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• 41. [Article] Range-wide abundance and fluctuating asymmetry patterns of sagebrush-obligate passerine birds

  North American sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystems are suffering from reductions in habitat extent and quality. Only about 50% of sagebrush remains from pre-settlement conditions, and much of the remaining ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Range-wide abundance and fluctuating asymmetry patterns of sagebrush-obligate passerine birds Author: Krissman, Cortnie M. North American sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystems are suffering from reductions in habitat extent and quality. Only about 50% of sagebrush remains from pre-settlement conditions, and much of the remaining habitat is fragmented or degraded by invasive species, fire suppression and overgrazing. Sagebrush-obligate species are experiencing population declines as a result of these ecosystem changes. To effectively conserve this ecosystem, it is essential to understand patterns of abundance and stress of the inhabitants at the landscape-level. Abundance of species across their geographic range is not uniform. Instead, abundance often decreases towards the periphery of the range where resources and habitat conditions become less suitable. In addition, stress in populations closer to the periphery of the range may be expressed in condition-dependent traits where suboptimal environmental conditions occur. Fluctuating asymmetry, random deviations from perfect symmetry in bilateral body parts, may reveal increased stress in these populations. I examined patterns of abundance and fluctuating asymmetry of Brewer’s Sparrow (Spizella breweri), Sage Sparrow (Amphisipiza belli), and Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus), in the western United States, to determine how these responses vary with proximity to range periphery of sagebrush. Using negative binomial regression and Akaike’s Information Criterion, I investigated associations between species abundance from North American Breeding Bird Survey count data and several local- and landscapelevel variables derived from digital maps depicting the distribution of sagebrush throughout the United States. Abundance for these three sagebrushobligate passerine birds was greatest in mid-elevation (1,200-2,300 m) areas and increased with sagebrush cover. I found little support for abundance declining as a function of proximity to range periphery. Using mixed model regression, I assessed the relationship between fluctuating asymmetry estimates in the tarsi of juveniles and the proximity of specimens to the periphery of sagebrush distribution. I predicted higher levels of fluctuating asymmetry in individuals nearer the range periphery. However, fluctuating asymmetry decreased with proximity to the range periphery for Sage Sparrow, and, although present Sage Thrasher, fluctuating asymmetry did not differ significantly across the geographic range for this species. Fluctuating asymmetry could not be estimated with confidence for Brewer’s Sparrow. While this study revealed stress in these species, a more logistically complex study to evaluate fluctuating asymmetry patterns across the landscape is necessary for determining areas of conservation priority. Loss of areas of high percent sagebrush cover due to habitat fragmentation and degradation will result in continued declines in abundance of sagebrush-obligate passerine birds. Knowing high abundances of sagebrush-obligate passerine birds occur in locations with high sagebrush cover at mid-elevations will aid land managers and conservation biologists in designing effective conservation strategies for these species. Title: Range-wide abundance and fluctuating asymmetry patterns of sagebrush-obligate passerine birds Author: Krissman, Cortnie M. North American sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystems are suffering from reductions in habitat extent and quality. Only about 50% of sagebrush remains from pre-settlement conditions, and much of the remaining habitat is fragmented or degraded by invasive species, fire suppression and overgrazing. Sagebrush-obligate species are experiencing population declines as a result of these ecosystem changes. To effectively conserve this ecosystem, it is essential to understand patterns of abundance and stress of the inhabitants at the landscape-level. Abundance of species across their geographic range is not uniform. Instead, abundance often decreases towards the periphery of the range where resources and habitat conditions become less suitable. In addition, stress in populations closer to the periphery of the range may be expressed in condition-dependent traits where suboptimal environmental conditions occur. Fluctuating asymmetry, random deviations from perfect symmetry in bilateral body parts, may reveal increased stress in these populations. I examined patterns of abundance and fluctuating asymmetry of Brewer’s Sparrow (Spizella breweri), Sage Sparrow (Amphisipiza belli), and Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus), in the western United States, to determine how these responses vary with proximity to range periphery of sagebrush. Using negative binomial regression and Akaike’s Information Criterion, I investigated associations between species abundance from North American Breeding Bird Survey count data and several local- and landscapelevel variables derived from digital maps depicting the distribution of sagebrush throughout the United States. Abundance for these three sagebrushobligate passerine birds was greatest in mid-elevation (1,200-2,300 m) areas and increased with sagebrush cover. I found little support for abundance declining as a function of proximity to range periphery. Using mixed model regression, I assessed the relationship between fluctuating asymmetry estimates in the tarsi of juveniles and the proximity of specimens to the periphery of sagebrush distribution. I predicted higher levels of fluctuating asymmetry in individuals nearer the range periphery. However, fluctuating asymmetry decreased with proximity to the range periphery for Sage Sparrow, and, although present Sage Thrasher, fluctuating asymmetry did not differ significantly across the geographic range for this species. Fluctuating asymmetry could not be estimated with confidence for Brewer’s Sparrow. While this study revealed stress in these species, a more logistically complex study to evaluate fluctuating asymmetry patterns across the landscape is necessary for determining areas of conservation priority. Loss of areas of high percent sagebrush cover due to habitat fragmentation and degradation will result in continued declines in abundance of sagebrush-obligate passerine birds. Knowing high abundances of sagebrush-obligate passerine birds occur in locations with high sagebrush cover at mid-elevations will aid land managers and conservation biologists in designing effective conservation strategies for these species. Close

