BIENNIAL REPORT 2005-2006
TEXAS COOPERATIVE FISH AND WILDLIFE RESEARCH UNIT
TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY
AQUATIC ECOLOGY
LABORATORY
EDUCATION
IN COOPERATION WITH
TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE
THE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE
U.S.G.S. COOPERATIVE RESEARCH UNITS
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Introduction
The Cooperative Research Units Program is a partnership among the U.S. Geological
Survey, host universities, state natural resource agencies, the Wildlife Management
Institute and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its purpose is to facilitate collaborative
research and education activities related to natural resource management and
conservation. The Texas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit focuses on
aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and the specific fields of interest include fisheries
and wildlife management, aquatic and wildlife ecology, community ecology,
ecophysiology, ecotoxicology, reproductive biology, and fish culture. These research
and educational efforts are based on the technical expertise of unit scientists and
university cooperators. The present annual report details the activities and
accomplishments for the period covering fiscal years 2005 and 2006.
The Texas Unit was established by the U.S. Congress in 1988 and was first staffed in
1989. Unit scientist positions include a Unit Leader and two Assistant Leaders. Dr.
Reynaldo Patiño serves as Unit Leader and Dr. Clint Boal as Assistant Unit LeaderWildlife. The Assistant Unit Leader-Fisheries position is vacant at the present time. Ms.
Jodi Martin served as the Unit’s Administrative Business Assistant during the present
reporting period.
The Texas Unit has continued to work with a wide array of cooperators including
university, federal, state, and foreign scientists and resource managers to advance its
mission of conducting research, educating graduate students, and providing technical
assistance. Funding to support Unit and Unit-affiliated projects has been provided by
the U.S. Geological Survey, Texas Parks and Wildlife, National Park Service, Bureau of
Land Management, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S.
Department of Defense, U.S. Agency for International Development, and nongovernmental organizations.
Please feel free to contact us with comments or requests for additional information.
Thank you to our many partners and collaborators.
The Unit Scientists and Staff of the
Texas Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit
October 1, 2006
i
Table of Contents
Page
Introduction
i
Table of Contents
ii
Personnel and Cooperators
Unit Personnel and Contact Information
Coordinating Committee
Students and Cooperators
Funding Sources
1
1
2
4
Accomplishments at a Glance
5
Research Project Reports
6
Completed Research
Aquatic Projects
Terrestrial Projects
7
9
Ongoing Research
Aquatic Projects
Terrestrial Projects
24
31
Unit Activities
Honors and Awards
Publications
Presentations
Theses and Dissertations
University Service
Professional Service
45
45
47
49
49
50
Affiliated Activities
Publications
Presentations
Theses and Dissertations
52
53
55
ii
Personnel and Cooperators
Unit Personnel and Contact Information
Unit Staff
– U.S. Geological Survey, Cooperative Research Units
Dr. Reynaldo Patiño, Unit Leader
Dr. Clint Boal, Assistant Unit Leader-Wildlife
Vacant, Assistant Unit Leader-Fisheries
– Texas Tech University
Naoki Kumakura, Postdoctoral Research Associate
Jodi Martin, Administrative Business Assistant
Contact Information
Texas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Agricultural Sciences Building, Rm 218
15th and Boston
Lubbock, TX 79409-2120
(806) 742-2851 (voice)
(806) 742-2946 (fax)
txcoop@ttu.edu
http://www.tcfwru.ttu.edu/
Coordinating Committee
Dr. Charles Ault
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Dr. Michael Berger
Director, Wildlife Division
Texas Parks and Wildlife
Dr. Len Carpenter
The Wildlife Management Institute
Dr. Dean Smith
Vice President for Research
Texas Tech University
Dr. Mike Van Den Avyle
Unit Supervisor
USGS Cooperative Research Units
1
Students and Cooperators
Unit Graduate Students
Name
Neil Crouch
Matt Giovanni
Carey Haralson
Caleb Huber
Nick Mannan
Guadalupe Morales-Lara
Sandeep Mukhi
Amanda Owens
Bibek Sharma
Brad Strobel
Leticia Torres
Discipline
PhD Biology
MS Wildlife
MS Wildlife
MS Fisheries
MS Wildlife
MS Biology (University of Tabasco)
PhD Environmental Toxicology
MS Wildlife
PhD Fisheries
MS Wildlife
PhD Biology
Advisor
Patiño
Boal
Boal
Patiño/Pope
Perry/Boal
Contreras/Patiño
Patiño
Boal
Patiño
Boal
Patiño
Cooperating Scientists
David Andersen, Minnesota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Robert Baker, Biological Sciences (TTU)
Warren Ballard, Natural Resources Management (TTU)
Robert Betsill, Texas Parks and Wildlife
Terry Bashore, USAF
Randy Blankinship, Texas Parks and Wildlife
Carlton Britton, Natural Resources Management (TTU)
James Carr, Biological Sciences (TTU)
Wilfrido Contreras, Universidad Juarez Autónoma de Tabasco, Mexico
Stephen Cox, Environmental Toxicology (TTU)
Craig Farquhar, Texas Parks and Wildlife
Ernest Fish, Natural Resources Management (TTU)
Mark Fisher, Texas Parks and Wildlife
Dan Garcia, U.S. Forest Service
Steve Goodbred, U.S. Geological Survey
David Haukos, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
David Holderman, Texas Parks and Wildlife
Michael Hooper, Environmental Toxicology (TTU)
William Howe, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Tom Leiker, U.S. Geological Survey
Michael Loik, University of California, Santa Cruz
William Mannan, University of Arizona
Erik Orsak, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Gad Perry, Natural Resources Management (TTU)
Kevin Pope, Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Felipe Prieto, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
James Ray, Department of Energy, BWTX/Pantex
Michael Rosen, U.S. Geological Survey
Carl Schreck, Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Joe Sirotnak, Big Bend National Park, National Park Service
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Loren Smith, Natural Resources Management (TTU)
Bob Steidl, University of Arizona
Carlos Strussmann, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology
Peter Thomas, The University of Texas Marine Science Institute
David Tissue, Biological Sciences (TTU)
Mark Wallace, Natural Resources Management (TTU)
David Wester, Natural Resources Management (TTU)
Heather Whitlaw, Texas Parks and Wildlife
Goro Yoshizaki, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology
John Zak, Biological Sciences (TTU)
Unit Affiliated Graduate Students
Name
Colin Bell
David Butler
Matt Butler
James Campbell
Jeb Clark
Emma Dawson
Juan Diaz
Jack Goldfarb
Heath Grizzle
Shawn Haskell
Fang Hu
John Isanhart
Jena Moon
Lisa Patrick
Brent Racher
Jennifer Resinger
Mindy Rice
Elizabeth Rigby
Traesha Robertson
Donelle Schwalm
Erin Walker
Fajin Wang
Yoji Yamamoto
Discipline
MS Biology
MS Wildlife Science
PhD Wildlife Science
PhD Biology
MS Biology
PhD Landuse Planning Mgt and Design
MS Wildlife Science
PhD Wildlife Science
MS Biology
PhD Wildlife Science
PhD Biology
PhD Environmental Toxicology
MS Wildlife Science
PhD Biology
PhD Range Science
MS Biology
PhD Wildlife Science
MS Wildlife Science
PhD Biology
MS Wildlife Science
MS Biology
PhD Biology
PhD Fisheries (Tokyo University of
Marine Science and Technology)
Advisor
Zak
Ballard
Ballard
Zak
Zak
Baker/Parker
Perry
Perry
Zak
Ballard
Carr
Hooper
Haukos
Zak
Britton
Zak
Ballard
Haukos/Smith
Zak
Ballard
Zak
Chesser/Parker
Yoshizaki
Unit Undergraduate Students
Student
*Catherine Barry
Matthew Baskin
Blake Beall
James Dumbauld
Department
Biological Sciences
Natural Resources Management
Natural Resources Management
Natural Resources Management
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Supervisor
Patiño
Boal
Boal
Patiño
Dylan Kuhne
Natural Resources Management
William Moseley
Natural Resources Management
Haley Rice
Natural Resources Management
Aaron Urbanczyk
Natural Resources Management
Linda Vega
Biological Sciences
*conducted independent research
Patiño
Boal
Boal
Patiño
Patiño
Cooperating Texas Tech University Academic Units
Department of Natural Resources Management
Department of Biological Sciences
Department of Environmental Toxicology
The Institute of Environmental and Human Health
Funding Sources
Ducks Unlimited
Oregon State University/U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Tetra Tech Incorporated
Texas Parks and Wildlife
U.S. Department of Agriculture – Cooperative State Research, Education and
Extension Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture – Forest Service
U.S. Department of Defense – Texas Army National Guard
U.S. Department of Defense – U.S. Air Force
U.S. Department of Interior – Bureau of Land Management
U.S. Department of Interior – National Park Service
U.S. Department of Interior – Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Department of Interior – Geological Survey
4
Accomplishments at a Glance
Research conducted by the Texas Unit addresses issues of relevance to state, national
and international interests. In the last fiscal year biennium (FY 2005 and 2006), the Unit
conducted or facilitated 27 active research projects with a total funding level of $2.4
million, which includes almost $1 million in new yearly incremental funds from ongoing
projects as well as new project funds. The two Unit scientists participated in 13 of these
projects as principal or co-principal investigators. Eleven graduate students (4 Ph.D.
and 7 M.S.) were supervised by Unit scientists, and two of these students (1 Ph.D. and 1
M.S.) completed their degree programs. One postdoctoral research associate
conducted independent research and 9 undergraduate students conducted or helped
with research projects under the supervision of Unit scientists. During the present
reporting period, Unit scientists and students published 16 papers and delivered 34
presentations at conferences, workshops and other fora.
Unit students and staff have continued to receive recognition for their research and
administrative achievements. Sandeep Mukhi (Ph.D.) was named 2005 Best Graduate
Student of the Department of Environmental Toxicology, and for the second year in a
row ranked within the top two graduate student presenters at the annual Toxicology
Research Exposé. Following his graduation in May 2006, Dr. Mukhi joined the research
staff of the prestigious Carnegie Institution of Washington located on the campus of John
Hopkins University. Bradley Strobel received a Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife
Fellowship, which fully funded a graduate assistantship for his M.S. program. Jodi
Martin, Administrative Business Assistant, received the 2005 Chancellor’s Award of
Excellence, the highest performance recognition bestowed on university staff.
Clint Boal was promoted to Associate Professor in the Department of Natural Resources
Management, and was selected to participate in the USGS Cooperative Research Units
Leadership Development program. Dr. Boal delivered an invited seminar presentation
and served on a panel discussion of goshawk ecology and management organized by
Raptor-Japan, Tokyo; and subsequently hosted a visit of raptor study sites in Texas by
Dr. Manabu Abe, a Japanese raptor researcher.
Reynaldo Patiño was promoted in administrative rank to Unit Leader. Dr. Patiño served
on a review team for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s San Marcos Fish Hatchery and
Technology Center; a peer review panel for The National Science Foundation’s Frontiers
in Integrative Biological Research Program; and as U.S. Expert Reviewer for the
document, Detailed Review Paper on Thyroid Hormone Disrupting Assays developed by
the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris, France and the
USEPA, Washington, D.C. He also served on the organizing committee for the 2006
International Conference on Water in Arid and Semiarid Lands to be held at Texas Tech
University, and on the International Advisory Committee for the 2007 International
Symposium on the Reproductive Physiology of Fish to be held in Saint Malo, France.
5
Research Project Reports
This section provides brief descriptions of research and activities associated with Unit
projects that were active during at least a portion of the present reporting period (FY
2005-2006). Completed project reports are comprehensive. Ongoing project reports
only include results and activities originating during the reporting period.
6
Completed Research – Aquatic Projects
Project title:
Biomarkers of Health and Reproduction in Amphibians for
Use by the ARMI Program
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Students, trainees, and staff:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
RWO 54
Reynaldo Patiño, James Carr
Bibek Sharma (Ph.D.), Fang Hu (Ph.D.)
6/1/04 – 1/31/06
U.S. Geological Survey - ARMI Program
Lubbock and Big Bend National Park, Texas
Summary of activities and findings
Amphibian populations are declining globally, but the reasons for these declines are not
fully understood. The purpose of this study is to refine and field-test biomarkers of
endocrine and reproductive health in amphibians for use by the USGS Amphibian
Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) program. This project had two specific
objectives. The first was to validate for amphibians a sensitive biomarker of thyroid
toxicity recently developed for fishes: the “colloidal thyroxine (T4) ring.” This objective
was addressed in the laboratory using the South African Clawed Frog, Xenopus laevis,
as model species. The second objective was to conduct a biomarker survey of
amphibians of the Big Bend region of the Rio Grande Basin in the context of general
water quality and potential contaminant exposures. The survey focused on a species
native to the Rio Grande Basin, the Rio Grande leopard frog (Rana berlandieri), and was
conducted early during its breeding season (May 2005) and mostly within Big Bend
National Park. Indices of aquatic habitat quality included general water quality measures
and the presence and level of contaminants such as elements and pesticides in surface
water, sediment core and porewater, and frogs. Biomarkers examined included the
colloidal T4 ring and epithelial cell height in thyroid glands (indices of thyroid activity and
endocrine disruption), incidence of macrophage aggregates in liver (possible index of
general health), and incidence of testicular oocytes in male frogs (intersexual gonads;
index of reproductive health and endocrine disruption).
The laboratory study confirmed the presence of a colloidal T4 ring in thyroid follicles of X.
laevis during metamorphosis as well as its high sensitivity as biomarker of thyroid
dysfunction. The field survey revealed a number of surface water conditions in the study
area that exceed federal criteria for freshwater aquatic life and are thus potentially
harmful, especially in regards to the concentrations of cadmium and organochlorine
pesticides. Water concentrations of chloride may also be of some concern. The
biomarker analysis showed an overall 17-percent incidence of intersexual gonads in
male R. berlandieri sampled inside the park. The widespread presence of potentially
estrogenic contaminants, such as cadmium (at low levels) and organochlorine pesticides,
measured in the environment and in frog tissues suggests the possibility that intersexual
gonads may be environmentally induced. However, the lack of baseline information
about the normal pattern of gonadal development in R. berlandieri does not allow
definitive conclusions. Measures of thyroid gland activity yielded inconclusive results. No
differences were observed in the incidence of hepatic macrophage aggregates.
7
Overall, the results of this study raise concerns about the presence of contaminants and
their potential long-term effects on the aquatic biota of the Big Bend region. Additional
information is needed to establish specific cause-effect relationships between
contaminant exposures and amphibian population health.
Publications
Hu, F., Sharma, B., Mukhi, S., Patiño, R., and Carr, J. 2006. The colloidal thyroxine (T4)
ring as a novel biomarker of perchlorate exposure in the African Clawed Frog
Xenopus laevis. Toxicological Sciences 93:268-277.
Presentations
Patiño, R. 2005. Biomarkers of health and reproduction in amphibians. 2005 Meeting of
the USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative Program. Tucson,
Arizona (invited presentation).
Patiño, R. 2005. Biomarkers of exposure to endocrine-disrupting contaminants and their
application to aquatic fauna of the Rio Grande Basin. New Mexico State
University Department of Fishery and Wildlife, Las Cruces, New Mexico (invited
seminar).
Hu, F., Sharma, B., Patiño, R., and Carr, J.A. 2005. Biomarkers of thyroid dysfunction in
amphibians. 26th Annual Meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry, Baltimore, Maryland.
Sharma, B., Hu, F., Carr, J.A., Patiño, R. 2005. Water chemistry and amphibian health in
Big Bend National Park and surrounding areas. Annual Graduate Research Day,
India Students Association, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas.
Sharma, B., Hu, F., Carr, J.A., Patiño, R. 2006. Biomonitoring of amphibian health in Big
Bend National Park and surrounding areas. Graduate Student Research Poster
Competition, Texas Tech University Graduate School, Lubbock, Texas.
Sharma, B., Hu, F., Carr, J.A., Patiño, R. 2006. Biomarkers of amphibian health in Big
Bend National Park and surrounding areas. Texas Tech Association of Biologists
Annual Graduate Forum, Texas Tech University Department of Biological
Sciences, Lubbock, Texas.
Sharma, B., Hu, F., Carr, J.A., and Patiño, R. 2006. Environmental contaminants and
amphibian biomarker responses in the Big Bend region of the Rio Grande Basin.
27th Annual Meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry,
Montreal, Canada (poster).
Sharma, B., Hu, F., Carr, J.A., and Patiño, R. 2006. Water quality and biomarkers of
amphibian health in the Big Bend region of the Rio Grande Basin. International
Conference on Water in Arid and Semiarid Lands, Texas Tech University (poster).
Thesis and dissertations
Fang Hu. 2006. Endocrine disruption of reproductive and thyroid axes in anuran
amphibians. Ph.D. dissertation, Texas Tech University Department of Biological
Sciences, Lubbock, TX.
