Bastrop County Research Articles

A chance encounter in central Texas yields insights on the ecology of aestivating Siren nettingi (Caudata: Sirenidae)


 
 
 
 Siren spp. are often dominant vertebrates in the wetlands they occupy and are known to estivate when such wetlands dry up. Practical considerationslimit in-situ observations of estivating individuals. On 12 October 2021, we incidentally discovered an estivating aggregate of Siren nettingi in Bastrop County, Texas, USA. These salamanders were excavated from compact, rocky soil adjacent to a caliche road, at depths that ranged between ~0.2 to 1.5 m. The dominant vegetation at this site included Ulmus crassifolia, Persicaria sp., and various grass species. We recovered 140 individuals of which seven were salvaged and 133 were captured live. We measured 115 of these for snout–vent length (SVL) and observed the aggregate was predominated by juveniles. We estimated an estivation density of 2.33 sirens/m2 that is comparable to densities estimated for non-estivating populations. However, in-lieu of monitoring that was in place for this study, we expect a mass mortality event would have likely occurred. We therefore suggest that roadway construction in preferred habitat be considered as a threat to siren populations.
 
 
 

Impact of wildfires on regional ozone and PM2.5: Considering the light absorption of Brown carbon

The influence of wildfire brown carbon (BrC) in moderating the formation of O3 and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) due to its absorption of ultraviolet (UV) radiation is, for the first time, investigated using a modified community multiscale air quality (CMAQ) model. The wavelength-dependent imaginary refractive index of the organic carbon from wildfires, which are needed by the CMAQ model for its inline photolysis rate calculation, are generated experimentally from wood burning aerosols from a combustion chamber. On high emission days of the Bastrop County Complex fire in Texas in early September 2011, BrC UV absorption reduces the daytime average NO2 photolysis rate by up to 38% in the core region of the wildfire plume compared to the base scenario that does not consider BrC absorption. Consequently, O3 production in the smoke plume is suppressed compared to the base scenario due to reduced HOx radical concentrations. In the core region, the predicted O3 increase due to wildfire reaches as high as 47–123 ppb without considering BrC absorption, the predicted increase of O3 is 5–15% lower when BrC absorption is considered. Similarly, considering the BrC UV absorption leads to approximately 1% (or ∼2–3 μg m−3) lower estimation of the wildfire emissions’ impact on total PM2.5. This change is small because secondary aerosols, which are the components affected by BrC absorption, only account for a small fraction of the total PM2.5 in wildfire impacted regions in this study. In addition, our study shows that assumptions about aerosol mixing state (core-shell vs. homogeneous) in the inline photolysis rate calculation would not significantly affect out assessment of the impact of wildfire BrC light absorption on O3 and PM2.5.

Association of Leeches with the Endangered Houston Toad

The prevalence of leech attachment on anuran taxa is largely uncharacterized. When parasitic, such relationships may regulate amphibian populations and function as an obstacle to the recovery of imperiled species. We evaluated the prevalence of leech attachment in a population of endangered Bufo (= Anaxyrus) houstonensis (Houston Toad) in Bastrop County, TX, during the spring of 2021. Of 191 toads examined, 2 (1%) were each infested with a single leech. Molecular analysis of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene identified 1 of those leeches as Helobdella austinensis. This constitutes the first reported association of H. austinensis with a vertebrate host and extends the known range of H. austinensis ∼50 km eastward. Leech attachment in this Houston Toad population is rare and the nature of the association remains unclear.

Optimizing Emergency Stroke Transport Strategies Using Physiological Models.

The criteria for choosing between drip and ship and mothership transport strategies in emergency stroke care is widely debated. Although existing data-driven probability models can inform transport decision-making at an epidemiological level, we propose a novel mathematical, physiologically derived framework that provides insight into how patient characteristics underlying infarct core growth influence these decisions. We represent the physiology of time-dependent infarct core growth within an ischemic penumbra as an exponential function with consideration to rate-determining collateral blood flow. Monte Carlo methods generate distributions of infarct core volumes, which are translated to distributions of 90-day modified Rankin Scale scores. We apply the model to a stroke network that serves rural Bastrop County and urban Travis County by simulating transport strategies from thousands of potential patient pickup locations. In every pickup location, the simulation yields a distribution of outcomes corresponding to each transport strategy. A 2-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and Student t test determine which transport strategy provides a significantly better probability of a good outcome for a given pickup location in each respective county (P<0.01). In Travis County, drip and ship provides significantly better probabilities of a good outcome in 24.0% of the pickup locations, while 59.8% favor mothership. In Bastrop County, 11.3% of the pickup locations favor drip and ship, while only 7.1% favor mothership. The remaining pickup locations in each county are not statistically significant in either direction. We also reveal how differing rates of infarct core growth, the application of bypass policies, and the use of large vessel occlusion field tests impact these results. Modeling stroke physiology enables the use of clinically relevant metrics for determining comparative significance between drip and ship and mothership in a given geography. This formalism can help understand and inform emergency medical service transport decision-making, as well as regional bypass policies.

