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Charles E Williams

Columbia Southern University, College of Arts and Sciences, Faculty Member

Environmental Studies +21

My research/professional interests are multidisciplinary and largely fall into three academic areas: ecology, environmental studies and archaeology, with a focus on historic landscapes, environmental change, human-environment relations and biodiversity. Specific research interests include: forest ecology (conservation, restoration and management of upland and riparian forests; invasive species ecology and detection; forest-stream linkages); landscape archaeology (use of LiDAR and remote sensing in landscape prospection; local and regional land-use history and landscape legacies; river and wetland archaeology); industrial archaeology (archaeology of natural resource use, especially logging, water power and mining; archaeology of charcoal iron production); and landscape ecology (sustainable management of multi-use landscapes).

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Books

Western Pennsylvania’s Oil Heritage

"The discovery of oil flowing from a well in the wilds of northwestern Pennsylvania shook the mod... more "The discovery of oil flowing from a well in the wilds of northwestern Pennsylvania shook the modern world in 1859. Refined as kerosene for lamps, a lubricant for home and industrial needs, and ultimately as a fuel for transportation in the form of gasoline, oil literally changed the world and defined global economics and politics. Western Pennsylvania’s Oil Heritage profiles the history of Pennsylvania oil from its discovery and development to its impact on the culture, economy, and environment of the oil region. These vintage postcards provide a glimpse into the wide-ranging history of western Pennsylvania’s oil region, from the cradle of the industry at Oil Creek, to the immensely productive Bradford oil field, and on to cities and towns like Oil City, built largely by the black gold.

Charles E. Williams is an ecologist, regional historian, and writer whose work focuses on the landscapes of northern Pennsylvania. He is the author of Along the Allegheny River: The Northern Watershed, Along the Allegheny River: The Southern Watershed, and Along the Bucktail Highway."

Along the Bucktail Highway

"The Bucktail Highway, Pennsylvania Route 120, traverses over 100 miles of the commonwealth’s his... more "The Bucktail Highway, Pennsylvania Route 120, traverses over 100 miles of the commonwealth’s historic northern tier, linking Ridgway in the west with Lock Haven in the east. The Bucktail Highway crosses the eastern continental divide east of St. Marys and closely follows the picturesque, deep valleys carved by Sinnemahoning Creek and the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. Originally a Native American path and later a road that carried settlers west beyond the Allegheny Front, today’s Bucktail Highway is a centerpiece of the Pennsylvania Wilds, a public-private initiative to promote and conserve the unique natural and historic resources of the region. Along the Bucktail Highway showcases over 200 vintage postcards profiling the cultural and natural history of the towns, forests, and waters linked by this scenic route from its beginnings as a westward trail, its growth as a commercial and industrial corridor in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and its recent emergence as a premier Pennsylvania scenic byway.

Charles E. Williams is an ecologist, regional historian, and writer whose work focuses on the landscapes of northern Pennsylvania. He is the author of Along the Allegheny River: The Northern Watershed and Along the Allegheny River: The Southern Watershed. "

Along the Allegheny River: The Southern Watershed

"The Allegheny River of western Pennsylvania and New York rises in Potter County, Pennsylvania, a... more "The Allegheny River of western Pennsylvania and New York rises in Potter County, Pennsylvania, and flows 320 miles to its confluence with the Monongahela River at Pittsburgh. The Allegheny’s Southern Watershed district begins at East Brady, Pennsylvania, and ends at Pittsburgh, and includes the historic Redbank Creek, Mahoning Creek, Crooked Creek and Kiskiminetas River valleys. Along the Allegheny River: The Southern Watershed features over 200 vintage postcards of the landscapes, people, industries and events that shaped the history of the southern Allegheny River Valley and of the nation. These absorbing images chronicle over 200 years of history from the frontier wars of the 17th Century to the rise and growth of the Industrial Revolution in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Charles E. Williams, who lives in the Allegheny River Valley, is a professor of ecology at Clarion University. Compiled with postcards from his personal collection, this new history of the Allegheny’s Southern Watershed takes readers on an illuminating tour of one of the nation’s most vital and historic rivers.
"

Along the Allegheny River: The Northern Watershed

"The Allegheny River of western Pennsylvania and New York flows through a region rich in natural ... more "The Allegheny River of western Pennsylvania and New York flows through a region rich in natural resources and human history. This absorbing new history of the river’s Northern Watershed - from its origins in Potter County, Pennsylvania, to its junction with the Clarion River at Parker, Pennsylvania – showcases nearly two hundred vintage postcards of the river, its landscape, and its people. These captivating images chronicle over two hundred years of history from the French and Indian War to the timber and oil booms of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

The images in this intriguing book, collected and interpreted by Charles E. Williams, Professor of Ecology at Clarion University of Pennsylvania and a native of the Allegheny’s Northern Watershed, will take readers on an enlightening tour of one of the nation’s most scenic and historic rivers.
"

Papers

Influence of Leaf Litter and Soil Moisture Regime on Early Establishment of Pinus pungens

American Midland Naturalist, 1990

The influence of leaf litter and soil moisture regime on early establishment of table mountain pi... more

