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A predominance of alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus), a species having high thiaminase activity, in Lake Ontario lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) diets, has been related to thiamine deficiency in lake trout eggs during 1994–2004. The late 1990s invasion by round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), that appear to have thiaminase activity of low biological activity, represented a potential to reduce the dietary importance of alewife and, as a result, increase lake trout thiamine levels if they became sufficiently important in lake trout diets. To evaluate whether lake trout thiamine levels increased as alewives were displaced by round gobies in lake trout diets, we collected 199 lake trout ranging from 305 to 893 mm in 2005–2006 and measured their muscle thiamine levels and diet composition. Diet composition (percent by weight) was estimated from MixSIR based on stable isotopes (δ15N and δ13C) measured from lake trout and their prey. Overall, alewife and goby dominated lake trout diet (78%), with round goby dominating the diet (55–57%) of smaller individuals ( 600 mm) during 2005–2006 appear unchanged from levels observed in 1996.

The present work aims to morphologically and molecularly characterize an Eimeria sp. recovered from an adult, captive barred owl Strix varia in Mississippi, USA. While the owl was shedding oocysts, no clinical signs of coccidiosis were observed. Oocysts collected from a barred owl, S. varia were isolated from feces by fecal flotation and characterized by light microscopy. The oocysts were allowed to sporulate in K2Cr2O7 for 7 days and measured for comparison with previously described Eimeria species. Genomic DNA was extracted from measured oocysts and the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 mitochondrial gene was amplified and sequenced for comparison and phylogenetic analyses with publicly available sequence data. Oocysts collected from S. varia were morphologically and molecularly consistent with all previous accounts of Eimeria megabubonis from the great horned owl Bubo virginianus and morphologically consistent with the only account of Eimeria varia from S. varia. Phylogenetic analyses grouped the E. megabubonis sequence from the present study with previously reported sequences from E. megabubonis. Morphological and molecular data from oocysts collected in this study reveal S. varia is a host for E. megabubonis. Agreement between current data, morphological and molecular data of E. megabubonis, and morphological data from the original description of E. varia indicates E. varia is a junior synonym of E. megabubonis.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality globally. A candidate RSV prefusion (pre-F)–stabilized subunit vaccine, DS-Cav1, has previously been shown to elicit potent and durable neutralizing activity in a phase 1 clinical trial in healthy adults. Here, we used fluorescently labeled probes and flow cytometry to evaluate the antigen specificity and phenotype of RSV F–specific B cells longitudinally after DS-Cav1 immunization. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) collected at time points before the first immunization through the end of the trial at 44 weeks were assessed by flow cytometry. Our data demonstrate a rapid increase in the frequency of pre-F–specific IgG + and IgA + B cells after the first immunization and a modest increase after a second immunization at week 12. Nearly all F-specific B cells down-regulated CD21 and up-regulated the proliferation marker CD71 after the first immunization, with less pronounced activation after the second immunization. Memory B cells (CD27 + CD21 + ) specific for pre-F remained elevated above baseline at 44 weeks after vaccination. DS-Cav1 vaccination also activated human metapneumovirus (HMPV) cross-reactive B cells capable of binding prefusion-stabilized HMPV F protein and increased HMPV F-binding antibodies and neutralizing activity for HMPV in some participants. In summary, vaccination with RSV pre-F resulted in the expansion and activation of RSV and HMPV F-specific B cells that were maintained above baseline for at least 10 months and could contribute to long-term pneumovirus immunity.

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a leading cause of morbidity and hospitalization among children worldwide, however, no vaccines or therapeutics are currently available for hMPV disease prevention and treatment. The hMPV fusion (F) protein is the sole target of neutralizing antibodies. To map the immunodominant epitopes on the hMPV F protein, we isolated a panel of human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), and the mAbs were assessed for binding avidity, neutralization potency, and epitope specificity. We found the majority of the mAbs target diverse epitopes on the hMPV F protein, and we discovered multiple mAb binding approaches for antigenic site III. The most potent mAb, MPV467, which had picomolar potency, was examined in prophylactic and therapeutic mouse challenge studies, and MPV467 limited virus replication in mouse lungs when administered 24 h before or 72 h after viral infection. We determined the structure of MPV467 in complex with the hMPV F protein using cryo-electron microscopy to a resolution of 3.3 Å, which revealed a complex novel prefusion-specific epitope overlapping antigenic sites II and V on a single protomer. Overall, our data reveal insights into the immunodominant antigenic epitopes on the hMPV F protein, identify a mAb therapy for hMPV F disease prevention and treatment, and provide the discovery of a prefusion-specific epitope on the hMPV F protein.

