and Climate People, Nature, Connecting Bridging theGap: 1 NACCB 2012 st North AmericaCongress forConservation Society Biology forConservation North America Section

Abstracts NACCB 2012 Society for Conservation Biology North America Section North America Congress for Conservation Biology Congress Abstracts Ordered by surname of first author. Author index at the end of the book. The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 9:45 Can Brain Size Help using a novel application of multinomial logistic Predict Conservation Status Of Mammalian regression. The output of this method is a vector of Species? the relative probability of occupancy by each of a Abelson, Eric*, Stanford University set of vegetation types, for each pixel in the As global anthropogenic pressure on wildlife landscape. The overall vulnerability of vegetation mounts, conservationists are faced with finding to climate change can then be quantified as the salient characteristics that predict population change in modeled probabilities between the decline in mammals. Confounding the ability to vectors modeled under present versus future preserve mammalian species is the complexity of climates. These changes capture the likelihood of traits and behaviors that influence their ability to long-term climate-driven vegetation change for thrive in changing landscapes. While the brain is each pixel, without relying on specific predictions the seat of information processing, storage and the of present and future vegetation types. Based on origination of behaviors, the importance of neural this model, we find that the vegetation patches physiology to conservation is poorly understood. with greatest vulnerability to climate change are Encephalization (here defined as brain size those that lie close to the edge of the climate corrected for body size and phylogeny) has been suitability envelopes for their respective vegetation shown to be correlated with behavioral flexibility in types. In some cases, these climatically marginal birds as well as to predict the success of introduced populations occur on cool, north-facing slopes, mammals in novel habitats. However, the challenging the idea that cool micro-environments relationship between encephalization and will necessarily serve as in-situ refugia. For most of conservation status has not been applied directly the projected vegetation transitions, the new to understanding how mammals fare in a changing vegetation type predicted to occupy a site already world. I specifically describe how encephalization occurs within a short distance (< 5 km), so long- in mammalian species from the Americas relate to distance dispersal is not required. These results current trends in endangerment and also examine highlight the importance of fine-scale spatial the role that brain size has played in carnivore heterogeneity to provide local propagule sources persistence over the last 40 million years. These that will facilitate transitions among native results underscore the importance of incorporating vegetation types. encephalization into models predicting future faunal loss.

Monday, July 16 Connecting Conservation, Maps, And People At USAID: New Applications Of Wednesday, July 18 9:30 Climate Change Geospatial Information Applied To Conservation Impacts On Vegetation In The San Francisco Bay And Development Area: A New Modeling Approach And Implications Adeney, Marion* For Conservation Geospatial information and analyses are critical Ackerly, David* tools long used by conservation scientists to inform Climate change is expected to profoundly impact our work. These tools illuminate natural terrestrial vegetation. Understanding spatial phenomena, changes resulting from interactions variability of these impacts is critical to between people and nature, and benefits people development of conservation strategies and receive from natural systems. The US Agency for projections of ecosystem services under future International Development (USAID) is increasing climates. We present a model of the projected both emphasis on the importance of nature responses of vegetation in the San Francisco Bay conservation for development results and on the Area to 21st century climate change scenarios, use of science, technology, and innovation to 1 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 inform development. As part of this effort, the important that scientific investigations benefit USAID GeoCenter, launched in November 2011, is from transdisciplinarity through collaborations working to build capacity for geospatial analysis between ecologists, modelers, veterinarians, public throughout the agency in areas from planning and health specialists and infectious disease . strategy to evidence-based monitoring and We should focus on key host species and evaluation of our programs. Here, we show the pathogens in selected ecosystems (aquatic and example of the Regional Development Mission in terrestrial), and should include epidemiological Asia, which is using applied geospatial analyses to assessment, dynamic food-web modeling and inform mandatory assessments of the effectiveness experimental studies to develop adaptive of biodiversity and forestry programs and to aid in strategies on new disease transmission patterns in regional-scale strategic planning for climate change wildlife affecting domestic and humans. programming. We also discuss the advantages and challenges of applying these types of scientific tools in a large traditional development agency and discuss how the conservation community can best Monday, July 16 3:15 Life History Traits And contribute to and benefit from this effort. Range Shifts Interact To Determine Species' Vulnerability To Climate Change Akcakaya, H. Resit*, Stony Brook University , Aiello- Lammens, Matthew , Stanton, Jessica , Ryu, Hae Monday, July 16 9:00 Changing Patterns In Yeong , Shoemaker, Kevin , Horning, Ned , Ersts, Emerging Diseases Of Wildlife Linked To Climate Peter , Pearson, Richard Change Assessing the vulnerability of species to climate Aguirre, Alonso*, George Mason University change presents several challenges. Determining Changing patterns in emerging infectious diseases life history traits that make species vulnerable to of wildlife have been recently linked to climate often leads to circularity in analysis change. These include changes in prevalence, when the data on extinction risk is based in part on abundance, hosts, geographic range, and wildlife these life history traits. Assessing the effect of host-pathogen interactions. We have observed range shifts in response to climate change often movement of West Nile virus, avian malaria and ignores life history and landscape-specific avian pox and other arboviruses to higher ranges information; and the results lack relevance to linked to warmer temperatures. Hantavirus in the extinction risk. To address these challenges, we Americas has been linked to changing drought and developed a novel modeling approach, which links rain patterns. Possible effects, that are harder to downscaled global climate model ensembles, predict, include invasions of new pathogens in a ecological niche models (ENM), and generic life large number of wildlife hosts. In addition, this may history models. We develop ENMs using a also affect the overall dynamics of aquatic and combination of dynamic climatic variables, and terrestrial ecosystems, Specific research priorities "static" variables such as land cover and hydrology. to predict impacts of climate change on wildlife The results of ENMs are linked to generic life diseases include collection of baseline data on history models, which are standardized stochastic health parameters, as well as distribution, models with upper and lower bounds for each of a epidemiology and effects of pathogens and standard set of life history parameters. These life diseases in wildlife; studies separating the effects history models are sampled with a Latin hypercube of different climate variables on the dynamics of design and each sampled model is linked with pathogens and disease in animals and humans; and results of an ENM to form stochastic forecasting temporal and spatial effects of climate metapopulation models with dynamic spatial change on pathogen and host populations. It is structure. Analysis of simulation results reveals 2 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 interacting effects of life history changes and range Monday, July 16 Effect Of Farming Method On shifts on the vulnerability of species to climate Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Formation In Two Coffee change. This approach is demonstrated by using Growing Regions Of Costa Rica distributional and demographic data on 40 species Aldrich-Wolfe, Laura*, Concordia College Biology of North American reptiles and amphibians to Department , Schmaltz, Logan, Concordia College analyze their vulnerability to climate change. Biology Department , Mcglynn, Riley, Concordia College Biology Department Coffee (Coffea arabica) is one of many species that form mutualistic associations with Wednesday, July 18 10:15 Bridging The Gap: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in which the Walking The Talk exchange sugars from photosynthesis for enhanced * Albright, Whitney , Pairis, Amber , Choudhury, uptake of phosphorus and other poorly mobile soil Arpita nutrients and protection from pathogens via fungal State fish and wildlife agencies in the U.S. are mycelia. While the benefits of traditional shade- charged with managing fish, wildlife, plants, and grown and organic coffee farming methods have habitats to protect ecological function and been well-characterized for a variety of ecosystem services for generations to come. This species, the effects of different coffee farming job is made more challenging by climate change methods on belowground communities are much and its associated impacts as managers must now less well-understood. In this study, we incorporate this stressor into conservation characterized farming methods in twelve coffee planning. Gaps in scientific knowledge, financial fields in two regions of Costa Rica, Monteverde de and political obstacles can all prevent climate Santa Elena and San Vito de Coto Brus, based on change from being included in state-level planning use of herbicides, pesticides, and synthetic processes and adaptation actions on the ground. In fertilizers; amount of shade; richness of shade light of these obstacles, state fish and wildlife species; depth of leaf litter; elevation; slope; and agencies look to collaborative partnerships for coffee cultivars. Coffee root samples taken from opportunities to leverage resources, and to ensure each field were cleared and stained, and percent that the best available climate science is being used root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in planning and adaptation efforts. In order to was determined by microscopy. Coffee fields fell assess existing adaptation planning, we surveyed along a continuum from conventionally-farmed to fish and wildlife agencies in the U.S. and several organic, with several fields either receiving minimal partner groups to determine what climate change applications of herbicides and pesticides or being activities are currently taking place within their recently transitioned from conventional to organic organizations, science gaps, and which methods. Organic fields tended to be on much partnerships have contributed to their adaptation steeper slopes than conventional ones. Organic actions. Survey responses demonstrate that a lack fields also had the highest root colonization by AM of communication and collaboration between the fungi, while conventional fields had the lowest. Our states, other partners, and the scientific results suggest that organic coffee fields may community will be detrimental to safeguarding benefit more strongly from associations with AM natural resources from climate change impacts. fungi than conventional fields. Perhaps more However, through innovative partnerships such as importantly, organic fields may have greater stakeholder working groups, LCCs, and more potential for the conservation of diversity in the regional and local coordination, we can effectively arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. overcome the science-management-policy gap.

3 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 Cost-Benefit Analyses Of Tuesday, July 17 9:35 Why The Federal Sheep Mitigation Measures Aimed At Reducing Collisions Experiment Station's Grazing Should Be Halted In With Large Ungulates In The USA And Canada; A Carnivore-Rich Connectivity Areas Linking The Decision Support Tool Yellowstone Area To Central Idaho Ament, Robert*, Center For Large Landscape Ament, Robert*, Center For Large Landscape Conservation , Huijser, Marcel, Western Conservation , Callahan, Renee, Center For Large Transportation Institute - MSU , Duffield, John, Landscape Conservation University Of Montana, Department Of In 2008, the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station (USSES) Mathematical Sciences , Clevenger, Anthony, WTI- in DuBois, Idaho undertook–for the first time ever– MSU , Mcgowen, Pat, WTI-MSU an analysis of the environmental effects of its Ungulate-vehicle collisions are numerous and have sheep grazing operations. The Station, which was increased over the last decades in the United established in the 1910s, is situated along the States and Canada. We calculated the costs Idaho-Montana border, where the “spine” of the associated with the average deer- (US$6,617), elk- landscape follows the Continental Divide along the (US$17,483) and moose-vehicle collision crest of the Centennial Mountains. The Centennials (US$30,760), including vehicle repair costs, human represent a vital connection between the Greater injuries and fatalities, towing, accident attendance Yellowstone Area and the Central Idaho Wildlands and investigation, monetary value to hunters of the Complex, two of the few remaining large, relatively animal killed in the collision, and cost of disposal of intact ecosystems in the U.S. The region is the animal carcass. In addition, we reviewed the populated by large, native carnivores and effectiveness and costs of a range of mitigation ungulates, and there is overwhelming evidence of measures considered effective in reducing extensive grizzly bear use in the area. As a result, collisions with large ungulates and providing safe other federal agencies operating in the High Divide, crossing opportunities for large mammals. We including the USDA-Forest Service, Bureau of Land conducted cost-benefit analyses over a 75-year Management, National Park Service, and the Fish period to identify the threshold values (in 2007 and Wildlife Service, have adopted conservation US$) above which individual mitigation measures policies to protect connectivity, including phasing start generating benefits in excess of costs. These out existing domestic sheep grazing allotments on threshold values were translated into the number federal lands. Despite this fact–and despite the of deer-, elk-, or moose-vehicle collisions that need retirement of more than half a million acres of to occur per kilometer per year for a mitigation grazing allotments on nearby lands–the USSES has measure to start generating economic benefits in thus far refused to seriously consider any excess of costs. The model presented in this paper alternative other than “business as usual.” This has been used as a decision support tool for presentation will discuss why the Station should wildlife mitigation measures along various road join its sister agencies in promoting ecological sections in the USA and Canada. We provide connectivity in this region, particularly for examples of how this tool shows that if certain carnivores, by ceasing all domestic grazing within thresholds are met mitigation measures may not the Centennial Mountains. only benefit human safety and nature conservation, but can also be a wise economic investment.

4 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Tuesday, July 17 3:00 Recent Progress On the landscape. Like the pinball challenge of keeping Wildlife Corridor And Ecological Connectivity many balls indefinitely in play using only bumpers, Policy In The United States, 2007 To Present. flippers, and the space in between, various sized Ament, Robert*, Center For Large Landscape reserves can work in concert to maintain larger Conservation , Tabor, Gary, Center For Large scale dynamics. In addition to the traditional role of Landscape Conservation , Callahan, Renee, Center providing refuge for rare species, reserves should For Large Landscape Conservation be strategically placed to: 1) provide source habitat We summarize the increasing attention state and and create dispersal presser, 2) maintain ecological federal policy makers have given to maintaining processes, 3) retain temporal continuity in the ecological connectivity. It includes policy initiatives, landscape, and 4) represent the spectrum of memoranda, orders, plans, strategies and other geophysical diversity. Further, reserves can be administrative avenues of promoting the designed or situated to provide services beyond conservation of wildlife corridors. In addition to biodiversity conservation such as preventing floods administrative efforts, it includes state and federal or mitigating temperature extremes. Here, we legislative efforts, both bills that were introduced examine the research that supports or refutes such and those that ultimately have passed. Some of uses of reserves in terrestrial systems, and we these new policies focus on wildlife migration, review management practices for non-reserve others on large landscapes and yet others on areas that are designed to amplify the effects of private lands. Many of these efforts are wrapped the reserves and maintain larger scale landscape within the context of adaptation strategies for characteristics. climate change, others are in reaction to fragmentation brought on by human development such as energy exploration or busy highways, while others seek to create private land incentives or Monday, July 16 8:45 Estimating The Resilience inform land use planning. Overall, there are over 20 Of Terrestrial Habitats In The Northeastern United noteworthy connectivity policy efforts described States And Canada * from 2007 through 2012. Seven are by states, one Anderson, Mark , The Nature Conservancy is a joint federal-state memorandum and fifteen Resilience concerns the ability of a system to adapt are federal initiatives. Some policies are general in to climate change by restraining damages or taking nature, while others have a high degree of advantage of opportunities, while sustaining high specificity. In this presentation we will provide an levels of biodiversity and ecosystem function. We assessment of what policies have been most aimed to identify the most resilient examples of successful, why they succeeded and how they can key geophysical settings (e.g. sand plain, granite be used to implement conservation action. mountain, limestone valley) in Northeastern North America to create a spatially explicit map of the set of places having with the largest capacity to adapt to climate change. The project had three parts: 1) Monday, July 16 10:00 N-Dimensional Pinball: identifying and mapping the geophysical settings, Towards The Strategic Use Of Reserves And 2) developing a quantitative estimate of resilience Management To Maintain Biodiversity Across The for each setting based on landscape complexity Whole Landscape and permeability, and 3) identifying key linkages Anderson, Mark*, The Nature Conservancy , Finton, that may be important in facilitating climate- Andy induced regional movements. Our results identified Conservationists are faced with the challenge of 30 distinct geophysical settings and we developed maintaining the long-term persistence of an estimate of each setting’s average resilience thousands of species using only a small portion of score. We next identified places that were above 5 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 the mean score for each setting within six eastern Wednesday, July 18 12:30 Stakeholder ecoregions. Lastly, we overlaid these places with Workshops On Aquatic Ecosystem Services Inform sites identified as important by the Nature Conservation Planning In The Albemarle-Pamlico Conservancy based on current biodiversity which Basin revealed that 53 percent of the Conservancy sites Angermeier, Paul*, US Geological Survey and were potentially important for both current and Virginia Tech , Villamagna, Amy, University Of future biodiversity. Maryland , Bennett, Elena , Mogollon, Beatriz, Virginia Tech , Frimpong, Emmanuel , Mahajan, Shauna Major environmental concerns in the Albemarle- Monday, July 16 9:00 California's Desert Flora: A Pamlico basin (APB) of VA & NC include Floristic Frontier On The Brink urbanization, sea-level rise, estuary eutrophication, * Andre, James M. , UC Riverside, Granite Mountains species imperilment, and rural poverty. We Desert Research Center examined if casting these as gains/losses of aquatic The California desert flora, treated here as the ecosystem services (AES) could influence region represented by the Jepson Desert Manual conservation planning by stakeholders. We (2002), includes the Great Basin Province east of assembled representatives of 27 groups working in the Sierra Nevada and Mojave and Sonoran the APB for 2 workshops to discuss 4 AES: water Deserts. This vast region contains nearly 40% of supply, water purification, nitrogen regulation, and California’s native plant diversity (2430 taxa), and wildlife-based recreation. Objectives of the 1st represents one of the highest quality intact workshop (March 2011) were to 1) familiarize ecosystems left in North America. In the past 9 stakeholders with focal AES, 2) introduce scenario decades, 280 taxa have been added to the flora, analysis as a planning tool, and 3) get stakeholders and the rate of new species discovery has to help outline 4 plausible APB futures germane to increased in the past 3 decades. By the end of this their conservation efforts. The emerging scenarios century, 150-230 native taxa are expected to be represented contrasts in basin-wide vs. local added to the flora, with the majority being newly environmental management and in environmental described species that are also rare. In addition to protection vs. conventional economic growth. We numerous taxonomic discoveries, botanists translated the scenarios into spatially explicit continue to document significant range extensions projections to facilitate comparison of AES delivery and rare plant occurrences. Anthropogenic change among scenarios and current conditions. is looming as the California deserts are being Objectives of the 2nd workshop (April 2012) were targeted for widespread renewable energy to 1) present APB-wide analyses of focal AES, 2) development (> than 2,000 sq. mi.) in the next five compare current conditions with projected years. With approximately 10% of the flora scenarios, and 3) discuss how AES analyses inform undescribed and the documentation of rare species stakeholder conservation. Stakeholders found our distributions incomplete, the consequences of AES perspectives and workshops useful. The rapid and large-scale that will workshops influenced conservation planning by alter ecosystem functions and profoundly increase providing a novel AES perspective, a neutral venue the potential for . This presentation for engagement, and new opportunities for provides 1) an overview of recent plant discoveries stakeholder collaboration. and an assessment of our floristic knowledge, 2) the status of rare plants in the California deserts, and 3) a perspective of what we stand to lose with the impending industrialization of California’s deserts. 6 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 An Assessment Of Plant other birds. This is not only because of its ability to Diversity Along Roadside Verges On The Baltic cause serious threat to the welfare of wild bird Island Gotland (Sweden): Measuring Plant populations, but also its effects on agriculture and Responses To Varying Nitrogen Levels human health. However, not much is understood Apaydin, Muge*, Department Of Plant Ecology And on the route of recurrent outbreaks of these Evolution Evolutionary Biology Centre (EBC) diseases. Wild resident birds (bridge species) have Uppsala University been implicated with harbouring these viruses and Over the past century, human activity has capable of transmitting it to poultry. This study sort substantially altered the global environment to understand the role of these bridge species in through changed land use, which has had a the transmission of AI and ND. A total of fifty eight negative impact on the biodiversity. One major (58) bridge species were caught using mist nets. All consequence of this is the nitrogen enrichment. cloacal and tracheal samples collected tested This is a major threat to the plant diversity in negative for AI, but 53% showed positive result for terrestrial ecosystems because most plant species ND. Although no positive case of AI was recorded, are adapted to nutrient-poor conditions and can it was possible that infected birds died quickly after only compete successfully on soils with low infection. The presence of ND virus is a great threat nitrogen levels. An increase in nitrogen will cause a to wild birds and poultry farms, and could lead to drastic loss of biodiversity because of competitive great economic loss. This study suggests that exclusion. This study tests the validity of these poultry farms should be located away from streams claims by investigating the impact of human and open waters to minimize contact with wild intervention on the plant diversity of roadside in birds, and if possible they should be reared in bird- Gotland, Sweden. Gotland’s roadside flora is more proof concealments. species-rich than other regions and therefore of special concern. At the same time roadsides are mown regularly because of safety reasons, which enrich the level of nitrogen in the soil because the Monday, July 16 3:45 Population Genetic mulch is not collected. I expect that less Structure In Anadromous River Herring: competitive species will be eliminated from the Implications For Proposed Listing Under The US system as the level of nitrogen increases. If Endangered Species Act * empirically valid, these results indicate that current Argo, Emily , University Of California , Schultz, maintenance strategies are poor and insufficient. Thomas, Duke University , Labbe, Ellen, University The paper also makes further recommendations for Of Southern Maine , Willis, Theodore, University Of increasing the abundance of threatened grassland Southern Maine , Limburg, Karin, State University plant species by proposing alternative cost-efficient Of New York , Gephard, Stephen, Connecticut management and conservation methods. Department Of Environmental Protection , Post, David, Yale University , Palkovacs, Eric, University Of California Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and blueback Monday, July 16 The Role Of Bridge Species In herring (A. aestivalis), collectively referred to as The Transmission Of Highly Pathogenic Avian river herring, are anadromous fishes native to the Influenza (HPAI) And Newcastle Disease (ND) Atlantic Coast of North America. These species are Viruses In Jos an important component of coastal ecosystems Apeverga, Tersoo*, A. P Leventis Ornithological and comprised one of the oldest fisheries in North Research Institute (Aplori), Jos Nigeria America. However, steep population declines have Avian Influenza (AI) and Newcastle Disease (ND) led to widespread fisheries closures, designation as are the two most important diseases of poultry and ‘species of concern’ and a current petition for 7 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 listing under the US Endangered Species Act (ESA). coastal populations. In this talk, members of the Despite conservation concerns, little is known Natural Capital Project will demonstrate examples about population genetic structure in these of how we are applying this model throughout species. We collected alewife and blueback herring North America and in Belize to measure, map and tissue samples from freshwater spawning runs value the protective role to people and property from Maine to Florida and deployed 15 novel provided by natural habitats. We will show how microsatellite loci to investigate population genetic this information is being used by coastal managers, structure within each species. Population genetic planners, landowners and other stakeholders to analyses reveal substructure within each species, inform coastal development strategies, permitting with the groupings of genetically similar spawning and climate adaptation planning. runs relating to geographic location. Our results show greater overall differentiation among blueback herring spawning runs compared to alewife spawning runs. Our results provide Tuesday, July 17 9:00 Managing Novel important information for the designation of Ecosystems In Urban Landscapes For Conservation ‘distinct population segments,’ a critical And Restoration Of Biodiversity * component of the ESA evaluation process. In Aronson, Myla , Hofstra University addition, our genetic data will be applied to answer Urban habitats are inherently novel ecosystems questions regarding hybridization and the threats with drastically altered soils, climate, and resources posed by bycatch in marine fisheries. from that of pre-urbanization habitats. These unique abiotic features, coupled with high levels of exotic species introductions, lead to novel plant and animal communities in cities that are not well Tuesday, July 17 3:15 Nature's Protection From understood. Although often perceived as concrete Storms And Sea Level Rise: InVEST Models And jungles, cities play a critical role for biodiversity Applications conservation; estimates indicate cities harbor over Arkema, Katie*, The Natural Capital Project, 20% of the Earth’s bird and 5% of plant species. Stanford University , Verutes, Gregg , Guannel, Here I discuss the management and restoration of Greg , Faries, Joe, Stanford University - The Natural urban habitats to maintain this diversity. Capital Project Management of urban natural habitats often Understanding the role that nearshore habitats focuses only on the eradication of exotic plant play in the protection of coastal communities is species. However, this management scheme may increasingly important in the face of a changing not be successful as cities are continually climate and growing development pressure. In the inundated by high propagule pressure of exotic US, more than one-third of the population species. It may be more efficient, instead, to currently lives in the coastal zone. Conflicts manage remnant and restored habitats for between people, development and natural retention of biodiversity, resistance to invasions, processes have led to worldwide pressure on many and ecological function. In particular, vacant lots coastal systems. The InVEST Coastal Protection and degraded parks offer opportunities to restore model quantifies the protective benefits that biodiversity and ecosystem function although there natural habitats provide against erosion in are many challenges to these restorations. As the nearshore environments. Outputs can be used to majority of humanity now lives in urban areas, and better understand the relative contributions of urban land use is a growing portion of the Earth’s different natural habitats in reducing nearshore land surface, there is a need to understand and wave energy levels and coastal erosion and to manage novel ecosystems to maximize biodiversity highlight the protective services they offer to and the human experience. 8 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 Exposure Patterns And Impacts LCC coverage now includes all U.S. states and Of Methylmercury On Bald Eagles In Maine territories and is increasingly working with Atwood, Jonathan* , Desorbo, Chris, Biodiversity conservation partners in Canada and Mexico. LCC’s Research Institute , Todd, Charles, Maine are public-private partnerships composed of states, Department Of Inland Fisheries And Wildlife , tribes, federal agencies, non-governmental Mierzykowski, Steven, U.S. Fish And Wildlife organizations, universities and others. To date, Service , Hanson, William, FPL Energy Maine Hydro state natural resource or fish and wildlife agencies , Gray, Rick, Biodiversity Research Institute , Welch, from all 50 states are involved in LCCs. LCC’s Linda, Maine Coastal Islands NWR , Evers, David, recognize that our conservation challenges Biodiversity Research Institute transcend political and jurisdictional boundaries Mercury (Hg) pollution is a growing concern in and require a more networked approach to many regions of North America because elevated conservation—holistic, collaborative, adaptive and dietary exposure can adversely impact behavior grounded in science—to ensure the sustainability and reproduction in wildlife. We sampled Bald of North America’s land, water, wildlife and Eagles over an eight-year period (2004-2011) in cultural resources. The resulting system of LCC’s coastal, river, and lake habitats throughout Maine works closely with the USGS Climate Science to evaluate differences in Hg risks among habitats Centers (CSC) and the National Climate Change and and determine if eagle productivity may be Wildlife Science Center (NCCWSC) to identify, influenced by Hg exposure. We found significant develop and transfer science to practitioners. differences in Hg levels among eagles found in the Furthermore, the LCC’s act as a forum for 3 habitat types. Lake-dwelling birds showed higher developing common large-scale conservation goals Hg levels compared to river- and, especially, that emanates from individual partners missions coastal-dwelling populations. Productivity (number but yet need to be addressed at a large scale in of chicks per occupied nest) at nest sites located in order to be successful. LCC’s clearly respects the lake habitats was negatively correlated with Hg jurisdictional authorities of the various partners levels found in nestling blood samples. A portion of and, as such, seek to provide sound inform to Maine’s freshwater-feeding Bald Eagle population inform good natural resource decision-making and exhibits some of the highest Hg concentrations facilitate collaborate conservation actions. reported in North America, and findings suggest Hg may be slowing the recovery of this regionally important breeding population. We discuss the policy and conservation implications of these Wednesday, July 18 12:30 Impacts Of Border findings. Tactical Infrastructure On Public And Private Lands In The Arizona-Sonora Border Avila, Sergio*, Sky Island Alliance The recent construction of border barriers and Wednesday, July 18 8:30 How Did We Get Here? other tactical infrastructure to deter human and Establishment And Operational Status Of The vehicle traffic across the border substantially LCC's impacts sensitive areas and wildlife populations. Austen, Douglas*, USFWS Due to the lack of environmental impact studies, In recognition of the challenges that we face as a construction of border infrastructure proceeded conservation community and the emerging success without input from public land managers or private of efforts that have addressed conservation at the landowners. This presentation summarizes results large-scale, the Department of Interior, working from mapping of border infrastructure along the with many partners, has built a network of 22 Arizona-Sonora international border, and wildlife Landscape Conservation Cooperatives (LCC’s). The surveys in the sky islands. We mapped different 9 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 types of border wall and its impacts on public and cover were measured at each site. In contrast to private lands within a 200-mile section of border in other studies, preliminary results indicate that local southwestern U.S. and northwestern Mexico, anuran diversity did not vary with either local resulting from photographic flights and field visits variables (canopy cover and ground cover) or along the border. Remote camera surveys in landscape-level variables (diversity of surrounding northern Sonora and southern Arizona have cover types). This research should help us better resulted in 23 species of wild land mammals, understand the patterns of diversity, abundance, including jaguar, ocelot, puma, black bear, coati and habitat use of amphibians in this mixed land and four species of skunks (Mephitidae). use matrix and the landscape factors that influence Additionally, we have compiled and mapped these patterns. records of Neotropical felids on both sides of the border from the last decade. Sky Island Alliance seeks to build cooperative relationships with landowners in Sonora and public land managers in Tuesday, July 17 10:00 Marine Resource Arizona to facilitate scientific research, encourage Management In Madagascar: Strategies To Endure large predator conservation and establish corridors A Crisis * connecting patches of continuous habitat Baker, Merrill , UC Berkeley throughout the binational region. The project’s Much in line with the blue revolution occurring results supported the Federal certification of a globally, Madagascar is in the process of quickly private wildlife preserve in northern Sonora, 30 expanding its marine protected area (MPA) miles south of the border, expanding a network for network. However, how to manage these new northern jaguars and Sonoran ocelots. areas is yet to be decided. In early 2009 a political crisis exploded in Madagascar during which the incumbent president was overthrown. Although there has been much alarm within the Monday, July 16 Amphibian Diversity In A international conservation community concerning Fragmented Hotspot Of Biodiversity the way in which this political crisis has increased Baczynski, Kat*, Bowling Green State University , pressure on Madagascar’s unique terrestrial Root, Karen, Bowling Green State University biodiversity, little is known about how the crisis has Amphibian numbers have declined drastically over influenced resource use in the marine realm. recent years. Habitat loss and fragmentation Additionally, there is a gap in management theory resulting from urbanization and changing land uses concerning how different strategies fare are major factors leading to these declines. The (ecologically and socially) during a crisis such as the primary goals of this study are to determine 1) one in Madagascar. This paper aims to help close amphibian presence, diversity, and relative this gap by comparing several “state” and abundance in northwest Ohio and 2) if presence, “community” managed MPAs in Madagascar in diversity, or relative abundance is affected by local terms of incidence of marine resource use rule- habitat or landscape-level factors. Information breaking and how local fishers perceptions of about the locations of species and important access to and control over marine resources landscape characteristics can be used to manage changed during the crisis. Understanding how local for amphibians more effectively and to identify resource users respond to changing macro-political which areas serve as suitable habitats and dynamics could help Madagascar, and possibly therefore warrant protection. In 2011, I monitored other nations in similar contexts, orient future MPA 14 sites using frog call surveys. I detected 9 of 10 management strategies to better endure social species known to occur in this region. Habitat upheaval. variables including percent canopy and ground 10 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Wednesday, July 18 11:15 Healthy Land, Wednesday, July 18 12:00 Defining Core Healthy People? Spatial Relationships Among Concepts Of Information Across The Conservation Measures Of Landscape Integrity And Human Community: Can We Develop Consistent Community Health Approaches Or Is The Holy Grail Unattainable? Baldwin, Rob* , Powell, Robert , Baldwin, Elizabeth Ballard, Grant*, PRBO Conservation Science , , Trombulak, Steve , Lipscomb, Don Dipietro, Deanne, Sonoma Ecology Center , Veloz, Biological conservation exists in a social context. Sam , Gardali, Thomas, PRBO Conservation Science Landscape integrity indices have received Countless projects generate geospatial data widespread attention for conservation planning, potentially relevant to improving conservation and may be useful when coupled with measures of outcomes in the context of rapid environmental human community “health” that are mapped at change. There are also many ways of accessing similar resolution and extent. Our interdisciplinary these products, which are generally highly group combined large extent (lower 48 United technical in nature, and based on a rapidly evolving States) datasets [90m Human Footprint (HF), set of assumptions and analytical methods. Many protected areas (PADUS), National Land Cover of the most sophisticated models are currently only Change 2001-2006, median household income and accessible by users with specialized statistical and poverty (US Census), obesity (CDC), and violent computer programming skills. At the same time, crime (FBI)]. Results indicate global (CONUS) more and more natural resource management correlations with regional variation. There were activities justifiably are required to consider inverse relationships (% of county population climate change adaptation, so people responsible obese and % of that and neighboring counties for implementation risk wasting time sorting covered by protected lands of any protection through a tangled web of climate-related data level); positive relationships (HF, household products, or making decisions based on less than income, crime, and % county converted to the best possible information. Several ongoing development ‘01-’06) suggesting that human land California LCC projects tackle this challenge by transformation may have a positive feedback loop utilizing informatics capacities developed across a with economic growth and crime; negative spectrum of disciplines. I define what a decision relationships (HF and coverage of GAP 2-4 but not support system is in the context of adaptive GAP 1 protected areas at county and neighborhood management, demonstrating a consistent scales), and regional relationships (geographically conceptual framework across three case studies: weighted regression revealed significant, opposite (1) the California Climate Adaptation Commons relationships by predominately rural vs. urban (climate.calcommons.org) (2) the Environmental regions for obesity rates, mean HF; by contrast Change Network (www.prbo.org/ecn) and (3) the global result was weakly positive). Because large- San Francisco Bay Sea-Level Rise Tool extent spatial analysis of complex social and (www.prbo.org/sfbayslr). I will demonstrate key natural phenomena is likely to overlook important, conservation decision support functions of each of correlated variables, we consider these results these projects and highlight the synergies emerging exploratory for generating hypotheses. The by working collaboratively in the context of the questions we ask are designed to show how LCC. interdisciplinary research may elucidate coupled aspects of human and landscape condition. There is an implementation gap in conservation, and understanding how human communities may or may not benefit from natural landscape integrity is important for, among other things, making the case for new protected areas. 11 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Wednesday, July 18 3:00 A Framework For Sur,Universidad De Guadalajara , Kolb, Melanie, Examining Public Participation In Scientific Comisión Nacional Para El Uso Y Conocimiento De Research (PPSR) To Enhance Conservation La Biodiversidad , Lazos, Elena, Instituto De Science, Education And Stewardship Investigaciones Sociales, Universidad Nacional Ballard, Heidi*, University Of California, Davis , Autónoma De México , Maass, Manuel, Centro De Phillips, Tina, Lab Of Ornithology , Bonney, Rick, Investigaciones En Ecosistemas, Universidad Cornell University Nacional Autónoma De México , Perez-Maqueo, Complementing recent discussions of the impacts Octavio, Instituto De Ecologia A.C. , Martinez- of citizen science and other forms of participatory Meyer, Enrique, Instituto De Biología, Universidad ecological monitoring on conservation and natural Nacional Autónoma De México , Mora, Franz , resource management (e.g. Danielsen et al. 2009), Schmidt, Michael, Comisión Nacional Para El Uso Y we describe here a framework for examining the Conocimiento De La Biodiversidad , Parr, Terry, outcomes of these programs on participants with Centre For Ecology & Hydrology, Natural respect to their scientific and environmental Environment Research Council literacy and action. Researchers have just begun to Tropical forest ecosystems are hotspots for investigate the educational impacts of intentional biodiversity and provide one of the biggest stores collaborations between volunteers and scientists to of terrestrial carbon making their role in climate address real-world environmental problems [we change mitigation programs increasingly important term these Public Participation in Scientific (e.g. REDD, REDD+). As of now, we do not know Research (PPSR)]. We begin by drawing on a how much biodiversity or what components of conceptual model that delineates three categories biodiversity are needed to sustain the ecosystem of PPSR differentiated by level of engagement and processes needed for climate change mitigation. A decision-making of participants: Contributory, new European/FP7 project on “The Role Of Collaborative and Co-Created (Bonney et al. 2009). Biodiversity In Climate Change Mitigation in Latin By integrating the goals of science education, America“ (ROBIN) aims to inform the conservation biology and environmental implementation of REDD+ by identifying options stewardship and action, we’ve developed a for using biodiversity and ecosystems for climate framework for comparing strengths of PPSR change mitigation in multi-functional forest projects across fields as public participation landscapes, taking into account trade-offs with becomes more intensive. Applying this framework other ecosystem services at local and regional to results of a national survey of 200 citizen science scales. ROBIN will quantify the role of biodiversity project coordinators reveals features and tradeoffs in terrestrial ecosystems of Latin America in of each model that contribute to greater science mitigating climate change, as well as evaluate the learning, improved data collection, and/or deeper associated socio-ecological consequences. ROBIN engagement with policy and advocacy. will engage local and regional stakeholders in the discussion around the selection of biophysical and socio-economic indicators, defining mitigation options, developing future scenarios and in the Monday, July 16 ROBIN: The Role Of Biodiversity testing of decision support tools. ROBIN will work In Climate Change Mitigation In Latin America across 15 sites in 6 countries using a combination * Balvanera, Patricia , Centro De Investigaciones En of field data, remote sensing and models. The Ecosistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma De Mexican consortium has shown for tropical dry and México , Equihua, Miguel, Instituto De Ecología wet forests that there is a large variance in species A.C. , García-Alanis, Nashieli, Comisión Nacional diversity, species composition, carbon stock and Para El Uso Y Conocimiento De La Biodiversidad , uptake within ecosystem types, as a result of Gerritsen, Peter, Centro Universitario De La Costa different biophysical conditions, management 12 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 histories and matrix configurations. Similarly in wildfire across the western United States by the variable sets of tradeoffs between biodiversity, late 21st century. Geos Institute has been working carbon and services such as fuelwood, availability with communities and natural resource managers of non-timber forest products, pasture, and to brainstorm approaches for cohesively reducing agricultural food production have been found. the vulnerability of natural and human systems to these changing climate conditions. Identified threats and adaptation strategies varied substantially from region to region, though a few Wednesday, July 18 9:50 Policy Design For commonalities emerged. Common threats included Sustainability In Mexico: Incorporating The (1) less water storage from declining snowpack and Ecosystem Services Perspective increasing likelihood of drought; (2) greater flood * Balvanera, Patricia , Centro De Investigaciones En risk in developed areas; and (3) higher wildfire risk Ecosistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma De to residences in the wildland urban interface México , Galan, Carla, Centro De Investigaciones En (WUI). Common strategies for addressing these Ecosistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma De threats included (1) build new dams and flood México , Castellarini, Fabiana, Instituto control structures; (2) manage vegetation and Multidisciplinario De Biología Vegetal, Conicet-Unc building materials in the WUI; (3) intensively thin Satisfying the needs of this generation without forests and use biomass for energy production. jeopardizing those of the next one implies These approaches to climate change adaptation sustaining the flow of benefits from ecosystems to are already being recommended in many areas, societies as well as the processes that underpin and implemented across many landscapes. Yet the them. The ecosystem services perspective allows to jury is still out on the effectiveness of these integrate these two strategies and to identify what strategies. They are associated with unintended cross-sectoral policies are needed to do so. Here impacts to natural systems that may outweigh their we present a document for federal, state and benefits. Some strategies may even conflict with municipal decision makers in Mexico that draws climate change mitigation efforts. Finally, there are lessons from an interdisciplinary project on alternatives that may be both more effective and ecosystem services at the country level. We build a have positive impacts to natural systems. simple conceptual framework to show the tight interconnections between the functioning of ecosystems and the satisfaction of societal needs. We develop a step wise approach to assess what Tuesday, July 17 4:00 Modeling Climate Change components of the ecosystems and which sectors Species Impacts Within Southern California's of society are at stake by focusing on the Coachella Valley northwestern part of the country. We conclude by Barrows, Cameron* suggesting ideal approaches to planning. A key question for conservation strategies is whether otherwise protected species will survive the current climate change or will that change push them beyond their physiological limits? To address Tuesday, July 17 4:15 Some Common this question I constructed niche models to assess Adaptation Strategies: How Effective Are They? the climate change sensitivity of two endangered * Barr, Brian , Geos Institute , Koopman, Marni, species that are among those receiving protection Geos Institute under the Coachella Valley’s conservation strategy, Climate models project considerably warmer the Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard, Uma temperatures, a more truncated precipitation inornata, and the Peninsular bighorn sheep, Ovis season, greatly reduced snow pack, and increases canadensis. Simulated shifts in climate resulted in 13 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 predictable shifts in the extent of suitable habitat are will not likely encompass the extent of the for both species. Suitable habitat for the bighorn species niche capabilities; too coarse of a scale and sheep expanded up slope and westward, whereas local adaptations to local conditions could be lost. habitat for the lizard shifted westward where Within a region that spans the Mojave-Sonoran temperatures are cooler and precipitation is as Desert interface, and with an up to 3°C increase in much as three times higher than in the eastern summer maximum temperatures, desert tortoises, portions of their distribution. Unlike the sheep, Gopherus agassizii, suitable habitat area was fringe-toed lizards are tied to sand dune habitats; reduced by 66%, with just 18% was within its they cannot simply move to higher elevations to current distribution. Data such as these will lead to find a preferred climate envelope. However the informed decisions regarding landscape scale conservation plan for the Coachella Valley explicitly desert energy impacts as well as potential refugia encompasses the west-east temperature-rainfall where conservation efforts would have the gradient, as well as ecosystem processes that greatest success. maintain the dune fields to provide greater certainty that the dune species would persist in the face of the levels of climate change that are expected here. Our modeling results support that Monday, July 16 Impact Of Shrub Encroachment outcome. One caveat to this prediction of survival On Herbaceous Community Diversity And will be the unpredictable severity and length of Composition In Post-Agricultural Páramo * future droughts. Bart, David , Matson, Emily Release from grazing pressure can lead to shrub encroachment in páramo grasslands. While shrub encroachment can decrease herbaceous-plant Monday, July 16 8:40 Shifting Distributions Of diversity in other systems, the impacts on Desert Species In Response To Climate Change: recovering páramo are not known. We examined Challenges For Both Determining Development the impact of shrub encroachment on herbaceous- Impacts And Preserve Design community diversity and composition in recovering Barrows, Cameron* páramo near Zuleta, Ecuador. We estimated cover Concerns about current climate change are its of all species found in 40 25-m2 plots. We also cause, rapid rate of warming, unknown ultimate measured total shrub cover, slope, elevation, severity, and anthropogenic barriers and landscape aspect, topographic position, soil organic matter, fragmentation could impede species’ soil moisture, bulk density, and pH. Linear redistributions. This uncertainty challenges efforts regression of shrub cover against richness and to identify and mitigate ecological impacts from Shannon index revealed no relationships. Non- landscape-scale land use changes, from Metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMS) revealed undisturbed habitat to energy production, in the three axes in herbaceous species-space. Shrub California deserts. Modeling distributions of cover, and to a lesser extent, elevation and soil species in response to climate change provides moisture were negatively correlated with the most insights into the likely magnitude and direction of important axis. This axis was positively correlated species’ realignments. I used niche modeling to with the following species: Dorobaea first describe species’ current distribution, and pimpinellifolia, Bidens andicola, Paspalum then identify spatially explicit projections as to bonplandianum, Achyrocline alata, and Galium where and to what degree species distributions hypocarpium, and negatively correlated with may shift as the desert climate becomes Lachemilla andina, Cortaderia nitida, Geranium incrementally warmer. Scale is a critical attribute of reptans, Jamesonia goudotii, and Stellaria these analyses; too fine a scale and the modeled serpyllifolia . These results suggest that while shrub 14 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 encroachment in recovering páramo has little Monday, July 16 Can genetic data confirm or effect on herbaceous-species richness or diversity, refute historical records? The island invasion of community composition shifts from disturbance- the small Indian mongoose (Herpestes indicating erect herbs and short-statured auropunctatus) graminoids to trailing prostrate herbs. Barun, Arijana*, USFW, Austin Ecological Services , Niemiller, Matthew L. , Yale University , Fitzpatrick, Benjamin , University of Tennessee , Fordyce, James, University of Tennessee , Monday, July 16 8:30 Using Patch Selection Simberloff, Daniel, University of Tennessee Models To Evaluate Effects Of Human-Wildlife Many studies aimed at reconstructing the invasion Conflict Management On Wildlife Foraging history of a species rely, in part, on inferences Decisions based on patterns of genetic variation. These * Baruch-Mordo, Sharon , Webb, Colleen , Breck, inferences warrant careful interpretation, however. Stewart , Wilson, Kenneth Particularly, given the time scale of most invasions, Human-dominated landscapes offer spatially the typical demography of in their concentrated and reliable food resources that invaded range, and the available molecular tools, attract wildlife and lead to human-wildlife conflicts. the underlying assumptions of population genetic Conflict management is often directed at humans models are likely to be severely violated. Given this (e.g., education) to reduce attractants or foraging fact, we examined the potential of population benefits to wildlife, or at wildlife (e.g., hazing) to genetic data for reconstructing the history of serial increase foraging costs, but strategies can be introductions of the small Indian mongoose, expensive and ineffective. A key driver of conflict is Herpestes auropunctatus. We used simulations to pursuit of food by wildlife, thus we used patch test the power of existing microsatellite data for selection models (a dynamic, state-dependent testing the credibility of historical introduction modeling approach based on foraging theory) to records. Although our results are generally assess how benefit reduction and cost increase consistent with most historical records for H. affect wildlife foraging decisions. We applied the auropunctatus, the existing data have low power to patch selection models to a system in which reject alternative historical hypotheses. American black bears (Ursus americanus) forage in Simulations of a wide range of founder population human-dominated patches and conflicts are sizes show broadly overlapping results, making common. We used survival as a fitness currency rather different historical scenarios of and body fat reserves as a state variable. We introductions difficult to rule out with typical incrementally reduced availability of anthropogenic datasets. We advocate caution when applying foods and increased energetic costs of movement molecular population genetics for inferring the in response to aversive management to search for history of invasive species, and suggest extensive thresholds resulting in avoidance of human- simulations as a tool for evaluating, in advance, the dominated patches. Benefit reduction ? 70% value of the approach for addressing important resulted in bears of almost all states avoiding research questions. human-dominated patches. Cost increases achieving similar results exceeded 1300% and are likely unrealistic to implement. Given modeling results and that control strategies targeting wildlife are unpopular with constituencies, we suggest allocating management resources to strategies that reduce availability of anthropogenic food.

15 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Tuesday, July 17 12:00 Following The Food: untenable without recognition of climate effects on Incorporating Spatial And Temporal Resource the affected environment. Far too much analyses Availability In Species Distribution Models of impacts of proposed actions and alternatives Bean, William*, UC Berkeley , Stafford, Robert, assume a stable baseline. Federal agencies are California Department Of Fish & Game , ignoring or giving short shrift to the changing Butterfield, Scott, The Nature Conservancy affected environment. The Council on California Field Office , Brashares, Justin, UC Environmental Quality’s draft guidance on Berkeley “Consideration of the Effects of Climate Change Static populations are a basic assumption of and Greenhouse Gas Emissions” under NEPA did distribution models, but populations are often not include some discussion regarding assessment of at equilibrium at scales relevant to conservation the need to determine the effects of climate biologists and managers. Incorporating relevant change on a proposed action, but it has not been ecological data at meaningful ecological scales has finalized (CEQ, 2010). Meanwhile, the federal been of primary interest to species distribution courts, while providing strong direction regarding modellers for many years. In this study, we used the effects of proposed actions on climate change, distribution data collected over the course of a have, to date, declined to hold agencies decade for the endangered giant kangaroo rat accountable for an assessment of the changing (Dipodomys ingens) in Carrizo Plain National climate on the affected environment in light of Monument, California, to create a distribution proposed actions. CEQ, in its role as overseer of model that incorporated both spatial and temporal NEPA, and the scientific community need to variability of resource availability. Specifically, we provide leadership on this issue. estimated aboveground primary productivity from the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) platform. We then Wednesday, July 18 9:30 Conservation Work used generalized linear models to predict giant With Communities: Addressing Resource kangaroo rat occupancy based on primary Extraction In Central Appalachia And The Solomon productivity and a suite of spatially explicit Islands * environmental co-variates. Models that Beaty, Braven , The Nature Conservancy , Kreps, incorporated primary productivity performed best Brad, The Nature Conservancy at predicting giant kangaroo rat distribution both Conservation of ecological resources is paramount within and among years. We therefore recommend to the continued well-being of mankind. Natural the incorporation of remotely sensed covariates as systems provide the necessities of life for all an important tool in creating more meaningful humans, whether they live in subsistence species distribution models. communities or fully developed economies. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has been working to minimize environmental impacts and restore natural systems in landscapes utilized for resource Monday, July 16 9:30 Missing Climate Change extraction for over 20 years. A powerful tool for Effects In Analysis Under The National achieving sustainable and acceptable outcomes is Environmental Policy Act conservation planning that begins with full Bear, Dinah* stakeholder representation. By allowing Implementation of the procedural requirements of community members; residential, business and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and government; to participate in the process of setting realization of the policy goals and purposes priorities and developing solutions, environmental underlying the Act are becoming increasingly concerns can be incorporated into actions 16 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 collectively agreeable and defensible within the forecast predictions of oceanic variables, including social setting. However, these efforts are not sea surface temperature (SST), chlorophyll, and always successful. TNC has worked with mixed layer depth. We developed habitat models communities in Central Appalachia and the for three cetacean species using survey data Solomon Islands, and the government of Colombia, collected in the California Current Ecosystem from to address the resource extraction environmental 1991 to 2005. We then incorporated remotely impacts. Our experience suggests that successful sensed and modeled SST forecasts as input outcomes depend on a committed 'champion' of variables to predict species’ relative abundance in the planning and implementation efforts. The 2008. Forecast ability was assessed by the models’ Solomon Islands work highlights the importance of ranked predictions across eight biogeographic local community representative involvement in strata, as well as visual inspection of predicted and areas that are data poor to provide necessary observed distributions. For all three species, the information on valued resources and locations of near real-time and forecast models provided sensitive ecological systems. Selection of mitigation enhanced ability to predict distribution patterns priorities also is critically dependent on stakeholder compared to predictions based on five-year involvement and provides the underpinnings for averages. Cetacean-habitat models that allow several planning tools used by TNC. I will compare forecasting of cetacean abundance can greatly working with communities in a developed and enhance short-term decision-making and advanced westernized setting with one that is much more conservation planning. closely connected to the local environment in a more subsistence oriented culture.

Monday, July 16 Inbreeding Avoidance Influences The Viability Of Small Populations Of Wednesday, July 18 11:30 New Modeling Tools African Wild Dogs For Forecasting Cetacean Abundance And Becker, Penny*, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Distribution Institute, Smithsonian Institution; Wa Department Becker, Elizabeth*, NOAA, Southwest Fisheries Of Fish And Wildlife , Miller, Philip, Conservation Science Center , Foley, David, NOAA-NMFS-SWFSC- Breeding Specialist Group (Species Survival ERD , Forney, Karin, NOAA, Southwest Fisheries Commission/International Union For Conservation Science Center , Barlow, Jay , Redfern, Jessica, Of Nature) , Szykman Gunther, Micaela, Humboldt NOAA-Southwest Fisheries Science Center , State University , Somers, Michael, University Of Gentemann, Chelle, Remote Sensing Systems Pretoria , Wildt, David, Smithsonian Conservation Species-environment models are increasingly Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution , recognized as valuable tools for assessing pelagic Maldonado, Jesus, Smithsonian Conservation species distributions and developing mitigation Biology Institute measures; however, model predictions are The conservation of many fragmented and small generally based on past observations rather than populations of endangered African wild dogs current or projected ocean conditions. We present (Lycaon pictus) relies on understanding the natural and evaluate methods for near real-time and processes affecting genetic diversity, forecast models of cetacean distribution based on demographics, and future viability. We used remotely sensed and modeled oceanographic data. extensive behavioural, life-history, and genetic Recent advancements in processing satellite- data from reintroduced African wild dogs in South derived data now allow short-term forecasts based Africa to (1) test for inbreeding avoidance via mate on single-day snapshots of oceanic conditions. selection and (2) model the potential Ocean circulation models allow medium-range consequences of avoidance on population 17 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 persistence. Results suggested that wild dogs dwelling wildlife must also accommodate often- avoided mating with kin. Inbreeding was rare in greater intra-annual swings in temperature and natal packs, after reproductive vacancies, and wind speeds, poorly developed soils, and generally between sibling cohorts (observed on 0.8%, 12.5%, harsher conditions. In the hydrographic Great and 3.8% of occasions, respectively). Only one of Basin, pace of American-pika losses (defined as the six (16.7%) breeding pairs confirmed as third- upslope retraction of minimum elevation of order (or closer) kin consisted of animals that were occupancy, and rate of site-wide extirpations) as familiar with each other, while no other paired well as determinants of extirpation differed individuals had any prior association. Computer- dramatically from the latter 20th century to the simulated populations allowed to experience period during 1999-2008. We present new results inbreeding had only a 1.6% probability of extinction of ecoregional-level analyses of pikas (Ochotona within 100 years, whereas all populations avoiding princeps Richardson) that illustrate how incestuous matings became extinct due to the biologically relevant derived hydrological variables absence of unrelated mates. Populations that can be important predictors of abundance. We also avoided mating with first-order relatives became present new results from the Great Basin and extinct after 63 years compared with persistence of Northern Rocky Mountains that illustrate how 37 and 19 years for those also prevented from behavioral plasticity can, in at least some cases, second-order and third-order matings, ‘soften’ the boundaries of species’ bioclimatic respectively. Although stronger inbreeding niches. Emerging efforts may contribute greatly to avoidance maintains significantly more genetic broad-scale, mechanism-based investigations to variation, our results demonstrate the potentially inform management and conservation of diverse severe demographic impacts of reduced numbers montane wildlife and the ecosystem components of suitable mates on the future viability of small, with which they interact. isolated wild dog populations. The rapid rate of population decline suggests that extinction may occur before inbreeding depression is observed. Monday, July 16 9:00 Using Enduring Features To Design Landscape Linkages For A Changing Climate Monday, July 16 3:00 Temporally Shifting Beier, Paul*, Northern Arizona School Of Forestry , Determinants Of Distribution And Abundance Of Brost, Brian , Jenness, Jeff American Pikas, And Behavioral Plasticity Improving connectivity among protected areas is "Softening" Ecological-Niche Boundaries frequently proposed as a climate-smart Beever, Erik*, U.S. Geological Survey , Dobrowski, conservation strategy. To design corridors for a Solomon, Department Of Forest Management , changing climate, some scientists chain together Hall, Embere, Program In Ecology, Wyoming highly uncertain models (namely models of Cooperative Fish And Wildlife Research Unit , emissions, air-ocean circulation, and biotic Loosen, Annie, Conservation Science Center, Teton response) to produce corridors that are mapped Science Schools too coarsely to support conservation decisions. Montane ecosystems have been suggested by both Instead, we advocate designing for diversity and paleontological and contemporary research to interspersion of “land facets” – landscape units often be systems of relatively rapid faunal change, with uniform topographic and soil attributes. This compared to many valley-bottom counterparts. In coarse-filter approach would conserve the arenas addition to often experiencing greater magnitudes of biological activity, rather than the temporary of contemporary change in climatic parameters occupants of those arenas. Our approach produces than species in other ecosystems, mountain- linkages with 6-12 partially overlapping corridors. 18 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

In each linkage one corridor optimizes connectivity including the presence of discontinuous nodes of for high interspersion of land facets; this corridor is forested wetlands linked to local variations in intended to accommodate rapid, short-distance water availability. These findings are providing a range shifts, interactions between species, and framework for the development of regional ecological processes. Each of the 5-11 other conservation strategies along the river, as well as corridors optimizes connectivity for one facet type, guidance on specific ecological palettes that may and is intended to facilitate movement of species be appropriate at a local level. They also enrich our associated with that facet, today and in the future. understanding of the relationship between ecology We illustrate this new approach for 3 and physical processes on the river, past and topographically diverse regions in Arizona. In these present. This understanding is helping develop site- landscapes, our land facet linkage design provided appropriate restoration targets, creating effective connectivity for focal species similar to that restoration projects that yield resilient ecosystems. provided by a focal species design. The land-facet approach is not biased toward data-rich areas, and can be applied where no maps of land cover exist. Wednesday, July 18 11:15 Large-Scale Movements And High-Use Areas Of Western Pacific Leatherback Turtles, Dermochelys coriacea Monday, July 16 4:15 Historical Ecology To Benson, Scott*, NOAA-NMFS-SWFSC , Eguchi, Inform Conservation Planning On Southern Tomoharu, NOAA-NMFS-SWFSC , Foley, David, California Coastal Streams: A Case Study From The NOAA-NMFS-SWFSC-ERD , Forney, Karin, NOAA, Santa Clara River Southwest Fisheries Science Center , Bailey, Helen, Beller, Erin*, San Francisco Estuary Institute , University Of Maryland , Dutton, Peter Grossinger, Robin, San Francisco Estuary Institute , The western Pacific leatherback turtle Parker, Sophie, The Nature Conservancy , Verdone, (Dermochelys coriacea), one of three genetically Lily, The Nature Conservancy , Salomon, Micha , distinct stocks in the Indo-Pacific region, has Brand, Peter declined markedly during past decades. This The lower Santa Clara River has been subject to metapopulation nests year-round at beaches of intensive modification for over 200 years, including several western Pacific island nations and has been dramatic reductions in riparian habitat. Current documented through genetic analysis and conservation efforts along the river require a telemetry studies to occur in multiple regions of spatially and temporally extensive understanding the Pacific Ocean. To provide a large-scale of the patterns and processes expressed by the perspective of their movements, high-use areas, system under more natural conditions as a and habitat associations, we report and synthesize foundation for place-based restoration and results of 126 satellite telemetry deployments management decisions. However, regular conducted on leatherbacks at western Pacific hydrogeomorphic and ecological monitoring nesting beaches and at one eastern Pacific foraging postdates major regional changes, providing only ground during 2000–2007. A Bayesian switching limited data. To address this data gap, we state-space model was applied to raw Argos- integrated hundreds of historical cartographic, acquired surface locations to estimate daily textual, and visual accounts to create a positions and behavioral mode (either transiting or comprehensive dataset describing hydrologic, area-restricted search) for each turtle. geomorphic, and riparian characteristics prior to Leatherbacks that nested during boreal summer the substantial modifications of the 1800s. Our moved into Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) of the research reveals the historical diversity and temperate North Pacific Ocean or into tropical heterogeneity of riparian communities on the river, waters of the South China Sea. Turtles that nested 19 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 during boreal winter moved into temperate and impacting muskoxen is less clear. Stochastic events tropical LMEs of the southern hemisphere. Area- and species interactions may play increasingly restricted search occurred in temperate and relevant roles in these populations’ persistence. tropical waters at diverse pelagic and coastal regions exhibiting a wide range of oceanographic features, including mesoscale eddies, coastal retention areas, current boundaries, or stationary Wednesday, July 18 3:15 Science Interrupted: fronts, all of which are known mechanisms for Constructions Of Scientific Narratives In aggregating leatherback prey. Community-Based Conservation Bernacchi, Leigh*, Texas A&M University , Ragland, Chara, Texas A&M University , Peterson, Tarla Rai, Texas A&M University Monday, July 16 11:00 What Is The Contribution Scientists occupy a position of power in the public Of Climate Change In The Arctic To Muskoxen understanding of ecosystems and conservation, Persistence? and members of the lay public use the results of Berger, Joel*, University Of Montana , Johnson, scientific research to enhance the legitimacy of Marci, National Park Service , Lawler, Jim, National their own goals. This process may contribute to Park Service , Shults, Brad, National Park Service conflict among local community members and The Arctic is warming at more than twice the rate constrains the application of scientific research to as elsewhere. Populations at the edge of their conservation policy. To develop and implement range often confront conditions that differ from public participation processes that contribute to those in the center – to the extent that their more effective conservation policy, conservation persistence might be more challenged if bioclimatic biologists must become more aware of how the lay factors rule. An indisputable polar-adapted species public interprets and uses their science. To are muskoxen whose modern terminus is western contribute to this knowledge base, we studied Arctic Alaska. Our comparative 4-year field studies community involvement in conservation efforts of 2 populations (around Cape Krusenstern and surrounding the federally endangered Whooping Bering Land Bridge) whose demographic Crane (Grus americana) in coastal Texas. Our trajectories differ build upon 4 decades of research is based on interviews, surveys, scientific monitoring by state and federal agencies. To test publications, reports and public meetings with hypotheses about sources of population variation respect to managing the multi-use land around we are contrasting vital rates and life-histories Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. After a formal using inferences about nutrition (as inferred categorical analysis of qualitative social science through individual juvenile growth rates), data, we developed a theoretical basis for physiological stress, and other metrics. Methods understanding the phenomenon of “keystone have been non-invasive (remote sensing, photo- scientist,” and how their research was imaging, population censuses, and ground appropriated by members of the local community. observation) and invasive (158 captures and Then we described each of the scientific telemetry). Preliminary analyses suggest few strong constructions of the ecosystem, their related public inter-population differences in body mass, interpretations and the political responses and pregnancy, individual body growth or adult female policy outcomes. We use the analysis to identify survival; this lack of variation implies nutrition is principles to guide scientists in constructing not currently limiting one population more than scientific narratives that are more politically the other. Annual variation in juvenile body sizes at responsive. both sites however suggests a regional weather signal, but the extent to which current warming is 20 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 Birds, Bees And Exotic Plants: Vision based on environmentally sustainable land Implications For Urban Restoration use, and a business-as-usual future based on land Berthelsen, Martha*, San Francisco State use plans proposed by the Indonesian government. University , Lebuhn, Gretchen, San Francisco State We used InVEST, a spatial modeling tool, to map University carbon stock, hydrological services and tiger Ecological restoration in urban areas offers both habitat in central Sumatra in 2008, and to model unique challenges and benefits not found in more expected changes in their distribution and levels natural areas, yet little systematic investigation has under the two scenarios. We overlaid habitat and been conducted to characterize successful ecosystem service layers to target areas where reestablishment of habitat and ecosystem function programs and policy mechanisms (such as of these sites. In particular, restoration of riparian payments for watershed services and forest carbon areas in urban settings has the potential to create projects) could protect critical habitat for wildlife, habitat for wildlife and establish corridors to maintain environmental benefits, and potentially connect larger parcels of habitat, and serve as bring in revenue. In aggregate, the Vision would natural parks to reconnect human residents with yield higher levels of habitat and services relative their local ecosystems. Both bird and bee to the government plan, with as much as a five-fold populations have been used as measures of improvement in some services in the Vision. restoration success, and bee communities also However, there is considerable variation in the serve as a proxy for pollination function. This study distribution of services and their expected change quantifies the richness and abundance of bees and across the landscape. For instance, there is overlap birds at 20 restored and unrestored urban riparian between high quality tiger habitat and high soil sites. We hypothesize that restored sites with more carbon stocks in the eastern peatlands, while along complex vegetation structure, higher proportions the mountainous west, forested slopes contain of native vs. non-native plant species, and tiger habitat and substantially reduce erosion into proximity to other natural areas will harbor greater waterways. Opportunities exist to implement a diversity and abundance of bees and birds. menu of policy mechanisms across the landscape Preliminary analysis using one-way ANOVA shows such that improvements to both wildlife no significant difference in bird species richness or conservation and human welfare could be realized. abundance between 3 types of sites -- unrestored, Additional work is needed to assess feasibility and restored but not maintained, and restored with socioeconomic appropriateness before programs periodic maintenance. Multiple regression may are implemented. These analyses are being tease out some of the site characteristics that best provided to government officials to inform land use explain these data. These relationships will inform planning. future restoration work, by providing specific targets for revegetation in terms of plant species composition and maintenance. Monday, July 16 Environmental And Anthropogenic Influences On Large Herbivores In The Serengeti: A Comparison Of Four Community Tuesday, July 17 4:30 Tigers, Carbon And Water: Measures Mapping Ecosystem Services To Guide Land Use Bhotika, Smriti* Planning In Sumatra, Indonesia Influences of habitat characteristics on aggregate Bhagabati, Nirmal*, World Wildlife Fund community measures (species richness, total We assessed implications for ecosystem services abundance, total biomass, and cumulative basal and wildlife habitat under two alternative scenarios metabolic rate) for large herbivores are compared of development in central Sumatra: a “green” in this study of Serengeti National Park and 21 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 neighboring protected areas. Aerial censuses transformative, and permanent industrialization. estimate densities of twelve species across the Fortunately, sound alternatives exist to shift us landscape for nine surveys. Influences of seventeen away from this damaging policy. The EPA has habitat characteristics on each community identified 15 million acres of degraded, even measure were assessed using spatial regression contaminated land throughout the country that models. Total abundance, total biomass, and total could be suitable for solar energy development. basal metabolic rate were strongly cross-correlated Moreover, distributed generation on rooftops, in each survey. There were similarities, as well as parking lots, highway medians, and everywhere in differences, in the spatial pattern of species the built environment could better serve our needs richness compared to the other metrics; species as energy consumers and ratepayers, create jobs, richness, however, was often greater at lower and drastically lessen the environmental impact of values of the other measures. The community our energy habit. It is possible to effect a dramatic appears vulnerable to effects of humans in shift in policy that spares desert ecosystems and surrounding areas: the measures tend to be creates an efficient, minimally damaging depressed near edges of the park adjacent to renewables infrastructure. human activity. Roads within the protected areas do not negatively affect the species. Resources most strongly influencing community distributions are plant nutrients and NDVI. Fire does not Monday, July 16 Smelling Danger: Behavioral markedly affect community distributions at a And Phenotypic Responses Of Tadpoles To landscape level. Efforts to manage for species Chemical Cues From Parasites And Predators * richness would involve emphasizing habitat Boland, Clara , Preston, Daniel, University Of characteristics different from those that would Colorado , Hoverman, Jason, University Of maximize total abundance, biomass, or metabolic Colorado , Johnson, Pieter, University Of Colorado rate. Management practices might strive to identify Animals in nature are exposed to a wide variety of mechanisms responsible for negative effects natural enemies, including predators and parasites. emanating from nearby human populations. However, variability in how animals respond to the threat of different enemies remains poorly known and could have important consequences for ecological communities. We examined how Pacific Monday, July 16 11:30 Doing Solar Right: chorus frog tadpoles (Pseudacris regilla) respond to Moving Renewables Away From Public Lands And chemical cues of two natural enemies that can Into The Built Environment cause sublethal injuries or mortality: trematode Blaeloch, Janine*, Western Lands Project parasites (Ribeiroia ondatrae) and dragonfly larvae The eternal dichotomy of our public lands is the (Anax junius). Our experiment allowed us to choice between use and conservation. Despite examine behavioral and morphological responses ostensible progress in our knowledge and of chorus frogs to chemical cues from: 1.) parasites attitudes, these lands continue to be seen by those alone, 2.) parasites actively infecting host tadpoles, in power as an endless and expendable resource 3.) predators feeding on tadpoles, and 4.) control and/or a dumping ground for large-scale uses. treatments lacking chemical cues of enemies. Today this tradition plays out in a massive push for Consistent with previous research, tadpoles utility-scale renewable energy development on responded to predator cues by reducing activity public desert lands managed by the Bureau of Land levels, although this effect was reduced later in Management. In opening the door wide to development. Contrary to our expectations, industrial renewables, the agency is not managing tadpoles did not show altered levels of activity for multiple uses, but for single-use, utterly when exposed to trematode parasite cues alone or 22 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 to cues of parasites infecting host tadpoles. We interplay between defoliator, parasitoids, and floral also did not detect morphological responses of resources may assist managers in providing high tadpoles to enemy cues. Future work will aim to quality habitat to buffer the effects of defoliator examine responses of amphibians to predators and irruptions. parasites within a more complex natural environment. Our results demonstrate how the threat of parasitism and predation can evoke different responses despite having similarly strong Wednesday, July 18 11:15 A Century Of Bird consequences for individuals. And Extinctions In A Large Urban Park Bonebrake, Timothy*, University Of California, Riverside , Cooper, Daniel, Cooper Ecological Monitoring, Inc. Tuesday, July 17 4:15 Conservation Of Few long-term examples exist of wildlife Sagebrush Steppe And The Variable Nature Of population trends in urban environments despite Parasitism With Elevation Of The Sagebrush recent recognition of the importance of Defoliator biodiversity in city centers. Founded in 1896, Bolshakova, Virginia* , Evans, Edward, Utah State Griffith Park’s over 1700 hectares represents the University largest municipal park in California and places it in Sagebrush-steppe ecosystems have been the top ten largest in the United States. increasingly adversely affected following European Fortunately, we have excellent biological records introduction of agriculture including grazing. from the early part of the 20th century in Griffith Reduced understory floral diversity from grazing Park due to high interest from local naturalists. In may exacerbate the effects of naturally occurring the decades that followed, Los Angeles developed episodic outbreaks of the sagebrush defoliator into a megacity surrounding the park, which today (Aroga websteri; ). Outbreaks may be is surrounded by three freeways and miles of naturally curtailed by parasitism of the moth, and urbanization. We combined thorough examination the parasitoids as adults may depend on floral of Griffith Park historical records with field surveys resources. We examined patterns of abundance of from 2008-2011 to determine the extent of the defoliator, its parasitoids, and flowering urbanization impacts on the resident bird and understory plants along an elevational gradient butterfly communities. Out of a historical throughout a 14,000 acre wildlife management community of at least 55 butterfly species, area dominated by sagebrush-steppe. Native conservatively, 10 appear to have become locally parasitoid species differed strongly in abundance extinct (18%). Of the 11 historically known resident across elevation, with greatest overall parasitism shrubland-dependent bird species in Griffith Park, 3 co-occurring with greatest parasitoid species have been lost (27%). Despite these biodiversity richness. Associated floral richness also increased losses, conservation opportunities abound; though strongly with elevation and was correlated with ‘critically imperiled’ throughout its range, the rates of parasitism by two major parasitoid species. butterfly arota nubila was discovered in Field experiments indicated that species of pupal the park in 2010. Griffith Park is not unique and parasitoids respond differently to cues associated many parks around the world are becoming more with their host and with floral resources. and more urbanized. This study demonstrates that While the presence of all parasitoids together led the conservation value of some urban parks is to greatest parasitism, conflict and competition potentially high, unrecognized and between heterospecifics may be reduced underappreciated. substantially by differential use of resources along the elevation gradient. Solid understanding of the 23 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 Investigation Of Fungal Root Monday, July 16 11:30 Acoustic Monitoring Of Colonizers Of Native Plants Growing In Dense Rare And Elusive Seabirds As Scalable Tool For Patches Of The Invasive Vincetoxicum rossicum As Measuring Conservation Outcomes Well As Non-Invaded Sites Borker, Abraham*, University Of California - Santa Bongard, Cindy* , Fulthorpe, Roberta Cruz , McKown, Matthew, University Of California - Fungal communities forming associations with Santa Cruz , Tershy, Bernie, UCSC , Croll, Donald, plant roots have generally been described as UC Santa Cruz ranging from symbiotic to parasitic. Disruptions to Seabirds are the most threatened marine group these associations consequently can have with 28% of extant seabird species at risk of significant impacts on native plant communities. extinction and 49 species critically endangered or We examined how invasion by Vincetoxicum endangered. Because most seabirds breed in rossicum, a plant native to Europe, can alter both fragile, inaccessible and isolated locations, often the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, as well as the returning to concealed nest sites only at night, general fungal communities associating with native managers and researchers face considerable plant roots in both field and forest sites in Southern financial and logistical challenges when measuring Ontario. In two different sites in the Greater seabird populations and the success of Toronto Area, we took advantage of invasion by V. conservation actions. Acoustic monitoring is a rossicum and neighbouring uninvaded sites to developing, cost-effective tool to document the investigate the fungal communities associating presence, distribution and relative abundance of with local plant roots, including goldenrod rare/elusive seabirds in these remote and sensitive goldenrod Solidago spp., wild red raspberry Rubus locations. We investigated the relationship of idaeus, Canada anemone Anemone canadensis, seabird acoustic activity to their relative meadow rue Thalictrum dioicum, and wild ginger abundance, the efficacy of acoustic monitoring to Asarum canadense. Fungi colonizing roots were measure the presence of rare species, and characterized with terminal restriction length compared acoustic monitoring with traditional polymorphism analysis (T-RFLP) analysis of methods, using traditional and acoustic monitoring amplified total fungal and AMF ribosomal datasets from over 25 seabird islands and 10 fragments. We saw a significant effect of the species. To make such an approach scalable, we presence of this invader on the diversity of general developed low-cost acoustic sensors based on a fungal phylotypes colonizing native plant roots. In smartphone platform that can telemeter data and native plants at sites invaded by V. rossicum, operate autonomously for field deployments. We richness of endophytic fungi increased, suggesting tested these sensors at a globally important an increase in pathogenic or commensal fungi. The seabird colony (SE Farallon Isl., CA) and detected all introduced vine also caused the composition of the three focal species over 3mths with 99% uptime. general and AM fungal community in native roots We find automated acoustic sampling and to shift in both sites. These results suggest that detection is a powerful cost effective tool to invaders such as V. rossicum may be able to improve the power and scope of seabird influence the composition of soil fungi available to monitoring activities, particularly for the world’s natives, possibly via mechanisms such as increased threatened and elusive seabirds. carbon provision or antibiosis attributable to unique root exudates. Alteration of the soil fungal community by plant invasion can enable and promote successful invasion and subsequently disrupt complex native ecosystems.

24 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 3:45 Climate Change habitat use and needs. Finally, Phase 1 actions have Monitoring For Better Management In The South been very targeted to provide immediate Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project ecosystem services as well as to address key Bourgeois, John*, California Coastal Conservancy , uncertainties (e.g., mercury contamination) Valoppi, Laura, U.S. Geological Survey surrounding the SBSP project, and are intended to The South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project help inform future phases. Phase 1 projects are (www.southbayrestoration.org) is the largest tidal expected to be completed by 2013, and planning wetland restoration project on the West Coast. for Phase 2 began in 2011. Challenges that have When complete, the project will restore 15,100 arisen during the project include: 1. Because the acres of former industrial salt ponds to a rich salt ponds have existed in San Francisco Bay for mosaic of tidal wetlands and other habitats. San some time (i.e., 100-150 years), new suites of Francisco Bay has lost an estimated 85 percent of species have adapted to the high salinity and utilize its historic wetlands due to fill or other alterations. the salt pond habitat. In addition, in some high This dramatic decline in tidal marsh habitats has salinity ponds they have observed a caused populations of marsh-dependent fish and disproportionate number of certain avian species. wildlife to dwindle. It has also decreased water Thus, restoration strategies were required to quality and increased local flood risks. Restoration incorporate both habitats (i.e., salt ponds and tidal of the South Bay salt ponds provides an wetlands) rather than simply restoring all habitats opportunity to begin to reverse these trends, by to tidal wetlands. 2. During the gold rush, South improving the health of San Francisco Bay for years San Francisco Bay had one of the largest mercury to come. However, the urbanized setting of San mines, which led to dormant and isolated mercury Francisco Bay provides unique challenges and contamination in the salt ponds. Restoration opportunities for estuarine restoration. We have efforts such as restoring tidal action or permanent identified long-term alternatives for the Project, flooding could cause the mercury to be mobilized. each representing a continuum toward different 3. Restoration of tidal wetlands will lead to new end-states: one end at 50% of the existing ponds habitats that invasive species (e.g., non-native [and converted to managed ponds for waterbirds and hybrid] Spartina) may colonize. In addition to 50% restored to salt marsh habitat, and the other several of the challenges currently faced by the end of the continuum at 10% of the former salt SBSP Restoration Project, sea level rise is predicted ponds converted to managed ponds and 90% to impact sediment supply and accretion. Thus a restored to marsh habitat. The final mixture of main goal of restoration efforts is to act with a managed ponds to salt marsh habitat will depend sense of urgency (i.e., building marshes back up as upon the outcome of the Adaptive Management soon as possible), thereby increasing ecosystem Plan, which is being implemented over the next 50 resilience and keeping up with likely sea level rise. years and will allow for lessons learned from earlier All of these challenges are being addressed through phases to be incorporated into subsequent stages directed studies by teams of researchers as part of as management plans and designs of future actions the adaptive management strategy. are updated. Phase 1 of the project began in 2008 with the goal of working towards the 50:50 scenario. For example, 53 water systems were installed throughout several ponds with the aim of Tuesday, July 17 10:10 The Challenge Of Seabird slowly adding water back into the salt pond system Restoration In A Warming World * and lowering the salinity before reintroducing the Bradley, Russell , PRBO Conservation Science , water into the bay. In addition, a large monitoring Warzybok, Pete, PRBO Conservation Science , effort has begun to look at what bird species are McChesney, Gerard, USFWS , Jahncke, Jaime regularly using the salt ponds in order to determine While artificial nesting habitat can be crucial to 25 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 effective seabird restoration, increased waterfowl. Despite substantial research effort in temperatures from climate change can cause freshwater systems, less is known about benthic serious negative impacts. Cassin’s Auklet invertebrate prey for shorebirds and diving ducks (Ptychoramphus aleuticus) is a small cavity nesting that depend on managed coastal estuaries, such as seabird whose population on Southeast Farallon south San Francisco Bay managed ponds that Island, California, has declined dramatically since comprise the largest wetland restoration effort on the early 1970s. Auklets show high site fidelity to the Pacific Coast of North America. We assessed nesting boxes that allow monitoring of individuals energy requirements for 8 shorebird and 4 diving without disturbing natural habitat. We assessed duck species during the winters of 2007-2010 in 4 increases in island air temperature over the last 4 types of managed ponds – seasonal and circulation decades and explored the utility of mitigation ponds each in two salinity classes – based on bird measures to reduce temperatures in auklet nesting abundance, days in season, and allometric boxes, compared to uncovered boxes and natural equations. We estimated energy available to birds burrow sites. Since 2009 we have used on the basis of preferred prey abundance, biomass, temperature loggers to assess differences between energetic content, and accessibility, then applied a the following 3 treatment groups: natural burrows daily ration model to estimate bird use-days (occupied), treated boxes covered with a wooden supported on available prey energy. An average shade (occupied), and untreated boxes peak of 45,000 diving ducks and 108,000 (unoccupied). Ground temperatures from control shorebirds used the study area at high tide through loggers were greater than those from standard winter, with greatest shorebird abundances in weather box measurements. Simple wood shades seasonal ponds and greatest diving duck effectively reduced temperatures of treated nest abundances in circulation ponds. Prey content and boxes – sometimes by well over 25% - relative to bird-use days varied by pond type, with mesohaline controls. Treated boxes had higher temperatures circulation ponds providing the greatest energy per than natural burrow habitat, but were generally unit area for both shorebirds and diving ducks. cooler than ambient temperature. Nest boxes Overall the study area supported 79% of diving provide essential artificial habitat for restoration duck and 33% of shorebird use-days during winter. and research, and while new long lasting designs Our results suggest that alteration of pond should be pursued to manage for climate change management could substantially enhance energy effects, simple mitigation efforts can have available for waterbirds. significant results.

Monday, July 16 Effects Of Dune Restoration Monday, July 16 12:00 Effects Of Wetland Treatmentss On Bee Communities Of The Coastal Management On Carrying Capacity Of Duck And Sand Dunes Of Fort Ord, California Shorebird Benthivores In A Coastal Estuary Brennan, Joan*, San Francisco State University , Brand, L. Arriana*, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Lebuhn, Gretchen, San Francisco State University , Ecological Research Center , Takekawa, John , Thorp, Robbin, UC Davis Dept. Of Entomology Buffington, Kevin , Shinn, Joel , Spring, Sarah E., This study investigates the effect of dune U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological restoration treatments on bee communities of the Research Center , Miles, A. Keith, U. S. Geological coastal sand dunes in and around Fort Ord, Survey, Western Ecological Research Center California. The effect of dune restoration on With loss of natural wetlands, managed wetlands pollinators has received little scientific attention, have increasingly supported energetic however wild bees are often the most important requirements for wintering shorebirds and pollinators in an ecosystem making them a suitable 26 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 group with which to evaluate restoration species, habitat quality, and connectivity. Attribute measures. There is also strong evidence that wild importance weighting, performance indicators, and bee populations are declining, and with them scoring criteria are defined by the planning team pollination networks. If restorations are not and calibrated for each project context. Calibration managed for bee population health, failure of bee- is based on empirical data on habitat requirements pollinated restoration plantings could occur. Pan of target species, local ecosystem characteristics, traps were used to collect bees at 18 sites. Nine or other built or natural landscape characteristics. sites had received restoration treatments and nine Measurement is performed using a combination of sites were untreated. Preliminary data indicate Excel-based calculations, GIS, and/or by-hand greater bee abundance and species richness in measurements. treated sites. We hypothesize this is because these sites have increased vegetation structure, more varied floral resources, and a higher proportion of native vs. non-native plants. This data will inform Wednesday, July 18 3:00 Practicing What We future restoration decisions regarding both Preach: Measuring The Impact Of Capacity restoration plantings and the health of restored Building In Adaptive Management * ecosystems. Brown, Marcia , Foundations Of Success , Christen, Kate, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Do we know whether our efforts to conserve biodiversity are working? To what extent are we Tuesday, July 17 11:15 Landscape Biodiversity trying to measure the effectiveness of our work? Planning System: An Approach For Planning, Are our efforts to train conservation professionals Designing, And Measuring Biodiversity In The Built to be able to measure the effectiveness of their Environment work paying off? The Conservation Measures Brown, Isaac*, AECOM Design And Planning Partnership (CMP) conducted a survey of The landscape biodiversity planning system is a conservation organizations and donors to assess design and planning tool that helps land owners, whether and how much they are applying a basic managers, and municipalities systematically plan “plan-do-check-adapt” cycle of adaptive and measure landscapes for biodiversity benefits. management and found that while organizations The system emphasizes bio-physical attributes of value adaptive management, few conservation landscapes and can help guide habitat projects are applying it. The Smithsonian-Mason preservation, restoration, and enhancement in Global Conservation Studies Program, Foundations urban or rural settings including urban forests, of Success (FOS), and the University of Maryland private and public realm landscapes, and open are working to build capacity in adaptive space. This approach has been a powerful addition management (AM) through graduate-level courses in AECOM's land planning projects when there is a based on the CMP Open Standards for the Practice need to demonstrate a measurable impact or of Conservation. We share results from evaluations improvement to site ecology. The system has been of the effectiveness of two of these courses, which applied in urban environments including are part of our effort to apply AM principles community master planning efforts in Singapore specifically to capacity-building. We surveyed and Portland, Oregon, USA. Other applications are participants one to four years after completing currently in progress. The system includes a these courses and found that the courses gave Landscape Biodiversity Index (LBI) that measures them practical skills that they value and are using. performance of up to 10 landscape biodiversity However, high level management of conservation attributes. Attributes include structural and pattern organizations where former students are working is characteristics of landscapes such as priority not yet providing the support needed to fully apply 27 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

AM. CMP needs to convince upper level Monday, July 16 CalWeedMapper: A New Online management of the value of investing in adaptive Tool For Setting Regional Management Priorities management. For Invasive Plants Brusati, Elizabeth*, California Invasive Plant Council , Johnson, Doug, California Invasive Plant Council , Morawitz, Dana, California Invasive Plant Council , Tuesday, July 17 8:50 A Survey Of Land Powell, Cynthia, California Invasive Plant Council , Managers Using Non-Native Plants In Restoration Schuetzenmeister, Falk, California Invasive Plant * Brusati, Elizabeth , California Invasive Plant Council Council , Morosco, Tony, California Invasive Plant , Johnson, Doug, California Invasive Plant Council Council , Harmon, Suzanne, California Invasive Controlling invasive non-native plant species can be Plant Council a major aspect of land managers’ stewardship Land managers need to devise strategic activities. However, land managers’ relationship management plans in order to address invasive with these plants is typically more complex than plants effectively with limited funding. The simply removing them. Though their ultimate goal California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) is to establish resilient native habitat, some land interviewed experts throughout California about managers see a place for non-native plants in the abundance, spread and current management certain circumstances. This talk will present the of 204 invasive plant species. These expert results of interviews with experienced land knowledge data are linked to existing online managers regarding the circumstances in which databases and displayed in a new online mapping non-native plants are used, how land managers tool, CalWeedMapper. This website is designed to decide to use them, and their assessment of the increase the effectiveness of invasive plant pros and cons of doing so. Land managers use non- management by providing landscape scale maps native plants most frequently for temporary that serve as the basis for setting regional erosion control on bare soil to create conditions priorities, tracking progress and justifying funding. favorable to later establishment of native species. Land managers can see management opportunities Severely degraded lands, such as former mine sites, for their region divided into surveillance, may be revegetated with non-native species eradication or containment targets. These reports (although this practice can introduce a new are derived from maps of current distribution invasive species). Land managers surveyed accept combined with projected suitable range for 2010 the presence of non-native plant species and use and 2050 climate conditions. In addition to some form of risk assessment to set priorities for providing recommendations for regional removal. Some land managers leave non-native management opportunities, CalWeedMapper plant species known to support particular wildlife allows land managers to generate maps of species. None of the managers surveyed have individual species distribution and to explore and planted non-native species as a long-term update USGS quadrangle data, through an update beneficial ecological component of the stewarded interface or by submitting occurrence information. area. We will describe broader questions brought We are working with stakeholder groups and up by these discussions, such as the definition of agencies to apply CalWeedMapper to their invasive “how local is local” and the need to reconsider plant management. Check us out at methods in the face of climate change. calweedmapper.calflora.org!

28 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 Defining And Mapping decision making and adaptive management have Vegetation For Long-Term Management In The become popular. Moreover, approaches that use Carrizo Plain National Monument science to inform management protocols, laws, Buck-Diaz, Jennifer* , Stout, Deborah , Evens, Julie, and policies regarding conservation and natural California Native Plant Society resource management are encouraged by many The Carrizo Plain National Monument (CPNM) has state and federal agencies. Conservation Planning been designated to reserve and maintain the (CP) is used by the US Fish and Wildlife Service largest undeveloped remnant of grassland (USFWS) as one approach to protecting ecosystem of the San Joaquin Valley, California. endangered species while permitting land The California Native Plant Society Vegetation development, mining, and otherwise lawful human Program, in collaboration with the Bureau of Land activity. Here I present current work on the Management and California Department of Fish Cumberland Plateau of central Tennessee where and Game, have initiated a 5-year project to four federally threatened or endangered species inventory, classify, analyze, and map vegetation and 19 species of concern are potentially characteristics in the CPNM. From 2008-2010, threatened by human population growth. The more than 1,000 field surveys were compiled and Cumberland project unites city and county classified to the alliance and association levels. In municipalities, local, state, and federal agencies, addition, more than 1,000 reconnaissance surveys local environmental groups, and citizens living in were collected to inform the mapping. The the area. Conservation Plans are similar to other resulting classification denotes over 50 vegetation multi-stakeholder efforts, are becoming more alliances, of which eight are newly described and popular, and have potential to provide benefits to not previously published in A Manual of California stakeholders. I will share a summary of the general Vegetation, second edition. The floristic vegetation CP approach, an overview of the Cumberlands classification gives quantifiable methods to project specifically, and illustrate common pitfalls recognize and delineate vegetation patterns, and misconceptions about this approach to uniting allowing for the identification of rare, uncommon, science and policy. or representative stands. A fine-scale vegetation map of 247,000 acres was produced using true- color aerial imagery to provide an accurate existing baseline of plant community information. This map Monday, July 16 Greater Sage-Grouse will serve as a basis for climate-change analyses, (Centrocercus urophasianus) Movement, wildlife habitat modeling, long-term monitoring, Distribution And Crucial Habitat In A and adaptive management in the region. Southwestern Utah Fringe Population Burnett, A. Cheyenne*, Utah State University , Frey, S. Nicole, Utah State University Greater sage-grouse (sage-grouse; Centrocercus Wednesday, July 18 11:00 Conservation urophasianus) populations have been declining Planning On The Cumberland Plateau: A Case since the 1930s range-wide. The Bald Hills Study Coupling Science And Policy population in Utah is an isolated population at the Burcher, Chris*, University Of Tennessee Knoxville southern edge of the species’ range. This Bridging the gap between science and policy is a peripheral population may provide intra-species complex and difficult task. Historically, diversity and therefore be of increased conservation and natural resource management conservation importance. Due to lack of research, have been reactive – responding to conservation basic information about this population’s seasonal needs once they arise. More recently proactive movements, distributions, and habitat preferences management strategies including structured are unknown. This is of particular relevance 29 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 because of the high potential for wind energy humidities. Egg breakage accounted for only two of development in the area. The objective of this the 10 failures. High water loss appeared to be a study is to develop a habitat selection model to significant factor but could not account for deaths predict and map seasonal habitat use and of two early embryos. Toxicity of an as yet population distribution using Maximum Entropy. unidentified contaminant is at this time the only We will use readily available habitat and plausible hypothesis; DDE contamination of the anthropogenic covariates as predictors of sage- coastal environment, however, continues to grouse presence. Sage-grouse locations collected in decline. We adopted a modified approach in 2012 2011 via VHF radio telemetry provide presence- to document as fully as possible any failures in the data to create the model. Locations from 2012 will wild as a necessary prerequisite for determining be used to validate the model. Initial telemetry their causes and to maintain an adequate level of data suggests elevation and proximity to water to recruitment. During the current season wild-laid be major predictors in our final model. Preliminary eggs will remain in the nest until failure is results indicate that this population is semi- confirmed and exchanged with zoo-laid eggs migratory and their seasonal distributions differ whenever possible. from the Utah Division of Wildlife’s Habitat Coverage maps. This inconsistency highlights the importance of this study. By constructing population-specific distribution models, we can Monday, July 16 8:30 Symposium Introduction: prioritize conservation efforts and make informed What Are Resilient Natural Systems, How Do We management decisions. Identify Them, And Once Identified How Do We Protect Them? Burns, Catherine*, The Nature Conservancy Ecosystem resilience is the ability of an ecosystem Monday, July 16 Reintroduction Of California to retain essential processes and maintain diversity Condors To Central California:Temporary in the face of disturbances like climate change. As Resolution Of A Conservation Dilemma the pace of environmental change picks up, Burnett, Joe*, Ventana Wildlife Society , Sorenson, identifying areas with high adaptive capacity will be Kelly, Ventana Wildlife Society , Risebrough, increasingly important for effective long term Robert conservation. Although the precise species Monterey County in coastal central California was composition in a given area will undoubtedly the site of the first observations by Europeans of change in response to environmental changes, California Condors (Gymnogyps californianus) and resilient systems will continue to sustain high levels of the first recorded nesting; it is also the type of biodiversity and ecosystem function. This talk locality of the species. A reintroduction program will introduce the concept of resilience, why it is began in 1997; through 2010 84 captive-reared critical for conservation biologists to understand, condors were released to the wild. We recorded 16 and will set the stage for the symposium’s nestings by nine pairs and recovered eggs or shell additional speakers, who are developing the fragments from 12 nests; shell thinning averaged framework and the tools to guide efforts at 34 %, attributed to the DDT compound DDE. To identifying the most resilient natural systems. This maximize productivity whenever possible wild eggs talk will feature resilience concepts and their were replaced with zoo-laid eggs. Chicks from eight application to terrestrial, freshwater and coastal of nine zoo-laid eggs incubated in the wild marine ecosystems. We will describe emerging successfully fledged. Three wild-laid eggs hatched techniques used to identify areas that will have successfully in the wild and three of the wild-laid high conservation value under future climate eggs hatched after artificial incubation at elevated conditions, introduce real-world examples of how 30 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 to achieve long-term conservation success once knowledge gaps for focusing additional research. resilient sites have been identified, and explore We illustrate key features of the framework with a conservation strategies when the “players” (i.e. case study developed from the first decade of species, communities) are changing rapidly and monitoring. traditional approaches are not sufficient.

