13th Annual Research Advances in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Ecology Symposium

February 18-19th, 2016 LaSells Stewart Center Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon

Research Advances in Fisheries, Wildlife and Ecology (RAFWE) showcases research, extension, and community outreach activities conducted within or in association with the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, related departments at Oregon State University, other regional universities, and state and federal agencies. We encourage you to interact with attendees and presenters throughout the day.

Activities include a speed talk session, oral presentations, workshops, brown bag lunch discussion panel, poster session, and keynote address. Our keynote speaker is Dr. Elizabeth P. Derryberry of . Generous donors have also provided a variety of goods and services for a silent and live auction.

Don’t forget to use #RAFWE for all of your social media posts!

Schedule

Time Location: Nash 033 Location: LINC 307

Workshop 1: Workshop 2: Feb 18th Getting the job: preparing to answer the Improvisation to aid in science communication: 4-7PM diversity question the other evolutionary theater

Feb 19th LaSells Stewart Center

Time Agricultural Production Room Agricultural Leaders Room

Session 1: Session 2:

Genetics, Energetics & Physiology Behavioral Ecology 10:00 Ellie Bohrer Evan Bredeweg 10:15 Chelsea Duke Laurie Harrer 10:30 Christina Murphy Erin Harrington 10:45 Evan Durland Kate Self 11:00 Tyler Jackson Break 11:15-11:30 Construction and Engineering Hall

11:30-12:30 Brown Bag Lunch: "Escape from Science Island!"

Break 12:30-1:00

Time Agricultural Production Room Agricultural Leaders Room

Session 3: Session 4:

Environmental Drivers Life History & Diversity 1:00 Josee Rousseau Samara Haver 1:15 Jenna Curtis Allyson Jackson 1:30 Patricia Rincón-Díaz Matthew Kaylor 1:45 Francisco Pickens Imam Basuki 2:00 Thaddaeus Buser Virni Arifanti Break 2:15-2:30 Construction and Engineering Hall Speed Talk Session Alexander Rose Michael Moses 2:30-3:15 Lindsey Thurman Danielle Nelson Shelby Lofton Matthew Ramirez Break 3:15 - 3:30

Keynote Address: "Singing in the city: urban dependent selection on 3:30-4:30 Dr. Elizabeth Derryberry acoustic communication"

LaSells Stewart Center: Giustina Gallery 4:30-5:30 Poster Session 5:30-7:00 Evening Social and Silent Auction

#RAFWE 1 The LaSells Stewart Center

#RAFWE 2 Keynote Address: Dr. Elizabeth P. Derryberry

This year we have the privilege to host Dr. Elizabeth P. Derryberry of Tulane University as our keynote speaker. Dr. Derryberry’s lab uses a variety of methods and approaches including field and lab behavioral experiments, phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses, and genomic tools to address the proximate and ultimate factors controlling variation in communication signals and signaling.

Dr. Derryberry graduated in 2000 from the Ecology and department at , where she completed a senior thesis on the fitness consequences of parasites in natural populations of white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys). Dr. Derryberry went on to do her doctoral dissertation work on the patterns and mechanisms of song evolution in white- crowned sparrows in the Nowicki lab at Duke University. In 2007, she joined the Museum of Natural Science at Louisiana State University to study lineage diversification in Neotropical ovenbirds and woodcreepers (Aves: Furnariidae). Dr. Derryberry joined the Tulane Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology faculty in 2012. According to her website, she is currently working on several collaborative projects that address the proximate and ultimate factors controlling variation in communication signals using a range of techniques drawn from several disciplines.

We are grateful that she has agreed to speak at the RAFWE symposium this year and invite you to come hear about her work. You can learn more about her work at http://elizabethderryberry.tulane.edu/derryberrylab/Home.html

#RAFWE 3 Brown Bag Lunch Discussion:

“Escape from Science Island!”

Construction and Engineering Hall: 11:30-12:30pm

Participants in Escape from Science Island include:

Tiffany Garcia Associate Professor of Wildlife in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. Her research focuses on responses to environmental pressures, movement, and dispersal. Her lab also researches communication and species interactions. Dr. Garcia will represent the field of animal behavior on Science Island.

Kelly Biedenweg New faculty in Human Dimensions of Fisheries and Wildlife. Dr. Biedenweg studies the interactions between humans and the natural environment. Her field incorporates a variety of tools from psychology, anthropology, and sociology to improve natural resource management. Dr. Biedenweg will represent the study of human dimensions on Science Island.

Chris Marshall Curator for the collection in the Department of Integrative Biology. Dr. Marshall oversees the largest collection in the Pacific Northwest. His work takes him across the globe surveying, collecting, and documenting insect biodiversity. Dr. Marshall will represent the study of systematics and on Science Island.

Lorenzo Cianelli: Associate Professor of Biological Oceanography in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences. Dr. Ciannelli focuses on spatial and temporal variations in marine populations. His research synthesizes ecology and quantitative statistics to inform management of fisheries. Dr. Ciannelli will represent the study of population dynamics and spatial ecology on Science Island.

#RAFWE 4 Workshops

Thursday February 18, 2016: 4-6pm

RAFWE Workshop #1

Improvisation to aid in science communication: the other evolutionary theater (Led by Infinite Improv's Eric Nepom)

What can improv do to help you communicate your science? Come find out! Learn techniques from the likes of Second City and Whose Line Is It Anyway and how they can help you think on your feet and reach a wider audience.

Location: LINC 307

RAFWE Workshop #2

Getting the job: Preparing to answer the “diversity question” (Led by Dana Sanchez)

Many of the Science, Technology, Engineering, Architecture/Design, and Math (STEAM) disciplines have struggled to increase workforce diversity. Even as participation has begun to broaden, retention and success rates among professionals and students of difference are too often low. Therefore many institutions now screen to select new colleagues who have knowledge of and skills to address these disparities in opportunity and achievement. This short workshop will engage participants in a series of discussions and activities to prepare you to answer “the diversity question.” This workshop is only open to graduate students, and has a 30 person cap.

Location: Nash 033

#RAFWE 5 Oral Presentations

Session 1: Genetics, Energetics, & Physiology Agricultural Production Room (10:00-11:15)

10:00 - Determining the onset of puberty in free-roaming, un-owned cats Ellie Bohrer1*, Michelle Kutzler2 1Department of Zoology, Oregon State University 2Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences, Oregon State University *[email protected]

Even with numerous successful Trap-Neuter-Release programs, free-roaming un- owned (FRU) cat populations continue to grow. FRU cats cause vast ecological destruction to communities every year, and additionally serve as reservoirs for many diseases. Our laboratory is interested in determining if an underlying biological cause exists for the exuberant reproductive success observed in this animal. We have hypothesized that FRU cats are reaching puberty sooner than what has been previously reported in owned domestic cats. The objective of this study was to analyze fertility markers (spermatogenesis in males and folliculogenesis in females) in varying ages of FRU queens and toms to determine the onset of puberty. FRU cats were presented for castration at a local humane society. Tissues were collected after routine castration, and were formalin- fixed. Tissues were then paraffin-embedded, cut in 6 µm sections, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. All tissues were examined using bright field microscopy by the same observer (EB) blinded to the age group of the individual. Various statistical tests were performed, and p values <0.05 were considered significant. The onset of puberty appears to occur before 4 months of age in FRU cats, which is significantly earlier than what has been previously reported in owned, domestic cats. We suspect that external stressors and an extremely shortened life span are contributing to this capacity for earlier reproduction. This finding is important for population control programs and veterinarians alike, as it suggests that programs need to focus their sterilization efforts on cats under 4 months of age. Future studies on FRU cat colonies in other geographical areas may help to confirm our findings.

