Life Sciences Commons^™

Development Of Endothermy In Nestling Bank Swallows (Riparia Riparia), Richard L. Marsh

Richard Marsh

Body temperature (Tb) measurements after exposure to air temperatures (Tₐ) of 20 C or 27 C for 2 h in conjunction with metabolism measurements were used to describe the timing of and basis for developing temperature regulation in nestling swallows. As growth proceeds from hatching to 10 g there is a gradual increase in the Tb after exposure to low Tₐ. As growth continues beyond this point, the ability of nestlings to maintain Tb above Tₐ improves rapidly, such that nestlings weighing over 14 g are completely homeothermic when exposed to 20 C. Conductance (C, in cal [g⋅h⋅°C]⁻¹) decreases throughout …

Effects On Nestling Age And Burrow Depth On Co₂ And O₂ Concentrations In The Burrows Of Bank Swallows (Riparia Riparia), Steven J. Wickler, Richard L. Marsh

Richard Marsh

Gas samples were taken from the nest chambers of bank swallows (Riparia riparia) and analyzed for CO₂ and O₂ content. The mean CO₂ content was 2.62% with a maximum value of 5.58%, and the mean O₂ content was 17.83% with a minimum value of 14.61%. There was a positive and significant correlation of increasing CO₂ content with both increasing nestling age and increasing total metabolizing mass (adults plus young). With increasing metabolizing mass there is a linear increase in CO₂ content, which suggests no active regulation of gas concentrations. Burrow depth also affected CO₂, particularly in burrows with older nestlings. …

Winter Fattening In The American Goldfinch And The Possible Role Of Temperature In Its Regulation, William R. Dawson, Richard L. Marsh

Richard Marsh

We investigated whether environmental temperature has any causal role in the winter fattening in certain finches of the subfamily Carduelinae. Correlational analyses between fat content of American goldfinches (Carduelis tristis) and various short- and long-term measures of temperature provide no evidence for a proximate role of this environmental variable in determining the degree of fattening of these birds in southeastern Michigan. Their fat content shows the best correlations (r = −.61 to −.63) with the long-term average minimum temperature or record low temperature for the date of capture. Furthermore, inclusion of long-term thermal measures in multivariate analyses excludes from significance …

Adaptations Of The Gray Catbird Dumetella Carolinensis To Long-Distance Migration: Flight Muscle Hypertrophy Associated With Elevated Body Mass, Richard L. Marsh

Richard Marsh

The size and composition (lean-dry, water, and fat contents) of the flight muscles of the catbird were investigated as a function of the large seasonal changes in body mass which occur in this species. The mass of the pectoralis muscle is highly positively correlated with body mass, leading to an elevation in muscle mass of ∼35% during fall premigratory fattening. The changes in muscle mass are brought about by coordinated variations in all major components of the muscles which were measured. High-oxidative, fast-twitch fibers represent 88% of the total fibers in the pectoralis muscle. The cross-sectional area of the muscle …

The Enzymatic Basis Of High Metabolic Rates In Calling Frogs, Theodore L. Taigen, Kentwood D. Wells, Richard L. Marsh

Richard Marsh

Oxygen consumption by male spring peepers (Hyla crucifer) increased linearly with calling rate, reaching peak values of 1.5−1.7 ml O₂/(g⋅h) at the highest calling rates. The intercept of the regression line describing the relationship between metabolism and calling rate does not differ significantly from daytime resting metabolism (0.11 ml O₂/[g⋅h]). Metabolic rate during vigorous locomotor exercise at the same temperature (19 C) was only 1.1 ml O₂/(g⋅h). We measured activities of mitochondrial enzymes in the trunk muscles (internal and external obliques) involved in sound production and in mixed hind limb muscles of male and female frogs. Male trunk muscles were …

Measurement Of Maximum Oxygen Consumption In Guinea Fowl Numida Meleagris Indicates That Birds And Mammals Display A Similar Diversity Of Aerobic Scopes During Running, David J. Ellerby, Maryellen Cleary, Richard L. Marsh, Cindy I. Buchanan

Richard Marsh

Judgement of exercise performance in birds has been hampered by a paucity of data on maximal aerobic capacity. We measured the maximal rate of oxygen consumption (V̇o₂,max) in running guinea fowl Numida meleagris, a bird that has been used in several previous studies of avian running. Mean V̇o₂,max during level treadmill running was 97.5±3.7 mL O&8322; kg⁻¹ min⁻¹ (mean ± SEM, N=5). V̇o₂,max was on average 6% higher when the birds ran uphill compared with the value during level running (paired t-test, P=0.041, N=5). The mean basal rate of oxygen consumption (V̇o₂,bmr) of the same individuals was 7.9±0.5 mL kg⁻¹ …

