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Asymmetrical Host Switching By Two Groups Of Obligate Ectosymbionts Of Crayfishes, Bronwyn W. Williams, Patricia G. Weaver
Asymmetrical Host Switching By Two Groups Of Obligate Ectosymbionts Of Crayfishes, Bronwyn W. Williams, Patricia G. Weaver
Western North American Naturalist
The Snake River Pilose Crayfish, Pacifastacus connectens (Faxon 1914), previously known only from the middle Snake River drainage in south-central Idaho west to the Harney Basin in southeastern Oregon, was discovered in the lower Deschutes River in north-central Oregon co-occurring with Signal Crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana 1852). Two groups of obligate ectosymbionts (i.e., entocytherid ostracods and branchiobdellidans) associated with these 2 Pacifastacus species displayed asymmetrical patterns of host switching, with host exchange primarily occurring from P. leniusculus onto P. connectens. Our results have implications for understanding patterns of host specificity over short ecological timescales but also raise questions …
Scavenging Of Animal Carcasses By Gumaga Nigricula (Sericostomatidae, Trichoptera), An Apparent Herbivore, Stephanie M. Carlson, Pablo Rodriguez-Lozano, Hana Moidu, Robert A. Leidy
Scavenging Of Animal Carcasses By Gumaga Nigricula (Sericostomatidae, Trichoptera), An Apparent Herbivore, Stephanie M. Carlson, Pablo Rodriguez-Lozano, Hana Moidu, Robert A. Leidy
Western North American Naturalist
Caddisflies within the genus Gumaga are generally considered shredders (i.e., consumers of leaf litter) or grazers (i.e., consumers of algae). We report on observations of Gumaga nigricula scavenging animal carcasses within and adjacent to isolated pools along intermittent reaches of Coyote Creek, Santa Clara County, California, USA. In particular, during the summer of 2018, we observed G. nigricula scavenging fish carcasses within isolated pools as well as bits of flesh from the bones of a black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) deposited on the stream bank. To the best of our knowledge, our observations represent the first published record …
Population Genetics Of The Wyoming Endemic Phlox Pungens Dorn (Polemoniaceae), Katherine Waselkov, Mercedes Santiago, Bonnie Heidel, Mark H. Mayfield, Carolyn J. Ferguson
Population Genetics Of The Wyoming Endemic Phlox Pungens Dorn (Polemoniaceae), Katherine Waselkov, Mercedes Santiago, Bonnie Heidel, Mark H. Mayfield, Carolyn J. Ferguson
Western North American Naturalist
Phlox pungens is a rare taxon restricted to cold deserts in the Wyoming Basins Ecoregion of west-central Wyoming, with occurrences in both the Wind River Basin (from which it was originally described) and the Green River Basin (populations that have been characterized as a different “morph”). The population genetics of P. pungens was investigated using microsatellite markers developed for the genus. Four microsatellite loci were genotyped from a total of 200 individuals of P. pungens from 10 sites. Ploidy levels were also assessed using flow cytometry. Most sampled populations of P. pungens were tetraploid, but 2 populations in the Green …
Rapid Invasion By The Annual Grass Ventenata Dubia Into Protected-Area, Low-Elevation Sagebrush Steppe, Melissa Nicolli, Thomas J. Rodhouse, Devin S. Stucki, Matthew Shinderman
Rapid Invasion By The Annual Grass Ventenata Dubia Into Protected-Area, Low-Elevation Sagebrush Steppe, Melissa Nicolli, Thomas J. Rodhouse, Devin S. Stucki, Matthew Shinderman
Western North American Naturalist
Wiregrass (Ventenata dubia [Leers] Coss.), an annual grass from the Mediterranean region of North Africa and Eurasia that has aggressive invasion potential in many North American plant communities, has only recently been reported in low-elevation sagebrush steppe. We first encountered wiregrass in 2014 in the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, a low-elevation steppe protected area in central Oregon. This discovery was incidental to formal vegetation monitoring that was initiated in the monument in 2009. We first encountered wiregrass in monitoring plots in 2016, and, from plot data, we documented rapid spread during 2017–2019. Wiregrass infestation increased within our …
Occurrence Of North American Porcupine (Erethizon Dorsatum) In The Black Hills, South Dakota, Lenora M. Dombro, Earl Perez-Foust, Daniel Roddy, Daryl E. Mergen, Robert A. Gitzen
Occurrence Of North American Porcupine (Erethizon Dorsatum) In The Black Hills, South Dakota, Lenora M. Dombro, Earl Perez-Foust, Daniel Roddy, Daryl E. Mergen, Robert A. Gitzen
Western North American Naturalist
