TTAAXXOONN TTIIMMEESS January 2014

Newsletter of the PA Biological Survey http://www.pabiologicalsurvey.org/

Officers President, Rob Criswell President Elect, Roger Latham NEXT STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING Immediate Past President, Tim Maret July 17, 2014, 9:30–3:30 Treasurer, Greg Czarnecki Secretary, Betsy Leppo Location:

Members-at-Large at the H.R. Stackhouse Training Center Academy of Natural Sciences, Jon Gelhaus 1150 Spring Creek Road Audubon Pennsylvania, Sarah Sargent Box Scores, Roger Latham Bellefonte, PA 16823 Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Directions: http://www.fish.state.pa.us/direction_stackhouse.htm John Rawlins Phone: 814-355-4159

Past President, Jerry Hassinger State Wildlife Grants, Diana Day or This newsletter contains the reports and discussions of the January 23, 2014 PABS Cathy Haffner steering committee meeting at the DCNR Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey The Nature Conservancy, Scott Bearer office in Middletown. Reports are provided in their entirety unless otherwise noted in the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Jennifer Siani Western PA Conservancy, Charles Bier report introduction. Copies of original reports available from the PABS Secretary, Wild Resource Conservation Program, email bleppo(at)paconserve.org

Greg Czarnecki Standing Committees Agency Representatives Community Classification, PA Dept. of Agriculture, Sven-Erik Ephraim Zimmerman Spichiger Climate Change, Greg Czarnecki PA Dept. of Environ. Protection, Dan Bogar Environmental Education, vacant PA Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources, Ellen Shultzabarger PA Fish & Boat Commission, Chris Urban PA Game Commission, Dan Brauning PA Natural Heritage Program, Greg Podniesinski or Jeff Wagner

Technical Committee Chairs Aquatic Arthropods, Jane Earle Arachnids, Charles Bier Bryophytes & Lichens, Scott Schuette Collections & Systematics, vacant Fishes, David Argent Mammals, Reg Hoyt or Charlie Eichelberger Mollusks, Elizabeth Meyer Ornithology, Margaret Brittingham Protists and Fungi, Barrie Overton Reptiles & Amphibians, Howard Reinert Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) - photo by Dave Leppo Terrestrial Arthropods, Betsy Leppo Vascular Plants, Chris Hardy TABLE OF CONTENTS

MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE ...... 3 OFFICERS’ REPORTS ...... 3 President’s Report ...... 3 Secretary’s Report ...... 3 Treasurer’s Report ...... 3 TECHNICAL COMMITTEE REPORTS ...... 4 Amphibian and Reptile Technical Committee ...... 4 Aquatic Arthropods Technical Committee ...... 4 Arachnids Technical Committee...... 4 Bryophytes and Lichens Technical Committee ...... 4 Collections and Systematics Technical Committee ...... 6 Fishes Technical Committee ...... 6 Mammals Technical Committee Submitted by Reg Hoyt and Charlie Eichelberger, MTC Co-chairs ...... 8 Mollusk Technical Committee ...... 9 Ornithological Technical Committee ...... 10 Protists and Fungi Technical Committee ...... 11 Terrestrial Arthropod Technical Committee ...... 11 Vascular Plant Technical Committee ...... 13 AGENCY REPORTS ...... 13 Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture...... 13 Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ...... 13 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection ...... 14 Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission ...... 14 Pennsylvania Game Commission – Bureau of Wildlife Management, Wildlife Diversity Division ...... 16 Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program ...... 18 MEMBERS-AT-LARGE...... 19 Academy of Natural Sciences ...... 19 Audubon Pennsylvania ...... 21 Box Scores ...... 21 Carnegie Museum of Natural History ...... 21 State Wildlife Action Plan & Federal Wildlife Funding ...... 22 The Nature Conservancy...... 23 United States Fish & Wildlife Service - PA Field Office ...... 24 Western Pennsylvania Conservancy ...... 25 Wild Resource Conservation Fund ...... 25 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS ...... 26 Climate Change Adaptation Standing Committee ...... 26 Plant Community Classification Standing Committee ...... 26 Environmental Education...... 27 OLD BUSINESS ...... 27 NEW BUSINESS ...... 27 NEXT MEETING ...... 27

2 MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE

David Argent (Fishes), Scott Bearer (The Nature Conservancy), Dan Bogar (Department of Environmental Protection), Dan Brauning (PA Game Commission, Wildlife Diversity Section, Rob Criswell (PABS President), Greg Czarnecki (PABS Treasurer and Wild Resource Conservation Program), Diana Day (Member at Large – State Wildlife Grants), Jane Earle (Aquatic Arthropods), Charlie Eichelberger (Mammal Co-Chair), Chris Hardy (Vascular Plants), Jerry Hassinger (Past President and Member at Large), Roger Latham (Member at Large – Box Scores), Betsy Leppo (Terrestrial Arthropods and PABS Secretary), Tim Maret (Immediate Past PABS President), Beth Meyer (Mollusks), Bob Morgan (PFBC invasive species), Greg Podniesinski (PA Natural Heritage Program), Sarah Sargent (Audubon PA Member at Large and representing Ornithology for Margaret Brittingham (Ornithological), Ellen Shultzabarger (PA Dept. of Conservation and Resources), Jennifer Siani (Member at Large – US Fish and Wildlife Service), Sven-Erik Spichiger (PA Department of Agriculture), Chris Urban (PA Fish and Boat Commission and representing Amphibians and Reptiles for Howard Reinert who is in Aruba), Ephraim Zimmerman (Community Classification Standing Committee)

President Rob Criswell welcomed everyone and opened the winter PABS steering committee meeting at 9:40 AM

OFFICERS’ REPORTS

President’s Report Presented by Rob Criswell, President

Rob thanked Jerry, Margaret, Reg, Carolyn and many others for their research on the endangered species act. Thanked Betsy for the updated PABS directory. Thanked Roger for putting together a new website and becoming the webmaster. The site really looks great! Check it out at http://www.pabiologicalsurvey.org/.

Secretary’s Report Presented by Betsy Leppo, Secretary

Leppo presented the minutes (formatted as the Taxon Times) from August 15, 2014 Steering Committee Meeting. The minutes were approved. Links the current Taxon Times and older newsletters and minutes are posted on the PABS website at http://www.pabiologicalsurvey.org/.

Treasurer’s Report Presented by Greg Czarnecki, Treasurer

Czarnecki provided the current report through December 31, 2013. Not much has changed. Bogar and Maret moved to accept the Treasurer’s report. The report was approved unanimously.

First National Bank checking account Deposits: None Checks Written: none Balance as of 12/31/2013….……………………………………………………….…………………...………...$ 17,366.66

Status of sub-accounts within the PABS Treasury Ornithology Technical Committee...... …………………….…… ...... ……...... , ...... $ 4,432.31 PABS general sub-account ...... ………………………………..……….. $ 12,934.35

3 TECHNICAL COMMITTEE REPORTS

Amphibian and Reptile Technical Committee Report submitted by Howard Reinert (Chair ARTC), presented by Chris Urban.

1. The recent activities of the PABS Amphibian and Reptile Technical Committee (ARTC) included the following:

2. The full ARTC met on November 14, 2013, at the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) Office, Harrisburg, PA.

3. Current research projects regarding amphibians and reptiles in Pennsylvania and in the Northeast Region were reviewed.

4. Recent activities by the Pennsylvania Legislature were reviewed and discussed.

5. Recent herpetological activities by the PFBC were reviewed and discussed. This included regulatory activities involving poaching and changes to the Scientific Collectors Permit and Qualified Surveyor’s Permit process.

6. The newly updated Pennsylvania Amphibian and Reptile Survey (PARS) website was demonstrated.

7. The current status and ranking of all amphibians and reptiles were reviewed. No changes in current species rankings were recommended and no species were recommended to the PFBC for listing changes at this time.

8. Last year the ARTC adopted the standard and scientific names used by the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR), the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH), and the Herpetologist’s League (HL) for all amphibians and reptiles in Pennsylvania (Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, With Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding. Edition 6.1, http://www.ssarherps.org/pages/comm_names/Index.php). The complete list of scientific and common names was presented to the ARTC for final review. The Committee accepted the list presented for its future use.

9. Decontamination procedures for use by field workers to avoid the spread of disease among amphibian and reptile populations were discussed and will be reviewed for formal adoption by the PABS ARTC at a later date.

Aquatic Arthropods Technical Committee Verbal report presented by Jane Earle (AATC chair). See also the report under the Terrestrial Arthropod Technical Committee. Note that plankton are now represented under the AATC.

Arachnids Technical Committee Status of Committee? Cal University faculty may have someone interested in working on this committee. Dave Argent will forward a name. Also talk to Jason Ryndock at DCNR-BOF. May be better to wrap this committee under TATC.

Bryophytes and Lichens Technical Committee Presented by Scott Schuette (BLTC Chair)

2013 Year in Review

Bryophyte and lichen field activities this year were more frequent than in years past. The committee met in Pittsburgh to discuss activities, make determinations on developing tracking lists for mosses and liverworts, and proposed the formation of Pennsylvania Bryophyte and Lichen Association. Each committee member left the meeting energized and tasked with increasing awareness and appreciation of the overlooked segments of our biota. The following report highlights the activities that were undertaken across the state in 2013. Polytrichum commune growing in disturbed soil mounds along the forest edge in Tiadaghton State Forest looks like young pine tree seedlings .

4

BioBlitz Mania

Members of the BLTC participated in two BioBlitzes this year. Hank Webster and Scott Schuette traveled to Sinnemahoning State Park to participate in educational blitz at the park on May 20-21. Hank led groups of middle school and high school students through common habitats for bryophytes pointing out the different growth forms and showing them several easily recognized species. Hank was happy to report that the kids they were certainly amazed that there were so many little plants growing right under their feet. Scott spent the next day collecting specimens from areas of the park that were not covered the previous day. Due to the educational focus of this blitz, little time was spent scouring the habitats for species. However, there were still 25 species recorded from the park and several habitats scouted for future field work. As Bruce Allen, bryophyte curator at the Missouri Botanical Garden suggests, Cameron County is wild and wonderful just begging for extensive bryophyte explorations.

Another Bio Blitz occurred along the upper Delaware River in Wayne County. Dave Krayesky and Scott Schuette made the long trek to the northeastern most county in Pennsylvania to participate in this event. The Norcross Wildlife Foundation owns 63.5 acres of mixed use land with pasture, floodplain forest, and mixed hardwood/hemlock forest. During the blitz, 27 moss and 7 liverwort species were collected from the property. Among these collections was the first confirmed record of the Hylocomium splendens showing off the wefting growth form on moss Pterigynandrum filiforme, previously known only from the literature boulders in a shaded moist ravine in Loyalsock State Forest from two counties in Pennsylvania.

Bryophytes and Lichens of the Dry-Oak Heath Forests in Tiadaghton State Forest

A Wild Resources Conservation Program funded research project to determine the diversity of bryophytes and lichens in the dry-oak heath forests in Tiadaghton State Forest began in earnest in April 2013. In addition to the diversity, species are being analyzed for their potential as indicators of forest integrity. There are four 400m2 plots in each of three disturbance regimes, adjacent to gas well pad, a recent timber sale, and a mature natural area. From these plots, all species of bryophytes and lichens collected and identified from all substrates.

This effort yielded 66 species of bryophytes and 111 species of lichens from the 12 plots. The greatest diversity was found in the mature natural area plots from Miller Run Natural Area with 50 bryophytes and 82 lichens. These plots also harbor species considered rare in Pennsylvania, but formal designations of rarity are yet to be established for bryophytes and lichens. Regardless it is safe to say that the species diversity in the mature forest plots is qualitatively better than the other plots included in this study.

