This document details the conception and creative process of fundamental exercises intended for the refinement of orchestral repertoire for the tuba. Performance practices and study materials that relate to the orchestral tubist have evolved significantly over the instrument’s history. Although much of its current methodology is derived from the pedagogical insights of the brass family, resources intended to specifically address the unique musical and technical challenges of the tuba have become more prevalent in the past decade. This study aims to detail the conception of exercises that target the skills necessary for the realization of eight excerpts. It also begs the question: what might a new resource encompass that would differentiate its quality and intent from existing materials?

To create a resource that is reflective of current trends and standards in tuba performance, a dialogue was established with several professional tubists through the creation of an online survey. Respondents’ interpretations of each included excerpt were assessed by generalized, specific, and quantifiable feedback. This data was then utilized to directly inform the creative process of supplementary exercises for the included repertoire. The project fulfills its intent to serve as an educational resource, and has strong potential to expand its coverage to additional excerpts with further professional insights.

Ecosystems transition quickly in the Anthropocene, whereas biodiversity adapts more slowly. Here we simulated a shifting woodland ecosystem on the Colorado Plateau of western North America by using as its proxy over space and time the fundamental niche of the Arizona black rattlesnake (Crotalus cerberus). We found an expansive (= end-of-Pleistocene) range that contracted sharply (= present), but is blocked topographically by Grand Canyon/Colorado River as it shifts predictably northwestward under moderate climate change (= 2080). Vulnerability to contemporary wildfire was quantified from available records, with forested area reduced more than 27% over 13 years. Both ‘ecosystem metrics' underscore how climate and wildfire are rapidly converting the Plateau ecosystem into novel habitat.

To gauge potential effects on C. cerberus, we derived a series of relevant ‘conservation metrics' (i.e. genetic variability, dispersal capacity, effective population size) by sequencing 118 individuals across 846 bp of mitochondrial (mt)DNA-ATPase8/6. We identified five significantly different clades (net sequence divergence = 2.2%) isolated by drainage/topography, with low dispersal (F[subscript ST] = 0.82) and small sizes (2N[subscript ef] = 5.2). Our compiled metrics (i.e. small-populations, topographic-isolation, low-dispersal versus conserved-niche, vulnerable-ecosystem, dispersal barriers) underscore the susceptibility of this woodland specialist to a climate and wildfire tandem. We offer adaptive management scenarios that may counterbalance these metrics and avoid the extirpation of this and other highly specialized, relictual woodland clades.