Sunday July 13
The Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society (FMCS), which is joining the Society at this year's meeting, and the SCB Freshwater Working Group are sponsoring a fieldtrip on Sunday 13. For more information about the Fieldtrip and the FMCS meeting go to:
Aquatic Field Trip: “A Day in a Freshwater Biodiversity Rainforest: the Duck River of Central Tennessee”
The southeastern United States is known as a global hotspot for freshwater biodiversity. This field trip to the Duck River will give participants an intimate view of one of the most biologically diverse streams in North America. The Duck River supports over 140 species of fish and 75 species of freshwater mollusks, along with equally diverse communities of other aquatic groups. Participants will be able to use snorkeling and seining to observe many of the species present at the site. Local experts in the identification and natural history of these species will coordinate the sampling and provide an overview of the current threats and opportunities for conserving this extraordinary freshwater ecosystem.
When: 13 July
Meeting Place: Chattanooga Convention Center
July 18 Friday |
July 19 Saturday |
Field Trip Descriptions
Tennessee River Gorge Boat Biolecture
Description: Take a round-trip boat ride down the Tennessee River to visit the beautiful Tennessee River Gorge, a unique diversity of land forms. The land provides habitats for more than a thousand varieties of plants, ferns, trees, grasses and flowers, as well as a rich wildlife population. Many of these are rare or endangered species such as the Mountain Skullcap and birds like the Osprey and Bald Eagle. Dozens of archaeological sites bear evidence of man's presence in the Gorge for at least 10,000 years. Under the direction of a volunteer board and the support of a professional staff, the Tennessee River Gorge Trust, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1981, incorporated in 1986 protects the ecological diversity, scenic beauty and historic past of the nationally significant river canyon. Visit the Pot Point Field Station for a lecture and hike. Trip will include brief lectures on geologic, evolutionary, and biological history of the area plus conservation efforts of local biologists and the Tennessee River Gorge Land Trust
Date: July 19, 2008
Time: 8 AM to 5 PM
Meeting Place: Ross’ Landing, Downtown Chattanooga (next to the aquarium, For a map of Chattanooga, please click here
Chattanooga Environmental Sustainability Tour
Description: Tour the downtown Chattanooga area with a focus on sustainable/green planning, design, and development. Urban revitalization is the ultimate form of recycling. We can not preserve agricultural lands, protect critical habitat, and restore our natural resources unless we reverse suburban sprawl by making our central cities and towns more desirable places to live. This tour will include public and private initiatives designed to do just that.
Date: July 18, 2008
Time: 9 AM to 3 PM
Meeting Place: Chattanooga Convention Center
Overnight trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Description: The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the largest National Park in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains and is the core of a large protected area in the southern Appalachian Mountains involving a variety of federal, state and private land managers. Ranging in elevation from 267m to 2025m, the park hosts over 1,300 native species of plants in habitats ranging from highly diverse cove hardwood forests of low to mid elevations to spruce-fir forests of the highest elevations, as well as grasslands, heath balds, and rock outcrops. An effort is underway to inventory all plant, animal, and fungi species within the park—the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory—to better understand what is being protected and how best to respond to numerous resource threats, such as climate change, atmospheric deposition, invasive species, and landscapes changes outside the park. Almost 900 species undescribed by science—from slime mold to moth—have been found to date. Numerous other park endemic species have had their habitats modeled, including the red-cheeked salamander (Plethodon jordani). The Smokies is also host to around 200 researchers per year, furthering scientific understanding and improving science-based management practices. This field trip will provide a brief introduction of the natural history, science, and management practices within one of America’s Crown Jewels.
Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center
Great Smoky Mountains National Park's All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory
When: July 18 and 19, 2008
Time: 7 AM, 18 July to 6:30PM, 19 July
Meeting Place: Chattanooga Convention Center
Red Wolf Howling Safari at the Chattanooga Nature Center
Description: The red wolf (Canis rufus) once roamed throughout the southeastern United States. By 1980, there were only 14 red wolves left and they were officially declared extinct in the wild. Fortunately, captured red wolves bred successfully, and in 1987 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released captive-bred wolves in the wild, marking the first reintroduction in the United States of a species officially extinct in the wild. Program participants will learn about the Red Wolves’ amazing rescue from the brink of extinction and how the USFWS is helping to restore these important predators to their natural habitat in the southeastern United States. Participants will observe several captive Red wolves. A USFWS video will showcase the history of the Red Wolf Species Survival Plan; a PowerPoint presentation will provide updates on new threats to the Red Wolves’ survival and what scientists are doing to prevent extinction
When: July 18, 2008
Time: 8:30 AM to 10:00 PM
Meeting Place: Chattanooga Convention Center
Overnight stay at Pot Point Field Station in the Tennessee River Gorge
Description: Field trip to discuss the efforts of the Tennessee River Gorge Trust to preserve one of the largest river gorges located near a growing city in the US. The Gorge is noted for its rich biological diversity, and has played a unique place in the history of this region. An overnight stay in bunk rooms at the Pot Point Biological Field Station, a renovated, nearly 200 year old former inn, will allow hikes on several trials, as well as time for presentations on the Trust and the chance for networking with other biologists. Note: Sleeping at the Pot House is in one of two five-person bunk rooms, with one room reserved for females, and the other for males. Shower facilities are available. Dinner, breakfast, and lunch will be provided.
