Barnacle recruitment is often studied in rocky intertidal habitats due to the relevant role that barnacles can play in intertidal communities. In 2014, recruitment of the barnacle Semibalanus balanoides was measured at high elevations in wave-exposed intertidal habitats on the NW Atlantic coast in Nova Scotia, Canada. Values were considerably lower than previously reported for middle elevations in wave-exposed intertidal habitats on the NE Atlantic and NE Pacific coasts. To determine if such differences in recruitment may have resulted from elevation influences, I did a field experiment in 2019 in wave-exposed intertidal habitats in Nova Scotia to test the hypothesis that recruitment is higher at middle than at high elevations, based on known environmental differences between both elevation zones. Based on data from 3 locations spanning 158 km of the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, barnacle recruitment was, on average, nearly 200% higher (and recruits were larger) at middle than at high elevations. However, even with this increase, barnacle recruitment on this NW Atlantic coast is still lower than for comparable habitats on the NE Atlantic and NE Pacific coasts, and also lower than previously reported for wave-exposed locations farther south on the NW Atlantic coast, in Maine, USA. Therefore, barnacle recruitment in wave-exposed intertidal habitats on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia is moderate relative to other shores. This difference in the supply of barnacle recruits might influence the intensity of interspecific interactions involving barnacles.

Natal dispersal by Sciurus carolinensis (Eastern Gray Squirrel) is poorly understood, given so rarely reported, yet dispersal patterns in small mammals can affect seed dispersal and predation, as well as population dynamics of predators. Herein, I document long-distance dispersal by 3 Eastern Gray Squirrels from the suburban coastal campus of the University of New England in Biddeford, ME. Mean dispersal distance was 10.1 km (min–max = 6.3–14.5 km), occurring in random directions (SW, S, NW). These results, combined with the previous studies, better describe the distribution of natal dispersal by Eastern Gray Squirrel—critical information in understanding population processes and potentially developing effective landscape-management strategies.

Some cavity-dwelling vertebrates have adopted buildings in response to the loss of natural cavities in human-disturbed landscapes. Unfortunately, public health concerns surrounding human–bat interactions often lead to the exclusion of bats from structures. Provisioning evicted bats with roost boxes is a common management strategy; however, factors influencing bats' use of roost boxes are poorly understood. Using data from roost boxes monitored by conservation groups in New Jersey, we tested the importance of exclusion history in predicting use of roost boxes by bats relative to roost-box characteristics and installation practices thought to be important. We found that boxes installed after a bat exclusion were most likely to be used by bats (effect size = 2.07 [CI: 0.76, 3.39]), particularly if installed on a building rather than a non-building (effect size = 4.17 (CI: 2.53, 6.88]). Our results support the use of roost boxes to ameliorate potential negative impacts to bats that have been excluded from structures and to reduce human–bat conflicts.

A substantial proportion New York's forests regenerated following agricultural abandonment around the turn of the 20^th century. Many myrmecochorous (ant-dispersed) plant species are lacking in these forests decades after land abandonment despite being present in residual stands. To determine if disruption to this ant–plant mutualism can partially explain the current distribution patterns of myrmecochorous plants, we quantified the proportion of seeds removed by ants while accounting for predation by rodents in residual and post-agricultural forests. We experimentally manipulated ant access and controlled for rodent access to seeds of 3 myrmecochorous understory herbs in 3 paired residual and post-agricultural forests in central New York. We identified Aphaenogaster rudis as the primary seed disperser. We found no difference in mean (± 1 SE) proportion of seeds removed by ants between residual stands (73.7% ± 7.7%) and post-agricultural stands (75.8% ± 7.9%). Rodents removed few to no seeds (5.3% ± 1.5%), but an invasive slug, Arion subfuscus (Dusky Arion), was observed removing elaiosomes from seeds in both stand types. Our data indicated neither a lack of ant-dispersal activity nor excessive rodent predation would be limiting to dispersal of myrmecochorous seeds in post-agricultural forests during the period of our study. Given the presence of A. rudis in post-agricultural stands, programs to assist plant migration will likely be sufficient to reestablish this ant–plant mutualism in degraded sites.

