Natural Area Teaching Laboratory Thomas J Walker Conservation

Natural Area Teaching Laboratory & Thomas J. Walker Conservation Area Annual Report 2010 -2011 Jennifer Gillett-Kaufman Chair, Natural Area Advisory Committee 2011 -

34 th Street NATL-East NATL-West A he c r d R r

Agenda for 2010 -11 update • Generous assistance from the provost – New outreach TA • New endowment • Burns and restarting tracts • Nature trail update – East trail – QR nature trail • • • People counter update Invasive species report Additional activities Fiscal report for FY 2010 -11 Preliminary fiscal plan for FY 2011 -12

Assistance from the Provost • In spring of 2011 Doug Levey and Tom Walker held discussions with the Provost, Joe Glover, which resulted in an increase of support for NATL • The Office of the Provost will – Increase expense funds from $2, 100 to $6, 000 – Fund a second graduate NATL TA

Second Graduate TA • Responsible for handling NATL outreaches • Grant writing and research projects • NAAC approved that this position be filled by Eduardo Silva, a Ph. D Candidate with the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

New Endowment & Name • New NATL endowment, funded by Tom Walker • Intended to make the position of NAAC Chair more attractive to those faculty who are qualified and motivated to maintain and improve NATL • This endowment will provide $3, 000 -4, 000 annually to the NAAC Chair to be used for UF programs • In connection with the endowment, NATL’s 33 acre restricted area will be named the “Thomas J. Walker Conservation Area”

Burns, Restarting Tracts, Oaks • No 2011 burn of tract D: next burn in planning stage • Planning for yearly restart of tract B (November 2011) • Planning for 10 year restart of tract A (2012) • NAP-Decide to what height (if any) low-growing live oak limbs should be trimmed – if trimming is desired, decide how it should be accomplished

Nature Trail Update • Improvements to NATL’s interpretive signs along nature trails: addition of new photosigns describing ecosystems, birds, reptiles and insects; continuation of general trail maintenance • Development of new 3 x 2 ft. insect trail signs, funded by the Entomology Department’s Ecotourism Program • Over the summer, NATL hosted two interns from the Ecotourism Program • Interns worked to maintain nature trails, develop content for interpretive signs and develop curricula to be used by FLMNH docents

Four Florida Ecosystems for You to Explore! Nature Trails of UF’s Natural Area Teaching Laboratory (NATL) Hammock Trail (1/4 mi. ) - Begins where Upland Pine and Old Field Trails end SEEP Trail (wetlands) (3/4 mi. ) - Follow signs or start at Natural Area Park

QR Nature Trail Update • QR (Quick Response) Nature Trail NATL Op. Com members provided content for and created QR-code-based signs for a self-guided nature trail at the Natural Area Park SEEP junction. • The information contained on the signs can also be found on the NATL website • http: //natl. ifas. ufl. edu/SGNTpage. htm#QR trail

People Counter Update • July 2010 a Trailmaster was installed at the Cultural Plaza entrance to NATL to log the number of people entering or exiting NATL • June of 2011 a second unit was funded by Jaret Daniels • The new unit was installed at the academic entrance to NATL, near the Pavilion • A third and final unit has been purchased and will be installed at the Natural Area Park Entrance

Counts per Month: Cultural Plaza Trail 1073 1018 793 930 913 1055 1053 855 843 647 565 Se pt be r em us t y Ju l ne Ju ay M Ap r il 0 Au g Ju ly 1372 1272 20 10 Au Se gu pt st em be r O ct ob N ov er em b D ec er e Ja nu mb ar er y 20 Fe 11 br ua ry M ar ch 1800 1659 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0

1800 1669 Academic Entrance Counts per Month: 1600 1400 1352 1200 1065 1097 1000 800 600 400 200 0 June July August September

Control of Invasive Plants • Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) Eight sites were infested in 2010 and only 2 had live plants as late as August 2011, the possibility of permanently eliminating cogongrass in NATL is evident • Skunkvine (Paederia foetida) Two living plants were found in NATL during 2010. All sites were periodically inspected for skunk vine during the 2011 growing season • Coral ardisia (Ardisia crenata) Occurs in at least 22 gridblocks in NATL-w and in six in NATL-e, mature plants in midwinter have been reduced by more than 94% since 2009

Additional activities for 2010 -11 • Complete first version of NATL Operating Manual • Produce new photo signs to keep nature trails attractive, informative and current with seasonal changes • Advertise NATL to departments; record use of NATL • Continue eradication of exotic species • Continue upland pine restoration (burning & planting) • Revise kiosk content and signs (as needed) • Social networking or marketing to deliver news about NATL

On find us at NATL. UF You are invited to: Share pictures taken in NATL Comment on observations Ask questions Enjoy pictures of the area Learn what others have seen Follow us on facebook search for: The Natural Area Teaching Lab @UFNATL

Budget Report & Spending Plan • Fiscal Plan for FY 2011 -12 was unanimously approved by the NAAC • “[The chair of NAAC] … will annually submit a spending plan to the Lakes, Vegetation and Landscaping Committee (LVLC) for its approval, and the Chair of NAAC will submit an annual report about the uses of endowment funds to LVLC. ” See handout

NATL Fiscal Plan for FY 2011 -12 Funds available for 2011 -12 (excluding stipends for Graduate TAs, CALS Dean and Provost) Brought forward from 2010 -11 $178 Projected income for 2011 -12 Provost NATL endowment $6000 (an increase of $3, 900 from FY 2010 -11) $4560 (UF Foundation projection) Total $10, 738 Spending plan for 2010 -11 Routine expenses Budgeted Undergraduate TA Control of invasives 3000 wiregrass plugs 2000 NT fliers People counter for NAP entrance Controlled burn of upland pine 2 minigrants @$500 each Sum $2, 000 To be carried forward Grand Total $18 $10, 738 $3, 010 $2, 640 $900 $270 $300 $600 $1, 000 $10, 720

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