[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading source=”post_title” google_fonts=”font_family:Droid%20Sans%3Aregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
The fourth annual Interfaces of Global Change Graduate Research Symposium will be held on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Fralin Hall.
[/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion active_section=”” collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Presentation & Abstract Guidelines” tab_id=”1538578013923-90e5a451-f0ba”][vc_column_text]All IGC fellows who are in their 2nd year of PhD study or beyond are encouraged to present their work at the symposium in the form of a poster or talk. The number of oral presentations will be limited to approximately 12, and the number of posters limited to approximately 28. Senior IGC Fellows in their 3rd, 4th or 5th year of study are strongly encouraged to select to give a talk, especially if they have not done so in past symposia. Awards will be given for best talks.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator style=”shadow”][vc_column_text]
FORMAT
Each abstract should contain:
- Title
- Authors and Affiliations (e.g., Department and University), presenting author denoted by an asterisk.
- An abstract not to exceed 250 words in length
Format example:
Hopkins, W.A.*1, Dude, T.H.E. 1,2, and Sobchak, W. 1
1 Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech; 2 Dept. of Interior Room Design, University of Abides
POSTERS: maximum poster size is 40″ x 60″. An easel and backboard will be provided.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][vc_tta_accordion active_section=”” collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Schedule” tab_id=”1538578091657-2e70e1b7-d41a”][vc_column_text]
Thursday, April 25, 2019
8:00 a.m. Poster setup, coffee & refreshments; Fralin Hall Atrium
8:55 a.m. Welcome; Fralin Auditorium
9:00 a.m. Session 1 (S1); Session Chair: Nicole Ward
9:00 a.m. S1 Talk 1: Ben Ahlswede
9:15 a.m. S1 Talk 2: Lauren Wind
9:30 a.m. S1 Talk 3: Ernie Osburn
9:45 a.m. S1 Talk 4: Bennett Grooms
10:00 a.m. Break and poster viewing
10:30 a.m. Session 2 (S2); Session Chair: Brenen Wynd
10:30 a.m. S2 Talk 1: Devin Hoffman
10:45 a.m. S2 Talk 2: Becky Fletcher
11:00 a.m. S2 Talk 3: Stephen DeVilbiss
11:15 a.m. S2 Talk 4: Josh Rady
11:30 a.m. S2 Talk 5: Angie Estrada
11:45 a.m. Lunch and poster viewing; Fralin Atrium
1:00 p.m. Session 3 (S3); Session Chair: Sydney Hope
1:00 p.m. S2 Talk 1: Zach Martin
1:15 p.m. S2 Talk 2: Mike Graham
1:30 p.m. S2 Talk 3: Mary Lofton
1:45 p.m. Poster Reception (students by posters)
3:00 p.m. Platform Award Announcements
3:15 p.m. Symposium Adjourns
IGC Graduate Symposium Agenda 2019 (PDF)[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][heading_horizontal type=”h3″ margin_bottom=”10px”]ORAL PRESENTATIONS[/heading_horizontal][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]* denotes presenting author
Platform Session 1 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Session Chair: Nicole Ward
Switchgrass as a Climate Change Mitigation Tool in Central Virginia
Authors: Benjamin J. Ahlswede* 1, Tom L. O’Halloran 2, R. Quinn Thomas 3
Affiliations: 1. Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 2. Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 3. Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) has emerged as an ideal bioenergy crop due to its ease of maintenance, high productivity, and potential for climate change mitigation. However, only a handful of studies have examined the year-round carbon dynamics of a switchgrass field, and these have typically been conducted with newly established fields, or on experimental plots with active management plans. Here we present intra- and inter-annual dynamics of carbon dioxide exchange from three growing seasons of eddy covariance observations above a mature and minimally managed switchgrass field in central Virginia. This field was a net-source of carbon to the atmosphere over the entire observation period. However, the field can switch from a sink to a source depending on weather conditions and harvest timing. This observation period includes the wettest year ever recorded for this region. This increase in precipitation enhanced respiration, but also reduced productivity leading to a marginally small source of carbon at the end of the observation year. Previous work has shown switchgrass to be a sink of carbon from the atmosphere. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of biofuel switchgrass as a climate change mitigation strategy, all potential conditions and management scenarios need to be considered.
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Analysis of antibiotic resistance genes and present microbial communities in agricultural soils amended with various manure-derived amendments
Authors: Wind L.* 1, Krometis L.-A. 1, Hession W.C. 1, Pruden A. 2
Affiliations: 1. Dept. of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech 2. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech
Increasing evidence links the widespread use of antibiotics in livestock production to the transfer of bacteria carrying antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) to the broader environment. The relative impacts of agricultural practices, climatological factors, and native soil microbiota on the local resistome is complex. The overall goal of the present study is to employ molecular “indicator”-and next-generation sequencing-based techniques to characterize the impacts of various manure-derived soil amendments on ARG profiles in agricultural soils. Observations of multiple resistance markers in tandem allows for a more holistic characterization of present soil microbial community composition and the potential impacts from common agricultural practices. In brief, fifteen 9-m2 field plots were planted with lettuce and fertilized to test the effects of fertilizer type (inorganic, compost, raw manure) on the soil resistome. Soil samples were collected over 120 days, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, and shot-gun metagenomic sequencing were used to analyze the present soil microbial communities. ARGs (sul1, tet(W), erm(B)) and the class 1 integrase gene (intI1) were monitored as “indicators” of anthropogenic sources of antibiotic resistance. Raw dairy manure amended soils yielded high relative sul1 and tet(W) gene copies on Day 0, correlating with an observed spike in associated ARBs. Network analysis of the soil microbiome identified rpoB2 as the most abundant plasmid-associated gene, which may prove to be useful targets for monitoring in agricultural scenarios. Analysis of the microbial community composition and broader metagenome is underway, with the goal of comprehensively comparing effects of the amendments on the soil taxonomic and functional profiles. These findings will provide insight on how ARGs potentially spread throughout agricultural soils by linking known microbial community presence and metagenomic profiles.
[hr]
Forest disturbance alters soil microbial community structure and function in Appalachian ecosystems
Authors: Ernest D Osburn* 1, Jennifer D Knoepp 2, John E Barrett 1
Affiliations: 1. Dept. of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech 2. USDA Forest Service, Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory, Otto, NC
In Appalachian ecosystems, human disturbances such as forest clearcutting have been shown to alter rates of soil ecosystem processes such as carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling. However, effects of forest disturbance on soil microbial communities and relationships between altered microbial communities and ecosystem processes have not been examined. To address these questions, we selected four historically disturbed watersheds and four undisturbed reference watersheds at the Coweeta Hydrologic Lab in the mountains of North Carolina. In each watershed, we established six plots and sampled soils from each plot. We then determined concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), ammonium (NH4), and nitrate (NO3) in all soil samples. We also determined rates of microbial C and N mineralization in laboratory incubation experiments. Finally, we isolated DNA from soil samples and assessed bacterial vs fungal dominance via qPCR and microbial community structure via sequencing of the 16s rRNA gene. Our results show reduced DOC concentrations and elevated inorganic N (NH4, NO3) concentrations in disturbed soils. Additionally, we found that microbial communities in disturbed soils displayed higher rates of C and N mineralization relative to reference soils. Finally, we found that disturbed soils had increased dominance of bacteria over fungi and that disturbed soil bacterial communities were distinct from reference soil bacterial communities. We suggest that higher rates of C and N cycling following forest disturbance may be attributed to increased abundance of copiotrophic microbial taxa (i.e. increased bacterial dominance) characterized by inefficient use of soil C and N resources.
