1. science
2. ecology

BIENNIAL
REPORT
2013–2014
North Carolina Cooperative
Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Campus Box 7617
Department of Applied Ecology
NC State University
Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7617
Telephone: 919-515-2631
Fax: 919-515-4454
www.ncsu.edu/nccoopunit
COOPERATORS
North Carolina State University
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
United States Geological Survey
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Wildlife Management Institute
pa
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U.S.
FISH & WILDLIFE
SERVICE
n t of t h e i n
te
Morgan Parks holds a
Semipalmated Sandpiper
captured and color-marked in
southwestern Puerto RicoWetland Management Project
TOM KWAK
ASHTON DREW
Doris Duke conservation
scholars, with post-doctoral and
graduate student mentors, seine
the Arecibo River in Puerto Rico.
B. BROWN
Table of Contents
Welcome.......................................................... 4
Mission Statement
5
Cooperators and Personnel. . ........................ 6
Cooperating Agencies
6
Unit Staff 7
Scientists7
Support Staff
7
Postdoctoral Research Associates
7
Research Staff
7
NC State University Cooperating Faculty 7
Research Collaborators
8
Honors and Awards.. ...................................... 9
Graduate Education. . ................................... 11
Current Students Recent Graduates & Current Pursuits
Graduate Committee Participation
Courses Taught
11
11
12
12
Research........................................................ 13
Fisheries and Aquatic
Wildlife and Habitats
Integrated Ecology
13
21
30
Publications and Presentations.................... 40
TOM KWAK
Welcome
We at the North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit are
pleased to provide this summary of our activities and accomplishments
over the past two years. During this period, we have conducted and
facilitated 81 research projects, of which 54 were conducted directly by
Unit scientists, and 27 were undertaken by cooperating faculty at North
Carolina State University. We place great value on the collaborative
relationships that we have developed across institutional boundaries
to address multidisciplinary research questions. We are also proud of
the role that the Unit serves in facilitating research by our colleagues
that utilizes the expertise and knowledge of scientists from a number
of departments, colleges, and programs within the University, as well as
from our cooperating natural resource agencies.
Our research includes innovative solutions to traditional fish, wildlife, and
natural resource management issues, but spans broadly into the fields of
conservation biology, landscape ecology, ecosystem processes, global
change, ecotoxicology, and genetics. Our field sites are concentrated in
North Carolina, but span from coast to coast in the United States and
extend into the Caribbean. This report includes summaries of research
ranging in subject from threatened and endangered invertebrates,
fishes, and birds; invasive aquatic and terrestrial species; and the effects
of anthropogenic inputs and contaminants on aquatic ecosystems; to
broad-scale effects of land management, conservation planning, and
climate change; quantitative population and community dynamics; and
innovative sampling technologies and modeling of research results.
Much of this research includes graduate student participation; 29
graduate students were advised and mentored by Unit scientists during
this period, and 9 have completed their degrees and are pursuing higher
degrees or are actively employed in their respective fields.
The past two years have brought ongoing change in the administration
and staff of our Unit and cooperators, which has been rich with
opportunity to build new collaborative relationships and strengthen
those existing. Our Program Assistant, Wendy Moore, was promoted
within the University to Contract Negotiator in the Sponsored Programs
Office after 17 years of outstanding service to the Unit, and Ruby Valeton
was hired to fill her former position. Administrative realignment seems
to be everywhere in recent years. North Carolina State University has
restructured the life sciences on campus, including formation of a new
college and several departments. The new departmental home for our
Unit is the Department of Applied Ecology, led by Department Head
Harry Daniels, a structure that will allow us to remain well integrated as
productive faculty members at our host University.
This period has been productive and successful for the North Carolina
Unit, and in this report, we share a listing of our research products and
make them available upon request. The achievements of our scientists,
staff, and students have been recognized by others with many formal
awards that are listed within, and we share those honors with our
cooperators and partners that facilitated them.
The success of the North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research
Unit for 52 years is largely due to strong, synergistic relationships with our
cooperators, partners, colleagues, and friends — and we look forward
to continuing those associations to exceed our past accomplishments.
Please contact any individual investigator if you would like more
information on the research summarized in this report. We also welcome
your comments on our past activities and seek your input on the
direction that we plan to pursue in the future — please contact us.
The Scientists and Staff of the
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
4
BIENNIAL REPORT 2013–2014
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
TOM KWAK
Fisheries and Wildlife undergraduate students learn about stream electrofishing during
summer camp.
MISSION STATEMENT
The goals of the North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research
Unit are to address the research and technical needs of the U.S.
Geological Survey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National
Park Service, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission,
North Carolina State University, and other appropriate agencies and
organizations; to contribute to the quality education of advanced
and graduate fisheries and wildlife students at North Carolina State
University; and to disseminate the results of research conducted by
Unit scientists, staff , students, and cooperators. To advance these goals,
the Unit scientists will vigorously pursue funding for projects having
scientific merit and those that provide valuable information for natural
resource management. Unit personnel will collaborate with cooperators
in jointly conducting research and educating graduate students.
The North Carolina Unit will focus on the identification, assessment,
interpretation, and alleviation of the effects of current or potential
environmental changes or perturbations on fish, wildlife, and natural
resources. Through a combination of basic and applied research, the
Unit will pursue innovative solutions to natural resource questions.
Although some work may be species oriented, community and
ecosystem studies will be emphasized. This will require a team approach
to hypothesis testing research, involving Unit and University personnel
as investigators. When cause-effect relationships are not demonstrable
in the field, laboratory or controlled field studies will be conducted.
Educational goals will be achieved by teaching graduate level courses,
chairing graduate committees, delivering guest lectures and seminars,
and sponsoring or participating in short courses and workshops for
cooperators when appropriate.
5
TOM KWAK
Cooperators
and Personnel
North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission
COOPERATING AGENCIES
Raleigh, North Carolina 27606
North Carolina State University
Gordon S. Myers, Executive Director
North Carolina Agricultural Research Service
Mallory G. Martin, Assistant Director
100 Patterson Hall
Robert L. Curry, Chief, Division of Inland Fisheries
Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7643
David T. Cobb, Chief, Division of Wildlife
Management
Richard H. Linton, Dean
Steven A. Lommel, Associate Dean and Director
1751 Varsity Drive
NCSU Centennial Campus
United States Geological Survey
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, Virginia 20192
John F. Organ, Chief, Cooperative Research Units
John Thompson, Deputy Chief, Cooperative
Research Units
Kevin Whalen, Supervisor
6
BIENNIAL REPORT 2013–2014
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Boat electrofishing on Lake Raleigh during course on
Management of Small Impoundments.
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Southeast Region
1875 Century Boulevard Northeast, Suite 400
Atlanta, Georgia 30345
Cynthia K. Dohner, Regional Director
David Viker, Regional Refuge Chief
Wildlife Management Institute
1101 14th Street, N.W., Suite 801
Washington, D.C. 20005
Steven A. Williams, President
Scot J. Williamson, Vice President
BRITT BROWN
Semipalmated Sandpiper individually marked with a green
flag (United States) and alpha-numeric code. Project is
aimed at determining overwinter survival and movements
among adjacent coastal wetlands under different
hydrologic management.
UNIT STAFF
Scientists
Thomas J. Kwak,
Unit Leader, Fisheries, Professor,
Departments of Applied Ecology and Forestry and
Environmental Resources
Jaime A. Collazo,
Assistant Unit Leader, Wildlife,
Professor, Departments of Applied Ecology and
Forestry and Environmental Resources
Joseph E. Hightower,
Assistant Unit Leader, Fisheries,
Professor, Department of Applied Ecology
Theodore R. Simons,
Assistant Unit Leader, Ecology,
Professor, Departments of Applied Ecology and
Forestry and Environmental Resources
Support Staff
Wendy J. Moore, Administrative Specialist
(June 1997 – September 2014)
Ruby Valeton, Administrative Specialist
(November 2014-present)
Hevvon Barnes, Office Assistant
James Wehbie, Research Technician
Spencer Gardner, Research Technician
IAN DUDLEY
Kara Kziwulski attaching radio collar to mouse captured in a Christmas Tree farm in northwestern NC as part of
the vertebrate biodiversity project.
Postdoctoral Research Associates
Jody L. Callihan
Jennifer K. Costanza
Joseph A. Daraio
C. Ashton Drew
Jesse R. Fischer
Julie E. Harris
Azad H. Khalyani
Matthew J. Krachey
J. Krishna Pacifici
Bradley A. Pickens
Joshua K. Raabe
Brian Tavernia
Ashley Van
Beusekom
Andrew M. Wilson
David B. Egggleston, Department of Marine,
Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Paul L. Fackler, Department of Agricultural and
Resource Economics
Beth A. Gardner, Department of Forestry and
Environmental Resources
Nicholas M. Haddad, Department of Biological
Sciences
Research Staff
Louise B. Alexander
Jennifer M.
Archambault
Curtis M. Belyea
Tracy Borneman
Patrick B. Cooney
Todd S. Earnhardt
Robert R. Dunn, Department of Biological
Sciences
J. Michael Fisk
Sara Prado
Matthew J. Rubino
Nathan M. Tarr
Adam J. Terando
Steve G. Williams
NC State University
Cooperating Faculty
David B. Buchwalter, Department of
Environmental and Molecular Toxicology
W. Gregory Cope, Department of Environmental
and Molecular Toxicology
Christopher S. DePerno, Department of Forestry
and Environmental Resources
George R. Hess, Department of Forestry and
Environmental Resources
Eric B. Laber, Department of Statistics
Jay F. Levine, Department of Population Health
and Pathobiology
Christopher E. Moorman, Department of
Forestry and Environmental Resources
Stacy A. C. Nelson, Department of Forestry and
Environmental Resources
M. Nils Peterson, Department of Forestry and
Environmental Resources
Kenneth H. Pollock, Department of Applied
Ecology
Roger A. Powel, Department of Applied Ecology
Brian J. Reich, Department of Statistics
Toddi A. Steelman, Department of Forestry and
Environmental Resources
Laura O. Taylor, Department of Agricultural and
Resource Economics
7
RESEARCH COLLABORATORS
Mitchell Aide, University of Puerto Rico
David Allen, North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission
Tom Augspurger, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Jerad Bales, US Geological Survey
Hugh Barwick, Duke Energy Company
Doug Besler, North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission
Jon Blanchard, North Carolina Division of Parks
and Recreation
Jared Bowden, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Ryan Boyles, NC State University
Gary Breckon, University of Puerto Rico
Sue Cameron, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Mark Cantrell, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Jose Chabert, Puerto Rico Department of Natural
and Environmental Resources
Jeff Cordes, National Park Service
John Crutchfield, Duke Energy Company
Jose Cruz-Burgos, US Fish and Wildlife Service,
Caribbean Field Office
Stephen Dinsmore, Iowa State University
Kevin Dockendorf, North Carolina Wildlife
Resources Commission
Sam Droege, US Geological Survey, Patuxent
Wildlife Research Center
Steve Fraley, North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission
Kay Franzreb, US Department of Agriculture,
Forest Service, Clemson University
Mary Freeman, US Geological Survey, Patuxent
Wildlife Research Center
John Fridell, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Miguel Garcia, Puerto Rico Department of
Natural and Environmental Resources
Walker Golder, National Audubon Society
William Gould, International Institute of Tropical
Forestry
Bob Graham, Dominion North Carolina Power
J. Barry Grand, Alabama Cooperative Fish and
Wildlife Research Unit
Martha Groom, University of Washington
Christopher Guglielmo, University of Montana
Susan M. Haig, US Geological Survey, Forest and
Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
Lauren Hay, US Geological Survey National
Research Program, Colorado
Ryan Heise, North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission
Kevin Hining, North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission
8
G. TEPKE
A monograph published in Marine Ornithology in 2013 by
Ted Simons and coauthors, documented 25 years of research
on the Black-capped Petrel, a globally endangered seabirds
that nests in the Caribbean and forages off the coast of
North Carolina.
Mark Johns, North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission
Kristine Johnson, National Park Service, Great
Smoky Mountains National Park
Byron Karns, National Park Service, St. Croix
National Scenic Riverway
Chris Kelly, North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission
R. Wilson Laney, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Allen Lewis, University of Puerto Rico
Craig Lilyestrom, Puerto Rico Department of
Natural and Environmental Resources
Michael Loeffler, North Carolina Division of
Marine Fisheries
Jim Lyons, US Geological Survey, Patuxent
Wildlife Research Center
Marcia Lyons, National Park Service
Ken Manuel, Duke Energy Company
Jeff Marcus, North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission
Eleni Matechou, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.
Robert Mayer, University of Puerto Rico
Alexa McKerrow, US Geological Survey
Jerry McMahon, US Geological Survey, Southeast
Climate Science Center
Brian McRae, North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission
Sarah McRae, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Vasu Misra, Florida State University
Frank Moore, University of Southern Mississippi,
Hattiesburg
Rua Mordecai, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Byron Morgan, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.
BIENNIAL REPORT 2013–2014
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Teresa Newton, US Geological Survey, Upper
Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
Geoff Nicholls, Oxford University, Oxford, UK.
Jim Nichols, US Geological Survey, Patuxent
Wildlife Research Center
Rob Nichols, North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission
Allan O’Connell, US Geological Survey, Patuxent
Wildlife Research Center
Scott Pearson, Mars Hill College
Franklin Percival, Florida Cooperative Fish and
Wildlife Research Unit
James Peterson, Oregon Cooperative Fish and
Wildlife Research Unit
Kerry Rabenold, Purdue University
Patrick Rakes, Conservation Fisheries, Inc.
Morgan Raley, North Carolina Museum of
Natural Sciences
Jacob Rash, North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission
R. Steven Regan, US Geological Survey National
Research Program, Colorado
Michael Rikard, National Park Service
Andy Royle, US Geological Survey, Patuxent
Wildlife Research Center
Michael Runge, US Geological Survey, Patuxent
Wildlife Research Center
James Saracco, Institute for Bird Populations
John Sauer, US Geological Survey, Patuxent
Wildlife Research Center
Forrest Sessions, South Carolina Department of
Natural Resources
David Smith, US Geological Survey, Leetown
Science Center
Wayne Starnes, North Carolina Museum of
Natural Sciences
Lydia Stefanova, Florida State University
Adam Terando, US Geological Survey, Southeast
Climate Science Center
Alejandro Torres-Abreu, Center for Landscape
Conservation, Puerto Rico
Bryn Tracy, North Carolina Division of Water
Quality
Roland Viger, US Geological Survey National
Research Program, Colorado
Jeffrey Walters, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University
Thomas White, US Fish and Wildlife Service,
Puerto Rican Parrot Field Office
Mike Wicker, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Bennett Wynne, North Carolina Wildlife
Resources Commission
David Yow, North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission
Honors and Awards
Zoology Graduate Student Research
Symposium Best Oral Presentation Award
Received in 2013 by Dr. F. Eugene Hester, the
first Unit Leader for the NC Unit.
Awarded to Augustin C. Engman (T.J. Kwak,
advisor) in 2014 at the 17th Annual Zoology
Graduate Research Symposium, North Carolina
State University.
Elected Fellow, American Ornithologists’
Union 2014
Zoology Graduate Student Research
Symposium Best Poster Presentation Award
Theodore R. Simons
Awarded to Jennifer M. Archambault (T.J.
Kwak and W.G. Cope, advisors) in 2012 at the
15th Annual Zoology Graduate Research
Symposium, North Carolina State University.
Outstanding Alumni Award
Board of Editors, Ecological Society of
America (2003 – present)
Theodore R. Simons
Elected Board Member, Waterbird Society
2013
Theodore R. Simons
Coupled Human and Natural Systems
Network (CHANS-Net) travel fellowship for
early-career ecologists
Awarded to J. Costanza in 2013 to attend the
Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting.
Selection for 2013 National Center for
Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS)
Summer Institute, Santa Barbara, CA
Jennifer Costanza
Outstanding Paper in the Field of
Landscape Ecology, Honorable Mention
Awarded to Jennifer Costanza, 2013, for
Costanza et al. 2011. Multi-scale heterogeneity
as a predictor of plant species richness. Landsc.
Ecol. 26:851-864.
American Fisheries Society Skinner
Memorial Travel Award
Awarded to Augustin C. Engman (T.J. Kwak,
advisor) in 2014 to attend the 144rd Annual
Meeting of the American Fisheries Society,
Quebec City, Canada.
American Fisheries Society Skinner
Memorial Travel Award Honorable Mention
Awarded to H. Jared Flowers (J.E. Hightower,
advisor) in 2013 to attend the 143rd Annual
Meeting of the American Fisheries Society,
Little Rock, Arkansas.
Jimmie Pigg Memorial Outstanding Student
Achievement Award
Awarded to Augustin C. Engman (T.J. Kwak,
advisor) in 2014 by the Southern Division of the
American Fisheries Society.
NCSU Student Fisheries Society Travel
Award
Awarded to Augustin C. Engman (T.J. Kwak,
advisor) in 2013 to attend the 143rd Annual
Meeting of the American Fisheries Society,
Little Rock, Arkansas.
NCSU Student Fisheries Society Service
Award
Awarded to Augustin C. Engman (T.J. Kwak,
advisor) for outstanding service to the Student
Fisheries Society.
American Fisheries Society Estuaries
Section Student Travel Award
Awarded to Augustin C. Engman (T.J. Kwak,
advisor) in 2012 to attend the 142rd Annual
Meeting of the American Fisheries Society, St.
Paul, Minnesota.
American Fisheries Society North Carolina
Chapter Student Travel Award
NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Dr. Gene Hester (center, seated) recognized at College of
Agriculture and Life Sciences Award Ceremony, along with
Joe Hightower (left), Tom Kwak (right) and Ted Simons,
Department Head Harry Daniels, and Garland Pardue
(standing, left to right).
American Fisheries Society North Carolina
Chapter Student Travel Award
Awarded to Jennifer M. Archambault (T.J. Kwak
and W.G. Cope, advisors) in 2012 to attend
the 142rd Annual Meeting of the American
Fisheries Society, St. Paul, Minnesota.
W. Don Baker Memorial Award for Best
Professional Presentation
Awarded to Jennifer M. Archambault for her
presentation at the North Carolina Chapter of
the American Fisheries Society 2014 Annual
Meeting, Durham, North Carolina.
Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society
Student Travel Award
Awarded to Augustin C. Engman (T.J. Kwak,
advisor) in 2012 to attend the 142rd Annual
Meeting of the American Fisheries Society, St.
Paul, Minnesota.
Awarded to Jennifer M. Archambault (T.J. Kwak
and W.G. Cope, advisors) in 2013 to attend the
Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society 8th
Biennial Symposium, Lake Guntersville State
Park, Alabama.
American Fisheries Society North Carolina
Chapter Student Travel Award
NCSU Student Fisheries Society Women and
Minorities Travel Award
Awarded to Tomas J. Ivasauskas (T.J. Kwak,
advisor) in 2014 to attend the 144rd Annual
Meeting of the American Fisheries Society,
Quebec City, Canada.
Awarded to Jennifer M. Archambault (T.J. Kwak
and W.G. Cope, advisors) in 2012 to attend
the 142rd Annual Meeting of the American
Fisheries Society, St. Paul, Minnesota.
9
TOM KWAK
North Carolina State University Libraries
Faculty Award, 2013
Joseph E. Hightower
North Carolina Chapter, American Fisheries
Society, Distinguished Service Award 2014
Joseph E. Hightower
North Carolina Chapter of the American
Fisheries Society Student Travel Award
Awarded to Paul J. Rudershausen (J. A. Buckel
and J. E. Hightower, advisors) in 2014 to attend
the 144th Annual Meeting of the American
Fisheries Society. August 17-21, Québec City,
Québec.
U.S. Department of Interior STAR Awards
Received by Unit staff for superior performance.
Jaime A. Collazo, 2012, 2013
Joseph E. Hightower, 2012, 2013
Richard L. Noble Best Student Paper Award
Awarded to Timothy A. Ellis (and J. E. Hightower,
co-advisor, J. A. Buckel, co-advisor and
coauthor, and K. H. Pollock, coauthor), for
their presentation at the Annual Meeting of
the North Carolina Chapter of the American
Fisheries Society. February 18-19, 2014.
Best Student Poster Award
Awarded to Timothy A. Ellis (J. A. Buckel and
J. E. Hightower, co-advisors, and K. H. Pollock,
coauthor), for their poster presentation at the
Annual Meeting of the Tidewater Chapter of
the American Fisheries Society, March 21-23,
2013.
Janice Lee Fenske Memorial Award Finalist
Awarded to Jacob R. Krause (J. E. Hightower,
advisor) in 2012, Midwest Fish and Wildlife
Conference, Wichita, Kansas.
First Place Student Oral Presentation,
Society of Integrative and Comparative
Biology, Division of Invertebrate Zoology
Awarded to Allison Camp (D. B. Buchwalter,
advisor) for their presentation on oxygen
consumption in mayfly at the 2014 Meeting
of the Society of Integrative and Comparative
Biology, January 3-7, Austin, Texas.
Second Place Student Platform
Presentation, Carolinas SEATAC (Society of
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry)
Awarded to Allison Camp (D. B. Buchwalter,
advisor) for their presentation on responses
of aquatic insects to tempeature at the 2013
Annual Meeting, Carolinas SETAC, Raleigh,
North Carolina, March 7-9.
Science Magazine, Online Feature Article
Thomas J. Kwak, 2012, 2013
Coastal Conservation Association North
Carolina Scholarship
Theodore R. Simons, 2012, 2013
Awarded to Jacob R. Krause in 2014
10
Gus Engman and Casey Grieshaber sampling post-larval
fishes in the Arecibo River.
BIENNIAL REPORT 2013–2014
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Erik Stokstad for “Insect molting is like having
your lungs ripped out”, Science magazine
(http://news.sciencemag.org/climate/2014/08/
insect-molting-having-your-lungs-ripped-out).
Graduate Education
Jessica Stocking, PhD, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
ADVISOR(S) Jaime A. Collazo, Krishna Pacifici
CURRENT STUDENTS
STUDENT, DEGREE, PROGRAM
Kathryn Battle, MS, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
ADVISOR(S) Krishna Pacifici, Jaime A. Collazo
Michael V. Cove, PhD, Zoology
ADVISOR(S) Theodore Simons, Beth Gardner
Kelen Dowdy, MS, Zoology
ADVISOR(S) Jaime A. Collazo
Kara Dziwulski, MS, Zoology
ADVISOR(S) Jaime A. Collazo
Timothy A. Ellis, PhD, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
ADVISOR(S) Jeffrey A. Buckel, Joseph E. Hightower
Augustin C. Engman, PhD, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
ADVISOR(S) Thomas J. Kwak
Shilo Felton, Ph.D. Fisheries Wildlife and Conservation Biology
ADVISOR(S) T.R. Simons, K. Pollock
H. Jared Flowers, PhD, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
ADVISOR(S) Joseph E. Hightower
Casey A. Grieshaber, MS, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
ADVISOR(S) Thomas J. Kwak, W. Gregory Cope
Nathan Hostetter, Ph.D. Fisheries Wildlife and Conservation Biology
ADVISOR(S) T.R. Simons, B. Gardner
Tomas J. Ivasauskas, PhD, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
ADVISOR(S) Thomas J. Kwak
Amarilys Irizarry, MS, Zoology
ADVISOR(S) Jaime A. Collazo
Jacob R. Krause, PhD, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
ADVISOR(S) Jeffrey A. Buckel, Joseph E. Hightower
Allison J. Nolker, MS, Zoology
ADVISOR(S) Theodore Simons
Phil Patton, MS, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
ADVISOR(S) Krishna Pacifici, Jaime A. Collazo
Tiffany N. Penland, MS, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
ADVISOR(S) Thomas J. Kwak, W. Gregory Cope
Eli T. Rose, MS, Zoology
ADVISOR(S) Theodore Simons
Paul J. Rudershausen, PhD, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
ADVISOR(S) Jeffrey A. Buckel, Joseph E. Hightower
RECENT GRADUATES & CURRENT PURSUITS
STUDENT, DEGREE, CURRENT PURSUIT, ADVISORS
Jennifer M. Archambault
MS, Zoology
Research Associate, NC State University
Thomas J. Kwak, W. Gregory Cope
Tracy Borneman
MS, Zoology
Research Associate, NC State University
Theodore Simons
Julissa I. Irizarry
MS, Zoology
PR Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
Jaime A. Collazo
2012
2013
2012
Becky Keller
PhD, Zoology2012
American Bird Conservancy, Blacksburg, VA
Theodore Simons
Tamara J. Pandolfo
PhD, Zoology2014
Instructor, NC State University
Thomas J. Kwak, W. Gregory Cope
Joshua Raabe
PhD, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology2012
Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, Stevens
Point, WI
Joseph E. Hightower
Shilo Schulte
PhD, Zoology2012
Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, Wellfleet, MA Theodore Simons
William E. Smith
PhD, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology2013
Stock Assessment Scientist, North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
Thomas J. Kwak
Jessica Stocking
MS, Zoology2012
PhD Student, NC State University
Theodore Simons
11
GRADUATE COMMITTEE PARTICIPATION
Jaime Collazo
Tracy Borneman, MS
Beatriz Gonzalez, MS
Benjamin Hess, MS
Rebecca Keller, PhD
Eli Rose, MS
Shiloh Schulte, PhD
Joseph E. Hightower
Caitlin Bradley, MS
Patrick Erbland, PhD (University of Maine)
Ann Grote, MS (University of Maine)
Janice Kerns, PhD (University of Florida)
Lisa K. Izzo, MS (University of Maine)
Thomas J. Kwak
Sean B. Buczek, MS
Antonio Carro, PhD (Turabo University, Puerto Rico)
Elizabeth M. Hassell, PhD
Justin J. Nawrocki, PhD
Crystal S. Lee Pow, PhD
Sandra L. Mort, PhD
Theodore Simons
Courtney Behrle, PhD
James Garabedian, PhD
Jessica Piispanen, MS (University of Wisconsin)
COURSES TAUGHT
Decision Analysis for Conservation and Management of Natural
Resources
Krishna Pacifici, Jaime A. Collazo
Fall 2014
Fisheries Techniques and Management
Thomas J. Kwak
Summer 2013, Summer 2014
Management of Small Impoundment
Thomas J. Kwak, Jesse R. Fischer
Fall 2014
Ornithology
Theodore R. Simons
Spring 2012, Spring 2014
Quantitative Fisheries Management
Joseph E. Hightower
Fall 2014
12
BIENNIAL REPORT 2013–2014
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
FRANK STETLER
Semipalmated Sandpiper captured in southwestern Puerto Rico to determine overwinter
survival and movements among adjacent coastal wetlands under different hydrologic
management.
