Furman University
IL-24: Biodiversity Assessment
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
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0.50 / 1.00 |
Has the institution conducted a baseline biodiversity assessment that is inclusive of the entire campus?:
Narrative and/or website URL outlining the methodology and results of the institution’s biodiversity assessment:
List of endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on campus, by level of extinction risk:
Sagittaria fasciculata, known as bunched arrowhead, is a federally protected small herbaceous plant that grows in wetlands. It grows about 15 inches tall and blooms mid-May through July. The bunched arrowhead only grows in seepage soils, particularly in the Piedmont seepage forest ecosystem. This habitat has been largely destroyed due to development and agriculture. Today it exists in a few places in Greenville County, including Furman University’s campus and several locations in Traveler’s Rest. Furman maintains a protected area home to the Bunched Arrowhead. The protected area has a viewing deck and signage for educational purposes.
Narrative outlining how the baseline biodiversity assessment is used to protect or positively affect the areas and species identified:
Publication: Fox SJ**, Eberth L*, Floyd JB*, Pederson C*, Stafford L*, Tillmanns N*, Vodo L*, Morris AB (2024) The importance of understanding clonal structure for species listing and recovery: case studies from the rare oconee bells (Shortia brevistyla and Shortia galacifolia; Diapensiaceae) and the federally endangered bunched arrowhead (Sagittaria fasciculata; Alismataceae). Conservation Genetics, 25: 849-866
Has the institution conducted a less comprehensive biodiversity assessment within the previous three years?:
Description of the institution’s less comprehensive biodiversity assessment:
Many of our faculty in Biology and Earth and Environmental Science conduct biodiversity assessments on campus as a part of their research or teaching. Below are a few recent examples:
Dr. Grace Freundlich- 2023 research began with a baseline survey of floral microbes in seven different flowering species. The survey site is a portion of campus that houses our solar farm and wildflower areas. The research explores what microbes (bacteria and fungi) live in flowers found in pollinator gardens and how different floral traits (such as texture of the petals) influences the diversity we find inside of these flowers.
Dr. Ashley Morris - 2021 is studying the federally endangered species Sagittaria fasciculata, otherwise known as the bunched arrowhead. The bunched arrowhead is a rare, aquatic species that is found only in Greenville County, SC and Henderson County, North Carolina. She and her student research team are doing a genetic evaluation using a PCR test to determine if the individual plants are more or less genetically similar because the plant species is clonal. This research will help us determine more about the pattern of its growt and will help us to find the individuals, the colonies, and the population itself of the entire plant species. More: Fox SJ**, Eberth L*, Floyd JB*, Pederson C*, Stafford L*, Tillmanns N*, Vodo L*, Morris AB (2024) The importance of understanding clonal structure for species listing and recovery: case studies from the rare Oconee bells (Shortia brevistyla and Shortia galacifolia; Diapensiaceae) and the federally endangered bunched arrowhead (Sagittaria fasciculata; Alismataceae). Conservation Genetics, 25: 849-866
Spring 2022 - BIO 346 Forest Ecology Class - We had an assignment to develop tree profiles as part of a goal to construct a walking tour of a portion of the Furman Arboretum in the PocketSights app. Students developed more than 30 tree profiles including photos and citations that will eventually be part of a publicly accessible digital tour. I had been communicating with Brandon Inabinet and one of his graduate students about developing the visuals around this, as well as physical signage for the arboretum.
Summer 2022 - Chase Smith (BIO Research Student) completed a research project focused on determining if the University Campus Tree Care Plan (2008) meets its objective of promoting species diversity in the campus tree population. He assessed this by re-inventorying the arboretum and updating the ArcGIS arboretum map (we have not yet published the new map), as well as using data from a 2014 campus inventory done by Bartlett, an external consultant, and the original 2008 inventory. Finally, he did a qualitative assessment of campus forest species diversity based on iNaturalist observations.
Summer 2024 - Will James (BIO Research Student) completed a research project focused on characterizing habitat requirements for bunched arrowhead. The bulk of his work involved sampling soils in areas with and without bunched arrowhead to evaluate potential differences in soil type, as well as measuring canopy cover in these same areas. Our goal was to attempt to gain additional insight into how we might be able to manage the property to expand the current extent of our bunched arrowhead colonies.
Dr. John Quinn maintains a database of bird species on campus: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L697425/bird-list?yr=curM&rank=hc
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Additional documentation for this credit:
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