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1,564 records · Page 87Linked to original sources
USGS2025

MTAB 111, March 2025

This Memo to All Banders (MTAB 111) was released in March 2025. Subjects in this this memo are 1. The Chief’s Chirp; 2. Alerts – Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza; 3. Staff updates – celebrating Karen Jone’s remarkable career and retirement, meeting reports and a field trip; 4. News – BandIt end of life! (starting February 1st, 2025 the BBL will no longer be accepting BandIt files), Notes From the Field: Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, Longevity records update, ABA Bird of the Year the Common Loon, EESC signs partnership with Audubon Society, and what 100 years of USGS bird monitoring data tells us about hummingbirds; 5. A note from the permitting shelves – changes to the application process for new master personal or station permits and don’t wait to submit authorization requests; 6. A note from the supply room – best practices for band supply; 7. Data management – banding data submission for birds released from rehabilitation; 8. Frequently asked questions – I had to replace a federal metal band or auxiliary marker, how should I submit this data to the BBL? 9. Banding and encounter highlights; 10. Message to the Flyways; 11. Recent literature; 12. Moments in history; 13. Upcoming events; and 14. Request for information.

Memo to All Banders (MTAB)↗
USGS2025

Effects of climate change on midwestern ecosystems: Appalachian – Interior – Northeast Mesic Forest

The Appalachian-Interior-Northeast Mesic Forest ecosystem, historically buffered by cool, moist conditions, may experience significant stress under future climate change, particularly due to intensifying droughts and milder winters in the midwestern United States. Droughts are expected to intensify in frequency and severity, depleting soil moisture, increasing tree mortality, and reshaping species composition. Increasing aridity and disrupted hydrologic cycles will likely accelerate soil erosion, deplete nutrients, and heighten wildfire risk. Meanwhile, milder winters may reduce snowpack insulation, increase freeze-thaw cycles, and alter growing seasons, potentially amplifying cold stress, disrupting phenology, and contributing to shifts in habitat structure and community composition. While easing winter severity may temporarily boost plant productivity and facilitate species migration into and throughout the Midwest, it can also increase the risk of frost damage for early-leafing trees and disrupt ecological relationships, such as plant-pollinator interactions. Together, these stressors may drive fundamental shifts in habitat structure and community composition, favoring drought-, fire-, and cold-tolerant species, while historically dominant, moisture-dependent species decline. Species with limited drought resistance, such as those with shallow roots or low water-use efficiency, may be especially vulnerable, while drought-adapted taxa could gain a competitive advantage. This shift could trigger a departure from over a century of mesophication in the Appalachian-Interior-Northeast Mesic Forest, which has favored shade-loving, moisture-dependent species in fire-suppressed landscapes. As a result, these forests may be particularly ill-equipped to withstand the novel environmental conditions imposed by intensifying droughts and milder winters. The Appalachian-Northeast Mesic Forest habitat group, dominated by eastern hemlock ( Tsuga canadensis ) and eastern white pine ( Pinus strobus ), is likely particularly vulnerable, as both dominant species are projected to decline due to increasing drought stress and shifting competitive dynamics. In the North-Central Beech - Maple - Basswood Forest, the Driftless Area of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa may be more vulnerable than more eastern portions of the habitat due to its already drier conditions, with climate change expected to push these communities beyond favorable conditions. Species interactions, including invasive species, pests, and herbivory, are also likely to be reshaped by climate change, compounding stress on habitat groups throughout the Appalachian-Interior-Northeast Mesic Forest. Warmer winters and increased disturbance may facilitate the expansion of invasive species, which outcompete native vegetation and alter ecosystem dynamics. At the same time, pests and pathogens are likely to become more destructive, as milder winters enhance their survival and spread and drought weakens tree defenses. Additionally, rising white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) populations, supported by warmer winters, may shift forest regeneration patterns by selectively browsing on sensitive seedlings and saplings, limiting the recruitment of historically dominant tree species while favoring browse-resistant plants. Collectively, these pressures can drive significant and ongoing ecological transformation in the Appalachian-Interior-Northeast Mesic Forest, highlighting the need for adaptive management strategies to sustain biodiversity and ecosystem function.

