Previous freshwater mussel surveys conducted in Copper Creek showed a decline in the fauna from 1980 to 1998. In 2004 and 2005, we sampled 47 sites acquiring relative abundance estimates (measured in catch-per-unit-effort) to assess the current status of the mussel fauna relative to previous surveys. We also obtained absolute density estimates for 4 select sites for comparison with future and past surveys. Of the 25 mussel species reported from this and previous surveys, 16 were represented by living specimens, 5 are extant but may soon be extirpated, and 8 are likely extirpated from the creek. Presence-absence analysis showed a significant decline in species per site since 1980. Absolute density estimates (at Copper Creek river km 3.1) decreased significantly from 4.07 mussels/m² in 1981 to 0.63 mussels/ m² in 2005. The cause of this faunal decline is likely due to several factors, including, most notably, the loss of riparian buffers. Nearly half of the stream banks in Copper Creek have inadequate riparian vegetation to provide even minimal sediment control. Precipitous declines of the Clinch River fauna (a likely source population for several species) may be another significant factor influencing the faunal decline in Copper Creek. Despite these declines, populations of several species may be in a state of recovery. Based on 18 comparable sites, average catch-per-unit-effort in 2005 was 25.16 mussels/hr, significantly higher than the 1998 survey (12.92 mussels/hr).

Little information exists on the life history of Pleurobema rubrum (Pyramid Pigtoe). We determined fish hosts and made observations on the conglutinate release of Pyramid Pigtoe. From 2003 to 2005, fourteen Pyramid Pigtoe individuals were collected during mussel sampling on the Green River, KY and held in captivity. In June of 2006, one captive female was observed releasing conglutinates (water temperature was 22.5 °C). Nine fish species were exposed to Pyramid Pigtoe glochidia. After 12–15 days, transformation of glochidia to juveniles occurred on 4 species from the family Cyprinidae: Cyprinella spiloptera (Spotfin Shiner), Erimystax dissimilis (Streamline Chub), Lythrurus fasciolaris (Scarlet Shiner), and Notropis photogenis (Silver Shiner). All 4 are potentially natural hosts and Spotfin Shiner appears to be the most suitable host fish for propagation purposes.

We surveyed the habitat and fish assemblages of four impounded and three unimpounded neighboring headwater streams, separated longitudinally into multiple upstream and downstream reaches. Instream habitat characteristics were similar between reaches of unimpounded streams and reaches above impoundments, and differed significantly from reaches below impoundments that included deeper water and more stable flows. Species richness was similar above and below impoundments, and between impounded and unimpounded streams, but fish assemblage composition and structure differed. Stream reaches above impoundments supported higher percentages of centrarchids compared to upper reaches of unimpounded streams, which had more obligate stream cyprinids. Reaches below impoundments supported mainly centrarchid species whereas lower reaches of unimpounded streams supported a balanced mix of cyprinids and centrarchids. Percina maculata (Blackside Darter) occurred throughout the study area except in upper reaches of impounded streams, illustrating how stream fragmentation can lead to localized extirpations. Changes to the fish assemblages in reaches above impoundments were due to the loss of downstream connectivity, and changes to the fish assemblages below impoundments were due to alterations of instream habitat caused by the impoundments. Small impoundments can have important effects on fish faunas of small geographical areas, but also potentially large cumulative effects if distribution of impoundments is not administered strategically at the scale of the river basin. We caution that continual population increase, recent droughts, and projected changes in climate patterns are prompting a renewed interest in impoundment construction, and urge close regulatory oversight over such projects.

Populations of Ambystoma barbouri (Streamside Salamander) have recently been identified in the Central Basin of middle Tennessee. Little is known regarding the distribution, natural history, and health of populations in Tennessee, resulting in the salamander being “deemed in need of management” by state agencies. Here we provide information regarding reproduction for the only known extant populations in Rutherford County, TN. In February 2005, fifty-one egg masses from three first-order streams were digitally photographed and analyzed to determine size of egg mass, stage of development, ovum diameter, and embryo length. Number of eggs per mass, size of ova, and size of embryos were comparable to that reported in the literature. Egg masses varied noticeably in stage of embryonic development; we estimate that oviposition in 2005 occurred between early December and early February. Eurycea cirrigera (Southern Two-lined Salamanders) oviposited in the same first-order streams and during the same time period as Streamside Salamander. Continued deforestation and land development associated with urban sprawl from the city of Murfreesboro threaten existing populations of Streamside Salamander. The information in this study can be used to provide a basis for developing conservation plans for the Streamside Salamander in middle Tennessee and for scheduling construction activities such that they least affect breeding activities.

