Nymphoides humboldtiana (Menyanthaceae) in Florida (U.S.A.) verified by DNA data

Certain Nymphoides populations in Florida, U.S.A., previously identified as the non-native N. indica (L.) Kuntze, are actually N. humboldtiana (Kunth) Kuntze, as verified using nuclear and plastid DNA data. These new records of N. humboldtiana in Florida are the only known localities in the U.S.A. outside of Uvalde County, Texas. Nymphoides humboldtiana is native to Texas, México, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The newly identified Florida populations found near the city of Tampa in Manatee County (Ward Lake and Braden River) and Fort Walton Beach in Okaloosa County (Bass Lake) are presumed to be native. Nymphoides humboldtiana and N. indica share many superficial similarities, most notably white petals with ciliate hairs. Our findings suggest that certain morphologically-determined populations of N. indica in the U.S.A. may be incorrectly identified. Such populations might be re-examined using DNA methods to avoid any management actions against N. humboldtiana.

Fort Walton Mississippian Beginnings in the Apalachicola–Lower Chattahoochee River Valley of Northwest Florida, Southwest Georgia, and Southeast Alabama

In the Apalachicola-lower Chattahoochee River valley, new data reaffirm a relatively seamless Fort Walton emergence from resident late Weeden Island groups circa A.D.900-1000 that was characterized by blending external Mississippian influences with local traditions. Check-stamped and other Woodland ceramics continued as Mississippian forms were adopted, but in non-shell-tempered wares. Maize was grown inland but agriculture may not have developed along the coast. Platform mounds were built and Woodland mound centers were reoccupied. Taken together, these data suggest that Fort Walton beginnings here involved negotiations between maintaining local identity and incorporating outside Mississippian practices.

Comparison of Lifecorder EX and ActiGraph accelerometers under free-living conditions

The Kenz Lifecorder EX (LC; Suzuken Co. Ltd., Nagoya, Japan) offers several potentially attractive features for researchers and practitioners compared with accelerometers such as the ActiGraph (AG; ActiGraph Health Services, Fort Walton Beach, Fla.). The purposes of this study were (i) to evaluate the LC’s intra-model reliability for outputs of steps and time spent in moderate, vigorous, and combined moderate plus vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and (ii) to compare the same LC vs. AG outputs under free-living conditions. Ten participants (n = 5 males) wore two LCs and one AG accelerometer during all waking hours on one day. Steps were outputted from all monitors. Additionally, two LC and five AG intensity derivations were used to assess time in moderate activity, vigorous activity, and MVPA. Intra-class correlations (ICC) were used to assess intra-model reliability between LCs. Paired t tests and repeated-measures analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were used to assess differences between the two LCs and LC vs. AG outputs of steps and time in various intensity derivations where appropriate. No significant differences were detected between outputs from different LCs (ICCs ranged from 0.95 to 0.99). The LC detected significantly fewer steps vs. AG (mean difference = 1516 steps). All LC vs. AG vigorous-intensity derivations provided similar outputs. Additionally, comparable estimates of MVPA time were produced by one of two LC intensity derivations compared with specific AG cut points established each by Freedson, Hendelman (walking), and Matthews. LC displayed high inter-model reliability. Although the LC detected fewer steps than the AG, the LC detects time in specific PA intensity categories comparable to several existing AG cut points.