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Janice L. Albers

Publications and source records attributed to Janice L. Albers.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS2026

Evaluating the effects of a multi-modal deterrent on upstream passage by invasive carp and native species

Invasive carp, including Silver Carp ( Hypophthalmichthys molitrix ) and Grass Carp ( Ctenopharyngodon idella ), are increasing their range within the Mississippi River Basin, threatening native fishes and ecosystem function. We conducted a 3-year field test of a multi-modal deterrent that uses sound, bubbles, and light to test its ability to impede upstream passage by invasive carp. The test was performed at a lock and dam on the Cumberland River, Kentucky, USA, using acoustic telemetry to track the movements of Silver Carp, Grass Carp, and several native fish species. When the deterrent was operating, the estimated probability of upstream lock passage was 53% lower (95% CI: 41%–63%) for Silver Carp but 74% higher (95% CI: 3%–190%) for Grass Carp compared to times when the deterrent was not operating. Paddlefish ( Polyodon spathula ) passage was reduced by 43% (95% CI: 71% reduction to 9% increase), although this was not statistically significant. We detected no significant effects on Freshwater Drum ( Aplodinotus grunniens ) or Smallmouth Buffalo ( Ictiobus bubalus ). However, sample sizes were small for these native species, limiting our ability to identify effects. Water temperature, tailwater elevation, and vessel lockages affected passage rates, although this varied among species.

Kentucky↗
USGS2025

A comparison of ground flora sampling methods to assess recovery of bottomland forest restorations

We compared ground flora sampling methods for assessing the state of multiple bottomland forest restorations 6–21 years after restoration implementation in northeast Indiana, United States. Data from standard fixed-area plots of appropriate size and complexity for forest assessments were compared with data from smaller fixed-area plots of different shapes and plotless sampling methods. The methods were compared for their ability to (1) assess species richness and abundance, (2) detect and monitor invasive and dominant species, and (3) understand community composition. We assessed the biases of the compared methods, identified the training and skills needed to conduct sampling, and examined sampling costs in relation to total monitoring costs. Results show that smaller plots are able to detect more species per unit area sampled without significant differences in floristic quality measures. Data from smaller plots were sufficient for comprehensively describing site conditions even when less of the total site area was sampled. Although multivariate analyses of data from smaller plots yielded greater within-group dissimilarity than data from larger plots, multiple response permutation procedure analyses indicated no significant differences between nonmetric multidimensional scaling solutions based on data from the different sampling methods. Regardless of the sampling methods used to collect data, use of multivariate analyses identified a gradient of time since restoration was implemented as the dominant factor relating to differences between community composition. Sampling costs spanned a range of one order of magnitude but generally represented less than 6% of total assessment costs. Results suggest that when selecting sampling methods, matching monitoring effort to specific measurable management endpoints is more important than sampling cost.

Indiana↗
USGS2025

Understanding predator-prey-competitor dynamics between Lower Missouri River Macrhybopsis and Scaphirhynchus using a population—bioenergetics model ensemble

The pallid sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus is a long-lived, endangered fish in the Missouri River. Individuals become piscivorous as adults, so recruitment from stocking or reproduction could reduce populations of prey, including Macrhybopsis chubs. We constructed an individual- and age-based, multi-species, predator-prey-competitor model (IAMP) to represent the benthic community (sturgeons, chubs, and chironomids) of the Lower Missouri River (LMR) to explore scenarios of potential predator-prey-competitor dynamics. Our simulations suggest that chubs alone are unlikely able to support a level of LMR pallid sturgeon similar to historical or current populations. These simulations also suggest that adult pallid sturgeon may need to shift to non-chub prey fish to achieve the greater sizes observed in the Upper Missouri River. When annual hydrologic regimes were included, we found a negative relationship between chub relative abundance and previous year 30-day minimum flows. Inclusion of temporal environmental variability made it clear that large chub populations may be necessary to support LMR pallid sturgeon. When full stochasticity was included in the IAMP, chub population sizes needed to increase further to ensure continued reproduction and recruitment of both chubs and pallid sturgeon. These results support the hypothesis that the pallid sturgeon population in the Lower Missouri River may be food-limited. However, the full extent of this limitation and the management changes needed to address this will require more research on the biology and population dynamics of this fish community, on pallid sturgeon interactions with prey species, and on how sympatric species may be affected during the pallid sturgeon recovery process.

Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Ne↗
USGS2024

Vegetation community recovery on restored bottomland hardwood forests in northeast Indiana, USA

Vegetation communities in restored bottomland hardwood forests in northeast Indiana were studied 6–21 years after restoration to assess progress toward restoration objectives. The study focused on four sites that were restored to compensate for resource injuries after contaminant releases. The restored sites were compared with four reference-site conditions, including crops (prerestoration condition), old field communities representing a no-management alternative, locally sampled second-growth mature forests, and forest community types described by the US National Vegetation Classification (USNVC), which represent ideal or defining conditions of recognized vegetation communities. Fixed-area plots provided data on field-sampled environmental variables, vegetation, soil, and hydrological conditions for crops, old fields, restored areas, and mature forests. The USNVC database provided quantitative data for three historically and geographically relevant reference forest community types for comparison with the sampled communities. Results of nonmetric multidimensional scaling based on species cover revealed clear gradients relating to site age and canopy development. Along those gradients, restored areas demonstrated increasing similarity to mature forest reference communities in terms of floristic composition. Specifically, the floristic quality of restored areas was significantly greater than that of crops and old fields. Furthermore, soil health measurements of physical, chemical, and hydrological conditions indicated significant improvements in restored site soils compared with prerestoration conditions represented by cropland soils. Descriptions and data from the USNVC provided ecological context for restoration target conditions and facilitated the assessment of restoration recovery along a trajectory from starting conditions to those target conditions. Descriptions by USNVC also helped identify deviations from the intended restoration objectives (e.g., invasive species recruitment) and potential adaptive management actions to return sites to their intended trajectories. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1–22. Published 2024. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Indiana↗
USGS2024

Studies to assess natural resource recovery and evaluate monitoring methods for restored bottomland hardwood forests

The Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration process assesses natural resource injury due to oil or chemical spills and calculates the damages to compensate the public for those injuries. Ecological restoration provides a means for recovering resources injured or lost due to contamination from oil or chemical spills by restoring the injured site after remediation, or acquiring or reconstructing equivalent resources off site to replace those lost due to the spill. In the case of restored forests, once restoration is implemented, monitoring of forest ecology helps keep recovery on track, with the maturation of forest vegetation, recovered soil conditions, and development of microbial, fungal, and faunal communities, necessary for ecologically functioning forests. This series of papers focuses on applying methods for monitoring restoration progress in forest vegetation and soils, and amphibian, avian, and mammalian communities, assessing strengths and weaknesses of different methods, and evaluating levels of effort needed to obtain accurate indications of forest ecological condition.

Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management↗
USGS2024

Sicklefin Chub (Macrhybopsis meeki) and Sturgeon Chub (M. gelida) temporal and spatial patterns from extant population monitoring and habitat data spanning 23 Years

Sicklefin ( Macrhybopsis meeki ) and sturgeon chub ( M. gelida ) historically occurred throughout the Missouri River (MR), in some tributaries, and Mississippi River downstream of the MR. They have been species of U.S. state-level conservation concern and U.S. Endangered Species Act listing candidates since the 1990s. We applied analytical approaches from occupancy modeling to correlation to monitoring data spanning 23 years to assess relationships between occupancy and time, space, environmental factors, habitat, and other species. Sicklefin chub occupancy appeared higher in the early to mid-2000s and mid-to-late 2010s. A potential decline in occupancy occurred for sturgeon chub in the mid-to-late 2010s. Spatially, chub occupancy was depressed for 159 to 438 km downstream of MR dams. Among macrohabitats, inside bends had relatively high occupancy for both species; secondary connected channels had relatively high values for sturgeon chub. Co-occurrence was likely between sicklefin and sturgeon chub and between chubs and shovelnose sturgeon ( Scaphirhybchus platorybchus ) and channel catfish ( Ictalurus punctatus ). The observed co-occurrence of chubs and pallid sturgeon ( Scaphirhynchus albus ; PS) was potentially higher than expected for adult PS. For juvenile PS, co-occurrence was lower than expected in the Lower MR and potentially higher than expected in the Upper MR, warranting future research. Results from this research suggest management for the improvement of sicklefin and sturgeon chub populations may benefit other MR fish populations.

Fishes↗
USGS2023

Visitor use and activities detected using trail cameras at forest restoration sites

We used trail cameras to monitor human visits and activities at two sites in northeast Indiana being restored to bottomland hardwood forests. These sites, managed as nature preserves, are close to cities, where trails and parking lots have been added for ease of access. In this study, trail cameras were successfully used to capture visitation rates and activity types. The two sites had median visitor use rates of 1 and 13 visitors per day. Across both sites, “parking lot use only” (62%), hikers (30.2%), and bicyclists (5%) accounted for more than 97% of site visits. Overall, most weekday visitor-time occurred during daylight hours, peaking at lunch and evening. Mean total number of daily visitors was higher during weekends; however, total daily visitor-time did not vary between days of the week. Michaelis-Menten rarefaction models of sampling efficiency across the study’s four camera stations suggest sampling duration of 27 to 55 days to accurately estimate mean daily visitor counts and 3 to 40 days to detect half the maximal numbers of observed activities. Study estimates of visitation provide land managers with information for accommodating visitor use activities on the restored sites and offer inputs for cultural ecosystem services assessments and associated economic analyses.

