Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program

informationinformation forfor thethe conservationconservation ofof biodiversitybiodiversity

Wild Heritage News July-September 2014

Berks County Natural Heritage Inventory Update Inside This Issue by Rocky Gleason and Jeff Wagner Berks County Pg 1 Natural Heritage The Berks County Natural Heritage we work closely with the county to Inventory Update Inventory (CNHI) Update was completed ensure that the information we collect Pennsylvania Pg 4 this year after a 2 ½ year effort. Sitting at and present will be of use to planning and Fauna the interface between the Valley and Ridge land use decisions. Glenn Knoblauch and and the Great Valley physiographic Cheryl Auchenbach of the Berks County Notes from the Pg 7 Field provinces of Pennsylvania, Berks County Planning Commission were key in helping also sits at the edge of influence from the us make contacts and organize advisory Measures of Pg 12 Philadelphia metro area. While still committee meetings. Progress maintaining a largely rural character, the county faces challenges in preserving Even though the essential use and purpose farmland, open space, and natural habitats of the CNHI projects has not changed, the that define that character. Since the number of people involved and the original inventory in 1991 the county has breadth of the products have. In the early seen substantial growth, but numerous days, one primary biologist would be Natural Heritage Areas mapped in the responsible for almost every step in the original inventory are still intact and we process. Currently, while a primary Photo Banner: also recognized several new ones. Overall, biologist leads most of the survey effort, Rocky Gleason we documented 73 Natural Heritage Areas representing 85 and natural Looking towards Reiffton communities of conservation importance from Schwarzwald Hill in Berks County for the county.

While much of the funding for this project as well as for other CNHI projects has been provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, a generous grant from the

Wyomissing Foundation contributed to Rocky Gleason Rocky the Berks CNHI effort. As for all CNHIs, The Schuylkill River from Neversink Mountain Wild Heritage News 2 we have up to a In Berks County, Heritage Program botanists, zoologists dozen people and ecologists conducted numerous surveys both to involved in both update previously documented species of concern and the field work and to look for new occurrences in previously under- the development of surveyed locations, sometimes as part of another products. project that happened to overlap with the Berks CNHI project. Private property owners were contacted for Our ecologists permission to access their property for biological

select survey sites surveys, initially through the mail, due to the large for all of our volume of property owners we needed to contact in CNHIs based on this heavily populated region of the state. Many of these two primary landowners desired follow-up calls, or in some cases, factors: those areas personal visits to secure permission to survey their where species of properties. concern have been documented in the Gleason Rocky We now use a Denise Watts, PNHP lead ecologist on the past and are in Berks CNHI update, photographs lion’s-foot Field Inventory need of updated at Chrome Serpentine Barrens. Networked information; and Database (FIND)

identifying areas on the landscape, based on aerial photo to enter field data inspection, that suggest suitable habitat exists for including location, species of concern. Information on species of concern habitat description, locations has come from a myriad of sources over many population size years. Early naturalists from 100 to 200 years ago and extent, and documented many significant species for the region and current and museums host their voucher specimens, which typically potential threats include very vague location information. In the later to the population part of the last century new information poured in and its habitat. through a renewed interest in natural history that was Our Information

in many ways spearheaded in the southeastern part of Conservancy Nature The Bearer, Scott Management staff the state by the efforts of Morris Arboretum botanists Several surveys for cave adapted processes this data Ann Rhoads and Timothy Block, and many other local were conducted by PNHP and enters it into staff in Berks County during the project. naturalists in recent years including Susan Munch, Jack our Biotics Holt, Janet Ebert, Rick Mellon, Mike Slater, Steve database (the standardized database developed by Johnson, Ken Lebo, Karl Gardner, Tony Schoch, and Larry NatureServe for managing Heritage Program data) and Lloyd, Senior Ecologist with the Berks Conservancy to the PNDI data system. Our planning team uses the data name just a few. to construct Conservation Planning Polygons (CPPs) which define the area of importance for the species or natural community we’ve documented. These CPPs are used to create and map the Natural Heritage Areas that are the central focus of the CNHI projects.

We compiled the various site descriptions, associated polygons, maps, and introductory text into a report that was provided to the Berks County Planning Commission and to DCNR for uploading to its website,

the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) Interactive Map, where all of the current CNHI sites and their associated descriptions can be viewed.