[hr]
Using Social Science to Understand the Relationship between Recreationists and State Wildlife Agencies
Authors: Grooms, B. P.* 1, Dayer, A. A. 1, and Peele, A. 2
Affiliations: 1. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech; 2 Conservation Management Institute, Blacksburg, VA
State wildlife agencies benefit from wildlife recreationists’ financial contributions and support of agency conservation efforts. Yet, agencies currently face a changing stakeholder base, including declines in traditional sources of support (i.e., hunters and anglers), and increased interest for involvement from other stakeholders (i.e., birders and wildlife viewers). As such, research into recreationists’ perceptions of agencies can help agencies better respond to them and engage them in conservation. For this reason, we investigated recreationists’ trust and the perceptions of distributive justice of provided services of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF). We conducted two focus groups with each of four wildlife recreation groups (birders, wildlife viewers, hunters, and anglers), involving 83 recreationists. We found birders’, wildlife viewers’, and anglers’ trust was rooted in positive, personal interactions with DGIF employees, and on positive perceptions of past effectiveness by the agency. Birders and wildlife viewers were generally less trusting of DGIF than hunters and anglers. Additionally, we found all recreation groups felt DGIF did not equally distribute services. These feelings were more common in birders and wildlife viewers who felt their services were sometimes secondary to those for hunters and anglers. Results suggest DGIF focus on building trust with birders and viewers by forming positive, personal interactions. DGIF could also expand the availability of benefits to their broader stakeholder base to address concerns of equity. Doing so may help DGIF engage with new stakeholders, foster support in agency programs, and facilitate public participation in agency conservation efforts.
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Platform Session 2 10:30 – 11:45 a.m.
Session Chair: Brenen Wynd
Ecological recovery following the end-Permian Mass Extinction recorded in Middle Triassic tooth assemblage
Authors: Hoffman, D.K.* 1, Edwards, H. 2, Barrett, P.M. 3, Nesbitt, S.J. 1
Affiliations: 1. Dept. of Geosciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 2. Dept. of Geology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 3. Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
Mass extinctions provide a biological “reset” often linked to subsequent biological radiations, which are marked by species diversification and ecological specializations. However, the relative timing of species and ecological diversification is unclear. The radiation of archosauromorphs (birds, crocodylians, and their extinct relatives) following the end-Permian Mass Extinction provides a test for disentangling radiations. One measure of ecology in the fossil record is teeth through diet, although tooth assemblages immediately following the extinction are rare, limiting their utilization during this critical time. However, recent fieldwork in the Middle Triassic of Tanzania has revealed a tooth assemblage that partially fills this gap. To reconstruct the species composition of the assemblage we used in situ teeth of known taxonomic assignment and additional 31 isolated teeth of unknown species affiliation. Continuous measurements (observations = 71) produced a linear relationship of tooth height predicting tooth base ratio (=base length/base width). Using this relationship, we generated a morphospace in which the majority of isolated teeth fell within a zone of overlap shared by several species. The discrete method (observations = 67) of eleven binary characters removed the potential influence of size and reduces overlap among species. The majority of the isolated teeth fall within an overlap of two taxa morphospace. The significant overlap of tooth shape among species and overall similarities indicate that ecological diversification lagged behind species diversification in archosauromorphs. Though only a single locality, the methods used herein offer a promising lens to reconstructing ecological radiations and are readily transferable across Earth history.
[hr]
Variation in seed germination traits of an invasive grass is explained by climate
Authors: Rebecca Fletcher* 1, Kayla Varnon 1, Jacob Barney 1
Affiliations: 1. School of Plant and Environmental Science, Virginia Tech
Seed germination is an essential life history event for most flowering plants, because it leads to subsequent generations and dispersal to new habitats. Because germination is one of the earliest phenotypes expressed by plants, the timing of seed germination in response to environmental cues can have important implications for seedling survival and lifetime fitness, as well as range dynamics. Variation in climate conditions throughout a species’ range, especially invasive species which often span large geographic ranges, may promote adaptation of germination in response environmental cues such that germination timing is optimized in order to maximize fitness. We investigated germination in response to temperature using the invasive grass Sorghum halepense (Johnsongrass). Previous work with Johnsongrass has provided strong evidence of genetic and phenotypic differentiation associated with climate as populations have expanded increasingly northward. We collected seeds from 10 populations of Johnsongrass throughout its North American range and exposed them to temperatures ranging from 11˚C to 48˚C. We estimated the minimum (Tmin), maximum (Tmax), and optimum (Topt) temperature of germination. We found substantial differences between populations for all three temperature parameters. All three germination traits had a positive relationship with mean annual temperature suggesting that there has been divergence in germination response of Johnsongrass populations to local climate conditions. It is possible that adaptation of germination in response to environmental cues has been a contributing force in the range expansion of Johnsongrass.
[hr]
Effects of freshwater salinization and associated base cations on fecal indicator persistence and bacterial community structure
Authors: DeVilbiss, S.E.* 1, Badgley, B.D. 1, Steele, M.K. 1
Affiliations: 1. School of Plant and Environmental Sciences; Virginia Tech
Anthropogenic activities including agriculture, urbanization, and surface mining have been increasing total salinity and associated base cations in surface waters worldwide. It is well documented that large increases in salinity (i.e. freshwater to marine) significantly decrease the persistence of the fecal indicator E. coli and alter aquatic bacterial community structure. However, linkages between small increases in salt concentrations within the freshwater range (≤ 1,500 µS/cm) and bacterial surface water quality have yet to be explored. Further, effects of different types of salts and their associated base cations (Ca, Mg, K) on aquatic bacterial ecology remain unknown. Through a series of controlled mesocosm studies, we demonstrate that freshwater salinization increases the persistence of E. coli at very low salt concentrations (<200 µS/cm), which is opposite the trend observed over broad salinity gradients. Specific base cations also had a significant effect with Mg increasing E. coli persistence by up to 40%. Additionally, different base cations had significant, differential effects on freshwater bacterial community structure. These results indicate that low levels of freshwater salinization may exacerbate bacterial impairments and alter bacterially mediated ecosystem functions. Effects may be magnified in watersheds with high Mg concentrations. Implications include: 1) reducing salt loads to surface waters may reduce bacterial impairments and 2) a more nuanced approach to salinity research and management that considers salt sources and types rather than total salinity may be required to preserve surface water quality.