During the twentieth century, the North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) was common in the Black Hills of western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming. However, the low number of recent observations in the region has led to concern that porcupine populations have declined. We conducted systematic surveys to assess porcupine occurrence at two hundred and sixty-three 1-ha sites in the Black Hills National Forest, Custer State Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, and Wind Cave National Park during 2016–2017. We observed no porcupines or recent feeding sign. We also noted few recent observations in information compiled …
Small-Bodied Fish Surveys Demonstrate Native Fish Dominance Over 300 Kilometers Of The Colorado River Through Grand Canyon, Arizona, Ron B. Kegerries, Brandon Albrecht, Mark C. Mckinstry, Ron J. Rogers, Richard A. Valdez, Adam L. Barkalow, Eliza I. Gilbert, Harrison E. Mohn, Brian Healy, Emily Omana Smith
Small-Bodied Fish Surveys Demonstrate Native Fish Dominance Over 300 Kilometers Of The Colorado River Through Grand Canyon, Arizona, Ron B. Kegerries, Brandon Albrecht, Mark C. Mckinstry, Ron J. Rogers, Richard A. Valdez, Adam L. Barkalow, Eliza I. Gilbert, Harrison E. Mohn, Brian Healy, Emily Omana Smith
Western North American Naturalist
The Colorado River in Grand Canyon is highly regulated, with hypolimnetic releases that are generally unfavorable for endemic native fishes. However, both long-term drought and changes in dam operations have led to changes in river conditions, including the addition of approximately 125 km of riverine environment due to the contraction of Lake Mead. Through sampling of small-bodied fish, we were able to describe the Grand Canyon fish community and define the current native fish distribution from near Bright Angel Creek downstream to Pearce Ferry. Beginning in 2014 and continuing through 2018, we sampled the fish community via seining and documented …
Golden Eagle Predation On Endangered San Joaquin Kit Foxes, Brian L. Cypher, Kenneth A. Spencer, Tory L. Westall, Daniel E. Meade
Golden Eagle Predation On Endangered San Joaquin Kit Foxes, Brian L. Cypher, Kenneth A. Spencer, Tory L. Westall, Daniel E. Meade
Western North American Naturalist
Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) have been identified as a potential predator of endangered San Joaquin kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis mutica), but only one case of such predation has been confirmed. In a recent study on San Joaquin kit foxes, we documented 6 cases of putative predation by Golden Eagles on kit foxes and provided our evidence for each. Golden Eagle predation on kit foxes is most likely to occur in the spring when kit foxes and their pups are frequently aboveground during the day. Such predation is more likely to occur around the margins of the …
New Altitudinal Records For, And Ecomorphic Variation In, Two Freshwater Sponges (Porifera: Spongillidae: Spongilla Lacustris And Ephydatia Muelleri) From A Colorado, Usa, Alpine Lake, Scott J. Herrmann, Del Wayne R. Nimmo, Lynn M. Herrmann-Hoesing
New Altitudinal Records For, And Ecomorphic Variation In, Two Freshwater Sponges (Porifera: Spongillidae: Spongilla Lacustris And Ephydatia Muelleri) From A Colorado, Usa, Alpine Lake, Scott J. Herrmann, Del Wayne R. Nimmo, Lynn M. Herrmann-Hoesing
Western North American Naturalist
The primary objective of this article is to report the co-occurrence of Spongilla lacustris (Linnaeus 1759) and Ephydatia muelleri (Lieberkühn 1855) in an alpine Colorado lake whose altitude of 3580 m represents new elevation maximums for these sponges for Colorado and for the whole of North America. A secondary objective was to characterize the physicochemical conditions of the lake water. For many limnological parameters, heavy metals, and metalloids, new minimums are recorded, particularly for E. muelleri. Ecomorphic variation of atypical gemmuloscleres for E. muelleri and S. lacustris is documented with SEM micrographs. Even though all the encrusted “white colonies” of …
A Comparison Of Diurnal Resting Sites Used By Sylvilagus Audubonii And Lepus Californicus In The Chihuahuan Desert, Robert L. Harrison
A Comparison Of Diurnal Resting Sites Used By Sylvilagus Audubonii And Lepus Californicus In The Chihuahuan Desert, Robert L. Harrison
Western North American Naturalist
