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Canada geese (Branta canadensis; geese) often congregate in high public use areas while molting during summer, resulting in increased nuisance complaints. We censused geese that inhabited a Cookeville city park in Tennessee, USA on a weekly basis from 2013–2014 to determine the magnitude, trends, and seasonal nature of problems caused by urban goose flocks. Fewer than 50 geese were counted in most months except during the molt, when numbers increased to >200. Most geese dispersed from the park shortly after completion of the molt. Molt site fidelity to the park was estimated to be 51.5%, indicating that permanent relocation or euthanasia would not provide long-term nuisance relief and may impact local hunting opportunities. To mitigate the nuisance aspect of high densities of molting urban geese in the park, we herded molting and flightless geese to a closed portion of the park and fenced them out of the public use area. Our temporary fencing, coupled with reduced human disturbance in the area where geese were relocated, alleviated the nuisance problems typically associated with large concentrations of geese. We recommend that other municipalities that are experiencing similar seasonal nuisance goose problems consider using nonlethal fencing options.

The spatiotemporal allocation of activity is fundamental to how organisms balance energetic intake and predation risk. Activity patterns fluctuate daily and seasonally, and they are proximately affected by exogenous and endogenous conditions. For birds, flight activity is often necessary for relocating between foraging patches but is energetically expensive and can increase mortality risk. Hunted species may have to adjust their behavior and activity patterns to minimize anthropogenic mortality risk. We used hourly locations from 336 GPS‐marked mallards Anas platyrhynchos to examine how hunting pressure affected flight activity in response to weather conditions and habitat availability during winter in western Tennessee, USA. Mallards were more likely to fly during crepuscular times, particularly dusk, across winter months. Mallards conducted more flights after shooting hours when habitat availability increased during open hunting season; conversely, mallard flights decreased with increasing habitat availability when hunters were present on the landscape. Mallards were least active during periods open to hunting. However, indicators of approaching inclement weather (i.e. increased wind speed, precipitation, and decreasing barometric pressure) increased flights during periods open to hunting. Mallard flights decreased at lower temperatures except when hunting season was closed, wherein mallards increased nighttime flights. Flight activity was directly influenced by hunting disturbance which constrained when and how mallards reacted to environmental and habitat conditions. An understanding of the temporal shifts in waterfowl flight patterns can be used by natural resource managers to better manage stakeholder satisfaction and expectations.

Abstract Background: MAP0004 is an investigational orally inhaled dihydroergotamine (DHE) delivered via a TEMPO® metered dose inhaler that was effective in the acute treatment of migraine in a large Phase 3 trial. Rapid and consistent absorption of DHE is important for efficacy in the acute treatment of migraine. Methods: The pharmacokinetic parameters from four recent clinical studies, with doses including the proposed clinical dose of 1.0 mg nominal (0.65 mg emitted) MAP0004, were assessed for the consistency and speed of absorption of DHE. Results: Across these studies, MAP0004 administration resulted in rapid DHE absorption, with a median time of maximum concentration (Cmax) of approximately 10 min. The Cmax and area under the curve from time zero to 2 hr associated with the MAP0004 1.0 mg nominal dose were also similar between the three studies with this dose. Cmax values after 1.0 mg MAP0004 administration were consistently lower than for 1.0 mg intravenous DHE administration, and Cmax appeared to correlate with incidence of nausea. In these studies, DHE absorption through the lung was fast, consistent, and not associated with any unique tolerability issues for this route of administration. Conclusions: These results provide evidence of the consistency of absorption that can be achieved with the use of an appropriate metered dose inhaler, which may translate into a predictable therapeutic response.

