2016 ARCHIVES | Oral & Poster Presentation Abstracts
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Fisheries Track - Oral Presentations
Wildlife Track - Oral Presentations
Information & Education Track - Oral Presentations
Law Enforcement Track - Oral Presentations
Special Symposia - Oral Presentations
- Symposium #1: Assessing Benefits of NRCS Early Successional Habitat Practices to at-risk Species - April 4, 2016 / 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
- Symposium #2: Wildlife and Habitat in Urban and Developed Landscape - April 5, 2016 / 8:00 AM - 9:40 AM
- Symposium #3: New Issues and Information Needs for Rapidly Changing and Emerging Recreational Fisheries - April 5, 2016 1:00 PM - 2:40 PM
- Symposium #4: Intersections of Road-Stream Crossings, Fish, Wildlife, and Aquatic Continuity in the Northeastern U.S. - April 5, 2016 - 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
All Tracks - Poster Presentations
Fisheries Track - Oral Presentations
FISHERIES #1 — Room: Capitol C April 4, 2016 / 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM |
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F1-1 4/4/2016 1:00 PM - 1:20 PM Professional |
Bringing the Past Into the Future: 100 Years of Fisheries Information at Your Fingertips Stolarski, Jason, T., Massachusetts Division of Fisheries; Leanda Fontaine-Gagnon, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife has collected information on lotic and lentic systems throughout its 150 year history. These data date back as far as 1890 and document the rich history of individual waterbodies but also The Division as a whole through qualitative descriptions, correspondences, pictures, and quantitative data. To preserve this information and make it more accessible, we compiled a digital archive to house electronic copies of these historical documents. Quantitative data encountered during this process were flagged and entered into a database for future analyses. A geospatial retrieval system was created within GIS that allows users to instantly view historic and modern data with the click of a button. Data included in this archive will be used to guide future sampling efforts, examine changes in community composition over long time frames, and rapidly inform biologists about the history of a waterbody so to enable the most informed fisheries management decisions possible. |
F1-2 4/4/2016 1:20 PM - 1:40 PM Professional |
Paying Respect to the Elders in Marine Recreational Fisheries Management Amanda Caskenette, University of Connecticut; Jason Vokoun, University of Connecticut; Eric T. Schultz, University of Connecticut Larger and older individuals often produce disproportionally large numbers of future recruits, because of allometry in batch fecundity, offspring size, and spawning frequency. Unfortunately, such so-called maternal effects are not typically accounted for in evaluating the potential effect of management regulations on stock sustainability. Furthermore, minimum length regulations that maximize harvest often do so at the expense of maintaining a natural size-structure in the population, with the potential to cause severe size-truncation. We adapted a structured population model to incorporate maternal effects and alternate length limits to the fishery, including a range of minimum length limits and harvested slot limits. We calibrated the model to represent Tautog, a marine fish species with a substantial recreational fishery that is chronically overfished, and included other representative life history patterns. We found that the impact of alternate length limits on biological reference points was sensitive to maternal effects. In particular, stock sustainability was enhanced by restricting the harvest of elders, when offspring quantity increases disproportionally with maternal size as well as when offspring quality increases with maternal size . We call for more empirical work on maternal effects and their incorporation into stock assessments and management strategies. |
F1-3 4/4/2016 1:40 PM - 2:00 PM Professional |
Indicator-based Assessment of Forage Status and Well-being of Striped Bass in Upper Chesapeake Bay Jim Uphoff, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service; John Jacobs, NOAA NOS; Mark Matche, Maryland Department of Natural Resources; Jim Price, Chesapeake Bay Ecological Foundation Monitoring of striped bass health (1998-2013), relative abundance (1983-2013), natural mortality (1987-2012), and forage relative abundance in surveys (1959-2013) and fall diets of striped bass (2006-2013) provided indicators to assess forage status and striped bass well-being in Maryland’s portion of Chesapeake Bay. Striped bass abundance rose rapidly during the mid-1990s and was followed by declines of Atlantic menhaden, bay anchovy, spot, and blue crab (major prey) to historical lows. Estimates of proportion without body fat indicated striped bass were typically in poor condition and vulnerable to starvation and disease during fall, 1998-2013. Condition was related to striped bass relative abundance; the relationship was described by an ascending curve with a plateau of proportion without body fat (~0.70) at high relative abundance. Striped bass were in good condition during 2008-2010 when their relative abundance was at a mid-level, proportion of stomachs without food was low, and some forage indices were higher. Age-0 Atlantic menhaden dominated biomass of fall diets even though their relative abundance was low. Correlations among survey and diet-based forage indices suggested that fall diets of striped bass less than 457 mm were more sensitive to major prey shifts than diets of larger striped bass. Instantaneous annual natural mortality estimates for striped bass in Chesapeake Bay increased from 0.26 to 0.82 shortly after forage-to-striped bass ratios fell to a nadir in the mid-1990s. Compensatory processes that intensified under regulation for highly abundant striped bass may undercut anticipated fishery and escapement outcomes from low fishing mortality. |
F1-4 4/4/2016 2:00 PM - 2:20 PM Student |
A Comparison of the Use of Trawls and Traps for Assessing the Relative Abundance of Juvenile Black Sea Bass, Centropristis Striata, in the Maryland Coastal Bays Rebecca Peters, Department of Natural Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore; Paulinus Chigbu, Department of Natural Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore Marine species with a high affinity for structured habitats allow fishermen to easily find and harvest them. However, this makes it difficult for fishery scientists to assess their populations because certain gear cannot be used around these habitats. This is true for black sea bass, Centropristis striata, which is considered data poor due to the uncertainty of trawls that assess their abundance. Juvenile C. striata abundance in the Maryland Coastal Bays (MCBs) is currently assessed by annual trawl surveys from April to October. We designed a survey in 2015 using traps set near structured areas throughout the MCBs and compared the catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) with CPUE based on trawls conducted by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. CPUE was higher each month from April to October in traps, but peaked in August with both gears. C. striata was caught in traps but not trawls in May and October. Lengths (TL, mm) differed significantly (p < 0.05) for April, June, July, and September, with trawls finding smaller fish sizes in April and June and larger sizes in July and September. Length frequency analysis from the trap survey indicates that there are three year classes of C. striata, with smaller individuals (young-of-the-year) entering the MCBs in July. In contrast, length frequency analysis from trawl data showed only one year class was found in 2015, suggesting trawls may not be effective in estimating new recruits each year. These differences may be, in part, due to the relatively small number of fish caught in the trawls. |
CANCELLED: F1-5 2:20 PM - 2:40 PM |
CANCELLED: Characterizing Bite Marks for the Identification of Depredation Sources in New England Sink-gillnet Fisheries Laura N. Sirak, Boston Museum of Science; Kathryn Ono, University of New England |
BREAK / 2:40 PM - 3:20 PM | |
F1-6 4/4/2016 3:20 PM - 3:40 PM Professional |
Restoration of American Eel to the Susquehanna River Watershed and the Potential Impacts to Eastern Elliptio Populations Julie L. Devers; Heather S. Galbraith; Carrie J. Blakeslee; Jeffery Cole; William Lellis; Steve Minkkinen - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service American eel (Anguilla rostrata) occupies a unique niche in estuarine and freshwater habitats along the Atlantic coast but has experienced a range-wide population decline during recent decades. The Chesapeake Bay watershed supports a large portion of the eel population, but a sizable geographic area is blocked to natural migration due to dams on the lower part of the Susquehanna River. In 2008, USFWS began stocking eels above dams to evaluate their reintroduction. Eastern elliptio is a common freshwater mussel species in the eastern US; it is highly abundant in almost all Atlantic coast watersheds, although along with other mussel species, its populations have been documented to be in decline. Work conducted by USGS suggests that one of the reasons this species may be less abundant and have lower recruitment in the Susquehanna River Watershed is the use of a host fish, recently documented to be American eel. Following targeted eel stocking in tributaries to the Susquehanna River with relatively high abundance of eastern elliptio in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013, monitoring conducted in 2014 and 2015 indicates increased eastern elliptio recruitment and widespread distribution of stocked eels. The presence of healthy freshwater mussel beds provides streambed stability, water filtration, and increased macroinvertebrate biodiversity. Permanent eel passage could lead to improved ecological function in the watershed. |
F1-7 4/4/2016 3:40 PM - 4:00 PM Professional |
Migratory Fish Restoration in the Susquehanna River Sheila Eyler, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Historically, the Susquehanna River supported large populations of migratory fish, including American Shad, river herring and American Eel, but those populations have declined with the construction of dams restricting access to spawning and nursery habitat. Resource Agencies have been implementing efforts to restore migratory fish to the river dating back to the mid-1800s, and those levels have been met with varying levels of success. Since the 1960’s, a multi-state and federal group, currently known as the Susquehanna Anadromous Fish Restoration Cooperative, spearheaded a large scale restoration program, primarily focused on American Shad. Restoration efforts included stocking juvenile shad, trap and transporting adults around the mainstem dams onto the spawning grounds and directing the four hydroelectric dams on the lower 60 miles of the mainstem to provide fish passage facilities. This intensive restoration program culminated with peak American Shad passage at the Conowingo Dam in the early 2000s, followed by a steady decline in passage through 2015. The cessation of the trap and transport program, reductions in shad fry stockings, and poor upstream passage efficiency at the mainstem dams have contributed to the current poor passage numbers at Conowingo Dam. In an effort to reinvigorate restoration, efforts to improve fish passage have recently occurred at Holtwood Dam, with improvements to fish passage facilities at York Haven Dam and Conowingo Dam to be coming in the future. Trap and transport of American Eel passage has also been initiated to support restoration of that species. |
F1-8 4/4/2016 4:00 PM - 4:20 PM Professional |
Management and Monitoring of American Eel (Anguilla Rostrata) in Delaware Waters Jordan Zimmerman, Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife; Ed Hale, Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife; John Clark, Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife The American Eel (Anguilla rostrata) supports a large commercial fishery in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States (83.6 to 136 MT annually over the last 10 years). Perceived population declines in the northern part of the American Eel’s range have led to more intensive management of the species throughout its US range over the last 15 years culminating most recently with a USFWS evaluation of population status to ascertain if Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing was warranted. American Eels are managed in the United States by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) which recently implemented two addenda to the interstate fishery management plan, in order to reduce harvest across all life stages of this species. As a member state of the ASMFC, Delaware is required to monitor commercial landings and young-of-the-year (YOY) abundance. Commercial landings in Delaware remained relatively stable from 1999 to 2007, when bait shortages resulted in an involuntary reduction in fishing pressure and subsequent decrease in landings. However, record high glass eel abundance has been documented in two of the last four years (2012, 2013; Total Catch > 400,000 individuals) demonstrating that American Eel recruitment to Delaware waters remains at relatively high levels. Similar trends in seasonal peak ingress events of glass eels have been previously documented at Roosevelt Inlet, DE. Relative to other survey locations along the Mid-Atlantic, my findings demonstrate that Delaware is an important juvenile nursery for American Eels. |
F1-9 4/4/2016 4:20 PM - 4:40 PM Professional |
Running with Renewal: Reflections on the Penobscot River Restoration Project; Its Accomplishments and Efforts to Restore Sea-run Fisheries While Maintaining Energy Production George P. Aponte Clarke, Deputy Director, Penobscot River Restoration Trust; Laura Rose Day, Executive Director, Penobscot River Restoration Trust Dams have impeded fish in Maine’s Penobscot River for centuries, blocking connections between inland waters and the sea; people and the river. Populations of sea-run fish, once measured in millions, plummeted to fractions of their historic counts. In 2004, an innovative agreement between the Penobscot Indian Nation, a hydropower company, conservation groups, and resource agencies resolved decades of conflict over fisheries and hydropower. The Penobscot River Restoration Project, a collaborative initiative to restore self-sustaining populations of sea-run fish, charted the strategic removal of multiple barriers while also rebalancing hydropower. Three dams were purchased and decommission with the two lowermost removed and a nature-like bypass channel built around one further upstream by the Penobscot River Restoration Trust, a non-profit working with numerous partners to implement the project. All told, 11 species of native fishes will gain significantly improved access to critical habitat within nearly 1,000 miles (1609 km) of watershed while maintaining hydropower. These include Atlantic salmon, short-nose and Atlantic sturgeon, shad, alewives, and eel. In 2015, 727,000 alewives passed the former Veazie dam along with 1806 shad, a dramatic increase from pre-Project counts. Terrestrial and avian wildlife will also benefit from this “refueled” system. By taking a whole-system approach, the Project promises renewed ecological function, cultural interactions, and economic activities throughout this Maine watershed and Gulf of Maine. This presentation will inform managers, resource specialist, and restoration interests by sharing steps taken to achieve this balance. Knowledge will be transferred through a summary of Project implementation, accomplishments and lessons learned. |
F1-10 4/4/2016 4:40 PM - 5:00 PM Professional |
An early juvenile (age 0-1) Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) abundance estimate and habitat usage within the Delaware River Estuary, USA Edward A. Hale*, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Fish and Wildlife; Ian A. Park, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Fish and Wildlife; Matthew T. Fisher, Virginia Institute of Marine Science; Richard A. Wong, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Fish and Wildlife; Michael J. Stangl, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Fish and Wildlife; John H. Clark, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Fish and Wildlife The Atlantic Sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus is a long lived, highly fecund and late maturing anadromous fish that historically supported a significant commercial fishery along the eastern coast of North America. Overfishing led to significant population declines with contributions from other anthropogenic impacts which continue to impede recovery. Despite the 2012 endangered species listing of five distinct Atlantic Sturgeon population segments, including the New York Bight population segment, to which the Delaware River spawning stock belongs, relatively little is known about the current population status of natal river populations. The adult population within the Delaware River Estuary is estimated to be less than several hundred individuals. Our work is the first to estimate the abundance of Delaware River Estuary early juvenile (age 0-1), resident Atlantic Sturgeon. Using the Schumacher and Eschmeyer mark-recapture estimator for multiple censuses, we estimated 3,656 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1,979-23,895) individuals used the Delaware River Estuary as a natal nursery in 2014. Further, we identified key habitat areas where age 0-1 juveniles spend considerable amounts of time including the Marcus Hook area within the Delaware River Estuary using a passive acoustic receiver array. |
FISHERIES #2 — Room: Capitol C April 5, 2016 / 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
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F2-1 4/5/2016 8:00 AM - 8:20 AM Student |
Thiamine Deficiency in Lake Ontario Steelhead Trout Matthew Futia, State University of New York at Brockport; Sage Hallenbeck, State University of New York at Brockport; Jacques Rinchard, State University of New York at Brockport In fall 2014, some steelhead trout returning to the Salmon River, New York were found to be distressed with abnormal swimming behavior. Some unusual mortality cases were also reported by fishermen. Distressed individuals showed low levels of thiamine in their muscle and liver. As a result, NYSDEC personnel from the Salmon River Fish Hatchery injected some adult fish with thiamine (50 mg/kg) to improve their health conditions and ensure successful egg production. In spring 2015, we collected eggs from adults treated or not with thiamine at the Salmon River Fish Hatchery to evaluate their thiamine concentration. In addition, some eggs were fertilized and treated or not with thiamine (2000 ppm). Eggs were then incubated and mortality was assessed until first-feeding. Egg thiamine was measured using high performance liquid chromatography. The presentation will include the prevalence and severity of early mortality syndrome in Lake Ontario steelhead trout, the effectiveness of thiamine treatments both in adults and eggs as well as the relationships between thiamine levels and alevin survival. |
F2-2 4/5/2016 8:20 AM - 8:40 AM Student |
Interactive Effects of Temperature, Turbidity, and Fish on Aquatic Primary Producer Biomass Jonathan Stetler, Paul Smith’s College; Nick Barrett, Miami University; María J. Gonzalez; Miami University Climate change models predict increases in temperature and precipitation, which will lead to changes in environmental factors controlling primary producer biomass in lakes and reservoirs such as water temperature, light, and nutrient conditions. In aquatic food webs, alterations in primary producer biomass can travel up the food chain (bottom-up effects). However, the presence of fish can also influence primary producer biomass (top-down effects). Thus, temperature and turbidity conditions may differentially affect phytoplankton and periphyton in the presence or absence of fish. The goal of this study was to investigate the independent and interactive effects of increased temperature and turbidity on primary producers in the presence and absence of fish. We conducted a field mesocosm experiment, using 5000L mesocosms. Our 3-way factorial experimental design manipulated temperature (ambient & +3°C), sediment addition (low and high turbidity), and fish presence. We observed differential effects of temperature, turbidity, and fish on phytoplankton and periphyton biomass. Overall phytoplankton biomass was significantly greater in the presence than absence of fish. A significant interactive effect indicates that phytoplankton biomass was significantly higher under increased sediment inputs, but only in the presence of fish. Also, the positive effect of increased turbidity on phytoplankton was greater with increased temperature. Periphyton was only positively affected by increased turbidity. Our results suggest complex effects of temperature, nutrient, and light variation associated with climate change scenarios on overall aquatic primary producer biomass. Furthermore, effects depended on food-chain length. |
F2-3 4/5/2016 8:40 AM - 9:00 AM Professional |
An Assessment of the Effects of Herbicide Treatments on Target and Non-target Plants, Dissolved Oxygen and Fish in Two New Hampshire Lakes John A. Magee, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Dissolved oxygen and turbidity data were collected and qualitative visual observations of aquatic plants were made in Drew Lake and Scobie Pond, NH, in 2013, 2014 and 2015. A standardized fish survey was conducted in Drew Lake in 2015. In 2013, site visits were performed several weeks before and weekly for eight weeks after herbicide treatments. In 2014 and 2015, no herbicide treatment was conducted in Drew Lake and site visits were done three to five times during the summer. Native plants were impacted in both waterbodies in 2013. In Drew Lake, about 50-75% of the leaves of white waterlily died and watershield and yellow waterlily nearly disappeared in one cove in 2014, with the complete disappearance of both in the same cove by 2015. The impacts on native plants were much less at Scobie Pond. Dissolved oxygen concentrations at Drew Lake in 2013 were below 5 mg/L throughout the water column at nearly all sites in 2013, beginning about three weeks after the herbicide treatment and lasting for several weeks, and an algal bloom containing two cyanobacteria species formed several weeks after the treatment. Dissolved oxygen values in 2014 and 2015 were >5 mg/L at all but one site, at all depths and on all dates despite similar water temperatures as in 2013. The 2012 and 2013 year classes of largemouth bass were of particularly low relative abundance compared to earlier and later year classes. |
F2-4 4/5/2016 9:00 AM - 9:20 AM Student |
Minimum Effective Population Size of the Invasive Northern Snakehead (Channa Argus) in the Potomac River Zeke Gonzalez, University of Maryland; Isha Agarwal, UMD; Lauren Amrhein, UMD; Bobby Fitzgerald, UMD; Skyler Golt, UMD; Yasmine Hentati, UMD; Brian Kang, UMD; Trevor Mills, UMD; Yvette Mann, UMD; Gregory Mathews, UMD; Natalie Watts, UMD; Dr. Thomas Miller To address the extent to which possible increases in abundance of Northern snakehead (Channa argus), an invasive fish species, represents a threat to the Potomac River ecosystem, we estimated its minimum effective population size, Ne. Ne is an estimate of the genetic diversity in the population and is estimated as the abundance of an ideal population that would have the same level of genetic variance as that observed in the sample. To estimate Ne, we sampled fin clips from 79 snakehead in a tributary of the Potomac River. DNA was extracted and amplified by PCR using standard methods. We quantified the diversity and distribution of microsatellite markers, derived from previous research, in our samples. We used the NeEstimator software to determine a minimum effective population size of 20. Because our sample size (n = 79) is more than three times larger than our minimum effective population size (Ne = 20), it suggests that the snakehead population in the Potomac River has very low genetic diversity. We hypothesize that because the effective size is much lower than the census size, a strong founder effect resulting from a small initial introduction, possibly as low as three or four breeding pairs, is still present in the population. |
F2-5 4/5/2016 9:20 AM - 9:40 AM Professional |
Recent Changes in the Population of Northern Snakehead (Channa Argus) in the Potomac River Joshua Newhard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; John Odenkirk, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries; Luke Lyon, D.C. Department of Energy and Environment Northern Snakehead, a species native to Asia, has been established in the Potomac River drainage since at least 2004. Since then, it has become widespread throughout much of the Potomac River drainage, in addition to other river systems throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. A mark-recapture program to examine growth and movement of Northern Snakehead in the Potomac began in 2009, as population density appeared to be increasing. In 2013, tagging methods changed so that population size of Northern Snakehead could be estimated within selected tributaries (Little Hunting Creek (LHC) and Upper Anacostia (UA)). Abundance within both tributaries appeared to be stable between 2013 and 2014. However, a precipitous drop in snakehead abundance was observed in 2015, especially in LHC. Moreover, there were changes in the size structure of the population. From 2009-2014 the most abundant size class captured was between 550-650 mm (TL); however, in 2015 the most abundant size class was 300-350 mm. In part, these changes may be due to an increase in harvest. Recreational fishing mortality increased over the period from 2009-2015. In particular, bowfishing for Northern Snakehead has become popular, with some anglers capable of harvesting 200 pounds of fish in one night. In addition, commercial harvest of Northern Snakehead has increased nearly 10-fold from 2012 to 2015. |
BREAK / 9:40 AM - 10:20 AM | |
F2-6 4/5/2016 10:20 AM - 10:40 AM Student |
An Investigation of Stickleback Phenotypic Anatomy in Central Maine Brian Eaton, Pamela MacRae, David Potter - Unity College Sticklebacks are a group of small-bodied fish that can live in variety of habitats, including marine and freshwater, across the northern hemisphere. Threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), ninespine stickleback (Pungitius pungitius), and fourspine stickleback (Apeltes quadracus) can exhibit rapid phenotypic adaptations in response to their habitat (marine vs. freshwater) and predatory community (piscivorous macroinvertebrates vs. fish). Phenotypes exhibited by sticklebacks include varying dorsal, anal, and pelvic spine lengths, and the presence or absence of lateral plates. This study examined these characteristics of stickleback species found on Allen Island, St. George, Maine and compared them to sticklebacks collected in Knox County and Central Maine. Through the aid of flesh clearing and bone staining, stickleback plates and spines were compared among populations of stickleback collected. Data collected will help determine how the selected population’s morphologies have responded to their habitat and predation within their communities. |
F2-7 4/5/2016 10:40 AM - 11:00 AM Professional |
Integrating Stream Habitat Connectivity Restoration into Local Flood Hazard Mitigation Planning in Connecticut’s Northwest Hills Michael Jastremski, CFM and Ryan Williams, Housatonic Valley Association; Paul Woodworth, Princeton Hydro LLC; Xinyi Shen, Ph.D., Lanxin Hu, and Emmanouil N. Anagnostou, Ph.D., Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut Over 500 road-stream crossings in sub-watersheds of the Housatonic River known to support Eastern Brook Trout have been targeted for field assessment, prioritization and selective replacement design using a combination of existing protocols and new approaches. Initial field assessment by HVA will utilize protocols established by the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC). Prioritization will be based on (1) habitat restoration value (i.e. amount and quality of habitat reconnected by restoring AOP at each crossing); (2) flood hazard mitigation potential as a composite of hydraulic capacity/risk of failure and structure criticality (i.e. impact of failure to the transportation network); and crossing condition/maintenance need. Habitat restoration value will be assessed using results of the University of Massachusetts’ Critical Linkages model in consultation with CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection-Inland Fisheries Division staff. Hydraulic capacity will be assessed by UCONN utilizing flood frequency analysis based on a 35-year atmospheric reanalysis dataset, a physically-based distributed hydrologic model of the Housatonic River watershed and a customized culvert hydraulic model. Results of these assessments will be used to develop comprehensive road-stream crossing inventory documents for seven northwest CT towns with territory in target sub-watersheds. The documents will serve as the basis for collaboration with town highway managers, emergency services and other decision-makers to replace high priority road-stream crossings. Selected road-stream crossings will be advanced to conceptual design utilizing USFS stream simulation guidance by Princeton Hydro. Conceptual designs and supporting information will be bundled with the inventory document as a Road-Stream Crossing Management Plan and adopted as an annex to each town’s Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Management Plans will formally integrate stream habitat restoration priorities into local flood hazard mitigation planning and increase local capacity to take advantage of opportunities to improve stream habitat connectivity and reduce flood risk at road/stream crossings, including capital planning and regular maintenance, grant programs, and recovery operations in the wake of the next flood. |
