DIET PREFERENCE OF THE SAN JOAQUIN ANTELOPE SQUIRREL USING CAFETERIA TRIALS

Mia A Aguilar; Cal Poly San Luis Obispo ; aguilarmia13@yahoo.com; Ryan A. Vosbigian, Patrick Anderson, Craig M. Fiehler

Managers are increasingly faced with having to translocate a species, without a full understanding of its natural history. One such species is the San Joaquin antelope squirrel, a California-threatened species endemic to the San Joaquin Desert. In particular, little is known about the species diet preference, which could improve translocation outcomes by targeting areas with highly preferred food species. It is also unclear how plastic the species’ diet preferences are – in other words, how well individuals would cope with novel food items. We performed cafeteria trials in two pastures of the Carrizo Plain National Monument to assess overall preferences, differences in native and exotic species, and response to novel food sources. We found that grasshoppers and the green vegetation from shrubs (genus Atriplex and Ephedra) were the most preferred food items, but shrub preference declined over the course of the trials.

Poster Session  Zoom Presentation

 

INVESTIGATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MERCURY IN FEATHERS AND MERCURY IN BREAST TISSUE IN WOOD DUCKS FROM THE CARSON RIVER, NV

Morgan A Byrne; University of Nevada, Reno; morganbyrne@nevada.unr.edu; Mae Gustin, Chris Nicolai, Perry Williams

Avian mercury concentration can be measured using feathers, which are easily collected and analyzed. Feather collection has resulted in archives of samples spanning decades. Mercury concentrations (henceforth [Hg]) in breast tissue is of interest; it is most often consumed by hunters and is less variable than feathers, so may better represent the effect of mercury on avian survival and reproduction. The relationship between feather and breast [Hg] is relatively unknown. Understanding this relationship may permit using feathers to predict breast [Hg]. We collected 39 wood ducks harvested by hunters on the Carson River, NV, an area highly contaminated with mercury. We measured [Hg] in axillary and flank feathers and liver and breast tissue using a Milestone DMA-80 mercury analyzer. We examined the relationship between these tissues using a multivariate log-normal regression model within a Bayesian framework. We found a positive correlation between flank feathers (Beta = 0.82; 95% CRI = 0.64—0.99) and breast [Hg], although there was considerable variability. We developed a predictive tool to estimate the 95% credible interval of breast [Hg] using flank feathers, permitting us to use flank feathers to determine if hunter consumption advisories are warranted and estimate historical breast [Hg] from archived feather samples.

Poster Session   Student Paper InPerson Presentation

 

GENETIC ANALYSIS OF FECAL DNA TO STUDY URBAN COYOTE DIET IN SAN FRANCISCO

Tali Caspi; University of California, Davis; tcaspi@ucdavis.edu; Monica Serrano, Stevi L. Vanderzwan, Benjamin N. Sacks

Carnivores are increasingly establishing in urban environments where they were previously absent. Cities are novel ecosystems, with greater heterogeneity in habitat and food availability and different prey assemblages compared to nonurban areas. Coyotes (Canis latrans) recolonized and established a breeding population in San Francisco in the early 2000s. To understand how urbanization influences coyote diet, I am using non-invasive sampling and DNA metabarcoding to (1) characterize diet at the population and individual level and (2) explore associations among social and genetic structure of the population and diet. As part of a pilot study, I used DNA metabarcoding to quantify the diet composition of 71 coyote scats collected across several urban green spaces in San Francisco. Diets of coyotes were diverse (10, 8, and 1 species of wild mammals, birds, and amphibians, respectively), and most scats contained evidence of anthropogenic foods (livestock DNA or cereal crops) and various fruits. Future work on a larger collection of scats will assess the influence of relatedness, social proximity, and landscape factors to describe patterns and drivers of inter-individual variation in the nutritional ecology of urban coyotes across San Francisco.

Poster Session   Student Paper Zoom Presentation

 

NESTING AND FORAGING BEHAVIOR OF THE SALT MARSH HARVEST MOUSE IN A SOUTH BAY STRIP MARSH

Laura Coatney; Alluvion Biological Consulting; lcoatney@alluvionbc.com; Vanessa Hernandez, Rachel Stump, Sean MacDonald, Carla Angulo, Stephan Wilson, Rachel Tertes, Laureen Barthman-Thompson, Katie Smith

During a habitat enhancement effort at tidal strip marshes surrounding restored salt ponds in the South San Francisco Bay a high density of rodent nests were observed, many of which could be attributed to the salt marsh harvest mouse (SMHM; Reithrodontomys raviventris) an endangered San Francisco Estuary endemic. In addition to nests, ample evidence of rodent foraging was observed in many forms. Here we will describe several types of nests, including resting and piping, and provide photos and an analysis of placement and density. Nests were found in low, mid, and high marsh, and on levee tops, in a variety of vegetation types including, and most commonly, pickleweed, alkali heath, and marsh gumplant. Evidence of rodent foraging was also found throughout marsh zones and vegetation types, ranging from hulls of consumed seeds to apparently cached insect eggs. Often observed were what we describe here as “galleys,” locations or platforms where SMHM (or other marsh rodents) harvest, age, cache, and consume plant and insect matter. Photographs as well as instructions for locating and identifying galleys are presented here. These observations vastly expand our knowledge of SMHM nesting and foraging and will improve avoidance and minimization methods for future habitat enhancement efforts.

Poster Session  InPerson Presentation

 

STATE OF THE ART: USING ARTIFICIAL REFUGE TRAPS TO CONTROL INVASIVE CRAYFISH IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA STREAMS

Joseph N Curti; Ph.D. Student, UCLA; jcurti3@g.ucla.edu; Emi Fergus, Angela De Palma-Dow

In Southern California, the invasive red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii poses a significant threat to native aquatic fauna. Studies have suggested that artificial refuge traps (ARTs) resembling crayfish burrows can be used to remove invasive crayfish, but, to date, no studies have focused on optimizing ART design and deployment to maximize crayfish catch. This month-long study tested the effect of modifications on ART diameter, color, and soak time on crayfish catch effectiveness across 160 traps. During the study period, ARTs removed a total of 240 crayfish with no incidental bycatch. Larger crayfish (2–6-cm carapace length) were found more frequently in 5.1-cm-diameter traps, and smaller Crayfish (1–4 cm) were found more frequently in 2.5-cm-diameter traps. Catch numbers varied between trap types, with black-colored 5.1-cm-diameter traps removing the greatest amount of crayfish and black-colored 2.5-cm-diameter traps removing the least amount. Further, ART deployment duration was an important predictor variable for candidate models, where ARTs with 4-d and 7-d deployment durations had lower catch/unit effort than traps with 1-d and 2-d deployments. This study demonstrates that ARTs can be a valuable tool for conservation managers interested in restoring streams through invasive crayfish removal, especially where there are sensitive biological resources.