Relationship Between Physical Characteristics Of Estuaries And The Size And Diversity Of Wader Populations In The North Island Of New Zealand, Michael B. Whelan, T M. Hume, P M. Sager, Ude Shankar, R Lifting

Michael B Whelan

The aim of this study was to associate the distribution of waders (Charadriiformes) with physical attributes of estuaries and map the distribution of estuaries that have the potential to support large diverse wader populations. Maximum wader abundance and the maximum number of species recorded (1983-1994) at 94 estuaries on the North Island, New Zealand were related to physical attributes of the estuaries using General Linear Modelling techniques. Parameters describing the estuary type, area, tidal influence, catchment area, catchment rainfall, intertidal area and temperature were used as independent variables. Anaiysis revealed strong positive relationships between the size and diversity of a …

Perspectives On The Application Of Zilpaterol Hydrochloride In The United States Beef Industry, R. J. Delmore, J. M. Hodgen, B. J. Johnson

Robert J. Delmore, Jr.

Zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) is a β-adrenergic agonist approved to be fed at a rate of 8.3 mg/kg (100% DM basis) during the final 20 to 40 d of the finishing period in beef cattle followed by a minimum 3-d withdrawal period antemortem. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved label claims of increased rate of BW gain, improved feed efficiency, and increased carcass leanness. Before the release of ZH for commercial use in 2007, approximately 10 independent research trials at various universities and commercial feedlots were initiated. Articles in recent issues of the Journal of Animal Science are a result of …

Molecular Cloning And Characterization Of The Porcine Fto Promoter And Coding Regions.Pdf, Jinming Huang, Yunzhou Yang, Gang Liu, Jibin Zhang, Xinxing Dong, Ying Bai, Meiying Fang

Jibin Zhang

Molecular Phylogenetics Of The Australian Elapid Snakes: (Serpentes: Elapidae, Hydrophiinae), Catherine J. Nock

Dr Catherine J Nock

Evolutionary relationships within the Elapidae have been examined using a wide range of morphological and molecular datasets. Historically, there has been little consensus regarding relationships within the largest of the elapid subfamilies, the Hydrophiinae (sensu Slowinski et al. 1997). This presumed monophyletic group includes the sea kraits (Laticauda), the viviparous sea snakes and the terrestrial Australasian elapida. To examine relationships within this subfamily, mitochondrial DNA (partial 12S rRNA) sequence data were obtained for 19 elapid genera including an African, an Asian, 14 terrestrial Australian, a sea krait (Laticauda) and 2 viviparous sea snake genera.

Industry Response To Beef Sector Policy And Regulation: Case Study Of Beef Sector In California, James Ahern, Robert Delmore, Andy Thulin

Robert J. Delmore, Jr.

No Abstract.

Homosexual Copulations By Male Tree Swallows, Michael P. Lombardo, Ruth M. Bosman, Christine A. Faro, Stephen G. Houtteman, Timothy S. Kluisza

Michael P Lombardo

Homosexual courtship behavior in non-human animals is well known (Ford and Beach 1980) and occurs in a wide variety of taxa. However, homosexual copulations, especially between males, are less well known. In birds, males mounting other males have been observed in the colonially breeding Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) (Fujioka and Yamagishi 1981) and Common Murre (Uria aalge) (Birkhead et al. 1985, Hatchwell 1988). Neither Fujioka and Yamagishi (1981) nor Birkhead et al. (1985) and Hatchwell (1988) reported whether cloacal contact occurred during their observations of male-male mountings. Here we describe homosexual copulations by male Tree Swallows …

Marine Natural Products, The Halogenated 1'-Methyl-1,2'-Bipyrroles, Biomagnify In A Northwestern Atlantic Food Web., Kristin C. Pangallo, Christopher M. Reddy

Kristin Pangallo

Letter To Faa Administrator Re: Usair 1549 Crash, Paul F. Eschenfelder, Russell P. Defusco Phd, Richard Sowden

Paul F. Eschenfelder

No abstract provided.

