West Gulf Coastal Plain Research Articles

Factors shaping consulting foresters' services to family forest landowners

Consulting foresters provide a wide range of services to forest landowners. These services play a crucial role in meeting the many goals of forest landowners and maintaining sustainable, healthy forests. There is limited information about the extent to which foresters engage in consulting work to fulfill the forest management objectives of family forest landowners (FFLs). Using the online survey tool Qualtrics, we sent survey questions to registered foresters from West Gulf Coastal Plain regions of the United States (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas). In this study, we described registered foresters' employment level of practicing consulting work (full-time vs part-time) and used a dichotomous logistic regression model to quantify the practice of consulting forestry by foresters (full-time vs. part-time), impacts of foresters' socio-demographic characteristics (e.g., age and income), landowners' forestland characteristics (e.g., forest types- pine and mixed), and services requested by landowners (e.g., site preparation, planting, thinning, and timber sale) on the choice of practicing consulting foresters. Results indicate about two-thirds (63 %) of the respondents were practicing as full-time consultants, and the remaining were considered part-time. Full-time foresters had a higher number of clients and clients with larger pine forestland (p < 0.05). In addition, consultant income was negatively significant with the level of employment (p < 0.05). Designing and developing outreach programs that facilitate awareness of and use of the benefits of technical services provided by consulting foresters could improve forest management returns among FFLs.

Michael H. MacRoberts (28 September 1941–18 December 2021)

Michael H. MacRoberts (28 September 1941–18 December 2021). Michael H. MacRoberts was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. Readers will be most familiar with the extensive botanical and ecological work he carried out in the West Gulf Coastal Plain over the last 30 years with his wife Barbara.

Hydrologic and environmental thresholds in stream fish assemblage structure across flow regimes

The characteristic pattern of variation in flow magnitude, frequency, duration, timing, and rate of change defines the flow regime of rivers and streams and is a key driver of ecosystem processes in fluvial ecosystems. Understanding how freshwater biotic assemblages change across gradients of hydrology and anthropogenic-source disturbance in different streamflow regimes is crucial to managing for sustainable environmental flows and watershed conservation. We compiled long-term (1916–2016) occurrence records for fishes collected in the Ouachita-Ozark Interior Highlands and West Gulf Coastal Plain streams, together with hydrologic metrics calculated from daily streamflow data measured at USGS stream gauging stations (n = 111), to examine important drivers and thresholds for fish assemblage turnover in groundwater (GW), runoff (RO), and intermittent (INT) flow regimes. We also examined the importance of spatial gradients (latitude, longitude, elevation, drainage area) and anthropogenic-source stressors (Hydrologic Disturbance Index; HDI) for fish assemblage turnover using a gradient forest modeling approach. Watershed fragmentation was of high importance for fish assemblage turnover in RO and INT streams, while changes in dam storage were more important for fishes in GW streams. Hydrologic metrics describing seasonal and stochastic properties of daily streamflow (Mag6) were most important for fish assemblage turnover in INT streams. Timing of high flow events had significantly higher importance compared to flow magnitude, duration, and frequency metrics, especially for fish assemblages in GW and INT streams. The frequency and timing of low flow events had high importance for fish assemblage turnover across all stream flow classes, while the magnitude of low flows and the magnitude and rate of change of average flows was most important for INT stream fish assemblages. In addition to benefiting multi-species conservation and management actions through identification of local and regional flow-ecology relationships generalized across different flow regimes, the results of this study provide a better understanding of complex nonlinear threshold effects, which is critical to anticipating changes in aquatic ecosystems and communities.

Rapid Ecological Integrity Assessment Metrics to Restore Wildlife Habitat and Biodiversity for Shortleaf Pine–Oak Ecosystems