8
Completed Research – Terrestrial Projects
Project title:
Comparative Effects of Global Climate on Ecosystem
Nitrogen and Soil Biogeochemistry in the U.S. National Parks
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Students, trainees, and staff:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
RWO 32
John Zak and Kevin Urbanczyk
Dr. Stephen Cox (Post-doctoral research assistant),
James Campbell (Ph.D.), Lisa Patrick (Ph.D.),
Traesha Robertson (Ph.D.), Colin Bell (MS), Jeb
Clark (M.S.) Heath Grizzle (M.S.), Cecilia
Hernandez (M.S.), Amber Nagy (M.S.), Jennifer
Resinger (M.S.), Erin Walker (M.S.), M. Bickel
(undergraduate), Rob Hruska (undergraduate),
JustinJenkins (undergraduate), Rosilva Suarez
(undergraduate), Lauren Tews (undergraduate),
Ken Seal (research assistant).
9/1/99 – 12/31/05
U.S. Geological Survey
Pine Canyon Watershed Big Bend National Park
Summary of activities and findings
This report describes our efforts on the Pine Canyon Watershed Program at Big Bend
National Park to examine the long-term impacts of climate change, pollution impacts,
and yearly variability in precipitation patterns on soil microbial and nutrient dynamics, soil
edaphic characteristics, hydrology, and below-ground water chemistry. This phase of
the study was conducted from September 1999 through December 2004. With the
completion of this project we have completed our ninth year of evaluating the
parameters described above with respect to seasonal and yearly changes along the
Pine Canyon Watershed gradient. These efforts provide needed information to resource
managers at the National Park on the status of soil, microbial, vegetational, and
hydrological resources. Our efforts at BBNP were also coordinated with CO-PIs at
Olympic NP, Isle Royale NP, Great Smoky Mts. NP, and Noatak Reserve to obtain soil
nutrient and microbial dynamics across a range of climate conditions and vegetations
types.
The seasonal and yearly changes in microbial biomass carbon within vegetation zones
and across the watershed provide insight into the impacts of yearly and long-term
changes in precipitation patterns and nitrogen inputs on the functioning of the soil
microflora. Microbial biomass carbon (μg/g of soil) continues to be highest in the closed
canopy-oak forest in the upper portion of Pine Canyon regardless of season. Amounts
of microbial biomass at the high elevation oak – pine forest site are also higher than the
Sotol-grassland and low desert locations. Differences in seasonal patterns of microbial
biomass carbon across each of the vegetation zones are keyed to seasonal patterns in
soil moisture, coupled to differences in the range of soil temperatures and amounts of
carbon input from plant litter within each vegetation zone.
9
The lowest pH values along the watershed occurs in the Sotol-grasslands. Moreover,
soil pH continues to decline overall in the sotol-grasslands. The decline that is occurring
in the sotol-grasslands has not been observed at the other sites along the watershed.
The declining pH levels coincide with increasing levels of extractable soil nitrate levels
suggesting nitrogen saturation.
Levels of extractable NO3-N continued to increase in the Sotol-grasslands in Pine
Canyon. Since 2001 the highest levels of extractable soil NO3-N along the elevational
gradient occurred in these grasslands. The increasing levels of NO3-N are contributing
to the decline in soil pH for this system. Results from other studies indicate that
continued inputs of nitrogen into these systems will result in shifts in vegetation and will
make these grasslands more prone to invasive species.
Publications
Dobranic, J. K. and J. C. Zak. 1999. A microtiter plate procedure for evaluating fungal
functional diversity. Mycologia 91:756-765.
Herrmann, R., R. Stottlemyer, J. C. Zak, R.L. Edmonds, and H. Van Miegroet. 2000.
Biogeochemical effects of global change on U.S. National Park Ecosystems. J.
Am Water Res. Assoc. 36: 337-346.
Sobek, E. A. and J. C. Zak. 2003. The soil Fungilog procedure: method and analytical
approaches towards understanding fungal functional development. Mycologia.
95: 590-602.
Weltzin, J.F., M.E. Loik, S. Schwinning, D.G. Williams, P. Fay, B. Haddad and in
alphabetical order: J. Harte, T.E. Huxman, A.K. Knapp, G. Lin, W.T. Pockman,
M.R. Shaw, E. Small, M.D. Smith, S.D. Smith, D.T. Tissue, J.C. Zak. 2003.
Assessing the response of terrestrial ecosystems to potential changes in
precipitation. Bioscience. 10: 941-952.
Huxman, T. E., M.D. Smith, P. Fay, A.K. Knapp, M.R. Shaw, M.E. Loik, S.D. Smith, D.T.
Tissue, J.C. Zak, J. F. Weltzin, W.T. Pockman, O. Sala, B. Haddad, J. Harte, G.
W. Koch, S. Schwinning, E. Small, and D. G. Williams. 2004. Convergence
across biomes to a common rain-use efficiency. Nature. 429: 651-654.
Zak, J. C. and H. G. Wildman. 2004 Fungi in Stressful Environments. In. pp. 303-316.
Biodiversity of Fungi: Inventory and Monitoring Methods, G. Mueller, G. Bills & M.
Foster, (eds), Elsevier, Academic Press, Boston.
Zak, J. C. and M. R. Willig. 2004 Fungal Biodiversity Patterns. In. pp. 59-76.
Biodiversity of Fungi: Inventory and Monitoring Methods, G. Mueller, G. Bills & M.
Foster, (eds), Elsevier, Academic Press, Boston.
Zak, J. C. 2005. Fungal Communities of Desert Ecosystems: Links to Climate Change.
In: The Fungal Community: Its Organization and Role in the Ecosystem, 3rd
edition. J. Dighton, J. F. White, and P. Oudemans. (eds), Taylor & Francis Group,
Boca Roton.
Presentations
Campbell, J., J. Clark and J. Zak. 2006. A comparison of microbial diversity as
assessed by DGGE from fresh and archived soil samples. Annual meeting of the
Ecological Society of America, Memphis, TN.
Campbell, J. H., R. M. Jeter, J. C. Zak. 2004. Impacts of soil parameters on
distributions of Oligotrophic bacteria. American Society of Microbiology, New
Orleans, LA.
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Campbell, J. H., E. A. Sobek, R. M. Jeter, and J. C. Zak. 2003. Distributions of
oligotrophic bacteria along an elevational gradient at Big Bend National Park. Soil
Ecology Society 9th Biannual Meeting, Palm Springs, CA.
Campbell, J.H., J. C. Zak, R. M. Jeter and R.E. Strauss. 2005. Effects of soil chemistry
on distributions of oligotrophic bacteria along an elevational gradient. Soil
Ecology Society Tenth Biennial International Conference, Argonne National
Laboratory.
Clark, J. S., J. H. Campbell, and J. C. Zak. 2005. Soil eubacterial diversity along a
vegetation and elevation gradient in the Chihuahuan Desert, Big Bend National
Park. Soil Ecology Society Tenth Biennial International Conference, Argonne
National Laboratory.
Cox, S, E. Sobek, and J. Zak. 2000. Microbial Functional Diversity in Arid Ecosystems:
Patterns and Controls, Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Snowbird,
UT.
Dobranic, J. and J. Zak. 1999. Fungal functional diversity and decomposition dynamics
in the Chihuahuan Desert. Mycological Society of America, St Louis, MO.
Dobranic, J. K. and J. C. Zak. 2000. Linking Fungal Functional and Taxonomic
Diversity with Litter Decomposition. Mycological Society of America Annual
Meeting, Burlington, VT.
Dobranic, J. K. and J. C. Zak. 2001. Understanding the relationships between fungal
functional diversity, taxonomic diversity, and decomposition rates. The Soil
Ecology Society Biannual Conference, Callaway Gardens, GA.
Grizzle, H., D. Tissue, J. Sirotnak, and J. C. Zak. 2003. The impacts of simulated
increased nitrogen deposition on functional diversity, biomass, and species
richness of soil fungal assemblages in the Chihuahuan Desert at Big Bend
National Park. Soil Ecology Society 9th Biannual Meeting, Palm Springs, CA.
Hernandez, C. and J. C. Zak. 2001. Impacts of soil nitrogen on microbial dynamics in a
Chihuahuan Desert landscape. The Soil Ecology Society Biannual Conference,
Callaway Gardens, GA.
Hernandez, J. C. Zak, K. Urbanczyk, E. Sobek, M. Bickle, and H. Grizzle. 2002. The
Pine Canyon Watershed Program: Soil Nitrogen Dynamics and Patterns of
Anthropogenic Inputs. Symposium: Watershed Dynamics in National Parks.
Southwestern Section of the Geosciences Society of America Annual Meeting,
Sul Ross State University, Alpine, TX.
Nagel, J. M., D. T. Tissue, and J. C. Zak. 2003. Physiological responses to changes in
soil properties: potential impacts on desert plant communities in Big Bend
National Park. Soil Ecology Society 9th Biannual Meeting, Palm Springs, CA.
Nagy, A., T. Robertson, E. Walker, M. Loik, D. Tissue, and J. C. Zak. 2003. Simulated
precipitation on soil microbial processes and nitrogen dynamics in Big Bend
National Park. Soil Ecology Society 9th Biannual Meeting, Palm Springs, CA.
Resinger, J. S., J. Sirotnak, and J. C. Zak. 2003. Microbial and soil nutrient dynamics
associated with degraded grasslands in Big Bend National Park. Soil Ecology
Society 9th Biannual Meeting, Palm Springs, CA.
Robertson, T. R., E. M. Walker, J. C. Zak, and D. T. Tissue. 2002. Plant growth
responses to variation in timing and magnitude of precipitation at Big Bend
National Park, TX. Ecological Society of America, Annual Meeting, Tucson, AZ.
Robertson, T., E. Walker, J. Zak, and D. Tissue. 2003. Plant responses to variation in
timing and magnitude of precipitation in Big Bend National Park. Ecological
Society of America Annual Meeting, Savannah, GA.
Schnittler, M., S. Stephenson, and J. C. Zak. 2000. Myxomycetes of Big Bend National
Park. West Virginia Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting, Charleston, WV.
11
Sobek, E. and J. Zak. 1999. Soil fungal functional diversity along an elevational
gradient in the Chihuahuan Desert. Mycological Society of America, St Louis,
MO.
Sobek, E., S. Cox, J. Zak and J. Dobranic. 2000. Assessing the Relationship Between
Diversity, Function, and Decomposition in Soil Fungal Assemblages, Ecological
Society of America Annual Meeting, Snowbird, UT.
Sobek, E., J. C. Zak, K. Urbanczyk, H. Grizzle , M. Bickle and C. Hernendez. 2002. The
Pine Canyon Watershed Program: Understanding Impacts of Global Change on
Soil Fungal Biodiversity in an Arid Environment. Symposium: Watershed
Dynamics in National Parks. Southwestern Section of the Geosciences Society
of America Annual Meeting, Sul Ross State University, Alpine, TX.
Sobek, E., and J. C. Zak. 2001. Is functional diversity of soil fungal assemblages
influenced by elevation in desert ecosystems? The Soil Ecology Society Biannual
Conference, Callaway Gardens, GA.
Sobek, E. and J. C. Zak. 2001. Elevational trends in soil fungal biodiversity in and arid
landscape. Annual meeting of the Mycological Society of America, Salt lake City,
UT.
Sobek, E. A. and J. C. Zak. 2003. The functional capacity of desert soil fungi: from
landscape to locale, to site. Soil Ecology Society 9th Biannual Meeting, Palm
Springs, CA.
Tissue, D., E. R Walker, T. Robertson J. Zak and K. Urbanczyk. 2002. The Pine
Canyon Watershed Program: Impacts of Changes in Timing and Magnitude of
Precipitation on Plant Physiology and Growth, Symposium: Watershed Dynamics
in National Parks. Southwestern Section of the Geosciences Society of America
Annual Meeting, Sul Ross State University, Alpine, TX.
Trevizo, Laurie, and K.M.Urbanczyk. 2002. Impacts of Hot Spring Discharge on the Rio
Grande in Big Bend National Park, Geological Society of America, Annual
meeting.
Walker, E. M. T. R. Robertson, J. C. Zak, and D. T. Tissue. 2002. Impact of changing
water availability on plant photosynthetic performance in Big Bend National Park,
TX. Ecological Society of America, Annual Meeting, Tucson, AZ.
Urbanczyk, K., and White, John C. 2002. Spatial Variations in water Chemistry at
Selected Springs in Big Bend National Park, Geological Society of America,
Abstracts with Programs, South Central Section, 36th annual meeting.
Urbanczyk, K., and Zak, J,. 2002. Pine Canyon Watershed Research Program, in:
White, John C. editor, The Geology of Big Bend National Park: What have we
learned since Maxwell and others (1967)? Field Trip Guide, Geological Society of
America South-Central Meeting, April 2002, Sul Ross State University, Alpine,
Texas.
Zak, J., J. Dobranic, E. Sobek, C. Hernandez, and K. Urbanczyk. 1999. Microbial
biomass and functional diversity along an elevational gradient in the Chihuahuan
Desert. Soil Ecology Society of America, Field Museum, Chicago, IL.
Zak, J., J. Dobranic, E. Sobek, and L. Kirwin. 1999. Effects of soil temperatures on
microbial functional diversity along an elevational gradient in the Chihuahuan
Desert. Soil Ecology Society of America, Field Museum, Chicago, IL.
Zak, J. C., E. Sobek, S. Cox, and J. Dobranic. 2000. Fungal Functional Diversity: A
Landscape Perspective, Mycological Society of America Annual Meeting,
Burlington, VT.
Zak, J. C. K. Urbanczyk, C. Hernendez, E. Sobek, M. Bickle. and H. Grizzle. 2002. The
Pine Canyon Watershed Program: Understanding Global Change Impacts on
Soil Microbial. Symposium: Watershed Dynamics in National Parks.
12
Southwestern Section of the Geosciences Society of America Annual Meeting,
Sul Ross State University, Alpine, TX.
Zak, J. C. 1999. Microbial Functional Diversity along an Elevational Gradient in the
Chihuahuan Desert, Department of Biology, University of Reno, Reno, NV.
Zak, J. C. 2000. Understanding the Functional Component of Fungal Biodiversity.
Invited Symposium on Fungal Biodiversity, Mycological Society of America
Annual Meeting, Burlington, VT.
Thesis and Dissertations
Campbell, Jim. 2006. Patterns in Distribution and Diversity of Oligotrophic Bacteria in
the Chihuahuan Desert. Ph.D. dissertation, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
Dobranic, Jason. 2001. Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Fungal Diversity Along an
Elevational Gradient in an Arid Ecosystem. Ph.D. dissertation, Texas Tech
University, Lubbock, TX.
Grizzle, Heath. 2005. Impacts of Nitrogen Deposition on Soil Fungi in an Arid
Ecosystem. M.S. thesis, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
Hernandez, Cecilia. 2002. Microbial Biomass and Nitrogen Dynamics in Arid
Ecosystems. M.S. thesis, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
Nagy, Amber. 2003. Effects of Simulated Precipitation on Nitrogen Cycling and
Microbial processes in a Grassland Ecosystem at Big Bend National Park, Texas.
M.S. thesis, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
Resinger, Jennifer. 2004. Roles of Soil Microbial Dynamics in the Reclamation of a
Disturbed Desert Grassland. M.S. thesis, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
Sobek, Edward. 2002. Fungal Functional Diversity: Exploring Patterns and Processes
Along an Altitudinal Gradient in the Chihuahuan Desert. Ph.D. dissertation,
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
Awards and honors
Jim Campbell, a Ph.D. graduate student, won an award for his presentation at the
biannual meeting of the Soil Ecology Society that was held at Argonne National Labs,
May 2005.
Lisa Patrick, a Ph.D. graduate student, was awarded an EPA STAR/GRO Fellowship to
support her work at Big Bend National Park from September 2005 - August 2008.
Lisa Patrick was also awarded an ARCS scholarship to support her research efforts at
Big Bend National Park from September 2005 to August 2007.
13
Project title:
Limiting Factors of Waterfowl
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Students, trainees, and staff:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
RWO 50 and OA 46
Loren Smith, David Haukos
Joydeep Bhattacharjee (Post-doctoral research
associate), Jena Moon (M.S.), Stephanie Martinez
(technician), Jeanie Hetzel (technician), Elizabeth
Rigby (technician)
9/1/02 – 12/31/06
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Playa Lakes Region of Texas, Rainwater Basin of
Nebraska, Prairie Pothole Region of United States
and Canada, Gulf Coast of Texas
Summary of activities and findings
This project was designed to examine the limiting factors of two waterfowl species of
concern – northern pintail and mottled duck. The pintail portion of this study consisted of
the investigation of female pintail ecology in the Playa Lakes Region as part of a midcontinental study of pintail wintering and migrational ecology. Principal findings include
(1) pintail overwinter survival was greater in the Playa Lakes Region compared to all
other wintering sites, (2) pintail body condition in the Playa Lakes Region has declined
since the mid1980s, which may be contributing to the continental decline in population
numbers, (3) numerous factors influence pintail body condition and must be considered
when monitoring pintails, (4) pintail preferred playa wetlands and the natural habitats
associated with these wetlands, and (5) pintail movements are related to food sources
and disturbance. The mottled duck portion examined the species use of habitats on the
upper Texas Gulf Coast in their ecology. A 2-year study was completed characterizing
the availability, use, and features of ponds in the coastal marsh used by paired mottled
ducks. Essentially, due to low population levels, few ponds are used by mottled ducks.
