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Louisiana Association of Professional Biologists
and the
The Wildlife Society Louisiana Chapter
2015 Fall Symposium on
Recent Natural Resource Research in Louisiana
with a Focus Session on
The Endangered Species Act
Impacts on Habitat Management
August 20th
and 21st
4-H Mini Farm, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70814
2
LAPB 2015 Fall Symposium: Oral Presentations
Thursday Morning, 20 August 2015
8:00-9:15 Coffee and Welcome
9:15-9:30 Hybridization and Population Structure of Western Gulf Coast Mottled
Ducks. Robert Ford. Louisiana State University, School of Renewable Natural
Resources, Baton Rouge, LA.
9:30-9:45 The 2015 Survey of Louisiana Waterfowl Hunters: Descriptive findings and
a contrast of effort, success and satisfaction by primary zone hunted. Katie
M. Bowes1 Melissa L. Simon
2 Lucien P. Laborde, Jr.
1 Michael D. Kaller
1, and
Larry A. Reynolds2.
1School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State
University, Baton Rouge, LA. 2Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries,
Baton Rouge, LA.
9:45-10:00 Swamp Canary in the Coal Mine: Understanding the Value of Urban Habitat
Patches to Achieve Life Cycle Conservation in Prothonotary Warblers.
Alyna R. Clark1,2
, Sarah Bolinger1,3
, Katie Percy1, Erik I. Johnson
1,2,3.
1Audubon
Louisiana, Baton Rouge, LA, 2Renewable Natural Resources Building, Louisiana
State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 3Louisiana Bird Observatory, Baton Rouge
Audubon Society, Baton Rouge, LA.
10:00-10:15 The importance of dove banding as part of the dove harvest management
strategy. Steven Madere and J.P. Duguay. Louisiana Department of Wildlife
and Fisheries, Baton Rouge, LA.
10:15-10:30 Break
10:30-10:45 Evaluating the Effects of Coastal Restoration on Shorebirds and Shorebird
Habitats in Cameron Parish. Abigail Arfman1, Eddie K. Lyons
1, Byungyung
Chung1, and Will Selman
2.
1McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA,
2Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge, LA.
10:45-11:00 SAV and seed resource availability in coastal marshes across the northern
Gulf of Mexico. Kristin Elise DeMarco, Eva Hillman, Mike Brasher, Megan La
Peyre.
11:00-11:15 Wax Lake Delta – Plant Community Dynamics. Scott Duke-Sylvester and
Christopher M. Fontenot. University of Louisiana Lafayette, Lafayette, LA.
11:15-11:30 Some effects of nutrient and flooding stress manipulation on coastal
Louisiana wetland vegetation. James Ialeggio, Louisiana Department of
Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge LA.
11:30-1:30 Lunch on your own
3
LAPB 2015 Fall Symposium: Oral Presentations
Thursday Afternoon, 20 August 2015
1:30-1:45 Utilization of Dredged Material Wetlands by Coastal Estuarine Nekton
Communities. S.R. Harlamert, J.A. Nyman, and M.K. La Peyre
1:45-2:00 Temporal variation in genetic diversity and population size of endangered
Smalltooth Sawfish (Pristis pectinata). Kelcee L. Smith, Dr. Sabrina Taylor and
Dr. William Kelso.
2:00-2:15 Fish community response to environmental gradients and dendritic
connectivity in the Red River drainage, central Louisiana. Catherine N.
Reuter, Michael D. Kaller, and William E. Kelso. School of Renewable Natural
Resources, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA.
2:15-2:30 The Distribution and Abundance of the Alligator Snapping Turtle
(Macrochelys temminckii) In the Upper Headwaters of the Calcasieu River
System. Jesse Dupre, Omar Christian, and Eddie K. Lyons, McNeese State
University, Lake Charles, LA.
2:30-2:45 Genetic Variation at Immune Genes and Susceptibility to Mycoplasmal
Upper Respiratory Tract Disease in Gopher Tortoises. Jean P. Elbers and
Sabrina S. Taylor. School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State
University, Baton Rouge, LA.
2:45-3:00 Break
3:00-4:00 LAPB Fall Business Meeting
4:00-7:00 Social (Fried Catfish, Orzo Salad, French Fries, Brownies)
4
LAPB 2015 Fall Symposium: Poster Presentations and Focus Session
Friday, 21 August 2015
8:00-9:20 Poster Session (with coffee)
Egg Production in Gulf Kilifish Fundulus grandis at Varying Environmental Salinities. Emily K. Babl and Christopher Green.
A Partial Sequence of the N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase Gene in the Blue Crab (Callinectes
sapidus): A Biomarker for Molting Hormone Signaling. Ashley Booth and Enmin Zou.
Department of Marine and Environmental Biology, Nicholls State University Thibodaux, LA
Predicting Suitable Habitat for Louisiana Pine Snakes (Pituophis ruthveni) and Baird’s
Pocket Gopher (Geomys breviceps) in Louisiana and Texas. Katie M. Cantrelle1, Justin
Hoffman2, Eddie K. Lyons
1.
1Harold and Pearl Dripps Department of Agricultural Sciences,
McNeese State University, Lake Charles, Louisiana. Department of Biology and Health
Sciences, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Establishing Explicit Biological Objectives to Guide Strategic Habitat Conservation for the
Gulf Coast. James Patrick Cronin1, Blair E. Tirpak
1, Leah L. Dale
1, Virginia Brink
1, and John
M. Tirpak2 .
1USGS National Wetlands Research Center, Lafayette, LA, USA.
2USFWS National
Wetlands Research Center, Lafayette, LA.
Agri-tourism and Eco-tourism in Louisiana’s Working Wetlands. Dittmann, D. L.1, Cardiff,
S. W.1, Huner, J. V.
2, and Hatch, D. A.
3,
1LSU Museum of Natural Sciences,
2Louisiana
Ecrevisse, Boyce, LA, and 3LSU Ag Center, Homer, LA.
An Analysis of Bottomland Hardwood Forest Stand Development in a Hydrologically
Altered Floodplain. Whitney A. Kroschel. School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana
State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
To drill or not to drill: Evaluation of an under-used management tool for the endangered
Red-cockaded Woodpecker. Christopher A. Melder1,3,4
, Stephen M. Ecrement1,3
, Mariamar
Gutierrez Ramirez2,3
, Michelle Wilcox1,3
and Kenneth Moore3.
