Annual/Termination Reports:

[01/08/2008] [05/12/2009]

Report Information

Participants

Ballard, Warren (warren.ballard@ttu.edu) - Texas Tech University;
Barber-Meyer, Shannon (shannonbarbermeyer@gmail.com) - Arizona G&F;
Bergman, David (david.l.bergman@aphis.usda.gov)- USDA/WS;
Breck, Stewart (stewart.w.breck@aphis.usda.gov)- USDA/WS/NWRC;
Burnham, Eric (erieb@nmsu.edu) - NM State University;
Cariappa, Chip (bravecowboy@hotmail.com) - Texas Tech University;
Culver, Melanie (culver@ag.arizona.edu) - U of Arizona/USGS;
Howery, Larry (lhowery@ag.arizona.edu) - University of Arizona;
Kluever, Bryan (bmkluever@yahoo.com) - University of Arizona;
Krausman, Paul (paul.krausman@umontana.edu) - University of Montana;
Morgart, John (john_morgart@fws.gov) - USFWS;
Oakleaf, John (John_Oakleaf@fws.gov) - USFWS;
Rinkevich, Sarah(rink@cals.arizona.edu) - University of Arizona;
Unger, Katie (Katie@wildlife.org) - The Wildlife Society;

Brief Summary of Minutes

The meeting was started with those in attendance describing what they were doing. Paul Krausman explained that he has left the University of Arizona and joined the University of Montana and thought it would not be appropriate to Chair the group but hoped that he could stay on the Team. There were no objections.

Ballard handed out three papers: 1) an accepted JWM manuscript comparing diets of Mexican wolves and coyotes, 2) a progress report by Chip Cariappa describing his progress at estimating wolf population size from scats, and 3) Michael Panascis Ph.D. proposal to examine wolf-coyote hybridization in coyotes of the Blue Range. Morgart indicated that he would get the 3 papers scanned and forward them to AMOC.

Krausman indicated that it took a long time for him to receive comments back from AMOC on research proposals. Morgart indicated he would attempt to streamline that process. He believes it is important to keep AMOC involved so that Directors know what is going on.

A question was asked about the status of Dan Starks thesis. Krausman indicated that Dan had taken a wolf job in Minnesota and was probably busy getting settled in. Ballard had talked with Stark in August and Dan had indicated he was just starting to analyze his data. It was urged that Krausman ask Dan to get going.

Bergman asked if our group should reevaluate the original research needs list developed at the Springerville, meeting. Bergman agreed to retrieve that list and Morgart will send out to AMOC and I assumed this Team.

Stuart Breck outlined his plans for the cow study. So far they have collared about 188 calves and 10-15 of these have been lost. All predation has been from lions. They are trying to develop better herding practices (fencing and others). Breck indicated there are lots of problems with open range grazing.

Someone mentioned that there is a lithium chloride study on captive wolves. Somebody needs to find information on this study and distribute to this group.

Krausman indicated that we still have no idea of the prey base for Mexican wolves. Ballard and Krausman submitted proposals addressing this issue almost 10 years ago and we still know nothing. Krausman asked if that was the type of proposals the group wanted to see. There appeared to be consensus that this issue was important so Ballard and Krausman will redo the proposal. Oakleaf mentioned there appeared to be a lot of predation on elk calves and perhaps we should address that issue as well.

The group discussed genetic needs and it appeared that Melanie Culver, Warren Ballard, and students have it covered for now. The samples need to be standardized between the data collected by Sarah and Chip. Morgart indicated if we needed blood samples let him know.

Sarah Rinkevich described her study on the San Carlos Reservation where she has raised $250K for a 4 year study, to be conducted at The University of Arizona.

Chip Cariappa provided an update of his study. He has developed his Ph.D. proposal and found attending modeling workshops and attending Gary Whites course very helpful. He has identified a 1,000 square mile study area with known numbers of wolves and has established 310 miles of transects along areas where wolves frequent. He conducted a pilot study in September and has extracted DNA. He plans additional laboratory sessions in October, November, and in the spring of 2008.

Bryan Kluever gave a summary of his recently completed cow behavior study at The Univeristy of Arizona. They looked at vigilance and other behaviors before and after predation events. Animals appeared more vigilant after the event but it was for a short time period. They also seemed to react by changing group size. They also conducted a pen study. Cows appeared to react more strongly to canid scent.

