The following schedule is from the 72nd Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies which was held October 21-24, 2018 in Mobile, Alabama.
AUTHORS: Sarah B. Wilson, Stephen S. Ditchkoff, Robert A. Gitzen, Todd D. Steury – School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University
ABSTRACT: Though the eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is a popular game species throughout its range, little is known about environmental factors that may affect its survival. We investigated survival and predation of a hunted population of eastern gray squirrels on Lowndes Wildlife Management Area in central Alabama from July 2015- April 2017. This area experiences flooding conditions starting in November and ending September of the next year, which could influence individual survival. The Kaplan-Meier survival estimate at 365 days for all squirrels was 0.25 (0.14-0.44, 95% CL) which is within the range for previously studied eastern gray squirrel populations (0.20-0.58). There was no significant difference between male (0.13; 0.05-0.36, 95% CL) and female survival (0.37; 0.18-0.75, 95% CL, P = 0.16). Survival was greatest in summer (1.00) and fall (0.65; 0.29-1.0, 95% CL) and least during winter (0.23; 0.11-0.50, 95% CL). We did find squirrels were more likely to die during the flood season and mortality risk increased as flood extent throughout the study area increased. Over 60% of mortalities were due to predation, which is comparable to other Sciurus species. When managing populations of eastern gray squirrels, it is important to consider the effect of environmental factors, such as flooding, on survival.
AUTHORS: Jordan Green, Bear Management Program, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
ABSTRACT: Human-bear conflicts are primarily caused by bear access to unsecured garbage and other anthropomorphic foods in Florida. Calls to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) are received by regional call centers. Most calls are resolved over the phone, however, calls that require a field response are usually coordinated by biologists who rely heavily on Bear Response Contractors (BRC’s), private individuals who set traps, recover vehicle-killed bears, and do public outreach. The FWC prohibits both intentional and unintentional feeding of bears. To assist with compliance with that rule, the FWC has distributed over $1.5 million since 2007 to local governments, with 52% of funding to those who require people to keep their garbage secure from bears. The FWC established Memorandums of Understanding with several waste service providers, defining their role in providing timely delivery of affordable bear-resistant equipment. The FWC works with bear-resistant can manufacturers to pre-test prototypes of trashcans with both captive and wild bears, providing feedback before the cans are officially tested for certification. The FWC takes proactive efforts to educate the public, including a formal Curriculum Guide as well as informal presentations and exhibits for schools, civic groups, and at local festivals. The FWC trains partner agencies on how to respond to human-bear conflicts, including how to haze bears. The FWC’s website has a wealth of information, including videos and instructions on how to secure attractants. The FWC’s multi-faceted approach will ultimately reduce human-bear conflicts over the long term.
AUTHORS: Angeline Scotten, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
ABSTRACT: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has recognized that wildlife conflict is of increasing concern among Floridians. Calls to the FWC regarding questions and apprehension of a multitude of species has increased dramatically over the state in the past decade; so much so that the agency has dedicated staff in each regional office to triage these issues. Historically, the agency had collected data reflecting the amount of complaints regarding species such as alligators and bears; complaints on other species were less well documented until recently. In April 2015, the agency implemented a new tracking system called the Wildlife Incident Management System (WIMS). We are now better able to understand conflict wildlife issues both geographically and species-specific trends. Through data analysis, FWC has identified coyotes as an emerging conflict wildlife species. This presentation will cover the trends with conflict wildlife, specifically coyotes (Canis latrans), that FWC has been documenting since implementing WIMS. Because of Florida’s growing resident and visiting population and the variety of wildlife species that thrive in the state, trends from Florida could reflect future conflict issues in other southeastern states.
AUTHORS: Nancy Sandoval, Brian L. Williams, Stephen S. Ditchkoff – School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University
ABSTRACT: Population surveys and removal efforts for wild pigs (Sus scrofa) have traditionally used a food-based attractant. However, some situations or locations where these activities may take place may not be conducive to the logistical challenges associated with storing or hauling large quantities of bait. Scent-based lures are lighter and easier to store than baits, and may negate some of these logistical challenges. Our goal was to examine the efficacy of a urine-based lure for attracting wild pigs to and retaining them at camera sites. We compared the initial arrival time and feeding bout length among boars, sounders, and juveniles at sites with a urine lure, whole corn, and a combination of the urine lure and whole corn during June and July 2017 on Lowndes Wildlife Management Area, Alabama. Our results suggest sex/age class and treatment had no significant effect on initial arrival time, but feeding bout length tended to be shorter at sites with urine only. These data suggest that urine-based lures may be appropriate for initial population assessments where quick attraction to a site may be desired, but a food-based attractant is more suitable for retaining wild pigs at sites long enough for removal efforts or detailed population surveys.
AUTHORS: Anthony Fernando, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission; Trey Reid, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission; Scott Wyatt, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission; Lt. Brian Aston, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
ABSTRACT: The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) conducted 56 hours of unmanned aircraft operations between February 2017 and April 2018. Some operations were conducted under the small unmanned aircraft rule (Part 107) established by the Federal Aviation Administration, while some were conducted under the terms of a Certificate of Authorization from the FAA. Different operating divisions of AGFC have used unmanned aircraft to pursue different goals. We describe a training program, operations conducted by the Fisheries, Wildlife, Communications, and Enforcement divisions of AGFC. Additionally, we disclose brief reports on 4 accidents experienced by AGFC unmanned aircraft. Considerations for future training programs are described.
