Below you will find the schedule of events.  There may be some minor changes, which will be communicated as needed. Anyone who registers for the conference via EventBrite will receive links to the Zoom Webinars and Zoom Meetings shortly before the start of the conference.

Wednesday, February 15 - Workshops and Museum Tours

1:00 – 4:00 Workshops (New College Institute)

1:00 – 4:00 Behind The Scenes Museum Tours (VA Museum Natural History, Must Sign Up in Advance)

Thursday, February 16 - Plenary, Presentations, Posters, Awards, Social, and Dinner (New College Institute)

8:00 – 8:30 Registration

8:30 – 9:00 Welcome & Logistics

Special Session: Virginia’s Changing Natural History Landscape – Pleistocene to the Present 

9:00 – 9:40 Climate and Ecological Baseline for Pleistocene Ecosystems in the Southeastern US  – Dr. Chris Widga

9:40 – 10:20 Saltville, Caves, and Ice Age Fauna of the Southern Appalachians – Dr. Blaine Schubert

10:20 - 10:40 Break

10:40 – 11:20 White-tailed Deer and the Native American Deerskin Trade (16-18th Centuries) – Dr. Michael Barber

11:20 – 11:40 Wildlife Extinctions in Virginia During the Post-Colonial Period – Mike Fies

11:40 – Noon Recent Changes in Species Composition of Virginia’s Land Mammals – Dr. Nancy Moncrief

Noon – 1:00 Lunch (provided on-site)

Student Presentation Session #1

1:00 – 1:15 Comparing American Black Bears (Ursus americanus) Observed Diet Composition to Traditional Diet Analysis Methods and Composition – Brogan Holcombe

1:15 – 1:30 Scavenging Dynamics in the Central Appalachian Mountains – David Lugo

1:30 – 1:45 Using Video Camera Collars to Investigate American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) Foraging on White-tailed Deer Fawns – Kevin R. Bayne

1:45 – 2:00 How human disturbance effects invasive and native species – Joseph Wampler

2:00 – 2:15 Can Citizen Scientist Observations Support Early Detection of Nutria? – Nathan Ferguson

2:15 – 2:30 Spatial and Temporal Overlap of Domestic Cats and Native Urban Wildlife – Daniel Herrera

Poster Session

2:30 – 3:15 Break & Visit Posters (authors will be at posters from 2:45 – 3:15 PM)

Student Presentation Session #2

3:15 – 3:30 The Relationship Between Relatedness, Distance, and Density in Red-backed Salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) – Marissa Knight

3:30 – 3:45 Identifying and Facilitating Positive Experiences for Birders with Disabilities – Morgan Karns

3:45 – 4:00 Using Remote Sensing Data to Predict Habitat Occupancy of Bachman’s Sparrow, an Early Successional Bird Species, in Georgia – Cory Allred

4:00 – 4:15 Monitoring Bird-Window Collisions During Fall Migration on a College Campus – Quentin Jamison

Speed Talk Session 

4:15 – 4:22 Genomic Data Provides Critical Insights to Guide Successful Amphibian Reintroductions: A Case Study With the Long-toed Salamander – Arianna L. Kuhn

4:22 – 4:29 Bird Bycatch: Using Camera Trap Data to Improve Our Understanding of the State of Belizean Avifaunal Communities – Joshua Ward

4:29 – 4:36 Injury Rates of Jaguars in the Belizian Jungle - Ela Yirmibesoglu

4:36 – 4:43 Utilization of Mostela Boxes as a Detection Method for Least Weasels (Mustela nivalis) in Virginia – Austin Holloway

Night At The Museum – Virginia Museum of Natural History 

4:50 – 6:00 Travel to Museum (On Your Own) and Browse Public Exhibits

6:00 – 6:30 Social

6:30 – 8:30 Dinner – Provided

Friday, February 17 - Business meeting and  Presentations(New College Institute)

8:30 – 10:00 Chapter Business Meeting & Awards

10:00 – 10:15 Break

Presentation Session #3

10:15 – 10:30 Chesapeake Bay Nutria Project – Jacob Berman

10:30 – 10:45 Lab and Field Verification of eDNA Assay to Detect Nutria (Myocaster coypus) in Virginia – Dr. Stephanie Coster

10:45 – 11:00 Agency Relevancy: Lessons Learned from a Year Long Experiment – Jeff Trollinger

11:00 – 11:15 Integrating Human Dimensions Research Into Virginia Wildlife Management Plans - Mallory Gyovai White

11:15 – 11:30 Modeling the Influence of Environmental Covariates on Pollinator Richness in Urban Gardens Around Richmond, VA – Dr. Nicholas Ruppel  (online presentation)

11:30 – 11:45 Perceived Risks and Management Preferences for Chronic Wasting Disease Among Virginia Hunters – Dr. Rene X. Valdez

11:45 – Noon 2022 Bear Mange Update – Justin Folks

Noon Adjourn

2:00 Behind The Scenes Museum Tours (VA Museum Natural History, Must Sign Up in Advance)

Abstracts 

PRESENTATIONS (In Schedule Order)

Comparing American Black Bears (Ursus americanus) Observed Diet Composition to Traditional Diet Analysis Methods and Composition

Presenter: Brogan Holcombe, Department of Fish & Wildlife, Virginia Tech (brogan@vt.edu)

Co-author(s): Robert S. Alonso, Department of Fish & Wildlife, Virginia Tech, rsalonso@vt.edu

David C. McNitt, Bureau of Land Management, david.mcnitt@usda.gov

W. Mark Ford, U.S. Geological Survey, wmford@vt.edu

Marcella J. Kelly, Department of Fish & Wildlife, Virginia Tech, makelly2@vt.edu

American black bears (Ursus americanus) are the largest omnivore on the landscape in the Appalachian Mountains. Traditionally, determining diet composition typically required collecting scat samples to create diet profiles to relate food items to availability on the landscape. However, while scat sampling is effective for studying obligate carnivores, these methods are less accurate for omnivores such as bears. Soft mast, tubers, leaves, and fungi break down quickly during digestion, likely producing incomplete diet profiles from scat. We used video camera collars on 15 bears (8M, 7F) in 2018 and 2019 to determine diet composition by identifying all items bears consumed on video. Each video collar recorded 9-21 seconds of high-quality video every 20 mins during daylight hours (15-20 minutes/day) for a mean duration of 17.5 hours per bear. Preliminary results show males and females have a more carnivorous diet in late spring to early summer, switching to a more herbaceous diet by mid-to-late summer. Additionally, females have shown more diet diversity in plant species consumed than males. Overall, we found an underrepresentation of plant material consumption, primarily diet items that are highly digestible when compared to traditional bear food habits studies using scat. This research allows for better-informed management as we can get a more accurate timing of diet items and a better representation of bears' diet composition.

