ASM Comments and News

ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND ANNUAL MEETING, AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAMMALOGISTS, HELD IN CONJUCTION WITH THE THIRTEENTH INTERNATIONAL MAMMALOGICAL CONGRESS, DENA’INA CIVIC AND CONVENTION CENTER, ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, AND VIRTUAL

Program Committee: Lois Alexander, Maddie Arszulowicz, Cody Aylward, Kayce C. Bell, Brad R. Blood, Bruce Buttler, Camilo Calderon, Patrice K. Connors, Elmer J. Finck, Elizabeth Flaherty, John D. Hanson, Carson Hedeberg, Andrew G. Hope, Douglas A. Kelt, Brooks Kohli, Eileen A. Lacey, Kate Lyons, Verity L. Mathis, Christy McCain, Michael McGowan, R. Neal Platt, Janet L. Rachlow, James M. Ryan, Steven R. Sheffield, Erin Siracusa, Kelly A. Speer, Sandra Talbot, Cody W. Thompson (Chair), Ginny Turner, Lisa Walsh, and Neal Woodman.

Members and virtual attendees were notified by e-mail of online access to the program before the meeting and the meeting program was provided to members attending the meeting. Full program and abstracts are available at http://www.mammalsociety.org/meetings. Abridged minutes of the directors’ and members’ meetings follow.

Abridged Minutes of Meeting of the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors annual meeting was held between 0815 and 1558 Alaska Daylight Saving Time on 14 July 2023. The meeting was attended by 30 Officers and Directors in-person and 13 invited guests, with some attending virtually. Reports from the Secretary-Treasurer, the Trustees, Membership Management, the Publications Advisory Board, and the ad. hoc Vision Committee were read, accepted, or otherwise acted upon.

Actions of interest to the membership were: appointment of Alicia Linzey as a Trustee to replace Ron Van Den Bussche who is stepping down; reappointment of Phil Sudman as Secretary-Treasurer and Trustee; appointment of John Hanson as Program Director to replace outgoing Program Director Cody Thompson; appointment of Jacob Goheen as Publications Director to replace outgoing Publications Director Paul Stapp; announcement by President Lessa that the American Society of Mammalogists is partnering with the Mexican Mammal Society, the Asociación Mexicana de Mastozoología, Asociación Civil for a joint membership program; all ASM Publications are moving to a digital-only format; several updates have been made to how authors and readers access and interact with publication; announcement from the Secretary-Treasurer that in 2022 the Society had 2265 members (including 1419 Annual, 706 Life, 63 Patron, 54 Emeritus, and 23 Honorary Members), recommendation of 201 new nominees for membership as of April 2023; the passing of at least 18 members; and a total of $86,987.46 donated to the Society in 2022, $1,235 to the Latin American Student Field Research Fund, $14,005.93 to the Future Mammalogists Fund, $500 to the Oliver Pearson Fund, $6,502.22 to the African Graduate Student Research Fund, $700 to the James L. Patton Fund, $150.00 to the J. Mary Taylor Fund, $7,037 to the Black and Indigenous Scholars Fund, and $464.41 to the General Contributions Fund; notice from the Trustees that the value of the Society’s Reserve Fund was $7,702,530.39 as of 31 December 2022, although there has been an increase in value in 2023, and the value of the Society’s Pooled Income Fund was $44,651 as of 31 December 2022; the adoption of a mission statement for the Society, “The mission of the American Society of Mammalogists is to advance the scientific understanding of mammals globally, to diversify the profession of mammalogy, and to promote science as the basis for the conservation and management of mammals. The Society achieves these goals through publications, grants and fellowships, annual meetings, and other education and outreach activities.”, as recommended by the ad hoc Vision Committee; and the other work of the ad hoc Vision Committee, which will continue making recommendations to the Board of Directors.

Abridged Minutes of Annual Meeting of Members

The 1^st session was called to order at 1340 and was recessed at 1506 ADST on 16 July 2023 and the 2^nd session was called to order at 1108 and adjourned at 1227 ADST on 19 July 2023.

Minutes of the preceding meeting were approved as published in abridged form in the Journal of Mammalogy. Abridged minutes of the first Board Meeting were read. Reports were presented in oral and/or written form from the President, the Secretary-Treasurer, the Trustees, standing committees, ad hoc committees, and ASM representatives to other organizations.

Actions of interest to members were: the Society officially accepted and welcomed the new members from 2023; election of John Koprowski as President-Elect, re-election of Janet Rachlow as Vice President, election of Melissa Pardi as Recording Secretary, and election of 6 new Directors, including 1 Student Director (officers and directors listed on page iv); presentation from Christina Mac Swiney, the President of the Asociación Mexicana de Mastozoología, Asociación Civil; approval by acclamation of Dr. Nils Chr. Stenson (University of Oslo, Norway), Dr. Afework Bekele (Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia), Dr. Louise Emmons (National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution), and Dr. Barry Fox (University of New South Wales, Australia) for Honorary Membership in the Society; and notification that the 2024 annual meeting will be held at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado 7–11 June.

American Society of Mammalogists Annual Awards

In 2023 ASM is proud to support the research activities and recognize the accomplishments of the following individuals.

