Scholarly Works, Fish and Wildlife Conservation

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Species introductions shift seed dispersal potential more than extinctions across 120 island plant–frugivore communities
Heinen, Julia H.; Drake, Donald R.; McConkey, Kim; Hume, Julian P.; Albert, Sébastien; Ando, Haruko; Baider, Cláudia; Bellingham, Peter J.; Case, Samuel B.; Chimera, Charles G.; Florens, F. B. Vincent; Fricke, Evan C.; Gawel, Ann Marie; González-Castro, Aaron; Heleno, Ruben; Hervias-Parejo, Sandra; Hruska, Amy; Imada, Clyde T.; de Lima, Ricardo F.; Nogales, Manuel; Rogers, Haldre S.; Rumeu, Beatriz; Strasberg, Dominique; Traveset, Anna; Valido, Alfredo; Watanabe, Kenta; Wotton, Debra; Yoshikawa, Tetsuro; Rahbek, Carsten; Borregaard, Michael K. (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2025-10-01)
Oceanic islands are hotspots of both species extinctions and introductions, which led to marked changes in species composition. This may disrupt key ecological interactions, such as animal-mediated seed dispersal, with potential long-term impacts on ecosystem structure and functioning. While some recent studies on individual taxa and islands report functional shifts, there has been no globally comprehensive study of how these changes vary in intensity and direction across islands. Importantly, it remains unclear how changes in traits of animal communities actually translate to ecologically relevant mismatches with native plant species. We report widespread functional remodeling of frugivore communities based on frugivory-specific traits of all native, extinct, and introduced vertebrate frugivores (birds, mammals, reptiles) from 120 islands in 22 archipelagos. There is a trend for taxonomic and functional substitution, mainly of nonvolant terrestrial mammalian omnivores replacing large-gaped flying frugivores, which caused a mismatch between gape size and seed size. This shift in seed dispersal potential risks underestimation in single-taxon studies. Overall, vertebrate introductions outnumbered extinctions both in terms of species (44 vs. 23%) and islands affected (92 vs. 76%). Moreover, introductions have driven stronger shifts in frugivore trait space compared to extinctions. However, the general patterns are modulated by substantial spatial variation and idiosyncratic functional shifts within frugivore communities on some islands. This, coupled with differences in plant seed size distributions, leads to variability in realized functional mismatches among islands. These results emphasize challenges with predicting functional responses to anthropogenic activities, while highlighting that remodeling of ecosystem interactions is a global concern.
Spatial occupancy patterns of the endangered northern long-eared bat in New England
De La Cruz, Jesse L.; Deeley, Sabrina M.; Hunter, Elizabeth A.; Ford, W. Mark (Wiley, 2025-11-25)
Aim: White-nose syndrome has caused severe declines in eastern North American cave bats, leading to the federal listing of the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) as endangered in the United States and Canada. This has heightened the importance of long- term monitoring to inform species status assessments. We employed a combination of long-term repeated and single- eason acoustic survey data to assess the regional presence, spatial distribution, occupancy, and detection probability of northern long- eared bats. Location: New England, United States. Methods: We analysed acoustic data from 2357 detector sites, aggregated by year, using Bayesian single-species occupancy models. We investigated the influence of habitat characteristics, climatic variables, and year (2015–2022) on occupancy and the effects of weather conditions and survey month (May to August) on detection probability. Spatial random effects were included to address residual spatial autocorrelation, with a 1-km resolution chosen based on significant positive autocorrelation observed in a non- spatial model. Results: Occupancy was highest on steep, forested hillsides with minimal anthropogenic development, higher in warmer regions, particularly along coastlines and on offshore islands, and declined across survey years. Including a 1-km spatial random effect reduced residual autocorrelation and suggests northern long- eared bats utilise resources at small to medium landscape scales. Detection probability was highest earlier in the maternity season, but declined when monthly precipitation or temperature exceeded average conditions. Conclusions: Conservation efforts that focus on steep, forested hillsides in warmer regions with low anthropogenic development could be beneficial. Our analysis supports the use of spatial random effects at a 1-km2 scale, highlighting the importance of survey designs that capture ecological variation at species- specific resolutions. Additionally, early- season acoustic surveys conducted during favourable weather conditions may improve monitoring effectiveness. Acoustic sampling and spatial occupancy modelling offer powerful tools for monitoring remnant populations of northern long-eared bats and guiding conservation practices.
