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The following schedule is subject to change (as of October 11, 2016). Please check back for updates. For more information about this meeting, go to: www.seafwa.org/conferences/2016
AUTHORS: D. T. Baker, Trebor Victoriano, Scott Durham - Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries; Bret A. Collier, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center
ABSTRACT: White-tailed deer near the mouth of the Mississippi River are of historical significance as a major source for re-stocking in Louisiana. Following Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries began evaluating deer in the coastal habitats to identify potential vulnerabilities. We captured and individually marked 56 deer on Pass a Loutre Wildlife Management Area during 2007–2014. We monitored travel corridors using un-baited trail cameras and recorded all sightings of marked and unmarked deer. We estimated abundance from the camera data annually using an open population mark-resight approach. Mean resighting rate was 0.28 (SE = 0.16) for females and 2.62 (SE = 0.46) for males and estimates of abundance ranged from 8–200 for females and 21–81 for males. Home range polygons were configured for deer based on observations of marked deer at different camera or observed locations. Annual survival (constant) was 0.82 for males and 0.52 for females. Our results indicate that population monitoring and abundance estimation in coastal marshlands using digital cameras can provide demographic data supporting harvest management planning.
Monday October 17, 2016 1:00pm - 1:20pm CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Timothy J. Neuman, Chad H. Newbolt, Stephen S. Ditchkoff - Auburn University
ABSTRACT: Although white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are one of the most abundant and studied ungulates in North America, few studies of how population demography affects the fawning season have appeared to date. Age structure and adult sex ratio of a population may influence the timing and duration of the fawning season. From 2010 to 2013, we used Vaginal Implant Transmitters (VITs) to record the birth date of fawns born from native Alabama deer enclosed within a 174-ha captive facility to elucidate how population demography affects fawning season. The deer herd was intensively monitored which permitted us to document an earlier shift in fawning season as male age structure increased from a mean of 2.74 years old in 2010 to 3.92 years old in 2013. Prior to the shift, the mean fawning date was 12 August, and after a maturation of male age structure, the mean fawning date was 30 July. Earlier fawning may be important for neonatal survival, especially in areas of the Southeast where coyotes (Canis latrans) are severely reducing recruitment. The effect of male age structure on the timing and duration of the fawning season has yet to be firmly established, but we presume managers can increase neonate development and survival by increasing male age structure.
Monday October 17, 2016 1:20pm - 1:40pm CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Michael P. Glow, Stephen S. Ditchkoff - School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University
ABSTRACT: Providing a sufficient quantity of nutritional forage should be an integral component of any white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) management plan that aims to maximize deer condition and quality. Deer managers generally attempt to meet the nutritional needs of their herd through some combination of habitat management, food plot production, and/or supplemental feed provisioning. However, nutritional demands of deer, and forage quality and abundance fluctuate throughout the year, creating nutritional stress periods and a dilemma for managers regarding how to maximize the nutritional plane of their herd while minimizing cost. We measured crude protein availability from mature pine habitat managed with prescribed fire and Ladino clover food plots during three nutritionally stressful periods for deer on a 259-hectare white-tailed deer enclosure located in east-central Alabama. We then used a cost-benefit analysis to determine how to cost-effectively maximize food production by comparing management options which varied by the percentage of total area planted in food plots (0 - 5%), percentage of pine stands treated with prescribed fire (0 - 100%), and the addition of supplemental feed. Native forage in pine stands treated with prescribed fire and food plots cost-effectively maximized food production during June and July without the addition of supplemental feed. However, supplemental feed became increasingly important during September to compensate for the decreased availability of high-quality native forage. Deer managers should understand how the relative importance of each nutritional input varies seasonally in order to maximize the nutritional availability of their land for deer in a cost-effective and efficient manner.
Monday October 17, 2016 1:40pm - 2:00pm CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Chad Newbolt, Seth Rankin, Stephen S. Ditchkoff - School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University
ABSTRACT: Many of the methods used to estimate white-tailed deer population parameters from camera images are reliant upon assumptions regarding animal use of baited sites which may not be met in all environments. We placed trail cameras set at 1-minute time-lapse intervals at randomly selected sites baited with corn (n = 3) inside the Auburn University Deer Research Facility, a 175-ha enclosure containing a captive population of marked white-tailed deer, to investigate temporal and sex-related differences in deer use of baited sites. Surveys were conducted during 3, 10-day periods (Pre-rut, Rut, and Post-rut), 2013-2014 to determine number and duration of visits by individual adult deer to baited sites. Both sexes exhibited differences between survey periods in the number and duration of visits to baited sites, and these differences were particularly pronounced in male deer. Male deer visited more frequently and made longer visits during Pre-rut than during Rut (1.86 times as many visits; visit duration 1.85 times as long) and Post-rut (1.65 times as many visits; visit duration 1.35 times as long). We also observed differences between sexes in use of baited sites that varied between survey periods. Males spent more time (visit duration 1.33 times as long) than females at baited sites during visits in Pre-rut, and females spent more time (visit duration 1.33 times as long) than males during Rut. Individuals utilizing camera surveys for deer should carefully consider the identified temporal and sex-related differences in deer use of baited sites when selecting survey periods and evaluating camera data.
Monday October 17, 2016 2:00pm - 2:20pm CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Maria B. Palamar, Wildlife Veterinarian, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission; Merril Cook, Wildlife Health Biologist, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
ABSTRACT: As Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) continues to claim new U.S. states every year, state agencies nationwide must craft and enforce regulations that will minimize the risk of disease introduction. Tight regulations have been implemented in many states to prohibit the importation of high risk cervid parts, and both out-of-state hunters and taxidermists have been identified as high risk points of entry. Importation regulations are usually posted in the state’s “Hunter Regulation Digest” or on agencies’ websites. Most agencies fail to provide out-of-state hunters with their home state regulations. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission conducted a nationwide survey to learn how state agencies regulate, report and communicate with non-resident hunters, and the movement of cervid carcasses, as a part of a study that also addresses taxidermists. In 2015, we surveyed 77 state agency employees about their state’s regulations regarding cervid carcass importation and exportation, record keeping and information dissemination. Overall, 51 (66%) participants from 41 states responded. Thirty-six indicated they had carcass importation regulations and 6 had carcass exportation regulations. Most states did not require hunters to report the importation of cervid carcasses, and only 6 respondents indicated their state provided out-of-state hunters with the importation regulation from their home state. Our survey results highlight the importance of nationwide guidelines on out-of-state harvest reporting, record keeping and information dissemination. We are exploring interstate data sharing opportunities that may reduce the risk of disease introduction to the state, modeled on CWD but that could be applied to other emerging wildlife diseases.
Monday October 17, 2016 2:20pm - 2:40pm CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Gregory D. Balkcom, Georgia Wildlife Resources Division; Bobby T. Bond, Georgia Wildlife Resources Division
ABSTRACT: Georgia’s Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) provides managed dove fields that are open for public dove hunting. Our goal was to examine public mourning dove hunting demand and opportunity in Georgia along with the spatial and temporal distribution of each. We used a hunter survey to estimate the number of public dove hunters, their county of residence, the average number of days afield, and the timing of their hunting activities. We estimated opportunity provided by WRD dove fields in hunter-days for the entire season, by season segment, and by county. In 2015, Georgia had 54,679 total dove hunters who averaged 4.43 days afield or 242,226 hunter-days of total demand. Public demand accounted for 33,912 hunter-days, or 14% of total demand. WRD public dove fields provided 201,957 hunter-days of mourning dove hunting opportunity, which more than exceeded public hunting demand. However, temporal demand was not met on opening day, and spatial demand was not met in 90 counties on opening day or in 77 counties during the September segment. Agencies should consider both temporal and spatial demand when assessing public dove hunting opportunity and should emphasize opening day and early season opportunities near urban areas when possible.
