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2006-2008 Biennial Report
VERMONT COOPERATIVE
FISH AND WILDLIFE
R E S E A RC H U N I T
In Cooperation With
● U.S. Geological Survey
● Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife
● University of Vermont
● Wildlife Management Institute
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VTCFWRU
Cover Photos clockwise from top:
Lake Mansfield Brook Trout
Research Site on Pond Brook, Colchester, VT
Graduate Student Ryan Butryn and research technician Karen
Sentoff taking stream measurements
2006-2008 Biennial Report
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Vermont
Cooperative Fish and
Wildlife Research Unit
2006-2008
Report of Activities
Vermont Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
81 Carrigan Dr.
310 Aiken Center
The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT 05405
Telephone: (802) 656-3011
Fax: (802) 656-8683
http://www.uvm.edu/envnr/vtcfwru/
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VTCFWRU
2006-2008 Biennial Report
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Table of Contents
Unit Staff ……………………………………………………
5
Cooperators …………………………………………………
5
Coordinating Committee Representatives ……………………
6
Program Direction Statement ……………………………….
8
Projects
Aquatic ………………………………………………
9
Terrestrial …………………………………………….
15
Peer Reviewed Publications …………………………………
20
Educational Materials ………………………………………
21
Technical Reports ………………………………………….
21
Dissertations and Thesis …………………………………..
22
Honors and Awards ……………………………………….
22
Presentations ………………………………………………
23
VTCFWRU
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Unit Staff and Cooperators
UNIT STAFF
Unit Leader
Donna L. Parrish 802/656-2693
[email protected]
Assistant Unit Leader-Wildlife
Therese (Terri) Donovan 802/656-2516
[email protected]
Staff Assistant
Theresa A. DeBarge 802/656-3011
[email protected]
COOPERATORS
Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife
103 South Main Street
Waterbury, VT 05676
802/241-3700
802/241-3295 (FAX)
U.S. Geological Survey
Cooperative Research Units
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 303
Reston, VA 20192
703/648-4260
703/648-4269 (FAX)
The Rubenstein School of
Environment and Natural Resources
University of Vermont
George D. Aiken Center
Burlington, VT 05405
802/656-4280
802/656-8683 (FAX)
Wildlife Management Institute
1101 14th Street, Suite 725
Washington, DC 20005
202/371-1808
202/371-5059 (FAX)
2006-2008 Biennial Report
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Coordinating Committee Representatives
U.S. Geological Survey, Cooperative Research Units
Byron K. Williams, Chief
U.S. Geological Survey
Cooperative Research Units
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 303
Reston, VA 20192
703/648-4260
[email protected]
Michael W. Tome, Eastern Supervisor
U.S. Geological Survey
Leetown Science Center
11649 Leetown Road
Kearneysville, WV 25430
304/724-4415
[email protected]
University of Vermont
Donald H. DeHayes, Dean (until March 30, 2008)
The Rubenstein School of Environment
and Natural Resources
University of Vermont
George D. Aiken Center
Burlington, VT 05405
802/656-4280
[email protected]
Lawrence K. Forcier, Interim Dean
The Rubenstein School of Environment
and Natural Resources
University of Vermont
George D. Aiken Center
Burlington, VT 05405
802/656-4280
[email protected]
Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife
Wayne Laroche, Commissioner
VT Department of Fish and Wildlife
103 South Main Street
Waterbury, VT 05676
802/241-3730
[email protected]
Tom Decker, Operations Director
VT Department of Fish and Wildlife
103 South Main Street
Waterbury, VT 05676
802/241-3247
[email protected]
Wildlife Management Institute
Steven Williams, President
Wildlife Management Institute
1101 14th Street, Suite 725
Washington, DC 20005
202/371-1808
[email protected]
Scot J. Williamson, Vice President
Wildlife Management Institute
69 Clinton Avenue
St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
802/748-6717
[email protected]
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2006-2008 Biennial Report
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Program Direction Statement
Research by current Unit personnel
is directed primarily toward aquatic
and terrestrial ecosystems within the
state of Vermont. Unit research is
conducted in the context of a comprehensive, ecosystems approach
that recognizes the importance of
ecological interactions among species
and their habitats. Research activities
focus on the biology/ecology of fish,
mammal, and bird species, and the
biological consequences of human
impacts on aquatic and terrestrial
systems.
Research in these areas is conducted
by Unit personnel who possess technical expertise in fish/aquatic ecology, landscape ecology, species/
habitat associations, bioenergetics
modeling, population viability modeling, and hydroacoustics technology.
Areas of active Unit research with
cooperating faculty include: ecology
and management of piscivorous waterbirds, landscape influences on
population dynamics, and habitat
assessment based on remotely sensed
data.
Unit Leader Donna Parrish and Assistant Unit Leader
Terri Donovan
The Vermont Cooperative Fish and
Wildlife Research Unit is located at
the University of Vermont (UVM) in
Burlington, Vermont, and is housed
on campus in The Rubenstein
School of Environment and Natural
Resources. Overall goals of the Unit
are (i) to address technical and research needs of federal fish and wildlife agencies, the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, the University of Vermont, and other federal, state, and private entities; (ii) to
participate in the education of graduate students and advanced undergraduate students at the University of
Vermont; and (iii) to disseminate
findings of research conducted by
Unit personnel, graduate students,
and cooperators. Unit personnel
coordinate Unit activities with federal fish and wildlife agencies, the
Vermont Department of Fish and
Wildlife, and other agencies and
groups involved in the management
of natural resources.
Unit educational goals are achieved
in several ways, including the teaching of formal courses at the
graduate and upper undergraduate
level. Courses recently taught by
Unit personnel include Ecology of
Fishes, Population Dynamics and
Modeling, and Conservation Biology,
and Parameter Estimation in Ecology. Unit staff also participate in the
classroom through presentation of
guest lectures and seminars. Unit
staff act as advisors for graduate students, and are involved as committee
members on graduate research committees. To the extent possible, Unit
personnel also participate in training
and education programs for personnel in the Vermont Department of
Fish and Wildlife.
