A predictive model to inform adaptive management of double-crested cormorants and fisheries in Michigan
Iyob Tsehaye, Michael L. Jones, Brian J. Irwin, David G. Fielder, James E. Breck, David R. Luukkonen
2015, Natural Resource Modeling (28) 348-376
The proliferation of double-crested cormorants (DCCOs; Phalacrocorax auritus) in North America has raised concerns over their potential negative impacts on game, cultured and forage fishes, island and terrestrial resources, and other colonial water birds, leading to increased public demands to reduce their abundance. By combining fish surplus production and bird functional...
Re-examination of sea lamprey control policies for the St. Marys River: Completion of an adaptive management cycle
Michael L. Jones, Travis O. Brenden, Brian J. Irwin
2015, Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (72) 1538-1551
The St. Marys River (SMR) historically has been a major producer of sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) in the Laurentian Great Lakes. In the early 2000s, a decision analysis (DA) project was conducted to evaluate sea lamprey control policies for the SMR; this project suggested that an integrated policy of trapping,...
Evaluation of daily creel and minimum length limits for Black Crappies and Yellow Perch in Wisconsin
Kyle Mosel, Daniel A. Isermann, Jonathan F. Hansen
2015, North American Journal of Fisheries Management (35) 1-13
Harvest regulations for Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus and Yellow Perch Perca flavescens in the northern USA and Canada have not been thoroughly evaluated, and specific guidance regarding where minimum length limits (MLLs) might improve these fisheries is lacking. We examined whether: (1) transitioning from an aggregate statewide daily creel limit of 25 panfish to...
Precision of hard structures used to estimate age of mountain Whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni)
Carson J. Watkins, Tyler J. Ross, Ryan S. Hardy, Michael C. Quist
2015, Western North American Naturalist (75) 1-7
The mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) is a widely distributed salmonid in western North America that has decreased in abundance over portions of its distribution due to anthropogenic disturbances. In this investigation, we examined precision of age estimates derived from scales, pectoral fin rays, and sagittal otoliths from 167 mountain whitefish....
Effects of climate and plant phenology on recruitment of moose at the southern extent of their range
Kevin L. Monteith, Robert W. Klaver, Kent Hersey, A. Andrew Holland, Timothy P. Thomas, Matthew Kauffman
2015, Oecologia (178) 1137-1148
Climate plays a fundamental role in limiting the range of a species, is a key factor in the dynamics of large herbivores, and is thought to be involved in declines of moose populations in recent decades. We examined effects of climate and growing-season phenology on recruitment (8–9 months old) of...
Dispersal and survival of a polygynandrous passerine
Heather R. Craig, Steve J. Kendall, Teri C. Wild, Abby N. Powell
2015, The Auk (132) 916-925
Although sex biases in survival and dispersal are thought to be linked to avian mating systems, little is known about these demographic patterns in less common mating strategies such as polygynandry. We investigated breeding-site fidelity, natal philopatry, and apparent survival of the polygynandrous Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus) over a 7-yr...
Breeding habitat associations and predicted distribution of an obligate tundra-breeding bird, Smith's Longspur
Teri C. Wild, Steven J. Kendall, Nikki Guldager, Abby N. Powell
2015, The Condor (117) 3-17
Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus) is a species of conservation concern which breeds in Arctic habitats that are expected to be especially vulnerable to climate change. We used bird presence and habitat data from point-transect surveys conducted at 12 sites across the Brooks Range, Alaska, 2003–2009, to identify breeding areas, describe...
Life-history tradeoffs and reproductive cycles in Spotted Owls
Ricka E. Stoelting, R. J. Gutierrez, William L. Kendall, M. Zachariah Peery
2015, The Auk (132) 46-64
The study of tradeoffs among life-history traits has long been key to understanding the evolution of life-history strategies. However, more recently, evolutionary ecologists have realized that reproductive costs have the potential to influence population dynamics. Here, we tested for costs of reproduction in the California Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis), and...
Raccoon (Procyon lotor) diurnal den use within an intensively managed forest in central West Virginia
Sheldon F. Owen, Jacob L. Berl, John W. Edwards, W. Mark Ford, Petra Bohall Wood
2015, Northeastern Naturalist (22) 41-52
Intensive forest management may influence the availability of suitable den sites for large den-seeking species, such as Procyon lotor (Raccoon). As part of a Raccoon ecology study on an industrial forest in the Allegheny Mountains of central West Virginia, we radio-tracked 32 Raccoons to 175 diurnal den sites to determine relative use...
