Workshops

• Time: Two virtual meetings occurring prior to the meeting:
  Part 1 – Monday, June 12, 2023, 3:00-4:00pm
  Part 2 – Monday, July 10, 2023, 3:00-4:00pm
• Location: Zoom (to be coordinated by organizers)
• Instructors: Laurie Dizney, Jenny Duggan, Liz Flaherty, Hayley Lanier, Karen Munroe, Johanna Varner, Pat Zollner
• Cost: None
• Other Information: Instructors/Organizers will notify participants of all details of this virtual pre-meeting workshop
• Minimum-maximum attendance: 10-80
• Organizer: Liz Flaherty

During this workshop, we will use interactive group meetings to help first time conference attendees prepare for the conference, while also reducing their anxiety and providing opportunities to meet other students, mentors, and ASM members before the conference begins. Two pre-conference workshops will be held over Zoom, and presentations will be recorded to include students interested in participating but unable to make one of the live meetings. A third informal workshop meeting will be held immediately before the opening social to allow students to network with their workshop colleagues and attend the opening social as a group (if they so choose).

Zoom Meeting 1 Topics (held 1 month before the conference): Conference culture (dress code, networking, food availability, etc.); Developing a personal conference schedule; Developing a 2-min elevator pitch; Doing your pre-conference “homework” about other meeting attendees (identifying people you want to meet and developing talking points or questions for each person and considering signing up for Meal with a Mammalogist); Using Twitter while conferencing.

Zoom Meeting 2 (1 week before the conference): Practicing networking (developing the skill of holding a plate of food, a beverage, and a conversation all at the same time) and the 2 min elevator pitch; Revisiting personal conference schedules; Reaching out early to set up meetings with other attendees (link back to pre-conference “homework”); Polishing your resume/CV; Setting personal goals for the conference.

Pre-Opening Social Social for group: The group will meet 45 min before the opening social to chat get to know each other in person, practice networking skills again, and will then head into the social as a group.

• Time: 1:00 pm
• Location: Tubughnenq’ 5
• Instructors/Facilitators: Kayce Bell and Karen Munroe
• Cost: Mentor/Non-student – None; Mentee/Student – None
• Other Information: No lunch provided; This workshop only needs a single registration for both sessions July 15th and July 18th). Participants will be contacted by organizer(s) regarding the schedule.
• Maximum attendance: 80
• Organizer(s): Kayce Bell & Karen Munroe

Using pre-conference questionnaires, we will match undergraduate, graduate &
post-baccalaureate Mentees with individual established Mammalogists (either with a PhD or currently working in a position that does not require a PhD) to develop a strategic plan for their career goals. Selected applicants will get one-on-one advising with the intention to help develop a plan to reach their academic, research, and professional goals.

• Time: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Location: Kahtnu 2
• Instructors/Facilitators: Amanda Cheeseman and Lisanne Petracca
• Cost: Non-student – $20; Student/Developing Country Attendee – $15
• Other Information: No Lunch; Breaks Provided
• Maximum attendance: 80
• Organizer(s): Amanda Cheeseman & Lisanne Petracca

Geospatial information systems (GIS) are commonly used by students, researchers, and managers across ecological disciplines for everything from study planning to data analysis. This workshop will give participants the tools to say farewell to ArcMap/QGIS and create reproducible geospatial workflows entirely within R, a freely available, open source, and efficient platform for data analysis and visualization. All slides and code from the workshop will be made available for use and future reference by participants.