10:15 - Diet composition of fish in upper Willamette reservoirs Chelsea Duke1*, Margaret McCormick1, Christina A. Murphy1, Ivan Arismendi1, Sherri L. Johnson2 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University 2U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Corvallis, Oregon *[email protected]

#RAFWE 6 As a part of a larger study examining impacts to reservoir ecology and food webs in Pacific Northwest reservoirs under modified drawdown regimes, we have been sampling gut contents from incidental mortalities at three high-head upper Willamette reservoirs: Hills Creek, Fall Creek, and Lookout Point. Here we present preliminary findings for the diets of Largemouth Bass, Chinook Salmon and Bluegill across a range of size classes at each reservoir. We then compare these results to those from isotopic analyses and suggest possible drivers of diet composition.

10:30 – A mechanistic model of foraging and bioenergetics for reservoir rearing salmon Christina Murphy1*, Ivan Arismendi1, Sherri Johnson2 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University 2U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Corvallis, Oregon *[email protected]

In the Pacific Northwest, large dams and their reservoirs alter the life history patterns of anadromous juvenile salmonids by providing conditions which lead to growth rates exceeding those observed in upstream reaches. Here, we expand and combine mechanistic models of visual foraging and bioenergetics to predict growth conditions for juvenile salmon under different management and climatic scenarios. Opportunities for foraging by the fish constrain maximum consumption, and are informed by field measurements of temperature, light and zooplankton abundance across depths. We explore how observed differences in juvenile Chinook Salmon size could be explained by the physical and biological conditions found within three upper Willamette Basin Reservoirs during normal operation and drought years. Our initial results suggest that the distribution of prey resources may induce fish to forage outside of their physiological temperature optima. While some reservoir conditions are highly conducive to early summer growth, reservoirs may become ecological traps in late summer, before fall drawdowns that encourage downstream passage through the dams.

10:45 – Breeding Pacific oysters Crassostrea gigas for resilience to changing ocean conditions Evan Durland1*, Chris Langdon1, Pierre De Wit2, Eli Meyer3, George Waldbusser4 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University 2University of Gothenburg, Sweden 3Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, 4College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University *[email protected]

In 1996 the Molluscan Broodstock Program (MBP), a partnership between Oregon State University and industry collaborators on the West Coast United States, began a long- term selective breeding program for the genetic improvement of Pacific oysters, an

#RAFWE 7 important West Coast and global aquaculture species. Since 2005, the oyster industry has been threatened by the effects of ocean acidification (OA). Anecdotal evidence from commercial oyster hatcheries suggests that larvae from MBP selected stocks are more tolerant of upwelled acidified seawater than their wild counterparts. This work compares the genotypic and phenotypic effects of high CO2 culture environments on larvae spawned from selectively bred MBP broodstock and naturalized “wild” stocks. Larval pools with broad genetic diversity (95 crosses each) were spawned from top performing MBP families and wild broodstock from Willapa Bay, Washington. These two pools of fertilized eggs were reared through larval phases to post-metamorphic spat in 2 water types: 1) seawater equilibrated to ambient pCO2 (~400ppm) and 2) seawater replicating upwelled OA conditions (pCO2»1600ppm). Larval samples were taken at 2, 6, 10, 16 and 22 days post fertilization and evaluated for phenotype (survival, size, developmental stage) as well as genetic composition of the surviving larval pool. Initial results indicate that broodstock type and CO2 concentration had strong interactive effects on larval performance. In general, MBP larvae appeared to be more resilient to high CO2 conditions when compared to Willapa groups. Nearly all larval pools witnessed heavy initial mortalities (~25-40%) with mean day 2 survival rates higher in Willapa than MBP groups, in both ambient and OA conditions. Subsequent growth, development rate and spat production, however, was greater and less variable in MBP larvae in both ambient and OA conditions.

11:00 - A coast wide evaluation of inter-annual genetic variation of Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) Tyler Jackson1*, Curtis Roegner2, Dave Jacobson3, Kathleen O’Malley3 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University 2Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Newport, OR 3Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station, Oregon State University *[email protected]

While the effective management and long term viability of a marine fishery is often contingent on the precise delineation of population subunits and the connectivity among them, these characteristics are difficult to define by direct approaches. Using a population genetics approach has demonstrated to be a powerful tool in providing indirect estimates of connectivity in a variety of marine species. This paper provides the foundation for a multi-year study employing population genetic analysis to investigate inter-annual variation in population connectivity of the most valuable commercially harvested species on the west coast, the Dungeness crab (Cancer magister). We sampled adult crabs at 33 locations along the Washington, Oregon, and California coasts in 2012 and 2014, and 4 sites within Puget Sound in 2015. Individuals were genotyped at ten microsatellite loci to assess genetic differentiation between sampling locations. While overall genetic structure appears to be relatively weak (FST: 0 – 0.0099), a coast wide gradient of genetic connectivity strength was evident. A highly significant correlation of isolation by distance (p = 0.001) suggests that genetic

#RAFWE 8 connectivity is greater between neighboring sites than geographically distant sites. Taken together, our results provide sufficient evidence to indicate that the Dungeness crab population in the California Current System and Puget Sound is not panmictic, though we were unable to detect discrete population subunits. Through ongoing research, we will be able to examine inter-annual variation in genetic connectivity to provide a more complete ecological understanding of Dungeness crab. Our findings will also contribute to the continued sustainable management of this fishery and aid in marine spatial planning efforts, potentially including the implementation of ecosystem- based management.

11:15 – COFFEE BREAK

11:30 – BROWN BAG LUNCH

Session 2: Behavioral Ecology Agricultural Leaders Room (10:00-11:00)

10:00 – Condition-dependent terrestrial movement of juvenile red-legged frogs Evan Bredeweg1*, Tiffany Garcia1, Anita Morzillo2 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University 2Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Connecticut *[email protected]

Terrestrial dispersal and movement of amphibian species is a vital component of their biphasic life cycle. For pond-breeding amphibians, this process allows for exchange of individuals between breeding ponds which contributes to metapopulation dynamics, making amphibians a focus of extensive research. Outside of aquatic conditions, there has been little research on the terrestrial movement of amphibians. I investigated factors affecting the movement of juvenile Red-legged Frogs (Rana aurora) in experimental runways. Red-legged frogs were collected as eggs and raised through metamorphosis in mesocosms under either permanent or ephemeral conditions. After metamorphosis, individuals were removed from the mesocosms, measured, uniquely tagged with elastomer, and moved to holding terrariums. Individuals were placed in one of four 1x20m enclosed runways with compacted top soil substrate, then relocated after 30 minutes and their movement measured. Individuals were alternatively assigned to either wet or dry runway conditions. Results show that increased the probability of a movement event (distance>50cm) in wet conditions and the longer they had been removed from the pond environment. Longer movement events were more likely under dry conditions for individuals of larger mass. Amphibian movements are commonly thought to be shaped by moisture gradients in order to avoid desiccation risk. My research with R. aurora has shown that while moisture does play a role in movement

#RAFWE 9 choices, dry conditions are not insurmountable barriers and can in fact increase the distance of amphibian movements.

10:15 – Where do the berries go? Analysis of feeding behavior of seed predators and dispersers in a southeast Alaskan temperate rainforest Laurie Harrer1*, Taal Levi1 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University *[email protected]

Plants often encase seeds in a nutritional reward to incentivize seed dispersal by birds and mammals, but these seeds may also be removed and destroyed by seed predators. Although birds are typically thought to be the primary seed dispersers of berries in temperate systems, in southeast Alaska and other salmon-bearing ecosystems, where partially frugivorous bears (Ursus arctos and U. americanus) are especially abundant, mammalian seed dispersal pathways may be uniquely important. We used motion triggered video camera traps to quantify the relative roles of multiple species of birds and mammals as seed predators and dispersers of Devil’s Club (Oplopanax horridus) berries during the summers of 2014 and 2015. We found that overall, avian seed predators (Crossbills, Luxia spp.) and dispersers (multiple thrush species, Family Turdidae) accounted for only a small fraction of the total berries harvested. The mammalian seed predators, red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), harvested a smaller proportion of berries than bears in 2014, but were the dominant visitor to Devil’s Club berries in 2015 due to an observed increase in their population. This research demonstrates that mammals serve uniquely important roles as both seed dispersers and predators, and that rates of seed predation vary dramatically as a result of red squirrel population cycles.

