1. Combining citizen science derived species distribution models and stable isotope analysis reveals migratory connectivity in a secretive species, the Virginia Rail Auriel M.V. Fournier #, Alexis R. Sullivan # Joseph K. Bump, Marie Perkins, Mark C. Shieldcastle, Sammy L. King # First two authors contributed equally @RallidaeRule

2. Migratory Connectivity Managing migratory animals is challenging Especially when they are difficult to detect and are small Stable isotopes are useful, but limited

3. Citizen science data Helps gather data at a scale not possible otherwise Has its own weaknesses Cannot address connectivity on its own Can be used to create an informative prior

5. Sample Collection Migration  Black Swamp Bird Observatory  NW Ohio, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge  Caught in walk in traps with an audio lure during spring migration Wintering Grounds  Louisiana Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit – Louisiana State University  Various public and private wetlands from Texas to Louisiana  Caught in walk in traps & by hand  Additional samples collected from museum collections

6. Why Virginia rails? Band Recovery and Geolocators are ineffective Satellite transmitters are not small enough Secretive nature, low detection,

7. Hydrogen isotopic ratios vary with latitude Matching the values leaves us with wide bands of possible origin

8. Species Distribution Models based on eBird data don’t take into account individual variation But can be an informative prior to help limit the area within a isotopic band

9. Using species distribution models as informative priors for isotopic assignment limits the high probability areas of origin

10. Implications Can be used on other small, difficult to detect or elusive species Can be used on other taxa Help inform conservation, target future areas of research

11. Acknowledgements Thanks to the Ecosystem Science Center at Michigan Technological University for funding part of this project as part of their undergraduate research program. Thanks to Tom Kashmer of Black Swamp Bird Observatory for doing the Ohio sample collection Thanks to the following museums for contributing to this project The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History; 1297, 6002, 1273 The Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago; 21031, 52462, 62463, 52464, 52466 University of Kansas Natural History Museum; 103156, 18716, 18715 Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard; 292751, 150117, 212297

12. Questions? Doug Greenberg – Flickr (dagberg) Figshare - doi.org/5m5 aurielfournier@gmail.com @RallidaeRule aurielmvfournier.com Alexis Sullivan @lxsllvn