Louisiana Association Of

Louisiana Association of

Professional Biologists

2011 Fall Symposium

Recent Natural Resource

Research in Louisiana

With a Focus Session on

Restoration Ecology in Louisiana

August 11th and 12th

The NOAA Estuarine Habitats and Coastal

FisheriesCenter

646 Cajundome Blvd.

Lafayette, LA70506

Thursday, August 11th – Large Conference Room #119

8:50 – 9:00Welcome and Introduction: Aaron Pierce,

LAPB President-Elect

Session IModerator: Megan LaPeyre (USGS)

9:00 – 9:20THE EFFECTS OF OYSTER HARVEST ON RESIDENT OYSTER REEF COMMUNITIES AND REEF STRUCTURE IN COASTAL LOUISIANA. Steve Beck1and Megan K. LaPeyre2, 1School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University, 2U.S. Geological Survey, Louisiana Fish and Wildlife Cooperative Research Unit.

9:20 – 9:40INDUCED SPAWNING OF WILD-CAUGHT SPOTTED GAR LepisoteusoculatusAND EFFECTS OF INJECTING BROODSTOCK WITH THYROID HORMONES ON EGG HATCH RATE AND LARVAL GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND SURVIVAL.Kent Bollfrass1, Quenton Fontenot1, Allyse Ferrara1, Sergio Castillo2, Roberto Mendoza3, 1Department of Biological Sceiences, Nicholls State University, 2Centro de Investigacion Cientifica y de Educaion Superior de Ensenada, Ensenada, Mexico, 3Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

9:40 – 10:00SURVEYING LOUISIANA WATERFOWL HUNTERS: CONTRASTS BETWEEN A RANDOM MAIL SURVEY AND AN OPEN WEB SURVEY. Lucien Laborde, Jr., Frank C. Rohwer, and Michael D. Kaller, School of Renewable Natural Resources, LSU Agricultural Center.

10:00 – 10:20BREAK

Session IIModerator: Eddie Lyons (McNeese)

10:20 – 10:40DO SITE PREPARATIONS IN LOUISIANA LOBLOLLY CLEARCUTS IMPACT BREEDING DISTURBANCE-DEPENDENT BIRDS?Falyn L. Owens1, Philip C. Stouffer1, Michael J. Chamberlain2, 1School of Renewable Natural Resources, LSU Agricultural Center, 2 Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia..

10:40 – 11:00WINTERING WATERBIRDS USE OF LOUISIANA’S BARRIERISLANDS. David Curtiss and Aaron R. Pierce, Department of Biological Sciences, NichollsStateUniversity.

11:00 – 11:20ECOLOGICAL FACTORS INFLUENCING THE SUCCESS AND FAILURE OF TWO BROWN PELICAN COLONIES. Scott T. Walter1,Mike R. Carloss2, Tom J. Hess3, Paul L. Leberg1, 1Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 2Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge, 3Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Grand Chenier.

11:20 – 11:30ANNOUNCEMENTS

11:30 – 1:30LUNCH (on your own)

Session IIIModerator: Aaron Pierce (Nicholls)

1:30 – 1:50Delayed Fall Migration of

Ducks in North America: An

Examination of 50 Years of Parts

Collection Survey Data. Bruce E.

Davis and Frank C. Rohwer, Renewable Natural

Resources, LouisianaStateUniversity

Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA70803

1:50 – 2:10ASSESSMENT OF FALL SHOREBIRD HABITAT AVAILABILITY ON INLAND-MANAGED WETLANDS WITHIN THE GULF COAST JOINT VENTURE. William Vermillion, Mark Parr, Nicholas Enwright, and Barry Wilson. GulfCoast Joint Venture, NationalWetlandsResearchCenter, Lafayette, LA.

