ABSTRACT 7th International Symposium on Environmental Concerns in Rights-of-Way Management
TITLE:	Evaluation of Wildlife Habitat Suitability in an Herbicide-Treated Utility Right-of-Way
AUTHOR(S):	J. Drew Lanham - lanhamj@clemson.edu Clemson University Department of Forest Resources Clemson, SC, USA James E. Simmons III Georgia Deparment of Natural Resources Richmond Hill, GA, USA
We investigated the effects of 8 low-volume herbicide treatments (Imazapyr, Imazapyr/Glyphosate, Imazapyr/Metsulfuron, Imazapyr/Fosamine, Imazapyr/Triclopyr, Imazapyr/Picloram, Glyphosate, and Imazapyr/Picloram) on plant species composition and wildlife habitat in a power line ROW in the lower coastal plain of South Carolina from 1996-1998. Mechanically mowed and untreated control plots were also included for comparisons. Trends in vegetative response showed increases in forb and grass groups in most herbicide-treated plots. Decreasing or stable trends were observed in soft mast, vine and woody species among most chemical treatments. Ratings from Habitat Suitability Index models using life-requisite components (Suitability Indices) for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), eastern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus), wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), bobcat (Felis rufus), and eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) showed that one year after treatment, ROW habitats were least suitable for northern bobwhite and wild turkey and most suitable for white-tailed deer, bobcat, and eastern cottontail. We suggest that herbicides may be successfully used to manage ROW habitats for some wildlife species in the Southeast. Habitat Suitability Index Models provide valuable tools for evaluating ROW wildlife management efforts. Keywords: Habitat-Suitability Index Models, rights-of-way, wildlife Ref#: 6-4