Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 76.08
Liaison Tess Esposito
Submission Date March 1, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Dayton
OP-10: Biodiversity

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution own or manage land that includes or is adjacent to legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/or regions of conservation importance?:
No

A brief description of the legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/or regions of conservation importance:
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Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify endangered and vulnerable species (including migratory species) with habitats on institution-owned or –managed land?:
Yes

Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify environmentally sensitive areas on institution-owned or –managed land?:
Yes

The methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or environmentally sensitive areas (including most recent year assessed) and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:

In 2017, the University conducted an assessment to identify potential for endangered and vulnerable species and environmentally sensitive areas. This assessment will continue annually by staff biologists and students and faculty from the Biology department.

Methods to Identify Environmental Sensitive Areas:
We reviewed IUCN and USFWS IPaC data for UD owned and managed land. No environmentally sensitive areas were identified on or near our urban campus. This assessment included: IUCN management categories I-VI; Natura 2000; Ramsar; Natural or World Heritage Sites; UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Reserves; Important Bird Areas; Alliance for Zero Extinction Sites; Endemic Bird Areas; Biodiversity Hotspots; and High Biodiversity Wilderness Areas. For each of these categories of environmentally sensitive areas, no UD-owned or managed land appear.

We assessed for the occurrence of wetlands on UD-owned and managed land using National Wetlands Inventory, aerial image assessment, and ground-truthing. One freshwater pond on River Campus is identified on NWI maps. Field observations indicate vernal pools along southeastern edge of River Campus.

Methods to identify endangered and vulnerable species:
To identify endangered and vulnerable species that may occur on UD-owned and managed land, we reviewed the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Critically Endangered to Least Concern), the USFWS IPaC tool (ESA Endangered and Threatened and Migratory Birds), and Birds of Conservation Concern. We compared these lists against the availability of suitable habitat on campus. Finally we referred to locally generated observation lists.

With this identification of sensitive areas and potential endangered and vulnerable species, we will begin in 2018 with field assessment and monitoring to further identify, monitor and manage for vulnerable species and sensitive areas.


A brief description of identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:

As assessment of campus as potential habitat for endangered and vulnerable species is attached in the Optional field.

From the NWI maps and field assessment, one freshwater pond was identified on campus as an environmentally sensitive area.


A brief description of plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:

An Environmental Research Area was established by a memorandum of understanding between Facilities and the Biology Department. In the ERA, the focus is on invasive species removal and species identification.

When endangered bats are located on campus impacting facilities, species listed by the state of Ohio as vulnerable are removed and relocated.

Where possible, other future management actions will be evaluated for their potential to restore wetland types, protect woodland, forest, and successional habitat on campus to support vulnerable species population.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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