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Post-implant rehabilitation is limited for adult cochlear implant (CI) recipients. The objective of this research was to capture the perspectives of CI users and their coaches regarding their experiences with auditory-verbal intervention as an example of post-implant rehabilitation and their views on perceived benefits and challenges related to the intervention.This qualitative study involved semi-structured focus group interviews with adult CI users and their coaches who accompanied them in a 24-week auditory-verbal intervention program.A total of 17 participants (eight CI users and nine coaches) contributed to the interviews.Three key topic areas emerged from the interviews capturing CI users' and coaches' experiences related to the intervention program: (1) benefits of the intervention, (2) factors affecting experiences, and (3) challenges and barriers. Benefits included increased confidence in hearing, communication, social participation, and new knowledge about technology and hearing. Factors affecting the experience were participants' motivation and the therapist's skills. The primary challenge was the time commitment for weekly therapy.Both CI users and coaches perceived a focussed auditory-verbal intervention to be beneficial in improving speech understanding, confidence in using hearing, social interaction, and knowledge about technology. Participants recommended reducing the intensity of intervention to facilitate participation.

Human-driven habitat fragmentation is increasing worldwide, and consequently many wild populations are subdivided, isolated and reduced in size. These changes in population structure reduce dispersal among subpopulations, limiting gene flow, accelerating genetic differentiation, and reducing genetic diversity and effective population sizes. Habitat fragmentation is associated with a reduced ability for populations and species to respond to changing environments, exacerbating extinction risks. The Atlantic-Gaspesie population of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) is isolated and genetically differentiated from other populations in Canada. It has been declining dramatically during the last century and is now considered Endangered. From a management perspective, this population is considered as a single unit of ~ 80 individuals, but GPS telemetry suggests that three subgroups use separate geographical areas and show limited dispersal. In this study, we used 16 microsatellite loci to (1) quantify and compare the genetic diversity observed within the three subgroups of the Atlantic-Gaspesie population, (2) evaluate the extent of the spatiotemporal genetic substructure among them by assessing whether the fine-scale genetic structure differs between subgroups and if it has changed over 15 years, and (3) estimate their effective population size. We found no change in genetic diversity among/within subgroups over time. We detected genetic substructure among subgroups based on their geographical locations (Logan-Albert vs. McGerrigle) and found evidence that this substructure has increased in recent years. The effective population size of this population appears to have declined by 53% over the last 15 years and is now estimated at Ne = 16 individuals. Management plans and conservation actions should consider this spatial genetic substructure to prevent further decline of this endangered population.

The Atlantic-Gaspésie caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) population is a small isolated relict herd considered endangered according to the Canadian Species at Risk Act (SARA). This population has low recruitment and survival rates but the potential role of parasites on individual fitness is unknown. In this context, we explored the parasite status of this population with the aim of 1) assessing the occurrence and intensity of parasite infections and the spatial, temporal and individual variations, 2) quantifying parasite richness and investigating factors such as sex and host body condition that may be associated with this variable and 3) evaluating the effects of parasite infections on survival in the Atlantic-Gaspésie caribou population. We examined fecal samples from 32 animals captured in 2013–2014 for eggs, oocysts and larvae of parasites and detected 7 parasite species: dorsal-spined larvae protostrongylids, presumably Parelaphostrongylus andersoni based on PCR identification of a subset, Nematodirus odocoilei and other unidentified Strongyles, Trichuris sp., Capillaria sp., Moniezia sp. and Eimeria sp. For each caribou, mean parasite species richness was 1.8 ± 1.1 (SD). Sex, body condition, year and capture location did not explain parasite prevalence, intensity of infection or richness except for intensity of infection of Capillaria sp. that was positively influenced by body condition. Parasites did not influence survival although mortality was higher for males than for females. We suggest that the relatively low and common gastrointestinal and protostrongylid parasite infections will not be a short-term threat leading to extinction., Graphical abstract Image 1, Highlights • Fecal pellets from Gaspésie-Atlantic caribou population were examined for parasites. • We identified 7 parasite species and mean species richness reached 1.8/caribou. • Parelaphostrongylus andersoni was identified using PCR identification. • Capillaria sp. were found yet are rare in other wild caribou in Canada. • Despite a male-biased mortality, parasite infection did not affect caribou survival.