• 42. [Article] Spatial modeling of carnivore distribution and viability

  Viability analysis of well-selected focal species can complement other types of conservation planning by revealing thresholds in habitat area and landscape connectivity that may not be evident from ecosystem-level ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Spatial modeling of carnivore distribution and viability Author: Carroll, Carlos Viability analysis of well-selected focal species can complement other types of conservation planning by revealing thresholds in habitat area and landscape connectivity that may not be evident from ecosystem-level evaluations. I used focal species analysis of five carnivores to suggest conservation planning guidelines for the Rocky Mountains and adjacent areas in the Pacific states. I compared static and dynamic viability models for carnivores to assess whether the increased complexity of dynamic simulation models was appropriate given the level of demographic field data typical for carnivore species. I developed models of fisher, lynx, and wolverine distribution from a data set of trapping and sighting records and predicted grizzly bear habitat by adapting previously published regional-scale habitat models. Highquality habitats for wolverine and grizzly bear are strongly associated with low levels of human population and roads. High-quality habitats for fisher and lynx are naturally fragmented by topography and vegetation gradients and are poorly represented in existing protected areas. A comprehensive conservation strategy for carnivores in the region must therefore consider the needs of several species rather than a singie presumed umbrella species. Because many large carnivores are habitat generalists limited by human persecution, and easily-measured attributes such as road density provide robust surrogates for human impact, extrapolation of static habitat models to potential reintroduction areas provides useful guidance for prioritizing carnivore restoration efforts. I also incorporated the static modeling results into a dynamic model. For the wolf; incorporating pack structure into the simulation model increased resilience to human-associated landscape change. For the lynx, relatively low levels of population cycling were found to greatly increase extinction risk when the region was isolated from boreal lynx populations. For the fisher, mortality levels were found to interact strongly with habitat area and isolation to create tlaeshold effects on distribution. Further range contraction is predicted for all species unless coordinated regional planning for habitat restoration occurs. The results suggest that a hybrid approach that builds complex dynamic models on a foundation of data from empirical static models can provide complementary results with a range of perspectives on species' persistence. Title: Spatial modeling of carnivore distribution and viability Author: Carroll, Carlos Viability analysis of well-selected focal species can complement other types of conservation planning by revealing thresholds in habitat area and landscape connectivity that may not be evident from ecosystem-level evaluations. I used focal species analysis of five carnivores to suggest conservation planning guidelines for the Rocky Mountains and adjacent areas in the Pacific states. I compared static and dynamic viability models for carnivores to assess whether the increased complexity of dynamic simulation models was appropriate given the level of demographic field data typical for carnivore species. I developed models of fisher, lynx, and wolverine distribution from a data set of trapping and sighting records and predicted grizzly bear habitat by adapting previously published regional-scale habitat models. Highquality habitats for wolverine and grizzly bear are strongly associated with low levels of human population and roads. High-quality habitats for fisher and lynx are naturally fragmented by topography and vegetation gradients and are poorly represented in existing protected areas. A comprehensive conservation strategy for carnivores in the region must therefore consider the needs of several species rather than a singie presumed umbrella species. Because many large carnivores are habitat generalists limited by human persecution, and easily-measured attributes such as road density provide robust surrogates for human impact, extrapolation of static habitat models to potential reintroduction areas provides useful guidance for prioritizing carnivore restoration efforts. I also incorporated the static modeling results into a dynamic model. For the wolf; incorporating pack structure into the simulation model increased resilience to human-associated landscape change. For the lynx, relatively low levels of population cycling were found to greatly increase extinction risk when the region was isolated from boreal lynx populations. For the fisher, mortality levels were found to interact strongly with habitat area and isolation to create tlaeshold effects on distribution. Further range contraction is predicted for all species unless coordinated regional planning for habitat restoration occurs. The results suggest that a hybrid approach that builds complex dynamic models on a foundation of data from empirical static models can provide complementary results with a range of perspectives on species' persistence. Close

• 43. [Article] Nest-site selection in cooperatively breeding Pohnpei Micronesian Kingfishers (Halcyon cinnamomina reichenbachii) : does nest-site abundance limit reproductive opportunities?

