Progress 11/01/10 to 10/31/15
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences for this research program in predictive analytics modeling for management of ecosystems of threatened and endangered species are key non-profit conservation organizations (e.g., The Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, National Audubon Society, American Bird Conservancy), state governments (e.g., Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game; Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife; WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife), and resource management agencies in the Department of the Interior (Bureau of Land Management - BLM; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - FWS) and the US Department of Agriculture (U.S. Forest Service; Natural Resources Conservation Service). In addition, this program collaborates with local water and soil conservation districts (e.g., Palouse Conservation District; Whitman Conservation District). We alsoconduct science outreach programs and science education efforts for minority and under represented groups for Hispanic/Latino and Native Americans in Washington State Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project contributed to the training and professional development of two doctoral and fourmasters students at Washington State University. In addition, well over 50 undergraduate students were able to participate in education events or directly in research studies conducted under this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results from this project were communicated to diverse public and professional audiences in a variety of ways, including scientific conference presentations, scientific journal publications, and a variety of popular articles appearing in news and information stories (e.g., National Wildlife Magazine) and two science web sites at Washington State University. Some of our research work was highlighted in magazines targeting Hispanic/Latino, Native American, and other diversity audiences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Major accomplishments of this project include: 1) statistical analysis,population modeling, and fieldwork to determine survival rates and captive breeding methodologies for the federally endangered Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis), resulting in the design and implementation of the formal U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Recovery Plan as well as the Washington State recovery plan, 2) survival modeling for the state-endangered Columbia Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus colubmianus) on the Colville Indian Reservation, resulting in conservation and population management programs, 3) habitat use and modeling studies forthe Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) and for western bat species roosting in artificial structures on the Hanford Site in Washington, resulting in improved conservation planning,and 4) the first successful breeding in captivity and in a translocated populationof the state endangered Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens) in the western U.S.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2011
Citation:
Becker, P. A., D. Hays, and R. Sayler. 2011. Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) reintroduction and genetic management plan. Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, pp. 27. Olympia, WA.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Gomez, E., & Sayler, R.D. 2014. Climate change and amphibian communities in Palouse Prairie of Southeastern Washington. SACNAS National Conference, 9: 356. [abstract]
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Gomez, E., & Sayler, R.D. 2012. Predicting occurrence of amphibians in Palouse Prairie Wetlands. Northwest Naturalist 93(2): 171. [abstract]
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Gomez, E., & Sayler, R.D. 2012. Ecological Memory in Farmed Landscapes: Predicting Distributions of Amphibian Communities in Palouse Prairie Wetlands. SACNAS National Conference, 9: 356. [abstract]
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Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences for this research program in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem and land management are major non-profit conservation organizations (e.g., The Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, National Audubon Society, American Bird Conservancy), state governments (e.g., Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game; Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife; WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife), and resource management agencies in the Department of the Interior (Bureau of Land Management - BLM; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - FWS) and the US Department of Agriculture (U.S. Forest Service; Natural Resources Conservation Service). In addition, this program collaborates with local water and soil conservation districts (e.g., Palouse Conservation District; Whitman Conservation District). This year, we offered several science outreach programs and science education efforts for minority and under represented groups for Hispanic/Latino and Native Americans in Washington State. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project supported the training of two doctoral students in the agricultural and natural resource sciences. In addition, over 50 K-12 and over 100 undergraduate students at Washington State University participated in science education events, workshops, and research on amphibian and pollinator populations in Palouse Prairie. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results from this project were communicated to diverse public and professional audiences in a variety of ways. Three technical talks were presented at scientific conferences and a public science forum, a journal paper was published on the design and ecology of sustainable agricultural landscapes in Palouse Prairie, while other results from completed projects are currently in journal review or are being submitted for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals in 2016. In addition, several popular articles appearing in news and information stories and two web sites at Washington State University. Our work continues to be highlighted in communication outlets targeting Hispanic/Latino, Native American, and other diversity audiences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?This current project is concluding, but a new research program is beginning in 2015-16 that will build upon the foundation of research that has been conducted in this project and expand it into several new areas of ecological modeling and predictive analytics in the conservation sciences.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
My project, Predictive Analytics and Ecological Modeling for Rare and Endangered Species, was largely completed in 2015 through research focusing on population ecology and strategies for land management and ecological restoration to achieve conservation of native biodiversity on agricultural landscapes in the Pacific Northwest. We conducted a variety of research on two major groups of organisms often used as environmental indicators in aquatic and terrestrial environments (i.e., amphibians and pollinators). We performed fieldwork to describe and model ecological processes occurring in selected landscapes, including natural and constructed wetlands, native prairie, and mixed agricultural landscapes in the Palouse Prairie region of eastern Washington. Research conducted in my lab at Washington State University focused on several specific projects, including: 1) Ecological Habitat Models Predicting Characteristics of Amphibian Populations in Palouse Prairie Wetlands, 2) Climate Change and Metrics of Salamander Growth and Biomass in Palouse Prairie Wetlands, 3) Using Regression Trees to Model Survival of Columbia Sharp-tailed Grouse on Tribal Landscapes in Washington, 4) Reintroduction Biology of Endangered Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbits, and 5) Pollinator Habitat Gaps and Ecology of Late Season Floral Resources for Pollinators on Palouse Prairie. In this project we use ecological analytics to develop predictive models and tools to help guide land management decisions in the fields of ecological restoration, resource sustainability, and biodiversity conservation. Our work in 2015 continued a major focus on global climate change biology and the changing environmental factors faced by selected groups of wildlife such as frogs, salamanders, and native pollinator species. This work addresses important conservation challenges faced by declining and imperiled amphibians and pollinators with the goal of better understanding the decline of honey bees and wild pollinators in and near agricultural landscapes. The overarching purpose of our research is to document land management needs and strategies for conserving biological diversity in the mix of agricultural, urban, and restored natural landscapes. Many of our research projects involve the ecology of threatened and endangered species and other groups of conservation concern (e.g., native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators) in the Palouse Prairie bioregion and the Columbia Basin of Oregon and Washington. These projects combine field and laboratory studies of behavior, population dynamics, and habitat utilization to model and describe the landscape ecology and long-term conservation of targeted plants and animals. Land management agencies, as well as private landowners, support and use results from these studies to improve land management and the conservation of rare and endangered species and other natural resources in the Pacific Northwest. In 2015, we made significant contributions to understanding the complex interactions of global climate change, pressures for increased agricultural production, and challenges to conserving biological diversity in a rapidly changing world.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Klein, L.R., W.G. Hendrix, J.B. Kaytes, V.I. Lohr, R.D. Sayler, M. Swanson, W. Elliot, and J.P. Reganold. 2015. Linking ecology and aesthetics in sustainable agricultural landscapes: Lessons from the Palouse region of Washington, U.S.A. Landscape & Urban Planning 134:195-209.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Gomez, E. and R. Sayler. 2015. Global warming, salamanders, and the metrics of growth and biomass in Palouse Prairie wetlands. Joint Meeting: Society for Northwest Vertebrate Biology and NW Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. Portland, OR. 24-27 Feb.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Gomez, E. and R. Sayler. 2015. Global warming, salamanders, and the metrics of growth and biomass in Palouse Prairie wetlands. Academic Showcase, Washington State University, Pullman. 24 March.