Ecological Restoration↗
USGS2023

Lock 19 underwater acoustic deterrent system study—Interim project update, through 2022

Invasive carp ( Hypophthalmichthys nobilis [Richardson, 1845; Bighead Carp], H. molitrix [Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1844; Silver Carp], Ctenopharyngodon idella [Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1844; Grass Carp], and Mylopharyngodon piceus [Richardson, 1846; Black Carp]) expansion threatens the Laurentian Great Lakes and other major waterways. Numerous tools and techniques are being tested or developed to curtail the upstream expansion of invasive carps while minimizing the effect to native species. Underwater sound is one technology that has shown promise as a deterrent in the laboratory and ponds and is being considered for use at bottleneck locks and dams to reduce the risk of invasive carps moving to uninvaded areas. To test this technology at a management-relevant scale, an underwater acoustic deterrent system (UADS) was designed and installed at Lock 19 on the Mississippi River in 2021. The experimental UADS operates on a continuous schedule of 80 hours on and 80 hours off to allow for comparisons of fish behavior during varying environmental, operational, and navigation traffic conditions. Two telemetry systems, operating at 69 and 307 kilohertz, were deployed to evaluate how the UADS may affect movement and behavior of invasive carps and native fish species. During 2021–22, Silver Carp were twice as likely to pass over the UADS and into the lock when it was off compared to on; however, Bigmouth Buffalo, a native fish, were 1.2 times more likely to make upstream passage when the UADS was off compared to on.

Illinois, Iowa↗
USGS2023

Terrestrial invertebrate diversity and occurrence in restored hardwood forest floodplains, Indiana, United States, June–August 2016

This report provides a summary of terrestrial invertebrates collected at old field, mature, and restored hardwood forest floodplain sites in northeast Indiana. Invertebrate populations were sampled at selected sites using walking butterfly transects, pitfall-enhanced Malaise invertebrate traps (PEMITs), and sweep nets. We identified a total of 19 taxonomic groups of butterflies, with 1, 11, and 18 groups from the old field, mature, and restored sites, respectively. Samples collected with PEMITs captured 26 different invertebrate taxa and 4 vertebrate taxa on mature and restored sites (24 invertebrate taxa, each, on mature and restored sites; 3 and 2 vertebrate species on mature and restored sites, respectively). Sweep net sampling of restored sites captured 18 invertebrate taxa, including mantids (Mantodea), which were not detected using PEMITs. These data were collected in anticipation of assessing the progress of restored hardwood forest communities towards conditions associated with mature seasonally inundated floodplain forests in northeast Indiana.

Indiana↗
USGS2023

Laboratory studies of potential competition for food and substrate among early juvenile Missouri River sturgeon and sympatric chub species

Juvenile Pallid Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus predominantly consume midges (family Chironomidae) and other macroinvertebrates, while Shovelnose Sturgeon S. platorynchus , Sicklefin Chub Macrhybopsis meeki , and Shoal Chub M. hyostoma feed on those same macroinvertebrates throughout life. The primary objective of this study was to assess the substrate component of habitat selection, specifically selection between sand and mud substrates, as it relates to food availability and quantity relative to presence or absence of a photoperiod (i.e., lack of light). The study was designed to assess the strength of the innate linkage of substrate and availability of food in foraging by early juvenile Pallid Sturgeon, early juvenile Shovelnose Sturgeon, their juvenile hybrids, and adult Sicklefin Chub and Shoal Chub. The ultimate goal of the study was to develop a better understanding of potential competition for resources among these five fish groups. Twenty-four individually isolated aquaria were used to test behavior during a 12 h light : 12 h dark cycle versus continuous darkness. Presence or absence of a photoperiod was combined with feeding levels of maximum ration ( C max ) versus half C max ration and the substrate to which food was delivered. Four-way ANOVA among all five groups and separate ANOVAs for sturgeon and chub groups that included fish group as a factor indicated a selection (i.e., proportion of time over substrate >0.5 given only two substrates equally available) for the substrate to which food was delivered, as expected. However, selection of mud was significantly greater for early juvenile Pallid Sturgeon compared with other fish groups except early juvenile Shovelnose Sturgeon. Neither feeding level nor presence or absence of a photoperiod significantly affected substrate selection. In individual fish group three-way ANOVAs, Sicklefin Chub did not select a substrate significantly more when food was delivered to the substrate. Shoal Chub selected mud more frequently under continuous darkness. All three sturgeon groups showed a significant increase in weight over time. Only Shovelnose Sturgeon and Sicklefin Chub final weight were significantly greater under C max compared to half C max . Additionally, early juvenile Pallid Sturgeon, early juvenile Shovelnose Sturgeon, and hybrid sturgeon groups had a greater increase in weight over the study under C max than half C max . While caution should always be used when extrapolating results from fine-scaled, controlled laboratory studies to large, complex river systems, the results from this study support the hypothesis of the potential for competition in the lower Missouri River among the studied fish groups.