Research: Fisheries and Aquatic
A comprehensive examination of endocrine disrupting
compounds and intersex fish in North Carolina water bodies................. 14
Advancing the tools of freshwater mussel conservation:
determining the relative sensitivity of in vitro and in vivo
propagated juveniles.......................................................................................................... 14
American eel age and growth assessment in the Roanoke River,
North Carolina......................................................................................................................... 14
A multi-stage survey protocol for shortnose sturgeon................................. 15
Assessing mortality, tag reporting rate, and movement patterns of
Albemarle Sound and Roanoke River striped bass using
conventional, passive integrated transponder, and telemetry
tagging techniques............................................................................................................ 15
Assessment of ponds in the North Carolina Piedmont as a
nutritional resource for rearing freshwater mussels for population
augmentation.......................................................................................................................... 15
Assessment of the Potential Association of Stream Bank Erosion and
Sedimentation with the Distribution and Abundance of Unionids in
Streams at Fort Bragg, North Carolina...................................................................... 16
Characterizing habitat suitability for American Shad in the
Yadkin-Pee Dee River.......................................................................................................... 16
Contaminants of emerging concern in the Great Lakes Basin: studies
evaluating differing modes of action and reproductive effects with
freshwater mussels............................................................................................................... 16
Establishment of captive populations of magnificent ramshorn
(Planorbella magnfica) and greenfield ramshorn (Helisoma
eucosmium).............................................................................................................................. 17
Fishery population and habitat assessment in Puerto Rico streams.... 17
Hierarchical landscape models for endemic unionid mussels:
building strategic habitat conservation tools for mussel recovery
in the South Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative..................... 17
Hydroacoustic monitoring of anadromous fishes in the Roanoke
River, North Carolina............................................................................................................ 18
Identification and laboratory validation of temperature tolerance for
northwestern macroinvertebrates: developing vulnerability
prediction tools...................................................................................................................... 18
Modeling the response of imperiled freshwater mussels to
anthropogenically induced changes in stream water temperature,
habitat, and flow.................................................................................................................... 18
TOM KWAK
Catfish collected from Lake Michie near Durham as part of summer camp for Fisheries and
Wildlife undergraduates. Credit Tom Kwak
Recent precipitous declines of endangered freshwater mussels
in the Clinch River: an in situ assessment of water quality stressors
related to energy development and other land-use...................................... 19
Riverine movements of shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon.......................... 19
Robust redhorse recovery and habitat restoration: assessing water
quality stressors and food web contaminant dynamics............................... 19
Sicklefin redhorse ontogeny, recruitment, and priority habitats in
regulated rivers....................................................................................................................... 20
Stocked trout survival, behavior, and ecology in North
Carolina streams..................................................................................................................... 20
The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation National Educational
Partnership for Conservation......................................................................................... 20
13
Advancing the tools of freshwater
mussel conservation: determining the
relative sensitivity of in vitro and in
vivo propagated juveniles
CASEY GRIESHABER
Enclosures used to hold fish in Pee Dee River for 28-day in
situ bioassays.
A comprehensive examination of
endocrine disrupting compounds and
intersex fish in North Carolina water
bodies
Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are
discharged into water bodies from numerous
sources and have been associated with
deleterious effects on fish and wildlife globally.
EDCs are associated with high incidence of
fish intersex, defined as the presence of both
male and female characteristics. The goal of
this research is to establish a comprehensive
understanding of the impact of EDC
contaminants to fisheries in the state. Objectives
are to develop a GIS-based map of potential
sources of EDCs, conduct a statewide survey
for the presence of EDCs and intersex in fish,
quantify seasonal dynamics of EDCs and intersex
fish, conduct field research and experimental
bioassays on intersex fish and EDC dynamics
in the Pee Dee River Basin, and conduct
laboratory assessment of endocrine disruption
and intersex in Pee Dee River water mixtures.
Findings will guide strategic planning to address
this emerging water quality and fisheries
management issue.
Over the past two decades, federal and
state agencies have invested substantial
funding nation-wide in the propagation
and culture of native freshwater mussels for
conservation purposes. These efforts have
resulted in tremendous advances in culture
and propagation techniques, aquaculture
system design, nutritional needs, and longterm growth and maintenance. Most of this
success has been attributed to improving
standard host fish (in vivo) infection techniques
for propagation, but recent advances have
made it possible to produce thousands of
juvenile mussels with in vitro propagation
techniques that require less space and with less
cost than with traditional host fish methods.
However, no definitive side-by-side studies
have been conducted comparing the chemical
sensitivity of in vitro propagated juveniles to
in vivo propagated juveniles. Therefore, the
overall goal of this this study is to conduct a
robust side-by-side assessment of the relative
sensitivity of in vivo and in vitro produced
juvenile mussels to selected chemical toxicants.
This project will greatly expand the toxicity
data base for native freshwater mussels and
toxicants with different modes of action
that have been produced with different
propagation techniques.
INVESTIGATOR STUDENT DURATION FUNDING D. Derek Aday, Seth W.
Kullman, W. Gregory Cope, Thomas J. Kwak,
James A. Rice, and J. Mac Law
STAFF Crystal S. Lee Pow, Ph.D.
Environmental Toxicology
Casey A. Grieshaber
MS Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences
Tiffany N. Penland
M.S. Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences
Dana K. Sackett
LOCATION DURATION North Carolina
July 2011–June 2016
FUNDING N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission
14
Anakela Popp, M.S., Fisheries
Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
LOCATION Laboratory
INVESTIGATORS STUDENTS W. Gregory Cope
BIENNIAL REPORT 2013–2014
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
July 2014-June 2017
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
JESSE FISCHER
Casey Grieshaber with an American eel, a catadromous
fish studied in the Roanoke River, NC.
American eel age and growth
assessment in the Roanoke River,
North Carolina
The American eel (Anguilla rostrata) is
a facultative catadromous fish species
that occupies a diversity of estuarine and
freshwater habitats. Despite an extensive
distribution and the ability to tolerate a
variety of habitats, concern regarding the
status of American eel has risen based on
declining trends in commercial harvest
coupled with anthropogenic threats to habitat
and the species’ migratory life cycle. Yet
assessments of population characteristics in
freshwater habitats have been limited. We will
longitudinally sample American eels from the
Roanoke River to characterize the American
eel population within the river mainstem.
Additionally, the age, sex, and presence of
Anguillicolla crassus in swimbladders of sampled
eels will be determined. Finally, age, growth,
and mortality of eels will be modeled in relation
to location, sex, and the presence of A. crassus.
Findings will be synthesized to provide a better
understanding of American eel ecology and
management.
INVESTIGATOR Jesse R. Fischer, Thomas J. Kwak
STAFF James D. Wehbie
LOCATION Roanoke River, North Carolina
DURATION July 2014-June 2017
FUNDING U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
JOSEPH HIGHTOWER
CHRIS EADS
JOSHUA RAABE
Jared Flowers preparing to deploy side-scan sonar.
Julie Harris implants a sonic tag in a striped bass.
A floating basket of freshwater mussels in Yates Mill Pond
(Wake County, NC).
A multi-stage survey protocol for
shortnose sturgeon
Assessing mortality, tag reporting rate,
and movement patterns of Albemarle
Sound and Roanoke River striped bass
using conventional, passive integrated
transponder, and telemetry tagging
techniques
Assessment of ponds in the North
Carolina Piedmont as a nutritional
resource for rearing freshwater mussels
for population augmentation
Technological advances present opportunities
to enhance and supplement traditional
fisheries sampling approaches. One area that
is changing rapidly and has great potential for
complementing traditional methods is sidescan sonar, a type of hydroacoustic equipment.
Side-scan sonar has advantages over traditional
techniques, such as the ability to sample large
areas efficiently and potential to survey fish
without physically handling them–important
for species of conservation concern, such as
endangered sturgeons. We surveyed six rivers
in North Carolina and South Carolina, thought
to contain varying abundances of Atlantic
Sturgeon, using a combination of side-scan
sonar, telemetry, and video cameras (to sample
jumping sturgeon). Occupancy models were
used to estimate gear-specific detection
probabilities and river-specific occupancy
estimates. We also used N-mixture and distance
models to estimate abundance. These results
should be valuable for developing a recovery
plan for this endangered species.
INVESTIGATOR STUDENT STAFF Joseph E. Hightower
H. Jared Flowers, PhD, Fisheries,
Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
Joseph Smith
LOCATION Roanke, Neuse, Cape Fear, Pee Dee,
Santee, and Edisto rivers, North Carolina
and South Carolina
DURATION FUNDING We used a combination of sonic-telemetry,
detection of PIT tags, returns of high ($100) and
standard ($5 or a hat) reward tags, and catchat-age data to identify migration patterns and
mortality rates of Albemarle Sound-Roanoke
River striped bass. Monthly instantaneous
estimates of fishing mortality for striped bass
458-900 mm TL were fairly low, seasonally
appropriate, and generally precise. Monthly
estimates of catch-and-release as well as
Pamlico Sound mortality rates were very low.
Seasonal estimates of M were very low except
during the summer, when rates were 0.23-0.28
per month. Sonic-tagged anadromous females
(all >900 mm TL at tagging) only stayed in the
Albemarle Sound-Roanoke River system during
the spawning period (~1 month) and almost
all reported harvest was from the Atlantic
Ocean recreational fishery. Individuals greater
than 900 mm TL experienced lower rates of
total annual mortality, especially lower natural
mortality, than did striped bass 458-900 mm TL
at tagging.
INVESTIGATOR STAFF STUDENT Jay Levine, Luke Borst, Chris
Osburn
Jennifer Hurley-Sanders
Chris Eads, Tom Fox, Scott Salger,
Roberta Smith-Uhl
Joseph E. Hightower
LOCATION Wake and Johnston Counties, NC
Julianne E. Harris
DURATION May 2012-June 2013
Roanoke River and Albemarle
Sound, North Carolina
DURATION June 2010-September 2014
FUNDING INVESTIGATOR STAFF LOCATION September 2008-August 2013
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Propagation and captive culture is an
important tool in conservation of freshwater
mussels. The Aquatic Epidemiology and
Conservation Laboratory (AECL) has been
conducting research in this field since 1999 and
growing mussels for release into the wild since
2004. Growth of mussels is best when they
have access to a natural water supply, such
as a river, lake or pond, that has a high quality
and quantity food supply. The AECL is seeking
ponds in the Raleigh area for use in the culture
of mussels. We assessed microbial activity,
protein quality and mussel growth and survival
in three ponds near the Raleigh area. Mussel
growth and survival was greatest in the pond
with the highest quality protein and lowest in
the pond where the flow regime, temperature
and microbial activity were more reflective of
riverine conditions.
FUNDING US Fish and Wildlife Service
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
15
TOM FOX
Scott Salger, Chris Eads, and Keith Chesnutt snorkeling
along a transect line while surveying for freshwater mussels
on Camp Mackall in Drowning Creek, Scotland County,
Lumber River Basin.
Assessment of the Potential
Association of Stream Bank Erosion
and Sedimentation with the
Distribution and Abundance of
Unionids in Streams at Fort Bragg,
North Carolina
Fort Bragg military base in the Sandhills of
North Carolina’s Piedmont is situated on more
than 150,000 acres. Sections of the base are
used for military training, whereas others serve
as refugia for endangered and threatened
species. Prior studies suggested that many
streams on the base lacked the faunal diversity
expected in Piedmont Sandhill streams.
Stream surveys were conducted at Fort Bragg
to document the presence, abundance and
distribution of freshwater mussels in accessible
streams and to identify geomorphic factors
contributing to mussel distribution. Villosa
delumbis, a species listed as state endangered
was found in the Little River, in the Cape Fear
Basin. Ellipitio complanata, and Uniomerus
caroliniana were also collected in the Little
River and Drowning Creek in the Lumber
Basin. No freshwater mussels were found in
Rockfish Creek in the Cape Fear Basin. Substrate
availability and stability were the primary
factors contributing to habitat suitability for
freshwater mussel species.
INVESTIGATOR Nathan Lyons, PhD, Marine, Earth
and Atmospheric Sciences; Tom Fox,:
MS, Fisheries and Wildlife
August 2012-December 2014
FUNDING U. S. Department of Defense
16
Characterizing habitat suitability for
American Shad in the Yadkin-Pee Dee
River
Contaminants of emerging concern
in the Great Lakes Basin: studies
evaluating differing modes of
action and reproductive effects with
freshwater mussels
Large dams on the Yadkin – Pee Dee River
Basin in North and South Carolina have
greatly reduced the extent of fish migrations
and available habitat. Fish passage options
are being considered, but it first must be
determined whether the habitat is suitable for
spawning and production of young American
shad. Area-based guidelines suggest that the
lotic mainstem and available tributary reaches
between Blewett Falls and Tillery dams could
potentially support around 47,000-120,000
spawning individuals and an additional
8,000-21,000 individuals between Tillery and
Falls dams. Both instream flow modeling and
qualitative habitat surveys found suitable
spawning habitat in the mainstem and
tributaries upstream of Blewett Falls Dam. In
addition, egg survival trials depicted adequate
water quality for American shad eggs to survive
and hatch when flow conditions were suitable.
Additional considerations include large
flow fluctuations, behavior of released adult
American shad, and the survival, growth, and
successful emigration of young individuals.
INVESTIGATOR STAFF Joseph E. Hightower
Joshua K. Raabe
LOCATION Yadkin and Pee Dee Rivers, North
Carolina and South Carolina
DURATION September 2011-December 2013
FUNDING Fort Bragg, North Carolina
DURATION JEREMY LEONARD
Investigating sub-lethal behavioral and reproductive
effects on mussels of contaminants of emerging concern
Jay Levine, Karl Wegmann
STUDENTS LOCATION JOSEPH HIGHTOWER
American shad egg survival experiment below Blewitt Falls
dam on the Pee Dee River
BIENNIAL REPORT 2013–2014
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The goal of this project was to conduct
laboratory and experimental ecosystem type
toxicity tests with representative mussel
species exposed to several hormonally active
contaminants of emerging concern such
as ethynylestradiol, testosterone, fadrazole,
fluoxetine, perfluorinated chemicals, atrazine,
mercury, tributyltin or 4-nonylphenol. In
addition to acute toxicity testing with mussel
glochidia and juveniles, we investigated
reproductive effects at the individual and
population levels by testing the endocrine
response of adult mussels and their progeny.
We determined effects of the contaminants on
the transformation success of glochidia. The
viability and fitness of transformed juveniles
that were exposed in marsupia were compared
to the viability and fitness of unexposed
juveniles from the same brood. Juveniles
were exposed at critical periods during their
development and grown out in experimental
systems to assess potential effects on the
endpoints of sex determination, reproductive
enzymes, proteins, lipids, and fecundity.
INVESTIGATOR STUDENT W. Gregory Cope
Jeremy A. Leonard, PhD,
Environmental Toxicology
LOCATION NC State
DURATION September 2010–July 2013
FUNDING U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency
CHRIS EADS
TOM KWAK
TOM KWAK
An egg mass of the magnificent ramshorn (Planorbella
magnifica) near full development.
Gus Engman retrieves a gill net full of invasive sailfin catfish
from a Puerto Rico river.
Measuring mussel size in the upper Tar River Basin to
support landscape-level modeling.
Establishment of captive populations
of magnificent ramshorn (Planorbella
magnfica) and greenfield ramshorn
(Helisoma eucosmium)
Fishery population and habitat
assessment in Puerto Rico streams
Hierarchical landscape models for
endemic unionid mussels: building
strategic habitat conservation tools for
mussel recovery in the South Atlantic
Landscape Conservation Cooperative
The magnificent ramshorn (Planorbella
magnifica) is an extremely rare freshwater
snail endemic to only a few locations in
North Carolina. Prior to the initiation of this
project, the best known population was in
captivity in private holding, and the status of
wild populations was unknown. The purpose
of this project to first establish an additional
captive breeding population and then conduct
basic research on the offspring. In April 2012,
the Aquatic Epidemiology and Conservation
Laboratory at the NC State University College
of Veterinary Medicine brought 35 adult P.
magnifica into captivity. Thousands of snails
have hatched since the commencement of the
project. Over 300 were transported to the Watha
State Fish Hatchery for growout where they are
thriving, and a second generation of this rare
snail is now in captivity. Related student projects
have monitored the effects of antibiotics
on disease and snail health and pH on egg
development.
INVESTIGATOR Jay Levine
STUDENT Jessica Heinz, College of Veterinary
Medicine; Lori Westmoreland, College of
Veterinary Medicine
STAFF INVESTIGATORS Chris Eads, Jennifer
Bloodgood, Roberta Smith-Uhl, Keith Chesnutt
LOCATION NC State University
DURATION April 2012-December 2013
FUNDING U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Puerto Rico is known for its marine fisheries,
but the freshwater habitats of the island also
support a substantial number of relatively
unknown fishes, many of which provide
recreational fishery values. We completed
research to evaluate stream and river fish
and habitat sampling techniques and to
develop standardized sampling protocols.
We also modeled patterns in occurrence and
abundance of stream and river fish populations
as related to physical habitat, water quality,
riparian and watershed attributes, and river
regulation. We quantified contaminant
concentrations and dynamics in the stream
food web, and elucidated the ecology and
migration of amphidromous fishes. Ongoing
objectives include sampling fishes in
downstream river reaches, assessing fish age
and growth techniques, and studies of fish
early life history and recruitment dynamics.
Finally, we will synthesize findings from these
objectives toward a better understanding of
fish biology, ecology, and management.
INVESTIGATOR Thomas J. Kwak
STUDENT Elissa N. Buttermore, M.S. Fisheries
and Wildlife Sciences; William E. Smith, Ph.D.
Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences; Augustin C.
Engman, Ph.D. Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences
STAFF Jesse R. Fischer
LOCATION Puerto Rico
DURATION November 2004-August 2016
FUNDING Puerto Rico Department of Natural
and Environmental Resources
The southeastern U.S. is a hotspot of mussel
biodiversity, and an integrated approach is
urgently needed to conserve endangered
mussel species. We developed an integrated
landscape, instream habitat, water quality,
and mussel-specific model for identifying and
prioritizing strategic habitat conservation areas
for endangered freshwater mussels inhabiting
streams of the south Atlantic slope, with an
emphasis on a rare and endangered endemic
species of North Carolina, the Tar spinymussel.
Results of this project may be used to develop
scientifically defensible estimates of the stream
network needing conservation to support
mussel recovery; identify specific factors
limiting recovery of federally-listed mussels in
a watershed manner; enable predictions and
hypothesis testing associated with mussel
occupancy and distribution associated with
changes in habitat at the instream, riparian, or
watershed spatial scales; and refine sampling
strategies for rare mussels.
INVESTIGATOR Thomas J. Kwak, C. Ashton
Drew, W. Gregory Cope, Tom Augspurgere
STUDENT Tamara J. Pandolfo, Ph.D. Zoology
LOCATION Tar River and Neuse River basins,
North Carolina
DURATION September 2010-June 2014
FUNDING U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, South
Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative
17
JOSEPH HIGHTOWER
JENNIFER ARCHAMBAULT
ALLISON CAMP
Shoreline deployment of split-beam sonar system.
Field collected stonefly in a respirometry chamber at NC
State.
Laboratory apparatus to measure freshwater mussel
response to vertical thermal gradients.
Hydroacoustic monitoring of
anadromous fishes in the Roanoke
River, North Carolina
Identification and laboratory
validation of temperature tolerance
for northwestern macroinvertebrates:
developing vulnerability
prediction tools
Modeling the response of imperiled
freshwater mussels to anthropogenically
induced changes in stream water
temperature, habitat, and flow
The primary purpose of this study was to
estimate run size for several anadromous
species (hickory shad, American shad, alewife,
blueback herring, striped bass, and the semianadromous white perch) spawning each
spring in the Roanoke River in North Carolina.
Hydroacoustic monitoring was done for
10-13 weeks (typically March-May) annually
using split-beam sonar in 2004-2011, and
multibeam (DIDSON) sonar in a downlooking
(DL) orientation in 2009-2011. Monitoring was
done at Halifax (river km 190) in 2004-2005 and
Williamston (rkm 64) in 2006-2011. Average run
size estimates at Williamston (2006-2011) were
205,000 for hickory shad, 39,000 for American
shad, 562,000 for blueback herring, 423,000 for
alewife, 757,000 for striped bass, 909,000 for
white perch, and 516,000 for the non-migratory
(resident) component. The greatest need for
improvement is in allocating the total run
size estimate among species, because of the
difficulties of getting adequate sample sizes
and accounting for resident species and gear
selectivity.
INVESTIGATOR Joseph E. Hightower
STUDENTS Warren A. Mitchell, MS, Kevin
J. Magowan, MS, Michael W. Waine, MS, Jacob B.
Hughes, MS, all Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences
LOCATION Roanoke River near Halifax and
Williamston, North Carolina
DURATION July 2007-June 2013
FUNDING NC Wildlife Resources Commission,
Dominion, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
18
Many federal, state and local agencies use
stream insects to monitor the health of
freshwater ecosystems. While the temperature
ranges for some insects are often inferred from
the temperature of the waters where they were
collected, this inference is coarse at best and
problematic at worst. Stream temperatures
fluctuate a lot during the year and temperature
may or may not control where an insect lives.
Field insects were collected and sent to a
laboratory for testing several temperature
endpoints, particularly at higher temperatures.
Respiration, breathing rate, and some physical
activities were expected to increase, as
the insects attempt to deal with elevated
temperatures and expected oxygen limitations.
Previous research found that oxygen limitation
results in the build-up of lactic and uric acids in
tissues of insects, but this was not observed over
the range of temperatures and types of insects
tested for this study. Rather, the experiments
suggested a more general elevated metabolic
demand where the insects had to work harder
to breath, eat, and molt. Further work to try and
identify specific macroinvertebrate temperature
tolerance values could be used by scientists and
resource managers to predict aquatic resources
at greatest risk to temperature change.
