Keyword: sampling

Environmental DNA sampling of small-bodied minnows: Performance relative to location, species, and traditional sampling

We performed experiments in southwestern USA streams to evaluate the efficacy of environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling for two rare small-bodied minnows: Spikedace Meda fulgida and Loach Minnow Rhinichthys cobitis. We collected eDNA by filtering 5-L samples and compared detection sensitivity of eDNA assays to traditional sampling methods (electrofishing and seining) by using both techniques at 33 sites in seven streams.

Applications of the United States Forest Inventory and Analysis dataset: A review and future directions

The United States Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program has been monitoring national forest resources in the United States for over 80 years; presented here is a synthesis of research applications for FIA data. A review of over 180 publications that directly utilize FIA data is broken down into broad categories of application and further organized by methodologies and niche research areas.

The importance of sound methodology in environmental DNA sampling

Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling - which enables inferences of species’ presence from genetic material in the environment - is a powerful tool for sampling rare fishes. Numerous studies have demonstrated that eDNA sampling generally provides greater probabilities of detection than traditional techniques (e.g., Thomsen et al. 2012; McKelvey et al. 2016; Valentini et al. 2016; Wilcox et al. 2016). In contrast, Ulibarri et al.

Comprehensive inventory of true flies (Diptera) at a tropical site

Estimations of tropical insect diversity generally suffer from lack of known groups or faunas against which extrapolations can be made, and have seriously underestimated the diversity of some taxa.

Sampling scales define occupancy and underlying occupancy-abundance relationships in animals

Occupancy-abundance (OA) relationships are a foundational ecological phenomenon and field of study, and occupancy models are increasingly used to track population trends and understand ecological interactions. However, these two fields of ecological inquiry remain largely isolated, despite growing appreciation of the importance of integration.

Doing more with the core: Proceedings of the 2017 Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Science Stakeholder Meeting; 2017 October 24- 26; Park City, UT

The Forest Service’s Forest Inventory and Analysis Program (FIA) is the primary source of information about our forests’ status and trends. A network of nationally consistent field observations forms FIA’s core, and active collaboration with clients and peer organizations ensures that the resulting inventory remains agile, comprehensive, and relevant.

Fine woody fuel particle diameters for improved planar intersect fuel loading estimates in Southern Rocky Mountain ponderosa pine forests

Fuel loading estimates from planar intersect sampling protocols for fine dead down woody surface fuels require an approximation of the mean squared diameter (d2) of 1-h (0-0.63 cm), 10-h (0.63-2.54 cm), and 100-h (2.54-7.62 cm) timelag size classes.

Winter bait stations as a multispecies survey tool

Winter bait stations are becoming a commonly used technique for multispecies inventory and monitoring but a technical evaluation of their effectiveness is lacking. Bait stations have three components: carcass attractant, remote camera, and hair snare. Our 22,975 km2 mountainous study area was stratified with a 5 × 5 km sampling grid centered on northern Idaho and including portions of Washington, Montana, and British Columbia.

Optimizing variable radius plot size and LiDAR resolution to model standing volume in conifer forests

The conventional approach to LiDAR-based forest inventory modeling depends on field sample data from fixed-radius plots (FRP). Because FRP sampling is cost intensive, combining variable-radius plot (VRP) sampling and LiDAR data has the potential to improve inventory efficiency. The overarching goal of this study was to evaluate the integration of LiDAR and VRP data.

Evaluation of storage and filtration protocols for alpine/subalpine lake water quality samples

Many government agencies and other organizations sample natural alpine and subalpine surface waters using varying protocols for sample storage and filtration. Simplification of protocols would be beneficial if it could be shown that sample quality is unaffected.