Conservation Value Of Residential Open Space: Designation And Management Language Of Florida’S Land Development Regulations, Dara M. Wald

Dara Wald

Seasonal Body Temperature Fluctuations And Energetic Strategies In Free-Ranging Eastern Woodchucks, Carmen M. Salsbury

Carmen M. Salsbury

During a 2-year period, radiotelemetry was used to continuously monitor body temperature ( T b) of free-ranging woodchucks (Marmota monax) in southeastern Pennsylvania. Hibernation was preceded by daily T b fluctuations ("test drops") of 2-4°C. During hibernation, woodchucks exhibited the characteristic pattern of torpor bouts. Time of arousals occurred randomly, but onset of torpor occurred predominantly between 1800 and 0000 h. Males had shorter hibernation periods (mean of 104.8 days) than did females (121.8 days). Males had shorter torpor bouts, but euthermic bouts were the same length as in females. Males also maintained higher T b during torpor. Overall, the …

The Distribution Of Fox Squirrel (Sciurus Niger) Leaf Nests Within Forest Fragments In Central Indiana, Carmen M. Salsbury, Rebecca W. Dolan, Emily B. Pentzer

Rebecca W. Dolan

We examined the abundance and placement of leaf nests by fox squirrels in six urban woodlots in central Indiana ranging in size from 1.06 to 8.28 ha. Four of the woodlots were disturbed, or subject to extensive human impact, whereas the remaining two were nature preserves. We counted all leaf nests present in each woodlot and recorded nest tree characteristics. We then conducted a quantitative vegetation analysis of trees present and estimated percentages of herbaceous and shrub cover along a minimum of two 100 m transects at each site. Fox squirrels showed a preference to build nests in certain species …

The Distribution Of Fox Squirrel (Sciurus Niger) Leaf Nests Within Forest Fragments In Central Indiana, Carmen M. Salsbury, Rebecca W. Dolan, Emily B. Pentzer

Carmen M. Salsbury

We examined the abundance and placement of leaf nests by fox squirrels in six urban woodlots in central Indiana ranging in size from 1.06 to 8.28 ha. Four of the woodlots were disturbed, or subject to extensive human impact, whereas the remaining two were nature preserves. We counted all leaf nests present in each woodlot and recorded nest tree characteristics. We then conducted a quantitative vegetation analysis of trees present and estimated percentages of herbaceous and shrub cover along a minimum of two 100 m transects at each site. Fox squirrels showed a preference to build nests in certain species …

Descriptive Ecology Of A Turtle Assemblage In An Urban Landscape, Conner C. A, B A. Douthitt, Travis J. Ryan

Travis J. Ryan

We studied turtle populations inhabiting a canal and a lake (both man-made) within a heavily disturbed, urban setting. Six aquatic and semi-aquatic turtle species were collected in both habitats: spiny softshell turtle (Apolone spinifera), painted turtle (Chrysemys picta), common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina), common map turtle (Graptemys geographica), common musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) and red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta). While G. geographica was the most common species in the canal habitat, T. scripta was most common in the lake habitat. We describe patterns of sexual size dimorphism and sex ratios for the three most abundant species (G. geographica, T. scripta and …

Movement And Habitat Use Of Two Aquatic Turtles (Graptemys Geographic And Trachemys Scripta) In An Urban Landscape, Travis J. Ryan, C A. Conner, B A. Douthitt, S C. Sterrett, Carmen M. Salsbury

Carmen M. Salsbury

Our study focuses on the spatial ecology and seasonal habitat use of two aquatic turtles in order to understand the manner in which upland habitat use by humans shapes the aquatic activity, movement, and habitat selection of these species in an urban setting. We used radiotelemetry to follow 15 female Graptemys geographica (common map turtle) and each of ten male and female Trachemys scripta (red-eared slider) living in a man-made canal within a highly urbanized region of Indianapolis, IN, USA. During the active season (between May and September) of 2002, we located 33 of the 35 individuals a total of …

Movement And Habitat Use Of Two Aquatic Turtles (Graptemys Geographic And Trachemys Scripta) In An Urban Landscape, Travis J. Ryan, C A. Conner, B A. Douthitt, S C. Sterrett, Carmen M. Salsbury

Travis J. Ryan

Our study focuses on the spatial ecology and seasonal habitat use of two aquatic turtles in order to understand the manner in which upland habitat use by humans shapes the aquatic activity, movement, and habitat selection of these species in an urban setting. We used radiotelemetry to follow 15 female Graptemys geographica (common map turtle) and each of ten male and female Trachemys scripta (red-eared slider) living in a man-made canal within a highly urbanized region of Indianapolis, IN, USA. During the active season (between May and September) of 2002, we located 33 of the 35 individuals a total of …