1Colorado State University-
Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands, 2University of Illinois Urbana-
Champaign, 3U.S. Army, ENRMD, Conservation Branch, Fort Polk, LA.
Foraging Movement Patterns of Breeding Royal Terns (Thalasseus maximus) on the Isles
Dernieres Barrier Islands Refuge in Southern Louisiana. Megan Nepshinsky1, Jeff Liechty
1,
Ashlee Minor1, Eva Windhoffer
1, Virginie Rolland
2, and Aaron Pierce
1.
1Department of
Biological Sciences, Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, LA, 2Department of Biological
Sciences, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR.
Evaluation of Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) Nesting Ecology throughout
Coastal Louisiana. Steven H Pearson1, Charlie Wahl
1, James Ialeggio
1 and Jon J. Wiebe
1.
1Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Lafayette, LA.
Habitat Use of Hatchery-Reared Alligator Snapping Turtles at Two Lentic Sites in
Northern Louisiana. Cody Townsend and John L. Carr. Department of Biology and Museum
of Natural History, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, Louisiana.
5
LAPB 2015 Fall Symposium: Poster Presentations and Focus Session
Friday, 21 August 2015
9:30-11:40 FOCUS SESSION ON THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT: IMPACTS
ON HABITAT MANAGEMENT
9:30–9:50 An Overview of the Endangered Species Act. Brigette Firmin, Fish & Wildlife
Biologist, U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Louisiana
Ecological Services Office, 646 Cajundome Boulevard, Suite 400
9:50–10:10 Whooping Cranes and the Endangered Species Act. Sammy L. King. U.S.
Geological Survey, Louisiana Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 124
School of Renewable Natural Resources, Baton Rouge, LA
10:10–10:30 Sean Murphy Large Carnivore Biologist DCL-A, Louisiana Department of
Wildlife & Fisheries, 646 Cajundome Blvd. Suite 127, Lafayette, LA
10:30-10:50 Habitat Conservation Plans, In-Lieu Fees, and Conservation Banks;
Compare and Contrast Three Tools in Conservation of Gopher Tortoise
Habitat. John P. McGuire, Senior Project Manager, Land Stewardship,
Westervelt Ecological Services
10:50-11:40 Programmatic CCAA for the Louisiana Pinesnake. Charles Battaglia, LDWF
Natural Heritage Program. LA Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries, 1213 N.
Lakeshore Dr., Lake Charles LA
11:40–12:00 PRESENTATION OF POSTER AWARD AND CLOSING COMMENTS
6
Abstracts
Louisiana Association of Professional Biologists
2015 Fall Symposium
HYBRIDIZATION AND POPULATION STRUCTURE OF WESTERN GULF COAST
MOTTLED DUCKS.
Robert Ford.
Louisiana State University, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Baton Rouge, LA.
Rates of hybridization between species that do not normally interbreed have increased due to
human impacts on natural environments, such as habitat alteration or introductions of non-native
species. Human-induced hybridization can be detrimental to wildlife and contribute to species
extinctions. Currently in Florida, non-native Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) remain on the
breeding grounds and hybridize with endemic Mottled Ducks (A. fulvigula). However, levels of
hybridization between these two species have not been extensively examined in the western Gulf
Coast despite the potential loss of the Mottled Duck lineage. In this study, I examined the degree
of hybridization between Mottled Ducks and Mallards in the western Gulf Coast, and the genetic
structure of Mottled Duck populations across the Gulf Coast. Additionally, I validated a key
developed in Florida to distinguish Mottled Ducks from Mallards and their hybrids for western
Gulf Coast Mottled Ducks. In total, 405 ducks comprising of putative Mottled Ducks, Mallards,
and hybrids were genotyped at 36 microsatellite loci. Overall, genetic mixture analyses found
very low rates hybridization (5.4%) in the western Gulf Coast. Upon multiple analyses, Mottled
Ducks were found to comprise one genetic population across the western Gulf Coast, which may
be primarily due to interstate dispersal of ducks from Texas into Louisiana and vice versa.
Finally, the key to distinguish Florida Mottled Ducks from Mallards and their hybrids proved
effective (> 96%) for the western Gulf Coast population, and should be used during future
Mottled Duck management operations. Currently, hybridization with non-native Mallards is not
a current threat to western Gulf Coast Mottled Ducks; however, Mottled Duck hybridization
should be monitored in the future to ensure healthy populations.
7
THE 2015 SURVEY OF LOUISIANA WATERFOWL HUNTERS: DESCRIPTIVE
FINDINGS AND A CONTRAST OF EFFORT, SUCCESS AND SATISFACTION BY
PRIMARY ZONE HUNTED.
Katie M. Bowes1 Melissa L. Simon
2 Lucien P. Laborde, Jr.
1 Michael D. Kaller
1, and Larry A.
Reynolds2.
1School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA.
2Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge, LA.
We surveyed 2 random samples of 2,500 Louisiana waterfowl hunters each (random mail and
mixed-mode methods), 24,842 waterfowl hunters for which we had e-mail addresses after
drawing our random samples (e-mail method), and 1 convenience sample (open web method)
following the 2014-2015 hunting season. We asked identical questions about waterfowl hunting
effort, success, satisfaction, and demographics. We hypothesized that Coastal Zone hunters hunt
more frequently and harvest more waterfowl in comparison to East and West Zone hunters. We
further hypothesized that Coastal Zone hunters would be more satisfied with the 2014-2015
waterfowl season. We received 603 usable responses to the random mail survey, 426 usable
responses to the mixed-mode survey, 4,873 usable responses to the e-mail survey, and 1,480
usable responses to the open web survey. We consolidated the 4 surveys and analyzed variables
based upon zone most frequently hunted, identifying 3,957 responses from Coastal Zone, 2,160
responses from the East Zone, and 489 responses from the West Zone. We compared responses
by Zone using ANOVA with Least Significant Difference (LSD) post hoc tests. Days hunted
last season did not differ significantly between the Coastal Zone (16.6 days) and the East Zone
(17.2 days, P = 0.151) or the West Zone (15.4 days, P = 0.082). Coastal Zone hunters harvested
more ducks (53.4) than East Zone hunters (46.3, P <0.001), but not West Zone hunters (48.4, P =
0.096); however, Coastal Zone Hunters harvested more geese (7.9) than both East Zone (4.4, P
<0.001) and West Zone (4.2, P = 0.005) hunters. In 6 measures of satisfaction, Coastal Zone
hunters reported equal or higher levels of satisfaction than East Zone or West Zone hunters (P <
0.001). Louisiana waterfowl hunters share high levels of avidity, high harvest rates, and high
satisfaction with last season irrespective of primary zone hunted.