Tuesday, July 17 9:30 Climate Change/Land Use Tuesday, July 17 10:00 A Framework For Change Scenarios For Assessing Threats To Monitoring The Cumulative Effects Of Human Ecosystem Services On California Rangelands Footprint On Biodiversity Byrd, Kristin*, U.S. Geological Survey , Soulard, Burton, Cole*, Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Chistopher, US Geological Survey , Flint, Lorraine, Institute , Huggard, David, Alberta Biodiversity U.S. Geological Survey , Casey, Frank, USGS , Monitoring Institute , Schieck, Jim, Alberta Alvarez, Pelayo, Defenders Of Wildlife , Sleeter, Biodiversity Monitoring Institute , Solymos, Peter, Benjamin, U.S. Geological Survey , Sohl, Terry, U.S. Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute , Bayne, Geological Survey Erin, Department Of Biological Sciences , Boutin, There are over 11 million acres of grasslands in the Stan, Department Of Biological Sciences California Central Valley and the interior Coast Effective ecosystem monitoring is required to Range, most of which are privately owned and understand and mitigate ecological impacts of managed as rangelands for livestock production. resource development. Yet most monitoring efforts These ranches provide habitat for 75 threatened are narrowly focused and inadequately consider and endangered species, and generate multiple the cumulative effects of multiple, interacting ecosystem services. As part of the California stressors. Monitoring also often lacks explicit links Landscape Conservation Cooperative, we to regional planning and adaptive management. developed three spatially explicit alternative future We describe a large scale, cumulative effects scenarios for the Central Valley and oak woodland monitoring framework being implemented in regions of California that accounted for possible Alberta, Canada, through the Alberta Biodiversity climate change and land use change. Narratives of Monitoring Institute. The framework explicitly uses future changes to California rangelands were monitoring to generate and test model-based developed with input from the ranching hypotheses about drivers of ecological change. community and local experts through a partnership More than 2,000 species and landscape elements with the Defenders of Wildlife. Modeling of are monitored across the 660,000 km2 province, alternative scenarios produced maps of plausible using long-term systematic sites in combination future distributions of development, cropland, with targeted sampling of gradients in human hay/pasture, and multiple vegetation classes footprint. Spatially explicit models are constructed integrated with plausible changes to climate and relating species abundance to footprint and other hydrological variables. We used model results to landscape attributes. Model predictions are identify where suitable grazing area may be designed to be tested with data from subsequent threatened. We also calculated potential changes monitoring cycles, providing a means of learning in water recharge and runoff rates, carbon about the system and guiding adaptive sequestration rates, and wildlife habitat area with management. Additional benefits of the framework rangeland conversion to development and include standardized data on status and trend for a intensive agriculture. Based on these analyses, the wide variety of biodiversity elements, model relative economic costs and benefits associated projections for regional planning and assessing with change in rangeland ecosystem services were alternative scenarios, and the identification of calculated for each scenario. 31 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 How Bad Would 50% conservation management. In California, rangeland Conversion Of Natural Habitat Be? A Bird's Eye habitats have high biodiversity value, provide View significant habitat connectivity and form the Camargo, Rafael* , Currie, David, University Of foundation for a number of ecosystem services. Ottawa Using aerial photos and a time series of spatial data Species–area relationships suggest that species tracking land use conversion, we mapped richness should decline monotonically as natural rangeland conversion between 1984 and 2008 habitat is converted to human-dominated land across a 13 M ha area, covering 36 counties. In cover. However, Desrochers et al. (2011) found total, over 195,000 hectares of rangeland were that avian species richness in 100 km2 quadrats in converted during this time period. Surprisingly, Southern Ontario has a peaked relationship with agricultural intensification accounted for 40% of the proportion of natural land cover. They the conversion with vines, trellised olives and suggested that ?50% of natural landscapes can be orchards leading the way. To assess the options for converted to human-dominated cover before avian future conservation management of rangelands, richness declines. But, are desirable species lost, we quantified the level of protection due to replaced by “weedy” ones? Can one predict which permanent protection in fee or with an easement, individual bird species suffer if natural land cover is as well as through voluntary enrollment in the reduced to 50% of the original forest? We assessed Williamson Act. Only 19% of the remaining 202 bird species in Desrocher’s quadrats (n=991). rangeland is protected by fee or easement For each species, we regressed the probability of ownership. Another 43% the rangeland is enrolled occurrence as a function of natural land cover. We in Williamson Act, while 37% has no protection found that most species (145/202) have higher status at all and is thus most vulnerable to being probability of occurrence at 50% natural cover than converted. Given the increasing availability of time at 100%. Twenty-four bird species have their series GIS data and the extent of rangelands in probability of occurrence reduced by >80%. western North America, we propose that this Surprisingly, these were not systematically forest- method can be used to develop new strategies to interior bird species. Rather, the most seriously effect protection at much larger scales, especially affected species were ones at the southern limit of for regions with soil types suitable for agricultural their ranges. They are common in the boreal forest intensification. further north. Species at northern range limits typically had higher probability of occurrence at 50% natural land cover. At least for birds, humans apparently can share the landscape without unduly Wednesday, July 18 3:30 Population Structuring harming diversity. Ranges shifting northward due And Potential Loss Of Genetic Diversity In to climatic warm interact differently with land Neotropical Cougars (Puma concolor) * cover on their retreating and advancing edges. Caragiulo, Anthony , Fordham University , Dias- Freedman, Isaebla, American Museum Of Natural History , Rabinowitz, Salisa, American Museum Of Natural History , Clark, Alan, Fordham University Wednesday, July 18 11:00 Wine With That Cougars (Puma concolor) were extirpated from Burger? Trends In California Rangeland much of their native range and are considered Conversion 1984-2008 “near threatened” in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cameron, Dick*, The Nature Conservancy , Marty, and Peru by the IUCN. Most cougars reside in the Jaymee, The Nature Conservancy , Holland, Robert Neotropics; however, little is known about these Rangelands occur in habitats throughout the world populations as most studies focus on North that are highly threatened with low levels of American populations. Detailed information 32 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 regarding cougar populations is difficult to obtain ecosystems and human infrastructure, explore the via traditional methods (e.g., camera trapping, effects of potential management decisions, and blood sampling) due to their elusive behavior and conduct effective public engagement. The variety the cost of such techniques. This study uses of tools and lack of information on them make it mitochondrial DNA extracted from non-invasively difficult for practitioners to select tools most suited collected scat samples to examine the genetic to their needs and capacities. The Coastal-Marine diversity of Neotropic cougars. Four mitochondrial Ecosystem-Based Management Tools Network is gene regions (16S rRNA, 12S rRNA, ATP-synthase 6, currently analyzing available tools for climate and cytochrome oxidase b) were sequenced to change vulnerability assessments and adaptation examine if distinct haplotypes delineated cougar planning. This work includes determining climate populations and whether populations were change vulnerability assessment and adaptation connected via shared haplotypes. We identified planning needs that tools can address, identifying 236 individuals (96 males, 104 females, 36 tools that address these needs, selecting a set of unknown sex) and found evidence of population key tools, and determining gaps in available tool structuring, with distinct haplotypes in South and coverate. This presentation will provide an Central America. Additionally, mitochondrial overview of available tools, their capabilities, nucleotide diversity in these gene regions is low, requirements (e.g. technical expertise, training, indicating a potential loss of genetic diversity. Also, and data needed to use them), and limitations. amplification success was lower for scat samples Subsequent presentations in the symposium will compared to blood samples obtained from North cover a subset of these tools in greater depth, America, but sequence quality was identical. This including describing case studies of how the tools research is the first project examining the have been used in the field. population genetic structure of cougars across their Neotropic range and will help prioritize cougar management plans. Monday, July 16 Species As A Unit To Bridge The Gap Between Taxonomists And Conservationists Carrera Zamanillo, Maria Isabel*, Universidad Tuesday, July 17 11:15 What's Out There? An Nacional Autonoma De Mexico Overview And Analysis Of Available Tools For Global concern over species decline has become a Tools For Climate Change Vulnerability central issue in international political debates. Assessment And Adaptation Planning Current estimates of the total number of species Carr, Sarah* , Rozum, John, NatureServe/NOAA on earth range from 3 to 30 million; however the Coastal Svc Center , Crist, Patrick, NatureServe scientific community has formally named and Processes and approaches for assessing and described only roughly 2 million species. The crisis reducing the vulnerability of coastal ecosystems is urgent: Species extinction is occurring at up to and infrastructure to climate change are emerging, 1000 times higher rates than the previous five including multi-sectoral approaches that massive extinctions, but many species are not incorporate both ecosystem health and social well- listed as threatened because there is no available being. Many coastal natural resource managers information on them. How can we protect what we and communities have begun to plan for the don´t know? To confront this threatening reality, impacts of climate change on their local the scientific community is developing indicators to ecosystems and infrastructure and are finding that quantify and monitor changes in biodiversity. But processes and approaches require the use of the irreducible complexity of biodiversity makes geospatial analyses and tools to model and defining a single objective measure extremely visualize the impacts of a changing climate on difficult; different measures serve different 33 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 purposes. Species is recognized as the most representing three major geographic regions: common unit for measuring biodiversity. However, Crater Lake National Park in the Cascade Range, while in species are considered Grand Teton National Park (GRTE) in the Northern hypothesis for identifying natural entities, in Rocky Mountains, and Hart Mountain (HM) and conservation biology species lists are taken as facts Sheldon (SH) National Wildlife Refuges in the Great and form the foundation for funding and policy Basin. Genetic diversity was greatest in the highest decisions. As currently practiced species lists don't elevation site, GRTE, and lowest in the lower necessarily reflect true biodiversity knowledge. elevation sites, SH and HM. In each site, genetic Understanding these differences and designing structure increased strongly with distance between epistemic frames based on shared goals is habitat patches. However, isolation by distance tremendously important for defining the scope and was stronger in the two Great Basin sites, utility of interdisciplinary work. Since the loss of suggesting lower patch connectivity at lower species transcends traditional disciplinary elevations. This study is the first to compare local boundaries, interdisciplinary research may bridge genetic structure for pikas across ecosystems, and the gap between specialists to forge better more will clarify how patch connectivity will change if workable research objectives. Taxonomists and climate change affects habitat distribution. conservationists need to work together to design specific units for the purposes of conservation. Documenting trends in biodiversity is more than an intellectual activity, it also depends on Tuesday, July 17 9:00 Energy Development And communication, exchange, and negotiation Songbirds: Patterns And Mechanisms * between experts. Chalfoun, Anna , University Of Wyoming , Gilbert, Michelle, PRBO Conservation Science , Hethcoat, Matthew, University Of Wyoming Inevitable impacts of energy development activities Monday, July 16 11:45 Comparing Genetic include conversion and fragmentation of wildlife Structure Of American Pika Populations At habitat as well as alteration of remaining patches. Different Elevations: How Does The Spatial Scale Understanding how and why wildlife populations Of Gene Flow Vary Among Landscapes? are impacted by such changes is critical for wildlife Castillo, Jessica* , Epps, Clinton, Oregon State conservation in the face of a rapidly expanding University energy development industry. We examined the American pikas (Ochotona princeps) have been abundance of breeding sagebrush songbirds, many proposed as an indicator species for climate of which are displaying substantial range-wide change. Some populations in the relatively low declines, with respect to the density of natural gas elevation Great Basin appear to have gone extinct wells in the Jonah and Pinedale Anticline fields in within the last century, while pikas in other parts of western Wyoming, USA. Increased well density was the species’ range appear to be thriving. Due to associated with significant decreases in Brewer's, their reliance on specialized habitats, their sage, and vesper sparrow but not sage thrasher distribution is naturally fragmented at local and abundance. From a mechanistic standpoint, regional scales. Understanding the spatial scales at nestling masses for most species did not vary with which dispersal and gene flow occur among habitat energy development intensity, suggesting little patches, and comparing among different evidence for changes in food availability. However, ecosystems, is critical to evaluating the daily nest survival rates for all three sagebrush- vulnerability of pikas to climate change. We obligate species decreased with well density and investigated gene flow among habitat patches and proximity to the nearest well pad. Current work is genetic diversity within four study sites focused on why nest predation rates increased 34 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 with energy development. We are identifying nest Tuesday, July 17 9:45 Bridge This Gap: Teaching predator species with infrared cameras and Professionals And Graduate Students Together In comparing predator abundance and diversity Conservation Training Courses At SCBI-Front across energy development treatments. Royal, VA Understanding the mechanisms underlying energy Christen, Kate*, Smithsonian Conservation Biology development effects for songbirds and other Institute , Brown, Marcia, Foundations Of Success species will greatly aid management prescriptions Marrying graduate and professional training in geared towards mitigating impacts of energy short immersion courses requires close attention development to already declining species. to enhancing, never compromising, learning experiences for students AND researchers/practitioners. What are the best teaching approaches for mixed groups presenting Tuesday, July 17 4:30 A Step In The Right different practical experience levels, and how best Direction? Using Step Selection Models Of Large to meet university accreditation needs--exams, lots Carnivores To Support Corridor Design. of theory, papers--without compromising the * Chetkiewicz, Cheryl , WCS Canada , Boyce, Mark, experiential learning emphasis vital for practice- University Of Alberta oriented in-service training? CNRS and SCB Corridor designs are typically based on patterns of Education Committee seek positive structural connectedness, often neglecting graduate/professional training examples for the behavioural processes of resource selection and conservation community's expanding lifelong- movement. We collected GPS data on cougars and learning portfolio. Here, lessons from an early grizzly bears in two fragmented landscapes in the source of this mixed training: Smithsonian-Mason’s Canadian Rocky Mountains where developments 4 years of co-scheduled graduate/professional threaten to create barriers to movement. We used courses, including Adaptive Management, co- step selection functions (SSF) to quantify how taught with FOS. Two courses feel like one to cougar and grizzly bear pathways were influenced participants, yet co-running entails negotiating new by the landscape. Cougars selected habitats closer logistical layers. We focus on results and outcome to paved roads and forest cover for movement and data from course reports, evaluations, and avoided crossing paved roads during non-winter interviews to assess opportunities and pitfalls for season. Grizzly bears selected habitats closer to mixed trainings. Despite red tape, positives paved roads and shrubs when moving during berry abound; grad credits for time-starved professionals season. Grizzly bears and cougars moved faster still earning degrees; young grad students’ close when near paved roads during the berry and exposure to practitioners who are fellow learners; winter seasons, respectively. Conversely, cougars in and professionals’ close exposure to Canmore and grizzly bears in both landscapes skills/perspectives of the newest conservation moved slower near forest and shrubs during the generations. One success indicator: our % increase winter and berry seasons, respectively. We then in enrolled grad students, even as professional simulated movement pathways based on the SSF participant numbers also hold steady or increase. models to examine how our models differed or supported current corridor designs in both landscapes. Taken together, the simulations and movement guidelines provide additional tools for managers faced with designing and managing corridors for large mammals.

35 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 Breeding Success And and efficiency as governments and the private Conservation Of Sandbar-Nesting Birds Along The sector concentrate on economic recovery and debt Mekong River In Cambodia reduction. Conservation will have to compete more Claassen, Andrea* , Cuthbert, Francesca, University rigorously as investments with other uses of public Of Minnesota and private capital. Being able to articulate, Birds are useful indicators of environmental change quantify, and realize returns on investment will be and ecological integrity. Species that nest on river a necessary skill for any collaborative conservation sandbars are especially sensitive to habitat change, enterprise. Some of the most important challenges nest predation, and disturbance. In Southeast Asia, for making conservation programs competitive are populations of riverine sandbar-nesting birds are (1) framing conservation results as returns on declining, presumably due to anthropomorphic investment, (2) distinguishing among inputs, effects of egg harvesting by local people, domestic outputs, outcomes, and impacts in an investment animal predation, intensification of land use “value chain”, (3) estimating the true costs of activities, and upstream hydropower development. conservation practices, including defining the We investigated factors affecting reproductive benefits and costs of collaboration, and (4) success of sandbar-nesting birds along the Mekong establishing performance measures through which River in Cambodia. In 2010-2011 we monitored to transform inputs into results across the multiple nests of River Tern Sterna aurantia, River Lapwing partners. Performance measures for conservation Vanellus duvaucellii, Great Thick-knee Esacus programs need to be measurable, sensitive to the recurvirostris, Small Pratincole Glareola lactea, and program components, and meaningful to jointly Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius and derived conservation objectives and strategic implemented a nest protection program focused intent. These measures must also influence the on River Terns. Nest survival was influenced by behavior of the individuals and organizations who species, nest initiation date, nest age, and nest must work together to make the conservation protection, but was not influenced by investment successful. Some examples will be environmental covariates. Results suggest that egg drawn from the US Forest Service experience in harvesting by people and predation by animals may using a “Balanced Scorecard” approach to currently be the most important causes of low nest incorporating climate change considerations into survival rates of sandbar-nesting bird species along sustainable forest management programs and the Mekong River. Therefore, implementing site- practices. The FS Climate Change Scorecard is specific nest protection may boost reproductive comprised of performance measures across four success rates in the short-term. However, given the dimensions: (1) organizational capacity; (2) rapid pace of large-scale development in the partnerships, engagement and education; (3) Mekong region, a longer-term conservation adaptation; and (4) mitigation and sustainable strategy will be necessary for sustaining sandbar- consumption, and is completed annually by 155 nesting bird populations in the future. National Forests and 20 National Grasslands. Some of the lessons being learned can be applied to collaborative conservation enterprises at the landscape scale. Wednesday, July 18 11:40 The Challenge Of Return On Investment In Conservation: Performance Measures As Key Criteria In Defining Success Cleaves, David*, U.S. Forest Service Collaborative conservation programs and activities will be increasingly scrutinized for effectiveness 36 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Tuesday, July 17 3:45 Evolution Of California's and extreme events. Integrated strategies San Francisco Bay-Delta In A Century Of Global incorporating the needs of both natural and human Climate Change communities as well as mitigation and adaptation Cloern, James* are required. Using examples from California, we Conservation planning requires quantitative visions demonstrate how this is possible by 1) engaging of how ecosystems and the species they support stakeholders in science-based planning, decision- will evolve in response to climate change. New support tool development, and implementation, 2) model-based projections provide these visions for generating data-driven models to find win-win the San Francisco Bay-Delta system in two solutions, and 3) monitoring regularly to ensure contrasting scenarios of global warming. Every that goals and processes are reevaluated and aspect considered in the models changes updated. Case studies from PRBO Conservation substantially through the 21st century, including Science’s (www.prbo.org) collaborations with hydrology, sea level, habitat quality for at-risk multiple public and private partners are highlighted native fishes, and frequency of extreme including the San Francisco Bay Sea Level Rise Tool hydroclimatic events. These future visions provide to help prioritize tidal wetland restoration a basis for designing strategies for adaptation to (www.prbo.org/sfbayslr), Sacramento Valley rice- climate change and other forces of environmental growing practices to benefit birds and agriculture change into the future. These strategies should be while avoiding maladaptation, and climate-smart based on consideration of projections that: restoration and prescriptive grazing on working continued biological changes are inevitable; lands to reduce drought impacts, sequester carbon surprises are likely; environmental conditions will and support biodiversity. We share how nature- extend beyond the range of historical observations; based approaches can address both mitigation and rare climatic events in today's climate will become adaptation for improved ecological and economic the future?s norm; conflicts over resource outcomes. allocation will grow; and the need for adaptation will depend on the highly uncertain rate of global warming. Flexibility and adaptability will be keys to success in designing biological conservation plans Tuesday, July 17 11:45 Good Practices And as the rate of environmental change continues to Socio-Economic Considerations In The Use Of accelerates. Marxan For Conservation And Land/Water Use Planning Coleman, Heather* Marxan spatial planning software (hosted by the Tuesday, July 17 3:00 Moving From Trade-Offs University of Queensland) supports systematic To Synergies: An Integrated Approach To resource use planning, particularly in the creation Addressing Climate Change of a reserve network. Using Marxan, planners can Cohen, Ellie*, PRBO Conservation Science , Seavy, identify an efficient system of conservation sites Nat , Ballard, Grant, PRBO Conservation Science that represents a suite of biodiversity targets for a Decisions are commonly framed in terms of trade- minimal socioeconomic “cost”. However, the most offs resulting in investments in one set of actions at substantial challenges of solving a minimum set the expense of others. This approach is often problem tend to include setting targets, invoked in the context of protecting natural versus determining appropriate cost values, and working human communities or responding to climate with stakeholders to understand the role and change through mitigation versus adaptation. We outputs of the decision support tool. This propose a framework based on synergies to presentation will concentrate on how the cost layer address the growing challenges of climate change is defined and applied, as this significantly 37 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 influences the efficiency and implementability of a model for responding to similar disease outbreaks reserve network. The most common type of cost in in the future. Marxan analyses has been the area of planning units in a reserve; however, new techniques to consider include the use of surrogates, opportunity cost, existing human impact measurements, Tuesday, July 17 10:15 Data Basin: Interactive planned actions such as acquisition and Mapping Platform For Decision Support And stewardship, multiple cost surfaces (run Science-Based Learning * separately), and conducting separate analyses with Comendant, Tosha , Conservation Biology Institute biodiversity and socio-economic features as , Strittholt, James, Conservation Biology Institute , respective targets and costs. Ward, Brendan, Conservation Biology Institute , Bachelet, Dominique, Conservation Biology Institute As the pace of global environmental change Monday, July 16 10:00 White-Nose Syndrome: increases, there is a need to find solutions to Managing A Fungal Pathogen Of Hibernating Bats complex challenges related to climate change, Coleman, Jeremy* agriculture, water, energy, and biodiversity. White-nose syndrome (WNS) has caused Scientific information is indispensable to solving unprecedented mortality in hibernating bats in these challenges. However, many social and eastern North America since its discovery in 2007. technical barriers impede the flow of scientific As of January 2012, the disease, WNS, and/or the knowledge between those who collect and analyze causative fungus, Geomyces destructans, has been data and those who use data to inform decision- detected in 19 states and 4 provinces. The rapid making, whether in resource management, public spread and devastating impacts of WNS have policy, or their daily lives. In response to this presented wildlife and natural resource managers challenge, Conservation Biology Institute built Data with considerable biological and social challenges, Basin (www.databasin.org), an open-access, web- exacerbated by the many unanswered questions based data hosting, visualization, and collaboration surrounding the etiology of the disease. Field signs platform. Data Basin is not a traditional website or of WNS include day-flying bats in winter, resulting data portal – it combines the latest web mapping in increased human-bat interactions. Relatively few technology with social networking functionality, tools have become available for managers to resulting in an innovative tool for mapping, combat WNS and conserve vulnerable bat species. discussing, and interpreting spatial data. The Data Federal (and state) listing under the ESA provides Basin platform is accessible to users of varied legal authority for government agencies to manage technical levels and provides a mechanism to bats, but of the six species confirmed with WNS, create social learning networks. The core of Data only the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) is listed Basin is free and provides mapping tools to create federally. Some state agencies have begun efforts customizable maps, group workspaces for to list certain hibernating bat species, and the US collaboration, access to thousands of biological, Fish and Wildlife Service is currently reviewing physical, and socio-economic geospatial datasets, three species for potential listing. A coordinated and drawing/analysis/commenting tools. Data effort is required to manage WNS and conserve Basin has over 3,300 users who have created more North American bats. The National Plan for than 530 maps, over 180 collections of datasets Assisting States, Federal Agencies and Tribes in and/or maps, and more than 160 groups to support Managing White-Nose Syndrome in Bats, finalized in taxonomy, specific topics or geographies, in May 2011, provides the framework for a conferences, and online learning initiatives. Using coordinated national response, and presents a web-based mapping, Data Basin is breaking down 38 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 institutional and topical barriers in conservation Monday, July 16 11:45 Correlated science and practice. Environmental Variation And The False Classification Of Extinction Risk Connors, Brendan*, School Of Resource And Environmental Management Monday, July 16 10:10 Industrial Scale Power Estimating trends in abundance is the foundation Plants Pose Landscape Level Threats To Mojave upon which many conservation decisions are Desert Tortoises made. For example, extinction risk is often * Connor, Michael , Western Watersheds Project classified based on the magnitude of declines in The desert tortoise (Agassiz’s land tortoise, abundance. However, variation in abundance can Gopherus agassizii) occurs in a variety of Mojave arise from observation error (i.e., the differences desert communities in California, Nevada, Utah, between observed abundance and true and Arizona, most commonly on gently sloping abundance) and environmental noise (i.e., terrain with friable soils where there is abundant stochastic variation in the environment that inter-shrub space for growth of herbaceous plants. influences the true abundance of individuals), The Mojave population was listed as threatened in which can be further exaggerated by positive 1990 prompted by severe declines in monitored temporal correlation. When this stochastic populations. Recognized threats include habitat variation in abundance is high, estimating the true loss, degradation and fragmentation, urbanization, underlying trend in abundance can be difficult and development, disease, drought, fire, subsidized our understanding how correlated environmental predation, livestock grazing, highways, and military noise influences the probability of falsely classifying and off-highway vehicle activities. Critical habitat a population as at risk of extinction is not well was designated in 1994, and recovery plans issued understood. I show that the probability of falsely in 1994 and 2011. The extant conservation strategy classifying a population as at risk of extinction is is to reduce threats within large blocks of public sensitive to the magnitude of environmental noise land while maintaining connectivity between and its degree of correlation. Using state-space conserved areas to allow for gene flow and models I estimated the magnitude of correlated resiliency. Neither the critical habitat designation environmental variation across 614 time series of nor subsequent agency planning efforts envisioned animal abundance and show that as many as 90% the development of massive renewable energy of the time series I examined would be expected to projects in desert tortoise habitat on public lands. be falsely classified as at risk of extinction more Developers of industrial scale solar projects share than 10% of the time. These findings highlight the the desert tortoise’s preference for gently sloping need to consider the influence of correlated bajadas and large contiguous expanses of desert. environmental noise in the false classification of Because recovery strategies for the desert tortoise extinction risk. rest entirely on the appropriate management of public lands the siting of large-scale solar energy plants on public lands inevitably conflicts with desert tortoise conservation. Monday, July 16 Development Of Radio Transmitter Attachment Protocols For The Pygmy Hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) Conway, April* , Hernandez, Sonia , Carroll, John The pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) is an endangered species endemic to the Upper Guinea Forests of West Africa. There are many challenges to studying pygmy hippos in the field; 39 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 they are solitary, nocturnal and in situ ecological addressed topics including pygmy hippo data is scarce. The objective of this study was to encounters, local knowledge of hippo behavior, develop and test methods for radio transmitter hippo-human interactions, and perceived benefits placement for pygmy hippos in Sierra Leone. To of hippo conservation. Overall, only 22% of determine the best attachment method for the respondents acknowledged any benefits related to radio transmitter, 4 designs were tested in a hippo conservation. About 52% of respondents captive setting, including hock, harness, and 2 who had experienced focused education programs collar variations. A tubular collar attachment was within the past six months reported some hippo- determined to be the best option as it provided related benefits. In villages without education and longest life and had the least likelihood for injury. outreach, this number dropped to 11%. Results For in situ radio collar placement, 2 trapping suggest that educational programs focused on periods using pit traps were conducted in 2011 conservation benefits in local communities have (235 and 360 trap nights respectively). Pygmy the potential to increase support for pygmy hippo hippos were not captured during this period; protection. Data also validate the importance of however, sign was frequently observed near the endangered species management that accounts for traps with 4 near-captures. Modifications to the pit local stakeholders’ attitudes toward and traps were made, and results from this study may involvement in conservation activities. improve the success rate of future capture attempts. If researchers are successful in using radio telemetry to track this rare mammal, a greater ecological understanding will allow decision Monday, July 16 Pubic Attitudes Toward makers to prioritize conservation plans in the Invasive Species Management At Great Sand region. Dunes National Park, Colorado Conway, April* , Sharp, Ryan, Eastern Kentucky University , Larson, Lincoln, University Of Georgia , Brownlee, Matthew, Clemson University Monday, July 16 11:15 Local Attitudes Toward Substantial research has explored ecological Pygmy Hippopotamus Conservation On Tiwai aspects of species invasions, but few studies have Island, Sierra Leone accounted for the social dimensions of invasive Conway, April* , Hernandez, Sonia , Carroll, John , alien species (IAS) management. The absence of Larson, Lincoln, University Of Georgia data regarding public attitudes toward invasive Research suggests that effective endangered species is a particular concern in national parks, species conservation programs should adopt a where stakeholder input is a critical component of community-based approach that considers the land management decisions. To address the need beliefs, attitudes, and needs of people living in and for research examining public perceptions of IAS, around protected areas. Local stakeholders’ this 2011 pilot study focused on visitors to Great perspectives are especially important in rural Sand Dunes National Park, CO. Data were collected regions of developing countries, where residents via onsite visitor contacts and follow-up web-based often depend directly on natural resources for daily surveys (n = 72). Although 70.2% of visitors subsistence. This study focused on one such region reported that they had seen or heard of “invasive along the Moa River in Sierra Leone - an area home species” in the past year, less than half (47.2%) of to the endangered pygmy hippopotamus respondents were able to correctly define the term (Choeropsis liberiensis). In 2010 and 2011, and even fewer (46.3%) were aware of the specific researchers visited 27 villages and surveyed 522 impacts of IAS in national parks. Analyses showed people living near the prime hippo habitat on or that on-site control of IAS was viewed as the most around Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary. Surveys acceptable (compared to both eradicating invasives 40 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 or leaving ecosystems untouched) and least together with land trusts to support enough controversial management option. Logistic conservation in the right places to maintain a large regression models indicated that adaptive eco- and functioning sage-grouse population. centric environmental attitude orientations and high education levels were the best predictors of support for IAS control. Results highlight the importance of visitor education programs that Tuesday, July 17 8:30 Have You Heard Of The influence public awareness of and attitudes toward Ohlone Tiger Beetle? How Knowledge Affects IAS management in parks and protected areas. Recreationists' Stated Behaviors And Attitude Toward An Endangered Species. Cornelisse, Tara* , Duane, Tim, University Of California Santa Cruz, Environmental Studies Tuesday, July 17 9:30 Energy Development And Department Sage Grouse In The West: Forging A New The endangered Ohlone tiger beetle (Cicindela Paradigm For Landscape Conservation ohlone) occurs on public lands open to recreation. Copeland, Holly*, The Nature Conservancy , Recreation is the second leading cause of the Naugle, David, University Of Montana , Pocewicz, decline of threatened species on public lands. Amy, The Nature Conservancy Paradoxically, C.ohlone utilizes trails and disturbed An ever-increasing human footprint is transforming areas for breeding and foraging. From 2001 to 2005 landscapes in the Intermountain West. Conflict recreation was considered solely detrimental, as results from the high spatial overlap between C.ohlone were occasionally crushed on trails. Trails world-class energy and wildlife resources. Nowhere were closed, creating a conflict between is this conflict more apparent than in the West recreationists and C.ohlone conservation. After where fragmentation from development is the observations that vital bare ground habitat was primary reason sage-grouse are designated as a dissappearing, the trails were reopened, albeit with candidate species under the federal Endangered little management to avoid beetle mortality. With a Species Act. The possibility for a 2015 ESA listing past conflict, recognition of recreation's positive has catapulted the sage-grouse into the limelight, effect on C.ohlone habitat, and a need for forging new and unusual partnerships to avert a management, this is an ideal system to test how listing. Wyoming has taken bold actions to reduce recreationists' knowledge affects their attitudes fragmentation through policy changes and toward the species and their behavior in protected conservation easements that limit development habitat. Knowledge of ecological issues has been inside high abundance core areas. We simulated shown to provide the distal basis through which future development and built models to measure more proximal mediators, such as attitudes, values, the efficacy of these actions at protecting sage- incentives, and social consequences change grouse. Findings indicate that the core-area policy behavior. To test how recreationists’ knowledge of is effective at reducing impacts, and supplementing C.ohlone affects attitudes towards the beetle and policy with conservation easements further abates willingness to comply with proposed management anticipated losses. Our results provide unbiased strategies, I conducted 300 in-person surveys of estimates of the impacts of future fragmentation the recreation community. Half of the participants on sage-grouse and the potential contribution of were provided with information on the Ohlone the State’s core area policy and private tiger beetle and the effect of recreation prior to conservation easements at varying levels of taking the survey; half of the participants were funding. Decision-makers can use our science to provided with no information. We found that the guide the placement of future conservation work, majority of recreationists rated C.ohlone so that federal and state agencies can work conservation as important; yet, chose very 41 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 important significantly more if they had heard of compared a larger spatial extent with coarse-grain C.ohlone prior to the survey. In turn, recreationists sampling to a smaller spatial extent with fine-grain who rated C.ohlone conservation as very important sampling. We found increased power at the finer were more likely to state compliance with both spatial scale and evidence for species-specific slowing down and dismounting their bike in beetle responses; the more mobile wood frog (Lithobates habitat. Participants with both prior and new sylvatica), displayed higher connectivity than the (provided at the time of the survey) knowledge less mobile spotted salamander (Ambystoma recognized the positive effect of recreation on maculatum). Open water and roads were barriers C.ohlone significantly more, and negative effect to gene flow for salamanders, while isolation by significantly less, than those with no knowledge. distance drove genetic patterns in wood frogs. Participants with no prior or new knowledge were Forestry had minimal effect on gene flow in either more likely to state that recreation has no effect on species. This study highlighted that species with C.ohlone and less likely to state compliance with similar habitat requirements and life cycles can slowing down or dismounting their bike. Thus, have differing dispersal patterns and responses to education both increases the value recreationists landscape structure. It also revealed the place on C.ohlone conservation and provides them importance of scale and sampling scheme in with a correct understanding of the recreational identifying landscape features that affect gene impact on the beetle. This awareness can lead to flow. increased compliance with management strategies, such as slowing down in beetle habitat. This result is particularly important because, in a related study, we found that slow cycling is significantly Monday, July 16 Weekend Bias In Citizen Science less disruptive to C.ohlone behavior than cycling at Data Reporting: Implications For Bird Phenology high speeds. Studies Courter, Jason* , Johnson, Ron, Clemson University , Kaiser, Evan, Clemson University , Stuyck, Claire, Clemson University , Lang, Brian, Clemson Monday, July 16 Measuring Amphibian Gene University Flow Across Species, Scale And Sampling Scheme Studies of bird phenology are important to In A Managed Forest understand the effects of climate change on Coster, Stephanie*, University Of New Hampshire , wildlife species and, in many cases, first arrival Kovach, Adrienne , Babbitt, Kimberly, University Of dates are reported through broad networks of New Hampshire citizen volunteers. Potential benefits are enormous In the face of anthropogenic landscape change, (e.g., understanding ecological processes at broad understanding the factors affecting dispersal and spatial and temporal scales) if known biases of gene flow is essential for conservation citizen data reporting are identified and properly management. Landscape genetics provides a addressed. One potential source of bias in bird mechanism to examine how landscape features migration studies is the tendency for “first” arrivals affect gene flow in natural populations. The to be reported on weekends. We investigated relationship between environmental variables and weekend bias for five common migratory species in genetic distance can vary with species, spatial scale North America and assessed whether this bias and sampling scheme. To investigate these effects affected mean first arrival dates reported using we used a least cost path analysis and partial data from the North American Bird Phenology Mantel tests to identify environmental factors that (1880-1969; N = 25,555) and recent citizen science influenced gene flow in two pond-breeding databases (1997-2010; N = 63,149). Overall, amphibian species in a managed forest. We weekend bias in first arrival reports occurred in all 42 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 species, although percentage of weekend known from 5-20 localities each. Because collection observations decreased from 33.7% to 32% from activity has increased in recent decades, especially historical to recent time periods. When comparing with regards to aquatic life stages, there is strong first arrivals reported on weekend and weekdays, evidence that land use changes have caused local small but significant differences were noted in extirpations in several species. mean arrival dates calculated (approximately 0.5 days) for four of five species. Our results indicate that weekend bias in citizen data reporting is decreasing over time and that accounting for ‘day Wednesday, July 18 4:30 Applying PPSR To of week’ in models examining phenology shifts Invasive Species Research: New Perspectives In could help make conclusions more robust. Conservation That Result From Taking An Interdisciplinary Approach Crall, Alycia*, University Of Wisconsin-Madison PPSR programs have widespread application to Monday, July 16 Distribution, Habitat invasive species science where educating the public Requirements, And Conservation Status Of The and increasing collaboration among multiple Hellgrammites (Insecta: : stakeholders could prevent new introductions and ) Of California control existing ones. Through development and Cover, Matthew*, California State University- evaluation of a national invasive species citizen Stanislaus , Fleenor, Adam, California State science program, we found that many volunteer University- Stanislaus programs collect data and are willing to contribute The Corydalidae is one of two families of these data to public databases. Although resources Megaloptera, a small order of holometabolous for education and monitoring are readily available, (~330 extant species worldwide). Corydalids groups generally lack tools to manage and analyze have long-lived (1-5 year), fully aquatic larvae, data. Potential users of these data also retain commonly known as hellgrammites, and short- concerns over data quality. Therefore, we compare lived (~1 week) adults. The objective of this study the ability of citizen scientists to effectively carry was to determine the geographic and habitat out an invasive plant species monitoring protocol factors affecting the distribution of species in after one day of training relative to professionals. California. It was motivated by unsuccessful Using the results from this study, we provide surveys for several populations that existed prior to specific recommendations for future trainings and 1970, as well as anecdotal evidence that several protocol implementation to improve data quality. species are intolerant of water quality and habitat We also examine how the training program worked degradation. We compiled locality information to change attitudes, improve understanding of the from published records, museum specimens, and scientific process, and increase knowledge. Our new field collections, and examined habitat results suggest that citizen science has the ability associations using GIS. Of the 11 species known to empower participants to think scientifically, but from California, only 3 are commonly collected and that alternative survey instruments are needed, widely distributed: Neohermes filicornis and N. calibrated appropriately to the pre-existing californicus are found exclusively in temporary attitudes and levels of knowledge in these streams throughout the foothills of the Coast relatively sophisticated target groups. We examine Range and Sierra Nevada, respectively, while how this interdisciplinary approach has provided Orohermes crepusculus is found in high-elevation new insights for tackling this important perennial streams of the Klamath Mountains and conservation issue. Sierra Nevada. The other 8 species, 3 of which have not been collected for 40 years or more, are only 43 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 11:15 Context Matters: Desert bighorn sheep in the Mojave Desert have Intrapopulation Niche Partitioning Among small, naturally fragmented populations, and California Sea Lions In The Gulf Of California connectivity among habitat patches is critical for Crawford, Tara* , Gerber, Leah, Ecology, Evolution metapopulation persistence and maintaining And Environmental Sciences, SoLS, ASU , Kurle, genetic diversity. Connectivity among bighorn Carolyn, University Of California San Diego populations has been greatly compromised by Many generalist populations contain subsets of highways and urbanization, and proposed individuals that specialize in different resources renewable energy development may further and habitats. To better understand the drivers of fragment the landscape. Thus, to prioritize intrapopulation niche partitioning in generalist conservation actions, there is a pressing need to predators, we compared the number of distinct clarify the relative importance of specific habitat foraging strategy groups among adult female patches and dispersal corridors. We used genetic- California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) at based models of gene flow and movement to three breeding colonies in different parts of the parameterize network models that describe two Gulf of California - Isla Granito (n=52), Los Islotes important ecological processes: gene flow among (n=83), and San Jorge (n=81) - using stable isotope patches (genetic connectivity) and potential for analysis (?13C and ?15N) of fur collected from their recolonization of empty patches following suckling pups. We hypothesized that colonies with extinctions (demographic connectivity). We applied higher intraspecific competition will exhibit greater these network models to identify the most niche partitioning. Using a hierarchical cluster effective locations for management actions such as analysis, we identified six distinct foraging groups corridor habitat protection, wildlife crossing at Isla Granito (assignment accuracy=95.5% based structures, population reintroductions, and on discriminant function analysis), which is a addition of permanent water sources. Additionally, declining colony that is supported by low prey we explored how patch persistence based on an diversity. Los Islotes and San Jorge, which are both empirical extinction model affected source/sink increasing in abundance and have access to more properties within networks. We found that diverse prey bases, contain two distinct foraging rankings of habitat patch or corridor importance groups each (accuracy of assignment=96.3% and are strongly influenced by choice of network 98.1%, respectively). The preliminary results model, suggesting that conservation actions must presented here support our hypothesis. This initial explicitly address demographic connectivity and analysis suggests that female sea lions in the GoC genetic connectivity as separate processes. partition foraging resources over relatively small spatial scales; however, the degree of partitioning at each colony varies across the species' range. Characterizing this heterogeneity may facilitate Monday, July 16 3:20 Climate Vulnerability conservation planning. Assessment And Adaptation In The Mojave/Central Basin Ecotone Crist, Patrick*, NatureServe , Tague, Joe, Bureau Of Land Management , Comer, Pat, NatureServe , Monday, July 16 9:50 Prioritizing Conservation Bow, Jacquie, NatureServe , Varley, Ian, Actions In A Fragmented Metapopulation Of NatureServe Desert Bighorn Sheep This project tested multiple aspects of the Yale Creech, Tyler*, Oregon State University , Epps, Framework in the ecotone between the Central Clinton, Oregon State University , Wehausen, John, Great Basin and Mojave Desert Ecoregions. White Mountain Research Station , Monello, Ryan, Working with the Nevada Bureau of Land National Park Service Management (BLM) we integrated assessment 44 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 results from two BLM Rapid Ecoregional for any location with sufficient data) in the context Assessments (REAs) with core recommendations of a support landscape to fully incorporate offsite from the Yale Framework. This work integrated influences. The process also anticipates climate vulnerability assessment with traditional cooperative assessment and planning across the cumulative effects assessment and developed land landscape. We employed a toolkit approach that management strategies and adaptation utilized a number of modeling and decision support alternatives for Nevada BLM. We used a scenario- tools to conduct the large variety of analytical based approach to assess needs for management needs and facilitate cross-sector, cross-ecosystem changes based on modeled changes in extent and processes. Toolkits followed a workflow from condition of numerous ecological systems, source data inputs, through analyses, to decision landscape species, and rare and imperiled species. support product outputs. In each pilot we assessed Assessments began with the baseline condition and a current conditions scenario and then integrated then modeled changes from potential forecast land use changes with climate change for development through 2025 and then integrated multiple future scenarios through 2100. While the climate changes at 2025 and 2060. Assessments pilot projects were for National Wildlife Refuges, included changes to range forage, changes in the process will work for any location with biodiversity climate envelopes and refugia, and sufficient data. changes to ecosystem processes such as fire as well as invasive species pressures. The outputs are being used to enhance the effectiveness of policy decisions related to biodiversity preservation and Wednesday, July 18 3:30 Human-Derived Risk climate change adaptation while meeting BLM’s Influences Choice Of Resting Sites In Grizzly Bears mandate for sustainable multiple-use of public (Ursus arctos) * land, including expanded development of Cristescu, Bogdan , University Of Alberta , Boyce, traditional and renewable energy sources. Mark, University Of Alberta , Stenhouse, Gordon, Foothills Research Institute Understanding how animals perceive human- derived risk can contribute to human-wildlife Tuesday, July 17 12:00 A Toolkit Approach To conflict prevention and inform conservation. We Integrated Climate Vulnerability Assessment And predict that areas where animals choose to rest Adaptation Planning should minimize risk of predators - which for large Crist, Patrick*, NatureServe carnivores typically equate to humans - and In conjunction with the US Fish and Wildlife hypothesize that human activity leads to Service, we developed a framework for integrating behavioural trade-offs between habitat security climate change effects into a scenario-based and forage. To test this hypothesis and to identify cumulative effects assessment and adaptation key habitat for resting, we investigated choice of alternatives planning. We conducted two pilot resting sites by GPS radiocollared adult grizzly projects to test and refine the process with one bears (n = 10) sampled from a low density (4.79 coastal project in Virginia and an inland project in bears/1,000 km2) threatened population in a multi- Oregon/Nevada. These pilots integrated sea level use landscape in Alberta, Canada. We compared rise and urban expansion in the coastal example security and food habitat features at resting and and temperature change with fire and weed random locations while accounting for land use, dynamics and renewable energy infrastructure season and time of day. In protected areas bears development in the inland example. Our rested at night-time in areas where key plant foods framework puts a target jurisdiction (in this case were present, and resting sites had high horizontal National Wildlife Refuges but the process will work cover during the summer peak in human 45 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 recreation. On reclaimed coal mines bears rested in fragmentation. On average, only 54.3% of a species areas with high horizontal cover and far from trails, geographic range was comprised of high-quality with resting also occurring nocturnally. On public habitat, and, more troubling, only 5.2% of the lands with high human use, bears rested at day- range was comprised of such habitat within time and in areas with high horizontal cover, close protected areas. Identification of global hotspots of to habitat edges. These spatial and temporal fragmentation and connectivity will help guide patterns of choice suggest that bears perceive strategic priorities for carnivore conservation. human-related risk differentially by land designation, season and time of day. Although grizzly bears are presently not hunted in Alberta, choice of resting sites is possibly influenced by the Monday, July 16 Ungulate Responses To Multi- ghost of predation past. Use Pathway Construction And Use In A National Park Transportation Corridor Crooks, Kevin*, Colorado State University , Hardy, Amanda Tuesday, July 17 3:15 Global Patterns Of We conducted a Before-After-Control-Impact Fragmentation And Connectivity Of Mammalian assessment of ungulate responses to multi-use Carnivore Habitat pathway construction and use in a Grand Teton Crooks, Kevin*, Colorado State University , Burdett, National Park, USA, transportation corridor. We Christopher, Colorado State University , Theobald, measured elk (Cervus elaphus) and pronghorn David, Colorado State University , Rondinini, Carlo, antelope (Antilocapra americana) activities before Sapienza Universit di Roma , Boitani, Luigi, (2007) and during (2008) pathway construction and Sapienza Universit di Roma two years after the pathway opened to public use Although mammalian carnivores are vulnerable to (2009, 2010) in a treatment area with the pathway habitat fragmentation and require landscape and an adjacent control area without it. If connectivity, their global patterns of fragmentation ungulates avoided pathway activities, we and connectivity have not been examined. We use predicted, in the treatment compared to the recently developed high-resolution habitat- control: 1) standardized counts of ungulates seen suitability models to conduct comparative analyses from the road would decline; 2) ungulates would and to identify global hotspots of fragmentation shift away from the road; and 3) the probability of and connectivity for the world’s terrestrial ungulates responding behaviorally would increase. carnivores. Species with less fragmentation (i.e., Contrary to predictions, the number of elk seen did more interior high-quality habitat) had larger not decrease, the distance of elk from the road did geographic ranges, a greater proportion of habitat not increase, and the probability of elk behaviorally within their range, greater habitat connectivity, responding was lower in the treatment relative to and a lower risk of extinction. Species with higher the control during and after pathway installation. connectivity (i.e., less habitat isolation) also had a Annual trends of number of pronghorn seen or greater proportion of high-quality habitat, but had their behavioral responsiveness did not differ in the smaller, not larger, ranges, likely reflecting shorter treatment and control, but pronghorn shifted away distances between habitat patches for species with from the road after construction in the treatment restricted distributions; such species were also compared to the control during peak seasonal more threatened, as would be expected given the visitation, supporting the prediction that negative relationship between range size and pronghorn avoided pathway activities. Overall, extinction risk. Fragmentation and connectivity did pathway activities did not appear to consistently not differ among Carnivora families, and body mass alter ungulate distribution and behavior in the was associated with connectivity but not transportation corridor. 46 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 9:00 Climate Change The population structure of the harbour porpoise Adaptation Planning And Action In Practice: (Phocoena phocoena) has been studied extensively Lessons From Across North America over much of its range, but little information exists Cross, Molly S.*, Wildlife Conservation Society , for Canadian waters, in particular for northeastern Rowland, Erika L., Wildlife Conservation Society Pacific Ocean populations off British Columbia (BC), To build capacity for addressing the challenge of furthermore, the waters surrounding southern climate change to achieving conservation goals, Vancouver Island, BC, are the only known location, there is a need for practical models for integrating worldwide, where hybridization between harbour climate change into site- and target-specific porpoises and Dall’s porpoises (Phocoenoides dalli) decision-making. We describe and evaluate one has been documented, but no empirical estimates such model from our efforts to work with partners of its extent exist. Using tissue collected from to conduct adaptation planning and implement stranded porpoises, we sequenced the D-Loop priority actions for selected conservation targets at region of the mtDNA and assayed variation at nine four landscapes across North America—the microsatellite loci to further resolve population Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Arctic Alaska, the structure in harbour porpoises and to assess the Adirondack State Park and Ontario’s northern extent and patterns of hybridization with Dall’s boreal forest. We compare adaptation options and porpoise. While mtDNA variation did not reveal any issues across these diverse landscapes, clear patterns, microsatellite DNA data suggest the highlighting, for example, to what extent variation existence of a single genetic population of harbour across these sites in the rate and immediacy of porpoise in BC. Further, we found both first climate changes affects how we frame generation and backcrossed hybrids between these conservation goals. Local political, economic, and species. Our results suggest that while ecological contexts at these landscapes also shape hybridization and introgression appear to be the types of conservation and management tools limited to the southern Strait of Georgia, their that can be applied in an effort to achieve levels may be much higher than previously adaptation goals. For some landscapes and thought. Our data have provided novel insights conservation targets, an assessment of climate about hybridization and demographic connectivity change impacts reinforces the need for of harbour porpoise with the context of a genetic conservation actions that are already underway, monitoring program in British Columbia. whereas in other situations more significant modifications of current conservation strategies may be necessary. Together, these landscapes represent a cross-section of issues that allow us to Wednesday, July 18 9:45 Land Use Values In The gain a better understanding of what climate Periphery Of A Protected Area In Northeastern change means for the conservation of biodiversity Madagascar: Perspectives From Conservation and ecosystems. Practitioners And Local Residents Cullman, Georgina*, Columbia University Many conservation projects have broadened their implementation strategies to work with nearby Tuesday, July 17 11:15 Population Structure And communities to achieve diverse objectives. Such Intergeneric Hybridization In Harbour Porpoises In projects may propose interventions to change Coastal British Columbia community resource use in the name of Crossman, Carla*, Department Of Zoology, sustainability or poverty reduction. Yet in doing so, University Of British Columbia , Taylor, Eric, conservation projects often frame the relationship University Of British Columbia , Barrett-Lennard, between local people and their natural Lance, Vancouver Aquarium environment as solely economic, neglecting to take 47 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 into account the complex relationships local this pathogen is conducted using Real Time peoples have with their surroundings. The Makira Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), an expensive, Protected Area (PA) in northeastern Madagascar timely, and often inaccurate test. With extirpation reflects this trend towards inclusion: long-term of many species occurring just months after park management incorporates surrounding infection, a faster, less expensive, and more communities as co-governors. The conservation efficient method is crucial for better management project associated with the PA aims to reduce of this pathogen. If a monoclonal antibody can be community resource use and encourage livelihood isolated that binds to Bd, then it could be used to activities perceived as sustainable. My research create a rapid, inexpensive, and efficient field assay explores the diverse, economic and noneconomic similar to an ELISA (enzyme-linked immunsorbent values that local people and conservation assay). Potential antibodies have been harvested practitioners ascribe to land use in the periphery of from the spleen of mice designed to produce this protected area. The three communities immune responses to pathogens like Bd. included in the study varied with respect to ease of Fluorescent antibody staining showed that access, dominant livelihood strategies, and antibodies produced by the mouse were settlement patterns. Within communities, variation significantly binding to Bd. These antibodies are existed due to residents’ social status, age, and the currently being screened to determine specificity length of time in the community. If economics to Bd. If successful this field test could allow were the most important aspect of community amphibian care facilities to test their captive relations with the forest, community members’ populations more often and better protect them responses would predominantly reflect economic from Bd infection. It would also have application in values and would not vary significantly regardless field research and monitoring of wild populations of community or individual characteristics. Instead, and could yield results within 2 hours. This field values were found to be highly variable. Through assay would have tremendous conservation and qualitative and quantitative analyses, I show not wildlife management applications particularly in only what economic framings of collaborative tropical regions where amphibian species are conservation practice overlook, but also make extirpated from regions within a matter of months. recommendations for policy.

Wednesday, July 18 11:20 Participatory Tools Monday, July 16 Development Of A Novel For Mapping Human Uses Of The Ocean Detection Method For The Amphibian Killing D'Iorio, Mimi*, NOAA MPA Center , Hayden, Fungus Nicholas, NOAA MPA Center , Wahle, Charles Cypher, Alysha* Understanding human uses of the ocean is an Cypher, A.D*. K.J. Hart. M.E. Clay. A.C. Keth, PhD. essential component of successful coastal and D.M. Smith, PhD. 2012. Clarion University of marine spatial planning. In recent years, NOAA’s Pennsylvania, Clarion, PA 16214. The amphibian Marine Protected Areas Center has pioneered a killing fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis participatory mapping process to enable the (Bd), has been observed to decimate amphibian gathering of ocean uses data through input and populations around the world. In the face of this expertise of ocean stakeholders and the application emerging pathogen, amphibian husbandry is now of modern geospatial tools. These participatory necessary to prevent many species from going methods utilize contemporary GIS tools and have extinct. In such facilities, periodic testing must be been applied in various regions throughout the conducted to make sure captive populations mainland US and Hawaii to provide important remain free of this pathogen. Currently, testing for spatial data for marine resource planning and 48 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 management. Through facilitated mapping landscapes such as New Jersey’s Barnegat Bay have workshops, ocean experts and stakeholders assist seen sweeping conservation. The key to these in mapping current and emerging use patterns for successes has been leverage. Coordinated a wide range of ocean and coastal uses and provide conservation planning and goal setting has fed into insights on historical trends and potential use alignment of federal, state, local, and private conflicts. While the workshops serve primarily as a funding for on the ground conservation. The venue to collect spatial information on use Landscape Conservation Cooperatives are very well patterns, they also provide a unique opportunity designed to advance this successful model by for stakeholders to engage with each other, discuss promoting collaborative planning, providing new existing management issues and provide valuable tools and data for landscape-scale assessment, and knowledge and community insights that can help catalyzing conservation partnerships through improve the planning process. This participatory networking. This session will examine successful approach can also increase community confidence landscape conservation models, and provide in the spatial data used for policy and planning. The examples of how the Landscape Conservation data gathered from the workshops are processed Cooperatives can facilitate these and other similar and compiled into various forms, both in hard copy efforts into the future. and online as maps, spatial data and interactive online tools to serve decision making and resource planning needs. Tuesday, July 17 8:45 Are Caribbean MPAs Making Progress Toward Their Objectives? Dalton, Tracey*, University Of Rhode Island , Wednesday, July 18 9:10 The Challenge Of Pollnac, Richard, University Of Rhode Island , Conservation In An Era Of Declining Resources Forrester, Graham, University Of Rhode Island And A Changing Public: How Do LCC's Address Our Marine protected areas (MPAs) have been Conservation Mission? established around the world to achieve a variety Daley, Jad*, The Trust For Public Lands of social and ecological objectives (e.g., conserve The DOI Landscape Conservation Cooperatives are fish stocks, protect sensitive habitats, encourage being established at a challenging juncture for non-extractive uses, promote research). Enhanced conservation. Federal funding for conservation, understanding of whether or not MPAs are restoration, private lands stewardship, and public meeting their objectives can improve existing land management is generally flat or declining. policies, encourage accountability, and justify State and local funding, which has been a lynchpin resource allocation. Few empirical studies have in recent decades, is also under pressure from evaluated whether MPAs are meeting their declining budgets and increasing reluctance to objectives, and most of these focus on individual pursue local ballot measures. Public attitudes MPAs, examine only social or ecological objectives toward conservation remain positive, but polling (not both), and rely on assessments by often shows that conservation is not a top tier management staff. Using social and ecological data issue in driving voter preference for statewide or from a rapid assessment of thirty-two MPAs and national elections. Despite these constraints, their associated communities in the wider landscape-scale conservation has thrived in recent Caribbean, this study investigates whether or not years. Historic landscape-scale successes have been MPAs are making progress toward their stated achieved in large landscapes like the Northern objectives, and explores how different factors Sierra, Crown of the Continent, and Northern influence this progress. Legislation, Forest of New England. At a smaller scale, but of implementation documents, and management equal importance for ecological protection, plans were used to identify stated objectives for 49 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 each MPA. Interviews, community surveys, Tuesday, July 17 9:05 Deep Divergence In document analysis, and coral surveys were used to Predatory Behavior Between Humans And Natural assess MPA progress toward these objectives. Predators; Insights Into Ecosystem-Based Harvest Findings indicate that some MPAs are making Management From The Natural World progress while others are not, and a variety of MPA Darimont, Chris*, Geography Department, design and governance factors influence this University Of Victoria , Fox, Caroline, Biology Dep'T. progress. Results can be used to inform on-going University Of Victoria , Reimchen, Thomas, Biology efforts to help MPAs meet their social and Department. University Of Victoria ecological objectives. Although Ecosystem-Based Harvest Management (EBHM) attempts to prioritize ecological function over maximization of long-term yield, few data have offered empirical guidance to defend or Tuesday, July 17 9:30 Children Recognize Exotic implement this goal. This is because formal Endangered Species Over Local Endangered comparisons into how fundamental elements of Species Even In The Biodiversity Hotspot Of predatory behavior might differ between humans Coastal Southern California (i.e. hunters and fishers) and other predators have * Danoff-Burg, James , San Diego Zoo Global , Keith, been exceptionally rare. Our objectives were to Robin, San Diego Zoo Global , Lacombe, Corrin, San test the hypotheses that humans: i) select similar Diego Zoo Global , Reinbold, Megan, San Diego Zoo individuals within prey populations; and ii) exploit Global , Young, Samantha, San Diego Zoo Institute prey at similar rates. Patterns we identified from a For Conservation Research review of over a thousand studies in terrestrial, Engendering support for conservation projects is marine and aquatic systems offered support to often focused on educating people about refute both hypotheses. Specifically, we found that endangered species. However, the majority of these two groups target fundamentally different conservation messaging is focused on a few large, age classes within prey populations; modern charismatic exotic species such as polar bears and human predators target primarily larger pandas. While useful, this approach may distance reproductive age classes, whereas natural people from the biodiversity in their own backyard. predators select primarily the juveniles within This may be particularly troubling in areas that are populations. Moreover, we found that humans on biodiversity hotspots, such as the California average exploit prey at considerably higher rates Floristic Province which contains over 50 IUCN than other predators. This deep divergence in listed species. We characterized the ability of predatory behavior has important ecological, school children in Southern California to name local evolutionary and conservation implications. Among versus exotic endangered species. When asked to them, and should restoration of predator-prey name endangered species generally, almost no systems be a goal, managers can direct hunters and children named even a single local endangered fishers to mimic the predatory behavior exhibited species and even when prompted to name a local more broadly in the natural world. Such policy species, exceptionally few were able to name even would be consistent with the core philosophical one. We also analyzed for gender differences and goals of EBHM. by socio-economic status. We conclude that this important issue can be best addressed directly by local conservation organizations, and in particular by zoos and nature centers. Knowledge of local species is an essential first step building public support for local conservation projects.

50 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 Applied Biodiversity Science Department Of Biology, University Of New Mexico Hub: Online Platform Connecting Conservation The world’s grasslands are shaped in part by a key Theory To Practice By Fostering Local-Regional functional group of social, burrowing, herbivorous Bridging And Collaboration mammals. Examples include prairie dogs of North Daut, Elizabeth*, Texas A&M University , Gomez- America (NA) (Cynomys spp.), ground squirrels Ruiz, Emma, Texas A&M University , Hurst, Zach, (Sciuridae spp.) of NA, Eurasia, and Africa, and Texas A&M University marmots (Marmota spp.) of NA and Eurasia, plains Successful biodiversity conservation requires an vizcachas (Lagostomus maximus), Patagonian efficient and trusted platform to foster effective maras (Dolichotis patagonum) and degus (Octodon communication, collaboration, and exchange of degus) of South America, pikas (Ochotona spp.) of knowledge among disparate disciplines and Asia, ice rats (Otomys sloggetti) and springhares conservation actors. On-line technologies provide (Pedetes capensis) of Africa, and burrowing the ideal medium. Copious on-line resources link bettongs (Bettongia lesueur) and southern hairy- specialized nodes, but fail to bridge the broader nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons) of Australia. conservation community and create a centralized Through herbivory and ecosystem engineering they and comprehensive hub. Our objectives were to create unique and important habitat for many determine what on-line features are needed for a species, thereby increasing biodiversity and habitat conservation hub, and the feasibility of creating a heterogeneity across the landscape. They also help pilot resource for the Applied Biodiversity Sciences maintain the presence of grasslands and are key program, an interdisciplinary graduate program at prey for many species. Yet, these burrowing Texas A&M University with the explicit goal of mammals are facing myriad threats, which have bridging conservation research and practice. We resulted in dramatic declines in populations of the administered a questionnaire to members to learn best-studied species and cascading declines in key online resources commonly used as part of the dependent species and grassland habitat. To program. We identified essential attributes for a prevent such declines, grasslands need to be centralized on-line resource including: efficient managed to enable the co-existence of burrowing access to information and data, active mammals with human activities. Here, we highlight interdisciplinary exchange, high impact education the important and often under-recognized and leadership development, social networking ecological roles of these burrowing mammals, their and a platform for broader impacts. We compared threats, and future directions needed for our essential features to existing N. A. conservation conservation and management. and science websites and found that no website contained all key elements, but that many contained some. In conclusion, an on-line resource is needed to link existing conservation websites Monday, July 16 Increasing The Number Of into a cohesive whole and to provide critical Women Academics In Conservation Biology: features to facilitate cross-discipline Lessons Learned From NSF ADVANCE At Iowa communication, collaboration and knowledge State University * dissemination. Debinski, Diane , Iowa State University , Bowen, Bonnie, Iowa State University Conservation biology, like many fields of science and math, still has fewer women than men in most Tuesday, July 17 11:45 Ecological Roles And academic programs, especially at the highest ranks. Conservation Challenges Of Burrowing Mammals In a recent survey of tropical biologists, the In The World's Grasslands percentage of full professors was higher for men Davidson, Ana* , Detling, James , Brown, James, than for women in all age groups. Many 51 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 conservation biologists have the added challenge domesticated pets, and wild mammals) throughout of balancing family and career in the context of Appalachia in forest, agricultural, and urban field research, which can involve extensive travel. habitats. We found that, in forest and urban The National Science Foundation’s ADVANCE habitats, coyotes displayed significantly enriched Institutional Transformation program is designed mean ?15N (~8.5‰) and ?13C (~-22.5‰), to catalyze efforts to improve the recruitment, consistent with a diet composed primarily of small retention, and advancement of women faculty in wild mammals, while agricultural regions yielded science, technology, engineering and mathematics dietary signatures reflective of opportunistically- (STEM). At Iowa State University, the ISU ADVANCE obtained livestock. This new evidence suggests that Program has enhanced awareness of the role that while some coyotes may be occasionally utilizing departmental climate can have on faculty success. select livestock as primary prey, they display Departments have changed the time of greater foraging dependence on available wild departmental events to accommodate child care species, particularly smaller prey in forested and school schedules; increased transparency in habitats. This finding suggests that this coyote assignment of teaching responsibilities; and predation strategy be considered in both effective changed governance documents to clarify management plans and in conservation plans for protocols for advancement to full professor. At the the natural recovery of both endangered college and university levels, we have sponsored competitors and prey. workshops to discuss best practices in recruitment, retention, and advancement. Since the program began in 2006, the number of women full professors, the number of women department Monday, July 16 4:00 Foundation And chairs, and the number of women administrators Application Of Water Management Frameworks have increased. To Restore Summer Streamflow In Coastal California Watersheds Deitch, Matthew*, Center For Ecosystem Management And Restoration Tuesday, July 17 11:05 Foraging Ecology Of The Concern over the negative effects of human water Appalachian Coyote (Canis latrans) Using Stable demand on aquatic ecosystems has made water Isotope Analyses: Implications For Effective management a critical issue in coastal California. Conservation And Management Plans Native species such as steelhead trout and coho Dehart, Pieter*, Virginia Military Institute salmon have declined substantially in recent The coyote (Canis latrans) has increased in decades, alongside increasing human demand for population throughout the east coast of North water during the summer dry season. While America, especially in the recent decade. As a hydrologic data help to illustrate how and the consequence of this range expansion, human- extent to which humans may adversely affect coyote interactions have increased, directly streamflow, they also help to indicate the means through preying on livestock and indirectly through through which water management challenges in resource competition with local hunters (primarily coastal California can be met with thoughtful deer). Effective management of these interactions planning. Analyses show that, in many coastal has been hampered by a significant lack of watersheds, there is sufficient water to meet knowledge of the basic foraging ecology of the environmental needs as well as needs for farmers coyote. To investigate the specific trophic role of and domestic water users. However, many the coyote in this ecosystem, we examined the technical and legal challenges arise in efforts to carbon and nitrogen isotopic signature from the sustainably manage water resources in this region. hairs of wild coyotes and potential prey (livestock, In addition to describing the rationale for the 52 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 capability to balance human and ecosystem water found that AM fungal spore richness was positively needs, I also describe two programs currently correlated with grass species richness and operating in coastal California that seek to help negatively correlated with available phosphorus. farmers and domestic water users obtain water at Based on this year’s work, we predict that sites times to minimize ecological impacts, and in doing with the greatest species diversity of native grasses so, restore streamflow in summer months for and lowest phosphorus availability should support juvenile steelhead trout and coho salmon: the the highest richness of AM fungi. The relatively California Coastal Stewardship Project and the high concentrations of phosphorus and low Russian River Coho Partnership. diversity of native grasses in many prairie restorations may limit their ability to maintain diverse AM fungal communities.

Monday, July 16 Diversity Of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi In Native Prairie, Agricultural And Prairie Restoration Sites In Northwestern Monday, July 16 Re-Introduction Of Red-Legged Minnesota Frogs (Rana draytonii) To Historical Locations In Del Vecchio, Kristi*, Concordia College Biology Southern California Department , Hartmann, Eliza, Concordia College Delaney, Kathleen* , Riley, Seth Biology Department , Nelson, Philip, Concordia Historical data suggests that red-legged frogs were College Biology Department , Aldrich-Wolfe, Laura, in all of the major streams throughout Santa Concordia College Biology Department Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Predicting the capacity for different land uses to (SMMNRA) near Los Angeles, CA. Today there is maintain diversity of belowground organisms only one population of red-legged frogs within the requires an understanding of how changes in land park boundary. This population is the use affect these belowground communities. Few southernmost population in the United States, with studies have been conducted to examine how 50 adults that successfully reproduce annually. conversion of prairie to agriculture alters the Red-legged frogs in SMMNRA are genetically community of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, distinct from other populations in Ventura and Los despite the importance of these fungi for plant Angeles Counties, therefore it will be important to host establishment, and even fewer studies have populate streams with local individuals - half egg documented how this community changes in masses or tadpoles - to maintain genetic response to prairie restoration. To gain an uniqueness. We have developed habitat suitability understanding of the differences in AM fungal protocols that are specific to southern California community across land uses, we have initiated a red-legged frogs, and have conducted focused long-term study comparing community surveys in the Santa Monica Mountains for suitable composition of AM fungi in native prairie, current habitat to re-introduce red-legged frogs. We will and abandoned agricultural sites, and recently present preliminary results of the habitat suitability restored prairie in northwestern Minnesota. In surveys and discuss our proposed methods for re- addition to differing in plant composition and introduction. The population of red-legged frogs in diversity, these sites also show considerable SMMNRA is critically small and isolated, and there variation in nutrient availability and prevalence of is great concern about its long-term persistence. A grass species. Results of our first season sampling population of successfully breeding adults in soil nutrient availability and species richness of additional streams will instantly result in a plants and AM fungal spores suggest that sites with population size increase for Santa Monica an agricultural legacy exhibit reduced richness of Mountain red-legged frogs. AM fungal spores relative to native prairie. We 53 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 3:40 Rapid Assessment Of The Monday, July 16 The Population Genetics Of An Yale Framework And Adaptation Blueprint For The Important Invasive Species In The Prairies Of The Pacific Coastal Rainforest Great Plains; Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis) DellaSala, Dominick*, Geos Institute , von Dennhardt, Lauren*, NDSU , Travers, Steven Wehrden, Henrik, Leuphana University, Centre For Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) is an invasive Methods, Institute Of Ecology , Koopman, Marni, species from Eurasia introduced during early Geos Institute , Brandt, Patric, Leuphana University European settlement of North America. Kentucky Lüneburg, Centre For Methods, Institute Of Ecology bluegrass (KBG) has been studied extensively as an , Leonard, Jessica, Geos Institute , Goldstein, economic crop, but has had little attention from Michael, Alaska Coastal Rainforest Center , the ecological community despite its destructive Dillman, Karen, Us Forest Service, Tongass National potential as an invasive species. Recent studies Forest , Jovan, Sarah, Forest Inventory And Analysis indicate that KBG is aggressively invading and Program USDA Forest Service altering the character of prairie communities in The Yale Framework is a collaborative project of North Dakota. In order to conserve plant nationally recognized scientists and policy experts biodiversity loss due to invasion, a greater intended to provide application tools for “climate- understanding behind the mechanisms of invasion smart” assessments. We applied elements of the is necessary. A few reviews have begun to describe framework to Pacific Coastal rainforests because plant introduction and naturalization, but more this region contains 35% of world’s temperate genetic data from a variety of invasive events is rainforests, northern locales will experience rapid needed to broaden our knowledge. While most increases in temperature, and the project involves invasive species have low genetic diversity and a broad collaboration among researchers and limited number of introduction events, KBG may be managers. We developed a blueprint for an exception to this trend which could further adaptation using framework elements by: (1) complicate management. We are studying the comparing baseline to future climate scenarios; (2) genetic diversity and ploidy of these populations identifying key processes and species distributions using 15 microsatellite markers with the goals of likely to shift in response to climate change; and (3) elucidating 1) the evolutionary history of its identifying relatively stable climatic areas that invasion, 2) its diversity compared to other invasive might function as refugia. We used the species, and 3) its population structure in native framework’s emphasis on levels of biological tallgrass prairie communities. Our results have organization stepping down from region to implications for management and policy decisions rainforest zones to landscape elements to focal regarding native prairie and may provide a tool for species (conifers, epiphytic lichens, spotted owl, understanding and controlling this species. deer) to microsite. We mapped current rainforest assemblages using Maxent models and regional climate datasets, comparing them to future potential distributions using downscaled models. Monday, July 16 Response Of Large Mammalian We located potential microrefugia expected to Predators To Riparian Corridor Restoration In The retain the same dominant vegetation through late- Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge * century based on multiple-model agreement Derugin, Vasilissa , Lebuhn, Gretchen, San (Hadley, CISRO, MIROC) in an MC1 functional Francisco State University , Silveira, Joseph , vegetation model. Then we compared our results Connor, Edward, San Francisco State University , to reserve designs to determine robustness of Golet, Gregory, The Nature Conservancy conservation strategies in the face of climate Growing awareness of the ecological implications change and increasing land uses. of habitat fragmentation has sparked efforts to restore connectivity between isolated habitat 54 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 patches. For this purpose, habitat conservation the National Park Service (NPS) Inventory and initiatives increasingly focus on the restoration of Monitoring (I&M) Program began establishing long- “corridors,” parcels of land that promote the term monitoring protocols in parks around selected connectivity necessary for organisms’ movement. natural resource indicators, or ‘vital signs’. The Most studies of organisms’ responses to corridor selection of these indicators was based on restoration focus on species at the lower trophic conceptual models that identified key agents of levels. Top predators (often, keystone species) change. Climate change was not considered a have received less attention. Riparian corridor driver in all parks, and selected indicators for which restoration in the Sacramento River National monitoring protocols were built reflect this. For Wildlife Refuge provides an opportune setting to monitoring to fill the gap and provide needed investigate the use of corridors by large empirical data on climate change impacts in the 84 mammalian predators. In Colusa, Glenn, and coastal and ocean parks in the US national park Tehama Counties, we are investigating mammalian system, NPS needs to enhance its monitoring predator use of 17 riparian corridor units that vary programs to gather baseline information and in age since restoration. The effects of habitat explicitly address climate change in monitoring and patch size are also being assessed. We use remote management decisions. cameras to collect data on predator species richness and detection frequency. We hypothesize that predator species richness and detection frequency will be higher in larger habitat patches, Tuesday, July 17 12:00 Regional-Scale Models Of and that they will be positively correlated with Non-Native Plant Phenology And Invasion To restoration age. Preliminary data analysis suggests Support Conservation On Military And Adjacent that restoration age, indeed, may affect predator Lands In The Sonoran Desert * species richness. Our study will help guide Dickson, Brett , Nau/Conservation Science Partners restoration strategies by indicating how time and , Olsson, Aaryn, Northern Arizona University , landscape context affect predators’ return to Wang, Ophelia, Northern Arizona Unviersity , restored locations. Sesnie, Steven, US Fish And Wildlife Service , Zachmann, Luke, Northern Arizona Unviersity , Bradley, Bethany, University Of Massachusetts , Rundall, Jill , Sisk, Thomas, Northern Arizona Monday, July 16 4:00 Monitoring Coastal And University Marine Resources Of National Parks In The Face In the Sonoran Desert of the southwestern U.S., Of Climate Change interactions between plant invasion and increases Dethloff, Gail*, NPCA in fire frequency and magnitude are a growing National parks, as protected areas, can be a tool of concern on DoD and neighboring lands, particularly climate change adaptation. NPCA included climate in the face of ongoing climate change. Our research change metrics in natural resource assessments at seeks to integrate empirically based models of non- 60 parks over the past decade, including 22 coastal native plant invasion with landscape models of fire and marine parks. Insufficient data on climate risk and sensitive wildlife habitat in a decision- change impacts were reported for three of these support package that informs management and 22 parks. However, the majority of the parks with conservation of native communities across 103,000 information were reporting relatively generic km2 of southern Arizona. Here we present future impacts (rising sea level, increased modeling results for two of five target non-native precipitation, rising temperatures) based on model invasive plants, Sahara mustard (SM) and predictions rather than data collected as part of a Mediterranean grass (MG). We established 239 monitoring program. Also during the past decade, field plots and detected SM and MG at 103 and 135 55 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 plots, respectively. We acquired 12 years of 20% feel they have the necessary tools and satellite imagery and used trajectory-based time knowledge to address climate change impacts. series analyses to derive multiple phenometrics These results show that despite a scientific and spatially weighted ensemble models to predict consensus that suggests climate change is species-specific occurrence at local and regional happening and that we should implement scales . SM was more detectable than MG (Cohen’s adaptation actions accordingly, natural resource Kappa >0.6 and <0.4, respectively) suggesting managers remain uncertain about what adaptation priority effects and mapping potential are greatest means and which actions represent appropriate for SM. Variable importance differed by species adaptation actions. locally and regionally, although results for each species indicated that multispectral indices can complement other phenometrics in mapping invasive species. Our results suggest that a remote Wednesday, July 18 11:45 Prioritizing sensing and phenology-based statistical modeling Agricultural Conservation Practice Locations For approach can aid in predicting invasive plant Maximum Watershed Improvement * distributions across extensive and heterogeneous Doran, Patrick , The Nature Conservancy , Legge, areas. John, The Nature Conservancy , Herbert, Matthew, The Nature Conservancy , Asher, Jeremian, Michigan State University Institute Of Water Research , O'Neil, Glenn, Michigan State University Monday, July 16 9:15 "Survey Says?" There's A Institute Of Water Research , Mysorekar, Sagar, Gap Between The Science And Practice Of Climate The Nature Conservancy , Sowa, Scott, The Nature Change Adaptation. Conservancy , Hall, Kimberly, The Nature Doran, Patrick*, The Nature Conservancy , Conservancy Petersen, Brian, Michigan State University, Kellogg Like many ecologically-significant rivers Biological Station , Hall, Kimberly, The Nature Midwestern U.S, Michigan’s Paw Paw River is Conservancy , Kahl, Katherine, The Nature heavily impacted by agriculture via reduced Conservancy infiltration/groundwater recharge and high A brief review of the literature would seem to sediment loads. Implementing cost-effective indicate that we are well on our way to adapting to conservation practices to abate these impacts is climate change – we know the climate science, the difficult because we rarely know where practices impacts to our ecosystems and the strategies to will be most effective or the potential benefits of abate those impacts. But to what degree is this implementing a given practice. To address these true? Here we report results from an on-line survey gaps, we identify and prioritize the most effective of over 500 natural resource managers in North locations for investing in conservation practices. America’s Great Lakes region designed to assess Additionally, we estimate the anticipated change in their perceptions on climate change and groundwater recharge attributable to adaptation. Results conclusively show that climate implementation of various practices. Finally, we change adaptation is not well understood and that test the usefulness of our approach using four many managers cannot distinguish between scenarios for implementation of six conservation adaptation and mitigation. Despite this, over 80% practices. Estimates of groundwater recharge say that climate impacts affect their work and over under these scenarios were compared to recharge 60% discuss climate impacts regularly. And perhaps under simulated “historic” placement scenarios most importantly, while over 75% of respondents based on data for applied conservation practices in are taking climate change impacts into the same watershed. Collectively across the six consideration in their current or future work, only practices, the prioritized scenarios provide an 56 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 increase in groundwater recharge of between 23% available science and a unique implementation and 36% over the historic scenario. Results for structure. The Solano HCP is proof that sediment reduction were more variable, but conservation can move forward despite prioritized scenarios suggest a doubling of benefit government gridlock. can be obtained by focusing on agricultural lands predicted to contribute the highest sediment volumes. Prioritized areas and the groundwater recharge tool are now informing implementation of Monday, July 16 Analysis Of San Francisco Bay conservation practices in the Paw Paw River Environmental Conditions As They Relate To watershed. Organismal Abundance Dournaee, Mary*, SFSU Romberg Tiburon Center For Environmental Studies & UIS Computer Science Department , Garfield, Toby, Romberg Tiburon Wednesday, July 18 4:30 When Conservation Center And Sfsu Department Of Geosciences , Doesn't Wait For Politics: Implementing The Draft Cohen, Sarah, Romberg Tiburon Center And Sfsu Solano Habitat Conservation Plan Department Of Biology Doubledee, Rebecca*, LSA Associates , Foreman, The purpose of this study is to analyze trends in Steve, LSA Associates environmental conditions around the San Francisco Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs) are authorized Bay and to determine whether these by Congress under section 10(a) of the Federal environmental factors have significant impact on Endangered Species Act. This section allows organismal growth. Since many invasive species issuance of incidental take permits upon approval have entered the bay, learning which of a conservation plan developed by permit environmental conditions are unfavorable for these applicants. Development of a multi-species HCP is a species could aid in conservation efforts. This study complex and time consuming process. Six multi- analyzes temperature, salinity, and ocean current species HCPs in Northern California have been data for six field sites at different locations in the stuck in the planning phase for many years. The central area of the San Francisco Bay over the Solano HCP is a large complex plan (14 applicants month of July, 2010. This environmental data is and 37 species) that was initiated in 1999. A large then compared to organismal growth on factor creating delays is lack of commitment and recruitment devices consisting of two 6”x12” PVC limited staff resources from the plan applicants plates and one mesh wrap with two Tuffy kitchen (mostly local government agencies) and staff scrub pads enclosed at each field site. Settled turnover at the Federal and State Wildlife Agencies. organisms include native and invasive crustaceans, The first draft Solano HCP was released in 2002. bryozoans, polychaetes, nudibranchs, and Subsequent drafts were released in 2005, 2007 and tunicates. Protected field sites on the east side of 2009. Since 2002, local, State, and Federal Agencies SF Bay that experienced maximum currents have used the draft conservation measures to between 20-30 cm/s and average temperatures of develop mitigation for individual development 18.2-18.4 °C demonstrated the most overall projects, incorporated the draft conservation organismal growth. Regarding the relationship strategy into general plan updates and used the between salinity variation and organismal growth, draft reserve design to establish mitigation banks. further study addressing tidal considerations is Approximately 4,500 acres of vernal pool and necessary. coastal marsh habitat has been preserved or is in the process of being preserved within the HCP plan area. The key to implementing the draft Solano HCP is a conservation strategy based on the best 57 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Wednesday, July 18 9:00 Shad In The Classroom: ongoing restoration project, and are exposed to Connecting Students And Teachers To American careers in conservation and biology. Shad Restoration Dowland, Melissa*, NC Museum Of Natural Sciences Melissa Dowland, North Carolina Museum of Tuesday, July 17 11:45 Where The Whales Are: Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC, Using Habitat Modeling To Inform Marine Spatial [email protected] The natural world Planning In Cordell Bank And Gulf Of The stimulates student and teacher curiosity in unique Farallones National Marine Sanctuary * ways and helps generate an understanding of Dransfield, Andrea , San Francisco State University conservation. For over 30 years, the North Carolina , Hines, Ellen , Jahncke, Jaime Museum of Natural Sciences has provided hands- The extent to which humpback whales (Megaptera on, experiential programs to connect students, novaeangliae) select distinct habitats in the North teachers, and the public with the natural Pacific has not yet been determined and should be environment. Since 2009-10, the Museum has considered a top priority in the context of marine spear-headed the Shad in the Classroom program spatial planning to ensure minimum conflict in conjunction with the US Fish & Wildlife Service between human uses and wildlife conservation. and the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. The The purpose of this study was to identify main focus is the raising of American Shad from predictable locations of humpback whale eggs to releasable fry in classrooms, ideally aggregations within sanctuary waters in central culminating in a field trip to release the fry in local California. We used data collected during Applied rivers. The program targets grades 5 through 12 California Current Ecosystem Studies (ACCESS) where students are the caretakers of their ‘shad cruises conducted by PRBO Conservation Science, babies’ – monitoring water quality, observing Cordell Bank and Gulf of the Farallones National behavior and growth, and participating in Marine Sanctuaries from 2004 to 2010. We classroom activities to increase their understanding estimated whale encounter rates at 3-km bin of American Shad and river ecology. Additional intervals. We overlaid whale distributions on prey aspects of the program extend beyond the (krill), hydrography (CTD) and bathymetry (depth) classroom walls. Teachers in the program are layers using a Geographic Information System to required to attend a training session where they extract covariate data at appropriate time and receive all necessary materials, hear from experts spatial scales. We used statistical model techniques on American Shad biology and management, and to determine habitat associations and to develop build connections with other participants. Grant predictive models to identify preferred whale funds are available to provide support for student habitats. We found that humpback whales select field trips to release fry in their natal rivers, particular locations for use, and that these habitats providing students and teachers with concrete change depending on ocean conditions. Our results connections between ‘their’ fish and the river highlight the potential use that spatial analysis on basin. Most teachers participate in an overnight marine wildlife may have to inform marine spatial canoe-camping experience on the Roanoke River planning and ensure the conservation of important and explore the bottomland hardwood forest threatened species. ecosystem, traditional American Shad spawning habitat. Through this combination of experiences, students and teachers make connections between a historically important anadromous fish species and North Carolina’s river basins, participate in an