Scavenging Dynamics in the Central Appalachian Mountains

Presenter: David Lugo, Virginia Tech (dal0826@vt.edu)

Co-author(s): Robert Alonso; Marcella J. Kelly

Scavenging on carrion has cascading effects on ecological systems by driving interactions among a wide array of species and potentially structuring trophic levels in wildlife communities. Interactions among carnivores at scavenging sites remains relatively unstudied and often is limited to open areas where scavenging is more easily observed. We used remote cameras placed on deer carcasses to document scavenging in a forested environment of the central Appalachian Mountains of Virginia from 2017 to 2020. We placed over 60 scavenging sites with deer obtained mostly from vehicle collisions. Carcass sites were deployed randomly on the landscape across all seasons at 10-km minimum distance apart. We focused on black bears, coyotes, and bobcats using generalized linear models to determine how covariates (season, trophic level, feeding modes, and other species) influenced time spent foraging at carcass sites, order of arrival, and latency to detection. We found that bobcat, coyote, and black bear duration times were positively influenced by the duration times of vultures and each other species, suggesting that competition is more exploitative rather than interfering at carcass sites during feeding events on the same day. Of the carnivores, bears were often first to arrive at carcasses in the summer-fall seasons while bobcats were first most often in the winter-spring seasons. Coyotes had the fastest latency (i.e., time) to detection at carcasses of 4.52 days, and black bears were often slowest at 6.29 days. This study contributes to understanding scavenging ecology and gives potential insight into diet shifts of carnivores throughout the year.

Using Video Camera Collars to Investigate American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) Foraging on White-tailed Deer Fawns

Presenter: Kevin R. Bayne, Virginia Tech (baynekr01@vt.edu)

Co-author(s): Brogan E. Holcombe, Department of Fish & Wildlife, Virginia Tech

Robert S. Alonso, Department of Fish & Wildlife, Virginia Tech

David C. McNitt, Department of Fish & Wildlife, Virginia Tech

Marcella J. Kelly, Department of Fish & Wildlife, Virginia Tech

American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) consumption of white-tailed deer fawns has an unknown magnitude of impact on deer populations in Virginia’s Appalachian Mountains. Better understanding of timing, duration, and number of foraging events on fawns across the landscape can give insight into potential impacts of bears on deer recruitment. We used video camera collars placed on 15 black bears (8M, 7F) in 2018 and 2019. Cameras were programmed to record 20-second videos every 20-mins for 10-14 hours/day for 1-6 months, resulting in up to 17.5 hours of video data per bear. We recorded dates and durations of all bear behaviors exhibited in videos. We found both males and females predominantly ate vegetation (90% for males, 87% for females), and that they also both ate fawns. The first documented fawn consumed occurred on June 12 for males and June 8 for females. We documented 44 total deer consumption events across 12 bears, with 38 being fawns, 6 being adults, and 3 of undetermined age. The estimated number of individual fawns consumed ranged from 0-7 for males and 0-12 for females. Fawns were completely consumed within 0.5 to 2.5 hours and most events took place from late-May to mid-June.  Before peak fawning (June 17th) events were primarily identified as predation, however they transitioned to predominately scavenging events as the season progressed. Bear densities  are currently unknown for the region but would enable us to extrapolate total fawns likely predated, information important to bear and deer management.

How human disturbance effects invasive and native species

Presenter: Joseph Wampler, Bridgewater College (Jwampler2@eagles.bridgewater.edu)

Co-author(s): Tamara Johnstone-Yellin Ph.D. , Michael Cove Ph.D.

Invasive species disturb communities by outcompeting or predating native species, destroying habitat, and spreading disease. The success of invasive species in areas of moderate human disturbance further exacerbates their impact on native species in urban environments. Understanding types of human disturbance and levels that maximize outcomes for these species over natives can guide important management and development decisions to limit their success. We used auxiliary data from the DC Cat Count, a three-year camera trap survey of Washington D.C., to compare the native populations of white-footed mice, eastern chipmunks, and mourning doves to invasive populations of brown rats and rock doves across three metrics of human disturbance: human density, level of vehicular traffic, and proportion of impervious surfaces. We found that invasive species activated camera traps more often in areas of high human disturbance whereas native species activated cameras more often in areas of low human disturbance. AIC analysis indicated that vehicular traffic best predicts activations by brown rats (higher traffic) and mourning doves (lower traffic). The other species activations were best predicted by a model that accounted for all three metrics. Further investigation into the level of disturbance in which native species are replaced by invasive species could provide guidance to urban design that limits the negative effects on native populations.

Can Citizen Scientist Observations Support Early Detection of Nutria?

Presenter: Nathan Ferguson, Virginia Tech (nwf263@vt.edu)

Co-author(s): Scott Klopfer- CMI at Virginia Tech

Early detection and rapid response to an invasive species require the accurate identification of populations at the invasion front. This can be resource-intensive and beyond the capacity of wildlife managers alone. Citizen scientists could be a valuable source for invasive species' observations due to their access to public and private lands, though the reliability of these records is uncertain. In Virginia, the invasive nutria (Myocastor coypus) is expanding its range, but the extant distribution is unknown. Citizen scientists could provide useful data to identify previously undocumented populations or define the extent for known infestations. Identifying this species accurately can be challenging due to similarities with several native species using similar habitats such as muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus). This study reports on the preliminary results of an effort to quantify reliability of citizen-science-generated nutria reports. We used “research grade” records taken from a popular citizen-science reporting website (iNaturalist) for nutria, muskrat, and other semi-aquatic mammal species to assess how consistently and accurately various groups of citizen scientists identified these. The results were compared to responses from professional wildlife biologists familiar with nutria and similar species. In addition, we gathered information on respondent confidence in their interpretation and the assessment of the quality of the photo. This information will help wildlife managers understand the background accuracy of similar citizen science reports and evaluate their utility in monitoring this invasive species. It will also provide some measure of validity for assessing records obtained from species reporting sites like iNaturalist.

Spatial and temporal overlap of domestic cats and native urban wildlife

Presenter: Daniel Herrera, University of Maryland, Department of Environmental Science and Technology (dherrer3@umd.edu)

Co-author(s): Travis Gallo

Free-roaming domestic cats (Felis catus) are known to damage ecosystems via the transmission of zoonotic diseases and predation of native wildlife. Physical interactions are required for many of these risks to be manifested, necessitating spatial and temporal overlap between cats and wildlife. We used data from a three-year camera trap survey to model species-specific occupancy of free-roaming domestic cats and eight native mammal species across Washington, D.C., and used the model outputs to estimate the probability of spatial overlap between cats and wildlife. Additionally, we used kernel density estimations to calculate temporal overlap between cats and each wildlife species. Potential disease vector species occupancy was generally positively correlated with canopy cover and open water. Prey species were also generally positively correlated with canopy cover but displayed negative associations with human population density and inconsistent associations with average per capita income. Domestic cat occupancy was negatively correlated with natural habitat characteristics and positively correlated with human population density. Predicted spatial overlap between domestic cats and native wildlife was greatest for potential disease vector species. Temporal overlap was high between cats and all but two native wildlife species, indicating that temporal overlap is probable wherever species overlap spatially. Our findings indicate that the risk to and from domestic cats varies across urban landscapes, but primarily arises from human activities. Data-driven management to reduce such interactions can aid in cat population management, biodiversity conservation, and public health campaigns.

The relationship between relatedness, distance, and density in red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus).