Neuronal growth regulator 1 (NEGR1) and neurotrimin (NTM) are abundant cell-surface proteins found in the brain and form part of the IgLON (Immunoglobulin LSAMP, OBCAM, Neurotrimin) family. In humans, NEGR1 is implicated in obesity and mental disorders, while NTM is linked to intelligence and cognitive function. IgLONs dimerize homophilically and heterophilically, and they are thought to shape synaptic connections and neural circuits by acting in trans (spanning cellular junctions) and/or in cis (at the same side of a junction). Here, we reveal homodimeric structures of NEGR1 and NTM. They assemble into V-shaped complexes via their Ig1 domains, and disruption of the Ig1–Ig1 interface abolishes dimerization in solution. A hydrophobic ridge from one Ig1 domain inserts into a hydrophobic pocket from the opposing Ig1 domain producing an interaction interface that is highly conserved among IgLONs but remarkably plastic structurally. Given the high degree of sequence conservation at the interaction interface, we tested whether different IgLONs could elicit the same biological effect in vivo. In a small-scale study administering different soluble IgLONs directly into the brain and monitoring feeding, only NEGR1 altered food intake significantly. Taking NEGR1 as a prototype, our studies thus indicate that while IgLONs share a conserved mode of interaction and are able to bind each other as homomers and heteromers, they are structurally plastic and can exert unique biological action.

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a leading cause of morbidity and hospitalization among children worldwide, however, no vaccines or therapeutics are currently available for hMPV disease prevention and treatment. The hMPV fusion (F) protein is the sole target of neutralizing antibodies. To map the immunodominant epitopes on the hMPV F protein, we isolated a panel of human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), and the mAbs were assessed for binding avidity, neutralization potency, and epitope specificity. We found the majority of the mAbs target diverse epitopes on the hMPV F protein, and we discovered multiple mAb binding approaches for antigenic site III. The most potent mAb, MPV467, which had picomolar potency, was examined in prophylactic and therapeutic mouse challenge studies, and MPV467 limited virus replication in mouse lungs when administered 24 hrs before or 72 hrs after viral infection. We determined the structure of MPV467 in complex with the hMPV F protein using cryo-electron microscopy to a resolution of 3.3 Å, which revealed a complex novel prefusion-specific epitope overlapping antigenic sites II and V on a single protomer. Overall, our data reveal new insights into the immunodominant antigenic epitopes on the hMPV F protein, identify a new mAb therapy for hMPV F disease prevention and treatment, and provide the discovery of a unique pre-fusion-specific epitope on the hMPV F protein.

Tropical cyclones drive coastal ecosystem dynamics, and their frequency, intensity, and spatial distribution are predicted to shift with climate change. Patterns of resistance and resilience were synthesized for 4138 ecosystem time series from n = 26 storms occurring between 1985 and 2018 in the Northern Hemisphere to predict how coastal ecosystems will respond to future disturbance regimes. Data were grouped by ecosystems (fresh water, salt water, terrestrial, and wetland) and response categories (biogeochemistry, hydrography, mobile biota, sedentary fauna, and vascular plants). We observed a repeated pattern of trade-offs between resistance and resilience across analyses. These patterns are likely the outcomes of evolutionary adaptation, they conform to disturbance theories, and they indicate that consistent rules may govern ecosystem susceptibility to tropical cyclones.

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a major cause of acute respiratory tract infections in infants and the elderly for which there are no approved vaccines or antibody therapies. The viral fusion (F) glycoprotein is required for entry and is the primary target of neutralizing antibodies, however, little is known about the humoral immune response generated by humans as a result of natural infection. Here, we use stabilized hMPV F proteins to interrogate memory B cells from two elderly donors. We obtained over 700 paired non-IgM antibody sequences representing 563 clonotypes, indicative of a highly polyclonal antibody response to hMPV F in these individuals. Characterization of 136 of these monoclonal antibodies revealed broad recognition of the hMPV F surface, with potent neutralizing antibodies targeting each antigenic site. Cryo-EM structures of two neutralizing antibodies reveal the molecular basis for recognition of two prefusion-specific epitopes at the membrane-distal apex of hMPV F. Collectively these results provide new insights into the humoral response to hMPV infection in the elderly and will guide development of novel vaccine antigens.