2:15 – 3:30POSTER SESSION (CONF. RM #116)

3:30 – 4:30LAPB Fall Business Meeting (Room #119)

5:00 – 9:00Evening Social and Dinner at Hilton Garden Inn

-Student Presentation and Publication Awards announced

Friday, August 12th

FOCUS SESSION

RESTORATION ECOLOGY IN LOUISIANA

8:20 – 8:30Opening Remarks: Aaron Pierce, LAPB President-Elect

Focus Session Moderator: Michael Carloss (LDWF)

8:30 – 9:00An OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT STATUS OF LONGLEAF PINE SYSTEM RESTORATION IN lOUISIANA. Latimore Smith, The Nature Conservacy, Louisiana Office, Baton Rouge, LA.

9:00 – 9:30BOTTOMLANDHARDWOODFOREST

RESTORATION:A PROCESS NOT AN

EVENT.Marc “Buddy” Dupuy, Louisiana

Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Forestry

Section, Wildlife Division, 1995 Shreveport

Hwy, Pineville, LA71360.

9:30 – 10:00Coastal Prairie Restoration:

Issues and Challenges.Larry Allain,

USGSNationalWetlandsResearchCenter,

Lafayette, LA70506.

10:00 – 10:30Barrierisland restoration in louisiana – past, present, and future.Darin M. Lee,LouisianaOffice of Coastal Protection and Restoration, Operations and Maintenance Division, Thibodaux, LA.

10:30 – 11:00THE MIGRATORY BIRD HABITAT INITIATIVE AND AN ASSESSMENT OF ITS BENEFITS TO WATERBIRDS. John M. Pitre1, Michael Brasher2, and Wylie C. Barrow3, 1U.S. Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service, Alexandria, LA, 2Ducks Unlimited, Inc/Gulf Coast Joint Venture, Lafayette, LA, 3U.S. Geological Survey-National Wetlands Research Center, Lafayette, LA.

11:00 – 11:10Closing Comments

ABSTRACTS FOR STUDENT PRESENTATIONS

Thursday, 11 August 2011

The effects of oyster harvest on resident oyster reef communities and reef structure in coastal Louisiana.Steve Beck1 and Megan K. La Peyre 2, 1 School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, 2 U.S. Geological Survey, Louisiana Fish and Wildlife Cooperative Research Unit, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803

Oyster harvest provides substantial disturbance to oyster reef habitat in the northern Gulf of Mexico. How oyster dredging alters reef substrateand affects resident fauna has not been thoroughly examined on the sub-tidal oyster reefs of Louisiana. Reef complexity and resident communities were compared on unharvested and harvested reefs during the spring, summer, and fall of 2010. Harvested reefs had higher amounts of loose shell, mixed shell/mud substrate, and elevated chlorophyll-a levels, while unharvested reefs had higher amounts of oyster clusters, solid reef substrate, and more live oysters. Nekton density did not differ with harvest status and dominant species were similar, although greater species diversity was found at harvested sites. Habitat variables influencing assemblage included the amount of solid reef substrate and number of live oysters. Condition (width:length ratio) of Gobiosoma bosc was greater at unharvested sites, but other fish species showed no difference. Stable isotope values (δ13C and δ15N) of dominant species and basal food sources were used to compare food web characteristics between sites. Marsh source contribution and trophic levels of dominant species were all elevated at harvested sites. Trophic arrangement did not differ with the exception of zooplankton (trophic position increased substantially at harvested sites). Oyster harvest appears to decrease the number of live oysters and fragment solid reef area, resulting in elevated phytoplankton productivity, decreased benthopelagic coupling, and increased habitat heterogeneity. Increased basal consumer diversity in the water column and mixed shell/mud substrate could account for increased nekton diversity and trophic elevation on harvested oyster reefs.

Induced spawning of wild-caught spotted gar Lepisosteusoculatusand effects of injecting broodstock with thyroid hormones on egg hatch rate and larval growth, development and survival. Kent Bollfrass1, Quenton Fontenot1, Allyse Ferrara1, Sergio Castillo2, Roberto Mendoza3,¹Department of Biological Sciences, Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, LA 70310, 2Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Ensenada, Mexico, 3Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico.