Open woodlands dominated by shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) and oak are historically an important component of the landscape across the southeastern United States. These ecosystems support numerous wildlife species, many of which have declined in recent years as the amount and condition of their habitat have declined. Land managers and private landowners need guidance on how to efficiently and accurately quantify the condition and wildlife habitat value of the pine stands that they manage. Here we provide a set of rapid assessment metrics, based on NatureServe’s ecological integrity assessment (EIA) method, to (a) identify exemplary tracts that provide the best habitat for key wildlife species, and (b) monitor restoration efforts to assess progress toward the improved quality of existing tracts. To ensure an ecologically appropriate scaling of metrics, we distinguished six types of shortleaf pine–oak woodland: A.—Interior Highlands shortleaf pine–oak (including A.1—shortleaf pine–oak forest and woodlands; A.2—shortleaf pine–bluestem woodlands); B—montane longleaf pine–shortleaf pine woodlands; C—southern Appalachian pine–oak woodlands; D—West Gulf coastal plain shortleaf pine–oak woodlands; and E—southeast coastal plain and Piedmont shortleaf pine–oak woodlands. We relied on a narrative conceptual model and peer review-based indicator selection to identify a core set of 15 stand-level metrics (two were optional). Individual assessment points (thresholds) and ratings (Excellent, Good, Fair, and Poor) were developed that were sensitive to the distinct attributes of each of the five shortleaf pine–oak and Appalachian pine–oak types. Values for the metrics can all be collected using rapid field methods, such as using basal area prisms and ocular (visual) estimates of cover. Protocols for the consistent application of these EIA methods are provided. A case study is presented from the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee. These methods provide improved and rapid EIA metrics for all shortleaf pine–oak ecosystems in the southeastern US to help guide conservation-minded landowners in assessing the biodiversity and priority wildlife values of shortleaf pine–oak and southern Appalachian pine–oak ecosystems.

The effect of flow and mussel species traits on the occurrence of rare mussels: A case study within selected rivers of the West Gulf Coastal Plain

Abstract Mussel–flow relationships are not well defined and studies linking behavioural, physiological and life‐history traits to hydrological conditions remain scant. This lack of information hinders not only understanding of how flow shapes population and community processes but the development of evidence‐based flow recommendations to mitigate mussel declines. Mussel–flow relationships were evaluated for Potamilus amphichaenus (Texas heelsplitter), Pleurobema riddellii (Louisiana pigtoe) and Truncilla macrodon (Texas fawnsfoot) from the Sabine, Trinity, Neches and Cypress River basins of East Texas using Indicators of Hydraulic Alteration and random forest models. These species were chosen because all three are currently being evaluated for listing under the US Endangered Species Act. Analyses were performed on US Geological Survey stream gauge stations and mussel records within 20 km of each other. Only gauges with at least 15 years of continuous data and ≥70% overlap of flow records from 1968 to 2018 were included. For selected 28 gauges, Indicators of Hydraulic Alteration were used to calculate 47 hydrological parameters that describe the magnitude, frequency and duration of high and low flow events. Random forest classification models across species were significant and had low error rates (3.57–21.43%), moderate to high sensitivity (0.81–0.93) and moderate to high specificity (0.71–1.00). Life‐history theory was useful for explaining how mussel species cope with hydrological variation. Potamilus amphichaenus and T. macrodon/Truncilla donaciformis, considered r‐selected or opportunistic strategists, were more likely to occur in basins characterized by significant changes in flow and land use compared with P. riddellii, considered a K‐selected or equilibrium strategist. The analytical framework presented in this study should be helpful to managers and conservationists interested in determining how the flow regime is shaping aquatic communities in their region and developing reference points that could serve for ecological research, conservation and management.

Competition Effects on Growth and Crown Dimensions of Shortleaf and Loblolly Pine in Mature, Natural-Origin, Pine–Hardwood Mixtures of the Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain of Arkansas, USA: A Neighborhood Analysis

The need for a comprehensive and mechanistic understanding of competition has never been more important as plants adapt to a changing environment and as forest management evolves to focus on maintaining and enhancing complexity. With the recent decline in shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) land area, it is critical to determine the effects of competition on shortleaf pine and its performance against loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), the preferred planted replacement. We evaluate differences in shortleaf and loblolly pine 10 year mean basal area increment (BAI) and crown dimensions across a gradient of neighborhoods. Linear mixed-effects regression models were developed using BAI and several crown metrics as responses and crowding, competitor species abundance and identity, and initial size and species identity of focal tree as predictors. Crowding of focal trees negatively impacted BAI and crown size (p &lt; 0.001, respectively). Although loblolly pine had three times higher BAI as compared to shortleaf pine within similar neighborhoods, BAI was variable, and the crowding effect did not differ between shortleaf and loblolly pine (p ranged from 0.51–0.99). Competitive impacts on focal trees did not differ by competitor identity (p ranged from 0.07–0.70). Distance-independent competition indices better explained the variation in BAI and horizontal crown metrics, while distance-dependent size ratios were more effective at evaluating vertical crown metrics. These findings highlight shortleaf pine competitive potential in mature, natural-origin stands and provide support for the restoration of pine–hardwood and hardwood–pine stratified mixtures as well as management of shortleaf pine at long rotations.