POTENTIAL RECOVERY OF THE MUSSEL FAUNA OF THE CLARION RIVER, PENNSYLVANIA

Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation, 2022

The Clarion River, a tributary of the Allegheny River in northwestern Pennsylvania, underwent hea... more The Clarion River, a tributary of the Allegheny River in northwestern Pennsylvania, underwent heavy industrialization during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In the early 1900s, eight tanneries, 11 wood chemical plants, and a large paper mill operated on the Clarion River, releasing a cumulative 98 million liters of industrial effluent daily, in addition to the discharge of coal-mining wastes. By 1911, aquatic life was considered eliminated from the river, but its original mussel fauna was never recorded. In 1993, four living individuals of Strophitus undulatus, the Creeper, were discovered by chance near Clarington, Forest County, which constituted the first documented collection of mussels from the river. I conducted qualitative shell surveys from 2007 to 2019 at 157 sites to document past and present mussel distribution along a 55-km reach of the river. Recently dead shells, weathered shells, or living individuals of S. undulatus were encountered at 146 sites within the study reach. Relic shells of Actinonaias ligamentina were found at 12 sites, recently dead shells and one living individual of Lampsilis fasciola were found at five sites, and a single recently dead shell of Lampsilis ovata was collected. Ages of a subsample of 60 recently dead S. undulatus ranged from 2 to 16 yr (mean ¼ 8.0 yr) and length ranged from 26.8 to 81.7 mm (mean ¼ 29.8 mm), suggesting that natural recruitment may be occurring in the river. Source populations for recolonization of the river are unknown, but tributaries of the Clarion River are a possibility. My results suggest that the Clarion River now supports a substantial mussel population, but additional surveys are needed to provide a baseline for monitoring future recovery.

Consumption of Seeds of the Invasive Amur Honeysuckle Lonicera maackii Rupr Maxim by Small Mammals

Natural Areas Journal , 1992

Small mammals are important consumers of seeds and fruits of native woody plants in many natural ... more Small mammals are important consumers of seeds and fruits of native woody plants in many natural areas and other managed lands, but little is known of their interactions with exotic shrubs. We examined the role of small mammals as consumers of seeds of the invasive Amur honeysuckle, Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Maxim., in southwestern Ohio to determine (1) if the bitter-tasting fruit pericarp of L. maackii discourages small mammals, and (2) if small mammals are significant consumers of the seeds within fallen fruits of L. maackii. In laboratory feeding bioassays, seed eating by deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) was not deterred by the bitter fruit pericarp; mice removed and ate seeds from over 63% of L. maackii fruits presented. In the field, overall survival rates of L. maackii fruits and seeds ranged from 84% to 88%, but the number of fruits removed or eaten did not differ significantly among forest interior, forest edge, or wooded corridor habitats. Trapping evidence suggests that P. maniculatus was the major small mammal consumer of fruits and seeds of L. maackii. We conclude that (1) small mammals are unlikely to influence seed survival of L. maackii, and (2) removal of L. maackii and other similar exotic shrubs is unlikely to affect population dynamics of small mammals.

Glossy buckthorn, Rhamnus frangula: a threat to riparian plant communities of the northern Allegheny Plateau

Natural Areas Journal , 2000

LiDAR PROSPECTION OF RELICT CHARCOAL HEARTHS OF THE SHIPPENVILLE FURNACE REGION, CLARION COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Pennsylvania Archaeologist, 2019

Shippenville Furnace, Clarion County, Pennsylvania, was a water-powered, hot-blast charcoal iron ... more Shippenville Furnace, Clarion County, Pennsylvania, was a water-powered, hot-blast charcoal iron furnace in production from 1832 to 1859. As part of a larger study of colliers and historic charcoal production in Clarion County, I used LiDAR imagery to identify putative relict charcoal hearths (RCH) within an 8.5 km2 forested study area
adjacent to the furnace. Ground surveys were used to confirm or refute putative RCH identification. Of the 25 putative RCHs selected for ground survey, 21 (84.0%) were confirmed by soil coring. RCHs exhibited the slope discontinuity and circular platform morphology typical of cut-and-fill construction and were largely located on gentle slopes and plateaus (mean slope = 3.1%). Mean diameter of RCHs was 13.5 m; mean distance to nearest hearth was 126.2 m. Soil cores from all RCHs showed a single A horizon of charcoal dust and fragments, indicating that each had been fired only once.

Counting Colliers: A Demographic Profile of the Forgotten Charcoal Makers of Clarion County, Pennsylvania, 1850–1880

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF REGIONAL AND LOCAL HISTORY, 2020

Clarion County, Pennsylvania, was a regional leader in historic iron production in the mid-ninete... more Clarion County, Pennsylvania, was a regional leader in historic iron
production in the mid-nineteenth century with a majority of its
furnaces fuelled by charcoal. Little is known about the colliers that
crafted the charcoal used by the county’s historic iron furnaces.
I used United States Census data from 1850 to 1880 to develop a
demographic profile of Clarion County colliers. Collier numbers in
Clarion County peaked dramatically in 1850 with the rise of the iron
industry and declined exponentially through 1880. Most colliers were
white, male and Pennsylvania-born. Few remained in the profession
for more than one census date, largely becoming labourers and
farmers that remained in the county or region. Likewise, movement
of colliers from Clarion County to other iron-producing regions was
minimal. The rise and fall of colliers in Clarion County suggest a local
response to economic opportunity consistent with the boom-bust
nature of the mid-nineteenth-century charcoal iron industry.