Poster Session  Zoom Presentation

 

A RANDOM-FOREST CLASSIFICATION OF TALUS IN NORTHWEST NEVADA USING NATIONAL AGRICULTURE IMAGERY PROGRAM AERIAL IMAGERY TO SUPPORT MANAGEMENT OF THE AMERICAN PIKA

Thomas E Dilts; University of Nevada Reno; tdilts@unr.edu; K. Jane Van Gunst, Jessica Castillo Varadaro

The American pika is a small mammal inhabiting talus patches in the deserts of northwest Nevada and has frequently been described as a talus-obligate species. We used freely-available aerial photography to create the first known talus distribution map for northwest Nevada, USA. Using known pika locations in which scat or hay piles were present we modeled the distribution of occupied versus unoccupied talus to determine whether pika occurrence was related to 1) patch size and shape, 2) climatic characteristics, or 3) the availability of talus within neighboring areas. Our findings suggest that pika occurrence was related to both patch size/shape and climate. Our mapping methodology is likely to be applicable to other geographic areas and has the potential to help identify new sites, constrain estimates of habitat area, and refine species distribution models for pika and other talus-obligate species.

Poster Session  InPerson Presentation

 

WATERFOWL BEHAVIOR IN RESPONSE TO VARYING LEVELS OF BALD EAGLE PREDATION PRESSURE IN THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY OF CALIFORNIA

Kevin W. Dodd; CSU Chico; kdodd4@mail.csuchico.edu; Laura Cockrell, Amanda Banet, Kathy Gray, Raymond J. Bogiatto, Don Miller

This project concerns the predator-prey relationship between bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and waterfowl (Family Anatidae) during the fall-winter season in the Sacramento Valley of California. Predators can affect prey habitat use and behavior without direct interaction through the non-consumptive effects of predation. It is well documented that bald eagles feed on waterfowl. What is not known is how significantly bald eagles indirectly affect waterfowl behavior, which can have a negative fitness impact. This is especially important to understand as our Pacific Flyway waterfowl are threatened by habitat loss and climate change. I hypothesize that waterfowl behavior is a function of perceived predation risk and a consequence of the number of bald eagles present in the environment. As such, I predict that as bald eagle numbers increase, waterfowl will spend more time being vigilant, and less time on other behaviors. To test my hypothesis, time budgets of waterfowl at the Llano Seco Wildlife Area in the Sacramento Valley will be compared under different levels of bald eagle presence. This project is part of a master’s thesis program at CSU Chico. It is currently in progress, with one field season completed and a second currently taking place.

Poster Session  InPerson Presentation

 

CREATING PLANT-POLLINATOR NETWORKS IN THE OREGON COAST RANGE TO INFORM EXPERIMENTAL LANDSCAPE-SCALE FLORAL ENHANCEMENTS

Jess Fan Brown; NCASI ; mycologicals@gmail.com; , Lincoln Best, Deanna Williams, Lauren Ponisio, Laura Six, Katie Moriarty, Kylie B. Weeks

Pollinators are experiencing population declines globally, including in the Pacific Northwest. Bumble bees (Bombus spp.) are of particular conservation concern. Effective pollinator conservation requires knowledge of the plant species that are important pollen and nectar resources. In the Oregon Coast Range, bumble bees and other native bees may be locating these floral resources in canopy openings created by thinning, clear cuts, and road gaps. To establish plant-bee species interactions, we actively sampled pollinators in different aged stands in the Coast Range (July-September 2020, May-September 2021). We conducted 192m of surveys within 43 stands, netting all insects that were pollinating (resulting in a collection of 286 bees). We recorded the flower species each bee was caught on and preserved the bee for identification. We accessed citizen science records from 2018 and 2019 Oregon Bee Atlas surveys for an additional 7,550 bee-flower interactions. These data represent 163 bee species. We located species of conservation concern, including B. caliginosus, B. flavidus, and B. rufocinctus. Using associated floral interaction data, we created a network of plant-bee interactions and identified the most visited flower genera and species. Our plant-pollinator networks will help select native plant species for restoration efforts in the Coast Range.

Poster Session  InPerson Presentation

 

POPULATION GENETIC STRUCTURE OF AMERICAN PIKA METAPOPULATIONS: A COMPARISON OF TWO EXTREMES.

Emily N Hadjes; San Jose State University; emily.hadjes@sjsu.edu; Michael J. Hernandez, Jane Van Gunst, Yvonne Luong, Monica VillaseƱor, Jessica A. Castillo Vardaro

American pikas (Ochotona princeps) are thermally sensitive mammals that live in alpine environments. There have been numerous documented local extinctions of pika populations in hotter, drier regions including the Great Basin. Few genetic studies have assessed these at-risk populations. The goal of this project is to fill those gaps by comparing metapopulations in opposite extremes: low elevation Great Basin in northwestern Nevada and high elevation Sequoia Kings Canyon National Parks in the southern Sierra Nevadas of California. Specifically, we are i) quantifying genetic diversity and structure ii) assessing the influence of landscape and climate-related variables on gene flow and population connectivity, and iii) investigating the correlation and covariation among pika diet, intestinal parasites, and population genetic diversity. From May - August 2021, we collected pika fecal samples, plant vouchers, and conducted vegetation surveys across northwestern Nevada and within Sequoia Kings Canyon National Parks. Here, we present the results of the population genetics study. Great Basin populations have lower genetic diversity, are more geographically isolated and genetically distinct than populations in the Sierra Nevadas, indicating greater vulnerability to rapid environmental change. These results are critical to our understanding of the threats to pika populations and will directly inform conservation and management decisions.

Poster Session  InPerson Presentation

 

COLLABORATIVE MANAGEMENT OF BIGHORN SHEEP IN EASTERN NEVADA

Bryan Hamilton; bryan_hamilton@nps.gov; Kimberly Reinhart

Overlap between bighorn and domestic sheep populations often results in conflict. Stakeholders, like bighorn rams during rutting season, butt heads in court. Each party stands with evidence supporting their interest, rather than working together toward common goals. This scenario was realized in eastern Nevada a decade ago. A bighorn herd occupies the South Snake Range where domestic sheep graze in nearby allotments. Relationships between biologists, livestock operators, and land managers was caustic, each focused on their own interests. However, in 2015 all parties agreed to cooperate and focus on common goals through an Adaptive Management Strategy (AMS). The Southern Nevada Water Authority, National Park Service, Nevada Department of Wildlife, and Bureau of Land Management (the Parties) developed and implemented the AMS to promote healthy rangelands and minimize contact between domestic and bighorn sheep. As part of the AMS, the Parties created a bighorn and domestic sheep telemetry program to minimize contact. Individuals from each species were mapped with real time GPS data and results reviewed daily. The Parties used these data to create a domestic sheep grazing rotation to maximize temporal and spatial buffers with bighorn sheep, understand bighorn movement patterns, and manage lands for multiple use. Data analysis and field observations indicate that the AMS has been successful, with no contact between domestic and bighorn sheep. Disease testing has further substantiated effective separation. We recommend relentless collaboration, communication, and cooperation between game agencies, land managers, and domestic sheep operators to effectively manage bighorn populations near domestic sheep grazing allotments.

