Southeastern Virginia Research Articles

Silvopastures Benefits, Past Efforts, Challenges, and Future Prospects in the United States

The global human population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, increasing the demand for food and fiber, but also raising concerns about the environmental impact of agricultural production scaled to meet their needs. Silvopastures—integrated tree–forage–livestock systems—have emerged as a viable practice to meet the required productivity and environmental stewardship outcomes. This review consolidates the extensive research on silvopasture practices in the United States and highlights the benefits of these systems. A comprehensive literature search across databases such as ScienceDirect and Google Scholar revealed 152 publications on silvopastures in the United States since 2000, indicating growing interest. These studies have primarily focused on the impacts of silvopastures on livestock welfare and productivity, forage production and composition, soil health and nutrient dynamics, and socio-economic factors. Geographical distribution analysis indicated that the research is more focused in the Southeastern United States, with Florida, Virginia, Alabama, Missouri, and Arkansas being the top five contributing states. The review also offers insights into the tree and forage species used across these states and discusses the challenges to silvopasture adoption among producers and land managers while exploring future prospects. This review may be used as a resource for understanding the multifaceted dimensions of silvopasture adoption, providing insights for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners alike.

Resituating the Hand site (44SN22): A collections-based reassessment of a Woodland principal town in Southeastern Virginia

This paper describes the results of a multi-year reassessment of the Hand site (44SN0022) archeological collection. The Hand site, located on the Nottoway River in southeastern Virginia, was intensively excavated in the 1960s, revealing a complex Native American settlement at least three and a half acres in size. While prior researchers emphasized the site's ties to colonial actors and suggested the site's primary occupation dated to the turn of the seventeenth century, this reexamination instead demonstrates the site's primary components date to the Middle Woodland II (800–900 CE) and the Late Woodland (1200–1300 CE). Rather than a place of colonial encounter, this paper suggests the Hand site is better understood as a prominent Middle to Late Woodland principal town, where domestic and civic-ceremonial life regularly intersected.

What Cliffs Near America’s Earliest Settlements Tell Us About Climate Change

Scientists learn about Earth’s future climate by looking at geological records from the past. About 3 million years ago, most of the east coast of the United States was under water. Sediments collected on the ocean floor show that the ocean environment was warmer and supported more species back then. Some of these sediments are now exposed above water as cliffs along the James River near colonial Jamestown in southeastern Virginia. Tiny fossils and other evidence in these sediments, which we call the Yorktown Formation, show us how the environment and ecosystems were affected by global warming in the past, and they hold many clues as to what Earth may look like in the future.

Corridor-Level Auto Occupancy in Mobility Monitoring Efforts: A Crash-Based Approach

Vehicle occupancy (the number of persons per vehicle) is fundamental to evaluations of transportation system performance focused on the movement of people rather than solely vehicles. Historically, obtaining detailed estimates of occupancy has required manual (expensive) field data collection. This paper reports on a crash-based approach for estimating occupancy. Because some characteristics, such as the presence of multiple passengers aged 16 to 21, may affect the likelihood of crash involvement, the study examined ways to control possible crash bias using two methods. The first—heuristic bias correction, which entails synthesizing missing samples—is useful for smaller jurisdictions where there is no ground truth value readily available but an area-wide occupancy measure is needed. The second—statistical bias correction, which uses manual observations for calibration followed by the creation of a model—is suitable for obtaining occupancy at the corridor level. The approach is demonstrated with 12 years of fall and spring crash data for the Hampton Roads region of southeastern Virginia, U.S., representing 1.7 million people and 50,000 crashes. Testing showed estimated occupancies were within roughly 0.05 of true occupancy when corridor-specific calibration was performed. Further, the larger number of samples used for an area-wide occupancy means that heuristic bias correction is not always necessary: for cities with more than 200 samples, the difference between uncorrected and corrected occupancies was 0.02. For states that report the number of occupants for crashes with and without injury, this approach holds promise for estimating vehicle occupancy for both corridors and regions.

Clonal Diversity, Antibiotic Resistance, and Virulence Factor Prevalence of Community Associated Staphylococcus aureus in Southeastern Virginia.

