2021 ARCHIVES | General Contributed Presentation Abstracts

Presentation abstracts in the General Contributed tracks (Fisheries, Law Enforcement, Marketing/R3/Communications, and Wildlife) are available here to read. All of these presentations were available “On Demand” as 15-minute pre-recorded presentations for registered conference attendees to watch on the virtual event website. Select a track from the list below to jump to the abstracts within that category.

• Fisheries
• ​Marketing/R3/Communications
• Wildlife

On Demand: Fisheries
An Investigation of Lake Whitefish Recruitment, Spawning, and Early Life History in Northern Maine
Track:	On Demand: Fisheries
Authors:	Dylan Whitaker, Maine Department of inland Fisheries and Wildlife; Jeremiah Wood, Maine Department of inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Student or Professional:	Professional
Abstract:	In recent decades Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) populations in Maine have experienced significant declines including localized extirpations. Whitefish declines have been closely associated with invasive Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax) which can compete with and prey upon early life history stages of whitefish. Lake Whitefish are designated as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need under Maine’s State Wildlife Action Plan. In 2018 Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife initiated research to investigate factors important to early whitefish survival and provide insight into observed recruitment failure in northern Maine. The objectives of the research were to 1) document the availability and use of whitefish spawning habitat in various waters via spawning habitat mapping, monitoring egg collection mats, and tracking behavior through radio telemetry; 2) monitor early Spring larval whitefish and smelt abundance through larval trawls; 3) collect stomach content data from adult smelt in early Spring to assess predation on larval whitefish; 4) monitor zooplankton community assemblages to assess food availability for larval whitefish; and 5) collect whitefish otoliths to access age structure and recruitment of northern Maine Lake Whitefish populations. Recruitment varied among 15 northern Maine Lake Whitefish populations. Preliminary results suggest that spawning habitat abundance may be one important factor contributing to whitefish recruitment, or lack thereof. Zooplankton community assemblages and subsequent food availability for post hatch larval whitefish appears to be a limiting factor among study waters and may partly explain whitefish recruitment failure at the larval stage. Predation by adult smelt was not documented in our study and may not be as prevalent as initially thought but still may pose a risk to whitefish populations in Maine. Lastly, an interesting pattern was observed between Lake Whitefish recruitment and Lake Trout densities with some whitefish populations exhibiting sporadic recruitment that appears to coincide with high Lake Trout densities.
Tags:	Freshwater Fish
Assessing Alewife Spawning Migration Passage of Anthropogenic Obstructions on the Isthmus of Chignecto, Canada
Track:	On Demand: Fisheries
Authors:	Aaron Spares, Acadia University/Ducks Unlimited Canada; Nic McLellan, Ducks Unlimited Canada; Mike Stokesbury, Acadia University
Student or Professional:	Professional
Abstract:	Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus, n = 9,383) were tagged with Passive Integrated Transponders (PIT) during 2013-19 spawning runs to assess passage through anthropogenic obstructions on four rivers of the Isthmus of Chignecto, Canada. All rivers had a tide gate (rkm 3-6) and fishway (rkm ~11) or perched culvert (rkm ~19) for migrants to pass from the estuary to spawning grounds (rkm >25). In 2016, a submerged tide gate was replaced with a perched gate, resulting in greater delays. Most individuals passed the perched gate during mid-flood (91%) and submerged during ebb & low tides (77%). First detections upstream of each gate for alewife tagged in a previous year revealed synchronous run timings in 2015, but delayed detections in 2016-2018 upstream of the perched gate occurred until door removal resynchronized the runs. Annual fishway passage rates varied from 64% to 98% for two Denil style fishways during 2013-2019. A pool-and-weir fishway that was dysfunctional (2013), repaired (2014), and replaced (2015-19) yielded 0.5%, 25%, 60% to 75% passage rates, respectively. Larger individuals, previously tagged returnees, and males compared to females of a similar size, had higher success suggesting some fishways may apply population-level selective pressures. In 2018, 93% of individuals captured in pre- to post-spawning stages in a lake (n = 202) were feeding on calanoid copepods (79 %IA), challenging the long-held paradigm that anadromous A. pseudoharengus fast during spawning. Males maintained similar body condition throughout the spawning run whereas female condition decreased 9.4% between the estuary and lake. A trend of male-skewed sex ratio (>2:1 M:F) was observed in spawning areas compared to estuaries from 2016 to 2019. Our results stress the need for annual monitoring and regular maintenance of water control structures on rivers to ensure connectivity, and to mitigate where obstruction to fish passage exist.
Tags:	Conservation Biology, Diadromous Fish, Restoration/Enhancement
Evaluating Fish Passage Using Fine-scale Acoustic Telemetry
Track:	On Demand: Fisheries
Authors:	Michael Sears, M.Sc., Innovasea; Dale Webber, PhD., Innovasea
Student or Professional:	Professional
Abstract:	Advances in acoustic telemetry have enabled researchers to monitor fish passage facilities and fish protection measures employed at hydropower dams and other facilities with enhanced precision. Acoustic telemetry can provide more detailed information than other monitoring methods, which can answer study questions sooner, inform engineers of passage or protection effectiveness and potential design alternatives, as well as save study costs and capital costs in the long term. This presentation will provide a summary of new innovations in acoustic telemetry offered by Innovasea, including advances in 2D and 3D fish tracking and predation tags. Case studies where these advances in acoustic telemetry have been utilized will also be presented.
Tags:	Behavior, Diadromous Fish, Fisheries Techniques
Flood Mitigation Design to Protect Communities and Restore Anadromous Fish Migration: A Case Study of Aberjona River Flood Mitigation Program
Track:	On Demand: Fisheries
Authors:	Ryan Lizewski, PE, Water Resources Engineer, VHB
Student or Professional:	Professional
Abstract:	The Town of Winchester, located in Massachusetts approximately 10 miles northeast of Boston, has experienced numerous devastating floods which have imperiled public safety, disrupted businesses and schools, and led to over $25 million in estimated economic losses since 1996. Winchester is located within the Mystic River watershed and the Aberjona River is the primary source of flooding within the Town. The Town has since conducted an exhaustive study and developed a suite of flood mitigation projects to reduce the magnitude and duration of flooding within the Town. Furthermore, the mitigation program has the unique opportunity to also help restore one of the largest herring migration routes in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Mystic and Aberjona River ecosystems historically supported a significant mitigation route and provided spawning habitat for many anadromous species including the Blueback herring (Alosa aestivilis) and Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus). Over the past century the extensive development and urbanization of the watershed, culverting streams, constructing dams, and filling of floodplain and wetlands have not only contributed to increasing flood risk to the community but has also been a barrier to migration and spawning of the herring and many other aquatic species. The suite of projects in the mitigation program include Aberjona River widening, Horn Pond Dam spillway modifications, several culvert/bridge improvements, and a fish ladder retrofit at the Center Fall Dam. After completion of the program, approximately 150 properties will be removed from the 1-percent annual chance floodplain and base flood elevations will be reduced by up to 4.0- feet within Winchester. Already with 12 of the 14 projects completed, herring have returned in record numbers to the Aberjona River and into upstream spawning habit.
Tags:	Diadromous Fish, Fisheries Techniques, Habitat, Restoration/Enhancement, River/Stream
Movements and Feeding of Arctic Char Relative to Summer Ice Breakup in an Arctic Embayment
Track:	On Demand: Fisheries
Authors:	Lars Hammer, University of New Hampshire; Nigel Hussey, University of Windsor; Marianne Marcoux, Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Harri Pettitt-Wade, University of Windsor; Kevin Hedges, Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Ross Tallman, Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Nathan Furey, University of New Hampshire
Student or Professional:	Student-Graduate
Abstract:	Mobile consumers often match their movements to short-term pulses of productivity. In Arctic marine systems, rapid summer ice breakup drives a productivity bloom that provides nutrients for upper trophic level consumers. Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) are an economically and culturally valuable salmonid that migrate from freshwater spawning locations into the marine environment, presumably to feed. However, the precise migratory timing of char in relation to ice breakup is largely unknown. Furthermore, the quantity and quality of food consumed during this brief period will determine the significance of this event to char fitness. To investigate the movements and feeding of char, a total of 110 individuals were tagged with acoustic transmitters between 2017 (n=58) and 2018 (n=52) within Tremblay Sound, Nunavut, Canada, and stomach contents were collected from 54 char in 2018 (n=23) and 2019 (n=31). Migration timing was linked to a year-specific ice-off date, with individuals arriving prior to ice-off and exiting after a month of open water. Additionally, char exhibited multiple migratory patterns, which might indicate sub-populations or ontogenetic shifts in migration distance. Furthermore, char fed at high rates during this period, with stomach contents representing up to 4.6% of their bodyweight. Thus, seasonal ice breakup appears to affect Arctic char migrations, with potential implications for energy budgets and resilience to climate change. Furthermore, by arriving before a prey pulse, consumers can maximize their exploitation of resource pulses, potentially conferring heightened fitness benefits to early migrants.
Tags:	Diadromous Fish, Ecology
On Demand: Marketing/R3/Communications
Ensuring Fish & Wildlife Agency Relevancy: Making It Last Toolkit Implemented
Track:	On Demand: Marketing/R3/Communications
Authors:	Jenifer Wisniewski, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency; Patricia Allen, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; Judy Stokes Weber, AFWA Contractor; AFWA Outreach Working Group
Student or Professional:	Professional
Abstract:	The report on the work of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America’s Diverse Fish and Wildlife Resources notes that, “Every citizen has a stake in and benefits from healthy fish and wildlife, but most have little contact with or understanding of the state agency responsible for their stewardship. To remain relevant, state fish and wildlife agencies will need to transform their structures, operations and cultures to meet the changing expectations of their customers. If state fish and wildlife agencies fail to adapt, their ability to manage fish and wildlife will be hindered and their public and political support compromised.” One of those key areas for change relates to how and with whom we communicate. This presentation will present a national effort to reach out to key audiences including going beyond hunters, anglers, shooters and boaters to communicate new messages in new ways. The goal for the project is to increase awareness of the agency role in protecting and conserving wildlife. The presentation will address the toolkit that was developed by 17 states, AFWA, and marketing and communications consultants. We will show you all the resources available to any state at no cost to you. In 2019 we tested a national campaign strategy that is easily implemented by each state using local photography, state magazines, social media, and when budgets allow, paid media to reach identified key audiences. With support from Industry partners, focus groups and survey questions deployed were implemented to test messaging concepts and gather baseline relevancy data. Now the toolkit has been implemented in 5 states in 2 AFWA regions that have received $20,000 each to implement the toolkit. We will cover lessons learned from these states as well as opportunities for your state to receive grant funds in order to implement the Making It Last campaign.