[hr]
Forest Management in Space and Time, When it Matters and When it Doesn’t
Authors: Rady, J.M.* 1, Ahlswede, B.J. 1, Thomas, R.Q. 1
Affiliations: 1. Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Tech
Managed forests differ from unmanaged “natural” forests in ways that are relevant to climate. By manipulating forests to maximize timber production land surface properties and carbon fluxes are altered in time and space. Despite the potential implications for climate, the Earth System Models (ESMs) used to examine the climate influences of forests and land-use/land-management at global scales capture few aspects of forest management. To explore the potential importance of forest management to climate we conducted experiments using the Community Land Model (CLM) Version 5.0 within the Community Earth System Model. We changed the CLM’s assumptions about how wood is harvested in order to simulate protected areas (e.g. national parks, conservation lands) and clear-cut harvest rotations and examined the impact on forest carbons stocks, structure, and surface energy fluxes. We found that removing wood from a reduced area of forest caused limited changes to model output. On the other hand, we found that harvesting wood in clear-cut rotations caused notable changes in carbon stocks and surface energy fluxes. This suggests that the uniform approach to wood harvest in the CLM may lead to overestimation of forest biomass and carbon sequestration. Furthermore forests with rotational harvest show a different response to changing climate in the twenty first century. This work is a step towards better understanding how human manipulation of forests influences climate and allows the further exploration of how altering these practices might be used to mitigate climate change.
[hr]
Amphibian translocations: skin microbiome, body condition and disease status
Authors: Angie Estrada* 1, Daniel Medina 1, Brian Gratwicke 2, Roberto Ibáñez 3, Lisa K. Belden 1
Affiliations: 1. Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech 2. Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute 3. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama
Beneficial skin bacteria can protect amphibians against Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), a deadly pathogenic fungus that is one of the largest threats to amphibians worldwide. For many species, long-term captive breeding programs have prevented extinction; however, captive management is known to modify the amphibian skin microbiome. In Panamá, threatened amphibian species survive in captive breeding facilities, but it is unknown how skin microbiome change once captive-bred individuals are re-exposed to natural habitats. Thus, to inform the development of beneficial bacteria-based treatments and future captive-to-wild translocation efforts, we aimed to assess the changes that occur in the bacterial communities of Atelopus limosus, a critically-endangered species, following soft-release to a site where the species historically thrived. We aimed to investigate how the initial skin bacterial community influences: 1) bacterial community structure and composition after release, 2) host condition and 3) Bd infection status. Frogs were housed in mesocosms to be monitored and sampled through time and next-generation sequencing technology was used to identify bacterial taxa. We found significant variation in skin microbiome once exposure to natural conditions occurred. Moreover, after only two weeks, reintroduced and wild individuals had more similar skin microbiomes. Body condition decreased and a small proportion of frogs got infected with Bd but mortalities were not associated with weight loss nor disease status. These preliminary findings suggest that skin-associated microbiomes of captive-bred amphibians can be restored, but future research needs to address whether these changes in bacterial structure ultimately result in higher survival and Bd protection of captive-bred amphibians.
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Platform Session 3 1:00 – 1:45 p.m.
Session Chair: Sydney Hope
Ecological recovery following the end-Permian Mass Extinction recorded in Middle Triassic tooth assemblage
Authors: Zach Martin* 1, and Paul Angermeier 1,2
Affiliations: 1. Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech 2. U.S. Geological Survey, Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia
Spawning behaviors represent an understudied bottleneck to fitness in stream fishes and play a mechanistic role in how substrate embeddedness leads to local extirpations. For example, embeddedness may limit reproductive success of cavity-nesters by reducing optimal nesting space underneath rocks. We designed two laboratory experiments, using cavity-nesting fantail darters, to test effects of embeddedness on oviposition. We placed spawning pairs in Living Stream tanks for five-day trials with sand as a bottom substrate and 6-in x 6-in ceramic tiles as potential nest substrates. We presented fish with four “embeddedness” treatments vary in degree of tile burial and availability of a benthic cavity. One experiment presented spawning pairs (n=120; 30 per treatment) with one tile and one treatment; oviposition (0/1) and clutch size were responses. The second experiment (n=90) presented spawners with four tiles (one per treatment); nest-rock choice, oviposition, and clutch size were responses. Spawners from both experiments oviposited on tiles of all but the most embedded treatment, and most commonly on tiles lying flat on sand with a cavity provided. Four spawning pairs excavated cavities and oviposited on moderately embedded tiles. Spawners also oviposited on tank walls; in experiment one, these instances coincided with the two most embedded treatments. Our observations suggest this tolerant darter has limited ability to spawn in habitats smothered by fine sediments. The nonlinear, negative relationship between embeddedness and reproductive success we found conflicts with traditional assumptions made by researchers, and ultimately managers, about the role of sediment pollution in reproductive failure and extirpations.
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Can agricultural practices mitigate climate change? The impact of ‘no-till’ practices on soil carbon using an Earth system model
Authors: Michael W. Graham* 1, R. Quinn Thomas 2, Danica L. Lombardozzi 3, Megan E. O’Rourke 4
Affiliations: 1. Geospatial and Environmental Analysis Program, Virginia Tech 2. Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Tech 3. National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO 4. School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech
Soil tillage is a ubiquitous management practice on croplands globally, and is thought to have historical impacts on climate through accelerated decomposition of soil C and increased CO2 emissions on agricultural land. Conservation tillage (e.g. ‘no-till’) has been proposed as a mechanism for mitigating climate change through increased soil C storage on croplands. The magnitude of these effects remains unknown and likely varies through space and time. Earth system models (ESMs) are useful tools to understand the spatial and temporal impacts of tillage, though few studies have examined different soil tillage practices in ESMs. ESMs tend to underestimate historical C fluxes and aggregate biogeochemical impacts of land management practices on climate relative to empirical records. Here we use the Community Land Model (CLM), the land component of the Community Earth System Model, to assess 1) biogeochemical effects of soil tillage by testing the global sensitivity of soil C stocks in CLM to intensive conventional tillage practices of different intensities over the historical time period (1850-2014), and 2) climate change mitigation potential of conservation tillage practices by evaluating the sensitivity of CLM soil C stocks to lower levels of tillage intensity associated with conservation tillage practices for a future climate scenario (2014-2100). Results indicate that increasing tillage intensity increases soil C decomposition rates; total losses in soil C due to intensive tillage practices are 17 Pg C for the historical time period, or 11% of estimated historical C emissions from land use change. Larger differences in tillage intensity and lower decomposition rates for conservation tillage relative to intensive tillage results in greater soil C storage over the future climate scenario. Historical losses are tightly coupled temporally and spatially with land use change to crops and losses due to tillage increase over time with cropland expansion. These results show that carbon impacts of tillage depend on parameters governing the decomposition rates when tillage is applied, as lower tillage intensities have smaller soil carbon impacts.
