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The article focuses on a study related to detection of pathogen fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) in amphibians of Tamaulipas, Mexico. Topics discussed include high temperature of Tamaulipas; collection of amphibian samples from Texas State University; expected presence of Bd in samples ; absence of Bd in collected samples; reasons for absence such as unfavorable temperature and precipitation to inhibit growth of the pathogen.

The article offers information on the significance of sex ratios in understanding amphibian population dynamics. Topics include the distinction between functional and operational sex ratios in breeding sites, the implications of biased sex ratios for population stability and recruitment, and the impact of factors like differential detection on sex ratio deviations in pond-breeding amphibians.

The article discusses a study related to use of stationary microchip reader to monitor movement patterns of freshwater turtles to understand population dynamics. Topics discussed include use of methods and techniques like radio telemetry and pitfall traps for tracking animals, developments in passive integrated transponders (PIT), and use of PIT to monitor use of drain culverts by desert tortoises.

Tropical forest canopies are among the most species-rich terrestrial habitats on earth and one of the remaining relatively unexplored biotic frontiers. Epiphytic bromeliads provide microhabitat for a high diversity of organisms in tropical forest canopies and are considered a keystone resource. A number of amphibians inhabit these phytotelmata, yet their ecological role and status in forest canopies remains unknown. For this study, anurans were collected from an upper canopy tank bromeliad (Aechmea zebrina) at ∼20–45 m (x¯ = 33 m) above the forest floor. Bromeliads were sampled from trees located near trails in undisturbed primary rainforest and oil access roads in the Yasuní Biosphere Reserve of Amazonian Ecuador. We collected 95 anurans representing 10 species from 160 bromeliads in 32 trees. We used generalized linear mixed models to assess the effects of disturbance and habitat factors on the occupancy and abundance of anurans collected. Bromeliads in forest along oil roads had a lower occupancy and abundance of anurans than those in undisturbed forest, a somewhat unexpected result due to the intactness and quality of forest adjacent to the roads. Recorded habitat variables had no relationship with occupancy or abundance of anurans, and did not differ significantly between treatments. Our findings reveal that even the minimal footprint of natural resource extraction operations, primarily roads, in rainforest environments can have significant negative impacts on the unique upper canopy anuran community. Based on these results, we recommend that natural resource development treat rainforest habitat as an offshore system where roads are not used, employ industry best practice guidelines, and current access roads be protected from colonization and further deforestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information of Anaxyrus houstonensis which is a federally endangered amphibian species endemic to east-central Texas, and these amphibians have a restricted range documented to only fourteen Texas counties and extirpated from at least four of those counties.

The article informs about the county record of the presence of a Thamnophis Proximus or Western Ribbonsnake that was found along the intersection of County Road with Ranch to Market Road in Sutton County, Texas on August18, 2021.

The article informs about the county record of the presence of a population of Siren Intermedia or Lesser Siren that was discovered during excavation on the Old Pin Oak Road in the town of Paige in Bastrop County, Texas on Ocober 12, 2021.

The article informs about the county record of the presence of eight Eleutherodactylus Cystignathoides or Rio Grande Chirping Frog that were heard calling from a forested site on private lands in Rockwall County, Texas on July 31, 2020.

The article presents a report regarding the discovery and geographical distribution of Jollyville Plateau Salamander, Eurycea Tonkawae, along with mentions about response to spring drying of the Eurycea Tonkawae. It mentions that Eurycea tonkawae as a neotenic, federally threatened salamander restricted to springs, spring-fed creeks, and caves in Travis and Williamson counties, Texas, U.S.

