{"id":{"repo_id":"vt","oai_identifier":"oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/132200"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/vt/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/132200","repository":{"repo_id":"vt","name":"Virginia Tech","base_url":"https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Restoration of Red Spruce (Picea rubens) and Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus) Habitat in West Virginia","abstract":"The Virginia northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus, VNFS) is a rare subspecies that relies on high-elevation red spruce (Picea rubens) forests in the central Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia and Virginia. Existing habitat suitability models emphasize the composition of the red spruce canopy but lack insights into the structural characteristics of the forest that are critical for VNFS occupancy. I examined VNFS habitat preference through previous survey presence data and a spatial raster concerning forest stand structure variables. My results indicate that VNFS presence is associated with mature forest conditions across all spruce composition classes. Meanwhile, a long-term silvicultural restoration study assessed red spruce's growth responses to four hardwood removal levels (0%, ~33%, ~67%, ~100%). By 2024, trees released demonstrated a significantly greater diameter at breast height (DBH) and height growth than the controls, with the high removal treatment exhibiting the strongest response. However, the growth differences between the treatments and the controls diminished over time, suggesting that these treatments may need multiple releases or a larger removal area. Integrating forest structural metrics with habitat models could enhance VNFS conservation and inform red spruce restoration efforts to improve forest resilience and long-term habitat viability.","abstract_html":"The Virginia northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus, VNFS) is a rare subspecies that relies on high-elevation red spruce (Picea rubens) forests in the central Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia and Virginia. Existing habitat suitability models emphasize the composition of the red spruce canopy but lack insights into the structural characteristics of the forest that are critical for VNFS occupancy. I examined VNFS habitat preference through previous survey presence data and a spatial raster concerning forest stand structure variables. My results indicate that VNFS presence is associated with mature forest conditions across all spruce composition classes. Meanwhile, a long-term silvicultural restoration study assessed red spruce's growth responses to four hardwood removal levels (0%, ~33%, ~67%, ~100%). By 2024, trees released demonstrated a significantly greater diameter at breast height (DBH) and height growth than the controls, with the high removal treatment exhibiting the strongest response. However, the growth differences between the treatments and the controls diminished over time, suggesting that these treatments may need multiple releases or a larger removal area. Integrating forest structural metrics with habitat models could enhance VNFS conservation and inform red spruce restoration efforts to improve forest resilience and long-term habitat viability.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Humbert, Tanner Ray"],"institution":"Virginia Tech","degree_name":"Master of Science","degree_level":"masters","degree_discipline":"Forestry","degree_department":"Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":["Ford, W. Mark","Carter, David Robert James"],"committee_members":["Green, Patrick Corey"],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025-05-12","date_published":"2025-05-12","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:20:37Z","subjects":["Forest restoration","Habitat Modeling","Red Spruce (Picea rubens)","Single Tree","Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus)."],"languages":["en"],"rights":["In Copyright"],"rights_urls":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:43596"],"render_values":[{"text":"vt_gsexam:43596","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/10919/132200","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.committeechair","label":"Committee Chair","values":["Ford, W. 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Existing habitat suitability models emphasize the composition of the red spruce canopy but lack insights into the structural characteristics of the forest that are critical for VNFS occupancy. I examined VNFS habitat preference through previous survey presence data and a spatial raster concerning forest stand structure variables. My results indicate that VNFS presence is associated with mature forest conditions across all spruce composition classes. Meanwhile, a long-term silvicultural restoration study assessed red spruce's growth responses to four hardwood removal levels (0%, ~33%, ~67%, ~100%). By 2024, trees released demonstrated a significantly greater diameter at breast height (DBH) and height growth than the controls, with the high removal treatment exhibiting the strongest response. However, the growth differences between the treatments and the controls diminished over time, suggesting that these treatments may need multiple releases or a larger removal area. Integrating forest structural metrics with habitat models could enhance VNFS conservation and inform red spruce restoration efforts to improve forest resilience and long-term habitat viability."