Tags:	Behavior, Human Dimensions, Marketing/Outreach/Communication, R3, Relevancy, Urban Wildlife
Promoting Responsible Recreation During the Pandemic
Track:	On Demand: Marketing/R3/Communications
Authors:	Patricia Allen, Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies
Student or Professional:	Professional
Abstract:	Learn all about the #ResponsibleRecreation campaign- a media campaign encouraging people to enjoy outdoor recreation while adhering to proper outdoor etiquette during the pandemic. This campaign is a great reminder of how we can all help to keep our public lands open for the public to enjoy responsibly during this stressful time. People are seeking and finding the benefits of nature at unprecedented numbers, making practicing and promoting responsible recreation more important than ever. In 2020, Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies partnered with conservation leaders to spearhead #ResponsibleRecreation, a media campaign encouraging Americans to enjoy outdoor recreation while adhering to proper COVID-19 safety protocol. Whether participating in hunting, fishing, shooting sports or numerous other outdoor activities, the conservation community sees the #ResponsibleRecreation campaign as a safe and constructive way to encourage individuals and families to get outside and enjoy the outdoors as a means to cope with the current COVID-19 pandemic. The #ResponsibleRecreation campaign is a safe and constructive way to encourage individuals and families to get outside and enjoy the outdoors as a means to cope with the current COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to advocating safe outdoor etiquette, the campaign also encourages people to take advantage of the numerous opportunities this country offers to recreate on public lands, waters and parks. Guidelines the campaign seeks to establish while practicing #ResponsibleRecreation are in line with the Center for Disease Prevention and Control and include maintaining proper social distancing and adhering to best practices to avoid COVID-19. Learn how easy it is to help promote #ResponsibleRecreation and how this can benefit your state.
Tags:	Marketing/Outreach/Communication, Relevancy
On Demand: Wildlife
A Decision Model for Setting Fall Harvest Regulations for Wild Turkey
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Duane R. Diefenbach, U.S. Geological Survey, Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Pennsylvania State University; Mary Jo Casalena, Pennsylvania Game Commission; Paul L. Fackler, Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, North Carolina State University
Student or Professional:	Professional
Abstract:	Managing wild turkey (Meleagris gallapavo) populations via fall hunting seasons is difficult, because recruitment can be variable, adult birds experience high mortality rates, and fall harvest rates increase when mast abundance is low. Furthermore, decisions regarding fall hunting seasons must be made before recruitment and mast abundance is known. We developed a decision model for making recommendations for fall hunting season length. We conducted field research to estimate how mast influenced harvest rates and manipulated fall season length to estimate the change in harvest rate. Then we developed a stochastic dynamic programming (SDP) model that used abundance of male and female turkeys to identify the optimal fall season length for the competing objectives to maximize abundance of both males and females. Finally, we developed an integrated population model (IPM) based on spring harvest and annual survival rates of males from band-return data, harvest estimates for spring and fall hunting seasons from hunter surveys, and poult:hen ratios from sighting surveys in late summer to provide male and female abundance estimates to inform the SDP model. We found that fall harvest rates over 5 years ranged from 0.018–0.090, were most influenced by mast abundance, and changing season length by 1 week changed the harvest rate by 0.0176 (SE = 0.011). Incorporating results from the field study to inform the SDP model, along with population estimates from the IPM, allowed us to identify an optimal fall season length in an objective manner. The SDP model integrated all available data on the population dynamics of wild turkeys in Pennsylvania to develop a season length recommendation rather than relying on an ad hoc evaluation of data. The decision model we developed is transparent, scientifically defendable, and can help decision makers evaluate the effects of different fall season lengths on future wild turkey populations.
Tags:	Game Species, Management, Population Dynamics
A Survey of the Cutaneous Bacteria of the Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) in Western New York
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Richard T. Stevens, Department of Biology, Monroe Community College, Rochester, NY
Student or Professional:	Professional
Abstract:	Amphibian skin has been found to be host to a diverse community of microorganisms and there is evidence that amphibians manipulate the composition of this community by the secretion of antimicrobial substances such as peptides. Cutaneous bacteria are thought to play a role in preventing the chytrid fungi, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and B. salamandrivorans and other diseases in amphibians. While there has been a recent increase in studies researching the microbiome of amphibians, there have been relatively few studies investigating the skin microbiome of salamanders and only one small study of the microbiome of ambystomid salamanders. This study attempts to provide insight into the components of the cutaneous microbiome of spotted salmanders, Ambystoma maculatum. Colonies were collected from 33 spotted salamanders, including 26 adults, three juveniles, and three larvae and one metamorph. Bacteria were cultured on R2A agar in the lab and identified using sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. A total of 33 distinct bacteria from 15 genera were identified. Bacterial diversity was greatest among adult salamanders. Among the bacteria found was Janthinobacterium, which is known to prevent chytrid fungal infection and is even used to inoculate amphibians reintroduced to sites where they have been extirpated from chytridiomycosis. The majority of bacteria identified from salamanders had known antifungal properties.
Tags:	Amphibian/Reptile, Diseases/Parasites, Ecology
Adaptive Management to Promote an Imperiled Native Cottontail Over a Non-Native Competitor
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Drew V. Eline, Amanda E. Cheeseman, Jonathan B. Cohen - State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Student or Professional:	Student-Graduate
Abstract:	The New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) is a shrubland obligate species that has experienced drastic population declines due to forest maturation and anthropogenic development. The species also faces widespread invasion of their historic range by introduced eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus), which occupy similar habitat. Recent research in New York strongly suggested that competitive interactions with eastern cottontails reduce use of open, low canopy closure successional shrublands by New England cottontails and increase use of older, high-canopy closure shrublands. Management strategies retaining higher degrees of residual canopy closure may lessen competitive interactions, as eastern cottontails avoid such shrublands; however, these areas may not provide necessary resources for native cottontails. We evaluated the efficacy of management strategies prescribed to promote New England cottontails over eastern cottontails. Both species were trapped and outfitted with radio collars within designated management and control areas. Rabbit locations were obtained each week, and vegetation surveys conducted to assess used and available resources. Home ranges were created using adaptive local convex hull method (a-LoCoH) and used to compare management use and availability with multi-response permutation procedure for blocked data (MRBP). For New England cottontail, median proportion of the 95% and 50% home range in management was significant based on availability within a patch (P=0.048, P=0.014). For eastern cottontail, median proportion of the 95% home range in management was not different than the proportion available (P=0.089), but the median proportion of the 50% home range in management was 0, which was less than the proportion available (P=0.026). These results suggest that management for high canopy cover shrublands is a beneficial strategy for New England cottontail but may not be as attractive to their non-native competitor. Further investigation of resource selection and survival will allow us to better inform land managers on best management practices to help this imperiled species.
Tags:	Habitat, Mammal, Management
Are Models an Effective Tool for Evaluating Collision Risk at Wind Facilities
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Greg M. Forcey, Normandeau Associates, Inc.; Julia Robinson Willmott, Normandeau Associates, Inc.
Student or Professional:	Professional
Abstract:	Models are a heuristic tool used to understand how a system works and to predict outputs based on a series of input parameters. Empirical models are built with observational data to understand how the input parameters affect the outputs. Once a model is built, it can often be extrapolated to other areas to be used as a predictive tool using input data to predict outputs that are not known. This approach is in contrast to mechanistic models which are built through a series of mathematical equations used to mimic the details of the actual system. One application of both empirical and mechanistic models is to predict wildlife mortality at wind facilities by predicting collision risk based on preconstruction monitoring data on abundance, behavior, and wind facility characteristics. Collision risk model use model inputs including abundance, behavior, wind turbine characteristics, and topography. This presentation will provide an overview and comparison of collision risk models used to study wind-wildlife impacts, compare select collision risk models, and provide recommendations on selecting a collision risk model based on the species of concern and wind facility specifications. Information gleaned from the collision risk modeling process can inform and guide decision making to reduce bird and bat collision impacts.
Tags:	Avian, Modeling
Assessing Habitat Suitability by Age, Sex, and Season for Moose in Vermont, USA
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Joshua Blouin, Vermont Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont; Jacob Debow, Vermont Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont; Elias Rosenblatt, Vermont Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont; Cedric Alexander, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department; Katherina Gieder, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department; Nicholas Fortin, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department; James Murdoch, Wildlife and Fisheries Biology Program, Rubenstein School of Environmental and Natural Resources, University of Vermont; Therese Donovan, U.S. Geological Survey, Vermont Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Rubenstein School of Environmental and Natural Resources, University of Vermont
Student or Professional:	Student-Graduate
Abstract:	The moose (Alces alces) population has experienced unprecedented declines along the southern periphery of its range, attributed in part to winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus) epizootics. Direct management through hunter harvests has been suggested to reduce moose density and the number of ticks on the landscape, while indirect habitat management may be used to improve the status of the population and health of individuals. We combined more than 41,000 moose locations collected from radio-collared individuals (n = 74), recent land cover data, and high resolution, 3-dimensional lidar data to develop Resource Utilization Functions that link home range use to habitat conditions by age (mature and young adult), season (dormant and growth), and sex. The top resource utilization function models included both composition (as measured through the National Land Cover Database) and structure variables (as measured through lidar), and significantly outperformed models that excluded lidar variables. Generally speaking, female moose actively used areas with proportionally more regenerating forest (i.e., forage 6.0m), while males actively used more high elevation, mixed forest types. The resultant maps of habitat suitability provide a means of informing management activities (e.g., the restoration or alteration of habitats to benefit moose) and policies around land use that may contribute to population recovery.