8
SWAMP CANARY IN THE COAL MINE: UNDERSTANDING THE VALUE OF
URBAN HABITAT PATCHES TO ACHIEVE LIFE CYCLE CONSERVATION IN
PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS.
Alyna R. Clark1,2
, Sarah Bolinger1,3
, Katie Percy1, Erik I. Johnson
1,2,3.
1Audubon Louisiana, Baton Rouge, LA,
2Renewable Natural Resources Building, Louisiana State
University, Baton Rouge, LA, 3Louisiana Bird Observatory, Baton Rouge Audubon Society,
Baton Rouge, LA.
The Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) is a species of conservation concern that
occupies bottomland hardwood forests and swamps. Populations have declined by >1%/year,
but concordant rates of breeding habitat loss have not been as rapid, suggesting population
declines may be driven by habitat fragmentation (e.g., edge effects) or by factors away from the
breeding grounds. We monitored predator-guarded nest boxes in 2014 and 2015 in an urban
forest fragment (101 acres; Bluebonnet Swamp, East Baton Rouge Parish) and a larger forest
patch (1300 acres; Palmetto Island State Park, Vermilion Parish) to understand patch-size
variation in several breeding metrics. Clutch size between the forest fragment (x-barBBS = 4.4 ±
0.2 SE) and larger forest (x-barPISP = 4.6 ± 0.2 SE) was similar (t41 = 0.639, P = 0.527), as were
the proportion of chicks fledged per clutch (x-barBBS = 3.4 ± 0.3 SE; x-barPISP = 3.6 ± 0.3 SE; t33
= 0.572, P = 0.571) and nestling growth rates (x-barBBS = 1.1 ± 0.1 SE g/day; x-barPISP = 1.2 ±
0.1 SE; t13 = 0.919, P = 0.375). Small forest reserves may serve as productive breeding sites, at
least when nest predators are excluded. We also used light-level geolocators to connect breeding
birds to wintering grounds, revealing for the first time migration paths used by individual
Prothonotary Warblers. This research coordinated through the Prothonotary Warbler Working
Group will help inform an international conservation plan that identifies threats, critical habitats,
and regions needed to conserve this conservation-priority species throughout its annual cycle.
9
THE IMPORTANCE OF DOVE BANDING AS PART OF THE DOVE HARVEST
MANAGEMENT STRATEGY.
Steven Madere and J.P. Duguay.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge, LA.
The importance of dove banding as part of the dove harvest management strategy. The
mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) is one of the most abundant bird species in North America.
Maintenance of dove populations in a healthy, productive state is a primary management goal.
Management activities include population assessment, harvest regulation, and habitat
management. In 2003 a National Strategic Harvest Management Plan for mourning doves was
developed and approved by the four Flyway Councils. The plan called for development and
continuous improvement of an objective framework for making informed harvest management
decisions for mourning doves. An important aspect of this plan is a national mourning dove
banding program. Over the past 10 years Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
(LDWF) has been actively involved in banding mourning doves across the state. This
presentation will summarize LDWFs statewide banding activities.
10
EVALUATING THE EFFECTS OF COASTAL RESTORATION ON SHOREBIRDS
AND SHOREBIRD HABITATS IN CAMERON PARISH.
Abigail Arfman1, Eddie K. Lyons
1, Byungyung Chung
1, and Will Selman
2.
1McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA,
2Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries,
Baton Rouge, LA.
Coastal southwestern Louisiana is important for many avian species, and wetland loss and
coastal erosion are threatening the integrity of these areas. An approved state master plan for
coastal Louisiana intends to restore beaches through sand nourishment projects and rock
breakwaters. Beach restoration projects of these types have the potential to affect shorebirds and
shorebird habitat, with differential benefits and impacts likely across shorebird guilds. Through
biweekly bird surveys, we investigated the short-term effects of the Holly beach restoration
project on shorebird diversity and abundance before, during, and post-restoration. These data
were thereafter compared to three neighboring beaches with one ~20 years post restoration and
two “control” sites. We also will present data on shorebird abundance and diversity across
seasons and sites, with particular focus on species of conservation concern. Along with
shorebird survey results, we will also discuss ongoing work to characterize the soil
characteristics and surf invertebrates at these four sites. Results of this study will help better
assess the dynamics of Southwestern Louisiana’s avian and invertebrate communities, serve as
baseline data for control sites, and provide needed data to understand avian responses to sand
nourishment projects.
11
SAV AND SEED RESOURCE AVAILABILITY IN COASTAL MARSHES ACROSS
THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO.
Kristin Elise DeMarco, Eva Hillman, Mike Brasher, Megan La Peyre.
Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) communities are highly productive ecosystems that
provide significant ecological benefits and are prevalent in coastal areas vulnerable to sea level
rise (SLR). To fully understand how climate change will alter these coastal communities, it is
necessary to characterize the distribution and impact of altered salinity on SAV resource
availability. In the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGoM), which is especially vulnerable to SLR, the
abundance and distribution of SAV food resources (seeds, rhizomes and tissue) can influence the
carrying capacity of coastal marshes for wintering waterfowl. We estimated SAV cover and
seed biomass at 192 sample sites in coastal marshes from Texas to Alabama from June 1-
September 15, 2013 to assess variation in SAV and seed resource distribution and abundance
across the coastal salinity gradient. Overall, 14 species of SAV were documented, with salinity
and water depth identified as dominant drivers of SAV assemblages. Percent cover of SAV was
similar among salinity zones (10-20%) although patterns of distribution differed. Specifically,
SAV occurred less frequently in saline zones, but when present the percent coverage was greater
in the saline zone than in fresh, intermediate and brackish. Mean seed biomass varied greatly
and did not differ significantly among salinity zones. However, when considering only seed
species identified as waterfowl foods, mean seed biomass was lower in saline zones than fresh,
intermediate and brackish zones. Future studies to evaluate the link between SAV community
response and waterfowl species vulnerability will explore the use of waterfowl and SAV isotope
data to assess the relative contribution of specific SAV species to the overall diet.
12
WAX LAKE DELTA – PLANT COMMUNITY DYNAMICS.
Scott Duke-Sylvester and Christopher M. Fontenot.
University of Louisiana Lafayette, Lafayette, LA.