10:30 – Profitability of urban habitat for Cackling geese (Branta hutchinsii minima) wintering in the Willamette Valley, Oregon Erin Harrington1*, Bruce Dugger1 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University *[email protected]

The Cackling goose (Branta hutchinsii minima) population has increased from a low of 20,000 in 1984 to the current population of 220,000-300,000 (Stehn 2012, Sanders 2013). As the Cackling goose population began to recover in the late 1990s, the majority of the population relocated from California to the Willamette Valley, Oregon (Pacific Flyway Council 1999, Mini 2012) and Cackling geese in Oregon now commonly use exurban, suburban, and urban areas. The reasons for Cackling goose use of urban areas are still unclear, as they did not commonly use this habitat type on their traditional wintering areas in California or initially upon showing up in Oregon. To address this paucity of data, our research aimed to analyze the profitability of novel, urban habitats versus traditional, agricultural habitats in order to determine if the foraging behavior and energetic consequences of disturbance to Cackling geese in urban areas differ from

#RAFWE 10 agricultural areas. To test for differences in disturbance quantity and quality to goose flocks between urban and agricultural sites, we conducted a total of 245 hour-long disturbance surveys in 109 different sites in the Willamette Valley, Oregon within urban areas in Portland, Eugene, and Salem and agricultural areas in the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex and nearby private fields. To test for differences between mean time spent foraging and mean time spent alert between urban and agricultural sites, we conducted 240 behavioral time-activity budget scans at these same sites. In our presentation, we will discuss our results and potential practical applications of these results to further research of Cackling goose use of urban ecosystems, and urban ecology on a broader scale.

10:45 – The effect of experimental hatchery manipulations on wild broodstock steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) growth and behavior Kate Self1*, Karen Cogliati1, David L.G. Noakes1 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University *[email protected]

One of the biggest hurdles for a juvenile salmonid is migrating downstream from freshwater spawning grounds to the ocean. Because many Pacific salmonids are ESA listed, research using wild populations is limited. The Surrogate Project’s goal is to raise wild-like fish to provide researchers with sufficient numbers of fish to evaluate potential causes for the decline of wild populations. Specifically, the project’s goal is to study an endangered wild winter run of Oncorhynchus mykiss on the dammed North Santiam River in western Oregon. We reared juveniles from wild winter steelhead broodstock at the Oregon Hatchery Research Center (OHRC) in Alsea, OR using two treatments over nine months: conventional tanks and tanks with a scalable complex structure that is easy for hatchery staff to implement and clean. We chose to rear both groups at densities below conservation hatchery standards and to feed them low-lipid experimental diets. We assessed the fish using morphometric measurements, behavioral assessments, and conducting growth rate analyses. For the fin morphometrics, we compared dorsal and caudal fins of fish reared in conventional hatchery tanks and in tanks containing complex structure. In addition, we used behavioral assessments, including predator-avoidance and foraging behavior, to compare fish across rearing treatments. In a separate component, we tested fish growth rate related to individuals’ egg size at spawning. We chose to raise fish in duplicate tanks containing small-egg origin fish, large-egg origin fish, and a mixture of the two. The goal of this project is to improve on current hatchery practices to produce a wild “surrogate” fish for downstream passage studies when a wild run is not robust enough to provide experimental animals.

11:15 – COFFEE BREAK

11:30 – BROWN BAG LUNCH

#RAFWE 11 Session 3: Environmental Drivers Agricultural Production Room (1:00-2:15)

1:00 – The not-so-silent world: measuring Arctic, Equatorial, and Antarctic soundscapes in the Atlantic Ocean Samara Haver1*, Holger Klinck2,3,4, Jennifer L. Miksis-Olds5, Sharon L. Nieukirk2,3, Haruyoshi Matsumoto2,3, Robert P. Dziak3 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University 2Cooperative Institute for Marine Resources Studies, Oregon State University 3NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Hatfield Marine Science Center and Bioacoustics Research Program 4Cornell Lab of , Cornell University 5Applied Research Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University *[email protected]

Anthropogenic noise in the ocean has been shown to influence the behavior and health of marine mammals by interfering with acoustic communication. Low-frequency vocalizations of Mysticete species, blue (Balaenoptera musculus) and fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), can be masked by human activities such as vessel noise and seismic airgun signals. This study analyzed soundscapes in the Atlantic Ocean to document changes and drivers of ambient noise levels at three locations spanning from the Arctic to the Antarctic. A soundscape is comprised of all acoustic signals present in a particular location and time; in the ocean, a soundscape includes sounds from geophysical (e.g., ice, earthquakes), biological (e.g., marine animals), and anthropogenic (e.g., ships) sources. Beginning in July 2009 and for the following 18 months, acoustic data (250 Hz sampling rate) were collected at Ascension Island (8°S, 14.4°W) by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization International Monitoring System (CTBTO IMS). Simultaneously, two additional calibrated passive acoustic recording packages were deployed and continuously operated (2,000 Hz sampling rate) in the Fram Strait (79°N, 5.5°E) and the Bransfield Strait (62°S, 55.5°W). The combination of these continuous recordings provided the opportunity for a comparison of pole-to-pole noise levels spanning the Atlantic Ocean. To compare low- frequency noise levels between tropical and polar areas, biological, geophysical, and anthropogenic sources were individually analyzed for contributions to the ambient sound field. Preliminary results indicate [1] the highest overall noise levels were observed in the equatorial Atlantic in association with seismic oil and gas exploration, [2] compared to the tropics, ambient noise levels in polar regions are more seasonally variable, [3] biological, anthropogenic, and geophysical contributors drive the seasonal and annual variability of ambient noise levels in the Arctic and Antarctic. [Partial funding from ONR/JIP, NOAA/PMEL and the Korea Polar Research Institute]

#RAFWE 12 1:15 – Dangerous subsidies? Aquatic mercury export to terrestrial songbirds traced through stable isotopes Allyson Jackson1*, Collin Eagles-Smith2 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University 2USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center *[email protected]

Mercury (Hg) has historically been thought to be isolated to aquatic systems. However, Hg has recently been shown to also impact terrestrial foodwebs that rely on aquatic nutrient subsidies. Yet, several important questions still hinder a robust understanding of the magnitude of Hg transfer, bioaccumulation, and effects of Hg on riparian songbirds. Specifically, the mechanisms that drive the considerable variation in songbird species exposure are still poorly understood. The objectives of this study are to explain variation in Hg exposure between individuals and species based on their diets, traced through stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen. In 2013, songbird blood samples (n = 480) were collected from 21 different species at 11 sites along the Willamette River in Oregon, a water body with a legacy of Hg pollution from gold and Hg mining in its headwaters. Preliminary data suggest that mercury exposure in songbirds varies throughout the system based upon habitat, species, and individual differences. Aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates were also sampled at each site, and mixing models were used to quantify the proportion of aquatic-sourced prey in riparian songbird blood. This study has important implications for understanding the connection between aquatic and terrestrial systems; bird species that eat more aquatic-based prey likely bioaccumulate higher levels of Hg.

