Karen E. Francl

Warnell School of Forest Resources University of Georgia Athens Georgia 30602-2602 USA

(706) 316-0750 kfrancl@hotmail.com http://coweeta.ecology.uga.edu Steven B. Castleberry

Warnell School of Forest Resources University of Georgia Athens Georgia 30602-2602 USA

(706) 316-0750 scastle@smokey.forestry.uga.edu http://coweeta.ecology.uga.edu W. Mark Ford

USDA Northeastern Experiment Station University of Georgia Athens Georgia 30602-2602 USA

(706) 316-0750 mford@fs.fed.us http://coweeta.ecology.uga.edu Although echolocation has been studied extensively in many bat species in recent years, little attention has been given to other terrestrial mammals that use this orienting behavior. Crude echolocating abilities have been documented in several species of shrews (e.g., Sorex cinereus, S. vagrans, Blarina brevicauda), red-backed voles (Clethrionomys sp.), and Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus), but few quantitative experiments have been performed using modern ultrasonic sensors (Gould et al., 1964; Buchler, 1976; Tomasi, 1979). These calls have been recorded, but never fully described. My work will attempt to strengthen the evidence for echolocation in insectivores by fully characterizing the call of the short-tailed shrew, Blarina brevicauda. This will be accomplished through the use of two techniques implemented in chiropteran studies-the Anabat ultrasonic detector, and time-expansion recordings using the Bat Detector system. Methods--only for trapping at Coweeta LTER: In late March, I will trap northern short-tailed shrews near Drymans Fork at Coweeta LTER in Otto, NC. Approximately 250 32-oz. pitfalls and 200 small Sherman live-traps (baited with sardines) will be set in the floodplain around the creek, and checked every 3 hours for 2 nights, until at least 10 individuals have been captured alive. All shrews captured will be transported to the University of Georgia School of Forest Resources, where a controlled laboratory environment will have been established. Coweeta LTER Blarina brevicauda echolocation Must adhere to the Coweeta LTER Data Policy (See http://coweeta.ecology.uga.edu/webdocs/3/static/datapolicies.html). http://cwt33.ecology.uga.edu/summaries/summary1071.html Drymans Fork, ca. 35 1.981 N, 83 26.166 W, 2878 ft. 2002-03-01 2002-03-01 Coweeta LTER Information Manager

Institute of Ecology University of Georgia Athens Georgia 30602 USA

(828) 524-2128 Ted Gragson

Institute of Ecology University of Georgia Athens Georgia 30602 USA

tgragson@earthlink.net principalInvestigator James Vose

Institute of Ecology University of Georgia Athens Georgia 30602 USA

jvose@fs.fed.us principalInvestigator Brian Kloeppel

Institute of Ecology University of Georgia Athens Georgia 30602 USA

kloeppel@sparc.ecology.uga.edu principalInvestigator The Coweeta LTER Research Program has evolved since 1980 from a site-based to a site- and region-based project examining the effects of disturbance and environmental gradients on biogeochemical cycling, and the underlying watershed ecosystem processes that regulate and respond to those cycles. The objective for the 2002-2008 research is to advance scientific understanding of the spatial, temporal, and decision-making components of land use and land-use change in the southern Appalachian Mountains over the last 200 years, and forecast patterns into the future 30 years. This will be accomplished by addressing ecological and socioeconomic aspects of land-use change while continuing long-term studies of environmental gradients and natural disturbance regimes. The result will be a more complete understanding of ecological dynamics in the southern Appalachian Mountains that makes possible the development of reasonable forecasts of its future ecological state. | The guiding hypothesis for the proposed research is that the frequency, intensity, and extent of land use represents human decision-making in response to socioeconomic and bio-geophysical conditions with consequences that cascade through ecosystems. The research activities are organized into three initiatives: (1) Characterization of the Socio-Natural Template, (2) Ecosystem Responses to the Socio-Natural Template, and (3) Forecasting Ecosystem Responses to Changes in the Socio-Natural Template. The integrated scientific research will provide both a description as well as an explanation of the underlying causes of land use and the consequences of land-use change for southern Appalachian ecosystems and society. It thus recognizes the complexity of land use as a process and the research needs as defined in the LTER Program and the broader scientific community. National Science Foundation. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. uid=cwt,o=lter,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org all public read