The effect of red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) on aquatic ecosystem processes and macroinvertebrate community was investigated in artificial ponds that were stocked with turtles or kept free of them. Compared to ponds without turtles, ponds with turtles displayed significantly higher values of pH, conductivity, sediment accumulation, and leaf litter decomposition rates, as well as a higher abundance of invertebrates, specifically that of the Hemiptera and Ephemeroptera. The biomass of periphyton was not affected by the presence of turtles. These results suggest that the presence of T. s. elegans affects environmental conditions in ponds, and thus potentially ecosystem processes. Reduced abundance or loss of turtles in aquatic systems could therefore result in significant consequences on ecosystem functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lost Pines Ecoregion in East Central Texas is an ecologically unique area composed of a diverse set of terrestrial and aquatic organisms, many of which are on the western edge of their ranges within Texas. We assessed the diversity, abundance, and occurrence of aquatic invertebrates in small wetland ponds located on the Griffith League Ranch, a relatively intact remnant area of the Lost Pines. Seventeen ponds were sampled for aquatic invertebrates and abiotic wetland pond characteristics (e.g., wetland pond size and hydroperiod) from February 2006 to January of 2007. The most common taxa found in all ponds were in the family Chironomidae (Diptera) and the most diverse invertebrate group in the area was the family Dytiscidae (Coleoptera), which was composed of 20 genera. Differences in species composition between small ponds and large ponds were noted, such that many of the taxa present in smaller more ephemeral ponds were in general not present in larger and more permanent ponds. The difference in species composition between small and large ponds highlights the need for different conservation strategies for managing ephemeral systems within a landscape to maintain regional diversity. In addition, this information will serve as critically important baseline data to assess the potential effects of the intense and widespread 2011 Bastrop Complex Fire on the wetland communities in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feral hogs (Sus scrofa) are considered a destructive exotic invasive species in the U.S., and their abundance appears to be increasing in the Lost Pines ecoregion of Texas. This is of particular concern due to the status of the Lost Pines as the last remaining stronghold for the federally endangered Houston toad (Bufo [Anaxyrus] houstonensis). We documented short-term impacts of feral hogs to pond perimeters, water quality, and aquatic arthropods at ponds on one of the primary recovery sites for the Houston toad, the Griffith League Ranch in Bastrop County. We also investigated the efficacy of exclosure fencing for eliminating feral hog use of a pond on the adjacent Welsh tract. We found that structural damage to pond perimeters by feral hog wallowing resulted in increased nutrient concentrations and total suspended solids in the ponds, but this damage did not affect aquatic predatory arthropod captures. We found the exclosure fence to be an effective barrier for feral hogs. The ability of feral hogs to rapidly degrade Houston toad breeding habitat warrants consideration of proactive control or deterrent measures, particularly at heavily used breeding ponds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lost Pines ecoregion is a 34,400 ha remnant patch of pinedominated forest located in central Texas. The ecoregion is currently under intense development pressure due to its aesthetic value and close proximity to the city of Austin. A survey-intensive herpetofaunal assessment was conducted on the Griffith League Ranch (GLR) between 2001 and 2004 to determine what species utilize the habitat, and obtain baseline activity patterns. A total of 35 herpetofaunal species were documented on the GLR: five lizards, three turtles, 15 snakes, and 12 amphibians, including the endangered Houston toad (Bufo houstonensis). In general, herpetofaunal detection was highest in spring and summer, and lowest in winter. The survey showed there is a rich herpetofaunal community in the Lost Pines ecoregion, which warrants consideration in its future development and land-use planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sediments and water from the spring and slough arm of Spring Lake, the pristine headwaters of the San Marcos River, Texas, were analyzed for Salmonellae by culture and molecular techniques before and after three major precipitation events, each with intermediate dry periods. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-assisted analyses of enrichment cultures detected Salmonellae in samples after all three precipitation events, but failed to detect them immediately prior to the rainfall events. Detection among individual locations differed with respect to the precipitation event analyzed, and strains isolated were highly variable with respect to serovars. These results demonstrate that rainwater associated effects, most likely surface runoff, provide an avenue for short-term pollution of aquatic systems with Salmonellae that do not, however, appear to establish for the long-term in water nor sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phylogenetic relationships among taxa within the emydid genus Trachemys have largely remained unresolved. A 768-basepair fragment of ND4, as well as the histidine, serine, and leucine tRNAs were sequenced from 18 of 26 of the extant species and subspecies of Trachemys. The aligned sequences were analyzed using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian methods. The results support the taxonomy of the genus as proposed by Seidel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article informs that several adults and juveniles of Hemidactylus frenatus, common house Gecko, from Isla El Pardito in the Gulf of California were observed or heard in housing developments on the island each year during May and June from 2016 to 2019.

The article informs that an adult Sternotherus Carinatus, Razor-backed Musk Turtle, was found at a 250 m downstream of the U.S. Highway 281 crossing of Sulphur Creek, Lampasas, Texas, as of June 2020.

The article offers information on diet of Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis); and mentions A. carolinensis feeding on a male red saddlebag dragonfly (Tramea onusta).

