In New York, Bonasa umbellus (Ruffed Grouse) abundance has declined since the 1960s, presumably due to forest maturation. Wildlife managers expressed concern that hunting may contribute to the population decline as habitat quality decreases. We monitored fall—winter survival of 169 radio-marked Ruffed Grouse at 2 study areas in New York differing in forest age and composition. Fewer than 11% of radio-marked birds were harvested, and seasonal survival was similar at the 2 study areas in both study years (0.38 and 0.51, 2007–2008; 0.48 and 0.48, 2008–2009). Predation, particularly by raptors, was the largest source of mortality, but locations of predation events were not associated with forest age or configuration within 300 m. We found no evidence to support a reduction in harvest limits, although our harvest estimates may have been biased low.

Water quality programs in Connecticut and nationally have focused on restoring impaired waters, while modest attention has been allocated to healthy watersheds in the least disturbed condition. The objective of our study was to document the geographic location of least disturbed streams in Connecticut, describe the aquatic biota from these systems, and describe important environmental variables that may help explain the distribution of these biota. We used geographic information systems to select drainage basins by their natural attributes and by eliminating anthropogenic stressor variables in order to best approximate a least disturbed watershed condition in Connecticut. We then sampled the fish and macroinvertebrate communities, water chemistry, and associated GIS-derived watershed attributes to determine the variables that best described the sampled biota. We identified 30 least disturbed streams that had drainage areas <29 km², whose stream order ranged from 1–4, and that contained <4% total impervious cover in the upstream watershed. Least disturbed streams were generally located in three geographic areas of the state—northwest Connecticut, northeast Connecticut, and the central Connecticut valley—and were absent from the southern coast of Connecticut and southwestern Connecticut. Cluster analysis and nonmetric multidimensional scaling of macroinvertebrate taxa in the Orders Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera showed 3 macroinvertebrate stream classes, with 12 significant indicator species (P < 0.05). Drainage area, water temperature, alkalinity, hardness, chloride, ammonia, total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) may explain some of the differences in taxa between macroinvertebrate stream classes. Cluster analysis and nonmetric multidimensional scaling of fish species also showed three fish stream classes, with 9 significant indicator species (P < 0.05). Drainage area, stratified drift, dam density, water temperature, total suspended solids, alkalinity, hardness, ammonia, TN, and TP may explain some of the differences in species between fish stream classes. Ninety percent of the least disturbed streams sampled contained Salvelinus fontinalis (Brook Trout), which can be considered a sentinel fish species for small, least disturbed streams in Connecticut.

Sixty percent of Maryland's odonate species are considered to be in need of conservation. To prioritize areas for the protection of biodiversity, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD DNR) has identified 10 watersheds with the highest rates of occurrence of imperiled and rare stream species, including odonates. We examined the lotic-breeding odonate fauna of two of these high priority watersheds to determine the distribution and status of several imperiled odonate species in Maryland. Odonate nymphs from two Lower Potomac River basin watersheds, Zekiah Swamp Run and Breton Bay, were collected by volunteers and MD DNR's Maryland Biological Stream Survey from 2000–2010 and were identified to species level when possible. Thirty-four species were collected during this survey, 10 of which are state-listed species. The data collected in this survey detail the distributions, habitats, and microhabitats of rare odonates in two priority watersheds in Maryland that can be used to aid in the conservation of these species and their habitats.

The inland algal flora of Acadia National Park was studied based on over 200 samples from 119 localities. A total of 160 algal genera were found, representing 12 algal phyla. Among these were 140 new generic records for the Park. The most frequently encountered taxa were desmids and diatoms, and the genera and species in these groups were acidophilous, reflecting the low pH of the ponds, lakes, and streams of the Park. Ponds and streams were the most heavily sampled habitats in the Park, and coincidentally had the highest diversity (103 and 91 genera, respectively). Based on other similar studies, we estimate that the Park likely contains as many as 1000 algal species within its boundaries, indicating that the diversity is exceptionally high for an area of this size.

Saxicolous lichens of a coastal barren were surveyed in Nova Scotia, Canada. Forty-three species were found, including Rhizocarpon suomiense, new to North America, and five other species new to the province. The response of saxicolous lichens to the maritime influence was assessed along transects perpendicular to the shoreline, as well as on three faces of the boulders: facing towards the coast, upwards, and away from the coast. Boulder face did not significantly affect lichen species richness; however, cover significantly increased from front to top to back faces. Lichen species richness and cover increased significantly with increasing distance from the shoreline. The ecology of selected species with respect to the maritime gradient is discussed.