F2-8 4/5/2016 11:00 AM - 11:20 AM Student |
Response of Fish Assemblage Composition in the Mullica-Great Bay Estuary to Climate Change Katherine Nickerson, Rutgers University Marine Field Station; Thomas Grothues, Rutgers University Marine Field Station; Ken Able, Rutgers University Marine Field Station Climate change is predicted to drive poleward shifts in species range as temperatures increase. Marine fishes are an important, but challenging study organism for observing these range shifts, as they track local climate velocities, are ectothermic, and are highly sensitive to temperature changes. However, they are also highly migratory, which affects the location of their progeny upon spawning, and may use estuarine habitats as a resource during favorable conditions, rather than a long-term habitat. Using a data series collected via biannual otter trawl at the Rutgers University Marine Field Station from 1998 to present, we examined the change in composition of juvenile fish assemblages in the Mullica-Great Bay estuarine system over time and in association with climate data. We attempt to quantify whether the assemblage has shifted to contain more southern species and fewer northern species over time, and whether there is a link between the observed changes in fish assemblage composition, and the changes in climate observed via environmental monitoring efforts within the system. We also attempt to address difficulties presented by the limitations of the data set, which does not reflect duration of species’ estuarine stays given its biannual nature. Future analysis will include examination of long term and episodic climate trends within the system. We will also attempt to account for the effects of large-scale climate oscillations, such as North Atlantic Oscillation. |
F2-9 4/5/2016 11:20 AM - 11:40 AM Student |
Environmental and Seasonal Factors Influencing Brown Trout (Salmo Trutta) Movement in the Little Juniata River Emily Nye, Juniata College; Stevie Kitching, Juniata College; Megan Lemmo, Juniata College; Tori Gray, Juniata College The objective of our study was to identify factors that influence the movement of brown trout (Salmo trutta) in the Little Juniata River, tributary of the Juniata River in the Susquehanna River watershed. Brown trout are a non-native species popular in Pennsylvania for recreational sport fishing. The optimal water temperature range for brown trout is between 12°-19°C; temperatures of 27°C and higher are lethal. Stretches of the Little Juniata regularly exceed 27°C each summer. To track their movement, we surgically implanted Lotek MST930MT transmitters into fish starting in March 2015. We search for these trout once per week, and will continue monitoring until July 2016. We found that under optimal water temperatures and high flow, fish movement was primarily driven by storm events. Most of the fish in our study moved out of the main channel of the Little Juniata between August and September, when water temperatures were above 20˚C and flow was below 200 cfs. We found several dropped transmitters in the stream bed between July and August. Based on the condition of the transmitters and a review of the literature, we assumed that some of the transmitters were being expelled by fish. We implanted dummy transmitters into thirty hatchery trout to measure the proportion of fish that expel transmitters, and the mode of expulsion. Because of the small starting sample size and the large proportion of expelled transmitters, we plan to implant more units into trout to improve the robustness of our findings. |
F2-10 4/5/2016 11:40 AM - 12:00 PM Student |
Restoring the Connection Between Brook Trout Populations Within an Appalachian Watershed Darren M. Wood, Amy B. Welsh, J. Todd Petty - West Virginia University Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) are a species of concern within their native range due to a historical loss of habitat, overfishing, and stocking of non-native salmonids. Road culverts have been recognized as an additional impediment to population persistence as movement between diverse habitat types has been identified as an alternative life-history strategy to maximize both growth and reproduction. Brook trout were genetically analyzed using a suite of 13 microsatellite loci above 7 culverts with varying levels of passability classified through a physical protocol. While most sites were not found to have losses in genetic diversity, populations above culverts with a high outlet drop were found to have significant population differentiation when compared to streams with passable culverts and streams without culverts. Additionally, restoration of two road culverts determined to be impassable, occurred on two second order streams: Beaver Creek in June 2011 and Lamothe Hollow in June 2013. Genetic assignment within one year of restoration identified five individuals at Beaver Creek (13.2%) and one individual at Lamothe Hollow (4.5%) to be first generation migrants. The results of this study emphasize the importance of uninterrupted connection between populations and highlight the success of such restoration projects. |
FISHERIES #3 — Room: Capitol C April 5, 2016 / 3:20 PM - 5:00 PM |
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CANCELLED: F3-1 3:20 PM - 3:40 PM |
CANCELLED: Impact of Unprecedented High River Temperatures on Columbia Basin Sockeye Salmon Returning in 2015 Jeffrey K Fryer, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission |
F3-2 4/5/2016 3:40 PM - 4:00 PM Professional |
Monitoring American Shad (Alosa Sapidissima) in the Delaware Portion of the Nanticoke River Johnny E Moore, Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife; Michael Stangl, Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife The Nanticoke River is a major tributary of the Chesapeake Bay which headwaters form in Delaware and flows through Maryland into the bay. The Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife manages several key species within the Nanticoke River including American Eel (Anguilla rostrate), American Shad (Alosa sapidissima), and Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis). A moratorium on the commercial and recreational harvest of American Shad in the Delaware portion of the river has been in place since 2000. The Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife operates an American shad hatchery and, since its inception in 2005, has produced an estimated average of roughly 500,000 shad fry marked with oxytetracycline (OTC) per year for stocking in the Nanticoke River. My research focuses on abundance and movement of American Shad in the upper portion of the Nanticoke River located in Delaware. We used acoustic telemetry to monitor movement and residency patterns of male and female adult American shad during their spawning season within the upper Nanticoke River. We collected over 8000 detections from 18 of the 20 American Shad implanted with transmitters in 2015. Juvenile shad are sampled every year using a haul seine from July-October on the Nanticoke River. The Juvenile Abundance Index (JAI) has risen in the Nanticoke River since monitoring began in 1999. The percent of hatchery reared fish recaptured during sampling ranges from 0-35 % annually. |
F3-3 4/5/2016 4:00 PM - 4:20 PM Professional |
Evaluating Effects of Conductivity Increases on Herring Spawning Habitat Margaret McGinty; Jim Uphoff; Carrie Hoover; Alexis Park - Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service We evaluated impacts of urbanization on anadromous blueback herring, alewife, and hickory shad (herring) stream spawning in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay watersheds representing a gradient of urbanization. Proportion of samples with herring eggs or larvae declined with increases in impervious surface and conductivity. Conductivity increased beyond historical and baseline levels with increasing development. We have since deployed continuous monitoring meters in various subwatersheds to observe the influence of urbanization on conductivity in streams with high density of development and roads and those dominated by forest. In this presentation we will review results to date and describe future plans to pinpoint the specific source of increased conductivity in order to develop pragmatic management approaches. |
F3-4 4/5/2016 4:20 PM - 4:40 PM Professional |
Managing Chesapeake Bay's Land Use, Fish Habit and Fisheries: Developing and Applying Impervious Surface Reference Points Jim Uphoff, Margaret M. McGinty - Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service Development (measured as percent impervious surface in a watershed or IS) has added a major new ecological feature, suburbs and cities, to Chesapeake Bay watersheds. As development proceeds, multiple stressors of fish habitat (altered stream flow, nutrients, sediment, toxic contaminants, endocrine disruptors, etc.) accumulate. Productivity lowers and fisheries deteriorate as habitat becomes unsuitable for egg through adult life stages due to watershed development. We adapted the biological reference point target and threshold concept employed in marine fisheries management to develop watershed IS reference points (ISRPs). ISRPs should help regulators recognize levels of development that conserve fish habitat (target of 5% or less IS, a rural watershed) or degrade fish habitat (a suburban threshold of 10% IS). Application of ISRPs results in a triage approach for fisheries management, land conservation, and restoration activities. We recommend conserving remaining watersheds that are at the target level of development as the best strategy for maintaining productivity of Maryland’s fisheries. Egg-per-recruit models, commonly used to establish safe fishing mortality levels under equilibrium conditions, can be modified to relate ISRPs to safe fishing levels. |
F3-5 4/5/2016 4:40 PM - 5:00 PM Professional |
Manatees, Monsters, Marine Mammals and Museums - In Maryland?!? Twenty-five Years of Stranding Response Cindy P. Driscoll, Amanda Weschler - Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Fish & Wildlife Health; Audy Peoples, University of Maryland Eastern Shore; John Ososky, Smithsonian Institution, Division of Mammals In 1990 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources created the Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding Program at the Cooperative Oxford Laboratory. Since that time over 450 dead stranded marine mammals have been documented in MD including two manatees. Partners in stranding response include the Smithsonian Institution, the National Park Service, and the National Aquarium. Determining demographic trends is a key component in developing successful federal and state management strategies for marine mammal populations under both the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Interesting data include seventy-one cases (15.5%) with some sort of identified human interaction. In MD bottlenose dolphins strand more frequently than other species and most strandings occur during summer and fall months. The species associated with the most human interaction was the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) with 39.4% of total occurrences. In 2013 a record 72 marine mammals were reported dead on along the Atlantic Coast and in the Chesapeake Bay. This presentation will highlight 25 years of data collection, interesting cases, and legal considerations. |
Wildlife Track - Oral Presentations
WILDLIFE #1 — Room: Capitol A April 4, 2016 / 1:00 PM - 4:40 PM |
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W1-1 4/4/2016 1:00 PM - 1:20 PM Professional |
A Comparison of Split and Concurrent Firearms Deer Hunting Seasons in Pennsylvania Mark Damian Duda, Responsive Management; Coren Jagnow, Pennsylvania Game Commission In 2014, Responsive Management conducted a study for the Pennsylvania Game Commission to assess the differences in hunters’ expenditures during, satisfaction with, and attitudes toward deer hunting depending on whether they hunted a region with a split season or a concurrent season. Specifically, the Commission wanted to determine if one season structure would result in more hunter participation, greater economic impact, and/or higher satisfaction than the other season structure. For this study, Responsive Management conducted a survey of Pennsylvania hunters who had purchased an antlerless license. The survey explored differences between hunters who had hunted on a Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) that had a “split” season of 5 days and then 7 days and hunters who had hunted on a WMU that had a 12-day “concurrent” season. In some WMUs, the Regular Firearms season is a split season in which a hunter may hunt only antlered deer for the first 5 days and then may hunt both antlered and antlerless deer for the last 7 days of the season. In other WMUs, the Regular Firearms season is a 12-day concurrent antlered and antlerless deer season, meaning that a hunter may hunt antlered and antlerless deer each day for all 12 days of the season. The study results have implications on how agencies structure their hunting seasons and the factors that are most important to hunter satisfaction and participation. The presentation will cover the results of the study and explain their applications to agencies. |
W1-2 4/4/2016 1:20 PM - 1:40 PM Professional |
Cannibal Hunters: Infighting Derails Public Input Process in Eastern Virginia Peter K. Acker; Dustin R. Martin; VDGIF In anticipation of acquiring a new tract of public land to enlarge an existing Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) staff set out to gather public input from user groups on their hunting and whitetail deer management preferences. Brainstorming sessions among VDGIF staff gave several viable alternatives to offer users, and in the interest of providing recreation with the widest appeal, we sought input in reference to the following: antler restrictions, limiting hunter numbers, walk-in hunting, and prohibiting deer dogs. We compiled an online survey to distribute to hunters on the WMA and scheduled a follow-up public meeting nearby. However, we underestimated the effects of infighting between hunters, which distorted our public input process into an arena for argument. Southeastern Virginia is a hotbed of contention between two main hunting groups: those who chase deer with dogs and those who hunt without dogs, or “still hunt.” The issue is coming to a head as both parties feel that their rights are being violated and it derailed our efforts; our survey link was posted online multiple times, urging like-minded social media users to stand up for their side. We received 1,075 responses to the survey, primarily clumped into several 24- to 72-hour periods coinciding with posts online and on social media. Respondents within those clumps all left similar opinions and comments. This serves as a precautionary lesson to other states where divisive issues can interfere with public processes. |
W1-3 4/4/2016 1:40 PM - 2:00 PM Student |
Cause Specific Mortality During an Outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease; A Case for Compensatory Mortality? Jacob M. Haus, University of Delaware; Jacob L. Bowman, University of Delaware; Joseph E. Rogerson, Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) has the potential to complicate deer management through high rates of non-selective mortality. Due to unpredictable emergence and the highly localized nature of the disease, understanding the impacts of EHD on annual survival rates can be difficult. We monitored survival and cause specific mortality rates of adult females for 3 years (2010-2012) in southern Delaware. Survival rates were 43% (±11%) and 75% (±8%) during 2010 and 2011, respectively. Harvest accounted for 83% and 86% of mortalities and natural sources accounted for 8% and 0% of mortality in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Low survival in 2010 was attributed to abnormally high snowfall (127 cm) relative to the long term average (15 cm) during February. We observed a subsequent increase in fall movement rates which increased harvest probabilities. Annual survival rates for 2011 were similar to rates reported in recent literature. An outbreak of EHD occurred during summer 2012 throughout the study area, resulting in an annual survival rate of 38% (±11%). While overall annual mortality following EHD was comparable to 2010, harvest accounted for < 8% of all mortalities, and natural causes rose to 85% of all mortalities. Quantifying the effect of EHD on overall annual survival is difficult without a clear trend in non-disease year survival rates; however, mortality due to EHD may be partially compensatory due to severe reductions in harvest following an outbreak. The loss of selective harvest as a management tool however, will considerably hinder attempts to influence population sex and age structures. |
W1-4 4/4/2016 2:00 PM - 2:20 PM Student |
Black Bear Movement Patterns Within Developed Landscapes Evans, Michael J.; Hawley, Jason E.; Rego, Paul W.; Rittenhouse, Tracy A.G. - University of Connecticut As black bears occupy developed areas, it is important to understand how bears utilize developed landscapes. Our objective was to quantify selection for anthropogenic landscape features within a developed landscape at fine spatial and temporal scales using step-selection functions (SSF), contrasting strength of selection among bears between seasons, and according to reproductive status. Hourly GPS data was collected from 23 female bears in 2013, 22 in 2014, and 23 in 2015. We defined steps as successive relocations without missed fixes. We used area-weighted mean housing density within 95% kernel home ranges to represent land-use context. We constructed SSFs using natural habitat variables, then used AIC to rank models with additional anthropogenic variables. The housing model included distance to local roads, and whether steps ended in developed landcover. The road model included distance to highways, and whether steps crossed highways. Separate models were fit to summer (May – Aug) and fall (Sept. – Nov.) movement data for each bear. We then compared individual selection coefficients between seasons and reproductive status using ANOVA. Bears avoided roads across land-use contexts. Housing models were most supported for more bears in fall (44%) than summer (29%), with stronger selection for housing in fall (p < 0.01). Housing models were more supported for females with cubs (41%) than without (20%), but selection for housing decreased when females were with cubs (p < 0.01). These findings provide evidence for increased selection of housing among bears during fall hyperphagia, and greater avoidance of development by females with cubs. |
W1-5 4/4/2016 2:20 PM - 2:40 PM Student |
Effects of Climate, Food Availability, and Land Cover Types on the Population Dynamics of Black Bears (Ursus Americanus) in North Carolina Joe Folta, SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry; H. Brian Underwood, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center The abundance of black bears (Ursus americanus) in the Piedmont region of North Carolina have not been estimated because harvest data are lacking to conduct population reconstruction. We intend to show how food resources, land use-land cover types, and weather influence bear mortality and population rate of change. The abundance and quality of food available to bears, land use-land cover types, and climate can directly or indirectly affect bear movements, mortality, and reproduction. Seasonal migrations in search of food during the hyperfagia period can expose bears to various mortality sources. Abundant, high-quality food may delay den entry predisposing bears to greater hunting pressure. Climate patterns can influence the amount of forage available to bears, and thus affect nutrition levels that influence reproductive rates. We will quantify the effects of food, land cover type, and climate on the population dynamics of black bears in North Carolina. We will demonstrate how mortality is influenced by land cover types and food availability. We will show how food availability and bear abundance from the previous year affect the population rate of change (λ) and how climate (as measured by the North Atlantic Oscillation) mediate the effects of food availability and bear abundance on population rate of change. We also will show correlations between harvest mortality, non-harvest mortality, food availability, and land cover type. The results of these analyses will be applied to a simplified population model to test the assumptions of the population reconstruction method currently used in other regions of North Carolina. |
BREAK / 2:40 PM - 3:20 PM | |
CANCELLED: W1-6 3:20 PM - 3:40 PM |
CANCELLED: The Influence of Land Stewardship and Human Activities on Mammalian Habitat Use in Exurban Areas of the Adirondack Park, NY Michale J. Glennon, Ph.D., Wildlife Conservation Society, Heidi E. Kretser, Ph.D., Wildlife Conservation Society, Sarah E. Reed, Ph.D., Wildlife Conservation Society and Colorado State University |
W1-7 4/4/2016 3:40 PM - 4:00 PM Student |
Estimating Demographics of West Virginia Bobcats Stephanie M. Landry, West Virginia University; Richard E. Rogers, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources; Chris W. Ryan, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources; Amy B. Welsh, West Virginia University; James T. Anderson, West Virginia University Bobcats (Lynx rufus) are listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which requires state agencies to affirm stability of their populations before granting exportation authority to international markets. The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) has been using survival and reproductive data collected in the 1970s to guide management decisions. With current high harvest rates, it is critical to use updated demographic data. Our primary research objectives are to estimate age distribution, recruitment, and survival of West Virginia bobcats. Results will be used directly by WVDNR to update or modify the current change in population model used to determine harvest limits. Following mass public outreach, hunters and trappers across West Virginia donated 296 bobcat carcasses to the project over the 2014–2015 hunting and trapping season. Lower canines (n=296) and female reproductive organs (n=147) were collected during necropsy to estimate age at mortality and reproductive success. Age was estimated by counting cementum annuli of canines, and implantation rates were estimated by placental scar counts. Preliminary results indicate that yearling (1 - 2 years) bobcats represent 20% of the 296 bobcats collected, with kittens ( < 1 year; 20%) and adults (+2 years; 60%) representing the majority of the population. Preliminary implantation rates resulted in 2.18 kittens per adult female (n=88) and 0.63 kittens per yearling female (n=30). Accurate change in population data, along with density estimates, will provide WVDNR with the necessary data to ensure sustainable harvest of bobcats in West Virginia. |
W1-8 4/4/2016 4:00 PM - 4:20 PM Student |
Revisiting Non-invasive Hair Snares for Bobcats Thomas F. Rounsville Jr., West Virginia University; Rich E. Rogers, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources; Amy B. Welsh, West Virginia University; Christopher W. Ryan, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources; and James T. Anderson, West Virginia In the past 20 years, the use of non-invasive survey techniques for wildlife has proliferated mainly as a result of advancements in DNA technology. However, non-invasive studies require specific design constraints to ensure that the species of interest is accurately sampled. Historically, non-invasive hair snare studies conducted to survey locations for bobcat (Lynx rufus) presence and abundance have met with limited success. Due to poor success in detecting bobcats and evaluating abundance, hair snares have largely fallen out of use for this species. The goal of this study was to construct a novel bobcat hair snare that would be effective and cost-efficient for sampling bobcats and estimating abundance at a large spatial scale. This newly developed device was deployed in 30 separate 250km2 capture-recapture surveys throughout West Virginia in 2015. Collected hair samples were first evaluated by light microscopy and then DNA analysis to determine species of origin. Analysis of these collected data revealed that this new bobcat hair snare cubby is more successful at collecting samples than any other hair snare design used for this species—with more than two detections per 100 trap nights. This study marks the development of a potentially important new technique for use in bobcat management. |
W1-9 4/4/2016 4:20 PM - 4:40 PM Student |
Modeling Wildlife Populations: Disease Implications on Vermont’s Fisher Population Nathaniel Laymon, Student at Green Mountain College; Carol Shaw, Green Mountain College; Valorie Titus, Green Mountain College Disease is a growing threat to wildlife all across the world, and with the presence of disease in our game species there could be major threats to these populations. The Vermont fisher population plays a very important role both economically for trappers and ecologically. A recent study showed that fisher in Vermont are now susceptible to Canine Parvovirus, a disease that has proven to be fatal in domestic populations. The current management plan does not take disease into effect, which could be detrimental to the survival of not only Vermont’s population but also to surrounding states like New York, New Hampshire and Maine. Modeling the population with consideration of disease will be very important for future management plans in regards to trapping seasons. Using computer software packages, Vortex and ArcGIS, I will model the population of fisher in Vermont to help get a better understanding of the implications that disease has on fisher in Vermont. With this I will show the implications of disease on the population, and show how the disease will be transmitted throughout the state. |
WILDLIFE #2 — Room: Capitol B April 4, 2016 / 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM |
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W2-1 4/4/2016 1:00 PM - 1:20 PM Professional |
Evaluating Changes in Beach-nesting Bird Habitat as a Result of Superstorm Sandy Brooke Maslo, Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Todd Pover, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey; Karen Leu, Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Persistence of beach-nesting bird populations along many parts of the US Atlantic Coast is inhibited by a lack of suitable habitat. Severe coastal storms, such as Superstorm Sandy, have the potential to open up new breeding sites for declining species, but these locations must be identified and set aside for conservation. Currently, no formal protocol exists to assess habitat conditions in the wake of major storms. We used a maximum likelihood species distribution modeling approach to quantify the changes in beach-nesting bird habitat in New Jersey resulting from Superstorm Sandy, and to evaluate the response of target species to changes in nesting habitat availability. The storm caused both significant erosion and accretion and resulted in a small net habitat gain throughout the state. Additional habitat gains were limited by the inflexibility of regulations pertaining to how species protection zones are distributed across the state. Target species did not capitalize on newly created habitat areas, and instead nested in remaining suitable habitat that was located within protected areas. We use the results of our model to develop a post-storm beach-nesting bird habitat assessment protocol to identify and prioritize for protection new created habitat areas, and we make recommendations to amendments to existing regulations to increase preparedness for rapid conservation-focused response to changes in coastal habitat conditions. |
