Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Innovative techniques were developed and modified to use radio and satellite telemetry to remotely monitor movement, behavior, physiology, and physical environment of endangered sea turtles and Pacific sailfish in tropical waters. The findings have been disseminated to NOAA Fisheries and communicated with the international marine management, academic, and scientific community through 3 presentations at international scientific symposia and through workshops and meetings with the National Park system in Costa Rica, and the development of a short course on GIS and Remote Sensing for Marine Conservation. A new population of the critically endangered East Pacific Green Turtle continues to be monitored, studied, and protected. Additionally, our studies focusing on unintentional bycatch of endangered sea turtles have expanded to include a broad-scale spatial analysis of overlap between Pacific fisheries and pelagic leatherback turtles. The findings of this have been shared in with academia and NOAA Fisheries in 2 collaborative workshops. In terrestrial studies, we have been continuing to build a long-term conservation research and education program in forest ecosystems through the continuation of an Undergraduate Research Intern Program (2 interns worked on our specific conservation research this year), the organization of 2 short courses that trained 47 people, participation in more than 15 workshops with more than 530 citizen participants (6 workshops were organized by us), and through 2 web seminars that interacted with 250 landowners. Along with training professionals in scientific and conservation techniques, we have continued training many undergraduate and graduate students through formal and informal education, and we completed a 7th successful year of our self-designed Environmental Career Skills course, which brings together many professional experts to teach young college students fundamental and technical skills necessary for a career in contemporary Natural Resources and Conservation. Our research on forest regeneration and conservation strategies have been incorporated into general forest management practices by regional landowners through the formal recommendations of the New York State Extension Forester and the CALS Forest Resources Conservation Research and Education Program. In addition, we have been collaborating and sharing many of these recommendations with academics and management professionals in China. PARTICIPANTS: Kristi L. Sullivan, Extension Associate, Dept of Natural Resources,Cornell University is a Co-Principal Investigator on several of the related research and Extension projects related to forest management, forest regeneration, coarse woody debris, and management and ecology of amphibians, reptiles and deer. Kristi also is the Conservation Education Program Coordinator, and is Lead Investigator of the Conservation Enhancements for a Living Landscape Program. Kristi L. Sullivan also directs wildlife conservation research and extension programs related to this program at the Arnot Teaching and Research Forest, on CALS Forest properties, and on Conservancy lands in northeast Pennsylvania. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Some of our findings and activities have contributed directly to changes in conservation and management strategies by private local landowners, conservation organizations, and management agencies. Using forest amphibians as a focal point of our terrestrial studies, we have developed techniques for increasing coarse woody materials in forested ecosystems. The incorporation of these techniques in many regional woodlots has created enhanced conditions for forest floor organisms, has contributed to increased local biodiversity, and is creating positive conditions to ensure hardwood regeneration by minimizing the pressures of deer browsing. We continue to convince several landowners to create small woodland pools on their properties, and have instigated other forest ecosystem enhancements in private and public forest lands in New York and Pennsylvania. Through new collaborative efforts, our outreach community for landscape enhancements has expanded to include land managers, academics, and government officials in China. In our marine ecosystem studies, the continued increases in knowledge of timing of activity and distribution of sea turtles enables us to further refine our management and protection schemes on state, federal, and international levels. Our research and modeling in open ocean waters has triggered institutional awareness of the potential for separating large commercial fishing industry from its undesired overlap with sea turtles. In collaboration with Drexel University, Purdue University and NOAA fisheries, these spatial and temporal analyses have been expanded to include the entire Pacific basin. Currently monitoring and protection activities are continuing in a recently discovered important nesting ground for the critically endangered East Pacific Green Turtle in Northwestern Costa Rica. These efforts are coordinated with Costa Rica National Parks.