Life Sciences Commons^™

Habitat Partitioning And Associated Morphological Differences Among Three Species Of Catostomidae (Teleostei: Actinopterygii) In The South Fork Roanoke River, Virginia, Steven L. Powers, Dakota R. Spruill

Virginia Journal of Science

The upper Roanoke River has 11 species of Catostomidae including Thoburnia rhothoeca, Torrent Sucker; Moxostoma cervinum, Blacktip Jumprock; and Moxostoma ariommum, Bigeye Jumprock. Resource partitioning appears to be a key component of maintaining diverse fish assemblages with habitat and food partitioning cited as especially important in communities containing members of the same family. The diets of these species have been documented in previous work revealing only modest differences among them. Snorkeling observations and subsequent quantification of microhabitat were conducted to illuminate habitat partitioning among these morphologically and ecologically similar species. Thoburnia rhothoeca inhabited the shallowest, fastest water, over the …

Central Administration Of Agouti-Related Peptide Increases Food Intake In Japanese Quail, Tyler Lindskoog, Mark Bohler, Elizabeth R. Gilbert, Mark A. Cline

Virginia Journal of Science

Agouti-related peptide is a 132-amino acid peptide associated with stimulating food intake in birds and mammals. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of AgRP in 7-day old Japanese quail. In Experiment 1, we tested 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 nmol AgRP and found no effect on food intake or water intake over a 3 hour duration. In Experiment 2, we tested we tested 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 nmol AgRP and found no effect on food or water intake over a 24 hour duration. In Experiment 3, we tested 0.0625 and 0.125 nmol AgRP and found no …

Survival Of Enterococcus FaeciumIn Turkey Litter Under Different Temperature And Moisture Combinations, Steven G. Mcbride, Benjamin Holland, Pradeep Vasudevan, Joanna B. Mott

Virginia Journal of Science

Untreated poultry litter introduces a substantial load of fecal pathogens to the environment, impacting agriculture, public health and ecosystem function. There is substantial evidence that temperature and moisture are the primary drivers of fecal bacteria survival across ecosystems. However, both temperature and moisture effects have been shown to be modulated by the matrix in which the fecal bacteria are living. This context dependence highlights the importance of understanding fecal bacteria survival in a variety of matrices in order to implement effective waste management plans. In this study, we determined the survival patterns of Enterococcus faecium in post-use turkey litter under …

Microhabitat Comparison Of Percina Roanoka (Roanoke Darter) And Percina Nevisense (Chainback Darter) In The Roanoke River, Dakota R. Spruill, Steven L. Powers

Virginia Journal of Science

Snorkel observations of Percina roanoka and P. nevisense in the Roanoke River during summer months were followed by measuring current velocity, water depth, and substrate diameter at points of occupation. A total of 89 observations of P. roanoka and 81 observations of P. nevisense were compared using two-sample T-tests. Percina roanoka inhabited faster, shallower water than P. nevisense with the former found in a mean flow of 0.318 m/s and depth of 31.53 cm and the latter in a mean flow of 0.17 m/s and depth of 55.6 cm. Mean diameter of substrate at points of occupation did not differ …

Compositional Changes In Two Small Mammal Communities During Succession In Southeastern Virginia, Robert K. Rose, Robyn M. Nadolny, Jay Kiser, Stephen E. Rice, Heather Green Salamone, Jana Eggleston, Holly D. Gaff

Virginia Journal of Science

Changes in the composition of two small mammal communities were studied during 8 and 9 years of ecological succession in southern Chesapeake. Virginia. Using monthly live-trapping on grids of similar size and history since their abandonment as agricultural fields, we learned that house mice were early colonists on one grid but not the other. Two species of herbivorous rodent and the granivorous eastern harvest mouse were numerically dominant on both grids across the study. Some species disappeared early on one grid but persisted to the end at the other. The two arboreal small mammals, golden and white-footed mice, were most …

Predation On Artificial Turkey Nests At Radford Army Ammunition Plant In Western Virginia, Shane Brandes, Karen E. Powers, Len L. Diioia Jr.