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audiences for this research program in predictive analytics modeling for the management of ecosystems of threatened and endangered species are several major non-profit conservation organizations (e.g., The Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, National Audubon Society, American Bird Conservancy), state governments (e.g., Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game; Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife; WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife), and resource management agencies in the Department of the Interior (Bureau of Land Management – BLM; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - FWS) and the US Department of Agriculture (U.S. Forest Service; Natural Resources Conservation Service). In addition, this program collaborates with local water and soil conservation districts (e.g., Palouse Conservation District; Whitman Conservation District). We continued our efforts this year to conduct science outreach programs and science education efforts for minority and under-represented groups for Hispanic/Latino and Native Americans in Washington State. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? This project contributed to the training and professional development of two doctoral and one master’s students at Washington State University. In addition, over 50 undergraduate students were able to participate in education events or directly in research studies conducted under this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Results from this project were distributed through: a) journal publications, b) conference presentations, c) completion of M.S. theses, and d) talks given to students and the public regarding our research results. In addition, a variety of agencies, such as the WA Department of Fish and Wildlife, frequently contact us for communication about the results of our research efforts. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? During the next reporting period, we will continue to expand our work on declining pollinators and the pollinator crisis by conducting additional research in Palouse Prairie and the shrub-steppe region of south-central Washington. One new project of note is the establishment of a landscape restoration ecology program devoted to the Monarch butterfly, which will be conducted by restoring larval habitat through landscape plantings of native milkweed species. We will also continue our work on climate change biology of salamanders and other amphibians in wetland ecosystems in Palouse Prairie and the Columbia Basin.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
My project, Predictive Analytics and Ecological Modeling for Rare and Endangered Species, continued in 2014 with additional research to evaluate the “land-sparing vs. land-sharing hypothesis.” This hypothesis proposes that higher agricultural production and environmental benefits (e.g., conservation of species, etc.) are better achieved through more intensive use of existing agricultural landscapes rather than by expanding agriculture into new areas or by sharing mixed agricultural landscapes also managed for conservation and other ecological benefits. Some economic analyses suggest that less overall environmental damage is projected to occur under the “land-sparing” approach to land development. We worked to evaluate the agricultural intensity and land-sparing hypothesis by conducting studies on two major groups of organisms often used as environmental indicators (i.e., amphibians and pollinators). We conducted fieldwork to document ecological processes occurring in selected wetlands, native prairie, and mixed agricultural landscapes in the Palouse Prairie region of eastern Washington to evaluate the agricultural intensity hypothesis. Research conducted in the WSU Endangered Species Lab at Washington State University was successful in completing data collection or advancing work on the following primary research projects: 1) Ecological Models Predicting Amphibian Populations in Palouse Prairie Wetlands, 2) Salamanders and the Metrics of Climate Change Biology in Palouse Prairie Wetlands, 3) Algorithmic Modeling of Survival of Columbia Sharp-tailed Grouse on Tribal Landscapes in Washington, 4) Reintroduction Biology of Endangered Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbits, and 5) Pollinator Habitat Gaps and Ecology of Late Season Floral Resources for Pollinators on Palouse Prairie. In addition, the Endangered Species Lab continued to collaborate on a new study of public attitudes towards the aesthetic design and ecological qualities of sustainable agricultural landscapes in Palouse Prairie, and some initial results from this project have been accepted for journal publication. This project uses predictive analytics and algorithmic modeling to develop predictive tools to help guide land management decisions in the fields of ecological restoration and biodiversity conservation. Our work in 2014 continued a major research thrust on global climate change biology and the changing ecological forces faced by selected groups of wildlife such as frogs, salamanders, and wild pollinator species. This work continues to help address pressing conservation challenges faced by declining and imperiled amphibians and pollinators and may contribute to better understanding the decline of honey bees and wild pollinators in and near agricultural landscapes. We also completed a thesis project in avian ecology that modeled how landscape-level features influence survival and population dynamics of the state-endangered Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse. The ultimate goal of our research is to document land management needs and strategies for conserving biological diversity on agricultural, urban, and restored natural landscapes. Many of our research projects involve the ecology of threatened and endangered species and other groups of conservation concern (e.g., native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators) in the Palouse Prairie bioregion and the Columbia Basin of Oregon and Washington. These projects all combine field studies of behavior, population dynamics, and habitat utilization in the context of conservation biology and landscape ecology. Land management agencies, as well as private landowners, continue to request and use results from these studies to improve the conservation of rare and endangered species and other wildlife species of conservation concern in the Pacific Northwest. As a result of our work in 2014, we are making significant contributions to understanding the complex interactions of global climate change, pressures for increased agricultural production, and challenges to conserving biological diversity in a rapidly changing world.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Gomez, E. and R.D. Sayler. 2014. Climate change and amphibian communities in Palouse Prairie wetlands. Academic Showcase. Washington State University, Pullman, WA. 28 March.