Monday October 17, 2016 3:20pm - 3:40pm CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Russell R. Skoglund, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency; Steven E. Hayslette, Tennessee Tech University
ABSTRACT: Apparent declines in mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) populations nationwide have raised interest in factors affecting survival, including harvest. We tested the effects of spinning-wing decoys (SWDs) on mourning dove harvest vulnerability on dove fields in central Tennessee during opening weekend of hunting 2007 and 2008. Use of a SWD did not affect numbers of shots fired, doves harvested, doves missed, or doves crippled. Heavy hunting pressure and/or dove foraging based on experience may have limited SWD effects on dove harvest by hunters using them. Use of SWDs does not seem to increase overall harvest in mourning dove populations, so regulations prohibiting these decoys for mourning dove hunting seem unnecessary.
Monday October 17, 2016 3:40pm - 4:00pm CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Jeffrey P. Duguay, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge, LA; Kim M.Tolson, Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Monroe; James Holt, Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Monroe
ABSTRACT: Concentrating hunters on dove fields could place mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) and other ground foraging birds at risk of lead poisoning. We collected soil samples during three time periods (pre-soil disturbance [i.e., disking], post-soil disturbance, and post-hunting) to determine if disking reduced the amount of lead shot potentially available to ground foraging birds in managed dove fields. We also collected soil samples and in the woods adjacent to these fields. Disking did not have an impact on the amount of lead pellets found on the soil surface within the dove fields. More lead pellets were collected in the soil samples in the woods adjacent to dove fields than were collected in the dove fields. Deposition of lead pellets in wooded areas adjacent to fields managed for dove hunting could pose as big a risk to birds feeding in these areas as to birds feeding within dove fields.
Monday October 17, 2016 4:00pm - 4:20pm CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: James C. Haynes, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries; Jeffrey P. Duguay, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries; Kim M. Tolson, University of Louisiana at Monroe
ABSTRACT: Woodcock have experienced long-term population declines (1968-2011). Nocturnal habitat availability on the wintering grounds is believed to be critically important to wintering woodcock survival. We examined nocturnal habitat selection of American woodcock (Scolopax minor) on the wintering grounds in Louisiana using four popular land management techniques: bush hogging, burning, disking, and a bush hog/burn combination. From 2011 – 2013, we captured 316 woodcock with an additional 350 woodcock flushed from within the study plots. For the 2011 – 2012 field season, woodcock demonstrated high affinity for the bush hog treatment (52.8% of all data points), with juvenile males showing significant preference for the bush hog treatment (P = 0.0059). Adult female woodcock showed differences in selection by treatment for 2012 – 2013 (P = 0.0356) and flushed woodcock showed significant preference for the burn treatment (P = 0.0020). The disk treatment tended to be used less frequently than the other treatments. Woodcock selection of vegetative parameters within nocturnal habitats was most strongly represented by models containing the height of woody vegetation, with the best model including the height of woody vegetation and percent of standing woody vegetation given the data and candidate models. Our results suggest that both bush hogging and burning can provide suitable nocturnal habitat for woodcock on the wintering grounds.
Monday October 17, 2016 4:20pm - 4:40pm CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Elisa Elizondo, Louisiana State University; Jeff Duguay, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries; Bret A. Collier, Louisiana State University
ABSTRACT: The American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) is a game bird species that has experienced steady population declines across its breeding range. Loss of early successional habitat is thought to be one of the greatest drivers of this population decline. Although American Woodcock habitat use and movement has been studied on the breeding grounds, there are few data regarding the migratory and wintering ground habitat use. We conducted a study in Louisiana to assess the habitat use of wintering American Woodcock in the state between November 2015 and February 2016. We utilized backpack style GPS transmitters programmed to record time-specific spatial data during both diurnal and nocturnal periods. We recovered data for 9 woodcock and generated Minimum Convex Polygons (MCPs) for each period (43 diurnal, 49 nocturnal) to estimate day-specific ranges, which I then sampled to identify and evaluate vegetation structure. VHF generated locations and MCPs were sampled for vegetation structure. We found that American Woodcock regularly utilized mixed-pine habitats within 1.5 km of nightly foraging habitat. The overall area covered by GPS-tagged birds was 0.110 ha during the day and 0.239 ha at night. Woodcock moved on average 1.03 km from their diurnal habitat to their nocturnal habitat when moving from a forested area to an open field, a movement attributed to their foraging strategies. These GPS data allowed for a finer scale examination of woodcock movement and habitat use to better inform management decisions.
Monday October 17, 2016 4:40pm - 5:00pm CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Keri Landry, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
ABSTRACT: The Louisiana Natural Heritage Program (LNHP) housed within the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is currently assessing the gopher tortoise's status and working on measures to restore habitat for this species in the state. LNHP is committed to determining a population estimate and distribution for tortoises in Louisiana and working with managers and landowners to improve priority habitat on public and private lands. Data from ongoing survey and habitat conservation efforts will be discussed.
Tuesday October 18, 2016 8:00am - 8:20am CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: B. Nicole Hodges, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Mississippi State University; Jeanne C. Jones, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Mississippi State University; Michael S. Cox, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences Mississippi State University; Lisa Y. Yager, USDA Forest Service; Bruce D. Leopold, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Mississippi State University; Matthew G. Hinderliter, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Michael K. Crosby, Department of Natural Science Shorter University; Kathy R. Shelton, MS Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
ABSTRACT: Populations of gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) in Mississippi exhibit limited recruitment despite recovery efforts implemented since federal listing under the Endangered Species Act in 1987. In 2008, mortality associated with metabolic bone disease was detected in juvenile gopher tortoises in south Mississippi. We theorized that skeletal malformations in these tortoises were potentially linked to nutritional deficiencies. Forage quality can play a role in reproductive success and growth rates of tortoises, thus, we investigated calcium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus levels in tortoise forage plants and effects of habitat management and soil suitability classes on nutrient levels in 11 plant growth forms. In forage samples collected during summers of 2012 – 2013 across all plant growth forms (N = 1,590), cacti exhibited greatest levels of the four nutrients, and forbs exhibited the next greatest levels of calcium and potassium (P < 0.01). Forage samples exhibited greatest levels of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus in mowed areas compared to areas that were burned (P < 0.01). A greater understanding of nutrient content within different plant growth forms will allow biologists to better assess plant community characteristics related to nutritional quality available to gopher tortoises. Also, greater knowledge of forage quality existing on different soil types under varying habitat management regimes can be useful in planning and implementing gopher tortoise habitat management and restoration.
Tuesday October 18, 2016 8:20am - 8:40am CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Jean P. Elbers, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Mary B. Brown, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; Sabrina S. Taylor, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Tuesday October 18, 2016 8:40am - 9:00am CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Jeff Boundy, Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries
ABSTRACT: Snakes were trapped in a sandhill (historic longleaf pine) community in northern Louisiana between 2004 and 2016. Eighteen species of snakes were detected. Relative proportion of individuals for each species, differential habitat use, seasonal occurrence, and trap type success were determined.