Damage to woody plants by the locust leafminer, Odontota dorsalis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), during a local outbreak in an Appalachian oak forest

Entomological News , 1989

Estimates of feeding damage to woody plants by adult locust leafminer, Odonota dorsalis, were ... more Estimates of feeding damage to woody plants by adult locust leafminer, Odonota dorsalis, were made during a local outbreak in an Appalachian oak forest. Thirteen woody plant species were recorded from the outbreak area in southwestern Virginia, but only six (46.2%) sustained damage from locust leafminer feeding. Black locust received the heaviest damage. Red and chestnut oaks, sugar maple, black cherry, and hawthorn sustained moderate feeding damage. Possible causes of the outbreak are discussed.

Late Winter Foraging by Honeybees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) at Sapsucker Drill Holes

Great Lakes Entomologist, 1990

Observations of Apis mellifera foraging at sapsucker drill holes were made during February 1988 i... more Observations of Apis mellifera foraging at sapsucker drill holes were made during February 1988 in southwestern Virginia. Foraging bouts were dependent upon temperature; more bees visited drill holes when ambient temperatures exceeded 10oC. Honeybees did not feed directly at drill holes but collected congealed sap from bark surfaces.

Checklist of North American nut infesting insects and host plants

Journal of Entomological Science, 1989

Data on the biology and host plant relations of nut-infesting insects are widely scattered in the... more Data on the biology and host plant relations of nut-infesting insects are widely scattered in the scientific literature. A checklist of North American nut-infesting insects and host plants is presented to provide a central source of information on this insect group. Organized alphabetically by insect taxa, the checklist contains 102 species of insects and 82 host plants. Nomenclature of listed insects and host plants follows current revisions and checklists.

GERMINATION OF SEEDS OF EPIFAGUS VIRGINIANA (OROBANCHACEAE)

Michigan Botanist, 1986

On defining “good” non-native plants.

A short educational article about "good" and "bad" traits of non-native or alien plants with a fo... more

The Restorative Power of Nature

A short essay on the value of nature in human health.

A short educational note on tiger moths (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), their biology and ecology, and ... more

Leaf Beetles -The Beetle Botanists

1998. Mich. Entomol. Soc. Entomol. Note No. 18.

A short education note on leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) focusing on their biology and ... more

A short note on the biology and ecology of insects that feed on acorns as well as ways to study t... more

The false dichotomy

A short editorial on the differences and similarities between conservation and preservation as st... more

Western Pennsylvania’s Oil Heritage

"The discovery of oil flowing from a well in the wilds of northwestern Pennsylvania shook the mod... more "The discovery of oil flowing from a well in the wilds of northwestern Pennsylvania shook the modern world in 1859. Refined as kerosene for lamps, a lubricant for home and industrial needs, and ultimately as a fuel for transportation in the form of gasoline, oil literally changed the world and defined global economics and politics. Western Pennsylvania’s Oil Heritage profiles the history of Pennsylvania oil from its discovery and development to its impact on the culture, economy, and environment of the oil region. These vintage postcards provide a glimpse into the wide-ranging history of western Pennsylvania’s oil region, from the cradle of the industry at Oil Creek, to the immensely productive Bradford oil field, and on to cities and towns like Oil City, built largely by the black gold.

Charles E. Williams is an ecologist, regional historian, and writer whose work focuses on the landscapes of northern Pennsylvania. He is the author of Along the Allegheny River: The Northern Watershed, Along the Allegheny River: The Southern Watershed, and Along the Bucktail Highway."

Along the Bucktail Highway

"The Bucktail Highway, Pennsylvania Route 120, traverses over 100 miles of the commonwealth’s his... more "The Bucktail Highway, Pennsylvania Route 120, traverses over 100 miles of the commonwealth’s historic northern tier, linking Ridgway in the west with Lock Haven in the east. The Bucktail Highway crosses the eastern continental divide east of St. Marys and closely follows the picturesque, deep valleys carved by Sinnemahoning Creek and the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. Originally a Native American path and later a road that carried settlers west beyond the Allegheny Front, today’s Bucktail Highway is a centerpiece of the Pennsylvania Wilds, a public-private initiative to promote and conserve the unique natural and historic resources of the region. Along the Bucktail Highway showcases over 200 vintage postcards profiling the cultural and natural history of the towns, forests, and waters linked by this scenic route from its beginnings as a westward trail, its growth as a commercial and industrial corridor in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and its recent emergence as a premier Pennsylvania scenic byway.

