A report submitted to Maura Kraus, Collier County Parks and Recreation Department by Nora Demers, PhD. April 27, 2016

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Horace Thomas
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1 Can [plant] species diversity be improved at the [Barefoot Beach Preserve] by simulated burning conducted by mechanical pruning of sea grapes, removal of sea grape leaves and ragweed, and seeding area with native wildflower seeds? A report submitted to Maura Kraus, Collier County Parks and Recreation Department by Nora Demers, PhD. April 27, 2016 More information can be found at the Gophers@Barefoot website Research effort: Alyssa Parker did observation of the behavior of the Gopher tortoises during July and August of (After we removed the ragweed from the burrow and scattered wildflower seeds in June of 2014) She identified 13 active burrows on the mound: 3 adult females, 1 adult male, 2 subadult females, 1 sub-adult male, 1 juvenile, and one hatchling. There were 3 males and 2 females whose burrows were across the street for parking lot 2. The gopher tortoises spent a great deal of time basking at or near their burrow entrances. They were most often observed foraging on grasses. Additional forage included periwinkle, and small dicots that were nestled in the ragweed. All the gopher tortoises routinely crossed the road to forage. They foraged on the mound, in front of parking lot 2 (east side nearest road), across the street from lot 2, and in the area behind the mound near the gulf (A on map). Summary of 2015 and 2016: During 2015, 62 FGCU students from the University Colloquium as well as faculty and Friends of Barefoot Beach contributed 737 hours of service-learning effort for a total of about $16,000. We pulled ragweed, and pruned and raked sea grapes as identified in Figure 1. The areas we focused on were the mound (M), behind the mound (M ) the area behind parking lot 2 (T), an area north of the boardwalk (BW), and an area north of the mound (Annex: A). We created several brush piles of the ragweed, sea grapes branches and leaves in areas selected to discourage visitors from entering the area. They were also to serve as habitat for wildlife. Subsequent to this work, I was informed that there was concern about the amount of sea grape cut back, and that the piles of brush were visible from the boardwalk. In February of 2016 we conducted a single work day (25 persons) of approximate value of $2700 at which we broke down the piles that were most visible from the boardwalk, and pulled out more ragweed from the area north of the boardwalk (BW). As a result of our efforts there is significantly less ragweed in the areas we worked (Figure 2 chronology), and the remaining brush piles have degraded to a small fraction of what they were (Figure 3 chronology). The mound now contains a diversity of plants with a significant amount of dried grasses, the preferred food for gopher tortoises (Figure 4 chronology). In the areas behind the mound, and adjacent to it (M, A,T and BW) more of the ground became exposed to 1

2 the sunlight, and a diversity of grasses and small shrubs are growing. At least one burrow has become active again in the area behind the mound. The ragweed is not entirely removed, as is readily evident on the mound, which has not been maintained since our last work day there June of Overall summary of service-learning provided: Since students have conducted approximately 1,457 hours of Service-Learning to the Gophers@Barefoot project for an equivalent of $36, 650 Next steps: During the summer of 2016, two students, Jackie Marquez and Ivy Nys will be conducting observational research to see whether we can document a difference in the foraging behavior of the gopher tortoises in the area we restored compared to an unrestored area along the boardwalk (on the way to the learning center). In the Fall of 2016, another student plans to continue the observation, document the diversity of plants in the different areas, and examine scat for any differences. 2

3 Figure 1. Identification of areas at Barefoot Beach Preserve that have undergone habitat restoration as part of the initiative 3

4 Figure 2 Gopher Habitat at Barefoot Beach Preserve along Boardwalk by parking lot 2 A. May, 2015 before ragweed removal B. Five months later, after ragweed removal (seasonal difference) 4

5 C. February, 2016 Boardwalk 8 months after ragweed removal, (pulling a bit more) 5

6 Figure 3 Brush pile in area T. A. day of creation (May 30, 2015) B. March 2016 (10 months after creation) 6

7 Figure 4, mound at Barefoot beach during habitat restoration A. April, 2014 before ragweed removal on top of mound. B. June, 2014 scattering wildflower seeds 7

8 C. May, 2015, dried grasses and minimal amount of ragweed. D. March, 2016, diversity of grasses, ragweed returning 8

9 service-learning hours date # participants hours/participant total hours total contribution RUNNING TOTAL $36, effort 6/7/ $2, total for $2, accomplishments pulled ragweed from botton 1.5 meters of mound 2014 effort 6/4/ pulled ragweed on rest of mound 6/6/ raked on back of and behind mound 6/13/ scattered wildflowers 6/14/ planted 200 wiregrass plugs FoBBP and Demers 90 total for $10, Effort 5/20/2015 students $4, FOBBP (3) 3 23 $ Demers $ DePew $ FGCU (2 faculty) $ Total for May 20, $5, /17/2015 students $3, Demers $ pruned sea grapes FGCU (2 faculty) $ raked sea grapes FOBBP (Winn) $ trimmed back brush Total for June 17, $4, /22/ $5, Total for August 22, $5, total for $15, Effort 2/13/2016 all volunteers $2, Demers and Friends $ Total for Feb 13, Total for $2, Week of Welcome- weded cactus garden, pulled ragweed weeded cactus garden and pulled ragweed by boardwalk, broke down brush piles 9

Projected and Expended Costs

Conservation 20/20 Projected and Expended Costs Costs updated as of Funding Year 2013/2014 Aerial Photos for maps from either January 2011 or January 2014 2 Alva Scrub Preserve Acquired: 1999-2012 Land