Several environmental variables were measure for this study, including temperature, relative humidity, light intensity, and soil pH and moisture. The preliminary data from these variables suggest there may be some environmental drivers to the observed differences in species diversity. Most notable are temperature, humidity, and light intensity, i.e. more species were found in mature plots with lower temps, higher humidity, and lower light intensity.

Attempts to determine a relationship between the environmental variables and species composition are underway. Indicator species analyses in conjunction with some multivariate statistical are being conducted to identify any species are suites of species indicative of mature forests with good integrity.

The final results of this project will be submitted in a report to WRCP available to the Bazzania trilobata showing off the wefting public in late 2014. growth form on boulders in a shaded moist ravine in Loyalsock State Forest

5 Pennsylvania Bryophyte and Lichen Association Members of the BLTC discussed the formation of an organization to serve as an information resource for amateurs and professionals passionate about documenting the diversity of bryophytes and lichens throughout the state. A similar organization exists in Ohio and is being used as a model for the one we seek to develop in Pennsylvania. That model consists of two forays and one business meeting with an associated workshop each year. Bryan Dolney has taken on the responsibility of organizing this new statewide group. He has developed preliminary goals, objectives, and compiled a list of legal requirements for forming such a non-profit organization. There are plans to have an initial brainstorming/planning meeting to flesh out the vision in late February or early March.

Current BLTC Members Bryan Dolney (Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy), Dr. Larry Klotz (Shippensburg University), Dr. David Krayesky (Slippery Rock University), John Kunsman (Western PA Conservancy, PA Natural Heritage Program), Dr. James Lendemer (New York Botanical Garden), Christine Manville, Dr. Susan Munch (Albright College), Dr. Matthew Opdyke (Point Park University), Dr. Ron Pursell (Penn State University), Dr. Scott Schuette (BLTC Chair, Western PA Conservancy, PA Natural Heritage Program), Dr. Hank Webster (Penn State DuBois) Sphagnum girgensohnii in moist shaded ravine in Loyalsock State Forest Mosses and Liverworts with Assigned Global Ranks* Mosses* Liverworts** Global Rank*** # Species Global Rank*** # Species G1 1 G1 0 G2 1 G2 1 G3 19 G3 5 G4 119 G4 20 G5 262 G5 96 * 25 GNR and 3 GU moss species excluded; 7 moss species not listed in NatureServe ** 1 species not listed in NatureServe *** See NatureServe Explorer (http://explorer.natureserve.org/) for information on species and ranks.

BLTC Goals for 2014 − Update state lists for mosses, liverworts, and hornworts − Assign state conservation ranks to all bryophyte species − Determine bryophyte species rarity − Identify regions in need of field work

Collections and Systematics Technical Committee Not active

Fishes Technical Committee Report presented by David Argent, FTC Chair

Range expansion and genetic population structure of five Pennsylvania State threatened fish species using environmental DNA (eDNA) and molecular genetic techniques.

Submitted by Anthony Honick and Brady Porter- Duquesne University

With funding from the PA Water Research Resource Institute and the U.S. Geological Survey, Ph.D. candidate Anthony Honick and his advisor Dr. Brady Porter from Duquesne University are conducting a study to validate environmental DNA (eDNA) as a new technique for detecting large-river benthic fishes. The accepted technique of using electrified benthic trawling to survey large-river benthic fishes is labor intensive, costly and even dangerous to both researchers and the captured fish. We propose a method that is based on collecting eDNA from water samples, combined with species-specific PCR and automated DNA fragment analysis to detect

6 several species of large-river darters simultaneously from the same water samples. To validate this method, we take water samples before conducting new surveys using electrified benthic trawling (below lock and dam sites) or backpack electrofishing (smaller tributaries) in the Pittsburgh region of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers. In 2013 these traditional survey methods revealed multiple new site localities and range expansions for large-river darters, including several Pennsylvania State Threatened species. Populations of Tippecanoe (Etheostoma tippecanoe) and bluebreast darters (E. camurum) were found in the following new locations: 1) below L&D #2 on the Allegheny River adjacent to Sixmile Island; 2) two sections of the lower Kiskiminetas River between Vandergrift and Leechburg; 3) below L&D #2 (Braddock) on the Monongahela; and 4) the backchannel of the Emsworth L&D. The Montgomery L&D on the Ohio River produced Tippecanoe darters, while the Beaver River below between the first dam and the confluence produced several bluebreast darters. River darters are expanding their range upstream from the Montgomery Dam to inhabit the reaches below the Emsworth L&D on the Ohio and the Braddock L&D on the Monongahela River. Unusual looking hybrids possibly involving river darter and/or guilt darter were found at Allegheny River L&D #2. It appears that the lock and dam tail waters are providing appropriate flow and benthic substrate to support populations of large-river benthic fishes. Adjacent tributaries to these tailwaters that have adequate water quality can support spawning populations of bluebreast and Tippecanoe darters during the late spring and summer months. Examples of these spawning tributaries are Dear Creek at Harmarville, Pine Creek at Etna and Little Sewickely Creek at Emsworth. We will continue to sample L&D and tributary sites in 2014 as we continue to focus on documenting new range expansions and population genetic structure of our five target species: bluebreast darter, Tippecanoe darter, spotted darter, guilt darter and river darter.

Little Sewickley Creek: The Redesignation Process of a High Quality Stream to an Exceptional Value Stream.

May 2013 M.S Thesis of Nathan Reinhart under the advisement of Edward Schroth and Dr. Brady Porter, Duquesne University.

Little Sewickley Creek has the highest water quality designation in Allegheny County, PA as a High Quality-Trout Stocking Fishery (HQ-TSF), but appears to warrant re-designation as an Exceptional Value (EV) waterway. The aim of the study was to provide technical data on the stream to support an EV reclassification. The report has compiled previous data and collected new data on land use, physical, chemical and biological parameters with the outcome of filing a formal petition to the PA DEP. The combined fish list documents 33 species inhabiting this small 3rd order tributary to the Ohio River, including a spawning population of the Pennsylvania State Threatened bluebreast darter (Etheostoma camurum). Brown trout have been stocked for many years by the sportsman club and have become established as one of the few spawning trout populations in Allegheny County. Less than a mile upstream from the confluence with the Ohio River is the small Woodland Road Dam that limits the upstream fish diversity to four native (Western blacknose dace, creek chub, white sucker and mottled sculpin) and three exotic fish species (common carp, rainbow trout and brown trout). There is current discussion between the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and the Little Sewickley Creek Watershed Association to remove the Woodland Road Dam and open the 9 square miles of the drainage to upstream fish migration; thereby increasing the fish diversity throughout the system. Little Sewickley Creek is the flagship reference stream for Allegheny County with extremely high water quality, fish and macroinvertebrate biodiversity and is well deserving of the highest watershed protection to preserve it for future generations.

Paddlefish assessment in the upper Allegheny River.

SWG funded project through PFBC Area 8. Survey work from the tailrace of Kinzua dam to Franklin, PA yielded 16 paddlefish during summer 2013. All fish were of New York origin and presumably swam through Kinzua Dam. No evidence of natural reproduction was determined.

Of great concern in this region is the prevalence of spiny water flea in the mainstem Allegheny River. This aquatic invader was collected from the tailrace of Kinzua dam to Buckaloons Recreational area, nearly 24 km downstream. Funding has been made available to continue this work in 2014.

Discussion: Argent: The Fish Commission and Army Corps are considering putting up additional signage for boaters to be aware of the issue. Bogar: How long can they live out of water? Derek: The main problem is the eggs carried by the flea which can dessicate and transport viably, even if the adults die.

Climate Change Assessment – Laurel and Chestnut Ridge Continuing to monitor thermal patterns of headwater streams along the Laurel and Chestnut Ridges. Data collected to date indicated that many of these systems are resilient to extreme summer temperatures, but others are not. Those that are poorly insulated or lack the capacity to maintain cold water flow can experience periods of extended thermal stress. This many have important implications for coldwater fishes, most notably brook trout.

7

Unassessed Waters – Kiski-Connemaugh River Basin CalU surveyed 43 streams in the Kiski-Connemaugh Basin. No brook trout were captured. Several streams were impaired by legacy mining, with recorded pH values <4.5.

Other Collection Notes − Surveys in the Wheeling Ck drainage conducted by D. Fischer (PFBC) and R. Criswell resulted in the capture of six Longear sunfish Lepomis megalotis (PA-endangered). Comprehensive surveys are needed to provide more information about this population. − Specimens of Orangespotted sunfish Lepomis humilis collected by the PFBC in 1979 from the Wheeling Ck drainage, PA were confirmed by D. Fischer and R. Criswell. These specimens were said to have been sent out for review, but no documentation was found with the material. Efforts are being made to contact the collector for more information since these represent the only confirmed collection of Orangespotted Sunfish in PA known at this time. Discussion: Criswell: The samples made their way back and have since been confirmed clearly as Orangespotted Sunfish. Are they still there? Are they native records? Known from WV nearby. − NY Gilt Darter Percina evides reintroduction project: A brief article was written for the North American Native Fishes Association (NANFA) publication “Currents” to communicate the project’s progress and apparent success. Last summer, Gilt Darters with elastomer markers were recaptured in the Allegheny River within NY by the NYDEC indicating that individuals from the 2012 stocking survived the winter. Last fall, a second round of darters was collected from PA and stocked in NY. Future sampling is planned to monitor the population status. Surveys by NY DEC documented 3 recaptures of fish marked with elastomer tags from previous stocking events. Discussion: Criswell: propogated fish did not do well, but moving fish from one site to another did work well. − The Chesapeake Logperch was listed as threatened and the American Brook Lamprey was delisted from candidate on 22 December 2012 (not sure if that was reported previously).

Other issues of concern − Report of eDNA hit for Asian Carp in the Ohio River. Discussion: Argent: looking to confirm where the ‘front line’ is of the upriver progress of the fish invasion. − Capture of grass carp below Kinzua Dam (December 2013). Discussion: Argent expressed concern that these fish are moving around.

Mammals Technical Committee Submitted by Reg Hoyt and Charlie Eichelberger, MTC Co-chairs

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy hosted the Mammal Technical Committee’s fall meeting on 16 November, 2013 at the Barn at Fallingwater in Fayette County. Several MTC members met up and conducted fieldwork for the week before the meeting. Sixteen members attended the meeting, either in person (9) or via conference call (7), and four guests were present. Current membership stands at 23 voting members and 4 cooperators/associate members.

Guests were introduced, including a new coordinator for the PA Mammal Atlas, Lindsey Heffernan. Lindsey was most recently the PGC wind biologist for the northcentral region. Lindsey gave us an overview of the project which is still in its infancy, but progressively growing to toddler phase. This is a very challenging project that will utilize to use many different survey methods and hopefully include a citizen science component that will focus around trail cameras.

We updated the committee on the MTC and OTC’s meeting with the PGC heads, which we discussed at our Steering Committee meeting in August.

