United States Geological Survey Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit

Amherst, MA Biennial Report 2018–2019 August 2019 The Cooperative Research Units Program Some quick facts about our research budgets and productivity include: The Cooperative Research Unit (CRU) program is a nationwide program within • Total operating budget of $1-2 million annually (including research grants, the U.S. Geological Survey, with cooperators from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife salaries of Unit scientists and staff, etc.) Service, the Wildlife Management Institute, state conservation agencies, and a host • Research grants totaled ~$790,000 in 2018 and ~$637,000 in 2019 university where the Unit is housed. • Approximately $264,000 in overhead charges were brought to UMass- Amherst in 2019 while the University contributed ~$190,000 in waived The CRU Mission is to provide: indirect (overhead) costs for research projects • Graduate education to develop the workforce • 27 scientific papers and reports were published in the last 2 years • Actionable research to meet cooperator science needs • 45 presentations at conferences and public meetings in the last 2 years • Technical assistance to cooperators • Collaborators include scientists and managers from over 33 state, federal, and private conservation agencies, institutions, and groups The Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Graduate Education in the MA Coop Unit The Massachusetts CRU began in 1948, with cooperators from the University of In the last 2 years, we: Massachusetts Amherst, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and • Advised or co-advised 4 postdoctoral researchers, 11 PhD students, 8 MS the Wildlife Management Institute. students, and 5 BS Honor’s students a • Provided 6 working professionals with graduate school opportunities The Massachusetts Unit is currently comprised of a Unit Leader, Dr. Stephen • Provided field and laboratory research experiences to numerous DeStefano, who specializes in Wildlife and Terrestrial Ecology, and an Assistant

m undergraduate student technicians, independent study students, practicum Unit Leader, Dr. Allison Roy, who focuses on Fisheries and Aquatic Ecology. One

u m ry students, and volunteers Assistant Unit Leader position has been vacant since early 2015.

S • Taught graduate courses on Research Concepts, Aquatic Ecology, Conservation

The Unit’s Administrative Assistant is Ms. Deb Wright, who is a University in Practice, and Dam Removal employee; we are also assisted by several other administrative specialists in • Served on 4 graduate committees the Department of Environmental Conservation at UMass-Amherst and our cooperating agencies. Recent graduates of the CRU program have positions in federal agencies (e.g., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), state agencies (e.g., MassWildlife), universities (e.g., Research in the MA Coop Unit University of Delaware), and non-profit organizations (e.g., Highstead Foundation). We conduct research in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems on a variety of topics; current research projects include: xecutive • Freshwater propagation for restoration E • Habitat requirements for endangered freshwater mussel species • Juvenile river herring ecology, productivity, and restoration • Effects of dams and dam removal on stream ecosystems • Water supply reservoirs and downstream hydrology and biota • Spatial and temporal variation in phytoplankton in a water supply reservoir • Winter drawdown impacts on lake littoral and downstream ecosystems • Demography, movements, and human dimensions of black bears • Genetics of Canada lynx in Maine and eastern Canada • Conservation of Andean bears in Peru • Experimental exclosures for moose and deer • Avian use of plantation and natural conifer stands • Alternative ammunition for hunting deer on National Wildlife Refuges • Ecological and sociological aspects of urban wildlife and forestry A brook floater filters water while anchored in a stream (Ayla Skorupa)

2 Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit | Biennial Report | 2018-2019 CONTENTS

Executive Summary ...... 02 Abbreviations

Massachusetts Cooperative Research Unit ...... 04 ASMFC = Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission CAFE = Center for Agriculture, Food, & the Environment A Brief History ...... 06 CGM = Columbia Gas of Massachusetts Unit Staff ...... 07 CHC = Commonwealth Honor’s College CRU = Cooperative Research Unit Service, Courses, and Students ...... 08 CRUP = Cooperative Research Units Program ECO = Department of Environmental Conservation Transitions ...... 09 IBA = International Association for Bear Research and Management

Unit Highlights ...... 10 MDCR = Massachusetts Department of Conservation & T

Recreation e a PhDs and PostDocs to Professors ...... 12

MDOT = Massachusetts Department of Transportation b

MDER = Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration l Fish & Aquatic Ecology MassWildlife = Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife Ongoing Projects ...... 14 o MDMF = Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries ompleted rojects NFWF = National Fish and Wildlife Foundation f C P ...... 18

OEB = Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Program C Terrestrial Wildlife SWSC = Springfield Water and Sewer Commission UMass = University of Massachusetts-Amherst ontents Ongoing Projects ...... 24 USFWS = U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service USGS = U. S. Geological Survey Completed Projects ...... 27

ublications P ...... 30 Cover Photos Top: Presentations ...... 32 Train tracks (Peter Zaidel), Spotted salamander eggs in a vernal pool (Ayla Skorupa) Student Awards and Grants ...... 35 Bottom: River herring migrate up the Parker River in MA (Matt Devine), Black bear and cub (Bill Byrne) Graduate Student Compendium ...... 36 Right: Sunlight filtering through the forest on a foggy morning in New Salem, MA (Ayla Skorupa) Back Cover: Sunset from atop Mt. Toby in Leverett, MA (Peter Zaidel)

Photo Credits Provided in Parentheses Report Compiled By: Peter Zaidel

Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit | Biennial Report | 2018-2019 3 STAFF COORDINATING COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Stephen DeStefano Michael W. Tome Rick O. Bennett and Ken Elowe Unit Leader U. S. Geological Survey U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service 413-545-4889, [email protected] Northeastern Supervisor, 300 Westgate Center Drive Cooperative Research Units Program Hadley, MA 01035-9589 nit Allison H. Roy Leetown Science Center 413-253-8200; 413-253-8308/8487 (fax)

U Assistant Leader/Fisheries 1700 Leetown Road [email protected] 413-545-4895, [email protected] Kearneysville, WV 25430 [email protected] 304-724-4411; 304-724-4415 (fax) Deb Wright [email protected] Scot Williamson Administrative Assistant Northeast Representative Department of Environmental Conservation Mark Tisa Wildlife Management Institute University of Massachusetts MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife RR 1, Box 587, Spur Road

esearch 413-545-0398, [email protected] 1 Rabbit Hill Road North Stratford, NH 03590 Westborough, MA 01581 603-636-9846; 603-636-9853 (fax) R

Contact Information 508-389-6300; 508-792-7275 (fax) [email protected] U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey [email protected] Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Department of Environmental Conservation Mike Armstrong and David Pierce 160 Holdsworth Way Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries University of Massachusetts Annisquam River Marine Fisheries Field Amherst, MA 01003 Station, 30 Emerson Ave. 413-545-4358 (Fax) Gloucester, MA 01930 www.coopunits.org 978-282-0308; 617-727-3337 (fax)

ooperative http://eco.umass.edu/ [email protected] [email protected] C

Curtice R. Griffin, Head Department of Environmental Conservation University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003 413-545-2640; 413-545-4358 (fax) [email protected] assachusetts M A painted turtle retracts into its shell for protection A red fox pounces on a field mouse (Ayla Skorupa) (Peter Zaidel)

4 Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit | Biennial Report | 2018-2019 COLLABORATING FACULTY, ADJUNCTS, COOPERATORS

American Rivers Monmouth University

Amy Singler Sean Sterrett M

Amherst College State Department of Environmental Conservation assachusetts Thea Kristensen Gordon Batcheller (retired), Lisa Holst Antioch College of New England Responsive Management Lisabeth Willey Mark Duda Biodrawversity, Inc. Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Ethan Nedeau Warren Johnson Boston University and Harvard Forest The Nature Conservancy Adrien Finzi, Marc-André Giasson Alison Bowden, Sara Burns, Katie Kennedy Cole Ecological, Inc. Trout Unlimited Mike Cole Erin Rodgers

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection University of Baltimore County Jacque Benway, Justin Davis Matt Baker C

Connecticut River Conservancy University of Massachusetts Amherst ooperative Andy Fisk Brian Cheng, David Bloniarz, Andy Danylchuk, Todd Fuller, Curt Griffin, Christine Fitchburg State University Hatch, Scott Jackson, Adrian Jordaan, Lisa Komoroske, Derek Lovley, Ezra John Ludlam Markowitz, Hank Moylan, Paul Sievert Highstead and Harvard Forest University of Montana Ed Faison, David Foster Andrew Whiteley Lycoming College University of Pittsburgh and Harvard Forest Robert Smith Walter Carson, Sarah C. Pasquini

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife U.S.D.A. Forest Service Beth Swartz, Jennifer Vashon Dave King, Keith Nislow R

Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service esearch Jamie Carr, Dan Clark, Kiana Koenen, Ken MacKenzie, Jillian Whitney Mike Bailey, Meredith Bartran, Sandra Doran, Mark Endries, Melissa Grader, Scott Kahan, Rachel Katz, Dave Perkins, Ken Sprankle, Lindsay Stevenson, Tim Warren, Massachusetts Department of Transportation Susi von Oettingen Tim Dexter U.S. Geological Survey Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration Cooperative Research Units Program: John Organ, Mike Tome Michelle Craddock, Kris Houle, Beth Lambert

S.O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center: Evan Grant, Ben Letcher,

Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Steve McCormick, Kevin Mulligan U Mike Armstrong, Brad Chase, Ben Gahagan, Gary Nelson, John Sheppard, Sara Leetown Science Center: Heather Galbraith nit Turner New England Water Science Center: Dave Armstrong Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center: Toni Lyn Morelli, Michelle Nate Buckhout, Bill Davis, Tom French, Dave Fuller, Peter Hazelton, Mike Staudinger Huguenin, Steven Mattocks, Mike Morelley, Dave Paulson, Rebecca Quinones, Woods Holes Oceanographic Institute Jonathan Regosin, Todd Richards, Jason Stolarski, Ralph Taylor, Mark Tisa, Dave Joel Llopiz Wattles

Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit | Biennial Report | 2018-2019 5 The Cooperative Research Units Program (CRUP) was types of Units were separate entities. In 1963, the Massachusetts Fishery Unit established in the 1930s to enhance graduate education in fisheries and was formed. In 1990 most Wildlife Units and Fishery Units were combined, wildlife sciences and to facilitate research between natural resource agencies and the two Units at the University of Massachusetts became the combined and universities on topics of mutual concern. The catalyst for the idea of a Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. cooperative program was the conservationist and political cartoonist, J.N. “Ding” Darling. Darling’s innovative thinking and push for conservation The CRUP was part of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service until the 1990s, reforms in Iowa led to the first Unit, which was established between Iowa when CRUP joined the U. S. Geological Survey. Today, there are 40 State College and the Iowa Fish and Game Commission in 1932. Paul Cooperative Research Units in 38 states. Each Unit consists of 2-5 federal Errington, a student of Aldo Leopold and a notable wildlife biologist, became scientists and 1-2 administrative specialists, and each is a partnership among the Iowa Unit’s first leader. the U.S. Geological Survey, state natural resource agencies, a host university, the Wildlife Management Institute, and in many cases the U. S. Fish and Wildlife In 1935, Darling and others successfully established a national program for Service. A formal Cooperative Agreement specifies the responsibilities of each Cooperative Research Units, which involved a federal agency (the Bureau cooperator, and a Coordinating Committee meets annually and serves to of Biological Survey, a precursor to today’s U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service) as advise and guide the Unit. Staffed by Federal personnel, Cooperative Research well as a land-grant university and a state agency. Nine Units were formed: Units conduct research on applied conservation questions, participate in the Oregon, Utah, Texas, Iowa, Maine, Connecticut, , Alabama, and Ohio. The education of graduate students, provide technical assistance and consultation Connecticut Unit was only in operation from 1935-1937, and the Ohio Unit on natural resource issues, and provide continuing education for natural was closed in 1991. resource professionals.

The Massachusetts Unit was established in 1948 and was one of a second Throughout its history, the primary three-fold mission of the CRUP has

istory wave of new Units, which included Missouri, , Colorado, Idaho, remained the same: (1) Graduate Education, (2) Research, and (3) Technical Oklahoma, Alaska, Arizona, and Montana. Originally, Cooperative Wildlife Assistance in matters related to fish and wildlife populations and their H habitats.

Research Units preceded Cooperative Fishery Research Units, and the two f rie

A B

An old road connects several northeastern towns in Massachusetts (Ayla Skorupa)

6 Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit | Biennial Report | 2018-2019 B ackground U nit

and

Stephen DeStefano Allison H. Roy Deb Wright S

Leader - Wildlife Assistant Leader - Fisheries MA Cooperative Research Unit F ta Research Professor Research Associate Professor Administrative Assistant S f tatement I have worked on a variety of species and topics My research broadly revolves around characterizing I joined the MA Cooperative Research Unit in related to wildlife population dynamics, habitat anthropogenic impacts on aquatic ecosystems and December 2014 and have thoroughly enjoyed learning relationships, and wildlife-human interactions, identifying conservation strategies for effectively about the various research projects. In working with particularly within forested ecosystems and urban- protecting and restoring watersheds. Understanding grant tracking and budgeting, I’m always curious as suburban environments. I am particularly interested in the mechanisms by which human threats (e.g., to when the next order of sardines will be for those

the influence of anthropogenic factors (development, urbanization, dams, water withdrawals) and their bears! With a background in education, I have worked s disturbance) on wildlife, how large that associated stressors result in degraded biotic at a variety of schools in Idaho, Washington, and require large spatial scales use fragmented and assemblages is an overarching challenge of my -both in the classroom and on the financial human-dominated landscapes and the implications for research program. I am interested in examining end. After raising a family of four kids in Vermont I land conservation, and the science and management effects of alterations (e.g., hydrology, temperature, continue to love the outdoors, whether it be in the of “overabundant” wildlife – what makes some species habitat, food resources) on fishes, , and garden, out on a run, or Nordic skiing. successful and how that influences human-wildlife macroinvertebrates; population ecology and interactions. conservation of rare and endangered species; and potential for management to restore freshwater ecosystems.

Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit | Biennial Report | 2018-2019 7 COOPERATOR SERVICE GRADUATE STUDENTS AND POSTDOCS (MAJOR PROFESSOR) 2018-PRESENT • Associate Editor, Freshwater Science (Roy) • Graduate Committee member (DeStefano, Roy) COMPLETED • Seminar Committee Chair, OEB Graduate Program (Roy) Sean Sterrett, Post-doc (Roy) – Brook floater conservation and restoration • ECO Graduate Student Symposium, Faculty Representative 2017-18 (Roy) initiative (December 2018)

GRADUATE COURSES TAUGHT Rick Harper, Ph.D. (DeStefano and David Bloniarz) – Natural-ecological and socio-political factors influencing urban forest management in Massachusetts 2017-2018 (August 2019) • Research Concepts (ECO 601: Roy) Matthew Devine, M.S. (Roy) – Juvenile river herring in freshwater lakes: • Conservation in Practice (ECO 697CP: DeStefano and Zeller) Sampling approaches for evaluating growth and survival (September 2017) • Dam Removal Independent Study (NRC 496Y, ECO 696Y: Roy with Kris Peter Zaidel, M.S. (Roy) – Impacts of small, surface-release dams on stream Houle and Kevin Mulligan) temperature and dissolved oxygen in Massachusetts (May 2018)

tudents 2018-2019 Renee Bouldin, B.S. Honor’s (Roy) – Responses of stream fishes to dam

S • Research Concepts (ECO 601: DeStefano and Zeller) removal in Massachusetts (May 2018) • Aquatic Ecology (ECO 590AE: Roy) Julia Cox, B.S. Honor’s (Roy) – The spatiotemporal relationship between • Bayesian Modeling in R (ECO 696: Sterrett) parasitic mussel larvae and river herring of the watershed • Dam Removal Independent Study (NRC 496Y, ECO 696Y: Roy with Kris (May 2019)

and Houle and Kevin Mulligan) Holly Giard, B.S. Honor’s (Roy) – Investigating the effects of winter lake

, , drawdowns on freshwater mussels and consequences for water quality (May 2018)

CURRENT Katherine Zeller, Post-doc (DeStefano)

ourses Kate Abbott, Ph.D. (Roy) Jason Carmignani, Ph.D. (Roy) C Laura Conlee, Ph.D. (DeStefano) , , Matthew Devine, Ph.D. (Roy and Adrian Jordaan) Nereyda Falconi Lopez, Ph.D. (John Organ and DeStefano) Tanya Lama, Ph.D. (John Organ and DeStefano) Meghna Marjadi, Ph.D. (Roy) Todd Richards, Ph.D. (Roy) ervice Ayla Skorupa, Ph.D. (Roy) S Christopher Cahill, M.S. (DeStefano and John Organ) Virginia Martell, M.S. (Roy) Susan McCarthy, M.S. (DeStefano and John Organ) Calvin Ritter, M.S. (Dave King and DeStefano) Jennifer Ryan, M.S. (Roy) Amethyst Brook in Pelham, MA (Peter Zaidel) Joy Trahan-Liptak M.S. (Roy)

8 Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit | Biennial Report | 2018-2019 John Organ (USGS, CRUP) Dr. John Organ retired as Chief of the USGS Cooperative Research Units Program in January 2019 after a combined career of over 40 years with U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and USGS. John was Chief of Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration for the northeast region of USFWS. He then served as Chief of the Coop Unit Program from 2014–2019, where his vision and energy strengthened and broadened the program. Throughout his career John played an active role in research, education, and service. He has mentored many graduate students and has published dozens of scientific, technical, and popular articles. John is now Scientist Emeritus with USGS and remains adjunct faculty with the University of Massachusetts, Michigan State, and the Universidad Andres Bello in Santiago, Chile. John is an alumnus of the Massachusetts Coop Unit, having done PhD work on river otters under the direction of Dr. Wendell Dodge.

Tom French (MassWildlife) Dr. Tom French, Assistant Director of MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and T Endangered Species Program (NHESP), retired in February 2019 after 35 years in the position. Tom was the first MassWildlife employee to be hired with a PhD ransitions (although many have been hired since then). Tom was a strong supporter of the Coop Unit program, and NHESP has supported a wide array of projects on reptiles and amphibians, coastal birds, small mammals (including bats), and freshwater mussels, which have funded a large number of Coop Unit postdocs and graduate students. Tom grew the NHESP staff from 4 to 29 people over his tenure, and his legacy includes many stories of habitat conservation and species recovery. He remains active in a variety of roles related to the conservation of heritage species in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Ken Elowe (USFWS) Dr. Ken Elowe retired from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in May 2019, after having served as Assistant Regional Director for Science Applications, where he provided leadership and direction in the development and execution of high-priority regional science activities, including those involving climate change, adaptive resource management, and landscape conservation. Before working for USFWS, Ken was Director of Resource Management with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, where he was responsible for fish and wildlife programs. Ken was the USFWS representative on our Unit Coordinating Committee, and an avid supporter of and contributor to the Coop Units in the Northeast. He received his MS and PhD from the University of Massachusetts working on black bears under the direction of Dr. Wendell Dodge of the Massachusetts Coop Unit.

Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit | Biennial Report | 2018-2019 9 A Big Birthday for the Unit – The Massachusetts Unit celebrated dissertation. MassWildlife and the Unit reached close to 50 individual bears its 70th anniversary last year (2018) with a grand meeting at the Massachusetts fitted with GPS collars. We hired postdoctoral researcher Zeller to analyze this Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters in Westborough, MA. About massive data set. Our first paper on the GPS bear data has been published in the 70 people attended, and included a large number of agency personnel, university journal Movement Ecology (Zeller, Wattles, Conlee, and DeStefano co-authors). faculty, graduate students, board members, and other friends and supporters. The Additionally, Zeller and Dr. Thea Kristensen of Amherst College have teamed up celebration began with a series of lightning talks by current Unit graduate students with MassWildlife and MDCR to conduct a two-year study on black bear genetics and post-docs and featured two talks from Unit alumni: Dr. Ken Elowe (USFWS) and population abundance. An extensive network of hair collection corrals have and Dr. Mike Jones (MassWildlife) on their memories and perspectives as graduate been set up in central and western Massachusetts to collect bear hair samples. students of the Massachusetts Unit. The morning finished with a stimulating panel Genetic and population estimation analyses will commence this winter, followed and group discussion on the “Hallmarks of Wildlife and Fisheries Science”. We by a second field season of hair sample collection in 2020. Our involvement in the then adjourned for a group lunch and a birthday cake adorned with USGS green challenge of managing overabundant deer populations in suburban Massachusetts frosting on the patio behind the Division headquarters overlooking the Wayne F. is continuing with Susan McCarthy’s study of attitudes and experiences of hunters MacCallum Wildlife Management Area. taking part in a controlled hunt in the Blue Hills.

Beyond our long-term focus projects on black bears and ungulates, Tanya Lama and her collaborators, including biologists from Maine, were the first to publish the entire genome for Canada lynx, which is an exciting and important advancement for the conservation of lynx in . Chris Cahill’s study of alternative ammunition (i.e., copper instead of lead) for deer hunting on refuges, Cal Ritter’s work on avian use of Norway spruce stands, and Rick Harper’s investigations into urban forests and forest management are providing information and answering questions of importance to our cooperators.

ighlights On the aquatic side, major projects focus on river herring, freshwater mussels,

H and dam/lake management. In collaboration with UMass faculty (Adrian Jordaan, Michelle Staudinger, Andrew Whiteley), the Coop Unit has been involved in 4 MS projects (Matt Devine, Meghna Marjadi, Steven Mattocks, Julianne Rosset) that have advanced our understanding of spawn timing, reproductive success, juvenile nit river herring sampling approaches, factors influencing river herring densities and

U growth, and influences on lake food webs. Current Unit PhD students Devine and Marjadi have expanded this research to understand interannual variation in densities and growth, emigration timing, habitat use in river coves and estuaries, and responses to dam removal. Happy 70th birthday to the Massachusetts Unit!

Research – Although our Unit works on a broad array of research topics, we Freshwater mussel research has focused on propagating and culturing endangered have maintained long-term interests in projects focused on black bears, ungulates, brook floater (Ayla Skorupa), yellow lampmussel (Virginia Martell), and dwarf river herring, and stream ecology. wedgemussel (Jennifer Ryan) at the USFWS Richard Cronin Aquatic Resource Center, in collaboration with Dave Perkins (USFWS), Tim Warren (USFWS), The Unit collaborated with MassWildlife and Responsive Management (a and Peter Hazelton (MassWildlife). We have also developed standard methods public opinion survey research firm specializing in natural resource, wildlife, for brook floater field assessment that are being implemented range-wide (Dr. environmental, and outdoor recreation issues) to conduct a telephone Sean Sterrett, in collaboration with the Brook Floater Working Group) and survey of Massachusetts residents on their opinions, beliefs, and knowledge have sampled brook floater to understand habitat requirements for restoration of, and experience with, black bears and black bear management across the (Skorupa). Commonwealth. Laura Conlee is currently analyzing the survey data for her

10 Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit | Biennial Report | 2018-2019 We have continued research on the effects of dams (Peter Zaidel) and dam removal (Kate Abbott); this work is in collaboration with Keith Nislow (Forest Service), Kris Houle and others at MDER, Erin Rodgers (Trout Unlimited), and Steven Mattocks and others at MassWildlife. We are wrapping up research on the effects of lake drawdowns on littoral communities (Jason Carmignani) and starting new research on downstream effects of drawdowns on stream ecosystems in collaboration with MassWildlife and MDER. Research is also underway on the effects of surface water supply reservoirs on downstream flows and fishes (Todd Richards, MassWildlife) and lake phytoplankton communities (Joy Trahan-Liptak, MDCR).

Citizen Science and Outreach – The Coop Unit has engaged citizen scientists for help with several research projects. For the brook floater project, volunteers with the Connecticut River Conservancy assisted with mussel and habitat surveys in local rivers and streams. This provided a unique opportunity U for citizen scientists to snorkel while learning about native freshwater mussels.

More than 20 people have participated in the project, with a core of 5 repeat nit volunteers who have been involved since the start in 2016. We are also starting a new project where citizen scientists will count migrating juvenile river herring Unit students from the Roy Lab participated in the Cambridge Science through the online platform Zooniverse using pictures extracted from video H footage. This not only provides essential data collection support but serves to Festival in Arlington, MA (Meghna Marjadi). educate the public about river herring biology and conservation. ighlights Concepts, a foundational graduate course designed to assist them with writing and In 2018 and 2019, students in the Roy Lab collaborated with the Mystic River presenting the first draft of their graduate research proposal. Watershed Association (MyRWA) to participate in the Cambridge Science Festival, a citywide event to communicate science and ecology to the general public. For the last 4 years, we also offered a year-long, 3-credit Dam Removal practicum Our group was part of a broader outreach event at the Mystic Lakes Dams in course for environmental conservation and engineering undergraduate and Arlington, MA, where MyRWA coordinates a volunteer adult river herring count. graduate students. The course has been taught by Kris Houle of MDER, with We developed hands-on activities and shared information about the river herring help from Roy and an engineering faculty member (Dr. David Ahlfeld or Dr. Kevin life cycle, invertebrate identification, otolith aging, and the impact of dams with Mulligan). Students learn about the dam removal process by attending topical over 150 participants between the two years. seminars, conducting independent projects, and participating in phone calls, site visits, and meetings with the technical teams of active dam removal restoration Students working at the USFWS Richard Cronin Aquatic Resource Center in projects. These hands-on experiences and interactions with state and federal Sunderland, MA have participated in 15 outreach events in the last two years. agencies, non-profits, and consulting firms have provided a foundation for those Events have ranged from tours for kids in elementary school and summer camp to students seeking careers in river restoration. students at universities. Tours highlight research conducted by graduate students at UMass and the Coop Unit and provide an opportunity for the general public to In 2017, Zeller and DeStefano teamed up to teach a graduate level course titled learn about freshwater mussel biology and restoration. “Conservation in Practice.” Several biologists, conservationists, and managers from a number of different federal and state agencies and NGOs came to campus to talk to students about their jobs, motivations, and goals for conservation, and Graduate Training and Courses – In keeping with the to describe what “a day in the life” is like for them. Each student chose to either collaborative nature at the heart of the Unit, our Unit leaders have designed and interview or shadow for a day a professional biologist to find out firsthand what taught courses at UMass that center on providing real-world work exposure to they do. Students also attended public hearings or meetings to gain further insight students interested in conservation. Chief among these courses is the long-term into how conservation is done in the Commonwealth. commitment by Roy and DeStefano to teach incoming graduate students Research

Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit | Biennial Report | 2018-2019 11 Several former postdoctoral researchers and doctoral students from our Massachusetts Unit have entered academia as faculty members at colleges and universities. As Coop Unit students and postdocs, in addition to their research, they mentored undergraduate and graduate students, helped teach special workshops and courses, and interacted with numerous natural resource agencies throughout the

e region. These experiences set the f stage for developing their own labs in applied resource conservation. Here, ro ssors we have highlighted five Coop Unit

P postdocs and graduate students who finished within the last 10 years and are now established faculty. to

Dr. Kyle McCarthy Dr. Justin Compton Coop Unit PhD 2006–2010 Coop Unit Postdoc 2008–2010 Associate Professor Associate Professor Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology Department of Biology ostdocs University of Delaware Springfield College

P Newark, DE Springfield, MA

and As a faculty member at UD, I teach wildlife courses I am an educator and ecologist with a passion for in ecology and conservation, management, and working with students in the classroom and in the s spatial ecology, as well as courses on conservation field. My teaching and research experiences have

D of tropical biodiversity and mammalogy. My focused on the integration of environmental and

h research interests focus on applying advanced biological sciences. This multidisciplinary focus

P resource selection models and population has helped me develop and hone collaborative abundance models to rare and elusive species, teaching and research skills toward cultivating developing new methods for quantitative analysis sustainable relationships between humans and Sean Sterrett leads an Aquatic Ecology of wildlife data, evaluating wildlife behavioral the environment. Among my research interests class on herpetology as a postdoc at responses to human recreation, and the ecology are social-ecological systems involved in land UMass (Allison Roy). and conservation of wild felids. conservation, community and ecosystem dynamics, species-interaction modeling, and zoonotic diseases.