  Despite their inherent importance and utility as ecological examples, island species are among the most endangered and least studied groups. Guam Micronesian Kingfishers (Halcyon cinnamomina cinnamomina) ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Nest-site selection in cooperatively breeding Pohnpei Micronesian Kingfishers (Halcyon cinnamomina reichenbachii) : does nest-site abundance limit reproductive opportunities? Author: Kesler, Dylan C. Despite their inherent importance and utility as ecological examples, island species are among the most endangered and least studied groups. Guam Micronesian Kingfishers (Halcyon cinnamomina cinnamomina) exemplify the plight of insular biota as a critically endangered and understudied island bird that went extinct in the wild before they could be studied in their native habitat. Guam kingfishers currently exist only as a captive population in U.S. zoos. Using radio telemetry and visual observations of a wild subspecies of Micronesian Kingfisher (H. c. reichenbachii) from the island of Pohnpei, this study examined factors critical for the persistence of both the Guam and Pohnpei kingfishers. Behavioral observations indicated that the birds employ a cooperative social system, which included non-parent individuals that assisted in reproductive attempts of others. Because resource limitations have been cited as a potentially important factor in the evolution of cooperative behaviors and in conservation, this investigation assessed the characteristics and availability of a potentially limited nesting resource, arboreal termite nests. First, the characteristics of termite nests, or termitaria, selected by Micronesian Kingfishers for use as nest sites were modeled. Results suggested that Micronesian Kingfishers selected termitaria that were higher from the ground and larger in volume than unused termitaria. Further, there was little evidence that birds selected from among termitaria based on proximity to forest edges and foraging areas, placement on a tree, vegetation characteristics, or microclimate. Second, the number of termitaria with characteristics indicative of nest sites was assessed to determine if reproductive opportunities might be limited by the abundance of suitable termitaria. Results from this analysis suggested that although fewer termitaria existed with characteristics similar to those used for nesting, reproductive opportunities did not appear to be limited by their abundance. Therefore, while conservation strategies should be directed towards providing ample and appropriate nesting substrates, I found no evidence suggesting that termitaria abundance played a role in the evolution of cooperative breeding in Pohnpei Micronesian Kingfishers. Findings presented here will hopefully enhance our understanding of cooperative behaviors, as well as improve conservation efforts for Micronesian Kingfishers and other insular avifauna. Title: Nest-site selection in cooperatively breeding Pohnpei Micronesian Kingfishers (Halcyon cinnamomina reichenbachii) : does nest-site abundance limit reproductive opportunities? Author: Kesler, Dylan C. Despite their inherent importance and utility as ecological examples, island species are among the most endangered and least studied groups. Guam Micronesian Kingfishers (Halcyon cinnamomina cinnamomina) exemplify the plight of insular biota as a critically endangered and understudied island bird that went extinct in the wild before they could be studied in their native habitat. Guam kingfishers currently exist only as a captive population in U.S. zoos. Using radio telemetry and visual observations of a wild subspecies of Micronesian Kingfisher (H. c. reichenbachii) from the island of Pohnpei, this study examined factors critical for the persistence of both the Guam and Pohnpei kingfishers. Behavioral observations indicated that the birds employ a cooperative social system, which included non-parent individuals that assisted in reproductive attempts of others. Because resource limitations have been cited as a potentially important factor in the evolution of cooperative behaviors and in conservation, this investigation assessed the characteristics and availability of a potentially limited nesting resource, arboreal termite nests. First, the characteristics of termite nests, or termitaria, selected by Micronesian Kingfishers for use as nest sites were modeled. Results suggested that Micronesian Kingfishers selected termitaria that were higher from the ground and larger in volume than unused termitaria. Further, there was little evidence that birds selected from among termitaria based on proximity to forest edges and foraging areas, placement on a tree, vegetation characteristics, or microclimate. Second, the number of termitaria with characteristics indicative of nest sites was assessed to determine if reproductive opportunities might be limited by the abundance of suitable termitaria. Results from this analysis suggested that although fewer termitaria existed with characteristics similar to those used for nesting, reproductive opportunities did not appear to be limited by their abundance. Therefore, while conservation strategies should be directed towards providing ample and appropriate nesting substrates, I found no evidence suggesting that termitaria abundance played a role in the evolution of cooperative breeding in Pohnpei Micronesian Kingfishers. Findings presented here will hopefully enhance our understanding of cooperative behaviors, as well as improve conservation efforts for Micronesian Kingfishers and other insular avifauna. Close

• 44. [Article] McKenzie River focus watershed coordination : year end report 2000