Modeling the risk of aquatic species invasion spread through boater movements and river connections
Kinsley, Amy C.; Kao, Szu-Yu Zoe; Enns, Eva A.; Escobar, Luis E.; Qiao, Huijie; Snellgrove, Nicholas; Muellner, Ulirich; Muellner, Petra; Muthukrishnan, Ranjan; Craft, Meggan E.; Larkin, Daniel J.; Phelps, Nicholas B. D. (Wiley, 2024-08-01)
Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are one of the greatest threats to the functioning of aquatic ecosystems worldwide. Once an invasive species has been introduced to a new region, many governments develop management strategies to reduce further spread. Nevertheless, managing AIS in a new region is challenging because of the vast areas that need protection and limited resources. Spatial heterogeneity in invasion risk is driven by environmental suitability and propagule pressure, which can be used to prioritize locations for surveillance and intervention activities. To better understand invasion risk across aquatic landscapes, we developed a simulation model to estimate the likelihood of a waterbody becoming invaded with an AIS. The model included waterbodies connected via a multilayer network that included boater movements and hydrological connections. In a case study of Minnesota, we used zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and starry stonewort (Nitellopsis obtusa) as model species. We simulated the impacts of management scenarios developed by stakeholders and created a decision-support tool available through an online application provided as part of the AIS Explorer dashboard. Our baseline model revealed that 89% of new zebra mussel invasions and 84% of new starry stonewort invasions occurred through boater movements, establishing it as a primary pathway of spread and offering insights beyond risk estimates generated by traditional environmental suitability models alone. Our results highlight the critical role of interventions applied to boater movements to reduce AIS dispersal.
Landscape influences on thermal sensitivity and predicted spatial variability among brook trout streams in the southeastern USA
Valentine, George P.; Lu, Xinyi; Dolloff, C. Andrew; Roghair, Craig N.; Rash, Jacob M.; Hooten, Mevin B.; Kanno, Yoichiro (Wiley, 2024-09-01)
Warming water temperatures as a result of climate change pose a major threat to coldwater organisms. However, the rate of warming is not spatially uniform due to surface-ground-water interactions and stream and watershed characteristics. Coldwater habitats that are most resistant to warming serve as thermal refugia and identifying their locations is critical to regional aquatic conservation planning. We quantified the thermal sensitivity of 203 streams providing current and potential habitat for brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) across nearly 1000 linear km of their native range in the southern and central Appalachian Mountains region, USA, and characterized their spatial variability with landscape variables available in the National Hydrography Dataset. Using the Bayesian framework, we calculated the maximum slope of the logistic function relating paired weekly mean air temperature and stream temperature as an index of stream thermal sensitivity. Streams differed greatly in thermal sensitivity and those with more resistant water temperature regimes (i.e., thermal refugia) were consistently characterized by southerly latitudes and groundwater input. Landscape variables derived from a principal component analysis explained 16% of the variation in thermal sensitivity, indicating that the existing landscape variables were modestly successful in explaining spatial thermal heterogeneity. Using our model and spatial interpolation, we predicted thermal sensitivity at 8695 stream segments potentially suitable for brook trout in the study region. Thermal refugia were more common southward presumably due to higher elevations, but elsewhere they were also clustered at finer spatial scales. Our analysis informs prioritizing habitat conservation and restoration of this native salmonid and other aquatic organisms that depend on coldwater habitats in a warming world.
Unexpected effect of geographic origin on post-translocation survival in a long-lived reptile, the gopher tortoise
Loope, Kevin J.; Cozad, R. A.; Breakfield, D. B.; Aresco, M. J.; Hunter, Elizabeth A. (Wiley, 2024-10-01)
Mitigation translocations move wildlife from specific areas due to conflict with humans over land use at the site. A critical decision when carrying out mitigation translocation is the acceptable distance across which animals can be moved. This decision trades off logistical expediency of unrestricted translocation with the risk of reducing translocation success due to environmental mismatch between origin and translocation site conditions. In this study, we used a large dataset of 502 individually identifiable carcasses to examine the role of geographic origin and translocation distance in the relative survival of 2822 translocated subadult and adult gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus), a species experiencing large-scale mitigation translocation, at a recipient site in the Florida panhandle, USA. We hypothesized that if climate or habitat differences between the origin and translocation site influenced survival, tortoises translocated from within the Florida panhandle would have the highest survival. To the contrary, we found that survival slightly increased with increasing climatic difference between origin and recipient site, driven by higher survival of tortoises coming from central Florida sites compared to those from the panhandle and north Florida. This suggests that environmental mismatch due to long-distance translocation is not a main driver of mortality. These models also indicated an effect of season, with a survival advantage to tortoises translocated in the spring and late fall, relative to summer translocations, and a negative effect of initial density on survival. Finally, we also estimated the upper bound on annual survival in three well-monitored groups to be quite low (92-95%) for several years following release, suggesting caution when considering large translocated populations to be viable without first assessing adult survival. Our unexpected results highlight the importance of investigating species-specific sensitivities to translocation distances and indicate the limitations of assumed linear effects of translocation distance on outcomes.