Salix nigra Marshall (Black Willow) is a pioneer tree species that establishes in North American river floodplains and is widely used for bank stabilization. However, its salinity tolerance and occurrence in tidal wetlands of estuarine systems along the North American Atlantic coast is largely unknown. Climate change accompanied by land subsidence and changes in precipitation pattern induce increases in salinity that may affect coastal vegetation. Alteration of hydromorphology of coastal plain estuaries causes additional increases in salinity that affects forested tidal freshwater wetlands. We investigated the salinity tolerance and occurrence of Black Willow in tidal wetlands of 2 Chesapeake Bay tributaries and in a greenhouse hydroponic experiment. A salinity of more than 1 part per thousand (ppt) salt limited the willows' occurrence in the field and the cuttings' performance in the experiment. Dry mass was significantly lower in salinity of 2 and 3 ppt compared to the control and salinity of 1 ppt. Cuttings originating from tidal freshwater wetlands developed more belowground biomass and leaves than cuttings from brackish wetlands. The better performance of cuttings originating from tidal freshwater wetlands may indicate a higher resilience to short-term increases in salinity in tidal freshwater wetland forests with implications for tidal forest restoration in eastern North America.

Springs are often very diverse aquatic systems that have important ecological functions. This study documented water quality and macroinvertebrate assemblages, while providing a baseline inventory, in 6 New Jersey springs which varied by discharge (4–16,990 L/min). We collected aquatic macroinvertebrates using a Hess sampler quarterly from August 2014 to September 2015. This study documented diverse macroinvertebrate communities, with a total of 2383 macroinvertebrate individuals encompassing 103 taxa. The numerically dominant taxa present were Diptera, Amphipoda, and Coleoptera. No single genus or species were present at all 6 spring sites. We collected 2 taxa that have not been previously documented in New Jersey: Neoplasta and Cecidomyiidae. Each spring exhibits unique characteristics; analysis of the data presented in this study focuses on correlation between datasets. Correlations suggest that springs with higher discharge house a more diverse macroinvertebrate community including more pollution-sensitive taxa. For future study, more data is needed to pinpoint the causation of macroinvertebrate metrics related to human disturbance and urbanization. Continued monitoring of these springs is recommended due to their ecological importance and to study the long-term water quality trends.

Etheostoma caeruleum (Rainbow Darter) is a member of a diverse benthic insectivorous feeding guild. In streams with high diversity of fishes, niche partitioning by food items is one method for determining overall resource partitioning. The objective of this study was to gain insights into the foraging habits of Rainbow Darters, specifically in communities where there are varying degrees of overlap with other benthic species. This includes the exotic Neogobius melanostomus (Round Goby) and other native darter species. We collected Rainbow Darters and aquatic benthic macroinvertebrate samples at 3 streams located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the late summer of 2013, when prey abundance was seasonally lowest. We dissected fish, removed their stomachs, and identified the gut contents to lowest practicable taxon, which we tallied. Macroinvertebrate samples were sorted, identified to lowest practicable taxon, and enumerated. We used these data to calculate Strauss' linear index of food selection for prey items occurring in greater than 1% of stomachs. Chironomids were consistently an important item in Rainbow Darter diets in Elk Creek, but they consumed a higher proportion of Hydropsychidae when the Round Goby was present. Species of Baetidae were the most important food item when other darter species occurred, with chironomids consumed at the same proportion as found in the stream. These results serve as further evidence of food resource partitioning as a potential mechanism for coexistence with other native species or with the introduction of an exotic species.

The nonindigenous Corbicula fluminea (Asian Clam) continues to spread northward into cooler waters of the northeastern US. This range extension has been previously attributed to thermal discharges acting as refugia. We conducted an extensive survey for the Asian Clam in New Hampshire waters lacking artificial thermal influence. Using scuba, divers searched for evidence of the Asian Clam at 67 south-central and southeastern New Hampshire locations. We found 6 new locations with Asian Clams for a total of 13 sites in New Hampshire, 12 without thermal discharge. Sites with Asian Clams were limited to south-central and southeastern New Hampshire. Continued expansion of the Asian Clam into northern cold waters suggests that thermal refugia are not necessary and that the Asian Clam populations may have obtained adaptations via natural selection to withstand cold winter water temperatures.