Grants in Support of New and Ongoing Research and Training

Grants-in-Aid of Research, which provide funds to help student conduct their research projects in mammalogy, were awarded to the following individuals:

• B. Elizabeth Horner Award: Julius Tabin (Harvard University, Ph.D.) Using congenic mice to investigate the genetics of burrowing behavior in Peromyscus.

• Joel Abraham (Princeton University, Ph.D.) Does dietary niche partitioning amongst savanna herbivores reflect competition?

• Danielle Adams (Clemson University, Ph.D.) Cetartiodactyla as a model for investigating the evolution of bone material properties across the skull and jaw.

• Lauren Berkley (University of Vermont, M.S.) Investigating the role of small mammals as reservoir hosts for the emerging zoonotic pathogen Babesia odocoilei.

• Bhuwan Singh Bist (Miami University, Ph.D.) Searching for genetic signals of local adaptation accompanying the northward expansion of the nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus).

• Emma Blanken (University of Regina, M.S.) Intraspecific variation in roost-site selection by the little brown bat in the Cypress Hills, Saskatchewan, CA.

• Gabrielle Bueno (The University of Texas at Austin, Ph.D.) Micronutrient supplementation by reproductive female Verreaux’s sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi).

• Connor Burgin (University of New Mexico, Ph.D.) Speciation in the Arctic: systematics and biogeography of the collared lemmings.

• Olivia Chapman (University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Ph.D.) Gastrointestinal plasticity in three widespread North American small mammals.

• Austin Chipps (Louisiana State University, Ph.D.) Speciation in a southeast Asian shrew radiation.

• Monica Cooper (University of Wisconsin, Madison, Ph.D.) Does diet drive the population dynamics of an archipelagic population of black bears (Ursus americanus)?

• Joseph Curti (University of California, Los Angeles, Ph.D.) Bat community composition across an Amazonian oxbow lake successional gradient.

• Kathryn Davis (University of Wyoming, Ph.D.) Home and away: how can studying functional connectivity of beavers in their native and non-native landscapes inform conservation.

• Emily Glotfelty (University of Texas at San Antonio, Ph.D.) Variation in ranging and foraging behaviors and gut microbiome composition in Colobus vellerosus in central Ghana.

• Alannah Grant (University of Guelph, Ph.D.) City living: the influence of urban landscapes on early rates of neurogenesis in eastern grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis).

• Sarah Heissenberger (University of Arkansas, Ph.D.) Maternal effects on offspring water balance physiology in Octodon degus: a test of the maternal matching hypothesis.

• Annabella Helman (University of Wyoming, Ph.D.) Livestock and wildlife compatibility in human-occupied rangelands: using traditional pastoralism to conserve lions and their prey.

• Tommy Herrera (University of California, Berkeley, Ph.D.) Host-virus coevolution: testing endemic vs novel pathogen hypothesis between deer mouse and Sin Nombre Virus.

• Jerrica Jamison (University of Toronto, Ph.D.) A comparative investigation of sugar metabolism across phyllostomid bats.

• Katherine Kariatsumari (University of Colorado, Boulder, Ph.D.) The role of small mammal granivores in evolutionary divergence of two sunflower ecotypes.

• Danielle Land (University of New Mexico, M.S.) Evolutionary and demographic history of high-latitude shrews.

• Lauren Lock (University of Oklahoma, Ph.D.) Investigating infectious disease dynamics in bats between preserved and degraded habitats.

• Brynn Lowry (City University of New York, Ph.D.) Integrating field and satellite data for identifying high nutrient patches and inferring primate abundance.

• Lianna Marilao (Oklahoma State University, Ph.D.) Using museum specimens to investigate Wormian bones throughout Mammalia.

• Keely Maynard (University at Buffalo, Ph.D.) Investigating the impact of climate on movement ecology in Bengal slow lorises (Nycticebus bengalensis) in Northeastern Thailand.

• Amanda Moore (University of Cincinnati, Ph.D.) Grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) and offshore wind farm noise: using bone conduction hearing tests to establish hearing thresholds.

• Jessica Morales Valenzuela (University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, M.S.) Ecological consequences of inter-related social organization and social structure in two populations of Octodon degu.

• Logan Platt (University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, M.S.) Life history and social factors influencing social network structure in Octodon degus.

• Jorge Rivero (New Mexico State University, M.S.) Endocrine regulation and vaginal cytology of the reproductive cycle of a captive colony of the Jamaican fruit-eating bat (Artibeus jamaicensis).

• Angel Luis Robles Fernandez (Arizona State University, Ph.D.) Modeling rodent-virus interactions in North America from different biodiversity dimensions through machine learning.

• Aleana Savage (Missouri State University, M.S.) Cave dweller turn city slicker? Drivers of gray bat (Myotis grisescens) urban habitat use.

• Alyssa Semerdjian (Oregon State University, Ph.D.) Does climate variability affect small mammal body size distributions across spatial gradients?

• Basant Sharma (Kansas State University, Ph.D.) Tracing roots of Himalayan biodiversity: phylogeography of bats in Nepal.

• Olivia Stevens (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, M.S.) Spatial personalities within a landscape of fear.

• Jana Woerner (Michigan State University, Ph.D.) Coordinating collective action: group hunting in the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta).