Third Year Survival, Growth, and Water Relations of West Gulf Coastal Plain Pines in East Texas

Abstract West Gulf Coastal Plain provenance loblolly (Pinus taeda L.), longleaf (Pinus palustris Mill.), shortleaf (Pinus echinata Mill.), and slash pines (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) were planted in December 2015 on three east Texas sites to compare initial growth and survival. Three years after planting, survival ranged from 26.4% to 76.4%. Damage by Texas leafcutter ants (Atta texana) caused significant mortality on one site, and feral hog (Sus scrofa) herbivory and uprooting greatly affected survival at two other sites. Tree heights were greater in loblolly and slash pine than in shortleaf and longleaf pine, whereas diameters were greater in loblolly than in slash, shortleaf, and longleaf. Height and survival rates were greater in Shelby County and were lowest in Cherokee County. Midday leaf-level water potentials were most negative for shortleaf and loblolly pines and varied across the three sites. Tree heights were significantly but weakly (R = −0.23) correlated to leaf-level water potentials.

Predicting stand attributes of loblolly pine in West Gulf Coastal Plain using gradient boosting and random forests

Predicting future stand yield as a function of current stand conditions is important to forest managers. Two machine-learning techniques, gradient boosting (GB) and random forests (RF), were used to predict stand mean height of dominant and codominant trees (HT), trees per hectare (Tree·ha−1), and basal area per hectare (BA·ha−1) based on data sets collected from extensively and intensively managed loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations in the West Gulf Coastal Plain region. Models were evaluated using coefficient of determination (R2) and bias by applying models to independent tests and validation data sets and then comparing to conventional statistical models (Coble-2017) currently being used in the region. For extensively managed plantations, the GB models had less bias than the RF models. For model precision (R2), the GB models were consistently better than the RF models, and the HT model was the best, followed by those of Tree·ha−1 and BA·ha−1. Even for BA·ha−1, the GB and RF models had R2 over 0.81. GB and RF models outperformed the Coble-2017 model; differences were not substantial for Tree·ha−1 but were significant for HT and BA·ha−1 (R2 = 0.96, 0.95, and 0.88 for HT and 0.84, 0.81, and 0.76 for BA). Important predictors identified by GB and RF and their contributions to the models were similar. For intensively managed plantations, GB and RF were similarly accurate in predicting HT and Tree·ha−1, but GB outperformed RF in predicting BA·ha−1 (R2 = 0.87 versus 0.75). We conclude that both GB and RF, although the former is preferred, can be effective in predicting future stand attributes. Forest managers can use the models presented here to predict quantitative information required for managing loblolly pine plantations in the region.

Providing open forest structural characteristics for high conservation priority wildlife species in southeastern U.S. pine plantations

The decline of early successional and open forests and their wildlife inhabitants has resulted in increased efforts to understand and conserve these communities. Natural and anthropogenic disturbances that historically created and maintained open forest conditions have been disrupted, necessitating wildlife use of alternative habitat sources (e.g., pine plantations, utility rights-of way, abandoned agricultural fields) to carry out their life history. We reviewed available literature to estimate the range of structural conditions suitable for four open forest species in regional decline and compared these ranges to available structure in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) forests managed for economic return. Species included Bachman’s sparrow (Aimophila aestivalis), northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), prairie warbler (Dendroica discolor), and eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus). We estimated habitat availability and connectivity for each of these four species during a 60-year simulation on an economically- and operationally-feasible pine landscape (>22,000 ha) managed for sawtimber production in the West Gulf Coastal Plain. Habitat requirements, including minimum patch size and dispersal constraints, of Bachman’s sparrow, northern bobwhite, prairie warbler, and eastern diamondback rattlesnake are generally met by pine stands in stand establishment and thinned, mid-rotation stages. However, habitat availability in pine plantations may be highly ephemeral, tends to occupy the upper end of basal area and canopy closure tolerance, and may be more suitable for open woodland species (e.g., Bachman’s sparrow) than grassland species (e.g., northern bobwhite). The range of habitat associations in this literature review highlights the need to refine targets of structural metrics identified by open pine restoration initiatives to encompass the full range of conditions occupied by open forest species. Current literature is strongly biased to avian habitat associations. Few papers explore habitat associations of herpetofauna of conservation concern in the southeastern U.S., and these species tend to be less mobile and therefore, more vulnerable to landscape changes and the ephemeral nature of open vegetative structure in pine plantations.