Bristle-thighed Curlews (Numenius tahitiensis, hereafter ‘curlews') breed only on low Arctic tundra in the southern Nulato Hills of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. Curlews use several distinct habitat types on the breeding grounds; however, quantified data of habitat use by curlews exist only for the Seward Peninsula. We investigated which available habitats on the breeding grounds were used most often by curlews in the Nulato Hills and compared availability with use to determine habitat selection using a land cover layer created in ArcGIS based on aerial photography and ground referenced locations. We also compared curlew habitat usage at our study site to habitats used on the Seward Peninsula. We used vegetation quadrats to determine plant composition within each habitat. We also determined percentage of habitat and plant composition within curlew territories. Curlews preferred shrub meadow tundra which consisted primarily of lichens (>50%), mixed with graminoid/herbaceous plants (∼13%) and few dwarf shrubs. Medium/tall shrub habitats, especially tall shrub thickets, were generally avoided by curlews on the ground, but the curlews were commonly observed flying and displaying over the shrubs. Low shrub tussock tundra and sedge wet meadows were occasionally used by curlews but not to the extent of shrub meadow tundra. The avoidance by curlews of areas with medium to tall shrubs was probably related to potential predation risks associated with reduced visibility in these habitats. Habitat selection was similar for both breeding populations of curlews, except curlews at our study site used shrub meadow tundra more frequently and low shrub tussock tundra and sedge wet meadow to a lesser degree than on the Seward Peninsula. Habitats differed in number of berry-producing plants. Berry-producing plants were predicted to be highest in the habitat curlews selected most (i.e., shrub meadow tundra); however, they were most abundant in habitats associated with tussocks.

Mifepristone is approved to control hyperglycemia in adults with endogenous Cushing's syndrome and is described as a mildly QTc prolonging drug, based on a TQT study. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of mifepristone on the QTc interval at plasma mifepristone concentrations exceeding those observed in the TQT study. Twenty healthy, male volunteers were given three doses of 1200 mg mifepristone every 12 h with a high-fat meal in a randomized, placebo-controlled 2-period crossover study. Holter ECG recordings were made on Day 1 and 2. Eighteen subjects completed the study. Mean peak plasma mifepristone concentrations were 4.01 μg/mL (CV: 31%) on the fi rst dose and 5.77 μg/mL (CV: 29%) on the third dose. Mifepristone did not have a meaningful QTc effect. The placebo-corrected, change-from- -baseline QTcF (ΔΔQTcF) was between -1.6 and 0.7 ms on the fi rst dose (upper bound of 90% CI 3.8 ms) and the largest ΔΔQTcF on the third dose was 4.9 ms (upper bound of 90% CI: 8.4 ms). Concentration effect modeling showed a slightly negative slope of -0.01 ms/ng/mL. Mifepristone did not cause a clinically meaningful QTc prolongation in healthy volunteers at plasma concent rations of mifepristone and its main metabolites that clearly exceeded those seen in a previous TQT study.

The brood-rearing period in giant Canada geese (Branta canadensis maxima) is one of the least-studied areas of goose ecology. We monitored 32 broods in Putnam County, Tennessee, from the time of hatching through fledging (i.e., when the goslings gained the ability to fly) and from fledging until broods left the brood-rearing areas during the spring and summer of 2003. We conducted a fixed-kernel, home-range analysis for each brood using the Animal Movement Extension in ArcView® 3.3 GIS (ESRI, Redlands, Calif.) software and calculated 95% and 50% utilization distributions (UD) for each brood. We classified 25 broods as sedentary (8 ha 95% UD), three as shifters (84 ha 95% UD), two as wanderers (110 ha 95%UD); two were unclassified because of low sample size. We measured 5 habitat variables (i.e., percentage of water, percentage of pasture, percentage of development, number of ponds, and distance to nearest unused pond) within a 14.5-ha buffer at nesting locations. We used linear regression, using multi-model selection, information theoretic analysis, to determine which, if any, habitat variables influenced home-range size at a landscape level. The null model was the best information-theoretic model, and the global model was not significant, indicating that landscape level habitat variables selected in this study cannot be used to predict homerange size in the Upper Cumberland region goose flock. We analyzed associations among broods, using a coefficient of association of at least 0.50, and determined association areas by overlaying individual home ranges. Overall gosling survival (Ŝ) during the brood-rearing period was 0.84 (95% CL = 0.78, 0.92), using a staggered-entry Kaplan-Meier survival curve. We believe that abundance of quality forage and pond habitat, high survivorship, and a lack of movement corridors (i.e., rivers, lakes, and reservoirs) were responsible for the relatively small home ranges of geese in the Upper Cumberland region. Associations formed during brood rearing may reduce predation risks and serve as a template for lifelong social bonds with family members and unrelated geese that are reared in the same locations.