The Power of Working Together: Designing, Implementing, and Sustaining a Community of Practice to Support Organizational and Conservation Outcomes
Livingston, Sami; Dayer, Ashley A.; Reynolds, Debra (Virginia Tech, 2025-10)
This guidance document aims to provide conservation practitioners and professionals with the knowledge, tools, and resources needed to facilitate and participate in Communities of Practice (CoPs). A CoP is a group of people who meet regularly to work toward the same goal or address the same challenge in a collaborative, learning-oriented space. By providing a platform for regular communication, resource sharing, and problem-solving, CoPs can enhance on-the-ground capacity for implementing scientific knowledge and ensure practice aligns with conservation goals. In this document, conservationists will learn 1) what CoPs are and how they benefit conservation and organizational goals; 2) how to form a CoP and recruit members; and 3) recommendations for implementing and sustaining CoPs. Grounded in real-world experiences, published literature, and first-hand experiences from the authors, this guidance document combines practical, actionable strategies with insights from published evaluations to provide conservation professionals with user-friendly guidance on engaging in and sustaining CoPs. A case study example focused on reducing human disturbance to shorebirds is included to illustrate how a well-supported CoP can generate meaningful outcomes for practitioners, organizations, and conservation efforts. This document contains talking points, check sheets, FAQs, tips, and examples for readers to use with their own CoPs.
Microplastic burden in native (Cambarus appalachiensis) and non-native (Faxonius cristavarius) crayfish along semi-rural and urban streams in southwest Virginia, USA
Gray, Austin; Mayer, Kathleen; Gore, Beija; Gaesser, Megan; Ferguson, Nathan (Academic Press – Elsevier, 2024-10-01)
Our comparative assessment is the first study to investigate microplastic body burden in native (Cambarus appalachiensis) and non-native (Faxonius cristavarius) crayfish along a semi-rural and urban stream across different seasons. Crayfish, sediment, and surface water were collected, processed, and characterized using mu Raman spectroscopy to compare microplastic polymer types and shapes across compartments. Average surface water concentrations were significantly higher in our urban stream compared to our semi-rural stream (17.3 +/- 2.4 particles/L and 9.9 +/- 1.3 particles/L, respectively; P = 0.015). Average sediment concentrations were similar between urban and semi-rural streams (140 +/- 14.5 particles/kg and 139 +/- 22.5 particles/kg, respectively; P = 0.957). Our findings showed a significant interactive effect of season, site, and nativity (i.e., species) regarding microplastic body burden in crayfish (P = 0.004). The smaller, non-native crayfish amassed more microplastic particles than the native crayfish (0.4-2.0 particles/g versus 0.4-0.8 particles/g, respectively). Fibers and fragments were the most common polymer shapes across compartments, with white and black being the dominant particle colors. Our study identified 13 plastic polymer types in crayfish and three in surface water and sediment; polypropylene was the most common polymer across compartments. This study provides evidence that crayfish body burden of microplastics can differ across species, seasons, and locations, highlighting the need for future studies to consider that sublethal impacts associated with microplastic body burden may vary by region and species.
Building genomically-informed demographic models to guide management of invasive hybrids
Cooper, Robert D.; Messerman, Arianne F.; Searcy, Christopher A.; Toffelmier, Erin; Grether, Gregory F.; Shaffer, H. Bradley (Wiley, 2025-10)
Invasive species present one of the most challenging threats to native biodiversity, particularly when they hybridize with imperiled native taxa. In California, hybridization between the endangered California tiger salamander ("CTS," Ambystoma californiense) and the invasive barred tiger salamander ("BTS," Ambystoma mavortium) is one of the best understood examples of this management challenge. Reclusive life history and cryptic hybridization, often on private land, render eradication programs difficult or impossible. This study evaluates hydroperiod management as a tool to conserve and maintain native CTS populations threatened by hybridization. We adapt a recent, empirically informed Bayesian integral projection model (IPM) for CTS to incorporate new results that link genotype and ecology to fitness, and use this individual-based model to evaluate alternative management scenarios. We found overwhelming support for the importance of hydrology in both native and hybrid populations, where a 10-day increase in hydroperiod can increase population growth rate ( λ $$ \uplambda $$ ) 17% and triple the carrying-capacity (K). We assess hydroperiod management as a strategy to control and contain hybrid introgression, and suggest a three-pronged strategy. First, for native populations not at risk of hybridization, hydroperiod should be increased to >120 days to support robust populations. Second, within the geographic hybrid zone, hydroperiod should be reduced to limit hybrid populations, maintain vernal pool function, and improve the efficiency of adult hybrid removal. Finally, our models indicate that managers should combine hydroperiod management with rapid field-based genotyping and hybrid removal, focusing on ponds where hybrids are rare, typically at the leading edge of the hybrid swarm. Efforts should also prioritize high-intensity surveys and early removal as opposed to long-duration (10+ years), lower effort surveys. This study demonstrates the value of integrating demographic, genetic, and ecological information to evaluate strategies for endangered species management, and may serve as modeling framework for a wide variety of imperiled species.