Staphylococcus aureus is a significant human pathogen with a formidable propensity for antibiotic resistance. Worldwide, it is the leading cause of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI), septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, and infective endocarditis originating from both community- and healthcare-associated settings. Although often grouped by methicillin resistance, both methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive (MSSA) strains are known to cause significant pathologies and injuries. Virulence factors and growing resistance to antibiotics play major roles in the pathogenicity of community-associated strains. In our study, we examined the genetic variability and acquired antibiograms of 122 S. aureus clinical isolates from SSTI, blood, and urinary tract infections originating from pediatric patients within the southeast region of Virginia, USA. We identified a suite of clinically relevant virulence factors and evaluated their prevalence within these isolates. Five genes (clfA, spA, sbi, scpA, and vwb) with immune-evasive functions were identified in all isolates. MRSA isolates had a greater propensity to be resistant to more antibiotics as well as significantly more likely to carry several virulence factors compared to MSSA strains. Further, the carriage of various genes was found to vary significantly based on the infection type (SSTI, blood, urine).

Augmentative biological control for squash bug (Hemiptera: Coreidae) using the egg parasitoid, Hadronotus pennsylvanicus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae).

The squash bug, Anasa tristis (De Geer) (Hemiptera: Coreidae), is a serious pest of cucurbit crops across the United States. Conventional growers commonly use broad-spectrum insecticides to manage squash bugs, however organic growers lack these effective chemical tools and must rely on alternative management strategies. Biological control of A. tristis is largely understudied, specifically the potential of natural enemy, Hadronotus pennsylvanicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), as an augmentative biological control agent. For this reason, we performed early-season field releases of H. pennsylvanicus on organic farms in southeastern Virginia to test if this would improve A. tristis egg parasitism. We chose organic vegetable farms growing summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) as release sites and nearby Virginia Tech Agricultural Research Extension Centers (AREC) as no-release sites. Parasitoids were reared in the lab and deployed as parasitized egg masses (~2-3 females wasps/plant) in June 2020 and 2021. Before parasitoid deployment, host eggs collected from release and no-release sites displayed low levels of H. pennsylvanicus parasitism in 2020 (<21%) and 2021 (<8%). In both years, the percentage of A. tristis eggs parasitized within 2 weeks post deployment was significantly greater at release sites (~60%) than at no-release sites (~14%). High rates of H. pennsylvanicus parasitism (>72%) were further observed at release sites 4, 6, 8, and 10 weeks following parasitoid deployment. Our study demonstrates that releases of lab-reared H. pennsylvanicus can increase A. tristis egg parasitism rates and subsequently decrease successful nymph hatch rates in early summer squash plantings.

Survival of adult Amblyomma americanum, Amblyomma maculatum, and Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae) in four habitats in southeastern Virginia.

Adult, unfed Amblyomma americanum (Linnaeus), Amblyomma maculatum Koch, and Dermacentor variabilis (Say) ticks were housed inside environmental containers in situ from May through August 2015. The environmental containers were placed in 4 habitats in southeastern Virginia, United States. Two of the habitats were located in low ground and were prone to flooding; the other two consisted of a drier landscape located in a more upland habitat. A Cox Regression survival analysis indicated there was a significant difference in survival among species across all field sites. There was a 50.5-times higher risk of mortality for A. maculatum compared to A. americanum, a 4.3-times higher risk of mortality for A. maculatum compared to D. variabilis, and an 11.9-times higher risk of mortality for D. variabilis compared to A. americanum. There was also significantly higher mortality in field sites prone to flooding than in drier, upland field sites. We concluded that A. americanum was not negatively affected by increased flooding or the variable environmental conditions in southeastern Virginia. Dermacentor variabilis also was successful at remaining in the environment off-host, although increased flooding reduced survival over time. Amblyomma maculatum was more susceptible to mortality during long periods of time off-host in both environments, with high mortality rates in both dry upland and low-ground, flood-prone habitats.

Making the Case for the Great Dismal Swamp National Heritage Area: A Scoping Review

National Heritage Areas (NHAs) are nationally distinct landscapes that represent unique cultural, historical, and/or natural attributes significant to the legacy of the United States of America (U.S.). The Great Dismal Swamp, located in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina, is a prime candidate for NHA designation with diverse qualifications, among which was its antebellum role as a refuge for formerly enslaved people. The goal of our research, conducted in 2022 during the period of the U.S. Congressional debate on designation, was to investigate and expound upon the rationale for NHA designation of the Swamp. To do so, we used a scoping review to explore a sample of existing literature focused on the Great Dismal Swamp. We found significant evidence to support the Great Dismal Swamp NHA designation. Now, in its final hours of federal review and ratification, the Great Dismal Swamp will likely become America’s next NHA and continue its legacy as a place for nature-based and heritage tourism, inspiration, and reflection on the strength of humans to live and resist against even the most arduous of external forces. Further, our work serves to illustrate the range of unique factors that can support similar designations throughout the U.S. and internationally.