Presenter: Marissa Knight, Randolph-Macon College (stephaniecoster@rmc.edu)

Co-author(s): Stephanie Coster, Randolph-Macon College

The red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus) is a terrestrial salamander that lives in forests along the East Coast. Red-backed salamanders are found in high densities, which is known to exacerbate competition for resources. However, related individuals may be more tolerant of each other in a form of altruism. This research explored whether proximate individuals are more likely to be related, which could suggest altruism within the species. We sampled salamanders at a high- and low-density site in Richmond, VA and genotyped 163 individuals at 14 microsatellite loci to determine pairwise relatedness. We expected a negative correlation between relatedness and distance, indicating that individuals tolerate their relatives at close proximity and are less hostile to their kin. We found no significant relationship between relatedness and distance in both high- and low-density sites. We also compared the average relatedness of individuals at 0 distance to a null distribution and found individuals found in proximity were not more related than expected.

Identifying and Facilitating Positive Experiences for Birders with Disabilities

Presenter: Morgan Karns, Virginia Tech (morgankarns@vt.edu)

Co-author(s): Emily Sinkular, Freya McGregor, and Ashley Dayer

People with disabilities make up about 25% of the US adult population (CDC, 2020), yet this community is often excluded from recreation research and planning. People with and without disabilities alike greatly benefit from participating in outdoor recreation and education activities, though people with disabilities face more barriers to participation than people without. A popular outdoor recreation activity is birding, or intentionally watching or listening to, identifying, or interpreting birds in a way that is enjoyable to the person. In this study, we explore the unique barriers or benefits to birding experienced by disabled birders.  To understand what changes can be made to make birding and the outdoors more inclusive to those with disabilities, we analyzed a survey of disabled birders, administered in 2020. The survey questions focused on changes that could be made to increase accessibility and inclusion to birding, and the unique benefits birders experienced as a result of being disabled. Birders expressed a need for 1) more accessible trails, 2) access to information, and 3) benches. The top three expressed unique benefits of being a disabled birder are 1) the ability to slow down, 2) enriched viewing opportunities, and 3) experiencing relationships with birds and/or nature. These results increase our understanding of the unique barriers and benefits of birding for those with disabilities and encourage experienced-based opportunities in birding through facilitating increased accessibility of birding locations and more inclusive birding experiences.

Using Remote Sensing Data to Predict Habitat Occupancy of Bachman’s Sparrow, an Early Successional Bird Species, in Georgia

Presenter: Cory Allred, Virginia Tech, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation (corya@vt.edu)

Co-author(s): Elizabeth Hunter, U.S. Geological Survey, Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit; Virginia Tech, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Ecological and anthropogenic shifts in disturbance regimes have caused a decline in early successional habitat, leading to profound biological impacts on many avian species. Managing the habitat of impacted species is challenging due to the ephemeral nature of their habitat requirements. Satellite remote sensing data provides a potential tool which can be used to aid the management of early successional species. Specifically, these data provide an instantaneous snapshot of habitat quality at a high resolution and across a large geographic area, often making its use more efficient than traditional surveying. In this study, we sought to evaluate the use of satellite remote sensing data to inform the management of early successional species. To meet this objective, we created predictive models of occurrence for Bachman’s sparrow (Peucaea aestivalis; BACS), using three years of BACS survey data and environmental data extracted from Sentinel-2 satellite imagery. We then evaluated the success of our model predictions via an additional breeding season survey, which ultimately showed that our model performed moderately in predicting BACS occurrence (AUC = .66). We also found that a high probability of BACS occurrence was associated with a higher burning frequency, low tree productivity and biomass, and high heterogeneity between vegetation pixel values. Our study provides several important inferences: 1) the habitat usage of Bachman’s sparrow, 2) the efficacy of using satellite imagery to inform the occupancy of early successional species and 3) the importance of incorporating ground-truthing surveys into the study design of developing predictive models.

Monitoring Bird-Window Collisions during Fall Migration on a College Campus

Presenter: Quentin Jamison, George Mason University (qjamison@gmu.edu)

Co-author(s): Shawn Smith, David Luther, Daniel Hanley

Bird-window collisions are a serious conservation concern. Approximately 599 million birds die from window collisions every year in the United States alone. Due to this high rate of mortality, it is critical to understand which factors cause these collisions and how to reduce this mortality. Research has demonstrated that the reflections from large window surfaces appear as safe passageways for fast-flying birds. Thus, manufacturers of bird-safe windows often attempt to disrupt these reflections and make windows more noticeable, typically by incorporating UV stickers, visible designs, or ceramic frits. However, these products can be expensive and may not be effective for all buildings. Our goal is to quantify the optical and reflective properties of glass that may trick a fast-flying bird, which will allow us to apply solutions (e.g., window treatments) where they will be most effective. To do this, we surveyed three campuses owned by George Mason University for six weeks over the course of fall migration. These surveys were conducted by volunteers, who discovered and documented a total of 86 unique window collisions. We present data on the size, angle (relative to the sun), and clarity of windows and compare windows that birds collided with to those with no collisions. Finally, we present how future research on avian window strikes should more explicitly consider avian vision and the importance of continued survey work to bird conservation efforts.

Genomic data provides critical insights to guide successful amphibian reintroductions: a case study with the long toed salamander

Presenter: Arianna L. Kuhn, Virginia Museum of Natural History (ariannakuhn@gmail.com)

Co-author(s): Julie Lee-Yaw, University of Ottawa; David Weisrock, University of Kentucky

For organisms with largely unknown biological needs, such as many small terrestrial vertebrates, integrating spatial, ecological, and genomic data with careful study design is our best opportunity to inform a successful reintroduction. We present a case study using an integrative approach to aid conservation efforts for a species that is of conservation concern, but for which there is still time to turn the tide of endangerment and extirpation: the eastern long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum). Population genomic data was used to best inform selection source populations for reintroductions into sites where the species was extirpated as a result of historical fish stocking programs. We first evaluated the relative suitability of 25 potential source sites using population genomics and abundance estimates. Genome-wide data revealed low levels of diversity at several candidate source sites, identified unique population clusters and allowed for estimating the population sizes and connectivity among sites within the park. High- and low- elevation populations of A. macrodactylum are genetically differentiated from each other, and that gene flow is greatly reduced at high elevations. These results, along with known life-history differences between long-toed salamanders at different elevations, suggest that high and low elevation populations may harbor different complements of genetic diversity and be locally adapted to different conditions. Our framework utilizes recent advancements in the field of reintroduction biology and highlights the benefit of shifting away from simply choosing nearby populations for translocation to an information based science to optimize reintroduction successes for a multitude of organisms.

