Panel Discussion In Development:

Samantha Lantz, USFWS

Laura Patterson, CDFW

Lyn Myers, Fresno State University / Chaffee Zoo

Rory Telemeco, Fresno State University

Mike Westphal, BLM (session chair)

Mark Statham, UC Davis

Reagen O'Leary, CDFW

Nicole Gaudenti, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

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.

The Yellow-billed Magpie (Pica nuttalli) declined precipitously after West Nile virus arrived in the early 2000s and has not recovered. Most ecological work on the species has occurred in oak woodlands in California's Coast Ranges. Urban populations, some of which are sizable, have received little attention. In 2020, we studied breeding colonies in six Sacramento parks and in 2021 expanded to 43 sites, detecting 827 magpies. Fledgling counts yielded reproductive rates similar to those observed near the coast before arrival of West Nile virus, suggesting that the virus is not currently affecting nestling survival. Magpies nested in the upper canopy of a wide variety of large native and non-native trees. They foraged preferentially in low herbaceous habitat, consisting of irrigated turf and unirrigated mowed or grazed annual grassland. Colony size was strongly related to the amount of low herbaceous foraging habitat within 0.5 km of flowing water, suggesting West Nile virus effects may be low in remaining occupied areas. Results suggest that >4 ha of low herbaceous habitat near flowing water is needed to support a small nesting colony. Management for urban magpies should focus on retaining and managing herbaceous habitat through mowing or grazing in areas near large trees and flowing water.

In arid and semi-arid environments, burrowing mammals play a key role in increasing landscape heterogeneity through facilitative (positive) species interactions. The loss of burrowing mammal populations can consequently lead to negative effects cascading through the ecosystem; it is therefore critical to understand these facilitative interactions for conservation and management. For instance, accounting for facilitative interactions during translocation could improve success rates. To investigate the importance of burrow facilitation on San Joaquin antelope squirrel (Ammospermophilus nelsoni) translocation success, we designed a program for antelope squirrels using a natural experiment, with paired sites selected for the presence and absence of a burrowing facilitator, the giant kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ingens). We radio collared 98 antelope squirrels from core habitat within the Carrizo Plain. We then translocated 68 to uninhabited lands in their historical range, half to a site with giant kangaroo rats and half without. We compared survival, dispersal and movement, and home range size across the three treatment groups. Our study highlights the importance of considering facilitative interactions when selecting release sites for translocation and planning restoration campaigns.

Western North American bat populations are increasingly at risk from the emerging threats of climate change and the fungal disease white-nose syndrome, leading to a heightened urgency to understand western bat ecology and habitat use. At least thirteen species of bats, including three California Species of Concern and seven additional species at risk, inhabit coast redwood forests. Species activity patterns vary significantly across these forests, but the mechanisms behind bat distribution patterns are largely unknown. In summer 2019 and summer 2020, we conducted passive acoustic monitoring at 20 coast redwood forest sites in Mendocino and Sonoma Counties, including both old-growth groves and working forests. Study sites reflected the coastal gradient of fog-influenced climate. At each site, detectors were deployed in the riparian corridor for a minimum of four consecutive nights during each of four monitoring rounds. We used statistical models to relate species activity to environmental variables, including canopy height, Timber Harvesting Plan records, actively logged microclimate, historical climate, and stream channel area. Our study demonstrates that young, working forests also serve as critical habitat for sensitive bat populations, and managing these forests for bats may thus be as important for species conservation as managing in mature, protected areas.

The endangered salt marsh harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris; SMHM) is endemic to the marshes of the San Francisco Estuary. This species is actively managed as a habitat specialist dependent on tidal marshes dominated by pickleweed (Salicornia pacifica). In reality, their realized niche is much broader, and recent research has continued to reveal flexibility in their habitat requirements. However, an abundance of research failed to accurately identify the primary constituent elements that determine occupancy and abundance throughout the species range. This lack of a more nuanced understanding of habitat requirements causes challenges for biologists attempting to evaluate the potential for SMHM occupancy at many sites, and presence is often assumed if any pickleweed marsh occurs. Based on recent demographic, diet, and habitat use data we propose that SMHM persistence is dependent upon four primary constituent elements-foraging habitat, refuge habitat, nesting habitat, and dispersal habitat – and describe here the essential characteristics of each of these elements. It is our hope that a standardized framework for evaluating these essential characteristics will provide biologists the tools they need to assess areas of potential SMHM occupancy in a more efficient, effective, and consistent manner, which can streamline permitting decisions and recovery plans.

Loss of roosting resources negatively affects bat populations. For sensitive species, such as the Townsend’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii), determining roost locations and requirements is a critical component in conserving their habitat. Such cavity roosting bats on the North Coast of California are known to use hollows in large redwood trees. We examined the relative amount of use of basal tree hollows by different bat species at eight coastal redwood forest sites. Observations of bats were expected to be rare, and this was confirmed with just 13 observations in 1547 hollow visits. For this reason, bat guano was collected to determine roosting activity and species use (179 hollows visited monthly from 2017 to 2018). To identify species, DNA analysis was performed at the Northern Arizona University “Species from Feces” lab. Nine bat species and one species group were identified using hollows. Of 253 species identifications from 83 hollows, the most prevalent were Myotis californicus (28.5% of all identifications), the M. evotis-M. thysanodes group (17.4%), C. townsendii (17.0%), and M. volans (15.0%). These findings can inform land managers when planning conservation and management of redwood forests.

The Western Monarch’s population has dropped by over 90% in 3 years, putting it at high risk of extinction within the coming decades (Xerces 2020). Factors driving this extinction include a lack of summer and fall migratory breeding habitat and the lack of knowledge of this population’s needs (Pelton et al 2019). To increase habitat connectivity and fill knowledge gaps, River Partners has implemented a statewide project to enhance over 600 acres of habitat, prioritizing existing restoration sites. The planning process considered experimental factors that could be kept consistent across large geographical ranges and differing ecotypes. Prioritization of site locations was based on the ability to integrate into planned restoration activities, presence of irrigation infrastructure, weed pressure, adjacent land uses, and geographic distribution. Plots were created with experimental factors in mind, while also incorporating known needs of the monarch. Experimental plots will be used to study short term changes in pollinator abundance, long-term patterns of monarch colonization and the longevity of floral resource diversity, focusing on reducing competition between milkweed and other understory species. A plot-based design, with consistent milkweed density, but varying experimental factors, is ideal for assessing the preferences of monarchs and other pollinators utilizing the habitat .

Studying small-animal space-use is challenging because most measures of habitat and animal locations are relatively coarse compared to the home ranges, movements or habitat patches of interest. The increasing prevalence of drones has provided a new platform for collecting centimeter-resolution remotely sensed habitat data, but this data has limited utility for studying small-animal space-use if it is not paired with fine-scale animal tracking. We tested a method of recording fine-scale location data in the field, which uses the same drone imagery that provides high-resolution habitat data, to create a centimeter-resolution map onto which locations are recorded within a smartphone app. We tested the accuracy by mapping targets in the field using this method, and a handheld GPS device for comparison, and measuring errors against a high-accuracy RTK GPS. We found that 82% of mapping locations had sub-meter errors compared to just 21% for the GPS device. Most errors were caused by misidentification of landmarks in feature-poor areas so the addition of reference markers in these locations should improve accuracy. This approach provides a new tool for studying fine-scale animal space-use using drone imagery for both habitat measurement and location mapping.

The salt marsh harvest mouse (SMHM; Reithrodontomys raviventris) is an endangered species restricted to the San Francisco Estuary wetlands. Approximately 90% of historical wetland habitat in the estuary has been destroyed. Modern wetlands primarily consist of relatively small, patchy fragments among a matrix of urban and upland habitat. Restoration and preservation of marsh habitat are among the primary methods of SMHM conservation, and understanding which patches of habitat to prioritize is key to allocating resources optimally. To this end, we developed a non-invasive survey for small mammals and used this technique to survey 48 marsh patches in the San Francisco Estuary. We tested hypotheses derived from island biogeography theory – that SMHM occupancy was related to marsh patch size, and inversely related to patch isolation (as measured by the proportion of marsh and urban habitat surrounding a given patch). We tested the effects of habitat variables and occurrence of potential competitors (western harvest mouse [R. megalotis], house mouse [Mus musculus], and California vole [Microtus californicus]) on SMHM occupancy. We also estimated patterns of occupancy in the three co-occurring species. Preliminary results suggest a strong relationship between SMHM occupancy and patch isolation at a landscape scale, and a moderate relationship with patch size. SMHM occupancy was also moderately increased by high tide escape habitat and inversely related to western harvest mouse occurrence. Western harvest mouse occupancy was positively related to the presence of terrestrial grasses within marsh patches. House mice and voles exhibited no strong habitat associations, although there was a moderate positive relationship between western harvest mouse and house mouse occupancy. Our results suggest that isolation, fragmentation, and encroachment of upland vegetation into marsh habitat are detrimental to SMHM persistence, and conservation of SMHM at the landscape scale may be particularly important.

Tule elk (Cervus canadensis nannodes) populations in California historically have been monitored using aerial surveys to conduct minimum counts that do not address detection biases, thus providing limited inferences. To provide statistically robust abundance estimates, we applied multiple covariate distance sampling (MCDS) during helicopter surveys for tule elk in three Elk Management Units (EMUs) in Colusa and Lake Counties, CA, in 2018 and 2019. We selected covariates to explain detection probability including vegetation cover, group size, and survey year. We also compared estimates and costs with results from a concurrent fecal DNA spatial capture-recapture (SCR) survey. We estimated a two-year average total population size of N = 674 elk (90% CI = 501–907) in our survey area, which was similar to N = 658 elk (90% CI = 577–751) from SCR estimates; overall precision was greater (CV = 0.08; range = 0.11–0.30 by population) for SCR than for MCDS (CV = 0.18; range = 0.22–0.43 by population). Total cost of SCR and MCDS surveys was $98,326 and $147,324, respectively. While SCR efforts were more precise and less expensive overall, our MCDS approach reduced staff time by 64% (587 person-hours) and the number of survey days by 87% (64 days). Our methods using MCDS could be used in other similar study areas to estimate abundance of clustered large mammals at the broad scale, particularly in cases when land access for alternative ground-based surveys is limited.

Dead and decaying trees are used by a wide range of species and are a foundational structural element of forest ecosystems. The decay process is caused primarily through a combination of senescence and fungal or insect invasion, but many non-human vertebrates also modify trees, which can accelerate this process. While previous research has investigated the economic costs of bear damage or the keystone importance of primary cavity excavators, we are unaware of work to unify this process into a single framework of non-human vertebrate tree modification. To highlight the extent of this key functional role, we conducted a systematic literature review to identify non-human vertebrate tree modifiers. We categorized types and measures of damage across individual, population, and community levels. In North America, we summarized spatial patterns of modifier richness. We found non-human vertebrates that modify trees are found extensively in forests, and that trees are damaged from the roots to the buds, with consequences for other species that rely on damaged trees. While non-human vertebrates that modify trees have often been persecuted for the resulting economic harm, we suggest that these species can play an important role in restoring degraded forests to more structurally complex, and therefore biodiverse, communities.

People have been recording road-kill data to help gain a better understanding of how transport networks impact wildlife across the world for many years.

Following a review of many exciting mobile applications use to record roadkill we have redeveloped a popular app used in the UK to improve user experience and adapt it for use in the USA and other countries.

This presentation explores the process in which the team have taken to implement new features and improve functionality to create a better experience for users and ensure the users capture better quality data.

This presentation also explores a case study from within the USA that was conducted during the closed BETA testing during the Summer of 2021. TRAX is due to be available to download publicly in spring 2022 and we are actively looking for partners to conduct further pilot studies in the USA in the mean time.

traxapp.info

California’s wildfire crisis is worsening. Streamlining CEQA to expedite ecosystem restoration and wildfire resilience projects is a critical need and a clear policy priority of Governor Newsom’s administration. California’s Forest Carbon Plan and Shared Stewardship Agreement call for federal and state agencies to each meet a goal of treating 500,000 acres annually by 2025. How can CEQA compliance for critical wildfire resilience treatment projects be accelerated? Program EIRs are a highly effective tool in streamlining CEQA review of qualifying projects while maintaining environmental protection. The Program EIR for the California Vegetation Treatment Program (CalVTP) was certified by the Board of Forestry in December 2019. The Program EIR is designed for use by any public agency providing or receiving state funding or with land ownership and/or management responsibilities in the treatable landscape that seeks to implement vegetation treatments consistent with the CalVTP; there are more than 150 such state and local agencies. The Program EIR allows for CEQA streamlining through associated documentation, including “within the scope” findings. The streamlined approach documents a project’s environmental effects and which resource protection measures from the Program EIR would be incorporated to avoid and reduce effects, including on wildlife and habitat.

Mountain lions (Puma concolor) are relatively well-studied across their range in the United States with a vast amount of information available on home range sizes and variation in diet throughout different habitat types. However, one component of mountain lion life history with a paucity of information is the behavior of female mountain lions during the denning period. We examined spatiotemporal data during the denning period of 7 GPS-collared female mountain lions located in Modoc and Lassen counties in California, beginning with the apparent date of parturition and continuing for 60 days post-partum. Our objectives were to determine whether the amount of time spent away from the den was related to age of the offspring, experience (age) of the mother, relative prey availability, seasonal/temporal factors, or some combination of these variables. We conducted spatial analysis in ArcGIS to measure distances from every location to the den site and determine den attendance rates. We also calculated maximum, minimum, and mean daily distances from the den to use as an index of prey availability. These variables were incorporated into a statistical modeling framework and compared using AIC. Results from this analysis will be included in the presentation.

The western U.S. has experienced steady increases in common raven (Corvus corax) abundance over the previous 50 years. Raven population increases likely presage heightened impacts to the reproductive success of some sensitive prey species. For example, negative influences to nesting sage-grouse have been observed where raven density exceeded ~0.40 raven(s) km^2, a potential ecological threshold. Therefore, monitoring changing raven densities is crucial to inform adaptive management frameworks for sensitive species. However, obtaining reliable estimates of raven density can be data- and resource-intensive. We developed a rapid protocol to assess site-level density based on observed numbers of ravens per survey over a specified study site. Specifically, we used regression analysis to investigate the relationship between density estimates from robust distance sampling methods and ravens per survey, which revealed a strong correlation (R2 = 0.86). We used this estimated relationship to serve as a correction factor on the raven index, accounting for detection probability of ravens within sagebrush ecosystems, and bypassing the need to conduct distance-based methodologies in similar geographic regions. While the more robust distance sampling is preferred, this method provides a reliable approximation for informing management when faced with resource limitations. Findings are preliminary and provided for timely science communication.