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Relative importance of top-down versus bottom-up control of phytoplankton vertical distribution in north temperate lakes
Authors: Mary E. Lofton* 1, Taylor H. Leach 3, Beatrix E. Beisner 2, and Cayelan C. Carey 1
Affiliations: 1. Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA 2. Department of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA 3. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Québec at Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
Many freshwater and marine ecosystems exhibit deep chlorophyll maxima, in which phytoplankton biomass is most concentrated below the water surface. In lakes, these deep layers of biomass are hypothesized to be either controlled by nutrient and light concentrations or zooplankton grazing pressure in surface waters. However, few studies have explicitly compared the importance of both bottom-up and top-down forces on vertical distributions of different phytoplankton groups. We collected fluorescence-based depth profiles of four phytoplankton spectral groups and a suite of environmental data (zooplankton, total phosphorus, temperature, and water color) from 56 dimictic lakes in Québec, Canada at the height of summer stratification in 2004 and 2005. We calculated several phytoplankton vertical distribution metrics for each spectral group and used regression trees to assess the most important driver of phytoplankton vertical distributions at each time point. We found that while bottom-up drivers control most characteristics of phytoplankton vertical distributions, zooplankton abundance is the most important driver of the depth of chlorophyll maximum. Furthermore, vertical distributions of various phytoplankton spectral groups respond to different drivers, which may be related to the life history of these taxa. For example, zooplankton emerged as the most important driver for two of three vertical distribution metrics for brown algae, a spectral group containing taxa that are known to be particularly nutritious and therefore a preferred food source for zooplankton. Our results provide empirical evidence to support both top-down and bottom-up control of deep chlorophyll maxima in lakes during the stratified period.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text][heading_horizontal type=”h3″ margin_bottom=”10px”]POSTER PRESENTATIONS[/heading_horizontal][/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]* denotes presenting author
Adaptive radiation in the multidimensional phenotype
Authors: Brooke L. Bodensteiner* 1 and Martha M. Muñoz 1
Affiliations: 1. Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech
Adaptive radiations are considered a special case of evolutionary diversification in which a clade displays extraordinary ecological and phenotypic diversity. A common feature that unites studies of adaptive radiation is that the ecology-phenotype connection has been almost exclusively described in terms of morphology. For example, the adaptive radiation of Caribbean anoles is known for the evolution of distinct ecomorphs,, which are so-named based on the tight association between structural habitat use and morphological traits in these lizards. Despite all the of the disproportionate attention that morphological traits have received, it has also been well-recognized that physiological evolution, along a thermal gradient, is also a key aspect of the adaptive radiation of anoles. Here we test how morphological and physiological disparity compare by examining the morphology and thermal physiology of Hispaniolan anoles. Elucidating that physiological patterns of evolution do not mirror morphological patterns of evolutionary divergence. We propose that thermoregulatory behavior may be guiding these macroevolutionary patterns revealed by this study.
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The invasive tree-of-heaven’s (Ailanthus altissima) relationship with understory and seedbank plant species
Authors: Brooks, R.K.* 1, Barney, J. 1, Salom S. 2, Baudoin, A. 1
Affiliations: 1. School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech 2. Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech
Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle (Sapindales: Simaroubaceae), commonly known as the tree-of-heaven, was introduced to Pennsylvania in 1784 from China. Since then, this tree has spread to over 40 states. In Virginia, it is found ubiquitously in urban areas, along road ways, bordering agricultural lands, and in forests. Though Ailanthus has been shown to be associated with decreased levels of above-ground plant species richness and native species diversity in a few studies, this relationship has not been consistently found. Additionally, its impact to the seedbank (viable seeds or vegetative propagules present in the soil) has yet to be studied. To further understand this invasive tree’s impact, ten paired invaded-uninvaded sites were identified in Montgomery, Giles, and Pulaski Counties. The established canopy and understory for each plot was measured, and soil samples were collected and grown out for 5.5 months in a greenhouse. All germinating plants were identified to the highest taxonomic level possible. In total, 96 species of understory plants and 77 species of seedbank germinants were identified. Furthermore, stand size and age of each invaded plot was estimated, ranging from 2-53 years and 3-4,200m2 respectively. A preliminary analysis of the relationship between Ailanthus presence, the understory, and the seedbank is presented, followed by a discussion of its future implications.
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Fish assemblage impacts of reef fisheries in tropical Brazil
Authors: Carvalho, F.M. 1, Castello, L.* 1
Affiliations: 1. Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech
Tropical marine environments are threatened by high fishing pressure and use of nonselective fishing gears that cause the decline and even ecological extirpation of key fish populations. Such declines have the potential to change species community composition, and associated energy fluxes for whole marine communities. The goal of this research is to identify fishing gears that harm the ecosystem because they catch disproportionate amounts of non-target species and/or undersized individuals. The project will take place in the “Marine Protected Area Coast of Corals”, an area where over 100 species are regularly harvested. This includes the iconic and endangered Atlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara), which is often caught as bycatch. The data collection involves interviews with local fishers during the moment of the landing in fishing ports. An effort will be made to record the total catch per species, besides the size of each individual caught. The specific characteristics of the gears used (e.g. traps, beach seines, bottom trawlers, hand lines, spears and gill nets) will also be registered such as the length and mesh sizes of nets, size and number of hooks, etc. By identifying “harmful” gears, this project will help reverse current degradation trends by providing recommendations of gear restrictions. By evaluating our results in the context of ongoing fishing practices, our research will have direct application to fisheries management and ecosystem conservation
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Predictability in the Evolution of Tetrodotoxin Resistance in Reptiles
Authors: Gendreau, K.L.* 1, Hornsby, A.D.1, and McGlothlin, J.W.1
Affiliations: 1. Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech
Predicting the presence or magnitude of traits based on genome sequences is a major challenge in modern evolutionary research, and improving our understanding of the relationships between genotypes and phenotypes can help us to more accurately forecast how populations will respond to changing environmental conditions. Cases of convergent evolution, in which the same trait has evolved independently in different lineages, are particularly useful in addressing this challenge. We used comparative genomics to investigate the molecular basis of tetrodotoxin (TTX) resistance, which has evolved independently in multiple snake species that consume TTX-bearing amphibians. We found evidence for a predictable, stepwise pattern of nucleotide substitution occurring in the genes targeted by TTX (members of the voltage-gated sodium channel gene family). We also found evidence for positive selection within the TTX-binding regions of these genes. In addition to selective pressure, changes in genetic structure and increased mutation rates may have contributed to the evolution of resistance in select colubrid snake species. These results shed light on the molecular underpinnings of complex trait evolution, and provide a basis to search for similar patterns in other taxa that encounter TTX, such as the toxic amphibians themselves.
