Life Sciences Commons^™

A Report On Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs In Nebraska-- Their Biology, Behavior, Ecology, Management, And Responses To A Visual Barrier Fence, Nancy S. Foster

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

I examined the effects of a visual barrier fence, which had a see-through visibility of 600/0, on the foraging, vigilance, and aggressive behaviors of adult female black-tailed prairie dogs from June through August 1990 in central Nebraska. I also examined changes in their home ranges and use of an area in response to this fence. Prairie dogs prefer an open view of their surroundings. Therefore, I expected animals near a visual barrier to spend more time in vigilance and aggression, and less time foraging. Adult female prairie dogs exposed to the visual barrier devoted more time to foraging and less …

The Reproductive Biology, Winter Dormancy And Denning Physiology Of Black Bears In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Stephen Anthony Pozzanghera

Masters Theses

Black bear reproduction, winter dormancy and denning physiology were studied during June 1984 to May 1986 in the northwest quadrant of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. Information was obtained from 30 individual females captured 35 times. Additional information on mast indices, lactation and den utilization were summarized from within the study area for the period from 1978-1988.

Breakaway collar retention varied significantly between years (1984, N=10, X=394 days vs. 1985, N=5, X=196 days, P<0.05).

Maximum production potential indices calculated for white, red and all oaks for 1984 and 1985 were 8.74, 19.99, 15.52%, and 35.06, 37.73, 36.45%, respectively. Regression …

Inferences About Guessing And Knowing By Chimpanzees (Pan Troglodytes), Daniel J. Povinelli, Kurt E. Nelson, Sarah T. Boysen

Sentience Collection

The visual perspective-taking ability of 4 chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) was investigated. The subjects chose between information about the location of hidden food provided by 2 experimenters who randomly alternated between two roles (the guesser and the knower). The knower baited 1 of 4 obscured cups so that the subjects could watch the process but could not see which of the cups contained the reward. The guesser waited outside the room until the food was hidden. Finally, the knower pointed to the correct cup while the guesser pointed to an incorrect one. The chimpanzees quickly learned to respond to the knower. …

Seasonal Activity And Road Mortality Of The Snakes Of The Pa-Hay-Okee Wetlands Of Everglades National Park, Frank S. Bernardino

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current study describes the composition and activity of the snake community of the Pa-hay-okee wetlands of Everglades National Park. The study was conducted from January 1987 to January 1989. Sixteen species were observed, with Thamnophis sauritus, Thamnophis sirtalis, Nerodia fasciata pictiventris, and Agkistrodon piscivorus representing 90.2% of the total sample. The seasonal distribution and activity of the snakes were closely related to fluctuations in the water table. Most activity occurred in the winter months as snakes migrated west following the drying water edge of Shark River Slough. Seventy percent of all snakes observed during this study …

Vocal Recognition Of Pups By Mother Mexican Free-Tailed Bats, Tadarida Brasiliensis Mexicana, Jonathan P. Balcombe

Sentience Collection

The ability of Mexican free-tailed bat mothers and pups to recognize vocalizations of their presumptive kin (pup isolation calls and mother echolocation calls, respectively) was tested using playbacks of recorded calls. Captive individuals were presented with calls of two bats, one presumptive kin and the other a stranger, from opposite sides of a circular wire arena. Response was determined by amount of time spent on each side of the arena, time spent in contact with a cloth bat model in front of each speaker, and number of separate contacts with each model. For the latter two measures, mothers showed a …

Long-Term Effects Of Early Social Isolation In Macaca Mulatta: Changes In Dopamine Receptor Function Following Apomorphine Challenge, Mark H. Lewis, John P. Gluck, Tom L. Beauchamp, Michael F. Keresztury, Richard B. Mailman

Experimentation Collection

The hypothesis that early social isolation results in long-term alterations in dopamine receptor sensitivity was tested using older adult rhesus monkeys. Isolated and control monkeys were challenged with apomorphine (0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg), and the drug effects on spontaneous blink rate, stereotyped behavior, and self-injurious behavior were quantified using observational measures. Monoamine metabolites were quantified from cisternal CSF by HPLC-EC, prior to pharmacological challenge. Isolated and control monkeys did not differ in CSF concentrations of HVA, 5-HIAA, or MHPG. At the higher dose, apomorphine significantly increased the rate of blinking, the occurrence of whole-body stereotypies, and the intensity of stereotyped …

Can Kangaroos Survive In The Wheatbelt?, Graham Arnold

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

One of the costs of agricultural development in Western Australia over the past 100 years has been the loss of most of the native vegetation and, consequently, massive reductions in the numbers of most of our native fauna. Thirteen mammal species are extinct and many bird and mammal species are extinct in some areas. These losses will increase as remnant native vegetation degrades under the impact of nutrients washed and blown from farmland, from the invasion by weeds and from grazing sheep.