Induced spawning of fish in the laboratory can provide larvae for experimental studies, wild stock augmentation, or production of food fish. We have developed a protocol for spawning wild-caught spotted gar Lepisosteusoculatusin the laboratory and have used that protocol to determine if thyroid hormones injected into the broodstock result in more robust larvae. Injection of 0.5 mL of a gonadotropic releasing hormone (GnRH) per kg of fish usually results in spawning activity within 48 hrs. In addition to the GnRH, broodstock were injected with thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T4), ortriiodothyronine (T3) with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a vehicle. A non-thyroid hormone control group of broodstock received only the GnRH and DMSO. At least three separate trials were conducted for each treatment and each spawning event occurred in a 2m diameter aerated static system containing artificial spawning substrate. Eggs were removed from each tank within 72hrs after spawning and measured (mm). T4 levels were higher for T4 and T3 treatmentsin the eggs and not differentfor all treatments in the larvae. T3 levels were higher for the T3 treatment eggs and higher in the T4 treatment larvae. There was no difference among treatments for egg size, hatch rate, size, development, and survival. GnRH can be used to induce spawning of wild-caught spotted gar. Although thyroid hormones injected into the broodstock were absorbed by the developing eggs, there was no effect on eggs or larvae.

Surveying Louisiana waterfowl hunters: contrasts between a random mail survey and an open web survey. Lucien P. Laborde, Jr., Frank C. Rohwer, and Michael D. Kaller, School of Renewable Natural Resources, LouisianaStateUniversity Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA70803

We surveyed Louisiana waterfowl hunters in two different ways using the same questionnaire. One survey was mailed to a random sample of licensed Louisiana hunters, while a second survey was hosted on the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries website and was open to any participant. We asked about waterfowl hunting effort, experiences, success, satisfaction, and policy preferences following the 2009-2010 waterfowl season. We received from waterfowl-hunters727 usable responses to the mail survey, and 949 usable responses to the open web survey. Most results from the two survey methods varied substantially: the web-based survey group were more avid waterfowl hunters that hunted more frequently, harvested more ducks per day, placed greater emphasis on waterfowl hunting than other recreational activities, and were more likely to be members of Ducks Unlimited or Delta Waterfowl than were the respondents to the mailed random sample of hunters. We believe the randomly selected mail survey respondents more accurately represent demographics and effort of Louisiana waterfowl hunters than the web-based respondents, which may be a subset of very avid hunters that discovered the survey on-line while browsing the LDWF website or received the survey link from waterfowl hunting friends. However, it is important to note that the two survey groups gave very similar responses to questions on regulatory policy. Given the convenience and limited cost associated with on-line surveys, it is important to consider the objectives of the survey and the expected level of response when determining the appropriate survey method and interpreting survey results.

Do Site Preparations In Louisiana Loblolly Clearcuts Impact BreedingDisturbance-Dependent Birds?Falyn L. Owens1, Philip C Stouffer1, Michael J. Chamberlain2,1School of Renewable Natural Resources, LSU Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, 2Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602.

Disturbance-dependent bird species throughout the United States have recently declined due tofire suppression, lack of active management, and urbanization. In Louisiana, these species userecently harvested forest stands which provide early-successional habitat. However, changesin management practices within these young forest stands may affect their suitability for thesebird communities. Recently, Weyerhaeuser Company has instituted wider row spacings forplanted loblolly stands for economic reasons, providing an opportunity to examine breeding birdresponse to a combination of tree-row spacing (14 ft. vs. 20 ft) and woody debris placement(scattered vs. piled). During summer 2006-2010, we determined relative abundance, speciesrichness, and breeding success for birds breeding within study plots. Testing all of these metrics,we found no evidence that bird communities were impacted by any of the experimental standestablishment treatments. Additionally, vegetation metrics did not differ among treatments. Itappears that birds responded across treatments to increases in vegetative biomass and structureover time as plants became established and nesting sites increased, regardless of either tree-rowspacing or woody debris placement.

