In August 2012, a Lasiurus cinereus (Hoary Bat) and 2 Lasiurus borealis (Eastern Red Bat) were netted near Donkin, Cape Breton Island, NS, Canada. Acoustic studies showed the presence of Hoary Bats on at least 3 nights and Eastern Red Bats on at least 16 nights, over a 32-night-long survey starting on 21 August 2012. These records are the first for both species on Cape Breton Island, and significantly extend the known distribution of Eastern Red Bats.

We report the observation of an albino male Tamiasciurus hudsonicus (Red Squirrel) from Sainte-Luce in eastern Quebec, Canada. While occurrences of entirely albino individuals have been sporadically reported in the wild in other sciurid species, true albinism is rare in T. hudsonicus. That albino sciurids can survive in the wild may be related to their relatively minor visual deficits compared to other albino mammals, which experience a greater loss of vision. The lack of pigmentation, however, may be a major disadvantage in the wild for the Red Squirrel, which is a diurnal and arboreal prey species. In conjunction with the recessive nature of albinism, it is not surprising that albino individuals are rarely reported for this species.

Specimens of Nocomis biguttatus (Hornyhead Chub) from South Fork Hughes River (Little Kanawha River drainage, WV) were discovered in two museum lots at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. These accessions, collected in 1960 and 1966, represent an addition to the state fauna and are the first distribution records for this species from the Appalachian Plateau, WV

The Gulf of Maine has undergone dramatic physiographic and oceanographic changes over the last several millenia resulting in some unusual biogeographic consequences. One is that there are pockets of Virginian species, including Crassostra virginica (Eastern Oyster), that survive in isolated warm water pockets, usually at the heads of estuaries. These small and vulnerable populations need documentation, protection, and restoration in order to preserve their genetic characteristics and ecological services. In this contribution, we describe the circumstances whereby tidal restoration made available 2.5 linear km of new habitat area to the relict oyster population of the Marsh River, ME, the northernmost documented native oyster population in the United States. Oysters recruited to the new habitat quickly, demonstrating the restoration potential of isolated, relict populations. The resultant larger population size and areal extent should provide increased stability and survivability of the oyster and its associated community. These observations have implications for both the restoration potential of relict oyster populations and the consequences of climate change.

I watched blow fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) larvae in western Maine that had consumed six animal carcasses so that I could identify patterns relating to when, how, and why they left the carcasses. The blow fly larvae stayed under the carcasses on hot, dry days, and then left them on rainy nights, traveling in random directions. Following several rainless days, the larvae left the carcasses at dawn on days with heavy dew and proceeded in a single 1-2-cm-wide column directly toward the rising sun. Species composition of one larvae column was nearly all or exclusively Phormia regina.

Hollardia hollardi (Reticulate Spikefish) is reported from two specimens caught in lobster traps along the southern edge of Georges Bank, far north of its previously known northern distribution from southern Florida, the Bahamas, and Bermuda.

Effects of white-nose syndrome (WNS) have mainly been assessed in bats at hibernacula, but this method may not be appropriate for species with poorly understood overwintering habits. We assessed effects of WNS on summer captures of Myotis leibii (Eastern Small-footed Bat), M. lucifugus (Little Brown Bat), M. septentrionalis (Northern Long-eared Bat), and Eptesicus fuscus (Big Brown Bat) in New Hampshire from 2005– 2011. Declines in rates and probability of capture varied among species but were greatest in the Myotis. Trends generally agreed with previous studies, except that declines in captures of Eastern Small-footed Bats were disproportionately higher than expected from winter estimates. Monitoring of Eastern Small-footed Bats during the non-hibernation period likely will help to clarify the effects of WNS on this uncommon species.

Research in alpine areas of northeastern North America has been poorly coordinated, with minimal communication among researchers, and it has rarely been multidisciplinary. A workshop was organized to review the state of alpine research in northeastern North America, to facilitate cooperation, and to encourage discussion about research priorities for the region's alpine habitat, which occurs in four US states and the southern part of Québec, Canada. More than 40 researchers with diverse expertise participated in the discussions, including lichenologists, botanists, herpetologists, ornithologists, ecosystem scientists, climatologists, conservation biologists, land managers, and others. Research priorities were developed through post-workshop discussions and an online survey, and they are presented here, along with a summary of the process used to organize the workshop. In addition to specific research questions, strong support was expressed for creation of a network of long-term alpine monitoring sites where a standardized protocol would be used to collect data on biotic and abiotic parameters. Researchers also strongly endorsed the creation of an organization to continue the exchange of information.