Rocky Gleason Rocky As you can see, there are many people involved in Susan Munch assessing mosses on outcrops along Saucony Creek. various aspects of these CNHI projects. But among the Wild Heritage News 3 most important are the many private landowners that The flypoison borer allowed our biological survey staff onto their property. moth (Papaipema sp. 1) Without their support, this project would merely be an is currently only inventory of publicly accessible lands of the county, a far known to occur in

less complete picture of the regional biological Pennsylvania and resources. was documented along the Kittatinny Highlights among the numerous species of concern Ridge on the updated or newly documented in the county include the northern boundary Leppo Betsy Flypoison borer moth following: of Berks County. Larva of this species feed on the roots of the flypoison plant (Amianthium muscaetoxicum).

Butterfly pea (Clitoria mariana) is a plant in the legume family that is near the northern limit of its known range in Pennsylvania and the Berks County location is the only known extant site in the state for this species.

A cave invertebrate, Price's cave isopod (Caecidotea pricei), currently known to Christopher Tracey Christopher occur in only fifteen Northeastern bulrush locations scattered A population of northeastern bulrush (Scirpus in Pennsylvania, ancistrochaetus) was documented in the county. This , Maryland, species is listed as Endangered by the U.S. Fish and and West Virginia, Eichelberger Charlie Wildlife Service. Pennsylvania is a stronghold for the was confirmed still Price’s Cave isopod northeastern bulrush and this Berks County record living in Host Cave. represents a previously unknown county for this species. Bog bluegrass (Poa paludigena) is a delicate, slender grass associated with spring fed headwater streams in An Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) maternity colony was Pennsylvania. It can be found scattered across the verified in the county, and surveys focused on locating northeastern part of the U.S. from the Great Lakes to the foraging habitat for the bats. This species is also the mid-Atlantic, but is considered globally vulnerable listed as Endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife throughout its range. Service. Eastern pearlshell mussels (Margaritifera margaritifera) were documented in a Berks County stream. This

species of mussel is Mary Walsh Mary at the southern Eastern pearlshell mussel limit of its range in Pennsylvania and this Berks County record represents the southernmost known population in Pennsylvania. Kunsman John Individuals of this species have been documented to live Bog bluegrass over 100 years and may be one of the longest living invertebrate species. Wild Heritage News 4

Pennsylvania Crayfish Fauna Finally Getting Some Attention by David A. Lieb

The year was 1906 and Arnold E. Ortmann, Curator of spinycheek crayfish is now restricted to several small Invertebrate Zoology, Carnegie Museum, had just sub-basins where it is afforded protection from the published his groundbreaking monograph on the invasive onslaught by barriers (dams), which have of Pennsylvania. Little did Ortmann know prevented the upstream migration of exotic crayfish that almost 100 years would pass before another into those sub-basins. systematic survey of Pennsylvania’s crayfish fauna would be undertaken. During that time, much would change across Pennsylvania but the impacts of these changes on the state’s crayfish fauna would remain unknown. Until recently, simple questions about the species in the state could not be answered. Have the ranges of the state’s native crayfishes changed since the early 1900s? Have exotic crayfishes invaded Pennsylvania? Are there any rare or threatened crayfish within the state? Fast forward to the present and the efforts of a team of scientists have begun to provide answers to these

questions and others. K. K. Kelly Densities of exotic rusty crayfish are often extremely high in invaded systems such as the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania pictured above. Unfortunately, the impact of exotic crayfish on invaded systems does not stop there. At densities that sometimes exceed 18 individuals per square foot (compared to less than one individual per square foot for most native crayfishes); exotic crayfish literally

consume everything in sight in some systems - aquatic plants, other invertebrates, amphibians and their egg masses, and anything else they can get their claws on. D.H. D.H. Funk Additionally, although native crayfish are an important Spinycheek crayfish (Orconectes limosus), native to eastern food item for many fish species, their exotic Pennsylvania counterparts From 2004 to 2010, Ray Bouchard (Academy of Natural are often too Sciences of Philadelphia) and I along with colleagues big (especially conducted crayfish surveys in the eastern half of their claws) and Pennsylvania which showed that non-native (exotic) aggressive to be

crayfish have invaded much of the region with eaten by most devastating impacts on native crayfishes. Entire fish. Exotic drainage basins that once supported only native crayfish also crayfishes have been overrun by exotics. For example, consume fish the range of the spinycheek crayfish (Orconectes limosus), eggs and can which is native to eastern Pennsylvania, has declined have strong