This is a study in community plant population dynamics in the Wax Lake Delta area in support
of a hydrogeomorphological modeling effort. Eleven of the most prominent terrestrial and
emergent plant species were chosen from those in the Wax Lake Delta study area. CRMS data
for all of Southern Louisiana from 1998 thru 2013 was compiled. Data was filtered for CRMS
sites where the 11 study species occurred. Conditions & presence were assessed for years
previous and after the presence was recorded. The conditions under which these species could
become established and under which they senesced were compiled into separate species profiles
for use in a Wax Lake Delta community plant dynamics model. This model reads in data from a
hydrogeomorphology simulation, and outputs data to be taken up by the simulation in further
runs to better account for the effects of vegetation in the delta formation process. An overview
of the study area, the 11 species, and preliminary results of the vegetation model's runs will be
presented.
13
SOME EFFECTS OF NUTRIENT AND FLOODING STRESS MANIPULATION ON
COASTAL LOUISIANA WETLAND VEGETATION.
James Ialeggio
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge LA.
Freshwater diversions are a relatively recently utilized tool in wetland loss mitigation that
stimulate an organic accretion response in marsh vegetation, which is based in root production
and thus belowground biomass. The effectiveness of freshwater diversions in slowing marsh
loss probably varies across a gradient of the factors they supply: decreased salinity, increased
nutrient concentrations, and increased inundation. Flooding stress is commonly thought to be the
overriding factor limiting wetland vegetation growth, however its influence may vary across
salinity and nutrients. Therefore, plugs of Spartina patens were planted in four “marsh organs”
consisting each of 36 sediment-filled PVC pipes of incremental heights that created a range of
growth elevation and thus flooding stress. The organs were located in mean salinities from 2.6-
14.7 ppt and two of them fertilized at 22 g N m-2
, 11 g P m-2
, and 5.5 g K m-2
. Twice during the
growing season below- and aboveground biomass was harvested, sorted, dried, weighed, and
analyzed for relationships between variables. Flooding stress was found to be primary, with a
secondary interactive effect between salinity and fertilization that suggests fertilization may help
plants resist relatively higher salinity levels. Variations in salinity and nutrient concentrations
associated with freshwater diversions, which can differ in intensity and extent, might also be
linked to increased nutria herbivory. Therefore, nutria preference for fertilized versus
unfertilized vegetation was also tested in a controlled setting on Panicum hemitomon, Sagittaria
lancifolia, and S. patens, representative dominant plant species of fresh, fresh-brackish, and
brackish marsh. Nutria showed a significant preference for fertilized vegetation within species.
It is therefore possible that benefits derived from nutrient-rich fresh floodwater could potentially
be negatively impacted by increased preferential herbivory.
14
UTILIZATION OF DREDGED MATERIAL WETLANDS BY COASTAL ESTUARINE
NEKTON COMMUNITIES.
S.R. Harlamert, J.A. Nyman, and M.K. La Peyre
Wetlands created via dredged materials are important, in Louisiana’s 2012 Master Plan
providing immediate structural benefits to coastal communities and landscapes. These created
wetlands are effective at stabilizing coastlines, reducing storm surge and wave height, and
sustaining existing wetlands at an increased risk of being lost. However, the ecosystem services
provided by these wetland creation projects are incompletely quantified. In this ongoing
research, we seek to evaluate the value of habitat provided to coastal nekton communities within
these constructed wetlands. To determine project impacts, we have identified three wetland types
for comparison of nekton abundance and diversity. These wetland types are open water (pre-
restoration), dredged marsh (restored condition), and natural marsh (restoration goal). We
established four study sites in wetlands created with dredged materials that were a minimum of
five years old and were constructed in areas where natural marsh is dominated by Spartina
patens, Goose Point/ Point Platte Marsh Creation fill area A (30°16'27.29"N, 89°58'40.16"W),
fill area C (30°15'14.75"N, 89°55'24.23"W), Little Lake Shoreline Protection/dedicated
Dredging BA-37 (29°28'1.33"N, 90°11'16.77"W), and Bayou Dupont BA-39 (29°39'1.25"N,
90° 0'39.29"W). We used a 1 m² throw trap to sample each site seasonally at three plots along a
predetermined transect, and similarly, replicated transects at adjacent open water and natural
marsh locations. Nekton samples were identified, and processed for weight, length, and biomass
analysis across marsh types to provide statistical analysis on the value of dredged material marsh
created habitat to coastal nekton communities.
15
TEMPORAL VARIATION IN GENETIC DIVERSITY AND POPULATION SIZE OF
ENDANGERED SMALLTOOTH SAWFISH (PRISTIS PECTINATA).
Kelcee L. Smith, Dr. Sabrina Taylor and Dr. William Kelso.
School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton
Rouge, LA.
Smalltooth Sawfish (Pristis pectinata) is an endangered elasmobranch once found throughout the
Gulf of Mexico and western Atlantic, but today is found primarily in southwest Florida, USA.
The population was decimated during the 20th
century as a result of overfishing and habitat loss,
but the severity of the population decrease on the genetic health of the current population
remains unknown. This project aims to estimate the historic and contemporary census population
size (Nc) and effective population size (Ne). Current capture-mark-recapture data (2000-2015)
will be compared to historic population estimates to determine change in Nc. Change in Ne will
be determined with genetic samples from current individuals and historic rostra found in
museums using 18 proven microsatellite loci. Results will better inform population viability
models, reflect genetic vulnerability of the population, and provide an accurate update on the
status of the population for recovery purposes. Besides being an effective management tool for
Smalltooth Sawfish, Ne/Nc ratios are unavailable for most elasmobranchs, making this project an
important step forward for elasmobranch conservation genetics.
16
FISH COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO ENVIRONMENTAL GRADIENTS AND
DENDRITIC CONNECTIVITY IN THE RED RIVER DRAINAGE, CENTRAL
LOUISIANA.
Catherine N. Reuter, Michael D. Kaller, and William E. Kelso.
School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton
Rouge, LA.
Louisiana’s small streams provide critical habitat for diverse ecologically and economically
important fish species. However, the relationship between these fish assemblages and habitat
variables remains poorly understood. The role of anthropogenic alteration of dendritic stream
connectivity is of specific interest and has been shown to significantly influence stream ecology.