  This report summarizes accomplishments of the McKenzie River Focus Watershed Council (MWC) in the areas of coordination and administration during Fiscal Year 2000. Coordination and administration consist ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: McKenzie River focus watershed coordination : year end report 2000 Author: Thrailkil, Jim This report summarizes accomplishments of the McKenzie River Focus Watershed Council (MWC) in the areas of coordination and administration during Fiscal Year 2000. Coordination and administration consist of prioritization and planning for projects; project management and implementation; procurement of funding for long-term support of the Council; and watershed education/outreach program for residents and local schools. Key accomplishments in the area of project planning include coordinating: monthly Council and executive committee meetings; staffing the Upper Willamette Spring Chinook Working Group; staffing the water quality technical committee; and guiding education and stewardship projects. Key accomplishments in the area of project management include the completion of the McKenzie-Willamette Confluence Assessment; securing funds for project planning in the confluence area; near completion of the BPA funded McKenzie sub-basin assessment; development of a framework for a McKenzie Watershed Conservation Strategy; an evaluation of Council’s monitoring programs - ambient water quality, storm-event water quality, Tier III water quality, and macroinvertebrate monitoring. The Council, in cooperation with the McKenzie River Cooperative, completed habitat enhancements in the Gate Creek and Deer Creek sub-watersheds. This partnership recently submitted Bring Back the Natives grant for initiation of projects in other McKenzie tributaries. The Council will also be working with a local business to develop a river-side riparian enhancement and native landscaping project on the lodge grounds. This will serve as a demonstration project for blending fish and wildlife habitat concerns with maintaining grounds for business opportunities. Accomplishments in the area of procurement of funding included developing the FY2000 Scope of Work and budget for approval by the Council and BPA; providing quarterly budget and work program progress reports to the Council; and securing additional funding from Council partner organizations and foundations. Highlights in the area of watershed education/outreach include the MWC’s lead role in convening the Watershed Education Network for teachers as part of its educational mission; production of newsletters and brochures; and coordination of media coverage of watershed-related issues. MWC completed all tasks outlined in the FY2000 Scope of Work with the following staff: Watershed Coordinator (1.0 FTE), Project Coordinator (.25 FTE), and Education Coordinator (0.5 FTE). Coordination of these activities by MWC improves resource stewardship and protects fish and wildlife habitat through increased collaboration among Federal, state, and local government agencies, and landowners within the watershed. Increasing awareness and expanding knowledge affects behavior positively and promotes attitudes that encourage watershed stewardship. During Fiscal Year 2001, MWC intends to focus on an Implementation Strategy based on the McKenzie sub-basin assessment results; implementation of projects recommended from the McKenzie-Willamette confluence assessment; and increasing its presence at the local level through contact with watershed residents and groups. Title: McKenzie River focus watershed coordination : year end report 2000 Author: Thrailkil, Jim This report summarizes accomplishments of the McKenzie River Focus Watershed Council (MWC) in the areas of coordination and administration during Fiscal Year 2000. Coordination and administration consist of prioritization and planning for projects; project management and implementation; procurement of funding for long-term support of the Council; and watershed education/outreach program for residents and local schools. Key accomplishments in the area of project planning include coordinating: monthly Council and executive committee meetings; staffing the Upper Willamette Spring Chinook Working Group; staffing the water quality technical committee; and guiding education and stewardship projects. Key accomplishments in the area of project management include the completion of the McKenzie-Willamette Confluence Assessment; securing funds for project planning in the confluence area; near completion of the BPA funded McKenzie sub-basin assessment; development of a framework for a McKenzie Watershed Conservation Strategy; an evaluation of Council’s monitoring programs - ambient water quality, storm-event water quality, Tier III water quality, and macroinvertebrate monitoring. The Council, in cooperation with the McKenzie River Cooperative, completed habitat enhancements in the Gate Creek and Deer Creek sub-watersheds. This partnership recently submitted Bring Back the Natives grant for initiation of projects in other McKenzie tributaries. The Council will also be working with a local business to develop a river-side riparian enhancement and native landscaping project on the lodge grounds. This will serve as a demonstration project for blending fish and wildlife habitat concerns with maintaining grounds for business opportunities. Accomplishments in the area of procurement of funding included developing the FY2000 Scope of Work and budget for approval by the Council and BPA; providing quarterly budget and work program progress reports to the Council; and securing additional funding from Council partner organizations and foundations. Highlights in the area of watershed education/outreach include the MWC’s lead role in convening the Watershed Education Network for teachers as part of its educational mission; production of newsletters and brochures; and coordination of media coverage of watershed-related issues. MWC completed all tasks outlined in the FY2000 Scope of Work with the following staff: Watershed Coordinator (1.0 FTE), Project Coordinator (.25 FTE), and Education Coordinator (0.5 FTE). Coordination of these activities by MWC improves resource stewardship and protects fish and wildlife habitat through increased collaboration among Federal, state, and local government agencies, and landowners within the watershed. Increasing awareness and expanding knowledge affects behavior positively and promotes attitudes that encourage watershed stewardship. During Fiscal Year 2001, MWC intends to focus on an Implementation Strategy based on the McKenzie sub-basin assessment results; implementation of projects recommended from the McKenzie-Willamette confluence assessment; and increasing its presence at the local level through contact with watershed residents and groups. Close

