Sarah L Hall

Berea College · Agriculture and Natural Resources

Since the mid-2000s, forest re-establishment has been a common post-mining reclamation goal for Appalachian mined lands, but mine reclamation and subsequent ecological processes are often not successful at establishing post-mining communities similar to native Appalachian forests. Pre-SMCRA, mined land was sometimes left barren for natural regenera...

Research Highlights: We found promising success for black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) planted on a legacy surface mine. Our results indicate that direct seeding can be an effective restoration method, and that shelters may not be needed. Background and Objectives: Reforestation in the Appalachian coalfields has primarily relied on the planting of nur...

Many forested landscapes around the world are severely altered during mining for their rich mineral and energy reserves. Herein we provide an overview of the challenges inherent in efforts to restore mined landscapes to functioning forest ecosystems and present a synthesis of recent progress using examples from North America, Europe and Australia....

Surface mining has altered a vast land area in the Appalachian Region, threatening highly biodiverse native forest, contributing to habitat fragmentation, and generating severely disturbed sites that are unsuitable for succession to native ecosystems. Although there are many factors that influence species colonization and establishment on these sit...

Invasive species may owe some of their success in competing and co-existing with native species to microbial symbioses they are capable of forming. Tall fescue is a cool-season, non-native, invasive grass capable of co-existing with native warm-season grasses in North American grasslands that frequently experience fire, drought, and cold winters, c...

Leaf beetle collection data from five Kentucky State Nature Preserves are summarized over a four-year period (2005 to 2008) encompassing a total of 57 collection events. Our primary objective was to survey leaf beetle populations found within the five preserves. We also wanted to assess impacts of prescribed fire management within these habitats on...

Background/Question/Methods Grassland restorations in the eastern U.S. frequently involve eradication of tall fescue (Schedonorus phoenix), which often harbors a fungal endophyte (Neotyphodium coenophialum), followed by planting seed of native species. Limited evidence suggests endophyte-infected tall fescue suppresses mycorrhizal abundance and c...

Pastures dominated by tall fescue (Schedonorus phoenix (Scop.) Holub) cover much of the eastern United States, and there are increasing efforts to restore native grassland plant species to some of these areas. Prescribed fire and herbicide are frequently used to limit the growth of tall fescue and other non-natives, while encouraging native grasses...

Typical reclamation practices in the central Appalachian coal region often use compacted spoils as a topsoil replacement, and these soils are revegetated with aggressive grasses and legumes. This restoration approach results in an herbaceous-dominated landscape with limited natural succession by native flora. An alternative restoration method is to...

Background/Question/Methods Prescribed fire is frequently used as a tool during restoration of tall fescue pastures to native warm season grassland, and is thought to reduce tall fescue growth and dominance while simultaneously encouraging native grassland species. The majority of tall fescue in these pastures hosts an aboveground fungal endophyte...

Little is known about the distribution and relative abundance of leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) within the United States. However, recent extensive collecting efforts within Kentucky, as well as the compilation and digitization of label data from seven museum collections, have resulted in distribution data for 11,079 beetles collected bet...

Pachybrachis Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a very large and complex genus of small leaf beetles with >150 species in the United States. Pachybrachis nigricornis carbonarius Haldeman is an entirely (or nearly entirely) black subspecies that is relatively common in Kentucky. Abundance and distribution records for 288 specimens collected in...

Pachybrachis Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a very large and complex genus of small leaf beetles with >150 species in the United States. Pachybrachis nigricornis carbonarius Haldeman is an entirely (or nearly entirely) black subspecies that is relatively common in Kentucky. Abundance and distribution records for 288 specimens collected in...

Six research plots were established on a surface mine for the purpose of evaluating the forest productivity potential and hydrological and water quality characteristics of three different loose-graded spoil types. The three spoil types were: (1) predominately brown, weathered sandstone (BROWN); (2) predominately gray, un-weathered sandstone (GRAY);...

Reforestation research on mined lands has shown that loosely graded topsoil, weathered sandstone and/or other non-toxic topsoil substitutes are suitable growing media for establishing native forests in Appalachia. Reclamation practitioners however, have expressed confusion as to what constitutes the best available material other than topsoil. Six r...

Tall fescue, a cool-season grass native to Europe, central Asia, and northern Africa, has been widely distributed throughout the U.S. for use as turf and forage. Following its widespread planting, its ability to associate with a toxic fungal endophyte, Neotyphodium coenophialum, was discovered. Research has linked this fescue-endophyte association...