Our vision for this Unit is to provide
the best possible science to natural
resource management agencies for
the restoration of habitats and recovery and sustainability of Vermont’s
fish and wildlife species. In achieving our vision, we will continue to
To achieve the Unit research goals, conduct research that is highly releUnit personnel aggressively pursue
vant to and valued by managers and
funding sources for projects of scien- policy makers.
tific merit that advance our knowledge of natural resources and their
management. This involves both
field and laboratory studies in which
January 2006
integrated research is conducted with
colleagues at UVM and elsewhere.
Along with these studies, Unit activities include enhancement of methodological and analytic capabilities at
UVM in the areas of fish and wildlife
biology.
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VTCFWRU
Aquatic Research Project Narratives
Population Modeling of Atlantic Salmon in Vermont Tributaries
of the Connecticut River ………………………………………..
10
Genetics of Brown Trout in the Batten Kill …………………….
10
Using Adult Sea Lamprey to Investigate Potential Alternative
Methods of Controlling Population Abundance ………………..
11
Use of Migratory and Sex Pheremones to Increase Trapping
Efficiency of Sea Lamprey ……………………………………..
11
Development of Metrics to Assess the Quality of Riverine
Habitat for Coldwater Fish Based on Stream Temperature ……..
12
Recruitment Dynamics of Young-Of-Year Rainbow Smelt and
the Potential Implications of an Alewife Expansion …………….
12
Designing Effective Sampling Strategies for Mudpuppies in
Vermont ………………………………………………………...
13
Diet, Movement, and Dispersal Patterns of Double-Crested
Cormorants …………………………………………………….
13
2006-2008 Biennial Report
Principal Investigators: Donna L. Parrish, Martha E. Mather
(USGS-Massachusetts Coop Unit), and Elizabeth A. Marschall
(Ohio State University)
Project Cooperators: National Marine Fisheries Service and Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife
Project Period: 1 August 2002 – 31 July 2010
Objective: To develop a population model that will be useful in
exploring various restoration strategies for Atlantic salmon in Vermont.
By using a population modeling approach we are exploring at
which life stages restoration efforts would be most useful. Thus
far, we have developed a model to simulate downstream movement of smolts in the Connecticut River. The base model is complete and has been used to understand interactions of parameters.
One example of the way we are using the base model to understand interactions of parameters; i.e., mortality rate in the river,
mortality rate at the dams, and swimming speed (as a function of
current speed) is in their effects on downstream survival of smolts,
especially those from the upper tributaries. This type of analysis,
using simulated flow data, enhances our understanding of the inherent interaction between travel speed, mortality rates, and smolt
success. We have found combinations of swimming speed and
mortality rates (two parameters that are difficult to estimate empirically) that result in successful smolt travel from the upper tributaries to Long Island Sound. However, most recently we have
added upper lethal temperatures and dam delays to the model,
which indicate that in many years the combined effects of temperature and dams can greatly increase smolt mortality within the
river. A next step is to incorporate daily flow data from the 10
years of data from the Connecticut River.
Project Status: Ongoing.
GENETICS OF BROWN TROUT IN THE BATTEN
KILL
Principal Investigators: Donna L. Parrish and C. William
Kilpatrick (UVM)
Project Cooperator: U.S. Forest Service
Project Period: 6 June 2005 – 12 December 2007
Synopsis: Brown trout (Salmo trutta) are non-native to
North America and were stocked in the Vermont waters of
the Batten Kill from ~110 years ago until 33 years ago.
Stocking in Vermont ceased in 1972, however, stocking continues immediately across the border in New York. Based
on telemetry data from October 2003, brown trout from
Vermont waters migrate into New York and back into small
Vermont tributaries. These movements are most likely related to spawning and therefore provide evidence of specific
spawning locations. Therefore, we collected fin samples
from brown trout for genetic analysis to determine if differences exist in populations in the Batten Kill above and below
a barrier (Dufresne Dam), from Batten Kill fish to those in a
nearby reference stream, and in current hatchery fish. We
then expanded this project to include analysis of scales from
brown trout collected in the early 1980s for comparisons to
the current populations listed above. By quantifying the
degree to which subpopulations are genetically distinct, our
results are useful in determining how relevant it is to treat
subpopulations of brown trout as demographically independent.
Project Status: Final analyses and report due soon.
Dog River Brown Trout
POPULATION MODELING OF ATLANTIC SALMON
IN VERMONT TRIBUTARIES OF THE CONNECTICUT RIVER
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USING ADULT SEA LAMPREYS TO INVESTIGATE
POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF CONTROLLING POPULATION ABUNDANCE
USE OF MIGRATORY AND SEX PHEROMONES
TO INCREASE TRAPPING EFFICIENCY OF SEA
LAMPREY
Principal Investigator: Donna L. Parrish
Principal Investigators: J. Ellen Marsden (UVM) and
Donna L. Parrish
Graduate Student: David Hitchcock (M.S. Student)
Project Cooperators: U.S. Geological Survey, The Nature
Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Project Period: 1 January 2005 – 31 May 2006
Synopsis: The Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Management
Cooperative has been involved in managing sea lamprey
(Petromyzon marinus) populations since the early 1990s and, in a
recently published Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, presented its control strategy for 20 streams and deltas
throughout the Basin for “A long-term program of sea lamprey
control.” On one of the basin’s major lamprey producers, the
Poultney River, the Cooperative has recommended deferring
lampricide treatment for five years after program initiation.
During the five-year delay, the Cooperative along with the members of the Lake Champlain Sea Lamprey Control Alternatives
Workgroup, assessed control options that may be available for
the Poultney and other rivers. One potential option was trapping sea lamprey just prior to spawning. Therefore, the goal of
this project was to identify and evaluate potential trapping locations in these rivers by tracking lamprey migrations on their
spawning runs. Specifically, the objectives of this project were
to: characterize pre-spawning lamprey movements in the Poultney River and its tributary, the Hubbardton River, characterize
and map habitats occupied by these lamprey, and test the effectiveness of sex pheromones released by adult male sea lampreys
in influencing spatial orientation of conspecifics by using multiple males to divert females from nesting grounds and into traps.