12 Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit | Biennial Report | 2018-2019 P h D s

and

P ostdocs

Dr. Lisabeth Willey Dr. Robert Smith Dr. Sean Sterrett Coop Unit PhD 2008–2010 Coop Unit Postdoc 2012–2015 Coop Unit Postdoc 2017–2018

and Postdoc 2012–2014 Assistant Professor and Research Associate Assistant Professor to Assistant Professor Department of Biology Biology Department Department of Environmental Studies Lycoming College Marine and Environmental Biology

Antioch University of New England Lycoming College Clean Water Institute and Policy Program P

Keene, NH Williamsport, PA Monmouth University ssors ro West Long Branch, NJ f

At Antioch, I work with students and collaborators I teach courses in support of the ecology track I focus my research on understanding the e to employ field sampling and modeling techniques in the biology department and the environmental influences of anthropogenic threats on wildlife to tackle applied ecological questions, both inside science minor, which include aquatic biology and populations and identifying effective and efficient and beyond the classroom. I teach biostatistics, introduction to GIS. I mentor undergraduate management strategies for wildlife restoration conservation biology, and vertebrate ecology students performing research in aquatic ecology, and conservation, including the use of structured classes and mentor MS and PhD students in plant biology, wildlife ecology, sustainability, and decision making. I specialize in reptiles and research projects ranging from the human any other area of research students find interest amphibians but have interests in all wildlife with dimensions of red wolf conservation to hoverfly in. My personal research is currently focused on conservation-related problems. At Monmouth, ecology. I also work with local, state, and federal examining dispersal processes by aquatic biota I teach courses in biodiversity and evolution, partners to develop and implement broad-scale (mostly aquatic insects) and studying assessment herpetology, wildlife ecology and management conservation planning efforts for rare species and methods, management, and rehabilitation of urban and field methods in environmental biology. I also ecosystems, with a focus on rare turtle species. streams. mentor undergraduate students with interests in wildlife and environmental biology.

Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit | Biennial Report | 2018-2019 13 14 Fish & Aqu atic Ecology Ong oing Pr ojects M assachusetts expectations following removal. address questionsfrom agenciesregarding thepublicandregulatory prioritization offuture projects andwillincrease ourabilitytoeffectively in ecosystemresponses. This information willbecriticalfor the investigate dam, stream, andlandscape factorsthatinfluencevariability dam removals in~14streams across Massachusetts. Additionally, we will and dissolved oxygen), macroinvertebrate assemblages, andfishesto MS thesis)toquantifytheresponses ofwaterquality(i.e., temperature research istobuilduponextensive pre-removal data(from P. Zaidel’s physical andbiotic responses are notwell-understood. The goal ofthis since 2000. Despiteincreasing removals, theextentandtimescaleof restoring stream habitats, with>70damsremoved inMassachusetts Dam removal isanincreasingly prevalent methodofreducing risk and ecosystems lessresilient tonaturalandanthropogenic disturbances. impair sedimentandnutrient transport, andimpedefish, making Across Massachusetts, thousandsofsmalldamsalterstream hydrology, (Peter Zaidel, Kate Abbott). Pre- andpost-removal ofUpperRoberts MeadowDam Aquatic Restoration Through DamRemoval COLLABORATORS FUNDING ADVISOR STUDENT

C ooperative Kris Houle Keith Nislow Erin Rodgers Society for EcologicalRestoration MDER Environmental TrustMassachusetts Allison Roy (PhD) Kate Abbott F ish and W ildli f e

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Anadromous River Herring Population of DynamicsandRestorationEcology herring sampling (StevenBittner). Matt conducting atemperature and oxygenprofile priortoriver accurate understandingofpopulationdynamics. information abouthabitatquantityandqualitytoprovide amore link river herring productivity atmultiple life stagesandincorporate from 30+lakes across New England. This work willquantitatively analysis ofotolithstodetermineage andgrowthand laboratory rates a newly developed lake samplingprotocol toestimatejuvenile densities, herring productivity anddynamicsfollowing damremoval. We are using habitats, and(3)thetimingmagnitudeofrecovery ofjuvenile river juvenile densitiesandgrowth amonglake, estuarine, andlargeriver cove lake-specific and regional environmental conditions, (2)differences in variation injuvenile river herring densities andgrowth inrelation to and effective management. This project willinvestigate: (1)inter-annual in freshwater andestuarineenvironments limitspopulationmodels recovery. A lackofinformation aboutjuvenile growth andmortality ago,century measures have andconservation notresulted inpopulation Anadromous river herring populationsdeclinedsharply over ahalf COLLABORATORS FUNDING ADVISORS STUDENT | 2018-2019 Justin Davis Brad Chase Alison Bowden Mike Armstrong UMass The Nature Conservancy MDMF Adrian Jordaan Allison Roy Matt Devine (PhD) Michelle Staudinger Ken Sprankle Nelson Gary Ben Gahagan Fish & Aqu atic Ecology 15 Ong oing Pr ojects 2018-2019 |

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ish F Massachusetts has more than 150 surface water supply reservoirs that that reservoirs surface water supply than 150 has more Massachusetts of the surface one third alteration in nearly flow to stream contribute stream is to characterize research of this The goal of the state. area reservoirs and examine supply of water alteration downstream flow stream measured (1) will compare: I impacts to fish communities. reservoirs to modeled estimates of 6 water supply downstream flows flow stream (2) measured locations, at those same flow of stream on flows stream to measured reservoirs of water supply downstream at all of the communities and (3) fish streams, similar unimpounded of thousands samples and hundreds Fish community same locations. Results to this point. been developed have of discharge estimates streamflow on potential and actual valuable information will provide the stream and reservoirs of water supply alterations downstream can use Managers structure. determine fish community that processes and guide resources impacts on natural these data to assess cumulative water allocation decisions. STUDENT ADVISOR FUNDING spills over the dam of a water supply reservoir A stream Zaidel). (Peter Hydrological and Biological Impacts of Water Supply Supply Water of Impacts and Biological Hydrological Reservoirs Streams Massachusetts on ooperative C

assachusetts M Joel Llopiz Joel McCormick Steve Sheppard John Sprankle Ken Meghna Marjadi (PhD) Allison Roy MDMF UMass Graduate School USGS SSP Jacque Benway Davis Justin Ben Gahagan Adrian Jordaan Lisa Komoroske STUDENT ADVISOR FUNDING Video monitoring at the Monument River (Meghna Marjadi). COLLABORATORS Anadromous river herring migrate to their natal freshwater lakes lakes to their natal freshwater migrate herring river Anadromous data on the timing of is limited There in spring. spawn to and streams factors abiotic and biotic to the ocean and emigration back juvenile to assess using video monitoring are We timing. to emigration linked May–November From freshwater. leave herring river when juvenile outlet in an emigration data from collected video we 2017–2019, us to enumerate allow MA that will Bourne, in River the Monument using both the outlet camera pass by herring river juvenile many how These data will be paired and citizen scientists. computational methods zooplankton composition, water quality, data (e.g., with environmental conditions environmental how to investigate water temperature) flow, We will begin sampling juvenile timing and duration. influence emigration will in summer 2019 and coves in Connecticut River blueback herring the rates and cohort how to better understand analyses use growth and estuary the river system. down move fish juvenile Relating Juvenile River Herring Emigration to Emigration Herring River Juvenile Relating Conditions Environmental 16 Fish & Aqu atic Ecology Ong oing Pr ojects M assachusetts placed inrivers around MA (Ayla Skorupa). Sam Rode checksonchamberscontaining brook floaterthatare COLLABORATORS FUNDING ADVISOR STUDENT help inform augmentationandrestoration potential. quality andhostfishinformation ateachofthesesites; thesedatawill amongrivers withextantpopulations.survival We are collectingwater juvenile brook floaterinenclosedsystemstocompare theirgrowth and predict theirdensity. Inspring2019, we begandeploying lab-propagated habitat inMassachusettstoidentifywhichbioticandabioticfactorsbest developing methods for growing juveniles inthelab, and quantifying adult determining thebesthostfish for propagating juveniles inalaboratory, develop arestoration for thisspecies. strategy Specifically, thisincludes under theEndangered Species Act. The overall goal ofthisproject isto is stateendangered andcurrently isunderreview for federal protection to theirdeclineinabundanceandrangecontraction. The brook floater Half ofthefreshwater mussels inMassachusettsare stateprotected due Propagation Brook FloaterHabitatRequirements and

C ooperative Tim Warren Dave Perkins Peter Hazelton Andy Fisk USFWS State Wildlife Grant Environmental TrustMassachusetts Allison Roy Ayla Skorupa (PhD) F ish and W ildli f e

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(Tim Warren). Jennifer removes dwarfwedgemussel glochidiainthelab COLLABORATORS FUNDING ADVISOR STUDENT be usedtoguiderecovery andmanagementdecisionsfor thisspecies. potential hostfishmay affect population recovery. Thisinformation will watersheds toassesshow presence andabundanceof on fishassemblagesatdwarf wedgemussel sitesin theConnecticutand juveniles. We are alsocompiling existingdataandcollectingnew data which typeproduces thehighesttransformation ratefrom glochidiato with ahostfish. We willusedifferent serummixtures todetermine basal mediaandserummixture willreplace theneedfor propagation new in-vitro propagation methods torecover thisspecies, inwhicha mussel speciesinneedofrecovery inNorth America. We are developing The dwarfwedgemussel isoneofmany federally listedfreshwater Dwarf Wedgemussel Propagation andRestoration | 2018-2019 Tim Warren Dave Perkins Peter Hazelton Heather Galbraith USGS SSP Allison Roy Jennifer Ryan(MS) Fish & Aqu atic Ecology 17 Ong oing Pr ojects 2018-2019 |

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ish F Juvenile River Herring Diets in the Connecticut Connecticut in the Diets Herring River Juvenile River the role summer 2019 to address be conducted in A study will growth, herring river juvenile in play populations might zooplankton composition community shifts in zooplankton as the potential as well river Juvenile herring. river patterns of juvenile feeding due to selective both mainstem be collected from and zooplankton samples will herring sites along the southern portionthe Connecticut River. of and cove composition community for will be analyzed Zooplankton samples to the relative diets of juveniles the compare will We and density. vs mainstem) habitats (cove different in the zooplankton communities on herring river influence of juvenile to understand the variable Results will aid in habitats. freshwater among zooplankton communities management of these inform populations and can herring modeling river systems. particularly in large river herring, river STUDENT ADVISOR FUNDING COLLABORATORS Meghna Marjadi and Meghan sample zooplankton in Great Herring Meghna Marjadi and Meghan sample zooplankton in Great Williams). MA (Don Pond, ooperative C

assachusetts M Joy Trahan-Liptak (MS) Trahan-Liptak Joy Allison Roy Jamie Carr Water samples from Wachusett Reservoir, MA (Joy Trahan-Liptak). Trahan-Liptak). MA (Joy Reservoir, Wachusett samples from Water Phytoplankton can impact drinking water supplies by clogging clogging by water supplies can impact drinking Phytoplankton humans to harmful and exposing odors, undesirable creating filters, conduct these risks and many of aware are suppliers Water toxins. long-term monitoring consistent however, monitoring; periodic algal continuously been monitored have Phytoplankton rare. are programs Supply Water at the MDCR Division of biologists since 1989 by Boston, for a surface water resource Reservoir, Wachusett Protection’s short on analyzed been time While these data have Massachusetts. and long-term assessment annually), seasonally, weekly, scales (e.g., water quality data has not been and chemical with physical correlation variation and intra-annual to identify inter- This study seeks conducted. and the primary climatic, and composition, density in phytoplankton of observed phytoplankton drivers water chemistry and environmental managers in prioritizing watershed Results will assist variation. and modeling regimes, planning water transfer activities, protection conditions. future STUDENT ADVISOR COLLABORATORS Assessing Long-Term Phytoplankton Trends in Trends Phytoplankton Long-Term Assessing Reservoir Wachusett 18 Fish & Aqu atic Ecology Completed Projes ct M assachusetts Brook Floater Conservation andRestorationInitiativeBrook FloaterConservation COLLABORATORS FUNDING ADVISOR POST-DOC al. 2018). Additionally, theprotocol wasdesignedto known tohave brook floaterspresent (Sterrett et watersheds thatare recently (i.e., <20years) estimate theoccupancyofbrook floaterwithin rapid assessmentprotocol wasdeveloped to monitoring ofbrook floaterpopulations. The distribution, abundance, andpopulationviability of regionally coordinated protocols toimprove been thedevelopment andimplementation One ofthemajorachievements oftheBFWGhas techniques for populationrestoration. which canguidestatemanagersusingthese best available knowledge oflabandfieldmethods, floater propagation, thiseffort represents the there issuchascarcity ofinformation onbrook to develop andinitiatenew methods. Because states across thespecies’rangeandhelped and propagation takingplaceindifferent efforts learnedabout thevarioussurvey BFWG partners workingpartners onbrook floaterconservation. foster cross-state andregional relationships among agencies andacademicinstitutions, wascreated to managers andscientistsfrom federal andstate Floater Working Group (BFWG)including To address concernsover thisdecline, aBrook and abundanceacross itsrange. southern Canadaandisdecliningindistribution Slope drainagesoftheeasternUnitedStatesand dwelling freshwater mussel found in Atlantic The brook floater(Fig. 1)isasmall, stream-