(retreated eastward) by approximately 140 miles and negative effects Mooney P. D. and Lieb the species has nearly been eliminated from the on fish A five-gallon bucket filled with exotic crayfish Susquehanna and Potomac drainages of Pennsylvania. reproduction. collected from Marsh Creek in south-central Within these drainages, the once wide-ranging The end result Pennsylvania. Wild Heritage News 5 for affected fish populations is often less food, fewer offspring, and reduced abundance and biomass, which, if you are an angler, means there are fewer fish to catch and those that are present are smaller.

This work has helped inform agencies and other researchers about the status of native and invasive crayfish in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat

Commission passed regulations in May of 2014 to limit the spread of invasive crayfish used for bait; the regulations will become law on January 1, 2015. It is hoped that these regulations will slow the spread of exotic crayfishes in Pennsylvania and protect the state’s

uninvaded waters. Loughman Zachary Extraction of a blue crayfish (Cambarus monongalensis) from a burrow Although thousands of exotic crayfishes were collected near a roadside ditch in southwestern Pennsylvania. during surveys of eastern Pennsylvania, an unusual crayfish species was also collected from four small are often the most visible sign that a burrowing crayfish drainages in the southeastern part of the state. The colony occurs at a site. Crayfish burrows can be several crayfish, which may be endemic to Pennsylvania, feet deep and quite complex, consisting of multiple appears to be morphologically unique and likely entrances and tunnels. Crayfish generally reside in their represents a species that is new to science. burrows year-round, coming out periodically to forage Unfortunately, during follow-up surveys to better define (often on moist, rainy nights). Some species of its range, exotic crayfish were collected from three of burrowing crayfish can be found in surface waters the four drainages where the species occurs. It is during parts of the year, although they do not reside hoped that stricter regulations will help keep the fourth there year-round. drainage free of exotic crayfish. Burrowing crayfish are important components of the Elsewhere, ecosystems in which they reside. For example, efforts have burrowing crayfish provide critical habitat for the begun to eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus resurvey catenatus) and Kirtland's snake (Clonophis kirtlandii); western both species are Pennsylvania endangered and both Pennsylvania for hibernate in crayfish burrows. Additionally, crayfish crayfishes. The burrows provide critical habitat for endangered western part of odonates (dragonflies and damselflies) and other the state is home invertebrates, especially during the summer when to three species surface waters dry up. of burrowing crayfishes (a

fourth species of burrowing crayfish occurs in

eastern Peter Woods Peter Burrowing crayfish chimney Pennsylvania). Burrowing crayfish often occur in the vicinity of springs, seeps, ditches, small streams, and other wet areas where they dig burrows through moist soils to reach the underlying ground water. During the digging/excavation process, Woods Peter burrowing crayfishes pile mud and dirt outside of their Eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) burrows. The mud/dirt piles, referred to as chimneys,

Wild Heritage News 6

Zachary Loughman Zachary Zachary Loughman Zachary Blue crayfish (Cambarus monongalensis), a burrowing species First collection of the digger crayfish (Fallicambarus fodiens) in native to western Pennsylvania Pennsylvania. To get a handle on the distribution and status of this were confirmed. The known burrowing crayfish fauna very important group, PNHP staff along with Zach of Pennsylvania had expanded for the first time in over Loughman (West Liberty University) have begun to 100 years (from four species to five). survey western Pennsylvania for burrowing crayfishes. To date, 31 historical sites, last surveyed by Ortmann in Next year, the remainder of the historical sites in the early 1900s, have been revisited. These efforts western Pennsylvania, as well as those in the eastern have resulted in the collection of the blue crayfish part of the state will be visited. These efforts will (Cambarus monongalensis) from a number of sites where include visits to sites that historically supported upland it historically occurred. The little brown mudbug burrowing crayfish (Cambarus dubius) and devil crawfish (Cambarus thomai) was collected from some historical (Cambarus diogenes), as well as additional historical blue sites but not others. Future efforts will attempt to crayfish and little brown mudbug sites. The final phase determine why Cambarus thomai is now absent or of the project will include surveys of areas that have extremely rare at some historical sites. never before been surveyed for burrowing crayfishes but which are suspected to support burrowers based on the presence of suitable habitat or accounts by fellow scientists and amateur naturalists. Sightings of burrowing crayfishes or crayfish chimneys/burrows can be reported via email to Dave Lieb ([email protected]) and will be very helpful in our quest to determine the distribution and status of Pennsylvania’s burrowing crayfishes, one of the state’s most interesting and