• Time: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Location: Tubughnenq’ 3
• Instructors/Facilitators: Jesse Alston, Roland Kays
• Cost: Non-student – $20; Student/Developing Country Attendee – $15
• Other Information: No Lunch; Breaks Provided
• Maximum attendance: 80
• Organizer(s): Jesse Alston

Animal tracking data are exploding in popularity and are widely used to answer questions about animal movement. Unfortunately, tracking data often contain substantial autocorrelation, location error, and missing data, which violate the assumptions of traditional analyses and cause differential biases across studies, sites, taxa, and individuals. Newer continuous-time methods offer a solution to these challenges, but can be conceptually challenging and are often misapplied. This workshop will provide beginners with an introduction to important concepts, as well as hands-on experience using the ‘ctmm’ R package to apply continuous-time statistical methods to tracking data. Participants will learn how to fit continuous-time movement models to their tracking data, select the most appropriate movement model for their analysis, interpret model parameters, perform home-range analysis via autocorrelated kernel density estimation (AKDE), estimate habitat suitability with integrated resource selection functions, perform path reconstruction via occurrence
estimation, and quantify and distinguish between the different types of utilization distributions. The course will combine short lectures on theory and concepts with hands-on, interactive sessions to learn to conduct analyses on real tracking data. During the course, participants will be introduced to a set of diverse, flexible, and sophisticated statistical tools that can be employed on a wide variety of species. All software used in the course is freely available and accessible to anyone willing to learn how to use it.

• Time: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
• Location: Tubughnenq’ 4
• Instructors/Facilitators: Kevin Kohl; The Alaska Native Heritage Center
• Cost: Non-student – $15; Student/Developing Country Attendee – $10
• Other Information: No Lunch; Breaks Provided
• Maximum attendance: 80
• Organizer(s): Kevin Kohl

Science, as practiced by the majority of scientists, is a systematic process of
observation and experimentation with the goal of uncovering the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world. Akin to interdisciplinary scientific approaches, there may be value in considering the viewpoints or strategies of other fields of understanding, such as philosophy and Indigenous knowledge. By considering or engaging in alternative or complementary approaches, the sometimes static and rigid mindsets of academic scientists are given the opportunity to relax. While the erosion of these mental barriers is sometimes uncomfortable, these spaces are important for sparking creativity and connecting disparate concepts. Here, we argue that the field of the mammalian microbiome offers rich opportunity to begin combining approaches from long-separated fields to synthesize our knowledge and understanding of mammalogy, and we propose a workshop to begin exchanging
dialogue around these ideas. While we highlight the microbiome as an interconnected scientific concept, participants will not be required to be familiar with or conduct research in this area, and we aim to make this workshop valuable for all mammalogists in general. Our goal is to train mammalogists at various career stages to think flexibly.

• Time: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
• Location: Tubughnenq’ 5
• Instructors/Facilitators: Jocelyn Colella, Anna Monfils, Alejandra Camacho
• Cost: Non-student – $15; Student/Developing Country Attendee – $10
• Other Information: No Lunch; Breaks Provided
• Maximum attendance: 80
• Organizer(s): Jocelyn Colella & Anna Monfils

The Museums and Emerging Pathogens in the Americas (MEPA, hsc.unm.edu/echo/partner-portal/programs/global/mepa/) virtual community of practice was launched in 2020 with the goal of not only better uniting mammalian biorepositories and pathogen biomedical research, but also to explore opportunities to build stronger connections among the global network of biorepositories, wildlife agencies, NGOs, international funding agencies, and local and Indigenous communities, with a particular focus on capacity building in the Global South. Access to training resources was identified early as a major gap in One Health approaches, especially the ability to connect biomedicine with mammalian biorepositories globally. To that end, MEPA has partnered with NSF-sponsored Biodiversity Literacy in Undergraduate Education (BLUE, http://www.biodiversityliteracy.com/) to begin to collaboratively build and publish a series of virtual data-centric educational modules that integrate core biodiversity data skills; integrate skills, content, human dimensions; and engage students in integrative science content that highlights connections between museum biorepositories, mammalian ecology and evolution, and emerging zoonotic disease research and response.

This workshop aims to improve, expand, and increase accessibility of online training resources in mammalogy, biodiversity literacy, and public health. We have three primary goals: (1) learn how to build a BLUE lesson, (2) to test and improve digital open educational resources for undergraduate and professional educational development in mammalogy and public health and (3) increase module accessibility through multilingual (English, Spanish, Portuguese) translation, and expanded awareness
by connecting with Latin and local Indigenous communities. The goal is to facilitate the implementation of open and accessible educational materials by expanding the reach of educational resources and creation of inclusive materials that engage historically excluded Latin and local Indigenous communities.