Tuesday October 18, 2016 9:00am - 9:20am CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Charles Battaglia, Natural Heritage Program Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries; Emlyn Smith, U.S. Forest Service Catahoula District Kisatchie National Forest Louisiana; Josh Pierce, U.S. Forest Service Nacogdoches Texas
ABSTRACT: The Louisiana Pinesnake (Pituophis ruthveni) faces a myriad of threats, including unsuitable land management practices, habitat fragmentation, and lack of prescribed fire. This species is a candidate for the federal list of threatened and endangered species and is scheduled for listing determination in 2016. Louisiana Pinesnake Conservation Working Group has been focusing on pinesnake conservation for several years. This informal working group consists of government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private industry and has been meeting for more than a decade in order to further conservation efforts rangewide. In addition, there has been an effort to reintroduce this species in presumably unoccupied habitat in its historic range, the Catahoula district of the Kisatchie National Forest. An overview of the Louisiana Pinesnake conservation and reintroduction efforts in Louisiana will be presented.
Tuesday October 18, 2016 9:20am - 9:40am CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Kristy D. Capelle, Michael D. Kaller, William E. Kelso - School of Renewable Natural Resources Louisiana State University Agricultural Center; Ruth M. Elsey, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
ABSTRACT: Since 1986, ranching programs in Louisiana have required the release of juvenile alligators raised from eggs collected from wild nests to maintain alligator populations throughout the state. Over the years, the proportion and size of released ranched alligators has been modified, based on harvest data and preliminary survival estimates. This project assessed long-term data (1991-2014) from the release program to estimate survival from harvested alligators released as part of the program. Specifically, the management objective of this project was to determine the impact of release length on survival, based on harvested farm-release marked alligators. First, wildlife and fishery harvest models and general survival models were evaluated to determine best fit to the data. Estimates of annual instantaneous survival based on release length were 0.89 (female), 0.87 (male), and 0.88 (all). Second, once the best fitting model for overall release length-survival of the farm-released alligators was established, environmental data including precipitation and temperature from alligator release areas were added into the models to investigate their influences on survival estimates. Male alligator survival was higher in warmer and wetter years. Female alligator survival was higher in wetter years, and longer release length enhanced survival over time. Alligator survival in response to additional environmental variables and market value data will continue to be evaluated to give a better understanding of the effects of economic factors and extreme weather events on future management of American alligators in Louisiana.
Tuesday October 18, 2016 10:20am - 10:40am CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Katrina Hucks, University of Louisiana at Lafayette; Paul Leberg, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
ABSTRACT: Coastal systems are facing many challenges including climate change, sea level rise, storm surge, and erosion, all of which contribute to land loss. In Louisiana, this has led to the development of the coastal master plan supported by Habitat Suitability Index models to predict wildlife responses under various management scenarios. However, these models were not originally intended for this purpose and their functionality at large spatial scales is unclear. The goal of this project is to use Maxent to predict how various bird distributions might change with coastal restoration and management. During the summer of 2015, we surveyed southern Louisiana for Mottled Duck, Brown Pelican, and Roseate Spoonbill. We measured salinity, temperature, water depth, SAV presence and cover, and recorded surrounding vegetation. Using a predictive vegetation model, we projected the probability of occurrence for each target species. We had strong model fit for all models. Important variables for Mottled Duck were water, Schoenoplectus californicus, bare ground, Paspalum vaginatum, and Typha domingensis. Important variables for Brown Pelican were water, Spartina alterniflora, T. domingensis, Sagittaria lancifolia, and Taxodium distichum. Important variables for Roseate Spoonbill were water, bare ground, S. californicus, T. domingensis, and SAV. We plan to incorporate other environmental variables in future analyses to project habitat changes over a 50 year period. These results will help us understand how coastal change is affecting distributions of avifauna in southern Louisiana.
Tuesday October 18, 2016 10:40am - 11:00am CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Ryan J. Askren, Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Division of Agriculture; Douglas C. Osborne, Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Division of Agriculture
ABSTRACT: The midcontinent population of greater white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons frontalis) has gained considerable attention in recent years from an evident increase in population abundance and perceived shift in winter distribution from the Central to Mississippi Flyway. Understanding species distribution is key to effective management and monitoring of harvested species. Migratory and wintering distributions are dynamic and may be altered due to long-term landscape changes thus necessitating frequent reassessment of the distribution of white-fronts. The most current literature on white-front distribution may be outdate and not representative of perceived changes likely due to changes in agriculture practices and climate change. The objective of this research was to provide the most up to date assessment of temporal and spatial distribution of white-fronts during fall migration and winter. GPS-equipped solar-powered PTTs were deployed in Nunavut during 2014 and Alaska during 2014 and 2015. Dynamic Brownian Bridge Movement Modelling was used to map utilization distributions of transmitter marked white-fronts. This is a novel technique that has profound implications for understanding space use by waterfowl yet has received little attention to date. Average latitudes of band recoveries by 7-day periods during fall migration were used to corroborate the timing of movements of transmitter marked white-fronts. White-fronts had a mean arrival date (±SE) of Sept. 14 (±1.9 days) to the staging areas in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan and departure of Oct. 26 (±2.6 days). Information from this research will aid in population surveys and introduce novel techniques for examining spatial use.
Tuesday October 18, 2016 11:00am - 11:20am CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Cassandra G. Skaggs, Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University AgCenter; Kevin M. Ringelman, Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University AgCenter; Kaylan Carrlson, Ducks Unlimited; Tanner Gue, Ducks Unlimited; Chuck Loesch, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Frank Rohwer, Delta Waterfowl; Michael L. Szymanski, North Dakota Game and Fish Department
ABSTRACT: The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) is responsible for producing more than half of the dabbling ducks in North America, many of which winter or migrate through Louisiana. The PPR in northwestern North Dakota coincides with the Bakken shale formation, where rapidly accelerating oil and gas development has the potential to impact more than 1 million duck pairs. Our goal is to assess the effect of energy development in the Bakken on waterfowl nest density and success. We selected sites that were stratified by the intensity of energy development as measured by the number of well pads present (Control: 0, Low: 1, Medium: 2-3, High: >3). We searched for waterfowl nests on at least two 32-ha grassland replicates on each of 28 plots (7 in each category) between 30 April-30 June 2015 and 28 April-15 July 2016. We searched for nests every three weeks using a chain drag and revisited every 5-7 days to determine nest fate. In 2015 and 2016, we searched over 2,600 hectares and found over 2,531 nests total. Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), and Gadwall (Anas strepera) comprised 75% of nests that were located. Preliminary results suggest nest survival weakly increases with the intensity of petroleum development. While areas of high extraction activity may lead to an increase in nest success, an irreversible decrease in nest density could lower the waterfowl production capacity of the region due to habitat loss and fragmentation.
Tuesday October 18, 2016 11:20am - 11:40am CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Mirka Zapletal, University of Louisiana at Lafayette; Dr. Paul Leberg, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
ABSTRACT: Dietary analysis provides information on predator trophic roles. We investigated the diets of coyotes and raccoons at eight barrier beach sites in coastal Louisiana, from Cypremort Point SP in the west to East Grande Terre in the east. We analyzed 59 coyote and 30 raccoon scats across broad prey categories to reveal patterns in dietary breadth, evenness, and prey volume. Coyotes exhibited significantly greater dietary breadth than raccoons (Wilcoxon, X^2 = 4.27, df = 1, P = 0.039), but dietary evenness did not differ between species (Wilcoxon, X^2 = 0.00, df = 1, P = 1.00). Coyote diet was dominated by mammalian prey (especially lagomorphs), grasses, and other plant materials, while raccoons consumed crustaceans, insects, and grasses more than other types of prey. Coyote dietary breadth was significantly influenced by rabbit presence (Wilcoxon, X^2 = 3.86, df = 1, P = 0.0495), suggesting that coyotes consumed fewer types of prey when rabbits are an available resource. We investigated changes in volume of prey in scats across environmental gradients (i.e. site size, vegetative complexity); as site isolation increased, raccoons consumed a greater volume of small mammal prey. Coyotes consumed smaller volumes of crustaceans and birds in sites with rabbits. Our results suggest that carnivore diet varies by species and responds to habitat complexity and prey availability. These patterns have conservation implications in coastal Louisiana where prey species include managed seabird populations and rising sea levels will alter habitat and prey availability. Carnivore management should employ species-specific strategies.