A hydrologic and land cover-based habitat model for use in bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) conservation
Feaga, Jeffrey B.; Barron, Joseph C.; Brooks, George C.; Frimpong, Emmanuel A.; Haas, Carola A.; Holden, Michael T.; Hultin, Emma A. (Wiley, 2024-07-01)
The endangered bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) exemplifies issues related to rare species conservation; presence surveys have low detection and variables used in habitat models can lack relevance to established biological relationships of the species to its environment. The species' use of groundwater saturated soils and stream networks as core habitat and dispersal corridors has been documented. Less is known about the landscape factors that promote the formation and persistence of wetlands used for core habitat. A GIS-based resource selection function was developed to predict bog turtle habitat use. Trained on 1 ha plots centred on occupied sites and pseudo-absent plots constrained to areas within 56.4 m to stream network centrelines, the model tested the capacity of a topographic wetness index (TWI), stream order and soil, wetland and land cover type to predict the presence of suitable habitat and turtle occupancy. Landscape variables were sampled at 10 m resolution, but variable selection and model performance were analysed at 100 m resolution to maintain a biologically relevant 1 ha habitat scale and accommodate the resolution of other variables. Suitable habitat and turtle presence were best predicted by intermediate to high values of TWI, land cover with low vegetation height and wetlands, second- and third-order streams and the occurrence of mapped National Wetland Inventory polygons and hydric soils. Very high values of TWI were negatively associated with habitat suitability. The area under the curve of the best model was 0.833. Suitable habitat was found on 88% of 55 independent sites selected using the model and nine new occupied sites were confirmed. Model error is discussed with consideration of human-altered drainage networks on the agricultural landscape.
Hatcheries maintain high genetic variation but show shifts in genetic structure of progenies of five endangered riffleshell species (Epioblasma) (Bivalvia: Unionidae) of the eastern United States
Jones, Jess W.; Ortiz, Katlyn; Lane, Timothy W.; Colletti, Sarah; Leach, Tiffany; McGregor, Monte; Jacobs, Julieann; Hallerman, Eric M. (Wiley, 2024-08-01)
1. We assessed genetic variation at mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and nuclear DNA microsatellites for progeny (i.e., juveniles produced at a hatchery) of five endangered Epioblasma species reared at three hatcheries in the eastern United States. 2. The progeny of Epioblasma aureola, Epioblasma brevidens, Epioblasma obliquata and Epioblasma triquetra showed no loss of mtDNA haplotype diversity relative to broodstock (i.e., wild collected gravid females used to produce juveniles) and wildstock (i.e., individuals sampled in the wild to assess baseline genetic diversity), while progeny of Epioblasma capsaeformis showed no loss relative to broodstock but an similar to 50% loss relative to wildstock. 3. At DNA microsatellites, mean expected heterozygosities (H-e) were maintained in wildstock, broodstock and progeny, with the lowest values observed in E. aureola and E. triquetra. Among progeny, values of H-e and allelic richness (A) at times exceeded those observed in the wildstock and broodstock. Hence, no loss of genetic variation at DNA microsatellites was observed in progeny among species. 4. We documented multiple paternity in progeny of E. aureola, E. capsaeformis and E. obliquata and in part attribute their high H-e and A to fertilization of broodstock females by multiple males in the wild. 5. We observed significant divergence in F-ST and D values between progeny to wildstock and progeny to broodstock. Most pairwise comparisons for E. brevidens and E. capsaeformis were significantly diverged, and for E. obliquata, divergence was low but also significantly different, and only for E. aureola was it low and nonsignificant. 6. Our results showed that population genetic structure can develop quickly between progeny and their progenitors in the first generation (F-1) of offspring produced from a set of parents and that genetic diversity at mtDNA and nuclear DNA microsatellites was generally maintained in progeny of endangered Epioblasma species reared at three mussel hatcheries utilizing current propagation practices.