They preferred freshwater ponds in grazed pastures with short surrounding vegetation.
Additional work was completed on long-term studies of plant dynamics of coastal marsh
in response to disturbance.
Publications
Bhattacharjee, J., D.A. Haukos, and J. Neaville. Vegetation response to disturbance in
an intermediate coastal marsh in Texas. Community Ecology: submitted.
Bhattacharjee, J., D.A. Haukos, and J. Neaville. Influence of biotic and abiotic factors
on productivity of a coastal marsh. Wetlands: submitted.
Haukos, D.A., S. Martinez, and J. Hetzel. Characteristics of pair ponds used by mottled
ducks on the Chenier Plain of coastal Texas. Waterbirds: submitted.
Moon, J.A. and D.A. Haukos. 2006. Survival of female northern pintails wintering in the
Playa Lakes Region of northwestern Texas. Journal of Wildlife Management
70:777-783.
Moon, J.A., D.A. Haukos, and L.M. Smith. Changes in body condition of pintails
wintering in the Playa Lakes Region. Journal of Wildlife Management: In Press.
Moon, J.A. and D.A. Haukos. Factors affecting body condition of wintering northern
pintails. Journal of Field Ornithology: In Press.
14
Moon, J.A., D.A. Haukos, and R.R. Cox, Jr. Habitat use and movements of female
northern pintails in the Playa Lakes Region of northwestern Texas. Waterbirds:
submitted.
Presentations
Anderson, J.T., J.A. Moon, D.A. Haukos, and B. Ballard. 2006. Survival of female
northern pintails wintering in Texas. 4th North American Duck Symposium,
Bismarck, ND.
Moon, J.A. and D.A. Haukos. 2006. Survival of female northern pintails wintering in the
Playa Lakes Region of Texas. Annual Meeting of The Texas Chapter of The
Wildlife Society, South Padre Island, TX.
Moon, J.A. and D.A. Haukos. 2005. Declining body condition of female northern pintails
wintering in the Playa Lakes Region of Texas. The Texas Chapter of The
Wildlife Society, Amarillo, TX.
Moon, J.A., D.A. Haukos, and R.R. Cox, Jr. 2004. Daily movements of female northern
pintails wintering in the Playa Lakes Region of Texas. The Texas Chapter of The
Wildlife Society, Kerrville, TX.
Moon, J.A. and D.A. Haukos. 2004. Survival of female northern pintails wintering in the
Playa Lakes Region of Texas. Annual Meeting of The Wildlife Society, Calgary,
Alberta, Canada
Moon, J.A. and D.A. Haukos. 2004. Habitat use by wintering female northern pintails.
Annual Meeting of the Society of Wetland Scientists, Seattle, WA.
Thesis and dissertations
Moon, J. 2004. Survival, movements, and habitat use of female northern pintails in the
Playa Lakes Region. M.S. thesis, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
Awards and honors
Jena Moon, a M.S. graduate student, received the Gamma Sigma Delta 2004
Outstanding Graduate Student, Department of Range, Wildlife and Fisheries
Management, Texas Tech University.
Jena Moon, a M.S. graduate student, received First Place - Clarence Cottom Award,
Student Presentation, The Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society, 2004.
15
Project title:
Impacts of Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition and Climate
Change on Desert Ecosystems
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Students, trainees, and staff:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
RWO 53
John Zak, David Tissue, Michael Loik, Joe Sirotnak
(BBNP)
James Campbell (Ph.D.), Lisa Patrick (Ph.D.),
Traesha Robertson (Ph.D.), Colin Bell (M.S.), Jeb
Clark (MS), Heath Grizzle (M.S.), Erin Walker
(M.S.), Natasja Van Geestel (technician), Rob
Hruska (undergraduate), Justin Jenkins
(undergraduate), Gloria Maestas (undergraduate)
6/1/04 – 12/31/06
U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service
Big Bend National Park
Summary of activities and findings
Our research at Big Bend National Park seeks to understand: 1) the impacts of nitrogen
deposition on soil microbial and nitrogen dynamics and plant productivity within the
sotol-grasslands and high elevation oak-pine forests within the Pine Canyon Watershed,
and 2) the impacts of changes in precipitation timing and amounts on plant growth, soil
nutrient and microbial dynamics in the sotol-grassland. This research effort is part of a
larger 10 year effort at Big Bend to examine impacts of anthropogenic impacts and
climate change in Referenced Watershed sites that have been established by scientists
within NPS and the USGS in five National Parks. We have concluded the fourth year of
our watering additions in the Sotol Grasslands and the fourth year of our nitrogen
additions in the Sotol Grasslands and in the Oak-Pine Forests on Lost Mine Peak.
Plants in the summer watered plots generally fix eight times more CO2 during a 24-hr
period than control plots. In June and July of most years, there were greater rates of
transpiration for both grasses and shrubs in the watered plots. In September, similar
rates of transpiration were observed in all treatments. Annual culm production and
ANPP of Bouteloua was significantly greater in the winter water treatment for 2003 but
not for 2004 and 2005. Only Dasylirion ANPP showed a positive response to increasing
annual precipitation. There was no water addition effect on Opuntia or Dasylirion for
annual leaf or pad production.
Across all years the ability of the soil bacteria in the community plots to use a variety of
carbon compounds. The impacts of additional water on microbial carbon use were
strongly influenced by seasonal differences in precipitation frequency and amounts.
Impacts of additional nitrogen on bacterial functional diversity on carbon substrates were
significantly dependent upon precipitation amounts received at the high elevation OakPine Forest but not at the Sotol Grasslands site. Fungal functional diversity on carbon
substrates was not affected by increasing nitrogen input at either site, irrespective of
precipitation amounts. Additional nitrogen did increase the ability of the soil fungi in the
Sotol Grasslands and at the high elevation Oak-Pine sites to use organic nitrogen
substrates.
16
Changes in precipitation amounts and season of application did not significantly alter
nutrient availability of either extractable NH4-N or NO3-N across years. However, within
a particular year, depending upon previous moisture availability, soil nutrient pools were
altered by additional soil moisture indicating a significant treatment by season interaction.
Greater amounts of summer precipitation may lead to short-term increased carbon
uptake by the sotol grassland and will likely shift the system to a fungal dominated one.
Increase in fungal activity may lead to increased litter decomposition and may result in
an accelerated decline in soil organic matter with increased precipitation. The decline in
fungal functional diversity on nitrogen substrates as inorganic nitrogen input increases in
the Sotol Grasslands suggests that the system may be becoming nitrogen saturated.
Publications
Grizzle, H. and J. C. Zak. 2006. The Soil Nitrolog Procedure: Assessment of Fungal
Functional Diversity on Nitrogen Compounds. Mycologia 98: 353-363.
Huxman, T. E., M.D. Smith, P. Fay, A.K. Knapp, M.R. Shaw, M.E. Loik, S.D. Smith, D.T.
Tissue, J.C. Zak, J. F. Weltzin, W.T. Pockman, O. Sala, B. Haddad, J. Harte, G.
W. Koch, S. Schwinning, E. Small, and D. G. Williams. 2004. Convergence
across biomes to a common rain-use efficiency. Nature 429: 651-654.
Patrick, L. J. Cable, D. Potts, D. Ignace, G. Barron-Gafford, A. Griffith, H. Alpert, N. Van
Gestel, T. Robertson, T. E. Huxman, J. Zak, M. E. Loik, and D. Tissue. 2006.
Effects of an Increase in Summer Precipitation on Leaf, Soil and Ecosystem
Fluxes of CO2 and H2O in a Sotol Grassland in Big Bend National Park, Texas.
Oecologia: accepted.
Sobek, E.A., J. C. Zak. 2003. The soil Fungilog procedure: method and analytical
approaches towards understanding fungal functional diversity. Mycologia 95:590602.
Weltzin, J. F., M. E. Loik, S. Schwinning, D. G. Williams, P. Fay, B. Haddad, J. Harte, T.
E. Huxman, A. K. Knapp, G. Lin, W. T. Pockman, M. R. Shaw, E. Small, M. D.
Smith, S. D. Smith, D. T. Tissue, and J. C. Zak. 2003. Assessing the response of
terrestrial ecosystems to potential changes in precipitation. Bioscience 53: 941952.
Zak, J. C. 2005. Fungal Communities of Desert Ecosystems: Links to Climate Change.
In: The Fungal Community: Its Organization and Role in the Ecosystem, 3rd
edition. J. Dighton, J. F. White, and P. Oudemans. (eds), Taylor & Francis Group,
Boca Roton.
Presentations
Bell, C. W., H. W. Grizzle, and J. C. Zak. 2005. Microbial responses to increased
precipitation in the sotol grasslands of Big Bend National Park. Soil Ecology
Society Tenth Biennial International Conference, Argonne National Laboratory.
Bell, C., J. Zak, H. Grizzle, S. Cox, D. Tissue and J. Sirotnak. 2006. Microbial carbon
and nitrogen mineralization dynamics in desert grassland soils of Big Bend
National Park as influenced by global climate change. Ecological Society of
America, Annual Meeting, Memphis, TN.
Bell, C.W. J. Zak, H. Grizzle, and D. Tissue. 2006. Microbial carbon usage and nitrogen
mineralization dynamics in desert grassland soils of Big Bend NP as influenced
by global climate change. Annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America,
Memphis, TN.
17
Campbell, J., J. Clark and J. Zak. 2006. A comparison of microbial diversity as
assessed by DGGE from fresh and archived soil samples. Annual meeting of the
Ecological Society of America, Memphis, TN.
Campbell, J.H., J. C. Zak, R. M. Jeter and R.E. Strauss. 2005. Effects of soil chemistry
on distributions of oligotrophic bacteria along an elevational gradient. Soil
Ecology Society Tenth Biennial International Conference, Argonne National
Laboratory.
Clark, J. S., J. H. Campbell, and J. C. Zak. 2005. Soil eubacterial diversity along a
vegetation and elevation gradient in the Chihuahuan Desert, Big Bend National
Park. Soil Ecology Society Tenth Biennial International Conference, Argonne
National Laboratory.
Ebbets, A., D. Barker, V. Ebbert, T. Rosenstiel, W. Adams, D. Tissue, and S. Smith.
2006. Potential changes in photosynthetic performance of two Mojave Desert
shrubs in response to elevated CO2. Ecological Society of America, Annual
Meeting, Memphis, TN.
Grizzle, H., D. Tissue, J. Sirotnak, and J. C. Zak. 2003. The impacts of simulated
increased nitrogen deposition on functional diversity, biomass, and species
richness of soil fungal assemblages in the Chihuahuan Desert at Big Bend
National Park. Soil Ecology Society 9th Biannual Meeting, Palm Springs, CA.
Grizzle, H. J. Zak and D. Tissue. 2006. Impacts of nitrogen deposition on microbial
activity in two desert ecosystems. Annual meeting of the Ecological Society of
America, Memphis, TN.
Patrick, L. 2006. Effects of increased precipitation on the carbon balance of North
American desert plants" EPA Graduate Fellows Conference, Washington, DC.
Patrick, L., S. Lambrecht, J. Zak, M. Loik, D. Tissue. 2004. Photosynthetic response of
desert plants to a large, single precipitation event at Big Bend National Park.
Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Portland, OR.
Patrick, L. and D. Tissue. 2005. Photosynthetic responses of desert plants to changes
in the timing and magnitude of precipitation at Big Bend National Park. Graduate
Forum, Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
Patrick, L. and D. Tissue. 2005. Effects of increased precipitation on the physiological
responses of desert plant communities. ARCS Scholar Reception, Lubbock, TX.
Patrick, L. and D. Tissue. 2006. How does summer precipitation affect daily CO2 and
H2O fluxes of North American desert plants? Ecological Society of America,
Annual Meeting, Memphis, TN.
Patrick, L., D. Tissue and J. Zak. 2005. Response of daytime net ecosystem carbon
and water exchange to a large winter precipitation pulse in Big Bend National
Park. Ecological Society of America International Meeting, Montreal, Canada.
Nagel, J. M., D. T. Tissue, and J. C. Zak. 2003. Physiological responses to changes in
soil properties: potential impacts on desert plant communities in Big Bend
National Park. Soil Ecology Society 9th Biannual Meeting, Palm Springs, CA.
Nagy, A., T. Robertson, E. Walker, M. Loik, D. Tissue, and J. C. Zak. 2003. Simulated
precipitation on soil microbial processes and nitrogen dynamics in Big Bend
National Park. Soil Ecology Society 9th Biannual Meeting, Palm Springs, CA.
Resinger, J. S., J. Sirotnak, and J. C. Zak. 2003. Microbial and soil nutrient dynamics
associated with degraded grasslands in Big Bend National Park. Soil Ecology
Society 9th Biannual Meeting, Palm Springs, CA.
Robertson, T., E. Walker, J. Zak, and D. Tissue. 2003. Plant responses to variation in
timing and magnitude of precipitation in Big Bend National Park. Ecological
Society of America Annual Meeting, Savannah, GA.
18
Robertson, T., N. van Gestel, E. Walker, J. Zak, M. Loik and D. Tissue. 2004. Plant
growth responses to simulated rainfall events for three perennial Chihuahuan
Desert species of Big Bend National Park. Ecological Society of America Annual
Meeting, Portland, OR.
Sobek, E. A. and J. C. Zak. 2003. The functional capacity of desert soil fungi: from
landscape to locale, to site. Soil Ecology Society 9th Biannual Meeting, Palm
Springs, CA.
Tissue, D.T. 2006. Global climate change – impacts on plant physiological and
ecosystem processes. ComBio Plenary Address, Brisbane, Australia.
Zak, J. C., H. Grizzle, C. Bell, J. Campbell, E. Sobek, and D. Tissue. 2005. Microbial
dynamics and processes in a desert landscape: Impacts of climate change, soil
nutrients, and vegetation. Soil Ecology Society Tenth Biennial International
Conference, Argonne National Laboratory.
Thesis and dissertations
Campbell, J. August 2006. Distribution of Oligotropic Bacteria Along an Elevational
Gradient at Big Bend National Park, Ph.D. dissertation, Texas Tech University,
Lubbock, TX.
Grizzle, H. W. May 2005. The Impacts of Nitrogen Deposition on Microbial Function and
Edaphic Parameters in the Chihuahuan Desert. M.S. thesis, Texas Tech
University, Lubbock, TX.
Resinger, J. S. December 2004. Understanding Nitrogen and Microbial Dynamics
Associated with Two Degraded Grassland Systems in Big Bend National Park.
M.S. thesis, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
Nagy, A. M. December 2003. Effects of simulated Precipitation on Nitrogen Cycling and
Microbial Processes in a Grassland Ecosystem at Big Bend National Park, Texas.
M.S. thesis, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
Walker, E. May 2003. Effects of Increasing Precipitation on Plant Distribution at Big
Bend National Park. M.S. texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
Robertson, T. December 2006. Plant Productivity and Community Response to Three
Years of Supplemental Precipitation in the Sotol Grasslands of Big Bend National
Park, TX. Ph.D. dissertation, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
Awards and honors
Jim Campbell, a Ph.D. graduate student with Dr. John Zak, won an award for his
presentation at the biannual meeting of the Soil Ecology Society that was held at
Argonne National Labs May 2005.
Lisa Patrick, a Ph.D. graduate student with Dr. David Tissue, was awarded an EPA
STAR/GRO Fellowship to support her work at Big Bend National Park from September
2005 - August 2008.
Lisa Patrick was also awarded an ARCS scholarship to support her research efforts at
Big Bend National Park from September 2005 to August 2007.
19
Project title:
Assessment of the Temporal and Spatial Stability of the
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) Breeding Population in the
Panhandle of Texas
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Students, trainees, and staff:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
RWO 56 and RWO 59
Clint W. Boal
Carey Haralson (M.S.), Blake Beall
(undergraduate)
9/1/04 – 8/31/06
U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service
Texas Panhandle
Summary of activities and findings
There is widespread concern over population declines of golden eagles (Aquila
chrysaetos) throughout much of the species range. Although once a common nesting
species in Texas, the most recent information on population status is from survey work
conducted in 1980-1983. We used this baseline information to assess current status
and population change of golden eagles in the Texas panhandle. We used both ground
and helicopter searches of 26 of 42 historic eagle nesting areas; 9 additional areas could
not be located due to inadequate directions and mapping.
Of these 26 areas, results of the 1980-83 survey found 20 (77%) were occupied by
nesting eagles, 3 (11%) were occupied by non-breeding eagles, and 3 (11%) were
inactive. In contrast, we found 7 (27%) of the areas were occupied by nesting eagles, 2
(8%) were occupied by non-breeding eagle, 14 (54%) were inactive, and 3 (11%) were
occupied by red-tailed hawks nesting on eagle nests. To examine temporal change in
the status, we categorized those areas occupied by nesting and non-nesting eagles as
‘Active’ (23 in 1980-83; 9 in 2005-06) and those that were inactive or occupied by Redtailed Hawks as ‘Inactive’ (3 in 1980-83; 17 in 2005-06). We found the apparent
decrease in golden eagle occupancy between study periods was statistically significant
(χ21 = 15.93, P = 0.001).