1:30 – Drought effects on vertebrate biota in headwater streams of the Cascade Mountains, OR Matthew Kaylor1*, Dana Warren2 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University 2Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University *[email protected]

Summer discharge in 2015 was the lowest on record in much of western Oregon. We assessed impacts of this drought on coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii) and coastal giant salamander (Dicampton tenebrosus) in headwater ecosystems by comparing abundances, biomass, and condition factor in 9 streams between 2014 and 2015. Trout abundance and biomass were significantly lower in 8 of 9 streams in 2015 (p=0.007 and p=0.037, respectively). Mean trout condition factor was also lower in 7 of 9 streams, however the overall response was not significant at alpha = 0.05. Changes in juvenile trout abundance were inconsistent (increases in 5 streams and decreases in 4 streams), however, juvenile mean length was greater in all 9 streams in 2015 relative to 2014 (p=0.002). Salamander abundances and biomass varied in response with no clear trend. However, salamander mean condition factor was lower in all 9 streams in 2015

#RAFWE 13 (p= <0.001). None of the abundance, biomass, condition or size results were correlated with temperature. These results suggest that even in relatively cold streams cutthroat trout populations may not be buffered against drought.

1:45 – Carbon stocks and emissions from tropical peatland ecosystems in West Kalimantan, Indonesia Imam Basuki1*, Boone Kauffman1, Daniel Murdiyarso2, Gusti Z. Anshari3 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University 2Center for International Forestry Research, Indonesia 3Tanjungpura University, Indonesia *[email protected]

Indonesia ranks among the top global GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emitters, because of the rapid rates of land cover change and of fires in tropical peatlands. Yet, these estimates are based on little information and had limited our efforts in climate change mitigations in the peatlands ecosystem. This study aims to provide accurate information on total carbon (C) stocks of tropical peat swamp forest, and emissions arise from forest degradation and conversion. Moderately Logged Peat Forests (MLPF, N=4) was used as control and other land cover types as treatments, i.e., Heavily Logged Peat Forests (HLPF, N=6), oil palm plantations (OP, N=5) and shrub (SH, N=5). Total ecosystem C stocks (aboveground and belowground stocks) of each cover type were measured and sampled at each site. Field measurements were done using a 150 m long transect that consisted of 6 plots (each with 10m in radius), including diameter of trees, down wood, stem height of oil palm and peat depth. MLPF showed significantly higher C stocks (4193 Mg C/ha) than HLPF (3996 Mg C/ha), OP (3678 Mg C/ha) and SH (3412 Mg C/ha). Based on stock-change approach, forest degradation of HLPF was estimated to emit up to 197 Mg C/ha after 25 years (7.9 Mg C/ha/yr). Forest conversions into degraded grassland emitted up to 780 Mg C/ha after 25 years of deforestation (31.2 Mg C/ha/yr). While the conversion of forest into grassland then oil palm plantation was estimated to emit up to 514 Mg C/ha after 25 years of deforestation (20.6 Mg C/ha/yr). Comparing with MLPF, peat C loss contributed for 72, 71 and 53% to total (above + belowground) C loss in HLPF, SH and OP, respectively. Tropical peatlands should be bundled with climate change mitigation actions.

2:00 – Mangrove ecosystem carbon stocks and emissions in the Mahakam Delta, East Kalimantan, Indonesia Virni Arifanti1*, J. B. Kauffman1, D. Hadriyanto2, D. Murdiyarso3 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University 2Mulawarman University, Indonesia 3Center for International Forestry Research, Indonesia *[email protected]

#RAFWE 14 Mangrove is a unique ecosystem that provide valuable ecological functions, services and play an important role in global climate change. The persistence of mangroves are under serious threat from high rates of deforestation, land use/cover change, and climate change. The Mahakam Delta, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, once contained among the largest mangrove expanses in Southeast Asia. The delta includes a vast Nypa fruticans palm-dominated communities as well as broad-leaved dominated mangrove forests. The delta has been subjected to dramatic degradation due to conversion to shrimp ponds and oil and gas development. This study quantified the total ecosystem carbon stocks of three common landuse types found in the Mahakam delta, namely the broadleaved mangroves (Rhizophora spp, Avicennia spp, Sonneratia spp., etc.), Nypa fruticans community and abandoned shrimp ponds. We estimated the ecosystem carbon stock in broadleaved mangroves was the highest among the other landuses with a mean C stock of 1023.44±47.86 MgC.ha-1 ranging from 704.23±85.715 MgC.ha-1 to 1663.09±221.64 MgC.ha-1. Based upon soil mass balance approach, mangrove conversion to abandoned shrimp ponds resulted in 524.6 MgC.ha-1 of carbon loss or equivalent to a mean potential emission of 1,925.29 Mg.CO2-e/ha. Nypa conversion contributed to 466.4 MgC.ha-1 of carbon loss or equal to a mean potential emission of 1,711.7 Mg.CO2-e/ha. Assuming the average lifecycle of a shrimp pond was 15 years, the mean potential emission factor arising from mangrove and nypa conversion were 96.26 Mg.CO2-e/ha.yr and 85.58 Mg.CO2-e/ha.yr respectively. Our study indicated that the mean total emission of mangrove conversions to shrimp ponds in the Mahakam delta accounted for 2% of Indonesia’s blue carbon mean emission or 0.5% of the total emission from all Indonesia’s landuse sector.

2:15 – COFFEE BREAK

Session 4: Life History & Diversity Agricultural Leaders Room (1:00-2:15)

1:00 – Large scale migration patterns of Rufous Hummingbirds Josee Rousseau1*, John Alexander2 1Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University 2Klamath Bird Observatory *[email protected]

Current technology is not miniaturized enough to track Rufous Hummingbirds (Selasphorus Rufous) throughout their full life cycle. Yet it is essential to learn more about their migration and population dynamics because they are experiencing a population decline. Our goal is to extract large scale demographic movements from banding data to inform conservation management. We obtained banding data from the Avian Knowledge Network, Institute of Bird Populations and USGS Bird Banding Lab (n

#RAFWE 15 = 116,433). Using GIS, we created two-standard deviation ellipses (n = 141) encompassing locations from each combination of age, sex, and week of capture (e.g. adult-female-week 1). The results of this GIS analysis demonstrate that adult males, adult females and young have different timing of migration. These results also reveal a lesser known southbound migration route, and possible movements to and within Southeastern USA. The needs and benefits of international partnerships and large scale data repository are discussed.

1:15 – Cracking the case of missing birds on Barro Colorado Island, Panama Jenna Curtis1*, W. Douglas Robinson1 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University *[email protected]

A tropical forest fragment isolated from the surrounding mainland following the construction of the Panama Canal, Barro Colorado Island (BCI) provides a unique and valuable opportunity to study long-term effects of forest fragmentation on tropical bird communities. Analysis of 90 years of bird surveys suggests 35% of the original avian community is now extirpated from BCI, though most of these species continue to persist on the nearby mainland. Several proposed hypothesis to explain these extirpations include mesopredator release, climatic drying, and dispersal limitations. After outlining the evidence for these hypotheses, this presentation will describe proposed PhD research to better explain the patterns of species disappearance on BCI.

