Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Understanding long-term dietary patterns is critical for assessing how environmental changes and anthropogenic impacts affect a species across life stages and utilized habitats. We compared gut contents of large juvenile and adult green turtles (Chelonia mydas) foraging off the Miskito Cays, Nicaragua, in 1975 and 2020, and of adult females nesting at Tortuguero, Costa Rica, in 1976–1978 and 2021–2023. At the foraging ground, the seagrass Thalassia testudinum comprised over 90

Atlantic sturgeon ( Acipenser oxyrinchus ) are threatened under the United States Endangered Species Act in the Gulf of Maine (GoM), where natural sources of adult mortality remain poorly documented. We report a stranded adult female Atlantic Sturgeon (224-cm total length) recovered in Scarborough, Maine, USA, with injury consistent with predation by a juvenile white shark ( Carcharodon carcharias ) and inconsistent with vessel strike. Bite-mark analysis indicated a shark of at least 2.6 m total length, matching juveniles increasingly documented in nearby Saco Bay. The stranding coincided with peak seasonal white shark activity within known sturgeon foraging area, supporting predation as the most parsimonious cause of death. Predation on adult Atlantic sturgeon has only been known via tooth-mark injuries on surviving individuals in Canadian weir fisheries making this the first direct evidence of the interaction in the GoM. As white sharks expand into warming GoM waters, such encounters may become more frequent, highlighting the need for continued monitoring of shifting predator-prey dynamics.

Wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) are hosts to several vector-borne haemosporidian blood parasites that can cause morbidity and mortality in wild and domestic turkeys. This study investigated the prevalence, geographical distribution, and genetic diversity of haemosporidians in 942 wild turkeys from the USA and 12 ocellated turkeys (Meleagris ocellata) from Belize. Haemoproteus was detected in 69% (650/942) of USA turkeys. Sequencing revealed six unique haplotypes in two lineages (1a-1c and 2a-2c). Haplotypes 1a-1c were 99.4-99.8% similar, and Haplotype 1a was identical to a Haemoproteus reported in northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus). Haplotypes 2a-2c were 98.2-99.2% similar, and Haplotype 2a was most similar (99.1%) to Haemoproteus reported from galliforms in Austria and Thailand. Lineage 1 sequences were only 96.9-98.2% similar to Lineage 2. Lineage 1 (1a-1c) was detected in 84.6% (523/618) of Haemoproteus-positive USA turkeys, with Haplotype 1a being most common (81.9%, 506/618). Lineage 2 (2a-2c) was detected in 43.4% (268/618) of USA turkeys. Leucocytozoon was detected in 9.7% (91/942) of USA wild turkeys, and all were identical to a Leucocytozoon from northern bobwhite. Haemoproteus prevalence was higher in males vs females and adults vs juveniles, and Leucocytozoon prevalence was higher in adults vs juveniles. No Plasmodium infections were detected. Haemoproteus was the only parasite detected in ocellated turkeys; 12 (100%) were infected with Lineage 1a, and four (33.3%) were co-infected with Lineage 2a. These findings provide new insights into the prevalence and genetic diversity of haemosporidians in turkeys.

Florida has more nonindigenous amphibian and reptile species than anywhere else in the world, and introductions continue to occur and warrant tracking. We used photographic and specimen vouchers in addition to literature records to update a previous publication on verified nonindigenous amphibians and reptiles in Florida that was current through 2015. In the 10 years since then, established populations of one nonindigenous caecilian, one lizard, and one snake species were discovered, and 12 other established species were recognized due to revised taxonomy or identification of cryptic species (n = 3), previously mistaken identity (n = 1), recognition that an already known introduced population was established (n = 1), recognition that a species was introduced instead of native (n = 1), or identification of extralimital populations of native species (n = 6). Two new species were intercepted (Stage 1) and 48 new species were introduced but apparently are not established (Stage 2). We revised the invasion status or date for 21 taxa based on the best available information. Since 1863, 249 introductions have resulted in 64 established, nonindigenous taxa and seven native taxa with extralimital populations. Prior to 1950, cargo shipments from Cuba were primarily responsible for introductions and established species, but since then, the pet trade is primarily responsible.

The eastern spotted skunk ( Spilogale putorius ) is a small mesocarnivore that has experienced population decline across its range, whereas populations of the larger striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis ) have remained stable. Both skunk species occur in Florida, USA, but their occupied ranges have diverged over time, with the range of the spotted skunk markedly declining. Determining their ecological niches within the framework of species distribution models (SDMs) can help to understand their habitat use and landscape‐scale interactions in Florida. We developed SDMs for both species using the presence‐only model Maxent, incorporating occurrences collected from 2017–2022 from community science and research data, along with 12 environmental variables representing various landscape features (e.g., land cover, topography, fire history). We quantified the area of predicted habitat for each species, estimated their spatial overlap, and measured potential impacts from external pressures (e.g., projected urbanization, sea level rise). Owing to their range decline and habitat specialization, we expected a smaller predicted area of habitat for eastern spotted skunk, with higher potential for external pressures and minimal overlap with striped skunk habitat. Our results indicated habitat area was smaller for eastern spotted skunk (24,333 km 2 ) than striped skunk (31,964 km 2 ), with minimal spatial overlap (14%). We found that eastern spotted skunk distribution occurred mostly in coastal and southern areas of Florida and was positively influenced by scrub‐shrubland cover and vegetation diversity and negatively influenced by cropland and developed areas. Striped skunk distribution mostly occurred in northern and interior areas of Florida and was positively influenced by wooded edges, prairie, and wetland cover. Less‐rugged topography was important to both species. Projected trends in urbanization and sea level rise more greatly threaten the habitats of eastern spotted skunk than striped skunk. We provide a detailed habitat map and a much‐needed description of the ecological niche of the eastern spotted skunk in Florida, which differs from that of the striped skunk. Overall, this study can inform both statewide and species‐wide conservation and management decisions for both skunk species.