Tags:	Habitat, Landscape Ecology, Mammal
Assessing the Passability of Road-Stream Crossings for Terrestrial Wildlife in the Northeastern United States
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Scott Jackson, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Student or Professional:	Professional
Abstract:	Roads and highways often present significant challenges, not only for wildlife, but also for landscape modeling to evaluate terrestrial connectivity. Many highways and high traffic roads are assumed to be significant or severe barriers to wildlife. However, roads and highways are perforated by numerous stream crossings that range from small culverts to large bridges. Efforts are well established in the Northeastern U.S. to assess road-stream crossings for passability by fish and aquatic organisms, and the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC) was created in 2015 to help facilitate and coordinate these efforts. In 2019, the NAACC added a protocol, including electronic data forms and a scoring system, for assessing the suitability of stream crossings for passage by terrestrial wildlife. This protocol is a rapid assessment methodology for use during typical low-flow conditions, and involves data collection on the dimensions of crossing structures, as well as the presence and suitability of dry passage and the presence and severity of physical barriers. Wildlife are divided into six groups for purposes of assessing and scoring crossings for terrestrial passability. The protocol is designed to provide a rough assessment of the barrier effects of culverts and bridges on passability for a variety of terrestrial wildlife. Results of these assessments are being used to set resistance values for calculating landscape conductance, a Designing Sustainable Landscapes (DSL) metric for identifying areas of highest importance for connecting areas of high ecological value. These data will also be available for use in other efforts, such as the Connecting Habitat Across New Jersey (CHANJ) project, to model landscape connectivity and identify high-priority corridors for protection or restoration.
Tags:	Landscape Ecology, Restoration/Enhancement, Survey Methods
Baby It’s Cold Outside: Dynamic Winter Weather Moderates Movement Behaviors and Resource Selection of Wild Turkeys in Maine
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Matthew B. Gonnerman, University of Maine, Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Conservation Biology; Stephanie A. Shea, University of Maine, School of Food and Agriculture; Kaj Overturf, University of Maine, Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Conservation Biology; Kelsey M. Sullivan, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife; Pauline L. Kamath, University of Maine, School of Food and Agriculture; Erik J. Blomberg, University of Maine, Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Conservation Biology
Student or Professional:	Student-Graduate
Abstract:	Winter in the Northeast can be a treacherous time for wildlife, especially during periods of inclement weather. For individuals to survive extreme cold or heavy snowfall, it may be necessary to alter normal behavioral patterns in response to local weather conditions. Using GPS transmitters that recorded hourly locations, we compared behavioral strategies and resource selection of individual female wild turkeys near Bangor, Maine, from January 1 through March 15 in 2018 through 2020. We used Hidden Markov Models to categorize turkey movement patterns into behavioral states (Roosting, Loafing, and Foraging) based on distance traveled and change in direction between successive locations. We incorporated data on daily wind chill and snow depth to explain the likelihood an individual would exhibit particular movement strategies. We found that as snow depth increased and wind chill became more severe, activity levels decreased as individuals were more likely to be loafing than foraging. Using step selection functions, we explored how individuals altered resource selection strategies according to prevailing weather. We found that in poor weather conditions, loafing individuals altered strategies to increase selection for forested areas and moved farther away from forest edges and into areas with decreased wind exposure. Similarly, foraging individuals spent less time near forest edges or in agricultural fields under poor conditions. Roosting turkeys were more likely to select trees farther from forest edges and forest stands with a greater proportion of softwoods during periods of poor weather. These results indicate that female wild turkeys altered behavior according to weather conditions, and such behavioral plasticity may contribute to the ability of turkeys to exist in a wide variety of habitats and regions. As climate change progresses, the presence of habitat features used during each of these plastic behavioral states will likely influence changes to the northern range limit of turkeys.
Tags:	Avian, Behavior, Habitat
Bat Responses to Silviculture Treatments: Activity Over 13 Years of Regeneration
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Daniel Wright, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Center, University of Connecticut; Chadwick Rittenhouse, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Center, University of Connecticut; Katherine Moran, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection; Thomas Worthley, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Center, University of Connecticut, CT & Department of Extension, University of Connecticut; Tracy Rittenhouse, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Center, University of Connecticut
Student or Professional:	Student-Graduate
Abstract:	Using silviculture treatments as a tool to create habitat for wildlife is a common practice in wildlife conservation and natural resource management. Although diverse forest age structures and composition benefit many wildlife species, relatively little is known about bat response to young forest habitat. Understanding how the activity of bats changes as young forests age, and the influence of landscape level, stand level, and biologically relevant variables on bat activity, can improve effectiveness of forest management actions designed to benefit bat populations. We measured activity of bats in young forests regenerating from harvests implemented 2007-2018. We selected 26 sites, each of which consisted of a regenerating stand and paired control stand in adjacent interior forest, and used acoustic monitors to record bat activity from 5 May – 9 September, 2019 and 2020, with a break from 1 July – 14 July so that monitoring fell into pre- or post-volant timeframes. We used an information theoretic approach to assess support for landscape level, stand level, and biologically relevant variables on bat activity in regenerating stands. Through our research we found (i) bats were more active in young forest stands than natural canopy gaps in interior forests, (ii) bat activity was highest in the first few years post treatment and decreased as young forests continued to age, and (iii) bat activity was highly dependent on biological factors, not landscape or stand level factors. Collectively, these findings suggest that forest management for young forest habitat may benefit forest-associated bats, at least in predominantly forested landscapes where young forest habitat is under-represented.
Tags:	Forest, Landscape Ecology, Restoration/Enhancement
Benchmark for Recovery of the Endangered Species Act
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Aaron M. Haines, Millersville University; Matthias Leu, William & Mary; Delaney M. Costante, William & Mary; Tyler C. Treakle, William & Mary; Carli Parenti, Millersville University; Jennifer R. B. Miller, George Mason University and Defenders of Wildlife; Jacob Malcom, George Mason University and Defenders of Wildlife
Student or Professional:	Professional
Abstract:	To forestall the current rate of global extinction, we need to identify strategies that successfully recover species. In the last decade, the recovery record for the United States Endangered Species Act (ESA) has improved. Our aim was to review federal delisting documents for recovered species and quantify patterns in taxonomy, history of threats, policy, funding and actions that are associated with species recovery. In comparison to species still listed, the average recovered species was a vertebrate, had been listed longer under the ESA, was exposed to a lower number of threats at the time of listing, and received relatively higher levels of funding. Based on our review, we suggest the following strategies to improve species recovery: provide more time for ESA protection, allocate more funding for recovery, maintain environmental regulations that facilitate recovery, establish more private landowner agreements, and increase the area of protected lands.
Tags:	Conservation Biology, Policy/Law, Threatened and Endangered Species
Biases in Evaluating the Effects of Forest Management for Native Bees Associated with Sampling Forest Understories
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Joan Milam, Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Michael Cunningham-Minnick, Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Patrick Roberts, Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst and David King, USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station
Student or Professional:	Professional
Abstract:	Shrubland habitat management is widely practiced with the intention of enhancing habitat for bees. Studies showed bee abundance and diversity are higher in newly created openings compared to understory strata of unmanaged forest. Recent studies have also suggested that bee numbers are as high or higher in forest canopies than forest understories, and thus the perceived increases in treated areas compared to unmanaged forest might be an artifact of forest samples restricted to relatively depauperate forest understories. To examine these biases, we sampled bees at points in recently restored barrens and adjacent forest understory from May through September, 2016 using pan traps on the ground combined with standardized netting. This conventional approach to evaluate the effects of habitat management ignores the potential biases of only sampling forest understory. We deployed blue vane traps in 2018 at the same points sampled in 2016, with traps suspended at 1 m and between 6.67 – 11.0 m above the forest floor paired with a trap 1 m above the ground within the restored areas. We found that bee abundance and diversity was an order of magnitude higher in restored areas compared to forest understory in both 2016 and 2018. We also found that bee abundance and species richness were roughly twice as high near the forest floor than in the forest canopy. Finally, species composition was similar between forest understory and forest canopy samples, but both differed from samples in the restored areas. Based on these findings, we conclude that the differences in bee assemblages between sites in managed and unmanaged forest were not artifacts of our failure to sample forest canopies and subsequently infer that forest management for barren restoration successfully increased bee diversity of the study area.
Tags:	Conservation Biology, Habitat, Invertebrate
Camera Deployment for Optimal Detection of Critical Life Events in a Forest Community
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Stephanie A. Cunningham, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry; Jacqueline L. Frair, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Student or Professional:	Student-Graduate
Abstract:	Trail cameras are often used to monitor detection/non-detection of wildlife and, increasingly, to record critical life events, such as recruitment. For example, fishers (Pekania pennanti) use tree cavities for reproduction, and trail cameras may be used to document females with kits as she moves them between den trees. To effectively design a study to capture recruitment of fisher over time requires greater information on the probability of detecting an animal with a camera array. Generally, the probability of detection should increase with the number of cameras deployed at a survey site. But how many cameras and what arrangement of cameras will provide optimal coverage? To answer this question, we deployed three baited camera arrays in central New York (Happy Valley WMA) for 29 or 41 days during winter 2020, with each having 15 cameras set approximately 5 meters away from the center tree and facing inwards. Any photos captured within 1-minute groupings defined a capture event. We included detections of fishers, red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), or blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata)—common species with at least 20 detections each. For each capture event, we virtually rarefied cameras and recorded whether or not the target species was detected by the remaining cameras. We predicted detection probability as a function of both species and the number of cameras using a binomial generalized linear model. Fishers had the highest overall probability of detection, followed by squirrels, and blue jays. A detection probability of ≥0.90 required 11-13 cameras, indicating a more intensive design than is typically considered for capturing ephemeral life history events. With the typical 4-5 cameras deployed on fisher reproductive studies to date, detection probabilities may be as low as 0.53-0.60. Greater understanding of detection probabilities is needed to use camera traps to effectively inform demographic rates of rare and cryptic species.
