Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The synergistic effects of disease, climate change, habitat alteration and environmental contamination to at-risk montane amphibian populations such as the Cascades frog were assess during this reporting period. This project is a long-term, multi-scale project, combining lab experiments, field experiments, and landscape-scale sampling and monitoring to understand the mechanisms responsible for observed changes in populations. We continued to monitor seriously declining Cascades frog populations in the Lassen region of California and investigate potential sources of declines. Evidence for one possible factor for declines has been published in the journal Northwestern Naturalist. Other aspects of this project are on-going in both field and analysis phases.We examined the effects of time and flow management on western pond turtle and foothill yellow legged frog populations, monitoring their responses to manipulated flow regimes and salmonid-focused habitat restoration modifications in the Trinity River of northern California.We responded to a paper that questioned our examination of the relationship between seral stage and demographic composition and body condition of two species of plethodontid salamander published in 2009. We evaluated the effects of forest thinning on ensatina populations and their habitat.We developed a monitoring plan for the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) for the purpose of estimating the population status of northern goshawks in the basin. This plan included simulating various elements of the field protocol and estimating the statistical power (i.e. probability of detecting a decline, should one occur) of the protocol. The plan describes all elements of sampling and analysis such that the status and trend of the goshawk population can be estimated. We designed and populated a database to help the National Park Service analyze historic trends in bat populations at Lava Beds National Monument. Analyses of our long-term Costa Rican monitoring stations (1994 to present) have given us a greater understanding of the impact of wintering ground food supplies, climate change. Took a lead role in establishment of the Red de Anilladores de Aves de Costa Rica (Network of bird banders of Costa Rica), a cooperative network of bird monitoring stations in Costa Rica and the Costa Rica Bird Observatory, including staffing a full-time director with funds from USFS International Programs. Took a lead role in The Western Hemisphere Bird Banding Network (Red de Anillamiento de Aves del Hemisferio Occidental (RAAHO), a network of banding sites for the Americas, focusing on Latin American countries, including training banders. We tested monitoring protocols for assessing and predicting avian diversity and population status for riparian and riverine species associated with a multidisciplinary salmonid and wildlife restoration program on the critically stressed Trinity and Klamath river systems where the program has involved removing and relocating the riparian habitat with potential negative effects on desired bird species. We worked with the Marbled Murrelet Effectiveness Monitoring Team to assess effectiveness of the Northwest Forest Plan on Marbled Murrelet populations by analysis of nearshore surveys. PARTICIPANTS: Research Ecologist - Served as principal investigator, provided technical and analytical support, coauthor on other projects. Wildlife Biologist - Provided technical and analytical support and co-author on several projects. Ecologist - Provided technical and analytical support and coauthor on one project. Ecologist - Served as lead investigator for one project, provided field leadership, and technical and spatial analysis for one project. Biological Sciences Technician - Provided field leadership for one project. Data Specialist - Provided data entry and management for several projects. GIS Technician - Provided support for map making for several projects. Biological Technicians - Collected field data for various projects. Research Ecologist - Served as coauthor on projects, provided technical and analytical support. Station Statistician - Served as coauthor and statistical consultant. Wildlife Biologist - Serviced as coauthor on project, provided conceptual, technical and analytical support. GIS Specialist - Provided spatial analysis and graphics assistance. Ecologist - Developed and implemented projects and analyzed data. Research Ecologist -- Served as principal investigator on several of the studies, provided technical/analytical support as collaborator, coauthor or science advisor on others. Wildlife Biologist -- Served as principal investigator on two of the studies, provided technical/analytical support as collaborator or coauthor. Provides supervision of field personnel, accounting, and communication with collaborating agencies. Wildlife Biologist -- Provided database management and field support for projects. Provided web support for principal investigators and field training. Wildlife Biologist -- Provided field coordination on two projects, analysis and GIS mapping. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for Problem Area 2 is land managers, biologists, conservationists, non-governmental organizations, and regulators interested in biodiversity assessment. Science-based knowledge is delivered to target audiences in the form of peer-reviewed publications, written reports to government and non-government organizations, formal and informal presentations at conferences, symposia workshops, and classrooms. Descriptions of activities are provided on websites, which include links to publications, reports and presentations, are accessible to the public worldwide via the internet. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: None.