In addition to the 26 areas we surveyed, we located 3 new golden eagle nest areas, 2 of
which were inactive and 1 was occupied by a nesting red-tailed hawk. Therefore we
found a total of 29 golden eagle nesting areas in the Texas panhandle, only 9 (31%) of
which were occupied by eagles in 2005 and/or 2006. It appears the population of golden
eagles in the Texas panhandle may have declined markedly since the early 1980’s.
20
Project title:
Estimating Rio Grande Wild Turkey Populations in Texas
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Students, trainees, and staff:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
TPW 9
Warren Ballard, Mark Wallace
Matthew Butler (Ph.D.)
9/1/02 – 8/31/06
Texas Parks and Wildlife
Rolling Plains, Texas
Summary of activities and findings
Few studies have assessed methods of estimating abundance, density, and trends of
wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) populations. Most wild turkey survey efforts have been
limited to small scales, unstandardized, and unsuccessful. However, successful largescale monitoring programs are important to management decisions and evaluating
management activities. Recent evidence has suggested some Rio Grande wild turkey
(M. g. intermedia) populations in the Southern Great Plains have begun to decline,
emphasizing the importance of population monitoring. Thus, our objectives were to
develop and evaluate Rio Grande wild turkey survey techniques in the Southern Great
Plains and determine if useful trends in population change are detectable. Counting wild
turkeys at winter roosts is common because they congregate in specific roosts
throughout winter. We compared 5 techniques for counting winter roosts and found
advanced technologies such as night vision devices, thermal infrared cameras, and
automated video monitoring systems were ineffective and morning counts were best.
Aerial surveys have been used to estimate abundance for several wild bird species. We
used inflatable turkey decoys and radio-tagged wild turkey flocks to evaluate
detectability of flocks and individuals within flocks during aerial surveys. We conducted
simulations to evaluate aerial surveys and examined power to detect trends.
Simulations suggested fixed-wing surveys would underestimate abundance by about
10% to 15% (2.0% to 4.8% CV), but helicopter surveys would underestimate by 5.6%
(4.6% CV). Power was sufficient to detect a 10% to 25% change in 4 to 5 years.
Helicopter surveys can cost 6 times more than fixed-wing surveys. Many states use
opportunistic poult-hen counts to index reproduction, recruitment, and density, but we
found no relationship. Ground-based surveys can be improved with line transect-based
distance sampling from roads. Because wild turkeys may avoid or be attracted to roads,
we examined their distributional patterns around roads and found autumn midday and
winter a.m. were the best times for road surveys. We used decoys to evaluate
detectability of flocks and individuals within flocks during road surveys. We conducted
simulations to evaluate road surveys and examined power to detect trends. Simulations
suggested density would be underestimated by 24% during winter (11.2% CV) and by
37% during autumn (13.3% CV). Power was sufficient to detect a 10% to 25% change
in 5 to 7 years during winter. Aerial surveys were better, but are expensive. Problems
with road surveys include responsive movements, avoidance-attraction behaviors, and
lack of representative samples. Also, fixed-wing aerial surveys for wild turkeys may be
incorporated into similar midwinter waterfowl surveys. Thus, if fiscal restraints permit,
managers should use fixed-wing surveys to monitor wild turkey populations in the
Southern Great Plains.
21
Publications
Butler, M. J., W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, S. J. DeMaso, and B. K. McGee. Application
and utility of aerial surveys for estimating number of Rio Grande wild turkeys in
the Texas Rolling Plains. Journal of Wildlife Management: submitted.
Butler, M. J., W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, and S. J. DeMaso. Utility of line-transect
based distance sampling from roads applied to estimation of Rio Grande wild
turkey density in the Texas Rolling Plains. Journal of Wildlife Management:
submitted.
Butler, M. J., W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, and S. J. DeMaso. Application and utility of
helicopter surveys for estimating number of Rio Grande Wild Turkeys in the
Texas Rolling Plains. European Journal of Wildlife Research: submitted.
Butler, M. J., G. I. Hall, W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, R. S. Phillips, J. H. Brunjes, R. T.
Huffman, R. L. Houchin, J. C. Bullock, S. J. DeMaso, R. D. Applegate, M. C.
Frisbie. 2006. Utility of poult-hen counts to index productivity of Rio Grande wild
turkeys. National Wild Turkey Symposium Proceedings 9: in press.
Butler, M. J., W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, S. J. DeMaso, and R. D. Applegate. 2006.
Comparing techniques for counting Rio Grande wild turkeys at winter roosts.
Pages 112–117 in J. W. Cain III and P. R. Krausman, editors. Managing wildlife
in the southwest: new challenges for the 21st century. The Southwest Section of
The Wildlife Society, 9–11 August 2005, Alpine, TX.
Butler, M. J., M. C. Wallace, W. B. Ballard, S. J. DeMaso, and R. D. Applegate. 2005.
From the field: the relationship of Rio Grande wild turkey distributions to roads.
Wildlife Society Bulletin 33:745–748.
Presentations
Butler, M. J., W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, S. J. DeMaso, and R. D. Applegate. 2006. A
comparison of techniques for enumerating Rio Grande wild turkeys at winter
roosts. 41th Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society. South
Padre Island, Texas, February 16-18, 2006.
Butler, M. J., G. I. Hall, W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, R. S. Phillips, J. H. Brunjes, R. T.
Huffman, R. L. Houchin, J. C. Bullock, S. J. DeMaso, R. D. Applegate, M. C.
Frisbie. 2005. Utility of poult-hen counts to index productivity of Rio Grande wild
turkeys. National Wild Turkey Symposium. Grand Rapids, Michigan, December
10-14, 2005.
Butler, M. J., W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, S. J. DeMaso, and R. D. Applegate. 2005. A
comparison of techniques for enumerating Rio Grande wild turkeys at winter
roosts. Managing Wildlife in the Southwest Symposium, Southwestern Section
of The Wildlife Society Conference, Alpine, Texas, August 9-11, 2005.
Butler, M. J, G. I. Hall, W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, S. J. DeMaso, and R. D. Applegate.
2005. Utility of poult-hen counts to index productivity of Rio Grande wild turkeys
in the Texas Panhandle and southwestern Kansas. Spring Meeting of the
Kansas Chapter of The Wildlife Society. Emporia, Kansas, March 4-5, 2005.
Butler, M. J., G. I. Hall, W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, and S. J. DeMaso. 2005. Utility of
poult-hen counts to index productivity of Rio Grande wild turkeys in the Texas
Panhandle and southwestern Kansas. 40th Annual Meeting of the Texas
Chapter of The Wildlife Society. Amarillo, Texas, February 24-26, 2005.
Butler, M. J., W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, and S. J. DeMaso. 2004. An evaluation of
population estimation techniques for Rio Grande wild turkeys. Texas Turkey
Research Meeting. Austin, Texas, December 6, 2004.
Butler, M. J., W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, and S. J. DeMaso. 2004. The relationship of
Rio Grande wild turkey distributions to roads in the Texas Panhandle and
22
southwest Kansas. 39th Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife
Society. Kerrville, Texas, February 19-21, 2004.
Butler, M. J., W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, and S. J. DeMaso. 2004. An evaluation of
population estimation techniques for Rio Grande wild turkeys. Texas Turkey
Research Meeting. Kerrville, Texas, February 18, 2004.
Thesis and dissertations
Butler, M. J. 2006. Evaluation of survey techniques for Rio Grande wild turkey
populations in the Southern Great Plains. Ph.D. dissertation, Texas Tech
University, Lubbock, TX.
Awards and honors
Matt Butler, a Ph.D. graduate student, received the Kansas Chapter of The Wildlife
Society’s Student Paper Award in 2005
Matt Butler, a Ph.D. graduate student, received Houston Safari Club Scholarships in
2003 and 2004
23
Ongoing Research – Aquatic Projects
Project title:
Characterization of Critical Habitat and Early Reproductive
Life History for Juvenile Common Snook in the Lower Laguna
Madre, Texas
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Students, trainees, and staff:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
RWO 57
Reynaldo Patiño, Kevin Pope
Caleb Huber (M.S.), Tamara Young (technician),
Robert Peterson (technician)
12/1/04 – 12/31/06
U.S. Geological Survey (primary); TTU Department
of Natural Resources Management; Texas Parks
and Wildlife Coastal Division (in-kind); U.S. Agency
for International Development/Oregon State
University
Lubbock and Brownsville, Texas
Summary of activities and findings
Common snook populations in Texas once supported a commercial and recreational
fishery, but they are now only able to support a strictly-regulated recreational fishery. In
Mexico, snooks constitute one of the most important commercial fisheries along the gulf
coast, and common snook has perhaps received the most attention and fishing pressure.
Because of a recent trend for diminishing catch volumes, calls for improved
management practices for common snook have been issued in Mexico.
Common snook display protandric hermaphroditism, in which all individuals first develop
as males and then change sex to females as they reach a certain size range. Although
the lower stretch of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo along the U.S.-Mexico border is believed
to provide nursery habitat for juvenile snook, little is known about the riverine habitat
needs of common snook. The primary objective of this study was to describe the habitat
preferences of juvenile common snook in the lower portion of the Rio Grande. Fish were
collected during January-March 2006 from the lower 51.5 km of the river using multiple
gears; trawl was used to sample the river channel, and castnet, and boat electrofisher
were used to sample the bank. Measurements of water quality (temperature, dissolved
oxygen, conductivity, etc.) and other habitat traits (bank slope, presence of vegetation or
woody debris, flow, etc.) were recorded at each sampling site. A total of 211 common
snook were captured. Fish size-frequency distribution and otolith analyses revealed that
most common snook collected were age-1 or age-2 fish of up to 303 mm SL, and
histological analysis of the gonads indicated that these fish were juvenile males.
However, a single, incidental electroshock of the river channel clearly indicated that adult
male and female common snook (up to 595 mm SL) are also present in the river. All
common snook were captured in freshwater habitat above river kilometer 12.9. Because
juvenile snook are able to withstand saline waters, their absence in the estuarine portion
of the river suggests that they are choosing riverine habitat based on traits other than
water salinity. Statistical analyses are currently in progress to determine which habitat
traits are associated with the presence of common snook. It is tentatively concluded that
24
nursery habitat for common snook is available only in the freshwater portion of the Rio
Grande, and that riverine freshwater habitat may also be important to adult individuals.
This study is complementary to research being conducted under Texas Unit project OA
48 (see page for 29 project report).
Publications
Pope, K.L., Blankinship, D.R., Fisher, M., and Patiño, R. 2006. Status of common snook
in Texas. Texas Journal of Science 58:325-332.
Project title:
Risk Based Approaches for Improved Toxic Chemical
Management for Integrated Environmental and Human Health
Issues – Aquatic, Phase 7 & 8
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Students, trainees, and staff:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
OA 41
Reynaldo Patiño
Sandeep Mukhi (Ph.D.), Leticia Torres (Ph.D.),
Bibek Sharma (Ph.D.), Aaron Urbanczyk
(undergraduate), James Dumbauld
(undergraduate), Dylan Kuhne (undergraduate)
12/01/05 – 12/31/06
Department of Defense
Texas Tech University
Summary of activities and findings
The cyclic nitramine, hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (Royal Demolition Explosive,
RDX), is widely used as an explosive in commercial and military operations. The largescale manufacture, use, and improper disposal of this compound have led to
contamination by RDX and its metabolites of soil and ground water. Much of this waste
finds its way into the aquatic ecosystem. However, the fate and distribution of RDX and
its metabolites in the aquatic ecosystem as well as their sub-lethal effects on aquatic
biota are not well understood.
One objective of this study is to examine the effect of RDX on the reproductive
performance of fishes. Adult male and female zebrafish were exposed to control water
or two environmentally relevant concentrations of RDX, 0.5 and 3.2 ppm, for a period of
6 weeks. Every two weeks, groups of 8 treated females were paired with 4 similarlytreated males and packed egg volume, egg fertilization rate and embryo hatching rate
were determined. Mean packed-egg volume seemed to be increased in the 0.5-ppm
group at 2 weeks of exposure but not at 4 or 6 weeks. No significant effects of RDX on
packed egg volume were noted at 3.2 ppm. Egg fertilization and embryo hatching rates
were not affected at any RDX concentration during the exposure period. Overall, these
observations suggest that RDX at environmentally relevant concentrations does not
affect zebrafish reproductive performance. However, our study did not include measures
of the health of larval or juvenile fish.
25
The second objective of this study is to examine the role of aquatic flora and fauna in
determining the availability of RDX or its metabolites to the various biological
components of aquatic ecosystems using an aquarium mesocosm as model. The
mesocosm included fish (zebrafish), plants (Vallisneria sp.), aerobic substrate (biofilter
material), and relatively oxygen-depleted substrate (plant substrate). Within the present
reporting period, all experiments and analyses addressing this objective have been
completed and final assessment of the data is in progress.
Presentations
Mukhi, S. and Patiño, R. 2006. Subchronic toxic effects and accumulation of hexahydro1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Annual Meeting of
the Society of Toxicology. Sand Diego, CA.
Thesis and dissertations
Sandeep Mukhi. 2006. Reproductive and developmental toxicity of highly energetic
compounds in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Ph.D. dissertation, Texas Tech University,
Lubbock, TX.
Awards and honors
Sandeep Mukhi, Ph.D. graduate student, received the Best Graduate Student Award,
Department of Environmental Toxicology, Texas Tech University, 2005.
Sandeep Mukhi, Ph.D. graduate student, received Second Place, Toxicology Research
Exposé, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, 2005.
Project title:
Avian consumption and use of contaminated water sources:
Toxicological assessments of exposure, effects and
susceptibility
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Students, trainees, and staff:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
RWO 55
Michael J. Hooper, Stephen Cox
John Isanhart (Ph.D.)
8/1/04 – 12/31/07
U. S. Geological Survey (NRDAR)
The Institute of Environmental and Human Health,
Texas Tech University
Summary of activities and findings
Substantial progress has been made in the study of drinking behavior and acid
metalliferous water toxicity in birds, primarily mallard ducks. Drinking kinetics studies
have assessed drinking rates of captive ducks under ad libitum and water fasted
conditions as a means of anticipating drinking activities of migrating ducks. A synthetic
acid metalliferous water (SAMW) source has been formulated, based on metal and
acidity data from water sources where avian mortality events occurred in the recent past.
A series of studies has been performed that investigate the acute toxicity of SAMW in
ducks. The first investigated the acute lethality and demonstrated that mortality could
26
occur in birds having access to the SAMW for as little as 100 minutes or drinking a
minimum of 40 ml/kg. Clinical and histopathology, tissue metal levels and behavioral
observations were also collected. A second study demonstrated the dose-response
relationship for SAMW consumption and was similar to the design of first study, but
included 10% and 1% formulations of the SAMW in addition to the 100% undiluted
source. A third study demonstrated that neutralization of the SAMW, increasing pH from
approximately 2 to 7, led to precipitation of much of the metal, though when the
precipitation was below the neutralized water, birds filtered through it and consumed
sufficient to cause gastrointestinal lesions similar to those seen with un-neutralized water.
In a fourth study, a time course of effects of SAMW exposure was performed where
birds were allowed access to SAMW for a maximum of 55 min or 40 ml/kg, which ever
came first, followed by access to clean water and food. Pathological effects were
present up until the seventh day post-dose, likely leading to the extended anorexia
observed in birds lasting from 1 to 3 days post-exposure. Finally, a comprehensive
report on the findings from the first 4 studies was produced and delivered to project
sponsors for review.
Presentations
Hooper, M.J., J.P. Isanhart and R.K. MacRae. 2006. Smelting, Shooting, Burning,
Mining And Tailings; Metal Hazards To Avian Species. IV North American
Ornithological Conference. Veracruz, Mexico. October 3-7, 2006.
Isanhart, J.P., R. MacRae, K. Pandher, and M.J. Hooper. 2006. Avian toxicity of acidand metal-contaminated scarce water resources in arid habitats. Water in arid
and semiarid lands: Innovative approaches and informed decision-making. 2006
ICASALS (International Center for Arid and Semiarid Land Studies) International
Conference. Lubbock, TX. November 15-17, 2006.
Isanhart, J.P., T.J. McBride, R. MacRae, K. Pandher, M.J. Hooper. 2006. Avian
Ecotoxicology of Acid-Contaminated Water. Society of Environmental Toxicology
and Chemistry (SETAC) 27th Annual Meeting. Montreal, QB, Canada.
November 4-9, 2006.
Isanhart, J, MacRae, R, Roberts, C, Hooper, M. 2005. Avian consumption and use of
acid metalliferous water: Toxicological assessments of exposure, effects and
susceptibility. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) 26th
Annual Meeting. Baltimore, MD. November 13-17, 2005.
Awards and honors
The North American Ornithological Conference presentation by Hooper et al. (2006) was
an invited presentation.