C ooperative Lindsay Stevenson Dave Perkins Toni Lyn Morelli Peter Hazelton Mark Endries Wildlife Grant USFWS State Allison Roy Sean Sterrett F ish and W ildli f e

R esearch its range. and abaselinefor monitoringpopulationsacross and brook restoration efforts floaterconservation distribution modelsprovide aplatform for future for brook floaterpropagation andtobuildspecies ofBFWGtodevelopefforts regional protocols management andlandacquisition. Collectively, the of future andtoinform survey efforts habitat model toaidmanagersindeterminingthelocation is ongoing, there ispromise for thisdistribution using Maxent software (Fig. 3). While this project develop a presence-only species distribution model (i.e. catchment, riparianzoneandwatershed) to (<20 years) andhabitatdataatmultiple scales occurrence records from coordinating states suitable brook floater habitat. We usedthe are existing data thatcanhelpwithpredicting distribution ofbrook floateracross itsrange, there While limitedinformation existsfor the protocols are beingimplementedinmultiple states. among populationsthroughout itsrange. Both demographic rates, whichallows for comparisons years toestimatepopulationstatusandtrends and with atleast2sitevisitsperyear for multiple protocol employs amark-recapturing approach detection (Fig. 2). The long-termmonitoring to understandhow survey covariates influence habitat features onbrook floateroccurrence and explore theeffects ofreach- andwatershed-scale

U nit survey (Sean Sterrett). during along-term monitoring Figure 1. A markedbrook floater

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| 2018-2019 the rapidassessmentsurvey. Figure 2. A diagramofstream surveylanesfor (e.g., blue)towarmercolors(e.g., red). Suitability increases from cooler colors hydrography, andgeological data. brook floater inthe based onpresence- Northeastern U.S. habitat suitability only musseldata and landcover, predictions for Preliminary Figure 3. Fish & Aqu atic Ecology 19 Completed Projes ct 2018-2019 |

Figure 3. Figure Mean (± SE) surface mussel densities at 0.5- m (exposed) and 1-m (non-exposed) depths in drawdown lakes (orange bars) compared lakes to control with no WD (blue bars). eport R

Figure 1. Normal 1. Normal Figure level pool water during summer (top) and water drawdown level (bottom) at Lake Garfield, MA Monetery, (Jason Carmignani). iennial B |

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Our research documents the highly variable the highly documents Our research biotic assemblages to littoral of different responses The WD regimes. of annual effects the cumulative WDs as a short-term macrophyte use of annual drawdown- however, tool is supported; control some assemblages (including tolerant macrophyte under species) can develop nonnative invasive high water quality conditions (e.g., suitable growing WDs Management of high alkalinity). water clarity, should consider the vulnerability of drawdown- to and the extent mussels) taxa (e.g., sensitive as these may exposed, which littoral zones are ecosystem in whole-lake significant changes drive of knowledge Increased and function. structure ecology will help minimize ecological lake-specific impacts of WDs. e f ildli W and

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assachusetts M From 2014–2018, we recorded continuous water continuous recorded we 2014–2018, From and magnitudes Drawdown in 21 lakes. levels 0.21–2.26 varied from exposure lakebed percent remained and respectively, m and 1.3–37.6%, (Fig. events WD across within lakes consistent 34–240 days from lasted events Drawdown 2). to Oct.–Dec.) and refill initiation (i.e., between considerable with Feb.–Jun.), (i.e., normal pool level silt observed decreased We years. variation across WD. coarse particle with proportion and increased to negative corresponded This change in substrate biomass magnitude on macrophyte WD of effects assemblages with a shift in macrophyte at 1 m, Both surface and depths. WD-exposed within WD lakes in lower densities were buried mussel drawdown- at the lakes to control compared were When mussels 3). exposed depth (Fig. were they depths, at drawdown-impacted present and matched size distributions small, often buried, collected after water-level of stranded mussels colonization of suggesting that mussel decline, is events drawdown zones between exposure a Across 2019). short-lived al. (Carmignani et drawdown WD magnitude gradient in 14 lakes, macroinvertebrate magnitude structured and we taxonomic and functional composition, identified taxa and functional traits (e.g., tentatively WDs. to taxa) sensitive long-lived Jason Carmignani (PhD) Allison Roy MassWildlife UMass OEB Jason Stolarski Hazelton Peter Richards Todd Figure 2. Water level time series for 4 drawdown lakes (Watatic, Richmond, level time series for 4 drawdown lakes (Watatic, Water 2. Figure Goose, Onota) and two non-drawdown Congamond) over 3 lakes (Leverett, winters. Annual winter water-level drawdown (WD) (WD) drawdown water-level winter Annual long-standing and a widespread are regimes practice in Massachusetts management levels nuisance to reduce lakes recreational shoreline and to protect vegetation of aquatic Despite 1). (Fig. ice erosion from structures quantified studies have few its established use, on non-target littoral zone effects WD cumulative <3 m) particularly with mild (i.e., biota and habitat, We 2017). and Roy WD magnitudes (Carmignani WD along a water levels monitored continuously developed and subsequently magnitude gradient, WD metrics to determine drawdown hydrological habitat condition in terms (1) physical on: effects sediment particle size assemblages, of macrophyte density-distributions mussel (2) and large wood, (3) benthic and epiphytic and mortality, abundance and composition, macroinvertebrate fish of widespread and (4) benthic carbon reliance species. Assessment of Wintertime Water Level Drawdown Impacts on Littoral Zone Ecology Zone on Littoral Impacts Lakes in Massachusetts Drawdown Level Water Wintertime of Assessment ADVISOR FUNDING COLLABORATORS STUDENT 20 Fish & Aqu atic Ecology Completed Projes ct M assachusetts mortality. and bioticfactorsonjuvenile density, growth, and in lakes, and(2)investigate theinfluenceofabiotic of apurseseinefor capturing juvenile river herring evaluate theeffectiveness andsamplingprecision policy. The objectives ofthisstudywere to: (1) productivity, andtodevelop effective management and juvenile recruitment, tomonitorjuvenile it challengingtoinfer alinkbetween adultcounts densities in freshwater habitats. nursery This makes field-based methodsexist for estimatingjuvenile upstream spawning migrations; however, no assessed by countingadultsinrivers during spawning habitats. Their populationsare currently quality, anddisruptedaccesstocriticalfreshwater tooverfishing,due inlargepart degradedhabitat herring) have declinedover thepastfive decades Anadromous river herring (alewives andblueback Juvenile River Herring inFreshwater Lakes: Sampling Approaches for EvaluatingGrowth andSurvival COLLABORATORS FUNDING ADVISORS STUDENT

C ooperative Andrew Whiteley Ben Gahagan Michael Bailey Mike Armstrong UMass ECO NFWF MDMF ASMFC Adrian Jordaan Allison Roy Matt Devine (MS) F ish (Matt Devine). rings depicting daily river herring from juvenile extracted Saggital otolith Figure 3: and W ildli f e

R esearch depth, highnutrients) andwere strongly density- were higherinproductive systems(i.e., low secchi dissolved organiccarbon. Juvenile growth rates order ofmagnitudeandwere inversely related to among lakes. Juvenile densitiesranged over an Density, growth, were andmortality highly variable ratesfromand mortality sagittalotoliths(Fig. 3). in June–September 2015, we calculatedgrowth Using juvenile fishescaptured duringpurseseining requiring 15–20hauls(Devine etal. 2018). to 10purseseinehaulsandlargelakes (>50ha) on lake size, with smalllakes (<50ha)requiring up produce precise densityestimatesisdependent results required indicatedthattheeffort to September (0.61)(Fig. 2). Bootstrap simulation (0.23) compared toJune (0.32), August (0.38), and by thecoefficientofvariation, waslowest in July resulted inhighestcatches. Precision, asmeasured New Englandlakes. SamplingatnightinJune orJuly juvenile densities, growth, across andmortality 16 We usedapurseseine(Fig. 1)toinvestigate

U September 2015. juvenile riverherringduring June– variation among16lakessampled for (CPUE) andpercent coefficient of Figure 2:Mediancatch-per-unit-effort nit

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| 2018-2019 and comprehensive managementofriver herring. juvenile recruitment thatcanguidemore effective study aidsourunderstandingoffactorsexplaining for determiningjuvenile growth andsurvival. This quality andjuvenile habitats densitiesinnursery life. These results ofwater indicatetheimportance juvenile growth ratesduringthefirst30days of temperature explained56–85%ofthevariationin herring compared tohighdensity lakes. Water age inproductive lakes withlow densitiesofriver dependent (Fig. 4), leadingtomuch largerfishat at UpperMysticLake,MA(MattDevine). Figure 1:Deployingapurseseine(100’x15’) confidence interval. model fitand grayband represents 95% Red regression lineisthemixed-effects density andjuvenilegrowth (logscale). Figure 4:Relationship between juvenile Fish & Aqu atic Ecology 21 Completed Projes ct 2018-2019 |

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esearch Figure 3. Mean (± SE) final average mussel size Figure and NANFH based on for each system at CARC per system. 3 replicates R

6 days. Ammonia levels increased with the longer with the increased levels Ammonia 6 days. in higher but this did not result water changeout, to determine is needed analysis More survival. and success culture improve when probiotics benefits. mechanisms of probiotic understand secondaryof yellow culturing improve To and survival the growth compared we lampmussel, in the eastern lampmussel, species, of a surrogate The systems (troughs, systems. rearing different and airlift upwellers, dogpans, floating baskets, type, water source by differed tank upwellers) Three sediment type. and rate, flow filtration, and airlift upwellers) dogpans, systems (troughs, culturing facilities in two between paired were Massachusetts (CARC) and North Sunderland, saw We (NANFH). Massachusetts Attleboro, higher survival at CARC (48–97%) compared at and larger mussels to NANFH (10–76%), CARC (6.3–10.4 mm) than NANFH (4.8–7.0 at NANFH baskets the floating However, mm). than all other higher growth exhibited significantly average both locations (final across treatments that the NANFH suggesting 3), Fig. size= 14.3 mm; secondary future for pond should be considered lampmussel. of yellow rearing e f ildli W and

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Figure 2. Mean (± Figure SE) survival for each of Bacillus mix treatment Treatment probiotic. concentrations were Low: 0.0125g/L; Medium: 0.025g/L; High: 0.05g/L; Algae Only no probiotic), (Control; only and Probiotic 0.025g/L (Control; supplement and no algae). Each treatment except had 4 replicates, that Only’ for ‘Algae had 3. assachusetts M Probiotics are used in aquaculture production production in aquaculture used are Probiotics and shrimp, species of fish, numerous for been studies have few however, marine shellfish; mussel use in freshwater conducted on their studies to conducted several We cultures. (6 probiotics commercial determine whether and the growth to improve tested) could be used mussels. juvenile survival development of early survival mussel in higher was significantly Juvenile than in those some of the probiotics with cultures concentration the probiotic although without, growth different significantly did not produce test whether probiotics To 2). or survival (Fig. survival due to denitrification and improved water compared we ammonia build-up, reduced and survival among growth quality and mussel vs 2 days changeouts every with water treatments CONTROL ALGAE ONLY CONTROL LOW MEDIUM HIGH ONLY PROBIOTIC CONTROL Treatment Day Virginia Martell (MS) Allison Roy CGM SWSC USFWS UMass-Amherst Perkins Dave Hazelton Peter 14 21 28 35 42 49 7 0