Currently, we are exploring the interaction among watershed characteristics, stream connectivity,
stream physicochemistry and fish assemblages in the little-studied Red River basin of central
Louisiana by investigating: 1) the relative importance of in-stream and landscape habitat
variables (including level of dendritic connectivity) in structuring fish assemblages and 2) fish
movement between reservoir and tributary stream habitats. To explore these questions, starting
in spring 2014, we surveyed 22 wadeable headwater streams for fish assemblage composition
and abundance and characterization of in-stream physicochemical habitat variables. Additional
studies with temporary fish weirs are planned this spring for a subset of streams flowing directly
into reservoirs to determine rates of fish movement. We will also sample fishes and habitat
characteristics along the lower tributary streams and contiguous reservoir littoral zone.
Exploratory analyses of year one data proved inconclusive, but final data analysis, to include
2015 resampling, will provide foundational information on habitat associations of Red River
basin stream fishes that is critical for their effective management and conservation.
17
THE DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF THE ALLIGATOR SNAPPING TURTLE
(MACROCHELYS TEMMINCKII) IN THE UPPER HEADWATERS OF THE
CALCASIEU RIVER SYSTEM.
Jesse Dupre1, Omar Christian, and Eddie K. Lyons
1,
1Harold and Pearl Dripps Department of Agricultural Sciences, McNeese State University, Lake
Charles, LA, 2Department of Chemistry, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA.
Alligator snapping turtles (Macrochelys temminkii) are large-bodied bottom dwelling freshwater
turtles whose range is mostly confined to the southeast United States. Recent declines in
population have prompted studies to determine their current status and health. This project was
conducted in the upper headwaters of the Calcasieu river system to attempt to determine the
current population status of Alligator snapping turtles. The study area included 3 feeder creeks
in the Kisatchie/Ft. Polk region: Drakes creek, Whisky Chitto creek and Birds creek. The creeks
were sampled at 3 locations each for 3 trap nights a week. Each creek was sampled for 3 weeks
a season for 2 years, for a total of 18 weeks per creek. Turtles were caught using 3 ft. wide hoop
nets set at ideal locations (upstream of pools and submerged logs) using sardines and pogie.
There were 14 individuals caught with a mean weight of 15.82 kg and mean carapace length
(CL) of 27.37 cm. We caught 7 males with a mean weight of 7.64 kg and a mean CL of 28.71
cm. There were 6 females caught with a mean weight of 10.25 kg and mean CL of 31.75 cm.
One individual could not be accurately sexed, with a weight of 0.2 kg and a CL of 19 cm.
18
GENETIC VARIATION AT IMMUNE GENES AND SUSCEPTIBILITY TO
MYCOPLASMAL UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT DISEASE IN GOPHER
TORTOISES.
Jean P. Elbers and Sabrina S. Taylor.
School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA.
What remains of historically dominant longleaf pine forest in the southeastern US is highly
fragmented and degraded. Species associated with this habitat such as the gopher tortoise
(Gopherus polyphemus), have declined dramatically and have highly fragmented distributions,
two features that facilitate genetic drift and inbreeding. Genetic drift and inbreeding are known
to decrease genetic variation, which typically decreases adaptive potential of populations.
Already plagued by habitat loss and degradation, a contemporary issue with the potential to
affect even protected populations of gopher tortoises is upper respiratory tract disease (URTD),
which causes nasal discharge and tearing and can lead to dehydration, emaciation, and eventually
mortality. While several pathogenic agents are thought to cause URTD, experimental
inoculation of gopher tortoises with the microorganism, Mycoplasma agassizii, induces URTD.
Recognition of foreign pathogens such as M. agassizii is accomplished by functional genes such
as those involved in immune response. Variation at immune genes (immunogenic variation)
therefore influences the fitness of individuals and the long-term viability of populations.
Because remaining populations of gopher tortoises are potentially at risk due to URTD, assessing
immunogenic variation in gopher tortoise populations would provide a framework for basing
management decisions by elucidating which populations are at greatest risk and which would
best be suited as “donor” populations to augment the genetic diversity of compromised
populations. We propose to: 1) assess variation at hundreds of immune genes simultaneously
across a handful of gopher tortoise populations; 2) assess variation at a few key immune genes
across many gopher tortoise populations; and, 3) determine what genetic variation is underlying
susceptibility to Mycoplasmal URTD.
19
EGG PRODUCTION IN GULF KILIFISH (FUNDULUS GRANDIS) AT VARYING
ENVIRONMENTAL SALINITIES.
Emily K. Babl and Christopher Green
Aquaculture Research Station, LSU Ag Center and School of Renewable Natural Resources, LSU
Salinity plays a significant role in the distribution of aquatic animals and is particularly important
for estuarine fishes where salinity can change often. The Gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis)
occupies a wide range of salinities and is distributed within the northern Gulf of Mexico and
extreme southern Atlantic coast. As a secondary result from the recent Deepwater Horizon oil
spill, freshwater was flushed into the Gulf to potentially push oiled-water away from coastal
habitats. The freshwater introduced to these systems and future alterations due to freshwater
inputs have the potential to alter important physiological conditions in fishes. Even though the
Gulf killifish can survive in an extreme range of salinities, 0 to 76 ppt, this preliminary study
seeks to determine differences in reproductive performance as it relates to altered salinity.
This summer three different recirculating systems, were painted with black aquatic, fish-safe
paint to crate different salinities for sexually mature Gulf killifish. Each system was maintained
at a different salinity with three tanks in each system representing 3, 12, and 22 ppt. Once the
paint cured for a week, the tanks were hosed down to ensure the paint was dry and then filled
with water from their system. Four female and three male gulf killifish were placed in each 30 L
tanks, for a total of 63 fish being used in the experiment. Female size ranged between 12-20 g
while males were below 18 g. The fish were fed once daily, Monday through Friday, and
received constant aeration throughout the experiment. An automatic light timer was used to keep
the fish on 14 hours of light and 10 hours of darkness to simulate photoperiod during the
spawning months for this species. The fish acclimated to their tanks and new salinities for a
week and then each tank received spawning substrate placed inside a PVC pipe.
Eggs were collected from the spawning substrate twice a week and data collection recorded the
total numbers of egg as well as the numbers of fertilized and unfertilized eggs from each salinity
treatment. The results of this preliminary study will be used to highlight spawning in this species
across a wide range of salinities. We anticipate that this species might produce differences in
egg output at lower and intermediate salinities.
20
A PARTIAL SEQUENCE OF THE N-ACETYL-Β-GLUCOSAMINIDASE GENE IN THE
BLUE CRAB (CALLINECTES SAPIDUS): A BIOMARKER FOR MOLTING
HORMONE SIGNALING.