A New Site Index Model for Intensively Managed Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) Plantations in the West Gulf Coastal Plain

AbstractSite index (SI) estimation for loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations is important for the successful management of this important commercial tree species in the West Gulf Coastal Plain of the United States. This study evaluated various SI models for intensively managed loblolly plantations in the West Gulf Coastal Plain using data collected from permanent plots installed in intensively managed loblolly pine plantations across east Texas and western Louisiana. Six commonly used SI models (Cieszewski GADA model, both Chapman-Richards ADA and GADA models, both Schumacher ADA and GADA models, and McDill-Amateis GADA model) were fit to the data and compared. The Chapman-Richards GADA model and the McDill-Amateis GADA model were similar and best in their fit statistics. These two models were further compared to the existing models (Diéguez-Aranda et al. 2006 (DA2006), Coble and Lee 2010 (CL2010)) commonly used in the region. Both the Chapman-Richards GADA and the McDill-Amateis GADA models consistently predicted greater heights up to age 25 than the models of DA2006 and CL2010, with larger height differences for the higher quality sites, but predicted shorter heights thereafter. Ultimately, the McDill-Amateis GADA model was chosen as the best model for its consistency in predicting reasonable heights extrapolated beyond the range of the data. Foresters can use this model to make more informed silvicultural prescriptions for intensively managed loblolly pine plantations in the West Gulf Coastal Plain.

Physalis macrophysa (Solanaceae: Physalinae: subgenus Rydbergis), its taxonomic disposition and relation to other material with large inflated fruiting calyces

Examination of the lectotype and isotype material of Physalis macrophysa Rydb. show its compatibility with P. longifolia, having nearly glabrous, ovate-lanceolate to broadly lanceolate leaves, and the presence of short, simple antrorse hairs on the petioles and pedicels. Other than its large inflated fruiting calyces (3.0–4.0 cm × 2.5–3.0 cm), it has little in common morphologically with another large inflated calyced Physalis macrosperma which is endemic to deep sands from a portion of the West Gulf Coastal Plain of the United States. Instead, P. longifolia has stems and pedicles that are either nearly glabrous or with antrorse, appressed, non-glandular hair and ovate-lanceolate leaves versus short glandular and non-glandular, spreading, upright hair and cordate to truncate leaves in the aforementioned Physalis macrosperma. We agree with previous authors that P. macrophysa Rydb., if meriting taxonomic status, should be treated as P. longifolia var. subglabrata (Mack. &amp; Bush) Cronquist forma macrophysa (Rydb.) Steyermark or, alternatively, it may simply represent variation within P. longifolia not deserving of any taxonomic status.

Physalis macrosperma (Solanaceae: Physalinae), a new psammophyte endemic to the west Gulf Coastal Plain of the southeastern U.S.A., a global biodiversity hotspot

A new species of Physalinae (Solanaceae) is described and illustrated that is endemic to the West Gulf Coastal Plain of the southeastern United States, a global biodiversity hotspot. Physalis macrosperma sp. nov. is distinguished by its large obpyramidal fruiting calyx (35–70 mm in length), its large seeds [3.2–4.2(4.8) mm in length and 2.5–3.5(3.9) mm in width], and its coarsely pitted seed testa. The ecological and geographical setting of P. macrosperma and its morphological relationships with similar taxa are presented. Physalis macrosperma is an herbaceous perennial psammophyte inhabiting open sand barrens within pyrogenic savanna-woodlands of xeric sandhills. It occurs on droughty undulating Eocene-age quartzipsamments within south-central and east-central Texas and on younger xeric sands embedded within the fire-maintained pinelands of southwestern Arkansas, western Louisiana, and southeastern Texas.

