A SARS-CoV-2 genomic and serologic survey was performed in a population of bobcats (Lynx rufus) inhabiting the state of Connecticut, USA. Wild animal populations are becoming established in densely populated cities with increased likelihood of direct or indirect contact with humans, as well as with household cats and dogs. Wild-caught bobcats (n=38) tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA by reverse-transcription quantitative PCR and for virus-neutralizing antibodies by ELISA, suggesting that either the species is not susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 or that the surveyed population has not yet been exposed to a source of infectious virus. However, this limited survey cannot rule out that human-to-bobcat or unknown reservoir-to-bobcat transmission of the virus occurs in nature.

Townsend's big-eared bat, Corynorhinus townsendii, is a cave- and mine-roosting species found largely in western North America. Considered a species of conservation concern throughout much of its range, protection efforts would greatly benefit from understanding patterns of population structure, genetic diversity, and local adaptation. To facilitate such research, we present the first de novo genome assembly of C. townsendii as part of the California Conservation Genomics Project (CCGP). Pacific Biosciences HiFi long reads and Omni-C chromatin-proximity sequencing technologies were used to produce a de novo genome assembly, consistent with the standard CCGP reference genome protocol. This assembly comprises 391 scaffolds spanning 2.1 Gb, represented by a scaffold N50 of 174.6 Mb, a contig N50 of 23.4 Mb, and a benchmarking universal single-copy ortholog (BUSCO) completeness score of 96.6%. This high-quality genome will be a key tool for informed conservation and management of this vulnerable species in California and across its range.

AbstractObjectiveAnadromous Sea Lamprey Petromyzon marinus, native to the Atlantic coast of the USA, has declined in numbers since European contact due to the construction of barrier dams. Simply addressing the stream barriers, either by removal or the addition of fishways, has not always resulted in the restoration of runs. An experimental approach of transplanting adult lamprey from existing runs into unoccupied upstream habitat was evaluated as a tool for re‐establishing annual spawning runs of the species.MethodsTwo coastal watersheds without Sea Lamprey runs but with dams with fishways close to the ocean were selected for testing. Prespawn adult Sea Lamprey captured from another river were released in suitable habitat upstream of the dam in one river but not the other. Counts of adult Sea Lamprey ascending the river via the fishways in subsequent years were made and compared between the two rivers. Data of colonizing adult Sea Lamprey in other rivers were analyzed for further comparison.ResultIn subsequent years, adult Sea Lamprey only immigrated into the river that received transplanted adults. When adult Sea Lampreys were finally released into the second river years later, an annual run of adult Sea Lamprey was re‐established in that stream as well.ConclusionPrespawn adult Sea Lamprey will not emigrate from the ocean into a stream with no resident larval Sea Lamprey. The release of prespawn adults into a vacant habitat resulted in spawning, which produced a resident population of larval Sea Lamprey. Such larvae produce attractant pheromones, which is necessary to attract adults. If a stream has an extant run of Sea Lamprey, removal of a migratory barrier will result in the run expanding upstream into previously vacant habitat. Transplantation of prespawn adult Sea Lamprey can be an important management tool for restoring lost runs of this important anadromous species.

ABSTRACTSevere declines in the abundance of insects, including economically and ecologically important pollinators are alarming conservationists and the public. Yet despite these increasingly well documented declines, relatively few pollinating insects other than some butterflies and bumble bees have appeared as Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) in State Wildlife Action Plans, decadal-scale blueprints for wildlife conservation efforts across the United States that require updating in 2025. Species absent from SGCN lists are ineligible for congressionally appropriated State Wildlife Grants that direct millions of dollars annually for their conservation. In the past, knowledge about the distribution and abundance of many insect pollinators was too poor to identify those meeting state guidelines for inclusion as SGCN. Using case studies from 4 northeastern states, we demonstrate that sufficient conservation status data now exists for many pollinators, including bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, and flower flies, to identify at-risk species meriting inclusion on SGCN lists in many states. Doing so will increase funding available for surveys, habitat protection and enhancement, and other conservation activities that will benefit this vitally important guild.

The Yuma myotis bat (Myotis yumanensis) is a small vespertilionid bat and one of 52 species of new world Myotis bats in the subgenus Pizonyx. While M. yumanensis populations currently appear relatively stable, it is one of 12 bat species known or suspected to be susceptible to white-nose syndrome, the fungal disease causing declines in bat populations across North America. Only two of these 12 species have genome resources available, which limits the ability of resource managers to use genomic techniques to track the responses of bat populations to white-nose syndrome generally. Here we present the first de novo genome assembly for Yuma myotis, generated as a part of the California Conservation Genomics Project. The M. yumanensis genome was generated using a combination of PacBio HiFi long reads and Omni-C chromatin-proximity sequencing technology. This high-quality genome is one of the most complete bat assemblies available, with a contig N50 of 28.03 Mb, scaffold N50 of 99.14 Mb, and BUSCO completeness score of 93.7%. The Yuma myotis genome provides a high-quality resource that will aid in comparative genomic and evolutionary studies, as well as inform conservation management related to white-nose syndrome.