The MTC also discussed the newly updated Wind Energy Voluntary Cooperation Agreement (Amendment 1), which was finalized in late July. Most notably, the amendment includes “consultation points” when monitored mortality at operating sites of 30 or more bats/turbine/year occurs, the PGC will meet with the cooperator to discuss bat mortality minimization efforts. Developing sites will be held to a mortality threshold of 4 bats/1000m2/yr. If mortality is above 4 bats/1000m2/yr, cut-in speeds would be set to between 5.0 and 5.5 m/s depending on the site, season, and temperature. These wind speeds are lower than the 6.0 m/s that USFWS had suggested to minimize Indiana bat mortality, but would potentially reduce mortality by 25% based on data collected as part of the cooperative agreement. Several MTC members questioned why 30 bats/turbine/year was chosen, and noted that there is no indication in the amendment that the scale would ever change or that the agreement would be routinely updated. Concern was expressed about

8 continual mortality of the WNS survivors (post-WNS estimated 665 little brown bats and 665 tri-colored bats annually across the state) out of the estimated 17,975 bats (all species). The MTC is working on a letter to the PGC to voice these concerns.

A lengthy discussion was had regarding the USFWS intention to list the northern long-ear bat as endangered. The comment period for the listing closed on January 2nd, and the MTC did provide comments in support of the listing. The MTC also provided some assistance to PATWS for their comment letter.

Charlie Eichelberger presented an updated list of PA mammals, since changes in taxonomy had not been reviewed by the MTC in quite some time. This is also going to be the list that the MTC uses to assist the PGC in their portion of the SWAP update, which will also incorporate the S-ranks and threat assessment found in NatureServe’s Rank Calculator. Preliminary results were presented.

Guest Cathy Haffner gave an overview of the SWAP program, and where PA is at in the process, and also made a call to the MTC for help. The MTC will be tapped to review species prioritization, and to develop abbreviated species accounts. Cathy also updated the committee on HB1576.

Also discussed was HB1534, which established a bounty program for coyotes. Membership agreed that this is perhaps the worst tool that could be used for wildlife management. The bill quickly came up for vote and passed the house. The MTC is trying to figure out the most effective way to respond to the bill.

There was brief discussion about review of the PGC’s draft river otter and bobcat management plans, which would establish a regulated and restricted trapping season (depending on occupied vs. potential habitat in a WMU) for river otters by 2015. At least one MTC member provided feedback to the PGC on both plans.

Cal Butchkoski gave an update to the captive Allegheny woodrat colony housed at Delaware Valley College. Some “new blood” was introduced this past year to diversify genetics. Several of the individuals are getting quite old, and it was suggested that these older individuals may be used to test soft release procedures.

Three new membership requests are being pondered and we’ll have final vote tallies before our spring meeting. The meeting date and location have not been set yet.

Discussion − Discussion of the cost and problems associated with the coyote bounty fund . − Eichelberger: The Mammal TC has completed the rank and threat assessment for mammals for the SWAP update.

Mollusk Technical Committee Report presented by Beth Meyer (Mollusks Chair)

Bivalve Subcommittee Annual meeting planned for March.

Western PA Conservancy submitted a report on the Susquehanna River Basin mussel community assessment including a model of mussel habitat. Funded by SWG and WRCP grants. A journal manuscript is in progress.

Discussion − E. pearlshell project in the Delaware Basin. A few new populations were visited in known streams last year. − Some eel reintroduction work is being done as mitigation for the Conewango Dam. Releasing eels to Susquehanna River basin upstream of the dam. Consulting with members of the Mussel TC because of the host relationship with eastern Elliptio, which is thought to be the best host for the eels. Helping the eels should also help the eastern Elliptio.

Land Snail Subcommittee The Carnegie Museum of Natural History continues to host a website of PA land snails and are adding a large section on Virginia land snails, including images, identification and habitat notes, and distribution maps. They should be live by March.

9 Freshwater Snail Subcommittee

“Freshwater Gastropods of the Mid-Atlantic States” is up and running at http://www.fwgna.org/FWGMA/

Discussion: Dillon’s freshwater gastropod taxonomy is a little different than others. He is getting data from DEP and is incorporating it into his website. He is getting aquatic gastropod species data from WQN station samples. He also went to museums. He’s been pretty throrough about creating a statewide list. Dillon working on Ohio basin as well.

Non-unionoid Clam Subcommittee No activity. Pearce noted that the ‘other bivalves’ group includes zebra mussels, so this group should be active.

Ornithological Technical Committee Presented by Sarah Sargent on behalf of Margaret Brittingham (OTC Chair)

The OTC Fall meeting was held October 25, 2013 at Penn State University, Margaret Brittingham hosting.

Wind Energy and Birds publication OTC member Todd Katzner is co-author on a paper with Trish Miller on wind energy risks to birds. Trish uses telemetry data and environmental data to predict risk to birds from turbines in the central Appalachians. The scale is large (all of PA) but it is precise enough that she can go down to predict risk in each pixel. It is currently available for early view and will be out in print later this Spring.

Miller, T. A., Brooks, R. P., Lanzone, M., Brandes, D., Cooper, J., O'malley, K., Maisonneuve, C., Tremblay, J., Duerr, A. And Katzner, T. (2014), Assessing Risk to Birds from Industrial Wind Energy Development via Paired Resource Selection Models. Conservation Biology. doi: 10.1111/cobi.12227

Red Knot- Federal proposal to list the red knot The Service has reviewed the best available science on the red knot and determined the shorebird meets the definition of threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Although it doesn't breed in Pennsylvania, there are records of migration in the state and specifically at Presque Isle/Gull Point.

Wildlife Action Plan SGCN OTC members reviewed and discussed the WAP decision tree and other aspects of the listing process. OTC continues to be willing to participate in the listing process. Concerns/recommendations –The level for responsibility species has shifted from 5% to 10% since the last action plan. OTC members think 5% cutoff is more appropriate for birds. A larger concern is that the current listing process does not have a category for listing common species that are indicators of high quality native habitat. One goal of WAP is to keep common species common. We suggest adding a category for a representative species from critical native habitats. OTC used this approach in last plan. − 1/23: Cathy Haffner attended and presented on decision tree.

Urban Bird Project Bob Mulvihill is involved in an urban bird project called “Neighborhood Nest Watch” http://www.aviary.org/NeighborhoodNestwatch. In a pilot study 2013 in Pittsburgh, they banded over 500 birds and monitored 305 nests of 8 species around Pittsburgh. This has been a great Citizen Science Project getting families involved in collecting data and interested in birds.

Marcellus Shale Updates Marcellus shale development continues across the NC and SW regions of the state. Development within core forest habitat and wild areas such as within Loyalsock State Forest is a particular biodiversity concern. By the end of 2012 there have been 6112 wells drilled on 2658 pads. DCNR anticipates 100-200 compressor stations on state forest land when build out is completed. This has the potential to degrade habitat quality unless noise mitigating structures are required. Steve Lata is conducting research on LOWA using feather samples as indicators of contamination. M. Britingham continues work on fragmentation effects.

10 Pennsylvania Breeding Birds of Special Concern PABS / OTC List – 2013

Please note that status applies only to breeding populations. Date is the date the species was recommended by OTC to be added to the list or status changed during the last review (2009-2012)

Extinct: Passenger Pigeon

Extirpated (from the state): Greater Prairie-Chicken (Heath Hen), Piping Plover, Olive-sided Flycatcher, (Appalachian) Bewick’s Wren, Bachman’s Sparrow

Endangered: American Bittern, Least Bittern, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Peregrine Falcon, King Rail, Upland Sandpiper (FA2010), Common Tern, Black Tern, Short-eared Owl, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Sedge Wren, Loggerhead Shrike, Blackpoll Warbler, Dickcissel

Threatened: Osprey, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier (FA2010), Long-eared Owl (FA2011)

Near Threatened (Candidate – At Risk): Northern Bobwhite (Not reviewed 2009-2012), Common Moorhen, Barn Owl (reviewed FA2010), Common Nighthawk (FA2010), Marsh Wren (SP2011), Golden-winged Warbler (SP2010), Summer Tanager (FA2011), Northern Goshawk (May 2012)

Vulnerable (C – Rare): Green-winged Teal, Pied-billed Grebe, Sora, American Coot, Wilson’s (Common) Snipe (Reviewed Sp2011), Whip-poor-will (FA2010), Red-headed Woodpecker (SP2010), Purple Martin (FA2010), Bank Swallow (FA2011), Swainson’s Thrush, Prothonotary Warbler, Northern Waterthrush (FA2010), Summer Tanager, Henslow’s Sparrow (SP2011)

Data Deficient (C – Undetermined): Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin

Discussion: Need more research to understand noise impacts from compression stations on wildlife and also recreational users. Need to figure out what are appropriate restrictions based on conditions.

Protists and Fungi Technical Committee No report

Terrestrial Arthropod Technical Committee Submitted by Betsy Leppo (TATC Chair) and Jane Earle (AATC Chair) See also the report under the Aquatic Arthropod Technical Committee.

Proposed Crayfish Regulation After three years of development, a proposed crayfish regulation will appear in the PA Bulletin in early February with a 60 day public comment period. The regulation will ban the sale, importation, introduction, and transportation of all crayfish species into the state. It is an important step in trying to prevent additional crayfish introductions in PA. PABS scientists are invited to review the proposal and submit comments. A negative reaction from the bait industry and possibly anglers is expected. Please feel free to alert additional members of the conservation community about this proposed regulation and encourage submission of comments. Lieb will send out a link to where comments should be submitted once it is available.

State Wildlife Action Plan Update PNHP is gearing up for a review of the invertebrates of concern listed in the State Wildlife Action Plan and will utilize expertise within the AATC and TATC. The general approach will be to assign responsibility among PNHP staff for invertebrate species listed in the SWAP, seek out expert help where needed, identify data sources and determine if that data is readily obtainable, update the conservation status of the species based on new knowledge, determine if enough information is available to run the NatureServe rank calculator, run species through the calculator as time and available information permits, and fill out a species assessment table with the results of this update effort.

11 Regional Conservation Needs Grant (RCN) PNHP assisted with a RCN Grant to assess the conservation status of Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies) in the region. We addressed taxonomic questions, reviewed habitat associations for odonates in Pennsylvania, and reviewed the results of an analysis that prioritized species for conservation region-wide. The grant coordinators are in the process of writing up the conservation assessment in a manuscript format for review that should be available in February, with the final project report produced by March. PNHP staff added 1,661 new records from the Clark Shiffer log books to the PA Odonate Database to assist with the data analysis portion of this project.

Annual meeting of the Dragonfly Society of the Americas (DSA) The annual meeting of the DSA is due to take place in the NE region of the U.S. in 2015 and PA was invited to be the host. The meeting would likely draw 80-100 odonate enthusiasts from around the world to survey and record the odonates of a particular region. Betsy Leppo is seeking individuals interested in helping organize the meeting.

Entomological Society of PA updates

The Entomological Society of PA annual meeting was held on October 25 at the Nature Barn at Stoever's Dam Park in Lebanon, PA.

The annual ESP collecting and photography field trip is June 20-22 at Hickory Run State Park. We will also be aiding the Blakeslee Bioblitz in Monroe County. Anyone interested can contact David McNaughton at davmcnaugh(at)pa.gov.

Fort Indiantown Gap invertebrate research update Environmental management staff at FTIG continue insect inventories on base along with routine monitoring of the regal fritillary moth (Speyeria idalia). A highlight this year was the discovery of the red groundling moth (Perigea xanthioides) in a light trap in July. This is the fourth internet record for the state according to BAMONA. The Moth Photographers Group has no documented occurrences. Staff also documented the presence of the amall tolype moth (Tolype notialis), which is a species of concern in the state.