Our results indicated that most sea lamprey in the Poultney
River did not migrate far enough to reach the potential trapping
site. In the female choice experiments, traps containing more
males were the ones entered by the females, indicating a doseresponse by the females to male sex pheromone.
M.S. Student Mike Harrington Inspecting Sea
Lamprey
Project Status: Completed.
Graduate Students: Wayne Bouffard (UVM M.S. Student)
and Michael Harrington (Unit M.S. Student)
Project Cooperator: National Sea Grant
Project Period: 1 September 2005 – 31 May 2008
Synopsis: Sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) is a non-native
aquatic nuisance species in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain that has had a devastating impact on native fish. Control of sea lamprey populations has focused on the vulnerable larval stage through chemical treatment. However, concerns have been raised about the potential for development
of resistance to the chemical, as well as effects on non-target
species. The Great Lakes Fishery Commission is committed
to reducing chemical use for control of lamprey and to the
development of alternative methods for control.
Therefore, the aim of our proposed research is to determine
whether lamprey pheromones can be used to deflect migratory lamprey from sensitive or difficult-to-treat tributaries,
and improve our ability to trap lamprey prior to spawning.
In contrast to chemical control, the intent of pheromonemediated control is not to reduce established larval populations, but to reduce recruitment by removing reproductive
adults prior to spawning. Our work addressed the next step
of pheromone research: use of pheromones in ‘real-world’
field situations, in the presence of ambient sea lamprey that
emit background levels of pheromone. The study on migratory pheromone has produced conflicting results indicating
responses of adults are extremely complex. The study using
female choice experiments obtained similar results to those
conducted without background pheromone, however, the
percent of positive responses were less. Thus, our results
lead us to conclude that the use of pheromones as a major
control of sea lamprey is not feasible in the immediate future.
Project Status: Ongoing.
2006-2008 Biennial Report
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DEVELOPMENT OF METRICS TO ASSESS THE QUALITY OF RIVERINE HABITAT FOR COLDWATER FISH
BASED ON STREAM TEMPERATURE
RECRUITMENT DYNAMICS OF YOUNG-OFYEAR RAINBOW SMELT AND THE POTENTIAL
IMPLICATIONS OF AN ALEWIFE EXPANSION
Principal Investigators: Donna L. Parrish and Donna M. Rizzo
(UVM College of Engineering)
Principal Investigators: Donna L. Parrish, Lars G. Rudstam (Cornell), Bernie Pientka (VTFW) and Patrick J. Sullivan (Cornell)
Project Cooperator: Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife
Project Period: 1 September 2006 – 1 August 2008
Objectives:
1. Determine what facets of the temperature regime (such as
temperature maxima and averages) are biologically significant
and what data must be collected to feed into developing metrics.
2. Develop a suite of metrics that characterize the suitability of
the summer temperature regime for coldwater fish.
3. Validate the metrics against biological data on fish populations, using rivers where both biological and temperature data
are available. Refine the suite of metrics as appropriate.
Stream temperature plays a dominant role in the distribution of
fish species within a river, especially in native coldwater fish such
as brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). High summer temperatures can
cause periods of sublethal stress that may affect individual growth
rates, population density, and biomass of coldwater fish. In this
study, we are exploring how sublethal temperature stress explains
distributional patterns in brook trout populations of Vermont.
For analysis, we are using annual fish population and hourly temperature data that were collected at multiple sites for the past 1020 years. To determine the spatial resolution of stream temperature data, we have deployed many small, temperature loggers
(iButtons) in a variety of stream types and sizes. The magnitude,
duration, and frequency of stream temperature readings capable of
inducing a heat-shock response (> 22°C) were used as predictor
variables to explain variation in the brook trout populations.
Combining the literature-based knowledge of sublethal stress on
individual fish with seasonal patterns of fish population response
to temperature allows us to make predictions of suitable coldwater
habitat. Our results will provide a basis for assessing and predicting the availability of coldwater habitat, which can inform management efforts to maintain or restore native trout in the future context of climate change.
Project Status: Ongoing.
Graduate Student: Paul W. Simonin (M.S. Student)
Project Cooperators: Lake Champlain Sea Grant and Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife
Project Period: 1 June 2007 – 31 May 2009
Synopsis: Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) have historically
been the dominant pelagic planktivore in Lake Champlain,
and are likely native to this lake. This study extends and
complements our work of 2001 and 2002 by focusing on
young-of-year (YOY) rainbow smelt and the recent pelagic
invader, alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus). In 2007, we conducted acoustic surveys, physically sampled fish, and measured abiotic environmental conditions in the main section of
the lake during day and night every two to three weeks from
June through September. Our goal is to understand habitat
use and seasonal dynamics of these two fish populations
focusing on the YOY of both species. Alewife YOY were
not observed until late July 2007, whereas YOY rainbow
smelt were present in the epilimnion in June. Light intensity
and water temperature were the two proximate environmental variables associated with behavior (e.g. schooling)
and vertical distribution for both YOY rainbow smelt and
alewife. Dense schools were formed under bright light conditions, but fish were dispersed at lower light levels independent of time of day. Although YOY alewife generally
preferred warmer depths, including offshore surface water,
distribution of YOY rainbow smelt and alewife overlapped
at times. The recent addition of alewife to the lake has increased the complexity of the food web in Lake Champlain.
We will complete another year of sampling in 2008.
Project Status: Ongoing.