North American Journal of Fisheries Management↗
USGS2022

Interaction between transect design and animal distribution in distance sampling of deer

We conducted a simulation study to evaluate the consequences of violating statistical assumptions of distance sampling (DS) on the bias and precision of population estimates of white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ). Distance sampling is a method for estimating the density of organisms using a distribution of observed distances to individuals. A key assumption of DS is that sampling transects are randomly located with respect to the population being sampled. Most DS transects used in National Parks follow roads and trails, which are not positioned randomly. We constructed spatially explicit simulations of surveys using 7 different types of deer spatial distributions and 3 survey designs. A significant interaction between survey type and deer distribution type explained most of the variation in population estimates across simulations and this interaction was also a significant predictor of the coefficient of variation (CV) of population estimates. Simulation results suggested that 1) non-road surveys were more robust to bias than were road surveys, 2) effectiveness of each of 3 survey types was dependent on the way deer were distributed across the landscape, and 3) non-road surveys produced unbiased estimates of populations affected by roads, whereas road surveys did not. The results of our study suggest that DS surveys using pre-existing roads and trails have potential biases resulting from study design, something that could be considered by land managers when constructing surveys.

Maryland↗
USGS2021

Enumerating white-tailed deer using unmanned aerial vehicles

The white‐tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) is an ecologically important species in forests of North America. Effective management of forests requires accurate, precise estimates of deer population abundance to plan and justify management actions. Spotlight surveys in combination with distance sampling are a common method of estimating deer population abundance; however, spotlight surveys are known to have serious drawbacks such as high costs and sampling biases. Therefore, we tested the effectiveness of enumerating deer from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flights, conducted 1 and 6 March 2018, to develop population and density estimates in 2 United States National Parks: Harpers Ferry National Historic Park (HAFE) and Monocacy National Battlefield (MONO). Concurrent spotlight surveys at MONO enabled us to compare estimates obtained by the 2 methods. Deer density estimates by 4 observers of UAV‐obtained thermal imagery from HAFE were 94.5 ± 3.9 deer/km 2 . Concurrent UAV and spotlight surveys at MONO found 19.7 ± 0.5 deer/km 2 and 6.4 ± 4.9 deer/km 2 , respectively; suggesting that spotlight surveys may significantly underestimate deer densities. Despite the logistical challenges to UAV operation, our findings demonstrate that UAVs will become an invaluable tool for wildlife management as technology improves. © 2021 The Wildlife Society. This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

Maryland, West Virginia↗
USGS2021

Effectiveness of a distance sampling from roads program for white-tailed deer in the National Capital Region parks

We evaluated the effectiveness of a distance sampling from roads program for estimating population sizes of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from 2001 to 2015 in parks of the National Capital Region (NCR), National Parks Service. Distance sampling is a method for estimating the density of organisms using a distribution of distances to observed individuals. Re-analysis of survey data for 9 of 11 NCR parks found that although the original park analyses likely estimated deer densities correctly, the uncertainties (coefficients of variation or CV) of the original estimates were likely underestimated. Power analyses based on the current analysis methods showed that survey effort at some parks was likely insufficient to reach the NCR target of a 20% CV. We simulated 7 different types of deer populations and 3 survey designs to assess how violations of the assumptions of distance sampling might have impacted population estimates. A significant interaction between survey type and population type explained most of the variation in population estimates across simulations. Simulation results suggested that (1) non-road surveys were more robust to bias in seven deer population distributions than were road surveys, (2) effectiveness of each of 3 survey types was dependent on the way deer were distributed across the landscape, and (3) non-road surveys produced unbiased estimates of populations affected by roads, whereas, road surveys did not. Based on this study, we recommend revisions of the NCR distance sampling program, including additional sampling effort for some parks and suggest alternative survey strategies to ameliorate potential assumption violations of distance sampling.