• Time: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
• Location: K’enakatnu Boardroom
• Instructors/Facilitators: Alex Campos
• Cost: Non-student – $15; Student/Developing Country Attendee – $10
• Other Information: No Lunch; Breaks Provided
• Maximum attendance: 80
• Organizer(s): Alex Campos

At different levels Telemetry can allow a minimum invasion to the species and their habitats, while at the same time allows to collect data that is otherwise very difficult or impossible to gather, such as habitat uses, survival rates, home range, domain areas, reproductive and feeding behavior, interactions, and a long etcetera. During the workshop we will learn about the most widely accepted Telemetry techniques for
Wildlife research, with emphasis on VHF Radio-tracking and GPS with wireless and satellite data transmission. Associated sensors, scopes and limitations, diagnosing how to select the best option in terms of technology, weight, dimensions and attachment techniques according to the particular species of interest is also included.
If conditions allow it, we can include a practice with functional equipment. This is an extremely useful tool for any researcher who is interested in implementing telemetry equipment for wildlife, it does not matter if the need is immediate, for a future project, or you simply want to be better qualified in case it is ever needed.

• Time: 12:30 pm
• Location: Tubughnenq’ 4
• Instructors/Facilitators: Thomas E. Lacher, Jr., Rosalind Kennerley, Nathan Upham
• Cost: Non-student – $10; Student/Developing Country Attendee – $5
• Other Information: No Lunch; Breaks Provided
• Maximum attendance: 80
• Organizer(s): Thomas E. Lacher, Jr. & Nathan Upham

A continuing concern of IUCN Specialist Groups is the maintenance of updated
taxonomy, to guarantee that Red List assessments are indeed comprehensive, and that the associated spatial data in each assessment is as accurate as possible. Taxonomy and geographic distributions are linked, however, since many taxonomic revisions involve splitting or merging distributions, which can alter assessments based upon Criterion B. This is problematic for clades with rapidly changing taxonomy. The development of the Mammal Diversity Database has provided an excellent opportunity to use a rapidly updated taxonomic database, rather than an irregularly published volume, to accurately assess taxonomic shortfalls in the IUCN Specialist Groups. We will discuss the use and application of the MDD in communication with IUCN Specialist Groups to enhance the value of mammal researchers in global extinction risks assessments. In addition, we will discuss the appropriate kinds of spatial data used in IUCN Red List Assessments, describing the differences among Extent of Occurrence (EOO), Area of Occupancy (AOO), Area of Habitat (AOH), range maps, and Species Distribution Models (SDMS). Including when these are appropriate to use, and how to enhance the quality of spatial data in the IUCN Red List Process.

• Time: 12:30 pm
• Location: Tubughnenq’ 5
• Instructors/Panelists: Kayce Bell, Laurie Dizney, Jennifer Duggan, Hayley Lanier, Jessica Light, Sean Maher, Stephen Mech, Karen Munroe
• Cost: Non-student – $10; Student/Developing Country Attendee – $5
• Other Information: No Lunch; Breaks Provided
• Maximum attendance: 80
• Organizer(s): Karen Munroe & Laurie Dizney

The Education and Graduate Studies Committee is excited to offer a formal workshop on a topic that previously has only been informally addressed. This workshop would explore the value as well as the challenges of working with undergraduate students in mammalogy. Through the use of a panel discussion and small group breakout sessions, participants will learn practical tips and advice as well as be able to ask questions and take advantage of group members’ experiences and expertise. Topics would include: teaching an undergraduate mammalogy class, incorporating CUREs within an undergraduate curriculum, advising and mentoring undergraduate students for a career in mammalogy, and various models of incorporating undergraduate research in your research program.