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a novel bat disease caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). The visual manifestation of Pd is white fungal growth around bats’ noses, on forearms and tail membranes. It was first observed on hibernating bats in a cave in New York during winter 2006-2007. This invasive fungus prefers sites with cold, humid conditions, which bats also choose for winter hibernation. It is a keratin-loving fungus that breaks down cell walls in bats’ membranes – disrupting physiological functions for the bat and frequently leading to their death. Since 2009 we have monitored the microclimates in two gypsum caves in south-central New Mexico (NM) managed by BLM. Despite being caves in the arid Southwest, these caves have optimal microclimate for Pd to flourish. Cave myotis (Myotis velifer) use these two sites to hibernate in tight clusters, increasing the chances for fungal spores spreading among individuals. In mid-April 2021 we entered these sites to swab bats for Pd during which we found bats with visible fungus on their noses within clusters of conspecifics. This is the first documentation that Pd is definitely and visually in NM. We will discuss the possible implications and management issues of Pd for NM bats.

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.

Winegrape growers in Napa Valley, California install nest boxes to encourage the presence of barn owls, natural enemies thought to provide vertebrate pest control services. Barn owls in this system select wooden nest boxes at least 3 meters high, with high proportions of grasslands surrounding the nest box. According to the adaptive breeding-habitat selection hypothesis, these habitat preferences should be adaptive, with increased fitness in preferred habitats. We found only modest association between reproductive success and nest box preferences, with substantial unaccounted variation in annual reproduction. Variation in the intrinsic quality of individual owls could also contribute to annual reproductive success, so we tested the hypothesis that habitat preferences and measures of intrinsic quality better predict reproductive success than either does alone. We measured annual reproductive success as the number of offspring that approached fledging age. Data on morphometrics, age, and breast plumage variation on adults served as measures of intrinsic quality of adults. Annual reproductive success served as the response variable in Generalized Additive Models, predicted by observed habitat preferences and measures of intrinsic quality. We found varying strength of association between the response variable and predictors, further emphasizing the complexity of annual reproductive success.

Livestock grazing is one of the most widespread influences on native ecosystems of western North America. Research on the impacts of livestock on carnivores and ungulates varies, and the degree to which wildlife are affected is often species-specific. We used remote trail cameras to compare the activity patterns of black bear (Ursus americanus), coyote (Canis latrans), bobcat (Lynx rufus), and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in areas with and without cattle grazing before, during, and after the grazing period in northeastern California. Activity patterns of black bears were minimally affected, while bobcats, coyotes, and mule deer demonstrated a shift in activity. Mule deer and coyotes detected in grazing allotments had greater activity overlap with cattle, while bobcats detected in grazing allotments had less activity overlap with cattle. Cattle were found to be most active in the morning, dusk, and night. These findings suggest that carnivores and ungulates display varying levels of sensitivity and behavioral plasticity in response to the presence of cattle.

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.

Land managers in Napa Valley, CA place nest boxes in wine grape vineyards to attract barn owls who can provide valuable rodent pest control. Previous studies in this region found that barn owls prefer to occupy boxes made of wood, placed at least 3 meters above the ground, and with uncultivated habitat, such as grassland, nearby. However, landscape configuration can also strongly affect animals’ use of heterogeneous environments, but its role in shaping nest box occupancy has not yet been examined for barn owls. We examined whether there is a relationship between occupancy and several configuration metrics in the land surrounding boxes including: the edge density of different land cover classes, interspersion and juxtaposition index of the landscape, and mean patch sizes of different classes. Finally, we created a predictive map that uses relevant configurational and compositional metrics to provide farmers a visual representation of where boxes should be deployed to optimize the probability of a box being occupied.

California is a large state that contains many diverse ecosystems and communities of people. Beavers (Castor canadensis) offer many ecological services, such as slowing and storing water for riparian habitats, stream sediment control, and maintain fluvial ecosystems. Unfortunately, they were once nearly extirpated from California. Even today beavers annually come into conflict with humans due to their damming and chewing behaviors. They are also known to disrupt the intended landscaping of wildlife preserves set aside for other wildlife species such as the Swainson's Hawk. In 2020 we categorized WIR incidents and found there were six common incident types: damming, flooding, vegetation, crops, mosquitos, and property damage. However, it is unclear to what extent reporting parties (RP) carry out preventative measures, how often they experience repeated beaver depredation issues, if preventative measures work, and how often does lethal removal help with reducing future conflicts with beavers. There is an urgent need for management to adapt to changing public support for wildlife conservation, values of people do not necessarily align with management decisions and vary across the damages experienced (Vaske 2007, Jonker et al., 2010, Yarmey and Hood 2020). The next phase of our project will be a survey designed to see the 1) Number of past human-wildlife conflict experiences with beavers, if they support legal control measures because the perceived risks of experiencing property damage is high. 2) Respondents that plan on changing preventative measures will have done so because they have either actively sought out preventative measures or found them to be effective. Results of our survey can help determine if preventative measures work and values of reporting parties.

The headwaters of California’s Sierra Nevada provide important resources for wildlife and humans alike and are increasingly imperiled by climate change and other human-induced stressors. The introduction of non-native fishes into these historically fishless waters has profoundly restructured the aquatic food web, resulting in lower invertebrate diversity and the endangerment of endemic taxa such as the mountain yellow-legged frog (Rana sierrae/muscosa). However, the extent to which the effects of trout introductions cascade into the terrestrial environment is poorly understood even though these habitats are tightly linked. We quantified avian community composition, diversity, and overall abundance at fish-containing and fishless lakes in the southern Sierra Nevada for four years (2014, 2015, 2016, and 2020). We documented a change in avian beta diversity between fish-containing and fishless lakes, driven largely by turnover, as well as a decrease in overall avian abundance at fish-containing lakes approaching statistical significance. A fish eradication project at one lake between 2016-2019 allowed us to conduct a BACI (Before, After, Control, Impact) case study to assess changes in the avian community following fish removal. We report a two-fold increase in overall avian abundance at the fish-removal relative to the control lake, including the detection of two insectivorous bird species that were not detected at any previous surveys at that lake. Our results highlight the importance of considering aquatic and terrestrial habitats as interdependent systems and further motivate the conservation of fishless lake habitat in the Sierra Nevada’s alpine waters.

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.

Wildlife managers are often tasked with making management decisions with limited information. When research can be conducted to inform management decisions, analysis of the data collected can be daunting. Here we detail the use of an R package, `EcoCountHelper`, and an associated analytical pipeline aimed at making GLMM-based analysis of wildlife count data more accessible. To demonstrate the utility of this approach, we use our package to model acoustic bat activity data relative to multiple landscape characteristics in a protected area threatened by encroaching disease - Grand Teton National Park. Our package uses a series of easy to use functions that can accept both wide- and long-form multi-taxa count data without the need for programming experience. In our case study in the Tetons, we found that an increased prevalence of porous buildings increases activity levels of Eptesicus fuscus and Myotis volans; Myotis lucifugus activity decreases as distance to water increases; and Myotis volans activity increases with the amount of forested area. By using GLMMs in tandem with `EcoCountHelper`, managers can assess the effects of landscape characteristics on wildlife in a statistically-robust framework.

Securing the right conservation landscape is more than just finding ground with critters on it. The changing landscape of regulatory criteria, mineral and water rights, and climate change make selecting long-term viable properties more complicated than ever. Changing land uses makes it imperative to move quickly when sites become available. How then to fold the planning process into strategic land purchases? What are key tips to good negotiations? This talk by Westevelt Ecological Services Land Acquisition Director will touch on lessons learned from over a decade of conservation acquisitions for mitigation banking and land trusts.

A component of endangered species management that has historically been overlooked is the relationship between a host and its gut microbiome. In animals, the microbiome has a strong influence on the health, fitness, and behavior of their hosts. The composition of the microbiome community can be influenced by an individual’s diet, environment, and evolutionary history. This project aimed to explore the drivers of microbiome variation across the remaining species of the Hawaiian honeycreeper lineage. We used amplicon-based sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to characterize the gut microbiome of Hawaiian honeycreepers across the remaining lineage in relation to diet, geography, and genetic relatedness. Fecal samples, a proxy for the gut, were collected from 14 of the remaining 17 honeycreeper species and sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Preliminary results indicate that sampling island appears to be the major driver of microbiome variation, while diet also plays some role. The dendrogram of host-associated microbiomes did not recapitulate the host phylogenetic tree; indicating that phylogeny does not strongly influence microbiome variation. These results provide a baseline for microbiome work in Hawaiian honeycreepers, which will prove essential for conservation planning as species are targetted for captive breeding and translocation.

Cascade (Rhyacotriton cascadae) and Columbia torrent salamanders (Rhyacotriton kezeri) are stream amphibians whose monogeneric family is endemic to the Pacific Northwest. Both species are being considered for ESA listing as their headwater stream habitat is vulnerable to habitat loss from effects of climate change. In order to provide information about current distribution and validate habitat suitability models, we performed range-wide physical surveys at 96 sites (48 sites per species: 24 in Oregon and 24 in Washington) in the spring and summer of 2019. We took eDNA samples from 12 sites per species, spread spatially across each species range. Species specific primers were developed for both R. kezeri and R. cascadae, and we used quantitative PCR (qPCR) on samples to determine if eDNA was an appropriate survey method for each species. We used Bayesian hierarchical models to determine the effects of site conditions on detectability at the site, sample, and PCR replicate levels. We observed differences in detection rates across sites, and more work is needed to determine what issues are most impactful to detectability. Our work provides a noninvasive passive sampling method for these threatened salamanders that can be used to track future occupancy shifts.

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.

California is known for strong laws that protect the environment from the adverse effects of development and resource extraction. However, the laws designed to protect natural resources can unintentionally slow down beneficial ecosystem restoration projects. The state has undertaken innovative initiatives to streamline environmental review and increase the pace and scale of ecosystem restoration. The Cutting Green Tape initiative (CGT) focuses on improving interagency coordination, partnerships, and agency processes to allow ecological restoration to occur more quickly, simply, and cost-effectively. Governor Newsom underscored the importance of this initiative by committing California to achieve conservation of 30 percent of the state’s land and water by 2030, part of the national movement called “30 by 30”. Also, SB 155 was enacted in 2021 to create a new statutory exemption for qualifying, biodiversity-beneficial restoration projects. To advance CGT, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is developing strategies to incorporate environmental review and project approval efficiencies into its grant and permitting programs. Ascent worked with CDFW to assess options to streamline CEQA compliance including the preparation of Program EIRs and a within-the-scope approval process, proposals for new or modified statutory or categorical exemptions, and the consideration of a certified CEQA regulatory program.

Decades of scientific evidence reveal common raven (Corvus corax; raven) populations are increasing and expanding across their geographic range. Concomitant elevated predation rates in threatened and endangered avian species during nesting periods may hamper species recovery. We conducted an extensive literature review to identify knowledge gaps and synthesize environmental features which support raven population growth. Raven occurrence, demographic results, and resource use appeared 31, 21, and 17 times, respectively. We identified 13 explanatory covariates regularly used to explain variation in raven ecological processes, including vegetation, human settlement, recreation, and linear rights-of-way. We explored impacts of raven predation on nests and young of sensitive avian species using the “Raven Impact Index” (RII), a species-specific index that incorporates species demographic rates, abundance of ravens within each sensitive species’ breeding range, and the degree of overlap between raven and prey distributions. We found evidence of nest predation on 8 sensitive avian species, and suspected nest predation on 1 additional species. The RII varied among species, with greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) having the highest relative impact values, followed by snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus nivosus). Our species RII can help inform management decisions to mitigate the negative effects of raven predation of sensitive avian species.

The Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog inhabits both alpine lakes and high elevation mountain streams. At the northern extent of their range, streams become more commonly utilized as both breeding and non-breeding sites. One intensively monitoring and managed population at the northern extent of the species range was subjected to an intense crown-replacing wildfire in July 2021. The Bean Creek Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog population contained approximately 66 individual adult frogs when the entire population extent was burned in California’s Dixie Fire. There were 55 frogs found in 2021 prior to the fire. 47 were found in 2021 after the fire. The population was subjected to two main fire types, intense crown-replacing high severity fire and low to moderate fire behavior with group torching and understory burning. This presentation will compare population level changes in the different fire severity types. Zoo-reared frog survivorship will be compared to wild frog survivorship. This species has proven to be resilient to high severity fire in small stream systems with intermittent channels and perennial pools. The presence of deeper pools (0.5 – 1 meter deep) appeared to provide refuge habitat.

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.

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.

In sagebrush ecosystems, wildfire is increasing in frequency and extent with the expansion of invasive grasses and adversely affecting greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) populations. Although post-fire restoration of sagebrush is important and often necessary for conservation of sensitive species, it is often expensive with variable levels of success. Hence, evaluating trade-offs between retroactive (restoration) versus proactive (prevention/suppression) management strategies can be highly informative to sage-grouse conservation. We simulated management scenarios of post-fire sagebrush recovery with active seeding and outplanting and compared spatially explicit outputs with scenarios of simulated wildfire reduction using wildfire history data from 1984 to 2015. We found that 75% suppression of randomly selected wildfires resulted in the lowest cumulative burned area and negated adverse impacts to sage-grouse populations. Furthermore, targeted suppression near leks and sage-grouse conservation areas effectively reduced the number of wildfires requiring operational intervention by an average of 65.37% and 78.82%, respectively. Therefore, actively reducing wildfire size and frequency through prevention and suppression within sagebrush ecosystems is likely far more effective per unit effort than relying on post-fire restoration activities alone while proactively conserving sage-grouse habitat. These findings are preliminary, provided for timely science communication, and subject to change.

Many raptor species exhibit plumage polymorphism. Through the expression of a particular phenotype, polymorphism allows individuals to exploit alternative spatial or temporal environments and food resources most successfully. Barn owls display variation in their ventral plumage, ranging from reddish to whitish and from heavily spotted to no spots at all. In heterogeneous landscapes in Switzerland and Israel, reddish barn owls (Tyto alba) inhabit territories with proportionally more arable fields and consume proportionally more voles than their whiter counterparts. This is consistent with the habitat-matching choice hypothesis, but whether this also occurs in other regions and with the American barn owl has not yet been tested. This study sought to examine the relationships among prey composition, landscape composition, and degree of reddishness in barn owls throughout Napa Valley, CA. Pellet analysis was used to determine the proportion of mice (Peromyscus, Reithrodontomys, and Mus), voles (Microtus), and gophers (Thomomys) in the owls’ diet. The results show clear evidence for the existence of polymorphism in the heterogeneous landscapes within and surrounding vineyards, though the role of habitat heterogeneity remains incompletely resolved. These data also further reveal insights into predator-prey relationships and potentially provide vineyard producers with information about pest removal services.