African Graduate Student Research Awards, which recognize African nationals pursuing graduate degrees on field-oriented investigations of African mammals, were awarded to the following individuals:

• Judicaël Régis Kema Kema (France; Université La Rochelle, Ph.D.) Use of local and conventional knowledge to assess the conservation status of cetaceans in Gabonese waters, including aquatic protected areas.

• Katinka Botha (South Africa; University of the Witwatersrand, M.S.), Habitat use of wild chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) within a complex energetic, thermal, and predator landscape.

• Kiros Welegerima (Tanzania; Sokoine University of Agriculture, Ph.D.) Afroalpine small mammal community of Mount Tsbet, Northern Ethiopia: an elevational account.

Three additional applicants are recognized with Honorable Mention for their outstanding proposals that were unable to be supported due to insufficient funding: Eliette Noromalala (University of Texas at Austin, Ph.D.), Fefy Ravahatramananjarasoa (University of Antananarivo, Ph.D.), and Ortega Bavary (University of Antananarivo, Ph.D.)

Latin American Student Field Research Awards, in support of field research projects by Latin American students in Latin America, were awarded to the following individuals:

• Andrea R. Sánchez Domina (Argentina; Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Ph.D.) Environmental factors as modulators of endogenous mechanisms: implications for the singular reproductive strategy of the South American marsupial Thylamys bruchi (Marsupialia, Didelphidae).

• Flávia Weber-Souza (Brazil; Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Brazil, Ph.D.) Can cocoa agroforests provide functional connectivity within a biodiversity global hotspot?

• Giovane Carreira Improta (Brazil; Universidade de Sao Paulo, Ph.D.), Circadian clock genes expression in different regions of suprachiasmic nuclei of tuco-tucos (Ctenomys famosus) captured in summer and winter.

• Lais Lautenschlager Rodrigues (Brazil; University of Miami, Ph.D.), Dietary ecological functioning of large mammalian herbivores in a tropical forest.

• Marcelo Gamboa (Argentina; Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Ph.D.), Eco-parasitology of hantavirus and rabies in chiropterans living in natural areas of Misiones province.

Carol and Jim Patton Awards for Outstanding Latin American Graduate Students of Mammalogy, which recognizes outstanding students in Latin American mammal societies and provides membership to ASM, were awarded to the following individuals:

• Lorena Knopfelmacher - Asociación Paraguaya de Mastozoología (APM)

• Alejandro Guerrero Pistilli - Asociación Paraguaya de Mastozoología (APM)

• Esteban Ferreras - Sociedad Argentina para el Estudio de los Mamíferos (SAREM)

• Bárbara Escobar- Asociación Guatemalteca de Mastozoólogos (ASOGUAMA)

• Lesly Rodriguez- Asociación Guatemalteca de Mastozoólogos (ASOGUAMA)

The recipient of the James L. Patton Award, which promotes and supports museum-based research by graduate student members of ASM is Edu Guerra (University of Washington, Ph.D.) for his work on climate change and variability in Douglas’ Squirrel.

The recipient of the Donald W. and Glennis A. Kaufman Research Award to support research on the biology of small mammals in North American prairies is Emma Balunek (University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Ph.D.) for her work on coyote and badger relationships.

The recipients of the Guy N. Cameron Rodent Research Award for research on the ecology or behavior of rodents native to the New World are graduate student Xochitl Ortiz-Ross (University of California, Los Angeles, Ph.D.), for her dissertation research on fitness consequences of early-life adversity in yellow-bellied marmots, and postdoctoral scientist Nikki Lee (University of California, Berkeley) for her research on social behavior, neuroendocrinology, and dispersal in South American tuco-tucos and Belding’s ground squirrels.

Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Research, Education, and Service

Honoraria were awarded to the following students to allow them to share their exceptional research accomplishments at the 2023 ASM Meeting.

• Annie M. Alexander Award: Kathryn Bischoff (University of Connecticut, Ph.D.) Shrublands alleviate competitive interactions between imperiled and introduced cottontails.

• Elmer C. Birney Award: Miranda Theriot (University of Oklahoma, Ph.D.) Accounting for age: uncovering the nuanced drivers of mammal body-size repsonses to global change.

• A. Brazier Howell Award: Sean Johnson-Bice (Uninversity of Manitoba, Ph.D.) Tundra gardens’ from space: satellite imagery provides a landscape-scale perspective of Arctic fox ecosystem engineering.

• Anna M. Jackson Award: Rachel Stein (University of Idaho, Ph.D.) Integrating data on sensory cues into mammalian habitat ecology.

• Undergraduate Honorarium: Esteban Restrepo-Cortés (Universidad CES, Colombia) 3D tooth traits distinguish Reithrodontomys species in the fossil record.

• Undergraduate Honorarium: Katherine Garrett (University of Wyoming) Life in the slow lane for rufous elephant shrews: live histories of Kenyan small mammals.

The Albert R. and Alma Shadle Fellowship, in recognition of a graduate student’s accomplishments and future potential in mammalogy, was awarded to Mauriel Rodriguez Curras (University of Wisconsin, Madison, Ph.D.). His research investigates species distributions and interactions over multiple spatial and temporal scales.

