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A worldwide increasing demand for renewable and non‐renewable energy resources has been ongoing since the mid‐1970s and is projected to increase for the next 2 decades. The effects of oil and natural gas development on wildlife mortality risk may play an important role in mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) population dynamics. We evaluated the potential effects of oil and natural gas development on mortality risk of mule deer in western North Dakota and eastern Montana, USA. We assessed adult and juvenile female mule deer mortality risk with Poisson point process models using 265 deer fitted with global positioning system (GPS) radio‐collars that were deployed from 2013–2016. Mortality covariates included proportion of area disturbed by oil and natural gas development, distance to oil and natural gas development, distance to roads, temperature, snow depth, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and age of deer. During the study there was no effect of oil and natural gas development or roads on mule deer mortality, though <1% of all deer locations were within 500 m of active drilling rigs. Mule deer mortality was greatest in winter and spring, and positively related to temperature during these seasons. Estimated annual adult survival probability was 0.79 (95% CI = 0.71–0.85). Given the strong influence of season and temperature variables on mortality risk, weather had the strongest influence on mule deer mortality during this study. Although we did not detect an effect of energy development on mule deer mortality, effects on space use resulting from development could influence deer dynamics in the region through displacement and could occur over longer time scales than we evaluated. This study can be used in pre‐development planning in a risk assessment framework to minimize effects of development on mule deer. We investigated mule deer mortality in response to oil and gas development in North Dakota and Montana. We found no effect of oil and gas development on mule deer mortality. Instead, we found mortality was affected by weather and age of the deer.

A South Australian preschool study carried out in 1993 showed that the prevalence of respiratory symptoms was significantly associated with use of unflued gas appliances for cooking and heating. The authors sought to determine an association between domestic exposure to nitrogen dioxide and the excretion of total urinary nitrate and nitrite, and their association with asthma prevalence. The results indicated that the geometric mean concentrations of nitrogen dioxide were much higher in homes that had natural gas appliance(s) and other types of appliances (i.e., electric and solid fuel). Higher levels of nitrogen dioxide were found in homes of suburban areas with higher prevalence of asthma and respiratory symptoms. Nitrogen dioxide levels were lower in the summer, and there was a higher level in kitchens than in bedrooms. Urinary nitrate excretion was evaluated in 1,335 preschool children from the same sampling areas. No association existed between nitrogen dioxide levels and urinary nitrates, nor was there a relationship between urinary nitrates and asthma prevalence. These findings confirm that there is a positive association between nitrogen dioxide exposure from gas appliances and the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, but urinary nitrate is not a useful biomarker of exposure at these levels., NITROGEN OXIDES (N[O.sub.x]) are produced through the oxidation of atmospheric nitrogen, and they have been identified as lower respiratory tract irritants associated with respiratory symptoms. (1) The most important source [...]

ABSTRACT Telazol® (Fort Dodge Animal Health, Fort Dodge, IA) is an effective immobilization drug for American black bears (Ursus americanus), but concern exists regarding retention time of this drug in tissues relative to human consumption of bears. Therefore, we evaluated retention time of Telazol in captured American black bears immobilized with Telazol and held in captivity for 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, or 21 days. We detected Telazol in muscle and liver of one bear on day 7, in serum from 2 bears on day 7, and in urine of one bear each on day 3 and day 14. Our findings suggest Telazol is metabolized and eliminated quickly from the bear's system and should allow managers additional flexibility in mark-recapture studies and nuisance situations.