• 45. [Article] Nest Success and Cause-Specific Nest Failure of Grassland Passerines Breeding in Prairie Grazed by Livestock

  This is the publisher’s final pdf. The article is copyrighted by The Wildlife Society and published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. It can be found at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/%28ISSN%291937-2817. ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Nest Success and Cause-Specific Nest Failure of Grassland Passerines Breeding in Prairie Grazed by Livestock Author: Etterson, Matthew A., Kennedy, Patricia L., Johnson, Tracey N. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The article is copyrighted by The Wildlife Society and published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. It can be found at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/%28ISSN%291937-2817. To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. Title: Nest Success and Cause-Specific Nest Failure of Grassland Passerines Breeding in Prairie Grazed by Livestock Author: Etterson, Matthew A., Kennedy, Patricia L., Johnson, Tracey N. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The article is copyrighted by The Wildlife Society and published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. It can be found at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/%28ISSN%291937-2817. To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. Close

• 46. [Article] Spatial and temporal dynamics of anthropogenically influenced forests of the Brazilian Amazon

  The Amazon Tropical Rain Forest is the largest tropical rain forest system, comprising approximately 65% of such forests on earth. Since the 1960's, human populations in the Brazilian Amazon have increased ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Spatial and temporal dynamics of anthropogenically influenced forests of the Brazilian Amazon Author: Bergen, Scott The Amazon Tropical Rain Forest is the largest tropical rain forest system, comprising approximately 65% of such forests on earth. Since the 1960's, human populations in the Brazilian Amazon have increased from two to over 20 million. Concomitant urbanization, forest conversion, and economic dependence on resource extraction have exerted severe demands on these fragile ecosystems. Its status as a global carbon source and sink and its unique biodiversity compels study of the Amazon and the dramatic changes sustained to optimize conservation strategies and ameliorate loss. While the overall effects of deforestation are well documented, little is known about the spatio-temporal interactions between forest dynamics and anthropogenic disturbance. As part of a collaborative NASA-Smithsonian Institute project, the present research focuses on the analysis and modeling of spatio-temporal forest dynamics in the Amazon across scales. The first analysis indicates that secondary forest tree species richness is significantly influenced by proximity to large forest tracts containing frugivorous fauna. These results underscore the necessity of conserving large tracts and the consideration of spatial design for adequate preservation of biodiversity. Methods developed in the second analysis demonstrate that while deforestation devastates biodiversity, secondary forests may contribute to the attenuation of greenhouse gas concentrations. However, this carbon tracking process is revealed to be more complex than previously assumed. Land tenure dynamics and heterogeneity preclude the use of simple static models. These results imply that modeling the world's largest rain forests effects on global greenhouse gas concentrations is highly uncertain and must be evaluated cautiously. The final analysis evaluates the diverse effects of specific large-scale development projects on forest integrity currently being planned. Riverside deforestation and road upgrades have the highest potential for effecting irreversible environmental damage. Protected forests and indigenous lands comprise 30% of the Brazilian Legal Amazon and have the potential to prevent the degradation of 464,151 km² of mature forest. However, political and economic pressures on indigenous peoples threaten to destabilize land tenure and land-use practices. Urgent efforts need to be directed to develop long-term and large-scale planning of Amazon land-use that takes such complexity into consideration. Title: Spatial and temporal dynamics of anthropogenically influenced forests of the Brazilian Amazon Author: Bergen, Scott The Amazon Tropical Rain Forest is the largest tropical rain forest system, comprising approximately 65% of such forests on earth. Since the 1960's, human populations in the Brazilian Amazon have increased from two to over 20 million. Concomitant urbanization, forest conversion, and economic dependence on resource extraction have exerted severe demands on these fragile ecosystems. Its status as a global carbon source and sink and its unique biodiversity compels study of the Amazon and the dramatic changes sustained to optimize conservation strategies and ameliorate loss. While the overall effects of deforestation are well documented, little is known about the spatio-temporal interactions between forest dynamics and anthropogenic disturbance. As part of a collaborative NASA-Smithsonian Institute project, the present research focuses on the analysis and modeling of spatio-temporal forest dynamics in the Amazon across scales. The first analysis indicates that secondary forest tree species richness is significantly influenced by proximity to large forest tracts containing frugivorous fauna. These results underscore the necessity of conserving large tracts and the consideration of spatial design for adequate preservation of biodiversity. Methods developed in the second analysis demonstrate that while deforestation devastates biodiversity, secondary forests may contribute to the attenuation of greenhouse gas concentrations. However, this carbon tracking process is revealed to be more complex than previously assumed. Land tenure dynamics and heterogeneity preclude the use of simple static models. These results imply that modeling the world's largest rain forests effects on global greenhouse gas concentrations is highly uncertain and must be evaluated cautiously. The final analysis evaluates the diverse effects of specific large-scale development projects on forest integrity currently being planned. Riverside deforestation and road upgrades have the highest potential for effecting irreversible environmental damage. Protected forests and indigenous lands comprise 30% of the Brazilian Legal Amazon and have the potential to prevent the degradation of 464,151 km² of mature forest. However, political and economic pressures on indigenous peoples threaten to destabilize land tenure and land-use practices. Urgent efforts need to be directed to develop long-term and large-scale planning of Amazon land-use that takes such complexity into consideration. Close