We answer a longstanding question pertaining to Florida's exotic herpeto-fauna—are the colorful lizards (Sauria: Teiidae, Cnemidophorus lemniscatus [Rainbow Whiptail]), introduced to Florida from the pet trade, representative of one or a complex of species? We performed detailed analyses of color pattern, scutellation, and meristic characters using 16 specimens from Miami-Dade County and compared these data to those based on samples of all members in the widely distributed neotropical Cnemidophorus lemniscatus complex comprising both parthenogenetic (C. cryptus and C. pseudolemniscatus) and gonochoristic (C. arenivagus, C. gramivagus, C. lemniscatus lemniscatus, C. lemniscatus splendidus, and C. nigricolor) species of lizards. We concluded that only the most widely distributed taxon in the complex, C. lemniscatus lemniscatus, is established in Miami-Dade County. A population of this form has existed in an area of the City of Miami for several decades near and in a human-created domain of buildings, houses, swales, railroad right-of-way, and untended areas with litter/debris, introduced plants, and variable substrate mixtures of soil/pebbles/concrete/ asphalt. Based on comparisons of color pattern and morphological characters, the founders of the population of C. lemniscatus in Florida were most likely imported from Venezuela, Colombia, or an island in the Caribbean Sea.

Fenestraja plutonia is an abundant member of the slope community in the western North Atlantic, occurring at depths of 293-1042 m. Aspects of the reproductive biology of F. plutonia were examined for specimens collected off North Carolina, in the summer-fall of 2001, 2002, and 2006. Male-to-female sex ratios were not significantly different from 1:1. The smallest mature male was 215 mm TL, and the smallest mature female was 230 mm TL. Length at 50% maturity was estimated at 231 mm TL for females and 233 mm TL for males, 89 and 90% of maximum TL, respectively. Deposited egg cases (n = 107; six containing embryos), three egg-bearing females, and 11 newly hatched juveniles were collected. It appears that the upper slope off Cape Lookout, NC, at the northern end of the species range, constitutes both an egg-laying area and possibly a nursery area for this species.

Two partial skeletons of baleen whales have been recovered from Coastal Plain deposits of South Carolina. One specimen, from the lower Pliocene Goose Creek Limestone, consists of a partial skull (including mandibles) and some incomplete ribs; the other was collected from Pleistocene-Holocene mud and includes numerous post-cranial elements in addition to fragmentary premaxillae and maxillae. These whale skeletons preserve compelling fossil/sub-fossil evidence, in the form of bite marks and shed/embedded teeth, that the elasmobranchs Galeocerdo cuvier, Carcharhinus falciformis, C. longimanus, C. obscurus, and C. plumbeus fed on cetacean carcasses.

One of the most successful conservation stories in United States' history resulted in Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Bald Eagle) being removed recently from the federal endangered species list. Few studies, however, have documented regional long-term recovery trends for Bald Eagles. We quantified Bald Eagle nesting density, distribution, and productivity trends by using aerial surveys of nests located in 69 counties in eastern Texas from 1971–2005. The total number of occupied nests, productive nests, and offspring produced increased exponentially during that time, with the most dramatic increases occurring from 1995–2005. Since 1971, the total number of occupied nests increased 13% per year, from 5 in 1971 to 157 in 2005, and the total number of young produced also increased 13% per year, from 6 in 1971 to 195 in 2005. Apparent nest success estimates (50–100%) and mean brood size (1–2 young/nest), however, remained relatively consistent from 1971 to 2005. By 1989, Bald Eagles in Texas exceeded recovery goals set by the Southeastern States Bald Eagle Recovery Team (i.e., >0.9 young produced/occupied nest, >1.5 young produced/successful nest, and >50% of nests successful in raising at least 1 young). Continued regional increases in Bald Eagle nesting activity may warrant specific attention, particularly as related to anthropogenic pressures and interactions in increasingly fragmented and urbanized habitats.

