Life Sciences Commons^™

The Prairie Naturalist Volume 32, No.4 December 2000

The Prairie Naturalist

LOCATING NESTS OF BIRDS IN GRASSLANDS FROM A MOBILE TOWER BLIND ▪ . T. F. Fondell, S. T. Hoekman, and L J. Ball

OBSERVATIONS ON SMALL MAMMALS RECOVERED FROM OWL PELLETS FROM NEBRASKA ▪ J J Huebschman, P. W Freeman, H. H. Genoways, and J A. Gubanyi

DlSTRIBUTION, HABITAT USE, AND NESTING SUCCESS OF HENSLOW'S SPARROW IN OKLAHOMA ▪ D. L. Reinking, D. A. Wiedenfeld, D. H. Wolfe, and R. W. Rohrbaugh, Jr.

REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS OF PIPING PLOVERS ON ALKALI LAKES IN NORTH DAKOTA AND MONTANA ▪ R. K. Murphy, M. J. Rabenberg, M. L. Sondreal, B. R. Casler, and …

Horse Creek Fen, Birdwood Creek And Kelly Ranch Inventory, Robert F. Steinauer

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: White Papers, Conference Presentations, and Manuscripts

Horse Creek Fen preserve is a complex of wetland communities (Sandhills fen, Sandhills freshwater marsh, and northern sedge wet meadow) associated with Horse Creek, a ditched stream that drains the Allen Valley fen. Fen vegetation on the preserve is limited to approximately 20 acres on the western boundary of the preserve where it abuts the eastern end of the Allen Valley fen (Steinauer et al. 1996). The fen vegetation is surrounded primarily by Sandhills freshwater marsh, which in turn is surrounded by northern sedge wet meadow. Additional Sandhills freshwater marsh occurs near the eastern boundary of the preserve. The eastern …

The Prairie Naturalist Volume 32, No.3 September 2000

The Prairie Naturalist

SPECIAL FEATURE: LESSER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN

PREFACE ▪ C. E. Braun

NOTE ON SPECIAL FEATURES

POPULATION STATUS AND MANAGEMENT OF LESSER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN IN COLORADO ▪ K. M. Giesen

STATUS OF NESTING HABITAT FOR LESSER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN IN NEW MEXICO ▪ J. A. Bailey, J. Klingel, and C. A. Davis

STATUS OF THE LESSER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN IN NEW MEXICO, 1999 ▪ . J. A. Bailey, and S. O. Williams III

DISTRIBUTION AND POPULATION TREND OF LESSER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN IN KANSAS ▪ W. E. Jensen, D A. Robinson. Jr and R. D. Applegate

REVIEW OF THE HISTORICAL AND PRESENT STATUS OF THE LESSER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) IN …

Extralimital Records Of The Mexican Free-Tailed Bat (Tadarida Brasilensis Mexicana) In The Central United States And Their Biological Significance, Hugh H. Genoways, Patricia W. Freeman, Cary Grell

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Two new records of Tadarida brasiliensis mexicana are reported from Nebraska. The literature records of this taxon from the central United States are summarized. In this region of North America, these bats occupy a “natal range” where the species carries on regular reproductive activities and the populations are relatively stable, including California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. To the north of the natal range of T. b. mexicana is a “pioneering zone” where, under favorable conditions, the species is capable of reproducing and conducting its normal activities. The pioneering zone of the Mexican free-tailed bat includes Barber and Comanche …

Shifting Distributional Patterns Of Mammals In Nebraska, Russell A. Benedict, Hugh H. Genoways, Patricia W. Freeman

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

New distributional records are presented for 20 species of mammals in Nebraska. The majority of these records appear to represent changes in geographic distribution rather than just better sampling in poorly known areas. One group of mammals, including the opossum, northern myotis, evening bat, red bat, woodchuck, white-footed mouse, and gray fox, is expanding westward, probably in response to increasing woodlands along river systems. Another group, including the meadow vole, masked shrew, and least weasel, is expanding southward, possibly in response to new prey species and changing microclimates. The eastern woodrat appears to be expanding northward in eastern Nebraska. The …

The Prairie Naturalist Volume 32, No.2 June 2000

The Prairie Naturalist

EVALUATING MORNING AND AFTERNOON ELECTROFISHING CATCH RATES FOR LARGEMOUTH BASS IN KANSAS LAKES C. A. Cox, and R. D. Schultz

DYNAMICS OF GREEN ASH WOODLANDS IN THEODORE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK ▪ L. R. Irby, J. E. Norland, M. G. Sullivan, J. A. Westfall, Jr., and P. Anderson