Beginning in the early 2000s, managers and scientists observed a change in seed production and seed crop frequency for Prunus serotina (Black Cherry), an ecologically and commercially important species in the Alleghany Plateau region. This study focused on whether older Black Cherry stands are producing less seed than younger stands. We set 3 clusters of 15 seed traps in each of two ∼70-year-old (CG70 and KEF70) and two ∼110-year-old (CG110 and KEF110) Black Cherry-dominated stands (total of 45 traps per stand). We collected seeds from August through November from 2010 to 2018. We found that seed production varied by stand age interacting with year (P < 0.01), and seed production was greater (P < 0.01) in the ∼110-year-old stands (3.5 million seeds/ha [1.4 million seeds/acre]) compared with the ∼70-year-old stands (368,000 seeds/ha [149,000 seeds/ acre]) only in 2018. There were no detectable differences in mean seed production over 9 years based on location (CG vs. KEF; P = 0.27). This study found no evidence that older stands produce less seed than younger stands.

We conducted a limited survey to analyze the potential effects of thick understory patches of Berberis thunbergii (Japanese Barberry), an invasive shrub, on forest-dwelling salamanders. Our observational survey of 4 riparian streams was aimed at addressing the hypothesis that Japanese Barberry would negatively affect salamander populations due to detrimental impacts on soil properties and native vegetation. We placed cover boards along the riparian zones of 2 streams that were heavily invaded and 2 that were sporadically invaded by Japanese Barberry in a western Pennsylvanian suburban deciduous forest. The following year, we surveyed each coverboard on 3 occasions to quantify amphibian abundance and diversity. We identified specimens to species whenever possible and quantified Japanese Barberry invasion intensity by estimating aboveground biomass. Results suggest salamander abundance was unaffected by the presence of Japanese Barberry. Species composition differed between invaded and uninvaded habitat, with more Desmognathus spp. salamanders dominating uninvaded sites, though data limitations prevented rigorous comparisons of community-scale differences. Our limited data are unable to determine if Japanese Barberry invasions are associated with indirect effects on salamander populations. However, the lack of any measurable effect on salamander abundance suggests that Japanese Barberry does not induce a strong direct effect on these species.

Crayfish are key components of North American aquatic ecosystems, but information about their life history is typically lacking or incomplete. No such data are available for invasive populations of Faxonius obscurus (Allegheny Crayfish) in eastern Pennsylvania. I studied the life history of an invasive population in a small tributary in the Susquehanna River drainage of eastern Pennsylvania. Life-history characteristics (i.e., size at sexual maturity, sex ratios, seasonal shifts between reproductive and non-reproductive form in males, glair development, timing of ovigerous females, molting frequency, and size classes) were similar to those reported for many members of the genus Faxonius and largely similar to those reported for populations of Allegheny Crayfish across their native range. However, realized fecundity was greater than reported in West Virginia populations. Female body length was a predictor of realized fecundity, differing from southern populations of this species.

Erythronium americanum (Trout Lily) is an abundant spring geophyte in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. Its shallow corms experience a higher mortality rate than do its deep corms. Through experimental and descriptive means, this study assessed how ecological factors affect corm survival. In summer, neither drought nor wet experimental conditions increased mortality, but shallow corms faced more root competition and herbivory than deep corms. Simulated herbivory caused increased corm death. In the winter, snow removal decreased soil temperature but did not affect soil moisture. Experimental freezing and drought during the winter raised corm mortality. Collectively, shallow corms are at risk of mortality from herbivory in the summer and lowered soil temperature with reduced snowpack in the winter.

A long-standing program in Maine promotes stocking of dragonfly (Odonata) nymphs for biological control of nuisance and vector mosquitoes. Currently the only sources of dragonflies for stocking are out-of-state biological supply companies. In 2 dragonfly shipments from suppliers in Massachusetts and North Carolina, we determined that 6.8% and 38.5% of species, respectively, were not native to Maine. In an experiment of stocking efficacy, we introduced 4, 2, or 0 dragonfly nymphs into artificial pools in a forest habitat and found no differences in mosquito larvae counts among treatments. While the motivation for using dragonflies as biological control agents is commendable, the practice may be ineffective, and risks accidental introductions of non-native aquatic plants and animals in water used for shipping.