Charles E. Williams is an ecologist, regional historian, and writer whose work focuses on the landscapes of northern Pennsylvania. He is the author of Along the Allegheny River: The Northern Watershed and Along the Allegheny River: The Southern Watershed. "

Along the Allegheny River: The Southern Watershed

"The Allegheny River of western Pennsylvania and New York rises in Potter County, Pennsylvania, a... more "The Allegheny River of western Pennsylvania and New York rises in Potter County, Pennsylvania, and flows 320 miles to its confluence with the Monongahela River at Pittsburgh. The Allegheny’s Southern Watershed district begins at East Brady, Pennsylvania, and ends at Pittsburgh, and includes the historic Redbank Creek, Mahoning Creek, Crooked Creek and Kiskiminetas River valleys. Along the Allegheny River: The Southern Watershed features over 200 vintage postcards of the landscapes, people, industries and events that shaped the history of the southern Allegheny River Valley and of the nation. These absorbing images chronicle over 200 years of history from the frontier wars of the 17th Century to the rise and growth of the Industrial Revolution in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Charles E. Williams, who lives in the Allegheny River Valley, is a professor of ecology at Clarion University. Compiled with postcards from his personal collection, this new history of the Allegheny’s Southern Watershed takes readers on an illuminating tour of one of the nation’s most vital and historic rivers.
"

Along the Allegheny River: The Northern Watershed

"The Allegheny River of western Pennsylvania and New York flows through a region rich in natural ... more "The Allegheny River of western Pennsylvania and New York flows through a region rich in natural resources and human history. This absorbing new history of the river’s Northern Watershed - from its origins in Potter County, Pennsylvania, to its junction with the Clarion River at Parker, Pennsylvania – showcases nearly two hundred vintage postcards of the river, its landscape, and its people. These captivating images chronicle over two hundred years of history from the French and Indian War to the timber and oil booms of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

The images in this intriguing book, collected and interpreted by Charles E. Williams, Professor of Ecology at Clarion University of Pennsylvania and a native of the Allegheny’s Northern Watershed, will take readers on an enlightening tour of one of the nation’s most scenic and historic rivers.
"

Influence of Leaf Litter and Soil Moisture Regime on Early Establishment of Pinus pungens

American Midland Naturalist, 1990

The influence of leaf litter and soil moisture regime on early establishment of table mountain pi... more

POTENTIAL RECOVERY OF THE MUSSEL FAUNA OF THE CLARION RIVER, PENNSYLVANIA

Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation, 2022

The Clarion River, a tributary of the Allegheny River in northwestern Pennsylvania, underwent hea... more The Clarion River, a tributary of the Allegheny River in northwestern Pennsylvania, underwent heavy industrialization during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In the early 1900s, eight tanneries, 11 wood chemical plants, and a large paper mill operated on the Clarion River, releasing a cumulative 98 million liters of industrial effluent daily, in addition to the discharge of coal-mining wastes. By 1911, aquatic life was considered eliminated from the river, but its original mussel fauna was never recorded. In 1993, four living individuals of Strophitus undulatus, the Creeper, were discovered by chance near Clarington, Forest County, which constituted the first documented collection of mussels from the river. I conducted qualitative shell surveys from 2007 to 2019 at 157 sites to document past and present mussel distribution along a 55-km reach of the river. Recently dead shells, weathered shells, or living individuals of S. undulatus were encountered at 146 sites within the study reach. Relic shells of Actinonaias ligamentina were found at 12 sites, recently dead shells and one living individual of Lampsilis fasciola were found at five sites, and a single recently dead shell of Lampsilis ovata was collected. Ages of a subsample of 60 recently dead S. undulatus ranged from 2 to 16 yr (mean ¼ 8.0 yr) and length ranged from 26.8 to 81.7 mm (mean ¼ 29.8 mm), suggesting that natural recruitment may be occurring in the river. Source populations for recolonization of the river are unknown, but tributaries of the Clarion River are a possibility. My results suggest that the Clarion River now supports a substantial mussel population, but additional surveys are needed to provide a baseline for monitoring future recovery.

Consumption of Seeds of the Invasive Amur Honeysuckle Lonicera maackii Rupr Maxim by Small Mammals

Natural Areas Journal , 1992

Small mammals are important consumers of seeds and fruits of native woody plants in many natural ... more Small mammals are important consumers of seeds and fruits of native woody plants in many natural areas and other managed lands, but little is known of their interactions with exotic shrubs. We examined the role of small mammals as consumers of seeds of the invasive Amur honeysuckle, Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Maxim., in southwestern Ohio to determine (1) if the bitter-tasting fruit pericarp of L. maackii discourages small mammals, and (2) if small mammals are significant consumers of the seeds within fallen fruits of L. maackii. In laboratory feeding bioassays, seed eating by deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) was not deterred by the bitter fruit pericarp; mice removed and ate seeds from over 63% of L. maackii fruits presented. In the field, overall survival rates of L. maackii fruits and seeds ranged from 84% to 88%, but the number of fruits removed or eaten did not differ significantly among forest interior, forest edge, or wooded corridor habitats. Trapping evidence suggests that P. maniculatus was the major small mammal consumer of fruits and seeds of L. maackii. We conclude that (1) small mammals are unlikely to influence seed survival of L. maackii, and (2) removal of L. maackii and other similar exotic shrubs is unlikely to affect population dynamics of small mammals.