27
Project title: Lake Mead Carp Hormone Analyses and Interpretation
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Students, trainees, and staff:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
RWO 60
Reynaldo Patiño
Leticia Torres (Ph.D.)
5/15/06 – 5/31/07
U.S. Geological Survey
Lubbock, Texas
Summary of activities and findings
The relationship between endocrine disruption and adverse effects is not well
understood for wild fish populations. In this study, common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were
collected from various sites within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area (LMNRA) in
March 2006 (prior to the spawning season). Based on the presence and levels of
contaminants in fish tissues, Overton Arm (OA) and Gregg Basin were categorized as
least contaminated sites, Willow Beach (WB) as moderately contaminated, and Las
Vegas Bay (LVB) as most contaminated. Bioaccumulation of flame retardants (BDEs)
and PCBs was significant in fish from LVB and WB. Relative to the principal reference
site (OA), plasma sex steroid levels seemed to be lower in fish from the other sites but
plasma thyroid hormones were highest in females from LVB. Sperm motilities were
generally reduced in males from LVB and WB. Data to be obtained from additional
sample collections in 2007-2008 will allow an examination of seasonal patterns of
reproductive impacts. The results of this study are consistent with those of previous
studies in LMNRA and should contribute to an understanding of the association between
field exposures to environmental contaminants, incidence of endocrine disruption, and
the occurrence of adverse reproductive effects in fishes.
Summary and analysis for the data collected from this study is still in progress. (Toxicant
and sperm quality data were generated by collaborating USGS PIs).
Project title:
NRCS/CEAP Playa Wetland Evaluation Proposal
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Students, trainees, and staff:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
RWO 61
Loren Smith
Lisa Brennan (Post-doctoral research assistant)
3/29/06 – 1/31/07
U. S. Department of Agriculture/NRCS
High Plains from Nebraska to New Mexico
Summary of activities and findings
The primary goal of the research project was to identify ecosystem services provided by
wetlands in the High Plains. Texas Tech University hosted a meeting in June 2006 with
wetland scientists from across the country. A comprehensive list of wetland services was
identified and sampling procedures discussed. A detailed research plan was then
28
developed, reviewed and revised. A meeting was also held at the USFWS training
center in Shepherdstown, WV to discuss the effects of USDA conservation practices on
wetland ecosystem services across the U.S. Selection of study wetlands across the High
Plains is on-going and will be completed upon receipt of GIS data layers from the
USFWS in Grand Island, NE.
Project title:
Avian Consumption of an Acid-Contaminated Water Source:
Toxicological Assessment of Exposure, Effects and
Susceptibility
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Students, trainees, and staff:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
RWO 64
Michael J. Hooper
John Isanhart (Ph.D.)
5/1/06 – 9/30/07
Environmental Protection Agency
The Institute of Environmental and Human Health,
Texas Tech University
Summary of activities and findings
Preliminary studies have been completed investigating the effects of acid water
exposure in mallard ducks. Analysis is ongoing.
Project title:
Development of Aquaculture Techniques for the Indigenous
Species, Centropomus undecimalis: Sex Determination and
Differentiation and Effects of Temperature
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Students, trainees, and staff:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
OA 48
Reynaldo Patiño, Kevin Pope
Caleb Huber (M.S.), Tamara Young (technician),
Robert Peterson (technician)
6/01/03 – 6/30/07
U.S. Agency for International Development/Oregon
State University (primary); TTU Department of
Natural Resources Management; U.S. Geological
Survey
Lubbock and Brownsville, Texas
Summary of activities and findings
Snooks constitute one of the most important commercial fisheries along Mexico’s gulf
coast. The common snook has perhaps received the most attention and fishing pressure.
In Mexico, there is a trend for diminishing catch volumes for common snook, and calls
for improved management practices have been issued. In Texas, common snook
29
populations once supported a commercial and recreational fishery, but they are now only
able to support a strictly-regulated recreational fishery.
Female common snook are larger than males of the same age class. One objective of
the present study is to develop techniques to skew sex ratios toward females and lead to
enhanced growth rates for farmed common snook. Although it has been reported that
common snook are protandric – they first develop as males before changing sex into
females – basic information about gonadal sex differentiation is not available for this
species. Two-hundred-fifty-six juvenile snook where collected in Tabasco, México.
Otoliths from 228 fish were extracted and processed. Results indicated that age can be
reliably determined only up to day 100. Histological analyses of gonads indicated that
testicular differentiation initiates between 91 and 123 days of age (fork length ranging
between 11 and 21.1 cm). All fish analyzed differentiated as males and no indication of
female development was observed. This information suggests that treatment for sex
inversion needs to begin between 60 and 70 days of age (3-6 cm). Experiments are
currently ongoing to develop techniques to feminize juvenile snook.
This study is complementary to research being conducted under Texas Unit project
RWO 57 (see page 24 for project report).
30
Ongoing Research – Terrestrial Projects
Project title:
Assessment of Pintail Band-recovery Data
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Students, trainees, and staff:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
RWO 58
Loren Smith and David Haukos
Mindy Rice (Post-doctoral research associate)
9/1/05 – 12/31/07
Fish and Wildlife Service
Continental North America
Summary of activities and findings
Northern pintail populations have been declining for nearly two decades. The species
does not respond to changes in the breeding grounds in a similar fashion to other
waterfowl species. Therefore, to develop an adaptive harvest strategy for pintails similar
to other duck species, information on annual survival and recovery rates is necessary.
Further, knowledge of large-scale influences on these survival rates is needed to
improve management efforts. We are using program MARK to assess the continental
banding data for northern pintails. Using multivariate procedures, we have divided North
America into 3 breeding regions based on band recovery distributions. Considering
temporal components associated with variation in harvest regulations, we have shown
differences in survival and recovery among the 3 regions. Thus, support for future
management of pintails based on breeding region may have merit. Continued work in
conjunction with USGS researchers will (1) generate survival and recovery rates within
each region, (2) develop models that allow for post-season as well as pre-season
banding periods, and (3) derivation of continental harvest. Finally, recommendations will
be provided for future pintail banding operations.
Presentations
Rice, M. and D.A. Haukos. 2006. Results of analyses of continental northern pintail
banding data. Central Flyway Technical Committee, Socorro, NM.
Rice, M. and D.A. Haukos. 2006. Analyses of band recovery data for the continental
northern pintail population. Pintail Action Group, 4th North American Duck
Symposium, Bismarck, ND.
31
Project title:
Recruitment and Habitat Use of Mottled Ducks (Anas
fulvigula) on the upper Texas Gulf Coast
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Students, trainees, and staff:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
RWO 62
Loren Smith and David Haukos
Elizabeth Rigby (M.S.)
5/15/06 – 5/31/07
Fish and Wildlife Service
Upper Texas Gulf Coast
Summary of activities and findings
Mottled duck populations have exhibited extreme declines in the past decade on
National Wildlife Refuges of Texas. Factors associated with reproduction (e.g., nest
success, brood survival) have been hypothesized as the cause for the decline. To test
this hypothesis, we have initiated a radio-telemetry study of breeding, nesting, and brood
ecology on the upper Texas Gulf Coast on the Texas Chenier Plain NWR Complex.
Female mottled ducks are being captured and outfitted with radio-transmitters prior to
the start of the nesting period. Birds are being followed during the nesting and brooding
periods to collect data to estimate hen, brood, and duckling survival rates. Habitat use
characteristics will be determined and compared to survival fates of the associated birds.
Project title:
Modeling the Risk of Brown Treesnake Incursion Via the
Commercial Network
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Students, trainees, and staff:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
RWO 63
Gad Perry
None
9/1/06 – 8/31/07
Fish and Wildlife Service
Texas and Guam
Summary of activities and findings
This project has just begun. We have collected most of the data needed in the interim
and are preparing for analysis and model development.
32
Project title:
Landscape Analyses of a Recolonizing Black Bear Population
in the Trans-Pecos Region of Texas
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Students, trainees, and staff:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
TPW 11
Warren Ballard, Ernest Fish, David Holderman
Mindy Rice (Ph.D.)
10/1/03 – 8/31/07
Texas Parks and Wildlife
Trans-Pecos Region, Texas
Summary of activities and findings
This project was completed this year as a portion of the strategic black bear plan
initiated by Texas Parks and Wildlife department. The following are the summary results
from the project. We utilized black bear sightings from 1904 to 2003 to map the current
distribution of black bears. First, we used landcover selection as a way to decide on the
appropriate scale for the rest of our study. We developed a derived landcover/landuse
map which was 75% accurate versus only 48% for the GAP analysis for the TransPecos region of Texas, which indicates our model was more appropriate based on the
derived data. In the case of the entire Trans-Pecos region, the GAP analysis would have
led to different models and landcover/landuse selections, which could have led to error
in identifying potential habitat expansion. We found that the scale based on a bear’s
daily movement, or the fine scale, was the most appropriate scale. In addition, the fine
scale was more consistent in the sensitivity and validation models. Second, we
predicted the distribution of black bears in the Trans-Pecos region. Results indicate that
bear presence was positively associated with slope and urban landuse, and negatively
associated with road density, distance to highways, distance to intermittent water,
cropland, shrubland, and grassland. The fine scale model predicted that areas currently
occupied by black bear such as Big Bend National Park and Guadalupe Mountains
National Park have high habitat suitability. In addition, the Jeff Davis Mountains in the
center of the Trans-Pecos have high suitability as well. There are small suitable areas
between that would make good corridors, but this depends on the ability of black bears
from this region to exploit resources that may be scarce in a desert. The most suitable
areas for black bears according to the model were woodland areas which need to be
protected if this bear population is to expand and survive.
The landowner survey showed that older landowners with longer residency were more
negative toward natural recolonization. If the more positive landowners occupy areas
that correspond to the 9.7% area of available habitat based on the fine scale model,
black bears may be able to disperse and recolonize. If there are more negative
landowners in this 9.7% predicted area then the expansion map can be used to identify
these landowners in order to begin cooperation strategies and hopefully avoid future
conflicts between black bears and landowners.
Overall, the results from this study have shown that sighting data can be used to model
black bear expansion in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas if appropriate actions are
taken to ensure data accuracy and robustness. Both the validation and the sensitivity
analyses that were performed for these models indicated a consistent and robust
sighting data set. Therefore, problems with independence of data and location
33
inaccuracy cause few problems for these sighting data and with a generalist species
such as black bear.
Presentations
Rice, M.B., W. Ballard, E. Fish and D. Holderman. 2006. Landscape analysis of a
recolonizing black bear (Ursus americanus) population in the Trans-Pecos region
of Texas. The Wildlife Society Annual Meeting, September 25, 2006. Anchorage,
AK.
Rice, M.B., W. Ballard, E. Fish and D. Holderman. 2006. Landscape analysis of a
recolonizing black bear (Ursus americanus) population in the Trans-Pecos region
of Texas. Ecological Society of America annual meeting, August 6-11, 2006.
Memphis, TN.
Rice, M.B., W. Ballard, E. Fish and D. Holderman. 2006. Scales of habitat selection for
black bears (Ursus americanus) in the Trans-Pecos. Texas Chapter of the
Wildlife Society meeting, February 18, 2006. South Padre, TX.
Thesis and dissertations
Rice, M.B. 2006. Landscape analysis of a recolonizing black bear (Ursus americanus)
population in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas. Ph.D. dissertation, Texas Tech
University, Lubbock, TX, USA.
Project title:
Mortality of White-tailed and Mule Deer Fawns in West-Central
Texas
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Students, trainees, and staff:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
TPW 12
Warren Ballard, Mark Wallace
Shawn Haskell (Ph.D.), David Butler (M.S.)
12/1/03 – 8/31/07
Texas Parks and Wildlife
Crockett County, Texas
Summary of activities and findings
We have now completed all three planned field seasons of this project. We captured 25
adult females of both species in April. We recorded body measurements, collected
blood and DNA samples, used ultrasound to determine pregnancy status and estimate
body fat of does, and fitted each doe with a radio-collar and vaginal implant transmitter
(VIT). When births occurred, we used the VIT frequency to locate the birth site and
capture and fit fawns with expandable radio-collars which allowed researchers to track
the fawns and determine cause-specific mortality. In the wet years of 2004 and 2005, all
does were pregnant, including two white-tailed fawns and a 12-year-old mule deer. Most
were pregnant with twins, and at least one mule deer carried triplets. In 2006 following a
dry year, three does were barren (one fawn and two adults), and many more does were
pregnant with singles.
We captured fawns from late May through mid August. White-tails tended to birth on
average one month earlier than mule deer. We captured 172 fawns within hours of birth,
34
six of which we censored. White-tailed fawns were more difficult to locate than mule
deer fawns and comprised only 37% of our total fawn captures. Fawn survival was
greater in 2004 (~53% overall) than 2005 (~36% overall); 2004 was one of the wettest
years in west Texas history. In both years, white-tailed fawns had greater survival than
mule deer. However, a drought persisted from autumn 2005 through autumn 2006.
Data from this year (i.e., 2006–2007) are preliminary but, as predicted, suggest much
lower survival of white-tailed fawns but little change for mule deer fawns compared to
2005. For the first time in our study, white-tails may have lower survival than mule deer.
In 2004 and 2005, mule deer fawns were more likely to die from sickness or starvation
than white-tailed fawns, whereas white-tailed fawns were more likely to be killed by
predators. The greater mortality of white-tailed fawns this year appears to be the result
of additional sickness and starvation. Bobcats are abundant at our study site, perhaps
due to extirpation of larger predators such as coyotes, and appear to kill at least 20% of
white-tailed fawns. White-tailed maternal antipredator behavior may be fixed allowing
small predators to experience relatively high success killing fawns. In contrast, mule
deer behavior may be more flexible, and mule deer does seem to keep their fawns
closer and together so they can actively defend them from small predators. High
variability of juvenile recruitment in response to weather may indicate a stressed deer
herd without top-down regulatory influences. Final project results should lead to more
effective policy to meet appropriate management objectives.
Publications
Butler, D.A., W.B. Ballard, S.P. Haskell, and M.C. Wallace. 2006. Limitations of thermal
infrared imaging for locating deer fawns in semi-arid shrub communities. Wildlife
Society Bulletin 34:1458–1462.
Haskell, S.P., and W.B. Ballard. Accounting for radiotelemetry signal flux in triangulation
point estimation. European Journal of Wildlife Research: in press.
Haskell, S.P., W.B. Ballard, D.A. Butler, N.M. Tatman, M.C. Wallace, C. Kochanny, and
P. Alcumbrac. Observations on capturing and aging deer fawns. Journal of
Mammalogy: accepted.
Haskell, S.P., D.A. Butler, W.B. Ballard, M.J. Butler, M.C. Wallace, and M.H. Humphrey.
Deer density estimation in west-central Texas: old versus new ground techniques
with mark-resight as a comparative baseline. Journal of Wildlife Management:
submitted.
Presentations
Butler, D.A., W.B. Ballard, M.C. Wallace, and S. P. Haskell. 2006. Differences in
microhabitat parameters of fawn day bedsites for sympatric mule deer and whitetailed deer neonates. 41th Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife
Society. South Padre Island, Texas, February 16-18, 2006.
Haskell, S.P., W.B. Ballard, M.C. Wallace, D.A. Butler, and M.H. Humphrey. 2006.
Postpartum group cohesion of sympatric deer species in west-central Texas.
41th Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society. South Padre
Island, Texas, February 16-18, 2006.
Haskell, S.P., W.B. Ballard, M.C. Wallace, D.A. Butler, and M.H. Humphrey. 2006.
Postpartum group cohesion of sympatric deer species in west-central Texas.
Poster presentation at the 13th Annual national Conference of The Wildlife
Society. Anchorage, Alaska, September 23-27, 2006.
35
Thesis and dissertations
Butler, D.A. 2006. Habitat characteristics of fawn birth-sites and bed-sites of sympatric
white-tailed and mule deer in west-central Texas. M.S. thesis, Texas Tech
University, Lubbock, TX.
Awards and honors
Shawn Haskell, a Ph.D. graduate student, received Houston Safari Club Fellowships in
2004 and 2005.
Project title:
Distribution of Swift Foxes (Vulpes velox) in Texas
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Students, trainees, and staff:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
TPW 13
Warren Ballard, Robert Baker, Ernest Fish
Donelle Schwalm (M.S.)
9/1/04 – 8/31/07
Texas Parks and Wildlife
36-county survey area in the Texas panhandle
Summary of activities and findings
Two years of swift fox scat surveys have been completed in 36 counties located in the
Texas panhandle. Ninety-five scat surveys representing 550 survey kilometers were
completed each year between July and November in 2005 and 2006. Mitochondrial DNA
analysis to determine species identity was completed on scats collected in 2005 and is
ongoing on scats collected in 2006. In addition, live trapping surveys have been
completed in 7 counties in the survey area. To date, swift fox have been detected in 2
(Dallam and Sherman) of the 36 counties surveyed. In addition to scat surveys, tissue
has been collected from 41 swift fox captured in Texas in 2006 and 2007. These
samples, along with over 150 samples submitted from 8 other states within the range of
swift fox, will undergo microsatellite DNA analysis to assess levels of genetic structuring
throughout the species’ range. The results of this analysis will be combined with
landscape level GIS analysis to assess the interaction between gene flow and habitat
fragmentation in swift fox populations.