The Appalachian Cooperative Grouse Research Project (ACGRP) was a multistate cooperative effort initiated in 1996 to investigate the apparent decline of ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) and improve management throughout the central and southern Appalachian region (i.e., parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina, USA). Researchers have offered several hypotheses to explain the low abundance of ruffed grouse in the region, including low availability of early‐successional forests due to changes in land use, additive harvest mortality, low productivity and recruitment, and nutritional stress. As part of the ACGRP, we investigated ruffed grouse population ecology. Our objectives were to estimate reproductive rates, estimate survival and cause‐specific mortality rates, examine if ruffed grouse harvest in the Appalachian region is compensatory, and estimate ruffed grouse finite population growth. We trapped >3,000 ruffed grouse in autumn (Sep‐Nov) and spring (Feb‐Mar) from 1996 to September 2002 on 12 study areas. We determined the age and gender of each bird and fitted them with necklace‐style radiotransmitters and released them at the trap site. We tracked ruffed grouse ≥2 times per week using handheld radiotelemetry equipment and gathered data on reproduction, recruitment, survival, and mortality. Ruffed grouse population dynamics in the Appalachian region differed from the central portion of the species' range (i.e., northern United States and Canada). Ruffed grouse in the Appalachian region had lower productivity and recruitment, but higher survival than reported for populations in the Great Lakes region and southern Canada. Population dynamics differed between oak (Quercusspp.)–hickory (Caryaspp.) and mixed‐mesophytic forest associations within the southern and central Appalachian region. Productivity and recruitment were lower in oak‐hickory forests, but adult survival was higher than in mixed‐mesophytic forests. Furthermore, ruffed grouse productivity and recruitment were more strongly related to hard mast (i.e., acorn) production in oak‐hickory forests than in mixed‐mesophytic forests. The leading cause of ruffed grouse mortality was avian predation (44% of known mortalities). Harvest mortality accounted for 12% of all known mortalities and appeared to be compensatory. Population models indicated ruffed grouse populations in the Appalachian region are declining (%LD = 0.78–0.95), but differences in model estimates highlighted the need for improved understanding of annual productivity and recruitment. We posit ruffed grouse in the Appalachian region exhibit a clinal population structure characterized by changes in life‐history strategies. Changes in life history strategies are in response to gradual changes in forest structure, quality of food resources, snowfall and accumulation patterns, and predator communities. Management efforts should focus on creating a mosaic of forest stand ages across the landscape to intersperse habitat resources including nesting and brood cover, adult escape cover, roosting sites, and, most importantly, food resources. Land managers can intersperse habitat resources through a combination of clearcutting, shelterwood harvests, group selection, and timber stand improvement (including various thinnings and prescribed fire). Managers should maintain current ruffed grouse harvest rates while providing high quality hunting opportunities. We define high quality hunting as low hunting pressure, low vehicle traffic, and high flush rates. Managers can provide high quality hunting opportunities through use of road closures in conjunction with habitat management. El proyecto de investigación cooperativo del grouse superado de apalache (ACGRP) era un esfuerzo cooperativo del multi‐estado iniciado en 1996 para investigar la declinación evidente del grouse superado (Bonasa umbellus) y para mejorar el manejo a través de la región apalache central y meridional (es decir, partes de Ohio, de Pennsylvania, de Rhode Island, de Kentucky, de Virginia Occidental, de Virginia, y de Tennessee, en los E.E.U.U.). Como parte de la ACGRP, investigamos la ecología superada de la población del grouse superado. Nuestros objetivos eran: estimar las tarifas reproductivas, estimar la supervivencia y las tarifas causar‐específicas de la mortalidad, examinar si la cosecha del grouse superado en la región apalache es compensatoria, y estimar el crecimiento finito superado de la población del grouse superado. Varias hipótesis se han ofrecido para explicar la abundancia baja del grouse superado en la región, incluyendo la disponibilidad baja de los bosques jóvenes debido a los cambios en