Reliability of fish size estimates obtained from multibeam imaging sonar
Joseph E. Hightower, Kevin J. Magowan, Lori M. Brown, Dewayne A. Fox
2013, Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management (4) 86-96
Multibeam imaging sonars have considerable potential for use in fisheries surveys because the video-like images are easy to interpret, and they contain information about fish size, shape, and swimming behavior, as well as characteristics of occupied habitats. We examined images obtained using a dual-frequency identification sonar (DIDSON) multibeam sonar for...
The effects of pulse pressure from seismic water gun technology on Northern Pike
Jackson A. Gross, Kathryn M. Irvine, Siri K. Wilmoth, Tristany L. Wagner, Patrick A Shields, Jeffrey R. Fox
2013, Transactions of the American Fisheries Society (142) 1335-1346
We examined the efficacy of sound pressure pulses generated from a water gun for controlling invasive Northern Pike Esox lucius. Pulse pressures from two sizes of water guns were evaluated for their effects on individual fish placed at a predetermined random distance. Fish mortality from a 5,620.8-cm3 water gun (peak pressure source...
Preliminary report on the Late Pleistocene and Holocene diatoms of Swamp Lake, Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Scott W. Starratt, R. Scott Anderson
2013, Phytotaxa (127) 128-149
Swamp Lake, Yosemite National Park, is the only known lake in California containing long sequences of varved sediments and thus has the potential to provide a high-resolution record of climate variability. This preliminary analysis of the diatom assemblages from a 947-cm-long composite sediment core (freeze core FZ02–05; 0–67 cm, Livingstone...
Vegetation of natural and artificial shorelines in Upper Klamath Basin’s fringe wetlands
Andrew M. Ray, Kathryn M. Irvine, Andy S. Hamilton
2013, Wetland Science & Practice (30) 10-21
The Upper Klamath Basin (UKB) in northern California and southern Oregon supports large hypereutrophic lakes surrounded by natural and artificial shorelines. Lake shorelines contain fringe wetlands that provide key ecological services to the people of this region. These wetlands also provide a context for drawing inferences about how differing wetland...
Management guidelines for enhancing Cerulean Warbler breeding habitat in Appalachian hardwood forests
Petra Wood, James Sheehan, Patrick D. Keyser, David A. Buehler, Jeff Larkin, Amanda D. Rodewald, Scott H. Stoleson, T. Bently Wigley, Jeremy Mizel, Than J. Boves, Greg George, Marja H. Bakermans, Tiffany A. Beachy, Andrea Evans, Molly E. McDermott, Felicity L. Newell, Kelly A. Perkins, Matt White
2013, Report
The Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea) is a migratory songbird that breeds in mature deciduous forests of eastern North America. Cerulean Warblers (hereafter, ceruleans) require heavily forested landscapes for nesting and, within Appalachian forests, primarily occur on ridge tops and steep, upper slopes. They are generally associated with oakdominated (Quercus spp.)...
On the identification of a Pliocene time slice for data–model comparison
Alan M. Haywood, Aisling M. Dolan, Steven J. Pickering, Harry J. Dowsett, Erin L. McClymont, Caroline L. Prescott, Ulrich Salzmann, Daniel J. Hill, Stephen J. Hunter, Daniel J. Lunt, James O. Pope, Paul J. Valdes
2013, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences (371) 1-21
The characteristics of the mid-Pliocene warm period (mPWP: 3.264–3.025 Ma BP) have been examined using geological proxies and climate models. While there is agreement between models and data, details of regional climate differ. Uncertainties in prescribed forcings and in proxy data limit the utility of the interval to understand the dynamics of...
Estimating abundance of adult striped bass in reservoirs using mobile hydroacoustics
Joseph E. Hightower, J. Christopher Taylor, Donald J. Degan
2013, American Fisheries Society Symposium (80) 279-289
Hydroacoustic surveys have proven valuable for estimating reservoir forage fish abundance but are more challenging for adult predators such as striped bass Morone saxatilis. Difficulties in assessing striped bass in reservoirs include their low density and the inability to distinguish species with hydroacoustic data alone. Despite these difficulties, mobile hydroacoustic...
