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Research >> Resources available
Project Assistance: Duke Forest staff members are available to assist researchers in both site establishment and management. Contact the Office of the Duke Forest to discuss your specific needs (dukeforest@duke.edu, 919-613-8013).
- Stand management: Contact the Forest office for stand manipulations such as thinning, prescribed burning and forest stand establishment. Research field areas can be mowed, disked or planted using in-house equipment.
- Utility hookups: Depending on the site location, utilities such as electricity and phone lines can be made available.
- Global positioning system (GPS): Plot/study areas can be located using our global positioning system (GPS) unit, and custom GIS-based maps can be constructed for research projects.
Available data: The Office of the Duke Forest maintains a comprehensive collection of datasets, maps and records that are available upon request.
Much of the Forest's spatial data are also available in a GIS (geographic information system) format which can be downloaded upon special request. Contact the Office of the Duke Forest to discuss your specific needs (dukeforest@duke.edu or 919-613-8013). |
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- GIS data: The Duke Forest GIS database includes the following shapefiles and raster images:
- Property boundaries
- Political boundaries/tax parcels
- Forest covertypes (1931 to 1997)
- Forest management activities (1931 to present)
- Creeks/streams
- Topography
- Soils
- Public and forest roads
- Foot trails
- Natural Heritage Areas
- Long-term research plots
- Research towers and other forest infrastructure
- Aerial photos (true-color, color infrared, black-and-white)
- Historical/archaeological sites
- Maps: Available maps include information regarding topography, soil types, stand management operations (1931 to present), boundaries and covertype maps.
- Management records: Detailed records of management activities dating back to 1931 are available in paper format. Most management-related maps have also been converted to a GIS shapefile format.
- Aerial photographs: The aerial photo collection spans from 1937 through 1997. Early photos are black & white, while more recent photos are available in color infrared. Available photos >
- Species lists: The Forest maintains several annotated lists of plant and animal species found within the Forest's boundaries. Some of these may be found in our Forest Environment section (see plants and wildlife).
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Designated research sites and facilities:
- FACTS-I Research Site: The Forest-Atmosphere Carbon Transfer and Storage (FACTS-I) facility is located in the Blackwood Division of the Duke Forest. It consists of four free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) plots that provide elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration and four plots that provide ambient CO2 control. The facility provides an environment in which research relating to forest ecosystems and increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations can be conducted. More details >
- Developed research site available: The former Global Change Research Site in the Durham Division is currently available for new research projects. This site is located in an open field, and is adjacent to both young and mature pine and hardwood stands. The site has electricity, phone service, mobile trailers for research offices and meeting facilities, and a large heated storage barn. Contact the Office of the Duke Forest (919-613-8013) for more information.
- Aquatic Research Facility: The Facility is located in the Duke Forest approximately one mile from Duke's West Campus. It is comprised of approximately 1,500 square feet of AAALAC-approved space for holding and performing experiments with aquatic organisms. The facility contains static and flow-through systems for both holding and exposing fish. It is approved for research with hazardous chemicals and for research with radiolabeled (H-3 and C-14) compounds.
- Micrometerology Towers: Two permanent towers suitable for micrometerological studies are located in the Duke Forest. The Blackwood Division has a 120-foot tall tower located in a mature hardwood stand, and the Dailey Division has a 60-foot tower located in a 30 year old pine stand.
- Duke Primate Center: The Duke Primate Center is one of the largest and most diverse collections of prosimian primates in the world. Ongoing research includes studies in biochemistry, physiology, genetics, karyology, hematology, reproductive biology, olfactory and vocal communication, behavior, locomotion, growth, and evolutionary history of prosimians, monkeys, apes and man. More details >
- Zoology Field Station: Approximately 85 acres of woodland has been set aside within the Durham Division for animal behavior studies.
- Henry J. Oosting Natural Area: This 162-acre parcel of land has been reserved for non-manipulative research since 1941. It contains mature second-growth forest which is valuable for the study of natural succession. It was formally dedicated as a natural area by the Duke University Board of Trustees in 1971.
- Natural Heritage Areas: Over 1,220 acres of the Duke Forest have been recognized as having exemplary ecological value by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program. These areas provide research and teaching sites where human disturbance is minimized. More details >
- Experimental Forested Watersheds. Two intermittent streams that drain adjacent 5-ha forested watersheds were gauged in 1991, with streamflow measured on one-minute intervals nearly continuously since. Streamflow is measured with two 1-m H-flumes at the terminus of 5-m long concrete and block approach sections. Underlying geologic substrata is metavolcanic Carolina Slate, soils are Georgeville-Herndon-Goldston series, vegetation is primarily Quercus-Carya.
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