Bird Bycatch: Using camera trap data to improve our understanding of the state of Belizean avifaunal communities

Presenter: Joshua Ward, Virginia Tech (joshuaw99@vt.edu)

Co-author(s): Robert B. Nipko, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, rnipko@vt.edu and

Marcella J. Kelly, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, makelly@vt.edu

Avifauna fills an essential role in tropical ecosystems, such as seed dispersing and pollinating. Additionally, because many bird species are habitat specialists, they may serve as indicators of ecosystem degradation. A long-term study in northwestern Belize has employed camera traps to monitor felids, but a noticeable category of “bycatch” is birds, ranging from gamebirds to songbirds. Even small species such as Neotropical migrants and understory specialists, including antthrushes (Formicariidae) and tinamous (Tinamidae), are regularly detected. Despite the importance of birds and sensitivity of the study area (protected areas bordered on 3 sides by expanding agriculture), these avian data have never been systematically reviewed, and no other broad monitoring of avian communities occurs in the region. Thus, we reviewed data from three study sites in Belize from 2018. Each site included 20-40 camera stations, in habitats from interior broadleaf forest to pine savanna. We detected more than 60 avian taxa across nearly 3000 photo-capture events. These represent many of the main groups of Belizean land birds, including–but not limited to–turkeys, raptors, herons, tinamous, owls, pigeons, flycatchers, warblers, and blackbirds. We also detected species of conservation concern, including Slaty-breasted Tinamou (Crypturellus boucardi) and Great Curassow (Crax rubra). While this method of surveying birds is not optimal, the data already existed and it revealed more than we expected about species diversity. Continuing to catalog bird bycatch in camera traps can provide a valuable baseline of avian richness and diversity in the region, and create opportunities for new studies in Neotropical ornithology.

Injury rates of jaguars in the Belizian jungle

Presenter: Ela Yirmibesoglu, Virginia Tech (elamaetr@vt.edu)

Co-author(s): Rob Nipko

Apex predators, like jaguars (Panthera onca), play important roles in ecosystems by regulating prey populations. Individual jaguars can be subject to injuries that may compromise their long-term fitness (i.e. survival and probability of successful reproduction), potentially affecting how individuals utilize resources, including prey. When individual variation is scaled up to an entire population, it could affect the ability of an apex predator to fulfil its regulatory role, or even its probability of long-term persistence. Camera traps are widely used to monitor large carnivore populations and can potentially record visual evidence of injuries. However, no previous study, to our knowledge, has quantified the number or nature of injuries from camera trap data. We reviewed jaguar images from camera-trapping data collected in 2018 and 2017 in Belize and classified visible injuries into 7 categories (e.g. “small laceration,” or “eye dysfunction,” in which one eye did not reflect light the same way that the healthy eye would). We found that 43.3% of the individuals sustained at least 1 injury over these 2 years. The largest percentage of injuries were small lacerations (49.4%). The second largest percentage of injuries were medium lacerations and eye dysfunctions (both 12.6%). We plan to review additional years of data to examine whether space-use varies in conjunction with injury status. This technique could also be easily transferred to other animals that are caught on camera traps, allowing for a non-invasive method to collect data on injuries or individual fitness.

Utilization of Mostela Boxes as a detection method for Least Weasels (Mustela nivalis) in Virginia.

Presenter: Austin Holloway, Nick Pacheco, Mark Ford, Kevin Hamed, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation Virginia Tech (austinwh20@vt.edu)

Co-author(s): Nick Pacheco (Virginia Tech), Mark Ford (Virginia Tech), Kevin Hamed (Virginia Tech)

Least Weasels (Mustela nivalis) are the smallest carnivore in North America and are elusive. Little is known about their life history and current distribution in Virginia. Recent studies have indicated members of the Mustelidae family, including Least Weasels, are declining throughout North America. New innovative non-invasive camera trapping could be vital in learning more about this species and filling knowledge gaps such as habitat use, seasonality, and current distribution. The European-designed Mostela box provides a passive method of detection that could effectively answer questions about this small but ferocious animal. Beginning in October 2019, we used the Mostela system for the first time in North America. We made the first observation of Least Weasels in Montgomery County, VA, in 35 years. Since then, we have made an additional 18 observations using this system. We placed Mostela boxes primarily in riparian areas within a mixed agricultural and wooded setting. Our observations suggest Least Weasels seasonally select habitat, which differs from the seasonality observed in some European populations. Even though boxes collected data over a 24-hour period, most of our Least Weasel observations were diurnal, suggesting daily activity variation. Furthermore, habitat features and box placement seem to influence the probability of Least Weasel detections, suggesting that when camera trapping, specific habitat features could be the key to detecting elusive animals such as the Least Weasel.

Chesapeake Bay nutria project

Presenter: Jacob Berman and Mary Krieger, USDA (jacob.berman@usda.gov)

Co-author(s): Mary Krieger

The Chesapeake Bay Nutria Eradication Project is an interagency effort to eradicate invasive nutria (Myocastor coypus) from fragile wetlands of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This project started on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in 2002 to remove nutria from Blackwater Wildlife Refuge and surrounding areas after large portions of emergent marsh were being lost to nutria impacts to the underlying root structure. The last known nutria was removed from Maryland in 2015, and after an exhaustive window of continual monitoring for new nutria in the region, the initial phase of the project was declared a success in 2022.

Despite these successes in the Bay’s eastern marshes, nutria were detected during winter 2020 north of the James River in the Chickahominy Watershed in Virginia. These detections triggered a shift in CBNEP resources to the tributaries of the western Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Biologists from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Wildlife Services, Virginia DWR, Maryland DNR, Virginia Tech, and Randolph Macon College are working together closely to detect and remove any populations north of the James River.

 Field crews employ a combination of trail cameras, monitoring platforms, citizen reports, trained canines, and shoreline and walking surveys employed by the CBNEP. Once detected, nutria are removed through a combination of trapping and shooting, and the marshes are resurveyed to remove any remaining individuals. The project has demonstrated preliminary success locating and reducing nutria numbers with the eventual goal to remove nutria from Chesapeake Bay Watersheds and eventually all of Virginia.

Lab and field verification of eDNA assay to detect nutria (Myocaster coypus) in Virginia

Presenter: Stephanie Coster, Randolph-Macon College (stephaniecoster@rmc.edu)

Co-author(s): n/a

Nutria (Myocaster coypus) are invasive to the United States and pose a threat to the health of coastal marsh systems as their foraging activity damages vegetation and leads to substantial and irreversible erosion. After successful eradication efforts in Maryland in conjunction with the Chesapeake Bay Nutria Eradication Project (CBNEP), reports of nutria spreading north of the James River in Virginia are especially concerning. This study aimed to test a new tool in early detection efforts by verifying an environmental DNA (eDNA) assay for nutria in the lab and field. I was able to confirm nutria detection from tissue samples and in a pond with putative presence. In addition, I confirmed a lack of detection in a lake with putative absence. I also explored how eDNA concentration varied by sampling season or time of day.

Agency Relevancy:  Lessons Learned from a Year Long Experiment

Presenter: Jeffrey B. Trollinger, Virginia Dept. of Wildlife Resources (jeff.trollinger@dwr.virginia.gov)

Co-author(s): Wildlife Management Institute and Metropolitan Group

As part of implementing the Relevancy Roadmap adopted by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) in 2019, the Wildlife Management Institute (WMI)—in partnership with Metropolitan Group (MG) and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (VDWR)—conducted a project between March 2021 and June 2022. The project was designed as a case study in enhancing a state fish and wildlife agency’s ability to engage priority new constituencies and maintain those relationships over time. VDWR identified this as an opportunity to increase capacity to build relationships with potential new constituent groups and determine what skillsets the Agency would need to strengthen to maintain those relationships. Staff from across the Agency, in conjunction with an executive team, provided resources to help WMI and MG understand VDWR culture, brainstormed an extensive list of potential constituent groups and identified three target groups (Outdoor Afro and two federally recognized tribes) to test outreach and relationship skillsets.  As part of looking at existing agency culture, WMI and MG also surveyed the entire VDWR staff.  The ultimate conclusions were that Agency internal factors were just as important as outreach efforts.  Building relationships first and listening to what new constituents want were important, but staff also had to be willing to take chances, make mistakes with grace, listen intently and then adapt “normal” agency efforts to meet new partners on their terms.  This iterative process requires adaptive management on the fly and will ultimately be different for every new group.