The ASM Fellowship, in recognition of accomplishments in mammalogy, service to ASM, and the potential for a productive, future role in professional mammalogy, was awarded to Connor Burgin (University of New Mexico, Ph.D.). His dissertation research revolves around the application of integrative taxonomic methods to estimate species boundaries across the mammalian radiation.

The Oliver P. Pearson Award recognizes an outstanding young professional mammalogist at an academic position in Latin America. The 2023 recipient is Dr. Jamile Bubadué, from the Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Brazil. Dr. Bubadué’s research focuses on the evolution of morphological traits and the adaptations of mammals to the environment.

The Murie Family Conservation Award recognizes a student or early career researcher who has made a significant contribution to the conservation of mammals and their habitats. The 2023 recipient is Heru Handika, PhD Candidate at Louisiana State University, for his work on poorly known mammals and efforts with conservation-centered workshops in Indonesia.

The Aldo Leopold Award recognizes lasting contributions to the conservation of mammals and their habitats. The 2023 recipient is Dr. Vernon C. Bleich, University of Nevada, Reno, in recognition of his contributions to conservation of mammals in desert ecosystems.

The Joseph Grinnell Award recognizes outstanding and sustained contributions to education in mammalogy. The 2023 recipient is Dr. Brian Arbogast, Associate Professor & Associate Curator of Mammals, University of North Carolina, Wilmington, in recognition of his genuine investment in students and excellence and enthusiasm as an educator and mentor.

The Hartley H. T. Jackson Award recognizes individuals who have given outstanding service to ASM. The 2023 recipient is Dr. Robert Timm, Associate Professor Emeritus at University of Kansas. Dr. Timm has served tirelessly in many roles of the ASM, in particular as President of the Society (2006–2008), as chair and member of more than 15 committees, and as Historian since 2010.

The C. Hart Merriam Award recognizes outstanding research contributions to the field of mammalogy. The 2023 recipient is Dr. Lawrence Heaney, Negaunee Curator of Mammals at the Field Museum, for his exceptional research productivity and contributions which have transformed the field of biogeography.

The following resolutions were adopted:

HOST RESOLUTION FOR THE ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAMMALOGISTS

WHEREAS, we celebrate yet another opportunity for us to meet in the State of Alaska (The Great Land, 3^rd Alaskan ASM meeting in 34 years), this time jointly with the International Federation of Mammalogists (IFM) for IMC-13, which is a real honor and distinct pleasure; and,

WHEREAS, this year’s joint IFM/ASM meeting garnered 764 in-person and 163 virtual attendees, making this the largest ASM meeting ever, we had nearly 700 abstracts, making this the largest ASM program ever, and it truly was international in nature, with attendees from 55 countries and all 6 inhabited continents; and,

WHEREAS, in meeting on the lands of the Athabascan people, whose lives remains intimately tied to the mountains, forests, and water of this region, and the diverse animals they contain, the ASM acknowledges the rich history of Native Cultures in southeastern Alaska; and,

WHEREAS, at this year’s diversity social/picnic at the Alaska Native Heritage Center, a juvenile black bear fled for its personal safety as a frenzied mob of mammalogists rabidly pursued it for the opportunity for hair, fecal, and DNA samples; and,

WHEREAS, we acknowledge the multiple decades of attendance and numerous presentations of members like Duane Schlitter, Bob Rose, Dave Huckaby, and Virginia Naples, and propose establishing a new milestone category – The ASM Half-Century Club; and,

WHEREAS, contrary to the name, the social event “cash bars” in the Convention Center were not accepting cash; and,

WHEREAS, we are greatly pleased to recognize Cody Thompson for his exceptional effort on the annual meeting Program, and Paul Stapp for his incredible work on Publications, for their many stellar years of service to the ASM; and,

WHEREAS, following the lead from the Marvel Comics Universe, ASM President Enrique Lessa, ASM’s version of Stan Lee, just created the ASM Mammalverse; notable characters in the ASM Mammalverse include Nate Upham as Dr. Stephen Strange, Link Olson as Thor Marvel the Hero Shrew, Rob Swihart as Rocket Raccoon, Virginia Naples as Sabretooth, and Tom Jung as the Wolverine; and,

WHEREAS, the term “priceless” was raised to new heights during the 1^st BOD meeting with that deep shade of red on Kelly Speer’s face when her name came up on the list of dropped delinquents (she was hoping that no one would notice!); and,

WHEREAS, rumor has it that the NCAA is entertaining thoughts of an ASM March Mammal Madness takeover, so in 2024, expect to see the UConn Huskies facing off against a herd of Colorado Buffaloes; and,

WHEREAS, in Alaska, the Land of the Midnight Sun, the University of Alaska - Anchorage dorms forgot the requisite dark-out shades; and,

WHEREAS, this year we celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, the most successful piece of legislation ever passed for the protection of animals and plants and their habitats from extinction; and,

WHEREAS, Covid-19 and the Program Committee conspired to double-book Link Olson to be scheduled to give an oral presentation on the 3rd floor while simultaneously leading a Symposium on the 2nd floor, resulting in the waiting audience being treated to a dramatic running entrance and a few minutes of heavy breathing; and,

WHEREAS, Annie M. Alexander award winter Kate Bischoff taught us that planting some shrubs keeps away annoying invasive neighbors; and,