Previous observations on the occurrence of the megalopae of Ocypode quadrata (Atlantic Ghost Crab) along the inshore waters of the northeastern coast of the US from New Jersey to southern Massachusetts and the offshore waters of southwestern Nova Scotia, dating back to the end of the 19^th century to recent findings in the 21^st century, are reviewed. Although megalopae were found for the first time north of Cape Cod in plankton samples from Nova Scotia (1977–1978), they are reported here for the first time on beaches north of Cape Cod along the east coast of Massachusetts and as far north as Kennebunkport, ME. The nearest populations of adult Atlantic Ghost Crabs are located along the southeast coast of Massachusetts. Thus, zoeae larvae and megalopae originating below Cape Cod must migrate northward around the Cape or via Buzzards Bay through the Cape Cod Canal. Likewise, megalopae reported from southwestern Nova Scotian waters must have originated from adult populations to the south. The incidence of megalopae from New Jersey northward along the coast suggests a recruitment period from late summer into early fall for Atlantic Ghost Crabs on the northern edge of their range.

Lynx canadensis (Canada Lynx) mostly occurs in the continental area of North America. Two populations in Atlantic Canada on Newfoundland and Cape Breton Island are geographically isolated. Past studies have revealed geographical and environmental barriers that have significantly impacted processes that ultimately influence the ecology, genetics, evolution, and conservation of the species' populations. However, equivocal results were obtained as to the morphological and genetic characteristics of the species, and very little is known in this regard on the island populations. The aim of this study was to investigate skull morphometric variation between the species' populations. We examined and measured 18 craniodental characters on 171 specimens spanning the species' Canadian range, including most of its boreal forest range and the 2 island populations. Univariate and multivariate analyses provided evidence for significant morphological differentiation among the species' populations. Factors pertaining to geographical isolation of populations accounted for the bulk of the craniometric variation for both males and females. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified 3 geographical groups: mainland Canada, Newfoundland, and Cape Breton Island. Consistent with the “island rule”, analysis of variance with the Sheffé significant difference post hoc test and PCA results indicated that continental individuals were significantly larger than those from Cape Breton Island, whereas those from Newfoundland, which is significantly larger than Cape Breton Island, exhibited intermediate size. Shape-related variations in the frontal bone among the 3 geographical groups were detected. Six out of the 18 craniodental characters, i.e., postorbital constriction, mastoid, mandible, upper tooth row, mandibular molar row, and upper canine to canine segment, can be used in discriminant function analysis to distinguish between these 3 groups and correctly classify more than 90% of the individuals from the insular populations. We showed for the first time differentiation between Canada Lynx populations on Cape Breton Island and those in the rest of Canada. Individuals from Cape Breton Island appeared the smallest. Contrary to expectations, the Rocky Mountains did not prove to be a significant geographical barrier, resulting in no morphological differentiation of the British Columbia populations. The morphological variations we reported in this study should benefit conservation and management programs in Atlantic Canada, where the levels of the Canada Lynx population are critically low. Conservation plans that strive to maintain the genetic variation documented in the present study should help ensure the preservation of sufficient variability for adaptation to changing environmental conditions required for the long-term viability of populations of Canada Lynx.

The freshwater amphipod, Gammarus fasciatus, and a population that keys to Gammarus pseudolimnaeus are broadly sympatric in southeastern Virginia. By documenting the successful formation of pre-copulatory mate-guarding pairs between individuals collected from Virginia and New York, we confirmed the occurrence of a G. pseudolimnaeus population strongly disjunct from the previously described range in the Mississippi and St. Lawrence River drainage basins. Gammarus pseudolimnaeus appears restricted to high-quality, spring-fed streams that occur at low density across an increasingly fragmented natural landscape in Virginia. Gammarus fasciatus, however, occurs in lakes and streams of developed landscapes that typically are more degraded, and this species does not co-occur with G. pseudolimnaeus in high-quality habitat. Gammarus pseudolimnaeus reproduces year-round, with adults and juveniles of all size classes continuously present. Gammarus fasciatus reproduces primarily from February through June, at which point the adults die, and by late summer the population consists solely of immature individuals. If the two species overlapped in distribution, the smaller Gammarus fasciatus amphipods would have to compete with adult G. pseudolimnaeus for resources. We hypothesize that this competitively disadvantageous life cycle could account, in part, for the absence of G. fasciatus in high-quality streams occupied by G. pseudolimnaeus.

