1.To realize the potential of citizens to contribute to conservation efforts through the acquisition of data for broad-scale species distribution models, scientists need to understand and minimize the influences of commonly observed sample selection bias on model performance. Yet evaluating these data with independent, planned surveys is rare, even though such evaluation is necessary for understanding and applying data to conservation decisions. 2. We used the state-listed fox squirrel Sciurus niger in Florida, USA, to interpret the performance of models created with opportunistic observations from citizens and professionals by validating models with independent, planned surveys. 3. Data from both citizens and professionals showed sample selection bias with more observations within 50 m of a road. While these groups showed similar sample selection bias in reference to roads, there were clear differences in the spatial coverage of the groups, with citizens observing fox squirrels more frequently in developed areas. 4. Based on predictions at planned field surveys sites, models developed from citizens generally performed similarly to those developed with data collected by professionals. Accounting for potential sample selection bias in models, either through the use of covariates or via aggregating data into home range size grids, provided only slight increases in model performance. 5. Synthesis and applications. Despite sample selection biases, over a broad spatial scale opportunistic citizen data provided reliable predictions and estimates of habitat relationships needed to advance conservation efforts. Our results suggest that the use of professionals may not be needed in volunteer programmes used to determine the distribution of species of conservation interest across broad spatial scales.

Temperature is one of the most important environmental influences on aquatic organisms. It is a primary driver of physiological rates and many abiotic processes. However, despite extensive research and measurements, synoptic estimates of water temperature are not available for most regions, limiting our ability to make systemwide and large‐scale assessments of aquatic resources or estimates of aquatic species abundance and biodiversity. We used subwatershed averaging of point temperature measurements and associated multiscale landscape habitat conditions from over 3,300 lotic sites throughout New York State to develop and train artificial neural network models. Separate models predicting water temperature (in cold, cool, and warm temperature classes) within small catchment–stream order groups were developed for four modeling units, which together encompassed the entire state. Water temperature predictions were then made for each stream segment in the state. All models explained more than 90% of data variation. Elevation, riparian forest cover, landscape slope, and growing degree‐days were among the most important model predictors of water temperature classes. Geological influences varied among regions. Predicted temperature distributions within stream networks displayed patterns of generally increasing temperature downstream but were patchy due to the averaging of water temperatures within stream size‐classes of small drainages. Models predicted coldwater streams to be most numerous and warmwater streams to be generally associated with the largest rivers and relatively flat agricultural areas and urban areas. Model predictions provide a complete, georeferenced map of summer daytime mean stream temperature potential throughout New York State that can be used for planning and assessment at spatial scales from the stream segment class to the entire state.

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Animal movement can be significantly altered in human‐dominated landscapes such as urban and peri‐urban areas, where habitat is often fragmented and/or linear. Knowledge regarding how wildlife respond to anthropogenic change is vital for informing conservation efforts in such landscapes, including the design of nature reserves and wildlife corridors. To better understand how threatened species persist and behave within human‐dominated landscapes, we examined the home range and space use of the nationally endangered southern brown bandicoot Isoodon obesulus obesulus in peri‐urban Melbourne, Australia’s second‐largest city. Specifically, we examined whether: (1) bandicoots were confined to linear strips of remnant vegetation or also made use of the broader highly modified landscape matrix; (2) the configuration of the linear vegetated strips affected home range shape; and (3) home range area differed between bandicoots living in linear strips and those in larger remnant habitat patches. We found that: (1) 71% of adult males and 33% of adult females used the matrix, but non‐dispersing juveniles were entirely confined to the linear strips; males also travelled greater distances into the matrix (away from the vegetated strips) than females; (2) bandicoots had longer home ranges in narrower strips and males had longer home ranges than females; and (3) home range area for both sexes was smaller in linear strips than has been recorded in other studies in larger remnant habitats. Our study highlights the importance of retaining narrow, fragmented and modified vegetation to accommodate threatened biodiversity within human‐dominated landscapes, but suggests the surrounding matrix may also offer important resources for adaptable species, such as bandicoots. Supporting off‐reserve conservation of biodiversity in novel ecosystems is increasingly pertinent in our rapidly urbanizing world.

We detected heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) in 37.2% of 212 coyotes ( Canis latrans ) collected from 28 counties in Florida, US, between February 2010 and April 2014. Adult coyotes had a higher prevalence (45.6% of 103) than juveniles (29% of 80), and there was no significant difference in prevalence between adult male and female coyotes. Adults demonstrated a higher prevalence of heartworm in northern counties (56% of 91) than in southern counties (23.1% of 121) and a higher prevalence in urban areas (58.1% of 31) than in rural areas (33.3% of 63). There was no significant difference in mean body weight between infected and uninfected adult males or females. Intensity ranged from 1 to 144 (x̄ =21.29, SD=23.89, n=77). Mixed-sex heartworm infections were found in 88.9% of positive hosts, where the female-to-male ratio of worms was 1.14:1 (n=27). No pathologic changes attributable to heartworm infection were seen. A subsample of heartworms was confirmed to be D. immitis by targeted PCR amplification and DNA sequencing. Of 25 samples submitted for genotyping eight sequence haplotypes were found, all of which were distinct from all publicly available sequences derived from heartworms collected from domestic dogs ( Canis lupus familiaris). These sequences revealed more polymorphisms than did previous samples of D. immitis, which provides a broader foundation for the possibility that the heartworms will develop resistance to anthelmintics.