Geology topics

James M. Long

Publications and source records attributed to James M. Long.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

USGS2021

Morphology and composition of Goldeye (Hiodontidae; Hiodon alosoides) otoliths

We provide up-to-date morphological and compositional data on otoliths of the osteoglossomorph Goldeye ( Hiodon alosoides ). Using computed tomography (CT) X-ray, we documented the location of each of the three pairs of otoliths (lapilli, sagittae, and asterisci) in relation to the swim bladder, which extended forward in close proximity to the sagittae and asterisci. The lappili were the largest otoliths in terms of surface area and volume, but the sagittae were highly modified, appearing spiral in shape when viewed dorsally, with a surface area to volume ratio more than double that of the lapilli. Using scanning electron microscopy, the surface of each otolith was viewable in great detail, and small otoconia (~10.5 μm diameter) were observed on each, but were most numerous on the sagittae. On scanning electron micrographs, the sagittae appeared to be bi-lobed, with asymmetrical lobes each oriented in the same general direction. Using neutron and X-ray diffraction methods, we found three polymorphs of calcium carbonate crystals (aragonite, vaterite, and calcite), sometimes all within the same otolith. However, in general, lapilli and sagittae were composed predominately of aragonite whereas asterisci were composed chiefly of vaterite. With these results, we provide information on a unique species, whose inclusion in future studies would benefit our understanding of fish hearing, fish evolution, and fisheries ecology.

Journal of Morphology↗

USGS2021

Estimating the effects of fish quality and size on the economic value of fishing in Oklahoma streams and rivers: A revealed preference and contingent behavior approach

Fishing in Oklahoma’s rivers and streams provides a unique experience for anglers in the state. Despite its popularity, information on total demand and economic benefits associated with stream fishing is limited in the state. Research on the role of site quality indicators, such as fish size and quantity, on recreational fishing has shown mixed results. Whether fish size or quantity plays an important role in determining fishing demand and economic value may have important management implications. We estimated the demand and economic value of fishing under varying scenarios by using anglers’ responses to hypothetical behavioral questions related to fishing in Ozark Highland streams and rivers in Oklahoma. We asked how intended number of trips might change in the future given hypothetical increases in catch rates of fish, catch rates of trophy-sized fish, and catch rates of preferred fish species, in combination with anglers’ trip-related data. Under current conditions, we estimated consumer surplus per person per trip to be $55 and aggregate value across all stream anglers in Oklahoma to be $68.51 million. Changes in marginal benefits varied among hypothetical scenarios of fish size and abundance but was maximized with a 25% increase in catch rates of trophy-sized fish. The study findings contribute to the understanding of the economic benefit of fishing in streams and suggest that fish size, rather than fish quantity, is more important to stream anglers in the area.

Oklahoma↗

USGS2021

Spatial and temporal variation in length-weight relationships of age-0 Scaphirhynchus sturgeon in the lower Missouri River

Length-weight relationships can be useful tools for assessing fish condition. We developed these equations (W = a L b ) for wild-caught age-0 (4.1–12.0 cm) Scaphirhynchus sturgeon from eight reaches spanning over 750 river km of the lower Missouri River from 2014 to 2017. We used nonlinear modeling to estimate the constant ( a ) and exponent ( b ) of the LW equation for each reach to assess potential spatial differences. We also assessed long-term temporal effects by estimating these parameters by year at Lexington reach, which is located in the middle of our sampling area and was the only reach sampled all 4 y. Constant and exponent estimates from linearized regressions varied by reach and were inversely related during the spatial analyses. Similarly, parameter estimates were also inversely related and varied among years during the temporal analysis at Lexington. To account for the relationship between constant and exponent values, we used predicted weights at 2 cm increments (4.1–12.0 cm) for the spatial analysis (by reach) and for the temporal analysis (by year). During the 2014 and 2015 spatial analyses, weights varied by size but were usually higher in Lexington and Glasgow, which were the furthest upstream reaches sampled during those years. During 2016 and 2017, Lexington was the furthest downstream reach sampled but did not consistently yield relatively high predicted weights. Temporal analysis at Lexington yielded higher predicted weights for 2014–2015 compared to 2016–2017 for higher size categories (10- and 12-cm). In general our results suggest differences in body condition among reaches and years in the lower Missouri River. Further research is needed to identify the specific mechanisms driving spatial and temporal L-W relationship differences observed and to determine if differences in predicted body conditions affect long-term survival and recruitment of age-0 Scaphirhynchus sturgeon. Currently, factors influencing age-0 Scaphirhynchus sturgeon condition and growth are unknown and this work serves to highlight knowledge gaps regarding factors influencing Scaphirhynchus sturgeon recruitment.

Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska↗

USGS2020

Variation in black bass angler characteristics by stream size and accessibility in Oklahoma’s Ozark Highland streams

Fishing in streams and rivers is a popular outdoor recreation activity in eastern Oklahoma, where most anglers target black bass ( Micropterus ) species. Since the early 1990s, when the last assessment of black bass fishing in the region was conducted, broadscale factors such as harvesting behavior, state fishery regulations, and bass population dynamics have changed. In 2018, we conducted creel and fish tagging surveys in three tributaries of Lake Tenkiller (Caney Creek, Baron Fork, and Illinois River) that differed in size and accessibility to provide current estimates of catch, harvest, and effort directed toward black bass. We then related these estimates to angler socioeconomic characteristics. The amount of angler effort was concomitant with stream size and accessibility, being greatest in the largest stream with the most access (Illinois River). However, catch rates were highest in the medium-sized stream (Baron Fork). Harvest rates and exploitation were near zero in all systems. Anglers fishing Caney Creek, the smallest and least accessible stream, were nearly all local, coming from zip codes ~42 km away, with low median household incomes compared to anglers at the other streams who came from a broader array of more distant zip codes and had higher median household incomes. Anglers fishing the smallest stream were also more interested in harvesting fish and having higher creel limits than anglers at the other two systems. In the Oklahoma Ozark Highlands, stream size and accessibility appear to be a significant factor in angler demographics, potentially necessitating different management strategies.

Oklahoma↗

USGS2020

Perceived ecological threats and economic benefits of non-native black bass in the United States

Black bass Micropterus spp. are highly sought-after sport fish and, where introduced, are emblematic of the tradeoffs between ensuring productive fisheries and conserving native biodiversity. To disentangle these potentially conflicting interests, we administered a survey of fisheries biologists in the United States to assess perceptions regarding ecological and economic impacts of non-native black bass between anthropogenic and natural habitats. Our results indicate that non-native black bass are generally considered economically beneficial in both habitat types. Contrastingly, these species were perceived to have significantly more negative ecological impacts in natural than anthropogenic habitats. Our findings suggest that habitat may be an important factor to partition the conflicting ecological–economic dynamic of non-native black bass. Implications of this study suggest that challenges remain for managers attempting to balance the paradoxical nature of these species as both desired sport fishes and as potentially harmful invaders when found outside their native range.

Fisheries Magazine↗

USGS2020

Sibship reconstruction with SNPs illuminates the scope of a cryptic invasion of Asian Swamp Eels (Monopterus albus) in Georgia, USA

Cryptic invasive species are particularly problematic to study, manage, and control because of the difficulty detecting these species within their invaded habitats. Such is the case of the Asian Swamp Eel ( Monopterus albus ; ASE) where it is established in vegetated marshes along the Chattahoochee River, Georgia. Adult eels have been nearly impossible to detect or quantify with traditional sampling, although leaf-litter trapping of juvenile ASEs has been somewhat successful. In this study, we leveraged a collection of juveniles from the 2015 cohort and used single-nucleotide polymorphisms to reconstruct sibship among these juveniles in COLONY. Sibship reconstruction allowed us to learn about adult breeding behaviors and provided the first quantified estimates of breeder abundance. Pedigree reconstruction revealed that adults of both sexes were polygamous and likely traveled up to 0.5 km among marsh habitats during a single breeding season. Estimates of the number of breeding adults contributing to offspring ( N s ) and the effective number of breeders ( N b ) indicated an approximate minimum bound of 100 breeding adults in the marshes in 2015. Our study updated the invasion status of a cryptic population formerly riddled with uncertainty, highlighting that low captures of adult eels in the study area have been the result of low detectability, not low abundance. Given that low detectability would likely hinder removal efforts, our results suggest that future efforts could focus on suppression of ASE abundance when they are most vulnerable to capture and containing the spatial extent of the invasion.