In Memoriam: William T. Hogarth

In Memoriam: William T. Hogarth

An Economic Comparison of High Tunnel and Open-Field Strawberry Production in Southeastern Virginia

High tunnels have been reported to extend the harvest season for fruits and vegetables in several North American regions. This study was conducted to evaluate whether there are additional economic returns from strawberries produced in high tunnel structures compared to open-field in the Commonwealth of Virginia. A total of eight strawberry cultivars were evaluated in a randomized complete block under high tunnel and open-field conditions. Total costs were estimated for all eight cultivars under high tunnel and open-field, and gross and net revenues from all cultivars were estimated over three marketing strategies (pre-pick wholesale, pre-pick retail, and U-pick) for both high tunnel and open-field. The average net revenues per hectare in the high tunnel were −$62,077 (−$25,122 ac−1), −$15,151 (−$6131 ac−1), and −$27,938 (−$11,306 ac−1) for pre-pick wholesale, pre-pick retail, and U-pick, respectively, compared to open-field net revenues of $39,816 ($16,113 ac−1), $112,102 ($45,366 ac−1), and $81,850 ($33,123 ac−1) for wholesale, pre-pick retail, and U-pick, respectively. Net revenues in the high tunnel were lower due to lower yields and higher production costs including overhead cost of the high tunnel structure. Almost all cultivars in the high tunnel generated negative net revenues regardless of the marketing strategy. The exceptions were ‘Camino Real’ which generated positive net revenues with U-pick and pre-pick retail marketing and ‘Merced’ which generated positive net revenues for pre-pick retail marketing. In contrast, net revenues from open-field cultivars were always positive. Results imply that growers should focus on open-field rather than high-tunnel strawberry production. Results are from one season of production. Replication of the study under one or more production seasons would contribute to more robust findings of the economic viability of strawberry production under a high tunnel.

Response of soil respiration to changes in soil temperature and water table level in drained and restored peatlands of the southeastern United States

BackgroundExtensive drainage of peatlands in the southeastern United States coastal plain for the purposes of agriculture and timber harvesting has led to large releases of soil carbon as carbon dioxide (CO2) due to enhanced peat decomposition. Growth in mechanisms that provide financial incentives for reducing emissions from land use and land-use change could increase funding for hydrological restoration that reduces peat CO2 emissions from these ecosystems. Measuring soil respiration and physical drivers across a range of site characteristics and land use histories is valuable for understanding how CO2 emissions from peat decomposition may respond to raising water table levels. We combined measurements of total soil respiration, depth to water table from soil surface, and soil temperature from drained and restored peatlands at three locations in eastern North Carolina and one location in southeastern Virginia to investigate relationships among total soil respiration and physical drivers, and to develop models relating total soil respiration to parameters that can be easily measured and monitored in the field.ResultsTotal soil respiration increased with deeper water tables and warmer soil temperatures in both drained and hydrologically restored peatlands. Variation in soil respiration was more strongly linked to soil temperature at drained (R2 = 0.57, p < 0.0001) than restored sites (R2 = 0.28, p < 0.0001).ConclusionsThe results suggest that drainage amplifies the impact of warming temperatures on peat decomposition. Proxy measurements for estimation of CO2 emissions from peat decomposition represent a considerable cost reduction compared to direct soil flux measurements for land managers contemplating the potential climate impact of restoring drained peatland sites. Research can help to increase understanding of factors influencing variation in soil respiration in addition to physical variables such as depth to water table and soil temperature.