58 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Wednesday, July 18 11:30 Measuring freshwater mussels; however, many of these Management: Using Qualitative And Quantitative species are in decline due to land use change, Tools To Optimize Shorebird Habitat At Cabo Rojo conflicting water resource demands, pollution, and Wildlife Refuge, Puerto Rico other factors. Furthermore, changing temperature Drew, Ashton*, North Carolina State University , and precipitation patterns attributed to climate Alexander, Louise, NC State University change are altering the aquatic landscape such that The Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge, located on habitat suitable in the present may not be suitable the southwest coast of Puerto Rico, supports a salt in the future. We are developing a model to flats ecosystem considered one of the most support USFWS mussel population recovery and important stopover habitats in the Caribbean. habitat management efforts within an adaptive Refuge managers wish to actively manage the management framework. The model characterizes hydrology of the salt flats in order to maximize stream reach habitat suitability and probability of accessible (depth), quality (salinity) habitat for occupancy in a manner that supports prioritizing foraging shorebirds. To help the refuge achieve this among the following decisions: do nothing, protect goal, we used the Open Standards for the Practice an existing population, restore habitat, translocate of Conservation, a qualitative framework rooted in individuals, or release captive bred individuals. We adaptive management, to guide expert elicitations use conservation planning and statistical modeling during two workshops to identify specific tools, including the Open Standards for the Practice conservation targets, threats to those targets, and of Conservation, Elicitator, and Bayesian belief management strategies to alleviate threats. We networks to move from modeling qualitative also defined explicit links between planned information to modeling quantitative information. management activities and expected outcomes as Ongoing mussel occupancy sampling efforts well as indicators to measure the effectiveness of enables model validation and updating. We will those strategies. Using a statistical software present model construction and validation program called Elicitator, we quantified expert methods, which include several cycles of knowledge about expected ecological responses to knowledge elicitation, model development, and management strategies and incorporated that model review. In addition, we will highlight how information within statistical models providing this pilot project has been designed to facilitate assessments of how migratory shorebirds respond support of conservation decisions for other to variable conditions at Cabo Rojo. These methods Southeastern freshwater taxa. allow for a transparent process and follow adaptive management principles. We discuss the advantages of our approach in light of the refuge’s goals and share how these tools inform the decision process. Monday, July 16 A Structured Approach To Designing Protection Areas For The Antillean Manatee In Puerto Rico. Drew, Ashton*, North Carolina State University , Monday, July 16 12:45 Hierarchical Landscape Alexander, Louise, NC State University Models For Endemic Unionid Mussels: Building Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) Strategic Habitat Conservation Tools For Mussel occurring in Puerto Rico are listed as an Recovery endangered species. Although little was known Drew, Ashton*, North Carolina State University , about the Puerto Rican manatee when listed in Kwak, Tom, USGS NC Cooperative Fish And Wildlife 1986, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Research Unit , Cope, Greg , Augspurger, Tom, Puerto Rico Department of Natural and USFWS Raleigh Field Office Environmental Resources have implemented The Southeastern US supports high diversity of various recovery activities focused on 59 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 environmental education-regulatory efforts, [GAP] data) based on how individual producers habitat mapping, and monitoring. These efforts manage their agricultural lands. Through a series of have provided important new data and insights workshop and individual elicitations, regional regarding the manatee population. The U.S. Fish producers and wildlife biologists identified (1) and Wildlife Service wished to capture this operational decisions (e.g. tillage, pest information in an updated recovery plan and in the management, or field border management design of manatee protected areas. We used the practices) at the field and field border level that Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation, a could impact wildlife, (2) the probability of positive, qualitative framework rooted in adaptive negative, or neutral impacts to vertebrate shelter management, to elicit expert knowledge to identify and forage resources under alternative decisions, conservation objectives, key habitat characteristics, and (3) the primary forage and shelter resources of develop an understanding of project context, and each GAP species. Species impacts are modeled as formally state hypotheses of how protected areas an indirect response to changes in the probability and conservation strategies will reduce threats. We of provisioning preferred resources. The final found these methods well suited for organizing biodiversity score is reported both as total richness diverse knowledge resources into a coherent and as a relative index reflecting the proportion of management vision with associated actions and species positively, negatively, or neutrally helpful in the development of consistent and impacted. Producers can compare impacts of transparent processes to capture available similar actions in different fields or alternative knowledge, identify uncertainties, and facilitate the actions in a single field. learning process central to adaptive management. We discuss the advantages of this method in light of agency objectives and remaining knowledge gaps regarding the species and causes of its Monday, July 16 Landscape-Level Associations decline. Among Waterbird Diversity And Characteristics Of Seasonal Winter Wetlands In A Large Conservation Hotspot Dronova, Iryna*, University Of California Berkeley Monday, July 16 Vertebrate Biodiversity In Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake-wetland Agricultural Landscapes: Predicting Impacts Of system in PR China located in the middle Yangtze Alternative Row Crop Production Strategies River basin, provides critical habitat for large Drew, Ashton*, North Carolina State University , numbers of wintering waterbirds from the East Alexander, Louise, NC State University , Collazo, Asian Flyway. Hydrological regulations, uncertain Jaime, USGS NC Cooperative Fish And Wildlife climate effects and residential development Research Unit impose serious threats to this ecological Many vertebrate species inhabit agricultural environment. While several research efforts landscapes, but increasing demand for food, fiber, address spatio-temporal patterns of habitat and biofuel threatens these communities. To better selection by individual species in this area, general understand and communicate the sustainability of relationships among waterbird diversity and alternative agricultural practices, we piloted a tool seasonal wetland characteristics driven by annual to inform commercial row crop producers (corn, flood cycle are not well understood. Limited field cotton, wheat, and soy) of the relative expected access and large wetland size create challenges for impacts of their operational decisions on terrestrial in situ surveys and suggest the need for cost- vertebrate biodiversity. Our models locally fine- effective geospatial indicators of landscape –level tune landscape-scale predictions of species diversity variation. Using Poyang Lake waterbird presence (from Southeastern Gap Analysis Program survey data from Dec 2006 and a matching remote 60 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 sensing image (Landsat TM, 30m pixel) we set of climate change indicators will be constructed generalized linear models to examine incorporated into a comprehensive monitoring the statistical relationships among several avian plan for the GFNMS with significant input from a diversity indices and land cover characteristics of regional working group of scientific experts. This the neighborhoods around small permanent winter first of its kind effort within the National Marine sub-lakes within the matrix of seasonal marshland. Sanctuary system will utilize a science-based Multiple candidate predictor variables including approach to determine how to most effectively area, shape and spectral characteristics of the track climate-induced changes in the study region dominant land cover types were extracted from over time, and to allow for impacts to be more the satellite image via object-based image analysis quickly and successfully identified and mitigated. (OBIA). From the pool of >100 tested variables, several features were consistently significantly associated with both species-based and guild- based diversity indices. Our results provide insight Wednesday, July 18 9:45 Open-Ocean Marine into the relative importance of remotely sensed Conservation Policy Processes: The Alphabet In indicators in explaining landscape-level diversity The Pelagic Soup * patterns that could be tested further following Dunn, Daniel , Duke University , Halpin, Pat more comprehensive waterbird censuses. CBD EBSAs, FAO VMEs, IMO PSSAs, ISA APEIs, UNESCO WHSs, RFMOs, CMS, COPs and SBSTTAs, EEZs and ABNJ, DOALOS, UNICPOLOS and the BBNJ working group… oh, oh, and don’t forget your Monday, July 16 3:30 Identifying And UNGA “Regular Process”! The alphabet soup of Incorporating Climate Change Indicators Into A international policy processes related to pelagic National Marine Sanctuary Monitoring Plan conservation in the open ocean is a confusing stew Duncan, Benet*, NOAA Gulf Of The Farallones of competencies and borderless boundaries. National Marine Sanctuary , Higgason, Kelley, Gulf However, if we are to make greater progress in Of The Farallones National Marine Sanctuary , conserving the open ocean, this is a meal we must Suchanek, Tom , Stachowicz, Jay, University Of eat. While areas beyond national jurisdiction make California, Davis , Cayan, Dan, Scripps Institution Of up 64% of the ocean, only 1.1% of that area is Oceanography/USGS under some level of protection (compared to 7.2% Impacts of global climate change have been of territorial seas). To even begin to attempt to observed on a regional scale along the north- reach the 10-30% targets for protection adopted by central California coast. To better monitor and a variety of conventions, organizations and address these impacts, work is underway at the governments, we need to understand the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary international policy processes affecting the open- (GFNMS) to identify environmental and ocean and make our research more accessible and biological/ecological climate change indicators for relevant to those policy makers. Here we present the region stretching from Bodega Head south to the international policy context for pelagic Año Nuevo. Climate change indicators are conservation and work being done by the Global measurable variables that can be used to Ocean Biodiversity Initiative (GOBI) to inform those determine the presence and impacts of climate processes. In particular, we will highlight change in a region. Indicators are selected opportunities presented by ongoing following a rigorous process that incorporates an intergovernmental workshops convened by the extensive literature review, workshops with Secretariat to the Convention on Biological regional experts, numerical modeling, and data Diversity to identify Ecologically or Biologically analysis. In future stages of the project, the final 61 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Significant Areas in need of protection, and recent Monday, July 16 4:30 Levee Setback Assessment academic workshops on related topics. Of The Lower Santa Clara River, Ventura County, California: Implications For Flood Risk Management And Ecological Benefit Dusterhoff, Scott*, Stillwater Sciences , Campbell, Tuesday, July 17 3:00 Beavers Link Tree Chris, cbec, Inc. , Brand, Peter Heterozygosity To Community Over the past 60 years, a network of levees has Diversity been constructed along the lower Santa Clara River * Durben, Rachel , Walker, Faith, Northern Arizona in Ventura County, CA. The network includes both University , Shuster, Stephen, Northern Arizona public and private levees designed to protect University , Whitham, Thomas, Northern Arizona portions of the natural floodplain from inundation University and erosion during commonly occurring flood We examined the hypothesis that tree genetic events. By constraining floodwaters locally and diversity and arthropod community diversity will preventing floodplain inundation, the levees act to covary when revealed by beaver herbivory. increase flooding potential downstream and can Although genetic diversity within stands of trees is have a negative impact on channel and floodplain known to have community-level consequences, it is geomorphic and ecological processes. In an effort unknown whether such effects are present at an to understand benefits associated with setting back even finer scale, i.e. whether genetic variation of levees, a hydrodynamic model was developed for individual trees impacts associated communities. the California Coastal Conservancy that examines Our study contrasted arthropod community the impact of targeted levee setbacks on flow diversity and microsatellite marker-derived hydraulics and floodplain inundation during high measures of genetic diversity (individual multilocus flow conditions. The modeling analysis included heterozygosity) of cottonwood (Populus fremontii) examining levee setback on selected floodplain trees that had been felled by beavers and were parcels under current flood flows and potential resprouting, relative to adjacent standing, unfelled future flows that account for expected climate trees. Three patterns emerged. 1. Arthropod change effects. The modeling showed: 1) the community diversity was significantly positively effects of setting back levees on local hydraulics correlated with the heterozygosity of felled trees, were localized primarily due to limited floodplain but not of unfelled trees. 2. This result was not due storage capacity and downstream hydraulic to population substructure, genetic relatedness of controls; and 2) that setting back levees on the the trees, or hybridization. 3. The underlying largest floodplain parcels with the lowest average mechanism appears to be greater tree productivity ground elevation had the greatest benefit. Moving with increasing heterozygosity. We suggest that forward, the model can be used as a management high stress to trees as a consequence of felling tool to assess the flood risk management and drives the heterozygosity-productivity correlation, geomorphic/ecological benefits associated with which is attractive to . This result links other proposed channel/floodplain modifications. the genetic diversity of individual trees to community diversity, supporting the hypothesis that interactions among foundation species do have community-level effects. Our work suggests that foundation species' genetic diversity may benefit dependent communities in non-obvious ways, providing additional incentives for promotion and conservation of genetic diversity in management and restoration efforts. 62 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Tuesday, July 17 12:15 Effects Of Weather On one of the largest colonies of Brandt’s cormorants Juvenile Survival Vary By Stage: A Test Of The (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) on the west coast of Parental Care Hypothesis North America. Reproductive success of this colony Dybala, Kristen* , Gardali, Thomas, PRBO has varied through time, with low productivity Conservation Science , Eadie, John M., University Of years associated with poor ocean condition years California, Davis (e.g., El Niño events). However, recent years of Variation in juvenile survival can have significant cold, productive ocean conditions have not impacts on population growth rates, so resulted in improved productivity for the understanding the population-level effects of cormorants. Since 2008, a productive ocean year, environmental change requires understanding the this species has experienced anomalously low effects on juvenile survival. However, the productivity. We analyzed diet information of sensitivity of juvenile survival to environmental Brandt’s cormorant colonies on the Farallones and conditions may change as juveniles grow and their relationships to this species’ productivity, as develop. Although the youngest juveniles appear well as how their diet relates to ocean conditions. quite vulnerable to variation in environmental This species consumed mostly northern anchovy conditions, parental care may buffer their survival (Engraulis mordax) before 2008, then switched to from these effects, while newly-independent eating flatfish and rockfish species. There was a juveniles often lack the skills to cope with poor significant positive relationship between Brandt’s conditions and may actually be more sensitive to cormorant productivity and the proportion of environmental conditions. We tested this parental northern anchovy in their diet. When considering care hypothesis by examining the effects of prior measures of ocean conditions, the North Pacific winter weather (related to food availability), Gyre Oscillation (NPGO) for the winter prior to the density, fledge date, and body mass on the survival cormorant breeding season is negatively related to of dependent and independent juvenile Song the amount of anchovy in the cormorant diet. This Sparrows (Melospiza melodia) between 1980 and diet analysis, in combination with studies of prey 2010. Weather had the strongest effect on survival, availability and ocean conditions, could help accounting for 56% of the annual variation in determine mechanisms behind changing fish survival around an overall declining trend, yet only populations, and provide information to assist in affected the survival of independent juveniles. management and conservation of Brandt’s These results support the hypothesis that parental cormorants and their prey in Central California. care can buffer the survival of dependent fledglings from annual variation in environmental conditions, and that the survival of independent juveniles is a major driver of annual variation in juvenile survival. Monday, July 16 3:20 Emergence And Stewardship Of The Biosphere Ellis, Erle*, Geography & Environmental Systems, Umbc Tuesday, July 17 9:15 Ocean Conditions And The Human populations and their use of land have Diet Of Brandt's Cormorant (Phalacrocorax transformed more than three quarters of the penicillatus) At Southeast Farallon Island terrestrial biosphere into anthropogenic biomes Elliott, Meredith L.*, PRBO Conservation Science , (anthromes). Anthromes first emerged in Acosta, Sara, PRBO Conservation Science , Schmidt, prehistoric times and have been sustained for Annie, University Of California, Davis , Bradley, millennia in many regions through human use of Russell, PRBO Conservation Science , Warzybok, fire, tillage, irrigation, and other ecosystem Pete, PRBO Conservation Science , Jahncke, Jaime engineering strategies together with the harvest, Southeast Farallon Island in Central California hosts transport, introduction and management of native, 63 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 domestic, and exotic plant and animal species. As a biologists are imminently facing regulatory result, human reshaping of ecological pattern and decisions for wind energy projects with limited process is now global, profound, and in most cases data about associated threats and options available virtually irreversible, making it more than a to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts to bats. challenge to conserve most species in native To address this, USFWS and U.S. Geological Survey habitats. Yet, despite widespread losses of native scientists are working together to address research species and even greater increases in exotics, the priorities to support decision-making concerning majority of native plant species appear to be bats and wind energy facilities across the United sustaining viable populations in the shadow of their States. These priorities include reliably predicting more abundant exotic competitors in the novel take of bats, linking pre-construction surveys with ecosystems that now cover nearly 40% of Earth’s post-construction mortality, and understanding ice-free land. Recent trends in urbanization, basic life history parameters as they relate to agricultural intensification, and environmental exposure to risk from wind turbines. Progress in awareness offer increasing opportunities to sustain this research will help us ensure that increasing biodiversity within the anthropogenic landscape renewable energy development does not come mosaics created and sustained by human systems. with unsustainable costs to our wildlife resources. Effective global stewardship of terrestrial biodiversity in the Anthropocene will require a new conservation paradigm based on multifunctional landscape management together with fundamental Monday, July 16 3:45 Projected Extinction Of advances in observing, modeling, monitoring, and Tidal Marsh Sparrows Following Sea-Level Rise: managing biodiversity in regional landscapes Can People Do Anything? * globally. Elphick, Chris , University Of Connecticut , Field, Chris, University Of Connecticut , Bayard, Trina, University Of Connecticut , Meiman, Sue, University Of Connecticut , Hill, Jason, Pennsylvania Tuesday, July 17 12:30 Bats And Wind Energy: Cooperative Fish And Wildlife Research Unit , State Of Knowledge And Research Priorities For Gjerdrum, Carina, Canadian Wildlife Service , USFWS And USGS Rubega, Margaret, University Of Connecticut Ellison, Laura*, USGS , Cook, Megan, U.S. Fish And Climate change is predicted to affect a multitude of Wildlife Service , Szymanski, Jennifer, U.S. Fish And species, many of which could go extinct. Specialist Wildlife Service species, especially those restricted to habitats that Advancing renewable energy, including wind will diminish under climate change, are presumably energy development, is an important step in most vulnerable. High latitude and high elevation reducing our nation's dependence on non- species have received much attention, but species renewable sources of power. Since early in the found in coastal habitats threatened by sea-level development of wind energy production, concerns rise represent another class of organisms at have arisen about the potential impacts of turbines especially high levels of risk. The saltmarsh to wildlife. Recent evidence shows that certain sparrows Ammodramus caudacutus is a tidal marsh species of bats are particularly susceptible to endemic bird, representative of this group of mortality from wind turbines and are dying by the species. High tide flooding is the main cause of nest thousands across North America. This failure, and nesting habitat is limited to high marsh unanticipated problem for bats has moved to the areas that are flooded during spring tides. Using forefront of conservation and management efforts nesting data from 35 tidal cycles (2002-09) we directed toward this poorly understood group of estimated the relationship between peak tide mammals. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) height and nest success to predict the tide height 64 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 at which reproductive failure is complete. Using However, we also discuss the difficulties of predicted sea-level rise scenarios, we determined designing optimal programs in the face of such high when this tide height will become the norm. The uncertainty and strategies for addressing results suggest that saltmarsh sparrow challenges. Finally, we discuss what can be said, reproductive success will approach zero by mid- and with how much certainty, about managing for century. Other tidal-marsh nesting birds will face a something that is highly uncertain. Our approach similar fate, albeit not quite so rapidly. Available and challenges are applicable to managing management options to protect this suite of biological invasions world-wide, and reflect the species will require major changes in the nature of difficulties of conservation management in an coastal zone management in the northeastern US uncertain world more generally. that include rethinking current approaches to marsh restoration, the protection of alternative coastal habitats, and whether some species simply cannot be saved. Monday, July 16 8:30 Understanding How Human Activities Trigger The Emergence Of Wildlife Zoonoses. Epstein, Jonathan H.*, Ecohealth Alliance Wednesday, July 18 4:45 Designing Surveillance Globally, we are experiencing an unprecedented For Unknown Invaders: Searching When You Don't rate of infectious disease emergence. More than Know What You Are Searching For 50% of known human pathogens originate in Epanchin-Niell, Rebecca*, Resources For The Future animal populations, and of those classified as , Brockerhoff, Eckehard, Scion , Turner, James, emerging, nearly 75% are zoonotic. In many cases, AgResearch , Kean, John viral pathogens have entered into human Cost-effective surveillance strategies are needed populations from wildlife either directly (e.g HIV, for efficient responses to biological invasions and ebolavirus) or via domestic animal hosts (e.g. must account for the trade-offs between Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, Nipah & Hendra surveillance effort and management costs. virus), Nipah virus and SARS coronavirus provide Designing optimal surveillance for specific, known two good examples of how viral spillover was invaders is challenging even when much is known precipitated by anthropogenic activities. In about the target species. However, designing Malaysia, Nipah virus emerged in 1997-98 as a surveillance for unknown potential future invaders respiratory and neurological disease in pigs, is even more difficult because invasion rates and however, it was the subsequent human infections processes, damages, the availability of control with a 40% case fatality rate that led to the options, and control costs all are highly uncertain. identification of this previously unknown pathogen. Here we develop a framework for optimizing The natural reservoir of Nipah virus are frugivorous surveillance for a diverse group of unknown bats of the Pteropus, and current evidence potential invaders in order to minimize the total supports the theory that Nipah virus co-evolved expected costs of new invasions over time. We with its bat hosts over time. One of the critical apply the framework to optimizing surveillance for factors that allowed Nipah virus to emerge was the future invasion by wood borers and bark beetles in intensification of pig farming in previously forested New Zealand; these species have the potential to habitats that were utilized by bats, coupled with significantly impact New Zealand’s plantation and the planting of fruit orchards on the farms adjacent urban forests. We show that optimal surveillance to the pig enclosures. In Bangladesh, Nipah virus depends on invasion and economic characteristics moves directly from bats to people via and that surveillance efforts should be targeted contamination of date palm sap, a cultivated food based on risk, expected damages, and costs. resource also utilized by bats. In 2003, SARS 65 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 coronavirus emerged in southern China from bat study systems influenced by climatic change. As reservoirs due to increased contact among bats, both these climatic metrics change, climatically- domestic animals, and people via the wildlife trade. sensitive species such as the American pika must Wildlife conservation and public health are not be closely monitored. incompatible. Strategies for decreasing the risk of zoonotic disease emergence include developing a better understanding of wildlife ecology; creating buffers between wildlife habitat and urban or Monday, July 16 Assessing Predictive Ability Of agricultural environments; and modifying current Bioclimatic Envelope Models Using Data From The human activities to reduce contact among people, North Slope Of Alaska * livestock and wildlife. Escovar, Tatiana , Pearson, Richard One of the most used modeling strategies to predict potential changes in species distribution is the species’ bioclimatic envelope model. However, Monday, July 16 4:00 Climatic Influences On this strategy has been widely questioned due to its Multi-Year Occupancy Of The American Pika (O. assumptions and uncertainties. Here, we evaluated princeps) In The Southern Rocky Mountains the accuracy of this approach by comparing niche Erb, Liesl P*, University Of Colorado At Boulder , models against observed records. We built Guralnick, Robert , Ray, Chris, University Of ecological niche models with shrub presence and Colorado-Boulder abundance records across the North Slope of As a cold-adapted, primarily montane mammal Alaska for the year 2000 and environmental data species, the American pika (Ochotona princeps) is from 1960-1990 for the same region. Models were presumed to depend on a narrow set of climatic then predicted for 1931-1960. A measure of shrub conditions for survival. While much is known about change was obtained by comparing the 1960-1990 the natural history of this species, its climatic models against 1931-1960 projections. Changes tolerance is being tested throughout the species’ were then compared to observed records of range as the rate and severity of anthropogenic increase in shrub cover over the past 50 years in climate change heightens. Some populations have northern Alaska. Our results show no correlation suffered recent extirpations, particularly in the between the predicted changes and the observed hotter, more arid regions of the American pika’s changes. We discuss the limitations of the models range, such as the Great Basin. Populations in and the importance of spatial scale as a key factor regions such as the southern Rocky Mountains, of the predictive ability of specie’s bioclimatic have, on the whole, fared much better in the face envelope models. of recent climatic change. Our 2008-2011 surveys of 69 historically occupied locations indicate that pikas still inhabit over 80% of these historic sites. Despite these relatively high occupancy rates, a Wednesday, July 18 8:30 Biodiversity And notable pattern has emerged among the locations Ecosystem Services In Changing Ethiopian Coffee lacking pikas in the four focal survey years. Agroecosystems: Challenges & Opportunities * Occupancy modeling of these data indicate that Eshete, Getachew , University Of California, Santa chronically dry sites were the most likely to lack Cruz , Zavaleta, Erika, Environmental Studies Dept. pikas in 2008, while new extirpations in later Deforestation and land use changes in tropical survey years indicate that populations experiencing landscapes are key drivers of biodiversity and high summer temperatures are also vulnerable. ecosystem services loss. Although most land use These results suggest important interactive effects conversions are threats, some land uses such as of precipitation and temperature for this and other shade-coffee agro-ecosystems may serve as refugia 66 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 for native biodiversity while supporting livelihoods. Alameda Point and Hayward Regional Shoreline, We studied (1) the relative roles of shade-coffee are located 10 miles apart. The Alameda Point systems in the conservation of woody species colony, on the former Naval Air Station, Alameda, diversity and (2) the impact of disturbance and has grown at an average rate of 9.2% per year since fragmentation in remnant biodiverse forests in its discovery in 1976 and has a nesting density Ethiopia, the origin of Arabica coffee. Using an ranging from 1-153 nests per ha. Long-term ecological study of 3 large government farms (GF), breeding success at Alameda has averaged 0.86 39 small-holder coffee farms (SF), and 18 small and fledglings per breeding pair. Breeding success large forest fragments (FF), we analyzed patterns increased through the 1980s, declined through the of species diversity and availability of locally 1990s and the early 2000s, and increased again in important ecosystem goods and services the last five years. The Hayward colony, located on (EGS). We found that 12% of the native woody an island created from dredge materials in 2001 flora exclusively occurs in coffee farms, while 59% has been enhanced with additional substrate and 26% of the regional native woody biodiversity materials, social attraction devices, vegetation and is accommodated in SF and GF predator management. Least Terns began respectively. Woody species diversity in GF is appearing at this island in 2003, and successful lower than SF (p<0.001) and FF (p<0.001). breeding attempts have been observed since 2006. Both coffee farms harbor diverse populations of This colony has grown at an average rate of 51.5% birds, primates, insects, and small mammals. While per year and has a nesting density ranging from 33 some species highly valued for construction – 333 nests per ha. Long-term breeding success has materials are abundant in FF, SF maintain the averaged 0.87 fledglings per breeding pair. The highest diversity of species providing EGS such as breeding bird assemblage at the Alameda Point soil fertility, nitrogen fixation, bee forage, beehive colony site has three nesting species including the hanging and shade. Hence, such non-forested California Least Tern, whereas the Hayward colony landscapes can support significant biodiversity and has nine additional nesting waterbird species. vital ecosystem services in these rapidly changing Dropped fish have been collected from both landscapes. colonies, and silversides (family Atherinopsidae) are the dominant prey. Alameda terns forage on a greater variety of species than the Hayward terns. Our regression results indicate the importance of Monday, July 16 Breeding Status And Diet Northern Anchovy (Engraulis mordax) to the Trends Of Two California Least Tern Colonies In breeding success of the Alameda colony. Seabirds The San Francisco Bay. can be used as indicators of change in the * Euing, Susan H. , U. S. Fish And Wildlife Service , surrounding environment. Least tern diet data, Riensche, David, East Bay Regional Park District , collected by researchers from various breeding Elliott, Meredith L., PRBO Conservation Science sites in central and southern California, tell us what SUSAN H. EUING, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is happening with the local marine and estuarine Alameda Point, P.O. Box 159, Alameda, CA 94501 ecosystems in which this species forages and USA, [email protected] DAVID L. RIENSCHE, inhabits. Using similar techniques, PRBO East Bay Regional Park District, P.O. Box 5381, Conservation Science has analyzed diet data from Oakland, CA 94605 USA, [email protected] other seabirds (Brandt’s cormorants, pelagic MEREDITH L. ELLIOTT, PRBO Conservation Science, cormorants, pigeon guillemots, common murres, 3820 Cypress Drive, #11, Petaluma, CA 94954 USA, etc.), collected at various locations in northern and [email protected] ABSTRACT: The two largest southern California. The diet data reflect the colonies of the California Least Tern (Sternula changing prey populations off California's coast, antillarum browni) in the San Francisco Bay area, 67 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 and some results relate well to regional climate Historical Native Communities? changes,such as the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation. Eviner, Valerie*, UC Davis, Department Plant Sciences Wednesday, July 18 4:15 Public Participation In Exotic grasses have dominated California’s Scientific Research And The California Naturalist grasslands since the mid-1800’s, with native Program: Building The Nexus Between Learning communities only persisting in isolated areas. And Action These invaded systems are highly resilient, and Evans, Emily*, University Of California, Davis , restoration of native grasslands often requires Ballard, Heidi, University Of California, Davis , intensive and continuous management. There is Merenlender, Adina , Meredith, Anna, UC Berkeley considerable debate about which natives were Two types of conservation education and action historically dominant, and the relative importance programs, statewide Master Naturalist programs of drought, , and other factors in and citizen science projects, have been shown to mediating the conversion from native- to exotic- increase volunteers’ ecological knowledge, dominance. There is evidence for factors that understanding of science and/or environment- contribute to the resilience of the invaded state, related behaviors but have operated most often in including: climate shifts, pathogens, plant-soil isolation. We report on an integrated model feedbacks, small mammals, and N deposition. designed to capitalize on the benefits of both types Understanding these mechanisms may improve of programs for participants, and to recruit a restoration strategies, but if the native systems are trained population of volunteers to assist no longer resilient under current environmental conservation organizations with their data conditions, restoration attempts may further collection needs. We have created and are testing degrade these grasslands. This is particularly of an integrated model for regional networks of concern due to a more recent wave of invaders California Naturalists (California’s statewide Master that greatly decrease plant diversity and livestock Naturalist program) and citizen science/PPSR production. Success of these new invaders has projects, funded by NSF’s Informal Science been attributed to diverse factors, including: Education. At two pilot sites we are recruiting non- increased atmospheric carbon dioxide, shifting traditional participants to CA Naturalist trainings seasonality of precipitation, alterations in grazing and linking these nodes with myriad PPSR projects and fire regimes, and low prevalence of native and in their region. To find out what participants are naturalized plants with a late-season phenology. learning and how their conservation actions might These new invasions require us to reconsider our be changing, we are tracking volunteers’ progress management practices and goals, based on through the trainings and regional PPSR programs balancing what we desire from these systems, and through volunteer tracking tools, surveys and what is ecologically possible, particularly with a interviews with participants. We present our shifting environment. progress in creating this model and discuss preliminary results of who participates, how and why they are participating, and what they are gaining from participating in conservation science Monday, July 16 Population Dynamics Of Aerial through this new integrated model And Terrestrial Populations Of Phytophthora ramorum In A California Watershed Under Different Climatic Conditions Eyre, Catherine*, UC Berkeley Tuesday, July 17 8:45 Resilience Of Long-Term We present one of the first analyses of the Invasions In California Grasslands: Should We epidemiology of SOD (Sudden Oak Death) in Manage These As Novel Ecosystems Or Restore California within a watershed based on temporally 68 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 and spatially replicated surveys of symptoms, how the agencies in charge of administering the viability of the pathogen from symptomatic leaves, Endangered Species Act use genetics to guide their and genetic analyses using polymorphic SSR decisions. I then use a variety of approaches to markers. SOD symptoms on leaves of the ensure that the best available science is used to transmissive host California bay laurel increased inform agency policy generally as well as specific significantly from 15 to 39% in six survey plots policy decisions – from publishing scientific journal between dry and wet conditions, while levels of articles, to preparing technical public comments, to identical symptoms caused by other foliar reaching out to others in the scientific community. pathogen were highest (69%) in dry conditions, In this presentation I will highlight each of these suggesting P. ramorum and other pathogens while approaches with case studies including a recent occupying the same niche are favored by different proposed taxonomic revision of the gray wolf to climatic conditions. Although some foliar illustrate how science can and does affect policy. genotypes of P. ramorum were more abundant in Although academic scientists are often unaware of wet than in dry conditions, a significant number of how to contribute to the science-policy interface, foliar genotypes were dominant and persistent they are often well positioned to do so. I will end through time. Soil and foliar populations were with a set of recommendations for scientists who clearly genetically distinct but intermixing. We are interested in bridging the divide. surmise that the genetic structure between substrates is not due to the presence of two distinct populations, but to the different ability of genotypes to adapt to the different substrates. Monday, July 16 10:00 An Integrated There is evidence that in climatic conditions Hydromodification Management Framework To unfavorable to the pathogen genetic diversity Protect Instream Communities * increases, and in favorable conditions fewer Federico, Felicia , UCLA La Kretz Center For genotypes are more widespread. We also show California Conservation Science , Stein, Eric, that foliar genotypes can spread further than soil Southern California Coastal Water Research Project genotypes in wet years, and that soil appears to be , Booth, Derek, UC Santa Barbara , Bledsoe, Brian, re-inoculated on a yearly basis. Colorado State University , Bowles, Chris, cbec, Inc., Eco-Engineering , Berntsen, Eric, Ca State Water Resources Control Board , Gearheart, Greg, Ca State Water Resources Control Board Tuesday, July 17 10:00 A Double Helix Of Land use changes alter watershed hydrologic and Science And Policy? The Role Of Genetics In geomorphic processes (hydromodification) often Endangered Species Decisions resulting in changes to stream morphology and, in Fallon, Sylvia* turn, changes to instream biological communities. One of the most contentious debates in species Regulation and management of hydromodification protection under the Endangered Species Act is in its infancy in California. The primary focus has revolves around the taxonomic classification of been on morphological endpoints; implementation various species, subspecies or distinct population is through new and re-development only, on a segments. The use of genetics in resolving these project-by-project basis; and there is little designations has become commonplace, yet the monitoring data to support current stormwater type and amount of genetic data that is relied on control design requirements. This talk will varies by each policy decision potentially leading to summarize an integrated hydromodification inconsistent results regarding whether a species management framework developed for the State of receives protection. As a scientist at an California that informs development of place- environmental advocacy organization, I monitor specific strategies to address contemporary and 69 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 legacy effects on instream structure and function. stretch as populations exhibit similarities in allelic This framework incorporates technical richness and levels of observed heterozygosity recommendations related to assessment, (mean AR = 5.394, mean HO = 0.690). Such data modeling, development of management strategies provide new insight into the dispersal tendencies and monitoring. Effective management of of hellbenders and suggest that gene flow and hydromodification will require coordinated movement occur at a greater extent than that approaches across programs at the watershed proposed by telemetry data alone. scale that address all aspects of runoff, sediment generation and storage, instream habitat, and floodplain management. This talk presents a synthesis of the most recent research to inform Wednesday, July 18 3:00 Causal Mechanisms Of both short-term regulatory implementation as well Protected Areas On Poverty * as long-term policies. This is applicable throughout Ferraro, Paul , Georgia State University , Hanauer, CA and nationwide. Merlin, Sonoma State University To estimate the effects on poverty from the establishment of protected areas, a study should incorporate pre-protection measures of poverty (or Monday, July 16 Fine-Scale Genetic Structuring proxies for them) and explicitly control for the non- And Within-Stream Population Diversity In The random nature in which protected areas are Ozark Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis established. Few studies satisfy these criteria, and bishopi) the few studies that satisfy them fail to answer the Feist, Sheena*, Eggert Lab, University Of Missouri , question of how protected areas affect poverty. Briggler, Jeffrey, Missouri Department Of Armed with this answer, decision-makers could Conservation , Koppelman, Jeffrey, Missouri better design protected area networks to foster the Department Of Conservation , Eggert, Lori mechanisms that alleviate poverty and to The Ozark hellbender (Cryptobranchus discourage the mechanisms that exacerbate alleganiensis bishopi) was recently listed as an poverty. Unfortunately, identifying causal endangered species due to dramatic declines in mechanisms is much more difficult than identifying population size. Because such declines may result average causal effects. To demonstrate how causal in decreased genetic diversity which compromises mechanisms of protected areas on poverty can be the species ability to recover and persist, identified and quantified, we build on a rich data investigations into the genetic structuring of these set from Costa Rica. Our analysis suggests that populations are warranted. Previous studies nearly half of the poverty reduction associated identified clear genetic structuring across a broad with the establishment of protected areas is geographic scale (i.e. between rivers). However, attributable to tourism. Infrastructure hellbenders are habitat specialists that exhibit development accounts for a relatively small extreme site fidelity and low vagility. This suggests proportion of the estimated poverty reduction. that gene flow may be restricted among the Ecosystem services from changes in forest cover discrete habitat patches that comprise a single account for no net effect on poverty, but may help river. Using 15 polymorphic microsatellite loci, we to counteract the negative effects on the poor assessed the fine-scale genetic relationships from restricted access to protected resources. The between hellbenders occupying various river remaining estimated poverty reduction comes segments. Genetic distances were low (pairwise from unidentified mechanisms, which may include FST < 0.028), indicating little genetic differentiation mechanisms other than the three we identified or exists amongst habitat patches. In addition, levels pathways not captured by our mechanism proxies. of diversity remain constant along the river’s 70 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 Community-Based Planning For virtual professional network. Examples will be Public Lands In The California Mother Lode presented from the Native Seed Network Fety, Lauren*, Bureau Of Land Management (nativeseednetwork.org) and Ecosystem Commons If everyone is unhappy, the adage goes, planners (ecosystemcommons.org). These sites represent an are doing their job. In the Mother Lode, the Bureau accessible and informal way to cultivate of Land Management (BLM) is finalizing a relationships and advance conservation goals. The collaborative, community-based plan. Planning for sites offer public and private workspaces for the 695-acre parcel involved: 14 months of public sharing information and experiences among an meetings, 230 participants, and hours of discussion audience of conservation professionals. among the stakeholders. The Kanaka Valley Discussions, wikis, and document repositories are Management Plan is the Mother Lode Field Office’s all available within a group context to facilitate fifth collaborative, community-based plan. In the organization of content and build partnerships. rapidly growing Sierra Nevada foothills, the BLM Groups may be regional or topical and can has pioneered collaborative, community-based originate organically from community members to planning methods since the 1990s. Since then, address emerging interests. Building a successful community-based planning has been used in areas online community requires a sustained with high public interest: multi-agency watersheds, commitment and dedicated staff time, not a “build noncontiguous public lands, and high use parcels. it and they will come” approach. Involving people who are interested in, or live near, the planning area brings improved community buy- in and uses community expertise in an increasingly integrated landscape. During community-based Wednesday, July 18 9:10 Revising State Wildlife planning, the BLM developed methods to promote Action Plans For Climate Change And Other flexibility, community involvement, education, Challenges * effective use of technology, and public Figg, Dennis , Missouri Department Of understanding of multiple-use landscapes. Conservation Collaborative, community-based planning is an The development of a comprehensive effective way to approach conservation planning, plan/strategy for every state in the nation was a especially when the planning areas are integrated monumental experiment in conservation planning. in a neighborhood or otherwise have strong public Although development of state plans was guided interest. With rapid habitat fragmentation and loss by training and support materials, the charge for and an uncertain future, working with communities the first round of state wildlife plans/strategies was for conservation and resource management is to prepare what was most needed by each imperative. individual state. That was appropriate for the first round, and in many cases an important opportunity for state agencies to further define their role in conserving all plants, fish, wildlife and the habitats Tuesday, July 17 10:05 Conservation they depend upon. The next round of revisions will Collaboration: Connecting Through Online require that state agencies and conservation Communities partners apply lessons learned so the level of Fiegener, Rob*, Institute For Applied Ecology engagement is higher than in the past. Our rapidly Online communications are an increasingly changing world is less and less fish and wildlife powerful way of connecting with colleagues and friendly every day. The products of conservation constituents, and have become a common planning similarly developed, presented, and deliverable in conservation grants. This speed talk readily shared between and among states and with will discuss creating and sustaining an effective conservation partners, both public and private. 71 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Even without concerns for climate change, these Finkelstein, Myra*, University Of California , Kurle, are desirable improvements. Considering the far Carolyn, University Of California San Diego , reaching effect of climate change to all lands and Aukema, Juliann, E., Aukema Conservation Science waters, these are necessary changes to state action , Doak, Daniel, University Of Wyoming Coop plans/strategies. Research Unit , Bakker, Vickie, James Madison University , George, Daniel, National Park Service , Burnett, Joe, Ventana Wildlife Society , Brandt, Joseph, United States Fish And Wildlife Service , Tuesday, July 17 9:10 Anathema! Planting Non- Bargu, Sibel, Department Of Oceanography And Native Species For Butterfly Recovery On Coastal Sciences , Sandhaus, Estelle A., Santa Washington Prairies Barbara Zoo , Smith, Donald R., University Of * Fimbel, Cheryl , The Center For Natural Lands California Management , Linders, Mary, Washington Lead poisoning is recognized as a major factor Department Of Fish And Wildlife limiting the recovery of California Condors Conservation partners are working to recover the (Gymnogyps californianus) and the principal source Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha of lead exposure is considered lead-based taylori) in Puget Lowland Prairies of western ammunition. Assuming this major impediment to Washington. In 2007, a multidisciplinary team recovery is resolved, what is the future for initiated a strategy to enhance habitat for condors? In looking beyond lead, trash ingestion reintroducing checkerspots in formerly occupied and marine contamination may pose significant prairies. This approach emphasizes controlling barriers to condor recovery; and the solution for invasive plants and re-planting important Taylor’s these issues is less clear. Trash ingestion is cited as checkerspot resources, emphasizing larval food the most important mortality factor for condor plants. Partners strategically plant multiple species nestlings and is responsible for 73% (8/11) of of Taylor’s checkerspot food plants, including seeds mortalities for condor chicks hatched in the wild. and seedling plugs of the non-native narrowleaf Exposure to marine contamination will likely plantain (Plantago lanceolata) into butterfly increase as the growing condor population in management units in semi-native prairie habitat. coastal California is predicted to increase their Although not native, concentrations of plantains reliance on beach cast marine mammals as a food are used for oviposition by Taylor’s checkerspot source, and marine mammals are known to contain females and support larval feeding. Plantains high levels of contaminants (mercury, PCBs, DDTs) appear to provide an important food resource for that bioaccumulate. To investigate risk from pre-diapause larvae when many native host plants marine contamination, we evaluated markers for are senescing during drought conditions. foraging behavior (observational data, carbon and Conservation practitioners should look beyond the nitrogen stable isotope values) as well as mercury traditional native / non-native dichotomy when concentrations in condor blood (n=44). We found a planning management actions for rare species significant association between mercury exposure recovery; considering instead functional attributes and feeding behavior indicative of ingestion of and and risks associated with essential resources. contamination from marine mammals. We conclude that California condor’s struggle for survival is ongoing and our results highlight the challenges faced by many endangered species Monday, July 16 12:15 Can California Condors trying to recover in the polluted environment in Survive In A Polluted World? The Role Of which they live. Terrestrial And Marine Contamination On An Endangered Bird's Recovery 72 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Wednesday, July 18 11:00 LC MAP: An LCC project inception to conservation decision, and Approach To Integrated Data Management And discuss how LC MAP integrates with a suite of Analysis compatible digital conservation tools and services. Finn, Sean*, Great Northern Landscape Conservation Cooperative , Converse, Yvette, Great Northern Landscape Conservation Cooperative , Olliff, Tom, Great Northern Landscape Tuesday, July 17 4:15 Fifteen Years Down The Conservation Cooperative , Sojda, Rick, Great Road: Integrating Human And Natural Northern Landscape Conservation Cooperative , Communities In California's Central Coast * Kern, Tim, USGS Fort Collins Science Center , Fischer, Christina , Santa Lucia Conservancy , Wilson, Lei Ann, USGS Fort Collins Science Center Wilson, Christopher, Santa Lucia Conservancy , The path to effective collaboration over large Hauser, Christopher, Santa Lucia Conservancy geographic areas depends on successful In the early 1990s, a development partnership transcendence of boundaries – political, purchased an historic 20,000 acre California cattle jurisdictional, disciplinary, social, and technical. The ranch to pursue a vision of creating a conservation- Great Northern Landscape Conservation compatible community nested within a diverse Cooperative (GNLCC) and partners are working to coastal landscape of redwoods, hardwood forest, soften these boundaries while respecting the oak savanna, grasslands and coastal scrub. Fifteen vision, mandates, and security concerns of the years after entitlements, the community is at broad array of LCC partners. GNLCC has developed approximately 30% build-out and 90% of the land is a state-of-the-art geospatial data discovery, in permanent protected status. The Santa Lucia management, and analysis tool which supports Conservancy, an independent non-profit land trust, inter-organization collaboration and coordination: was established and fully endowed through the The Landscape Conservation Management and entitlement process to conduct ecological research, Analysis Portal (LC?MAP). LC?MAP combines land stewardship and education activities and to modules built off DOIs open source developed ensure compliance monitoring and enforcement on ScienceBase, which provides efficient data search, protected lands. This unusual approach offers catalog, and management tools, with the ArcGIS10 useful insights into the potential benefits and spatial data editing, analysis, and modeling challenges to biodiversity conservation associated environment to provide a powerful, fully functional with private residential developments. In project management and decision process portal. particular, our experiences highlight the Interaction with the spatial data employs web importance of planning and managing for services allowing dispersed, inter-organizational biodiversity as opposed to listed species, ensuring teams to access and analyze common datasets in that land protection mechanisms and monitoring near real-time and provides automated metadata requirements are consistent with biodiversity and versioning functions to closely document goals, and that community residents are offered project progress and product development. A meaningful opportunities to understand and robust security infrastructure is built in front of all support efforts to protect ecological health. components giving project managers fine-tune controls over accessibility and data publication. Design tradeoffs were biased toward reaching the widest possible audience while relying on established, stable platforms with in-place user support. This presentation will describe our theoretical approach to Portal development, provide real world examples of functionality from 73 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Wednesday, July 18 8:30 Learning From The Each of these management regimes has different First Generation Of National Wildlife Refuge aspects of local community control and access to Comprehensive Conservation Plans the natural resource use. We use the United State’s Fischman, Robert*, Maurer School Of Law, Indiana Agency for International Development University Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and quasi- In 1997, Congress required all national wildlife experimental approaches to test how each of these refuges to produce comprehensive conservation different governance regimes affects the plans (CCPs) designed to translate legal mandates livelihoods and health of the associated and management goals into on-the-ground and in- communities. Using matching methods from the the-water objectives. This paper reports program evaluation literature we find that while no preliminary results of an analysis of all US national one governance regime shows categorical wildlife refuge CCPs adopted between 2005 and advantage of improving livelihoods over others, 2011. The analysis focuses on the use of adaptive there are clear implications for conservation. management in achieving biological objectives, the manner in which the plans respond to climate change, and how the plans define the role of the refuge within the larger landscape. The paper Tuesday, July 17 11:00 Do Private Conservation concludes with broader observations about how Activities Match Science-Based Conservation the refuge planning experience relates to trends in Priorities? * conservation planning generally. Fisher, Jon Background: Private land conservation is an essential strategy for biodiversity protection in the USA, where half of the federally listed species have Tuesday, July 17 4:15 Does Governance Matter? at least 80% of their habitat on private lands. We Understanding The Links Between Governance investigated the match between private land Regimes And Livelihood Outcomes In Tanzania's protection conducted by the world’s largest land Managed Landscapes trust (The Nature Conservancy) and the science Fisher, Brendan*, World Wildlife Fund , Naidoo, driven identification of priority areas for Robin, World Wildlife Fund , Freeman, Olivia , conservation. This represents the first quantitative Burgess, Neil assessment of the influence of science on the land Tanzania is home to some of the world’s most acquisitions of a conservation non-governmental captivating protected areas, and while places like organization (NGO). Methodology / Principal the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater are world Finding: The lands acquired by The Nature renowned, the country is replete with endemic Conservancy (TNC) were analyzed using GIS to species and important landscapes. On the flip side determine to what extent they were in areas of this remarkable country for biodiversity is the defined as priorities for conservation. The spatial unfortunate socio-economic conditions where analysis of TNC lands was broken up into land more than 40% of the people live below the known to be acquired in the last five years, five to poverty line and over 30% are food insecure. This ten years ago, prior to ten years ago, and for land dynamic begs the question of whether acquired anytime during the last sixty years conservation is positive or negative force in human (includes previous sets of data plus acquisitions welfare. Here we test this question by considering lacking a date). For the entire history of TNC the the livelihood effects of three types of natural proportion of TNC lands within the priority areas resource management regimes in Tanzania – Joint was 74%. Prior to 10 years ago it was 80%, 5-10 Forestry Management; Community-Based Forestry years ago it was 76%, and in the last five years it Management and Wildlife management Areas. was 81%. Conservation easements were found to 74 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 have lower alignment with priority areas (64%) northern leopard frogs in the northern Great than outright fee simple acquisitions (86%). Plains. Conclusions / Significance: Overall the location of lands acquired was found to be well aligned with the priority areas. Since there was comparable alignment in lands acquired before and after Monday, July 16 9:15 Blurring The Lines: The formalized conservation planning had been Evolving Role Of Federal Land Management In implemented as a standard operating procedure, Landscape-Scale Conservation * this analysis did not find evidence that defining Fisher, Larry , University Of Arizona, School Of priority areas has influenced land acquisition Natural Resources And The Environment decisions. The past decade has seen the emergence of an array of new approaches to public lands management that transcend traditional boundaries, both physical and institutional. Fueled Monday, July 16 Genetic Diversity Of The by innovative program initiatives in water, species, Northern Leopard Frog Across The 100th Meridian forest, and ecosystem management, transportation Fisher, Justin*, North Dakota State University , planning, and energy development, and by the Purcell, Kevin, North Dakota State University , realities of constrained funding and limited agency Stockwell, Craig capacity, federal agencies and their partners are In North America, the northern leopard frog exploring new models of collaboration, and new (Lithobates pipiens) is considered a species with program and policy instruments that extend moderate to high risk of extinction in 26 out of 41 conservation beyond individual land management combined U.S. states and Canadian provinces. We units to broader, landscape-scale conservation. The surveyed 10 microsatellite loci to evaluate the paper outlines some of the significant recent trans- genetic structure of 26 populations of the northern boundary conservation efforts and discusses their leopard frog throughout North Dakota contributing longer-term implications for federal programs and to the information gap for its genetic management. policies. This region crosses the 100th Meridian and thus is ideal for evaluating this species because of the high spatial and temporal climatic variation. Heterozygosity values ranged from 0.71 to 0.88, Monday, July 16 11:20 Finance Strategies To with the highest levels of heterozygosity in eastern Drive Climate Friendly Development * North Dakota with a longitudinal decline toward Fitzgerald, John , Society For Conservation Biology , the more arid western region of North Dakota. We Barrett, James, Applied Solutions also found a longitudinal decline in allelic richness, To complement the way scientific findings on ranging from 12.2 alleles in eastern populations wildlife, ecosystem and human health are intended and declining to 6.9 alleles in western populations. to drive environmental law as summarized in the The spatial genetic diversity conformed to an introduction to this symposium, from an economic isolation by distance model; and structuring standpoint, the first-best response to the growing programs revealed patterns of spatial genetic threat of climate change is to put a gradually structure which roughly conforms to the spatial increasing price on greenhouse gas emissions and distribution of various ecoregions within North to use the revenues to finance an investment Dakota. These results should allow managers to platform to accelerate energy efficiency and delineate at risk populations and aid in the renewable energy adoption. This strategy requires development of a genetic management plan for sufficient political will, which heretofore has been absent from most major greenhouse gas emitting 75 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 nations. Under the presumption that this will corporate policy and practice keep up with continue to be the case for the foreseeable future, increasingly powerful scientific findings. a second-best solution will rely heavily on investment and, in the absence of a price on emissions, will need to be both more aggressive and more innovative in structuring finance. This Wednesday, July 18 8:50 Ensemble Hydrologic discussion will highlight various strategies for Modeling For The Next Century: Implications For financing clean and sustainable economic San Francisco Bay Area Natural Resources * development in developed and developing nations. Flint, Lorraine , U.S. Geological Survey , Flint, Lorraine, U.S. Geological Survey , Weiss, Stuart, Creekside Center For Earth Observation , Loarie, Scott, Carnegie Institution For Science , Ackerly, Monday, July 16 8:30 Introduction To David , Thorne, James, Information Center For The Symposium 13: The Progress We've Made, And Environment, University Of California Davis , The Next Four Years Micheli, Lisa Fitzgerald, John*, Society For Conservation Biology Climate change scenarios for the next century have Introduction to Symposium 13 – The Progress been developed for the San Francisco Bay Area. We’ve Made, and the Next Four Years - 30 min. In Using IPCC projections of future changes in climate, 2008, SCB’s North America Section leaders and 23 models for 3 scenarios have been downscaled to Policy Director worked with leaders of other 270-m for application to a regional water balance societies and organizations and developed model (Basin Characterization Model; BCM) for Recommendations for the Obama Administration 2000-2100. The BCM calculates water balance and Congress. We presented these to the Obama components including runoff, recharge, Transition team and members of Congress. This evapotranspiration, soil moisture, and streamflow symposium will review how SCB works with its based on climate, topography, soils and underlying partners to make progress on those geology, and the solar-driven energy balance and recommendations. We’ll discuss possible climatic water deficit. Precipitation projections for recommendations and strategies for achieving the next century vary between global climate further progress. While speakers in this symposium models, but across all scenarios temperature will go into depth on other issues, such as forcings increase the variability of runoff, recharge, proposed new regulations to improve the and stream discharge, and shift the seasonal timing implementation of the Endangered Species Act, I of the hydrologic cycle. For both drier and wetter will address other SCB priority issues briefly, such scenarios, warming amplifies climatic water deficit, as Biological Security. I will also provide the policy a measure of drought stress on soils and context for some of our talks from -- Jim Barrett's vegetation. These hydroclimatic variables, analyzed talk on investment solutions to climate change and at the watershed scale for the San Francisco Bay energy pollution, by summarizing the progress and Area region, provide information and tools based delays so far in using and improving law in on a consensus of the current state-of-the-art in response to rapidly improving science by the climate science results. Obama Administration and key states in regard to climate change and actions affecting it from oil sands development to the E.U.'s tariffs on air traffic pollution; to --Zoe Van Schyndel's presentation on Investment and Procurement -- including how SCB can help make sure that both government and

76 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Wednesday, July 18 12:00 Habitat-Based Monday, July 16 11:00 Multi-Scaled Modeling Models Of Cetacean Density And Distribution In Of The Shade Provided To The Klamath River By The North Pacific Vegetation And Geomorphology Forney, Karin*, NOAA, Southwest Fisheries Science Forney, William*, US Geological Survey , Soulard, Center , Becker, Elizabeth, NOAA, Southwest Chistopher, US Geological Survey , Chickadel, Fisheries Science Center , Ferguson, Megan, NOAA- Christopher, Applied Physics Laboratory, University Alaska Fisheries Science Center , Foley, David, Of Washington NOAA-NMFS-SWFSC-ERD , Barlow, Jay , Fiedler, The USGS River Ecosystems Models and Science Paul, NOAA-Southwest Fisheries Science Center , project is studying approaches to characterize the Redfern, Jessica, NOAA-Southwest Fisheries thermal regulation of water and the dynamics of Science Center , Ballance, Lisa, NOAA-Southwest cold water refugia. High temperatures have Fisheries Science Center physiological impacts on anadromous fish species. The North Pacific Ocean includes diverse pelagic Factors affecting the presence, variability, and habitats spanning temperate and tropical waters. quality of thermal refugia are known, such as Studies of the abundance and distribution of riverine and watershed processes, hyporheic flows, cetaceans within these dynamic marine deep pools and bathymetric factors, thermal ecosystems have generally been patchy or stratification of reservoirs, and other broader conducted at coarse spatial and temporal scales, climatic considerations. This research develops a limiting their utility for pelagic conservation conceptual model and methodological techniques planning. Recent advances in habitat-based to quantify the change in solar insolation load to modeling of cetacean density offer a new tool for the Klamath River caused by riparian and floodplain identifying and characterizing pelagic areas of vegetation, the morphology of the river, and the importance to cetaceans. In this study, we present orientation and topographic characteristics of its habitat-based models of cetacean density that watersheds. Using multiple scales of input data were developed and validated for 22 cetacean from digital elevation models and airborne LiDAR species or species groups within the eastern derivatives, different analysis methods yielded tropical Pacific, California Current Ecosystem, and three different model results. Using non- central North Pacific. Spatial predictions of parametric and geostatistical tests, the models are cetacean densities (and temporal variance therein) correlated significantly with thermal infrared were derived from data collected during 19 large- imagery for ground truth information. With similar scale shipboard cetacean and ecosystem datasets, this approach and methods could be assessment surveys conducted during 1986–2008. applied to any river in the United States– especially Models were developed using generalized additive those listed as temperature impaired under Section models with a variety of dynamic and static 303(d) of the Clean Water Act—or international habitat-related predictor variables (e.g., riverine systems. Considering the importance of bathymetric depth, distance to shore or isobaths, thermal refugia for aquatic species, these sea surface temperature (SST), variance in SST, techniques can help prioritize opportunities for salinity, chlorophyll, and mixed layer depth). The riparian restoration, identify problematic reaches resulting spatial models provide finer-scale not likely to provide good habitat, and assess information on the distribution and density of landscape connectivity and habitat mosaics for cetaceans than previously available and indicate aquatic species’ foraging and migration. potential ‘hotspots’ of cetacean abundance or diversity.

77 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 4:00 Conservation In The America are yet to be described (Ertter 2000). The Anthropocene genus Mimulus (Phrymaceae) has a high incidence Forrester, Tavis*, University Of California, Davis of rarity and endemism, and is particularly diverse We live in a time of unprecedented global human in western North America where more than 75% of impact, and our influence is so pervasive that the total number of species in the genus occur. At geologists are debating evidence for defining a new least 66 species of Mimulus are currently listed by geologic era, the Anthropocene. The idea of the U.S. government agencies and native plant Anthropocene has triggered a debate about the societies as sensitive, rare, or endangered, making direction of conservation. We hear that we are Mimulus a group of conservation concern. living at “the end of nature” and there is no place However, species delimitation and taxonomic in the world undomesticated by humans. While relationships in Mimulus remain unclear, with 90 to humans have heavily affected the majority of the 170 species recognized. In many recent regional world, there are still areas that have relatively treatments of the group, some previously intact ecology, the “last of the wild”. Protecting recognized rare species with limited distributions these places should still be a priority for have been lumped with more wide ranging species. conservation, even in the face of widespread Over the course of my work I have conducted change. We need to do this for scientific reasons so extensive field research, photographing and that ecosystem baselines are preserved and we can collecting data from Mimulus populations primarily learn from the effects of global anthropogenic in California. As a result I have identified five change on intact ecological communities. We need undescribed species of Mimulus. Based on to do this for practical reasons so that goals for preliminary conservation assessments, four of the restoration projects have a basis in reality. We five undescribed species would be ranked as need to do this for public relations reasons, to Nature Serve G1 (critically imperiled) or G2 engage society in conservation. And we need to do (imperiled) species. An evaluation of species this for ethical reasons; we have a duty to future discovery and its implications for conservation will generations to provide them with the opportunity be presented, with insight from recent taxonomic to observe the wonders of nature. While reserves studies in Mimulus. are a viable conservation tool, especially in a world of rapid change, reserves alone are not adequate and an effective conservation strategy should include other elements. A broad based strategy Tuesday, July 17 11:30 The Yellowstone To should not preclude the use of preserves, and Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y): Restoring widespread change should not mean that we Connectivity For A Transboundary Grizzly Bear abandon the last of the wild. Population Francis, Wendy*, Yellowstone To Yukon Conservation Initiative Keeping the fabric of nature intact has become one Monday, July 16 The Importance Of Systematics of the significant challenges of the 21st century. To Conserving Biodiversity: A Case Study In Habitat loss and fragmentation caused by industrial Western North American Mimulus (Phrymaceae) exploration and development, transportation Fraga, Naomi* networks, and subdivision and sprawl are having Basic biodiversity research, including species the combined impacts of severing wildlife discovery, is needed in areas with high levels of populations from each other and from needed species diversity and endemism, such as western habitats, increasing deadly conflicts between wild North America. Notably, it has been estimated that animals and people, and foreclosing opportunities 5% of the species in western North for wildlife to move and adapt in response to 78 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 changing climatic conditions. The Yellowstone to where they might emerge at the highest level as Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) seeks to scientists developing their own questions, respond to these challenges by promoting a 2,200 analyzing data, and presenting new knowledge mile network of large protected areas and back to the scientific community. These functional connectivity between them. Using the assumptions about a hierarchical learning example of collaborative efforts to restore continuum, however, may not represent the connectivity for grizzly bears through the Cabinet- complexity of the outcomes adequately and may Purcell Mountain Corridor in western Montana, minimize the impact of social radiation of northern Idaho and southern British Columbia, this knowledge that results from citizen scientists' presentation will demonstrate how a long-term motivations for engagement in distributed commitment to a shared conservation strategy by a research. This paper will use results from an network of over 60 organizations and agencies is external qualitative summative evaluation of creating the conditions in which biodiversity and participation in CamClickr, a major citizen science human communities will be able to coexist through coding initiative established by the Cornell Lab of the coming changes. Emphasis will be placed on Ornithology, to challenge the theory that citizen the newest implementation efforts and results scientists need or want to move up the science including land purchases, forest restoration thinking hierarchy. It will challenge the idea that activities, wildlife conflict reduction programs and citizen scientists may not possess advanced skills as highway-wildlife mitigation efforts. science thinkers and suggest that they may already possess the skills to develop and pursue hypotheses that will advance science knowledge, but may choose to participate in a more Wednesday, July 18 3:30 Re-Examining Society democratic role in the research conducted by In Conservation Through Participant Experiences others as an altruistic act that benefits those they In PPSR consider within their scope of justice. They may * Fraser, John , New Knowledge Organization also work altruistically on behalf of the biosphere Citizen science has been positioned as a central and seek to advance the more general knowledge pillar in public participation in scientific research in science or help their colleagues in other fields of (PPSR) and a key strategy for promoting informal science to achieve science goals that cannot be science education (Bonney et al, 2009). Central to attained in the lab alone. It will use these results to citizen science are the practices of data collection, propose a new way of considering citizen scientists data organizing, coding, analysis, and the as part of a tiny activist public that works in a development of inferences from that work. While distributed model to bring attention and concern much of the literature surrounding citizen science to issues facing society, actively promote science has measured participant knowledge gains and learning for others, and may advance the cause of increased participant understanding of science science through personal interactions in ways that processes, little attention has been paid thus far to are substantially larger than might be possible the affective or emotional dimensions of the through any other formal communication vector. experience, the motivations that lead participants The author will explore the implications of these to engage in a distributed research community, nor findings on how authority and validity might be how participant’s identities are related to that considered in distributed scientific research. The work. It has been assumed that citizen science author will suggest that it may be important to projects provide continuous learning opportunities reconsider the language, how hierarchy is defined for all who engage with them, and that a in the scientific process, and how we might continuum of learning exists that will lead citizen reconsider the value of volunteer expert scientists along a hierarchical ladder of learning technicians as participants in the scientific 79 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 enterprise. The author will conclude with how this the likelihood that all populations will experience new way of discussing Public Participation in the same disturbances. For ESA-listed Pacific Scientific Research may benefit science learning salmon, this portfolio effect may be key to long- through rewarding task-based thinking about how term persistence when faced with natural and to organize massive emerging datasets, and how anthropogenic change. We used a dynamic these distributed processes may lead to new kinds metapopulation model for Chinook salmon of scientific knowledge about the biosphere that Oncorhynchus tshawytscha in the Snake River may be more congruent with an information rich basin USA to evaluate how much of the annual society where conservation knowledge is spatial structure of co-variability in population aggregating rapidly across the globe. abundance is driven by shared external processes (e.g, ocean conditions, climate, human activities) and internal processes as measured by population- specific growth rates and inter-population Monday, July 16 3:15 Assessing MPA Network dispersal. We fitted model parameters using a 50- Performance In The Context Of A Changing year-long dataset of spawner abundances. We Climate: A Test-Case Using California's MPAs found population dynamics to be largely driven by * Freidenburg, Tess , Whiteman, Elizabeth, MPA external processes, but models that also included Monitoring Enterprise, California Ocean Science local processes fit the data much better (? AIC >20). Trust This suggests that watershed-specific conditions, In California, a statewide network of MPAs is being homing fidelity, and population specialization may implemented to, among other goals, protect counteract broad scale factors that tend to ecosystem structure, function and integrity. Future increase synchrony across populations. With this evaluations of MPA network performance will model, we will investigate how metapopulation occur in the context of a changing climate and spatial structure could change under future associated changing oceanographic environment. scenarios of climate and fisheries management. The Monitoring Enterprise has developed a This information will directly inform prioritization framework for MPA monitoring designed to of population recovery and habitat restoration efficiently ‘take the pulse’ of ocean ecosystems and actions. support adaptive management. We have developed a recommend approach to most efficiently and effectively apply this framework to augment MPA monitoring to provide additional Monday, July 16 12:45 Avian Biodiversity information. This information can be used to aid in Monitoring In California: The Benefits Of the interpretation of MPA monitoring results as Automated Recorders And Community Level well as support the development of climate Occupancy Models change-informed marine and coastal management Furnas, Brett*, California Department Of Fish And and adaptation strategies. Game Climate change is projected to substantially disrupt the current distribution of bird species globally. Long-term, large-scale, multi-species monitoring Monday, July 16 12:15 Conserving could play a key role in informing conservation Metapopulation Structure For Pacific Salmon May planners as they adapt to this challenge at the Counteract Forces Acting To Increase Synchrony regional scale. In 2002 the California Department * Fullerton, Aimee , Zabel, Rich, NOAA Fisheries of Fish and Game began monitoring avian Spatial segregation of populations across a variable biodiversity in montane conifer and sagebrush landscape can confer species resilience by reducing habitats by surveying approximately 100 new 80 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 random plots each year across a 5.4 million hectare LandAdvisor is a customizeable framework and tool study area. The surveys provide an archival record designed to help organizations decide where to of species present by using automated devices to conserve, how (i.e. acquisition, stewardship, etc.), record breeding bird song activity that experts later and why. It uses a “return on investment” review. Repeat recordings at each plot at different approach to blend the objectives of NatureServe times each morning over 3 consecutive days allow Vista, Marxan with Zones, and CorridorDesigner in occupancy modeling of approximately 50 migratory one integrated and flexible package. Specifically, a and resident species. Modeling all species site valuation process combines with an algorithm simultaneously in a community-level occupancy for allocating a variety of land management model increases the power to detect a population options in “near-optimal” solution sets while trend similarly affecting a guild or other group of considering not only contiguity and representation, species. Initial analysis of our first 9 years of data but connectivity as well. The connectivity algorithm from middle elevation, montane conifer habitats models the linkages between every pair of reserves suggests that species traits (body mass, foraging to prioritize not only paths within a linkage, but behavior, migratory versus resident) explain much also linkages within a landscape. To facilitate of the variation in detection probability in a multi- stakeholder engagement (which facilitates species occupancy model. Additionally, based on conservation implementation) LandAdvisor is build our current level of sampling, we estimate we will around an intuitive multi-criteria approach. Despite have the statistical power to detect average annual this, the principle of representation is still met group-level declines of under 1 percent for using the novel “continuous benefit function” timeframes of at least 10 years. approach (with an option of using targets only) . The DSS is designed to update as new data, criteria, or values arise, thereby allowing adaptation to an increasingly dynamic world. It is now freely Monday, July 16 8:30 There Is A Desert available as an ArcGIS toolbox. We are releasing Ecosystem LandAdvisor via The Landscape Collaborative (TLC) * Fusari, Margaret , Retired Director UCSC Natural which utilizes Atlassian web-software and is Reserves designed for agile support, development and Desert ecosystems are defined by low and usually testing of such tools. Results from one of the three variable rainfall; hence low and variable primary pilot studies in South Africa, Canada, and California productivity. Desert adapted species are will be presented. specialized organisms; plants and animals that have evolved to succeed under those conditions. Deserts are not wastelands, empty, inhospitable, useless or products of the anthropogenic process called Monday, July 16 Home Range Overlap And desertification. Deserts are wondrous ecosystems Resource Partitioning In Two Sympatric Wetland with values for human societies in terms of Birds aesthetics, unique species and life history Gamboa, Maybellene*, University Of California, strategies, and products. Berkeley , Hall, Laurie, University Of California, Berkeley , Cleveland, Clinton, University Of California, Berkeley , Beissinger, Steve, University Of California, Berkeley Tuesday, July 17 12:00 A Landscape Decision Characterizing habitat and resource requirements Support System (DSS) And Online Collaborative for threatened species is critical for developing Laboratory (Collaboratory) management plans that ensure species persistence * Gallo, John , The Wilderness Society in the face of environmental change. The California 81 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus) is a addressed. One activity that has been done, is the small, threatened bird that co-occurs with the knowledge of the fauna that is in the area for larger, more common Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) which an inventory of wildlife in the area. This in wetlands of the Sierra Foothills, California. paper shows the results obtained for the bird Wetlands in this region are often fed by irrigation diversity in the Park. We observed and registered water. We tracked rails with radio telemetry during 20 families and 54 species of resident birds, and 28 the breeding season to measure home range size families and 79 species of migratory birds, from and used stable isotope analysis of rail feathers and 2009-10. Resident Birds Families: Accipitridae, prey items to examine diet and resource Cathartidae, Columbidae, Corvidae, Emberizidae, partitioning. Fixed kernel density home ranges Fringillidae, Hirundinidae, Mimidae, Paridae, (95% KD) were significantly larger for Virginia Rails Parulidae, Passeridae, Picidae, Ptilogonatidae, (0.41 + 0.06 ha, n = 7) than Black Rails (0.34 + 0.05 Remizidae, Strigidae, Thraupidae, Trochilidae, ha, n = 8), while core-use areas (50% KD) were not Troglodytidae, Turdidae, Tyrannidae. Migratory significantly different between species. Carbon and Birds Families: Accipitridae, Aegithalidae, nitrogen stable isotope analyses suggest that a Apodidae, Caprimulgidae, Cathartidae, Certhiidae, greater proportion of the Virginia Rail diet is Columbidae, Corvidae, Cuculidae, Falconidae, composed of aquatic prey while Black Rails mainly Hirundinidae, Laniidae, Mimidae, Odontophoridae, consume terrestrial prey. Although these rails Paridae, Parulidae, Picidae, Ptilogonatidae, occupy similar habitat and have largely overlapping Regulidae, Silviidae, Sittidae, Strigidae, Trochilidae, home ranges, differences in diet suggest rails avoid Troglodytidae, Trogonidae, Turdidae, Tyrannidae, interspecific competition by resource partitioning Vireonidae. allowing for simultaneous management of both species in the same wetland. As environmental change affects water availability in the state, the co-management of these species will help minimize Tuesday, July 17 3:45 Designing For Biodiversity: management cost and effort. Enhancing Forest-Dependent Bird Conservation In A Tropical Agroecosystem By Modeling Functional Connectivity Garbach, Kelly*, University Of California Davis , Monday, July 16 Animal Diversity Of State Park Estrada Carmona, Natalia , Martinez-Salinas, "El Faro" Alejandra , Declerck, Fabrice Gaona, Salvador*, Universidad Autonoma Fragmentation of tropical landscapes often drives Metropolitana , Silva-Torres, Beatriz, Universidad biodiversity loss in the tropics. Thus, conservation Autonoma Metropolitana , Santana, Edgar, value of agricultural lands has received much Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana recent attention. Studies in Mesoamerica have The State Park “El Faro” is a temperate forest, found that live fences and agroforests, which located in the south of the Sierra Nevada enhance tree species richness and structural Mountains, Mexico. The Park has been subjected complexity of habitat, provide support for birds to intense timber exploitation to supply a that would otherwise be locally extirpated. Mist neighboring paper factory. The objective of this netting data collected at the CATIE center in Costa conservation effort is to recover not only the forest Rica suggest that complex agroforests and live mass from a quantitative point of view but also to fences can foster farm-to watershed-scale insure the forest quality allowing for the recovery connectivity by linking forest patches bordering of environmental goods, services and processes. farms. However, two questions have fueled debate Preservation of the forest, and protection of the regarding conservation value of agricultural lands: indigenous fauna are all issues which are (1) What is the optimal configuration of patches 82 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 and linear elements (e.g., agroforests and live Commission’s final decision, but the dynamic fences) for forest-dependent species? (2) Do these integration of science into the process fostered a configurations differ from those needed to support “science immersion” course for participants and disturbance-tolerant species (e.g. birds that prefer moved disparate proposals closer to meeting open fields and plantation edges)? We modeled scientific guidelines—and closer to each other— functional connectivity for 6 bird species with than they otherwise would have been. As a result, various levels of forest-dependence using the state now has significant new networks of Cicuitscape software. We calculated conductance biologically rich protected areas. values to describe ease of movement using 4 years of mist netting data collected in 6 land uses at CATIE; we evaluated 4 configurations of an agroecosystem. Increasing multistrata live fences Tuesday, July 17 12:15 Conservation Biologists enhanced functional connectivity for 5 of the 6 As Drivers Of Business Innovation: Our Essential focal bird species, and live fences oriented Role Supporting The Sustainability Revolution * perpendicular to forest patches had a strong Gelbard, Jonathan positive influence. Business is undergoing a remarkable transformation to more sustainable production, manufacturing and waste management practices. This emerging industrial ‘revolution’ is driven by Tuesday, July 17 9:30 Science In California's both rising demand for ‘green’ products and the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative: User-Friendly realization that ‘sustainable’ practices boost profits And Rewarded by improving efficiencies of resource and energy Garrison, Karen*, NRDC use, cutting costs, reducing risks, and boosting California’s Marine Life Protection Act Initiative brand reputation and sales. Two factors currently illustrates how compelling science can be if it’s a hindering the success of sustainable business dynamic, fully integrated element of initiatives in remedying threats to biodiversity and decisionmaking. The MLPA required the state to ecosystem services are (1) a lack of scientific revise its marine protected areas to create a expertise on many corporate teams and (2) a need science-based network of underwater refuges. In for more research to document whether practices 2004, the state set up an initiative to carry out the claimed to be ‘sustainable’ are in fact achieving MLPA. Stakeholders in four coastal regions measurable ecological benefits. This need to designed alternative networks, and a Blue Ribbon improve integration of science into the design, Task Force (BRTF) drew on those designs to execution and success monitoring of business recommend a preferred option to the Fish & Game practices is an extraordinary opportunity for Commission. Science played a prominent role in conservation biologists, who offer companies the the law, which set ecosystem protection goals and expertise needed to achieve key sustainability – required that basic science guidelines be met. The and financial – goals. In turn, partnerships Initiative integrated science into the process in key advancing sustainable business provide ways: (1) it provided spatial habitat info and a user- conservation biologists with new avenues of friendly design tool; (2) it convened a science funding during a time of tightening government advisory team that developed simple rules of budgets. Here I describe two cases of sustainable thumb for designing MPAs and evaluated how well land use-based business initiatives that would the designs met guidelines; (3) its iterative process benefit from more active involvement by allowed stakeholders to use evaluations to improve conservation biologists. I conclude by pointing to their proposals; and (4) the BRTF favored proposals additional sectors that are ripe with opportunity that met science guidelines. Politics influenced the 83 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 for getting science used to generate high-impact the household. While the Tennessee Aquarium has conservation results. been successful at reaching K-5 schoolchildren in our educational programming, we have recently started increased youth outreach in order to increase our impact on this influential Monday, July 16 3:00 Securing Flood Protection demographic. New outreach programs and an Our And Habitat Connectivity For Wide-Ranging Blue Planet speaker series specifically for regional Species Through Agriculture Conservation In The high school students emphasize the connection Upper Pajaro River Floodplain between everyday choices and aquatic * Gennet, Sasha , The Nature Conservancy , conservation. In addition to these traditional Klausmeyer, Kirk, The Nature Conservancy education programs, the Aquarium is also adding a Using hyrdologic, ecological, and historical studies, residential summer camp for high school students, TNC and partners developed a conservation plan the Conservation Leadership in Action Week, led by for the Upper Pajaro River floodplain that is aquatic scientists. During this week, campers will currently being implemented through land use explore the southeastern conservation community planning processes and direct protection. This and learn how to become an environmental leader. floodplain is a 9,000 ac. natural detention basin in In addition to field trips to rivers, forests, and the southern San Francisco Bay Area that reduces farms, campers will learn how to design and downstream flooding of high-value agricultural and implement conservation projects for their own urban lands by up to 30%. The basin is an schools and neighborhoods. These students will ecologically diverse complex of wetlands, ponds, then form the basis for a new Conservation Science and riverine habitats embedded in a working Club that meets monthly at the Aquarium. By landscape mosaic of agriculture and cattle creating programs that meet the specific needs of ranching. The floodplain and riparian corridor also teens and tweens, the Aquarium hopes to serve as a critical linkage for movement of wide- empower this growing generation of leaders for ranging terrestrial wildlife between the Santa Cruz, freshwater conservation. Gabilan, and Hamilton mountain ranges. The habitat linkage and flood abatement characteristics of this area are increasingly essential services for natural and human communities as climate Tuesday, July 17 9:45 Removing Lead From The changes. California Condor Landscape Through Outreach George, Daniel*, National Park Service , Scherbinski, Scott, National Park Service , Brown, Leland, Institute For Wildlife Studies , Finkelstein, Wednesday, July 18 8:30 We All Live Myra, University Of California Downstream: Engaging Teens In Aquatic Release of captive-reared California condors has Conservation At The Tennessee Aquarium successfully established an adult breeding * George, Anna , Tennessee Aquarium Conservation population in the wild. Research results from Institute , Rosenberg, Ashford, Tennessee studies of the current population have established Aquarium that limiting factors in the wild are anthropogenic. Research by The Ocean Project over the last Paramount among these factors is mortality decade indicates that youth between ages 12 and resulting from acute lead poisoning. Collaborative 25 are more educated on environmental issues and research between the National Park Service, the more likely to make positive conservation decisions University of California Santa Cruz and other than any other age group. In addition, parents turn partners in Condor Recovery has established that to youth for advice on environmental decisions for ammunition is the principal source of lead 84 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 accumulated by endangered California condors can be found in natural, agricultural, and urban while foraging in the wild. Additional work by environments world-wide. Due to their abundance, several partner organizations to evaluate the visibility, and reliance on the landscape for severity and incidence of condor lead poisonings resources, birds are often the first to reveal the over time is currently underway. Recognizing the mounting health threats present for all species. need to engage a broader community with research results, Pinnacles National Monument has integrated outreach into its condor restoration program. A diverse strategy of community events, Monday, July 16 Bridging The Gap Between presentations, and social media has been Breeding Bird Survey And Local Bird Monitoring In employed to encourage hunters to use non-lead California's Central Valley: The Need For Regional ammunition. Efforts have succeeded through Bird Monitoring Programs * recognition and celebration of ranching and Gilbert, Michelle , PRBO Conservation Science , practices that support working rural Seavy, Nat , Gardali, Thomas, PRBO Conservation landscapes and continuation of the hunter Science , Hickey, Catherine , Golet, Gregory, The conservation tradition. Although outreach efforts Nature Conservancy , Reynolds, Mark , Kelsey, have lacked capacity to evaluate perspective Rodd, Audubon California changes on a regional scale, surveys performed by Ensuring that conservation is cost effective will the Institute for Wildlife Studies at outreach require accurate information about the return on workshops documented that 76% of attendees investment. The Breeding Bird Survey program has reported a positive impression of non-lead provided fundamental information on continental ammunition. Another 18% stated they would seek trends in landbird abundance. At the same time, more information. Research and outreach bird monitoring at habitat restoration sites has continues in order to advance this dialog between provided convincing evidence that these activities endangered species managers and the broader can increase the number of locally breeding birds. community of landowners and sportsmen. Ideally, the efficacy of multiple local habitat improvements should be evident in regional monitoring programs, such as the Breeding Bird Survey. Using data from California’s Central Valley, Monday, July 16 9:30 Canaries In The Coal we illustrate that limited coverage and fixed Mines: Birds As Indicators Of Ecological, Domestic sampling locations make the Breeding Bird Survey Animal, And Human Health inadequate for tracking Central Valley riparian bird Gibbs, Samantha* populations at this scale. To address this need, we Canaries, members of the Serinus genus of finches, have designed and implemented a new regional are small, brightly colored birds that are found monitoring program for riparian breeding landbirds predominantly in Africa and the Mediterranean in California’s Central Valley. By collecting Basin. Canaries were used in coal mines in the 19th information at fixed legacy sites and at randomly and early 20th centuries as indicators for toxic selected sites that are reselected each year taking gases that are lethal to humans. This concept can into account changes in the distribution of be applied on a much broader scale, by monitoring potential habitat, this program has been designed the health of free-ranging bird species to detect to make inferences at a regional scale between ecological, domestic animal, and human health local projects and the nationwide Breeding Bird threats. Birds are susceptible to many of the same Survey program. As multiple partners work on diseases and toxins that impact domestic animal individual projects to restore Central Valley riparian and human health; West Nile virus, avian influenza systems, our monitoring will provide a means of virus, DDT, and lead poisoning are examples. Birds tracking the cumulative response of riparian birds. 85 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 11:45 Using United State and incentives for renewable energy has led to a Department Of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Bill greatly increased demand for cheap and plentiful Easement Programs To Implement The Spirit Of biomass from a variety of plant sources. This rapid Fortress Conservation In The Western U.S. expansion of bioenergy production, along with the Gilgert, Wendell*, PRBO Conservation Science , diversification of potential bioenergy feedstocks, is Naugle, David, University Of Montana , Forkey, leading to the significant potential for biomass Alan, USDA NRCS , Griffiths, Tim, USDA NRCS feedstocks to become ecologically-damaging In a global context, Fortress Conservation is an invasives. A large number of non-native and evolving and adaptive experiment in progress. Two genetically modified native species are currently examples of landscape scale wildlife conservation being considered for use as potential biomass from Western United States and Canada will be feedstocks, and many are already being cultivated. presented as case studies in an attempt to Examples of potentially invasive plants that are illustrate how the concept of Fortress Conservation currently being cultivated as bioenergy feedstocks is evolving on the North American continent. The in test plots and/or commercial-scale plots across first example will showcase the use of the Wetland the country include giant reed (Arundo donax), Reserve Program (WRP) in California’s Sacramento napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum), and seeded Valley that clusters private landowner enrollments giant miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus). Should and that illustrates the potential to target wetland these species escape and become established in easements into high priority watersheds. nearby natural areas, the results could be Altogether, there are about 12,000 acres of potentially devastating for native ecosystems. restored wetlands along the Colusa Drain, that are Despite this, few safeguards exist in law to prevent subject to natural flooding, and that address the the spread of invasive species through bioenergy fish, wildlife and wetland restoration needs cultivation, and current risk assessment associated with linear riparian corridors, while methodologies alone may not be sufficient. Policy contributing to floodwater attenuation and water recommendations that could minimize or mitigate quality improvements. As an element of the USDA this risk include prohibiting the use of known Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) invasive species as dedicated bioenergy feedstocks, Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI), the second case study assigning liability to feedstock producers for will highlight the use of the Grassland Reserve damages, and promoting the use of ecologically Program (GRP) to secure high value wintering beneficial biomass feedstocks. sagebrush habitat on private ranchlands in North- central Montana for a migratory sage-grouse population that nest and brood-rear in southern Saskatchewan. The protection of a 70+ mile Monday, July 16 12:15 Acting To Save Plants corridor that consists of Canada’s Grasslands From Climate Change: Benefits, Risks, And Tools National Park, the US Bureau of Land Management For Management Success * (BLM), Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, Gluesenkamp, Dan , The Calflora Database and a mosaic of private ranches, will be discussed. Californians have managed plant communities for ten millennia, employing simple tools to favor desirable plants and select against unwanted taxa. Contemporary natural resource management is Wednesday, July 18 9:15 The Invasive Potential more complicated, as we manage an expanding list Of Bioenergy Feedstocks: Ecological Risks And of sensitive taxa and a growing diversity of Policy Recommendations unwanted species in a changing environment. Glaser, Aviva*, National Wildlife Federation Recently, conservationists have begun talking The recent explosion in federal and state mandates about ambitious new tools for adapting to climate 86 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 change: assisted migration, breeding neo-natives us. In this study, we analysed the effect of the or selecting for change-tolerant traits, and disturbance on the macroscopic fungi of the state aggressive management of invasive species. While park “El Faro”, a consequence of the uncontrolled scientists debate the risks and benefits of these population growth, using biodiversity as the main interventions, individuals already are acting. How parameter to measure the direct and indirect can we ensure that these actions lead to enhanced effects of human activities in the forest. We used protection and not increased regret? This talk the Jaccard index to assess the similarity in species reviews climate change adaptation strategies composition between two habitats with different available to managers, with brief evaluation of degrees of disturbance. The most disturbed area potential benefits and risks. We present examples has a considerable impact in the development of (e.g. identifying climate change refugia, fungal fruiting bodies therefore affecting the translocating species, hybridizing lineages) and the richness and diversity. consequences for target species (e.g. Arctostaphylos franciscana, Cupressus lawsoniana, Sequoia sempervirens, Yucca brevifolia). We then outline resources, approaches, and tools available Monday, July 16 Development Of Ecologically to support managers in effective action. Resources Complex Refuges For The Conservation Of include recent research that can guide action and Imperiled Freshwater Taxa * exciting technological tools for planning and Goodchild, Shawn , Stockwell, Craig tracking action. Finally, we review some A standard conservation technique for protected fundamental principles derived from scientific and species is to establish limited refuge populations in policy literature that can guide and improve this secure locations; however, this species-centric important work. approach ignores historic biotic communities and thus may be insufficient to preserve the characteristics of the species important for long- term recovery. As a result of the absence of native Monday, July 16 Impact Of Human Activities On conditions at these sites, processes such as Diversity Of Macroscopic Fungi In The State Park contemporary evolution may change the El Faro, Mexico population mediated by novel ecosystem González-Ibarra, Minerva* , Silva-Torres, Beatriz, dynamics. For instance, the Pahrump poolfish Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana (Empetrichthys latos), a relict Goodeid extirpated Macroscopic fungi represent a real alternative in from its native habitat, has been maintained in a the management of forests in Mexico as an series of artificial refuges since 1971. Severe economic and productive source for rural genetic bottlenecks and ecological differences communities that inhabit the forested regions of among the refuges have likely caused divergence the country. In Mexico, the mycological studies among populations so that reintroduction potential that include ecological analysis are relatively few, may now vary among refuge populations. Further, and ignore the potential of wild populations and taxa within communities have been altered by the their possibilities for sustainable use. Because of presence of invasive species. For instance, where the fast and uncontrolled population growth, there poolfish are extinct, Gambusia and Poecilia have are different problems in the state park “El Faro”, invaded, further affecting ecosystem functions. We such as using the reservoir as a waste disposal site present a conceptual model using a community and obtaining wood through the illegal felling of ecology approach to manage multi-species refuges trees, provoking not only the loss of different in preserving robust populations of aquatic species species that inhabit or depend of the tree stratum suitable for reintroduction. This addresses to live, but also of the “services” that trees provide 87 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 information gaps critical to the holistic and long- oil well in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) resulted in a term maintenance of multiple endangered species. massive mobilization of industry, academic, government, private organizations and individuals to assess, contain and remediate the spill. The implications of the spill included visible, direct Monday, July 16 11:00 Rio+20, CBD, Climate impacts which included oil washing ashore, Agreements And International Trade And Finance covering birds and other wildlife to indirect impacts * Gracey, Kyle , Global Footprint Network , from the economic loss resulting from the closure Fitzgerald, John, Society For Conservation Biology of fisheries, loss of tourism, and even the North American conservation can in part be moratorium on deep offshore drilling in the GOM. achieved through international cooperation in the Local groups helped provide data on the extent of various treaties that some or all North American the oil spill and wildlife mortality through the countries are part of. These include the 2012 Internet. Researchers used data from a wide United Nations Conference on Sustainable variety of sources to predict the potential extent Development (Rio+20), United Nations Framework and impacts of the spill and used the Internet to Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the provide results to other researchers and the public. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the However, the time from when data were obtained Convention on International Trade in Endangered to when results were available could be greatly Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). Each has improved by increased coordination between made progress since its inception, and all face organizations. The Department of Energy’s many challenges to their further implementation. National Energy Technology Laboratory is funding We review progress made to date (particularly less the creation of an Energy Data Warehouse (EDW) than one month after Rio+20), discuss upcoming that will provide a centralized website to exchange opportunities for the North American conservation data between researchers, the public, and decision biology community to contribute their scientific makers. As this system comes online, the public, expertise to these negotiations, and discuss how and researchers, will be able to add information on conservation biology professionals can help foster the location of oil from spills and photographs of stronger linkages across treaties and provide environmental impacts. This information will be regional and local contributions, that, in aggregate, made available to researchers to include in the may facilitate greater action by North American analysis of the potential extent and impacts of nations that are party to these conventions. We spills. Research results can then be made available will also review the roles that the international to decision makers and the public. The NETL EDW financial institutions can play supporting, will join and complement a growing number of hampering, and extending progress by these web-based systems connecting people with international agreements. resources that seek to improve conservation of our natural resources.

Wednesday, July 18 3:45 Learning From Deep Horizon: Connecting The Public, Researchers, And Tuesday, July 17 9:10 Listing The Hawaiian Decision Makers In Risk Assessment And Insular False Killer Whale As An Endangered Response To Oil Spills Species Under The U.S. Endangered Species Act * Graham, Jim , Oregon State University , Kelly, Graham, Krista* Rose, U.S. Department Of Energy, National Energy The Hawaiian insular false killer whale (Pseudorca Technology Laboratory crassidens) was proposed for listing as an The April 2010, blowout of the Deep Water Horizon endangered distinct population segment (DPS) 88 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) on goals of ACCESS are to support marine wildlife November 17, 2010. The population is estimated to conservation and healthy marine ecosystems by be less than 170, down from an estimated 769. The conducting ocean research to inform resource insular DPS is considered to be genetically, managers, policy makers, and conservation ecologically and behaviorally distinct from the partners. Ongoing surveys started in May 2004. pelagic population, as well as from populations Four to five cruises are conducted annually found elsewhere in the Pacific. Threats to the between April and October. Thirty-two cruises have insular DPS are numerous and significant. The most been completed through 2011; data collected severe threats are due to small population effects, during these cruises have been shared with such as decreased genetic diversity and inbreeding multiple partners to help achieve ecosystem goals. depression, and hooking, entanglement, or Data and expertise from ACCESS are being used to intentional harm by fishers. The insular DPS has a inform adaptive sanctuary management, for high probability of becoming functionally extinct example, ACCESS data on whale abundance and within 75 years due to small-scale incremental distribution was provided to the United State’s impacts, such as decreased fecundity or Coast Guard San Francisco Port Access Route Study survivorship due to direct or indirect effects of and ACCESS data sets are currently being fisheries, or a possible single catastrophic event, integrated into an Environmental Response such as a disease outbreak or oil spill. Due to the Management Application (ERMA) for the greater and recent abundance Cordell Bank and the Gulf of the Farallones region. decline of this DPS, coupled with habitat concerns Educators from NOAA's Teacher at Sea program and reproductive isolation, the NOAA Fisheries participate on ACCESS cruises to gain experience Service proposes to finalize the listing of this DPS as with ocean science and subsequently bring their endangered in 2012. experiences and knowledge to their classrooms.

Tuesday, July 17 10:00 Applied California Monday, July 16 Prioritization Framework For Current Ecosystem Studies (ACCESS) Partnership: Restoring Environmental Flows Below Dams In Bridging The Gap Between Monitoring, Education, California And Management Grantham, Ted*, UC Davis , Moyle, Peter, Graiff, Kaitlin*, Cordell Bank National Marine University Of California Sanctuary , Jahncke, Jaime , Roletto, Jan, Gulf Of There are thousands of dams in California, each The Farallones National Marine Sanctuary , Elliott, one contributing to the degradation of aquatic Meredith L., PRBO Conservation Science , ecosystems in some way. Most of these dams were Robinette, Daniel, PRBO Conservation Science , built and are operated with little consideration for Stock, Jennifer, Cordell Bank National Marine their effects on fish, although for 100 years the Sanctuary State of California has officially recognized the The Applied California Current Ecosystem Studies need to provide adequate flows for fish below (ACCESS, www.accessoceans.org) is a partnership dams under Fish and Game Code 5937 and the between PRBO Conservation Science, Cordell Bank Public Trust Doctrine. Recent successful lawsuits National Marine Sanctuary, Gulf of the Farallones for restoring flows in California rivers indicate that National Marine Sanctuary, and several academic there is an opportunity for more widely institutions. ACCESS collects integrated data on implementing environmental flow protections. ocean conditions, zooplankton (focusing on krill However, the great number of dams and unique and copepods), seabirds, and marine mammals in biogeographic characteristics of each site suggest northern and central California. The ecosystem that a systematic approach for prioritizing dams is 89 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 required. Here, we present an evaluation genetic distance matrix. These approaches assume framework for identifying dams in the State of that genetic distances resulting from generations of California that have impaired downstream fish mating, dispersal, and Mendelian inheritance are communities due to inadequate environmental linearly related to ecological distance. Despite the flow releases. We use a tiered approach to (1) recent popularity of these approaches, these evaluate whether fish downstream of dams are in assumptions have not been tested, these good condition, (2) assess the degree of hydrologic approaches do not yield confidence intervals, and alteration to the natural flow regime, and (3) the statistical bias and precision of the resulting identify potential legal constraints for selecting the estimates of resistance parameters have not been subset of dams for which environmental flow assessed. In this paper we provide a formal protections should be implemented. The recovery statistical approach for optimizing resistance of environmental flows is vital for the conservation parameters over the entire multivariate parameter of native fish communities, yet it remains a space. We then demonstrate that, for a wide range daunting challenge given the large number and of simulated scenarios, using Mantel correlations widespread distribution of dams. A systematic between genetic and ecological inter-individual approach for prioritizing dams is essential for distances results in biased and imprecise resistance making progress towards the protection of parameter estimates. The surface of the Mantel r environmental flows for freshwater ecosystem correlation can be very flat, leading to a wide range conservation. of parameter estimates with the same Mantel correlations, indicating that for a large range of scenarios, Mantel r correlations are inadequate approximations of this complex process. A new Wednesday, July 18 4:15 Estimating Resistance approach to estimating resistance values is needed To Gene Flow so that corridors can be designed with valid * Graves, Tabitha , Northern Arizona University , resistance values and incorporate measures of Beier, Paul, Northern Arizona School Of Forestry , uncertainty. Royle, J. Andy, Usgs Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Resistance reflects how difficult it is for genes to move across an area with certain attributes (e.g. a Monday, July 16 Landscape-Scale Models And particular land cover, slope, and elevation) Maps Of Fire Connectivity In The Sonoran Desert compared to an area with attributes that best Gray, Miranda*, Northern Arizona University , support gene flow. Resistances are used in corridor Dickson, Brett, Nau/Conservation Science Partners design. Given a matrix of observed genetic , Olsson, Aaryn, Northern Arizona University distances between pairs of individuals in a Over recent decades in the Sonoran Desert of landscape, several investigators have estimated Arizona, increasing heterogeneity in the amount resistance parameters by calculating ecological and location of precipitation has resulted in distance (as a least cost or circuit resistance extreme inter-annual fluctuations in fine fuel distance) between the same pairs of individuals accumulations. Coupled with ongoing climate under several alternative sets of resistance change and invasion by non-native grasses and parameters. They then used Mantel tests, partial forbs, this pattern has contributed to more Mantel tests, multiple regression of distance frequent and larger fires spread by contiguous beds matrices, and related model selection techniques of native and non-native plant biomass. such as causal modeling to determine which set of Historically, fires in the Sonoran Desert were resistance parameters produced a matrix of infrequent and of low intensity. However, the ecological distances most consistent with the potential for rapid and dramatic change to the fire 90 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 regime threatens native communities that can take trend by all 4 models, with diminished accuracy at centuries to recover after fire. Appropriate fuel habitat quality extremes. Pumas used very low management in this region will require an quality habitat less than predicted by the median improved understanding of the dominant drivers of patch size, mean parcel size, and combined fire under changing climatic and fuel conditions. As models, and used very high quality habitat more a step towards extending the scope of fire research than predicted by the distance to roads model. and management in this region, our research Identifying and constructing connectivity models focuses on predicting the relative contributions of with puma-specific indices of habitat use could fuel attributes (e.g., configuration and loading) and improve our predictive ability and puma landscape climatic variables to fire spread. We are integrating planning. remotely sensed fuels data and fire behavior models within an ecologically based connectivity framework that identifies thresholds of fire spread and isolates those areas and climatic conditions Tuesday, July 17 4:30 The Use And Misuse Of that contribute most to these thresholds. This work Adaptation: Linking Community And Natural builds on concepts and models that are accessible Resource Strategies * to multiple land managers and stakeholders in Gregg, Rachel , Hansen, Lara, EcoAdapt , conservation. Hoffman, Jennie , Mielbrecht, Eric, EcoAdapt The majority of climate change assessments focus on the potential impacts of climate change. Some efforts move a bit farther along to assess the Monday, July 16 Evaluating Feature-Based implications and vulnerabilities of climate change Connectivity Models Using Puma Occurrence Data for specific human community or natural resource In The Santa Cruz Mountains concerns. A smaller group still endeavors to Gray, Morgan* , Wilmers, Chris, UC Santa Cruz , develop approaches to reduce these Merenlender, Adina vulnerabilities. These efforts are called In fragmented landscapes, habitat connectivity is “adaptation.” The majority of adaptation efforts essential to ensuring species persistence. limit their solutions to the individual species, Mathematical models – based on landscape location or sector of concern. This can result in features, expert opinion, or species occurrence solutions that ignore other confounding factors or data – are often constructed to predict landscape have adverse implications for non-target species, connectivity and are central to diverse locations or sectors. This problem is perhaps more conservation applications. Despite their apparent with climate change than other stressors widespread use, the predictions of connectivity given the scale of its impacts. Here is where our model are not frequently evaluated with empirical societal effort to address climate change could data on movement patterns to confirm accuracy. become more opportunity than uphill battle. We evaluated 4 landscape feature-based Creating adaptation planning that thinks cross- connectivity models using species occurrence data sectorally could allow for more harmonious for Puma concolor in California’s Santa Cruz community and natural resource planning Mountains. Each model was derived from a providing opportunities to support both in well landscape feature related to the built environment: thought out adaptation plans. There are already (1) distance to roads, (2) mean parcel size, (3) examples emerging where the challenge of cross- median patch size, and (4) a combined estimate sectoral conflict is leading to cooperative planning. based on models (1), (2), and (3). Our results showed that observed puma movement in the Santa Cruz Mountains was predicted as a general 91 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Tuesday, July 17 11:00 Desperately Seeking Monday, July 16 A Comparison Of Diel Nesting Stable, 50-Year-Old Landscapes With Long, Wide Behaviors Of The Western Snowy Plover Wildlife Corridors (Charadrius nivosus nivosus) In The San Francisco Gregory, Andrew* , Beier, Paul, Northern Arizona Bay School Of Forestry Greuel, Bridget*, CSU East Bay, San Francisco Bay Conservation corridors are the most promising Bird Observatory , Inouye, Caron, California State intervention available to sustain plant and wildlife University, East Bay , Nilsen, Caitlin , Wildy, Erica, populations in light of anthropogenic land use and California State University, East Bay possible global climate change. However, we lack The Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus strong evidence that these interventions will work, nivosus) has been extensively studied in regards to because rather than assessing species’ its habitat usage, population ecology, foraging demographic persistence or gene flow attributable ecology, and diurnal breeding behaviors. This to corridors, most corridor research has information is limited to data obtained during documented species’ presence and movement daylight hours or with telemetry and very little is along relatively short (< 150 m) corridors in known about its specific nocturnal breeding landscapes not dominated by human land uses. We behaviors, particularly in regards to the threatened have recently initiated a project to determine if Pacific Coast population. In this study, we conservation corridors work, and what conditions examined 10 behaviors, including egg turning, time (such as width, severity of constrictions, or on nest, number of incubation bouts, and predator adjacent land uses) are associated with successful avoidance. We hypothesized that during the night, conservation corridors. Because conservation the length of individual incubation bouts will be corridors are young, we will study landscapes with longer, and the total number of bouts will be 'de facto' conservation corridors (i.e., corridors that fewer; during the day total time and frequency off exist as a quirk of how the landscape was the nest will be greater; eggs will be turned with developed). In each landscape (n > 50), we will equal frequency during the day vs. the night. collect DNA samples from focal species in patches Because the Western Snowy Plover is a federally connected by corridors, isolated patches, and threatened species, a thorough understanding of sampling locations within intact habitat. A corridor its entire behavioral repertoire will better allow will be deemed successful if genetic distances biologists to continuously reevaluate their methods between connected patches are smaller than and update recovery plans, taking all aspects of its genetic distances between isolated patches and behavioral ecology into account. This information similar to that of sampling sites in intact habitat. will also be useful to document nocturnal behavior Focal species will vary and may include any reptile, changes due to Global Climate Change (GCC). Since amphibian, mammal, flightless arthropod, or this species has a historically low nesting success, it sedentary bird associated with the patches and is important to understand their nocturnal as well corridors, but not the human-dominated matrix. In as diel behaviors, so that any changes due to each landscape, the configuration of patches and factors such as GCC can be monitored. corridors must have been stable for 20-50 years, so that genetic structure is likely reflective of landscape pattern. We ask you to suggest appropriate landscapes for this study at Tuesday, July 17 9:30 The Tree Is Dead. Long www.docorridorswork.org. Live The Tree. Do Monarch Prefer Or Simply Use Eucalyptus For Overwintering Roosts? Griffiths, Jessica*, Cal Poly State University , Villablanca, Francis, Biological Sciences Western monarch butterflies migrate seasonally 92 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 from breeding habitats in the interior West to from so many years of political interference has not overwintering sites along the California coast. been easy, but there are signs of hope. Some Within these sites, the majority of the agencies such as the National Oceanic and overwintering population is typically found on a Atmospheric Administration and the Department subset of the trees that are present. Thousands of of the Interior are struggling to implement and butterflies can aggregate into massive, discrete, expand their precedent setting scientific integrity roosting clusters that form on the leaves and policies. Others such as the Department of branches of selected trees. A species of tree that is Agriculture have barely moved forward at all in used quite often is the blue gum eucalyptus. This their policies. If these new policies take hold, the species is often a numerical dominant at next few years will bring a renewed commitment overwintering sites, therefore confounding to transparent decision making, and a working interpretation of whether monarchs a) actually environment mostly free of interference and prefer this species or b) simply appear to prefer it intimidation. Insulating science-based decision because of this species’ numerical dominance at making from political considerations will not overwintering sites. We tested whether monarch happen over night and this presentation will butterflies use different species of trees within provide an overview of points of progress and overwintering sites preferentially (biased relative remaining challenges. to abundance), or simply relative to abundance. We find that even though monarchs frequently use Eucalyptus, this is generally not the only tree species that is used (unless it is the only species Wednesday, July 18 4:00 NPS Inventory and present). Further, we find that at sites where Monitoring: Effectively Monitoring Park Resources alternate species are available, under some In An Era of Rapid Climate Change * circumstances, the use of alternates is Gross, John , National Park Service disproportionately high. We conclude that blue The U.S. National Park Service Inventory & gum are likely utilized because they are present, Monitoring Program (I&M) has implemented but are not used in a greater proportion than natural resource monitoring in about 300 parks to would be predicted based on their relative provide information on condition and trends. I use abundance. I&M experiences to evaluate recent assertions about the comparative effectiveness of ‘targeted’ monitoring as compared to ‘surveillance’ monitoring, particularly in the context of rapid Monday, July 16 11:40 Restoring Scientific climate change. Design of I&M began with Integrity In Federal Decision Making: Inching questions of ‘why’ and ‘for who’, and monitoring Along With Miles To Go was then established to evaluate condition and Grifo, Francesca*, Union Of Concerned Scientists trends over the long term. Monitoring protocols In the last administration, politicization of the were founded on explicit goals, objectives, and science on which the Department of the Interior sampling designs, but the overall design and long- and other agencies that manage natural resources term nature emphasize tracking key indicators of make their decisions, undermined their system health rather than targeting the ‘issue de effectiveness and ability to carry our their missions. jour’. Factors that profoundly influence the In addition, agencies allowed political appointees management outcomes of monitoring include within and without these agencies to interfere with relevance, time and expense for protocol individual species decisions and promulgate development, complexity of sampling large and policies that reduced the role of science in remote areas, the capacity of managers to use endangered species decision-making. Recovering information, and data management and reporting. 93 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Targeted monitoring and other short-term become an increasingly successful and important monitoring that may more appropriately be called tool for restoring island ecosystems. The Farallon research, are complimentary to long-term National Wildlife Refuge, 28km west of San monitoring. But these other types of monitoring do Francisco, is the site of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife not address the full complement of management Service proposal to restore seabirds and endemic needs and they have not delivered a outcomes species by removing invasive house mice (Mus necessary to increase long-term institutional musculus). The Farallon Islands harbor over capacity to collect, synthesize, and use monitoring 300,000 breeding seabirds, and is the largest data. seabird colony in the contiguous U.S. Yet non- native mice are having serious negative impacts on native island resources, threatening species like the rare Ashy Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma Monday, July 16 How Accurately Can We homochroa). About 50% of the world population of Determine The Ratio Of Human Population this petrel species breeds on the Farallones, and Growth To Extinction Of Species? their population has declined in recent decades. * Grossman, Richard Recent mark-recapture studies indicate that mice It is well known that the increasing number of infest the Farallones at plague-like densities of over people is the cause of the sixth mass extinction of 1272 mice/hectare, one of the highest densities non-human species. The average number of people reported for the species. A mouse eradication that causes the extinction of one species is not operation is proposed using techniques that will be known. To be able to estimate this number is an uniquely tailored to the islands, and will be based important step to bridging the gap between people on over ten years of research to fill important data and nature. This heuristic information can be of gaps. Rodents have been successfully removed value for educational purposes, both to from 338 islands worldwide to date. Recent U.S. conservation scientists and to the lay public This rodent removal efforts have been done on ratio needs two only data: the annual increase in Anacapa and on USFWS Refuges in Alaska, Palmyra human population and the annual decrease in the Atoll and Desecheo. The Farallon Restoration number of species. Although human population Project intends to permanently restore the Farallon data are fairly accurate, the number of species that ecosystem while minimizing non-target impacts by are driven to extinction each year is much more extensive consultation, research and careful difficult to estimate. Now there is information that planning. makes it possible to approximate the loss of species. I conclude that it is possible to estimate the ratio of human population growth to species extinction with an error of about 4 1/2 orders of Wednesday, July 18 9:30 Closing The Gap magnitude. Between Planning And Doing: Making Conservation Planning More Relevant To On-The- Ground Interventions In The Nature Conservancy Groves, Craig*, The Nature Conservancy , Game, Monday, July 16 The Farallon Restoration Edward, The Nature Conservancy , Hardesty, Jeff, Project: Island Ecosystem Recovery By Invasive The Nature Conservancy House Mouse Removal The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has been deeply * Grout, Dan , Island Conservation , McChesney, engaged in systematic conservation planning (the Gerard, USFWS , Bradley, Russell, PRBO “where” or spatial planning question) and strategic Conservation Science planning (the “how” question) for 20 years. For Removal of invasive species from islands has spatial planning (ecoregional assessments), a 94 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 recent analysis suggests the gap between planning distribution of vernal pools in México. Here we and doing is relatively small and that we focus present data from a long-term project to map and conservation efforts on places identified in these assess the vernal pools of Baja California. Aerial plans. On the strategic side, however, photographs have revealed regions with features implementation of conservation plans is falling consistent with the presence vernal pools prior to short and the gap between planning and doing is agricultural development, as well as many sites significant. We are implementing a number of that presently support vernal pools. Based upon major changes to close this gap: 1) greater photointerpretation of aerial images in GIS and emphasis on the development of strategies fieldwork, current and historical vernal pool areal including articulation of theory of change and extent has been quantified. Vernal pool loss in Baja development of alternative strategies, 2) better CA is conservatively estimated at 91.5%. Given this identification of costs and benefits of alternative estimate of loss and the rapid pace of development strategies including return-on-investment analyses, in northwestern Baja CA, a “triage approach” has 3) mainstreaming of multi-objective planning that resulted in conservation efforts focused on the better incorporates ecosystem services and better Valle de Las Palmas region between Tijuana and connects social and ecological objectives, 4) a Tecate, an area slated for massive development roadmap to conservation planning and adaptive over the next decade. Current project goals include management that is easier to understand for the formation of a bi-national vernal pool managers and project directors, and 5) improved conservation team, development of education and understanding and transparency of the purpose, outreach materials in Spanish, and continued decisions, and decision makers for any major fieldwork. planning effort as well as a clear articulation of the ultimate outcomes for any major conservation project. Examples of each of these changes will be discussed. Tuesday, July 17 9:45 Life At The Boundary: Creating A Dynamic Environment For Scientists And Natural Resource Managers To Understand And Adapt To Climate Change Monday, July 16 12:30 Vernal Pool Ecosystems Gunther, Andrew*, Bay Area Ecosystems Climate Of Baja California, México: A Story Of Loss And Change Consortium , Cohen, Ellie, PRBO The Growing Effort To Conserve What Remains Conservation Science Guilliams, Matt*, UC Berkeley , Mata, Sergio, Terra Despite the overwhelming agreement among Peninsular , Delgadillo, Jose, Universidad climate scientists about the causes and Autónoma De Baja California implications of climate change, most resource Vernal pool ecosystems are ephemeral, rain-fed managers and policymakers in the United States pools found in Mediterranean climates worldwide. are not yet taking adaptive action. Given this slow These ecosystems are relatively well studied in the response more scientists are seeking direct United States but poorly so in northwestern Baja engagement to influence and policy and California, where they might have been historically management. The Bay Area Ecosystems Climate common. A large percentage of vernal pools in the Change Consortium (BAECCC) was formed in 2009 United States have been destroyed during the to bring together scientists, public and private conversion of native habitat to other land uses, resource managers, and decision-makers to e.g., to agriculture in the Central Valley of collaboratively understand and reduce the negative California. A similar loss of vernal pools might have impacts of climate change on Bay Area ecosystems occurred in Baja California as well, although little is and communities. BAECCC’s goal is to engage these currently known about the present and historical stakeholders in conducting research and applying 95 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 key findings to enhance the conservation of portfolio also identifies existing stronghold ecosystem services for wildlife and people. Key populations that contribute to resiliency and are a features of BAECCC’s approach include (1) creating high priority for protection. Application of the an iterative process for exchange of information concept is described in case studies of Yellowstone between the management and scientific cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri and communities, (2) encouraging novel alliances that Rio Grande cutthroat trout O. c. virginalis. result in the funding of useful science and convenient tools for the application of results; and (3) helping scientists and managers understand and eliminate institutional, historical, and procedural Wednesday, July 18 8:30 Wildlife Protection Or constraints to effective collaboration. BAECCC is Wildlife Conservation? Can We Do Both? Can We testing its approach through the development and Afford Not To? * implementation of a strategic research initiative to Hadidian, John , The Humane Society Of The clarify the impacts of climate change on ecosystem United States services and identify strategies for adaptation to Contrasting visions of wild animals that pit the reduce the severity of these impacts. moral value of individuals against that of populations have been richly debated between what can be called traditional conservationists and, variously, animal rights, welfare or protection Monday, July 16 9:30 Conservation Portfolios: interests. At present there seems to be a détente Management Strategies For An Uncertain Future occurring that allows both sides to see value in the Haak, Amy* , Williams, Jack, Trout Unlimited thinking of the other, but perhaps without fully Wildlife managers and conservation partners are recognizing that it is one thing to resolve debates often faced with difficult decisions on how to over concepts and another to try to solve tangible allocate limited financial resources in a manner real world problems. The oncoming train named that maximizes benefits to the species of concern. invasive species management may set this détente The uncertainty of future conditions due to rapid back. It is important to acknowledge that both environmental change brought on by global populations and individuals are being managed in warming further complicates the prioritization the real world and in real time, often process. Management strategies that increase controversially, and in addition to seeking ways of biological diversity and promote varied approaches reframing concepts such ongoing realities must be to population protection are more likely to engaged more directly. This means speaking succeed. We apply the concept of a diverse concretely of improved policies and better management portfolio to native trout conservation practices. As it becomes ever more and the identification of priority habitats for professionalized, the field of wildlife damage restoration actions. The conservation portfolio of a management may help here. Stepwise procedures species is quantified using the 3-R Framework: that emulate Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Representation (protecting/restoring diversity), best practices are increasingly being applied to Resilience (having sufficiently large populations vertebrates, resulting in improved welfare and intact habitats to facilitate recovery from rapid consequences. Practically, welfare assessment environmental change), and Redundancy (saving matrices are facilitating decisions concerning the enough different populations so that some can be consequences of specific methods of control. This lost without jeopardizing the species). Results of talk takes a critical look at these and other recent the portfolio analysis are used to identify those developments in wildlife damage management that elements of diversity that are rare or threatened may, if not leading to better agreement, at least and are thus a high priority for restoration. The lead to better understanding. 96 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 Enhancing The Capacity For state level and illustrate the role that strategic, Climate Change Adaptation In Conservation collaborative decision-making could play in the Planning At The State Level future of wildlife conservation and Natural Hagell, Suzanne* , Hull, Scott, Wisconsin Resource Management. Department Of Natural Resources , Reetz, Matthew, Univeristy Of Wisconsin Madison , Martin, Karl, Wisconsin Department Of Natural Resources , Meyer, Michael, Wisconsin Department Tuesday, July 17 3:45 Wet, Flat, And Of Natural Resources , Ribic, Christine, Us Fragmented: Tailoring Adaptation Strategies To Fit Geological Survey Wisconsin Cooperative Wildlife Risks And Opportunities In The Great Lakes Region * Research Unit Hall, Kimberly , The Nature Conservancy , Kahl, Natural Resource Management (NRM) agencies Katherine, The Nature Conservancy , Doran, play a primary role in conservation and climate Patrick, The Nature Conservancy change adaptation within states because they have One of the major challenges associated with the ability to implement and enforce planned developing and implementing responses to climate anticipatory action. However, this can only happen change is that the best strategies, and how to if NRM agencies have the adaptive capacity to achieve them, vary with location. To move forward, identify and carry out informed decisions. we need to know how much the climate is Challenges to adaptive decision-making in NRM changing in a given place, what is at risk, and who include working under multiple forms of makes the decisions that influence species or uncertainty, limited resources, and insufficient system viability. I will describe ongoing work in the planning horizons. Adaptive Management (AM) is forest management sector, and work focused on commonly recommended in NRM to reduce protecting freshwater systems in agricultural uncertainty, but requires more capacity in terms of landscapes, highlighting how conservation science resources and time than is commonly available. An is being used in the Great Lakes region (North evaluation of alternatives to AM coupled with an America) to inform decisions related to promoting assessment of the current adaptive capacity in ecosystem-based adaptation strategies, and NRM would be an important step towards actions that increase greenhouse gas providing real solutions for climate change sequestration. Major challenges in this region adaptation. This project took advantage of an include the potential for increased agricultural and interagency, state-level partnership, the Wisconsin urban impacts on water quality due to increases in Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI, intensities of peak storm events, and increases in www.wicci.wisc.edu). As part of the Wildlife flooding in or near drained agricultural landscapes. Working Group, we assessed adaptive capacity by In addition, the region’s flat topography suggests conducting a survey to measure existing adaptive species need to move particularly long distances to capacity and decision-making across agencies, “track” changes in temperature. Given that focusing on information exchange and application. potential movement corridors include natural Secondly, we evaluated Structured Decision barriers like the Great Lakes, and many Making (SDM) as a tool for enhancing these anthropogenic barriers (agriculture and urban land components of capacity while solving an actual uses, and many barriers in aquatic systems), NRM problem. Our ultimate goal is to create prioritizing “where to work” to promote infrastructure within Wisconsin that can support connectivity has emerged as a key area for long-term, adaptive planning in light of the collaboration among researchers and practitioners. uncertainties and associated challenges imposed by climate change. We report on the process and challenges of climate change adaptation at the 97 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Wednesday, July 18 8:30 Ecoinformatics Beyond position in the California Mediterranean ecoregion. National Jurisdiction: Status And Future Directions Understanding how these patterns may change as Halpin, Pat* a result of anthropogenic climate disruption will The development of biological and environmental contribute to climate adaptation efforts, land use information to support ocean policy and planning and conservation strategies within the management in areas beyond national jurisdiction Bay Area. Evaluations of the rate and magnitude of (ABNJ) is a challenging task at present. Areas future change in climate usually compare to a beyond national jurisdiction are often not only single baseline averaged over a 30-50 year time outside of national control but are also outside of slice. This method of evaluating projected change individual national scientific data collection and factors does not incorporate the natural climatic monitoring programs. International consortiums of variability to which Bay Area biodiversity is scientific data contributors are an essential adapted. Using annual observations from the mechanism to provide the necessary data and PRISM spatial climate dataset (Daly et al 2002), we analysis in these ocean commons. The Global create both means and standard deviations per Ocean Biodiversity Initiative (GOBI) is an pixel in monthly maximum and minimum international partnership advancing the scientific temperatures and monthly total precipitation basis for conserving biological diversity in the across an 80-year baseline, from 1900-1980. We oceans. It aims to assist countries, as well as present the geographic distribution of recent regional and global organizations to develop new climate trends (1981-2010), and evaluate the data, tools, and methodologies to identify locations of statistical departures from historical ecologically significant areas in the open ocean and climatic variability. Direct weather station deep sea. In parallel with GOBI, the Ocean observations are compared to the PRISM Biogeographic Information System - OBIS interpolated spatial climate data as an evaluation (http://iobis.org) acts as the primary open-access measure. Climate space trends demonstrate that data archive to house and supply data to an increase in summer minimum temperatures are individuals and institutions for use in areas within the most significant recent change relative to 1900- and beyond national jurisdiction. OBIS now 1980 baseline climates. To investigate the rate and provides more than 30 million geospatially magnitude of future departures from baseline referenced data records covering more than climate space, we examine a multimodel ensemble 125,000 marine species. This geospatial of downscaled future climate parameters derived information is directly useful for the assessment of from the A2 emissions scenario for several future areas of Ecologically or Biologically Significant time slices. Analysis of climate space trends Areas (EBSAs), Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems incorporating historical climatic variability provides (VMEs) and other important international ocean a statistical and visual representation of both the assessments now being conducted in these most vulnerable and the most resistant fine scale regions. patterns of climate change across Bay Area landscapes.