W2-2 4/4/2016 1:20 PM - 1:40 PM Professional |
Large-scale Tidal Marsh Restoration and Monitoring at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware Susan Guiteras, US Fish & Wildlife Service; Bartholomew Wilson, US Fish & Wildlife Service; Al Rizzo, US Fish & Wildlife Service; Art Coppola, US Fish & Wildlife Service; Annabella Larsen, US Fish & Wildlife Service; Mike Mensinger, Delaware Department of National Resources and Environmental Control; Robert Scarborough, Delaware Department of National Resources and Environmental Control; Lyndie Hice-Dunton, Delaware Department of National Resources and Environmental Control; Steve Minkkinen, US Fish & Wildlife Service; John Gill, US Fish & Wildlife Service Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, located in Delaware and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is embarking on a large tidal marsh restoration project, one of the largest ever in the eastern U.S. The project will restore a highly damaged tidal marsh/barrier beach ecosystem covering about 4,000 acres within the former freshwater impoundment system on the refuge. These impoundments were recently impacted by shoreline breaching and saltwater intrusion due to storms, a subsequent collapse of wetland vegetation, and an increase in flooding in adjacent uplands and communities. This coastal wetland restoration improves the ability of the refuge marshes to withstand future storms and sea level rise and improves habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife, particularly salt marsh species. The restoration project consists of dredging a network of more than 30 miles of historic channels within the wetland interior, placement of dredged material onto the inundated marsh platform, and reconstruction of the breached dune, beach, and back-barrier platform system along 7000 feet of affected shoreline. In cooperation with Delaware Department of National Resources and Environmental Control Coastal Program, University of Delaware, and USFWS Maryland Fisheries Resource Office partners, a comprehensive biological and abiotic monitoring program has been implemented to track changes in the physical environment and the response of vegetation, bird, and fish communities. The restoration began in June 2015, is currently underway, and is expected to be completed by fall 2016. The restoration project is supported by funding from the Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Act. |
W2-3 4/4/2016 1:40 PM - 2:00 PM Student |
Diet of Great Black-backed (Larus Marinus) and Herring (Larus Argentatus) Gulls, Tuckernuck and Muskeget Islands, MA Allison P. Black- Department of Biology, Central Connecticut State University; Richard R. Veit- Department of Biology, College of Staten Island, City University of New York Great Black-backed and Herring Gulls both colonized Massachusetts during the early 20th century, as their North American population dramatically increased and expanded southwards. Herring Gulls have declined by at least 50% after a peak before 1980, and Great Black-backed Gulls have decreased proportionately less since a peak in the 1990s. Part of the precipitous decline of gulls, perhaps most of it, reflects changes in garbage dumping procedures and decline of New England fisheries. With virtually no data on gull diets collected in Massachusetts, it is unknown how they are impacted by changes of fish stocks, nor how they impact fish. We studied Great Black-backed and Herring Gull diet on Tuckernuck and Muskeget Islands during the breeding season of 2015. We collected voluntary chick regurgitations as well as basic demographic data including clutch initiation date and size, hatching dates, and chick weights. We found a high frequency and proportion of squid (Loligo pealei) in both Great Black-backed and Herring diet. Great Black-backed diet was composed predominately of squid and fishes, while Herring diet had other sources, most notably blueberries. Great Black-backed gulls had high fledgling success, while Herrings were less successful and appeared to struggle, mostly on Muskeget Island. |
W2-4 4/4/2016 2:00 PM - 2:20 PM Professional |
"Wanted Dead or Alive" Northeastern U.S. Snowy Owl (Bubo Scandiacus) Irruption 2013: Multiagency Health Assessment & Mortality Investigation Erica Miller, Brandywine Zoo; Cindy Driscoll*, Maryland Department of Natural Resources; Sherrill Davison, Lisa Murphy, Perry Habecker – University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine; Elizabeth Bunting, Cornell Center for Wildlife Conservation In December 2013 an irruption occurred in snowy owls (Bubo scandiacus) in the northeastern U.S. To address this unexpected event Project SNOWstorm was created as the collective effort of biologists and veterinarians to better understand and track the population movements and health of snowy owls. The investigation began as an emergency call for veterinarians and biologists to collaborate and expand our knowledge of these amazing creatures. Blood was drawn to establish normal values for serum chemistries, CBCs, and for the presence of blood parasites. Owl carcasses were collected from collaborating states and examined. Examination of carcasses started with a consistent set of wing and tail feather photographs and any lesions observed, weights, morphometrics and tissue collection from birds. Specific post-mortem diagnostics included radiography, histopathology, microbiology, virology, parasitology, and toxicology screens for heavy metals and anti-coagulant rodenticides. As of the submission of this abstract, over 100 snowy owl necropsies have been conducted by cooperating partners. Summaries to be presented include a compilation of the general causes of morbidity and mortality, body condition of the presenting animals, gross post-mortem and histopathology findings, and exposure levels to contaminants. |
W2-5 4/4/2016 2:20 PM - 2:40 PM Professional |
Winter Irruptions of Snowy Owls in Eastern North America: Age Class Composition and Habitat Use JF Therrien, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary; Scott Weidensaul, Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art; David Brinker*, Maryland Department of Natural Resources; Steve Huy, Project Owlnet; Norman Smith, Massachussetts Audubon; Tom McDonald; Mike Lanzone, Cellular Tracking Technologies; Trish Miller, West Virginia University; Andrew McGann, Cellular Tracking Technologies; Drew Weber; Cindy Driscoll, Maryland Department of Natural Resources; Erica Miller, Tri-State Bird Rescue; Sherrill Davison, University of Pennsylvania; Don Crockett, Great Blue Media Works; Nicolas Lecomte, Université de Moncton The snowy owl is an irregular winter visitor in eastern North America with irruptions happening roughly every four years. Those winter irruptions have long been thought to be caused by a lack of food on the breeding grounds, when populations of their main prey (lemmings) plummet, forcing birds to move out of the tundra in search of food. However, recent observations instead suggest that a high abundance of food on the breeding grounds could allow for a high reproductive output and, in turn, creates lots of dispersing juveniles at the onset of winter. Winters 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 saw unprecedented consecutive irruptions of snowy owls across eastern North America. We evaluated age class composition of overwintering snowy owls using high-resolution pictures. We also assessed the diversity and extent of habitat use by tracking individuals with high spatial and temporal resolution transmitters. Our results show that the proportion of juveniles in winter irruptive snowy owls is high, suggesting that irruptive movements are caused, at least in this species, by good breeding conditions on the Arctic tundra breeding sites. Tracking of 34 individuals using GPS-GSM transmitters revealed for the first time how irruptive snowy owls overwintering and migrating through the northeastern US extensively use a very diverse suite of habitats, from heavily urbanized to open country areas as well as ice flows drifting on the Great Lakes and concentrating along the Atlantic Ocean. This diversity in habitat use suggests that irruptive snowy owls can play a role in many ecosystems. |
BREAK / 2:40 PM - 3:20 PM | |
W2-6 4/4/2016 3:20 PM - 3:40 PM Student |
Beyond Protection: Expanding the Conservation Opportunity Concept to Redefine Conservation Planning in the 21st Century Marjorie Liberati, University of Connecticut; Chadwick Rittenhouse, University of Connecticut; Jason Vokoun, University of Connecticut The protected lands estate increased dramatically during the 20th century and forms the backbone of current fisheries and wildlife conservation in North America. However, there is increasing evidence that modern conservation goals cannot be achieved by only focusing on adding new acreage. In the 21st century, expanding the vocabulary of conservation planning well beyond land protection alone harbors several practical advantages. We suggest a conceptual framework that considers suites of objectives to translate the broad goal of “conservation” into multiple implementation-specific objectives. These objectives form the “PCRM-PI” approach: protect, connect, restore, manage, partner, and inform. We use a case study for American woodcock, a species of regional conservation concern, to illustrate the limitations of protection-centric planning and how expanding the conservation opportunity concept can help planners do more on the landscape. In our case study, Connecticut was unlikely to reach its acreage goal for woodcock under the American Woodcock Conservation Plan by focusing on protection alone, regardless of the state’s ability to purchase land or easements. A broader conceptualization of conservation objectives and incorporation of decision making approaches that explicitly consider trade-offs provides opportunities to bridge planning-implementation gaps and translate broad, landscape-level conservation goals into implementable actions. We suggest that the PCRM-PI approach, nested within a planning framework, is a way to expand the conservation opportunity concept, bridge gaps between planning and management, and make 21st century conservation planning efforts more effective. |
W2-7 4/4/2016 3:40 PM - 4:00 PM Professional |
Validating Predictions of Upland Game Bird Space Use in Multiple Management Contexts Zachary G. Loman, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology, University of Maine; Daniel Harrison, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology, University of Maine; Cynthia S. Loftin, U.S. Geological Survey, Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit; Petra B. Wood, U.S. Geological Survey, West Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Maximizing effectiveness of conservation planning for upland game birds requires an understanding of landscapes’ capability to support animals. Contemporary landscape models designed to predict this capability, such as the Designing Sustainable Landscapes Landscape Capability (LC) models, present a useful tool with potential for use in conservation planning. Successful use of these tools is contingent upon understanding in what contexts models are useful predictors of metrics of bird space use. In this presentation, we verify and validate the DSL LC models developed for Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) and American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) with data collected in point-scale surveys, from wildlife management unit (WMU)-scale monitoring programs, and from county level survey data. We use the field data from United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s singing-ground surveys as predictors of relative abundance and occupancy for American Woodcock at scales of the point-count and county scale. We used New York State Ruffed Grouse Drumming Survey data for regional grouse metrics, and drumming surveys conducted throughout Maine to estimate point-level grouse occupancy and abundance. We verified and validated the predictive ability of LC models for Ruffed Grouse and American Woodcock at broad scales with low spatial precision. The WMU-level grouse model was validated (F1,75= 33.97, P < 0.001). County level woodcock detected per survey stop predicted by mean LC was also significant (F1,2539.9= 387.9, P < 0.001). Analysis of LC models as predictors of fine scale game bird occurrence are ongoing. We confirm the utility of the DSL LC models for these two species in the northeastern United States. |
W2-8 4/4/2016 4:00 PM - 4:20 PM Student |
Avian Responses to Pine Barrens Prescribed Fire Andrew N. Stillman, University of Connecticut; Neil A. Gifford, Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission; Steven P. Campbell, Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission Inland pine barrens support a rich plant and animal community uniquely adapted to open-canopy, pyrogenic habitats. In particular, these systems support a diverse array of breeding birds, including important populations of declining shrubland species. Habitat management using prescribed fire is often necessary to maintain and restore pine barrens ecosystems, especially in urbanized or fragmented landscapes. We examined the short-term effects of a single prescribed burn on a pine barrens bird community in east-central New York State. We compared diversity, abundance, and body condition of birds captured at bird-banding stations in a recent burn site and an adjacent unburned site. The post-fire site yielded the largest number of bird captures but the lowest index of diversity. Relative abundance was analyzed for the 12 most common species. Of these, four species were significantly more abundant and three species significantly less abundant in the post-burn site. Certain species, including Gray Catbirds, hatch-year American Robins, and hatch-year Chipping Sparrows had higher body mass in the post-burn site when compared to unburned sites, suggesting altered resource availability after the burn. Evidence for positive bird community responses directly following the burn suggests that short-term prescribed fire effects do not pose a significant threat to most breeding bird populations in this pine barrens ecosystem. Our preliminary results demonstrate remarkable bird community resilience and adaptation to fire in this pyrogenic landscape. Further research with additional years of data and more measures of body condition will provide added insight into bird responses to prescribed fire. |
W2-9 4/4/2016 4:20 PM - 4:40 PM Professional |
Does a Reduction in Caterpillar Abundance Caused by Exotic Shrubs Affect the Reproductive Success of a Shrubland-dependent Songbird (Geothlypis Trichas)? Matt Tarr, University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension Most caterpillars (Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera) specialize by feeding on a limited number of plant species with which they have evolved. As a result, exotic shrubs including glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus) and autumn olive (Eleagnus umbellata) that lack native congeners typically host few caterpillars. I quantified how a reduction in caterpillars caused by F. alnus and E. umbellata influenced nestling diets, nestling growth rates, and the seasonal reproductive success of common yellowthroats (Geothlypis trichas) breeding in three powerline shrublands in southeastern NH characterized as either “native”, “mixed”, or “exotic”, based on the proportion of native and exotic shrubs comprising bird territories at each site. There was no difference (p > .05) in nestling growth rates, nestling size at fledging, or the total number of young produced by G. trichas resulting from between-site differences in the proportion of exotic shrubs in bird territories. However, adults at the “exotic” site compensated for lower caterpillar abundance by feeding nestlings a greater variety of prey items, by feeding nestlings more frequently, and by spending less time away from the nest between feeding visits than adults at either the “mixed” or “native sites. At the “mixed” site, interspecific competition for caterpillars had a greater effect on nestling diet composition than the proportion of exotic shrubs in bird territories. Of 13 native shrub species sampled, all but Acer rubrum and Cornus amomum supported more caterpillars than the exotic shrubs. For birds, caterpillar abundance is influenced by the relative abundance of each specific shrub species comprising individual bird territories. |
W2-10 4/4/2016 4:40 PM - 5:00 PM Student |
Avian Use of Habitat Enhancement Treatments in Forbes State Forest, Pennsylvania Justin Peel, California University of Pennsylvania; Dr. Carol Bocetti, California University of Pennsylvania Early succession dependent avian species, in particular Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera; GWWa) and the American Woodcock (Scolopax minor; AmWo), are experiencing population declines in the Appalachian Mountain region due to a loss of breeding habitat. Both species require early-successional forest habitat to provide cover for their ground-nesting behavior. The goal of our study is to determine avian use of 4 sites within Forbes State Forest where forest canopy was reduced to provide early successional gaps. Our 4 sites include 3 different stages of treatment; Sites 2 and 3 were historically enhanced, site 1 was recently enhanced, and site 4 is awaiting treatment. GWWa and AmWo occurrence were plotted at each site over a 7-week breeding period. Also, variable-distance point counts were done to generate species diversity, richness, and similarity of the avian communities. Vegetation characteristics were also measured at each site, allowing assessment of the efficacy of the habitat enhancement treatment to provide habitat needs of our target species. Site 1 consistently had 1 GWWa male and 2 AmWo males. Site 2 consistently had 1 GWWa male and at least 3 AmWo males. Site 3 consistently had 1 GWWa male and no AmWo. Site 4 had no consistent spotting of either target species. Total avian species richness is 40 and 27 in the historically enhanced sites 2 and 3, respectively, 25 in the recently enhanced site, and 20 in the unenhanced site. Vegetation results showed reduction in basal area and canopy cover, and increase in ground cover in enhanced sites. |
WILDLIFE #3 — Room: Capitol A April 5, 2016 / 8:20 AM - 12:00 PM |
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W3-2 4/5/2016 8:20 AM - 8:40 AM Professional |
Ecology of Wood Turtles in West Virginia James T. Anderson, West Virginia University; Kathryn R. P. McCoard, West Virginia University; Anthony A. Billings, West Virginia University More data are needed on wood turtles (Glyptemys insculpta), a species of high conservation priority in the United States, near the southern extent of their range. We evaluated home range sizes, habitat, activity cycles, and diet of wood turtles along a 14-km reach of the Cacapon River, West Virginia, USA from 2009 to 2011. We captured 137 adult males, 88 females, and 59 juveniles. Home ranges averaged 5.75 ha (SE = 1.46); male home ranges were elongated along river and riparian corridors, but female and juvenile home ranges encompassed a greater degree of terrestrial habitat. Low bare ground, rock cover, and high vertical vegetative density were associated with the turtles’ habitat compared to random plots. Wood turtles were more terrestrial during spring and summer, but more aquatic in autumn and winter. Mating occurred from late March to early June after hibernation emergence and again from late August to early November. Of all mating observations, 64.3% occurred in autumn, 75% occurred after 1300 hrs, and 35.7% were terrestrial. Nesting attempts were made in late May to early June in the early morning and early evening on sandy substrate. In October, turtles began entering the river and by mid-November, they were hibernating. Turtles primarily consumed slugs (67%), although worms, small mammal and bird remains, and a variety of berries and forbs also were consumed. This study aids in filling geographic information gaps and in planning management strategies for southern wood turtle populations. |
W3-3 4/5/2016 8:40 AM - 9:00 AM Professional |
Assessing the Sustainability of Virginia’s Commercial Snapping Turtle Harvest John (J.D.) Kleopfer*, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries; Benjamin Colteaux, Virginia Commonwealth University Overharvesting of animal populations, largely for human consumption, has profoundly impacted freshwater and marine ecosystems worldwide. Localized population crashes in aquatic systems have led to the creation of a global market in order to meet increasing consumer demand. An increasing number of freshwater turtles are being targeted by commercial harvesters in the United States. The snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina, has been harvested and exported at an alarming rate in recent history. Over 2 million live snapping turtles were exported from the US to Asia in 2012-13 alone. Much of this export has been supplied by wild snapping turtle populations, which are being harvested in unprecedented numbers. In Virginia, the harvest rates have precipitously increased almost 1200% over the past 10 years. With whole female snapping turtles being sold for $2 a pound and males for $1 a pound, this lucrative harvest is expected to increase. And with many states in the mid-Atlantic region implementing stricter regulations on the commercial harvest, Virginia has also seen an increase in the number of out-of-state harvesters. In 2012, out-of-state harvesters accounted for almost 70% of the harvest. This situation has led to some outrage from Virginia harvesters and what is being perceived as an unsustainable level of harvest being conducted by a few commercial operators. In order to address this issue, three rivers of varying harvest pressure were investigated through the use of radio-telemetry and mark-recapture to characterize the demography, habitat use and home ranges, and assess sustainability under current and projected harvest rates. |
W3-4 4/5/2016 9:00 AM - 9:20 AM Professional |
Identifying Priority Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Areas (PARCAs) in the Northeastern United States Cynthia Loftin, U.S. Geological Survey; William Sutton, Tennessee State University; Phillip deMaynadier, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife; Kyle Barrett, Clemson University; Priya Nanjappa, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; Allison Moody, University of Maine Reptile and amphibian populations are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, climate change, pollution, disease, illegal collection, and introduced species. Yet formulating conservation solutions is limited by incomplete knowledge about their population status and distributions. The Priority Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Area (PARCA) project is a national initiative to map areas of important amphibian and reptile habitats. Identifying PARCAs requires knowledge of species’ distributions and habitat associations, however, survey data alone typically misrepresent true occurrences across species’ ranges, owing to observation bias towards accessible areas and easily documented species. We used species distribution modeling via the Maximum Entropy algorithm to develop expert-derived habitat suitability models for priority northeastern herpetofauna with abiotic variables and known species occurrences. We combined modeled habitat suitability with species richness estimates to identify PARCAs that host species of global, national, or regional conservation significance as well as exceptional species diversity. Species of greater conservation concern were given extra weight in the prioritization process, as were areas with greater landscape integrity. Model evaluation included removing species with insufficient or poorly distributed data and comparing predicted with observed data. We consulted state herpetologists to understand how our spatial application of the PARCA criteria captured known or predicted high quality habitat for these species. Finally, we compared locations of proposed PARCAs to those under current conservation management to identify regional gaps in our conservation network and compiled guidance for implementing our PARCA modeling approach in other regions. |
W3-5 4/5/2016 9:20 AM - 9:40 AM Professional |
Writing the Field Guide Page for the Atlantic Coast Leopard Frog, the United States’ Newest Frog Species Matthew Schlesinger, New York Natural Heritage Program; Jeremy Feinberg, Rutgers University; Nathan Nazdrowicz, University of Delaware; Brad Shaffer, UCLA; John Bunnell, New Jersey Pinelands Commission; Joanna Burger, Rutgers University; Jenny Dickson, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection; James Gibbs, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry; Kathy Gipe and Chris Urban, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission; Erik Kiviat, Hudsonia Ltd.; J. D. Kleopfer. Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries; Jacob Kubel, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife; Holly Niederriter, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation; Dennis Quinn, Connecticut Herpetology; Christopher Raithel, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management; Scott Smith, Maryland Department of Natural Resources; Brian Zarate, New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife Following the recent formal description of the cryptic Atlantic Coast leopard frog (Rana [= Lithobates] kauffeldi) from the urban northeast US, nine states have collaborated on a study of the distribution, conservation status, and habitat use of each of the region’s three leopard frog species through co-located bioacoustics, morphological study, and genetic data. An understanding of the distribution of each species within each state is critical to the application of proper conservation measures given declines of leopard frogs in our region. A secondary goal is to confirm that the co-occurrence of unique calls, patterning, morphology, and genetics previously documented for just the New York City metropolitan area holds rangewide, and confirm field marks to distinguish among species. In short, we wish to provide the raw material for the field guide page for this newly confirmed species. I will present some of the history of confusion (and flashes of enlightenment) regarding leopard frogs in our region, some reflection on the difficulties of distinguishing among cryptic species, and implications for urban ecology and conservation. |
BREAK / 9:40 AM - 10:20 AM | |
W3-6 4/5/2016 10:20 AM - 10:40 AM Professional |
Learning from the Northeast State Wildlife Action Plan Revisions: Species and Habitats of Greatest Conservation Need and the Key Challenges They Face in the Next Decade Karen Terwilliger and Elizabeth Crisfield; Terwilliger Consulting, Inc. The first revision of State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs) marks a decade of implementation, learning and updates from the original 2005 SWAPS. These comprehensive strategic planning documents have served State fish and Wildlife Agencies and their partners by guiding the conservation of priority species of greatest conservation need and their key habitats over the last decade. What have we learned? What do the northeast SWAPS tell us collectively are the key priorities that will guide collaborative conservation for the next decade? These are questions that the Northeast Fish and Wildlife Diversity Technical Committee (NEFWDTC) will answer through a directed Regional Conservation Needs program (RCN) grant as a SWAP “roll up”. Nowhere else in the country is this level of regional coordination and planning occurring between state fish and wildlife agencies, especially the wildlife diversity programs and SWAP coordinators. The NEFWDTC made unprecedented investments in future coordination capacity by coordinating their SWAP revisions to identify and use common terms so SWAP conservation priorities could be rolled up to the regional level. This presentation highlights this extraordinary coordination process, summarizes the “roll up” of SWAPS, and discusses preliminary results, opportunities, and priorities for conservation at the regional scale. We present the conservation objectives driving an updated regional species of greatest conservation need list and describe how the regional habitats of conservation need are identified. We highlight top regional threats that call for coordinated regional actions as identified in the 14 northeast SWAPs. |
W3-7 4/5/2016 10:40 AM - 11:00 AM Professional |