Tuesday October 18, 2016 11:40am - 12:00pm CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Miguel A. García, Department of Natural Resources and Environment and Center for Applied Tropical Ecology and Conservation; Jan Zegarra, Ecological Services Caribbean Field Office US Fish and Wildlife Service; Iván Llerandi-Román, Ecological Services Caribbean Field Office US Fish and Wildlife Service; Ricardo Lopez, Department of Natural Resources and Environment ; Cielo E. Figuerola, University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras Campus and Island Conservation; Omar Monsegur-Rivera Ecological Services Caribbean Field Office US Fish and Wildlife Service; José Cruz-Burgos, Ecological Services Caribbean Field Office US Fish and Wildlife Service; Nicole Angeli, Island Conservation
ABSTRACT: Islands suffer extremely high extinction rates (80%) and high indices of biodiversity and endemism. Therefore, the combination of these ecological factors makes implementing conservation initiatives and allocating funding toward these ecosystems an important priority. The endangered Monito Island gecko is an endemic species restricted only to 15 ha of habitat. Black rats and bombing practices were identified as the most plausible causes for its decline in the recovery plan. But, while bombing stopped even before the discovery of the species, high numbers of black rats were present in Monito Island. Consequently, we started in 1992 a two stages initiative, aimed to the recovery of this species. The first part consisted in the eradication of the black rat and the second part in the evaluation of the threat removal and assessing the response in the gecko population.
The eradication program was completed in 1999 and Monito Island was declared rat free in May 2014. Gecko counts range from initial rapid assessment of 13-23 sightings to a minimum of 92 individuals using a more robust methodology and further analysis is being done to calculate population estimates. But most importantly, geckos were found in 36 of the 40 plots randomly established throughout all searchable habitat of the island. This project was a joint venture between the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources and the Caribbean Field Office US Fish and Wildlife Services and represents the first event in which an interagency team achieves the recovery of an endangered species in Puerto Rico.
Tuesday October 18, 2016 1:00pm - 1:20pm CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Christopher Reid, Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries Natural Heritage Program
ABSTRACT: Coastal prairie historically occupied 9 million acres stretching along the Gulf Coast from south-central Louisiana to southern Texas. This extension of tall-grass prairie from the eastern Great Plains is among the most imperiled habitats in North America, with less than 1% remaining. Most of Louisiana’s remaining coastal prairie acreage is utilized as rangeland. While coastal prairie rangelands are very promising, they are invariably degraded. Rangeland prairie floras typically include a mix of characteristic prairies species and weedy elements responding to past grazing pressure, soil disturbance, and fire exclusion. Inadequate fire has also resulted in woody encroachment by native and exotic species. In 2013, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) partnered with three ranches to improve prairie habitat on these properties. To date, LDWF staff have applied prescribed fire to 2,000 acres of prairie and have accomplished chemical brush control on 300 acres. Funding has been secured to continue vigorous prescribed burning and to perform chemical and mechanical brush control on coastal prairie remnants over the next three years. These stewardship actions are improving coastal prairie habitat quality and improving forage quality and quantity for cows. Accomplishments of LDWF’s coastal prairie conservation initiative will be reported and information from ongoing botanical and ecological research will be presented.
Tuesday October 18, 2016 1:20pm - 1:40pm CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Randy Wilson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Rickie White, NatureServe, Carl Nordman, NatureServe, Milo Pyne, NatureServe, Clay Ware, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chuck Hunter, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Catherine Rideout, East Gulf Coastal Plain Joint Venture
ABSTRACT: Open woodlands were historically a large component of the landscape across the southeastern United States. These woodlands have an open canopy of longleaf, slash, shortleaf, and/or loblolly pines, with scattered shrubs and a grassy understory. These southern open pine ecosystems support many species of wildlife, many of which have declined in recent years as the amount and condition of their habitat has declined. This troubling decline in wildlife species has led to a focus on regional conservation efforts by a myriad of conservation agencies, organizations. These groups all agree that there is a need for more high quality open pine acreage, but until now there has been no efficient, agreed upon, way to identify those tracts that are providing the best habitat for key wildlife species. In partnership with the Gulf Coastal Plain and Ozarks Landscape Conservation Cooperative, NatureServe, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the East Gulf Coastal Plain Joint Venture have developed desired forest condition metrics to facilitate implementation and evaluation of wildlife habitat and ecological integrity of lands where the primary objective is wildlife habitat. These desired forest condition metrics when used in conjunction with a rapid assessment protocol help conservation-minded landowners understand how their properties are contributing to the habitat needs of priority wildlife of southern open pine ecosystems, as determined by the Gulf Coastal Plain and Ozarks Landscape Conservation Cooperative Science Adaptation Plan.
Tuesday October 18, 2016 1:40pm - 2:00pm CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Becca Madsen, Electric Power Research Institute
ABSTRACT: The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is a non-profit research institute that conducts research related to issues facing the electric power industry. In 2016, the organization launched a new research area related to Endangered and Protected Species. The major themes of research relate to conservation planning, species listing and delisting, and critical habitat. Additionally, EPRI supports collaboration among federal and state agencies, utilities, and other commercial and non-profit organizations in the area of endangered and protected species. Some research already conducted included developing a methodology for prioritizing research and conservation efforts for at-risk species, analyzing ecological assets of corporate surplus lands, synthesizing information on voluntary conservation tools, and reviewing policy and approaches for defining critical habitat. This presentation will help participants understand industry perspective, challenges, and opportunities related to research of at-risk species issues.
Tuesday October 18, 2016 2:00pm - 2:20pm CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Phillip L. Vasseur, Sara E. Zimorski, Eva K. Szyszkoski - Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
ABSTRACT: Since 2011, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has released a total of 75 whooping cranes (Grus americana) in southwest Louisiana in an attempt to reintroduce the species to a portion of its historic breeding range with the ultimate goal of establishing a self-sustaining, non-migratory population. The whooping crane is a long-lived species (up to 30 years in the wild) that reaches sexual maturity around 3-5 years of age. Therefore, several individuals in this population have only recently attained breeding-age status and shown indications of reproductive behavior including pair formation, copulation, nest building, and egg laying. In 2014, a pair produced the first clutch of eggs laid in the Louisiana wild in 75 years. Several other pairs nested the following year including one pair that produced a fertile egg; however, no eggs hatched to that point. This year marked a historic milestone with the successful hatching of two chicks from the nest of a newly formed pair. LDWF researchers will continue to closely monitor reproductively active pairs in order to build a more robust database on nesting behavior by recording the timing, location, and placement of nests, as well as, incubation and hatching rates to better assess management objectives.