Ashley Booth and Enmin Zou
Department of Marine and Environmental Biology, Nicholls State University Thibodaux, LA
Crustaceans undergo molting, a multi-stage process primarily regulated by the endocrine system.
Ecdysteroid molting hormones produced by the endocrine system cause a cascade effect that
ultimately leads to the expression of enzymes such as N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase (NAG) that
are directly responsible for exoskeleton degradation. As NAG is one of the terminal enzymes
expressed in this cascade, the gene that produces NAG can be used as a biomarker to validate the
molting hormone effect. This study sought to partially sequence the NAG gene in blue crabs
(Callinectes sapidus) in order to use NAG as a biomarker for ecdysteroid signaling. Using RNA
collected from epidermal tissue and reverse transcription PCR techniques, a partial sequence of
NAG gene was identified. The 731 bp sequence was found to have a 70, 72, and 72% similarity
with NAG genes in the Gazami crab (Portunus trituberculatus), Whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus
vannamei), and Chinese shrimp (Fenneropenaeus chinensis), respectively. A derived amino-acid
sequence was found to have 100% similarity with NAG in P. trituberculatus, L. vannamei, and
F. chinensis. The high similarity between the gene and gene product from C. sapidus tissue and
those already sequenced in similar organisms is evidence that the acquired PCR product is
indeed a partial sequence of the NAG gene of C. sapidus.
21
PREDICTING SUITABLE HABITAT FOR LOUISIANA PINE SNAKES (PITUOPHIS
RUTHVENI) AND BAIRD’S POCKET GOPHER (GEOMYS BREVICEPS) IN
LOUISIANA AND TEXAS
Katie M. Cantrelle1, Justin Hoffman
2, Eddie K. Lyons
1.
1Harold and Pearl Dripps Department of Agricultural Sciences, McNeese State University, Lake
Charles, Louisiana, 2Department of Biology and Health Sciences, McNeese State University,
Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Louisiana pine snakes (Pituophis ruthveni) historically occurred in portions of west-central
Louisiana and east-central Texas. The loss and degradation of a high percentage of longleaf pine
forests within Louisiana and Texas has significantly reduced the amount of suitable habitat
available for Louisiana pine snakes. Baird’s pocket gophers (Geomys breviceps) are essential to
Louisiana pine snakes for both food and shelter. Baird’s pocket gophers are a key component of
the Louisiana pine snakes’ diet. Along with meeting dietary requirements, Pine snakes also
utilize pocket gopher burrows for shelter. Determining suitable overlapping habitats for both
species will help conservationists to protect and conserve land in the future. The objective of
this study is to build models of suitable habitat for Louisiana pine snakes and Baird’s pocket
gophers in Louisiana and Texas, and to determine which environmental variable is most
important to each species. In order to classify suitable habitat, unique locations of Louisiana
pine snake and Baird’s pocket gopher captures in Louisiana and Texas were compiled to create a
data set. Locations were input into Maxent to build predictive models of habitat suitability and
determine important environmental variables for each species. Suitable habitat for Baird’s
pocket gophers was found in central-east Texas, south-east Texas, northern Louisiana, and west-
central Louisiana. It was determined that the two most significant environmental variables were
the particular month in which the highest precipitation totals were recorded along with overall
annual precipitation totals. Suitable habitat for Louisiana pine snakes was found in small areas
in central-east Texas, central-west Louisiana, and north-west Louisiana. The two most important
environmental variables were mean temperature of the wettest quarter and precipitation totals
during the warmest month. Future work will be conducted to include soil variables into models.
Habitat usage will also be looked over on smaller spatial scales.
22
ESTABLISHING EXPLICIT BIOLOGICAL OBJECTIVES TO GUIDE STRATEGIC
HABITAT CONSERVATION FOR THE GULF COAST.
James Patrick Cronin1, Blair E. Tirpak
1, Leah L. Dale
1, Virginia Brink
1, and John M. Tirpak
2
1USGS National Wetlands Research Center, Lafayette, LA, USA,
2USFWS National Wetlands
Research Center, Lafayette, LA.
The RESTORE Act directs 80% of the Clean Water Act penalties from the Deepwater Horizon
oil spill to Gulf of Mexico restoration. The success of this effort hinges on partners developing a
common vision for conservation. What it means to actually share a common vision, however, has
remained elusive. One solution is for partners to collaboratively define (1) focal conservation
areas, (2) species that are representative of these areas and population objectives for those
species, and (3) habitat objectives necessary to achieve those population objectives. Therefore,
the USGS and USFWS along with other partners defined and mapped fifteen biological planning
units (BPU) on or adjacent to the Gulf Coast. This group of partners worked together to identify
108 target conservation species (e.g., brown pelican, beach mice, manatee) representative of
BPU habitats and gathered population data and objectives for each species from the literature.
Finally, for a subset of these species, the group is deriving habitat objectives from spatially
explicit Bayesian networks (i.e., models of the relationships between habitat characteristics and
population objectives) that are being developed and projected across the Gulf Coast. We will
present the BPUs, the target species and their population objectives, and habitat objectives
derived from an example Bayesian network.
23
AGRI-TOURISM AND ECO-TOURISM IN LOUISIANA’S WORKING WETLANDS.
Dittmann, D. L.1, Cardiff, S. W.
1, Huner, J. V.
2, and Hatch, D. A.
3
1LSU Museum of Natural Sciences,
2Louisiana Ecrevisse, Boyce, LA,
3LSU Ag Center, Homer,
LA.
Louisiana’s working wetlands especially in the south-central and southwestern Louisiana include
about half a million acres of rice, rice-crawfish, and crawfish impoundments. These simulate
natural wetlands and have become invaluable wildlife habitat. Promotional emphasis has been on
bird species with 70 waterbird species regularly depending on these working wetlands for
habitat. Another 250 bird species have been reported from the area with most present annually.
In fact, the southwestern area has been declared an Important Bird Area of Global Significance
by the National Audubon Society.
These working wetlands also provide critical wildlife habitats. Why is this important? This
increases farm land value beyond production. Wildlife habitat can provide tangible returns:
waterfowl leases, ‘farmcations’ [farm vacations], and wildlife events. Examples include bird
watching and photography. But there are also non-tangible returns: tourism brings money into
local communities, promotes awareness of benefits of farmland beyond food production, and
generates public support – creates allies.
Farms provide a source of livelihood, contribute to national revenue, and provide food security.
