Ichthyochory in a temperate river system by common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Some fish are important dispersal vectors of aquatic plants (i.e., ichthyochory), yet few examples have been documented outside of the Neotropics. Although highly modified and degraded, the upper Illinois River Waterway supports common carp (Cyprinus carpio) populations and abundant aquatic vegetation. As common carp have been previously documented to consume aquatic vegetation seeds, we assessed diets to determine the potential for common carp to function as dispersal vectors for aquatic vegetation seeds that may be important for restoration of rivers and floodplain wetlands. Whole seeds occurred at a high frequency and 42 seed taxa were discovered in the digestive system of common carp. Electivity analysis indicated that most seeds present were incidentally ingested; however, common carp diets contained seeds of wild celery (Vallisneria americana) at rates greater than expected by random chance. Our study indicates common carp may fill a similar functional role of seed dispersal for aquatic plant communities in temperate large river systems as they do for fruiting plants in the Neotropics. Our results highlight an understudied aspect of temperate freshwater ecology – fish as a potential influence on plant dynamics and resources in rivers. Fish-mediated seed dispersal has important but poorly understood implications and should be further explored

An Assessment of Aquatic Invasive Plants in the Illinois River: water hyacinth surveillance, mapping, persistence,and potential seed dispersal

This study had the following objectives: 1.Documenting the current distribution of mature water hyacinth plants in the Illinois River/CAWS corridor and comparing with historical records and sightings. 2.Comparing seed densities and frequencies in seed banks and dispersal in areas where dense colonies of water hyacinth occur and non-occupied areas (i.e., control) in the main Illinois River channel and associated backwaters. 3.Concurrently assessing the temporal and spatial overlap between recurring stands of water hyacinth and the presence of their seeds in their underlying seed bank4.Developing and evaluating a rapid aerial survey technique to detect and map locations of water hyacinth along the Illinois River.Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fisheriesunpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Wetland use by Greater White-fronted Geese and spatial overlap with waterfowl conservation priority areas in Mexico

Greater White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons frontalis) use both agricultural and wetland habitats throughout winter with changes in use exhibited temporally and in relation to environmental and landscape factors. Currently, an unknown proportion of Greater White-fronted Geese winter in Mexico, largely along the Gulf Coast and in the Central Highlands, where information regarding wintering ecology is largely unknown. Because conservation efforts for waterfowl typically focus on wetland habitats, understanding factors influencing wetland use is imperative to developing informed conservation strategies. During winters, 2016–2018, we used remote sensing to measure characteristics of 91 wetlands used by GPS-tagged Greater White-fronted Geese, and modeled how wetland and landscape variables influenced wetland use and selection. Our top model of wetland use indicated that larger wetlands and wetlands that were closer to other used wetlands were related to increased use. There was an interaction between wetland type and distance to agriculture, indicating that Greater White-fronted Geese exhibited increased use of emergent herbaceous/grass and woody wetland types that were in closer proximity to agriculture. Our wetland-selection model indicated that woody and emergent wetlands that were larger in size were selected at greater rates than available wetlands on the landscape. Additionally, we conducted a spatial comparison of used wetlands in this study with wetlands previously identified as important for waterfowl conservation in Mexico in the literature. Of 91 wetlands used by geese, only 7.7% fell within wetland complexes identified as priority for waterfowl conservation or specific wetlands important to Greater White-fronted Geese by previous research, and all were within the Laguna Madre de Mexico and Rio Grande Delta regions in Tamaulipas. Wetlands in Mexico are being degraded at a rapid rate, and information such as this is important for future management and conservation-planning efforts throughout Mexico for wetland-dependent species such as the Greater White-fronted Goose

Analysis of Outcomes in Ischemic vs Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation A Report From the GARFIELD-AF Registry

IMPORTANCE Congestive heart failure (CHF) is commonly associated with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF), and their combination may affect treatment strategies and outcomes