@article{peterson_larson_hipp_beall_lerose_desrochers_lauder_torres_tarr_stukes_et al._2024, title={Birdwatching linked to increased psychological well-being on college campuses: A pilot-scale experimental study}, volume={96}, ISSN={["1522-9610"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.jenvp.2024.102306}, abstractNote={Exposure to nature is known to improve human health, but little is known about how one of the most common forms of nature engagement, birdwatching, impacts psychological well-being - especially among campus populations at great risk for experiencing mental health challenges. This study engaged 112 campus participants in a stepped design experiment evaluating the degree to which five >30 minute weekly birdwatching (n = 62) and nature walk (n = 77) exposures impacted self-reported subjective well-being (WHO-5) and psychological distress (STOP-D) levels relative to a control group (n = 81). The directions of all relationships supported hypotheses that nature-based experiences, and birdwatching in particular, would increase well-being and reduce distress. These results build on preliminary evidence of a causal relationship between birdwatching and well-being and highlight the value of considering well-being impacts for specific types of activities in nature, underscoring the need for future research with larger and more diverse samples.}, journal={JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY}, author={Peterson, M. Nils and Larson, Lincoln R. and Hipp, Aaron and Beall, Justin M. and Lerose, Catherine and Desrochers, Hannah and Lauder, Summer and Torres, Sophia and Tarr, Nathan A. and Stukes, Kayla and et al.}, year={2024}, month={Jun} }
 @article{frey_hajjar_charnley_mcginley_schelhas_tarr_mccaskill_cubbage_2024, title={“Community Forests” in the United States – How Do we Know One When we See One?}, volume={37}, ISSN={0894-1920 1521-0723}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2024.2361413}, DOI={10.1080/08941920.2024.2361413}, abstractNote={Community forests (CFs) involve communities in decision-making about, management of and access to forests, and have potential to benefit both communities and forests. However, they lack a single definition, clear distinction from related topics, or method for identification. This perspectives article explores historical and current literature on CFs and proposes a conceptual framework for understanding CFs and related concepts in the U.S. context. Through that exploration, we propose a conceptual framework for understanding their meaning and relationship. We propose three potential pathways for identifying CFs in the U.S., each with advantages and disadvantages. CFs can be identified by using a criteria and indicators approach; by participation in programs or networks designated for CFs; or by their own self-identification as a CF. We suggest that using a hybrid of these approaches will produce the most robust process for knowing a community forest when we see one.}, number={8}, journal={Society & Natural Resources}, publisher={Informa UK Limited}, author={Frey, Gregory E. and Hajjar, Reem and Charnley, Susan and McGinley, Kathleen and Schelhas, John and Tarr, Nathan A. and McCaskill, Lauren and Cubbage, Frederick W.}, year={2024}, month={Jun}, pages={1240–1252} }
 @article{tarr_2019, title={Demonstrating a conceptual model for multispecies landscape pattern indices in landscape conservation}, volume={34}, ISSN={["1572-9761"]}, DOI={10.1007/s10980-019-00888-7}, abstractNote={Our ability to understand the implications of prescriptions for landscape change (i.e., conservation actions) is constrained by the scopes of spatial pattern indices employed to describe landscapes. Most indices are suited for use with a single species or habitat, but the consequences of conservation actions are inherently multispecies. Hence, indices that incorporate information for multiple species are desirable. I describe a conceptual model for multispecies spatial pattern indices that incorporates species-specific habitat definitions and scales of landscape effects. I explore its utility for conservation planning and present insights and suggestions for its application. The conceptual model employs habitat maps and estimates of species’ scales of effect for habitat amount within landscapes surrounding sites. I present three indices rooted in the model: cumulative habitat amount, fragmented species count (FSC), and fragmented species-habitat count (FSHC). Comparisons of FSC and FSHC values at individual sites can reveal areas of high importance for protection as well as a measure of conservation design problem complexity. I demonstrate application of the indices for 40 species within a study area in the northwestern U.S. The indices provided a visualization of spatial patterns in multispecies habitat fragmentation across the study region, revealing areas with relatively high levels of habitat fragmentation and sites where habitat configuration is of high importance for the species analyzed. The conceptual model provides descriptions of landscapes that can provide important context for conservation actions. Implementation may warrant further development, exploration of sensitivities, or case-specific refinements.}, number={9}, journal={LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY}, author={Tarr, Nathan M.}, year={2019}, month={Sep}, pages={2133–2147} }