WHEREAS, Anna M. Jackson Award winner Rachel Stein discussed the importance of viewsheds for pygmy rabbits and their predators; too bad for intrepid auction coordinator Brad Blood that she hadn’t used her skills to analyze the soundshed of the ASM auction space prior to the event; and,

WHEREAS, the Shadle Fellowship winner Matt Snider demonstrated that dressing for success looks like a zebra tuxedo with a distinct east African flair; and,

WHEREAS, A. Brazier Howell Award winner Sean Johnson-Bice showed us that arctic foxes are good at tending tundra gardens to attract diverse visitors; and,

WHEREAS, Elmer C. Birney Award winner Miranda Theriot showed us that lynx skulls shrunk while marten skulls grew larger towards the end of the 20^th century; we think Bob Sikes follows the mustelid model, so he will need to buy a bigger hat down the road; and,

WHEREAS, Murie Family Conservation Award winner Monica Engel taught us that listening attentively to the importance of engaging local stakeholders in conservation efforts is critical to dealing with human/wildlife conflict; and,

WHEREAS, we learned from ASM Fellowship Award winner Marissa Dyck that Dracula’s legacy is a diverse and abundant carnivore community in the Carpathian Mts.; and,

WHEREAS, when it comes to statistics and probability, Joseph Grinnell Award winner Rob Swihart suggested that we are all dim bulbs, but by using high-power mode, we can increase our wattage; and,

WHEREAS, C. Hart Merriam Award winner Felisa Smith showed us that mean mammalian body mass has decreased precipitously since the Pleistocene; this makes us wonder - does the human population provide contradictory data?; and,

WHEREAS, the IMC-14 meeting will be in Bonito, Brazil in 2027, and we warmly congratulate Alex Percequillo and his committee for winning their bid by acclimation rather than relying on the large contingent of meeting attendees from Brazil to skew the vote totals; and,

WHEREAS, the numbering pattern of posterboards provided attendees an ideal testing ground for random-walk models; and,

WHEREAS, the dorm rooms at University of Alaska - Anchorage allowed mammalogists to experience the body size/space ratio of a Peromyscus in an unbaited Sherman trap; and,

WHEREAS, mammalogists at the Alaska Native Heritage Center for the diversity social/picnic who failed to identify mammal pelts and wild sciurids must turn in their mammologist card immediately! And that means you, Noe de la Sancha and Kelly Speer; and,

WHEREAS, one recurring theme which notably pervaded this year’s IMC-13 meeting was that of climate change, an insidious global threat for which we ignore at our own peril; and,

WHEREAS, Dr. Sarah James, a Gwich’in elder, gave a powerful presentation regarding the importance of indigenous knowledge and ways of life encouraging us to advocate for conservation of the Porcupine caribou herd and increased protection of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; and,

WHEREAS, the University of Alaska - Anchorage dorms are top contenders for setting the record for the tightest security ever at an ASM meeting – a keycard was required to enter the building, the elevator, the suite, and the room; and,

WHEREAS, the Resolutions Committee laments the fact that the Host Resolution (and other resolutions) will be decoupled from the Journal of Mammalogy soon; perhaps social media could make the Host Resolution more widely visible if only those of us on the committee knew how to use social media (what’s that thing called – instabook?, facegram?); and,

WHEREAS, we are so proud of Barry Fox and the other 3 recipients of ASM’s highest honor – honorary membership; and,

WHEREAS, the majestic mountains and beautiful inlets, bays, glaciers, and ocean provided the backdrop for this year’s meeting and allowed mammalogists from every inhabited continent to get out in the field in many locations, especially Anchorage’s Coastal Trail, and enjoy the abundant mammalian fauna around our meeting site, including moose, black bears, weasels, pikas, and other species, plus a great diversity of those vertebrates with feathers; and,

WHEREAS, the Resolutions Committee disavows any claims that this year’s Host Resolution was written by Chat GPT; and,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Society of Mammalogists, meeting at their 102^nd annual meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, 14-20 July 2023, hereby sincerely thank Kerrell and Damon Dunsmore and family of The Next Great Event, Kevin Kowalczyk of Giant Steps Consulting, Christi Classi from the ASM Business Office, Daria Cohen and Grant Goldhar of XC-D (our meeting platform), and especially Cody Thompson, John Hanson, and the Program Committee for their dedication and hard work in planning and organizing this successful meeting, which allowed us to see our friends and colleagues in person as well as virtually, and for providing us all with just the most incredibly fun, productive, and memorable experience.

SAVE THE DATE!!! 103^RD ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAMMALOGISTS

Please join us 7 to 11 June 2024 for the 103^rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists, to be held at the campus of CU Boulder in Boulder, Colorado. Learn about the latest advances in the study of mammals and interact with researchers and educators specializing in these fascinating animals.

The scientific program will include contributed oral and poster presentations as well as plenary speakers, symposia, and workshops. A full social agenda also is planned, including fieldtrips, opening social, the annual Run-for-Research, student social, and closing social and awards ceremony. Detailed conference and registration information will be made available on the conference website (www.mammalmeetings.org).

For more information about the 2024 meeting, contact the ASM Program Director, Jon Hanson ([email protected]) or meeting planner, Kerrell Dunsmore ([email protected]).