1:30 – Spatiotemporal changes in fish functional diversity in the U.S. Caribbean Patricia Rincón-Díaz1*, Simon Pittman2,3, Ivan Arismendi1, Mark Hixon4, Selina Heppell1 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University 2U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Biogeography Branch 3Marine Institute, Plymouth University, UK 4Department of Biology, University of Hawaii *[email protected]

Evaluating spatiotemporal patterns and process that influence the functional organization and variation of biological assemblages is an important step for ecosystem management. Functional diversity (FD) quantifies these patterns among species by considering the relative magnitude of differences among species based on the value and range of their functional, morphological and behavioral traits. This metric allows us to identify the niche space for each species by considering both trait redundancy and relative species abundance. This study evaluated changes in fish FD inside the Marine Protected Area (MPA) Buck Island Reef National Monument in the U.S. Virgin Islands between 2001 and 2010. A literature review was conducted to extract 25 functional traits related to the trophic function of 166 fish species that inhabit this MPA. Traits and abundance of species were used to calculate indexes of functional richness and

#RAFWE 16 variation. A non-parametric permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) was used to test for spatial and temporal variations in FD indexes by considering effects of habitat type, year of survey, and the interaction between these factors. Significant differences for all indexes were found among time and space, and interaction between factors was only found for functional variation (p-value < 0,05), suggesting that changes in fish trait composition is habitat and time dependent among studied fish communities. Our analysis suggests that important changes in functional trait composition occurred in fish assemblages of this MPA in the last decade. Our results show that protection efforts on coral reef areas that support high levels of functional richness and variation are important strategies to manage for ecosystem resilience. This study contributes to the understanding of ecosystem changes in MPAs and impacts on the fish FD, by providing useful methods for application in similar assessments elsewhere in the Caribbean and worldwide.

1:45 – Long-term isopropanol storage does not alter fish morphometrics Francisco Pickens1*, Colette LaRochelle2, Brian Sidlauskas1, Mike Burns1 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University 2Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University *[email protected]

Since the discovery of spirit-based preservation, scientists have based innumerable studies of systematics, anatomy, development, biogeography, evolutionary biology, and ecomorphology on fluid specimens held by the world’s natural history collections. Though alcohol preservation can alter specimen measurements through dehydration and shrinkage, the magnitude of this problem over decadal timescales has never been estimated. If substantial, long term preservational effects could compromise studies that depend on the comparability of morphometrics drawn from specimens collected at different times unless the artifacts were explicitly controlled. To evaluate the importance of this these potential artifacts, we obtained geometric morphometric data from series of four common fish species collected from the Willamette River drainage over the last 70 years and preserved in the Oregon State Ichthyology Collection in 50% isopropanol after formalin fixation. Most regressions of principal component axes against date of collection revealed no directional trends in specimen morphology, and the two significant regressions lose significance when recent collections from the ecologically distinctive river main stem are excluded. We conclude that specimen shrinkage occurs shortly after preservation and does not exacerbate over time, and that much of the observed morphological variation in our sample likely stems from habitat differences among collecting localities. Thus, morphological studies can continue to compare specimens collected over decadal timespans to answer questions about the ecological, evolutionary, and biogeographic causes of morphological variation without with minimal concern for major preservational artifacts caused by long-term alcohol storage.

#RAFWE 17 2:00 – What Lies Beneath? Comparisons between body shape and underlying skeletal morphology Thaddeus Buser1* 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University *[email protected]

Morphological diversity is one of the most striking aspects of the study of fishes. Indeed, almost every aspect of the life of a fish is reflected in its shape. Where it lives, how it hunts, and how it finds a mate are often apparent with only a visual inspection. External characters (e.g., shape) are used to describe fishes at many levels, from unrelated ecological analogues to ecotypes within a single species. However, the use of external characters in delimiting groups of fishes can lead to confusion if said characters are found to overlap between groups. Of course, the external characters of a fish are literally and figuratively only the surface of the animal’s true morphology. However, internal examination of specimens, especially small individuals, is not only time consuming, but often requires a great amount of technical skills and anatomical expertise. I am developing a method of mapping the morphological variation of bony structures in the large, understudied, and morphologically diverse group of fishes known as sculpins (superfamily Cottoidea) using a newly-available technology, X-ray micro- tomography (CT). The results of this project will not only lay a framework for understanding the morphological diversity and evolution of sculpins, but also serve as an open resource of skeletal anatomy for all of the species in my study, and be freely available to researchers across the globe.

2:15 – COFFEE BREAK

#RAFWE 18 Speed Talks

Construction and Engineering Hall (2:30-3:15)

Coccinellid predators of Pineus strobi (Hartig) (Hemiptera: Adelgidae) on western white pine Pinus monticola Douglas ex D. Don Alexander Rose1*, Stephen P. Cook2, Frank W. Merickel2 1Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University 2Department of Plant, Soil and Entomological Sciences, University of Idaho *[email protected]

Adelgids (Hempitera: Adelgidae) are minute that include some invasive species detrimental to North American forests. Adelgids feed on various species of conifers. Two of the most significant pest adelgids in North America are the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) and the balsam woolly adelgid (A. piceae). These adelgids cause severe, often mortal damage to native North American host species (hemlock woolly adelgid on eastern hemlocks Tsuga caroliniana, and balsam woolly adelgid on true firs). Biological control is one potential tactic for managing these pests. We investigated native predators as potential biocontrol agents of adelgids. Predators were associated with populations of A. piceae infesting subalpine fir, A. cooleyi infesting spruces, A. abietis infesting Norway spruce, A. lariciatus infesting cones of western larch, and Pineus strobi infesting western white pine (Pinus monticola). Most of the predators were found on western white pine. Two coccinellid (Coccidophilus atronitens and Scymnus coniferarum) previously presumed to be specialists on pine needle scale, were also found to prey upon P. strobi and other adelgids. A third coccinellid and presumed scale specialist, S. humboldti consumed A. cooleyi. The research was both observational and experimental, and involved opportunistically surveying for potential predators in the field, followed by presenting predators with adelgids in the laboratory (both in no-choice and then choice trials). The successful predation on adelgids by diverse predators and the elucidation of predation preferences increase the understanding of ecosystem dynamics and provide information on potential steps for biocontrol.

The [mis]uses of co-occurrence data to infer biotic interactions in species distribution models Lindsey Thurman1*, Allison Barner2 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University 2Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University *[email protected]

In a time of global change and biodiversity crises, we are increasingly interested in evaluating broad-scale patterns in species distributions as they relate to future changes in the climate or environment. To make accurate predictions, these models must reflect

#RAFWE 19 not only the abiotic drivers, but the biotic interactions which directly (or indirectly) influence their response strategies. However, incorporating biotic interactions requires extensive computational power and data on ecological networks (indirect and direct interactions, trophic and non-trophic interactions) across broad spatio-temporal extents, which is not readily available. This data gap has forced many ecologists to either exclude biotic interactions altogether (an environmental niche-based approach), or include biotic interactions by inferring species associations from co-occurrence data. This is problematic because co-occurrence patterns do not necessarily result from, or lead to, interactions (i.e. co-occurrence does not equal coexistence). Species interactions, inferred by co-occurrence patterns, can also become obscured by the complex web of direct and indirect interactions in real networks. We discuss the use and misuse of co-occurrence data in modeling species distributions and some promising directions for future methodologies.

Conditions for infection by Nanophyetus salmincola Shelby Lofton1* 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University *[email protected]

Nanophyetus salmincola is a well-studied parasite inside of their definitive hosts, since it is the intermediate host of the Neorickettsia helminthoeca organism which has been shown to cause ‘salmon poisoning,’ however the conditions that signal the time for shedding of cercaria from the intermediate host the juga snail (Oxytrema silicula) is not well understood. A digenetic trematode endogenous to the Pacific Northwest, Nanophyetus salmincola can be found in nearly every stream in the coastal region and up the Columbia River. In order to assess if time of year or temperature conditions are involved in the shedding of cercaria, samples were taken monthly from the upper South Santiam River and Oak Creek to represent cold and warm conditions over one year and brought into the lab to be assessed for shedding. We have found that as the year progresses with colder water conditions comes increased rates of shedding of the parasite from the intermediate host.