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Miss↗
USGS2025

MTAB 112, June 2025

This Memo to All Banders (MTAB 112) was released in June 2025. Subjects in this this memo are 1. The Chief’s Chirp; 2. Message from the Director of Eastern Ecological Science Center; 3. Staff Updates – celebrating Craig “Tut” Tuthill’s remarkable career and retirement; 4. Alerts – New reportband.gov link and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza; 5. News – Foundational science in flight factsheet, Notes From the Field: What’s on a sparrow’s dinner menu?, bird collision prevention, and BBL featured in Ducks Unlimited Podcast; 6. A note from the permitting shelves – ethics and photography guideline reminders; 7. A note from the supply room – band orders and returns; 8. Frequently asked questions – I haven’t gotten my band order yet, where is it?, Why does my Northern Cardinal kickout for bad age/sex warning on the Bander Portal?, and Where can I get my banding supplies?; 9. Auxiliary marker corner – reminder to double-check authorizations; 10. Banding and encounter highlights; 11. Message to the Flyways – GameBirds and band orders; 12. Moments in history – a history of the BBL; 13. Recent literature; 14. Upcoming events; and 15. Request for information.

Memo to All Banders (MTAB)↗
USGS2025

Abundance of ohiʻa-associated ambrosia beetles in two sites with rapid ohiʻa death outbreaks

ʻŌhiʻa lehua ( Metrosideros polymorpha Gaudich.) is the dominant tree in native Hawaiian forests but is threatened by two pathogenic fungi ( Ceratocystis spp.) which cause Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD). Understanding the spread of ROD is vital to informing prevention and management strategies. Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) contribute to the spread of disease by releasing contaminated frass into the environment or carrying fungal spores between trees on their bodies. We quantified the abundance of ʻōhiʻa-associated ambrosia beetles and their potential contributions to fungal spread within two study sites experiencing active ROD outbreaks. We established a grid of beetle traps at each site, cultured trap samples for viable Ceratocystis , and compared the spatial distribution of beetle captures with that of ʻōhiʻa trees showing symptoms of ROD. Nearly all captured ʻōhiʻa-associated beetles were Xyleborinus saxesenii (Ratzeburg) or Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky), both introduced species that utilize many plant hosts. For both species, abundance was unrelated to distance to the nearest symptomatic ʻōhiʻa tree. However, at one of our sites, Xylosandrus crassiusculus abundance was higher on one side of a fence line, where there were more symptomatic ʻōhiʻa within a denser and more diverse forest. Culturing the collected samples (beetles, water, and debris) produced instances of Ceratocystis viability in samples both with and without ʻōhiʻa-associated beetles, supporting the potential for transmission via frass carried by wind as well as direct transmission by beetles. The community of ʻōhiʻa-associated beetles we captured differed from previous findings at lower elevation sites, highlighting the complexity of beetlemediated fungal infection risk.

Hawaii↗
USGS2025

Amphibian diversity of the western Colorado canyonlands including potential threats from nonnative bullfrogs and disease

Throughout the canyons of the Colorado and Uncompahgre Plateaus, water is a limited resource for wildlife, with patchy distribution and seasonal availability. Tributary creeks within these canyons drain into mainstem rivers, providing habitat and breeding sites for native amphibians. Yet, little is known about the diversity and distribution of amphibians that live in these harsh, dynamic environments. In addition, the rivers that border these canyon tributaries may serve as corridors for nonnative species and disease. The American Bullfrog ( Lithobates catesbeianus ) is a nonnative species in western Colorado known to prey on native amphibians and act as a reservoir for pathogens such as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis ( Bd ). From 2019 to 2022, we surveyed for amphibians using visual encounter surveys (VES) and environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys throughout the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area (MCNCA), the Dominguez–Escalante National Conservation Area (DENCA), and the Dolores River Canyon Wilderness Study Area (DRCWSA). Our primary goals were to document the diversity and distribution of native amphibians in the canyonlands and evaluate potential threats to these species from bullfrogs and Bd . We confirmed that sensitive species, such as the Great Basin Spadefoot ( Spea intermontana ) and the Northern Leopard Frog ( Lithobates pipiens ), inhabit these protected areas. In most cases, bullfrogs were not detected within ephemeral tributaries, but bullfrog DNA was detected in some tributaries at the confluence with the mainstem rivers. In Mee Canyon (MCNCA), however, bullfrogs were found within the tributary, up to 3 km from the Colorado River. A bullfrog individual removed from this canyon tested positive for Bd , and diet contents suggested that native amphibians are potential prey in this system. Nonnative predators and disease pose a threat to native amphibians, alongside environmental changes such as drought and hydrological shifts driven by ongoing climate change.