INVESTIGATOR STUDENT David Buchwalter
Allison Camp
LOCATION NC State University
DURATION August 2011-April 2014
FUNDING U.S. Geological Survey
BIENNIAL REPORT 2013–2014
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Freshwater mussels are in global decline and
urgently need protection and conservation. Our
recent findings suggest that many species are
living close to their upper thermal tolerances. We
are combining the expertise and resources of
multiple scientists, agencies, and universities to
build on our past findings and integrate climate
change induced vulnerability and risk assessment data into regional watershed and instream
biological response models for the protection
and conservation of imperiled freshwater mussels. Among 10 specific objectives, our primary
objective is to use our developed mussel vulnerability and risk threshold data in downscaled
watershed and instream regional models to allow federal and state natural resource managers
to forecast species responses to climate change
over the next 30-50 years and to develop adaptation strategies to mitigate the adverse effects.
These results will contribute to the science and
conservation of the most imperiled fauna in the
world as affected by climate change.
INVESTIGATORS Thomas J.
Kwak, Jerad Bales, Teresa J. Newton, W. Gregory
Cope, Ryan J. Heise, Byron N. Karns
STUDENT Tamara J. Pandolfo, PhD Zoology;
Jennifer M. Archambault, M.S. Zoology
LOCATION Tar River Basin,
North Carolina, and Upper Mississippi River and
St. Croix River basins, Wisconsin
DURATION FUNDING December 2009-December 2012
U.S. Geological Survey, National
Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center
Recent precipitous declines of
endangered freshwater mussels in
the Clinch River: an in situ assessment
of water quality stressors related
to energy development and other
land-use
Native freshwater mussels (Order Unionida) are
one of the most rapidly declining faunal groups
in the North America. About 70% of the nearly
300 freshwater mussel species found in North
America are considered vulnerable to extinction
or are already extinct. These declines have been
attributed to an array of factors associated with
pollution and water quality degradation and
habitat destruction and alteration, including
most recently, rapid expansion of energy
development and other extractive land-uses.
This research project is measuring contaminant
stressors in surface water, sediment, sediment
pore water, and resident and caged mussels
at sites in the Clinch River of Virginia and
Tennessee and evaluating the relationship of the
combined stressors and landscape influences
to freshwater mussel populations, including
federally listed endangered species. The
successful completion of this project will provide
federal and state natural resource management
agencies and other decision makers with the
information needed to assess mussel sensitivity
to contaminants in relation to these multifaceted stressors, which will help to improve the
conservation and management of this valuable,
but imperiled faunal group.
INVESTIGATOR STAFF W. Gregory Cope
Christine M. Bergeron
LOCATION Clinch River, Virginia and Tennessee
DURATION FUNDING May 2012-April 2015
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/U.S.
Geological Survey
TOM KWAK
MIKE LOEFFLER
Atlantic Sturgeon captured in the Roanoke River near
Williamston for tagging.
The robust redhorse is a rare and imperiled fish found in
the Pee Dee River, NC and SC, that is studied to elucidate its
ecology and human activities that may limit its recovery.
Riverine movements of shortnose and
Atlantic sturgeon
Robust redhorse recovery and habitat
restoration: assessing water quality
stressors and food web contaminant
dynamics
Successful restoration of the endangered
Atlantic Sturgeon depends on a solid
foundation of biological data. Six adult Atlantic
Sturgeon (presumably males) from the
Roanoke River were implanted with acoustic
telemetry tags from 2010-2012. These sturgeon
were monitored through a network of passive
receivers in North Carolina and eight additional
states. From September 2010 to June 2014, five
of six of our Atlantic Sturgeon were detected
in three different marine areas defined by
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration as Distinct Population
Segments. Seasonally, sturgeon were observed
to either spend the entire year in marine waters
or winter-spring in marine waters, summer
in Albemarle Sound and fall in the Roanoke
River spawning. Sturgeon were observed to
spawn in consecutive years or with a year in
between spawning events. The complexity of
Atlantic Sturgeon movements and the mixing
of populations in marine waters add to the
potential difficulty in managing the recovery of
this species.
INVESTIGATOR SUDENTS Joseph Hightower
H. Jared Flowers, PhD, Fisheries,
Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
LOCATION Roanoke River and Albemarle
Sound, North Carolina
DURATION July 2010-September 2014
FUNDING National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
The robust redhorse (Moxostoma robustum)
is a rare and imperiled, large catostomid fish
found in only three regulated river drainages
in the southeastern U.S. It has been has been
negatively affected by habitat modification
and fragmentation from hydroelectric dams,
introduced species, sedimentation, and
water pollution and is protected by state
endangered status in Georgia and North
Carolina. To further elucidate the impact of
water quality and contaminant dynamics on
the robust redhorse, the aquatic food web, and
53 priority aquatic species, we are pursuing
field research in the Pee Dee River of North
Carolina and South Carolina. Our approach
includes systematic sampling, experimental
field bioassays, fish histopathology, food web
stable isotope analyses, and population and
food web modeling to synthesize results for
robust redhorse recovery from population and
ecosystem perspectives.
INVESTIGATOR Thomas J. Kwak, W. Gregory
Cope, Ryan J. Heise, Forrest W. Sessions
STUDENTS Casey A. Grieshaber, MS Fisheries
and Wildlife Sciences; Tiffany N. Penland, MS
Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences
LOCATION Yadkin/Pee Dee River of North
Carolina and South Carolina
DURATION July 2013-June 2016
FUNDING North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission, North Carolina and South Carolina
State Wildlife Grants Program
19
JARED FLOWERS
TOM KWAK
TOM KWAK
Tomas Ivasausakas studies the sicklefin redhorse at all
life stages to support species conservation and river
management
Staff of the Armstrong State Fish Hatchery load trout for
stocking in mountain streams.
The 2014 Doris Duke Conservation Scholars, along with
faculty and graduate student mentors, climbed to a
towering mountain peak in the Puerto Rico rainforest of El
Yunque National Forest.
Sicklefin redhorse ontogeny,
recruitment, and priority habitats in
regulated rivers
Stocked trout survival, behavior, and
ecology in North Carolina streams
The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
National Educational Partnership for
Conservation
The sicklefin redhorse is a recently recognized
fish of the sucker family Catostomidae and a
candidate for endangered species protection.
It is among the largest undescribed animal
species in North America, and little is known
of its biology and ecology. This research will
build on previous objectives on spawning
migration, movement patterns, microhabitat
suitability, and behavior. New objectives focus
on early life history and include estimating
reproductive success, describing ontogenetic
shifts in sicklefin redhorse habitat use and
suitability during early life stages, determining
effects of nonnative species on recruitment,
and augmenting the database of spawning
areas in the basin. These findings will be used
by management and regulatory agencies to set
guidelines and priorities for dam operation and
licensing in the Tennessee River basin.
INVESTIGATOR STUDENT Thomas J. Kwak
Tomas J. Ivasauskas, PhD Fisheries
and Wildlife Sciences
LOCATION Little Tennessee and Hiwassee river
Stocking surface waters with hatchery-reared
trout to support local recreational fisheries is
common practice among state and federal
agencies. The effectiveness of some fisheries
is dependent on the extended availability
of stocked trout for angling. The goal of this
research is to define the extent and causes of
stocked trout migration and mortality among
species and to elucidate the mechanisms
responsible. We are combining intensive and
extensive studies to determine the persistence
of stocked trout in designated reaches and
streams, and then the associated processes
and mechanisms will be sought in a subset of
stream reaches. Fish behavior and ecology will
be examined to gain an understanding of the
factors that may affect stocked fish growth,
condition, and survival. Results may be used
to inform and guide management actions to
improve resource management strategies and
to educate fishery constituents and the public.
INVESTIGATOR Thomas J. Kwak
STAFF H. Jared Flowers
LOCATION North Carolina mountain trout
streams
DURATION July 2011-December 2015
basins, North Carolina
DURATION FUNDING October 2011-June 2016
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
FUNDING North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission
Solving the complex and accelerating
conservation problems associated with global
change will require innovative solutions of a
diverse workforce of people from a broad range
of backgrounds and cultures. The University
of Florida is leading a grant award to allow
undergraduate students to participate in
mentored research activities in conservation
biology and natural resources. The primary
objective is to develop long-term, sustainable
educational programming to increase the
number of undergraduate students from
underrepresented groups in the conservation
workforce. Five undergraduate scholars of
diverse backgrounds are being mentored and
another five will be admitted next summer.
They receive year-round mentorship for two
years and participate in intensive summer
research and agency experiences. This is a
valuable program, and universities, agencies,
and society will benefit from the rewards.
INVESTIGATORS Harry V. Daniels, Thomas J.
Kwak, Jaime A. Collazo
STUDENTS Adriane O. Gill, PhD Zoology;
Crystal S. Lee Pow, PhD Environmental
Toxicology
LOCATION North Carolina State University
DURATION September 2013-August 2017
FUNDING The Doris Duke Charitable
Foundation through University of Florida
20
BIENNIAL REPORT 2013–2014
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Research: Wildlife and Habitats
American Oystercatcher conservation initiative, North Carolina............ 22
Assessing endangered marsh rabbit and wood rat habitat use and
feral cat populations using photographic, video, and RFID
capture-recapture data...................................................................................................... 22
Assessing the effects of the National Park Service predator and vehicle
management practices on nesting shorebirds at Cape Hatteras
National Seashore................................................................................................................. 22
Assessing the effects of the National Park Service prescribed fire
program on the breeding bird community in the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park................................................................................................... 23
Assessing the responses of breeding shorebirds to military jet
overflights in the core military operations area at Cape Lookout
National Seashore................................................................................................................. 23
A study of the effects of pine straw raking on flora and fauna in longleaf
pine communities................................................................................................................. 23
Breeding productivity and density of Bachman’s Sparrow (Federal and
State species of special concern) in different training regimes on Fort
Bragg, North Carolina.......................................................................................................... 24
Coastal wetland dynamics and wildlife populations: modeling the
effects of sea level rise and landscape change................................................... 24
Elk habitat suitability map for North Carolina...................................................... 24
K. DOWDY
Evaluation of priority game species use and propagation feasibility of
high value Sandhills native wildlife plants............................................................. 25
Sara Prado examines pollinators captured in a shade coffee plantation in Puerto RicoConservation Design Project.
Field and greenhouse experiments for the restoration and recovery of
the US federally endangered St. Francis’ satyr butterfly................................ 25
Northern Sierra Nevada fisher translocation continuity............................... 27
Integrated waterbird management and monitoring within the Atlantic
and Mississippi flyways...................................................................................................... 25
Maximizing the benefits of field borders for nesting quail and earlysuccession songbirds.......................................................................................................... 26
Modeling of seabird distributions in the western Atlantic in anticipation
of wind energy development........................................................................................ 26
Monitoring and restoration for the US federally endangered St. Francis’
satyr butterfly........................................................................................................................... 26
Monitoring and testing demographic effects of restoration for the US
federally endangered St. Francis’ satyr butterfly................................................. 27
Monitoring Federal Trust Avian Species in managed shade coffee
plantations under the Partner for Fish and Wildlife and Coastal
Programs in Puerto Rico.................................................................................................... 27
Optimal sampling of animal communities........................................................... 28
Reducing burning impacts on native forage: implications for terrestrial
vertebrate nutrition and food availability.............................................................. 28
Testing a decision model to maximize suitable habitat for migratory
shorebirds in saline lagoons........................................................................................... 28
The effects of growing-season prescribed fire on small mammals and
ground-nesting birds at Fort Bragg, North Carolina........................................ 29
The influence of coyotes on white-tailed deer recruitment at Fort
Bragg, North Carolina.......................................................................................................... 29
The influence of growing-season prescribed fire on white-tailed deer
habitat use and forage availability at Fort Bragg, North Carolina........... 29
21
WALKER GOLDER
American Oystercatcher foraging on the Outer Banks
of North Carolina. A banding and resight database
develop by the American Oystercatcher working group
now contains information on 3,000 individually marked
birds and nearly 40,000 resights across the breeding and
wintering range.
American Oystercatcher conservation
initiative, North Carolina
This project, part of a national conservation
plan for the American Oystercatcher, is a
collaboration involving staff at the North
Carolina Audubon Coastal Reserve Program,
the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and
the NC Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research
Unit. The project has expanded studies of the
factors affecting the productivity of American
Oystercatchers on Cape Lookout National
Seashore to the entire coast of North Carolina.
Because the birds nest and feed along the
outer beach, their populations are threatened
by a variety of problems related to human
activity including: disturbance related to
human recreation and off-road vehicles (ORVs),
loss of nesting habitat due to coastal erosion,
and predation from introduced predators such
as feral cats, dogs, rats, and in some cases,
raccoons. The research is determining the
management actions necessary to protect
the remaining breeding populations, and
to incorporate American Oystercatchers as
a component of long-term natural resource
monitoring programs in coastal North Carolina.
INVESTIGATOR STUDENT T.R. Simons
Jessica Stocking
LOCATION Coastal North Carolina
DURATION May 2009-May 2013
FUNDING 22
MIKE COVE
TRACY BORNEMAN
Endangered Lower Keys marsh rabbit detected via camera
trapping within a freshwater marsh in the National Key
Deer Wildlife Refuge, Big Pine Key, Florida.
Shilo Felton, installs a video camera at an American
Oystercatcher nest on Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Assessing endangered marsh rabbit
and wood rat habitat use and feral cat
populations using photographic, video,
and RFID capture-recapture data
Assessing the effects of the National
Park Service predator and vehicle
management practices on nesting
shorebirds at Cape Hatteras National
Seashore
The lower keys marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus
palustris hefneri) and the Key Largo woodrat
(Neotoma floridana smalli) are endangered
species endemic to the Florida Keys. Their
survival is threatened by a variety of factors
including habitat change, sea level rise, and
introduced predators like feral cats that
thrive in human-dominated landscapes.
We are using photographic, video, and RFID
capture-recapture methodologies to inform
the management of these two endangered
species. Our primary objectives are to: (1) use
camera trapping methods to validate marsh
rabbit pellet count occupancy estimates and
to estimate population size and movement of
feral cats, and (2) use camera traps, video, and
RFID tag monitoring to assess use of artificial
structures by woodrats and to estimate the
population size and movement of feral cats
in woodrat habitat. Findings are assisting the
USFWS in formulating feral cat management
policies.
INVESTIGATOR STUDENT T.R. Simons, Beth Gardner
Michael Cove
LOCATION Key Deer National Wildlife Refuge
DURATION September 2011-July 2016
FUNDING National Audubon Society
BIENNIAL REPORT 2013–2014
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The Off-road Vehicle Management Plan/
Environmental Impact Statement for Cape
Hatteras National Seashore (NPS 2010)
identified predator and vehicle management
practices intended to protect and preserve
Seashore’s natural resources while allowing
for a variety of visitor use experiences. An
on-going predator management program
and the implementation of vehicle and
pedestrian closures adjacent to nesting areas
are the primary tools employed by Park Natural
Resource Managers to promote shorebird
nesting success and maintain breeding
populations in the Seashore. Using the
American Oystercatcher as a focal species, this
study will evaluate the effectiveness of current
predator and vehicle management practices at
Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Findings will
provide National Seashore managers with the
information necessary for evaluating current
management practices as required for the
upcoming 5-year review of the Off-road Vehicle
Management Plan.
INVESTIGATOR STUDENT T.R. Simons
Shilo Felton
LOCATION Cape Hatteras National Seashor
DURATION August 2014-June 2017
FUNDING National Park Service
A study of the effects of pine straw
raking on flora and fauna in longleaf
pine communities
TED SIMONS
Eli Rose, conducts an avian point count in Great Smoky
Mountains National Park. Studies are examining the
effects of natural and prescribed fires on the breeding bird
community.
Assessing the effects of the National
Park Service prescribed fire program on
the breeding bird community in the
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The western portion of Great Smoky Mountains
National Park (also referred to as the Park)
provides diverse habitat for a variety of birds.
Many species are restricted to habitats shaped
by fire and the distribution and abundance
of some are limited by past fire management
practices. In 1998, fire management strategy in
the Park changed from active suppression to a
policy that incorporates prescribed burning, and
gives managers the flexibility to allow wildfires to
burn under specific conditions. This policy shift
effectively provides resource managers a tool
to begin restoring the xeric pine-oak habitats
and associated fauna that historically inhabited
the lower elevations of the western portion of
the Park. Although historical fire regimes are
not possible owing to limited human resources,
the current policy should improve habitat
for populations of rare and declining species
dependent on these fire-maintained pine-oak
habitats, as well as those dependent on fire
induced early-succession habitats. This research
is quantifying the influence of fire on bird
communities within a remote portion of Great
Smoky Mountains National Park and exploring
modern methods for evaluating species
occurrence at a landscape scale.
INVESTIGATORS STUDENT TED SIMONS
Tracy Borneman installs a digital video recorder and
Eli Rose installs an artificial egg with an embedded
microphone in an American Oystercatcher nest. The
devices were used to record the behavior and heart rate
of incubating birds to evaluate their responses to aircraft,
vehicles, and other forms of human disturbance at Cape
Lookout National Seashore.
Assessing the responses of breeding
shorebirds to military jet overflights
in the core military operations area at
Cape Lookout National Seashore
The objectives of this research are to determine
if military overflights through the Core Military
Operations Area of Cape Lookout National
Seashore affect the behavior, demography,
or reproductive success of nesting American
Oystercatchers, Least Terns, Common Terns,
Black Skimmers, Wilson’s Plovers, and GullBilled Terns. We are using island-wide arrays of
digital sound and video monitoring equipment
to quantify the effects of military overflights
and to evaluate the relative importance
of overflight noise and other natural and
anthropogenic disturbance factors, including
natural and feral predators, off-road vehicles,
non-military aircraft, and recreational activities.
INVESTIGATORS STUDENT INVESTIGATORS Clyde E. Sorenson, Chris
Moorman
LOCATION Fort Bragg, North Carolina
DURATION August 2014-September 2017
FUNDING U.S. Department of Defense, Fort
Bragg Environmental Management Branch
T.R. Simons
Tracy Borneman
LOCATION Cape Lookout National Seashore
DURATION September 2009-July 2013
FUNDING Pine straw raking is an important revenue
stream to longleaf pine savannah landowners
in the Carolina Sandhills, but this activity also
represents a significant disturbance to the
soil surface and to herbaceous vegetation.
Fort Bragg manages over 150,000 acres of
longleaf pine/Aristida wiregrass savannahs;
approximately 15 % of these woodlands are
raked, within a three-year burn rotation. We
are conducting research to assess the impact
of this activity on the herbaceous plants,
soil-dwelling arthropods, herptiles, and the
Bachman’s sparrow (a wiregrass obligate) in the
Sandhills longleaf ecosystem. We are comparing
areas pre- and post- raking with areas that are
not raked. We are using transect methods to
assess plant and Bachman’s sparrow impacts,
cover boards for herptiles, and pitfall trapping
for arthropods. The results of these efforts will
be used to inform future pine straw raking
protocols on the post, and should also be of
interest to other land managers in the Sandhills.
U.S. Marine Corps
T.R. Simons
Eli Rose
LOCATION Great Smoky Mountains National
Park
DURATION February 2012-December 2014
FUNDING National Park Service, NC GAP
23
Coastal wetland dynamics and wildlife
populations: modeling the effects of
sea level rise and landscape change
ALEXANDER FISH
Female Bachman’s Sparrow with backpack radio
transmitter (<0.55 grams) at Fort Bragg, NC.
Breeding productivity and density of
Bachman’s Sparrow (Federal and State
species of special concern) in different
training regimes on Fort Bragg, North
Carolina
The longleaf pine ecosystem has been reduced
to <5% of its historic range, and associated
wildlife species have shown similar declines.
Military bases are managed with frequent
prescribed fire to maintain the open canopy
and diverse groundcover characteristic of the
historic longleaf pine systems, which in turn
maintains high quality habitat for Bachman’s
sparrow. Yet, military bases conduct extensive
and variable training exercises, which result in
ground disturbance that may negatively affect
breeding Bachman’s sparrow. Our objective
was to investigate the potential effects of
military training on sparrow breeding ecology
on Fort Bragg. In 2014, we attached radio
transmitters to 15 female Bachman’s sparrows,
which helped us locate nests. We monitored 40
sparrow territories to assess overall productivity
in areas with low and high training activity.
Also, we conducted repeated point counts
across Fort Bragg to document occupancy and
how it is influenced by forest stand structure
and composition and military training activity.
INVESTIGATORS STUDENT STAFF This project addressed aspects of the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service’s Strategic Habitat
Conservation Initiative by linking the response
of coastal marshes to sea level rise with
habitat models for a variety of wildlife species.
We developed hierarchical models of marsh
bird survey data to assess the importance of
biophysical factors on marsh bird distribution
and abundance. Our goal was to evaluate the
uncertainty surrounding predictions from
“downscaled” climate models to predictions
of future species-habitat relationships. We
determined that existing survey data for marsh
birds in the Southeastern United states were
insufficient for making meaningful predictions
of future species distribution and abundance.
INVESTIGATOR STAFF August 2013-August 2015
FUNDING 24
STAFF Jaime A. Collazo
Steven G. Williams
DURATION September 2009-August 2014
LOCATION NC State University
U. S. Geological Survey, Patuxent
Wildlife Research Center
DURATION May 2012 – December 2012
FUNDING Sarah Rosche, Hannah Conley
DURATION INVESTIGATOR NC State University
Alexander Fish, MS, Fisheries,
Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Matthew Krachey
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission (NCWRC) is evaluating the
prospect of reintroducing the species in other
locations in the state to augment recreational
opportunities. As a first step in the process,
we created a state-wide elk habitat suitability
map. Habitats in the state were categorized
as 66% unsuitable, 16.7% low, 17% medium,
and <1% high suitability for elk. We ranked
31 areas (≥500 km2) based on their suitability
for reintroduction. The central and northcentral region of the state contained the top
5 ranked areas. The Blue Ridge Mountains,
where the extant population of elk occurs, was
ranked 21st. Our work provides a benchmark
for decision makers to evaluate potential
consequences and trade-offs associated with
the selection of prospective elk reintroduction
sites.
LOCATION Christopher Moorman,
Christopher S. DePerno
LOCATION T.R. Simons,
Allan O’Connell (PWRC)
Elk habitat suitability map for North
Carolina
U.S. Department of Defense
BIENNIAL REPORT 2013–2014
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
FUNDING NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Field and greenhouse experiments for
the restoration and recovery of the US
federally endangered St. Francis’ satyr
butterfly
BYRON LEVAN
Wild turkey using a native supplemented wildlife opening.
Evaluation of priority game species
use and propagation feasibility of high
value Sandhills native wildlife plants
Land managers often plant and maintain
wildlife openings to attract white-tailed deer
and other game species. However, these
planted openings generally lack the plant
species diversity and structural complexity
present in quality early succession plant
communities. Additionally, planted species
may be non-native and capable of escaping
cultivation and becoming invasive. In 20132014 we established 10 fields planted with
non-native plants, 10 fields planted with
soybeans, 10 fields disked and supplemented
with native seed, and 10 fields disked and
allowed to germinate with no supplemental
seed. Ten more locations were established in
mature, longleaf pine forest to act as reference
points for comparison of wildlife use. We
erected three forage exclusion cages in each
field or forest site to monitor forage production
for white-tailed deer, and we monitored wildlife
use of each field using a camera trap.
INVESTIGATORS Our work on the endangered St. Francis’ satyr
butterfly (Neonympha mitchellii francisci)
has expanded to include habitat restoration
efforts in addition to regular monitoring on
Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. In our eleventh year,
we noticed significant improvement in habitat
quality at restoration plots, which allowed for
St. Francis’ satyrs to naturally colonize them.
This colonization proves critical, as current St.
Francis’ satyr populations that we regularly
monitor elsewhere continue to decline in
numbers. With the use of a new greenhouse
built on base, we have been able to expand our
efforts at captive-rearing and improve on plans
to establish a stock population. After ten years
of searching, we finally located a St. Francis’
satyr caterpillar in the wild and were able to
confirm the species’ host plant. Our efforts in
the future will focus on maintaining restoration
plots so they support breeding populations,
and increasing our efforts at captive-rearing
and mating adult butterflies.
INVESTIGATOR STUDENT Nick M. Haddad
Integrated waterbird management
and monitoring within the Atlantic
and Mississippi flyways.