0

90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 100 (%) Survival STUDENT ADVISOR FUNDING COLLABORATORS The yellow lampmussel is protected as endangered as endangered is protected lampmussel The yellow Act, Species Endangered under the Massachusetts thought to be extirpated and prior to 2006 was began we In 2017, the Commonwealth. from Aquatic Cronin Richard studies at the USFWS primary and Center (CARC) to improve Resource 1). (Fig. lampmussel secondary culturing of yellow As of 2013, over 65% of freshwater mussel mussel of freshwater 65% over 2013, As of threatened, endangered, considered species were limits freshwater dispersal Where or vulnerable. and reintroduction populations, mussel has been mussels using propagated augmentation Mussel an ideal conservationconsidered strategy. been successful at multiple has propagation still being methods are however, culturing facilities; best practices. to develop refined Improving Primary and Secondary Culture of Yellow Lampmussel for Restoring Populations Restoring for Lampmussel Yellow Primaryand Secondary Improving of Culture 22 Fish & Aqu atic Ecology Completed Projes ct M assachusetts COLLABORATORS FUNDING ADVISOR STUDENT driving differences inresponse across sites. (i.e., damcharacteristicsandwatershedfeatures) (12 sites)across Massachusettsandidentifyfactors of damsonstream temperature (30sites)andDO The goal ofthis study wastoquantifytheimpacts dissolved oxygen (DO), are notwell understood. quality, tostream particularly temperature and the landscape, theimpactsofsmalldamstowater centuries ofdamming. Despitetheirabundanceon stream ecosystems degradedasaresult of posed by theseagingstructures andtorestore being usedtoeliminatethepublicsafety hazards from abygone era. Damremoval isincreasingly currently existaslittlemore thancrumblingrelics dams (e.g., Fig. 1)are former milldams and landscape; many ofthesesmall, surfacerelease Dams are highly features pervasive ofour Impacts ofSmall, Surface-ReleaseDamsonStream Temperature andDissolved OxygeninMassachusetts (downstream –upstream temperatures) bysite. Figure 2.Meandaily August downstream warming

C ooperative Kris Houle Beth Lambert Keith Nislow UMass ECO NFWF MDER Allison Roy Peter Zaidel(MS) F ish and W ildli f e

R esearch persisted for 0.4–4.5kmdownstream ofthe the damatmostsites, elevated temperatures While temperatures cooledwithdistancebelow downstream thanupstream ofthedams(Fig. 2). August temperatures upto5.3 temperatures attwo-thirds ofsites, withmean surface waterresulted inwarmerdownstream spilling over thedams, thewarmimpoundment outside oftheupstream influenceofthedam. After consistently warmerthanupstream temperatures Surface waterofdamimpoundmentswas Dam (Site#29inFigure 2;Peter Zaidel). Figure 1. The formerUpperRoberts Meadow

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C higher | 2018-2019 systems andthespeciesthatdependonthem. from thesedamscanincrease resiliency ofthese eliminate negative effects to temperature andDO actions thatremove high-impactdamsand coldwater habitatinthefuture. Management climatic conditionssuggestareduction incritical restoration funds. Predicted changesintheregional tobestuselimited benefits isnecessary prioritizing removals tomaximizeecological Given thehighnumber ofdamsinourregion, downstream ofthedams. in DOlevels bothwithintheimpoundmentsand shallow impoundmentshadthegreatest reduction streams insmall watershedsanddamswith impoundment DOlosses. High-gradient, coldwater levels andhelprecover allbutthemostsevere negative effects from thelower impoundmentDO that aerationfrom spillingmay helpalleviate the were found tobeminimally impacted, suggesting than upstream levels. Downstream DOlevels impoundments studiedhadlower surfaceDO coldest streams (Fig. 3). Two-thirds ofthedam (relative tothenaturalupstream width)onthe warming hadthewidestimpoundments dams. The siteswiththe mostdownstream and year. random effectsforsite temperature, with the upstream average impoundment and(b) channel withinthe widening ofthestream transformed relative of (a)thelog- mixed effectsmodel by anadditivelinear were bestexplained warming magnitudes Figure 3.Downstream Fish & Aqu atic Ecology 23 Completed Projes ct 2018-2019 |

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common Elliptio, Fig. 2C). One of the glochidia glochidia One of the 2C). Fig. Elliptio, common as a river been described not yet species has 2B), Fig. (Eastern floater, parasite herring (“little” glochidia, to be identified yet and one has hypothesized some experts though have 2D), Fig. floater. of alewife a smaller morph are that they glochidia had the highest The unidentified little Glochidia 777 individuals counted. with density, density herring with river density was out of phase that freshwater indicating 3), time (Fig. over to glochidia in response do not release mussels rely densities and instead herring river increased There release. glochidia cues for on environmental glochidia relationship between was no significant although skinnier size, herring density and river to have weight:length ratio) tended lower fish (i.e., on should focus research Future glochidia. more glochidia between understanding the relationship a longer over density herring density and river genomics timeseries and use DNA sequencing and little glochidia. to identify the unknown e f Figure 3. Glochidia density and river herring (alewife and Figure all blueback herring) catch per unit effort (CPUE) across locations over time (2018). ildli W and

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(Julia Cox). to river herring gills Figure 1. Glochidia attached Figure assachusetts M distribution of glochidia densities, and 3) to and densities, glochidia of distribution density on fish was whether glochidia determine weight- and length, weight, with fish associated length ratio. the adult spawning 2018 during March–June From the from herring collected river the USFWS run, Chicopee , Mattabesset River, via Cove Wethersfield and River, , right gill of The most distal boat electrofishing. and glochidia frozen, and removed each fish was under a stereomicroscope. later enumerated were and photographed were A subsample of glochidia to determine their species. measured found were morphologies of glochidia At least four described of which are two gills, herring on river and 2A, Fig. floater, parasites (alewife herring river Figure 2. Four glochidia Figure morphologies found: A) B) Eastern alewife floater, C) common floater, Elliptio, and D) “little” glochidia (unidentified). Julia Cox (BS) Cox Julia Allison Roy UMass CHC Grant Desmarais Darren Sprankle Ken ADVISOR FUNDING COLLABORATORS STUDENT Parasitic Mussel Larvae and Anadromous River Herring in the Connecticut River Watershed River the Connecticut in Herring River Anadromous Larvae Mussel Parasitic and This study had three objectives: 1) to identify objectives: This study had three gills to better herring on river glochidia present utilizing river are understand which mussels the spatiotemporal 2) to analyze as hosts, herring river glochidia density and between relationship density to understand the timing and herring Freshwater mussels begin their lives as parasitic parasitic as their lives begin mussels Freshwater and scales of a fins, larvae attach to the gills, that or glochidia, Mussel larvae, 1). fishes (Fig. variety of river attached to anadromous been found have but the herring), and blueback (alewife herring herring river between relationship phenological in the Connecticut River mussels and freshwater The lifecycle to be described. watershed has yet on the is dependent mussels of freshwater is important and it of suitable host fish, presence between relationships to understand phenological to manage mussels migratory and freshwater fish host fish passage. 24 Terres trial Wildlife Ong oing Pr ojects M assachusetts den check(Kathy Zeller). A yearlingblack beargetsoutfittedwith eartagsduringawinter human-dominated areas ofthestate. to inform managementofbearsandbearhabitatinbothnatural have been collectedsince2009by MassWildlife. Resultswillbeused analyses collardatafrom are over basedonGPStelemetry 47bearsthat identify road crossing hotspotsandinform road mitigationefforts. Our also modelingblackbearmovement inrelation totheroad network to bear movement intocurrently unoccupiedareas ofthestate. We are required movement toidentifyimportant corridors andpredict black black bearmanagementprograms. Estimatesofconnectivityare also for understandingblackbearbehaviornecessary andcreating effective in relation tolandcover innaturalandhuman-dominatedareas is resources. Quantifyingseasonalblackbearhabitat use andmovement management andincreasing availability ofnaturalandhumanfood and expandingintohuman-dominatedareas duetoconservative The blackbearpopulationinMassachusettshasbeengrowing innumber Connectivity inMassachusetts Modeling BlackBearHabitatUse, Movement, and POST-DOC FUNDING ADVISOR COLLABORATORS

C ooperative Dave Wattles Dave Paulson Mike Huguenin Tim Dexter MassWildlife MDOT MDCR Stephen DeStefano Kathy Zeller F ish and W ildli f e

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Source-Sink DynamicsinMassachusetts Estimating BlackBearDensity, Abundance, and Black bearvisiting ahaircorral(USGS). sources andsinksfor blackbearsstatewide. population size, examinedispersalpatterns, andidentifypopulation information onblackbearpopulationdynamicsandallow ustoestimate and centralMassachusetts. Resultsfrom thisresearch willprovide corrals are setinthefieldamatrixconfiguration western determine areas ofpopulationgrowth anddecline. Haircollection We are alsoquantifyingblackbearpopulationsources andsinksto change withdifferent landcover typesandlevels ofhumaninfluence. and abundanceunderstandhow these populationparameters conduct acapture-recapture survey for blackbearstoestimatedensity game species. We are usinghairsnares andmoleculartechniquesto is required for informed andsuccessfulmanagementofthisimportant of thestateare lacking, asare populationestimates. This information state. However, current blackbeardensityestimatesin different parts population hasgrown innumber andexpandedeastward across the the Berkshire MountainsofMassachusetts. Sincethen, theblackbear In the1970s, blackbearsexistedasasmallandisolatedpopulationin POST-DOC FUNDING ADVISOR | COLLABORATORS 2018-2019 Kathy Zeller Dave Wattles Thea Kristensen Dan Clark MassWildlife MDOT MDCR Amherst College Stephen DeStefano Terres trial Wildlife 25 Ong oing Pr ojects 2018-2019 |

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esearch Nereyda Falconi Lopez (PhD) Falconi Lopez Nereyda Organ John Stephen DeStefano Fuller Todd Foundation The Rufford IBA USGS CRUP R

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ish F ADVISORS FUNDING Andean Bear Distribution and Land Use Change Change Use and Land Distribution Bear Andean Peru in Populations for Implications An Andean bear looks down from a tree in the mountains of Peru in the mountains of Peru a tree Andean bear looks down from An Falconi Lopez). (Nereyda The Andean bear is an iconic species of the tropical Andes, whose Andes, species of the tropical bear is an iconic Andean The and poaching. habitat fragmentation by threatened are populations of potential large areas unclear and are its distribution limits Details of for a challenge creating information, lack habitat in Peru Andean bear compiling includes: This research the conservation populations. of local un-published published and from and information Andean bear locations camera data on bear locations from collecting field existing records, We Andean bear distribution in Peru. of the and modeling traps, we assessed a total where work, and field concluded data compilation as indicated by potential distribution, the bear’s within areas of four this Andean bear signs; or indirect direct for our preliminary analysis, by our bear presence Andean confirmation of predicted also allowed about spatial data to build information analyzing currently are We model. and environmental, Andean bear presence between the relationship characteristics. and ecological anthropogenic, STUDENT ooperative C

assachusetts M Stephen DeStefano MassWildlife Mark Duda Wattles Dave Laura Conlee (PhD) COLLABORATORS COLLABORATORS ADVISOR FUNDING STUDENT Black bears were the subject of a statewide human dimensions Black bears were survey (Laura Conlee). The black bear population in Massachusetts is growing in size and Massachusetts is growing bear population in The black general public is largely the where areas including in range, expanding of dimensions study human A statewide with bears. inexperienced and black bear black bear toward attitudes residents’ Massachusetts species current better understand MassWildlife management will help state in populated most densely in the third management challenges (1) determine primary has three objectives: This project the country. the black attitudes toward of black bear, knowledge respondents’ (2) summarize basic experience with bears; bear population and practices that home conflict, experience with human-bear respondents’ these conflicts; to address and opinions on ways to conflict, lead may hunting as a opinions on regulated respondents’ and (3) summarize and management actions hunting methodologies, management tool, will also evaluate we each objective, For bears. to nuisance related among and the relationships geography, of demographics, the interplay a Results of this study will provide various experiences and opinions. opinions on the detailed understanding of Massachusetts residents’ more and can be used to inform black bear population and bear management management decisions. Massachusetts Residents’ Attitudes Toward Black Black Toward Attitudes Residents’ Massachusetts Management Bear and Black Bear 26 Terres trial Wildlife Ong oing Pr ojects M assachusetts Male Canada lynx captured inMaine, 2016(Tanya Lama). Management ofExtantCanadaLynx Populations Understand Metapopulation DynamicsandEnhance Using GenomicDataandNovel Analytical Tools to STUDENT differentiation amonglynx metapopulations. population size, demographic history, inbreeding, geneflow, andgenetic these geneticmarkers willprovide more precise estimatesofeffective custom capture array ofsinglenucleotide polymorphisms. Analyses using County, Maine. We alsoplanonusinggenomicdatatoconstructa whole genomesequencedatafrom a27lbadultmalefrom Aroostook A reference genomeiscurrently underconstructionusinghighquality, of geographically non-contiguouspopulationsintheU.S. andCanada. project aimstousegenomicdataexplore thepopulationdynamics Appalachian/Acadian Ecoregion andthewestern Great Lakes. This geographically, withnoknown populationbetween theNorthern similar population. However, known populationsoflynx are separated States, ofasingle, andidentified lynx aspart biologically andgenetically the U.S. Endangered Species Act. tothelowerThe listingpertained 48 The Canadalynx isawide-rangingfelid listedasthreatened under FUNDING ADVISORS

C ooperative Tanya Lama (PhD) Maine Department ofInlandFisheries& Maine Department Wildlife Stephen DeStefano John Organ F ish and W ildli f e

