Bamberger Ranch Research
GPS/GIS Mapping
A large-scale GIS/GPS mapping project continues across the ranch. Digital mapping allows us to plot aspects of the ranch not normally seen, such as survival rates of trees planted by Mr. Bamberger, locations of habitat or potential habitat for endangered species. It allows us to view the entire ranch, or any part of it, on the computer screen and plot virtually any information we desire onto the map.
In May of 2004, the Bamberger Ranch Preserve was awarded a grant for new ArcView 9 software, along with books and training for two employees, by ESRI. The ranch staff foresees this new software as an extremely valuable educational tool. Not only will Steven Fulton be able to digitally map such things as endangered species habitat on the ranch, but Scott Grote will be able to monitor cattle grazing and burn sites. Data will also be able to be shared with researchers from Texas A&M who have been conducting spring studies and scientist from the University of Texas’ Center for Space Research.
Determining Range Use and Trend
One way in which we determine the effect of domestic species on the land is through the use of exclosures. These are 16' diameter exclosed areas of rangeland located in 15 areas around the ranch. They are designed to keep domestic species (goats and cattle) out of the site, but allow wildlife to enter and exit without hindrance. This is a long-term project with the goal of developing an idea of how successful and useful our grazing (cattle) and browsing (goats) programs are working here on the ranch.
Big Tooth Maple LEAF Color
Mr. Bamberger has, in the last 13 years, planted some 400 Big Tooth Maple trees around the ranch. In 1995, he and Margaret began collecting data on the fall leaf color of these trees, which range from yellow through deep red. The purpose was to determine if patterns of consistent color were present in individual trees, and if the color of trees grown from the seeds of certain colorful trees can be predicted. This is a long-term study consisting of 88 of the 400 maples.
Water for Texans: Water Runoff Demonstration
This is a cooperative project with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. An on-the-ground version of the "rainfall simulator" has collecting pipes and measuring devices to determine how much water runs off of each of 2 plots during real rain events. The purpose of the demonstration is to monitor the effect of different grazing intensities on water runoff during rainfall events. We will report on this again in the future as more is learned.
Baseline Data Collection
Flora and fauna inventories continue throughout the ranch. We are in the process of collecting plants for the ranch herbarium and hope to have a digital herbarium up and running in the near future! Two Black Capped Vireo censuses have been run with the help of experts, and seasonal bird counts conducted. When Audubon groups visit the ranch they send us a list of birds seen. We are looking for volunteer experts, in all areas, such as Herpetologists, Entomologists and Mammalogists to help us with reptiles, insects, spiders, and small mammals, as well as Botanists to help us complete plant collection and identification. Baseline surveys are an ongoing process, so if anyone has expertise to share (degrees not necessary), please contact us.