• 47. [Article] Demographic response of northern spotted owls to barred owl removal

  To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The article is copyrighted by the Wildlife Society ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Demographic response of northern spotted owls to barred owl removal Author: Diller, Lowell V., Schwarz, Carl J., Early, Desiree A., Lamphear, David W., McDonald, Trent L., Hamm, Keith A., Yackulic, Charles B., Dugger, Katie M., Carlson, Peter C. To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The article is copyrighted by the Wildlife Society and published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. It can be found at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/%28ISSN%291937-2817 Title: Demographic response of northern spotted owls to barred owl removal Author: Diller, Lowell V., Schwarz, Carl J., Early, Desiree A., Lamphear, David W., McDonald, Trent L., Hamm, Keith A., Yackulic, Charles B., Dugger, Katie M., Carlson, Peter C. To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The article is copyrighted by the Wildlife Society and published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. It can be found at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/%28ISSN%291937-2817 Close

• 48. [Article] Genetic variation and mating system of ponderosa pine in the Willamette Valley of Oregon

  The population genetic structure of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougi.) in the Willamette Valley of Oregon was investigated. Cones were collected from native stands of ponderosa pine from the Willamette ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Genetic variation and mating system of ponderosa pine in the Willamette Valley of Oregon Author: Gooding, Geoffrey David The population genetic structure of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougi.) in the Willamette Valley of Oregon was investigated. Cones were collected from native stands of ponderosa pine from the Willamette Valley, eastern Oregon, southwest Oregon and the Puget Sound Basin of Washington. Seeds were subjected to isozyme analysis of 12 enzyme systems controlled by 20 different loci. Population genetic parameters for progeny, parent trees and pollen were estimated from isozyme data using BIOSYS-2, a population genetic statistical software package. For progeny data, total gene diversity (HT) was 0.249; average genic diversity within stands (Hs) was 0.231; average genic diversity among stands (DST) was 0.017; the proportion of total genic diversity due to differences among stands (GST) was 0.067. Based on gene diversity statistics and genetic distances, stands of Willamette Valley ponderosa pine do not differ substantially from one another or from other populations of ponderosa pine in Washington and Oregon. These results suggest that protection of the Willamette Valley population can be accomplished by conserving a large number of individuals in a few large stands or many small stands. Multilocus and single-locus estimates of outcrossing rate were determined for six stands within the Willamette Valley. Outcrossing rates were estimated for seven polymorphic loci using MLTR, a mating system analysis software package. Estimates of multilocus outcrossing for these stands (mean 0.642; range 0.365 to 0.879) were substantially lower than estimates previously reported for other populations of ponderosa pine, other pine species, and other species in the family Pinaceae. No significant difference was detected among stands in outcrossing rate. The high level of inbreeding observed in this population could be attributable to population fragmentation due to human activities, or to reduced levels of pollen production in this population compared to other populations of ponderosa pine. Genetic conservation strategies for this population should include the protection of the large native stands that remain and the use of local, adapted sources for afforestation. Management of pollen in a seed orchard should improve the genetic quality of seed over wild stand seed by reducing inbreeding levels. Title: Genetic variation and mating system of ponderosa pine in the Willamette Valley of Oregon Author: Gooding, Geoffrey David The population genetic structure of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougi.) in the Willamette Valley of Oregon was investigated. Cones were collected from native stands of ponderosa pine from the Willamette Valley, eastern Oregon, southwest Oregon and the Puget Sound Basin of Washington. Seeds were subjected to isozyme analysis of 12 enzyme systems controlled by 20 different loci. Population genetic parameters for progeny, parent trees and pollen were estimated from isozyme data using BIOSYS-2, a population genetic statistical software package. For progeny data, total gene diversity (HT) was 0.249; average genic diversity within stands (Hs) was 0.231; average genic diversity among stands (DST) was 0.017; the proportion of total genic diversity due to differences among stands (GST) was 0.067. Based on gene diversity statistics and genetic distances, stands of Willamette Valley ponderosa pine do not differ substantially from one another or from other populations of ponderosa pine in Washington and Oregon. These results suggest that protection of the Willamette Valley population can be accomplished by conserving a large number of individuals in a few large stands or many small stands. Multilocus and single-locus estimates of outcrossing rate were determined for six stands within the Willamette Valley. Outcrossing rates were estimated for seven polymorphic loci using MLTR, a mating system analysis software package. Estimates of multilocus outcrossing for these stands (mean 0.642; range 0.365 to 0.879) were substantially lower than estimates previously reported for other populations of ponderosa pine, other pine species, and other species in the family Pinaceae. No significant difference was detected among stands in outcrossing rate. The high level of inbreeding observed in this population could be attributable to population fragmentation due to human activities, or to reduced levels of pollen production in this population compared to other populations of ponderosa pine. Genetic conservation strategies for this population should include the protection of the large native stands that remain and the use of local, adapted sources for afforestation. Management of pollen in a seed orchard should improve the genetic quality of seed over wild stand seed by reducing inbreeding levels. Close