Tags:	Mammal, Population Dynamics, Wildlife Techniques
Cloud-based Data Streams for Studying Wildlife Movement and Habitat Dynamics
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	John W. Wilson, terraPulse, Inc.; Joseph O. Sexton, terraPulse, Inc.
Student or Professional:	Professional
Abstract:	Studying wildlife in changing landscapes requires habitat measurements that are both consistent over large areas and coincident with animal locations over time. Whereas earlier methods were limited to static and/or categorical land cover maps, machine learning algorithms applied to the long-term, global archive of satellite images are now producing consistent, reliable measurements of habitat quality across space and time. TerraPulse provides seamless satellite datasets spanning historical archives, also including near-real-time maps of vegetation cover, structure, and productivity, as well as surface moisture, inundation, and snow cover. Several state and federal agencies in the Western United States now regularly use our data to enhance scientific discovery and streamline science-based management of habitats and populations. This includes long-term records of tree-canopy cover, evergreen and deciduous fractions, and stand age to monitor forest harvests and natural disturbances, retrieve fire histories, and predict site potential for growth and restoration. Daily updated vegetation indices such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) are being used to map plant phenology, monitor droughts, and predict animal movements. Monthly, seasonal, and annual frequencies of surface-water inundation, surface moisture, and snow dynamics are being used to track inundation histories, identify wetland habitats, and estimate local flood risk. Combined with expert field data, our products are enabling wildlife managers to tap into the potential that satellite-based data can provide. Conference participants can view a selected number of layers presented here at www.terrapulse.com/terraView/NEAFWA (UserID and password: neafwa21) up to 30 days past this conference.
Tags:	Habitat, Landscape Ecology, Technology/Geographic Information Systems
Community Based Deer Management Programs in Two Urban/Suburban New Jersey Counties - With No Trophies or Prizes, Why Do the Hunters Keep Coming Back?
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Daniel J. Bernier, Union County (NJ) Department of Parks & Recreation
Student or Professional:	Professional
Abstract:	Union County and Essex County, New Jersey are the second and third most densely populated counties in the most densely populated state in the country. Both counties have a mix of urban and suburban development, with tracts of public open space interspersed throughout all corners of both counties. As a result, both counties experience the typical deer impacts of overbrowsing in forested areas and on residential landscaping, deer-related motor vehicle accidents, and fear of Lyme disease. In response to concerns for the impact on forest ecology in its 2,130-acre Watchung Reservation, Union County became the first New Jersey agency, in 1995, to implement a Community Based Deer Management Program. Volunteer hunters using shotguns loaded with slugs, hunting over bait, reduced the deer population from 180/square mile to under 40/square mile. Hunting now involves 40 hunters and occurs in 18 county and municipal parks, using shotguns and crossbows. Neighboring Essex County had similar concerns in its 2,110-acre South Mountain Reservation, and initiated a Community Based Deer Management Program based on the Watchung Reservation model in 2008. That program was later expanded to include 2 other parks. The bulk of the venison goes to a local food bank. Hunters do not get to keep any antlers. Yet, the commitment of the hunters in both programs is very strong. There is a strong emphasis on community service, safety and being part of a team, not on trophies or prizes. Though both programs require the inclusion of new participants every year, several hunters have been involved for decades. Local officials have become comfortable with hunting even on the edge of urban areas because of the safety measures built into the program and the response from homeowners who have seen the decline in deer impacts.
Tags:	Game Species, Hunting, Urban Wildlife
Comparing Management Programs to Reduce Red-tailed Hawk‒Aircraft Collisions at O’Hare International Airport
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Brian Washburn, USDA Wildlife Services; Travis Guerrant, USDA Wildlife Services; Craig Pullins, USDA Wildlife Services; Scott Beckerman, USDA Wildlife Services
Student or Professional:	Professional
Abstract:	Wildlife-aircraft collisions (wildlife strikes) pose a serious safety risk to aircraft. Raptors (i.e., hawks and owls) are one of the most frequently struck guilds of birds within North America. Although raptors [most notably red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamacensis)] are commonly managed at most airports and military bases, there is no scientifically valid information available regarding comparisons of the efficacy of raptor management programs for reducing raptor-aircraft collisions. Therefore, we conducted a study to examine the efficacy of 2 integrated wildlife damage management programs implemented at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD). The first raptor management program occurred during August 2010 – June 2013 (Phase I) and was characterized by intensive and sustained live-trapping and translocation efforts. The second raptor management program occurred during July 2013 – November 2016 (Phase II) and involved live-trapping and translocation of specific age classes and increased levels of lethal control. Compared to Phase I, there were 37% fewer red-tailed hawk strikes (41 in Phase I and 26 in Phase II) and 67% fewer damaging red-tailed hawk strikes (6 in Phase I and 2 in Phase II) during Phase II. Our findings demonstrate that airport wildlife management decisions based on scientific data and biological information can aid in reducing wildlife strikes, financial losses, and ultimately airport liability while increasing human safety. The decision matrix regarding the components of an airport raptor management program involves a variety of biological, geographic, logistical, economic, and socio-political variables. This study represents an important scientific foundation for informing such management decisions.
Tags:	Avian, Management, Urban Wildlife
Determining Origins of Mallards Harvested in the Atlantic Flyway Using a Stable Isotope Approach
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Samuel R. Kucia, SUNY ESF; Michael L. Schummer, SUNY ESF; Jonathan Cohen, SUNY ESF; Chris Nicolai, Delta Waterfowl
Student or Professional:	Student-Graduate
Abstract:	The eastern population of Anas platyrhynchos (Mallard) has declined by about 40% since 1997. Causes of this decline are not well understood. Production and survival estimates have not changed significantly in the past 20 years, suggesting potential biases somewhere in available data. Due to this decline and need to identify potential biases, determining duckling production areas of Mallards harvested in the Atlantic flyway is important. Due to limited banding effort in northern latitudes in the range of the eastern Mallard population, banding records are insufficient for identifying key breeding areas throughout the eastern Mallard breeding range. We used stable-hydrogen isotope analyses of feathers (δ2Hf, deuterium) from hatch-year Mallards harvested during the 2018−2019 and 2019−2020 hunting seasons in the Atlantic flyway (n = 1,261). We created a raw deuterium isoscape, and one weighted by banding records to inform raw deuterium results. We then applied Bayesian assignment approaches to estimate probability of origin. We detected that ≥ 80% of hatch-year Mallards were produced in Canada compared to the United States (US). Our results suggest that the majority of Mallard duckling production occurs in Canada which contrasts with long-term population estimates that suggest the majority of the breeding pairs of eastern Mallards occur in the US.
Tags:	Avian, Conservation Biology, Ecology, Game Species
Effects of Prescribed Fire on Site Occupancy of Allegheny Woodrats (Neotoma magister) in a Mixed-oak Forest in South-central Pennsylvania
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Christopher L. Hauer, Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; Jamie Shinskie, Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; Rebecca Picone, Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; David McNaughton, U.S. Navy; Jon Dimitri Lambrinos, Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; Joseph Hovis, Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
Student or Professional:	Professional
Abstract:	Prescribed fire has increasingly been used to manage and restore eastern oak (Quercus spp.) forests. Fire has the potential to influence habitat use by forest-dwelling small mammals, including species of conservation concern such as the Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister). Thus, an understanding of how Allegheny woodrats respond to habitat changes caused by fire is of increasing importance. We investigated the effects of prescribed fire on a population of Allegheny woodrats in a mixed-oak forest in south-central Pennsylvania. We surveyed 18 rock outcrops for Allegheny woodrats using remote game cameras from September-October 2019. We fit single-season occupancy models in Program PRESENCE to examine the effects of site covariates related to burn history (burned or unburned) and burn frequency (number of burns), topography, and vegetation structure and composition on occupancy (Ψ) of Allegheny woodrats while accounting for imperfect detection (p). In 252 camera trap-nights, we recorded 356 detections of Allegheny woodrats at 50% of sites surveyed. Top-ranked occupancy models (ΔAICc ≤ 2) indicated that Allegheny woodrat occupancy was positively related to burn frequency, overstory tree species richness, and elevation; however, the effects of these covariates were not significant. Our results suggest that low-intensity prescribed fire implemented at moderate (3-5 year) return intervals in oak forests is unlikely to impact Allegheny woodrat populations, but the effects of more frequent and intense fires remain unknown. Additional studies are needed to determine how Allegheny woodrats respond to post-fire vegetation regrowth and recovery over time.