Virginia Journal of Science

Because ground-nesting wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) may sustain high incidences of nest predation in western Virginia, determining their predators is essential to understanding risk and managing the birds. Our study investigated potential predators of wild turkey nests at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant, New River Unit (RFAAP; Pulaski Co., in western Virginia). Here, we established 8 artificial nests during the breeding season for wild turkey (March-April, 2017), and documented predators via game cameras. Thirty-one species of mammals and birds visited the nests over the 31-day study. Nest predation was verified 56 times across 6 species, including coyotes ( …

An Erythristic Morph Of Red-Backed Salamander (Plethodon Cinereus) Collected In Virginia, Trevor L. Chapman, Brian G. Gall, Kari L. Spivey

Virginia Journal of Science

Eight different color polymorphisms of the Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) have been described throughout its range. Among them, the erythristic phenotype is a mimetic morph with coloration patterns similar to that of toxic Eastern Newt efts (Notophthalmus viridescens). We describe an erythristic morph of P. cinereus collected at Mountain Lake Biological Station, Virginia. To our knowledge, there are no prior published records of this morph in Virginia.

Population Dynamics Of The Cotton Rat In Southeastern Virginia, Robert K. Rose, Heather Green Salamone

Virginia Journal of Science

Abstract

We used monthly live trapping for 2.5 years to evaluate the life-history features of the most common small mammal, Sigmodon hispidus (hispid cotton rat), in an old field at its northern limit of distribution on the Atlantic coast. Peak densities, achieved in late autumn or early winter, were among the highest recorded for the species and were more typical of marginal populations rather than of central ones. Unlike some other marginal populations, hispid cotton rats in eastern Virginia did not lose significant body mass over the winter (when few juveniles were present) and survival in winter was not significantly …

Occupancy Rates And Detection Probabilities Of Red-Backed Salamanders On The Virginia Fall Line, Jay D. Mcghee

Virginia Journal of Science

To meet the conservation needs of declining amphibian populations, there is a need to assess monitoring techniques in various habitat types and seasons. I assessed detection rates and proportion of area occupied via transect monitoring for red-backed salamanders at a site along the Virginia Fall Line in Doswell, Virginia. I established 24 transects in a 3.2-ha area in both riparian and upland habitats. Objects providing natural cover along these transects were sampled 3 times a week in fall and spring over a two-year period. Models of occupancy and detection were developed and compared using Akaike’s Information Criterion. Based on 113 …

Section Abstracts: Agriculture, Forestry And Aquaculture

Virginia Journal of Science

Abstracts of the Agriculture, Forestry and Aquaculture Section for the 94th Annual Virginia Academy of Science Meeting, May 18-20, 2016, at University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA.

Virginia’S Amphibians: Status, Threats And Conservation, Jennifer Sevin, John D. Kleopfer

Virginia Journal of Science

Virginia’s diverse environments support 84 amphibian species (anurans and caudates), making it the third highest state in terms of species richness. However, the Commonwealth matches the global trend in declining amphibian populations with over one-third of its amphibian species in conservation need. The Species of Greatest Conservation Need included in the most recent Virginia Wildlife Action Plan cut across amphibian families and ecoregions. It is challenging to ascertain the exact cause of most of the population declines. In one degree or another, all of the global threats to amphibians exist within Virginia’s borders. While an active research program on amphibians …

Breeding Birds Of Virginia, Bryan D. Watts

Virginia Journal of Science

Virginia supports a diverse community of breeding birds that has been the focus of investigation for more than 400 years. The avifauna reflects the latitudinal position of the state and the fact that the border extends from the Atlantic Ocean to the Appalachian Mountains. A total of 224 species have been recorded breeding in Virginia, 214 of which are extant. Twenty species have colonized the state since 1900 including 14 since 1950. Of all extant species, 102 (48%) are considered common at least somewhere in the state and 64 (30%) are rare to very rare. Diversity varies by physiographic region …