Integrating Human Dimensions Research Into Virginia Wildlife Management Plans

Presenter: Mallory Gyovai White, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (mallory.white@dwr.virginia.gov)

Co-author(s): Rene Valdez, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

Human dimensions research is an integral component of wildlife management and it’s critical for the decision-making processes involving hunting regulations. Information regarding the social component of hunting – perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs – can provide insight into the levels of support for management decisions. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) has incorporated human dimensions research in their hunter harvest surveys since 1994. Though the survey has changed over the years, it has kept the same format: species-specific hunter harvest and effort questions, followed by questions that focus on hunter attitudes, preferences, beliefs, and demographics. This information is disseminated to biologists and managers, then incorporated into wildlife management plans that DWR uses to inform management and policy decisions. This long-term hunter survey data, often repeating questions over the years, highlights changes (or lack thereof) in Virginia. For example, Fall Turkey hunting has become less popular over the years, with an estimated 73.5% reduction in hunters since 1994; however, when asked about the quality of the Fall season hunter’s responses have remained ‘Adequate’ from 1994 to 2022 (Likert-scale responses of 3.9 and 3.5, respectively). A question in the most recent hunter harvest survey (’21-’22) asked turkey hunters why they did not hunt Fall turkeys, and the highest ranked response was “I prefer the experience of Spring turkey season” (‘Agree’; Likert-scale response 5.5). Examining long-term data, along with current hunter preferences and beliefs, creates a more complete narrative of hunting in Virginia and provides important information for the development of future management decisions.

Modeling the influence of environmental covariates on pollinator richness in urban gardens around Richmond, VA

Presenter: Nicholas Ruppel, Randolph-Macon College (nicholasruppel@rmc.edu)

Co-author(s): Mackenzie Dingus, Allison Ortiz, Teresa Weir, and Stephanie Coster at Randolph-Macon College; Robert B. Nipko and Marcella J. Kelly at Virginia Tech

The dramatic worldwide decline in insect pollinators threatens not only our food supply, but also diversity of native plants. Urban areas, if well managed, can serve as pollinator reserves and benefit agricultural and natural ecosystems well beyond the urban environment. In this study, we observed urban garden plant-pollinator interactions at 50 sites around Richmond, VA focusing on activity associated with native plants Dense blazing star (Liatris spicata, Asteraceae) and Clustered mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum, Lamiaceae).  We used multi-species occupancy models to evaluate pollinator richness and the influence of covariates.  Estimated richness per site (α-diversity) was fairly steady, ranging from 4.7-8.5 pollinator species.  Composition, however, varied substantially with only 5 species-groups estimated to occur at ≥ 20 sites, suggesting most species were fairly localized.  No covariates were strong predictors for occupancy, but several supported detection: plant species, temperature, plant species and temperature interactions, and urban distance.  At the community level, detectability on P. muticum generally increased with increasing temperature while detectability on L. spicata generally decreased, but there were species-specific exceptions to those trends.  Some pollinators also exhibited markedly higher detection probabilities on one plant species versus the other.  Finally, urbanization (i.e. distance from central Richmond) impacted detection of several individual pollinators, with bumblebee (Bombus spp.) detection higher at greater distances away and Halictidae bee detection more likely at closer distances.  These findings are important for further understanding how urban settings may influence pollinator activity and provide a baseline of the pollinator community around Richmond for future comparisons.

Perceived Risks and Management Preferences for Chronic Wasting Disease Among Virginia Hunters

Presenter: Rene X. Valdez, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (rene.valdez@dwr.virginia.gov)

Co-author(s): N/A

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) was first detected in white-tailed deer in Virginia in 2009 and has continued to spread across the state. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources’ (DWR) management efforts focus on limiting the spread and transmission of CWD and increasing surveillance efforts, which depend on cooperation from hunters.  To measure hunters’ perceptions of CWD and the level of social trust they have in DWR, a survey was distributed to hunters across Virginia. The survey was distributed in spring and summer 2022 and 2,722 hunters responded to the survey. A majority of hunters believe that DWR provides important, timely, and truthful information about CWD in Virginia. Hunters perceive CWD to have a higher risk to deer than people and a strong majority of hunters report that CWD has not changed their hunting effort or consumption of deer meat.  When comparing survey responses between hunters living in and outside CWD areas, few differences emerged. Results also indicate that a sizeable number of hunters are uncertain about CWD management efforts in Virginia and are neutral on potential strategies to manage CWD. This suggests a potential need to change and adapt communication efforts aimed at hunters.

2022 Bear Mange Update

Presenter: Justin Folks, VDWR (justin.folks@dwr.virginia.gov)

Co-author(s): Katie Martin and Carl Tugend

An update on bear mange from 2022, with a refresher on what causes the disease, how it affects black bears, how VDWR is responding to the disease, current geographic distribution of mange in black bears, and highlights of 2 case studies (including a mange bear on which we were able to affix a GPS collar).

POSTERS

DC School Garden Butterfly Project

Presenter: Katherine Pontarelli, George Mason University (kpontare@gmu.edu)

Co-author(s): Travis Gallo - University of Maryland - tgallo@umd.edu; Divya Varier - George Mason University - dvarier@gmu.edu

Schoolyard gardens are increasing in cities to simultaneously provide students with experiential learning opportunities and local communities with increased food security.  These gardens may also provide urban habitats for pollinators and opportunities for students to interact with urban wildlife. Here we assess how schoolyard gardens may provide habitat for large-bodied butterflies and discuss how they may be designed to support more butterfly diversity. Due to their charismatic nature and presence in urban spaces, butterflies can be a flagship species to reconnect urban residents with the natural environment. Therefore, we designed the project to be student-led and assessed students’ participation in the data collection process. Three elementary schools with rising 1st and 3rd-grade students observe and capture large-bodied butterflies in their gardens during the summer of 2022. The species richness and abundance at school gardens were compared to butterflies caught by researchers in a corresponding natural area near each school. An N-mixture model was used to estimate the correlation between tree canopy, site area, and impervious surface to Eastern tiger swallowtail abundance. Results showed that swallowtail abundance was negatively related to the percent of impervious surface at a site regardless of the site’s area and proportion of tree cover. Our results indicate that urban schools with limited green space can increase butterfly abundance by planting more vegetation around the garden and decreasing impervious cover. Student discussions provided program feedback and increased interest in butterfly ecology within urban environments. These results indicate that involving K-12 students in urban ecological research within their school grounds may increase their awareness of interactions with nature.