Lasionycteris noctivagans (Silver-haired Bat) is relatively uncommon in the southeastern United States and is thought to only occur in Mississippi during spring and fall migration and in winter. Prior to 2020, there was only 1 confirmed record of a Silver-haired Bat Mississippi. It was a solitary female found in Jackson, Hinds County, on 19 October 1986. Thirty-four years later, 2 Silver-haired Bats were observed during migration periods in 2020. A female was collected in Harrison County on 9 March 2020, adding to the few records of Silver-haired Bats migrating to the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. On 5 October 2020, a young Silver-haired Bat was found on the ground at Mississippi State University, Oktibbeha County. This new record expands our current knowledge about this species in Mississippi and throughout the southeastern United States.

To assess pathological changes associated with natural infections of the trematode Odhneriotrema incommodum in wild-caught American alligators Alligator mississippiensis and assess potential first intermediate hosts. Tongues from two wild-caught alligators were obtained from a commercial alligator processor in Port Gibson, Mississippi, USA. Tongues were subjected to gross parasitological examination and routine histological assessment. Eggs were expressed from adult trematodes collected from these tongues into distilled water, where they hatched into infectious miracidia. The snails Planorbella trivolvis, Physa gyrina, and Biomphalaria havanensis were exposed to these miracidia and observed for cercarial emergence for 200 days post-exposure. Histological assessment of alligator tongues revealed marked hemorrhage, necrosis, presence of bacteria, and inflammation at sites of Odhneriotrema incommodum attachment, differing from previous histological reports from controlled experimental studies. Cercarial emergence was not observed in snails exposed to infectious miracidia. Wild-caught alligators infected with Odhneriotrema incommodum exhibit more severe pathology than was previously noted from experimentally infected alligators. This adverse pathology may be associated with microbes present in eutrophic natural habitats that are absent from controlled environments used in experimental exposures. Impacts of this parasite in wild alligator populations are likely underestimated and damage associated with parasite attachment could increase host susceptibility to secondary infections. Given the importance of alligators as game animals and sustained demand for alligator products, further study into the role of O. incommodum on alligator health is warranted. Results of snail exposures to miracidia suggest these snail species are not suitable first intermediate hosts for this trematode and the true first intermediate host of O. incommodum remains unknown.

Millions of tons of plastic enter the environment every year, where much of it concentrates in environmental sinks such as tidal marshes. With prior studies documenting harm to marine fauna caused by this plastic pollution, the need to understand how this novel type of pollution affects estuarine fauna is great. Yet, research on the fate and uptake of plastic pollutants in estuarine ecosystems is sparse. Therefore, we quantified plastic prevalence and ingestion by two species of resident marsh bird, Clapper Rails (Rallus crepitans) and Seaside Sparrows (Ammospiza maritima), in coastal marsh ecosystems within Mississippi. We detected microplastics (plastics smaller than 5 mm) in 64% of marsh sediment samples, 83% of Clapper Rail and 69% of Seaside Sparrow proventriculus samples. Dominant types of microplastics detected in sediment and bird samples were fibers. This study provides the first evidence of microplastic ingestion by marsh birds and its distribution in coastal marshes within Mississippi.

The present work aims to morphologically and molecularly characterize an Eimeria sp. recovered from an adult, captive barred owl Strix varia in Mississippi, USA. While the owl was shedding oocysts, no clinical signs of coccidiosis were observed.Oocysts collected from a barred owl, S. varia were isolated from feces by fecal flotation and characterized by light microscopy. The oocysts were allowed to sporulate in KOocysts collected from S. varia were morphologically and molecularly consistent with all previous accounts of Eimeria megabubonis from the great horned owl Bubo virginianus and morphologically consistent with the only account of Eimeria varia from S. varia. Phylogenetic analyses grouped the E. megabubonis sequence from the present study with previously reported sequences from E. megabubonis.Morphological and molecular data from oocysts collected in this study reveal S. varia is a host for E. megabubonis. Agreement between current data, morphological and molecular data of E. megabubonis, and morphological data from the original description of E. varia indicates E. varia is a junior synonym of E. megabubonis.