Poster Session  Zoom Presentation

 

USE OF NON-INVASIVE BLACK BEAR MONITORING TO INSPIRE HUMAN-BEAR COEXISTENCE IN SONOMA COUNTY, CA

Steven M Hammerich; Pepperwood Preserve; shammerich@pepperwoodpreserve.org; Tosha Comendant; Pepperwood Preserve, Morgan Gray; Pepperwood Preserve, Meghan Walla-Murphy; North Bay Bear Collaborative, Stacy Martinelli; California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Human-wildlife conflict is a critical conservation challenge. The estimated number of black bears is increasing in California and in Sonoma County. The rise in bear detections in a region with increasing human encroachment into the wildlands creates the potential for human-wildlife conflict. Information about black bears -- such as the population size and growth rate, dispersal patterns, and habitat use -- is needed to guide and prioritize efforts to teach people how to live among bears safely, including guidance on avoiding the kind of attractive nuisances likely to lead to conflict. To evaluate long-term trends within the bear population we used image data recorded at a grid of 20 wildlife cameras at Pepperwood Preserve between 2012-19. The time series data was paired with individual identification using DNA extracted from scat samples collected in 2020. Our image data showed an increase in black bear activity at Pepperwood. Genetic results identified three females and six males, indicating the presence of at least nine bears in 2020. Our findings have informed the outreach efforts of the North Bay Bear Collaborative; a group of agencies, non-profit conservation groups, landowners and individuals, with the aim of fostering human coexistence with an increasing black bear population.

Poster Session  InPerson Presentation

 

EVALUATING SOCIAL AND SOLITARY BEE COMMUNITIES IN MANAGED FORESTS AFFECTED BY WILDFIRES OF VARYING MAGNITUDE IN OREGON AND CALIFORNIA

Jeremy Hart; NCASI; jhart664@gmail.com; Felix Bruner, Jess Fan Brown, Lauren Ponisio, Lincoln Best, Katie Moriarty, Laura six

Pollination services provided by insects largely impact floral and faunal diversity, abundance, and overall ecosystem productivity. With fire regimes changing across the Pacific Northwest, it’s uncertain how plant-pollinator dynamics will be affected by wildfires of varying severity. Previous studies have suggested that increased pyrodiversity can promote insect abundance and diversity, however, few of these studies have been conducted in actively managed forest systems. We examined the diversity and abundance of two social bee genera and six solitary bee families. Specimens were collected in forest stands nested within 4th-order watersheds, with each spatial scale stratified and replicated by forest age. We sampled 19 stands within areas affected by three major 2020 fires and one adjacent unburned stand per fire varying in fire severity and distance from fire perimeter. Insects were collected along transects via a standardized hand-netting protocol in addition to the use of blue vane traps. Available floral resources were surveyed at the time of insect hand-netting. Preliminary analysis suggests pollinator abundance was high in moderate-high severity burns with prolific floral resources and lowest in the older forest stands with relatively few floral resources. We hope to help further pollinator conservation and sustainable land management in forests affected by wildfires.

Poster Session  InPerson Presentation

 

THE ROLE OF FENCING AND OTHER ANTHROPOGENIC STRUCTURES IN PUMA (PUMA CONCOLOR) FEEDING ECOLOGY

Jacob A Harvey; Institute for Wildlife Studies, True Wild LLC; jharvey@iws.org; Quinton Martins, David Garcelon

We investigated puma (Puma concolor) diet with GPS clusters (≥4 points within 100m in 24-hour period; ≥1 nighttime location) of 10 pumas throughout the North Bay study area. Diet as determined by frequency of occurrence at 164 clusters was primarily black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus), and livestock (goats [Capra aegagrus hircus] and sheep [Ovis aries]) at 55% and 23%, respectively. The North Bay is a complex of urban, semi-urban, agricultural, and natural areas with most puma home ranges encompassing over 10,000 private land parcels. We measured the distance of clusters to the nearest fence to determine if fencing, which is prolific in the area, is used as a hunting advantage for pumas. Anthropocentric structures have been reported as an impediment to the ability of prey to escape predation, and may be disproportionately used by predators as advantageous hunting habitat. We overlaid 10,000 random GPS points on a parcel map to obtain a baseline distribution to the nearest fence. Cluster locations were added, and Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests were completed to analyze if fences influence puma cluster locations. Results of this study will promote a further understanding of puma ecology at an urban interface and can be used to help mitigate human-wildlife conflict.

Poster Session  Zoom Presentation

 

PIKAS AND THEIR PARASITES: WHAT FECAL DNA CAN TELL US ABOUT DIETARY PREFERENCE AND INTESTINAL NEMATODE COMMUNITIES

Michael J Hernandez; San Jose State University; michael.hernandez@sjsu.edu; Emily Hadjes, Monica Villasensor, Jessica Castillo Vardaro

The American Pika (Ochotona princeps) is a small mammal found in broken rock formations, typically at high elevations. Pikas have received considerable attention within the context of climate change due to their intolerance of high temperatures. Numerous local extinctions have been documented in the past century, primarily within the lower, drier, and more geographically isolated Great Basin ecoregion. Despite the abundance of pika research, little is known about their intestinal parasites and the relationship between diet, parasites, and population vulnerability. Using a DNA metabarcoding approach, we are characterizing the summer diets and intestinal nematode communities of pikas in two distinct ecoregions: the northwestern Great Basin in Nevada and the high-elevation Southern Sierras in California. Additionally, we are comparing the frequency of food items in pika diets to the abundance of available vegetation, determined through systematic vegetation surveys, to quantify selectivity and evaluate forage quality. We will synthesize these results with a concurrent study on pika population genetics to look for covariation among pika genetic diversity, diet, and parasitism. We hypothesize that populations with greater genetic diversity and higher quality diets will have fewer intestinal nematodes, therefore we predict that nematode prevalence and diversity will be greater in the Great Basin.

Poster Session  InPerson Presentation

 

PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF THE ENDANGERED SIERRA NEVADA YELLOW-LEGGED FROG (RANA SIERRAE) AT A POPULAR PACIFIC CREST TRAIL STREAM CROSSING

Carrie J Johnson; US Forest Service; carrie.johnson1@usda.gov;

In August 2018, Tahoe National Forest biologists discovered a population of the federally endangered Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog (SNYLF) inhabiting Round Valley, California. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) crosses Lower Castle Creek in Round Valley and is heavily used by PCT hikers, as well as dogs and equestrians. Larval SNYLF tadpoles and metamorphized juveniles were found in the exact pooled area where the PCT crossed during multiple surveys spanning three years. As this area is also federally designated critical habitat for SNYLF, the goal was to protect this SNYLF reproductive habitat by creating a trail re-alignment to direct trail users along a dryer, upland trail out of the riparian zone. Trail re-alignment work began in September 2020. The project required creating 528 feet of new trail and adding a bridge crossing. Preliminary post-project monitoring indicates that trail users are primarily utilizing the new alignment and staying out of the meadow. Future monitoring will continue to assess usage on the newly re-aligned trail and in the meadow area. A primary accomplishment of this project emphasizes the collaborative effort required to complete the project and the benefits of working with partners to make ideas become reality.