How Redlining and Housing Segregation in the Nation's Capital has affected distribution and diversity of urban mammals

Presenter: Merri K Collins, George Mason University (mcolli9@gmu.edu)

Co-author(s): Merri Collins Travis Gallo George Mason University, University of Maryland

Research has shown that urban greenspaces like natural areas, city parks, and cemeteries provide crucial habitat and resources for urban wildlife. However, historic city planning and land use decisions – often motivated by racism and classism – have played a key role in the spatial distribution and design of these urban green spaces. The distribution of urban wildlife is directly influenced by the distribution of resources (e.g., shelter, food, water) provided by these green spaces. Thus, we hypothesize that the spatial patterns of historical discriminatory land use practices will correlate with the present-day spatial distribution of wildlife. This study uses historic land use maps and present-day wildlife observations to understand if redlining of neighborhoods has had an influence on modern day medium to large-sized mammal diversity in Washington, DC. We also assessed whether present day income influences species diversity, to better understand how historic housing segregation and present-day wealth disparities effect residents’ opportunity to experience wildlife. The results of this study will help to inform management initiatives, pinpointing areas where restoration and conservation efforts should be priorities to increase nature equity.

Using museum specimens to study geographic expansion of Lyme disease in the southeastern United States

Presenter: Nancy Moncrief, Virginia Museum of Natural History (nancy.moncrief@vmnh.virginia.gov)

Co-author(s): Meghan Leber (Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, USA), Lisa J. Gatens (North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC, USA), and R. Jory Brinkerhoff (Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, USA, and School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa)

Lyme disease (caused by Borrelia burgdorferi) is the most frequently reported vector-borne disease of humans in North America. Borrelia burgdorferi is transmitted primarily by the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis. The white-footed deermouse, Peromyscus leucopus, is commonly parasitized by I. scapularis and is a highly competent reservoir for B. burgdorferi. Case numbers of Lyme disease have increased rapidly in western Virginia and North Carolina since 2000. To better understand the factors related to this increase, we tested the hypothesis that B. burgdorferi was present in P. leucopus populations living in this region prior to the recent emergence of Lyme disease. Specifically, we examined archived P. leucopus museum specimens for B. burgdorferi DNA. We used custom COXI primers to confirm DNA viability in 344 tissue samples (skin clips from ears) of P. leucopus study skins collected between 1945 and 2000 in 19 Virginia counties and 17 North Carolina counties. Ten mice, all collected in eastern Virginia in 1989, tested positive for presence of B. burgdorferi at two loci (oligopeptide permease periplasmic A2 and outer surface protein A). Our results suggest that B. burgdorferi was not historically present in western Virginia and North Carolina. Rather, the emergence of Lyme disease in this region is likely to have been driven by the relatively recent arrival of widespread B. burgdorferi infection in ticks and reservoir hosts.

Estimating Ocelot Space-Use and Movement Dynamics via Camera Traps in Belize

Presenter: Rachel Morse, Department of Fish & Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech (rachelm20@vt.edu)

Co-author(s): Robert B. Nipko, Department of Fish & Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, rnipko@vt.edu

Marcella J. Kelly, Department of Fish & Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech,makelly2@vt.edu

Understanding patterns of space-use and movement of wildlife species can inform decisions regarding protected land allocation and other conservation needs. Camera trapping may be a noninvasive and less expensive method of studying animal movement compared to radio/GPS telemetry. We examined space-use patterns of ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) from remote camera data collected in Belize, Central America, during 2016 and 2017. One of the simplest methods of estimating area of use is defining a minimum convex polygon (MCP) around the locations where an individual was detected. However, of 152 individual ocelots identified in 2017, 104 were only detected at a single camera station, 29 were detected at two stations, only 19 individuals  had enough station detections to form a MCP in ArcGIS. Comparatively, in 2016, 146 individuals were detected, 94 at a single station, 35 at two stations, 17 had enough station detections to form a MCP. Despite the detection of several individuals per year, there were few spatial re-detections of those same individuals, especially for female ocelots. Few spatial redetections are not ideal as spatial capture-recapture (SCR) methods used to estimate density need multiple detections at different locations to not overestimate or underestimate density. Current methods have shifted to model predicted areas of use and movement of each individual ocelot based on sex, using a novel application of SCR. These results have led to a reassessment of study design for this long-term monitoring effort, potentially with future plans to place stations closer together to increase the number of spatial redetections.

An Analysis of Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) on Age, Sex and Habitat Population Sizes

Presenter: Jordan Davis, George Mason University (jdavis78@gmu.edu)

Co-author(s): Travis Gallo

The Eastern Box Turtle (terrapene carolina carolina) is a rapidly declining species in many urban areas of North America. However, there are less research on rural box turtle populations. After six weeks of fieldwork research, 105 turtles were discovered on 408 acres of The Clifton Institute’s property. Out of 105 turtles, five turtles had radio transmitters to discover the average home range of the turtles. To gather analysis, radio telemetry was used for the radio-tracked turtles, and the surveyed turtles were observed through a marked-recapture technique. Once discovering the average home range of the turtles on QGIS, the turtles on average do not move far distances, as the property has adequate vegetation, shade, and water on the preserve. Although, the females traveled further than males in this experiment. During analysis, the Schumacher-Eschmeyer method was used to determine population estimates. There are an estimated 435 turtles on site, with 203 projected males and 245 projected females. This research contradicts many studies focusing on urbanized turtle populations, with the premier cause of turtle mortality stemming from females making vehicular contacts on roads. In addition, the most precise populated habitat was the mature forest over the wetlands. The discovery contradicted the original hypothesis that turtles preferred to live closer to water than the forest.

Influence of vegetation metrics and aspect in bird-window collisions at Radford University

Presenter: Tori A. Raulerson, Radford University (Vraulerson@radford.edu)

Co-author(s): Acalia Carter-Martin, Karen E. Powers, (Radford University, Radford, VA)

Bird-window collisions are a common occurrence especially through the migratory seasons. Currently, there remains a lack of deterrents or other counter measures in place to reduce the number of bird-window collisions that occur. Our study examined 2 potentially influential metrics that could influence where birds collide with windows: window aspect, and the vegetation around campus buildings. We used range poles to determine total vegetation volume and the Levin’s index of vertical diversity for 15 buildings and coupled this with window aspect data collected at the same buildings. Those aspects have been categorized into north, south, east, and west categories. Our analyses are in progress, and our results will hopefully provide support for targeting the application of bird deterring film across window facades on campus.

Surveys and Habitat Preferences of Newly-designated Salamander Species, Plethodon jacksoni, at Selu Conservancy

Presenter: Justine McLaughlin and Trey Harris, Radford University (jmclaughlin6@radford.edu)

Co-author(s): Karen Powers and Bob Sheehy

Previous work at the Selu Conservancy (Radford University) in Montgomery Co., Virginia investigated habitat preferences of two Plethodon salamander species in sinkholes - red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) and northern slimy salamanders (P. cylindraceus). Since this work was completed in 2008, a newly-designated Plethodon species, the Blacksburg salamander (Plethodon jacksoni), was recognized in the region, and initial field identifications as northern slimy salamanders may have been incorrect. Both may exist on property. Building on this new knowledge, we initiated additional salamander surveys at Selu in spring 2022. Here we collected tail tissue samples at the same sinkholes surveyed in the 2008 study (where tail tissue also was collected). We also record microhabitat metrics (soil moisture, leaf litter depth) at every point of capture. Our goals were: (1) to identify similar-looking species genetically, then use these findings (2) to update our understanding of habitat preferences of each of the Plethodon salamander species at Selu. We are in the process of identifying species using DNA extraction, amplification, and restriction digests to identify our 2022 Blacksburg/slimy salamander samples (N=114) and re-identify our 2008 “slimy” samples (N=223). Genetic confirmation will allow us to identify discrete differences in Selu salamander species and contribute genetic data to national research databases. It will further help us re-evaluate species-specific habitat preferences at Selu. Results will be presented in light of recent analyses, and genetic work is expected to be completed in January, 2023.