The yellow rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) is a migratory bird of high conservation priority throughout its range and winters across the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains regions of the southeastern United States. Although the winter ecology of this species has been recently explored, no studies have addressed their distribution and abundance in relation to suitable habitat capable of supporting this species during winter along the northern Gulf Coast of Alabama and Mississippi. The objectives of this study were to develop a habitat-suitability model for yellow rail wintering in the northern Gulf Coast of Alabama and Mississippi. We then used this model to evaluate the distribution of habitat suitable for supporting yellow rail in this geographic area. Using a multivariate approach that makes use of presence-only data through a maximum entropy framework we compared the distribution of where the focal species was observed to a reference set of the whole study area. Of the 784,657 ha over which our model was applied, only 1% (8643 ha) of this area was predicted suitable in its present condition, for supporting yellow rail in winter. Our analysis indicates that the yellow rail along the northern Gulf Coast of Alabama and Mississippi occupy a very narrow range of environmental conditions highlighting need for specific management actions to maintain and conserve suitable winter landscapes for this habitat-restricted species.

Background Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of childhood medically attended respiratory infection (MARI). Methods We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial in 1154 preterm infants of 1 or 2 doses of suptavumab, a human monoclonal antibody that can bind and block a conserved epitope on RSV A and B subtypes, for the prevention of RSV MARI. The primary endpoint was proportion of subjects with RSV-confirmed hospitalizations or outpatient lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). Results There were no significant differences between primary endpoint rates (8.1%, placebo; 7.7%, 1-dose; 9.3%, 2-dose). Suptavumab prevented RSV A infections (relative risks, .38; 95% confidence interval [CI], .14–1.05 in the 1-dose group and .39 [95% CI, .14–1.07] in the 2-dose group; nominal significance of combined suptavumab group vs placebo; P = .0499), while increasing the rate of RSV B infections (relative risk 1.36 [95% CI, .73–2.56] in the 1-dose group and 1.69 [95% CI, .92–3.08] in the 2-dose group; nominal significance of combined suptavumab group vs placebo; P = .12). Sequenced RSV isolates demonstrated no suptavumab epitope changes in RSV A isolates, while all RSV B isolates had 2–amino acid substitution in the suptavumab epitope that led to loss of neutralization activity. Treatment emergent adverse events were balanced across treatment groups. Conclusions Suptavumab did not reduce overall RSV hospitalizations or outpatient LRTI because of a newly circulating mutant strain of RSV B. Genetic variation in circulating RSV strains will continue to challenge prevention efforts. Clinical Trials Registration NCT02325791.

An effective vaccine for RSV is an unrealized public health goal. Recently, a single dose of the prefusion-stabilized fusion (F) glycoprotein subunit vaccine (DS-Cav1) was shown to substantially increase serum neutralizing activity in healthy adults. To understand the induced B-cell repertoire at the single-cell level, we evaluated RSV F-specific B-cell responses before and after vaccination in six participants and identified 555 clonal lineages. DS-Cav1-induced lineages recognized the prefusion conformation of F (pre-F) and were genetically diverse. Expressed antibodies recognized all six previously defined antigenic sites on the pre-F trimer. Among the six vaccinees, we identified 34 public clonotypes. Structural analysis of two antibodies from a predominant clonotype revealed a common mode of recognition. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that vaccination with DS-Cav1 generates a diverse polyclonal response targeting all known antigenic sites present on pre-F.

Sea-level rise, suppression of natural disturbances, and human development of coastal lands have influenced the capacity of tidal marshes to maintain quality habitat for wildlife, including coastal marsh birds. This study targeted the oligohaline marshes of the lower Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, Alabama, USA with the objective of assessing landcover and marsh bird distributional changes relative to two sampling periods, 2004 and 2015. We employed analysis of aerial imagery and standardized marsh bird surveys to derive information on the densities of common gallinule (Gallinula galeata), king rail (Rallus elegans), and least bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) during each sampling period. A gradient of land change was apparent where the northernmost and the southeastern portions of the study area lost land from 2006 to 2013 while the extent of emergent marsh wetland increased in the south and decreased in the north. Average densities of all three birds declined between survey periods (common gallinule 15%, king rail 50%, least bittern 38%). Changes in the distributions of these marsh birds reflected change in landform and emergent marsh habitat. This study reveals that tidal wetlands and associated communities do not change through linear processes. Rather, coastal wetlands may show distinct patterns surrounding areas of accretion, and loss.