understudied groups of . Zachary Loughman Zachary Little brown mudbug (Cambarus thomai), a burrowing species native to western Pennsylvania In addition, the digger crayfish (Fallicambarus fodiens) was discovered for the first time in Pennsylvania by Loughman. The digger crayfish is known from northeastern Ohio and it was suspected that the species could occur in northwest Pennsylvania. Loughman sampled a site in Crawford County in northwest Pennsylvania, based on a tip from PNHP botanist Steve Grund who photographed some crayfish chimneys that he found while looking for rare plants. Loughman Zachary After considerable effort, Loughman was able to extract Upland burrowing crayfish (Cambarus dubius), a burrowing species native to western Pennsylvania. a digger crayfish from its burrow and our suspicions Wild Heritage News 7

Notes from the Field

2014 Pennsylvania Botany Symposium Pennsylvania. In the past, much of the riparian

The 2nd biennial meeting for vegetation work done by PNHP ecologists and academic, professional, and botanists focused on plant communities associated with amateur botanists to share larger river systems like the Delaware and Allegheny current research in the region rivers. This current EPA-funded project, which began in is upon us. This year the late 2012, provides an opportunity to expand our symposium will be held at The understanding of riparian associates by examining the Penn Stater Conference plants found along the banks of smaller, headwater Center Hotel in State College streams in Pennsylvania. on November 7 and 8. The Pennsylvania Botany Symposium steering committee is proud to be offering three concurrent workshops on Friday, November 7 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. The workshops are “Introduction to Grasses, Sedges, and Rushes,” “Demystifying Pennsylvania’s Violets,” and

“Making Sense of the Ovales, the Most Difficult Sedges in the Pennsylvania Flora.” Following the workshops, there will be a social highlighted by a presentation from Dr. Chris Martine of Bucknell University entitled “Dummy Pollen, Buzzing Bees, and the Glossy Age of Botany.” On Saturday, November 8 there is an exciting Furedi Ann Mary Headwater streams are the smallest parts of river and stream lineup of presenters that will be talking about various networks, but make up the majority of river miles in the United topics in botany. For a complete list of speakers with States. They are the part of rivers furthest from the river's summaries of their presentations and information on endpoint or confluence with another stream. Many headwater streams have been lost or altered due to human activities such how to register please visit http://pabotany.org/2014- as urbanization and agriculture, and this can impact species and symposium-abstracts/. water quality downstream.

Assessment of Riparian Vegetation This summer’s assessment work focused on headwater streams in three areas of the state, the Allegheny During the 2014 field season, PNHP ecologists National Forest, Ohiopyle State Park, and French Creek continued to assess the patterns of riparian vegetation State Park. We assessed 21 streams between late June of higher order streams in selected watersheds across and early August and have assessed a total of 47 streams in six focal areas of the state, thus far. PNHP staff will visit additional streams in 2015 so that most regions of the state are represented in the dataset.

We selected high quality, first and second order streams in each area using a combination of aerial imagery and multiple GIS layers. Staff then visited the selected streams and walked either a stream reach or the entire stream to examine the patterns of vegetation occurring streamside. We established temporary transects across the banks of representative portions of the stream and recorded all vegetation occurring along

Mary Ann Furedi Ann Mary the transect, as well as additional stream and site Project staff documenting riparian vegetation and soil characteristics. characteristics.