The Aleutian cackling goose (Branta hutchinsii leucopareia) recovered from near extinction and was delisted in 2001 but the population increase led to conflicts with private landowners. Thousands of migrating geese stage each spring to feed on livestock pastures in Humboldt County. Despite coordinated hazing plans and hunting seasons to scare geese from private lands to adjacent public lands, a wildlife-agricultural dilemma exists between geese and livestock producers who view the geese as pasture competitors. To help shift perceptions from conflict management to broader social-ecological systems management, we investigated if geese provided ecosystem services via the fertilizing effect of droppings on pasture vegetation using a greenhouse experiment from February to August 2019. We documented the addition of goose droppings to simulated goose-grazed pasture vegetation increased forage production in newly sown ryegrass pasture (range 107.9 % - 333.8 % worth $79 - $243/acre) and established pasture (range 12.3 % - 44.6 % worth $69 - $251/acre), providing improved summertime hay harvests two- and four-months post-treatment. These results indicate that a mutualistic relationship likely exists between wild Aleutian geese and cattle. Continued research using field-based experimental methods is needed to bolster support for holistic management of grasslands to benefit geese and livestock.

By 1979 Swainson’s Hawks (Buteo swainsoni) had declined to as low as 375 breeding pairs throughout their summer range in California. Shortly thereafter the species was listed as threatened in the state. To evaluate the hawk’s recent population trend, we analyzed data from 1,038 locations surveyed throughout California in either 2005, 2006, 2016, or 2018. We estimated a total statewide population of 15,907 breeding pairs (95CI: 10,414–28,505) in 2018, and found that alfalfa (Medicago sativa, lucerne) cultivation, agricultural crop diversity, and the occurrence of non-agricultural trees for nesting best explained spatial variation in hawk density. We also concluded that California’s Swainson’s Hawk summering population has grown rapidly since 2005 at a rate of 13.5% per year (95CI: 9.3–17.8%). Despite strong evidence that the species has rebounded overall in California, Swainson’s Hawks remain largely extirpated from Southern California where they were historically common. Further, we note that the increase in Swainson’s Hawks has been coincident with expanded orchard and vineyard cultivation which is not considered suitable for nesting. Therefore, we recommend more frequent, improved surveys to monitor the stability of the species’ potential recovery and to better understand the causes.

The San Clemente Island fox (Urocyon littoralis clementae) is a focal species for conservation by the U.S. Navy and has been monitored on San Clemente Island (SCI) almost continuously since 1988. We used mark-recapture techniques on trapping grids established in 2007 to examine patterns in annual variation of population size, growth, and density by habitat type. Between 2007 – 2020 the SCI fox population grew from an estimated 431 foxes in 2007 to 1,172 in 2020. The ratio of adult females to pups used to index reproduction varied from a low of 0.01 in 2007 to a high of 1.08 in 2017. Overall, the SCI population has steadily grown over the past 20 years. This increase may be related to vegetative recovery following the eradication of feral grazers in 1992 and efforts to reduce the feral cat population which are potential non-native competitors. The low reproductive indices in some years correspond with poor precipitation the preceding winter, and better understanding this relationship has implications for modeling how climate change could impact this population.

The wolverine (Gulo gulo) was historically a member of the carnivore community of California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range. In the early 20th century their population was reported in decline, likely due to combined pressures of trapping and carnivore persecution. Despite extensive monitoring, the only verifiable records in the Sierra Nevada since 1922 was a single male, which likely immigrated from Idaho, observed on trail cameras from 2010-2016. Because habitat components necessary to support a wolverine population appear to be available in the Sierra Nevada, and the primary suitable habitat is located within protected areas, a translocation is likely to be successful at reestablishing a healthy wolverine population. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is actively developing a reintroduction implementation plan and is working in cooperation with other stakeholders to bring this project to fruition. The initial goal is to establish one or more focal groups of wolverines within their historical range, with the end goal of a self-sustaining population. Satellite GPS tracking and ground follow-up of released animals would be conducted to determine survival, spatial organization, habitat use and to document any successful reproduction. These data would also be used to determine if additional population supplementation was merited.

The San Clemente Island Bell’s sparrow (Artemisiospiza belli clementeae) was listed as a federally threatened species in 1977. The population at the time of listing was estimated at 93 individuals and the low population size was attributed to habitat degradation caused by feral goats (Capra hircus), feral pigs (Sus scrofa) and black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) and predation by feral cats (Felis catus). The US Navy, who owns the island, undertook the removal of all the large non-native mammals, initiated propagation and planting of native vegetation, and instituted an aggressive fire management program. In 1999 the Institute for Wildlife Studies started annual population monitoring. Initial survey focused on historic nesting habitat and population estimates ranged from 452-1,546 adult sparrows. When sparrows were observed using other nesting substrates and habitats, monitoring was expanded to island-wide surveys. The 2013-2021 breeding season estimates ranged from 4,198-6,364 adults and in 2021 the estimate was 6,307 adults. Based on the expanded spatial use of the island, the large and stable population size, and reduced threats, in 2021 the USFWS proposed delisting the species.

Global climate change is already contributing to the extirpation of numerous species worldwide, and sensitive species will continue to face challenges associated with rising temperatures throughout this century and beyond. It is especially important to evaluate the thermal ecology of endangered ectotherm species now so that mitigation measures can be taken as early as possible. A recent study of the thermal ecology of the federally endangered blunt-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia sila) suggested that large shade-providing shrubs act as thermal buffers which allow them to maintain surface activity without overheating. We replicated this study and added a population of G. sila with no access to large shrubs to compare the thermal ecology of G. sila populations in shrubless and shrubbed sites. We found that G. sila without access to shrubs spent more time inside rodent burrows than lizards with access to shrubs. Lizards from a shrubbed site had poorer thermoregulatory accuracy than G. sila from a shrubless site, suggesting a trade-off between surface activity and thermoregulatory accuracy. The continued management of shrubs and of burrowing rodents at G. sila sites is therefore essential to the survival of this endangered species.

Cougars throughout California are under threat due to habitat change, landscape fragmentation, and urban and exurban development. Understanding cougar population sizes and habitat associations within areas of their distribution that are least affected by people (e.g., National Parks, designated wilderness areas) provides a benchmark from which to compare other landscapes and future conditions, informs conservation and management actions, and contributes to cougar persistence. Yosemite National Park in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California may act as an important refuge for cougars. Despite this, there is no previous estimate of the number of cougars living in Yosemite or an evaluation of habitat selection patterns within the Park. We collected data on cougar distribution in Yosemite detection dog team surveys and infrared trail cameras. We then used spatial capture-recapture modeling to estimate the population size of cougars living in Yosemite and determine habitat associations of cougars in this protected area. Determining cougar population size and habitat associations here may provide critical information for their conservation and management elsewhere in California. Our research represents a critical step in cougar conservation and has important implications for natural resource management.

The fisher is a forest-dwelling carnivore of conservation concern in the southern Sierra Nevada. In recent years, drought followed by extensive tree mortality has dramatically altered the forest in this region. Between 2007 and 2018, we located fisher scat using detection dog teams twice a year in a standardized grid, providing information on fisher space and habitat use prior to and during these climate-induced disturbance events. We found that fisher space-use was positively correlated with live forest prior to the drought, and live forest was strongly associated with areas where fishers persisted during and after disturbance. Fishers persisted in areas with tree mortality if they were already present, but they were unlikely to colonize new areas with tree mortality. The presence of California black oak had a positive influence on space-use at the start of the study and was positively associated with areas where fishers persisted and colonized over time. Fishers were less likely to occur in areas farther from streams. Overall, the proportion of the study area used by fishers declined over time. Our results highlight the value of live forest stands and California black oaks on the landscape if fishers are to persist in this region.

Populations of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are in decline throughout the Intermountain West for a multitude of reasons, including competition from wild and domestic herbivores, energy and urban development, and expansion of woody plants. A primary conservation concern for mule deer in the Great Basin ecosystem is expansion and infilling of Single-leaf pinyon pine (Pinus monophylla) and Utah juniper (Juniperus occidentalis), which provide minimal nutritional value to mule deer while outcompeting herbaceous vegetation in the understory. We investigated how removal of these trees affects movement patterns of mule deer, specifically on winter range. We captured 36 adult female mule deer in the Toiyabe Range of central Nevada from April 2018 through March 2019, with all individuals being fitted with GPS collars. Pinyon-juniper trees on mule deer winter range were removed by the U.S. Forest Service with an impact area of roughly 2,600 acres. Data obtained from GPS collars was modeled within a resource selection function framework utilizing mixed-effects logistic regression. Understanding which habitat covariates have the most predictive influence on movement for this population following a pinyon-juniper removal treatment will allow wildlife managers the ability to better assess areas of ecological importance for mule deer populations throughout the Intermountain West.

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.

California bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) are native species of the Great Basin, occupying high elevation, precipitous terrain. Selection of resources and movements of bighorn sheep are likely driven by the distribution of escape terrain, water sources, and the quality and availability of seasonal forage. Individuals translocated must find adequate resources to survive. As bighorn sheep become familiar with their new range, the resources that they select reflects their ability to acclimate. We introduced 21 individuals to the Lake Range in the northwest region of Nevada, which is an isolated landscape primarily within the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation. Our objective was to evaluate how female bighorn sheep seasonally select habitat as they become familiar with the habitat to which they were introduced. We captured and translocated bighorn sheep into the Lake Range in January of 2020, including 9 adult females. Each individual was fitted with a Vectronic GPS collar that collected twelve locations points per day. We evaluated seasonal selection of resources to determine how translocated bighorn alter their habitat selection in their first-year as compared to the second-year. Our results show that female bighorn sheep narrow in their selection of resources the second-year post translocation as compared to the first-year.

Recognized as having highly dynamic movements and specialized life histories, members of the genus Lasiurus, commonly named tree bats, have uncertain and disputed ranges. Several recent accounts of overlap, historic misidentification, and possible phylogenetic variations regarding two species of this genus; western red bat (Lasiurus blossevillii/Frantzii) and eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis) in California, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico have cast doubt on our understanding of their distribution, speciation, and assumed spatial allopatry. With the use of genetic sequencing utilizing tissues collected from museum and field specimens throughout California and adjoining states we can infer historic and current distribution and identify genetic variation. Appropriate species classification by region is currently being achieved utilizing mitochondrial DNA, and a more comprehensive analysis at the nuclear and genomic level will be accomplished through lower coverage whole genome sequencing. All samples include morphometrics and pelage records for identifying possible congruence in segregating the species in hand. Currently we have confirmed the existence of Lasiurus borealis in 3 counties in California. Pelage and morphometrics have shown overlap but statistically significant numbers for analysis have not been reached. The results acquired from this study will strengthen our limited understanding of this dynamic group by inferring on their basic biology, their distinctive characteristics, and altogether aid in future conservation and research. 

Between October 2018 and September 2021, canine search teams surveyed 20 plots (115-meter radius) centered on turbines at a wind farm in California. The canines were trained to locate and alert handlers to the presence of avian and bat fatalities. Half of the plots were surveyed every 7 days, and half were surveyed every 28 days. In order to calibrate fatality estimates, and to monitor the abilities of the canines, we placed bird and bat carcasses on the plots before they were surveyed. A total of 717 carcasses were placed over the three years, with nearly equal numbers of bats, small birds, and medium/large birds. Nearly equal numbers were placed on 7- and 28-day survey plots. Canines found 45% of bats, 51% of small birds, 78% of medium birds, and 93% of large birds. Canines found a higher percentage of all types of trial carcasses on 7-day plots than 28-day plots. The biggest differences were for bats (60% on 7-day vs. 31% on 28-day) and small birds (62% on 7-day vs. 39% on 28-day). Canines found a higher percentage of bats (31% vs. 6%) and small birds (39% vs. 13%) trial carcasses than human searchers on comparable 28-day plots.

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.

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.

Populations of common ravens (Corvus corax) have generally expanded across North America over the last 50 years, likely concomitant with anthropogenic expansion and development. Concurrently, ravens can have pronounced negative impacts on other species, for example by reducing nest success of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and juvenile survival of Mojave desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii). We modeled trends in raven abundance using 53 years of Breeding Bird Survey data across all Level 1 and Level 2 ecoregions in the U.S. and Canada. Raven population growth was especially high in the western U.S., with average annual growth rates of 1.033 (95% CrI 1.025-1.042) and 1.065 (1.051-1.081) in the Cold Desert and Mediterranean California ecoregions, respectively. This resulted in there being 4.6 times (3.2-6.9) and 18.1 times (9.4-35.1) as many ravens in 2018 vs. 1966 in Cold Deserts and Mediterranean California, respectively. Raven abundance increased by a factor of 8.3 (7.0-9.9) and a factor of 6.7 (5.0-9.4) within the ranges of greater sage-grouse and Mojave desert tortoises, respectively, over this time frame. Raven abundances, and potential impacts on native prey populations, are significantly higher now than 50 years ago.

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.

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.

The Oiled Wildlife Care Network often deploys trail cameras during oil spills to determine wildlife species present in the area, and if they are oiled. To our knowledge, no studies have reported the accuracy of trail camera-based wildlife oiling determination. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if trail camera photos can be used to reliably assess the oiling status of animals. Crude oil was applied to dark skunk pelts, and diesel to light-grey rabbit pelts to cover 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of the pelts’ surface area. Photos of the pelts were taken with trail cameras at 2m, 4m, and 6m distance from the cameras. Ten individuals familiar with oiled wildlife reviewed 21 photos each and were instructed to identify if the animal was oiled and the percentage of oiling. Observers correctly identified about 50% of the photos as oiled/non-oiled. For oiling percentage, about 23% of the photos were correctly identified (mostly within 2-4m of the cameras and 0-75% oiling percentage). These initial results suggest that using trail cameras to identify oiled wildlife may have limited use. Future directions will explore the use of an artificial intelligence program to bolster oiled wildlife identification accuracy.

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.

Decades of anthropogenic development and associated subsidies within the western U.S. has contributed to common raven (Corvus corax, raven) populations that exceed pre-subsidy ecoregion-specific carrying capacities. Consequently, ravens are implicated in declines of species of conservation concern. The juvenile life-stage (0–10 yr) of the California endangered and federally threatened Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii, tortoise) has been shown to be exceptionally susceptible to raven predation. Using 274 variable-radius point counts, a database of 724 nesting raven territories, and 77 tortoise decoy trials, we evaluated the viability of tortoise-raven relationships under variable measures of contact. Specifically, juvenile tortoise decoy “survival” was modeled as a function of raven density and distance to the nearest raven nest. Annual survival was derived by adjusting decoy exposure to reflect natural activity patterns. Our model predicted that tortoise populations exposed to raven densities >0.89 raven km^2, at distances <1.72 km from a raven nest exhibit unstable inter-generational population structure, as excess mortality outpaced natural survival and reproduction. These results demonstrate that estimates of raven density, distance to nearest previously active raven nest, and decoy “survival” rates can inform development of a tortoise-raven viable conflict threshold. These findings are preliminary, and are provided for timely science communication and are subject to change.