Tuesday October 18, 2016 2:20pm - 2:40pm CDT
Riverview B
ABSTRACT: In February 2016, two members of the Russell County, Alabama Soil & Water Conservation Committee requested feral pig and whitetail deer crop depredation preventative maintenance on approximately 3,000 acres of property. A single Hog Control Operator was hired to remove the total wild pig population and remove 50 whitetail deer on a nuisance permit issued by the AL Department of Conservation.
Rapid Sounder Removal is a time sensitive strategy where emphasis is placed on efficient removal of every sounder expanding at least 2,500 acres (four square miles) within 30 days of operation. The mission is to quickly and efficiently remove 100% of each individual sounder, on multiple properties, in the shortest time possible. Several Integrated Wild Pig Control strategies can be implemented in unison to eliminate wild pig escapes, education and reproduction from large tracts of land at one time. This concept can be applied by all adjacent landowners to remove entire feral pig populations from a county, water conservation district or wildlife management area.
This presentation will provide final detailed results (capture percentages, camera to kill ratios, etc.) and photo/video documentation of the intel gathering strategies and control sequences used to eliminate 266 wild pigs in 15 events and 50 whitetail deer in six nights within the target area.
Tuesday October 18, 2016 3:20pm - 3:40pm CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: John C. Kinsey, Justin A. Foster, Ryan L. Reitz - Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Kerr Wildlife Management Area
ABSTRACT: Range expansion of feral swine (Sus scrofa) continues to be pervasive in the United States. Lethal control of feral swine is an accepted management practice throughout the nation. Indirect lethal control measures (e.g., trapping) often require euthanasia and methods used must be humane, safe, and economical. Though cranial gunshot is a widely accepted method of euthanasia, in some cases it is not safe, legal for use, or practical. Alternate means for euthanasia of wildlife research subjects are needed at the Feral Swine Research Facility on the Kerr Wildlife Management Area (KWMA), Hunt, Texas, USA. The American Veterinary Medical Association approves a gradual fill method of carbon dioxide (CO2) euthanasia for some laboratory animals and livestock species, including domestic swine. We manufactured a self-contained CO2 euthanasia chamber on a 4.27-m (14-foot) dump trailer for the euthanasia of feral swine. We conducted 3 euthanasia trials of 5 feral swine (n¼3) during December 2014–February 2015 at the KWMA. Carbon dioxide administration began immediately post-loading and commenced for 5min at an average of approximately 18% chamber volume/minute. Recorded mortality rates were 100%. Results of this study and scalability of our system may have widespread impacts on wildlife euthanasia protocols for wildlife researchers and state game agencies across the nation.
Tuesday October 18, 2016 3:40pm - 4:00pm CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: John C. Kinsey, Kerr Wildlife Management Area, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; Nathan P. Snow, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University; Kurt C. VerCauteren, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center; Justin A. Foster, Kerr Wildlife Management Area, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; Linton Staples, Animal Control Technologies (Australia) Pty Ltd (ACTA); Simon Humphrys, Invasive Animals CRC
ABSTRACT: Research and management experience have shown that when attempting to control invasive and adaptive species of vertebrate pests it is most efficacious to take an integrated pest management approach that incorporates the timely use of a variety of cost-effective methods to minimize damage. Several methods can be employed to manage feral swine, but they have not proven efficient or cost effective in reducing damage or limiting populations on broad scales. Methods such as shooting or trapping with humane destruction are currently used to reduce densities of feral swine but neither option reliably achieves the desired control range-wide. Additional lethal methods that can be more broadly applied are needed to address this issue and development of a toxicant for feral swine is warranted. We describe how an interdisciplinary team from state, federal, and private entities in three countries has developed, evaluated, and will register a toxicant to target feral swine in the USA. Our team has progressed quickly in recent years to make advancements in bait stability and palatability which has resulted in mortality rates >90%. We have continued to focus on eliminating non-target risks through the development of species-specific feeders as well as evaluating the sensitivity of secondary consumers. Our science-based efforts began in controlled captive settings and will be expanded to free-range settings in representative habitats across the US. By aiding efforts to eliminate populations of feral swine, our toxicant will serve to reduce associated damages to our natural resources and thus benefit native wildlife and fish.
Tuesday October 18, 2016 4:00pm - 4:20pm CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Andrew R. Little, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia; Adam Hammond, Georgia Department of Natural Resources–Wildlife Resource Division; James A. Martin, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia; *Kristina L. Johannsen, Georgia Department of Natural Resources–Wildlife Resource Division; Karl V. Miller, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia
ABSTRACT: An understanding of black bear (Ursus americanus) population trends and characteristics of mortality is needed to direct management decisions in northern Georgia. Therefore, we monitored black bear population characteristics across 26 counties and 18 Wildlife Management Areas in northern Georgia from 1979-2014. We collected mortality data from 6,433 individuals during the study period. Using age-at-harvest data, population reconstruction illustrated an increasing trend in the bear population for both males (λ = 1.113) and females (λ = 1.108). Similarly, bait station indices reflected an increasing population trend based on increased visitation over time (min: 12.3% visitation in 1983; max: 76.7% visitation in 2009). Bear-vehicle collisions have increased from 1986-2014 (β = 0.087; SE = 0.009; P < 0.001). Males were more vulnerable to vehicle collisions than females (χ2 = 29.75, df = 11, P = 0.002), especially males ≤ 2 years old. Males were most vulnerable (35.6%) to vehicle collisions during May-July relative to females (18.2%). However, vehicle collisions of both sexes increased during August-November (males: 47.8%; females: 67.3%). Current population trajectory suggests black bear populations in northern Georgia will continue to increase. If bear population trends continue to increase, we suggest further evaluation of current bear harvest regulations in northern Georgia to reduce potential human-bear conflicts.
Tuesday October 18, 2016 4:20pm - 4:40pm CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Brian K. Scheick, Mark A. Barrett, J. Walter McCown - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
ABSTRACT: Many range maps are developed subjectively, generally using an expert opinion approach, including the previous black bear range map in Florida that was digitized into polygons of primary and secondary range. In an effort to update the bear range map using a more objective approach, staff from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) gathered a variety of datasets containing geographic information on bear occurrence. Data sources included public sightings, mortality, hair snare corrals, telemetry and other observational accounts. After combining over 30 years of data, a total of 229,532 point locations (some including abundance information) were available; however, the final dataset contained 32,489 point locations after constraining the data to a 3 year period (2013-15) and creating subsets by randomly selecting points from some sources with potential spatial and temporal bias. Isopleths derived from kernel density estimates and concave hulls delineated a multilevel range map depicting potential occurrence of bears throughout Florida. Finally, we created several alternative range maps based on derivations of the data for comparative purposes. Updated species ranges are important to FWC for managing and predicting human-bear conflicts, estimating potential areas for improving linkages between subpopulations, employing conservation plans, implementing public outreach, and monitoring listing criteria.