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Whitney, R. 2014. Survival and population dynamics of Columbian sharp-tailed grouse on tribal lands in eastern Washington. M.S. thesis, Washington State University.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Linking ecology and aesthetics in sustainable agricultural landscapes: Lessons from the Palouse region of Washington, U.S.A. 2015. Klein, L.R., W.G. Hendrix, J.B. Katy's, V.I. Bohr, R.D. Sayler, M. Swanson, Elliot, W.J. and J.P. Reganold. Landscape and Urban Planning 134:195-209.
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Progress 01/01/13 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audiences for this research program in predictive analytics modeling for management of ecosystems endangered species are key non-profit conservation organizations (e.g., The Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, National Audubon Society, American Bird Conservancy), state governments (e.g., Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game; Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife; WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife), Tribal governments (i.e., Colville Confederated Tribes), and resource management agencies in the Department of the Interior (Bureau of Land Management – BLM; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - FWS) and the US Department of Agriculture (U.S. Forest Service; Natural Resources Conservation Service). In addition, this program collaborates with local water and soil conservation districts (e.g., Palouse Conservation District; Whitman Conservation District). A special effort was expended this year to conduct science outreach programs and science education efforts for minority and underrepresented groups for Hispanic/Latino and Native Americans in Washington State. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? This project contributed to the training and professional development of four doctoral and four master’s students at Washington State University. In addition, over 50 undergraduate students were able to participate in education events or directly in research studies conducted under this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Results from this project were communicated to diverse public and professional audiences in a variety of ways, including four scientific conference presentations, two scientific journal publications accepted or in review, and a variety of popular articles appearing in news and information stories (e.g., National Wildlife Magazine) and two science web sites at Washington State University. Some of our work was highlighted in magazines targeting Hispanic/Latino, Native American, and other diversity audiences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? During the next reporting period, we will expand our work on declining pollinators and the pollinator crisis by conducting additional research in Palouse Prairie and the shrub-steppe region of south-central Washington. We will also continue our work on climate change biology of amphibians in wetland ecosystems in Palouse Prairie and the Columbia Basin. A number of our individual projects have either been completed or have matured enough such that we will be expanding publications in scientific journals.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
My project, Predictive Analytics and Ecological Modeling for Rare and Endangered Species, continued in 2013 with work expanding in several additional subject areas, including that of gathering data to evaluate the “land-sparing vs. land-sharing hypothesis” which essentially states that production and environmental benefits (e.g., conservation of species, etc.) are achieved by more intensive use of existing agricultural landscapes rather than expanding agriculture into new areas and sharing agricultural landscapes for conservation and other purposes. Less overall environmental damage is projected to occur under the “land-sparing” hypothesis by some economic analyses. The agricultural intensity and land-sparing hypothesis is being evaluated by studies conducted on two key environmental indicator groups (i.e., amphibians and pollinators) occupying wetland and grassland habitats in the Palouse Prairie region of eastern Washington. Landscape-level fieldwork was conducted this year to lay the foundation for modeling ecological processes in wetlands, native prairie, and mixed agricultural landscapes to begin to evaluate the preceding hypothesis. In addition, research was successfully conducted or completed in the WSU Endangered Species Lab at Washington State University on the following six primary research projects: 1) Ecological Models Predicting Amphibian Populations in Palouse Prairie Wetlands; 2) Salamanders and the Metrics of Climate Change Biology in Palouse Prairie Wetlands; 3) Habitat Utilization of Long-billed Curlew Nesting in Shrub-Steppe and Agricultural Lands in the Columbia Basin; 4) Algorithmic Modeling of Survival of Columbia Sharp-tailed Grouse on Tribal Landscapes in Washington; 5) Reproductive Behavior and Biology of Endangered Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbits; and 6) Pollinator Habitat Gaps and Ecology of Late Season Floral Resources for Pollinators on Palouse Prairie. In addition, the Endangered Species Lab collaborated on a new study of public attitudes towards the aesthetic design and ecological qualities of sustainable agricultural landscapes in Palouse Prairie, and initial results from this project are submitted for journal publication. This project uses predictive analytics and algorithmic modeling in a wide variety of ecological studies to develop robust and useful predictive tools to guide both land management and species conservation decisions in the context of ecological restoration. Our work continued a major research thrust focusing on global climate change and the rapidly shifting ecological forces faced by selected groups of wildlife such as frogs, salamanders, and a broad suite of wild pollinator species. This work will help address pressing conservation challenges faced by declining and imperiled amphibians and pollinators and may contribute to better understanding the decline of honey bees and wild pollinators in and near agricultural landscapes. We also concluded an avian ecology project that determines how landscape-level features influence survival and population