Millersville University invertebrate research update

Some invertebrate projects in the Department of Biology Lab at Millersville University: 1) Invasive and native crayfish life history/behavioral response to invasive plant diets 2) The effects of Bti treatment on microbiome diversity and abundance in larval black fly guts and substrata 3) Macroinvertebrate community structure response to stream restoration

Also, John Wallace wrote a chapter in a Carrion Ecology textbook on Aquatic Carrion Decomposition which will be published later in the year.

Historical dragonfly species reconfirmed Ben Coulter and Pete Woods (PNHP) found several Elusive Clubtails (Stylurus notatus) at Rock Point at the convergence of Connoquenessing Creek and Beaver River. They were flying with numerous Russet-tipped Clubtails (Stylurus plagiatus) and Arrow Clubtails (Stylurus spiniceps). Stylurus notatus was considered historic in the state, only known from a single record in Allegheny County in the 1920s. Coulter also succeeded in locating S. plagiatus and S. notatus on the Allegheny R. below C. W. Bill Young Lock & Dam (#3) at Harmarville, and S. plagiatus below L&D #4 on the Westmoreland side. Exuvia collections from Herrs Island and Harmarville were determined as S. notatus and confirmed by Chris Hill.

Marcellus region water quality monitoring PNHP staff continued quarterly surveys of approximately 50 sites in the Marcellus development region in northcentral Pennsylvania. Surveys include water quality testing, benthic macroinvertebrate sampling, and habitat assessment.

Luzerne County inventory updates Rick Koval and Stan Galenty have been conducting an intensive Luzerne County flora project for the past three years. Most important vouchers have been sent to Morris Arboretum. Two notable plant finds in 2013 were Carex pseudocyperus and Chenopodium foggii. A new breeding location for blackpoll warbler and another site for northern cricket frog were also documented.

Discussion − Impact of spiny waterfleas on fish? Argent: Spiny waterfleas probably not as palatable for young fish, maybe not for adults either − Argent: captured blue crayfish way out of range of where known previously, in a creek in Somerset Co. − A Bioblitz is coming up in Monroe Co. Township park near Blakeslee the 3rd weekend in June.

12 Vascular Plant Technical Committee Presented by Christopher Hardy (VPTC Chair)

1. The Fall VPTC meeting was held on October 4 at the Bureau of Forestry – DCNR, Tiadaghton District Office, 10 Lower Pine Bottom Road, Waterville, PA 17776. There were more than 20 VPTC members present. The principal activity of that meeting was to develop a solution to the burgeoning interest in attendance and proposals at the annual Rare Plant Forum. Cindy Skema is a new botanist at the Morris Arboretum PA Flora Project. 2. The 2014 Rare Plant Forum and the Spring 2014 VPTC meeting are slated for Saturday, April 5, 2014 from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM at the Steimer Auditorium on the Penn State University campus, State College, PA. We are also planning on organizing a field trip and group dinner Friday, April 4. 3. Climate change update: There is nothing new since the last PABS Steering Committee meeting in August regarding activities of the VPTC or its members regarding climate change.

Discussion A new staff person at Morris Arboretum with expertise in mallows was invited to join the TC. Working on updating their website.

AGENCY REPORTS

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Report provided by Sven-Erik Spichiger, Entomology Program Manager

PA Department of Agriculture 2013 Entomology Program Summary available online at: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_24476_10297_0_43/AgWebsite/Files/Publications/2013Entomo logyProgramHighlights.pdf

Topics covered in the report include Asian longhorned beetle, warehouse light trap surveys, grape commodity pest surveys, tomato commodity pest surveys, cut flower surveys, emerald ash borer detection, cooperative agricultural pest surveys, walnut twig beetles, apiary inspection program, honey bee diseases and pests, permits issued, national honey bee disease survey, khapra beetle survey, imported fire ant survey, plant diagnostic sample reports, general survey samples and detections of note, and the invasive species hotline and e-mail report system.

A new staff person has joined the PDA. Lawrence Barringer is an entomologist whose original expertise is with plant hoppers. At PDA is also studying scales and other insects that suck (it’s a joke, get it?!).

Discussion − Earle: What is the impact of all these invasives on plant communities? Zimmerman: Can be very significant. For example hemlock palustrine forest will convert to a palustrine forest. − Sargent: How many staff? Spichiger: Three besides him. They hire seasonals as needed. Mostly federally funded. − Maret: Is the cold winter good from a pest perspective? Spichiger: Yes, it helps though it won’t stop everything. We haven’t had a good freezing winter like this for ~5 years.

Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Verbal report presented by Ellen Shultzabarger, PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources, Chief, Conservation Science & Ecological Resources Division.

DCNR has a new secretary, Ellen Ferretti; more information at http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/discoverdcnr/ataglance/secretary/

DCNR is working on a plant status revision proposal. Each change proposed requires lengthy scientific justification and discussion. Currently in the stakeholder outreach phase.

13 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Verbal report presented by Dan Bogar, Water Pollution Biologist for DEP, Bureau of Watershed Conservation.

DEP has a new secretary, E, Christopher Abruzzo. No background in environmental issues. Information on his background is available at http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/about_dep/13464/office_of_the_secretary/585259

Update on Didymo in Pine Creek: Originally found some individual cells Didymo below the Grand Canyon. In fall of 2014 they found structural colonies in the West Branch of Pine Creek, far upstream of where the cells were found, in a cold, low nutrient stream which Didymo prefers. Also in Dyberry Creek, another low nutrient coldwater stream, trib to Lackawaxen. Not confirmed yet.

WPC developed an aquatic invasive species website. On January 30 two people from WPC are coming to teach DEP biologists how to use this online tool to report incidences of aquatic invasive species. DEP is bringing in biologists from all over the state to attend.

Dan is retiring in March. He will stay involved in aquatic arthropod committee, but not as a PABS rep for DEP. Criswell: come up with a name or two as a DEP replacement? Bogar: his supervisor will probably assign a new representative. He will email us a name and contact. Criswell thanked Dan for his long and reliable service.

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Presented by Chris Urban, PFBC Natural Diversity Section Chief

Threatened and Endangered Species listings/de-listings PFBC staff have been working with Pennsylvania Biological Survey (PABS) Technical Committees towards adopting the IUCN listing methodology with taxon specific modifications and a nomination/documentation process of the species in question. The PFBC reviewed and adopted the taxonomic specific criteria for fishes, amphibians and reptiles, and bivalves. Since 2009, when these criteria were adopted, 11 fish species have been de-listed (Ohio Basin) and 13 listed as threatened or endangered. At the October 2013 Commission Meeting, the final rulemaking was approved to upgrade the Eastern Spadefoot from Endangered to Threatened status. A number of species statuses are currently under study or review for potential change: Ohio Lamprey, Bowfin, Timber Rattlesnake, Redbelly Turtle, Blanding’s Turtle, Bluebreast Darter, Tippecanoe Darter, and Gilt Darter.

Grants The 2013 State Wildlife Program national allocation was similar to 2011 and 2012. 2013 SWG funding was used to support (extend) ongoing internal projects (Species of Concern-Technical Guidance project, fish passage and restoration project, conservation and restoration planning project, nongame fish conservation planning) and fund additional work with paddlefish. New grants include a planning grant for the revision of the PAWAP, Timber Rattlesnake Monitoring and Management, and Fish Species Assessments (Black Bullhead, Horneyhead Chub, Blacknose Shiner, and Pugnose Minnow). The 2014 appropriations have not been finalized, but look like they will be at similar levels as the previous three years.

Additional projects that are funded and in the process of initiation or underway: Fish data compilation and quality control project, an eastern massasauga habitat management and monitoring project, a new Pennsylvania amphibian and reptile survey project (Pennsylvnia Amphibian and Reptile Survey – “PARS”), a bog turtle habitat restoration project through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, a USFWS aquatic invasive species grant, bog turtle population monitoring in close proximity to development project (a traditional Section 6 grant-year 6), a multi-state Great Lakes Restoration project that deals with identifying freshwater mussel refugia in the Lake Erie drainage basin (multi-state grant), and Blanding’s Turtle Conservation and Recovery (multi-state grant). Two USFWS Traditional Section 6 projects were approved are in the process of being contracted (Bog Turtle inventory in SE PA-the Mid- Atlantic Center for Herpetology and Conservation, and Dwarf Wedgemussel assessment in the Delaware River and associated Tributaries-WPC). A Recovery and Land Acquisition Grant (RLAG) under Section 6 was awarded to the Commission to acquire a property to protect bog turtles and other species in Monroe County. We continue to work with the USFWS and our land acquisition folks to secure the property. Another land acquisition that came out of a river dredging mitigation was the conveyance of Cogley’s Island on the Allegheny River to the Game Commission. The shoreline of this island acts as refugia for rare and listed freshwater mussel and fish species.

We continue to work with our neighboring states on a number of regionally specific projects focused on the conservation and recovery of the Blanding's Turtle ,Wood Turtle, and Northern Riffleshell. We are working with 5 northeastern states to study the prevalence of the deadly ranavirus on wood frogs (study was initiated this past year). During this past year, our staff worked on identifying study sites, that is, identifying vernal pools that harbor breeding of wood frogs. In spring 2014, we will sample these locations for ranavirus.

14 We continue to work closely with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation to assist with re-introduction efforts of the Gilt Darter into their former range of the upper Allegheny River in NY. Staff also continued to facilitate and assist northern riffleshell and clubshell national recovery efforts (2nd year). The state/federally endangered northern riffleshell were collected from the Allegheny River at Hunter Station. Mussels were then transported to Ohio, Illinois and West Virginia. Two other regional (multi- state) grants involving our partner northeastern states have been submitted: a study of the prevalence of snake dermatitis, and studying the distribution of the newly discovered leopard frog species (Regional Conservation Needs project recently approved).

Timber Rattlesnake Population Study The second phase of the Commission’s SWG funded Statewide Timber Rattlesnake Site Assessment and Inventory Project was initiated in the spring of 2007, with a focus on finding new den sites (filling data gaps), but also with confirmation and habitat assessment of den/maternity sites, PIT tagging at mark-recapture study sites and organized hunts. This second phase of the study is winding down and was concluded in December of 2011. More than 1,500 sites have been assessed since 2003 (first phase and second phase of study combined), as well as 1,500+ rattlesnakes have been marked with PIT-tags for population monitoring purposes, and monitored at organized reptile hunts. This has been a remarkable effort mainly driven by experienced volunteers (>30,000 hours logged to date). On another aspect of the study aimed at identifying difficult to locate den sites in “data gap” areas, the PFBC has been working cooperatively with the Allegheny National Forest (ANF) staff by conducting telemetry studies of timber rattlesnakes on the ANF. Likewise, we have been working with DCNR biologists to track snakes (10) in the South Mountain. Phase 3 of the project began in spring 2012 with the focus shifting away from site assessments and towards prioritization of habitat management and population monitoring. In the spring of 2013, we convened a Timber Rattlesnake Conservation Workgroup made up of a variety of conservation professionals and Timber Rattlesnake experts (academia, NGO’s, consultants, educators, state and federal biologists) to discuss strategies for the long-term conservation and protection of the Timber Rattlesnake. To date, the workgroup has met three times.

Natural Diversity Section Staff Activities In 2013, approximately 3,000 rare, threatened and endangered species impact reviews were conducted for proposed developments occurring across the Commonwealth. The Encroachments database, and Species Impact Review project tracking system were overhauled in 2013. The Scientific Collector Permit (SCP) interactive website application and reporting tools are currently in the process of being updated. The release of the new SCP system is scheduled for February-March of 2014. Thus far in 2013, we reviewed, processed, and issued approximately 404 Type 1 (research), Type 2 (government), and Type 3 (consulting) Scientific Collectors’ permits; 80 Threatened and Endangered Species permits were reviewed and issued; 908 Venomous Snake Permits, 49 Commercial Snapping Turtle Permits, and 7 Organized Reptile and Amphibian (Snake) Hunts were issued in 2013. For the first time in 2013, we issued an Organized Reptile and Amphibian hunt permit for a “turtle derby”.

