2022-2023 Comparison of Avian Biodiversity Before and After Revegetation on Erie Landfill
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Grant: Students Partnering with Faculty
Matthew Wolfe
College:
The Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics, and Technology
Major:
Biology/Enviornmental Option
Faculty Research Advisor(s):
Cailin O'Connor Fitzpatrick
Abstract:
Bird abundance and diversity were compared before and after invasive plant species remediation on a capped landfill in North Arlington, New Jersey. Data were collected during the summer breeding season and fall migration of 2022 and 2023, before and after removal of invasive plants. Data collected in summer followed Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) protocol. In summer 2023, the landfill was revegetated with native plants. Prior to revegetation, the habitat of Erie Landfill was primarily made up of invasive Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) and Common Reed (Phragmites australis). The landfill was revegetated with native grasses and forbs (eg. Echinacea, milkweed) and shrubs (eg. bayberry, sumac). Sampling avian diversity in revegetated areas showed an increase in both species richness and abundance after revegetation. At one site, 44 individuals of 12 species were banded in 2022 while 206 individuals of 19 species were banded in 2023 after revegetation. These data will be published to emphasize the benefit of native plants on avian biodiversity.