The vascular flora and plant communities of Lawther-Deer Park Prairie, Harris County, Texas, U.S.A.

Field studies at the Lawther - Deer Park Prairie Preserve, an area of approximately 21 ha (51 acres) of the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes vegetation area, have resulted in a description of the vegetation associations and an annotated checklist of the vascular flora. Six plant community associations occur on the property: (1) the Upper Texas Coast Ingleside Sandy Wet Prairie; (2) Eastern Gamagrass - Switchgrass - Yellow Indiangrass Herbaceous Vegetation; (3) Gulf Cordgrass Herbaceous Vegetation; (4) Texas Gulf Coast Live Oak - Sugarberry Forest; (5) Little Bluestem - Slender Bluestem - Big Bluestem Herbaceous Vegetation, and (6) Natural Depressional Ponds. The checklist includes 407 species belonging to 247 genera and 86 families. Forty-six species are non-native. The best-represented families (with species number following) are Poaceae (84), Asteraceae (68), Cyperaceae (33), and Fabaceae (19). West Gulf Coastal Plain (eastern Texas and western Louisiana) endemics include Helenium drummondii, Liatris acidota, Oenothera lindheimeri, and Rudbeckia texana. One Texas endemic, Chloris texensis, a Species of Greater Conservation Need, is present. Other noteworthy species are Andropogon capillipes, Digitaria texana, and Platanthera nivea.

Assessment of northern bobwhite survival and fitness in the West Gulf Coastal Plain ecoregion.

In the West Gulf Coastal Plains (WGCP) northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) are declining faster than range-wide averages and such declines have been linked to the consequences of land management. Management for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) has benefitted northern bobwhite by restoring mature pine-grassland ecosystems in some areas of the region. However, at Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge, Crossett, Arkansas, USA, the bobwhite population was not increasing despite the availability of seemingly suitable habitat from management for the endangered species. To understand factors that may be affecting bobwhite survival on Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge we conducted a telemetry study and assessed summer survival, brood survival, and nest success from 1 April– 11 August in 2013 and 1 April– 15 August in 2014. We also calculated home-range sizes and measured microhabitat characteristics around nests. Summer survival rates were 71% (SE = 0.17) and 47% (SE = 0.14); while nest success was 47% (SE = 0.02) and 100% for 2013 and 2014, respectively. Between years, both 95% and 50% kernel home-ranges were not different (pooled, 63.92±6.07 ha and 14.94±1.75 ha); however minimum convex polygon home-range sizes were (113.8 ± 20.1 ha in 2013; and 393.1 ± 49.0 ha in 2014, P < 0.001). Only numerical differences in microhabitat vegetation characteristics of nest sites and non- nest sites were observed. We suggest management for red-cockaded woodpeckers supports bobwhite populations but only as a buffer against more severe declines. Since bobwhites are declining range-wide, we believe areas federally managed for red-cockaded woodpeckers will become increasingly more important for sustaining regional bobwhite population levels.

Surface and Subsurface Tillage Effects on Mine Soil Properties and Vegetative Response

Core Ideas Mine soil physical properties improve with increased tillage upon reclamation in the Gulf Coastal Plain. Growth of loblolly pine seedlings increases with higher intensity tillage on reclaimed mined land. Aboveground herbaceous cover and biomass increases with tillage on reclaimed mined land. Soil compaction is an important concern for surface mine operations that require heavy equipment for land reclamation. Excessive use of rubber‐tired equipment, such as scraper pans, may cause mine soil compaction and hinder the success of revegetation efforts. However, information is limited on management strategies for ameliorating the potential compacting effects of scraper pans, particularly during site preparation for loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations. Three forms of tillage and one control were replicated five times on surface mined land in the west Gulf Coastal Plain: no tillage (NT), disking (D), single‐ripping + disking (R+D), and cross‐ripping + disking (CR+D). Mine soil physical properties were investigated at 0 to 30, 30 to 60, and 60 to 90 cm. Percent cover and aboveground biomass of an herbaceous winter cover crop, and survival and growth of loblolly pine seedlings were assessed after one growing season. Herbaceous species biomass was highest on the R+D and CR+D plots and lowest on the NT control. Pine seedling survival was highest on the tilled plots (&gt;90%) compared to NT (85%). The highest intensity combination tillage treatment (CR+D) was superior in terms of lowering soil bulk density (mean 1.36 Mg m–3) and soil strength (mean 2220 kPa) and increasing pine seedling volume index growth (mean 32 cm3). Surface tillage (D) alone improved herbaceous cover and pine seedling survival, while CR+D provided the most favorable responses in mine soil physical properties and vegetative growth.

