Appalachian Mountain Club

Abstract Terrestrial environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques have been proposed as a means of sensitive, non-lethal pollinator monitoring. To date, however, no studies have provided evidence that eDNA methods can achieve detection densities on par with traditional pollinator surveys. Using a large-scale dataset of eDNA and corresponding net surveys, we show that eDNA methods enable sensitive, species-level characterization of whole bumble bee communities, including rare and critically endangered species such as the rusty pathed bumble bee (RPBB; Bombus affinis ). All species present in netting surveys were detected within eDNA surveys, apart from two rare species in the socially parasitic subgenus Psithyrus (cuckoo bumble bees). Further, for rare non-parasitic species, eDNA methods exhibited similar sensitivity relative to traditional netting. Relative to flower eDNA samples, sequenced field negative controls resulted in significantly lower rates of Bombus detection, and these detections were likely attributable to high rates of background eDNA on environmental surfaces. Lastly, we found that eDNA-based frequency of detection across replicate surveys was strongly associated with net-based measures of abundance across site visits. We conclude that the method is cost-effective and highly scalable for semi-quantitative characterization of at-risk bumble bee communities, providing a new approach for improving our understanding of species habitat associations.

Habitat restoration and creation within human-altered landscapes can buffer the impacts of climate change on wildlife. The Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA) is a coal surface mine reclamation practice that enhances reforestation through soil decompaction and the planting of native trees. Recently, wetland creation has been coupled with FRA to increase habitat available for wildlife, including amphibians. Our objective was to evaluate the response of pond-breeding amphibians to the FRA by comparing species occupancy, richness, and abundance across two FRA age-classes (2–5-year and 8–11-year reclaimed forests), traditionally reclaimed sites that were left to naturally regenerate after mining, and in mature, unmined forests in the Monongahela National Forest (West Virginia, USA). We found that species richness and occupancy estimates did not differ across treatment types. Spotted Salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) and Eastern Newts (Notophthalmus viridescens) had the greatest estimated abundances in wetlands in the older FRA treatment. Additionally, larger wetlands had greater abundances of Eastern Newts, Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus), and Green Frogs (L. clamitans) compared to smaller wetlands. Our results suggest that wetland creation and reforestation increases the number of breeding sites and promotes microhabitat and microclimate conditions that likely maximize the resilience of pond-breeding amphibians to anticipated climate changes in the study area.

Abstract Comparative studies suggest remarkable similarities among food webs across habitats, including systematic changes in their structure with diversity and complexity (scale-dependence). However, historic aboveground terrestrial food webs (ATFWs) have coarsely grouped plants and insects such that these webs are generally small, and herbivory is disproportionately underrepresented compared to vertebrate predator-prey interactions. Furthermore, terrestrial herbivory is thought to be structured by unique processes compared to size-structured feeding in other systems. Here, we present the richest ATFW to date, including ∼580,000 feeding links among ∼3,800 taxonomic species, sourced from ∼27,000 expert-vetted interaction records annotated as feeding upon one of six different resource types: leaves, flowers, seeds, wood, prey, and carrion. By comparison to historical ATFWs and null ecological hypotheses, we show that our temperate forest web displays a potentially unique structure characterized by two properties: a) a large fraction of carnivory interactions dominated by a small number of hyper-generalist, opportunistic bird and bat predators, and b) a smaller fraction of herbivory interactions dominated by a hyper-rich community of insects with variably-sized but highly-specific diets. We attribute our findings to the large-scale, even resolution of vertebrate, insect, and plant guilds in our food web.

