Zachary Rinkes
414 Porter Hall
Dept. Env.
& Plant Biology
Ohio University
Athens, Ohio 45701-2979
USA
Tel: 740-593-1126
Fax: 740-593-1130
Email: zacharyrinkes@hotmail.com
Personal webpage:
Degree Program: M.S. in Environmental Studies
|
|
Research Description
My research
focuses on the link between eastern wild turkey scratches and forest understory diversity.
I am determining the impact this disturbance has on germination and
survival of different seed species in our southeastern Ohio oak-hickory hardwood forests. The specific species that I am looking at
are black oak (Quercus velutina), white oak (Quercus
alba), beech (Fagus grandifolia), and red maple (Acer rubrum). I am also monitoring the number of turkey
scratches in four different treatment areas (burned, burned and thinned,
thinned from below, and control) at two local forests to determine seasonal
preference of turkey habitat. My goal
is to gain some much needed knowledge into the disturbance ecology of this
bird and how the recent resurgence in population size in southeast Ohio may affect our hardwood forest diversity.
|