Little information is available on giant Canada goose (Branta canadensis maxima) nest-site selection on isolated nesting ponds. We monitored 46 island and 72 shoreline nests in the Upper Cumberland (UC) region of central Tennessee during 2002 and 2003. We measured 6 habitat variables at nesting ponds and randomly-selected non-nesting ponds. We used logistic regression to determine which habitat variables were important in nest-site selection. Presence of an island was the most important variable, but it was excluded from the final analysis because of quasi-separation (i.e., geese nested on all known islands in the study area). Geese that nested on shorelines generally selected larger ponds that may have offered a larger foraging base and more escape options from predators. Nest success rates were similar for island and shoreline nests. Management actions in the UC region and similar areas should be concentrated on ponds with islands because of higher goose nesting densities and ease in finding nests.

Although winter foods of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) have been documented in several studies, the importance of ecological or biological factors on the consumption of specific food groups often was ignored. Consequently, we evaluated whether age, pair status, molt status, habitat, year, or season influenced foods consumed by male mallards in southeastern Missouri during winters 1983-86. Seeds of moist-soil plants composed 61.4 and 46.0% of the aggregate dry mass diet of ducks collected in 1983-84 and 1984-85. Agricultural grain made up 33.8% of the aggregate dry mass diet in 1984-85, and acorns accounted for 64.5% of the diet in 1985-86. Our analysis revealed that habitat where birds were collected (P < 0.01) and annual variation (P < 0.01) were predominate factors influencing male mallard diet during winter. We attribute annual differences in food consumption primarily to annual variation in mast production. Invertebrates were present in 82% of 156 food samples, but composed only 7.3% dry mass of all ducks collected. Invertebrate consumption was greater during mid-winter than during other portions of winter (P < 0.01), probably a result of population growth and life history strategies of invertebrate species. Consumption of food groups did not differ among adult and immature males (P = 0.75), paired and unpaired males (P = 0.15), or males of different molt status (P = 0.22). These results suggest that age and physiological factors are less important than environmental factors in determining food use by male mallards during winter. Providing a diversity of habitats and suitable foods may be the best management approach to compensate for annual variation in availability of individual food resources.

The Barrens Darter (Etheostoma forbesi) is a rare darter in subgenus Catonotus endemic to the Caney Fork River system in middle Tennessee. Hybridization with the closely related Fringed Darter (E. crossopterum) has been assumed as a risk to E. forbesi. To assess chronology and similarity of nesting habitat between these species, nests of both egg-clustering darters were observed through the spring nesting seasons in four streams during 2008 and 2009. Microhabitat variables associated with nests exhibited evidence of headwater specialization by E. forbesi that may isolate spawning populations from E. crossopterum. Etheostoma forbesi used nest rocks of smaller average dimensions and bottom surface area, and nested at shallower depths where water velocities were higher than nesting individuals of E. crossopterum. Nesting chronology and clutch sizes were similar between species, with spawning periods similar to those reported for other darter species in subgenus Catonotus and with clutch sizes up to 2,000 eggs/nest. Nests were present from March through early June at Duke, Lewis, and Meadow Branch creeks, but spawning was delayed by approximately two weeks at West Fork Hickory Creek, the largest and only spring-fed stream in the study. Etheostoma forbesi displayed peak egg production from mid-April to early May in Duke and Lewis creeks. Etheostoma crossopterum in a similar-sized stream also followed this chronological pattern, but spawning of E. crossopterum was delayed and the active nesting period was protracted into mid-June in the largest and spring-fed stream. Under contempory streamflow conditions, the observed differences in spawning microhabitat suggest a low likelihood of interspecific hybridization, despite the similarities in timing of the two species' spawning activities.

Factors affecting growth of softstem bulrush (Scirpus validus), an obligate wetland plant frequently used in subsurface-flow constructed wetlands in North America, were studied in a controlled environmental chamber. Effects of media depth (30- and 46-cm), hydraulic retention time (HRT) (2- and 6-day), and water-level drawdown (drawdown vs. no drawdown) on plant growth in 24 microcosms were investigated. Weekly root and stem growth was measured and stem health assessed to determine effects of treatments on plant vigor. Water-level drawdown was detrimental to plant growth, increasing the percentage of dead stems. Stem production was higher in microcosms with a 46-cm media depth than those with a 30-cm depth and also higher in microcosms that were permanently flooded than in those with fluctuating water levels. Root production was greater in microcosms with a 30-cm media depth than in those with a 46-cm depth, and root production was also greater in microcosms that were constantly flooded than in those drawn down. Scirpus validus is a robust plant that grows well in gravel media microcosms; however, problems are experienced when rhizomes and roots dry out during water drainage.