speciesof the are rare. sitediversity, buthigh conservation value becausemany morelush conditions. The resultishabitata with low manyof those thatcanare notgood at competing in shale barrens. The Raystown Branchhosts manyof Pennsylvania’s desert southward, theintense sunlight and heat create harsh, resulting steep, exposedrock faces leastat somewhat erodebedrock. Whenthe bedrockis shale, and the slopescliffsand are created when meandering streams some whichof are of conservation concern. Steep destroyingunique habitat for many plantsand animals, RaystownBranch of theJuniata River was submerged, early1970s,lota ofshale barrenhabitat along the When theRaystown Lake wasDam constructed in the PlantsRare at Raystown Lake ShaleBarrens riparianareas. expansion PNHP’sof plant communityclassification of streams.The willdata also helpfulbe in the further incorporatein their mitigation strategies for headwater Department Environmentalof Protection (DEP)can referenceinformation that the Pennsylvania state. the Results from thisprojectwill provide communitiesplant within andacross specific regions of examinesimilarities and differences between riparian communitiesfound along headwater streams, and to informationThis willbe used define characteristic plant ( species, but the shalebarren evening Rareplants arenot always showiestthe Oenothera argillicola Wild Heritage News HeritageNews Wild - likeconditions that we refertoas shale barrens.

) is areal) beauty.

- primrose

Scott Schuette plantsoccupy herbaceous treegrowth, but scatteredthan support more enough to soilsdeep accumulation of preventsthe of barrensthese steepness The conditions,but those cantolerate plantof species limited number soilof collect.A wherepockets smallledges crevicesand

The good The newsis that although much shaleof the resemblesit. growsthein region nothingelse that overlooked,but andwide) iseasily areonly 2 mm small(the flowers The plantisvery sincethere 1927. hadn’t seenbeen PresqueIsle, and it foundonly on previouslybeen specieshad Pennsylvania,this palustris thatturned out tobe marsh arrowgrass ( aget betterlook, alsothey found a patch of small plants glauca Pennsylvaniaendangered grass previouslyundocumented population of the along thebluffs of Lake Erie,when they spotted a August,In PNHPstaff were mapping invasive species PlantRare Discovery alsoand discoveredseveral new stations. remainingpopulations rareof plants tobe doingwell, barrenssummerthis and foundmost of known the Steve Grundsurveyed some of the remaining shale aremostlyintact. PNHP biologists Scott Schuette and creationof the lake, the upper portions ofthe barrens barrenhabitat at Raystown Lakewas lost with the

conditionson shale barrens. crevicesand store water, which is inshort supply in the harsh produces thick,tuberous roots that anchor the plantinto precarious Kate’s mountainclover ( closeA relative ofthe red clover that is commonlygrown for hay,

) on aon seep) above theirheads. Scrambling up to

). Within ).

Trifolium virginicum Marsharrowgrass (

- of

- parnassus( ) is alow) plant that

Triglochinpalustris)

Triglochin

Parnassia

8

Peter Woods Ryan Miller Steve Grund Wild Heritage News 9

Pennsylvania iMapInvasives Homepage  Be on the Lookout – Certain high priority invasive

In March 2013 Pennsylvania became one of eight other species are not known to be found in Pennsylvania states/provinces to begin utilizing the iMapInvasives (yet), but have been located in surrounding states. database, a tool used to track invasive species. In an This page highlights a few of those species to “be on effort to raise awareness of the database and attract an the lookout” for, in case they make their way into active user base, PNHP staff with Pennsylvania Pennsylvania.

iMapInvasives provided several presentations for groups interested in learning about this online tool. We are currently developing a Pennsylvania homepage that will be dedicated to state-specific invasive species information, issues, current events, and resources. When completed, Pennsylvania will join five other states that have iMapInvasives homepages.

The following is a short list of highlights that will be featured on the Pennsylvania iMapInvasives site:

 Gallery of Invaders – Inspired by the book “Pennsylvania’s Field Guide to Aquatic Invasive Species” produced by Pennsylvania Sea Grant and The Pennsylvania State University, this gallery will feature all of the aquatic invasive species found in the AIS field guide along with accompanying information including photographs, identification tips, species habitat, and distribution information.

 Invasive Here But Not There – Did you know that some species found in Pennsylvania are both  iMapInvasives Training Video – If you are new to native and invasive to our state? This page provides a iMapInvasives or simply need a refresher on how to list of species that fall under this category and also use the database, this page provides access to the provides a map that indicates the counties where the observation data entry training video (also available species is known to be native and where it is found on YouTube) as well as a link to an associated quiz to be invasive. on information presented in the video. Users who watch this video and pass the quiz will be able to increase their user levels and enter observation data.