Sylvilagus audubonii (desert cottontail) and Lepus californicus (black-tailed jackrabbit) occur in sympatry in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. During the daytime, both species occupy shallow excavations under shrubs known as forms. Comparisons of form and shrub characteristics between the 2 species can provide insights into connections between body size, physiology, and behavior. I examined forms of the 2 species in the Chihuahuan Desert in southern New Mexico, USA, from 2014 to 2016. In response to temperature, S. audubonii varied the structure of its forms and dug burrows, whereas L. californicus did not. Sylvilagus audubonii forms were most commonly …
Cytochrome Oxidase I Sequences From Northern And Southern California Suggest Cryptic Baetis (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) Species, Natalie J. Stauffer-Olsen, Patrick M. O'Grady, Vincent H. Resh
Cytochrome Oxidase I Sequences From Northern And Southern California Suggest Cryptic Baetis (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) Species, Natalie J. Stauffer-Olsen, Patrick M. O'Grady, Vincent H. Resh
Western North American Naturalist
The geographically widespread mayfly genus Baetis occurs from the subarctic to tropical regions of the world. Many of the 20 described Baetis species in North America are known to show cryptic species diversity. However, studies of Baetis that have examined morphology and genetic diversity have found mixed results in terms of cryptic species, with some studies indicating a complex of related species and others suggesting a single widespread species. We used Bayesian analyses, intra- and interspecific genetic diversity values, and median-joining haplotype networks to compare cytochrome oxidase I (COI) sequences from Baetis specimens from parts of northern and southern California …
California Island Rediscovery: Building An Archive To Improve Conservation Today And Equip The Historical Ecologist Of Tomorrow, Scott A. Morrison, T. Scott Sillett, W. Chris Funk, Cameron K. Ghalambor, Torben C. Rick
California Island Rediscovery: Building An Archive To Improve Conservation Today And Equip The Historical Ecologist Of Tomorrow, Scott A. Morrison, T. Scott Sillett, W. Chris Funk, Cameron K. Ghalambor, Torben C. Rick
Western North American Naturalist
An understanding of how past conditions have shaped present-day ecological patterns and trends is critical to science-based conservation management. Unfortunately, the records, specimens, and objects historical ecologists need to help generate that understanding are often lacking. And because of a general underinvestment by society in systematic collection and museum curation, future historical ecologists may be similarly limited in their ability to investigate conditions regarding our present day. Given the importance of historical data and materials in contemporary conservation decision-making, we suggest it is incumbent upon resource managers and scientists to ask whether additional research efforts are needed to document past …
Horizon Scanning: Survey And Research Priorities For Coastal And Marine Systems Of The Northern Channel Islands, California, Mary G. Gleason, Jennifer E. Caselle, Chris Caldow, Russell Galipeau, Walter Heady, Corinne Laverty, Annie Little, David Mazurkiewicz, Eamon O'Byrne, Dirk Rosen, Stephen Whitaker
Horizon Scanning: Survey And Research Priorities For Coastal And Marine Systems Of The Northern Channel Islands, California, Mary G. Gleason, Jennifer E. Caselle, Chris Caldow, Russell Galipeau, Walter Heady, Corinne Laverty, Annie Little, David Mazurkiewicz, Eamon O'Byrne, Dirk Rosen, Stephen Whitaker
Western North American Naturalist
Historical marine ecology provides information on past ocean conditions and community structure that can inform current conservation and management. In an era of rapid global ocean changes, it is critical that managers and scientists ensure sufficient documentation of past and present conditions of resources they manage or study. Documenting, archiving, and preserving historic and contemporary data will provide their colleagues in the future with more information to make robust science-based management decisions. Using a workshop approach, we identified research and archiving priorities to enhance documentation of the past and present conditions of coastal and marine ecosystems of the northern Channel …
Equipping Tomorrow's Historical Ecologist: Priorities For Documenting Conditions Of The Terrestrial Fauna Of Santa Cruz Island, California, Christina L. Boser, T. Scott Sillett, Paul W. Collins, Kathryn R. Faulkner, W. Chris Funk, Cameron K. Ghalambor, Lyndal Laughrin, Gregory B. Pauly, Jeanne M. Robertson, Robyn Shea, Winston Vickers
