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The Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) is a threatened bird species undergoing continued population declines across most of its range. Despite the conservation concern, there are few published studies on the species' fecundity. We examined the nesting phenology, clutch size, and fledging success of Red-headed Woodpecker nests in southern Ontario and northern New York, where population declines are especially pronounced. We calculated the fecundity of the Red-headed Woodpecker populations from fledgling numbers and nest survival estimates. We found that nest phenology and clutch sizes were similar to those reported in other studies for the species. Red-headed Woodpecker nests monitored using video inspection had an unusually low fledging success (39%), and an average fecundity of 0.43 female fledglings per female per year. The fledgling success and fecundity for the monitored Red-headed Woodpecker population was lower than that reported by other published studies on Melanerpes spp., as well as for other genera of woodpeckers. The fecundity was also below the minimum threshold needed to offset mortality for the species, when compared to a majority of minimum fecundity values estimated from the literature. We suggest low fecundity for Red-headed Woodpeckers at the northern edge of their range may be the chronic condition of sink populations, or a more recent phenomenon for small populations approaching local extinction. Received 21 November 2014. Accepted 25 April 2015. Key words: fecundity, fledging success, Melanerpes erythrocephalus, Red-headed Woodpecker, woodpecker., The Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) is a once common, widespread species facing population declines across much of its range in east-central North America (Frei et al. 2015a). Population declines have [...]

We studied a raccoon (Procyon lotor) population within a managed central Appalachian hardwood forest in West Virginia to investigate the effects of intensive forest management on raccoon spatial requirements and habitat selection. Raccoon home-range (95% utilization distribution) and core-area (50% utilization distribution) size differed between sexes with males maintaining larger (2X) home ranges and core areas than females. Home-range and core-area size did not differ between seasons for either sex. We used compositional analysis to quantify raccoon selection of six different habitat types at multiple spatial scales. Raccoons selected riparian corridors (riparian management zones [RMZ]) and intact forests (> 70 y old) at the core-area spatial scale. RMZs likely were used by raccoons because they provided abundant denning resources (i.e., large-diameter trees) as well as access to water. Habitat composition associated with raccoon foraging locations indicated selection for intact forests, riparian areas, and regenerating harvest (stands, INTRODUCTION Intensive forest management can substantially modify forested landscapes and often results in altered vertebrate species assemblages, spatial requirements, and selection of habitat. Structural changes incurred from forestry practices, such [...]

Populations of Red-headed Woodpeckers (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) have declined throughout much of their range. Conservation management to arrest declines or increase populations is difficult, because many aspects of the species' demography remain poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we monitored Red-headed Woodpeckers' nests on Fort Drum Military Installation, in northern New York and modeled daily nest survival rate as a function of temporal and habitat-specific covariates. Red-headed Woodpeckers had low overall nest survival rates (nest survival = 32%), and predation was the leading cause (82%) of nest failure. Cavity concealment had the greatest influence on daily nest survival rate, whereby nests with greater vegetative structure surrounding (within 1 [m.sup.2] of) the nest cavity had higher survival rates, likely because of reduced nest predation. Our estimates of Red-headed Woodpeckers' nest survival were lower relative to other portions of their range and suggest that, at local scales, low reproductive rates near the periphery of the species' distribution may limit population growth. Received 21 January 2014. Accepted 4 June 2014. Key words: cavity concealment, Melanerpes erythrocephalus, nest habitat, nest survival, New York, Red-headed Woodpecker., The Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) was historically common in the eastern and central United States, and it still has one of the largest breeding distributions of any woodpecker species in [...]