Lake Champlain Alewife expansion
Graduate Student: Ryan S. Butryn (M.S. Student)
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DESIGNING EFFECTIVE SAMPLING STRATEGIES
FOR MUDPUPPIES IN VERMONT
VTCFWRU
Graduate Student: Isaac Chellman (M.S. Student)
POPULATION DYNAMICS, FORAGING ECOLOGY, AND OPTIMAL MANAGEMENT OF DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN
Principal Investigators: David E. Capen (Co-PI), Therese
M. Donovan (Co-PI), and Donna L. Parrish
Project Cooperator: Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife
Graduate Students: Adam Duerr (Ph.D. student) and Marc
Eisenhower (M.S. student)
Project Period: 1 January 2008 – 31 May 2010
Project Cooperators: Lake Champlain Sea Grant, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Vermont Department of Fish and
Wildlife.
Principal Investigator: Donna L. Parrish
Synopsis: The common mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus) is the
only purely aquatic salamander in Vermont. Currently, the species has an S2 (rare) ranking in the state, and is considered a
species of special concern by the Scientific Advisory Group on
Reptiles and Amphibians. The group designated the mudpuppy
the Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the state’s 2005
Wildlife Action Plan. There is a lack of knowledge of mudpuppies in Vermont and their potential threats.
Therefore, the objectives of this study are to: 1) Develop methods of effectively sampling mudpuppies in tributaries of Lake
Champlain, beginning with the Lamoille River, 2) Examine and
evaluate age class distribution, habitat use, and possible seasonal
movements, if enough animals are collected, 3) Collect tissue
samples for genetic analysis (funded separately), and 4) Attempt
to determine population size. If it is not feasible to estimate
population size, we will work with Vermont Fish and Wildlife
on recommendations on how this may be addressed in the future.
Project Status: New.
Project Period: 1 February 2001 – 31 May 2007
Synopsis: Cormorants are a recent addition to the avifauna
of Lake Champlain and have since become a concern to
wildlife managers. They first nested on Young Island, Vermont, in 1981; they expanded to Four Brothers Islands ,
New York , by 1984, and peaked at > 20,000 birds in 1999.
Population increases were associated with destruction of
vegetation and displacement of other birds from nesting
colonies. In 1999, Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife
and U.S.D.A. Wildlife Services began spraying cormorant
eggs with corn oil to prevent hatching and limit recruitment
on Young Island.
By 2001, this colony decreased in size by 58% and the Four
Brothers colony increased by 78%, making it the largest colony on Lake Champlain. In other locations, cormorant
populations are managed to limit negative effects on fish
populations. In 2001, we began studies to 1) determine if
oiling eggs increases dispersal away from Young Island, 2)
estimate the quantity of fish consumed by cormorants, and
3) develop tools to identify optimal strategies for cormorant
management based upon knowledge of their population dynamics.
2006-2008 Biennial Report
To determine how cormorants respond to egg oiling, we implemented an experiment on Young Island from 2001-2004. The
experiment included oiling eggs in some areas of the cormorant
colony and allowing cormorants to reproduce in other areas. We
individually marked birds and tracked their movements between
Young and Four Brothers islands. We found that oiling eggs increased the proportion of cormorants that dispersed away from
Young Island by 0.03. Predation of eggs by gulls, which occurs
when eggs are oiled during daytime, increased dispersal by 0.20
when predation rates were high. Cormorant colonies on Lake
Champlain interact through dispersal of individuals, and management actions increased dispersal rates.
We constructed an energetics model for cormorants from Young
and Four Brothers Islands to estimate fish consumption for 20012003. The model estimated energy requirements by combining
data on duration of time cormorants spent in various activities
with energy requirements for these activities. Cormorants from
Young Island rested more and traveled shorter distances to foraging locations than cormorants from Four Brothers Islands. We
estimated that fish consumption ranged from 320,000 – 416,000
kg of fish for Young Island and 877,000-1,066,000 kg on Four
Brothers Islands. Differences in fish consumption were due to
differences in energy demands and population sizes between colonies. An unanticipated consequence to management on Young
Island was changes in patterns of fish consumption by cormorants
across Lake Champlain.
We also developed a tool that wildlife managers can use to identify
optimal strategies for cormorant management on Lake Champlain.
This tool was based on a population model for cormorants, which
was parameterized from an analysis of observations of marked
cormorants from 2001-2006. We projected population changes
expected when individual colonies were managed. These projections were then incorporated into a decision analysis to identify
optimal management strategies for a given objective and a set of
alternative management actions. Optimal management strategies to
reduce sizes of cormorant populations included management at
multiple colonies.
Project Status: Completed.
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Lake Champlain
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VTCFWRU
Terrestrial Research Project Narratives
Landscape Effects on Population Dynamics in Birds …………………
16
Are Forage Crops Ecological Traps? Evaluating Management Practices
for Grassland Birds in Forage Crops? …………………………………
16
Developing Predictive Occurrence Models for Carnivores in Vermont
Using Data Collected With Multiple, Noninvasive Methods …………..
17
An Evaluation of Bobcat Habitat Use and Movements in Northwestern Vermont …………………………………………………………..
18
The Influence of Forest Attributes on Indicators of Biodiversity: Establishing Guidelines for Sustainable Forest Management …………….
18
2006-2008 Biennial Report
LANDSCAPE EFFECTS ON POPULATION DYNAMICS
IN BIRDS
Principal Investigator: Therese M. Donovan
Graduate Student: Kerri Cornell (Ph.D. student)
Page 16
We considered ecological factors associated with this disconnect including predation, parasitism, and food limitation, and
suggest that cowbird parasitism is a leading factor contributing to disconnect between selection cues and fitness in this
system.
Project Status: Completed.
Project Cooperators: National Science Foundation, NASA,
McIntire-Stennis (USDA), Vermont Department of Fish and
Wildlife
Project Period: 1 January 2002 – 30 September 2007
Objectives:
1.
2.
3.
Document how black-throated blue warblers distribute themselves across a heterogeneous region within Vermont.
Determine mechanisms that affect territory selection as well
as the per capita birth, immigration, and death / emigration
associated with that territory.
Assess alternative mechanisms of territory selection, including
landscape factors, shrub factors, and conspecific density.