Community Wildlife Conservation in Kenya: The Silent Scramble and Potential Conflicts Mordecai O. Ogada, Conservation Solutions Afrika The forces of globalization and media have shortened virtual and cultural distances around the world in recent years. This in turn has exponentially increased the influence of external financial and intellectual resources on the conservation of wildlife and natural resources, especially in Africa. I will explore the origins of ‘community based wildlife conservation’ in East Africa and it’s ambivalent, if not exploitative relationship with local African communities. This presentation will also examine how Government agencies are being co-opted into the ‘community wildlife conservancy’ movement and abdicating their role to ‘conservationists’. This will include issues around the exclusion of local communities from their lands in the name of conservation and the increasing militarization of wildlife conservation practice outside the remit of statutory authorities. I will also explore the other interests that may be concealed by the community wildlife conservation ‘cloak’ and why the threat of armed conflict grows with the spread of this model, fuelled by remarkable levels of foreign governmental and private interest funding. |
W3-8 4/5/2016 11:00 AM - 11:20 AM Professional |
Spotted-necked Otters in Africa and River Otters in North America: A Contrast in Human Dimensions Challenges for Developing an Aquatic Flagship Tom Serfass - Frostburg State University Social science investigations have demonstrated otters as being popular species to a large majority of North Americans and Europeans. Such favorably attitudes and dependence on aquatic habitats offer potential for otters to serve as aquatic flagship species to promote aquatic conservation. However, little is known about public attitudes towards otters outside of North America and Europe, and characteristics of species that engender support from the public are known to vary considerably among cultures. I developed a five-element conceptual model comprised of ecological and sociological elements integrated in a manner to guide the process of evaluating and developing the potential of otters to serve as flagships. I review elements of the model and demonstrate potential challenges to its universal application likely to be imposed by differing cultural, economic, and wildlife conservation policies/systems by contrasting conservation experiences with the spotted-necked otter (Lutra maculicollis) in Rubondo Island National Park, Tanzania and North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) in Pennsylvania. Outcomes and processes for ecological assessments related to developing a flagship were comparable and applicable for spotted-necked and NA river otters, but familiarity and appreciation of the river otter by US citizens was about 1.5 times higher than by citizens of Tanzania for the spotted-necked otter. Negative perceptions about the otter as a predator of fish were generally low ( < 20%) for both species. I provide examples of virtues and limitations of each element of the model in relation to the respective use of the 2 otter species to serve as flagships for aquatic conservation. |
W3-9 4/5/2016 11:20 AM - 11:40 AM Student |
Are river otter (Lontra canadensis) latrines a natural attractant for sympatric carnivores: a preliminary assessment of latrines as potential camera sites for surveying a carnivore guild Casey Wagnon, Thomas Serfass - Department of Biology and Natural Resources, Frostburg State University Use of camera-trap surveys has been demonstrated to be especially useful when collecting information on many species in the Order Carnivora. River otter (Lontra canadensis) latrines (i.e., terrestrial locations that river otters regularly use to deposit scats, urine, anal secretions and jellies) may be potential locations to place camera traps to detect a variety of carnivores. River otter marking at latrines creates areas that have prominent visual characteristics with a noticeable odor, potentially luring other carnivores to investigate latrines. The purpose of our study was to determine if multiple carnivores are frequently detected at latrines with camera traps, and if so, test if detections and richness are greater at latrines than at non-latrines in riparian areas (i.e., high carnivore detections are a function of riparian areas and not the presence of latrines). We paired camera traps placed at latrines (n =5) with camera traps placed at non-latrines (n =5) at Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (GSNWR), Basking Ridge, N.J. Overall site detection frequencies and the detection frequencies for red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), raccoons (Procyon lotor), otters, opossums (Didelphis virginiana), and long-tailed weasels (Mustela frenata) were greater at latrines than at non-latrines. Our study demonstrates that camera traps at latrines were more efficient for detecting most carnivores in our study area than camera traps placed at non-latrines in riparian areas. Thus, this study provides evidence of high carnivore activity and carnivore richness at latrines versus non-latrines in riparian areas, indicating latrines as ideal sites to place camera traps to detect carnivores. |
W3-10 4/5/2016 11:40 AM - 12:00 PM Professional |
Finding the Last One: The Use of Nutria Detector Dogs in the Final Stages of the Chesapeake Bay Nutria Eradication Project Margaret Pepper District Supervisor, Wildlife Services, Chesapeake Bay Nutria Eradication Project; Jonathan A. McKnight, Associate Director, Maryland Wildlife and Heritage Service; Steve Kendrot Deputy Director, Wildlife Services, Wildlife Operations Nutria (Myocaster coypus), semi-aquatic, South American rodents, were introduced to Maryland in the early 1940s. Nutria thrived and destroyed the coastal wetlands, resulting in negative environmental and economic impacts to the Chesapeake Bay region. To save the valuable wetland resources the Chesapeake Bay Nutria Eradication Project (CBNEP) was established in 2002 through a partnership with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, many state agencies and non-governmental organizations. The CBNEP has removed and reduced nutria populations to near zero across 250,000 acres of wetlands throughout the Delmarva Peninsula (Maryland, Delaware and Virginia). As the project enters the final stages of eradication, the need to develop a suite of effective monitoring tools has become critical and led to the development of the Nutria Detector Dog Program. The CBNEP partnered with the United State Department of Agriculture’s National Detector Dog Training Center to develop the structure for a detector dog program and to train five canine/handler teams. The initial two teams graduated in November 2014 and three additional teams joined the project in November 2015. The handlers and canines are part of a team of wildlife specialists searching for remaining nutria and responding to possible nutria sightings across the Delmarva Peninsula. In addition to other valuable monitoring tools, the detector dogs add another level of confidence to the project’s eradication effort. |
WILDLIFE #4 — Room: Capitol B April 5, 2016 / 8:00 AM - 11:40 AM |
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W4-1 4/5/2016 8:00 AM - 8:20 AM Student |
Adaptive Manipulation of Offspring Sex Ratios in in Saltmarsh Sparrows Bri Benvenuti, University of New Hampshire; Jennifer Walsh, Cornell University; Kathleen M. O'Brien, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Adrienne I. Kovach, University of New Hampshire Evolutionary theory suggests that natural selection should favor the ability of animals to modify the sex ratio of their offspring when the fitness benefits of producing one gender over the other vary in relation to environmental conditions. The Saltmarsh Sparrow is an extreme habitat specialist that exhibits breeding behavior highly synchronized with the tidal cycle. The harsh environmental conditions of nesting in salt marshes provide a context for offspring sex manipulation based on environmental conditions, to favor the sex with the greatest chance of survival. We investigated adaptive sex ratio manipulation in this system. We also conducted a short-term management experiment for maintaining flood-free high marsh nesting habitat through the use of artificial habitat islands. We collected data on nest initiation and nestling survival from 370 nests from 210 individual females between 2011-2015 on four marshes in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine. Using molecular sexing techniques, we identified brood sex ratios from 1,077 offspring samples. Using multiple regression models, we tested the influence of multiple factors on offspring sex ratios, including nest initiation date, maternal condition, and habitat quality. Additionally, we installed four artificial habitat islands with Spartina patens and Spartina alterniflora in a marsh pool, and we monitored them through the breeding season and winter. The islands remained free of tidal inundation and supported vegetation growth and expansion. These findings indicate that floating habitat islands hold promise as a method for mitigating nest flooding of tidal-marsh-nesting birds. |
W4-2 4/5/2016 8:20 AM - 8:40 PM Student |
Vital Rates of Seaside and Saltmarsh Sparrows in Ditched and Unditched Salt Marshes in New Jersey Samuel G. Roberts, University of Delaware; W. Gregory Shriver, University of Delaware; Matthew A. Etterson, Environmental Protection Agency; Rebecca A. Kern, US Fish & Wildlife; Katharine A. Ruskin, University of Connecticut, Chris S. Elphick, University of Connecticut; Brian J. Olsen, University of Maine As salt marsh habitat continues to disappear, understanding the population demographics of salt marsh breeding birds is an important step towards managing declining wildlife populations. Using five years (2011-2015) of demographic data, we evaluated the apparent adult annual survival and nesting success of Seaside Sparrows (Ammodramus maritimus) and Saltmarsh Sparrows (Ammodramus caudacutus) within the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey. We investigated the effect of site management history on nesting success, depredation, and flooding rates by comparing nests at an unditched site to those at two sites that had extensive historic grid-ditching. Adult Seaside Sparrow survival (59%, CI: 50-68%) and Saltmarsh Sparrow survival (44%, CI: 37-50%) did not vary by sex or study site. For both species, nest depredation accounted for a greater proportion of nest failures than flooding. The only significant depredation covariates found for either species were year (rates ranged from 37% in 2011 to 75% in 2015) and date at the ditched sites for Seaside Sparrow nests. For both species, nest flooding at the unditched site was driven by a tide covariate and date. However, at the ditched sites, year and date were the top predictors of flooding for both species. These results suggest that flooding rates at unditched sites are less vulnerable to annual variation in water heights. We emphasize that the demographic rates of salt marsh passerines can vary greatly by year and this, in addition to salt marsh management history, must be considered when projecting population trends. |
W4-3 4/5/2016 8:40 AM - 9:00 AM Student |
Use of Nanotag Transmitters to Track Migratory Movements of Saltmarsh Sparrows Bri Benvenuti, University of New Hampshire; Adrienne I. Kovach, University of New Hampshire; Kathleen M. O'Brien, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Nancy Pau, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Chris Elphick, University of Connecticut; Nick Ernst, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Michael Soares, University of Connecticut Effective bird conservation is often limited by our ability to determine how the landscape is used throughout a species’ annual life cycle. The ability to understand the connectivity between breeding, wintering, and migrating populations is a key component to guiding conservation initiatives. The Saltmarsh Sparrow (Ammodramus caudacutus), a short distant migrant, rely solely on tidal marshes of the eastern United States for both wintering and breeding. The species is also considered globally threatened due to population declines, habitat loss, and sea level rise. While there is a growing body of knowledge on the species breeding ecology, little is known about their migratory pathway. Using VFH nanotag radio transmitters and stationary telemetry receivers within the Motus Network located along the eastern seaboard, we tracked the migratory movements of 71 Saltmarsh Sparrows during the fall of 2014 and 2015. A total of 37 individuals were detected by towers south of their banding location in 2015, with frequent detections along the New Jersey and Virginia coastlines. Preliminary data suggests Saltmarsh Sparrows on average depart from breeding marshes in mid-October. Using data collected, we aim to further investigate departure dates from breeding marshes in relation to weather patterns, speed of travel, and evidence of stop over locations. This research is providing key insight to fall migratory movement of Saltmarsh Sparrows and can be used to guide future conservation efforts. |
W4-4 4/5/2016 9:00 AM - 9:20 AM Student |
Distribution and Abundance of King Rails (Rallus Elegans) in the Delmarva Peninsula Tim Freiday, Masters Student in the University of Delaware Wildlife Ecology Program; Greg Shriver, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology at University of Delaware The Delmarva Peninsula is a very ecologically valuable and vulnerable area, and is host to a large amount of critical habitat. Much of this habitat is wetland, which hold populations of many endemic species including the federally threatened King Rail. Little information currently exists about the status and trends of this species on the peninsula. We set out to change this by conducting standardized secretive marsh bird surveys according to the North American Marsh Bird Monitoring Protocol in areas of king rail habitat in the Delmarva Peninsula. These areas were selected according to a stratified adaptive sampling approach in which only areas known to have held King Rail populations in the past were selected for sampling. Additional adaptive sampling procedures were used in order to increase the precision and accuracy of our abundance and occupancy estimates of sampled areas. These methods included adaptive cluster sampling whereby more points were added to areas that yielded King Rail detections, and adaptive neighborhood transects conducted upon the detection of a King Rail at a survey points. Song Meter Automatic Recording Units were also used in order to determine the effect of observer presence at a survey point on the call rates of rails. The results of these survey methods are compared in light of their efficiency and accuracy. |
W4-5 4/5/2016 9:20 AM - 9:40 AM Professional |
Birds of a Feather Flock Together? Exploring Population Structure and Introgression in the King-clapper Rail Complex Stephanie S. Coster, West Virginia University; Amy B. Welsh, West Virginia University; Gary Costanzo, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries; Jeff Cooper, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries; Sergio Harding, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries; James T. Anderson, West Virginia University; and Todd E. Katzner, USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center King rails (Rallus elegans) and clapper rails (R. crepitans) are two marsh bird species with similar distributions, morphology, and behavior. They are said to be found along a salinity gradient with the king rail in freshwater marshes and the clapper in estuarine marshes. However, this separation is not absolute and there are reports of introgression. In Virginia, clapper rails are thought to be more abundant than king rails, the latter of which are listed as a species of very high conservation need. We used mitochondrial DNA, microsatellites and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to identify species, population structure, and hybridization of two putatively clapper rail populations along a salinity gradient in coastal Virginia. Results indicate there is minimal population structure and approximately 10% of phenotypic clapper rails had king rail lineage. The results from this study can help managers identify allopatric and sympatric breeding populations of king, clapper, and hybrid rails and aid in developing future conservation strategies. |
BREAK / 9:40 AM - 10:20 AM | |
W4-6 4/5/2016 10:20 AM - 10:40 AM Student |
Assessing Pre-emptive and Apparent Competition on Breeding Atlantic Brant Clark Nissley, Christopher K. Williams - Waterfowl and Upland Gamebird Research Program, Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology; Kenneth F. Abraham, Emeritus Research Scientist, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources & Adjunct Professor, Trent University Atlantic brant populations are known to fluctuate; however, productivity surveys on the wintering grounds indicate the number of young in flocks has declined in recent decades. This may be indicative of a limitation on the breeding grounds. Expanding populations of lesser snow geese (Chen caerulescens caerulescens) and cackling geese (Branta hutchinsii), utilizing the same breeding grounds, may be contributing to the decline in brant breeding success. Southampton Island has historically supported breeding populations of Atlantic brant, lesser snow geese, and cackling geese; however, the number of breeding brant on the island decreased significantly in the last 35 years. We compared historical brant nesting sites to those found in 2014 and 2015 to assess potential pre-emptive competition occurring between brant and cackling geese. Increased presence of cackling geese nesting in areas previously occupied by brant has limited brant to nesting in small and less than optimal pockets. Exclusion from optimal nesting islands can lead to increased depredation by predators. In addition to this exclusion, increased populations of nesting snow geese and cackling geese at East Bay may be drawing higher densities of predators than a nesting area occupied predominantly by brant. To test these hypotheses we monitored brant nest sites in the summers of 2014 and 2015 to document availability and density of competing geese. We calculated nest fate probabilities in both 2014 and 2015 using the same set of covariates to determine under what circumstances brant nest success increases. |
W4-7 4/5/2016 10:40 AM - 11:00 AM Student |
Wintering American Black Duck Habitat Use and Carrying Capacity on Created and Natural Wetlands in West Virginia and Pennsylvania Megan Spindler, West Virginia University; Mike Peters, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources; Ian Gregg, Pennsylvania Game Commission; James T. Anderson, West Virginia University Land use changes, especially wetland loss and modification due to agriculture, pollution, deforestation, and urbanization, are among the many interacting factors that have contributed to the decline in American black duck (Anas rubripes) populations since the 1950s. The United States’ policy of “no-net wetland loss” has led to the increasing prevalence of created and mitigated wetlands throughout the northern inland range of non-breeding black ducks (West Virginia and western Pennsylvania). However, data on the influence of wetland mitigation and creation on black duck habitat use and carrying capacity is lacking, despite their importance for winter survival and subsequent productivity. Our study, which was conducted November 2015 to present, is designed to 1) determine non-breeding black duck use of created and natural wetlands, 2) construct 24-hour time-activity budgets to calculate energy expenditure, 3) determine the potential carrying capacity of created and natural wetlands, and 4) develop bioenergetics models to determine the amount and type of wetlands needed within the study area to grow local black duck populations. Our research complements previous research in coastal wetlands. Collectively our results will produce a better understanding of what management decisions can be made across the nonbreeding range to achieve the North American Waterfowl Management Plan’s nationwide breeding population goal of 640,000 black ducks. To date, more than 245 black ducks have been observed and 113 time-activity budgets recorded. |
W4-8 4/5/2016 11:00 AM - 11:20 AM Student |
Annual and Seasonal Patterns in the Waterbird Community of a Recently Created Wetland in West Virginia in Comparison to a Nearby Established Wetland Hannah L. Clipp, West Virginia University; Nick S. Goodman, West Virginia University; Mike L. Peters, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources; James T. Anderson, West Virginia University In recent decades, thousands of hectares of wetlands have been created in the United States to compensate for wetland destruction. However, information on how wetland creation impacts waterbird communities in the central Appalachian region is limited. The purpose of this study was to compare annual and seasonal waterbird species richness, diversity, and use of a wetland created in 2013 (CW2013) and a nearby wetland created in 2001 (CW2001), both located within the Pleasant Creek Wildlife Management Area, WV. From September to May 2013–2014 and 2014–2015, 30-minute visual surveys were conducted at each wetland 2–4 days per week (half in the morning, half in the evening). Seasons were split into fall migration (Sept–Nov), wintering (Dec–Feb), and spring migration (Mar–Apr). During the study period, 20 and 31 waterbird species were observed at CW2013 and CW2001, respectively. Annual and seasonal species richness and diversity were consistently higher for CW2001. Total waterbird use was greater for CW2001 in 2013–2014 and for CW2013 in 2014–2015. Annual use by buffleheads (Bucephala albeola), lesser scaup (Aythya affinis), and ring-necked ducks (Aythya collaris) was higher in CW2001, while annual mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), solitary sandpiper (Tringa solitaria), and wood duck (Aix sponsa) use was higher in CW2013, perhaps due to differences in water depth and surface area. Seasonal waterbird use fluctuated, and the greatest number of differences in species use for each wetland occurred during spring migrations (e.g., 11 species used one wetland more than the other during Mar–Apr 2014). |
W4-9 4/5/2016 11:20 AM - 11:40 AM Professional |
Use of Avian Acoustics for Monitoring Birds on Navy Lands Clinton Parrish, Tetra Tech; Ian Trefry, US Navy; Derek Hengstenberg, Tetra Tech Expanding from traditional survey methods such as point counts and mist netting for avian and bat species, an emerging technique is the use of acoustic monitoring devices, which can be deployed to operate remotely. The DoD Partners in Flight program has recently recommended acoustic surveys to evaluate birds and bats at DoD installations. We conducted avian acoustic surveys at three Naval Installations in Maine in 2014 to obtain baseline monitoring data and determine the presence of potential Threatened and Endangered Species. To facilitate review of the large volume of data, we employed the use of Song Scope (Wildlife Acoustics Inc.) to identify birds of greatest conservation priority. Through the process we identified the limitations of auto recognizer software due to the complexity of song bird vocalizations. However, recognizers for species with simplistic vocalizations within a unique frequency range, such as the Blackpoll warbler, performed exceptionally well with an accuracy rate of 100%. As a second tier approach, acoustic recordings were treated as desk-top point counts with the added benefit of filtering data based on optimal weather and vocalization periods. Manual review of a sub-sample of acoustic data collected at one installation yielded 46 species from four stations which was comparable 64 species observed at 49 sites during a spring BBS surveys. This approach proved to be efficient, accurate, and cost effective because recordings could be visually scanned, questionable vocalizations could be compared to a reference library, and the number of field outings and personal was reduced. |
WILDLIFE #5 — Room: Capitol A April 5, 2016 / 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM |
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W5-1 4/5/2016 1:00 PM - 1:20 PM Student |
Quantifying Significant Distances to Minimize Disturbance Effects Melissa Althouse*; Jonathan Cohen; Sarah Karpanty; Kayla Davis; Jeff Spendelow; Kathy Parsons; Cris Luttazi - SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Flight-initiation distance is commonly used by managers to develop set-back distances to reduce anthropogenic disturbances to wildlife. It is also a classic component in understanding the energetics of antipredator behavior. Factors such as the physical state of the affected organism, conditions at the site of disturbance, and direction of approach can all impact this method of measuring stress. Regardless of the mechanism that determines initiation distance, for endangered species anthropogenic disturbance is usually considered to be "take". Minimization of disturbance to Roseate Terns is therefore a management goal at Cape Cod National Seashore. We have developed a model to determine the probability of staging mixed-species tern flocks responding to disturbances in any of five increasingly energetically-demanding behaviors. We will be presenting preliminary results demonstrating the contrast in flock responses to anthropogenic vs. natural disturbance sources. From these, we will be able to reliably identify distances likely to cause different flock responses, and will therefore be able to make management recommendations. |
W5-2 4/5/2016 1:20 PM - 1:40 PM Student |
Automated Telemetry and Markov Model for Planning and Permitting Offshore Wind Energy: A Case Study of Terns in the Gulf of Maine Zana Cranmer*, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Jennifer Smetzer, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Linda Welch, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Sara Williams, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Offshore wind development poses concerns for wildlife managers, particularly if threatened or endangered species are found near a proposed large-scale wind farm. In this study we developed a Markov model that can estimate the expected collision mortality that a wind farm would likely pose to a population of central-place foragers. We parameterized the model using foraging and colony-attendance bout duration data, and departure direction data derived from an automated telemetry of common (Sterna hirundo) and Arctic (S. paradisaea) terns. The model can aid in planning offshore wind development in areas of conservation concern by 1) determining setback distances for wind energy development to achieve a given level of accepted risk, and 2) providing a heuristic and quantitative tool with which regulators can compare risk and collision mortality under a range of development scenarios and wind farm arrangements. The model is also valuable for permitting because it can provide estimates of expected mortality for a given population under a specific development scenario. Though we apply the model to Arctic and Common tern populations, it is easily adapted for other central-place foragers given sufficient data. |
W5-3 4/5/2016 1:40 PM - 2:00 PM Student |
Using Flight Behavior as a Tool for Wind Energy Development: A Case Study Using an Endangered African Vulture Species Morgan B. Pfeiffer, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Jan A. Venter,School of Natural Resource Management, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa, Sonja C. Krüger, Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife, South Africa, Dana G. Berens, Conservation Ecology, Philipps University of Marburg, Germany, Colleen T. Downs, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa An increase in global energy consumption has created a demand for renewable energy development. Investment in these resources can aid in a country’s global trade, job creation goals, and reduce carbon emissions. However, some renewable energy techniques such as wind power can have severe impacts on threatened wildlife populations. Birds and bats experience detrimental impacts from collisions with wind turbine blades. Bird flight height patterns are strongly linked to collisions with wind turbines, yet are not well-understood for many raptor species. Our aim was to use high resolution tracking data to investigate factors influencing flight behavior of the Endangered, southern African endemic Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres). The model included spatial and behavioral predictor variables. GPS coordinates of the vultures were used to create a risk assessment map. A species distribution model based on distance to nearest breeding colony and roost site was created to determine the probability of vulture presence in the study area and was averaged with the risk assessment map. Distance to nearest breeding colony and roosts were considered the most important predictor variables. Flight behavior was considered the most important non-spatial predictor variable. Vultures that engaged in an encamped movement mode were more likely to fly at risk height than during an exploratory movement mode. Our results highlight the importance of avoiding wind energy development close to breeding colonies and active roost sites. Identification of all roost sites and breeding colonies is therefore crucial. |