Wednesday, July 18 11:40 Recent And Future Climate Space Trends In The San Francisco Bay Tuesday, July 17 8:45 Messing With Water Area Policy And Fishes In California: An Independent Hamilton, Healy* Science-Based Approach The diverse flora and fauna of the San Francisco Hanak, Ellen*, Public Policy Institute Of California , Bay Area are adapted to the relatively cool, ocean- Moyle, Peter, University Of California mediated climate patterns of its central coastal California is boiling with conflicts over water, 98 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 especially those involving endangered fishes. To unaffected by protected areas. We find that our conduct science-based analyses of the problems, results are robust to a number of econometric the Public Policy Institute of California and the specifications, spillover analyses and a placebo Center for Watershed Sciences at UC Davis study. Although our overarching results that assembled teams of academics (representing Bolivia's protected areas were associated with economics, ecology, law, engineering, water policy, poverty reduction are similar to the few previous geology). Their reports, including 3 books, have studies that exist from other countries, our garnered considerable attention. Some fish- underlying results differ subtly, but significantly. oriented findings include: (1) Changing the way Previous studies found that controlling for key water is exported from the Sacramento-San observable covariates led to fundamentally Joaquin Delta is needed to protect fish. (2) The antithetical results compared to naïve Delta ecosystem has undergone a regime shift from (uncontrolled) estimates. Conversely, our results an estuarine to a more lake-like environment. (3) indicate that naïve estimates lead to an over Major physical changes to the Delta are inevitable estimation of the poverty reducing impacts of as sea level rises and levees collapse. (4) Large protected areas. Our results expose the investments in habitat restoration are required. (5) heterogeneity of protected area impacts across Biologists are pessimistic about long-term survival countries and, therefore, underscore the of some native species. (6) Reoperation of many importance of country-level impact evaluations in California dams to benefit fish is needed. The PPIC- order to build the global knowledge base regarding UCD teams also recommend practical solutions to the socioeconomic impacts of protected areas. the problems, provided water culture can change from conflict to reconciliation. The success of this effort has been the result of creative leadership (Ellen Hanak, Jay Lund, Jeff Mount), intellectual Tuesday, July 17 9:50 Influence Of Current independence, diverse expertise, collegiality, good Speed, Substrate, And Plankton On The graphics, and foundation funding. Distribution Of Suspension Feeders In Mo'Orea, French Polynesia Hann, Courtney*, UC Berkeley Suspension feeders are sessile marine organisms Wednesday, July 18 3:20 Estimating The dependent on plankton and organic particles Impacts Of Bolivia's Protected Areas On Poverty transported by the water column for food. This Hanauer, Merlin*, Sonoma State University , study focused on the distribution of four Canavire-Bacareza, Gustavo, Georgia State suspension feeders (Dendropoma maxima, University Spirobranchus giganteus, Heteractis magnifica, and Protected areas are a powerful policy tool for the Tridacna maxima) in Mo’orea, French Polynesia preservation of ecosystems and their services. The based on current, suspended particle abundance, rapid proliferation of protected areas in Bolivia and substrate type. The positive association found over the past several decades has prompted between current and suspended particle, or food, interest in understanding their impacts on abundance suggests that a stronger current surrounding populations. Using rich biophysical and transports more organic particles to a set location socioeconomic data from Bolivia we find that than a weaker current. As a result, docks or resorts municipalities with at least 10% of their area built over the water can inhibit water flow, thereby occupied by a protected area established between transferring less food to filter feeders in coral reef 1992 and 2000 exhibited differentially greater ecosystems. In addition, all four species studied levels of poverty reduction between 1992 and showed substrate preference for specific coral 2001, compared to similar municipalities species. This observation reiterates the importance 99 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 of protecting an entire coral reef ecosystem, versus has been degraded due to an old concrete dam, a particular species. Since suspension feeders dozens of berms and a deep gully. The only regulate primary production by consuming perennial creek in the Peloncillo Mountains is now plankton, their distribution and abundance greatly an arroyo and the ciénega is greatly reduced. The affects marine food chains. Therefore, when project goals were to restore a more natural designing coral reef conservation programs, it is hydrology to the watershed, restore riparian important to consider potential hazards that may vegetation, and to protect and enhance the reduce current speed, and therefore obstruct population of the Chiricahua leopard frog. After suspension feeder growth. three years of careful planning we commenced work in spring 2010. We removed over 6000 cubic yards of dirt from levees and with 250 tons of boulders we constructed four diversions along the Monday, July 16 3:00 Why Climate Change man-made gully. These structures were designed Should Be Part Of Monitoring to allow storm flows to spread out over the entire * Hansen, Lara , EcoAdapt , Score, Alex, EcoAdapt , width of the dried ciénega surface. Monitoring Gregg, Rachel results and phase two and three planning will be Today monitoring is a part of many conservation discussed. endeavors and is designed for a variety of goals. Monitoring is used as a part of management, regulation, design/designation and improving our understanding of basic ecological processes. In all Tuesday, July 17 11:10 Arroyo, Rillito And of these cases explicitly developing parameters and Cienega Restoration In The Sky Islands approaches that consider the sensitivities and Hare, Trevor*, Sky Island Alliance effects of climate change can lead to better Land managers and owners in the Sky Island region outcomes for the original goal. Unfortunately very of Arizona, New Mexico and Sonora have asked for little monitoring that was not designed exclusively effective, and replicable restoration techniques for to assess the effects of climate change exists today Arroyos, Rillitos and Cienegas. Restoration of these and this can make many of our conservation rare resources will have beneficial effects on both endeavors more vulnerable to climate change. the ecosystem and the economic base in rural There is an emerging body of work attempting to areas. How do we measure the benefits? And how provide guidance to improve monitoring, making it do we effectively communicate our findings? more climate savvy.

Monday, July 16 Are Payments For Ecosystem Monday, July 16 Restoration In An Arid Land Services Enough In An Urbanizing Landscape? Creek And Wetland Complex Harris, Nyeema*, University Of California Berkeley Hare, Trevor*, Sky Island Alliance Benefits people derive from the environment are Cloverdale Ciénega was a vast desert marsh conspicuous and continue to gain attention as the irrigated by a 10,000-acre watershed that is now in science of ecosystem services shifts from theory to excellent condition. It was so large, in relation to its implementation. Besides identifying “win-win” watershed size, that it was able to harvest the bulk locations, where high ecosystem services and of the runoff from a typical storm by super biological diversity overlap, a more useful question charging its alluvial storage. Down valley, wetland might be, “Can payments for ecosystem services swales brought water to Cloverdale Creek, creating compete with payments for alternative uses?” We a perennial stream reach. This wetland complex illustrate this approach at a regional scale by using 100 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 the InVEST (Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem the other. We review empirical examples that infer Services and Tradeoffs) model to quantify carbon , but also highlight the complications sequestration in the rapidly developing Upper of why such events are difficult to document and Neuse River Basin near Raleigh, NC, USA. We used require statistical or network models for property tax values as a metric of opportunity cost estimation. Host shifts represent a plausible and calculated a ratio between the monetary alternative for affiliates, yet the ecological and values associated with potential payments for evolutionary constraints and promoters are poorly carbon sequestration and those associated with understood. Coextinction risk and its management opportunity costs. The “affordable” lands for depend on host specificity, the evolutionary lability purchase and preservation (ie, a ratio ? 1) varied of affiliates, host and affiliate traits, and synergistic with payments for carbon sequestration being interactions with other threats, including habitat higher than property costs on ~74% of wetlands loss, climate change, and invasive species. compared to ~9% of urban lands. We also evaluated affordability on lands of high conservation value (ie, Significant Natural Heritage Areas) and found that ~44% and 73% of these lands Monday, July 16 9:10 Improving Endangered were affordable when carbon was valued at Species Act Listing And Recovery, Consultation $20/ton and $45/ton, respectively. If conservation And Enforcement * areas correspond to areas of high economically- Hartl, Brett , Society For Conservation Biology valued ecosystem services that are affordable, The decision to protect a species under the motivations for land conservation justifiably Endangered Species Act (ESA), and the decision to encompass benefits to nature and human welfare. remove the legal protections provided by the Act because a threatened or endangered species has “recovered,” are the two most important policy decisions the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Wednesday, July 18 4:00 Coextinction: More makes to preserve biodiversity in the United States. Than Just A Theory? While these policy decisions are required to be Harris, Nyeema*, University Of California Berkeley , based solely on the best available science, they Colwell, Robert, University Of Connecticut , Dunn, often lack consistency, transparency, and a clearly Robert, North Carolina State University articulated scientific rationale. Thus, these The accelerated loss of species to extinction decisions are susceptible to improper policy and remains a persistent and troubling phenomenon in political interference, often to the detriment of conservation biology. As evidence continues to endangered species themselves. This presentation mount regarding the number of species known to will explore the listing process under Section 4 of have gone extinct, it becomes increasingly the ESA, recent efforts to reduce the backlog of apparent that extinctions are rarely, if ever, an candidate species waiting for listing, and new isolated events. Instead because these extinct approaches designed to improve the listing species are hosts, are prey, are pollinators– their process. In addition, we will explore ways of demise may lead to the demise of affiliated defining what it means for a species to be species. As a concept, coextinction in its simplest, “recovered” under the ESA using objective criteria binary form is straightforward. Two species can be for assessing extinction risk and science-based linked by pure exploitation, in which one species thresholds for down-listing and delisting benefits and the other is harmed; by mutualism, in endangered species. Finally, this presentation will which each partner bears a cost but each reaps a explain how an objective recovery standard will net benefit; or by commensalism, where one provide much needed guidance for interagency species benefits with negligible cost or benefit to consultations required by Section 7 of the ESA, and 101 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 a better prioritization scheme for allocating Ranch Center , Lyons, Kelly, Trinity College , resources to law enforcement efforts to protect Williamson, Paula, Texas State University the most endangered species within the United Invasive species control is most difficult when the States. invasive and native species have many physiological and morphological traits in common. Short of removing invasive species by hand, area- wide treatments such as prescribed burns carry the Monday, July 16 The Round Goby (Neogobius risk of insufficiently discriminating between the melanostomus) And Native Benthic Fish In New invasive and native species and inadvertently York Tributary Streams Of Lake Ontario promoting the further spread of the invasive * Hassan, Zafri , Cornell University , Sullivan, Patrick, species by opening up competitor-free space. To Cornell University , Bain, Mark, Cornell University decrease invasive species cover in the long term Round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), is a non- through fire or other techniques involving native benthic fish that has occupied the Great disturbance, native-invasive differences in Lakes since early 1990’s and caused economic and mortality must be large enough to overwhelm the ecological threats. The population has now moved competitive advantage of the invasive species. We into the tributary system and can potentially out- tested the hypothesis that the careful timing of compete other native benthic fish. We used kick- prescribed burns can be used to manipulate the seine and electro-fishing methods to document the tiller proportions of the non-native C(4) grass KR occurrence of round gobies and native benthic fish bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum) and the native in a watershed of northwest of New York draining C(4) grass little bluestem (Schizachyrium into Lake Ontario. There were 33 sites visited, 16 scoparium). We burned individual grass patches six sites where both round goby and native benthic times between June 2011 and January 2012 inside fish were present, 2 round goby only, 7 native a 46 cm diameter steel barrel centered on bunches benthic only and 8 where both were absent. We of either KR bluestem or little bluestem. Live tillers detected 7 native benthic fish (Etheosoma were counted before and after each burn to blennioides, E. caerulem, E. flabellare, E. olmstedi, ascertain whether the fire changed tiller E. exile, Percina caprodes and P. maculate) at sites proportions. To identify potential physiological and where round gobies were present. Data were environmental correlates of fire effects on tiller modeled using stream landscape position, distance proportions, we recorded the phenological stages from Lake Ontario, substrate types and stream size. of species just before the burn, water potential, Except substrate types, all variables significantly pre-burn biomass, and fire temperatures. Fire predicted the probability of presence-absence of significantly reduced KR tiller proportions from round goby relative to native benthic fish in the approximately 54% to between 11 and 30%. The area. At this time, while none of the native species least reduction in tiller proportion (30%) was is of conservation concern, the information from observed after a September burn, when KR this study might be used to recommend steps for bluestem bunches were predominantly in a state of countering the round goby invasion. dormancy due to drought. The largest reduction in KR bluestem tiller proportions (11%) was observed only weeks thereafter, following an October burn, when bunches were burned in the early stages of Tuesday, July 17 11:45 Can Prescribed Burns Be vegetative growth. These results support our Used To Control A C(4) Invasive Grass In A C(4) hypothesis that careful timing with respect to the Grassland? * phenological state of the invasive species and its Havill, Scott , Texas State University , Schwinning, recent drought history is an effective tool to Susan, Texas State University , Bach, Jp, Freeman maximize selectively negative effects on the 102 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 invader. This conclusion may transfer to other importance of considering the responses of invasive grasses in other grassland systems, but the multiple faunal distributions in the context of technique has to be reconciled with a policy of current and historical land use in determining banning burns during and after drought periods. habitat drivers and conservation needs of a given system.

Tuesday, July 17 9:15 Importance Of Multiple Faunal Distributions When Conserving Ephemeral Tuesday, July 17 4:45 Nursery, Field, And High- Wetlands: Differing Invertebrate And Amphibian Throughput Sequencing Studies Of Partial Host Community Responses Resistance To An Introduced Forest Disease Hawley, Joanna*, Clemson University , Baldwin, Hayden, Katherine*, UC Berkeley , Wright, Jessica, Rob , Pitt, Amber, Clemson University , Brown, USDA-Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Bryan, Virginia Tech Station , Eyre, Catherine, UC Berkeley , Garbelotto, Across North America ephemeral wetlands have Matteo, University Of California become a conservation concern due to the many The introduced pathogen Phytophthora ramorum species they support and the landscape scales at has had a devastating impact on populations of which metacommunities operate. Most tanoak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus) in California conservation-oriented studies focus on one and Oregon, where it causes the disease sudden taxonomic group (e.g., amphibians, waterfowl) and oak death. Tanoaks are important ecologically, and selected temporal or spatial extents. Our goal was one of the few species that are both killed by P. to understand the effects of variables measured at ramorum and contribute to its spread. Here we within-pond, local, and current as well as historical report on progress to date on a multiyear, landscape components, in influencing faunal collaborative project, the goal of which is improve distributions. We examined habitat components of the understanding of the role resistance might play 41 wetlands in relation to amphibian and in the disease dynamics and management of macroinvertebrate communities. Our results tanoak populations. We show the relevance of demonstrated that while the distributions of laboratory studies to field outcomes, present amphibians and invertebrates are modestly results from simultaneous next-generation related, the habitat preferences of sequencing of host and pathogen transcriptomes, macroinvertebrates are more general whereas and discuss the potential for disease resistance in amphibians are more restricted in their ability to driving the management or evolution of the species successfully colonize and persist. We found an in response to this considerable threat. average of 4.5 amphibian species per wetland (±2.57, max=11, min=0) and an average of 20.5 benthic macroinvertebrate genera per wetland (±8.13, max=44, min=4). Linear models revealed Tuesday, July 17 12:30 Breaking Through: that amphibian species richness was influenced by Talking Science To Connect With Your Audience * area, depth, distance to the nearest wetland, Hayes, Rich , Union Of Concerned Scientists macroinvertebrate richness and percent of This interactive presentation is based on my book historical low-density development and cultivated “A Scientist’s Guide to Talking with the Media.” area at a 250 m radius. Macroinvertebrate Participants will learn how to craft and deliver taxonomic richness was influenced by pH, dissolved effective messages for public consumption that are oxygen, depth, conductivity, canopy cover, percent not only scientifically accurate, but make people of historical cultivated, pasture and forested land care. We will view several video clips of scientists at a 250 m radius. Our results support the that will lead to a group discussion on best 103 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 practices. Attendees will learn advanced Monday, July 16 Habitat Complexity And techniques that will increase their confidence and Alternative Prey Alter The Strength Of Nonnative help them keep their cool during difficult Fish Impacts On Pond-Breeding Amphibians encounters. Scientists will also have the Hedman, Hayden* , Preston, Daniel, University Of opportunity to share their own public Colorado communication experiences for feedback. The talk Understanding invasive species impacts is is appropriate for scientists with limited media important for prioritizing conservation strategies, experience as well as those wishing to hone their especially in wetland ecosystems in North America. skills. Unfortunately, impacts of invasive species are often challenging to detect because they occur alongside other types of environmental change or their strength varies with characteristics of the Wednesday, July 18 11:00 Predicting Pacific Top invaded ecosystem. In the present study we Predator Habitat Using Global Climate Change examined how habitat complexity (aquatic plant Models density) and alternative prey availability * Hazen, Elliott , NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science (zooplankton density) alter the strength of invasive Center , Bograd, Steven, NOAA Southwest Fisheries mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) impacts on a Science Center native amphibian community. Within artificial pond Climate change scenarios have predicted an mesocosms the survival of Pacific chorus frogs average rise from 1-6° C by 2100 which could effect (Pseudacris regilla) was nearly 2x greater in the habitat and distribution of many marine treatments containing increased habitat complexity species. The tagging of Pacific predators (TOPP) or alternative prey. Growth rates of chorus frogs project has tagged 4300 animals resulting in also increased in the presence of elevated habitat 268,000 data-days and an expansive dataset for complexity. Survival of California newts (Taricha examining climate change effects. We used torosa) was high across all treatments, although spatially explicit habitat models (e.g. generalized newts grew faster in the presence of alternative additive mixed models) to examine present-day prey. Increased habitat complexity also indirectly distributions and foraging habitat of 23 top increased zooplankton densities, presumably by predator species in the Pacific from 2001-2009 as a providing refugia from fish. Current research is function of fixed bathymetric variables, sea surface examining how impacts of nonnative mosquitofish temperature, wind, Ekman pumping, mixed-layer in mesocosms 'scale-up' to real wetlands. Our depth, and chlorophyll-a. Consequently we used 1° results highlight how the environmental and monthly resolution climate models from the characteristics of invaded habitats can alter the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory to predict strength of invasive species impacts, which should potential habitat from bathymetry, SST, and be considered in developing management chlorophyll-a under future scenarios. We found strategies for wetland ecosystems. oceanographic changes, such as the northward migration of the transition zone that affected top predator biodiversity throughout the Pacific and highlighted potential changes in important Monday, July 16 11:15 Genetic Change Over The conservation corridors. Increased frequency of El Past Century In The American Pika (Ochotona Niño / La Niña events and changes in timing and princeps) intensity of upwelling could further affect Hekkala, Evon* , Peacock, Mary, University Of biodiversity and potential habitat in the north Nevada Pacific, particularly the critical habitat within the The American pika ( Ochotona princeps), often California current. referred to as the “canary in the coal mine” for 104 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 observing changes in alpine systems, provides an regional water-balance Basin Characterization ideal model for examining genetic changes in a high Model to project climate and hydrological variables altitude species under ongoing climate change. at the 270-meter scale. We use this data to Pika are very sensitive to temperature, and current describe spatial and temporal aspects of current evidence suggests that the species’ elevational and future climate and examine implications for distribution has moved upward in the past century conservation priorities and management actions. In as warming occurs in the Great Basin, Sierra this talk, I describe our framework for measuring Nevada and elsewhere. Few studies to date have and categorizing vulnerability and resilience across explicitly sought to utilize archival material to the landscape and translating these categories into empirically estimate the impacts of climate change specific management options to develop a tool for on genetic variation in natural populations over spatially explicit adaptation planning. This work time. We are using genetic analyses of archival illustrates that an ambitious land acquisition plan, samples, datasets available from the recent past focused on areas of high climatic heterogeneity, is and contemporary samples from throughout the an effective way to deal with climatic changes, range of this species in western North America, to especially given uncertainty in future climate test the hypotheses that neutral genetic diversity emerging from different global climate models. has been lost in association with climate induced range contractions over the past century. Preliminary data from microsatellite markers for historic and contemporary pika populations in the Tuesday, July 17 4:15 The Other Side Of The Ruby Mountains in Nevada and Bodie in the Sierra Coin! Conservation Translocations Benefit Nevada indicate a loss of allelic diversity over the Protected Fish, But May Impact Endemic past century. Invertebrates Henkanaththegedara, Sujan*, North Dakota State University , Fisher, Justin, North Dakota State University , Mcewen, Daniel, Minnesota State Wednesday, July 18 12:00 Using Fine-Scale University Moorhead , Stockwell, Craig , Climate And Hydrology Data For Adaptive Parmenter, Steve, California Department Of Fish Conservation Planning In The San Francisco Bay And Game Area Desert springs, which harbor diverse invertebrate Heller, Nicole* , Branciforte, Ryan , Weiss, Stuart, assemblages, are often used as refuge habitats for Creekside Center For Earth Observation protected fish species. However, this management In the spring of 2011, an ambitious land acquisition strategy neglects the potential impact of fish on plan was released for the San Francisco Bay Area, unique invertebrate communities. We conducted a the Conservation Lands Network (CLN). This mesocosm experiment to assess fish impacts on conservation planning exercise selected priority community structure of spring-dwelling conservation sites based on a vegetation cover invertebrates. We established invertebrate analysis and specific species targets. The San communities in large mesocosms by pumping Francisco Bay Area Terrestrial Climate Change water from a spring. Tanks were randomly assigned Collaborative (TBC3) is working to explore the to one of three fish treatments representing impacts of climate change on the suitability of the allopatric and sympatric populations of invasive CLN, and to create a prioritization scheme for land western mosquitofish and endangered Mohave tui acquisition and management within the network. chub or a fishless control treatment. Final Our analysis reflects projected climatic changes populations of invertebrates and fish were sampled derived from a large ensemble of downscaled and counted after 67 days. Invertebrate climate data and further processed through a community structures changed mainly due to 105 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 population declines and local extirpations of drive ecosystem processes. In addition, new invertebrates, presumably due to fish predation. modeling allows detailed study of the effects of For instance, densities of Crustaceans and flow on distributions and volumes of all habitats Chironomid larvae in fish treatments dropped defined by salinity. compared to the fishless treatment. Notably, Cladocerans were extirpated in 80% of mosquitofish mesocosms, while Chironomid larvae were extirpated from 60% of tui chub mesocosms. Tuesday, July 17 9:00 An Assessment Of Furthermore, a NMDS achieved a two-dimensional Spatiotemporal Refugia For Wildlife During The solution for invertebrate community assemblage Mountain Pine Beetle Epidemic * with a strong disassociation of the majority of Heyward, Joslin , University Of Wyoming , invertebrate taxa among the different fish Chalfoun, Anna, University Of Wyoming , Hayward, treatments. Our results fulfill an information gap Greg, USDA Forest Service suggesting that native fish transplanted to fishless Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) forests of the desert springs may also have negative impacts on Intermountain West are currently experiencing a spring-dwelling invertebrates. widespread epidemic of the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae), due in part to climate change. Major habitat changes will occur at a range of spatial scales as a result, with largely unknown Tuesday, July 17 9:00 Protecting The implications for forest wildlife species. An Sacramento-San Joaquin Estuary For Aquatic important question is which alternative stand types Resources: It's The Water And A Whole Lot More may best support forest-dependent wildlife prior to Herbold, Bruce*, USEPA mature lodgepole regeneration. Our specific study In 1991 a mountain of data had been assembled on objective was to examine the relative abundance of the estuary and there was an exploding need to focal avian and small mammal species and species protect its resources. Populations continued long- diversity across a gradient of patch sizes of spruce- term declines and multiple diverse fish were added fir and previously logged (young) lodgepole stands to the endangered species lists and the state’s within a matrix of beetle-killed lodgepole forest. water quality control plan was disapproved by EPA. During 2010-2011 we conducted diurnal Workshops funded by EPA brought together rodent/avian point counts and small mammal live- scientists who, without opining on the level of trapping with PIT-tagging in each potential refugia protection, analyzed the data to identify a flow type across a gradient of patch sizes. Species parameter that was ecologically important, assemblages differed significantly between stand measurable, and largely controllable. This types and among patch sizes. Habitat specialists unidimensional parameter, the location of the and semi-rare species were most abundant in the average daily salinity of 2, was adopted into new largest patches of spruce-fir. These stands also had water quality standards by EPA and the State. the highest species richness and diversity. Spruce- Populations rebounded until 2000, when a wide fir stands had higher levels of coarse woody debris, diversity of fish showed sudden simultaneous a relatively closed canopy, and are more mesic declines and studies were begun on a full array of which may favor species such as the brown creeper estuarine stressors. Published scientific papers, (Certhia americana), shrews (Genus Sorex), and including explicit funded efforts to synthesize the uncommon species of voles, such as montane various studies, were rapidly incorporated into (Microtus montanus) and long-tailed (Microtis Biological Opinions. In 2012 flow standards are longicaudus) voles. Generalist species such as the again being addressed, but now in the context of deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), and species how flow interacts with all the other factors that that thrive in open canopy or drier environments, 106 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 were more abundant in young lodgepole stands. greater potential for success, and leveraging this Previous efforts have focused on how species and activity more broadly through illustrating these assemblages change with phases of a beetle benefits to people and nature. outbreak. Our results provide a foundation for managers evaluating management actions influencing the size and distribution of forest stands in post-bark beetle landscapes. Depending Tuesday, July 17 9:15 Partitioning Amazonia: upon the specific habitat needs of species of Broad-Scale Divisions In Amazonian Forests And concern, conserving structurally different stand Their Implications For Conservation Planning * types and a range of patch sizes will be important Higgins, Mark , Carnegie Institution Department Of in maintaining wildlife populations and Global Ecology, , Ruokolainen, Kalle, Department biodiversity. Of Biology , Tuomisto, Hanna, Department Of Biology , Llerena, Nelly, Department Of Biology , Cardenas, Glenda , Phillips, Oliver, School Of Geography , Vasquez, Rodolfo, Center For Wednesday, July 18 11:30 Does Restoring Conservation And Sustainable Development , Components Of Natural Flows Result In Rasanen, Matti, Department Of Geology Rehabilitation Of Ecosystem Services? Accurate maps of biodiversity and biomass Higgins, Jonathan*, The Nature Conservancy distributions in Amazonian forests are critical for Globally, many dams are now managed for international conservation planning and carbon environmental objectives in addition to their accounting. Despite over 50 years of study, original purposes such as water supply, flood however, our knowledge of broad-scale patterns in control, power generation, or navigation. The these forests remains in what John Terborgh has rationale for managing dams for flows to achieve called the "stone age." Here we use a combination environmental objectives is based on sound of satellite imagery and field inventory to scientific and socioeconomic understanding of the demonstrate that Amazonian forests are divided importance of natural flow regimes to river into distinct large-area units on the basis of ecosystem health and services. However, empirical geological formations and their soil properties. We evidence illustrating ecosystem health and services specifically identify a geological discontinuity of restoration as a result of environmental flow over 300km in western Amazonia corresponding to management has not been previously summarized. a 15-fold change in soil fertility and an almost total This presentation provides a summary of the types change in species composition. We further identify and degrees of environmental health and service a second discontinuity of over 1500km in western benefits that have been documented in peer- Brazil that we believe represents the chemical and reviewed journals and reports on impacts resulting ecological boundary between western and central from managing flows to restore natural aspects of: Amazonia. These findings point to more accurate base flows; daily flow variability; high flow pulses, and efficient means of mapping and planning in and; multiple flow attributes. Results include these vast and remote forests, and support the dramatic recoveries of many aspects of ecosystem broad-scale mapping and planning initiatives of the health, and documented benefits to recreational, WWF, Nature Conservancy, and others. commercial and subsistence fisheries, flow- dependent agriculture, livestock, and vegetation uses. These results provide empirical evidence to draw from for developing project impact goals and objectives, informing monitoring and measures approaches, selecting project sites that have 107 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Tuesday, July 17 9:45 Landscape And Seascape Wednesday, July 18 9:30 Changing Conservation Science, Planning And Action: A Comparison Values Of Small-Scale Fishers In Southeast Asia Across 19 Sites Hines, Ellen* Hilty, Jodi* , Chester, Charles , Cross, Molly S., The condition of mangroves, seagrass, and coral Wildlife Conservation Society reef areas along the coast of Thailand has been With growing evidence of actual and potential degraded as a result of overfishing and destructive climate change impacts on biodiversity, what fishing methods. Increasing populations and adaptation solutions has the conservation increased development along the coast also cause community put forth? It is widely recognized that degradation or destruction of these resources. the current system of protected areas is Endangered marine species, such as coastal inadequate to protecting biodiversity from the cetaceans, dugongs, and turtles can also be caught threat of climate change. Yet rather than focusing up in coastal degradation as their habitats are in on a narrow strategy of expanding the global turn damaged or they are incidentally caught in coverage of formal protected areas, scientists and fishing nets. Our team performed interviews about conservationists have instead argued for integrated the importance of endangered marine species and large landscape. To what degree is this oft-cited systems and their conservation along the eastern solution possible? We reviewed nineteen global coast of the Gulf of Thailand between 2003 and case studies from around the globe (including 2012. Our respondents included 627 respondents polar, equatorial, freshwater, marine, montane, between the ages of 13 and 80, from fishing and temperate systems) to assess how climate villages in Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat provinces. change is being incorporated into science, There were no significant differences in answers planning, and action. We found both similarities about conservation between different age groups and differences in approaches, tools used, and in each year of interviews. However, the results challenges faced based on local ecological, political, show that the responses concerning the and socio-economic circumstances. In regions importance of conservation increased significantly experiencing high poverty, lack of science was from the earlier to the later years. Generally within likely to be a major stumbling block, and solutions each year, mangroves were considered the highest tended to emphasize incorporate sustaining in conservation importance, marine endangered livelihoods. The critical impact of changes in water species below that, coral reefs next, and seagrass regimes was highlighted in the freshwater and considered the least important marine system. marine systems, where adaptive management was Results are compared with similar interviews in emphasized. In montane systems, which are Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, western Thailand, relatively more intact, working across political Sri Lanka and India. We believe these results show boundaries has met with mixed success, and multi- that as direct resource users, small-scale fishers are level stakeholder buy-in has been an important increasingly aware of the need to conserve variable. In polar systems, human impacts are important resources affecting their livelihoods. projected to increase with more access to the These interviews document changing values and regions, and efforts are focused on finding refugia, opinions and can point towards education needs places most likely to change most slowly. The case and enforceable management solutions. There are studies represent an ongoing set of experiments as three major ways that the outcome of these to how best to conserve biodiversity during this surveys will be linked to actual conservation time of rapid climate change. practice: 1) surveys were conducted in close collaboration with scientists from the Thailand Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, who will use results for coastal management, 2) we work closely with village councils throughout Trat 108 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 province (where most of our respondents are from) Wednesday, July 18 9:15 The Role Of and attend village council meetings to discuss our Recreational Anglers In The Conservation Of results, and 3)we give presentations to local Imperiled Freshwater Fish schools and create educational materials and are Hogan, Zeb*, University Of Nevada - Reno preparing class exercises based on coastal While the number of recreational anglers has been conservation. growing in many countries, the overall impact of these anglers on freshwater fish biodiversity is unclear. Past research has shown that recreational anglers can significantly reduce fish stocks, Tuesday, July 17 11:00 The Climate Adaptation eventually leading to fisheries collapse. Yet Knowledge Exchange (CAKE): Your Online recreational anglers can also have a positive effect Adaptation Destination on the health of fish stocks, especially when * Hoffman, Jennie , Hitt, Jessica, EcoAdapt , Gregg, anglers take an active role in management and Rachel , Hansen, Lara, EcoAdapt conservation. To better understand the strengths The Climate Adaptation Knowledge Exchange and weaknesses of angler driven conservation (CAKE) is a joint effort by EcoAdapt and Island Press measures, I examine case studies focusing on to create an innovative community of practice on recreational fishing for large-bodied, imperiled climate change adaptation. It is intended to foster freshwater fish. Although several of these species the discipline of adaptation to climate change by are considered threatened by IUCN, they remain facilitating the identification of important popular with recreational anglers. I will discuss information and its accessibility; building a recreational angling in the context of imperiled fish community via an interactive online platform; status and long-term persistence. Which species connecting practitioners to share knowledge and are popular with anglers? Does recreational angling strategies; and networking with other relevant for large-bodied fish threaten their survival? What materials around the web. This presentation will are some the direct and indirect impacts of showcase components of CAKE including a recreational fishing? And importantly, where are georeferenced database of case studies and the success stories? Can recreational fishing help adaptation-interested people and organizations, a protect vulnerable large-bodied fish? Case studies virtual library, adaptation advice and information from Mongolia and Nevada (U.S.A.) highlight some exchange, and links to tools and data. We will of the benefits of engagement of recreational demonstrate searching by text, map, and keyword, anglers in conservation where recreational angling as well as interlinkages among CAKE components. (or funds from recreational anglers) is driving One challenge has been getting users to contribute sustainable, science-based management. their case studies to the site. While users often go through the quick process to recommend a document or tool they are far less likely to contribute a case study to the site. We also have Wednesday, July 18 12:00 Assessing Potential struggled with the balance of staying relevant in an For Collaborative Reconciliation Of Conflicts From online forum by continually adding and updating Contentious Wildlife Management In content with the need to maintain the scientific Southwestern Arizona Designated Wilderness integrity and reputation of the site. Technical Hoglander, Cerissa* , Nielsen, Erik, Northern challenges include difficulty with representing Arizona University , Dickson, Brett, regional resources on the map; location is currently Nau/Conservation Science Partners , Rosenstock, designated by a single point regardless of the size Steve, Arizona Game And Fish Department of the region covered. The conflict over developed waters as a wildlife conservation management tool has persisted for 109 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 over twenty years, and is now being adjudicated in and trails, demand for transparency and the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals accountability to results heightened. The where wilderness advocates and management Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) agencies are in contention over the reconstruction developed its first Outcomes Tracking System, a of developed waters for desert bighorn sheep database-backed web application to track and management in the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge report on its agency-wide conservation results. The wilderness. This conflict exemplifies the ideological system provides a streamlined way for agency staff split between wilderness and wildlife management. to enter and store conservation data to a central The purpose of this study is to examine the repository allowing the agency to fulfill various potential for collaborative reconciliation of the reporting needs. The system connects on-the- dispute over developed waters in southwestern ground conservation projects and programs and Arizona based on stakeholders’ shared interests, their funds to agency goals and objectives and uses interdependence, and willingness to collaborate. predefined indicators and targets to track and Through in-depth interviews with representatives report results. The Outcomes Tracking System from stakeholder agency and non-profit currently delivers DNR’s program and project organizations, key dimensions of the conflict were funding and outcomes information to a identified including broader sociopolitical conflicts, legislatively-mandated database and website differences in intrinsic environmental values, and designed to help the public learn about and track scientific disagreement and uncertainty. Despite the results of their conservation dollars. Together strong ideological divisions, areas of common these systems serve as a valuable platform for ground were identified, including converging goals connecting people to conservation work happening and an overall willingness to pursue a collaborative in their watersheds or counties as well as tracking effort. Such a collaborative reconciliation process and reporting the cumulative contribution of has a distinct potential for proceeding, however an hundreds of multi-year projects towards large- underlying lack of trust and perception of scale, long-term conservation goals. management politicization amongst some stakeholders must be addressed through network- building activities as a precondition to ensure a greater chance of success. Monday, July 16 Identifying Conservation Priorities Using Spatial Analysis Tools For The National Wildlife Refuge System In Oregon Houghten, Charles*, Us Fish And Wildlife Service - Tuesday, July 17 10:00 A Conservation NWRS - PVS , Miewald, Tom , Cruz, Liz , O'Hara, Information System For Bridging The Gap Kevin Between Conservation Funds Invested, Actions The National Wildlife Refuge System, managed by Taken And Outcomes Achieved the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), is the Holdsworth, Andy*, Minnesota Department Of world's premier system of public lands and waters Natural Resources , Holt, Peter, Minnesota set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife and Department Of Natural Resources , Austin, Clay plants. The Pacific Region’s Division of Refuge The stakes for land and water conservation have Planning is currently identifying habitats that are never been greater. The challenges are high priorities for meeting conservation goals and unprecedented, and the expectations of funders objectives identified by USFWS and our partners. and the public for significant conservation This poster will highlight the use of spatially explicit outcomes are high. With the citizens of Minnesota decision support tools for developing Land approving a 25 year constitutionally-dedicated Protection Plans (LPP) across geographies in funding source for habitat, clean water, and parks Oregon, with a focus on the Willamette Valley. 110 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Land Protection Plans are our primary tools for with a URL addresses for an ArcExplorer project studying and evaluating conservation and an online survey to answer questions about opportunities, including adding lands to the the condition of over 100 sample locations National Wildlife Refuge System. In the Willamette delineated by 20 acre polygons. The modeled Valley Conservation Study Area, we are taking a landscape integrity and Effective Mesh rankings collaborative approach to planning and analysis, by were then compared against the rankings from the building off of existing research and conservation image assessment to determine the effectiveness planning conducted by other organizations. The of the methods to identify intact landscapes. While overall goal of our spatial conservation planning largely a qualitative assessment, the results proved exercise is to provide decision support for the adequate to assess the general applicability and USFWS managers developing strategies to achieve performance of these methods of modeling the conservation goals and objectives, such as a integrity and intactness of the landscape. In focusing on Federal trust species and rare and addition to the results providing information on declining habitats. We used the Marxan how well each method identified a range of conservation planning tool to optimize landscape conditions, this research also explores conservation alternatives across the study area, its the feasibility and effectiveness of using online GIS use is featured on our poster. Applications and high resolution imagery to conduct “remote field assessments”.

Tuesday, July 17 8:45 Assessing The Ability Of Different Metrics To Identify Gradients In Wednesday, July 18 8:50 Finding Common Landscape Integrity In The Southern Great Plains Ground For Climate Action: LCCs And The Houts, Mike* California Department Of Fish And Game The negative impacts of habitat fragmentation due Hunting, Kevin*, California Department Of Fish And to land use conversion, roads, urban areas, and Game other features have been well documented. In Pursuing and maintaining collaborative recent years there have been several different partnerships is a mainstay of the California approaches to assessing fragmentation at the Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) core values regional scale, including the identification of intact and an intregal part of its climate adaptation blocks using human footprint metrics and the planning efforts. Bringing together representatives calculation of the Effective Mesh Size measuring from multiple agencies and organizations is vital to the probability of random points occurring in the the creation of a collective vision for responding to same landscape patch. In the southern Great the challenges associated with climate change and Plains, where the grassland habitats are extremely DFG is comitted to pursuing and maintaining fragmented by roads and croplands, it may not be partnerships that promote the leveraging of as important to find huge unfragmented blocks as resources and expertise of multiple entities. it is to identify the least fragmented regions and Landscape Conservation Cooperatives (LCCs) in manage them as the “best of what’s left”. The goal California are providing a mechanism to facilitate of this research was to assess the ability of these this kind of information sharing and conservation two model types to identify relatively biologically planning at a landscape scale, which is imperative intact and functioning habitats. This was for effectively responding to climate change accomplished by assessing the landscape integrity impacts to fish, wildlife, and habitats across the at a collection of stratified random locations using state. The roles and responsibilities of LCCs across online map services with high resolution aerial the country vary as do their relationships with state photography. Regional biologists were provided fish and wildlife agencies; however in California the 111 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 story is all success. LCCs throughout California are of critical habitats and human impacts is required providing a platform for agencies and organizations to integrate seabird conservation needs into the to come together to identify actions that will help developing marine spatial planning paradigm for achieve shared goals, and to piece these actions territorial waters and the high-seas. Furthermore, together to form the large-scale collective response it is our hope that the lessons derived from seabird that climate change demands. DFG has taken an conservation will inform similar measures for the active role working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife spatial management of other pelagic species and Service and others to support the development of their dynamic ecosystems. LCCs in California, and together we are responding to one of the greatest conservation challenges of our time. Wednesday, July 18 10:00 Developing Regional Shorebird Conservation Through Practices On Private Lands Wednesday, July 18 12:15 Considerations For Iglecia, Monica*, Audubon California , Strum, Spatial Planning Of Pelagic Systems: Towards Khara, PRBO Conservation Science , Sesser, Kristin, Ecosystem-Based Management PRBO Conservation Science , Skalos, Dan, PRBO Hyrenbach, David*, Hawai'i Pacific University , Conservation Science , Reiter, Matt, PRBO Adams, Josh, US Geological Survey , Louzao, Maite, Conservation Science , Kelsey, Rodd, Audubon Juan De La Cierva Instituto Español De California , Hickey, Catherine Oceanografia , Le Corre, Matthiew, Laboratoire Over 90% of natural wetland habitat has been lost Ecomar , Rieser, Alison, Department Of Geography in California’s Sacramento Valley yet shorebirds use Seabird conservation is advancing rapidly, spurred this region throughout their annual cycle. One by technological developments (e.g.,biologging) reason for the abundance of shorebirds is rice and conceptual advances for determining where / production, which provides over 80% of available when to make the most effective conservation flooded habitat in winter and summer. Rice in the investments (e.g., demographics). Yet, the Sacramento Valley is used by 13 species of worsening conservation status of oceanic birds and shorebirds and supports 42% of all wintering the predicted changes in the ocean’s ability to shorebirds and 64% of all breeding shorebirds in support the food webs they depend upon require the Central Valley. Certain stages of rice production novel approaches. In particular, there is a need for may limit available shallow water habitat for conservation approaches capable of addressing the shorebirds during critical times. In collaboration underlying physical and biological ocean with the rice industry and rice growers, we heterogeneity in time and space, as well as the developed a suite of five innovative practices, dynamic nature of life-history processes and compatible with rice production, to enhance the human impacts. To this end, we outline five key habitat value of rice fields for shorebirds principles guiding the development of spatially- throughout the year. We developed a 7-year explicit conservation targets, and illustrate their research plan and began testing three of these conceptual foundations and practical applications: practices in summer 2009. We compared shorebird (1) evaluating mismatches between management response in rice fields with alternative and ecological processes, (3) accommodating scale- management practices to rice fields with dependent temporal and spatial variability, (3) traditional management practices. Our research preserving webs of ecological interactions, (4) and our partnership with the rice growing acknowledging the heterogeneity of human community led to an opportunity to integrate the activities, and (5) embracing place-based newly developed shorebird-friendly rice field management. An improved dynamic understanding management practices into a NRCS incentive 112 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 program. Our adaptive model of landscape scale by satellite telemetry)of a sample of the Mukojima conservation has helped further shorebird fledglings have been comparable to those of their conservation in California’s Central Valley and Torishima counterparts. So far, we have seen 6 of could be applied to other agricultural lands. the 10 STAL fledglings from the first cohort (2008) and one from 2009, return to Mukojima and "practice" courtship dancing. These observations, as well as visits from several parent-reared Monday, July 16 3:30 Moving And Rearing subadult STAL, provide encouraging signs that STAL Short-Tailed Albatross Chicks: On The Road To will eventually establish a breeding colony on Establishment Of A New Breeding Colony Mukojima. We hope that the techniques we have * Jacobs, Judy , U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service , developed will be useful for others attempting to Deguchi, Tomohiro, Yamashina Institute For conserve surface-nesting seabirds by engaging in Ornithology , Ozaki, Kioaki, Yamashina Institute For the long-term (but rewarding) process of Ornithology , Suryan, Robert, Oregon State translocation and chick-rearing. University The short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus), listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and as a Special Bird for Protection in Monday, July 16 9:15 Temporal Patterns In Japan, was nearly exterminated by hunting before Zooplankton Abundance In Central California the turn of the 20th century. Now protected, the Jahncke, Jaime* , Elliott, Meredith L., PRBO breeding population has built to an estimated 500- Conservation Science , Warzybok, Pete, PRBO 550 pairs, nesting on two islands; Torishima, the Conservation Science , Bradley, Russell, PRBO main breeding site, is an active volcano, and the Conservation Science smaller site in the Senkaku Islands is inaccessible Seabirds are samplers of the marine environment due to sovereignty disputes. The Short-Tailed and past studies have examined diet to indicate Albatross (STAL) Recovery Team (with members relative abundances of certain marine wildlife. Diet from Australia, Japan, the U.S. and Canada) has information on the Cassin’s auklet (Ptychoramphus indicated that additional STAL breeding colonies aleuticus), a zooplanktivorous seabird breeding on must be established in order to achieve recovery. the Farallon Islands in Central California and a We are attempting to facilitate new colony California species of special concern, have been formation by translocating young STAL chicks and collected since 1971. In addition, since 2004, we rearing them at a new protected colony site, in the have collected zooplankton community hopes that they will return to breed at the new site composition data during at-sea cruises conducted when mature (5 to 10 years of age. Before working in the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank with the endangered birds, we undertook pilot National Marine Sanctuaries. We explored auklet attempts to rear chicks of the two other (more diet and zooplankton sample time series and the common)North Pacific albatross, Laysan relationships between them. This species (Phoebastria immutabilis) and black-footed consumed mostly euphausiids (family (Phoebastria nigripes), in 2006-2007 respectively. Euphausiidae) in most years, with other marine Beginning in 2008, we have been moving invertebrates (e.g., amphipods, decapods, endangered STAL chicks each year from Torishima copepods and mysids) and larval fish comprising a to a prepared site on Mukojima, an island in the minor proportion of the diet. However, during Bonin (Ogasawara) chain. 2012 is our 5th 2005 and 2006, auklet diet consisted almost consecutive (and last) year of this project. In total, entirely of mysids. Zooplankton samples also 70 STAL chicks have successfully fledged from showed a dramatic increase in mysid abundance. Mukojima. The post-fledging movements (followed The auklets suffered near total reproductive failure 113 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 during this period. Euphausiids once again became Monday, July 16 3:45 Status And Trend In the dominant prey in auklet diet starting in 2008 American Pika Site Occupancy Patterns Across The and productivity has rebounded. These links Western US: Insights From Some Of The Nation's between auklet diet, auklet productivity, marine "Crown Jewel" National Park Units invertebrate abundances can be used to Jeffress, Mackenzie*, University Of Idaho understand changes in the marine ecosystem and American pika research has largely occurred as may also assist managers in important ocean disparate efforts on unprotected lands in the conservation decisions. western US. However, this charismatic species is important to many western national parks and monuments and concerns over its ability to persist in the face of accelerated climate change have Tuesday, July 17 11:15 Resistance To Science: brought the species to the attention of park Combating Agency Fear, Politics, And Inertia resource managers. Furthermore, studying the * Jasny, Michael , NRDC species in these parks and protected areas provides In bringing science to bear on management an excellent opportunity to align study objectives decisions, it is essential to understand why and methods and to establish a broader regional administrative agencies sometimes fail to act, even scope of inference that can yield novel insights into when presented with data that might otherwise habitat relationships and long-term population seem compelling or determinative. Fear of trends. A monitoring partnership was initiated in litigation, interagency politics, entrenched legal 2009 among four national park units and the positions, non-conservative evidentiary standards, National Park Service’s vital signs monitoring and bureaucratic inertia all can affect the role of program. The group produced a monitoring science in environmental decision-making. This protocol that provides robust probabilistic paper explores agency resistance to science using, sampling designs and standardized field methods, as a case study, the problem of underwater noise facilitating both park- and regional-level analyses. and its effects on marine biota: a complex, poorly With this approach, estimates of turnover and understood issue with broad policy implications on “growth rate” in site occupancy provide the which numerous biologists and bioacousticians framework for evaluating temporal trends. The have attempted to intervene. It considers why protocol has since been adopted by other parks certain science-based interventions have and agencies and was used in the “Pikas in Peril” succeeded in driving agency action, and others research effort that expanded the partnership to have failed, looking in particular at the include four additional “crown jewels”, including effectiveness of different vehicles of engagement, the flagship Yellowstone National Park. Occupancy including peer-reviewed publication, administrative surveys and genetic collections made during 2010- comment, and public messaging. It also considers 2011 at more than 1,100 sites are fueling regional the importance of framing scientific ideas in terms modeling and a species vulnerability assessment. that are relevant to agencies, by examining the emergence of the concept of “acoustic habitat” in characterizing the impacts of chronic noise on marine wildlife.

114 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Tuesday, July 17 3:45 Corridor Conservation In Monday, July 16 9:30 Biodiversity, Ecology, And Southern California Under Climate Change: Conservation Of Microbiotic Soil Crusts In The Understanding Wildlife Response To Burned California Deserts Landscapes Johansen, Jeffrey*, John Carroll University Jennings, Megan* , Lewison, Rebecca, San Diego Microbiotic soil crusts are surface aggregations State University , Crooks, Kevin, Colorado State consolidated by lichens, mosses, eukaryotic algae, University , Boydston, Erin, U.S. Geological Survey , cyanobacteria, and fungi. Microbiotic crusts of the Lyren, Lisa, U.S. Geological Survey , Vickers, California deserts differ from crusts of other North Winston, University Of California, Davis , Boyce, American deserts. In particular, lichen and moss Walter, University Of California, Davis diversity are low. However, algal diversity is Land conservation efforts are challenged by the significant, and based on initial studies of the nature of dynamic ecosystems and shifting climate biodiversity in these deserts, endemic species and regimes. In southern California, wildfires are even endemic genera are being discovered. Our prevalent landscape disturbances expected to studies thus far have been in Joshua Tree National become more frequent under climate change. Park, Mojave National Preserve, and Fort Irwin Understanding how changes in this disturbance NTC. These crusts are characterized by clear regime affect wildlife is critical to ensure landscape dominance of cyanobacteria, very low abundance connectivity. We analyzed GPS tracking data on of moss cover, and patchy occurrence of dark- bobcats, coyotes, and mountain lions in southern colored lichens. Microbiotic crusts serve several California to understand how mammalian key ecological roles in desert soils, including carnivores respond to burned landscapes. We protection from erosion, nitrogen fixation, compare home range sizes and movement patterns contributions to organic matter, and biological in burned and unburned habitats, conduct interactions with vascular plants. Microbiotic soil compositional analysis of habitat usage, and crusts have been subject to a variety of develop a preference index to evaluate individual anthropogenic disturbances, including grazing responses. At the population level, we found no livestock, off-road vehicle use, construction, and strong response to burned landscapes, but on an mining. Recovery from disturbance is very slow, individual level, some animals exhibit an avoidance especially in arid areas in the hot deserts. In of habitats shortly after fire, a preference for developing solar energy in California, examination burned habitats between five and ten years after of microbiotic crust development should be a part burning, and no preference ten years and beyond a of our environmental assessments. Parts of the fire event. Individual movement patterns showed Mojave lack microbiotic crust development, either avoidance of burned edges contiguous to due to past disturbance or unfavorable conditions development features, e.g. roads or housing for development; and these areas are more developments, suggesting potentially negative suitable for energy development. synergistic effects between fire disturbance and habitat fragmentation. In fire-prone environments, multiple corridor options and fuel management activities may be necessary to conserve Monday, July 16 12:00 Legislative Delisting Of connectivity. Linkages should also be evaluated in Wolves: Consequences Of Ignoring Obvious the context of how land use change coupled with Political Lessons And What To Do About It * climate change may affect connectivity. Johns, David , Society For Conservation Biology In 2011 the U.S. Congress delisted wolves in the Northern Rockies. House action was unsurprising because hostility to wolves and the Endangered Species Act dominated. But ESA-friendly Senators, 115 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 who had long and steadfastly refused to make strategies, spatial extent, landscape connectivity, species or geographic exceptions to the ESA, voted and management typically are based on data for delisting. They, along with the President who assumed to be static rather than dynamic in space could have vetoed the bill, feared that Montana and time. The practice of NCCP can be improved, to Senator Tester could lose his seat in 2012 if provide both a functional stand-alone Climate “management” of wolf populations was not Change Adaptation Strategy and to complement returned to the states. Analysis of events leading other conservation programs and initiatives. up to the delisting and since show that most Opportunities currently exist for integration of conservationists did not and do not recognize the multiple programs to improve resiliency and cause of the legislative loss: they were out- conservation of the State’s biodiversity. organized by wolf opponents. Otherwise supportive political leaders thus felt they had more Wednesday, July 18 3:00 In Defense Of to fear from wolf opponents than from Monitoring conservationists. Yet circumstances leading to Johnson, Douglas H.*, USGS Northern Prairie delisting were not new. Conservationists ignored Wildlife Research Center Fisheries, Wildlife, And the extraordinarily obvious lesson exemplified by Conservation Biology Roe v Wade: no controversial court decision is Monitoring involves checking something “at regular secure without ongoing work building political intervals in order to find out how it is progressing support for it; reliance on litigation alone without or developing” (Microsoft Word), or collecting grassroots organizing is precarious at best. Most measurements at a specified frequency of multiple conservation NGOs have long abandoned time units (W. L. Thompson et al., 1998, Monitoring grassroots organizing and the consequences are Vertebrate Populations, Academic Press). The key grim. The problem can be remedied; there is point is “at regular intervals” or “multiple time nothing magical or secret about organizing political units,” suggesting a continuing process. Most support. monitoring, in the strict sense of the word, is intended to persist for long periods of time, perhaps indefinitely or permanently. Some definitions, unfortunately, do not indicate the Tuesday, July 17 3:00 Natural Community repetitive nature of monitoring and are basically Conservation Planning In California: A Tool For synonymous with “observing.” And recently the Adapting To Climate Change term “monitoring” has been adopted for the * Johnson, Brenda , California Dept. Of Fish And process of evaluating the effect of some Game management action or observing a system to Natural Community Conservation Planning (NCCP) understand how it operates. Worse, users of this is a State-sponsored collaborative endeavor in definition have tagged monitoring, as defined California that seeks to conserve species, natural originally, with the pejorative modifier communities, and ecological processes at an “surveillance,” and criticized monitoring not guided ecosystem level while accommodating appropriate by a priori hypotheses and their corresponding and compatible economic land use. The law models. I intend to demonstrate that monitoring, governing the NCCP program (NCCP Act of 2003) in the original sense of the term, indeed has was intended to mediate climate change by considerable value. A continuous monitoring connecting large habitat reserves across program is the only way to detect changes caused environmental gradients; however, the degree to by unplanned activities, such as hurricanes, which NCCPs can now provide the resilience wildfires, oil spills, or, notably, climate change. It necessary to conserve biological systems in also can establish a protocol to evaluate the effects perpetuity is uncertain. NCCP conservation of planned activities, when and where needed. 116 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Further, examples are plentiful of continuous Wednesday, July 18 3:15 The Impact Of Energy monitoring programs that provided insight into Sprawl On Biodiversity And Ecosystem Services systems far beyond the original intent of the Jones, Nathan*, Colorado State University , program. Pejchar, Liba, Colorado State University , Theobald, David, Colorado State University Energy production in the U.S. is in transition as demands for clean and domestic sources increase. Monday, July 16 12:15 Beyond The Protected Wind energy offers the benefit of reduced Core: Connecting People And Nature In The Crown emissions, yet, like conventional sources such as oil Of The Continent and natural gas, both contribute to energy sprawl, * Johnson, Shawn , Center For Natural Resources & or the loss and fragmentation of habitat due to Environmental Policy, The University Of Montana development activities. To understand the relative Iconic Glacier and Waterton National Parks stand at nature and magnitude of energy sprawl, we used a the heart of the 18 million acre Crown of the diverse set of indicators to quantify the impacts of Continent ecosystem. This spine of glacier?carved oil, gas, and wind development on biodiversity and mountains is the headwaters of three continental ecosystem services in Colorado and Wyoming. watersheds – the Columbia, the Missouri, and the Aerial imagery was supplemented with empirical Saskatchewan. The Crown of the Continent retains data to estimate wildlife mortality, habitat loss, a full complement of native predators as well as noise and light pollution, fragmentation, invasive large populations of moose, elk, bighorn sheep, species, water resources, and carbon storage. To pronghorn, and deer. The Crown of the Continent quantify these impacts we digitized the land use is also a dynamic human landscape, where a footprint within 375 randomly selected 1-km history and culture of farming, ranching, logging, diameter plots, stratified across energy types. In mining, hunting, fishing, and exploring have both order to determine how landscape characteristics altered the land and engendered an indelible link influence the magnitude of impacts, each of the between people and place. As natural and human above indicators was modeled with a suite of impacts have become more noticeable and covariates, including land ownership, land cover, troublesome, there has been a growing number of topography, elevation, housing density and median community?based partnerships, sub?regional, and income. We found substantial differences in regional initiatives focused on the long?term impacts between energy types, although the conservation and stewardship of this remarkable magnitude and direction of the differences varied landscape, especially those lands beyond the among indicators. This novel technique and our protected core. This case study presentation will specific findings can be used by developers, examine the Roundtable on the Crown of the planners and policy-makers to design energy Continent, a new effort to link existing and development that minimizes impacts to natural emerging community-based and regional efforts ecosystems while maximizing benefits to society. through a network governance approach to landscape scale adaptive management in response to climate change and other landscape scale dynamics. It will explore the inherent tensions of Tuesday, July 17 8:30 Novel Ecosystems: Hope operating at different scales and across Or Hype? jurisdictional boundaries, analyze what is working Jordan, Marilyn* and what is not, and share lessons learned. Novel ecosystems—new, historically unprecedented combinations of species resulting from environmental change, human actions, and changing species composition—occupy 40% of the 117 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 terrestrial ice-free globe. Are novel ecosystems regression models. Proportional SEC loss over time degraded and worthless, potentially valuable was highest for Cross River gorillas (-61%), followed habitats to be conserved, or both? Answers require by eastern (-52%), western gorillas (-32%), bonobos we better understand the benefits and deficiencies (-29%), central (-17%) and western chimpanzees (- of novel ecosystems and implications for genetic 11%). Nigerian-Cameroon- and eastern and species diversity, trophic linkages and chimpanzees did not seem to have experienced ecosystem function. For example, invasive plants such dramatic SEC reductions. Except for the typically cause decreases in ecosystem producer eastern gorilla, number of SEC patches did not species diversity, biomass and nutrient uptake. change significantly over time, suggesting that SEC These patterns hold true in both aquatic and loss mainly led to a reduction in overall patch size. terrestrial ecosystems, and among herbivores, This study represents the currently best available detritivores and predators. Reduced plant species estimate of continent wide African SEC distribution diversity results in a loss of specialist insects, and and its change over the past 20 years. It is also the bottom-up reductions of energy available to higher first attempt to amalgamate data from numerous trophic levels. Widespread “replacement” of ape sites across the continent to bridge the gap specialist species by generalists is happening in between local efforts in the field and a global many taxa as a result of disturbance and global perspective on ape populations. Although the change. This loss of functional diversity contributes model has statistical limitations that do not allow to functional homogenization and likely loss of for drawing inferences at the site-specific level, it ecosystem resilience, stability and ecosystem has potential for wide applicability at the regional services. Are we are losing the diverse genetic scale, including identifying priority conservation material needed for evolution and adaptation to areas, mitigation efforts for resource extraction change? How do we prioritize scarce resources and industry, potential wildlife corridors and future use a triage approach to management and survey sites. With more data, we hope to further restoration of novel ecosystems? What validate and improve the current model to predict management strategies are needed to maximize distribution and change of great ape SEC for the the conservation value and ecosystem services future and provide a global decision-making tool provided by these altered ecosystems? for the effective allocation of future conservation and funding efforts.

Tuesday, July 17 11:00 Recent Decline In Suitable Environmental Conditions For African Monday, July 16 11:45 Rio Grande Cutthroat Apes - An Attempt To Bridge The Gap Between Trout - Integrating Science, Policy And Local Efforts And Global Perspectives Communities To Identify Conservation Junker, Jessica*, Max Planck Institute Eva Opportunities At A Landscape-Scale We predict distribution of suitable environmental Kandell, Stephen*, Trout Unlimited , Haak, Amy conditions (SEC) for African apes across 23 range Rio Grande cutthroat trout (RGCT) have declined countries for the 1990s and 2000s, assess the across their range and now occupy slightly more relative importance of factors influencing SEC than 10% of their historical stream habitat in the distribution and estimate rates of SEC loss, West. They have been eliminated from the Texas isolation and fragmentation over time. We portions of their range as well as disjunct extracted 15051 presence localities for eight great sub?basins at the southern extents of the Rio ape subspecies from the A.P.E.S. database and Grande and Pecos River basins in New Mexico. In related these to environmental, climate and human 2008 the Fish and Wildlife Service found that RGCT impact factors combining MAXENT and logistic warranted listing under the Endangered Species 118 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Act but was precluded due to other priorities. Trout Wednesday, July 18 12:00 Intensive Agriculture Unlimited has analyzed the within-species diversity Erodes Beta-Diversity At Large Scales of the remaining populations of RGCT. The results Karp, Daniel*, Stanford University are quantified in a rangewide Conservation Biodiversity is declining from land conversions of Portfolio that summarizes populations according to unprecedented scale, which replace diverse, low- their representation of genetic, life history or intensity agriculture with vast expanses under geographic diversity. This information has been homogeneous, intensive production. The most used to prioritize and direct a comprehensive important determinant of diversity at these large conservation initiative. In partnership with scales is the degree to which local sites differ in sportsmen, ranchers, tribes and other interests, their species compositions (beta diversity). While Trout Unlimited is leading a campaign to protect the consequences of land-use intensification for healthy rivers, especially the headwaters that local (alpha) diversity are well-studied, the impacts provide clean water and critical habitat for fish; on beta-diversity are almost entirely unknown. reconnect habitats within watersheds through flow Using a 10-year dataset on Costa Rican birds, we improvement and barrier removal so fish can find lower-intensity agricultural practices sustained access spawning grounds, find refuge and beta-diversity across large scales on a par with repopulate areas in the face of increased threats native forest. In both forest and low-intensity related to a changing climate; restore degraded agriculture, bird communities changed as stream systems; and finally, sustain this work by vegetation structure turned over with distance. By empowering stewards from local communities. contrast, we find that high-intensity agricultural practices homogenized vegetation structure across great distances, causing bird community turnover to decline by ~40% relative to the turnover in Monday, July 16 3:40 The Shifting Sands Of forest or lower-intensity agriculture. These results Shifting Baselines suggest that rapid rates of agricultural expansion * Kareiva, Peter and intensification threaten diversity not only A core concept in many management approaches locally, but also at larger spatial scales, and biotic and environmental regulations is the notion of homogenization may accelerate species loss historical conditions and baselines. In a world of beyond even current dire predictions. Because climate change, invasive species, and dramatic beta-diversity is sustained in low-intensity human impacts, managing or regulating using these agriculture, however, our findings also point the baselines is difficult. Using fisheries, coral reef, way towards multi-functional agricultural systems forest, and endangered species case studies we that maintain productivity while simultaneously present an alternative to the historical baseline conserving biodiversity. approach. We argue that more effective conservation can be accomplished if we abandon the historical baseline as the focus, and instead identify future outcomes for nature that may have Monday, July 16 An Urban Lifestyle Means A little to do with the state of the world prior to Smaller Menu And More Competition For Some European settlement. This does not mean baselines Western Pond Turtles are unimportant—but their importance lies in what Karres, Nicole*, Sonoma State University they teach us about ecology, not as management The focus of my research is how living in urban objectives. waterways may affect the diet and feeding ecology of E. marmorata. To describe the affect of urbanization on their diet and feeding ecology, I am comparing my results from an urban and a 119 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 suburban site with those from a similar study done go years without the updates needed for local in wildlands. My preliminary results indicate E. planning. Lastly, federal datasets are created for marmorata at both urban sites are apparently use by field experts and therefore include carnivorous, a departure from the omnivorous diet attributes that are unfamiliar to local users and of those living in wildlands. In addition, the diet of therefore difficult to decipher, often requiring E. marmorata in urban aquatic ecosystems is less relational tables to decode them. In order to create diverse than that of E. marmorata living in a straightforward state-wide dataset composed of wildlands. Specifically, in wildlands E. marmorata locally-fed information, SFEI is partnering with have eighteen food groups in their diet while those mapping experts and scientists around the state to at a suburban site have seven groups and have one develop the methodology for a California Aquatic at an urban site. In wildlands crayfish comprise less Resource Inventory (CARI). The impetus for CARI than one percent of their diet, at the urban site, E. was the State Water Board Resolution 2008-0026, marmorata mostly eat crayfish, while at the which called for development of a Wetland and suburban site they do not eat them. In addition, my Riparian Areas Protection Policy (WRAPP) under tangential observations are interesting and may be the Clean Water Act section 401 to protect all worth investigating. For example, E. marmorata wetlands and waters of the State. The basemap may be targeting vegetation filled with an animal that provides the foundation for CARI is the San food resource inside, a behavior not reported in Francisco Bay Area Aquatic Resource Inventory wildlands. At the urban site, they may be (BAARI), which was completed in 2011 and is soon competing with the North American river otter to become available for public download. BAARI (Lontra canadensis) for food, something also not was digitized by SFEI directly from aerial reported in wildlands. Lastly, increased human photography using ancillary data including disturbance to maintain the urban waterway elevation, slope, topographic maps, spatial channel may be inhibiting foraging for a two of the hydrologic model output, and federal streams and four months they are actively feeding. wetland datasets. BAARI has over 50 wetland and 5 linear stream classifications, and covers tidal and non-tidal aquatic features. SFEI's Riparian Area Mapping Tool (RAMT) generates functional riparian Tuesday, July 17 8:30 An Aquatic Resource areas for BAARI from landscape data inputs. Lastly, Inventory For California BAARI was quality checked using an innovative * Kass, Jamie , SFEI technique incorporating expert input with The concept of an Aquatic Resource Inventory is a automated processing. This talk will present the spatial database of aquatic habitat features like mapping methodology and quality control wetlands, streams, and lakes that is maintained technique for BAARI, the tool design of RAMT, and and updated through cooperation between local the planning for CARI. entities for the purposes of planners, ecologists, or any other parties interested in landscape ecology, conservation, or urban development. It consists of polygon and line features with data-rich attributes Tuesday, July 17 11:45 Describing The Heath Of that can be used for broad- or fine-scale landscape Complex Ecosystems: The State Of San Francisco analysis. The need to create and maintain a spatial Bay 2011 Experience database of aquatic resources at the local level Kelly, Judy*, San Francisco Estuary Partnership stems from the lack of such a dataset that includes San Francisco Bay is vital to our region’s economy the high resolution and accuracy required by local and quality of life. One of the world’s great nature entities. Further, federal datasets that offer similar harbors, it has played a defining role in the history data are not reliant on local stewardship and often of the Unities States and is the aesthetic, 120 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 economic, and ecological centerpiece of America’s views of GCNP. Here we present results on fourth largest metropolitan area. The ecological terrestrial responses to anthropogenic N health of this estuary depends on the functioning deposition and information to establish baseline of a complex array of oceanic, estuarine, fluvial, quantifications of atmospheric N deposited in and terrestrial processes. Since the Bay is affected GCNP. We used passive air samplers, stable isotope by the daily actions of local and regional decision- analysis, and spectral analyses to determine makers and the public, providing these groups depositional inputs of N in air, vegetation and soils. information about the ecological health of the Bay Samples from ten sites were collected over eight is essential to informed decision making. To assess months to capture spatial and temporal patterns in and communicate the health of the estuary, the areas of GCNP with projected low to high vehicular San Francisco Estuary Partnership [one of 28 N deposition. Similar techniques were used on the National Estuary Programs] assembled an Paria Plateau, northeast of GCNP and in close interdisciplinary team of scientists to (1)define the proximity to the Navajo Generating Station. Soil attributes of a health estuary (water, physical samples evaluated at a roadside gradient in GCNP habitats, ecological processes, and living show significantly different d15N signatures than resources), (2) select measureable indicators for soil samples collected from the Paria Plateau each attribute, and (3) identify benchmarks against (p=0.01). Comparison of the sites will help which to compare the measured values for each determine new quantitative information about indicator. The State of San Francisco Bay 2011 different sources and levels of N deposition in report integrates a large amount of data into this GCNP. This information enables the development assessment framework. Achieving this integration of regulations that can target specific sources of N required judgments regarding what constitutes deposition, and supports efforts to maintain high “health” and how to measure it, and how to set air quality standards for the southwestern U.S. quantitative benchmarks for evaluation. Lessons learned from creating the State of Bay 2011 Report will help us to better refine and develop future communication tools and can also inform similar Tuesday, July 17 9:55 Ghost Bustards: Major efforts in other complex natural systems. Causes Of High Adult Mortality Rate In Mongolian Populations Of Great Bustard Kessler, Aimee* , Natsagdorj, Tseveenmyadag, Institute Of Biology , Batbayar, Nyambayar, Monday, July 16 Monitoring nitrogen deposition University Of Oklahoma , Batsuur', Dashnyam, in Grand Canyon National Park: integrative Ornithology Lab , Smith, Andrew, Arizona State approaches to understand ecosystem effects of University nitrogen deposition Only 2000 individuals of the Asian subspecies of Kenkel, Julie* , Johnson, Nancy , Northern Arizona Great Bustard (Otis tarda dybowskii) are estimated University , Sesnie, Steven, US Fish And Wildlife to remain. Despite this low number and reports of Service , Hultine, Kevin continued decrease, data are lacking on factors A global concern for aquatic, terrestrial and influencing this decline. Over the past six years we atmospheric systems, nitrogen (N) inputs above have used Argos/GPS solar-powered PTTs to historical levels alter ecosystem dynamics that monitor 14 adult Great Bustards captured on their maintain local nutrient cycling regimes. In Class 1 breeding grounds in northern Mongolia. By Wilderness areas like Grand Canyon National Park longitudinally tracking individual birds we have (GCNP), N pollution from anthropogenic sources been able to investigate mortalities with the goal of threatens not only terrestrial ecosystems, but also elucidating factors limiting population growth. Ten air quality and visibility, hindering the expansive mortalities have been recorded so far, occurring an 121 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 average of one year after monitoring on a bird was In an empirical landscape in northern California, begun. By examining physical evidence at the site species near 1 to 10 kg in body size have the of last transmission and interviewing local people, highest survival rates in a clustered network, while we determined the cause of mortality for each larger species have the highest survival rates in a bird. Causes of death thus include poaching, network that maximizes mean local patch area. The poisoning, and collision with power lines. Two results demonstrate that conservation planners deaths were determined to be due to natural must use caution in choosing a level of clustering causes. Poaching has caused 50-70% of recorded for reserve networks, as clustering may improve deaths. This high rate of mortality, coupled with the resilience of some species to global change Great Bustards’ long maturation time and low while disadvantaging others. reproductive rate, is likely a major driver of the decline of the Asian subspecies. All deaths occurred on varied stopovers across a 2000 km migratory path and on wintering grounds in China. Thus, Wednesday, July 18 10:00 Barriers And conservation efforts across a broad swath of Incentives To Engagement In Public Policy And territory are urgently needed to slow declines of Science-Based Advocacy * the small remnant populations of Asian subspecies Klain, Sarah , UBC , Tam, Jordan, UBC , Singh, of Great Bustard. Gerald, UBC , Martone, Rebecca, UBC , Sisk, Thomas, Northern Arizona University , Mach, Megan, UBC , Chan, Kai As ecosystem degradation increases, the gulf Tuesday, July 17 4:15 The Tradeoff Between between environmental science and its application Patch Size And Clustering In Designing Reserve to policy and resource management has become Networks more apparent. While some environmental Kitzes, Justin* , Merenlender, Adina managers and scientists increasingly recognize how The probability of a species persisting in a patchy conservation biology research is relevant to public landscape can generally be increased by increasing policy, others contend that engagement in policy patch sizes and by reducing the distances between erodes scientific credibility, diminishing the patches. Selecting a network of reserves in a objectivity of research. We seek to understand why fragmented landscape requires a tradeoff between conservation scientists, graduate students, these two goals, as the set of the largest available practitioners and managers choose to engage or patches is unlikely to also be the most clustered set withhold from participating in public discourse, of patches available. Here we investigate general informing management practices, and developing patterns in the species and landscapes for which environmental policy. Based on 500 responses minimizing inter-patch distances or maximizing from a questionnaire that we distributed at nine mean local patch area most increases survival scientific conferences, our analysis explores factors rates. We construct stochastic metapopulation hypothesized to affect the frequency of models for 10 g to 100 kg idealized terrestrial engagement, such as tenured status, perception of mammal species using allometric relationships time restrictions for engagement and perception of from the literature and use these models to adequate communication and policy engagement simulate population trajectories in patchy training. We also explore linkages between landscapes. An analysis of two-patch networks infrequent or no engagement in policy with past finds that each species has a characteristic range of negative experiences informing public policy, distances, from 0.25 to 1.25 times a species' perception of lack of support from peers and maximum dispersal distance, within which patch mentors and a normative belief that scientists clustering may increase the probability of survival. should only report scientific results and leave 122 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 others to make decisions. Our results provide Monday, July 16 4:40 Yale Framework: Re- insights into strategies for overcoming knowledge Evaluating Florida Ecological Conservation exchange barriers at the science-policy interface to Priorities In The Face Of Sea Level Rise contribute toward the development of appropriate Knight, Amy*, Florida Natural Areas Inventory , and effective environmental policy. Oetting, Jon, Florida Natural Areas Inventory , O'Brien, Michael, Florida Natural Areas Inventory , Knight, Amy, Florida Natural Areas Inventory Florida’s location and geography make the state Monday, July 16 10:00 Landscape-Scale especially vulnerable to sea level rise. Sea level is Indicators Of Biodiversity's Vulnerability To expected to rise 1-3 m by the end of this century in Climate Change response to climate change, inundating 5-15% of * Klausmeyer, Kirk , The Nature Conservancy , Shaw, the state. Hundreds of species and associated Rebecca, Environmental Defense Fund , ecological communities will be affected, and MacKenzie, Jason , Cameron, Dick, The Nature scientists cannot predict with confidence how the Conservancy biota will respond. “Protecting the ecological Climate change will increase the vulnerability of stage” is an adaptation objective recommended in species across the globe to population loss and the Yale Framework for Integrating Climate Change extinction. In order to develop conservation and Conservation Planning intended to protect strategies to facilitate adaptation to this change, current and future patterns of biodiversity. We managers must understand the vulnerability of the evaluated habitat heterogeneity and available habitats and species they are trying to manage. We geophysical data to define and prioritize the present an approach for distilling complex climate ecological stage in areas of Florida likely to be and landscape data into simple actions land affected by sea level rise. The resulting managers can take now to help plants and animals conservation value layer was further refined to adapt to a changing climate. The method is based consider connectivity, habitat fragmentation, and on historical and future climate data and landscape ecological integrity. The analysis results in a attributes like topography, coastal proximity and planning dataset that prioritizes coastal habitat fragmentation that directly impact species’ landscapes/ecological resources based on sea level ability to adapt. We applied this method to rise adaptation potential and is being used to California, USA to map the portions of the state inform statewide conservation planning in Florida. where biodiversity managers should focus on minimizing current threats to biodiversity (9%), reducing constraints to adaptation (28%), reducing exposure to climatic changes (24%), and Monday, July 16 AmphibiaWeb: Tracking New implementing all three (9%). In 18% of the state, Species Discovery In An Era Of Decline estimated vulnerability is low so continuing current Koo, Michelle*, Museum Of Vertebrate Zoology strategies and monitoring for changes is likely Since 2000, AmphibiaWeb (amphibiaweb.org) has sufficient, while in 12% of the state, vulnerability is served as an vital online resource for amphibian so high that biodiversity managers may have to species, natural history and declines with accurate reassess current conservation goals. In and current information for educators, researchers, combination with species-specific vulnerability and managers. Every species has a web page and assessments or alone, mapping vulnerability based steady progress is being made to produce species on landscape-scale indicators will allow managers accounts accompanied by conservation status, to take an essential step toward implementing photographs, audio recordings, videos, maps, and conservation strategies to help imperiled species taxonomic references. Browse functions facilitate adapt to climate change. taxonomic, photographic, geographic, and other 123 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 searches. Unique services include a list (updated of urban proximity and road/trail density. We daily) of the number of valid amphibian species, collected detection/nondetection data for coyotes, mapping of type localities for recently described grey foxes, bobcats, raccoons, and skunks using species, and ready access to the largest amphibian scent stations. We incorporated the probability of photo collection (nearly 25,000). Literature on detection into logistic regression models, and amphibian declines is summarized monthly. On ranked the models using AIC for each species. Once average, AmphibiaWeb receives 15,000–20,000 we determined the best model and the coefficients unique queries per day from visitors around the of the predictive variables, using GIS we created a world. The mapping functions of AmphibiaWeb map of future species distribution given proposed continue to evolve and currently integrate range landscape changes in the study area. Probability of maps from IUCN with mapped point locality data occurrence varied across the species, with coyotes from scientific collections via HerpNet2. An iPhone being least sensitive and bobcats being most app enables mobile searching and browsing of sensitive. Grey foxes showed a preference toward amphibian data, including locality-specific inland areas with higher road/trail densities. searches. A recent overhaul of AmphibiaWeb’s Striped skunks were more likely to use areas with taxonomy is based on the most stable phylogenetic low road/trail densities, which was the opposite hypotheses. Taxonomy is monitored by a pattern from raccoons. Our results suggest that the subcommittee of amphibian specialists from distribution of coyotes will most likely not be multiple institutions and is updated as species are affected much by future development, while those described and published revisions are evaluated. of bobcats and grey foxes will be adversely AmphibiaWeb is a community-contributed affected. Raccoons and grey foxes might benefit resource; volunteers, including herpetology from an increase in road and trail density, while students across the US, produce the vast majority skunks might not. The results from our study of species accounts and photos. AmphibiaWeb suggest that future land use changes will most continues to evolve and works to integrate new likely have a varied affect on the distribution of informatic resources such as VertNet and GBIF mammalian carnivores, and that careful software tools to continue producing a vital consideration is needed to ensure those species’ resource for amphibian conservation. healthy populations.

Wednesday, July 18 4:00 Effects Of Landscape Wednesday, July 18 11:00 California Climate Covariates And Future Land Use Change On The Change And Landscape Connectivity Distribution Of Mammalian Carnivores On Former Kreitler, Jason* , Schloss, Carrie, University Of Fort Ord Army Base Washington Kowalski, Bartholomew*, CSUMB , Watson, Fred, The Western Geographic Science Center assessed CSUMB the geography of climate change in California to Mammalian carnivores experience various effects determine the potential impact of corridors to of anthropogenic disturbance near urban partially mitigate climate change effects by environments. Urban expansion and increased increasing landscape connectivity. The corridors anthropogenic activity in preserved habitat areas identified from the California Essential Habitat may cause changes to current spatial distribution Connectivity (CEHC) project were analyzed by their of those species. To predict the effects of future potential to expand the overlap of protected land use changes on the mammalian carnivores we climate space between present and future modeled their current probability of occurrence climates. Data from a variety of general circulation across the former Fort Ord Army base as a function models downscaled to ecologically relevant scales 124 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

(270m pixel resolution) were used to determine average, CD ordinances were adopted earlier (1996 the climate stability of protected areas. Using vs. 2002) and by more local jurisdictions (38% vs. winter minimum temperature, summer maximum 32%) in the northeast than in the west. In both temperature, and climatic water deficit, we regions, a density bonus was the most commonly calculated three dimensional convex hulls for employed incentive to encourage participation in individual protected areas to determine their the conservation design process, allowing a mean stability with and without a CEHC-derived corridor. increase in development yield of 31% in the Due to the uneven rate and magnitude of climate northeast and 71% in the west. We will present change across California, certain protected areas results of our review and make recommendations will have increased exposure to climate change to improve land-use regulations and increase the threats and may receive greater benefits from use and effectiveness of CD for protecting wildlife expanded connectivity, compared to climate habitat on private lands. refugia. Similarly, and due to scarce conservation resources, the prioritization of corridors based on climate change information can be used by policy makers to determine mitigation strategies to help Monday, July 16 9:45 Modeling Connected reduce the negative effects of climate change. Landscapes For A Changing Climate Krosby, Meade*, University Of Washington Methods for incorporating climate change into connectivity conservation planning have risen Tuesday, July 17 3:15 Adoption And rapidly in recent years. And yet, the vast majority Implementation Of Conservation Design can be divided into two categories: those that rely Standards In Local Land Use Regulations on models of species responses to future climates, Kretser, Heidi*, Wildlife Conservation Society , and those that use no climate models at all. The Reed, Sarah, Colorado State University , Hilty, Jodi , former use highly specific but highly uncertain Theobald, David, Colorado State University climate envelope models to identify corridors or Conservation development (CD) has emerged as a areas of overlap between current and projected promising strategy to minimize the ecological future species ranges. The latter seek to avoid any impacts of low-density residential development, uncertainty around future conditions by modeling which is expanding rapidly throughout rural networks of geophysical settings, in order to landscapes of the United States. CD protects or preserve the ultimate drivers of biodiversity. The restores the ecological resources of a property, Washington Habitat Connectivity Working Group’s while clustering compatible housing development effort to address climate change in their statewide on the remainder of the site. We examined and ecoregional connectivity needs assessments development codes in 4 northeastern states and 11 has sought a middle ground between these two western states for ordinances that establish extremes. The group has been developing novel guidelines or create incentives for CD. Out of 715 methods for identifying connectivity networks northeastern towns, we found that 38 percent had intended to facilitate range migrations and provide at least one CD ordinance. Out of 414 western climatic refugia for diverse taxa. These methods counties, we found that 32 percent had at least rely on a range of underlying models, including one regulation pertaining to CD. We reviewed the topography, current climate, and future climate. collected ordinances on the basis of their We will present recent results from the group’s conservation objectives as well as for guidelines analyses, and discuss their role in the development related to ecological site analysis, protected area of the Western Governors’ Association’s Crucial design, ownership and management of the Habitat Assessment Tool. protected area, and developed area design. On 125 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Wednesday, July 18 12:45 Incorporating Pest Off California’s coast, a coalition of conservationists Control By Birds Into Agricultural Landscapes: The and fishermen are combining science and local Ecosystem Service Value Of Bird-Friendly Farm knowledge to test new approaches for avoiding Management bycatch of overfished rockfish. The groundfish Kyle, Keiller*, Audubon California , Kelsey, Rodd, fishery on the U.S. West Coast is a multi-species Audubon California fishery that has been dominated by bottom Agricultural cropland is often considered a largely trawling for decades. The fishery was declared a hostile landscape for wildlife; however, many bird disaster in 2000 due to depletion of vulnerable species in the Central Valley of California and stocks of a handful of species, increasing elsewhere not only use but often rely on farmland regulations, and declining revenues and landings. and crops for foraging and nesting. Audubon Fishery closures were established to rebuild stocks California, through its Bird Friendly Farming and some fishermen have switched to more Initiative, is working to incorporate natural habitats selective gear; however, catch of target species is and manage crops on farms to increase the still constrained by the need to avoid overfished abundance and diversity of birds in working stocks. As the fishery transitioned to an Individual landscapes. It is therefore important that we Fishing Quota (IFQ) “catch shares” management develop a better understanding of the potential system, we tested collective arrangements for benefits or costs to farmers of these practices. One combining quota of overfished species in “risk service that birds provide that has not been fully pools” and implementing local zoning of fishing explored is natural pest suppression by insectivores effort in spatial fishing plans. We developed and raptors. With rapidly increasing regulations of eCatch, a digital system to capture spatial chemical pesticides, especially in California, natural information on bycatch in near-real time to support pest control options will be highly valued and risk pool management and refinement of fishing useful. In this review of existing literature and plans over time. These efforts have significantly studies we estimate the pest control benefit that reduced bycatch of overfished species relative to insectivorous birds can provide to farmers and the fleet at large in the first year, as well as make the case that an increased abundance of promoting collaborative solutions for achieving birds on farms could result in a substantial both conservation and economic gains. reduction in chemical pesticide application. Bird- centric pest management is successfully being implemented on shade-grown coffee farms throughout the tropics, and we conclude that this Tuesday, July 17 9:40 Creating Connections: avian ecosystem service is currently under- Engaging Citizens Through Training To Identify appreciated and underutilized in temperate Andean Bears While Promoting In-Situ farming practices. Involvement And Scientific Sustainability Lacombe, Corrin*, San Diego Zoo Global , Van Horn, Russ, San Diego Zoo Global , Zug, Becky, University Of Wisconsin-Madison , Danoff-Burg, Tuesday, July 17 9:45 Reducing Bycatch Of James, San Diego Zoo Global Overfished Species Using Risk Pools, Spatial As conservation efforts increasingly rely on Fishing Plans, And Innovative Technology developing local collaborators and seek to Labrum, Kate*, The Nature Conservancy , Gleason, maximize return on conservation efforts, we must Mary, The Nature Conservancy , Merrifield, Matt, create innovative opportunities to capitalize on The Nature Conservancy , Bell, Michael, The Nature interdisciplinary expertise and develop sustainable Conservancy , Rienecke, Steve, The Nature practices. Here, we share an example of how we Conservancy , Wilson, Jono, Bren School / UCSB were able to involve local participants who visited 126 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation with economical and social valuation, InVEST Research in a learning module experiment that produces biophysical, economic and human well- answered a field-inspired research question: ‘Can being metrics for use in a variety of decision humans reliably identify individual Andean Bears contexts. In collaboration with local partners, we using photographs?’. Results of this study are are using InVEST to assess climate change augmenting in-situ conservation research on vulnerabilities and to evaluate alternative Andean Bears in South America by increasing adaptation strategies in Monterey Bay, CA, validity of data collected by local para-ecologists, Galveston Bay, TX and along the coast of the while also ensuring their continued involvement in United States for the National Climate Assessment. the project by enabling them to train others in this We will give an overview of these 3 projects and skill. Local involvement and capacity building describe how outputs from InVEST are informing contributes to the maintenance and long-term climate change planning at multiple scales in sustainability of field research projects, and the regions with diverse habitats and policy questions. conservation efforts they support. This study is an Through this synthesis, we will identify challenges example of how to creatively enhance the skills and we have faced in designing these tools, and share engagement of local collaborators while generating recent advancements in tool functionality and awareness, collecting rigorous data, and efficiently application. addressing conservation challenges utilizing various disciplines and outlets

Monday, July 16 Citizen-Based Monitoring Characterizes Relationships Between Water Tuesday, July 17 12:30 Invest In Climate Change Quality And Benthic Macroinvertebrate Planning: Advancements In Ecosystem Service Composition In A Western Sierra Stream Models For Informing Vulnerability Assessments Lauder, Jeff*, Sierra Streams Institute , Durben, And Adaptation Strategies Rachel, Sierra Streams Institute , Hild, Joanne, Langridge, Suzanne*, Natural Capital Project , Sierra Streams Institute Arkema, Katie, The Natural Capital Project, Sierra Streams Institute has collected water quality Stanford University , Guannel, Greg , Verutes, and benthic macroinvertebrate (BMI) data for 11 Gregg , Guerry, Anne, The Natural Capital Project, years in Deer Creek, in the western Sierra Nevada Stanford University foothills, to address the hypothesis that water National, regional and local governments and quality and BMI composition are highly correlated. NGOs are beginning to develop strategies for Through biannual sampling (N=17), we assessed responding and adapting to climate change. Yet, changes in water quality and BMI composition, and making informed decisions requires understanding correlations between them, in relation to various how climate change will affect ecosystems and the case studies, including an upgrade to nitrogen services they provide to people. InVEST is a treatment from a Waste Water Treatment Plant scenario assessment tool that can be used to ask (WWTP), and a restoration project on a reach of how a variety of climate variables (e.g., sea surface Little Deer Creek, a tributary of Deer Creek. Nitrate temperature, sea level rise) and adaptation (NO3) decreased at all downstream sites after the strategies (e.g., retreat, infrastructure investment, WWTP upgrade by an average of 0.415 mg/L (± habitat restoration) will affect a wide range of 0.18, p=0.03). At two sites downstream of the benefits people get from nature (e.g., protection WWTP, the Scraper-Grazer (SC) Index increased from coastal hazards, sustenance from the ocean significantly (R2=0.75, p=0.006; R2=0.75, p=0.005). and land, recreational and cultural fulfillment). By On Little Deer Creek, the Shredder (SH) Index combing dynamic models of ecosystem function increased at the site immediately downstream of 127 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 the restoration (R2= 0.55, p= 0.001. Ordination Washington showed significant correlation (r=0.88) between We assessed the representation of freshwater fish BMI composition and water quality across all sites, diversity provided by the National Park Service and demonstrated that conductivity (r2=0.93), (NPS) and the potential for parks to serve as water temperature (r2=0.88), pH (r2=0.91), site freshwater protected areas (FPAs) in the United elevation (r2=0.94), and watershed area above the States. Although most parks were not designed site (r2=0.84) were all highly correlated predictors. with freshwater conservation in mind, nearly two- Results show the relationship between water thirds (62%) of native U.S. fishes reside in national quality and BMI indices, and validate the use of parks. However, only 18% of the nation's highly BMI indices to assess water quality and the use of imperiled fish species are represented within the water quality parameters to track BMI health. NPS. The ability of parks to serve as protected areas depends on activities upstream from their boundaries and we found that a substantial part of these watersheds have some form of conservation Monday, July 16 9:00 Planning For Species status. Using a conservation planning approach Movements In A Changing Climate that integrated fish representation provided by * Lawler, Joshua , University Of Washington parks and their current and future ecological In the past, many species moved great distances to threats (e.g., climate change, dams, watershed track changing climates. Although today’s biota will impervious surface, invasive species) and likely move in similar ways in response to projected management challenges (e.g., land stewardship future climatic changes, modern species will face beyond park boundaries), we identified 50 parks many challenges that their predecessors did not. that could serve as core members of a nationally Not the least of these is that humans have altered comprehensive FPA system. While the NPS has and fragmented much of the Earth’s surface, limitations as the potential basis for an FPA making long distance movements difficult for many network, it provides considerable representation of species. Here, I present the results of two studies freshwater fish diversity that should be taken into that demonstrate the potential magnitude of this account during systematic conservation planning problem. In short, these studies reveal key places for freshwaters. on the landscape where management actions can facilitate species’ movements. However, they also indicate that many species will be unable to keep pace with climate change. Although designating Monday, July 16 8:50 Assessing And more protected areas and connecting them with Implementing Forest Planning Rules Under The protected corridors are often cited as the best National Forest Management Act adaptation strategies to address these climate- Lawrence, Niel*, Natural Resources Defense Council driven movements, alone, they will likely be , Noon, Barry, Colorado State University insufficient. The magnitude of projected changes SCB has been involved almost since its inception and the barriers to movement that species face will with implementation of the National Forest likely require changes in existing policies and the Management Act, which mandates basic development of new policies to facilitate species’ protections and periodic planning for 192 million movements in a changing climate. acres of public lands. SCB’s recommendations to the incoming Obama Administration highlighted Tuesday, July 17 9:00 Opportunities And the need to maintain viable populations of wildlife Challenges For National Parks To Serve As species, return to meaningful planning, restore Freshwater Protected Areas environmental review, and better fund inventory Lawrence, David* , Olden, Julian, University Of and conservation efforts. We will review the 128 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 administration’s performance on those fronts and that focus on eliminating chronic and episodic score the responsiveness of its new planning impacts of adjacent land-use including watercourse regulations to SCB’s several layers of input. We will connectivity, will help to ensure redside dace long- also explore how the scientific community shaped term survival, remaining a species at risk of – interpretation and implementation of the Reagan- rather than facing – extinction. era regulations that until this year have undergirded all management planning for units of the national forest system. Finally, we will suggest how those lessons can guide SCB impact on the Tuesday, July 17 11:00 Assessing The Impact Of new regulations in the years ahead. Aquatic Invasive Species On Hawai'ian Stream Food Webs Using Stable Isotopes Layhee, Megan*, California State University Chico , Marchetti, Michael, St Mary'S College Of California Tuesday, July 17 12:30 Estimating Local And Anthropogenic disturbance is restructuring Regional Population Sizes For An Endangered ecosystems and changing interactions within Minnow, Redside Dace (Clinostomus elongatus), ecological communities. In the Hawaiian Islands, In Canada one of the most significant forces of disturbance is Lawrie, David*, Toronto And Region Conservation , the widespread presence of non-native species. In Poos, Mark, Fisheries And Oceans Canada this study stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen The Laurentian Great Lakes have undergone drastic were used to examine trophic relationships and declines in freshwater fishes, with 22 species energy flow changes occurring in Hawaiian stream having become extinct in the past century and communities due to invasive species and biotic many more currently at risk. One such species is disturbance. On the island of Kaua’i, we sampled all the endangered minnow, the Redside Dace members of the stream community, including (Clinostomus elongatus), which is undergoing primary producers and consumers, from four severe declines across its entire range. Depletion streams across varying levels of invasion and and mark–recapture surveys were used to quantify disturbance. ?13C, ?15N signatures, and trophic population estimates of redside dace at several positions of stream members were calculated to spatial scales (pool, reach and catchment) across determine differences in overall food web several Great Lakes tributaries in Canada. There structure, changes to native consumer isotopic was large variation in the local population signatures, and differences in food web diversity estimates and the rate of occurrence of redside and trophic redundancy. Comparison of streams dace populations. In some cases, such as Gully with varying levels of invasion and disturbance Creek, a Lake Huron tributary, redside dace were indicate that 1) overall food web structure varied widespread but had low abundances. In other dramatically among locations, 2) native species cases, such as in the Don River, redside dace were were nearly absent in heavily invaded and highly localized but in relatively high abundance. disturbed streams while at the same time a suite of Extrapolated population estimates at the non-native consumers are replacing the trophic catchment scale showed that three of the five roles left by the natives, 3) isotopic signatures and study populations were below conservative trophic position of native consumers were not estimates needed for long-term population significantly different across streams, and 4) viability. Differences in redside dace populations heavily invaded and disturbed streams had more were driven by adjacent land-use (urbanization). trophic diversity and generally lower trophic Post-hoc analyses revealed strong negative redundancy. The results of our study suggest that associations between population estimates and conservation approaches for native aquatic biota impervious land-use. Immediate recovery actions need to address the significant trophic and 129 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 functional alterations that have occurred to the collaborations might be the most successful for food webs. promoting conservation education.