Evidence for skipped spawning in a potamodromous cyprinid, humpback chub (Gila cypha), with implications for demographic parameter estimates
Kristen Nicole Pearson, William L. Kendall, Dana L. Winkelman, William R. Persons
2015, Fisheries Research (170) 50-59
Our findings reveal evidence for skipped spawning in a potamodromous cyprinid, humpback chub (HBC; Gila cypha ). Using closed robust design mark-recapture models, we found, on average, spawning HBC transition to the skipped spawning state (<img class="imgLazyJSB inlineImage" title="View the MathML source" src="http://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0165783615001563-si1.gif"...
Influence of ecological factors on prevalence of meningeal worm (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis infection in South Dakota, USA
Christopher N. Jacques, Jonathan A. Jenks, Troy W. Grovenburg, Robert W. Klaver, Shelli A. Dubay
2015, Journal of Wildlife Diseases (51) 332-340
The meningeal worm (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis) is a nematode parasite that commonly infects white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus; WTD) throughout the deciduous forest biome and deciduous-coniferous ecotone of eastern and central North America; the species is not known to occur west of the grassland biome of central North America. We used county-specific...
The effects of harvest regulations on behaviors of duck hunters
Matthew T. Haugen, Larkin A. Powell, Mark P. Vrtiska, Kevin L. Pope
2015, Human Dimensions of Wildlife: An International Journal (20) 15-29
Uncertainty exists as to how duck harvest regulations influence waterfowl hunter behavior. We used the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Parts Collection Survey to examine how harvest regulations affected behaviors of Central Flyway duck hunters. We stratified hunters into ranked groups based on seasonal harvest and identified three periods (1975–1984,...
Raccoon spatial requirements and multi-scale habitat selection within an intensively managed central Appalachian forest
Sheldon F. Owen, Jacob L. Berl, John W. Edwards, W. Mark Ford, Petra Bohall Wood
2015, American Midland Naturalist (174) 87-95
We studied a raccoon (Procyon lotor) population within a managed central Appalachian hardwood forest in West Virginia to investigate the effects of intensive forest management on raccoon spatial requirements and habitat selection. Raccoon home-range (95% utilization distribution) and core-area (50% utilization distribution) size differed between sexes with males maintaining larger...
Guidelines for evaluating performance of oyster habitat restoration
Lesley P. Baggett, Sean P. Powers, Robert D. Brumbaugh, Loren D. Coen, Bryan M. DeAngelis, Jennifer K. Greene, Boze T. Hancock, Summer M. Morlock, Brian L. Allen, Denise L. Breitburg, David Bushek, Jonathan H. Grabowski, Raymond E. Grizzle, Edwin D. Grosholz, Megan K. LaPeyre, Mark W. Luckenbach, Kay A. McGraw, Michael F. Piehler, Stephanie R. Westby, Philine S. E. zu Ermgassen
2015, Restoration Ecology (23) 737-745
Restoration of degraded ecosystems is an important societal goal, yet inadequate monitoring and the absence of clear performance metrics are common criticisms of many habitat restoration projects. Funding limitations can prevent adequate monitoring, but we suggest that the lack of accepted metrics to address the diversity of restoration objectives also...
Evaluation of methods for assessing physiological biomarkers of stress in freshwater mussels
Andrea K. Fritts, James Peterson, Peter D. Hazelton, Robert B. Bringolf
2015, Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (72) 1450-1459
Freshwater mussel populations are highly susceptible to environmental alterations because of their diminished numbers and primarily sessile behaviors; nonlethal biomonitoring programs are needed to evaluate the health of populations prior to mass mortality events. Our objectives were to determine (i) which biochemical parameters in freshwater mussel hemolymph could be consistently...
Non-lethal assessment of freshwater mussel physiological response to changes in environmental factors
Andrea K. Fritts, James Peterson, Jason M. Wisniewski, Robert B. Bringolf
2015, Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (72) 1460-1468
The development of effective nonlethal biomonitoring techniques is imperative for the preservation of imperiled freshwater mussel populations. Changes in hemolymph chemistry profiles and tissue glycogen are potential biomarkers for nonlethally monitoring stress in mussels. We sampled three species in the Flint River Basin over 2 years to evaluate how these...