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Original techniques were developed and modified to use radio and satellite telemetry to remotely monitor movement, behavior, physiology, and physical environment of sea turtles, both in tropical and northern temperate waters. The findings have been disseminated to NOAA Fisheries and communicated with the international marine management and scientific community through publications and through workshops. New findings on endangered sea turtles and coastal conservation have also been shared through meetings and workshops with the National Park system in Costa Rica. There, a new population of the critically endangered East Pacific Green Turtle is being monitored, studied, and protected. Additionally, our studies focusing on unintentional bycatch of endangered sea turtles in the pelagic longline fisheries have resulted in the development of a real-time mechanism for predicting potential overlap of sea turtles with the activities of the U.S. commercial fishing fleets. We are also applying these findings to other regions of the world. Our efforts are continuing toward developing a real-time interactive web interface to update modeling predictions, and to create constantly updated warnings and maps of acceptable oceanic fishing areas. In terrestrial studies, we have been continuing to build a long-term conservation research and education program in forest ecosystems through the continuation of an Undergraduate Research Intern Program, hosting a series of more than 12 workshops and short courses in New York and Northern Pennsylvania, which interacted with more than 1000 citizen participants, by training professionals in scientific and conservation techniques, and by interacting with many undergraduate and graduate students through formal and informal education. Also we have continued our self-designed Environmental Career Skills course, now in its 6th successful year, bringing together many professional experts each year to teach young college students fundamental technical skills necessary for a career in contemporary Natural Resources and Conservation. Included in our program events has been the creation additional woodland and vernal pools and new deer exclosures as demonstration an education areas at our research and teaching forest and elsewhere. Additionally, our research on forest regeneration and conservation strategies have been incorporated into general forest management practices by regional landowners through the formal recommendations of the New York State Extension Forester and the CALS Forest Resources Conservation Research and Education Program. PARTICIPANTS: Kristi L. Sullivan, Extension Associate, Dept of Natural Resources,Cornell University is a Co-Principal Investigator on several of the related research and Extension projects related to forest management, forest regeneration, coarse woody debris, and management and ecology of amphibians, reptiles and deer. Kristi also is the Conservation Education Program Coordinator, and is Lead Investigator of the Conservation Enhancements for a Living Landscape Program. Kristi L. Sullivan also directs wildlife conservation research and extension programs related to this program at the Arnot Teaching and Research Forest, on CALS Forest properties, and on Conservancy lands in northeast Pennsylvania. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Some of our findings and activities have contributed directly to changes in conservation and management strategies by private local landowners, conservation organizations, and management agencies. Using forest amphibians as a focal point of our studies, we have developed techniques for increasing coarse woody debris in forested ecosystems. The incorporation of these techniques in many regional woodlots has created enhanced conditions for forest floor organisms, has contributed to increased local biodiversity, and is creating positive conditions to ensure hardwood regeneration by minimizing the pressures of deer browsing. In addition, we have convinced several landowners to create small woodland pools on their properties, and have instigated other forest ecosystem enhancements in private and public forest lands in New York and Pennsylvania. In coastal waters, the knowledge of predictable seasonal movements of sea turtles clustering along spatial and temporal corridors has led to a new understanding of potentially overlapping and conflicting human activities. More importantly, the knowledge of timing of activity and distribution of sea turtles enables us to further refine our management and protection schemes on state, federal, and international levels. Our research and modeling in open ocean waters has also triggered a new institutional awareness of the potential for separating a large commercial fishing industry from its undesired overlap with sea turtles. NOAA fisheries, the U.S. agency responsible for regulating commercial fishing, is collaborating with us in the development of a new predictive model that can be updated daily, and can be used as a warning system for potential problem areas for unwanted bycatch in open waters. Our new research in collaboration with conservation officials and researchers in Costa Rica has motivated the National Park system to expand its research and monitoring activities into landscapes surrounding one of the marine national parks. Currently monitoring and protection activities are continuing in a recently discovered important nesting ground for the critically endangered East Pacific Green Turtle.
Publications
- Gardner, B., P.J. Sullivan, S. Epperly and S.J. Morreale. 2008. Hierarchical modeling of bycatch rates of sea turtles the western North Atlantic. Endangered Species Research. 5: 279-289.
