Greatest Conservation Need Research Articles

Broad-scale predictions of herpetofauna occupancy and colonization in an agriculturally dominated landscape.

Predictions of species occurrence allow land managers to focus conservation efforts on locations where species are most likely to occur. Such analyses are rare for herpetofauna compared to other taxa, despite increasing evidence that herptile populations are declining because of landcover change and habitat fragmentation. Our objective was to create predictions of occupancy and colonization probabilities for 15 herptiles of greatest conservation need in Iowa. From 2006-2014, we surveyed 295 properties throughout Iowa for herptile presence using timed visual-encounter surveys, coverboards, and aquatic traps. Data were analyzed using robust design occupancy modeling with landscape-level covariates. Occupancy ranged from 0.01 (95% CI = -0.01, 0.03) for prairie ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus arnyi) to 0.90 (95% CI = 0.898, 0.904) for northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens). Occupancy for most species correlated to landscape features at the 1-km scale. General patterns of species' occupancy included negative effects of agricultural features and positive effects of water features on turtles and frogs. Colonization probabilities ranged from 0.007 (95% CI = 0.006, 0.008) for spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera) to 0.82 (95% CI = 0.62, 1.0) for western fox snake (Pantherophis ramspotti). Colonization probabilities for most species were best explained by effects of water and grassland landscape features. Predictive models had strong support (AUC > 0.70) for six out of 15 species (40%), including all three turtles studied. Our results provide estimates of occupancy and colonization probabilities and spatial predictions of occurrence for herptiles of greatest conservation need across the state of Iowa.

A landscape conservation perspective of state Species of Greatest Conservation Need

AbstractState Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs), including lists of Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), outline state strategies for protecting species and habitats in the United States. In developing the current, second revision SWAPs, states are increasingly pursuing coordinated landscape conservation approaches. Analyzing SGCN lists in the first revision SWAPs, we found evidence that they already support multistate conservation. Most states address a common set of vertebrate and invertebrate groups, include most of the imperiled species from these groups, do not prioritize endemics over non‐endemics, and often include most imperiled species that are shared with neighboring states. Also, a regional SGCN coordination effort was successful. Although 65% of animals on each SGCN list were assessed as at elevated risk of extirpation by state authorities, only 43% of the combined national list were at elevated risk of global extinction. Over 40% of the combined animal SGCNs are considered globally apparently secure. Plants, snails, freshwater shrimps, and freshwater insects were poorly represented in SGCN lists. For the current SWAP revisions, we recommend improving foundational data on taxonomy, range‐wide distribution, and conservation status; expanded taxonomic coverage in SGCN lists; supporting existing and establishing new interstate initiatives; and diversifying funding mechanisms that target regional cooperation.

Identifying temperature refuges in Utah using temperature, biota, and habitat data

AbstractUnderstanding where on landscapes to make investments, such as designating protected areas, is a critical component of biodiversity management. Locations for management actions should achieve current management objectives while also having the best chance of continued success in the future. Climate change has the potential to undermine biodiversity management, as it may lead to substantial changes in environmental conditions that are outside local managers' control. Following changes in environmental conditions, areas on the landscape may become unsuitable for the species or habitats that the initial actions were intended to benefit. The potential for local actions to be undermined by global‐scale threats makes it essential to account for and minimize exposure to temperature change. We present a series of analyses identifying priority areas for wildlife and habitat management. We conducted our analyses using a systematic landscape planning approach that identifies areas within species' ranges or current distributions of key habitats that are predicted to be less affected by future temperature change. We used the ranges of 142 animal and 149 plant species identified as species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) together with the distributions of 14 terrestrial and 19 aquatic key habitats in Utah, USA. We measured temperature change in 2 ways: as changes in mean annual temperature between 2020 and the year 2100 (temperature difference) and by quantifying how far a species range or habitat would have to shift to maintain its current temperature envelope (climate velocity). We identified the sub‐watersheds with hydrologic unit code 12 (HUC 12) that collectively encompassed the ranges of our SGCNs and key habitats while minimizing overall exposure to temperature change. These high priority HUC 12s represented areas that were not only hotspots for SGCNs and key habitats but also acted as temperature refugia, where management actions are likely to be robust to temperature change. We hope that our identification of high‐priority HUC 12s will help inform and guide future management actions to improve their long‐term outcomes.