Agri-tourism and eco-tourism also builds partnerships between farming communities, university
scientists, agricultural extension agents, conservation organizations, Louisiana municipal, parish
and state agencies, and federal agencies.
Because Louisiana’s working wetlands create a diversity of bird habitats they attract a diversity
of bird species. This leads to Research, Education, Agri-and eco-tourism, Conservation, and
Hunting. That is the REACH of working wetlands.
Two birding festivals have been organized in Jefferson Davis Parish and attract birders from
around the USA and a few from other countries. These are the Yellow Rails and Rice Festival –
October/November and the Shorebird Extravaganza – May.
Of special concern to development of Agri-tourism and Eco-tourism is insurance for operators.
Many agri-tourism operators are not aware of the agri-tourism limited liability law passed in
2008 to assist agri-tourism professionals who were vulnerable to lawsuits and could not obtain
liability insurance. Even if the agri-tourism operator has insurance, the law provides protection in
the case of a lawsuit. The law limits the liability of an agri-tourism professional for injuries that
occur through no fault of the agri-tourism professional. An agri-tourism professional can
complete the necessary paperwork and be covered.
24
AN ANALYSIS OF BOTTOMLAND HARDWOOD FOREST STAND DEVELOPMENT
IN A HYDROLOGICALLY ALTERED FLOODPLAIN
Whitney A. Kroschel
School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Within the past century modifications to Southeastern U. S. river systems have permanently
altered the natural hydrologic regimes of most bottomland hardwood forest floodplains.
Bottomland hardwood forests – a unique ecosystem important for wildlife habitat, biodiversity,
and flood control – are consequently exhibiting a wide range of fundamental changes, as the
hydrologic and geomorphic processes under which they historically developed have been
modified by flood control and navigation activities. As a result, species composition and stand
development have also changed in many bottomland hardwood forests. Although hydrologic
and geomorphic alterations are widespread, the type and degree of alteration differ among sites
and has created a complex variety of hydrologic and geomorphic conditions which has
confounded management efforts because no universal protocol can be applied. The purpose of
this study was to analyze stand development of bottomland hardwood forests within a range of
hydrologic and geomorphic conditions. We hypothesized sites with greater incised channels and
more prominent backwater flooding would have generally older stands and lower densities
compared to sites with less incised channels and headwater flooding. A total of 13 plots were
established along three reaches (i.e., northern, middle, and southern) of the White River
floodplain in eastern Arkansas where we identified and cored the nearest 20 trees with diameter
at breast height (dbh) ≥ 8 cm. For a total of 260 trees, we used dedrochronologic techniques to
determine stand age and examine possible shifts in species composition patterns within and
among the river reaches. Preliminary results indicate potential shifts in species composition from
generally wet-sited species to comparably drier-sited species.
25
TO DRILL OR NOT TO DRILL: EVALUATION OF AN UNDER-USED
MANAGEMENT TOOL FOR THE ENDANGERED RED-COCKADED
WOODPECKER.
Christopher A. Melder1,3,4
, Stephen M. Ecrement1,3
, Mariamar Gutierrez Ramirez2,3
, Michelle
Wilcox1,3
and Kenneth Moore3.
1Colorado State University-Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands,
2University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign,
3U.S. Army, ENRMD, Conservation Branch, Fort
Polk, LA.
The Red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis, RCW) received federal protection with the
passage of the Endangered Species Act in 1973. The primary decline of the species has been due
to habitat loss. In the 1980s, it was reported that the loss of existing natural RCW cavities was
exceeding excavation of new cavities. To mitigate the loss of natural cavities, two forms of
artificial cavities are used in management practices: cavity inserts and drilled cavities. As a
management tool, the insert is more widely used than the drilled cavity throughout the western
range of the species due to a perceived ease of installation. However, we propose that drilled
cavities should be regularly used in addition to inserts due to the potential of lower installation
costs and species nesting preference. We hypothesize that there is no difference in the usage
rates between the two artificial cavity types, but that RCW’s select drilled cavities as nest sites at
a greater rate than inserts. We analyzed the use of inserts (n=811) and drilled cavities (n=189)
installed between July 2004 and April 2015 within 113 active breeding clusters on Fort Polk
military installation. While the proportion of drilled cavities becoming active is slightly higher
than that of inserts, the difference is not significant (Χ2
(1, N=1000) = 1.6034, p-value=0.21).
However, a significantly higher proportion of active drilled cavities are used for nests (Χ2
(1,
N=485) = 12.06, p-value=0.00052). Our results indicate that selective installation of drilled
cavities by RCW biologists within active cluster sites is a beneficial management tool.
26
FORAGING MOVEMENT PATTERNS OF BREEDING ROYAL TERNS
(THALASSEUS MAXIMUS) ON THE ISLES DERNIERES BARRIER ISLANDS
REFUGE IN SOUTHERN LOUISIANA.
Megan Nepshinsky1, Jeff Liechty
1, Ashlee Minor
1, Eva Windhoffer
1, Virginie Rolland
2, and
Aaron Pierce1.
1Department of Biological Sciences, Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, LA,
2Department of
Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR
Royal Terns (Thalasseus maximus) breed annually in colonies on the remote Isles Dernieres
Barrier Islands Refuge (IDBIR) in southeast Louisiana. Previous studies on IDBIR have
examined diet composition of Royal Terns, but there is a paucity of information on the location
of important foraging areas or how much time terns spend away from the colony to search for
food. In addition, there is no information about variation of foraging movements between male
and female Royal Terns. In June 2014, two mGPS-2loggers were attached to individual male and
female Royal Terns and each device was recovered three days later. GPS loggers recorded
location, speed, and elevation every 15 minutes. The male Royal Tern made a total of seven
foraging trips, with a mean Round Trip (RT) time of 6.24 hrs (± 1.96) and a mean RT distance of
16.40 km (± 8.02). The five foraging trips by the female Royal Tern had a comparable mean RT
time of 6.88 hrs (± 2.75), however, the mean RT distance was 53.05 km (± 17.10). The female
Royal Tern reached further distances and faster speeds while foraging than the male. However,
additional GPS tracking data is needed to adequately determine important foraging areas and to
determine differences between male and female Royal Tern foraging patterns. This is the first
time that foraging areas exploited by Royal Terns in the Gulf of Mexico have been identified and
may be useful for future management decisions and restoration efforts.
27
EVALUATION OF DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN (MALACLEMYS TERRAPIN)
NESTING ECOLOGY THROUGHOUT COASTAL LOUISIANA.