Tuesday, July 17 9:30 Student Scientists: Wednesday, July 18 11:00 Remote Detection Of Researchers And Educators Team Teach To Ephemeral Wetlands In The Atlantic Coastal Plain Advance Local Conservation Of North America: Local Relief Models And High Leidner, Allison*, NASA Earth Science Division , Throughput Computing Wunderly, Ben, North Carolina Maritime Museum, Leonard, Paul* , Baldwin, Rob , Homyack, Jessica, Beaufort , Brin, Christine, North Carolina Maritime Weyerhaeuser NR Company Museum, Beaufort , Gillikin, Paula, North Carolina Ephemeral wetlands are ecologically important National Estuarine Research Reserve - Rachel ecosystems throughout North America and occur Carson frequently in the Atlantic coastal plain ecoregion. Providing opportunities for primary and secondary They are known to support 86 species recognized school students to learn about local ecological by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as threatened or research and experience field studies can be a endangered, and numerous others that are state powerful way to educate students about the protected. Consequently, ephemeral wetlands scientific method and excite them about local have become a national conservation priority yet conservation issues. However, developing such are often cryptic and methods to detect them at opportunities on the part of the researcher can be the landscape scales necessary for resource time consuming and requires connections to management have been time consuming, cost schools or community organizations that may take ineffective, or coarse-filter. This study seeks to fill years to establish. Furthermore, many scientists detection gaps, by implementing and expanding may lack the skills and experience to explain their new remote sensing methods. We subjected high research to younger audiences. Partnering with resolution LiDAR elevation data to relief models local informal education organizations can help designed to elucidate fine-scale geomorphology, overcome these obstacles. Here, we describe how specifically small localized changes in concavity, as a collaboration between a researcher, a local a location predictor. We conducted field natural and maritime history museum, and a public verification (N=114) to measure model commission lands manager resulted in the development of a (15%) and approximate omission (5%) error rates. three day summer science course for middle and Fine grain size and large spatial extent can impose high school students in eastern North Carolina. This processing limits in landscape-level analysis. We class focused on coastal conservation, with an executed high-throughput computing (HTC) on idle emphasis on the crystal skipper, a locally endemic university GIS workstations (n=132) to achieve a butterfly. Students were exposed to field 91x time savings over our 55,000 ha study area. techniques such as mark-recapture and vegetation Our results suggest local relief models successfully sampling, and learned about local conservation predict ephemeral wetland boundaries in the low- issues. At the conclusion of the class, students relief Atlantic Coastal Plain. Using HTC they can be made posters, fact sheets, and other materials to efficiently replicated at larger extents. Many small present to their local community and classmates wetlands are centers of biodiversity in forested for the upcoming school year. We discuss the landscapes and such analyses will provide challenges and opportunities for these types of information integral for landscape-scale partnerships, summarize lessons learned, provide management and conservation. suggestions for how others may replicate this experience, and describe situations where such 130 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 Municipal Vernal Pool Policy plans that meet the requirements of both the Development: Sustainability Science In Action federal Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs) and state Levesque, Vanessa*, University Of Maine Natural Community Conservation Plans (NCCPs) are Sustainability science typically stresses efforts that being implemented in Southern California. These simultaneously promote social, economic and joint HCP/ NCCPs require protection of federal and ecological well-being. Municipal government state listed species as well as additional sensitive contributions to sustainability, however, are often species and include goals for maintaining are overlooked. Because local government actions biodiversity, rare habitat types, and ecological have a direct effect on local sustainability processes. The requirement to monitor and conditions, the extent to which municipalities manage for both covered species and ecosystem adopt sustainability as a meaningful concept and integrity is one of the fundamental challenges operationalize it in their policies and programs is facing these regional conservation plans. significant. This case study assesses the efforts of Monitoring each covered species may be cost two Maine municipalities that are developing prohibitive and may not provide an accurate vernal pool regulatory policy tailored to local assessment of the health of the ecosystem as a ecological, economic and social conditions, in whole. Conversely, monitoring ecosystem integrity cooperation with state and federal regulators poses significant challenges due to, among other regulations. The institutional analysis and factors, ambiguity around how to define and development (IAD) framework guides the measure integrity. Here we look at the San Diego assessment of the municipal vernal pool policy Multiple Species Program (MSCP), a plan that development process to illuminate the influence of encompasses 582,000 acres and aims to protect 85 interactions between the players, and the interplay covered species as well as ecosystem integrity and of institutional, biophysical and social factors on function. While an easily solution to resolving the the sustainability planning process. We assess the species:system balance is non-trivial, we discuss ability of this strategy to result in more cost- how monitoring programs can be developed that effective and socially-acceptable conservation. We address the need for balance and how existing data highlight the ecological and economic challenges can be used to evaluate system integrity. We also that arise and the strategies that are developed in explore how diverse stakeholders are collaborating a municipal-state-federal partnership to develop a to face the challenge of integrating species and locally-tailed vernal pool policy. This work will ecosystem monitoring and management in an provide a guidepost and lessons for similar effective and cost-efficient manner. initiatives that aim to improve conservation success by incorporating economic and social needs into policy design. Wednesday, July 18 3:15 Are Allee Effects Important In Conservation Biology? Lidicker, William* Tuesday, July 17 4:30 Balancing Single Species Are Allee effects important in conservation Protection And Ecosystem Function: A Case Study biology? William Z. Lidicker, Jr., Museum of From The San Diego Multiple Species Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Conservation Program Berkeley 94720-3160 The answer to the title Lewison, Rebecca*, Institute For Ecological question is “yes, very important,” but only if Allee Monitoring And Management effects continue to be defined by demographic Landscape-scale conservation planning is used as a criteria as originally intended. In recent decades, tool to protect sensitive species and communities they have increasingly been defined in terms of at broad scales. Multiple species conservation individual (Darwinian) fitness. While this trend may 131 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 lead to improved mechanistic understanding of photographic imagery is being collected in study population dynamics, it makes it impractical to plots impacted by known levels of trawling effort recognize and analyze the demographic impacts of and in control plots in which no trawling has cooperative (mutualistic) interactions that are at occurred for many years. Data extracted from the the core of the demographic effects of interest to imagery at 2-weeks, 6-months, and 1-year post- conservation. Individual genetic fitness is not trawling show significant declines in micro- positively correlated with the intensity of positive topographic complexity under both low- and high- interactions in populations, although group fitness intensity trawling treatments, but also suggest that might be. Demographically defined Allee effects considerable natural variation in the benthic are based on cooperative interactions which are community must be considered when evaluating increasingly appreciated as important. They in turn the impacts of trawling. The goal of this lead to destabilizing influences on population collaborative study is to advance our processes; these “anti-regulating” factors operate understanding of the relative impacts of trawling to both to encourage growth at high densities and to improve spatial management approaches in the encourage extinction at low densities (through the interests of those who fish, those who love fish, minimum threshold density phenomenon). and those who love to eat fish. Empirical evidence for the importance of such influences is rapidly increasing. Future research should identify life history traits and kinds of communities that are more likely to generate Allee Tuesday, July 17 3:30 Climate Velocity And effects, and hence improve our predictive skills. Implications For Adaptation * Anti-regulating analogs at the community level may Loarie, Scott , Carnegie Institution For Science lead to alternative steady states and failures in The ranges of plants and animals are moving in restoration efforts. response to recent changes in climate. As temperatures rise, ecosystems with ‘nowhere to go’, such as mountains, are considered to be more threatened. However, species survival may depend Monday, July 16 4:45 The Ecological Effects Of as much on keeping pace with moving climates as Bottom Trawling In Unconsolidated Sediments: A the climate’s ultimate persistence. Here we present Collaborative Approach To Resolving Pressing a new index of the velocity of temperature change Management Questions (km yr-1), derived from spatial gradients (°C km-1) Lindholm, James*, Institute For Applied Marine and multimodel ensemble forecasts of rates of Ecology , Gleason, Mary, The Nature Conservancy , temperature increase (°C?yr-1) in the twenty-first Kline, Donna, Institute For Applied Marine Ecology century. This index represents the instantaneous The fact that fishing with bottom trawls impacts local velocity along Earth’s surface needed to the seafloor, and associated biological maintain constant temperatures, and has a global communities, is now axiomatic. Considerably less is mean of 0.42?km?yr-1 (A1B emission scenario). known, however, about the nature of those Owing to topographic effects, the velocity of impacts and patterns of recovery of the seafloor temperature change is lowest in mountainous following such disturbance, particularly in the biomes such as tropical and subtropical coniferous unconsolidated sediments of the continental shelf. forests (0.08?km?yr-1), temperate coniferous Now a unique academic-NGO-government-fishing forest, and montane grasslands. Velocities are industry partnership on an experimental study off highest in flooded grasslands (1.26?km?yr-1), Central California is yielding important new insights mangroves and deserts. High velocities suggest into the impacts of trawling on micro-habitats, that the climates of only 8% of global protected invertebrates, and fish. ROV video and still areas have residence times exceeding 100?years. 132 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Small protected areas exacerbate the problem in Bay Area protected areas. By combining these Mediterranean-type and temperate coniferous various biogeographic data types into a single forest biomes. Large protected areas may mitigate framework, the Bay Area BioAtlas overcomes the the problem in desert biomes. These results individual shortcomings of each data type. We use indicate management strategies for minimizing the BioAtlas to demonstrate (1) how these data are biodiversity loss from climate change. Montane useful for modeling and projecting the roll of landscapes may effectively shelter many species climate and land-use change on species into the next century. Elsewhere, reduced distributions at regional scales and (2) how they emissions, a much expanded network of protected serve as a powerful baseline for monitoring future areas, or efforts to increase species movement may changes. be necessary.

Monday, July 16 Overlapping Public Policies For Wednesday, July 18 9:50 The Bay Area Bioatlas - Private Forest Conservation A Baseline For Understanding Climate Change Locke, Christina*, University Of Wisconsin-- Impacts On Regional Biodiversity Madison Loarie, Scott* , Kennedy, Morgan , Micheli, Lisa , Private lands are crucial for achieving landscape- Branciforte, Ryan , Gluesenkamp, Daniel , Weiss, scale conservation goals like ecosystem Stuart, Creekside Center For Earth Observation management and forest connectivity. Public With ongoing land-use and climate change altering policies for protecting private lands include the distribution of plants and animals, better data regulations, incentive-based approaches, and on where species persist and where are acquisition of land. Policy assessment is especially disappearing are urgently needed. The two most critical in areas adjacent to conserved forests common sources of biogeographic data (museums where development pressure tends to be high. occurrence data and range maps) each have Although multiple policies influence private land shortcomings that limit their utility. Museum use and management, empirical studies rarely occurrence data lack information on where plants consider how polices overlap and interact. We and animals are absent. Likewise, range maps are focused on Wisconsin’s Managed Forest Law tax too coarse to discern for mapping occupancy at the incentive program and local zoning ordinances. We scale of individual reserves. Biodiversity atlases conducted 1. spatial analyses to quantify private represent a third, less common data-type. By forest protection in critical areas and 2. spatial and combining comprehensive lists of species content analyses of zoning ordinances to associated with particular units of land, atlases determine if and how they prioritized forestry. The have neither of the shortcomings of museum results of our neutral landscape model analysis occurrences and range maps. However, they exist indicated that tax program enrollments clustered for few areas and taxa because of the large amount near public and other conserved forests. However, of fieldwork required to generate them. We used approximately 253,600 ha (19.8%) of enrolled new internet technology built off the forests were located in townships lacking zoning iNaturalist.org citizen-science social network, the ordinances, and the remaining townships’ CalFlora.org online biogeographic database, and ordinances varied widely with respect to forest the Bay Area Open Space Council Conservation considerations. Although enrollment is voluntary, Lands Network to rapidly compile reserve-checklist forest tax programs provide the unintended but data, range maps, and museum occurrence data important benefit of connectivity with public lands. from diverse sources into a single Atlas of However, enrollment in these programs is not vertebrates and occupancy across permanent and effective forest conservation relies 133 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 on other policy approaches like zoning. Considering Tuesday, July 17 11:30 Terrestrial Wildlife that all 50 states have forest tax programs, and Conservation And Renewable Energy that local land use ordinances vary widely, the Development In The Desert Southwest United combined effects of multiple policies on private States: A Review forest conservation deserve greater attention. Lovich, Jeffrey*, U.S. Geological Survey , Ennen, Josh, Maryville College Renewable energy development is experiencing a renaissance particularly in the desert southwest Monday, July 16 10:15 Black Bear Population United States where wind and solar energy And Connectivity In The Sky Islands Of potential is high. Large areas of public land are Mexico/United States currently being permitted or evaluated for utility- * López, Carlos , Universidad Autonoma De scale renewable energy development (USRED). The Queretaro , Lara, Nalleli, Universidad Autonoma De same areas are characterized by high and unique Queretaro , Coronel, Heli, Naturalia A.C. , biodiversity including threatened and endangered Gonzalez, Alejandro, Naturalia A.C. species like the desert tortoise. We review the The Sky Island region is a mountainous region peer-reviewed scientific literature for information surrounded by grasslands, deserts and on the known and potential effects of USRED and intermountain valleys, located between Mexico operation (USREDO) on terrestrial wildlife. In and the United States. Currently, the international comparison with the large body of literature on the border wall poses an immediate threat to the effects of wind energy facilities on birds and bats, survival of black bears (Ursus americanus), very little is available to evaluate the effects of considered an endangered species in Mexico. Our wind or solar facilities on terrestrial wildlife. Effects aim was to determine the conservation status of due to construction and eventual decommissioning black bear in the Sierra San Luis sky island (Sonora- of USRED facilities include direct mortality, Arizona) as affected by the border fence. We environmental impacts of fugitive dust and dust- determined population size through camera trap suppressants, destruction and modification of and radio-telemetry, and modeled population habitat including impacts of roads, and offsite occupancy using PRESENCE. We documented a impacts related to construction material healthy bear population with more than 500 acquisition, processing and transportation. Known individuals. Surveys along the border failed to and potential effects due to operation and detect bears crossing it, but we identified linkages maintenance of facilities include habitat between the two countries important for future fragmentation and barriers to gene flow, as well as landscape planning. Increased vehicular traffic, effects due to noise, vibration, electromagnetic migration and drug traffic have a negative effect on field generation, microclimate change, pollutant bear populations, exacerbated by an increase in spills, water consumption, predator attraction, and anthropogenic activities resulting from the increased fire risk. A general lack of before-after- construction and maintenance of the border wall. control-impact studies hinders the ability to We recommend modifications to the structure of rigorously quantify the effects of USREDO on the border wall, and to increase wildlife monitoring terrestrial wildlife. Basic information is also lacking by the United States authorities to reduce the on facility design effects, the efficacy of site potential impact this structure has on black bear selection criteria, and the cumulative effects of and other wildlife populations. USREDO on regional wildlife populations. Insufficient data are currently available to adequately assess the impact of USREDO on terrestrial wildlife.

134 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 4:15 Integrating Climate-Smart incorporate climate metrics into evaluation of long- Monitoring Into New Zealand's Long Term Marine term ecological integrity. Environmental Monitoring Programmes Lundquist, Carolyn*, National Institute Of Water And Atmospheric Research (NIWA) And Department Of Conservation , Hewitt, Judi, Monday, July 16 11:00 Population Management National Institute Of Water And Atmospheric Reduces Social Stability In Feral Horses By Research (NIWA) And Department Of Conservation Increasing Stallion Harassment Of Mares * , Thrush, Simon, National Institute Of Water And Madosky, Jessa , Thomas University , Rubenstein, Atmospheric Research (NIWA) And Department Of Daniel, Princeton University , Howard, Jerome, Conservation University Of New Orleans , Stuska, Sue, National New Zealand’s marine ecosystems are a global Park Service diversity hotspot due to their geographic isolation, Overabundant species are often managed on public physiographic complexity and complex circulation. lands in order to reduce their impact on Marine ecosystems are expected to respond to ecosystems. Immunocontraception has been climate change, and increasing temperature and promoted as a management strategy in many sea-level rise have already been documented. species to reduce population growth without Additional predicted climatic changes include altering behavior. However, PZP impacts associated with storm frequency, immunocontraception has been shown to reduce precipitation, and ocean acidification. However, social stability in feral horses. One potential driver the consequences of climate changes on New of harem changes is stallion harassment. Mares Zealand’s marine biodiversity are uncertain due may change harems in order to minimize their lack of baseline data on species distribution harassment costs. We tested if treated mares are patterns and ecology, and lack of understanding of harassed more by harem stallions and tested the stress-responses, multiple stressors interactions relationship between harassment rate and harem and other complex dynamics. Regardless, change rate to determine if harassment drives environmental monitoring in New Zealand has harem changes. Higher stallion harassment was been effective in determining long-term changes strongly correlated with higher harem changes and and linking these changes to climatic variables. treated mares were harassed more than controls. Here we illustrate New Zealand examples that There were no significant differences in provide insight into ecological response to climate harassment rates before and after harem changes. change. First, we discuss a coastal monitoring These results indicate that management via PZP programme, designed to report on the overall results in higher harassment rates for treated health of a large harbour. The ecological indicators mares and males treat contracepted females and sampling regime link trends in abundance of differently than control mares. Though the point of key indicator species to climatic changes, despite the contraception is to limit population growth, the cyclic patterns in population dynamics, and provide social side effects of contraception may reduce clues for the potential for resilience in ecological reproductive success of individuals valuable to the response to climate change. A second programme population and reduce recruitment beyond desired follows the MarClim framework to determine levels thus complicating management and baseline information and physical determinants of conservation efforts. Given that PZP is used in species’ range distributions to predict (and many species, this study indicates a need for monitor) range shifts of rocky intertidal species. deeper investigation into the social impact and side Finally, we discuss proposed changes in New effects of managing species with Zealand’s monitoring of marine protected areas immunocontraception. and New Zealand’s Antarctic research to 135 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Tuesday, July 17 11:20 Non-Invasive Sampling Monday, July 16 4:15 Applying Adaptive And Ex Situ Management Of Panthera uncia Leadership To Climate Change Strategies: Lessons Makkay, Amanda M.*, Fordham University From A State Natural Resource Agency Initiative The ex situ population of snow leopards, (Panthera Manolis, Jim* , Wendt, Keith, Minnesota uncia), is experiencing a decline in fecundity. The Department Of Natural Resources , Holdsworth, genetic diversity, mean kinship values, of the Andy, Minnesota Department Of Natural Resources captive P. uncia population is determined via , Pierce, Ann, Minnesota Department Of Natural models derived from studbook data. Literature Resources suggests determined mean kinship values are not In 2009, the Minnesota Department of Natural necessarily comparable to measures from Resources (MNDNR) identified climate change molecular genetic data (Russello and Amato 2004). adaptation and mitigation strategies as top This proposal evaluates and compares the model priorities. The agency established new programs, based approach to empirically derived measures of positions, and teams to integrate climate change genetic diversity of the Association of Zoos and strategies into management. Initial efforts focused Aquariums’ (AZA) North American snow leopard on synthesizing and communicating scientific population. Panthera’s Global Felid Genetics information. Now, adaptation projects are Program, partnered with the American Museum of underway that aim to help conserve ecosystems in Natural History’s Center for , the face of climate change. Mitigation projects aim has collected over 200 wild snow leopard fecal to reduce carbon emissions by 20% over five years. samples. The genetic information from these data Overall, the initiative continues to make progress in has allowed for individuals and lineages to be the face many challenges. Budgets are tight, the sourced to their population of origin. Genetic political landscape is polarized, and staff are busy diversity of the snow leopard population is with many other priorities. Principles of “adaptive measured through analysis of captive snow leopard leadership” have been useful for overcoming these fecal samples. Using a panel of published snow barriers and developing strategies for moving leopard microsatellite primers (Waits et al 2007) forward. Most notably, the principle of “combining kinship patterns are identified for AZA snow strengths of multiple leaders” helped prioritize leopards. The genetically most similar wild source climate change as a conservation issue, and will be populations for individuals within the captive essential for full integration into conservation population are also identified referencing planning and site-level actions. “Cycling frequently Panthera’s collection. This genetic diversity data through action and reflection” helped identify provides insights into the recent declining success weak links in the initiative and strategies for of captive breeding programs and for the varying overcoming them. Other useful principles have degrees of success associated with husbandry been “getting and maintaining attention,” efforts at AZA institutions. Other applications “strategic timing,” and “nurturing productive include studies on variation in life history conflict.” These principles can be applied to any characters among captive lineages, which may be conservation challenge that requires changes in influencing the success of population maintenance priorities, beliefs, or habits. and the potential for reintroduction. This information is invaluable to reintroduction efforts, understanding both in-situ and ex-situ population differentiation, and local adaption.

136 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 3:00 Critical Role Of Seasonal habitat and strongly suggests the need for Tributaries For Native Fish And Aquatic Biota In watershed-level conservation. The Sacramento River Marchetti, Michael*, St Mary'S College Of California , Bowen, Heather, California State University Chico , Benigno, Gina, California State Monday, July 16 8:30 Confronting The Human University Chico Dimensions Of Environmental Degradation: Due to the Mediterranean climate of California, the Psychological Barriers And Opportunities * Sacramento River has an abundance of small Markowitz, Ezra , University Of Oregon tributaries that contain water only during the Inaction in the face of worsening environmental winter/spring wet season. Over the past 9 years we degradation is powerfully shaped by the examined the ecology of these tributaries in terms interaction between aspects of our psychology and of native fishes and aquatic macroinvertebrates features of the environmental problems we face. and will highlight the critical role this Large scale, complex, and distally occurring underappreciated habitat plays in the overall phenomena—including global climate change—fail functioning of the entire riverine ecosystem. In this to engage our cognitive and affective alarm talk I discuss and summarize data from five systems, which developed to be sensitive to individual studies examining ecological aspects of immediate, rapid and salient changes in our this habitat. In a study of juvenile Chinook growth environments. Converging evidence from the in seasonal tributaries using otolith microstructure behavioral and brain sciences also suggests that we find that fish grow bigger and faster on the our moral judgment system, which is a powerful abundant food and warmer temperatures in motivator of prosocial action, is ill-equipped to seasonal tributaries. In a four-year study on the recognize climate change and other environmental spatial distribution and abundance of native fish collective action problems as moral imperatives, larvae in tributaries of the upper Sacramento River depressing willingness to respond. Despite these we find that certain critical tributaries (Mud Creek) challenges, research in psychology, produce almost an order of magnitude more native communications and other fields provides insight fish larvae than near by permanent streams. In a into concrete strategies that can be used to study comparing the distribution and abundance of meaningfully encourage public engagement with aquatic macroinvertebrates in a seasonal tributary these issues. In this talk, I integrate recent with a nearby permanent stream we find the empirical findings to highlight the challenges that seasonal tributary contains unique taxa as well as environmental problems pose to our cognitive, higher drift densities and an ecologically distinct affective, motivational and moral judgment community. In a cross-watershed comparison of systems (e.g., compassion towards victims of larval fish drift density we find that a seasonal environmental catastrophes decreases as the tributary (Mud Creek) produces more larvae on a number of individuals in need of aid increases). I per volume basis than all other streams/rivers we then discuss strategies communicators might examined. In a comparison of juvenile Chinook employ to directly confront public disengagement growth morphology between seasonal and and increase positive responses to pressing permanent streams using geometric conservation issues (e.g., reframing environmental morphometrics we find that salmon growth is issues as morally-significant public health characteristically different in seasonal tributaries, problems). possibly leading to a better and healthier fish morphology. Taken together, this extensive body of work highlights the critical importance of this

137 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Tuesday, July 17 10:00 Experimental within the past decade. This case study describes a Management Approaches In Novel Ecosystems, team of citizen scientist volunteers formed in San Including Learning To Love Them As They Are Diego in 2002 to monitor California Grunion as Marris, Emma*, Freelance Writer “Grunion Greeters.” Working with scientists and The phrase “novel ecosystems” allows us to see over 150 organizations, this project extended landscapes and waterscapes that would throughout California and into Mexico. Over 4000 traditionally have been disdained as trashy or volunteers provided detailed data through failures as sites ripe with promise and ideal for community based habitat monitoring. This experimentation. One approach is to treat novel commitment engendered a new sense of ecosystems as hands-off experiments that will, stewardship for the entire sandy beach habitat. over time, demonstrate how new, self-willed The result has been positive changes in beach ecosystems adapt in response to stressors management, and greater involvement of including climate change. As Ariel Lugo has said, stakeholders in policy development. New beach novel ecosystems are “the planet’s response to management practices are in place throughout the what we have done to it,” and there are lessons to habitat range of the grunion, thanks to the public be learned from them. On the other hand, novel participation in the scientific process, working with ecosystems, because they are (by some definitions) agencies including California Coastal Commission, impossible to restore to a historical state, also National Marine Fisheries Service, California provide areas for strategies unmoored from Department of Fish and Game, the US Navy, the historical baselines, including managed relocation Marines, California State Parks, and local counties of vulnerable populations in advance of climate and cities. The enjoyment of observing spawning change and rewilding to Pleistocene-like systems. runs is appreciated as a spectacular natural Choosing among these and other strategies will phenomenon, as well as a rich source of scientific depend on our conservation goals, which could data. California Grunion now inspire affection, range from familiar goals like extinction conservation, and eco-tourism. minimization, diversity maximization and provision of ecosystem services to artistic expression to preserving undirected natural selection to creating socially egalitarian spaces. Novel ecosystems are Monday, July 16 Yellowfin Tuna As An Indicator currently perhaps the most “wild” or unmanaged Of Ecosystem State In The Eastern Tropical Pacific * places on the planet; they are also the perfect Martin, Summer , Scripps Institution Of places to try out new and forward-thinking goals Oceanography , Ballance, Lisa, NOAA-Southwest and approaches. In novel ecosystems, we see Fisheries Science Center glimmerings of future nature—loved, respected, Biodiversity is believed to be positively correlated dynamic and unfamiliar. with ecosystem resilience. Because biodiversity data can be challenging to collect, biodiversity indicators are valuable predictors of ecosystem state. This is particularly true for oceanic Tuesday, July 17 11:30 Citizen Science Drives ecosystems. We explore the potential for using Public Policy With The California Grunion, A Beach yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) as an indicator Spawning Fish of biodiversity by linking ecological characteristics Martin, Karen*, Pepperdine University of tuna (e.g. distribution and abundance) to Sandy beaches are essential spawning habitat for diversity indices calculated from an existing the California Grunion, Leuresthes tenuis, an dataset. These data were collected from NOAA endemic marine fish. Policies to conserve this Fisheries ships at sea during 10 years over a 19- species and its habitat have dramatically changed year time span (1988-2006) in the oceanic eastern 138 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 tropical Pacific, an area of 21 million km2 that treatments or sites, though magnitude of variation includes waters of 12 nations and the oceanic in recruitment differed across breeding treatments. commons. We characterize diversity of cetaceans, Population viability models indicated that at least seabirds, larval fishes, and flyingfishes and relate at one site, only populations founded with these to yellowfin tuna metrics. Because of the between-site crosses are sustainable. These studies close ecological association of these tuna with confirm that using a single population source, dolphins in this region, our results have particular especially for reintroductions of the smallest relevance to depleted populations of spotted and populations of this species may decrease the spinner dolphins (Stenella attenuata and S. likelihood of population persistence and is not longirostris, respectively), but more broadly, to advisable. However prior to population mixing of ecosystem-based management of oceanic systems. any species, we advise using decision trees, These ecosystems present a complex set of reintroduction guidelines, and paying close management challenges. The living marine attention to ecology, life history, habitat resources they include are often transboundary; specialization, and dispersal mechanisms of target enforcement of international agreements is species to achieve sustainable genetically diverse difficult; and the ecosystem goods and services reintroduced populations. they provide are global. Yellowfin tuna is a commercially important species and tuna information is widely available through fisheries datasets, providing the potential to predict Monday, July 16 Restoring Floodplain Habitat ecosystem state for this system into the future. Connectivity For Aquatic Species Recovery: An Integrated Modeling Framework Matella, Mary*, UC Berkeley , Merenlender, Adina California’s Central Valley was once a large Tuesday, July 17 3:15 Breeding History dynamic river-floodplain ecosystem that flooded Influences Long-Term Field Survival Of seasonally, but hydrological alterations designed to Experimental Introductions Of Jacquemontia provide a stable water supply and to prevent reclinata flooding have severed hydraulic connections and Maschinski, Joyce*, Fairchild Tropical Botanic led to habitat loss and significant declines in Garden , Wright, Samuel, Fairchild Tropical Botanic aquatic biodiversity. Recovering floodplain Garden connectivity for ecosystem health requires an Building new populations of rare species presents understanding of structural components related to an opportunity to create self-sustaining the physical landscape, functionality of flow populations resilient to stochastic events, while dynamics, and knowledge of species habitat testing ecological theory. Using progeny from requirements for movement, reproduction, and controlled crosses (control, selfed, sibling, far survival. To advance our understanding of neighbor, and between-site), we tested whether floodplain habitat connectivity and benefits of breeding history would influence long-term survival habitat restoration alternatives, we provide a of US endangered Jacquemontia reclinata modeling framework to quantify the effects of reintroduced within historic range in 2004 and restoration on hydrological habitat connectivity 2005. By 2011, survival significantly increased with and illustrate this approach through case studies of distance from pollen donor, was consistent across restoration scenarios using historical and climate years of the study, and became most apparent change scenario flows to restore fish floodplain after major stochastic events (hurricanes, drought, habitat along segments of the Sacramento and San and exceptional cold). Mean second generation Joaquin Rivers. Case study results show that in progeny did not differ significantly across addition to channel alterations, higher flows are 139 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 required to recover significant flooded habitat that effectively drew attention to the restoration of area, especially given reductions in flows expected anadromous fish and provided an opportunity for under climate change. Our approach provides a the public to become involved in real restoration template for developing multiple scenarios of research.. We hope other field biologists will use restored floodplain connectivity that will help our methods for outreach to involve the public in managers evaluate floodplain restoration projects scientific research. in the context of flood management planning.

Tuesday, July 17 11:30 Climate Change And Wednesday, July 18 8:45 Using The Adopt-A- California Golden Trout: Can Wilderness Areas Be Fish Program To Get Stakeholders Hooked On Used As Refuges From Warming Temperatures? Conservation Matthews, Kathleen*, PSW Forest Service Mather, Martha*, Kansas State University , Muth, California golden trout (CGT), one of the few native Robert, Department Of Environmental high-elevation fishes in the Sierra Nevada, are Conservaiton , Frank, Holly, FERC imperiled due to exotic trout, genetic introgression, Successful conservation requires peer-reviewed and degraded habitat, and now face further stress research, stakeholder involvement, an from climate warming. Their native habitat, understanding of how human activities impact the primarily within the Golden Trout Wilderness ecosystem, and a link between natural systems and (GTW), has reduced streamside vegetation, human values. Here, we show how two “Adopt-a widened channels, and shallow depths from cattle Fish” programs have linked these four objectives. grazing which all contribute to warm water Our interactive “Adopt-a Herring” and “Adopt-A- temperatures. Climate change will further Bass” projects communicated science and compromise streams because most climate encouraged coastal residents to take a stake in warming scenarios predict increased water ecological restoration. For example, in order to temperatures. One important management understand river herring spawning behavior, our response to climate warming is to ensure that ecological research tracked river herring via habitats are more resilient. I have initiated a study radiotelemetry in the Ipswich River, a coastal to determine the climate change resiliency of system in northeastern Massachusetts. Then golden trout habitat by conducting a spatially participating stakeholder organizations adopted explicit analysis of stream temperatures in GTW and named individual tagged fish and followed meadows. Preliminary data from 2008 to 2011 their movements. Research results were indicate that summer stream temperatures often communicated to adopters through a project web reached 25oC, reportedly lethal for salmonids, page and end-of-the-season summary although the specific tolerances of CGT are presentations. These tools cultivated a personal unknown. In the higher temperature areas, it is interest in river herring, stimulated discussion important to quickly begin restoring stream cooling about river restoration, educated participants features--depth, width, and vegetation, so CGT about the goals and methods of scientists, and habitat can withstand future higher temperatures. initiated critical thinking about impediments to Moreover, areas with coolest temperatures should sustainability. In our related “Adopt-a-Bass” be rested from cattle grazing to maintain their program, we undertook similar activities but streamside features and resiliency. The spatially targeted fishermen, rod-and-gun clubs, and explicit temperature information from this study is outdoors clubs, thus connecting passion for fishing crucial for managers to prioritize their restoration to conservation. The Adopt-A-Fish projects were efforts. In the GTW there is an opportunity to successful participation-based outreach program increase resiliency of CGT habitat because it is a 140 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 federally designated Wilderness set aside by U.S. Monday, July 16 4:00 Global Climate Change Congress to “to preserve its natural Effects Upon Prairie Plant Pollination conditions…affected primarily by forces of nature”. Maxson, Elise*, North Dakota State University , To provide more resilient habitats for aquatic Travers, Steven species, Wilderness areas could be used as refuges, Understanding the impact of global climate change i.e., the freshwater version of marine preserves. In on the biota of the planet is an under-studied these preserves, managers could eliminate or aspect of this environmental problem. Phenological minimize activities such as cattle grazing that are shifts in plant flowering times and pollinator lowering the resiliency of freshwater habitats to emergence times are a potentially problematic increased warming. outcome that might lead to disassociation of mutualistic species. We examined the effects of changes in the blooming times of a native prairie plant species, Lithospermum canescens, on the Tuesday, July 17 8:35 A Meta-Analysis Of The plant pollinator interactions in the tallgrass prairie Effect Of Good And Bad Environmental Actions On of northwestern Minnesota. Our study was Stock Prices designed to quantify the degree of pollen limitation * Matzek, Virginia , Santa Clara University , associated with the blooming period for this Saunders, Martin, Santa Clara University , Kareiva, species which has shifted first blooming time Peter compared to historical records. We found evidence Environmentalists argue about whether corporate of an optimal flowering time for the species environmental responsibility should be motivated indicating a potential cost to flowering at the by the carrot or the stick—i.e., by rewards that wrong time. come from voluntary embrace of sustainability measures, or by punishment from fines and penalties for violation of environmental regulations. In our research, we look at the size of Wednesday, July 18 10:00 Dynamic Ocean rewards and penalties imposed on corporations by Management: A New Direction For Fisheries And the reaction of investors to good and bad MPA Management environmental actions. The study meta-analyzes 29 Maxwell, Sara*, Stanford University/Marine different papers that use an "event-study" Conservation Institute , Lewison, Rebecca, San methodology to quantify the effect on stock prices Diego State University , Abbott, Josh, Arizona State of positive and negative environmental news. University , Bailey, Helen, University Of Maryland , Eighteen studies cover positive environmental Bograd, Steven, NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science news, with 2695 individual corporate share price Center , Hazen, Elliott, NOAA Southwest Fisheries reactions; 33 cover negative environmental news, Science Center , Henderschedt, John, Fisheries with a total of 3779 events. Our analysis shows that Leadership And Sustainability Forum, Duke negative environmental news results in a University , Morgan, Lance, Marine Conservation significant penalty to share prices of -0.61% of firm Institute , Crowder, Larry, Stanford University value, but there is no significant reward attendant Marine protected areas (MPAs) are one of the to positive environmental news. most commonly used marine management tools. While they are widely accepted as appropriate for sedentary and benthic species, conventional wisdom holds that they will not be as useful for more mobile species as their static boundaries greatly limit their effectiveness. This is particularly true in the open ocean where resource users and 141 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 animals alike track dynamic processes. This has led approach indicate that we will have a sufficient a number of scientists to suggest a need for number of releasable individuals to commence dynamic ocean management that explicitly reintroductions in 2015, and that releasing a incorporates the changing nature of the marine proportion of the juvenile stage-class annually over environment, and that integrates management the first decade of the reintroduction phase will across multiple objectives such as species facilitate growth of the reintroduced population conservation and socioeconomic factors. Despite while maintaining a productive captive population the increasingly frequent suggestion of dynamic for annual wild augmentation. We show how ocean management as an effective strategy for efforts to reintroduce endangered species can be managing marine systems, it has not been well guided by population tools, particularly when a defined or thoroughly conceptualized. Here we balance must be struck between maintaining a discuss our efforts with the fishing industry to productive source population and optimizing create a proof of concept for dynamic ocean reintroduced population growth rates. management that integrates ocean resource use with oceanographic, species distribution and economic data in the context of a real-world fishery case study. We put this example in the Monday, July 16 12:00 Breeding Site context of fisheries and MPAs by outlining how Heterogeneity Reduces Variability In Columbia exercises of this nature can be used to prioritize Spotted Frog (Rana luteiventris) Recruitment And management and develop dynamic MPAs. Population Dynamics McCaffery, Rebecca*, University Of Montana , Eby, Lisa, University Of Montana , Maxell, Bryce, Montana Natural Heritage Program Wednesday, July 18 8:45 Using Population Environmental stochasticity can have profound Ecology To Plan The Restoration Of Bolson effects on the population viability of wild Tortoises (Gopherus flavomarginatus) To Their populations. Habitat heterogeneity provides one Pleistocene Range In The U.S. mechanism by which populations may be buffered Mccaffery, Magnus*, Turner Endangered Species against climatic fluctuations. For example, Fund , Phillips, Mike, Turner Endangered Species heterogeneity in pond hydroperiod may allow Fund amphibian populations to persist despite variable The last wild bolson tortoise (Gopherus interannual precipitation. We examined flavomarginatus) population is at risk of extinction recruitment dynamics over ten years in a high- in Mexico due to anthropogenic pressures and elevation Columbia spotted frog (Rana luteiventris) climate change. Through a bolson tortoise captive population that breeds in (1) short hydroperiod program in New Mexico, we have achieved high ephemeral ponds, (2) long hydroperiod ephemeral annual survival and reproductive rates, and ponds, and (3) permanent ponds. We combined increased our captive population size by over 500% recruitment data with models to quantify the since 2006. We are using population modeling to consequences of heterogeneity in pond inform future reintroductions of this species to its hydroperiod on number of metamorphs produced Pleistocene range in New Mexico. We constructed and long-term population growth rates. We found post-birth pulse stage-structured matrix models for that most eggs were laid in permanent ponds each captive and reintroduced populations. We year, but egg to metamorph survival was higher in examined the relative impacts of different release long hydroperiod ephemeral ponds than either scenarios on both wild and captive population short ephemeral ponds or permanent ponds. There growth rates, where the number and stage class of were weak negative correlations in egg to released individuals varied. Results from this metamorph survival among all pond types, 142 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 suggesting that the different pond types have models (GCMs) from the Last Glacial Maximum better recruitment success on different years. (~21 Ka) and known fossil occurrences to test how Variability in both recruitment and stochastic well SDMs project species distributions during population growth rate were lowest in the glacial times. We first do so using six small to modeling scenarios with high breeding habitat medium mammal species, broadly sampled heterogeneity. These results suggest that diversity phylogenetically and ecologically. Next, we zoom in in pond hydroperiod on the landscape promotes to a specific clade, Microtus, and examine what amphibian recruitment and population persistence, environmental and ecological factors are consistent which could inform amphibian conservation among those species whose paleontological planning efforts. distributions are not well-projected. We find a consistent southward bias in SDMs among the broadly-sampled mammal species. Once we examine Microtus species, we find that the species Tuesday, July 17 12:00 Intersections At Sea: whose distributions are poorly projected, all have Seabird Hotspots In Central California's National niche reconstructions that strongly depend upon Marine Sanctuaries precipitation variables. These results do not * McGowan, Jennifer , San Francisco State University preclude the possibility that realized niches are , Hines, Ellen , Jahncke, Jaime shifting through time or that interspecific The goal of this study is to identify predictable interactions are disrupting SDM projections. foraging habitats used by resident species of However it seems likely that difficulties in correctly marine birds to inform oil spill response reconstructing precipitation in GCMs are affecting preparedness and improve ocean zoning in central SDM accuracy for the species examined. California. We will model the distribution and abundance of resident marine birds relative to predictive drivers using negative binomial regression. We will use models to predict preferred Tuesday, July 17 12:15 Solar Energy foraging habitat within the study area which will Development And Desert Plant Conservation: then be compared using MARXAN to identify Field Testing Species Distribution Models hotspots for each species and across species. Mcintyre, Patrick*, UC Davis , Moore, Kara, UC Davis Despite their widespread use in conservation, the accuracy of species distribution models (SDM's) is Wednesday, July 18 3:45 Using The Mammal seldom tested in the field. We report on two years Fossil Record To Test Species Distribution Models of modeling and field surveys designed to asses the (SDMs) utility of SDM's for conservation planning involving * Mcguire, Jenny , University Of Washington the large-scale solar energy development of desert Species distribution models (SDMs) use habitat in California. We are conducting environmental variables within a species range to distribution modeling for six rare desert taxa using hypothesize the broader distribution of that an approach that involves: 1) building initial species either on the modern landscape or under models, 2) assessing model accuracy based on field an alternative climate regime. These models are surveys, 3) revising models based on our survey pervasive in conservation biology today as a way to results as well as additional plant occurrences from project how species will respond to future climate the Consortium of California Herbaria digitization change. However, the underlying assumptions of effort and widespread surveys by consults and the model can be difficult to test under alternative nonprofits, 4) field testing revised models. We climate regimes. Here, we use the global circulation report on the results of models and field surveys 143 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 for Grusonia parishii, Mimulus mohavensis, Monday, July 16 8:45 An Adaptation Portfolio Eriophyllum mohavense, and Penstemon Approach To Managing Climate Risk albomarginatus. We compare two approaches that Mckinley, Peter*, The Wilderness Society , Aplet, have performed well in statistical evaluation of Greg, The Wilderness Society , Irwin, Hugh, The SDM’s, Maxent and Random Forests in their ability Wilderness Society to predict newly documented occurrences across Predicted global climate change has led to a two scales of climate data (250 meter and 1 general recognition that past ranges of ecological kilometer). Field surveys resulted in the discovery variability no longer suffice as a guide to of new populations of all taxa, including novel conservation objectives. Moreover, models of occurrences (>15 miles from known occurrences) climate change and ecological response lack the extensions of the range of several plants. Models resolution and predictive power needed to develop had mixed success in predicting novel occurrences, a reliable model to address specifics of climate and when tested against the results of field change adaptation. However, adaptation strategies surveys, models for many species performed are possible that spread risk in a way that should similarly to models based on a null model of increase the potential for adaptation. We present geographic distance. an adaptive management framework, to be implemented within a regional or sub regional conservation network, that consists of zones managed 1) to facilitate change through Tuesday, July 17 3:00 Tell Me A Story: The innovation, 2) to resist change through restoration, Importance Of Future Scenarios For Ecosystem and 3) to allow observation of change in traditional Service Science ecological reserves. Delineation of the conservation * Mckenzie, Emily , World Wildlife Fund , Rosenthal, network relies on well-established conservation Amy, World Wildlife Fund , Fisher, Brendan, World biology principles of representation, connectivity, Wildlife Fund and configuration, but with specific points of Mapping and valuation of ecosystem services are emphasis (e.g. connectivity across topographic and increasingly used to clarify the economic and social habitat gradients) that enhance adaptive capacity. importance of the benefits that nature provides to The framework is meant to be flexible to people. Scenarios – storylines about possible accommodate the situations and needs of different futures – are frequently used as inputs for these regions. We will present examples of the ecosystem service assessments. But the application of this network design strategy within importance of scenarios for enabling ecosystem northeastern and southern Appalachian climate service science to bridge the science-policy adaptation landscapes. interface has not yet been well-explored. Through comparative analysis of six case studies, we characterize critical steps, choices and lessons. We find that scenarios – both the process of Monday, July 16 3:00 Predicting Species developing scenarios and the product of the final Responses To Climate Change: Recruitment storylines and maps – can play a critical role in Dynamics And Climate Microrefugia In California managing the boundaries between knowledge and Valley Oak (Quercus lobata Nee) action. We propose that scenarios can enhance the Mclaughlin, Blair* , Zavaleta, Erika, Environmental real-world impact of ecosystem service Studies Dept. assessments by making information more relevant, Anticipating range shifts under climate change is a legitimate, plausible, understandable, and major focus in conservation. Bioclimate models are surprising. one of the few predictive tools for adaptation planning, but are limited in accounting for 1) 144 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 climatic tolerances in pre-adult life stages that are 69 TIs located in regions of high fire incidence, potentially more vulnerable to warming; and 2) most (n=50) TIs offer some protection against fire local-scale movement and use of climatic refugia as compared to external buffers of 20 and 60km. TI an alternative or complement to large-scale effectiveness ranged from highly resistant (n=20) changes in distribution. To assess whether these to highly susceptible (n=7) to fire pressure (a ratio shortfalls can be addressed with field demographic of fire within a reserve vs. an external buffer). data, we used Quercus lobata, a long-lived species Twelve TIs had higher fire pressure within reserve with climate-sensitive juvenile life stages. We boundaries, mostly in cerrado areas bordering the hypothesized that a valley oak bioclimate model, ‘arc of deforestation’. To explore the influence of based on adults, would overpredict the species’ confounding factors (e.g. road proximity and ability to remain in the projected persisting area vegetation type), we created a spatially-explicit due to higher climate vulnerability of young life probabilistic model of fire incidence. Proximity to stages; and underpredict the potential for the paved roads, presence of cerrado and grassland species to remain in the projected contracting area ecosystems, and a long dry season were positively in local-scale refugia. We found that saplings were correlated with fire incidence, though did not more constricted around surface water than adults explain higher fire inhibition within TIs. With in the projected contracting area. We also found increasing land-use demands on the Amazon, this that the climate envelope for saplings is narrower study demonstrates that land sovereignty than that for adults. Rather than a complete shift contributes to fire inhibition and thus conservation northward and upward, as predicted by the effectiveness. bioclimate model, valley oaks are likely to experience constriction around water and eventual disappearance from areas exceeding maximum temperature thresholds. Our findings illustrate that Monday, July 16 The Effect Of Fences On Two targeted biological fieldwork can be central to Small Populations Of Greater Sage-Grouse In understanding climate change-related movement Southwestern Utah * for long-lived, sessile taxa. McPherron, Heather , Utah State University I investigated how fences might contribute to the mortality of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) during all major seasons for the Wednesday, July 18 4:15 Disturbance Protection grouse (breeding, brood-rearing, fall, and winter) in In Semi-Protected Areas: A Case Study Of Fire two small populations located in southwestern Inhibition Provided By Indigenous Territories In Utah - Hamlin Valley and the Bald Hills. During The Brazilian Amazon 2011 and 2012, 100 randomly selected 1-kilometer Mcmanus, Kelly*, Stanford University sections of fences (60 in Hamlin Valley, 40 in the Roughly 21% of the Brazilian Amazon is designated Bald Hills) were surveyed once in the brood- as terras indigenas (TIs). While populated reserves rearing, fall, and winter seasons. During these may be included in studies of conservation within surveys, I located three avian and one bat collision, protected areas (PAs), TIs are not managed under none of which were identified as sage-grouse. uniform rules like most federally established PAs During the breeding season (i.e. lek attendance), all but rather as semi-autonomous territories granting fences within a 2.5-kilometer radius of the lek were indigenous people sovereign use rights. This study surveyed twice. No collisions of any species were examined the effectiveness of 197 TIs across the observed. These results suggest that fence Brazilian Amazon to inhibit fire. Using remotely- collisions in these two populations of sage-grouse sensed fire incidence data from 1999-2006 for TIs are occurring at rates lower than can be detected and surrounding areas, we found that among the in all seasons. While marking fences has been 145 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 shown to reduce collision in other populations and genetic tools to address remaining questions for is not being rejected as a means of conserving these populations, including Central Valley spring- sage-grouse in either of these two populations; run Chinook population structure, spatial and results from this study indicate that land managers temporal genetic stability, and gene expression in these areas should focus time, attention, and under different temperature regimes. In this talk, money to the other causes of sage-grouse we will present, as a case study, our process of mortality (i.e. predator control, preservation of working as academic scientists with government habitat, vegetation improvement, etc.). Future agencies to guide and inform the reintroduction work to be conducted in the summer of 2012 will process, highlighting the recommendations we focus on avian predators (raptors and ravens) use make for the San Joaquin Chinook reintroduction. of fences in sage-grouse habitat and the overall We will provide our insights on the opportunities habitat usage of sage-grouse within Hamlin Valley. and challenges in incorporating genetic information into reintroduction planning.

Tuesday, July 17 8:30 The Role Of Genetic Management In Species Reintroductions: Lessons Monday, July 16 8:30 From Wild Lands To Learned From Chinook Salmon In The San Joaquin Working Lands To Urban Lands: Connecting River, California Conservation Across The Landscape Meek, Mariah*, University Of California, Davis , Meine, Curt* Stephens, Molly, University Of California, Davis , We stand at a critical moment in the evolution of Baerwald, Melinda, University Of California, Davis , conservation science, ideas, and practice. The Tomalty, Kat, University Of California, Davis , Bork, critique of "fortress conservation" is one Karrigan, University Of California, Davis , May, expression of a more general understanding that Bernie, University Of California, Davis fragmented approaches to conservation can Species reintroductions are difficult undertakings undermine progress toward the shared goal of that require cooperation among scientists, restoring and sustaining whole, biodiverse, and managers, and stakeholders. When planning a resilient landscapes (that include the human reintroduction, a scientific understanding of communities embedded within them). In our genetic issues can be vital to success. Spring-run professional commitments, and in popular Chinook salmon have been extirpated from the perception, conservation has meant many things to upper San Joaquin River since the 1950s. As a result many people in many places. Some are interested of a legal settlement, a multi-agency group is mainly in wildlife, or forests, or soils, or water. involved in reintroducing Chinook salmon to newly Some are focused on cities, others on "working re-watered sections of the river using both direct lands," others on protected areas. Some work translocations and individuals reared in a primarily at the local level (e.g. building local food conservation hatchery. We developed a Hatchery economies), while others work on the global and Genetic Management Plan for spring-run realities of biodiversity loss, climate disruption, and Chinook salmon as part of the federal and state ocean degradation. Yet, basic hierarchy thinking regulatory process to permit the reintroductions. suggests that no part of the whole is sustainable if Additionally, we have written a broader Genetic the whole is not sustainable. Amid this diversity of Management Plan, addressing potential genetic interests, the need to build a broader and more issues as they relate to the reintroduction and the integrated framework of conservation thinking is monitoring of the newly formed population, plain. This talk offers up one model for thinking hatchery population, and source populations. As about conservation connections across the entire part of the reintroduction, we are also using land-use spectrum, from wild lands to urban cores. 146 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 9:30 Flows As An Indicator Of However, we are still in the early stages of Ecosystem Resilience: Comparing Historic, Current determining how to best design linkages to reduce And Future Flows To Identify Resilient Freshwater the impacts of climate change in fragmented Systems For Conservation landscapes. Enhancing connectivity to facilitate Meitzen, Kimberly*, Duke University, Nicholas predicted range shifts for species is fraught with School Of The Environment uncertainty. Therefore, we focus on which habitat The instream flow regime, including the amount, corridors in North Coast California expand the frequency, duration and seasonality of flow though distribution and representation of climate space a stream, plays a critical role in shaping freshwater using down-scaled climate models. This approach ecosystems. Alterations in flow regime due to examines different characteristics of climate (e.g. changes in patterns of precipitation, water rate of change, diversity, and low temperatures) withdrawals, land use and dam operations are that are potentially desirable for improving reserve common throughout North America and result in network resilience based on the following significant negative impacts on the species, assumptions: 1) the advantages of connectivity are communities, and habitats of the region’s waters. greatest for areas that will experience faster rates We hypothesize that streams that are least altered of change, 2) a reserve network that harbors and characterized by natural flow patterns will be greater climatic diversity will allow for greater more resilient to environmental and climate adaptation, and 3) maintaining access to cooler changes than highly altered streams, making them climates is a high priority. Estimated cost of priority targets for conservation. We are assessing acquiring each linkage as well as the probability of the relative degree of flow alteration in streams future development is used in the final ranking of and rivers throughout North Carolina and the corridors for Sonoma County. Each climate potential ecological consequences of this characteristic results in a different suite of priority disturbance. This analysis will help us identify areas linkages, emphasizing the need for greater of resilience and vulnerability with respect to consideration of how corridors may function to instream flows. We provide an innovative, user- increase climate change adaptation. friendly robust modeling approach to identify areas where the observed stream flow has been highly altered relative to historic conditions and where stream flow is least altered and closer to natural Wednesday, July 18 11:00 Modifying Policies To conditions. We will also use of this modeling Permit Forward-Looking Restoration, Managed approach to forecast how future climate and land Relocation, And Other Climate-Change Adaptation use changes are likely to impact flows and Techniques * consequently ecosystem resilience and Meretsky, Vicky , Indiana University vulnerability. Land and wildlife managers seeking to preserve biodiversity under climate change are faced with difficult choices and conflicting recommendations. Efforts to preserve local genetic variation are likely Wednesday, July 18 11:20 Targeting Habitat to conflict with efforts to maximize dispersal Linkages For Increased Climate Change Resilience potential of affected species. Years of conservation Merenlender, Adina* , Feirer, Shane, UC Hopland recommendations to preserve local variation and Research & Extension Center prevent importation of non-native species are now Maintaining and enhancing habitat connectivity being supplemented by suggestions that careful through the conservation of corridors or linkages is experimentation with managed relocation may be the most commonly used strategy for increasing useful to maintain ecosystem function and may be resilience of reserve networks to climate change. necessary to conserve some wildlife and plant taxa. 147 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Recommendations to preserve local genetic zonation. Remote sensing of intertidal habitats in variation have resulted in a variety of policies on Bermuda indicate that high-resolution imagery is sources of propagules for restoration and other necessary for accurate predictions of habitat and plantings (e.g., seed zones) and on translocation of species distributions. The results of these studies animals (e.g., federal policy preventing demonstrate that current management practices introduction of listed species outside original are insufficient in most locations to ensure the range) that, in their present form, may frustrate future of this important fishery. Based on these plans to conserve species and genetic variation data, I propose local-scale management strategies through managed relocation. Research results for the conservation of C. pica that comprise fishing suggest that as climate change advances, many regulations and targeted MPAs. species may need some anthropogenic action to facilitate movement to areas with suitable climate. Modification of policies that prevent such movements should be undertaken adaptively to Monday, July 16 Pervasive Effects Of The Native support continued conservation of local genetic Collared Peccary (Pecari tajacu) On Lianas, variation where possible while also permitting Understory Vegetation, And Leaf Litter In Central movement of taxa when necessary. American Rain Forest Michel, Nicole*, Tulane University Collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu) are a dominant, intensively-hunted, Neotropical consumer with Wednesday, July 18 11:45 Motivations, trophic and non-trophic effects on plants. We Misconceptions, And Management Of Coastal tested four predictions consistent with the Fisheries: A Case Study From The Neotropical hypothesis of top-down consumer limitation of Western Atlantic plants at six Central American sites with P. tajacu Meyer, Erin* densities of 3 to >14/km2 and within three sets of An understanding of the socioeconomic experimental mammal exclosures: 1) Peccaries motivations for harvesting a species and details reduce understory vegetation density and cover, about its biology are required for effective fishery and leaf litter depth, mass, and arthropod management. The West Indian top snail (Cittarium abundance; 2) Effect size of mammalian exclosure pica) is a conspicuous, rocky intertidal species that increases with peccary density; 3) Vegetation is harvested throughout the Wider Caribbean and density and cover decline with peccary density Bermuda. The objectives of this research are to across sites; and 4) Peccaries have stronger effects evaluate economic motivations driving the fishery, on lianas than free-standing plants. Relative to determine habitat preferences and distribution, mammal exclosures, peccaries reduced understory and evaluate current management policies and vegetation, woody plant, and vine density, and misconceptions. I also provide the first detailed liana cover at La Selva Biological Station (highest documentation of reintroduction and recovery of peccary density), and vine density at Barro C. pica in Bermuda, from where it was extirpated in Colorado Island and Gigante Peninsula. Peccaries less than 250 years. Results from motivation reduced leaf litter depth and biomass at La Selva, analyses suggest that high fishing pressure is but increased arthropod densities. Exclosure effect correlated with: high unemployment and human sizes were largest at La Selva, despite the younger population density, low GDP and urbanization, high and more permeable exclosures. Palm, liana, and coverage of marine protected areas (MPAs), and forest cover declined with peccary density across lack of enforcement. Evaluation of C. pica habitat sites. Primary consumers exert strong top-down preference reveals that, contrary to previous effects on plant communities at both reduced and assumptions, C. pica does not exhibit size-specific elevated densities, with cascading consequences 148 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 for other organisms. To preserve tropical forest Monday, July 16 4:00 From The Mountains To biodiversity, large consumers such as peccaries The Sea: Developing Spatially Explicit Climate should be maintained at moderate densities. Adaptation Opportunities For Western Washington Ecosystems Mielbrecht, Eric*, EcoAdapt , Kershner, Jessi, EcoAdapt , Leonard, Jessica, Geos Institute , Wednesday, July 18 12:20 Measuring Bay Area DellaSala, Dominick, Geos Institute , Koopman, Ecosystem Vital Signs Across A Conservation Lands Marni, Geos Institute Network The iconic ecosystems of western Washington * Micheli, Lisa support diverse and abundant wildlife populations, The Sonoma County “Vital Signs” project is a and provide important resources and services for coupled ecosystem-climate monitoring framework human communities. However, the new and under development as a model for a Bay Area-wide variable conditions that are emerging due to rapid initiative utilizing conservation lands as platforms climate change are expected to significantly alter for detecting climate change and biological the natural systems that wildlife and human response. The goal of monitoring is to both communities both depend on. This project is enhance our scientific understanding of determining how important watersheds from the relationships between biodiversity, habitat, climate coastal and inland mountains to Puget Sound are and management and to support the likely to be affected by climate change, and implementation and evaluate the effectiveness of identifying spatially explicit strategies and actions active conservation programs. This project to facilitate adaptation across ecosystem types. supports the Sonoma County Biodiversity Action Terrestrial, freshwater, and coastal marine habitat Plan (2010) which defines overall conservation and conservation area data, select biodiversity and objectives for the county and the current state of species data, and projected climate change data our knowledge about general relationships were used as inputs to develop GIS-based between natural system drivers, human threats, conservation maps. The resulting climate-informed ecological stressors, and benefits of conservation conservation maps identify priority areas and programs both proposed and underway. Using this strategic actions that, when combined, are conceptual framework, a team of regional expected to provide species and linked ecosystems biologists convened under the North Bay Climate with the greatest likelihood of persistence and Adaptation Initiative (NBCAI) and benefiting from function under changing climate conditions. They the research efforts of the Terrestrial Biodiversity are intended to evaluate the vulnerability of new Climate Change Collaborative (TBC3) are defining and ongoing conservation planning processes in ecosystem-specific indicators to be measured in the region to climate change impacts, and will concert with collection of standard climatic data. provide an integrated assessment of spatially The team is also defining working hypotheses to be explicit adaptation opportunities along the linked tested via data collection. The project builds on and terrestrial, freshwater, and coastal marine systems integrates into parallel monitoring efforts for the studied. Bay and CA coast. The biggest data gap is the absence of county-wide biological surveys: thus the first years of the program will serve in concert with related efforts to set a biodiversity baseline for the County against which future change will be measured.

149 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 3:15 American Pika (Ochotona Monday, July 16 11:30 Nature Reserves As princeps, Op) In The Sierra Nevada And Great Catalysts For Landscape Change Basin; Environmental Context, Climate, Grazing Miller, Jim* , Wright Morton, Lois, Iowa State Impacts, And Radiocarbon Dating University , Engle, David, Oklahoma State Millar, Constance*, USDA Forest Service, Pacific University , Debinski, Diane, Iowa State University , Southwest Research Station , Westfall, Robert, Harr, Ryan, Iowa State University USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Scientists have called repeatedly for a broader Station , Heckman, Katherine, USDA Forest Service, conservation agenda that emphasizes not only Northern Research Station , Schmidt, Karena, USDA protected areas but also the landscapes in which Forest Service, Northern Research Station , they are embedded. We offer a conceptual model Swanston, Chris, USDA Forest Service, Northern for integrating conservation actions on reserves Research Station and the management of private lands. The overall We give results from 4 studies of Op in the Sierra goal of this model is to blur the distinction between Nevada (SN) and Great Basin. Distribution, land management on reserves and in the environment, climate: Our expanded database (750 landscapes that surround them in a way that sites, 17 ranges) corroborates earlier findings of fosters widespread implementation of high density and wide elevation occupancy (1780m conservation practices. Reserves assume a new span) in the SN and west GB (wGB); much lower role as natural laboratories where alternative land- density and narrower elevation ranges characterize use practices designed to achieve conservation the central GB (cGB). Climatic envelopes for objectives can be explored. Here, economic and occupied sites extend beyond earlier limits in the conservation goals are seen as intertwined and SN. Unoccupied sites in the SN and wGB occur at mutually reinforcing. Successful implementation low and high elevation bounds; in the cGB they should result in broad-scale restoration that occur across Op’s elevation range and improves a region’s capacity to conserve environmental contexts. Talus thermal regimes: biodiversity and to support landowner goals, thus Intensive measurement of Op taluses in the SN increasing the resilience of the overarching social- documents summer temperatures of rock matrices ecological system. We illustrate our points using a consistently lower than surfaces with attenuated case study from the North American tallgrass variation. Locations at the low talus border are prairie ecoregion. coldest; positions higher in the talus are warmer. Winter matrix temperatures are warmer than external air. Matrix locations resist warming, reaching asymptotes ~10°C as surfaces continue to Monday, July 16 9:00 Arctic Antlers And The warm. These conditions favor behavioral plasticity. Bones Of Newborns: A New Method For Studying Grazing impacts: Grazing by livestock of talus Historical Caribou Calving Grounds * forefields is associated with haypiles higher in talus Miller, Joshua , Florida Museum Of Natural History and comprising low-value intra-talus vegetation A pervasive challenge to conservation is the paucity relative to areas without grazing. These conditions of quantitative historical data for contextualizing suggest low-quality habitat. Radiocarbon dating: modern animal populations and patterns of Pellets submitted for radiocarbon dating (13C, 14C) landscape use. Fortunately, naturally occurring from 40 sites returned calibrated dates throughout bone accumulations record many aspects of animal the 20thC and as old as <1904CE. Ages of many communities across extended durations (up to sites did not correspond to field-based estimates. 10^3 years). Bone accumulations of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) may be particularly informative of historical landscape use because females grow antlers, which are shed during calving (male and 150 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 non-pregnant female antlers are shed post- genetics is poised to provide a more refined mating). Using museum collections of caribou skulls understanding of physical attributes of landscapes and antlers, and bone surveys of modern calving that influence genetic structure and diversity grounds (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska), patterns within species. This presentation will this study tests (1) if gender of fragmentary antler provide an overview of landscape genetics analysis remains is quantitatively distinguishable, and (2) if approaches and highlight their utility for arctic calving grounds produce concentrations of conservation planning. The field is primarily shed female antlers and neonatal skeletons. concerned with identifying habitat attributes and Results show that adult caribou gender can be features that promote gene flow and organismal discriminated using measurements of the pedicle movement across landscapes, and therefore aligns surface (skull attachment). Bone surveys reveal particularly well with major objectives of many that calving grounds host abundant shed female conservation planning activities. antlers (up to 10^3/km^2). Compared to other bone assemblages, caribou calving grounds contain high ratios of neonatal:adult skeletal remains. Bone and antler accumulations are distributed Monday, July 16 Deforestation Beyond Borders: nonrandomly among habitats, indicating Addressing The Disparity Between Production And preferences during calving. Bone accumulations Consumption Of Global Resources * record landscape use at multiple scales and provide Mills Busa, Julianne , Smith College/ Scb Wgeess a tool for studying historically important regions Identifying and understanding the underlying and habitats, and contextualizing patterns drivers of deforestation is an issue of great observed today. conservation concern, particularly given the implications of forest conversion for both biodiversity preservation and carbon sequestration. This study utilizes data on wood Wednesday, July 18 11:40 Landscape Genetics extraction, one of the direct drivers of For Conservation Planning deforestation, to explore the underlying Miller, Mark*, U.S. Geological Survey relationships in global patterns of wood production The field of Conservation Genetics has an and consumption across different income groups. established history of providing information to In doing so, I ask for whom deforestation is being facilitate conservation and management planning. undertaken and challenge the notion that poverty Using well-characterized genetic markers and DNA drives forest loss. Evidence from 176 countries sequence data, conservation geneticists have for worldwide reveals that consumption by low- decades been identifying genetic structure patterns income countries results in forest losses primarily in threatened and endangered species. Results of through the use of domestic fuelwood, whereas investigations have provided key information about rich countries practice preservation within their the existence of subspecies-level entities through borders but appropriate resources from poorer the identification of evolutionary significant units, countries to sustain consumption. I further distinct population segments, or management consider whether these relationships can be units. Though useful, outcomes of such reshaped by changes in technological factors investigations only provide course-grained (either via increases in efficiency or through the information about genetic structure and the spatial use of fuelwood alternatives). High efficiency, distribution of genetic diversity. Little insights are though coincident with wealth, does not mitigate gained that may help identify factors that promote the effects of high consumption. Together, these the maintenance of genetic diversity within units findings suggest that both technological fixes and themselves. To this end, the field of landscape 151 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 national policies are insufficient means by which to Monday, July 16 Improving Biodiversity And preserve global forests. Ecosystem Resiliency Through Removal Of Invasive Species In Coastal Dunes Minnick, Sarah*, Point Reyes National Seashore , Parsons, Lorraine, Point Reyes National Seashore Tuesday, July 17 11:00 Advancing Science For Point Reyes National Seashore preserves some of Eagles And Wind Energy Development the last remaining high quality coastal dune habitat * Millsap, Brian , U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service in the United States. However, this habitat is The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) threatened by the rapid encroachment of two supports responsible renewable energy invasive, non-native plant species, European development, but is also charged with beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria) and iceplant implementing many federal laws that protect (Carpobrotus spp.). Over 70% (1,000 acres) of the wildlife. Wind energy projects can cause mortality park’s dunes is dominated by these species. The or disturbance of bald (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) Abbott’s Lagoon Coastal Dune Restoration project, and golden (Aquila chrysaetos) eagles, which are initiated in 2011, is restoring natural coastal dune protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle processes and functions in a 300-acre area by Protection Act (Act). The FWS has implemented removing up to 110 acres of European beachgrass regulations under the Act that allow for issuance of and iceplant. Invasives removal will not only permits to unintentionally take eagles at wind expand habitat for two endangered plant species, facilities, provided such take meets the but may improve nesting success of threatened Congressional standard in the Act that permitted snowy plover by eliminating predator habitat. In actions do not risk preservation of both species. addition, it will improve resilience of the dunes by The Service interprets the preservation standard to allowing them to shift in response to changing sea mean that we cannot issue permits (singly or in levels and sediment supply. The first phase of the combination) that would cause irreversible declines restoration project was very successful in in eagle populations There is considerable eliminating invasives. Pre-restoration data on uncertainty over (1) the population status of the vegetation and topographic changes, as well as golden eagle; (2) how much take can be authorized numbers of federally listed plants and plovers, will without violating the preservation standard; and be compared with post-restoration data to (3) the degree of, and factors influencing, risk to determine whether restoration is successful in eagles at individual wind development projects. increasing biodiversity and population viability. The FWS, in cooperation with other federal and Preliminary monitoring found endangered lupine state agencies, has developed guidance for making seedlings germinating in 18 of the 80 acres eagle permit decisions in an adaptive resource restored. Plovers also established several nests management framework. We hope the processes near the restored foredunes, with one fledging the described in the guidance will adequately protect highest number of chicks recorded in years. eagles without unnecessarily restricting wind development, and over time, that they will reduce uncertainty in all three areas. This talk will review current FWS guidance and the adaptive Wednesday, July 18 3:40 Effects Of Protected management framework that is being Areas On Poverty In Peru implemented for this program. Miranda, Juan Jose*, Inter-American Development Bank / Georgia State University , Diaz, Ramon, Insituto De Estudios Peruanos Protected areas are commonly applied in developing countries to protect biological diversity 152 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 and ecosystem services, yet there is little empirical When taking salamanders into captivity for study, evidence on their effects on socioeconomic disinfection to prevent the spread of Bd is required, outcomes in adjacent areas (e.g., monetary but it is also important not to eradicate their incomes, non-monetary incomes, poverty). A ambient epidermal microflora which may serve as better understanding of these effects, and the a natural defense against infections. Almost no mechanisms through which they arise, can foster information is available regarding the epidermal the legitimacy and sustainability of protected areas microflora of the spotted salamander, nor have policies. This study evaluates the effects of studies been conducted that evaluate how those protected areas on socioeconomic outcomes in microbes respond to different disinfectants. In this Peru. Peru has 96 protected areas, representing study, three antimicrobial agents were evaluated 14% of the total land surface. Using the National for their ability to affect the functional diversity of Household Survey (2007 – 2009), which identifies the epidermal microflora of 5 captive-held spotted households' geographic locations, we estimate the salamanders at Clarion University. Epidermal socioeconomic effects of Peru's protected areas on washes were collected from each salamander and adjacent communities by applying a non- each wash divided into quarters. Each quarter was experimental statistical design. Specifically, we use either treated with Vorinconazole, Amphotericin B, matching methods to pre-process the data and F10 Biocare Disinfectant, or left untreated then estimate simple differences and regression- (control). Each treatment from each salamander adjusted differences in mean socioeconomic was then inoculated into Biolog™ EcoPlates which outcomes between communities near and far from are 96-well test plates that allow rapid protected areas. We distinguish protected areas by determination of the metabolic capabilities of the type of activity allowed in each protected area microbial communities. Differential utilization of (direct use, indirect use) and use three different the carbon sources in the wells by the introduced measures of adjacency to define communities microbial community results in respiration- affected by protected areas: the park's officially dependent reduction of the dye in the well and designated buffer zone, and buffers of radius 3km purple color formation producing a metabolic and 5 km. Moreover, our detailed household finger print that can be used to assess community- surveys permit a better understanding of the level structure and function. We hypothesized that mechanisms through which protected areas affect all three antimicrobials would decrease functional the poor in Peru. diversity compared to the control and also predicted that as the most broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent, the F10 Biocare treatment would reduce or alter the functional diversity most. Monday, July 16 Assessing The Effects Of Disinfectants On The Microbial Community Structure Of Spotted Salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) Using Biolog? EcoPlates Wednesday, July 18 4:20 Evaluating The Effect Mitchell, Heather* Of Protected Areas On Poverty In Indonesia Some of the greatest losses in amphibian Miteva, Daniela* , Pattanayak, Subhrendu, Duke populations are the result of chytridiomycosis a University skin disease caused by fungal pathogen Establishing protected areas (PAs) is widely seen as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Chytrid fungi the primary intervention for halting habitat are aquatic and amphibians such as the spotted degradation and preserving ecosystems. PAs also salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) are not only affect livelihoods by restricting extractive activities excellent candidates for contracting the disease but within their boundaries and by generating tourist also transporting the fungus to uninfected areas. revenue. However, we still have a poor 153 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 understanding of the effectiveness of PAs at ecological impacts are not yet understood. We protecting ecosystems and of their impact of present an analysis of the housing growth, livelihoods (Ferraro et al, 2012). Recent studies demographic trends, and amenity characteristics using credible identification strategies to isolate associated with these projects in Colorado, a state the causal impact of conservation policies have where more than half of all counties (n=33) have shown that protected areas can have a significant adopted regulations specific to conservation and heterogeneous impact on poverty and development. We found that counties with environmental outcomes. Using a multi-year panel regulations were those with more housing units dataset on the subdistrict level for all of Indonesia, and larger populations, as well as higher rates of our paper focuses on the heterogeneity of PAs housing and population growth from 2000-2010. impact on poverty as a function of the baseline We found no significant patterns between the characteristics of the area. Controlling for the presence of clustered development regulations and endogenous placement of protected areas, we find a county’s natural amenities, or status as a that on average subdistricts with protected areas recreational or retirement county. Additionally, the experienced less poverty between 2000 and 2006, number of projects per county and houses per with the estimates varying according to electoral project varied widely. Preliminary analyses show participation, forest dependence and ecological that clustered development houses or lots range degradation at the baseline. Our results have from less than 1 percent to up to 18 percent of important implications for the selection of new housing units per county from 2000-2010. We appropriate locations for rapidly emerging and conclude with discussion about the potential social somewhat controversial “REDD+” projects and, and ecological effects of conservation thus, have direct implications for both conservation developments, as a new but increasingly common and climate change mitigation policies. type of rural residential development

Tuesday, July 17 3:45 Housing Development, Wednesday, July 18 4:30 National Park Service Demographic Trends, And Amenity Characteristics Monitoring At The Landscape Scale Associated With Conservation Development In Monahan, Bill*, National Park Service Colorado National parks are typically islands of protected Mockrin, Miranda*, USDA Forest Service, RMRS , lands, strongly influenced by surrounding Reed, Sarah, Colorado State University , Pejchar, landscapes and other broad-scale environmental Liba, Colorado State University , Ex, Lindsay drivers like climate change. Major landscape-level Over the past several decades, people’s monitoring projects in the NPS Inventory and preferences for living in small towns and near Monitoring Program include: NPScape – monitoring natural amenities, together with increasing landscape dynamics of national parks; PALMS – affluence and workplace flexibility, led to Park Analysis and Landscape Monitoring Support; widespread residential development in rural areas and LCCVP – Landscape Climate Change of the United States. Concerns about the Vulnerability Project. These projects are designed environmental effects of low-density rural to address two key questions: how are the natural development have led some to advocate for systems, conservation context, and human drivers conservation developments, where individual lot changing around parks, and how do these sizes are smaller, housing is clustered, and open landscape dynamics combined affect park space is preserved within the development. resources? This presentation describes where Conservation development projects are NPScape, PALMS, and LCCVP fall along the increasingly common, but their socioeconomic and surveillance – targeted monitoring continuum. It 154 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 also uses results of select indicators (e.g., climate, UNAM , Suzan, Gerardo, UNAM land cover, human population) and areas of The study of pathogens in endangered species like analysis (e.g., protected area centered ecosystems) the black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) to illustrate how results inform park management is critical to understanding host-parasite dynamics in an era of climate change. Although the indicator and the factors involved in its prevalence. This will development process involves consideration of give us more and better tools to develop landscape-scale hypotheses, the resulting conservation management plans and ensuring the indicators share more affinity with characteristics maintenance of prairie dog populations in the long of surveillance monitoring. Moreover the utility of term. Therefore, this study aims to determine this distinction is unclear for monitoring addressing parasite load in black-tailed prairie dogs northwest such large spatiotemporal scales and management of Chihuahua are associated with extension of units tasked with protecting such a wide variety of colony, density, proximity to human settlements, resources. sex, age and weight. We captured a total of 266 PLCN in eleven colonies sampled in 2009. We analyzed 3,654 from 251 individuals: Pulex simulans (1,986), (1,340) Wednesday, July 18 9:45 Using Immersive and Oropsylla hirsuta (328). Species of mites found Imagery And Stories To Create A More Vibrant was Androlaelaps farenhoizi and ticks of And Inclusive Freshwater Conservation Movement Ornithodoros turicata. In each colony, we * Monroe, Jeremy , Freshwaters Illustrated calculated prairie dogs density, distance to nearest The inhabitants of freshwater ecosystems are human settlement, species richness, composition inherently difficult to observe and have long been and load fleas. We used analysis of correlation under-represented - and often misrepresented - in between ecological variables studied and total load popular imagery. Freshwater organisms are also fleas. We found one vector borne for Yersinia among the planet's most imperiled fauna, and few pestis. We found an vector borne for Yersinia have broad public constituencies of conservation pestis, bacteria who has been responsible to local support. I argue that sharing powerful imagery and extinction of prairie dogs colonies in USA. The most science-based stories through media are not only diversity fleas was found in colonies near to human key to gaining broader public interest in freshwater settlements and in larger colonies the total load conservation, but in fostering a freshwater fleas was lower. conservation movement that can be more scientifically literate and useful as a monitoring force. I will share several examples from our current media projects and public awareness Tuesday, July 17 11:30 Demographic And campaigns, and describe how we seek to engage Environmental Drivers Of Population Growth Or the science and conservation communities in these Decline Of The Rare Plant Penstemon efforts. albomarginatus In The Shadow Of Energy Development Moore, Kara* Proposed utility-scale solar developments across Monday, July 16 Ecological Effects On Vector the Mojave and Sonoran deserts of California will Borne Diseases (Fleas) In Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs significantly impact special status plants. Among (Cynomys ludovicianus) In Janos Biosphere these, the herbaceous perennial Penstemon Reserve, Chihuahua, Mexico. albomarginatus, White-margin beardtongue, is * Montiel, Ana , UNAM , Acosta, Roxana, UNAM , restricted in California to a narrow habitat North of Montiel, Griselda, UNAM , Ceballos, Gerardo, the Pisgah Crater in the Central Mojave Desert; the 155 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 majority of this habitat is slated for solar apply in the oceanic realm, the success of pelagic development in 2012. As part of an ongoing study, marine protected areas will depend on both the we explored the use of population demographic mitigation of direct threats to species within MPA models to evaluate population demographics boundaries, as well far beyond boundaries, a based on 11 years of data on several daunting challenge. Successful management of subpopulations in the Pisgah vicinity We aimed to these protected areas also requires a detailed address the following questions: 1) how sensitive is understanding of complex ecosystem interactions the population growth rate (lambda) to different such as those between seabirds, pelagic fishes and estimations of seedling recruitment? 2) what commercial fisheries. Monitoring pelagic species demographic life stages make the greatest differs greatly from many coastal species, but is key contribution to the population growth rate? 3) how to understanding pelagic MPA effectiveness. is the population growth rate affected by Recommendations also included identifying new herbivory? We constructed a stochastic model cost-effective techniques for monitoring, based on demographic and environmental data surveillance and enforcement of pelagic and used it to explore the effects of varying vital ecosystems. The scientists suggested focusing rates on the population trajectory with and without efforts on identifying and protecting key places hypothesized impacts by energy development. We where species concentrate to feed, mate, spawn, found that although seedling recruitment was a calve, rear young, and along migratory routes and highly sensitive life stage, the population growth bottlenecks, recognizing that pelagic ecosystems rate responded more rapidly to survival of plants in are dynamic and moving. the largest size classes. Population growth was strongly tied to annual precipitation. Herbivores radically impacted P. albomarginatus seedling survival, seed production, and adult mortality. Monday, July 16 Local And Regional Patterns Of Protection from herbivory at the establishment and Atmospheric Nitrogen Pollution In Greater San reproductive stages, particularly in dry years, is an Francisco Bay Area Serpentine Grasslands * important component of a mitigation or Morozumi, Corinne , UC Santa Cruz , Vallano, restoration plan for this special status species. We Dena, Environmental Protection Agency , Zavaleta, discuss the implications of disturbance by energy Erika, Environmental Studies Dept. development and potential mitigation strategies The nitrogen (N) cycle is being altered dramatically that may promote on population viability. by human activities such as fossil fuel combustion and fertilizer application. Increased human-derived reactive N deposition to sensitive ecosystems is known to alter the structure, function, and species Wednesday, July 18 9:30 Future Directions In composition of these systems. Serpentine Pelagic Conservation And Management : grassland ecosystems, hotspots of regional native Highlights From IMCC Think Tank biodiversity in central coastal California, are Morgan, Lance*, Marine Conservation Institute thought to be impacted detrimentally by increased In recent years several large marine protected N deposition, but N deposition rates on fine areas (MPAs) containing vast pelagic realms have temporal and spatial scales have not been been designated. Despite this trend there is a lack established in these systems. For 12 months we of information available for pelagic protected area used passive samplers across four Bay Area management. A recent workshop of marine serpentine grassland sites to measure multiple scientists provided recommendations for managers species of dry N deposition: nitrogen dioxide on key considerations for pelagic ecosystems. (NO2), nitric oxide (NO), ammonia (NH3). We found While many strategies for managing coastal MPAs up to a 17-fold difference in the total N 156 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 concentrations among the four sites that Wednesday, July 18 4:30 A Landscape Genetics correlated with urbanization, proximity to Approach For Conservation Planning In The roadways, and location in relation to prevailing Context Of Landscape Change winds in the Bay Area. Within sites, concentrations Murphy, Melanie*, University Of Wyoming , Funk, decreased up to threefold with distance to W. Chris, Colorado State University , Muths, Erin, highway. We also observed seasonal differences in USGS , Evans, Jeffrey, The Nature pollutants, with higher input rates of most N Conservancy/University Of Wyoming species occurring in the cooler winter months Landscape genetics is a powerful approach during the growing season. Total N deposition for combining landscape ecology and population the year was 12 kg/ha/yr at Coyote Ridge Reserve, genetics that can produce robust estimates of thus exceeding a critical load for invasion in these functional connectivity on a time-scale relevant to grasslands (5 kg/ha/yr), illustrating the potential conservation decisions. Despite the potential, for regional N pollution to transform these genetic data have rarely been applied to evaluate historically N-limited ecosystems. potential impacts of climate change or alternative conservation plans. Fort Collins Natural Area Program (FCNAP) is a municipal organization charged with managing and expanding a reserve Wednesday, July 18 11:15 Putah Creek, program within and around Fort Collins, Colorado California: Story Of A Reconciled Ecosystem USA. Primary goals of the management plan are to * Moyle, Peter , University Of California maintain amphibian populations within the FCNAP Putah Creek is a typical California stream, dammed, and to acquire new reserves that will be beneficial diverted, leveed, and full of alien fishes. Local to these populations. To assist FCNAP in meeting citizens, UC Davis, and the City of Davis sued for management goals, we assess probability of restoration of flows to bring back its value for occurrence and functional connectivity (estimated recreation, aesthetics, and teaching, resulting in a by genetic distance) for boreal chorus frogs ‘natural’ flow regime, starting in 2000. The flows (Pseudacris maculata; 15 microsatellite loci, 36 have resulted in recovery of native fishes, followed locations, 471 samples) using gravity models. We by native plants and birds. The Settlement then use these models to predict the effect of Agreement resulted in establishment of a Stream alternative management scenarios (protection Keeper, who keeps track of monitoring, , leads and/or restoration of explicit habitats) on boreal restoration projects , and serves as a liaison chorus frog occurrence and connectivity in the between the water agency and citizen groups. As a context of continued urbanization and climate result, Putah Creek is now a local center of aquatic change. Our results suggest that roads, urban and terrestrial biodiversity with active citizen development, agricultural development, high involvement in its management. Its recovery is a temperatures (dd5), and isolation impede basis for restoration of the San Joaquin River. functional connectivity while protected (FCNAP) Today the creek is a narrow ribbon of habitat in an and moist areas (CTI) are associated with enhanced agricultural landscape. Putah Creek is a harbinger connectivity (? AIC 4.18). We rank the importance of future reconciled ecosystems in California, of spatially explicit habitats for maintaining or where human use is intense, alien species are restoring functional connectivity, incorporate abundant, and citizen-based efforts are essential to development risk and identify areas where bypass maintain a novel ecosystem that supports native structures may be most effective. The novel species. analytical framework and tools developed for this study can be applied in any system for utilizing genetic data to evaluate management scenarios.

157 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Tuesday, July 17 3:15 Climate Change And the operating costs of game ranches are believed Terrestrial Habitat Conservation Plans: Concerns to be high and the variability in size and And Approaches sophistication of operations can mask the true Murphy-Mariscal, Michelle*, Center For comparative advantage of sustainable wildlife use. Conservation Biology, University Of California This paper assesses the incentives for game Riverside , Allen, Michael, Center For Conservation ranching on private land using observed rancher Biology, University Of California Riverside behaviour. Manager interviews and farm financial Climate change is already occurring. The rising records were used to compile a case study of eight temperatures, projected to be from 2?C near private game reserves in Limpopo province and coastal regions to 5?C in inland deserts, affects Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) methodology was vegetation structure and composition. The stress used to determine the economic profitability and events associated with both a mean increase in competitiveness. Results show that game ranches temperature and increasing variance will drastically were both financially profitable and economically affect the persistence of threatened species and efficient. However, the policy and market lead to additional species of concern. We need to environment imposed a net tax on wildlife take these changes into consideration in designing, producers, arising primarily from land, labor and implementing, and managing conservation plans. capital markets. The ranchers faced a net These include use of niche modeling or climate disincentive that reduced net profits by 14% to envelope modeling to facilitate both locating core 88%. The results are indicative of the diversity in areas and incorporating migration corridors into the game ranch sector and the unseen penalties the design. These include both elevational and that wildlife based land use face relative traditional latitudinal information. Finally, perturbations agricultural production systems. ranging from solar developments to nitrogen deposition need to be explicitly integrated into conservation planning and management. Even supposed green approaches may, in fact, Monday, July 16 The Feasibility Of Water Quality contradict the goals of future biodiversity Markets For Rangelands In California's Central sustainability. In extreme cases, this may require Valley * the development of novel restoration techniques Musengezi, Jessica , Alvarez, Pelayo, Defenders Of or even constructing designer ecosystems for Wildlife , Ogg, Clayton conserving species. California has more than 18 million acres of rangelands, much of which are privately-owned and managed for livestock production. These rangelands provide several ecosystem services Wednesday, July 18 9:30 Economic Profitability including clean water, wildlife habitat, watershed And Policy Of Game Ranching On Private Land: A protection, open space and mitigation to climate Case Study Of Game Ranching In Limpopo change. However, land conversion for urban Province , South Africa. development and intensive agriculture is resulting Musengezi, Jessica* , Racevskis, Laila, University Of in the loss of these valuable ecosystem services. Florida , Child, Brian, University Of Florida Water quality markets are one option that allows Wildlife based land provides an alternative land use regulated entities to cost effectively meet water option in semi -arid areas of southern Africa where quality standards, while providing landowners with traditional agricultural activities of livestock rearing financial incentives to adopt water quality and crop cultivation are challenged by the harsh enhancing conservation practices and discourage agro- climatic conditions. Although game ranching land conversion. This study used literature review, has been found to generate significant revenues, stakeholder workshops and interviews to compare 158 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 existing water quality trading programs in the U.S., each ecoregion. Comparisons of amphibian habitat identify successful program design features, and quality under present and projected LULC scenarios assess applicability to rangelands in California’s showed reductions in the amount of amphibian Central Valley. Results show that (i) there are habitat of 19 to 40% if all CRP lands were returned several key factors in designing successful to crop production. Habitat losses of this programs, including stakeholder participation, low magnitude could have devastating effects on NGP transaction costs, science-based monitoring amphibians. Even at our lowest conversion rate programs and the availability of technical (i.e., 25%), habitat losses and potential effects on assistance to land-owners; and (ii) there are amphibians were still substantial. rangeland conservation practices that can improve water quality and provide environmental co- benefits. Overall, rangelands are a viable source for water quality credits, but with limited regulatory Tuesday, July 17 4:00 Community-Based drivers, voluntary markets, such as source water Conservation And Human Health: Effects Of protection programs, may provide an alternative. Communal Conservancies On HIV/AIDS-Related Behaviours Of Rural Households In Namibia Naidoo, Robin*, World Wildlife Fund Conservation initiatives, including community- Tuesday, July 17 8:30 Effects Of Land-Use/Land- based conservation efforts, are touted by some as Cover Change On Amphibian Habitat In The having strong beneficial effects on human Northern Great Plains livelihoods, and by others as being detrimental to Mushet, David*, U.S. Geological Survey , Neau, the well-being of those affected. Despite these Jordan, U.S. Geological Survey , Euliss, Ned, U.S. polarized views, scant evidence exists for either Geological Survey contention, especially evidence from the rigorous Land-use/land-cover (LULC) across North America impact evaluation methods that have recently is rapidly changing in response to social, political, been introduced to conservation scientists. Here, and environmental influences. One major change we evaluate the impacts of Namibia's Community- occurring within the United States is the return of Based Natural Resource Management program on conservation plantings associated with programs behaviours that are related to the risk of infection such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s and spread of HIV/AIDS. We used data from Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to agricultural household health surveys conducted in 2000 and production. This LULC change is being driven 2006 to assess whether changes in these primarily by high commodity prices, especially for behaviours over time are affected by whether biofuel feedstocks. Worldwide, amphibian respondents live inside or outside of communal populations have been declining with a primary conservancies. We constructed matched causal factor being habitat loss resulting from LULC comparison groups to control for the fact that change. To investigate the potential effects of LULC socioeconomic characteristics of households in change on amphibian habitats, we used the GIS conservancies are likely to systematically differ based Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services from those of households outside of conservancies. and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model to simulate the We then used logistic regression to quantify the conversion of various proportions of CRP plantings effects of (1) year, (2) inside/outside conservancy, to croplands across three ecoregions, Northern and (3) their interaction, on 12 HIV/AIDS related Glaciated Plains, Northwestern Glaciated Plains, behaviours. The temporal trend in behavioural and Lake Agassiz Plain, within the northern Great responses was different inside of conservancies Plains. Projected scenarios focused on CRP versus outside for only 3 of the 12 variables, with conversion rates of 25, 50, 75, and 100% within the direction of effect mixed. These results suggest 159 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 a largely neutral effect of community-based Monday, July 16 10:15 The Coastal Resilience conservation in Namibia on HIV/AIDS-related Framework: Identifying Multi-Benefit Strategies health behaviours. For Adaptation And Threat Abatement Newkirk, Sarah*, The Nature Conservancy Of California Estuaries are among the most ecologically rich and Monday, July 16 11:30 High Impact complex areas on earth, providing critical habitat Management For A Small Endangered Annual Forb for birds, fish, and many other species. Many (Clarkia franciscana) In Oakland Ca estuarine watersheds are also places of dense * Naumovich, Lech , Creekside Center For Earth human habitation. If conservation projects in Observation , Niederer, Christal, Creekside Center estuaries and adjacent lands are to succeed, they For Earth Observation , Quenelle, James, Creekside need to reconcile the objectives of land use and Center For Earth Observation , Weiss, Stuart, other human activities with conservation Creekside Center For Earth Observation objectives. Coastal Resilience is a framework Presidio clarkia (Clarkia franciscana) is a diminutive developed by The Nature Conservancy that serpentine endemic restricted to two populations encourages and supports analysis and visualization in the SF Bay Area. The Serpentine Prairie (Oakland, to identify multiple benefit solutions to critical CA) is a small remnant outcrop of serpentine soils environmental problems. It does this through that supports many rare and endemic plants science, decision-support tools, partnerships and including Presidio Clarkia. This area has been highly policy: • Advance the science of some facet(s) of a modified over the past 50 years with tree plantings threat or resource; • Promote extensive and nitrogen deposition. Our restoration work stakeholder engagement to identify the local risks seeks to increase Clarkia habitat and numbers at and values, and understand the threats to coastal the Prairie. We have experimented with spring ecological, social and economic assets; • Promote mowing to reduce annual grass and thatch, fall the development of decision-support tools to raking to reduce thatch, and tree removal to visualize multiple resources, threats and alternative increase open grassland habitat. After three years strategies; • Encourage the collaborative of spring mowing, total non-native cover decreased examination of options and advance multi-benefit from 45.8% to 23.5%, annual native forb cover strategies. The Nature Conservancy developed the increased from 5.5 to 21.0%, and thatch decreased Coastal Resilience framework for climate change from 23.8 to 4.5%. Spring mowing has dramatic adaptation planning. However, in California, we are visual effects with the increase in colorful native using the framework to provide a unified approach forbs. In tree removal plots, Clarkia increased from to collaborative conservation in estuaries, with 184 to 810 individuals in one year due to passive three different conservation themes: climate recruitment. Tree removal created public interest change, conservation of nursery habitat, and in the project which contributed to restoration restoration of estuaries for salmonids. We will success. Fall raking had little effect on plant describe the genesis of this conservation planning composition, but significantly increased bare approach, and its evolution. ground and reduced thatch. Our results (biologically and aesthetically) recommended utilizing rotational spring mowing on a larger scale.

