Texas Society for Ecological Restoration
TXSER 2015 Annual Conference: Celebrating 20 Years of Ecological Restoration in Texas
November 13-15, 2015
Trinity University, Center for the Sciences and Innovation
San Antonio, Texas
Conference Presentations
Keynote Address: Ecological Restoration: An Evolving Agenda. Steven Whisenant, Professor Emeritus, Department of Ecosystem Science & Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX – Steven Whisenant – TXSER 2015 Keynote Presentation
Saturday Plenary Address: Grassland Invasion by Non-Native Grasses: Ecological Issues of Multiple Species at Multiple Trophic Levels and Their Associated Restoration Concerns. Mitchell Greer, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS – Mitch Greer – TXSER 2015 Plenary Presentation
Sunday Plenary Address: 20 Years of Fire Management in Texas: What Have We Done? Glen Gillman, Park Land Manager, Travis County Parks, Austin, TX – Glen Gillman – TXSER 2015 Plenary Presentation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday, November 14, 2015 – Morning Concurrent Tracks
Room 448, CSI Building
10:00 am – Edwards Aquifer Region of South-Central Texas: Unique Challenges and Solutions to LID Implementation. Annalisa Peace, Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance – Annalisa Peace – TXSER 2015 Presentation
10:20 am – Utilizing Biological Monitoring and Designed Experiments to Guide the Implemention of an Aquatic Plant Restoration: The Comal River Experience. Casey Williams, Bio-West, Inc. – Presentation Not Available.
10:40 am – Improving Ecological Functions with Rain Gardens. Lee Marlowe, San Antonio River Authority – Lee Marlowe – TXSER 2015 Presentation
11:00 am – Restoring Carbon Sequestration in Austin Riparian Zones. Angela England, City of Austin Watershed Protection Department – Angela England – TXSER 2015 Presentation
11:20 am – Assessing Ecosystem Health in Restoring and Unrestored Resacas of the Lower Rio Grande. Buford Lessley, School of Multidisciplinary Sciences, University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville – Buford Lessley – TXSER 2015 Presentation
11:40 am – Restoration Implications of Differential Responses to Interspecific Competition and Physiological Stressors for Native and Non-Native Submersed Aquatic Vegetation in Spring-Fed Central Texas Rivers. Sarah Hester, Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University – Sarah Hester – TXSER 2015 Presentation
Room 170, Marrs McLean Building
10:00 am – Fish Assemblage Structure Indicates Limited Progress in Restoration Process Over a Lustrum in a Severely Degraded Estuary of Southern Tamaulipas, Mexico. Alejandro Fierro Cabo, School of Multidisciplinary Sciences, University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville – Alejandro Fierro Cabo – TXSER 2015 Presentation
10:20 am – Developing Habitat Restoration Model for Narrow-mouth Frog (Kaloula borealis). Sohyun Park, Department of Landscape Architecture, Texas Tech University – Sohyun Park – TXSER 2015 Presentation
10:40 am – Alleviation of Abiotic and Biotic Stressors to Improve Thornscrub Forest Restoration in South Texas. Heather Alexander, Department of Forestry, Mississippi State University – Heather Alexander – TXSER 2015 Presentation
11:00 am – Use of Mature and Revegetated Woodlands by Breeding Birds in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Timothy Brush, Department of Biology, University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville – Timothy Brush – TXSER 2015 Presentation
11:20 am – Population Response of Wintering and Breeding Songbirds to Large-scale Ongoing Grassland Restoration. Anthony Henehan, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University, Kingsville – Anthony Henehan – TXSER 2015 Presentation
11:40 am – Using GIS to Develop Priority Areas for the Restoration of Eastern Wild Turkeys in Texas. Jason Estrella, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department – Jason Estrella – TXSER 2015 Presentation
Saturday, November 14, 2015 – Early Afternoon Concurrent Tracks
Room 448, CSI Building
1:20 pm – KR Bluestem: Restoration to Native Grasses and Forbs. David Davidson, Wild Mercury Preserve, Kendall County – David Davidson – TXSER 2015 Presentation
1:40 pm – Coreopsis tinctoria Avoids Competition with a C4 Grass Through Temporal Gaps. Kevin Eddy, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Texas, San Antonio – Kevin Eddy – TXSER 2015 Presentation
2:00 pm – The Effects of Density in a Three-Species System of Texas C4 Grasses. Ann Adams, Department of Biology, Trinity University – Ann Adams – TXSER 2015 Presentation
2:20 pm – Changes in Soil Microbial Community and Structure Along a Tanglehead (Heteropogon contortus) Density Gradient in South Texas. Joshua Grace, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University , Kingsville – Joshua Grace – TXSER 2015 Presentation
2:40 pm – Pipeline Rights of Way Revegetation in the Eagle Ford Shale Oil and Gas Play. Keith Pawelek, South Texas Natives Project, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University, Kingsville – Keith Pawelek – TXSER 2015 Presentation
Room 437, CSI Building – Treehouse
1:20 pm – Bicarbonate Utilization Potential of Submersed Aquatic Vegetation and Its Implications for Native Plant Restoration in a Spring-Fed Central Texas River. Sarah Hester, Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University – Sarah Hester (2) – TXSER 2015 Presentation
1:40 pm – Trickle Channel Resurrection: A Wetland and Stream Restoration in Urban Austin. Staryn Wagner, City of Austin, Watershed Protection Department – Staryn Wagner – TXSER 2015 Presentation
2:00 pm – Techniques for Restoring Incised and Eroded Stream Channels. Chase Currie, San Pedro Ranch, Carrizo Springs – Chase Currie – TXSER 2015 Presentation
2:20 pm – Evaluating the Efficacy of Management Techniques (Mowing, Burning, and Herbiciding) on the Control of Cattail (Typha spp.) Across a Gradient of Nitrogen Loading. Jason Martina, Department of Mathematics and Sciences, Our Lady of the Lake University – Jason Martina – TXSER 2015 Presentation
Saturday, November 14, 2015 – Late Afternoon Concurrent Tracks
Room 448, CSI Building
3:30 pm – Large Scale Ecosystem Restoration – How We Do It In Texas. Georganna Collins, Ecology and Environment, Inc. – Presentation Not Available.