Participatory mapping to address neighborhood level data deficiencies for food security assessment in Southeastern Virginia, USA

BackgroundFood is not equitably available. Deficiencies and generalizations limit national datasets, food security assessments, and interventions. Additional neighborhood level studies are needed to develop a scalable and transferable process to complement national and internationally comparative data sets with timely, granular, nuanced data. Participatory geographic information systems (PGIS) offer a means to address these issues by digitizing local knowledge.MethodsThe objectives of this study were two-fold: (i) identify granular locations missing from food source and risk datasets and (ii) examine the relation between the spatial, socio-economic, and agency contributors to food security. Twenty-nine subject matter experts from three cities in Southeastern Virginia with backgrounds in food distribution, nutrition management, human services, and associated research engaged in a participatory mapping process.ResultsResults show that publicly available and other national datasets are not inclusive of non-traditional food sources or updated frequently enough to reflect changes associated with closures, expansion, or new programs. Almost 6 percent of food sources were missing from publicly available and national datasets. Food pantries, community gardens and fridges, farmers markets, child and adult care programs, and meals served in community centers and homeless shelters were not well represented. Over 24 km2 of participant identified need was outside United States Department of Agriculture low income, low access areas. Economic, physical, and social barriers to food security were interconnected with transportation limitations. Recommendations address an international call from development agencies, countries, and world regions for intervention methods that include systemic and generational issues with poverty, incorporate non-traditional spaces into food distribution systems, incentivize or regulate healthy food options in stores, improve educational opportunities, increase data sharing.ConclusionsLeveraging city and regional agency as appropriate to capitalize upon synergistic activities was seen as critical to achieve these goals, particularly for non-traditional partnership building. To address neighborhood scale food security needs in Southeastern Virginia, data collection and assessment should address both environment and utilization issues from consumer and producer perspectives including availability, proximity, accessibility, awareness, affordability, cooking capacity, and preference. The PGIS process utilized to facilitate information sharing about neighborhood level contributors to food insecurity and translate those contributors to intervention strategies through discussion with local subject matter experts and contextualization within larger scale food systems dynamics is transferable.

Clínica Comunitaria Esperanza Pediátrica: The Development and Early Outcomes of a Bilingual Medical Home for Uninsured Hispanic Children

The uninsured Hispanic pediatric population in the United States faces significant challenges in accessing medical care due to language barriers, citizenship status, and limited access to health insurance. Clínica Comunitaria Esperanza Pediátrica (CCE-P) is a bilingual student-run free clinic created to provide healthcare to the underserved population in southeastern Virginia. This study further details the creation, implementation, and early outcomes of CCE-P as well as barriers encountered throughout the process. It describes four critical steps in establishing CCE-P, including leveraging existing institutional partnerships, ensuring high standards of care, prioritizing community outreach, and implementing a quality improvement program. Study outcomes include a demographic characterization of the 46 pediatric patients served by CCE-P, a description of clinic services, and an analysis of gaps in care and strategies to provide more comprehensive health services. This publication serves as an outline to an adaptable model that other organizations may use to establish similar clinics in their own communities.&#x0D; &#x0D;

Air Medical Ultrasound: Looking Back to See What We Have Learned for the Future

ObjectiveThis study attempts to replicate data from a similar study performed 5 years ago by comparing point-of-care (POCUS) extended focused abdominal sonography in trauma (eFAST) examinations performed by an air medical flight crew with those performed by a trauma team at a level 1 trauma center. MethodsThis prospective observational study evaluated 174 trauma patients over a 12-month period in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. ResultsFor 101 trauma patients who had a POCUS evaluation completed by the flight crews, a positive predictive value of 100% was obtained with a negative predictive value of 96.63% for pneumothorax, hemothorax, and free abdominal fluid. This showed no significant difference in that of the trauma team's POCUS studies or that of the data from the 2017 study. Early recognition of life-threatening injury continues to be a priority during the assessment of traumatically injured patients. In conjunction with a thorough history and physical examination, POCUS is a very effective method to identify these potentially devastating injuries, especially in the air medical community. When we compared this study's results with those of our study from 2017, the data were very similar, showing that flight crews can conduct POCUS examinations effectively in the austere prehospital environment. ConclusionBy replicating this study, we have shown the validity and continued quality, accuracy, and benefits of the POCUS eFAST examination of trauma patients in the air medical environment. The validity of our previous and now current research suggests that some current standard trauma protocol revisions are indicated (ie, the initiation of air medical trauma resuscitation with blood products, preferably whole blood, and the transport of critically injured patients with a positive POCUS examination for free abdominal fluid directly to the operating room should be closely evaluated).