Presentations
Schwalm, D. L., W. B. Ballard, R. J. Baker, E. B. Fish, and H. A. Whitlaw. Preliminary
results from a presence-absence survey of swift fox indicate species decline.
Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, 23 February 2007, Beaumont, TX.
Awards and honors
Donelle Schwalm, a MS graduate student received a CH Foundation Graduate
Fellowship in 2006 and a Houston Safari Club Graduate Scholarship in 2006.
36
Project title:
Evaluation of Aerial Line Transect Surveys to Estimate
Lesser Prairie-chicken Density in the Texas Panhandle
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Students, trainees, and staff:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
TPW 14
Warren Ballard, Mark Wallace, Matthew Butler
Jon McRoberts (M.S.)
9/1/05 – 8/31/09
Texas Parks and Wildlife
Texas Panhandle
Summary of activities and findings
From 29 March through 2 May 2006 we flew 20 surveys with three survey aircraft; 4 with
Cessna 172, 7 with R22, and 9 with R44. Number of observers in Cessna aircraft varied
from 2 to 3. Number of observers in R22 was always two and numbers of observers in
R44 ranged from 2 to 4. We surveyed 51.7 hrs. Surveys conducted during mid to late
March were the least productive from all survey aircraft with percent leks observed in
relation to known leks ranging from 0 to 50%. This may have been due to inactivity as
many of the birds may not have been regularly attending leks during March.
Surveys from Cessna aircraft resulted in the lowest percent of observed leks in relation
to known leks, even when March surveys were excluded (0 to 25%). The R22 helicopter
appeared to have a higher percentage of observations in relation to known leks ( range
of 4 to 50% during March and range of 29 to 93% during April). It appears that the best
aircraft for surveying prairie chicken leks was the R44 helicopter, with the percent of leks
observed in relation to known leks ranged from 43 to 200%.
Results of individual surveys depicting survey routes and locations of where birds were
observed have been summarized and are available in the annual report. Although our
percent observation of leks in relation to known leks appears to be good for surveys
conducted from R44 helicopters we have not yet analyzed the percentage of known leks
that were observed. Casual observation of the above cited figures suggests that many
known leks were not observed and many new ones were found. There may be some
problems with the method that we are using to determine if we saw a known lek. A good
example is the flight path and observation of birds in relation to known leks. We need to
investigate the variation in error involved with determining the GIS location at known leks
in relation to the equipment used in the survey aircraft. There are probably also delays
on when the observer hits the button to tally a GPS location and when it is recorded from
a moving aircraft. If these problems exist we may have to put a buffer around known
leks to determine if they were actually observed.
Excluding the Cessna surveys we observed a fairly large number of single birds during
these surveys. Because the traditional definition of a lek is >2 birds we could not count
singles as a lek. The relatively high numbers of single birds observed could be due to
several factors. We have several observations of birds flushing from the lek prior to
arrival of the helicopter, resulting in no observed birds on the lek. Thus some of the
single birds we observed could have been birds from a single lek. The other explanation
is that there are many single birds that are not attending leks. We have not yet analyzed
these data to account for these possibilities. We plan to have still cameras on the leks
37
during the 2007 surveys to determine the behavior of the birds during the surveys. If we
assume that the surveys are not very reliable for detecting known leks our methodology
may still have some value for finding new leks that have not been discovered. The
aggregate of the three surveys flown by helicopter suggest that at least 4 and possibly 6
new leks may have been identified.
Presentations
Ballard, W. 2006. Evaluation of Aerial line transect surveys to estimate lesser prairiechicken density in the Texas Panhandle. Presented to TPWD District staff and at
Prairie Chicken working group.
Project title:
Assessing the Impact of Avian Predators as a Limiting Factor
of Lesser Prairie-chicken Populations and the Possible
Increased Risk due to Human Altered Landscapes
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Students, trainees, and staff:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
TPW 15 and TPW 17
Clint W. Boal
Adam Behney (M.S.)
12/14/05 – 8/31/09
Texas Parks and Wildlife
West Texas
Summary of activities and findings
As part of a pilot study, we assessed the efficacy of using video-recording systems as a
method of assessing raptor predation at Lesser Prairie Chicken leks. We found the
systems held promise for the stated objective. The pilot study was effective in allowing
us to identify problems and develop solutions with the video system. Specifically, we
found time-lapse recording is not effective; real-time video is required to adequately
document and identify raptors at leks. The resolution of cameras and depth of field also
needs to be improved upon. We have partially resolved these issues by switching to
real-time video and switching to high resolution cameras. We will employ our modified
video monitoring approach for a study of raptor predation on Lesser Prairie Chicken leks
in context of oil and gas development infrastructure. The full study will begin in February
2007.
38
Project title:
Evaluation of Distance Sampling for Rio Grande Turkeys from
Roads in Texas
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Students, trainees, and staff:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
TPW 16
Warren Ballard, Mark Wallace, Matthew Butler
Devin Erxleben (M.S.)
9/1/06 – 8/31/09
Texas Parks and Wildlife
Southern Rolling Plains, South Texas, Edwards
Plateau, and Cross Timbers, Texas
Summary of activities and findings
Successful large scale monitoring programs are important to conservation efforts,
management decisions, and evaluating management activities. However, past efforts to
monitor Rio Grande wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia) populations in Texas
have been unsuccessful and limited to small scales. Due to fiscal restrains, Texas Parks
and Wildlife Department is limited to road-based surveys. Therefore, our objective is to
develop and evaluate line transect-based distance sampling from roads in the Edwards
Plateau, the Southern Rolling Plains, the Cross-Timbers, and South Texas. Because
avoidance-attraction behaviors by wild turkey flocks can bias density estimates, we
intend to conduct a meta-analysis of wild turkey locations data from various parts of
Texas to determine wild turkey distributional patterns around roads. The results of this
analysis will indicate the best season and time of day to conduct road-based surveys.
To evaluate the various factors that can affect detectability during road-based surveys,
we will conduct field simulations using inflatable turkey decoys. Ultimately, information
concerning detectability obtained from field simulations and encounter rates determined
from wild turkey surveys will be used in computer-based simulations to determine the
potential accuracy and precision of line transect-based distance sampling from roads.
Also, we will examine power to detect trends in population change.
Project title:
Influence of Human Activities on White-tailed Hawk
Distribution, Habitat Associations, and Productivity on Texas
Barrier Islands
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Students, trainees, and staff:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
TPW 18
Clint W. Boal
Carey Haralson (M.S.)
9/1/05 – 5/31/08
Texas Parks and Wildlife
Matagorda, Mustang and Padre Islands, TX
Summary of activities and findings
The white-tailed hawk (Buteo albicaudatus) is one of the least studied raptors in North
America. In the United States they breed only in the coastal grasslands and adjacent
39
inland savannahs of Texas. Preliminary surveys suggest white-tailed hawks may breed
at higher densities on some barrier islands than on the mainland of Texas. However,
white-tailed hawks have demonstrated little tolerance for human disturbance near their
nests. As demands on coastal resources increase due to tourism, petroleum exploration,
agriculture, and urban development, wildlife managers will be faced with ensuring a
suitable environment for white-tailed hawks. In 2006 we initiated a study of white-tailed
hawks nesting on Matagorda, Mustang and North Padre Islands, Texas. Across these
three islands we monitored a total of 32 pairs; 22 pairs on Matagorda Island (MA), 5
pairs on Mustang Island (MU), and 5 pairs on North Padre Island (NP).
Preliminary analysis of our 2006 data indicate an average density of 0.10 pairs per km2
across the study area (MA = 0.12; MU = 0.11; NP = 0.06). The breeding season was
quite protracted, with initiation of clutches starting in early March and continuing into
June. Matagorda and North Padre Islands had more variation in when pairs initiated
clutches than Mustang Island The average brood size for pairs was 1.74 ( 0.62), but
nest success across the study area was quite variable (MA = 73%; MU = 80%; NP =
17%), possibly due to the drought conditions during the breeding season. Further
analysis is on going, and pending a second field season in 2007.
Awards and honors
Carey Haralson, and M.S. graduate student, received a Houston Safari Club Student
Scholarship in 2006.
Project title:
Abundance, habitat use, and seasonal activity patterns of
Texas Horned Lizards
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Students, trainees, and staff:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
OA 50
Gad Perry, David Wester
Jack Goldfarb (Ph.D.), Juan Diaz (M.S.)
3/10/04 – 12/1/07
Texas Army National Guard
Texas
Summary of activities and findings
Work this year focused on continuing surveys at the Post site and beginning surveys on
TXARNG bases. Because of the very dry spring, lizard activity was very limited at all
sites visited. Two main goals were nonetheless addressed this year. First, we identified
TXARNG bases which have substantial areas appropriate for horned lizards to inhabit.
These surveys will be the basis of ongoing work in future years. Second, we continued
documenting the biology of the lizards at the Post site. This was essential as it clearly
showed the effects of the drought on activity levels. We have also been able to
document reproduction and activity levels in more detail. Post lizards have low survival,
as has been reported for other populations of the species, but do not appear to match
predicted size patterns. Specifically, they are larger than indicated by preliminary reports
from multi-location comparisons conducted by other teams.
40
Jacob Goldfarb left the project late this year, and a new student, Jason Brewer, will take
over in Spring 2007.
Presentations
Gad Perry was a co-organizer of the Horned Lizard Working group meetings in 2005 (in
Lubbock) and 2006 (in Snyder). He presented a talk on horned lizards at each
meeting.
Jack Goldfarb presented preliminary results at the Texas Herpetological Society meeting
in Austin in 2005.
Juan Diaz presented preliminary results at the 9th meeting of the Mexico Herpetological
Society meeting in Mexico.
Project title:
Avian and Bat Fatality Monitoring Surveys at FPL Energy’s
Red Canyon Wind Power Project in Fluvanna, TX
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Students, trainees, and staff:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
OA 51
Clint Boal
Amanda Owens (M.S.)
9/1/06 – 8/31/07
Tetra Tech Inc.
Fluvanna, TX
Summary of activities and findings
Wind energy has been utilized commercially in the United States since the 1970s. Wind
energy development begins with the identification of regions with acceptable wind levels.
Collision mortalities of avian and bat species are consequences of wind energy
development. The wide range of mortality estimations from various regions around the
continental United States make predictions of the interactions between wind energy
development and local avian and bat populations difficult. While some information exists
to determine the temporal patterns of collision mortalities, little information exists to
determine the effects of geophysical characteristics of turbine locations on mortalities.
We are assessing the geophysical characteristics of turbine locations that are associated
with collisions and developing a predictive model for using in wind farm planning along
the Caprock Escarpment of Texas. Our study site is approximately 85 miles southeast
of Lubbock and consists of 56 turbines. We initiated a standardized mortality study at
the wind farm in September 2006. During the study year, 28 sample turbines are
searched twice a month for mortalities. Carcass removal trials and searcher efficiency
trials, potential biases to mortality estimations, run concurrent to mortality searches.
Mortality estimations are determined for each season, turbine and the year overall. At
the end of the first study year, we will develop a spatial model using GIS software to
describe the physical characteristics of turbine locations that increase mortality. A
second year of study is devoted to the testing of the model. The spatial model
developed in this study will be beneficial to wind energy developers and natural resource
managers to decrease negative interactions with bird and bat species and wind turbines.
41
Project title:
Reproductive Success, Habitat Selection, and Nestling Diet of
the Texas Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus texanus) in
South Texas
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Students, trainees, and staff:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
OA 52
Clint Boal
Brad Strobel (M.S.)
9/1/05 – 5/31/08
Welder Wildlife Foundation
Welder Wildlife Refuge, Sinton, TX
Summary of activities and findings
Little is known about the breeding ecology of the texanus subspecies of red-shouldered
hawk (RSHA), which is unique to Texas. We monitored all the RSHA nests active on the
Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife Refuge and adjacent private lands during the breeding
seasons of 2005 and 2006. The 14 nests monitored in 2005 had higher than 80%
success. In 2006 a similar number of territories were occupied, but only 4 pairs nested
and all failed prior to fledging young. Although data collection is continuing, preliminary
analysis suggest that the prolonged drought and low abundance of small mammals likely
influenced both the low nest success and nest initiation rates in 2006.
Nest habitat measurements from 2005 and 2006 are being analyzed for 16 nests and 48
random points using principle components analysis (PCA). PCA will allow us to
determine which variables are important for determining nest sites from the surrounding
areas and will facilitate land management decisions. Preliminary data show that nest
trees have larger diameters and are taller than random trees within nest stands.
Analysis and interpretation of finer scale habitat components is ongoing, however it is
likely canopy closure, stem density, and tree species all play in nest site selection.
To assess nestling diet we used video surveillance cameras and time-lapse recorders to
document prey items delivered to 10 RSHA nests. We recorded over 2000 prey
deliveries, primarily in 2005. Analysis of prey deliveries is being done to determine if
there is a significant difference in nestling diet between years and nests. In addition, we
will be comparing the diversity of the diet of nestlings in south Texas to published
literature from studies elsewhere.
Presentations
Strobel, B.N., and C.W. Boal. Prey delivered to red-shouldered hawk nestlings in south
Texas. 41st Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society, South
Padre Island, TX. February 2006.
Awards and honors
Brad Strobel, a M.S. graduate student, received a Welder Wildlife Fellowship for 2005
through 2007.
42
Project title:
Ecology and Conservation of Avian Species in the East
Caribbean
Unit project number:
Principal investigators:
Project period of performance:
Funding source:
Location:
OA 53
Clint Boal
9/1/05 – 5/31/08
Falconwood Foundation, Texas Cooperative Fish
and Wildlife Research Unit
Guana Island, British Virgin Islands
Summary of activities and findings
We have been directing avian research at the Guana Island Field Site since 2003.
Studies involved in this project focus on 1) neotropical migrant use of the east Caribbean,
2) habitat associations and population trends of island resident species, 3) demography
of bananaquits, and 4) ecology of mangrove cuckoos. Several accomplishments have
been made to date. Using data collected since 1994, we developed a more complete
inventory of the island’s resident and migrant species. We have documented four new
species for the British Virgin Islands: Magnolia Warbler (Dendroica magnolia; 1996),
Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera; 1997), Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus
ustulatus; 2000), and Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus; 2004). We
documented a previously unknown migration route for Swainson’s Thrushes which were
known to occur only in the western-most Greater Antilles, and there only as a rare
migrant. We have also provided the first information available on age and condition of
migrant Swainson’s Thrushes in the east Caribbean. Similarly, we capture more
Blackpoll Warblers (Dendroica striata) than any other Neotropical migrant landbird (e.g.,
170 in 2005), yet this species was first detected in the region in 1989. Captures and
detections of these Neotropical migrant landbirds may suggest some species are more
common in the region than previously believed, or, as speculated by other researchers,
that migrant routes may be shifting eastward due to habitat degradation on western
Caribbean islands.
We estimated densities and examined patterns of habitat and inter-specific association
between Pearly-eyed Thrashers (Margarops fuscatus), Crested Anoles (Anolis
cristatellus) and Saddled Anoles (Anolis stratulus) on Guana Island, British Virgin Islands.
Density of anoles differed among four cover types and between species. Densities of
Pearly-eyed Thrashers were positively correlated with densities of Crested Anoles.
Crested Anoles were more almost twice as abundant at survey points where thrashers
were detected than those where they were not. The association between thrashers and
Crested Anoles may be coincidental, with both species attracted to the same areas for
different reasons. Alternatively, thrashers are reputed as aggressive omnivores and
may be focusing their foraging activities in areas with greatest lizard abundance.
Other activities include a mark-recapture study of Bananaquits (Coereba flaveola) to
examine the influence of wet and dry years on age and sex specific survival. We are
also developing a survey protocol for Mangrove Cuckoos (Coccyzus minor), a secretive
lowland species that occupies areas that are rapidly being developed for resorts on other
islands. We hope that our approach will aid in survey and conservation efforts with the
species.
43
Publications
Boal, C.W., B. Dankwa-Wiredu, J. Goldfarb, K. MacDonald, J. Owen, L. Smythe, J.S.
Tsai, and G. Perry. Pearly-eyed Thrasher and Anolis Lizard Population Densities
and Associations with Vegetation Communities on Guana Island, British Virgin
Islands. Caribbean Journal of Science: submitted.
Boal, C.W. and T.S. Estabrook. Occurrence and condition of migrating Swainson’s
Thrushes in the British Virgin Islands. Wilson Journal of Ornithology: accepted.
Boal, C.W., F. Sibley, T.S. Estabrook, and J.D. Lazell. 2006. Insular and migrant
species, longevity records, and new species records on Guana Island, British
Virgin Islands. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 118:218-224.
Presentations
Boal, C.W. 2006. New bird species in the British Virgin Islands: evidence for migration
pattern changes? H. Levity Stoutt Community College, Roadtown, Tortola,
British Virgin Islands.