dynamics of the state-endangered Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse. The ultimate goal of much of our research is to document land management needs and strategies for conserving biological diversity on agricultural, urban, and restored natural landscapes. Many of our research projects involve the ecology of threatened and endangered species and other groups of conservation concern (e.g., native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators) in the Palouse Prairie bioregion and the Columbia Basin of Oregon and Washington. These projects all combine field studies of behavior, population dynamics, and habitat utilization in the context of conservation biology and landscape ecology. Land management agencies, as well as private landowners, continue to request and use results from these studies to improve the conservation of rare and endangered species and other wildlife species of conservation concern in the Pacific Northwest. By successfully conducting and completing a number of these research projects in 2013, we will be able to make significant technical and educational contributions to better understanding the complex interactions of global climate change, pressures for increased agricultural production, and challenges to conserving biological diversity in a rapidly changing world.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Klein, L., W. Hendrix, J. Kaytes, V. Lohr, R. Sayler, M. Swanson, J. Reganold. Linking ecology and aesthetics in sustainable agricultural landscapes: Lessons from the Palouse region of Washington, U.S.A. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Sayler, R. and E. Gomez. Pollinator landscapes and habitat gaps in late season flower resources in Palouse Prairie. Academic Showcase, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 29 March 2013.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Gomez, E. and R. Sayler. Salamanders and metrics of climate change biology in Palouse Prairie wetlands. Academic Showcase, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 29 March 2013.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Shipley, L., B. Elias, S. McCusker, R. Sayler, and T. Johnson. Genetic diversity vs. genetic distance: Reproduction, growth and survival in captive pygmy rabbits. 93rd Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists, Philadelphia, PA, 14-18 June 2013.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Gomez, E. and R. Sayler. 2013. Modeling climate change biology and landscape ecology of amphibians in Palouse Prairie wetlands. [Abstract] Northwestern Naturalist 94(2):154-169.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Elias, B. A., L.A. Shipley, S. McCusker, R.D. Sayler, and T.R. Johnson. 2013. Effects of genetic management on reproduction, growth, and survival in captive endangered pygmy rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis). J. Mammalogy 94(6):1282-1292.
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Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: In 2012, work was successfully conducted or completed in the WSU Endangered Species Lab on the following eight primary research projects:<br> 1) ecological models predicting amphibian populations in Palouse Prairie wetlands,<br> 2) salamanders and the metrics of climate change biology in Palouse Prairie wetlands,<br> 3) Habitat utilization of long-billed curlew nesting in shrub-steppe and agricultural lands in the Columbia Basin,<br> 4) algorithmic modeling of survival of Columbia sharp-tailed grouse on tribal landscapes in Washington,<br> 5) reproductive behavior and biology of endangered Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits,<br> 6) using pattern recognition models to monitor survival of endangered northern leopard frogs,<br> 7) landscape ecology and algorithmic models of pollinators on native and restored Palouse Prairie grasslands,<br> 8) pollinator gaps and ecology of late season floral resources for pollinators on Palouse Prairie.<p> Many of these studies involve the ecology of either rare or endangered species, especially birds and mammals, or other species of conservation concern (e.g., native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators) in the Palouse Prairie bioregion and the Columbia Basin of Oregon and Washington. These projects all combine field studies of behavior, population dynamics, habitat utilization, and landscape ecology in the context of conservation biology and strategies for land management and conservation. A common feature of many of these studies is advancing the use of predictive analytics and contemporary algorithmic modeling techniques (e.g., classification and regression trees, boosted trees, random forests, boosted neural networks) to develop useful and robust predictive ecological models supporting species conservation and land management. A new research thrust added to these studies in 2012 was a focus on global climate change and the resulting climate change biology and ecological dynamics faced by selected wildlife species such as salamanders and other amphibians, and a broad suite of pollinator species. Much of our work also documents land management needs or the techniques and strategies for the conservation of biological diversity on agricultural and urban landscapes. Land management agencies, as well as private landowners, will use results from these studies to help improve the conservation of rare and endangered species and other wildlife species of conservation concern in the Pacific Northwest. PARTICIPANTS: Major participants in the research program of the Washington State University Endangered Species Lab included the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the US Army Umatilla Chemical Depot, soil and water conservation districts in the Pacific Northwest, as well as farmers, ranchers, and private landowners. TARGET AUDIENCES: Non-profit conservation organizations (e.g., The Nature Conservancy), state governments (e.g., WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife), and resource management agencies in the Department of the Interior and the US Department of Agriculture. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: A new research thrust has been developed combining algorithmic ecology and ecological modeling as applied to the climate change biology of wildlife in wetland systems in Palouse Prairie and the Columbia Basin.