Tick Species Composition, Collection Rates, and Phenology Provide Insights into Tick-Borne Disease Ecology in Virginia.

To better understand tick ecology in Virginia and the increasing Lyme disease incidence in western Virginia, a comparative phenological study was conducted in which monthly collections were performed at twelve sampling locations in southwestern Virginia (high Lyme disease incidence) and 18 equivalent sampling locations in southeastern Virginia (low Lyme disease incidence) for one year. In western Virginia, we also explored the effect of elevation on collection rates of Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae) and Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae). In total, 35,438 ticks were collected (33,106 A. americanum; 2,052 I. scapularis; 134 Ixodes affinis Neumann [Acari: Ixodidae]; 84 Dermacentor variabilis [Say] [Acari: Ixodidae]; 49 Dermacentor albipictus [Packard] [Acari: Ixodidae]; 10 Haemaphysalis leporispalustris [Packard] [Acari: Ixodidae]; 2 Ixodes brunneus Koch [Acari: Ixodidae]; 1 Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann [Acari: Ixodidae]). Within southwestern Virginia, Ixodes scapularis collection rates were not influenced by elevation, unlike A. americanum which were collected more frequently at lower elevations (e.g., below 500 m). Notably, I. scapularis larvae and nymphs were commonly collected in southwestern Virginia (indicating that they were questing on or above the leaf litter) but not in southeastern Virginia. Questing on or above the leaf litter is primarily associated with northern populations of I. scapularis. These findings may support the hypothesis that I. scapularis from the northeastern United States are migrating into western Virginia and contributing to the higher incidence of Lyme disease in this region. This comparative phenological study underscores the value of these types of studies and the need for additional research to further understand the rapidly changing tick-borne disease dynamics in Virginia.

Assortative mixing in eastern spadefoot (Scaphiopus holbrookii) spatial networks is driven by landscape features

AbstractBiotic and abiotic factors drive assortative mixing (preference for or sorting with individuals with similar characteristics) in animal populations on a landscape, with implications for dispersal, population structuring, and other ecological and evolutionary processes. However, patterns and generative mechanisms of assortative mixing are overlooked in amphibians outside of specific life history events such as reproduction. The aims of this project were to determine whether there is assortative mixing by size and life history category in eastern spadefoots (Scaphiopus holbrookii), whether these patterns are preserved across time and spatial scale, and quantify the nature and relative role of various habitat and soil features in explaining observed patterns in spatial organization of individuals. We conducted field surveys in southeastern Virginia, USA, in 2016 and 2017 during nonbreeding periods to create spatial networks of S. holbrookii. We quantified spatial assortativity by size and life history stage and evaluated the roles of multiple landscape features in explaining spatial organization of S. holbrookii. We found that S. holbrookii sorted spatially by size and sex outside of breeding periods, with juveniles and adults less likely to sort with each other. Within each life history stage, S. holbrookii sorted by size. These patterns were similar across time and spatial scale. Soil and habitat types had no effect on assortativity. Instead, the distance to nearest breeding pool, wetland, and meadow were related to life history stage assortativity, as well as size assortativity in males and subadults. Adult males and females displayed affinity for breeding pools and meadows and avoidance of other types of wetlands, while subadults and nonbreeding adults showed opposite patterns compared with breeding adults. Our results indicate that (1) previously established guidelines for the minimum size of buffer zones to protect wetland‐breeding amphibians may be inadequate, (2) nonbreeding wetlands may be important core habitat for subadults, and (3) the upland spatial organization of amphibians may be used to predict locations of undetected breeding pools.

Characterizing Sea Turtle Bycatch in the Recreational Hook and Line Fishery in Southeastern Virginia, USA

Although commercial hook and line fisheries pose a well-documented and significant threat to worldwide sea turtle populations, recreational hook and line fisheries remain understudied. This article describes information from sea turtle bycatch reported from interactions in the recreational hook and line fishery, as well as survey results from recreational anglers in Virginia from 2014 through 2018. Reports of interactions increased annually during the study with Kemp's ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) reported most frequently (n = 162), followed by 45 loggerheads (Caretta caretta), 6 green turtles (Chelonia mydas), and 39 unidentified sea turtles. Commonly encountered bait types were similar between surveyed anglers and bait used during turtle interactions, with significantly more squid bait noted during turtle interactions (51%) than used by surveyed anglers (29%) (χ2 = 41.32, p < 0.0001). Additionally, bloodworms and artificial bait were encountered comparatively less frequently during turtle interactions. Overall, interactions with the hook and line recreational fishery in Virginia appear opportunistic and involve otherwise healthy animals, presenting limited means for mitigating sea turtle bycatch. In the absence of regulatory oversight of bycaught sea turtles in the recreational fishery, mitigating injury from these interactions through targeted outreach provides a short-term solution to reducing the severity of these inevitable interactions.

