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.