Tags:	Habitat, Mammal, Threatened and Endangered Species
Environmental Drivers of Atlantic Brant (Branta bernicla hrota) Productivity
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Frances DiDonato, University of Missouri; Mitch Weegman, University of Missouri; Josh Stiller, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; Ted Nichols, New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife
Student or Professional:	Student-Graduate
Abstract:	Migratory animals experience a suite of challenges across their annual cycle which may manifest as cross-seasonal effects (CSEs) from one season to the next or more direct breeding season effects (BSEs) on survival and productivity. These BSEs and CSEs drive population dynamics for migratory animals. I modeled the proportion of juvenile Atlantic brant (Branta bernicla hrota; a migratory goose species) from 1976 to 2018 as a function of seasonal weather and climate variables across the annual cycle using linear regression in a Bayesian framework to quantify the influence of CSEs (as wintering and staging area effects) and BSEs on brant productivity. I determined the proportion of days during winter where maximum temperature at two weather stations in coastal New York and New Jersey (the Atlantic brant population’s core wintering area) were below freezing to represent winter severity. I averaged mean daily temperature in Moosonee, ON, Canada during spring to represent staging and migration conditions in James Bay, where brant stopover to refuel nutrient reserves. I determined total precipitation in Coral Harbour, NU, Canada during summer to represent breeding conditions in the Foxe Basin. I averaged daily North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index values across each interval (winter, spring, and summer) to create three seasonal climate terms. Conditions during spring migration explained the greatest variation in brant productivity at both the climatic and local-weather scale. Breeding season conditions explained variation in brant productivity only at the local-weather scale. These results suggest environmental conditions during spring are most important in explaining productivity of Atlantic brant, but harsh breeding season conditions at local scales may still mitigate prior preparation for reproduction. Environmental conditions must be evaluated throughout the full annual cycle for more complete understanding of population dynamics of Arctic-nesting birds and other migratory animals.
Tags:	Avian, Ecology, Population Dynamics
Fitness Consequences of Habitat Selection by Moose During Two Critical Winter Tick Life Stages in Vermont, USA
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Joshua Blouin, Vermont Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont; Jacob Debow, Vermont Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont; Elias Rosenblatt, Vermont Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont; James Hines, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center; Cedric Alexander, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department; Katherina Gieder, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department; Nicholas Fortin, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department; James Murdoch, Wildlife and Fisheries Biology Program, Rubenstein School of Environmental and Natural Resources, University of Vermont; Therese Donovan, U.S. Geological Survey, Vermont Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Rubenstein School of Environmental and Natural Resources, University of Vermont
Student or Professional:	Student-Graduate
Abstract:	The moose (Alces alces) is a charismatic species in decline across part of their southern distribution in North America. In the northeastern US, the reduction has been attributed, in part, to winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus) infestations. Winter ticks tend to be fairly immobile throughout all life stages, and therefore their distribution patterns at any given time are shaped largely by the occurrence of moose across the landscape during the peak of two critical time periods: fall questing (when ticks latch onto a moose) and spring drop-off (when engorged female ticks detach from moose). We used recent land cover and lidar data within a dynamic occupancy modeling framework to estimate first-order habitat selection (use vs non-use) of female moose (n = 74) during the questing and drop-off periods. In the spring drop-off period, patches where colonization was high and extinction low (highest probability of female moose occupancy) had higher proportions of young (shrub/forage) mixed forest at higher elevations. Further, we evaluated the fitness consequences of habitat selection by adult females during the fall questing period, when females and their calves acquire ticks. We compared Resource Selection Functions (RSF) for 5 females that successfully reared a calf to age 1 with 5 females whose calves perished due to ticks. Adult female moose whose offspring perished selected habitats in the fall that spatially coincided with areas of high occupancy probability during the spring tick drop-off period. In contrast, adult female moose whose offspring survived selected areas where the probability of occupancy during the spring drop-off was low.Our model coefficients and mapped results define “hotspots” that are likely encouraging the deleterious effects of the tick-moose cycle. These findings fill knowledge gaps about moose habitat selection that may improve the effectiveness of management aimed at reversing declining population trends.
Tags:	Forest, Habitat, Mammal
Influences of Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change on Breeding Bird Communities
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	David I. King, USFS Northern Research Station; Anthony D'Amato, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont; David A Lutz, Environmental Studies Program, Dartmouth College, Jessica Wikle, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont; Christopher W. Woodall, USFS Northern Research Station, Jane Foster, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont
Student or Professional:	Professional
Abstract:	Forest managers in the United States need climate-adaptive strategies to cope with climate change, and the Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change (ASCC) project was designed to provide adaptation measures and tactics to prepare forest ecosystems to deal with the uncertainty around future climate and disturbance regimes. The ASCC project consists of a network of replicated research sites in which region-specific adaptive silvicultural approaches are co-designed with managers and implemented to increase the resistance or resilience of forest stands to projected climate change, or to facilitate transition of these forests to a new steady state. In order to facilitate the implementation of these practices, we surveyed breeding birds on replicated plots along this gradient of management intensity to furnish the information on their impacts needed to support the planning and evaluation activities required in many cases by policy or statute. We adopted a before-after control intervention approach, with pre-treatment surveys at 64 points across the three treatments (resistance, resilience and transition) and control plots taking place in 2017, and post-treatment studies in 2020, three years after silvicultural treatments were implemented. Most forest species were less abundant within the experimental stands as a whole after these silvicultural treatments were implemented, however curiously, most of these species were more abundant in stands with intermediate levels of harvest (resistance and resilience) compared to control unmanaged stands. Conversely, disturbance-dependent “shrubland” bird species were more abundant within the experimental stands after the silvicultural treatments were implemented, with most being more abundant in the transition stands, which had experienced the greatest level of canopy removal. No species present prior to treatment was absent afterwards, with the exception of a species that also disappeared from control sites, suggesting it was not the silvicultural practices but some other factor that caused their disappearance from the study plots.
Tags:	Avian, Climate, Habitat
Invasive Plant Regulations in the U.S. are Reactive and Inconsistent
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Emily J. Fusco, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Evelyn M. Beaury, University of Massachusetts- Amherst; Jenica Allen, Mount Holyoke College, Miller Worley Center for the Environment; Bethany A. Bradley, University of Massachusetts- Amherst
Student or Professional:	Professional
Abstract:	U.S. Federal and state regulations restrict the introduction and spread of several hundred invasive plant species in an effort to reduce their negative impacts. Regulations are most likely to reduce invasive species spread if they are consistently enacted across political borders and proactively restrict species early in the invasion process. A more unified regulatory landscape is particularly important given imminent large-scale range shifts of invasive species across the U.S. However, the degree of consistency and proactivity in invasive plant regulation remains unclear. Using invasive plant and noxious weed legislation for the lower 48 United States, we assessed consistency among regulated invasive plant lists based on similarities in adjacent states’ regulatory lists. We assessed proactivity by comparing regulatory lists to species’ current and potential distributions given occurrence records and habitat suitability models under climate change. States regulate from 0 to 162 taxa, sharing an average of only 16.8% of their regulated lists with their immediate neighbors. However, 36 states listed at least one species proactively (regulated but not present in the state). Of the 48 proactively listed species with habitat suitability models, we identified 41 cases (38 species in 21 states) where listing was ‘climate proactive’ (regulated, not present, and where climate could be suitable for establishment by mid-century). Coordination among states is imperative given the gaps in regional defenses against invasion and projected invasive plant range shifts under climate change. Increasing the level of proactivity and consistency of plant regulations across state borders is paramount to preventing the next wave of plant invasions.
Tags:	Climate, Exotic/Invasive Species, Policy/Law
Investigation of the Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Pennsylvania Waterfowl
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Nicole Szafranski, University of Tennessee College of Comparative and Experimental Medicine; Richard W. Gerhold, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine; Kyle Van Why, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services
Student or Professional:	Student-Graduate
Abstract:	Toxoplasmosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii can infect mammalian and avian species, including humans. Approximately 33% of humans worldwide and 13% in the United States have T. gondii antibodies. In mammals, infection can vary from asymptomatic to ocular and neurologic signs to severe systemic disease and death. Domestic and wild felids act as the definitive hosts passing the oocyst stage in their feces. Transmission occurs through the ingestion of contaminated water or food, ingestion of infected meat, or congenitally. Avian infections have been documented, but very little is known about its prevalence in waterfowl species. Waterfowl can acquire this infection as intermediate hosts from ingesting oocyst-contaminated water or vegetation. The parasite forms cysts within their muscle tissue, which can lead to infection in carnivorous hosts consuming undercooked meat. Waterfowl can act as an important transmission source via wild and domestic felid predation and a potential zoonotic threat to hunters consuming undercooked duck and goose meat. The first step in analyzing this risk is to establish the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in waterfowl species. To do this, heart and sera samples from mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were collected in 2020 via wildlife damage management activities in Pennsylvania. The modified agglutination test (MAT) was performed on the sera to identify birds with antibodies against T. gondii. DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), gel electrophoresis, and genetic sequencing are being performed on the hearts to identify the parasite DNA within the tissue. In total, 139 samples were collected and tested, and of those 60/139 (43.2%) had antibody titers of at least 1:5. Molecular analysis is currently being performed. With the popularity of hunting and consumption of waterfowl in the United States, it is worth investigating the potential disease implications of these birds to guide management and public education efforts.
Tags:	Avian, Diseases/Parasites, Hunting
Machine Learning for Wildlife Identification, Classification, and Population Assessment in the Northeast
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Thomas Y. Chen, Academy for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering
Student or Professional:	Student-Undergraduate
Abstract:	Many technical methods have been used to gain insights into wildlife over time, but recently, machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, and data mining have increasingly been utilized to obtain novel results. For example, machine learning-based sensor technology enables organism classification opportunities. Computational ecology has already yielded many results that would have been impossible without big data analysis techniques, and this emerging field has great potential in the future. Because machine learning techniques in application-based domains are rapidly gaining popularity in wildlife ecology and countless interdisciplinary fields, we propose the creation of datasets that specifically focus on the native species of the Northeast United States. Wildlife across the region have been ravaged by numerous devastating factors, including climate change, deforestation, hunting, and pollution, leading to many taxa being classified as threatened, endangered, and critically endangered. As more species disappear, the loss of biodiversity contributes to not only the decline of ecosystems but also adverse impacts on human livelihoods, income, local migration, food sources, medicine, and health outcomes. To combat this troubling trend and provide resources for species’ conservation, wildlife biologists must have access to accurate and efficient computational tools to detect, classify, and assess individuals and populations. Camera traps have emerged as a widely utilized technology to capture images of wildlife at all times of day, allowing scientists to study them without disruption to their daily activities. Deep-learning neural networks have been used for automated identification and analysis, and we propose the conduction of ablation studies among different models, namely convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures such as AlexNet, VGGNet, and ResNet, pretrained on ImageNet. More efficient and accurate classification mechanisms can aid in the timely and targeted allocation of resources and personnel for the purpose of wildlife management and conservation.
