Workshops SCCS-NY 2022

In this workshop, participants will learn how to generate and analyze genomic datasets from museum specimens (museomics, e.g., skins, skeletons, dry- and fluid-preserved specimens) for advancing conservation research. We will focus on how to leverage museomic datasets to understand historical and ancient biodiversity, with applications in spatial planning, population management, design of conservation interventions (e.g. management of wildlife trade), planning for conservation under future climate change, and much more. This workshop is designed in two parts over two days. The first part will be virtual (Monday) and will consist of an introduction to the fields of phylogenomics, population genomics, and museomics, an exploration of case studies, and the guided design of participants’ ideas for museum conservation genomics projects (including scoping, budgeting, research questions, and choices of methods). The second part will be in-person (Friday), and participants will engage in a hands-on practical exercise to learn key bioinformatics skills relevant to conservation museomics. The second part is optional. The content and activities of the workshop are varied and designed to be relevant to a wide range of experience levels, from beginners to advanced conservation genomics practitioners who are interested in expanding into museum-sourced datasets.

Organizers: Mary Blair, Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History; Luca Pozzi, University of Texas at San Antonio; Anna Penna, University of Texas at San Antonio and Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History; Stephen Gaughran, Princeton University; Megan Wallace, Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History; Lauren Clark, Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History; Alexander Salis, Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History; Evon Hekkala, Fordham University; Melina Giakoumis, City College of New York / City University of New York

Species distribution modeling (SDM) is an important tool for conservation scientists, as it enables us to estimate present species range limits and make predictions about ranges for other areas and time periods. Advances in model-building and evaluation theory are common in the ecology and evolution literature. However, most cutting-edge methods are only accessible to those scientists who can read and write computer code, which results in a ‘barrier to use’ for many potential users. The Wallace ecological modeling application, implemented in the R programming language as the CRAN package “wallace”, provides a graphical user interface allowing any user to implement advanced SDM methods. Additionally, Wallace provides extensive guidance text and references key papers from the literature to help both new and experienced users learn best practices. Each model-building session can be exported as a fully documented R Markdown script file, to ensure reproducibility, ease of reporting, and for more advanced users, an easily modifiable code that extends Wallace’s functionality. In this workshop, we will go through the basics of SDM using Wallace. We will demonstrate the key features of the modular software, show applications to conservation science, and specifically the utility of SDM outputs for formal IUCN assessments.

Organizers: Samuel Chang, Pace University; Beth Gerstner, Michigan State University; Bethany Johnson, City College of New York

Amphibian species, environmental indicators, are in decline. This workshop will deal with the putative causes of that decline, as well as the causes of the occurrence of amphibian malformations in the field. A main focus will be effects of exposure to environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals/microplastics. Field and lab studies of amphibian malformations will be reviewed. The effects of microplastics on biodiversity will also be reviewed. The latest research and suggestions for future research will be presented. Workshop participants will learn of amphibian monitoring techniques such as the use of species-specific frog calls. Educational interactive workshop materials will raise awareness of environmental endocrine disruptors/microplastics and their developmental/health effects. Learning Goals: 1) identify the putative causes of the decline in amphibian species, 2) review the effects of microplastics on amphibians, and on biodiversity overall, 3) highlight the findings of recent research and needs for future research, 4) practice monitoring techniques, such as species-specific frog calls, and 5) gain awareness of the effects of environmental endocrine disruptors on development/health.

Organizers: Laura H.Twersky and Christina Mortellaro, Saint Peter's University

Two recent UN reports stated that biodiversity was declining rapidly and that fundamental societal change was needed to avert further decline and enable recovery. The reports are unprecedented in pointing to causes rather than symptoms. UN agencies cannot generate such changes; only those committed to the natural world can do so by action based on sound political strategies. Neither the Millennium goals nor Aichi targets were realized. How to avoid future failures? Even some politically sophisticated conservationists accept existing trends (e.g. growing human conversion of the world into commodities) and power relationships which are incompatible with biodiversity recovery. This workshop focuses on how to develop strategies direct protection and societal change. Workshop participants will select a direct protection goal and a societal change goal by addressing a series of strategic questions. Participants will receive the questions prior to the workshop. The workshop aims to provide participants experience in developing sound strategies for mobilizing resources for fundamental change and bringing them to bear on decision makers.