Investigating factors that modulate seagrass responses to CO2 and nutrient enrichment Michael Moses1* 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University *[email protected]

Seagrasses are critical foundational species that provide key habitat for a variety of organisms utilizing them for reproduction, protection, and feeding. They also provide critical ecosystem services to human communities, but many seagrasses are in accelerated decline due to anthropogenically-driven local and global environmental

#RAFWE 20 changes. There is also an emerging understanding that genotypic variation plays a significant role in seagrass ecological function determining, among others, nutrient uptake, susceptibility to grazers, and responses to disturbances, thus also contributing to outcomes in net primary production (biomass) and carbon flux. Seagrasses are also a significant carbon stock, and may account for as much as 10% of all carbon burial in the oceans. However, as they decline they release their stored carbon back into the atmosphere, accounting for as much as 10% of current carbon emissions. Clearly, seagrasses play a key role in carbon sequestration, in addition to their other crucial functions, making it imperative to understand how their carbon production will be impacted by the trade-offs and mechanisms of interaction between their environmental stressors. I aim to explore how environmental and genotypic variations drive responses in biomass to ocean acidification and eutrophication in intertidal seagrasses (Zostera marina), and the implications for organic carbon production. Using a combination of experimental and large-scale comparative approaches, I seek to 1) determine how interactive effects between these two environmental stressors influence quantity and quality of primary production via bottom-up (resources) and top-down (grazing) processes, 2) understand the role of genotypic and environmental variation in modulating these responses, and 3) quantify the resultant carbon production (biomass). My results will allow us to understand the relative role of environmental vs. genotypic variation, and make predictions for community structure and resilience, which will aid in understanding of climate change mitigation over the coming century.

Communication space-time reduction in Pacific chorus frogs Danielle Nelson1*, Tiffany Garcia1 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University *[email protected]

In an increasingly noisy world, quantifying the way communication behavior is impacted in wildlife will be a vital tool for management to protect acoustic space. Vocal species in the Willamette Valley, such as the Pacific chorus frog, may have their communication adversely impacted by highway noise. We examined Pacific chorus frog vocalizations to document any shift in four parameters of call structure (frequency, duration, source level or loudness, and call rate) in response to noise. We then used these parameters in combination with measurements of ambient road noise level to develop a model of the spatiotemporal reduction in communication space for this species. Our results indicate a dramatic reduction in the communication space-time for Pacific chorus frogs in habitats where road noise levels are high. This is the first study of noise impacts on this species and the results can be used to better mitigate noise pollution on roadside aquatic habitats.

#RAFWE 21 Turtle bones and laser beams: a novel method for reconstructing sea turtle life history Matthew Ramirez1*, J.A. Miller1,2, L. Avens3, J.A. Seminoff4, S.S. Heppell1 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University 2Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, Oregon 3NOAA – National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Beaufort, North Carolina 4NOAA – National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, California *[email protected]

As sea turtle life expectancy can span decades, there is a need to investigate and develop new methods that provide life history information over extended time periods. Analyses of sea turtle bones provide a means to glean life history information over a sea turtle’s lifetime, as they contain records of diet and habitat use within annual growth layers in the form of biogeochemical markers (e.g., stable isotopes, trace elements). In particular, trace element analyses conducted using laser ablation (LA-ICP-MS) may provide for rapid, detailed assessments of life history in sea turtles. Here, we investigate the utility of complementary skeletal, isotopic, and elemental analyses in reconstructing the habitat use of juvenile loggerhead and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. Growth increments of loggerhead turtle humerus bone cross-sections were sequentially sampled for stable isotope ratios (δ13C, δ15N) to identify an oceanic-to-neritic habitat shift, and serve as a baseline for exploration of the trace element data. LA-ICP-MS was used to collect continuous elemental data along transects perpendicular to growth layers. Within loggerhead turtles we found a strong negative relationship between δ15N, and barium (138Ba/43Ca) and (86Sr/43Ca), with decreases in barium (0.17 to 0.05 mmol/mol) and strontium (4.1 to 3.1 mmol/mol) coinciding with the oceanic-to-neritic ontogenetic habitat shift. These results align in part with predications based on environmental availability, but further analyses are needed to fully identify the mechanisms underpinning these patterns. Ongoing analyses will work towards characterizing the biogeochemical patterns within Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, and differences between turtles from the Northwest Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Laser ablation may be a useful tool in rapidly assessing sea turtle life history.

#RAFWE 22 Poster Presentations

Giustina Gallery (Official Session 4:30-5:30)

Identification of burrowing shrimp food sources along an estuarine gradient using fatty acid analysis and stable isotope ratios Katelyn Bosley1*, Louise Copeman2, Brett Dumbauld3, Keith Bosley4 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University 2College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University 3United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service 4National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Newport, OR *[email protected]

Two species of burrowing shrimps occur in high densities in U.S. West Coast estuaries, the ghost shrimp, Neotrypaea californiensis, and the blue mud shrimp, Upogebia pugettensis. Both species of shrimp are considered ecosystem engineers as they bioturbate and irrigate extensive burrows in the sediment. While their burrows comprise a dominant habitat type in west coast estuaries, little is known about these shrimps diet and their role in estuarine food webs. The primary goals of this study were to identify major components of burrowing shrimp diets and detect variation in these diets along an estuarine gradient using a combination of fatty acid (FA) and stable isotope (SI) analyses. Shrimp and potential food sources including eelgrass blades, epiphytes, Ulva, sedimentary organic matter (SOM), burrow wall and particulate organic material (POM) were sampled along an estuarine gradient within Yaquina Bay in August 2012. Both SI and FA analyses indicated differences in food ingested by shrimp along the estuarine gradient. SI values showed that diets for U. pugettensis consisted of carbon sources derived primarily from POM and SOM while POM and epiphytes were primary carbon sources for N. californiensis. Shrimp from lower estuarine sites had high levels of 16:1ω7 and 20:5ω3 FAs suggesting their diet is enriched with marine diatoms. Shrimp from upriver showed greater proportion of FA associated with dinoflagellates and terrestrial sources as indicated by a high percentage of C18 polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs). This is the first study to evaluate diets of these two shrimp using complimentary FA and SI approaches.

A study of invertebrate colonization in a pond agro-ecosystem environment Estany Campbell-Dunfee1*, David Wooster2 1Department of Environmental Sciences, Oregon State University 2Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University *[email protected]

The species area curve is a tool used for evaluating the relationship between taxa richness and habitat size. The curve is important for understanding the effects of habitat fragmentation and how the flora and fauna of an environment is changed with

#RAFWE 23 relationship to habitat size. A larger habitat usually corresponds to greater taxa richness. This research explored taxa richness and species abundance of aquatic invertebrates in ponds varying in size (300 gallons, 30 gallons, and 3 gallons). Each pond size was sampled to estimate species abundance and taxa richness. Tank size, presence of filamentous algae, and presence of American Spadefoot toad tadpoles, Scaphiopodidae, were analyzed to determine whether these factors had a significant effect on taxa richness and species abundance over the course of one summer. We hypothesized that the large ponds would have the most taxa richness, tadpoles would have a negative relationship, and filamentous algae would show a positive relationship to taxa richness and species abundance. Results suggest that the species-area curve relationship was upheld by the data from both samples. Taxa richness was the greatest in the large ponds, followed by medium and small ponds, although the significance of tank size did decrease from the beginning to the end of the summer (first and second sampling periods). The other factors evaluated for their effect on taxa richness and species abundance include tadpoles and algae. Tadpoles were a significant negative effector on taxa richness and species abundance, although their significance also decreased from the first to the second sampling period. Filamentous algae, which was hypothesized to correspond to increased taxa richness, was not found to be a significant depicter of increased taxa richness in either sampling period.

