Tag: conference

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INHS PaCELab at 2024 Turtle Survival Alliance Symposium

This year’s Turtle Survival Alliance conference was held in Tucson Arizona 2024  July 25-28. Several members of the INHS PaCE Lab presented posters and talks, which we’re excited to share with you.
 
Dr. Dreslik gave a featured presentation during the plenary session,
“Freshwater Turtle and Tortoise Growth: What we know and where to go”
co-authored with Drs Lovich (USGS) and Congdon (Savannah River Ecology Lab).

Dr Dreslik at podiumGrowth is a fundamental life history trait expressed as shape, rate, and size at specific times for individuals in a population. Because energy allocated to competing life demands shifts, all expressions have impactful relationships with other life-history traits. In general, the overall growth pattern of turtles is well understood, but representative studies are decidedly lacking for many species and populations. Additionally, we are building a stronger foundation of the drivers and their consequences on growth; few studies have had the luxury of serially examining populations to determine environmental and habitat related effects. Herein, we present the state of knowledge on growth in freshwater turtles, covering aspects such as pattern, seasonality, determinism, dimorphism, extrinsic drivers, maternal effects, and individuality. Finally, we will provide insight into current analytical advances and direction for future work.

Graduate student Nicholas Dunham presented a poster
“Spatial Ecology of Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) in an Agricultural Landscape in Northeast Illinois”
co-authored with Ethan Kessler, John Crawford and Michael Dreslik.
Agriculture in Illinois dominates the landscape, leading to widespread alteration of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Much of Illinois’ freshwater wetlands have been heavily channelized and converted into vast networks of ditches in agricultural drainage systems. Thus, these agricultural ditches may represent some of the only available wetland habitats for turtles. A small population of Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) was discovered living in an agricultural ditch system in Kankakee and Iroquois counties of Northeast Illinois. Blanding’s Turtles use terrestrial and aquatic habitats throughout the season, increasing their mortality risks from farming equipment. To better understand how Blanding’s Turtles utilize an agricultural landscape, we trapped and used VHF radio-telemetry to track 15 individuals (9 females, 6 males) from April to November 2023, totaling 533 locations. Our objectives were to investigate home range sizes, movement rates, and macrohabitat and microhabitat selection by sex and season. The results of our study are preliminary, and data collection will continue from 2024 to 2025. Our results can aid the management of Blanding’s turtles in agricultural-dominated landscapes.
Graduate student Emily Asche presented
“Population Structure of the Declining Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys spp.) Across Thirteen Military Installations in California”
co-authored with Matthew Parry, Thomas Akre, Robert Lovich, and Michael Dreslik.
The Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys spp.) is currently undergoing assessment to be listed as a Threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. It is designated as a species of special concern in California, sensitive/critical in Oregon, and endangered in Washington, indicating an imminent likelihood of listing. Habitat loss, predation, and shell disease have caused significant population declines, yet there remains a scarcity of data necessary for informed management decisions. Understanding the existing population structure of remaining populations is pivotal for initiating effective conservation strategies. We are gathering demographic data from thirteen military installations across their California range to assess the level of concern and identify key management priorities. Data collection spans two seasons, with sampling conducted in week- long intervals using 50 aquatic traps per base, supplemented by relevant data from prior or concurrent studies at each installation. Recorded parameters include body size, life stage, and sex of all individuals to characterize the population structure. Additionally, growth rate and recruitment will be derived from the final dataset. Our study’s objective is to delineate targeted conservation efforts for species recovery.
Rose Arnold presented
“Development of a Detection Model of the Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) to Guide Conservation Prioritization in Illinois”
co-authored with Michael Dreslik
Woman presenting at podiumLike many turtle species, Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) populations are declining range-wide due to the synergistic effects of habitat fragmentation, loss, and degradation. In Illinois, Blanding’s Turtle populations are isolated within urbanized or agricultural landscapes, thus hindering migration. Additionally, the status of the species at many historical locations remains unknown, whereby many populations may already be functionally extirpated. Thus, determining the status of populations in Illinois is the paramount conservation priority. Surveys for Blanding’s Turtles require a substantial investment of resources (time, funds, and effort) through trapping and visual searches. Currently, there are few tools for quantitatively determining the effort needed to confirm site occupancy. Here, we construct a detection probability model considering temporal, effort, habitat, weather, and environmental variables. The model will allow surveyors to calculate how much effort is necessary to determine occupancy status for a given site under a given set of conditions. The findings from the initial model sets suggest temporal factors exert the most influence on detection, particularly when compared to weather. However, even in strong-performing models, predicted detection rates remained low.
Chitra Rehka Basyal presented a poster
“Structure and Health of a Freshwater Turtle Assemblage in a Highly Developed Ecosystem”
co-authored with Michael Dreslik, Ny Aina Tiana Rakotoarisoa, Laura Adamovicz, and Matthew Allender
Turtles have important ecological roles in wetlands as omnivores, scavengers, food sources, and nutrient recyclers. Despite such importance globally, their populations are declining, with the proliferation of infectious diseases emerging as a major threat. Our study aims to assess turtle’s community structure and evaluate the physical health of those turtle individuals. We began a turtle capture-mark-recapture survey at a university wetland to study assemblage, composition and individual health. In our first year (2023), we captured 39 turtles of 6 species. Based on the species composition, our study suggests the site may be used for illegal pet releases. We screened 37 individuals for adenovirus, herpesvirus, ranavirus, and mycoplasma using conventional and quantitative PCR. Two species (Painted Turtle [Chrysemys picta] and Red-eared Slider [Trachemys scripta elegans]) were adenovirus-positive, with the virus strain being 99% similar to Sulawesi Tortoise adenovirus. No mycoplasma, Ranavirus, or herpesvirus was detected. Moreover, the Red-eared Slider is likely a natural host of Sulawesi Tortoise adenovirus (STAdV-1). The study forms a baseline for long-term demographic monitoring and health assessments of the turtle assemblage.
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UBAP leader A Rahlin presents Chicagoland ornithological research