WINTERING WATERBIRD USE OF LOUISIANA’S BARRIERISLANDS.David Curtiss and Aaron R. Pierce, Department of Biological Sciences, NichollsStateUniversity, Thibodaux, LA70310

Louisiana’s barrier islands are critical for protecting coastal areas from erosion caused by wind and wave energy but are degrading rapidly as subsidence and erosion reduce their landmass. Restoration projects have been implemented to preserve and enhance the protection offered by barrier islands as well as to enhance island habitats. Islands such as the Isles Dernieres Barrier Islands Refuge (IDBIR) are critical for waterbird habitat as well. Thousands of birds utilize the IDBIR year round. During the spring many species form enormous breeding colonies critical for regional and even national populations. Waterbirds also utilize the islands during the non-breeding months of winter but little knowledge exists on how these birds utilize the islands and their habitats. My study is determining how the IDBIR habitats are being utilized by wintering waterbirds based on indices of abundance, habitat use, and prey availability. I have conducted surveys recording waterbird species richness, abundance, and behavior by island and habitat type. Additionally, prey availability, a measure of waterbird foraging quality, will be determined by analyzing invertebrates from samples collected from individual habitats found within islands. I will be presenting data preliminary results from surveys and invertebrate samples comparing differences between islands as well as habitat types. Increasing our understanding of how these islands are utilized throughout the year will give land managers valuable information to help increase the effectiveness of future habitat restoration projects.

Ecological Factors Influencing the Success and Failure of Two Brown Pelican Colonies.Scott T. Walter1, Mike R. Carloss2, Tom J. Hess3, Paul .L. Leberg1, 1Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504, 2Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, 3Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Grand Chenier, LA 70643.

Brown pelicans in the northern Gulf of Mexico face numerous environmental threats and are thus at the center of coastal management in attempt to avoid another extirpation from parts of the region. To understand which factors influence brown pelican colony success on 2 islands in Louisiana, over 4 years we banded 1114 chicks to track movement patterns, surveyed 802 nests for success, monitored 289 habitat plots for change, and evaluated land loss trends. We found pelicans preferred woody vegetation as nesting substrates, yet the availability of woody species differed across colony sites, and in recovery following 2 hurricanes (no change vs. 100% loss between species and islands). There were also differences in land loss between colony sites (16% vs. 99% of habitat plots converted to open water), and shoreline retreat (1.1m/wk) at one site resulted in ~20% reduction of nests over 2 months. Preliminary analyses suggest that differential habitat decline likely resulted in colony differences in nests producing 1+ chicks (60% vs. 42%), return rates of banded pelicans (9.1% vs. 5.8%), and in reductions in number of nests over time (12% vs. 88%). Interest in conserving brown pelicans has recently risen within the context of the species’ 2009 delisting as an endangered species, rapid habitat degradation, and the 2010 oil spill. Our research quantified factors that contributed to the decline of one colony and the success of another; future management could benefit remaining colonies by reducing the impacts of the deleterious factors we identified.

Delayed Fall Migration of Ducks in North America: An Examination of 50 Years of Parts Collection Survey Data

Bruce E. Davis and Frank C. Rohwer, Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803

The United States Fish & Wildlife Service solicits about 90,000 duck wings from hunters each year during the Parts Collection Survey (PCS). These data allow estimates of harvest composition and age and sex ratios, but other important information can also be gleaned from this sample. We use PCS data to test the hypothesis that migration patterns of dabbling and diving ducks (Anas spp., Aythya spp.) have shifted to later in the fall over recent decades. We suspect that shifts in harvest dates could reflect changing migration patterns. Using the PCS data collected from 1961-2009, we examined and compared trends in the timing of migration among 5 species in the 48 contiguous United States; we used the raw PCS data to calculate mean harvest dates for each year and state combination for Mallards(Anas platyrhynchos), Mottled Ducks(Anas fulvigula), Northern Pintail(Anas acuta), Gadwalls (Anas strepera), and Ring-necked Ducks(Aythya collaris) and used these mean harvest dates as response variables in our analysis. Mean harvest date was later in recent years for the majority of species and state combinations. Some of the increases in harvest dates reflect variance that can be explained by changes in season dates, while some of the variation likely reflects true changes in migration chronology. We interpret differential shifts in harvest between migratory and non-migratory waterfowl as evidence that these changes do not solely reflect changes in season dates and further compare the shifting harvest dates among migratory taxa with widely varying habitat and food habit preferences.

