Effects of forest management on early-successional avian species in South Carolina

This study represents the largest known effort to inventory Ruffed Grouse and Golden- winged Warblers in the State of South Carolina. We found low Ruffed Grouse and Golden- winged Warbler occupancy rates across two seasons (spring and summer 2020 and 2021), indicating the need for both robust monitoring protocols and targeted habitat management for the benefit of these species. Our results indicate unique habitat preferences of Ruffed Grouse in the Southern Blue Ridge Ecoregion. Additionally, our results provide insight into multiple parameters that drive early-successional songbird species occupancy. This project provides information that will aid in both habitat management and conservation of high priority early- successional avian species. This project also provides context for efficient monitoring protocols

Characteristics of marsh wren territories in eastern Massachusetts : an honors thesis (HONRS 499)

Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) populations in the eastern United States have been declining. One of the main causes for these declining trends is the destruction of wetlands for development and agriculture. Restored and re-created wetlands help reestablish Marsh Wren populations. To examine habitat components selected by Marsh Wrens, vegetation and water parameters were measured at two locations at Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (GMNWR), Sudbury, MA during summer 2001. Marsh Wren territories were determined using behavioral observations and playback of tape recordings. Vegetation plots were used to compare several parameters between territories and random sites. These two study locations varied greatly; thus, they were treated separately for data analyses. At Wash Brook, territorial sites had significantly greater cattail (Typha spp.) density and height than random sites. At Concord, purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) was less dense at territories than random sites; Wash Brook did not contain purple loosestrife. Water depth was significantly lower at Wash Brook territories, and significantly higher at Concord territories suggesting that it was not a factor determining Marsh Wren territories. My data also suggests that tall, dense, vegetation structure is selected by Marsh Wrens with cattail as the selected species. Furthermore, Marsh Wrens avoided habitats with purple loosestrife, an invasive species. However, further studies are needed to determine if habitat parameters other than the ones I measured are important components of Marsh Wren territories.Thesis (B.?.)Honors Colleg

Comparing and combining use of autonomous recording units and traditional counts to monitor Northern Bobwhite

We examined the use of autonomous recording units for monitoring Northern Bobwhite ( Colinus virginianus ) in South Carolina and compared results with those of traditional point count surveys conducted simultaneously at overlapping points. We assessed seasonal patterns and quail encounter rates for traditional and recorded surveys and used random forest modeling to determine which location and survey-based variables are most important. We found both survey methods have similar encounter rates, but seasonal occupancy rates are significantly higher when the more extensive automated recording data are used. Both survey methods indicate that location-based variables are most important to encounter rate, and both adequately account for survey detectability, but the use of recordings reduces survey bias. The autonomous recording method also permits an increase in survey and season length without increasing the labor necessary for monitoring. Both survey methods indicate a peak encounter rate in June consistent with the current protocols and with similar studies in nearby regions. The use of recordings, however, allows for extensive tracking of seasonal patterns and would be beneficial for long-term monitoring. Overall, traditional methods are more conducive to abundance surveys, whereas recordings are more appropriate for occupancy or encounter rate studies. We suggest a combination of both point count and autonomous recording methods as a feasible way to expand and improve monitoring of bobwhite populations

Performance Metrics for Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Systems in Proteomics Analyses*

A major unmet need in LC-MS/MS-based proteomics analyses is a set of tools for quantitative assessment of system performance and evaluation of technical variability. Here we describe 46 system performance metrics for monitoring chromatographic performance, electrospray source stability, MS1 and MS2 signals, dynamic sampling of ions for MS/MS, and peptide identification. Applied to data sets from replicate LC-MS/MS analyses, these metrics displayed consistent, reasonable responses to controlled perturbations. The metrics typically displayed variations less than 10% and thus can reveal even subtle differences in performance of system components. Analyses of data from interlaboratory studies conducted under a common standard operating procedure identified outlier data and provided clues to specific causes. Moreover, interlaboratory variation reflected by the metrics indicates which system components vary the most between laboratories. Application of these metrics enables rational, quantitative quality assessment for proteomics and other LC-MS/MS analytical applications