UBAP leader Anastasia Rahlin presented two talks recently.

In January Rahlin presented “Oak Masting in the Chicagoland Region” at the Cook County Forest Preserve District – Resource Management talk as part of CCFPD’s Environmental Education program.

Rahlin and collaborators have been collecting oak masting data in the Chicagoland region over a seven-year period from 2017-2023. The talk focused on data regarding northern red, white, and bur oaks and discussed the history of oak masting research, outlined potential hypotheses that explain the likelihood of mast seeding events, and explored preliminary model results linking weather factors such as temperature and precipitation to acorn masts.
This study examines the impact of oak masting on Red-headed Woodpecker populations, an acorn caching species. Preliminary analyses linking acorn masts to Red-headed Woodpecker presence/absence and whether masting influences Red-headed Woodpecker overwintering in northern Illinois sites were also discussed.
In February, Rahlin presented  “Investigating Extreme Weather Impacts on Sedge and Marsh Wren food limitation and nesting success” at the McHenry County Forest Preserve District Research Roundup talk series.
Rahlin has been examining how habitat quality and extreme weather events impact marsh and wet meadow species in northern Illinois. Her talk focused on continued efforts to monitor marsh and sedge wren body condition through wren morphometrics and blood metabolites in order to understand how the two species respond to droughts and storms. Rahlin also discussed nesting outcomes for both wren species, as well as avenues for future research.
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INHS PaCE Lab members present at The Wildlife Society meeting

Two members of the INHS PaCE Lab presented at The Wildlife Society annual conference November 5-9 in Louisville, KY.

scientific poster about point of care device to monitor birdsUBAP program leader and ornithologist Anastasia Rahlin presented a poster “Using Point of Care devices to assess Marsh and Sedge Wren food limitation”

Abstract:
Food limitation affects wildlife health and survival, may stem from differences in body condition or habitat quality between sites, and may be exacerbated by extreme weather events. Blood metabolites have previously been used as a food limitation index in birds. To assess changes in blood metabolites in marsh and sedge wrens, we used Point of Care devices to measure blood glucose, ketones, and triglyceride levels as short and long-term food limitation indices. We collected blood samples from wrens in May-August 2022 and 2023 in two Illinois DNR state parks and one dedicated conservation area in the Chicagoland Wilderness region over the duration of the breeding season. Our data indicate short-term food limitation may increase as the breeding season progresses for both Marsh and Sedge Wrens. Ongoing modeling will test whether body condition (age, fat and muscle scores), habitat quality (wetland extent and composition), or extreme weather (drought or flooding) best predicts glucose, ketone, and triglyceride levels over the course of the breeding season. Our findings will provide insights into physiological responses of sedge and marsh wrens to food limitations, and highlight the utility of using POC devices to rapidly measure blood metabolites in the field with minimal impacts to study species. An additional goal of this research is to use blood metabolite data to identify high-quality sites for migratory birds; our data will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of conservation areas at providing high-quality habitat. This work will inform wetland and wet meadow management strategies for migratory birds.

scientific poster about pond breeding amphibian egg massesARC program leader Ethan Kessler presented a poster “Reproductive output of forested ephemeral wetland-dependent amphibians across a modified landscape”

 