Tags:	Amphibian/Reptile, Climate, Conservation Biology, Diseases/Parasites, Ecology, Enforcement, Exotic/Invasive Species, Fishing/Field Surveys, Landscape Ecology, Mammal, Management, Modeling, Restoration/Enhancement, Survey Methods, Technology/Geographic Information Systems, Threatened and Endangered Species, Urban Wildlife, Wildlife Techniques
Mallard Hybridization with Feral Conspecifics Results in Adaptive Differences in Eastern North America
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Joshua I. Brown, UTEP EEB, El Paso TX; Michael L. Schummer, SUNY ESF, Syracuse NY; Philip Lavretsky, UTEP EEB, El Paso TX
Student or Professional:	Student-Graduate
Abstract:	Anas platyrhynchos (Mallards) were uncommon in eastern North America prior to 1900 but game-farm releases are among the reasons they are now the most common duck in the region. Recent molecular work has determined that the release of game-farm Mallards has resulted in extensive hybridization with wild conspecifics in eastern North America. Given that domestic-origin Mallards originate from Eurasia, the introduction of foreign genetics is hypothesized to have decreased the adaptability of local wild Mallards. Here, we examine the effects of game-farm Mallard introgression on adaptability and future adaptive potential in eastern Mallard populations (feral × wild Mallard hybrids) as compared to western populations (pure wild Mallards). We sequenced thousands of markers throughout the genomes of 1,542 wild, game-farm, and putative hybrid Mallards collected across the Atlantic and western flyways (Central and Pacific flyways). We used these markers to estimate rates of gene flow from game-farm into wild Mallards, understand the effects of this introgression on local demographics, and to test for differences in genotype-environment associations (GEA). First, we report significant introgression from game-farm Mallard variants into eastern North American populations to the point that only ~5% of Atlantic flyway Mallards were characterized as genetically pure. Next, we find that strong selection during domestication is likely responsible for multiple bottleneck events detected in various eastern populations. Finally, using GEA analysis, we report that the adaptive range for Mallards with wild × game-farm ancestry was significantly reduced as compared to those of pure ancestry, and that there was minimal overlap in the modeled genetic-niche space between these groups. This suggests that game-farm Mallards are, in fact, maladapted to eastern North America, and that the continued introgression of game-farm genes into wild populations could threaten the ability of wild Mallard populations to adapt to changing environmental conditions.
Tags:	Avian, Game Species, Genetics-Wildlife
Molecular Dietary Analysis of Tibetan Wolf Populations on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau of China
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Charlotte Hacker, Duquesne University; Cong Wei, Chinese Academy of Forestry; Yu Zhang, Chinese Academy of Forestry; Liji Wu, Yanchiwan National Nature Reserve of Gansu Province; Byron Weckworth, Panthera; Rodney Jackson, Snow Leopard Conservancy; Diqiang Li, Chinese Academy of Forestry; Yuguang Zhang, Chinese Academy of Forestry; Jan E. Janecka, Duquesne University
Student or Professional:	Student-Graduate
Abstract:	The grey wolf (Canis lupus) has faced local extirpations and population declines, and are now largely restricted to remote areas with low levels of human disturbance. One such area is that of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) in China, where wolf populations remain understudied. The QTP is a biodiverse region whose occupants rely of pastoralism for subsistence and income. Unfortunately, livestock depredation by wolves causes large financial burdens, prompting negative attitudes and retaliatory killings. Understanding grey wolf resource use can help elucidate feeding ecology and dependency on livestock to better inform conservation management decisions that serve both wildlife and humans. We sought to better understand grey wolf diet by noninvasively sampling scat across three regions on the QTP and using DNA metabarcoding of the MT-RNR1 and MT-CO1 genetic markers to discern prey. A total of 153 genetically confirmed grey wolf scats resulted in the occurrence of 12 different prey species. Blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) were the most heavily consumed wild prey item, with smaller mammals such as the pika (Ochotona sp.) also playing important roles in prey repertoire. Isolated occurrence of bird consumption and intraguild predation were noted. Livestock was found in grey wolf diet from all three areas, ranging from 16.3 to 25.7% of total prey occurrences. Domestic yak (Bos grunniens) was the primary domestic consumed, followed by domestic goat (Capra aegagrus hircus) and sheep (Ovis aries). Livestock loss did not significantly vary across sites (P = 0.350). Herders with yak would benefit from deploying non-lethal techniques to deter wolves based on their behavior, and should be supported with effective livestock insurance. Blue sheep populations need to be maintained to ensure a suitable wild prey base, and poisoning pika efforts should be reconsidered. This work is globally applicable where wolves are present, particularly in areas that experience livestock loss.
Tags:	Ecology, Genetics-Wildlife, Mammal
Origin and Genetics of Pre-hunting Season Banded Mallards
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Kayla Harvey, SUNY ESF; Dr. Michael Schummer, SUNY ESF; Dr. Philip Lavretsky, University of Texas, El Paso
Student or Professional:	Student-Graduate
Abstract:	Over the last 20 years, the mallard population in the eastern United States (U.S.) has declined by approximately 40%. Although the contributing factors are largely unknown, simultaneous declines in genetic diversity from introgression from game farm mallards may be a contributing factor. Preliminary analysis reveals no significant decrease in production or survival estimates since the population was stable in the late−1990s, which suggests alternative biases in these data. Recent research has suggested that mallards could be migrating during the pre-hunting season banding period, which may violate assumptions used to estimate survival rates. To further understand such potential biases, we collected feather and blood samples from Atlantic flyway mallards during pre-hunting season banding in 2019. We used stable isotope and genetic analyses to determine geographical origins of wild, game farm, and wild x game farm mallard hybrids. Preliminary results identify a substantial movement of mallards from Canada into the U.S. occurs during preseason banding. Mallards originating from Canada were captured and banded in the U.S. as early as August, but this percentage increased during September banding. We also found that wild mallards were more likely to come from areas farther north than mallards with game farm ancestry. Future work includes additional years of data collection to determine how the mixing of these northern and southern populations and genetically variable mallards may bias survival and other demographic parameters.
Tags:	Avian, Game Species, Genetics-Wildlife
Predicting Bobcat Capture on Camera-Traps Using Local Weather History Data
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	James Neugebauer, Duquesne University; Jan Janecka, Ph.D., Duquesne University
Student or Professional:	Student-Graduate
Abstract:	Wildlife movement has often been thought to increase or decrease following changes in local weather and climate conditions. It is essential to study the movement of wildlife in order to determine not only where wild animals move to, but also if there are any factors that increase movement. This knowledge is applicable to wildlife enthusiasts, hunters, and motorists alike. In this study, factors such as atmospheric pressure, percent humidity, precipitation, and temperature were used to predict the capture of bobcats on camera-traps used on Powdermill Nature Reserve in the Laurel Highlands of western Pennsylvania. A total of 15 camera-traps were used over two 12-month periods. Current analysis does not show signs of a difference between the means of the factors above at time points of bobcat capture and all time points without bobcat capture. This suggests that these factors do not influence the movement of bobcats at our study site in western Pennsylvania, contrary to anecdotal beliefs. Additionally, it was found that bobcat observations were highest during the months of February and March. Future analysis aims to compile the remainder of the observation data and include other weather factors.
Tags:	Climate, Game Species, Mammal, Survey Methods, Wildlife Techniques
Relative Importance of Golf Courses for Bats Influenced by Landscape Context in Northeastern U.S.
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Evan C. Drake, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Brooke Maslo, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Student or Professional:	Student-Graduate
Abstract:	The number of golf courses continues to rise as the sport becomes more popular worldwide. The various impacts of their construction and maintenance is a nuanced topic of research. For some wildlife taxa, golf courses contain a diverse array of microhabitats and resources. In general, the wildlife studies that take place on golf courses primarily focus on birds and insects. Because bats occupy a similar niche as insectivorous birds, and because there are comparatively fewer studies that highlight bat activity on golf courses, we surveyed the bat communities on 11 different New Jersey golf courses using acoustic monitoring in 2019 and 2020 to investigate what landscape-level factors influenced bat occupancy and activity. We used multi-season occupancy modeling and linear mixed-effect models to test the hypothesis that bats are attracted to golf courses when the surrounding landscape contains less of their favored habitat types. Some species, such as Eptesicus fuscus and Lasiurus borealis, were ubiquitous; found on all courses in both years. The hoary bat, Lasiurus borealis, showed a preference for golf courses when the surrounding landscape had less open fields, its preferred foraging habitat. However, Myotis lucifugus and M. sodalis were more present on golf courses when the surrounding landscape had more large, continuous patches of forest, and when the course itself had a more complex shape (thus creating more forest edge). In both cases, the bats were attracted to the golf course because it provided a type of foraging habitat that may be less available elsewhere in the immediate landscape. Among a less suitable matrix, the golf course may be a high-quality habitat patch in some respects. Given that North American bats face many hardships, and given that urbanization is slowly fragmenting existing habitat, urban green spaces (like golf courses) may become important islands of biodiversity for temperate bats.