The sequencing of a genome is the first stage of its complete characterization. Subsequent work seeks to utilize available sequence data to gain a better understanding of the genes which are found within a genome. Gene families comprise large portions of the genomes of higher vertebrates, and the available genomic data allow for a reappraisal of gene family evolution. This reappraisal will clarify relatedness within and between gene families. One such family, the α-actinin gene family, is part of the spectrin superfamily. There are four known loci, which encode α-actinins 1, 2, 3, and 4. Of the eight domains in α-actinin, the actin-binding domain is the most highly conserved. Here we present evidence gained through phylogenetic analyses of the highly conserved actin-binding domain that α-actinin 2 was the first of the four α-actinins to arise by gene duplication, followed by the divergence of α-actinin 3 and then α-actinins 1 and 4. Resolution of the gene tree for this gene family has allowed us to reclassify several α-actinins which were previously given names inconsistent with the most widely accepted nomenclature for this gene family. This reclassification clarifies previous discrepancies in the public databases as well as in the literature, thus eliminating confusion caused by continued misclassification of members of the α-actinin gene family. In addition, the topology found for this gene family undermines the 2R hypothesis theory of two rounds of genome duplication early in vertebrate evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family Lemuridae includes four genera: Eulemur, Hapalemur, Lemur,Varecia . Taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships between L. catta, Eulemur and Hapalemur, and of Varecia to these other lemurids, continue to be hotly debated. Nodal relationships among the five Eulemur species also remain contentious. A mitochondrial DNA sequence dataset from the ND3, ND4L, ND4 genes and five tRNAs (Gly, Arg, His, Ser, Leu) was generated to try to clarify phylogenetic relationships within the Lemuridae. Samples (n=39) from all ten lemurid species were collected and analysed. Three Daubentonia madagascariensis were included as outgroup taxa. The ∼2400 bp sequences were analysed using maximum parsimony, neighbor-joining and maximum likelihood methods. The results support monophyly of Eulemur, a basal divergence of Varecia, and a sister-group relationship forLemur/Hapalemur . Based on tree topology, bootstrap values, and pairwise distance comparisons, we conclude thatVarecia and Eulemur both represent distinct genera separate from L. catta. H. griseus andH. aureus form a clade with strong support, but the sequence data do not permit robust resolution of the trichotomy involving H. simus, H. aureus/H. griseus and L. catta. Within Eulemur there is strong support for a clade containing E. fulvus, E. mongoz and E. rubriventer. However, analyses failed to clearly resolve relationships among those three species or with the more distantly related E. coronatus and E. macaco. Our sequencing data support the current subspecific status of E.m. macaco and E.m. flavifrons, and that ofV.v. variegata and V.v. rubra. However, tree topology and relatively large genetic distances among individualV.v. variegata indicate that there may be more phylogenetic structure within this taxon than is indicated by current taxonomy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The sifakas (Propithecus ) include three species containing up to 10 described subspecies, whose evolutionary relationships remain contentious. In particular, it is unclear whether P. verreauxi deckeni and P.v. coronatus populations are differentiated at the subspecific level. Furthermore, the taxonomic status of the recently discovered P. tattersalli and its phylogenetic position also require further examination. About 2,400 bp of mitochondrial DNA sequence data from part of the COIII gene, together with complete genes for ND3, ND4L, ND4, and five tRNAs, were used to clarify relationships among Propithecus species and subspecies. All analyses group Avahi as the sister group to all sifakas. P. diadema is placed as a sister group to all other Propithecus . Among the remaining sifakas, one subclade is formed by P.v. coquereli and P. tattersalli , while P.v. verreauxi , P.v. deckeni , and P.v. coronatus form the second subclade. All analyses fail to resolve P.v. coronatus and P.v. deckeni into separate monophyletic lineages. Based on pairwise distance comparisons and tree topology, we conclude that P. tattersalli does not represent a distinct species and that P.v. deckeni and P.v. coronatus do not deserve subspecific rank. On the other hand, our analyses indicate that P.v. coquereli may well represent a separate species. Am. J. Primatol. 53:1–17, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that Trachemys scripta elegans (ventral side up) and the remains of Fundulus grandis upon which this female was feeding and both were captured in a baited hoopnet trap in the Pecos River, Texas on July 6, 2020.

The article offers information of the Masticophis flagellum testaceus known as Western Coachwhip is an active diurnal colubrid that ranges from northeastern Mexico and southern New Mexico northward to the American Midwest.

The article reports the sighting of BUFO SPECIOSUS (ANAXYRUS SPECIOSUS) (Texas Toad) at this Wilson County, Texas, location.

The article offers information of Tantilla gracilis is a small fossorial colubrid which occurs from southern Texas and northern Mexico to southern Illinois and eastern Kansas, U.S.

The article reports the sighting of HETERODON NASICUS (Plains Hog-nosed Snake) at this Kent County, Texas, location.

The article reports the sighting of PSEUDACRIS STRECKERI (Strecker's Chorus Frog) at this Kendall County, Texas, location.

The article reports the sighting of PSEUDACRIS STRECKERI (Strecker's Chorus Frog) at this Guadalupe County, Texas, location.

The article presents a report regarding the discovery and geographical distribution of Red-eared Slider, Trachemys Scripta Elegans, along with mentions about scavenging behavior of the Trachemys Scripta Elegans.

The article presents a report regarding the discovery and geographical distribution of the Rio Grande Chirping Frog, Eleutherodactylus Cystignathoides found in the Texas, U.S.

The article presents a report regarding the discovery and geographical distribution of Prairie Lizard, Sceloporus Consobrinus along with mentions the saurophagy behavior of the Sceloporus Consobrinus.

The article presents a report regarding the discovery and geographical distribution of Rio Grande Cooter, Pseudemys Gorzugi, along with mentions the impact of recreational fishing on freshwater turtle populations.

The article presents a report regarding the discovery and geographical distribution of the Mediterranean Gecko, Hemidactylus Turcicus found in the Texas, U.S.