scholarly journals White-nose syndrome-related changes to Mid-Atlantic bat communities across an urban-to-rural gradient

BMC Zoology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina Deeley ◽  
Joshua B. Johnson ◽  
W. Mark Ford ◽  
J. Edward Gates
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Myotis Lucifugus ◽  
National Capital Region ◽  
Conservation Areas ◽  
White Nose Syndrome ◽  
Species Of Conservation Concern ◽  
National Capital ◽  
Park Service ◽  
Bat Conservation ◽  
Conservation Concern

Abstract Background White-nose Syndrome (WNS) has reduced the abundance of many bat species within the United States’ Mid-Atlantic region. To determine changes within the National Park Service National Capital Region (NCR) bat communities, we surveyed the area with mist netting and active acoustic sampling (2016–2018) and compared findings to pre-WNS (2003–2004) data. Results The results indicated the continued presence of the threatened Myotis septentrionalis (Northern Long-eared bat) and species of conservation concern, including Perimyotis subflavus (Tri-colored bat), Myotis leibii (Eastern Small-footed bat) and Myotis lucifugus (Little Brown bat). However, we documented a significant reduction in the abundance and distribution of M. lucifugus and P. subflavus, a decrease in the distribution of M. septentrionalis, and an increase in the abundance of Eptesicus fuscus (Big Brown bat). Conclusions Documented post-WNS M. septentrionalis recruitment suggests that portions of the NCR may be important bat conservation areas. Decreases in distribution and abundance of P. subflavus and M. lucifugus indicate probable extirpation from many previously occupied portions of the region.

scholarly journals Genomic Diversity of SARS-CoV-2 During Early Introduction into the United States National Capital Region

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter M. Thielen ◽  
Shirlee Wohl ◽  
Thomas Mehoke ◽  
Srividya Ramakrishnan ◽  
Melanie Kirsche ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Health System ◽  
The United States ◽  
Genomic Diversity ◽  
National Capital Region ◽  
Capital Region ◽  
Early Introduction ◽  
Multiple Introductions ◽  
Viral Genomes ◽  
National Capital

Background: The early COVID-19 pandemic has been characterized by rapid global spread. In the United States National Capital Region, over 2,000 cases were reported within three weeks of its first detection in March 2020. We aimed to use genomic sequencing to understand the initial spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the region. By correlating genetic information to disease phenotype, we also aimed to gain insight into any correlation between viral genotype and case severity or transmissibility. Methods: We performed whole genome sequencing of clinical SARS-CoV-2 samples collected in March 2020 by the Johns Hopkins Health System, building on methods developed by the ARTIC network. We analyzed these regional SARS-CoV-2 genomes alongside detailed clinical metadata and the global phylogeny to understand early establishment of the virus within the region. Results: We analyzed 620 samples from the Johns Hopkins Health System collected between March 11-31, 2020, comprising 37.3% of the total cases in Maryland during this period. We selected 143 of these samples for sequencing, generating 114 complete viral genomes. These genomes belonged to all five major Nextstrain-defined clades, suggesting multiple introductions into the region and underscoring the diversity of the regional epidemic. We also found that clinically severe cases had genomes belonging to all of these clades. Conclusions: We established a pipeline for SARS-CoV-2 sequencing within the Johns Hopkins Health system, which enabled us to capture the significant viral diversity present in the region as early as March 2020. Efforts to control local spread of the virus were likely confounded by the number of introductions into the region early in the epidemic and interconnectedness of the region as a whole.

Public Involvement in Transportation Planning in the Washington, D.C., Region: Report on an Assessment

2000 ◽  
Vol 1706 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Graves ◽  
Sean Casey
Keyword(s):  
Transportation Planning ◽  
Public Involvement ◽  
The United States ◽  
Independent Study ◽  
Final Report ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
National Capital Region ◽  
Metropolitan Regions ◽  
National Capital ◽  
Two Phases

In the summer and autumn of 1998, the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) sponsored an independent study by a team led by ICF Kaiser (now ICF Consulting) to assess its public involvement program for transportation planning carried out in the Washington, D.C., region. The Washington region’s metropolitan planning organization was one of the first to commission an assessment of its public involvement efforts as required under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. The purpose was to provide an overall assessment of TPB’s public involvement program and recommend options for improvement. The assessment was conducted in three phases. The first phase was to review public involvement efforts in the Washington region and, for comparative purposes, other selected metropolitan regions across the United States. The second phase was to interview knowledgeable stakeholders on public involvement in the Washington region. The final phase was to prepare a report presenting findings and recommendations to the TPB based on the efforts from the first two phases. The final report was organized under the umbrella of four overarching themes: ( a) strengthen outreach to stakeholders and the public; ( b) enhance access to information; ( c) improve the public’s understanding of TPB responsibilities; and ( d) either discontinue or enhance the citizens’ advisory committee. Although the first three themes are familiar to strengthening many public involvement programs, the fourth is somewhat new and surprising, especially given the prevalence of such bodies.