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STUDENT Deer are abundantinsuburbanMassachusetts (BillByrne). majority ofrespondents (94%)completedthesurvey. Total response rateswere high, rangingfrom 50-79%(mean68%)anda well asopinionsonrestrictions andimplementationofcontrolled hunts. controlled suburbanhunts, andsuccessexperienceattheBHH, as on motivationsfor hunting, interest inandlikelihood in toparticipate complete acomprehensive web-based survey. Survey questionsfocused 2015–2016, were 2,938individualswhoapplied toparticipate asked to in ahighly controlled, suburbandeermanagementprogram. From preferences, andexpectationsofdeerhunterswillingtoparticipate presented for investigating anidealopportunity thevalues, motivations, restrict inways participants thatminimizesatisfaction. As such, BHH DeerManagementHunt(BHH),as theBlueHillsReservation may satisfaction withthehuntingexperience. Highly controlled hunts, such of devoted huntersthatispresumably dependentoncontinued challenges. concernisthelong-termparticipation Ofparticular deer densities, althoughitsuseinsuburbanlandscapes presents toreduceRegulated huntingisawidely acceptedstrategy and maintain have created aneedtoaddress overabundant deerpopulations. degradation from over-browsing andincreased human-deerconflicts where suburbanlandscapes provide highqualityhabitat. Ecological White-tailed deerare ofMassachusetts, abundantineasternportions Deer HuntsinSuburbanEasternMassachusetts Satisfaction Regarding Controlled White-Tailed Assessing Hunter Values, Expectations, and FUNDING ADVISORS COLLABORATORS | 2018-2019 John Organ Stephen DeStefano Dave Wattles David Stainbrook Mike Huguenin MassWildlife Susan McCarthy (MS) Terres trial Wildlife 27 Completed Projes ct 2018-2019 |

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esearch R overarching urban forest health management and and management health forest urban overarching tree Interactions between strategy. diversification associations volunteer and community wardens interviews research through further explored were Massachusetts 13 distinct from with volunteers (TC). committees urban tree representatives TC that Our findings indicated passionate volunteers motivated, typically are many with the cooperatively to work who desire that comprise the local socio-political groups a make must TC representatives landscape. concerted collaboratively effort to work sustained, advance to effectively warden with their local tree 2). (Fig. urban trees of their community’s the care should and decision-makers Municipal managers with appropriate TC volunteers provide to attempt as as well resources, training opportunities, to further encourage demonstrate appreciation, engagement. and solidify volunteer

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assachusetts M preservation, maintenance, and stewardship of stewardship and maintenance, preservation, considered and is typically public trees, municipal necessarycritical human component to be the forestry urban and community to a successful program. management the literature of our findings corroborated Many housed in a typically are wardens that tree department or municipal (often public works interact with a wide variety of routinely highway), other from (representatives local organizations volunteer community departments, municipal access to a greater have and typically associations), size increases. as community pool of resources emergent and of concern health was highly Forest with 98% of interviewees wardens, to tree urban monitor for routinely indicating that they emerald Asian longhorned beetle, pests (e.g., forest The adelgid). and hemlock woolly ash borer, host plant planting low-maintenance, potential for as part of an was explored species tree resistant Rick Harper (PhD) Stephen DeStefano Bloniarz David UMass ECO UMass CAFE towns (pink). Note distinct “Western-Central” and towns (pink). Note distinct “Western-Central” as categorized by the MDCR’s regions, “Eastern” program. Urban and Community Forestry Figure 1. Tree wardens were interviewed in selected interviewed in were wardens Tree 1. Figure ADVISORS FUNDING STUDENT To gain further understanding into emergent To conducted 50 we management issues, urban forest wardens” “tree interviews with research qualitative A tree 1). (Fig. 2014–2016 in Massachusetts from for the responsible is the local official warden Urban forests supply an array of well-documented of well-documented an array supply forests Urban 90% of Massachusetts’ over benefits to ecosystem in an urban setting. and work live who residents challenging present however, settings, These urban and growth that undermine tree situations to exposure from conditions range These survival. to a plethora space, to a lack of growing pollutants, also include a They pests. of insect and disease considerations of critical soil-related number organic soil soil pH, to related including challenges further add To and soil compaction. matter, sometimes may practices forest urban complexity, improper selection, tree include inappropriate Though and lack of maintenance. installation, these practices may unintentional, assuredly contributing to rates of urban trees, further stress morbidity and mortality. tree Natural-Ecological and Socio-Political Factors Influencing Urban Forest Management in Massachusetts in Management Forest Urban Influencing Factors and Socio-Political Natural-Ecological 28 Terres trial Wildlife Completed Projes ct M assachusetts (Fig. 1). effectiveness ofNLAalternatives more negatively currently usingLAview theperformance and cost ofNLAwasreported by bothgroups, hunters reason forprimary switching. While anincrease in For huntersusingNLA, performance wasthe Of thehunterssurveyed (n=228), 82%usedLA. the 2017/2018huntingseason. conjunction withfocus group following interviews back surveys were implemented at eachrefuge in NJ, andRappahannock River Valley NWR, VA. Mail- Rachel CarsonNWR, ME, EdwinB. Forsythe NWR, behind theuseofNLAalternatives by huntersat identify barriers toNLAadoptionandmotivations alternatives. We usedamixed-methods approach to deerhuntersviewabout how NLA northeastern for otherhuntingapplications, littleisknown identified for hunterselsewhere inthe U.S. and While barriers toNLAadoptionhave been influence hunterammunition choice. targeted outreach andeducationstrategiesto when addressing LAusebehavior anddeveloping Identifying prominent barriers toNLAuseiscritical UnitedStates.Refuges (NWR)inthenortheastern for hunterscurrently usingLAonNational Wildlife transitiontonon-leadammunitionvoluntary (NLA) scavenging species. We investigated thebarriers toa carcasses ofdeerfacilitatesexposure pathways for Lead depositedinthegutpilesandunrecovered to negatively impactnon-targetscavenging species. species suchaswhite-taileddeerhasthepotential Lead ammunition (LA)usefor game harvesting Refuges National Wildlife Assessing Attitudes andImpactstoSociety Associated withUseof Alternative Ammunition for Huntingon STUDENT FUNDING ADVISORS COLLABORATORS

C ooperative Gordon Batcheller USFWS USGS CRUP John Organ Stephen DeStefano Christopher Cahill(MS) F ish and W ildli f e

R esearch (Christopher Cahill). Figure 3.Huntertrainingin Vermont overcome initialbarriers tobehavioral change. addition, incentive strategiesmay beeffective to behavioral changeinhunterammunition choice. In use inabroader contextmay aidinmore effective for non-targetspecies, andframeindividual LA clean kill, clearly outlinethemechanismofexposure the effectiveness ofNLAalternatives inachieving a Outreach andeducationstrategies thatemphasize mechanism ofexposure for non-targetspecies. that somehuntersmay notcomprehend the relative tootherhuntingpractices, illustrating non-target speciesduethevolume ofleadused projectile asnothaving asignificantimpacton of ananimal. Inaddition, hunterscanview a single increase potentialfor wounding andnon-recovery of NLAalternatives toachieve acleankilland efficacy may be rooted intheperceived inability NLA (Fig. 2). Concernsaboutperformance and would useareimbursement program topurchase unwilling tovoluntarily switch, 45%indicatedthey they would bewillingtoswitch toNLA. For those majority ofhunterscurrently usingLAindicated Despite performance andefficacyconcerns, the

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| 2018-2019 “Opposers”). (i.e., “Volunteers”) andthoseunwilling(i.e., willing tovoluntarilyusenon-lead ammunition Figure 2.Proportional responses ofleadhunters non-lead ammunition. the performanceandefficacyoflead and non-leaduserstostatementsabout Figure 1.Proportional responses oflead Terres trial Wildlife 29 Completed Projes ct 2018-2019 |

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esearch plantations were entirely coniferous. However, However, coniferous. entirely were plantations abundant often similarly were these species The only habitat. conifer and native amongst spruce spruce supported which species for lowest the vireo. was the red-eyed levels abundance spruce exotic Norway results, to our According of capable are plantations in Massachusetts similar to those communities supporting avian In many 2). stands (Fig. forest in native found supported spruce plantations instances Norway species that are of bird abundances equal or greater habitat. coniferous associated with commonly more R

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Figure 2. Figure of Remnants Norway spruce stands can habitat provide for a variety of passerine birds (Calvin Ritter). assachusetts M also demonstrated highest abundances in highest abundances also demonstrated were though these species spruce plantations, cover observed native using also occasionally warblers were green Black-throated types. and hemlock in both spruce abundant equally supporting types lower with other cover stands, habitat use of spruce The evident abundances. with eastern associated species commonly by black throated- warbler, hemlock (Blackburnian the given warbler) is of particular interest green hemlock habitat due to hemlock decline in healthy species commonly Not surprisingly, adelgid. woolly habitat tended to exhibit associated with deciduous that the given abundances in spruce habitat, lower Calvin Ritter (MS) King Dave Stephen DeStefano MDCR Service Forest U.S. Church Peter Dan Clark COLLABORATORS COLLABORATORS ADVISORS FUNDING Individual species abundances varied across Individual species abundances varied across types utilized all cover species Many types. cover however, (including spruce) at similar levels; certain for preferences some species showed kinglets showed Golden-crowned habitat types. with type preference, cover the strongest all observationsnearly in Norway occurring nuthatches, Red-breasted spruce plantations. and Blackburnian warblers creepers, brown During the 2016 and 2017 breeding seasons, we we seasons, 2016 and 2017 breeding During the count surveys point 1,000 avian nearly conducted Quabbin Reservoirwithin the and watershed used GIS data were MA. Beartown Forest, State five stratified across locations to select survey eastern hemlock, spruce, Norway types: forest mixed and deciduous/conifer deciduous, white pine, compared we count data, Using these forests. type cover the five across communities avian estimates for and calculated abundance categories analyses level Community species. 51 individual bird the spruce plantations within suggest that Norway at biodiversity supportstudy sites do in fact avian habitats. forest native similar to that of nearby levels of unique species observed per survey The number was similar to that of spruce plantations in Norway and was stands, and mixed-forest deciduous, pine, (Non- Ordination higher than hemlock stands. scaling) of the data showed metric multidimensional between communities in avian that the differences observed types was similar to the differences cover further supporting the claim types, within cover in the study sites spruce plantations that Norway 1). (Fig. of biodiversity supported comparable levels Ecological Value of Spruce Plantations in Massachusetts Plantations of Spruce Value Ecological STUDENT Algeo. T.P., J.F. Organ, T.K. Fuller, S. DeStefano, M. Adler, and D. Slate. In revision. Beaver damage management and water level control devices: success evaluation and risk assessment. Human-Wildlife Interactions.

Becker, S., S. Jackson, A. Jordaan, and A. Roy. 2018. Impacts of Tidal Road-Stream Crossings on Aquatic Organism Passage. U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Cooperator Science Series FWS/CSS-131-2018, Washington, D.C. digitalmedia.fws.gov/digital/collection/document/id/2238/rec/32

Bocsi, T.J., P.S. Warren, R.W. Harper, and S. DeStefano. 2018. Wildlife habitat management on college and university campuses. Cities and the Environment (CATE) 11(1): 1-14.

Bocsi, T., R. W. Harper, S. DeStefano, and D. A. Lass. In review. Oak trees in the landscape: rural and urban. Arboriculture Journal.

Carmignani, J.R. and A.H. Roy. 2017. Ecological impacts of winter lake drawdowns on lake littoral zones: A review. Aquatic Sciences 79:803-824. DOI: 10.1007/s00027-017-0549-9

Carmignani, J.R., A.H. Roy, P.D. Hazelton, and H. Giard. 2019. Annual winter water level drawdowns chronically limit mussel densities in small lakes. Freshwater Biology. DOI: 10.1111/fwb.13324 A Perseid meteor passes through the Big Dipper in Goshen, MA (Peter Zaidel) A.H. Roy l Cheney, K.N., , R.F. Smith, and R.E. DeWalt. Accepted. Effects of

b stream temperature and substrate type on emergence patterns of Plecoptera Falconi, N., T.K. Fuller, S. DeStefano, and J.F. Organ. In press. An open access,

u ications and Trichoptera from Northeastern USA headwater streams. Environmental occurrence database for Andean bears in Peru. Ursus. Entomology. P Harper, R.W., E.S. Huff, D.V. Bloniarz, S. DeStefano, and C.R. Nicolson. 2018. Craig, L.S., J.D. Olden, A.H. Arthington, S. Entrekin, C.P. Hawkins, J.J. Kelly, T.A. Exploring the characteristics of successful volunteer-led urban forest tree Kennedy, B.M. Maitland, E.J. Rosi, A.H. Roy, D.L. Strayer, J.L. Tank, A.O. West, and committees in Massachusetts. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening 34: 311-317. M.S. Wooten. 2017. Meeting the challenge of interacting threats in freshwater ecosystems: A call to scientists and managers. Elementa 5:72. DOI: 10.1525/ Harper, R.W., D.V. Bloniarz, S. DeStefano, and C.R. Nicolson. 2017. Urban forest elementa.256 management in New England: towards a contemporary understanding of tree wardens in Massachusetts communities. Arboricultural Journal 39:162-178. DeStefano, S., and C. Boal. 2018. Perspectives and future directions. Pages 273- 286 in C. Boal and C. Dykstra, Eds. Urban raptors: ecology and conservation of Harper, R. W., E. S. Huff, D, V, Bloniarz, S. DeStefano, C. R. Nicolson, and M. birds of prey in an urbanizing world. Island Press, Washington, D.C. Davidsohn. In review. Employing qualitative research interviews to understand urban forestry stakeholder continuing education needs. Aboricultural Journal. Devine, M.T., A.H. Roy, A.R. Whiteley, B.I. Gahagan, M.P. Armstrong, and A. Jordaan. 2018. Precision and effectiveness of a purse seine for sampling age-0 LeFlore, E.G., T.K. Fuller, J.T. Finn, S. DeStefano, and J.F. Organ. 2019. Wild canid river herring in lakes. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 38:650- distribution and co-existence during Fall in the Pioneer Valley of western 662. DOI: 10.1002/nafm.10065 Massachusetts. Northeastern Naturalist 26:325-342.