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Microbiome mediated plant-pollinator interactions in non-agricultural systems
Authors: Ariel Heminger* 1 and David C. Haak 1
Affiliations: 1. School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech
Plant-pollinator interactions are one of the most widely recognized coevolutionary relationships. Darwin attributed the rapid diversification of flowering plants to this close association with their insect partners and these partners often depend on plants for pollen and nectar as a food source. Woven into this relationship are microorganisms that form close relationships with their hosts forming the microbiome. The microbiome is intricately associated with the organismal health through processes such as nutrient acquisition and disease suppression. This suggests that flowers and their pollinators could have reciprocal influences on their associated microbes that have been shaped over evolutionary time. Few studies have examined the impact of this reciprocal interaction on microbial community structure, eco-evolutionary dynamics, or plant health. This study aims to fill this gap through characterizing the floral and pollinator microbiome across several natural populations of Solanum carolinense and Solanum dulcamara (an introduced species) and their pollinator Bombus spp. Eighty samples from the first year of the study were sequenced which resulted in 1475 unique OTUs before filtering. Preliminary results from these samples indicate that the floral microbiome changes throughout the developmental stage of the flower and that OTUs were differentially abundant on caged versus uncaged flowers. This suggests that pollinators introduce particular microbes to flowers during their visits, therein shifting the floral microbiome. Future studies aim to determine the similarities between the pollinator microbiome (gut and pollen baskets) and the flowers they visit. These studies will contribute to the body of knowledge on plant-pollinator interactions at the microbial level.
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The influence of extra-pair activity on the cloacal microbiome of a free-living bird
Authors: Jessica Hernandez* 1, Lisa Belden 1, Ignacio Moore 1
Affiliations: 1. Department of Biological Sciences Virginia Tech
Socially monogamous females that engage in extra-pair activity (e.g., solicitations, copulations, fertilizations) face potential fitness trade-offs including, but not limited to, good genes and genetic diversity in offspring, but also loss of paternal care and increased harassment by their social partner. Sexually transmitted (pathogenic) microbes have been suggested to be a cost of extra-pair activity for female birds for nearly five decades, but this hypothesis has not yet been adequately tested. To determine how extra-pair activity is related to the composition of the cloacal microbiome, we performed an observational study on free-living female tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) during the breeding season in southwestern Virginia. Tree swallows are a socially monogamous, box-nesting species that exhibit high rates of extra-pair activity, with high variation both within and between populations, and thus are an appropriate system for this study. First, we characterized the cloacal microbiome of females by collecting cloacal swabs and determining the taxonomic composition of cloacal bacteria using 16s rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Then, we used nestling paternity as a conservative proxy to estimate the frequency and success of extra-pair copulations, and to determine the minimum number of sexual partners per female. This study increases our understanding of how sexual activity, specifically extra-pair copulations, influences the presence, prevalence, and potential pathogenicity of cloacal microbial communities in wild birds. Additionally, this study broadens our understanding of the potential costs of different solutions to common life-history tradeoffs faced by free-living animals.
[hr]
Implications of a changing climate on bird development
Authors: Hope, S.F.* 1, DuRant, S.E. 2, Kennamer, R.A. 3, Hopkins, W.A. 1
Affiliations: 1. Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech 2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas 3. Savannah River Ecology Lab, University of Georgia
Our changing climate may pose a threat to the early developmental environment of animals. The effect of climate change on developing reptiles is well-studied, and there is evidence that changes in incubation temperature can have substantial effects on offspring. In contrast, the effects of temperature changes on bird phenotypes have been historically overlooked because parents regulate incubation temperature. However, studies have shown that changes in the environment can affect avian parental incubation behavior, and that small changes in incubation temperature can affect avian offspring phenotypes. Yet, few studies have investigated how environmental changes may directly and indirectly influence incubation temperature, or how incubation temperature influences avian offspring behavior. We used wood ducks as a model system to address these questions. Our results show that wood duck nests with the largest clutch sizes and the lowest ambient temperatures led to the lowest incubation temperatures. We also found that ducklings incubated at 35.0 and 37.0 C exhibited bolder and more exploratory behaviors than those incubated at 35.8 C, while those incubated at 35.0 C were less successful at exiting the nest (a crucial behavior for wood duck ducklings) than those incubated at the other two temperatures. This research shows that environmental changes influence avian incubation temperature and thus, may influence offspring behaviors that are critical for survival. In this case, warming temperatures may be beneficial to developing birds, but future work should address how extreme weather events or changes in food availability due to climate change affect incubation temperature.
[hr]
Female aggression in song sparrows is higher in urban habitats
Authors: Lane, S.J.* 1, Linkous, C.R. 1, Brewer, V. 2, Sewall, K.B. 1
Affiliations: 1. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 2. New Mexico State University
Urban adapters are animals that are able to live in human-impacted areas, such as suburbs and cities. It has been hypothesized that urban adapters have behavioral phenotypes that permit them to persist in human-impacted environments. Indeed, song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) live and breed in both urban and rural habitats and previous research has shown that urban males of this species show greater territorial aggression. However, little attention has been given to female behavior across urban and rural habitats. To determine if living in urban habitats is associated with elevated aggression in female song sparrows, we simulated the intrusion of a conspecific female onto the social territory of females at two rural and two urban study sites in Blacksburg, VA. We placed a model bird 5 to 10 m of the focal bird’s nest and played one of 6 exemplars of recorded female vocalizations. For 3 minutes without the model and 6 minutes after model exposure, we measured the focal female’s distance from the speaker and the duration of vocalizations produced by the female as a measure of aggression. Female song sparrows nesting in urban habitats were more likely to respond to a simulated female intruder and showed a greater behavioral response to conspecific intrusions than did females in rural habitats. This pattern of greater female aggression in urban habitats parallels previous reports of greater territorial aggression in males and raises the hypothesis that resource competition may increase in urban environments, driving increased territorial aggression in both sexes of song sparrows.
[hr]
Water quality at the point of use in San Rafael Las Flores, Guatemala
Authors: Marcillo, C.* 1, Garc Prado, G. 2, Copeland, N. 3, Krometis, L.A. 1
Affiliations: 1. Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech 2. Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala 3. Department of Sociology, Virginia Tech
Limited information is available describing point of use water quality in rural Guatemala, particularly with respect to geologic contaminants, such as arsenic, associated with chronic health risk. This effort aimed to characterize drinking water in San Rafael Las Flores, a Guatemalan community directly adjacent to a large silver mine, to identify key contaminants of health concern. Surveys on water use and perception were conducted in 31 households, with water samples concurrently collected and analyzed for E. coli, pH, conductivity, and metals. Survey results indicated widespread distrust and dissatisfaction with in-home piped water. The majority (77%) of participants perceived their tap water to be unsafe and preferred drinking bottled water or from community springs. The majority (84%) also identified at least one aesthetic issue with their tap water (e.g. color, particulates) and only 25% of homes had continuous water service. Concerns predominantly revolved around potential health risks from arsenic and bacteria with widespread perceptions of contamination, most commonly attributed to the nearby mine. Though only two samples exceeded the 10 ppb arsenic standard, 45% were above 9 ppb. In addition, 13% of samples were positive for E. coli. Continued research is recommended to quantify potential arsenic biomarkers and critical exposure pathways. The establishment of a baseline water quality profile, confirmation of field test kit potential, and understanding local water quality concerns will permit the design of future interventions and citizen science efforts to engage the local community in discussions of potential infrastructure and land use development.