W5-4 4/5/2016 2:00 PM - 2:20 PM Professional |
Migration Routes of Peregrine Falcons (Falco Peregrinus) Relative to Mid-Atlantic Wind Energy Areas Christopher. R. DeSorbo, Rick B Gray, Jeffrey Tash, Carrie E. Gray, Kathryn A. Williams, Chris Persico, Dustin Riordan -Biodiversity Research Institute Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus; peregrines) are known to have ‘pelagic’ tendencies, which may increase their exposure to offshore wind energy facilities being considered along the Atlantic Flyway. We fitted 16 migrant peregrines with satellite transmitters in Maine and Rhode Island, to: (1) characterize migration routes along the Atlantic Flyway, and (2) evaluate their space use relative to Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) in the mid-Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf. Peregrine migration routes were more concentrated and closer to shore in the northern portion of the U.S. Atlantic Flyway (RI to NC) compared to the southern portion (Cape Hatteras, NC southward). Nearly all peregrines initiated transoceanic flights from a 120-km stretch of shoreline spanning between Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Proportions of peregrine utilization distributions (UDs) coinciding with the mid-Atlantic study area (which holds DE, MD and VA WEAs) ranged 0 – 59% (mean ± SD 21 ± 21%). One-third of peregrines entering the mid-Atlantic study area had < 10% of their UDs in the study area. The remaining individuals varied widely in their UD overlap with the study area depending on the extent of offshore use. Peregrines spent between < 1 d and 14 d in the latitudinal zone of the mid-Atlantic study area, and roughly half their time (mean ± SD: 56 ± 34%) was spent over water. Transmitter flight altitude data indicated peregrines flew significantly higher when over water compared to when they were over land. Peregrines flew above, within, and below the rotor sweep area when offshore. |
W5-5 4/5/2016 2:20 PM - 2:40 PM Student |
An Exploratory Study of Bird-window Collisions in the Rural Landscape of the Northern Adirondacks, NY Grace Mayhew, Paul Smith’s College; Claire Nellis, Paul Smith’s College; Jonathan Stetler, Paul Smith’s College; Jorie Favreau, Paul Smith’s College; Andrew Bowe, Paul Smith’s College, Joseph Faryniarz, Paul Smith’s College; Jake Kuryla, Paul Smith’s College; Lewis Lolya, Paul Smith’s College; Kyle Nellis, Paul Smith’s College; Nicholas Sciolino, Paul Smith’s College Bird-window collisions (BWC) occur throughout the world and account for approximately 1 billion avian mortalities annually. Most studies occurred in urban areas, and little is known about BWC in rural areas. We calculated BWC rates in a rural natural, forested landscape in the northern Adirondacks, NY. We conducted our study at Paul Smith’s College, located in a rural landscape with low residency ( < 30 occupied dwellings in a 500 m radius, bordered by >1000 acres of forested land). We searched for bird carcasses under windows of 11 buildings consisting of two stories. Eleven carcasses (6 species) were found between the last week of August and the first week of November 2015 (0.17 bird mortalities/day). Seventy-two percent of birds died on the eastern and western faces of buildings, yet this was not statistically significant due to a low sample size. It is difficult to compare BWC rates with other studies because the results have been reported in different formats (i.e. birds/day, birds/year). We will standardize BWC rates of previous studies in urban landscapes to understand how BWC compares in rural areas. To determine potential bias in our mortality rates, we investigated how long carcasses persisted before they were scavenged. Eighty six percent of carcasses persisted over 24 hours. In our initial study, we checked for bird carcasses approximately every 24 hours, thus it is likely that our BWC mortality rate is fairly accurate. |
BREAK / 2:40 PM - 3:20 PM | |
W5-6 4/5/2016 3:20 PM - 3:40 PM Student |
Influence of Forest Stand Complexity on Forest Songbird Diversity Within Large Tracts of Forest in Pennsylvania Abigail Barenblitt, Pennsylania State University; Margaret Brittingham, Pennsylvania State University; David Miller, Pennsylvania State University; Kimberly Serno, Pennsylvania State University Pennsylvania is characterized by large tracts of forests that provide a variety of ecosystem services, as well as habitat for neotropical migrant songbirds. As resource extraction and development continue to alter Pennsylvania forests, prioritizing habitat for conservation is critical. According to niche theory established by MacArthur and MacArthur in the 1960’s and 1970’s, habitat with more available niche space should be able to support more species. Past management practices, soil acidification, and heavy deer browsing have led to the simplification of forest stands. My research asks: Does the diversity of songbird communities increase as a function of structural and compositional complexity of forest stands within large tracts of forest? As of the 2015 breeding season, we performed 744 point count surveys within 7 State Gamelands and 6 State Forests in Northcentral Pennsylvania to index avian communities within this region. These point counts were spatially dispersed 250m apart to ensure independent sampling. We performed vegetation surveys at these same point count locations to connect each surveyed point with vegetation features including stand structure and dominant ground, shrub, and tree species. Additionally, we returned to a subset of these locations to collect more detailed vegetation information such as basal area and woody debris. We analyzed our data using GLM’s in program R. Preliminary analysis of our data suggests that the number of bird species found within a stand is positively influenced by the amount of ground and understory cover and negatively influenced by the amount of midstory and canopy cover. |
W5-7 4/5/2016 3:40 PM - 4:00 PM Student |
Shale Gas Energy Development Effects on Songbird Communities in a Central Appalachian Forest: A Long Term Case Study from Northern West Virginia Laura S. Farwell, West Virginia, Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, West Virginia University; Petra B. Wood, U.S. Geological Survey, WV Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, West Virginia University; Jim Sheehan, WV Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, West Virginia University; Greg George, WV Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, West Virginia University In the last decade, extraction of natural gas from the Marcellus-Utica shale has increased exponentially in the central Appalachians, a heavily forested region that contains important breeding habitat for many neotropical migrants, including several species of conservation concern. To better understand effects of shale gas development on forests and breeding songbirds, we conducted annual point count surveys during 2008-2015, at 142 survey stations in a 4,500 ha study area of primarily mature hardwood forest in West Virginia. We also mapped and analyzed land cover change throughout the study area on an annual basis. We assessed changes in abundance (adjusted for detection probability) of 21 focal species and changes in species richness of three avian guilds: forest-interior, early-successional, and synanthropic. We conducted our analyses at three spatial extents: a landscape extent (4500 ha), a neighborhood extent (79 ha), and a local extent (3 ha). Over the eight-year study period, shale gas development resulted in a 4% loss in forest cover at the site, a 10% loss in core forest habitat, and a 46% increase in forest edge density. Although we observed species-specific variation in responses of focal species, we found distinct trends in long-term response among our three avian guilds: forest interior birds declined in species richness at points impacted by shale gas within 100 m, synanthropic birds increased at impacted points, and early-successional birds showed no significant changes. Results from our study site suggest that shale gas development has the potential to fragment regional forests and alter avian communities. |
W5-8 4/5/2016 4:00 PM - 4:20 PM Student |
Louisiana Waterthrush & Benthic Macroinvertebrate Response to Shale Gas Development M. W. Frantz, WV Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, West Virginia University; P. B. Wood, U.S. Geological Survey, WV Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, West Virginia University; J. Sheehan, WV Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, West Virginia University; D. Becker, WV Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, West Virginia University; and G. George, WV Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, West Virginia University We examined effects of Marcellus shale gas well and infrastructure development on Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) at Lewis Wetzel Wildlife Management Area, WV. During 2009-2015, we quantified waterthrush nest survival, territory density, and return rates on 57.9 km of headwater streams (n=14). For each nest, we quantified local land cover, a waterthrush Habitat Suitability Index (HSI), and the EPA Rapid Bioassessment index for in-stream characteristics important to aquatic macroinvertebrates. In 2011, we collected benthic macroinvertebrate samples in stream reaches to characterize waterthrush prey availability in unimpacted and impacted streams. Territory density in 2011 was positively correlated with higher GLIMPSS scores, total benthic density, and EPT density. Unimpacted streams had greater GLIMPSS scores, greater overall and EPT richness, and a smaller percentage of tolerant taxa compared to impacted streams. Waterthrush demographic trends across years suggest decreasing territory density, return rates, and nest survival. With Program MARK, we found that average rainfall, nest age, and linear time-within season had weak effects on daily survival rate (DSR). After accounting for these temporal effects, we also found weak negative effects on DSR associated with shale gas development. HSI and EPA indices were lower for nests in shale gas impacted territories suggesting a decline in habitat quality. One additional result of note was increased parasitism rates of waterthrush nests since 2010 by Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater); no parasitism occurred before 2010. All results suggest a decline in site quality for waterthrush with an increase in shale gas development. |
W5-9 4/5/2016 4:20 PM - 4:40 PM Professional |
Managing for Resilience and Adaptation: What Strategies Should We Advance for Future Habitats? Scott Bearer, The Nature Conservancy; Mark Anderson, The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has developed a functional dataset, commonly known as the ‘Northeast Resilience Project’, which allows managers to characterize the resilience of habitats across the landscape based on combined measures of complexity and connectedness. While the data included have a variety of useful applications, such as prioritization and conservation, they were not meant to suggest appropriate management actions that might enhance resilience. In recent years, however, TNC and others have developed new theories in forest and habitat management that provide the opportunity to downscale these spatial models to a possible suite of management options that may help increase the resilience and adaptive capacity of our Appalachian forests. Here, we provide a summary of these recommended management options that enhance resilience. We also discuss how we are integrating these techniques into a multi-partner, landscape-level habitat management collaboration, known as the Pennsylvania Resiliency Network. This collaboration is currently working to enhance resilience and adaptation along the Kittatinny Ridge in central Pennsylvania, and we hope the success of the partnership will allow us to develop additional cross-boundary projects in targeted landscapes across the Appalachians. |
W5-10 4/5/2016 4:40 PM - 5:00 PM Student |
Assessing Response of Avian Communities to Changes in Vegetation Structure in Mid-Atlantic National Parks Conor Higgins, University of Delaware; Greg Shriver, University of Delaware; John Paul Schmit, National Park Service The mid-Atlantic region of the United States is experiencing high rates of population growth, expansion, and urbanization. This is greatly affecting our natural areas, especially the species composition and vegetative structure. Interior forest breeding birds that are not resistant to edge effects are especially hard-hit by these changes. Avian communities are changed by functional guilds’ differing responses to local pressures. Assessing these changes and their drivers is vital for management and shows the importance of land conservation. The National Park Service (NPS) National Capital Region Network (NCRN) consists of eleven parks including Civil War battlefields, urban parks, and large natural areas. The NCRN Inventory and Monitoring program has implemented a forest bird monitoring effort annually since 2007. Long-term monitoring provides valuable information that can be used to assess changes over time. Detecting trends in forest breeding birds is important if we wish to understand the effects of increasing urbanization and changes in vegetation structure. By analyzing differences in vegetation over 9 years and 14 metrics and using these data as covariates in hierarchical modeling, we will learn the drivers of interior forest bird abundance and their magnitude. We will use a Bird Community Index to determine “health” of forest patches, as well as 11 bird species representing functional guilds. We expect abundance relationships to vegetation changes to be complex and unique for each bird species. Vegetation structure change is expected to greatly impact species abundance dynamics. |
WILDLIFE #6 — Room: Capitol B April 5, 2016 / 1:00 PM - 2:20 PM |
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W6-1 4/5/2016 1:00 PM - 1:20 PM Professional |
Evaluating the Status of the Delmarva Fox Squirrel; Critical Information Needed to Assess Recovery of an Endangered Species Cherry Keller, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service The Delmarva fox squirrel (Sciurus niger cinereus) (DFS) is a subspecies of eastern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) found only on the Delmarva Peninsula. This subspecies was listed as endangered in 1967 and through decades of recovery and monitoring work, has been recently “delisted” or removed from the Federal endangered species list. Key advances in our knowledge that were important along the road to recovery included the following: 1) maintaining an ongoing GIS data base of observations to document the current range and changes over time; 2) translocations to start new populations within the historic range; 3) a thorough evaluation and analysis of threats; 4) the ability to inventory habitat using remote sensing (LiDAR); 5) development of a population viability analysis (PVA) model; and 6) evaluation of the connectivity of habitat. These same features may be useful in the conservation and status evaluation of other species of concern. |
W6-2 4/4/2016 1:20 PM - 1:40 PM Student |
Impacts of Invasive Earthworms on Small Burrowing Mammals in New England Forests Isis Lawson, Antioch University New England; Rachel Thiet, Antioch University New England In this study, we investigated the effects of invasive earthworms on small burrowing mammal populations in NH and VT forests. Specific soil characteristics affect small burrowing mammals such as voles (Microtus spp.), shrews (Sorex spp.) and moles (Parascalops spp. and Condylura spp.), and earthworm activity affects soil characteristics through bioturbation of O, A and B horizons. Thus, we set out to test whether earthworms affect the presence of small mammals where they co-occur. We conducted a small mammal capture-recapture experiment on eleven forest plots in Cheshire County, NH and Grafton, VT. Five of the plots had invasive earthworms and six plots had no invasive earthworms. At each site, we quantified small mammal and earthworm presence and density, as well as characterized soil texture and structure, bulk density, horizon development, and field moisture capacity. We observed a significantly greater number of mammals in study sites without earthworms than in sites with earthworms. Earthworms were related to a decrease in the thickness of the organic horizon and burrowing mammals were positively correlated with thick organic layers. We observed a positive correlation between soil structure associated with highly permeable soils and the lack of earthworms and the presence of burrowing mammals. Our results suggest that the effects of invasive earthworms on the soil are negatively impacting the abundance of small burrowing mammals in New England forests. |
W6-3 4/4/2016 1:40 PM - 2:00 PM Professional |
Feral Swine: How Defining a Species Can Define Future Management Kyle Van Why and Harris Glass- USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services. What is a feral swine (Sus scrofa)? Although it may seem like a simple question the answer can be very complicated. While many states have worked to define what is considered a “feral swine or wild pig” there is no single definition that has been uniformly accepted. Nationally “feral swine” have a complex history, complicated by appearance, genetics, behavior, sources, and politics. An unclear or confusing definition on what is classified as a “feral swine” can complicate management actions, limit response, and have legal ramifications. This is especially true in states where wild swine populations are limited and the goal is to prevent the establishment of new animals originating from any possible source from establishing themselves on the landscape. Our goal was to examine the diversity of names and definitions used by Northeast states in identifying this problem species, and provide information based on experiences in Pennsylvania how a clear, concise definition of what is considered a “feral swine” has aided in dealing with this growing problem. |
W6-4 4/5/2016 2:00 PM - 2:20 PM Professional |
Environmental and Ecological Monitoring Along a 345kV Transmission Line in Southeastern New York David B. Tompkins, Kleinfelder, Inc.; Casey M. Tompkins, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. A utility company installed a 345kV transmission line within an existing right-of-way (ROW), which spanned 17 miles throughout southeastern New York State. The added transmission line allowed the utility to improve transmission capacity and reliability within the region. Environmental constraints were associated with the installation, including threatened and endangered species, State conservation areas and sensitive habitats, wetland and stream degradation, erosion and sediment control, and the Appalachian Trail system. The existing corridor and bordering areas were composed of a variety of habitat types, including successional shrubland, rocky summit grasslands, shallow emergent marshes and red maple swamplands, rocky headwater streams, and Chestnut oak forests. The habitats along the corridor were occupied by state and federally listed species, including timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus), golden-winged warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera), marbled salamander (Ambystoma opacum), bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii), Indiana bat (Myotis sodalist), eastern small-footed bat (Myotis leibii), thickleaf orach (Atriplex dioica), and featherfoil (Hottonia inflata). Kleinfelder supported the project during construction by providing field monitoring services to protect resources and biota. Kleinfelder achieved the goals of the project by providing the client with both ecological and environmental support, including wetland delineation, erosion and sediment control, timber rattlesnake and bog turtle monitors, environmental monitoring, and restoration plan development and oversight. Kleinfelder successfully protected the sensitive habitats and associated species along the 17-mile corridor. Over 50 species of wildlife were documented, which was predominantly composed of herpetofauna (Abundance = ~570) such as the timber rattlesnake, spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata), box turtle (Terrapene carolina) and marbled salamander. |
Information & Education Track - Oral Presentations
INFORMATION & EDUCATION #1 — Room: Park Place 1 & 2 April 4, 2016 / 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM |
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IE-1 4/4/2016 1:00 PM - 1:20 PM Professional |
Green Eggs & Sand: A Unique Approach to Educating Around a Highly Contentious Natural Resource Management Challenge Gary Kreamer, Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife; Cindy Etgen, Maryland Department of Natural Resources This session profiles the highly successful Green Eggs & Sand (GE&S) project - a collaborative effort of educators, biologists, resource managers and stakeholders in building a unique workshop/field experience, a wealth of educational video, and a series of activity-based learning modules, centered on the Atlantic Coast horseshoe crab/shorebird phenomenon and management controversy. Over the 15 years since its inception, more than 1000 teachers, non-formal educators, scientists, resource users, and managers from 25 states and 5 foreign nationalities have taken part in GE&S workshops, which are now offered up and down the Atlantic coast each spring around lunar event peak times for horseshoe crab spawning. These workshops are intensive, spanning 2-3 weekend days, and feature a mix of hands-on field experiences, presentations by experts, and demonstration of curricular components. This session will provide an overview on how GE&S was developed and implemented, the significance of the horseshoe crab to migratory shorebirds, fisheries and human health, how we educate to the management challenges arising from those competing uses, and closing thoughts on how the GE&S approach might be adapted and applied to other controversial natural resource management issues. |
IE-2 4/4/2016 1:20 PM - 1:40 PM Professional |
Communication Across Boundaries: Sharing Information and Telling the Story of Hurricane Sandy Recovery Susan J. Russo, Herb Bergquist, Walter Jaslanek, Lia McLaughlin, David Eisenhaur - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service The US Fish & Wildlife Service (Service) has developed ways to compile information and communicate that data across multiple audiences as Hurricane Sandy projects are implemented. A team of scientists and communicators have been combining efforts to ensure that, as data collection and recording occurs, agency staff would have a venue for sharing this information with a broad range of audiences. The Services’ Hurricane Sandy Metrics Database was developed in response to the agency's need to efficiently identify, collect, measure, and report on Congressionally funded Hurricane Sandy Response projects. The database focuses on identifying and summarizing coastal resiliency metrics for Hurricane Sandy projects administered by the Service. Its main objectives are to efficiently query project metrics and summarize accomplishments, as close to real time as possible. The database is structured so metric summaries are consistent with DOI-level metric assessments while maintaining scalability to meet future assessment needs. The database provides a geographic context for each project, and allows for integration of additional content via ESRI Portal, AGOL, and ArcGIS Server capabilities. In the future, we plan to integrate information from the metrics database with a public-facing "story map" that the Service has also developed. This story map is designed to help communicate project objectives, current status, and final results to multiple audiences such as scientists, agency leadership, members of Congress, partners, and the public. It currently includes information on 70 Service recovery and resilience projects across the Atlantic Coast, charting progress through images, video, and other web-based information. |
IE-3 4/4/2016 1:40 PM - 2:00 PM Student |
Promoting Environmentally Aware Communities Through Local Public Participation in Wildlife-Focused Activities on a Refuge Catherine Doyle-Capitman, Cornell University Since 1997, the National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) System has expanded public uses (including wildlife-dependent recreation and interpretation) permitted on Refuges. The System has also instituted volunteerism and community partnership opportunities to facilitate collaborative administration of Refuge programs. Despite the widespread availability of these opportunities, little is known about if and how local communities become engaged in wildlife-dependent activities on Refuges. Nor has there been assessment of the socio-ecological benefits created by local community access to these activities or by local public engagement in their design and administration. This study, which focuses on Wertheim NWR in Shirley, NY, reveals mechanisms used to promote local community participation in volunteerism, wildlife-based recreation, and environmental interpretation on one NWR, and examines the local socio-ecological benefits created by participation in these activities and their administration. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 36 Refuge staff, partners, volunteers, and local elected officials. Results indicate Wertheim provides a variety of year-round, affordable opportunities to learn about and interact with local wildlife and their habitats. Refuge volunteers, who are predominantly local residents, help design and lead wildlife-focused programs and activities, which often target the local community. Respondents reported that participation in wildlife-dependent activities on the Refuge enhanced their (1) knowledge of local wildlife and their habitats, (2) concern for and, in some cases, engagement in protecting local natural resources, and (3) familiarity with the local community. This indicates participation in wildlife-dependent activities at Wertheim provides valuable social and ecological benefits to local communities, a finding likely applicable to other Refuges. |
IE-4 4/4/2016 2:00 PM - 2:20 PM Professional |
Making Spiders Sexy: How to Teach About Misunderstood Wildlife Kerry Wixted, Maryland Department of Natural Resources The sheer mention of ‘spider’ can often invoke fear in a roomful of people. However, psychological research indicates that fright responses to spiders, snakes, and other misunderstood wildlife are learned. Public support of wildlife is crucial to managing many species, and studies have shown knowledge of animal species is linked to higher affinities. Discover tips and tricks to teach the public about creepy crawlies and their cousins to get across conservation messages. |
IE-5 4/4/2016 2:20 PM - 2:40 PM Professional |
Students Take the Classroom Outside in the Explore and Restore Maryland Streams Program Amanda Sullivan, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Students become citizen scientists by modeling professional stream biologists in the Explore and Restore Maryland Streams program. Using techniques and protocols derived from those used in the Maryland Biological Stream Survey, teachers across the state of Maryland are participating in workshops where they learn how to assess their own local streams. |
BREAK / 2:40 PM - 3:20 PM | |
IE-6 4/4/2016 3:20 PM - 3:40 PM Professional |
Boulder Boogers to Frankenfish: An Aquatic Invasive Species Education Kit for the Mid-Atlantic Kerry Wixted, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Invasive species are the second greatest threat to biodiversity today. One of the most cost-effective ways of dealing with invasive species is to prevent invasions from occurring. Unfortunately, much of the public does not realize their actions can result in the introduction and spread of invasive species. Strong education and outreach efforts can increase public awareness while also promoting prevention. Learn about a comprehensive toolkit developed by Maryland educators and biologists that contains lesson plans and hands-on items designed to tell the story of aquatic invasive species within the Mid-Atlantic. Participants will receive copies of some of the lesson plans contained within the kit. |
IE-7 4/4/2016 3:40 PM - 4:00 PM Professional |