Abstract:
Forested ephemeral wetlands (FEW) support diverse communities of habitat specialist species across the eastern United States, including wetland-breeding amphibians (WBA). Due to their reliance upon FEW for breeding habitat, the location of FEW on the landscape influences population dynamics and distribution of WBA. Generally, FEW are difficult to detect due to their small size and position under the canopy, however, recent technological advances provide the ability to remotely detect FEW with great accuracy. Improved FEW detection methods enable a better understanding of how FEW characteristics and distribution influence WBA presence and abundance. We counted egg masses of two widespread WBA species, Spotted Salamanders and Wood Frogs, at 231 FEW on public lands in southern Illinois using a double observer methodology from 2020–2023. We then used local and landscape characteristics to predict egg mass abundance for each species. We found egg mass counts were highly correlated between observers for each species, but the presence and abundance of egg masses were not highly correlated between the two species. For Spotted Salamanders, we found a positive effect of wetland size on egg mass abundance but found no effect of canopy cover within a 200 m buffer. Conversely, for Wood Frogs we found no effect of wetland size, but egg mass abundance was positively associated with canopy cover within 200 m of FEW. Results from this study will provide a foundation for the estimation of WBA across broad geographic scales using discrete maps of FEW.

 

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INHS PaCE Lab at Turtle Survival Alliance Symposium

Dr. Dreslik and several lab members are presenting posters and talks in Charleston, South Carolina this week for the Turtle Survival Alliance’s 21st Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles

 

Population structure of the Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys spp.) across twelve military installations in California
Emily Asche, Matthew I. Parry, Thomas S. B. Akre, Robert Lovich, and Michael J. Dreslik
Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys spp.) populations are currently threatened with habitat loss, predation, and shell disease. The synergies among threats have caused severe population declines whereby they are an endangered species in Washington, a sensitive species in Oregon, and a species of special concern in California. It is imperative to investigate their status in California to determine how prevalent threats are and what level of conservation action needs to be taken to avoid declines. We examined the population structure of the Western Pond Turtle populations at twelve military installations across California through sampling in one-week bouts using 50 aquatic traps at one visit per base. We recorded the body size, life stage, and sex of all individuals. Our study is intended to represent a first pass at determining if there are any immediate conservation concerns, such as biases in stage or sex ratios and population size structure.

Detection and occupancy of the Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys spp.)
Matthew I. Parry, Emily Asche, Robert Lovich, Thomas S. B. Akre and Michael J. Dreslik
Low densities, followed by a secretive nature, create challenges for accurately estimating population estimates and site occupancy rates. The Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys spp.) faces range-wide declines and is currently a species of special concern in California. Our project aims to determine their status across 12 military installations using an occupancy/detection framework while attempting to maximize captures during one 50 aquatic trap/four trap night sampling session per installation. Because we sampled areas of known occupancy, we could focus on estimating detection rates. We aim to create an MS Excel tool to determine the detection probabilities while accounting for various environmental and habitat-related covariates.

Survival matters: Comparing the demographic traits of Clemmys and Glyptemys with long-term capture-recapture data
Devin Edmonds, Michael J. Dreslik, Jeffrey E. Lovich, and Carl H. Ernst

Freshwater turtles are one of the most threatened vertebrate groups, with over half of all species at risk of extinction. Overexploitation and habitat loss are the largest threats, with many turtle populations now small, isolated, and needing conservation action to ensure they persist. To enact informed conservation measures and monitor recovery efforts, managers benefit from information about demographic rates like survival and recruitment for highly threatened turtle species. Survival plays a particularly important role in population persistence, considering the life history of most turtle species is characterized by a long lifespan, delayed sexual maturity, and low fecundity. Thus, even small changes in adult annual survival rates can cause otherwise stable populations to decline. We analyzed three historical long-term capture-recapture datasets to estimate annual survival and recruitment for populations of Spotted Turtles (Clemmys guttata), Wood Turtles (Glyptemys insculpta), and Bog Turtles (Glyptemys muhlengerbii) that live in increasingly threatened wetlands and surrounding habitats. All three have ranges characterized by disjunct distributions and often small and isolated populations. Adult sex ratios in turtles can be affected by differences between the sexes in the timing of maturity, rates of mortality, sex-determining mechanism, or differential immigration/emigration. The two Glyptemys species have genetic sex determination while Clemmys has environmental sex determination. This latter distinction could affect each species responses under warming climate scenarios, since Clemmys might be expected to have female-biased populations as global temperatures increase. However, sex-specific differences in survival of Glyptemys species could also occur. Using multi-decadal data, we analyze sex-specific and species-specific survivorship from a site in eastern Pennsylvania where these turtles were sympatric. Our results help inform conservation efforts for three threatened freshwater turtle species and show the strengths of historic long-term data.

