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Over thirty years ago anecdotal accounts of the undescribed Larger Pacific Striped Octopus suggested behaviors previously unknown for octopuses. Beak-to-beak mating, dens shared by mating pairs, inking during mating and extended spawning were mentioned in publications, and enticed generations of cephalopod biologists. In 2012–2014 we were able to obtain several live specimens of this species, which remains without a formal description. All of the unique behaviors listed above were observed for animals in aquaria and are discussed here. We describe the behavior, body color patterns, and postures of 24 adults maintained in captivity. Chromatophore patterns of hatchlings are also shown.

Surveys of the North American race of the Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa) on its main wintering areas on the coasts of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego (Argentina and Chile) showed a dramatic decline in the wintering population: totals in 2003 were about 30 000 compared to 67 500 in the mid-1980s. Numbers at the principal wintering site, Bahia Lomas, fell by approximately 50%, from 45 300 in 2000 to 22 000–25 000 in 2002–2003. Numbers at peripheral sites on the coast of Patagonia declined dramatically, decreasing 98% compared to numbers in the mid-1980s. The results showed that declines at core sites did not result from birds moving to other places within the known wintering (or other) areas, but reflected a general population decline, with most birds now restricted to key sites in Tierra del Fuego. This phenomenon may explain why long-term declines noted elsewhere have only recently become apparent at key wintering areas. Possible reasons for the declines are discussed. Banding studies in Delaware Bay have shown that in recent years an increasing proportion of Red Knots is unable to gain sufficient weight for migration to the breeding grounds. This is likely due to reductions in their main food resource, eggs of the horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus. The resulting increase in mortality could account for the magnitude and severity of the declines we observed.Disminuciones en las Poblaciones Invernantes de Calidris canutus rufa en el Sur de Sur AméricaResumen. Censos de la raza norteamericana de Calidris canutus (rufa) en sus áreas de invernada principales en las costas de la Patagonia y Tierra del Fuego (Argentina y Chile) mostraron una disminución dramática en la población invernante. Los totales en 2003 fueron aproximadamente 30 000, comparados con 67 500 a mediados de los años 80. Los números en el sitio principal de invernada (Bahía Lomas) decayeron en aproximadamente un 50%, de 45 300 en 2000 a 22 000–25 000 en 2002–2003. Los números en sitios periféricos en la costa de Patagonia declinaron dramáticamente, en un 98% en comparación con los números de mediados de los ochenta. Los resultados mostraron que las disminuciones en los sitios núcleo no fueron el resultado de que las aves se movieran a otros sitios dentro del rango invernal conocido, o a otras áreas. En cambio, reflejaron una disminución general de la población; la mayoría de las aves están ahora restringidas a sitios claves en Tierra del Fuego. Este fenómeno podría explicar por qué las disminuciones poblacionales de largo plazo detectadas en otros lugares sólo se han hecho aparentes ahora en las áreas claves de invernada. Se discuten las posibles causas de las disminuciones. Estudios de anillamiento en la bahía de Delaware han mostrado que en años recientes una mayor proporción de las aves es incapaz de incrementar su peso hasta los niveles necesarios para la migración hacia las áreas de invernada. Esto probablemente es debido a reducciones en su principal recurso alimenticio, los huevos de Limulus polyphemus. El incremento en mortalidad resultante podría explicar la magnitud y la severidad de las disminuciones poblacionales que observamos.

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The Mississippi Flyway midwinter population survey (MWS) indicates that American black ducks (Anas rubripes) have been rapidly declining for the last 10 years. We found a negative relationship between MWS and Ontario (Canada) midwinter counts for black ducks. Thus, as number of black ducks in the MWS decreased, Ontario midwinter counts increased. A shift in midwinter distribution of black ducks may be partly responsible for the decreasing trend in MWS counts. We recommend that midwinter black duck surveys be expanded to more sites in southern Canada and northeastern United States that currently are not sampled to better assess winter habitat use and improve the midwinter black‐duck population index.

Studies on the longevity and migration patterns of wild animals rely heavily on the ability to track individual adults. Non-extractive sampling methods are particularly important when monitoring animals that are commercially important to ecotourism, and/or are rare. The use of unique body patterns to recognize and track individual vertebrates is well-established, but not common in ecological studies of invertebrates. Here we provide a method for identifying individual Wunderpus photogenicus using unique body color patterns. This charismatic tropical octopus is commercially important to the underwater photography, dive tourism, and home aquarium trades, but is yet to be monitored in the wild. Among the adults examined closely, the configurations of fixed white markings on the dorsal mantle were found to be unique. In two animals kept in aquaria, these fixed markings were found not to change over time. We believe another individual was photographed twice in the wild, two months apart. When presented with multiple images of W. photogenicus, volunteer observers reliably matched photographs of the same individuals. Given the popularity of W. photogenicus among underwater photographers, and the ease with which volunteers can correctly identify individuals, photo-identification appears to be a practical means to monitor individuals in the wild.

Recent population trends of Ontario's forest birds were assessed by integrating results across 8 bird surveys to provide an estimate of trend status for all of Ontario, and for 2 forested regions of Ontario separately. Surveys with mid-and longterm trends were relied on most extensively in this assessment. Comparison of the first and second Breeding Bird Atlases was especially important for estimating trends in northern forests, but overall reliability of status assessments in the north was considered poor due to limited coverage and significant potential for bias. Trends of most forest birds were stable or positive at the Ontario-wide scale, with trends at least as positive as forest birds elsewhere in North America, and showing more positive trends overall than birds of agricultural landscapes. Nevertheless, individual species trends ranged from large declines to large increases, and several forest birds have been added to Species at Risk lists largely because of population declines. There were few differences in trend status among forest birds grouped by habitat association or migratory guild, although all 5 aerial insectivore species have declined. Better monitoring coverage of the boreal will be needed if improved reliability of trends is desired in the near future.Key words: Ontario, forest birds, boreal forest, population trend, bird surveys, monitoring reliability RÉSUMÉLes fluctuations récentes des populations d' oiseaux forestiers de l'Ontario ont été évaluées au moyen de l'intégration des résultats de 8 relevés d' oiseaux pour produire un estimé de la tendance actuelle pour tout l'Ontario ainsi que particulière-ment pour 2 régions forestières de la province. Les relevés indiquant les fluctuations à moyen et à long terme ont fait l' objet d'une utilisation plus poussée pour cette évaluation. La comparaison entre le premier et le second atlas des oiseaux nicheurs a été particulièrement importante pour pouvoir estimer les fluctuations dans les forêts boréales, mais la fiabilité générale des tendances actuelles dans le nord de la province a été jugée faible compte tenu de la couverture restreinte et du potentiel significatif de biais. Les fluctuations de la plupart des populations d' oiseaux forestiers se sont révélées être stables ou positives pour l' ensemble de la province, ces fluctuations étant au moins aussi positives par rapport aux oiseaux forestiers ailleurs en Amérique du Nord et elles étaient encore plus positives dans l' ensemble par rapport aux oiseaux des milieux agricoles. Néanmoins, les fluctuations des espèces individuelles variaient entre des déclins importants et des accroissements majeurs et quelques oiseaux forestiers ont été ajoutés à la liste des espèces en péril principalement suite à un déclin des populations. Peu de différence a été relevée pour ce qui est des tendances chez les oiseaux forestiers regroupés en fonction de leur habitat ou de leur regroupement migratoire, même si 5 espèces insectivores se nourrissant en vol sont en déclin. Une meilleure étude des territoire...