Insect pollinators: The time is now for identifying species of greatest conservation need

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 butterflies, moths, 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 exist 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 for surveys, habitat protection and enhancement, and other conservation activities that will benefit this vitally important guild.

Swimming Performance Assessments of Fish Species of Greatest Conservation Need to Inform Future Stream Crossing Designs in Texas

Conventional structures associated with stream crossings such as bridges and culverts can lead to zones of high-velocity water flow that impede fish passage. Such obstacles are likely to harm native fish populations by impacting migrations critical to their life history strategies, causing habitat fragmentation and extirpation, thereby limiting population growth and distribution. Due to the high rates of human population growth and development occurring in Texas, this is an issue of particular concern for fish designated as species of greatest conservation need (SGCN). This project focused on four SGCN fishes native to the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion, namely the Guadalupe Bass, Guadalupe Roundnose Minnow, Guadalupe Darter, and Plateau Shiner, at both adult (all species) and juvenile (Guadalupe Bass only) life stages. Our primary aim was to aid in the design of future culverts associated with stream crossings (or the modification of existing culverts) so that the water velocities through these structures do not exceed the swimming capacities of our target SGCN fishes. To this end, we assessed their maximum sustained swimming speeds (Ucrit) under a typical range of Edwards Plateau stream temperatures (15, 22.5, and 30 °C) to be used in site-specific calculations of the maximum allowable culvert water velocities (Vf). A secondary objective was to collect physiological endpoints of relevance to the overall swimming performance including the maximum burst swimming speeds (Umax), metabolic rate measurements (i.e., standard metabolic rate (SMR), maximum metabolic rate (MMR), and aerobic scope (AS)), cost of transport (COT), and optimal swimming speed (Uopt). Temperature-related effects were observed that can be used to inform site-specific culvert designs. In general, the highest Ucrit values for the tested species were near, or possibly between, 22.5 and 30 °C, while Umax stayed relatively consistent among treatments.

Genetics, geography, and subspecies status of American mink in Florida, with an emphasis on Neogale vison evergladensis

Historical records of American mink (Neogale vison) in Florida suggest they occur in four populations, each currently recognized as a separate subspecies. The Everglades mink (N. v. evergladensis) is a state-listed threatened subspecies, and the Atlantic salt marsh mink (N. v. lutensis) and Gulf salt marsh mink (N. v. halilimnetes) are both Species of Greatest Conservation Need, but support for their taxonomic status is limited. We acquired 62 samples of mink for genetic analysis using mtDNA and microsatellite data with the objective of assessing the subspecies status of mink in Florida with an emphasis on evergladensis. We also compared historical and current range estimates of mink subspecies in Florida using museum specimens, public sightings, and detection records from scientific studies. All estimates of FST were significant when evergladensis was paired with other subspecies and both assignment tests and the Principal Coordinate Analysis separated evergladensis from other subspecies. The single mtDNA haplotype from evergladensis was not found elsewhere in Florida but was present in a subspecies outside of Florida (vulgivaga). Genetic diversity was lowest in evergladensis and highest for vulgivaga from Louisiana. We found support for lutensis as a separate taxonomic unit and assignment tests found some support for the genetic distinctiveness of halilimnetes. Sample sizes limited analyses in halilimnetes and prevented any conclusions about the subspecies status of mink in the Panhandle. Based on current range estimates, mink from evergladensis, lutensis, and halilimnetes are geographically isolated from one another and supports the genetic analysis. Using a more modern definition of subspecies that includes genetics, distribution, and ecology, we conclude that the data supports multiple subspecies of mink in Florida.