30 Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit | Biennial Report | 2018-2019 Ludlam, J.P., and A.H. Roy. In review. Understanding effects of small dams on metabolism and primary production in temperate forested streams. Fundamental and Applied Limnology.

Marjadi, M.N., A.H. Roy, A. Jordaan, B.I. Gahagan, M.P. Armstrong, and A.R. Whiteley. 2019. Larger body size and earlier run timing associated with elevated reproductive success following experimental alewife translocation. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 76:1134–1146. DOI: 10.1139/ cjfas-2017-0451

Rosset, J., A.H. Roy, B. Gahagan, A. Whiteley, M. Armstrong, J. Sheppard, and A. Jordaan. 2017. Temporal patterns of river herring migration and spawning in coastal Massachusetts. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 146:1101– 1114. DOI: 10.1080/00028487.2017.1341851. A spotted salamander makes its way to a vernal pool (Ayla Skorupa) Schlossberg, S., D.I. King, S. DeStefano, and M. Hartley. 2018. Effects of early- successional shrubland management on breeding wood thrush populations. Sterrett, S.C. and A.H. Roy. 2017. The Brook Floater Working Group: A Journal of Wildlife Management 82:1572-1581. collaborative initiative aimed at regional population restoration and conservation. P Ellipsaria 19:20-21. ications u Sterrett, S., A. Roy, P. Hazelton, B. Watson, B. Swartz, T.R. Russ, L. Holst, M. b Marchand, J. Wisniewski, M. Ashton, and B. Wicklow. 2018. Brook Floater Rapid Tucker, M. et al. 2018. Moving in the Anthropocene: global reductions in l Assessment Monitoring Protocol. U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife terrestrial mammalian movements. Science 359:466-469. DOI: 10.1126/science. Service, Cooperator Science Series FWS/CSS-132-2018, Washington, D.C. aam9712 digitalmedia.fws.gov/digital/collection/document/id/2241/rec/29 Wattles, D.W., K.A. Zeller, and S. DeStefano. 2018. Range expansion in unfavorable environments through behavioral responses to microclimatic conditions: moose (Alces americanus) as the model. Mammalian Biology 93:189- 197.

Wattles, D.W., K.A. Zeller, and S. DeStefano. 2018. Response of moose to a high-density road network. Journal of Wildlife Management 85:929-939.

Weinstein, S.Y., J.A. Coombs, K.H. Nislow, C. Riley, A.H. Roy, and A.R. Whiteley. Accepted. Evaluating the effects of barriers on (Cottus cognatus) movement and population connectivity using novel sibship-based and traditional genetic metrics. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society.

Zeller, K.A., D.W. Wattles, and S. DeStefano. 2018. Incorporating road crossing data into vehicle collision risk models for moose (Alces americanus) in Massachusetts, USA. Environmental Management 62:518-528.

Zeller, K.A., D.W. Wattles, and S. DeStefano. 2019. American black bears (Ursus americanus) alter movements in response to anthropogenic features with time Sunrise in Sunderland, MA (Ayla Skorupa) of day and season. Movement Ecology 7.

Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit | Biennial Report | 2018-2019 31 Armstrong, D.S., A.H. Roy, M.E. Baker, C.N. Bentsen, and J.T. Stolarski. 2017. Carmignani, J., A.H. Roy, and J. Stolarski. 2018. Do annual winter water level Moving beyond impervious cover: Unpacking characteristics of impervious cover drawdowns alter trophic pathways for common lake fish species? Annual influencing stream biota in Massachusetts. Annual Meeting of the New England Meeting of the American Fisheries Society, 19-23 August 2018, Atlantic City, NJ. Association of Environmental Biologists, 14-16 March 2017, Hartford, CT. Carmignani, J. and A.H. Roy. 2019. Littoral macroinvertebrate assemblage Bouldin, R., A. Roy, S. Mattocks, R. Quinones, and T. Richards. 2018. Responses responses to annual winter lake drawdowns. Annual Meeting of the Northeast of stream fishes to dam removal in Massachusetts. Annual Meeting of the Aquatic Biologists, 27 February - 1 March 2019, Saratoga Springs, NY. Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 15-17 April 2018, Burlington, VT. Conlee, L., D. Wattles, M. Duda, and S. DeStefano. 2018. Massachusetts residents’ attitudes toward black bears and black bear management. 70th Cahill, C., S. DeStefano, J. Organ, and G. Batcheller. 2018. Transitioning to Anniversary Meeting of the Massachusetts Unit, 15 May 2018, Westborough, alternative ammunition on National Wildlife Refuges. 70th Anniversary Meeting MA. (Poster) of the Massachusetts Unit, 15 May 2018, Westborough, MA. Cox, J.S. and A.H. Roy. 2019. Parasitic freshwater mussel larvae attachment on Carmignani, J., A.H. Roy, and J. Stolarski. 2018. Do annual winter water level river herring in Connecticut River tributaries. Connecticut River drawdowns alter trophic pathways for common lake fish species? Annual Commission Research and Management Forum, 13 March 2019, Hadley, MA. Meeting of the New England Association of Environmental Biologists, 13-15 (Poster) March 2018, Devens, MA. DeStefano, S. 2018. The Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Carmignani, J., A.H. Roy, and J. Stolarski. 2018. Do annual winter water level Research Unit – 1948-2018: 70 years of cooperative conservation in the drawdowns alter trophic pathways for common lake fish species? Annual Commonwealth. 70th Anniversary Meeting of the Massachusetts Unit, 15 May Meeting of the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 15-17 April 2018, Westborough, MA. (Poster) 2018, Burlington, VT. DeStefano, S. 2018. The Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: 70 years of graduate research. 70th Anniversary Meeting of the Massachusetts Unit, 15 May 2018, Westborough, MA. (Poster)

resentations DeStefano, S. 2018. Then and now … Massachusetts in 1948 versus P today. 70th Anniversary Meeting of the Massachusetts Unit, 15 May 2018, Westborough, MA. (Poster)

DeStefano, S., and T.K. Fuller. 2018. State of the art: self-evaluation of wildlife and fisheries research and management. 70th Anniversary Meeting of the Massachusetts Unit, 15 May 2018, Westborough, MA.

Devine, M.D. 2018. Factors influencing anadromous river herring on Nantucket and in coastal New England watersheds. Nantucket Land Council Annual Meeting, 7 August 2018, Nantucket, MA.

Devine, M.T., A.H. Roy, A.J. Whiteley, B.I. Gahagan, M.P. Armstrong, and A. Jordaan. 2018. What goes in must come out? Investigating stock-recruitment relationships and factors influencing juvenile densities of anadromous river herring. Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society, 19-23 August 2018, Atlantic City, NJ.

Purple trillium (Peter Zaidel)

32 Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit | Biennial Report | 2018-2019 Harper, R., and S. DeStefano. 2018. Working with volunteers. Tree City USA, Look Park, 15 November 2018, Northampton, MA.

Hazelton, P., S.S. Sterrett, and A. Roy. 2018. A standardized rapid survey protocol for rare freshwater mussels using an occupancy framework. Annual Meeting of the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 15-17 April 2018, Burlington, VT.

Jordaan, A., A. Roy, S. Jackson, and S. Becker. 2018. Impacts of tidal road-stream crossings on aquatic organism passage. 9th National Summit on Coastal and Estuarine Restoration and Management, 8-13 December 2018, Long Beach, CA.

Lama, T., J. Organ, S. DeStefano, and W. Johnson. 2018. Conservation genomics of Canada lynx. 70th Anniversary Meeting of the Massachusetts Unit, 15 May 2018, Westborough, MA.

Martell, V.M., A.H. Roy, P.D. Hazelton, D.L. Perkins, and T.M. Warren. 2018. The P

effect of probiotics on the growth and survival of a freshwater mussel. Annual resentations Meeting of the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 15-17 April The Nissitissit River flows freely after removal of Turner Dam (Peter Zaidel) 2018, Burlington, VT.

Devine, M.D. 2019. Factors affecting density and growth of juvenile river herring: McCarthy, S., and S. DeStefano. 2017. The human dimensions of suburban deer Insights from 32 coastal New England lakes. Maine Water and Sustainability management in eastern Massachusetts. Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Conference, 28 March 2019, Augusta, ME. Board, 15 November 2017, Pepperall, MA.

Falconi, N., J. Organ, and S. DeStefano. 2017. Value of data sharing for Perkins, D., S. Hanlon, P. Hazelton, and A. Roy. 2018. A new freshwater mussel conservation: A case study of a large scale project of spectacled bear (Tremarctos collaborative in the northeast. Annual Meeting of the Northeast Association of ornatus) in Peru. 25th International Conference on Bear Research and Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 15-17 April 2018, Burlington, VT. (Presented by A. Management, 12-17 November 2018, Quito, Ecuador. Roy)

Falconi, N., J. Organ, and S. DeStefano. 2018. Value of data sharing for Remiszewski, T.T., A.H. Roy, and J. Carmignani. 2018. Impacts of winter water- conservation of the spectacled bear in Peru. Annual Meeting of the Ecological level lake drawdowns on fish growth. Southern New England Chapter of the Society of America, 5-10 August 2018, New Orleans, LA. (Poster) American Fisheries Society Winter Meeting, 10 January 2018, New Bedford, MA. (Poster) Fallon Olmsted, C., T. Betras, S. DeStefano, S. C. Pasquini, E. Faison, and W. P. Carson. 2019. Evidence for moose as ecosystem engineers via non-trophic Remiszewski, T.T., J. Carmignani, and A.H. Roy. 2018. Impacts of winter water- indirect effects. Ecological Society of America, Louisville, Kentucky, 11-16 August level lake drawdowns on fish growth. Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries 2019. (Poster) Society, 19-23 August 2018, Atlantic City, NJ. (Poster)

Giard, H., J. Carmignani, and A.H. Roy. 2018. Investigating the effects of winter Ritter, C., D. King, and S. DeStefano. 2019. The ecological value of spruce lake drawdowns on freshwater mussels and consequences for water quality. plantations in Massachusetts. Annual Meeting of the Northeast Association of Annual Meeting of the New England Association of Environmental Biologists, 13- Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 14-16 April 2019, Groton, CT. 15 March 2018, Devens, MA. (Poster)

Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit | Biennial Report | 2018-2019 33 Roy, A.H., P.A. Zaidel, K. Houle, B. Lambert, and K.H. Nislow. 2018. Potential Sterrett, S.S., L. Stevenson, M. Endries, P. Hazelton, and A.H. Roy. 2018. responses of stream water quality and macroinvertebrates to small dam Freshwater mussel species distribution models to inform proactive conservation removal. Annual Meeting of the New England Association of Environmental decision making. Annual Meeting of the Northeast Association of Fish and Biologists, 13-15 March 2018, Devens, MA. Wildlife Agencies, 15-17 April 2018, Burlington, VT.

Roy, A.H., H.R. Lubbers, and M.C. Miller. 2018. Biotic responses to multiple Zaidel, P.A., A.H. Roy, K.H. Nislow, B.H. Letcher, K. Houle, B. Lambert, and C.R. threats of urbanization and drying in headwater streams. Annual Meeting of the Smith. 2018. Small dams can have large thermal effects with negative implications Society for Freshwater Science, 20-24 May 2018, Detroit, MI. for coldwater species. Annual Meeting of the Society for Freshwater Science, 20- 24 May 2018, Detroit, MI. Roy, A.H., R. Bouldin, P.A. Zaidel, and S. Mattocks. 2018. Increasing resilience of coldwater fish habitat with dam removal. Annual Meeting of the American Zeller, K.A., D.W. Wattles, and S. DeStefano. 2018. Black bear movements and Fisheries Society, 19-23 August 2018, Atlantic City, NJ. habitat use. 70th Anniversary Meeting of the Massachusetts Unit, 15 May 2018, Westborough, MA. Roy, A.H., K.M. Abbott, M.B. Cole, K.M. Houle, and K.H. Nislow. 2019. Impacts of small, low-head dams on stream macroinvertebrate assemblages. Annual Meeting Zeller, K.A., D.W. Wattles, and S. DeStefano. 2018. Modeling road crossings for of the Society for Freshwater Science, 19-23 May 2019, Salt Lake City, UT. moose (Alces americanus) and black bear (Ursus americanus) in Massachusetts, USA. 8th Northeastern Transportation and Wildlife Conference, 9-12 Roy, A.H. 2019. Stream restoration through dam removal: Where to begin? September 2018, Amherst, MA. University of Cincinnati, Department of Biological Sciences, Cincinnati, OH. (Invited) Zeller, K.A., M.K. Jennings, T.W. Vickers, H.B. Ernest, S.A. Cushman, W.M. Boyce. 2018. A comparison of data types and connectivity models for capturing Roy, A.H. and K.M. Abbott. 2019. Restoring aquatic habitats through dam dispersal movement in large carnivores. The Wildlife Society Annual Conference, removal. Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration, Boston, MA. (Invited) October 7-11, 2018, Cleveland, OH.

Roy, A.H. 2019. Dams, drawdowns, mussels, and river herring: A potpourri of freshwater research in the Coop Unit. U.S. Geological Survey, Conte Anadromous Fish Laboratory, Turners Falls, MA. (Invited) resentations

P Sillen, S.J., P.A. Zaidel, A.H. Roy, K.H. Nislow, K. Houle, and B. Lambert. 2018. Dissolved oxygen response to dam removal in Massachusetts streams. Biannual Meeting of the Society for Ecological Restoration New England Chapter, 11-13 October 2018, New Haven, CT. (Poster)

Skorupa, A.J., A.H. Roy, P.D. Hazelton, D. Perkins, A. Fisk, and S. Sterrett. 2018. Brook floater ( varicosa) mesohabitat preferences in four Massachusetts watersheds. Annual Meeting of the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 15-17 April 2018, Burlington, VT.