- Gardner, B., P.J. Sullivan, S.J. Morreale, and S. Epperly. 2008. Spatial and temporal statistical analysis of bycatch data: patterns of sea turtle bycatch in the North Atlantic. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 65:2461-2470.
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Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07
Outputs
Original techniques were developed to use satellite telemetry to remotely monitor movement, behavior, physiology, and physical environment of sea turtles, both in tropical and northern temperate waters. The findings have been disseminated to NOAA Fisheries and communicated with the international marine management and scientific community through publications and through workshops. Some of the new findings on endangered sea turtles have also been shared through meetings and workshops with The National Park system in Costa Rica. Our studies focusing on unintentional bycatch of endangered sea turtles in the pelagic longline fisheries have resulted in the development of a mechanism for a real-time prediction and communication system to warn the U.S. commercial fishing fleets of potential trouble regions in open ocean waters. We are working toward a real-time interactive web interface to update modeling predictions. In terrestrial studies we have been continuing to build a
long-term conservation research and education program in forest ecosystems, through an Undergraduate Research Intern Program, a series of more than 15 workshops and short courses in New York and Northern Pennsylvania interacting with more than 500 citizen participants, by training professionals in scientific and conservation techniques, and by interacting with many undergraduate and graduate students through formal and informal education. Also we have continued our self-designed Environmental Career Skills, now in its 5th successful year, bringing together many professional experts each year to teach young college students fundamental technical skills necessary for a contemporary career in Natural Resources and Conservation. Included in our program events has been the creation of more than 10 woodland and vernal pools, and many deer exclosures as demonstration an education areas at our research and teaching forest. Additionally, our research on forest regeneration and conservation has
been incorporated into the general recommendations of the New York State Extension Forrester, which are disseminated to commercial forest managers and landowners statewide.
Impacts
Some of our findings and activities have contributed directly to changes in conservation and management procedures by local landowners, conservation organizations, and management agencies. In coastal waters, the knowledge of predictable seasonal movements of sea turtles clustering along a spatial and temporal corridor has led to a new understanding of potential overlapping and conflicting human activities. In addition, it is now broadly acknowledged that sea turtles' ranges extend far into northern waters, making management of coastal northeastern waters essential. Our research and modeling in ocean waters has also triggered a new institutional awareness of the potential for separating a large commercial fishing industry from its undesired overlap with sea turtles. NOAA fisheries, the U.S. agency responsible for regulating commercial fishing is now collaborating with us on developing a new predictive model that can be updated daily, and can be used as a warning system
for potential problem areas for unwanted bycatch in open waters. Our new research in Costa Rica has inspired the National Park system to expand its research and monitoring activities into landscapes surrounding one of the marine national park. In our terrestrial systems, we have convinced several landowners to create small woodland pools on their properties, and have instigated the construction of new vernal pools, a butterfly garden, and a series of forest ecosystem enhancements on conservancy-owned land in Pennsylvania.
Publications
- Morreale, S.J., P.T. Plotkin, and D.J. Shaver. 2007. Adult migration and habitat utilization: ridley turtles in their element. In: The Biology and Conservation of Ridley sea turtles. Johns Hopkins Press, Baltimore, MD, pp 213-229
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
Studies and activities related to this project range widely in scope and importance on a spatial scale from local, to regional and international. Common mechanisms that link the many levels of these studies are spatial referencing, remote sensing, and contemporary GIS tools, all of which are integrated into the research. Much research that highlights the successful integration of education and ecological conservation related to amphibians and reptiles is ongoing. Original techniques were developed to use satellite telemetry to remotely monitor movement, behavior, physiology, and physical environment of sea turtles, both in tropical and northern temperate waters. In our studies on pelagic longline fisheries we have demonstrated that a high incidence of unintentional bycatch of endangered sea turtles may be reduced through predictive modeling and real-time communication. We are working with National Marine Fisheries service to create a warning and regulatory mechanism.