The model for aeroelastic validation research involving computation semispan wind-tunnel model, a transport wing--fuselage flutter model, was tested in NASA Langley's Transonic Dynamics Tunnel with the goal of obtaining experimental limit cycle oscillation behavior data at transonic separation onset conditions. This research model is notable for its inexpensive construction and instrumentation installation procedures. Unsteady pressures and wing responses were obtained for three wing-tip configurations: clean, tip store, and winglet. Traditional flutter boundaries were measured over the range of M = 0.6-0.9, and maps of limit cycle oscillation behavior were made in the range of M = 0.85-0.95. The effects of dynamic pressure and angle of attack were measured. Testing in both R134a heavy gas and air provided unique data on the Reynolds number, transition effects, and the effect of speed of sound on limit cycle oscillation behavior. This report gives an overview of the test results, including experimental flutter boundaries, and the conditions involving shock-induced transonic flow separation onset at low wing angles, including maps of limit cycle oscillation behavior. DOI: 10.2514/1.30079

Over the past 20-30 y, northern and western populations of the Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister) have experienced large declines, whereas populations in the core of the range are assumed to be stable. We examined population trends at two study areas in northcentral West Virginia along the western ridge of the central Appalachian Mountains. Temperature and precipitation parameters along with mast production were examined to determine if these environmental variables impacted the population. Based on a 5 y dataset, our results indicate a yearly decrease in the overall population, with adult females most affected. Hard and soft mast availability related to adult female capture rates, whereas temperatures significantly affected juvenile, adult female and overall capture rates. Juvenile summer capture rates increased with warmer temperatures the preceding winter. Female summer capture rates decreased with warmer temperatures the preceding spring suggesting that effects of warming should be added as a potential threat to the Allegheny woodrat., INTRODUCTION Anthropogenic induced disturbances, such as timber harvest, habitat destruction and fragmentation, introduced species and secondary extinctions, are among the leading causes of modern population declines (Diamond, 1989; LoGiudice, 2006). [...]

Since coming online in 1984, the National Transonic Facility cryogenic wind tunnel at the NASA Langley Research Center has provided unique high Reynolds number testing capability. Although turbulence levels in the tunnel, expressed in terms of percent of dynamic pressure, are typical of other transonic wind tunnels, the significantly increased load levels used to achieve flight Reynolds numbers, in conjunction with the unique structural design requirements for cryogenic operation, have brought forward the issue of model and model support-structure vibrations. This paper reports computational results and experimental measurements documenting aerodynamic and structural dynamics processes involved in such vibrations experienced in the National Transonic Facility. In particular, evidence of local unsteady airloads developed about the model support strut is shown and related to well-documented acoustic features known as Parker modes. Two-dimensional unsteady viscous computations illustrate this model support-structure loading mechanism.

A viscous-inviscid interactive coupling method is used for the computation of unsteady transonic flows. A lag-entrainment integral boundary layer method is used with a transonic small-disturbance potential code to compute the transonic aeroelastic response for two wing flutter models. By varying the modeled length scale, viscous effects may be studied as the Reynolds number per reference chord length varies. Appropriate variation of modeled frequencies and generalized masses then allows comparison of responses for varying scales or Reynolds number. Two wing flutter models are studied: one a 4% thick swept wing and the other a transport aircraft wing. Calculations for both wings show limit cycle oscillation behavior at transonic speeds in the vicinity of minimum flutter speed indices with amplitudes which are affected by Reynolds number.

The generalized aeroelastic analysis method is applied to the analysis of three well-studied check cases: restrained and unrestrained airfoil models and a wing model. An eigenvalue iteration procedure is used for converging upon roots of the complex stability matrix. For the airfoil models, exact root loci are given, which clearly illustrate the nature of the flutter and divergence instabilities. The singularities involved are enumerated, including an additional pole at the origin for the unrestrained airfoil case and the emergence of an additional pole on the positive real axis at the divergence speed for the restrained airfoil case. Inconsistencies and differences among published aeroelastic root loci and the new, exact results are discussed and resolved. The generalization of a doublet lattice method computer code is described, and the code is applied to the calculation of root loci for the wing model for incompressible and for subsonic flow conditions. The error introduced in the reduction of the singular integral equation underlying the unsteady lifting surface theory to a linear algebraic equation is discussed. Acknowledging this inherent error, the solutions of the algebraic equation by generalized aeroelastic analysis method are termed 'exact.' The singularities of the problem are discussed, and exponential series approximations used in the evaluation of the kernel function are shown to introduce a dense collection of poles and zeroes on the negative real axis. Again, inconsistencies and differences among published aeroelastic root loci and the new, 'exact' results are discussed and resolved. In all cases, aeroelastic flutter and divergence speeds and frequencies are in good agreement with published results. The generalized aeroelastic analysis method solution procedure allows complete control over Mach number, velocity, density, and complex frequency. Thus, all points on the computed root loci can be matched-point, consistent solutions without recourse to complex mode tracking logic or dataset interpolation, as in the k, p--k, and g-solution methods.