Tags:	Landscape Ecology, Technology/Geographic Information Systems, Urban Wildlife
Responses of Insectivorous Bats and Their Prey to Tree Felling in Forested Wetlands
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Daniel Wright, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Center, University of Connecticut; Tracy Rittenhouse, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Center, University of Connecticut; Katherine Moran, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection; Thomas Worthley, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Center, University of Connecticut, CT & Department of Extension, University of Connecticut; Chadwick Rittenhouse, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Center, University of Connecticut
Student or Professional:	Student-Graduate
Abstract:	Forest wetlands provide habitat for a diversity of wildlife and create complex vegetation structure within forested landscapes. Historic land use patterns in New England and current best management practices have limited disturbances in forested wetlands. As a result, some forest wetlands have predominantly large, mature trees that were formerly rare under natural disturbance regimes. Our goal was to determine whether felling trees within forested wetlands is an effective management action to improve foraging habitat for insectivorous bats. In the winter of 2019, we felled trees in 3 forested wetlands to simulate a natural disturbance, similar to that caused by beaver activity. In our treated wetlands, we felled trees in an area of approximately a quarter acre using chainsaws during frozen ground conditions. The following spring and summer of 2019 and 2020, we monitored bat activity and insect abundance in our 3 treated forested wetlands as well as 3 un-treated forested wetlands. We found that for all bat species observed in our study, activity was higher in treated wetlands than in untreated wetlands. We also found Lasiurus borealis and Lasionycteris noctivagans had a delayed response to treatments, with higher activity in the second year of our study. The response of insects to our wetland treatments was less consistent than the response of insectivorous bats. We found higher insect biomass in controls as opposed to treatments, but when separated into individual insect orders, temporal variation was a stronger indicator of available insect biomass. Our findings suggest that managing forested wetlands consistent with historic patterns of disturbance and regeneration is beneficial to insectivorous bats. Adopting this approach and making revisions to best management practices for forested wetlands will help to maintain this habitat for the benefit of bats and other species that depend on them.
Tags:	Ecology, Mammal, Restoration/Enhancement, Wetland
Risk Factors and Fitness Effects of Retroviral Infection in Wild Turkeys in Maine
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Stephanie A. Shea, School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine; Matthew B. Gonnerman, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology, University of Maine; Erik J. Blomberg, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology, University of Maine; Kelsey M. Sullivan, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife; Pauline L. Kamath, School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine
Student or Professional:	Student-Graduate
Abstract:	Infectious disease monitoring in wildlife is crucial for preserving natural resources and is considered a priority in the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s Big Game Management Plan. Our research addresses this agency need by evaluating two retroviruses, lymphoproliferative disease virus (LPDV) and reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) in Maine’s wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo). Infection with REV can result in immunosuppression, increased morbidity with viral co-infection, and reduced reproductive success in chickens, but has been relatively understudied in wild turkeys. Similarly, little is known about the effects of LPDV since it was recently discovered in the United States, though research suggests it may contribute to mortality and coinfection of wild turkeys. The goals of our study were to identify risk factors and fitness effects of LPDV and REV infection in Maine. We collected blood from 627 live-captured wild turkeys for molecular pathogen diagnostics and recorded age, sex, and location of capture. We attached radio-transmitter or GPS backpacks to a subset of females (n = 163) to gather data on land type usage and fitness metrics including survival rate, nest success, clutch size, nest initiation, home range size, and dispersal. We identified sex, year, percent forested cover, and the interaction of age with percent agriculture cover and region as significant factors in predicting LPDV infection. Predictors of REV infection included region, year, and percent agriculture cover. Preliminary analyses indicated that REV impacts survival of females, while LPDV reduces clutch size. We plan to use these results to inform population growth models to determine population level effects of infection, which is important for informing management decisions related to translocations, pathogen transmission between poultry operations or captive breeding facilities, and harvest limits. These findings stress the value of consistent pathogen monitoring in game birds, and the inclusion of pathogen data in population estimation models.
Tags:	Avian, Diseases/Parasites, Game Species
Songbirds Provide Pest Control Services on New England Farms
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Samuel Mayne, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Jeremy Andersen, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Joseph Elkinton, University of Massachusetts Amherst; David King, USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station
Student or Professional:	Student-Graduate
Abstract:	Songbird control of agricultural pest populations through predation has the potential to aid small-scale farming operations, representing a rare win-win situation where wildlife conservation directly benefits agricultural productivity. Agricultural lands account for nearly half of global land use, and chemically intensive, industrialized farming poses a serious threat to many wildlife populations. However, low intensity agricultural lands can play a key role in landscape conservation efforts by supporting protected areas while maximizing ecosystem services to remain agriculturally productive. Songbird populations on small, diversified farms in New England may play an important role in mitigating pest damage and outbreaks, but the extent to which this is true and the songbird species most responsible is unknown. Using DNA metabarcoding of songbird fecal samples, we analyzed the diets of common songbird species on New England agricultural lands to determine their role in insect pest reduction. Additionally, exclusion of songbirds from crops was used to determine the magnitude of reduction of agricultural pests through songbird predation. Preliminary findings suggest that songbirds do reduce insect pest populations through direct predation. These findings suggest that by ensuring robust songbird populations, agricultural pest removal services can be enhanced. Thus, conservation practices such as maintaining vegetation in field margins can provide a dual benefit, improving pest suppression and enhancing wildlife habitat.
Tags:	Avian, Conservation Biology, Habitat
Stewardship of an Isolated Copperhead Population in the New Jersey Sourlands
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Tyler Christensen, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers University; Brooke Maslo, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers University; Mike Van Clef, Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space
Student or Professional:	Student-Graduate
Abstract:	The northern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen) is a venomous snake species of special concern in New Jersey. Copperheads are thought to be declining in the state due to human persecution, illegal collecting, road mortality, and loss of suitable and connected habitat. New Jersey’s southernmost copperhead population, which was rediscovered in 2013, occurs in the Sourlands and is isolated from those to the north and west by multiple anthropogenic barriers. The Sourlands is a region of diabase bedrock spanning parts of Mercer, Somerset, and Hunterdon counties that consists of both private and preserved land. The area also contains multiple state-listed rare plant and wildlife species, despite being heavily impacted by invasive plant species. After rediscovery of the copperhead population, ensuring its persistence through the identification and provisioning of appropriate resources became a critical stewardship objective. Since 2014 we have conducted an intensive radio tracking study that has elucidated copperhead habitat utilization and spatiotemporal activity patterns. These data revealed conflicting stewardship goals for copperheads, the co-occurring rare wildlife and plant species, and for invasive species management, imposing significant challenges for developing a comprehensive stewardship plan. These conflicts constrain what, where, and when stewardship activities can be performed without endangering the snakes or their required habitats. This presentation discusses how the findings from radio telemetry were used to develop a comprehensive stewardship plan that synthesized objectives for multiple rare plant and wildlife species, invasive plant management, and human safety.
Tags:	Amphibian/Reptile, Conservation Biology, Exotic/Invasive Species
Talkin' Trash in the Big Apple: Mitigating Bird Strikes Near the North Shore Marine Transfer Station
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Stephan Beffre, USDA Wildlife Services; Brian Washburn, USDA National Wildlife Research Center
Student or Professional:	Professional
Abstract:	Anthropogenic activities that concentrate wildlife near airports increases the risk of wildlife-aircraft collisions. Placing waste management facilities, natural areas, golf courses, and other landscape features near airports have the potential to attract wildlife hazardous to aviation. We conducted a 3–year study (March 2013-February 2016) to determine if the implementation of a Wildlife Hazard Mitigation Program (WHMP) would influence the bird use of a waste transfer station located near the LaGuardia Airport, New York City, USA. We conducted wildlife surveys during 3 Phases: 1) no mitigation program and no waste transfer station, 2) active mitigation and no waste transfer station, and 3) active mitigation and operating waste transfer station. Overall, bird abundance decreased when the WHMP was implemented, thereby reducing the risk of wildlife strikes with aircraft operating in association with LaGuardia Airport. The active mitigation program reduced the presence of birds associated with the waste transfer station as well as many species using the adjacent marine environment.
Tags:	Avian, Urban Wildlife, Wildlife Techniques
The Effects of Timber Harvesting on Ixodes scapularis Densities and Tick-Borne Pathogen Transmission in Maine
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Stephanie Hurd, University of Maine; Allison Gardner, University of Maine; Laura Kenefic, US Forest Service; Jessica Leahy, University of Maine; Andrew Richley, US Forest Service; Carley Sponarski, University of Maine
Student or Professional:	Student-Graduate
Abstract:	Lyme disease poses an immediate and expanding threat to public health, with tens of thousands of cases reported annually in the U.S. The blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) is the principal vector for the bacterium that causes this disease (Borrelia burgdorferi). Many wildlife species are important hosts for I. scapularis (e.g., white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus), natural reservoirs for B. burgdorferi (e.g., white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus), or both. During the vast majority of the life cycle during which the tick is not feeding on a vertebrate host, it lives in the microhabitat of leaf litter on the forest floor. While the Lyme disease transmission cycle is deeply embedded in the forest ecosystem, limited research has investigated the effects of active forest management via timber harvesting on vector abundance and pathogen transmission. Timber harvesting alters species composition and density of trees and understory plants, potentially causing an ecological cascade in which changes in microhabitat and wildlife communities alter tick density, pathogen infection prevalence, and Lyme disease exposure risk to humans. This study tests the specific hypotheses that different intensities of harvesting ranging along a low to high intensity gradient will affect 1) tick density, 2) understory and microhabitat features, and 3) daily deer activity. To test these hypotheses we collected ticks, deployed trail cameras to quantify large mammal presence and activity, and characterized understory and microhabitat (e.g., leaf litter cover, depth, temperature, and humidity). Our preliminary findings suggest that low timber harvesting intensity maintains the overstory canopy, hindering sapling and larger understory growth, but encourages smaller understory growth. Our results show a significant, negative relationship between timber harvesting intensity and nymphal tick density. Our long-term goal is to develop forest management guidelines for landowners to inhibit disease transmission to aid in the mitigation of human-disease risk.
