Miami University
OP-10: Biodiversity

In 1992, Miami University President, Paul Pearson wrote, " We all recognize the rapid rate of loss of natural green-belt areas in our state and nation as our population increases, causing growing demands for housing, commerce and industry, highways, power lines, and other support services. I am very concerned that the natural, green-belt areas around much of Miami's Oxford campus will fall victim to these demands". In the same year, the Miami University's board of trustees voted unanimously to establish, in perpetuity, official "Miami University Natural Areas" protection for designated greenbelt lands, totaling over 1,000 acres to the south, east and northeast of campus. The areas include the Bachelor Wildlife and Game Reserve, Reinhart Preserve, Kramer Woods, Western Woods, College Woods, Women's Recreation Association, Four-Mile Creek Corridor, Silvoor Sanctuary, Peffer Woods, Marcum Woods, and the Ecology Research Center. Over 17 miles of hiking trails provide access for education, research, and recreation to faculty, students, and community members. The Natural Areas Committee, comprised of 13 faculty, staff and community members, reports to the President of the University and is responsible for the oversight and management of the Natural Areas System.

Over the past 20 years, multiple research and class projects have been conducted by faculty and students in forests, streams, and wetland areas of the Natural Areas System, many of them involving measurements and identification of plants and animals. These include classes such as plant taxonomy, ornithology, herpetology, ichthyology, and invertebrate zoology. In 2010, an experimental study was initiated to investigate the long-term impacts of white-tailed deer overabundance, invasive forest shrub (Amur honeysuckle), and exotic earthworms on native forest biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. The results of this study have already led to a set of management recommendations that will be implemented in future years.

Hundreds of species of plants and animals have been recorded in the Natural Areas system from 1992-2015. Of the many uncommon or rare species, the following federally or state listed species of plants and animals are known to occur or are very likely to occur in the Natural Areas System. Federally Listed Species: Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) - Endangered Northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) - Threatened Ohio Listed Species: Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) - Endangered Bobcat (Lynx rufus) - Endangered Northern harrier (Circus cyaneus) - Endangered Sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) - Endangered Yellow-bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) - Endangered Golden-winged warbler (Vermivora chyroptera) - Endangered Dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis) - Threatened Hermit thrush (Catharus guttatus) - Threatened Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) - Threatened Osprey (Pandion haliaeutus) - Threatened Midwest spike-moss (Selaginella eclipes) - Threatened Sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus) - Concern Cerulean warbler (Dendroica cerulea) - Concern Prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea) - Concern Black vulture (Coragyps atratus) - Concern Northern bobwhite (Colinas virginianus) - Concern Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) - Concern Queen snake (Regina septemvittata) - Concern Eastern cricket frog (Acris crepitans crepitans) - Concern

As defined in the original charter of the Natural Areas System, the MU natural lands are protected in perpetuity. Despite the protected status of the natural areas, anthropogenic threats such as climate change and invasive species are ongoing stressors of these ecosystems. In the future, we plan on implementing more active management of invasive species and deer overabundance in our natural areas.