The relative contributions of habitat area, configuration, and vegetative diversity on snake and lizard presence in agricultural landscapes

AbstractNearly one in five reptile species is at risk of extinction. Changes in habitat area, its configuration, and vegetation diversity could affect habitat use, but their relative importance is understudied. We assessed how these factors affected reptile presence in agricultural landscapes figure in Iowa, United States, using 695 cover boards visited 16,441 times in 2015–2020. Species‐wise encounter rates ranged 0.0001–0.012. Eight of 11 species and 54.2% of individuals were species of greatest conservation need. Habitat area, configuration, and vegetation diversity influenced reptile presence similarly. Mean patch occupancy was 0.18 for common garter snake (CG, Thamnophis sirtalis) and 0.45 for all snakes (AS). Naïve presence was explained by effort (odds ratio [OR]AS = 1.83, ORCG = 1.79), vegetation diversity (ORAS = 1.28, ORCG = 1.28), woody cover (ORAS = 1.24, ORCG = 1.41), and patch size (ORAS = 1.30). Large patch prairies were more likely to contain snakes than other conservation practices (encounter = 0.291), and more likely to contain CG (0.098) than prairie contour strips (0.031), waterways (0.018), grass contour strips (0.016), or terraces (0.015). While we documented low overall reptile presence, their higher presence in large prairie patches underscores the importance of core nature reserves for reptile conservation.

Scenario planning and multispecies occupancy models reveal positive avian responses to restoration of afforested woodlands

Scenario planning is a powerful approach for assessing restoration outcomes under alternative futures. However, developing plausible scenarios remains daunting in complex systems like ecological communities. Here, we used Bayesian multispecies occupancy modeling to develop scenarios to assess woodland restoration outcomes in afforested communities in seven wildlife management areas in Arkansas, U.S.A. Our objectives were (1) to define plausible woodland restoration and afforestation scenarios by quantifying historic ranges of variation in mean tree cover and tree cover heterogeneity from 1986 to 2021 and (2) to predict changes in bird species richness and occupancy patterns for six species of greatest conservation need under two future scenarios: complete afforestation (100% tree cover) and woodland restoration (based on remotely sensed historic tree cover). Using 35 years of remotely sensed tree cover data and 6 years of bird monitoring data, we developed multispecies occupancy models to predict future bird species richness and occupancy under the complete afforestation and woodland restoration scenarios. Between 1986 and 2021, tree cover increased in all study areas—with one increasing 70%. Under the woodland restoration scenario, avian species richness increased up to 20%, and four of six species of greatest conservation need exhibited gains in occupancy probability. The complete afforestation scenario had negligible effects on richness and occupancy. Overall, we found decreasing tree cover to historic levels prior to widespread afforestation would provide community‐level benefits and would do little harm even to forest‐dependent species of conservation concern. Applying multispecies occupancy modeling within a scenario planning framework allows for comparing multiscale trade‐offs between plausible futures.

Leveraging a century of fisheries surveys to prioritize conservation efforts for species in Great Plains streams of Oklahoma (USA)

Abstract Although non‐game fishes typically dominate lists of threatened and imperilled species, funding mechanisms for non‐game species are usually less robust than those for game species. This imbalance emphasizes the need for methodologies to identify imperilled species effectively and ensure efficient allocation of limited conservation resources. A database comprising >3,900 fisheries surveys conducted between 1905 and 2020 in Great Plains streams of Oklahoma (USA) was used to develop methodology for identifying species in need of conservation by assessing differences in species occurrences and trends in species ranges through time. Changes in occurrence for 92 species at both river catchment and ecoregion scales were assessed. Generalized linear models indicated significant differences between historical and contemporary fish communities at both scales. Univariate testing showed 84 instances of species occurrences changing in at least one catchment. Declines in occurrence were observed for eight species currently listed as species of greatest conservation need in Oklahoma and were used to identify five candidate species for listing. Family‐level trends in species occurrences suggested declines of native true minnow species and increases in generalist sunfishes and catfishes through time. Trends in detections within each hydrologic unit code sampled were used as a proxy for tracking changes in species range within each catchment. Various species were used as case studies to highlight this method. The results demonstrate how managers can apply an empirical methodology that extracts information from long‐term datasets to optimize conservation efforts for stream fishes and associated taxa.