Amphibians are widely believed to be highly vulnerable to population declines, with nearly one third of all amphibian species at risk of global extinction. The first step in understanding and preventing amphibian declines is knowing where amphibians occur. The Lost Coast of northern California is a rugged and remote area, located in Humboldt and Mendocino counties, where little is known about regional amphibian diversity. We conducted a stream-dwelling amphibian survey during June-August, 2021 to characterize the diversity and distribution of amphibians of the Lost Coast. We conducted three visual encounter surveys and collected environmental DNA (eDNA) samples at 29 sites within the Sinkyone Wilderness State Park, King Range National Conservation Area and Lost Coast Headlands. We found 12 native amphibian species and 1 native turtle, and no nonnative amphibian or turtle species. We recorded 8-10 species during each round of visual encounter survey, and 6 species from eDNA samples. One species was only detected from eDNA samples. Our results demonstrate that even when targeting a limited suite of taxa, such as stream-dwelling amphibians, rapid assessments of biodiversity should include repeated surveys using a variety of methods.

Local, State and federal agencies develop policies and regulations that protect wildlife and their habitat. Cities, land managers, utilities, and developers must comply with these regulations when constructing projects or maintaining existing infrastructure such as dams, power lines, or other facilities. Some regulations are clearly defined and easy to understand. Others require extensive agency coordination, surveys, and monitoring. Even then some regulations may be unclear or difficult to implement during construction. Does this mean the regulations are wrong? Where they not properly vetted by academics or field biologists? Nesting bird regulations including the Migratory Bird Treaty Act require that active nests are avoided. However, they do not provide required buffers or give guidance on how to protect active nests. In an effort to protect nests, regulators and applicants often suggest non-disturbance buffers which impede construction or restoration activities while not benefiting the bird. Join us for a discussion of how academia, consultants, applicants, and the resource agencies worked collaboratively to interpret nesting bird regulations and develop science and behavior based non-disturbance buffers that protected nesting birds when construction was conducted in the nesting bird season.

Periodic declines in mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) populations across much of their range in recent decades, garnered much interest from federal and state wildlife agencies. Effective management of mule deer requires an understanding of how they interact with their environment. Our objectives were to quantify resource use by adult female mule deer during late gestation, provisioning of offspring, and following the loss of offspring. We conducted our study on the Starkey Experimental Forest and Range in northeastern Oregon. We evaluated resource selection by mule deer using a Random Forest machine-learning approach. We assessed temporal variation in resource selection across three time periods: third trimester of pregnancy, 30 days post-parturition, and following the loss of offspring. Mule deer selected for further distances to roads during late stage pregnancy and after the loss of offspring. In contrast, mule deer selected for distances closer to roads during the 30 days post-parturition. We observed higher selection for distances closer to water while rearing young than the other two time periods. Our analysis also incorporated space use by elk (Cervus canadensis). Mule deer showed avoidance for areas with high probability of elk use across all time periods.

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.

Cascades frogs occur in Northern California and are a candidate species under the California Endangered Species Act due to declining populations from a variety of threats. Historically the Klamath Mountains have held large populations of Cascades frogs. However, in the Southern Cascades range, few extant populations exist and population numbers are generally low. We monitored one of the remaining robust populations in the Southern Cascades, which occurs at the southern extreme and lower elevational limits of its range. We intensively monitored the population using capture-mark-recapture techniques for 4 consecutive years. From 2018-2021, the population experienced variable climatic conditions, including a historically wet winter in 2018-2019 and record-setting drought in 2021. During this time, we have been able to assess habitat occupancy, population structure, and seasonal movements. This intensive data collection has allowed us to develop conservation actions to help maintain the population, and further adds to the overall knowledge of the species.

We radio-tracked 16 bats on 109 nights from June 2017 – September 2018. We calculated the 95% kernel foraging ranges (FRs) and 50% kernel core use areas (CUAs) in R. We used blacklight traps to sample insects in each of the 9 habitat types and determined the diets of bats using a DNA barcode library and analysis of each bat’s guano. Bats spent more time foraging in gulch, low-density developed, and grassland habitats, and differences existed between months (P < 0.01). The mean CUA was 3,991 hectares and the mean FR was 17,362 hectares. Bats ate primarily moths (68%), as well as flies (12%), termites (9%), crickets and katydids (5%), beetles (4%), and true bugs (2%). Native and nonnative insects were eaten, and bats were somewhat selective in prey species given the abundance of particular species found in the insect samples but not consumed. Agricultural vegetation, grassland, and low-density developed habitats had the highest dry weight values for insects, while the lowest values were from the forest woodland and high-density developed habitats. Our data suggest foraging flexibility in the species with the use of habitat types changing during different seasons.

Bats are acutely sensitive to changes in their sound environment and can react to relatively quiet noise if it is foreign to them and stimulates a stress response. Additionally, the frequency of the noise is also important because individual species of bats have different sensitivities to various noise frequencies. To determine if e-bikes produce high frequency sounds that potentially disturb and impact bats, we recorded three e-bike models and two conventional bike models with high frequency and low frequency microphones spaced at 10 ft., 20 ft., 40 ft., and 80 ft. away from passing e-bikes/conventional bikes in each of four modes (pedal slowly, pedal fast, coasting, and braking). Based on the modelled attenuation of noise to ambient noise levels for different phonic groups of bats, we recommend buffer distances between e-bike traffic to day roosting bats of 100 ft. for 20 kHz bats, 107 ft. for 30 kHz bats, 231 ft. for 40 kHz bats and 134 ft. for 50 kHz bats.

Climate change and fire suppression are leading to an increased prevalence of ‘mega-disturbances’ such as drought and wildfire in terrestrial ecosystems. We studied the occurrence dynamics of an iconic old-forest species, the spotted owl (Strix occidentalis), on a long-term study area in the Sierra Nevada, CA, USA from 1989 to 2020 to evaluate their multi-scale population response following a 2014 megafire (the ‘King’ Fire) that affected a portion of our study area. We found that extensive severe fire within spotted owl sites resulted in both immediate site abandonment and prolonged lack of re-colonization by owls six years post-fire. Sites that experienced high pyrodiversity – a mosaic of burn severities – were more likely to persist after the fire, but this effect was only apparent at finer spatial scales. A potentially confounding factor, post-fire salvage logging, did not explain variability in the probability of either owls persisting at sites or sites becoming re-colonized; effects could be attributed only to severe fire extent and pyrodiversity. Our study demonstrates the prolonged effects of severe fire on the occupancy of this forest-dependent species, suggesting that forest restoration that reduces megafires could benefit spotted owls.

Pyrodiversity is the spatial or temporal variability in fire effects across a landscape. Multiple ecological hypotheses suggest that high pyrodiversity will lead to high biodiversity. This resultant “pyrodiversity–biodiversity” hypothesis has grown popular but has received mixed support by recent empirical research. We performed a systematic literature review of research related to pyrodiversity and the pyrodiversity–biodiversity hypothesis and also examined how two individual species with distinct relationships with fire (spotted owl Strix occidentalis and black-backed woodpecker Picoides arcticus) respond to pyrodiversity as case studies to illustrate underlying mechanisms. We identified 41 tests of the pyrodiversity–biodiversity hypothesis reported from 33 studies; 18 (44%) presented evidence in support of the pyrodiversity–biodiversity hypothesis, while 23 (56%) did not. However, a recent body of research shows that biodiversity appears to respond positively to pyrodiversity in the Sierra Nevada, CA. In addition, both the spotted owl and black-backed woodpecker – two species expected to respond in opposite ways to fire disturbance – respond positively to pyrodiversity as well. This suggests that pyrodiversity may promote both biodiversity broadly and focal species in this region. The positive benefits of pyrodiversity to overall forest resilience suggest broader adoption of this management paradigm could achieve multiple objectives.

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.

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.

The California spotted owl is an old-forest species of conservation concern in the Sierra Nevada, where concern for owl population viability can constrain forest restoration projects intended to reduce large, severe wildfires and drought-related tree mortality. Thus, spotted owl surveys are typically conducted as part of the planning stage of forest restoration projects with a goal of achieving a 0.95 probability of detecting owls at occupied territories. Doing so, however, requires extensive and potentially hazardous nighttime surveys and typically takes two years to complete. We leveraged advances in passive acoustic survey technologies in order to potentially expedite project-level surveys for spotted owls and minimize nocturnal work. We achieved a 0.95 detection probability with passive acoustic surveys conducted over a four-week period in a single season on two study areas, with follow-up dawn/dusk surveys successfully finding occupied territories. To further improve the efficiency of spotted owl occupancy surveys, we also developed a tool to identify and prioritize areas for acoustic surveys. We will describe the habitat modeling used to build this tool and demonstrate the tool’s capabilities and potential uses to achieve an increased pace and scale of forest restoration without adversely affecting owls.

Barred Owls (Strix varia) continue to expand through the Pacific Northwest and into the Sierra Nevada, California, threatening native species. In this study, we conducted genetic-based dietary analyses using intestinal samples from invasive barred owls collected at the front end of their California expansion to better understand potential impacts on wildlife communities. Using a diverse panel of DNA amplifying primers and high-throughput-sequencing, we successfully screened the intestinal contents of 124 barred owls, detecting a broad diet of 78 unique prey types (48 vertebrates and 30 invertebrates). Commonly consumed taxa of note included Douglas squirrel (Tamiasciurus douglasii), Northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus), Sierra and Pacific tree frogs (Pseudacris sierra and P. regilla), dusky footed woodrats (Neotoma fuscipes), and several game and domestic species. Barred owl prey consumption demonstrates the potential for exploitative competition with spotted owls (Strix occidentalis), but also potential competition with sensitive species including fishers (Pekania pennanti) and Northern goshawks (Accipiter gentilis). Diet composition varied across an elevation gradient, based on forest conditions, and between the Sierra Nevada and Klamath regions. Our findings indicate that barred owls – as generalist predators – will not serve as ecological replacements for spotted owls should they continue to increase in relative abundance.

Understanding the extent to which species are governed by top-down (predation) versus bottom-up (resource) limitations can benefit the management of both predator and prey. The dusky-footed woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes) is an important prey species for California spotted owls (Strix occidentalis occidentalis), yet the relative importance of bottom-up versus top-down controls for woodrat populations remains uncertain. Based on a sample of 109 radio-collared individuals, we found that predation on woodrats was uniformly low within spotted owl territories that featured a mosaic of forested seral stages. Nevertheless, video monitoring at 15 spotted owl nest sites revealed frequent deliveries of woodrats to dependent young. To reconcile this apparent dissonance and understand the proportion and number of woodrats consumed by pairs of spotted owls we used a combination of woodrat trapping data, occupancy models, and mark-recapture analyses. Our results suggest that the top-down effects of predation on woodrats are relatively weak but, in conjunction with other studies, woodrat abundance is likely a key driver of spotted owl populations. Collectively, our findings can inform forest management practices intended to promote woodrat populations and improve spotted owl conservation in Sierra Nevada forests.

Between 2017 and 2021, the author monitored motion surveillance cameras at three sites in the West Mojave Desert intended to census the occurrence of the State-listed Mohave ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus mohavensis) (MGS). MGS, in addition to white-tailed antelope ground squirrel (Ammospermophilus leucurus) (AGS), are the focal squirrel species of this study. There are numerous factors affecting the function of motion cameras and the subsequent review and analyses of photographs. Variable factors considered in this presentation include 1. Hardware, 2. Bait Presentation, 3. Animal Identifications, 4. Weather Conditions, and 5. Collecting/Reporting Results. Camera quality may affect results, but even two cameras of the same make vary. Bait presentations include blocks, PVC tubes, and screened sandwich containers, each with pros and cons. Between the two squirrel species within the study area, there are difficulties discerning individuals of the species. Early indications suggest that winter precipitation, which affects annual plant germination at the time of studies, likely affect detectability and abundance of squirrel images. As camera trapping for these species is relatively new, since 2011, variable approaches are being implemented until acceptable methods are identified.

The Sierra Nevada red fox (Vulpes vulpes necator; SNRF) is a montane subspecies native to California and Oregon. The distribution, abundance, and genetic diversity of the majority of extant SNRF populations have declined substantially since the 1920s, suggesting that a proactive approach will be necessary to recover the subspecies. In 2018, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife convened a team of 35 scientists and resource managers — the SNRF Conservation Advisory Team (SCAT) — to collaboratively develop a range-wide Conservation Strategy for the SNRF. The Strategy is now complete. Building on the latest information about SNRF ecology, distribution, and population status, the Strategy evaluates potential threats to the subspecies, identifies urgent research questions, and presents a framework for implementing management actions to promote recovery. An immediate priority is assessing the feasibility of translocations to achieve a genetic rescue of the SNRF population in the Lassen Peak region, which is extremely vulnerable to extirpation due to small population size, isolation, and inbreeding. The Strategy represents an immense cooperative effort on the part of numerous agencies and individuals across two states. The completion of this document is in itself a conservation success, providing a crucial blueprint for the next steps in SNRF recovery.

The Mohave ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus mohavensis) occupies a small area in the western Mojave Desert of California. It is listed as Threatened under the California Endangered Species Act and is extirpated from a significant portion of its historical range. Much remaining habitat is on public land managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. An extensive trail camera study was carried out in 2011-2012 to document its distribution on these lands. The BLM has now sponsored a similar effort to re-sample most of the same sites 10 years later. We report on the results of the 2021 survey in the central portion of the Mohave ground squirrel range. The species was documented at 37 of the 55 sites sampled in 2021, similar to 2011-2012 results, thus confirming its continued persistence in this region. This result suggests reasonably good recovery from the severe 2012-2016 drought. However, no reproduction was observed in the extremely dry spring of 2021, winter annuals were absent and many shrubs were nearly leafless. Photos revealed many severely emaciated Mohave ground squirrels unlikely to gain enough body weight to survive dormancy. The long-term effects of climate change on this desert species are a serious continuing concern.

Microplastics are persistent environmental contaminants that have been recently documented in numerous ecological systems. Microplastics were documented in the gastrointestinal (GI) tracts of terrestrial raptors in central Florida in 2018. We derived microplastic isolation protocols from that study to populate a baseline dataset of microplastics in the GI tracts of terrestrial raptors on the central coast of California. From January through August 2021, raptor carcasses were donated to our project by Pacific Wildlife Care, a wildlife rehabilitation clinic in Morro Bay, CA. Sixteen carcasses were examined: three Red-Tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis), four Red-Shouldered Hawks (Buteo lineatus), two Great Horned Owls (Bubo virginianus), and seven Barn Owls (Tyto alba). We found trace amounts of microplastics in the GI tracts of all sixteen individuals, with a mean (± SE) of 12.25 (± 1.89) microplastic particles per bird. Of the total of 196 microplastic particles we observed, microfibers were the most abundant (58%), followed by microbeads (34%) and microfragments (8%). Our future research aims to utilize micro-Fourier spectroscopy to identify polymers from this baseline dataset. The ecological and physiological implications of microplastics upon these species are unclear and warrant further study.