160 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Wednesday, July 18 3:15 Citsci.Org: entails the potential to implement actions designed Cyberinfrastructure Support For Grassroots to promote these objectives of sustainability and Conservation, Citizen Science, And Community- maintenance. Conservation programs should Based Monitoring represent informed decision processes that Newman, Greg*, Natural Resource Ecology incorporate at least 5 critical components: Laboratory , Masching, Amy , Mueller, Megan, objectives, potential actions, models (of system Rocky Mountain Wild , Scarpino, Russell, NREL response to actions), monitoring, and some sort of Citizen science and community-based monitoring decision algorithm (e.g., optimization). Monitoring conservation programs are increasing in number of system state and other focal variables serves 4 and breadth, generating volumes of scientific data. well-defined roles in conservation: (1) estimation Many programs are ill-equipped to effectively of system state for state-dependent decisions, (2) manage these data. We built a cyber-infrastructure determination of the degree to which objectives support system for citizen science programs are being met, (3) estimation of system state for (www.citsci.org) to support the full spectrum of the purpose of learning, and (4) estimation of program management and data management model parameters. Specification of these roles needs. The system affords program coordinators facilitates the design of monitoring programs, the opportunity to create their own projects, increasing the probability that they will be useful manage project members, build their own data and provide the needed information. Note that this entry sheets, streamline data entry, visualize data tailoring of monitoring programs to specified on maps, automate custom analyses, and get objectives does not preclude use of resulting data feedback. Thus far, CitSci.org has engaged 34 for other purposes. Climate change carries several programs resulting in some 7,000+ natural challenges for conservation programs and each of resource observations. The majority of programs their components. Modifications to monitoring are grassroots efforts with conservation biology- programs in response to climate change may oriented goals and objectives. For example, The include: inclusion of additional climatic and/or Front Range Pika Project engages citizen scientists land-use variables in order to inform models of in conservation research on the American pika nonstationary change, use of reduced-effort (Ochotona princeps). Volunteers follow protocols monitoring to detect areas of range expansion and to collect data about pikas and their habitat in high contraction for focal populations, and inclusion of altitude sites, thereby assessing the impacts of dynamic rate parameters needed to model climate change on pika populations. Here, we transient system dynamics. Common arguments discuss the unique opportunities afforded by against the use of targeted monitoring are CitSci.org to support the needs of citizen science, considered. community-based monitoring, and grassroots conservation biology programs to connect people, nature, research, and climate. Wednesday, July 18 8:50 Decision-Making Triggers In Adaptive Management And Resources Planning Wednesday, July 18 3:30 Monitoring For Nie, Martin* Conservation Natural resource agencies often approach adaptive Nichols, James*, U.S. Geological Survey management in a way that prioritizes flexibility, Monitoring for Conservation Conservation typically discretion, and expedited decision-making. Such focuses on sustainability and the long-term approaches can make it difficult to hold agencies maintenance of natural systems or components of accountable. Decision-making triggers are pre- such systems. As an active endeavor, conservation negotiated commitments within an adaptive 161 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 management or mitigation framework specifying butterflies to Edgewood Preserve in Redwood City. what actions will be taken, and when, based on This species appeared extirpated in 2003. monitoring information. Triggers help bound Restricted to serpentine grasslands, its host plants adaptive management processes by providing were overrun by nonnative annual grasses, which more certainty that particular actions will be taken took hold due to the fertilizing effect of nitrogen by agencies in the future. The political and legal deposition from adjacent Highway 280. Research context of adaptive management and its identified spring mowing as a successful application by U.S. federal agencies is first management tool. In 2007, 1000 larvae and 12 provided. The research consists of case studies of adults were introduced. Unfortunately this was the high profile adaptive management plans that fourth driest year since 1895. Only one larva was include triggers. Examined are how triggers are found the next year. Multiple reintroduction efforts designed and what is contentious about their use. were deemed appropriate to increase chances of Rather than adaptive management, adaptive meeting favorable establishment conditions, and to mitigation is a more accurate way to describe these encourage sedentary butterfly behavior by cases. Another recurring theme in these cases is increasing the number of individual encounters. In the limited enforceability of monitoring 2011, 4000 larvae and 24 adults were introduced. commitments and triggered mitigation actions. Surveys found ~6 times more adults after this Enforceability is contingent upon several factors, larger attempt, and early 2012 results noted larval but, if they choose to, agencies can design triggers presence. Mission blue butterflies became so that they are enforceable and promote learning. undetectable at Twin Peaks in San Francisco. Triggers also bring to the fore a number of long- Mapping showed 97% of host plants were one standing scientific and political considerations species, a lupine subject to fungal dieoff in warm about monitoring. Some interests want triggers to and wet springs. Other host species and corridors be used in a more precautionary way in order to of nectar sources were planted to increase acknowledge diminished ecological baselines and resilience. 22 adults were introduced in 2009, and to prevent the crossing of ecological and regulatory 60 in 2011. Adults and larvae have been found thresholds. Though not without challenges, well- each year. In 2011, 295 eggs were found, the designed triggers can be used as a way to improve highest number ever recorded onsite. It appears implementation of adaptive management in its butterfly reintroductions can be successful when complicated political and legal context. The paper conducted over multiple years into appropriately concludes with recommendations in how triggers restored habitat. can be effectively used in the context of adaptive land and resources planning by federal and state agencies. Wednesday, July 18 8:45 ESRI'S Ocean Initiative Noll, Guy*, ESRI , Wright, Dawn, ESRI Increasing threats to our planet’s oceans such as Monday, July 16 Two Listed Butterfly Species carbon loading, plastics, non-point source Have Been Reintroduced To Historical Bay Area pollution, invasive species, and shipwrecks create Habitat multiple paths to failed ecosystems. Mapping these Niederer, Christal*, Creekside Center For Earth and other threats in the context of mankind’s Observation , Naumovich, Lech, Creekside Center growing needs is a first step towards understanding For Earth Observation , Quenelle, James, Creekside how to collaboratively address the threats with a Center For Earth Observation , Weiss, Stuart, diverse, cross-discipline team. Oceanic usage Creekside Center For Earth Observation patterns, once mapped, also provide critical input One reintroduction has brought Bay checkerspot to proper utilization of ocean resources. To assist 162 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 public and government entities with understanding has had Biodiversity and Ecological Forecasting their role in ocean management, Esri has funded programs that have funded numerous projects the development of SeaSketch, a new tool to build with academic, non-profit, for-profit, and other optimized geospatial decisions through active U.S. federal agencies. Despite such advances, many engagement with all stakeholders. As completed by conservation biologists and natural resource the UC Santa Barbara team that created managers are unfamiliar with the contributions of MarineMap, the tool enables marine spatial NASA-funded science and applications to planning on local, regional, national and global biodiversity research and conservation biology. scales. Esri is also working with Conservation Here, we provide an overview of the Biodiversity International and National Center for Ecological and Ecological Forecasting Programs and highlight Analysis and Synthesis at UC Santa Barbara to several projects with a North America focus. These improve the visibility and utility of the Ocean activities have both advanced our fundamental Health Index. These data can be integrated into a understanding of biodiversity patterns and variety of basemap products now available in processes and have developed tools that inform ArcGIS Online to visualize humanity’s impact. Esri policy and management decisions. continues to build other web data layers to provide a context for geospatial planning. New Esri maritime technologies are improving marine research data management and increasing Wednesday, July 18 11:45 Seabird Hotspots In visualization speed of high-density bathymetric The California Current System: Multi-Species data sets. By combining marine research and Modeling To Support Marine Spatial Planning * commercial data in novel ways, Esri will continue to Nur, Nadav , Jahncke, Jaime , Howar, Julie, PRBO build tools to enable scientific insight into oceanic Conservation Science , Veloz, Sam processes and bring rational thought and We developed predictive models to identify areas geodesign to the marine field. supporting seabird foraging aggregations (“hotspots”) and so inform marine spatial planning in the California Current System (CCS). We modeled 16 species using at-sea observations Tuesday, July 17 9:15 Biodiversity Research And collected between 1997 and 2008 throughout the Conservation Biology From Space: NASA's annual cycle. Collaborators provided survey data Biological Diversity And Ecological Forecasting extending from Vancouver Island to the US/Mexico Programs border and up to 600 km offshore. Predictive Nunez, Cassandra*, AAAS Science and Technology models included bathymetric variables (e.g., Policy Fellow, NASA , Turner, Woody, NASA , proximity to land), oceanic habitat types (e.g., Leidner, Allison, NASA Earth Science Division continental shelf-break), and remotely sensed data The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (e.g., sea-surface temperature). Predictions were (NASA) is a research and development agency that applied to the CCS for each season in each of 11 has a mandate to promote “the expansion of years. Single-species predictions were then human knowledge of the Earth” derived from the combined to identify potential seabird hotspots 1958 Space Act that established the agency. In the using three criteria: 1) overall abundance, 2) last decade alone, NASA has supported ~ $15 importance of “core areas”, and 3) predicted billion of research and technology developments persistence. Predicted hotspots often aligned with that have advanced our understanding of the currently protected areas, but we also identified atmosphere, cryosphere, oceans, carbon cycle, and potential hotspots (e.g., in Southern Oregon) that ecosystems via remotely sensed airborne and may warrant additional protection. We also satellite observations. For almost a decade, NASA demonstrate the use of Zonation, software for 163 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 spatial conservation prioritization, which has the Wednesday, July 18 4:15 Monitoring Birds At potential to incorporate economic and other Regional Scales: Will Migratory Bird Joint Venture considerations to identify priority sites for multiple Monitoring Be Useful In Predicting Effects Of species. Modeling seabird aggregations provides a Climate Change powerful tool to identify marine hotspots and, O'Brien, Lee* , Dratch, Peter when combined with information on specific Migratory Bird Joint Ventures (JVs) have been threats and economic constraints, assist marine involved in cooperative, regional scale, spatial planning at multiple spatial scales, in the conservation planning for birds for over two CCS and elsewhere. decades. As part of conservation planning, some have also been conducting regional scale inventory and monitoring (I&M) of focal bird species. These monitoring efforts would be classified somewhere Tuesday, July 17 4:00 Climate Change between long-term, omnibus surveillance Adaptation For Fire Management monitoring and hypothesis testing, targeted * Nydick, Koren , Sequoia & Kings Canyon National monitoring. This monitoring commonly consists of Parks , Schwartz, Mark, University Of California At short term (1-2 years) surveying of a few focal bird Davis , Sydoriak, Charisse, Sequoia & Kings Canyon species over large geographic regions. The purpose National Parks of this type of monitoring is to discern local and Federal managers are challenged to adapt fire landscape scale habitat associations, distribution, management strategies to a future of and abundance of focal birds across regions. The unprecedented change and uncertainty where management objectives of these efforts are to restoring natural fire regimes may no longer be learn how habitat conditions affect bird numbers appropriate or possible. In the Southern Sierra and distribution, and to target management Nevada, managers and research scientists are towards improving habitat conditions for particular facing climate change head on with a hybrid bird species. Some JVs have taken a further step to process that incorporates elements of scenario test the effects of managed sites compared to planning, vulnerability assessment, and a climate control sites on particular bird species. With change adaptation toolbox. In the first phase of the stepped-down climate change predications of project a science-management team identified landscape effects, these types of monitoring priority resource values, described plausible future methods can be used to predict how changing conditions, and examined key vulnerabilities. Next habitats will in turn affect particular bird we defined limits of acceptable change and populations. proposed short and long term resource objectives. To identify specific management action options, we applied general climate change adaptation strategies (resist change, increase resilience, Monday, July 16 Best Management Practices For prepare to react, and realign response) to Solar And Wind Energy Development: A projected conditions outside the limits of Conservationist's Guide acceptable change. Using a spatially explicit O'Connor, Amy*, Wild Utah Project , Jones, Allison vulnerability assessment, locations on the , Vasquez, Emanuel landscape were selected as possible sites to Best Management Practices provide science-based experiment with these actions. Lastly, we described criteria and standards that land managers and indicators to monitor success and allow us to learn conservation planners follow in making and from mistakes. In this presentation I will describe implementing decisions about human uses and this process with examples and discuss lessons projects that affect our natural resources. BMPs learned from this approach. are usually developed based on legal obligations, 164 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 pragmatic experience, and institutional practices, behavioral observations and GPS, this study and should be supported by the best available gathered data on the foraging ecology of camels scientific knowledge. Up to now, conservation and giraffe to try to understand whether there are advocates lacked a comprehensive set of science- indicators of overlap in resource utilization. Female based Best Management Practices they could camels actively browse from ground level up to 3 systematically bring to land managers, renewable meters, while giraffe range spans 1.1 - 4.8m. energy developers and the public process that are Camels browsed most intensively between 0.7- designed to minimize the adverse impacts of wind 1.5m, while giraffe at 2.4m. However, giraffe and solar energy development projects on wildlife showed sexual dichotomy, with males browsing and wildlife habitat. This document draws from most often between 3.6 - 4.8m, and females most over one hundred other scientific studies, frequently between 1.1 - 2.1m. Excluding grasses renewable energy development guidance and forbs, camels most frequently browsed on documents and other published BMPs in order to Acacia brevispica. Giraffe most often ate Acacia bring the best conservation science to the process mellifera. Feeding heights corresponded to of wisely choosing wind and solar energy sites, as vegetative structure, but giraffe do not feed at the well as permitting, construction and operation of highest neck extent given the opportunity. Camels renewable facilities destined for wild places. These are constrained in where they browse by their BMPs are organized according to the needs of sage herders, covering 8km with browsing orbits grouse, raptors, other birds, bats, general wildlife radiating 2.2km from the boma. Camels overlap in (not covered by the first 5 categories), and feeding heights with female giraffe, and feed on soil/vegetation/site hydrology. Within each of seven of the same species. These results show that these categories the BMPs are broken down into camels utilize similar habitat and will overlap with siting BMPs, pre-construction/planning BMPs, giraffe for resources. construction BMPs, and monitoring BMPs. These BMPs also offer guidance on how to address renewable energy development within the context of public land-use planning. This document should Monday, July 16 A Roadmap For Action: The offer sound guidance for all stages of wind and National Fish, Wildlife, And Plants Climate solar energy development in the West, and offer Adaptation Strategy * pathways for development that are “smart from Ocana, Melissa , U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service , the start” for wildlife and their habitat. Shaffer, Mark, U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service The National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy is a response to the novel challenges resulting from climate change. In 2010, Monday, July 16 Comparative Foraging Ecology Congress urged the Council on Environmental Of Reticulated Giraffe And Domestic Camels In Quality and the Department of the Interior to Laikipia, Kenya develop a national adaptation strategy to promote O'Connor, David* species resilience to climate change impacts. The The reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis resulting Strategy is a framework for unified action reticulata) have fallen in number from perhaps by natural resource managers and decision-makers. 30,000 a decade ago to about 5,000 today. Giraffe The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic are thought to be able to coexist with traditional and Atmospheric Administration, and the New York pastoralist livestock. However, domestic camels Division of Fish, Wildlife, and Marine Resources co- (Camelus dromedarius) are increasing in stocking led this effort with assistance from the Association levels in Laikipia, Kenya due to their ability to resist of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. A Steering drought, and premium milk prices. Using Committee comprised of representatives from 16 165 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 federal agencies, five state fish and wildlife our natural resource and conservation analysis is agencies, and two inter-tribal commissions guided critical to the development of adaptation strategies the process. The Strategy focuses on seven primary for these natural and cultural resources. Goals, stepped down into a series of Strategies and Actions, to reduce the vulnerability of fish, wildlife, plants, and the ecosystems they rely on. Additionally, background papers on the eight major Monday, July 16 9:15 Estimating The Resilience ecosystems of the U.S. were developed with expert Of Freshwater Habitats In The Northeastern technical teams. This poster will summarize the key United States * points that arose in developing the Strategy. Olivero Sheldon, Arlene , The Nature Conservancy , Anderson, Mark, The Nature Conservancy Ecosystem resilience is the ability of an ecosystem to retain essential processes and structure in the Wednesday, July 18 12:20 Assessing The face of disturbances like climate change. Resilient Impacts Of Climate Change On Our Natural And systems will continue to sustain high levels of Cultural Resources: Climate Information And biodiversity and ecosystem function, even as their Techniques Useful To Managers. species composition changes. We hypothesized Ojima, Dennis*, NREL/Colorado State University that that the resilience of freshwater systems can Climate affects a number of key environmental be characterized by six elements: lateral aspects. Observations indicate that climate change connectivity, water quality as shaped by is affecting landscape stability, coastal landscapes, surrounding land cover, and instream flow regime species migrations, ecosystem services, and are (condition variables) and complexity of the stream associated with large scale habitat changes. network, linear connectivity, and the diversity of Understanding these changes from climate changes geophysical settings (diversity variables). We and anticipating how climate change may affect mapped each element for every connected stream the environment and ecosystem processes in the network (miles of stream bounded by dams or future are important aspects adaptive upper headwaters) in the Northeast and Mid- management strategies. The ability to manage for Atlantic to develop a comprehensive assessment of resilience and to strengthen conservation efforts resilience across the region’s freshwater systems. under changing climate conditions in complex Results identified 346 networks that were terrain is difficult without climate information at composed of at least five stream or lake sizes, with the appropriate scales. A1km daily down-scaled 211 of those networks scoring above the mean for climate data set was created for the Western variables related to both condition and diversity. A mountain regions of USA. We present here analysis seventh element, access to groundwater, was not from the Colorado Rockies to demonstrate the used because fine-scale regional data sets were not ability to evaluate local coping strategies and available assessing impacts of climate change in these mountain systems. This 1km multi-year daily climate data set provides a 1980 to 2003 baseline to link to scenario output from the NCAR’s Monday, July 16 11:30 Emerging Infectious Community Climate System Model (CCSM) and Diseases In Amphibians And Reptiles: The Role Of other general circulation models. Statistical down- Partners In Finding Solutions * scaling methods developed in the 2000 National Olson, Deanna , U.S. Forest Service , Nanjappa, Climate Assessment based on VEMAP project and Priya at NCAR were used to create the 1km data set for Population die-offs begin as a mystery, with the the Western US. Use of these climate projections in roles of scientists and managers becoming 166 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 intertwined as they explore causes and actions to on their lives, livelihoods and ecology. It has forestall losses. A prime example is the enigmatic colonized extensive areas in Marigat District and amphibian decline phenomenon – sites that were this has highly weakened their economic base by full of frogs have become eerily empty. Globally, colonizing pasturelands, farming areas and scientists have studied multiple potential causes of waterways in the area and displacement of native declines, their partners in the zoo community species of socio-economic importance.The locals developed emergency procedures to retain rare lack sufficient information on alternative measures stocks, and natural resource managers have for control and management. The main aim of the assisted with development of on-the-ground study was to assess the challenges and prospects of abatement plans. The description of a fungal sustainable management of Prosopis juliflora in pathogen that can infect members of the entire Marigat District. The objectives of the study were vertebrate class has led to improved global (1) To establish the socio-economic livelihoods of communication of science –management efforts. A the communities in Marigat District, (2) To assess second pathogen is now implicated in some the impacts of Prosopis juliflora on bio-physical and amphibian die-offs, and die-offs in other vertebrate socio-economic environment of Marigat District, classes including turtles. A world mobilization of (3) To evaluate the measures undertaken to scientists is accelerating coordinated knowledge manage and control of P.juliflora(4) To explore discovery relative to this new emerging infectious alternative investment options for Prosopis juliflora disease. In our overview of herpetofaunal health products. The study sought to use the information issues, we outline the complex trajectories gathered to prepare a planning matrix for between disease discovery to species conservation, sustainable management and control of Prosopis and describe the novel roles international juliflora in the district. Field visits were made by the partnerships are taking. Ultimately, a shifted focus research team and interviews, focused group from cause to solution is occurring, with a new lens discussions, observation and photography on assisted adaptation processes so that afflicted conducted to gather information. This was species may persist again in the wild rather than in achieved by use of questionnaires for households glass boxes in perpetuity. and institutions, observation guides and interview schedules. Cluster sampling was used to map out areas along identified transects from which households were selected using simple random Tuesday, July 17 3:30 Challenges And Prospects sampling. Purposive sampling was used to select For Sustainable Management Of Prosopis Juliflora institutions to be interviewed. Indicators such as (Sw.) DC In Marigat District, Baringo County, agriculture and pastoralism practices in the area Kenya were used to identify the socio-economics of the * Omondi, Samson , Kenyatta University , Mariita, area. Negative impacts of the plant were Richard, Portland State University , Makori, David , determined by using indicators such as blocking of Muriuki, Gerald, Kenyatta University , Muya, river channels, poisonous thorns that prick animals Joshua , Munguya, Eliud, Kenyatta University , and people, loss of animals and pasture land to the Mwangi, Lawrence, Kenyatta University , Ocholla, plant and bushes used as hiding places for cattle Gordon, Kenyatta University , Kirui, Alan, Kenyatta rustlers. Indicators for positive impacts include University , Nyaoro, Wilson, Kenyatta University , control of water and wind erosion, provision of Opinde, Godwin, Kenyatta University shade, soil improvement and nitrogen fixing by the Despite the benefits of Prosopis juliflora to the plant. Management and control measures environment and economy, the local communities practiced in the districts include commercialization in Marigat District in Kenya are becoming of Prosopis juliflora products, the ineffective policy increasingly concerned about its negative impacts intervention, land tenure which is being looked 167 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 into, use of fire as a traditional method, mechanical produce leading to food insecurity in the district. removal using power saws, manual uprooting of The district has some irrigation schemes which are seedlings of the weed and chemical application instrumental in improving the state of food which is expensive to the residents of Marigat security. Over 70% of the population depends on District. However the respondents indicated that agriculture for their income. However, the rainfall they prefer a combination of fire, mechanical, pattern in the area is erratic and has led to farmers manual and chemical methods to control the weed making great loses which affect greatly the spread. Prosopis juliflora has a high investment communities livelihood. The estimated potential potential in selling of charcoal, pods for cattle feed, land for irrigation in Kibwezi is 2219 hectares while provision of forage, construction materials. It is only 769 hectares is utilized. The main aim was to being used as herbal , provides tannins, investigate the potentials for the development of dyes and fibre and its flowers provide nectar for irrigated agriculture in arid and semi arid lands of bees to make honey and wax. Most of the Kenya, Kibwezi district and specifically to examine respondents and residents were of the idea that the potentials for promoting irrigated agriculture the weed be well managed than eradicated and ASALs and to provide an assessment of this is evident from the many advantages it has environmental issues associated with the compared to the disadvantages. development of irrigation schemes. Samples for the study included 140 farmers of which 120 practiced irrigated agriculture while 20 farmers who were used as a control sample practiced rain Monday, July 16 Potentials For The fed agriculture. Key informants from relevant Development Of Irrigated Agriculture In Arid And institutions in the district were interviewed. The Semi Arid Lands Of Kenya, Kibwezi District research instruments used included household and * Omondi, Samson , Kenyatta University , Opinde, institution questionnaires to solicit for information Godwin, Kenyatta University , Mariita, Richard, from farmers and officials in the district. The Portland State University , Ocholla, Gordon, research findings showed that irrigated agriculture Kenyatta University , Mwangi, Lawrence, Kenyatta has relatively high potential in Kibwezi which has University , Kirui, Alan, Kenyatta University , black cotton soil and rivers that can be used as Nyaoro, Wilson, Kenyatta University sources of water taking advantage of the The Arid and Semi Arid Lands (ASALs) of the world topography which allows water supply by gravity. make up over 40% of the earth’s surface of which As a result of continued water use for irrigation over one billion people depend for their purposes, the areas hydrological balance and river livelihoods. ASALs are home to the world’s poorest flow regimes have been drastically affected. and most marginalized people. In Kenya, the ASALs Increase in soil salinity has been caused by solutes occupy over 80% of the country and host about 10 applied to the soil in the form of artificial and million people while 20% of the land is classified as natural fertilizers as well as some pesticides which medium to high potential agricultural land. These cannot be utilized by the crops. The nature of soils areas have the lowest development indicators and and type of irrigation in use (furrow irrigation) the highest incidence of poverty. The economy of coupled with a gently sloping terrain in Kibwezi the country is mainly dependant on agricultural expose the soil to erosion agents such as water, activities which contributes 24% of the GDP and wind, human activities and livestock. The local 65% of export earnings. In addition, the sector residents complained of prevalence of water borne provides the livelihoods of over 80% of the Kenyan diseases such as bilharzia, typhoid, filariasis and population and their food security. Kibwezi district malaria. It was recommended that there should be falls in the ASAL region of Kenya and is involvement of communities in water resource characterized with low productivity in agricultural management, distribution and equitable sharing 168 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 within the scheme. There is need for the Tuesday, July 17 10:15 Climate Change And The government to support farmers associations American Public: Differences In Belief And especially with regards to loan provision, recovery Attitude Among Zoo-Goers In The Presence And of lost assets and capacity building. Absence Of Themed Exhibitry Owen, Megan* , Danoff-Burg, James, San Diego Zoo Global , Reinbold, Megan, San Diego Zoo Global Wednesday, July 18 10:15 Evaluating We characterized the support of zoo visitors to Opportunities To Promote Recovery Of Coho genuinely engage with global climate change (GCC) Salmon Through Habitat Restoration: A Case messaging and determined whether GCC-themed Study From The South Fork Ten Mile River, exhibitry improves receptivity to this messaging. California We used the fully validated survey tool designed by * Orr, Bruce , Ligon, Franklin, Stillwater Sciences , the Climate Literacy Zoo Education Network to Porter, Daniel assess visitors’ cognitive, attitudinal, and The South Fork Ten Mile River basin was used as a behavioral predispositions toward climate change, test case for evaluating the potential for targeted and also to describe their attitudes and beliefs habitat restoration actions to increase coho salmon regarding wildlife, nature, and conservation populations in central and northern California. Our actions. We examined the effects of GCC-themed approach is based primarily on reestablishing exhibitry on visitors’ attitude towards climate natural processes, coupled with direct habitat change by comparing data from the San Diego Zoo restoration actions where necessary, to achieve (with GCC exhibitry) and the San Diego Zoo Safari self-sustaining populations. We begin by using a Park (without GCC-themed exhibitry). We collected conceptual model to analyze existing watershed survey data from 1,000 randomly-selected adult data with regard to identifying habitat constraints visitors at both facilities. Data from other most likely to limit survival at key life stages. We Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited then develop hypotheses about how a basin’s land- institutions suggest that zoo-goers are more use history and geomorphic and ecological receptive to climate change messaging than the characteristics might cause such factors to limit general public. We evaluated receptivity populations under current conditions. Focused differences between visitors to our two facilities field studies coupled with a landscape-scale and determined how effective GCC-themed population model are then used to evaluate the exhibitry is at changing attitudes. Results suggest potential population benefits of different that more frequent visitors tend to be more restoration scenarios and compare them to current receptive to GCC-themed messaging, as are those and likely historical conditions. Recovering this that use smart phones. As visitors age, they tend to coho population is a regional priority and our be more receptive to GCC-themed messaging as results suggest that winter refuge habitat is limited. well. As expected, visitors to GCC-themed exhibitry Restoring low-gradient floodplain habitat by show greater concern for the effects of GCC. This creating off-channel areas (side channels and research will enable us to more effectively develop alcoves) and adding large wood to create in- and communicate educational messages that build channel cover and velocity refuge are cost-effective on zoo-visitors’ values and emotional connections and proven means of increasing winter rearing with animals and plants and inspire actions that habitat, and sites suitable for such treatments exist have a positive collective impact on climate in the lower basin on properties owned by change. conservation-minded landowners.

169 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 11:15 Local Cultural Models Of enhancement and the marketing and sale of ranch Conservation And Organization Legitimacy: A properties. Carl Palmer, the principal and founder Comparison Across Scales of Beartooth, will share an on the ground Packard, Jane*, Texas A&M University , Weeks, perspective of the reality of launching an Priscilla, Houston Advanced Research Center , entrepreneurial conservation development Paolisso, Michael, University Of Maryland, College venture, including the many challenges and Park opportunities associated with developing a Communication with stakeholders adjacent to strategy, raising capital and executing a plan. He protected areas may be shaped by expanding will provide a practitioner’s perspective on CD’s circles of influence at local, national and successes and failures as a product in the international scales. In this paper, we examine the marketplace, its risks and potential returns, its extent to which three conservation organizations image in the eyes of investors, and the effects of one local, one national and one international, the economic downturn and today’s uncertain working in East Texas, variously integrate local economic climate on the prospects for CD as a cultural models of conservation and scientific conservation tool. theories into their programs. We hypothesized that the local level organization, whose members were primarily from East Texas, would construct conservation programs that speak to local cultural Tuesday, July 17 3:00 Weed Profiling: A models of land and conservation and the non-local Molecular Phylogenetic Approach To Darwin's organizations, with mandates crafted outside of Naturalization Hypothesis In * the region, would actively promote conservation Park, Daniel , University Of California, Davis , science. We found the opposite to be true. We Potter, Daniel, University Of California, Davis discuss the reason for this seeming contradiction in Invasive species have major ecological and terms of the need for legitimacy at different scales economic impacts, making the ability to combined with the particular history of the local understand and predict the invasiveness of species organization. of great import. Rare and endangered species seem to be particularly impacted by invaders, and once exotic plant species are established in a new region, they are frequently proven extremely Tuesday, July 17 4:30 Market Forces At Work: difficult to control. Hence, preventing potential The Current Reality Of Investing In And invasive species from reaching ground zero is the Implementing Conservation Development In The most economically and environmentally desirable United States management method. Here we explore the use of Palmer, Carl*, Beartooth Capital evolutionary distance as a quantifiable measure of Beartooth Capital is a private investment firm predicting invasiveness, using the weedy committed to the restoration, protection, and cosmopolitan family Asteraceae as a model system. stewardship of important ranch properties in the Molecular phylogenies of the thistle tribe, American West. The firm works collaboratively Cardueae, were generated with nuclear and cpDNA with community and conservation groups to find markers, not only including taxa present in CA, but ranches with critical habitat and high value representing the entire diversity of the clade resources and to develop plans for restoration, worldwide. Branch lengths separating invasive and agriculture and appropriate development of the non-invasive exotic taxa from native CA taxa were properties. Beartooth’s portfolio currently includes compared to ascertain whether invasives are more eleven ranches in five states, where the firm is or less closely related to natives than non-invasives actively engaged in restoration, value creation, are. Patterns within this monophyletic group show 170 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 that exotic plants more closely related to natives transformation to salt marsh through are more likely to become invasive, suggesting that establishment by salt marsh plants. pre-adaptive traits are more important than novel traits and/or enemy escape in determining an invader’s success. Such molecular phylogenetic research can further our understanding of Tuesday, July 17 10:00 Unconventional Natural biological invasions, pertaining to developing a Gas Development: Potential Impacts On Wildlife predictive framework for screening potential And Bmps To Ensure Natural Resource Protection * invasive taxa. Patnode, Kathleen , U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service Unconventional natural gas development refers to the use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing into very low permeability geologic Tuesday, July 17 11:15 Improving Watershed formations. Deep vertical and extended horizontal Health Through Large-Scale Wetland Restoration drilling in combination with hydraulic fracturing Parsons, Lorraine*, Point Reyes National Seashore enables oil and gas development of shale Wetlands are believed to play many important formations that were previously inaccessible and functions for both wildlife and humans. However, uneconomical. Throughout and beyond North these functions are lost when wetlands are altered. America, the rapid pace of their development is Tomales Bay lost 50% of its wetlands in the 1940s resulting in major habitat changes in otherwise when a large marsh was leveed for a dairy ranch undeveloped areas including habitat operation. In 2000, the National Park Service fragmentation, noise and light pollution, significant bought this dairy for a 613-acre wetland freshwater withdrawals from streams and rivers, restoration project, which was implemented in surface water contamination from spills and poorly 2007-2008. The Park Service believed that treated discharges, creation of wastewater restoration could not only improve quality of the impoundments, and air quality degradation. degraded wetlands within the ranch, but improve Federal and state natural resource agencies have overall watershed health by increasing habitat for been working through multiple channels to wildlife, as well as improve downstream water develop best management practices to reduce the quality. While Tomales Bay is often viewed as detrimental effects and ensure protection of pristine and is a Ramsar Wetland of International terrestrial and aquatic biota as these natural gas Importance, its waters have been impacted by developments rapidly expand. leaking septic tanks, agriculture, and mercury and are designated as impaired under Section 303(d). To determine restoration success, the Park Service developed an innovative long-term pre- and post- Tuesday, July 17 3:00 A Review Of The project monitoring program that incorporates both Ecological, Economic, And Social Effects Of the Project Area and reference wetlands. Residential Land Development In The United Monitoring in the first three years after restoration States * indicates that many of the improvements Pejchar, Liba , Colorado State University , Reed, anticipated to take decades to occur after Sarah, Colorado State University , Ex, Lindsay , conversion of pastureland to marsh are already Mockrin, Miranda, USDA Forest Service, RMRS , occurring, including substantial reduction in Bixler, Patrick, Colorado State University pollutants in water and soils; dramatic changes in The rapid rise of residential housing development hydrology; changes in the food web structure and has led to the fragmentation of natural ecosystems number and types of wildlife; and rapid and changes in the provision of ecosystem services. Housing developments, however, vary widely in 171 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 density and configuration. Understanding how information, we aim to determine whether it is development design impacts human and natural possible to model abundance based on distribution communities is crucial to thoughtful and data alone. We compiled distribution data for nine sustainable land use planning. We conducted a problematic invasive species in the western U.S. comprehensive and interdisciplinary review to from regional archives, and collected abundance synthesize the state of our knowledge regarding data through a combination of field efforts and the ecological, economic and social dimensions of expert surveys. We compare the climate space of residential land development. We limited our locations where a given species is known to survive review to papers that specifically address how the to locations where it is thriving and find a density, extent, pattern, age and proximity of significant difference. We use the multi-species development influences a variety of biophysical, results to test whether abundance points are economic and social response variables such as located within a consistent subset of occurrence species richness and abundance, ecosystem points, which would suggest that abundance can services, sales price, willingness to pay, attitudes, be predicted from occurrence alone. However, it is health, demographics and equity. 450 empirical clear that regional data collection differentiating peer-reviewed articles published between 1942 high abundance from occurrence would vastly and 2011 met our criteria and were coded by two improve predictions of impact risk. or more investigators. We found that research on this topic is unevenly distributed among ecological, social and economic foci, taxonomic group, geographic location and institutions involved. For Tuesday, July 17 3:45 Spatial Land Management example, most studies included only biophysical To Meet Water Quality Goals While Maximizing response variables and of those, over 90% focused Co-Benefits Across A Suite Of Ecosystem Services * on birds and mammals. This work identifies gaps in Pennington, Derric , World Wildlife Fund our collective understanding of how residential Many areas in the US fail to meet water quality development impacts natural systems and society. standards. Management actions to improve water quality also impact other ecosystem services, both positively and negatively. We developed an integrated approach to analyze how to meet Tuesday, July 17 4:00 Forecasting Plant various levels of water quality while maximizing the Invasions: Can We Predict Impact From net benefits of other ecosystem services in an Occurrence Data? agricultural watershed. We used the SWAT model Pelech, Lori*, Dept. Of Environmental Conservation (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) to predict crop , Bradley, Bethany, University Of Massachusetts , yield, flow, sediment and phosphorus export and Dickson, Brett, Nau/Conservation Science Partners the InVEST (Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem , Finn, John, University of Massachusetts Amherst Services and Tradeoffs) model to estimate market Numerous habitat suitability models have been returns from agriculture production and non- constructed based on invasive species occurrence market values from sediment and phosphorus points, resulting in models of invasion risk defined reduction and from carbon sequestration. We as any location suitable for the species to establish applied these models to an agricultural watershed or survive. However, a more conservation-relevant located in South Central Minnesota to find optimal measure of invasion risk should emphasize landscape arrangements for a range of water environmental conditions where an invasive plant quality goals. Results showed that the current can become abundant, a better predictor of landscape is near the economic optimum and that ecological impact. Since most available invasive market returns from agricultural production species datasets do not contain abundance dominate total economic returns, even when 172 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 ecosystem services such as water quality and principle, 2) the unequal usefulness of information, carbon sequestration are valued. We find that land 3) the persistence of uncertainty, and 4) the use patterns that achieve 50% reductions in shortcomings of short-term perspectives for sediment and phosphorus result in significant redressing problems characterized by large and annual losses in economic returns. However, complex spatial and temporal scales. Science would marginal water quality improvements (10-15% be more useful in governmental decision making reductions in sediment and phosphorus) could be processes if conservation biologists redoubled their achieved with no net loss in market returns. involvement in the political process, including Further, when including ecosystem service serving in elected office. valuation, reductions in sediment and phosphorus on the order of 15-20%, respectively, could be achieved with no net loss of total value. These results highlight the trade offs to achieving water Wednesday, July 18 9:00 The World's Most quality goals while maximizing market and non- Significant Effort To Conserve Imperiled Species market benefits. On Private Land Phillips, Mike*, Turner Endangered Species Fund , Kruse, Carter, Turner Biodiversity Divisions , Mccaffery, Magnus, Turner Endangered Species Wednesday, July 18 8:45 The Ultimate Trump Fund Card: Science Or Politics The primary cause of the extinction crisis is habitat Phillips, Mike*, Turner Endangered Species Fund loss that occurs, mostly on private land, in the Modern societies are challenged by pressing name of development and economic growth. It is problems for which science offers clarity and clear that in the United States most threatened or solutions. From issues as disparate as energy policy endangered species will not be recovered without to endangered species restoration, elected officials the cooperation of private landowners. The Turner are expected to develop sufficient scholarship on Endangered Species Fund and Turner Biodiversity scientific matters to support an informed vote on Divisions were launched in 1997 to illustrate the relevant legislation. This is an especially daunting usefulness of private land for conserving nature by challenge and one that is often not met because ensuring the persistence of imperiled species and politics tend to select for and reward individuals their habitats with an emphasis on properties who possess characteristics (e.g., a willingness to owned by media executive R. E. Turner. Our be ill-prepared, obfuscate, or purposefully mislead) projects are based on a multidisciplinary strategy that are anathema to good science. Consequently, and framed by the principles of conservation legislative bodies lack members who are trained in biology. We work closely with state and federal the sciences. For some issues the lack of expertise agencies, universities, non-governmental with and respect for science creates palpable conservation organizations, and private citizens. tension with political agendas. Since 2006 I have Whether restoring extirpated populations or served in the Montana legislature and have gained managing extant populations our goal is population a perspective that allows me to illustrate through persistence with little or no human intervention. several case studies that too often politics play a We believe that self-sustaining populations greater role in final decisions than science. This illustrate a healthy or at least a recovering tendency leads to passage of legislation that either landscape. Since inception, we have been involved fails to redress the problem or makes matters in restoration projects involving imperiled plants, worse. A greater emphasis on science would birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and mammals in improve the legislative process by at least drawing the continental United States, Alaska, Poland, and consistent attention to: 1) the precautionary Russia. Our projects are original in concept and 173 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 design and have led to landmark breakthroughs for these efforts include the Department of interior’s several species including the red-cockaded Landscape Conservation Cooperatives, the Bureau woodpecker, swift fox, westslope cutthroat trout, of Land Management’s Rapid Ecoregional Chiricahua leopard frog, desert bighorn sheep, Assessments, and the Western Governors black-footed ferret, and Mexican wolf. Our success Association’s Crucial Habitat Initiative. This illustrates the tremendous untapped potential of presentation will highlight the commonalities private land, and of the need to redouble efforts to shared by these efforts that provide an opportunity engage landowners in the fight to save vanishing to develop a collaborative unified conservation species. strategy across the west.

Wednesday, July 18 11:20 Integrating Tuesday, July 17 12:30 Variation In Community- Conservation Priorities And Objectives Across The Assembly Processes Has Important Implications West For Assemblage-Wide Conservation Pierce, D. John*, Washington Department Of Fish Pinney, Tracy*, Baylor University , Gutzwiller, And Wildlife Kevin, Baylor University A major challenge facing natural resource The relative importance of niche (habitat-based) conservation in the west is the lack of a set of and neutral (dispersal-based) processes in agreed upon common conservation priorities and community assembly has received much attention. strategies that define the roles and responsibilities We hypothesized that niche processes were more of state, federal and other partners to act on. Some important than were neutral processes in of the reasons for the lack of a common strategy structuring communities of Texas birds, which we are historic. State and federal agencies each have sampled in the field at 206 sites. We used their own mandates that guide their institutional regression, spatial eigenvectors, and variance culture and associated priorities. Other factors partitioning to assess evidence for niche and include perceptions that mandates compete for neutral processes during 2008 and 2009. For the resource allocation, restricted or specialized overall bird assemblage each year, remotely- funding support, and a culture of doing ‘business as sensed habitat variables accounted for more of the usual’ that often stems from insufficient resources variation in species composition than did spatial that do not allow for creative, proactive efforts to variables, suggesting that niche processes were change this historic paradigm. Unfortunately, consistently more important than were neutral budgets are getting tighter and tighter and processes in structuring this assemblage. For a ecosystem stressors (human population growth subset of species exhibiting long-term population and associated land use changes, climate change, declines, spatial variables accounted for more of accelerated fire regimes, and other disturbances ) the variation in species composition in 2008, and will occur at scales beyond single ownerships or habitat variables accounted for more of the jurisdictions. Given this future, it is critical that a variation in 2009. Thus, in 2008 the relative new paradigm emerges that dissolves political, importance of assembly processes for the overall jurisdictional and geographic boundaries in order assemblage differed from that for the declining to achieve successful conservation. Fortunately species, and the relative importance of assembly several significant cross-jurisdictional conservation processes differed between years for the declining initiatives have recently emerged that are species. Conservation efforts aimed at an entire interested in aligning conservation priorities and assemblage may or may not be appropriate for strategies across a diversity of partners, including subsets of declining species. Repeated assessments State, Federal, Local governments. Examples of of assembly processes are needed to determine 174 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 whether management for entire assemblages will Wednesday, July 18 3:45 Geographic be consistent with processes that underlie the Delineation Of Woodland Caribou Ecotypes In assembly of species subsets. Northern Ontario, Canada Pond, Bruce*, Ontario Ministry Of Natural Resources , Brown, Glen, Ontario Ministry Of Natural Resources , Wilson, Kaitlin, Trent Monday, July 16 Challenging The Wetland Policy University Paradigm: Incorporating Biological Connectivity In Ontario, Canada, the forest-dwelling (sedentary) Into Wetland Conservation woodland caribou ecotype is listed as threatened * Pitt, Amber , Clemson University , Baldwin, Rob , by federal and provincial legislation; whereas the Stegenga, Benjamin, Clemson University forest-tundra (migratory) ecotype, also indigenous Wetland conservation often focuses on distinct to Ontario, is not listed. Other research has aquatic features that fit into particular delineation identified key differentiating behavioral categories based on geophysical characteristics and characteristics; however, discrimination between plant communities. Federal wetland policy does the ecotypes on the basis of morphology, pelage, not protect small, non-navigable, temporally or genetics has not been definitive. We use GPS dynamic wetlands, despite their importance for collar data from 144 animals to examine locational maintaining biodiversity, unless a “significant and movement metrics that might serve as nexus” with a traditional navigable water body is indicators of two discrete behaviors and be established. Determination of a significant nexus consistent with the known characteristics of the falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps two ecotypes. Using the metric that demonstrated of Engineers and is currently largely based on the greatest distinction between ecotypes, we surficial hydrological connectivity. However, if assigned each animal to one ecotype and, by biodiversity conservation is to be a major goal of mapping the distribution of each ecotype, federal wetland policy, biological connectivity delineated management boundaries appropriate requires attention. We used radio-telemetry to for the application of conservation measures. The track three anuran species to assess biological percent of calving season fixes lying within the two connectivity of aquatic features in two index Hudson Bay Lowland ecoregions provided the best landscapes with a variety of water bodies. We discrimination between two caribou movement found that anurans moved among ephemeral and behaviors. Indeed, all but one animal had either permanent aquatic features in the landscape, 100% or 0% fixes in the Hudson Bay Lowlands suggesting biological connectivity of water bodies. during this time. Other variables (e.g. range size Wood frogs, green frogs, and southern leopard and shape, annual path length, minimum distance frogs used a permanent stream, ephemeral to the Hudson Bay Coast) were consistent with this wetlands, emergent lacustrine wetland, and open discrimination. Maps of the distribution of these water. These results support that wetland imputed ecotypes show significant overlap, conservation should focus on protecting a variety particularly during winter, which presents of aquatic features in order to maintain biodiversity challenges for conservation and management of and that biological connectivity can be used to the forest-dwelling ecotype. establish the existence of a significant nexus between small, non-navigable, temporally dynamic wetlands and traditional navigable water bodies.

175 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Wednesday, July 18 9:45 Incorporating Natural Monday, July 16 Dynamics Of Space Use By Processes Into Conservation Priority Setting And Understory Birds In A Heterogeneous Amazonian Strategy Development: A Case Study From Landscape California's North Coast Powell, Luke*, School Of Renewable Natural Porter, Daniel* , Howard, Jeanette, The Nature Resources , Stouffer, Philip, School Of Renewable Conservancy Natural Resources For California’s freshwater environments, Due to widespread regeneration following conservation strategy has shifted in recent years deforestation, Amazonia now contains vast areas away from direct protection and towards the long- of secondary forest, yet its value for wildlife term maintenance and restoration of ecological remains poorly understood. We hypothesized that integrity. Implicit in this change is conserving the birds using young secondary forest with few natural processes that underpin biodiversity resources would have relatively large home ranges however, few conservation planning products or and high movement rates, with metrics of avian programs have demonstrated where and how space use gradually converging on those in primary natural processes are most effectively and forest as secondary growth matures. From 1996– efficiently conserved. For California’s North Coast, 2011, we captured and radio tracked 24 we evaluated and prioritized coastal watersheds Glyphorynchus spirurus, 23 Xiphorhynchus for conservation based on their (a) forest pardalotus and 26 Formicarius colma in primary development trajectory, (b) anadromous salmonid forest and 10–30 year old secondary growth at the restoration potential and (c) estuarine function. All Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project three analyses rely on process-based conservation near Manaus, Brazil. Birds using secondary forest targets (e.g. freshwater inputs to estuaries) to did not have larger home ranges than those in evaluate how these processes will affect traditional secondary growth for any species. Home ranges conservation targets (e.g. wetlands). Forest were similar among treatments, although G. development trajectories reveal where ecological spirurus had significantly smaller home ranges integrity is projected to improve because of within forest fragments, which we speculate was regulated and voluntary harvest practices. The due to release from competition by other salmonid analysis presents a composite index value woodcreepers. X. pardalotus and G. spirurus had that identifies where aquatic restoration strategies higher movement rates when birds used young will lead to the greatest gains in protection of secondary growth. F. colma appeared to take a salmonid diversity at the lowest possible cost. The different strategy, using little or no young estuaries assessment classifies estuaries based on secondary growth, and then appearing in older their key physical and biological processes and secondary growth with movement rates similar to identifies estuaries with climate adaptive potential. those in primary forest. If we can quantify the We conclude from the results that sufficient value of secondary growth to understory birds, we information exists to identify restorable can better focus conservation strategies as watersheds with explicit reference to their secondary forest and small fragments become sustaining natural processes. We present a real- increasingly significant in tropical landscapes. world application of our approach from coastal Mendocino County where resource based industries (e.g. forestry and rangeland management) appear capable of sustaining both ecological and economic viability through time provided that specific restoration actions and management modification are applied.

176 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 12:10 Environmental, habitat type in the United States and they Economic, And Energy Security Advantages Of frequently support multiple nonnative species. We Distributed Solar In The Built Environment Over combined wetland surveys in the San Francisco Bay Utility-Scale Solar Projects On Undevel Area of California with a mesocosm experiment to Powers, Bill*, Powers Engineering examine the individual and combined effects of The Joint Investor-Owned Utility (IOU) California nonnative fish predators and nonnative bullfrogs Energy Efficiency (EE) Strategic Plan places priority on native communities. Among 139 wetlands, on achieving net zero energy residential and nonnative fish (bass, sunfish and mosquitofish) commercial buildings. “Net zero” means the negatively influenced the probability of occupancy structure produces as much energy as it uses over of Pacific treefrogs (Pseudacris regilla), but neither the course of a year. The three IOUs, PG&E, SCE, invader had strong effects on occupancy of and SDG&E, would achieve 45% renewable power California newts (Taricha torosa), western toads by 2020 with no new utility?scale wind or solar (Anaxyrus boreas) or red-legged frogs (Rana projects if the 2020 targets in the EE Strategic Plan draytonii). In mesocosms, mosquitofish are achieved. If the IOUs continue to meet EE dramatically reduced the abundance of Strategic Plan goals, they will hit 65% renewable zooplankton and palatable amphibian larvae (P. power by 2030, and 80% before 2040. However, regilla and T. torosa), leading to increases in California is currently pursuing a renewable energy nutrient concentrations and phytoplankton development strategy that relies primarily on (through loss of zooplankton), and rapid growth of utility-scale remote solar and wind projects. The unpalatable toad larvae (through competitive high cost to ratepayers of utility-scale solar energy release). Bullfrog larvae reduced the growth of projects has become a source of national debate. native anurans but had no effect on survival. These utility-scale projects are also typically used Improving our understanding of the complex to justify high cost, high return-on-investment interactions among native and nonnative species transmission lines that the utilities own and will help inform wetland management decisions operate. Distributed generation resources located and improve our capacity to conserve threatened at the point-of-use provide maximum energy wetland biota. security relative to transmission-dependent remote resources. Mr. Powers will summarize the environmental, economic, and energy security advantages of distributed solar in the built Tuesday, July 17 4:30 Evaluation Of The environment over utility?scale solar projects on Introduction History And Genetic Diversity Of A undeveloped desert sites. Serially Introduced Fish Population In New Zealand Purcell, Kevin*, North Dakota State University , Stockwell, Craig Monday, July 16 Disentangling The Effects Of Reconstructing routes of invasion and Multiple Nonnative Species In California Wetlands characterizing the genetic diversity of invasive Preston, Daniel*, University Of Colorado , populations is crucial to the management of Henderson, Jeremy, Oregon State University , invasive species. The western mosquitofish, Johnson, Pieter, University Of Colorado Gambusia affinis, has been widely introduced from The spread of nonnative species around the globe its native range in the southeastern United States represents a major driver of ecosystem change and as a mosquito control agent. We evaluate the a pressing conservation challenge. Among introduction history of G. affinis, to New Zealand ecosystems, freshwater wetlands are of particular using molecular markers to verify the historical concern because they are the most imperiled record of this invasion, and to evaluate the genetic 177 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 diversity among populations following its serial 1m² experimental plots by the extant population. A introduction to the island. We found strong 30% germination rate yielded 3,111 seedlings, support for the published introduction history, resulting in 2,885 mature plants in June 2010 indicating that New Zealand populations are (census total 3,135 plants). In December 2010, descended from populations in central Texas. 9,000 seeds were placed in 30 new scraped plots, Introduced populations show significant loss of of which 1,416 reached maturity. 3,450 plants were allelic richness (AR =4.55-7.77) compared to the censused in June 2011. Mowing and dethatching founding populations (AR =11.44-12.33). We also continues to improve overall habitat. Though the found evidence that genetic divergence among population increased only slightly from 2010 to introduced population in New Zealand (FST = 2011, fecundity increased from 1.3 to 2.2 whorls 0.0843) is greater than among native source per plant. Introductions to additional sites are populations (FST = 0.002 -0.009). The bottleneck planned. An adaptive management plan was and founder effects resulting from serial created with USFWS with objectives for current introductions in these populations have reduced and introduction sites, and specific management allelic richness but have had little impact on overall directions if objectives are unmet. genetic diversity. Understanding the relationship between introduced and founding populations including the impact of genetic variation on invasion success is crucial to the management and Monday, July 16 Modeling And Mapping Of study of differential success in invasion biology. Plant Diversity In Mexican Watershed Quijas, Sandra*, Centro De Investigaciones En Ecosistemas, Unam , Martínez-Harms, María José, Centro De Investigaciones En Ecosistemas, Unam , Monday, July 16 12:30 Recovery Steps For An Merenlender, Adina , Balvanera, Patricia, Centro Endangered Annual Forb (Acanthomintha De Investigaciones En Ecosistemas, Universidad duttonii) Nacional Autónoma De México Quenelle, James*, Creekside Center For Earth Plant diversity maps, used to highlight priority Observation , Weiss, Stuart, Creekside Center For areas for conservation, are getting more accurate Earth Observation , Niederer, Christal, Creekside as they are not based on field censuses. Yet, no Center For Earth Observation , Naumovich, Lech, information is available on how the spatial patterns Creekside Center For Earth Observation of different life forms or different components of San Mateo thornmint (Acanthomintha duttonii) is a diversity may differ, and thus require different federal and state endangered annual with only one conservation strategies. In this study we model the known population, in San Mateo County, CA. This spatial patterns of four different plant life forms population had 53,000 individuals in 1994, and only and four diversity indices for a small watershed in 249 in 2008. Restoration efforts began to address Mexico. We estimated local plant diversity in fifty Italian ryegrass and thatch cover in 2008. Small- sites along a small watershed. Field estimates were scale experiments in unoccupied habitat used as response variables in multiple regression determined post-germination scraping was the models employing biophysical and management most effective treatment for seeding trials by data as explanatory variables; the best models reducing annual grass cover and thatch, and were used to extrapolate values throughout the increasing bare ground. Seed increase experiments watershed. Our models explained from 30 to 80% conducted by the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden of the observed variance; the most important refined propagation techniques, leading to explanatory variables were normalized vegetation subsequent large-scale seed increases. In index and land use. The spatial patterns of the November 2009, 12,500 seeds were placed in 25 different plant life forms and diversity indices 178 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 differed, though several hotspot locations were Tuesday, July 17 3:30 How Well Can We Predict identified. The results show that the choice of life Wildlife Corridors? Validating Connectivity Models form and diversity index may affect the accuracy With GPS Data From Migrating Elk And Dispersing and prediction of priority conservation areas and Wolverines should thus be taken into consideration in Rainey, Meredith*, Montana State University , conservation planning. Hansen, Andrew, Montana State University Landscape connectivity has become a key focus of conservation biology as natural habitat is increasingly fragmented by human land use. Wednesday, July 18 4:45 Using Conflict Analysis Several approaches to modeling landscape To Identify Opportunities For Progress In connectivity are now frequently relied upon to Endangered Species Conservation identify probable dispersal and migration corridors * Ragland, Chara , Texas A&M University , Bernacchi, and guide conservation planning. However, the Leigh, Texas A&M University , Peterson, Tarla Rai, predictive accuracy of these methods has seen Texas A&M University limited testing against empirical movement data, We explored a socio-political conflict centered on which limits confidence in their utility and confuses wintering grounds of the Whooping Crane to selection of appropriate methods for a given identify opportunities for involving local application. To address these issues, I used GPS communities in management of endangered collar data from migrating elk and dispersing species. Recommendations are based on results wolverines to evaluate the ability of common from 36 semi-structured interviews and a public modeling approaches (least-cost corridor models meeting with approximately 80 attendees. Analysis and circuit theory models) to predict observed indicated that the conflict is rooted in issues of movement routes. While both methods made democracy and uncertainty about the future. generally similar predictions, least-cost corridor Participants agreed on issues of increased models consistently outperformed circuit theory freshwater inflow to the estuarine system as well models, and predictive success was much higher as continued protection of Whooping Cranes. for elk than for wolverine movements. Issues of contention included development of land Furthermore, the form and complexity of adjacent to marshes, critical habitat boundaries, underlying landscape resistance maps influenced habitat management practices, opening of bays to model performance and revealed unforeseen the main Gulf of Mexico, supplementary feeding, differences between connectivity modeling and increasing tourism. All participants wanted an approaches. These findings illustrate that active voice in decisions regarding these issues connectivity model performance depends greatly coupled with increased communication with state on focal species and landscape characteristics as and federal agencies. Future uncertainty was well as selection of appropriate methods for the associated with being powerless to change the application at hand. direction of development and degradation of the environment, which threatens their livelihoods and quality of life. We suggest implementation of participatory processes that provide opportunities for local voices to learn more about the biological needs of the species and influence development and planning in the region. These initiatives have implications for both the greater Coastal Bend ecosystem in Texas and other ecosystems that provide critical habitat for endangered species. 179 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 Multi-Scale Long Term frequenting sub-surface habitats which exhibit Monitoring Of Land Cover Change At The Monarch lower summer temperatures than those above the Butterfly Region, Mexico surface. This behavior may allow pikas to avoid Ramirez, Maria Isabel* , Salas Canela, Lidia, effects of rising summer temperature more readily Universidad Nacional Autonoma De Mexico , than species that do not use such microclimates. Paniagua Ruiz, Ignacio, Comisión Nacional De Thus, it is unclear whether pikas are more Áreas Naturales Protegidas vulnerable to climate change than other species. The emergence of long-term research has been However, it is also unclear whether summer oriented to monitor and tackle most urgent warming is their main hazard. The morphology, environmental problems. It includes permanent physiology and behavior of these non-hibernating monitoring programs able to adapt to both lagomorphs suggest a legacy of selection for technical and scientific advances, and changes in surviving cold winters. Ironically, pikas may now monitored indicators. We present results of a long- face colder winters in places where dwindling snow term monitoring effort of land cover change at the cover exposes sub-surface habitats to ambient monarch butterfly region. For our monitoring, we temperatures. In this study, long-term data on pika have used multi resolution imagery, visual survival in relation to sub-surface temperatures are interpretation, and field verification. We have used to infer climate-mediated trends in a considered two scales of analysis. The regional one, population in south-central Montana. Nineteen that will be carried out every six years, matching years of mark-resight data on 542 pikas indicate a federal government terms, includes 27 lasting decline in survival of first-year territory municipalities that are part of regional Land owners beginning in 1999. Although reduced Management Plans of two states. The local analysis survival in response to (lagged) summer heat and has been applied consistently every three years especially winter cold are supported in these data, since 2000 and retrospectively since 1986. It compensating recruitment has ensured long-term includes the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, stability of this population. Projecting recruitment and its surroundings. Results present differential will be key to projecting effects of climate. land change cover processes according to each scale. At the regional scale outcomes show some changes in agricultural production. While the local analysis shows that natural vegetation has been Tuesday, July 17 3:30 A Comparison Of Land Use progressively decreasing or being disturbed. And Home Sales In Conservation And However, this trend seems to be reversing in Conventional Development Projects * recent years. Reed, Sarah , Colorado State University , Pejchar, Liba, Colorado State University , Laposa, Steven, Colorado State University , Hannum, Christopher, Colorado State University , Theobald, David, Monday, July 16 3:30 Effects Of Microclimate Colorado State University , Ex, Lindsay On Patterns Of Survival In The American Pika Although conservation development (CD) accounts Inferred From Long-Term Data On A Population In for a growing proportion of private land The Central Rocky Mountains conservation and residential development in the Ray, Chris*, University Of Colorado-Boulder US, little is known about its ecological and Recent State and Federal opinions on the potential socioeconomic outcomes. We compiled a database for climate-mediated endangerment of the of nearly 400 CD subdivisions in unincorporated American pika have cited a lack of information on areas of 29 Colorado counties. In five counties, we population trends and on trends in climate relevant also identified comparable conventional to this species. Pikas thermoregulate in part by development projects, located near CD 180 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 subdivisions and similar in total area and case studies of introduced bison and other development yield. We used high-resolution aerial ungulates to review potential management photography to digitize fine-scale land use and land options, and considered the drivers and values of cover within individual lots and protected open the major players in each of these cases. These space, and we applied a detailed database of findings were then applied to the current and residential sales transactions to examine home potential regional bison stakeholders and prices and absorption rates in CD and conventional considered in structured discussions of bison subdivisions. CD subdivisions range in area from 2 management options with individual management to 900 ha, and a mean of 62% of each property is agencies. We surveyed managers to identify points set aside as protected open space. Agriculture is of compromise and agreement, and hosted inter- the most widespread form of human land use, and agency, cooperative meetings to share research the degree of fragmentation by roads and results and facilitate the determination of, and residential development is highly variable among agreement on, mutually amenable management CD subdivisions. Residential properties in CD actions. We propose this model of delineating subdivisions had a sales price 19% greater than overlapping agency management mandates and similar properties in nearby conventional stakeholder values to allow opportunities for subdivisions. The results of this study will be science to inform discussion as an effective method extended to land use planning, conservation, and for addressing many wildlife management conflicts. development practitioners to enhance the effectiveness of CD as a tool for financing conservation and protecting biodiversity and ecosystem services on private lands. Tuesday, July 17 4:30 Natural Community Conservation Plans Are Too Small To Conserve The Biodiversity Of Southern California- Are There Are Solutions? Monday, July 16 Balancing Multiple Mandates Rempel, Ronald*, San Diego Management And And Values To Manage Introduced Bison In The Monitoring Program Grand Canyon Region With the execution of the Implementing Reimondo, Evan* , Sisk, Thomas, Northern Arizona Agreements for San Diego and Orange County University , Theimer, Tad, Department Of Biology, Natural Community Conservation Plans in 1996, Northern Arizona University , Vaughn, Jacqueline, California began an innovative partnership to Department Of Politics And International Affairs, establish and manage an extensive interconnected Northern Arizona University preserve system (multiple large core habitat areas An introduced herd of American Bison (Bison bison) connected by habitat linkages). The goal of the has become a source of management conflict NCCPs in southern California was and continues to between state and federal agencies on the Kaibab be the conservation of the biodiversity of the Plateau of Arizona. As a symbol of the American region. Key components of the NCCPs are (1) West and a species of conservation concern, this creation and adaptive management of preserves herd continues to draw stakeholders of greatly and (2) preservation and restoration of linkages varied perspectives and values to weigh in on the between core blocks of habitat. While planning has debate. Beyond the regional management conflict, occurred at one spatial scale based on political these bison represent broader debates of bison considerations, management and monitoring must conservation and restoration across the public occur at an ecosystem scale if the plans are to lands of the United States. We conducted research going to meet their biodiversity conservation goals. of bison impacts on riparian vegetation to inform Significant progress has been made to address the conflict past a former stopping point, utilized scale issues but major hurdles still need to be 181 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 overcome. Key first steps include the development Riensche, David*, East Bay Regional Park District , of a single database for management and Kitting, Christopher, California State University monitoring data and strategic plans to prioritize East Bay , Groff, Tierra, University Of California funding management and research. Challenges still Davis , Dulava, Sharon, University Of California exist. What steps do the local, state and federal Berkeley , Bell, Douglas, East Bay Regional Park agencies need to take to meet the challenge? Will District they work together improve ecosystem resilience Gull predation is known to be an important source or go their separate ways? of egg and chick mortality for many waterbirds and can have severe impacts on recovery efforts for special status species. From 2005 to 2011, nesting success was monitored at a newly established Tuesday, July 17 3:30 Mapping Marginal Values California least tern (Sternula antillarum brownii) Of Saturating Ecosystem Services colony at Hayward Regional Shoreline in San * Ricketts, Taylor , University Of Vermont , Lonsdorf, Francisco Bay, in relation to implementing a Eric, Chicago Botanic Garden California gull (Larus californicus) predator control Ecosystem service valuations can best inform program. No gull management was undertaken resource decisions if they estimate the economic prior to 2007. We evaluated the effectiveness of impacts of ecosystem change. Here we develop an gull management and removal, by monitoring tern approach to mapping marginal values – those hatching and fledgling success annually. California resulting from the next unit of ecosystem change – gulls were the most abundant aerial predator across landscapes. We fit a recent model of (97%). We recorded 3,769 predatory gull-tern pollination services to an agricultural landscape in interactions and presumptive take of 26 tern eggs Costa Rica, then simulate deforestation events to and 23 chicks. Although gull predatory behavior did predict resulting marginal changes in pollination not change statistically, gull management efforts services to coffee farms. We find that marginal resulted in significant improved tern breeding values vary widely across the landscape and are success (measured by number of nests, eggs, concentrated in relatively few forest parcels not chicks, and fledglings). From 2007 to 2011, this identified using present value approaches. These colony produced a total 242 successful nests and parcels lack substitutes: nearby forest that can 291 fledglings, an average nesting density of 196 supply services in the event of loss. Financial risks nests per ha, and an average of 1.07 fledglings per for farmers from these losses and marginal benefits breeding pair. We discuss difficulties of lethal of forest restoration show similar spatial variation. control of predators, and suggest the importance The approach we develop is applicable to any of human presence for reducing gull predation at ecosystem service, but is most informative for the site. those in which spatial dynamics are important. Combined with information on costs, it can help target conservation or restoration efforts to have the greatest marginal impact on human economies Monday, July 16 12:00 Current Issues Affecting and communities. Gyps Vulture Populations In Assam, India Risebrough, Robert* , Lahkar, Kulojyoti, Wildlife Conservation And Study Centre , Phukan, Mridu Paban, Wildlife Conservation And Study Centre Tuesday, July 17 3:15 Reproductive Success Of The populations of three species of Gyps vultures Endangered California Least Terns In The San have been declined disastrously in south Asia in Francisco Bay, California Resulting From Gull recent years as a result of contamination of Predator Management livestock carcasses with diclofenac and possibly to 182 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 a lesser extent other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti- measurement and accountability, incorporate inflammatory drug)with similar properties. To conservation outcome information? How do know the status and to initiate a long term program goals and the structure of different conservation process for two critically endangered governance networks affect the flow of monitoring vultures (G. tenuirostris and G. bengalensis), a information? Through interviews, document survey was initiated in 2003 and thereafter analysis, and network analysis, we found few surveying and monitoring regularly to know about efforts to monitor program outcomes for wildlife, the factors which are currently affecting their water quality, or forests. Most monitoring and survival. These include destruction of nests and reporting focused on proxy output measures of cutting and thinning of nesting trees; egg collection acres, dollars, and staff time. Connectivity scores for medicinal purposes, hunting chicks and adult for each network revealed gaps in the flow of birds for meat; being killed accidentally by vehicles monitoring data, especially for decentralized and trains while feeding on carcasses on roads and networks, and significant disconnects between railway tracks and, in 2010 – 2011, the deliberate scientists and staff responsible for program design poisoning of carcasses with insecticides to kill and implementation. This research suggests the carnivores. Three-year running averages of the need for integration of monitoring and number of nestings of both species suggest a implementation networks, and a general lack of decline in the order of 50% over the seven year demand for evidence or outcome information, period, with a particularly sharp drop recorded in except at local levels or when driven by external 2010 – 2011. In order to ensure the long-term sources of accountability pressure. conservation of vultures in wild in Assam, we propose: awareness campaigns among local communities to protect nests, nestlings and nesting trees; to use safer drugs in veterinary medicine Wednesday, July 18 9:15 Marine Geospatial instead of diclofenac and other NSAIDs with similar Ecology Tools (MGET): GIS Tools For Open Ocean properties, and to avoid the poisoning of carcasses Research And Conservation * likely to be consumed by vultures. Roberts, Jason , Duke University , Best, Ben, Duke University , Dunn, Daniel, Duke University , Treml, Eric, University Of Queensland , Halpin, Pat Marine Geospatial Ecology Tools (MGET) is an open Wednesday, July 18 4:15 Gaps In Monitoring source geoprocessing toolbox designed for marine And Evaluation Across Centralized And researchers and conservation practitioners. MGET Decentralized Land Conservation Policy Networks includes over 250 tools useful for a variety of tasks, Rissman, Adena*, University Of Wisconsin-Madison such as downloading popular oceanographic , Smail, Robert, University Of Wisconsin-Madison datasets in GIS-compatible formats, identifying Conservation scientists, funders, and practitioners fronts and eddies in satellite images, building are increasingly calling for evidence-based statistical habitat models from species conservation, in which outcome monitoring is used observations and creating predicted habitat maps, to assess and improve conservation programs. To modeling biological connectivity by simulating better understand outcome monitoring in well- hydrodynamic dispersal of larvae, building grids established conservation programs, we compared that summarize fishing effort and catch, and four different land conservation policy networks: a modeling spatial patterns in fishing effort when federal government, local government, nonprofit limited data are available. MGET integrates with land trust, and nonprofit market-based certification ArcGIS and may also be accessed via popular program. We asked, How do conservation programming languages such as Python and R. In programs, and their systems for performance this presentation, we will survey the tools within 183 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

MGET, focusing on recent developments and tools While managers must consider individual rare applicable to problems in the pelagic zone, such as species, information on the needs of the broader tools for querying the Ocean Biogeographic ecological community is crucial for establishing Information System (OBIS) for species balanced approach that sustains biological observations, for working with the newly-released diversity. Chelton et al. (2011) mesoscale eddy database, and for accessing 4-dimensional oceanographic models such as HYCOM and ROMS-CoSiNE, and for building multivariate habitat models for pelagic species Tuesday, July 17 9:30 Seabirds And The using these data as inputs. Adaptive Management Of Marine Protected Areas In Central California Robinette, Daniel*, PRBO Conservation Science , Jahncke, Jaime , Graiff, Kaitlin, Cordell Bank Tuesday, July 17 4:45 Avian Community National Marine Sanctuary , McChesney, Gerard, Responses To Sierra Nevada National Forest USFWS , Roletto, Jan, Gulf Of The Farallones Management: Who Is Covered Under The National Marine Sanctuary California Spotted Owl Umbrella? Adaptive management of MPAs should begin with Roberts, Lance*, PRBO Conservation Science , hypothesis driven questions that help define Burnett, Ryan, PRBO Conservation Science realistic expectations of MPA success. The In the last 20 years, National Forest management in questions should address 1) what community-level the Sierra Nevada has been largely focused on changes are expected to occur as a result of MPA promoting suitable habitat for the spotted owl establishment and 2) how quickly these changes (Strix occidentalis) and other late seral habitat should take place. Here we use the Applied associates. Along with nearly a century of fire California Current Ecosystem Studies (ACCESS) as suppression, this has resulted in increased canopy an example of how multidisciplinary partnerships closure and tree density on the landscape. can shape ecosystem-based adaptive management. Understanding that some species will be “winners” We integrate data from recent studies of seabird and others “losers” if the ecosystem trended diet and foraging distribution, fish larval abundance towards habitat conditions favored by spotted owl, and oceanographic indices to illustrate how we sought to assess how the avian community temporal variability in primary and secondary would respond in order to help guide future forest productivity on the regional scale can translate into management. We estimated point-scale occupancy spatial variability in fish recruitment on the local and species richness inside and outside of spotted scale. The results show that localized recruitment owl home range management boundaries (Core rates are influenced by 1) regional larval Areas) in the Lassen and Plumas National Forests in abundance, 2) oceanographic conditions promoting northeastern California. We used a hierarchical the survival of larvae to settlement age, and 3) Bayesian multi-species occupancy model for 53 coastal topography influencing the delivery of species recorded on 1165 points inside and outside recruits to nearshore habitats. These results have Core Areas from 2005-2006. Estimated species direct implications for developing realistic richness was higher outside the Core Areas than expectations for newly established MPAs. For inside. 12 species had significantly higher instance, MPAs established in larval retention areas occupancy outside Core Areas, while only 4 were will likely show results sooner than MPAs higher inside. Most species negatively associated established along exposed coastlines. Anticipating with Core Areas were tied to early successional and changes within individual MPAs will allow mangers other disturbance-dependent habitats, with many to better understand when management strategies having experienced regional population declines. should be adjusted. 184 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 3:30 Integrated Watershed strategies that would focus on: reclamation and Restoration Program (IWRP): Success restoration of historic freshwater wetlands; Collaboration For Balancing Farming And Wetland improve water quality in the Sloughs and Pajaro Restoration In The Watsonville Sloughs River Lagoon; and maintain viable and sustainable Robins, Jim*, Alnus Ecological farming operations. This presentation will focus on Between 1998 and 2003, the RCD of Santa Cruz both the key strategies used to jump start dialogue County (RCDSCC), the State Coastal Conservancy with our stakeholder community and highlight the (SCC), California Department of Fish and Game current conservation, opportunities and constraints (CDFG), and Central Coast Regional Water Quality to building on these successes. Control Board (CCRWQCB) funded over 15 fish passage, erosion risk assessments, and watershed restoration plans for seven watersheds in Santa Cruz County. Staff from RCDSCC along with its Monday, July 16 The Song Sparrow As A planning partners recognized that implementing Biosentinel For Methylmercury In Riparian Food the recommendations of these assessments and Webs Of The San Francisco Bay Area * plans would be best accomplished by bringing Robinson, April , San Francisco Estuary Institute together federal, state, and local resource and High levels of mercury in the San Francisco Bay permitting agencies to identify the highest priority region pose a threat to local wildlife. Recent projects in the County and assist with locating studies have documented unexpectedly high funding, providing technical assistance, and concentrations of methylmercury in terrestrial facilitating design and permitting. This realization invertebrate-eaters indicating possible risk from led to the creation of the Integrated Watershed exposure via the food web. Such discoveries Restoration Program (IWRP) for Santa Cruz County prompted interest in developing a biosentinel for in 2003. The mission of IWRP is to facilitate and methylmercury in stream riparian food webs of the coordinate projects to improve fish and wildlife Bay Area. The Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) habitat and water quality in Santa Cruz County was determined to be the best riparian biosentinel watersheds using a voluntary, non-regulatory candidate on the basis of its natural history, approach. The Watsonville Sloughs ecosystem is sampling feasibility, and sensitivity to mercury. The recognized as the largest and most significant ability of Song Sparrows to reflect a wide a range of wetland complex between Pescadero Marsh (San mercury concentration in their blood, and to Mateo County) and Elkhorn Slough (Monterey thereby reflect differences in methylmercury risk County), making it a key priority for IWRP. Like between areas, was assessed by sampling Pescadero and Elkhorn, the Watsonville Sloughs individuals from riparian sites across the Bay Area. have been significantly modified through urban Results of this study confirmed the appropriateness and agricultural land-use. The upper Sloughs are of the Song Sparrow as a biosentinel species. within the boundaries the City of Watsonville, Mercury concentrations at the site with the highest which is the fastest growing municipality in Santa risk were associated with a decline in reproductive Cruz County and the lower watershed sits with the success in songbirds of greater than 25%, verdant agricultural floodplain of the Pajaro River. underscoring the need to understand and monitor From its inception in 2003, IWRP has been working methylmercury exposure in these systems. The with a diverse array of public and private riparian biosentinel tool developed here can be stakeholders to overcome historic animosities and used to understand and monitor spatial and focus on identifingpotential win:win solutions in an temporal patterns in mercury condition, long-term effort to develop traction and trust amongst the trends, and the impact of events such as key stakeholders and engender support for management actions. implementing a complex suite of conservation 185 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 11:00 Sylvatic Plague Vaccine; landscaping can retain suitable habitat for wildlife. A New Tool For Conservation Of Threatened And However, in the US, residential landscapes typically Endangered Species consist of maintained lawns with few trees, shrubs, Rocke, Tonie* , Osorio, Jorge, University Of or native plants, which provides poor wildlife Wisconsin habitat. We conducted a study of Raleigh, North Sylvatic plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia Carolina residents (n=180) to determine how pestis, which was introduced into North America educating residents about the wildlife-related about 100 years ago, is a devastating disease of benefits of native landscaping influenced their prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) and the highly preferences for landscaping. We measured endangered black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes). preferences using a 7-point Likert scale, where 1 = Current attempts to control plague rely on strongly do not prefer and 7 = strongly prefer. We insecticidal dusting of prairie dog burrows to kill used paired sample t-tests to determine if the fleas that spread the disease. However, vector landowner preferences for 0, 50, 75 and 100% control is labor intensive and costly, often applied native landscape designs changed after they were too late to be effective, and indiscriminant in its informed about the benefits native plants provide effects. As an alternative, we have developed a for wild birds. Prior to educating respondents, the novel, virally-vectored sylvatic plague vaccine (SPV) 50% native landscaping design was the most that could be delivered via baits to prevent plague preferred and the 100% was the least preferred. in wild prairie dogs. Laboratory studies have Preferences for all 4 native landscaping designs demonstrated that consumption of SPV-laden baits were significantly different after providing effectively protects prairie dogs against plague information about wildlife benefits associated with infection. Field studies to assess the use of SPV as a native landscaping. Neutrality changed to preemptive management tool against plague will opposition for the 0% native landscaping design, begin in selected prairie dog populations in 2012. If while opposition changed to support and neutrality successful, an oral vaccination program could be for the 75% and 100% designs, respectively. The initiated in key locations to decrease the 50% design remained the favorite despite a decline occurrence of plague epizootics in prairie dogs, in support. These findings suggest support for reducing the source of bacteria while avoiding the native landscaping is already much higher than indiscriminate environmental effects of dusting. reflected by typical residential landscaping, and Control of plague in prairie dogs, and possibly that education efforts regarding the benefits of other wild rodents through the application of SPV, wildlife-friendly landscaping can dramatically alter could help stabilize grassland ecosystems, public preferences for native landscaping. significantly enhance black-footed ferret recovery, and achieve additional economic, environmental, and public health benefits. Monday, July 16 The Mangrove Forests Of Mexico: A Nationwide Spatial Distribution Assessment And Establishment Of A Monitoring Tuesday, July 17 4:00 Does Public Education System. About Native Landscape Design Influence Rodríguez-Zúñiga, Teresa*, CONABIO , Troche, Residential Landscaping Preferences? Carlos, CONABIO , Vázquez-Lule, Alma , Márquez, Rodriguez, Shari*, North Carolina State University , Daniel , Valderrama, Luis , Vazquez, Berenice , Peterson, M. Nils, North Carolina State University , Cruz, Isabel , Ressl, Rainer Thurmond, Brandi, North Carolina State University Mangroves are one of the most productive , Moorman, Chris, North Carolina State University wetlands in the world, and have been considered In areas of urban sprawl, appropriate residential as key ecosystems due to the ecosystem services 186 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 they provide. Regarding covering of mangroves, distributions of native and naturalized non-native Mexico is in the fourth place. However, there are plants, creating novel plant communities, and discrepancies between the published estimations. potentially increasing the incidence of useful In order to solve this controversy the aims of this conservation roles for non-native plants. study were to estimate the recent (2005) and Determining the most appropriate response to historical (70´s - 80´s) distribution and extension of those non-natives with apparent benefit will be mangrove forests in Mexico. Estimations were directed by the management objectives—they made with different tools. The recent date reflect the societal values in each situation and distribution and extension were devising with high provide the foundation for evaluating risk and resolution remote sensing data and the historical defining costs and benefits. Although specific ones with aerial photographs. The map accuracy science-based information will not often be (recent) was assessed with aerial photographs available to fully inform the decision, a scientific using a method that employed a systematic perspective can help frame the decision-making sampling through helicopter flights along the process, provide useful principles, and suggest the coastal zone of Mexico. The result is the first most reasonable extrapolation to available reliable national mangrove map for 2005(scale information. Appropriate conservation-directed 1:50,000), with a total area of 7,780 km. The results response to non-native plants requires an adaptive obtained in this project were integrated in order to approach and perhaps a change in traditional develop a National monitoring system, which perspectives, with consideration of the ecological presents three basic components a) The spatial context, evolutionary history, and genetic risks and component, it include the mapping of Mexican benefits. California—with its high levels of mangroves (2005), which include a surrounding biodiversity, threatened and endangered species, vegetation coverage analysis (70´s-2005) and the and current and recent invasions of non-native calculation of indexes (fragmentation and plants—provides many case studies for such connectivity) that will allow to monitor spatial- determination. Rigorous exploration of diverse temporal trends of mangrove. b) The experimental case studies should help natural resource component, will consists in the set of pilot sites to managers better navigate their own decisions and test new and mangrove-adapted indicators develop both short-term and long-term (vegetation index and biomass) that could management responses, if different, that best contribute with the monitoring of mangrove serve their objectives. forests over the time, and c) a social component that will focus in developing some indicators that allow to know the effect of public policy in mangrove conservation. At this moment data Monday, July 16 GIS And Qualitative Methods recorded allow us to develop a base line that will For Conservation Of Andean Bear (Tremarctos be used as a tool to evaluate the impact of ornatus) In National Park Cordillera Azul, Perú * different management decisions on mangroves. Rojas, Roxana Human activities threaten Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) presence across its distribution. It is essential to identify those threats Tuesday, July 17 8:30 Conservation Value Of to establish and direct good conservation projects Non-Native Plant Species: The Science Of for it. The objective is to investigate the influence Exceptions of men in the distribution of the species in Chazuta Rogers, Deborah*, Center For Natural Lands district, part of Cordillera Azul National Park (CANP) Management in Peruvian Amazon. The methodology focused on Rapid climate change is contributing to changing three components: distribution modeling using 187 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Maxent, interview with local people and collect forests and less often in deciduous forest than the spatial information about economic activities. proportions on the landscape would predict. These Through an animal geography perspective joins patterns varied over time, especially during June quantitative and qualitative methodology and GIS and July, and between sexes. Carex pensylvanita, methods. Within the results, is concluded the Berberis thunbergii, and Osmundastrum animal is still present, although are sporadic cinnamomeum, were plant species most often sightings. Potential distribution represents 39% of noted near turtle sightings. Even based on this the study area. These show a natural connectivity small sample size, it is clear that management that between CANP and its buffer zone. But migration preserves a suite of habitat types, particular of and opportunistic hunting are the biggest threats. different forest types, will be important for The first reduce his habitat and affect connectivity conservation of this species in the Oak Openings and the latter provide food (meat and organs) and Region. medicine (fat generally) to local people. Most residents think is a quiet animal that eats “100% vegetables” and is not considered a cattle predator. To future local conservation projects is Tuesday, July 17 9:15 "When You Assume...": important to emphasize that creeks headwater are Transparent Assumptions, Uncertainty, And his habitat. Linking these to water resource as a Conceptual Models Support Decision-Making And single conservation goal lets join efforts in Adaptive Management * preserving natural areas. Rosenfield, Jonathan , The Bay Institute The adaptive management (AM) paradigm is a means of responding to uncertainty regarding the outcome of conservation activities. Uncertainty Monday, July 16 Monitoring The Influence Of A may stem from a variety of sources (e.g., lack of Heterogeneous Landscape On The Movements basic data, competing theories about relationships And Ecology Of The Eastern Box Turtle among system components). In order to implement Root, Karen*, Bowling Green State University , AM in restoration of highly modified ecosystems, Wilson, Steven, Bowling Green State University restoration planners must first document the key Nearly all extant land turtle species are assumptions and uncertainties surrounding experiencing widespread, global decline. The conservation actions. Transparent documentation Eastern Box Turtle, Terrapene carolina carolina, is of these knowledge gaps focuses subsequent no exception. The only place this land turtle can be monitoring and research efforts and facilitates found in Northwest Ohio is in the highly revision of management actions to increase overall heterogeneous Oak Openings Region. Our research efficacy. Communication of uncertainties and focused on the general ecology of this species assumptions (aka, the plan’s “Logic Chain”) helps to locally, especially in regards to movement and site set realistic expectations for plan success and selection characteristics. In particular, identifying implementation among decision makers and the which land cover types are most heavily used is general public. The San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary important in directing conservation and is an ecologically complex environment that has management for this population. We located five been altered (simplified) in myriad fundamental adult box turtles twice a week from May through ways leading to the near extinction of numerous December using radiotelemetry and measured a species. Restoration of this ecosystem involves number of environmental and habitat variables for huge uncertainties and is the subject of each location. Home range size averaged 3.55 contentious debate. I describe three tools used to hectares for the 101 locations. The turtles were document and respond to the rationale for, found more often in floodplain and coniferous expectations of, and uncertainty underlying 188 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 management actions that may contribute to a long- Monday, July 16 9:30 Effects Of Salt Pond term habitat conservation plan for the Bay-Delta Restoration On The Small Shorebird Carrying and demonstrate how application of these tools Capacity Of A South Bay Mud Flat guides both initial plan development and the Rowan, Aariel*, San Francisco State University , overarching AM strategy. Woo, Isa , Lovvorn, James, Southern Illinois University , Takekawa, John , Davis, Jerry A major question challenging the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project is whether migratory Monday, July 16 Restoring Oak Woodlands In waterbirds displaced as existing salt ponds are Southern Oregon: Invigorating Partnerships And converted to tidal marsh can be supported Monitoring On Private Land elsewhere in the region. We calculated the carrying * Ross, David , U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service , capacity of a mudflat adjacent to the SBSPRP, and Cocking, Matthew, Lomakatsi Restoration Project then considered how future changes to that Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana) habitat mudflat may impact the energy budgets of foraging provides life history elements for more than 300 Western Sandpipers and Dunlin. We employed a species of vertebrates; oak habitats in the Klamath- daily ration model to explore how seasonal Siskiyou Bioregion hold some of the highest changes in prey stock effect small shorebird use- biodiversity in the western U.S. These important days. This model evaluates the carrying capacity of ecosystems are threatened by vegetation shifts a study site based on estimates of daily bird energy associated with loss of frequent fire (e.g. conifer requirements, energy content of prey stocks, and encroachment) as well as expansion of human the efficiency with which birds convert ingested infrastructure. On private, non-urban lands, loss of prey to metabolic energy. From August 2009 to frequent fire disturbance due to suppression is May 2010, partners with the USGS Shoals Study accentuated, and many oak woodlands decline collected the data used to populate the model. We following the steady advance of fire-sensitive determined that additional small shorebirds could conifers and increasing tree densities. Restoration be supported on the site during the wintering often involves hand removal of many encroaching period but not during spring migration. In April, conifers, radial thinning of large oaks, and re- prey stocks on the Dumbarton Shoal were only able introduction of fire. Much more science to provide 31% of the energy needed by small development is needed to better understand shorebirds. Large flocks must find prey beyond the changes occurring in oak habitats and improve mudflats, so SBSPRP managers should ensure that restoration and conservation efforts. To meet this foraging habitat remains available within salt ponds demand, our partnership in Southern Oregon has during spring migration. Sea level rise may have initiated monitoring of avian and plant community significant impacts to the foraging availability of responses in oak woodland restoration project intertidal habitats beyond the San Francisco Bay, areas. Our landscape-scale planning approach and this type of modeling may aid managers in involves prioritizing where larger blocks of habitat predicting the effect of habitat loss. exist, identifying and linking corridors, developing partnerships and local networks, establishing science-based oak conservation and monitoring, employment and training of local residents, and partnering on restoration to leverage funding.