Virginia’S Land Mammals: Past And Present, With Some Thoughts About Their Possible Future, John F. Pagels, Nancy D. Moncrief

Virginia Journal of Science

Mammals encountered today in Virginia’s forests and fields include native and nonnative species, feral populations, and free-ranging pets. We examine factors that have influenced Virginia’s terrestrial mammal fauna since the arrival of European colonists in the 1600s and some of the factors that are shaping the fauna today. We look in depth at changes since Handley and Patton’s (1947) first complete monograph on Virginia mammals and augment Linzey’s (1998) book, The Mammals of Virginia. We include current nomenclature, baseline information, and references to comprehensive literature. We discuss some of the current and developing anthropogenic factors that have impacted, or that …

Viewing The Status Of Virginia’S Environment Through The Lens Of Freshwater Fishes, Paul L. Angermeier, Michael J. Pinder

Virginia Journal of Science

We summarize a range of topics related to the status of Virginia’s freshwater fishes, their reflection of environmental quality, and their contribution to human wellbeing. Since 1994 the list of extant Virginia fishes has lengthened from 210 species to 227 species, mostly due to taxonomic reorganizations. Virginia’s list of Species of Greatest Conservation Need currently contains 96 fish species, predominated by darters (32 species) and minnows (28 species). Increasing trends in species rarity and threats to fishes suggest that Virginia’s aquatic environment is becoming less hospitable for fishes. Prevailing anthropogenic threats to fishes include agriculture, urban development, mineral extraction, forestry, …

Section Abstracts: Agriculture, Forestry And Aquaculture

Virginia Journal of Science

Abstracts of the Agriculture, Forestry and Aquaculture Section for the 93rd Annual Virginia Academy of Science Meeting, May 2015, at James Madison University

Amphibian And Small Mammal Assemblages In A Northern Virginia Forest Before And After Defoliation By Gypsy Moths (Lymantria Dispar), Joseph C. Mitchell

Virginia Journal of Science

The introduced European gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) caused substantial defoliation and mortality of oak trees along the North Fork of Quantico Creek in Prince William Forest Park, Prince William County, Virginia, U.S.A., in 1989 and the early 1990s. Results of a drift fence/pitfall study conducted in 1988 were compared to those obtained from the same technique in the same areas in 1993 to elucidate whether the amphibian and small mammal assemblages had changed over time. Number of Lithobates sylvaticus increased significantly in 1993, but the numbers of Lithobates clamitans and Plethodon cinereus were significantly higher in 1988. Total …

A Comparison Of Survey Methods For Documenting Presence Of Myotis Leibii (Eastern Small-Footed Bats) At Roosting Areas In Western Virginia, John K. Huth, Alexander Silvis, Paul R. Moosman Jr., W. Mark Ford, Sara Sweeten

Virginia Journal of Science

Many aspects of foraging and roosting habitat of Myotis leibii (Eastern Small-Footed Bat), an emergent rock roosting-obligate, are poorly described. Previous comparisons of effectiveness of acoustic sampling and mist-net captures have not included Eastern Small-Footed Bat. Habitat requirements of this species differ from congeners in the region, and it is unclear whether survey protocols developed for other species are applicable. Using data from three overlapping studies at two sampling sites in western Virginia’s central Appalachian Mountains, detection probabilities were examined for three survey methods (acoustic surveys with automated identification of calls, visual searches of rock crevices, and mist-netting) for use …

Life-History Aspects Of Moxostoma Cervinum (Blacktip Jumprock) In The Roanoke River, Virginia, Dezarai A. Thompson, John S. Bentley, Steven L. Powers