Common-garden experiment reveals outbreeding depression and region-of-origin effects on reproductive success in a frequently translocated tortoise
Loope, Kevin J.; DeSha, J. N.; Aresco, M. J.; Shoemaker, K. T.; Hunter, Elizabeth A. (Wiley, 2025-04-01)
Human-mediated animal movement can expose wildlife populations to novel environments. Phenotypic plasticity can buffer against the challenges presented by novel environments, while adaptation to local ecosystems may limit resilience in novel ecosystems. Outbreeding depression during the mixing of disparate gene pools can also reduce reproductive success after long-distance movement. Here, we use a 'common-garden' population of gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus), translocated from numerous sites across the state of Florida, USA, to a mitigation site in the north-west (panhandle) region to assess whether geographic origin, outbreeding effects, and behavioral plasticity influence reproductive success in this threatened keystone species. We found that females from north-east Florida produced clutches with lower hatching success than females from other regions. We detected regional differentiation in nest site selection behavior in the common environment of the translocation site, though these differences did not mediate the regional effect on hatching success. We also found evidence for outbreeding depression: hatching success declined with increasing parental geographic and genetic distances, dropping from 93% to 67% across the range of observed parental genetic distances. Together, these results suggest that newly admixed populations may suffer reproductive costs due to historical population differentiation, and that undetected outbreeding depression could significantly hamper conservation efforts for this species and others undergoing a variety of human-mediated movements. Animals are frequently translocated to mitigate habitat loss. Studying a translocated gopher tortoise population with individuals of diverse geographic origin, we found evidence of outbreeding depression: parents originating from more geographically separated sites produced eggs less likely to hatch. We also observed that nest site selection partially depended on female region of origin when reproducing at a common site, suggesting regional differentiation and imperfect behavioral plasticity in response to environmental change. These results suggest that outbreeding depression may be more common than previously thought, and that subtle geographic differentiation may present challenges for large-scale, long-distance translocation as a mitigation strategy.image
Discovery of Cryptic Mussel Biodiversity in the Genera Pleurobema and Pleuronaia Using Molecular Phylogenetics and Morphology, with Descriptions of a New Species and a Previously Synonymized Species
Schilling, Daniel E.; Jones, Jess W.; Hallerman, Eric M.; Phipps, Andrew T.; Dinkins, Gerald R. (MDPI, 2025-10-21)
Freshwater mussels in the genera Fusconaia, Pleurobema, and Pleuronaia are similar in their external shell morphology, which has made the identification and classification of species within these genera difficult and led to many taxonomic revisions. Large samples (N = 464) of select mussel species in these genera were collected from 2012 through 2014, primarily in the upper Tennessee River basin of Tennessee and Virginia, USA. Mitochondrial ND1 and nuclear ITS1 DNA sequences were analyzed to assess phylogenetic relationships among taxa. Ten species were verified as phylogenetically distinct at ND1, two of which were cryptic and previously unrecognized species. Described herein as Pleurobema parmaleei and Pleuronaia estabrookianus, each species clade was diverged at this gene region by ~3.0% from the respective closest congener. The nuclear ITS1 gene region’s nucleotide-site insertion/deletion (indel) patterns were analyzed as single mutational events rather than as fifth character states or missing data. Most species, including these two, were phylogenetically distinct at the ITS1 region when incorporating indels into analyses, but some estimated interspecific pairwise distances were lower than corresponding intraspecific estimates. Among morphological traits assessed for each species, differences in foot color and gravidity characteristics illustrated differences between phylogenetically recognized species and their closest congeners. Due to the limited known geographical distributions of these two cryptic species, each may require protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. While this study collected large sample sizes for each species, many streams in the basin remain unsampled and could potentially contain populations of these species or additional cryptic species.
Comparing the effects of marking techniques on the survival of Piping Plover chicks
Wails, Christy N.; Catlin, Daniel H.; Robinson, Samantha G.; Bellman, Henrietta A.; Oliver, Katie W.; Vanderwater, Hope L.; Dorsey, Sharon S.; DeRose-Wilson, Audrey; Karpanty, Sarah M.; Fraser, James D. (Springer, 2025-01-01)
The use of unique markers in ornithology has a long history and is predicated on the assumption that markers have negligible effects on behavior and survival. The assumption that marks are harmless is particularly important with imperiled species. We studied the effects of two different marking schemes on Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus), a small shorebird protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act that is intensively monitored and managed. We used two marking schemes, (1) color bands and (2) uniquely engraved flags during breeding seasons from 2013 to 2023 to determine whether the injuries were causing additive mortality and thus actually limiting populations. We estimated the effect of perceived limping and injury (e.g., swelling, laceration, etc.) on chick and hatch-year survival. We detected injuries in some years and associated with both marking schemes (range 0.0-6.0%, average = 2.7% of marked chicks each year). Interval survival for banded chicks was like that of flagged chicks (ß = - 0.55, 95% BCI: - 1.30-0.33, f = 0.92). Mean survival to fledging, however, was higher in years where flags were used ( ϕ ¯ = 0.55 +/- 0.14) than when bands were used ( ϕ ¯ = 0.34 +/- 0.14), but we surmise that this difference was partly conflated with negative density-dependent factors (ß = - 0.49, 95% BCI: - 0.73 to - 0.25, f = 1.00) and predation. Our results show that pre-fledge survival of birds with uniquely coded flags was similar to that of birds receiving color bands. There was also no evidence that injured birds had a significantly lower hatch-year survival than those that were not injured. However, the relatively high (up to 6%) injury rate in some years remains a concern. Injury and survival rates need to be considered and evaluated when deciding on whether to mark individuals. Ultimately, wildlife practitioners should strive to use the best methods for information gathering and management, without negatively impacting the species.