Massachusetts Wildlife Climate Action Tool: Inspiring Local On-the-ground Adaptation Scott Jackson, University of Massachusetts Amherst; John O'Leary, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife; Michelle Staudinger, Department of the Interior; Melissa Ocana, University of Massachusetts Amherst The Massachusetts Wildlife Climate Action Tool is designed to inform and inspire local action to protect natural resources and help them adapt in a changing climate. With this tool, you can: 1) access information on climate change impacts and vulnerabilities of fish and wildlife species and associated habitats in Massachusetts; 2) explore adaptation actions to enable change and promote resilient natural communities, such as culvert replacements, forestry practices, and land protection strategies. This tool was developed by a unique partnership of the MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, DOI Northeast Climate Science Center, and USGS Fish & Wildlife Cooperative Research Unit. This tool was created for decision-makers, conservation practitioners, and large landowners interested in taking action in response to climate change. While designed for Massachusetts, it offers broadly relevant information and could serve as a model for similar tools in the Northeast. In this presentation, we will provide an overview of the Climate Action Tool, discuss on-the-ground uses with participants, and seek input on additional content to include as we continue to improve the Tool. |
IE-8 4/4/2016 4:00 PM - 4:20 PM Professional |
Out from Under the Bridge - How to Deal with Internet Trolls Keith Shannon, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service In mythology, trolls are creatures that hide in mountains, forests, and under bridges, coming out only to wreak havoc on local towns. In the digital age, trolls are creatures that hide behind the face of autonomy (usually), coming out to wreak havoc across the internet and on social media. In this presentation, you will learn to identify internet trolls and tactics to face them when they are encountered - and maybe even how to stop them before they have the opportunity to start. |
IE-9 4/4/2016 4:20 PM - 4:40 PM Professional |
An Analysis of Piping Plover News Coverage Meagan Racey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Dr. Ashley Dayer, Emily Cosbar and Alicia Williams, Cornell University News media content analyses can examine how issues are currently framed and how existing coverage could be improved. Additionally, media are seen as influencing the environmental agenda and are a useful barometer of public sentiment on the issue. In fall 2015, we analyzed news coverage of piping plovers from January 2014 through September 2015 to establish a baseline for future communications efforts and to better understand what influences the tone of an article on plovers. Results include helpful insight to the elements of positive/negative articles and led to actionable recommendations for future media campaigns. |
IE-10 4/4/2016 4:40 PM - 5:00 PM Professional |
Seeking Your Input in Piping Plover Communications Planning Meagan Racey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Judy Stokes Weber, Engaging People, Sustaining Nature; Ann Tihansky, USGS Recovery of the Atlantic Coast breeding population of piping plovers has made significant progress since the species' listing as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1986. Nonetheless, conservation of the species is limited by diverse and emerging threats across the range, including two key issues that require strategic communications planning: the plover depends on limited beach habitat seen as recreational areas for people, and the shorebird's needs can conflict with human uses and values. In late 2015 and early 2016, communications facilitators began working with the plover conservation community to better understand these issues and plan actions that can assist moving conservation forward. We invite participants to learn about this effort and provide some rapid feedback that will continue to push us forward. |
INFORMATION & EDUCATION #1 — Room: Park Place 1 & 2 April 5, 2016 / 8:00 AM - 2:20 PM |
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IE-11 4/5/2016 8:00 AM - 8:20 AM Professional |
Overview of the Human Dimensions of Fish and Wildlife Management in the Northeast, 2014-2015 Mark Damian Duda, Responsive Management Between 2014 and 2015, Responsive Management conducted more than 10 major projects for agencies in the northeast United States relating to the human dimensions of fish and wildlife management, hunting, fishing, and boating participation, and attitudes toward federal funding for natural resource conservation. These include three different projects for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to develop a marketing and communications plan, and to conduct surveys for long-range management plans for big game management and freshwater fisheries management; a needs assessment study for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Conservation Education and Firearms Safety Program; and two studies for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to attract nonresident hunters and anglers to the state, and to assess the effects of a cap on the vessel excise tax on boating participation. Also in the 2014-2015 time period, Responsive Management completed projects on various topics for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. This presentation offers an overview of the projects and their findings, and discusses the role each study played in the overall management of fish and wildlife and the promotion of outdoor recreation in the northeast. |
IE-12 4/5/2016 8:20 AM - 8:40 PM Professional |
Communications, Marketing and Public Relations for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Mark Damian Duda, Responsive Management; Bonnie Holding, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife In 2015, Responsive Management contracted with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to develop a marketing, communications, and public relations plan. The plan was designed to fulfill two major objectives: raise overall public awareness and support among Maine residents of MDIFW’s mission, programs and projects; measurably increase support and participation in activities and programs overseen and/or administered by the Department. To develop the plan, Responsive Management undertook substantial new quantitative and qualitative research with Maine residents and core agency constituent groups, including hunters, anglers, wildlife viewers, trappers, and boaters. Responsive Management also partnered with marketing expert Jodi Valenta of Mile Creek Communications to produce the final plan. This presentation will discuss the research steps taken to compile original data from Maine residents and agency constituents groups, explain the major findings and results from the surveys and focus groups conducted, and detail how the data were used to inform the development of the plan. Study topics included participation and interest in outdoor recreation activities (e.g., wildlife viewing, boating, fishing, hunting, and trapping); wildlife values and issues affecting outdoor recreation and fish and wildlife; knowledge of and opinions on the Department of inland fisheries and wildlife; sources of information on wildlife and outdoor recreation and the credibility of various sources; and comparisons of demographic and participatory groups on a variety of survey questions. The presentation will summarize how agencies and organizations can use such research to develop communications plans that target specific audiences with research-based messages that resonate with them. |
IE-13 4/5/2016 8:40 AM - 9:00 AM Student |
Human Dimensions Assessment of Angler Attitudes Towards Eurasian Otters and Piscivorous Birds in Scotland Kelsey Baird, Department of Biology and Natural Resources, Frostburg State University; Thomas Serfass Department of Biology and Natural Resources, Frostburg State University and Appalachian Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science; Sadie Stevens, Department of Biology and Natural Resources, Frostburg State University Landowners, recreational anglers, and commercial fisheries managers in Great Britain have persecuted piscivorous wildlife historically. Now unlike in the past, piscivorous predators are protected under British and EU legislation. Iconic game-fish species such as Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) are also provided legal protection in Britain while in freshwater from certain fishing methods. Legal protection turns potential wildlife-conflict issues between stakeholders and piscivorous predators into increasingly polarized socio-political issues. More recently, media portrayals across Britain suggest that some recreational anglers are concerned that the predatory habits of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) and piscivorous birds are harmful to populations of game-fish. However, there is a paucity of studies that assess the actual extent of concerns by anglers towards native piscivores in Great Britain. To make such an evaluation, during the summers of 2013 and 2014 we assessed attitudes and perceptions of 238 recreational anglers in Scotland (n = 203), and England (n = 35) towards the following piscivorous species: Eurasian otter, osprey (Pandion haliaetus), grey heron (Ardea cinerea), sawbill ducks of the Merginae subfamily, and the Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo). In contrast to some media portrayals, participants generally held otters, herons, and ospreys in high esteem (78%, 79%, and 94% had favorable attitudes respectively). However, anglers expressed less positive opinions towards sawbill ducks (55% expressed favorable attitudes), and had particularly negative attitudes towards cormorants (75% identified the cormorant as a pest). We review factors, such as socioeconomic indices, familiarity, and media portrayals, which may contribute to the attitudes expressed towards these piscivores. |
CANCELLED: IE-14 9:00 AM - 9:20 AM |
CANCELLED: Survey Methods in Human Dimensions of Wildlife: Comparing Traditional Paper Surveys to Electronic Tablets Kendyl Hassler, Department of Biology and Natural Resources, Frostburg State University; Kelly Pearce, Marine Estuarine and Environmental Sciences, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Appalachian Lab; Tom Serfass Department of Biology |
IE-15 4/5/2016 9:20 AM - 9:40 AM Professional |
An Introduction to Sampling for Mail and Internet Questionnaires Coren P. Jagnow, Pennsylvania Game Commission The process of selecting a subset of hunters, anglers, viewers, or the general population from a target population to conduct a survey is called sampling. The purpose of sampling is to reduce the cost and resources that it would take to survey the entire target population. Typically, a mail or internet questionnaire is used to measure certain characteristics, preferences, and/or attitudes of a sample of the population. The sampling frames available typically include license buyers for hunting, fishing, and certain non-consumptive activities. Existing sampling frames, especially those for hunting and fishing, present a unique opportunity in survey research because the sampling frame, with few exceptions, is identical to the population. Sampling can become more complicated when looking at non-consumptive users or the general public. Often convenience samples are used, which can be problematic because the relationship between the target population and the survey sample cannot be measured and potential bias is not known. A variety of research scenarios will be presented to address common mistakes, potential sources of bias, and ways to ensure that the sample is selected to be most representative of the population. Different methods for contacting members of a sample once they have been selected will be presented. Determining the size of the sample to draw inferences about the target population will also be discussed. |
BREAK / 9:40 AM - 10:20 AM | |
IE-16 4/5/2016 10:20 AM - 10:40 AM Professional |
Hunter Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation in Maryland Chris Markin, Maryland Department of Natural Resources The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD DNR) recognizes the importance of hunters as conservationists and the important role they play in wildlife conservation. We are also aware of the decline in active hunters and the barriers that many hunters and potential hunters face. The MD DNR Hunting and Shooting Sports Outreach Program (HSSOP) is designed to reduce barriers to participation and open doors to opportunity. Programs are designed to be hands-on, introductory and open to all experience levels, with experienced shooters and hunters participating in a mentoring capacity. The program has found success through various shooting and hunting programs, using both classroom and interactive methods. Results have been used to evaluate and assess this program, which has led to further pursuing some aspects and discontinuing others. These trials and errors have led to the creation of new programs intended to more effectively reach the target audience. Recruitment/retention is a long-term process and we feel that we are headed in the right direction with our current programs. Our desire to constantly evolve our program to further reach our target audience will ensure that we are able to continue to promote hunters and hunting. |
IE-17 4/5/2016 10:40 AM - 11:00 AM Professional |
Using Wild Game Meat to Connect Audiences Bonnie Holding, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife; Nicole Meier, Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department; Brittany Howell, Pennsylvania Game Commission People connect through food. One way that fish and wildlife agencies can reach new audiences is through wild game meat. Some wild game cooks may not be hunters themselves, but support hunting through cooking harvested meat for their families. Other people are interested in the environment and eating locally and may consider hunting a way to participate in the locavore movement. Others may have considered hunting, but do not know how to process an animal and do not to pay the costs associated with sending it to a butcher. This panel will discuss the variety of ways that state agencies are connecting with people through wild game meat. Each panelist will briefly describe why they decided to reach out through food, the program or publication that was implemented and the results of the outreach. |
IE-18 4/5/2016 11:00 AM - 11:20 AM Professional |
Creating a Connected Community: Urban Wildlife Conservation Tylar Greene, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Genevieve LaRouche, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service With 80 percent of the U.S. population currently residing in urban communities, the challenge to ensure our natural resources are conserved and valued by the American people has become complex. To ensure that we nurture a new conservation constituency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is promoting strategies to engage new audiences in meaningful, collaborative ways that build sustainable, broad-based support for our mission. Our work at Baltimore's Masonville Cove employs several of these tactics and is an exemplary model of how we can connect and engage new and diverse groups in wildlife conservation. |
IE-19 4/5/2016 11:20 AM - 12:00 PM Professional |
The Changing Face of Outdoor Recreation and Conservation Samantha Pedder, National Shooting Sports Foundation; Kim Barrett, Vermont Fish and Wildlife; Tanya Lama, US Fish and Wildlife Service; Tylar Greene, US Fish and Wildlife Service Immediate actions and strategies state and federal agencies and NGOs, can take to accommodate and embrace the changing face of outdoor recreationists. The US Census Bureau projects more than half of American children to be part of a minority race or ethnic group by 2020 and a continued trend in urbanization. To garner support for conservation, foster a sense of stewardship and increase participation in outdoor recreation, it is paramount that we facilitate discovery, appreciation and interest for nature in cities and beyond. We will focus our discussion on addressing needs and opportunities to engage with diverse audiences including audiences of different cultures, ages, sexual orientation, gender and abilities. Presentation will last 40 minutes, four 5-6 minute presentations for each panel member, and then 15 minutes of discussion. |
LUNCH BREAK / 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | |
IE-20 4/5/2016 1:00 PM - 1:20 PM Student |
The Influence of Angler Attitudes Towards the River Otters (Lontra Canadensis) on Its Ability to Serve as an Aquatic Flagship Species Kelly J Pearce, Appalachian Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences; Thomas L. Serfass, Department of Biology and Natural Resources, Frostburg State University and Marine Estuarine and Environmental Science Program, University of Maryland; Ray P Morgan II, Appalachian Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences Age, gender, education, income, belonging to interest groups (e.g., angler, hunter or nature conservation) are known to influence attitudes towards wildlife. Other concerns regarding economic loss from depredation of livestock, perceptions that depredation will decrease populations of wildlife valued for hunting and fishing, or the potential for large animals to injure or kill people can also impact attitudes towards wildlife species. These concerns are particularly prominent when the species of interest is an apex carnivore species. Thus, using the flagship approach to conservation has inherent limitations, if the flagship chosen generates ill-will among stakeholders. Flagships are primarily charismatic megafauna, including large species of mammals and birds which have large home ranges and generation times. River otters, an apex aquatic predator, has inherent natural history characteristics that could potentially contribute to negative attitudes among stakeholders, particularly recreationists who are anglers. The objectives of this study are to 1) assess attitudes and opinions of anglers and 2) evaluate the perceived or actual resource conflict on attitudes towards river otters and how this influences the potential of the river otter to serve as an aquatic flagship species for the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). On-site questionnaires (n = 171) were conducted at 6 popular fishing locations throughout the GYE 1 June 2015- 25 August 2015. Most anglers (n = 109) agreed or strongly agreed that they were concerned about the well-being of river otter populations, and most anglers (n = 132) agreed or strongly agreed that is it important to conserve river otter populations. |
IE-21 4/5/2016 1:20 PM - 1:40 PM Professional |
Speaking for Science: Supporting Science Delivery by Sharing Partners' Conservation Stories Bridget Macdonald, North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region With more and more North Atlantic LCC projects resulting in products from reports to assessment to and spatial datasets, we are shifting to a new phase in realizing our mission: delivering science to practitioners who can apply it to inform decisions on the ground. But there is more to science delivery than just handing off finished products, and communication has an important role to play in follow through. To ensure that the products we support add value to conservation, we need to stay engaged with the people we expect to use them. Beyond just providing technical support, this means reaching out to partners for examples of how they are using our science, and gathering feedback to ensure its continued relevance. |
IE-22 4/5/2016 1:40 PM - 2:20 PM Professional |
Recent AFWA-Funded Churn Study Results and a Dashboard View of Current Hunter and Angler Participation & Trends Lisa Parks and Dan Kary - Southwick Associates Increasing and diversifying the hunter and angler customer base is critical if state fish and wildlife agencies are to remain effective in their conservation mission. Monitoring trends and shifts in the customer base is vital if recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3) efforts are to reach their maximum potential. States should collect these data through multiple methods, and just as importantly, communicate the trends through simple, easily-updatable tools such as “data scorecards.” Data scorecards, recently piloted in Oregon, use extensive visuals to reveal patterns and connections among evaluation metrics and population segments. The scorecard provides a visual representation of a state’s most important metrics such as fishing and hunting license/permit sales trends and shifts within key demographic categories such as residency, gender, age and county of residence. By providing simple, regular and consistent summaries of customer buying and participation trends, data scorecards help a wider audience within state agencies identify R3 trends and needs, thus improving our ability to maintain conservation funding and public relevancy. |
Law Enforcement Track - Oral Presentations
LAW ENFORCEMENT #1 — Room: Annapolis April 4, 2016 / 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM |
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LE-1 4/4/2016 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Professional |
Death Notification Process on Critical Incidents Chaplain Kate Braestrup, Maine Warden Service We have been training it out to our Local, County and State Police agencies and many are using the method and thought process in this difficult part of a LE Officers duties. It goes against traditional thinking and causes all to think outside the box. We have found that victim’s families are appreciative of the method and our support from the families extend beyond the incident as a result. Our Chaplain Kate Braestrup and Lt. Kevin Adam our Search and Rescue Coordinator are teaching the new concepts and it has been very well received. |
LE-2 4/4/2016 2:00 PM - 2:40 PM Professional |
What Is in a Name? Conservation Officer Safety and Legitimacy Dr. Michael J. McSkimming, Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania; Sgt. Vance Dunbar, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission The purpose of this study is to determine whether a change in title from conservation officer to one which clearly reflects police powers has an impact on officer safety, public perceptions, and compliance in the field. A cursory examination of conservation law enforcement agencies across the United States suggests that fourteen states have titles that have a police designation in their title (e.g., Conservation Police Officer, Natural Resources Police Officer, or Environmental Police Officer). However, very little is known regarding the level of organizational legitimacy these titles have in relation to officer safety and public perceptions. This study will attempt to answer the following questions: (1) Why did these fourteen states choose to incorporate a police designation as the title for their conservation officers?; (2) How many state conservation agencies originated with the police designation?; (3) How many states have changed their title from their original non-police title to a police title?; (4) What were some of the reasons for the change in conservation officer titles?; (5) What impact, if any, has this title change had (e.g., changes in officer assault rates, changes in public perceptions, better compliance, etc.)?; (6) How many states are currently considering a similar change in their officers titles and why?; and (7) How many states have considered a title change for their officers but for some reason did not? In addition to reporting on the responses to the above questions, this paper will offer policy suggestions and directions for future research. |
BREAK / 2:40 PM - 3:20 PM | |
LE-3 4/4/2016 3:20 PM - 4:00 PM Professional |
Protecting Bats During Hibernation with High Tech Cameras Thomas Grohol, Pennsylvania Game Commission; Greg Turner, Pennsylvania Game Commission Since 2009, Pennsylvania's bat populations have been decimated by white-nose syndrome, a condition that causes bats to rouse during hibernation, burning the fat reserves they depend on to make it through winter and, ultimately, killing them. Although the disease has had devastating impacts, survivors remain, and continue to hibernate at these infected sites year after year. The Pennsylvania Game Commission has for years protected the best hibernation sites and continues to protect those that retain survivors by erecting bat-friendly gates that restrict human access. Unfortunately, people have gone to extraordinary lengths to breach sites that have been fortified to protect bats. They have broken through locked gates, tunneled around them, cut through fences and ignored signs instructing them to keep our of caves and mines. The problem is further complicated by the remote location of many of these openings. Eliminating the chance these survivors are disturbed could be the difference between life and death for bats. The Pennsylvania Game Commission has recently employed a new tool to address these continuing problems: Cameras, that not only can capture visual evidence of trespassing crimes at sensitive bat caves, but that send text messages to alert on-duty officers and radio dispatchers that an intrusion is taking place. In the first year the cameras resulted in more than 50 contacts between officers and suspected trespassers, and more than 20 prosecutions for violations. This aggressive, statewide law enforcement effort is the first of its kind, and will protect bats where they are the most vulnerable. |
LE-4 4/4/2016 3:20 PM - 4:00 PM Professional |
A Survey of Wildlife Law Enforcement Research Needs Aaron M. Haines, Millersville University; Stephen L. Webb, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation; Folake Meshe, Millersville University The second leading cause of biodiversity loss, behind habitat loss and degradation, is overexploitation, which consists of overharvest of wildlife, poaching and the illegal wildlife trade (IWT). Evidence suggests that the IWT has increased greatly since the 1980s, in response, there has been recent political focus on the IWT. However, in order for political strategies to be effective to mitigate the IWT, effective law enforcement efforts are required. We implemented a mail-in and online survey to state wildlife law enforcement personnel through the National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs with the goal to identify the current research needs of wildlife law enforcement officers. We had 38 responses to our survey from throughout the United States. The majority of state agencies did not specify if they were involved in any research efforts. For agencies that were involved in research, most involved evaluation of database management systems. Based on our survey feedback, we identified the following wildlife law enforcement efforts to help reduce wildlife crime and increase conservation efforts: 1) quantify reporting rates of wildlife crime, 2) identify opportunities and strategies to improve public collaboration with wildlife law enforcement, 3) identify hotspots of poaching activity to improve law enforcement focus, 4) determine if establishment of database systems correlate to increased number of arrests leading to eventual reduction of wildlife crime, 5) evaluate public perceptions of wildlife crime penalties, and 6) review natural resource state regulations and laws, to see if rates of wildlife crime correlate with laws and/or punishments. |
LAW ENFORCEMENT #1 — Room: Annapolis April 5, 2016 / 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
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LE-5 4/5/2016 8:00 AM - 8:40 AM Professional |
The Future of Intelligence-Led Maritime Law Enforcement Christopher Hickey, National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office (NMIO); Irish Sirmons, Maryland Natural Resources Police (MNRP) The future of intelligence-led maritime law enforcement will rely on the sharing of information between multiple agencies at the federal, state, and local level. The National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office (NMIO), part of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, has been working over the past few years in an effort to increase participation in the domestic maritime domain by state and local law enforcement agencies. The NMIO presentation will cover present and future domestic maritime information sharing capabilities that support the planning and implementation of maritime law enforcement operations. The Department of Homeland Security’s Coastal Surveillance System (CSS) and the Office of Naval Intelligence’s Single Integrated Lookout List will be discussed. The Maryland Natural Resources Police (MNRP) has partnered with NMIO and DHS to link the Maritime Law Enforcement Information Network (MLEIN), which monitors large and small vessel traffic in the Chesapeake Bay area, with CSS. MNRP will discuss their views on the integration and sharing of information with these federal systems. |