Glossy buckthorn, Rhamnus frangula: a threat to riparian plant communities of the northern Allegheny Plateau

Natural Areas Journal , 2000

LiDAR PROSPECTION OF RELICT CHARCOAL HEARTHS OF THE SHIPPENVILLE FURNACE REGION, CLARION COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Pennsylvania Archaeologist, 2019

Shippenville Furnace, Clarion County, Pennsylvania, was a water-powered, hot-blast charcoal iron ... more Shippenville Furnace, Clarion County, Pennsylvania, was a water-powered, hot-blast charcoal iron furnace in production from 1832 to 1859. As part of a larger study of colliers and historic charcoal production in Clarion County, I used LiDAR imagery to identify putative relict charcoal hearths (RCH) within an 8.5 km2 forested study area
adjacent to the furnace. Ground surveys were used to confirm or refute putative RCH identification. Of the 25 putative RCHs selected for ground survey, 21 (84.0%) were confirmed by soil coring. RCHs exhibited the slope discontinuity and circular platform morphology typical of cut-and-fill construction and were largely located on gentle slopes and plateaus (mean slope = 3.1%). Mean diameter of RCHs was 13.5 m; mean distance to nearest hearth was 126.2 m. Soil cores from all RCHs showed a single A horizon of charcoal dust and fragments, indicating that each had been fired only once.

Counting Colliers: A Demographic Profile of the Forgotten Charcoal Makers of Clarion County, Pennsylvania, 1850–1880

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF REGIONAL AND LOCAL HISTORY, 2020

Clarion County, Pennsylvania, was a regional leader in historic iron production in the mid-ninete... more Clarion County, Pennsylvania, was a regional leader in historic iron
production in the mid-nineteenth century with a majority of its
furnaces fuelled by charcoal. Little is known about the colliers that
crafted the charcoal used by the county’s historic iron furnaces.
I used United States Census data from 1850 to 1880 to develop a
demographic profile of Clarion County colliers. Collier numbers in
Clarion County peaked dramatically in 1850 with the rise of the iron
industry and declined exponentially through 1880. Most colliers were
white, male and Pennsylvania-born. Few remained in the profession
for more than one census date, largely becoming labourers and
farmers that remained in the county or region. Likewise, movement
of colliers from Clarion County to other iron-producing regions was
minimal. The rise and fall of colliers in Clarion County suggest a local
response to economic opportunity consistent with the boom-bust
nature of the mid-nineteenth-century charcoal iron industry.

Damage to woody plants by the locust leafminer, Odontota dorsalis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), during a local outbreak in an Appalachian oak forest

Entomological News , 1989

Estimates of feeding damage to woody plants by adult locust leafminer, Odonota dorsalis, were ... more Estimates of feeding damage to woody plants by adult locust leafminer, Odonota dorsalis, were made during a local outbreak in an Appalachian oak forest. Thirteen woody plant species were recorded from the outbreak area in southwestern Virginia, but only six (46.2%) sustained damage from locust leafminer feeding. Black locust received the heaviest damage. Red and chestnut oaks, sugar maple, black cherry, and hawthorn sustained moderate feeding damage. Possible causes of the outbreak are discussed.

Late Winter Foraging by Honeybees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) at Sapsucker Drill Holes

Great Lakes Entomologist, 1990

Observations of Apis mellifera foraging at sapsucker drill holes were made during February 1988 i... more Observations of Apis mellifera foraging at sapsucker drill holes were made during February 1988 in southwestern Virginia. Foraging bouts were dependent upon temperature; more bees visited drill holes when ambient temperatures exceeded 10oC. Honeybees did not feed directly at drill holes but collected congealed sap from bark surfaces.

Checklist of North American nut infesting insects and host plants

Journal of Entomological Science, 1989

Data on the biology and host plant relations of nut-infesting insects are widely scattered in the... more Data on the biology and host plant relations of nut-infesting insects are widely scattered in the scientific literature. A checklist of North American nut-infesting insects and host plants is presented to provide a central source of information on this insect group. Organized alphabetically by insect taxa, the checklist contains 102 species of insects and 82 host plants. Nomenclature of listed insects and host plants follows current revisions and checklists.

GERMINATION OF SEEDS OF EPIFAGUS VIRGINIANA (OROBANCHACEAE)

Michigan Botanist, 1986

On defining “good” non-native plants.

A short educational article about "good" and "bad" traits of non-native or alien plants with a fo... more

The Restorative Power of Nature

A short essay on the value of nature in human health.

A short educational note on tiger moths (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), their biology and ecology, and ... more

Leaf Beetles -The Beetle Botanists

1998. Mich. Entomol. Soc. Entomol. Note No. 18.

A short education note on leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) focusing on their biology and ... more

A short note on the biology and ecology of insects that feed on acorns as well as ways to study t... more

The false dichotomy

A short editorial on the differences and similarities between conservation and preservation as st... more

Invasive Alien Plant Species of Virginia: Lonicera japonica

A conservation note that focuses on the biology, ecology and management of Japanese honeysuckle, ... more

Invasive Alien Plant Species of Virginia: bush honeysuckles (Lonicera spp.).