The Integrated Waterbirds Management
and Monitoring (IWMM) initiative combines
standardized monitoring and modeling at
flyway, regional, and local scales to address
information needs of waterbird managers and
to guide future management decisions about
where to focus time and other resources on
habitat management and restoration. The
program uses monitoring information in an
adaptive management framework applied at
three spatial scales to inform management
decisions. The IWMM serves as a tool for Flyway
Technical Committees to address waterbird
habitat management, and link quantity/
quality/locations of waterbird habitat to
waterbird population goals. The program is a
collaboration among conservation partners
located along the Atlantic and Mississippi
Flyways, including the USFWS, the states, Ducks
Unlimited (DU) and other non-governmental
agencies.
INVESTIGATOR STAFF Jaime A. Collazo
Brian Tavernia, Michael Runge,
James E. Lyons
Johnny Wilson, Ph.D., Biology
LOCATION Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Erik Aschehoug, Frances Sivakoff,
Heather Cayton, Kayla Campasino, Nicole
Mathis, Ross Pilotte, Megan Thoemmes,
Josh Zajdel
and NC State
STAFF LOCATION Fort Bragg, North Carolina
DURATION May 2012-May 2013
FUNDING DURATION FUNDING September 2010-September 2013
U.S. Geological Survey
US Army, XVIII Airborne Corps
& Ft. Bragg
Christopher Moorman,
Christopher DePerno
STUDENTS Byron Levan, MS, Fisheries, Wildlife,
and Conservation Biology
STAFF Matt Bodenhamer, Matt Peckham
LOCATION Fort Bragg, North Carolina
DURATION August 2013-July 2016
FUNDING U.S. Department of Defense, Fort
Bragg Military Installation
25
Monitoring and restoration for the US
federally endangered St. Francis’ satyr
butterfly
TRACY BORNEMAN
Jessica Piispanen evaluated the use of field borders to
enhance water quality and nesting success of quail and
early successional songbirds in the coastal plain of North
Carolina.
Map of the posterior means of the predicted number of
species in the observed communities for the winter season
(Dec – Feb).
Maximizing the benefits of field
borders for nesting quail and earlysuccession songbirds
Modeling of seabird distributions in
the western Atlantic in anticipation of
wind energy development
This project is building upon the existing
agreement between Murphy-Brown, LLC and
the NC Wildlife Resource Commission (currently
and previously funded by NC Department of
Justice/Smithfield Environmental Enhancement
Grants). We used wildlife video cameras to
monitor quail and songbird nests in and around
field borders to determine nest depredation
patterns and how these relate to field border
characteristics such as border width and
placement within the farm and surrounding
landscape. Results from the study were used
to provide recommendations to agencies
and landowners for using water quality
enhancement measures (i.e., field borders) for
maximizing the nest success rates of birds that
use them. We employed scientific and popular
publications, lectures, and workshops/field
demonstrations to disseminate management
recommendations to landowners.
We analyzed aerial strip-transect survey
data collected in southern New England
using community occupancy models
and dynamic occupancy models to make
comparisons across space and time while
formally accounting for imperfect detection
probabilities. Predictions of species-specific
winter distributions were made in two study
plots (Rhode Island and Nantucket Sound),
using environmental covariate relationship
estimates from two independent community
occupancy models. We found larger differences
between the study plots in predicted diving
species’ distributions than predicted surfacefeeding species’ distributions. A three-year
aerial strip-transect survey dataset collected
in Nantucket Sound was analyzed using
dynamic occupancy models where spatial
variation in probabilities of initial occupancy,
extinction, and colonization was modeled
using environmental covariates. Results largely
matched our expectations with the significant
inter-annual shifts observed in predicted winter
distributions of three diving species, common
eider Somateria mollissima, northern gannet
Morus bassanus, and razorbill Alca torda, as
notable exceptions.
INVESTIGATOR STAFF T.R. Simons
Jason Riddle (University of
Wisconsin Stevens Point)
DURATION October 2009-December 2012
SPONSOR North Carolina Department of
Justice
INVESTIGATOR STUDENT LOCATION DURATION: 26
BIENNIAL REPORT 2013–2014
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Beth Gardner
Nicholas Flanders, MS, Fisheries,
Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
NC State University
August 2011—August 2014
Recent studies of the endangered St. Francis’
satyr butterfly (Neonympha mitchellii francisci)
on Ft. Bragg, North Carolina have focused on
population monitoring and habitat restoration.
We continued with these activities for our
twelfth year, and observed the largest numbers
at a single site since 2010. These butterflies are
the result of habitat restoration and release of
captive bred individuals. Captive releases have
occurred at this restoration site since 2012. It
appears that butterflies are now successfully
breeding in the wild and the population is
growing. We continued the captive breeding
program in 2014, releasing one brood of
butterflies. For the first time we successfully
mated captive bred individuals that produced
viable eggs, the resulting adults will be released
in spring 2015.
INVESTIGATOR STUDENT STAFF Nick M. Haddad
Erica Henry, PhD Biology
Erik Aschehoug, Heather Cayton,
Benjamin Best, Kendall Driver
LOCATION Fort Bragg, North Carolina
DURATION May 2014-April 2015
FUNDING US Army XVIII Airborne Corps
& Ft. Bragg
Monitoring and testing demographic
effects of restoration for the US
federally endangered St. Francis’ satyr
butterfly
In our twelfth year of studies on the
endangered St. Francis’ satyr butterfly
(Neonympha mitchellii francisci), we focused on
monitoring and restoration of critical habitat
on Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. We continued
to rear captive-bred individuals for release at
high quality sites and monitor vegetation at
existing colonies. While historic populations
still remain at critically low levels, we observed
an increase of individuals at restoration sites
due to a combination of captive releases and
breeding in the wild. We have gained new
insights into egg and larvae survival at restored
sites, as well as examined predator loads within
these sites. We have expanded our captiverearing efforts to include more individuals, and
now include captive mating as an integral part
of our plans. Our success with restoration has
allowed us to create additional restored habitat
within historic sites, with the goal of sustaining
historic populations that are still in decline. Our
future goals for conservation efforts include
monitoring and expanding restoration areas,
and establishing a large captive stock through
captive mating.
INVESTIGATOR STUDENT Nick M. Haddad
Johnny Wilson, P.D, Biology
STAFF Erik Aschehoug, Frances Sivakoff,
Heather Cayton, Elsita Kiekebusch, Spencer
Goyette, Kairsten Fay, Gabriela Quinlan
LOCATION DURATION FUNDING Fort Bragg, North Carolina
May 2013-May 2014
US Army, XVIII Airborne Corps & Ft.
Bragg
S. PRADO
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COOPERATIVE FISHER PROJECT
Amarilys Irizarry samples native bees in a coffee plantation
in Puerto Rico- Conservation Design Project.
Female fisher 17582 moving 2 kits to a new den.
Monitoring Federal Trust Avian Species
in managed shade coffee plantations
under the Partner for Fish and Wildlife
and Coastal Programs in Puerto Rico
Northern Sierra Nevada fisher
translocation continuity
The Partner for Fish and Wildlife and Coastal
Programs of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS) has worked to restore and enhance
important habitat for Federal Trust Species
in private lands in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin
Islands. Conversion of sun to shade-grown
coffee through agroforestry practices is one
mechanism being employed since 2001.
The objective of this work is to develop a
monitoring scheme that will help USFWS
quantify the benefits derived from the Program
towards fostering the persistence of Federal
Trust Species. A secondary objective is to
determine at what time since implementation
of management actions are those benefit
detected as this has implications for strategic
habitat conservation.
INVESTIGATOR STUDENT In December 2009 to December 2011, we
released fishers (Pekania pennanti; 24F, 16M)
onto the Stirling Management Area owned
by Sierra Pacific Industries in the Northern
Sierra Nevada mountains. Through 2014, the
released fishers experienced high survival
post-release for up to 4 years after release. We
found 16 fishers dead. Fishers reproduced in
all years and fishers born on the release site
have reproduced. Released fishers established
home ranges; males had larger home ranges
and travelled further than females. On average,
released female fishers upon recapture had
increased their weights by 0.1 kg and males
by 0.4 kg. Juvenile fishers captured on Stirling
weighed more than similarly aged juveniles
from other parts of California.
INVESTIGATOR STUDENTS Jaime A. Collazo
Amarilys Irizarry, MS, Zoology
STAFF Roger A. Powell
Aaron N. Facka, PhD, Zoology;
Robert C. Swiers, MS, Zoology
Sean M. Mathews, Kevin P. Smith
LOCATION Northern Sierra Nevada, California
LOCATION Puerto Rico, NC State University
DURATION September 2014-August 2017
DURATION FUNDING U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
FUNDING September 2012 – September 2013
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
27
Optimal sampling of animal
communities.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service has
approximately 2.4-2.5 million acres of private
lands enrolled in the Safe Harbor Program
(SHMA) for Red-cockaded Woodpeckers
(RCW) across the Southeast. The objective of
this work is to develop a sampling scheme
that will help USFWS quantify the benefits
of SHMAs on non-surrogate species across
southeastern United States. Because SHMAs
influence present and future habitat conditions,
the sampling scheme will be geared towards
estimating parameters that quantify species
richness and the dynamics of single species or
avian communities over time (e.g., occupancy,
extinction and colonization rates, inference
about interactions). This work will tap existing
occupancy-based models, develop extensions
if needed, but center their application around
a sound and flexible sampling design for
implementation across the southeast.
INVESTIGATOR STUDENT STAFF Jaime A. Collazo
Jessica Stocking, PhD, Fisheries,
Wildlife and Conservation Biology
Krishna Pacifici, Brian Reich,
Eric Laber
LOCATION NC State University
DURATION September 2014-September 2018
FUNDING U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
CHRIS MOORMAN
Reducing burning impacts on native
forage: implications for terrestrial
vertebrate nutrition and food
availability
Management of the longleaf pine ecosystem
has moved toward use of frequent
growing-season prescribed fires. However,
homogeneous fire application during a narrow
burn season on a relatively consistent returninterval is based on historical averages and
likely does not represent the heterogeneity in
naturally ignited fires. We planned to test the
effects of such a fire regime on forage quality,
understory fruit production, and arthropod
availability A 4th objective was to assess microsite selection of southeastern fox squirrels using
known GPS relocations. We completed all field
work, data collection, and data entry from
April-September 2014 (with the exception of
pending laboratory analyses of forage samples).
Preliminary analyses regarding fruit production
indicate that a 2-year (or more frequent) returninterval will essentially eliminate understory
fruit production in the longleaf pine ecosystem.
INVESTIGATORS STUDENT Christopher DePerno,
Christopher Moorman
Elizabeth Stevenson, MS, Fisheries,
Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
STAFF Colter Chitwood, Marcus Lashley,
Jaimie Nevins, Mary Bennett, Anthony Lucia,
Ben Patterson
28
LOCATION Fort Bragg, North Carolina
DURATION September 2013 – December 2015
FUNDING U. S. Department of Defense; Fort
Bragg Military Installation
BIENNIAL REPORT 2013–2014
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
B. BROWN
Morgan Parks and Jaime Collazo sample prey base of
aquatic birds in southwestern Puerto Rico- Wetland
Management Project.
Testing a decision model to maximize
suitable habitat for migratory
shorebirds in saline lagoons
Managers of the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife
Refuge wish to provide quality feeding
habitat for aquatic birds through hydrologic
management of impoundments. We are
testing a decision model designed to maximize
accessible habitat (depth) for foraging
shorebirds at salinity levels that promote high
prey density. The model links management
objectives and actions, predicting possible
outcomes from a suite of alternative actions.
Monitoring shorebird numbers and use is also
an integral component of this process as it
permits the quantitative evaluation of how
the system responds to a management action,
and whether that response conforms to model
predictions.
INVESTIGATOR STUDENT STAFF Jaime A. Collazo
Morgan Parks, MS, Zoology
Paul L. Fackler
LOCATION Puerto Rico and NC State University
DURATION FUNDING July 2012-September 2015
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
BRANDON SHERRILL
MORGAN SWINGEN
The effects of growing-season
prescribed fire on small mammals and
ground-nesting birds at Fort Bragg,
North Carolina
A recent emphasis in use of growing-season
prescribed fire may alter habitat for grounddwelling wildlife (e.g., small mammals and
ground-nesting birds) and reduce acorn
production critical to a variety of wildlife. In
2011 and 2012, we captured small mammals in
each of 5 main cover types, including upland
pine 1, 2, and 3 years post-burning. Captures
declined with time since burn. We located wild
turkey nests and monitored survival by tracking
radio-marked hens. Though 1/3 of the study
area was burned during the turkey nesting
season, only 1 of 30 nests (3.3%) was destroyed
by fire. Additionally, prescribed fire likely
maintained the optimal vegetation structure
in riparian ecotones, where over 50% of nests
were located. From March 2011 to July 2012,
we tracked 51 radiocollared southeastern fox
squirrels, which selected the upland longleaf
pine cover type, especially areas adjacent to
riparian forests.
INVESTIGATORS Christopher Moorman,
Christopher DePerno
STUDENT Eric Kilburg, MS, Fisheries, Wildlife,
and Conservation Biology; Annemarie Prince,
MS, Fisheries, Wildlife,
and Conservation Biology
STAFF Brandon Sherrill, Kyle Young,
Michael Nunnery, Molly Frisicano, Alex Schaich
Borg, Matthew Broadway, Adam Murkowski,
Amanda Schrader, Brittany Peterson, Ryan
Davis, Cooper Farr
LOCATION Fort Bragg, North Carolina
DURATION September 2009-November 2013
FUNDING U.S. Department of Defense
MARCUS LASHLEY
Tranquilized female white-tailed deer at Fort Bragg,
NC 2011.
The influence of coyotes on whitetailed deer recruitment at Fort Bragg,
North Carolina
We examined coyote space use and
depredation of deer. Fawn survival was 14%,
which is the lowest survival rate reported
from the southeastern US. Predation was
a leading cause of mortality, accounting
for 35 of 65 (54%) known fates. Coyotes
were responsible for 30 of the 35 (86%)
depredations. Additionally, we documented
4 coyote depredations of adult female deer,
which represents a previously undocumented
mortality source in the region. Using vital rates
derived from our radiocollared adults and
fawns, we developed a population model and
determined the current population is declining
at a rate of 9% annually. Modeling scenarios
revealed that reducing female harvest rates
alone will not stall the decline and that
coyote removal may have to be coupled with
reductions in female harvest to stall population
declines in areas with low deer density.
INVESTIGATORS Christopher DePerno,
Christopher Moorman
STUDENTS Colter Chitwood, PhD, Fisheries,
Wildlife, and Conservation Biology; Morgan
Swingen (Elfelt), MS, Fisheries, Wildlife, and
Conservation Biology
STAFF Brandon Sherrill, Kyle Young,
Michael Nunnery, Alex Schaich Borg, Matthew
Broadway, Adam Murkowski, Amanda Schrader,
Brittany Peterson
LOCATION Fort Bragg, North Carolina
DURATION September 2009-June 2014
FUNDING U. S. Department of Defense; Fort
Bragg Military Installation
The influence of growing-season
prescribed fire on white-tailed deer
habitat use and forage availability at
Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Homogeneous fire application during a narrow
burn season on a relatively consistent return
interval is based on historical averages and
likely does not represent the heterogeneity
in naturally ignited fires. In 2011-2012, we
fitted 37 adult female deer with GPS collars to
investigate deer habitat selection in relation to
fire frequency and seasonality. We also evaluated
effects of fire regime on hard and soft mast
abundance, forage quality and availability,
and cover availability. Continuous ignition of
fires from firebreaks resulted in an unnatural
distribution of hard mast. Soft mast peaked at
different times in the summer depending on
the season of fire and forest type. Forage quality
was improved for a short time after fire, forage
availability peaked 3 years post fire, and visual
obstruction continued to increase with timesince-fire. Deer avoided recently burned areas
with higher selectivity for longer durations since
fire, indicating the availability of cover (i.e., visual
obstruction) was driving deer habitat selection.
INVESTIGATORS STUDENT Christopher Moorman,
Christopher DePerno
Marcus A. Lashley, PhD, Fisheries,
Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
STAFF Brandon Sherrill, Kyle Young,
Michael Nunnery, Molly Frisicano, Alex Schaich
Borg, Matthew Broadway, Adam Murkowski,
Amanda Schrader, Brittany Peterson, Ryan
Davis, Cooper Farr
LOCATION Fort Bragg Military Installation,
North Carolina
DURATION September 2009 – November 2013
FUNDING U.S. Department of Defense, Fort
Bragg Military Installation
29
Research: Integrated Ecology
Advanced training for natural resources professionals.................................. 31
Advancing the use and application of diverse data sources and
species distribution models............................................................................................ 31
Applying downscaled climate projections to inform decisions on
strategic habitat conservation for amphibians in Puerto Rico.................. 31
Assessing climate-sensitive ecosystems in the southeastern U.S........... 32
Assessing South Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative
terrestrial indicators............................................................................................................. 32
Conservation design and habitat conservation in Puerto Rico................ 32
Cooperative landscape and conservation and adaptive science:
collaborative conservation design project: science support for the
South Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative Conservation
blueprint..................................................................................................................................... 33
Describing cultural support for and barriers to collaborative
management within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service................................. 33
Dissemination and applications of population monitoring techniques
in Latin America..................................................................................................................... 33
Extending the Adaptive Management framework.......................................... 34
Identifying likely Conservation Opportunity Areas (COAs) and
provide GIS data and mapping for the 2015 revision of NC
Wildlife Action Plan.............................................................................................................. 34
Integrating the effects of global and local climate change on wildlife in
North America......................................................................................................................... 34
BRANDON SHERRILL
Kara Dziwulski tracking as part of vertebrate biodiversity project.
Keystone Field to Market Initiative............................................................................. 35
Modeling and mapping landscape pattern resilience and
vulnerability.............................................................................................................................. 35
Strategic conservation planning for six priority natural environments
for the Eastern North Carolina/Southeastern Virginia Strategic
Habitat Conservation Team............................................................................................. 37
Modeling impacts of biomass production on landscapes
and wildlife................................................................................................................................ 35
Stategic habitat conservation in Puerto Rico...................................................... 38
Funding Biofuels Center of North Carolina Native-naturalized plant
species for pollinators in agricultural lands in the Caribbean area......... 36
Strategic decision planning for threatened and endangered (T&E)
species recovery in Puerto Rico.................................................................................... 38
Nature Conservancy Great Rivers Partnership Fellowship........................... 36
Statewide terrestrial habitat threats and risks projections based on
climate change, urbanization, and strategic conservation decisions.. 38
Research and applications in support of the National Gap Analysis
Program....................................................................................................................................... 36
Restoration and management of coastal lagoons in Puerto Rico.......... 37
Southeast integrated assessment: climate change and wildlife
dynamics..................................................................................................................................... 37
30
BIENNIAL REPORT 2013–2014
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Systems’ response to climate change projections and speciesdistribution models in the Caribbean...................................................................... 39
Vertebrate biodiversity of agricultural fields: a database and metrics to
facilitate conservation partnerships in productive landscapes................ 39
Advancing the use and application
of diverse data sources and species
distribution models
TOM KWAK
Dr. Ken Pollock lecturing on statistical methods for
assessing fish and wildlife.
Advanced training for natural
resources professionals
We provided training to enhance and expand
skills and capacity of biologists, managers
and planners to address natural resources
conservation challenges in Puerto Rico. Training
was multi-faceted, stressing the benefits of
integrated and multi-disciplinary work. We
held 8 targeted workshops offered by leading
professionals in the field from Puerto Rico and
the United States. The thematic composition
of workshops was selected via a consultation
process with professionals of the Department
to maximize the relevance and impact of
workshops. Workshop topics were: Principles
of Statistics, Experimental Design, Structured
Decision Making I and II, Species Distribution
Models: application of occupancy, Developing
Standard Fish Sampling Techniques and Creel
Surveys, Monitoring Avian Productivity and
Survival (MAPS) for Wildlife Conservation:
Application of mist-netting (capture-recapture)
data, and Technical Writing Basics, and
Paragraph Organization, Vocabulary, and
Grammar for Technical Writers.
INVESTIGATOR Change in land use patterns and climate
are factors influencing avian species status
and trends in North America. Changes are
expected to be pervasive, and thus, central to
discussions about sustainable populations and
how to inform decisions aimed at strategic
habitat conservation and monitoring. We
will develop an analytical framework that
integrates multiple data sources to efficiently
and effectively understand current and future
avian distribution patterns and the potential
for sustaining populations. In recent years,
non-traditional data gathering approaches
(e.g., citizen science) have gained impetus
and prominence due to their appeal and
acceptance by the public. Cumulative
data raises the prospect of its potential to
supplement or complement other data sources
(e.g., BBS, ARMI, NAAMP), and thus, improve
inferences about species distribution and
responses to a changing environment if used
rigorously.
INVESTIGATOR STUDENT STAFF Jaime A. Collazo
Andrea Kostura, PhD, Statistics
Krishna Pacifici, Brian Reich, Eric
Laber
LOCATION NC State University
DURATION August 2014-September 2018
FUNDING Gap Analysis Program (USGS)
Applying downscaled climate
projections to inform decisions on
strategic habitat conservation for
amphibians in Puerto Rico.
The PR Department of Natural and
Environmental Resources and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service want to implement a strategic
habitat conservation strategy that ensures
the long-term persistence of amphibians in
the advent of climate change. We partnered
with the Southeast Climate Science Center
to identify areas where the likelihood of
occurrence and deviations from physiological
optima and thresholds will be lowest relative
to the present state of climatic conditions.
These data will help develop approaches
to link downscale climate projection with
projected distribution patterns of wildlife, and
inform decisions on whether additional habitat
should be incorporated into existing protected
habitat, and if more is needed, where these
areas should be located to meet the stated
fundamental objective of species persistence.
INVESTIGATOR STUDENT Jaime A. Collazo
Kelen Dowdy, MS, Zoology
STAFF Krishna Pacifici, Adam Terando,
Brian Reich, Eric Laber
LOCATION Puerto Rico, NC State University
DURATION June 2014-June 2017
FUNDING US Geological Survey, Science
Support Program
Jaime A. Collazo
STAFF Sophie Veran, Michael J. Conroy,
Krishna Pacifici, Colin Shea, Mary Kornegay, Tom
Kwak, Ken Pollock, Jesse Fisher, Wes Neal
LOCATION Puerto Rico
DURATION November 2011–September 2014
FUNDING Puerto Rico Department of Natural
and Environmental Resources
31
Assessing climate-sensitive ecosystems
in the southeastern U.S.
We synthesized data and literature related to
three components of vulnerability: climate
sensitivity, climate change exposure, and
adaptive capacity. We also summarized all
information into a qualitative vulnerability
rating for each ecosystem. We assessed
twelve ecosystems in the first approach,
five were rated as having high vulnerability,
six had moderate vulnerability, and one
had low vulnerability. We did a more
detailed assessment on two ecosystems
and the vulnerability ratings generally
agreed. Important conservation strategies
we identified to reduce vulnerability and
improve adaptive capacity for the ecosystems
included maintaining connectivity, restoring
or maintaining disturbance processes, and
minimizing the effects of urbanization. This
synthesis of this information for key ecosystems
across the entire Southeast and Caribbean will
enable regional decision-makers to prioritize
current efforts and plan future research and
monitoring for conservation of these important
ecosystems.
INVESTIGATOR STAFF Jaime A. Collazo
Jennifer Costanza
LOCATION DURATION FUNDING NC State University
August 2012 – December 2013
U.S. Geological Survey, Southeast
Climate Science Center
Assessing South Atlantic Landscape
Conservation Cooperative terrestrial
indicators
The South Atlantic Landscape Conservation
Cooperative (SALCC) developed a list
terrestrial data products expected to serve
as indicators to both guide landscape-scale,
long-term natural resource conservation
planning and to monitor the success of the
plan as it is implemented. Selected through
regional workshops and expert elicitation,
these indicators are believed to broadly
represent the critical ecosystem processes
and components necessary to ensure the
integrity of the targeted natural resources. High
performing indicators would correlate strongly
with ecosystem components and processes
not only under present day conditions, but
also under future conditions. Once identified,
high performing indicators could be targeted
by SALCC partners for increased monitoring
effort in support of learning through adaptive
management or for directed research to better
understand mechanisms behind correlative
relationships. Low performing or redundant
indicators could be recommended for removal
from the Blueprint design.
INVESTIGATOR STAFF Louise B. Alexander-Vaughn, C.
Ashton Drew
LOCATION NC State University
DURATION September 2013-September 2014
FUNDING 32
Jaime A. Collazo
BIENNIAL REPORT 2013–2014
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
South Atlantic Landscape
Conservation Cooperative
Conservation design and habitat
conservation in Puerto Rico
The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and
Environmental Resources wants to implement
a habitat conservation strategy that ensures
the long-term persistence of resident avifauna.