Equipping Tomorrow's Historical Ecologist: Priorities For Documenting Conditions Of The Terrestrial Fauna Of Santa Cruz Island, California, Christina L. Boser, T. Scott Sillett, Paul W. Collins, Kathryn R. Faulkner, W. Chris Funk, Cameron K. Ghalambor, Lyndal Laughrin, Gregory B. Pauly, Jeanne M. Robertson, Robyn Shea, Winston Vickers
Western North American Naturalist
Historical ecological research provides valuable insights for contemporary conservation management. Gaps in historical records, however, can limit the utility of that research. Future conservationists may therefore find themselves disadvantaged by the current societal trend of underinvestment in systematic collection of museum specimens and natural history information. To reduce that risk, we asked what managers and scientists could do today to better document the past and present conditions of Santa Cruz Island, California, as a means to improve both contemporary and future conservation. We focused our inquiry on the island’s terrestrial fauna, which includes numerous taxa of conservation concern. Here we …
Comparison Of Estimators For Monitoring Long-Term Population Trends In Deer Mice, Peromyscus Maniculatus, On The California Channel Islands, Catherin A. Schwemm, Charles A. Drost, John L. Orrock, Timothy J. Coonan, Thomas R. Stanley
Comparison Of Estimators For Monitoring Long-Term Population Trends In Deer Mice, Peromyscus Maniculatus, On The California Channel Islands, Catherin A. Schwemm, Charles A. Drost, John L. Orrock, Timothy J. Coonan, Thomas R. Stanley
Western North American Naturalist
Capture-recapture methods are commonly used to estimate abundance and density of wild animal populations. Although a variety of sophisticated analytical techniques are available to evaluate capture-recapture data, vertebrate monitoring programs often lack the resources (e.g., time, personnel, and/or analytical expertise) to apply these methods. As an alternative, simple population indices, such as counts of unique individuals, may provide sufficient information to detect meaningful changes in population size. In this study we investigated whether a population index, easily generated from mark-recapture data under all conditions, might be used to provide valid ecological information for managers interested in long-term population trends of …
Relative Abundance Of Pond Snails In Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, And The Spread Of An Invasive Snail, Michele D. Larson, Christina M. Torrieri, A. Ross Black
Relative Abundance Of Pond Snails In Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, And The Spread Of An Invasive Snail, Michele D. Larson, Christina M. Torrieri, A. Ross Black
Western North American Naturalist
Freshwater gastropods comprise a diverse and highly imperiled taxonomic group that is threatened by anthropogenic factors including the introduction of nonnative species. We surveyed 10 wetland ponds in Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge to assess the possible expansion of the nonnative European ear snail (Radix auricularia) and to determine the genus richness and relative abundance of native gastropods. D-frame dip nets were used to sample gastropods at 4 locations in each pond. Six genera of gastropods were found, including R. auricularia in 6 ponds where it was not previously known. Radix auricularia is now the dominant genus in Middle …
Estimates Of Habitat Use By Rabbits (Sylvilagus Spp.) From Fecal Pellet Counts Varies By Plot Design In Southern California, Sean P. Dunagan, Tim J. Karels
Estimates Of Habitat Use By Rabbits (Sylvilagus Spp.) From Fecal Pellet Counts Varies By Plot Design In Southern California, Sean P. Dunagan, Tim J. Karels
Western North American Naturalist
Studies of rabbits and hares often use fecal pellet counts to estimate population density, create indices of abundance, and monitor habitat use, because fecal pellet counts are more easily deployed and less labor intensive than visual surveys and live trapping. In some habitats, plot size and shape can affect the measured pellet density and the resulting estimates of habitat use by rabbits. We compared rabbit (Sylvilagus spp.) fecal pellet density estimates derived from 0.155-m2 rectangular, 0.155-m2 circular, 1-m2 square, and 1-m2 circular plots in southern California chaparral and coastal sage scrub communities to evaluate habitat …
Effects Of Feral Horse Herds On Rangeland Plant Communities Across A Precipitation Gradient, Lauren E. Baur, Kathryn A. Schoenecker, Melinda D. Smith
Effects Of Feral Horse Herds On Rangeland Plant Communities Across A Precipitation Gradient, Lauren E. Baur, Kathryn A. Schoenecker, Melinda D. Smith
Western North American Naturalist