Accomplishments

The group agreed to having Melanie Culver assume Chair duties; Warren Ballard will continue as Secretary.<br /> <br /> The scientific committee will help prioritize which research proposals are worth pursuing.<br /> <br /> All papers will be sent to AMOC to review - so that they can have a heads up on what is coming down the line.<br /> <br /> New proposals will be posted online for the group to review.<br /> <br /> Comments on proposals should be sent to Stuart Breck, then proposals can be discussed by the group.<br /> <br /> The group agreed that our annual meeting would be held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Wildlife Society, which will be held in 2008 in Miami.<br />

Publications

Warren Ballard has an accepted JWM manuscript comparing diets of Mexican wolves and coyotes.

Impact Statements

1. Meet and discuss current and future wolf research goals
2. Scientists at this meeting will assist AMOC in recovery of the Mexican Gray Wolf by providing scientific input, future research proposals, and scientific publications
3. Discuss need to standardize markers and protocols among the different genetic studies

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Report Information

Participants

David Bergman USDA/WS david.l.bergman@aphis.usda.gov
Melanie Culver U of Arizona/USGS culver@ag.arizona.edu
Mark Crifiela Florida FWCC
Kathleen Smith Florida FWCC

Brief Summary of Minutes

Confirmation of officers: Melanie Culver as Chair, Paul Krausman as Co-Chair, Warren Ballard as Secretary

Those in attendance described the projects they were working on and what we knew about ongoing work by others from the team from updates emailed to M. Culver prior to the meeting, from members that were not able to attend.

The group agreed to having yearly meetings in Albuquerque, closer to where everyone works, to increase attendance in times when travel is limited due to budget restrictions. The next meeting being will held in July 2009.

The scientific committee will continue to help prioritize which research proposals are worth pursuing and send papers and proposals to Stewart Breck and David Bergman who will distribute them to the rest of the committee.

Accomplishments

Those in attendance describing what projects they were working on and what we knew about ongoing work by others from the team from updates emailed to M. Culver prior to the meeting, from members that were not able to attend.<br /> <br /> Ballard update: 1) Chip Cariappa has completed his sample collections for the random and weather experiments. He will be quantifying sample collection and storage methods for successful analyses of DNA from scat of canids. He will also quantify degradation rates. 2) Mike Panasci is looking at predation and at comparing coyote ad wolf genetics, in the same geographic area.<br /> <br /> Krausman update: Dan Stark's predation study is onging. <br /> <br /> Howery update: Brian Kluever completed his cattle predation study and and one publication completed which indicates ungulates modify their olfactory and visual cues of predators, and wolves stimulate more antipredatory behavior in ungulates than lions do. Brian has a second paper in review that suggests cattle are less vigilant than wild ungulates, in response to predator cues.<br /> <br /> Morgart update: John is adding life tables to a manuscript he is working on with John Oakleaf<br /> <br /> Oakleaf update: 1) John is adding habitat variables to the wolf survival database. 2) John was contacted by Dr. Ripples in Oregon who wants to look at trophic cascade in the southwest.<br /> <br /> Breck update: Stuart is generating a 10-year database on livestock stocking levels. Also, his calf survival report is nearly complete and will include data from Arizona and New Mexico, but will exclude data from San Carlos lands.<br /> <br /> Culver update: 1) Sarah Rinkevich has completed one sampling season on White Mountain Apache lands, using scat detection dogs. She will work on extracting DNA over the winter and sample again April-June 2009. She will address wolf population size, diet components for wolves as well as coyotes, lions, and bears. Also Sarah will assess the cultural significance of Mexican wolves for the White Mountain and San Carlos Apache. 2) Eric Burnham is still waiting to hear if he will be awarded his NSF grant to use volatile organic compounds in scats to identify species and individual.<br /> <br /> Bergman update: 1) David is working on rabies projects. He has blood samples for captive Mexican wolves from 12 facilities that have been vaccinated and is looking for vaccine effectiveness. 2) In the future he will do a viral challenge study for Mexican wolves. 3) David asked for opinions on the trade-offs between spending money on aerial tracking versus costs of satellite collars for wolves, and requested that any opinions be emailed to him.<br /> <br /> DeGomez update: the committee wonders if he got the home range data he needed to conduct his aspen/elk interaction study.<br />

Publications

Brian Kluever has produced 2 manuscripts, one accepted and one in review, on the responses of cattle and other ungulates to wolf presence.

Impact Statements

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