James F. Whatton

Bio: James F. Whatton is an academic researcher from National Museum of Natural History. The author has contributed to research in topics: Primate & Sympathetic nervous system. The author has an hindex of 4, co-authored 6 publications receiving 287 citations.

Squirrels of the World

Abstract: "Squirrels of the World", written by scientists with more than 100 years of collective experience studying these popular mammals, is the first comprehensive examination of all 285 species of squirrels worldwide. The authors reveal virtually every detail of the family Sciuridae, which includes ground squirrels, tree squirrels, flying squirrels, prairie dogs, and chipmunks. Each species-from the familiar gray squirrel of American backyards to the exotic and endangered woolly flying squirrel of Pakistan-is described in a detailed account that includes distinguishing characteristics, ecology, natural history, conservation status, and current threats to its existence. "Squirrels of the World" includes: stunning color photographs that document rare and unusual squirrels as well as common varieties; evolution, morphology, ecology, and conservation status; colorful range maps marking species distribution; images of the skull of each genus of squirrel; and extensive references.

Migratory Canada geese cause crash of US Airways Flight 1549

Abstract: In the United States alone, over 7400 bird–aircraft collisions (birdstrikes) were reported in 2007. Most of these strikes occurred during takeoff or landing of the flight, and it is during these flight phases that aircraft experience their highest risk of substantial damage after colliding with birds. Birdstrikes carry enormous potential costs in terms of lives and money. Using feather remains and other tissue samples collected from the engines of US Airways Flight 1549, which crash landed in the Hudson River in New York City on 15 January 2009 after a birdstrike, we apply molecular tools and stable hydrogen isotopes to demonstrate that migratory Canada geese were responsible for the crash. Determining whether the geese involved in this birdstrike event were resident or migratory is essential to the development of management techniques that could reduce the risk of future collisions. Currently, the US civil aviation industry is not required to report birdstrikes, yet information on frequency, timing, and ...

Comparative Anatomy and Evolution of the Cardiac Innervation in New World Monkeys (Platyrrhini, E. Geoffroy, 1812)

Abstract: The morphology of the autonomic cardiac nervous system (ACNS) was examined in 24 sides of 12 New World monkeys (Platyrrhini) of all four families to document the morphology systematically and to study the evolutionary changes of the ACNS in this primate lineage. We report the following: (1) Although several trivial intra- and inter-specific variations are present, a family-dependent morphology of the ACNS does not exist in New World monkeys. (2) The sympathetic ganglia in New World monkeys consist of the superior cervical, the middle cervical, and the cervicothoracic which is composed of the inferior cervical and first and second thoracic, and the thoracic ganglia starting with the third thoracic. The general cardiac nervous system is the sympathetic middle and inferior cardiac nerves and all parasympathetic vagal cardiac branches. (3) The morphology of the ACNS in the New World monkeys is almost consistent regardless of the number of vertebrae, the cardiac position and deviation (axis), and the great arterial branching pattern of the aortic arch, and it is very similar to that in the Old World monkeys, with only one difference: the superior cervical ganglion in the New World monkeys tends to be relatively smaller, higher, and provides a narrower contribution to the spinal nerves than in the Old World monkeys. The ACNS morphology exhibits significant evolutionary changes within the primate lineage from New and Old World monkeys to humans. The comparative morphology within the lineage is concordant with the phylogeny, suggesting that the primate ACNS preserves its evolutionary history in close alignment with phylogeny.

Systematic morphology and evolutionary anatomy of the autonomic cardiac nervous system in the lesser apes, gibbons (hylobatidae).