• 49. [Article] Will wetlands restoration plans today still be effective tomorrow? Evaluation of performance of potential wetlands for peak flow reduction in future climate scenarios in the Eagle Creek Watershed, IN

  Global climate change is expected to exaggerate the severity of floods and droughts and increase the frequency of extreme streamflow events in the Midwestern United States. Managing these projected impacts ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Will wetlands restoration plans today still be effective tomorrow? Evaluation of performance of potential wetlands for peak flow reduction in future climate scenarios in the Eagle Creek Watershed, IN Author: Walters, Kelli M. Global climate change is expected to exaggerate the severity of floods and droughts and increase the frequency of extreme streamflow events in the Midwestern United States. Managing these projected impacts poses a major challenge for water resources, conservation, and land use management. Wetlands have been considered as a conservation strategy and work to increase the capacity of watersheds by storing runoff upstream. The implementation of wetlands, especially in tile-drained agricultural watersheds, can reduce peak flows and help mitigate the anticipated impacts of climate change. The goal of this study was to evaluate the long-term performance of wetlands to reduce peak flows in future climate scenarios in the Eagle Creek Watershed in Indiana, as well as to establish a methodology to incorporate climate change into hydrological models to conduct better long-term land management studies and decisions. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was forced with bias corrected climate projections from the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program (NARCCAP) to evaluate the impacts of climate change on watershed hydrology and the ability of wetlands to reduce peak flows. Long-term monthly streamflow results predicted a slight increase in streamflow in the winter and a slight decrease in the summer from the past (1971-2000) to future (2041-2070) time periods. About half of the climate realizations produced an increase in the Q05 (5% exceedance flow) value and half a decrease, but all predictions agreed that high flow events will increase in frequency in the winter and decrease in the spring and summer. No-flow events, although found to be over-predicted by the hydrological model, showed an increase from the past to the future for all climate realizations. Results from the wetland analysis showed that if all potential wetlands identified in a previous study are installed in the watershed, maximum peak flow reductions of around 20-50 m³/s for the past and future, as well as decreased frequency of extreme events, can be seen. Wetlands proved to be a robust solution for peak flow reduction, producing consistent reductions across all climate projections for both the past and future time periods. Title: Will wetlands restoration plans today still be effective tomorrow? Evaluation of performance of potential wetlands for peak flow reduction in future climate scenarios in the Eagle Creek Watershed, IN Author: Walters, Kelli M. Global climate change is expected to exaggerate the severity of floods and droughts and increase the frequency of extreme streamflow events in the Midwestern United States. Managing these projected impacts poses a major challenge for water resources, conservation, and land use management. Wetlands have been considered as a conservation strategy and work to increase the capacity of watersheds by storing runoff upstream. The implementation of wetlands, especially in tile-drained agricultural watersheds, can reduce peak flows and help mitigate the anticipated impacts of climate change. The goal of this study was to evaluate the long-term performance of wetlands to reduce peak flows in future climate scenarios in the Eagle Creek Watershed in Indiana, as well as to establish a methodology to incorporate climate change into hydrological models to conduct better long-term land management studies and decisions. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was forced with bias corrected climate projections from the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program (NARCCAP) to evaluate the impacts of climate change on watershed hydrology and the ability of wetlands to reduce peak flows. Long-term monthly streamflow results predicted a slight increase in streamflow in the winter and a slight decrease in the summer from the past (1971-2000) to future (2041-2070) time periods. About half of the climate realizations produced an increase in the Q05 (5% exceedance flow) value and half a decrease, but all predictions agreed that high flow events will increase in frequency in the winter and decrease in the spring and summer. No-flow events, although found to be over-predicted by the hydrological model, showed an increase from the past to the future for all climate realizations. Results from the wetland analysis showed that if all potential wetlands identified in a previous study are installed in the watershed, maximum peak flow reductions of around 20-50 m³/s for the past and future, as well as decreased frequency of extreme events, can be seen. Wetlands proved to be a robust solution for peak flow reduction, producing consistent reductions across all climate projections for both the past and future time periods. Close