Diel variation of Humpback Whales non-song call vocalization calling rate David Culp1*, Michelle Fournet1 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University *[email protected]

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) use a wide range of vocalizations to facilitate communication, mating, foraging, and social interactions. In southeast Alaska humpback whales produce a wide range of vocalizations classified as non-song calls. This thesis will investigate non-song calling behavior of humpback whales on a summer foraging ground in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. The objectives of this project are to determine if non-song call calling rate (calls per whale per minute) of humpback whales varies as a function of time of day. This will be accomplished by using autonomous underwater hydrophone packages (AHU’s), deployed May-October 2015 to record the Glacier Bay Soundscape, coupled with shore-based visual observations of humpback whales made from June-August in the same year. The expected results of this research are a quantitative comparison of non-song calling rates by times of day. This will result in a better understanding of humpback whale vocal behavior and the role of non-song calls in the humpback whale acoustic repertoire. Understanding the vocal behavior of this endangered species is critical for making science based management decisions pertinent to vessel use within Glacier Bay National Park, assessing the vocal resilience of this highly vocal marine mammal species, and for quantifying the contribution of humpback whales to a protected wilderness soundscape.

#RAFWE 24 Using satellite imagery to count nesting short-tailed albatross Jane Dolliver1*, Robert Suryan1, Christopher Noyles2, Ellen Lance3, Catherine Yeargan4 1Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University 2Bureau of Land Management 3Bonneville Power Administration 4U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service *[email protected]

An accurate count of the short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus) breeding population is critical for assessing whether the species meets endangered species recovery criteria. Approximately 20% of the population nests on the Senkaku Islands, however, because of territorial disputes between Japan and China, a nesting population count has not been conducted on this island since 2002. We are initiating a study to test the efficacy of satellite-based counts of nesting albatross using DigitalGlobe’s WorldView-2 & 3 Satellite (0.5-0.3m monochromatic resolution) and ENVI image processing software. We will compare satellite-based counts with ground counts of 3 species of albatrosses (short-tailed, Phoebastria albatrus, black-footed, P. nigripes, and Laysan, P. immutabilis) at multiple colonies in Hawaii and Japan to test species identification accuracy and determine the correction factor(s) needed to ground truth satellite counts of unknown populations on the Senkaku Islands Preliminary assessments are promising for separating nesting short-tailed albatross from other ground-nesting species. These methods could be broadly applied to many land-based populations in remote and/or inaccessible areas and at more frequent intervals, especially where human presence impacts ground-based estimates or impacts other species.

Undergraduate mentorship field experience: using camera trap surveys to determine swift fox (Vulpes velox) distribution in the northern great plains Brieana Kerfoot1*, Donelle Schwalm1, Kristy Bly2 1Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University 2World Wildlife Fund *[email protected]

The Fisheries and Wildlife Undergraduate Mentorship Program at Oregon State University offers a unique opportunity for undergraduate students to cultivate practical skills in their field while building connections with professionals. I joined the program to gain additional research and field experience in wildlife sciences, while refining my leadership skills. To achieve these goals, I assisted with a swift fox (Vulpes velox) distribution and restoration project. The first objective of the ongoing project is using camera traps to assess the current distribution of this rare mesocarnivore in the grasslands and sagebrush steppe of the Northern Great Plains in Montana. This information will be used to coordinate swift fox restoration efforts on a mix of tribal, federal and private lands. As a mentee, I assisted with camera trap deployment,

#RAFWE 25 networked with tribal and state project partners, and served as crew leader for a 5- person team reviewing camera imagery. Project partners completed ~500 survey points across much of the potential swift fox habitat in Montana. To date, we recorded swift fox in five spatially distinct regions. However, swift fox were not detected at the majority of survey locations, indicating large gaps in the species’ distribution despite suitable habitat and, potentially, the existence of small, isolated populations. Survey results will be incorporated into spatially explicit population models which will assess population dynamics at and between potential reintroduction sites. The ultimate objective is to produce a restoration strategy which prioritizes reintroduction sites based on population viability and facilitation of connectivity between existing and other translocated populations.

The impact of land cover changes on the hydraulic conductivity in tropical peatlands Sofyan Kurnianto1*, James Peterson1, Boone Kauffman1, John Selker2, Daniel Murdiyarso3 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University 2Department of Biological and Ecological Engineering, Oregon State University 3Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) *[email protected]

Hydraulic conductivity is one of the most important parameter to describe peat properties related with the water movement through the peat profile. In the application of peat hydrology, the information about saturated hydraulic conductivity is required to estimate the amount of water input to maintain the saturation condition in the peat dome and also required to simulate the peat water table depth and groundwater flow. However, some uncertainties of hydraulic conductivity in the tropical peatlands especially related with the impact of peat swamp forest conversion on the hydraulic conductivity still remain. The hydraulic conductivity at the different land cover types reported in this study was established in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. We utilized the wells slug test method to estimate the hydraulic conductivity at three depths (100, 350, and 600 cm) and interpreted the data based on the Bouwer and Rice (1976) approach. In total, 324 wells were installed in eighteen sites including five sites in shrubs, five sites in oil palm plantations and eight sites in forests with six replications for each site. The preliminary results show that forested peatlands have higher conductivity with an average of 0.63 ± 0.36 m day-1 (mean ± s.e.) compare with oil palm of 0.20 ± 0.13 m day-1 and shrubs of 0.16 ± 0.08 m day-1.

#RAFWE 26 Variation in mercury concentration across songbird body feathers: preliminary results show no trend Katie Low1*, Collin Eagles-Smith2, Allyson Jackson1, Colleen Emery2, Danielle Ramsden1 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University 2USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center *[email protected]

Mercury contamination in songbirds can be tested through tissue, blood, or feather samples. Although tissue and blood sampling are regarded as the most accurate, feather sampling has gained popularity in recent years due to the ease of sampling. However, there is uncertainty about which feathers should be sampled, given that patterns of mercury deposition between feather tracts are poorly understood. To better understand these patterns, we tested variation in mercury concentration across five body feather tracts (back, belly, breast, crown, flank). All feather samples were taken from four species in the Thrush family (N=12) and were analyzed for mercury concentration. Preliminary results have shown high variability in mercury concentration across both feather tracts and individual birds. Our results also show no discernable trend in mercury concentration across the feather tracts. We think that feather density or growth rate may play a role in mercury deposition within the feather, however further analysis and an increased sample size will be needed to verify this hypothesis. Further research into the correlation between feathers and body tissues will also be necessary to determine which feather type is the most accurate measure of mercury contamination.

Density dependent movement of Pacific Giant Salamanders in streams Sarah Lowe1*, Ivan Arismendi1, Bruce Hansen2, Stan Gregory1, Catalina Segura3 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University 2US Forest Service PNW Research Station 3College of Forestry Oregon State University *[email protected]

Ongoing drought conditions in the Pacific Northwest are expected to decrease summer stream flows and thus, a reduction of the per capita available habitat for aquatic biota. Here, we simulated a high population density and a low population density of Pacific giant Salamanders (Dicamptodon tenebrosus) in two different reaches of the same stream to determine the effect on daily movement and preferred microhabitat. We tagged 50 salamanders with a passive integrated transponder (PIT tag) and surveyed their movements twice daily for 58 days. We found a strong association between size and movement with larger individuals tending to move longer distances. Movement was not consistent throughout the experiment which indicates that specific environmental factors may trigger more or less movement based on available environmental conditions. Understanding the behavior of Pacific giant salamanders may provide

#RAFWE 27 insights of the carrying capacity of systems as well as monitoring and management of this species as potential bioindicators of headwater streams.