To assist with recovery of Falco peregrinus (Peregrine Falcon) in the southeastern United States, we compared pre-dispersal activity budgets between falcons reintroduced at sites chosen for their contrasting habitats (agriculture vs forest). We also compared behavior of our hacked birds with nearby wild-produced juveniles. We classified pre-dispersal behavior into nine activities depicting flight and non-flight. We logged 901 hr of observation and found that wild-produced falcons spent more time in low flight, soaring, and mock combat during a 4-wk post-fledging period (mean ± 95% CI) than hacked birds. Peregrine Falcons hacked in mixed agricultural habitat spent more time soaring and perching alertly than those hacked in forest habitat; falcons in forest habitat perched inactively with higher frequency. Dispersal time (mean ± SD) differed among groups (F2,31 = 11.4, P < 0.001). Falcons hacked in forest habitat spent 15.2 ± 12.2 days on the post-fledging areas before dispersing, whereas those hacked in agricultural habitat spent 31.0 ± 3.3 days and wild-produced birds spent 35.9 ± 10.1 days. It appeared that transitional habitat supporting available prey and the presence of adults during the post-fledging period were important in the expression of key behavior repertoires including hunting, defense, and social flight activity. Our results suggest that further recovery of the Peregrine Falcon in the southeastern United States would be poorly served by additional hacking, particularly in forest habitat. Rather, managers should continue to monitor and encourage productivity in existing occupied habitat; eventually off-spring from occupied habitat may occupy adjacent habitats.

Microclimate may influence use of early successional habitat by birds. We assessed the relationships between avian habitat use and microclimate (temperature, light intensity, and relative humidity) in experimentally created canopy gaps in a bottomland hardwood forest on the Savannah River Site, SC. Gaps were 2- to 3-year-old group-selection timber harvest openings of three sizes (0.13, 0.26, 0.50 ha). Our study was conducted from spring through fall, encompassing four bird-use periods (spring migration, breeding, post-breeding, and fall migration), in 2002 and 2003. We used mist netting and simultaneously recorded microclimate variables to determine the influence of microclimate on bird habitat use. Microclimate was strongly affected by net location within canopy gaps in both years. Temperature generally was higher on the west side of gaps, light intensity was greater in gap centers, and relative humidity was higher on the east side of gaps. However, we found few relationships between bird captures and the microclimate variables. Bird captures were inversely correlated with temperature during the breeding and post-breeding periods in 2002 and positively correlated with temperature during spring 2003. Captures were high where humidity was high during post-breeding 2002, and captures were low where humidity was high during spring 2003. We conclude that variations in the local microclimate had minor influence on avian habitat use within gaps. Instead, habitat selection in relatively mild regions like the southeastern US is based primarily on vegetation structure, while other factors, including microclimate, are less important.

The pine forests of the southeastern United States support a number of cavity-nesting birds as well as several species of rat snakes (Pantherophis spp.). Rat snakes are well-documented nest predators, and nest predation of some of the region's cavity nesters is higher than in other areas. Picoides borealis (Red-cockaded Woodpeckers) and Melanerpes eyrthrocephlus (Red-headed Woodpeckers) invest substantial energy in excavating nest and roost cavities in particular trees, presumably to reduce snake predation. The abandoned cavities of these woodpeckers are important nest sites for many other cavity nesters and may provide protection from snakes. I examined the climbing ability of P. guttata (Red Cornsnake) on abandoned Red-cockaded Woodpecker cavity trees and on barkless snags similar to those used by Red-headed Woodpeckers for nest cavities. Compared to snakes climbing on control trees, snakes (n = 9) either took longer to climb to abandoned Red-cockaded Woodpecker cavities, or where unable to climb past the resin barrier. Snakes were unable to climb barkless pine snags. Despite the fact that populations of both woodpeckers have declined, the concomitant reduction in cavities has not resulted in declines of generalist secondary cavity nesters.

Adelges tsugae (Hemlock Woolly Adelgid [HWA]), an introduced pest, is impacting Tsuga canadensis (Eastern Hemlock), and T. caroliniana (Carolina Hemlock) stands throughout the eastern United States. Currently, hemlock stands in the southeast US are on the leading edge of the infestation. This study investigated HWA distributions in the Chattooga River watershed, and examined relationships between site and stand variables and hemlock susceptibility to HWA attack. The following variables were examined: latitude, longitude, elevation, slope, aspect, terrain shape index (TSI), landform index (LFI), percent infestation, quadratic mean diameter, total basal area (BA), hemlock BA, non-hemlock BA, hemlock BA(%), non-hemlock BA(%), and tree height. Multiple regression with backward selection showed statistically significant relationships of HWA infestation to latitude (P = 0.0006), longitude (P < 0.0001), and TSI (P = 0.0316). The proximity of a hemlock stand to existing HWA infestations appears to be the primary factor influencing its susceptibility to attack.