Virginia Journal of Science

Life-history aspects of Moxostoma cervinum(Blacktip Jumprock) were identified using specimens from recent collections and the Roanoke College Ichthyological Collection. The largest specimen examined was a female 161.27 mm SL and 66 months of age. Spawning appears to occur in May, with a mean of 2477.6 oocytes (SD = 2825.3) up to 1.54 mm diameter in gravid females. Sexual maturity appears to occur by 1-2 years of age in males and 2-3 years of age in females. Male to female ratio was not significantly different from 1:1. Chironomidae composed the bulk of the diet; while detritus, Trichoptera, Ephemeroptera, and Acari …

A Comparison Of Techniques Measuring Stress In Birds, Deborah A. O'Dell, Michael A. Carlo, Abigail Kimmitt, Ellen Bikowski, Katherine R. Morris, Andrew Dolby

Virginia Journal of Science

Free-living birds are subjected to both external and internal stresses which can affect their health, activity, and reproductive success. To study stress in free living birds, they must be captured in nets and handled by the researcher to take blood samples for commonly used measures of stress, an activity which itself can induce stress and confound results. This study compares the effects of handling time on three different measures of stress: levels of the stress hormone corticosterone (CORT), levels of Heat Shock Protein 60 (HSP 60) and the ratio of heterophils to lymphocytes (H/L ratio) in tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor …

Section Abstracts: Agriculture, Forestry, And Aquaculture

Virginia Journal of Science

Abstracts of the Agriculture, Forestry, and Aquaculture Section for the 92nd Annual Virginia Academy of Science Meeting, May 2014, at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia

Systematic Ichthyofaunal Surveys In Urban And Non-Urban Watersheds, Eugene G. Maurakis, David V. Grimes, Amanda Schutt, Suzy Short

Virginia Journal of Science

Objectives were to model fish species richness relative to natural and anthropogenic variables in Quantico Creek, a forested undisturbed stream environment, and Cameron Run, a highly disturbed urban stream environment in the lower Piedmont-Fall Line region of the Potomac River watershed. Species richness in all stream orders (e.g. avg. range=2.5-9.65 in 1st-3rd orders) of Quantico Creek were significantly higher than those (e.g. avg. range=2.1- 7.6 in 1st -4th orders) of Cameron Run. Fish species richness in Quantico Creek watershed can be modeled by eight factors: season, stream order, elevation, river km, stream width and depth, watershed size, and percent of …

The Population Dynamics Of Two Rodents In Two Coastal Marshes In Virginia, Robert K. Rose, John A. March

Virginia Journal of Science

The communities of small mammals were evaluated for 13 months with capture-mark-recapture methods in two Spartina-Juncus marshes of the Atlantic coast in Northampton County, Virginia. Small mammals were trapped for three days each month using live traps placed on floats on two study grids. Two rodents were numerically dominant (~90% of small mammals) there: marsh rice rat, Oryzomys palustris, and meadow vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus. Monthly estimates of population density were greater for rice rats (peak: 45/ha) than for those of meadow voles (peak: 30/ha). Survival rates were generally low, especially for rice rats, indicating highly vagile populations. Both …

First Record Of Pond Sliders (Trachemys Scripta Scripta And T. S. Elegans) At Fredericksburg, Virginia With Observations On Population Size, Age And Growth, Werner Wieland, Yoshinori Takeda

Virginia Journal of Science

We conducted a turtle mark-recapture program within a 160 m stretch of the Fredericksburg Canal with standard, baited hoop nets from May to July 2012 to determine if a population of the introduced Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) and Yellow-bellied Slider (Trachemys s. scripta) are established in this area. We captured and marked nine Red-eared Sliders (1 male, 8 females) and estimated a population size of 23 individuals. Most were reproductively mature. The established population in the canal may be a source of introduction into the Rappahannock River.