The two-hour workshop session will be broken into a 45-minute session featuring a panel discussion of individuals with experience in mentoring undergraduate students examining the greatest challenges of working with undergraduate students followed by two 30-minute breakout focus groups so that attendees will be able to choose two topics to explore in detail. Lastly, we will ask the small group facilitators to compile information and resources that will be shared with workshop attendees. This format is intended to formalize interactions and yet maintain a comfortable atmosphere and expand the audience to freely allow idea exchange and promote in-
depth discussion and feedback.

• Time: 12:30 pm
• Location: K’enakatnu Boardroom
• Instructors/Facilitators: Allison Payne, Roxanne Beltran, Melissa Cronin
• Cost: Non-student – $10; Student/Developing Country Attendee – $5
• Other Information: No Lunch; Breaks Provided
• Maximum attendance: 80
• Organizer(s): Jesse Laney & Roxanne Beltran

The workshop identifies key, easily implemented preparation and intervention practices and policies to reduce the risk of sexual harassment and assault in fieldwork settings. Workshop participants engage in interactive situational response
training, working through scenarios to gain better understanding and anticipation of potential situations in the field. The Building a Better Fieldwork Future (BBFF) workshop identifies the unique risks posed by fieldwork scenarios and offers a suite of evidence-based tools for field researchers, instructors, and students to prevent, intervene in, and respond to sexual harassment and assault. The BBFF training has been delivered for audiences in more than a dozen countries, and includes recommendations on safe, inclusive fieldwork across international cultural differences and borders.

• Time: 3:00 pm
• Location: Tubughnenq’ 4
• Instructors/Facilitators: Erika Barthelmess, Sean Maher, Erin Siracusa
• Cost: Non-student – $10; Student/Developing Country Attendee – $5
• Other Information: No Lunch; Breaks Provided
• Maximum attendance: 80
• Organizer(s): Erika Barthelmess, Sean Maher & Erin Siracusa

The overarching goals of this workshop will be to assist new and new(ish) R users in becoming comfortable learning R and to help R users make the most of the features that facilitate scientific reproducibility.In this hands-on workshop, we will: ● Introduce participants to the R Studio integrated development environment ● Discuss best practices for reproducible coding ● Explore options for importing and tidying data ● Learn to install and deploy R packages to increase R’s functionality ● Learn the basics of visualizing data ● Learn the basics of using R Markdown to generate dynamic documents ● Learn options for how to get help!

• Time: 3:00 pm
• Location: Tubughnenq’ 5
• Instructors/Facilitators: Cecily Bronson, Patrice Connors, Laurie Dizney, Jennifer Duggan, Liesl Erb, Liz Flaherty, Carly Jordan, Janice Krumm, Hayley Lanier, Johanna Varner, Christopher Yahnke
• Cost: Non-student – $10; Student/Developing Country Attendee – $5
• Other Information: No Lunch; Breaks Provided
• Maximum attendance: 80
• Organizer(s): Liz Flaherty

Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) are fast becoming a
preferred method for instructors to provide authentic research experiences to their students in an equitable way, particularly in the biological sciences. CUREs are an inclusive teaching approach that provide research experiences to all students and positively impact student perceptions of themselves as scientists, leading to greater persistence in STEM and their opinions of science in general. Furthermore, networked CUREs (in which students contribute data to national networks and collaborate across institutions) provide additional benefits to both students and instructors. Students who participate in networked CUREs report a strong sense of ownership and pride knowing the data they collect is part of a greater project and may be used
in future research. They also report a strong sense of connection to the activity knowing that students from other schools are involved in the same research project. In addition, instructors and their teaching benefit from the community of other instructors using the same modules. However, while many mammalogists have an interest in incorporating student-centered teaching approaches (such as CUREs) into their classes, fewer have actually implemented these techniques.

In this workshop, two groups who have developed ecological, networked CUREs,
Squirrel-Net and the Biological Collections in Ecology and Evolution Network (BCEENET), will introduce participants to using digitized natural history collections in a CURE that could easily be implemented in mammalogy, ecology, and wildlife classrooms. The presenters will also share ways for instructors to combine methods and modules from Squirrel-Net and BCEENET to support innovative CURE activities in undergraduate courses.

• Time: 3:00 pm
• Location: K’enakatnu Boardroom
• Instructors/Facilitators: Nathan Upham, Connor Burgin, Jane Widness
• Cost: Non-student – $10; Student/Developing Country Attendee – $5
• Other Information: No Lunch; Breaks Provided
• Maximum attendance: 80
• Organizer(s): Nathan S. Upham & Connor Burgin

Global mammals are a prime example of how taxonomies change – with 25% more species diversity recognized now than a decade ago – and why it matters – with mammal species often the central unit of conservation and zoonotic disease risk analyses. Responding to this need, we are establishing a community web platform for integrated taxonomic data management called Mammal Species of the World Next (MSWx). This work builds on the existing efforts of the ASM-sponsored Mammal Diversity Database (MDD, mammaldiversity.org), which has been widely used since its launch in February 2018. In preparation for launching the MSWx platform (targeted for December 2023), we are aiming to build a community of digital taxonomic curators that understand the importance of tracking how species meanings change through time, and the opportunities for synthetic research that will result. MSWx aims to create a community nexus for ecologists, policymakers, and taxonomists alike to (i) find the meaning and status of species name usages, and (ii) disambiguate data labels
according to alternative taxonomies. For the proposed ASM-IMC 2023 workshop, we aim to host a “discussion roundtable” in the spirit of gathering stakeholders in mammal biodiversity data to help with the transition from the list-only format of the MDD and Bats of the World to the more integrative meaning-based platform of MSWx. The idea here is to centralize the evidence and citations of that evidence regarding the types of data that statistically support the validity of each species (e.g., mtDNA-only, nDNA+mtDNA, morphologyOnly). Pursuing this work will allow users to more easily understand which mammal species require additional taxonomic study, and thereby improve the rigor of mammal biodiversity data worldwide.

• Time: 11:30 am
• Location: Tubughnenq’ 5
• Instructors/Facilitators: Ali Donargo
• Cost: None
• Other Information: Lunch provided by vendor
• Maximum attendance: 80
• Organizer(s): Ali Donargo

Are you interested in behavior studies or biodiversity monitoring? Are you looking to inform species conservation or Environmental Impact Statements? Acoustic recorders provide a non-invasive and cost-effective technique to access ecosystems in your study site. This workshop will highlight the use of acoustic recorders used for monitoring sounds such as wolf calls, rodent vocalizations and bat echolocations. A look into our software package, Kaleidoscope Pro, will introduce you to important
features for sound analysis such as clustering, bat auto identification and soundscape analysis. We intend to also invite a customer attending the conference to offer “Advice from the Field: Tips to insure a successful deployment.”

Attendees will leave with a good understanding of: The basic principles of sound; How to configure a Song Meter Mini and Mini Bat acoustic recorder for monitoring of mammals.This will be the hands-on portion of the workshop where participants will handle the equipment, set up a configuration, and learn about deployment techniques; How to view wildlife audio recordings on a spectrogram; How to automatically scan recordings for species inventory.

• Time: 12:30 pm
• Location: Tubughnenq’ 4
• Instructors/Facilitators: Kayce Bell and Karen Munroe
• Cost: Mentor/Non-student – None; Mentee/Student – None
• Other Information: No lunch provided; This workshop only needs a single registration for both sessions July 15th and July 18th). Participants will be contacted by organizer(s) regarding the schedule.
• Maximum attendance: 80
• Organizer(s): Kayce Bell & Karen Munroe

Using pre-conference questionnaires, we will match undergraduate, graduate &
post-baccalaureate Mentees with individual established Mammalogists (either with a PhD or currently working in a position that does not require a PhD) to develop a strategic plan for their career goals. Selected applicants will get one-on-one advising with the intention to help develop a plan to reach their academic, research, and professional goals.