Microhabitat Associations for the Threatened Cheat Mountain Salamander in Relation to Early-stage Red Spruce Restoration Areas

The Central Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative was formed to promote restoration of red spruce Picea rubens forests in Central Appalachia. One goal of the initiative is to increase availability and enhance quality of habitat for wildlife, including the threatened Cheat Mountain salamander Plethodon nettingi. The purpose of this research was to compare microhabitat characteristics between an occupied Cheat Mountain salamander site and early-stage spruce restoration sites, and between four occupied sites and proximal non-detection sites. We found that soil pH was higher and soil moisture was lower at spruce restoration sites compared to the occupied site, and that light intensity, sub-canopy air temperature, and ground-level air temperature were higher in spruce restoration prescriptions with reduced canopy cover. We found that soil moisture was higher at occupied sites compared to proximal non-detection sites, but soil pH was not significantly different. Our study suggests that Cheat Mountain salamanders are associated with low soil pH and high soil moisture, and thus spruce restoration could enhance habitat quality for this species in the long-term.

Outdoor Recreation and Rural Transitions in Central Appalachia: Revisiting the Economic Impact of Rock Climbing in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge

Kentucky’s Red River Gorge is a popular rock climbing destination located amid longstanding poverty in America’s Central Appalachian region. Climbing represents an important part of the outdoor recreation economy and may provide one alternative to mono-economic extractive industry dependency in this region. This study examines the economic impact of climbing in the Red utilizing an online survey of rock climbers and economic impact methodology. The survey examines expenditures in lodging, food purchases, travel, retail purchases, and services. The survey also collected visitation and demographics data. The authors estimate climbers spend $8.7 million annually (up from $3.8 million in 2015) and support over 100 jobs in some of the poorest counties in the region and nation. The study reiterates previous findings indicating climbers are well-educated with incomes higher than those typically found in this region. The study’s results help reframe the value of climbing’s economic impact in rural transitional economies throughout Central Appalachia. These findings also raise policy implications regarding public land access and reducing climber environmental impacts on public lands.

Correlation of Population Factors, Compliance With Masking and Social Distance, Vaccination and Covid-19 Infection in Central Appalachia: A Cross-Sectional Study

BackgroundCompliance with guidelines, including the use of masks and social distancing and vaccinations has been poor. Our study examined what factors may identify those who will be more or less compliant especially with regards to those with identified higher risk. MethodsA telephone survey of 200 adult patients from two practices, one General Internal Medicine and the other Rheumatology, was performed in May and June of 2021. Questions included age, sex, perception of immunocompetence, smoking history, mask and social distancing compliance, Covid-19 symptoms and/or test proven infection, and immunization status for Covid-19. Those agreeing to participate also had a chart review for body mass index (BMI), physician assessed immunocompetence, and diabetes.ResultsNo clinical factors approached statistical significance for prediction of compliance or non-compliance. However, compliance with mask and social distancing highly correlated with vaccination and avoidance of infection.ConclusionAttempts to improve compliance cannot be focused on any of the particular groups examined in this study.

Perceptions of risk for COVID-19 among individuals with chronic diseases and stakeholders in Central Appalachia

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is rapidly evolving and is a serious public health threat worldwide. Timely and effective control of the pandemic is highly dependent on preventive approaches. Perception of risk is a major determinant of health behavior. The current study explores the association between actual risk and perceived risk for one’s self, family/friends and friends, and community. A questionnaire was administered to participants in Central Appalachia (n = 102). The actual risk was based on the number of chronic conditions of the following conditions: hypertension, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Participants were also queried about their perception of risk for COVID-19. Generalized Linear Models were used to independently evaluate the likelihood of perceived risk for one’s: self, family/friends, and community, based on actual risk. Actual risk for COVID-19 was significantly associated with higher likelihood of higher perception of risk for one’s self (b = 0.24; p = 0.04), but not with one’s family/friends (b = 0.05; p = 0.68), or one’s community (b = 0.14; p = 0.16). No health insurance was negatively associated with perception of risk for self (b = −0.59; p = 0.04) and family/friends (b = −0.92; p < 0.001). Male gender (b = −0.47; p = 0.01) was also negatively associated with perception of risk for family/friends. In conclusion, individuals’ actual risk for COVID-19 is associated with their own perception of risk. This indicates that one’s perception of risk for COVID-19 is greater for their own health compared to their family/friends or the community. Therefore, monitoring and following up with chronic disease patients and addressing their lack of awareness of risk to others is needed to prevent and curtail the spread of COVID-19.

