Range-wide sources of variation in reproductive rates of northern spotted owls.

We conducted a range-wide investigation of the dynamics of site-level reproductive rate of northern spotted owls using survey data from 11 study areas across the subspecies geographic range collected during 1993-2018. Our analytical approach accounted for imperfect detection of owl pairs and misclassification of successful reproduction (i.e., at least one young fledged) and contributed further insights into northern spotted owl population ecology and dynamics. Both nondetection and state misclassification were important, especially because factors affecting these sources of error also affected focal ecological parameters. Annual probabilities of site occupancy were greatest at sites with successful reproduction in the previous year and lowest for sites not occupied by a pair in the previous year. Site-specific occupancy transition probabilities declined over time and were negatively affected by barred owl presence. Overall, the site-specific probability of successful reproduction showed substantial year-to-year fluctuations and was similar for occupied sites that did or did not experience successful reproduction the previous year. Site-specific probabilities for successful reproduction were very small for sites that were unoccupied the previous year. Barred owl presence negatively affected the probability of successful reproduction by northern spotted owls in Washington and California, as predicted, but the effect in Oregon was mixed. The proportions of sites occupied by northern spotted owl pairs showed steep, near-monotonic declines over the study period, with all study areas showing the lowest observed levels of occupancy to date. If trends continue it is likely that northern spotted owls will become extirpated throughout large portions of their range in the coming decades.

Seeking Out Social Learning: Online Self-Education in Parents of Children With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

Supportive, informed parenting is critical to improve outcomes of children who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Parents want to learn about their child's condition, needs, and strategies to improve family life. The internet is a valuable resource, but how parents evaluate and apply information is unknown. We conducted focus groups to understand how parents use internet resources to learn about their children with IDD. Parents described using the internet to access information from trusted sources, find examples to apply their knowledge, and seek social support. Social learning theory, which posits that cognitive, behavioral, and social processes influence each other to support real-world learning, could provide a theoretical framework for unifying these findings and for designing efficacious online interventions.

Unanticipated Characteristics of a Selective, Potent Neuromedin-U Receptor 2 Agonist.

Neuromedin-U (NMU) mediates several physiological functions via its two cognate receptors, NMUR1 and NMUR2. Disentangling the individual roles of each receptor has largely been undertaken through the use of transgenic mice bearing a deletion in one of the two receptors or by testing native molecules (NMU or its truncated version NMU-8) in a tissue-specific manner, in effect, taking advantage of the distinct receptor expression profiles. These strategies have proved quite useful despite the inherent limitations of overlapping receptor roles and potential compensatory influences of germline gene deletion. With these considerations in mind, the availability of potent, selective NMU compounds with appropriate pharmacokinetic profiles would advance the capabilities of investigators undertaking such efforts. Here, we evaluate a recently reported NMUR2-selective peptide (compound 17) for its in vitro potency (mouse and human), binding affinity, murine pharmacokinetic properties, and in vivo effects. Despite being designed as an NMUR2 agonist, our results show compound 17 unexpectedly binds but does not have functional activity on NMUR1, thereby acting as an R1 antagonist while simultaneously being a potent NMUR2 agonist. Furthermore, evaluation of compound 17 across all known and orphan G-protein-coupled receptors demonstrates multiple receptor partners beyond NMUR2/R1 binding. These properties need to be appreciated for accurate interpretation of results generated using this molecule and may limit the broader ability of this particular entity in disentangling the physiological role of NMU receptor biology.

Conservation planning for species recovery under the Endangered Species Act: A case study with the Northern Spotted Owl.

The northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) was listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1990. We applied modern spatial conservation theory and models to evaluate several candidate critical habitat networks, and sought an efficient conservation solution that encompassed the highest value lands for spotted owl recovery rather than maximizing the total area of potential critical habitat. We created a map of relative habitat suitability, which served as input to the spatial conservation prioritization program Zonation. We used the spatially-explicit individual-based population model HexSim to estimate and compare simulated spotted owl population outcomes among a suite of candidate critical habitat networks that varied in size and spatial arrangement under alternative scenarios of future habitat suitability and barred owl (S. varia) effects. We evaluated simulated spotted owl population outcomes, including total population size, and extinction and quasi-extinction likelihoods for 108 combinations of candidate critical habitat networks by habitat change by barred owl scenarios, both range-wide and within 11 distinct portions of the owl's range. Barred owl encounter rates and the amount and suitability of habitat had substantial effects on simulated spotted owl populations. When barred owl encounter rates were high, changes in the amount and suitability of habitat had minimal impacts on population performance. Under lowered barred owl encounter rates, candidate critical habitat networks that included most existing high suitability habitat supported a high likelihood of long-term population persistence. Barred owls are currently the primary driving force behind poor population performance of NSOs; however, our models demonstrated that a sufficient area of high suitability habitat remains essential for recovery when effects of barred owls can be reduced. The modeling approach we employed is sufficiently flexible to incorporate new information about spotted owls as it becomes available and could likely be applied to conservation planning for other species.

The mitochondrial genome of the planorbid snail Planorbella duryi.

The complete mitochondrial genome of a freshwater planorbid snail, Planorbella duryi (Mollusca, Gastropoda) was recovered from de novo assembly of genomic sequences generated with the Illumina NextSeq500 platform. The P. duryi mitogenome (14,217 base pairs) is AT rich (72.69%) and comprises 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal subunit genes, and 22 transfer RNAs. The gene order is identical to that of Biomphalaria glabrata and other snail species in the family Planorbidae. This is the first full characterization of a mitochondrial genome of the genus Planorbella.

Depression, anxiety, and relevant cognitions in persons with mental retardation.

We assessed depression, anxiety, and relevant cognitions in persons with mental retardation by administering modified versions of the Reynolds Child Depression Scale, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire, and the Cognitions Checklist to 46 persons with borderline to moderate mental retardation. Consistent with research with other groups, self-reports of depression and anxiety were highly correlated (r = .74) in these individuals, and cognitions were strong predictors of negative affect. Subscales measuring cognitions related to depression and anxiety were also highly related, limiting the "cognitive-specificity" hypothesis. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses offered mixed support for cognitive-specificity. We discuss the implications of these findings for the cognitive and affective assessment of persons with intellectual limitations.