STATUS OF THE ARKANSAS DARTER IN SOUTH-CENTRAL KANSAS AND ADJACENT OKLAHOMA ▪ M. E. Eberle, and W J. Stark

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS FOR NORTH DAKOTA 1999 R. N. Randall

AN OBSERVATION OF POSSIBLE BROOD ADOPTION IN RUDDY DUCKS ▪ J. T. Pelayo

MAXILLARY CANINE TEETH IN A NORTH DAKOTA DEER ▪ W. F. …

The Prairie Naturalist Volume 32, No.1 March 2000

The Prairie Naturalist

FRESHWATER MUSSELS (BIVALVIA: UNIONOIDEA) IN STREAMS OF NORTHWESTERN KANSAS ▪ S. M. Bergman, M. E. Eberle, and B. K. Obenneyer

PISCIVOROUS BIRD DEPREDATION AT NORTHERN MINNESOTA AQUACULTURE FACILITIES ▪ G. K. Bridgman, E. H. Rave, and J. M. Rafferty 17

EFFECTS OF MOWED TRAILS ON DEPREDATION OF ARTIFICIAL NESTS IN GRASSLAND ▪ D. J. Rosenblatt, J. J. Newton, and E . J. Heske

PLANT COMMUNITY PATTERNS ON UPLAND PRAIRIE IN THE EASTERN NEBRASKA SANDHILLS ▪ W. H. Schacht, J. D. Volesky, D. Bauer, A. J. Smart, and E. M. Mousel

AMERICAN BITTERN DEPREDATES SORA ▪ J. E. Austin, and M. …

A Phylogenetic Hypothesis For Species Of The Genus Taenia (Eucestoda: Taeniidae), Eric P. Hoberg, Arlene Jones, Robert L. Rausch, Keeseon S. Eom, Scott Lyell Gardner

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty and Staff Publications

Cladistic analysis of a numerical data matrix describing 27 characters for species of Taenia resulted in four most parsimonious phylogenetic trees (174 steps; consistency index = 0.28; homoplasy index = 0.72; retention index = 0.48). Monophyly for Taenia is diagnosed by the metacestode that is either a cysticercus or a form derived from a bladder-like larva; no other unequivocal synapomorphies are evident. Tree structure provides no support for recognition of a diversity of tribes or genera within the Taeniinae: Fimbriotaeniini and Taeniini have no phylogenetic basis. Hydatigera, Fimbriotaenia, Fossor, Monordotaenia, Multiceps, Taeniarhynchus, Tetratirotaenia must …

Salinity And Shade Preferences Result In Ovipositional Differences Between Sympatric Tiger Beetle Species, W. Wyatt Hoback, Douglas A. Golick, Tina Marie Svatos, Stephen M. Spomer, Leon G. Higley

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

1. Adult tiger beetles of the genus Cicindela often co-occur within a habitat but larvae do not. Larvae are sedentary and form usually permanent burrows at the site of oviposition where they require 1-3 years for development.

2. To test niche partitioning based on ovipositional preference, the behavior of two sympatric salt marsh tiger beetles, Cicindela circumpicta and C. togata (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), were examined.

3. In laboratory studies, female C. circumpicta and C. togata distinguished between experimental salinities, with the former preferring 4 parts per thousand (ppt) and the latter preferring 12 ppt. In the field, C. circumpicta larvae were …

American Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus Americanus) Recovery Plan, Christopher Raithel

Endangered Species Bulletin

Current Species Status: Nicrophorus americanus, formerly distributed throughout temperate eastern North America, now persists in only two widely separated natural populations: a small but apparently stable population on Block Island off the coast of Rhode Island, and a lower-density but more widespread population in eastern Oklahoma. In addition, three laboratory colonies are being maintained, and in 1990 and 1991, about 90 N. americanus were reintroduced to historical habitat on Penikese Island, Massachusetts. Based on the drastic decline and extirpation of the species over nearly its entire historical range, the American burying beetle was listed as endangered in July 1989. …

Lack Of Reproduction In Muskoxen And Arctic Hares Caused By Early Winter?, L. David Mech

USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

A lack of young muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) and arctic hares (Lepus arcticus) in the Eureka area of Ellesmere Island, Northwest Territories (now Nunavut), Canada, was observed during summer 1998, in contrast to most other years since 1986. Evidence of malnourished muskoxen was also found. Early winter weather and a consequent 50% reduction of the 1997 summer replenishment period appeared to be the most likely cause, giving rise to a new hypothesis about conditions that might cause adverse demographic effects in arctic herbivores.