Tuesday October 18, 2016 4:40pm - 5:00pm CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Erik I. Johnson, Audubon Louisiana|National Audubon Society; Delaina LeBlanc, Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program; Richard DeMay, Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program; Natalie Waters, Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program; Katie L. Percy, Audubon Louisiana|National Audubon Society; Jed Pitre, Audubon Louisiana|National Audubon Society, American Bird Conservancy; Kacy Ray, American Bird Conservancy
ABSTRACT: Coastal habitats are dynamic systems in which storms and hurricanes serve as important disturbance events, scouring beachfronts and shifting sediment to reduce vegetation cover. As beaches and dunes recover through wind- and water-driven transport of sediments, vegetation recolonizes. Coastal Louisiana is facing a land loss crisis, and beach renourishment projects and vegetation plantings can roughly emulate these dynamics, but important aspects of the ecosystem, such as predator-prey dynamics and elevation changes differ from natural disturbance regimes. Understanding how natural and human-generated beachfront dynamics affect beach-nesting bird populations is important for understanding how species of conservation concern, like Wilson’s Plovers (Charadrius wilsonia) and Least Terns (Sternula antillarum), will respond to landscapes facing large-scale restoration. We examined relationships between beach-nesting bird densities, coastal vegetation growth, and beachfront geomorphology at five sites that have undergone restoration and compared them against six control sites without recent restoration. We classified NAIP high-resolution imagery from 2013 and 2015 to quantify the area and relative cover of vegetation, open sand, and mudflats and compared against nesting bird counts from May and June of those years. Most sites increased in vegetation cover between these two years, including restoration sites, which resulted in lower densities of Least Terns and increased densities of Wilson’s Plovers. We discuss these results in the context of coastal restoration activities and to predict long-term trade-offs in adding vegetative cover versus providing early successional open habitat for nesting birds.
Wednesday October 19, 2016 8:00am - 8:20am CDT
Louisiana Room
AUTHORS: LDWF, Louisiana Alligator Advisory Council
ABSTRACT: The Louisiana alligator is a conservation success story. The economic incentive derived from a sustainable use platform has led to both species and habitat conservation. Since 80% of the wetlands in Louisiana are privately owned, the economic incentive of a successful alligator program is a vital aspect of conservation. The program has produced substantial results: the State of Louisiana has increased its wild alligator population from less than 100,000 in the early 1970s to over 1.5 million today. The state management of the Louisiana alligator industry has become self-funded though industry generated fees, and industry members have chosen to use surplus funds for research, conservation, and education. The Louisiana Alligator Resource Fund was legislatively created in 1991 to offset the costs associated with the state management of the alligator industry and alligator population, but a stable and growing industry was soon able go beyond self-sufficiency and become proactive in conservation and research. Through the Louisiana Alligator Advisory Council and the LDWF Alligator Management Program, Louisiana has made strides in the international arena, serving as a model for other wildlife conservation programs. With an industry conservatively valued at over 100 million dollars annually, industry members have reaped the economic benefits of their investments in research, education, and conservation.
Wednesday October 19, 2016 8:00am - 8:20am CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Kim Marie Tolson, University of Louisiana Monroe; James M. LaCour, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries; Fred L. Cunningham, USDA/APHIS/WS/NWRC; Dwight J. LeBlanc, USDA/APHIS/WS
ABSTRACT: Managed as a renewable natural resource in Louisiana, the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) has been estimated to provide 80-90 million dollars of direct economic benefit annually to the state. Feral hogs (Sus scrofa), classified as an “outlaw quadruped” by LDWF, are wreaking havoc on the landscape in every parish of the state. The effects of feral hog depredation on alligator nests are the subject of a 3 year study in southwest Louisiana. The study site experiences regular feral hog eradication efforts by USDA/WS and private landowners. Game cameras were deployed on nests early in the nesting season (July) and retrieved in September after hatching had occurred. In 2014 (Year 1), 78% of monitored nests had hog visits documented on camera. The average number of hog visits was 1.64 visits/nest (Range 1-3). In 2015 (Year 2), 63% of nests monitored were visited by hogs. The average number of hog visits was 5.2 visits/nest (Range 2-14). Additionally, in Year 2, two sham nests imbedded with a player broadcasting recorded sounds of alligator hatchlings were monitored using the same technique. One of the two sham nests was located in an alligator nest that had recently been harvested of eggs; it was visited 30 times by hogs. In 2016 (Year 3), the monitoring of sham nests will be expanded in number and restricted to active nests that have recently had eggs harvested for commercial purposes. Results from Year 3, compiled and incorporated into the data set from Years 1 and 2, will be presented.
Wednesday October 19, 2016 8:20am - 8:40am CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Naomi Edelson, National Wildlife Federation
ABSTRACT: National Wildlife Federation is engaging Americans to create wildlife habitat where they live, work, play, learn, and worship to restoring wildlife habitat, helping with climate adaptation, and water conservation. We have usurped so much of the natural world that we now need to build functioning ecosystems at home. People are starting to use criteria in addition to aesthetics to decide what to plant; from simply decorative value to ecological value for wildlife. NWF, in collaboration with the US Forest Service and Dr. Doug Tallamy, are launching in June 2016, a new web-based tool that will provide the best native plants to help wildlife founded on which genera are hosts to the most caterpillars. Caterpillars are among the most important protein source for nesting and migrating birds as well as other wildlife. By planting natives that rank highest as host plants for caterpillars we can help people “build better bird feeders” in urban and suburban settings. The native plant finder will be searchable by zip code. This is tremendous opportunity to help those migratory birds reaching the Gulf Coast shore's upon their return from the wintering grounds to their breeding grounds. The current condition of this stopover habitat is filled with houses, roads and non-native landscaping and means no food for these starved birds. We can make a big difference for them during this critical period by encouraging the Gulf communities to plant native plants that are especially good as host plants for caterpillars.
Wednesday October 19, 2016 8:20am - 8:40am CDT
Louisiana Room
AUTHORS: Samantha A. Collins, Gabriel Giffin - Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge
ABSTRACT: Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are a new monitoring technology capable of collecting scientific information from difficult-to-access places while minimizing disturbance. These devices are increasingly used in many research disciplines but their application to wildlife research remains relatively unexplored. We implemented a research study to monitor a large colony of Great Egrets (Ardea alba) nesting in isolated patches of Phragmites australis (Common Reed) along a managed canal within Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge by conducting surveys by boat or drone. We compared hatching success estimates from boat and UAV surveys, as well as disturbance to adults and chicks from the two survey types. Further, we investigated flight initiation distance of nesting adults to UAV presence and flight altitude effects on adults at various nesting stages. Results from this study suggest that adults are more prone to flush when incubating eggs and less prone to flush when adults are tending to chicks, particularly those tending to recently hatched chicks. We also found that adults were less disturbed by the UAV when other adults were present on the nesting territory. We recommend that UAVs be flown at an altitude of >20m above a nest to reduce disturbance to nesting colonial wading birds in an open marsh habitat.
Wednesday October 19, 2016 8:40am - 9:00am CDT
Louisiana Room
AUTHORS: *Adam Terando, US Geological Survey and North Carolina State University; John Kupfer, University of South Carolina; Peng Gao, University of South Carolina; Bruce Stein, National Wildlife Federation
ABSTRACT: Maps depicting the “velocity of climate change” provide a simple but elegant means for examining the rate at which species must migrate over the earth’s surface to track changing climatic conditions. The underlying premise, that landscape heterogeneity is a key component for climate change adaptation, has been incorporated into climate change conservation strategies such as the ‘conserving the stage’ concept and the Nature Conservancy’s Resilient Landscapes; however, such concepts as presented typically ignore or treat landscape condition as a static variable and do not consider how an accelerated pace of land use change can dramatically impact the ability of species and ecosystems to respond to human-caused environmental changes. In this research, we expand on the velocity of climate change approach by including: 1) additional climate variables in the velocity calculation that are more relevant to critical Southeastern species and ecosystems, and 2) a new velocity axis that depicts the rate of landscape change in terms of projected suburban growth over the next several decades. We do so by using statistically downscaled climate projections to assess expected climate change velocities for different fossil fuel emission scenarios and ensembles of climate models. Using existing datasets, we also quantify the expected landscape change in terms of the expansion of urbanized areas. Combining the effects of these two anthropogenic drivers of change provides greater insights into which areas within the region potentially provide a resilient network of lands and which are most vulnerable to change.