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstractgeneral","label":"General Abstract","values":["The Virginia northern flying squirrel (VNFS) is a rare species found in high-elevation red spruce forests of the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia and Virginia. Models were created to predict VNFS habitat quality, focusing on tree cover and land shape rather than overall forest structure. Our analysis, utilizing past surveys and forest data, revealed that VNFS prefers older forests with taller trees and thicker trunks. A long-term study showed that red spruce trees grew taller in areas where neighboring hardwoods were removed. By 2024, these trees showed significantly greater growth at the plots where hardwoods were removed, fully surrounding the target red spruce. However, growth differences between managed and unmanaged areas diminished over time, suggesting that more extensive cutting around target red spruce may be needed to ensure spruce growth continues to accelerate. Insights from both studies can improve conservation strategies for VNFS specifically and support the restoration of red spruce forests for high-elevation wildlife generally in the future."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"dc:format.medium","label":"Dc Format Medium","values":["ETD"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Restoration of Red Spruce (Picea rubens) and Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus) Habitat in West Virginia"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.committeechair":["Ford, W. Mark","Carter, David Robert James"],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Green, Patrick Corey"],"dc:contributor.department":["Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation"],"dc:creator":["Humbert, Tanner Ray"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2025-05-13T08:02:39Z"],"dc:date.available":["2025-05-13T08:02:39Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2025-05-12"],"dc:description.abstract":["The Virginia northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus, VNFS) is a rare subspecies that relies on high-elevation red spruce (Picea rubens) forests in the central Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia and Virginia. Existing habitat suitability models emphasize the composition of the red spruce canopy but lack insights into the structural characteristics of the forest that are critical for VNFS occupancy. I examined VNFS habitat preference through previous survey presence data and a spatial raster concerning forest stand structure variables. My results indicate that VNFS presence is associated with mature forest conditions across all spruce composition classes. Meanwhile, a long-term silvicultural restoration study assessed red spruce's growth responses to four hardwood removal levels (0%, ~33%, ~67%, ~100%). By 2024, trees released demonstrated a significantly greater diameter at breast height (DBH) and height growth than the controls, with the high removal treatment exhibiting the strongest response. However, the growth differences between the treatments and the controls diminished over time, suggesting that these treatments may need multiple releases or a larger removal area. Integrating forest structural metrics with habitat models could enhance VNFS conservation and inform red spruce restoration efforts to improve forest resilience and long-term habitat viability."],"dc:description.abstractgeneral":["The Virginia northern flying squirrel (VNFS) is a rare species found in high-elevation red spruce forests of the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia and Virginia. Models were created to predict VNFS habitat quality, focusing on tree cover and land shape rather than overall forest structure. Our analysis, utilizing past surveys and forest data, revealed that VNFS prefers older forests with taller trees and thicker trunks. A long-term study showed that red spruce trees grew taller in areas where neighboring hardwoods were removed. By 2024, these trees showed significantly greater growth at the plots where hardwoods were removed, fully surrounding the target red spruce. However, growth differences between managed and unmanaged areas diminished over time, suggesting that more extensive cutting around target red spruce may be needed to ensure spruce growth continues to accelerate. Insights from both studies can improve conservation strategies for VNFS specifically and support the restoration of red spruce forests for high-elevation wildlife generally in the future."],"dc:description.degree":["Master of Science"],"dc:format.medium":["ETD"],"dc:identifier.other":["vt_gsexam:43596"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/10919/132200"],"dc:language.iso":["en"],"dc:publisher":["Virginia Tech"],"dc:rights":["In Copyright"],"dc:rights.uri":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"dc:subject":["Forest restoration","Habitat Modeling","Red Spruce (Picea rubens)","Single Tree","Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus)."],"dc:title":["Restoration of Red Spruce (Picea rubens) and Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus) Habitat in West Virginia"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Forestry"],"thesis:degree_level":["masters"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science"],"thesis:institution_name":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:20:37Z"}