Tags:	Ecology, Forest, Invertebrate
The New York Mammal Survey: Combining Legacy Data with Field Surveys to Map Species Status
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Amanda Cheeseman (State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry), Shannon Farrell (State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry), Jacqueline Frair (State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry), James Gibbs (State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry), Matthew Schlesinger (New York Natural Heritage Program)
Student or Professional:	Professional
Abstract:	Anthropogenic development, climate change, and invasive species are driving unprecedented changes in biodiversity. Predicting species range shift is needed to effectively guide management actions, such as interventions to halt the spread of invasive species or facilitating the recovery of imperiled species through practices like translocations and habitat management. Data used to assess species distributions may stem from museum records, citizen science efforts, or regional monitoring programs. Whereas atlas-style data and assessments have been established for birds, fish, and herpetofauna, mammals remain challenging given the predominance of nocturnal activity patterns, behaviors ranging from powered flight (bats) to burrowing (moles), and a massive range of body size requiring a variety of approaches to capture community composition. Interestingly, actual occurrence data is lacking for both common mammal species as well as small, cryptic mammals. The NY Mammal Survey (NYMS) is providing the first comprehensive compilation of historic and contemporary records of mammal occurrence across NY State, modeling species and community status, and laying the groundwork for a future Atlas-style monitoring program. To date, we have compiled ~200,000 occurrence records from museum data, publications, scientific datasets, citizen science data, and social media, and have implemented field surveys to augment data on more cryptic mammals (standardized field surveys using Sherman, pitfall, tomahawk and camera traps). Ensemble modeling results point to core species strongholds across the state today, and putative contemporary range overlap with historical records indicates areas where targeted sampling will be required to fully determine contemporary status. NYMS also will be providing a public, searchable warehouse of mammals records filling an information gap and enabling better coordination among scientists and managers on mammal data.
Tags:	Conservation Biology, Mammal, Survey Methods, Wildlife Techniques
Two Decades of Assessing Biodiversity in Created Wetlands of Central Appalachia
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	James T. Anderson, West Virginia University
Student or Professional:	Professional
Abstract:	Wetlands are lands transitional between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water table is usually at or near the surface or the land is covered by shallow water. Compensatory mitigation is the primary tool used to reduce wetland loss in the United States. Compensatory mitigation programs are designed to replace lost area and function when permitted damage to natural wetlands is unavoidable. My students and I have studied wetland biodiversity and ecosystem functions of mitigated and natural wetlands of Central Appalachian Mountains, USA since 2001. Avian species richness, diversity, and abundance were similar between mitigated and reference wetlands. Waterbird and waterfowl abundance were higher in mitigated than reference wetlands. Frog and toad species richness and abundance were higher in mitigated than reference wetlands. Mean total percent cover of plant species was similar between mitigated and reference wetlands. Plant species richness, evenness, and diversity were greater in mitigated than reference wetlands. Plant compositional differences become smaller as mitigated sites age. Mitigated and reference wetlands supported similar invertebrate assemblages, especially among benthic populations. Abundance of metamorphs, survival, and growth of larval green frogs (Lithobates clamitans) and spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer) were similar between wetland types. Diet composition and selection of invertebrate food items by adult red-spotted newts (Notophthalmus viridescens) was nonrandom but was only minimally affected by wetland type. Spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) corticosterone levels were negatively correlated with pool size. Water quality varies among wetlands but was similar between mitigated and natural wetlands. Results suggest that wildlife communities may respond more favorably than plant communities, but in many circumstances mitigated wetlands and natural wetlands are functionally and compositionally similar.
Tags:	Amphibian/Reptile, Restoration/Enhancement, Wetland
Understanding Spatial and Temporal Trends in Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) Mortality on Cape May County, NJ Roadways
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Brian Williamson, The Wetlands Institute; Zachary Hulmes, The Wetlands Institute; Lisa Ferguson, The Wetlands Institute
Student or Professional:	Professional
Abstract:	Road mortalities caused by collision of vehicles pose a serious threat to New Jersey’s diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) populations. During the nesting season (May-July), we conducted daily road transect surveys to mitigate losses to the terrapin population and understand patterns of road mortality in Cape May County. From 2017 through 2020 data on terrapin crossings were collected along a 5 km causeway bisecting saltmarsh that connects a populated barrier island to the mainland. The road was driven 5 times per day in search of terrapins. Terrapin vitality (live, dead, injured), GPS location, time, weather, tide gage height, and tidal stage were recorded for each encounter. Over the course of the study period, we recorded location data for 1,046 individual terrapins, including 305 live individuals and 741 casualties (injured + roadkill). To examine spatial clustering in these data we conducted 2D K-statistic tests and 2D Hot-Spot Analysis in Siriema. We found that hot-spots were concentrated on the eastern end of the roadway where nesting habitat is more abundant. We further examined the relationship of hot-spots and landscape features, including shoreline hardening and road mitigation fencing, and the influence of temporal factors, such as tide, time of day, and weather, on terrapin activity on roadway. Results from this work will help guide continued conservation efforts and mitigation of terrapin road mortality in southern New Jersey and areas where road mortality is impacting terrapin populations.
Tags:	Other - Road Ecology
Using Remote Sensing to Estimate Population Capacity for Moose in a Dynamic Forested Landscape in New York
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Dave Kramer, Division of Fish, Wildlife, and Marine Resources, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; Tom Prebyl, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia; Nate Nibbelink, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia; Jacqueline Frair, Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Student or Professional:	Professional
Abstract:	In the temperate forests of the northeastern US, moose populations thrive in heterogeneous landscapes that provide abundant forage in warm months and thermal refugia colder months. Heterogeneity within a forested stand is typically driven by timber harvest which results in a dynamic multi-age forest. The dynamic nature of timber harvest makes it difficult for wildlife managers to easily mitigate the impacts of browsing ungulates. We sought to develop a method to accurately predict areas of timber harvest in the Adirondack Park (AP) in northeastern New York. Furthermore, we then sought to apply values of forage abundance per cover type to estimate abundance moose in the AP. We used Landsat Imagery from 2013-2018 for the AP, and associated training polygons from those respective time periods, to predict whether a forested landscape fit into one of three cover classes, mature forest, intermediate timber removal or overstory timber removal. Our three-class prediction for each of the selected years resulted in a mean prediction accuracy of 86.9% (Khat = 0.76) for the AP. We applied previously calculated summer crude protein values per cover type to our predicted landscape. The application resulted in an estimated average capacity of 760 moose (SD ± 428) across all sampling years, similar in magnitude to a density estimate of 716 moose (95% CI = 566-906), calculated during the same time period as part of a multi-year distance sampling survey. Our prediction methods were able to both accurately predict forest timber treatments across dynamic landscapes at differing spatial and temporal scales, and provide accurate estimate of landscape-level population capacity. The ability to accurately identify areas of potential conflict from overbrowsing, or to highlight areas in need of land cover treatments can significantly increase the toolset for ungulate management in areas of timber harvest.
Tags:	Forest, Habitat, Landscape Ecology
When the Science Case Strengthens the Business Case for Conservation: Assessing the Nutrient-Retention Capacity of Small Wetlands
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	Kyle Borrowman, Ducks Unlimited Canada; Bryan Page, Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research, Ducks Unlimited Canada
Student or Professional:	Professional
Abstract:	The binational focus on water quality in Lake Erie has increased interest in how wetlands can reduce downstream phosphorus in agricultural watersheds. Research led by Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) seeks to quantify the role of small wetlands in nutrient capture, results that help us make the case for wetland conservation based on their contributions to clean water while continuing to fulfill our waterfowl mission. DUC and its partners have restored more than 600 small wetlands as “pair ponds” for waterfowl north of Lake Erie in southwestern Ontario, a high-priority region for dabbling duck productivity identified in the Ducks Unlimited International Conservation Plan. Basin designs are based on the Ontario Mallard Ecology Study (1997-2001) and provide breeding habitat for eastern mallards, together with a host of other beneficial ecological services. Researchers at DUC are using a peer-reviewed protocol to measure the nutrient-retention capacity and efficiency of eight of these small, restored wetlands. Results from the first water-year show that the wetlands are “phosphorus sinks,” capturing nutrients before they move downstream to rivers and lakes. The total mean wetland retention capacity for phosphorus was determined at 39% overall, with a higher reduction efficiency (59%) for soluble reactive phosphorus. A full report and research summary are available. The research is now in its second year. Already, research insights have prompted DUC to adapt its general principles for small wetland design in Ontario to include an optional basin to capture sediment before it enters the wetland, removing excess nutrients while also protecting the health of the habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. The insights also help us to market wetlands to new partners as “phosphorus sinks” that can supplement the water-management infrastructure that communities maintain for clean water. These new partners can help drive action and economic investment in wetland conservation—which benefits waterfowl.
Tags:	Conservation Biology, Great Lakes, Wetland
Wildlife and Humans in the Time of COVID-19: A Broad and Engaging Look at Our Relationship with Wildlife, from the First Case to Quarantine to Vaccine
Track:	On Demand: Wildlife
Authors:	David Wheeler, Conserve Wildlife Foundation
Student or Professional:	Professional
Abstract:	This talk presents a fast-moving, high level view of the relationship between humans and wildlife that drove each key stage of COVID-19. Wildlife served as a critical vector in the very first cases in China. As various cities quarantined and shut down across the globe, wildlife became increasingly visible in unexpected places - and in temporarily losing our ability to get outdoors, humans seemed to rediscover our connection and dependence on wildlife and nature. Finally, just as the damaged aspects of our relationship with wildlife helped launch COVID-19, a very different kind of relationship with wildlife helped bring us the safe testing of the vaccines before we could use them - the unique component called lysate that can only be found in horseshoe crab blood, the only approved way to test vaccines and countless other life-or-death injectable medical products in the U.S. This talk will explore those human dimensions of wildlife with an array of photography and insights both global and focused in the northeastern U.S.
Tags:	Behavior, Human Dimensions, Urban Wildlife