Feral horses are widespread in the western United States, with the majority of feral horse herds found in the Great Basin. There is a federal mandate to manage these herds in order to maintain “ecological balance”; however, understanding of the specific effects of feral horse grazing on rangeland plant communities in this region is incomplete. To address this research gap, we utilized long-term grazing exclosures and fenceline contrasts to evaluate the impacts of feral horses on several plant community variables (diversity, richness, dominance, and biomass) and species composition. Because the effects of grazing can vary with site precipitation and productivity, …
Horizon Scanning: Survey And Research Priorities For Cultural, Historical, And Paleobiological Resources Of Santa Cruz Island, California, Torben C. Rick, Todd J. Braje, Jon M. Erlandson, Kristina M. Gill, Laura Kirn, Lynn Mclaren-Dewey
Horizon Scanning: Survey And Research Priorities For Cultural, Historical, And Paleobiological Resources Of Santa Cruz Island, California, Torben C. Rick, Todd J. Braje, Jon M. Erlandson, Kristina M. Gill, Laura Kirn, Lynn Mclaren-Dewey
Western North American Naturalist
Santa Cruz Island contains a remarkable array of cultural and biological resources and a rich tradition of research across the social and biological sciences and humanities. Given dramatic changes in climate forecast in the coming decades of the Anthropocene, however, many questions remain about the sustainability and future of island ecosystems and cultural resources. Here, we focus on a new interdisciplinary initiative, Island Rediscovery (IR), that was the subject of 2 recent workshops. Drawing on a variety of disciplines and approaches, IR seeks to utilize research on Santa Cruz Island’s past and present to help better prepare for the future …
A First Survey Of Metazoan Parasites In The Fishes Of Lake Powell, Utah, Aaron M. Brooksby, Mehmet Cemal Oguz, Mark C. Belk
A First Survey Of Metazoan Parasites In The Fishes Of Lake Powell, Utah, Aaron M. Brooksby, Mehmet Cemal Oguz, Mark C. Belk
Western North American Naturalist
Lake Powell (Colorado River drainage, Utah and Arizona, USA) is an important and unique fishery comprising several nonnative fishes. There are no previous studies of the parasites of the fishes of Lake Powell. We provide a general survey of the metazoan parasites found in the numerically dominant fish species of the reservoir. We collected and surveyed for parasites in 236 fishes of 8 species. We found 832 parasites comprising 13 species. All of the parasite species we found are widespread throughout North America and other parts of the world. Six of the 13 species of parasites we found have been …
Twelve Years Of High-Resolution Near-Surface Radiometer Data Provides Insight Into End-Of-Season Controls In A Dry Grassland, Lynn M. Moore, William K. Lauenroth
Twelve Years Of High-Resolution Near-Surface Radiometer Data Provides Insight Into End-Of-Season Controls In A Dry Grassland, Lynn M. Moore, William K. Lauenroth
Western North American Naturalist
The onset of plant dormancy has proven difficult to explain in nearly all ecosystems. Most research has focused on the end-of-season dynamics of deciduous ecosystems, where leaf coloration and leaf fall are the primary phenological responses. More complex are the end-of-season dynamics of grasslands, where the mechanism of dormancy is a gradual response to climatic variables. These complications are magnified in dry grasslands, where the effects of temperature on phenology are modulated by the availability of soil water. Our objectives were to identify the primary drivers influencing the timing of end of season on the shortgrass steppe and determine if …
Lichen Inventory Of White Rocks Open Space (City Of Boulder, Colorado), Erin A. Tripp
Lichen Inventory Of White Rocks Open Space (City Of Boulder, Colorado), Erin A. Tripp
Western North American Naturalist
A lichen inventory of White Rocks Open Space (City of Boulder, CO), a unique outcropping of exposed unstable sandstones, is presented. White Rocks is an ecologically important, ~40.5-ha (100-acre) protected area whose biological significance is in part attributable to geological and climatological history as well as degree of preservation, but also because it represents a biodiversity reservoir in a sea of agriculture and urban development. This inventory resulted in documentation of 56 species, including 1 new record to the United States, 1 new record to Colorado, 2 species new to science, and 2 additional species potentially new to science pending …
