Culvert construction at stream crossing sites can lead to zones of high-velocity water flow which can disrupt the dispersal and connectivity of species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) in Texas. To help inform effective culvert design, the swimming performance of the following seven fish species has been measured, the first three of which are SGCN themselves, and the last four serve as hosts for glochidia of SGCN mussels (...

Hook removal devices have been developed to enable rapid release of angled fish, yet little research has evaluated their effectiveness and potential for injury among hook types. We compared the performance of hook removal tools and bare hands with four hook types on freshwater Lepomid sunfish. Dehooking performance was assessed using hook removal time, unhooking difficulty, degree of tissue damage at the hooking location, and...

The rapid, range-wide decline in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar , populations is well documented and has led to establishment of captive rearing and breeding programs in order to preserve populations. However, recovery potential may be limited by the inclusion of non-local genotypes, which can be both difficult to detect and quantify. In the genetically unique Inner Bay of Fundy population located in Canada, three Live Gene Bank...

Background Truffles are subterranean fungal fruiting bodies that are highly prized for their culinary value. Cultivation of truffles was pioneered in Europe and has been successfully adapted in temperate regions throughout the globe. Truffle orchards have been established in North America since the 1980s, and while some are productive, there are still many challenges that must be overcome to develop a viable North American tru...