When: July 18 and 19, 2008
Time: 4 PM, 18 July to 3:00 PM, 19 July
Meeting Place: Chattanooga Convention Center
Learn about the efforts of several local land trusts and visit North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Natural Area
Description: Visit the TPL and talk with experts about local efforts to conserve local natural areas. Explore the ecological diversity and breathtaking beauty of the North Chickamauga Creek Gorge through 1 of 2 guided hikes (1 shorter, medium skill level hike; 1 longer, medium to high skill level hike). North Chickamauga Creek Gorge is a 7,073-acre natural area located in Hamilton and Sequatchie Counties and originally designated in 1999. In 2006, the Bowater Pocket Wilderness Area was transferred to the State and became a part of the natural area bringing it to today’s total of over 7000 acres. It is an outstanding deep gorge cut into the sandstone plateau of Walden's Ridge on the Cumberland Plateau. The gorge is approximately ten miles long with steep slopes, sandstone bluffs, and rich coves. A high diversity of plant and animal habitat exists in the gorge. Ten state and/or federally listed plants occur here including the federally threatened large-flowered skullcap (Scutellaria montana) and the federally endangered Virginia spiraea (Spiraea virginiana). Bald eagles and peregrine falcons have also been reported here.
When: July 19, 2008
Time: 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Meeting Place: Chattanooga Convention Center
Tour of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Raccoon Mountain pumped storage facility.
The
tour will also include a visit to the Chickamauga Dam and Green Power Switch.
Description: Field trip to explore one of the main providers of electricity to this region of the Southeastern US and learn about their unique innovations to reduce carbon emissions. The group will visit three sites tied to TVA's plans to reduce carbon emissions - Finley Stadium Solar Power plant, Raccoon Mountain Pumped Storage facility, and a local school (under construction) being outfitted with ground-source heat pump equipment. All concepts are in line with TVA's strategic plan of striving to be a leader in energy-efficiency improvements and peak demand reduction over the next five years.
When: July 18, 2008
Meeting Place: Chattanooga Convention Center
Whitewater rafting on the Ocoee River and educational program on restoration of the Copper Basin mine ruins
Description: Take a trip to discuss river ecology of the Ocoee River, site of the 1996 Summer Olympics. Visit the Ocoee Olympic Whitewater Center and take part in a lecture about the restoration of Copper Basin, TN. Copper Basin is a site that was heavily polluted because of copper mining in the 1800’s – it is a said that at the time of the mining operations that this area looked like Mars – devoid of any vegetatio! However, restoration efforts are currently focused on this area and we will hear about the progress on some large scale efforts, including phytoremediation, that are helping to clean this heavily polluted landscape.
When: July 18, 2008
Time: 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Meeting Place: Chattanooga Convention Center
Birding at the Honors Golf Course
Description: The 460 acre Honors Golf Course, situated just north of Chattanooga at the foot of White Oak Mountain, is far from your typical golf course. Most of this course is undeveloped natural area, in keeping with Lead Groundskeeper David Stone’s philosophy of letting nature influence the course. David’s efforts led to the course being the first in the country to be awarded wildlife sanctuary status in 1991 by the National Audubon Society.
Potential species include: Various warblers, vireos, and thrushes, Scarlet Tanagers, Summer Tanagers, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Brown-headed Nuthatches.
When: July 18, 2008
Meeting Place: Chattanooga Convention Center
Birding at Standifer Gap Marsh
Description: Standifer Gap Marsh is a large marsh complex that provides habitat for herons and egrets, waterfowl, rails, and songbirds. The marsh includes areas of open water, emergent vegetation such as cattails, rushes, parrot feather and arrowhead, and patches of willow and ash trees, and clumps of leadbush and buttonbush shrubs.
Potential species include: Least Bittern Virginia Rail, Wood Duck, Red-winged Blackbird, Orchard Oriole, Blue Grosbeak, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Kingbird, Willow Flycatcher, Great Blue Heron, and Green Heron.
When: July 19, 2008
Time: 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Meeting Place: Chattanooga Convention Center
Paint Rock Canyon
Description: Tour the Paint Rock River watershed and view the high diversity of fish and mussels, including many that are federally listed species. Hear and see how the Alabama Nature Conservancy is working with private landowners on various projects to save the watershed. Clothing should be appropriate for an out of doors excursion.
When: July 18, 2008
Time: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Meeting Place: Chattanooga Convention Center
Timber harvesting and biodiversity of the Cumberland Plateau physiographic province in Tennessee.
Description: Chattanooga lies next to the Cumberland Plateau's biologically rich hardwood forests, which contain some of the largest tracts of privately owned contiguous temperate deciduous forest remaining on the continent. Consequently, the region is considered by many to have one of the highest conservation-value forests remaining in North America. We will discuss and visit the research from the region on the drivers, processes, and consequences of landscape changes on the Cumberland Plateau and conservation-related policy solutions.
When: July 18, 2008
Meeting Place: Chattanooga Convention Center