Status and Distribution of Freshwater Mussels in the Louisiana Section of Bayou Bartholomew

As a major tributary to the species-rich Ouachita River and one of the few remaining non-channelized rivers in the Alluvial Plains physiographic division, Bayou Bartholomew is a key ecosystem for the freshwater mussel diversity of southeast Arkansas and northeast Louisiana. Bayou Bartholomew is known to contain 16 mussel Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) but the mussel assemblage of the Louisiana section of Bayou Bartholomew has not been assessed since the early 2000s. In 2021, we sampled over 100 river km on the main channel of Bayou Bartholomew and four tributaries from just downstream of the Louisiana/Arkansas border to the confluence with the Ouachita River. We used a novel two-phase timed-search protocol to characterize the mussel assemblage and measured shell length (long axis) to determine the size distribution of each species encountered. A suite of relevant habitat variables and site attributes were also quantified or qualitatively noted. One site was selected for sampling using a grid survey to determine quantitative estimates of mussel density. Our survey confirmed the presence of 35 species including 12 SGCN in the Louisiana section of the Bayou Bartholomew drainage. In total, 3,292 live mussels representing 33 species were collected in the main channel, 234 live mussels representing 18 species were found in a quantitative grid, and four species were found in tributaries. Two additional species were only found in tributaries as dead shells. Length frequencies of all common and abundant species indicated ongoing annual recruitment. Patterns of ubiquity in the main channel of Bayou Bartholomew varied by species, and mussels were rare in the tributaries. Generalized linear modelling and non-metric multidimensional scaling analyses identified relationships between mussel assemblage composition and the distance from the confluence with the Ouachita River and habitat variables including substrates, depth, and mesohabitat types. A comparison with previous studies did not provide any evidence of major changes in overall mussel species distributions or occurrence in Bayou Bartholomew in Louisiana. We attribute the apparent stability in the mussel assemblage to the fact that major anthropogenic alterations such as channelization, impoundments, and watershed urbanization have been minimal since the earlier studies, and we conclude that Bayou Bartholomew will likely continue to be a hotspot of regional mussel diversity and a haven for several of Louisiana's SGCN if large-scale anthropogenic alterations to the system do not occur and management actions are taken to protect and allow for the persistence of heterogenous habitats.

Home Range and Habitat Use of Florida Box Turtles (Terrapene bauri) in the Ten Thousand Islands, Florida

For taxa with dispersal limitations, such as freshwater turtles, an understanding of their habitat and spatial needs can elucidate their risk to expected environmental and climatic changes. Florida Box Turtles (Terrapene bauri), a species of greatest conservation need, occurs in a diverse range of subtropical habitats on the Florida peninsula, including low-lying coastal areas subject to threats from climate change and sea level rise. We used radiotelemetry to assess the home range size and habitat use of Florida Box Turtles on a 37-ha anthropogenic, shell work island in southwestern Florida at the margin of its climatic niche. Home range calculated as 100% minimum convex polygons ranged from 0.29–1.52 ha with an average of 0.81 ha, which is consistent with, but smaller than, other parts of their range, and annual survivorship was estimated to be 0.875 (95% confidence interval = 0.67–1). Florida Box Turtles were most commonly located in tropical hardwood hammock forests (50.9%); other habitat use included shrub-scrub-cactus (29.6%), mangrove forest (13.4%) and shell barren (6.0%). Additional information on reproductive output, growth, temporal variation in survival, and response to disturbance such as hurricanes, storm overwash, and sea level rise is necessary to assess the long-term persistence of this population in the face of anticipated transitions of Florida's habitats because of global climate change.

The Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans) in Lincoln, Nebraska

The southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) is considered a species of greatest conservation need in Nebraska and listed as threatened in the state. Historically, the geographic range of the southern flying squirrel in Nebraska has been restricted to five eastern counties from a northern suburb of Omaha, Douglas Co., southward in the four counties of Sarpy, Otoe, Nemaha, and Richardson, all bordering the Missouri River on the east. In late November of 2018, a resident of Lincoln, Lancaster Co., Nebraska, contacted the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission about an animal found dead in his yard. This animal proved to be a southern flying squirrel, which was 50 to 70 miles [80 to112 km] west of the known geographic range of the species. Two additional individuals were subsequently observed at the original residence as were individuals in at least a total of 10 neighborhoods throughout the city of Lincoln. Clearly, a population of the southern flying squirrels is established and reproducing in Lincoln, but their origin is unknown. The source of this city-dwelling population may be from released/escaped pets, a natural dispersal from the Missouri River via the Platte River and Salt Creek, or inadvertent translocation when moving timber or fire wood.

Informing wind energy development: Land cover and topography predict occupancy for Arizona bats.

Wind energy is a growing source of renewable energy with a 3-fold increase in use globally over the last decade. However, wind turbines cause bat mortality, especially for migratory species. The southwest United States has high bat species diversity and is an important area for migratory species, although little is known about their seasonal distribution. To examine potential risk to bats in areas proposed for wind energy development, we characterized bat occupancy spatially and temporally across northern Arizona, identifying use during summer when bats are reproductively active and fall during the migratory season. Our objectives were to determine occupancy of migratory species and species of greatest conservation need and develop a probability of occupancy map for species to identify areas of potential conflict with wind energy development. We selected 92 sites in 10 clusters with potential for development and used acoustic detectors to sample bats in the summer and fall of 2016 and 2017 for 6 nights per site per year. We predicted response of migratory bat species and species of special concern to 9 landscape variables using Program MARK. During summer, higher densities of forest on the landscape resulted in a higher probability of occupancy of migratory species such as hoary bats (Lasiurus cinereus), silver-haired bats (Lasionycteris noctivagans), big free-tailed bats (Nyctinomops macrotis), and species of conservation need such as spotted bats (Euderma maculatum). During the fall, higher concentration of valleys on the landscape predicted occupancy of hoary bats, big free-tailed bats, and spotted bats. High bat occupancy in the fall was also associated with higher elevation and close proximity to forests. We recommend that wind turbines be placed in open, flat grasslands away from forested landscapes and concentrations of valleys or other topographic variation.

Carnivore Occupancy within the Early Successional Habitat of New England Cottontails

Abstract Predation pressure from carnivores can shape ecological communities and has significant consequences for prey species that are declining or recovering from historical declines. New England cottontails Sylvilagus transitionalis are a species of greatest conservation need in Connecticut and are experiencing continued decline associated with habitat loss. Restoration of early successional habitat is underway to address the most significant threat to their populations. However, one of the largest documented sources of mortality is associated with several key predators and remains a threat to recovery efforts. We sought to develop species-specific occupancy estimates of carnivores in early successional habitat and relate our findings to the potential recovery of New England cottontails. We conducted camera surveys at 34 sites in early successional habitat in or near New England cottontail focus areas throughout Connecticut and used the program MARK to estimate occupancy and detectability from detection data. We found key predators in early successional habitat, but their detectability was generally low. Occupancy was highest for coyotes Canis latrans, and regional occupancy differed only for bobcats Lynx rufus. Covariates that influenced parameter estimates in our models included high road densities and the intensity of New England cottontail and eastern cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus detections. Expanding carnivores, particularly coyote and bobcat, may place additional pressure on New England cottontail recovery in the state, but restoration efforts that promote contiguous habitat and reduce isolated patches where predation risk is higher will improve their chances of a long-term recovery.