Muslims in the Canadian Mosaic

1992 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 533-545
Author(s):  
Ahmad F. Yousif
Keyword(s):  
Religious Practice ◽  
The United States ◽  
Traditional Values ◽  
National Capital Region ◽  
Muslim Community ◽  
Way Of Life ◽  
Religious Minority ◽  
National Capital ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Canadian Mosaic

Almost one-third of the total population of Muslims in the worldtoday lives as a "minority" in lands where people of other faiths,cTeeds and ideologies have administrative, political and legislativecontrol. As a religious minority, these Muslims face certain difficultiesand challenges in practising their own distinct way of life.'This paper, based on a study of the Muslim community in theCanadian National Capital Region (CNCR) conducted in 1992, exploreshow the Muslim community in the CNCR has integrated itself intoCanadian society and how it has sought to maintain its Islamic identityin terms of religious practice and belief. It will demonstrate the impact ofCanadian social values and structure on the formation of the Islamicidentity of Muslims living in Canada and will also examine some of theways by which this identity is maintained. This will be achieved byexamining previous work in the field, the sociohistorical development andsocio-demographic characteristics of the Muslim community in Canada(in particular in the CNCR), and immigration factors. The methodologyand techniques used, findings, and conclusions will also be discussed.Previous Work in the FieldTo date, there have been few studies on North American Muslimcommunities. Those that do exist have focused primarily on the MiddleEastern (i.e., Arab) communities in Canada and the United States. Manyhave discussed the processes of acculturation and assimilation, in additionto attempts to preserve the traditional values, of these communities. Theresults have indicated a negative correlation between Islamic observanceand non-Islamic societies. Since previous inquiries did not focus on the ...

scholarly journals Tracking the decline of weasels in North America

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. e0254387
Author(s):  
David Jachowski ◽  
Roland Kays ◽  
Andrew Butler ◽  
Anne M. Hoylman ◽  
Matthew E. Gompper
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
The United States ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Species Of Conservation Concern ◽  
Mustela Nivalis ◽  
Trail Camera ◽  
The Status ◽  
Conservation Concern ◽  
And Shifts

Small carnivores are of increasing conservation concern globally, including those formerly thought to be widespread and abundant. Three weasel species (Mustela nivalis, M. frenata, and M. erminea) are distributed across most of North America, yet several recent studies have reported difficulty detecting weasels within their historical range and several states have revised the status of weasels to that of species of conservation concern. To investigate the status and trends of weasels across the United States (US) and Canada, we analyzed four separate datasets: historical harvests, museum collections, citizen scientist observations (iNaturalist), and a recent US-wide trail camera survey. We observed 87–94% declines in weasel harvest across North America over the past 60 years. Declining trapper numbers and shifts in trapping practices likely partially explain the decline in harvest. Nonetheless, after accounting for trapper effort and pelt price, we still detected a significant decline in weasel harvest for 15 of 22 evaluated states and provinces. Comparisons of recent and historical museum and observational records suggest relatively consistent distributions for M. erminea, but a current range gap of >1000 km between two distinct populations of M. nivalis. We observed a dramatic drop-off in M. frenata records since 2000 in portions of its central, Great Lakes, and southern distribution, despite extensive sampling effort. In 2019, systematic trail camera surveys at 1509 sites in 50 US states detected weasels at 14 sites, all of which were above 40o latitude. While none of these datasets are individually conclusive, they collectively support the hypothesis that weasel populations have declined in North America and highlight the need for improved methods for detecting and monitoring weasels. By identifying population declines for small carnivores that were formerly abundant across North America, our findings echo recent calls to expand investigations into the conservation need of small carnivores globally.

scholarly journals Long-term patterns of cave-exiting activity of hibernating bats in western North America

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jericho C. Whiting ◽  
Bill Doering ◽  
Ken Aho ◽  
Jason Rich
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Barometric Pressure ◽  
Western North America ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Corynorhinus Townsendii ◽  
White Nose Syndrome ◽  
Species Of Conservation Concern ◽  
Conservation Concern ◽  
Low Wind Speeds

AbstractUnderstanding frequency and variation of cave-exiting activity after arousal from torpor of hibernating bats is important for bat ecology and conservation, especially considering white-nose syndrome. In winter from 2011 to 2018, we acoustically monitored, and counted in hibernacula, two species of conservation concern—western small-footed myotis (Myotis ciliolabrum) and Townsend’s big-eared bats (Corynorhinus townsendii)—in 9 caves located in important habitat for these species in western North America. We investigated if cave-exiting activity differed by species, cave, number of hibernating bats, moon phase, and weather variables. Both species exited hibernacula during all winter months, but most activity occurred in March followed by November. Although we counted almost 15 times more Townsend’s big-eared bats during hibernacula surveys, we documented western small-footed myotis exiting caves 3 times more than Townsend’s big-eared bats. Cave-exiting activity increased with increasing number of hibernating bats, but more so for western small-footed myotis. Both species of bats were active during warm weather and low wind speeds. Western small-footed myotis were more active during colder temperatures, higher wind speeds, and greater change in barometric pressure than Townsend’s big-eared bats. Our results provide a long-term dataset of cave-exiting activity after arousal from torpor during hibernation for these species before the arrival of white-nose syndrome.

scholarly journals The State of Bats in Conservation Planning for the National Wildlife Refuge System, With Recommendations

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 406-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. Dixon ◽  
Kevin Heist ◽  
Karl Tinsley
Keyword(s):  
First Generation ◽  
The United States ◽  
National Wildlife Refuge ◽  
Early 21St Century ◽  
Wildlife Refuge ◽  
White Nose Syndrome ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
Bat Conservation ◽  
National Wildlife Refuge System ◽  
Conservation Plans

Abstract Bats face an unprecedented array of threats in the early 21st century, from traditional concerns such as habitat loss, to white nose syndrome and collisions with wind turbines. These growing challenges arise when the National Wildlife Refuge System, a system of public lands and waters that provides habitat for nearly every bat species in North America north of Mexico, is beginning its first revision cycle for its management plans, known as Comprehensive Conservation Plans. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is thus uniquely positioned to assess its current contribution to sustaining viable populations of bats in the United States and incorporate those findings into the biological objectives that will guide Refuge management for the next 15 y. We present a review of the degree to which the first generation of Comprehensive Conservation Plans addresses bat conservation, and we provide recommendations to guide managers, planners, and partners in the development of the second generation of these Comprehensive Conservation Plans.

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