LE-6 4/5/2016 8:40 AM - 9:20 AM Professional |
The utilization of Port Security Grant Funded equipment to assist in the areas of fisheries & wildlife protection David Larsen, Maryland Natural Resources Police This insightful presentation will cover how fishery & wildlife enforcement agencies such as the Maryland Natural Resources Police can apply for funding through the Department of Homeland Security's Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) and utilize awarded equipment on a daily basis that helps to provide a homeland security protection while also being utilized to enforce fishery and wildlife laws. |
LE-7 4/5/2016 9:20 AM - 9:40 AM Professional |
How conservation enforcement can be the catalyst in meaningful change for establishing regulations to better protect the Striped Bass fishery Sergeant John "Jack" Bailey, Maryland Natural Resources Police A review of an in-depth conservation investigation case and it's affect on current laws and regulations; how officers exposed not only significant conservation violations but weaknesses in regulations and the avenues that were utilized to make substantial changes to ultimately better protect the striped bass fishery. |
BREAK / 9:40 AM - 10:20 AM | |
LE-8 4/5/2016 10:20 AM - 11:00 AM Professional |
Deer and Turkey Poaching Case Officer Matthew J Moffitt, Maryland Natural Resources Police This presentation will focus on a Deer and Turkey Poaching Case that the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) recently conducted. The subject that was under investigation was found to be in violation of harvesting multiple trophy white-tailed deer and wild turkeys over several years. With the help of Social Media (Facebook), Taxidermy Records and Maryland’s Big Game Harvest Reporting System, NRP was able to determine that the subject was using various hunting licenses to hide the illegal harvesting of numerous trophy deer and wild turkeys. In addition, it was discovered that the subject was using Taxidermists in different states to help cover the illegal harvesting of the deer and turkeys. During the investigation, warrants were obtained for the subject’s Facebook account and residence which lead to the seizure of numerous trophy deer, wild turkeys, various hunting related items as well as Anabolic Steroids. The expectation for this presentation is to show that the use of Social Media can be a helpful tool in gathering important information to connect individuals to wildlife crimes they are committing against the states natural resources. |
LE-9 4/5/2016 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Student |
New England Conservation Law Enforcement Community Policing Philip Horner, Unity College This project is to examine the Community Policing Initiatives in Conservation Law Enforcement Agencies in the New England States. This project will show what the different Conservation Law Enforcement Agencies in New England have for Community Policing Initiatives. Data that is used in this project is complied from each agency through a questionnaire, to get the most up to date and accurate data possible. The data collected is compared to the other agencies to see if the agencies have similar initiatives in place. The data is evaluated to determine what has been effective for Community Policing in Conservation Law Enforcement. The main focus of this project is to present what has been effective to the Law Enforcement track, and to potentially help the agencies utilize the most beneficial Community Policing Initiatives in their agency. |
Symposium #1 - Assessing Benefits of NRCS Early Successional Habitat Practices to at-risk Species
SYMPOSIUM #1: Assessing Benefits of NRCS Early Successional Habitat Practices to at-risk Species — Room: Capitol D April 4, 2016 / 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM |
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S1-1 4/4/2016 1:00 PM - 1:20 PM Student |
American Woodcock Use of Early Successional Communities Managed for Golden-winged Warblers Kirsten Johnson, Indiana University of Pennsylvania; Darin McNeil, Cornell University; Cameron Fiss, Indiana University of Pennsylvania; Amanda Rodewald, Cornell University; Jeff Larkin, Indiana University of Pennsylvania & American Bird Conservancy Significant declines in the availability and quality of early successional plant communities have been linked to population declines among numerous wildlife species including many shrubland birds. Among those experiencing the fastest declines, the Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) has exhibited losses as rapid as 2.6%/yr range-wide, a rate five times higher than other early-successional bird species. Golden-winged Warblers (GWWA) were selected for targeted management under USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service’s “Working Lands For Wildlife” (WLFW) program. WLFW has resulted in 9,500 acres of new GWWA nesting habitat in the Appalachian region. American Woodcock (Scalopax minor) is another species of conservation need that may benefit from early-successional habitat created via WLFW. In 2015, we conducted American Woodcock singing grounds surveys at 257 patches of early successional habitat on private lands enrolled in WLFW and on public lands managed for GWWA. Woodcock were detected on 119 of 257 sites (46%). Occupancy was similar between private and public sites, while woodcock density was higher on public land sites. Future work will focus on understanding microhabitat and landscape influences on woodcock occupancy. |
S1-2 4/4/2015 1:20 PM - 1:40 PM Student |
Golden-winged Warbler Breeding Season Demographics Across Conservation Practices Associated with NRCS: Working Lands for Wildlife Darin McNeil, Cornell University; Kyle Aldinger, West Virginia University; Marja Bakermans, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Anna Tisdale, Appalachian State University; John Jones, Appalachian State University; Justin Lehman, University of Tennessee; David Buehler, University of Tennessee; Curtis Smalling, Audubon North Carolina; Lynn Siefferman, Appalachian State University; Petra Wood, U.S. Geological Survey; and Jeff Larkin, Indiana University of Pennsylvania & American Bird Conservancy For wildlife species of conservation concern, implementation of conservation plans using an adaptive management framework is a critical step toward achieving population and habitat goals. Golden-winged Warbler (GWWA) populations have been declining for decades in part due to the loss of early-successional nesting habitat. The USDA-NRCS, in partnership with the USFWS, included the GWWA as a focal species in the private lands incentive program, Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW). From 2012-14, we collected demographic data on GWWAs nesting in early successional communities that were managed using five WLFW conservation practices in PA, WV, TN, and NC. We mapped territories of 739 males and estimated minimum territory sizes and absolute site densities across 70 habitat patches. We estimated annual survival rates using band-resight data for 209 adult males, nest survival for 287 nests, and fledgling survival for 119 fledglings. We then used territory density, clutch size, and nesting success estimates to quantify overall reproductive output for each of the five conservation practices. Male survival varied somewhat by management type but uncertainty was high. Male territory density did not differ among conservation practices and most practices supported similar rates of nesting success. This translated to most conservation practices producing similar rates of fledgling output (# young leaving the nest/area). Although many demographic parameters did not differ among the five conservation practices, fledgling survival varied significantly. This finding stresses the importance of habitat management that considers the entire reproductive cycle from nesting to post-fledging habitat. |
S1-3 4/4/2016 1:40 PM - 2:00 PM Student |
Habitat Selection of Golden-winged Warbler Fledglings in Managed Forests: The Importance of Structural Diversity in Local Landscapes Cameron Fiss, Indiana University of Pennsylvania; Darin McNeil, Cornell University; Marja Bakermans, Worchester Polytechnic Institute; and Jeff Larkin, Indiana University of Pennsylvania & American Bird Conservancy Like many songbirds, one aspect of the Golden-winged Warbler’s (Vermivora chrysoptera) ecology that remains largely unstudied is the post-fledging period. Studies involving other fledgling songbirds have revealed high mortality during this period and the use of habitats that are much different from nest sites. State and federal agencies and their partners are implementing management guidelines to create Golden-winged Warbler nesting habitat on public and private forest lands. It is important that these efforts result in nesting habitat that is proximate quality to post-fledging habitat in order to maximize the benefits to population recovery. Using radio-telemetry, we studied the movements and landscape-scale habitat selection of dependent fledgling Golden-winged Warblers across a managed forest landscape in northeastern Pennsylvania. We created cover type maps in GIS to determine used and available habitat for each radio-tracked bird. Results indicate that fledglings used a variety of cover types and forest age classes besides the regenerating timber harvests in which their nests were located. Average distance moved during the first 4 days post-fledging was 35 m and habitat use was confined primarily to the nesting habitat. Fledglings moved on average 166 m daily after the first 4 days post-fledging and habitat use became increasingly more varied. These results highlight the importance of managing forested landscapes in a way that optimizes the distribution and diversity of forest structure in areas where Golden-winged Warbler conservation is a goal. |
S1-4 4/4/2016 2:00 PM - 2:20 PM Professional |
Breeding Bird Communities Across Conservation Practices Associated with NRCS’s Working Lands for Wildlife Targeting Golden-winged Warbler Nesting Habitat Marja Bakermans, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Darin McNeil, Cornell University; Kyle Aldinger, West Virginia University; Petra Wood, U.S. Geological Survey; Justin Lehman, University of Tennessee; David Buehler, University of Tennessee; Curtis Smalling, Audubon North Carolina; John Jones, Appalachian State University; Anna Tisdale, Appalachian State University; Lynn Siefferman, Appalachian State University; and Jeff Larkin, Indiana University of Pennsylvania & American Bird Conservancy The identification of surrogate species whose targeted management may benefit multiple species will help make better use of conservation dollars to recover ecosystems. Over 3 seasons (2012-2014), we conducted 864 point count surveys across 70 sites in NC, TN, WV, and PA where NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife conservation practices were implemented to create Golden-winged Warbler breeding habitat. We estimated density of Golden-winged Warblers, Wood Thrush, Indigo Buntings, and Field Sparrows and modeled associations between density and covariates (e.g., management system, elevation, latitude, vegetation). Golden-winged Warbler density was similar across management systems and increased with elevation at southern sites but decreased with elevation at northern sites. Field Sparrow density was most greatly influenced by management system where densities were greatest in grazing management sites. Indigo Bunting density exhibited a curvilinear latitude trend. Wood Thrush density was greatest at lower elevations and northern latitudes. Furthermore, Golden-winged Warbler density increased with sapling count but the other 3 species showed a negative response to sapling count. In addition, we detected 126 bird species of a wide range of guilds across all sites. The presence of this diverse group of bird species was likely due to the varied habitat structure of managed sites (i.e., a mix of grasses and forbs, shrubs, trees, etc.) embedded within heavily forested landscapes. It is clear that the habitat structure and composition created specifically for Golden-winged Warblers via NRCS practices also supported a large suite of other species. |
S1-5 4/4/2016 2:20 PM - 2:40 PM Professional |
Developing Guidelines to Manage Habitats for New England Cottontails at Local and Landscape Scales Alena Warren, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire; John A. Litvaitis, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire; Donald Keirstead, Natural Resources and Conservation Service Although much is known about the habitat associations of New England cottontails (Sylvilagus transitionalis, NECs), there is no obvious approach for evaluating the suitability of sites and landscapes managed for them. At the local scale, we developed a habitat-suitability model that can be used to monitor progress in generating and maintaining habitats for NECs. We relied on literature reviews, expert opinions, and field data to identify habitat features that can be measured, indexed, and used in a simple model to rank individual patches of habitat on a scale of 0 (unsuitable) to 1 (high suitability). Important features included dense and height of understory vegetation, summer forage, and the presence–absence of additional refuges (e.g., constructed brush piles). At the landscape scale, we utilized a spatially-explicit computer model to evaluate persistence of known NEC metapopulations in southern Maine in response to several management alternatives. Simulations revealed the importance of regular management actions (e.g., mowing) for long-term persistence of these populations. Additionally, sensitivity analysis of model parameters revealed that the frequency of severe winters (extended periods of accumulated snow) had a disproportionate influence on population size. Such events may increase with climate change. Our efforts to model local and landscape-scale habitat features should enhance ongoing restoration of NEC habitats. |
BREAK / 2:40 PM - 3:20 PM | |
S1-6 4/4/2016 3:20 PM - 3:40 PM Professional |
Monitoring Bees in Managed Early-Successional Habitats Joan Milam, University of Massachusetts; Jarrod Fowler, Xerces Society; John Litvaitis, University of New Hampshire; Donald Keirstead, NRCS Bees provide essential pollination services to natural and agricultural systems. Reports of world-wide declines in wild and managed bees highlights the importance of creating and managing habitat to provide food and nesting resources essential to their survival. We used standard bee bowls and timed observations along 30.5 m transects to survey bee communities within 10 early-successional sites created to support populations of the New England Cottontail (NEC), a priority species in New Hampshire. Each site was sampled three times per season in June, August, and October to capture early, mid, and late flying bee species, for a total of 30 samples with bee bowls and 30 samples with transects. Bee bowls captured 383 individuals representing five families, 21 genera, and 56 species of which 22 were represented by a single specimen. Six species of parasitic bees were collected. In addition, four oligolectic, or pollen specialist species were collected. Species richness was greatest in clearcuts and lowest in selective cuts, increased with patch area, and was unrelated to time since treatment. A total of 544 bees were observed along transects, 50% of which were domestic honeybees (Apis mellifera; n =160), and common eastern bumblebees (Bombus impatiens; n = 112), both important crop pollinators. These results show that early-successional habitat management for the NEC in New Hampshire supports an abundant and diverse community of native bees, as well as we as domesticated honeybees. |
S1-7 4/4/2016 3:40 PM - 4:00 PM Student |
Predicting Shrubland Bird Occupancy of Gravel Pits, Powerline Rights-of-way, Regenerating Clearcuts, and Shrubby Old Fields in a Suburban New England Landscape Randy Shoe, Matt Tarr, John Litvaitis - University of New Hampshire. Gravel pits, powerline rights-of-way, regenerating clearcuts, and old-fields are the primary upland habitats available to shrubland-dependent wildlife in much of the northeastern United States. Collectively, these habitats are utilized by nearly the entire suite of the region’s shrubland-dependent songbirds. Differences in vegetation composition, frequency of management, and surrounding landscape features can result in different assemblages of birds within in each opening type. To help guide shrubland bird conservation, we are using occupancy modeling to identify the features associated with eight focal birds (prairie warbler, blue-winged warbler, chestnut-sided warbler eastern towhee, field sparrow, alder flycatcher, brown thrasher, and indigo bunting) in 100 shrublands in southeastern New Hampshire during 2015 and 2016. In 2015, 53 sites were sampled. Naïve detection rates indicated gravel pits had the highest average detection rates for all eight species (53.58%). Indigo buntings were detected 95% of the time in gravel pits and had the most detections of any species in any opening type. Brown thrashers were the only species not detected in every opening type. Occupancy modeling is in progress to investigate how vegetation composition within the opening and surrounding landscape features within six surrounding buffers (50 m, 250 m, 500 m, 1k m, 5 km, and 10 km) affect shrubland bird presence/absence. |
S1-8 4/4/2016 4:00 PM - 4:20 PM Student |
Patch Area Thresholds Provide New Guidance for Managing Shrubland Birds H. Patrick Roberts (University of Massachusetts); David King (USFS Northern Research Station) Declines in populations of birds that breed in disturbance-dependent early-successional habitats have largely been ascribed to habitat loss. Clearcutting has been shown to be an efficient and effective means for creating early-successional habitat. While negative public opinions toward logging and the small sizes of most parcels of forested land (< 4.0 ha) make clearcutting extremely difficult, small-scale patch-cutting (< 2.0 ha) has proven more palatable to the public and could provide habitat for shrubland birds. However, research investigating the conservation value of small forest openings is limited. We systematically sampled birds along a gradient of opening size ranging from 0.02-1.29 ha with the objective of identifying species-specific minimum-area requirements and other factors influencing shrubland birds. We modeled bird occurrence in relation to microhabitat-, patch-, and landscape-scale variables using single season occupancy models. We found that black-and-white warblers, common yellowthroats, chestnut-sided warblers, eastern towhees, and gray catbirds were likely to be present in openings at least 0.3 ha in size, while indigo buntings and prairie warblers required at least 0.55 ha and 1.07 ha, respectively. Variables across all three scales were important for predicting species occurrence. Most notably, prairie warblers were more likely to occur in openings closer to potential source habitats such as powerline corridors, even if those openings were small in size. We conclude that, despite their inability to support the entire suite of shrubland species, small forest openings can provide habitat for species of conservation concern if attention is given to promoting suitable microhabitat, patch, and landscape characteristics. |
S1-9 4/4/2016 4:20 PM - 4:40 PM Student |
Enhancing Native Pollinator Populations Using Silviculture H. Patrick Roberts (University of Massachusetts); David King (USFS Northern Research Station); Joan Milam (University of Massachusetts) Native bees are known to be abundant in shrubland habitats such as old fields and fallow areas, but maintaining these habitats can be costly (> $1,000/acre). In contrast, creating shrubland habitat through timber harvesting typically yields revenue, yet limited information exists regarding how bees use early-successional habitat created by logging. Furthermore, it is unclear whether potentially elevated bee populations in forest openings influence pollination services to flowering plants in adjacent closed canopy forest. The objectives of this study were to describe the bee community within small patch-cuts typical of the first stage of a group selection harvest (< 2.0 ha), to examine the influence of opening size and landscape composition on the bee community, and to assess the extent to which forest openings influence the bee community within surrounding mature forest habitat. We systematically sampled bees in small forest openings and adjacent mature forest habitat across a gradient of forest opening size ranging from 0.08-1.29 ha. Generalized linear models will relate abundance and species richness to opening size and landscape composition measures. Species accumulation curves will be used to examine the extent to which species richness changes with increasing distance from forest openings. Our preliminary findings indicate that small forest openings can support a diverse bee community, but these openings may only minimally influence pollination in adjacent closed canopy forests. |
S1-10 4/4/2016 4:40 PM - 5:00 PM Professional |
Management Implications of Regional Variation in Shrubland Birds and Habitats David King, USFS Northern Research Station; Cara J Joos, Central Hardwoods Joint Venture Shrubland breeding birds are declining in eastern North America. Habitat use and avian community structure may vary regionally, yet currently there is no synthesis of knowledge of these differences. Nor is there a comprehensive list of shrubland habitats or shrubland dependent species. A multi-regional synthesis of the literature would provide guidance for habitat managers when making species and regionally specific management decisions. Our objectives were to conduct a literature review for shrubland breeding landbirds across FWS Regions 3 and 5, create a comprehensive list of shrubland habitats and shrubland breeding species, identify gaps and biases in the literature, and identify regional differences in species-habitat relationships. We used literature reviews and syntheses of shrubland birds and habitats and AOU and BNA species accounts to create lists of shrubland habitats and species dependent upon them for breeding. Next, for each species we located studies reporting habitat associated abundances and used these data in a meta-analysis to confirm species as shrubland specialist based on ranked abundances. We found data for 64 species of which 42 were more abundant in shrubland habitats. Bird communities and habitats varied regionally, with Region 3 trending towards forests with silviculture and Region 5 towards shrubland communities in non-forested landscapes. 75% of habitats were associated with silviculture but some species were only associated with open shrubland habitats, especially in Region 3. Our results reveal a need for more research in non-silviculture associated shrublands, especially in Region 5, and habitat management for shrubland birds within non-forested landscapes in both regions. |
Symposium #2: Wildlife and Habitat in Urban and Developed Landscape
SYMPOSIUM #2: Wildlife and Habitat in Urban and Developed Landscape — Room: Capitol D April 5, 2016 / 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
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S2-1 4/5/2016 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM Professional |
Golf course habitat Doug Bechtel, Audubon International A brief overview of wildlife benefits on golf courses enrolled in voluntary environmental programs. |
S2-2 4/5/2016 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM Professional |
Biodiversity Conservation in a Volatile Urban Landscape Neil A. Gifford; Wendy L Craney, Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission Inland pitch pine-scrub oak barrens are globally-rare pyrogenic ecosystems that support rich biodiversity. With fewer than 20 sites remaining, contemporary barrens represent an archipelago of unique young forest habitat islands in a sea of exurban northeastern forests. Managing these systems in urban landscapes to reduce wildfire risk and perpetuate fire-dependent biodiversity presents a unique set of logistical and public relations challenges. In eastern NY, the 3,200-acre Albany Pine Bush Preserve, a National Natural Landmark located between the cities of Albany and Schenectady, is using a constituency-centered approach to navigate these challenges. By combining multifaceted education and outreach strategies with a suite of land management tools the Preserve is improving ecosystem viability and reducing wildfire risk, while advancing SGCN wildlife conservation, and recovering a functional metapopulation of the federally-endangered Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis). The presentation will highlight conservation outcomes of management, monitoring and outreach programs in this biologically and politically complicated urban landscape. |
S2-3 4/5/2016 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM Professional |
Building a Better Bird Feeder Naomi A Edelson, Senior Director, National Wildlife Federation National Wildlife Federation has been encouraging people to plant landscapes for wildlife since 1973. Our goal is to help people help wildlife. We are engaging Americans to create wildlife habitat where they live, work, play, learn, and worship to meet three goals: restoring wildlife habitat, helping with climate adaptation, and water conservation. We have usurped so much of the natural world that we now need to build functioning ecosystems at home. We want people to start using criteria in addition to aesthetics to decide what to plant based on ecological value for wildlife. Thus, NWF, in collaboration with the US Forest Service and University of Delaware’s Dr. Doug Tallamy, are launching a new tool that will provide the best native plants to help wildlife founded on which genera are hosts to the most caterpillars. Caterpillars are an important protein source for nesting and migrating birds as well as ifor other wildlife. By planting natives that rank highest as host plants for caterpillars we can help people “build better bird feeders” in urban and suburban settings. We hope to increase the demand for native plants and encourage a national movement to help people help wildlife. There are 9 million wildlife gardeners, but there are 95 million gardeners in the United States equaling 120 million homes. What a huge opportunity for creating food web value, watershed protection, soil restoration, carbon sequestration, ecosystem resiliency, pollinator habitat, as well as human mental health and wildlife appreciation. We will be posting it at www.nwf.org/garden. |
S2-4 4/5/2016 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM Professional |
Modeling Habitat Connectivity for Songbirds in New York City Lauren K. Alleman, The Nature Conservancy; Jessica Hoch, The Nature Conservancy; Emily Maxwell, The Nature Conservancy The New York City metropolitan area is home to resident songbirds and is situated on the Atlantic Flyway, an important corridor for birds during seasonal migration. A single habitat patch may not provide sufficient forage or cover for an individual bird, so it must utilize surrounding habitat patches for resources. To better understand the influence of the built and natural environment on habitat use, dispersal, and overall viability of songbirds either living in the five boroughs or simply migrating through, we modeled the permeability of the urban landscape. We first characterized the largest patches in the landscape as focal nodes, representing the most ideal habitats based on size. We aggregated small patches to form larger patches, and omitted any patch below a 1.0-hectare threshold. We then reviewed the literature on the impact of buildings, roads, and open space on habitat condition, urban bird behavior, and breeding success. We attributed each layer with a resistance, representing the degree to which a structure or feature facilitates or impedes movement. We combined these five layers into a single resistance matrix, adding the inputs together such that the sum represents the cumulative “stress” or resistance to habitat utilization and movement throughout the landscape. We used Circuitscape to connect the habitat patches through the corridors of least resistance in the resistance matrix. We will use this model to highlight priority areas for green infrastructure interventions that will improve connectivity and habitat quality such as green roofs, street trees, bioswales, and wetlands. |
S2-5 4/5/2016 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM Professional |