Impacts
A multi-agency partnership will provide insight into the mechanisms and possible cures of emerging wildlife diseases, guidance for habitat restoration activities, and the scientific basis for biodiversity management plans in watersheds in the mountains of northern California Our partnership with U.S.D.I. Bureau of Reclamation - Trinity River Restoration Program has resulted in improved flow management of the Trinity River. In addition, we provided informed restoration site design recommendations for multiple species based on data from this study.The possession of a credible, scientifically based monitoring plan for northern Goshawks provides land managers a powerful tool for addressing the uncertainties that always accompany land management activities. The plan that we developed should provide the LTBMU assurance that regardless of what activities occur on their land base, they will be able to track the status of the goshawk population and attempt to link their activities with the condition of this population. Our collaboration with Lava Beds National Monument will help them develop credible baseline information on populations of cave-dwelling bats especially important in the face of the emerging infectious disease, White-nose Syndrome. The Trinity River Integrated Assessment Plan is used for short-term assessments to inform adaptive management decisions, particularly for design of habitat restoration sites. Longer-term assessments we are undertaking will evaluate cumulative effects and achievement of restoration goals.We have led private organizations, and state and federal agencies to use valuable bird capture data.
Publications
- Slauson, Keith. M.; Zielinski, William J.; Baldwin, James. 2009. Northern Goshawk Population Monitoring in the Lake Tahoe Basin Monitoring Plan Development and Protocol USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Arcata, California.
- Stead, J. E., and K. L. Pope. 2010. Predatory leeches (Hirudinida) may contribute to amphibian declines in the Lassen, California. Northwestern Naturalist 91:30-39.
- Miller, Sherri L.; Ralph, C. John; Wolfe, Jared D.; Ollivier, Lisa M. 2010. Trinity River Restoration Program Riparian and Riverine Bird Monitoring Report 2002-2009. Submitted to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Trinity River Restoration Program, Weaverville, California. 148 p.
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Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Developed new knowledge about the genetic variation in the Point Arena mountain beaver, a federally listed endangered species, necessary to develop field methods to estimate population size from noninvasively collected field samples. For the first time we have a population estimate, across 3 years, from the two historical strongholds of the federally endangered Point Arena mountain beaver within their small range in Mendocino, County California. We also have estimates of annual survival. Population sizes are very small and survival, at least in one population, very low suggesting that these populations are vulnerable to loss from random environmental events. We assessed the synergistic effects of disease, climate change, and environmental contamination to at-risk montane amphibians such as the Cascades frog. Initiated a project to extensively monitor existing Cascades frog populations in the Lassen region of California. Developed understanding about regional genetic variation within several subspecies of the American marten in coastal California and Oregon, including the Humboldt marten a subspecies with special status in California. Evaluated the effects of forest thinning on ensatina populations and their habitat. Results from analyses of our long-term data from our Costa Rican monitoring stations suggests that declining populations of migratory birds are subjected to unpredictable food resources during the likely warming climatic trends. We play a principal role in the establishment of the ⿿Red de Anilladores de Aves de Costa Rica. (Network of bird banders of Costa Rica), a cooperative network of bird monitoring station in Costa Rica. This is an integral part of the Western Hemisphere Bird Banding Network (Red de Anillamiento de Aves del Hemisferio Occidental (RAAHO), and will facilitate the collection of avian habitat, demographic, and population data. Completed a new quantitative analysis of standard survey protcols for the fisher, a species recently found warranted but precluded from listing by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Pacific States.Responded to a paper that questioned our examination of the relationship between seral stage and demographic composition and body condition of two species of plethodontid salamander. Examined the effects of time and flow management on western pond turtle demography and monitored the response of western pond turtle and foothill yellow-legged frog populations to manipulated flow regimes and salmonid-focused habitat restoration modifications in the Trinity River system of northern California. Evaluated the effects of forest thinning on ensatina populations and their habitat. Investigated the population