Baseline energetic requirements of Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata)
Andrea L. Colton and Michael J. Dreslik

Increasing ambient temperatures due to climate change may lead to altered behaviors as turtles attempt to regulate internal body temperatures. Increased efforts to maintain temperatures may result in energetic tradeoffs, leading to reduced individual fitness and, thus, population abundance. Estimation of resting metabolic rates for turtles affords calculation of baseline energetic requirements and the potential to predict costs associated with warming landscapes. Using flow-through respirometry, we will determine the resting metabolic rates (RMRs) of adult Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata) across a temperature gradient to provide information on energetic costs. The baseline estimates will then be used to determine the annual RMR costs on the landscape.

Ranges on the spectrum of recovery: conservation action for the Spotted Turtle and Eastern River Cooter in Illinois
Michael J. Dreslik

Extinction rates in the Anthropocene are significantly higher than background and previous major events. The extinction process can occur when local populations become extirpated, particularly those on the range periphery where habitats are often sub-optimal. Turtles are one of the most critically endangered taxa, with many anthropogenic factors triggering declines. Although jurisdictional boundaries can often complicate conservation, many North American turtles have peripheral populations of conservation concern. Within Illinois, peripheral populations of the Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) and Eastern River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna) are protected as State Endangered; however, their apparent recovery is quite different. I discuss conservation prioritizations, status assessments, and conservation implementation needs for both species in Illinois. Finally, I compare the pathways to recovery for both species.
Conservation Tools and Actions: Oral Thursday PM

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2021 Midwest PARC conference

The INHS Population and Community Ecology Lab had four posters at the 2021 Midwest Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Virtual Conference, October 1-2, 2021.

 

Colton, Andrea L., E. L. Sunnucks, and M. J. Dreslik. Community Structure of Freshwater Turtles in Northeastern Illinois Marshes.

 

 

Edmonds, Devin A., A. Colton, E. Sunnucks, I. Jaquet, and M. J. Dreslik. Timing of prescribed burns to avoid Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata).

 

Lorenzen, Brock C., A. R. Kuhns, J. A. Crawford, C. A. Phillips, and M. J. Dreslik. Halting the Decline of a Jefferson Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) population: A Conservation Success Story.

 

Predicted distribution of kirtland's snake in illinoisStewart, Tyler M., A. R. Kuhns, J. A. Crawford, C. A. Phillips, and M. J. Dreslik. Predicted Distribution of Kirtland’s Snake (Clonophis kirtlandii) in Illinois.

Congratulations to M.S. student Tyler Stewart who won the Brodman Student Award for excellence in presenting a poster!
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2021 NRES Symposium

PACE Lab graduate students presented at the Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Symposium, April 17th, 2021.

    • Alma C. Schrage presented “Bumble Bee Detection and Occupancy in Northern Illinois” Click for more info
    • Devin Edmonds presented “Informing the Mantella cowanii Conservation Action Plan” Click for more info
    • Anastasia Rahlin presented “Spatial and temporal drivers of marsh bird occupancy in an urbanized matrix” Click for more info
    • Tyler Stewart presented “Distribution and Detection Probability for Kirtland’s Snake (Clonophis kirtlandii)” Click for more info
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Wild Things Conference goes virtual

Asya recording dataThis year, the Wild Things Conference will be virtual and held over two weekends, with live events as well as pre-recorded talks. UBAP ornithologist Asya Rahlin and her collaborators Stephanie Beilke (Audubon Great Lakes), and Libby Keyes (Governors State University) will have a streaming session going during both weekends of the conference.

Their talk, “A New Bird Banding Station Lands in Chicago” will discuss their project establishing a bird banding station at Big Marsh in the Calumet Region.
Learn about the Chicago Ornithological Society’s bird banding station, which debuted at Big Marsh in 2020, and what they hope to find from using this new banding station to spur research and outreach in the Calumet region.

Wild Things 2021: Part 1 will take place February 19-21

Wild Things 2021: Part 2 will take place February 26-28

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Spotted, Blanding’s, and Wood turtle ​ ​conservation symposium

PACE Lab head Michael Dreslik and herpetologist Jason Ross presented at the 2019 Spotted, Blanding’s, and Wood turtle conservation symposium held in West Virginia this November.

http://www.americanturtles.org/2019symposium.html

Population Viability Analysis and the Role of Head-starting for a northern Illinois Blanding’s Turtle Population

Rapid Demographic Assessments for Freshwater Turtles: Filling in Data Deficiencies