Vertebrate Survey of Rocky Fork Wildlife Management Area, Unicoi and Greene Counties, Tennessee.

<p>The most prominent cause of habitat fragmentation is intensification of human land use. Negative effects of large-scale forest fragmentation have been documented in most vertebrate classes. The inherent problem in <em>directly</em> documenting effects lies in our ignorance of historical community structure.</p> <p>Information from this study provides baseline data on vertebrates within threatened habitat. This privately-owned block of uninterrupted forest has never been systematically surveyed by biologists. Changes in ownership have placed the integrity of this interior forest habitat in doubt. This research may provide the foundation for long-term studies of the effects of fragmentation within forests of the Southern Appalachians.</p> <p>A total of 50 visits were made between April 1998 and July 2000. Documentation of 109 species of vertebrates was established, representing 4 reptile species, 19 amphibian species, 72 bird species, and 12 mammal species. Although no procedure for documenting fishes was implemented, 2 species from this class were identified.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

MS (Master of Science)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - restricted

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.issued

2001

Author dc:creator

• Welch, J. Michael

• tennessee
• vertebrates
• rocky fork
• Biology
• Life Sciences

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright by the authors.

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/34

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dc.etsu.edu:etd-1084