level response time of a plethodontid salamander to fire, high level ground disturbance and canopy removal. We designed and tested monitoring protocols for assessing and predicting avian diversity and population status for riparian and riverine species associated with a multidisciplinary salmonid and wildlife restoration program on the critically stressed Trinity and Klamath river systems where the program has involved removing and relocating the riparian habitat with potential negative effects on desired bird species. We are in the final process of implementing a cooperative agreement between the National Institute of Biodiversity of Costa Rica Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad -INBio) and the U.S. Forest Service that will formalize mutual support for the Network of bird banders of Costa Rica programs. Developed a multidisciplinary, Integrated Assessment Plan for evaluating progress toward goals of a fish and wildlife restoration program on the Trinity River, in northern California. Developed web-based tools for visualizations and analysis of integrate banding data in a national landbird monitoring database with Cornell University, the Bird Monitoring Data Exchange. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Research Ecologists (GS-14,15) -- Served as principal investigator on several of the studies, provided technical/analytical support as collaborator, coauthor or science advisor on others. Ecologists (GS-11) -- Served as principal investigators on a number of studies, provided technical/analytical support on projects. Wildlife Biologists (GS-11) --- Served as principal investigators on multiple studies, provided technical/analytical support as collaborator and coauthor. Provided supervision of field personnel, accounting, and communication with collaborating agencies. Wildlife Biologists (GS-9) -- Served as project on lead on one project. Provided field leadership, database management, technical and spatial analysis on multiple projects. Biological Sciences Technician (GS-9) ⿿ Provided field, technical and analytical support and coauthor on several projects. GIS technicians (GS-9) ⿿ Provided support for spatial analysis and map making for multiple projects. Data Specialist (GS-9) ⿿ Provided data entry and management for all projects Biological Technicians (GS-5,6) --- Provided field and data processing support on multiple projects. Partner Organizations: Bureau of Land Management California Academy of Sciences Calfornia Department of Fish and Game California State Parks Caribbean Conservation Corporation Costa Rica Bird Observatory (CRBO) Crescent Coastal Research Fisher Science Team INBio, Costa Rica Institute for Bird Populations Institute for Wildlife Studies (IWS) International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Klamath Bird Observatory (KBO) USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Lassen N. F. National Science Foundation North Carolina State University Northwest Forest Plan Oregon State University (OSU) Partners in Flight Costa Rica (PIF CR) Point Reyes Bird Observatory (PRBO) San Francisco State University (SFSU) Smith Richardson Foundation Southern Oregon University (SOU) The Wildlife Society (TWS) UC Berkeley (UCB) UC Davis (UCD) USFS International Programs University of Washington -- USGS Western Fisheries Research Center USDI Bureau of Reclamation Trinity River Restoration Program US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Arcata and Yreka Offices US Forest Service Regions 5 and 6 USFS Pacific Northwest (PNW), Pacific Southwest (PSW) and Rocky Mountain (RMRS) Research Stations USGS Western Ecological and Pacific Island Research Centers Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University (WTI) Wildlife Conservation Society of Canada (WCS) Collaborators: John Alexander, KBO; Jim Baldwin, PSW; Carlos Davidson, SFSU; Gary Dixon, USFS FVS Program; Pablo Elizondo, PIF CR; Stuart Farber, Timber Products Company; Gary Fellers, U.S.G.S.;Janet Foley, UC Davis; Andrew Gray, USFS FIA Program; Kevin Gross and Nick Haddad, NC State University; Brian Hudgens, IWS; Steve Kelling, Cornell University; Michelle Koo, UCB; Sharon Lawler, UCD; Robert Long and Paula MacKay, WTI; Kim Nelson, OSU; Nathan Nieto, UC Davis; Marty Raphael, PNW; Kristy Pilgrim, USDA RMRS; Jonah Piovia-Scott, UC Davis; Justina Ray, WCS; Leo Salas, PRBO; Michael Schwartz, RMRS; Jonathan Stead, UCD; Karen Stone, SOU; Richard Truex, USFS Region 5; Training and Professional Development: TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for Problem Area 2 is land managers, biologists, conservationists, non-governmental organizations, and regulators interested in assessing the status of wildlife populations in landscapes of the West. Science-based knowledge is delivered to target audiences in the form of peer-reviewed publications, written reports to government and non-government organizations, formal and informal presentations at conferences, symposia workshops, and classrooms. Descriptions of activities are provided on websites, which include links to publications, reports and presentations, are accessible to the public worldwide via the internet.