STUDENT PROGRAMS

ASM is deeply committed to fostering future generations of mammalogists. We support our student and early-career members financially in a variety of ways, including grants to support new and ongoing research projects, awards, fellowships, and honoraria to recognize accomplishments of students and early-career mammalogists, and travel awards to offset the costs of attending the annual meeting (Table 1). Students and early-career scientists are also eligible for some other Society awards and recognitions, but those require nominations rather than a submitted application. Visit the ASM website for links to each grant or award, with details on eligibility, how to apply, and any changes to deadlines, at www.mammalogy.org/grants.

Grants-in-Aid of Research (up to $1,500) support field or laboratory research in any area of mammalogy. Applications due 1 March.

African Research Fellowships (up to $1,500) support research by African nationals in any area of mammalogy. Applications due 15 April.

Latin American Field Research Awards (up to $1,500) support field projects in mammalogy by Latin American students. Applications due 1 March.

The James L. Patton Award ($5,000) supports museum-based research in mammalogy, including travel costs to visit collections. Applications due 1 March.

The Donald W. and Glennis A. Kaufman Research Award ($2,500) supports field-based ecological research on native mammals in the North American Great Plains, with an emphasis on rodents and shrews. Applications due 1 March.

The Guy N. Cameron Rodent Research Award (one graduate student, one postdoctoral researcher, at $5,000 each) supports field research on rodents in the Western Hemisphere. Applications due 1 March.

Student Science Policy Awards provide an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for a two-day event in the spring in which students interested in the science-policy interface receive public policy training and participate in Congressional Visits Day. Applications due 21 January.

The Black and Indigenous Scholars in Mammalogy Award (one or two awards, up to $1,500 each) provides funds to support research or other activities in mammalogy of a scholar (high school age or older) from, or residing in, the Western Hemisphere who is of Black/African American origin and/or a representative of any of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. Applications due 1 March.

Honoraria are awarded to four graduate students ($2,000) and two undergraduate students ($1,200) to present the results of their research at ASM meetings. Applications due 15 February.

The ASM Fellowship ($20,000 for 2021) recognizes accomplishments in mammalogy by a graduate student and is our highest student award. Funds are not dedicated to a specific research proposal, but intended to support the student in any capacity that promotes a professional career in mammalogy. Applications due 1 May.

The Albert and Alma Shadle Fellowship in Mammalogy ($5,003 for 2021) also recognizes accomplishments in mammalogy by a graduate student. Like the ASM Fellowship, the Shadle Fellowship is not a grant in support of a specific project, but intended to allow the recipient greater freedom in pursuing their research and promoting a professional career in mammalogy. Students must be enrolled in a college or university in the United States to receive the Shadle Fellowship. Applications due 1 March.

The Oliver P. Pearson Award ($5,000, plus $2,000 for travel to an ASM meeting) supports a young professional (within 5 years of receipt of PhD) who holds an academic position in a Latin American institution. Applications due 1 March.

In addition to the above, the ASM offers Travel Awards to both students and early career professionals to aid in attending ASM meetings. Requests for support are submitted at the time of abstract submission for the annual meeting.

AWARD NOMINATIONS

All nominations should include a statement regarding adherence to the ASM Code of Professional Conduct. For example:

As a part of preparing this nomination, I have read and understood the American Society of Mammalogists’ Code of Professional Conduct (available here:http://www.mammalogy.org/asm-professional-conduct). To the best of my knowledge, the individual I am nominating exemplifies the high caliber of professional conduct that the ASM expects and promotes as required to be eligible for this award, as well as to retain this recognition should they be the award recipient.

NOMINATIONS FOR THE C. HART MERRIAM AWARD

The American Society of Mammalogists is now accepting nominations for the C. Hart Merriam Award. The C. Hart Merriam Award is given to eminent scholars in recognition of outstanding research in mammalogy over a period of at least 10 years. C. Hart Merriam was the first chief of the Division of Economic Ornithology and Mammalogy of the United States Department of Agriculture, and a founding member of the American Ornithologists’ Union, the National Geographic Society, and the American Society of Mammalogists. Among other contributions, he developed the concept of “life zones” to classify biomes found in North America. Nominations for the Merriam Award will be considered without regard to national citizenship or activity in the ASM.

Persons interested in nominating someone for the Merriam Award should send a packet containing a letter of nomination, a copy of the nominee’s CV, and 3-5 letters of nomination (all incorporated into a single PDF) via email to Sharon Jansa ([email protected]) by 1 March.

NOMINATIONS FOR THE JOSEPH GRINNELL AWARD

The Joseph Grinnell Award recognizes excellence in education in the broadest sense. It encompasses not only the traditional roles of teaching undergraduate and graduate students in academic institutions, but also educational activities such as production of materials for federal, state, or local agencies, public education through creation of museum displays, and enhancement or encouragement of education through stewardship activities.

Candidates may be nominated by colleagues, supervisors, students, or others familiar with their devotion to, and execution of, their educational activities. A letter of nomination, maximum length two pages, should detail the candidate’s excellence in education in mammalogy and should elaborate the reasons why this individual should be considered for this award. The committee appreciates clear evidence of excellence in teaching or mentorship or the high quality of other educational products. Such evidence could include summaries of teaching evaluations, student comments, student success, or other assessments of the effectiveness of educational activities.

