The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin
Suite PE-08
51 Monroe Street.
Rockville, MD 20850
Telephone: 301-274-8106
Specific Workshop Questions? Contact the workshop's Facilitator via email.
If you have any questions concerning the Workshops in general, please contact Jim Cummins.
1. The R program and language for statistical computing: a Refresher workshop with excursions into numerical and graphical analyses of multivariate ecological datasets Facilitator: George T. Merovich, Jr. , West Virginia University (George.Merovich@mail.wvu.edu) R is an open-source computing environment for data analysis. Besides being freely available by download from http://www.r-project.org, it is very popular in the ecological fields because of its power and flexibility for modeling and graphical analysis. R uses an object-oriented environment from a command line interface. Built-in functions are widely supported by documentation and abundant help features. Numerous customized packages submitted by statistical gurus make R extremely extendable to specialized tasks. In this workshop, we will briefly review the basics of the R environment. After an update of recent advances in R, we will spend the bulk of our time applying various statistical, classification, and ordination techniques to the numerical and graphical analysis of complex ecological datasets. Discussion, demonstrations, and hands-on activities will cover principle component analysis, non-metric multi-dimensional scaling, classification and regression trees, cluster analysis, non-parametric manova, analysis of similarity, publication quality graphics, etc., as time allows. A basic understanding of the R environment is assumed. To participate in hands-on activities, bring a laptop with wireless capabilities. Practice data sets will be supplied, but feel free to bring your own data as well. Participants should bring a laptop. (Limit: 25 Participants)
2. Identification and Taxonomy of Aquatic Dipterans Facilitator: Dr. Greg Courtney, Iowa State University (gwcourt@iastate.edu) This short course on the phylogeny, morphology, and identification of aquatic dipterans will include the identification of live and preserved material covering some 30 families. Participants will need their own microscopes and light sources (suggest an extension cord), alcohol, forceps, and watch glass/Petri dishes. A copy of the latest Merritt and Cummins might be useful. A CD will be supplied to each participant dealing with aquatic diptera including materials covered in and beyond the class. (Limit: 20 Participants)
3. Principles and Techniques of Electrofishing Facilitator: Alan Temple, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (alan_temple@fws.gov) Electrofishing is a common technique for sampling fish populations in North America. High catchability with low variance results in data better able to inform management decisions. Part of the recipe for collecting higher quality data is recognizing important fish catching attributes of electrical waveforms, determining electrical output capabilities of your gear, improving electrode design, and maintaining equipment that is safe to operate. A classroom briefing will include an overview of waveform attributes (shape, voltage, amperage, duty cycle), control features of backpack/boat control boxes, electrode resistance and implications for electrode design, and safety notes. The field component will include in-water evaluation of participant’s electrofishing units (electrical outputs and electrode resistance/design) as well as boat safety inspections. (Limit: To be determined) Special Note: This workshop requires preregistration and everyone attending must note which equipment they plan to bring for evaluation when they sign up for the workshop.
4. Identification of Native and Non-native Vascular Aquatic Plants Facilitator: Dr. Tim Block, University of Pennsylvania (block@exchange.upenn.edu) This workshop will focus on the accurate identification of native and non-native vascular plant species commonly found in aquatic systems. Particular attention will be paid to those detailed features necessary to distinguish the major groups of aquatic plants (e.g. pondweeds, water-milfoils, bladderworts, etc). We will also focus on the differences between common non-native invasive species and their native look-alikes. Preserved material will be available for hands-on examination. A hand lens or magnifying glass may be helpful. (Limit: 20 Participants) SPECIAL NOTE: State participants in the EPA’s National Lakes Assessment Protocol Training, which immediately precedes the AMAAB meeting, will have first choice in this workshop. Therefore, be sure to state your 2nd, 3rd and 4th choices for workshops.
5. Stream Sedimentation: Physical Habitat Metrics: Measurement, Calculation and Interpretation Facilitator: Larry Willis, Virginia Dept. of Environmental Quality larry.willis@deq.virginia.gov) This workshop will introduce participants to the measurement of a variety of measures of sedimentation with a focus on Relative Bed Stability and other metrics used in the National Rivers and Streams Survey. The introduction will focus on uses of the data. An abbreviated field method will be presented with a trip outside to demonstrate the field methods, if weather permits. The remainder of the session will focus on the calculation of important metrics including riparian disturbance and Relative Bed Stability in both wadeable streams and boatable rivers. Participants will receive a CD with all of the calculators and databases used in the class. Participants should bring apparel suitable for the outdoor component of the course. (Limit: To be determined)
6. Conservation, Ecology and Identification of Mid-Atlantic Crayfishes Facilitator: Zachary Loughman, Ph.D., West Liberty University (zloughman@westliberty.edu) There are more than 350 species of crayfish in North America with around ½ currently threatened with population decline or extinction. This workshop will review crayfish biology, distribution, and ecology specific to the Mid-Atlantic region. Focus will be placed on the major anatomical characteristics used to differentiate crayfish species and key concept associated with their taxonomy. Special attention will be made to learn how to differentiate between non-native and native species and discuss the history and potential future for crayfishes in the in the Mid-Atlantic region. Identification keys will be provided and attendees will have the opportunity to key out live and preserved specimens of regional crayfish species. (Limit: 20 Participants)