Planning with the End in Mind: Incorporation of Impervious Surface Ecological Thresholds in the Comprehensive Development Plan Process Marek Topolski, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service Negative effect of increasing amounts of impervious surfaces on aquatic ecosystems is well documented. While the ecological response varies to some degree among ecosystems, thresholds have been identified where existing biological interactions are affected to such an extent that resource management options become increasingly limited. The land planning community has become acutely aware of increasing scrutiny of percent impervious surface impact that is allowed. This presentation will explore incorporation of ecological impervious surface thresholds into the comprehensive development planning process. |
S2-6 4/5/2016 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM Professional |
Real-time Spatial Analysis of GPS Tracking Data - There’s an App for That Numi Mitchell, The Conservation Agency; Bradford Holcombe, High Point Studios, LLC. Coexisting sustainably with predatory coyotes is a challenge where they invade urban areas. The Narragansett Bay Coyote Study (NBCS) has used GPS tracking to study space and resource use by coyotes on Aquidneck and Conanicut islands, RI, since 2005. The islands are a mosaic of urban, suburban, and rural habitats. Encounters between humans and coyotes have become common even in urban areas. Spatial analysis of our GPS data, especially travel vectors, revealed food-resource hotspots (areas where coyotes return on multiple nights) in island communities. Forensic evidence (leavings of fur, feathers, animal feeds, composted waste) at hotspots often indicated what attracted GPS-collared coyotes. Using an app, “Coyote Tracks” developed for this study, we were able to skip office GIS spatial analyses and examine real-time wireless tracking data on iOS devices in the field. The app imports data from collar-generated .csv files, displays and animates paths traveled, distinguishes dark and daylight locations, allows time-filter selection and data query on individual points, incorporates Google Street View, a heat map, user location, and other options. With further development the app could be used with other wildlife species and additional data formats. As part of our program NBCS uses the app to identify anthropogenic resources creating coyote activity hubs in residential areas. Early GPS data from NBCS convinced Aquidneck Island municipalities to establish “No-feeding Ordinances” prohibiting placement of food attractants that create coyote traffic and habituation. Our current data help police enforce ordinances, educate the public, and may reduce coyote-human interactions in residential areas. |
S2-7 4/5/2016 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM Professional |
Restoration of Biodiversity in Urban Landscapes: Design Principles, Constraints, and Opportunities Jeff Keller, Habitat by Design Wildlife species composition and diversity within a landscape are functions of many factors. Most of these factors can be grouped into four categories of habitat descriptors - Age, Size, Configuration, and Context which, collectively, strongly influence community assemblage. Regardless of the location (urban or rural) or scale (spatially small or extensive) of a proposed restoration project, these measures of habitat apply when designing the project and can be used to understand the influence of the project’s design on both target and non-target species. The presentation will provide an introduction to the four habitat considerations listed above and then illustrate their influences with several urban habitat restoration projects of varying sizes and design objectives. Design constraints, construction challenges, setbacks, and post-construction project evolution, including vegetation succession and wildlife use, will be reviewed within the context of these suggested determinants of biodiversity. |
Symposium #3 - New Issues and Information Needs for Rapidly Changing and Emerging Recreational Fisheries
SYMPOSIUM #3: New Issues and Information Needs for Rapidly Changing and Emerging Recreational Fisheries — Room: Capitol C April 5, 2016 / 1:00 PM - 2:40 PM |
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CANCELLED S3-1 1:00 PM - 1:20 PM |
CANCELLED: Estimating and Mitigating Discard Mortality to Address the Challenges with Managing the Gulf of Maine Recreational Groundfish Fishery Connor Capizzano, University of Massachusetts-Boston/New England Aquarium; Doug Zemeckis, University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth; Emily Jones, New England Aquarium; Micah Dean, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries; William Hoffman, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries; John Mandelman, New England Aquarium |
S3-2 4/5/2016 1:20 PM - 1:40 PM Professional |
Assessing the Role of Angling-Induced Evolution in Shaping Connecticut Largemouth Bass Populations Justin Davis, CT DEEP Inland Fisheries Division; Jan-Michael Hessenauer, Michigan Department of Natural Resources; Jason Vokoun, Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Center, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Connecticut; Robert Jacobs, CT DEEP Inland Fisheries Division; Eileen O'Donnell, CT DEEP Inland Fisheries Division Recent research on Largemouth Bass has shown that individual bass vary in their vulnerability to angling, that angling vulnerability is heritable, and that angling vulnerability is correlated with other physiological and behavioral traits. Previous research by the DEEP Inland Fisheries Division (IFD) demonstrated that bass in Connecticut unexploited drinking water reservoirs were much more vulnerable to angling than bass from public lakes, a dynamic we now believe may be partially attributable to selection against high vulnerability in public lakes. If such selection has occurred, then bass populations in the State’s multiple unfished reservoirs may present an opportunity for remediation. A “common garden” experiment, in which young-of-year bass from two public lakes and two unexploited lakes were raised together in a common environment, revealed that bass from unexploited lakes had significantly higher resting metabolic rates. Previous research has demonstrated a strong positive correlation between resting metabolism and angling vulnerability; therefore, this finding suggests that selection against high angling vulnerability and associated traits has occurred in public lake bass populations. We also transplanted adult bass from an unfished reservoir to a public lake in the early spring to assess whether transplanted reservoir bass would make a significant contribution to that year’s spawn. Subsequent parentage analyses of young-of-year bass revealed substantial genetic introgression by transplanted reservoir bass, suggesting that periodic supplemental stockings of reservoir bass may provide an opportunity for genetic remediation. IFD is now considering additional experimental transplantations of bass from unfished reservoirs into public lakes to further assess management utility. |
S3-3 4/5/2016 1:40 PM - 2:00 PM Professional |
Catch-and-release Fishing Negatively Impacts Largemouth Bass from Potomac River (Maryland, U.S.A.): the Need for Better Handling Practices from Anglers Joseph W. Love, Ph.D., Mary Groves, Branson D. Williams - Maryland Department of Natural Resources Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides (Lacepède 1802)) is arguably the most popular sport fish of inland waters in the United States. Less than 5% of caught Largemouth Bass are consumed in Maryland, making it primarily a catch-and-release fishery. Traditional management tools such as creel and size limits can be limited in their ability to regulate fishing mortality for Largemouth Bass. Fishing mortality was calculated from total annual mortality and ranged between 16.5% and 38.8% per year, among years (average = 28.5%, SD = 6.2%). Based on earlier work, natural mortality was assumed at 28.8% per year (SD = 5%). After we analyzed several years of creel and catch data, it was determined that there was high relative fishing mortality in 2007 and high fishing mortality between 2008 and 2009 (35% and 38.8%). We demonstrate that fishing pressure (e.g., number of anglers, catch by anglers) can influence population dynamics for a catch-and-release fishery, particularly when habitat loss occurs. Catch of juveniles declined following 2010, possibly because of a 57% decline in area of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in 2011 following tropical storms. To maintain population growth with an approximate average area of SAV across the study period of 2000 ha, we determined that fishing mortality should be maximally 28% for a sustainable fishery (assuming similar levels of natural mortality). There is an emerging need to provide incentives for adopting best management practices and to create infrastructure that improves communication of such practices to all Largemouth Bass anglers. |
S3-4 4/5/2016 2:00 PM - 2:20 PM Professional |
Can High Rates of Catch-and-Release Angling Suppress Largemouth Bass Population Size Structure? Jan-Michael Hessenauer, Jason Vokoun* - Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Center, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Connecticut; Justin Davis, Robert Jacobs, Eileen O'Donnell - Inland Fisheries Division, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection 6. Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) recreational fisheries are increasingly orientated towards catch-and-release (CR) practices. When intentional levels of harvest are low, but fishing pressure is high, mortality associated with CR activities may comprise a large or majority portion of overall fishing-related mortality. CR-related mortality is rarely observed, and may fluctuate widely depending on angler experience and abiotic conditions. CR-mortality presents a challenge to managers because it is unlikely to be altered by traditional management actions such as altering length or creel limits. We conducted population surveys over two years in two popular Connecticut bass fisheries to evaluate effects of CR-mortality. Surveys included population estimates, creel surveys, and tournament monitoring. Using a simulation approach we evaluated whether or not CR-related mortality significantly affected population size structure at multiple levels of fishing pressure. Analyses of tournament monitoring and creel survey data indicated that the total number of catch events was 2 to 3 times higher than estimated population size in both lakes across both years, indicating that most individuals are captured more than once. Simulations revealed that at the observed levels of fishing pressure, changes in population size structure were likely, even when modeled with low rates of CR-related mortality. The results of our simulations suggest that management actions seeking to reduce or redirect harvest are unlikely to effectively improve population size structure in these systems. Rather, management of highly utilized, but little harvested, populations will require creative solutions that can reduce the amount of CR-related mortality. |
S3-5 4/5/2016 2:20 PM - 2:40 PM Professional |
Management of a Top Inshore Predator:
Differing Goals of Recreational and Commercial Fishers of Atlantic Striped Bass and the Unforeseen Impacts on Other Fisheries Desmond M. Kahn, Fishery Investigations Striped Bass are produced in Mid-Atlantic estuaries, then migrate into New England waters in summer. They are the only inshore teleost in the Northeast that attains a fabled big game status for the recreational fishery; they also serve an economically important commercial fishery. After a crash in the 1980s attributed variously to acid rain/water quality and overfishing, striped bass recovered by the mid-1990s. Conservative management driven by recreational interests seeking high catch rates and large sizes brought the stocks to unprecedented abundance by the 2000s. High bass predation has been linked to severe declines in fisheries for weakfish, American shad and river herring. The Chesapeake Bay resident male stock, at a high density, has suffered starvation and an epidemic of Mycobacteriosis. Despite high spawning stock biomass, the Chesapeake Bay stock also failed for seven years to produce a dominant year class until 2011, leading to a slow coastwide decline in abundance. Due to their political dominance of the management process, recreational anglers have driven a 25% cut in commercial quotas, despite the dominant 2011 year class now beginning to recruit to the coastal fishery. Having lost the fisheries for weakfish and American shad, commercial baymen have few alternative finfish targets. |
Symposium #4 - Intersections of Road-Stream Crossings, Fish, Wildlife, and Aquatic Continuity in the Northeastern U.S.
SYMPOSIUM #4: Intersections of Road-Stream Crossings, Fish, Wildlife, and Aquatic Continuity in the Northeastern U.S. — Room: Capitol D April 5, 2016 / 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM |
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S4-1 4/5/2016 1:00 PM - 1:20 PM Professional |
Overview of Road and Railroad Impacts on Aquatic Connectivity in River and Stream Networks Scott Jackson, Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst As long, linear ecosystems, rivers and streams are highly vulnerable to fragmentation. Dams are recognized as significant barriers to the movement of aquatic organisms but until recently little attention has been being paid to the role of road-stream crossings in fragmenting stream ecosystems. Road-stream crossings can present a variety of barriers (velocity, depth, jump, turbulence, physical blockages) that impede the movement of fish and other aquatic organisms, jeopardizing local populations and undermining metapopulation dynamics. Roads and railroads, as linearly arranged transportation systems, frequently intersect streams and rivers creating numerous potential barriers throughout a given watershed. Addressing and mitigating the effects of these barriers requires a systematic approach involving both assessment (habitat, barriers) and prioritization. Identification of road-stream crossing locations, field assessments, databases, scoring systems, and landscape-scale modeling are all important elements for identifying the best opportunities for restoring aquatic connectivity via culvert replacement. Recent severe storms in the Northeastern U.S. have illustrated that road-stream crossings also represent vulnerabilities in transportation networks. Undersized crossings tend to be vulnerable to failure during storms at the same time that they create problems for aquatic organism passage, a situation that is likely to get worse as we experience the ongoing effects of climate change. Making common cause with transportation and emergency management agencies is one promising strategy for preventing and mitigating the effects of road-stream crossings on rivers and streams. |
S4-2 4/5/2016 1:20 PM - 1:40 PM Professional |
The North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative: Unifying Stream Crossing Assessments Across the Region Erik Martin, The Nature Conservancy Eastern Division; Scott Jackson, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Jessica Levine, The Nature Conservancy Canada; Alex Abbott, Gulf of Maine Coastal Programs of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service The North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC) is a network of practitioners from conservation organizations, universities, and state and federal natural resource and transportation departments focused on improving aquatic connectivity across a thirteen-state region, from Maine to West Virginia. From 2014 to 2015, a core team of the NAACC, with input from a large multi-stakeholder working group, developed unified protocols for road-stream crossing (culvert) assessment, launched an online training program, created a regional database for field data, and developed a tool to identify priority watersheds and crossings for assessment. The NAACC supports planning and decision making by providing tools and information on where restoration projects are likely to have the greatest aquatic connectivity and resiliency benefits. In this presentation, we will discuss the NAACC’s latest efforts and how you can get involved in your state. |
S4-3 4/5/2016 1:40 PM - 2:00 PM Professional |
Road-stream Crossing Assessments in Maryland: Working with Multiple Agencies to Set Fish Passage Priorities Chris Reily, Kari Bradberry, and Julie Devers - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Maryland Fishery Resources Office, received Sandy Resiliency funding to assess road-stream crossings using the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC) survey protocols. After consulting with Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Department of Environment, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries, and Maryland State Highways Administration, the USFWS determined a list of priority watersheds and road-stream crossings to assess based on presence of spawning habitat for anadromous species, freshwater mussel habitat, and brook trout presence. Results of road-stream crossing assessments have been given an aquatic organism passage score using the NAACC criteria.. The information gathered from these assessments will be used to set priorities for selection of flood resiliency and fish passage projects including culvert maintenance, culvert replacement or culvert removal in the state of Maryland. |
S4-4 4/5/2016 2:00 PM - 2:20 PM Professional |
What Happens When Roads and Streams Meet? Connecticut’s Progress in Trying to Answer That Question Mindy M. Barnett, State of Connecticut, Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, Inland Fisheries Division, Habitat Conservation and Enhancement Program Over 33,000 road/stream crossings are estimated to exist in Connecticut. Improperly installed bridges and culverts can negatively impact fish and wildlife species and block migrations. Information is lacking on the impact of these crossings. The Inland Fisheries Division of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) has collaborated with the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC) to assess road and stream crossings across the state and to prioritize their repair or replacement. CT DEEP staff assessed over 2000 crossings, 2009 - 2014 and in 2015 received a grant to assess additional crossings. Staff began summer field surveys and creating a comprehensive inventory of crossings using NAACC protocols. Work has also included public outreach, facilitated communication between municipalities, agency staff, NGOs, and training for volunteers and NGOs to assist with the ongoing effort. |
S4-5 4/5/2016 2:20 PM - 2:40 PM Professional |
Building Town Capacity for Improving Road-stream Crossings in Massachusetts Timothy Chorey, Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration; Kristen H. Ferry, Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration. Massachusetts has over 30,000 road-stream crossings, primarily located on public roads owned or maintained by towns. Nearly half of the ~5000 culverts and bridges in MA that have been assessed for aquatic organism passability, pose barriers to fish and wildlife. Additionally, many of these undersized and aging structures were not designed to handle the increased frequency and intensity of contemporary storm flows. Flooding, culvert failure, and road washouts from storms such as Hurricane Irene in 2011 have increased public awareness of problem culverts, but despite this heightened awareness, few road-stream crossing replacement projects meeting required upgraded design standards have been completed. In response, the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration formalized its Stream Continuity Program in 2014 to help towns build capacity for constructing better designed culvert replacements. The program’s first objective was the completion of a formal needs assessment to understand and quantify obstacles that local infrastructure managers face when replacing culverts. Study results demonstrated that obtaining funding for project design and construction, environmental permitting, and state engineering review are the largest obstacles for towns attempting to complete culvert replacements that meet improved standards. Typically, communities are unaware of the condition and location of their culverts and only perform replacement after catastrophic failure. We used information from our study to develop tools and approaches for helping communities advance culvert replacement projects that simultaneously meet improved design standards for aquatic organism passage and storm hazard reduction. |
BREAK / 2:40 PM - 3:20 PM | |
S4-6 4/5/2016 3:20 PM - 3:40 PM Professional |
Reconnecting Streams in the Hudson River Valley: Prioritizing Aquatic Barriers for Mitigation Using Ecological and Municipal Concerns Andrew Meyer, NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program and Water Resources Institute at Cornell University; Dr. Todd Walter, Water Resources Institute at Cornell University; Dr. Robert Schmidt, Berkshire Environmental Research Center;Christopher Bowser, NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program and Water Resources Institute at Cornell University In collaboration with multiple partners, we are assessing and prioritizing aquatic barriers for their removal or mitigation in New York’s Hudson Valley. We are modeling the effects of culverts, bridges, and dams on fish passage and localized flooding. 2000 barriers have been assessed in over 400,000 acres of the watershed, and using the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative’s passability protocols we have prioritized culverts and bridges for their impacts on aquatic organisms. We are also pairing that with peak flow capacity modeling of these structures to understand which barriers are most undersized and could cause problems for towns and counties during large storm events. In a pilot study, we are looking at the effect of “problem” culverts on American eel populations. This research builds on the successful citizen-science project we have organized for multiple years to survey eel populations at the mouths of several Hudson River tributaries. Our projects are successful, in part, by bringing together land managers, local owners, and academic researchers. Through small grants and a robust outreach effort, we have been able to support critical research and get culvert and dam owners thinking about removing or replacing their under-maintained infrastructure. We have several success stories where this method is beginning to pay off with mitigation projects. With multifaceted prioritization schemes that address the ecological concerns of land managers and the economic realities of local culvert and dam owners, we are able to engage counties, towns and private land owners to reconnect our streams. |
S4-7 4/5/2016 3:40 PM - 4:00 PM Professional |
Bringing Back Brook Trout: Restoration Efforts in the Upper Rappahannock Watershed of Central Virginia Carolyn Sedgwick, Celia Vuocolo, Peter Hujik - Piedmont Environmental Council The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC), a regional land trust and land use planning organization in central Virginia, has recently launched an initiative to restore streams and brook trout habitat in the Upper Rappahannock Watershed. Brook trout have declined significantly in Virginia and elsewhere due to habitat degradation, poor land use practices, and direct passage limitations resulting from road-stream crossings. |
S4-8 4/5/2016 4:00 PM - 4:20 PM Professional |
Improved Aquatic Organism Passage on Tributaries in the Allegheny National Forest Eric J. Chapman, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy; Kylie Maland, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy; Nate Welker, United States Forest Service; Danielle Rihel, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy The Allegheny National Forest (ANF) is the largest tract of public land in Pennsylvania with approximately 517,000 acres available to the public for a variety of activities ranging from recreational uses, including fishing, hunting, all-terrain vehicle trails, and camping, to extraction activities, including timber harvest and oil, gas, and mineral extraction. As a result of the high number of roads needed to allow all of the aforementioned uses, many of the road-stream intersections have resulted in poor aquatic connectivity as a product of improperly installed and undersized culverts. In 2012, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) partnered with the United States Forest Service to survey and determine the feasibility of replacing culverts that were especially detrimental to native brook trout populations. Eight culverts were identified in the East Branch Tionesta Creek watershed that had reduced populations of native brook trout as a result of improperly sized culverts, which were creating barriers to fish passage either from a velocity or physical (perched) standpoint. Electrofishing surveys were completed at all eight locations one year before replacement, one year post replacement, and three years post replacement to determine if the replacement projects increased fish passage. Results have indicated that all streams increased fish passage not only for native brook trout, but also for other common species of fish including blacknose dace, mottled sculpin and others. Post culvert replacement, native brook trout numbers have increased from 57 native brook trout in the eight reaches to 249 native brook trout three years after culvert replacement. |
CANCELLED: 4:20 PM - 4:40 PM |
CANCELLED: Effects of Perched Culverts on Upstream and Downstream Eel Populations in Hudson River Streams Richard Brase, Marist College; Zofia Gagnon, Marist College; Robert Schmidt, Bard College at Simon's Rock; Christopher Bowser, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; Andrew Meyer, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation |
S4-9 4/5/2016 4:20 PM - 4:40 PM Student |
A Landscape Genetics Approach to Assessing Brook Trout Population Connectivity at the Watershed Scale Lucas R. Nathan, University of Connecticut; Jason C. Vokoun, University of Connecticut; Amy B. Welsh, West Virginia University For stream fishes, population connectivity can be disrupted by a suite of anthropogenic barriers, such as dams, road crossings, and drastic changes to hydrology, as well as naturally occurring barriers such as waterfalls and steep stream gradients. Measuring dispersal has historically relied upon mark and recapture techniques; however, the use of genetics is gaining popularity as a tool for inferring dispersal and revealing population structuring and connectivity. These methods offer advantages because they reveal effective dispersal, those movements that resulted in successful interbreeding with the receiving population, quantified over multiple generations. Once these genetic data are collected, relationships can be drawn from the orientation of landscape features in an attempt to describe those that are most influential in limiting dispersal. In this study Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) genetic data were collected from 33 headwater streams across a watershed covering approximately 900 sq. km in eastern Connecticut. Analyses were conducted to delineate the genetic structuring throughout the watershed and estimate dispersal rates. A suite of landscape genetic analyses were then used to relate how the anthropogenic and natural landscape features best described genetic results. These analyses identified landscape characteristics influencing the dispersal of Brook Trout at the watershed scale. We will use this information to construct decision support tools to prioritize connectivity restoration projects based on the likelihood of reestablishing upstream and downstream landscape-scale connectivity, rather than simply ‘miles upstream’. |
S4-10 4/5/2016 4:40 PM - 5:00 PM Professional |
Monitoring for Chloride in Freshwater Streams Allison O'Hanlon, Maryland Department of the Environment In 2010, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) began listing chloride as an impairing pollutant on the Maryland Integrated Report. MDE has identified elevated concentrations of chloride (Cl-) as a potential cause of biological impairment in watersheds throughout the State of Maryland. These watersheds are typically associated with urban areas and/or major transportation routes. Run off from roads and urban land uses cause an increase in contaminant loads from nonpoint sources by delivering an array of inorganic pollutants, including chloride, to surface waters. Discharges of inorganic compounds are very intermittent; concentrations vary widely depending on the time of year as well as a variety of other factors may influence their impact on aquatic life. Addressing these new Category 5 listings will be a critical focus of MDE’s TMDL program over the next several years. A key component to addressing these new listings is to have sufficient water quality data for TMDL and/or Water Quality Analysis (WQA) development. A monitoring design was developed to aid MDE in determining the spatial and temporal extent of chloride loadings to non-tidal surface waters in Maryland. |