Rhynobrissus cuneus, a small, irregular sea urchin, was originally described from 5 tests washed onto the beach at Fort Macon, NC, and it has been reported only once since, from 7 specimens collected from Playa Jicacal, Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico. Here we record R. cuneus from Buxton Beach, Dare County, NC, ∼124 km (77 mi) directly northeast of the 1957 record. This is only the third report of R. cuneus and represents the northernmost record of the species. Specimens were found as empty tests washed ashore, most likely a result of recent beach-restoration activities.

We observed a series of long-distance movements by an adult male Sciurus niger (Eastern Fox Squirrel). The squirrel traveled 1040 m between 25 May and 27 May, and ≥503 m on 5 separate occasions between 29 April and 25 May 2017. The individual traveled between experimental foraging sites and was photographed by remote cameras placed at each site. The time it took to travel between sites varied from 1 h and 5 min to 5 h and 7 min. The distance this squirrel regularly traveled is approximately the diameter of an average Eastern Fox Squirrel home range in the southeastern United States.

We report on the first record of Ameiurus catus (White Catfish) from the Conecuh River, Covington County, AL, and the species-range extension into the Conecuh-Escambia river of Alabama–Florida. This record extends the known geographical range of this species 240 km northeast from the mouth of the Escambia River, FL. Moreover, this record represents the most northern and first record in nearly 36 years from the Conecuh-Escambia river of Alabama–Florida.

Anas fulvigula (Mottled Duck) is a non-migratory year-round resident species of the western Gulf Coast and peninsular Florida. We report on 2 male Mottled Ducks banded in southwest Louisiana and harvested in south central North Dakoa, having traveled a minimum of 1991 km. It is unknown whether these birds paired with migratory female A. platyrhynchos (Mallard) during fall–winter 2016 and subsequently followed them to a breeding area in North Dakota, or whether these birds themselves may have been hybrid offspring of such a pairing. Previous extralimital records of Mottled Ducks have been reported in the Prairie Pothole region, but our data represent the northernmost records for this species. Increasing extralimital reports of Mottled Ducks or hybrid ducks should be cause for concern among conservation planners. Additional research into Western Gulf Coast Mottled Duck genetics and hybridization rates is warranted.

There were a total of 12 documented Panax quinquefolius (American Ginseng) in the only known population in Louisiana in 1986. Our reassessment of the population in 2016 found 16 plants. We suggest that the long-term persistence of this tiny American Ginseng population indicates that simple matrix-population models may be overestimating quasi-extinction numbers and minimum viable populations, perhaps as a result of failing to sufficiently consider influences of environmental conditions. We further suggest that this, the southernmost documented population of the species in the US, has endured beyond expectation but remains at acute risk of extirpation and that any population-specific genes are at risk of loss if no intervention is made to protect the population.

Night-time roosting in Meleagris gallopavo (Wild Turkey) is a quotidian activity that minimizes vulnerability to predators and weather. Roost-site selection in managed Pinus palustris (Longleaf Pine) communities is poorly documented. We assessed roost-site selection by comparing use and availability of vegetation types at the individual female Wild Turkey home-range level. We monitored 14 Wild Turkeys from February 2011 to June 2012. The Wild Turkeys did not use vegetation types within the estimated home ranges for roosting in proportion to availability (χ² = 601.696, P < 0.001). Female Wild Turkeys roosted in the upland Longleaf Pine in proportion to availability, selected for lowland hardwood, and avoided upland hardwood patches. We documented that roost-site availability is not likely a limiting factor in managed Longleaf Pine forests.

Understanding how habitat affects avian nest success is paramount, particularly when nest boxes are used. Once widespread, Thryomanes bewickii (Bewick's Wren) are presently confined to south-central and western North America. Our objective was to determine which vegetation variables influenced Bewick's Wren nesting success in nest boxes in central Texas. Between 2013 and 2014, we estimated nest success for 83 nests and measured vegetation variables surrounding nest boxes. Shrubland perimeter-area ratio negatively impacted nest success, whereas distance to nearest tree had a positive effect. Our results indicate that nests close to trees and in patches with large areas exposed to edge experienced lower nest success; these vegetation variables should be considered when using nest boxes to manage for Bewick's Wrens.