3:50 pm – Forb and Woody Species Restoration in the Texas Hill Country: A Sequential Approach. David Mahler, Environmental Survey Consulting – David Mahler – TXSER 2015 Presentation
4:10 pm – Restoration Planning for Degraded Arid Landscapes. Meshal Abdullah, Ecosystem Science and Management, Texas A&M University, College Station – Presentation Not Available
4:30 pm – Restoration of Ecosystem Services on Organic Agricultural Landscapes in South Texas with the Use of Cover Crops. Savannah Rugg, Department of Biology, University of Texas – Rio Grand Valley, Brownsville – Savannah Rugg – TXSER 2015 Presentation
4:50 pm & 5:10 pm – Science Can’t Tell Me What To Do: The Limitations of Science and the Necessity of Emotion in Decision Making. Matt McCaw, City of Austin, Austin Water Utility, Water Quality Protection Lands – Matt McCaw – TXSER 2015 Presentation
Room 437, CSI Building – Treehouse
3:30 pm – Effects of Shrub Encroachment and Shrub Removal on South Texas Prairies. Parker Watson, Department of Biology, Univesity of Texas – Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville – Parker Watson – TXSER 2015 Presentation
3:50 pm – The Consequences of Changes in Grassland Species Composition on Rangeland Forage Value and Nutrient Cycling. Austin Phillippe, Department of Biology, Trinity University – Austin Phillippe – TXSER 2015 Presentation
4:10 pm – Potential Trade-Offs of Regulating and Cultural Ecosystem Services in Urban Areas of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. Katharine Jones, Urban Ecology Lab, University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville – Katharine Jones – TXSER 2015 Presnetation
4:30 pm – Season of Prescribed Burning on Kleberg Bluestem (Dichanthium annulatum) in South Texas. Adam Toomey, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Department of Animal, Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences, Texas A&M University, Kingsville – Adam Toomey – TXSER 2015 Presentation
4:50 pm & 5:10 pm – Journal Review Groups: Why Is your Work Area Not Doing This? Kevin Thuesen, City of Austin, Wildland Conservation Division – Kevin Theusen – Journal Review Group – TXSER 2015 Presentation
6:00 pm – Tribute to Mark Simmons, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – Informal Gathering – TEDx Talk – Mark Simmons – TEDx Talk – TXSER 2015 YouTube Video
Sunday, November 15, 2015 – Morning Session
Room 437, CSI Building – Treehouse
10:00 am – Fuel Management at the Wildland urban Interface (WUI): Field Notes from the Water Quality Protection Lands of Austin, Including Review of an Air Curtain Incinerator (ACI) for On-Site Biomass Disposal. Devin Grobert, City of Austin, Austin Water Utility – Devin Grobert – TXSER 2015 Presentation
10:20 am – Small-Scale Land Restoration – A Case Study. Meg Inglis, Native Landscape Certification Program, Native Plant Society of Texas – Meg Inglis – TXSER 2015 Presentation
10:40 am – Use of Competitive Dynamics to Inform Species Selection for Restoration. Kelly Lyons, Department of Biology, Trinity University – Kelly Lyons – TXSER 2015 Presentation
11:00 am – Early Succession in a Restored Native Grassland in Southwestern Bandera. Chris Best, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Chris Best – TXSER 2015 Presentation
11:20 am – Monitoring Old World Bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum) Invasion as Part of the Global Invaders Impact Network. Charlotte Reemts, The Nature Conservancy – Charlotte Reemts – TXSER 2015 Presentation