Phylogeography Of The Scaled Quail In The American Southwest, Damon Williford, Randy W. Deyoung, Rodney L. Honeycutt, Leonard A. Brennan, Fidel Hernández
Phylogeography Of The Scaled Quail In The American Southwest, Damon Williford, Randy W. Deyoung, Rodney L. Honeycutt, Leonard A. Brennan, Fidel Hernández
Western North American Naturalist
We used sequences from the mitochondrial control region to examine the phylogeography and historical demography of the Scaled Quail and to determine whether the geographic distributions of mtDNA genealogy were concordant with the distribution of the subspecies. Overall, the Scaled Quail exhibited lower haplotype and nucleotide diversity than other quail species. The highest levels of haplotype diversity were found in 3 Texas counties: Dimmit, La Salle, and Hudspeth. The Scaled Quail exhibited no phylogeographic structure among its 16 haplotypes, and the patterns of genetic variation were not congruent with potential geographic barriers or current subspecies taxonomy. The geographic distribution of …
Presence Of The Exotic Weevil (Rhinocyllus Conicus Fröelich) At High Elevations In The Rocky Mountains Of Colorado, Julia J. Hicks, Susan W. Beatty, Timothy R. Seastedt
Presence Of The Exotic Weevil (Rhinocyllus Conicus Fröelich) At High Elevations In The Rocky Mountains Of Colorado, Julia J. Hicks, Susan W. Beatty, Timothy R. Seastedt
Western North American Naturalist
We examined the presence of the exotic weevil Rhinocyllus conicus Fröelich on native thistles at high elevations in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. We tested whether the distribution of R. conicus was related to elevation by performing 2 separate studies. First, transects along an elevation gradient were sampled in Rocky Mountain National Park and presence/absence of R. conicus was scored to infer relationships between environmental variables and weevil occurrence. Second, an experiment was conducted on Niwot Ridge to determine whether weevils were able to complete their reproductive cycle and overwinter at an elevation where they do not currently exist. Results …
Use Of Remote Sensing To Assess Changes In Wetland Plant Communities Over An 18-Year Period: A Case Study From The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Great Salt Lake, Utah, Melina Santos Vanderlinder, Christopher M. U. Neale, David E. Rosenberg, Karin M. Kettenring
Use Of Remote Sensing To Assess Changes In Wetland Plant Communities Over An 18-Year Period: A Case Study From The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Great Salt Lake, Utah, Melina Santos Vanderlinder, Christopher M. U. Neale, David E. Rosenberg, Karin M. Kettenring
Western North American Naturalist
Successfully managing wetlands requires monitoring changes in plant community composition. We used remote sensing techniques to document the replacement of desirable native wetland vegetation with invasive species in response to catastrophic flood disturbance in the 1980s and to evaluate wetland vegetation management between 1998 and 2010. We conducted our study at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge wetlands, which are located on the northeastern arm of the Great Salt Lake in northern Utah. We acquired high-resolution airborne multispectral imagery of the refuge in 1992 and 2010 to quantify changes in vegetation cover over time. We produced classified vegetation maps for …
The Influence Of Breeding Experience On Nest Success In Red-Winged Blackbird, George M. Linz, Richard S. Sawin, Mark W. Lutman
The Influence Of Breeding Experience On Nest Success In Red-Winged Blackbird, George M. Linz, Richard S. Sawin, Mark W. Lutman
Western North American Naturalist
The Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is a polygynous species, and females are typically responsible for the majority of parental care. Despite their limited involvement, males can contribute to reproduction through nest defense and the feeding of nestlings. Some aspects of nest defense may be learned, and older males are more likely to feed young, suggesting that males with previous breeding experience may enjoy higher nest success than their naïve counterparts. We manipulated territory ownership on 10 wetlands in central North Dakota in order to examine the influence of breeding experience on reproductive success. We found no evidence that …
Apparent Adoption Of Orphaned Cougars (Puma Concolor) In Northwestern Wyoming, Travis D. Bartnick, Marilyn Cuthill, Derek Craighead, Howard B. Quigley
Apparent Adoption Of Orphaned Cougars (Puma Concolor) In Northwestern Wyoming, Travis D. Bartnick, Marilyn Cuthill, Derek Craighead, Howard B. Quigley
Western North American Naturalist