The Small Mammals Of Two Dune Communities In Southeastern Virginia, Robert K. Rose, Justin L. Sweitzer

Virginia Journal of Science

Small mammals were surveyed using live and pitfall traps between the primary and secondary dunes at two locations on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay near the Atlantic Ocean: Little Creek Amphibious Base in Norfolk and Joint Expeditionary Base Fort Story in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Captures were dominated by house mice (Mus musculus) in interdunal habitats with sparse grass, whereas white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) were found primarily in shrubby live-oak thickets on the tops of dunes. Hispid cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) were present only at Fort Story, and then only in patches of dense …

Breeding Biology Of Oryzomys Palustris, The Marsh Rice Rat, In Eastern Virginia, Robert K. Rose, Erin A. Dreelin

Virginia Journal of Science

The objectives of our study were to determine the age of maturity, litter size, and the timing of the breeding season of marsh rice rats (Oryzomys palustris) of coastal Virginia. From May 1995 to May 1996, monthly samples of rice rats were live-trapped in two coastal tidal marshes of eastern Virginia, and then necropsied. Sexual maturity was attained at 30-40 g for both sexes. Mean litter size of 4.63 (N= 16) did not differ among months or in mass or parity classes. Data from two other studies conducted in the same county, one of them contemporaneous, also were …

Section Abstracts: Agriculture, Forestry And Aquaculture Science

Virginia Journal of Science

Abstracts of the Agriculture, Forestry, and Aquaculture Sciences section for the Virginia Academy of Science 89th Annual Meeting, May 25-27, 2011, University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia.

Advertisement Call And Distribution Of The Treefrogs Hyla Chrysoscelis And Hyla Versicolor In Virginia, Joseph C. Mitchell, Christopher A. Pague

Virginia Journal of Science

The gray treefrog complex consists of two sibling species that are indistinguishable morphologically, the diploid Hyla chrysoscelis and the tetraploid Hyla versicolor. Identification is possible in the field only by audio recognition of male advertisement call trill rates (pulses/second). During 1979-1983 we evaluated taped calls of these two species taken from 89 populations from throughout Virginia to map their respective ranges and to evaluate differences in call parameters. Hyla chrysoscelis occurs in the Coastal Plain, eastern and southern Piedmont, and in southwestern Virginia. Hyla versicoloroccurs in the Piedmont, Blue Ridge, and Ridge and Valley regions south to Wythe …

Garlic As An Alternative Anthelmintic In Sheep, A. Curry, B. D. Whitaker

Virginia Journal of Science

An increase in the anthelmintic resistance of parasites in small ruminants and a push towards non-chemical farming has led researchers to search for alternative forms of anthelmintics. The efficacy of treating sheep by using natural garlic extract with respect to changes in weight, fecal egg counts (FEC), and packed cell volume (PCV) was investigated. Sheep were treated every 4 weeks for 8 weeks with saline (control) Ivermectin, or natural garlic extract and samples were collected weekly to determine FEC and PCV. Sheep were weighed at the time of sample collection to determine weight change. There were no significant differences between …

Section Abstracts: Agriculture, Forestry, And Aquaculture Science

Virginia Journal of Science

Abstracts of the Agriculture, Forestry, and Aquaculture Science Section for the 88th Annual Meeting of the Virginia Academy of Science, May 20-21, 2010, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

First Records Of Hypleurochilus Geminatus And Centropristis Philadelphica From Chesapeake Bay, Aimee D. Halvorson

Virginia Journal of Science

During the fall of 2007, Centropris philadelphica (rock seabass) and Hypleurochilus geminatus (Crested blenny) were collected from Chesapeake Bay. These captures are significant as they represent the first substantiated record of C. philadelphica from Chesapeake Bay and only the second and third validated records of H. geminatus. Additionally, the first record of H. geminatus from Chesapeake Bay was only recently recognized since the specimen had been previously misidentified as Parablennius marmoreus (seaweed blenny). The collection of seven individuals of H. geminatus in 2007, from two locations, indicates that the species may be resident within the Chesapeake Bay estuary.