Exploring airshed and watershed exposure pathways as mediators of the association between proximity to surface mining and adverse birth outcomes in Central Appalachia

Background Previous work has determined an association between proximity to active surface mining in coal producing counties within Central Appalachia and an increased risk of preterm birth (PTB) and low birthweight (LBW); however, the relative importance of specific exposure pathways explaining this association remains poorly understood. Multiple potential exposure pathways to surface mining activities exist during gestation, including inhalation of particulate matter (airshed exposure), or via exposure to impacted surface waters (watershed exposure). Here, we perform a mediation analysis to explore these pathways and the odds of adverse birth outcomes. Methods We obtained birth records acquired through health departments in WV, KY, VA and TN between 1990 and 2015. Surface mine extents for each year were identified through remotely sensed Landsat imagery. Corresponding airsheds were estimated using the HYSPLIT4 atmospheric trajectory model, while watersheds were assigned using United States Geological Survey’s Watershed Boundary Dataset boundaries. We performed logistic regression to determine associations between exposure and the odds of preterm birth, low birthweight, and term low birthweight, and iteratively included within our models: a) the percent of active surface mining landcover within a 5 km buffer of maternal residence; b) the cumulative potential exposure to air pollutants via the airshed experienced at the maternal residence, and; c) the percent of land experiencing surface mining within the watershed of residency. Results Our baseline models found that active surface mining was associated with an increased odds of PTB (1.09, 1.05 – 1.13) and LBW (1.06, 1.02 – 1.11), while controlling for significant predictors. When mediators were added to the base model, the association between active mining and birth outcomes was reduced (PTB: 1.04, 0.99 – 1.09; LBW 1.04, 0.99 – 1.10), while the odds of PTB and LBW increased with airshed exposure (PTB: 1.14, 1.11 – 1.18; LBW: 1.06, 1.03 – 1.10). Conclusions Results were consistent with a hypothesis of mediation via airshed, but suggested mediation via watershed was less likely. These results suggest that air pollution resulting from surface mining activities may be the primary exposure pathway explaining the association between maternal residence proximity to active surface mining and PTB and LBW.

Occurrence of potentially zoonotic and cephalosporin resistant enteric bacteria among shelter dogs in the Central and South-Central Appalachia

Background Antimicrobial resistance and presence of zoonotic enteropathogens in shelter dogs pose a public health risk to shelter workers and potential adopters alike. In this study we investigated the prevalence of zoonotic bacterial pathogens and cephalosporin resistant (CefR) enteric bacteria in the feces of apparently healthy shelter dogs in the Cumberland Gap Region (CGR) in the US states of Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. Results Fecal samples of 59 dogs from 10 shelters in the CGR of Central and South-Central Appalachia were screened for the presence of Campylobacter jejuni, Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella and CefR enteric bacteria. C. jejuni, C. perfringens were detected by PCR based assays. Culture and PCR were used for Salmonella detection. Of 59 dogs, fecal samples from 14 (23.7%) and 8 (13.6%) dogs tested positive for cpa and hipO genes of C. perfringens and C. jejuni, respectively. Salmonella was not detected in any of the tested samples by PCR or culture. CefR enteric bacteria were isolated on MacConkey agar supplemented with ceftiofur followed by identification using MALDI-TOF. Fecal samples from 16 dogs (27.1%) yielded a total of 18 CefR enteric bacteria. Majority of CefR isolates (14/18, 77.8%) were E. coli followed by, one isolate each of Enterococcus hirae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Acinetobacter pittii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. CefR enteric bacteria were tested for resistance against 19- or 24-antibiotic panels using broth microdilution method. Seventeen (94.4%) CefR bacteria were resistant to more than one antimicrobial agent, and 14 (77.8%) displayed multidrug resistance (MDR). Conclusions This study shows that shelter dogs within the CGR not only carry zoonotic bacterial pathogens, but also shed multidrug resistant enteric bacteria in their feces that may pose public health risks.

A Guide to Sexing Salamanders of The Central Appalachians, USA

Documenting the sex of individuals encountered during wildlife research and monitoring activities is important for understanding and tracking changes in populations. However, sexing salamanders can be particularly difficult because secondary sex characters are often subtle or only visible during the breeding season, and guidance on species-specific sex determination is lacking from most field guides. The purpose of this guide is to provide a reference to assist biologists in the Central Appalachian region with identifying sex of live adult salamanders. In the main text we provide summary tables and figures to serve as concise references in the field. In Text S1 (Supplemental Material) we provide individual species accounts that contain concise yet comprehensive information for each species based on the published literature, as well as many images depicting sexually dimorphic characters. Our focal region encompasses partial or entire distributions for 56 species of salamanders in five families (Ambystomidae, Cryptobranchidae, Plethodontidae, Proteidae, and Salamandridae). We identified seven morphological characters that are strongly sexually dimorphic and useful for sexing live, non-anesthetized, adult salamanders in the field, with males of individual species exhibiting one to five of the characters. We identified &gt;20 additional characters that are weakly sexually dimorphic, difficult to distinguish in the field, or species-specific. Our guide serves as a synthesis of sexually dimorphic characters available for salamanders in Central Appalachia, and we anticipate it will have broad value for researchers, monitoring programs, and salamander enthusiasts in eastern and central North America.