Wednesday October 19, 2016 8:40am - 9:00am CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Phillips, Catherine, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Hoctor, Thomas. University of Florida; Volk, Michael. University of Florida; Ralston, Rebecca, HDR; Porteck, Kevin, United States Air Force; Jurena, Paul, United States Air Force; Oetting, Jon, Florida Natural Areas Inventory
ABSTRACT: In 2015, a pilot project was initiated by the United States Air Force to identify a regional natural resources management approach to help minimize threats to military missions and identify partner-leveraged conservation opportunities throughout the State of Florida. The regional plan was developed and implemented through the Landscape Conservation Cooperative Framework and its existing biological planning and partners and covers land on and surrounding eight installations throughout Florida. The plan aims to be a proactive approach for Air Force, identifying conservation priorities that support military mission, focusing on opportunities beyond the installation fence lines, and looking at opportunities to work with partners to ensure that Air Force lands are not species islands, and instead, a functional and vital piece of the greater conservation picture in the State of Florida. Year one of the plan is complete and year two is focused on refinement of priority species models and implementation in partnership to benefit conservation for at risk, listed and state imperiled species.
Wednesday October 19, 2016 9:00am - 9:20am CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Dean Marquardt, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; Luke Scroggs, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University; Brian L. Pierce, Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, Texas A&M University; Kevin Mote, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; Kevin L. Skow, Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, Texas A&M University; Bret A. Collier , School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center
ABSTRACT: Technological changes have allowed us to further increase the quality and quantity of spatial information gathered for movement ecology and range estimation. We assessed the accuracy and applicability of a PinPoint GPS transmitter for use on small avian species using Northern Bobwhite Quail as our test species. We conducted a series of static tests to evaluate relative impacts of canopy cover across a suite of data collection schedules, and then deployed evaluation units on 6 quail trapped in north-central Texas in 2014. Radial error static test data indicated an overall mean spatial error from known to estimated location was 39.7 m with a standard deviation of 191.7 (range 0-4389.2). The median, or the point at which 50% of the locations are less than and 50% of the locations are greater was 2.68 m with an 85th probability quantile of 6.57 m. Less than 0.08% of locations had radial error >100 m. Units used for field tests on quail collected between 47 and 55 locations (expected 50) and were able to identify both group structure, travel corridors, and loafing habitats for the < 4 days deployed. Our results suggest that use of GPS units on small avian species may provide scientist with increased ability to evaluate questions regarding habitat selection and use, especially in an experimental context.
Wednesday October 19, 2016 9:20am - 9:40am CDT
Louisiana Room
AUTHORS: James P. Cronin, USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center; Blair E. Tirpak, USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center; Leah L. Dale, USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center; Virginia Brink, USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center; John M. Tirpak, USFWS Gulf Restoration Program
ABSTRACT: Conservation targets along the Gulf of Mexico’s coast are threatened by multiple, complex processes operating across large spatial scales. Thus, the success of gulf restoration efforts hinges on partners developing a common vision for conservation. However, that common vision has remained elusive. Therefore, the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and partners collaborated to define (1) focal conservation areas, (2) population objectives for species that are representative of these areas, and (3) habitat objectives necessary to achieve those population objectives. We defined fifteen biological planning units (BPU) on or adjacent to the Gulf Coast, 89 conservation target species representative of sustainable BPU habitats, and gathered population objectives for each species from the literature. For a subset of conservation target species, we developed spatially explicit Bayesian network models of the relationships between habitat characteristics and population objectives. When coupled with the established population objectives, the model outputs provided insight into how much habitat is available, how much more is needed, and where conservation or restoration efforts most efficiently achieve established objectives. We will present the BPUs, conservation target species, and the modeling results to demonstrate the benefits of this approach for informing restoration and monitoring efforts.
Wednesday October 19, 2016 10:20am - 10:40am CDT
Louisiana Room
AUTHORS: Alexandra Perryman, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
ABSTRACT: Implementable, action oriented, and time bound. These are all words that can be used to describe the new approach to Florida’s State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP). The second revision of the SWAP is scheduled to be complete in 2017 and unlike the 2012 revision, which added new components to the original plan, an entirely new approach is being taken. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is working to simplify, standardize, and integrate the SWAP by aligning with the highest priorities for FWC and its partners. In addition to the statewide habitats, threats, and actions, a new regionally based approach is being incorporated to highlight important ecosystems and focal areas at a smaller scale. Additionally, by refining the role and purpose for the Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) list Florida will be able to focus resources on those species that are most imperiled with a goal of keeping species off the Endangered Species List. The ability to measure success is a critical component of all SWAPs. The actions within the revised SWAP are written at a 7 to 10 year scale and can be implemented with the current level of resources available. However, FWC is also preparing for the potential game changing success of the Blue Ribbon Panel. By incorporating actions of both small and large scale (regional/statewide), FWC is also laying the groundwork for successful conservation of Florida’s vital habitat and wildlife should dedicated funding become available.
Wednesday October 19, 2016 10:40am - 11:00am CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: J. B. Katzenmeyer, USDA, Wildlife Services; *K. Shelton, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks; J. C. Jones and B. N. Hodges, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University; D. Richardson, and B. Rosamand, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
ABSTRACT: Bat numbers have declined in the United States where outbreaks of White-nose Syndrome (Pseudogymnoascus destructans) have occurred. Bats have been reported utilizing highway underpasses as winter hibernacula throughout the United States. We recorded bat species and numbers of roosting bats in culverts (N=214) in 27 counties of Mississippi during winters of 2010 – 2015. In 2015, we collected microclimate, geospatial, and dimensional data on a subset of the 214 study culverts (N=39) to investigate relationships between bat numbers and explanatory habitat variables. We detected roosting bats in 52% of 214 surveyed culverts with 5 species being detected over the 5 year period. Numbers of bats per culvert per survey event ranged from 0 to 927 during this period. Numbers of roosting bats in culverts exhibited moderate, inverse relationships to outside, ambient air temperatures and internal ambient air temperatures at culvert mid-points (r < -0.14, P < 0.02). Winter temperatures inside culverts were conducive to establishment of WNS fungus. A moderate, positive relationship was detected between numbers of roosting bats and culvert length (r = 0.56, P < 0.01). A moderate inverse relationship was detected between numbers of roosting bats in culverts and distance (km) to public forest lands (r = -0.44, P < 0.03). This study can help biologists with prioritization of protection and monitoring of culverts, impact assessment of culvert replacement to roosting bats, and understanding the potential for WNS incidence in these roost sites.
