Publications by authors named "J F Bunnell"

, the fungus causing snake fungal disease (SFD), has been identified in northern pine snakes () in New Jersey. In this paper, we (1) review the positivity rate of SFD on different locations on snakes' bodies, (2) determine the relationship between the sores and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) positivity rates, and (3) explore the relationship between the investigators' clinical evaluation of the severity of sores, their evaluation of the likelihood of the sores being positive, and the qPCR positivity of SFD for the sores. Swabbing the sores was more effective at determining whether the snakes tested positive for than ventrum swabbing alone.

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Snake fungal disease, caused by Ophidiomyces ophidiicola, is recognized as a potential concern for North American snakes. We tested skin swabs from Northern Pine Snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus) in the New Jersey pinelands for the presence of O. ophidiicola before emergence from hibernation.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates how contaminant mixtures from point (like municipal wastewater) and nonpoint (such as stormwater runoff) sources affect aquatic ecosystems in the New Jersey Pinelands.
  • Water samples and aquatic species (fish and frogs) were collected from 21 sites to analyze 133 contaminants and assess health effects, like intersex conditions in fish and parasite prevalence.
  • Results showed that landscape alteration, not municipal wastewater, mainly drives contaminant concentrations in streams/lakes, with species-specific variations in health impacts observed among the aquatic biota.
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Reptiles are increasingly of conservation concern due to their susceptibility to habitat loss, emerging disease, and harvest in the wildlife trade. However, reptile populations are often difficult to monitor given the frequency of crypsis in their life history. This difficulty has left uncertain the conservation status of many species and the efficacy of conservation actions unknown.

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Background: Indoor air pollution is associated with adverse health effects; however, few studies exist studying indoor air pollution on the Navajo Nation in the southwest U.S., a community with high rates of respiratory disease.

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