Impacts
Identifying potential limiting factors preventing population-level recovery of birds in Costa Rica will inform management decisions throughout the Hemisphere. The new information about the small size of the Point Arena mountain beaver populations has informed the state park system and the US Fish and Wildlife Service so that they can propose actions to protect these populations and to mitigate future habitat loss. Already this has resulted in treatment of invasive plants that have, over the course of many years, eliminated mountain beaver habitat within Manchester State Park. Our understanding of the genetic background of martens that currently occur within the described range of the Humboldt marten suggests that they are similar to the originally described subspecies, but that martens over a much larger area (including portions of coastal Oregon) are genetically similar to martens within the original range of the Humboldt marten. This allows the USFWS to make more informed decisions about the risk to unique subspecies in California. This first quantitative assessment of survey protcols for fishers provides new insight into problems with existing survey protocols and gives specific recommendations for how more effective surveys can be conducted in the future. Guidance is also provided on how to include quantitative analysis of future survey efforts such that survey conifidence levels can be reported. The Trinity River Integrated Assessment Plan is used for short-term assessments to inform adaptive management decisions, particularly for design of habitat restoration sites. Longer-term assessments we are undertaking will evaluate cumulative effects and achievement of restoration goals. A new understanding of the methods of using bird capture data has been obtained. We have led private organizations, and state and federal agencies to use the valuable data contained in these data.
Publications
- Falxa, G.; Baldwin, J.; Lynch, D.; Nelson, S. K.; Miller, S. L.; Pearson, S. F.; Ralph, C. J.; Raphael, M. G.; Strong, C.;Bloxton, T.; Galleher, B.; Hogoboom, B.; Lance, M.; Young, R.; Huff, M. H. 2008. Marbled Murrelet Effectiveness Monitoring, Northwest Forest Plan: 2004-2007 summary report. 25 pp.
- Long, L. L.; Miller, S. L.; Ralph, C. J.; Elias, E. A.; Strong, C. 2009. Marbled Murrelet Abundance, Distribution, and Productivity Along the Coasts of Northern California and Southern Oregon, 2008. U.S. Forest Service, Redwood Sciences Laboratory, Arcata, California. 32 pp.
- Falxa, G. A.; Baldwin, J.; Lynch, D.; Nelson, S. K.; Miller, S. L.; Pearson, S. F.; Raphael, M. G.; Strong, C.; Bloxton, T.; Galleher, B.; Hogoboom, B.; Lance, M.; Young, R. 2009. Marbled Murrelet Effectiveness Monitoring, Northwest Forest Plan: 2008 summary report. 19 p.
- Slauson, K. M.; Zielinski, W. J.; Stone, K. D. 2009. Characterizing the molecular variation among American marten (Martes americana) subspecies from Oregon and California. Conservation Genetics. DOI 10.1007/s10592-008-9626-x (online only)
- Slauson, K.M.; Baldwin, J.; Zielinski, W. J.; Schwartz, M. K. 2009. Estimating detection probabilities for fishers using non-invasive methods and implications for survey protocols. Pacific Southwest Research Station, Redwood Sciences Laboratory, Arcata, CA. 68 p.
- Welsh, H. H., Jr.; Pope, K. L.; Wheeler, C. A. 2009. How reliable are amphibian population metrics? A response to Kroll et al. Biological Conservation 142:2797-2801.
- Wolfe, J.D.; Ralph, C.J. 2009. Correlations between El Niño Southern Oscillation and changes in Nearctic-Neotropic migrant condition in Central America. The Auk. 126:809-814.
- Zielinski, W. J; Schlexer, F. V.; George, T. L.; Pilgrim, K. L.; Schwartz, M. K. 2009. Point Arena mountain beaver population monitoring program and range-wide genetic structure. Progress Report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under Interagency Agreement #8122741H200 and endangered species permit TE-080774.