We are in the process of developing priorities for the upcoming field season. Field work will be in conjuction with funded projects (e.g., Bog Turtle Inventory of SE PA), regional projects (e.g., Ranavirus project, Leopard frog study) and species assessments of listed species – a number of rare fish and mussel species.

Staff continue to be engaged in the Dunkard Creek pollution litigation with Consol. In 2009, a significant number of fish, freshwater mussel species, and mudpuppies were killed from a pollution event that spanned 30+ miles of Dunkard Creek in PA and WV. PFBC completed the biological damage assessment for the aquatic kill in the PA portion of Dunkard Creek. We continue to work with our legal and law enforcement staff in the ongoing investigation.

Two years ago, staff developed and began to implement Aquatic Invasive Species Action Plans for the Asian carp complex (silver, bighead, and black carp), Didymo, Golden Algae, Water chestnut, and VHS. Staff have also developed and have been implementing Action Plans for a number of listed species: Eastern Pearlshell Mussel, Bog Turtle, Eastern Spadefoot, Eastern Massasauga, and Timber Rattlesnake. Implementation of these plans is part of the focus of the agency’s strategic plan (http://www.fish.state.pa.us/stplan.pdf also, see “quarterly reports” for related activities). The Species Action Plans can also be viewed on our website (search “Species Action Plans”). Our agency is currently undergoing a revision of the strategic plan (not finalized) – and will be a 3-year instead of a 5-year plan. Two additional Species Action Plans will be developed and implemented (Chesapeake Logperch, Salamander Mussel).

Other Section highlights include: finalized regulation and criteria for threatened and endangered species surveyors; working with PGC, USFWS, DCNR, and WPC regarding development of PGC PA Game Lands Management Tool (PGLMT); continuing to conduct research and feasibility of mussel propagation facility for population augmentation and re-introduction of threatened and endangered mussels, developing a Significant Mussel Resource (SMR) definition that will protect high concentrations of protected nonlisted riverine mussel species; prepared draft regulation to regarding banning the sale, transportation, and possession of live

15 invasive crayfish in Pennsylvania, staff are active with meetings with the Invasive Species Council’s Aquatic Nuisance Species Workgroup, staff also actively participated, had significant involvement with, or gave presentations at meetings with professional societies and organizations.

For the latest update for PFBC happenings, read Straight Talk articles by PFBC Executive Director, John Arway, posted on the lower right side of our website (http://www.fish.state.pa.us/).

New Zealand Mud Snail, presented by Bob Morgan, PFBC The New Zealand Mud Snail is a new PA resident that was recently discovered in Spring Creek in Centre Co. The identification was confirmed fall of 2013. The population was probably there since 2012 or even as far back as 2010. The species showed up in DEPs macroinvertebrate benthic sampling. It is a tiny snail but it has the potential to do major damage. It feeds on primary producers at the bottom of the food web in streams such as algae and periphyton. Out west, this species is found in densities 500-800 thousand per square meter. They can literally cover the bottom of the stream. Parthenogenic females can reproduce asexually. The are born ‘pregnant’ with embryonic snails in them which they release as live offspring, up to 230 per season. Studies have shown that trout and other fish species will eat them. 53% of the snails will pass through the gut of the fish unscathed. That has big implications, especially as PFBC has fish hatcheries on Spring Creek. The species may already have been dispersed from this site. If working or recreating in Spring Creek, really important to clean gear. Normal disinfection methods used don’t work on these snails. They have the ability to sequester water in their shell (using the operculum ‘trap door’) which can protect them for 50-80 days out of water. The operculum also allows them to exclude disinfection agents like bleach. Gear can be frozen or put in hot water at 140F (nearly boiling) for 6+ minutes. Certain ammonium chemicals are effective. In favor right now is 409 cleaner/degreaser/disinfectant. Not the regular 409 you find at the store, but a commercial product used in restaurants. Can’t just spray it on gear, need to soak gear completely. These little snails like to cling to boots. PFBC has posted the stream with warning signs and are trying to ramp up public education about it. Hope to track where the snails came from. There are 2-3 clones in the country, which came from an original1 of 3 populations. Working with Penn State to conduct DNA analysis on the Spring Creek snails to determine what part of the country they came from, possibly from the Rocky Mountain states, brought in on fishing gear.

Discussion − Latham: Could birds be spreading the snails? Morgan: Wildlife are definitely a possibility, anything that comes into contact with them can pick them up such as boats, wading boots, etc. They will be easily moved by people, animals or flooding. Bird predators could easily move these things from stream to hatchery. Infected area of Spring Creek has a density of 1000 individual per square meter right now so it’s a young population. Not sure how they will do over winter since they are not extremely cold tolerant. But Spring Creek is spring feed and water mitigates the cold. The snails like to congregate on rocks, they look like pepper flakes all over the rocks. At the edge of the infestation, they found only 2 in an area the size of a large room. − Argent: Are they in Bald Eagle Creek? Morgan: Did not find in surveys at the confluence of Bald Eagle and Spring Creek, but survey effort far from maximum. − Argent: what about in their native range? Morgan: Controlled in native range (New Zealand) by predators. One nematode is a possible control, but it also attacks other gastropods. This species is a major problem out west, but there has not been much research on the impacts of these on aquatic communities. They have been around for about 10 yrs. − Bogar: Plans for benthic studies? Would make a good master’s thesis. Morgan: Funding always an issue. No plans at PFBC other than to continue visual surveys. Relying on DEP. Argent: Is there similar signage on Fishing and Penn’s Creek? Morgan: Working with the local Trout Unlimited chapter to get the word out. SeaGrant is helping. − Morgan: Imap Invasives will be handling data. Search IMap Invasives Pennsylvania. Can submit reports there. Photographs extremely important. − Siani: What about boaters/kayakers? Morgan: Spring Creek has suddenly been opened up to public recreation. Previously it was under control of Rockview. Kayakers and canoers are using the stream. Working to inform the boat people in PFBC. Everyone who comes in contact with the water needs to be aware of the problem and disinfection procedures.

Pennsylvania Game Commission – Bureau of Wildlife Management, Wildlife Diversity Division Presented by Dan Brauning, PGC Wildlife Diversity Division Chief

PA Wildlife Action Plan Revision: Cathy Haffner leads, with Diana Day (PFBC), the revision of PA’s Wildlife Action Plan (WAP). Recent work focuses on development of a species assessment table, and process for selecting the Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), and meetings of a Steering Committee comprised of agency program administrators and action plan coordinators and an advisory committee of 25 state and federal agency and NGO partners. Contracts have been set up with Jason Hill (PSU) and Charlie Eichelberger (WPC) for species assessments and identifying needs for habitat condition analysis. SGCN selection involves

16 members of the OTC, under Doug Gross’ oversight, and MTC, under Cal Butchkoski’s review, to complete a threats assessment for state avifauna. PGC and PFBC will conduct a public opinion survey, updating the 1996 survey, to garner Pennsylvania residents’ opinions on and attitudes toward nongame wildlife to evaluate trends and assess current attitudes. A contract is in development with Joe Bishop (PSU) for the habitat assessment. The PGC State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) web page is being revised to highlight the revision process and to prepare for public comments to be received. Regional efforts for coordination of SWAP revisions in northeastern states included discussion of quality control approaches to a regional data table, development of a regional context for SWAP revisions and a common lexicon to facilitate translation among individual state’s plans, and a summary of projects funded through the Regional Conservation Needs program. (See “Regional” discussion below).

State Wildlife Grant Program: The federal FY2014 Omnibus Bill, approved by Congress and signed by the President last week, includes $58,695,000 (nationally) for the State & Tribal Wildlife Grants (SWG) program to prevent SGCN from becoming federally endangered. That’s a 1.0% increase over FY2013. PA share for FY2014 should be similar to the FY2013 allotment of $1,496,000 and will be divided between PGC and PFBC. Projects are being developed that focus on forest bird populations.

White Nose Syndrome: On 1 October 2013, USFWS announced its proposal to list the northern long-eared bat (PA-WAP responsibility species) as federally endangered throughout its range due to WNS losses. USFWS found that listing of the eastern small-footed bat (state threatened) is not warranted, and has not yet made an announcement regarding the little brown bat. Greg Turner is lead author of a paper on use of UV light in diagnosis of WNS to be submitted to the Journal of Wildlife Diseases. Three projects received funding from the Indiana Bat Mitigation Escrow Account. Volant counts (young of the year capable of flight) by Diversity staff at 6 still extant of 10 original little brown bat summer maternity colonies linked to a Mifflin Co. WNS hibernaculum in 2009 found declines ranging from 90% to 99% with an overall decline of 96% when 2013 counts are compared to 2009.

Indiana Bat (federally endangered): PGC and DCNR are collaborating on development of a State Lands Habitat Conservation Plan for the Indiana bat. During summer mist-netting surveys by Diversity and WPC staff, a total of 6 female Indiana bats were captured at a known maternity area in Berks Co. identified in 2006 by radio-tracking a female Indiana bat from a Luzerne Co. coalmine. Two bat boxes were installed in 2006; in 2013, 5 of the 6 bats captured emerged from one of the boxes. During fall live-trapping at the Canoe Creek limestone mine and the Luzerne Co. coalmine (both trapped annually) total numbers of captured bats of all species were dramatically lower.

Other Bat Species of Concern: During summer, 2 wildlife consultants working in NE PA tracked a total of 4 eastern small-footed bats (state threatened) captured during mist-netting surveys conducted on behalf of developers. These included 1 pregnant female, 2 lactating females and 1 male. Two females were tracked to roosts in quarries. One consultant also netted a juvenile too small to carry a transmitter. During fall, one of the consultants, contracted by PA-DEP to live-trap mine entrances, captured one adult male eastern small-footed bat at each of 2 sites in Luzerne and Somerset counties.

Allegheny Woodrat (state threatened): For the SWG-funded genetic catalog project, during the first field season IUP visited 110 habitat sites to survey for signs of activity, live-trapped 66 sites resulting in 116 woodrat captures, and collected 115 samples for genetic testing. Six females and 2 males, captured by PGC staff in Fayette, Huntingdon and Perry counties during late summer and early fall, were added to the captive breeding colony at Delaware Valley College. One of the females produced the colony’s first pup; she was pregnant, but not visibly so, at time of capture. Woodrat surveys by Diversity staff in Bedford, Fayette and 2 areas in Juniata counties found new sign in Fayette and one area in Juniata; old sign was found in Bedford and the second Juniata Co. site. Woodrats were photographed by trail-cams set in Fayette Co. in the area where an eastern spotted skunk (PA-WAP high-level concern) was live- trapped by a wildlife consultant in fall 2012; there were no photos of spotted skunks.

Mammal Atlas: Lindsey Heffernan was hired in fall 2013 to coordinate the new Mammal Atlas to address our abysmal knowledge of mammal populations. The Mammal Technical Committee (MTC) provides advisory oversight of this effort. Its primary goal is to determine presence/absence for all mammal species across the state. This comprehensive survey will involve the use of multiple techniques, many specialized partners, and span an estimated 10 years to systematically cover the state. It will also include opportunities for many new partnerships and citizen science input.