Three centuries of fire and forest vegetation transitions preceding Texas’ most destructive wildfire: Lost Pines or lost oaks?

In 2011, the most destructive wildfire in Texas history (Bastrop County Complex Fire, BCCF) burned 34,000 acres including most of Bastrop State Park. We used dendrochronological analysis of vegetation paired with documentary information to reconstruct the historical fire regime, changes in forest composition, and possible human influences leading up to this seemingly unique event. In addition, demographics of fire-killed and immediate post-fire regenerating trees were determined through stem aging and a regeneration census. Historical fire frequency was lower during the pre-EuroAmerican Settlement period (pre-1830) compared to later time periods before the 1920s. Since the 1920s, fire occurrence has significantly decreased. Historical fire characteristics appeared to change with local and regional cultural and land use changes. Within the BCCF area were extensive areas of very old (up to 359yrs old) open-grown post oaks (Quercus stellata) that had been overtopped by 60year old loblolly pines (Pinus taeda). Historically, oak woodlands likely persisted in the study area due to recurring fire and, though less well documented, by grazing and selective logging for loblolly pines. This region is an ecotone between the oak woodlands and Lost Pines and our data show transitions between the two types through time. It is unclear how this vegetation interaction may have affected the destructive BCCF, but its severity and effects were unprecedented during at least the last three centuries. Little to no loblolly pine natural regeneration existed despite being dominant in the pre-fire forest overstory. Based on stump sprout abundance, blackjack oak (Q. marilandica) will likely be the dominant tree species in the next few decades.

A New Species ofCatocala(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) from the South Central United States

A new species of underwing moth, Catocala bastropi sp. nov., is described from Texas and Louisiana, USA. Wing pattern, genitalic and cytochrome oxidase subunit I 5′ mitochondrial DNA characters separate C. bastropi from phenotypically similar and closely related species. The new species occurs in xeric uplands from western Louisiana to the Bastrop Lost Pines ecoregion in Bastrop County, Texas, north to Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri, USA. Also evaluated here is a distinctive wing pattern phenotype with forewings resembling C. andromedae but with yellow-banded hind wings.

Why the Proposed Bastrop School District Tax Increases Hurt All of Us

Bastrop Independent School District has two proposed property tax increases on November’s ballot. One would raise the Maintenance and Operations rate, the second would add an additional $75 million in school bond debt. These taxes will increase the cost of living in Bastrop and Bastrop County. Bastrop ISD is already among the heaviest-taxed and most-indebted school districts in Texas, and higher taxes decrease our community’s ability to remain economically viable by discouraging commercial growth.

Persistence ofEtheostoma parvipinne(Goldstripe Darter) in a Single Tributary on the Periphery of Its Range

Abstract We report the occurrence of a single population of Etheostoma parvipinne (Goldstripe Darter) in a small, acidic, spring-fed stream within the Colorado River drainage following an extended period of below-average precipitation (January–September 2011), a wildland fire (September 2011), and subsequent debris and sediment flows (November 2011–May 2012). Goldstripe Darters were taken from Alum Creek (Bastrop County, TX) along with a cyprinid, a poeciliid, and several species of centrarchids in June 2012. Occurrence of Goldstripe Darters in Alum Creek provides a regional example of fish-community responses to wildland fires. In additio n, understanding the mechanism of long-term persistence in a single tributary on the periphery of a species range might offer insight into the origin of endemic fishes and persistence of disjunct fish populations within aquatic evolutionary refugia of central Texas.

Longitudinal Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response to Wildfire, Bastrop County, Texas.