Cougars (Puma concolor) are widely distributed throughout the western portion of North America and are generally described as solitary carnivores. Most cougar social interactions have been described as instances of parental care, intraspecific strife, or breeding. We report an apparent case of an adoption of orphaned juveniles in a wild cougar population. We used radiotelemetry and direct visual observations to document an adult female, her 3 dependent offspring, and 2 orphaned juvenile males physically interacting, sharing bed sites, and sharing kills in the late winter of 2007/2008. We consider the potential benefits and/or negative effects of these social …
Milnesium Lagniappe, A New Species Of Water Bear (Tardigrada, Eutardigrada, Apochela, Milnesiidae) From The Southern United States, Harry A. Meyer, Juliana G. Hinton, Maria C. Dupré
Milnesium Lagniappe, A New Species Of Water Bear (Tardigrada, Eutardigrada, Apochela, Milnesiidae) From The Southern United States, Harry A. Meyer, Juliana G. Hinton, Maria C. Dupré
Western North American Naturalist
Over 200 species of freshwater and terrestrial water bears (phylum Tardigrada) are known to occur in North America. Of these, 20 species have been recorded in Louisiana. Foliose and fruticose lichen and moss samples collected in 2011 in the city of Lake Charles and in Sam Houston Jones State Park, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, USA, were stored in paper envelopes and later soaked in tap water overnight. Tardigrade specimens and eggs were extracted and mounted in polyvinyl lactophenol. The samples contained a new species of tardigrade. Milnesium lagniappe sp. n. has claw formula [2-3]-[3-2] and 9 sculptured bands in the dorsal …
Effects Of Male Size On Searching Behaviors In The Sun Dance Of Bembix, David A. Tanner, James P. Pitts
Effects Of Male Size On Searching Behaviors In The Sun Dance Of Bembix, David A. Tanner, James P. Pitts
Western North American Naturalist
Males of solitary wasp species are faced with the task of locating potential mates, a task made more difficult by inconspicuous females and a landscape seemingly devoid of landmarks. Males may employ a variety of strategies to locate females. In this study, we test for variation among males within the sun dance of Bembix. We show that males ofBembix americana spinolae Lepeletier behave differently within the sun dance and that these differences can be predicted by the size of the male. We show that large males spend more time at “rest” and require a greater number of male–male contacts …
Ecology And Population Dynamics Of Sclerocactus Mesae-Verdae (Boissev. & C. Davidson) L.D. Benson, Janet J. Coles, Karin L. Decker, Tamara S. Naumann
Ecology And Population Dynamics Of Sclerocactus Mesae-Verdae (Boissev. & C. Davidson) L.D. Benson, Janet J. Coles, Karin L. Decker, Tamara S. Naumann
Western North American Naturalist
The population dynamics of Sclerocactus mesae-verdae were documented annually in 3 plots over 20 years in southwestern Colorado. Demographic studies of this duration are rare but they are necessary to gain a more accurate estimate of population trends in long-lived desert species. Sclerocactus mesae-verdae was federally listed as threatened in 1979; this study was initiated in 1986 with the objective of determining whether Colorado populations were growing, declining, or stable. Data collected yearly around 1 May included diameter, vigor, and flower/fruit counts for 1629 stems belonging to 659 plants. We used regression analysis to estimate the mean, variance, and average …
Foliar Ozone Injury On Cutleaf Coneflower At Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, Robert Kohut, Colleen Flanagan, James Cheatham, Ellen Porter
Foliar Ozone Injury On Cutleaf Coneflower At Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, Robert Kohut, Colleen Flanagan, James Cheatham, Ellen Porter
Western North American Naturalist
Surveys for foliar ozone injury on cutleaf coneflower, spreading dogbane, and quaking aspen were conducted in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, from 2006 through 2010. Foliar injury in the form of ozone stipple was found on coneflower each year. The incidence of injured plants on sites with injury ranged from 5% to 100%. The severity of injury on affected foliage was generally <4% but occurred on some leaves at a level greater than 12% in 3 years and in 1 year on 1 plant at a level >75%. No foliar ozone injury was found on spreading dogbane or quaking aspen in any year of the survey. This is the first documentation of ozone injury on vegetation in Rocky Mountain National Park. While ozone has long …