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Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Edited and coauthored several chapters of a book that summarized methods for conducting noninvasive carnivore surveys and analyzing the data from such surveys. Designed, implemented, and tested a new, statistically-valid sampling design to estimate population status and trends for the Marbled Murrelet, across the Northwest Forest Plan area. Examined relationships between forest seral stage and various system perturbations (e.g., fire, thinning, ground disturbance, canopy removal) on population size, demographic composition, and body condition of plethodontid salamanders. Developed methods and innovative metrics (e.g., body condition, metabolites, and stress hormones) that add value to bird capture data and provide managers with valuable insight into the ability for birds to survive the stresses of breeding, migration, and wintering. Contributed to development of an interface in the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) software system that allows future fisher resting habitat value to be predicted from a set of vegetation plot data. Contributed to organization of 2 technical sessions which focused on use of the internet to archive and access bird-banding data both nationally and internationally. Investigated the status of Cascades frog populations in the Lassen region of California. Counseled managers on the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) on the use of a simulation module that can be used to assess the status and trend in populations for American marten and northern Goshawk. Counseled several national forests and national wildlife refuges on use of compiled data from existing landbird monitoring projects to provide information on potential impacts of land-disturbance on birds of concern. Participated in development of a multidisciplinary Integrated Assessment Plan, for evaluating progress toward goals of a salmonid-focused habitat restoration modifications in the Trinity River of northern California. The plan included a sampling design and protocols for assessing and predicting avian diversity and population status for riparian and riverine bird species. It also examined the effects of timing and water flow management on western pond turtle demography and monitored response of western pond turtle and foothill yellow-legged frog populations to a range of manipulated flow regimes and habitat modifications. Facilitated integration of banding data into a national landbird monitoring database. Develop a quantitative method for distinguishing male and female martens and fishers on the basis of tracks alone. Estimated Marbled Murrelet population size and trends in California, Oregon, and Washington from eight years of data collection. Participated in a collaborative effort to evaluate precision of various methods for estimating population sizes of rare butterflies. Coordinated the media response and developed a media strategy, together with public affairs representatives, to provide scientific information about the first verified occurrence of the wolverine (Gulo gulo) in California in almost 100 years. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Research Ecologists (GS-14,15) -- Served as principal investigator on several of the studies, provided technical/analytical support as collaborator, coauthor or science advisor on others. Research Ecologist (GS-11) -- Co-authored paper on optimal population monitoring strategies for rare butterflies. Ecologists (GS-11) -- Served as principal investigators on a number of studies, provided technical/analytical support on projects. Wildlife Biologists (GS-11) --- Served as principal investigators on multiple studies, provided technical/analytical support as collaborator and coauthor. Provided supervision of field personnel, accounting, and communication with collaborating agencies. Wildlife Biologists (GS-9) -- Served as project on lead on one project. Provided field leadership, database management, technical and spatial analysis on multiple projects. Biological Sciences Technician (GS-9) - Provided field, technical and analytical support and coauthor on several projects. GIS technicians (GS-9) - Provided support for spatial analysis and map making for multiple projects. Data Specialist (GS-9) - Provided data entry and management for all projects Biological Technicians (GS-5, 6) --- Provided field and data processing support on multiple projects. Partner Organizations: Bureau of Land Management California Academy of Sciences California Department of Fish and Game California State Parks Crescent Coastal Research Institute for Bird Populations Institute for Wildlife Studies (IWS) Klamath Bird Observatory (KBO) USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Lassen N. F. National Science Foundation North Carolina State University Oregon State University (OSU) Point Reyes Bird Observatory (PRBO) UC Berkeley (UCB) UC Davis (UCD) University of Washington -- USGS Western Fisheries Research Center USDI Bureau of Reclamation Trinity River Restoration Program US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) - Arcata and Yreka Offices US Forest Service Regions 5 and 6 USFS Pacific Northwest (PNW), Pacific Southwest (PSW) and Rocky Mountain (RMRS) Research Stations USGS Western Ecological and Pacific Island Research Centers Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University (WTI) Wildlife Conservation Society of Canada (WCS) Collaborators: John Alexander, KBO; Jim Baldwin, PSW; Gary Dixon, USFS FVS Program; Stuart Farber, Timber Products Company; Gary Fellers, U.S.G.S.; Andrew Gray, USFS FIA Program; Kevin Gross and Nick Haddad, NC State University; Brian Hudgens, IWS; Steve Kelling, Cornell University; Michelle Koo, UCB; Sharon Lawler, UCD; Robert Long and Paula MacKay, WTI; Kim Nelson, OSU; Marty Raphael, PNW; Justina Ray, WCS; Leo Salas, PRBO; Michael Schwartz, RMRS; Jonathan Stead, UCD; Richard Truex, USFS Region 5; Training and Professional Development: Trained Plumas NF personnel on Cascade's frog survey methodology. Trained UC Davis students on sample collection methodology to test for presence of Chytrid disease in Cascade's frogs. Trained LTBMU personnel to understand an occupancy approach for monitoring population status of American martens and northern Goshawks. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for Problem Area 2 is land managers, biologists, conservationists, non-governmental organizations, and regulators interested in assessing the status of wildlife populations in landscapes of the West. Science-based knowledge is delivered to target audiences in the form of peer-reviewed publications, written reports to government and non-government organizations, formal and informal presentations at conferences, symposia workshops, and classrooms. Descriptions of activities are provided on websites, which include links to publications, reports and presentations, are accessible to the public worldwide via the internet. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The Integrated Assessment Plan developed for the Trinity River is used for short-term assessments to inform adaptive management decisions, particularly for restoration site designs. Longer-term assessments evaluate cumulative effects and achievement of restoration goals. The regional population monitoring protocol for the Marbled Murrelet will provide consistent population information for long-term monitoring of population status. The development of a proposal for a monitoring program to track changes in the status of marten populations in the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. This will allow managers to evaluate the effects of proposed management changes in the Basin on the distribution and abundance of martens. Understanding the negative responses of pond turtle and foothill yellow-legged frog populations to managed water manipulations has inspired a broader, ecosystem-level approach to management by the Trinity River Restoration Program that transcends previous paradigms which focused largely on the needs of salmonids. A summary, in a new book, of all the noninvasive survey methods for carnivores described such that the practitioner can understand the merits of each method, how to apply them in a statistical design, and how to analyze the data to address various goals. An appraisal of the use of site occupancy analysis methods when multiple species are considered and multiple survey methods are employed contributed to ongoing assessments of the utility of these methods where rare species are targeted or multiple species are under consideration. A paper in a peer-reviewed journal presents tradeoffs among various butterfly monitoring strategies, and guides managers to the optimal strategy for their study based on performance, information, and cost. Improved understanding of the information contained within bird capture data has led private organizations, and state and federal agencies to seek and use the valuable data contained within new and pre-existing databases. Our research findings have renewed interest in Cascades frog populations in the Lassen region prompting more extensive survey and monitoring efforts, and the examination of the causes of decline. Development of a reintroduction strategy is currently being investigated. A new method to determine the sex of martens or fishers from their tracks collected at baited track plate stations. This increases the knowledge gained from conducting such surveys, particularly because it may be more important to distinguish the detections of females, and to distinguish the habitats they use, compared to males.
Publications
- Kays, R. W.; Slauson, K. M. 2008. Remote cameras. Pages 110-140 in Long, R. A., P. MacKay, W. J. Zielinski, and J. C. Ray, editors. Noninvasive Survey Methods for Carnivores. Island Press, Washington, D.C., USA.
- MacKay, P.; Zielinski, W. J.; Long, R. A.; Ray, J. C. 2008. Noninvasive research and carnivore conservation. Pages 1-7 in Long, R. A., P. MacKay, W. J. Zielinski, and J. C. Ray, editors. Noninvasive Survey Methods for Carnivores. Island Press, Washington, D.C., USA.
- Miller, S. L.; Ralph, C. J.; Herrera, P; Hogoboom, B. 2007. Predicting bird abundance associated with Trinity River restoration. p. 32 in K. Shaffer, A. Chrisney, and L. Owen Vianni, eds. Proceedings of the Riparian Habitat Joint Venture Conference: Integrating Riparian Habitat Conservation and Flood Management in California December 4-6, 2007; Sacramento, California. 115 p.
- Campbell, L. A.; Long, R. A.; Zielinski, W. J. 2008. Integrating multiple methods to achieve survey objectives. Page 223-237 in Long, R. A., P. MacKay, W. J. Zielinski, and J. C. Ray, editors. Noninvasive Survey Methods for Carnivores. Island Press, Washington, D.C., USA.
- Fellers, G. M.; Pope, K. L.; Stead, J. E.; Koo, M. S.; Welsh, H. H. 2008. Turning population trend monitoring into active conservation: Can we save the Cascades frog (Rana cascadae) in the Lassen region of California Herpetological Conservation and Biology 3: 28-39.
- Gorresen, P. M.; Miles, A. C.; Todd, C. M.; Bonaccorso, F. J.; Weller, T. J. 2008. Assessing bat detectability and occupancy with multiple automated bat detectors. Journal of Mammalogy: 89: 11-17.