The letter of nomination, the candidate’s curriculum vita, and up to four additional letters of support should be sent to Janet Rachlow by 15 March ([email protected]) as a single PDF document. The recipient will be announced at the banquet of the annual meeting of the Society. Nominations are not retained from previous years.

NOMINATIONS FOR THE HARTLEY H. T. JACKSON AWARD

The Hartley H. T. Jackson Award honors individuals with a long and outstanding record of service to mammalogy and the American Society of Mammalogists. Nominees should have extensive service in areas such as governance of the Society, special projects of the Society, editing of the Journal of Mammalogy or Mammalian Species (Editors, Associate Editors, or others), and/or serving on multiple committees of the Society.

Candidates may be nominated by any member who is familiar with the candidate’s service to the Society and mammalogy in general. A letter of nomination (two pages maximum) should describe the candidate’s extensive service and should elaborate the reasons this person should be considered for the award. The letter of nomination, a curriculum vita for the nominee, and up to four additional letters of support (all incorporated into a single PDF) should be sent to Duane Schlitter ([email protected]) by 1 March. The recipient will be announced at the annual meeting of the Society. Nominations are not retained from previous years.

NOMINATIONS FOR ASM CONSERVATION AWARDS

The Aldo Leopold Award is awarded to a well-established individual who has made a lasting contribution to the conservation of mammals and their habitats.

The Murie Family Conservation Award is awarded to a current undergraduate or graduate student who has made a significant contribution as a student to the conservation of mammals and their habitats.

The recipient of each award will have contributed substantially to (1) the conservation of 1 or more mammalian species, subspecies, or populations, (2) the conservation of mammalian assemblages and communities, and/or (3) advancing the field of conservation biology through focal research on mammals. We interpret “contribution” broadly to include (1) scientific research or political activism that has resulted in the preservation of an imperiled species; (2) development of protective management recommendations; (3) acquisition of new knowledge regarding the conservation status or causes for decline of mammalian species or populations; (4) the protection of significant mammalian habitat; or (5) promotion of the conservation of mammals through public education.

All persons are invited to submit nominations for these awards. For each award, the nomination packet should include 1) a brief (two pages maximum) narrative that introduces and describes the conservation activities of the nominee; 2) a list of relevant journal articles, government and NGO reports, newspaper clippings, and other materials that chronicle and corroborate the conservation-related activities of the nominee; 3) contact information for the nominator and nominee; 4) Code of Professional Conduct statement; and 5) the following supporting materials:

Aldo Leopold Award – a curriculum vita; three pieces of corroborative literature that most succinctly and directly describe the nominee’s contributions to mammalian conservation; and up to four additional letters of support.

Murie Family Conservation Award – letters of recommendation from two individuals familiar with the nominee’s conservation activities, one of which must be from the student’s research advisor that confirms the nominee’s status as a student or early career researcher within five years of receiving their terminal degree.

The complete nomination packet should be submitted as a single PDF file to John Koprowski ([email protected]) by 1 March. The recipients will be announced at the annual meeting of the Society. Nominations for the Leopold Award will be retained for two years; nominations for the Murie Family Award will not be retained from previous years.

NOMINATIONS FOR THE J. MARY TAYLOR AWARD

The J. Mary Taylor Award was developed collaboratively by the Human Diversity Committee and the ASM Office of the Ombudspersons, and honors our first female president, Dr. J. Mary Taylor (1931–2019; ASM President 1982–1984). Dr. Taylor broke barriers throughout her career. She was a consummate mammalogist and deeply committed to both the ASM and to her graduate and undergraduate students. She was noted for her sound fiscal planning and her groundbreaking research as a field and museum biologist. Among her positions, she served as Professor of Zoology and Director of the Cowan Vertebrate Museum at the University of British Columbia, Executive Director of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Chairperson of the IUCN Rodent Specialist Committee, and Vice President of the Association of Science Museum Directors. We remember her fondly for her leadership, her “can do” personality, and friendship within the ASM. In recognition of her accomplishments, she was awarded Honorary Membership in 2001. Mary’s leadership for the Society and the institutions she led exemplifies our commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and equity within the field of mammalogy. This award recognizes the impact of an individual or a team through contributions that promote and improve the accessibility, inclusivity, and diversity of our discipline or of our Society.

Nominations must come from an ASM member in good standing; self-nominations are permitted. Nominees must be active members of ASM in good standing, and may be individuals or teams, at any career stage or level of experience. Both nominees and nominators must adhere to the ASM Professional Code of Conduct. Awards will be given only in years when compelling and suitable nominations are available. Individuals may only receive the award one time.

Nominations must include: 1) name and contact details of the nominator(s); 2) name and contact details of the nominee(s); 3) a current CV for the nominee(s) that includes a summary of their education and career; 4) a supporting statement (<4,000 characters for individuals or teams, not including spaces) that includes the following: a) an introduction to the nominee or team that describes the area or business in which they work and their role(s) within the organization; b) a description of the contributions of the individual or team, and evidence of their impact within research, academic, and outreach communities served by the Society; and c) one or two sentences of <250 characters (not including spaces) that succinctly describes the nominees laudatory contribution to diversity and inclusion within mammalogy (suitable for posting on the ASM website).