Organizer: David Johns, Marine Conservation Institute & Portland State University 

This session will be an opportunity for participants to reflect on their own academic and work history while exploring future directions, developing skills in career planning, networking, and self-promotion, and gaining a toolset for creating and holding space for themselves in the workplace. Interested in industry? Aching for academia? Never gonna give up non-profits? Pretty sure you're perfect for policy? Wooed by science writing? Then bring your curious self to our workshop where we'll do hands-on self-assessment activities, discuss varied options in conservation career pathways, and share in small-groups about the challenges and rewards of the work we aspire to do. And don't forget: the more, the merrier! We invite senior scientists and practitioners to speak about their experiences, post-docs and graduate students to group-share their goals, and undergraduates & high schoolers to discuss their developing ideas.

Organizers: Christian Rivera, Princeton University; Nadav Gazit and Mary Blair, Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History

In graduate school most of us get a heavy dose of content knowledge, which is important to our future work as academics or practitioners. However, many of us do not receive the same sort of training on teaching. This workshop will focus on how active, student-centered, and evidence-based approaches can be more effective than traditional lecture-based approaches in promoting student learning. During this workshop, we will review the principles of scientific teaching, and discuss a number of tools for active teaching and classroom assessment. Participants will be able to practice application of some of these tools, and will take home a "toolbox" of materials and resources.

Organizer: Ana Luz Porzecanski, Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History

Components of this workshop on forensic entomology include:

• Introduction to the field of Forensic Entomology: scope, potentialities, applications, limitations. In this section we will talk about the use of insects in legal investigations, focusing on how insects can be used to assess post-mortem movements of the remains, to identify xenobiotics in the corpse and to estimate the minimum post-mortem interval.
• Description of the processes of decomposition and insect colonization. We will illustrate the process of decomposition, describing all the stages and the putrefactive phenomena; we will also talk about the process of insect colonization and the succession of different insect groups on a corpse.
• Discussion on the importance of blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) for forensic entomology. Blow flies are among the first colonizers of corpses and therefore can provide useful information to the investigators. Blow fly larvae must feed on decomposing organic matter, and therefore the adults are able to detect a corpse from miles and will fly to it to then use it as an oviposition substrate. This is why they are also key players in the field of decomposition ecology.
• Discussion on the use of blow flies to assess non-insect biodiversity (molecular analysis of their gut content)

Organizer: Denise Gemmellaro, Kean University

In this interactive workshop, participants will prototype a temporary exhibition based on their biodiversity research and field investigations. To what extent has the Covid-19 pandemic impacted exhibit narratives, gallery layouts, technology in-person and on-line, and visitor expectations? Take away tips and strategies for writing creative and compelling exhibition proposals for the year 2025 – and beyond. The proposed location for this workshop is the AMNH Hall of Biodiversity Gallery.

Organizer: Anne Ricculli, Morris Museum, NJ (Smithsonian Affiliate)

There is commercial potential to harvest and use invasive plant species to improve native biodiversity in Northeastern forests of the United States. Jefferson University has successfully piloted several methods to so do for selected species. In this hands-on workshop, participants will experiment with making and testing natural plant-based dyes from invasive wineberry roots and berries (Rubus phoenicolasius) as well as roots from oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) on wool yarn and any natural textile of their choice which they bring with to the workshop (e.g., sock, glove, bandana made from wool, cotton, bamboo, ramie, or silk). Following a brief overview on background research, discussions while dying will focus on the need for invasive plant species management to reduce their negative ecological impact and the potential positive social and environmental benefits that could occur if this was scaled up to a nation-wide, continent-wide or global change. Learning Goals: Participants will be able to: 1) describe the step-by-step process for creating natural dyes from plant material, 2) test and evaluate dye potential of selected invasive plant species, and 3) articulate and list ecological impacts of invasive plant species.

Organizer: Anne Bower and Becky Flax, Thomas Jefferson University

In Part 2 of this workshop, participants will engage in a hands-on practical exercise to learn key bioinformatics skills relevant to conservation museomics. This second part is optional. The content and activities of the workshop are varied and designed to be relevant to a wide range of experience levels, from beginners to advanced conservation genomics practitioners who are interested in expanding into museum-sourced datasets.

Organizers: Mary Blair, Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History; Luca Pozzi, University of Texas at San Antonio; Anna Penna, University of Texas at San Antonio and Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History; Stephen Gaughran, Princeton University; Megan Wallace, Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History; Lauren Clark, Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History; Alexander Salis, Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History; Evon Hekkala, Fordham University; Melina Giakoumis, The Graduate Center, City University of New York