- Haddad, N.M., Hudgens, B.; Damiani, C.; Gross, K.; Kuefler, D.; Pollock, K. 2008. Determining optimal population monitoring for rare butterflies. Conservation Biology 22: 929-940.
- Long, R. A.; MacKay, P.; Zielinski, W. J.; Ray, J. C. editors. 2008. Noninvasive Survey Methods for Carnivores. Island Press, Washington, D.C., USA.
- Long, R. A.; Zielinski, W. J. 2008. Designing effective noninvasive carnivore surveys. Pages 8-44 in Long, R. A., P. MacKay, W. J. Zielinski, and J. C. Ray, editors. Noninvasive Survey Methods for Carnivores. Island Press, Washington, D.C., USA.
- Long, L. L.; Miller, S. L.; Ralph, C. J.; Elias E. A.. 2008. Marbled Murrelet abundance, distribution, and productivity along the coasts of Northern California and Southern Oregon, 2005-2007. U.S. Forest Service, Redwood Sciences Laboratory, Arcata, California. 49 pp.
- Ray, J. C.; Zielinski, W. J. 2008. Track stations. Pages 75-109 in Long, R. A., P. MacKay, W. J. Zielinski, and J. C. Ray, editors. Noninvasive Survey Methods for Carnivores. Island Press, Washington, D.C., USA.
- Schlexer, F. V. 2008. Attracting animals to detection devices. Pages 263-292 in Long, R. A., P. MacKay, W. J. Zielinski, and J. C. Ray, editors. Noninvasive Survey Methods for Carnivores. Island Press, Washington, D.C., USA.
- Slauson, K. M., R. L. Truex, and W. J. Zielinski. 2008. Determining the sexes of American Marten and fisher at track plate stations. Northwest Science 82:185-198.
- Slauson, K. M.; Zielinski, W. J.; Baldwin, J. 2008. American Marten Population Monitoring in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Monitoring Plan Development and Protocol. Final Report. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Arcata, CA.
- Slauson, K. M.; Zielinski, W. J.; Baldwin, J. 2008. Northern Goshawk Population Monitoring in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Monitoring Plan Development and Protocol. Final Report. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Arcata, CA.
- Slauson, K.; Baldwin, J.; Zielinski, W. 2008. Estimating detection probabilities for fishers in western North America using non-invasive survey protocols. Final report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Yreka, CA.
- Welsh, H. H.; Pope, K. L.; Wheeler, C. A. 2008. Using multiple metrics to assess the effects of forest succession on population status: A comparative study of two terrestrial salamanders in the US Pacific Northwest. Biological Conservation 141: 1149-1160.
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Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07
Outputs
Quantitative methods are required to improve our understanding of the distribution, status, and viability of animal populations and to assess and monitor habitat conditions. Determining how species' abundances and distributions change through time in response to management actions is one of the most common challenges posed to researchers and managers. The researchers at the Redwood Science Laboratory's Wildlife Unit continue to develop an understanding of the complexities of measuring biodiversity in its many aspects to more fully understand populations and their attributes. The strength of the researchers' recent contributions in this aspect is found in both the taxonomic breadth and the temporal and spatial scales. This problem requires leadership in developing broad-scale and cost-effective biodiversity assessment tools that include new detection protocols, monitoring designs, habitat models, and population viability assessments. An overview of monitoring examined
many aspects of monitoring (Standiford et al. 2007), and an integrated data collection and web-based access for a national bird monitoring program was developed (Spurr and Ralph 2007). A summary of a multi-year success in monitoring the population trends Marbled Murrelet was completed (Raphael et al. 2007). Researchers have continued in national leadership by designing and implementing a variety of techniques, including a massive effort to quantify all species of animals on forests (Manley et al. 2007). Monitoring of specific animal groups, such as inventories of forest carnivores (Herzog et al. 2207, Long et al. 2007a and 2007b, Zielinski et al. 2006), bats (Weller 2007, Weller et al. 2007, Weller and Lee 2007, Weller and Zielinski 2006, Zielinski et al. 2006, Zielinski et al. 2007), birds (Tindall et al. 2007), and amphibians (Stead and Pope 2007) was continued. The researchers progressed on aspects of developing quantitative methods for modeling habitat suitability, among items
covered in other problem areas, completing a study on effects of introduced fish on native amphibians (Lawler et al. 2006), and effects of highways on carnivores (Zielinski et al. 2007). Predictive models for population monitoring identify sources of uncertainty, and integrate them with the data to generate probabilistic statements about various outcomes. Researchers published papers addressing these questions with amphibians (Welsh et al. 2007) and birds (Meyer 2007).