Boal, C.W. 2005. Ornithological Research on Guana Island: a decade in review. H.
Levity Stoutt Community College, Roadtown, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
44
Unit Activities
Honors and Awards
•
•
•
•
Sandeep Mukhi, Best Graduate Student Award, Department of Environmental
Toxicology, Texas Tech University, 2005
Sandeep Mukhi, Second Place, Toxicology Research Exposé, The Institute of
Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, 2005.
Bradley Strobel, Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Fellowship, 2005-2007.
Jodi Martin, Chancellor’s Award of Excellence, Texas Tech University, 2005.
Publications
Published
Boal, C.W., and D.E. Andersen. 2005. Microhabitat characteristics of Lapland longspur
(Calcarius lapponicus) nests at Cape Churchill, Manitoba. Canadian FieldNaturalist 119:208-213.
Boal, C.W., D.E. Andersen, and P.L. Kennedy. 2005. Productivity and mortality of
northern goshawks in Minnesota. Journal of Raptor Research 39:222-228.
Boal, C.W., D.E. Andersen, and P.L. Kennedy. 2005. Foraging and nesting habitat of
northern goshawks in the Laurentian Mixed Forest Province, Minnesota. Journal
of Wildlife Management 69:1516-1527.
Boal, C.W., D.E. Andersen, P.L. Kennedy, and A. Roberson. 2006. Northern goshawk
(Accipiter gentilis) ecology in the Western Great Lakes Region. Studies in Avian
Biology 31:128-136.
Boal, C.W., M.D. Giovanni, and B. Beall. 2006. Successful nesting by a bald eagle pair
in prairie grasslands of the Texas panhandle. Western North American Naturalist
66:246-250.
Boal, C.W., F. Sibley, T.S. Estabrook, and J.D. Lazell. 2006. Insular and migrant
species, longevity records, and new species records on Guana Island, British
Virgin Islands. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 118:218-224.
Byerly, M.T., Fat-Halla, S.I., Betsill, R.K., and Patiño, R. 2005. Evaluation of short-term
exposure to high temperature as tool to suppress the reproductive development
of channel catfish for aquaculture. North American Journal of Aquaculture
67:331-339
Capps, T., Mukhi, S., Rinchard, J., Theodorakis, C.W., Blazer, V.S., and Patiño, R. 2004.
Exposure to perchlorate induces the formation of macrophage aggregates in the
trunk kidney of zebrafish and mosquitofish. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health
16:145-151.
Hu, F., Sharma, B., Mukhi, S., Patiño, R., and Carr, J. 2006. The colloidal thyroxine (T4)
ring as a novel biomarker of perchlorate exposure in the African Clawed Frog
Xenopus laevis. Toxicological Sciences 93:268-277.
Mannan, R.W., and C.W. Boal. 2004. Birds of prey in urban landscapes. Pages 105117 in People and predators (N. Fascione, A. Delach, and M.E. Smith, eds.).
Island Press, Washington, D.C.
Merriman, J.W., P.J. Zwank, C.W. Boal, and T.L. Bashore. 2004. Efficacy of visual
barriers in reduction of black-tailed prairie dog colony expansion. Wildlife Society
Bulletin 32:1316-1320.
45
Mukhi, S., Carr, J.A., Anderson, T.A., and Patiño, R. 2005. Novel biomarkers of
perchlorate exposure in zebrafish. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
24:1107-1115.
Mukhi, S., Pan, X., Cobb, G.P., and Patiño, R. 2005. Toxicity of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro1,3,5-triazine (RDX) to larval zebrafish. Chemosphere 64:178-185.
Patiño, R., Bolamba, D., Thomas, P., and Kumakura, N. 2005. Effects of external pH on
hormonally regulated ovarian follicle maturation and ovulation in Atlantic croaker.
General and Comparative Endocrinology 141:126-134.
Smithers, B.L., C.W. Boal, and D.E. Andersen. 2005. Northern goshawk food habits in
Minnesota: an analysis using time-lapse video recording systems. Journal of
Raptor Research 39:264-273.
Strüssmann, C.A. M. Karube, L.A. Miranda, R. Patiño, G.M. Somoza, D. Uchida, and M.
Yamashita. 2005. Methods of sex control in fishes and an overview of novel
hypotheses concerning the mechanisms of sex differentiation. In: T.J. Pandian,
C.A. Strüssmann and M.P. Marian, eds. Fish Genetics and Aquaculture
Biotechnology.
In Progress
Boal, C.W. and T.S. Estabrook. Occurrence and condition of migrating Swainson’s
Thrushes in the British Virgin Islands. Wilson Journal of Ornithology: Submitted.
Boal, C.W., and M.D. Giovanni. Raptor predation on Ord’s kanagaroo rats: evidence for
diurnal activity by a nocturnal rodent. Southwestern Naturalist: Submitted.
Chipman, E.D., N.E. McIntyre, J.D. Ray, M.C. Wallace, and C.W. Boal. Behavioral
effects of radio transmitter collars on adult male western burrowing owls. Journal
of Wildlife Management: Submitted.
Giovanni, M.D., C.W. Boal, and H.A. Whitlaw. Prey use and provisioning rates of
breeding ferruginous and Swainson’s hawks on the Southern Great Plains, USA.
Wilson Journal of Ornithology: Submitted.
Mannan, R.W., R.N. Mannan, C.A. Schmidt, W.A. Estes-Zumpf, and C.W. Boal.
Influence of natal experience on nest site selection by urban-nesting Cooper’s
hawks. Journal of Wildlife Management: Accepted.
Mannan, R.W., R.J. Steidl, and C.W. Boal. Identifying habitat sinks: a case study of
Cooper’s Hawks in an urban environment. Condor: Submitted.
Merriman, J.W., C.W. Boal, T.L. Bashore, P.J. Zwank, and D.B. Wester. Abundance of
diurnal raptors in relation to prairie dog colonies: implications for bird-aircraft
strike hazard (BASH). Journal of Wildlife Management: Accepted.
Pope, K.L., Blankinship, D.R., Fisher, M., and Patiño, R. Status of common snook in
Texas: In press.
Reiter, M.E., C.W. Boal, and D.E. Andersen. Anurans in subarctic tundra landscape
near Cape Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Journal of Wildlife Management:
Submitted.
Theodorakis, C., R. Patiño, E. Snyder, and E. Albers. Perchlorate Effects in Fish. In
Perchlorate Ecotoxicology, Chapter 7 (R.J. Kendall and P. N. Smith, eds.),
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC)/SETAC Press,
Pensacola, FL.: In press.
Yamamoto, Y., Yoshizaki, G., Takeuchi, T., Soyano, K., Itoh, F., and Patiño, R. In press.
Differential expression and localization of four connexins in the ovary of the ayu
(Plecoglossus altivelis). Molecular Reproduction and Development: In press.
46
Presentations
Acktinson, M.A., W.P. Kuvlesky, Jr., C.W. Boal, D. Kane, L.A. Brennan, and A. OrtegaSantos, Jr. 2005. Productivity and nesting habitat preferences of white-tailed
hawks, red-tailed hawks, and crested caracaras in the Wild Horse Desert. 40th
Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society, Amarillo, TX.
Boal, C.W. 2005. Ornithological Research on Guana Island: a decade in review. H.
Levity Stoutt Community College, Roadtown, Tortola, British Virgin Islands
(Invited Seminar).
Boal, C.W. 2006. New bird species in the British Virgin Islands: evidence for migration
pattern changes? H. Levity Stoutt Community College, Roadtown, Tortola,
British Virgin Islands (Invited Seminar).
Boal, C.W., D.E. Andersen, and P.L. Kennedy. 2006. Habitat use and home range
patterns of northern goshawks in the Western Great Lakes region of North
America. International Symposium on the Ecology of Northern Goshawk.
Meeting of Raptor-Japan, Tokyo, Japan (Invited Presentation).
Boal, C.W., M.D. Giovanni, and H.A. Whitlaw. 2005. Comparative breeding ecology of
ferruginous hawks and Swainson's hawks in the Southern Great Plains. 40th
Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society, Amarillo, TX.
Boal, C.W., M.D. Giovanni, and H. Whitlaw. 2005. Nesting habitat selection and
partitioning by ferruginous hawks and Swainson’s hawks in the Southern Great
Plains 75th Annual Meeting of the Cooper Ornithological Society, Arcata, CA.
Beall, B.N., and C.W. Boal. 2005. Diet of a bald eagle pair nesting in short grass prairie
of the Texas panhandle (undergraduate poster presentation). 40th Annual
Meeting of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society, Amarillo, TX.
Chizinski, C., Sharma, B., Mukhi, S., Pope, K., and Patiño, R. 2006. Development of
bioenergetics model for zebrafish and application in toxicology research. Texas
Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX.
Giovanni, M.D., C.W. Boal, and H.A. Whitlaw. 2005. Prey use and partitioning by
sympatric ferruginous hawks and Swainson's hawks on the Southern Great
Plains. 40th Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society,
Amarillo, TX.
Hu, F., Sharma, B., Patiño, R., and Carr, J.A. 2005. Biomarkers of thyroid dysfunction
in amphibians. 26th Annual Meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology
and Chemistry, Baltimore, MD.
Kane, D., W.P. Kuvlesky, Jr., C.W. Boal, L.A. Brennan, and J. Eagan. 2005.
Community assembly and ecology of a raptor guild in the Tamaulipan Biotic
Province of south Texas. 40th Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of The
Wildlife Society, Amarillo, TX.
Kane, D.F., M. Actkinson, W.P. Kuvlesky, C.W. Boal, L.A. Brennan, and F. Hernandez.
2006. Resource partitioning and productivity of a south Texas raptor
assemblage. 41st Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society,
South Padre Island, TX.
Mukhi, S. and Patiño, R. 2004. Novel biomarkers of perchlorate exposure in zebrafish.
Fourth World Congress and 25th Annual Meeting of the Society of Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry, Portland, OR.
Mukhi, S. and Patiño, R. 2004. Acute and Sub-acute effects of RDX in zebrafish. 2005
Toxicology Research Exposé, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health,
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
Mukhi, S. and Patiño, R. 2005. Fish biomarkers of exposure to thyroid disrupting
contaminants in aquatic environments. American Fisheries Society Texas
Chapter, Grapevine, TX.
47
Mukhi, S., and Patiño, R. 2005. Characterization of novel biomarkers of perchlorate
exposure in zebrafish. 44th Annual Meeting of the Society of Toxicology Special
Poster Session for Visiting Minority Undergraduate Students, New Orleans, LA
(Invited Poster Presentation).
Mukhi, S., and Patiño, R. 2005. Characterization of novel biomarkers of perchlorate
exposure in zebrafish. 44th Annual Meeting of the Society of Toxicology, New
Orleans, LA.
Mukhi, S., and Patiño, R. 2005. Acute and sub-acute toxicity of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro1,3,5-triazine (RDX) in zebrafish (Danio rerio). 26th Annual Meeting of the Society
of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Baltimore, MD.
Mukhi, S. and Patiño, R. 2006. Subchronic toxic effects and accumulation of hexahydro1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Annual Meeting of
the Society of Toxicology. San Diego, CA.
Patiño, R. 2004. Writing Grant Proposals for the National Science Foundation. The
University of Texas Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, TX (Invited Seminar).
Patiño, R. 2004. An integrative approach to understanding ovarian follicle maturation
and ovulation in teleost fishes. The University of Texas Marine Science Institute,
Port Aransas, TX (Invited Seminar).
Patiño, R. 2005. Biomarkers of health and reproduction in amphibians. 2005 Meeting of
the USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative Program. Tucson, AZ
(Invited Workshop Presentation).
Patiño, R. 2005. Biomarkers of exposure to endocrine-disrupting contaminants and their
application to aquatic fauna of the Rio Grande Basin. New Mexico State
University Department of Fishery and Wildlife, Las Cruces, NM (Invited Seminar).
Patiño, R. 2005. The Texas Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit. Optimist Club of
Lubbock, Lubbock, TX (Invited Outreach Presentation).
Patiño, R. 2005. NSF’s CAREER Program. Texas Tech University Office of Research
Services, Lubbock, Texas (Invited Brown Bag Seminar)
Patiño, R. 2006. NSF’s CAREER Program. Texas Tech University Office of Research
Services, Lubbock, Texas (Invited Brown Bag Seminar).
Puvenna, V., Patiño, R., and Liu, Z. 2005. Hormonal regulation of aconitase synthesis
in ovarian follicles of Xenopus laevis. Fourth Annual Symposium of New Mexico
Idea Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence, Las Vegas, NM.
Sharma, B., Hu, F., Carr, J.A., Patiño, R. 2005. Water chemistry and amphibian health
in Big Bend National Park and surrounding areas. Annual Graduate Research
Day, India Students Association, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
Sharma, B., Hu, F., Carr, J.A., Patiño, R. 2006. Biomonitoring of amphibian health in
Big Bend National Park and surrounding areas. Graduate Student Research
Poster Competition, Texas Tech University Graduate School, Lubbock, TX.
Sharma, B., Hu, F., Carr, J.A., Patiño, R. 2006. Biomarkers of amphibian health in Big
Bend National Park and surrounding areas. Texas Tech Association of Biologists
Annual Graduate Forum, Texas Tech University Department of Biological
Sciences, Lubbock, TX.
Solensky, M.J., M.L. Crozier, M. Hamady, D.E. Andersen, and C.W. Boal. 2005.
Determining goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) occupancy, nesting activity, and
reproduction within known territories in northern Minnesota, 2003-2005. Annual
Meeting of the Raptor Research Foundation, Green Bay, WI.
Strobel, B.N., and C.W. Boal. 2006. Prey delivered to red-shouldered hawk nestlings in
south Texas. 41st Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society,
South Padre Island, TX.
48
Teaschner, A.P., M.C. Wallace, C.W. Boal, N.E. McIntyre, and J.D. Ray. 2005.
Burrowing owl nesting on prairie dog colonies in the souther high plains. 40th
Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society, Amarillo, TX.
Zhang, Q., Puvenna, V., Patiño, R., and Liu, Z. 2005. Identification of progesterone
receptor isoforms in ovarian follicles of amphibian Xenopus laevis. Fourth Annual
Symposium of New Mexico Idea Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence,
Las Vegas, NM.
Thesis and Dissertations
Matthew D. Giovanni. 2005. Prey partitioning between sympatric grassland raptors.
M.S. Thesis, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
Sandeep Mukhi. 2006. Reproductive and developmental toxicity of highly energetic
compounds in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Ph.D. dissertation, Texas Tech University,
Lubbock, TX.
University Service
Graduate Committee Memberships
• Michael Atkinson – M.S., CKWR/TAMU-Kingsville (Boal)
• Matt Campbell – Ph.D., BIOL/TTU (Patiño)
• Chris Chizinski – Ph.D., NRM/TTU (Patiño)
• Bart Durham – Ph.D., NRM/TTU (Patiño)
• Fang Hu – Ph.D., BIOL/TTU (Patiño)
• Dale Kane – Ph.D., CKWR/TAMU-Kingsville (Boal)
• Myriam Moreno – Ph.D., Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua (Patiño)
• César Quintana-Martínez – Ph.D., Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua (Patiño)
• Ali Reza – Ph.D., NRM/TTU (Boal)
• Ricardo Soto – Ph.D., NRM/TTU (Patiño)
• Josh Turner – Ph.D., CKWR/TAMU-Kingsville (Boal)
• Jose Villanueva – Ph.D., NRM/TTU (Patiño)
• Juan Manuel Vidal Lopez – M.S., Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco (Patiño)
Courses Taught
Advanced Aquaculture NMR 5330 (Patiño – 3 hrs, 1 student, F 05)
Aquaculture NRM 4330 (Patiño – 3 hrs, 11 students, F 05)
Nongame Ecology and Management NRM 4322 (Boal – 3 hrs, 12 students, S 06)
Physiological Ecology of Aquatic Organisms NRM 5324 (Patiño – 3 hrs, 5 students,
S 06)
• Raptor Ecology and Management NRM 6002 (Boal – 3 hrs, 7 students, S 05)
• Tropical Ecology NRM 6324 (Co-taught: Perry and Boal – 3 hrs, 5 students, F 05)
• Tropical Ornithology NRM 4324 (Boal – 3 hrs, 6 students, Sum 06)
• Tropical Ecology NRM 6324 (Co-taught: Perry and Boal – 3 hrs, 5 students, F 06)
•
•
•
•
Guest Lectures
Human Dimensions in International Agricultural Development AGED 5311 (S 05)
Comparative Anatomy of Game Animals NMR 2406 (S 05, S 06)
•
•
University Committees and Workgroups
Member, Animal Care and Use Committee (Boal)
Member, University Veterinarian Search Committee (Boal)
•
•
49
•
•
Member, Fisheries Faculty Search Committee, Natural Resources Management,
2006 (Patiño)
Chair, Fisheries Faculty Search Committee, Natural Resources Management, 20052006 (Patiño)
Professional Service
Conference Organization and Participation
• Organizing Committee, International Conference on Water in Arid and Semiarid
Lands, Texas Tech University, 2006 (Patiño)
• International Advisory Committee, Eight International Symposium on the
Reproductive Physiology of Fish, Saint Malo, France (Patiño)
• Session Moderator: Avian Ecology. 41st Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of The
Wildlife Society, South Padre Island, TX. 2006 (Boal)
• Session Moderator: Raptor Ecology. 40th Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of
The Wildlife Society, Amarillo, TX. 2005 (Boal)
Editorships
Fish Physiology and Biochemistry (Patiño – Editorial Board)
General and Comparative Endocrinology (Patiño – Editorial Board)
Journal of Raptor Research (Boal – Associate Editor)
•
•
•
Outreach and Information Transfer
• Invited panel member: ecology and conservation of northern goshawks in Japan.