Anthropogenic and environmental variables affecting landscape use by East African carnivores Juliana Masseloux1*, Clinton Epps1, Mary Wykstra2, Donelle Schwalm1 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University 2Action for Cheetahs in Kenya *[email protected]

Conflict between pastoralists and wild carnivores has challenged wildlife conservation and rural development across East Africa, endangering both carnivore populations and local people’s livelihoods. Understanding which factors, both anthropogenic and environmental, shape occupancy patterns for carnivores in pastoral landscapes is an important first step in mitigating wildlife-human conflict. Here, we report an ongoing investigation on how landscape use by carnivores in Kenya is affected by proximity to and density of anthropogenic activities including livestock ranches and agro-pastoralist settlement. A series of 5km transects were placed across two study sites in partnership with the grassroots conservation organization Action for Cheetahs in Kenya. In total, we established 20 transects in the northern Meibae area, and 15 transects in the southern Salama area. Each transect was walked once per month. We used remote sensing and Landsat images in combination with ground GPS waypoints to map various anthropogenic and environmental variables including settlement densities, livestock densities, vegetation, and distance to available water within each study site. Local field officers were trained to collect occupancy data on carnivore tracks and sign within a 5m radius of the transect, and to record prey densities within a 200m radius of the transect. Additionally, we conducted interviews of randomly selected livestock owners across all sites to estimate rates of livestock depredation by carnivores and determine what species of carnivores are considered to be present by local people. Occupancy modelling will be used to test how proximity to anthropogenic activity affects different large carnivore species. The study is intended to identify landscapes with high potential conflict risk to facilitate the development of preventative measures against human- carnivore conflict. This study will also be considered by Action for Cheetahs in Kenya as a pilot for their upcoming range-wide rapid survey of cheetah occupancy across Kenya.

Characterizing mesograzer communities within upwelling-influenced eelgrass ecosystems: Importance of local versus regional effects Jennifer Motley1*, Fiona Tomas Nash1, Sally Hacker1 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University 2Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University *[email protected]

#RAFWE 28 In Oregon’s estuaries, eelgrass beds provide numerous ecosystem services that benefit regional commercial fisheries, water quality, and coastal stability. One important consideration in sound management of these systems is to understand how trophic interactions within these communities: a) influence ecosystem structure and function, and b) are shaped by environmental variability. Small invertebrate mesograzers are an important trophic link in seagrass ecosystems that transfer energy up the food web and can regulate bottom up influx of nutrients. They have been a central focus in recent studies on the relative effects of nutrient loading, predation, and herbivory in eelgrass ecosystem structure and function. In my research, identify patterns of mesograzer abundance and composition in eelgrass within and across estuaries on the Oregon Coast, where productivity is influenced by upwelling of the California Current System. In particular, I ask what processes drive variability in mesograzer communities, and at what scale?

Mercury and Molt: no strong Hg trend across songbird primary feathers Danielle Ramsden1*, Katherine Low1, Allyson Jackson1, Collin Eagles-Smith2 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University 2USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center *[email protected]

Feathers contain a stable concentration of mercury once feather growth is complete and blood flow to the feather has stopped. There is a necessity for researchers to know how to associate this Hg concentration to the context of the whole bird, but there is not much known about songbird feather physiology or how factors such as molt may impact mercury sequestration into feathers. To understand deposition of mercury into primary feathers, this project examines patterns of Hg concentration with increasing primary feather number where molt order is known as well as commonalities between primary feather numbers in species specific Hg deviation. Left primary feathers from 11 individual Thrush specimens that were donated to the lab were measured for mercury concentration. The group of individuals is comprised of four species within the Turdidae family (Catharus guttatus, Catharus ustulatus, Ixoreus naevius, and Turdus migratorius). Preliminary results have not indicated a conclusive trend in Hg concentration with increasing primary feather number; however, the results may suggest minimal change in concentration with molt order. Deviation in Hg (ppm) was examined within each species and showed the lowest value of deviation to take place in primary feather number 5 in American robin and Varied thrush, number 6 in Swainson’s thrush, and number 1 in Hermit thrush. An increase in sample size is required to indicate conclusive results. The path forward with this research is to continue these methods with primary feathers from other individuals within the species already studied as well as inclusion of other songbird species. It may also be beneficial to include secondary flight feathers in this analysis to provide other feather tracts for comparison within flight feathers where molt order is known.

#RAFWE 29 Information gaps in the trophic roles of Caribbean reef fishes Patricia Rincón-Díaz1*, Simon Pittman2,3, Ivan Arismendi1, Mark Hixon4, Selina Heppell1 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University 2U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Biogeography Branch 3Marine Institute, Plymouth University, UK 4Department of Biology, University of Hawaii *[email protected]

Determining the ecological roles that fishes play in the complex trophic relationships of coral reef systems depends on our ability to detect changes in the fish community composition and function. The functional redundancy of fishes in different habitats is highly influenced by species composition and ontogenetic shifts in diets and feeding behavior across species, as evidenced by different patterns of habitat use and migrations during different life stages. To better understand trophic structure in these communities, we conducted an extensive literature review of trophic functional traits of 274 marine fish species in the U.S. Caribbean. The data were applied to fish community data collected by NOAA’s Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring and Assessment project (2001 and 2012). Fish traits were extracted for juvenile and adult fish stages separately and selected based on: ontogenetic diet shifts, habitat use for feeding, vertical habitat association, feeding behavior, diet plasticity, and trophic location in the food web. Presence and absence of functional traits were recorded because differences in trait measurements among studies were expected. Traits of adult stages were better documented than traits of juveniles. Trophic level was the most frequently recorded trait for adults (95%) and feeding ground was best documented for juveniles (17%). Feeding ground was the poorest trait recorded for adult stages (61%), as was vertical habitat association for juvenile stages (1%). Significant gaps in knowledge of trophic roles of juvenile fishes represent a need to increase research efforts to understand juvenile trophic ecology. We provide recommendations for research to address these gaps and to use this dataset for functional diversity analysis.

Local-scale space use by humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) on a southeast Alaskan foraging ground Lucas Williams1*, Michelle Fournet1 1Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University *[email protected]

The purpose of this study is to analyze local scale habitat use by Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Glacier Bay, Alaska. Using focal follow data, discrete corridor use by individuals traveling between foraging hotspots will be demonstrated. These corridors will be compared to bathymetric maps to determine if bathymetric features are strongly correlated with humpback whale corridor use at a local scale. Results are hypothesized to demonstrate that discrete corridors are used by humpback whales, and these corridors are bathymetrically influenced. This research will shed light on humpback whale energetics and habitat use. The results may also be used to inform management decisions regarding vessel traffic by identifying bathymetric features correlated with high whale density

#RAFWE 30 Notes

#RAFWE 31 RAFWE Organizing Committees

• Workshops: Danielle Nelson, Samara Haver • Abstract/Program: Brittany Schwartzkopf, Lindsey Thurman, Michelle Fournet • Brown Bag Lunch: Jenna Curtis, Lauren Smith, Kate Self • Fundraising/Auction: Matt Ramirez, Natalie Mastick • Catering: Christina Murphy • Outreach/Advertising: Evan Bredeweg, Selene Fregosi, Kate Self • Volunteers/Faculty judges: Selene Fregosi

A special thanks to our FWGSA Co-Presidents, Matt Ramirez and Jenna Curtis

The RAFWE Organizing Committee would like to thank all of our faculty judges, undergraduate and graduate student volunteers, and the LaSells Center staff for making our symposium a success.

#RAFWE 32 Donor Support

The RAFWE Organizing Committee would like to thank all of the business that donated to provide student awards and auction items

2 Towns Ciderhouse Block 15 Restaurant and Brewery Cabela's Oregon Coffee & Tea Wilco Farm Stores Willamette Valley Vineyards Woodstocks Pizza

Also a special thanks to all of the individuals who have donated to the RAFWE fundraising efforts

Florence Sullivan Lindsey Thurman Bruce and Katie Dugger Allyson Jackson Jason and Susie Dunham Greg Krutzikowsky Kelly Biedenweg Selina and Scott Heppell

Kim Nelson Hiram and Judith Li Patricia Rincon-Diaz Evan Bredeweg

#RAFWE 33 Thank you to our sponsors who helped to make this year’s symposium possible!