Reinhardt et al. 2024. Decreased wildlife use of disturbed area in Blind Brook Forest
By Kacy Reinhardt (primary author), Anabela Taveira, Marley Simon, Dr. Allyson Jackson
Abstract
Urbanization is a global phenomenon with profound impacts on ecosystems and wildlife, making it essential to understand its effects on biodiversity for effective conservation strategies. Habitat usage, including species abundance, richness, and diversity, is influenced by multiple environmental factors. This study investigates the effects of urbanization on wildlife by examining habitat usage within the Blind Brook Forest restoration area on the Purchase College campus, which contains both an undisturbed forest and a disturbed meadow. Using trail cameras placed at various locations within each habitat, we monitored wildlife activity and found that the undisturbed forest exhibited significantly greater usage, with higher species abundance and richness compared to the disturbed meadow. While the meadow displayed a higher Shannon Diversity Index, the difference was minimal and consistent with the intermediate disturbance hypothesis. Our findings highlight how urbanization affects wildlife behavior and habitat use, emphasizing the need for predictive models of species adaptation. This research can inform conservation practices and guide forest management strategies to mitigate the impacts of urbanization on wildlife populations.