Non-overlapping distributions of feral sheep (Ovis aries) and Stout Iguanas (Cyclura pinguis) on Guana Island, British Virgin Islands
Ben R. Skipper, Blake A. Grisham, Maria Kalyvaki, Kathleen McGaughey, Krista Mougey, Laura Navarrete, Renee Rondeau, Clint W. Boal, Gad Perry
2013, IRCF Reptiles & Amphibians (20) 7-15
Stout Iguanas (Cyclura pinguis) remain one of the most critically endangered reptiles in the world. Factors contributing to that status include habitat loss, predation by introduced species, and competition with introduced herbivores. On Guana Island, British Virgin Islands, the presence of feral sheep (Ovis aries) has been a hypothesized detriment...
Vertical structure use by the Stout Iguana (Cyclura pinguis) on Guana Island, BVI
Christopher A. Cheek, Shay Hlavaty, Rebecca N. Perkins, Mark A. Peyton, Caitlin N. Ryan, Jennifer C. Zavaleta, Clint W. Boal, Gad Perry
2013, IRCF Reptiles & Amphibians (20) 112-118
The Stout Iguana (Cyclura pinguis) is a critically endangered species endemic to the Puerto Rico Bank and currently restricted to the British Virgin Islands (BVI). Our study on Guana Island, BVI, focused on vertical structure use. Based on previous incidental observations, we hypothesized that Stout Iguanas use vertical structures and...
Channel unit use by Smallmouth Bass: Do land-use constraints or quantity of habitat matter?
Shannon K. Brewer
2013, North American Journal of Fisheries Management (33) 351-358
I examined how land use influenced the distribution of Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu in channel units (discrete morphological features—e.g., pools) of streams in the Midwestern USA. Stream segments (n = 36), from four clusters of different soil and runoff conditions, were identified that had the highest percent of forest (n = 12), pasture (n =...
Diurnal activity patterns of Black-Necked Stilts (Himantopus mexicanus) during the non-breeding season in the eastern Caribbean
Laura Navarrete, Blake A. Grisham, Maria Kalyvaki, E. Kathleen McGaughey, Krista Mougey, Ben R. Skipper, Gad Perry, Clint W. Boal
2013, Journal of Caribbean Ornithology (26) 17-21
Diurnal activity patterns of resident Black-necked Stilts (Himantopus mexicanus) were observed on Guana Island, British Virgin Islands, during October 2010. Stilts were principally engaged in foraging and idle behaviors. The amount of time engaged in particular behaviors was relatively constant throughout the day, except during mid-afternoon when idleness increased and...
Tagging methods for estimating population size and mortality rates of inland striped bass populations
Joseph E. Hightower, Kenneth H. Pollock
2013, American Fisheries Society Symposium (80) 249-262
Striped bass Morone saxatilis in inland reservoirs play an important role ecologically and in supporting recreational fishing. To manage these populations, biologists need information about abundance and mortality. Abundance estimates can be used to assess the effectiveness of stocking programs that maintain most reservoir striped bass populations. Mortality estimates can...
Computationally efficient statistical differential equation modeling using homogenization
Mevin Hooten, Martha J. Garlick, James A. Powell
2013, Journal of Agricultural, Biological, and Environmental Statistics (18) 405-428
Statistical models using partial differential equations (PDEs) to describe dynamically evolving natural systems are appearing in the scientific literature with some regularity in recent years. Often such studies seek to characterize the dynamics of temporal or spatio-temporal phenomena such as invasive species, consumer-resource interactions, community evolution, and resource selection. Specifically,...
Comparison of DNA preservation methods for environmental bacterial community samples
Michael A. Gray, Zoe A. Pratte, Christina A. Kellogg
2013, FEMS Microbiology Ecology (83) 468-477
Field collections of environmental samples, for example corals, for molecular microbial analyses present distinct challenges. The lack of laboratory facilities in remote locations is common, and preservation of microbial community DNA for later study is critical. A particular challenge is keeping samples frozen in transit. Five nucleic acid preservation methods...
A comparison of data-driven groundwater vulnerability assessment methods
Alessandro Sorichetta, Cristiano Ballabio, Marco Masetti, Gilpin R. Robinson Jr., Simone Sterlacchini
2013, Groundwater (51) 866-879
Increasing availability of geo-environmental data has promoted the use of statistical methods to assess groundwater vulnerability. Nitrate is a widespread anthropogenic contaminant in groundwater and its occurrence can be used to identify aquifer settings vulnerable to contamination. In this study, multivariate Weights of Evidence (WofE) and Logistic Regression (LR) methods,...