Georgia↗

USGS2020

A conservation-oriented SNP panel for Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu), with emphasis on Interior Highlands lineages

The Smallmouth Bass ( Micropterus dolomieu ; SMB) is a widely distributed black bass species, but the southwestern edge of the species range within the Interior Highlands contains some of the most divergent ecotypes. The Neosho subspecies ( M. d. velox ) inhabits tributaries of the Arkansas River within the Ozark Mountains and a second lineage is reported from drainages of the Ouachita Mountains. We sought to develop a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panel to (1) diagnose hybridization with sympatric Spotted Bass ( Micropterus punctulatus ; SPB) and non-native Northern SMB ( M. d. dolomieu ) stocked in the region, and (2) delineate population structure within the ranges of the Neosho and Ouachita SMB lineages. We obtained 76 individual SMB samples from across their range but concentrated within the Interior Highlands ( n = 50). We also included 3 SPB to allow for hybrid detection and 3 Shoal Bass ( Micropterus cataractae ) as an outgroup. Phylogenetic trees constructed with the generated SNP data corroborated the existence of at least three major lineages of SMB (Northern, Neosho, and Ouachita), each containing varying degrees of differentiation among major drainages. Simulation analyses revealed that chosen SNPs had high power (> 0.9) to assign SMB × SPB hybrid categories and similarly high power (> 0.8) for Northern SMB × Interior Highlands SMB hybrids. Clustering methods delineated major inter-basin population structure within the native ranges of Neosho and Ouachita SMB with chosen SNPs. Anticipated uses of the resulting 192-loci SNP panel include conservation planning, fisheries management assessments, and ecological investigations of the Neosho and Ouachita SMB lineages.

Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma↗

USGS2020

Complex patterns of genetic and morphological differentiation in the Smallmouth Bass subspecies (Micropterus dolomieu dolomieu and M. d. velox) of the Central Interior Highlands

Due to geologic processes and recent anthropogenic introductions, patterns of genetic and morphological diversity within the Smallmouth Bass ( Micropterus dolomieu ), which are endemic to the central and eastern United States (USA), are poorly understood. We assessed genetic and morphological differentiation between the widespread Northern Smallmouth Bass ( M. d. dolomieu ) and the more restricted Neosho Smallmouth Bass ( M. d. velox ) where their ranges meet in the Central Interior Highlands ecoregion (CIH). Data from 14 microsatellite loci were used to conduct S TRUCTURE and principal components analyses to evaluate diversity across populations and screen for hybridization with sympatric Spotted Bass ( M. punctulatus ). We also tested for morphological differences using five morphometric traits and one meristic trait. We found support for three genetic clusters corresponding to previously described taxonomic variation; five clusters largely corresponding to river systems; and nine clusters representing hierarchical population structure within both ranges. We found evidence of a unique genetic cluster in tributaries of the White River within the Northern Smallmouth Bass range and admixture between the subspecies throughout the Neosho range. We also found evidence of morphological differentiation between subspecies; Neosho Smallmouth Bass exhibited larger head length than Northern Smallmouth Bass relative to total length, and there was a significant interaction of subspecies and orbital length, possibly indicating differential growth patterns between subspecies. Our results reveal multiple levels of divergence, suggesting the CIH harbors greater and more complex Smallmouth Bass diversity than previously thought.

Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri,↗

USGS2020

Differences in macronutrient content of common aquatic macroinvertebrates available as prey for young-of-the-year Scaphirhynchus sturgeons in the lower Missouri River

Nutrient availability in prey items can have important consequences for the growth, reproduction, survival, and recruitment into adulthood of juvenile fish. For young of the year sturgeon, which are highly dependent on macroinvertebrates as prey, knowing the nutritional content across various prey items within their habitats can help managers during habitat restoration. The objective of this study was to test for differences in the macronutrient composition of major invertebrate groups commonly consumed by young of the year sturgeon in the lower Missouri River in the summer, when sturgeon habitat assessments occur. Potential prey vary considerably in size. In addition, there were significant differences in the concentrations of nutrients. The lowest concentration of lipid was found in Odonata (2.36 ± 1.83 mg 100 mg −1 ; mean ± pooled variance standard error) and the highest was in Diptera (14.49 ± 3.30 mg 100 mg −1 ). The lowest concentration of protein was found in Ephemeroptera (58.98 ± 1.90 mg 100 mg −1 ) and the highest concentration was in Trichoptera (70.07 ± 3.26 mg 100 mg −1 ). Some spatial differences were found in energy derived from protein in Ephemeroptera in the lower Missouri River, but not in energy derived from lipid. Our findings provide useful information that can contribute to adaptive management efforts for sturgeons in the lower Missouri River.

Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota↗

USGS2020

Feeding ecology of age-0 gar at Lake Texoma inferred from analysis of stable isotopes

Conservation and restoration of gar (Lepisosteidae) populations in North America are increasingly of interest to fisheries managers. Alligator Gar Atractosteus spatula are being stocked as age-0 fish in efforts to re-establish extirpated populations. However, gars are known to be highly cannibalistic in hatcheries, suggesting that age-0 Alligator Gar introduced into natural habitats may face predation pressures from other gar species, limiting the likelihood of released fish recruiting to the population. Furthermore, introduced age-0 gar may not have the proper prey resources for rapid growth that would facilitate recruitment to adulthood. Texoma Reservoir, located on the Oklahoma–Texas border, hosts four native gar species, including the Alligator Gar, whose population is supported by supplemental stocking of age-0 fingerlings. We investigated feeding by age-0 gar to obtain a baseline level of trophic ecology for this group of fishes, including the potential for poststocking cannibalism. Food webs were reconstructed via analysis of carbon (δ 13 C) and nitrogen (δ 15 N) isotopes using Bayesian mixing model approaches. Isotopic values for age-0 fish of all four gar species were similar. Invertebrates represented a large fraction of the diet for all gars, followed by Common Carp Cyprinus carpio and Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella . Competitive interactions among Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus , White Bass Morone chrysops , White Crappie Pomoxis annularis , and young gar may occur for invertebrates, shads Dorosoma spp., and Western Mosquitofish Gambusia affinis but are likely short-lived due to the rapid growth of age-0 gar after their transition to piscivory. Trophic position of age-0 Alligator Gar, Longnose Gar Lepisosteus osseus , and Spotted Gar Lepisosteus oculatus was positively related to TL, but this relationship was not observed for Shortnose Gar Lepisosteus platostomus . In Texoma Reservoir, the four native gar species, including stocked Alligator Gar, appear to have adequate food resources for recruitment, with little indication of within-family or interspecific predation. This suggests that stocked Alligator Gar quickly acclimated to their new environment.

North American Journal of Fisheries Management↗

USGS2020

Effects of temperature on hatching rate and early development of alligator gar and spotted gar in a laboratory setting

Water temperature influences both morphological and physiological development in fishes. However, the effects of water temperature on the early development of Alligator Gar Atractosteus spatula and Spotted Gar Lepisosteus oculatus are not well understood. Both gar species were collected from natural environments and spawned in a hatchery setting. After spawning, fertilized embryos were collected and transferred to the Oklahoma Fishery Research Laboratory, where the embryos (50–72 embryos/treatment) were placed into one of five water temperature treatments (15.5, 20.0, 23.8, 27.5, and 32.2°C) and observed over time to estimate the time to hatch and the time to reach the free-swimming stage. Both species showed an inverse relationship between temperature and the timing of hatch and advancement to free-swimming fingerlings for all treatments. In addition, Alligator Gar embryos did not develop at the coldest water temperature tested, and Alligator Gar juveniles held at the warmest temperature tested were observed with developmental abnormalities, potentially affecting their survival. The same temperature extremes had no comparable negative effect on Spotted Gar. The results of this study are useful for understanding early life history dynamics of these two species in their natural environments and can also be used by hatchery managers who are seeking to optimize their production protocols.

North American Journal of Fisheries Management↗

USGS2020

Estimating the invasion extent of Asian swamp eel (Monopterus: Synbranchidae) in an altered river of the south-eastern United States

The first reported invasion of Asian swamp eels ( Monopterus albus , ASE) in the continental United States was in the state of Georgia in 1994. This population was first discovered within several ponds on a private nature centre, but the ponds drained via an outflow pipe into marsh habitats along the Chattahoochee River. Our objective was to delineate the current invasion extent of ASE in the Chattahoochee River, Georgia, by sampling juvenile ASE within an occupancy modelling framework. We sampled 111 and 100 sites in 2015 and 2016 respectively, on 10 occasions, each within a 2-km radius of the purported invasion point to estimate the spatial extent of their invasion in this system. Leaf-litter traps (LLTs) were effective at documenting an increase in the invasion extent of ASE, from within 100 m of the Chattahoochee Nature Center pond outflow to 1.6 km away. Documenting the extent of invasion of this population has proven elusive in the past, but the use of LLTs to target juvenile eels has documented a larger invasion extent than previously known in the study system. The results of this research can be used to develop effective control and management strategies, such as locating potential breeding areas for targeted removal sampling.