Assessment of Fall Shorebird Habitat Availability on Inland-Managed Wetlands Within the Gulf Coast Joint Venture.William Vermillion, Mark Parr, Nicholas Enwright, and Barry Wilson, GulfCoast Joint Venture, NationalWetlandsResearchCenter, Lafayette, LA70506.

The Gulf Coast Joint Venture (GCJV) is a collaborative partnership between federal and state agencies and non-profit organizations dedicated to the conservation of priority bird habitat along the western U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The GCJV region encompasses coastal portions of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, and provides critical migratory, wintering, and breeding habitat for many priority waterfowl, shorebird, landbird, and waterbird species. The GCJV works with partner organizations to provide and enhance habitat for these species, based on population objectives established by international and national bird conservation plans. The GCJV’s Shorebird Working Group developed population and habitat objectives for a set of shorebird species that use inland and/or managed wetlands, such as waterfowl impoundments, rice fields, and aquaculture ponds. This shallow water/mudflat habitat is assumed to be limited during the period of southbound shorebird migration (July 15-November 5) in the Gulf coastal plain. To determine the amount of this shallow water/mudflat habitat, and the between- and within-year variability, we classified Landsat satellite imagery from 1999, 2002, and 2004 into 4 classes: water, flooded vegetation, saturated soil, and other. Additional ground truthing data was used to estimate the proportion of shallow versus deep water in the inland/agricultural zone, which was then applied to the total water acreage derived from classifications to determine a final amount of shallow water habitat. This information will be used to identify habitat deficits and focus conservation efforts for fall transient shorebirds.

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POSTER ABSTRACTS – Thursday August 11th

Effects of Artificial Perches on Wintering Raptor Visitation and Small Mammal Populations.Jordan Bell and Aaron R. Pierce, Department of Biological Sciences, NichollsStateUniversity, Thibodaux, LA.

Raptors are ecologically important and can influence prey population dynamics from their position at the top of the food chain. However, significant habitat fragmentation and the loss of quality foraging habitat threaten avian predators on a global scale. The persistence of viable raptor populations likely requires management strategies which incorporate various land uses.Because most raptor speciesuse perches daily, supplemental perches may be an effective type ofhabitat enhancement. Artificial perches have been shown to attract raptors, increase raptor visitation to a particular area, improve raptor foraging efficiency, and increase total foraging habitat; therefore artificial perches have potential in terms of raptor conservation. Prey response to increased predation pressure associated with artificial perches is less understood, but by increasing predation pressure and raptor foraging efficiency, artificial perches show promise as a means of environmentally sound pest management.The objectives of this study were determine if artificial perches affect raptor visitation and/or foraging efficiency in pasturelands and to determine if habitat enhancement by artificial perches affects small mammal populations. Raptor, small mammal, and vegetation surveys took place November 2010 – February 2011 in 8 fields in southeast Louisiana, an important area for migratory and wintering as well as resident birds. Perches were installed in 4 of the fields. Small mammal capture rates were significantly lower (N=42, df=1, X2=4.73, p=0.029) in the artificial perch fields (0.10±0.02, N=21) than in the control fields (0.19±0.04, N=21).By improving our understanding of the factors which influence habitat selection in birds of prey and investigating the impact of predator abundance on small mammal populations, this research encourages more informed and effectivedecisions concerning raptor and rodent management.