| Answering Questions in Management and
Research Using Large-Scale Manipulative Experiments Robert J. Cooper1, George A. Gale2,
and Leonard A. Brennan3
| ABSTRACT— The information
base regarding management practices for migratory landbirds and other nongame species does
not yet exist. Land managers, therefore, must act with inadequate knowledge of the
resources they are charged with managing. We believe that part of the solution to this
problem rests with the land managers themselves, in that they are in a position to gain
new knowledge about this resource by combining research or monitoring with the management
activities they currently use or anticipate using. By collaborating with researchers, they
can modify some of these manipulations to take the form of well-designed, large-scale
experiments. Ideally, such experiments should include features of sound experimental
design, such as replication, randomization, and controls. Where such features are
compromised, we offer some suggestions on how to modify designs appropriately. They also
should include estimation of demographic parameters such as productivity and survival,
rather than just assessment of presence/absence. We present four examples from our own
work with silviculture in two forest types, prescribed fire, and insect pest management.
In each case, a long-term, large-scale, manipulative experiment was developed and funded
through collaborative efforts among researchers, managers, and multiple partners. Benefits
to managers include timely information directly pertinent to their lands. Benefits to
researchers include increased funding opportunities for basic as well as applied research,
and the knowledge that their research results are being used. Both groups benefit in that
they are able to achieve more together than either could alone. |
1Daniel B. Warnell School of
Forest Resources
University of Georgia
Athens, GA USA 30602
2Department of Biology
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN USA 38152
3Tall Timbers Research Station
Route 1, Box 678
Tallahassee, FL USA 32312
Current address:
King Mongkut’s University of Technology
Thonburi School of Bioresources & Technology
Division of Natural Resources Management, Bangmod, Thungkru
Bangkok 10140 THAILAND |