Skorupa, A.J., A.H. Roy, P.D. Hazelton, D. Perkins, T. Warren, A. Fisk, and S.C. Sterrett. 2019. Developing a strategy to restore a freshwater mussel (Alasmidonta varicosa) to Massachusetts watersheds. Annual Meeting of the Northeast Aquatic Biologists, 27 February - 1 March 2019, Saratoga Springs, NY.

Toads during amplexus in Orange, MA (Ayla Skorupa)

34 Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit | Biennial Report | 2018-2019 International Awards Rick Harper: International Society of Arboriculture Early Career Scientist, 2019. UMass ECO Awards Matt Devine: John Boreman Fisheries Award, University of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Conservation, 2018. ($500) Matt Devine: Richard Cronin Fisheries Research Award, University of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Conservation, 2018. ($750) Meghan Slocombe: Outstanding Junior in Environmental Science, University of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Conservation, 2019. ($400) Research Grants

Graduate students S

Kate Abbott: Aimlee Laderman Student Grant, New England Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration Northeast Chapter, 2019 ($1200) tudent Matt Devine: University of Massachusetts Natural History Collections Summer Research Scholarship, 2019. ($3,000) Nereyda Falconi Lopez: Rufford Small Grant, The Rufford Foundation, 2018. ($6950) Meghna Marjadi: University of Massachusetts Pre-Dissertation Grant, 2018. ($1000) Meghna Marjadi: National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) Graduate Pursuit Grant: Urban ecologies of vulnerability and risk: What is the role of

fish consumption advisories? Co-PI for workshop funding, 2017-19. A Undergraduate students rds w Renee Bouldin: Ned Taft Internship Fund in Environmental Science, University of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Conservation, 2017 ($3000) a Julia Cox: Research Grant, University of Massachusetts Commonwealth Honor’s College, 2019. ($630) Sarah Endyke: Research Grant, University of Massachusetts Commonwealth Honor’s College, 2019. ($695) John Russell: Ned Taft Internship Fund in Environmental Science, University of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Conservation, 2018 ($3000)

Meghan Slocombe: Research Assistant Fellowship, University of Massachusetts Commonwealth Honor’s College, 2019. ($500) and Meghan Slocombe: Research Grant, University of Massachusetts Commonwealth Honor’s College, 2019. ($770) Meghan Slocombe: Ned Taft Internship Fund in Environmental Science, University of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Conservation, 2019 ($3000) G Conference Awards

Presentation rants Virginia Martell: Best Student Presentation Award for talk, “The effect of probiotics on the growth and survival of a freshwater mussel”, Northeast Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies Conference, 2018. Virginia Martell: First place for best lightning talk, “The effect of probiotics on the growth and survival of a freshwater mussel”, University of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Conservation Graduate Student Symposium, 2019. Ayla Skorupa: First place and audience choice for best lightning talk, “Food sources supporting captive rearing of an endangered freshwater mussel”, University of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Conservation Graduate Student Symposium, 2019. Travel Matt Devine: John E. Skinner Memorial Travel Award, American Fisheries Society Conference, 2018. ($800) Meghna Marjadi: The Communicating Science workshop for graduate students (ComSciCon) Flagship Workshop/Travel Award, 2019. Peter Zaidel: Society for Freshwater Science General Endowment Fund Travel Award, 2018. ($1000)

Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit | Biennial Report | 2018-2019 35 Last Name First Name Year Advisor Last Name First Name Year Advisor In 71 years, over 200 graduate students have been part of the Massachusetts Coop Belusz Lawrence C. 1968 Reed Stira Robert J. 1976 Reed Unit. Eleven of those students earned both Holsapple John G. 1968 Reed Kelly George M. 1977 Dodge their MS and PhD with the Unit. There are Keene Charles I. 1968 Reed Roberts Thomas Allen 1977 Kennelly 16 current graduate students; 198 completed Grandy IV John W. 1968 Sheldon Brooks Robert P. 1977 Kennelly their degrees. Masters students (165) are in Kelly George M. 1970 Dodge Fleming Michael William 1977 Kennelly black font, while PhDs (48) are in blue font. Elliot Wayne Paul 1970 McCann Kuzmeskus Daniel M. 1977 Reed Freeman Bruce, L. 1970 McCann Neves Richard Joseph 1977 Reed

m Last Name First Name Year Advisor MacInnes John Roderick 1970 McCann Harding Judith 1978 Dodge Ripley Thomas H. 1954 Sheldon Watson Jay F. 1970 McCann Schultz William C. 1978 Dodge Hagar Jr. Donald C. 1954 Sheldon Godfrey Paul J. 1970 Reed Hodgdon Harry Edward 1978 Larson Boyle John D. 1955 Sheldon Levesque Raymond C. 1970 Reed Cave Jon Robert 1978 Reed Garvin Lester E. 1955 Sheldon Moulton James C. 1970 Reed Lyons Paul Joseph 1979 Kennelly

p Dodge Wendell E. 1958 Sheldon Oatis Peter H. 1970 Reed Lancia Richard Angelo 1979 Larson

m Kupa John J. 1958 Sheldon Rockwell Harold William 1970 Sheldon Kelso William Edward 1979 Reed

o endiu Larson Joseph S. 1958 Sheldon DeGraaf Richard M. 1971 Larson Brooks Robert P. 1980 Dodge Werner Jack W. 1958 Sheldon Katz Harvey M. 1972 McCann Ellison Peter T. 1980 Dodge C

Gehling Jr. Raymond L. 1959 Sheldon Piehler Glenn R. 1972 McCann Tzilkowski Walter M. 1980 Dodge Moore Dwight D. 1959 Sheldon Grandy IV John W. 1972 Sheldon Bollinger Karen Sue 1980 Kennelly Belig William H. 1960 Sheldon Walsh Lynn E. 1973 Dodge Olsen Glenn H. 1980 Kennelly Godin Alfred J. 1960 Sheldon Cooper James A. 1973 Sheldon Sutter III Frederick C. 1980 Kynard Cowardin Lewis M. 1961 Sheldon Pank Larry Fred 1974 Dodge Converse Kathryn Ann 1981 Dodge Maxfield Herbert K. 1961 Sheldon Portnoy John W. 1974 Dodge Sczerzenie Philip James 1981 Dodge tudent Colby David R. 1965 Sheldon Jeffries, Jr. Philip J. 1974 Reed Rosen Rudolph Albert 1981 Kynard S

Jewell Samuel R. 1965 Sheldon Layzer James B. 1974 Reed Hill Barbara Jeanne 1982 Dodge Stanton Philip B. 1965 Sheldon Scherer Michael Dean 1974 Reed von Oettingen Susanna Lisalotte 1982 Dodge Armour Carl Lee 1966 Reed Possardt Earl E. 1975 Dodge Bell Charles Edward 1982 Kynard Taub Stephen H. 1966 Reed Bostrom Donald Arthur 1975 Larson Buckley John L. 1982 Kynard Woronecki David E. 1966 Reed Gray Gary Gene 1975 Larson Conover David Olmstead 1982 Kynard Hoyt Jr. Walter L. 1966 Sheldon Gilmore Kirby S. 1975 Reed Howard Rebecca J. 1982 Larson

raduate Kivisalu Bino 1966 Sheldon Braunhardt Denise Adrienne 1976 Larson Olsen Glenn H. 1983 Dodge Richards Allan Paul 1966 Sheldon Cardoza James Ernest 1976 Larson Stier David Joseph 1983 Kynard G Frisbie Charles M. 1967 McCann Green Jr. Arthur Allerton 1976 Larson Taylor Ralph Edmund 1983 Kynard Zanella Eugene Francis 1967 McCann Domeruth Robert B. 1976 Reed Warner John P. 1983 Kynard Modafferi Ronald D. 1967 Sheldon Enoch Larry S. 1976 Reed Yergeau Kathleen Marie 1983 Kynard Pierce Dale A. 1967 Sheldon Hughes Peter D. 1976 Reed Tilghman Nancy Grace 1983 Larson Frame David Wilkes 1968 McCann Katz Harvey M. 1976 Reed Elowe Kenneth David 1984 Dodge Scofield Larry Rex 1968 McCann Shapiro Steven Mark 1976 Reed Steiner Alan John 1984 Dodge

36 Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit | Biennial Report | 2018-2019 Last Name First Name Year Advisor Last Name First Name Year Advisor Last Name First Name Year Advisor O'Leary John A. 1984 Kynard Zingo James M. 1998 Field Smith Joseph M. 2012 Mather Safford Susan E. 1985 Booke McDonald Jr. John E. 1998 Fuller Vitale Kimberly O. 2013 Sievert Berendzen Stephen L. 1985 Dodge Sutherland David W. 1998 Kynard Kennedy Cristina G. 2013 Mather Converse Kathryn Ann 1985 Dodge Nitschke Paul C. 1998 Mather Clark Daniel E. 2014 DeStefano Hearn William Ernest 1985 Kynard Yako Lisa A. 1998 Mather LeFlore Eric G. 2014 DeStefano Nelson David Herbst 1986 Dodge Zingo James M. 1998 Hestbeck Pusparini Wulan 2014 Sievert

McMenemy James R. 1986 Kynard Bump C. Adam 1999 Field Faison Edward K. 2015 DeStefano G Perham II Roscoe E. 1987 Booke Fitzgerald Thomas Joseph 1999 Field Huguenin Michael A. 2015 DeStefano raduate Elowe Kenneth David 1987 Dodge Gore Lamar B. 1999 Field Barber Grace W. 2015 Sievert Witherell David B. 1987 Kynard Langlois Susan A. 1999 Fuller Naing Hla 2015 Sievert Narahara Anne Megumi 1987 Sayre Mayer Michael S. 1999 Fuller Yorks Derek T. 2015 Sievert Vander-Haegen William Matthew 1987 Sayre Giorgi Kathleen S. H. 1999 Hestbeck Johnson Luanne 2016 DeStefano Lindell Scott 1988 Booke Campbell Cara A. 1999 Mather Argo Emily E. 2016 Roy Kennedy Ricky A. 1988 Dodge Carey Michael P. 2002 Mather Marjadi Meghna N. 2016 Roy

Humphrey Robert Charles 1988 Sayre Parker Erika L. 2002 Kynard Rosset Julianne 2016 Roy S

O'Connell Jr. Allan Francis 1989 Sayre Gaughan Christopher R. 2003 DeStefano Loring Pamela H. 2016 Sievert tudent Organ John F. 1989 Dodge/Griffin Ferry Kristen H. 2003 Mather Bentsen Catherine N. 2017 Roy Newman Douglas G. 1990 Griffin Maier Thomas J. 2003 Hestbeck Devine Matthew T. 2017 Roy Cieslewicz Paul G. 1991 Booke Godinho Alexandre Lima 2005 Kynard Stengle Anne G. 2018 Sievert Kieffer Micah C. 1991 Kynard Clark Laura J. 2005 Sievert Zaidel Peter A. 2018 Roy Seibel David A. 1992 Kynard Albanese Eugene 2006 Sievert Harper Richard W. 2019 DeStefano

Fuller David Paul 1993 Fuller Haggerty Sarah A. 2006 Sievert Conlee Laura I. Current DeStefano C Sanderson Caroline J. 1993 Field Wibisono Hariyo T. 2006 Sievert Falconi Nereyda Current DeStefano endiu o Wilson Karen A. 1993 Field Parker Erika L. 2007 Kynard Lama Tanya Current DeStefano m Sadighi Kay 1994 Hestbeck Rossi Nichole A. 2007 DeStefano Cahill Christopher R. Current DeStefano p Buerkett Christopher G. 1994 Kynard Grgurovic Mark 2007 Sievert McCarthy Susan Current DeStefano Stiles-Jewell Sheila 1994 Booke Pautzke Sarah M. 2008 Mather Ritter Calvin Current DeStefano Mahaney II Thomas J. 1994 Field Jones Michael T. 2009 Sievert Dowling Zara R. Current Sievert Richmond Alan M. 1995 Kynard Frank Holly J. 2009 Mather Richards Todd A. Current Roy McGinley Kimber E. 1996 Field McCarthy Kyle P. 2010 DeStefano Carmignani Jason Current Roy m York Eric C. 1996 Fuller Willey Lisabeth L. 2010 Sievert Devine Matthew Current Roy Woytek William Andrew 1996 Hestbeck Paulson David J. 2010 Sievert Marjadi Meghna N. Current Roy Amaral Stephen V. 1996 Kynard Wattles David William 2011 DeStefano Skorupa Ayla Current Roy Schulze Margo B. 1996 Mather Burak Matthew K. 2011 Mather Abbott Katherine Current Roy Kosa Jarrad T. 1997 Mather Strules Jennifer E. 2012 DeStefano Martell Virginia Current Roy Theiss Eric J. 1997 Kynard Kauffman Katherine E. 2012 Sievert Trahan-Liptak Joy Current Roy Vinogradov Phillip 1997 Kynard Spencer Sarah M. 2012 Sievert Ryan Jennifer Current Roy

Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit | Biennial Report | 2018-2019 37 USGS Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Biennial Report 2018-2019