Colorado↗
USGS2025

MTAB 113, December 2025

This Memo to All Banders (MTAB 113) was released in December 2025. Subjects in this this memo are 1. The Chief’s Chirp – End-of-Year Message and BBL’s Year in Numbers; 2. Alerts –Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and Screw-worms; 3. News – GameBirds Data Release and Banders Without Borders Updates; 4. A note from the permitting shelves – project description template and double-check contact info reminder; 5. A note from the supply room – band order reminders; 6. Data management – NABBP Database Species Changes Updates and prepare your data reminders; 7. Frequently asked questions – What bird status extra info code should I use? How can I process repeat warnings faster during the data submission process?; 8. Auxiliary marker corner – reminder to get data in; 9. Message to the Flyways – Data submission, band orders, and Winter Flyway Council Meetings; 10. Moments in history – bird band pop quiz; 11. Upcoming events; 12. Recent literature; 13. Request for information; and 13. Appendix: NABBP Database Species Changes Update.

Memo to All Banders (MTAB)↗
USGS2001

Abstracts from "Coastal Marsh Dieback in the Northern Gulf of Mexico: Extent, Causes, Consequences, and Remedies

In the spring of 2000, scientists discovered a new and unprecedented loss of salt marsh vegetation in coastal Louisiana and other areas along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. This dieback of salt marsh vegetation, sometimes called the brown marsh phenomenon', primarily involved the rapid browning and dieback of smooth cordgrass (Spanina alterniflora). Coastal Louisiana has already undergone huge, historical losses of coastal marsh due to both human-induced and natural factors, and the current overall rate of wetland loss (25-35 sq mi 65-91 SQ KM each year) stands to threaten Louisiana's coastal ecosystem, infrastructure, and economy. On January 11-12, 2001, individuals from Federal and State agencies, universities, and the private sector met at the conference 'Coastal Marsh Dieback in the Northern Gulf of Mexico: Extent, Causes, Consequences, and Remedies' to discuss and share information shout the marsh dieback. Presentations discussed trends in the progress of dieback during the summer of 2000 and in environmental conditions occurring at field study sites, possible causes including drought and Mississippi low flow' conditions, changes in soil conditions (salinity, the bioavailability of metals, pathogens, etc.), the potential for wetland loss that could occur if above and below normality occurs and is sustained over an extended period, advanced techniques for tracking the dieback via aerial photography and remote sensing, linkages of marsh hydrology to the dieback, and mechanisms of modeling dieback and recovery. In addition, presentations were made regarding development of a web site to facilitate information sharing and progress in preparation for requests for proposals based on an emergency appropriation by the U.S. Congress. All findings tended to support the idea that the dieback constituted a continuing environmental emergency and research and natural resource management efforts should be expended accordingly.

Information and Technology Report↗
USGS2012

Fungal disease and the developing story of bat white-nose syndrome

Two recently emerged cutaneous fungal diseases of wildlife, bat white-nose syndrome (WNS) and amphibian chytridiomycosis, have devastated affected populations. Fungal diseases are gaining recognition as significant causes of morbidity and mortality to plants, animals, and humans, yet fewer than 10% of fungal species are known. Furthermore, limited antifungal therapeutic drugs are available, antifungal therapeutics often have associated toxicity, and there are no approved antifungal vaccines. The unexpected emergence of WNS, the rapidity with which it has spread, and its unprecedented severity demonstrate both the impacts of novel fungal disease upon naïve host populations and challenges to effective management of such diseases.