With the exception of sites along coastal Texas, southeast Oklahoma, and coastal South Carolina, the winter distribution and abundance of Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) is poorly understood. Along the northern Gulf Coast region, winter occurrence is suspected based on a scattered collection of museum specimens and anecdotal observations, although the extent of this species' distribution is uncertain. To address this lack of information, we performed systematic rope-dragging surveys at night targeting Yellow Rails at 17 wet pine savanna patches (size range 1.9–83.3 ha) and one high salt marsh site (13.1 ha) located along coastal Alabama and Mississippi during the winter/spring seasons (Dec–Apr) of 2011–2013. For all sites combined, we flushed 123 Yellow Rails over 117.4 survey hours, yielding 1.0 rail/h. Of these, we captured and banded 61 rails (50%). The sex ratio for birds, discernable through morphometric measurements (n = 40 ind.), was ∼1:1 male-to-female. The relative abundance of ...

Background: Recent studies show that treating aggressive subtypes of breast cancer (BC) with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) improves clinical outcomes in addition to breast conservation therapy (BCT) rates. Yet a large multi-site population-level analysis shows that only 5.5% of NCCN-guideline eligible patients receive NAC (Ontilo et al, 2013). Multi-level interventions are needed to improve concordance with NCCN guidelines for NAC consideration in women who meet criteria for BCT (clinical stage IIA, IIB, and IIIA BC). Methods: A 2-part intervention was undertaken to improve adherence to NAC guidelines. Certified medical education (CME) was first provided on BC diagnostics and treatment (Tx), including NAC. Next patients were recruited to a point of care technology-based intervention. Eligibility included a new diagnosis of invasive BC, clinical stage T1c and/or N1 or greater, and no prior Tx. Patients interact with an electronic care planning system (CPS) at the time of surgical consultation to report preferences for decision-making and concerns, such as distress over losing a breast. The CPS displays these findings along with a draft care plan (CP) that suggests guideline based referrals and provides patient education about BC diagnosis and Tx options. After editing, surgeons finalize and deliver CPs at the visit. The goal is to describe referral rates to medical oncology for discussion of and receipt of NAC. Outcomes from chart abstraction are compared to historical rates in the literature and where available, the institution. Results: Data on 39 of 75 women are mature (remaining to be presented at meeting). Median age is 60 years (range 37-92) and clinical stage is IA=41% (N=16), IIA= 41% (N=16), IIB=8% (N=3), and III=10% (N=4). Of 39 patients, 44% were HR+HER2+, 10% were HR+HER2-, 13% had triple negative BC, and 33% had incomplete data. Per NCCN stage, 59% (N =23) were eligible for NAC evaluation. 96% (N=22) of those eligible were referred to MO. Follow up 2 months post-surgical appointment revealed 91% (N=21) of referred patients had completed a MO consultation. 39% (N=9) of those referred for evaluation (N=23) had a prescription for NAC and all prescriptions were guideline adherent, including regimens combining chemotherapy with trastuzumab and pertuzumab for HER2+ disease. Overall, 30.4% of women eligible for referral went on to receive NAC. Distress related to loss of breast was moderate (0-10 scale, M=4.83) and was significantly related to whether patients received a referral for NAC (B= -.304, Wald's=4.61, p=.03). Most of participating providers (80%, N=5) felt the CP was valuable to help with Tx decision-making. Conclusions: Preliminary results show CME and an electronic CPS may improve NAC uptake. Rates of prescription were clearly higher in this analysis than in a 4-center population database study, both overall (23.1% vs. 3.8%) and by NCCN eligibility (30.4% vs. 5.5%), and compared to baseline in 1 (of 3 planned) centers in the study who had a baseline rate of overall NAC prescription of 8.7% in the year prior to the study. The higher the distress over the loss of a breast, the more likely the patient received a referral for NAC. These data provide preliminary support for improving NAC uptake and warrant investigation in a RCT. Citation Format: Gary M, Keeler V, Rush S, Parsons P, Zhong X, Stricker CT, Wujcik D, DiGiovanni L, Davis A, Han LK. Improving neoadjuvant breast cancer therapy rates uptake with education and technology [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-11-05.