189 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 3:30 Pathways To Adaptation- understanding of biotic responses to varying Relevant Vulnerability Assessments: Challenges environments has become important within the And Recommendations context of biodiversity conservation. The American Rowland, Erika L.*, Wildlife Conservation Society , pika (Ochotona princeps) is a climate change Dubios, Natalie S., Defenders Of Wildlife sensitive species that is distributed along elevation Vulnerability assessments are widely considered a gradients in the Coast Mountains of BC, Canada, key precursor to climate change adaptation providing an ideal system for studying adaptive planning at all scales. In recent years, several population divergence, as environmental approaches and guidance documents have been conditions change rapidly over short geographical developed. Fewer resources exist that detail the distances. Here, we investigated the genetic basis challenges of implementing the process in real- of adaptation in pika populations from the Coast world settings. We compare two case studies in Mountains using amplified fragment length which we applied the same species-based climate polymorphisms-based genomic scans, allowing for change vulnerability index tool within different genome-wide searches of adaptive loci among geographical contexts, in Florida and coastal Arctic populations inhabiting varying environments from Alaska. Despite differences in setting, many sea-level to 1500m. Using a conservative approach common issues arose: (1) Questions about the employing multiple algorithms, we identified 23 appropriate scale and unit of analysis; (2) The loci that are candidates for selection. Additionally, importance of capturing and distinguishing among six of these “outlier” loci displayed significant sources of uncertainty; and (3) Stakeholder associations with environmental variables including confidence in the applicability of results for annual precipitation, and maximum summer adaptation planning. Addressing these common temperature. These results represent a novel issues required modifications specific to each application of genomic scans to detect candidate landscape setting and group of expert loci under selection in pikas, providing preliminary stakeholders. The comparison of efforts suggests evidence for adaptive population divergence along that factors such as management and landscape multiple altitudinal gradients. As our ability to context, as well as differences in projected detect adaptive genetic variation within natural environmental change, influenced our decisions populations increases, so does our need to regarding methodological modifications. We consider novel in ways in which this information conclude that climate change vulnerability may be incorporated into conservation strategies. assessments are most effective when approached as part of an iterative management process rather than simply a one-time output, and identify a number of key factors that are likely to affect Tuesday, July 17 8:40 Post-Restoration Plant whether the assessment results will be integrated Community Assembly Patterns On The Giacomini into conservation and management. Wetland Restoration Project Ryan, Amelia*, Point Reyes National Seashore The 600-acre Giacomini Wetland Restoration Project, completed in 2008, offers an opportunity Monday, July 16 Adapting To Climate Change: to examine the way in which plant communities Using Genomic Scans To Detect Signatures Of form after restoration, and to compare restored Selection In American Pika Populations and natural habitats. In some portions of the Russello, Michael*, The University Of Bristish project area pre-restoration plant communities Columbia , Henry, Philippe, The University Of completely died when they became subject to tidal British Columbia, Okanagan Campus action (die-off zone). These areas offer a chance to In the face of predicted climate change, a broader examine the way plant communities form (or 190 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

“assemble”). In other areas, restoration did not Logistic regression models revealed that spadefoot eradicate existing species, but the changed emergence nights were warmer and more humid conditions shifted plant community dominants. We than non-emergence nights. Toads were also found compared the project area plant communities to be much more likely to emerge on a given night assembling in the die-off zone to reference sites to if they had emerged the night before. evaluate its trajectory towards a “desired” future condition. In the die-off zone, overall species diversity is still much lower than the reference site, but it has increased significantly in the three years Wednesday, July 18 12:30 Assessing since year one, with species richness approaching Conservation Success: People, Wildlife, And Parks that of the reference site. We also looked at how In The Albertine Rift * broader measures of plant community function Ryan, Sadie , SUNY College Of Environmental differed before and after restoration throughout Science And Forestry , Hartter, Joel, University Of the project area, including diversity, biomass, and New Hampshire nativity. We found a loss of diversity in the die-off Africa’s Albertine Rift is an area of extremely high zone/low elevation areas, but little change in endemic biodiversity, and classed as a world higher areas, and no change in biomass production. conservation priority. However, it is essentially a Plant communities changed from being dominated chain of protected forest areas in a matrix of by non-native grassland species to native salt intensive smallholder agriculture and dense human marsh species. settlements. While landscapes outside parks contain considerable biodiversity, they also have rapidly growing human populations and agricultural development. Kibale National Park, our Monday, July 16 Monitoring Eastern Spadefoot study area in western Uganda, is an island of the (Scaphiopus holbrookii) Burrow Emergence With only remaining large area of mid-altitude forest in Passive Integrated Transponders East Africa. Emblematic of pressure on parks in Ryan, Kevin* , Calhoun, Aram , Zydlewski, Joseph, Africa, it is surrounded by growing, agriculturally- University Of Maine dependent populations excluded from park land Eastern spadefoot toads (Scaphiopus holbrookii) and resources. Combining analyses of satellite are one of the rarest and least-understood imagery with household surveys of two agricultural amphibian species in New England. Efforts to areas neighboring Kibale, we examine multi-scalar detect and subsequently monitor/track them are landscape change and diminishing resources in the complicated by their nocturnal and fossorial habits. context of population increase, potential climate The purpose of this study was to examine the change, adaptation, and conservation. Park environmental factors associated with burrow boundaries have remained relatively intact, but emergence. We used passive integrated land conversion to for agriculture in response to transponders (PIT tags) to monitor burrow land and resource scarcity has resulted in increased emergence with the aid of continuously-running, fragmentation of the surrounding landscape over stationary PIT tag readers (“toad totes”). We the past 30 years. Unprotected forest fragments monitored the activity of individual toads by are shrinking, becoming more isolated, and placing circular antennae directly over burrows of suffering decreased productivity. Quantifying PIT tag-implanted individuals. In the spring, landscape responses to local-scale anthropogenic summer, and fall of 2009-2011, eighteen toads change (agricultural conversion) is essential to were monitored from 1 to 84 consecutive nights. developing frameworks of complex islandized park Our results indicate that, on average, toads landscape interactions. emerged on 50% of nights they were monitored. 191 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 Effect Of Land Use And Land Federal and State/Provincial government agencies Cover Change On The Distribution Range Of Birds play a critical role in the conservation of North In The Sierra Madre Oriental, México American biodiversity and natural resources. In this Sahagun Sanchez, Francisco Javier*, Universidad era of ever-increasing budget scrutiny, it is Autónoma De San Luis Potosí - Pmpca , Reyes imperative that these agencies be able to Hernández, Humberto, Universidad Autónoma De demonstrate credible short-term performance to San Luis Potosí , Flores Flores, José Luis, Instituto decision makers and the public, while taking De Investigación De Zonas Desérticas - Universidad conservation actions that may require years or Autónoma De San Luis Potosí , Chapa Vargas, decades before they are fully implemented. The Leonardo, IPICYT Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation We analyzed the potential impact of land use and are a series of best-practice science-based land cover change processes on distribution ranges standards for designing, managing, monitoring, and of birds in the portion of the Sierra Madre Oriental learning from conservation work originally corresponding to the Mexican state of San Luis developed by conservation organizations to Potosi. This region is considered an important site manage their specific projects. In recent years, for conservation of biodiversity, due to the high however, we have made major strides in applying concentration of species and the variety of these standards to the development of ecosystems present. We developed a spatio- performance management systems for the temporal analysis of satellite imagery for 1989 and conservation work of government agencies such as 2005 with cellular automata software and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, State Wildlife determined the rates of change and scenarios of Agencies, the US Department of Agriculture, change in land use and land cover. Then were Environment Canada, and the Puget Sound modeled potential distribution of ecological niches Partnership. In this presentation, I provide several for 37 endemic birds and 33 birds under case studies and share key lessons that have conservation concern with the software GARP. emerged from this work, such as the need to Finally, we identified the areas for distribution distinguish between status and effectiveness range potentially affected. The yearly rate of land measures, the utility of results chains for laying out use and land cover change is between 0.2% and short and long-term theories of change, the 1.7%, with an accelerated loss of oak forests and advantages of being able to “follow the money” in rainforests, resulting in potential loss of about assessing effectiveness, and the need to integrate 45,330 ha of land cover types which contain performance measures with routine business priority habitat for bird conservation in the region. processes and established data collection systems. We also found a lack of correspondence between priority habitat and the areas designated for conservation. This information is valuable for the development of management guidelines for bird Monday, July 16 12:30 Assessing Demographic conservation in the region. Keywords: Land use Impacts Of Climate Change On Tidal Marsh Birds: change, Sierra Madre Oriental, Distribution Population Modeling And Viability Analysis Tools * Modeling, Cellular automata, Garp. Salas, Leonardo , PRBO Conservation Science , Nur, Nadav , Veloz, Sam , Wood, Julian, PRBO Conservation Science , Liu, Len , Ballard, Grant, PRBO Conservation Science Wednesday, July 18 4:00 Performance Tidal marsh habitat is at high risk of severe loss and Measures Systems For Federal And State Agency degradation as a result of human uses, sea-level Conservation Work rise, changes in salinity, and more frequent and Salafsky, Nick*, Foundations Of Success extreme storms projected by climate models. To 192 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 provide management guidance to reduce species’ Documenting this process entails a spatial and vulnerability and recover depleted populations, we temporal depiction of historical conservation developed interactive population dynamic models activities, implementation, and achievements. for four key marsh species: Black Rail, Clapper Rail, Using historical (1930-1940's) and current (2006- Common Yellowthroat, and Song Sparrow. The 2008) land cover maps, we conducted a change models can be used to assess known and potential detection analysis to assess the amount and risks, and to evaluate the efficacy of proposed locations of change in the San Francisco Bay Area management actions to counteract threats to long- region. In the overlapping area of the historical and term viability. For example, a 5% change in Black current land cover maps (8800km2), 85% has Rail juvenile survival alters growth rates by 2.5%. changed over the last 80 years. Of the historical For tidal marsh Song Sparrows, detailed extent, grasslands and urban areas were the land demographic information enabled us to develop a cover classes that transitioned the least, and oak stochastic model to project the effects of changes woodlands and agriculture transitioned the most. in temperature, precipitation and tides on future The greatest transition went into urban areas (from population viability. Extreme high tides were the 386km2 to 2144km2), and greatest loss from most significant factor threatening long-term agriculture (3205 km2 to 515 km2). Using the map viability of Song Sparrows. However, short-term of Open Space areas, we linked the chronology of management actions can effectively arrest and protection, conservation targets, with historical even reverse anticipated declines due to sea-level landmarks. Since 1850, 3723 Open Space rise and high tides. Our findings show that properties have been "acquired" (2960 km2) in the increasing nest survival through reduction of nest overlapping area of the historical map. To date we predation is an effective option for managers to have been able to track the acquisition dates of help tidal marsh birds to adapt to climate change, 1737 of these properties (2116 km2; ca. 70% area). and that, more generally, management actions Of those Open space areas with acquisition dates, targeting specific threats identified through we observe that the greatest boom of acquisition demographic models will reduce the impacts of occurred after 1960, with 1575km2 after 1960 and climate change on wildlife populations. 541km2 before 1960. This matches the funds provided by the 1955 funding for State Park acquisition, and some of the funds of the 1945 Omnibus Parks Acquisition Act (to acquire coastal Monday, July 16 Reconstructing The areas). There was high variability on which land Conservation History Of The San Francisco Bay cover classes were protected and when. After Area Over The Last 80 Years 1960, there was a major increase in agricultural * Santos, Maria , Stanford University , Thorne, lands, grasslands and redwood forests (after an James, Information Center For The Environment, initial effort in 1920's) in Open Space properties. University Of California Davis , Frank, Zephyr, We expect that the completion of the acquisition Stanford University , Christensen, Jon, Bill Lane dates of Open Space areas will further our Center For The American West, Stanford University understanding of the history of the region's We are in a challenging era for conservation, protected network. wherein exceptionally rapid human-caused changes in climate and habitats threaten the persistence of biodiversity. Learning from conservation history can help us strategically define future conservation goals. Conservation history describes the process through which current day conservation came to place. 193 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 Measuring Incidence Of the 2011 Fortune 500 ratings, we created a Ground-Nesting Native Bees Using Emergence database consisting of the 10 highest-ranking Traps companies in each of 13 industry groups, and Sardinas, Hillary*, Uc Berkeley , Kremen, Claire, populated it with sustainability and profitability ESPM, UC Berkeley data taken from the firms’ 2005-2011 annual Native bees are integral to ecosystem functioning reports. We used the following metrics for and provide critical pollination services to environmental performance, when available: GHG agriculture. However, native bees are emissions; NOx, SOx, and VOC emissions; toxic predominantly solitary ground-nesters, and the releases; energy consumption; and water edaphic factors that enhance or limit bee nesting consumption. To control for firm size, we have been understudied because many nests are standardized sustainability data by the firm’s cryptic. Thus, the factors that induce different number of employees. For profitability, we used species to nest in specific locations remain the return on equity, a measure relatively relatively unknown. Using a novel technique, independent of firm size and comparable across emergence traps, we assessed ground nest firms within the same industry. Preliminary results occurrence and examined correlation to soil varied widely across industries and emission types, characteristics. We also compared the difference with both positive and negative correlations between the floral visitors and nesting bee between profitability and good environmental community within the site. Our trap technique had performance. In general, correlations were weak high success rate (85%) but only collected a portion and environmental performance, as defined here, of the native bee community present. We did not appeared to have little relationship to profitability. discern any differences in soil type or structure among nesting sites. Nevertheless, this is a promising technique that could enhance assessments of native bee occurrence and resource Tuesday, July 17 4:00 Demographic Connectivity use, as well as benefit restoration and conservation For Grizzly And Black Bear Populations At Wildlife efforts. Crossing Structures In Banff National Park. Sawaya, Michael*, Montana State University , Clevenger, Anthony, WTI-MSU Wildlife crossing structures are one solution to Monday, July 16 Does It Pay To Be "Green?" mitigating the fragmentation of wildlife Exploring The Relationship Between Sustainability populations caused by roads, but their ability to And Profitability In Fortune 500 Companies provide demographic connectivity has only been Saunders, Martin*, Santa Clara University , Matzek, superficially evaluated. In April 2006, we initiated a Virginia, Santa Clara University , Kareiva, Peter three-year investigation to determine how crossing The collection and publication of environmental structures provide connectivity for grizzly (Ursus performance data is a growing trend in corporate arctos) and black bears (U. americanus) in the Bow sustainability reporting, providing researchers with Valley of Banff National Park, Alberta. We used a new avenue to pursue a concrete answer to a multiple noninvasive hair collection methods to controversial question: “Does it pay to be green?” sample the grizzly and black bear populations Where most previous work in this area has used around the Bow Valley. Our main objectives were third party ratings to gauge sustainability to: 1) determine the number of individual male and performance, the work presented here uses female grizzly and black bears using wildlife “hard,” self-reported environmental performance crossings structures, 2) examine the spatial and data to examine the relationship between temporal patterns of individual bear crossings, and environmental performance and profitability. Using 3) estimate the proportions of grizzly and black 194 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 bear populations in the Bow Valley using wildlife loss, they do not eliminate them. Indeed, we crossing structures. We identified a total of 15 should expect winter ranges to support fewer grizzly (7 F and 8 M) and 17 black bears (8 F and 9 animals once they become developed. It is less M) using crossing structures. The number of clear, however, what influence energy individuals detected at the structures was highly development has when it overlaps with migration correlated with the number of passages in space routes. Because our understanding of how energy and time. Grizzly bears showed strong preference development and other potential barriers affect for more open crossing structure types (i.e. migratory behavior is poor, we show how overpasses and open-span underpasses). Peak use migration routes can be identified and prioritized for both bear species occurred in July when high to minimize potential impacts. We discuss how the rates of foraging activity coincide with mating functional attributes of a migration route (e.g., season. We detected considerable proportions of stopover sites vs. movement corridors) can provide grizzly (15.1% in 2006 and 19.7% in 2008) and black a powerful planning tool that allows managers to bear (18.5% in 2006 and 10.6% in 2008) better evaluate the consequences of energy populations using crossing structures. We conclude development in migration routes. that wildlife crossing structures provide demographic connectivity for grizzly and black bear populations in Banff National Park. Monday, July 16 12:00 The Malpai Contingency: How Private Land Conservation Easements Can Improve Public Land Management Tuesday, July 17 8:30 Mule Deer And Gas Sayre, Nathan*, Department Of Geography Development: Lessons For Evaluating And The western US is characterized by a mosaic of Mitigating Impacts To Migratory Ungulates federal, state, tribal, county and private Sawyer, Hall*, Western Ecosystems Technology, landownership, with private lands typically Inc. , Kauffman, Matthew, Usgs, Wyoming encompassing the areas of greater water Cooperative Fish And Wildlife Research Unit availability, better soils, and higher biological Increasing levels of energy development across productivity. Private lands are critical to western North America have created a variety of conservation of biological diversity in the region, concerns for agencies tasked with managing but they are also the most vulnerable to land-use migratory ungulates. Of particular concern is how conversion and development. To address this ungulates respond to development in critical threat, public entities and private land trusts have habitats, specifically winter range and migration made huge investments in conservation routes. Here, we illustrate how these concerns easements, which permanently restrict have been examined with GPS-collared mule deer development on private lands while allowing other and before-after impact studies associated with gas uses to continue. Easements can only be secured development in Wyoming. Our results show that with the willing consent of private landowners, when winter ranges are converted into producing however, and ranchers who depend on leased gas fields, direct and indirect habitat losses reduce public rangelands for forage are often reluctant to the amount of habitat available to mule deer. In a relinquish their private land development rights, 10-year period, mule deer avoided well pads and for fear that they may someday lose their public roads, never acclimated to the infrastructure, and grazing privileges. One land trust, the Malpai abundance declined by approximately 50%. Our Borderlands Group, has resolved this conundrum results further suggest that although mitigation by including a contingency clause in their measures (e.g., directional drilling, liquid gathering conservation easements that allows for the systems) may reduce direct and indirect habitat easements to be extinguished in the event that 195 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 grazing leases are lost through no fault of the Monday, July 16 4:20 Protecting The Ecological rancher. This would appear to weaken the Stage: Applying And Testing A Land-Facet-Based easements’ effectiveness, but our research Approach To Conservation Planning In A Changing indicates the opposite. The easements improve Climate agency-landowner relations, and the contingency Schloss, Carrie*, University Of Washington , Lawler, creates two-way leverage, raising the bar for both Joshua, University Of Washington , Mcguire, Jenny, private landowners and public agencies to ensure University Of Washington , Michalak, Julia that management achieves conservation objectives Conservation planning efforts typically focus on across the mosaic of landownership types. prioritizing areas that will protect current biodiversity. However, extensive shifts in species distributions have been observed in the past and are anticipated to accompany climatic changes in Wednesday, July 18 9:30 Largescale the near future. Therefore, reserves planned to Conservation: Issues Of Public-Private protect today’s biodiversity may fail to protect Collaboration, Science, And Governance biodiversity in the future as species’ ranges shift * Scarlett, Lynn , Resources For The Future and communities are reshuffled. Abiotic features, Public and private-sector partners are coalescing to such as soil, topography, and geology, largely deliver landscape-scale conservation. Several determine the distribution of biodiversity, but will themes test the capacities of these collaborative remain stable in a changing climate. Conservation endeavors. Relevant science is often complex and planning that focuses on abiotic features will likely uncertain, and problem-solving also requires the protect both today’s biodiversity and biodiversity in knowledge of local experience that is imperative the future. Here we identify unique combinations for effective action. Collaborative endeavors also of abiotic diversity, or land facets, across 14 diverse need measures and metrics at relevant scales. ecoregions in the western United States. We then Perhaps most challenging is the need for identify priority regions for conservation based on governance frameworks that sustant processes and these facets. To assess the potential utility of the decision structures to coordinate knowledge facet-based planning approach, we investigate the building and cooperative action. Five influence of methodological decisions and data characteristics are important to sustaining choices on both facet designation and on structures and networks through which partners subsequent conservation prioritization as well as can pursue landscape-scale conservation. These test the ability of areas selected to protect land include mechanisms for accountability and facets to capture today’s biodiversity. We conclude resilience; participant inclusivity; conditions that that although different methodological approaches facilitate ongoing learning to identify information and data choices can have profound effects on gaps, generate relevant knowledge, and adjust facet designation, the impacts on conservation actions; and a policy context in which regulatory planning will likely vary by ecoregion. and other policy tools support coordinated action. Key questions include: How can the "governing" whole maintain collaboration which affirming the distinct identities of participants? How can participants strengthen linkages among initiatives? I will examine several emerging organizational options along a continuum of very formal structures to more informal networking of participants and explore their relevance to Landscape Conservation Cooperatives. 196 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Tuesday, July 17 12:15 Changing Responses To Council Physical Forcing In A Marine Ecosystem: A Tale Of Monty Schmitt, Senior Scientist, Natural Resources Two Seabirds Defense Council. Monty will talk about the Schmidt, Annie*, University Of California, Davis , underlying scientific issues of using the Department Botsford, Louis W., University Of California, Davis , of Fish and Game Code Section 5937 to increase Eadie, John M., University Of California, Davis , flows to restore and benefit fish on the San Joaquin Bradley, Russell, PRBO Conservation Science , River and on other rivers in California. In 2006, the Jahncke, Jaime San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement In the central California Current, annual agreement between conservation groups, farmers productivity is primarily determined by the wind- and the federal government transformed one of driven upwelling of nutrients. In this bottom-up the West's longest water battles into one of the system, we expect parallel trends in productivity largest salmon and river restoration projects in the across trophic levels. For this study, we utilized 41 nation. Under the agreement, the San Joaquin years of data from the Farallon Islands to examine River Restoration Program was created to restore recent contrasting trends in productivity between over 300,000 acre feet of water on average to the two seabird species at different trophic levels: the river and to reintroduce the extirpated Chinook piscivorous Brandt’s Cormorant (Phalacrocorax salmon runs in 2012. The primary claim of the penicillatus), and Cassin’s Auklet (Ptychoramphus lawsuit that was originally filed in 1988 was a aleuticus), a zooplanktivore. We often assume that failure of the Bureau of Reclamation to operate a species’ relationship to the environment is stable Friant Dam in compliance with California through time. Here, we test the hypothesis that Department of Fish and Game Code Section 5937 contrasting productivity trends for these two that states: “The owner of any dam shall …. allow species are linked to changes in how each species sufficient water to pass over, around, or through responds to the environment. We used a sliding the dam, to keep in good condition any fish that correlation analysis with a 10-year window to may be planted or exist below the dam.” This talk examine how ocean conditions (measured locally will examine the scientific issues that were and basin-wide) influence productivity of each important in the litigation and to the settlement seabird species and how these relationships agreement and the implications for applying S.5937 change over time. We found that both species to other dams in California. initially responded strongly to El Niño variability. In the last 15 years, Cassin’s Auklet response to El Niño weakened while at the same time, the correlation to the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation Monday, July 16 3:00 A Framework For (NPGO) strengthened. This occurred at about the Integrating Climate Adaptation And Landscape same time that productivity of the two species Conservation Planning * began to diverge. Understanding what causes the Schmitz, Oswald , Yale School Of Forestry And physical drivers of productivity to change will be Environmental Studies , Trainor, Anne, Yale critical for population modeling and predicting the University consequences of climate change. Global changes in climate are projected to drastically alter the spatial distribution, structure, and function of species, communities, and ecosystems. In order to allow biodiversity to adapt Tuesday, July 17 11:00 Old Law- New Science: to a changing climate, conservation planners are Use Of DFG Code 5937 To Restore Flows And Fish assigned the difficult task of identifying important To The San Joaquin River conservation targets. Our goal was to develop a Schmitt, Monty*, Natural Resources Defense strategic framework that highlights, through a 197 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 critical evaluation process, how and when the different climate models; (b) the ecological different current approaches to geospatial habitat importance of precipitation form (snow versus conservation planning may be applied and rain); (c) the important role of fire as a driver of integrated to enhance decision?making to enhance ecosystem change; and (d) the uncertainty the effectiveness of policy decisions related to associated with inter-annual variability in climate. wildlife (terrestrial and aquatic species) habitat Faced with these issues, we identified a process to conservation, climate change adaptation and assess the likelihood that different vegetation compatible land use. The framework was created types would become exposed to change under by a diverse panel comprised of 13 leaders from future climates at three time periods (2010-2040; government agencies, academia, for-profit and 2040-2070, 2070-2100) under different climate non-profit groups. The panel provided a matrix projections and different downscales of current with six major adaption objectives (e.g., protect climate. We identified portions of the landscape as current and future patterns of biodiversity and exposed to change under rules of locations maintain ecological processes and connectivity) projected to fall outside, or in marginal zones of and three ecological levels (e.g., landscape, current locations for each vegetation type. This ecosystem, and species/populations) to encourage expression of exposure is overlain to projected fire practitioners to employ various approaches to likelihoods and the likelihood of high fire intensity conservation with global changes. The Framework to gain an overarching model of climate change also provides insight into the types, formats and vulnerability. This vulnerability assessment is then sources of geospatially referenced wildlife, habitat, linked to management strategies for wildfire and climate, and land?use data that are available to prescribed fire management. support decision?making. This presentation illustrates the Framework’s value in anticipating changes in wildlife and landscapes over time; and to how the maps based on geospatial analyses can Monday, July 16 12:30 America'S Conservation be used to support decisions. This Framework Landscape 2076: Where,What, Who? * provides systematic and comprehensive guidance Scott, Michael for practitioners to identify and conserve America’s Conservation Landscape 2076: Where, biodiversity, ecosystems, and landscapes what who? J. Michael Scott University vulnerable to global climate change. Distinguished Professor, University of Idaho Moscow Idaho 838944-1141 Increased losses of habitat as a result of increasing land use and environmental changes have placed increasing Monday, July 16 4:45 Assessing Climate Change pressure on this nation’s biodiversity. We lack a Vulnerability For Southern Sierra Nevada system of natural areas that represents the full Ecosystems range of biological and ecological diversity in the Schwartz, Mark*, University Of California At Davis , United States. Calls for a representative system of Nydick, Koren, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National biological reserves in the United States dates back Parks , Thorne, James, Information Center For The to an 1917 request from the National Research Environment, University Of California Davis , Council to the Ecological Society of America to Holguin, Andrew prepare a listing of all preserved and preservable Federal public lands are mandated to engage in areas in the North America in which natural climate change adaptation under the looming conditions persist” and “to urge the reservation of threat of climate change. For the southern Sierra such areas as demanded immediate attention” Nevada, this poses significant challenges because Today more than 100 years after the establishment of: (a) both wetter and drier futures projected from of Pelican Island, our first National wildlife refuge 198 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 and 95 years after the call for a representative used to help increase human awareness and system of conservation areas the current Protected ecological understanding. Areas System of the United states is not representative of the nation’s, geophysical or ecological variation. I will discuss gaps in America's current conservation landscape, consequences of Monday, July 16 9:45 The National Fish, those gaps and identify opportunities for filling Wildlife, And Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy: them. Implications For Land And Water Protection And Stewardship Shaffer, Mark*, U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service As the climate continues to change, biological Tuesday, July 17 8:45 Knowledge And Attitudes systems will respond and the relative conservation About Bats And How Outreach Can Be Used To value of current or planed protected areas may Increase Awareness And Propel Our Ecological change. These changes will impact not only Understanding Of Bats protected area designation, but also the Sewald, Jessica* , Root, Karen, Bowling Green State stewardship of exisiing and future areas. Although University biodiversity conservation in the United States has Despite their significant contributions to not relied solely on a "fortress" approach for some ecosystems throughout the world, bats continue to time, dealing with the anticipated impacts of face numerous anthropogenic pressures, many climate change will highlight and underscore just that are potentially caused by negative perceptions how creative and fleixible our land and water and misinformation. We developed a 5 point Likert protection and stewardship programs will need to scale survey that measured knowledge of and be. The National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate attitudes towards bats to better understand this Adaptation Strategy is the first joint effort of relationship and the gaps in knowledge. A baseline federal, state and tribal governments to look ahead survey was administered to homeowners within at the climate change challenge and begin to the Oak Openings Region of Northwest Ohio, outline what needs to be done to safeguard college students, and participants of classes at local biodiversity. The implications of the Strategy for organizations. A strong and positive link was found land and water protection and stewardship will be between knowledge and attitudes across all discussed. groups. When possible a follow-up survey was also administered after exposure to educational classes; this exposure resulted in a positive increase in knowledge and attitudes. In 2011 citizen science Tuesday, July 17 11:45 The Sea Level Rise and volunteers participated in data collection of bat Coastal Flooding Impacts Viewer: a national tool presence using Anabat acoustic monitors. These for assessing the impacts of sea level rise on volunteers had the largest gains in positive coastal resources * attitudes. To also demonstrate the value of these Shaughnessy, Gwen , I.M. Systems Group For volunteer-collected data for ecological NOAA Coastal Services Center understanding, we used these data to test models Developed by NOAA's Coastal Services Center of bat presence previously developed for protected (CSC), the Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flooding areas within the region. This provided an Impacts Viewer allows coastal communities to independent set of data to test the model, and visualize potential impacts from sea level rise. A once tested, we found that they were successful at slider bar is used to show inland extent and relative predicting the occurrence of individual bat species. depth of inundation from 0 to 6 feet above mean Citizen science collected data can and should be higher high water (MHHW). Areas of inundation 199 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 that are shown include those that are Tuesday, July 17 9:30 Adaptation And hydrologically connected (according to the digital Mitigation : An Risk Management Assessment For elevation model used) and low-lying areas that are Ecosystems considered hydrologically “unconnected” areas but Shaw, Rebecca*, Environmental Defense Fund may flood. Visualizations and the accompanying The longer we delay significant greenhouse gas data and information displayed in this tool include emissions reductions, the more likely we are to sea level rise inundation, uncertainty, flood face irreversible impacts to climate change and the frequency, marsh impacts, and socioeconomics. more likely we will be forced to make much costly The tool is being introduced to each region of the investments in human and natural system U.S. as high quality elevation data becomes adaptation. Carbon sinks are disappearing as they available and will encompass the entire contiguous become saturated with CO2 and as changes in the U.S. coast by 2013. The tool can be accessed from temperature decrease carbon storage capacity in NOAA CSC's Digital Coast website critical ecosystems. In the absence of mitigation (http://www.csc.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/). efforts, the effects of climate change would reach such a magnitude as to make adaptation impossible for some natural systems. While estimated mitigation cost would cost a mere 1 Tuesday, July 17 11:30 Assessing Vulnerabilities percent of GDP, the cost of adapting to unabated Using The Roadmap For Adapting To Coastal Risk climate change could reach 20 percent of GDP of * Shaughnessy, Gwen , I.M. Systems Group For higher. Adaptation and mitigation can be viewed as NOAA Coastal Services Center two competing responses, with tradeoffs between Coastal communities throughout the U.S. are the two. Responding effectively to climate change struggling to understand how climate change will requires an iterative risk management process that impact existing hazards, and in some cases create includes both mitigation and adaptation and takes new ones, for their people, public infrastructure into account actual and avoided climate change and natural resources. The Roadmap for Adapting impacts, benefits, and risks. Risk management can to Coastal Risk is a training developed by the facilitate a diverse array of sectoral, regional and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration temporal analysis of trade-offs, but its application Coastal Services Center that provides communities requires information from impacts resulting from a customizable and participatory approach for the most likely climate scenarios and impacts assessing hazard and climate change threats and arising from lower-probability but higher- impacts. This approach is designed to help consequence events. In this discussion, we will communities characterize their vulnerabilities and discuss the science of risk management as it assess how existing planning and policy efforts can pertains to the trade-offs in mitigation and incorporate vulnerability issues. During the adaptation and its relevance for ecosystem and training, participants learn the steps involved in biodiversity adaptation. this process and receive guidance on how spatial data, information, participatory processes and lessons learned working with communities can be helpful in their assessment. A case study of how a Monday, July 16 3:00 A Conservation Ethic For community is using the information and The Anthropocene relationships forged through a Roadmap workshop Shellenberger, Michael*, Breakthrough Institute , will be presented. Nordhaus, Ted, Breakthrough Institute We live in a new era - the "age of humans," or the Anthropocene. Today, almost every corner of the world is shaped by human activities. Pristine nature 200 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 or wilderness is therefore largely a thing of the This study used spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) distant past. As developing nations forge ahead on as a case study to represent small anurans in a path towards modernization and world wetland-forest guild in a highly urbanized area of population approaches 10 billion, only protecting the Region of Peel (Ontario). The strategic areas for patches of nature from human disturbance – mitigating barrier effects were evaluated at two closing them off in protected areas – is a losing levels to capture migration and dispersal proposition. A new paradigm is needed, one that movements. At a local level, road mortality hotspot embraces development and modernization instead analysis was conducted using distance based GIS of opposing it; emphasizes possibilities, not limits; techniques, which identified with highest likelihood and rejects apocalyptic narratives of ecological of road mortality during migration. At a regional collapse. Only by engaging with the larger level, a circuit theoretic approach was used to economic, social and political forces that ultimately quantify the probabilities of movement across the shape the planet and its biosphere can landscape that identified bottleneck locations for conservation remain relevant. For example, dispersal movement. The results from the two urbanization not only raises human welfare, it also levels of analysis were validated using the empirical takes pressure off rural areas and lets nature grow data on spring peeper presence and road mortality back. Intensive agriculture spares land for habitats survey. The comparison of the two levels of and species. And technology can allow us to do analysis indicate that though strategic locations for more with a smaller footprint. Only thus can we mitigation do overlap between migration and achieve a future where all the world's inhabitants dispersal movement in many areas, conducting enjoy secure, free, prosperous, and fulfilling lives only local level analysis such as road mortality on an ecologically vibrant planet. hotspot analysis, often fails to capture the broader landscape connectivity bottleneck locations crucial for dispersal, which are rare but important movement type for long term viability of the Tuesday, July 17 8:45 A Multi-Scale Analysis To species. Identify Strategic Locations For Mitigating Barrier Effects Of Roads In An Urban Context Shrestha, Namrata*, Toronto And Region Conservation , Tam, Jason, Toronto And Region Monday, July 16 11:50 The Politics Of Conservation , Gaetz, Noah, Toronto And Region Renewable Energy In The Mojave Desert Conservation Silliman, Sidney*, California State Polytechnic The ecological effects of roads range from direct University, Pomona and visible impacts such as road mortality to The deployment of renewable energy projects in indirect effects such as increased barrier effects the Mojave Desert reflects the decision of state that affect long term population viability of wildlife. and national officials to rely on large-scale Despite widespread recognition of the adverse production and long-distance transmission as the impacts of roads, they continue to expand, energy model for reversing climate change and to especially in urban and urbanizing areas. sacrifice desert species and desert ecosystems. The Recognizing that the socio-economic and political decision is reflected in California and federal pressure in highly urban area will continue to policies that stimulated private sector investment expand roads regardless of the ecological in utility-scale energy projects and the expansion understanding, this study aims to facilitate and upgrade of long-distance transmission lines. transportation decision making process by The national government facilitated access to identifying strategic locations where mitigation can public lands and mandated an expedited review of be placed to minimize the barrier effects of road. project applications. Political pressure from elected 201 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 officials and energy developers ensured agency Falconidae, Fregatidae, Fringillidae, Gaviidae, implementation of key public policies. National Gruidae, Haematopodidae, Hirundinidae, Icteridae, environmental organizations responded by Jacanidae, Laniidae, Laridae, Mimidae, intervening with public agencies, commenting on Motacillidae, Odontophoridae, Paridae, Parulidae, environmental documents, lobbying government Passeridae, Pelecanidae, Phaethontidae, officials, and negotiating settlements with energy Phalacrocoracidae, Phoenicopteridae, Picidae, developers. These groups generally support the Podicipedidae, Psittacidae, Psittacidae, dominant energy model and typically seek only Ptilogonatidae, Rallidae, Recurvirostridae, modifications in the deployment of energy Regulidae, Remizidae, Scolopacidae, Strigidae, facilities, better mitigation for impacts to flora and Strigidae, Sturnidae, Sulidae, Sylviidae, Thraupidae, fauna, and planning that directs energy Threskiornithidae, Trochilidae, Troglodytidae, development to specified sections of the desert Trogonidae, Turdidae, Tyrannidae, Tytonidae, rather than the full protection of species and their Vireonidae. habitats. Regionally-oriented, desert-focused, and smaller organizations more often advocate for conservation of desert ecosystems in conjunction with locally-generated and distributed renewable Wednesday, July 18 3:00 Demographic energy. Stochasticity Reduces The Synchronizing Effect Of Dispersal In Predator-Prey Metapopulations Simonis, Joseph*, Cornell University Classical models of metapopulations predict that Monday, July 16 Conservation Of "Cerro dispersal strongly synchronizes subpopulation Chango," Oaxaca, México dynamics, increasing the risk that demographic Silva-Torres, Beatriz*, Universidad Autonoma stochasticity will cause metapopulation-wide Metropolitana , Gaona, Salvador, Universidad extinction. However, dispersal itself is subject to Autonoma Metropolitana , González-Ibarra, demographic stochasticity, because dispersal rates Minerva are often low and subpopulations small. Yet we The community of Cerro Chango, is located on the currently know little about the impact of side of the Gulf of Mexico in the north of the State demographic stochasticity on dispersal. To that of Oaxaca in México. This was declared a end, I constructed two models of a two-patch conservation area by the indigenous of the site, to predator-prey system: one that included conserve natural resources in the area in order to demographic stochasticity (stochastic differential provide environmental services for ecotourism. The equations: SDE) and one that was entirely vegetation in the area is a tropical forest and has a deterministic (ordinary differential equations: great diversity of plant and animal. The knowledge ODE). The ODE was the mean-field approximation of the available resources for the community must of the SDE, allowing a direct comparison to be part of the conservation strategies, one of the determine the effect of demographic stochasticity lines of research is the study of biodiversity. In this on metapopulation dynamics. The SDE produced paper we present data on the diversity of birds in synchronized predator-prey dynamics only when the area. We recorder in 2009-2010, 64 bird dispersal was very high for both trophic levels. families with 317 species. Bird families: Further, high dispersal by only one trophic level in Accipitridae, Alaudidae, Alcedinidae, Anatidae, the SDE spatially decoupled the trophic interaction, Anhingidae, Apodidae, Ardeidae, Bombycillidae, reducing synchrony of the non-dispersive species. Caprimulgidae, Cardinalidae, Cathartidae, Conversely, the ODE generated tightly Certhiidae, Charadriidae, Ciconiidae, Columbidae, synchronized dynamics for both trophic levels Corvidae, Cracidae, Cuculidae, Emberizidae, across all dispersal rates. These results suggest that 202 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 demographic stochasticity strongly affects Monday, July 16 9:50 Landscape Conservation metapopulation dynamics by reducing the In The West: Slow Progress On Policy While synchronizing ability of dispersal. Ironically, Practice Advances including demographic stochasticity a priori Sisk, Thomas*, Northern Arizona University , Beier, precluded it from causing metapopulation-wide Paul, Northern Arizona School Of Forestry extinctions under reasonable dispersal levels. In 2008, we convened a group of scholars and students to develop recommendations for landscape conservation in the American West. The group released a report on forests, water, and Monday, July 16 11:00 Climate Forced Lizard partnerships with Native America before the Extinctions Are Coupled To Dieback Events And election that was presented to the Obama Successional Change In Plants transition team afterward. SCB’s subsequent * Sinervo, Barry , UCSC Department Of Ecology And recommendations referenced this report, Evolutionary Biology emphasizing landscape connectivity. Here we Climate models forecast species extinctions and revisit those recommendations and assess distributional shifts in upcoming decades, but many progress. For forested landscapes, results are predictions lack validation and thus are relatively mixed; we offer brief comment to complement uncertain. Sinervo et al. (Science May 2010) other speakers. On western water, complex compared recent and historical surveys for lizards debates and ongoing negotiations largely on five continents and presented a physiological overshadow specific actions to advance model that predicted the extinctions with high conservation. Cooperation with tribal governments accuracy (R2=0.72). We present new physiological has benefitted from recognition and engagement measurements of operative model temperatures of tribal leaders and resource managers, but that validate the model for 3 of the original coordinated landscape conservation efforts remain continental surveys. Furthermore, we validate the uncommon. Yet, despite modest progress on extinction model with new predictions and new overarching federal policies, landscape extinction resurveys of several species of lizard in conservation has developed considerable Europe and North America. Finally, we present new momentum in recent years, as entrepreneurial data on correlated changes in trees species that are efforts address emerging challenges outside the correlated with the lizard extinctions. The tree formal policy framework. We discuss efforts to death and branch die-back events foreshadow enhance habitat connectivity through collaborative dramatic ecosystem level changes that will programs that engage scientists, citizens and profoundly impact persistence of the lizard species government at multiple scales; and we examine of the world. Tree dieback events transiently partnerships between private landowners and elevate operative temperatures and thus elevate public agencies that integrate conservation efforts extinction risk. Furthermore, larger scale tree at landscape scales. Results illustrate how local, dieback events promote successional change that issue-driven efforts inform and often drive will alter species composition of lizards in those overarching policy initiatives, rather than the ecosystems. Any large scale alterations of the reverse. habitat such as deforestation in forest habitats or solar farms in desert habitats will alter local albedo, elevate local thermal environments and thus increase extinction risk of lizards.

203 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Wednesday, July 18 9:00 Undergraduate From 2009-2011 we evaluated the effects of Research Located At The Intersection Of Marine developed ski resorts on Pacific marten (Martes Conservation Science And Policy caurina) demographics using 3 pairs of ski area and Siuda, Amy Ns*, Sea Education Association , adjacent control sites. Control sites were selected Jensen, John, Sea Education Association , Zettler, to match gross topographic characteristics, Erik, Sea Education Association , Amaral-Zettler, including elevation and macro-topography, and Linda, Marine Biological Laboratory , Mcclennen, pre-development forest structural and Caleb, Wildlife Conservation Society compositional characteristics. To sample marten Divisions between science and policy impede populations, we used a combination of hair snares, rather than enhance progress in both disciplines during the winter of 2009, and live traps, during and are all too common among undergraduate the spring-summers of 2009-2011, deployed on programs. A new semester-long program at Sea systematic sample grids in each study area. Hair Education Association, SEA Semester: Marine samples were used for individual genetic Biodiversity and Conservation, challenges students identification and live captured individuals to integrate scientific study of marine biodiversity provided individual identification, age, with conservation planning for the high seas. reproductive status (females), and body condition. During the initial discovery phase students operate Over the course of the 4 sampling periods from as a research team to develop a conceptual 2009-2011 we captured a total of 84 individual framework, identifying gaps in biodiversity martens (54M:30F). Male martens used portions of research and in methods used in ocean ski resorts highly fragmented from ski run conservation. Students subsequently employ development and as a result had significantly lower molecular and morphological techniques to apparent survival on resorts compared to controls. measure biodiversity during a month-long transect Females avoided the most fragmented areas of cruise in the Sargasso Sea, also archiving samples resorts and as a consequence did not have reduced for the global marine biodiversity effort. In the final apparent survival rates on ski resorts. Collectively, application phase students generate science-based these effects have depressed population size by policy recommendations and defend these to reducing the proportion of the landscape capable scientists and public stakeholders. This program of supporting breeding females and increasing the represents an unprecedented opportunity for proportion supporting unstable male occupancy. undergraduates to concurrently complement leading-edge techniques in marine science research with the wisdom and skills to effectively operate within the world of public policy and tackle global- Monday, July 16 Velocity Vs. Persistence: scale environmental challenges. Major elements of Contrasting Climate Change Velocity, Species' this curriculum are transferable to local biodiversity Persistence, And Future Projections Of The Ranges and conservation topics in any aquatic Of Threatened Species * environment from a small pond or stream to the Smith, Adam , Missouri Botanical Garden , Long, seashore. Quinn, Missouri Botanical Garden , Albrecht, Matthew, Missouri Botanical Garden Though species can track their climatic niche by shifting their distributions in response to climate Wednesday, July 18 3:45 Sex-Specific Effects Of change, others may be able to persist in currently Fragmentation From Ski Resorts On The Pacific occupied locales. Here we investigate the relative Marten In The Lake Tahoe Region Of California pressure to migrate vs. the ability to persist in situ Slauson, Keith*, Pacific Southwest Research Station for 65 at-risk plant species in the Ozark and , Zielinski, Bill, Pacific Southwest Research Station Ouachita Highlands and Tennessee’s Great Basin. 204 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

First, we develop ensemble species distribution extinctions or recolonizations among years. models using techniques particular to rare species Percent patch occupancy ranged from 55-59% in with few records. We then project these models to early censuses (1972, 1978). Between 1989 and periods centered on the years 2020, 2050, and 1991 the southern constellation of patches 2080 under the A2 emissions scenario using two collapsed and has not recovered. The northern general circulation models. Finally, we overlay two constellation of patches (1-2 km north) has “template” maps to each species’ projections to maintained a high occupancy rate (49-88%), and determine a) areas of greatest climatically-driven the percent occupancy in 2009 (84%) mirrored that migratory pressure and b) areas of long-term of the original census in 1972 (83%). persistence. Migratory pressure is estimated from Metapopulation dynamics at Bodie is driven by climate change velocity, which indicates the frequent extinctions of populations on small distance a species would have to move over a given habitat patches coupled with low recolonization time to track its climatic niche, and potential rates due to decreased vagility of pikas at this low, persistence for a site is estimated from the hot location. A warming climate does not appear to temporal rate of change of environmental be responsible for any change in patch extinction suitability from species distribution models. The rate, but it may contribute to the inability of pikas intersection of each species’ projection maps, to recolonize the southern constellation of patches. migratory pressure map, and persistence maps demonstrates that while some areas may experience high migratory pressure, they may nonetheless remain favorable, at least in the near Tuesday, July 17 11:30 Protecting Native term. Our study also raises ethical and logistical Landscapes With Dogged Determination: A New questions about assisting migration of species into Model Of Detection Dog Surveys As A Noxious biogeographic realms in which they did not evolve Weed Eradication Tool. * and for what “future” (2020, 2050, 2080) plans for Smith, Deborah , Working Dogs For Conservation , assisted migration should be developed. Goodwin, Kim, Montana State University , Marler, Marilyn, University Of Montana , Guscio, Dalit, Working Dogs For Conservation , Heide, Maggie, Working Dogs For Conservation , Tirmenstein, Deb, Monday, July 16 4:30 Long-Term Dynamics Of Working Dogs For Conservation , Hurt, Aimee, An American Pika Metapopulation ? Resilience At Working Dogs For Conservation The Population And Individual Levels Invasive weeds are a serious problem facing Smith, Andrew*, Arizona State University , Nagy, conservation managers today, given their ability to John, Scottsdale Community College rapidly spread and out-compete native plant Metapopulation dynamics of the American pika communities that are stressed due to climate (Ochotona princeps) have been investigated at change and other factors. In 2011, we investigated Bodie, California, since 1972, including nearly the capabilities of conservation detection dogs in a annual censuses since 1989. The pikas at Bodie five year effort to find and eradicate the highly occupy anthropogenic ore dumps across a invasive weed, Dyer’s woad (Isatis tinctoria) from landscape of Great Basin sagebrush habitat. Annual Mount Sentinel in Missoula, Montana. From June frequencies of extinction of populations on patches to October, two trained dogs were deployed in a and recolonization of vacant patches varied among systematic, 5-meter transect grid search to detect years, although they have been nearly equivalent plants on a 200 acre affected area. During the summed over years since 1989 (115 extinctions; season, teams located 388 plants in 132 locations. 110 recolonizations). There are no obvious trends Mapping revealed these were clustered in between available climate data and prevalence of approximately 17 patches. Early in the season 205 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 when surrounding vegetation was short and many pika caching behavior across a range of large plants were located, dogs and handlers environmental conditions and forage values. In the contributed evenly to locating plants. Later in the face of changing climatic and vegetation dynamics season, dogs out-performed their handlers in woad in the alpine, such information may be critical in detection, locating 85% of woads in August and predicting future pika persistence. October and 97% in September. Dogs led to the discovery that new woads sprouted from remnant roots left from hand-removed plants, indicating that more extensive root removal is necessary. Wednesday, July 18 12:00 Land-Use And Land- Based on this first year’s efforts, conservation dogs Cover Modeling For Conservation Planning * can improve levels of eradication, and increase Sohl, Terry , U.S. Geological Survey , Sleeter, frequency, coverage and efficacy of weed removal. Benjamin, U.S. Geological Survey , Sayler, Kristi, U.S. Geological Survey , Bouchard, Michelle, ARTS - Contractor To USGS , Reker, Ryan, ARTS - Contractor To USGS , Sleeter, Rachel, U.S. Monday, July 16 Patterns Of Selective Caching Geological Survey , Wilson, Tamara, U.S. Geological Behavior Of A Generalist Herbivore, The American Survey , Bennett, Stacie, SGT- Contractor To USGS , Pika (Ochotona princeps) Soulard, Chistopher, US Geological Survey Smith, Justine*, University Of California, Santa Cruz With growing populations and an intensification of , Erb, Liesl P, University Of Colorado At Boulder anthropogenic land uses, future land use data are The impact of climate on the American pika required for conservation planning and to examine (Ochotona princeps) is currently being investigated sustainability of land-use practices. To address in light of recent population extirpations. While conservation issues, a land-use modeling recent studies have focused on patterns of framework must have 1) a scenario framework, population persistence, there is a lack of with multiple land-use pathways to address future information on mechanisms that drive declines. uncertainties, 2) moderately high spatial, thematic, Among possible mechanisms are pikas’ behavioral and temporal resolutions. The U.S. Geological responses to environmental variation. Selective Survey is producing scenario-based land-use and foraging by pikas has been well documented land-cover projections for the United States. throughout North America, but the results of these Qualitative narratives and quantitative scenarios studies are inconsistent regarding plant are produced for four, IPCC Special Report on characteristics that influence caching behavior. Emissions Scenarios storylines (A1B, A2, B1, and Such variation may be explained by environmental B2). Scenarios are constructed in a workshop factors. To explore influences on selective caching setting with stakeholder participation, with behavior, we investigated patterns of pika historical land-use data, coarse-scale integrated selectivity at 13 sites with respect to temperature, land-use models, and expert knowledge used in a precipitation, elevation, and latitude. We found spreadsheet downscaling model to produce that high summer temperatures and low available quantitative “demand” for future land-use plant quality predict increased selectivity for plants proportions. Regional land-use proportions for with higher nutrient composition (low C:N ratios each scenario serve as input to the Forecasting and high total N), while selectivity for plants with Scenarios of land-use (FORE-SCE) model. FORE-SCE high water content was negatively correlated with produces annual land-use and land-cover maps at a elevation. Our data suggest that environmental 250m spatial resolution for 17 thematic classes variables and their interactions differentially from 2006 through 2100. Land-use projections for influence the degree and nature of pika selective all four scenarios will be completed for the behavior. These results illustrate the complexity of conterminous U.S. in 2012. The open approach to 206 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 land-use modeling ensures confidence and buy-in Monday, July 16 10:15 A Roadmap For Sea Level from conservation planners and other stakeholders Rise Adaptation Along The Hudson River Estuary who participate in the modeling process. Spector, Sacha*, Scenic Hudson , Winner, Jason, Scenic Hudson , Miller, Dan, Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve , Blair, Betsy, Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve Tuesday, July 17 3:45 Global Conservation Of Sea level rise (SLR) is the most immediate climate Threatened Seabird Breeding Islands change challenge to the Hudson River Estuary * Spatz, Dena , UC Santa Cruz , Croll, Donald, UC ecosystem, with up to 1.4m of relative SLR project Santa Cruz , Heinz, Reina, UC Santa Cruz , Newton, by 2080. Within the projected inundation zone are Kelly, UC Santa Cruz , Tershy, Bernie, UCSC over 13,000 acres of tidal wetlands and vegetated Seabirds play important functional roles in marine shallows, and over 5000 acres of supratidal and and terrestrial ecosystems yet 28% of species are floodplain habitats that will likely be inundated. We at risk of extinction. The most significant threats to conducted a vulnerability analysis that provides seabirds occur on breeding islands where stakeholders with a high-resolution understanding, conservation actions are feasible. To guide island- through both space and time, of SLR impacts on based conservation, we developed a database of all the estuary’s natural habitats and built breeding islands for the 97 IUCN-listed threatened infrastructure and creates a planning framework (Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN) and for local and regional adaptation efforts. Along 160 Vulnerable (VU)) seabirds. The database contains miles of tidal river we 1) projected inundation and present and historic distributions and island- flood risk according to two SLR scenarios, with threats. We found 883 threatened populations models reiterated at decadal time steps, 2) breeding on 625 islands with Procellariids identified river stretches and sites that have comprising the largest proportion of threatened important natural or built resources within or near species (37%). We propose threatened seabird the risk zone, and 3) classified each site according conservation is highly feasible because 1) colony- to their resiliency or vulnerability to periodic or based threats can be mitigated for at least one constant inundation. We then classified sites at population of each threatened species on only 56 which natural resource conservation and islands; 2) 65% of seabird populations breed on infrastructure protection may proceed islands controlled by relatively wealthy countries independently, as well as areas of potential conflict (New Zealand, UK, Chile, Australia, USA) where where balanced solutions must be found. conservation dollars are available; 3) the most Considering these conflict zones through time, and common threat to CR species are invasive species considering them within a whole-estuary context, (33% of terrestrial threats), which can often be provided different perspectives on trade-offs mitigated through eradication, and; 4) 70 seabird between shoreline hardening and habitat breeding islands are home to additional IUCN migration and point the way toward a range of threatened vertebrates which are at risk from locally-appropriate management options. similar island-based threats and can be mitigated simultaneously. Thus, global seabird conservation aligns with the costs and priorities of other conservation issues and is a rare opportunity for relatively straightforward conservation success.

207 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Tuesday, July 17 4:15 Addressing Climate understanding of the spatial and temporal patterns Change In NCCP Independent Science Advisory of species turnover can determine efficacy of Processes management and restoration activities and is Spencer, Wayne* critical to predicting the effects of disturbance and California’s NCCP Act of 2003 requires Natural climate change. We used a continuous long term Community Conservation Plans to “establish a dataset of fine scale oak woodland understory process for… independent scientific input” to vegetation composition in the Sierra Foothills ensure that plan decisions are informed by best Research and Extension Center collected from available scientific information. I review the 1998-2008. Data were collected from the evolution of independent science advice herbaceous vegetation layer in 66 permanent plots concerning climate change for NCCP plans. located in three watersheds across four categories Attention to climate change effects and adaptation of tree canopy cover. We examined spatial measures has been fairly limited for smaller, less turnover at small and medium scales, comparing complex, and older NCCP plans, but more intense spatial to temporal turnover in understory for larger, more complex, and more recent plans. vegetation composition using the Jaccard index of Central themes include advice that planners closely dissimilarity. Spatial patterns in vegetation monitor the rapidly evolving field of climate- structure were not consistent, with most plots change science; avoid simple “common sense” showing a high and unpredictable degree of generalities, such as that organisms will move up dissimilarity at small scales. However, plots showed and north; make reserve networks as large and a more consistent decline in similarity over time, interconnected as possible across broad with plots predictably more similar when sampled environmental gradients and diverse land facets; more closely in time. The high level of temporal and implement a robust, institutionalized, adaptive consistency and spatial inconsistency suggest that management and monitoring program. NCCP and conservation goals should be spatially explicit and other reserve network plans that emphasize management of oak woodlands will be most ecological connectivity represent a necessary but effective when targeted at small spatial scales. This not sufficient approach to sustaining ecological research is critical to improving our understanding communities and processes during climate change. of the spatial and temporal controls on vegetation During implementation, conservation plans must in Oak woodland habitats which have received remain adept at responding to monitoring results comparatively little research attention, with most and new information emerging from climate- studies of this kind focusing on grasslands. change effects and adaptation research.

Tuesday, July 17 11:15 Results From Over 20 Tuesday, July 17 4:00 Spatial And Temporal Years Of Rangeland Vegetation Monitoring At Understory Species Turnover In A California Point Reyes National Seashore Foothill Oak Woodland Steers, Robert*, National Park Service , Voeller, Spotswood, Erica*, UC Berkeley , Bartolome, Dylan, National Park Service , DiGregoria, John, James, UC Berkeley , Allen-Diaz, Barbara, UC National Park Service , DiGregoria, John, National Berkeley Park Service California’s oak dominated woodlands form Point Reyes National Seashore (PORE) was complex spatial and temporal patterns on foothill established in 1962. Prior to becoming a national landscapes. A key conservation goal is to enhance park unit, much of the landscape was ranched for plant species diversity in the understory, often dairy and beef. The existing cattle operations were using fire and managed grazing. Better continued as leases once the land was transferred 208 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 to the National Park Service and many of the the behaviors that increase their risk for impacts by original ranches are still in operation today. In wind turbines. Preliminary and final results of these 1988, permanent vegetation monitoring plots were studies will be described as well as gaps in the established on 51 rangeland sites located information that will be necessary to make throughout PORE to assess vegetation status and informed decisions about siting wind energy trends. Vegetation sampling has shown that projects and assessing the impacts of those despite large differences in the environmental projects. setting of all sampling sites, grazing practices appear to have homogenized most of the rangelands so that they differ little based on floristic composition. Over the last twenty years of Monday, July 16 Springs Stewardship: An monitoring, exotic cover has increased from about Emerging Environmental Crisis In Point-Source 70 to 80% while native cover has remained stable Biocultural Diversity * at around 10%. In grazed areas, certain exotic Stevens, Lawrence , Ledbetter, Jeri, Springs species like, Avena barbata, Brachypodium Stewardship Institute , Springer, Abraham, Geology distachyon, Bromus diandrus, Holcus lanatus, and Department Romulea rosea var. australis, have increased over Alteration of springs ecosystems has become a time while other exotic species like, Plantago global environmental crisis, warranting local, lanceolata have decreased. Certain woody natives, national and global conservation initiatives. Springs like the shrub Baccharis pilularis, have increased in are ecologically important habitats that support areas where grazing and other disturbances have high bio-cultural diversity and endemism, including ceased but have decreased slightly where grazing 20 percent of USA endangered species and more has persisted. These results illustrate how grazing than $10 billion/yr in water sales revenue. Springs practices can promote ruderal, exotic species and are inadequately protected, poorly mapped, and limit successional processes from taking place. insufficiently understood, and few remain ecologically intact. We developed geographic and ecological inventory and assessment tools to enhance springs stewardship, integrating existing Tuesday, July 17 12:00 Marine Birds And methodologies to support collaboration, avoid Offshore Wind ? What Do We Know? duplication of effort, and encourage research. We Steinkamp, Melanie*, U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service provide a relational database to facilitate inventory In the past, because of the logistical challenges data entry, archival, assessment, and landscape associated with studies and surveys of marine birds analysis, including georeferencing, geomorphology, in their pelagic habitats, most studies in the soils, flora, fauna, water quality, flow, indigenous western Atlantic have focused on their breeding resources, human impacts, and administration. We colonies, leaving scientists and planners with also conduct springs ecosystem inventory, relatively little confidence in their knowledge about assessment, and restoration workshops for species use of and habitat needs within marine resource stewards, including professional habitats. Various proposals to locate offshore wind geologists and hydrologists, federal land energy projects along the U.S. Atlantic coast over management agencies (e.g., the U.S. Forest Service, the past few years have launched a set of new the National Park Service), non-governmental studies and surveys of marine birds in their organizations, Native American Tribes, and offshore habitats. These studies and surveys will interested individuals. Our website at help scientists, managers, and planners better www.springstewardship.org provides a portal to understand marine bird distribution and information about global springs stewardship, data abundance in their marine environments, as well as collection protocols, methods for locating 209 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 unmapped springs, a manual for accessing and Monday, July 16 4:15 Acoustic Behavior Of using the database, and articles and issues about Risso's Dolphins And Fin Whales As Part Of A springs ecology. Behavioral Response Study Off Southern California Stimpert, Alison* , Southall, Brandon , Calambokidas, John, Cascadia Research Collective , Monday, July 16 4:15 Resurveys Of Historic Pika Tyack, Peter , Moretti, David , Hildebrand, John, Locations In Northern California: Summary And Scripps Institution Of Oceanography , Kyburg, Critique Christopher , Carlson, Rowena , Friedlaender, Ari , * Stewart, Joseph , California Dept. Of Fish And Falcone, Erin, Cascadia Research Collective , Game , Perrine, John, California Polytechnic State Schorr, Greg, Cascadia Research Collective , University , Wright, David, California Department Douglas, Annie, Cascadia Research Collective , Of Fish And Game , Massing, Cody, California DeRuiter, Stacy , Goldbogen, Jeremy, Cascadia Polytechnic State University Research Collective , Barlow, Jay We summarize recent resurveys of historic pika Marine vertebrates rely heavily on acoustics for locations in northern California conducted by 3 navigation, foraging, predator evasion, and separate research teams. Pika sites were deduced communication. Increasing anthropogenic noise in from historic field notes and museum specimens, the ocean may affect the behavior and potentially and were surveyed to determine if currently the health of many marine species, in particular occupied by pika. In the Yosemite region (2002- marine mammals. The Southern California 2005), 8 of 9 historic pika sites were occupied; Behavioral Response Study (SOCAL BRS) is a five- extirpation at the lowest site suggested a year, interdisciplinary scientific research project retraction of pika’s lower elevation limit. However, studying a variety of marine mammal species in the 9th historic site, at the same elevation, was biologically important areas throughout the subsequently found to be occupied, erasing the southern California Bight. It focuses on whether apparent pattern of retraction. In the Lassen region and how marine mammals change their diving, (2009-10), 12 of 19 historic sites were occupied. foraging, or social behavior when they hear Extirpation of a few peripheral sites drove the different sounds. This knowledge will help pattern of elevation and longitudinal contraction. implement management strategies for noise In a survey centered on the Lake Tahoe region regulation in the ocean, and will provide a better (2009-10), 15 of 17 historic sites were occupied, scientific basis for estimating risk and minimizing with the 2 abandoned sites representing the effects of active sonar for the U.S. Navy and smallest talus areas resurveyed. All 3 surveys regulatory agencies. During the first two years of documented additional occupied pika locations in the project, 101 tags have been attached to 79 these regions, in some cases expanding the individuals of 12 marine mammal species, including geographic or ecological range compared to the several that have not been previously studied using historic sites. The teams are currently examining related technologies. Here we provide an overview the correlation between pika persistence and of the project, and present data describing acoustic multiple environmental variables, e.g. elevation, foraging behavior of Risso’s dolphins (Grampus patch size, local temperatures, and historic climate. griseus; 8 tagged animals for a total of 35.1 hours) However, differentiating stochastic and sound production behavior of fin whales metapopulation dynamics from deterministic (Balaenoptera physalus; 7 tagged animals including responses to environmental change can be over 300 calls), which are two of the priority challenging. We will discuss the limitations of such species. resurveys and the implications for pika monitoring and conservation. 210 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Tuesday, July 17 12:30 Estimating Time Of displaces endemic communities by lowering levels Divergence For Two Evolutionarily Significant of mycorrhizal fungi essential to native plant Units Of A Protected Fish Species. nutrient acquisition. Consequently, the diets of Stockwell, Craig* , Heilveil, Jeffrey, SUNY College arthropods using native organisms as primary food At Oneonta , Purcell, Kevin, North Dakota State sources may be disrupted by A. petiolata in a forest University understory ecosystem. In order to measure these Delineating conservation units is an important task specific trophic disturbances in established pine for the management and conservation of rare forest ecosystems in Virginia, we compared ratios species. Methods for delineating conservation units of stable isotopes of carbon (?13C) and nitrogen often require long periods of isolation and the time (?15N) in arthropods found in both A. petiolata- of isolation for many rare taxa are often inferred invaded and un-invaded regions. While generalist from limited geological information. Such is the predators (order Opiliones and families Formicidae case for the White Sands pupfish, which consists of and Lycosidae) were all significantly enriched in two native populations previously designated as both isotopes compared to consumers (families the Malpais Spring and Salt Creek Evolutionarily Noctuidae, Collembola, and Aphidoidea) in both Significant Units. The geologic record indicates invaded and un-invaded regions, A. petiolata these two populations were presumably isolated significantly altered their relative consumption. approximately 5000 years ago, but these Isotopic mixing models highlight enriched ?15N populations may have actually diverged within the values of Lycosidae in invaded areas, indicating a last few centuries, due to altered hydrology significant increase in intraguild predation and associated with over-grazing. We examined cannibalism. These shifts are likely due to molecular diversity for these two populations using predators changing prey sources induced by A. 13 microsatellite loci and applied an Approximate petiolata, and provide further evidence for Bayesian Computation analysis to estimate long- cascading trophic effects of invasions. This research term effective population size (Ne) and time of underscores the need for examination of multiple divergence. Our reference table consisted of isotope datasets to differentiate complex nutrient 500,000 simulated data sets, with each record changes in the presence of invasive species. based on 14 summary statistics. The indicated time of divergence was 3000 generations (1500-3000 years) with a Ne of 842 and 1110, for Malpais Spring and Salt Creek, respectively. These findings Monday, July 16 3:15 Historical And Cultural suggest that Malpais Spring and Salt Creek were Ecology To Inform Conservation Planning For A isolated for a least a few millennia, and thus Central California Coastal Watershed: A Case warrant continued management as separate Study From The Pajaro River * conservation units. Striplen, Chuck , San Francisco Estuary Institute/Amah Mutsun Tribal Band , Grossinger, Robin, San Francisco Estuary Institute , Beller, Erin, San Francisco Estuary Institute , Salomon, Micha Tuesday, July 17 8:50 Effects Of Garlic Mustard The Pajaro River, flowing through the counties of Invasion On Arthropod Diets Using Stable Isotope Santa Clara, San Benito, Santa Cruz, and Monterey, Analyses has undergone dramatic modification in the last Strand, Sarah*, Virginia Military Institute , Dehart, two hundred years, including significant reduction Pieter, Virginia Military Institute in the ability of the upper basin to retain Invasive species have long been known to floodwater, reduction of important, regional detrimentally alter native communities. Garlic wetland resources, and wholesale changes to mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is one invasive which terrestrial botanical assemblages. Planning and 211 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 conservation efforts to date have taken place in the are influential actors, including regulators, policy- absence of high resolution data on the historic makers, technology developers, scientists and [reference] form and function of the watershed. In engineers, and community leaders who work with order to aid land use planners in their efforts to environmental advocacy groups and relevant resolve critical management issues in the upper businesses. We used thematic analysis, working watershed, we assembled hundreds of historical from categories identified in the Socio-Political resources, synthesizing them into an analysis of the Evaluation of Energy Deployment (SPEED) historic diversity and distribution of the area's framework, for preliminary categorization of freshwater wetlands, riparian communities, and results (1). We contextualized the focus group terrestrial habitats. Our research revealed that analysis within SG development across three more than 40% of the contemporary channel electricity transmission regions within North network was artificially constructed using new America: Midwest Independent System Operator alignments; oak savannas have been diminished by (13 US states; Manitoba & Ontario, Ca), New 98%; most of the valley floor stream reaches were England Independent System Operator (6 US historically intermittent; and open riparian states; Quebec & New Brunswick, Ca), and ERCOT. savannas and woodlands dominated by California Results enabled us to outline the social networks sycamore once characterized the braided stream associated with SG implementation in ERCOT and channels of South Valley, as opposed to the dense better articulate the socio-political context across cottonwood-dominated riparian forests common North America. 1. Stephens, J.C., et al. 2008. Socio- (even managed for) today. This study was also our Political Evaluation of Energy Deployment (SPEED). first effort to work closely with a local Indian Tribe Technological Forecasting and Social Change 75: (Amah Mutsun), who made some of their 1224-1246. ecological knowledge and cultural narratives available for this planning-oriented historical ecology study, and which helped springboard the tribe into a much larger regional role in Tuesday, July 17 12:00 Communicating Newly conservation. Emerging Science On The Hill: Ocean Acidification As A Case Study Suatoni, Lisa*, The Natural Resources Defense Council Monday, July 16 Smart Grid: An Analysis Of How One important role of environmental NGOs is to Socio-Political Contexts Shape Energy Technology, communicate scientific knowledge, in plain Development, And Policy language, to decision makers and the public. The Strubb, Adrienne* , Peterson, Tarla Rai, Texas goals - to be clear, honest, and compelling - are A&M University , Stephens, Jennie, Clark University straightforward. The execution is often much more , Wilson, Elizabeth, University Of Minnesota complicated. This is particularly true when The energy sector must integrate logics from communicating about newly emerging diverse stakeholders in responding to urgent environmental problems, such as ocean challenges of climate change. Smart Grid (SG) acidification. By following the arc of how NGOs electricity systems are critical components of this have communicated about ocean acidification on response. To better understand how socio-political the Hill, this talk will examine common challenges contexts shape visions of SG, and thereby influence and pitfalls of getting the attention of our decision energy policy, we conducted focus groups and makers while communicating new science in a interviews with influential actors involved in a pilot straightforward manner. project for SG deployment in Austin, TX [Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)]. Informants 212 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Tuesday, July 17 9:45 Managing Ecosystems To forests, agricultural, residential, and urban. We Be Resilient In The Face Of Change recorded 11 in forested streams and two in other Suding, Katharine*, University Of California habitats. A MANOVA revealed that abundance and Berkeley , Hallett, Lauren, University Of California identity of both adults and larvae varied Berkeley significantly among land-use types, indicating that A major conservation goal is to manage systems to riparian land-use is a useful predictor of species be resilient to future change. However, a composition of stream salamanders. A one-way longstanding challenge is to identifying the ANOVA showed that the abundance of larval and appropriate management goals and strategies that adult Desmognathus fuscus and Eurycea increase resilience, particularly in the face of strong gluttolineata did not differ significantly among human impact. We address this challenge in three land-use types, and that of larval Eurycea differed ways. First, we review how resilience has been only marginally, indicating disturbance-resistance. addressed in the conservation literature, and detail The abundance of other species was significantly major theoretical predictions and assumptions. different among land-use types. We performed an While the importance of ecological processes, such NMDS plotting species and site scores with the first as functional diversity and connectivity, have been two ordination axes (Bray-Curtis distance matrix, widely emphasized, social processes have been less 50 starting configurations, converged after 7 runs) emphasized in ensuring the resilience of which revealed three species assemblages. The ecosystems to change. Then, in a survey of 200 forest assemblage included disturbance avoiders; restoration projects, we ask how actual projects D. quadramacutatus, D. monticola, D. marmoratus, have addressed resilience and future change. Here, D. ocoee, and E. cirrigera. D. fuscus and E. we find that ecological resilience was rarely gluttolineata consisted the disturbance-adapted discussed but the importance of social elements assemblage that dominated the non-forest habitats was often linked with the resilience of the project. and were also present in forested streams. Lastly, we suggest ways the conservation Pseudotriton ruber, P. montanus and Eurycea practitioners can better incorporate resilience wilderi showed intermediate response to riparian objectives, integrating both ecological and social land-use and were recorded in low frequencies in elements. As the world becomes more “novel” and all habitat types. the feasibility of meeting historical benchmarks becomes more uncertain, this integrated resilience framework may help guiding management goals and strategies. Tuesday, July 17 8:30 Science As A Second Language: Getting Science Used By Policymakers, Practitioners And The Public Swanson, Christina*, Natural Resources Defense Tuesday, July 17 11:00 Diversity And Council , Gunther, Andy Distribution Of Salamanders In Stream Ecosystems Conservation scientists share a growing awareness Along A Riparian Land-Use Gradient that our biological resources and the ecosystems Surasinghe, Thilina*, Clemson University , Baldwin, that support them (and us) are increasingly Rob , Scott, Mark, South Carolina Department Of threatened by human activities, including climate Natural Resources change, habitat destruction, harvest and mortality, We investigated the community structure of and a rising tide of toxic chemicals. Many of us stream salamanders along a riparian land-use recognize a disconnect between risks revealed by gradient in Piedmont and Blue Ridge ecoregions of our scientific findings and the relatively SC. We conducted field surveys to record diversity unresponsive actions of policymakers. There is in streams representing four land-use conditions: growing desire among scientists to engage more 213 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 directly in the management and policy arena to herbivory indirectly reduced the plant’s reverse this trend. This presentation introduces the attractiveness to ovipositing seed predators. This symposium, which explores strategies for scientists indirect pathway reduced bud herbivory’s direct to more effectively extend and translate their negative effect by 25%. In the same way, bud research to natural resource management, policy herbivory also reduced pollinator visitation, and the public discourse. Subsequent although the magnitude of this pathway was small. presentations will provide perspectives and case Eustenopus villosus oviposition deterred studies from scientists, lawyers, policy analysts, Chaetorellia succinea oviposition, which is regulators and communications professionals. Our unfortunate because C. succinea is the more objectives are to educate research scientists about voracious of the seed predators. Finally, C. succinea the information and practical needs of resource oviposition indirectly deterred pollinator visitation, managers and policy makers; describe new thereby enhancing its negative effect on the plant. strategies, research and communication tools; This study demonstrates the powerful insights that introduce symposium participants to potential new can be gained from the SEM approach in research, implementation and communication understanding the multiple direct and indirect partners; and lay the groundwork for future interactions among agents and pollinators on an discussions and collaboration. The symposium will invasive weed. close with a facilitated discussion to capture and synthesize the lessons learned and explore next steps to foster and support more effective science “translation” by the conservation biology Tuesday, July 17 9:50 Bird Use Of Non-Native community. Tamarisk In The American Southwest: Complexities, Consequences, And Changing Perceptions Theimer, Tad*, Department Of Biology, Northern Tuesday, July 17 3:30 Complex interactions Arizona University , Sogge, Mark, U.S. Geological among biocontrol agents, pollinators and an Survey , Paxton, Eben, USGS invasive weed: a structural equation modeling The realities and complexities of how non-native approach species interact with and impact native flora, Swope, Sarah* , Parker, Ingrid, University of fauna, and ecosystems are often oversimplified and California issues become framed as a “native good - alien Enemies and mutualists can exert strong impacts bad” argument. As a result, non-native species are on their host plants, directly and indirectly. This frequently vilified and become the targets of phenomenon is especially relevant to biological aggressive control or eradication programs. control of invasive plants because most invaders Tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) is an introduced plant that are attacked by multiple agents. We used has become widely established and is often structural equation modeling (SEM) to quantify the portrayed as a key factor in the decline and effect of two biocontrol agents and generalist reduction of riparian breeding birds in the pollinators on the invasive weed Centaurea American Southwest. However, tamarisk habitats solstitialis, and to identify and quantify the direct are used by many breeding birds and in some river and indirect interaction pathways among them. systems tamarisk supports larger local and regional Surprisingly, bud herbivory had a larger total effect bird populations than would occur in its absence. on the weed’s fecundity than did seed predation by Tamarisk is also used as migratory stopover habitat both agents combined. SEM also revealed by many bird species. The recognition of tamarisk important indirect interactions: By reducing the as habitat for birds does not mean that all tamarisk number of inflorescences plants produced, bud habitats are equal in value to native habitats, nor 214 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 that tamarisk serves as suitable habitat in all cases. watershed (upland, overland flow processes such But it is time to recognize that for many bird as sedimentation). We will demonstrate three species, and likely other wildlife, there are many important advances using a state-level case study locations at which tamarisk has habitat value and (for Colorado): incorporating hydrologic data at a contributes ecological services. Indeed, in some management-relevant scale (1:24,000); modeling areas tamarisk may be the only option for a reach-scale variability (~20x river wetted width); functioning riparian forest. This evolution of and determining bounded alluvial valley and other perspective of tamarisk as bird habitat is becoming factors important for groundwater-streamwater mirrored in other aspects of the tamarisk issue, and exchange. leading to riparian habitat management alternatives that go beyond the simple elimination of tamarisk. Wednesday, July 18 12:15 Ecological Networks & Animal Migration; Building Bridges For Transboundary Wildlife Conservation Tuesday, July 17 10:15 Detailed Measures Of Thiele, Monika*, United Nations Environment Landscape Integrity And Connectivity For Programme , Kuehl, Aline, UNEP/CMS Freshwater Systems In The West The ranges of migratory species are too large to Theobald, David*, Colorado State University , Salo, put them entirely under protection. The effective Jessica, Colorado State University , Harrison-Atlas, conservation of migratory species is dependent on Dylan, Colorado State University , Mueller, David, the identification and management of critical sites Colorado State University , Reed, Sarah, Colorado and networks. Connectivity within the ecological State University network needs to be maintained, which tends to be Today, freshwater ecosystems in the western US more challenging for terrestrial and riparian are highly modified by human activities, and species moving in a two-dimensional environment. tomorrow they are likely to be stressed even Case studies are presented to illustrate the further by growing human populations, increasing challenges of critical site network identification for vehicle miles travelled, and changing precipitation animals on the move and highlight sites and regimes (amount, form, and timing). To assist taxonomic groups where further attention is conserving, mitigating, and restoring these systems urgently required. Examples include the migration from likely impacts requires consistent, of grassland birds in the Americas, marine standardized information about freshwater mammals in the Eastern Pacific and the Beluga systems at multiple scales (from watershed to river whale (Delphinapterus leucas) in Canada's High network to within-reach) and need to be are Arctic, where a planned iron mine and related relevant to a process-level understanding of shipping traffic are threatening the connectivity of ecological integrity of freshwater systems. These the ecological network. This presentation will data are critical for broad-scale, integrating efforts discuss the application of spatial planning tools and such as the Western Governor’s Association’s integrated management approaches to conserving Crucial Habitat Assessment Tool. We will describe a species regionally, within the context of UNEP’s modeling approach that builds on previous work, Convention on the Conservation of Migratory called the Western Riparian Threat Assessment, to Species of Wild Animals (CMS). map and model freshwater ecosystems by characterizing factors that fundamentally influence riverine and riparian functioning: in-stream (i.e., flow regime, longitudinal processes), near-stream (riparian/valley-bottom; lateral connectivity), and 215 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 Insufficient Regulation And Monday, July 16 9:45 Moving To Action: Experts Overuse Of Maui'S Marine Protected Areas May Identify Science Priorities In The North Pacific Reduce Benthic Biodiversity Landscape Conservation Cooperative's Marine Thomasson, Kelly*, California State University, And Freshwater Ecosystems Sacramento Tillmann, Patricia*, National Wildlife Federation , The waters of Maui County are essential to the Siemann, Daniel, National Wildlife Federation , livelihood of its residents. In addition to sustenance Whitely Binder, Lara, University Of Washington value, annual revenue from international tourism Climate Impacts Group and marine activities keeps the island's economy The North Pacific Landscape Conservation afloat. Overuse of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), Cooperative (NPLCC) is uniquely positioned to meet due to their appeal as aesthetically vivid, the region’s need for landscape-scale climate conservation districts, has potential to degrade the change adaptation and interdisciplinary cross- very systems that MPAs are intended to protect. boundary collaboration. To assist the NPLCC in its Marine ecotourism activities have been previously near- and long-term prioritization of applied indicated as factors involved in coral reef science work, we are convening twelve focus degradation. Maui Counties MPAs are exploited as groups with over 150 natural resource managers, ideal eco-tourism destinations and potentially used conservation practitioners, and scientists to to a higher degree than non-conserved areas and examine the challenges and applied science needs therefore are more prone to degradation. Here, I associated with managing marine and freshwater attempted to establish whether or not there was a species, habitats, and ecosystems in light of current notable decline in benthic substrate biodiversity in and projected climate change impacts. Initial the MPA-managed areas of Maui County relative to qualitative data analysis of focus group and survey that of non-conserved areas. Based on biodiversity responses suggests applied science needs fall into indices, I hypothesized that there would be lower three categories: identifying management priorities benthic biodiversity at MPA sites relative to those given current and projected climate change sites with no protected-status, within the impacts, data and science targeted to climate boundaries of Maui County. Photographic quadrats change questions, and incorporating climate- of benthic organisms and substrate from 4 related uncertainty into daily work and long-term accessible conservation sites and 8 planning processes. Three non-science needs are biogeographically similar controls were quantified also emerging for the region, and can be and assessed through the use of biodiversity summarized as capacity needs, assistance indices at two depth ranges. Using MANOVAs, I addressing institutional and cultural barriers, and found significantly lower biodiversity indices enhanced coordination, collaboration, and (Shannon Diversity or H', Species Richness, Percent communication among natural resource Cover) in MPAs relative to control areas. Given the professionals and climate change scientists. The lengthy establishment of MPAs in Maui County and NPLCC will use this information to select science the importance of marine preservation for the priorities optimized to meet the needs of those aesthetics, economy and biology of Maui county, working in the region and best-suited to facilitating these results suggest the need for change in the landscape-scale climate change adaptation and level of MPA usage and regulation of that usage. cross-boundary collaboration.

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Monday, July 16 Potential Effective Impact Of Monday, July 16 8:45 Salvage Logging And Post- Land Cover Changes On Stream Ecology Fire Management Effects On Occupancy Of A Timm, Raymond* , Knutson, Christopher, King Vulnerable Indicator Species, The Black-Backed County Department Of Natural Resources , Woodpecker Lucchetti, Gino, King County Department Of Tingley, Morgan*, Princeton University , Siegel, Natural Resources , Gregerson, Christopher , Rodney, Institute For Bird Populations , Wilkerson, Latterell, Joshua , Wilhelm, Jo , Fore, Leska, Robert, Institute For Bird Populations Statistical Design The effectiveness of indicator species is predicated Puget Sound lowland streams that remain on the ability to detect population-level effects in undeveloped contribute substantially to the an unbiased way. The Black-backed Woodpecker region’s overall biological productivity and (Picoides arcticus) is a management indicator biodiversity. Development represents the single species for post-fire snags in western North most important and controllable factor that could America but its occurrence is potentially affected degrade ecological conditions in remaining by salvage logging and other snag removal undeveloped areas. The goal of this study was to operations. To investigate this interaction, we used establish and implement a framework for hierarchical occupancy models on a multi-year quantifying environmental responses to dataset of woodpecker occurrence at 67 fires in the development under new (2005) land use Sierra Nevada and southern Cascade Mountains. regulations and identify where/ if regulations might We found that the environmental characteristics of be ineffective and need to be changed. To measure occupied sites and sites with snag removal the impacts of changing landcovers in developing overlapped substantially, obscuring potentially rural areas of King County, Washington, we hand negative interactions. However, negative effects of digitized high-resolution aerial photographs (bi- post-fire snag removal were demonstrated through annually 2005-2012), and quantified the hydrologic a positive relationship between woodpecker distance of upstream land cover changes to study occurrence and snag abundance. The finding that sites at the bottom of nine study watersheds. Land both woodpeckers and snag removal operations cover changes were analyzed as discrete transitions preferentially select sites with the same from one type to another and in two broad characteristics reveals important tradeoffs in the categories: recovering or degrading. These management of this conservation target. More transition values were then compared against generally, we caution that overlap in measures of habitat complexity, water quality, environmental space between land management various macroinvertebrate community metrics, and actions and habitat selection by wildlife may pose discharge characteristics to test their relative important inferential roadblocks in the ability to degree of relatedness with land cover changes. fairly assess potentially deleterious effects. Where Finally, distance-weighted impacts were such overlap occurs, the extent to which honest incorporated into a model of potential effective conservation choices can be made will depend on impact (PEI). To estimate PEI, all known activity the magnitude of environmental overlap and within study watersheds was tracked relative to whether it is detected and incorporated into the potential to either degrade or improve analyses. conditions and qualitatively rated for the potential to cause an effect based on type and area of disturbance, site sensitivity and proximity to a receiving stream.

217 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 The Effect Of Socio-Economic Protection Act clarifying the authority of the Costs And Future Climate Change Scenarios On Department of Agriculture to assert jurisdiction Conservation Planning In Madagascar over all non-human members of the animal Tondrasoa, Tendro*, University Of California kingdom. As the impacts of a changing climate Berkeley continue along with expansion of the global Recommendations from multiple conservation economy, we can expect dispersal of new diseases planning workshops has resulted in the current and conflict with our conservation efforts. We must locations of protected areas in Madagascar. Past develop an expanded discipline in disease ecology reserve planning workshops were based solely on to assist with the conservation challenges of future species habitat and important conservation sites. wildlife disease threats. However, we cannot Landscape costs received little to no attention. In ignore the regulatory constraints of human and this research we used the reserve selection livestock health authorities as we design and software Marxan to identify the most cost-effective implement our conservation strategies. Should we planning units. We considered a total of 1141 choose to ignore these regulatory authorities, fauna and flora species habitats and 11 important future conservation assessments, designs and conservation sites. Landscape cost maps were strategies will risk failure. generated using current rice field distribution data, fire occurrence data, and deforestation data. This paper discusses how the introduction of landscape costs changes current priority reserve areas and Wednesday, July 18 9:10 Mapping San Francisco how future climate change scenarios change the Coastal Fog For Conservation * selection of reserve. The paper also identifies new Torregrosa, Alicia , Western Geographic Science reserve areas that meet the government target of Center, U.S. Geological Survey 10 million hectares of protected area. Advective fog moderates coastal climates in California, alters evapotranspiration rates, provides substantial moisture for coastal plants including redwoods, and modifies stream temperatures. If Monday, July 16 12:00 Brucellosis, Disease climate change induces temporal or spatial Regulations, Agency Conflicts And The alterations in fog distributions, this impact will Diminishment Of Conservation Opportunities likely be a major driver of landscape change and Torbit, Stephen* will also affect California water supply and energy The conflict surrounding brucellosis in Greater use. Coastal fog is a complex phenomenon with Yellowstone’s wild ungulates and its impacts on the many measurable parameters including extent and viability of the area’s cattle industry continues frequency of cloud cover; cloud deck thickness, unabated. Public concern regarding Chronic heterogeneity, base height above land, density, Wasting Disease began to intensify in 2002 and the liquid water content, and thermal properties. human health aspects of Transmissible Spongiform These variations span multiple scales and processes Encephalopathies have stimulated significant such as land-surface interactions and linkages to concerns about transmissibility to humans. Public synoptic weather and ocean patterns. The concerns regarding the potential for an H5N1 conservation community needs useable data to outbreak has focused the world’s attention on quantify the regional effect of fog on the migrating waterfowl. The conflicting viewpoints hydrologic and thermodynamic components of and authorities of human and livestock health ecological, biological, and economic systems in officials and conservationists regarding diseases California. To address this need a multidisciplinary have been detrimental to wildlife conservation. In collaboration of ecologists, climatologists, satellite 2002, Congress passed the Animal Health meteorologists, fog modelers, statisticians, and 218 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 natural resource managers are working to derive more holistic image and understanding of the ecologically relevant fog indices from multiple marine environment. existing data sources: satellite (AVHRR, GOES, Modis, Landsat), NOAA buoys, and airport and meteorological stations. This presentation will highlight methods and preliminary fog Tuesday, July 17 11:15 The Wildlife Picture measurement indices along with a description of Index: A Conservation Tool For Monitoring the conceptual design for a West Coast fog Biodiversity * monitoring network. Townsend, Susan , Wildlife Ecology & Consulting , Galtbalt, Batbayar, Steppe Forward Program , Monday, July 16 Ocean Observing Technologies Myagmar, Munkhjargal, Steppe Forward Program , For Monitoring The Effectiveness Of California's Baillie, Jonathan, Zoological Society Of London North Central Coast Marine Protected Areas The Wildlife Picture Index (WPI) is a composite Tougher, Brendan*, University Of San Francsico , biodiversity indicator based on the geometric mean Mcgillivary, Phil of occupancy estimates derived from camera trap Coastal oceans are in decline because of natural sampling at the landscape level. Camera trapping and anthropogenic changes in the terrestrial and targets medium to large sized terrestrial marine environment. National and state vertebrates in forested and grassland ecosystems. regulations are being established to restore ocean As a case study from 2009 to 2011, we assessed ecosystems. In 2010 regulations on marine how well Protected Areas were functioning to activities for California’s North Central Marine conserve wildlife (biodiversity) in Mongolia. Protected Area (MPA) region came into effect as Mongolia supports a rich ungulate and carnivore part of the California Marine Life Protection Act fauna, has low human population density, and has (MLPA). The MLPA establishes MPAs to conserve established protected areas, presenting ideal marine biological diversity, protect habitats, aid in conditions to test this new conservation tool for the recovery of depleted fisheries and promote assessing trends in biodiversity. Our effort resulted recreation, study and education. California’s MLPA in 27,165 trap nights producing 416,300 requires marine environment monitoring to photographs from 5 study areas in total. We were determine if management initiatives are successful able to establish a baseline for each study area and and the marine ecosystems are improving. Ocean calculate and plot the WPI for the one site for observing technologies can be used to improve which we had three seasons of data. For the monitoring changes in the marine environment, remaining sites, we present species specific both spatially and temporally, thereby allowing baseline occupancy estimates stratified based on managers to make more informed decisions. management zones. Thus far, we have Whereas a variety of ocean monitoring documented occupancy for heretofore undetected technologies exist, in some areas specific species. Additionally, we found increased levels of monitoring tools can be more effective than human disturbance in the most protected areas elsewhere. For managers to clearly understand the that correlated with decreased occupancy for success or failure of an MPA it is necessary that certain rare species. We show how this approach proper monitoring techniques be used to provide has proven to be cost effective and easily the necessary data. Within the twenty-one MPAs implemented in assessing biodiversity and the that make up California’s North Central MPA region status of individual species at a landscape level. new monitoring technologies could be added to Finally, we discuss how these results could be technologies now in use to improve data collection applied to improving protected area management over varying time and space scales to enable a and conservation actions.

219 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 Selfing And Inbreeding In A Monday, July 16 Remote Sensing-Based Rare Orchid (Platanthera praeclara) From A Approaches For Residual Dry Matter Monitoring Fragmented Grassland Landscape Across Rangeland Conservation Easements Travers, Steven* , Harris, Marion, NDSU , Tsalyuk, Miriam*, UC Berkeley , Koy, Kevin, UC Anderson, Kirk, NDSU , Vitt, Patti, Chicago Berkeley - Geospatial Innovation Facility , Kelly, Botanical Garden , Ross, Andrew, NDSU Maggi, Dept. Of Environmental Sciences, Policy & Habitat fragmentation can reduce the viability of Management ,UC Berkeley , Butterfield, Scott, The populations of plants by isolating them and Nature Conservancy California Field Office promoting mating among closely related California’s rangelands are important conservation individuals and selfing within individuals. The target since they possess significant biodiversity, problem is particularly acute for plants that provide provide ecosystem services and allow habitat rewards to pollinators and thus encourage connectivity. Residual dry matter (RDM) standards geitenogamy and local visitation. The Western are broadly used by conservation organizations, Prairie Fringed orchid (Platanthera praeclara) is a federal and state agencies, and private landowners model system for studying inbreeding in rare, to monitor grazing impacts on rangelands’ rewarding orchids because it is federally sustainability. In California, The Nature threatened species that has declined with Conservancy uses ground-based approaches to fragmentation of its native biome, the tallgrass monitor RDM, which can be time intensive, prairie. Moreover, they have one of the largest expensive, and difficult to replicate annually across nectar spurs and nectar rewards of any orchid. We ~300,000 acres of conservation easements. The conducted a series of experiments on P. praeclara Conservancy, in collaboration with UC Berkeley, is to: 1) compare the seed and fruit characteristics of evaluating whether satellite remote sensing selfed and outcross flowers, 2) estimate levels of technologies can be used to increase the efficiency, selfing in natural populations, and 3) quantify the effectiveness, and scientific robustness of current genetic health of populations of the Western RDM monitoring efforts. We tested remote Prairie Fringed Orchid. By hand pollinating flowers sensing-based RDM monitoring approaches across of bagged plants over the course of two growing Simon Newman Ranch from 2000-2011 using seasons we found that fruit characteristics of selfed MODIS satellite imagery. We found a strong and outcrossed flowers do not differ but that seed correlation between RDM and three different mass was smaller from self pollinations. Moreover, MODIS-based vegetation indices: the normalized natural pollinations resulted in a large proportion difference vegetation index (NDVI), lead area index of fruits with seed characteristics more typical of (LAI), and fraction of photosynthetically active selfed than outcross seeds suggesting that radiation (fPAR). NDVI is a strong predictor of geitenogamy or selfing within a flower are not biomass and tightly related to precipitation. These atypical in this species. Analysis of microsatellite results demonstrate the potential utility of remote marker data from eight populations of P. praeclara sensing for RDM monitoring across rangeland indicate relatively high levels of homozygosity conservation easements. Future efforts will be suggesting moderate inbreeding. We conclude that focused on testing other satellite-based vegetation the persistence of small populations of this species indices that would allow direct quantification of is potentially at risk due to negative demographic RDM in the fall. effects that can result from inbreeding and may have contributed to its decline.

220 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 Overcoming Recovery serious, and longest-standing threats to the health Challenges In Ontario, Canada Through of aquatic ecosystems in the US. According to USGS Collaborative Partnerships, Management And estimates, non-point sources are responsible for Research 90% of nitrogen and 75% of phosphorous in surface Tuininga, Ken* waters, many of which are significantly impaired by Canada’s Species at Risk Act has spurred increased these nutrients and associated algal blooms, recovery planning, monitoring and implementation oxygen deficiencies, etc. Controlling NPS nutrient activities for threatened and endangered species pollution has proven to be among the toughest and across Canada. This poster highlights some of the arguably most frustrating policy and regulatory challenges and opportunities encountered in challenges in contemporary environmental implementing recovery actions for several federally regulation. This situation is largely attributable to listed species at risk in Ontario. Successes include the administrative and political dynamics of the discovery of new populations of species at risk, fragmented regulatory authority with significant returns of captive-bred birds to breed, increased state and local control over highly organized and knowledge about survivorship of species on the politically powerful polluters, especially agricultural breeding and wintering grounds, and habitat polluters. This paper develops a conceptually new restoration. These successes have been achieved policy approach to overcoming the political through stewardship, research, adaptive challenges of controlling non-point sources of management, and productive multi-stakeholder aquatic nutrient pollution. It applies a model of and multi-agency partnerships. For example, combined legal and ecological analysis (a model recovery efforts for the endangered Loggerhead developed in a separate paper) to demonstrate Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus migrans) will be that federally listed species which are negatively outlined, including early results from a captive affected by NPS nutrient pollution can be breeding program; habitat restoration efforts; strategically used to strengthen and expand monitoring and research efforts to locate wintering controls on such pollution in many US water areas, and effects of variable winter conditions in bodies. Specifically, we show how Sections 7 and 9 the United States on survivorship and recruitment. of the ESA can be leveraged against currently Challenges faced in recovery efforts for this species underperforming federal and state controls on NPS were assessed through scientific reviews of the first pollution to attain stricter and better enforced five years of the shrike program. The reviews regulation of such pollution. helped inform decisions about allocating limited funding resources and determining the level of monitoring (i.e. comprehensive colour banding) necessary to measure success. Conservation Wednesday, July 18 4:00 Evaluating The Quality experiences with other species (e.g., Piping Plover, Of Citizen-Scientist Data On Pollinator Kirtland’s Warbler) will also be shared. Communities Ullmann, Katharina*, Dept Of Entomology, UC Davis , Kremen, Claire, ESPM, UC Berkeley Insect pollinators provide critical services to natural Wednesday, July 18 3:30 The Seemingly and agricultural systems. As such, pollinator Intractable Problem Of Non-Point Source Water declines are cause for concern. Despite their Pollution: Could The Endangered Species Act Offer recognized value, long-term studies for most A Solution? pollinating taxa are lacking and existing data is Tzankova, Zdravka*, UCSC patchy over space and time. Citizen scientists may Nutrient pollution from non-point sources (NPS be able to bridge this data gap. However, their pollution) is one of the most pervasive, most effectiveness in doing so will depend on the quality 221 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 of their data. We developed a citizen scientist management. Species ranges were updated and monitoring protocol and taught 13 citizen scientists mapped from recent surveys and compared to the how to observe and identify floral visitors at the geographical distribution of available habitats, resolution of orders and families (e.g. bee, wasp, human developments, and invasive mammal fly) and, for bees (superfamily: Apoidea), to family, species. Ecological competition from black rats genus or species. To assess data quality we (Rattus rattus), and predation from wild dogs compared citizen scientist observational data from (Canis lupus familiaris) and wild cats (Felis silvestris 17 sites with professional data collected using catus) were identified as major threats to almiquí standard, specimen based, netting and pan and hutia populations, especially for several rare trapping techniques. We found that higher level hutia species that are restricted to small islands taxonomic composition, honey bee (Apis mellifera) and cays. We find that greater organization and abundance, non-Apis bee abundance, bee richness, planning is needed to control pest species and bee community similarity were positively populations, along with targeted protection of correlated. However, citizen scientists only intact forest habitat across the archipelago. We observed about half of the species collected by also highlight recent studies that link hutias with professional scientists. This suggests that while the diverse radiation of Neotropical spiny rats, and citizen science data may document broader trends place almiquís as one of the most primitive in floral visitor abundance, richness and similarity, mammal lineages, as a motivation for conserving finer resolution data (e.g. at the species level) may these evolutionarily unique species. be less reliable. These findings have important implications for conservation professionals interested in developing citizen science projects. Tuesday, July 17 12:15 An Extendable System For Climate Change And Ecosystem Impact Evaluation Monday, July 16 Biogeography And Urich, Peter*, CLIMsystems Ltd , Li, Yinpeng, Conservation Of Cuba's Endemic Non-Flying CLIMsystems Ltd Mammals Population and development pressures will, in all Upham, Nathan*, University Of Chicago; Field likelihood, continue to grow at a rapid rate. This Museum Of Natural History , Borroto-Páez, Rafael, process could result in unprecedented risks to Instituto De Ecología Y Sistemática ecosystems from climate change impacts, such as The Cuban archipelago is one of the world’s sea level rise, storm surge, extreme rainfall and biodiversity hotspots, consisting of over 4000 temperature events, and cascading secondary islands and the greatest floral and faunal diversity effects. A prototype toolkit to support policy- of any area in the West Indies. Cuba also hosts the making and planning based on the Global most introduced and invasive species in the region, Environment and National Information Evaluation contributing to 26 recorded species extinctions of System (GENIES) has been developed that focuses endemic mammals since the late Quaternary (7 bat on the core issues of adaptation, mitigation, risk, species and 19 non-flying mammals). Only 11 living and economics of climate change and how they species of non-flying mammals remain from Cuba’s interrelate with aspects of water, ecosystems, endemic fauna, including the shrew-like almiquí energy, the built environment, transport and (Solenodon cubanus), and 10 species of hutias waste. While recognizing the plethora of (rodents in the family Capromyidae). Here we focus methodological perspectives that pertain to each on the biogeographic patterns and relevant sector, a system dynamics method is presented, conservation concerns for these non-flying species, which lends itself to integrated assessment, given with the goal to identify priorities for habitat its flexibility and ease of extension and revision as 222 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 new policy and planning questions emerge. The conservation targets based on species-habitat framework design starts with a clear definition of a relationships. problem and then draws together the appropriate models and data, to enable relationships to be defined and processed in a scientifically robust manner to evaluate adaptation and mitigation Monday, July 16 12:20 How Can Conservation options. The tool can provide indicative Science Create A Bio-Logical Capitol And Biological assessments of risks and potential costs and Capital? * benefits of different adaptation options that could Van Schyndel, Zoe , The Evergreen State College be applied to the risks posed by climate change. SYM – 13 Investing Capital for Bio-Logical Capitol Zoë Van Schyndel, CFA Member of The Faculty The Evergreen State College Sustainable Investing has been one of the fastest growing parts of the Wednesday, July 18 3:00 Variation In Long-Term investment world for several years. From its roots Threshold Responses To Habitat Availability in shareowner activism and community van der Hoek, Yntze*, College Of Staten investment, socially responsible investing (SRI) has Island/CUNY , Renfrew, Rosalind, The Vermont broadened to include environmental, social, and Center For Ecostudies , Manne, Lisa, College Of corporate governance (ESG) criteria, As sustainable Staten Island investment research becomes more sophisticated, The minimum amount of habitat needed in a the strategy's potential for long-term out landscape for a species to persist has been a widely performance increases and its ability to influence recognized conservation target. Several studies society is far more likely. Sustainable investing has have identified habitat thresholds below which the been endorsed by the United Nations in two forms probability of persistence declines rapidly, but as – 1) The United Nations Principles for Responsible yet little is known of the extent to which thresholds Investment, which has over 8 trillion dollars of vary spatially and between species. However, we pension funds and other large portfolios pledged to do know that characteristics specific to the study be guided according to its principles and its own region (e.g. level of fragmentation) or species (e.g. Secretariat, much like a treaty coordinating body, level of specialization) are considered determining and 2) The United Nations Environment Program’s factors of the minimum habitat requirements for Finance Initiative, which was represented in SCB’s long-term persistence. In order to determine 2007 global policy workshop in South Africa, a variation in threshold responses, we modeled long- fitting reminder of the political power of boycotts term responses of forest associated breeding birds and selective investment. In this session we will to habitat availability. Our models, based on review these initiatives, how sustainable investing repeated state-wide breeding bird atlases of is conducted by a range of public and private funds, several U.S. states and remote sensed land cover as well as the trend toward measuring the data, provided estimates of minimum habitat transformative social and environmental impact of requirements for 25 breeding bird species. We these investments. We will also explore the showed that variation in habitat requirements for availability of sustainable investing in employee persistence is prevalent between both species and retirement plans and what impact the growth of regions, and provide preliminary insights in the these options is likely to have. variables driving this variation. This allows us to investigate how results from species-habitat studies can be extrapolated to other areas or species and inform the establishment of

223 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Wednesday, July 18 10:15 Scientist And Tuesday, July 17 9:00 Empathy -- The Missing Manager Collaboration And Communication Ingredient In Conservation Biology Networks: The Case Of Fish And Fire Vandeman, Mike* Vance-Borland, Ken* , Burnett, Kelly, USFS PNW We recognize that empathy is essential for Research Station , Creighton, Janean, Oregon State understanding and caring for preverbal humans, University , Fischer, Paige, USFS PNW Research and yet it is considered inappropriate, even Station , Hummel, Susan, USFS PNW Research heretical, for application to other species. It is Station , Johnson, Sherri, USFS PNW Research considered "anthropomorphizing", a scientific Station "sin". On the other hand, we know that we have an It is unclear to what extent hurdles to science- enormous amount in common, genetically, with all based freshwater conservation management arise other species (98.6%, in the case of the from knowledge gaps or from communication gaps. chimpanzee). That would tend to support the Social network analysis is a longstanding method hypothesis that we have feelings and motivations for mapping relationships among people; it is used in common. Even when feelings aren't involved, as in fields that include corporate management, with plants, empathy is still possible, and has military intelligence, and public health. We invited obvious value. A scan of textbooks in conservation over 500 federal resource managers, technical biology confirmed that the word "empathy" does specialists, and scientists in Oregon, Washington, not appear in any of their indexes. A search of and Idaho to take an online survey about their Conservation Biology online found only a few work on “fish and fire” issues: the effects of instances of its use (notably in a 2002 editorial by wildfire, fuels treatments, and post-fire restoration Reed Noss). It's high time that we stop doing on riparian and aquatic species and ecosystems. science and advocacy with one hand tied behind Network questions requested the names of people our back! The available evidence supports the with whom the respondent collaborates or legitimacy of empathy, and the need for setting communicates on such issues. Over half of those aside areas that are off-limits to humans. invited responded, identifying >800 other actors and over 3000 network relationships. Network analysis revealed that: scientists primarily collaborate and communicate with other scientists, Wednesday, July 18 12:00 Drought Reduces and managers with other managers; actors cluster Ecosystem Services Provided By Freshwater by geography, agency, and discipline; and actors Mussels * who selected the same priority “fish and fire” Vaughn, Caryn , University Of Oklahoma , research need are often not communicating with Atkinson, Carla, University Of Oklahoma , one another. Network participants have begun Riggsbee, Adam, Riverbank Ecosystems , Spooner, identifying and implementing actions to improve Daniel, U.S. Geological Survey communication and collaboration among “fish and Freshwater mussels are large, long-lived fire” scientists and managers. Until obstacles to suspension feeders that provide important knowledge diffusion and adoption are addressed, ecosystem services such as biofiltration, nutrient benefits from investments in new freshwater recycling and nutrient storage. Mussels occur in conservation research are unlikely to be fully speciose aggregations (mussel beds) at high realized. biomass, and species have different biofiltration and nutrient excretion rates. In 2011, an exceptional drought in the southern plains resulted in very high mussel losses in the Kiamichi River in southeastern Oklahoma. From previous studies, we know the location, size, species composition and 224 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 biomass of most mussel beds in the river, and the gathered accurate data. Participants also reported filtration rates, nutrient excretion rates, and tissue learning more about the conservation of blue oak nutrient concentration of dominant mussel species. woodlands and feeling more connected to the We used this information to calculate mussel landscape. While meeting the goals of both aggregate biofiltration and nutrient stores and scientific and educational objectives continues to fluxes in the river (1) during a typical summer and challenge many citizen science projects, we found (2) following the drought. We estimated that that an important outcome of this project was mussel biomass and species reductions from the connecting people to place and gathering quality drought resulted in losses of 2.6 kg/day in N scientific information. recycling, 720 kg of N storage, and 19,783,840 L/day of biofiltration. We then compared the estimated dollar values of mussel-provided services with the costs of providing similar services through Tuesday, July 17 12:45 Our Coast Our Future: A engineered and best management practices. Decision Support System For Assessing The Vulnerability Of San Francisco Bay Area Shorelines To Climate Change Veloz, Sam* , Ballard, Grant, PRBO Conservation Monday, July 16 Monitoring Blue Oaks In Science , Barnard, Patrick, USGS , Higgason, Kelley, California's Foothills: A Citizen Science Pilot Gulf Of The Farallones National Marine Sanctuary , Project Psaros, Marina, San Francisco Bay NERR , Fonseca, Velas, Karen*, Audubon California , Hardie, Erin, Thomas, PRBO Conservation Science , Wood, University Of California, Davis , Cardenas, Susana , Julian, PRBO Conservation Science Forrester, Tavis, University Of California, Davis , With a changing climate, coastal ecosystems and Ballard, Heidi, University Of California, Davis human communities face challenges from sea-level The lack of recruitment in blue oak (Quercus rise, increased storm frequency and intensity, and douglasii) woodlands, one of the most wildlife rich coastal erosion. To prepare for future impacts, habitats in California, has caused widespread coastal managers and decision makers need to concern. The situation is further complicated understand how these impacts will affect because ~75% of blue oak woodlands are privately landscapes, ecological conditions and human owned. Research has shown that seedling survival infrastructure. Through an interdisciplinary is quite low and the factors contributing to seedling collaboration, we are developing a decision mortality are complex, and the consensus is that support system to model vulnerabilities to sea- long-term data is critical to understand this level rise and storm hazards and to interpret data problem. To meet this need U.C. Davis ecology and in the context of management and policy decisions. education researchers partnered with Audubon The system incorporates state of the art modeling California to design and test a pilot citizen science of coastal storm hazards using the Coastal Storm blue oak monitoring program. The monitoring Modeling System (CoSMoS) and delivers the results protocol was designed for long-term monitoring of through an interactive website. A critical blue oak stands for seedling, sapling, and tree component of this process has been the ongoing survival across different aspects, soil types, and participation of key stakeholders to help ensure land management. To maintain data quality the that the system will address their needs and is method did not depend on any particular expertise actually used to develop local adaptation and on the part of volunteers. We recruited and trained response plans. I will describe the process that was a group of 20 volunteers and established 12 plots used to develop the system and illustrate how it on 3 sites (one Audubon preserve and two private can be applied to support adaptation planning ranches). Pilot monitoring showed the protocol using a case study. The Our Coast Our Future 225 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 project is a model for how scientists and decision Tuesday, July 17 10:10 Finding Life Where It Is makers can collaboratively develop tools which Unexpected: Kangaroo Rat Exploitation Of Veldt address the impacts of climate change and ensure Grass Habitat that our actions benefit coastal ecosystems and Villablanca, Francis*, Biological Sciences , Trunzo, societal needs. Juliana, Biological Sciences Kangaroo rats (Dipodomys sp.) are a diverse and ecologically important group of granivores. They are well known for their adaptations to arid Monday, July 16 4:00 The Nature Conservancy's environments and their effects on plant community La-Ventura Project: Protecting Riparian And structure in arid ecosystems. Their success in arid Coastal Biodiversity In A Rapidly Urbanizing ecosystems is partly attributed to their ability to Landscape detect and avoid predators, particularly in open * Verdone, Lily , The Nature Conservancy , Parker, and sparsely vegetated habitats. Therefore, Veldt Sophie, The Nature Conservancy grass (Erharta calycina), a non-native perennial Since 1999, The Nature Conservancy’s LA-Ventura bunch grass, is inferred to reduce success in Project has worked to protect the Santa Clara River kangaroo rats by inhibiting their ability to visually and coastal areas of Ventura and Los Angeles detect predators and directly impairing their typical Counties, a geography of great biological richness escape tactics. Currently there are no data to and the second largest watershed in the South substantiate such a perspective. We report on a Coast and the last to remain in a relatively natural site in Central California where kangaroo rats are as state — in stark contrast to other southern abundant in areas with veldt grass as they are in California rivers, such as the Los Angeles, San areas without. Further, a five-year demographic Gabriel, and Santa Ana, which are heavily dammed study, fails to uncover any negative relationship and lined by concrete channels. This diverse mosaic between veldt grass cover and kangaroo rat of habitats and critical natural resources coexist demographic parameters. We find no evidence with an estimated 12 million people living within an that the presence or abundance of veldt grass, per hour’s drive who rely on freshwater water, fertile se, has any detectable negative effects. We plan to agricultural lands and recreational opportunities all explore the potential for a non-negative, and even supplied by this unique yet rapidly urbanizing positive, relationship. Seed selection trials, and environment. Over the last decade, our seed utilization experiments are planned to test a conservation strategies have broadened from mechanistic hypothesis of veldt graminivory by traditional land acquisition to include protecting kangaroo rats. In addition, experiments that test fresh water resources, analyzing the economic and hypotheses regarding microhabitat decision- ecological impacts resulting from a changing making by kangaroo rats in response to Veldt grass climate, engaging non-traditional partners to cover are also planned. address land use and infrastructure planning, and developing conservation nodes, groups of contiguous strategic parcels, where subsequent habitat restoration and management can be Wednesday, July 18 4:00 Impacts Of Protected accomplished more efficiently than individual Areas On Population Growth, Inequality And parcels. Marginalization In Mexico Villalobos, Laura*, Centro Agronómico Tropical De Investigación Y Enseñanza (Catie) , Robalino, Juan, Centro Agronómico Tropical De Investigación Y Enseñanza We assess the effects of protected areas on social 226 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 outcomes in Mexico. We use socioeconomic data significantly to human well-being, these and geographic information systems to estimate relationships are complex and difficult to measure the effects of protected areas on three different since many ES are social goods without explicit socioeconomic outcomes: population growth, markets. However, ES offer a new avenue for income inequality and poverty. With a two period connecting people with freshwater conservation panel data, we are able to estimate the effect using that complements conventional species-oriented difference in difference and difference in conservation. An ES lens can help develop an difference after matching. We also test how the awareness and appreciation for the non-market effects of protected areas in these social outcomes benefits derived from freshwater ecosystems, might evolve over time. At the national level, which can bolster public support for conservation protected areas lead to higher levels of inequality and sustainability. A major unresolved research and marginality in the short run but there are no topic is to identify the circumstances under which effects on population growth. In the long run, biodiversity conservation enhances (or diminishes) population decreases, marginalization increases delivery of valued ES, thereby contributing to but inequality decreases. Given the adverse effects sustainability. We use water-focused ES (ie, water on population and marginalization in the long run, purification, surface water regulation, and wildlife- the reduction in inequality seems to be the result based recreation) to explore spatial relationships of an overall impoverishment of the municipality. between ES capacity and demand, and between ES When the sample is split by regions, we find that delivery and human well-being in the Albemarle- for four out of 5 regions, population growth does Pamlico basin of Virginia and North Carolina. not increase, inequality does not decrease and Relationships between ES capacity and demand are marginality does not decrease. Only for one region, especially germane to analyses of resource inequality decrease in the long run but also sustainability. We develop conceptual models and marginality increases significantly as at the national discuss the rationale for distinguishing among level. These results are evidence that if these ES components and demonstrate the use of conservation efforts such as REDD are this framework to evaluate freshwater ES. We also implemented in developing countries, inequality show spatial relations between ES and poverty issues might also need to be capacity/demand and lands where conservation addressed with complementary socioeconomic actions have been implemented. Finally, to link policies. conservation actions to social outcomes, we explore the adaptation and use of the International Fund for Agricultural Development's Sustainable Livelihoods Framework for evaluating changes in Wednesday, July 18 12:15 Viewing Conservation human well-being as a result of changes in ES And Sustainability In The Albemarle-Pamlico Basin capacity and the flow of benefits. Overall, an ES Through An Ecosystem-Services Lens approach provides information that species-centric * Villamagna, Amy , University Of Maryland , conservation cannot, and may be widely useful in Angermeier, Paul, US Geological Survey and conservation planning. Virginia Tech , Mogollon, Beatriz, Virginia Tech , Bennett, Elena Ecosystem services (ES) are important to a wide range of environmental issues, including Tuesday, July 17 12:45 Ant Communities Are biodiversity conservation and socio-ecological Strongly Affected By Distance From Buildings resilience, because they link ecosystem functions Vonshak, Merav*, Stanford University to anthropocentric interests that resonate with a Urban ecosystems lead to biological broad spectrum of people. Although ES contribute homogenization through habitat degradation and 227 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 support of invasive species. Invasive ants are populations are listed as threatened or endangered known to have a complex negative impact on their under the Endangered Species Act. Projected new ecosystem, mainly on other ant. As ants are an climate change is expected to further stress important component of natural ecosystems, this steelhead populations via changes in stream may have substantial consequences on many other temperatures and flows. Here, we detail a novel organisms. We studied the effect of disturbance on approach for assessing salmon vulnerability to ant communities over an urban-rural gradient in climate change. We introduce a vulnerability the San Francisco Bay. Our main hypothesis was matrix, which allows comparison between that invasive ants have an advantage at disturbed potential threats to steelhead persistence arising habitats, while native species have an advantage at from exposure to increased stream temperatures preserved habitats. We sampled ants along the and increased maximum or decreased minimum gradient, in addition to various environmental flows versus the potential sensitivity of steelhead factors, including distance from buildings, paved to those threats on the basis of habitat condition and unpaved roads, water source, and irrigation; and population status. Given scenarios of increased land use cover, etc. As predicted, the natural sites stream temperatures and altered hydrological were characterized by native ants, whereas the regimes, by the 2040s, we generally found urban sites help up to 4 invasive species, in steelhead populations in the south were more addition to occasional native species findings. threatened by exposure to increased temperatures Interestingly, the semi-natural sites had the highest while northern populations were more threatened abundance of Argentine ants, even when by changes in flows. By the 2080s, threats from compared with the urban sites. Human disturbance increased temperatures expanded into northern factors explained 48.1% of the variance (RDA test, steelhead populations. Our assessment of F=9.4, p=0.001). Distance from buildings was the steelhead vulnerability suggested very few areas most important factor, explaining 20-30% of the where protection of existing habitat would likely be variance. Moreover, while concrete cover was the sufficient to maintain healthy steelhead only human related factor that explained invasive populations. On the basis of our results, we suggest ant species distribution, native species were the need for coordinated PNW-wide conservation affected by additional factors, as distance from efforts to ameliorate climate-induced threats and parking lot and water sources. improve steelhead resiliency and habitat.