Geospatial assessment of freshwater invasive species to inform turtle conservation and management

Abstract Identifying the ecological factors that determine the spread of invasive species is key to adequately managing endangered species in freshwater ecosystems. Invasive species are a main threat to turtles, which are targets of major conservation efforts worldwide. In freshwater ecosystems of the south‐western USA, invasive bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) and crayfish species (Faxonius virilis and Procambarus clarkii) represent a major risk to the desert mud turtle (Kinosternon sonoriense sonoriense), state‐listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Arizona. As a species in the early stages of population decline, the desert mud turtle is a top candidate for the development of management plans to decrease extinction risk. An invasion risk assessment tool was built from available occurrence data for K. s. sonoriense and the invasive bullfrog and crayfish species in Arizona using 5,886 de‐duplicated records from public databases and reports from the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The occurrence density of K. s. sonoriense was calculated state‐wide to define populations in which the level of invasion by bullfrog and crayfish was assessed. The environmental factors associated with the abundance of invasive species in populations of K. s. sonoriense were then analysed. A higher prevalence of crayfish and bullfrog was detected in turtle populations located in perennial streams. Invasive abundance was significantly higher in turtle populations at higher elevation and closer to the main river trunk for both invasive taxa. Higher bullfrog abundance was detected near human settlements, whereas crayfish were more abundant further from human settlements. These results will inform which populations of K. s. sonoriense require intensive surveying and control of invasive species to maintain the health of native desert mud turtle populations. This study provides valuable information regarding the environmental conditions associated with the abundance of invasive species threatening turtle populations, helping to develop science‐based management of freshwater ecosystems.

Population Decline and Landscape-Scale Occupancy of the Crawfish Frog (Lithobates areolatus) in Northwest Arkansas

Lithobates areolatus (Crawfish Frog) is an imperiled amphibian, unique among ranid frogs due to its obligate use of crayfish burrows, highly terrestrial behavior, and reliance on open-canopy habitats within the central USA. Currently listed as near-threatened by the IUCN, and as state endangered, threatened, or of greatest conservation need in every state where it occurs, L. areolatus could potentially serve as an umbrella species for biodiversity conservation in the region. However, few studies have sought to identify site characteristics most strongly associated with the occupancy of L. areolatus or rigorously assessed the status of populations across core areas of the species' range in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Within northwest Arkansas, we used an occupancy-modeling framework to 1) determine landscape characteristics that could serve as predictors of the occupancy of L. areolatus and 2) assess the status of current and historical populations. We completed 405 time-constrained auditory surveys across 81 potential and historical breeding wetlands of L. areolatus over two breeding seasons (March–April 2016 and 2017). Estimated occupancy and detection were 0.26 and 0.32, respectively. We did not detect L. areolatus at 37.5% (6/16) of historic breeding wetlands during our study, indicating these populations are likely extirpated. Occupancy probability was strongly related to density of prairie mounds within 1 km of breeding wetlands and was weakly related to clay and chert/gravel loam soil. Our results suggest that: 1) L. areolatus is widespread throughout northwest Arkansas but is threatened by the expanding human population, 2) detection probability is high under optimal conditions (cool temperatures [9–12°C] and recent rain [within 24 hr]), and 3) prairie mound density is a useful proxy for upland habitat quality, likely reflecting minimal soil disturbance and presence of crayfish burrows.