 Invasive Species in the News! – This page will feature news articles, press releases, and other information highlighting recent occurrences where invasive species were the main event.

The Pennsylvania iMapInvasives homepage will be hosted on the PNHP website and is expected to launch before the end of this year. If you have ideas for additions to the Pennsylvania iMapInvasives homepage once it’s been launched, please contact [email protected]. Your comments and feedback are encouraged.

habitatedges. lower wheredisturbance has caused lossof forest canopy and near Appalachiaduring summer,the but its breeding densities are much commonlyheard in core forests of the NortheasternU.S.and songThe theof black impactsto theForest35 Interior years.are especiallyWe interested in monitoring 17,000 detections individualof birds over the two weand recorded 102 bird speciesmoreand than wasThis second the year thatwe surveyed these sites, disturbancedue toshale gas activities. foreststoenable monitoring impactsof from habitat breedingbird densitiesand diversity within specific goal The of surveysthese is toestablish baselines for throughoutthe Marcellus shale region of Pennsylvania. countsurveys across sites25 of highecological value KatrinaJohnston conducted nearly 890 avian point OrnithologistDavid Yeany Avianand Field Technician developmentassessments baselineand monitoring. surveysfor forest breedingbirds as part of shale gas DuringMay throughJuly2014, PNHP staff continued ForestBreeding Bird Surveys successful breeders in large, unfragmented forest patches. forest large, in unfragmented successful breeders aremore North but America, eastern understory throughout ( Wood Thrushes Wild Heritage News HeritageNews Wild

Hylocichla mustelina Hylocichla - throated greenwarbler (

) nest in the forest in ) nest - DwellingSpecies

Setophagavirens

) is )

David Yeany David Yeany

Blackburnianwarbler. suchas cerulean warbler, Kentuckywarbler, and warbler.wereOthers birds conservationof concern, vireo,ovenbird, wood thrush,blackand recordedwere FIDS and included birds like red Eight of the tenmost abundant species thatwe successfullylargein tracts contiguous,of mature forest. assemblagean of birdspecies thatbreed most (FIDS)of birds we found during surveys.these FIDS are surveysour continuedand birdmonitoring effortsto the mostabundant. will We use the results ofthese yellowthroat,indigo bunting, blueand jay were among to disturbance, andbirds like eastern towhee,common FIDS.We alsorecorded 23 of these species that adapt assemblages alterations birdspecies tend tobenefit from these habitat vegetationare created. Twogroups of more common patchesas new edges and young, regenerating naturalhabitat, but also fragmentationa habitatof heavilyforested habitat, we seenot only a direct loss of Withanytype of development or disturbanceactivity in

negativelyimpact breeding forest interior birds. and invasives will lower the qualityof interiorforest and can Accumulation offorest disturbances, such as logging,deer browse, vegetation structurein large, unfragmented blocks. High qualityinterior forest habitat offers diverse layers of

–

– EarlySuccessional and Edge Habitat

while these changesnegatively impact

- throated blue

- 10 eyed

David Yeany David Yeany Ryan Miller while providing PNHPscientists access tostate of the providessupport for the State Museum’s collections Julyon 22. award The recognized collaborationa that (PHMC)were awarded a Governor’sInnovator Award PennsylvaniaHistorical and Museum Commission ChiefGreg Podniesinski ,as wellas staff from the Rockyand Gleason, DCNR Natural HeritageSection staffCharlie Eichelberger, Joe Wisgo,John Kunsman, Western PennsylvaniaConservancy Heritage(WPC) Governor’s Innovation Award protection individualsof the thathave survived. nose syndromedecline and could lead tobetter informationon bat migrations andhabits post white willThisgive federaland state agencies much needed individualshibernating in caves during winter surveys. coloniesand hopefully re individualsat theirsummer roosting and maternity focus The of workthis was tolocate and band white haveseen a 98% decline overthe pastsix years due to Indianabat. Little brownbat and Indiana bat populations bandinglittle brown batsand the Federally Endangered installation newof batboxes, mistand netting and workThis consisted of maintenance of bat boxes, researchbat easternin Pennsylvania Julyandin August. Milleraided thePennsylvania GameCommission with ZoologistsCharlie Eichelberger,Wisgo,Joe and Ryan BatResearch Pennsylvania.in conditionhabitat with continuing shale gasdevelopment breedingbirdabundance, birdspecies composition, and evaluateareas of highconservation value for changesin duringhibernation countsduring the winter. visibilitybandwing sothat canit be easilyidentified if encountered This Indianabat was captured ina net mist and banded ahighwith Wild Heritage News HeritageNews Wild - nose syndrome.