We used a information-theoretic approach to investigate how habitat patterns across three spatial extents influenced habitat selection
decisions and demographic patterns for black-throated blue warblers (Dendroica caerulescens) at 20 study sites in west-central Vermont, USA from 2002-2005. These sites represented gradients of
habitat patterns at different spatial extents, including: 1) territorylevel understory shrub density, 2) patch-level understory shrub
density occurring within 25 ha of territories, and 3) landscape-level
habitat patterns occurring within 5 km radius extents of territories. We considered multiple vital population parameters including
abundance, age ratios, pairing success, and annual fecundity. We
found that territory-level shrub cover was most important for determining which individuals occupied which habitats but that landscape-level habitat structure strongly influenced reproductive output. Consistent with long-term studies of this species in New
Hampshire, sites with higher territory-level shrub density had
higher abundance, were more likely to be occupied by older, more
experienced individuals, and males that were paired compared to
sites with lower shrub density. However, annual fecundity was
higher on sites located in contiguously forested landscape where
shrub cover was low. In addition, we found evidence that the
effect of habitat pattern at one spatial level depended on habitat
conditions at different levels. The interaction between territorylevel and landscape-level habitat structure influenced both abundance and annual fecundity. Abundance was highest at sites located in more fragmented landscapes with the highest shrub densities, but females occupying these same sites fledged fewer offspring per year. Our results suggest that the proximate cue of territory-level shrub density used for breeding territory selection by
this species may be decoupled from realized fitness, where individuals are unable to recognize and occupy habitats best suited for
reproduction.
ARE FORAGE CROPS ECOLOGICAL TRAPS?
EVALUATING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR
GRASSLAND BIRDS IN FORAGE CROPS
Principal Investigators: Allan Strong, Therese M. Donovan (Co-PI), Austin Troy, and Sidney Bosworth
Graduate Students: Daniel Shustack (M.S. student), Noah
Perlut (Ph.D. student)
Project Cooperator: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Project Period: 1 January 2002 – 31 August 2006
Abstract: Over the last 40 years North American grassland
bird populations have declined more than any other bird
guild. This trend is especially evident in Vermont, where
species experiencing precipitous declines include the Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) and Bobolink
(Dolichonyx oryzivorus). These declines are linked to habitat
loss due to reforestation and suburbanization as well as the
intensification of grassland management. Modern grassland
management includes earlier first-haying dates (late-May) and
shorter intervals between haying events (35 days). These
management practices have severe repercussions for songbird populations because 1) early-haying results in complete
nest failure (99% Savannah Sparrow and 100% Bobolink
nests), 2) the interval between the first and second haying is
too short for birds to renest, and 3) intensively managed
fields comprise a significant portion of the total available
habitat (as much as 40%).
In 2002-2006, we examined how hayfield and pasture management affected grassland songbird ecological and evolutionary behavior in the agricultural landscape of the Champlain Valley, Vermont and New York. We studied songbirds
in four grassland management types: early-hayed fields harvested in late-May or early-June and again in
Page 17
mid-July; middle-hayed fields harvested in late-June or early-July;
late-hayed fields harvested after 1 August; rotationally-grazed pastures, a matrix of small paddocks where cows are moved after
the grass in a paddock is eaten to a low point. We addressed the
following objectives:
1. Determined the annual productivity, survival, and recruitment of Bobolinks and Savannah Sparrows in the four treatment types.
2. Identified the effects of early-haying on the social and genetic mating systems of Savannah Sparrows.
3. Conducted a population viability analysis for Bobolinks and
Savannah Sparrows nesting in the Champlain Valley, assessing
sensitivities of life-history parameters and identifying effective
management alternatives.
This study provides information on how agricultural management affects the ecology, evolution, and viability of grassland
birds. It will help inform landowners, managers, and law-makers
about management practices and habitat requirements needed to
sustain populations.
Project Status: Completed.
DEVELOPING PREDICTIVEVE OCCURRENCE
MODELS FOR CARNIVORES IN VERMONT USING
DATA COLLECTED WITH MULTIPLE, NONINVASIVE METHODS
Principal Investigator: Therese M. Donovan
Graduate Student: Robert Long (Ph.D. student)
Project Cooperators: Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Forest (USDA)
Project Period: 1 August 2001 – 30 June 2006
Abstract: Carnivores typically require large areas of habitat,
exist at low natural densities, and exhibit elusive behavior—
rendering their study difficult. Relatively new, noninvasive survey methods, such as remote cameras and hair snares, now provide the means to collect robust data that can be used to estimate carnivore occupancy, distribution, and abundance. More
recently, scat detector dogs—dogs trained to locate feces (scat)
from target species—have been used to survey carnivores and
other elusive species.
During the summers of 2003-04, specially trained detector dogs
were used to locate scat from black bears (Ursus americanus), fishers (Martes pennanti), and bobcats (Lynx rufus) on 168 sites
throughout Vermont.
VTCFWRU
Five detection teams located a total of 1565 scats (747 putative black bear, 665 putative fisher, and 153 putative bobcat).
Of 347 scats genetically analyzed for species identification,
179 (51.6%) yielded a positive identification, 131 (37.8%)
failed to yield DNA or the DNA failed to amplify, and 37
(10.7%) yielded DNA but provided no species confirmation.
For 70 survey sites where DNA confirmation of a putative
fisher or bobcat scat was not possible, we assessed the probability that at least one of the scats collected at a given site was
deposited by the putative target species (probability of correct
ID; PID). We then assigned a detection to any site where PID
for the target species was ≥ 0.90.
