Investigating Changes in Land Cover, Habitat & Bird Biodiversity in a ...
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Investigating Changes in Land Cover, Habitat & Bird Biodiversity in a Lower Delaware Watershed Town;
Rosy Tucker;
Environmental Science Student, Haddonfield Memorial HS/Rutgers University
Ron Smith; Advisor,
Haddonfield, NJ from late 1800s to 2012
Haddonfield Memorial HS
Environmental Science Program
Abstract Birds Observed in Haddonfield; Comparison off Historic and Current Sightings (TTotal Species = 172)
Historic and Current Historic Only
Habitat Type of Birds Found in Haddonfield 2010-12 2%
Much of the lower Delaware Watershed in NJ has undergone significant landscape changes over the last century. Extensive natural areas, first converted for agriculture, have become swallowed by suburban expansion. Current research informs us of the impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation on native wildlife, but seldom does the opportunity arise to establish specific landscape changes within a defined region and documentation of the corresponding effects on a particular group of species. Birds are excellent indicator species as they are omnipresent, relatively easy to identify, often dependent on specific habitats and have been studied more extensively than most other groups of organisms. From the Historical Society of Haddonfield and the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, we accessed bird biodiversity and habitat data and documents from naturalist Samuel Rhoads, a collector for the Academy, for Haddonfield from the late 1800s to draft a list of species present from that time frame. Over a two year period we observed and documented species present from the same sites visited by Rhoads as well as adjacent locales to establish a modern comparison. Using journal entries, historic maps and property
descriptions we were able to generate a GIS map of Haddonfield land cover for the late 1800s. Land cover types were quantified and compared and bird lists were examined in light of available and quality habitat. Loss and changes in avian diversity were identified and quantified.
7%
open woodland
30%
town
lake/pond
With the extent of anthropogenic disturbance to natural systems throughout the Delaware Watershed we suggest that investigating and revealing specific case studies can serve as important historical, educational and scientific tools for municipalities and regions so that preservation imperatives will be developed to protect and manage remaining open space.
forest marsh
grassland shoreline 36%
scrub 9%
Current Only
Bird Species Richness Comparison We provide here a list of species not observed by Rhoads in the late 19th and early 20th century. Analyses of these species reveals that human activity including climate change, introduction of non-native species, and land/ habitat conversion are the potential factors contributing to this difference in species richness.
1%
1% 6% 1
[ ¢ Haddonfield Natural Areas and Haddonfield Natural Areas ¢ [ Bird Study Sites Sites and Bird Study [ ¢
Also provided is a list of sample species catalogued by Rhoads in the late 19th / early 20th century which were not observed during our surveys It is possible that some of these species may still be present in southern New Jersey, but their abundance was so low in our area that we did not see/ hear them. We propose that changes in habitat (reduction of forest cover and non-woody open space) is the main reason for the loss of many native bird species in our area.
Rosy Tucker Molly McGovern Ron Smith
24%
open woodland town lake/pond forest
8%
marsh grassland shoreline
9%
scrub river/stream
[ ¢
[ ¢
37%
Bird Study Sites
A full list of bird species from the Rhoads and Tucker surveys is available upon request.
k Haddonfield Haddonfield
Natural Areas Bird Study Sites
k
Haddonfield Memorial High School
[ ¢
Bird Study Sites
Birds Observed in Haddonfield in the 21st Century, but Absent from Rhoads Surveys
A Sampling of Birds Observed in Haddonfield in the Late 19th/ Early 20th Centuries, Absent from Our Surveys
Black Capped Chickadee
Alder Flycatcher
Crow's Woods Natural Area
Fish Crow
Northern Bobwhite
House Finch
Bobolink
Scout's Natural Area
Laughing Gull
Brown headed Nuthatch
Ring Billed Gull
Cliff Swallow
Double Crested Cormorant
Connecticut Warbler
Great Horned Owl
Grasshopper Sparrow
Snowy Egret
Hooded Merganser
Northern Mockingbird
Horned Lark
Mourning Dove
Marsh Hawk (Harrier)
Red Bellied Woodpecker
Northern Shrike
[ ¢
Bird surveys conducted between 2010 and 2011 focused on existing natural areas within and adjacent to the town of Haddonfield. Though species sited within residential areas were also included in lists, most of the bird species documented were observed in natural areas as referenced on the 2012 Map.