In separate studies we have demonstrated that underwater noise is pervasive in New York coastal waters, and that the discernable anthropogenic noise, can negatively impact juvenile sea turtles. In the New York marine coastal foraging habitats, we have revealed an unexplained shift in species composition in recent years that may be related to regional environmental change, global climate change, or inappropriate conservation strategies. In our terrestrial studies we have been building long-term conservation research and ecological monitoring studies in Forest ecosystems, initiating and developing an Undergraduate Research Intern Program, helping merge forest research, management activities, and outreach, and contributing to a college program to develop guidelines for management and conservation of college-owned forests across New York State. We also have created a Conservation Education Program, generating original research on conservation and linking it tightly with education of
undergraduate and graduate students and education professionals. Recent program achievements included more than 20 workshops and short courses in New York and Northern Pennsylvania teaching more than 400 participants and training professionals in scientific and conservation research. Also we designed and initiated a course for students, now in its 4th successful year: Environmental Career Skills. This 3 day intensive course brings together many professional experts each year to teach to young college students fundamental technical skills necessary for a contemporary career in Natural Resources and Conservation. The conservation ecology of amphibians and reptiles, and forest conservation also have been unifying themes for a program we initiated with landowners and a conservancy group in northern Pennsylvania. Resulting from research at the site, a long-term program has been initiated that incorporates monitoring, surveys, research and education workshops, and ecological enhancement
experiments. Most of these studies and related activities are ongoing, and recently we have developed new demonstration sites including a deer exclosure site, woodland vernal pools, and a butterfly meadow.
Impacts
Expected outcomes of this project are as broad as the individual study components. On national and international level our studies on sea turtles should result at least in ameliorating some very pervasive problems in coastal waters such as anthropogenic underwater noise; and dilemmas in pelagic waters such as unintentional bycatch of turtles. At best, these studies will generate new techniques and guidelines by which to improve existing conservation and management plans. We already are collaborating with NOAA Fisheries to refine and improve management plans for U.S. Atlantic Pelagic Longline Fisheries. In regional and local conservation research and education efforts, we already are experiencing many levels of impact. As a result of 16 education programs focused on improving physical and biological complexity of forest lands for the benefit of amphibians and reptiles, our program serves as a statewide and regional model for habitat enhancement, and as a basis of
collaboration with extension educators from six counties in NY and PA, along with private landowners, foresters, land managers, youth, educators, and professors from 2 other universities. A conservancy group in PA implemented habitat enhancements in two of their forest preserves and established a collaborative research and demonstration area with us. Locally our new forest management techniques are being implemented on Cornell University forested lands, regional professional foresters, and by the NY State Extension Forester. We expect to expand our programs and improve conservation of native amphibians and reptiles.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
Studies and activities related to this project range widely in scope and importance on a spatial scale from local, to regional and international. Tying mechanisms that link the many levels of study are spatial referencing, remote sensing, and contemporary GIS tools, all of which are integrated into my research. While much research is ongoing, there have been meaningful accomplishments, many that highlight the successful integration of education and ecological conservation related to amphibians and reptiles. We developed original techniques to use satellite telemetry to remotely monitor movement, behavior, physiology, and the associated physical environment of sea turtles, both in tropical and northern temperate waters. Our studies on pelagic longline fisheries have indicated that a high incidence of unintentional bycatch of endangered sea turtles may be reduced through predictive modeling and real-time communication. In separate studies we have demonstrated that
underwater noise is pervasive in New York coastal waters. This discernable noise, most of which is anthropogenic, can negatively impact juvenile sea turtles. In the New York marine environment, we also have generated some important findings relating to ecosystem health and critical sea turtle foraging habitats. Specifically, we have revealed an unexplained shift in species composition in recent years that may be related to regional environmental change, or inappropriate conservation strategies. In the Forest ecosystem we have been building long-term conservation research and ecological monitoring studies, initiating and developing an Undergraduate Research Intern Program, and helping merge forest research and management activities with undergraduate education and regional outreach. We have also created a Conservation Education Program, specifically designed to generate original research on amphibians and reptiles and related conservation, and link it tightly with education of
undergraduate and graduate students and education professionals. Among recent program achievements was a two-week course with the Cornell Institute of Biological Teachers, training and teaching more than 30 professionals in scientific and conservation research. Also we designed and initiated a new short course for undergraduate students: Environmental Career Skills. This three-day intensive course brought together nine professional experts to teach fundamental technical skills necessary for a contemporary career in Natural Resources and Conservation. Amphibian and reptile conservation ecology has also been the unifying theme for a new program initiated with landowners and a conservancy group in northern Pennsylvania. Resulting from research at the site, a long-term program has been initiated that incorporates monitoring, surveys, research and education demonstration sites, and ecological enhancement experiments. Most of these studies and related activities are ongoing.