Falco sparverius (American Kestrel) is a declining species that readily uses human-provided nest boxes. We test several hypotheses from the literature regarding nest microhabitat preferences of American Kestrels, including putative preferences for brighter cavities and cavities with a given compass orientation, both of which are believed to provide some thermal benefit. We placed light and temperature data loggers in 26 nest boxes in Massachusetts after young had fledged from occupied boxes. Cavity interior light and temperature were not correlated, and while nest-box orientation did affect cavity interior light levels, none of these variables was significantly associated with occupancy. Microhabitat variables may be more important in some geographic areas than in others; the results of our study suggest that existing hypotheses need experimental verification. It is possible that multi-region studies integrating the effects of ambient temperature and wind on cavity selection will better explain apparent differences in microhabitat preferences across the species' range.

Understanding movement patterns of hatchling Terrapene carolina carolina (Eastern Box Turtle) may be critical to guide conservation and management efforts since little is known about this early life-history stage. We used radio-telemetry to track 10 hatchling Eastern Box Turtles from 28 August 2012 to 21 August 2013 in Hamden, CT, to investigate postnatal movement patterns, habitat use, and hibernacula selection. We also report nest characteristics, clutch size, incubation length, hatching success, hibernation length, and overwintering mortality rates. The mean number of eggs laid in each of 5 nests was 5 (min–max = 1–6 eggs). Incubation varied from 83 to 97 days (mean = 90 days), and the overall hatching success rate was 63%. Hatchling movement (n = 6) was directional towards the north-northeast prior to hibernation. The mean distance hatchlings moved per day was 3.8 m. Mean total distance traveled was 131 m and mean straight-line distance from nest to hibernacula was 95 m. Average total distance turtles moved between observations in 2013 was significantly less than 2012 (P = 0.0001). The post-natal period averaged 35 days, with hibernation occurring before 12 October 2012. Hibernacula locations varied between partially canopied sites within the open fields and closed-canopy conditions on the forest/open-field interface. Hibernation duration averaged 177 days, with all juveniles emerging from hibernation before 6 April 2013. Movement patterns ceased to be directional after hibernation, suggesting the initiation of a home range. While dispersing from their nests, hatchlings selected microsites higher in shrub cover, and just before hibernation, microsites with higher sapling and tree cover. Following hibernation, juveniles did not return to pre-hibernation microhabitats, either in the woods or in fields. Following hibernation, juveniles continued to occupy open fields, but occupied microhabitats with partial canopy cover. A strong preference for microhabitats higher in shrub cover did not persist into the second year.

We report an observation of a Petromyzon marinus (Sea Lamprey) adhering to a Prionace glauca (Blue Shark) in pelagic waters off Rhode Island. We compare our observation of lamprey adhesion to previously published accounts of lamprey parasitism on sharks and aspects of interactions between lampreys and elasmobranchs that warrant further study.

Although Erethizon dorsatum (North American Porcupine, hereafter Porcupine), occurred in Virginia during the Pleistocene and into the 1700s, this species was probably extirpated from the state by the mid-1800s. Here we document recent evidence of Porcupines in Virginia from verified photographs submitted to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and voucher specimens deposited into the Mammal Collection of the Virginia Museum of Natural History. These recently collected and observed Porcupines are likely dispersers from expanding Porcupine populations in western Maryland and eastern West Virginia. This report includes evidence of reproduction in Virginia populations (or nearby populations in West Virginia) and provides a foundation for future investigations into the distribution and abundance of the Porcupine in Virginia.

Use of camera traps for non-invasive data collection is increasingly common in wildlife studies. This technique presents a valuable, but generally unexploited, opportunity to learn about carnivore diet through direct observations of predators with prey. To highlight this potential, we present a collection of photographic observations from Michipicoten Island, ON, Canada, that improve our knowledge of the diets of northern carnivores. These include the first documentation of Vulpes vulpes (Red Fox) consumption of a Colaptes auratus (Northern Flicker) and the first photographic evidence of wintertime consumption of a Lithobates sp. (frog) by a Mustela erminea (Short-tailed Weasel). We discuss the implications of these observations and the use of camera traps to gather data on carnivore diets, including caveats to this technique.