[hr]
Ecological patterns and significance of secondary metabolites in a Neotropical shrub, Piper sancti-felicis
Authors: Maynard, L. D.* 1 and Whitehead, S. R. 1
Affiliations: 1. Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
Rooted in place, plants often rely on secondary metabolites to mediate interactions with other organisms. Both attraction of mutualists and defense against antagonists are thought to be mediated by secondary metabolites. Piper is one of the largest genera of flowering plants, containing about 1,000 species. This study describes the secondary metabolites occurring in the infructescences of Piper sancti-felicis and their functional significance in ecological interactions. We focused on one group of compounds: alkenylphenols. We had three specific objectives: 1) to elucidate the structures of the major alkenylphenol compounds present in P. sancti-felicis; 2) to describe the natural variation in alkenylphenol composition throughout reproductive tissue development and across individual plants; and 3) to test the ecological significance of the alkenylphenols in plant defense against fungi. Results suggest that alkenlyphenol concentration in infructescences significantly differed among individual plants, developmental stages, and individual compounds. Alkenylphenol concentration was higher in ripe and unripe infructescences compared to inflorescences with high interspecific variation. Results from the microdilution bioassays revealed that as alkenylphenol concentration increases, fungal absorbance decreases. This is the first study to describe alkenylphenols in P. sancti-felicis and their ecological function as defensive secondary metabolites, possessing anti-fungal properties.
[hr]
Terminal electron acceptor processes in metalimnetic oxygen minima changes the annual methane budget in a eutrophic freshwater reservoir
Authors: McClure R.P.* 1, Lofton M. E. 1, Schreiber M.E. 2, Little J.C. 3, and Carey C.C. 1
Affiliations: 1. Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA 2. Department of Geosciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA 3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
Freshwater reservoirs are heavily influenced by humans and commonly develop Metalimnetic Oxygen Minima (MOM) in their water columns because of different water management practices. MOM are also known to accumulate large quantities of methane (CH4) in them and change the seasonal CH4 efflux phenology. While the causes of MOM are known, less is known about their effects on CH4 production and the depletion of terminal electron acceptors (TEA) that precedes methanogenesis. MOM create distinct redox gradients in the water column that changes the distribution of CH4, but whether the CH4 is derived from methanogenesis in the MOM or from laterally entrained CH4 from methanogenesis occurring in the sediments remains unclear. We monitored profiles of CH4 and the TEAs that precede methanogenesis at five sites from the inflow to the dam in a eutrophic reservoir that develops a MOM as a result of the operation of water quality engineering systems. We observed large fluctuations in the TEA availability in the MOM and little fluctuation in TEAs at other depths in the water column that remained oxygenated. We also observed lateral entrainment of CH4 from upstream depths that coincided with the MOM. This suggests that the CH4 that is observed in MOM is from TEA depletion followed by methanogenesis in both upstream sediments and in MOM that have become anoxic. This poses new uncertainties to annual CH4 budgets in freshwater reservoirs if TEA processes that normally occur in the sediments are also occurring directly in the water column.
[hr]
Do good neighbors make up for poor conditions? Case study on a mixed-flocking habitat specialist
Authors: McNeill, N.* 1 and Walters, J. 1
Affiliations: 1. Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
Birds are known to form foraging flocks in numerous systems, many of which are mixed-species flocks. Individuals may choose to a mixed-flock in order to increase foraging efficiency, limit intraspecific competition, or reduce predation. In the longleaf pine system of the southeastern United States, brown-headed nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) mixed-flock during the nonbreeding season, but are subject to variable predator presence and food availability throughout this period. Furthermore, it is unknown whether this species forgoes the boundaries of its small breeding territories in order to follow mixed-species flocks. Thus, I am recording mixed-flocking behavior of brown-headed nuthatch at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Nuthatch behavior and mixed-flock interactions will be recorded. Individual nuthatches will be color banded in order to locate breeding territories and track individual movement. Additionally, I will experimentally manipulate food availability by placing feeding stations in portions of the field site. I will then record station recruitment rates and flocking behavior surrounding these stations. I expect that tendency to forage in mixed flocks is inversely correlated to food availability and individual territory quality. As food becomes scarce in winter, flock foraging reduces the predator vigilance required by each individual, increasing foraging efficiency. Determining how these factors impact nuthatch behavior will inform habitat management strategies for improved winter survival.
[hr]
Resource Use and Interspecific Interactions in a Namibian Cavity-nesting Community
Authors: David Millican* 1, Jeff Walters 1, and Ashley Dayer 2
Affiliations: 1. Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech 2. Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech
Cavity-nesting guilds are diverse communities of animals found in forest ecosystems worldwide. Due to their dependence on tree holes for nesting, populations of these species are highly susceptible to forms of disturbance that diminish cavity availability. Namibia is the driest country in sub-Saharan Africa, with a landscape largely depauperate of large trees, the most common harborers of cavities. This community is threatened by numerous anthropogenic disturbances, including charcoal production, altered grazing and fire regimes, and increasingly frequent and severe droughts caused by climate change. To aid the conservation of this threatened community, we have embarked on a multi-year nest-web analysis to quantify community structure. Through this analysis, we seek to describe the type of nest cavities available in the landscape, species-specific resource use preferences, and direct and indirect interactions between community members. Quantifying community structure willprovide important information for land use managers who want to mitigate impacts of anthropogenic disturbance on this community. To aid conservation of this community, we have alsoembarked on a sociological study to identify a potential flagship species. By using emotional prompts to identify wildlife perceptions of local communities, we hope to identify a potential flagship species that will effectively bring awareness to the plights facing this community, and to encourage behavior change in the form of preserving large, cavity-bearing trees. By combining ecological and sociological research, we hope to generate recommendations for both ecological management as well as sociological strategies to generate local support for a conservation campaign.
[hr]
Male Red-cockaded Woodpecker dispersal habitat analysis
Authors: Leah D. Novak* 1, Jeffrey R. Walters 1, and Dylan Kesler 2
Affiliations: 1. Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA 2. The Institute for Bird Populations, Point Reyes Station, CA
Natal dispersal is the movement of individuals from a birth site to a breeding site. Juveniles often foray before dispersal, that is explore outside their natal territory to gather information from the environment and conspecifics regarding habitats and conditions. Individuals choose specific habitat characteristics to travel through and explore while foraying. Understanding what habitat characteristics an individual uses while foraying is key for identifying important resources which promote exploration and movement during dispersal, and for creating and implementing effective management strategies especially for endangered species, such as the Red-cockaded Woodpecker (RCW). The cooperatively breeding RCW is a federally listed endangered species endemic to open, southern pine savannah in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains of the United States. Juvenile male RCWs have two dispersal syndromes: they can either delay dispersal and remain on their natal territory as non-breeding helpers or disperse their first year in search of territories with open breeder positions. Dominance within broods plays an important role in determining which dispersal strategy a juvenile male will use. Dominant males almost always remain as helpers, while subordinate males disperse their first year. Despite understanding dispersal outcomes of male and female RCWs, very little is known about the dispersal process and behavior of males. Therefore, I followed dominant and subordinate juvenile, and adult helper males using radio-telemetry, and recorded GPS coordinates and behavioral observations to determine dispersal behavior and habitat use. Overall, juvenile and helper males tended to use habitats that had high quality foraging resources (older, larger longleaf and loblolly pines) and were hidden from other RCW families‚ a group of cavity trees (called a cluster), though male RCWs did seek out other RCW clusters if the family group that guarded that cluster was not present.