Poster Session  Zoom Presentation

 

GENETIC CORRELATES OF COLOR POLYMORPHISM IN THE GIANT GARTERSNAKE

Anna C Jordan; U.S. Geological Survey; ajordan@usgs.gov; Andrea Schreier, Brian Halstead

The giant gartersnake is a federally threatened species endemic to California’s Central Valley that has responded to habitat loss by utilizing irrigation canals and fields associated with rice agriculture, as well as mitigated wetland habitats. Color polymorphisms of melanin and stripe coloration in giant gartersnakes vary across subpopulations; however, the underlying genes controlling coloration are currently unknown. We are interested in examining the genetic underpinnings of color variation in giant gartersnakes because these polymorphisms may be under selection in these different habitat types. We will sequence the Mc1r gene in the giant gartersnake, as it has been associated with melanin levels in other reptile species. Additionally, we will perform restriction site-associated DNA sequencing using the restriction enzyme PstI which makes cuts roughly every 4 kilobases, allowing for greater representation of the genome, and a genome-wide association analysis to look for single nucleotide polymorphisms correlated with melanism and stripe coloration. Stripe color in giant gartersnakes appears to be continuously distributed, therefore genetic influence will likely be mediated by multiple loci. There is growing evidence that genetic mechanisms controlling color polymorphism correlate to other ecological traits, which may be especially interesting when examining the differences in color morphs across increasingly isolated subpopulations.

Poster Session   Student Paper Zoom Presentation

 

COMPONENTS TO CONSERVATION: BANK SWALLOW POPULATION TRENDS IN TWO LONG-TERM STUDY REACHES ALONG THE SACRAMENTO RIVER

Kaitlin Kozlowski; California Department of Fish and Wildlife; kaitlin.kozlowski@wildlife.ca.gov; Jeffrey McFarland

Bank swallows (Riparia riparia) are a migratory species of passerine which were listed as threatened in California in 1989 due to habitat loss. These birds nest in colonies in nearly vertical eroding cut banks, and are commonly found along streams as well as in coastal bluffs and upland sites. Surveys along the Sacramento River from 1986-2021 provide the most comprehensive monitoring dataset for this species within the state. While sections of the river between Keswick to Red Bluff (Reach 1) and Colusa to Verona (Reach 4) have large gaps in monitoring data, these areas contain significant concentrations of bank swallows and are important for conservation. Reach 4 is the most heavily altered reach of the Sacramento River, containing vast stretches of revetment and providing valuable insight into how bank swallow colonies are affected by human-altered landscapes. Over the last 35 years, bank swallow burrows in Reaches 1 and 4 decreased, as did the number of colonies in Reach 1. In Reach 4 the number of colonies increased, but the reach also had a higher percent decrease in number of burrows, potentially due to greater habitat loss and fragmentation leading to an accelerated decline.

Poster Session  Zoom Presentation

 

HE PILINA WEHENA 'OLE: PRIORITIZING PILINA-BASED APPROACHES TO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION THROUGH PEOPLE-PLACE SYMBIOSES

Lisa LK Mason; The University of Hawai'i at Hilo ; lkapono@hawaii.edu; Elliott W. Parsons

There is a growing opportunity in wildlife conservation to embrace indigenous perspectives in the fight against biodiversity loss and extinction. Given the extent of threats to native biodiversity worldwide, it is necessary to critically evaluate how standard models of wildlife conservation are faring at local and regional scales and to build relationships with indigenous communities to help guide and optimize wildlife initiatives. Like many indigenous cultures, a traditional kanaka oiwi (native Hawaiian) worldview is grounded in reciprocal relationships that bind individuals to their communities, resources, and ancestral places. He pilina wehena ole, meaning an unseverable bond, is a cultural reference to the inherent symbiosis between kanaka oiwi and the lands of Hawai'i and highlights the unique ecological knowledge and long-term commitments indigenous communities are making towards wildlife protection and human-nature coexistence. Hawaii provides many examples of resource-driven co-management between local communities and agencies, thus providing invaluable insights towards developing new and more culturally responsive models for wildlife conservation. Here, we summarize the efforts of several “pilina-based” subsistence programs operating across Hawai'i and identify unifying themes that may translate across different ecological systems for wildlife conservation. Additionally, we advocate for greater indigenous representation within new and current models of wildlife conservation.

Poster Session   Student Paper Zoom Presentation

 

FLORAL SPECIES RICHNESS AND POLLINATOR PRESENCE IN INTERIOR FOREST STANDS AND ROADSIDE TRANSECTS

Claire E Massaro; clairemassaro@gmail.com; Chelcie Pierce, Jess Fan Brown, Lincoln Best, Deanna Williams, Laura Six, Katie Moriarty

Insect pollinators in forest ecosystems are understudied and may have less pressure from disease and pesticides. Roads in forested systems may benefit pollinators by maintaining canopy gaps with increased floral and nesting resources. We evaluated bee communities and floral resources along roads and in adjacent stands of different ages in western Oregon and northern California (n = 81 stands), visiting each site up to 4 times (March-August). We hand-netted insects and surveyed plant species, counting blooms along six stand transects and one roadside transect. We collected 631 insects from interior stands and 172 insects from road transects but caught fewer insects along stand transects on average than road transects (x = 1.30 and 2.12 insects/stand and road transect, respectively). When comparing stand and road collected insects, percentages differed: 53% and 30% bumblebees, 26% and 6% honeybees, 13% and 41% solitary bees, and 7% and 19% flies, respectively. Stand and road transects had an average of 0.89 and 1.62 species, respectively, of blooming flowers/visit. Preliminary observations suggest floral resources were more abundant and diverse along roads than forest stands. Our results illustrate that canopy gaps created by roads could provide valuable forage resources for bees.

Poster Session  InPerson Presentation

 

USING NOVEL AND TRADITIONAL SURVEY TECHNIQUES TO MONITOR SMALL MAMMAL SPECIES IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Sydney L McCluskey; Humboldt State University; slm1074@humboldt.edu; Barbara A. Clucas

Increased biodiversity loss and extinction rates across the globe are accentuating the need for effective conservation measures to be established. The ability to monitor species in an ecosystem using efficient techniques is a crucial conservation and management tool in order for changes in the populations to be detected. Monitoring small mammals in forested habitats can be challenging, due to their size, activity patterns, and frequently nocturnal nature. The traditional technique of live trapping (LT) and marking of individuals has many challenges associated with it, including being time-consuming and expensive, as well as result in injury or even death for the study organism. More novel small mammal survey techniques such as camera trapping (CT) and acoustic recording (AR) have proven to be successful minimally-invasive methods in monitoring some small mammal populations. In this study we compared the effectiveness of novel detection methods (i.e. CT and AR) with traditional LT methods in monitoring small mammal populations in the Pacific Northwest. We focused on the efficiency of each method in detecting species and in their time and cost effectiveness in surveying small mammal populations. The preliminary results from this study indicate that CT survey methods may be the most efficient method in detecting small mammal species compared with LT and AR. Lack of data in confirming small mammal identification through AR was a shortcoming to this study. CT methods show a lot of potential in future small mammal monitoring studies.

