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1) The desired session for your abstract: Population Monitoring. 2) Form of presentation: indicate paper or poster: Paper. 3) Title of your paper or poster: Title: Evaluating the Distribution and Abundance of Reintroduced Otters in the Allegheny River Drainage: Applications of GIS, Genetic, and Digital Technologies for Management of a Rare Species. 4) Author(s), affiliations, addresses and phone numbers: Thomas L. Serfass, S. S. Stevens, B. H. Hubbard, M. A. Mills, J. A. Fike, R. C. Cordes, Dept. of Biology, Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD 21532. Phone: 301.687.4171; R. P. Brooks, School of Forest Resources, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 16802; J.M. Benner, Bureau of Forestry, Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources, Harrisburg, PA, 17105; P. A. Townsend, UMCES Appalachian Laboratory, University of Maryland, Frostburg, MD, 21532; O. E. Rhodes, Jr., Dept. of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907. 5) Indicate the presenter's name. (On a separate page please submit name of presenter, affiliation, credentials and a brief curriculum vitae to be used as an introduction.): Presenter: Thomas L. Serfass. 6) Please specify the type of equipment that will be required for your presentation (i.e., slide projector or LCD projector). Presenters are encouraged to bring several forms of their presentations, i.e., CD, zip disk, and printout. LCD Projector. 7) Abstract: The
Pennsylvania River Otter Reintroduction Project has been an
extremely successful and highly publicized wildlife project.
To date, the project has reestablished otters at 7 discrete
waterways in northcentral and western Pennsylvania. Unfortunately,
no effective methods exist for estimating population densities
of reintroduced or native otter populations or for monitoring
long-term trends in otter distributions in Pennsylvania or elsewhere
in North America. We describe approaches being developed and
evaluated to monitor otter populations through application of
a combination of GIS, genetic, and digital technologies for
estimating the distribution and abundance of otters within the
Allegheny River drainage in western Pennsylvania. Our approach
will be applied at levels ranging from an individual otter scat
to landscape-level considerations within and among drainages.
Unique genetic tags, used in mark-recapture models for estimation
of population densities, are being obtained using DNA-based
analyses of otter scats at latrine sites (scat marking sites).
Seasonal variation in marking habits, visitation rates, and
group composition of otters at latrine sites are being evaluated
through the use of remote video cameras. Information derived
from video studies of scat marking habits is being used to parameterize
mark-recapture models for density estimation. Spatially referenced
habitat data (1 km2 cells) are being applied and used to develop
GIS-based models for predicting the distribution of otters throughout
the Allegheny River drainage. Our goal is to develop standardized
protocols for monitoring otter populations that will be transferable
throughout North America. In doing so we will fulfill a resolution
passed at the most recent meeting of The International Union
for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resource’s
(IUCN) Otter Specialist Group (January 2001) to develop and
implement standardized continent-wide survey procedures for
delineating the distribution and abundance of otters. Email
Abstracts to: otter@frostburg.edu If you have any questions or problems, contact Sadie Stevens at (301) 687-4062 or otter@frostburg.edu
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