Monitoring digestibility of forages for herbivores: a new application for an old approach
Lindsey L. Vansomeren, Perry S. Barboza, Daniel P. Thompson, David D. Gustine
2015, Canadian Journal of Zoology (93) 187-195
Ruminant populations are often limited by how well individuals are able to acquire nutrients for growth, maintenance, and reproduction. Nutrient supply to the animal is dictated by the concentration of nutrients in feeds and the efficiency of digesting those nutrients (i.e., digestibility). Many different methods have been used to measure...
Predicting effects of environmental change on a migratory herbivore
R. A. Stillman, K. A. Wood, Whelan Gilkerson, E. Elkinton, J. M. Black, David H. Ward, M. Petrie
2015, Ecosphere (6) 1-19
Changes in climate, food abundance and disturbance from humans threaten the ability of species to successfully use stopover sites and migrate between non‐breeding and breeding areas. To devise successful conservation strategies for migratory species we need to be able to predict how such changes will affect both individuals and populations....
An evaluation of the relations between flow regime components, stream characteristics, species traits and meta-demographic rates of warmwater stream fishes: Implications for aquatic resource management
James Peterson, C.P. Shea
2015, River Research and Applications (31) 1227-1241
Fishery biologists are increasingly recognizing the importance of considering the dynamic nature of streams when developing streamflow policies. Such approaches require information on how flow regimes influence the physical environment and how those factors, in turn, affect species-specific demographic rates. A more cost-effective alternative could be the use of dynamic...
Flight feather molt in Yellow-headed Blackbirds (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) in North Dakota
Daniel J. Twedt, George M. Linz
2015, Wilson Journal of Ornithology (127) 622-629
Yellow-headed Blackbirds (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) in central North Dakota undergo prebasic molt or prejuvenile molt during late summer. Nestling Yellow-headed Blackbirds initiate a complete prejuvenile molt, grow their primary and secondary regimes in about 40 days, completing molt after they leave the nest by the first week in August. Remiges are...
The effects of flow and stream characteristics on the variation in freshwater mussel growth in a Southeast US river basin
Justin C. Dycus, Jason M. Wisniewski, James Peterson
2015, Freshwater Biology (60) 395-409
Summary The evaluation of the age and growth of animal populations is essential for understanding and predicting how populations will respond to changes in environmental conditions and anthropogenic stressors. We used a novel, von Bertalanffy hierarchical modelling approach to quantify relationships between the growth of three freshwater mussel...
Modeling multi-scale resource selection for bear rubs in northwestern Montana
Matthew J. Morgan, Mark Hebblewhite, Michael S. Mitchell, Jeffrey B. Stetz, Katherine C. Kendall, Ross T. Carlson
2015, Ursus (26) 28-39
Both black (Ursus americanus) and grizzly bears (U. arctos) are known to rub on trees and other objects, producing a network of repeatedly used and identifiable rub sites. In 2012, we used a resource selection function to evaluate hypothesized relationships between locations of 887 bear rubs in northwestern Montana, USA,...
Observations on the migration of bacillus spores outside a contaminated facility during a decontamination efficacy study
Erin E. Silvestri, Sarah Perkins, Robert Lordo, William Kovacik, Tonya L. Nichols, Charlena Yoder Bowling, Dale W. Griffin, Frank W. Schaefer III
2015, Journal of Bioterrorism & Biodefense (6) 1-7
The potential for an intentional wide-area or indoor release of Bacillus anthracis spores remains a concern, but the fate and transport of B. anthracis spores in indoor and outdoor environments are not well understood. Some studies have examined the possibility of spore transport within ventilation systems and in buildings and...
Distributional changes in the western Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea) in North America from 1967 to 2008
Alberto Macias-Duarte, Courtney J. Conway
2015, Journal of Raptor Research (49) 75-83
The quantification of shifts in bird distributions in response to climate change provides an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the processes that influence species persistence. We used data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) to document changes in the distributional limits of the western Burrowing Owl...
Introduction to watershed ecosystem services: Chapter 1
Jefferson S. Hall, Robert F. Stallard, Vanessa Kirn
2015, Book chapter, Managing watersheds for ecosystem services in the steepland neotropics
Humans derive a great number of goods and services from terrestrial ecosystems (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2003, 2005). Some, like timber, fruits, bush meat, and other forest based food stuffs, are evident but others are not so obvious. Increasingly policy makers have realized the importance of forests and other ecosystems in...