Early-successional habitats, including agricultural fields, appear to provide important foraging and nesting resource areas for Glyptemys insculpta (Wood Turtle) and Terrapene Carolina Carolina (Eastern Box Turtle) in the northeastern US. Mowing and agricultural activities can elevate turtle mortality rates. We performed two experiments to evaluate the risk of turtle mortality associated with 1) style of mower, 2) mower blade height, and 3) tractor tires. Mower blade height did not affect mortality rates when set to ≤15 cm. Different types of mowers appear to exert differential effects on mortality, with sickle bar mowers resulting in 50% lower mortality rates than rotary mowers and other models. However, mortality due to crushing by tractor tires may be as high as 46%, independent of blade type and height.

Mitochondrial DNA sequence data for the cytochrome-b gene was used to assess genetic divergence among samples of Sorex palustris (Water Shrew) from eastern and western North America. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of three previously observed clades—Cordilleran (S. p. navigator and S. p. brooksi), Coastal (S. bendirii), Boreal (S. p. palustris)—along with a novel Eastern clade (S. p. gloveralleni and/or S. p. albibarbis). Intraspecific divergence between the Boreal and Eastern clades was 3.42%, exceeding interspecific divergence between the Cordilleran and Coastal clades (3.35%). Application of the genetic species concept to the results of this study suggests that the Boreal and Eastern clades of Water Shrews warrant further investigation for recognition as two distinct sister species (i.e., S. palustris and S. albibarbis, respectively). Additional samples and analysis of nuclear markers will be required to substantiate this proposed taxonomic revision.

Abstract - White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) have overbrowsed much of the hemlock-mixed northern hardwood forest in northeastern Pennsylvania. I investigated the possible deleterious effect of this overbrowsing on 4 ground-cover-dependent small-mammal species through the use of deer exclosures. From May through September 1996–2005,4 * 10 Sherman live-trap grids were placed in two 0.65-ha exclosures and their adjacent control sites in forest heavily browsed by deer. One exclosure was located beneath a primarily oak-maple canopy and the other exclosure under Tsuga canadensis (Eastern Hemlock). More Myodes gapperi (Southern Red-backed Vole) were captured in the oak-maple grids than in the hemlock grids and more M. gapperi were taken in the oak-maple exclosure than in the neighboring control. Microtus pinetorum (Woodland Vole) first appeared at the grids six years after the exclosure construction, and a large majority were taken in the oak-maple exclosure. Of Blarina brevicauda (Northern Short-tailed Shrew) captured at the grids, 80% were taken in the oak-maple grids and 58% in the oak-maple exclosure. Beginning in 2000, most of Sorex cinereus (Masked Shrew) captured were taken in the oakmaple habitat. Most of those trapped under the oak-maple canopy were taken in the control. These observations suggest that heavy deer browsing may depress populations of M. gapperi, M. pinetorum, and B. brevicauda, but not Sorex cinereus.

Two schools of thought dominate the molecular-genetics literature on Canis spp. (wolves) in the western Great Lakes region of the US and Canada: (1) they are hybrids between Canis lupus (Gray Wolf) and Canis latrans (Coyote), or (2) they are hybrids between the Gray Wolf and Canis lycaon (Eastern Wolf). This article presents 3 types of non-genetic evidence that bears on the controversy and concludes that all 3 support the second interpretation.

We collected ectoparasites from 5 Myotis septentrionalis (Northern Myotis) and 12 Myotis leibii (Eastern Small-Footed Myotis) captured in Grant County, WV during summer 2008. We recovered Euschoengastia pipistrelli from Northern Myotis and Leptotrombidium myotis, Androlaelaps casalis, Cryptonysuss desultorius, and Ornithodorus kelleyi from Eastern Small-Footed Myotis. This is the first report of parasites from either bat in West Virginia, and each ectoparasite species collected represents a new state host locality record, with C. desultorius and O. kelleyi being new state records. Because records of ectoparasites are often widely scattered and both bats have undergone extensive taxonomic revision, we summarize all available records of ectoparasites from both species of bats.

Tardigrada (water bear) is a phylum of microscopic animals commonly found in mosses, lichens, leaf litter, and freshwater. Over 200 species of water bear are known to occur in North America; 99 species have been reported from northeastern North America. In lichen and leaf-litter samples from Bar Harbor, Hancock County, ME (a state for which only one species of tardigrade, Thulinius augusti, has hitherto been reported), eleven species of water bear were present: Echiniscus merokensis, Milnesium tardigradum, Ramazzottius baumanni, R. oberhaeuseri, Diphascon (Diphascon) nodulosum, D. (Adropion) prorsirostre, Astatumen trinacriae, Macrobiotus harmsworthi, Macrobiotus hufelandi, Minibiotus furcatus, and Minibiotus intermedius. All have previously been reported from other states and provinces in northeastern North America, but are new records for Maine.