On September 4, 2011, a wildfire ignited in Bastrop County, Texas, resulting in losses of 34,068 acres of land and 1,645 homes and 2 deaths. At the request of the Texas Department of State Health Services Health Service Region 7 and the Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management, Community Assessments for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) were conducted in the weeks following the wildfire and again 3.5 years later to assess both the immediate and long-term public health and preparedness impacts of the wildfire. The objective of these assessments was to learn more about the trajectory of disaster recovery, including rebuilding, evacuation, household emergency planning, and mental and physical health outcomes among both adults and children. In 2015, households exposed to the 2011 wildfires were significantly more likely to have established a family meeting place and evacuation route, to have confidence in the local government's ability to respond to disaster, and to report symptoms of depression and higher stress. Longitudinal assessments using the CASPER method can provide actionable information for improved planning, preparedness, and recovery to public health and emergency management agencies and community residents.

The development of a bilingual interactive video to improve physical activity and healthful eating in a head start population.

The prevalence of obesity in the Hispanic preschool population remains elevated, particularly among children in low income families below the poverty level. Obesity leads to the early onset of metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes. The Head Start population of Texas is largely comprised of this high risk group. Their physical activity level is suboptimal in part due to lack of available outside play areas and time spent watching television and playing sedentary video games. Dietary intake is frequently high in sugar sweetened beverages and low in vegetables. The group is frequently bilingual with limited vocabulary and has not learned to read. Preserving their Mexican American culture is a concern. This article describes the development and assessment of a group of bilingual interactive video interventions to improve age appropriate physical activity while providing basic nutrition education focusing on increasing vegetable and water intake and decreasing sugar sweetened beverages. Suggestions for development and assessment of content were provided by focus groups of Head Start teachers, managers and dietitians in the Texas counties of Bastrop, Hidalgo and McLennon. A demonstration of the videos was conducted in Bastrop County. Teachers, students and managers felt that the videos provided excellent information, improved exercise participation and engaged the children.

Bastrop County during Reconstruction (review)

Bastrop County during Reconstruction (review)

Use of Human Remains Detection Dogs for Wide Area Search After Wildfire: A New Experience for Texas Task Force 1 Search and Rescue Resources

In September 2011, wildfires in Bastrop County, TX, were the most destructive in the state's history, consuming more than 34000 acres (13759 hectares) and more than 1600 homes in the process. The wildfires began by consuming more than 30 homes across 2 miles (3.2 km) in 17 minutes, raising the fear that local residents may not have had sufficient time to escape the conflagration. Texas Task Force 1 deployed for a new mission, the search and recovery of human remains. Although there have been other larger and more widespread fires in the past, it was the speed at which this fire spread that created the environment requiring such a search. The mission was focused primarily on human detection, searching an area almost 72 square miles (186 km(2)) between September 7 and 11, 2011. To our knowledge, never before have human remains detection dogs been tasked with such an undertaking. Lessons learned from this event will educate all levels of government agencies, emergency medical services, fire departments, law enforcement, utilities, veterinary services, and search and rescue/recovery activities in the future. The utilization of human remains detection canines integrated with search teams trained in larger scale events is one such area that will benefit from this experience, with a final area searched of 15 598 acres (6312 hectares).

Assessment of Public Knowledge and Support for Recovery of the Endangered Houston Toad (Bufo houstonensis) in Bastrop, Texas

Community support is critical to recovery success of endangered species. Education can cultivate positive attitudes and actions toward species recovery. The federally endangered Houston toad (Bufo houstonensis) is endemic to east-central Texas and the largest population is currently located near the City of Bastrop in Bastrop County. This study quantified the level of knowledge about the Houston toad for residents of the City of Bastrop, explored reasons behind expressed opinions of residents, and determined current and future education outlets. Nearly two thirds of respondents had heard of the Houston toad. Of the 83 surveyed residents who had heard of the species, 94% knew the Houston toad was endangered. Most respondents believed the Houston toad was an important part of the Lost Pines ecosystem and cared if it goes extinct. Survey responses did not vary by sex or age. This article will hopefully guide future education and collaborative recovery initiatives.