Effects of acidic deposition and soil acidification on sugar maple trees in the Adirondack Mountains, New York
Timothy J. Sullivan, Gregory B. Lawrence, Scott W. Bailey, Todd C. McDonnell, G.T. McPherson
2013, Report
This study documents the effects of acidic deposition and soil acid-base chemistry on the growth, regeneration, and canopy condition of sugar maple (SM) trees in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. Sugar maple is the dominant canopy species throughout much of the northern hardwood forest in the State. A field...
Distribution, habitat, and species description of the Diamond Darter, Crystallaria cincotta
Stuart A. Welsh
2013, Report, The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Distribution, habitat, and species description of the Diamond Darter, Crystallaria cincotta. ...
Food availability and foraging near human developments by black bears
Jerod Merkle, Hugh S. Robinson, Paul R. Krausman, Paul B. Alaback
2013, Journal of Mammalogy (94) 378-385
Understanding the relationship between foraging ecology and the presence of human-dominated landscapes is important, particularly for American black bears (Ursus americanus), which sometimes move between wildlands and urban areas to forage. The food-related factors influencing this movement have not been explored, but can be important for understanding the benefits and...
Capture-recapture methodology
William R. Gould, William L. Kendall
2013, Book chapter, Encyclopedia of Environmetrics
Capture-recapture methods were initially developed to estimate human population abundance, but since that time have seen widespread use for fish and wildlife populations to estimate and model various parameters of population, metapopulation, and disease dynamics. Repeated sampling of marked animals provides information for estimating abundance and tracking the fate of...
Remote sensing applications for assessing the effects of air quality on human health: An emphasis on volcanic ash and desert dust
Dale W. Griffin, Jesse C. McEntee, Denise Catronovo, Myles Lyles, Elena N. Naumova
Stanley A. Morain, A.M Budge, editor(s)
2013, Book chapter, Environmental tracking for public health surveillance
No abstract available....
Adaptive strategies and life history characteristics in a warming climate: salmon in the Arctic?
Jennifer L. Nielsen, Gregory T. Ruggerone, Christian E. Zimmerman
2013, Environmental Biology of Fishes (96) 1187-1226
In the warming Arctic, aquatic habitats are in flux and salmon are exploring their options. Adult Pacific salmon, including sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka), coho (O. kisutch), Chinook (O. tshawytscha), pink (O. gorbuscha) and chum (O. keta) have been captured throughout the Arctic. Pink and chum salmon are the most common species...
Modern salt-marsh and tidal-flat foraminifera from Sitkinak and Simeonof Islands, southwestern Alaska
Andrew C. Kemp, Simon E. Engelhart, Stephen J. Culver, Alan R. Nelson, Richard W. Briggs, Peter J. Haeussler
2013, Journal of Foraminiferal Research (43) 88-98
We describe the modern distribution of salt-marsh and tidal-flat foraminifera from Sitkinak Island (Trinity Islands) and Simeonof Island (Shumagin Islands), Alaska, to begin development of a dataset for later use in reconstructing relative sea-level changes caused by great earthquakes along the Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone. Dead foraminifera...
Abundance: Population size and density estimation
Mark S. Udevitz, William R. Gould
Abdel H. El-Shaarawi, Walter W. Piegorsch, editor(s)
2013, Book chapter, Encyclopedia of environmetrics
Estimates of population size (total number of individuals) or density (number of individuals per unit area) are some of the most basic requirements for wildlife research and management. This article provides a brief overview of approaches for wildlife population estimation. These include habitat‐based approaches such as quadrat, line intercept, distance,...
Fish population failure caused by an environmental estrogen is long-lasting and regulated by direct and parental effects on survival and fecundity
Adam R. Schwindt, Dana L. Winkelman
2013, Thesis, The population ecology of fathead minnows (<i>Pimephales promelas</i>) in estrogen contaminated environments
Despite significant research demonstrating effects of estrogens such as 17α - ethinylestradiol (EE2) on fish, the underlying mechanisms regulating population failure are unknown. Projected water shortages could leave waterways increasingly dominated by wastewater effluent and understanding mechanisms is necessary for conservation and management. Here we identify mechanisms of...
Priority data on marine and estuarine resources within northeastern National Parks: Inventory and acquisition needs
Tracy E. Hart, Hilary A. Neckles, Blaine S. Kopp
2013, Natural Resource Report NPS/NCBN/NRR—2013/612
The purpose of this project was to guide development of a strategy for the inventory and mapping of submerged natural resources associated within 10 coastal parks of the National Park Service (NPS) Northeast Region (NER; see Table 1). Priority data needs were identified by the NER Ocean Stewardship Task Force....