Native and invasive predators are responsible for billions of dollars in damages annually – a problem often mitigated through lethal removal. Quantifying removal effort effectiveness is critical for sound wildlife management. Here, we demonstrate the use of statistical population reconstruction (SPR) for modeling population trends in lethally-removed mammals. This technique requires minimal resource expenditure beyond routine removal efforts. SPR can be used to reconstruct total population size as well as age demographic structure for lethally-removed mammals for all removal periods for which age-at-harvest data is available. We used SPR to reconstruct a population of feral cats removed from San Clemente Island, California, as part of ongoing endangered passerine recovery efforts. From 2009–2020, 1,952 cats were removed and subsequently aged using cementum annuli analysis. Using age-at-harvest data and a single abundance estimate within an SPR analytical framework, we obtained annual cat population size, age-class structure and harvest probability by age class. The population estimates obtained from this analysis can be used as a parameter in subsequent analyses to monitor removal program efficacy and assess the impact of invasive predator density on native fauna, providing the ability to assess novel removal technique efficacy and prioritize predator removal among other conservation actions.

Elucidating variables influencing home range size are fundamental ecological relationships that can be described for any species, particularly those of conservation concern. The Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) is an endangered sub-species of the gray wolf whose home range patterns have not been explicitly studied. We estimated home range sizes for 22 Mexican wolf packs using Brownian Bridge Movement Models (95% UD) and generalized linear mixed effect models to evaluate variables across four timeframes. Home range and pack size fluctuated across timeframes and seasonal ranging patterns mirrored seasonal movements of prey. Annual home range size was inversely correlated with human density, tree cover, and pack size, while during the denning period home range size was inversely correlated by ungulate biomass and litter size and positively correlated with pack size. When packs were traveling at maximum size during the post denning season, home range was inversely correlated with ungulate biomass and positively correlated with pack size. Home range size during the non-denning season was inversely correlated with snow depth. The differing relationships herein demonstrate the importance of analyzing ranging patterns with a multiscale approach for distinct populations to make data driven decisions for management.

Though useful for analyzing landscape-scale patterns, habitat models must be assessed in the field to verify their real-world applicability. In partnership with the Karuk Wildlife Team, we evaluated several methodologies to assess the validity of a Pacific fisher habitat connectivity model created by the Conservation Biology Institute. The model mapped habitat suitability and connectivity linkages that may serve as least-cost paths and "corridors" for fishers to travel between important habitat cores. Using camera traps across the spring mating season when fishers travel widely, we tested several methods for detecting fisher movements: a baited camera grid design, unbaited cameras placed at key linkage points, and habitat surveys to ground-truth the model outputs.

Baited camera traps confirmed fisher occupancy in modeled core habitat adjacent to potential linkage sites, the first reported fisher detections in some sites. Fishers were seldom detected in linkage habitat and unbaited camera locations. Habitat quality across cores and potential crossing structures varied depending on recent fire conditions, but failed to predict fisher occupancy. While camera traps adequately detected fisher across associated habitats, we could not confirm whether the same individuals traveled across the linkage. Genetic analyses or radio telemetry, when feasible, would deepen our understanding of fisher dispersal through fragmented landscapes and allow thorough model validation.

The Motus Wildlife Tracking System (motus-wts.org) is an international collaborative research network of automated radio-telemetry receiving stations spearheaded by Bird Studies Canada. This network of more than 1200 receiver stations, from the Canadian Arctic to South America, is operated by more than 1100 collaborators. It facilitates landscape- and local-scale research on the ecology and conservation of migratory animals.?In 2018, the Partners In Flight Western Working Group (PIF-WWG) began the Western Motus Initiative. The goal is to fill significant knowledge gaps about migration ecology of species in western portions of North and South America, to inform conservation actions within the next decade.?In this presentation, we will describe the Western Motus Initiative, but will focus on our installation of 11 stations to facilitate research by The Nature Conservancy and Point Blue Conservation Science on the effects of drought and wetland management on shorebirds that migrate through California’s Central Valley. We will use these new stations to talk about choosing sites and budgeting for tower deployment. The network collaboratively serves many projects by collecting location data on animals tagged across the Western Hemisphere. We will also cover how to join the PIF-WWG to help build the Motus network in the west.

Environmental disturbances influence the distribution of species across space and time, with important implications for community structure and patterns of biodiversity. For example, both abiotic and biotic short-term disturbances flush concealed prey, providing important food resources to attending species. Disturbance foraging is widespread across diverse animal taxa, yet we currently lack a systematic understanding of how the behavior varies ecologically, geographically, and taxonomically on a global scale. Here, we conducted a systematic literature review of disturbance foraging behavior among birds. We documented disturbance foraging in at least 375 (~4%) species representing 29% (73) of all avian families and 56% (23) of all avian orders. The primary sources of disturbance were biotic, namely terrestrial mammals (~40%) and arthropods (~40%), followed by birds (~11%) and aquatic mammals (~6%). The behavior was most common in forest bird species (? 50% of all observations), followed by savanna/grassland species (~16%) and marine/coastal species (~11%). Geographically, the behavior was much more prevalent in tropical regions, with more than 90% of all observations occurring in the Neotropics (~50% of all observations) and the Afrotropics (~40%). Our findings represent the first global synthesis of disturbance foraging in birds and confirm its prevalence across the avian tree of life.

Conservation of at-risk species often requires rapid status assessments and timely policy decisions. However, conservation policy implementation (e.g., species listings) may precede data availability and decisions are often based on sparse, uncertain, or potentially flawed information. Here, we present a case study on Humboldt martens (Martes caurina humboldtensis), rare and cryptic carnivores that occur in coastal forests of California and Oregon. Humboldt martens, and the analogous coastal distinct population segment of Pacific martens, were recently listed as state endangered (California, 2019) and federally threatened (2020), yet little is known about many aspects of Humboldt marten population ecology. We modeled population growth of a Humboldt marten population in northern California, incorporating empirically-derived demographic data under a variety of scenarios. All scenarios indicated substantial variability in population growth trajectories as an artifact of highly variable survival estimates. Our work exemplifies the issues of using sparse data to inform conservation decisions, and we provide a framework to improve outcomes of future research efforts of poorly-understood species. We suggest that increased collaboration, purposeful study designs, use of standardized protocols, application of emerging technologies, and data sharing via public repositories are reliable actions that can better produce biologically relevant results and inform future conservation efforts.

Quantifying the demography of wildlife populations is imperative to evaluating population trends, but identifying mechanisms that influence demographic outcomes can be difficult for cryptic species. We radio-tracked Pacific martens (Martes caurina), an elusive mesocarnivore, to estimate survival, determine causes of mortality, and assess co-occurring pathological conditions. We tracked 18 female and 33 male martens for an average (±SD, range) of 16.35 months (±8.7, 1–41) from 2009–2013 and 2015–2017 in northern California. Annual survival rates were 0.81 (95% CI = 0.66–0.95) and 0.68 (95% CI = 0.57–0.79) for female and male martens, respectively. We documented 16 marten mortalities, 13 of which were suspected predation events. Seven mortalities were confirmed as predations via clinical forensic evidence, with bobcats (Lynx rufus; n = 5) representing all clinically confirmed predations. The proximate cause of mortality for one marten was attributed to toxicosis from anticoagulant rodenticide exposure, which has not been previously reported in free-ranging martens. Further, martens appeared to be more vulnerable to predation during reproductive periods that incur increased energetic requirements (e.g., lactation, kit-rearing, mating). We propose continued pairing of field and clinical assessments to better substantiate causes of mortality, elucidate pathology, and identify novel stressors.

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.

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.

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) populations have experienced substantial reductions in abundance and distribution throughout their range and are a species of high conservation concern. The Great Basin ecoregion contains ~25% of populations range-wide and recent studies have concluded more substantial declines compared to other areas across the range. Using radio- and GPS-telemetry methods, we monitored 15 sub-populations of sage-grouse (>1,700 individuals) across Nevada, Idaho, and California during 2008–2021 to examine demographic processes driving population dynamics within the Great Basin. Specifically, we developed integrated populations models within a Bayesian framework to refine estimates of specific vital rates and population change (?) using a joint likelihood and temporal inference that accounted for natural population oscillations. Since 2008, populations in the Great Basin have experienced substantial declines in abundance resulting in an average annual ? of 0.92 (95% credible interval [CRI], 0.87–0.97) with substantial variation across sites. Importantly, estimated annual survival (0.62, 95% CRI 0.59–0.65) and some reproductive rates were lower than those reported elsewhere range-wide, which may be explained by the effects of drought, wildfire, and other threats unique to the Great Basin. These findings are preliminary, are provided for timely science communication and are subject to change.

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.

Bank swallows (Riparia riparia) are a colonial species of swallow that build their nests by burrowing into eroding banks associated with streams, rivers, coastal bluffs, and lakeshores. Their populations have declined worldwide primarily due to bank stabilization activities. Declines observed on the Sacramento River in the late 1970s and 80s prompted the California Fish and Game Commission to list bank swallows as state-threatened in 1989. The Sacramento River accounts for 70% of California's bank swallow population and contains critical habitat for the species. We used monitoring data from 1986 - 2021 to analyze population trends and estimate the extinction probability for bank swallows on the Sacramento River between Red Bluff and Colusa, CA. Burrow counts declined by 9% per year from 1986 - 1995, with the number of colonies following a similar trend. Burrow counts and the number of colonies did not decline between 1996 and 2021. During this time frame, the population exhibited density-dependent population growth. Using a count-based population viability analysis, we estimated a 0.0002 probability that this population will fall below 4,000 burrows in 50 years. Conservation efforts since the 1989 listing appear to have been successful in preventing further declines on the Sacramento River.

While large scale, extreme temperature events associated with anthropogenic climatic change threaten global biodiversity, smaller areas of habitat within a landscape may retain suitable conditions where individuals can seek refuge. The spotted owl is a climate-sensitive, older-forest specialist that is less heat tolerant than other birds, with relatively low upper critical temperatures and limited ability to dissipate heat. We have yet to understand how access to cooler microclimates influences spotted owls during heat waves. In the summers of 2019-2021, we used GPS-tagging, doubly-labeled water injections, and demographic modeling to 1) examine how habitat and elevation interact to influence the temperatures spotted owls experience and 2) measure the effect of cumulative heat exposure on physiological rates. We found that elevation, topography, and canopy cover are significant predictors for microclimates. We also found that water turnover rates, which confer heat dissipating behaviors, increase with temperature, but overall energetic expenditure is only weakly impacted by temperature. Results suggests that the habitat spotted owls select during the day sufficiently buffers individuals from direct heat stress in current conditions, but extreme thermal events impact individual physiology. We will additionally report on the effect of habitat and temperature extremes on spotted owl occupancy. This study, thus, will identify particular areas and forest types that serve as temperature refugia for spotted owls as the climate continues to warm and help integrate the conservation of this species into forest planning activities.

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.

Invasive plants negatively impact coastal dune ecosystems worldwide, stabilizing dune habitat and reducing early successional stage beach dynamics. Dune restoration may require mechanical contouring with bulldozers to remove vegetation and extensive root systems. We assessed the effectiveness of a coastal dune contouring project at Vandenberg Space Force Base in central California by monitoring the nesting response of western snowy plovers (Charadrius nivosus nivosus), which rely on early successional habitat. Two beach sections were mechanically contoured in 2014 and 2015, opening 30.5 ha of previously marginal nesting habitat. We investigated changes in beach structure, plover nest density, hatch success, and fledge success from 2011 to 2021 at two contoured sites, two adjacent beachfront sites, and a control site 500 m away. After contouring, the majority of nesting habitat at both contoured sites converted to preferred plover habitat. However, the amount of preferred habitat decreased in subsequent years as vegetation grew back. Nest density increased within both contoured sites immediately after contouring, but decreased in subsequent years. Though variable, hatch success improved at only one contoured site, and fledge success marginally increased following contouring. Without periodic recontouring, vegetation will continue to fill contoured sites and plover productivity will return to pre-contouring levels.

Habitat selection is often assumed to be an adaptive behavior, with individuals selecting specific features to maximize their fitness, but can become maladaptive when individuals select areas that ultimately decrease survival or reproductive success. Evaluating where habitat selection is adaptive for species of conservation concern can guide large-scale conservation efforts. Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is a sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) obligate and is often used as an indicator species for health of sagebrush ecosystems. We mapped both selection and survival across multiple reproductive life stages to better understand sage-grouse distribution and more accurately depict habitat quality in the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment, a genetically distinct and geographically isolated population on the edge of the sage-grouse’s range. Across all life stages, environmental features related to strong selection were not always correlated with high survival, which was largely driven by trade-offs between different life stages (e.g., nesting vs. brood-rearing). Limited time and resources necessitate that managers prioritize high-quality habitats to meet specific conservation and management objectives. Given that habitat selection is not always adaptive, understanding the link between selection and demographic performance is likely critical for effective conservation. These findings are preliminary, are provided for timely science communication, and are subject to change.

Humboldt martens (Martes caurina humboldtensis), a subspecies of Pacific martens, occur in coastal Oregon and California and were designated as federally threatened and state Endangered (California). We assessed martens’ predicted distribution and interpret our findings as hypotheses correlated with the subspecies’ niche to inform strategic conservation actions. We spatially-thinned 10,229 locations collected 1996–2020 by applying a minimum distance of 500-m between locations, resulting in 384 locations. We independently optimized the spatial scale of each variable and used MaxEnt to create a predicted distribution. Humboldt marten locations were positively associated with increased shrub cover (Gautheria shallon), mast producing trees (e.g., Notholithocarpus densiflorus), increased pine (Pinus sp.) proportion of total basal area, and annual precipitation, areas with low and high amounts of canopy cover and slope, and cooler August temperatures. We found little evidence that Humboldt martens were associated with old-growth structural indices. This study provides an example of how limited information on lesser-known species can lead to differing interpretations, emphasizing the need for study-level replication in ecology. Conservation efforts and assessment of risks to Humboldt marten populations would benefit from continued survey effort to clarify distribution, population sizes, and fine-scale habitat use.

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.

In the past few years, myself and colleagues have published over a dozen papers on Pacific marten survey techniques, ecology, movement, survival, energetics, reproduction, habitat use, and tradeoffs for long-term monitoring. Within this presentation, I provide a brief overview of marten ecology - combining new information with common paradigms. My goal is to provide the audience with a general background that will allow for deeper appreciation and understanding of a forest-dependent species of conservation concern. I highlight recent research on Humboldt or coastal martens, which are Endangered in California and federally Threatened. For managers and researchers alike, I conclude with opportunities to collect more comprehensive data using traditional methods (e.g., remote cameras) and considerations for combining data.