Vallisneria americana (Tape-grass) in the lower St. Johns River, FL, is exposed to variability in salinity and turbidity. From 2002 to 2011, we compared mean blade length, plant depth, and bed width between residential and natural shorelines, the western and eastern sides, and river sections of 64–80 km, 81–96 km, and 97–112 km from the river mouth. Leaf blades of eastern plants were 27.0 cm longer and were found in 0.57 m greater depths, a pattern possibly related to seasonal westerly winds. We observed no differences with land use. Blades were 20.0 cm longer in the farthest section where salinity concentrations were 1.35 ppt lower than in the 64–80 km section. Following hurricanes, resilience depended on pre-storm bed health and post-storm water quality.

On 20 January 1990, twenty-three Tursiops truncatus (Common Bottlenose Dolphin) carcasses were found scattered around the interior shoreline of East Matagorda Bay, TX. Few accounts exist to document the presence of live or dead Common Bottlenose Dolphins inside the boundaries of East Matagorda Bay before or after the die-off. We conducted a review of areal data for East Matagorda Bay and the original investigation of the January 1990 mass die-off. Information we examined included the history of natural and anthropogenic changes to the area, dolphin stranding records, small-boat visual surveys, and dolphin dorsal-fin photographic identification. Natural events preceding the discovery of the dolphin carcasses were likely factors in the mortalities; however, the timing of engineering projects that modified access points between the bay and the Gulf of Mexico may be an additional factor that contributed to the cause of this unusual mortality event.

The southeastern US has an incredibly diverse salamander fauna that contains ∼17% of the world's species. Furthermore, there is more variation in salamander life-cycle there than elsewhere—the diversity includes metamorphosing, paedomorphic, and directdeveloping species. The most diverse family in the world and in the southeastern US are the salamanders in the family Plethodontidae. I tested the hypothesis that variation in larvalgrowth history causes variation in metamorphic timing in Eurycea wilderae (Blue Ridge Two-lined Salamander), a member of 1 of the 3 lineages of plethodontid salamanders that metamorphose. Larval Blue Ridge Two-lined Salamanders were grown at 2 food levels and at 2 temperatures. Larvae that were fed more food grew faster, but effects on earlier metamorphic timing were minimal (3.84%, 13 d, P = 0.071). In contrast, larvae grown at a high temperature metamorphosed an average of 32.98% (55 d) earlier that those grown at a low temperature. In many amphibian species, the timing of metamorphosis is strongly affected by temperature and by variation in food availability. The weak response in timing of metamorphosis to variation in food is consistent with findings for other plethodontids and may be unique among amphibians.

Anthocyanins in the leaves of carnivorous plants are suggested to play a role in prey capture. In this study, we investigated the role of red leaf coloration (an indicator of anthocyanins) on prey capture using Pinguicula planifolia (Chapman's Butterwort). Overall, red leaves had less prey (i.e., Collembola) than green leaves, suggesting that red coloration does not enhance prey capture for Chapman's Butterwort. However, the frequent presence of Collembola on leaves suggests that this plant species could be relying on other cues to attract prey (e.g., olfactory cues).

We collected biological, health, and parasite-infection (e.g., Anguillicoloides crassus [a swim-bladder nematode]) data for 609 Anguilla rostrata (American Eel), and population-genetics data from a subset of 299 individuals captured throughout Florida from 2014 through 2016. We did not find evidence of genetic differentiation between groups and concluded that a single American Eel stock extends through the Atlantic-coast drainages into the Gulf of Mexico. We found spatial and seasonal differences in swim-bladder condition and in prevalence and incidence of A. crassus infection in Florida's American Eels. Average values for the ratio of swim-bladder to length and health indices were similar between regions, among seasons, and between uninfected and infected American Eels. Information gathered by this study will be important in future conservation and management efforts.