Impacts
Expected outcomes of this project are as broad as the individual study components. On national and international level our studies on sea turtles should result at least in ameliorating some very pervasive problems in coastal waters such as anthropogenic underwater noise; and dilemmas in pelagic waters such as unintentional bycatch of turtles. At best, these studies will generate new techniques and guidelines by which to improve existing conservation and management plans. We already are collaborating with NOAA Fisheries to refine and improve management plans for U.S. Atlantic Pelagic Longline Fisheries. In regional and local conservation research and education efforts, we already are experiencing many levels of impact. As a result of 16 education programs focused on improving physical and biological complexity of forest lands for the benefit of amphibians and reptiles, our program serves as a statewide and regional model for habitat enhancement, and as a basis of
collaboration with extension educators from six counties in NY and PA, along with private landowners, foresters, land managers, youth, educators, and professors from 2 other universities. A conservancy group in PA implemented habitat enhancements in two of their forest preserves and established a collaborative research and demonstration area with us. Locally our new forest management techniques are being implemented on Cornell University forested lands, regional professional foresters, and by the NY State Extension Forester. We expect to expand our programs and improve conservation of native amphibians and reptiles.
Publications
- Wallace, B.P., C.L. Williams, F.V. Paladino, S. J. Morreale, R.T. Lindstrom, and J.R. Spotila. 2005. Bioenergetics and diving activity of internesting leatherback turtles Dermochelys coriacea at Parque Nacional Las Baulas, Costa Rica. J. Exp. Biol. 208:3873-3884.
- Morreale, S.J. and E.A. Standora. 2005. Western North Atlantic waters: crucial developmental habitat for Kemp's ridley and loggerhead sea turtles. Chelonian Cons. Biol. 4:870-880.
- Samuel, Y, S.J. Morreale, C.W. Clark, C. H. Greene, and M.E. Richmond. 2005. Underwater low-frequency noise in a coastal sea turtle habitat. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 117:1465-1472.
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
The current year's focus was on the creation and study of forest ecosystem enhancements, primarily to provide an instructional template to landowners, managers, Extension professionals, and educators. Research included studies measuring the impacts of woodland pond creation, increases in forest floor woody debris, increases natural cover objects, and other increases in environmental texture on amphibian and reptile populations. Early results indicate that injection of increased texture to the regional forests can reverse the historical trend toward homogenizing the environment, and can lead directly to increased biodiversity, especially for native amphibians and reptiles.
Impacts
To date many individuals among the target audiences for this research and education program have readily adopted forest enhancement techniques to improve the physical and subsequent biological complexity. Some landowners have created woodland ponds using our template, all with immediate success; extension agents from several counties have used our educational materials and attended our workshops; a conservancy group in Pennsylvania has adopted many of our enhancements in their forest preserve; and as a result of some of our research, forest management techniques already have changed on Cornell University forested lands. In addition, the NY State Extension Forester has modified management guidelines accordingly to increase the amount and nature of downed woody debris in harvested stands and on log landings. In the future, participation in our education programs is expected to increase along with the incorporation of enhancement techniques for native fauna in privately
owned woodlands, and by professional foresters and resource managers. Many of these conservation-oriented modifications will result in direct increases in local aquatic and terrestrial amphibians, along with several species of native snakes, and even the rare Northern Coal Skink.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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