This will require a decision framework to assess
the trade-offs among alternative actions. While
the amount of habitat to be targeted has been
established (7% increase from baseline), the
challenge is to specify where and why? This
project will: 1) develop an implementable
and robust framework to optimally allocate
conservation efforts, 2) generate demographic
data across the central mountains of Puerto
Rico, the focal area of this project, and 3)
determine how farming management practices
in dominant agro-ecosystems in the region
(e.g., coffee plantations) might influence
decisions.
INVESTIGATOR Jaime A. Collazo
STUDENTS Amarilys Irizarry, MS, Zoology;
Kathryn Battle, MS, Fisheries, Wildlife, and
Conservation Biology; Phillip Patton, MS,
Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
STAFF Sara Prado, Krishna Pacifici, Brian
Reich, Eric Laber
LOCATION Puerto Rico
DURATION October 2013-September 2017
FUNDING PR Department of Natural and
Environmental Resources
Cooperative landscape and
conservation and adaptive science:
collaborative conservation design
project: science support for the South
Atlantic Landscape Conservation
Cooperative Conservation blueprint.
The South Atlantic Landscape Conservation
Cooperative (SALCC) has sponsored a project
to design a shared blueprint for landscape
conservation actions that sustain natural and
cultural resources in the South Atlantic region.
The blueprint will be based on natural resource
indicators and targets already selected by the
SALCC (http://www.southatlanticlcc.org/page/
indicators) and cultural resource indicators
and targets under development. An initial
trial version of the Blueprint will be released
in March 2014. This version will require critical
testing and evaluation, by the SALCC steering
committee, partners, and scientific community.
As part of the science assessment, we will
develop and implement a method to measure
the Blueprint’s sensitivity to changes in the rank
importance of species distributions, landscape
function (e.g., connectivity), and threats.
INVESTIGATORS STAFF Jaime A. Collazo,
Bradley Pickens, Louise B.
Alexander-Vaughn, C. Ashton Drew
LOCATION NC State University
DURATION September 2013-August 2016
FUNDING South Atlantic Landscape
Conservation Cooperative
Describing cultural support for and
barriers to collaborative management
within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Dissemination and applications of
population monitoring techniques in
Latin America
Lack of effective collaboration models among
federal scientists and non-governmental
stakeholders limits the application of adaptive
management within U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
(FWS). In this study, an online survey and
targeted interviews were used to explore how
FWS personnel in Region 4 think about and apply
collaborative approaches in their work. Several
recommendations emerged for enhancing
the level of collaborative decision-making.
For example, FWS leaders should establish
a mechanism so staff can describe and “get
credit for” multi-year activities of collaborative
partnerships. To enhance the continuity of
collaborative partnerships, project leaders should
develop a strategy for how they will introduce
a new FWS representative to a collaborative
partnership when the original representative
exits.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’ Office
of International Affair wants to reframe its
capacity building program to address these
needs, and increase its sustainability and
impact on decisions influencing management
and conservation of natural resources in Latin
America. We conducted a first assessment of
the capacity building needs during a workshop
during the EURING conference in Athens,
GA (April 2013). The workshop generated a
comprehensive list of current challenges for 1)
implementing efficient monitoring programs,
and 2) conducting capacity building for
improved monitoring and conservation. The
main challenges for the first item stem from
a lack of suitable monitoring data, and a lack
of awareness and support from government
agencies for the application of current, robust
monitoring approaches. Challenges for the
second item stem from lack of personnel and
curriculum at academic institutions to teach
current methods, and the lack of support
in contextualizing current methods for the
ecological (e.g. low sample sizes) and cultural
(e.g. language) needs of Latin America.
INVESTIGATORS George Hess
STUDENTS Kathryn B. Reis, PhD, Fisheries and
Wildlife Sciences
LOCATION U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
DURATION March 2010-June 2013
INVESTIGATOR STAFF Jaime A. Collazo
Viviana Ruiz
LOCATION NC State University,
University of Georgia
DURATION March 2013-September 2013
FUNDING U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
33
Extending the Adaptive Management
framework
Most management and conservation problems
are plagued with high levels of uncertainties,
which make optimal decision making difficult.
We developed a unifying framework that
allows for the incorporation of different types
of uncertainty while providing a robust and
flexible framework to learn efficiently. Any
observed variable or signal can be used to
learn about system dynamics, which has the
potential to increase the speed and value
of learning and increase the likelihood of
targeting the aspects of the problem in which
uncertainty plays the largest role. This approach
has the advantage of potentially being able to
accommodate climate change, characterized
by parameter drift or non-stationarity in a
system, by treating slowly evolving system
parameters as part of the system uncertainty.
We also extended the application of models
accounting for correlated detections among
count stations as a means to evaluate patch
dynamics (extinction/colonization). This is
an approach for strong inferences for the
underlying factors influencing species response
and distributional shifts due to changes in
environmental conditions.
INVESTIGATORS STAFF Jaime A. Collazo,
Identifying likely Conservation
Opportunity Areas (COAs) and provide
GIS data and mapping for the 2015
revision of NC Wildlife Action Plan
This project is an effort to augment and
enhance the 2015 North Carolina State
Wildlife Action Plan by providing GIS support
and analytical capabilities through the North
Carolina USGS Cooperative Research Unit.
Two major components comprise this effort.
The first of which is to evaluate the efficacy
of applying new and existing regional data
sets in a GIS model to evaluate various threats
to habitats and identify likely Conservation
Opportunity Areas (COAs) to benefit Species
of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). The
second component is to develop an online GIS
portal to serve NCWRC and their conservation
partners by consolidating pertinent data sets
and providing easy customized access to data
products. Additionally, ongoing GIS support
will be provided in the development of the
2015 SWAP.
INVESTIGATOR STAFF LOCATION DURATION FUNDING Krishna Pacifici, James D. Nichols,
Paul L. Fackler
LOCATION NC State University
DURATION September 2011-April 2014
FUNDING U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and
Jaime A. Collazo
Steven G. Williams
NC State University
January 2014-December 2016
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Integrating the effects of global and
local climate change on wildlife in
North America
In this project we consider the extent to
which warming in urban centers influences
the biology of insects, particularly those that
feed on trees. The hottest parts of cities in
eastern North America (we are considering
New York, Baltimore, Raleigh-Durham and
Boston) are as warm as rural parts of those
same regions are predicted to be in 2100.
To date, we have shown that many insect
species respond to urban warming in ways
similar to those predicted for climate change
(shifting phenologies, increases in abundance
of thermally tolerant species, local extinctions
of thermally intolerant species). With these
successes, we then shifted to comparing
whether these match the responses of species
to experimental warming or historic warming
through time. In doing show, we have shown
that, for example, scale insect species that
are more abundant in urban areas are also
more abundant in response to experimental
warming and their abundance, over the last
fifty years, has also tracked historic climate
change. Key next steps have been to better
understand the mechanisms of these responses
(that they might reliably be extended into
future predictions) and understanding their
consequences. For example, if we understand
the response of herbivores and pathogens to
urban warming can we also predict the effects
of urban (and future) warming on tree growth.
INVESTIGATORS Robert R. Dunn, Steve Frank,
Nick Haddad, Nadia Singh
Wildlife Service
STUDENT STAFF BIENNIAL REPORT 2013–2014
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Elsa Youngsteadt, Amy Savage
LOCATION Eastern North American cities
DURATION August 2011-September 2014
FUNDING 34
Emily Meineke, Entomology; Adam
Dale, Entomology
U.S. Geological Survey
Keystone Field to Market Initiative
We developed a biodiversity metric that allows
producers to compare the expected impacts
of alternative practices (e.g. crop choice,
tillage methods, field margin management,
etc.) on vertebrate species within and around
commercial agricultural fields. The metric
uses a producer’s inputs about their field-level
practices to calculate a biodiversity score
for individual fields of commercially grown
corn, wheat, cotton, and soy crops in the
Coastal Plain and Piedmont of VA, NC, and
SC. The metric is an indirect, additive index
which combines landscape-level specieshabitat distribution data (Southeast GAP)
and expert knowledge of species site-level
forage and shelter resource preferences. Our
results demonstrate that even large-scale,
conventional agricultural producers are
potentially important partners in biodiversity
conservation. The metric offers a means to
educate both producers and conservation
managers about the potential value of
agricultural practices in sustaining diverse
vertebrate wildlife communities.
INVESTIGATOR STAFF Jaime A. Collazo
Alexa McKerrow, John Anderson, C.
Ashton Drew, Louise Alexander-Vaughn
LOCATION Virginia, North Carolina,
and South Carolina
DURATION January 2011-December 2013
FUNDING The Keystone Center
Modeling and mapping landscape
pattern resilience and vulnerability
Modeling impacts of biomass
production on landscapes and wildlife
Understanding how landscape pattern has
changed in the past is critical for conserving
those resources in the future. This project uses
state-of-the-art landscape pattern analysis
along with global data on forest change
from 2000 to 2012 to measure the resilience
of interior forests. We examined the spatial
patterns of forest gains and losses over that
time period in relation to the forest spatial
patterns in 2000 to determine how interior
forests were affected globally. Specifically, we
examined whether interior forest had been
maintained over that time. We found that from
2000 to 2012, interior forest was lost at three
times the rate of all forests, indicating that
globally, interior forests have not been resilient
to change. The result varied by ecoregion,
with some losing interior forest at higher
rates, while others gained interior forest over
that period. Nevertheless, our results show
that globally, forests have been shifting to a
more fragmented condition. This increase in
fragmentation has important implications for
wildlife habitat, and especially species that
depend on interior forests.
Recently, much of the debate on renewable
fuel alternatives has focused on the potential
for broad-scale biofuel production from
annual and perennial crops, but the landscape
impacts of this production have not been fully
addressed. We expect impacts via four major
types of landscape change: conversion of
natural forests to intensively managed forests;
increased management intensity in alreadymanaged forests; conversion of non-forest land
to forest; and conversion of forest to agriculture.
We simulated these types of change for
potential biofuel production scenarios in North
Carolina, where the state’s goal is 10% of liquid
fuels produced from locally-grown biofuels.
Results indicate that meeting the state’s goal
will require large-scale land conversion and
intensification of management, leading to
major landscape changes, and that those
changes will vary by region of the state. Results
suggest that large-scale biofuel production in
North Carolina will have major implications for
ecosystem services such as water quality and
wildlife habitat.
INVESTIGATOR STAFF STAFF Jaime A. Collazo
Jennifer Costanza, Kurt Riitters
LOCATION NC State University
DURATION August 2012-July 2015
FUNDING U.S. Forest Service
INVESTIGATOR Jaime A. Collazo
Jennifer Costanza, Robert Apt,
Ronalds Gonzalez, C. Ashton Drew, Todd
Earnhardt , Matt Rubino and Louise Alexander
LOCATION NC State University
DURATION June 2012-July 2013
35
Funding Biofuels Center of North
Carolina Native-naturalized plant
species for pollinators in agricultural
lands in the Caribbean area
Pollination is an essential ecosystem service
for global plant-based food production, and
animal-mediated pollination plays a prominent
role in provisioning this service. Although
extensive acreages in southern Puerto Rico
and St. Croix, US Virgin Islands are dedicated
to conventional agriculture, information
supporting the conservation of wild bees is
lacking. We surveyed wild bee abundance
and richness at three distances from natural
vegetation in agricultural fields. We report
two new bee species, one for Puerto Rico and
another for Saint Croix. Results indicated that
bee abundance and richness were not affected
by isolation from natural habitat. Several
management practices could be implemented
to attract larger and potentially more diverse
bee populations, including the use of non-crop
field margins as pollinator habitat. We identified
fifteen wildflower species that could be used to
create field margins.
INVESTIGATOR STAFF Jaime A. Collazo
Nature Conservancy Great Rivers
Partnership Fellowship
Research and applications in support
of the National Gap Analysis Program
This was a companion project with the
Keystone Field to Market Initiative aimed at
developing a biodiversity metric that allows
producers to compare the expected impacts
of alternative practices (e.g. crop choice, tillage
methods, field margin management, etc.) on
vertebrate species within and around commercial agricultural fields. The metric uses a producer’s inputs about their field-level practices
to calculate a biodiversity score for individual
fields of commercially grown corn, wheat,
cotton, and soy crops in the Coastal Plain and
Piedmont of VA, NC, and SC. Our results demonstrate that even large-scale, conventional
agricultural producers are potentially important
partners in biodiversity conservation. The metric offers a means to educate both producers
and conservation managers about the potential value of agricultural practices in sustaining
diverse vertebrate wildlife communities.
This project is focused on three critical themes
for the National Gap Analysis Program: applications; monitoring; and refinement. The Program
completed nationally consistent core datasets
(i.e. land cover, public areas database, vertebrate predicted distributions), and seeks to conduct various analyses on a national extent and
develop decision support tools for landscape
level applications. We completed the national
extent distribution models for a wide range of
terrestrial vertebrates and are developing the
approach for incorporating expert/knowledge
base and uncertainty into the Gap specieshabitat models. We have also partnered with
the Biofuels Center of NC and US National Park
Service to integrate GAP land cover and species
models to assess potential impacts of biofuels
production and model species responses to
prescribed fire, respectively. Work also included
assessment of LiDAR to assess effects of fire in
the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, validating expert opinion to guide management
in western North Carolina, and linking climate
change projections and amphibian distribution
models in Puerto Rico
INVESTIGATOR STAFF Sara Prado
LOCATION DURATION FUNDING Puerto Rico
August 2012-August 2013
U.S. Department of Agriculture
(NRCS)
Jaime A. Collazo
Alexa McKerrow, John Anderson, C.
Ashton Drew, Louise Alexander-Vaughn
LOCATION Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina
DURATION March 2012-December 2013
FUNDING [Image 95 near here.Caption: Sara Prado
examines pollinators captured in a shade coffee
plantation in Puerto Rico-Conservation Design
Project. (picture taken by K. Dowdy)]
The Nature Conservancy
INVESTIGATOR STUDENTS Eli Rose, MS, Zoology; Kelen Dowdy,
MS, Zoology; Kara Dziwulski, MS, Zoology
STAFF BIENNIAL REPORT 2013–2014
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Krishna Pacific, Jennifer Costanza, C.
Ashton Drew, Todd Earnhardt,
Matt Rubino, Nathan Tarr
LOCATION Puerto Rico, NC State University
DURATION August 2011-September 2016
FUNDING 36
Jaime A. Collazo
U.S. Geological Survey
Restoration and management of
coastal lagoons in Puerto Rico
Southeast integrated assessment:
climate change and wildlife dynamics
The PR Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) partnered with the
NAWCA Program to manage the hydrology
of La Providencia Lagoon for aquatic birds.
In addition, this project will enable DNER to
determine the functional role of La Providencia
Lagoon (Guanica State Forest) in the context of
other coastal refuges in southwestern Puerto
Rico in supporting aquatic species (waterfowl,
shorebirds). Efforts are also aimed at testing
a decision tool aimed at hydrologic management of coastal impoundments, and whether
active hydrologic management is feasible and
warranted to enhance habitat quality in the
Providencia Lagoon.
Climate change is recognized as a DOI priority
for research and strategic planning. As part
of this effort we assumed a leadership role
in a multi-unit/multi-institution assessment
to provide decision makers and Landscape
Conservation Cooperatives with state-of-thescience projections of potential climate and
landscape changes in the Southeast United
States. Staff of the North Carolina Research
Unit was responsible for developing: models
of avian range dynamics, probabilistic climate
change projections, regional urbanization projections, probabilistic fire regime projections,
and vegetation dynamics models. The Alabama
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
used resulting data to develop robust conservation strategies for adapting to and mitigating
the effects of global change. The products of
this project were not only a set of data that can
inform conservation at multiple scales, but also
a flexible framework that can be implemented
elsewhere and updated to incorporate new
information.
INVESTIGATOR Jaime A. Collazo
STUDENTS Morgan Parks, MS, Zoology; Beatriz
Gonzalez, MS, Marine and Earth Science
STAFF David Eggleston (MEAS), Stacy
Nelson (CNR)
LOCATION Puerto Rico
DURATION September 2012-August 2015
FUNDING Puerto Rico Department of Natural
and Environmental Resources
INVESTIGATOR STUDENT Jaime A. Collazo
Monica Iglecia, MS, Zoology
Strategic conservation planning for six
priority natural environments for the
Eastern North Carolina/Southeastern
Virginia Strategic Habitat Conservation
Team
The Eastern North Carolina, Southeastern
Virginia Strategic Habitat Conservation Team
(ENCSEVA) developed a comprehensive Strategic Habitat Conservation Plan (Plan) to provide
guidance for its members, partners, and collaborators by establishing mutual conservation
goals, objectives, strategies, and metrics to
gauge the success of conservation efforts. The
Plan also provides an approach for ENCSEVA to
meet applied research needs (identify knowledge gaps), foster adaptive management principles, identify conservation priorities, prioritize
threats (including potential impacts of climate
change), and identify the required capacity to
implement strategies to create more resilient
landscapes.
INVESTIGATOR STAFF Jaime A. Collazo
Louise B. Alexander-Vaughn
LOCATION Eastern North Carolina and
Southeastern Virginia
DURATION July 2012-March 2013
FUNDING U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
STAFF Adam Terando, Jennifer Costanza,
Sophie Veran, Curtis Belyea, Todd Earnhardt,
Matt Rubino, and Nathan Tarr
LOCATION NC State University
DURATION September 2009-March 2013
FUNDING U.S. Geological Survey
37
Stategic habitat conservation in Puerto
Rico
Avian communities in human-modified
landscapes exhibit varying patterns of patch
colonization and extinction rates, determinants
of species occurrence and persistence. We
quantified patch dynamics of 7 resident avian
species occurring in two forest reserves and the
agricultural, urbanized and forested matrices.
Occupancy was mediated by matrix type,
being higher in reserves and forested matrix
than in the urban and agricultural matrices.
Colonization rates were strongly influenced by
patch isolation (<500 m) and quality of patches.
Patches with at least 2-3 fruiting tree species
and 61% vegetation cover yielded lower patch
extinction rates. Our work suggests ways in
which habitat matrices might foster local avian
persistence, while illustrating how similar work
could guide conservation design.
INVESTIGATOR STUDENT Julissa Irizarry, MS, Zoology
Louise B. Alexander-Vaughn
DURATION August 2012-September 2013
38
We will facilitate a Structured Decision Making
process with the T&E Species program staff of
the Caribbean Field Office (Ecological Services).
The goal of this project is to identify the decisions made to conserve endangered species,
characterize the reasons for and outcomes from
these decisions, and estimate the opportunities
and constraints affecting these decisions. These
decisions require varying amounts of resources
and effort, depending on such factors as
knowledge of the species biology and ecology,
location of the species on public or private
lands, and nature of the threats to the species.
The workshop will help in prioritizing these
decisions, and funding allocations, in relation to
their contribution towards program objectives
(e.g. recovery of endangered species, delisting
process).
Jaime A. Collazo
STAFF FUNDING Strategic decision planning for
threatened and endangered (T&E)
species recovery in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Department of Natural
and Environmental Resources
INVESTIGATOR STUDENT STAFF Jaime A. Collazo
Jessica Stocking, PhD, Fisheries,
Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
Ashton Drew
Statewide terrestrial habitat threats
and risks projections based on climate
change, urbanization, and strategic
conservation decisions
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) has taken steps to define and
value the habitats of North Carolina to facilitate
science-based, publicly-informed prioritization of the lands proposed for acquisition or
management. Recognizing that landscapes are
dynamic, the NCWRC would prefer that their
prioritization scheme also consider potential
threats to and likely future condition of habitats. This project will deliver a spatially-explicit
Decision Support Tool (DST) to support statewide habitat acquisition and management
decisions by projecting future threats/risks to
terrestrial and aquatic habitats. These include
direct and indirect effects of climate change,
urbanization, and pollution. Output from such
a tool would project expected land cover into
the future in increments that could support
both short- and long-term planning.
INVESTIGATOR STAFF Jaime A. Collazo
Steven G. Williams, Alexa McKerrow
LOCATION OF RESEARCH Puerto Rico, NC State
LOCATION NC State University
University
DURATION January 2013-December 2014
DURATION September 2014-March 2015
FUNDING US Fish and Wildlife Service
BIENNIAL REPORT 2013–2014
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
FUNDING NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Systems’ response to climate change
projections and species-distribution
models in the Caribbean
We modeled projected biotic and abiotic
responses of tropical island ecosystems to
climate change and urbanization. Specifically, we used downscaled climate data to:
1) model climate-change related effects on
water quantity and water temperature across
the island, 2) simulate future spatial patterns
of urban growth across the island according
to recent growth urbanization trends, and 3)
model vegetation dynamics to project future
land covers for Puerto Rico and the USVI. The
objective of these foundational data sets and
assessment is to facilitate the full integration of
science-support projects in support of efforts
to stand-up and operationalize the Caribbean
Landscape Conservation Cooperative.
INVESTIGATOR Jaime A. Collazo
STAFF William Gould , Lauren Hay, Jennifer
Costanza, Azad Henareh Khalyani, Ashley Van
Beusekom
LOCATION Puerto Rico, NC State
DURATION September 2011-September 2014
FUNDING U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service
IAN DUDLEY
Kara Dziwulski and NCWRC mammalogist Brandon Sherrill
attach radio collar to a deer mouse.
Vertebrate biodiversity of agricultural
fields: a database and metrics to
facilitate conservation partnerships in
productive landscapes
Opportunities to engage private landowners
in the management and conservation of the
State’s fish and wildlife species offer tremendous potential benefits. We proposed to develop and empirically test a biodiversity metric
for agricultural landscapes using Christmas tree
agriculture as a case study, and in doing so,
promote better understanding and stronger
partnerships between conservation managers and agricultural land owners. The end
point of the metric is to inform the WRC and
landowners about the possible influence their
practices (positive, negative, neutral) may have
on wildlife within and around agricultural fields,
identifying those practices that benefit wildlife.
The metric provides producers, Extension staff,
and WRC biologists with a tool to quantify the
impacts of alternative commercial agricultural
production decisions on terrestrial vertebrate
species.
INVESTIGATOR STUDENT STAFF LOCATION DURATION FUNDING Jaime A. Collazo
Kara Dziwulski, MS, Zoology
Steven G. Williams, Alexa McKerrow
NC State University
January 2013-December 2015
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
39
Publications and Presentations
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Archambault J.M., C.M. Bergeron, W.G. Cope, R.J. Richardson, M.A. Heilman,
J.E. Corey III, M.E. Netherland, and R.J. Heise. 2014. Sensitivity of freshwater
molluscs to Hydrilla-targeting herbicides: providing context for invasive
aquatic weed control in diverse ecosystems. Journal of Freshwater
Ecology. In press.
Archambault, J.M., W.G. Cope, and T.J. Kwak. 2013. Burrowing, byssus,
and biomarkers: behavioral and physiological indicators of sublethal
thermal stress in freshwater mussels (Unionidae). Marine and Freshwater
Behaviour and Physiology 46: 229-250.
Archambault, J.M., W.G. Cope, and T.J. Kwak. 2014. Influence of sediment
presence on freshwater mussel thermal tolerance. Freshwater Science 33:
56-65.
Archambault, J.M., W.G. Cope, and T.J. Kwak. 2014. Survival and behaviour
of juvenile unionid mussels exposed to thermal stress and dewatering in
the presence of a sediment temperature gradient. Freshwater Biology 59:
601-613.
Becker, S., C. Moorman, C. DePerno, and T. Simons. 2013. Quantifiable longterm monitoring on parks and nature preserves. Southeastern Naturalist
12: 339-352.
Borneman, T.E., E.T. Rose, and T.R. Simons. 2014. Minimal changes in the heart
rate of incubating American Oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus) in
response to human activity. The Condor 116: 493-503.
Camp, A.A., Funk D.H., and Buchwalter, D.B. 2014. A stressful shortness
of breath: molting disrupts breathing in the mayfly Cloeon dipterum.
Freshwater Science 33: 695-699.
Chitwood, M. C., M. A. Lashley, C. E. Moorman, and C. S. DePerno. 2014.
Confirmation of coyote predation on adult female White-tailed Deer in the
southeastern United States. Southeastern Naturalist 13: N30-N32.