How might we explore microplastics in migratory songbirds: An investigation of American robins.

Presenter: Victoria Fisk, Radford University (vfisk@radford.edu)

Co-author(s): Katie Wheeler

Microplastics have become a ubiquitous pollutant found across all continents from the Americas to the Antarctic. Microplastic pollution originates from a variety of sources including the breakdown of larger plastic pollutants from consumer waste, small plastic particles from cosmetics, and industrial plastics of various sizes.  Unfortunately, the widespread phenomena of plastic use and subsequent pollution means that many species across the taxonomic scale are exposed to microplastic pollution.  While much work has focused on microplastics pollution in marine and aquatic environments, our group had the opportunity to explore microplastics abundance, type, and tissue distribution in the American robin (Turdus migratorius).  Here we describe a novel approach to sample gut contents and tissue types in over 70 individual birds.  These samples will be digested, suspended, and filtered to remove biological debris and highlight microplastics to be identified by number, shape, color, and type. The goal of this work is to better elucidate the degree of microplastics pollution experienced by a terrestrial migratory bird.

Temperature and rainfall affect the number of camera trap captures

Presenter: Kara Mathews, Randolph-Macon College (karamathews@go.rmc.edu)

Co-author(s): Stephanie Coster, Randolph-Macon College

Camera traps can be used to survey habitats where it is challenging to detect animals. In this study we collaborated with Snapshot USA, a collaborative project using camera traps to sample mammals among different regions of the United States. We placed our camera traps at the Mattaponi Wildlife Management Area (WMA), a state-owned property that protects a diverse habitat for many species. We placed 14 cameras at the Mattaponi WMA in various habitat types and left them up from September 12th - October 31st, for a total of 456 trap nights. We analyzed how temperature and rainfall impacted the number captures. We binned temperature into intervals of ten degrees Fahrenheit and rainfall in 0.2-inch intervals and ran an ANOVA. We found that there was a difference between temperature and number of organisms captured (p=2.0E-28). The bin with the most captures occurred when it was 51 °F – 60 °F outside. There was also a difference between rainfall and the number of organisms captured (p=3.8E-50). The bin with the most captures for rainfall was when there was 0 inches of rain. However, we must be mindful that the temperatures and rainfall values that contained the most captures were the most common temperatures and rainfall values seen during our study.

Exploring pollinator-plant interactions using environmental DNA and nanopore sequencing

Presenter: Isaac Garrett, Randolph-Macon College (isaacgarrett@go.rmc.edu)

Co-author(s): Stephanie Coster, Randolph-Macon College

We aimed to use cutting-edge nanopore sequencing technology to explore plant pollinator interactions in an enclosed butterfly exhibit at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. We sampled environmental DNA (eDNA) from flower swabs, whole flowers, bark swabs, and fruit samples (N=41). Using Quick Extract, we extracted DNA and then amplified the DNA using a universal COI primer pair for arthropods (mlCOlintF and jgHCO2198). We confirmed PCR success using gel electrophoresis. We then cleaned and pooled the DNA using AMPure beads, and the samples were run through nanopore sequencing. After sequencing, we acquired 158,000 genetic sequences that passed quality control. Then, the sequences were demultiplexed and clustered using the ONTbarcoder bioinformatics pipeline, which identified the most common organism in each successful sample. According to the ONTbarcoder, the most common organism sequenced in the 23 successful samples were a variety of plant yeast and earthworm species. Butterflies were not detected using the ONTbarcoder because other DNA was more prevalent in the successful samples.

Examining relationships between mother and cub jaguars from remote camera trapping data in Belize, Central America.

Presenter: Meghan E. Lewton, Virginia Tech (meglewton@vt.edu)

Co-author(s): Robert B. Nipko – Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech;

Marcella J. Kelly – Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech

Wild jaguars (Panthera onca) are elusive and notoriously difficult to study. However, remote camera trapping has made studying them possible. Jaguar cubs are even more rare than adults and their occurrence is not well known. Yet, knowledge of cub production can provide information on reproductive rates and give insight into the trajectory of wildlife populations. Long-term data sets are required to document cub production, especially for long-lived species like jaguars. We used camera-trap images obtained from a tropical broadleaf forest in Belize, Central America from 2014 to 2018, to document visual evidence of reproduction and determine whether presence of offspring in a population could be an index of reproductive rate, even for shorter-term data sets. We identified individual female jaguars by their unique spot patterns and recorded location, date, number of images, and whether images contained a cub (or both adult and cub). We also counted visual indicators of lactation or pregnancy status. We tallied counts and calculated proportions of total females, total females with cubs, and total females suspected to be lactating and pregnant. We conducted logistic regressions to quantify influences of covariates on reproductive status. We found ~15% of females were detected with cubs at least once, but only 4.8% of total detections included cubs. Moreover, over 50% of individual females exhibited signs of lactation. Thus, females may be having more cubs than we can document in remote cameras and suggests that indirect evidence may be a better index of reproductive output than direct detections of cubs.

Documenting bird mortality from window collisions on the Virginia Tech campus

Presenter: Madeline Alt and Rachel Morse (rachelm20@vt.edu), Virginia Tech (madelinealt@vt.edu)

Co-author(s): Dr. Kevin Hamed

Window collisions are one of the leading anthropogenic causes of avian mortality, with estimates ranging from 365 million to 1 billion deaths annually. Birds often collide when they see patches of sky or foraging cover depicted in reflective glass. We aimed to understand the nature of bird-window collisions on the campus of Virginia Tech with respect to timing, age of birds, frequency, and location. Over the course of three fall semesters, we surveyed 48 buildings 1-3 times a week; surveys consisted of walking the perimeter of a building and looking for evidence in the form of carcasses, feathers, or dust imprints on windows. We documented deaths of 47 species of birds and found evidence of collisions on 29% of surveys (n= 1291), and identified five collision hotspots on campus within which >60% of our successful surveys occurred. These areas along with a few minimal collision buildings have become the main focus of our investigations into this issue during the Fall 2022 semester. By identifying and continuing to monitor areas of greatest concern, we plan to offer the university informed guidance on where it can mitigate bird-window collisions.