Wednesday October 19, 2016 10:40am - 11:00am CDT
Louisiana Room
AUTHORS: Nathan A. Yeldell, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries; Michael J. Chamberlain, University of Georgia; Bradley S. Cohen, University of Georgia; Andrew R. Little, University of Georgia
ABSTRACT: Eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) inhabit southeastern pine-dominated ecosystems managed with prescribed fire. It is unclear how fire disturbance affects resource selection and reproductive behavior of female turkeys throughout the reproductive period. Our objectives were to 1) examine reproductive parameters of female wild turkeys, 2) evaluate vegetative characteristics at nest sites, 2) assess the influence of prescribed fire on habitat selection, and 4) examine space use relative to recent fire disturbance at Kisatchie National Forest, 2014 and 2015. Nesting rate was 87%, nest success was 15%, and brood survival was 30%. Nest sites were positively associated with ground level vegetation, proximity to roads, and distance from forest ecotones. Random sampling of available areas within home ranges suggested turkeys favored nest sites in stands burned 2 years prior and avoided nesting in stands burned ≥3 years prior. Habitat selection varied throughout the reproductive period. Females selected hardwoods in late winter, recently burned mature pines prior to initial nest incubation, and mixed forests and open habitats prior to second nest incubation. Female with broods avoided hardwoods. Predictive models of probability of turkeys using recently burned stands suggested use of burns peaked at 106 days post-fire before declining. Within recently burned stands, turkeys were more likely to use space near the perimeter of burns, but the effect of distance to perimeter decreased with time-since-fire.
Wednesday October 19, 2016 11:00am - 11:20am CDT
Louisiana Room
AUTHORS: Ashley Ballou, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; *Dan O’Malley, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
ABSTRACT: Florida’s Wildlife Legacy Initiative (FWLI), a program within the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), was established to steward use of Florida’s State Wildlife Action Plan (Action Plan) and implementation, using State Wildlife Grant (SWG) funds. A competitive grant process has been established where selected projects receive a portion of Florida’s SWG allocation to implement elements of the Action Plan. These projects address one of the 5 implementation goals identified for the Action Plan and are primarily on a habitat-level scale to ensure multiple Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) benefit. However, one implementation goal is focused solely on filling knowledge gaps for SGCN (e.g. research, monitoring, and management). Knowledge gaps are determined by giving a species a knowledge level score. The knowledge level score ranges from 0 to 7, where 0 means the status of the taxa is unknown. The “Data Gaps” goal is to acquire information necessary to conserve SGCN, to establish measurable objectives for these species, and to monitor achievement of the objectives for the species. Since 2012, FWLI has funded 20 Data Gaps projects addressing 51 SGCN, including 9 projects with non-FWC principal investigators. Each of the 51 SGCN have moved up at least 1 knowledge level score as a result of successful Data Gaps funded projects. Projects have spanned across all taxa and habitat types, including projects focused on Worthington’s marsh wren (Cistothorus palustris griseus), Florida bonneted bats (Eumops floridanus), and 6 freshwater mussel species.
Wednesday October 19, 2016 11:00am - 11:20am CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Kevin M. Ringelman, Louisiana State University
ABSTRACT: Mottled Ducks (Anas fulvigula) are endemic to the Gulf Coast of the southern United States and serve as a flagship species for conserving coastal marsh habitats. The eastern population of mottled ducks (FL) appears to be increasing, while along the western gulf coast populations are stable (LA) or declining (TX). This variation may be explained in part by the substantial range-wide variation documented in breeding season demographics. Breeding season survival of adult females appears to be higher in Florida (especially urban areas) than in Texas, where tradeoffs between survival and nesting propensity likely depend on environmental conditions. Across the entire range of the mottled duck, average nest success is near the 15% level thought to be required to sustain mid-continent Mallard populations. However, there is substantial variation in nest success, with some studies documenting success rates as high as 28% in urban habitats, or as low as 6% in agricultural areas. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of mottled duck demographics during the breeding season, highlighting emerging patterns and drawing attention to important knowledge gaps.
Wednesday October 19, 2016 11:20am - 11:40am CDT
Riverview B
AUTHORS: Bret A. Collier, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center; Joshua Guthrie, Texas A&M University; Jason B. Hardin, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; Kevin L. Skow, Texas A&M University
ABSTRACT: Wildlife managers rely on accurate information regarding wild turkey habitat selection and use to appropriately structure management activities. We used integrated VHF-GPS transmitters to evaluate fine scale movements and habitat selection of male Rio Grande wild turkeys (Meleagris gallapavo intermedia) in south Texas. As our study coincided with the regions 2nd worst recorded drought, we evaluated the influence of supplemental resources (supplemental feeding and managed surface water) on turkey distribution and movements. We deployed 8 GPS units on adult male Rio Grande wild turkeys captured in south Texas during spring 2009. We classified land cover into three vegetative categories: bare ground/herbaceous (26%), thorn scrub (69%), and woody riparian (5%). Based on 5 recovered individuals, we found that adult male Rio Grande wild turkeys used bare ground/herbaceous (49%) and woody riparian (41%) habitat types in much greater proportion to their availability on the landscape. Turkeys traveled in relatively linear paths (fractal dimension ≤ 1.1) and moved significantly longer distances in the morning (2.9 km) than in the afternoon (1.2 km). Our results also suggest that turkey locations were significantly closer to supplemental resources than random locations generated within our study area. Our results indicate that bare ground/herbaceous and woody riparian habitat types are essential for wild turkey populations in the south Texas plains region and supplemental resources will be actively selected for during severe drought years.
Wednesday October 19, 2016 11:20am - 11:40am CDT
Louisiana Room
AUTHORS: Bret. A. Collier, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center; Patrick Wightman, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University; Michael J. Chamberlain, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia; Jay Cantrell, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources; Charles Ruth, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
ABSTRACT: Anthropogenic pressure can have significant impacts on how wildlife move and use habitats. How wildlife response to hunting intensity can impact both population level demography as well as hunter satisfaction. During 2014-2016, we deployed 41 GPS collars on male wild turkeys on the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Webb Center Wildlife Management Area to evaluate the effect of hunting intensity on male wild turkey movement ecology. Average male weekly core areas were approximately 16 ha, and were consistent over a 3 month period. Daily movements were highly variable at the individual level and no clears trends were noted. Based on our results, male wild turkeys slightly their movements in response to hunting intensity, and we found no changes in daily movements relative to the timing of the reproductive season or the hunting season. We found only limited evidence for variation in weekly range sizes, again inferring that neither hunting intensity nor reproductive season timing influenced male wild turkey movements. Our results suggest that male wild turkey movement ecology is only slightly impacted by hunting activities.
Wednesday October 19, 2016 11:40am - 12:00pm CDT
Louisiana Room
AUTHORS: Matthew Haugen, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries; Mark Vrtiska, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission; Larkin Powell, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
ABSTRACT: Knowledge of the relationship between waterfowl hunters and harvest levels may better inform harvest management decisions. We examined frequency of different sizes of daily harvests among duck hunters, and hunters’ contributions to duck harvest in the Central Flyway from 1975-1984, 1988-1993, and 2002-2011 using the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Parts Collection Survey. We stratified hunters sampled by the Parts Collection Survey into 10 equal hunter groups based on seasonal harvest. Hunter groups were ranked from 1 to 10, with hunter group 1 representing hunters with the lowest seasonal harvests, and hunter group 10 representing hunters with the highest seasonal harvests. Successful hunters, respectively, attained the 5-duck (1975-1984), 3-duck (1988-1993), or 6-duck (2002-2011) daily limit in 8%, 28%, and 13% of daily harvests reported to the Parts Collection Survey. For all the time periods examined, hunter group 1 only contributed 0.98-1.48% to the total duck harvest in the Central Flyway, whereas hunter group 10 contributed 31.26-38.41% to the total duck harvest. We conclude that successful hunters were unlikely to achieve large daily limits and hunters disproportionately contribute to Central Flyway duck harvest. Our data may assist in formulating duck harvest regulations.
Wednesday October 19, 2016 11:40am - 12:00pm CDT
Riverview B