Chitwood, M. C., M. A. Lashley, C. E. Moorman, and C. S. DePerno. 2014.
So, coyotes do eat deer—the question is: should we panic? The Upland
Gazette 19: 4-5.
Chitwood, M. C., M. A. Lashley, C. E. Moorman, and C. S. DePerno. 2014.
Vocalization observed in starving White-tailed Deer neonates.
Southeastern Naturalist 13: N6-N8.
Chitwood, M. C., M. A. Lashley, J. C. Kilgo, C. E. Moorman, and C. S. DePerno.
White-tailed deer population dynamics and adult female survival in the
presence of a novel predator. Journal of Wildlife Management. In press.
Collazo, J. A., P. F. Fackler, K. Pacifici, T. H. White, and I. Llerandi-Roman. 2013.
Optimal allocation of captive-reared Puerto Rican parrots: Decisions when
divergent dynamics characterize managed populations. The Journal of
Wildlife Management 77: 1124-1134.
Cooney, P.B. and T.J. Kwak. 2013. Spatial extent and dynamics of dam impacts
on tropical island freshwater fish assemblages. BioScience 63: 176-190.
DeRolph, C.R., S.A.C. Nelson, E.F. Hain, and T.J. Kwak. Predicting fine-scale
distributions of peripheral aquatic species populations in headwater
streams. Ecology and Evolution. In press.
Diamond, S. E., D. M. Sorger, J. Hulcr, S. L. Pelini, I. Del Toro, C. Hirsch, E. Oberg,
and R. R. Dunn. 2012. Who likes it hot? A global analysis of the climatic,
ecological, and evolutionary determinants of warming tolerance in ants.
Global Change Biology 18: 448-456.
Diamond, S. E., H. Cayton, T. Wepprich, C. N. Jenkins, R. R. Dunn, N. M.
Haddad, and L. Ries. Unexpected phenological responses of butterflies to
the interaction of urbanization and geographic temperature. Ecology. In
press.
Diamond, S.E., L. M. Nichols, N. McCoy, C. Hirsch, S. L. Pelini, and R. R. Dunn.
2012. A physiological trait-based approach to predicting the responses of
species to experimental climate warming. Ecology 93: 2305-2312.
Drescher M, A. H. Perera, C. J. Johnson, L. J. Buse, C. A. Drew, and M. A.
Burgman. 2013. Toward rigorous use of expert knowledge in ecological
research. Ecosphere 4: 83.
Engman, A. and A. Ramírez, 2012. Fish assemblage structure in urban
streams of Puerto Rico: the importance of reach- and catchment-scale
abiotic factors. Hydrobiolgia 693: 141-155. Fisk, J.M. II, T.J. Kwak, and R.J. Heise. 2014. Modelling riverine habitat for
robust redhorse: assessment for reintroduction of an imperilled species.
Fisheries Management and Ecology 21: 57-67.
Fisk, J.M. II, T.J. Kwak, R.J. Heise, and F.W. Sessions. 2013. Redd dewatering
effects on hatching and larval survival of the robust redhorse. River
Research and Applications 29: 574-581.
Flowers, H. J., and J. E. Hightower. 2013. A Novel Approach to Surveying
Sturgeon Using Side-scan Sonar and Occupancy Modeling. Marine and
Coastal Fisheries: Dynamics, Management, and Ecosystem Science 5:
211-223.
Flowers, H. J., and J. E. Hightower. Estimating sturgeon abundance in the
Carolinas using side-scan sonar. Marine and Coastal Fisheries: Dynamics,
Management, and Ecosystem Science. In press.
Chitwood, M. C., M. A. Lashley, J. C. Kilgo, K. H. Pollock, C. E. Moorman, and C.
S. DePerno. Do biological and bedsite characteristics influence survival of
neonatal white-tailed deer? PLoS ONE. In press.
Franklin, S., D. Faber-Langendoen, M. Jennings, T. Keeler-Wolf, O. Loucks,
A. McKerrow, R. Peet and D. Roberts. 2012. Building the United States
National Vegetation Classification. Annali di Botanica - Coenology and
Plant Ecology (Roma) 2:1-9.
Clay, R. P., A. J. Lesterhuis, S. Schulte, S. Brown, D. Reynolds, and T.R. Simons.
2014. A global assessment of the conservation status of the American
Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus). Special Issue, International Wader
Study Bulletin 20: 62-82.
Friedl, S. E., J. A. Buckel, J. E. Hightower, F. S. Scharf, and K. H. Pollock. 2013.
Telemetry-based mortality estimates of juvenile spot in two North
Carolina estuarine creeks. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society
142: 399-415
40
BIENNIAL REPORT 2013–2014
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Garner, A.B., T.J. Kwak, K.L. Manuel, and D.H. Barwick. 2013. High-density
grass carp stocking effects on a reservoir invasive plant and water quality.
Journal of Aquatic Plant Management 51: 27-33.
Lashley, M.A., M.C. Chitwood, C.A. Harper, C.E. Moorman, and C.S. DePerno.
2014. Collection, handling, and analysis of wildlife forages for concentrate
selectors. Wildlife Biology in Practice. DOI: 10.2461/wbp.2014.10.2.
Grote, A. B., M. M. Bailey, J. D. Zydlewski, and J. E. Hightower. 2014. Multibeam
sonar (DIDSON) assessment of American shad (Alosa sapidissima)
approaching a hydroelectric dam. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and
Aquatic Sciences 71: 545-558.
Lashley, M.A., M.C. Chitwood, M.T. Biggerstaff, D.L. Morina, C.E. Moorman, and
C.S. DePerno. 2014. White-tailed deer vigilance: social and environmental
factors. PLoS ONE. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090652.
Guenard, B., A. Cardinal-De Casas, and R. R. Dunn. High diversity in an
urban habitat: Are some animal assemblages resilient to long-term
anthropogenic change? Urban Ecosystems. In press.
Leonard, J. A., W. G. Cope, M. C. Barnhart, and R. B. Bringolf. 2014.
Metabolomic, behavioral, and reproductive effects of the aromatase
inhibitor fadrozole hydrochloride on the unionid mussel Lampsilis fasciola.
General and Comparative Endocrinology 206: 213-226.
Harris, J. E., and J. E. Hightower. 2012. Demographic population model
for American shad: will access to additional habitat upstream of dams
increase population sizes? Marine and Coastal Fisheries: Dynamics,
Management, and Ecosystem Services 4: 262-283.
Leonard, J. A., W. G. Cope, M. C. Barnhart, and R. B. Bringolf. 2014.
Metabolomic, behavioral, and reproductive effects of the synthetic
estrogen 17 α-ethinylestradiol on the unionid mussel Lampsilis fasciola.
Aquatic Toxicology 150: 103-116.
Heise, R.J., W.G. Cope, T.J. Kwak, and C.B. Eads. 2013. Short-term effects
of small dam removal on a freshwater mussel assemblage. Walkerana:
Journal of the Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society 16: 41-52.
Lewis J. C., R. A. Powell and W. J. Zielinski. 2012. Carnivore Translocations
and Conservation: Insights from Population Models and Field Data for
Fishers (Martes pennanti). PLoS ONE: http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.
pone.0032726.
Hightower, J. E., K. J. Magowan, L. M. Brown, and D. A. Fox. 2013. Reliability
of fish size estimates obtained from multibeam imaging sonar. Journal of
Fish and Wildlife Management 4: 86-96.
Hines, J. E., J. D. Nichols, and J. A. Collazo. 2014. Multiseason occupancy
models for correlated replicate surveys. Methods in Ecology and Evolution
5: 583-591.
Hudgens B. R., W. F. Morris, N. M. Haddad, W. R. Fields, J. W. Wilson, D. Kuefler,
and R. T. Jobe. 2012. How complex do models need to be to predict
dispersal of threatened species through matrix habitats? Ecological
Applications 22: 1701-1710.
Iglecia, M. N., J. A. Collazo, and A. J. McKerrow. 2012. Use of occupancy
models to evaluate expert and knowledge-based species-habitat
relationships. Avian Conservation and Ecology 7:4 online.
Ivasauskas, T. J., and P. W. Bettoli. 2014. Development of a multimetric index
for fish assemblages in a cold tailwater in Tennessee. Transactions of the
American Fisheries Society 143: 495-507.
Keller, R.A, D. B. Buchwalter, L. Xie, K. E. Franzreb, and T. R. Simons.
2014. Mercury bioaccumulation in southern Appalachian avifauna.
Ecotoxicology 23: 304-316.
Kilburg, E., C. E. Moorman, C. S. DePerno, D. Cobb, and C. A. Harper. 2014. Wild
turkey nest survival and nest-site selection in the presence of growingseason prescribed fire. Journal of Wildlife Management 78: 1033-1039.
Kilburg, E., C. Moorman, and C. DePerno. 2013. Burning during the nesting
season: desirable or disastrous for turkey management? The Upland
Gazette 18: 4-5.
Lashley, M.A., J.R. Thompson, M.C. Chitwood, C.S. DePerno, and C.E.
Moorman. 2014. Evaluation of methods to estimate understory
fruit biomass in temperate forests. PLoS ONE. DOI: 10.1371/journal.
pone.0096898.
Lashley, M.A., M.C. Chitwood, A. Prince, M. Elfelt, E. Kilburg, C.S. DePerno, C.E.
Moorman. 2014. Subtle effects of a managed fire regime: A case study in
the longleaf pine ecosystem. Ecological Indicators 38: 212-217. Lucky, A., A. M. Savage, L. M. Nichols, C. Castracani, L. Shell, D. A. Grasso, A.
Mori, and R. R. Dunn. 2014. Ecologists, educators and writers collaborate
with the public to assess backyard diversity in The School of Ants Project.
Ecosphere.
Martinuzzi, S., A. M. Pidgeon, V. C. Radeloff, A. J. Plantinga, J. D. Lewis,. J.
Whitey, A. McKerrow, S. Williams, and D. Helmers. Impacts of future landuse changes on wildlife habitat: insights from Southeastern US. Ecological
Applications. In press.
Matechou, E., B.J.T. Morgan, S. Pledger, J.A. Collazo and J.E. Lyons. 2013.
Integrated analysis of capture-recapture-resighting data and counts of
unmarked birds at stop-over sites. Journal of Agricultural, Biological, and
Environmental Statistics 17: DOI: 10.1007/s13253-013-0127-0.
Meineke, E.K., R. R. Dunn, J. O. Sexton, and S. D. Frank. 2013. Urban Warming
drives insect pest abundance on street trees. PloS One 8: e59687.
Menke, S. B., J. Harte, R. R. Dunn. 2014. Changes in ant community
composition caused by 20 years of experimental warming vs. 13 years of
natural climate shift. Ecosphere 5, art6.
Miravete V., N. Roura-Pascual, R. R. Dunn, and C. Gómez. 2013. How many
and which ant species are being accidentally moved around the world?
Biology Letters.
Nelson, T. C., P. Doukakis, S. T. Lindley, A. D. Schreier, J. E. Hightower, L.R.
Hildebrand, R.E. Whitlock, M.A.H. Webb. 2013. Research tools to investigate
movements, migrations, and life history of sturgeons (Acipenseridae),
with an emphasis on marine-oriented populations. PLoS ONE 8: e71552.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0071552.
Noss, R., W. Platt, B. Sorrie, A. S. Weakley, B. Means, J. K. Costanza, R. K. Peet.
How global biodiversity hotspots may go unrecognized: lessons from the
North American Coastal Plain. Diversity and Distributions. In Press.
Obernuefemann, Kelsey P., J. A. Collazo, and J. E. Lyons. 2013. Local
movements and wetland connectivity at a migratory stopover of
Semipalmated Sandpipers in southeastern United States. Waterbirds 36:
62-74.
41
Pacifici, K., E. F. Zipkin, J. A. Collazo, J. I. Irizarry, and A. DeWan. 2014.
Guidelines for a priori grouping of species in hierarchical community
models. Ecology and Evolution 4: 877-888.
Parsons, A.W., T.R. Simons, A.F. O’Connell, and M.K. Stoskopf. 2013.
Demographics, diet, movements, and survival of an isolated, unmanaged
raccoon Procyon lotor (Procyonidae, Carnivora) population on the Outer
Banks of North Carolina. Mammalia 77: 21-30.
Pelini, S.L., S. E. Diamond, H. MacLean, A. M. Ellison, N. J. Gotelli, and R. R.
Dunn. 2012. Common garden experiments reveal uncommon responses
across temperatures, locations, and species of ants. Ecology and Evolution
2: 3009-3015.
Sackett, D.K., C. Lee Pow, M.J. Rubino, D.D. Aday, W.G. Cope, S. Kullman, J.A.
Rice, T.J. Kwak, and M. Law. Sources of endocrine disrupting compounds in
North Carolina waterways: a Geographic Information Systems approach.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. In press.
Schwarzer, A. C., J. A. Collazo, L. J. Niles, J. M. Brush, N. J. Douglass, and H.
Franklin Percival. 2012. Annual survival of Red Knots (Calidris canutus rufa)
wintering in Florida. The Auk 129: 725−733.
Simons, T.R., D.S. Lee, and J. C. Haney. 2013. Diablotin Pterodroma hasitata: A
biography of the endangered Black-Capped Petrel. Marine Ornithology
41:1-43.
Prince, A., C. Moorman, and C. DePerno. 2014. Survival rates and home
ranges of fox squirrels in the North Carolina Sandhills. The Upland Gazette
19:10.
Smith, J. A., and J. E. Hightower. 2012. Effect of low-head lock and dam
structures on migration and spawning of American shad and striped
bass in the Cape Fear River, North Carolina. Transactions of the American
Fisheries Society 141: 402-413.
Prince, A. P., C. S. DePerno, B. Gardner, and C. E. Moorman. 2014. Survival
and home range size of southeastern fox squirrels in North Carolina.
Southeastern Naturalist 12: 456-462.
Smith, J. A., H. J. Flowers, and J. E. Hightower. Fall spawning of Atlantic
Sturgeon in the Roanoke River, North Carolina. Transactions of the
American Fisheries Society. In press.
Raabe, J. K., and J. E. Hightower. 2014. American shad migratory behavior,
weight loss, survival, and abundance in a North Carolina river following
dam removals. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 143:
673-688.
Smith, W.E. and T.J. Kwak. 2014. A capture–recapture model of
amphidromous fish dispersal. Journal of Fish Biology 84: 897-912.
Raabe, J. K., and J. E. Hightower. Assessing benefits to migratory fishes of
habitat restored by dam removal. North American Journal of Fisheries
Management. In press.
Raabe, J. K., B. Gardner, and J. E. Hightower. 2014. A spatial capture-recapture
model to estimate fish survival and location from linear continuous
monitoring arrays. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 71:
120-130.
Ramírez, A., A. Engman, K.G. Rosas, O. Perez-Reyes, and D.M. MartinóCardona. 2012. Urban impacts on tropical island streams: some key
aspects influencing ecosystem response. Urban Ecosystems 15: 315-325.
Resasco J., S. L. Pelini, K. L. Stuble, N. J. Sanders, R. R. Dunn, A. M. Ellison, N.
J. Gotelli, and D. J. Levey. 2014. Using historical and experimental data to
reveal warming effects on ant assemblages. PLoS One 9:e88029.
Rogers, S. L., J. A. Collazo, and C. A. Drew. 2013. King Rail (Rallus elegans)
occupancy and abundance in fire managed coastal marshes in North
Carolina and Virginia. Waterbirds 36: 179-188.
Rogers, S. L., J. A. Collazo, and C. A. Drew. 2013. Nest occurrence and survival
of King Rails in fire-managed coastal marshes in North Carolina and
Virginia. Journal of Field Ornithology 84: 355-366.
Rudershausen, P. J., J. A. Buckel, and J. E. Hightower. 2014. Discard mortality
of a U.S. South Atlantic reef fish estimated from surface and bottom
tagging. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 71: 514-520.
Rudershausen, P. J., J. A. Buckel, T. Dubreuil, M. J. O’Donnell, J. E. Hightower,
S. J. Poland, and B. H. Letcher. Estimating movement and survival rates
of a small saltwater fish using autonomous antenna receiver arrays and
passive integrated transponder tags. Marine Ecology Progress Series. In
press.
42
BIENNIAL REPORT 2013–2014
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Smith, W.E. and T.J. Kwak. 2014. Otolith microchemistry of tropical
diadromous fishes: spatial and migratory dynamics. Journal of Fish Biology
84: 913-928.
Sollmann, R., B. Gardner, A.W. Parsons, J.J. Stocking, B.T. McClintock, T. R.
Simons, K.H. Pollock, and A.F. O’Connell. 2013. A spatial mark-resight
model augmented with telemetry data. Ecology 94: 553-559.
Stolen, E.D., J, A. Collazo, and H. Franklin Percival. 2012. Benefits and costs in
group foraging wading birds. Condor 114: 744–754.
Terando A., J. Costanza, C. Belyea, R. R. Dunn, A. McKerrow, and J. A. Collazo.
The Southern Megalopolis: Using the past to predict the future of urban
sprawl in the Southeast U.S. PloS One. In press.
Van Beusekom, A. E., L. E. Hay, R. J. Viger, W. A. Gould, J. A. Collazo, and A.
Henareh Khalyani. 2014. The effects of changing land cover on streamflow
simulation in Puerto Rico. Journal of the American Water Resources
Association 1-19. DOI: 10.1111/jawr.12227.
Weaver, D.M. and T.J. Kwak. 2013. Assessing effects of stocked trout on
nongame fish assemblages in southern Appalachian Mountain streams.
Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 142: 1495-1507.
Weaver, D.M., T.J. Kwak, and K.H. Pollock. Sampling characteristics and
calibration of snorkel counts to estimate stream fish populations. North
American Journal of Fisheries Management 34: 1159-1166.
Wickham, J., C. Homer, J. Vogelmann , A. McKerrow , R. Mueller, N. Herold
and J. Coulston. 2014. The Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics (MRLC)
Consortium — 20 Years of development and integration of USA National
Land Cover data. Remote Sensing 6: 7424-7441, doi:10.3390/rs6087424.
Wiewel, A. N. M., S. J. Dinsmore, and J. A. Collazo. 2013. Nest survival and
breeding biology of the Puerto Rican Bullfinch (Loxigilla portoricensis)
in southwestern Puerto Rico. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 125:
720-730.
Wilson, J. W., J. O. Sexton, R. T. Jobe, and N. M. Haddad. 2013. The relative
contribution of terrain, land cover, and vegetation structure indices to
species distribution models. Biological Conservation 164: 170-176.
Worden, A., J. Janouskovec, D. McRose, A. Engman, R. Welsh, S. Malfatti, S.
Tringe, et al. 2012. Global distribution of a wild alga revealed by targeted
metagenomics. Current Biology 22: R682–R683.
BOOKS AND BOOK CHAPTERS
Hightower, J. E., and K. H. Pollock. 2013. Tagging methods for estimating
population size and mortality rates of inland striped bass populations.
Pages 249-262 in J. S. Bulak, C. C. Coutant, and J. A. Rice editors. Biology
and management of inland striped bass and striped bass hybrids.
American Fisheries Society, Symposium 80, Bethesda, Maryland.
Hightower, J. E., J. C. Taylor, and D. J. Degan. 2013. Estimating abundance
of adult striped bass in reservoirs using mobile hydroacoustics. Pages
279-290 in J. S. Bulak, C. C. Coutant, and J. A. Rice editors. Biology and
management of inland striped bass and striped bass hybrids. American
Fisheries Society, Symposium 80, Bethesda, Maryland.
Kwak, T.J. 2012. Fisheries indicators, freshwater. Pages 130-135 in D. Fogel,
S. Fredericks, L. Harrington, and I. Spellerberg, editors. Measurements,
indicators, and research methods for sustainability. Encyclopedia
of sustainability, volume 6. Berkshire Publishing, Great Barrington,
Massachusetts.
Pine, W. E., J. E. Hightower, L. G. Coggins, M. V. Lauretta, and K. H. Pollock.
2012. Design and analysis of tagging studies. Pages 521-572 in A. V. Zale,
D. L. Parrish, and T. M. Sutton, editors. Fisheries techniques, 3rd edition.
American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland.
Powell, R. A., J.C. Lewis, B.G. Slough, S.M. Brainerd, N.R. Jordan, A.V. Abramov,
V. Monakhov, P.A. Zollner, and T. Murakami. 2012. Evaluating translocations
of martens, sables, and fishers: testing model predictions with field data. Pages 93-137 in Biology and conservation of martens, sables, and fishers:
a new synthesis. K.B. Aubry, W.J. Zielinski, M.G. Raphael, G. Proulx, and S.W.
Buskirk, editors. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York.
White, T. H., Jr., J. A. Collazo, S. J. Dinsmore, and I. Llerandi-Roman. 2014. Niche
restriction and conservatism in a neotropical psittacine: the case of the
Puerto Rican parrot. In habitat loss: causes, impacts on biodiversity and
reduction strategies. NovaScience Publishers, Inc., Hauppauge, New York.
TECHNICAL REPORTS
Southeastern Virginia. Prepared for the USFWS Region 4, Raleigh Field
Office, North Carolina by the USGS - North Carolina Cooperative Fish and
Wildlife Research Unit, North Carolina State University. 105 pp.
Drew, C. A., J. A. Collazo, L. B. Alexander, J. P. Reid, and D. H. Slone. 2013.
Science Summary in Support of Manatee Protection Area Design in Puerto
Rico. Technical Bulletin 330, North Carolina Agricultural Research Service,
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University.
67pp. http://www.basic.ncsu.edu/eda/downloads/PR-MPA_Report_2012.
pdf
Drew, C. A., L. B. Alexander-Vaughn, J. A. Collazo, A. McKerrow, and J.
Anderson. 2013. Developing an Outcome-based Biodiversity Metric
in Support of the Field to Market Project. Technical Bulletin 334, North
Carolina Agricultural Research Service, College of Agriculture and Life
Sciences, North Carolina State University. 31pp.
Eads, C. B., J. F. Levine, R. K. Chestnutt, J. Heinz, L. Westmoreland,
J. Bloodgood, and R. Smith-Uhl. 2014. Establishment of Captive
Populations of Magnificent Ramshorn (Planorbella magnifica) and
Greenfield Ramshorn (Helisoma eucosmium). Final Report submitted to
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 12 pp.
Kwak, T.J., W.E. Smith, E.N. Buttermore, P.B. Cooney, and W.G. Cope. 2013.
Fishery population and habitat assessment in Puerto Rico streams: phase
2 final report. Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Project F-50 Final
Report, Submitted to Marine Resources Division, Puerto Rico Department
of Natural and Environmental Resources, San Juan.
Kwak, T.J., W.G. Cope, J.D. Bales, T.J. Newton, J.A. Daraio, T.J. Pandolfo, J.M.
Archambault, A.M. Ganser, R.J. Heise, and B.N. Karns. 2013. Modeling
the response of imperiled freshwater mussels to anthropogenically
induced changes in water temperature, habitat, and flow in streams of
the southeastern and central United States. Final Report Submitted to U.S.
Geological Survey, National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center,
Reston, Virginia.
Levine, J. F., C. Eads, C. Osburn, L. Borst. Final Report: Assessment of ponds
in the North Carolina Piedmont as a nutritional resource for rearing
freshwater mussels for population augmentation. US Geological Survey/
US Fish and Wildlife Service. 26 p.
Terando, A., S. Traxler, and J. Collazo. 2014. Landscape and climate science
and scenarios for Florida: A workshop sponsored by the Peninsular Florida
Landscape Conservation Cooperative and North Carolina State University.
USGS Open File Report 2014-1150.
Alexander-Vaugh, L.B., J. A. Collazo, and C. A. Drew. 2014. Strategic
Conservation Planning for the Eastern North Carolina/Southeastern
Virginia Strategic Habitat Conservation Team. North Carolina Cooperative
Extension, North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Technical Bulletin
336.
THESES AND DISSERTATIONS
Costanza, J. K., R. Abt, C. A. Drew, R. Gonzales, and J. C. Collazo. 2013.
Modeling Impacts of Biomass Production on Landscapes and Wildlife:
Final Report to the Biofuels Center of North Carolina. 64 pp. (Project:
Biofuels; Funding NC Biofuels Center)
Borneman, T. 2013. Effects of human activity on breeding American
Oystercatchers. Master of Science Thesis, North Carolina State University,
Raleigh.