Red fox home ranges, activity patterns, and resource selection on an Atlantic barrier island
Black, Kathleen M.; Karpanty, Sarah M.; Ritter, Shannon J.; Catlin, Daniel H.; Fraser, James D. (Wiley, 2025-02-01)
Relatively little is known about red fox (Vulpes vulpes) spatial ecology on barrier islands, where semi-linear habitat distribution and aquatic barriers may affect terrestrial movements. Because red foxes often are a predator of imperiled shorebirds in these ecosystems, and predation is often managed along with other factors such as habitat limitation, this information is needed to inform effective holistic management. The goals of this study were to describe red fox spatial ecology in a barrier island ecosystem and compare these findings to the existing literature on red fox space use in other coastal settings. We used global positioning system (GPS) collar data collected from 2015-2018 from 31 red foxes to estimate sizes of home ranges and core-use areas, describe daily activity patterns, and investigate within-home-range resource selection among red foxes on Fire Island, New York, USA. Twenty-two of 31 red foxes maintained distinct home ranges throughout the monitoring period, while 9 were transient, regularly traveling through the home ranges of other red foxes and among management units across the island. Observed GPS-collared red fox home range sizes (95% time local convex hull [t-LoCoH] isopleths) ranged from 10 ha to 659 ha, averaging 59 +/- 7 ha (SE) among resident foxes and 447 +/- 46 ha among transient foxes. Core-use areas (50% t-LoCoH isopleths) ranged from <1 ha to 268 ha, averaging 10 +/- 1 ha among resident foxes and 67 +/- 27 ha among transient foxes. Hourly minimum movement rates varied across the diel cycle and among individuals, averaging 216 m/hour +/- 9 m/hour, and were highest 13-22 hours after sunrise. Within-home-range resource selection varied among activity periods. For example, red foxes selected areas closer than expected to vegetation based on availability during the daytime and twilight hours but farther than expected from vegetation at night. We recommend vegetation management in and around shorebird nesting areas to reduce daytime resting sites and hunting cover for red foxes while improving suitability for use by nesting shorebirds. We also suggest coordination of predator management activities across agencies in this situation and in others where predators regularly cross management unit boundaries. Overall, we found that many aspects of red fox space use in the study area, such as smaller average home ranges compared to those in other ecosystems, were similar to that of red foxes in other coastal settings; additional research is needed to determine whether this holds true in other barrier island systems.
Community perceptions of invasive species and environmental management in a US island territory
Gawel, Ann; Wald, Dara; Rogers, Haldre S. (Wiley, 2024-12-01)
Environmental managers struggle with communicating accurate and relevant information and with gaining trust from the communities they serve, problems that are especially pronounced in minority and colonized communities. An important step in developing successful management strategies is partnering directly with the communities involved, but community perceptions are rarely surveyed thoroughly when developing these strategies. We held discussions with 73 people across 22 small groups about their perceptions of environmental issues, with a focus on invasive species, on the island of Gu & aring;han (Guam), a US island territory with a long and continued history of colonization by Western countries. We conducted these small group discussions with long-time residents to learn about their environmental concerns and perceptions of invasive species and management efforts. Using grounded theory, we identified themes concerning apathy, proenvironmental behaviors, frustrations with efficacy, and disconnectedness from environmental decision-making among residents of Gu & aring;han. Residents expressed feeling disconnected from management decisions, which they critiqued as ineffective, but largely felt helpless to affect. Still, residents related to us their proenvironmental behaviors (e.g., picking up litter and controlling invasive species) and expressed a desire to learn more about management efforts. Our results highlight a clear need for improvement and expansion of engagement with Gu & aring;han residents about environmental management, as well as opportunities to engage with a concerned and potentially proactive community. Percepciones comunitarias de las especies invasoras y la gesti & oacute;n ambiental en un territorio insular de los Estados Unidos Los gestores ambientales tienen dificultades para comunicar informaci & oacute;n precisa y pertinente y para ganarse la confianza de las comunidades a las que sirven, problemas pronunciados en las comunidades minoritarias y colonizadas. Un paso importante en el desarrollo de estrategias de gesti & oacute;n eficaces es la colaboraci & oacute;n directa con las comunidades implicadas, pero las percepciones de la comunidad rara vez se estudian a fondo cuando se desarrollan estas estrategias. En la isla de Gu & aring;han (Guam), un territorio insular de los Estados Unidos con una larga y continua historia de colonizaci & oacute;n por parte de pa & iacute;ses occidentales, mantuvimos conversaciones con 73 personas en 22 grupos reducidos sobre su percepci & oacute;n de los problemas ambientales, con especial atenci & oacute;n a las especies invasoras. Realizamos