Poster Session  Zoom Presentation

 

BAT ACTIVITY AND DIVERSITY IN THE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA FOOTHILLS

Kylie L McNary; Butte College; kmcnary001@student.butte.edu; Shahroukh Mistry

Butte College is situated on a 376-ha wildlife refuge that has over three km of riparian habitat, 130 ha of blue oak woodlands, 90 ha of grassland and over 70 ha of developed structures as part of the campus. This project focuses on local bat populations within these habitats and how abiotic factors affect population size. Diversity of the bats at five locations per habitat type was determined using an ultrasonic recorder over a period of two years. Data suggests up to 12 species are present in the refuge, with distinct habitat preferences. Tadarida brasiliensis was most common in the Oak and Campus areas, where significant activity of Lasiurus noctivagans and Lasiurus cinereus were also observed. Myotis californicus/yumanensis dominate the Riparian habitat. In addition, guano estimates from 20 bat boxes on campus indicate highest occupation during June and July. Occupancy increases with temperature from May to July and decreases during peak temperatures, with the highest number of bats at around 31°C. We intend to place data loggers inside bat boxes to compare with ambient temperatures and continue data collection for several years to further elucidate seasonal patterns.

Poster Session  InPerson Presentation

 

EVALUATING HABITAT SUITABILITY AND CONNECTIVITY FOR A SMALL CARNIVORE, PACIFIC MARTEN, IN A PATCHY FIRE-PRONE LANDSCAPE

Katie Moriarty; NCASI; kmoriarty@ncasi.org; Heather Rustigian-Romsos, Matthew S. Delheimer

Habitat suitability models are useful tools for investigating species’ requirements and forming a resistance surface for predicted connectivity. Robustly predicting habitat and corridors are salient for species that are rare, declining, dispersal limited, or impacted by emerging threats. We evaluated predicted habitat, connectivity, and fire risk for Pacific martens (Martes caurina) in northern California with a large, long-term, dataset (n = 32 GPS-collared martens). We used MaxEnt to model spatially-thinned locations and paired variables optimized for spatial scale. Our top model included elevation, tree biomass, slope, tree density, and canopy cover standard deviation. Independent GPS and camera data suggested predictive accuracy. We created a resistance surface using a negative exponential function. We identified 8 core areas and 10 linkages. Across our modeled area, 24 fires burned 2000-2020. We predicted 41% of the modeled core and corridor network at moderate wildfire hazard potential. Following the completion of our evaluation, the 2021 Dixie fire burned >38% of our core and corridor network, >20% at moderate or high severity. We reflect on opportunities following unexpected disturbances.

Poster Session  Zoom Presentation

 

EVIDENCED-BASED WILDLIFE USE EVALUATION OF THE STATE ROUTE 61/MORONGO PASS AREA AND CONNECTIVITY RECOMMENDATIONS - RIVERSIDE AND SAN BERNARDINO COUNTIES

Brock Ortega; Dudek; bortega@dudek.com; Fraser Shilling, Ph.D., Norris Dodd, MS, Travis Longcore, Ph.D., Anna Cassady, MS, Melanie Davis

Caltrans District 8 and others have been concerned about constrained wildlife movement in the State Route 62/Morongo Pass area which begins in the Coachella Valley in Riverside County, cuts north through the Little San Bernardino Mountains, then east through the Yucca Valley turning east to the Arizona border. Our alignment bisects managed Conservation lands in the Sand to Snow area. Several special-status species and large mammals occur in this area ranging from desert bighorn sheep and mountain lion to desert tortoise. Our study area includes the western portion from the Coachella Valley floor, up the Morongo Grade, through the Morongo Valley and up to the crest of the Yucca Grade. To better understand the movement patterns and risk to local large and focal species, we performed a variety of investigative techniques to understand wildlife use. Wildlife-Vehicle Collision data identified hotspots along the alignment. Camera and wildlife sign data in and out of the transportation corridor revealed wildlife use and avoidance of various structures. Based on the various identified constraints to movement, several recommendations were provided. These included overpasses at two locations, coordination with local agencies, strategic placement of fencing and barriers, and structure modifications to reduce noise and light effects.

Poster Session  InPerson Presentation

 

USE OF WHOLE GENOME SEQUENCING TO INVESTIGATE THE EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY OF ISLAND SPOTTED SKUNKS

Julia D. Owen-Ramos; University of California, Davis; jdowen@ucdavis.edu; Cate B. Quinn, Ellie C. Bolas, Dirk Van Vuren, Ben N. Sacks

Island species have long been considered an important tool for understanding divergence and speciation, and to investigate the evolutionary forces driving DNA sequence evolution. The Island spotted skunk (Spilogale gracilis amphiala) is one example of an extremely rare endemic insular carnivore. Currently found on the two largest northern Channel Islands, Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz, island spotted skunk populations are morphologically nearly indistinguishable from one another and from their mainland counterpart, the western spotted skunk (S. gracilis microrhina, S. gracilis phenax). However, genetic studies that used microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA found significant genetic differences between the two island populations and between the islands and mainland populations, suggesting a longer evolutionary history of spotted skunks on the Channel Islands (Floyd et al. 2011; Bolas et al in review). To further investigate the evolutionary history of island spotted skunks and the forces driving their divergence we used whole genome sequencing to estimate current and historical population sizes, levels of inbreeding, and differentiation between each island and between the islands and mainland California.

Poster Session   Student Paper InPerson Presentation

 

GENOME-WIDE SEQUENCING ACROSS A ZONE OF SECONDARY CONTACT UNCOVERS COMPLEX DEMOGRAPHIC HISTORY AND ADMIXTURE BETWEEN CRYPTIC GRAY FOX LINEAGES

Sophie Preckler-Quisquater; Mammalian Ecology and Conservation Unit, UC Davis; squisquater@ucdavis.edu; Elizabeth Kierepka, Dawn M. Reding, Antoinette J Piaggio, Seth P. D. Riley, Ben Sacks

Past climatic fluctuations have heavily influenced current species distributions, generating complex evolutionary histories through periods of isolation in refugia as well as secondary contact and gene flow post-expansion. The gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) represents the most basal extant canid lineage and occurs only in the Americas. Previous mitochondrial analysis identified deeply divergent (up to 1 Mya) eastern and western lineages, and a major phylogeographic break along the Great Plains Suture Zone, indicating that they have been isolated for numerous glacial-interglacial cycles, and may instead represent cryptic species. However, it remains unclear whether these lineages exhibit reproductive isolation, or whether there has been secondary contact and subsequent admixture post-divergence. Using a combination of reduced-representation (n = 259) and whole-genome (n = 42) sequencing, we identified low levels of admixture between eastern and western lineages at the previously described contact zone. Using local ancestry inference, we tested whether the observed admixture was a result of recent vs ancient admixture, and whether there has been a single pulse or multiple pulses of gene flow. Understanding the complexities surrounding the role of climatic refugia on divergence and secondary contact within the gray fox lineage will improve conservation and management of this evolutionarily distinct mesocarnivore.

