Employees

Personnel


	Ronald E. Thill, Team Leader rthill@fs.fed.us	Nacogdoches
	Education: B.S., Humboldt State College, Wildlife Management, 1967; M.S., South Dakota State University, Wildlife Management, 1969; Ph.D., University of Arizona, Range Management, 1981. Current Research: On-going research involves (1) effects of streamside management zone width and age of adjacent pine plantations on small mammals and birds within the Interior Highlands of Arkansas; and (2) effects of even- and uneven-aged management on habitat, birds, small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and bats. Planned research includes effects of group selection harvesting on Neotropical migratory birds (including nesting success) and effects of pine-bluestem restoration on herpetofauna, butterflies, moths, and nectar plants. (Problem Areas 1 and 3) Collaborative Research: Impacts of alternative silvicultural systems and practices (e.g., prescribed burning and retention of streamside management zones) on wildlife (birds, small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and bats).

	Richard N. Conner, Emeritus Scientist	Nacogdoches
	Education: B.A., Rutgers, Biological Sciences, 1968; M.S., Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Wildlife Management, 1974; Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute Zoology, 1977. Current Research: My current research focuses on the ecology, behavior, and habitat use of primary cavity-nesting birds. Most research efforts are currently focused on the red-cockaded and pileated woodpeckers. It is important to determine the species of fungi, extent of decay, and other special characteristics of trees used by woodpeckers for their nesting and roosting sites. My research also emphasizes population dynamics of snags used by woodpeckers for both nesting and foraging, and inoculation of pines and hardwoods with heartwood decaying fungi to create suitable decay conditions necessary for woodpecker cavity excavation. During the past 15 years I have studied relationships between southern pine beetles and red-cockaded woodpeckers to determine why bark beetles tend to infest active woodpecker cavity trees. My research efforts also include the ecology and habitat use of Louisiana pine snakes and timber rattlesnakes. (Problem Areas 2 and 4) Collaborative Research: We formed an interdisciplinary team to investigate the major losses of red-cockaded woodpecker cavity trees to single-tree infestations of southern pine beetles. Our goal is to determine why losses have increased in the recent past and develop techniques to reduce or eliminate such losses in the future. During the past five years up to 40% of the active cavity trees on some national forests have been lost to southern pine beetle infestation annually. Clearly, such losses cannot be sustained for much longer.

	D. Craig Rudolph, Research Ecologist crudolph01@fs.fed.us	Nacogdoches
	Education: Ph.D., Texas Tech University, Zoology, 1980 Current Research: Current research involves the ecology of red-cockaded woodpeckers, snakes, and lepidopteran communities. The interaction of these taxa with fire regimes, especially in southeastern pine communities is of particular interest. (Problem Areas 2 and 4) Collaborative Research: Same as above plus the interaction of red-cockaded woodpeckers, southern pine beetles, and woodpecker cavity trees. The Crosscutting Theme "Sustainability and Productivity of Southern Pine Ecosystems" covers these collaborative interests.

	Daniel Saenz, Research Wildlife Biologist dsaenz@fs.fed.us	Nacogdoches
	Education: B.S., Stephen F. Austin State University, Biology; M.S., Stephen F. Austin State University, Biology; Ph.D., Texas A&M University, Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Current Research: My research focuses primarily on basic amphibian ecology and the impacts of forest management practices on amphibian communities. The long-range goals of my research are (1) to determine the impacts of various forest management practices (including fragmentation) on amphibians, (2) to determine likely consequences of climatic changes on amphibians, (3) to develop guidelines for managing southern forest ecosystems to ensure healthy populations of amphibians, (4) to develop and evaluate alternative monitoring protocols for amphibians, and (5) to develop and validate predictive habitat relationship models for amphibians. Collaborative Research: My collaborative research focuses primarily on the ecology, behavior, and habitat use of the red-cockaded woodpecker.

	D. P. Schulze, Forest Aide	Nacogdoches

	Nancy Koerth, Statistician (Biology) nkoerth@fs.fed.us	Nacogdoches

	Rose Moore, Support Services Specialist	Nacogdoches

	Roger Perry, Wildlife Biologist rperry03@fs.fed.us	USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station P.O. Box 1270 Hot Springs, AR 71902 501/321-9825

	Rick Schaefer, Wildlife Biologist rschaefer01@fs.fed.us	Nacogdoches

	Cory Adams, Wildlife Biologist coryadams@fs.fed.us	Nacogdoches

	Howard Williamson, Biological Science Technician hwilliamson@fs.fed.us	Nacogdoches

	Josh Pierce, Wildlife Biologist jbpierce@fs.fed.us	Nacogdoches

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U.S. Forest Service Southern Research Station Wildlife Habitat and Silviculture Lab Research Work Unit SRS-4159 Nacogdoches, Texas

Personnel

U.S. Forest Service
Southern Research Station
Wildlife Habitat and Silviculture Lab
Research Work Unit SRS-4159
Nacogdoches, Texas