[hr]
Predicting golden-crowned sifaka (Propithecus tattersalli) density from habitat and nutritional variables
Authors: Semel, B.P.* 1, Karpanty, S.M. 1, Semel, M.A. 2, Walters, G.T. 1, Ranaivoson, T.N. 3, and Rothman, J.M. 4
Affiliations: 1. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech 2. Dept. of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech 3. Dept. of Zoology and Animal Biodiversity, University of Antananarivo 4. Dept. of Anthropology, Hunter College of CUNY, NY
Understanding relationships between animal populations and nutritional variables is important for effectively managing threatened animal populations in dynamic environments. Madagascar’s lemurs are threatened by forest destruction, yet we know very little about how populations will respond to the additional threat posed by climate change. In northeastern Madagascar, critically endangered golden-crowned sifakas (Propithecus tattersalli) live in dry, deciduous to humid rain-forests across a unique biogeographic transition zone. This makes them an ideal case study in which to examine the effects of climate-mediated forest type variables and plant nutrition on sifaka population densities. Specifically, we will investigate the relationships between tree species densities, canopy cover, species diversity, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), available plant fiber, energy, and protein values on sifaka densities in ten different forest fragments. Results will help us to better understand how forest type and nutritional variables impact lemur populations. This will help conservation managers to protect key forest habitats and to select the most important tree species for ongoing reforestation efforts. Future work will employ climate models to predict future forest cover types and ultimately, future sifaka population abundance across the species’ range.
[hr]
Impact of habitat type and disturbance level on golden-crowned sifaka (Propithecus tattersalli) social cohesion and ranging behavior
Authors: Meredith Semel* 1, Julie Ratovoson 2, Ignacio Moore 1
Affiliations: 1. Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech 2. Biology and Conservation, University of Antananarivo
Madagascar, an island off the coast of southeast Africa, is one of the world’s richest biodiversity hotspots, yet little is known about how habitat degradation will affect imperiled species. Golden-crowned sifakas (Propithecus tattersalli), listed as critically endangered on the IUCN red list, are folivorous, group living primates endemic to forests of northern Madagascar. Golden-crowned sifakas display a flexible behavioral strategy called fission-fusion, which results in individuals periodically separating from group members (fissions) and rejoining after temporal and spatial separation (fusions). We are seeking to examine how fragmentation and landscape heterogeneity influence fission-fusion dynamics, ranging behavior, and overall social cohesion in this species. To do this, we completed 7 full-day behavioral follows for nine groups of golden-crowned sifakas in an array of rainforest and dry forest fragments surrounding Daraina, Madagascar (August-December 2018). Using scans at ten-minute intervals, we recorded activity, height, feeding information, nearest neighbor proximity, and group spread. Overall, we found that fragment type resulted in a significant amount of variance on group spread and territory size; with sifakas displaying decreased group cohesion in rainforest fragments, possibly due to decreased food availability and separating from group members to acquire necessary nutrients. Now that we have an understanding of P. tattersalli behavior we will be employing the use of novel tracking devices to automate our data collection and more effectively collect group cohesion and ranging data.
[hr]
Scientists’ roles in policy-making
Authors: Seo, H.* 1
Affiliations: 1. School of Public and International Affairs, Virginia Tech
This paper explores scientists’ roles in policy-making based on literature review with the aim of gaining insights into how policy processes might be enhanced through better science-policy interactions. Integrating scientific knowledge into policy-making and management processes is challenging because of the inherently different purposes, assumptions, and framing of scientific information and policy information (Innes & Booher, 2010). When it comes to research about environmental issues such as biodiversity and conservation, it is even more difficult to use scientific research to inform policy-making and implementation because these environmental issues are particularly complex in nature, involving uncertainty, complexity, diverse conflicting values and multiple objectives in various sectors; science alone cannot provide simple, optimal solutions (Young et al., 2014). To address these challenges, this paper starts with two paradigms of science-policy interactions which determine scientists’ roles required in society: the democratic and technocratic approaches. Further, it examines theories about boundary work at science-policy interfaces, and reviews existing typologies of scientists roles. It concludes with a discussion of future direction for research.
[hr]
Do Roots Bind Soil? Comparing the Physical and Biological Role of Roots in Fluvial Streambank Erosion Resistance
Authors: Smith, D.J.* 1 and Thompson, T.M. 1
Affiliations: 1. Department of Biological Systems Engineering , Virginia Tech
Today, it is recognized that plant roots affect streambank erosion through various processes, including: 1) physical binding of soil particles by roots, 2) gluing soil particles together due to the release of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) by soil microorganisms, and 3) alterations to the streambank fluvial boundary layer. However, the relative importance of these mechanisms is not fully understood. To quantify the effects of roots and soil microbial communities on erosion resistance, laboratory testing was conducted using a jet erosion test device‚ an erosion measurement tool used measure soil erodibility and critical shear stress. Erosion resistance measurements were also correlated with plant, soil, and microbial parameters, including EPS, aboveground biomass, root length density (RLD), and aggregate stability. The experimental setup included five treatments: 1) sterile soil, 2) sterile soil with synthetic roots, 3) inoculated soil, 4) inoculated soil with synthetic roots, and 5) inoculated soil with live roots. Critical shear stress was significantly increased in Treatments 2, 4, and 5 compared to Treatment 3 by 67%, 75%, and 79%, respectively. As RLD and aggregate stability increased in vegetated samples (Treatment 5), soil critical shear stress significantly increased as well. However, soil erodibility was also significantly increased by 33% in Treatment 4 compared to Treatment 1. In addition, Treatment 5 saw a significant 10% decrease in aggregate stability in samples compared to all other treatments. These results suggest that the physical presence of fibers or the biological activity of microorganisms alone may not significantly impact soil resistance to fluvial erosion.