Poster Session  InPerson Presentation

 

GENOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF POPULATION DECLINES IN THE SIERRA NEVADA AND CASCADE RED FOX SUBSPECIES

Cate B Quinn; University of California Davis; cbquinn@ucdavis.edu; Jennifer Carlson, Pete Figura, Jocelyn Akins, Tim Hiller, Benjamin Sacks

Genomic approaches can be used to discriminate recent inbreeding from longer-term processes influencing genetic diversity, which can inform the risk of inbreeding depression. Native red foxes in the contiguous western United States declined in the early 1900s and remain scarce in the Pacific mountains. In 2021, the Sierra Nevada population of the Sierra Nevada subspecies (Vulpes vulpes necator) was listed as federally endangered, with inbreeding depression a primary threat. Previous studies suggest that other Pacific mountain populations (V. v. necator in the southern Cascades, V. v. cascadensis in the northern Cascades) also have reduced genetic diversity. Here we used whole-genome sequences to investigate the risk of inbreeding depression in 27 individuals sampled from four high-elevation populations in the Pacific mountains and, for reference, 6 individuals from closely related populations with greater connectivity. We found that despite high levels of genome-wide diversity, all Pacific populations have experienced recent inbreeding, with the greatest intensity in the southern Cascades of California. We also compared genetic load among populations and, within the California Cascades, before and after a rare immigration event. Our findings inform the management of Pacific mountain red foxes and highlight the utility of genomic approaches in conservation of small populations.

Poster Session  Zoom Presentation

 

CONSERVATION PLANNING FOR A SPECIES IN PERIL

Marie Racioppa; m2raciop@uwaterloo.ca; Brad Fedy

The sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) steppe in the western United States is suffering from substantial habitat loss due to extractive and renewable resource industries. Ensuring the persistence of the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter “sage-grouse”) requires protecting the remaining sagebrush habitat and restoring degraded areas. We used existing ecological datasets predicting sage-grouse seasonal habitat suitability, genetic connectivity, and development probability with the software prioritizr to build spatial prioritizations. Our study area was the Rock Springs Field Office (RSFO) a field office within the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in southwestern Wyoming. We identified priority areas for conservation including and outside of the PACs, priority areas on private land for consideration as conservation easements, and areas expected to be suitable for restoration. We incorporated migratory routes of elk and mule deer (Cervus canadensis and Odocoileus hemionus) into our prioritizations and identified sites important to both sage-grouse and ungulate species. Prioritizations were assessed in quality determining irreplaceability, contiguity, and return on investment (ROI). We identified vulnerability in the brood season due to relatively less PAC coverage. We suggest highly irreplaceable priority areas linking PACs in the northeast and to the east of the Green River should take conservation priority for the RSFO.

Poster Session   Student Paper Zoom Presentation

 

ADAPTING TO CHANGES IN RESOURCE AVAILABILITY BY AN ADULT MALE MOUNTAIN LION

John F Randolph; Institute for Wildlife Studies; randolph@iws.org; David K. Garcelon

Mountain lions (Puma concolor) are a solitary, ambush predator found across California. Deer are their primary prey, although they prey upon a variety of other species. On the Modoc Plateau in northeastern California, mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) were the primary prey species accounting for 71% of the diet for our 27 collared mountain lions. One exception was an adult male (M166), who predominantly fed on feral horses (Equus caballus). Of 54 kill site investigations that were ungulate prey, all were feral horses. This male’s home range resides almost exclusively on the Modoc National Forest, and in 2016 the Forest Service began feral horse removal in an effort to manage the population. From 10 September to 4 October 2020, 506 horses were removed from M166’s home range. One month after the removal, this lion shifted his range and for the first time was detected preying on mule deer. In mid-December 2020, M166 returned to his original home range and resumed his equine diet. This change in spatial use may correlate to a change in resource availability due to the feral horse removal; however, alternative explanations may include shifting home range to find more mates.

Poster Session  InPerson Presentation

 

USING DNA BARCODING TO UNCOVER NEW AND RARE MOTH SPECIES IN WEST NEW BRITAIN, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Candice M Sawyer; California State University, Chico; csawyer2@mail.csuchico.edu; Donald G. Miller III, David M. Keller, Tag N. Engstrom

We are currently facing a push for global biodiversity assessment. Climate change, habitat destruction, pollution, introduced species and more are threats to biodiversity. Taxa which have not yet been inventoried from scarcely explored geographies are particularly vulnerable. To date, a biodiversity assessment on moths has not been completed on species from West New Britain, Papua New Guinea. The Chico State Entomology Collection possesses 251 moths from two locations within this region, the Lake Hargy Caldera and the Hargy Oil Palm plantation. Identification of these museum specimens was made as a preliminary effort to create a species inventory. Specimens were identified by a combination of DNA barcoding and morphological assessment. Of the 251 specimens, there are 147 species. Of these, 72% were identified to species or genus. Only 27 were successfully DNA barcoded, yet these data brought significant value to identification efforts. DNA barcoding revealed previously misidentified species. Several species of interest were identified, including rare and endemic species. Further research is needed, but there are several specimens we believe represent novel species. These data provide a glimpse of the moth species in a previously uninventoried region.

Poster Session   Student Paper InPerson Presentation

 

DIET OF THE THREATENED ENDEMIC ISLAND FOX REVEALS VARIATION IN SANDY BEACH RESOURCE USE ON THE CALIFORNIA CHANNEL ISLANDS

Juliann T Schamel; Channel Islands National Park; j.schamel.20@abdn.ac.uk; Henry M. Page, Kyle A. Emery, Nicholas K. Schooler, Jenifer E. Dugan, Angela Guglielmino, Seth D. Newsome, Donna M. Schroeder, David M. Hubbard, Robert J. Miller

The coastal zone may provide important foraging opportunities for insular populations of terrestrial island mammals, allowing for expanded habitat use, increased dietary breadth, and locally higher population densities. We examined the use of sandy beach resources by the threatened island fox (Urocyon littoralis) on the California Channel Islands using surveys of potential prey, beach habitat attributes, and scat and stable isotope analysis. Island fox consumption of beach items, primarily intertidal talitrid amphipods (Megalorchestia spp.), varied with the abundance of these prey across sites. Distance-based linear modeling revealed that abundance of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) wrack, rather than beach physical attributes, explained the largest amount of variation in talitrid amphipod abundance and biomass across beaches.  Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope values of fox whisker segments suggests individual diet specialization at the site level.  Some foxes specialized on terrestrial foods, while others showed a sustained use of sandy beach resources, the importance of which varied over time. Abundant allochthonous marine resources on beaches, including inputs of giant kelp, may expand habitat use and diet breadth of the island fox, increasing population resilience during declines in terrestrial resources associated with climate variability and long-term climate change.

Poster Session   Student Paper Zoom Presentation

 

MULTI-SPECIES PRESENCE CONCURRENT WITH RED TREE VOLE (ARBORIMUS LONGICAUDUS) NEST USE IN MANAGED FORESTS OF THE OREGON COAST RANGE

Salix R Scoresby; NCASI; Evergreen State College; salixmigratorius@gmail.com; Jason Piasecki, Katie Moriarty

For species occupying the forest canopy, finding adequate shelter can be a limiting resource. Understanding nest preference and use is challenging and may hold great value in better understanding species of conservation interest. Red tree voles (Arborimus longicaudus) are elusive canopy-dwelling rodents and little information exists regarding interspecific use of their nests. While monitoring has occurred on artificial nest platforms used by tree voles, quantifiable use of natural tree vole nests by other mammals in managed forests is unknown. We climbed 713 trees with nests in 45 stands from 20 to >300 years old. We documented recent use by red tree voles (e.g., resin ducts, debarked twigs) and installed cameras to record species occurrence. We observed multiple species using red tree vole nests, often simultaneously within a day. Our data suggests nest construction and usage frequently cannot be attributed to a single species, and that not all interspecific nest usage is antagonistic. We will use our data to investigate whether concurrent nest use, relative nest availability, and a relative index of mammal diversity were associated with stand age. Our data on these interspecific relationships provides new ecological information and can aid in management and conservation of canopy obligate species.