The blunt-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia sila; BNLL) is a relatively large, predatory lizard that once occurred throughout much of the San Joaquin Desert and adjacent valleys and foothills. BNLL currently persists on less than 15% of its historical range, largely due to habitat loss. Despite having endangered status for over 40 years, basic population estimates and demographic data, which are crucial for understanding the status of BNLL throughout their range and gaining traction toward recovery actions, are lacking for several core sites. With federal funding (Section 6) we created three long-term population monitoring sites for BNLL at Lokern Ecological Reserve, Semitropic Ecological Reserve, and Pixley National Wildlife Refuge, and monitored these sites for three years (2015-2017). At each site we established a permanent survey grid, where we captured BNLL, permanently marked, and recorded metrics including sex, length, mass, coloration, and number of eggs palpated in females. Since 2017 we have continued monitoring these sites with a survey frequency adaption to transform the study into a manageable long-term survey effort. We present preliminary data from these long-term monitoring sites, including population structure, density estimates, and survivorship, and we discuss future research directions.

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.

Pronghorn (Antelocapra americana) are a native species in the Great Basin that occupy open habitats, such as sagebrush steppe and grasslands. Resource selection and movements of pronghorn are likely driven, in part, by water sources and open terrain that allows for escape from coursing predators. Large-scale mineral extraction such as open-pit mining, causes large-scale disturbance of landscapes occupied by pronghorn. The Cortez Mountains in the central region of Nevada are impacted by an active open pit mine located at the base of the mountain; an area used extensively by a resident population of pronghorn. Our objective was to evaluate how open-pit gold mining affected movement patterns and selection of resources by pronghorn. We captured 12 female pronghorn in the Cortez Range in January 2018. Each animal was fitted with a Vectronic GPS collar that collected six location points per day. We recorded 35,000 locations over two years, with an average distance from the mining boundary of 4,653 meters and 42% of the locations fell within the boundary. Pronghorn do not appear to avoid habitat near the mine, suggesting they may have adapted to living in a high-disturbance environment.

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.

In 2019, California fully implemented legislation that requires the use of non-lead ammunition for all take of wildlife with a firearm. This legislation was enacted because using lead-based ammunition to hunt or dispatch animals can poison wildlife scavenging on any remaining carcasses or offal. Consumption of lead fragments from carcasses is considered the leading cause of death in the endangered California condor (Gymnogyps californianus). Non-lead ammunition is an effective alternative that eliminates the possibility of this exposure. To reduce lead on the landscape, we conduct outreach across California engaging with hunters and ranchers. We have tailored communication strategies involving positive, a-political, messaging that is effective for engaging individuals about a controversial topic. We utilize several outreach strategies to communicate with a wide array of audiences including individuals that may be resistant to social change. These include live-fire demonstrations showing how non-lead ammunition performs, booths at venues of different hunting clubs and organizations, meeting with small groups of hunters and ranchers, and extensive use of social media.

The recent expansion of cannabis agriculture in rural areas of the western United States provides an ideal opportunity to study the outcomes of rapid land use change for wildlife. Small scale (<1 acre), private-land cannabis cultivation has the ability to impair or coexist with surrounding wildlife communities. This study examines local wildlife community dynamics on and surrounding active private-land cannabis farms in the Klamath-Siskiyou Ecoregion in southern Oregon. Using camera data collected between 2018–2019, we modeled the space use of medium to large mammals as a function of distance to cannabis farm, using both single- and multi-species occupancy frameworks. We found that wildlife had differential responses to cannabis farms. In general, larger-bodied mammals seemed to respond more strongly to cannabis farms, but there was evidence for relatively fine scale thresholds of effect. These results add to the growing understanding of wildlife response to human disturbance, particularly in frontier development scenarios. This study highlights the need for further research on site-level production practices and their influence on surrounding ecological communities.

Removal of pinyon-juniper woodland by land management agencies in northern Nevada raises questions about how populations of wildlife occupying these woodlands are utilizing habitats around these removal sites. Using Wildlife Acoustics SM4 passive recorders, we have monitored wild coyote (Canis latrans) pack activity near conifer removal sites between 2017 and 2020. However, estimates of species occurrence using novel methods need to be validated. To improve our previous triangulation estimates of coyote pack locations, we recorded temporarily housed coyotes at Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care. We established an array of 9 recorders from 0 to 300 m away and measured the loudest decibel strength of howls by distance using RavenPro sound visualization software. Across 200 sound files of wild coyotes with unknown true locations, we found a maximum decibel strength of 108.5dB and a minimum of 41.4dB, while howls over 114 dB were recorded for captive coyotes at 0 m. Here, we demonstrate the improved accuracy of triangulation from the inclusion of validated coyote locations and use these methods to summarize coyote activity around conifer removal sites. Moving forward, we will use satellite NAIP imagery to analyze what types of habitat coyotes are using in and around tree removal sites.

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.

Ectotherms are particularly sensitive to drought and extreme temperatures, and so may act as bellwethers of climate change. The decline of Hawaiian tree snails in the genus Achatinella has largely been attributed to over-collection, habitat loss, and introduced predators. Currently, most species remain only in captive rearing facilities or predator-free enclosures, following sharp declines and population “blink-outs” observed since 2015. In this study, we developed species distribution models for the ten remaining species in the genus Achatinella under present and future climate scenarios, within the historical range on O‘ahu, as well as areas outside the historical range across the Hawaiian Islands. We found that ~98% of suitable area across the Hawaiian Islands is outside the historical range. Further, end-of-century species distribution models for O‘ahu were consistent with the current distribution of the ten remaining species in the genus Achatinella. Only two species have stable populations outside of predator-free enclosures, suggesting an interaction between threats such as predation and climate change. Our results raise alarms regarding the likely impacts of climate change on wildlife long before the end of the century, and suggest the potential importance of translocations outside the historical range for the persistence of climate-sensitive species.

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.

The California Vegetation Treatment Program (CalVTP) Program EIR directs the implementation of vegetation treatments on 20 million acres across California to reduce wildfire risks, restore ecosystems, and minimize the harmful effects of wildfire on the people, property, and natural resources in California. The CalVTP is now being implemented to streamline and expedite environmental review of treatment projects while simultaneously incorporating strong environmental protections. Current projects being implemented include treatment activities such as mechanical and manual treatments, prescribed burning, herbivory, and herbicide application. Because these activities may have the potential to adversely affect sensitive habitats and special status species, a robust impact avoidance and mitigation framework was built into the CalVTP in coordination with resource agencies including the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Coastal Commission. Real-world project-specific examples will demonstrate how CalVTP’s streamlining has substantially cut time and cost for environmental review of fuel treatment projects, while also avoiding and minimizing adverse effects on special-status wildlife species. Case studies will highlight the agency coordination requirements and biological resources mitigation framework of the CalVTP, which was designed to encompass species and resources statewide, be inherently flexible to address the needs of specific projects, and compliant with CEQA.

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.

The blunt-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia sila) is a federal- and state-listed endangered species endemic to the San Joaquin Desert that is on the decline throughout much of its range. Although climate change and habitat destruction are commonly cited reasons for recent declines, increased predation pressure could also contribute. Common ravens (Corvus corax) are a known lizard predator that have greatly increased in abundance in recent decades. We hypothesized that this increase contributed to the recent decline and potential extinction of G. sila on the Panoche Plateau. We tested this hypothesis by deploying clay models color- and size-matched to live G. sila at the Panoche Plateau and a nearby site that has not declined. A subset of models was also paired with camera traps to aid predator identification. We observed attempted predation events from mammalian and avian predators at both sites, but we did not observe any attempted predation from common ravens. The most observed predators were coyotes (Canis latrans) and loggerhead shrikes (Lanius ludovicianus). Altogether, we can further pursue G. sila conservation by observing the effects that predation has on two distinct populations.

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.

Avian monitoring within national parks of the Sierra Nevada Inventory and Monitoring Network began in 2011, with the goal of detecting trends to inform the conservation of birds and their habitats. We used 2011-2019 data from 2408 point-count stations to estimate trends in population density for 62 species in several parks: Devils Postpile National Monument, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and Yosemite National Park. Point-count data were analyzed in a Bayesian hierarchical modeling framework, accounting for imperfect detection and effects of covariates on bird detection and density. Results suggest relative stability of bird population density in these parks during the monitoring period, with up to 10 species declining, 38 remaining stable and 14 increasing in density. Population density varied inversely with precipitation-as-snow in at least half of our analyses. This relationship, combined with a series of dry winters in the Sierra Nevada, might have helped stabilize bird densities in these national parks during the monitoring period. However, trends varied among parks and--for most species--population density declined inversely with year, indicating a temporal decline that was not completely ameliorated by the apparently favorable climate during recent years in these parks, and fueling concern for the future.

Vocal territory defense involves trade-offs with other life history demands, influencing territory size and thus resource partitioning and population density within a species. Here, we investigated how life history constraints affect territoriality and territorial vocal behavior in the California spotted owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis) in the Sierra Nevada, California, USA, using high-resolution acoustic/GPS tags. We discovered significant differences in spotted owl vocal behavior and territoriality based on breeding status, with breeding owls with fledged young producing fewer and quieter territorial calls, calling within a restricted area around their nest location, and defending significantly smaller territories—but utilizing larger areas—than non-breeding owls. These results suggest that breeding spotted owls reduce their investment in territorial behaviors and spend more time rearing and provisioning offspring. Our finding that territoriality was strongly linked to breeding status has important ecological implications, suggesting that population density and space-use is fluid across the landscape even for a site-faithful, highly territorial species such as the spotted owl. Further, our results have key implications for passive acoustic monitoring programs and highlight the importance of using multiple call types, both territorial and non-territorial, to detect species of interest which may face similar vocalization constraints.

Bumble bees are important pollinators of both wild and cultivated plants, and worldwide, many species are reported to be in decline. California is a hotspot for bumble bee biodiversity, with more than half of North American species occurring in the state, including several near-endemics. The state also features many of the stressors thought to be driving bumble bee declines, including agricultural intensification, loss of habitat to development, and climate change-related ecological disturbance. California has a rich history of entomological research, including both historical specimen collections and recent community science observations. However, the state has never had a standardized inventory of these functionally important insects. In this talk, we summarize the current state of knowledge of California’s native bumble bees, and discuss how a systematic community science survey effort, the California Bumble Bee Atlas, will address information gaps, ultimately informing conservation action throughout the state. Significantly, the project will clarify the current distributions of several imperiled species, including Bombus crotchii, B. franklini, and B. occidentalis, and will result in a baseline dataset that will assist in ongoing and future efforts to protect California bumble bee populations and the pollination service they provide to agriculture and native plant communities.

California Back Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus) is the smallest rail in North America and is largely a resident of fresh, brackish and saltwater wetlands. Due to habitat degradation and destruction, this species is listed as a threatened species in California. Protecting and managing its breeding habitat and restoring adjacent suitable marsh sites are strategies to help its population recover. Habitat enhancement efforts by staff and volunteers of the East Bay Regional Park District at Giant Marsh in Richmond, California have been improving conditions for this native species since 2004. Analysis of systematically obtained call count data, collected there during the breeding seasons of 2013 through 2021 is showing a positive trend of increasing California Black Rails, as compared to the first baseline information collected in 1977 at this location. Field research also is showing that the rail population is now four times higher at this site and that they are typically confined to high marsh habitat, at the upper limits of tidal flooding. Analyzing these trends occurring within Giant Marsh at Point Pinole Regional Shoreline is providing important information that will aid recovery efforts designed to preserve and manage breeding habitat for this threatened species.

Historical records are showing that diverse Canaries in our “coal mine” environment generally have been disappearing, despite protections. We have been conducting periodic, consistent breeding bird censuses since 1994 in a protected riparian area on San Francisco Bay’s east shore, relatively stable in local weather and vegetation. We detected an overall decline in breeding birds there, hypothetically corresponding to steadily increasing human activity in adjacent areas. Yet bird declines were not steady at all. Reports of unusually warm, calm weather around San Francisco Bay in 2004, and unusually warm, humid weather in 2006 [(>36 degrees C, day, and night)], prompted us to compare these old and newer bird data to weather records, which also illustrated a 2000 heat event locally. To test hypothetical effects of these unusual heat events of 2000/2004/2006, we compared bird data before and after those years, yielding a clear, persistent reduction in most breeding avifauna, after those events. Annual Maximum temperatures also became repeatedly >36 degrees C, which might be a threshold for many of these birds. Such heat again in 2017 did not appear to decrease these bird populations further. Trends in comparing general weather and breeding bird data might not be clear in such coastal, benign climates, within the birds’ adaptations. Yet occasional, extreme environmental events, particularly in a protected area avoiding much habitat degradation, appears to have a major negative, lasting effect on these populations

Climate change is cited as one of the main threats to endangered species, especially those with small populations that are susceptible to stochastic events that can be exacerbated by such change. An example of this in California is the increase in the frequency and intensity of wildfires. In Suisun Marsh, the occurrence of wildfires has increased in recent years threatening species like the endangered salt marsh harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris, SMHM). SMHM are endemic to the marshes of the San Francisco Bay Estuary and have been listed as endangered since the 1970s. While populations are thriving in Suisun Marsh, recent wildfires almost completely burned the vegetation at several SMHM conservation areas. The objective of this study was to quantify how SMHM and associated small mammal populations responded after wildfire events. In most cases SMHM were shown to be resilient, with populations rebounding within one year. However, in areas where vegetation regrowth has been slow, populations remain low. Understanding the response of SMHM to catastrophic events like wildfires will allow managers to better implement conservation efforts in the future as well as understand the effects of management tools like prescribed burns.

Women are underrepresented in STEM, but the extent of this underrepresentation varies among STEM fields. Analyzing gender demographics of publications within a field is an effective means of quantifying representation because of the importance of publications to scientists’ careers and to the scientific community. We created a data set consisting of all publications accessed with a database search on each taxonomic order of herpetofauna as well as squamate suborders 2010-2019 and another data set with all publications on lizards and snakes 1970-2019 and used these data sets to estimate the genders of authors. During the past decade, our estimates show that male authors outnumbered female authors 2.24:1; however, female authorship increased steadily. Additionally, men also outnumbered women as first authors (1.95:1), last authors (3.30:1), and sole authors (5.29:1). Finally, qualitative analysis of authorship estimates in studies on lizards and snakes over the past 50 years show that female authors represented about 10–15% of authors from 1970 to 2000, followed by a rapid rise in female authorship over the past 20 years to current rates of >30% female authorship. Our data suggest that the gender gap in herpetology, which has traditionally appeared to be a male-dominated field, is slowly narrowing.