A conservation note that covers the biology, ecology and management of non-native bush honeysuckl... more

The salamander species assemblage and environment of forested seeps of the Allegheny High Plateau, Northwestern Pennsylvania, USA.

Herpetology Notes 8:99-106, 2015

Seeps are shallow, slow-moving outflows of groundwater that can provide habitat and foraging area... more Seeps are shallow, slow-moving outflows of groundwater that can provide habitat and foraging areas for salamanders and other amphibians. Seeps are a largely unstudied component of slope landforms in the Allegheny High Plateau Ecoregion of northwestern Pennsylvania, USA, particularly in regard to their salamander fauna. I conducted a survey of forested seeps (n = 30) in the Allegheny National Forest of northwestern Pennsylvania in order to: 1) identify the salamander species assemblage associated with Allegheny High Plateau seeps; and 2) examine the relationship of the abundance of dominant salamander species, represented as catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE), with key physical and biotic habitat components of the seep environment. Five species of salamanders were encountered during time-constrained surveys of seeps including the northern dusky salamander, Desmognathus fuscus (Rafinesque, 1820), the Allegheny Mountain dusky salamander, D. ochrophaeus Cope, 1859, the northern spring salamander, Gyrinophilus porphyriticus (Green, 1827), the redbacked salamander, Plethodon cinereus (Green, 1818), and the northern two-lined salamander, Eurycea bislineata (Green, 1818). CPUE of post-metamorphs for each of the two dominant salamander species, D. fuscus and D. ochrophaeus, was significantly associated with a small but distinct subset of seep habitat variables: CPUE for D. fuscus was significantly and positively associated with rock cover and pH, whereas CPUE for D. ochrophaeus was significantly and positively associated with vascular plant cover and slope.

Alien and invasive species in riparian plant communities of the Allegheny River Islands Wilderness, Pennsylvania.

International Journal of Wilderness 15:18-22, 47., 2009

Dams, diversions and race ways: archaeological prospection of historic river modification along Pennsylvania's Clarion River

The Clarion River in northwestern Pennsylvania was an important water-based transportation networ... more The Clarion River in northwestern Pennsylvania was an important water-based transportation network for forest products, chiefly from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s. Dams were key to managing log flows, including splash dams on tributaries and mill dams on the river’s mainstem. This talk focuses on historic mill dams of the Clarion River and their associated diversions and race ways. Specifically, I discuss on-going site inventories and efforts to develop “geomorphic signatures” to locate putative dam sites by remote sensing. Fourteen dam sites have been identified to date from recent and historic documentary sources and maps, and field reconnaissance, spanning from Clarion County in the south to Elk County in the north. Aerial photography and LIDAR imagery thus far have identified two geomorphic signatures useful in dam prospecting on the Clarion River: 1) small islands associated with historic dam race ways; and 2) larger islands associated with diversion channels which, captured by the river, created islands from the river’s floodplain.

Thomas Hutchins and landscapes of Pennsylvania's French Creek Valley in the 18th Century: I. The " Cyprus Swamp "

Thomas Hutchins (1730-1789), an engineer and surveyor, traveled northwestern Pennsylvania’s Frenc... more Thomas Hutchins (1730-1789), an engineer and surveyor, traveled northwestern Pennsylvania’s French Creek Valley (FCV) extensively in 1759 to 1760 as part of British military expeditions during the French and Indian War. Hutchins traversed the FCV using the Venango Path and recorded his observations on the landscapes he encountered in letters to his superior, Colonel Henry Bouquet. On 15 July 1760, Hutchins made a curious observation: “…a swamp 2½ miles over, full of the largest Cyprus Trees I ever saw”. The identity of Hutchins’ “cyprus”, and the location of the swamp, have been the subject of debate ever since. I hypothesized that Hutchins’ “cyprus” was in fact tamarack (Larix laricina) and used a combination of plant specimen data from the Pennsylvania Flora Project, place names, ground-truthing, and Hutchins’ 1778 map of the region to locate the putative “cyprus swamp”. The data suggest that Tamarack Swamp in Erie County may be Hutchins’ “cyprus swamp” and that tamarack likely was his “cyprus”.

A land of riches: the environment of the French Creek Valley in the 18th Century

This talk provides glimpses of the past environments of Pennsylvania's French Creek Valley using ... more

" Unnecessary and dangerous " : history and archaeology of the McLain Run dam and reservoir, Clarion County, Pennsylvania

Heavy industrial pollution of Pennsylvania’s Clarion River during the late 1800s caused many loca... more Heavy industrial pollution of Pennsylvania’s Clarion River during the late 1800s caused many local communities to cease use of river water for drinking. For most communities, the alternatives to river water were drilled wells and stream impoundments. In 1896, the Clarion Water Company established a reservoir on McLain Run, a tributary of the Clarion River. The reservoir had a storage capacity of 5 million gallons and was created by a dam of timber, earth and stone. In 1907, the Pennsylvania Commissioner of Health condemned the reservoir water supply as “unnecessary and dangerous” due to pollution from oil and gas wells, and the reservoir was abandoned by 1909. In this talk, I provide details on the construction of the McLain Run dam from field investigations and provide geomorphic evidence that the dam likely failed after abandonment, causing extensive scouring of the stream valley and deposition of a large debris flow at the stream’s mouth.

