The occurrence of Puma concolor (Cougar) can be confirmed by detecting physical evidence (i.e., tracks, urine markers). However, determining the number of pumas responsible for creating this sign is problematic. We addressed this difficulty by categorizing physical evidence (sign) and applied this method during the Puma concolor coryi (Florida Panther) project. Three rules were used to distinguish individuals. (1) Gender was determined by track size or stride length; (2) time (freshness) was determined by known events within the past 24 hours, such as wind or rain; and (3) distance between individual track sets was used as an exclusionary tool to avoid over-counting. We evaluated accuracy by capture and by comparison to 3 other indices. This method can be adapted to count other large felines.

Ecologically effective mine reclamation is characterized by the return of pre-mining floral and faunal communities. Excessive soil compaction typically results in delayed succession and low species diversity on reclaimed mine lands. We compared small mammal abundance and diversity among three levels of compaction in reforestation plots on an eastern Kentucky surface mine during 2004 and 2005. Compaction levels included 1) no compaction (loose-dumped), 2) light compaction (strike-off), and 3) high compaction (standard reclamation). Peromyscus leucopus (White-footed Mouse) made up 98% (295 of 300) of all individuals captured. In 2004, loose-dumped plots had more White-footed Mice (n = 108, mean = 36, SE = 0.58) than high-compaction plots (n = 62, mean = 20.6, SE = 3.10). Strike-off plots had more White-footed Mice (n = 59; mean = 19.6, SE = 0.66) than loose-dumped (n = 46, mean = 15.3, SE = 1.45) or high-compaction (n = 20, mean = 6.6, SE = 2.19) plots in 2005. Canopy cover and large rocks that created crevices appear to have been the factors that most influenced White-footed Mouse abundance on our study sites. Low small-mammal species diversity across all treatments was likely due to the presence of low quality habitat resulting from a poorly developed ground layer and soil compared to that found in undisturbed forest. Additionally, an insufficient amount of time since reclamation for small-mammal colonization from surrounding forests and a relatively large matrix of non-forested reclaimed mineland between our plots and potential source habitats may have also limited small-mammal diversity. To promote biodiversity and provide better wildlife habitat, we suggest that mine operators consider using reclamation methods that promote surface and vegetation heterogeneity and connectivity to source habitats.

This study quantified the reproductive and early life-history characteristics of nonindigenous populations of Cyprinella lutrensis (Red Shiner) introduced into two tributaries of the Chattahoochee River, GA. Red Shiners had a maximum age of at least two years and a peak breeding season from May through July, with intermittent spawning in both populations. The presence of small individuals late in the year suggests the potential for Red Shiners to spawn in their first summer of life in both study streams. Whereas these life histories are similar to those previously described for this species, these results suggest the potential for nonindigenous Red Shiners to successfully expand and establish populations in additional areas within the Chattahoochee River drainage.

Military training, soil texture, and ground cover influence ant communities at Fort Benning, a military installation in west-central Georgia. We sampled 81,237 ground-dwelling ants (47 species in 20 genera) with pitfall traps at 40 sites on a continuum from nearly pristine forest to highly disturbed training areas. We also measured 15 environmental variables related to vegetation and soil. Sites disturbed by military training had fewer trees, less canopy cover, more bare ground, and more compact soils with shallower A-horizons than comparable undisturbed sites. Pheidole bicarinata, Dorymyrmex smithi, and Pogonomyrmex badius dominated the most highly disturbed sites. Competitively submissive myrmicines, such as Aphaenogaster and Crematogaster, and formicines, such as Camponotus and Formica, were abundant in the undisturbed sites. Solenopsis invicta occurred in all but the least disturbed sites. Ant community composition was a useful indicator of disturbance at Fort Benning.

The biology of Notropis xaenocephalus (Coosa Shiner) was investigated using 12 monthly collections from Moore Creek (Etowah River Drainage) in Cherokee County, GA. Specimens were collected primarily from pools with slow current and examined to determine age, growth, food habits, and reproductive cycle. The bulk of the diet consisted of Diptera adults, Chironomidae larvae, Hymenoptera, and unidentified insect parts. Feeding was greatest in the spring and lowest during winter months. Spawning occurred in spring to early summer, with 86–540 mature oocytes ranging from 0.9 to 1.3 mm in diameter present in specimens collected from March to June. Sexual maturity occurred at 1 year of age. The largest specimen collected was a female 63.8 mm SL and 4.4 g total weight. Two specimens estimated to be 38 months of age were the oldest specimens collected. As one of the most abundant minnows in the upper Alabama River Drainage, these findings provide a greater understanding of the ecology of this imperiled ecosystem.

Noturus munitus (Frecklebelly Madtom), is a diminutive catfish restricted to large rivers in the Mobile Basin and Pearl River drainages in the southeastern United States. We conducted surveys of 13 major tributaries of the Alabama, Cahaba, and Tombigbee river systems in the Mobile Basin to determine use of tributaries by N. munitus. Our surveys found only one specimen in Oakmulgee Creek, a large tributary to the Cahaba River and one of the few rivers in which stable populations of N. munitus remain. We combine results from our recent survey with a review of the literature and museum records for N. munitus throughout its range to present a consolidated status report. Our review indicates that N. munitus is currently greatly reduced from its former range, and is in decline in most of the drainages it still inhabits. We recommend federal protection for the species under the Endangered Species Act. We also provide suggestions for future research and management actions for the species.