Drew C.A., and J. A. Collazo. 2014. Bayesian Networks as a Framework to Stepdown and Support Strategic Habitat Conservation of Data-poor Species:
A case study with King Rail (Rallus elegans) in Eastern North Carolina and
Archambault, J.M. 2012. Thermal sensitivity of freshwater mussels:
incorporating benthic ecology into laboratory mesocosm experiments.
Master of Science Thesis, North Carolina State University, Raleigh.
Chitwood, M. C. 2014. White-tailed deer population dynamics in the
presence of a novel predator. Doctoral Dissertation, North Carolina State
University, Raleigh.
43
Elfelt, M. B. 2014. Coyote movement ecology and food habits at Fort Bragg
Military Installation. Master of Science Thesis, North Carolina State
University, Raleigh.
Flanders, N. P. 2014. Using occupancy models to estimate temporal and
spatial variation in seabird distributions. Master of Science Thesis,
North Carolina State University, Raleigh.
Irizarry, J. 2012. Patch dynamics and permeability of fragmented habitats in
southwestern Puerto Rico. Master of Science Thesis, North Carolina State
University.
Keller, R.A. 2012. Effects of atmospheric pollution on high-elevation fauna
in the southern Appalachians. Doctoral Dissertation, North Carolina State
University, Raleigh.
Kilburg, E. L. 2013. Wild turkey nesting ecology and nest survival in the
presence of frequent growing-season fire. Master of Science Thesis, North
Carolina State University, Raleigh.
Lashley, M. A. 2014. The importance of including natural variability in fire
prescriptions: fruits, forages, and white-tailed deer space use. Doctoral
Dissertation, North Carolina State University.
Leonard, J. A. 2013. Effects of endocrine disrupting contaminants of
emerging concern on the behavior, reproduction, and metabolism of
two species of native North American freshwater mussels. Doctoral
Dissertation, North Carolina State University, Raleigh.
Lyons, N. 2014. Hillslope-stream coupling in tectonically active and inactive
regions. Doctoral Dissertation, North Carolina State University, Raleigh.
Nolker, A.J. 2014. Changes in Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos
vocalizations in central North Carolina between 1981 and 2013. Master of
Science Thesis, North Carolina State University, Raleigh.
Pandolfo, T.J. 2014. Biotic and abiotic influences on common and imperiled
freshwater mussels at multiple spatial and temporal scales with inferences
to global change. Doctoral Dissertation, North Carolina State University,
Raleigh.
Prince, A. P. 2013. Habitat selection, survival, and home range size of the
southeastern fox squirrel. Master of Science Thesis, North Carolina State
University, Raleigh.
Schulte, S.A. 2012. Ecology and Population Dynamics of American
Oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus). Doctoral Dissertation, North
Carolina State University, Raleigh.
Smith, W.E. 2013. Reproductive ecology of Caribbean amphidromous fishes.
Doctoral Dissertation. North Carolina State University, Raleigh.
Stocking, J.J. 2012. Effects of predator control and habitat type on American
Oystercatcher reproductive success. Master of Science Thesis, North
Carolina State University, Raleigh.
Swiers, R C. 2013. Non-invasive genetic sampling and mark-recapture
analysis of a fisher (Martes pennanti) population in northern California
used as a reintroduction source. Master of Science Thesis, North Carolina
State University, Raleigh.
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BIENNIAL REPORT 2013–2014
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
PRESENTATIONS AND SEMINARS
Alexander-Vaughn, L. B. 2012. Using Qualitative Frameworks and
Quantitative Tools to Optimize Shorebird Habitat at Cabo Rojo Wildlife
Refuge, Puerto Rico. 9th INTECOL Wetlands Conference; Wetlands in a
Complex World, Orlando, Florida. June 2012.
Archambault J.M, C.M. Bergeron, W.G. Cope, R. Richardson, M. Heilman, J.E.
Corey, M.D. Netherland, and R.J. Heise. 2014. Sensitivity of freshwater
mollusks to hydrilla-targeting herbicides. North Carolina Chapter of the
American Fisheries Society 2014 Annual Meeting, February18-19, Durham,
North Carolina.
Archambault, J.M., W.G. Cope, and T.J. Kwak. 2013. Thermal sensitivity
of freshwater mussels: incorporating benthic ecology into laboratory
mesocosm experiments. Biennial Symposium of the Freshwater Mollusk
Conservation Society. March 10-14, Guntersville, Alabama.
Archambault, J.M., W.G. Cope, and T.J. Kwak. 2013. Burrowing, byssus, and
biomarkers: behavioral and physiological indicators of sublethal thermal
stress in freshwater mussels. Annual Meeting of the Carolinas Chapter
of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. March 7-9,
Raleigh, North Carolina.
Archambault, J.M., W.G. Cope, and T.J. Kwak. 2013. Changes in burrowing
behavior and byssus production indicate sublethal thermal stress in
freshwater mussels. Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Chapter of the
American Fisheries Society. February 26-27, Burlington, North Carolina.
Archambault, J.M., W.G. Cope, and T.J. Kwak. 2013. Burrowing, byssus, and
biomarkers: behavioral and physiological indicators of sublethal thermal
stress in freshwater mussels. Biennial Symposium of the Freshwater
Mollusk Conservation Society. March 10-14, Guntersville, Alabama.
Aycrigg, J., J. Lonneker, M. Rubino, N. Tarr, K. Boykin, A. McKerrow, G.
Beauvais, T. Gotthardt, and W. Gould. 2012. Modeling Vertebrate Species
across the U.S.: The species modeling efforts of the Gap Analysis Program.
Poster Presentation, Late Breaking Modeling Session. Ecological Society of
America. Portland Oregon, August 4-10.
Bacheler, N.M., L.M. Paramore, J.A. Buckel, J.E. Hightower, and K.H. Pollock.
2014. Estimation of mortality and selectivity of red drum with high rates
of catch and release. Presentation to North Carolina Sea Grant Research
Symposium: Investments and Opportunities. Raleigh, North Carolina, April
16, 2014.
Benson, A., M. Fornwall, P. Goldstein, A. McKerrow. 2014. Ocean
Biogeographic Information System-USA: A data-centric view of our
oceans. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting. Sacramento,
California. Aug 2014.
Bergeron, C. M., M. Johnson, A. White, J. Rogers, P. R. Lazaro, J. W. Jones, B.
Beaty, B. Evans, S. Alexander, and W. G. Cope. 2013. Recent precipitous
declines of freshwater mussels in the Clinch River: influence of sediment
and water quality stressors. 8th Biennial Symposium of the Freshwater
Mollusk Conservation Society, Guntersville, Alabama, March 10-14, 2013.
Bergeron, C. M., M. Johnson, A. White, J. Rogers, P. R. Lazaro, J. W. Jones,
B. Beaty, B. Evans, S. Alexander, and W. G. Cope. 2013. Relation of
contaminants in sediment and water to unexplained declines of
freshwater mussels in the Clinch River. 34th Society of Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry North America Meeting, Nashville, Tennessee,
November 16-21, 2013.
Booth, N. and A. Terando, 2012. The Geo Data Portal: Translating climate data
for geographic analysis. NCCWSC webinar series.
Borneman, T.E. and T.R. Simons. 2013. Effects of Human Activity on American
Oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus) Breeding at Cape Lookout National
Seashore, North Carolina. 2013 annual meeting of the NC chapter of The
Wildlife Society. Colombia, North Carolina.
Boreneman, T.E. and T.R. Simons. 2013. Effects of human activity on American
Oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus) breeding at Cape Lookout National
Seashore, North Carolina. International Congress for Conservation Biology,
Baltimore, Maryland.
Borneman, T.E., S.K. Felton, and T.R. Simons. 2014. Effects of off-road vehicles
on American Oystercatchers nesting at Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Waterbird Society annual meeting, LaPaz, Mexico.
Brownell, P., J. Ellis, J. E. Hightower, R. W. Laney, A. L. LaRoche III, D.
Michaelson, K. Rawls, F. Rohde, G. Wright, and B. Wynne. 2013.
Reconnecting American eels to the upper Roanoke basin. American
Fisheries Society, Little Rock, Arkansas, September 8-12, 2013.
Brownell, P., J. Ellis, J. E. Hightower, R. W. Laney, A. L. LaRoche III, D.
Michaelson, K. Rawls, F. Rohde, G. Wright, and B. Wynne. 2014.
Reconnecting American eels to the upper Roanoke basin. 144th Annual
Meeting, American Fisheries Society, Québec City, Québec. August 17-21,
2014.
Brownell, P., J. Ellis, J. E. Hightower, R. W. Laney, A. L. LaRoche III, D.
Michaelson, K. Rawls, F. Rohde, G. Wright, and B. Wynne. 2014.
Reconnecting American eels to the upper Roanoke basin. Southern
Division, American Fisheries Society, Charleston, South Carolina. January
22-26, 2014.
Camp A.A. and D.B. Buchwalter. 2014. Molting—an underappreciated
stressor in the life histories of aquatic insects. Joint Aquatic Sciences
Meeting. May 18-23, Portland, Oregon.
Camp A.A. and D.B. Buchwalter. 2014. A stressful shortness of breath: Oxygen
consumption patterns associated with molting and thermal challenge in
mayfly Cloeon cognatum. Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology.
January 3-7, Austin, Texas.
Camp A.A. and D.B. Buchwalter. 2013. Adventures in respirometry: Insights
into the thermal biology of aquatic insects. Society for Freshwater Science
Annual Meeting. May 19-23, Jacksonville, Florida.
Camp A.A. and D.B. Buchwalter. 2013. Effects of acclimation and thermal
change on aquatic insect metabolic rates. Water Resources Research
Institute Annual Meeting. March 20-21, Raleigh, North Carolina.
Camp A.A. and D.B. Buchwalter. 2013. Respirometry approaches to
understanding responses of aquatic insects to temperature. Carolinas
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Annual Meeting.
March 7- 9, Raleigh, North Carolina.
Chitwood, M. C. 2012. Second year research update: Understanding the
emerging deer-coyote dynamic in the eastern United States. Fort Bragg
Military Installation, North Carolina.
Chitwood, M. C. 2014. Coyotes eat deer: Should we celebrate or panic? NCSU
Forestry and Environmental Resources Departmental Seminar. Raleigh,
North Carolina.
Chitwood, M. C., C. S. DePerno, M. A. Lashley, M. B. Elfelt, J. C. Kilgo, and C. E.
Moorman. 2012. The white-tailed deer-coyote dynamic: Evidence of fawn
and adult deer mortality. 19th Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society,
Portland, Oregon.
Chitwood, M. C., M. A. Lashley, C. E. Moorman, and C. S. DePerno. 2012. Can
coyotes and deer co-exist? Seminar presented to ~70 members and
guests of the Wake County Wildlife Club, Durham, North Carolina.
Chitwood, M. C., M. A. Lashley, C. E. Moorman, and C. S. DePerno. 2013. Fawn
survival and causes of mortality at Ft. Bragg. Sandhills Rod and Gun Club,
Ellerbe, North Carolina.
Chitwood, M. C., M. A. Lashley, C. E. Moorman, M. B. Elfelt, J. C. Kilgo, and C. S.
DePerno. 2013. White-tailed deer fawn space use and movement distance
in a predator-dominated landscape. 20th Annual Conference of The
Wildlife Society, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Chitwood, M. C., M. A. Lashley, C. E. Moorman, M. B. Elfelt, J. C. Kilgo, and C. S.
DePerno. 2014. White-tailed deer fawn space use and movement distance
in a predator-dominated landscape. Annual Meeting of the North Carolina
Chapter of The Wildlife Society, Browns Summit, North Carolina.
Chitwood, M. C., M. A. Lashley, J. C. Kilgo, C. E. Moorman, and C. S. DePerno.
2014. White-tailed deer population decline and potential mitigation
strategies in the presence of a novel predator. 21st Annual Conference of
The Wildlife Society, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Chitwood, M. C., M. A. Lashley, J. C. Kilgo, K. H. Pollock, C. E. Moorman, and
C. S. DePerno. 2014. Sibling and plant community influence survival of
white-tailed deer neonates. 37th Annual Meeting of the Southeast Deer
Study Group, Athens, Georgia.
Collazo, J. A. 2013. Developing high-resolution island-centric projections
of ecologically-relevant climate variables for Puerto Rico and the US
Caribbean: a foundation for adaptation strategies.
Collazo, Jaime. A. 2013. Regional Climate Variations and Change for
Terrestrial Ecosystems Workshop Bridging the gap between mechanistic
and static SDMs. North Carolina State University.
Collazo, J. A. 2014. Conservation design and habitat conservation in Puerto
Rico. Second Congress for Protected Areas and Conservation in Puerto
Rico. The Nature Conservancy (Caribbean Program).
Cope W.G., J.M. Archambault, C.M. Bergeron, R. Richardson, M. Heilman,
J.E. Corey, M.D. Netherland, and R.J. Heise. 2014. Providing context
for invasive aquatic weed control in diverse ecosystems: sensitivity of
freshwater mollusks to hydrilla-targeting herbicides. The 54th Annual
Meeting of the Aquatic Plant Management Society, July 13-16, Savannah,
Georgia.
45
Costanza, J. 2014. Climate change, urbanization and fire suppression: threats
to a global biodiversity hotspot. Oral presentation at the UNC Curriculum
in Ecology and the Environment Departmental Seminar, Chapel Hill, North
Carolina.
Costanza, J. K., A. Terando, T. S. Earnhardt, and A. McKerrow. 2012. Simulating
future climate and management effects on fire and vegetation to inform
conservation. Presentation to Ecological Society of America, Portland
Oregon. August 4-10th, 2012.
Costanza, J., N. Tarr, M. Rubino, R. Abt, A. McKerrow, and J. Collazo. 2014.
Assessing habitat impacts of potential biomass production scenarios in
North Carolina. Oral presentation at the North American Congress on
Conservation Biology, Missoula, Montana.
Costanza, J., R. Abt, A. McKerrow, and J. Collazo. 2013. Landscape impacts of
potential biofuel production scenarios in North Carolina. Oral presentation
at the Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Minneapolis,
Minnesota.
Costanza, J., R. Abt, A. McKerrow, and J. Collazo. 2014. Assessing landscape
impacts of potential bioenergy production scenarios using spatially
explicit state-and-transition simulation models. Oral presentation at the
2nd State-and-Transition Simulation Modeling Conference. Fort Collins,
Colorado.
Costanza, J., R. Abt, A. McKerrow, and J. Collazo. 2014. Projected effects of
biofuel production on landscapes in North Carolina. Oral presentation at
the US Department of Energy’s Incorporating Bioenergy into Sustainable
Landscape Designs Workshop, New Bern, North Carolina.
Elfelt, M. B., C. S. DePerno, and C. E. Moorman. 2012. Coyote habitat selection
in relation to food availability. Sandhills Natural History Society Meeting.
Southern Pines, North Carolina.
Elfelt, M. B., C. S. DePerno, and C. E. Moorman. 2012. Update of ongoing
research: Coyote habitat diet and habitat selection. Fort Bragg Military
Installation, North Carolina.
Elfelt, M., C. S. Deerno, and C. E. Moorman. 2013. Coyote diet composition
and habitat selection in relation to food availability. North Carolina
Chapter of The Wildlife Society Annual Meeting. Columbia, North Carolina.
Ellis, T. A., J. A. Buckel, and J. E. Hightower. 2013. A tag-return model for
estimating mortality of spotted seatrout in North Carolina. Tidewater
Chapter, American Fisheries Society, March 21-23, 2013.
Ellis, T. A., J. E. Hightower, J. A. Buckel, and K.H. Pollock. 2014. Relative
importance of fishing and natural mortality of spotted seatrout at
northern latitudinal limits. 144th Annual Meeting, American Fisheries
Society, Québec City, Québec. August 17-21, 2014.
Ellis, T. A., J. A. Buckel, J. E. Hightower, and K.H. Pollock. 2014. Estimates of
fishing and natural mortality rates of spotted seatrout from tag-return and
survey data. North Carolina Chapter, American Fisheries Society, Durham,
North Carolina. February 18-19, 2014.
Ellis, T. A., J. A. Buckel, J. E. Hightower, and K.H. Pollock. 2014. Estimates of
fishing and natural mortality rates of spotted seatrout from tag-return,
telemetry, and survey data. Southern Division, American Fisheries Society,
Charleston, South Carolina. January 22-26, 2014.
Drew, C. A. 2014. Metrics to measure and communicate the biodiversity costs
and opportunities in commercial agriculture systems”, North American
Congress for Conservation Biology, Montana, 2014.
Engman, A.C., T.J. Kwak, J.R. Fischer, and C.A. Grieshaber. 2014. Lunar
influences on recruitment phenology of Caribbean amphidromous
fishes. Annual Meeting of the Southern Division of the American Fisheries
Society. January 23-26, Charleston, South Carolina.
Dziwulski, K. E., C. A. Drew, and J. A. Collazo. 2014. Habitat ecology and
validation of expert-based predictions about eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus
floridanus) responses to Christmas tree production practices in the North
Carolina Appalachians. The Wildlife Society Conference; Student Research
in Progress Posters.
Engman, A.C., T.J. Kwak, J.R. Fischer, and C.A. Grieshaber. 2014. Recruitment
phenology of Caribbean amphidromous fishes. Annual Meeting of the
North Carolina Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. February 18-19,
Durham, North Carolina.
Cove, M., T.R. Simons, B. Gardner, A. O’Connell. 2014. Determining spatial
and temporal overlaps of endangered small mammals and their invasive
predators in the Florida Keys: inference from camera traps. Central Plains
Society of Mammalogists, Annual Meeting.
Cove, M., T.R. Simons, B. Gardner, and A. O’Connell. 2014. Determining spatial
and temporal overlaps of endangered small mammals and their invasive
predators in the Florida Keys. The Wildlife Society, Annual Meeting,
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
Eads, CB, L Borst, J Hurley-Sanders, and JF Levine. 2013. Evaluating floating
cages in ponds as a potential low-input, high-yield method for culturing
freshwater mussels. Presentation given to the Freshwater Mollusk
Conservation Society. Biennial Symposium, Guntersville Lake State Park,
Alabama, March.
Elfelt, M. C. DePerno, and C. Moorman. 2012. Habitat selection of coyotes
in relation to food availability. 19th Annual Conference of The Wildlife
Society, Portland, Oregon. Poster.
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BIENNIAL REPORT 2013–2014
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Engman, A.C., T.J. Kwak, P.B. Cooney, W.E. Smith, E.N. Buttermore, and C.H.
Brown. 2013. Ecology and conservation of Caribbean island stream fishes.
Annual Meeting of the Southern Division of the American Fisheries
Society. February 7-10, Nashville, Tennessee. Poster presentation.
Facka, A. N., C. A. Beach, K. P. Smith, and R. A. Powell. 2012. The role of
predators and temperature in the timing of fisher (Pekania pennanti) den
movements. American Society of Mammalogist Annual Meeting. Reno,
Nevada.
Facka, A. N., J. C. Lewis, P. Happe, K. Jenkins and R. A. Powell. 2013.
Translocation and reproductive success of fishers newly released into the
Sierra Nevada of California. American Society of Mammalogists Annual
Meeting. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Facka, A. N., J. C. Lewis, P. Happe, K. Jenkins and R. A. Powell. July 2014.
Effects of timing of release on reproduction and subsequent population
dynamics for reintroduced populations of a forest carnivore. 6th
International Martes Symposium. Krakow, Poland.
Facka, A. N. and R. A. Powell. 2012. Project Update: Translocation of fishers
into the Northern Sierra Nevada. Annual meeting of the Western Section
of The Wildlife Society. Fresno, California.
Facka, A. N. and R. A. Powell. 2014. Identification of occupied home
ranges using travel distances, changes in speed and final settlement of
translocated fishers (Pekania pennanti). Symposium on Animal Movement
and the Environment. Raleigh, North Carolina.
Facka, A. N., R. A. Powell, and J. C. Lewis. 2012. On determining success in
fisher translocations. Fisher Symposium, Western Section of The Wildlife
Society meeting. Sacramento, California.
Felton, S.K., T.R. Simons, K.H. Pollock, and L. Addison. 2014. Harnessing
a Collaborative Database for Demographic Modeling of American
Oystercatchers. Waterbird Society Annual Meeting, La Paz, Mexico.
Fish, A. C., C. E. Moorman, and C. S. Deperno. 2014. Influence of military
training on Bachman’s sparrow density and reproductive success.
Endangered Species Branch Research Symposium, Southern Pines, North
Carolina.
Flanders, N., Gardner, B., O’Connell, A.F., Winiarski, K., and T. Allison. 2013.
Estimating distributions of seabirds off of the coast of Rhode Island and in
Nantucket Sound, US. Annual Meeting of The Wildlife Society. Milwaukee,
Wisconsin.
Flanders, N., Gardner, B., O’ Connell, A.F., and K. Winiarski. 2013. Estimating
habitat relationships and distributions of seabirds off the cost of Rhode
Island, US. Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Chapter of The Wildlife
Society. Samford, North Carolina.
Flowers, H. J., and J. E. Hightower. 2013. Estimating sturgeon abundance
in the Carolinas using side-scan sonar and Bayesian models. American
Fisheries Society, Little Rock, Arkansas, September 8-12, 2013.
Flowers, H. J., and J. E. Hightower. 2014. Estimating sturgeon abundance
in the Carolinas using side-scan sonar and Bayesian models. Southern
Division, American Fisheries Society, Charleston, South Carolina. January
22-26, 2014.
Flowers, H. J., and J. E. Hightower. 2014. Long-term migratory patterns of
Roanoke River, NC Atlantic Sturgeon. 144th Annual Meeting, American
Fisheries Society, Québec City, Québec. August 17-21, 2014.
Fox, D. A., A. J. Kaeser, H. J. Flowers, N. Willett, and J. E. Hightower. 2012. Pilot
evaluation of side-scan sonar for assessing sturgeon abundance. 14th
Annual Gulf Sturgeon Workshop, Panama City, Florida, November 14-16,
2012.
Fox, D. A., J. E. Hightower, L. M. Brown, and M. W. Breece. 2014. Estimated
2007-2013 survival and detection probabilities for Atlantic Sturgeon,
based on a long-term telemetry study. 144th Annual Meeting, American
Fisheries Society, Québec City, Québec. August 17-21, 2014.
Fox, T., and N.J. Lyons. 2014. Distribution of freshwater mussels and stream
bed substrate models on Fort Bragg. Fort Bragg Endangered Species
Branch Research Presentations Symposium. March 5, Fayetteville, North
Carolina.
Harris, J. E., and J. E. Hightower. 2013. Migration and mortality of striped bass
in the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound, North Carolina. Southern
Division, American Fisheries Society, Nashville, Tennessee, February 7-10,
2013. [Poster]
Harris, J. E., and J. E. Hightower. 2014. Estimating Fishing and Natural
Mortality Rates of Albemarle Sound Striped Bass. Southern Division,
American Fisheries Society, Charleston, South Carolina. January 22-26,
2014.
Hostetter, N.J., T.R. Simons, S.H. Schweitzer, R. Boettcher, A.L. Wilke, L.
Addison, W.R. Swilling, and B. Gardner. 2014. Repeated count surveys
help standardize multi-agency estimates of American Oystercatcher
abundance. Waterbird Society Annual Meeting, La Paz, Mexico.
Ivasauskas, T.J. 2014. The curious case of the sicklefin redhorse. Meeting of
the Unaka Chapter of Trout Unlimited, July, Brasstown, North Carolina.
Ivasauskas, T.J. and T.J. Kwak. 2014. Techniques for sampling larval and
juvenile fishes in Appalachian Mountain rivers. 144th Annual Meeting of
the American Fisheries Society jointly held with the 38th Annual Larval
Fish Conference. August 17-21, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Poster
presentation.
Ivasauskas, T.J. and T.J. Kwak. 2014. Techniques for sampling larval and
juvenile fishes in Appalachian Mountain rivers. Annual Meeting of the
North Carolina Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. February 18-19,
Durham, North Carolina.
Kaeser, A. J., H. J. Flowers, J. E. Hightower, D. A. Fox, and N. Willett. 2012.
Developing and implementing a low-cost side-scan sonar based approach
to monitoring Gulf sturgeon. 14th Annual Gulf Sturgeon Workshop,
Panama City, Florida, November 14-16, 2012.
Keller, R.A., T.R. Simons, R.A. Webster, and K.E. Franzreb. 2013. Effects of
Acidic Deposition on Dark-eyed Juncos in the Southern Appalachians. 5th
International Partners in Flight Conference and Conservation Workshop,
Snowbird, Utah.