estos debates en peque & ntilde;os grupos con residentes habituales para conocer sus preocupaciones ambientales y sus percepciones sobre las especies invasoras y los esfuerzos de gesti & oacute;n. Usamos la teor & iacute;a fundamentada e identificamos temas relacionados con la apat & iacute;a, los comportamientos proambientales, las frustraciones con la eficacia y la desconexi & oacute;n con la toma de decisiones ambientales entre los residentes de Gu & aring;han. Los residentes manifestaron sentirse desconectados de las decisiones de gesti & oacute;n, que criticaron por ineficaces, pero sobre las que se sent & iacute;an incapaces de influir. Aun as & iacute;, los residentes nos relataron sus comportamientos proambientales (por ejemplo, recoger la basura y controlar las especies invasoras) y expresaron su deseo de aprender m & aacute;s sobre los esfuerzos de gesti & oacute;n. Nuestros resultados ponen de manifiesto la clara necesidad de mejorar y ampliar la colaboraci & oacute;n con los residentes de Gu & aring;han en materia de gesti & oacute;n ambiental, pero tambi & eacute;n las oportunidades de colaborar con una comunidad preocupada y potencialmente proactiva. ResumenPercepciones comunitarias de las especies invasoras y la gesti & oacute;n ambiental en un territorio insular de los Estados Unidos Los gestores ambientales tienen dificultades para comunicar informaci & oacute;n precisa y pertinente y para ganarse la confianza de las comunidades a las que sirven, problemas pronunciados en las comunidades minoritarias y colonizadas. Un paso importante en el desarrollo de estrategias de gesti & oacute;n eficaces es la colaboraci & oacute;n directa con las comunidades implicadas, pero las percepciones de la comunidad rara vez se estudian a fondo cuando se desarrollan estas estrategias. En la isla de Gu & aring;han (Guam), un territorio insular de los Estados Unidos con una larga y continua historia de colonizaci & oacute;n por parte de pa & iacute;ses occidentales, mantuvimos conversaciones con 73 personas en 22 grupos reducidos sobre su percepci & oacute;n de los problemas ambientales, con especial atenci & oacute;n a las especies invasoras. Realizamos estos debates en peque & ntilde;os grupos con residentes habituales para conocer sus preocupaciones ambientales y sus percepciones sobre las especies invasoras y los esfuerzos de gesti & oacute;n. Usamos la teor & iacute;a fundamentada e identificamos temas relacionados con la apat & iacute;a, los comportamientos proambientales, las frustraciones con la eficacia y la desconexi & oacu Los residentes manifestaron sentirse desconectados de las decisiones de gesti & oacute;n, que criticaron por ineficaces, pero sobre las que se sent & iacute;an incapaces de influir. Aun as & iacute;, los residentes nos relataron sus comportamientos proambientales (por ejemplo, recoger la basura y controlar las especies invasoras) y expresaron su deseo de aprender m & aacute;s sobre los esfuerzos de gesti & oacute;n. Nuestros resultados ponen de manifiesto la clara necesidad de mejorar y ampliar la colaboraci & oacute;n con los residentes de Gu & aring;han en materia de gesti & oacute;n ambiental, pero tambi & eacute;n las oportunidades de colaborar con una comunidad preocupada y potencialmente proactiva. Resumen [(sic)(sic)](sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(Gu & aring;han)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)22(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)73(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic),(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic),(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)((sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).[(sic)(sic):(sic)(sic)(sic);(sic)(sic):(sic)(sic)(sic)]
Enhancing resilience of Lake Victoria’s fisheries: Strengthening women’s fisheries organizations for sustainable food systems
Nyboer, Elizabeth A. (Virginia Tech, 2025-09-18)
The inland fisheries of Lake Victoria in East Africa are dynamic with multiple interacting forces shaping access to sustainable aquatic foods. Women in the fisheries sector face diverse adaptation challenges; yet, lack of sex-disaggregated research has hindered the development of equitable adaptive strategies. In Lake Victoria, over half a million women rely on fisheries for their livelihoods and play an integral role in the post-harvest handling, processing, and trade of fish and fish products. Women also contribute critically to household- and community-level food and nutrition security through their responsibilities in procuring and preparing household meals. Nevertheless, women are marginalized in decision making processes at community and household levels and lack access to key determinants of adaptive capacity. This talk will explore barriers and solutions to climate change adaptation for women in fisheries in Lake Victoria and explore promising avenues toward full autonomy and agency.
Flocks Project Survey
Thayer, Nathan; Dayer, Ashley A.; Shizuka, Daizaburo (2024)
The Flocks Project worked with members of ornithological societies to survey members experiences in the discipline and perceptions of diversity initiatives and the need for affinity groups. The Flocks Project survey instrument collected data on several key indicators: namely, belonging; care; resilience; perceptions of diversity efforts; experiences with and desires for affinity groups; and, demographic information. The survey instrument has been made publicly available so that it can be adapted for other organizations and scientific disciplines.