An active acoustical sampling (Anabat II) survey was carried out to investigate foraging habitat correlation of bats on the Savannah River Site (SRS) in the upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina. Results provide managers better insight for crafting guidelines for bat habitat conservation that could be linked to widely accepted land management and environmental restoration practices for the region.

The declining population of ruffed grouse in Central and Southern Appalachians and the influence of nest success factors on this population decrease are examined.

The emphasis in the literature regarding illicit drugs has been overwhelmingly on the subject of harm caused by their ingestion. Little has been reported on the potential and real harm associated with the illicit manufacture of drugs. This paper describes the increasing prevalence of clandestine drug laboratories in Australia, overwhelmingly devoted to the manufacture of methamphetamine. The nature of the illicit synthetic process is reviewed together with its inherent dangers for the 'cook', first responders and bystanders including children, and the environment. We have analysed the emerging trends in manufacture and seizure in Australia, and offer suggestions to remedy significant deficiencies in knowledge and policy in the management of clandestine drug laboratories, especially with reference to clinical management issues, data collection, environmental contaminants and remediation, legislation and research. In particular, we conclude that: * The problem of clandestine drug laboratories is growing in Australia, reflecting patterns world-wide. * There are significant health and environmental implications of this growth. * First responders should ensure that specialised expertise is available when decommissioning detected laboratories. * Clinicians should familiarise themselves with the types of injuries associated with clandestine drug manufacture. * Legislatures without a clandestine drug laboratory registry should establish one. * Where it doesn't exist, legislation should be sought to curb the spread of this unwanted phenomenon. * Significant opportunities exist for further research into the harm caused to first responders, the community, and the environment by clandestine laboratories.

We compared 11 ecological variables thought to be important for assessing the habitat of the endangered Virginia northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus) at 11 occupied and 9 unoccupied sites within northern hardwood-montane conifer forests in the central Appalachians of West Virginia. Forest stands at sites occupied by G. s. fuscus had significantly higher relative importance values of montane conifers such as red spruce (Picea rubens) and little or no presence of northern red oak (Quercus rubra) than did sites that were believed unoccupied. Probabilities derived from logistic regression analyses indicated that sites were considered occupied when relative importance values of montane conifers in forest stands exceeded approximately 35%. Conversely, we detected no differences in elevation, absolute forest basal area, overstory tree species richness, total shrub density, percent coarse woody debris cover, percent herbaceous cover, percent emergent rock cover and percent soil organic matter (humus) between occupied and unoccupied sites. We observed low levels hypogeal fungi across all sites and fungi presence did not differ between occupied and unoccupied sites. Patchily distributed fungi combined with the much reduced and altered forest habitat in the region provide additional insights into the rarity of G. s. fuscus in the central Appalachians.

Allegheny woodrats (Neotoma magister) currently receive protected status throughout their range due to population declines. Threats associated with habitat fragmentation (e.g., introduced predators, disease, loss of connectivity among subpopulations and habitat loss) may explain why Allegheny woodrats are no longer found in many areas where they existed just 25 y ago. In southern West Virginia, surface coal mining is a major cause of forest fragmentation. Furthermore, mountaintop mining, the prevalent method in the region, results in a loss of rock outcrops and cliffs within forested areas, typical habitat of the Allegheny woodrat. To determine the extent that Allegheny woodrats make use of reclaimed mine land, particularly rock drainages built during reclamation, we sampled 24 drainage channels on reclaimed surface mines in southern West Virginia, collected habitat data at each site and used logistic regression to identify habitat variables related to Allegheny woodrat presence. During 187 trap nights, 13 adult, 2 subadult and 8 juvenile Allegheny woodrats were captured at 13 of the 24 sites. Percent of rock as a groundcover and density of stems >15 cm diameter-at-breast-height (DBH) were related to Allegheny woodrat presence and were significantly greater at sites where Allegheny woodrats were present than absent. Sites where Allegheny woodrats were present differed substantially from other described habitats in West Virginia, though they may simulate boulder piles that occur naturally. Our findings suggest the need for additional research to examine the dynamics between Allegheny woodrat populations inhabiting rock outcrops in forests adjacent to mines and populations inhabiting constructed drainage channels on reclaimed mines. However, if Allegheny woodrats can use human-created habitat, our results will be useful to surface mine reclamation and to other mitigation efforts where rocky habitats are lost or disturbed.