PLoS Pathogens↗
USGS2020

Possibility for reverse zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to free-ranging wildlife: A case study of bats

The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the substantial public health, economic, and societal consequences of virus spillover from a wildlife reservoir. Widespread human transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) also presents a new set of challenges when considering viral spillover from people to naïve wildlife and other animal populations. The establishment of new wildlife reservoirs for SARS-CoV-2 would further complicate public health control measures and could lead to wildlife health and conservation impacts. Given the likely bat origin of SARS-CoV-2 and related beta-coronaviruses (β-CoVs), free-ranging bats are a key group of concern for spillover from humans back to wildlife. Here, we review the diversity and natural host range of β-CoVs in bats and examine the risk of humans inadvertently infecting free-ranging bats with SARS-CoV-2. Our review of the global distribution and host range of β-CoV evolutionary lineages suggests that 40+ species of temperate-zone North American bats could be immunologically naïve and susceptible to infection by SARS-CoV-2. We highlight an urgent need to proactively connect the wellbeing of human and wildlife health during the current pandemic and to implement new tools to continue wildlife research while avoiding potentially severe health and conservation impacts of SARS-CoV-2 "spilling back" into free-ranging bat populations.

PLoS Pathogens↗
USGS2022

Maintenance and dissemination of avian-origin influenza A virus within the northern Atlantic Flyway of North America

Wild waterbirds, the natural reservoirs for avian influenza viruses, undergo migratory movements each year, connecting breeding and wintering grounds within broad corridors known as flyways. In a continental or global view, the study of virus movements within and across flyways is important to understanding virus diversity, evolution, and movement. From 2015 to 2017, we sampled waterfowl from breeding (Maine) and wintering (Maryland) areas within the Atlantic Flyway (AF) along the east coast of North America to investigate the spatio-temporal trends in persistence and spread of influenza A viruses (IAV). We isolated 109 IAVs from 1,821 cloacal / oropharyngeal samples targeting mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and American black ducks (Anas rubripes) , two species having ecological and conservation importance in the flyway that are also host reservoirs of IAV. Isolates with >99% nucleotide similarity at all gene segments were found between eight pairs of birds in the northern site across years, indicating some degree of stability among genome constellations and the possibility of environmental persistence. No movement of whole genome constellations were identified between the two parts of the flyway, however, virus gene flow between the northern and southern study locations was evident. Examination of banding records indicate direct migratory waterfowl movements between the two locations within an annual season, providing a mechanism for the inferred viral gene flow. Bayesian phylogenetic analyses provided evidence for virus dissemination from other North American wild birds to AF dabbling ducks (Anatinae), shorebirds (Charidriformes), and poultry (Galliformes). Evidence was found for virus dissemination from shorebirds to gulls (Laridae), and dabbling ducks to shorebirds and poultry. The findings from this study contribute to the understanding of IAV ecology in waterfowl within the AF.

Chesapeake Bay↗
USGS2023

A new sturgeon herpesvirus from juvenile Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens displaying epithelial skin lesions

Herpesvirus infections of sturgeon pose a potential threat to sturgeon culture efforts worldwide. A new epitheliotropic herpesvirus named Acipenser herpesvirus 3 (AciHV-3) was detected in hatchery-reared Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens displaying skin lesions in central Canada. The growths were discovered in the fall, reached average prevalence levels of 0.2–40% and eventually regressed. No unusual mortality was observed. The cellular changes within the lesions included epithelial hyperplasia and were reminiscent of other herpesvirus infections. The virus was not evident in lesions examined by electron microscopy. Skin tissue homogenates from symptomatic sturgeon produced atypical cytopathic effects on a primary Lake Sturgeon cell line, and next-generation sequence analysis of the DNA samples revealed the presence of an alloherpesvirus. A new genotyping PCR assay targeting the major capsid protein sequence detected AciHV-3 in symptomatic Lake Sturgeon as well as other apparently healthy sturgeon species. Bayesian inference of phylogeny reconstructed with a concatenation of five alloherpesvirus core proteins revealed a new Alloherpesviridae lineage isomorphic with a new genus. The presence of AciHV-3 homologs in cell lines and sturgeon sequence datasets, low sequence divergence among these homologs and branching patterns within the genotyping phylogeny provide preliminary evidence of an endogenous virus lifestyle established in an ancestral sturgeon.