Abstract: We examined the morphology of the autonomic cardiac nervous system (ACNS) on 20 sides of 10 gibbons (Hylobatidae) of three genera, and we have inferred the evolution of the anatomy of the primate ACNS. We report the following. (1) Several trivial intraspecific and interspecific variations are present in gibbons, but the general arrangement of the ACNS in gibbons is consistent. (2) Although the parasympathetic vagal cardiac nervous system is extremely consistent, the sympathetic cardiac nervous system, such as the composition of the sympathetic ganglia and the range of origin of the sympathetic cardiac nerves, exhibit topographical differences among primates. (3) The vertebral ganglion, seldom observed in the Old World monkeys (Cercopithecidae), was consistently present in gibbons as well as in humans. (4) There are fewer thoracic ganglia contributing to the cervicothoracic ganglion in humans than in gibbons and in gibbons than in Old World monkeys. (5) The superior cardiac nerve originating from the superior cervical ganglion, rarely observed in Old World monkeys but commonly observed in humans, was present in 13 of 20 sides (65%), mostly on the left. Accordingly, the ACNS morphology exhibits evolutionary changes within the primate lineage. These evolutionary differences between Old World monkeys, gibbons, and humans are most parsimoniously interpreted as resulting from regular changes in the lineages leading from their common ancestor to the extant species that we dissected. They include the reduction in the number of thoracic ganglia contributing to the cervicothoracic ganglion and the expansion of the range of the cardiac nervous origin.

Using Whatman FTA® Cards to Collect DNA for Bird-Strike Identifications

Abstract: Identifi cation of species of birds is fundamental to implementation of all management and mitigation issues involving bird–aircraft collisions (bird strikes). Methods of identifying bird remains have recently been enhanced to include the use of molecular techniques but the degraded condition of the fi eld sample remains problematic. The Whatman FTA® card is a novel way to instantly fi x DNA and inhibit degradation of DNA samples post-collection. During 2008–2009, we analyzed >200 FTA cards containing tissue blots, body fl uids, or blood samples from bird strikes to evaluate the performance of these cards in real-time situations. We analyzed the success of extracting DNA from the FTA cards, compared the FTA disc punch extractions to dried tissue extractions from the same birdstrike event, and evaluated the blotting density (heavy versus light) for each FTA card punch. FTA cards alone yielded successful extractions in 63% of the trials whereas dried tissue samples were successful 75% of the time. FTA cards that were scored as being blotted with dense (heavy) samples were more successful (63%) than the light or liquid samples (48%). We encourage the use of the FTA cards or similar products as a valid option for the collection of degraded birdstrike remains because the FTA cards resulted in successful extractions in >50% of the cases. The cards are ideal for shipping and require no special storage; the cards are dry and lightweight; immediate fi xation of the sample helps prevent mold and bacterial growth; and FTA cards are listed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) as an approved method of treatment for foreign shipments of bird remains.

The Effect of Geographical Scale of Sampling on DNA Barcoding

Abstract: Eight years after DNA barcoding was formally proposed on a large scale, CO1 sequences are rapidly accumu- lating from around the world. While studies to date have mostly targeted local or regional species assemblages, the recent launch of the global iBOL project (International Barcode of Life), highlights the need to understand the effects of geographi- cal scale on Barcoding's goals. Sampling has been central in the debate on DNA Barcoding, but the effect of the geographical scale of sampling has not yet been thoroughly and explicitly tested with empirical data. Here, we present a CO1 data set of aquatic predaceous diving beetles of the tribe Agabini, sampled throughout Europe, and use it to investigate how the geographic scale of sampling affects 1) the estimated intraspecific variation of species, 2) the genetic distance to the most closely related heterospecific, 3) the ratio of intraspecific and interspecific variation, 4) the frequency of taxonomically rec- ognized species found to be monophyletic, and 5) query identification performance based on 6 different species assignment methods. Intraspecific variation was significantly correlated with the geographical scale of sampling ( R-square = 0.7), and more than half of the species with 10 or more sampled individuals (N = 29) showed higher intraspecific variation than 1% sequence divergence. In contrast, the distance to the closest heterospecific showed a significant decrease with increasing geographical scale of sampling. The average genetic distance dropped from >7% for samples within 1 km, to 6000 km apart. Over a third of the species were not monophyletic, and the proportion increased through locally, nationally, regionally, and continentally restricted subsets of the data. The success of identifying queries decreased with increasing spatial scale of sampling; liberal methods declined from 100% to around 90%, whereas strict methods dropped to below 50% at continental scales. The proportion of query identifications considered uncertain (more than one species <1% distance from query) escalated from zero at local, to 50% at continental scale. Finally, by resampling the most widely sampled species we show that even if samples are collected to maximize the geographical coverage, up to 70 indi- viduals are required to sample 95% of intraspecific variation. The results show that the geographical scale of sampling has a critical impact on the global application of DNA barcoding. Scale-effects result from the relative importance of different pro- cesses determining the composition of regional species assemblages (dispersal and ecological assembly) and global clades (demography, speciation, and extinction). The incorporation of geographical information, where available, will be required to obtain identification rates at global scales equivalent to those in regional barcoding studies. Our result hence provides an impetus for both smarter barcoding tools and sprouting national barcoding initiatives—smaller geographical scales deliver higher accuracy. (Agabini; diving beetles; DNA barcoding; Dytiscidae; iBOL; identification methods; sampling; scale effect; species monophyly)