Georgia↗

USGS2019

Spatial sampling bias and model complexity in stream-based species distribution models: A case study of Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) in the Arkansas River basin, USA

Leveraging existing presence records and geospatial datasets, species distribution modeling has been widely applied to informing species conservation and restoration efforts. Maxent is one of the most popular modeling algorithms, yet recent research has demonstrated Maxent models are vulnerable to prediction errors related to spatial sampling bias and model complexity. Despite elevated rates of biodiversity imperilment in stream ecosystems, the application of Maxent models to stream networks has lagged, as has the availability of tools to address potential sources of error and calculate model evaluation metrics when modeling in nonraster environments (such as stream networks). Herein, we use Maxent and customized R code to estimate the potential distribution of paddlefish ( Polyodon spathula ) at a stream-segment level within the Arkansas River basin, USA, while accounting for potential spatial sampling bias and model complexity. Filtering the presence data appeared to adequately remove an eastward, large-river sampling bias that was evident within the unfiltered presence dataset. In particular, our novel riverscape filter provided a repeatable means of obtaining a relatively even coverage of presence data among watersheds and streams of varying sizes. The greatest differences in estimated distributions were observed among models constructed with default versus AIC C -selected parameterization. Although all models had similarly high performance and evaluation metrics, the AIC C -selected models were more inclusive of westward-situated and smaller, headwater streams. Overall, our results solidified the importance of accounting for model complexity and spatial sampling bias in SDMs constructed within stream networks and provided a roadmap for future paddlefish restoration efforts in the study area.

Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Ne↗

USGS2019

Marking otoliths of Alligator Gar by immersion in oxytetracycline

Alligator Gar Atractosteus spatula are increasingly being stocked to restore populations, making the need to identify stocked individuals important for monitoring. Oxytetracycline (OTC) immersion allows for large numbers of fish to be marked simultaneously, thus eliminating the need to handle fish individually, but protocols for doing so have not been investigated fully for this species. In this study, we sought to identify dosages of OTC (concentration and duration of exposure) that would successfully mark juvenile Alligator Gar while minimizing mortality as a result of the marking procedures. Juvenile Alligator Gar (38 ± 4.4 mm [mean ± SE]) were collected from raceways at Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery 18–22 d after hatch and were marked during transport to the Oklahoma Fishery Research Laboratory. Ten individuals per treatment (360 total individuals) were randomly placed into one of three replicates containing one of four concentration × duration combinations of Pennox 343 OTC solution. Juvenile Alligator Gar were exposed to an OTC concentration of 0 (control), 500, 600, or 700 mg/L for a duration of 4, 5, or 6 h. Asteriscus, lapillus, and sagittal otoliths were examined for mark presence at 14 d postexposure by using fluorescent microscopy. The OTC concentration and duration both affected mean mark quality similarly among otolith types. Mortality increased with increasing OTC concentration, suggesting that a balance between concentration and duration is needed to achieve marking goals. Based on our findings, batch marking of Alligator Gar was successful at OTC concentrations from 500 to 700 mg/L for 4–6 h, although immersion at 500 mg/L for 6 h and 600 mg/L for 4–6 h produced the best balance between high mark quality and low associated mortality.

North American Journal of Fisheries Management↗

USGS2019

Age and growth of stocked juvenile Shoal Bass in a tailwater: Environmental variation and accuracy of daily age estimates

Otolith microanalysis is often used to assess population age structure and growth of fishes during their early stages. Shoal Bass Micropterus cataractae is a recently described species of conservation concern and little is known regarding factors affecting their recruitment. In 2004, Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GADNR) and the US National Park Service (NPS) stocked Shoal Bass marked with oxytetracycline (OTC) in the Chattahoochee River near Atlanta, Georgia in an effort to restore this population, creating known-age fish to examine the effect of environment on daily age accuracy. We obtained samples of stocked juvenile (<150 mm) Shoal Bass from standard monitoring that occurred approximately 30–60 days after stocking in the Chattahoochee River to 1) validate daily rings for estimating age, hatch dates, and growth rates for stocked age-0 Shoal Bass, and 2) evaluate the effect of habitat (location) on age bias. Shoal Bass otoliths were examined for OTC marks and daily rings were counted in reference to OTC marks to assess age estimation accuracy. Age estimation accuracy ranged from -2 to -25 days and was influenced by the environment where Shoal Bass were captured, with greater inaccuracy in colder water temperatures. Fish collected from locations with colder temperatures displayed closer spacing of daily rings, potentially leading to greater underestimation of age. Growth rates of stocked Shoal Bass, corrected for age estimation error, ranged from 0.5 mm/day to 0.8 mm/day. This study demonstrates the effect of environmental variability on age inaccuracy and subsequent interpretation of results. Incorporating methods to assess age estimation accuracy is needed to understand interspecific differences in recruitment among black bass species in the variety of natural and human-modified environments they inhabit.

