacent to Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge; this property includes three ponds. The Garnett Prairie is a 60-acre tract, also in the Blackland Prairie zone; it includes a 10-acre tract of intact native prairie. The McCarley Woods Nature Preserve is a 12-acre site that is primarily upland hardwood forest. Any/all assessments take place only on these properties as advised.
A brief description of the plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems:
At Sneed Prairie, we use a combination of rotational grazing, mowing, and controlled burning in an attempt to keep nonnative and invasive species down while promoting the spread of native grasses (whose long roots allow them to easily survive fires that would kill trees). We have also worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to modify the ponds at Sneed to better accommodate migratory birds.
Estimated percentage of areas of biodiversity importance that are also protected areas :
Website URL where information about the institution’s biodiversity initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.