Environmental DNA (eDNA) holds great promise for conservation applications like the monitoring of invasive or imperiled species, yet this emerging technique requires ongoing testing in order to determine the contexts over which it is effective. For example, little research to date has evaluated how seasonality of organism behavior or activity may influence detection probability of eDNA. We applied eDNA to survey for two highly imperiled species endemic to the upper Black Warrior River basin in Alabama, US: the Black Warrior Waterdog (Necturus alabamensis) and the Flattened Musk Turtle (Sternotherus depressus). Importantly, these species have contrasting patterns of seasonal activity, with N. alabamensis more active in the cool season (October-April) and S. depressus more active in the warm season (May-September). We surveyed sites historically occupied by these species across cool and warm seasons over two years with replicated eDNA water samples, which were analyzed in the laboratory using species-specific quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays. We then used occupancy estimation with detection probability modeling to evaluate both the effects of landscape attributes on organism presence and season of sampling on detection probability of eDNA. Importantly, we found that season strongly affected eDNA detection probability for both species, with N. alabamensis having higher eDNA detection probabilities during the cool season and S. depressus have higher eDNA detection probabilities during the warm season. These results illustrate the influence of organismal behavior or activity on eDNA detection in the environment and identify an important role for basic natural history in designing eDNA monitoring programs.
Modern zoos and aquariums aspire to contribute significantly to biodiversity conservation and research. For example, conservation research is a key accreditation criterion of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). However, no studies to date have quantified this contribution. We assessed the research productivity of 228 AZA members using scientific publications indexed in the ISI Web of Science (WoS) database between 1993 and 2013 (inclusive). AZA members published 5175 peer-reviewed manuscripts over this period, with publication output increasing over time. Most publications were in the zoology and veterinary science subject areas, and articles classified as “biodiversity conservation” by WoS averaged 7% of total publications annually. From regression analyses, AZA organizations with larger financial assets generally published more, but research-affiliated mission statements were also associated with increased publication output. A strong publication record indicates expertise and expands scientific knowledge, enhancing organizational credibility. Institutions aspiring for higher research productivity likely require a dedicated research focus and adequate institutional support through research funding and staffing. We recommend future work build on our results by exploring links between zoo and aquarium research productivity and conservation outcomes or uptake.
Hypostomus macushi is described as a new species of the H. cochliodon group based on the presence of a light background with widely separated black spots. The only members of the H. cochliodon group with similar coloration are H. cochliodon, H.ericae, H. ericius and H. paucipunctatus. Hypostomus macushi can be separated from H. cochliodon by lacking a longitudinal ridge on the pterotic-supracleithrum and a lack of longitudinal dark stripes; from H. ericius by lacking keels formed from sharp odontodes on the lateral plates; from H. ericae and H. paucipunctatus by lacking a buccal papilla; from H. ericae by having spots in the distal dorsal and caudal fins not combining (vs. spots combining to form wavy lines); and from H. paucipunctatus by having medium to large spots (vs. very small spots). Hypostomus macushi is found in tributaries of the Essequibo and Negro Rivers of Guyana. The range of H. taphorni is additionally expanded to cover much of the Essequibo River basin in Guyana and a single locality in the Takutu River drainage. Addition of H. macushi and H. sculpodon to the phylogeny of the Hypostomus cochliodon group collapsed most of the clades found in a previous analysis. Only the H. cochliodon group, the wood-specializing species, and H. ericius + H. oculeus are supported as clades.Hypostomus macushi é descrito como uma nova espécie do grupo H. cochliodon baseado no padrão de coloração do corpo claro com pontos esparços. Os únicos membros deste grupo com pigmentação similar são H. cochliodon, H.ericae, H. ericius e H. paucipunctatus. H. macushi difere de H. cochliodon pela ausência da crista do pterótico-supracleitro e pela ausência de listras largas; e difere de H. ericius pela presença de quilhas pouco desenvolvidas com odontóides arredondados; de H. ericae e H. paucipunctatus pela ausência de papila bucal; de H. ericae por apresentar máculas na porcão distal dorsal e nadadeira caudal organizados aleatóriamente (vs. máculas arranjadas formando linhas onduladas); e de H. paucipunctatus por porssuir máculas de tamanho médio a grande (vs. máculas diminutas). H. macushi é encontrado nos tributários dos Rios Essequibo e Negro, na Guiana. A distribuição de H. taphorni é expandida para a maior parte da bacia do Rio Essequibo e em uma localidade na drenagem do Rio Takutu. A adição de H. macushi e H. sculpodon na filogenia do grupo H. cochliodon colapsou a maioria dos clados encontrados em um estudo anterior.
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