Abstract AimAlpine treeline ecotones are influenced by environmental drivers and are anticipated to shift their locations in response to changing climate. Our goal was to determine the extent of recent climate‐induced treeline advance in the northeastern United States, and we hypothesized that treelines have advanced upslope in complex ways depending on treeline structure and environmental conditions.LocationWhite Mountain National Forest (New Hampshire) and Baxter State Park (Maine), USA.TaxonHigh‐elevation tree species—Abies balsamea, Picea mariana and Betula cordata.MethodsWe compared current and historical high‐resolution aerial imagery to quantify the advance of treelines over the last four decades, and link treeline changes to treeline form (demography) and environmental drivers. Spatial analyses of the aerial images were coupled with ground surveys of forest vegetation and topographical features to ground‐truth treeline classification and provide information on treeline demography and additional potential drivers of treeline locations. We used multiple linear regression models to examine the importance of both topographic and climatic variables on treeline advance.ResultsRegional treelines have significantly shifted upslope over the past several decades (on average by 3 m/decade). Gradual diffuse treelines (characterized by declining tree density) showed significantly greater upslope shifts (5 m/decade) compared to other treeline forms, suggesting that both climate warming and treeline demography are important correlates of treeline shifts. Topographical features (slope, aspect) as well as climate (accumulated growing degree days, AGDD) explained significant variation in the magnitude of treeline advance (R2 = 0.32).Main ConclusionsThe observed advance of treelines is consistent with the hypothesis that climate warming induces upslope treeline shifts. Overall, our findings suggest that gradual diffuse treelines at high elevations may be indicative of climate warming more than other alpine treeline ecotones and thus they can inform us about past and ongoing climatic changes.

In northeastern North America, alpine snowbank communities are rare plant assemblages that form in sheltered sites above treeline where late-lying snow provides insulation from late-season frosts and a longer-lasting source of water. We measured snowpack and studied community composition and plant traits at the species and community scales across the snowmelt gradient at snowbank sites on Mt. Washington, New Hampshire. We used nonmetric multidimensional scaling ordination and analysis of similarity to examine community composition across the snowmelt gradient and measured plant traits (height, leaf dry matter content, leaf area, and specific leaf area) of four focal species (Carex bigelowii, Chamaepericlymenum canadense, Clintonia borealis, and Maianthemum canadense). We assessed trait variability of the four focal species across the snowmelt gradient and evaluated community-weighted mean trait values and phenotypic plasticity between snowbank core and edge habitats. Analysis of similarity indicated that vascular plant diversity increased (p < 0.001), lichen and bryophyte cover decreased (p < 0.001; p < 0.025), and community-weighted mean leaf area increased (p < 0.001) in the core of snowbank communities where melting dates were later. Analysis of similarity indicated that vascular plant communities varied significantly across the snowmelt gradient. The transition in community composition and trait values across the snowmelt gradient are indicative of changing environmental conditions and ecosystem functions, though more research is needed to determine the extent to which phenotypic plasticity and ecotypic uniqueness influence trait expression of snowbank species. Genetic analysis may be necessary to evaluate population dynamics among isolated alpine communities, which may be vulnerable to climate change or displacement by exotic or lowland species.

Abstract: Centruroides sculpturatus/exilicauda , better known as the bark scorpion, is a member of the class Arachnida and the family Buthidae and the most dangerous scorpion within the United States. It is of particular concern to pediatric emergency medical care providers due to its potentially fatal effects on children.

Major inorganic ions and pH were analyzed from mountain cloud and coastal fog water event samples from New Hampshire and Maine, U.S.A. Based on marine corrected values, the medians for coastal fog were still up to three times higher in ionic concentrations and lower in pH, compared to mountain clouds. Of the acidic constituents, nitrate concentrations were considerably higher in coastal fogs, which correlates with higher concentrations of 03 measured along the New England coast. It is hypothesized that meteorological conditions permit air pollutants emitted in the northeastern US urban corridor to move relatively intact across the Gulf of Maine and to interact with the coastal fogs, which results in differences in the chemistry of coastal fogs and mountain clouds.

Any time we become involved with a large quantity of energy there will always be hazards that cannot be eliminated. Lightning is a hazard to almost everything including man. There are more people killed by lightning than by hurricanes, tornados, and floods.

The use and development of natural resources is becoming a critical concern, especially considering the economic development and stability of the world money market. The question here is one of resources as a political weapon. As resources become more scarce, it becomes necessary to make greater intensive use of resources that are presently available. One dimension that has been missing is the development of urban areas. Resources in this domain have been abused and the question now is how to incorporate these types of decisions into land-use planning to refurbish urban areas. Planning is the key to use of a resource. The world can no longer afford crisis planning. The key dimension to future success in resource problems is preventive planning.