Intern Projects
Invasive Plants
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Mapping the overall
distribution of torpedo grass to provide detailed information
on how serious this species may be at the Station. Time frame: 3
months.
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Use of burning, mowing, disking, and/or herbicide to develop an
efficient method to control torpedo grass on the stations fire
lanes and disturbed areas. Time Frame: 6 months.
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Mapping the distribution of natal grass for the Station using
GPS. Creation of a GIS database showing the spatial extent
of this species at the Station.
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Use of a combination of methods (burning, disking, mowing,
and/or herbicide) to develop an effective method to control
cogon grass at the Station. Time Frame: 6 months.
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Use of fire and herbicides to control Old World climbing
ferns. Time Frame: 3-6 months.
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Creation of a spatial database using GIS to determine the extent
of tropical soda apple at the Reserve. Time Frame: 3 months.
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Comparison of different methods (burning, mowing, disking,
and/or herbicides) to efficiently control tropical soda apple.
Time Frame: 3-6 months.
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Utilize existing maps and data to develop a spatial coverage
using GIS of all invasive grasses known from the Station. Time
Frame: 3-6 months.
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Enhancement of a small 2 acre section of the Reserve that is
being invaded by Indian rosewood. Time Frame: 3 months.
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Comparison of different methods (heat, fire, shade, moisture,
etc.) to determine the germination rate of rosary pea seeds.
Time Frame: 3-6 months.
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Determine the germination success and growth rates of air
potato. Time Frame: 3-6 months.
Restoration
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Replanting of herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees under a
variety of conditions (removal of leaves, daily watering, adding
fertilizer, greenhouse grown vs. removed from natural area,
etc.) at restoration sites. Time Frame: 3 months.
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Design and implement an experiment to compare the effectiveness
of transplanting wiregrass to disturbed sites that are being
restored. Time Frame: 3-6 months.
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Develop written documentation on seed collection methods,
digging up seedlings, potting plants, watering, fertilizing,
etc. for native scrub plants grown in the greenhouse. Time
Frame: 3 months.
Prescribed Fire
- Development of an Excel database for the complete fire history
of the Station. Database would include all the information form burn
prescriptions, weather data, and burn reports. Time Frame: 3
months.
- Comparison of the fire intensity for areas that have been
burned more than once in the past 30 years.
Create spatial overlays showing the fire intensity history of
burn units that have been burned more than once in the last 30
years. Time Frame: 3 months.
- Distribution of natal grass in natural communities.
Collection of spatial data using GIS to document the invasive
potential of natal grass for time since last burn. Time
Frame: 3-6 months.
- Seasonal effects of fire and other treatments on natal grass.
Design, set up, and initiate a project to compare the response
of natal grass to different treatments during different
seasons. Time Frame: 3-6 months, Continuing.
- Measuring the heat intensity at various canopy layers (ground,
mid-canopy, and upper canopy) during prescribed burns to predict
pine tree mortality. Time Frame: 6 months, summer.