Bald Eagle Status Revision: In September, following the Board of Commissioners vote to preliminarily accept a recommendation to change the status of the bald eagle in Pennsylvania from threatened to protected, a web page for public comment was developed to solicit input from citizens. Sixty-five comments were received. The Board will vote on the final rule during its meeting January 27-28. Upon a positive vote, the bald eagle will be the first bird or mammal removed from the state T&E list. It will then revert to federal protection under the Bald and Golden Eagle Conservation Act, and management will be administered through USFWS Migratory Bird staff.

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Endangered and Threatened Birds Surveys • Peregrine Falcon: Preliminary 2013 numbers for peregrines included 56 nestlings banded at 20 nest sites and 69 young fledged from 26 sites. • Osprey: Pennsylvania confirmed 70 osprey nesting sites, 31 of which were first identified by volunteers. • Waders: The survey at Wade Island counted 52black-crowned night-heron (state endangered), and documented great egrets. • Dickcissel: In an attempt to track populations in 2013, we received 57 reports, including some evidence of breeding. Most records were singing males; 2 included females on territory. Counties generating reports included Berks, Clarion, Crawford, Cumberland, Elk, Franklin and Lancaster. Mowing during nesting season is identified as a significant limitation to continued occupancy for this grassland-specialist species.

Owls: We arranged for banding and transfer of short-eared owls (state endangered) at Pittsburgh International Airport. We work with Project Owlnet, the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art, and CLO to study the recent snowy owl incursion in the Northeast and Great Lakes region. By year’s end, there were snowy owl reports from 32 PA counties, and several have received satellite telemetry. Check out: http://www.projectsnowstorm.org/ . During June, July and August, regional diversity biologists banded 116 owlets at 32 barn owl (PA-WAP maintenance concern) nest sites; 72 owlets were banded at 21 sites in our SE region alone.

Discussion: Snowy owl surge a rare event due to overpopulation of owls in response to a lemming outbreak. This year is probably our best chance of seeing snowy owls in our area.

Golden-winged Warbler (PA-WAP high-level concern): We completed surveys for the regional conservation monitoring program, conducting 100 survey points in 20 quads. At least 12 golden-winged warblers, 19 blue-winged warblers and 3 hybrids were found. Additional searches on 16 SGLs, 4 state forests and 3 state parks found 14 golden-wings and 3 blue-wings. Golden-winged warblers were found on SGLs in Centre and Pike counties and in the Delaware State Forest.

Second PA Breeding Bird Atlas: A new web site has been launched, in collaboration with PSU’s Center for Environmental Informatics in the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute, that provides custom maps and data from both Breeding Bird Atlases. Check it out at http://www.pabirdatlas.psu.edu/. This site provides results of Pennsylvania’s Second Breeding Bird Atlas, as well as background material on the project, its support, and publication. Maps may be produced for first (1980s) and second (2000s) distribution results, as well as lists of breeding birds reported in any block. The book from the 2nd atlas is still for sale.

Regional Initiatives: See the separate handout on a few initiatives and products that include PA from a regional perspective. Many projects (not listed) are ongoing through the RCNGRANTS program, and several broadly significant products for conservation planning recently (or are soon to be) completed are listed. Go to www.rcngrants.org for more info.

Discussion: − PGC has a new executive director to replace Carl Rowe, Matt Hough. Read more about his background at http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=1096106&mode=2. − For more information on RCN grants, go to www.RCNgrants.org. Some products designed for SWAP revision, GIS coverages, classifications, guides, geospatial condition analysis (on health/condition of stand units), etc. on regional level. Can download reports and data. − LCCs – Appalachian Mountain Joint Venture, check it out (http://www.amjv.org/).

Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program Presented by Greg Podniesinski, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, PNHP Program Director

Repositioning of PNHP within Bureau of Forestry: The PNHP State Director position and the PNHP program will remain in the Conservation Science and Ecological Resources Division, but will be part of the new Natural Heritage Section. The Natural Heritage Section Chief position will assume some of the responsibilities of the current State Director position, including overall program leadership and strategic direction, while the current state director position will be redefined. The new section will also include DCNR environmental review staff and a landscape ecologist position, all currently in the Ecological Services Section.

PNDI Tool Update: DCNR, in consultation with PNHP partners, is preparing to release a Request For Quotes (RFQ) document for a major upgrade of the PNDI environmental review screening tool. Target date for releasing the RFQ is early February 2014. Plans for

18 the tool upgrade will include a conservation planning and environmental review components, allow for the online submission of project documents, enhanced project review tracking, and other enhancements. Target date for project completion is early 2015

EPA Headwater Aquatic Resource Profiles: Through this project, the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) will develop ecological profiles for headwater aquatic resources in six selected watersheds in different physiographic provinces in Pennsylvania along with general conceptual models for these resources. This information will be used by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) to help establish reference standards with will help inform aquatic resource management planning and mitigation work in Pennsylvania. Field work began in 2013 in three watersheds, Raccoon Creek (western PA), Little Kettle Creek (northern tier of PA), and Treaster Run (central PA). 26 sites were sampled across the three watersheds (additional sites will be sampled in Treaster Run in 2014). Three additional watersheds will be sampled in 2014.

Lehigh and Northampton Counties CNHI Update: Natural Heritage Inventory updates for Lehigh and Northampton Counties are complete. This two and a half year project included a greenways analysis component and a transportation projects analysis. The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC) is very proactive in seeking out new information and will incorporate the new information into their numerous plans and maps including their Natural Resources Plan and the Lehigh Valley Greenways Plan.

Jefferson County Natural Heritage Inventory: The Jefferson County Natural Heritage Inventory was completed after a delay. Jefferson County stands as the last initial county inventory to be done in the state - all others currently ongoing or recently completed represent second round inventories. The Jefferson CNHI along with all updates incorporates the most recent mapping, format and approach to county inventories. We are moving toward on-line updating of sites and provision of information to the counties on a regular basis. Although we will still concentrate on counties and regions, we will treat the state as a whole in refreshing information and updating sites.

Berks, Chester and Beaver County CNHI Updates: All field work has concluded for the Natural Heritage Inventory updates for Berks, Chester and Beaver Counties. The sites for all will be updated or added to the statewide layer on the PNHP website and an executive summary will serve as the only printed material for these CNHI updates.

Conservation Planning Polygons (CPPs): Conservation Planning Polygons (CPPs) have been completed for all state species with only federal species remaining. These polygons will be used to construct CNHI sites, inform the PA Game Lands Management Tool (PGLMT) and as the foundation for the new environmental review tool currently under development.

Marcellus Shale Ecological Monitoring: The RKM funded project that is an assessment of baseline conditions high ecological value sites throughout the shale gas region continues into its second year. The work includes sampling of water quality and macroinvertebrates, rare species surveys, and landscape-level condition analysis. The first year was successful with an intensive bird census added for all terrestrial sites and four seasons of water quality sampling completed and analyzed. Interestingly, a number of sites included in the project have seen new gas development within or nearby the designated sampling areas.

Limestone Community Flora Project: The WRCP funded Limestone Communities project was completed. This project categorized the flora of Pennsylvania according to affinity for specific pH ranges through field work and expert opinion and found that a 30% of all native vascular plants known to currently inhabit Pennsylvania use calcareous habitat, 33% use acidic habitat, and 59% use midrange habitat. A quarter of the flora are habitat specialists that live mainly or exclusively in extreme pH environments; 10% (197 taxa) are calciphiles, and 15% (301 taxa) are acidiphiles. These findings along with the fact that conversion of land use has disproportionately impacted calcareous habitats bolster the argument that (intact) calcareous habitats are in great need of conservation action.

Northeastern Bulrush: The Northeastern bulrush (Scirpus ancistrochaetus) project received its fourth year of funding. Following a range-wide genetic study, PNHP has begun an ongoing , five-year rotation of long-term, low-intensity monitoring of the approximately 80 known PA sites for this federally-listed species. PNHP staff are also installing monitoring wells with data loggers to document annual variability of hydrology at ten sites, as part of a more limited high-intensity monitoring program.

MEMBERS-AT-LARGE

Academy of Natural Sciences Prepared by Jon Gelhaus, Curator of Entomology, and Professor, BEES department

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University Education: The Academy of Natural Sciences continued its integration with Drexel University, initiated in 2011. The scientific and collections staff have seen great changes. A new department of Drexel, Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES) (http://www.drexel.edu/bees/), has been created with existing Environmental Sciences faculty, and Ph.D. scientists of the Academy, who were all given faculty appointments. This new department, whose motto is “Field Experience Early and Often,” is experiencing fast growth in student enrollment (ahead of projections), and offers undergraduate students concentrations in Biodiversity and Evolution, Earth Science, Ecology and Conservation and Environmental Science. The department also trains Masters and Ph.D. students. Courses in the new curriculum include Practical Identification of Plants and Animals, Tree of Life, Natural History Research and Collections, along with others such as GIS Environmental Modeling, Watershed Approach and Introduction to Field Methods. Drexel University students undertake 1 or 3 six-month co-op internships, and in the last year the Academy has seen numerous co-op students working in paid and unpaid positions ranging from field and laboratory research, curatorial projects, and outreach and other educational activities.

Collections

Entomology Collection – new housing and online species inventory: The Entomology Department is completing two projects focused on rehousing and protecting the collection, and making the collection contents searchable online. A $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) has allowed a new collection compactor system to be installed (replacing a 1970 open collection storage system) along with new HVAC and “clean tile” ceiling systems provide a new level of collection protection, along with additional room and materials for collection growth. Along with this, a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services has allowed the department to create a species inventory of the collection and to make this available online ( the species in the collection can be searched at http://symbiont.ansp.org/entomology/ ). As we are reaching about 90% completion, the project has indexed over 95,000 species and nearly 2 million specimens. This represents approximately 10% of the world’s known insect diversity!

The online database is being used by researchers to access our collection contents, and refining their requests for loans of specimens or specimen data. For a fun search, look up the number of insect and spider species named for Pennsylvania in the Academy collection; it should yield about 50 species with species epithets reflecting the state.

Malacology Collection – Type Specimen Imaging Project The Malacology Collection at the Academy of Natural Sciences already has database available online of its entire holdings (http://clade.ansp.org/malacology/collections/index.html). For example, a search for Pennsylvania records yields over 7200 lots with complete specimen data available online (except endangered species). Now, with a grant from NSF the collection is digitally imaging its collection of type specimens, those specimens designated by the original describer of a species to serve as the representation of what that species is. These specimens are considered the most valuable to science in any collection of organisms. So far, early in the project, digital images of the type specimens (and labels) from Pennsylvania for a few species are now available (e.g. view the snail Elimia pennsylvanica Pilsbry described from specimens from the Ohio River at Coraopolis, PA http://clade.ansp.org/malacology/collections/details.php?mode=details&catalognumber=73954 )

Lichen and Bryophyte Collections The Botany department has begun an NSF-funded project to digitally image label data of all North American lichens and bryophytes in the collection. All images and transcribed data are being deposited at lichenportal.org (583 PH records currently available) and bryophyteportal.org (13,738 PH records available).