Poster Session   Student Paper InPerson Presentation

 

FROM HAZARD TO HABITAT: A SUMMARY OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION'S ABANDONED MINE RECLAMATION EFFORTS

Trinity N Smith; California Department of Conservation; trinity.smith@conservation.ca.gov;

A history of legacy mining in California has resulted in an estimated 200,000 abandoned mine openings. These mines, if left unremediated, can pose a hazard for humans and the environment. The California Department of Conservation – Abandoned Mine Lands Unit (AMLU) has an interest in protecting the public from the hazards found in and around abandoned mine sites, which often provide habitat for bats and other wildlife. AMLU houses an interdisciplinary team of geologists, environmental scientists, and GIS professionals that possess a unique suite of training and experience to survey subterranean habitat for hazards and wildlife and provide technical expertise. AMLU works with landowning agencies to assess physical risks at historic mines and remediate hazards with bat-compatible closures, when possible, to protect the public and wildlife. AMLU has remediated more than 1,600 abandoned mine features in California since 2000. These mines provide habitat for several California Species of Special Concern, especially Townsend’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) and California leaf-nosed bat (Macrotus californicus). AMLU works closely with Bat Conservation International to complete bat surveys and ensure that remediation recommendations align with habitat conservation goals.

Poster Session  InPerson Presentation

 

DIFFERENT PREY RESOURCES SUGGEST LITTLE COMPETITION BETWEEN NON-NATIVE FROGS AND INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS DESPITE ISOTOPIC NICHE OVERLAP

Robyn L Smith; Janelle Nolan & Associates Environmental Consulting; robyn@jna-consulting.com; Karen H. Beard, Aaron B. Shiels

The Puerto Rican coqui frog (Eleutherodactylus coqui) has colonized the island of Hawaii, and has been hypothesized to compete with insectivorous birds and bats. To address if the coqui could compete with these vertebrates, we used stable isotope analyses to compare the trophic position and isotopic niche overlap between the coqui, three insectivorous bird species, and the Hawaiian hoary bat. Coquis shared similar trophic position to Hawaii amakihi, Japanese white-eye, and red-billed leiothrix. Coquis were about 3‰ less enriched in ?15N than the Hawaiian hoary bat, suggesting the bats feed at a higher trophic level than coquis. Analyses of potential diet sources between coquis and each of the three bird species indicate that there was more dietary overlap between bird species than any of the birds and the coqui. Results suggest that Acari, Amphipoda, and Blattodea made up >90% of coqui diet, while Araneae made up only 2% of coqui diet, but approximately 25% of amakihi and white-eye diet. Results suggest that coquis share few food resources with insectivorous birds, but occupy a similar trophic position, which could indicate weak competition. Future research should examine whether coqui invasions are associated with changes in bird abundance.

Poster Session  InPerson Presentation

 

MOUNTAIN QUAIL (OREORTYX PICTUS) HABITAT USE IN RESPONSE TO FOREST MANAGEMENT IN THE GREATER CRYSTAL BASIN AREA OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Slaney C Stringer; Chico State University; scstringer@mail.csuchico.edu;

Forest management has become an increasingly crucial topic over the last several decades as incidence and severity of wildfires has increased, particularly in the Western United States. In response to this, several techniques (thinning, mastication, and controlled burns) have been used to convert dense, hazardous forests into more healthy, multi-stage environments. These methods allow for successional growth of smaller vegetation which creates habitat that is beneficial for ground dwelling species like mountain quail (Oreortyx pictus). This study seeks to determine the habitat preferences and movement patterns of these birds in northern California to determine how factors such as fire, elevation, vegetation, and sex affect their populations and home ranges. Quail in the Crystal Basin area will be captured and fitted with transmitters in order to track their movements via telemetry. DNA analysis on blood and/or feather samples will be completed to determine their sex. The data collected will provide wildlife managers with an accurate picture of the preferences and behaviors of mountain quail. As climate change continues affecting these woodland environments, it is crucial to understand more about these birds so appropriate and sustainable management techniques can be applied to preserving their species and the forests as a whole.

Poster Session  Zoom Presentation

 

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ARROYO TOAD POPULATIONS IN LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST FROM 2010 TO 2019.

Robert C Sweet; Environmental Science Associates; rsweet@esassoc.com; Brian Pittman, CWB

Since 2005, DWR has managed water releases into Middle Piru Creek (MPC), downstream of Pyramid Dam, to simulate the natural hydrology of Upper Piru Creek (upstream of Pyramid Lake) and maintain habitat for the arroyo toad (Anaxyrus californicus). On behalf of DWR, we conducted annual surveys from 2010 to 2019 to monitor arroyo toad populations in MPC. Our analysis involved the comparison of clutch data collected along a 7-mile segment of MPC and 1.5-mile segment of Agua Blanca Creek (ABC) (control) against various quantifiable factors, including average annual Pyramid Dam outflow, average annual precipitation, average annual water temperature, and the prevalence of exotic predators. Average rainfall correlated with breeding success in ABC, the unmanaged control area; however, it did not in the managed MPC. While both water temperature and rainfall were inversely correlated with dam outflow, outflow did not correlate with breeding success. It is thought that arroyo toad populations can be negatively affected by poorly timed episodic/high-flow events that flush out clutches; however, perhaps due to flow management, this phenomenon was not observed.

Poster Session  InPerson Presentation

 

MONITORING PYGMY SHORT-HORNED LIZARDS (PHRYNOSOMA DOUGLASII) IN NORTHWESTERN NEVADA

Jackson L Tenney; University of Nevada, Reno; jacksontenney@gmail.com; Kevin T Shoemaker, Danielle C Miles

The Pygmy Short-horned lizard (Phrynosoma douglasii) is unique among horned lizards for its small size and comparatively diverse diet. Throughout their range, Pygmy Short-horned lizards are threatened by habitat loss as sagebrush habitats transition to monocultures of invasive annual grasses such as cheatgrass. In Nevada (their southernmost range), the Pygmy Short-horned lizard is considered a sensitive species, however there have not been dedicated survey efforts since 2009. This year, we initiated a new 2-year monitoring program to reassess their conservation status and to better understand their current distribution and threats. Here, we present our methodologies and findings from the first year of monitoring. We started by revisiting the ~30 locations where Pygmy Short-horned lizards have previously been found in Nevada. At each site we conducted walking transects and 30-minute timed surveys. Additionally, we collected drone imagery and ant specimens from sites in order to relate presence and abundance of Pygmy Short-horned lizards with other habitat variables such as vegetation cover and prey availability. Overall, our project will provide the necessary data for robust analysis of the key environmental drivers of Pygmy Short-horned lizard presence, allowing us to provide guidance for the long-term conservation of their populations in Nevada.

