2021 Natural Areas Conference

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(updated 10-19-21)

This 2021 Natural Areas Virtual Conference was underwritten by the USDA Forest Service.

2021 NATURAL AREAS CONFERENCE:

A ONE-DAY VIRTUAL EVENT

Life from the Ashes: Exploring the Impact of Prescribed & Natural Fire on Insects and Other Invertebrates

Ecosystems throughout North America evolved with wildfire. Today, prescribed fire is an important tool for managing habitat by maintaining open, early seral landscapes. Fire can greatly improve the value of habitat for insects and other invertebrates, often increasing species abundance and diversity, however, fire (both natural and prescribed) in the wrong place, at the wrong scale, or at the wrong time can have the opposite effect - negatively impacting invertebrate communities and their habitat.

Life from the Ashes explored the positive and negative impacts of prescribed and natural fire related to insects and other invertebrates in landscapes across North America. The symposium provided research and practical insights to inform natural areas professionals as they manage landscapes with fire.

This program is provided in a collaboration between the Natural Areas Association (NAA) and the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation (Xerces). NAA serves those dedicated to the management and restoration of biologically important natural areas in North America. Xerces is an international nonprofit organization that protects the natural world through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats. Protecting nature requires reliable science to inform practices on-the-ground and a network of stewards who work tirelessly to protect, manage and restore land and water biodiversity.

The 2021 Natural Areas Conference was cohosted by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Learn more about the Xerces Society

Stewardship Shorts

Six STEWARDSHIP SHORTS will be highlighted during the Natural Areas Conference, and will play in between live virtual sessions. A link to all STEWARDSHIP SHORTS will be made available for on-demand viewing on the conference website after the live event ends.

STEWARDSHIP SHORTS are brief 3 to 5 minute, pre-recorded video presentations that describe a project, methodology, best practice or challenge related to a natural area(s) and can focus on any area of conservation ecology. These "vlogs" are an opportunity to learn from your colleagues so that they may become a resource to you. Click the link below to watch the NAC21 Stewardship Short collection.

AGENDA

All times Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

Time	Session Title
11:00am - 11:30am	Opening Remarks, Announcement of the 2020 and 2021 Fell & Becker Awards Lisa Smith, Executive Director of the Natural Areas Association
11:30am - 12:15pm	Life from the Ashes: Exploring the Impact of Prescribed Fire & Natural Fire on Insects and Other Invertebrates Scott Hoffman Black, Executive Director of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
12:15pm - 12:35pm	Break
12:35pm - 1:05pm	Predicting the Resistance of Plant-Pollinator Assemblages to Fire Molly Martin, Conservation Biologist, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
1:05pm - 1:35pm	The Impact of Western Fires on Bumble Bee John Mola, Ph.D., Research Ecologist, Fort Collins Science Center, USGS
1:35pm - 2:05pm	The Impact of Prescribed Burning on Native Bee Communities (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila) in Longleaf Pine Savannas in the North Carolina Sandhills Elsa Youngsteadt, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Youngsteadt Lab Clyde Sorenson, Alumni Association Distinguished Undergraduate Professor, Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University
2:05pm - 2:25pm	Break
2:25pm - 2:55pm	*Prescribed Fire Effects on Rangeland Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae, Aphodiinae) in the Southern Great Plains* Robin M. Verble, Ph.D., Director, Ozark Research Field Station, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, Missouri University of Science and Technology
2:55pm - 3:25pm	Ant Community, Diversity, and Seed Interactions in Longleaf Pine Forest Managed with Frequent Fire Rachel Atchison, Biological Science Technician, USDA ARS, Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects Research
3:25pm - 3:55pm	Using Prescribed Fire and Grazing to Manage for Biodiversity in the Great Plains Ray Moranz, Grazing Lands Pollinator Ecologist, Partner Biologist, NRCS Central National Technology Support Center
3:55pm - 4:15pm	Break
4:15pm - 4:55pm	Closing Thoughts & Discussion Join Scott Hoffman Black as he facilitates an open discussion with conference presenters to highlight important concepts identified throughout the event. Audience members are encouraged to submit questions in advance or during the live stream session.
4:55pm - 5:00pm	Conclusion
5:00pm - 5:30pm	Social Hour