Durant l’été 1998, et ce, à la différence de la plupart des années depuis …

Do Wolves Affect White-Tailed Buck Harvest In Northeastern Minnesota?, L. David Mech, Michael E. Nelson

USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

We used simple linear regression to analyze 8-23 years of data on a wolf (Canis lupus) population and human harvest of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) bucks in northeastern Minnesota to determine any effects of wolves on buck harvesting. Over the long term, wolves accounted for at least 14-22% inter-year variation in buck harvest in the region, but an unknown amount of variation in hunter effort have obscured any more precise estimate. For part of the area with poorest habitat, we found strong relationships (r² = 0.66-0.84) between annual wolf numbers and buck harvests from 1988 …

Proximity Of White-Tailed Deer, Odocoileus Virginianus, Ranges To Wolf, Canis Lupus, Pack Homesites, Michael E. Nelson, L. David Mech

USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Seven adult female White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in northeastern Minnesota lived within 1.8 km of Wolf pack (Canis lupus) homesites without vacating their home ranges. Six of these deer and at least three of their fawns survived through the Wolf homesite period.

Prolonged Winter Undernutrition And The Interpretation Of Urinary Allantoin:Creatinine Ratios In White-Tailed Deer, Glenn D. Delgiudice, Ken D. Kerr, L. David Mech, Ulysses S. Seal

USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

The urinary allantoin:creatinine (A:C) ratio (expressed in micromoles of allantoin to micromoles of creatinine) has shown potential as an index of recent winter energy intake in preliminary controlled studies of elk (Cervus elaphus) involving mild condition deterioration (up to 11% loss of body mass). To ensure reliable nutritional assessments of free-ranging cervids by measuring A:C ratios of urine in snow, it is essential to extend this work. We assessed the effect of moderate and severe winter nutritional restriction on urinary A:C ratios of captive white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) that lost up to 32% body mass and …

Accuracy And Precision Of Estimating Age Of Gray Wolves By Tooth Wear, Philip S. Gipson, Warren B. Ballard, Ronald M. Nowak, L. David Mech

USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

We evaluated the accuracy and precision of tooth wear for aging gray wolves (Canis lupus) from Alaska, Minnesota, and Ontario based on 47 known-age or known-minimum-age skuIIs. Estimates of age using tooth wear and a commercial cementum annuli-aging service were useful for wolves up to 14 years old. The precision of estimates from cementum annuli was greater than estimates from tooth wear, but tooth wear estimates are more applicable in the field. We tended to overestimate age by 1-2 years and occasionaIIy by 3 or 4 years. The commercial service aged young wolves with cementum annuli to within …

Elaeophorosis In Red Deer From Spain, Mónica Santín-Durán, J. M. Alunda, J. M. San Miguel, Eric P. Hoberg, C. De La Fuente

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty and Staff Publications

Elaeophorosis, caused by Elaeophora elaphi, was observed in red deer (Cervus elaphus) from Toledo Province (Spain) for the first time. Adult specimens of Elaeophora elaphi were found in the hepatic vessels of nine of 151 red deer between October 1994 and September 1995; intensity of infection was two to 18 nematodes per host. Adult nematodes were only found during the period from fall through early spring. No differences were present between sex or age groups. Parasites were not found in a limited sample from fallow deer (Dama dama). Blood samples were negative for the presence of …

A Record Large Wolf, Canis Lupus, Pack In Minnesota, L. David Mech

USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

This report documents a pack of 22-23 Wolves (Canis lupus) in central Minnesota. This is larger than the largest pack previously observed on the mainland in the midwestern U.s. during 650 wolf pack-years. Because this record-large pack preyed on White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), one of the Wolfs smaller prey, it is evidence that pack size and prey size are not tightly related. It also indicates the size that Wolf packs can attain in the area if fully protected from human persecution.

Leadership In Wolf, Canis Lupus, Packs, L. David Mech

USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

I examine leadership in Wolf (Callis lupus) packs based on published observations and data gathered during summers from 1986 to 1998 studying a free-ranging pack of Wolves on Ellesmere Island that were habituated to my presence. The breeding male tended to initiate activities associated with foraging and travel, and the breeding female to initiate, and predominate in, pup care and protection. However, there was considerable overlap and interaction during these activities such that leadership could be considered a joint function. In packs with multiple breeders, quantitative information about leadership is needed.