A Unionid Mussel Biodiversity Hotspot Experiencing Unexplained Declines: Evaluating the Influence of Chemical Stressors Using Caged Juveniles
Wilson, W. Aaron; Bergeron, Christine; Archambault, Jennifer; Unrine, Jason; Jones, Jess; Beaty, Braven; Shea, Damian; Lazaro, Peter R.; Callihan, Jody L.; Rogers, Jennifer J.; Cope, W. Gregory (MDPI, 2025-07-22)
Unionid mussel populations in a section of the Clinch River in Virginia, USA, has declined substantially, but the causes of the decline remain unknown. To investigate this zone of decline (ZOD), we deployed juvenile freshwater mussels (Villosa iris in 2012 and Lampsilis fasciola in 2013) in both cages and silos at sites within the Clinch River System. We analyzed mussel tissues for trace element and organic contaminant concentrations, shells for trace elements, and environmental media (total water, dissolved water, particulate sediment, and bedload sediment) for both inorganic and organic contaminants. We found a few differences between mussels deployed in cages and those deployed in silos: survival was slightly lower in cages due to periodic sedimentation. Our results identified the ZOD based on the accumulation of trace elements (notably As, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Sr), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and δ¹⁵N enrichment, with especially high concentrations found in the human-impacted tributaries, Dumps Creek and Guest River. Some correlations were found between environmental media and both mussel tissues and shells. In particular, PAHs and Mn had several significant relationships between bioaccumulated concentrations and environmental concentrations. Finally, Co, Cu, Fe, and V in soft tissues negatively correlated with mussel growth, whereas bioaccumulated PAH concentrations correlated negatively with resident mussel densities.
The Bat Signal: An Ultraviolet Light Lure to Increase Acoustic Detection of Bats
Freeze, Samuel R.; Deeley, Sabrina M.; Litterer, Amber S.; Freeze, J. Mark; Ford, W. Mark (MDPI, 2025-08-21)
Bats are a taxa of high conservation concern and are facing numerous threats including widespread mortality due to White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) in North America. With this decline comes increasing difficulty in monitoring imperiled bat species due to lower detection probabilities of both mist-netting and acoustic surveys. Lure technology shows promise to increase detection while decreasing sampling effort; however, to date research has primarily focused on increasing physical captures during mist-net surveys using sound lures. Because much bat monitoring is now performed using acoustic detection, there is a similar need to increase detection probabilities during acoustic surveys. Ultraviolet (UV) lights anecdotally have been shown to attract insects and thereby attract foraging bats for observational studies and to experimentally provide a food source for WNS-impacted bats before and after hibernation. Therefore, we constructed a field-portable and programmable UV lure device to determine the value of lures for increasing acoustic detection of bats. We tested if the lure device increased both the echolocation passes and feeding activity (feeding buzzes) across a transect of bat detectors. There was an increase in feeding activity around the UV light, with a nuanced, species-specific and positionally dependent effect on echolocation passes received. The UV light lure increased echolocation passes for the eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), and evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis), but decreased passes of the North American hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus). The northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) showed a negative response within the illuminated area but increased echolocation activity outside the illuminated area during lure treatment and activity was elevated at all positions after the lure was deactivated. Our study demonstrates some potential utility of UV lures in increasing the feeding activity and acoustic detection of bats. Additional research and development of UV lure technology may be beneficial, including alternating on and off periods to improve detection of light-averse species, and improving echolocation call quality along with the increase in received passes.
Home range size and resource use of male eastern wild turkeys in West Virginia
De La Cruz, Jesse L.; Rauch, Steven E.; Anderson, James T. (2025)
Age-related differences in habitat use are commonly observed among eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris). We investigated home range size and within home range habitat (third-order) selection of 55 radio-tracked adult and juvenile male wild turkeys across five ecological regions of West Virginia from September 2004 to August 2007. Mean core (50% fixed-kernel density estimates [KDE]; adult = 363.2 ha; juvenile = 447.6 ha) and peripheral (95% KDE; adult = 1635.4 ha; juvenile = 2105.8 ha) home range size estimates were large, but comparable to both historical and contemporary published estimates, particularly from forest-dominated areas. Resource use differed between age classes, particularly in relation to forest fragmentation metrics. Both adults and juveniles preferentially selected for deciduous forests, while avoiding developed land and open water. However, adults selected for forest edges and avoided non-forest areas and non-core forest patches. In contrast, juveniles utilized most fragmentation classes in proportion to their availability but avoided large core (>200 ha) forest areas. To benefit eastern wild turkey populations in West Virginia, management efforts should prioritize the creation and maintenance of forest edges in deciduous stands <200 ha, particularly in regions with minimal anthropogenic influence.

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