Maryland, Virginia↗
USGS2020

Efficient mammal biodiversity surveys for ecological restoration monitoring

Efficient biodiversity surveys are critical for successful restoration monitoring and management. We studied the effect of varying sampling effort on the observed species richness of surveys of small mammals (trapping transects), bats (passive acoustic detection), and medium to large mammals (trail cameras). Field studies provided mammalian biodiversity data for 4 bottomland hardwood restoration sites in northeastern Indiana. Subsampled data were used to simulate monitoring surveys with a range of levels of effort. We then used hierarchical Bayesian nonlinear mixed models to analyze how different components of sampling effort affected observed species richness, a key monitoring outcome. We found that observed small mammal richness increased with the increased number of transects in a survey, while observed bat and medium to large mammal richness increased with the increased duration of sampling. Variation between sites was important for the observed richness of small mammals and bats but not for medium to large mammals. The key driver of richness observed in simulated surveys was related to the spatial scale at which target fauna interact with the habitat, with decreasing richness accompanied by a greater spatial scale of animal–habitat interactions. Our findings suggest taxon-specific recommendations for efficiently quantifying the mammalian diversity of managed sites.

Indiana↗
USGS2018

Use of real-time dust monitoring and surface condition to evaluate success of unpaved road treatments

Fugitive dust from unpaved roads creates human health hazards, degrades road surfaces, and increases the cost of road maintenance. As a result, many different chemical treatments are applied to unpaved roads in an attempt to control dust and stabilize the wearing course. However, investigations of the effectiveness of these treatments have often been poorly planned or executed. The objective of this study was to use a combination of real-time dust monitoring and objective road condition evaluations to assess the success of two chemical treatments for a period of 19?months post-application, to provide quantitative information in support of road management decisions. Dust production from road sections treated with calcium chloride-based durablend-C™ or the synthetic fluid EnviroKleen® was monitored on five dates using a vehicle-mounted particulate matter meter. Both products reduced dust by up to 99% relative to an untreated control section during the monitoring period, and quantitative data from the meter were consistent with qualitative observations of dust conditions. Linear models of dust production indicated that road treatment and humidity explained 69% of the variation in dust over time. Road sections treated with either product developed less rutting and fewer potholes than the untreated control. Overall, the combination of real-time dust monitoring and surface condition evaluation was an effective approach for generating quantitative data on endpoints of interest to road managers.

Missouri↗
USGS2018

Population viability analyses for three Macrhybopsis spp. of the Lower Missouri River

Recent declines in three species of chubs that inhabit the lower Missouri River (shoal chub M. hyostoma , sicklefin chub M. meeki and sturgeon chub M. gelida ) have become a concern in the management of their own populations and the endangered pallid sturgeon ( Scaphirhynchus albus ) that feeds on them. These chub populations encounter threats from fish predation and habitat loss. With the recent advancements in the understanding of the reproductive life history of these species, their declines have prompted development of population models and population viability analyses. For each species, we developed an age‐structured population matrix model with hierarchical stochasticity, which partitions parameter total variance into sampling and temporal components. Using these models, we found population growth rate of all three chub species decreased when stochasticity was added to the model. While examining sensitivity, we found individual fish growth, as measured by length‐at‐age, to impact population growth rate and depending on the species, could be up to four times more influential than overall survival, the next most sensitive parameter. Current survival rates have large temporal variance; more research into accuracy and factors that influence survival rates is needed.

Journal of Applied Ichthyology↗
USGS2018

Potential responses of the Lower Missouri River Shovelnose Sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) population to a commercial fishing ban

We developed an age‐structured population matrix model to perform population viability analysis for Lower Missouri River (LMR) shovelnose sturgeon ( Scaphirhynchus platorynchus ). We investigated potential effects of the commercial fishing moratorium put in place to help protect the similar‐appearing pallid sturgeon ( S. albus ). The model applies different components of total variance in life history parameters at different levels: sampling variance (parameter uncertainty) between model iterations; temporal variance (temporal environmental fluctuations) between time steps within iterations; and individual variance (individual differences) within each time‐step. The model predicted annual rates of population increase of 1.96% under historic fishing and 2.67% with removal of historic fishing. We identified combinations of fishing and harvest size restrictions that would permit a sustainable harvest of shovelnose sturgeon. Overall, the ban on commercial fishing of shovelnose sturgeon in the LMR due to similarity of appearance to pallid sturgeon should help the LMR shovelnose sturgeon population begin to rebound while decreasing any negative effects it may have had on pallid sturgeon populations.

Lower Missouri River basin↗