Investigating ocelot interactions with camera traps as a source of bias in density estimation

Presenter: Kennedy Farmer, Virginia Tech (kennedyf16@vt.edu)

Co-author(s): Robert B. Nipko, Virginia Tech; Marcella J. Kelly, Virginia Tech

Camera trapping is a widely used method of observing large, elusive mammals to study population ecology and monitor population densities. Animals often interact with cameras, even when camera traps are not baited. While it is well-established in the capture-mark-recapture literature that learned responses (e.g. trap-happy or trap-shy) can bias abundance and density estimates, little consideration has been given to whether such interactions with noninvasive detectors could also indicate a type of learned response. Anecdotally, researchers have described wild felids as curious, repeatedly visiting camera traps after the first “capture”. We quantified frequency of ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) interactions with camera traps to examine potential influence on population estimates. We reviewed 1186 ocelot photo-captures over 2 years (2016-2017) from camera trap data across 4 different study sites in Belize, Central America, and identified 310 instances of camera interactions. We recorded the type of ocelot interaction with cameras (e.g., looking/passive, looking closely, sniffing, or rubbing), sex, and time of day. We also identified individual animals through their distinct coat patterns. We found there were more female individuals detected than males. Most interactions occurred at night, but that is also when the majority of detections occurred, since ocelots are mainly nocturnal. We used logistic regression to determine the influence of camera location, individual ID, sex, and time of day as possible predictors of interactions and to test for differences by time. Our study could be replicated with other species studied with camera traps to identify potential sources of bias due to camera interactions.

Fencing Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum) Nests Reduces Nest Predation in Northeastern Tennessee

Presenter: Kalin Davis, Virginia Tech (kjdavis424@vt.edu)

Co-author(s): Kevin Hamed - Virginia Tech - khamed@vt.edu

Four-toed salamanders (Hemidactylium scutatum) are a broadly distributed Plethodontid species in North America but are disjunct throughout their range due to their reliance on flooded forests for nesting. Throughout most of their range, four-toed salamander populations appear to be declining. They are listed with a specific conservation status in 17 states. Habitat loss is thought to be the primary driver of four-toed salamander declines, but little information exists on factors affecting their recruitment, and as a result, there is an absence of conservation strategies. In a long-monitoring study, we observed that nest predation also limited reproductive success. We used trail cameras to identify potential nest predators by observing 21 nests during the 2016–17 nesting seasons. Raccoons (Procyon lotor) were the only species to predate nests and destroyed 24% of observed nests. In 2022, we examined the efficacy of nest caging to improve four-toed salamander nesting success. Similar designs have reduced the nest predation of many species, including turtles and ground-nesting birds. To provide potential protection, we constructed nest cages from green PVC-coated steel wire fencing that was 61 cm in height and supported with wooden stakes. We caged 65 nests and left 120 untreated. Nest cages significantly reduced predation, as 17/120 (26%) unfenced nests were predated, and no fenced nests were damaged. Our results suggest that fencing nests are a strategy to increase the population growth of four-toed salamanders in habitats where nest predation negatively impacts recruitment.

Assessing American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) Proximity to Human Settlements via Video Camera Collars and GPS Locations in Rural Bath County, VA

Presenter: Jennie Weitzenhofer, Virginia Tech (jennierw@vt.edu)

Co-author(s): Brogan Holcombe, and Dr. Marcella Kelly (makelly2@vt.edu)

Little is known about daily lives of wild American black bears (Ursus americanus), yet understanding black bear behavioral patterns and space use can lead to more effective wildlife management plans. However, it is challenging to study natural behaviors of bears because they are elusive. Thus, little work has been done to systematically assess bear behaviors, especially as they relate to proximity to humans. We used a unique data set of collar cameras on 15 wild bears (7F, 8M), tracking their movements and recording behaviors via video cameras for 1-6 months in 2018 and 2019. Each camera collar recorded 10-20 seconds of video every 20 to 60 minutes during daylight hours from June to December. Each video is paired with a global positioning system (GPS) location that we used to examine human-wildlife interactions by determining distance to closest human settlements in the area, which could include commercial buildings, houses, or barns. We then compared the distance of human settlements to observed black bear activities to isolate if bears exhibited certain behavior types (e.g. actively foraging or passively traversing) near human settlements. Our preliminary results show a sex-mediated trend, where females forage closer to human settlements than males. We are further interested in understanding how proximity to development is related to specific habitat preferences. This information is important to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources because it provides a better understanding of the potential for human-bear interactions.

Delicious Mint: Assessing Pollinator Dynamics on Urban Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.)

Presenter: Allison Ortiz, Randolph-Macon College (allisonortiz@go.rmc.edu)

Co-author(s): Nicholas Ruppel, Randolph-Macon College

Pollinators provide important ecosystem services in human-developed areas, including pollinating crops and gardens which allow them to flourish. As cities work to become more sustainable through urban green spaces, understanding pollinator dynamics in these settings will help significantly in their development. Mountain mint plants (Pycnanthemum spp.; Lamiaceae), with several species native to Virginia, are commonly grown in these green spaces and may provide resources to a large range of pollinators. There is a limited understanding, however, on the urban Pycnanthemum spp.-pollinator relationship. The goal of my project was to conduct a broad survey of pollinator activity on Pycnanthemum muticum at several locations throughout Richmond, VA. The mountain mint was monitored separately over seven weeks. Between weeks 1 and 7 the number of different bee species on the plant significantly decreased. Additionally, the number of total species on the plant decreased in week 7 when compared to weeks 2, 3, 4, and 5. Overall, this project showed that Pycnanthemum muticum has the ability to support a wide range of pollinator species over time, which can be applied to future development of urban green spaces.

Ectoparasites of American Robins (Turdus migratorius) at Radford University, Spring 2022

Presenter: Liliana Dailey,  (lgdailey@radford.edu)

Co-author(s):  Bianca Plowman, Tessa Harmon, and Karen Powers (Radford University, Radford, VA)

American Robins (Turdus migratorius) are common migrants in eastern North America, and often travel in large flocks in the spring. At Radford University, a mass mortality event took place on February 17, 2022 and deaths continued for about 2 weeks thereafter. In sum, over 80 American Robins died on campus, and the cause of death is still undetermined. Upon intake, we discovered some of the robins exhibiting signs of mild hyperkeratosis. To determine the full extent of ectoparasites in this flock subsample, we examined all collected robins for ectoparasites. We discovered ectoparasites on 31 of 82 birds examined. Of these 31, 6 robins exhibited extreme hyperkeratosis, with scaly mites discovered in keratin honeycombs in their feet. We also found robins with lice (at least 6 individuals), ticks (at least 3), and additional parasite identification is ongoing. Planned DNA barcoding efforts in January will elucidate our ectoparasitic species composition. Additional studies continue on these American Robins, including searches for endoparasites. This work should help us quantify the impacts of parasites on a group of migrating passerines and aid us in understanding the strain of parasites on spring migrating robins. 

The effects of time and distance on the presence of Faxonius rusticus eDNA in a stream

Presenter: Sydney Reagle, Randolph-Macon College (sydneyreagle@go.rmc.edu)

Co-author(s): Stephanie Coster, Randolph-Macon College

The rusty crayfish (Faxonius rusticus) is an invasive species that outcompetes native species and disrupts the food chain. One tool that can be used to track the invasion of rusty crayfish is to sample environmental DNA (eDNA), which is DNA shed from an organism and found in the environment. However, the sensitivity of using eDNA has not yet been fully explored. We sought to evaluate how eDNA breaks down over time and distance from a source by placing dead crayfish in traps in a stream where they are not present. We then sampled at different distances (5, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 m) and times (10, 30, 60, 120 min) since placement. We detected the rusty crayfish at all times and distances tested. We found a weak positive relationship between distance and detection of crayfish, and a weak inverse relationship between time and detection. This result suggests that eDNA is a sensitive strategy for determining presence of rusty crayfish.