Impacts
This research program provided significant technical information and land management strategies for state and federal agencies concerned with farming programs, including the conservation reserve program (CRP), water resource management, and wildlife conservation in the Pacific Northwest. Results from work conducted in 2012 produced two draft MS theses, and four technical talks were presented at scientific conferences. Study results from these key projects are either currently in journal review or are being submitted for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals in 2013.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: My project, Predictive Analytics and Ecological Modeling for Rare and Endangered Species, was launched in 2011 with the completion of two initial field studies involving one on bats of conservation concern in the Pacific Northwest and another on ecological modeling of amphibian populations in Palouse Prairie wetlands. The bat project was conducted on the US Department of Energy, Hanford Site in south central Washington and the graduate student collected data on species composition and environmental and biological factors related to bat use of decommissioned building facilities at Hanford, which was established in 1943 for production of atomic bomb material during World War II. As part of the long-term cleanup and shutdown process of Hanford, we studied two sites with bat colonies to determine the extent of use of constructed facilities (e.g., buildings, underground tanks and tunnels), scheduled for removal or closure. During this work we discovered the largest known maternal colony of Yuma Myotis (Myotis yumanensis) in Washington State and thereby demonstrated the importance of adequately assessing artificial structures potentially slated for removal as part of the Hanford closure process. We used algorithmic techniques and boosted tree models to evaluate factors related to flight times and emergence from bat roosting sites and determined from this modeling that factors such as age, body size, gender, reproductive status, date, wind speed, and different genetic matrilines were related to bat flight times. These results appear to be the first of their kind for bats in the western U.S. In addition, we completed an wetland study entitled, Ecological Memory in Farmed Landscapes: Empirical Models of Amphibian Communities in Palouse Prairie Wetlands. In this study we developed ecological models predicting the occurrence of over 4000 amphibian larvae of 7 species captured in 63 wetlands along a biogeographic gradient extending from the Palouse Prairie bioregion in eastern Washington, to Moses Lake in the Columbia Basin of central Washington. We used classification and regression trees and boosted trees to model the presence of amphibians in wetlands and demonstrated that presence or absence of introduced fish was the most influential factor affecting amphibian populations, along with wetland type and size and factors describing surrounding landscape context. Only introduced bullfrogs were positively associated with fish populations. We concluded that despite intensive farming that has resulted in the loss of about 97% of the region's original wet meadows and wetlands, Palouse Prairie wetlands may retain elements of ecological memory inferred from biogeographic distribution and landscape ecology of amphibians. The results of these two studies will be used by land management agencies to help improve the conservation of rare and endangered species and other wildlife species of conservation concern in the Pacific Northwest. PARTICIPANTS: Major participants in my research program included the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and soil and water conservation districts in the Pacific Northwest. In addition, theses were completed for two graduate students, and a draft thesis completed for yet a third threatened and endangered species project that will be reported in 2012. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for my research program in quantitative modeling and endangered species ecology is non-profit conservation organizations (e.g., The Nature Conservancy), state governments (e.g., WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife), and resource management agencies in the Department of the Interior and the US Department of Agriculture. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
My research program provided significant technical information and land management strategies for state and federal agencies concerned with farming programs, water resources, and wildlife conservation in the Pacific Northwest. Results from our work completed in 2011 will be submitted for publication in scientific journals in 2012.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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