[hr]
The Screech Owl Nest Web: A New Opportunity for Citizen Science in Montgomery County, Virginia
Authors: Ben Vernasco* 1 and Ignacio Moore 1
Affiliations: 1. Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech
Citizen science projects rely upon the public to assist in the scientific process and these projects are known to have a number of benefits. Citizen science 1) promotes engagements between the public and scientists, 2) increases scientific literacy and 3) expands data collection opportunities to a level beyond what is possible by a single researcher. Birds that nest in artificial nest boxes present a unique opportunity for citizens to engage in the scientific process by providing a nesting cavity on their property and monitoring the nesting progress of the inhabitants. Here, I propose to establish a new citizen science project for Montgomery County that entails establishing and monitoring nest boxes specifically designed for Eastern Screech Owls (Megascops asio). Eastern Screech Owls are currently declining in parts of their range, including Virginia, and a lack of nesting cavities is a contributing factor. The owls are known to occupy artificial nest boxes in the suburban and rural habitats present in Montgomery County. With this program, we can monitor the nesting success of this charismatic bird. Additionally, the proposed project can also address questions related to breeding phenology, population demography, dispersal behaviors, and the effects of urbanization on wildlife. Beyond the local level, participants can submit their data to the NestWatch Program established by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Overall, the proposed project can contribute to the conservation of a declining species, establish a new study system for the GCC community, and, most importantly, engage the public in the scientific process.
[hr]
Estimating Occupational Heat Exposure from Personal Sampling of Public Works Employees in Birmingham, Alabama
Authors: Suwei Wang* 1,5, Molly B. Richardson 1, Connor Y.H. Wu 2, Carly D. Cholera 3, Claudiu T. Lungu 3, Benjamin F. Zaitchik 4, Julia M. Gohlke 1
Excessive occupational heat stress has been associated with increased mortality and injury rates. Wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index is widely used to assess heat stress and recommend work-rest cycles combined with metabolic rates of workers. Currently, estimates of WBGT use meteorological data from nearby weather stations (WS), but likely do not reflect actual environmental conditions at a specific workplace. This study evaluated whether using thermometers clipped on workers shoes would result in different work-rest schedules compared to using area-level meteorological data alone.
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Spatial variability in oligotrophic lake metabolism may indicate trophic state change due to localized stream loading
Authors: Nicole K. Ward* 1, Jennifer A. Brentrup 2, David C. Richardson 3, Kathleen C. Weathers 4, Cayelan C. Carey 1
Affiliations: 1. Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA 2. Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA 3. Biology Department, SUNY New Paltz, New Paltz, NY, USA 4. Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY, USA
Local land-use and global climate change are rapidly degrading oligotrophic lakes. Robust water quality indicators are needed to determine whether oligotrophic lakes are maintaining their low-nutrient state. Lake metabolism, the balance of carbon production and respiration, is an integrated ecosystem metric that may indicate impending ecosystem shifts to a meso- or eutrophic state. Ecosystem metabolism modeled from one deep site within a lake is often assumed to be representative of the entire lake; little is known about the relationship between lake metabolism estimates at near-shore sites and nutrient loading from the nearest inflow. Here, we ask: How do summer lake metabolism estimates at near-shore sites (4-7 m deep) compare to a single deep-site (13 m deep) estimate? We addressed this question in oligotrophic Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire (USA). We used high-frequency measurements of dissolved oxygen, water temperature, and light to estimate metabolism at three near-shore sites and one deep-site. We also measured stream discharge and nutrient concentrations in the closest inflow streams to each near-shore lake site to estimate localized nutrient loading. Net ecosystem metabolism at Lake Sunapee’s deep-site was consistently positive (range = 0.01‚ 0.5 mg-O2/L/day) whereas all three near-shore sites averaged near zero net ecosystem metabolism (range = -0.4 – 0.3 mg-O2/L/day). Localized stream nutrient loading was positively correlated with daily maximum GPP and R rates. Linking spatially variable lake metabolism to heterogeneous nutrient loading provides insight into how lakes integrate catchment land use, providing an indicator of impending shifts in lake trophic state.
[hr]How can the cavity nest-web inform conservation of the endangered Bahama Swallow (Tachycineta cyaneoviridis)?
Authors: Maya Wilson* 1 and Jeffrey R. Walters 1
Affiliations: 1. Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech
The Bahama Swallow (Tachycineta cyaneoviridis) only breeds in the northern Bahamas, and is considered endangered due to decline in its population. However, causes of population decline are unknown. As an obligate secondary cavity nester, the swallow requires other species or processes to create cavities in which to nest. We constructed a cavity nest-web to investigate whether nest site availability and interactions between swallows and other cavity-nesting species could provide insight into causes of decline and the design of conservation strategies. We conducted surveys to assess the availability of cavity-nesting resources in Caribbean Pine (Pinus caribaea) forest and other habitats. We also examined potential competition by locating nests of all other cavity-nesting species. We measured reproductive success by monitoring swallow nests in different cavity types. Swallows built nests in several cavity types, primarily those excavated by Hairy Woodpeckers (Picoides villosus) and West Indian Woodpeckers (Melanerpes superciliaris). La Sagra’s Flycatchers (Myiarchus sagrae) were the only other secondary cavity nesters that utilized the sparsely distributed pine snag cavities, which are excavated by Hairy Woodpeckers. Other cavity types were in anthropogenic structures and were concentrated in developed areas, where swallows face potential competition with American Kestrels (Falco sparverius), and non-native House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) and European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). Reproductive success was high during all nest stages in pine snags, while success in other cavity types appeared to vary. These findings indicate that managing for pine snags and the presence of Hairy Woodpeckers in the pine forest may be crucial to Bahama Swallow conservation.
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Convergent evolution and high cranial disparity in the close relatives of archosaurs as demonstrated in Doswellia sixmilensis (Archosauriformes: Proterochampsia)
Authors: Wynd, B. M.* 1, Nesbitt, S. J. 1, Stocker, M. R. 1, Heckert, A. B. 2
Affiliations: 1. Department of Geosciences, Virginia Tech 2. Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Appalachian State University
The Triassic Period (252 – 200 Ma) records a great expansion of reptile diversity and disparity, particularly in skull morphology. Close relatives of archosaurs (group including birds and crocodiles) exhibit substantial range in cranial disparity, especially by species shortening or elongating the skull. This disparity is exemplified in North American Late Triassic proterochampsians by short-faced and long-faced doswelliids. To investigate skull elongation and character evolution in proterochampsians, we evaluate the taxon, Doswellia sixmilensis, from the Late Triassic of New Mexico. We redescribe D. sixmilensis based on repreparation of the skull material and reinterpret what was previously regarded as the antorbital fenestra to be the orbit. Because of this, the identification of bones and the taxon diagnosis must be substantially modified. We score D. sixmilensis into a phylogeny of archosaurs and their close relatives, consisting of 676 characters and 109 taxa. We recover Doswelliidae as a monophyletic clade nested within the South American Proterochampsidae. This challenges previous interpretations of the Doswelliidae and suggests previously unrecognized cranial disparity within Proterochampsidae. To reconstruct archosauromorph cranial disparity, we place D. sixmilensis and other proterochampsians into a similarity analysis of 36 taxa and 42 cranial characters using a non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination plot. We find that early diverging proterochampsians explore regions of morphospace explored only by long-snouted taxa (archosaurs and their close relatives), and are disparate from other skull forms. This indicates that archosaur relatives experimented with the anterior half of their skulls with a combination of unique and convergent characters present in the earliest archosaurs.
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