Use of agricultural fertilizers as a means of increasing production has resulted in excessive nutrient loading to agricultural drainage ditches, contributing to the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone. Drainage ditches can have wetland characteristics and functionality, including the capacity to remediate nutrient loading, which can be promoted using management practices. The purpose of this study was to assess relationships between organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents of drainage ditch sediment and waters, and to evaluate the spatial scope in which organic C is potentially limiting N removal in drainage ditches throughout the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV). Water and sediment samples were obtained from agricultural drainage ditches in Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana (n = 89). Nitrate (NO3−), nitrite (NO2−), ammonium (NH4+), and total N concentrations were determined in overlying and pore water, along with characterizing dissolved organic C aromaticity and molecular weight using absorbance analyses. A significant correlation was observed between sediment percentage N and percentage total organic C (r = 0.944, p

Agricultural non-point sources of nutrients and sediments have caused eutrophication and other water quality issues in aquatic and marine ecosystems, such as the annual occurrence of hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. Management practices have been implemented adjacent to and in agricultural drainage ditches to promote their wetland characteristics and functions, including reduction of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment losses downstream. This review: (1) summarized studies examining changes in nutrient and total suspended solid concentrations and loads associated with management practices in drainage ditches (i.e., riser and slotted pipes, two-stage ditches, vegetated ditches, low-grade weirs, and organic carbon amendments) with emphasis on the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, (2) quantified management system effects on nutrient and total suspended solid concentrations and loads and, (3) identified information gaps regarding water quality associated with these management practices and research needs in this area. In general, management practices used in drainage ditches at times reduced losses of total suspended solids, N, and P. However, management practices were often ineffective during storm events that were uncommon and intense in duration and volume, although these types of events could increase in frequency and intensity with climate change. Studies on combined effects of management practices on drainage ditch water quality, along with research towards improved nutrient and sediment reduction efficiency during intense storm events are urgently needed.

The effects of landscape alteration on wildlife have drawn increasing attention from ecologists as landscapes have rapidly changed worldwide. Large-bodied birds are highly sensitive to habitat loss and fragmentation. We aimed to test two hypotheses concerning landscape-abundance relationships of male Wild Turkeys Meleagris gallopavo silvestris, the largest galliform in North America. The landscape fragmentation hypothesis posits that animal populations would decline linearly with habitat fragmentation, independent of the effects of habitat loss. The landscape composition hypothesis states habitat quantity, measured at spatial scales larger than the individual territory, would influence species abundance. Using the National Land Cover Database, we extracted the metrics of landscape fragmentation and composition at turkey annual dispersal (i.e., a buffer of 16-km radius) and annual home range (i.e., a buffer of 2.15-km radius) scales, respectively, for 28 wildlife management areas across Mississippi, USA. We used the mean annual number of harvested adult males per hunter day during annual spring hunting seasons (mid-March to mid-April) from 2001 to 2005 as a relative abundance index. Male Wild Turkey relative abundance increased with increasing fragmentation of hardwood forest (i.e., deciduous trees as the dominant form of vegetation) at both annual home range and dispersal scales, contrary to the prediction of the landscape fragmentation hypothesis. Male Wild Turkey abundance also increased with increasing landscape interspersion and juxtaposition index (i.e., an index of landscape spatial configuration) at the annual dispersal scale. We found nonlinear relationships between the proportion of hardwood forest and male turkey abundance, supporting the landscape composition hypothesis. Male turkey relative abundance peaked at 29% hardwood forest within the annual dispersal distance. Diverse landscapes are beneficial to Wild Turkeys at large spatial scales.

The Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) is a migratory bird with many aspects of its ecology poorly understood. The objective of this study was to examine effects of fire, vegetation structure, and landscape variables on site occupancy and detection probabilities for Yellow Rails overwintering in coastal pine savannas of Mississippi and Alabama. Between December and April, 2012–2013, dragline surveys for Yellow Rail were conducted at three conservation areas: two in Jackson County, Mississippi, and one in Mobile County, Alabama, USA. Site occupancy for Yellow Rail was 0.81 ± 0.06 (SD) with detection probabilities of 0.79 ± 0.09 (SD). Yellow Rail occupancy related negatively with time since fire, indicating fire provides conditions attractive to Yellow Rail overwintering throughout the study area. Yellow Rail use of wetland and fire-maintained habitats within coastal Mississippi during winter, coupled with continued loss of open grasslands and inadequate management of fire-dependent pine sav...