A Pilot Study of a Pictorial Bilingual Nutrition Education Game to Improve the Consumption of Healthful Foods in a Head Start Population

The prevalence of early childhood obesity has increased dramatically particularly among the Mexican American population. Obesity leads to earlier onset of related diseases such as type 2 diabetes. The Head Start population of Texas is largely Mexican American. Dietary intake in this population demonstrated a diet very low in fiber, high in salt, and containing excessive calories with a low intake of fruit and vegetables. This study was performed in a Texas Head Start population to evaluate a bilingual pictorial nutrition education game. Acceptance of the bilingual concept and the game had been previously studied in a Head Start population in five Texas counties. The effectiveness in producing a change in eating habits was studied as a pilot project 413 children and their parents at the Bastrop County Head Start. Parents were asked to supply data about at home food frequency at the beginning and the end of the school year and the results compared. The parents were given a demonstration of the educational objectives and the students played the game throughout the year. By the end of the school year there was a statistically significant increase in the vegetables offered to this population both during the week at home (p = 0.009) and on the weekends (p = 0.02).

Collared Peccary (Pecari tajacu) in Bastrop County, Texas

Abstract We discovered a previously unknown population of collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu) in Bastrop County, Texas (30.26245°N, 97.31024°W). Prior to this report, collared peccaries had been reported in western Texas and in the brush country south of San Antonio. There also are introduced populations in several counties in north-central Texas. The newly discovered population was in forests of post oak (Quercus stellata) and black jack oak (Q. marilandica), similar to the oak forest occupied by the population in Trans-Pecos Texas. Range extensions have been documented in northern New Mexico, western Texas, and eastern Texas. Whether or not the population in Bastrop County is an introduction or a range extension is unknown.

Sympatry ofMilesia scutellataHull andMilesia virginiensis(Drury) Flower Flies1at Their Western Range Limits in North America, and the Previously Unknown Juvenile Stages ofM. scutellata

The large and attractive flower flies Milesia scutellata Hull and Milesia virginiensis (Drury) are harmless mimics of queens of yellowjackets (family Vespidae). Both flower flies are reported in sympatry in Bastrop State Park, Bastrop County, TX, near the western limits of their ranges. This constitutes the first published record of M. scutellata from Texas. The biologies of these two sister species are compared, hilltopping behavior is reported for M. scutellata, and the first illustrations of its juvenile stages are provided.

Archaeological Investigations of the Proposed Convention Center and City Hall Project Area in Downtown Bastrop, Bastrop County, Texas

Archaeological Investigations of the Proposed Convention Center and City Hall Project Area in Downtown Bastrop, Bastrop County, Texas

An Archaeological Survey of 3,475 Acres at Camp Swift, Bastrop County, Texas: 2005

An Archaeological Survey of 3,475 Acres at Camp Swift, Bastrop County, Texas: 2005

Texas Shrews (Blarina hylophaga) Lacking External Eye Openings

Shrews are insectivorous opportunistic foragers occupying moist habitats characterized by high vegetative composition. Shrews characteristically have poorly developed eyesight and rely on olfactory and auditory senses for efficient foraging. Two Blarina hylophaga (Elliot's short-tailed shrew) recently trapped in East Texas did not have externally visible eyes. Further examination during specimen preparation revealed both had developed eyes, but lacked developed, opened, or functional eyelids. A third shrew, collected in Bastrop County, TX, had developed eyes and eyelids, however, the external openings were abnormally small. All three shrews were adults and alive in traps, suggesting no ill effects due to the reduction or absence of eye openings and further suggesting little or no effect on the survival of these individuals.

Scaling Relationship between Body Weight and Fermentation Gut Capacity in Axis Deer

The scaling relationship between body weight and fermentation gut capacity presumably impacts dietary patterns of ruminants. Interspecific scaling relationships between body weight and fermentation gut capacity have a slope of 1.0 (isometric scaler) when body weights span � 3 orders of magnitude. Isometric scaling relationships between body weight and fermentation gut capacity also have been suggested to explain dietary patterns within species, but whether scaling relationships are isometric within a single species is unresolved. We determined if the intraspecific scaling relationship between body weight and fermentation gut capacity was isometric for axis deer (Axis axis) and assessed the influence of reproductive status of females on the scaling relationship. We collected 8 adult male and 21 adult female axis deer from January 2004 to April 2005 at a private ranch in Bastrop County, Texas. Capacity of the rumen‐reticulum, cecum, and colon, organs where fermentation occurs, was estimated by calculating wet weight and volume capacity. Forage quality, month that animal was collected, and sex did not influence scaling relationships. Regressions apparently had isometric scalers for fermentation gut capacity but the relationships were not strong, in part because females that were pregnant had smaller fermentative gut capacities than nonreproductive or lactating animals.