Freshwater mussels making a comeback on the Clarion River

Freshwater mussels are among the most sensitive of aquatic organisms to water pollution and are d... more Freshwater mussels are among the most sensitive of aquatic organisms to water pollution and are declining in many rivers across the country. But in Pennsylvania's Clarion River, mussels are making a comeback from the industrial pollution that plagued them in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This presentation by local ecologist Chuck Williams, focuses on the lives of freshwater mussels, their importance to aquatic ecosystems, and the specific mussel species that are repopulating the Clarion River with data current to 2015.

Soldiers, missionaries and naturalists: early travelers and the environment of the French Creek Valley, Pennsylvania.

The French Creek Valley in northwestern Pennsylvania is rich in Native American and Euro-American... more The French Creek Valley in northwestern Pennsylvania is rich in Native American and Euro-American history. This presentation focuses on the early landscapes and environment of the French Creek Valley as detailed in historic documents dating from the 1750s to 1810. The early landscape was dominated by eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and white pine (Pinus strobus) swamps in low areas, punctuated by savannas and open meadows, likely influenced by Native American land use practices (e.g., burning). Future research will focus on extending visions of the French Creek landscape through additional historical writings and maps of the region.

Hunting with Gist: wild game provisioning during the 1750 expedition of Christopher Gist to the Ohio Country.

Early frontier expeditions in North America often relied on hunting of wild game to supplement ca... more Early frontier expeditions in North America often relied on hunting of wild game to supplement carried food stocks. Typically, journals of these expeditions provided little to no information on the game species harvested or the numbers of animals taken. In September 1750, frontiersman Christopher Gist was contracted by the Ohio Company to “search out and discover the lands of the River Ohio…and to take an exact and particular journal of all your proceedings”. Gist’s journal was detailed on the lands, peoples, and resources he saw, including the species and numbers of wild game harvested to support the expedition. Five game species were harvested: bear, deer, “buffaloe”, elk, and turkey. I compare and contrast the value of each of these species in providing sustenance to the expedition and suggest that black bear provided the greatest food resource in quantity, quality (fat and protein), and potential portability once processed (e.g., “bear bacon”).

Evidence for Early Recovery of the Mussel Fauna of Pennsylvania’s Clarion River

The Clarion River is a major tributary of the Allegheny River in northwestern Pennsylvania. Heav... more The Clarion River is a major tributary of the Allegheny River in northwestern Pennsylvania. Heavy industry peaked along the upper Clarion River in the early 1900s: eight tanneries, eleven wood chemical plants, and a large paper mill released 26 million gallons of untreated effluent into the river daily. In 1909, malacologist A.E. Ortmann deemed the Clarion “one of the worst streams in the state” for industrial pollution and opted not to survey aquatic fauna. In 1994, living creeper mussels (Strophitus undulatus) were discovered in the Clarion River near Clarington (Forest County), suggesting possible early recovery of the mussel fauna. Stimulated by creeper shell finds at Gravel Lick (Clarion County) in 2007, I began geo-referenced mussel shell surveys along the main-stem Clarion River, largely above Piney Dam, to determine the potential extent of creeper distribution and if other mussel species may occur in the river. As of 2014, creeper shells of varied size classes, and live individuals, were discovered along > 20 km of the Clarion from Blyson Run (Clarion County) to Millstone Creek (Elk County). In addition, I found evidence for three other mussel species: shells of the mucket (Actinonaias ligamentina) and fragile papershell (Leptodea fragilis), and a live wavy-rayed lampmussel (Lampsilis fasciola). I discuss the relevance of these findings to management of the Clarion River and suggest modes by which early recovery of the mussel fauna may have occurred.

The Salamander Species Assemblage and Environment of Forested Seeps of the Allegheny High Plateau, Northwestern Pennsylvania

Seeps are shallow, slow-moving outflows of groundwater that can provide habitat and foraging area... more Seeps are shallow, slow-moving outflows of groundwater that can provide habitat and foraging areas for salamanders and other amphibians. Seeps are a patchy and largely unstudied component of slope landforms in the Allegheny High Plateau Ecoregion of northwestern Pennsylvania, particularly in regard to their salamander fauna. I conducted a survey of forested seeps (n = 30) in the Allegheny National Forest of northwestern Pennsylvania in order to: 1) identify the salamander species assemblage associated with Allegheny High Plateau seeps; and 2) examine the relationship of the abundance of dominant salamander species, represented as catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE), with key physical and biotic habitat components of the seep environment. Five species of salamanders were encountered during time-constrained surveys of seeps including the northern dusky salamander (Desmognathus fuscus), the Allegheny Mountain dusky salamander (D. ochrophaeus), the northern spring salamander (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus), the redbacked salamander (Plethodon cinereus) and the northern two-lined salamander (Eurycea bislineata). CPUE of post-metamorphs for each of the two dominant salamander species, D. fuscus and D. ochrophaeus, was significantly associated with a small but distinct subset of seep habitat variables: CPUE for D. fuscus was significantly and positively associated with rock cover and pH, whereas CPUE for D. ochrophaeus was significantly and positively associated with vascular plant cover and slope.