Tuesday, July 17 12:45 Assessing Steelhead Monday, July 16 Revegetating Arrowhead Marsh Vulnerability To Climate Change In The Pacific After Treatment Of Invasive Hybrid Spartina Northwest (Cordgrass): Three Years Of Revegetation Wade, Alisa*, University Of Montana , Beechie, Tim Strategies, And Recommendations For , Stoms, David, University Of California, Santa Wainer, Laura*, Save The Bay Barbara , Mantua, Nathan, University Of Arrowhead Marsh in Oakland, California contains Washington , Wu, Huan, University Of Maryland , the highest local population of endangered Elsner, Marketa, University Of Washington , California Clapper Rails in San Francisco Bay; and it Kimball, John, Flathead Lake Biological Station, is also completely overrun with invasive, hybridized University Of Montana , Stanford, Jack, Flathead Spartina(S. alterniflora) cordgrass. Three years of Lake Biological Station, University Of Montana experimental revegetation have generated Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) play a critical valuable prescriptions for species composition and role in ecosystems and economies of the Pacific placement in restoration efforts. Save The Bay Northwest (PNW) of the U.S., but many PNW (STB) is working with Invasive Spartina Project (ISP) 228 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 and East Bay Regional Parks District (EBRPD) to Dickson, Brett, Nau/Conservation Science Partners revegetate the western portion of Arrowhead , Sesnie, Steven, US Fish And Wildlife Service Marsh in Oakland, CA, where hybrid Spartina has Although the relationships between non-native been chemically treated since 2006. Arrowhead plant invasion and increased fire frequency are Marsh is a 47-acre wetland within San Leandro Bay appreciated for arid environments, predictors of comprised of salt pans, mud flats, channels, and spatial distribution of individual species are poorly channel edges supporting mid-high marsh understood. Developing predictive models to vegetative structure. Native vegetation restoration support conservation and management effort efforts will improve the ability of Arrowhead to necessitates field-based detection. To confront this keep pace with sea level rise, increase water issue, we developed habitat suitability models for holding capacity during flood events, provide two prominent invasive plants in the Sonoran multiple wildlife habitat benefits, and provide Desert of the U.S., Sahara mustard and opportunities for public involvement and education Mediterranean grass. We also applied 12 years of surrounding the Spartina Project. The project satellite imagery and time series analyses to derive represents a coordinated regional effort to engage multiple phenometrics. Areas with medium to high stakeholders in adaptable, innovative, and cost- habitat suitability and difference in spectral effective restoration techniques for restoring vegetation indices were extracted for potential unvegetated flats after the removal of hybrid S. field sites. We then identified spatially balanced alterniflora . Our study assesses outplantings of plot locations with a weighted representation of Triglochin maritima, Seaside arrowgrass (TRMA) suitable habitats and vegetation, but confined the and Grindelia stricta, Marsh gumplant (GRST) as a plots within low slopes and proximity to roads. To means to reestablish native vegetation that integrate plot-based data with remote sensing provides critical habitat for endangered species, imagery as response and predictor variables for specifically the California Clapper Rail (Rallus models of invasion risk, we employed a design to longirostris obsoletus). We measure survivorship match our plots and subplots to pixels of two and vigor of T. maritima and G. stricta planted satellite imageries in coarse and fine spatial throughout the marsh, utilizing a strategic planting resolutions. Habitat suitability-based sampling design based on elevation datum and channel edge resulted in presence of at least one of our target proximity. Seedlings were grown and cared for with species in 68% of the plots in the 2011 field season. the intent of being installed in a regularly flooded The refined model ensemble approach for the 2012 marsh with high salinity content. Our adaptive season employed a spatially clustered sampling management strategy is the result of three years of strategy that greatly improved the number of plot experiments and monitoring in Arrowhead; its samples where target species were detected. results have influenced recommendations for revegetation projects around the San Francisco Bay. Monday, July 16 Teaching People To 'Like' Science: Using Facebook To Promote Scientific Discovery And Exploration Tuesday, July 17 12:30 Ensemble Of Habitat Wang, Yiwei*, University Of California Santa Cruz Suitability And Remote Sensing Models For The rapid adoption of social media globally Sampling Design: A New Approach To Detect presents ecologists with unprecedented Invasive Plant Species In The Sonoran Desert opportunities to both educate and involve the Wang, Ophelia*, Northern Arizona Unviersity , public in environmental science. In recognition of Olsson, Aaryn, Northern Arizona University , the expanding influence of the internet, we are Zachmann, Luke, Northern Arizona Unviersity , developing an exciting and innovative citizen 229 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 science game on Facebook inventory and monitoring program are (https://apps.facebook.com/140369602412). By predominately generated from inventories or short playing the game, users learn about the term surveillance monitoring (< 5 years). These biodiversity of the Santa Cruz Mountains (and activities have not generally been tied directly to possibly other ecosystems in the future), and the management decision process. There are far provide a dataset for our project, saving us the fewer examples of targeted monitoring that tie labor of tagging thousands of photos. The app directly to decisions in a true Adaptive collects each player’s responses, which will allow us Management process. As use of both approaches to gauge how accurately photographs are labeled will continue, we recommend strengthening the and how quickly individual players improve. Here, link between surveillance monitoring and we present our preliminary game design and logic management decisions. and discuss potential challenges. Following the success of similar projects, we expect that our game can potentially enlist hundreds of thousands of volunteers globally to contribute remotely to our Monday, July 16 9:30 The Nature Conservancy's research and learn about biodiversity conservation. Updated Approach To Large Landscape Conservation: Challenges And Opportunities In The North America Region Ward, Joni*, The Nature Conservancy Monday, July 16 New Monitoring Initiative For Over the past 60 years The Nature Conservancy The National Wildlife Refuges:How Well Are (TNC) has worked with partners to conserve over Science And Conservation Linked At Different 15 million acres in the US, and over 100 million Spatial Scales? acres internationally. Although we have been quite Ward, James*, US Fish & Wildlife Service, NWRS IM successful at land conservation, to maximize our , Dratch, Peter , Newman, Jana , Chase, Mark, US impact we’ve evolved over time from an Fish & Wildlife Service, NWRS IM organization that was largely opportunistic– The National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) focusing on small preserves, to embracing a Improvement Act of 1997 widened the emphasis systematic approach to our work. For nearly two from focal wildlife species to maintaining the decades TNC has used a landscape-based biological integrity, diversity and environmental conservation approach to help guide our work, and health of the Refuge System. Policy-makers, we’ve broadened our toolkit to focus on scientists, and conservation planners developed, in partnerships with public land managers and other 2010, a strategy for continuing this refuge mission private land owners. We’ve also expanded to in the face of rapid environmental change. marine and freshwater conservation. However, Implementation of the new strategy calls for despite our commitment to being a systematic and population monitoring at the refuge and landscape science-based organization working in the water level, with results that can be rolled up to regional and on land, we have found some aspects of our and national levels. Several approaches have been conservation approach to be limiting. Today the used within the NWRS to inventory and monitor conservation framework of the Conservancy’s wildlife populations. Some tie directly to North America Region is based on what we refer to management decisions (e.g., supporting Adaptive as ‘whole system’ conservation. The purpose of this Management), while others serve to document the presentation is to briefly describe TNC’s health of populations through surveillance trends. conservation approach, including the philosophy This poster presents examples of scientific activities behind whole system conservation – which is as that have and will be used to inform and support much art as it is science, the strengths and refuge management. Currently, data for the limitations of our approach, and how we’ve 230 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 updated it to meet today’s challenges in North Wednesday, July 18 8:30 Confronting Climatic America. Complexity: Choosing And Using Fine-Scale Climate Projections For Conservation Weiss, Stuart*, Creekside Center For Earth Observation , Branciforte, Ryan , Flint, Lorraine, Tuesday, July 17 12:15 Predicting The Invasive U.S. Geological Survey , Flint, Lorraine, U.S. Mute Swan's Range Expansion Using Climate Geological Survey , Micheli, Lisa , Thrasher, Bridget Change And Urbanization Scenarios The San Francisco Bay Area is a semi-arid region of * Weaver, Jennifer immense climatic complexity spanning a spatial Urbanization, climate change and invasive species hierarchy of macroclimate, mesoclimate, are major threats affecting biodiversity and species topoclimate, and microclimate. Climate change is a distributions. Invasive species are likely to thrive in macroclimatic phenomenon driven by changes in ecosystems disturbed by urbanization and climate atmospheric circulation, and is captured by change due to their ability to capitalize on marginal ensembles of downscaled Global Circulation habitats. We use ensemble forecasting to model Models. Mesoclimates are dominated by coastal current landscape correlates of the invasive mute exposure modified by mountain barriers, creating swan’s distribution in its non-native range of summer Tmax gradients from 15° to 35°C, and Ontario, Canada. We determine that percent water winter rainfall gradients from 300 to 2000 mm, and cover and percent urban land cover are the most are represented by 800m scale interpolated important variables in determining the presence of climate surfaces. Topoclimates include effects of mute swans. This is especially significant insolation, cold-air pooling, wind exposure, and soil considering that mute swans are an aquatic species water balance, and are captured at 270m scales utilizing the limited water bodies found in urban (and below) through the Basin Characterization areas. We then use these species distribution Model and terrain modeling. This climatic models to predict mute swan distribution in 2050 complexity supports high biodiversity, and provides with different scenarios of urbanization and first-order buffering against macroclimate change climate change. As urban areas expand, the because species ranges can shift short distances probability of mute swan occupancy of these (<1-10 km) across topoclimates and mesoclimates changing land covers also increases. In comparison to track suitable climate spaces under any climate to urbanization scenarios, all climate change change scenario. We have developed multivariate scenarios predict a much larger increase in the metrics of climatic complexity including integrated number of sites with suitable habitat for mute water balance that can assess the resiliency of a swans. Overall, we conclude that urbanization and Conservation Lands Network to species losses. This climate change will encourage mute swan range combination of process-based and statistical expansion by 2050. This has significant implications models provides a powerful tool for assessing for invasive species management as efforts should climate change impacts at regional and local scales. focus on urban areas and especially expanding urban areas at the northern range limits of mute swans. While hunting mute swans is illegal in Ontario, egg addling is currently employed. Wednesday, July 18 11:45 Developing Conceptual Models To Inform Conservation Management Of Working Landscapes At Tejon Ranch, California White, Michael*, Tejon Ranch Conservancy Managers of conserved lands are increasingly focusing attention on adaptive management to 231 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 maintain and enhance conservation values, The survival of the endangered San Joaquin kit fox particularly in light of land use modifications in is challenged by reduced and fragmented habitat. adjacent areas and changing climates. The Tejon The metapopulation contains roughly 3,000 Ranch Conservancy is developing an adaptive individuals located in central California and has management plan for over 200,000 acres of declined due to land use changes, human conserved lands at Tejon Ranch, a privately owned, expansion, roads, and poisoning. Three of the working cattle ranch in the Tehachapi Mountains of largest remaining kit fox populations living in California. Our first step has been to use natural habitat – scrubland – have been identified Conservancy-sponsored academic research, as conservation priorities: Panoche, Carrizo Plain contractor surveys, citizen scientist observations, National Monument, and Lokern. Nearby, another and Conservancy monitoring to formulate kit fox population continues to grow within conceptual models of grassland composition, Bakersfield, a metropolis with over 320,000 people structure, and function at Tejon Ranch. Research in less than 300 km2. Previous studies show a large on grassland vegetation - soil relationships is number of ecological factors differ between wild differentiating a number of grassland types, their and urban kit foxes, and risks for inbreeding or respective environmental drivers, and potential disease transmission may increase in the city. The transitions between states. Directed surveys and connectivity of the urban kit fox population within citizen science observations of vertebrate taxa, the city and with the wild populations was native geophytes, and special status taxa suggest investigated with 12 tetranucleotide microsatellites associations of some taxa with specific grassland for over 700 individuals from 1990-2009. types. We have synthesized our understanding of Population analyses show varying degrees of grassland communities at Tejon Ranch into connectivity between populations across the San conceptual models showing states, transitions, Joaquin Valley with unique signatures of genetic drivers, and uncertainties to inform our diversity. The results are an important step in management planning. I will present our understanding the genetic diversity of the urban kit conceptual models for Tejon Ranch grassland foxes as well as how the human-altered landscape communities and discuss how we are using them to is impacting their movement and population develop adaptive management hypotheses to viability. enhance conservation values or fill key knowledge gaps.

Monday, July 16 8:45 Conserving Migratory Species: What Should We Do About Species That Monday, July 16 10:00 Population Connectivity Leave The Fortress? Of The Endangered San Joaquin Kit Fox Across A Wilcove, David*, Princeton University Human-Altered Landscape Beyond the obvious (and important) fact that they Wilbert, Tammy R*, Smithsonian Conservation don’t stay in one place, migratory animals pose Biology Institute , Ralls, Katherine, Smithsonian multiple challenges with respect to reserve Conservation Biology Institute , Cypher, Brian, planning: We rarely know where particular California State University-Stanislaus , Van Horn breeding populations spend the non-breeding Job, Christine, California State University-Stanislaus season; the locations and relative importance of , Smith, Deborah, Working Dogs For Conservation , stop-over sites are often a mystery; volant species Westphal, Michael F, Bureau Of Land Management may not follow the same migratory route or use , Bremner-Harrison, Samantha, School Of Animal, the same stop-over sites during a given season or Rural & Environmental Sciences , Maldonado, in different years; and species may change the Jesus, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute timing or routing of their migrations in response to 232 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 climate change. I propose four steps to conserve especially valuable to build the resilience that will migratory species in the face of these help conserve biodiversity. We conclude that in the uncertainties: (1) protect representative examples search for effective climate change adaptation of breeding and wintering (non-breeding) habitats strategies for southwestern stream-riparian across the full latitudinal and longitudinal ranges of ecosystems, ensuring the abundant presence of the species; (2) secure known concentration sites beaver is an overlooked strategy that can be easily along the migratory route(s); (3) create incentives incorporated into ecosystem management. and/or regulations to promote diverse landscapes via protection of dune ecosystems, coastal wetlands, riparian areas, hedgerows, and remnant woodlots; and (4) support broad-scale efforts to Monday, July 16 Rapid Behavioral Assessment: mitigate widespread or diffuse threats such as Population Management Through Behavioral commercial and subsistence hunting and wind Observation * farms. These steps are necessary but not sufficient Wildermuth, Robert , School Of Life Sciences, Asu , to protect migratory species. Anadon, Jose Daniel , Gerber, Leah, Ecology, Evolution And Environmental Sciences, SoLS, ASU Conservation biologists must balance the need for well-informed science with the cost of monitoring Monday, July 16 Rethinking The Beaver: A New- and protecting vulnerable populations. Rapid Old Tool Can Adapt Southwestern Stream- behavioral assessment (RBA) may provide a means Riparian Ecosystems To Climate Change. of approximating demographic parameters in Wild, Cathryn*, Seventh Generation Institute managed populations through repeated, less costly The southwestern United States is expected to be behavioral observations. We develop and test an an epicenter of climate change. Many Southwest approach for RBA based on observations of stream-riparian ecosystems are presently in poor aggression and territorial behavior by projecting condition and may be further degraded by longer abundance of California sea lion (Zalophus and more intense droughts, punctuated by more californianus) over 28 years of population surveys. extreme rain events. This investigation asked two Using a multiple regression of these behaviors on questions: 1) could the ecosystem engineering observed reproduction rates, we approximate activities of beaver, often considered a nuisance birthrate in the sea lion population on Los Islotes species, be an overlooked climate change defense island, Mexico. This parameter estimate is tool in southwestern streams; and 2) where in New incorporated in a sex and stage structured model Mexico could beaver be used most effectively to for population viability analysis. Results from our conserve biodiversity in the face of climate model overestimate abundance predictions from change? The first question was answered via an the fully demographic model by 4.3% and extensive review of literature on beaver-driven underestimate observed female abundance by ecosystem modifications. For the second, GIS was 7.5%. We find that our models may be more robust used to model potentially suitable beaver habitat to uncertainty in estimates of carrying capacity and this habitat was laid over areas of high compared to the harmonic and modified harmonic biodiversity value and high climate change threat. mean birth functions, which approximate birthrate Key findings were that ecosystem modifications by from male and female abundance. We propose beaver can build stream-riparian resilience to that rapid behavioral assessment may provide climate change impacts; however in many parts of managers with a sufficient means of updating New Mexico, beaver numbers are too low to have estimates of demographic parameters between this effect. Ten priority watersheds were identified more detailed studies. This technique could allow where the abundant presence of beaver would be limited resources to be allocated to other aspects 233 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 of management that would otherwise be spent on Tuesday, July 17 3:30 Opportunities And traditional parameter estimation. Constraints For Restoration Of Floodplains During Periods Of Increasing Storm Disturbances Wednesday, July 18 10:00 The River's Calendar: Williams, Jack*, Trout Unlimited , Danforth, Trygg, Connecting Anglers To Environmental Changes In Trout Unlimited Stream Phenology Floodplains provide important fisheries habitat and Williams, Jack*, Trout Unlimited , Schoen, Jerry, are also critical for protection and maintenance of University Of Massachusetts instream habitat. Because of these values, Climate change is causing alterations to stream floodplains and associated channels across New systems, particularly to temperatures and England have been restored to provide increased hydrographs, which have implications to the habitat for native brook trout and improved fishing phenology of aquatic and riparian-dependent opportunities. During the past several decades, species. Evidence suggests that adult mayflies are precipitation has increased throughout much of the emerging earlier in western streams as snow shifts region. Notably, major storm events producing 2” to rain and peak flows occur earlier. Such changes or more of rain have increased, resulting in will have profound implications for coldwater additional flooding and damage to human-built species like trout as well as anglers. Ironically, structures in floodplains. In response to the flood processes by which climate change may impact and flood-related damage, some communities and streams and fishing are not well understood by fly state agencies have channelized streams and fishers, who are well positioned to observe subtle cleared channels in efforts to increase flow changes in stream systems as they adjust their capacity and decrease flood damage. The flood fishing techniques to match insect hatches and control projects often undercut ecological stream conditions. The River’s Calendar is a citizen restoration efforts and prove counter-productive science program designed to improve for flood control in the long run. In an attempt to understanding of stream phenology by enabling help educate the public and decision-makers on anglers to systematically observe changes in their the ecosystem service values provided by natural local streams. Anglers will record temperature, channels and functional floodplains, as well as the stream flow, and aquatic insect, fish and plant damage caused by recent flood control efforts, observations while fishing. This information will be Trout Unlimited has embarked on a project to translated into detailed calendars of hatches and demonstrate the value of restored and other riparian life for each river studied – suitable reconnected floodplains to reduce the impacts of for use by various river recreationists. This flood events while also providing aesthetic and information will also form the basis for a science- recreational benefits to local communities. based examination of threats caused by various environmental changes. The angler monitoring network and resulting data will support Trout Unlimited’s efforts to build broad-based Wednesday, July 18 9:15 Building A Science conservation alliances to promote informed Foundation For Conservation Of Arid Rangelands: decision making on climate change among its The Kane And Two Mile Ranches, Arizona 145,000 members. Williamson, Matt*, Grand Canyon Trust , Albano, Christine, John Muir Institute Of The Environment , Dickson, Brett, Nau/Conservation Science Partners , Sisk, Thomas, Northern Arizona University , Aumack, Ethan, Grand Canyon Trust Increasing temperature and prolonged drought are likely to exacerbate the effects of invasive species, 234 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 soil loss, and uncharacteristically severe wildfire on subsequent monitoring of those effects. Landscape rangelands throughout the West. Considerable scale predictions of occupancy based on remotely uncertainty exists regarding both the impacts of sensed forest structural covariates provide a these changes on ecosystem resilience and powerful mechanism for addressing these effective management strategies for mitigating concerns. Through digital manipulation of these these impacts, especially when considered in covariates one can evaluate trade-offs under conjunction with livestock grazing. Here we differing climatic and management regimes. To describe the Kane and Two Mile Research and demonstrate the utility of this approach, we Stewardship Partnership, a unique public-private present results for Grace’s Warbler, Ruby-crowned partnership comprising the primary livestock Kinglet, and Western Bluebird; three proposed permitee, land management agencies, and Management Indicator Species on the Kaibab academic partners working on the 3,340 km2 Kane National Forest, Arizona using four years of survey and Two Mile Ranches in northern Arizona. data and management relevant covariates under a Through data development efforts, ranging from single season occupancy estimation framework. fine-scale measurements of soil stability and Our results suggest that differing combinations of reseeding response to landscape-scale predictions mechanical restoration treatments and fire are of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) occurrence, fire likely to produce substantially different outcomes behavior, wildlife occupancy, and connectivity, we in terms of occupancy for these three species. In are actively developing tools for monitoring the addition, increases in temperature that alter the effects of changing climatic and management distribution of vegetation types are likely to regimes at multiple scales, and incorporating the decrease occupancy for all three species across the results into management plans. Continued Kaibab National Forest. These types of information expansion of the Partnership provides an exciting can help land managers build and evaluate both opportunity to leverage diverse skills and expertise short- and long-term strategies for dealing with to address the challenges facing grazing lands in climate change. the arid West.

Wednesday, July 18 9:00 Easier Importation Of Monday, July 16 Spatially Explicit Models Of Satellite Data Into ArcGIS Through The Occupancy For Evaluating Forest Restoration And Environmental Data Connector (EDC) Climate Change On The Kaibab National Forest, Wilson, Cara*, NOAA/NMFS/SWFSC ERD , Arizona Mendelssohn, Roy, NOAA/NMFS/SWFSC ERD Williamson, Matt*, Grand Canyon Trust , Dickson, Environmental satellite data, such as sea-surface Brett, Nau/Conservation Science Partners , Olsson, temperature, surface chlorophyll, sea-surface Aaryn, Northern Arizona University , Sesnie, height and ocean winds, are valuable resources for Steven, US Fish And Wildlife Service , Stein Foster, characterizing and monitoring marine ecosystem Valerie, United States Forest Service - Kaibab and habitats. However oceanographic satellite data National Forest has been largely underutilized by the marine Rising temperatures and prolonged drought are resource community. One reason for this is that likely to increase the risk of uncharacteristically satellite data can be difficult to access, manipulate severe wildfire across the western United States. and process, particularly when the skills and Forest restoration activities have failed to keep computational resources needed for the pace with current fire risk often due to quantitative manipulation of terabytes of data are disagreements regarding the effects of such lacking. In particular, importing satellite data into treatments on wildlife and challenges with ArcGIS, is a mapping and spatial analysis software 235 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 that is used widely within the marine resource part of the optimal solution for maximizing profits management community, can been challenging, while maintaining minimum stock sizes of weak since importing multiple HDF files into ArcGIS is stocks in IFQ fisheries with observer coverage. We quite cumbersome. To help alleviate this issue an develop a two patch, mixed species, bioeconomic ArcGIS extension called the Environmental Data simulation model of species similar to those Connector (EDC) has been developed. The EDC can encountered in the west coast Groundfish fishery. access data served by OPeNDAP and THREDDS, We explore the optimal yield of the strong stock ERDDAP, IOOS SOS and also local files. The EDC species as well as the size of spatial closure allows the user to search and graphically select the necessary to maximize the present value of future temporal and spatial subset of the data desired, profits under a range of observer coverage costs, and then the selected subset of the data is fishing costs, and conservation restrictions. Our automatically brought into ArcGIS. There are also results shed light on the role of spatial closures in versions of the EDC that work from within Matlab, IFQ fisheries and the future of the west coast R and Excel. Groundfish fishery.

Tuesday, July 17 10:15 The Role Of No-Take Wednesday, July 18 11:30 Golf Courses As Closures In ITQ Fisheries Refuges For Freshwater Turtles In Urbanized Wilson, Jono*, Bren School / UCSB , Gleason, Mary, Landscapes The Nature Conservancy , Costello, Christopher, Winchell, Kristin*, University Of Massachusetts UCSB Boston , Gibbs, James The U.S. West Coast groundfish fishery targets a Urban-associated wetland loss and degradation mix of high productivity “strong” stocks and low threaten freshwater turtles, which are declining productivity “weak” stocks off the states of globally. Golf courses may provide refuges as some Washington, Oregon and California. Overfishing of of the few semi-natural habitats in urban areas. In weak stocks motivated the implementation of the 2009 and 2010 we sampled 88 wetlands on golf Rockfish Closure Areas (RCAs) in 2002 along the courses, urban zones, and wildlife refuges near entire west coast of the US. The RCAs effectively Syracuse, New York, capturing 413 turtles of two eliminated harvest of both strong and weak stocks species: Chelydra serpentina (n=249) and between 75-150 fathoms water depth. In 2011, the Chrysemys picta (n=164). Golf course wetlands had trawl sector transitioned from limited entry to the smallest areas, the most circular shapes, mostly individual fishery quotas (IFQ) which allocate a inorganic substrates, and abundant rooted-vascular fraction of the scientifically determined allowable vegetation but lesser extent of other vegetation. catch for 29 species and species groups to Developed land dominated uplands with little individual fishermen. One hundred percent forest and grassland but had lower road densities. observer coverage eliminates discarding of non- Despite habitat differences, turtle occurrence and target, weak stocks and incentivizes conservative female fraction did not vary by context although fishing behavior near known weak stock habitat capture success was lowest in golf courses. We due to prohibitively low quotas and high market noted skew in age and sex structure related to prices. IFQs therefore may effectively reduce weak roads in all contexts. Our results suggest that golf stock harvest while simultaneously allowing for courses provide viable habitat while reducing maximization of target stock quotas. Here we urban threats such as road mortality, yet explore the tradeoffs in catch, biomass and profits management is necessary for creating high-quality between managing weak stocks via spatial closures habitat. The conservation value of these wetlands and IFQs. We examine if spatial closures are ever can be easily enhanced by creating more favorable 236 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 upland habitat, promoting emergent and rooted fisheries to harvest target stocks. Our approach to vascular vegetation, increasing wetland area, and evaluating strategies for managing incidental take varying wetland shape. In our study region, only illustrates the utility of MSE for applications to 4.5% of the county lies in protected areas yet 25% endangered populations. of wetlands are in urban zones, emphasizing the need for private land management such as on golf Wednesday, July 18 12:15 Understanding The courses. Impacts Of Rapid Domestic Energy Development On Wildlife Systems With An Eye Towards Mitigation Wittemyer, George* , Northrup, Joe Monday, July 16 4:30 Fishery Management Energy development has increased rapidly on Strategy Evaluation In The Context Of Incidental public lands in the United States over the last Take Of An Endangered Species, Sacramento River decade. Unconventional oil and gas and renewable Winter Chinook Salmon energy development is projected to be one of the * Winship, Arliss , University Of California, Santa primary drivers of land conversion and habitat Cruz And Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA fragmentation in the coming decade, but the , O'Farrell, Michael, Southwest Fisheries Science ecological impacts of these developments remains Center, NOAA , Mohr, Michael, Southwest Fisheries poorly understood. A more complete Science Center, NOAA understanding of the environmental impacts of Management strategy evaluation (MSE) is a energy development is needed for informed simulation method commonly used to evaluate the decision making, regulation, and mitigation. We expected performance of harvest strategies with review the ecological and evolutionary respect to target populations. However, the MSE consequences to wildlife from the surface impacts approach is also useful for evaluating strategies by unconventional and renewable energy designed to manage incidental take from development. This review aims to take stock of our endangered populations. We adapted MSE to the current understanding of the consequences for case of an endangered Chinook salmon population wildlife, specifically highlighting our knowledge that is subject to incidental take by mixed-stock gaps. From this assessment, we provide guidance ocean salmon fisheries that target more abundant for future research directions and opportunities stocks. Our objective was to evaluate the regarding this globally important process. population’s risk of extinction under alternative harvest strategies. We simulated salmon population dynamics and the management process simultaneously. The management process included Monday, July 16 Do Salmon Want Humans To harvest strategies that set allowable fishing Harvest Rain? A GIS Exploration mortality rates as a function of population size. Woelfle-Erskine, Cleo*, UC Berkeley , Merenlender, Strategies that reduced fishing mortality rates in Adina response to low estimates of population size As water demand grows and climate change resulted in lower extinction risk than strategies increases rainfall variability, hydrologists must that set fishing mortality at current or historical manage water to maximize human and ecological levels. The number of data used by a strategy and benefits. Storing rainfall can reduce stream the extent of reductions in fishing mortality diversions; relative human-ecosystem benefits resulted in different frequencies and durations of depend critically on how much rain is captured and reduced fishing opportunity. Our study quantified whether it is collected in tanks, ponds, or the trade-off between the risk of extinction of an infiltration basins. On Salmon Creek (Sonoma Co., endangered population and the opportunity for CA), stream intermittency is implicated in Coho 237 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

(Oncorhynchus kisutch) decline. Groundwater and change was identified as a principal threat, 11 have stream diversions exacerbate low flows, so been listed. Once species are listed, ESA recovery reducing summer diversions is a key objective in plan and critical habitat provisions can provide Coho recovery. We hypothesize that watershed- mitigation and adaptation options. However, scale rainwater harvesting will delay stream recovery plans for only 13% of listed species with intermittency in Mediterranean climates by plans address climate change, 10% identify climate reducing the need for summer diversions and that change as a threat, and 5% suggest recovery small tanks will produce a more natural flow actions to reduce climate change impacts. regime than large impoundments. We assess flow Although many recent critical habitat designations restoration potential in a GIS using (1) a water mention climate change as a threat, few balance model that measures hydrologic impacts designations factor knowledge of those climate throughout a stream network; (2) rain catchment change threats into critical habitat delineation. We potential maps; and (3) groundwater recharge zone find underutilized opportunities to apply ESA maps. In average years, rainwater can replace protections to climate-threatened species and diversions on most parcels. In dry years, most examine the scientific, institutional, and political residents can meet 75% of water demand with challenges to doing so. rainwater. Roofs cover less than 1% of the watershed so capturing roof runoff will not measurably decrease winter flows. We conclude that rainwater harvesting can restore more natural Monday, July 16 12:45 Unraveling Post- flow regimes and improve water security for rural Breeding Season Migration Patterns Of Harbor residents. Future field studies will assess human Seals From A Marine Protected Area In Alaska * and hydrologic response to cistern installation. Womble, Jamie , Oregon State University & National Park Service , Gende, Scott, National Park Service , Horning, Markus, Oregon State University The development of effective conservation Monday, July 16 4:30 Protecting Species strategies for wide-ranging marine vertebrates Threatened By Climate Change Under The U.S. requires an understanding of their long-distance Endangered Species Act: Opportunities And movement patterns as threats may occur in one Challenges area that can influence demographic processes in Wolf, Shaye* other areas. Marine protected areas (MPAs) for Climate change is predicted to significantly increase pinnipeds have typically focused on breeding areas the extinction risk for many species, underscoring where individuals are highly aggregated, but do not the need for effective mitigation (greenhouse gas always consider habitats that may be used outside reduction) and adaptation (increasing resilience) of the breeding season. Glacier Bay National Park measures to reduce this risk. The U.S. Endangered (GB) in Alaska is one the largest MPAs in the Species Act is an existing tool that has the potential northern hemisphere, yet harbor seals have to provide mitigation and adaptation benefits to declined by -11.5%/year (1992 to 2009), despite species threatened by climate change. We analyzed protection measures in GB. However, it is unknown provisions of the ESA that can provide protections if seals move outside of GB after the breeding to climate-imperiled species, and examined how season, the threats they encounter, and if they those provisions have been utilized to date. Listing return to GB. We attached satellite transmitters to petitions have been submitted for 11 species for female seals (n= 37) in GB to quantify the post- which climate change was identified as the primary breeding season (Sept–May) distribution of seals threat, one of which has been listed. Of 106 and to identify hotspots used by seals. Seals ranged additional petitioned species for which climate extensively beyond the boundaries of GB (up to 238 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

900 km away) and were associated with seasonal can be used to inform gap analyses for coastal prey aggregations and anti-cyclonic eddies. Fidelity conservation targets. of seals to GB was lowest from November to April with 89% of seals departing GB. Although seals ranged extensively beyond GB, there was high degree of site fidelity of seals (93%) back to GB the Tuesday, July 17 8:55 Implementing Science following breeding season. Our results have Across Scales: Collaborative Approaches To Large implications for the design of MPAs for pinnipeds Landscape Conservation In North America And and other wide-ranging species that have discrete Australia * breeding and non-breeding areas. Wyborn, Carina , Fenner School Of Environment And Society, Anu Large landscape conservation initiatives have gained increasing prominence globally. Motivated Monday, July 16 Floristics And Diversity In by the science of conservation biology, these Coastal Scrub Of The San Francisco Bay Area initiatives use innovative models of collaborative Wrubel, Eric*, San Francisco State Universtiy , governance to connect landscape-scale science Parker, Thomas, San Francisco State Universtiy with local-scale action. However the many tensions The San Francisco Bay Area is rich in coastal scrub between such scales of decision-making and action vegetation types (soft-leaved coastal shrublands); pose significant challenges for connecting from low-growing mats on coastal bluffs to tall conservation science with practice. Drawing on a dense scrubs on inland hills. Local species richness longstanding case in North America and an varies considerably within the coastal scrub emerging initiative in Australia, this paper will mosaic, which comprises roughly 1/3 of all discuss the challenges and opportunities shrubland vegetation in the region. While coastal collaborative approaches present for implementing scrub is relatively common and well protected in conservation action across multiple scales. This the Bay Area, some rare associations or areas with presentation will summarise key findings from an high species diversity may represent conservation interdisciplinary doctoral dissertation. Qualitative gaps. I conducted a floristic survey along gradients social science was used to examine the interplay of maritime influence and topographic position to between science, values and action in cross-scale describe patterns of species richness and governance. Despite different social, ecological and associations within coastal scrub vegetation of the institutional contexts, these cases highlight the Bay Area. Local richness of vascular plant species importance of both science and social values to was significantly higher on coastal bluffs when collaborative conservation. However, both cases compared to interior locations. Ordination results faced early challenges to their legitimacy through a suggest that water availability and stress from loss of connection with the local scale. Research windborne salts are two major environmental findings demonstrate that while collaboration can factors affecting community composition. Sites serve as an important mechanism to bridge science with significant maritime influence and high water and practice across scales, it cannot be engineered availability appear to have relatively high species from the ‘top down’. Landscape-scale science may richness. These locations tend to have a rich provide a guiding vision, however this research mixture of species with northerly affinities, and highlights the importance of grounding represent important climate change refugia for conservation science and action in a local context. coastal plant species. I present the major physiognomic groupings in Bay Area coastal scrub and a preliminary classification of vegetation alliances and associations. The results of this study 239 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Monday, July 16 11:00 Grouting Mosaics: habitat spatial configurations. This study integrates Motivating Collaborative Conservation Across Hypersectral data for dominant tree species Patchy Landscapes delineation with LiDAR data for height detection to Yaffee, Steven*, University Of Michigan analyze forest bird niche requirements. The study Just as ecosystem processes link dispersed site is associated with the Eastern Cross Timber structural elements, so do human social processes ecosystem, which defines the limits of many link isolated land ownerships, human needs and wildlife taxa, spanning the western treeless Great institutional capacity to achieve conservation and Plains and eastern deciduous forests, much of protection at the landscape-level. Governance which has been developed for residential and structures, legal mandates, public programs, commercial purposes due to its close proximity to scientific research activities and other structural the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. What elements help provide mechanisms that lead to remains is a remnant patch of bottomland coordinated action. However, less tangible hardwood forest, providing an important sanctuary elements such as leadership, a sense of place or for both non-migratory and migratory birds. shared identity, and strategic thinking provided by Preliminary results based on bird census conducted third parties are needed to produce action that is biannually during the 2009 & 2010 breeding meaningful and durable. This paper will examine seasons combined with the vegetation survey show some of these critical “grout-like” elements, that the integrated habitat map serves as an drawing from a recent set of world-wide case effective conservation/communication/education studies of marine ecosystem-based management. tool not only to display the known location of It will also highlight the challenges resulting from target species occurrence but also the potential current social dynamics. Ironically, while the need location of the species based on the habitat for landscape-scale action is greater, the properties at landscape level. technology for connectivity is more robust and the space that separates critical elements is less, forces promoting polarization and fragmentation and the inability to concentrate on interconnected complex Monday, July 16 11:30 Delineating Limiting problems make achieving collaborative Features Of Climate And Habitat Of American Pika conservation at the landscape scale more difficult. (Ochotona princeps) Subpopulations In The Face Of Climate Change Yandow, Leah*, University Of Wyoming Cooperative Research Unit , Chalfoun, Anna, Monday, July 16 Quantifying Forest Vertical University Of Wyoming , Doak, Daniel, University Structure To Determine Bird Habitat Quality In Of Wyoming Coop Research Unit The Greenbelt Corridor Along The Elm Fork Of The The distinctive life-history traits of the American Trinity River, North Texas pika (Ochotona princeps) including physiological Yamamoto, Shiho*, Univeristy Of North Texas constraints, limited dispersal ability, and This paper seeks to create a multi-dimensional occurrence in small isolated populations render habitat map to examine the relationship between them particularly vulnerable to climate change. forest stand structure, landscape heterogeneity Because of these qualities and their role in the and bird community composition. Avian alpine community, pikas are an emblematic species community structure is an established indicator of of alpine habitats and are widely viewed as an forest health and overall biodiversity. Avian indicator of change. However, disparate climatic communities in turn are determined by bird and habitat forces appear to limit pika populations breeding success and territory occupancy both of across the species range, suggesting that climate which are correlated with vegetation density and effects are highly context-dependent. We tested 240 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 three hypotheses including summer heat, winter conservation targets and strategies based on the snowpack, and forage availability to investigate the best available science. The CVJV uses directed importance of climate and habitat characteristics in research and a network of expert scientists to test explaining relative pika abundance across two assumptions and improve the scientific foundation distinct Central Rocky mountain ranges in for conservation delivery. Using conservation Wyoming. Data from the Wind River and Bighorn targets that are objective and based on science ranges show similar patterns of pika abundance, provides a common currency to unify diverse with the strongest support for explanatory models partners, and a strong foundation for developing including elevation and forage availability. Our state-wide and regional policies, garner public results support each of the three hypotheses support, and ultimately secure funding for exemplifying the complex dynamics of climate conservation actions influences on pikas. The data also emphasize the importance of alpine meadow and apparent limitations at upper elevation limit, which is contrary to current understanding that low Tuesday, July 17 9:00 Training Teachers elevation range limits are the main driver of pika Improves Support For Conservation * distribution. The model we present will allow for Young, Samantha , San Diego Zoo Institute For better prediction of existing pika populations Conservation Research , Keith, Robin, San Diego across the Central Rocky mountain region. Zoo Global , Lacombe, Corrin, San Diego Zoo Global , Reinbold, Megan, San Diego Zoo Global , Danoff- Burg, James, San Diego Zoo Global An understanding of environmental issues is Wednesday, July 18 9:50 Conservation Targets essential for cultivating a personal involvement in As A Unifying Tool For Collaboration conservation, something that is particularly Yarris, Gregory*, Central Valley Joint Venture important among teachers of conservation science. Landscape scale approaches to conservation Of particular importance along these lines are require collaboration among diverse stakeholders hands-on curricula that involves both lab and field to be successful. Shared philosophies are often experiences and provides resources that teachers sufficient to coalesce groups initially, but can bring back to the classroom. In 2011, 124 meaningful goals and identifiable outcomes are teachers participated in online surveys evaluating necessary for long term commitment of time and their personal and professional perspectives resources. The Central Valley Joint Venture (CVJV) teaching conservation biology. Two groups were is a successful partnership of diverse groups unified surveyed – a treatment group (that participated in by migratory bird habitat conservation in the the teacher training program at the SDZG Institute) critical but highly-altered landscape of California. and a control group (that did not). Individuals in The CVJV was formed in 1988 to locally implement the treatment group spent more time in their the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, classroom on conservation related topics, are more an ambitious effort to restore waterfowl comfortable and feel better prepared teaching populations to levels observed during the 1970s. about conservation, and place great value on Initially, the CVJV used regional population offering conservation solutions to students. abundance objectives for waterfowl to quantify Additionally, the treatment group appears to value habitat objectives and frame conservation delivery wildlife conservation more and recognizes the strategies. The CVJV eventually broadened its focus contribution of zoos to conservation. These results and partnership to address the needs of other suggest that conservation organizations are directly wetland and riparian avian species. The success of benefited by training teachers how to teach the partnership stems from a commitment to conservation science. Placing teacher training as a 241 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012 central component of conservation education Monday, July 16 Interactions Between Nitrogen efforts improves the quality of instruction and Deposition And Grazing Inform Invasive And increase our public outreach exponentially. Native Species Management In A Serpentine Grassland Zavaleta, Erika*, Environmental Studies Dept. , Pasari, Jae, UC Davis , Hernandez, Daniel, Carleton Monday, July 16 4:20 Diverse Conservation Colllege Approaches For A Diverse World In the native-rich, nitrogen-limited serpentine * Zavaleta, Erika , Environmental Studies Dept. grasslands of the San Francisco Bay Area, the most Diverse conservation approaches for a diverse widely cited threat to native species is the world People now influence most places on Earth fertilizing effect of nitrogen (N) deposition and the and will likely leave an enduring stratigraphic mark most widely recommended management strategy into the geological future. But most conservation is is cattle grazing. Despite the perceived primacy of not global; it takes place in regions that vary vastly N deposition as a threat and grazing as the in the nature and degree of human influence, from solution, no one has experimentally-manipulated pristine to urban. Even entirely anthropogenic both factors to confirm their importance in this landscapes vary widely, from recent, highly system. We manipulated grazing and N at Coyote engineered systems to ancient, evolved ones with Ridge, the largest serpentine grassland in very different dynamics. Conservation thus can and California, from 2007-2011. We used camera trap should pursue different goals, through different technology to precisely quantify grazing intensity, means, in different places. This diversity is valuable and low fertilization levels to mimic possible in itself, conferring resilience on the conservation increases in N deposition and accumulation. We sector as it does in ecosystems. Moreover, there is found that grazing maintained native species rarely one inherent best goal for a given place; the richness and reduced exotic grass cover under biodiversity that persists in working landscapes, the current N levels, but may not manage exotic cover biodiversity that does not, and the ecosystem as effectively under future, increased levels of N services that support local livelihoods and global deposition and accumulation. While grazing society each deserve better than for us to pick one benefited most native forbs, it also reduced native or two and leave the others behind. So what can grass cover, suggesting both positive and negative conservation efforts do better in our era of grazing effects on native species conservation. accelerating change? We must work better with Huge differences in measured levels of grazing people and across disciplines and sectors, whether intensity within a single stocking rate suggest that we are pursuing protected areas or food security. more intensive management might be required to We should mature the science of transformation: better distribute the conservation benefits of the stewardship of self-renewing systems through grazing in this system. inevitable change. We need to conserve bottom- up, evolved, hierarchical complexity – the essence of nature – in both ecological and socio-ecological systems. Finally, conservation’s paths should reflect the vast diversity of places where it happens and of values that inspire it.

242 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Tuesday, July 17 12:45 Linking Nitrogen Tuesday, July 17 9:15 Novel Approaches For Pollution To The Decline Of Threatened Species Restoring Wetlands In Novel Sites: A Practical And Ecosystems: The Case Of Bay Area Serpentine Necessity Grasslands Zedler, Joy* Zavaleta, Erika*, Environmental Studies Dept. , Restoration targets need to be broader than Vallano, Dena, Environmental Protection Agency , “returning a site to its historical state.” For Pasari, Jae, UC Davis , Hernandez, Daniel, Carleton wetlands, targets such as “restore diverse Colllege , Selmants, Paul, University Of Hawaii- vegetation” are unachievable, especially in Manoa , Tzankova, Zdravka, UCSC , Koch, Paul, downstream positions of watersheds that are UCSC , Morozumi, Corinne, UCSC irreversibly altered by agriculture and urban Nitrogen (N) pollution has far-ranging effects on development. Such watersheds discharge excess ecosystems and biodiversity, especially in water and nutrients, making downstream wetlands historically N-limited systems like serpentine highly eutrophic and readily invaded. The typical grasslands. We examined (1) the extent of N outcome of restoration projects in downstream pollution threats to federally listed species in the wetlands is dominance by a clonal graminoid US, (2) evidence of N deposition effects on the invader (e.g., hybrid cattails). Although the listed Bay checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha resulting novel ecosystems retain sediments, bayensis) in serpentine grasslands, (3) restoration produce biomass, and store carbon, they fail to strategies to reduce the effects of N deposition and support historical biodiversity. Continual weeding plant invasion on these grasslands, and (4) possible and replanting are impractical, so novel approaches policy & regulatory approaches to reduce N are needed. A futuristic target is a positive deposition at regional or national scales. 15N feedback system whereby native plants would isotope records in Quercus durata were consistent reverse the stressor that favors invaders. Toward with increased anthropogenic N inputs over the that aim, I promote starting sedge meadow last century, and atmospheric samplers indicated restoration with a native dominant, Carex stricta. high current input rates. A competition study This “superplant” grows tussocks, enhances confirmed that N inputs advantage Lolium microtopography, stores carbon, supports diverse multiflorum, the main exotic invader of Bay Area plant species, and takes up added nitrogen. Our serpentine areas. Field experiments indicated that next step is to compare denitrification rates of moderate cattle grazing reduced exotic cover, but tussocks under various restoration approaches. To its effectiveness declined under simulated future N restore novel sites, I encourage research on native loads. We identified an approach to reduce plants that might reverse stressors, thereby atmospheric N deposition based on novel use of favoring their own dominance over that of existing policy and regulatory tools: it may be invaders. With multi-functional dominants in place possible to reduce N pollution by leveraging the and countering eutrophication, restorationists Endangered Species Act to trigger the Clean Air Act could focus on augmenting biodiversity. and state air quality regulations. The USFWS documents at least 85 listed or candidate species throughout the US as negatively affected by N pollution. Great potential thus exists for the mechanisms we identified to extend to other cases.

243 The Inaugural SCB North American Congress for Conservation Biology · Oakland, California · July 15-18, 2012

Tuesday, July 17 4:45 Trading-Off Fish Biodiversity, Food Security And Hydropower In The Mekong River Basin Ziv, Guy*, The Natural Capital Project , Levin, Simon, Princeton University , Rodriguez-Iturbe, Ignacio, Princeton University , Baran, Eric, Worldfish Center The Mekong River Basin, site of the biggest inland fishery in the world, is undergoing massive hydropower development. Planned dams will block critical fish migration routes between the river’s downstream floodplains and upstream tributaries. Here we estimate fish biomass and biodiversity losses in numerous damming scenarios using a novel ecological model of fish migration. Our framework allows detailing trade-offs between dam locations, power production, and impacts on fish resources. We find that the completion of 78 dams on tributaries, which have not previously been subject to strategic analysis, would have catastrophic impacts on fish productivity and biodiversity. Our results argue for reassessment of several dams planned, and call for a new regional agreement on tributary development of the Mekong River Basin.

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Barlow, Jay 17, 77, 210 Brennan, Joan 26 Barnard, Patrick 225 Briggler, Jeffrey 70 Barr, Brian 13 Brin, Christine 130 Barrett, James 75 Brockerhoff, Eckehard 65 Barrett‐Lennard, Lance 47 Brost, Brian 18 Author Index Barrows, Cameron 13, 14 Brown, Bryan 103 Bart, David 14 Brown, Glen 175 We have done our best to index all authors Bartolome, James 208 Brown, Isaac 27 and apologize for any omissions. Due to Baruch‐Mordo, Sharon 15 Brown, James 51 inconsistncies in author formatting during Barun, Arijana 15 Brown, Leland 84 submission, some authors may be indexed Batbayar, Nyambayar 121 Brown, Marcia 27, 35 by first rather than surname. Batsuur', Dashnyam 121 Brownlee, Matthew 40 Bayard, Trina 64 Brusati, Elizabeth 28, 28 A Bayne, Erin 31 Buck‐Diaz, Jennifer 29 Bean, William 16 Buffington, Kevin 26 Abbott, Josh 141 Bear, Dinah 16 Burcher, Chris 29 Abelson, Eric 1 Beaty, Braven 16 Burdett, Christopher 46 Ackerly, David 1, 76 Becker, Elizabeth 17, 77 Burgess, Neil 74 Acosta, Roxana 155 Becker, Penny 17 Burnett, A. Cheyenne 29 Acosta, Sara 63 Beechie, Tim 228 Burnett, Joe 30, 72 Adams, Josh 112 Beever, Erik 18 Burnett, Kelly 224 Adeney, Marion 1 Beier, Paul 18, 90, 92, 203 Burnett, Ryan 184 Aguirre, Alonso 2 Beissinger, Steve 81 Burns, Catherine 30 Aiello‐Lammens, Matthew 2 Bell, Douglas 182 Burton, Cole 31 Akcakaya, H. Resit 2 Bell, Michael 126 Butterfield, Scott 16, 220 Albano, Christine 234 Beller, Erin 19, 211 Byrd, Kristin 31 Albrecht, Matthew 204 Benigno, Gina 137 Calambokidas, John 210 Albright, Whitney 3 Bennett, Elena 6, 227 Calhoun, Aram 191 Aldrich‐Wolfe, Laura 3, 53 Bennett, Stacie 206 Callahan, Renee 4, 5 Alexander, Louise 59, 59, 60 Benson, Scott 19 Camargo, Rafael 32 Allen, Michael 158 Berger, Joel 20 Cameron, Dick 32, 123 Allen‐Diaz, Barbara 208 Bernacchi, Leigh 20, 179 Campbell, Chris 62 Alvarez, Pelayo 31, 158 Berntsen, Eric 69 Canavire‐Bacareza, Gustavo 99 Amaral‐Zettler, Linda 204 Berthelsen, Martha 21 Caragiulo, Anthony 32 Ament, Robert 4, 5 Best, Ben 183 Cardenas, Glenda 107 Anadon, Jose Daniel 233 Bhagabati, Nirmal 21 Cardenas, Susana 225 Anderson, Kirk 220 Bhotika, Smriti 21 Carlson, Rowena 210 Anderson, Mark 5, 166 Bixler, Patrick 171 Carr, Sarah 33 Andre, James M. 6 Blaeloch, Janine 22 Carrera Zamanillo, Maria Isabel 33 Angermeier, Paul 6, 227 Blair, Betsy 207 Carroll, John 39, 40 Apaydin, Muge 7 Bledsoe, Brian 69 Casey, Frank 31 Apeverga, Tersoo 7 Bograd, Steven 104, 141 Castellarini, Fabiana 13 Aplet, Greg 144 Boitani, Luigi 46 Castillo, Jessica 34 Argo, Emily 7 Boland, Clara 22 Cayan, Dan 61 Arkema, Katie 8, 127 Bolshakova, Virginia 23 Ceballos, Gerardo 155 Aronson, Myla 8 Bonebrake, Timothy 23 Chalfoun, Anna 34, 106, 240 Asher, Jeremian 56 Bongard, Cindy 24 Chan, Kai 122 Atkinson, Carla 224 Bonney, Rick 12 Chapa Vargas, Leonardo 192 Atwood, Jonathan 9 Booth, Derek 69 Chase, Mark 230 Augspurger, Tom 59 Bork, Karrigan 146 Chester, Charles 108 Aukema, Juliann, E. 72 Borker, Abraham 24 Chetkiewicz, Cheryl 35 Aumack, Ethan 234 Borroto‐Páez, Rafael 222 Chickadel, Christopher 77 Austen, Douglas 9 Botsford, Louis W. 197 Child, Brrian 158 Austin, Clay 110 Bouchard, Michelle 206 Choudhury, Arpita 3 Avila, Sergio 9 Bourgeois, John 25 Christen, Kate 27, 35 Babbitt, Kimberly 42 Boutin, Stan 31 Christensen, Jon 193 Bach, Jp 102 Bow, Jacquie 44 Claassen, Andrea 36 Bachelet, Dominique 38 Bowen, Bonnie 51 Clark, Alan 32 Baczynski, Kat 10 Bowen, Heather 137 Cleaves, David 36 Baerwald, Melinda 146 Bowles, Chris 69 Cleveland, Clinton 81 Bailey, Helen 19, 141 Boyce, Mark 35, 45 Clevenger, Anthony 4, 194 Baillie, Jonathan 219 Boyce, Walter 115 Cloern, James 37 Bain, Mark 102 Boydston, Erin 115 Cocking, Matthew 189 Baker, Merrill 10 Bradley, Bethany 55, 172 Cohen, Ellie 37, 95 Bakker, Vickie 72 Bradley, Russell 25, 63, 94,, 113, 197 Cohen, Sarah 57 Baldwin, Elizabeth 11 Branciforte, Ryan 105,, 133, 231 Colemann, Heather 37 Baldwin, Rob 11, 103, 130, 175, 213 Brand, L. Arriana 26 Colemann, Jeremy 38 Ballance, Lisa 77, 138 Brand, Peter 19, 62 Collazo, Jaime 60 Ballard, Grant 11, 37, 192, 225 Brandt, Joseph 72 Colwell, Robert 101 Ballard, Heidi 12, 68, 225 Brandt, Patric 54 Comendant, Tosha 38 Balvanera, Patricia 12, 13, 178 Brashares, Justin 16 Comer, Pat 44 Baran, Eric 244 Breck, Stewart 15 Connor, Edward 54 Bargu, Sibel 72 Bremner‐Harrison, Samantha 232 Connor, Michael 39 245

Connors, Brendan 39 Duane, Tim 41 Fordyce, James 15 Converse, Yvette 73 Dubios, Natalie S. 190 Fore, Leska 217 Conway, April 39, 40, 40 Duffield, John 4 Foreman, Steve 57 Cook, Megan 64 Dulava, Sharon 182 Forkey, Alan 86 Cooper, Daniel 23 Duncan, Benet 61 Forney, Karin 17, 19, 77 Cope, Greg 59 Dunn, Daniel 61, 183 Forney, William 77 Copeland, Holly 41 Dunn, Robert 101 Forrester, Graham 49 Cornelisse, Tara 41 Durben, Rachel 62, 127 Forrester, Tavis 78, 225 Coronel, Heli 134 Dusterhoff, Scott 62 Fox, Caroline 50 Costello, Christopher 236 Dutton, Peter 19 Fraga, Naomi 78 Coster, Stephanie 42 Dybala, Kristen 63 Francis, Wendy 78 Courter, Jason 42 Eadie, John M. 63, 197 Frank, Holly 140 Cover, Matthew 43 Eby, Lisa 142 Frank, Zephyr 193 Crall, Alycia 43 Eggert, Lori 70 Fraser, John 79 Crawford, Tara 44 Eguchi, Tomoharu 19 Freeman, Olivia 74 Creech, Tyler 44 Elliott, Meredith L. 63, 67, 89, 113 Freidenburg, Tess 80 Creighton, Janean 224 Ellis, Erle 63 Frey, S. Nicole 29 Crist, Patrick 33, 44, 45 Ellison, Laura 64 Friedlaender, Ari 210 Cristescu, Bogdan 45 Elphick, Chris 64 Frimpong, Emmanuel 6 Croll, Donald 24, 207 Elsner, Marketa 228 Fullerton, Aimee 80 Crooks, Kevin 46, 46, 115 Engle, David 150 Fulthorpe, Roberta 24 Cross, Molly S. 47, 108 Ennen, Josh 134 Funk, W. Chris 157 Crossman, Carla 47 Epanchin‐Niell, Rebecca 65 Furnas, Brett 80 Crowder, Larry 141 Epps, Clinton 34, 44 Fusari, Margaret 81 Cruz, Isabel 186 Epstein, Jonathan H. 65 Gaetz, Noah 201 Cruz, Liz 110 Equihua, Miguel 12 Galan, Carla 13 Cullman, Georgina 47 Erb, Liesl P 66, 206 Gallo, John 81 Currie, David 32 Ersts, Peter 2 Galtbalt, Batbayar 219 Cuthbert, Francesca 36 Escovar, Tatiana 66 Gamboa, Maybellene 81 Cypher, Alysha 48 Eshete, Getachew 66 Game, Edward 94 Cypher, Brian 232 Estrada Carmona, Natalia 82 Gaona, Salvador 82, 202 D'Iorio, Mimi 48 Euing, Susan H. 67 Garbach, Kelly 82 Daley, Jad 49 Euliss, Ned 159 Garbelotto, Matteo 103 Dalton, Tracey 49 Evans, Edward 23 García‐Alanis, Nashieli 12 Danforth, Trygg 234 Evans, Emily 68 Gardali, Thomas 11, 63, 85 Danoff‐Burg, James 50, 126, 169, 241 Evans, Jeffrey 157 Garfield, Toby 57 Darimont, Chris 50 Evens, Julie 29 Garrison, Karen 83 Daut, Elizabeth 51 Evers, David 9 Gearheart, Greg 69 Davidson, Ana 51 Eviner, Valerie 68 Gelbard, Jonathan 83 Davis, Jerry 189 Ex, Lindsay 154, 171, 180 Gende, Scott 238 Debinski, Diane 51, 150 Eyre, Catherine 68, 103 Gennet, Sasha 84 Declerck, Fabrice 82 Falcone, Erin 210 Gentemann, Chelle 17 Deguchi, Tomohiro 113 Fallon, Sylvia 69 George, Anna 84 Dehart, Pieter 52, 211 Faries, Joe 8 George, Daniel 72, 84 Deitch, Matthew 52 Federico, Felicia 69 Gephard, Stephen 7 Del Vecchio, Kristi 53 Feirer, Shane 147 Gerber, Leah 44, 233 Delaney, Kathleen 53 Feist, Sheena 70 Gerritsen, Peter 12 Delgadillo, Jose 95 Ferguson, Megan 77 Gibbs, James 236 DellaSala, Dominick 54, 149 Ferraro, Paul 70 Gibbs, Samantha 85 Dennhardt, Lauren 54 Fety, Lauren 71 Gilbert, Michelle 34, 85 Derugin, Vasilissa 54 Fiedler, Paul 77 Gilgert, Wendell 86 DeRuiter, Stacy 210 Fiegener, Rob 71 Gillikin, Paula 130 Desorbo, Chris 9 Field, Chris 64 Gjerdrum, Carina 64 Dethloff, Gail 55 Figg, Dennis 71 Glaser, Aviva 86 Detling, James 51 Fimbel, Cheryl 72 Gleason, Mary 126, 132, 236 Dias‐Freedman, Isaebla 32 Finkelstein, Myra 72, 84 Gluesenkamp, Dan 86 Diaz, Ramon 152 Finn, John 172 Gluesenkamp, Daniel 133 Dickson, Brett 55, 90, 109, 172, Finn, Sean 73 Goldbogen, Jeremy 210 229, 234, 235 Finton, Andy 5 Goldstein, Michael 54 DiGregoria, John 208, 208 Fischer, Christina 73 Golet, Gregory 54, 85 Dillman, Karen 54 Fischer, Paige 224 Gomez‐Ruiz, Emma 51 Dipietro, Deanne 11 Fischman, Robert 74 Gonzalez, Alejandro 134 Doak, Daniel 72, 240 Fisher, Brendan 74, 144 González‐Ibarra, Minerva 87, 202 Dobrowski, Solomon 18 Fisher, Jon 74 Goodchild, Shawn 87 Doran, Patrick 56, 56, 97 Fisher, Justin 75, 105 Goodwin, Kim 205 Doubledee, Rebecca 57 Fisher, Larry 75 Gracey, Kyle 88 Douglas, Annie 210 Fitzgerald, John 75, 76, 88 Graham, Jim 88 Dournaee, Mary 57 Fitzpatrick, Benjamin 15 Graham, Krista 88 Dowland, Melissa 58 Fleenor, Adam 43 Graiff, Kaitlin 89, 184 Dransfield, Andrea 58 Flint, Lorraine 31, 76, 76, 231, 231 Grantham, Ted 89 Dratch, Peter 164, 230 Flores Flores, José Luis 192 Graves, Tabitha 90 Drew, Ashton 59, 60 Foley, David 17, 19, 77 Gray, Miranda 90 Dronova, Iryna 60 Fonseca, Thomas 225 Gray, Morgan 91 246

Gray, Rick 9 Hernandez, Sonia 39, 40 Kauffman, Matthew 195 Gregerson, Christopher 217 Hethcoat, Matthew 34 Kean, John 65 Gregg, Rachel 91, 100, 109 Hewitt, Judi 135 Keith, Robin 50, 241 Gregory, Andrew 92 Heyward, Joslin 106 Kelly, Judy 120 Greuel, Bridget 92 Hickey, Catherine 85, 112 Kelly, Maggi 220 Griffiths, Jessica 92 Higgason, Kelley 61, 225 Kelly, Rose 88 Griffiths, Tim 86 Higgins, Jonathan 107 Kelsey, Rodd 85, 112, 126 Grifo, Francesca 93 Higgins, Mark 107 Kenkel, Julie 121 Groff, Tierra 182 Hild, Joanne 127 Kennedy, Morgan 133 Gross, John 93 Hildebrand, John 210 Kern, Tim 73 Grossinger, Robin 19, 211 Hill, Jason 64 Kershner, Jessi 149 Grossman, Richard 94 Hilty, Jodi 108, 125 Kessler, Aimee 121 Grout, Dan 94 Hines, Ellen 58, 108, 143 Kimball, John 228 Groves, Craig 94 Hitt, Jessica 109 Kirui, Alan 167, 168 Guannel, Greg 8, 127 Hoffman, Jennie 91, 109 Kitting, Christopher 182 Guerry, Anne 127 Hogan, Zeb 109 Kitzes, Justin 122 Guilliams, Matt 95 Hoglander, Cerissa 109 Klain, Sarah 122 Gunther, Andrew 95 Holdsworth, Andy 110, 136 Klausmeyer, Kirk 84, 123 Gunther, Andy 213 Holguin, Andrew 198 Kline, Donna 132 Guralnick, Robert 66 Holland, Robert 32 Knight, Amy 123, 123 Guscio, Dalit 205 Holt, Peter 110 Knutson, Christopher 217 Gutzwiller, Kevin 174 Homyack, Jessica 130 Koch, Paul 243 Haak, Amy 96, 118 Horning, Markus 238 Kolb, Melanie 12 Hadidian, John 96 Horning, Ned 2 Koo, Michelle 123 Hagell, Suzanne 97 Houghten, Charles 110 Koopman, Marni 13, 54, 149 Hall, Embere 18 Houts, Mike 111 Koppelman, Jeffrey 70 Hall, Kimberly 56, 56, 97 Hoverman, Jason 22 Kovach, Adrienne 42 Hall, Laurie 81 Howar, Julie 163 Kowalski, Bartholomew 124 Hallett, Lauren 213 Howard, Jeanette 176 Koy, Kevin 220 Halpin, Pat 61, 98, 183 Howard, Jerome 135 Kreitler, Jason 124 Hamilton, Healy 98 Huggard, David 31 Kremen, Claire 194, 221 Hanak, Ellen 98 Huijser, Marcel 4 Kreps, Brad 16 Hanauer, Merlin 70, 99 Hull, Scott 97 Kretser, Heidi 125 Hann, Courtney 99 Hultine, Kevin 121 Krosby, Meade 125 Hannum, Christopher 180 Hummel, Susan 224 Kruse, Carter 173 Hansen, Andrew 179 Hunting, Kevin 111 Kuehl, Aline 215 Hansen, Lara 91, 100, 109 Hurst, Zach 51 Kurle, Carolyn 44, 72 Hanson, William 9 Hurt, Aimee 205 Kwak, Tom 59 Hardesty, Jeff 94 Hyrenbach, David 112 Kyburg, Christopher 210 Hardie, Erin 225 Iglecia, Monica 112 Kyle, Keiller 126 Hardy, Amanda 46 Inouye, Caron 92 Labbe, Ellen 7 Hare, Trevor 100 Irwin, Hugh 144 Labrum, Kate 126 Harmon, Suzanne 28 Jacobs, Judy 113 Lacombe, Corrin 50, 126, 241 Harr, Ryan 150 Jahncke, Jaime 25, 58, 63, 89, 113, Lahkar, Kulojyoti 182 Harris, Marion 220 143, 163, 184, 197 Lang, Brian 42 Harris, Nyeema 100, 101 Jasny, Michael 114 Langridge, Suzanne 127 Harrison‐Atlas, Dylan 215 Jeffress, Mackenzie 114 Laposa, Steven 180 Hartl, Brett 101 Jenness, Jeff 18 Lara, Nalleli 134 Hartmann, Eliza 53 Jennings, Megan 115 Larson, Lincoln 40 Hartter, Joel 191 Jensen, John 204 Latterell, Joshua 217 Hassan, Zafri 102 Johansen, Jeffrey 115 Lauder, Jeff 127 Hauser, Christopher 73 Johns, David 115 Lawler, Jim 20 Havill, Scott 102 Johnson, Brenda 116 Lawler, Joshua 128, 196 Hawley, Joanna 103 Johnson, Doug 28 Lawrence, David 128 Hayden, Katherine 103 Johnson, Douglas H. 116 Lawrence, Niel 128 Hayden, Nicholas 48 Johnson, Marci 20 Lawrie, David 129 Hayes, Rich 103 Johnson, Nancy 121 Layhee, Megan 129 Hayward, Greg 106 Johnson, Pieter 22, 177 Lazos, Elena 12 Hazen, Elliott 104, 141 Johnson, Ron 42 Le Corre, Matthiew 112 Heckman, Katherine 150 Johnson, Shawn 117 Lebuhn, Gretchen 21, 26, 54 Hedman, Hayden 104 Johnson, Sherri 224 Ledbetter, Jeri 209 Heide, Maggie 205 Jones, Allison 164 Legge, John 56 Heilveil, Jeffrey 211 Jones, Nathan 117 Leidner, Allison 130, 163 Heinz, Reina 207 Jordan, Marilyn 117 Leonard, Jessica 54, 149 Hekkala, Evon 104 Jovan, Sarah 54 Leonard, Paul 130 Heller, Nicole 105 Junker, Jessica 118 Levesque, Vanessa 131 Henderschedt, John 141 Kahl, Katherine 56, 97 Levin, Simon 244 Henderson, Jeremy 177 Kaiser, Evan 42 Lewison, Rebecca 115, 131, 141 Henkanaththegedara, Sujan 105 Kandell, Stephen 118 Li, Yinpeng 222 Henry, Philippe 190 Kareiva, Peter 119, 141, 194 Lidicker, William 131 Herbert, Matthew 56 Karp, Daniel 119 Ligon, Franklin 169 Herbold, Bruce 106 Karres, Nicole 119 Limburg, Karin 7 Hernandez, Daniel 242, 243 Kass, Jamie 120 Linders, Mary 72 247

Lindholm, James 132 Meiman, Sue 64 Nichols, James 161 Lipscomb, Don 11 Meine, Curt 146 Nie, Martin 161 Liu, Len 192 Meitzen, Kimberly 147 Niederer, Christal 160, 162, 178 Llerena, Nelly 107 Mendelssohn, Roy 235 Nielsen, Erik 109 Loarie, Scott 76, 132, 133 Meredith, Anna 68 Niemiller, Matthew L. 15 Locke, Christina 133 Merenlender, Adina 68, 91, 122, Nilsen, Caitlin 92 Long, Quinn 204 139, 147, 178, 237 Noll, Guy 162 Lonsdorf, Eric 182 Meretsky, Vicky 147 Noon, Barry 128 Loosen, Annie 18 Merrifield, Matt 126 Nordhaus, Ted 200 López, Carlos 134 Meyer, Erin 148 Northrup, Joe 237 Louzao, Maite 112 Meyer, Michael 97 Nunez, Cassandra 163 Lovich, Jeffrey 134 Michalak, Julia 196 Nur, Nadav 163, 192 Lovvorn, James 189 Michel, Nicole 148 Nyaoro, Wilson 167, 168 Lucchetti, Gino 217 Micheli, Lisa 76, 133, 149, 231 Nydick, Koren 164, 198 Lundquist, Carolyn 135 Mielbrecht, Eric 91, 149 O'Brien, Lee 164 Lyons, Kelly 102 Mierzykowski, Steven 9 O'Brien, Michael 123 Lyren, Lisa 115 Miewald, Tom 110 O'Connor, Amy 164 Maass, Manuel 12 Miles, A. Keith 26 O'Connor, David 165 Mach, Megan 122 Millar, Constance 150 O'Farrell, Michael 237 MacKenzie, Jason 123 Miller, Dan 207 O'Hara, Kevin 110 Madosky, Jessa 135 Miller, Jim 150 O'Neil, Glenn 56 Mahajan, Shauna 6 Miller, Joshua 150 Ocana, Melissa 165 Makkay, Amanda M. 136 Miller, Mark 151 Ocholla, Gordon 167, 168 Makori, David 167 Miller, Philip 17 Oetting, Jon 123 Maldonado, Jesus 17, 232 Mills Busa, Julianne 151 Ogg, Clayton 158 Manne, Lisa 223 Millsap, Brian 152 Ojima, Dennis 166 Manolis, Jim 136 Minnick, Sarah 152 Olden, Julian 128 Mantua, Nathan 228 Miranda, Juan Jose 152 Olivero Sheldon, Arlene 166 Marchetti, Michael 129, 137 Mitchell, Heather 153 Olliff, Tom 73 Mariita, Richard 167, 168 Miteva, Daniela 153 Olson, Deanna 166 Markowitz, Ezra 137 Mockrin, Miranda 154, 171 Olsson, Aaryn 55, 90, 229, 235 Marler, Marilyn 205 Mogollon, Beatriz 6, 227 Omondi, Samson 167, 168 Márquez, Daniel 186 Mohr, Michael 237 Opinde, Godwin 167, 168 Marris, Emma 138 Monahan, Bill 154 Orr, Bruce 169 Martin, Karen 138 Monello, Ryan 44 Osorio, Jorge 186 Martin, Karl 97 Monroe, Jeremy 155 Owen, Megan 169 Martin, Summer 138 Montiel, Ana 155 Ozaki, Kioaki 113 Martínez‐Harms, María José 178 Montiel, Griselda 155 Packard, Jane 170 Martinez‐Meyer, Enrique 12 Moore, Kara 143, 155 Pairis, Amber 3 Martinez‐Salinas, Alejandra 82 Moorman, Chris 186 Palkovacs, Eric 7 Martone, Rebecca 122 Mora, Franz 12 Palmer, Carl 170 Marty, Jaymee 32 Morawitz, Dana 28 Paniagua Ruiz, Ignacio 180 Masching, Amy 161 Moretti, David 210 Paolisso, Michael 170 Maschinski, Joyce 139 Morgan, Lance 141, 156 Park, Daniel 170 Massing, Cody 210 Morosco, Tony 28 Parker, Ingrid 214 Mata, Sergio 95 Morozumi, Corinne 156, 243 Parker, Sophie 19, 226 Matella, Mary 139 Moyle, Peter 89, 98, 157 Parker, Thomas 239 Mather, Martha 140 Mueller, David 215 Parmenter, Steve 105 Matson, Emily 14 Mueller, Megan 161 Parr, Terry 12 Matthews, Kathleen 140 Munguya, Eliud 167 Parsons, Lorraine 152, 171 Matzek, Virginia 141, 194 Muriuki, Gerald 167 Pasari, Jae 242, 243 Maxell, Bryce 142 Murphy, Melanie 157 Patnode, Kathleen 171 Maxson, Elise 141 Murphy‐Mariscal, Michelle 158 Pattanayak, Subhrendu 153 Maxwell, Sara 141 Musengezi, Jessica 158, 158 Paxton, Eben 214 May, Bernie 146 Mushet, David 159 Peacock, Mary 104 Mccaffery, Magnus 142, 173 Muth, Robert 140 Pearson, Richard 2, 66 McCaffery, Rebecca 142 Muths, Erin 157 Pejchar, Liba 117, 154, 171, 180 McChesney, Gerard 25, 94, 184 Muya, Joshua 167 Pelech, Lori 172 Mcclennen, Caleb 204 Mwangi, Lawrence 167, 168 Pennington, Derric 172 Mcewen, Daniel 105 Myagmar, Munkhjargal 219 Perez‐Maqueo, Octavio 12 Mcgillivary, Phil 219 Mysorekar, Sagar 56 Perrine, John 210 Mcglynn, Riley 3 Nagy, John 205 Petersen, Brian 56 McGowan, Jennifer 143 Naidoo, Robin 74, 159 Peterson, M. Nils 186 Mcgowen, Pat 4 Nanjappa, Priya 166 Peterson, Tarla Rai 20, 179, 212 Mcguire, Jenny 143, 196 Natsagdorj, Tseveenmyadag 121 Phillips, Mike 142, 173, 173 Mcintyre, Patrick 143 Naugle, David 41, 86 Phillips, Oliver 107 Mckenzie, Emily 144 Naumovich, Lech 160, 162, 178 Phillips, Tina 12 Mckinley, Peter 144 Neau, Jordan 159 Phukan, Mridu Paban 182 McKown, Matthew 24 Nelson, Philip 53 Pierce, Ann 136 Mclaughlin, Blair 144 Newkirk, Sarah 160 Pierce, D. John 174 Mcmanus, Kelly 145 Newman, Greg 161 Pinney, Tracy 174 McPherron, Heather 145 Newman, Jana 230 Pitt, Amber 103, 175 Meek, Mariah 146 Newton, Kelly 207 Pocewicz, Amy 41 248

Pollnac, Richard 49 Ruokolainen, Kalle 107 Smith, Andrew 121, 205 Pond, Bruce 175 Russello, Michael 190 Smith, Deborah 205, 232 Poos, Mark 129 Ryan, Amelia 190 Smith, Donald R. 72 Porter, Daniel 169, 176 Ryan, Kevin 191 Smith, Justine 206 Post, David 7 Ryan, Sadie 191 Sogge, Mark 214 Potter, Daniel 170 Ryu, Hae Yeong 2 Sohl, Terry 31, 206 Powell, Cynthia 28 Sahagun Sanchez, Francisco Javier 192 Sojda, Rick 73 Powell, Luke 176 Salafsky, Nick 192 Solymos, Peter 31 Powell, Robert 11 Salas, Leonardo 192 Somers, Michael 17 Powers, Bill 177 Salas Canela, Lidia 180 Sorenson, Kelly 30 Preston, Daniel 22, 104, 177 Salo, Jessica 215 Soulard, Chistopher 31, 77, 206 Psaros, Marina 225 Salomon, Micha 19, 211 Southall, Brandon 210 Purcell, Kevin 75, 177, 211 Sandhaus, Estelle A. 72 Sowa, Scott 56 Quenelle, James 160, 162, 178 Santana, Edgar 82 Spatz, Dena 207 Quijas, Sandra 178 Santos, Maria 193 Spector, Sacha 207 Rabinowitz, Salisa 32 Sardinas, Hillary 194 Spencer, Wayne 208 Racevskis, Laila 158 Saunders, Martin 141, 194 Spooner, Daniel 224 Ragland, Chara 20, 179 Sawaya, Michael 194 Spotswood, Erica 208 Rainey, Meredith 179 Sawyer, Hall 195 Spring, Sarah E. 26 Ralls, Katherine 232 Sayler, Kristi 206 Springer, Abraham 209 Ramirez, Maria Isabel 180 Sayre, Nathan 195 Stachowicz, Jay 61 Rasanen, Matti 107 Scarlett, Lynn 196 Stafford, Robert 16 Ray, Chris 66, 180 Scarpino, Russell 161 Stanford, Jack 228 Redfern, Jessica 17, 77 Scherbinski, Scott 84 Stanton, Jessica 2 Reed, Sarah 125, 154, 171, 180, 215 Schieck, Jim 31 Steers, Robert 208 Reetz, Matthew 97 Schloss, Carrie 124, 196 Stegenga, Benjamin 175 Reimchen, Thomas 50 Schmaltz, Logan 3 Stein, Eric 69 Reimondo, Evan 181 Schmidt, Annie 63, 197 Stein Foster, Valerie 235 Reinbold, Megan 50, 169, 241 Schmidt, Karena 150 Steinkamp, Melanie 209 Reiter, Matt 112 Schmidt, Michael 12 Stenhouse, Gordon 45 Reker, Ryan 206 Schmitt, Monty 197 Stephens, Jennie 212 Rempel, Ronald 181 Schmitz, Oswald 197 Stephens, Molly 146 Renfrew, Rosalind 223 Schoen, Jerry 234 Stevens, Lawrence 209 Ressl, Rainer 186 Schorr, Greg 210 Stewart, Joseph 210 Reyes Hernández, Humberto 192 Schuetzenmeister, Falk 28 Stimpert, Alison 210 Reynolds, Mark 85 Schultz, Thomas 7 Stock, Jennifer 89 Ribic, Christine 97 Schwartz, Mark 164, 198 Stockwell, Craig 75, 87, 105, 177, 211 Ricketts, Taylor 182 Schwinning, Susan 102 Stoms, David 228 Rienecke, Steve 126 Score, Alex 100 Stouffer, Philip 176 Riensche, David 67, 182 Scott, Mark 213 Stout, Deborah 29 Rieser, Alison 112 Scott, Michael 198 Strand, Sarah 211 Riggsbee, Adam 224 Seavy, Nat 37, 85 Striplen, Chuck 211 Riley, Seth 53 Selmants, Paul 243 Strittholt, James 38 Risebrough, Robert 30, 182 Sesnie, Steven 55, 121, 229, 235 Strubb, Adrienne 212 Rissman, Adena 183 Sesser, Kristin 112 Strum, Khara 112 Robalino, Juan 226 Sewald, Jessica 199 Stuska, Sue 135 Roberts, Jason 183 Shaffer, Mark 165, 199 Stuyck, Claire 42 Roberts, Lance 184 Sharp, Ryan 40 Suatoni, Lisa 212 Robinette, Daniel 89, 184 Shaughnessy, Gwen 199, 200 Suchanek, Tom 61 Robins, Jim 185 Shaw, Rebecca 123, 200 Suding, Katharine 213 Robinson, April 185 Shellenberger, Michael 200 Sullivan, Patrick 102 Rocke, Tonie 186 Shinn, Joel 26 Surasinghe, Thilina 213 Rodriguez, Shari 186 Shoemaker, Kevin 2 Suryan, Robert 113 Rodriguez‐Iturbe, Ignacio 244 Shrestha, Namrata 201 Suzan, Gerardo 155 Rodríguez‐Zúñiga, Teresa 186 Shults, Brad 20 Swanson, Christina 213 Rogers, Deborah 187 Shuster, Stephen 62 Swanston, Chris 150 Rojas, Roxana 187 Siegel, Rodney 217 Swope, Sarah 214 Roletto, Jan 89, 184 Siemann, Daniel 216 Sydoriak, Charisse 164 Rondinini, Carlo 46 Silliman, Sidney 201 Szykman Gunther, Micaela 17 Root, Karen 10, 188, 199 Silva‐Torres, Beatriz 82, 87, 202 Szymanski, Jennifer 64 Rosenberg, Ashford 84 Silveira, Joseph 54 Tabor, Gary 5 Rosenfield, Jonathan 188 Simberloff, Daniel 15 Tague, Joe 44 Rosenstock, Steve 109 Simonis, Joseph 202 Takekawa, John 26, 189 Rosenthal, Amy 144 Sinervo, Barry 203 Tam, Jason 201 Ross, Andrew 220 Singh, Gerald 122 Tam, Jordan 122 Ross, David 189 Sisk, Thomas 55, 122, 181, 203, 234 Taylor, Eric 47 Rowan, Aariel 189 Siuda, Amy Ns 204 Tershy, Bernie 24, 207 Rowland, Erika L. 47, 190 Skalos, Dan 112 Theimer, Tad 181, 214 Royle, J. Andy 90 Slauson, Keith 204 Theobald, David 46, 117, 125, 180, 215 Rozum, John 33 Sleeter, Benjamin 31, 206 Thiele, Monika 215 Rubega, Margaret 64 Sleeter, Rachel 206 Thomasson, Kelly 216 Rubenstein, Daniel 135 Smail, Robert 183 Thorne, James 76, 193, 198 Rundall, Jill 55 Smith, Adam 204 Thorp, Robbin 26 249

Thrasher, Bridget 231 Weiss, Stuart 76, 105, 133, 160, 162, 178, 231 Thrush, Simon 135 Welch, Linda 9 Thurmond, Brandi 186 Wendt, Keith 136 Tillmann, Patricia 216 Westfall, Robert 150 Timm, Raymond 217 Westphal, Michael F 232 Tingley, Morgan 217 White, Michael 231 Tirmenstein, Deb 205 Whitely Binder, Lara 216 Todd, Charles 9 Whiteman, Elizabeth 80 Tomalty, Kat 146 Whitham, Thomas 62 Tondrasoa, Tendro 218 Wilbert, Tammy R 232 Torbit, Stephen 218 Wilcove, David 232 Torregrosa, Alicia 218 Wild, Cathryn 233 Tougher, Brendan 219 Wildermuth, Robert 233 Townsend, Susan 219 Wildt, David 17 Trainor, Anne 197 Wildy, Erica 92 Travers, Steven 54, 141, 220 Wilhelm, Jo 217 Treml, Eric 183 Wilkerson, Robert 217 Troche, Carlos 186 Williams, Jack 96, 234, 234 Trombulak, Steve 11 Williamson, Matt 234, 235 Trunzo, Juliana 226 Williamson, Paula 102 Tsalyuk, Miriam 220 Willis, Theodore 7 Tuininga, Ken 221 Wilmers, Chris 91 Tuomisto, Hanna 107 Wilson, Cara 235 Turner, James 65 Wilson, Christopher 73 Turner, Woody 163 Wilson, Elizabeth 212 Tyack, Peter 210 Wilson, Jono 126, 236 Tzankova, Zdravka 221, 243 Wilson, Kaitlin 175 Ullmann, Katharina 221 Wilson, Kenneth 15 Upham, Nathan 222 Wilson, Lei Ann 73 Urich, Peter 222 Wilson, Steven 188 Valderrama, Luis 186 Wilson, Tamara 206 Vallano, Dena 156, 243 Winchell, Kristin 236 Valoppi, Laura 25 Winner, Jason 207 van der Hoek, Yntze 223 Winship, Arliss 237 Van Horn, Russ 126 Wittemyer, George 237 Van Horn Job, Christine 232 Woelfle‐Erskine, Cleo 237 Van Schyndel, Zoe 223 Wolf, Shaye 238 Vance‐Borland, Ken 224 Womble, Jamie 238 Vandeman, Mike 224 Woo, Isa 189 Varley, Ian 44 Wood, Julian 192, 225 Vasquez, Emanuel 164 Wright, David 210 Vasquez, Rodolfo 107 Wright, Dawn 162 Vaughn, Caryn 224 Wright, Jessica 103 Vaughn, Jacqueline 181 Wright, Samuel 139 Vazquez, Berenice 186 Wright Morton, Lois 150 Vázquez‐Lule, Alma 186 Wrubel, Eric 239 Velas, Karen 225 Wu, Huan 228 Veloz, Sam 11, 163, 192, 225 Wunderly, Ben 130 Verdone, Lily 19, 226 Wyborn, Carina 239 Verutes, Gregg 8, 127 Yaffee, Steven 240 Vickers, Winston 115 Yamamoto, Shiho 240 Villablanca, Francis 92, 226 Yandow, Leah 240 Villalobos, Laura 226 Yarris, Gregory 241 Villamagna, Amy 6, 227 Young, Samantha 50, 241 Vitt, Patti 220 Zabel, Rich 80 Voeller, Dylan 208 Zachmann, Luke 55, 229 von Wehrden, Henrik 54 Zavaleta, Erika 66, 144, 156, 242, 242, 243 Vonshak, Merav 227 Zedler, Joy 243 Wade, Alisa 228 Zettler, Erik 204 Wahle, Charles 48 Zielinski, Bill 204 Wainer, Laura 228 Ziv, Guy 244 Walker, Faith 62 Zug, Becky 126 Wang, Ophelia 55, 229 Zydlewski, Joseph 191 Wang, Yiwei 229 Ward, Brendan 38 Ward, James 230 Ward, Joni 230 Warzybok, Pete 25, 63, 113 Watson, Fred 124 Weaver, Jennifer 231 Webb, Colleen 15 Weeks, Priscilla 170 Wehausen, John 44 250 Society for Conservation Biology A global community of conservation professionals

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