Meeting of Raptor-Japan, Tokyo, Japan (Boal)
Peer-Review Activities
Site Review Team, Fish and Wildlife Service National Fish Hatchery and Technology
Center, San Marcos, TX (Patiño)
• Peer-review Panel, Frontiers in Integrative Biological Research, The National
Science Foundation (Patiño)
• United States Expert Reviewer, Detailed Review Paper on Thyroid Hormone
Disrupting Assays, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris,
France and USEPA, Washington, D.C. (Patiño)
•
Society Involvement – Memberships
• American Fisheries Society (Patiño)
• Cooper Ornithological Association (Boal)
• Phi Beta Delta Honor Society (Patiño)
• Raptor Research Foundation (Boal)
• Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (Patiño)
• Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds (Boal)
• Society for the Study of Reproduction (Patiño)
• Society of Field Ornithologists (Boal)
• Society of Southwestern Naturalists (Boal)
• The Wildlife Society (Boal)
• The Wildlife Society Texas Chapter (Boal)
• Wilson Ornithological Society (Boal)
• World Aquaculture Society (Patiño)
50
Society Involvement – Officer
• Vice President, Phi Beta Delta Honor Society of International Scholars, Texas Tech
University Chapter (Patiño)
Society Involvement – Other
Scientific Program, Abstract Referee Committee, The Wildlife Society, 2006 (Boal)
Chair, Fran and Frederick Hamerstrom Award Committee, The Raptor Research
Foundation, 2005 -2006 (Boal)
• Chair, Tom Cade Award Committee, The Raptor Research Foundation, 2005-2006
(Boal)
•
•
Technical Assistance
• Artificial nest construction and placement for bald eagles. Assistance and guidance
to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Ft. Worth and Amarillo Zoos, and Excel
Energy, Dalhart, Texas (Boal)
51
Affiliated Activities
Publications
Published
Butler, M. J., W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, S. J. DeMaso, and R. D. Applegate. 2006.
Comparing techniques for counting Rio Grande wild turkeys at winter roosts.
Pages 112–117 in J. W. Cain III and P. R. Krausman, editors. Managing wildlife
in the southwest: new challenges for the 21st century. The Southwest Section of
The Wildlife Society, 9–11 August 2005, Alpine, TX.
Butler, D.A., W.B. Ballard, S.P. Haskell, and M.C. Wallace. 2006. Limitations of thermal
infrared imaging for locating deer fawns in semi-arid shrub communities. Wildlife
Society Bulletin 34:1458–1462.
Butler, M. J., M. C. Wallace, W. B. Ballard, S. J. DeMaso, and R. D. Applegate. 2005.
From the field: the relationship of Rio Grande wild turkey distributions to roads.
Wildlife Society Bulletin 33:745–748.
Grizzle, H. and J. C. Zak. 2006. The Soil Nitrolog Procedure: Assessment of Fungal
Functional Diversity on Nitrogen Compounds. Mycologia 98: 353-363.
Moon, J.A. and D.A. Haukos. 2006. Survival of female northern pintails wintering in the
Playa Lakes Region of northwestern Texas. Journal of Wildlife Management
70:777-783.
Zak, J. C. 2005. Fungal Communities of Desert Ecosystems: Links to Climate Change.
In: The Fungal Community: Its Organization and Role in the Ecosystem, 3rd
edition. J. Dighton, J. F. White, and P. Oudemans. (eds), Taylor & Francis Group,
Boca Roton.
In Progress
Bhattacharjee, J., D.A. Haukos, and J. Neaville. Vegetation response to disturbance in
an intermediate coastal marsh in Texas. Community Ecology: Submitted.
Bhattacharjee, J., D.A. Haukos, and J. Neaville. Influence of biotic and abiotic factors
on productivity of a coastal marsh. Wetlands: Submitted.
Butler, M. J., W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, S. J. DeMaso, and B. K. McGee. Application
and utility of aerial surveys for estimating number of Rio Grande wild turkeys in
the Texas Rolling Plains. Journal of Wildlife Management: Submitted.
Butler, M. J., W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, and S. J. DeMaso. Utility of line-transect
based distance sampling from roads applied to estimation of Rio Grande wild
turkey density in the Texas Rolling Plains. Journal of Wildlife Management:
Submitted.
Butler, M. J., W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, and S. J. DeMaso. Application and utility of
helicopter surveys for estimating number of Rio Grande Wild Turkeys in the
Texas Rolling Plains. European Journal of Wildlife Research: Submitted.
Butler, M. J., G. I. Hall, W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, R. S. Phillips, J. H. Brunjes, R. T.
Huffman, R. L. Houchin, J. C. Bullock, S. J. DeMaso, R. D. Applegate, M. C.
Frisbie. Utility of poult-hen counts to index productivity of Rio Grande wild
turkeys. National Wild Turkey Symposium Proceedings 9: In Press.
Haskell, S.P., and W.B. Ballard. Accounting for radiotelemetry signal flux in triangulation
point estimation. European Journal of Wildlife Research: in press.
Haskell, S.P., W.B. Ballard, D.A. Butler, N.M. Tatman, M.C. Wallace, C. Kochanny, and
P. Alcumbrac. Observations on capturing and aging deer fawns. Journal of
Mammalogy: Accepted.
52
Haskell, S.P., D.A. Butler, W.B. Ballard, M.J. Butler, M.C. Wallace, and M.H. Humphrey.
Deer density estimation in west-central Texas: old versus new ground techniques
with mark-resight as a comparative baseline. Journal of Wildlife Management:
Submitted.
Haukos, D.A., S. Martinez, and J. Hetzel. Characteristics of pair ponds used by mottled
ducks on the Chenier Plain of coastal Texas. Waterbirds: Submitted.
Moon, J.A., D.A. Haukos, and L.M. Smith. Changes in body condition of pintails
wintering in the Playa Lakes Region. Journal of Wildlife Management: In Press.
Moon, J.A. and D.A. Haukos. 2007. Factors affecting body condition of wintering
northern pintails. Journal of Field Ornithology: In Press.
Moon, J.A., D.A. Haukos, and R.R. Cox, Jr. Habitat use and movements of female
northern pintails in the Playa Lakes Region of northwestern Texas. Waterbirds:
Submitted.
Patrick, L. J. Cable, D. Potts, D. Ignace, G. Barron-Gafford, A. Griffith, H. Alpert, N. Van
Gestel, T. Robertson, T. E. Huxman, J. Zak, M. E. Loik, and D. Tissue. Effects of
an Increase in Summer Precipitation on Leaf, Soil and Ecosystem Fluxes of CO2
and H2O in a Sotol Grassland in Big Bend National Park, Texas. Oecologia:
Accepted.
Presentations
Anderson, J.T., J.A. Moon, D.A. Haukos, and B. Ballard. 2006. Survival of female
northern pintails wintering in Texas. 4th North American Duck Symposium,
Bismarck, ND.
Ballard, W. 2006. Evaluation of Aerial line transect surveys to estimate lesser prairiechicken density in the Texas Panhandle. Presented to TPWD District staff and at
Prairie Chicken working group, San Angelo, TX.
Bell, C., J. Zak, H. Grizzle, S. Cox, D. Tissue and J. Sirotnak. 2006. Microbial carbon
and nitrogen mineralization dynamics in desert grassland soils of Big Bend
National Park as influenced by global climate change. Ecological Society of
America, Annual Meeting, Memphis, TN.
Bell, C.W. J. Zak, H. Grizzle, and D. Tissue. 2006. Microbial carbon usage and nitrogen
mineralization dynamics in desert grassland soils of Big Bend NP as influenced
by global climate change. Annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America,
Memphis, TN.
Bell, C. W., H. W. Grizzle, and J. C. Zak. 2005. Microbial responses to increased
precipitation in the sotol grasslands of Big Bend National Park. Soil Ecology
Society Tenth Biennial International Conference, Argonne National Laboratory.
Butler, D.A., W.B. Ballard, M.C. Wallace, and S. P. Haskell. 2006. Differences in
microhabitat parameters of fawn day bedsites for sympatric mule deer and whitetailed deer neonates. 41th Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife
Society. South Padre Island, TX.
Butler, M. J., W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, S. J. DeMaso, and R. D. Applegate. 2006. A
comparison of techniques for enumerating Rio Grande wild turkeys at winter
roosts. 41th Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society. South
Padre Island, TX.
Butler, M. J., G. I. Hall, W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, R. S. Phillips, J. H. Brunjes, R. T.
Huffman, R. L. Houchin, J. C. Bullock, S. J. DeMaso, R. D. Applegate, M. C.
Frisbie. 2005. Utility of poult-hen counts to index productivity of Rio Grande wild
turkeys. National Wild Turkey Symposium. Grand Rapids, MI.
Butler, M. J., W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, S. J. DeMaso, and R. D. Applegate. 2005. A
comparison of techniques for enumerating Rio Grande wild turkeys at winter
53
roosts. Managing Wildlife in the Southwest Symposium, Southwestern Section
of The Wildlife Society Conference, Alpine, TX.
Butler, M. J, G. I. Hall, W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, S. J. DeMaso, and R. D. Applegate.
2005. Utility of poult-hen counts to index productivity of Rio Grande wild turkeys
in the Texas Panhandle and southwestern Kansas. Spring Meeting of the
Kansas Chapter of The Wildlife Society. Emporia, KS.
Butler, M. J., G. I. Hall, W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, and S. J. DeMaso. 2005. Utility of
poult-hen counts to index productivity of Rio Grande wild turkeys in the Texas
Panhandle and southwestern Kansas. 40th Annual Meeting of the Texas
Chapter of The Wildlife Society. Amarillo, TX.
Campbell, J.H., J. C. Zak, R. M. Jeter and R.E. Strauss. 2005. Effects of soil chemistry
on distributions of oligotrophic bacteria along an elevational gradient. Soil
Ecology Society Tenth Biennial International Conference, Argonne National
Laboratory.
Campbell, J., J. Clark and J. Zak. 2006. A comparison of microbial diversity as
assessed by DGGE from fresh and archived soil samples. Annual meeting of the
Ecological Society of America, Memphis, TN.
Clark, J. S., J. H. Campbell, and J. C. Zak. May 2005. Soil eubacterial diversity along a
vegetation and elevation gradient in the Chihuahuan Desert, Big Bend National
Park. Soil Ecology Society Tenth Biennial International Conference, Argonne
National Laboratory.
Ebbets, A., D. Barker, V. Ebbert, T. Rosenstiel, W. Adams, D. Tissue, and S. Smith.
2006. Potential changes in photosynthetic performance of two Mojave Desert
shrubs in response to elevated CO2. Ecological Society of America, Annual
Meeting, Memphis, TN.
Grizzle, H. J. Zak and D. Tissue. 2006. Impacts of nitrogen deposition on microbial
activity in two desert ecosystems. Annual meeting of the Ecological Society of
America, Memphis, TN.
Haskell, S.P., W.B. Ballard, M.C. Wallace, D.A. Butler, and M.H. Humphrey. 2006.
Postpartum group cohesion of sympatric deer species in west-central Texas.
41th Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society. South Padre
Island, TX.
Haskell, S.P., W.B. Ballard, M.C. Wallace, D.A. Butler, and M.H. Humphrey. 2006.
Postpartum group cohesion of sympatric deer species in west-central Texas.
Poster presentation at the 13th Annual national Conference of The Wildlife
Society. Anchorage, AK.
Hooper, M.J., J.P. Isanhart and R.K. MacRae. 2006. Smelting, Shooting, Burning,
Mining And Tailings; Metal Hazards To Avian Species. IV North American
Ornithological Conference. Veracruz, Mexico.
Isanhart, J.P., R. MacRae, K. Pandher, and M.J. Hooper. 2006. Avian toxicity of acidand metal-contaminated scarce water resources in arid habitats. Water in arid
and semiarid lands: Innovative approaches and informed decision-making. 2006
ICASALS (International Center for Arid and Semiarid Land Studies) International
Conference. Lubbock, TX.
Isanhart, J.P., T.J. McBride, R. MacRae, K. Pandher, M.J. Hooper. 2006. Avian
Ecotoxicology of Acid-Contaminated Water. Society of Environmental Toxicology
and Chemistry (SETAC) 27th Annual Meeting. Montreal, QB, Canada.
Isanhart, J, MacRae, R, Roberts, C, Hooper, M. 2005. Avian consumption and use of
acid metalliferous water: Toxicological assessments of exposure, effects and
susceptibility. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) 26th
Annual Meeting. Baltimore, MD.
54
Moon, J.A. and D.A. Haukos. 2005. Declining body condition of female northern pintails
wintering in the Playa Lakes Region of Texas. The Texas Chapter of The
Wildlife Society, Amarillo, TX.
Moon, J.A. and D.A. Haukos. 2006. Survival of female northern pintails wintering in the
Playa Lakes Region of Texas. Annual Meeting of The Texas Chapter of The
Wildlife Society, South Padre Island, TX.
Patrick, L. 2006. Effects of increased precipitation on the carbon balance of North
American desert plants. EPA Graduate Fellows Conference, Washington, DC.
Patrick, L. and D. Tissue. 2006. How does summer precipitation affect daily CO2 and
H2O fluxes of North American desert plants? Ecological Society of America,
Annual Meeting, Memphis, TN.
Patrick, L., D. Tissue and J. Zak. 2005. Response of daytime net ecosystem carbon and
water exchange to a large winter precipitation pulse in Big Bend National Park.
Ecological Society of America International Meeting, Montreal, Canada.
Patrick, L. and D. Tissue. 2005. Photosynthetic responses of desert plants to changes
in the timing and magnitude of precipitation at Big Bend National Park. Graduate
Forum, Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
Patrick, L. and D. Tissue. 2005. Effects of increased precipitation on the physiological
responses of desert plant communities. ARCS Scholar Reception, Lubbock, TX.
Rice, M. and D.A. Haukos. 2006. Results of analyses of continental northern pintail
banding data. Central Flyway Technical Committee, Socorro, NM.
Rice, M. and D.A. Haukos. 2006. Analyses of band recovery data for the continental
northern pintail population. Pintail Action Group, 4th North American Duck
Symposium, Bismarck, ND.
Rice, M.B., W. Ballard, E. Fish and D. Holderman. 2006. Landscape analysis of a
recolonizing black bear (Ursus americanus) population in the Trans-Pecos region
of Texas. The Wildlife Society Annual Meeting. Anchorage, AK.
Rice, M.B., W. Ballard, E. Fish and D. Holderman. 2006. Landscape analysis of a
recolonizing black bear (Ursus americanus) population in the Trans-Pecos region
of Texas. Ecological Society of America annual meeting. Memphis, TN.
Rice, M.B., W. Ballard, E. Fish and D. Holderman. 2006. Scales of habitat selection for
black bears (Ursus americanus) in the Trans-Pecos. Texas Chapter of the
Wildlife Society meeting. South Padre, TX.
Tissue, D.T. 2006. Global climate change – impacts on plant physiological and
ecosystem processes. ComBio Plenary Address, Brisbane, Australia.
Zak, J. C., H. Grizzle, C. Bell, J. Campbell, E. Sobek, and D. Tissue. 2005. Microbial
dynamics and processes in a desert landscape: Impacts of climate change, soil
nutrients, and vegetation. Soil Ecology Society Tenth Biennial International
Conference, Argonne National Laboratory.
Thesis and Dissertations
Butler, M. J. 2006. Evaluation of survey techniques for Rio Grande wild turkey
populations in the Southern Great Plains. Ph.D. dissertation, Texas Tech
University, Lubbock, TX.
Campbell, Jim. 2006. Patterns in distribution and diversity of Oligotrophic bacteria in the
Chihuahuan Desert. Ph.D. dissertation, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
Grizzle, H. 2005. Impacts of nitrogen deposition on soil fungi in an arid ecosystem. M.S.
thesis, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
Hu, Fang. 2006. Endocrine disruption of reproductive and thyroid axes in anuran
amphibians. Ph.D. dissertation, Texas Tech University Department of Biological
Sciences, Lubbock, TX.
55
Rice, M.B. 2006. Landscape analysis of a recolonizing black bear (Ursus americanus)
population in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas. Ph.D. dissertation, Texas Tech
University, Lubbock, TX.
Robertson, T. 2006. Plant productivity and community response to three years of
supplemental precipitation in the sotol grasslands of Big Bend National Park, TX.
Ph.D. dissertation, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
56