Total Acreage of Land Cover TTyypes in Haddonfield from 1877 to Present ((2012) 2011)
µ
1600 1400 1200
[ ¢
Cooper River Natural Area
Acreage
Rosy Tucker
Land Cover in Haddonfield 2012
Hopkins Natural Area Haddonfield
URBAN
Historic (acres) 600
Agriculture
Open Field /Pasture
[ ¢
Forest
Urban
Total Open Space
Land Cover
Change in Land Cover in haddonfield from 1877 H (2012) to Present (2011)
WATER
WATER WETLANDS 200
Streams
WETLANDS
166
150 100
Streams Woody Vegetation
Current (acres)
0
AGRICULTURE
URBAN
800
200
TYPE07 AGRICULTURE
FOREST FOREST
1000
400
Haddonfield Land Cover 2007
Habitat Changes The major trends in habitat change during the 100+ years between the Rhoads and Tucker bird surveys include marked reduction in Forest Cover, Grassland and Agricultural land and overall available open space acreage along with an increase in developed/ residential areas. Birds observed during both time periods as divided by preferred habitat is provided for comparison. (top right)
% Change
Land Cover in Haddonfield Circa 1877
Habitat Type of Birds Found in Haddonfield by Samuel Rhoads circa 1900
62
50 0 % Change -50
-44
-100
-78
-99 -150 Agriculture
Open Field/ Pasture
Forest
Land Cover
Urban
Total Open Space
Investigating Changes in Land Cover, Habitat & Bird Biodiversity in a Lower Delaware Watershed Town;
Rosy Tucker;
Environmental Science Student, Haddonfield Memorial HS/Rutgers University
Ron Smith; Advisor,
Haddonfield, NJ from late 1800s to 2012
Haddonfield Memorial HS
Environmental Science Program
Abstract Birds Observed in Haddonfield; Comparison off Historic and Current Sightings (TTotal Species = 172)
Historic and Current Historic Only
Habitat Type of Birds Found in Haddonfield 2010-12 2%
Much of the lower Delaware Watershed in NJ has undergone significant landscape changes over the last century. Extensive natural areas, first converted for agriculture, have become swallowed by suburban expansion. Current research informs us of the impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation on native wildlife, but seldom does the opportunity arise to establish specific landscape changes within a defined region and documentation of the corresponding effects on a particular group of species. Birds are excellent indicator species as they are omnipresent, relatively easy to identify, often dependent on specific habitats and have been studied more extensively than most other groups of organisms. From the Historical Society of Haddonfield and the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, we accessed bird biodiversity and habitat data and documents from naturalist Samuel Rhoads, a collector for the Academy, for Haddonfield from the late 1800s to draft a list of species present from that time frame. Over a two year period we observed and documented species present from the same sites visited by Rhoads as well as adjacent locales to establish a modern comparison. Using journal entries, historic maps and property
descriptions we were able to generate a GIS map of Haddonfield land cover for the late 1800s. Land cover types were quantified and compared and bird lists were examined in light of available and quality habitat. Loss and changes in avian diversity were identified and quantified.
7%
open woodland
30%
town
lake/pond
With the extent of anthropogenic disturbance to natural systems throughout the Delaware Watershed we suggest that investigating and revealing specific case studies can serve as important historical, educational and scientific tools for municipalities and regions so that preservation imperatives will be developed to protect and manage remaining open space.
forest marsh
grassland shoreline 36%
scrub 9%
Current Only
Bird Species Richness Comparison We provide here a list of species not observed by Rhoads in the late 19th and early 20th century. Analyses of these species reveals that human activity including climate change, introduction of non-native species, and land/ habitat conversion are the potential factors contributing to this difference in species richness.
1%
1% 6% 1
[ ¢ Haddonfield Natural Areas and Haddonfield Natural Areas ¢ [ Bird Study Sites Sites and Bird Study [ ¢
Also provided is a list of sample species catalogued by Rhoads in the late 19th / early 20th century which were not observed during our surveys It is possible that some of these species may still be present in southern New Jersey, but their abundance was so low in our area that we did not see/ hear them. We propose that changes in habitat (reduction of forest cover and non-woody open space) is the main reason for the loss of many native bird species in our area.
Rosy Tucker Molly McGovern Ron Smith
24%
open woodland town lake/pond forest
8%
marsh grassland shoreline
9%
scrub river/stream
[ ¢
[ ¢
37%
Bird Study Sites
A full list of bird species from the Rhoads and Tucker surveys is available upon request.
k Haddonfield Haddonfield
Natural Areas Bird Study Sites
k
Haddonfield Memorial High School
[ ¢
Bird Study Sites
Birds Observed in Haddonfield in the 21st Century, but Absent from Rhoads Surveys
A Sampling of Birds Observed in Haddonfield in the Late 19th/ Early 20th Centuries, Absent from Our Surveys
Black Capped Chickadee
Alder Flycatcher
Crow's Woods Natural Area
Fish Crow
Northern Bobwhite
House Finch
Bobolink
Scout's Natural Area
Laughing Gull
Brown headed Nuthatch
Ring Billed Gull
Cliff Swallow
Double Crested Cormorant
Connecticut Warbler
Great Horned Owl
Grasshopper Sparrow
Snowy Egret
Hooded Merganser
Northern Mockingbird
Horned Lark
Mourning Dove
Marsh Hawk (Harrier)
Red Bellied Woodpecker
Northern Shrike
[ ¢
Bird surveys conducted between 2010 and 2011 focused on existing natural areas within and adjacent to the town of Haddonfield. Though species sited within residential areas were also included in lists, most of the bird species documented were observed in natural areas as referenced on the 2012 Map.
Total Acreage of Land Cover TTyypes in Haddonfield from 1877 to Present ((2012) 2011)
µ
1600 1400 1200
[ ¢
Cooper River Natural Area
Acreage
Rosy Tucker
Land Cover in Haddonfield 2012
Hopkins Natural Area Haddonfield
URBAN
Historic (acres) 600
Agriculture
Open Field /Pasture
[ ¢
Forest
Urban
Total Open Space
Land Cover
Change in Land Cover in haddonfield from 1877 H (2012) to Present (2011)
WATER
WATER WETLANDS 200
Streams
WETLANDS
166
150 100
Streams Woody Vegetation
Current (acres)
0
AGRICULTURE
URBAN
800
200
TYPE07 AGRICULTURE
FOREST FOREST
1000
400
Haddonfield Land Cover 2007
Habitat Changes The major trends in habitat change during the 100+ years between the Rhoads and Tucker bird surveys include marked reduction in Forest Cover, Grassland and Agricultural land and overall available open space acreage along with an increase in developed/ residential areas. Birds observed during both time periods as divided by preferred habitat is provided for comparison. (top right)
% Change
Land Cover in Haddonfield Circa 1877
Habitat Type of Birds Found in Haddonfield by Samuel Rhoads circa 1900
62
50 0 % Change -50
-44
-100
-78
-99 -150 Agriculture
Open Field/ Pasture
Forest
Land Cover
Urban
Total Open Space