Botany Collection – historic Barton specimens prepared Stories of backlogged specimens in museum collections abound, as it is much easier to collect specimens then it is to prepare, label and identify them! As part of the Global Plants Initiative project, ANSP Botany curatorial assistant Amanda Labadie and WINS high school student Rabi Jalloh mounted and curated 19 specimens that had been on the backlog since the late 1700s! Apparently, these specimens had been collected by Benjamin Smith Barton in Pennsylvania and images of the specimens will be available online soon. Until then, have fun and search the database for already imaged Barton-collected specimens: http://ph.ansp.org/sheets.php?mode=search&collector=Barton&view=colls

Ornithology Collection – window kill study Collection Manager Dr. Nate Rice is continuing a study of window killed migrating birds in downtown Philadelphia, in collaboration with Keith Russell of Pennsylvania Audubon, and the Philadelphia Zoo. Data on each bird is recovered including species, sex, etc, and many of these birds are prepared for the collection. A paper is being prepared summarizing three years of window kills during

20 spring and fall migration periods. A sample of a record available online from this study is: http://clade.ansp.org/ornithology/index.php?page=detail&ans_number=191754.

Ornithology Curator – Search The Academy of Natural Sciences is in the midst of a search for a new Ornithology curator and professor in the BEES department at Drexel. The position involves the leadership of the department and 200,000 specimen collection, a research program which is specimen based, and a joint appointment at Drexel in the BEES department which is a tenure track. Interviews got underway this month. The job ad can be accessed at http://www.ansp.org/about/jobs-and-opportunities/jobs/.

Research

Regal Fritillary Butterfly A recent paper on the phylogeography of the Regal Fritillary butterfly Speyeria idalia Drury incorporated data from both extant and extirpated Pennsylvania populations (including DNA sequences obtained from museum specimens housed at the Academy of Natural Sciences and from other museums). These historical specimens demonstrated that the extant population at Ft. Indiantown Gap has more in common with historical New England populations than with historical populations in west-central Pennsylvania and an extant population in Virginia. ANSP collection manager Jason Weintraub was a co-author on the study. [Insect Conservation and Diversity 6(3): 234-242, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1752-4598.2012.00208.x/full ]

Diatom communities and water quality in SE Pennsylvania Parks Dr. Marina Potapova, Curator of Diatoms and Assistant Professor at Drexel University, has undertaken a study funded by PA DCNR entitled "Diatom communities in State Parks of Western PA." This study is part of DCNR efforts to assess aquatic communities in the southwest part of the state where shale drilling is prevalent. Dr. Potopova and a graduate student sampled 13 parks in 2013. This follows her study of diatom communities in state parks in north central Pennsylvania in 2009.

Watershed Guidance in the Delaware River Basin The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University has received a major grant from the William Penn Foundation to support watershed protection and restoration in the Delaware watershed that is intended to coordinate and demonstrate a region-wide impact on improving water quality. The Academy’s role in the coming year will be to take baseline measurements of environmental conditions in designated sites across the Delaware basin. As other organizations work with the William Penn Foundation to secure funding for their own conservation programs at specific sites, the Academy will serve in an outreach and mentoring role to guide the development of these projects. Academy scientists will also coordinate a process to identify research questions that might emerge from the funded projects. Ultimately, the Academy’s scientific expertise and measurements will guide coordinated, region-wide work to address major environmental stressors in the watershed, demonstrate the effectiveness of interventions, and ensure these efforts can be replicated at other sites.

Audubon Pennsylvania Verbal report presented by Sarah Sargent, Audubon Pennsylvania Northwest Pennsylvania Important Bird Area Coordinator.

− Fractrackers (See http://www.fractracker.org/2012/08/loyalsock/) posted an article that discusses gas extraction impacts and mentions interior forest birds. They link to a publication in Environmental Management: Drohan, P.J., M. Brittingham, J. Bishop and K. Yoder. 2012. Early Trends in Landcover Change and Forest Fragmentation Due to Shale-Gas Development in PA: A Potential Outcome for the Northcentral Appalachians. gas extraction impacts. Environmental Management 49(5):1061-1075. − Continued to work with Andy Wilson monitoring interior forest songbirds on the Kittatiny Ridge. This area is currently an Important Bird Area (IBA) for Pennsylvania. Would like it to have global IBA status if it meets the criteria of supporting a certain number of cerulean warblers. They found that site does meet the threshold but still needs to be approved by the national IBA committee. This would be the 3rd global IBA in PA and there may be others.

Box Scores Box scores are posted on the PABS website at http://www.altoona.psu.edu/pabs/pdfs/biodiversitystatus.pdf.

Carnegie Museum of Natural History No report

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State Wildlife Action Plan & Federal Wildlife Funding Provided by Cathy Haffner (PGC) and presented by Diana Day, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Conservation Coordinator

State Wildlife Grants Program Funding Status and State Wildlife Action Plan Revision Process Update

Prepared by Cathy Haffner (PGC) and Diana Day (PFBC).

State Wildlife Grants Program Funding Status (see Table 1 from national report)

State Wildlife Grants receive annual appropriations and thus require an ongoing effort to maintain funding. With support from PABS and other Teaming With Wildlife Coalition members in Pennsylvania and across the nation, the State Wildlife Grants program was maintained in the FY14.

Table 1. Summary by Mark Humpert, AFWA Wildlife Diversity Director, 14JAN14

Program HR 3547 President Senate House FY13 Enacted % Change FY10 % Omnibus Bill FY14 Request FY14 Draft FY14 FY14 to Enacted Change IA Subcomm. IA FY13 FY14 to Subcomm. FY10 State & Tribal $58.695M $61.323M $61.20M $0 $58.115M +1.0% $90.0M -34.8% Wildlife Grants $4.084M tribal $4.268M tribal $4.259M tribal $3.923M tribal $7.0M tribal $5.4870M $13.0M comp. $5.721M comp. $5.106M comp. $5.0M comp. comp. 65:35 match 65:35 match 65:35 match 65:35 match 65:35 match (75:25 (75:25 (75:25 (75:25 (75:25 planning) planning) planning) planning) planning) North American $34.145M $39.425M $35.426M $0 $33.64M +1.5% $47.6M -28.3% Wetlands Conservation Fund Cooperative $50.095M $56.00M $47.575M $38.69M $45.186M +10.9% $85.3M -41.3% Endangered Species Conservation Fund Neotropical $3.660M $3.786M $3.786M $0 $3.588M +2.0% $5.0M -26.8% Migratory Bird Conservation Fund Multinational $9.061M $9.787M $9.787M $7.667M ~$9M $11.5M -21.2% Species Conservation Fund

State & Tribal Wildlife Grants Spending Level set at $58.695M Overall funding for SWG increased slightly (+1% over last year’s level), reversing a three year decline by adding an additional $580K for FY14. Funding for tribal grants increased by $161K and state competitive grants increased by $381K. Required match remains at 75:25 for planning and 65:35 for implementation grants. The bill includes language that should allow the four regional associations to apply for competitive SWG funding this fiscal year. Once the bill becomes law, the US FWS will be reissuing the RFP for competitive SWG to reflect this change.

Although the slight increase in SWG is good news, overall funding for the program is still nearly 35% below FY10 funding levels meaning lots of priority work to prevent endangered species listings will not occur.

Teaming With Wildlife Teaming With Wildlife sponsors a national Fly-In Day, being held on Wednesday, 02/26/14 in Washington, D.C. Pennsylvania will again be participating in this event, which includes a mix of conservation partners and agency staff. The meetings with Members of Congress and staffers offer a valuable time to inform them of the value of the State Wildlife Grants Program.

22 State Wildlife Action Plan Revision Update

Overview This will be a year of significant activity for revision of the plan. By year’s end we anticipate a significant portion of the plan will be drafted. The plan is due to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by 09/30/15.

Role of Technical Committees • Review list of species that are identified as Species of Greatest Conservation Need and other aspects of the plan where interest and time allow. • Provide digital images of species for the plan. • Identify case studies for Species of Greatest Conservation Need.

Status • Steering Committee: The Steering Committee convened three times in 2013 (January, June and October 2013). • Advisory Committee: For 2013, the Advisory Committee met in April, July and October. The theme for the meetings has primarily centered around the Eight Required Elements, with the most recent meeting focusing on Element 2 habitats. The next meeting of this committee is scheduled for 11 February, 2014 and will focus on Element 3 (Threats) and Element 4 (Conservation Actions). The PABS Chair represents the consortium on this committee. We have received important guidance from this committee on many aspects of the plan including its structure, vision, goals, guiding principles, and technical content. • Key Points of Progress o Technical Committees . Climate Change: An ad hoc Climate Change was formed with members from the Natural Resources Working Group. PABS Climate Change Chair (Greg Czarnecki) is on this technical committee. The first meeting was held in September 2013 and we will be scheduling a conference call for early Spring. The group will provide information and critical review relevant to climate change in the plan. . Habitat Committee: A second committee focusing on habitat is still under review by the Steering Committee. o Species . Species assessment tasks are in-progress, with the exception of the invertebrates. The grant for that project is now being processed and review is expected to be underway shortly. . Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (Chris Tracey) is working on predictive modeling for species. As of early December, the target list of species was still under review. o Habitat Assessment: This work will be conducted by Penn State (Joe Bishop) through the Competitive State Wildlife Grants Project administered by the PGC. The administrative tasks are nearly completed and work expected to begin shortly. • Prioritization of SGCN: Under Construction

The Nature Conservancy Presented by Scott Bearer, Senior Scientist

The Nature Conservancy has been working actively on a variety of fronts, including projects in freshwater, energy development, forest conservation and forest science.

1) Freshwater efforts include a Delaware Floodplain portfolio project that prioritizes floodplain complexes that represent the best opportunity for restoring functional floodplains, a forest buffer restoration project (with NFWF, CBF and TU) that will target sites for buffer restoration and work to improve water quality and brook trout habitat, and a recently completed flow study for the Upper Ohio River drainage.

2) Energy development initiatives include a recent publication in the December 2012 issue of Environmental Practice. Conducted a scientific assessment of gas development BMPs. Authors found that noise and light pollution are not well studied, it’s a significant data gap. Next step is to convert the results into a series of publicly accessible factsheets. This information can help landowners incorporate recommendations into lease agreements. The publication is available as a pdf from the PA Trout Unlimited website.

Bearer, Scott, Emily Nicholas, Tamara Gagnolet, Michele DePhilip, Tara Moberg, and Nels Johnson. 2012. Evaluating the Scientific Support of Conservation Best Management Practices for Shale Gas Extraction in the Appalachian Basin. Environmental Practice 14:308-319. Available at: http://www.patrout.org/docs/documents/tnc's-bmp-article.pdf?sfvrsn=0

23

Also, working with the University of Tennessee at Knoxville to create an optimization decision support tool that will help identify infrastructure layouts for gas leases across a landscape. Preparing to release the first iteration of this GIS web decision support tool. Will help developers optimize locations of well pads across a land unit based on some priority, such as minimal ecological impact or lowest cost.

3) Forest conservation work continues with TNC’s innovative easement model, called Working Woodlands, which uses a combination of an easement agreement, the development of an FSC forest management plan, and the enrollment of calculated forest stocking into the regulated and voluntary carbon markets. Working Woodlands projects have been completed with Bethlehem (over 22,000 acres) and Lock Haven (over 5,200 acres) Water Authorities, and we’re currently targeting other large private landowners for additional projects.

4) Forest science efforts include the establishment of a larger prescribed fire monitoring program with PGC to better understand whether prescribed fire objectives (i.e. vegetation/habitat management) are being met, a Hemlock Woolly Adelgid study (with USFS- ANF) to prioritize the most valuable and important hemlock forests in northwestern Pennsylvania (which may include the establishment of a Forest Pest Cooperative Management Area in 2014), and continuing the efforts of TNC’s resiliency work (see Resilient Sites for Terrestrial Conservation report) to establish forest management guidelines for resiliency in the Central Appalachians and Southwest China.

