| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.43 |
| Liaison | Greg Maginn |
| Submission Date | June 30, 2023 |
The Ohio State University
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Chris
Tonra Chair Schiermeier Olentangy River Wetland Research Park |
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:
The Wilma H. Schiermeier Olentangy River Wetland Research Park is a long-term, large-scale aquatic research facility located along the northern edge of The Ohio State University’s Columbus campus. The Schiermeier Wetlands is the home of the School of Environment and Natural Resources’ aquatics program and a gateway to research, teaching and outreach related to water resources at the university.
The wetlands park is listed as a Ramsar Site of International importance, and includes freshwater, tree-dominated wetlands, permanent rivers/streams/creeks, seasonal/intermittent freshwater marshes, and permanent freshwater marshes. It is a unique combination of 1) a biologically diverse assemblage of different wetland and riverine habitats both representative and unique to the region; 2) high-quality university teaching, research, and publishing related specifically to wetland ecology and management; and 3) significant wetland ecotourism and outreach for an urban community where few wetlands remain. The site has supported almost 160 bird species, diverse fish and invertebrate communities in the river and marshes, and a wide variety of mammals, amphibians and reptiles, all within an urban region.
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:
Attached to additional documentation.
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:
Identified wetland and its extents.
The methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or areas of biodiversity importance and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:
Ohio State conducts wildlife inventories and site surveys within its wetlands, which includes methods such as kick seining and electrofishing on a regular basis.
A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):
While species sampling is routinely conducted on the university’s owned properties (or within surface waters that flow through university owned properties), the scope of assessment for the areas of biodiversity importance were limited to the established boundaries of the Wilma H. Schiermeier Olentangy River Wetland Research Park.
A brief description of the plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems:
The university has established an ecosystem services improvement goal, which includes increasing on-campus biodiversity. The programming associated with this goal includes increasing campus tree canopy, increasing campus green space, increasing campus green infrastructure, reducing stormwater runoff into the surface waters that flow through university owned properties, and restoring riverine floodplain habitat.
It is a long-term, large-scale wetland research facility. There is no other facility of its kind on any other university campus in the world, so it also has as its mission the dissemination of wetland science and ecological engineering around the world.
The wetland research park is also a nature park for the residents of central Ohio, providing habitat for a wide variety of plants, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and 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.