Effects of translocation on survival and growth of freshwater mussels within a West Gulf Coastal Plain river system

Abstract Human‐mediated threats have led to the rapid decline of species inhabiting freshwater ecosystems, and among the groups most affected are freshwater mussels of the family Unionidae. As a result, species translocation is increasingly used in conservation programmes, yet experimental evidence documenting the success of this strategy is limited. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of translocation on survival probability, shell growth and body condition of a state‐threatened (Quadrula houstonensis) and common (Amblema plicata) species of freshwater mussel in the San Saba River, located in a West Gulf Coastal Plain river system, USA. Survival probability estimated from a joint live and dead encounter model was high (&gt; 0.85) and varied by treatment for both species. However, differences in survival probability between resident and transplant treatments were relatively small for A. plicata (0.01) and Q. houstonensis (0.12). Generalized additive mixed models of yearly proportional growth and linear mixed models of Fulton's K index for A. plicata varied by treatment and were lower in transplant treatments. Shell growth of Q. houstonensis was unaffected by translocation; whereas, Fulton's K was higher in the transplant treatment. Methods used to translocate mussels were important factors leading to high survival and limited impacts to shell growth and body condition in this study. Differences in shell growth rate between treatments are attributed to possible differences in habitat quality between sites. Our results demonstrate that A. plicata and Q. houstonensis are tolerant of translocation, despite the broad assumption that translocation is detrimental to mussels. Thus, there is a continuing need to study species' responses to translocation to test and improve the ecological soundness of this strategy, particularly because climate change and other human stressors will exacerbate the need to implement conservation measures such as translocation in future decades.

Proceedings of the 6th Big Thicket Science Conference: Watersheds and Waterflows Biodiversity and Ecology of the West Gulf Coastal Plain Landscape Preface and General Acknowledgments

Proceedings of the 6^th Big Thicket Science Conference: Watersheds and Waterflows Biodiversity and Ecology of the West Gulf Coastal Plain Landscape Preface and General Acknowledgments

Additions to the Vascular Flora of the Red Slough Wildlife Management Area, McCurtain County, Oklahoma

ABSTRACT The Red Slough Wildlife Management Area (7,800 ha) is located on the West Gulf Coastal Plain in southeastern Oklahoma. The inventory was motivated by land acquisitions and is intended to augment a 1999 inventory. We report an additional 202 taxa of vascular plants, with 186 species, 16 infraspecific taxa, 158 genera, and 68 families. This is a 62% increase in the number of taxa previously listed for the site. The largest families were the Poaceae (with 35 taxa), Asteraceae (20 taxa), and Fabaceae (18 taxa). Thirty-one nonnative taxa and 19 taxa tracked by the Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory were encountered.

Soil physical response to vegetation management and consequent effects on Pinus vigor in the West Gulf Coastal Plain

Soil physical response to vegetation management and consequent effects on Pinus vigor in the West Gulf Coastal Plain

Status, distribution, and genetics of Blair's fencing crayfish,Faxonella blairi(Decapoda: Cambaridae)

Abstract During a multi-year study of the rare Blair's fencing crayfish (Faxonella blairi Hayes and Reimer), we made 87 collections in 10 counties throughout the West Gulf Coastal Plain of southwestern Arkansas. Intensive searches throughout these counties revealed the presence of 36 new populations of F. blairi in Little River, Miller, and Sevier counties. In each of these counties, F. blairi was found to be a locally abundant crayfish. New county records from museum collections were documented for Columbia and Howard counties, Arkansas, and Cass County, Texas. Additionally, we surveyed genetic variation in F. blairi and found them to be a monophyletic group with a sister relationship to Faxonella clypeata but with clear genetic distinctiveness from this sister taxon. There was modest genetic variation within Arkansas, and this genetic variation was greater than that across Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas for F. blairi. Faxonella blairi should be considered as currently stable due to its more widespread di...