Based on both DNA confirmations and PID values, dog surveys detected bears at 57.1% (96) of sites surveyed, fishers at
61.3% (103) of sites, and bobcats at 12.5% (21) of sites. We
estimated that the mean probability of detecting the target
species (when present) during a single visit to a site with a
detector dog team was 0.86 for black bears, 0.95 for fishers,
and 0.40 for bobcats. These detection probabilities were high
when compared with single visit estimates reported for other
noninvasive detection methods (e.g., remote cameras, hair
snares). The probability of detecting black bears was largely
unaffected by site- or visit-specific covariates. Fisher detection, however, varied by team. We found little or no effect of
topographic ruggedness, vegetation density, or local weather
(e.g., temperature, humidity) on detection probability for either fishers or black bears. Data sparseness precluded the
modeling of bobcat detectability with site- or visit-specific
covariates.
We also compared the relative efficacy of detector dogs, remote cameras, and hair snares for detecting the 3 target species at a subset of the sites visited by detector dogs. All 3
methods detected black bears; fishers and bobcats, however,
were not detected by hair snares. Raw detection rates, unique
detection rates, and the probability of detecting the target
species (given presence) were all substantially higher for detector dogs than for cameras and hair snares.
Using occupancy modeling, multi-model inference, and the
detection/non-detection data collected at all sites, we modeled
occurrence of each target species as a function of site-specific
variables. Black bear occurrence was related to the amount of
forested land (+) and human development (-) within a 5-km
radius of the survey site. After model-averaging, neither the
fisher nor bobcat occurrence models contained significant
covariates. However, variables contained in high-ranking
fisher models included amount of coniferous forest (+), wetland cover (-), and human development (+). High-ranking
bobcat models consistently contained amount of mixed forest
(+), and forested wetland cover (+).
Project Status: Completed.
2006-2008 Biennial Report
AN EVALUATION OF BOBCAT HABITAT USE AND
MOVEMENTS IN NORTHWESTERN VERMONT
Principal Investigator: Therese M. Donovan
Graduate Student: Mark Freeman (M.S. Student)
Project Cooperator: Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife
Project Period: 1 September 2004 – 30 August 2008
Objectives:
1. Evaluate the effect of ledge habitat, landscape fragmentation,
road density, and human density on bobcat habitat use and survival probability.
2. Evaluate bobcat movements in response to road density, road
type, and traffic volume.
The aim of this study is to evaluate habitat use and movements of
bobcats (Felis rufus) in northwestern Vermont in order to direct
future conservation actions for this species. Bobcats are currently
threatened by habitat fragmentation and by road mortality. As a
result of these threats, a standardized study that investigates basic
habitat use and movements in response to land pattern and human
activity is needed. Habitat use and movements will be determined
by collaring 10 – 20 female bobcats with ATS G2004 Store-onBoard GPS collars, where data are stored on the collar itself and
are retrieved by the investigator one year later, when the unit detaches automatically from an animal.
The data collected and concomitant analyses will aid in developing
a targeted conservation plan that attempts to proactively conserve
bobcat habitats.
Page 18
THE INFLUENCE OF FOREST ATTRIBUTES ON
INDICATORS OF BIODIVERSITY: ESTABLISHING GUIDELINES FOR SUSTAINABLE FOREST
MANAGEMENT
Principal Investigators: Therese M. Donovan (PI), William Keeton, and Thomas McEvoy.
Post Doctoral Associate: Scott Schwenk
Project Cooperators: Northeastern States Research Cooperative (USDA); Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife
Project Period: 1 September 2007 – 31 October 2010
Objectives:
1. Develop models to determine forest and landscape attributes associated with 23 forest dwelling animals in Vermont.
2. Critically evaluate the umbrella, indicator, and keystone
species concepts for managing biodiversity.
3. Assess how various forest management and costrevenue scenarios will affect biodiversity (as measured
through changes in umbrella, indicator, or keystone species).
Disseminate results broadly through outreach to management agencies and private landowners.
Project Status: Ongoing.
Along with maintaining stand quality and production, foresters are now called upon to diversify their management techniques to improve watersheds and, enhance wildlife biodiversity. A critical challenge for applied foresters is to determine
exactly how to manage for “biodiversity,” especially when a
complete survey of taxa is lacking. Limited funding and resources preclude management of all species, and thus management often focuses on three types of species: umbrella
(species with large home ranges), management indicator
(species which suggest the occurrence of a particular forest
type), and keystone species (species which positively or negatively affect the occurrence of other species).
Page 19
VTCFWRU
Although management for one or more of these species is
widely believed to enhance biodiversity, these concepts have not
been critically evaluated, particularly in northern forests.
This study will use an existing “biodiversity dataset,” consisting
of 36,000 bird records, 7,000 amphibian/reptile records, 200
carnivore records, and several thousand invertebrate records
that were collected at over 700 stations across Vermont. We
will use powerful, new analytical approaches to directly assess
whether management for putative umbrella and indicator species
will actually enhance biodiversity, and we will develop new approaches to identify keystone species. Once species are identified, we will simulate various forest harvesting regimes and
evaluate the hypothetical revenues returned, and how umbrella,
keystone, and indicator species will respond to management
efforts. The results of this study will assess trade-offs between
revenue and biodiversity management. General, guiding principles will be disseminated to land managers.
Project Status: Ongoing.
Two starkly contrasted images of Vermont. A black bear in its
native habitat juxtopposed to the increasingly fragmented
landscape of Vermont.
2006-2008 Biennial Report
Page 20
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Beauchamp, D., D.L. Parrish, Roy A. Whaley. 2008. Coldwater Fish Large Standing Waters. In Freshwater fisheries standard sampling.
Editors S. Bonar, W. Hubert, and D. Willis. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, MD. In press
Bonter, D. N., T. M. Donovan, and E. W. Brooks. 2007. Daily mass changes in landbirds during migration stopover on the south shore
of Lake Ontario. Auk 124:122-133.
Donovan, T. M., J. Buzas, P. W. Jones, H. L. Gibbs. 2006. Tracking dispersal in birds: assessing the potential of elemental markers.
Auk 123:1-12.
Duerr, A., D. E. Capen, and T. M. Donovan. 2007. Wildlife management increases breeding dispersal in double-crested cormorants.
Journal of Wildlife Management 71:2565-2574.