- encounterthe banded

-

Ryan Miller

savingsof toDCNR and PHMC is $50,000annually. ideasdevelop for new displays. haveremained unchangedsince the 1970s) and to PHMCwith toupdate existing displays (thedisplays near the future, DCNR and PNHP staff will workingbe acceptmaterial from PNHP and other researchers. botanyand collections are functionalnow and ready to repairingspecimen cabinets. specimenlabels, checking specimen identifications, and reorganizedthe botany collection, including updating collaboration, WPCPNHP scientists have completely repositoryfor those specimens. downtownHarrisburg to prepare specimens and also a time, WPCPNHP staff were needin aof labspace in small the mammal and botanycollections. animalcollections at the Museum and had to“mothball” currentlyPHMC has only onecurator for all plantand andplant specimens. artlabfacilities for thepreparation and preservation of

Section Chief;and KellyLogan, Secretary Administration.of Commission Director;Gregory Podniesinski, DCNR NaturalHeritage PNHP/WPC;James Vaughn, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum GovernmentInnovation Office;Charlie Eichelberger, Zoologist, Wisgo,Assistant Zoologist, PNHP/WPC; Joseph Deklinski,Director, MuseumDirector; Walt Meshaka, State Museum Curator; Joseph ceremonyAward participants include,from left, David Dunn,State

Boththe small mammal

Aconservative estimate

Asa result of this

At same the

11

In Ryan Miller Wild Heritage News 12

Measures of Progress

The following Measures of Progress represent a significant cross-section of results of the work that we do as a program. These measures will be reviewed and updated, as needed, to best reflect the activities and goals of PNHP. Progress for these measures reflects seasonality of program activity.

Measure of Progress Annual Goal 1st 2nd 3rd Cumulative Percent of (2014) Quarter Quarter Quarter Total Annual Goal

Biotics Records Updated 300 213 158 90 461 154% New EOs Documented 800 166 170 162 498 62%

New Records Entered into HGIS 350 72 71 71 214 61%

Field Surveys Reported 500 4 46 63 113 23%

New CPPs Developed 400 160 597 229 986 247%

NHAs Updated 120 0 73 31 104 87%

Outreach to Local Government 20 4 4 7 15 75%

PNHP performs many functions and provides many services as part of its mission. The measures of progress that are detailed here are meant to capture a number of important program activities and provide a picture of our progress in achieving our essential goals. The program goals and the measures provided for those goals will change over time as we complete certain aspects of our work and as new program responsibilities arise.

Biotics Records Updated indicates the amount of activity expended in improving and updating the more than 20,000 records in the PNDI database.

New EOs Documented is a way to measure the success of our inventory effort in finding new occurrences of elements of ecological concern (plants, animals, and exemplary natural communities). Biotics records are created for each new Element Occurrence documented.

New Records Entered into HGIS indicates our level of activity in reviewing, quality controlling, and entering biotics records into the environmental review data layers. The timely and consistent refreshment of these data are critical to providing protection to the state’s species of greatest concern.

Field Surveys Performed is a strong indicator of the effort expended on one of the basic functions of the program – inventory of the state’s flora and fauna. Every field visit results in the entering of a field survey, regardless of the outcome of the survey.

New Conservation Planning Polygons (CPPs) Developed is a measure of our progress in creating ecological based mapping for the species and natural communities that we track as part of the PNDI database. Our goal is to have CPPs for all species and communities that we track.

NHAs Updated is a measure of our effort in developing, mapping, and describing sites (Natural Heritage Areas - NHAs) that are important to conservation of Pennsylvania’s biodiversity. This process began with County Natural Heritage Inventory projects and will now continue at a statewide level with the updating of existing sites and the creation of new sites. Site polygons will be based upon and consistent with CPPs.

Outreach to Local Government is a measure of our initiative to increase interaction with local government and reflects our commitment to seeing our information used and refined to meet the needs of planning efforts within the counties and municipalities of the commonwealth.

PNHP is a partnership of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.