Assessment of Vegetation Condition in Long-term Deer Exclosures

Project Description: The goals of this project are to provide an assessment of the vegetation condition in long-term deer exclosures compared to original study data and to determine the efficiency of the National Park Service exclosure fences to support native biodiversity. The project will reexamine long-term deer exclosures to determine if they have been successful in increasing vegetation biodiversity at Morristown National Historical Park and provide park resource managers with science-based, quantitative metrics to develop future vegetation best management practices as well as information regarding whether the fences should be repaired or removed.

The project will survey the 25 existing long-term deer exclosures at Morristown National Historic Park and will determine which of the areas are still fully enclosed. The Recipient will then replicate the original vegetation sampling done in functioning exclosures and report on the success of the exclosure interventions. Conclusions as to efficiency of this technique will be framed and recommendations to NPS will be made based on science-based, quantitative data.

The objectives of this project will be to conduct a deer exclosure census which identifies the current status of fences and exclosures and to survey the vegetation in functioning exclosures in order to assess the vegetation condition and the efficiency of the management technique. The outcome of this project will be a final report and peer-reviewed publication that will provide park managers with science-based, quantitative data regarding the vegetation condition and the efficiency of the long-term deer exclosures to support native biodiversity. Furthermore, the project will provide management recommendations regarding the replacement, removal, and future monitoring of the existing exclosures.

Lead Principal Investigator: Dr. Steven Handel, Rutgers University

Partner Institution: Rutgers University

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Federal Agency Technical Contact: Robert Masson

Project Type: Research

Project Discipline: Natural Resources

Project Sub-Discipline(s): Biological (Ecology, Fish, Wildlife, Vegetation, T&E)

Start Year: 2018

End Year: 2020

Initial Funding Amount: $30,000.00

Federal Grant Number: P18AC00941

Amendments

  • Amendment Number: 01, Year: 2020, Amount: $0.00
  • Amendment Number: 02, Year: 2020, Amount: $-563.03

Location: Morristown National Historic Park

State(s): New Jersey

Products Associated with this Project:

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