 @article{tarr_rubino_costanza_mckerrow_collazo_abt_2016, title={Projected gains and losses of wildlife habitat from bioenergy-induced landscape change}, volume={9}, ISSN={1757-1693}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12383}, DOI={10.1111/gcbb.12383}, abstractNote={AbstractDomestic and foreign renewable energy targets and financial incentives have increased demand for woody biomass and bioenergy in the southeastern United States. This demand is expected to be met through purpose‐grown agricultural bioenergy crops, short‐rotation tree plantations, thinning and harvest of planted and natural forests, and forest harvest residues. With results from a forest economics model, spatially explicit state‐and‐transition simulation models, and species–habitat models, we projected change in habitat amount for 16 wildlife species caused by meeting a renewable fuel target and expected demand for wood pellets in North Carolina, USA. We projected changes over 40 years under a baseline ‘business‐as‐usual’ scenario without bioenergy production and five scenarios with unique feedstock portfolios. Bioenergy demand had potential to influence trends in habitat availability for some species in our study area. We found variation in impacts among species, and no scenario was the ‘best’ or ‘worst’ across all species. Our models projected that shrub‐associated species would gain habitat under some scenarios because of increases in the amount of regenerating forests on the landscape, while species restricted to mature forests would lose habitat. Some forest species could also lose habitat from the conversion of forests on marginal soils to purpose‐grown feedstocks. The conversion of agricultural lands on marginal soils to purpose‐grown feedstocks increased habitat losses for one species with strong associations with pasture, which is being lost to urbanization in our study region. Our results indicate that landscape‐scale impacts on wildlife habitat will vary among species and depend upon the bioenergy feedstock portfolio. Therefore, decisions about bioenergy and wildlife will likely involve trade‐offs among wildlife species, and the choice of focal species is likely to affect the results of landscape‐scale assessments. We offer general principals to consider when crafting lists of focal species for bioenergy impact assessments at the landscape scale.}, number={5}, journal={GCB Bioenergy}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Tarr, Nathan M. and Rubino, Matthew J. and Costanza, Jennifer K. and McKerrow, Alexa J. and Collazo, Jaime A. and Abt, Robert C.}, year={2016}, month={Aug}, pages={909–923} }
 @article{tarr_simons_pollock_2010, title={An Experimental Assessment of Vehicle Disturbance Effects on Migratory Shorebirds}, volume={74}, ISSN={["0022-541X"]}, DOI={10.2193/2009-105}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT Off‐road vehicle (ORV) traffic is one of several forms of disturbance thought to affect shorebirds at migration stopover sites. Attempts to measure disturbance effects on shorebird habitat use and behavior at stopover sites are difficult because ORV disturbance is frequently confounded with habitat and environmental factors. We used a before‐after‐control‐impact experimental design to isolate effects of vehicle disturbance from shorebird responses to environmental and habitat factors. We manipulated disturbance levels within beach closures along South Core Banks, North Carolina, USA, and measured changes in shorebird abundance and location, as well as the activity of one focal species, the sanderling (Calidris alba), within paired control and impact plots. We applied a discrete treatment level of one flee‐response‐inducing event every 10 minutes on impact plots. We found that disturbance reduced total shorebird and black‐bellied plover (Pluvialis squatarola) abundance and reduced relative use of microhabitat zones above the swash zone (wet sand and dry sand) by sanderlings, black‐bellied plovers, willets (Tringa semipalmata), and total shorebirds. Sanderlings and total shorebirds increased use of the swash zone in response to vehicle disturbance. Disturbance reduced use of study plots by sanderlings for resting and increased sanderling activity, but we did not detect an effect of vehicle disturbance on sanderling foraging activity. We provide the first estimates of how a discrete level of disturbance affects shorebird distributions among ocean beach microhabitats. Our findings provide a standard to which managers can compare frequency and intensity of disturbance events at other shorebird stopover and roosting sites and indicate that limiting disturbance will contribute to use of a site by migratory shorebirds.}, number={8}, journal={JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT}, author={Tarr, Nathan M. and Simons, Theodore R. and Pollock, Kenneth H.}, year={2010}, month={Nov}, pages={1776–1783} }