utilización del suelo, mortalidad aditiva de la cosecha, bajo productividad y reclutamiento, y tensión alimenticia. Atrapamos grouse superado >3,000 en el otoño (septiembre a noviembre) y en la primavera (febrero a marzo) a partir de 1996 al septiembre de 2002 en 12 áreas del estudio. Determinamos la edad y el sexo de cada pájaro y los cupimos con los radio‐transmisores del estilo collar y los lanzamos en el sitio de la trampa. Seguimos el grouse superado ≥2 veces por semana usando equipo de la telemetría de radio de la estilo de mano y recopilamos datos sobre la reproducción, el reclutamiento, la supervivencia, y la mortalidad. La dinámica de población del grouse superado en la región apalache diferenció de la porción central alcance de la del especie (es decir, el norte de los Estados Unidos y Canadá). El grouse superado en la región apalache tenía una productividad y un reclutamiento más bajo, pero supervivencia más alta que divulgada para las poblaciones en la región de los Great Lakes y el Canada meridional. La dinámica de población diferenció entre bosques del roble (Quercus), el nuez dura (Carya) y bosques del estilo mesophytic mezclado dentro de la región apalache meridional y central. La productividad y el reclutamiento eran más bajos en bosques del roble yel nuez dura, pero la supervivencia del adulto era más alta que en bosques mesophytic mezclados. Además, la productividad y reclutamiento del grouse superado fueron relacionados más fuertemente a la producción dura del mástil (es decir, bellota) en bosques del roble y nuez dura que en bosques mesophytic mezclado. La causa principal de la mortalidad del grouse superado era la depredación aviar (el 44% de mortalidades sabidas). La mortalidad de la cosecha explicó el 12% de todas las mortalidades sabidas y aparecía ser compensatoria. Los modelos de población indican que las poblaciones del grouse superado en la región apalache están declinando (Λ = 0.78–0.95), pero las diferencias en las estimaciones modelo indican la necesidad de la comprensión mejorada de la productividad y del reclutamiento anuales. Postulamos que el grouse superado en la region apalache muestra una estructura de la población clinal con los cambios en estrategias de la vida‐historia en respuesta a cambios graduales en la calidad de los recursos del alimento, las nevadas y los patrones de la acumulación, y las comunidades despredadoras. Los esfuerzos del manejo deben centrarse en crear un mosaico de las edades del soporte de bosque a través del paisaje para entremezclar recursos del habitat incluyendo la cubierta para nidos y la cría de jovenes, la cubierta del escape del adulto, sitios para perchas, y más importante recursos del alimento. Interspersion de los recursos del habitat se puede lograr con una combinación de cortes selectivos, de los cortes del claro, del fuego prescrito, y de crear boquetes de diámetro bajo del pabellón matando a árboles individuales. El manejo de la cosecha se debe diseñar para mantener tarifas actuales de la cosecha mientras que proporciona oportunidades de la caza de la alta calidad. Definimos la caza de la alta calidad como la presión baja de la caza, el tráfico bajo del vehículo, y tarifas rasantes del colmo. El manejo de la caza de la alta calidad puede ser lograda con el uso de los encierros del camino conjuntamente con el manejo del habitat. Écologie de Population de Grouse de Ruffed dans la Région Appalachienne Le projetde recherche coopératif appalachien (ACGRP) était un effort coopératif de multi‐état lancé en 1996 pour étudier le déclin apparent de ruffed la grouse (Bonasa umbellus) et améliorent la gestion dans toute la région appalachienne centrale et méridionale (c.‐à‐d., régions de l'Ohio, de la Pennsylvanie, de Île de Rhode, du Kentucky, de la Virginie Occidentale, de la Virginie, et du Tennessee, Etats‐Unis). En tant qu'élément de l'ACGRP, nous avons étudié ruffed l'écologie de population de grouse. Nos objectifs étaient: estimer les taux reproducteurs, estimer la survie et les taux causer‐spécifiques de mortalité, les examiner si ruffed la grouse que la moisson dans la région appalachienne est compensatoire, et l'évaluation ruffed la croissance finie de population de grouse. Plusieurs hypothèses ont été offertes pour expliquer la basse abondance de ruffed la grouse dans la région, y compris la basse disponibilité des forêts d'early‐successional dues aux changements de l'utilisation de la terre, la mortalité additive de moisson, la productivité et le recrutement faible, et l'effort alimentaire. Nous avons emprisonné >3,000 ruffed la grouse en automne (Septembre.–Nov.) et ressort (Fév.