Assessing Factors That May Predispose Minnesota Farms To Wolf Depredations On Cattle, L. David Mech, Elizabeth K. Harper, Thomas J. Meier, William J. Paul

USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Wolf (Canis lupus) depredations on livestock cause considerable conflict and expense in Minnesota. Furthermore, claims are made that such depredations are fostered by the type of animal husbandry practiced. Thus, we tried to detect factors that might predispose farms in Minnesota to wolf depredations. We compared results of interviews with 41 cattle farmers experiencing chronic cattle losses to wolves (chronic farms) with results from 41 nearby "matched" farms with no wolf losses to determine farm characteristics or husbandry practices that differed and that therefore might have affected wolf depredations. We also used a Geographic Information System (GIS) to …

Terrestrial Natural Communities Of Nebraska - Version Ii, Gerry Steinauer, Steven B. Rolfsmeier

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: White Papers, Conference Presentations, and Manuscripts

For more than a decade, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and state natural heritage programs, including the Nebraska Natural Heritage Program (NNHP), have used a “coarse filter/fine filter” approach to preserving biological diversity (The Nature Conservancy, 1994). This approach involves identification and protection of natural communities (coarse filter) as well as rare species (fine filter). Identifying and protecting representative examples of natural communities ensures conservation of most species, biotic interactions and ecological processes. Those species that “fall through” the community filters are generally the rare species. Identification and protection of viable occurrences of rare species serves as the fine filter for …

Conservation In A Highly Fragmented Landscape: The Central Tallgrass Prairie Ecoregional Conservation Plan, The Central Tallgrass Prairie Ecoregion Planning Team

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: White Papers, Conference Presentations, and Manuscripts

With the adoption of Conservation by Design in 1995, The Nature Conservancy recognized the importance of working at larger scales to achieve our mission which is: the long-term survival of all viable native species and community types through the design and conservation of portfolios of sites within ecoregions. The Conservancy set forth to design conservation plans on an ecoregional basis by working closely with various conservation partners. These plans are intended to provide a framework within which the Conservancy and our partners, such as the Natural Heritage Programs, can make decisions regarding conservation actions to be taken at the …

Characterization And Improvement Of Eos Land Products Using Measurements At Ameriflux Grassland And Wheat Sites In The Arm/Cart Region: Research Annual Performance Report For Period March 1, 2000- February 28, 2001, E. A. Walter-Shea, S. B. Verma

School of Natural Resources: Documents and Reviews

No abstract provided.

Relationships Of Nematodirus Species And Nematodirus Battus Isolates (Nematoda: Trichostrongyloidea) Based On Nuclear Ribosomal Dna Sequences, Steven A. Nadler, Eric P. Hoberg, Deborah S.S. Hudspeth, Lora G. Rickard

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty and Staff Publications

Nuclear ribosomal sequence data from the internal transcribed spacers (ITS-1 and ITS-2), 5.8S subunit, and regions of the 18S and 28S genes were used to investigate sequence diversity among geographic samples of Nematodirus battus, and to infer phylogenetic relationships among Nematodirus species. Phylogenetic analysis of these data yielded strong support for relationships among species, depicting Nematodirus helvetianus and Nematodirus spathiger as sister-taxa and a clade of these two species and Nematodirus filicollis. This tree is consistent with caprine bovids as ancestral hosts, with a subsequent host shift to Bovinae in N. helvetianus. Eleven of fourteen N. battus sequences …

Biosystematics And Evolution Of The Triatominae = Biossistemática E Evolução De Triatomíneos, Christopher J. Schofield

Harold W. Manter Laboratory: Library Materials

Abstract

In this paper we summarize the systematics of the 130 currently recognized species of Triatominae and the key features of their evolutionary background. There is increasing evidence that the subfamily has polyphyletic origins, with the various tribes and species groups probably arising from different reduviid lineages in relatively recent times.

Resumo

Neste trabalho resume-se a sistemática das 130 espécies de triatomíneos atualmente reconhecidas, com os elementos principais de sua evolução. Existem evidências crescentes para a origem polifilética da subfamília. As diferentes tribos e grupos de espécies que a compõem teriam surgido recentemente, a partir de diferentes linhagens de reduviídeos.

Clonal Growth Of Lithospermum Caroliniense (Boraginaceae) In Contrasting Sand Dune Habitats, Stephen G. Weller, Kathleen H. Keeler, Barbara A. Thomson

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

The occurrence of clonal growth of distylous Lithospermum caroliniense was investigated in a population in the Nebraska Sandhills, an area where sand dunes have been relatively stable for at least 1,500–3,000 yr, and compared to a population occurring at the Indiana Dunes, an area of active sand dune formation. Spatial autocorrelation analysis indicated the occurrence of significant clonal propagation of genetically based floral morphs at Arapaho Prairie, but not for the Indiana Dunes. Apparent clonal growth in the Sandhills population had no overall negative effect on pollen deposition or fecundity relative to the Indiana population, although in some large clones …