Natural Area Teaching Laboratory

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Natural Area Teaching Laboratory

• 2005-2006 Report and Outlook
• Mark Clark, Chair Natural Area Advisory Committee

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NATL West and East
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Mission Statement

• Develop and help implement a plan to restore and
  maintain a variety of ecosystems in the
  University of Florida Natural Area and Teaching
  Laboratory (NATL) while maximizing the use of the
  area for teaching.

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Teaching Assistant Kevin Ratkus
Interdisciplinary Ecology Program Promotes NATL
resource to Instructors and TAs Coordinates and
facilitates tours Coordinates Volunteer
efforts Provides maintenance and project
implementation. Critter-Proof Trashcan
SEEPs weir coordination (PPD Wetlands Club)
Trail Maintenance Exotics control
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Volunteer Events

• NATL-West
• 2 separate Ardisia crenata plant removals
• SNRE, Wetlands Club, WEC, Entomology
• Dr. Alison Fox lecture on Non-native Invasive
  Plants
• Greek Volunteer Day (Center for Leadership
  Service)
• Fence removal east trail/sinkhole pond
• Trash clean-up (Sinkhole pond)
• NATL-East
• Trash clean up
• Center for Leadership Service
• Super Volunteers Recognition
• First Recipient Ken Prestwich
• 11 years of service since 1995
• Every year since before the start of NATL, Dr.
  Prestwich has provided part time support for a
  month to six weeks in May and June.

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NATL Ecosystem Management

• Upland pine restoration advances
• Major seedling recruitment of Longleaf this
  spring
• No managed burn opportunity
• Florida Department of Forestry trying to mow in
  areas to partially mimic fire
• Exotic species control continues
• Monitoring success, discussion of different
  strategies
• Alternative chemical
• Timing of application

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NATL CITF Projects

• Two major Capitol Improvement Trust Fund projects
  associated with NATL.
• Erect and replace portions of perimeter fencing
  67,000 initial estimate.
• Self guided Nature Trail 100,000.

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Proposed Fencing for NATL
Corral fencing
Field fencing
6 Chain-link fencing
Stormwater trash traps (fences)
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Fence removal in preparation of new fence or no
longer needed fence
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Self Guided Nature Trails at NATL
Museum Connector Upland Pine Trail Hammock
Trail Successional Trail Wetland
Trail Boardwalk Interpretive Kiosk
Susan Jacobson and class working on interpretive
information
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Interpretive Boardwalk
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Future Management, Maintenance and Funding of
NATL mission.

• Need to secure budget based support of Graduate
  Assistant
• Prospectus presented to SNRE for support through
  their budget to date they have not been able to
  confirm viability of proposal
• CALS Dean Kirby Barrick supported Graduate
  Assistant this academic year.
• 2006-2007 funding of Graduate Assistantship as
  well as increase in management and maintenance
  funds uncertain at this time.
• Continued 1000 annual support from Provost
  Office
• CITF Projects will increase management needs for
  trail and upkeep of interpretive information.