Amsonia ludoviciana (Louisiana Bluestar), in the Apocynaceae family, is a rare herbaceous perennial plant species found in the ecotones of granite rock outcrops of Georgia as well as the pine flatwoods in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. This research focused on using fluorescently tagged primers to amplify polymorphic microsatellite loci as a way to characterize the population genetic structure of the rare Louisiana Bluestar in Georgia. We sampled 6 populations across the Georgia range of Louisiana Bluestar. We employed 8 microsatellite loci to detect variation within and among Louisiana Bluestar populations and to detect patterns in population structure and dispersal. Values of the genetic-diversity estimator G_st suggested that the majority of the sampled populations demonstrated moderate genetic similarity. Further, Geneland software indicated the presence of 3 clusters. From our population genetic analyses, it can also be inferred that there is substantial gene flow between populations of Louisiana Bluestar in the state of Georgia.

Pomacea maculata (Giant Apple Snail) is a freshwater snail from South America that is an invasive species on the Gulf of Mexico coastal plain. A sister species has been shown to prey on amphibian eggs in Asia. To test whether the Giant Apple Snail will prey on amphibian eggs, we presented eggs of Lithobates palustris (Pickerel Frog), Lithobates pipiens (Northern Leopard Frog), and Anaxyrus americanus (American Toad) to Giant Apple Snails in a laboratory experiment. Giant Apple Snails ate the eggs of all 3 species.

Little is known about the genetically distinct southern strain of Salvelinus fontinalis Mitchell (Brook Charr), a species that is likely to be negatively affected by global climate change at the southern extent of its range. We tagged 35 Southern Brook Charr between March and October of 2011 and sampled for movements in May and October 2011 and May 2012. The study site in Ball Creek, NC, was 330 m long, and we sampled 2 ancillary 50-m sites located 300 m above and below the site boundaries. We recaptured a total of 12 fish: 10 fish once, 1 fish twice, and another fish 3 times for a total of 15 recaptures. Individuals recaptured in spring 2011 moved an average of 9 m downstream, whereas fish recaptured in autumn 2011 moved an average of 7 m upstream. Fish recaptured in spring 2012 moved an average of 6 m upstream from their locations in autumn 2011. There was no relationship between fish length or growth and either distance or direction moved. In addition, there were no significant differences in length or mass of fish that were recaptured and those that were not. The maximum distance moved by a single fish was 49 m downstream. Our results suggest that Southern Brook Charr in headwater streams may have relatively small home ranges (<20 m), although our conclusions were limited by small sample sizes and a 34% recapture percentage based on individual fish. Given that most populations of Southern Brook Charr occur in small streams above barriers, limited movements suggest that population persistence will depend on satisfactory foraging, shelter, and reproductive habitat types within a relatively small area. These requirements should be a concern for managers given that global climate change will affect ambient temperatures and these populations have limited opportunity for movement and emigration.

Helonias bullata (Swamp Pink) is a federally threatened plant found in many of the wetlands throughout US Army Garrison, Fort A.P. Hill, VA. Wetlands that support Swamp Pink are exposed to periodic occurrences of wildland fire. However, much is not yet known about the relationship between this species and wildland fire. This study examines plant-level characteristics (i.e., number of leaves, rosette size) in relation to habitat-level characteristics through comparison of Swamp Pink under 2 land-management regimes in different military training zones. We evaluated the forest compositional differences based on the presence/absence of wildland fire and military-training zone in wetlands supporting Swamp Pink and in adjacent uplands using non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS), multi-response permutation procedures (MRPP), indicator-species analysis (ISA), and measures of density, dominance, herbaceous cover, and species richness. Swamp Pink rosettes in wetlands exposed to fire were significantly larger and averaged nearly 1 more leaf per rosette as compared to those surveyed in wetlands that were not exposed to fire. There was significantly less upland tree density in burned sites compared to unburned sites. We found no relationship between training zones and Swamp Pink size and the number of leaves. Additional differences in forest composition were revealed by comparing training zone and the presence/absence of wildland fire in conjunction with one another. Compared to other areas, the training zones with lower fire-frequency and recent evidence of fire featured significantly larger rosettes with more leaves. In uplands, overall community composition was significantly different among plots exposed to different fire-management strategies (MRPP; P < 0.05), but no such differences occurred in wetlands (P > 0.05). This finding suggests that wetlands limit the effects of fire on community composition. ISA showed that in both wetlands and uplands, different species characterized areas with differing fire influence, suggesting some influence by wildland fire even when such effects were not reflected in overall changes to community composition. The results of this study, the life-history of Swamp Pink, and the distribution of the species in ecosystems characterized by fire (e.g., the New Jersey Pine Barrens) suggest that Swamp Pink is not negatively impacted by fire to a significant degree. The conservation of the Swamp Pink habitat at Fort A.P. Hill may in fact benefit from periodic occurrences of wildland fire. Further research is warranted.