Abstract Nuclear power plants are designed to operate safely for decades. Contingency plans have been developed to manage the energy, heat, and radiation unique to nuclear emergencies. As world threats emerge and evolve, these plans must also be robust, resilient, and agile enough to protect the public and the environment. Effective nuclear emergency preparedness requires the deliberate integration of security considerations and radiological protection into contingency response plans and security protocols. This document first provides an overview of emergency preparedness. It then explores how world trends have increasingly shifted focus to security, particularly on hostile-based events. The next part systematically examines the inter-relation of security and radiological emergency preparedness (REP) considerations in developing sound plans and protocols. The discussion concludes with examples of best practices and the future trajectory of nuclear emergency preparedness.

AbstractForested wetlands provide habitat for a diversity of wildlife and create complex vegetation structure within forests. Current best management practices in New England have limited disturbances in forested wetlands due to concerns for wetland function and water quality. As a result, forested wetlands often have large, mature trees that were formerly rare under natural disturbance regimes. Our goal was to determine whether experimentally felling trees within forested wetlands is an effective management action to improve foraging habitat for insectivorous bats. In the winter of 2019 while the ground was frozen, we felled all trees in an area of approximately 0.1 ha in each of 3 forested wetlands to simulate a natural disturbance, similar to that caused by beaver activity or windthrow. The following spring and summer of 2019 and 2020, we monitored bat activity in the 3 treated forested wetlands as well as 3 untreated forested wetlands. We found that for all species recorded, bat activity was higher in treated wetlands than in untreated wetlands. We also found Lasiurus borealis and Lasionycteris noctivagans had a delayed response to treatments, with higher activity in the second year after treatments. Our findings suggest that managing forested wetlands consistent with historic patterns of forest disturbance and regeneration is beneficial to insectivorous bats. The positive response by bats to tree felling indicates that promoting age‐class and structural diversity in forest canopies without flooding or soil disturbance is an appropriate consideration with respect to best management practices in forested wetlands.

© 2023 American Meteorological Society. For information regarding reuse of this content and general copyright information, consult the AMS Copyright Policy (www.ametsoc.org/PUBSReuseLicenses). Corresponding authors: Monika Kopacz, monika.kopacz@noaa.gov; Victoria Breeze, victoria.breeze@noaa.gov

Reductions in cold-water habitat owing to anthropogenic stressors are focusing attention on indicator fish species. We investigated an apparent range expansion in Connecticut of a native cold-water fish, Slimy Sculpin (Cottus cognatus). Unexpectedly, genetic and morphological analyses identified the new population as a non-native cottid from the Ozark region, the Knobfin Sculpin (C. immaculatus). This is the first record of C. immaculatus outside of its native range. The new occurrences were not recognized for over a decade despite comprehensive watershed inventories by state natural resource managers. The mechanism by which the non-native Knobfin Sculpin first arrived in Connecticut is currently unknown. Our findings suggest that unintentional species introductions may occur more frequently than is currently recognized and highlight the need for more comprehensive assessments of non-native species distributions.

After centuries of overexploitation and habitat loss, many of the world's sturgeon (Acipenseridae) populations are at the brink of extinction. Although significant resources are invested into the conservation and restoration of imperiled sturgeons, the burgeoning commercial culture industry poses an imminent threat to the persistence of many populations. In the past decade, the number and distribution of captive sturgeon facilities has grown exponentially and now encompasses diverse interest groups ranging from hobby aquarists to industrial‐scale commercial facilities. Expansion of sturgeon captive culture has largely fallen outside the purview of existing regulatory frameworks, raising concerns that continued growth of this industry has real potential to jeopardize conservation of global sturgeon populations. Here, we highlight some of the most significant threats commercial culture poses to wild populations, with particular emphasis on how releases can accelerate wild population declines through mechanisms such as hybridization, introgression, competition, and disease transmission. We also note that in some circumstances, commercial captive culture has continued to motivate harvest of wild populations, potentially accelerating species' declines. Given the prevalence and trajectory of sturgeon captive culture programs, we comment on modifications to regulatory frameworks that could improve the ability of captive culture to support wild sturgeon conservation.