AUTHORS: Rachel E. Greene, Kristine O. Evans, Michael T. Gray – Mississippi State University; David T. Jones-Farrand, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; William G. Wathen, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
ABSTRACT: Forests in the Southeastern United States hold substantial environmental, economic, and cultural value. Yet up to 23 million acres of forest may be lost in the next 40 years to pressures from changing land use and climate. Southeastern conservation organizations are interested in implementing programs to retain and protect large areas of forest over the next several decades. However, identifying viable areas to target forest conservation on the landscape remains a challenge. We compiled geospatial elements from existing and prioritized areas for forest protection as well as datasets about threats to forest retention (e.g., urbanization), socioeconomic value (e.g., timber) of forests, and where reforestation efforts might be most successful. We developed a region-wide index of forest retention in the Southeastern landscape and maps for years 2030, 2040, 2050, and 2060. We used gap-analysis to identify areas where future forest protection will support biodiversity benefits. Approximately 36 million acres of forestland are currently protected and classified as Very High on our Forest Retention Index (FRI). An additional 161 million acres (~70% of study area currently forested) are highly prioritized, have a low risk of urbanization, and/or a high socio-economic value, and thus classified as High and Moderate-High on FRI. We classified more than 14 million acres as Very Low due to high urbanization risk and loss to sea level rise. Lands in Very Low include some of the most biodiverse areas of the South. This information is presently being used by forest planners to target specific watersheds for forest conservation efforts.
AUTHORS: Nicole M. Phillips, Katherine E. Schweiss, Ryan N. Lehman – The University of Southern Mississippi, Department of Biological Sciences; J. Marcus Drymon, Mississippi State University, Coastal Research & Extension Center; Gregg R. Poulakis, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Charlotte Harbor Field Laboratory; Jill M. Hendon, The University of Southern Mississippi, Center for Fisheries Research and Development
ABSTRACT: One quarter of elasmobranchs are threatened with extinction according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and nearly one half are categorized as Data Deficient, meaning there is insufficient data to assess their statuses. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has emerged as a non-invasive approach to fill data gaps on the distribution of elasmobranchs, however, the extent to which these data can be used to guide management decisions for threatened species, which are typically rare, is dependent upon the sensitivity of the methods employed. False negatives occur when a target species is present, but is not detected due to detection limits of the assays or sampling regimes that do not consider habitat use. In eDNA studies, water samples are filtered, DNA extractions performed on the particulate, and primers are developed to amplify DNA in only the target species. To date, most eDNA studies have used quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) to determine the presence/absence of species in marine systems, where DNA may have low residency time due to the large area, tides, and currents. We compared the detection limits of qRT-PCR and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) by obtaining positive water samples using the bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas, as a model species. DdPCR was the more sensitive platform, making it the ideal approach for eDNA studies targeting threatened species. We then used ddPCR to investigate the persistence of elasmobranch eDNA in a flow-through mesocosm designed to mimic natural flow regimes, which will facilitate interpretation of elasmobranch eDNA surveys in the Gulf of Mexico.
AUTHORS: Dennis L. Krusac, USDA Forest Service; Jacqueline J. Belwood, Georgia Highlands College
ABSTRACT: Global pollinator populations are in decline for many reasons including habitat loss and overuse of pesticides. The Greater Atlanta Pollinator Partnership (GAPP) was initiated in 2009, in Atlanta, Georgia, because the housing boom of the 1990s and early 2000s resulted in the loss of 22 ha/day of green space and a corresponding increase of 11 ha/day of impervious surfaces in this metropolitan area. Over 20-years, approximately 162,000 ha of pollinator-friendly native green space/tree canopy have been lost with an increase of 81,000 ha of impervious surface. Goals of the GAPP are to encourage restoration, development, and registration of pollinator habitat at an ecologically significant landscape scale. Consequently, our project focuses on a 40-km radius area around downtown Atlanta comprising nearly 500,000 ha of potential pollinator habitat and includes all major public lands and thousands of individual residences. Efforts focus on restoring pollinator-friendly habitat and educating the public through formal and informal programs. Key components of the GAPP include using native species when available, rescuing native plants from construction sites, controlling invasive species, establishing community gardens, citizen science projects, conservation, education, and research. The GAPP website (http://gapp.org/) is critical to our online garden registration and mapping to track garden establishment, assess habitat development trends, provide online educational materials, and provide focus to the effort through a newsletter. Several organizations have expressed interest in using the GAPP as a model for their citizen-based pollinator conservation efforts. Funding for the GAPP is limited, so synergy through partnerships is the key to success.
ABSTRACT: Amphibian morphology, including the presence of malformations, can be influenced by environmental factors. Amphibian metamorphs have been found with missing limbs and extra limbs, which can be caused by high parasite loads and synthetic chemicals. Very little work has been devoted to amphibians with more subtle differences in morphology like shorter leg lengths. Previous work shows that intraspecific competition can alter the length of metamorph legs relative to their body size, though the differences among treatments are often small. Here, I show that relative leg length (leg length/body length) can be quite variable, as seen in four different species: Hyla versicolor, Lithobates sylvaticus, Lithobates sphenocephalus, and Anaxyrus americanus under experimental conditions. I measured relative leg length for metamorphs from aquatic mesocosm studies examining the effects of resource type and quality in the form of plant litter input. In most cases, treatments with lower resources (either no plant litter or plant litter with very low nutrient content, such as white pine) resulted in metamorphs with shorter legs relative to body length than treatments with higher resources. This effect of resource level on leg length suggests individual fitness consequences for metamorphs that spent their larval period in lower resource environments, such as closed canopy ponds with low quality leaf litter input. Metamorphs with shorter leg length often have reduced jumping performance, suggesting that metamorphs emerging from ponds with low plant litter or leaves with low nutrients may have reduced dispersal capacity and ability to escape predators.