Poster Session  InPerson Presentation

 

OUT LIMITS: THE SPATIAL USE PATTERNS OF A TRANSLOCATED AQUATIC REPTILE

Laura Van Vranken; University of California Merced; lvanvranken@ucmerced.edu; Jessica Blois, Ninette Daniele, Rob Grasso

With effects from anthropogenic forces compounding to influence species presence and distributions, conservation efforts are pushing to preserve vulnerable species through proactive efforts. This study was part of a larger conservation effort to restore the western pond turtle, Emys marmorata to Yosemite Valley (Yosemite National Park), which was previously part of their historical range. We leveraged the efforts of this pilot translocation study of E. marmorata to determine habitat use and selection of this species in a previously undescribed portion of their range. We calculated average home range sizes and described hibernation use and patterns in a novel environment. Using Manly selection ratios, we identified habitat features of aquatic and terrestrial importance for pond turtles. While filling a knowledge gap in spatial use patterns at the range edge of this threatened species, this study also provides a conservation framework as the first translocation for western pond turtles, and can ultimately inform future conservation and restoration efforts.

Poster Session   Student Paper Zoom Presentation

 

CHARACTERIZING AND MAPPING HABITAT FOR MULE DEER IN NEVADA

Joshua P Vasquez; University of Nevada, Reno; joshuavasquez@unr.edu; Kevin T. Shoemaker, Kelley M. Stewart, Cody A. Schroeder

Landscape-scale use of habitat by mule deer has been known to change within some populations as resource requirements and availability change. Since habitat use tends to differ among seasons for this species we modeled habitat use by mule deer for summer and winter ranges in northeast Nevada. As a preliminary proof-of-concept, we examined 168 mule deer in summer ranges and 164 mule deer in winter ranges in central north east Nevada. We used a random forest analysis to model distribution of mule deer at a landscape scale (38,000 km2) as a function of 12 factors hypothesized to influence patterns of habitat selection by mule deer. In the summer, mule deer in our study area tended to avoid roads and playas and selected higher elevation areas close to sources of water. During winter, mule deer also avoided roads, and selected areas in the mountains rather than playas which had higher precipitation and temperatures than playa areas with little to no vegetation. In general, selection at this landscape scale was similar among seasons, but mule deer were more closely tied to sources of water during the arid summer months.

Poster Session   Student Paper InPerson Presentation

 

INSIGHTS INTO THE NEST SITE CHARACTERISTICS OF PUEO (HAWAIIAN SHORT-EARED OWL; ASIO FLAMMEUS SANDWICHENSIS) ON O'AHU

Olivia Wang; University of Hawaii, Manoa; owang@hawaii.edu; Chad J Wilhite, Marie-Sophie Garcia-Heras, Wade H Naguwa, Kicah P H Acoba, Julen Torrens Baile, Kaleiheana-a-Pohaku Stormcrow, Melissa R Price

Short-eared Owls (Asio flammeus) are an appropriate study species for understanding intraspecific variations in life-history traits due to their global distribution across continental and island systems at a variety of latitudes. However, more regional studies outside of North America and Europe are necessary to draw comparisons. Here, we investigated the nest-site characteristics of Hawaiian Short-eared Owls (A. f. sandwichensis), or pueo. We searched for nests during the 2020 and 2021 breeding seasons and collected nest-site characteristics, including visual obstruction readings (VOR), maximum vegetation height, and percent cover at nest sites and four random points within 100 meters of the nest. Nine nests were found in managed buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris)–dominated grassland, and one nest in a pickleweed (Batis maritima) dominated wetland. Using a logistic regression model, we found that mean high VOR was the most important predictor of use and is positively correlated with the relative probability of use. Our initial results suggests that greater vegetation height and densities are important habitat characteristics for pueo occupancy and nesting. This study is an important step in informing best management practices to maximize pueo occupancy and nesting success.

Poster Session   Student Paper InPerson Presentation

 

APPLICATION OF METABARCODING FOR DEER DIET ANALYSIS BEFORE AND AFTER A LARGE WILDFIRE

Carly Q White; UC Davis, CDFW; carly.white@wildlife.ca.gov; Joshua Bush, Stevi Lee Vanderzwan, Benjamin Sacks

As wildfires continue to grow more frequent and severe in California, it is increasingly important to understand how deer herds respond to these large disturbances. Diet is an important component of herbivore life history that can be impacted by wildfire, potentially affecting behavior and survival of deer. This project aims to asses changes to deer diet before and after the Ranch Fire of 2018 in the Mendocino National Forest of Northern California using metabarcoding of fecal pellet samples. Dietary metabarcoding is a relatively new method that detects dietary items using trace amounts of DNA in fecal pellets or other forms of ingesta. The process involves extraction of DNA from fecal pellets, followed by amplification via polymerase chain reaction of a targeted DNA marker, such as the trnL regions of the chloroplast genome. The products are then sequenced on a high-throughput platform and sequences sorted bioinformatically to identify multiple taxa at once and determine the dietary content of a sample. Here we describe our study design, including sample collection sites before and after the fire, our metabarcoding process, preliminary findings, and discuss potential contributions to deer management strategies.

Poster Session  Zoom Presentation

 

LONGEVITY OF BAT COMPATIBLE GATES ON ABANDONED HARDROCK MINES

Jason Williams; Nevada Department of Wildlife; jasonw@ndow.org;

Land and wildlife managers began securing abandoned hard rock mine portals with bat compatible closures (BCCs) in Nevada in the 1990s. Managers in Nevada have been working together for more than 20 years to systematically survey and protect mines that provide important roosting opportunities for wildlife and for preservation of cultural artifacts. To date, more than 1,300 BCCs have been constructed on abandoned mine lands (AMLs) in Nevada, however no systematic system of monitoring gates was ever implemented. Beginning in 2020, managers have assessed the status of approximately 80% of Nevada’s gated AMLs. Data presented will include rates and types of vandalism and natural subsidence, lessons learned regarding gate designs and portal stability, and considerations to increase the efficiency of gating programs into the future.

Poster Session  Zoom Presentation

 

BREEDING AND WINTERING SPACE USE BY NORTHERN GOSHAWKS (ACCIPITER GENTILIS) IN NORTHEASTERN NEVADA

Marilyn E Wright; Utah State University; marilyn.wright@usu.edu; Mackenzie R. Jeffress, Joseph G. Barnes

Northern Goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) are important top-tier predators in forested ecosystems, often thought to be closely tied to old-growth forests and sensitive to disturbance. Despite research contributing to the understanding of goshawk ecology in various ecoregions, there are gaps in the understanding of space use for the species, especially in the winter months, and particularly in Nevada’s Great Basin. To address these gaps and explore space use in a habitat that differs from that explored in prior studies, over the course of our study (mid-summer 2017 to present) we fitted eight birds in northeastern Nevada with satellite transmitters and recorded multiple daily GPS locations. Our preliminary work suggests that these birds displayed similar movement patterns in successive breeding and wintering periods, unless affected by a notable disturbance (e.g., fire near a nest stand). Our tagged birds primarily stayed within the state with localized movements, though for most birds, space use changed significantly at different time periods throughout the year. The inference gained from analyzing space use in this area is valuable for better understanding habitat requirements, space use, and response to disturbance by goshawks in Nevada and may be useful for broader scale inference about goshawks within similar habitat types.

Poster Session  Zoom Presentation