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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Habitat Selection, Reproductive Success, And Impaling Patterns Of A Migratory Population Of Loggerhead Shrikes, Jeffrey D. Esely Jr.
Habitat Selection, Reproductive Success, And Impaling Patterns Of A Migratory Population Of Loggerhead Shrikes, Jeffrey D. Esely Jr.
Masters Theses
I studied habitat selection and reproductive success of a migratory population of Loggerhead Shrikes (Lanius ludovicianus migrans) as well as the temporal and spatial patterns of impaling exhibited by this population during the nesting season. The selection of breeding habitat was investigated at different spatial scales. Thirty-eight (67%) of 57 nests were located in osage orange (Maclura pomifera) trees. Shrike territories (area ≤ 200 m from nest site) contained significantly more pasture, fenceline, and perch sites, but less com, alfalfa, and forest than random sites. At larger spatial scales, more grassland was detected within 300 m …
The Role Of Bowfin, Amia Calva, In Multiple Species Management Plans, Benjamin Jacob Hausmann
The Role Of Bowfin, Amia Calva, In Multiple Species Management Plans, Benjamin Jacob Hausmann
Masters Theses
The major challenge to fisheries managers of the 21st century will be to maintain the diversity, not only of fishing opportunity, but also of traditionally non-game and economically unimportant species. With the relatively recent understanding of the importance of ecosystem level management, attention is being focused on native species that were often ignored or eradicated under past management practices. One such fish that has been largely ignored is the bowfin, Amia calva. Ecological data pertaining to bowfin natural history are limited and to date no attempt has been made to integrate bowfin into fisheries management decisions within the species native …
The Relationship Between Burrowing Behavior Of Native Unionid Bivalves And Infestation By Zebra Mussels, Amy Gries
Masters Theses
Burrowing behavior of unionids was examined as a variable in colonization of unionids by juvenile zebra mussels searching for substrate. For each unionid species represented, zebra mussel densities were compared between a free-living experimental unionid and an immobilized control during each replicate. Of the four species used (Amblema plicata, Quadrula quadrula, Leptodea fragilis and Obliquaria reflexa), only Q. quadrula had a statistically significant difference between zebra mussel densities on the experimental mussels as compared with the controls. When zebra mussel densities on the experimental mussels were compared between species, only the comparison of Q. quadrula and O. reflexa was …
A Comparison Of Predation Rates On Real And Artificial Nests Of Grassland Birds, William B. Davison
A Comparison Of Predation Rates On Real And Artificial Nests Of Grassland Birds, William B. Davison
Masters Theses
I compared rates of predation between real and artificial nests of grassland birds in order to test the impact of nest type, nest position, and egg size on predation rates. I distributed wicker avicultural baskets and realistic grass nests baited with a clay egg and either northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) or house sparrow (Passer domesticus) eggs in four Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) grasslands in east-central Illinois. Nest success averaged 86.5% for 12 days of exposure for artificial nests. For real nests, nest success was markedly lower; averaging 39% over the entire nesting cycle and 59% during approximately 12 days of …