The Puffin Patrol is a volunteer-based group that rescues fledgling Fratercula arctica (Atlantic Puffin) stranded in coastal communities overlooking the Witless Bay Seabird Ecological Reserve in Newfoundland, Canada, which hosts the two largest Atlantic Puffin colonies in North America. We examine local environmental factors (visibility, moon phase) that may influence light attraction in Atlantic Puffins and explore the use of weight data and other information collected through this volunteer-based initiative to help monitor the health of this important population. In 2011, only 13 live Atlantic Puffins were captured despite nightly search efforts throughout the fledging period; this low capture rate was attributed to poor breeding success at the colony. In contrast, in 2012, 414 live fledgling puffins were captured and successfully released between 6 August and 5 September; 388 of these were banded and weighed prior to release. Capture rates on nights with poor visibility due to fog (26 fledglings per night) were similar to fogless nights (24 fledglings per night). Most live Atlantic Puffins were captured within a two-week period around the new moon. Fledglings weighed 248 ± 25 (SD) g, range = 160–315 g; weights significantly declined over the fledging period. In addition to the direct conservation benefits of saving grounded Atlantic Puffins, information collected through this volunteer-based initiative 1) provides insight on factors affecting Atlantic Puffins' attraction to coastal communities, 2) shows the importance of mitigating artificial light during the birds' fledging period within these developing communities, and 3) helps collect important demographic information without causing additional disturbance to the colonies.

The primary objective of this study was to compare urban and peri-urban mammal assemblages and relate variation in these communities to local differences in vegetation. We surveyed 15 locations in both urban and peri-urban habitats (n = 30). Boundaries of our survey areas coincided with those of National Park Service (NPS) areas in central Virginia. Over a 14-month period, we used five trap-types to document species in three guilds. A total of 9 and 15 species were documented at urban and peri-urban locations, respectively. Top predators Canis latrans (Coyote) and Felis rufus (Bobcat) were undetected at urban sites, while mesopredators were consistently more abundant. The absence of four small prey species and reduced abundances of the most common native generalist, Peromyscus leucopus (White-footed Mouse), were also associated with urban locations. Multivariate analyses of relative abundance data indicated significantly dissimilar mammal communities in urban and peri-urban locations. Shrub cover was highest in peri-urban locations, while grass cover was highest in urban sites—a pattern that was only marginally significant due to greater variability among these sites. The exotic grass Microstegium vimineum (Japanese Stiltgrass) was present at several urban sites and contributed to the complex relationship between percent grass cover and the small-mammal assemblages that we surveyed. Our results suggest that disturbances that reduce the recruitment of shrubs and other native plants and promote the spread of invasive grasses may have severe consequences for small-mammal communities. In addition, culturally preserved areas within both survey sites (i.e., battlefields planted with fescue grasses) were inhospitable to most small-mammal species and wildlife in general. In many NPS areas, there is great opportunity for development of adaptive management strategies that integrate ongoing NPS efforts to control invasive plant species with the enhancement of wildlife habitat in both culturally and naturally preserved areas. There is an urgent need for the conservation of native habitat in NPS areas and non-park sites threatened by urbanization. The primary focus of these efforts should include the control of exotic species and mesopredators, facilitation of native shrub recruitment, and, in many of these areas, the ecological restoration of historic sites. NPS lands in urbanized areas offer unique conditions for wildlife management and abundant opportunities for conserving native communities.

Lyme disease is the most prevalent vector-borne disease in north temperate areas worldwide, with the majority of cases reported in the northeastern United States. The transmission cycle involves ticks, deer, small mammalian hosts such as mice, and numerous other species. Levi et al. (2012) suggested that Canis latrans (Coyote) abundance and Vulpes vulpes (Red Fox) scarcity are strong predictors of Lyme disease cases in eastern North America, with Odocoileus virginianus (White-tailed Deer) abundance being less important. This suggestion was based on correlations of disease dynamics with human harvests of canids, as it has been suggested that Red Foxes occur at a lower abundance because of Coyote predation. Because Red Foxes are more effective predators of small mammals, the authors of that work contend that the lower Red Fox abundance results in an increase in the incidence of Lyme disease. This paper re-examines the evidence used by Levi at al. (2012) to reach their conclusions. We address the following points: 1) Levi et al. did not provide data on rodent populations or Lyme disease incidence; 2) Coyotes eat rodents, so a Coyoteinduced reduction of Red Fox populations might not result in increased rodent populations; 3) Coyote harvests are poor indicators of Coyote abundance; 4) both Red Fox numbers and rodent numbers fluctuate dramatically due to factors such as disease and weather; 5) some of the data used by Levi et al. (2012) were from regions with western Coyotes, while other data were from areas with hybrid eastern Coyotes, thus confounding the situation; and 6) Levi et al. did not consider important alternative hypotheses, such as habitat fragmentation and climate change. Additionally, the historical dynamics of the Lyme disease system are unknown given that Canis lupus lycaon (= Canis lycaon) (Eastern Wolf) and Urocyon cinereoargenteus (Gray Foxes) originally lived m most of the northeast, while Red Foxes and Coyotes were historically absent from most of the area. We suggest proceeding with caution before concluding that the presence of Coyotes (or the reduction of Red Foxes) is the primary cause of increased incidence of Lyme disease cases m the eastern United States.

Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis (Eastern Hellbender) is an environmentally sensitive species that has experienced range-wide population declines. Diurnal rock-turning surveys were conducted in southern WV during the summer and fall of 2006 to assess the species' population status in this area and to examine the relationship between stream physico-chemical characteristics and site occupancy. Survey results suggest that Eastern Hellbender populations are rare in southern WV, with Eastern Hellbender present at only ≈15% of all sites surveyed and only ≈20% of sites where they have been documented historically. Logistic regression models showed that presence of increased gravel substrate and specific conductivity reduced the probability of site occupancy by Eastern Hellbenders. It is not clear why a higher proportion of gravel substrate negatively affected site occupancy, because gravel should benefit Eastern Hellbender populations by providing larval habitat and habitat for prey species. The effect of specific conductivity may indicate a negative impact of watershed disturbance on populations. This explanation is supported by a principal component analysis of habitat characteristics followed by logistic regression, which demonstrated that sites with habitat characteristics indicative of more degraded sites (e.g., higher specific conductivity) decreased the probability of a site being occupied by Eastern Hellbenders. The results of our study suggest that Eastern Hellbender populations may be severely threatened in southern WV and that site occupancy by Eastern Hellbenders is related to both the physical nature of stream substrate and to water quality characteristics. Furthermore, this study indicates a need for research investigating the potential for human land-use to adversely affect Eastern Hellbenders.

Research addressing the implications of forest harvesting for mammals has focused on different categories of silvicultural prescriptions. However, the effects of these prescriptions on forest structure can vary considerably, and categories of prescriptions rarely incorporate the market for which timber is being harvested. The latter information is important given the recent shift from conventional round-wood harvesting to wholetree removal for biofuels production, and corresponding reductions in post-harvest woody biomass left on-site. Our goal was to assess the effects of forest harvesting for biofuels on mammal species. Objectives included 1) evaluating how structural components influenced mammals, and 2) assessing the role of scale on species-habitat relationships. We sampled mammals in a 97-ha area of hardwood forest in the Adirondack Mountains in New York that had been partially harvested for biofuels in 2010. We used Sherman traps and track plates to assess the distribution of mammals. We captured 6 species of mammals in Sherman traps and identified 8 species using track plates. Mammalian species varied in their sensitivity to changes in habitat characteristics associated with biofuels harvest (coarse woody debris and slash). Our study reveals a complex suite of factors driving the response of mammals to variation in forest structure as a result of biofuels production. The harvesting practices used in the focal region are unlikely to lead to dramatic changes in the abundance and distribution of individual species of small mammals, but may influence the occurrence of common species including deer-mice and voles.

Coastal heathlands are rare ecosystems that provide habitat for rare species in Nova Scotia. Thirty-nine plots were established in Nova Scotia heathlands to assess plant community composition and occurrence of rare plants. Analysis of species richness and multidimensional scaling (MDS) revealed that heathland communities are varied, with differences between regions, inland and coastal sites, and between physiognomy types. Six rare plants occurred within 9 of 39 plots. Coastal heathland communities were found to have greater species richness and variation in community type than previously thought. Heathland rare plants are not restricted to any particular community type; rather, rare coastal plants in Nova Scotia occur in a wide variety of community types. Coastal heathlands add diversity to the mostly forested landscape of Nova Scotia and provide habitat for rare species.