Steven H Pearson, Charlie Wahl, James Ialeggio, and Jon J. Wiebe.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Lafayette, LA.
Diamondback terrapins are coastally distributed between south central Texas in the Gulf of
Mexico along the Gulf and Atlantic Coast north through Massachusetts. Throughout their range,
many different biotic and abiotic factors have been determined to significantly influence terrapin
abundance, distribution and nesting success. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has
been implementing research (2012-2015) to evaluate coastwide terrapin nesting ecology. These
efforts include delineation of nesting habitat as well as characterization of egg morphometrics,
nest characteristics, nest predation and survivorship. Preliminary results indicate that terrapin
nesting occurs statewide in select locations with suitable nesting substrate. Nests are laid in open
areas and / or beneath dense vegetative cover. Clutch size averages 5.5 eggs and varies between
1 and 13 eggs. Statewide, average egg morphometrics are: mass 11.8 g, length 38.1 mm and
width 24.5 mm. Average nest ceiling height is 7.7 cm and average nest floor is 11.8 cm.
Predation rates are between 50 and 100 percent depending on location. In 2015 within a single
nesting site (Terrebonne Bay), 43% of all eggs documented were depredated, 31% successfully
hatched and the fate of 26% of eggs is yet to be determined. At the nest level these data reflect a
76% incidence of fully or partially depredated nests while 43% of nests successfully hatched at
least 1 egg within this one site. These data paired with ongoing coastwide population
distribution and abundance efforts (2011-2015) by the Department are considered critical in
developing a sustainable conservation management strategy for the species
28
HABITAT USE OF HATCHERY-REARED ALLIGATOR SNAPPING TURTLES AT
TWO LENTIC SITES IN NORTHERN LOUISIANA.
Cody Townsend and John L. Carr
Department of Biology and Museum of Natural History, University of Louisiana at Monroe,
Monroe, Louisiana.
We introduced 40 Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys temminckii) into two lentic bodies of
water located on Boeuf Wildlife Management Area in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, in August
2014. Ten turtles were hatched in 2010, ten in 2011, and twenty in 2012; all turtles were raised
at the Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery in Tishomingo, Oklahoma until they were released.
Turtles were fitted with VHF radio transmitters, and all turtles initially weighing over 200 grams
were also fitted with iButton temperature loggers. Radio telemetry was used to track the location
of each turtle; habitat data was collected at each turtle location and a random point associated
with each turtle location. There were 367 turtle locations, of which 273 were used in the data
analysis. Data were analyzed using a paired logistic regression to model habitat use. Of the ten
habitat variables measured, water depth, distance to the nearest tree, and presence of woody
debris had the lowest AIC values. Turtles selected areas with shallower water (average = 43.1
cm) than random locations (average = 65.4 cm) and areas nearer to trees (average = 1.55 m) than
random locations (average = 2.34 m). Woody debris was found at 86.9% of the turtle locations,
but only 66.0% of the random locations. Of the forty turtles initially released, there are 8
confirmed mortalities, 2 suspected mortalities, and 25 missing turtles as of the end of May. Only
five of the 40 turtles (12.5%) are currently known to survive.
29
WHOOPING CRANES AND THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
Sammy L. King
U.S. Geological Survey, Louisiana Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 124 School of
Renewable Natural Resources, Baton Rouge, LA
The Whooping Crane, the tallest bird in North America, has been a focal point of wildlife
conservation of rare species for decades. For years, these large white birds would show up in the
late fall at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas and disappear in spring to their unknown
breeding grounds. In the early 1940s, only 15 birds remained in the wild and these populations
were protected solely by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1916 in the United States and the
Migratory Bird Convention Act in Canada. Because the migrant flock in Louisiana disappeared
around 1918 and the resident flock in 1950, the Louisiana population was never protected by the
Endangered Species Act, which was not passed until 1973. By the time of its passage, Aransas
National Wildlife Refuge had been purchased (1937) using duck stamp dollars but with a major
objective to protect Whooping Cranes. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 afforded much
broader protection of wintering and migration habitat in the U.S. and additional protections were
afforded in Canada soon thereafter. Critical habitat in the U.S. has been designated at Aransas
and surrounding areas and at several key migration stopovers. Furthermore, modifications to the
ESA facilitated restoration of Whooping Cranes on private lands by designating these
populations as “experimental, non-essential”; these populations do not receive full protection of
the ESA. More recently, the ESA and Whooping Cranes were used in a contentious court case
that purported high mortality of Whooping Cranes was related to reduced freshwater flows
resulting from over allocation of freshwater within the Guadalupe River. The initial ruling
supported the accusations but the ruling was overturned following appeal. Regardless, the ESA
and Whooping Cranes have had a tremendous effect on habitat acquisition, conservation, and
management efforts throughout a large portion of the United States.
30
HABITAT CONSERVATION PLANS, IN-LIEU FEES, AND CONSERVATION BANKS;
COMPARE AND CONTRAST THREE TOOLS IN CONSERVATION OF GOPHER
TORTOISE HABITAT
John P. McGuire
Senior Project Manager, Land Stewardship, Westervelt Ecological Services
The regulatory side of managing for gopher tortoises, though perhaps not as engaging as the
biology, is the point where the rubber meets the road in determining the species recovery within
the listed range. In other words, if we concern ourselves almost exclusively with the biology of
the gopher tortoise and commensals, then their long-term existence is protected only in parks and
zoos. This is not a sustainable strategy. This talk will focus on comparing and contrasting three
innovative tools within the listed range of the animal to help incentivize private landowners to
restore and manage habitat for gopher tortoises. In particular, I’ll talk about 1) habitat
conservation plans, 2) in-lieu fee programs and 3) conservation banks. Some of this terminology
may sound somewhat familiar, as they have been used over the past several years with wetland
and stream mitigation. They all have application when dealing with recovery of listed animal
species.
31
PROGRAMMATIC CCAA FOR THE LOUISIANA PINESNAKE
Charles Battaglia
LDWF Natural Heritage Program. LA Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries, 1213 N. Lakeshore Dr.,
Lake Charles LA.
The Louisiana Pinesnake is a candidate species for listing under the endangered species act. A
majority of this species range is private lands, which are primarily industrial timberlands. The
Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) is a tool to help private
landowners manage their lands to provide suitable habitat for this species in exchange for
regulatory assurances. This presentation will provide an overview of CCAAs with regards to
this species.