Finding fishers: determining fisher occupancy in the Northern Rocky Mountains

AbstractMonitoring rare and elusive carnivores is inherently challenging because they often occur at low densities and require more resources to effectively assess status and trend. The fisher (Pekania pennanti) is an elusive mesocarnivore endemic to North America; in its western populations it is classified as a species of greatest conservation need. During winter of 2018–2019, we deployed remotely triggered cameras in randomly selected, spatially balanced 7.5‐km × 7.5‐km grid cells across a broad study area in western Montana, Idaho, and eastern Washington, USA. As part of this large‐scale, multi‐state monitoring effort, we conducted an occupancy assessment of the Northern Rocky Mountain fisher population at a range‐wide scale. We used non‐spatial occupancy models to determine the current extent of fisher occurrence in the Northern Rocky Mountains and to provide baseline occupancy estimates across a broad study area and a refined sampling frame for future monitoring. We used a spatial occupancy model to determine patterns in fisher occurrence across their Northern Rocky Mountain range while explicitly correcting for spatially induced overdispersion. Additionally, we assessed factors that influenced fisher occurrence through covariate occupancy modeling that considered predicted fisher habitat, site‐level environmental characteristics, and the influence of available harvest records (incidental and regulated). We detected fishers in 32 out of 318 (10%) of our surveyed cells, and estimated that overall, 160 (14%; 95% CI = 115–218) of 1,143 grid cells were occupied by fishers. Fisher occupancy was positively associated with our stratum that contained cells with a greater proportion of predicted fisher habitat and with proximity to nearest 2000–2015 harvest location. Fisher occupancy was weakly and positively associated with increased canopy cover. Our spatial model identified 2 areas with higher predicted occupancy: a large area across the Idaho Nez Perce‐Clearwater National Forest, and a smaller area in the Cabinet Mountain Range crossing the northern border of Idaho and Montana. We used spatial occupancy results from our original sampling frame to create a biologically derived refined sampling frame for future monitoring. Within the bounds of our refined sampling frame, we estimated that 155 (22%; 95% CI = 110–209) of 700 grid cells were occupied by fishers. By incorporating our increasing understanding of fisher habitat with contemporary analytical techniques, we defined current range‐wide occupancy of the Northern Rocky Mountain fisher population, identified core areas of fisher occurrence for future conservation efforts, and used our model results to create a refined sampling frame for future fisher monitoring in the Northern Rocky Mountains.

Molecular Identification of Sceloporus Lizards in the Laramie Mountains, Wyoming

Accurate information on species identities and distributions is critical for informing state land use and conservation policies. However, it can often be difficult to determine species identity using morphological data alone. Using phylogenetic methods, we determined the identity of Sceloporus lizards occupying the Laramie Mountains of Wyoming, between known ranges for Sceloporus tristichus and Sceloporus consobrinus. The ND1 mitochondrial gene was sequenced for 10 individuals from the Laramie Mountains and analyzed using maximum likelihood with 23 other samples of S. tristichus and S. consobrinus from throughout their ranges. The mtDNA gene tree places the Laramie Mountains populations within a clade of Sceloporus consobrinus that includes the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. Given the prevalence of mtDNA introgression in Sceloporus, we also conducted phylogenetic analyses using 4 nuclear loci (RAG-1, R35, BDNF, and PNN) for a subset of samples. Species tree analysis of the nuclear data further verified that the Laramie Mountains population belongs to S. consobrinus. Given the very limited data available on the range, prevalence, and ecology of S. consobrinus in Wyoming, as well its designation as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Wyoming, more research must be done to ensure protection of this population.

Freckled Madtom (Noturus nocturnus) Discovered in the Spring River Subbasin of Kansas

The distribution of Freckled Madtom (Noturus nocturnus) in Kansas includes the Lower Arkansas and Walnut River drainages of southcentral Kansas and the Little Osage, Marais des Cygnes, Neosho, and Verdigris River drainages of eastern Kansas. Freckled Madtom have not been previously reported from the Spring River subbasin in southeastern Kansas, although there is one record in 1942 from the Spring River subbasin of Missouri. Here we report the collection of five Freckled Madtom individuals from four locations along the Spring River mainstem in Cherokee County, Kansas during July–August 2020. All individuals were presumed to be young-of-year at ≤ 21 mm total length. Our finding of Freckled Madtom in the Spring River of Kansas has conservation implications since it is a Tier 2 Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the state.

Detection of Eastern Spotted Skunks on Pine Mountain in Southeastern Kentucky Using Baited Enclosed Track Plates

Spilogale putorius (Eastern Spotted Skunk) is listed as a species of greatest conservation need by Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. The objective of this study was to use enclosed track plates to investigate whether the species occurred in 7 protected areas along Pine Mountain in eastern Kentucky. We inventoried 30 sites from December 2017 through March 2018. We detected skunks in March at 2 different sites located at Kingdom Come Preserve and Hensley Pine Wildlife Management Area. We recommend further inventories for Eastern Spotted Skunks on Pine Mountain and comparisons of enclosed track plates to remote camera traps to detect Eastern Spotted Skunks in Appalachia.