Manitoba↗
USGS2024

Chronic wasting disease: State of the science

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a prion disease affecting cervid species, both free-ranging and captive populations. As the geographic range continues to expand and disease prevalence continues to increase, CWD will have an impact on cervid populations, local economies, and ecosystem health. Mitigation of this “wicked” disease will require input from many different stakeholders including hunters, landowners, research biologists, wildlife managers, and others, working together. The NC1209 (North American interdisciplinary chronic wasting disease research consortium) is composed of scientists from different disciplines involved with investigating and managing CWD. Leveraging this broad breadth of expertise, the Consortium has created a state-of-the-science review of five key aspects of CWD, including current diagnostic capabilities for detecting prions, requirements for validating these diagnostics, the role of environmental transmission in CWD dynamics, and potential zoonotic risks associated with CWD. The goal of this review is to increase stakeholders’, managers’, and decision-makers’ understanding of this disease informed by current scientific knowledge.

Pathogens↗
USGS2024

Prion seeding activity in plant tissues detected by RT-QuIC

Prion diseases such as scrapie, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and chronic wasting disease (CWD) affect domesticated and wild herbivorous mammals. Animals afflicted with CWD, the transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of cervids (deer, elk, and moose), shed prions into the environment, where they may persist and remain infectious for years. These environmental prions may remain in soil, be transported in surface waters, or assimilated into plants. Environmental sampling is an emerging area of TSE research and can provide more information about prion fate and transport once shed by infected animals. In this study, we have developed the first published method for the extraction and detection of prions in plant tissue using the real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) assay. Incubation with a zwitterionic surfactant followed by precipitation with sodium phosphotungstate concentrates the prions within samples and allows for sensitive detection of prion seeding activity. Using this protocol, we demonstrate that prions can be detected within plant tissues and on plant surfaces using the RT-QuIC assay.

Pathogens↗
USGS2025

Relatedness of white-tailed deer from culling efforts within chronic wasting disease management zones in Minnesota

In white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ), closely related females form social groups, avoiding other social groups. Consequently, females infected with chronic wasting disease (CWD) are more likely to infect social group members. Culling has been used to reduce CWD transmission in high-risk areas; however, its effectiveness in removing related individuals has not been assessed. We analyzed 11 microsatellites and a mitochondrial DNA fragment to assess: (1) the genetic structure in white-tailed deer in Minnesota, USA and (2) the effectiveness of localized culling to remove related deer. For (1), we genotyped deer culled in 2019 and 2021 in three CWD management zones, and deer collected in between zones. For (2), we only included culled deer, defining “culled groups” as deer obtained in the same township-range-section and year. We compared mean relatedness among deer from the same culled group (intra-group relatedness) and among deer from different culled groups (inter-group relatedness). We did not find evidence of genetic structure, suggesting that an outbreak in any of the management zones could naturally spread to the others. Culling removed deer that were on average more related than expected by chance (intra-group relatedness > inter-group relatedness), and most highly-related deer were culled in the same bait site.

Minnesota↗
USGS2025

Overview of North American isolates of chronic wasting disease used for strain research

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a prion disease that affects Cervidae species, and is the only known prion disease transmitted among wildlife species. The key pathological feature is the conversion of the normal prion protein (PrP C ) misfolding into abnormal forms (PrP Sc ), triggering the onset of CWD infections. The misfolding can generate distinct PrP Sc conformations (strains) giving rise to diverse disease phenotypes encompassing pathology, incubation period, and clinical signs. These phenotypes operationally define distinct prion strains, a pivotal element in monitoring CWD spread and zoonotic potential—a complex endeavor compounded by defining and tracking CWD strains. This review pursues a tripartite objective: 1. to address the intricate challenges inherent in ongoing CWD strain classification; 2. to provide an overview of the known CWD-infected isolates, the strains they represent and their passage history; and 3. to describe the spatial diversity of CWD strains in North America, enriching our understanding of CWD strain dynamics. By delving into these dimensions, this review sheds light on the intricate interplay among polymorphisms, biochemical properties, and clinical expressions of CWD. This endeavor aims to elevate the trajectory of CWD research, advancing our insight into prion disease.

Pathogens↗