Discussion: − The Wildlife Society is having its national meeting October 25 in Pittsburgh. Potential sites for field trips? Collaborating with Carnegie Museum and others.

United States Fish & Wildlife Service - PA Field Office Presented by Jennifer Siani, Fish and Wildlife Biologist

Personnel Changes: Due to sequestration, the positions previously held by Carole Copeyon, Lora Zimmerman, and Justin Markey have not been filled. There are no anticipated fill dates for these positions as DOI is still under a hiring freeze. WingYi Kung is now in our Environmental Contaminant’s program fulfilling Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) responsibilities.

Listing Updates:

1) Bats: As a result of white-nose syndrome and other threats, the Service was petitioned on January 21, 2010, by The Center for Biological Diversity to list (as threatened or endangered) the Northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) and Eastern small- footed bat (Myotis leibii). On October 2, 2013, we published in the Federal Register a proposal to list the Northern long-eared bat (NLEB) as endangered throughout its range under the Endangered Species Act. The Northern long-eared bat interim conference and planning guidance has been finalized and is now available online. The document provides recommendations and suggestions for conferencing and planning for NLEB prior to listing. As the guidance states, none of this information should be considered final since the listing decision for this species is not final. It is also is important to note that, due to the preliminary nature of the state of knowledge of the NLEB, the approaches and information contained within the guidance may change as we gain additional information on the NLEB and its habitat. For more information, go to: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/mammals/nlba/index.html

The Service's Region 3 Regional Office is still reviewing a status assessment on the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) and the tri- colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus).

2) Neosho mucket and rabbitsfoot proposed listing and critical habitat rule (PA, WV): On September 17, 2013, the Service finalized the listing of the Neosho mucket as endangered and the rabbitsfoot mussel as threatened. Of the two, only the rabbitsfoot currently occurs in Pennsylvania; it is considered extirpated from West Virginia, but the final rule lists the mussels throughout their historic range. The final rule can be found at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-09-17/pdf/2013-22245.pdf.

On August 27, 2013, the Service reopened the comment period on the draft economic analysis for the proposed critical habitat designation for the Neosho mucket and rabbitsfoot mussel. The public comment period closed on October 28, 2013. The proposed rule designates approximately 133 river miles (rmi) of critical habitat for the rabbitsfoot in Crawford, Erie, Mercer, and Venango

24 Counties in Pennsylvania. The proposed designation includes: 74.8 rmi in French Creek, 35.6 rmi in the Allegheny River, 12.5 rmi in Muddy Creek, and 10.1 rmi in the Shenango River.

3) Rufa red knot proposed listing/critical habitat determination: On September 30, 2013, the Service published in the Federal Register a proposed rule to list the rufa red knot as a threatened species throughout its range. The proposed listing rule opened a 60-day public comment period, which closed on November 29, 2013.The range includes interior states because rufa red knots have been documented in those states during migration. The Service is also developing a critical habitat determination for the red knot; a publication date for this determination has not been set. Additional supporting materials can be found at http://www.fws.gov/northeast/redknot/

Endangered Species Program Updates:

1) Improving ESA Implementation: Our headquarters office created a web page devoted to national efforts to improve the Service's implementation of the ESA. The page includes links to proposed policy and regulation changes. http://www.fws.gov/endangered/improving_ESA/index.html

2) White-Nose Syndrome: As of October 2013 WNS is confirmed in 22 states and 5 Canadian provinces. Evidence of the causative fungus has been found in 4 additional states. For updated maps and other information, visit: http://whitenosesyndrome.org/ − The national implementation plan was presented to the WNS Executive Committee on 4 December. Approval of the plan is expected when the committee meets in March. − A North American bat population monitoring strategy is in development. A fourth and final workshop was held 4-7 November 2013, and a general technical report is anticipated by summer 2014. A bat population database will be maintained at the USGS Fort Collins Science Center that will be compatible with analogous databases in Canada and Mexico. Pilot projects are being planned for 2014 as proof of concept. − The Service is working on a formal revision of the 2009 Cave Advisory. The revision will incorporate input from the WNS Stakeholder Committee, and the WNS Steering Committee is considering the option to accept the advisory as national guidance with buy-in from all participating agencies. The Disease Management Working Group is also developing guidance for commercial caves that will address human transmission risks at public and private show caves. − The Service allocated ~$1.4 million in grants and support for WNS in FY2013, including nearly $951K in grants to state agencies announced in June 2013. We anticipate allocating at least $3 million for research grants in FY2014, and plan to offer capacity grants to state agencies as well. We are currently reviewing proposals received from Federal partners through the WNS Steering Committee, and plan to release an RFP open to all in the research community in January. Priorities for research funding are determined largely by the actions and needs detailed in the national implementation plan. − The U.S. Forest Service and the WNS National Communications Working Group worked to update the “Battle for Bats” video originally produced in 2011. See the new 13.5 min video by going here: http://whitenosesyndrome.org/news/updated-battle-bats- video-available

3) Section 6 Grant FY13 Awards and 2014 RFP: Out of the FY13 $9.4 million national allocation for the Recovery Land Acquisition Grant program, Region 5 was awarded $702,500 for three land protection projects for bog turtles in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. On January 8, 2014, the Service announced the FY14 Request for Proposals for Recovery Land Acquisition, Habitat Conservation Planning Assistance, and Habitat Conservation Planning Land Acquisition grants. Proposals are due March 14 and can be submitted through Grants.gov or directly to our Hadley Regional Office.

4) Updated Indiana bat survey protocols for summer 2014 season: The final 2014 Indiana bat summer survey guidance and our white paper outlining methods used to develop the final levels of effort are now available. The biggest change is that a minimum of 42 net nights per 123 acres of suitable summer habitat for mist-net surveys for polygon projects. For more information, go to: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Endangered/mammals/inba/inbasummersurveyguidance.html

Western Pennsylvania Conservancy No report.

Wild Resource Conservation Fund Presented by Greg Czarnecki, Executive Director

WRCP awarded the following grants, totaling $303,260, during the 2013 grant round.

25 Title Recipient Amount Tree Diseases and Pests of Pennsylvania: App and Video Teacher West Chester University $11,976 Resources for Project Learning Tree Expanding Hellbender Research into the Marcellus and Utica Shale Gas Western Pennsylvania Conservancy $35,006 Regions of Pennsylvania American Chestnut Module for Project Learning Tree PA Chapter of the American Chestnut $9,739 Foundation Status of Pennsylvania’s Burrowing Crayfish Fauna: Distributions, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy $21,305 Threats, and Changes over the Last Century Field Assessments to Assist with Plant Conservation Status Updates Western Pennsylvania Conservancy $81,300 Baseline Studies of Aquatic Plants and Water Quality in Selected State Morris Arboretum, University of $27,837 Park Lakes Pennsylvania Assessing State-Wide Habitat Change to Inform State Wildlife Action Penn State University $29,912 Planning in Pennsylvania Effects of Prescribed Burning on Early Successional Habitats in Eastern Wilkes University $30,749 Pennsylvania Using the History of Pennsylvania Wildfire to Inform Landscape Level The Nature Conservancy $27,348 Prescribed Burn Planning Evaluating the Ecological and Conservation Needs of Pennsylvania’s Western Pennsylvania Conservancy $16,572 Edge-of-Range Plant Species of Special Concern Development of Prediction Species Distribution Models for SGCN Western Pennsylvania Conservancy $11,516

Discussion: The next issue of WildNotes! will explain the definition of an endangered species. Also will discuss what PNDI is and where the information comes from . This will address some of the questions raised by the proposed legislation. North meets south article – discusses borderline/edge of range species listed in PA but common elsewhere and make a case for protection. Expect next issue to be available in 2-3 weeks. Czarnecki will issue a link to WildNotes! once it is available.

STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS

Climate Change Adaptation Standing Committee Verbal report by Greg Czarnecki, Committee Chair

No CCASC meetings since last PABS Steering Committee Meeting in August. Nothing new to report at this time.

Plant Community Classification Standing Committee Presented by Ephraim Zimmerman, CCSC Chair

Active members of the Standing Committee include Ephraim Zimmerman, Greg Podniesinski, and Mary Ann Furedi (PNHP); Chris Firestone, Deric Case (DCNR Bureau of Forestry); Ann Rhoads and Tim Block (Morris Arboretum), Roger Latham (Continental Conservation), Stephanie Perles (NPS), Alex Ireland (PSU), and Scott Bearer (TNC).

The PABS Plant Community Classification Standing Committee met in February 27, 2013 to discuss possibility of updating terrestrial portion of the PA Plant Community Classification (update to Terrestrial and Palustrine Plant Communities of PA, Fike, 1999). In 2012 The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) completed the process of updating and refining the wetland plant community types with funding from the EPA (Region 3 Wetland Development Program Grants), PA DEP, DCNR Wild Resources Conservation Program, and core funds from the DCNR PNHP contract. PABS members contributed information and peer review for new and existing wetland plant community types for the Classification Update. http://www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/communities.aspx

Now that the wetlands portion is completed and has been successfully used for a year, the PABS Community Classification Committee will begin adding to and refining the terrestrial communities of the state in 2014.

The terrestrial portion will be much more challenging because of forest types are used in management of DCNR Forest Lands and PGC State Game Lands. However, no one from either agency believes this will be a problem. All decisions to modify or add types

26 must be in keeping with the existing cover typing classifications used by the agencies. PNHP ecologists have a meeting with DCNR Bureau of Forestry staff on Feb 6 2013 to discuss strategy, use of data, timeframe, and potential challenges.

Both the DCNR Bureau of Forestry and Game Commission have significant amounts of data that may be used to inform the process and update the PA Community Classification and a mechanism for this will be developed in 2014.

The committee will organize a meeting in early 2014 to discuss plans for the update of the terrestrial communities.

Other Plant Community Notes: • PNHP systematically updated the list of wetland plant community records in the Natural Heritage (Biotics) Database – with crosswalks from the National Vegetation Classification developed by NatureServe. • Vernal pool plant communities are still problematic and this section of the wetlands classification will be addressed in 2014. • Successional or anthropogenic types are also going to be considered for inclusion into the PA Plant Community Classification.

Environmental Education Not active

OLD BUSINESS

PABS Directory Leppo: Sent out a final draft of the directory for review. Will have an annual review process. Information is on Rogers’ newly developed PABS website. Changes can be incorporated at any time, please forward changes to Betsy and/or Roger.

PABS Website Latham: Please review pages on the website with an eye toward updating it. Will put revision date at the end of the text.

Revisions to the PABS Constitution Motion passed last meeting to add USFWS as an agency partner and to revise constitution so that PABS can have up to 12 members at large. Criswell: Would like to add a webmaster position to the steering committee. Maret: Do we want one officer having 2 votes? Latham would be both president-elect (or president) and webmaster? Criswell: Ok, table for now. After Latham is done with the presidency, we will add a webmaster position to the steering committee. Criswell: Change ‘secretary treasurer’ position to ‘treasurer. Latham moved to accept the revised constitution. Bogar seconded. Motion passed.

NEW BUSINESS

Red Book Discussion about finding funding for and developing a guide that clarifies the species ranking processes within each agency.

Endangered Species Coordination Act Discussion on how to demystify the PNDI process, quantify the number of conflicts, reviews, turn around time, field survey requests, etc. This is being addressed by the Commissions, and through the PNHP website and revised environmental review tool.

NEXT MEETING The summer meeting will be held July 17, 2014 at the H.R. Stackhouse Training Center in Bellefonte from 9:30-3:30.

Motion to adjourn the meeting at 3:30 PM.

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