“Yo era la única rara:” School Belonging and English-Learner Students at a Southeastern Virginia High School

ABSTRACT This study draws on interviews and classroom observations with Latinx, English Learners (ELs) at a high school in Southeastern Virginia to analyze how this group of students builds social connections and constructs “belonging” at school. Findings indicate that these EL students’ school experiences are framed by underdeveloped and ad hoc educational and support infrastructures aimed at serving their needs. Students turned to those with whom they shared language, culture, and ethnic affiliations to build networks of support; however, often these strategies to belong did not facilitate ongoing connections with students“ English-speaking counterparts, hampering relationship-building within the broader school community. We argue that school programming and institutional practices that holistically addressed these students’ language, social, and educational needs, while incorporating their strengths as multicultural agents, would foster increased school belonging and alleviate a situation in which these students must choose between supportive relationships and acceptance and greater progress toward meeting academic goals. To deliver a truly equitable education to these students, schools must adopt reforms that address racial inequities and recognize these students” strengths and resilience as possessors of essential skills for navigating life in today’s multicultural society.

The Yorktown Formation: Improved Stratigraphy, Chronology, and Paleoclimate Interpretations from the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain

The Yorktown Formation records paleoclimate conditions along the mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain during the mid-Piacenzian Warm Period (3.264 to 3.025 Ma), a climate interval of the Pliocene in some ways analogous to near future climate projections. To gain insight into potential near future changes, we investigated Yorktown Formation outcrops and cores in southeastern Virginia, refining the stratigraphic framework. We analyzed 485 samples for alkenone-based sea surface temperature (SST) and productivity estimates from the Holland and Dory cores, an outcrop at Morgarts Beach, Virginia, and the lectostratotype of the Yorktown Formation at Rushmere, Virginia, and analyzed planktonic foraminferal assemblage data from the type section. Using the structure of the SST record, we improved the chronology of the Yorktown Formation by establishing the maximum age ranges of the Rushmere (3.3–3.2 Ma) and Morgarts Beach (3.2–3.15 Ma) Members. SST values for these members average ~26 °C, corroborating existing sclerochronological data. Increasing planktonic foraminifer abundance, productivity, and species diversity parallel increasing SST over the MIS M2/M1 transition. These records constitute the greatest temporal concentration of paleoecological estimates within the Yorktown Formation, aiding our understanding of western North Atlantic temperature patterns, seasonality and ocean circulation during this interval. We provide a chronologic framework for future studies analyzing ecological responses to profound climate change.

Identifying southern yellow pine cross sections from the southeastern United States using quadratic discriminant analysis on pith and second annual ring diameters

Southern yellow pine specimens collected from historical structures, stumps, and coarse woody debris in forests have been difficult to identify at the species level due to similar wood anatomy. This can be problematic for dendrochronologists when identifying the correct species used in the construction of historical structures, or reconstructing forest history on the landscape and using those specimens in the context of that history. We applied a quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA) to update a century-old method plotting pith diameters against second annual ring diameters to discern one species of southern yellow pine from others. Our analysis estimates error rates for false positive and false negative determinations when comparing longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) to shortleaf (Pinus echinata Mill.) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). The cross-validated false positive error rates for the smallest dataset (n = 46), was nearly twice (9.52%) that determined as a simple proportion by counting errant observations (4.76%). QDA of the largest dataset (n = 206) gave a flatter zero contour and false positive rate (3.13%) like the proportionally determined value (1.56%), despite one additional observation being falsely assigned to longleaf pine by QDA. An unknown, unearthed southern pine specimen from southeastern Virginia was radiocarbon dated up to 500 years prior and assigned as longleaf by our method (probability ≥ 0.9998). Thus, through a QDA, it is possible to greatly improve confidence in identifications of key unknown specimens that can provide evidence of discerning one species, longleaf pine, from other southern yellow pines.