Impacts
An understanding of the various population parameters, including size, trends, and composition of populations is essential for understanding impacts of management on wildlife. Our research is proving to be successful in making substantial progress in data gathering, storage, retrieval, integration, and modeling and is proving to be essential in formulation of land management plans that can promote the interests of wildlife species.
Publications
- Spurr, E.B.; Ralph C.J.; compilers. 2006. Development of bird population monitoring in New Zealand: Proceedings of a workshop. Landcare Research Science Series No. 32. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand. 25 p.
- Standiford, R. B.; Giusti, G. A.; Valachovic, Y.; Zielinski, W. J.; Furniss, M. J. technical editors. 2007. Proceedings of the Redwood region forest science symposium: What does the future hold? Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-194. Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: 553 p.
- Stead, J. E.; Pope, K. L. 2007. Cascades frog breeding and aquatic leeches in the Mt. Lassen Region, California. Final report to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Lassen National Forest. July 2007. Number of pages unknown.
- Weller, T. J. 2007. Assessing population status of bats in forests: challenges and opportunities, In: M. J Lacki, J. P. Hayes, and A. Kurta; eds. Bats in forests: conservation and management. Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD: 263-291.
- Weller, T. J.; Lee, D. C. 2007. Mist net survey effort required to inventory the bat species assemblage in a northern California forest. Journal of Wildlife Management 71: 251-257.
- Weller, T. J.; Scott, S. A.; Rodhouse, J.; Ormsbee, P. C.; Zinck, J. M. 2007. Field identification of the cryptic vespertilionid bats, Myotis lucifugus and M. yumanensis. Acta Chiropterologica 9: 133-147.
- Weller, T. J.; Zielinski, W. J. 2006. Using an internet questionnaire to characterize bat survey efforts in the United States and Canada. Wildlife Society Bulletin 34: 1000-1008.
- Welsh, H. H., Jr.; Fellers, G.M.; Lind, A. J. 2007. Amphibian populations in the terrestrial environment: is there evidence of declines of terrestrial forest amphibians in northwestern California? Journal of Herpetology 41: 469-482.
- Zielinski, W. J.; Schlexer, F. V.; Pilgrim, K. L.; Schwartz, M. K. 2006. The efficacy of wire and glue hair snares in identifying mesocarnivores. Wildlife Society Bulletin 34:1152-1161.
- Zielinski, W. J.; Slauson, K. M.; Bowles, A. E. 2007. The effect of off-highway vehicle use on the American marten in California, USA. Final report to the California Department of Parks and Recreation and the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region. Pacific Southwest Research Station, Arcata, CA: 28 p.
- Zielinski, W.J.; Zinck, J.; Mazurek, M. J. 2007. Identifying the species of bats roosting in redwood basal hollows using genetic methods. Northwest Science 81:155-162.
- Raphael, M.G.; Baldwin, J.; Falxa, G.A.; Huff, M.H.; Lance, M.; Miller, S. L.; Pearson, S.F.; Ralph, C.J.; Strong, C.; Thompson, C. 2007. Regional population monitoring of the Marbled Murrelet: Field and analytical methods. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-716. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 70 p.
- Herzog, C. J.; Kays, R. W.; Ray, J. C.; Gompper, M. E.; Zielinski, W. J.; Higgins, R.; Tymeson, M. 2007. Using patterns in track-plate footprints to identify individual fishers. Journal of Wildlife Management 71:955-963.
- Lawler, S. P.; Pope, K. L. 2006. Non-native fish in mountain lakes: effects on a declining amphibian and ecosystem subsidy. UC Water Resources Center Technical Completion Report No. W-987. October 2006. Number of pages unknown.
- Manley, P. N.; Van Horne, B.; Roth, J. K.; Zielinski, W. J.; McKenzie, M. M.; Weller, T. J.; Weckerly, F. W.; Hargis, C. 2006. Multiple species inventory and monitoring technical guide. Gen. Tech. Rept. GTR-WO. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington Office, Washington, D.C.: number of pages unknown.
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