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Many sampling and analytical methods can estimate the abundance, distributions, and diversity of birds and other wildlife. However, challenges with sample size and analytical capacity can make these methods difficult to implement for resource‐limited monitoring programs. To apprise efficient and attainable sampling designs for landbird monitoring programs with limited observational data, we used breeding season bird point survey data collected in 2016 at four forest restoration sites in Indiana, USA. We evaluated three subsets of observed species richness, total possibly breeding landbirds, Partners in Flight Regional Conservation Concern (PIF RCC) landbirds, and interior forest specialists (IFSs). Simulated surveys based on field data were used to conduct Bayesian Michaelis–Menten curve analyses estimating observed species as a function of sampling effort. On comparing simulated survey sets with multiple habitat types versus those with one habitat, we found that those with multiple habitat types had estimated 39%–83% greater observed PIF RCC species richness and required 41%–55% fewer visits per point to observe an equivalent proportion of PIF RCC species. Even with multiple habitats in a survey set, the number of visits per point required to detect 50% of observable species was 30% higher for PIF RCC species than for total breeding landbird species. Low detection rates of IFS species at two field sites made precise estimation of required effort to observe these species difficult. However, qualitatively, we found that only sites containing mature forest fragments had detections of several bird species designated as high‐confidence IFS species. Our results suggest that deriving specialized species diversity metrics from point survey data can add value when interpreting those data. Additionally, designing studies to collect these metrics may require explicitly planning to visit multiple habitat types at a monitoring site and increasing the number of visits per survey point. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1954–1968. © 2024 The Author(s). Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA. Key Points: Four forest restoration sites in Indiana supported a variety of potentially breeding migratory bird species, including interior forest specialists and regional conservation concern species.At forest restoration sites in Indiana with various habitat types, it was necessary to visit both open and woody plant‐dominated habitats to efficiently detect bird species of regional conservation concern.When analyzing bird point survey data, deriving specialized species diversity metrics, such as richness of habitat specialist species or conservation concern species, can add value when interpreting those data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient biodiversity surveys are critical for successful restoration monitoring and management. We studied the effect of varying sampling effort on the observed species richness of surveys of small mammals (trapping transects), bats (passive acoustic detection), and medium to large mammals (trail cameras). Field studies provided mammalian biodiversity data for 4 bottomland hardwood restoration sites in northeastern Indiana. Subsampled data were used to simulate monitoring surveys with a range of levels of effort. We then used hierarchical Bayesian nonlinear mixed models to analyze how different components of sampling effort affected observed species richness, a key monitoring outcome. We found that observed small mammal richness increased with the increased number of transects in a survey, while observed bat and medium to large mammal richness increased with the increased duration of sampling. Variation between sites was important for the observed richness of small mammals and bats but not for medium to large mammals. The key driver of richness observed in simulated surveys was related to the spatial scale at which target fauna interact with the habitat, with decreasing richness accompanied by a greater spatial scale of animal–habitat interactions. Our findings suggest taxon‐specific recommendations for efficiently quantifying the mammalian diversity of managed sites. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1969–1981. © 2020 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC) Key Points: Hierarchical subsampling was used to simulate how different levels of sampling effort affected the observed biodiversity of mammals.Observed small mammal species richness increased with number of samples (i.e., transects).For bats and medium to large mammals the duration of sampling, not number of samples, had the greatest effect on observed species richness.The spatial scale at which a species interacts with the habitat determined which component of sampling effort had the greatest effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Control and elimination of invasive fishes, like carps (Order Cypriniformes), may be possible by using chemical stimuli to congregate them for removal. To this end, we tested behavioral responses of grass (Ctenopharyngodon idella), bighead (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), and silver carp (H. molitrix) to L‐alanine, L‐arginine, L‐glutamic acid, and L‐aspartic acid. In grass carp, the first three amino acids have been shown to be beneficial for growth, and all four produce a strong olfactory response in this species. This study used pairs of conspecific fish in a video‐recorded, sound‐insulated, clear acrylic, tube‐shaped tank; during trials, an amino acid stimulus was delivered at one end of that tank. Changes in space use, velocity, and acceleration across all amino acids differed significantly among species. Changes in space use by grass carp indicated avoidance of only two amino acids, L‐alanine and L‐aspartic acid. There was no evidence for attraction to amino acids for grass or silver carp. For bighead carp, change in spatial use on exposure to amino acids indicated attraction across the four amino acids. This attraction was enhanced by lowered velocity. Our results suggested that olfactory sensitivity does not directly translate to behavioral responses. Other sensory cues, for example tactile, visual, and/or taste, may mediate the selective foraging of grass carp. Amino acids may serve as a better olfactory attractant for bighead carp compared to grass or silver carp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii is native to the southeast United States but has successfully invaded nearly every continent around the world. Although physical, biological, and chemical controls are employed to reduce or eliminate populations in open-water systems, terrestrial burrows provide a potential refuge from aquatic control treatments. We conducted burrow trials to test whether two physical blocker treatments would kill P. clarkii in their burrows. Bentonite clay (a sealing agent) and expanding foam (an insulating sealant) were each applied to 37 crayfish burrows, and 36 burrows served as treatment controls (i.e., 110 total burrows). Burrows were excavated 48 hr after the application of the physical blockers to assess the status of crayfish in treated and control burrows. There was 74% mortality of crayfish in occupied burrows treated with bentonite clay, 62% in burrows treated with expanding foam, and 6% mortality in control burrows. We believe bentonite clay should continue to be field-tested; however, because expanding foam is toxic to aquatic organisms and is expected to persist in the environment, we do not believe it is a suitable physical blocker for the control of invasive crayfish in burrows. Bentonite clay applications likely will not need permits, will mitigate damage to banks and levees caused by burrowing crayfish, and can be used with other control agents such as pesticides. However, the use of physical blockers may be limited at field sites that have burrows with complex morphologies. We believe the use of bentonite clay to control invasive crayfish in terrestrial burrows will provide resource managers with an effective tool for their integrative pest management programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Neosho madtom is a small, short-lived catfish species endemic to gravel bars of the Neosho River in Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri, U.S.A. It spawns during summer in nesting cavities excavated in gravel. Although the species has survived dam construction within the Neosho River basin, its declining numbers resulted in it being added to the federal threatened species list in 1991. To test how water flow affects the reproductive behavior of Neosho madtoms, we compared activities of male-female pairs in static versus flowing-water aquaria. Using a behavioral catalog, we recorded their behavior sequences during randomly selected 5-min nighttime periods. For males and females, Jostle and Embrace were the most performed reproductive behaviors and the Jostle-Embrace-Carousel was the most performed reproductive behavior sequence. Water flow decreased the mean frequency of occurrence, percentage of time spent and mean event duration of male Nest Building. Because Neosho madtom courtship, reproduction and parental care is a complex and extended process, disturbances such as heightened river flows during the species' spawning season may negatively affect nest quality and reproductive success.

A series of patch-choice experiments involving the bluegill sunfish Lepomis macrochirus reveals that the species continuously update their patch-learning decisions by including new information. A linear giving-up time rule and retrospective information usage enables the species to utilize spatially and temporally varying information. The species change their prey choice in addition to normally observed path choices.