Nomination materials should be submitted online at http://www.mammalogy.org/nomination-form-j-mary-taylor-award by 15 March.

NOMINATIONS FOR THE CAROL AND JIM PATTON AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING LATIN AMERICAN GRADUATE STUDENTS OF MAMMALOGY

The American Society of Mammalogists (ASM), through its International Relations Committee, seeks to promote growth of mammalogy in Latin America along with encouragement of connections between ASM members and Latin American mammalogists. In that spirit, ASM offers the Carol and Jim Patton Awards to one outstanding graduate student from each of the mammalogical societies in Latin America. The awards are funded by a generous gift from Carol and Jim Patton, who value the importance of supporting young mammalogists in Latin America.

It is the responsibility of each participating Latin American mammalogical society, at the time of their society’s regular meeting, to provide the ASM International Relations Committee with the name and contact information of an outstanding graduate student who was selected based on criteria established by that society (for example, the best graduate student oral presentation given in the society’s regular meeting). Each awardee will receive three consecutive years of membership in ASM, providing access to numerous benefits, including reduced fees for publishing in Journal of Mammalogy and for attending ASM meetings, access to research and travel grants for student members, and an on-line subscription to Journal of Mammalogy and Mammalian Species.

The officers of Latin American mammalogical societies are encouraged to participate by sending their nominations electronically to Andrea Previtali ([email protected]) by 31 December. Recipients will receive a certificate and will be announced on the ASM website and social media.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SPONSOR FUND

The International Relations Committee has devised a method of providing membership in ASM to mammalogists from outside the United States and Canada who wish to become members, but simply cannot afford to. Some members already sponsor ASM membership for foreign mammalogists on a continual basis. However, others who are unable to provide a full membership on a continual basis, may wish to contribute a partial membership or a full membership during some years. Such is now possible through contributions to the Sponsor Fund. The fund will be handled as follows:

Members who want to help sponsor membership of a mammalogist can do so by going to the ASM business office website: https://asm.wildapricot.org/Donate and selecting the Sponsored Membership Fund.

When money in the Fund reaches any multiple of the current amount for annual dues, dues for a mammalogist in need of sponsorship will be paid. Contributions will be used directly to sponsor foreign members: the Fund will not be of the type from which only the interest is used to pay memberships.

Money in the Fund will be managed through the Secretary-Treasurer’s office.

The Secretary-Treasurer shall be designated as the sponsor of record.

At the end of three years, members of the International Relations Committee will verify that sponsored individuals still need and want sponsorship. Sponsorship from the fund could extend to a maximum of five years.

Members should submit names and mailing and e-mail addresses of foreign mammalogists in need of sponsorship to the chair of the International Relations Committee, Andrea Previtali ([email protected]).

MAMMAL IMAGES LIBRARY

The Mammal Images Library is a nonprofit educational service of the American Society of Mammalogists. The goal of the library is providing images of mammals for educational purposes worldwide. The present collection consists of 6,200+ images depicting 27 orders, 163 families, 890+ genera, and 2,000+ species. Images suitable for optical projection for nonprofit, educational purposes may be viewed and obtained on the Society’s website at http://www.mammalogy.org/image-library. Please remember to credit the photographer and the library if images are used for optical projection.

In addition to optical projection for nonprofit instruction, many of the images can be employed (with permission) for other purposes, including commercial uses. For permission to use images for purposes other than nonprofit optical projection, contact the committee chair: David Huckaby, California State University, Long Beach, Department of Biological Sciences, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90840-9502; [email protected]; 562-985-4869; Fax: 562-985-8878.

The Library continually seeks new images for the collection and urges anyone having images to contribute them. For information about contributing images, contact the committee chair. The committee thanks the hundreds of people who have contributed images thus far.

MAMMALIAN SPECIES ACCOUNTS

Mammalian Species accounts are produced by assignment only. Upon written request to the Editor-in-Chief for Mammalian Species, exclusive privileges to produce an account will be granted for one year, with the possibility of a one-year extension if the Editor-in-Chief is convinced that sufficient progress is being made toward completion. At the Editor’s discretion, assignments not submitted at the end of this period may be cancelled. A maximum of five species may be reserved at one time. Please see additional instructions on procedures for reserving an account on the Mammalian Species website: https://dbpia.nl.go.kr/mspecies/pages/General_Instructions.

Mammalian Species is available online-only to all ASM members; print copies are no longer published. Requests for assignment of species and other editorial queries should be addressed to Meredith Hamilton, Editor-in-Chief of Mammalian Species, Department of Zoology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078; [email protected].

BUDDY SYSTEM FOR AUTHORS

ASM has a “buddy system” to assist authors who are not native English speakers with the preparation of their manuscripts for submission to the Journal of Mammalogy. “Buddies” are mammalogists who have offered to preview manuscripts that need editorial revision for writing in English. Manuscripts are assigned to “buddies” after they have been submitted to the Journal and the editorial staff has determined that the manuscript would benefit from the assistance of a “buddy” before the manuscript is formally peer-reviewed. Individuals interested in having their names added to the list of “buddies” should contact Virginia Hayssen ([email protected]).

DEATHS REPORTED

Dorcas MacClintock, Regular Member

James Lazell, Life Member

Jack A. Cranford, Life Member

Hubert Hendrichs, Life Member