Fragmentation of aquatic habitats is a global conservation concern. Losses of both biodiversity and genetic diversity have been attributed to this phenomenon as dispersal movements between habitat patches are restricted. Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis in the upper Shavers Fork watershed of West Virginia exhibit high dispersal rates and lengthy dispersal distances; however, road culverts have been hypothesized to influence the movement of Brook Trout between tributaries. Removing impassable culverts could serve as a tool to facilitate movements into previously isolated streams. We classified the passability of road culverts by their physical attributes and collected samples above each structure as well as in two streams without culverts to test for genetic population differentiation attributed to culverts. After we determined that the majority of streams consisted of a single genetic population, with the exception of two streams containing culverts designated as impassable (Beaver Creek and Lamothe Hollow), the culvert structures were restored to eliminate outlets perched above the stream bottom and were subsequently resampled 1 year after project completion. Although no individuals were assigned as first‐generation migrants into either Beaver Creek or Lamothe Hollow before culvert restoration, five individuals were detected as first‐generation migrants into Beaver Creek (13%), and one individual was identified as a first‐generation migrant into Lamothe Hollow (4.5%) after culvert restoration. Three different streams were found to be sources of the migrants into Beaver Creek, and the single individual migrating into Lamothe Hollow was from a fourth source stream. The identification of first‐generation migrants through genetic assignment not only provides a tool with which to test the effectiveness of barrier removal and subsequent restoration success but also to support the importance of culvert replacement in headwater streams.

Scientific conferences build professional skills and identity in undergraduate students and provide opportunities for developing professional social skills, a sense of belonging to their field, and an understanding of potential career options. However, undergraduate student attendance at professional conferences is low. When undergraduate students do attend, they often express anxiety associated with speaking with professionals, networking, or with the conference environment. To address these concerns, instructors from several institutions collaborated to develop an undergraduate course with the objective of training students to attend their first professional conference and then traveled with them to experience a conference. The course framework involved meetings with students and course assignments before, during, and after the conference. Assessment results indicated that student outcomes included a greater sense of belonging to their profession, social benefits, gains in confidence, career confirmation, and an improved understanding of the pathways to pursuing a career in this field (i.e., importance of undergraduate research, gaining experience during college, etc.). Our results suggest that formal preparation for attendance at a national scientific meeting maximizes the potential for students to benefit from their experience and reduces the anxiety many students express about attending a professional conference.

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Undergraduate students benefit when they gain awareness of the diversity of career opportunities within their field, explore their professional community, and develop professional social skills early. However, these opportunities are often limited to a few students who successfully compete for undergraduate research experiences (UREs), receive professional mentorship from graduate students, or participate in internships. National scientific conferences provide professional, academic, and social opportunities to a larger and more diverse population of undergraduate students than most UREs. However, unfamiliarity with the conference environment, including professional networking and socializing, may limit the overall proportion of undergraduate science students that attend and benefit from conference attendance. To address these concerns, we developed and assessed a formal undergraduate course that mentored students through their first professional scientific conference. Assessment results indicated that students made significant progress in their professional and social abilities, with many students expressing a new sense of belonging to their field. Based on these results, attending national scientific conferences provides undergraduate students with a supportive environment to explore their future career and develop professional social skills. An associated mentored course maximizes the potential for students to benefit from their conference experience. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.

Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) are a species of concern within their native range due to a historical loss of habitat, overfishing, and stocking of non-native salmonids. Road culverts have been recognized as an additional impediment to population persistence as movement between diverse habitat types has been identified as an alternative life-history strategy to maximize spawning and growth. Brook trout were genetically analyzed using a suite of 13 microsatellite loci above 7 culverts with varying levels of passability classified through a physical protocol. While most sites were not found to have losses in genetic diversity, populations above culverts with a high outlet drop were found to have significant population differentiation when compared to streams with passable culverts and streams without culverts. Additionally, restoration of an impassable road culvert on a second order stream (Beaver Creek) occurred in June 2011, potentially reestablishing connectivity between brook trout populations. Genetic assignment to 18 potential source populations identified 24 individuals (63%), of which six (25%) were found to be from source populations other than Beaver Creek within one year post restoration. The results of this study emphasize the importance of uninterrupted connection between populations and highlight the success of such restoration projects.