Movement And Habitat Use Of Two Aquatic Turtles (Graptemys Geographica And Trachemys Scripta) In An Urban Landscape, Travis J. Ryan, Christopher A. Conner, Brooke A. Douthitt, Sean C. Sterrett, Carmen M. Salsbury

Carmen M. Salsbury

Our study focuses on the spatial ecology and seasonal habitat use of two aquatic turtles in order to understand the manner in which upland habitat use by humans shapes the aquatic activity, movement, and habitat selection of these species in an urban setting. We used radiotelemetry to follow 15 female Graptemys geographica (common map turtle) and each of ten male and female Trachemys scripta (red-eared slider) living in a man-made canal within a highly urbanized region of Indianapolis, IN, USA. During the active season (between May and September) of 2002, we located 33 of the 35 individuals a total of …

Reproductive Energetics Of Adult Male Yellow- Bellied Marmots (Marmota Flaviventris), Carmen M. Salsbury, K. B. Armitage

Carmen M. Salsbury

We examined the energy expenditure of adult male yellow-bellied marmots and its relationship to various female-defense characteristics critical to male reproductive success. Resting metabolic rates of males were estimated in the laboratory via oxygen-consumption analysis, and field metabolic rates were estimated using a doubly Labeled water technique. Male home-range size, number of females defended by males, dispersion of females in the habitat, and date into the active season were considered to be predictors of male energy expenditure in excess of maintenance costs (field metabolic rate minus resting metabolic rate). Energy expenditure was best explained by a defensibility index based on …

3hsds1和17hsds7基因5'上游区转录活性研究.Pdf, Xinxing Dong, Yi Xin, Ying Bai, Yunzhou Yang, Jibin Zhang, Meiying Fang, Gang Chen

Jibin Zhang

Erau Aviation Wildlife Hazard Newsletter, Paul F. Eschenfelder

Paul F. Eschenfelder

No abstract provided.

A Brief History Of The American Fish Culture Company 1877-1997., Michael A. Rice

Michael A Rice

The American Fish Culture Company operated for nearly 120 years from 1877-1997 in Carolina, Rhode Island growing three species of trout under the under the direction of several generations of the Hazard family of Peace Dale, Rhode Island. The company was one of the first trout producers in the United States, and was considered the largest fish farm in the country by the early 1920s. Major innovations of the company included early adoption of pelleted feeds, and the introduction of photoperiod manipulation to spawn fish out of season. The company ultimately failed due to intense competition from larger producers in …

Where The Tiger Survives, Biodiversity Thrives, Philip J. Nyhus, Ronald Tilson

Philip J. Nyhus

No abstract provided.

Assessing The Value Of Dna Barcodes And Other Priority Gene Regions For Molecular Phylogenetics Of Lepidoptera, John James Wilson

John James Wilson

Background: Despite apparently abundant amounts of observable variation and species diversity, the order Lepidoptera exhibits a morphological homogeneity that has provided only a limited number of taxonomic characters and led to widespread use of nucleotides for inferring relationships. This study aims to characterize and develop methods to quantify the value of priority gene regions designated for Lepidoptera molecular systematics. In particular, I assess how the DNA barcode segment of the mitochondrial COI gene performs across a broad temporal range given its number one position of priority, most sequenced status, and the conflicting opinions on its phylogenetic performance. Methodology/Principal Findings: Gene …

Airport Wildlife Hazard Control, Paul F. Eschenfelder

Paul F. Eschenfelder

No abstract provided.

Polyphyly Of The Pikeminnows (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) Inferred Using Mitochondrial Dna Sequences, T. Heath Ogden

T. Heath Ogden

The phylogenetic relationships of the Colorado pikeminnow Ptychocheilus lucius, northern pikeminnow P. oregonensis, Sacramento pikeminnow P. grandis, Umpqua pikeminnow P. umpquae, and hardhead Mylopharodon conocephalus were examined by using molecular data to investigate monophyly of the genus Ptychocheilus. Phylogenies generated using DNA sequence data from the cytochrome b and 16S ribosomal DNA genes of the mitochondrial genome reveal that Ptychocheilus is a polyphyletic genus and suggest that the taxonomy of the group is in need of further revision. These data yield insights into the evolution of the pikeminnows and help place the significant evolutionary events in context with the geological …