Tanneries, wood chemicals, and paper pulp: early industrial history and environment along Pennsylvania’s Clarion River.

The Clarion River is a major tributary of the Allegheny River in northwestern Pennsylvania. Abund... more The Clarion River is a major tributary of the Allegheny River in northwestern Pennsylvania. Abundant water and close access to forest resources fueled the rise of a heavy industry base along the upper Clarion River in the late 1800s, which at its height in the early 1900s included eight tanneries, eleven wood chemical plants, and a large paper mill. The Clarion River was the sink for the effluents from these industries which were discharged directly into river with no or minimal treatment. Cumulative effluent loading from the Clarion River’s main industries was estimated to exceed 25 million gallons daily in the early 1900s. In this presentation I gauge the relative impacts of these different industries on the environment of the Clarion River and show how the ebb and flow of industries set the stage for the eventual recovery of the river.

The ghost of fisheries past: historic observations on Native American fish drives of the Upper Allegheny River.

The Upper Allegheny River of northwestern Pennsylvania was an important fisheries resource for th... more The Upper Allegheny River of northwestern Pennsylvania was an important fisheries resource for the Allegany Seneca and Delaware tribes resident in the region. Fish were often harvested by spearing them while wading in shallow water, from canoes, or by large coordinated fish drives. Fish drives were typically done in river eddies during low summer flows and often involved whole villages. Drives were highly efficient and harvested large quantities of fish, much of which was dried or smoked for later use. Early Euro-American observers noted that many species of fish were taken with drives including warm-water species common in today’s river: bass, perch, pike and suckers. However, species unknown in today’s Upper Allegheny and rare in Pennsylvania were also taken, notably buffalofish (Ictiobus spp.) some of which were “so large that one man could not handle them”. In this talk, I’ll provide an overview of Native American fish drives of the Upper Allegheny River and discuss the scientific and human dimensions value of using early observational data in reconstructing past fisheries.

Inadvertent coarse-filter conservation of archaeological and historical sites: an example from State Game Lands in Clarion County, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania has an impressive array of state and federal public lands, totaling over 4 million a... more Pennsylvania has an impressive array of state and federal public lands, totaling over 4 million acres, acquired mainly for natural resources conservation and recreation. In 1920, the Pennsylvania Game Commission began procuring lands for a State Game Lands (SGL) system that now exceeds over 300 individual units covering 1.4 million acres. Recognized as a functional coarse-filter conservation system for big-game as early as the 1930s by Aldo Leopold, SGLs have also inadvertently conserved many archaeological and historical sites across the Commonwealth. In this talk, I explore the value of SGLs 63 and 72 in conserving aspects of the early history of Clarion County, focusing on natural resources use (e.g., logging, oil and gas), industrial archaeology (e.g., charcoal iron production, early railroads), and post-mining cultural landscapes.

Splashing Toby: Preliminary survey of the historic logging splash dams of Toby Creek, Clarion County, Pennsylvania

Toby Creek is a tributary of the Clarion River in Clarion County, Pennsylvania. For nineteen year... more Toby Creek is a tributary of the Clarion River in Clarion County, Pennsylvania. For nineteen years until 1882, the firm of Corbett and Wilson logged a 913 acre tract along Toby Creek using a series of three splash dams to transport logs by water to the Clarion River for processing and final transport. Historic images place one of the splash dams at the mouth of Toby Creek. This dam stood until the construction of Piney Reservoir in the 1920s. Field surveys conducted in 2010 located the remains of a second splash dam just above the mouth of Tarkiln Run. Remains include two rock walls spanning the distance from the stream to adjacent valley slopes and well-preserved, submerged wooden structures including mudsills, rock-filled log pens and a large panel constructed of plank. I discuss the history of “splashing” Toby Creek and the significance of the splash dam site in documenting regional logging history.

What was the “broken straw” of Pennsylvania’s Brokenstraw Creek? An investigative ethnobotany of place

Brokenstraw Creek meets the Allegheny River below Warren, Pennsylvania. The rich alluvial environ... more Brokenstraw Creek meets the Allegheny River below Warren, Pennsylvania. The rich alluvial environment at the confluence of these two streams, now called Irvine Flats, provided productive habitation sites for Seneca and Delaware Native American tribes through the mid-1700s. The name “Brokenstraw” is thought to be derived from the original Seneca and Delaware place names for the area, later perpetuated by French and English explorers. This “broken straw” was said to be a species of grass that grew taller than a human, dying back in the winter and littering the ground with its dead stems. What was this grass species? Using data from contemporary botanical surveys of the area, and historical observations and plant records, I identified a suite of species that could include the “signature grass” of Brokenstraw Creek. I suggest that not one, but several, tall grasses of an alluvial grassland community provided the basis for the creek’s name.