Many federal and state environmental protection laws were passed in the 1970s, and with new regulations arose a burgeoning field of regulatory staff and environmental consultants. Collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, and consultants is now necessary and common. Trust and professional reputation between individuals in these organizations is crucial for effective implementation of regulatory programs, and ultimately for conservation. However, there is often mistrust between regulators, environmentalists, industry, and consultants. There are a number of factors that have led to this atmosphere. We explore the possibility that typical US university programs for the wildlife, conservation, or environmental sciences majors do little to prepare students to understand the roles, restrictions, and regulations guiding different sectors. We also propose that many of the apparent ethics issues and violations that arise come not from intentional deception, but from biologists, in all entities, working in positions where they aren’t trained in all of the regulations, protocols, and permits that are now part of this work. Moving forward, we see solutions for this through improving undergraduate preparation for the modern job market (e.g. exposure to regulations, value of different types of roles), improving professional certifications, and improving cross-entity team-building at professional societies.

Common raven (Corvus corax; raven) populations are increasing and expanding across North America, affecting ranching and agriculture, human health, and sensitive species conservation. Therefore, managers need science-driven adaptive management plans for ravens that support multiple management goals. We developed the Science-based Management of Ravens Tool (SMaRT), a web-based application that guides managers through a tiered adaptive management framework to develop a customized plan for their area of interest and management objectives. Within the SMaRT interface, users can: (1) interact with pre-loaded maps of raven occurrence and density and define their areas of interest within the Great Basin to delineate proposed management sites; (2) enter site-level density estimates from distance sampling methods or estimate raven densities using a rapid assessment function or pre-existing density surface; (3) compare site-level density estimates to an ecological threshold; and (4) produce a tiered list of management options. The SMaRT supports decision-making by operationalizing scientific products for raven management and facilitates realization of diverse management goals addressing raven overabundance and expansion. We illustrate the use of the SMaRT using an example of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) conservation efforts within the Great Basin. Findings are preliminary, are provided for timely science communication, and subject to change.

Predation by subsidized common raven (Corvus corax; raven) populations is linked to population declines of several sensitive species. Ecosystem managers seek strategies for mitigating the adverse effects of raven predation where unsustainable predator-prey conflicts exist. We present three case studies examining how manipulating reproductive success of ravens influences demographic rates of two sensitive prey species. These studies examine impacts of removing raven nests or oiling raven eggs on nest survival of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) in Wyoming and the Great Basin as well as survival of juvenile Mojave desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii; tortoise) in the Mojave Desert using tortoise decoys. Initial trial years from all three studies were consistent in finding improved vital rates associated with the application of strategies for reducing reproductive success of ravens. Raven nest removal resulted in increased nest survival of sage-grouse within treatment areas where predation by ravens was the primary cause of nest failure. Additionally, nest survival of sage-grouse and survival of juvenile tortoise decoys was higher following raven egg-oiling across six treatment areas. These findings inform raven reproduction management practices as important tools for conserving wildlife. Findings are preliminary and provided to meet the need for timely best science.

The western migratory monarch population collapsed to less than 2,000 overwintering butterflies in the winter of 2020-21. This rapid and steep decline emphasized the need to quickly strengthen existing conservation efforts by leveraging our collective resources to protect this iconic species. In response, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is working with a diverse array of partners, including members of the public, non-profits, and agencies, to restore key habitat and develop educational materials in an effort to support Monarch recovery.

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.

Bay checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha bayensis), a federal-threatened subspecies of Edith’s checkerspot (E. editha), is endemic to the San Francisco Bay Area and is currently restricted to San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. From 2008 to 2019, focused Bay checkerspot butterfly surveys were conducted annually at an approximately 2,150-acre private ranch property, located in San Jose, Santa Clara County, California. We used MaxEnt modeling to compare the relative contributions of landscape and climate factors to Bay checkerspot butterfly distribution in years with larger than average and smaller than average adult population sizes. In large population years, the most important factor in determining distribution was distance from suitable habitat, defined as serpentine soils supporting both host and nectar plants. In small population years, the majority of BCB observations occurred in suitable habitat so the relative importance of this factor was lower. Elevation within suitable habitat had greater relative importance in small population years compared to large population years. Other examined factors, including land cover type, solar radiation, wind speed, topographic position, and slope, contributed little to either model. The results of this long-term dataset are consistent with the metapopulation model of population dynamics.

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.

Identification of North American microchiropteran bat species at roost sites, especially in urban or suburban environs, is challenging. Capture and acoustic detection methods are effective, but only when bats are present, and can result in disturbance to wildlife. Analysis of guano or other physical cues can be effective, but only when present. We investigated the efficacy of genetic analysis of residues left directly on roosting surfaces. At two sites in Northern California roosts were identified based on the presence of residues on surfaces with guano beneath them, and were swabbed for trace DNA. This method was then challenged against genetic analysis of guano and tissues present at the sample location to determine accuracy of the technique. This new technique has the potential to improve the ability to identify which species of bats have recently utilized roost, even when no animals are present, which will improve our ability to protect bats when roost sites must be disturbed. Further, it is cost effective and low risk to both animals and biologists. We encourage environmental professionals to consider utilizing this technique and contributing to evaluating its utility for various bat species in different habitat types.

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.

The Blunt-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia sila) is an endangered and charismatic lizard species native to California’s Central Valley. In partnership with The Bureau of Land Management and the Telemeco Reptile Ecology and Evolution lab at California State University, Fresno, emergency permission was granted to collect five adult G.sila (two male and three female) from the Panoche Hills plateau. This colony was taken to Fresno Chaffee Zoo to form the first captive assurance colony of G.sila. These five individuals at the time were thought to be the remainder of the Panoche hills plateau population. The lizards were subsequently acclimated to human care and taken through an artificial brumation cycle with the goal of breeding the group in the spring of 2021. Over the spring and summer of 2021, the group was successfully reproduced at FCZ resulting in 20 offspring (10 male and 10 female). This event represents the first time G.sila has ever reproduced in human care.

The protection of subterranean roosts deemed critical for the long-term conservation of bats has become increasingly common throughout the United States. In the western U.S. the majority of bat gates have been installed to protect abandoned mine openings during Abandoned Mine Reclamation activities (AML). Variation in local geology, portal stability, access, scope, and reclamation budgets has resulted in a range of gate styles, materials, and installation methods. While the unifying objective of gate installation is the long-term conservation of bats and concurrent elimination of human access to dangerous abandoned mines, there has been a paucity of post-gating monitoring to determine the long-term effectiveness of bat gates in general, and of different gate types and materials more specifically. As a result, inference of bat gate effectiveness is largely anecdotal. Typically attempts to measure gate "success" are based on casual observations, collected from a small geographic area and over limited period of time. While these observations provide a platform from which research on gate success can be developed, the observations themselves are not data and should be treated accordingly. This presentation includes data collected throughout the western United States in years preceding treatment, during treatment, and in the years following treatment at several large-scale AML projects. The goal of this study was to understand the overall effectiveness of AML mitigation programs for maintaining use of abandoned mines by bats, facilitating standardization of best management practices for maintaining bat populations in historically mined landscapes.

Wildlife conservation must be supported by the best scientific evidence to be successful. Fine-scale data on where animals exist on the landscape, and the suite of environmental variables that characterize those locations, are critical for wildlife management decisions. We include data from citizen science efforts (e.g., bioblitzes) to increase sampling effectiveness at the local or regional scale. We have developed species distribution models (SDMs) for all reptiles and amphibians known to occur in the State of Nevada, USA. We demonstrate how these SDMs can be applied, with citizen-science, to quantify habitat suitability and inform future sampling strategies for target species, species diversity, or for determining the adequacy of protected areas. We describe an iterative process, where increased field sampling informs the creation of new SDMs that would further refine our understanding of the habitat requirements of species. We demonstrate the application of our models for habitat suitability analyses, for use in informing State Wildlife Action Plans, determining Priority Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Areas, and the designation of critical habitat of threatened and endangered species. Our SDMs and related analyses form the backbone of our new approach to field guides, where habitat suitability across a species geographic range is quantified.

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.

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.

Though the salt marsh harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris; SMHM) has been listed as state and federally endangered since the early 1970’s, there has never existed a comprehensive, central repository for survey data. Further, survey methods differ among monitoring entities, and for many older efforts raw data was not retained and only a minimal summary of the methods and results now exists. This lack of an all-inclusive data set has prohibited researchers from performing any large-scale assessments of correlations between SMHM densities, and habitat features and environmental conditions. Localized analyses often contradict one another, and likely provide a misleading picture of SMHM ecology. These deficiencies have had consequences for planning and executing recovery actions such as tidal restoration. Over the past two years myself and my collaborators have compiled the most comprehensive database of SMHM survey data and created a GIS of environmental variables that are likely to impact SMHM populations. Using these tools I performed the first range-wide spatial analysis of the relationship between SMHM occupancy and densities, and environmental variables. The resulting heat maps of SMHM hot spots, high quality but unoccupied patches, and low quality patches will support the effective application of recovery actions.

Bat fatalities at wind energy facilities are a growing concern in North America. The wind industry and wildlife agencies are seeking tools to reduce fatalities while continuing to generate clean energy to address climate change. Most bats are killed on low wind speed nights. Increasing the speed at which blades rotate and wind-generated electricity enters the power grid from the manufactured speed (‘blanket curtailment’; BC) greatly reduces bat fatalities, but also reduces annual energy production (AEP). Detection-based ‘smart curtailment’ (DBSC), which deactivates turbine blades only when bats are acoustically detected during high-risk periods, can potentially reduce bat fatalities and AEP loss to acceptable levels. We modeled wind variables, curtailment thresholds, and simulated bat activity patterns to determine AEP under BC and DBSC scenarios at six wind energy facilities in Alberta. Both approaches to curtailment yielded relatively low AEP loss, with DBSC losing less than 1% AEP and reducing losses approximately 50 to 100% compared to BC scenarios. Scenarios of low bat activity—common in the west—often resulted in close to zero energy loss. Our results demonstrate how DBSC can be a useful tool for reducing the impacts of wind energy facilities on bat populations while minimizing unnecessary production losses.

Noninvasive genetic sampling is a powerful and effective technique for the study of elusive or otherwise difficult to monitor species. While such methods are widely used in birds and mammals, they have never been successfully applied on a large scale in reptiles. Here we combined scat detection dogs, population genetics, and mark recapture analyses to monitor an isolated and threatened population of the blunt-nosed leopard lizard (BNLL; Gambelia sila) in the Panoche Hills. Once scat samples were genetically confirmed as BNLL, we used multilocus genotyping to identify samples to individual. We used the individual capture data as input for mark/recapture analyses to estimate the population census size. We identified a drastic drop in estimated census size between 2020 and 2021, from 18 (95% CI: 12-23), to 8 (95% CI: 7-13) individuals. This data supports the intervention to capture individuals to establish an assurance colony via captive breeding.

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.

The California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense) continues to rapidly lose upland habitat critical to maintaining populations and connecting aquatic habitats that remain on the landscape in public and private lands. Agricultural lands, including those in low intensity use, are often dismissed as not having any significant value as upland and subsequently lost via conversion to development, including industrial scale solar projects, or less suitable higher intensity agricultural uses. Extensive data exists to document the continued use of refugia located in disturbed and agricultural lands, including those that are disked. In the face of climate change and with continued pressure for conversion, these lands will take on an increasingly important role in connecting lands protected for the salamander (or other pond breeding amphibians). Protecting only breeding sites and small areas of adjacent land is unlikely to provide long term viability to support populations. This results in establishment of preserves that do not have adequate upland habitat or lack connectivity to other breeding sites for recolonization if the site experiences extirpation. Recognition of the value of upland agricultural and disturbed lands and protection of these landscapes from conversion to less suitable uses will play an important role in conservation and recovery of the California tiger salamander.

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.

For many organisms, the earliest life-history stages are both the most sensitive and most difficult to examine. However, because population growth requires successful recruitment, understanding the conditions necessary for embryo and juvenile success is vital for ensuring long-term persistence. To support captive breeding and population recovery of Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards (Gambelia sila) from the Panoche Plateau we used modern, non-invasive methods to monitor oviductal egg production and estimate environmental conditions suitable for post-oviposition egg development. Prior to oviposition, we monitored egg development via field ultrasonography. These data allowed us to quantify reproductive output, qualitatively describe the phases of egg development, and create a predictive model of time until oviposition based on the size of developing eggs. We then used climate data paired with microclimate modeling to estimate hourly temperatures and water potentials that eggs are expected to experience within natural nests. We used this information to develop a naturalistic egg incubation regime that successfully produced robust hatchlings. These tools could be used to better understand the requirements of the earliest life-history stages in a diverse group of reptiles when direct measurements are not feasible.

It is well established that many rodent species alter their activity levels across the different phases of the lunar cycle. Previous studies indicate that perceived predation risk from increased moonlight can alter foraging activity to an extent that causes population shifts comparable to those caused by actual predation. However, the extent to which these behavioral cycles within rodent populations are plastic is not yet understood. Conifer woodland removal projects, used by land management agencies to restore sagebrush habitat, provide geographically dispersed experimental replicates to measure potential activity and population shifts in response to increased exposure to moonlight from reduced canopy cover. To assess how habitat changes translate to behavioral shifts in rodent populations, we conducted a 4-year BACI study design across five project regions in the northern Great Basin. We assessed weekly recapture rates as a metric of activity for over 5,000 capture occasions of 24 rodent species. Our trapping efforts spanned the vegetation gradient from open sagebrush to dense woodland cover within each transect and included diurnal-species control groups. This allowed us to isolate changes in the relationship between activity and moonlight, increasing our understanding of how rodent populations vary their behaviors in response to habitat change.

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.

Desert-dwelling species may be especially impacted by climate change when historic environments already approach their thermal limits. In such cases, the availability of thermal refugia could determine species persistence. For example, increasing temperatures are thought to be a major extinction risk for blunt-nosed leopard lizards (Gambelia sila), an endangered species endemic to the San Joaquin Desert. Some populations of G. sila occur in habitats characterized by sparse shrubs whereas others occur in habitats without shrubs. We hypothesized that lizards in environments without shrubs are unable to maintain suitable body temperatures during the heat of the day and thus have fewer hours of activity. We used temperature-sensitive radio transmitters to measure the body temperatures of lizards from four sites, two with shrubs and two without, and used physical models to track body temperatures in each microhabitat. Throughout the season, we relocated each lizard two to three times per day and recorded their microhabitat use. Lizards co-occurring with shrubs displayed greater thermoregulatory accuracy and spent more hours active than those that did not occur with shrubs. These results demonstrate an important role of variable vegetation in determining habitats that are accessible to desert ectotherms as climates change.