• 50. [Article] Regional gradient analysis and spatial pattern of woody plant communities in Oregon

  Knowledge of regional-scale patterns of plant community structure and controlling factors is largely qualitative and based on numerous local studies. Data from a subsample of 10,000 field plots were used ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Regional gradient analysis and spatial pattern of woody plant communities in Oregon Author: Ohmann, Janet L. Knowledge of regional-scale patterns of plant community structure and controlling factors is largely qualitative and based on numerous local studies. Data from a subsample of 10,000 field plots were used to quantify and map compositional gradients of woody plant communities across Oregon forests. Canonical correspondence analyses explained 9-14% of the total species variation at three geographic scales. Climate contributed most to total variance explained (44-58%), followed by geology (6-16%), disturbance (7-13%), and topography (4- 8%). The dominant compositional gradient was associated with climate, from the lower elevation, moderate, maritime climate of the coast to the higher elevation, drier, continental climate of the interior. The second canonical axis followed a gradient from the warm, dry growing seasons of the interior valleys and eastern Cascades, to cooler, wetter mountainous areas. Only those parent materials that present extreme growing conditions, primarily ultramafic soils, were significant at the regional level. Ecological relationships differed substantially among subregions within the state. Except for topography, which contributed more to explained variation at finer geographic scales, ecological differences among subregions overshadowed effects of geographic extent. Topographic effects were stronger and beta diversity greater in eastern Oregon, where moisture is more limiting for plant growth, and weakest near the coast where climate is more favorable. The secondary importance of topography, disturbance, and substrate can be attributed to their influence on relative abundances of species within a local area, rather than on species presence or absence within broader regions. Community structure varied at a finer spatial scale in eastern than in western Oregon, and species turnover along gradients was greater for shrubs than trees. Amount of unexplained variation in the species data was high but not atypical of gradient analyses. Yet spatial structure in the species data that was uncorrelated with explanatory factors suggests potential to improve the canonical correspondence analysis models, particularly in eastern Oregon. Study findings have implications for considering biological diversity in regional conservation strategies, in planning for global climate change, and in the design of regional inventory and monitoring programs. Title: Regional gradient analysis and spatial pattern of woody plant communities in Oregon Author: Ohmann, Janet L. Knowledge of regional-scale patterns of plant community structure and controlling factors is largely qualitative and based on numerous local studies. Data from a subsample of 10,000 field plots were used to quantify and map compositional gradients of woody plant communities across Oregon forests. Canonical correspondence analyses explained 9-14% of the total species variation at three geographic scales. Climate contributed most to total variance explained (44-58%), followed by geology (6-16%), disturbance (7-13%), and topography (4- 8%). The dominant compositional gradient was associated with climate, from the lower elevation, moderate, maritime climate of the coast to the higher elevation, drier, continental climate of the interior. The second canonical axis followed a gradient from the warm, dry growing seasons of the interior valleys and eastern Cascades, to cooler, wetter mountainous areas. Only those parent materials that present extreme growing conditions, primarily ultramafic soils, were significant at the regional level. Ecological relationships differed substantially among subregions within the state. Except for topography, which contributed more to explained variation at finer geographic scales, ecological differences among subregions overshadowed effects of geographic extent. Topographic effects were stronger and beta diversity greater in eastern Oregon, where moisture is more limiting for plant growth, and weakest near the coast where climate is more favorable. The secondary importance of topography, disturbance, and substrate can be attributed to their influence on relative abundances of species within a local area, rather than on species presence or absence within broader regions. Community structure varied at a finer spatial scale in eastern than in western Oregon, and species turnover along gradients was greater for shrubs than trees. Amount of unexplained variation in the species data was high but not atypical of gradient analyses. Yet spatial structure in the species data that was uncorrelated with explanatory factors suggests potential to improve the canonical correspondence analysis models, particularly in eastern Oregon. Study findings have implications for considering biological diversity in regional conservation strategies, in planning for global climate change, and in the design of regional inventory and monitoring programs. Close