Large tributaries may help sustain large-river fish populations by mitigating fish-habitat losses within the highly modified great rivers of the Mississippi River basin. These tributaries are likely most beneficial for fish species specializing on non-degraded large-river habitat for some portion of their life histories. Few great-river tributaries, however, have been surveyed using methods that comprehensively target all fish species, resulting in uncertainty or bias in the reported composition of many tributary fish assemblages. We report important distributional records, including 23 new accounts, for 12 large-river specialist fishes in Missouri—Alosa alabamae (Alabama Shad), Cycleptus elongatus (Blue Sucker), Pimephales vigilax (Bullhead Minnow), Notropis wickliffi (Channel Shiner), Polyodon spathula (Paddlefish), Hybognathus placitus (Plains Minnow), N. blennius (River Shiner), Macrhybopsis hyostoma (Shoal Chub), Scaphirhynchus platorynchus (Shovelnose Sturgeon), M. storeriana (Silver Chub), Ichthyomyzon unicuspis (Silver Lamprey), and Alosa chrysochloris (Skipjack Herring)—following 38 comprehensive fish surveys in tributaries of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. New accounts collectively demonstrate tributaries support more large-river specialists than historically documented and thus may be currently undervalued sources of habitat for large-river fishes.

Gamete production is a fundamental component of the reproductive cycle of an organism. Studies dedicated to the testicular cycle in mammals and birds vastly outnumbers those discussing the process in reptiles. To help increase the availability of such knowledge for reptiles, we histologically examined the testicular cycle of Opheodrys a. aestivus (Northern Rough Greensnake) from populations in Alabama. We measured seminiferous tubule diameter and seminiferous tubule epithelial height from 30 specimens. The individuals in our sample exhibited small seminiferous tubule diameters in spring followed by increases in summer. By October, the lumen was mostly empty of sperm because they had migrated to the vas deferens for winter storage. Seminiferous tubule epithelial height was significantly correlated with seminiferous tubule diameter. Using AIC model selection, we compared both additive and interactive models to determine if either seminiferous tubule diameter or season influenced seminiferous tubule epithelial height. We found that only seminiferous tubule diameter was a significant predictor of seminiferous tubule epithelial height. Like other temperate snakes, Northern Rough Greensnakes in Alabama have postnuptial spermatogenesis where sperm are produced in the summer following spring mating. Future studies of this species need to investigate the testicular cycle in other parts of its geographic distribution to see if this monthly pattern is consistent.

Gopherus polyphemus (Gopher Tortoise) populations historically occurred throughout much of the southeastern Coastal Plain, and burrows created by this species provide refugia for a large suite of commensal species. Our objective was to evaluate the physical degradation of Gopher Tortoise burrows over time. We provide burrow-status information from initial and follow-up surveys of a low-density population of Gopher Tortoises across Eglin Air Force Base (Eglin), FL, a large landscape with very deep, sandy soils. Approximately 63% (n = 79) of active and/or inactive burrows were collapsed, filled in, or substantially degraded after 2 y, 82% (n = 65) after 3 y, and 100% (n = 19) after 5 y. Compared to results from a similar study with different soils, burrows degraded more quickly on Eglin. Our results on burrow longevity can inform interpretation of Gopher Tortoise surveys and aid in predicting temporal availability of burrows for commensals.