Isotopic ornithology: a perspective

Abstract: The use of measurements of naturally occurring stable isotopes of the light elements C, N, H, O, S in avian tissues and their associated foodwebs has grown tremendously during the last 30 years. Three primary applications of this approach have been (1) the delineation of diets or trophic relationships and sources of nutrients to individuals or populations, (2) the assessment of the relative contributions of endogenously and exogenously derived nutrients to reproduction in birds that travel to breed, and, more recently, (3) the assignment to origin of migratory individuals. This paper will briefly summarize the roots of these theme areas and highlight the benefits of an isotope perspective. However, the primary focus of this paper is on key assumptions, misunderstandings, information gaps and the path ahead. Specific recommendations for future research are outlined for all of these theme areas. Finally, a plea is made for more constructive criticism in the field of isotopic applications to animal ecological studies, especially those involving birds.

Interspecific variation in wildlife hazards to aircraft: Implications for airport wildlife management

Abstract: Understanding the relative hazards of wildlife to aircraft is important for developing effective management programs. We used Federal Aviation Administration National Wildlife Strike Database records from 1990 to 2009 in the United States to rank the relative hazard of wildlife to aircraft. We summarized data for 77 species or species groups with � 20 records where collisions occurred � 500 ft (152 m) above ground level. We also assessed the effects of avian body mass, body density, and group size on relative hazard scores. The 3 most hazardous species or species groups were mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), white-tailed deer (O. virginianus), and domestic dogs. ''Other geese'' (snow goose (Chen caerulescens), brant (Branta bernicla), and greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons)) was the most hazardous bird group. Ten of the 15 most hazardous bird species or species groups are strongly associated with water. Avian body mass was strongly associated with percentage of all strikes that caused damage, but not for species exceeding median body mass (1,125 g) of birds in damaging strikes. In contrast, percentage of damaging strikes increased when multiple birds were involved, but only for those species with body mass � 1,125 g. Managers should prioritize efforts that will reduce habitat suitability for those species most hazardous to aircraft. We recommend use of exclusion (e.g., fences) for managing large mammals and habitat modifications (e.g., reductions in standing water) accompanied by hazing for reducing bird use of airports. We also recommend that evaluations of jet turbine engine performance following bird ingestions consider using multiple birds with body mass >1,000 g. 2011 The Wildlife Society.

Combining stable-isotope (δD) and band recovery data to improve probabilistic assignment of migratory birds to origin

Abstract: The recent application of stable-isotope analyses, particularly the use of stable-hydrogen-isotope (deltaD) measurements of animal tissues, has greatly improved our ability to infer geographic origins of migratory animals. However, many individual sources of error contribute to the overall error in assignment; thus likelihood-based assignments incorporating estimates of error are now favored. In addition, globally, the nature of the underlying precipitation-based deltaD isoscapes is such that longitudinal resolution is often compromised. For example, in North America, amount-weighted expected mean growing-season precipitation deltaD is similar between the boreal forest of southwestern Canada and areas of northern Quebec/Labrador and Alaska. Thus, it can often be difficult to distinguish objectively between these areas as potential origins for broadly distributed migrants using a single isotopic measurement. We developed a Bayesian framework for assigning geographic origins to migrant birds based on combined stable-isotope analysis of feathers and models of migratory directions estimated from band recovery data. We outline our method and show an example of its application for assigning origins to a population of migrant White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) sampled at a Canadian Migration Monitoring Network station at Delta Marsh, Manitoba, Canada. We show that likelihood-based assignments of geographic origins can provide improved spatial resolution when models of migration direction are combined with assignments based on deltaD analysis of feathers.