Purple martin (Progne subis arboricola), a California Species of Special Concern, nest in cavities in existing power poles at Mt Thayer, Santa Clara County. By 2008, only 100-220 pairs were estimated to live in the southern coastal section of California from Marin to Santa Barbara counties and suggested to be close to local extirpation, making this small population in Santa Clara County regionally significant. In 2021 the District constructed and installed two types of artificial habitat to support martin breeding activity - individual nest boxes and hollow cavity poles that emulate natural martin habitat. The District installed structures near the existing power poles and began a monitoring program to test the efficacy of habitat types and observation methods suitable for this unique location. In 2021, three martin nests at chick stage were observed in the existing power poles, and one fledged western bluebird nest was observed in a new artificial cavity. The District plans to monitor and adaptively manage this small martin population to assist with meeting state goals of 1) achieving a statewide species inventory, 2) reaching >2,000 martin pairs, and 3) supporting nesting in cavities rather than houses.

Portions of the San Francisco Bay Area burned in the summer of 2020. To understand how wildlife communities were affected by the wildfires, we monitored burned and unburned sites using acoustic sensors and cameras. Forty paired sensors, audiomoths and camera traps, were set at 0.5 km intervals in East Bay Regional Parks and Contra Costa Water District Los Vaqueros Reservoir beginning in October 2020. Our goal was to compare diversity (species richness), detection rates (intensity of use), and occupancy estimation (abundance) between the burned and unburned sites and latency to recovery using the unburned area as a comparison. We used a cloud-based acoustic processing pipeline to run an opensource bird call detection model (BirdNET). Wildlife Insights, camera trap data management and image recognition software, was used to process camera data. Image recognition output was confirmed by trained observers. Both audio and image data were used to derive effort, detection rates and single season occupancy estimates using a R-Markdown script developed for the Marin Wildlife Picture Index Project. We have tools and approaches that can be easily replicated; these protocols and R-Markdown scripts are available for use and are based on internationally accepted metrics for measuring trends in biodiversity. Understanding diversity, intensity of use and abundance as well as documenting rare species all provide the most basic, but very important information about the health of our ecosystems, and perhaps more importantly, how they may be changing.

Invasive species are a major threat to biodiversity and tree squirrels (Sciuridae) are among the most successful mammalian invaders. Two species native to the eastern United States, the eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) and fox squirrel (Sciurus niger), have been repeatedly introduced into the western United States. The non-native species have expanded their ranges extensively, negatively impacting the only native Sciuridae species in the western United States, the western grey squirrel (Sciurus griseus). While numerous studies have documented the impacts of these invasions on S. griseus, few have assessed the potential for future expansion, and none have simultaneously evaluated all three species. In this study, we use citizen science data from the iNaturalist database to model the distributions in the western United States for all three Sciurus species. We generated models based on occurrences in the squirrels’ native ranges, compared to models generated from their introduced ranges, and evaluated current and predicted conflict zones. We determined that the greatest potential conflict with native squirrels is in areas adjacent to regions of high human footprint. As human development expands, the invasive squirrels are likely to expand into previously inaccessible areas, increasing conflict with and potentially displacing the native western grey squirrel.

Camera traps have become a ubiquitous survey tool for many wildlife species. While there are many studies evaluating camera trap design parameters such as camera density or duration there has been far less evaluation of the influence of camera settings in study design. In particular there is little guidance on how two camera settings, trigger-delay interval and number of photos per trigger (burst), affect species detectability. As these two settings determine the number of photos a camera generates, they not only influence species detectability but also the time and labor cost associated with processing photos. Non-optimal trigger-delay or burst settings that are too low could result in inability to detect species but conversely, settings that are too high may generate extraneous photos that only serve to increase workloads for photo processing and data management. We analyzed camera trap data from California and Oregon to evaluate the influence of camera settings on detection probability and occupancy for an array of mammalian species ranging from common to rare. Our results provide guidance on how to optimize camera settings to maximize detectability of species while minimizing extraneous photos that can lead to unnecessary additional work in data management.

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.

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.

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.

Nest boxes are often installed in agricultural landscapes to attract barn owls for the pest control services they provide. For this practice to be effective, farmers need actionable guidelines on nest box design and placement to optimize nest box occupancy. Ongoing research has revealed nest box selection patterns in winegrape vineyards of Napa Valley, California. However, it remains unclear whether these patterns are generalizable to other years and regions with different crops. Based on 6 years of occupancy data from Napa Valley (n = 268 boxes), we developed a nest box selection model and evaluated the model’s predictive performance in other regions and years. We hypothesized the model would perform better in regions with similar crops and landcover than in areas more ecologically dissimilar. We found that the top model performed well for predicting future nest box occupancy in Napa, but it performed poorly in ecologically similar Sonoma, and in dissimilar Fresno, Madera, and Merced Counties. These results suggest models predicting barn owl nest box occupancy from a single region may not be generalizable to others. Instead, ecologists should consider the need to develop region-specific models to better understand barn owl habitat ecology and the ecosystem services they provide to farmers.

The range expansion of the barred owl (Strix varia) into western North America over the last century has emerged as a major threat not only to northern spotted owls (S. occidentalis caurina), but to many other species. A better understanding of barred owl natal dispersal, one of the primary driving mechanisms of range expansion, is needed for the implementation of effective management. Our research team attached satellite-GPS tags to juvenile barred owls in the Coastal Redwood Region of northern California in order to characterize their movement, survival, and habitat use as they disperse from natal territories. These tags allow for fully remote tracking of owls and have the potential to provide locations up to 1.5 years past the date of deployment, making our study the first of its kind. We have been following 31 juvenile barred owls tagged in summer 2020 and 2021. Preliminary data have revealed the capacity for juvenile barred owls to move up to 146 km from their natal territory as they disperse, and that dispersing greater than 50 km is common. Survival rates and habitat use, including use of post-wildfire landscapes, during dispersal will also be discussed.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a 100 percent fatal, prion disease of deer that has the potential to decimate the deer population and jump to the human population. The results of a long-term project text mining the internet for information related to deer management were used to conduct a contact tracing for the first 40 years of the disease, 1967 to 2007. The evidence supports a common assertion in the public press that all of the early cases can be traced back to a Fort Collins, Colorado, research facility managed at the time by Colorado State University and the Colorado Division of Wildlife where the disease was first observed. Sheep from a scrapie project reportedly shared pens with captive deer at the facility. Research supports the theory that the disease jumped from sheep with scrapie. For 1967 into 1998, six clusters were identified that could all be traced back to Fort Collins. Limited information from game farms made tracking difficult for 1998 to 2007 with 10 more clusters traced back to areas linked to Fort Collins or with trace backs to Fort Collins explainable. Documentation at: www.deerfriendly.com/deer-disease/chronic-wasting-disease/possible-origins-of-chronic-wasting-disease

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.

In the fall of 2020, three female and two male blunt-nosed leopard lizards, Gambelia sila, were collected from a population at the brink of extirpation in the Panoche Hills of west Fresno County, California. The lizards were transported to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo for the purpose of building an assurance colony via captive breeding. The need for an assurance colony was supported by years of intensive surveys of the population which strongly suggested that the population was in a terminal decline. The project is the result of an extraordinary collaborative effort among multiple governmental agencies and universities. In our talk, we present the data that formed the background for the action, steps taken to advance the project, and what lies ahead for blunt-nosed leopard lizards in the Panoche Hills and across their range.

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.

Short-eared owls (Asio flammeus) have undergone population declines over the last 40 years, though recent analyses of their occupancy trends in western North America suggest declines have stabilized regionally. In Hawai‘i, population trends of the endemic Short-eared owl subspecies (pueo, A. f. sandwichensis) are unknown. Here, we set out to estimate pueo population trends by applying a dynamic occupancy model to eBird data from 2011 to 2020 to estimate probabilities of site colonization and extinction, informing an estimate of pueo occupancy trends across Hawai‘i. Overall, pueo were scarce on the landscape with an average occupancy probability of 0.19 ± 0.01 SE. Site colonization and extinction probabilities were uninformed in the top model. Site colonization probabilities were lower than site extinction probabilities at 0.01 (95% CI: 0.01–0.03) and 0.08 (95% CI: 0.04–0.15) respectively. Overall population trends remained relatively stable with an annual rate of change of 0.98 ± 0.01 SE. Site turnover rate was low at 0.06 ± 0.01 SE, suggesting that pueo are less nomadic than Short-eared owls in western North America. This is the first study to quantify population dynamics of pueo; future studies should identify conservation actions aimed at maximizing site colonization and minimizing site extinction.

A survey in 2017 demonstrated that a large number of newts were being killed by vehicles using Alma Bridge Road, most likely during annual breeding migrations to breed in Lexington Reservoir. In order to help determine the effect of this road-based mortality, we conducted a drift fence/pitfall trap array study to estimate the number of adult Taricha torosa and Taricha granulosa attempting to cross Alma Bridge Road during the 2020/2021 breeding season. Drift fence/pitfall trap arrays were installed and daily surveys were conducted. Daily traffic and precipitation data were also recorded. Concurrently, a citizen scientists group conducted road carcass surveys over the entire study area. We analyzed the data to calculate the number of adult newts attempting to cross Alma Bridge Road at the arrays and the road-based mortality rates. Then, with road mortality data provided by the citizen scientists, we estimated the number of adult California newts attempting to cross the road and the mortality rates over the study area during the survey period. We then modeled whether this road-based mortality rate might, if left unabated, lead to a reduction in, and possibly the eventual extirpation of, the local population of newts breeding in Lexington Reservoir.

The spotted owl is an old-forest nesting species that has shaped forest management for several decades in western North America. However, it remains unclear as to which habitat conditions are most influential on predator-prey interactions between spotted owls and their primary prey, woodrats. In southern California, spotted owl populations have declined substantially since the late 1980s for reasons that remain undetermined. Accordingly, we tagged ten nesting male owls in the San Bernardino Mountains, California with high resolution GPS transmitters while placing video cameras focused on their nests to: (i) characterize forest structure at successful prey capture sites; (ii) understand how habitat conditions influence prey delivery rates; and (iii) determine the extent to which habitat-mediated variation in prey delivery rates affects spotted owl reproduction. We identified 330 prey deliveries to nests including 91 (27.5%) dusky-footed woodrats, 73 (22.1%) white-footed mice, and 28 (8.5%) valley pocket gophers. Of these deliveries, we ascertained locations for 123 prey captures. Here, we present the results of resource selection function analyses relating habitat conditions to successful prey captures and how delivery rates affect spotted owl fecundity, plus discuss the implications of our findings for the management of rapidly changing forests in southern California.

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.

Anthropological effects have impacted both habitat and the ability of organisms to move across landscapes freely. For pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) barriers such as fences and roads inhibit movement. Understanding migratory strategies and integrated step selection (iSSA) of pronghorn on the Modoc Plateau would improve management. We used location data from 97 GPS-collared pronghorn collected over six years to distinguish migratory strategies. We identified individual migratory movements and strategies using a mechanistic range shift analysis. We then used iSSA to determine how landscape characteristics influence these movements. We determined that 54 of 97 (56%) of pronghorn shifted ranges at least once. Range shifts lasted an average of 4.70 days, with individuals traveling an average distance of 24.09 km (range = 3.48–65.75 km). Migration strategy varied, with some individuals remaining as residents and others shifting up to five times/year. Our iSSA indicated that terrain roughness, tree canopy cover, fence density, and distance to roads influenced pronghorn movements. We were able to identify individuals with different migration strategies and identified landscape features that affected these movements. This study demonstrates how migratory behavior can vary within and amongst populations and will inform efforts to maintain landscape connectivity.

Megafires are increasingly common in Sierra Nevada forests, yet their impact on wildlife has been systematically studied for relatively few species. Both biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration will benefit from an expanded understanding of the implications of such disturbances for ecological communities. In fall 2020, the North Complex Fire burned 129,000 ha in the Plumas National Forest, almost all of which lay within a long-term, landscape-scale passive acoustic monitoring program. This enabled us to conduct a Before-After Control-Impact study design to test for changes to avian species richness and composition resulting from the fire. We are combining systematic passive acoustic survey data recorded in May – June 2020 and 2021, the BirdNET algorithm, which can identify >95% of Sierra Nevada birds by sound, and a dynamic occupancy model that accounts for false positives and detection counts. Individually, these components are novel tools in applied ecology; together, we expect them to yield unprecedented insights into community-level population responses to emerging disturbance regimes. These results, which will entail 60-120 species depending on classification accuracy, will be relevant across the Sierra Nevada – particularly because acoustic survey coverage now extends across the entire region.

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.

Tension exists between two paradigms guiding species’ habitat and biodiversity conservation. One suggests that habitat fragmentation negatively affects individual species, while the other suggests that habitat heterogeneity can benefit individual species that rely on multiple habitat types. The California spotted owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis) is an exemplar of the conundrum, where spotted owls benefit from larger patches of mature forests for both nesting and foraging purposes, but also benefit from younger forest and hardwood edges for foraging. Thus, we integrated high resolution GPS tagging, nest video monitoring, and remotely sensed habitat data to test three predictions regarding relative costs and benefits of heterogeneous landscapes. We predicted that owls with more heterogeneous habitat within their home ranges 1) travel farther distances, 2) deliver more prey to nests and 3) have higher reproductive rates. To test these predictions, we GPS-tagged 15 nesting male spotted owls and deployed cameras at their nests, allowing us to measure fine scale movements and prey delivery rates. We documented 358 prey deliveries, primarily of dusky-footed woodrats (41.5%) and Humboldt flying squirrels (40.2%). We examine the relationships between habitat heterogeneity and owl movement distances, prey delivery rates, and reproductive rates – and discuss their implications for Sierra Nevada forest management.

Characterizing habitat conditions that promote successful foraging by predator species is important for their conservation. However, distinguishing sites of specific successful prey captures from general locations of individual animals is not possible using traditional telemetry methods. We integrated high spatial and temporal resolution GPS tagging with video nest monitoring to identify foraging movement patterns, predation events, prey species captured, and habitat characteristics of sites where California spotted owls (Strix occidentalis occidentalis) captured prey. We monitored 15 males and their nests to identify 127 prey capture locations, 91 (72%) of which were identified to a specific prey species using video monitoring. Owls tended to capture woodrats, Neotoma fuscipes, a primary prey species, in areas with more: (i) large-tree forest, (ii) young forest, (iii) medium trees/medium canopy forest, (iv) heterogeneity, and (v) hardwood-conifer edge – while avoiding areas with more medium trees/high canopy forest. Owls primarily captured flying squirrels, Glaucomys oregonensis, a second primary prey species, in areas with more large-tree forest. This information can be used to strengthen conservation planning by incorporating mechanistic knowledge about which habitats promote the acquisition of key prey while also integrating conservation plans with forest restoration activities intended to promote resilient landscapes.