Microstegium vimineum (Japanese Stiltgrass) is an exotic shade-tolerant C4 grass that invades open and forested habitats throughout the southeastern United States. Studies suggest that invasive plants can alter ecosystem biogeochemistry by changing soil chemistry and biota. The objective of our study was to determine if M. vimineum invasion induces soil chemical changes that alter litter microarthropod communities in acidic, nutrient-poor upland forests of the Cumberland Plateau. In a greenhouse experiment comparing forest soil in tubs seeded with M. vimineum to those left unseeded over 1 year, we found that after 6 months, soil pH under M. vimineum was significantly higher than that in the unseeded tubs. We compared A-horizon chemistry, litter nutrients, and microarthropod community diversity in 3 forested sites with and without M. vimineum. We found higher pH, phosphorus (P), and base cations, and lower aluminum (Al) in soil under dense M. vimineum growth compared to soil under surrounding uninvaded understory. M. vimineum litter was more P-rich and had a higher abundance of mites than the surrounding forest floor over 3 sampling periods. However, microarthropod community evenness was lower in M. vimineum litter, indicating a decrease in diversity. These results suggest that a rapid rise in soil pH and P availability following M. vimineum colonization may reduce litter microarthropod community diversity by favoring mites.

We determined seasonal macro- and microhabitat preferences of radio-collared Sciurus niger niger (Southern Fox Squirrel) in a high-density population. Fox squirrels preferred hardwood, live oak, and mixed hardwood-pine macrohabitats to pine, early successional, and turf macrohabitats. During winter, early summer, and late summer, they preferred mixed hardwood-pine, live oak, and hardwood microhabitats to pine microhabitats. Fox squirrels preferred an open or moderate crown spacing to a dense crown spacing during all seasons, and during the summer, they preferred microhabitats with at least 1 cone-bearing pine tree. Preferred microhabitats had a short-open or leaf-litter understory structure. Although the hardwood and hardwood-pine habitats on our barrier island study site differed from typical pine-dominated southeastern fox squirrel habitat, our results demonstrating preference for these types indicated that they are capable of supporting an abundant fox squirrel population when managed by mowing, burning, and light timber harvesting.

We examined external parasites of Neotoma magister (Allegheny Woodrat) from the Royal Blue Wildlife Management Area in the Cumberland Mountains and Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area on the Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee from November 2003 to August 2005. Typically associated with rocky habitats such as clifflines and cave entrances, the Allegheny Woodrat is considered a species of concern in Tennessee. We found external parasites on 26 out of 40 Allegheny Woodrats (prevalence = 65%), including 2 Epitedia cavernicola Traub (woodrat fleas—from 2 separate woodrats; prevalence = 5%), 63 Orchopeas pennsylvanicus Baker (woodrat fleas—collected on all 26; prevalence = 65%, intensity = 2.4/woodrat), and 5 Ixodes woodi Bishopp (Woodrat Ticks—collected from 1 woodrat; prevalence = 2.5%). Our collection represents a state record for Woodrat Ticks in Tennessee. The external parasites collected from Allegheny Woodrats in east Tennessee were considered woodrat-specific parasites and exhibited low species diversity.

An individual of Agonostomus monticola (Mountain Mullet) was collected in southern Mississippi while conducting a series of community surveys on 7 November 2007. This is the first documented report of Mountain Mullet in Mississippi freshwaters, even though there are reports of three specimens collected in Mississippi estuarine waters in 1937. Given its life history and difficulties in sampling, it is likely that Mountain Mullet has a broader distribution and more frequently occurs in Gulf Coast drainages in the southern US than was previously thought.

We report on mist-net captures of three individual Nycticeius humeralis (Evening Bat) with anterior portions of Camponotus floridanus (Florida Carpenter Ant) attached by the mandibles. Based on head morphology, the ants were most likely alate queens captured as prey during the ants' nocturnal mating flights. No similar interaction between evening bats and ants has previously been documented.

Two new locations were documented for Leptoxis plicata (Plicate Rocksnail), listed as endangered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 1998. Plicate Rocksnail is endemic to the Black Warrior River system in Alabama and was thought to be restricted to 15 shoals in a 30-km reach of Locust Fork, all upstream of the US Highway 78 crossing. During a routine biological survey, Plicate Rocksnail was found at two additional shoals downstream of the Highway 78 crossing: one 3.5 km (87°01′00″W, 33°41′30″N) and the other 5.2 km (87°00′30″W, 33°39′20″N) downstream. The rocksnails were extremely abundant at each of these locations and varied in size from small, apparently young of the year, to large adults. These two new locations extend the intrabasin range of this species over 5 km farther downstream than previously reported.