Global interest in biofuels has resulted in the development of novel land-use practices for the production of cellulosic biomass. One novel land-use practice that has recently been developed is intercropping switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) between rows of planted loblolly pines (Pinus taeda). However, our understanding of how intercropping switchgrass influences loblolly pine flora and fauna is limited. Therefore, we evaluated the influence of switchgrass cultivation within loblolly pine stands on invertebrate communities. We detected 2,913 individuals (n = 1,172 and 1,741 in 2014 and 2015, respectively), encompassing 13 orders. To examine invertebrate community composition among treatments, we conducted metric multidimensional scaling (MDS) in R. Multivariate analysis determined that treatment had a significant (Pr(>r) = 0.01) influence on invertebrate communities. Furthermore, stable isotope analysis suggests that Orthopterans are not assimilating cultivated switchgrass (C4 species), but are ins...

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a cellulosic feedstock for alternative energy production that can be grown between rows of planted pines (Pinus spp.) within intensively managed forests. Southeastern planted pine occupies 15.8 million ha and thus, switchgrass intercropping could have far-ranging effects on plant communities and biomass production within these forests if broadly implemented. Such intercropping could lead to alterations to plant communities that may cause bottom-up ecological changes affecting ecologically, economically, and socially important wildlife, such as white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus; deer). Therefore, we tested whether intercropping switchgrass in loblolly pine (P. taeda) plantations would cause switchgrass to dominate vegetative biomass thereby decreasing biomass of forages and reducing white-tailed deer nutritional carrying capacity (NCC), or whether disturbance associated with establishment and harvest of switchgrass would facilitate ruderal forbs, and thereby increase biomass of preferred deer forages and increase NCC. In a randomized complete block design, we assigned 2 treatments (intercropped switchgrass and a standard pine management control) to 4 replicates of 10-ha experimental units in Kemper County, Mississippi during summers of 2011−2015. We detected 323 plant species. Intercropping switchgrass had little effect on plant biomass production, and did not affect white-tailed deer NCC at a maintenance diet of 6% crude protein. Intercropping provided additional disturbance allowing high-protein content ruderal plants to colonize, and temporarily increased (3 yr) deer NCC at the 14% crude protein diet considered necessary to support lactation. However, concomitant with a sharp increase in switchgrass biomass in the third year of the study, NCC dropped to levels similar to traditionally managed pine stands. Switchgrass intercropping is not a reliable means of increasing deer NCC as a management strategy but does not appear to reduce carrying capacity in the short-term relative to standard intensive pine management. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.

Determining species occurrence in ecosystems of high conservation concern is especially important for recommending habitat management techniques and identifying suitable restoration sites. We investigated (1) how stand- and landscape-scale attributes affect occupancy of priority bird species associated with longleaf pine ( Pinus palutris ) ecosystems, (2) if these priority birds can be used as indicator species for desired open pine forest structure, and (3) if these indicator species are positively correlated with greater avian richness. We compared priority bird occupancy among 12 stand types (habitat types) throughout the historic range of longleaf pine in Mississippi. We found stands resembling the historic longleaf pine ecosystem were positively associated with Red-cockaded Woodpecker ( Picoides borealis ) and Bachman’s Sparrow ( Peucaea aestivalis ) occupancy probabilities, but were not significantly correlated with Northern Bobwhite ( Colinus virginianus ) or Brown-headed Nuthatch ( Sitta pusilla ) occupancy. Both of which were too generalized in their occurrence to be useful indicators. Red-cockaded Woodpecker and Bachman’s Sparrow occupancy probabilities positively correlated with desired forest structure metrics of longleaf pine ecosystems such as low midstory density ( 2 /ha) and 40–60% canopy cover suggesting they are effective indicators of historic longleaf pine conditions. Co-occurrence of Red-cockaded Woodpecker and Bachman’s Sparrow was positively correlated with avian richness, indicating these species can be used in conjunction as effective indicators for desired open pine endpoints used for restoration and management. Inclusion of priority bird species in management efforts provides assurance that restored areas will incorporate desired forest structure endpoints that have been linked to open pine priority bird presence. Correlation between priority bird species and avian species richness ensures restored areas provide suitable habitat for local avian communities.