–Mars.) de 1996 au Septembre 2002 sur 12 secteurs d'étude. Nous avons déterminé l'âge et le sexe de chaque oiseau et les avons équipés des émetteurs par radio de collier‐modèle et les avons libérés à l'emplacement de piège. Nous avons dépisté ruffed des temps de la grouse ≥2 par semaine à l'aide de l'équipement tenu dans la main de radiotélémétrie et avons recueilli des données sur la reproduction, le recrutement, la survie, et la mortalité. La dynamique de population de grouse de Ruffed dans la région appalachienne a différé de la partie centrale de la gamme des espèces (c.‐à‐d., les Etats‐Unis et le Canada nordiques). La grouse de Ruffed dans la région appalachienne a eu une productivité et un recrutement plus faible, mais une survie plus élevée que rapportée aux populations la région de Great Lakes et au Canada méridional. La dynamique de population a différé entre le chêne (quercus)–hickory (Carya) et associations mélangées‐mesophytic de forêt dans la région appalachienne méridionale et centrale. La productivité et le recrutement étaient inférieurs dans des forêts de chêne‐hickory, mais la survie d'adulte était plus haute que dans les forêts mélangées‐mesophytic. En outre, ruffed la productivité de grouse et le recrutement plus fortement ont été lies à la production dure de mat (c.‐à‐d., gland) dans des forêts de chêne‐hickory que dans les forêts mélangées‐mesophytic. La principale cause de ruffed la grouse que la mortalité é tait la prédation aviaire (44% de mortalités connues). La mortalité de moisson a expliqué 12% de toutes les mortalités connues et a semblé ê tre compensatoire. La population que les modèles indiquent ruffed la grouse les populations dans la région appalachienne refusent (Λ = 0.78–0.95), mais les differences dans les évaluations modèles indiquent le besoin d'arrangement amélioré de la productivité et du recrutement annuels. Nous posons en principe ruffed la grouse dans l'objet exposé appalachien de région une structure de population de clinal avec des changements des stratégies de vie‐histoire en réponse aux changements progressifs de la qualité des ressources de nourriture, des chutes de neige et des modèles d'accumulation, et des communautés prédatrices. Les efforts de gestion devraient se concentrer sur créer une mosaïque des âges de peuplement de forêt à travers le paysage pour entremêler des ressources d'habitat comprenant la couverture d'emboîtement et de couvée, la couverture d'évasion d'adulte, les emplacements roosting, et d'une manière plus importante les ressources de nourriture. Interspersion des ressources d'habitat peut être accompli par une combinaison des coupes sélectives, des coupes d'espace libre, du feu prescrit, et de créer des lacunes de faible diamètre de verrière en tuant différents arbres. La gestion de moisson devrait être conçue pour maintenir des taux courants de moisson tout en fournissant des occasions de chasse de qualité. Nous définissons la chasse de qualité en tant que la basse pression de chasse, le bas trafic de véhicule, et taux affleurants de haute. La gestion de chasse à qualité peut être accomplie par l'utilisation des fermetures de route en même temps que la gestion d'habitat.

AbstractDuring 2001, we used active acoustical sampling (Anabat II) to survey foraging habitat relationships of bats on the Savannah River Site (SRS) in the upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina. Using an a priori information-theoretic approach, we conducted logistic regression analysis to examine presence of individual bat species relative to a suite of microhabitat, stand, and landscape-level features such as forest structural metrics, forest type, proximityto riparian zones and Carolina baywetlands, insect abundance, and weather. There was considerable empirical support to suggest that the majority of the activity of bats across most of the 6 species occurred at smaller, stand-level habitat scales that combine measures of habitat clutter (e.g., declining forest canopy cover and basal area), proximity to riparian zones, and insect abundance. Accordingly, we hypothesized that most foraging habitat relationships were more local than landscape across this relatively large area for generalist species of bats. The southeastern myotis (Myotis austroriparius) was the partial exception, as its presence was linked to proximity of Carolina bays (best-approximating model) and bottomland hardwood communities (other models with empirical support). Efforts at SRS to promote open longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) and loblolly pine (P. taeda) savanna conditions and to actively restore degraded Carolina bay wetlands will be beneficial to bats. Accordingly, our results should 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.

AbstractRuffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus; hereafter, grouse) populations in the central and southern Appalachians are experiencing declines, which may be linked to deteriorating recruitment. Because nest success is an important component of recruitment, understanding the influence of habitat on nest success is important for developing regional grouse management strategies. Therefore, our objectives were to determine grouse nest success rates, characterize nest site selection, and identify habitat characteristics associated with successful nests in this region. From 1995 to 2002, we located 234 nests, of which 147 (63%) were successful (=1 egg hatched). We characterized habitat at 167 of these nests and compared successful and unsuccessful nests using logistic regression and Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC). Similarly, we characterized nest site selection by pairing 73 nests with 1–8 nearby systematic sites and conducting a matched-pairs logistic regression followed by AIC. Eleven of 25 candidate models of nest success were supported; distance to a road or opening, ground cover, deciduous canopy cover, coarse woody debris, and basal area were increasingly important predictors of nest success. Increases in basal area, coarse woody debris, and deciduous canopy cover improved the odds of nest success. Alternatively, greater amounts of ground cover and increased distance to a road or opening decreased the odds of a nest being successful. The two supported models of habitat selection were basal area with coarse woody debris and basal area alone. Odds of a habitat being selected increased with both variables. Selection of these habitat elements likely reflects the tendency for females to nest at the base of large trees, stumps, or logs, which can reduce their exposure to predators and seems to improve nest success. Increased ground cover may reduce the female's ability to detect a predator and increase the susceptibility of a nest. We recommend managers ensure coarse woody debris is available for nest sites, particularly when logging operations (e.g., clearcuts, thinnings) remove a high proportion of the standing basal area.

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:

Abstract: We compared bat activity levels in the Coastal Plain of South Carolina among 5 habitat types: forested riparian areas, clearcuts, young pine plantations, mature pine plantations, and pine savannas. We used time-expansion radio-microphones and integrated detectors to simultaneously monitor bat activity at 3 heights (30, 10, 2 m) in each habitat type. Variation in vegetative clutter among sampling heights and among habitat types allowed us to examine the differential effect of forest vegetation on the spatial activity patterns of clutter-adapted and open-adapted bat species. Moreover, monitoring activity at 30, 10, and 2 m permitted us to also compare bat activity above and below the forest canopy. We detected calls of 5 species or species groups: eastern red/Seminole bats (Lasiurus borealis/L. seminolus), eastern pipistrelles (Pipistrellus subflavus), evening bats (Nycticeius humeralis), big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus), and hoary bats (Lasiurus cinerius). At 2 and 10 m, bat activity was concentrated in riparian areas, whereas we detected relatively low levels of bat activity in upland habitats at those heights. Activity was more evenly distributed across the landscape at 30 m. Bat activity levels above the forest canopy were almost 3 times greater than within or below the canopy. We detected significantly greater activity levels of 2 open-adapted species (hoary and big brown bats) above rather than within or below the forest canopy. However, activity levels of 2 clutter-adapted species (eastern red/Seminole bats and eastern pipistrelles) did not differ above, within, or below the forest canopy. Despite classification as a clutter-adapted species, evening bat activity was greater above rather than within or below the forest canopy. We believe our results highlight the importance of riparian areas as foraging habitat for bats in pine-dominated landscapes in the southeastern United States. Although acoustical surveys conducted below forest canopies can provide useful information about species composition and relative activity levels of bats that forage in cluttered environments, our results showing activity above canopy suggest that such data may not accurately reflect relative activity of bats adapted to forage in more open conditions, and therefore may provide an inaccurate picture of bat community assemblage and foraging habitat use.

This article describes why the American Society of Animal Science decided to make theJournal of Animal Science available online, some of the issues that were considered before and during the project, and the responses of those who use the electronic journal. The article also contains discussions of new additions to our electronic offerings and the challenge of granting library access to electronic publications. Based on feedback received from American Society of Animal Science members, our online endeavors have been well received, and members perceive these offerings as an important enhancement of membership services.