Little is known about the behavior of individual fish in a spawning aggregation, specifically how long an individual remains in an aggregation. We monitored Moxostoma robustum (Cope) (Robust Redhorse) in a Savannah River spawning aggregation during spring 2004 and 2005 to provide an estimate of the total number of adults and the number of males comprising the aggregation and to determine male residence time and movements within a spawning aggregation. Robust Redhorse were captured using prepostioned grid electrofishers, identified to sex, weighed, measured, and implanted with a passive integrated transponder. Spawning aggregation size was estimated using a multiple census mark-and-recapture procedure. The spawning aggregation seemed to consist of approximately the same number of individuals (82–85) and males (50–56) during both years of this study. Individual males were present for a mean of 3.6 ± 0.24 days (± SE) during the 12-day spawning period. The mean distance between successive recaptures of individual males was 15.9 ± 1.29 m (± SE). We conclude that males establish spawning territories on a daily basis and are present within the spawning aggregation for at least 3–4 days. The relatively short duration of the aggregation may be the result of an extremely small population of adults. However, the behavior of individuals has the potential to influence population estimates made while fish are aggregated for spawning.

Over the past 30 years, cold events and disease have reduced much of the live Acropora cervicornis (Staghorn Coral) in Dry Tortugas National Park (DTNP), FL to fields of coral rubble. It is unclear how the resulting loss of three-dimensional reef structure has affected density and distribution of reef-dependent damselfishes. We compared densities of Stegastes adustus (Dusky Damselfish), Stegastes leucostictus (Beaugregory Damselfish), Microspathodon chrysurus (Yellowtail Damselfish), Stegastes planifrons (Three-spot Damselfish) and Stegastes variabilis (Cocoa Damselfish) inhabiting DTNP's last live Staghorn Coral formation with densities from surrounding coral rubble. Live Staghorn Coral supported a 65% higher damselfish density compared to coral rubble. Density of Dusky, Cocoa, Beaugregory, Yellowtail and Three-spot Damselfish on coral rubble (0.11, 0.58, 0.74, 0.02, and 0.06 fish/m², respectively) was less than that found on living Staghorn Coral colonies (2.03, 0.45, 0.25, 0.50, and 0.96 fish/m², respectively). Dusky Damselfish dominated the live Staghorn Coral site, while Cocoa and Beaugregory Damselfish dominated the coral rubble site. Juvenile density was ten times greater on coral rubble than on live Staghorn Coral, whereas adults had highest densities on live Staghorn Coral.

As a first step toward elucidating the current status of Alabama's crayfish fauna, museums known to have significant crayfish collections were queried for their holdings from that state. A total of 4649 records of Alabama crayfishes were obtained from seven museums. Three-hundred thirty of the records did not have suitable information for geo-referencing. The largest holdings were in the National Museum of Natural History (2544 records). Specimen identifications were verified, and all records were geo-referenced. Geographic distribution strongly favored upland drainages in the northern and central portions of the state. The Tennessee River drainage was the most collected drainage (1018 records, 23.6% of records). A total of 85 species of crayfishes are reported for the state of Alabama; only Orconectes virilis (Virile Crayfish) is deemed to be non-native. Even with the extensive collection of crayfish records in museums, there is a need for crayfish inventory work in Alabama. A total of 3107 records (76.3%) were collected prior to 1987, and 1379 (33.8%) were collected prior to 1970. In addition, there is a paucity of records from the coastal drainages of SE Alabama. There is also an under-representation of burrowing crayfishes, especially those classified as either primary or secondary burrowers. Only 212 (4.9%) of all records are of burrowing species. Lastly, a limited amount of fieldwork in Alabama has documented the presence of a species previously unreported for the state.

Aquatic and semiaquatic beetles in the families Dytiscidae, Gyrinidae, Haliplidae, Helophoridae, Hydraenidae, Hydrophilidae, and Noteridae of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) were sampled from 2003 to 2006. Current and historic literature as well as the insect collections at GSMNP, Illinois Natural History Survey, Smithsonian Institution, and University of Tennessee were examined for GSMNP records. This is the first comprehensive effort at surveying the aquatic and semiaquatic beetles of GSMNP. A total of 115 species were recorded: 46 Dytiscidae, 7 Gyrinidae, 5 Haliplidae, 2 Helophoridae, 2 Hydraenidae, 2 Hydrochidae, 49 Hydrophilidae, and 2 Noteridae. Eighty species are reported from GSMNP for the first time. Hydaticus aruspex Clark, Hydrocolus deflatus, H. paugus, Liodessus affinis (Dytiscidae), and Dactylosternum abdominale (Hydrophilidae) are reported from Tennessee for the first time.

We surveyed 3 populations of Scutellaria montana (Large-flowered Skullcap), a federally threatened mint, in southeastern Tennessee, and measured microsite characteristics between Large-flowered Skullcap present and absent plots in close proximity. Large-flowered Skullcap plots were typically associated with relatively open areas in forests. Further, some woody plants were positively associated with Large-flowered Skullcap (e.g., Calycanthus floridus [Common Sweetshrub], Carya glabra [Pignut Hickory]), while others were negatively associated (e.g., Vaccinium stamineum [Gooseberry], Pinus virginiana [Virginia Pine]). Linear regression revealed that Large-flowered Skullcap density increased with percent horizontal cover of grass (i.e., Poaceae) and decreased with percent vertical cover of vegetation. Our results suggest that suitable Large-flowered Skullcap sites may be characterized by secondary forests with an open understory containing grass.

The Coon Creek Forever Wild Tract (CCFWT) is an area of approximately 130 ha that was purchased by the State of Alabama Forever Wild Program on February 1, 1995. The CCFWT lies 45 km west of Auburn, AL with the main tributary, Coon Creek, dissecting the tract and eventually emptying into the Tallapoosa River. The site is managed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources with an emphasis on recreational use, habitat management, and rare species protection. A floristic study of this area was conducted from March 2006 through May 2007. A total of 503 species from 319 genera and 114 families were collected, with 195 species being county records. Asteraceae was the largest family with 74 species. Poaceae, Cyperaceae, and Fabaceae were the next largest families with 45, 31, and 31 species, respectively. Carex was the largest genus represented with 15 taxa.

Since removal from the endangered species list, Alligator mississippiensis (American Alligator) populations have recovered to allow regulated harvest throughout most of their range. However, harvest/population management is complicated since alligators are long-lived, reach sexual maturity at a minimum size rather than age, and experience differential growth rates depending on geographic location, growing season length, local environmental conditions, habitat, and population density. To date, few data exist on age, sex, growth, and size structure of inland alligator populations. In this study, alligator growth rate and condition were quantified through an intensive mark-recapture study conducted at Angelina-Neches/Dam B Wildlife Management Area. Between May 2003 and October 2004, 279 alligators ranging in size from 29.7 cm to 348.0 cm (total length [TL]) were captured, and 48 subadult alligators were recaptured (<125 cm TL). As recaptured individuals were biased towards smaller individuals, recaptured subadult alligators were divided into two size classes: size class 1 (<50 cm) and size class 2 (50–125 cm). Mean growth rates for size class 1 were 32.4 cm/year and for size class 2 were 27.6 cm/year. For both size classes, mean body condition was 1.8. Overall, subadult alligators within our inland study area exhibited faster growth rates and lower body condition than most other populations studied throughout their range.

Several pathogens affect amphibians, but a chytridiomycete fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, is of particular interest because this pathogen is linked to localized amphibian population declines and extinction of species. Species-specific infections and pathogen distribution are poorly understood, particularly in members of Caudata. We found B. dendrobatidis in adult Eurycea cirrigera (Southern Two-lined Salamander), a species not previously reported as susceptible to this fungal pathogen, and this report is the first record of B. dendrobatidis occurrence in Alabama.

While the occurrence of canine distemper virus (CDV) in Procyon Lotor (Raccoon) is well documented, detailed descriptions of the behavior of CDV-infected individuals are scant. Here, we report a sequence of particularly odd behaviors of a CDV-infected Raccoon encountered in rural Arkansas. These behaviors included lack of fear, apparent loss of coordination and other actions consistent with a neurologic abnormality. CDV associated encephalitis was confirmed by histological examination and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

A juvenile Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi (Gulf Sturgeon) was collected from the Santa Fe River, a major tributary of the Suwannee River, FL, on 6 December 2006. The Suwannee River is believed to contain the largest existing population of Gulf Sturgeon; however, our specimen is only the third Gulf Sturgeon collected from the Santa Fe River. Based on these observations, we believe that the Santa Fe River should be studied further to determine its importance as Gulf Sturgeon habitat, especially in the face of future management plans that may alter the hydrology of the system.

Odocoileus virginianus (White-tailed Deer) were videotaped depredating two Colinus virginianus (Northern Bobwhite) nests during a nest-predator study in south Georgia in 2002 and 2003. Deer ate eggs from the nests, leading to the failure of one of the two nests.

Living, freshly collected individuals of three species of snapping shrimps were studied to determine any differing morphological, developmental, and ecological features: Alpheus heterochaelis, collected from Beaufort, NC; A. angulosus, found mainly in Jacksonville, FL, but also at one site in Beaufort; and A. estuariensis, collected at another Jacksonville site. Structural characteristics of these superficially similar species are summarized, with particular attention to coloration. Adult A. angulosus individuals have blue-green 2^nd antennal flagella (vs. tan in the other two species) that are significantly shorter than those of A. heterochaelis. Alpheus angulosus and A. estuariensis bear smaller eggs (<1 mm, regardless of embryonic stage) than A. heterochaelis (>1 mm), and the former species displays the zoea larval form typical of alpheids (vs. abbreviated larval development in A. heterochaelis).