Long, R. A., T. M. Donovan, P. MacKay, W. J. Zielinski, and J. S. Buzas. 2007. Effectiveness of scat detection dogs for detecting forest
carnivores. Journal of Wildlife Management 71:2007-2017.
Long, R. A., T. M. Donovan, P. MacKay, W. J. Zielinski, and J. S. Buzas. 2007. Comparing scat detection dogs, cameras, and hair snares
for surveying carnivores. Journal of Wildlife Management 71:2018-2025.
Mather, M.E., D.L. Parrish, C.A. Campbell, J.R. McMenemy, and J.M. Smith. 2008. Summer temperature variation and implications for
juvenile Atlantic salmon. Hydrobiologia : In press.
McKenny, H., W. S. Keeton, and T. M. Donovan. 2006. The effects of structure-based forestry on red-backed salamander (Plethodon
cinereus) populations in northern hardwood forests. Forest Ecology and Management 230:186-196.
Mitchell, B R., and T. M. Donovan. 2008. Mob mentality: the effect of a mobbing tape on detections during point count surveys.
Open Ornithology Journal: In press.
Noa, L., D. H. Hirth, T. M. Donovan, and D. Cimprich. 2007. Demographic differences of black-capped vireos in two habitat types in
central Texas. Journal of Wildlife Management 71:1042-1049.
Parker Stetter, S.L., L.G. Rudstam, J.L. Stritzel Thomson, D.L. Parrish, and P.J. Sullivan. 2007. Assessing the importance and predictability of cannibalism in rainbow smelt. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 136: 227-237.
Parker Stetter, S.L., L.G. Rudstam, J.L. Stritzel Thomson, D.L. Parrish. 2006. Hydroacoustic separation of rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) age groups in Lake Champlain. Fisheries Research 82:176-185.
Perlut, N., C. Freeman-Gallant, A. M. Strong, T. M. Donovan, C. W. Kilpatrick, and N. J. Zalik. 2008. Agricultural management affects
evolutionary processes in a migratory songbird. Molecular Ecology 17:1248-1255.
Perlut N. G., A. M. Strong, T. M. Donovan, and N. J. Buckley. 2006. Grassland songbirds in a dynamic management landscape: behavioral responses and management strategies. Ecological Applications 16:2235-2247.
Smith, K.W., W. S. Keeton, T. M. Donovan, and B. Mitchell. 2008. Stand-level forest structure in avian habitat: scale dependencies in
predicting occurrences in a heterogeneous forest. Forest Science 54:36-46.
Watrous, K. S., T. M. Donovan, R. Mickey, S. R. Darling, A. Hicks, and S. Von Oettengen. 2006. Predicting and mapping the minimum
habitat requirements of the Indiana Bat in the Champlain Valley. Journal of Wildlife Management 70:1228-1237.
Winter, M., D. H. Johnson, Jill A. Shaffer, T. M. Donovan, and W. D. Svedarsky. 2006. How consistent are the effects of patch size
and landscape composition on density and nest success of grassland birds. Journal of Wildlife Management 70:158-172.
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VTCFWRU
Scholarly Activities
EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS:
Donovan, T.M. 2005. The VTCFWRU Spreadsheet Project. http://www.uvm.edu/envnr/vtcfwru/spreadsheets.html Peer-reviewed
spreadsheet, MARK, and PRESENCE exercises that focus on a variety of parameter estimation problems.
TECHNICAL REPORTS:
Donovan, T. 2006. Effects of habitat fragmentation on bird species richness in the continental U.S. Final Report Research Work Order
32. NASA, Washington, D.C.
Donovan, T. M. 2006. Identifying the effects of scale on population dynamics in birds: An individually-based approach. Final Report.
National Science Foundation Grant No. 0344369, Washington, D.C.
Donovan, T. M. 2006. Towards a theory of landscape effects on population dynamics in birds. Final Report. The National Science
Foundation Grant No. 0108875, Washington D.C.
Donovan, T. M., and A. Duerr. 2007. Influence of egg oiling on the metapopulation dynamics of double-crested cormorants. Final Report. Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, Waterbury, VT.
Donovan, T. M., and K. Cornell. 2007. Relationships between forest bird abundance and nesting productivity in Vermont. Final Report.
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, Waterbury, VT.
Omland, K.S., and D.L. Parrish. 2007. Population modeling for Batten Kill trout. Final Report. U.S. Forest Service, Green Mountain
National Forest, Rutland, VT.
Strong, A., T. M. Donovan, A. Troy, N. Buckley, and S. Bosworth. 2007. Hayfields as sustainable habitat for grassland bird populations: ecological and economic impacts of "bird-friendly" hay, Final Report. USDA/Cooperative State Research, Education, and
Extension Service, Washington, D.C.
Strong, A. M., T. M. Donovan, and N. Perlut. 2007. Viability of grassland bird populations in a managed landscape. Final Report. National Resources Conservation Service, Washington, D.C.
2006-2008 Biennial Report
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Scholarly Activities
DISSERTATIONS AND THESIS:
Cornell, Kerri. 2007. Scale-dependent mechanisms of habitat selection and demography for a forest songbird in a heterogeneous landscape. Ph.D. Dissertation. University of Vermont, Burlington, VT.
Advisor: Therese M. Donovan
Duerr, Adam. 2007. Population dynamics, foraging ecology, and optimal management of double-crested cormorants on Lake Champlain.
Ph.D. Dissertation. University of Vermont, Burlington, VT.
Advisor: Therese M. Donovan
Eisenhower, Marc. 2008. Double-crested cormorant and fish interactions in a littoral basin of Lake Champlain. Master’s thesis. University of Vermont, Burlington, VT. Advisor: Donna L. Parrish.
Perlut, Noah. 2007. Effects of hayfield management on grassland songbirds: behavioral responses and population processes. Ph.D. Dissertation. University of Vermont, Burlington, VT.
Advisors: Therese M. Donovan and Allan Strong.