Little is known about nest tree use of the endangered Virginia northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus). Because nesting sites could be a limiting factor, it is important to understand the denning ecology to further manage and protect this subspecies. We compared characteristics of nest trees used by Virginia northern flying squirrels with randomly selected trees during summer and fall of 2000 and 2001. We tracked 13 Virginia northern flying squirrels to 59 nest trees. The squirrels used an average of 3.6 nest trees/ month, switching trees frequently. Sixty-nine percent of the nests were in cavities and 31% were leaf nests. Yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) and Fraser magnolia (Magnolia fraseri) were selected for nest trees more than expected based on availability. A large portion of nest trees were in larger and taller trees than trees in the surrounding area. There also was a significant number of trees located next to or near skidder and hiking trails. Although a large number of nest trees were similar across sites, there was variation in the characteristics of nest trees used, suggesting that Virginia northern flying squirrels may not be as specialized in nest tree selection as indicated by previous studies.

The techniques used to acquire, reduce, and analyze dynamic deformation measurements of an aeroelastic semispan wind-tunnel model are presented. Single-camera, single-view video photogrammetry (also referred to as videogrammetric model deformation) was used to determine dynamic aeroelastic deformation of the semispan 'models for aeroelastic validation research involving computation' model in the Transonic Dynamics Tunnel at NASA Langley Research Center. Dynamic deformation was determined from optical retroreflective tape targets at five semispan locations located on the wing from the root to the tip. Digitized video images from a charge-coupled device camera were recorded and processed to determine automatically target image plane locations that were then corrected for instrumentation errors. Videogrammetric dynamic data were acquired at a 60-Hz rate for time records of up to 6 s during portions of a flutter/limit-cycle oscillation test at Mach numbers from 0.3 to 0.96. Spectral analysis of the deformation data were used to identify dominant frequencies in the wing motion. The dynamic data will be used in future studies to separate aerodynamic and structural effects and to provide time history deflection data for computational aeroelasticity code evaluation and validation.

Fox squirrels and gray squirrels have similar food habits but manage to coexist successfully. However, quantitative measurements of niche overlap and breadth are not available. A new study on the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge, GA, investigates the niche overlap and breadth in sympatric populations of gray and fox squirrels. It is shown that fox squirrel niches are significantly narrower than those of gray squirrels which use habitat in a wider range of structures. Habitat partitioning between the squirrels helps sympatry.

Gray and fox squirrels sometimes compete for nesting cavities because of the scarcity of available nesting sites. To understand how the two species compete for nesting cavities, radio telemetry was used to track the movement of the squirrels in a habitat in Georgia. The results showed that both species have different criteria for selecting nesting sites. Moreover, the differences in nest site selection reduces the potential for nest site overlap.

ABSTRACT--Many bat species use bridges as roosts for temporary resting places and thermal refuge between foraging bouts. We surveyed 37 bridges over waterways in northwest Georgia during the summer of [...]

The study results of ruffled grouse population ecology conducted as a part of the Appalachian Cooperative Grouse Research Project (ACGRP) to estimate reproductive rates, survival and cause-specific mortality rates and finite population growth is reported.

Bat activity levels in the Coastal Plain of South Carolina are compared among 5 habitat types, forested riparian areas, clear cuts, young pine plantations, mature pine plantations, and pine savannas. The results highlight the importance if riparian areas as foraging habitat for bats in pine-dominated landscapes in the southeastern United States.

Research on bat call monitoring indicates that an ultrasonic detector linked to a laptop computer yields more call sequences and higher quality recordings, improving bat community survey outcomes.