Kerns, J., M. Allen, and J. E. Hightower. 2014. Dissecting mortality
components for recreational fisheries with high rates of released fish.
Southern Division, American Fisheries Society, Charleston, South Carolina.
January 22-26, 2014.
Kilburg, E. L., C. E. Moorman, and C. S. DePerno. 2012. Wild turkey nest
survival and nest-site selection in the presence of growing-season
prescribed fire. Fort Bragg Military Installation, North Carolina.
Kilburg, E., C. Moorman, C. DePerno, D. Cobb, and C. Harper. 2012. Wild
turkey nest success and nest-site selection in the presence of growingseason prescribed fire. 19th Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society,
Portland, Oregon. Poster.
Lashley, M.A. 2014. Fire in forest management: wildlife benefits. Prescribed
Fire on Private Lands Workshop, Elizabethtown, North Carolina.
Lashley, M.A. and M.C. Chitwood. 2013. How does soil quality affect forage
quality for deer? The 10th Annual Deer and Habitat Management Expo.
Hickory, North Carolina.
Lashley, M.A., A.P. Rockhill, M.C. Chitwood, C.E. Moorman, and C.S. DePerno.
2012. The effects of solunar activity on white-tailed deer movements. 19th
Annual meeting of The Wildlife Society, Portland, Oregon. Poster.
47
Lashley, M.A., A.P. Rockhill, M.C. Chitwood, P.S. Basinger, G.R. Karns, K.A.
Adams, L.I. Muller, C.A. Harper, S.S. Ditchkoff, M.C. Conner, C.E. Moorman,
C.S. DePerno. 2013. The influence of lunar illumination on trait-mediated
predation risk in cervids. In: Predation risk: Importance of indirect effects
on vertebrate species. 20th Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Lashley, M.A., C.E. Moorman, and C.S. DePerno. 2012. Effects of fire on the
distribution of wildlife foods at Fort Bragg Military Installation. Fort Bragg,
North Carolina.
Lashley, M.A., C.E. Moorman, and C.S. DePerno. 2012. Effects of fire on wildlife
foods in the Sandhills. Sandhills Natural History Society, Southern Pines,
North Carolina.
Lashley, M. A., C. E. Moorman, M. C. Chitwood, and C. S. DePerno. 2013.
Wildlife research on military lands. Military Appreciation Week: NC
Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, North Carolina.
Lashley, M.A., M.C. Chitwood, C.A. Harper, R. Kays, C.S. DePerno, and C.E.
Moorman. 2014. Adapting contemporary fire regimes to emulate
historical variability. Annual Meeting of the North Carolina chapter of the
Wildlife Society, Haw River State Park, North Carolina.
Lashley, M.A., M.C. Chitwood, C.S. DePerno, and C.E. Moorman. 2013. Food
distribution and quality in the Sandhills. Sandhills Rod and Gun Club,
Ellerbe, North Carolina.
Lashley, M.A., M.C. Chitwood, C.E. Moorman, C.A. Harper, and C.S. DePerno. 2013. Does poor soil productivity indicate poor diet quality for ungulates? 20th Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Lashley, M.A., M.C. Chitwood, C.S. DePerno, C.E. Moorman, and C.A.
Harper. 2013. Variability in fire prescriptions: Will any prescription
do? Proceedings of the 36th Annual Meeting of the Southeast Deer Study
Group. Greenville, South Carolina.
Lashley, M.A., M.C. Chitwood, J.R. Thompson, C.S. DePerno, C.E. Moorman.
2013. Influence of homogeneously applied fire prescriptions on landscape
heterogeneity. Proceedings of the 4th Annual Fire Behavior and Fuels
Conference. Raleigh, North Carolina.
Lashley, M.A., M.C., Chitwood, M.T. Biggerstaff, D.L. Morina, C.E. Moorman,
and C.S. DePerno. 2014. White-tailed deer vigilance: Social and
environmental factors. 37th Annual Meeting of the Southeast Deer Study
Group, Athens, Georgia.
Lashley, M.A., M.C. Chitwood, M.T. Biggerstaff, D.L. Morina, C.E. Moorman,
and C.S. DePerno. 2014. White-tailed deer vigilance: The influence of
social and environmental factors. 21st Annual Conference of The Wildlife
Society, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Poster.
Lashley, M.A., M.C. Chitwood, R. Kays, C.A. Harper, C.S. DePerno, C.E.
Moorman. 2014. White-tailed deer burned area selection and site fidelity
following prescribed fire. Symposium on Animal Movement and the
Environment. North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, North
Carolina. Poster.
48
BIENNIAL REPORT 2013–2014
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Lee Pow, C., W.G. Cope, D.D. Aday, J.A. Rice, T.J. Kwak, J.M. Law, and S.W.
Kullman. 2014. Landscape assessment of estrogenic contaminants and
intersex fish in North Carolina streams and rivers. Carolinas Regional
Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. April
24-26, Clemson, South Carolina.
Lee Pow, C., W.G. Cope, J.A. Rice, T.J. Kwak, J.M. Law, S.W. Kullman, and
D.D. Aday. 2014. Relationships between estrogenic contaminant
concentrations and incidence of intersex in centrarchid fishes across
North Carolina. 35th Annual North American Meeting of the Society of
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. November 9-13, Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada.
Leonard, J. A., W. G. Cope, M. C. Barnhart, and R. B. Bringolf. 2012. Biochemical
and reproductive effects of the synthetic estrogen 17-α-ethinylestradiol
on the unionid freshwater mussel Lampsilis fasciola. Annual Meeting of
the North Carolina Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, Raleigh,
North Carolina, February 28-29, 2012.
Leonard, J. A., W. G. Cope, M. C. Barnhart, and R. B. Bringolf. 2013. Assessing
acute and chronic biochemical and reproductive effects of the synthetic
estrogen 17 α-ethinylestradiol on the unionid mussel Elliptio complanata.
8th Biennial Symposium of the Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society,
Guntersville, Alabama, March 10-14, 2013.
Leonard, J. A., W. G. Cope, M. C. Barnhart, and R. B. Bringolf. 2013. Disrupting
the steroid hormone cascade: effects of the aromatase inhibitor fadrozole
hydrochloride on the unionid mussel Lampsilis fasciola. 34th Society
of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry North America Meeting,
Nashville, Tennessee, November 16-21, 2013.
Leonard, J. A., W. G. Cope, M. C. Barnhart, and R. B. Bringolf. 2013. Disrupting
the steroid hormone cascade: effects of the aromatase inhibitor fadrozole
hydrochloride on the unionid mussel Lampsilis fasciola. 8th Biennial
Symposium of the Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society, Guntersville,
Alabama, March 10-14, 2013.
Leonard, J. A., W. G. Cope, M. C. Barnhart, and R. B. Bringolf. 2013. Linking
classical and emerging toxicity endpoints to assess the effects of
17-alpha-ethinylestradiol on native freshwater mussels. Annual Meeting
of the Carolinas Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry, Raleigh, North Carolina, March 7-9, 2013.
Leonard, J. A., W. G. Cope, M. C. Barnhart, and R. B. Bringolf. 2013.
Metabolomic, behavioral, and reproductive effects of the synthetic
estrogen 17 α-ethinylestradiol on the unionid mussel Lampsilis fasciola.
8th Biennial Symposium of the Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society,
Guntersville, Alabama, March 10-14, 2013.
Miller, D.A., L. L. Bailey, E. H. Grant, B. T. McClintock, L. A. Weir, and T.R. Simons.
2013. Improving occupancy estimates when detection heterogeneity and
false positives occur. EURING 2013. Athens, Georgia.
McKerrow, A. J. 2014. Vertical Forest Structure from LiDAR Point-cloud Data
Collected over the Tennessee Portion of Great Smoky Mountains National
Park. International Lidar Mapping Forum. Denver, Colorado. Feb 17-19,
2014.
Pacifici, K., E. Zipkin, J. Collazo and J. Irizarry. 2013. Guidelines for a priori
grouping of species in hierarchical community models. EURING.
Nolker, A. and T.R. Simons. 2013. Response of mockingbird vocalizations to
thirty years of anthropogenic change. NC Chapter of The Wildlife Society.
2013 annual meeting, Colombia, North Carolina.
Pandolfo, T.J., T.J. Kwak, W.G. Cope, R.J. Heise, and R.B. Nichols. 2013.
Modeling environmental effects on the occupancy of common and
imperiled freshwater mussels at multiple spatial scales. Biennial
Symposium of the Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society. March 10-14,
Guntersville, Alabama.
Pickens, B. A., R. Mordecai, C. A. Drew, L. Alexander-Vaughn, A. Keister, and J.
A. Collazo. 2014. Insights from merging ecological indicators with sea-level
rise scenarios to develop a spatial prioritization for the South Atlantic
Coast. Southeastern Estuarine Research Society, Carolina Beach, North
Carolina.
Pickens, B. A., R. Mordecai, C. A. Drew, L. Alexander-Vaughn, A. Keister, and
R. Mordecai. 2014. Conservation planning in the South Atlantic region in
the face of urbanization, climate change, and uncertainty. (Poster) East
Carolina University symposium: Biodiversity responses to climate change:
perspectives from the southeastern U.S.
Post, B. C., M. Loeffler, C. Collier, J. E. Hightower, and D. L. Peterson. 2014.
Use of ultrasonic telemetry to monitor sturgeon movement: a multistate
approach. 144th Annual Meeting, American Fisheries Society, Québec
City, Québec. August 17-21, 2014.
Powell, R A. January 2012. Using models in ecology and conservation. Invited
presentation, West Coast Fisher Symposium, Annual Meeting of the
Western Section of The Wildlife Society. Sacramento, California.
Powell, R. A. and A. N. Facka. 2012. Identification of Occupied Home Ranges
Using Travel Distances, Changes in Speed and Final Settlement of
Translocated Fishers (Martes pennanti). Annual meeting of the Western
Section of The Wildlife Society. Fresno, California.
Powell, R. A. and A. N. Facka. 2012. Identifying occupied home ranges using
travel distances, changes in speed and final settlement of translocated
fishers (Martes pennanti). 92nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of
Mammalogists.
Powell, R. A., M. W. Gabriel, J. M. Higley, S. LaPoint, N. P. McCann, W.
Spencer and C. M. Thompson. 2014. The fisher as a model organism. 6th
International Martes Symposium. Krakow, Poland.
Prince, A., C. Moorman, and C. DePerno. 2012. Fox squirrels and fire: the
influence of fire frequency on habitat selection. 19th Annual Conference
of The Wildlife Society, Portland, Oregon. Poster.
Raabe, J. K., and J. E. Hightower. 2013. Introduced flathead catfish migrations
and potential predation impact in a North Carolina river. Southern
Division, American Fisheries Society, Nashville, Tennessee, February 7-10,
2013.
Raabe, J. K., T. A. Ellis, and J. E. Hightower. 2014. Effectiveness of a rock arch
rapids for fish passage at a lock and dam on a large coastal river. 144th
Annual Meeting, American Fisheries Society, Québec City, Québec. August
17-21, 2014.
Raabe, J. K., T. A. Ellis, and J. E. Hightower. 2014. Evaluation of fish passage
following installation of a rock arch rapids at lock and dam #1, Cape Fear
River, North Carolina. 2014 International Conference on Engineering &
Ecohydrology for Fish Passage (Fish Passage 2014), Madison, Wisconsin,
June 9-11, 2014.
Raabe, J. K., T. A. Ellis, and J. E. Hightower. 2014. Preliminary evaluaton of
a rock-ramp fishway in the Cape Fear River. Cape Fear River Assembly,
Annual Meeting, Wilmington, North Carolina, May 15, 2014.
Raabe, J. K., T. A. Ellis, and J. E. Hightower. 2014. Evaluation of fish passage
following installation of a rock arch rapids at Lock and Dam #1, Cape
Fear River, North Carolina. International Conference on Engineering and
Ecohydrology for Fish Passage. Madison, Wisconsin. June 9, 2014.
Rose, E., J. Kosovich, A. McKerrow, and T. Simons. 2014. Characterizing
vegetation structure in recently burned forests of the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park. American Society of Remote Sensing. Louisville,
Kentucky.
Rose, E.T. and T.R. Simons. 2013. Predicting bird distributions in southern
Appalachian forests using remotely sensed fire severity indices.
International Congress for Conservation Biology, Baltimore, Maryland.
Rose, E.T. and T.R. Simons. 2014. Understanding long-term trends in bird
occurrence following an increase in the prevalence of fire on a southern
Appalachian landscape. American Ornithologists’ Union, Annual Meeting,
Ft. Collins, Colorado.
Rose, E.T. and T.R. Simons. 2014. Using spacecraft, aircraft, and field
observations to identify patterns in bird distribution following changes in
fire management. 2014 Annual meeting of the North Carolina Chapter of
the Wildlife Society.
Rubino, M.J., Jocelyn L. Aycrigg, Jeffrey J. Lonneker, Nathan M. Tarr, Kenneth
G. Boykin, Thomas A. Laxson, Alexa J. McKerrow, Gary P. Beauvais, Tracey A.
Gotthardt, and William A. Gould. 2014. Modeling Vertebrate Species Across
The U.S.: The Species Modeling Efforts Of The Gap Analysis Program. North
American Congress for Conservation Biology, Missoula, Montana. July 1316, 2014.
Rudershausen, P. J., J. A. Buckel, and J.E. Hightower. 2014. Discard mortality of
a U.S. South Atlantic reef fish estimated from surface and bottom tagging.
Southern Division, American Fisheries Society, Charleston, South Carolina.
January 22-26, 2014.
Rudershausen, P. J., J. A. Buckel, and J.E. Hightower. 2014. Estimating reef fish
discard mortality using surface and bottom tagging: effects of hook injury,
barotrauma, and multiple captures. 144th Annual Meeting, American
Fisheries Society, Québec City, Québec. August 17-21, 2014.
Rudershausen, P. J., J. A. Buckel, J. E. Hightower, M. A. Dueker, T. Dubreuil,
M. J. O’Donnell, S. J. Poland, and B. H. Letcher. 2014. Comparison of
mummichog abundance among anthropogenically altered saltmarsh
creeks in coastal North Carolina, USA. Southern Division, American
Fisheries Society, Charleston, South Carolina. January 22-26, 2014.
Simons, T.R. and T.E. Borneman. 2013. Assessing the effects of pedestrians,
vehicles, and aircraft on nesting American Oystercatchers on the Outer
Banks of North Carolina. 37th Waterbird Society Annual Meeting,
Wilhelmhaven, Germany.
49
Smith, W.E., T.J. Kwak, and P.B. Cooney. 2013. Tropical insular fish assemblages
are resilient to flood disturbance. Annual Meeting of the Tidewater
Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. March 21-23, Solomons,
Maryland.
Stevenson, E. R., M. C. Chitwood, M. A. Lashley, C. E. Moorman, and C.
S. DePerno. 2014. A preliminary assessment of home range size and
movement of white-tailed deer in the presence of a novel predator. 17th
Annual Zoology Graduate Research Symposium, North Carolina State
University, Raleigh, North Carolina.
Swiers, R. C., A. N. Facka, R. Callas, P. Figura, L. Finley, J. S. Yaeger, and R. A.
Powell. 2012. Two fisher populations in managed forests in northern
California. Annual Meeting of The Wildlife Society. Portland, Oregon.
Swiers, R. C. and R. A. Powell. 2014. Project Update: Translocation of fishers
into the Northern Sierra Nevada. Interior Fisher Working Group Meeting.
Reno, Nevada.
Tarr, N.M., J. Aycrigg, A. McKerrow, M. J. Rubino, K. Boykin, and J. Lonneker.
2012. The Gap Analysis Program: National databases for enhancing
bird conservation. Presentation to the American Ornithologists’ Union,
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. August 14 -18, 2012.
Terando, A., C. Belyea, J. K. Costanza, A. McKerrow, and S. Williams. 2012.
Urbanization as a barrier to ecosystem resiliency in the face of climate
change. Presentation to Ecological Society of America, Portland Oregon.
August 4-10, 2012.
Terando, A. J. 2012. Climate change impacts on freshwater resources. SARP/
SALCC Instream Flow Resources Workshop, Savannah, Georgia.
Terando, A. 2012. Downscaled climate projections as part of the Southeast
Regional Assessment Project (SERAP). NCSU and PFLCC Landscape and
Climate Science and Scenarios Workshop, St. Petersburg, Florida.
Terando, A., C. Belyea, J. Costanza, A. McKerrow, and S. Williams. 2012.
Urbanization as a barrier to ecosystem resiliency in the face of climate
change. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Portland, Oregon.
Williams, S. G., D. T. Cobb, J. A. Collazo. 2014. Elk habitat suitability map for
North Carolina. SEAFWA Conference. October 2014.
Workshops
Pacifici, K, C. Shea, and J. A. Collazo. 2013. Structured Decision Making II:
Advanced Training for Natural Resources Professionals. Workshop offered
to PRDNER Staff, San Juan, Puerto Rico. September.
Terando, A. J. 2012. DOI and NOAA workshop, ‘Gulf of Mexico Climate Data
and Scenarios’. Served on planning team, presented results from SERAP,
and facilitated panel discussions. Currently working with team to use
results of workshop in forthcoming Gulf Vulnerability Assessment. May.
Terando, A. J. 2012. NCSU and PFLCC workshop, ‘Landscape and Climate
Science and Scenarios’. Served as lead for planning, logistics, and
coordination of workshop. Also participated as a speaker and panelist.
June.
INVITED PRESENTATIONS AND SEMINARS
Archambault J.M. 2014. Get to know freshwater mussels: diversity and
ecology. Sandhills Natural History Society, August 25. Southern Pines,
North Carolina.
Archambault, J.M., W.G. Cope, and T.J. Kwak. 2013. Closer to reality:
incorporating components of the benthos in lethal and sublethal
experiments of thermal sensitivity in freshwater mussels. Symposium
entitled “Use of Freshwater Mollusk Toxicity Data for Improved
Conservation of Water and Sediment Quality” at the 34th Annual North
American Meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry. November 19-21, Nashville, Tennessee.
Chitwood, M. C., M. A. Lashley, C. E. Moorman, and C. S. DePerno. 2014. Deer
and coyotes: business as usual or adaptive management? Annual Meeting
of the North Carolina Chapter of The Wildlife Society, Browns Summit,
North Carolina.
Chitwood, M. C., M. A. Lashley, M. B. Swingen, C. E. Moorman, and C. S.
DePerno. 2014. Coyotes: dominance in the longleaf pine ecosystem.
Symposium: Ecology and management of coyotes in eastern North
America: synthesizing information from contemporary studies. 21st
Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Collazo, J. A., J. D. Nichols, and S. Veran. 2012. Range dynamics of North
American landbirds: tests and modeling. Smithsonian Institution,
Washington, DC. April 6.
Collazo, J. A. 2014. Species Distribution models: application of occupancy
models. Advanced Training for Natural Resources Professionals. Workshop
offered to PRDNER Staff, Boqueron, Puerto Rico. March.
Drew, C. A. 2014. Eliciting expert knowledge in support of planning and
adaptive management”, Science Community of Practice, Whitehorse,
Yukon.
Collazo, J. A. and M. E. Kornegay. 2014. Monitoring Avian Productivity and
Survival (MAPS) for wildlife conservation: application of mist-netting
(capture-recapture) data. Advanced Training for Natural Resources
Professionals. Workshop offered to PRDNER Staff, Boqueron, Puerto Rico.
August.
Drew, C. A. 2014. Eliciting expert knowledge in support of planning
and adaptive management ”. Decision Analysis for Conservation and
Management of Natural Resources graduate class, NC State University.
Drew, C. A. 2014. Applications of Biodiversity Metrics on Private Lands for
Conservation Outcomes” co-hosted symposium at the North American
Congress for Conservation Biology, Montana, 2014.
Drew, C. A. 2014. An Open Standards Recovery Plan for the Antillian Manatee
in Puerto Rico. Manatee Recovery 5-Year Review panel, Jacksonville, North
Carolina.
Kwak, T.J., J.R. Fischer, W. Neal, and K.H. Pollock 2014. Developing Standard
Fish Sampling Techniques. Advanced Training for Natural Resources
Professionals. Workshop offered to PRDNER Staff, July 15-16, San Juan,
Puerto Rico.
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BIENNIAL REPORT 2013–2014
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Drew, C. A. 2014. Habitat occupancy and effects of prescribed fire on King
rail. Restore Currituck Sound Planning Meeting, Barco, North Carolina.
Engman, A., T. Kwak, J. Fischer, and C. Grieshaber. 2014. Recruitment
phenology of Caribbean amphidromous fishes. Symposium entitled
“Contribution of early life history studies to the management of fish
populations” at the 144th Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries
Society jointly held with the 38th Annual Larval Fish Conference. August
17-21, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
Fischer, J., T. Kwak, A. Engman, C. Grieshaber, and W. Smith. 2014. Early life
age and growth of Caribbean amphidromous fishes. Symposium entitled
“Contribution of early life history studies to the management of fish
populations” at the 144th Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries
Society jointly held with the 38th Annual Larval Fish Conference. August
17-21, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
Heise, R.J., W.G. Cope, T.J. Kwak, and C.B. Eads. 2014. Effects of small dam
removal on a freshwater mussel assemblage in the Deep River of North
Carolina: findings and lessons learned. Workshop on “Lessons Learned
by Researchers and Decision Makers Involved in Dam Removal” at the
Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society Biennial Workshop. April 24-25,
Portland, Maine.
Ivasauskas, T.J. 2014. Meet the sicklefin. Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition,
July, Murphy, North Carolina.
Ivasauskas, T.J. and T.J. Kwak. 2013. The early life history of sicklefin redhorse
and other catostomids. Robust Redhorse Conservation Committee Annual
Meeting. October 2-3, Mansfield, Georgia.
Powell, R A. 2013. A Californian conumdrum: The impossibility of optimizing
environmental decisions in the face of a history of poor management.
Wilderness Field Station of Coe College, Boundary Waters Canoe Area,
Minnesota.
Powell, R A. 2014. Incorporating science into conservation: Testing
hypotheses in a reintroduction of endangered fishers. Coe College, Cedar
Rapids, Iowa.
Powell, R. A., M. W. Gabriel, J. M. Higley, S. LaPoint, N. P. McCann, W. Spencer,
and C. M. Thompson. 2013. The fisher as a model organism. International
Musteloid Conference, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Quist, M.C., M.E. Mather, D.L. Parrish, S.R. Chipps, T.J. Kwak, and C.P. Paukert.
2013. The voices of reality: why effective fisheries education is challenging
and practical ways to move forward. 143rd Annual Meeting of the
American Fisheries Society, September 8-12, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Raabe, J. K., T. A. Ellis, and J. E. Hightower. 2014. Preliminary evaluaton of a
rock-ramp fishway in the Cape Fear River. World Fish Migration Day, Cape
Fear River Watch Education Center at Lock & Dam #1, Riegelwood, NC, May
24, 2014. http://www.capefearriverwatch.org/archives/3712
Simons, T.R. 2014. The importance of estimating detection probabilities in
animal sampling. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee.
Terando, A. J. 2012. Climate model projections. 2012. Meeting of the Puerto
Rico Climate Change Council, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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Council. November 13-14, Asheville, North Carolina.
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Shea, J.M. Law, C. Lee Pow, J.R. Fischer, J.A. Leonard, and J.M. Archambault.
2014. Water quality, intersex fish, and robust redhorse. 20th Annual Robust
Redhorse Conservation Committee Meeting. October 21-23, Mansfield,
Georgia.
Kwak, T.J., W.G. Cope, T.J. Newton, J.D. Bales, J.A. Daraio, C.A. Drew, T.J.
Pandolfo, J.M. Archambault, A.M. Ganser, R.J. Heise, R.B. Nichols, T.
Augspurger, and B.N. Karns. 2013. Breaking traditional barriers to model
climate change and land use impacts on freshwater mussels. National
Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center, Climate Change Science and
Management Webinar Series. U.S. Geological Survey, National Climate
Change and Wildlife Science Center and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
National Conservation Training Center. March 26, Online Webinar.
Leonard, J. A., W. G. Cope, M. C. Barnhart, and R. B. Bringolf. 2013. Using
traditional and emerging toxicity endpoints to assess endocrine
disruption in freshwater mussels when exposed to the synthetic estrogen
17 α-ethinylestradiol. 34th Society of Environmental Toxicology and
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