HONORS AND AWARDS:
Noah Perlut (Ph.D. student, advisors: Terri Donovan and Allan Strong) received the 2006 and 2007 Rubenstein School Outstanding
Graduate Student (Ph.D.) Research Award.
Kristen Watrous (M.S. student, advisor: Terri Donovan) received the 2006 Rubenstein School Outstanding Graduate Student (M.S.) Research Award.
Paul W. Simonin (MS student, advisor: Donna Parrish) received a 2008 New England Outdoor Writers Association scholarship. These
scholarships are awarded to students who best demonstrate creativity, commitment and an ability to communicate their enthusiasm and
knowledge about the outdoors. Paul’s thesis work with Donna Parrish and project co-PIs (Lars Rudstam and Patrick Sullivan, Cornell
University, and Bernie Pientka, Vermont Fish and Wildlife) addresses the interactions of rainbow smelt and alewife in Lake Champlain.
Donna Parrish completed her two-year term as President of the Education Section of the American Fisheries Society in September 2007.
Page 23
VTCFWRU
Presentations
Capen, D., E., A. E. Duerr, C. Maisonneuve, Duerr, A. E., B. Strickland, D. E. Capen, T.
T. M. Donovan, and G. Cabana.
M. Donovan and G. Nohrenberg.
Research and monitoring of DCCO
Effects of capture, color-banding,
populations on Lake Champlain and
and radio transmitters on survival
St. Lawrence River: Lessons for manand colony fidelity of double-crested
agement. 50th Annual Conference
cormorants on Lake Champlain. 50th
International Association for Great
Annual Conference International
Lakes Research, University Park, PA;
Association for Great Lakes Research, University Park, PA; 28 May
28 May – 1 June 2007.
– 1 June 2007.
Cornell, K., and T. M. Donovan. Landscape-scale patterns of demography
Duerr, A., E., K. Stromborg, C. Weseloh, D.
in black-throated blue warblers in
Capen and T. Donovan. Survival of
Vermont. 62nd Northeast Fish and
Double-crested Cormorants and
Wildlife Annual Conference, Burlingphilopatry to natal colonies on Lake
ton, VT; 23-26 April 2006.
Michigan Ontario and Champlain.
50th Annual Conference International
Cornell, K. L., and T. M. Donovan. Deter
Association for Great Lakes Reminants of territory occupancy of a
search, University Park, PA; 28 May
forest songbird in a fragmented land
– 1 June 2007.
scape: are conspecific cues indicators
of quality? IV North American Orni Hitchcock, D.J., M. R. Harrington, and D.L.
thological Conference, Veracruz,
Parrish. Sea lamprey sex pheroMexico; 3-7 October 2006.
mone experiments: using males to
attract females into traps. 136th AnDuerr, A, D. E. Capen, and T. M. Dononual Meeting of the American Fishvan. Diet, foraging, distribution, and
eries Society, Lake Placid, NY, 10-14
energy requirements of cormorants
September 2006. (Invited sympoon Lake Champlain. 62nd Northeast
sium presentation.)
Fish and Wildlife Annual Conference,
Burlington, VT; 23-26 April 2006.
Long, R.A., T. M. Donovan, P. MacKay,
W.J. Zielinski, and J.S. Buzas. ComDuerr, A.E., D. E. Capen, T. M. Donovan,
parison of noninvasive survey techand C. Maisonneuve, Decisionniques: forest carnivores in Vermont.
analysis modeling to evaluate man2006 Annual Conference of the
agement options for double-crested
Western Section of the Wildlife Socicormorants in the Northeast. 14th
ety Pre-conference Symposium:
Annual Wildlife Society Conference,
Fisher and Marten in California:
Tucson, AZ; 22 September 2007.
Moving Science and Management
Forward. Sacramento, California; 810 February 2006. (Poster)
Long, R., T. M. Donovan, P. MacKay, W.
J. Zielinski, and J. S. Buzas. Predicting carnivore occurrence with data
collected via multiple non-invasive
methods. 62nd The Northeast Fish
and Wildlife Annual Conference,
Burlington, VT; 23-26 April 2006.
Long, R.A., T.M. Donovan, P. MacKay,
W.J. Zielinski, and J.S. Buzas. Predicting carnivore occurrence with
data collected via multiple, noninvasive methods. Defenders of Wildlife’s Carnivores 2006: Habitats, challenges, and opportunities. St. Petersburg, Florida; 14-17 November 2006.
Marschall, E.A., M.E. Mather, D.L. Parrish,
and G.W. Allison. River discharge,
river temperature, dams, and the
timing of downstream migration of
Atlantic salmon smolts: a modeling
approach. 137th Annual Meeting of
the American Fisheries Society, San
Francisco, CA, 2-6 September 2007.
(Invited symposium presentation.)
Perlut, N., A. M. Strong, T. M. Donovan,
and N. J. Buckley. Hayfields of the
Champlain Valley: An ecological trap
for grassland nesting songbirds?
62nd Northeast Fish and Wildlife
Annual Conference, Burlington, VT;
23-26 April 2006.
Perlut, N. G., C. R. Freeman-Gallant, A. M.
Strong, T. M. Donovan, and C. W.
Kilpatrick. The evolutionary impacts
of hayfield management on a songbird’s social and genetic mating system. Animal Behavior Society Annual
Meeting, Snowbird, UT; 12-16 August 2006.
2006-2008 Biennial Report
Presentations
Perlut, N., C. Freeman-Gallant, A. Strong,
T. Donovan, and C. Kilpatrick. The
impacts of hayfield management on a
songbirds’ social and genetic mating
system. 4th North American Ornithological Conference, Veracruz,
Mexico; 3-7 October 2006. (Poster)
Strong, A., T. Donovan, N. Perlut, and N.
Buckley. When good birds select bad
habitat: grassland birds in an agricul
tural landscape. 4th North American
Ornithological Conference, Veracruz,
Mexico; 3-7 October 2006 (Poster)
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Vermont Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit