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Initial Consultations: In 2015, a team of technical experts with knowledge of the species, ecosystems, and physiographic regions of the Appalachian LCC geography were assembled to advise in the development of the first iteration of the Landscape Conservation Design. This advisory team identified essential natural resources to represent in the landscape modeling work, capturing a mix of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem types.

Creating a Mobile Experience for the Explore Natural Communities Website: Judy Teague - Senior Ecologist, Allen Ansellmo - Software Engineer, Erin Jones - Vegetation Ecologist, Dave Hauver - Software Engineer Natureserve, Diane Pavek - Research Coordinator, Ann Gallagher - Science Education Coordinator, Urban Ecology Research Learning Alliance, NPS National Capital Region

Natural Resource Education and Outreach in a Cultural Resource Park: Expanding the Audience: Giessell Aguilar, Alison Sloop - Biological Science Technician(s) NPS, Manassas National Battlefield Park

Upcoming Centennial BioBlitz 2016 events in the National Capital Region: James Pieper- Regional Natural Resource Specialist, NPS, Office of Natural Resources and Science

Interactions Between Climbing Vines and Forest Edges Influence Tree Mortality in Mid-Atlantic Forests: Elizabeth Matthews - Botanist, Megan Nortrup - Science Communicator, John Paul Schmit - Quantitative Ecologist, J Patrick Campbell - Network Coordinator, NPS, National Capital Region Inventory and Monitoring Program

Building an Invasive Plant Watch List for the NCR: Mark Frey- Team Liaison, NPS, Exotic Plant Management Team (EPMT)

Camera Trap Survey to Assess White-tailed Deer Population at Catoctin Mountain Park, 2015: Lindsey Donaldson - Biologist, Laurel Downs - Student Conservation Assosication NPS, Catoctin Mountain Park

Japanese American Veterans Association Oral History Topic: Amber Cohen - Graduate Student, University of Maryland

Maximizing the use of Volunteers for the Removal of Arborized Invasive English Ivy Vine at Rock Creek Park: Nick Bartolomeo - Chief of Resource Management, Ana Chuquin - Biological Science Technician NPS, Rock Creek Park, John Maleri - Program Coordinator, Karen Zeiter - Program Manager Rock Creek Conservancy

Paleo-Protectors: the First Volunteer Monitoring of Paleontological Resources within the National Park Service: Michelle Carter - Natural Resource Program Manager NPS, C&O Canal National Historical Park

Bats, White-nose Syndrome, and the Western Maryland Railroad Tunnels: Michelle Carter - Natural Resource Program Manager NPS, C&O Canal National Historical Park

Mapping Potential Wetland Habitat Throughout the C&O Canal National Historical Park using Remote Sensing and GIS-based Data: Lance Bragin - Graduate Student, Hood College, Environmental Biology Program

Next-Generation DNA Sequencing of Prey Species in Coyote Scat from Prince William Forest Park and Manassas National Battlefield Park: Tyler Biles - Graduate Student, Clair Fremuth, Chelsea Miller - Undergraduate Students, Brian Masters, Harald Beck - Professors Towson University, Department of Biological Sciences

Partnering for Climate Change Communication in the National Capital Region: Jenell M. Walsh -Thomas, Melissa A. Clark, and Lindsey Beall, Graduate Students, George Mason University, Center for Climate Change Communication

Assessment of the Environmental Genomics of Aquatic Systems in the National Park Service’s National Capital Region with Emphasis on the Algal Communities Associated with the Nuisance Diatom Didymosphenia geminata: Aaron Aunins - Genetics Biologist, Tim King - Fishery Biologist (Genomics), U.S. Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center

Natural Resource Education and Outreach in a Cultural Resource Park: Strategies for Expanding the Audience. The historic significance of Manassas is the primary interpretive theme for the park. However, the park’s 5,000 acres are becoming more significant as a natural resource site due to rapidly increasing urban development. This situation does offer opportunity, as the park provides easy access for local schools and educational groups and is an ideal location from which to study natural processes. In 2013 we began a 4-year initiative with the goal of increasing the awareness and subsequently the use of the park for education and recreation. Some accomplishments to date include; establishment of two “Track Trail” self-guided tours, a park specific brochure that connects our cultural and natural resources, partnerships with local schools, outreach to local pediatrician offices, outreach to Hispanic TV and conversion of materials to Spanish, and creation of a natural resource app. Well over 15,000 youth have been reached with over 100 youth volunteers participating.

Assessment of Environmental Genomics of Aquatic Systems in National Capital Region Parks: Emphasis on the algal communities associated with the nuisance diatom Didymosphenia geminata. While water quality monitoring programs are already in place to oversee trends in health of NCR aquatic resources, these programs are not specifically designed to detect the appearance of nuisance species such as the diatom Didymosphenia geminata, which may present but at low abundance, or to assess more fine-scale characteristics of streams such as the taxonomic diversity and functional potential of the resident microbial communities. Fortunately, new genomic technologies such as metagenomics and metabarcoding are gaining traction as valuable additions to existing monitoring programs worldwide due to their ability to characterize aquatic community structure and function at reasonable cost, and at a level of sensitivity never before available. Here, we present data on an ongoing metagenomics and metabarcoding study of select stream sites collected from among all 11 NCR parks in 2014 and 2015 in order to assess differences in taxonomic and functional diversity in streams with and without D. geminata.