Georgia↗

USGS2019

Hybridization and population genetics of Alligator Gar in Lake Texoma

The Alligator Gar Atractosteus spatula (AG) is a long-lived fish of growing management and conservation interest. Situated on the border of Texas and Oklahoma, Lake Texoma supports one of the last robust AG populations in Oklahoma; however, a genetic evaluation of this population is lacking. We genotyped AG individuals with 17 microsatellite loci, 7 of which also cross-amplified in three sympatric Lepisosteus species: the Longnose Gar L. osseus (LN), Shortnose Gar L. platostomus (SN), and Spotted Gar L. oculatus (SP). Bayesian assignment analyses conducted in STRUCTURE and NewHybrids confirmed that a field-identified hybrid was an F 1 AG × LN and identified five other individuals that were suspected backcrosses (three LN × SN; two SN × SP). Alligator Gar had the lowest observed heterozygosity (0.179) and the lowest allelic richness (1.682) among the nonhybrid individuals of the four gar species examined. We also examined the potential for population structure and differences in pairwise relatedness ( r ) between two areas where AG are commonly encountered within Lake Texoma: the Red River and Washita River arms. No population structure was detected using noninformative or location priors in STRUCTURE, and estimates of r produced by the TrioML estimator in COANCESTRY were not significantly different between arms (overall mean r = 0.199). Point estimates of effective population size ranging from 16.3 to 29.2 suggested that the AG population may be vulnerable to the effects of inbreeding depression and random genetic drift. Results provide a genetic status assessment of AG in Lake Texoma and a baseline for future management and conservation decisions within Lake Texoma and surrounding regions.

Oklahoma, Texas↗

USGS2019

Differences in mosquito communities in six cities in Oklahoma

Vector-borne diseases in the United States have recently increased as a result of the changing nature of vectors, hosts, reservoirs, pathogens, and the ecological and environmental conditions. Current information on vector habitats and how mosquito community composition varies across space and time is vital to successful vector-borne disease management. This study characterizes mosquito communities in urban areas of Oklahoma, United States, an ecologically diverse region in the southern Great Plains. Between May and September 2016, 11,996 female mosquitoes of 34 species were collected over 798 trap nights using three different trap types in six Oklahoma cities. The most abundant species trapped were Culex pipiens L. complex (32.4%) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) (12.0%). Significant differences among mosquito communities were detected using analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) between the early (May–July) and late (August–September) season. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) further highlighted the cities of Altus and Idabel as relatively unique mosquito communities, mostly due to the presence of Aedes aegypti (L.) and salt-marsh species and absence of Aedes triseriatus (Say) in Altus and an abundance of Ae. albopictus in Idabel. These data underscore the importance of assessing mosquito communities in urban environments found in multiple ecoregions of Oklahoma to allow customized vector management targeting the unique assemblage of species found in each city.

Oklahoma↗

USGS2019

Conservation of black bass diversity: An emerging management paradigm

Black bass (Micropterus spp.) are quintessential North American sportfishes that support economically valuable fisheries and act as keystone predators within aquatic ecosystems. Despite their prominence among North American fish fauna, a number of taxonomic designations are unresolved and novel forms continue to be identified within drainages of the southeastern USA. We review the current understanding of black bass diversity, including distributions, evolutionary histories, and phylogenetic relationships. We also provide a brief overview of the major paradigms that have been applied to black bass management and highlight an emerging focus on the conservation of black bass diversity. Black bass diversity is threatened by anthropogenic land- and water-use, fragmentation of fluvial habitats, historic and contemporary stocking of non-native congeners, and climate change. Successful conservation of black bass diversity requires that management agencies prioritize the protection of native species, forms, and lineages within and across jurisdictional boundaries. Collaboration among scientists and resource is needed to develop practical ways to ameliorate current problems created by past and present anthropogenic alterations, while also preparing for future challenges like global climate change.

Fisheries Magazine↗