Even kangaroos are affected. Unless the community manages remnant vegetation to minimise degradation and enhance the regeneration of …

Pflanzengesellchaften Der Mongolei, Werner Hilbig

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

First paragraphs of the introduction:

In Fortführung der Forschungsreisen der russischen Floristen und Pflanzengeouraphen im vorigen und Anfang dieses Jahrhunderts wurden erste Expeditionen zur systematischen Erforschung der Naturressourcen der Mongolei in den 20er und 30er Jahren durchgeführt. Sie wurden von der Akademie der Wissenschaften der UdSSR und der Akademie der Wissenschaften der MVR (vorher Wissenschaftliches Komitee der MVR) organisiert. Auch die von der Geographischen GeselIschaft und der Akademie der Wissenschaften der UdSSR durchgeführten Expeditionen zur Erforschung der natürlichen Bedingungen und der Landwirtschaft in der Mongolei schufen Möglichkeiten zur Entwicklung der geobotanischen Forschungsrichtung (vgl. GUBANOV u. HILBIG 1989).

Als erste eigenständi"e …

Title Page, Verso Of The Title Page, And Contents For Erforschung Biologischer Ressourcen Der Mongolischen Volksrepublik, Band 8, Michael Stubbe

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

Title page, verso of the title page, and contents of Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolischen Volksrepublik, Band 8 (1990).

History Of North American Trapping: How Fur-Trading Developed Our Continent, Daniel E. Mcallister Jr., Shirley A. Merrill

Maine Collection

History of North American Trapping: How Fur-Trading Developed Our Continent

by Daniel E. McAllister, Jr. & Shirley A. Merrill

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Augusta, Maine, 1990.

Postfinishing Mineralization Of Skeletal Tissue In Replacement Gilts (1990), R I. Nicholson, G E. Fitzner, Robert H. Hines, Robert D. Goodband, Joe D. Hancock

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Thirty-two crossbred gilts averaging 250 /b were selected for the experiment at the conclusion of the finishing phase. Eight of the gilts were slaughtered on d 0 to serve as a pretreatment control group. The remaining 24 gilts were assigned to three dietary treatments to provide daily 100% (14 g/d Ca and 11.3 g/d P), 150% (22.5 g/d Ca and 16.6 g/d P), and 200% (29.9 g/d Ca and 22.0 g/d P) of the Ca/P level consumed per d during the finishing phase. These gilts were slaughtered 35 d later at 291 lb. Gilts receiving 29.9 g/d Ca and 22.0 …

Effect Of Acidification On Starter Pig Performance And Nutrient Digestibility (1990), T L. Weeden, J A. Hansen, K L. Richardson, Jim L. Nelssen

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

One hundred ninety-six pigs (21 d of age and 12.3 lb initial wt) were used to evaluate the effect of adding an organic acid blend (OAB) to starter diets on growth performance and nutrient digestibility. The four dietary treatments consisted of a control diet and the GAB replacing corn at 3, 4.5, and 6 lb/ton in both phases 1 and 2. In phase 1 (0 to 14 d) diets, contained 20% dried skim milk, 20% dried whey, and 5% soybean oil. Phase 2 diets (15 to 35 d) contained 10% dried whey and 5% soybean oil. There was no response …

Protein Sparing Effect Of A Fermentation Product In Pig Diets From Weaning To Market (1990), J A. Swanson, Joe D. Hancock

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

One hundred eighty pigs (avg wt of 21.11b) were used in an experiment to determine if a fermentation product improves performance and reduces last rib fat thickness in pigs when added to a low-protein diet regimen. Treatments were: 1) positive control (19-16-14% crude protein regimen during the nursery-growing-finishing phases); 2) positive control plus 2.50 lb/ton fermentation product; 3) low-protein regimen (17-14-12% crude protein during the nursery-growing-finishing phases); 4) low-protein regimen plus 1.25 lb/ton fermentation product; 5) low-protein regimen plus 2.50 lb/ton fermentation product; and 6) low-protein regimen plus 5.00 lb/ton fermentation product. As addition of fermentation product was increased from …

Bone-In Pork Loins: Modified Atmosphere Packaging To Extend Shelf-Life (1990), K E. Warren, Melvin C. Hunt, C L. Marksberry, O Sorheim, Donald H. Kropf

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Modified atmosphere packaging with 100% carbon dioxide was used to investigate changes in daily gas composition, as well as the influence of fat trim level and location of loin in the box on shelf life characteristics. Length of storage was the primary factor influencing shelf life of whole loins and their retail chops. Although microbial qualities was acceptable in loins stored up to d 19, sirloin and blade discoloration was obvious at 11-13 d. Storage for more than 11 d reduced the display life of retail chops to 1-2 d. Shelf life characteristics of bone-in pork loins were superior with …

Litter Size For Gilts Fed Higher Levels Of Folic Acid And Riboflavin During Gestation (1990), C Zhang, D Li, Jim L. Nelssen, Duane L. Davis

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

We fed gilts diets containing either additional folic acid throughout gestation (1.5 g/ton, 4.5 lb/gilt daily), additional riboflavin (100 mg/gilt daily) from d 4 to 10 of gestation, both folic acid and riboflavin, or neither supplement All diets provided all KSU recommended allowances for all other nutrients. Neither farrowing rate nor litter size was affected by the treatments.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 15, 1990

Effects Of Daily Administration Of Porcine Somatotropin On Performance Of Growing Pigs (55 To 130 Lb) (1990), G E. Fitzner, T L. Weeden, B J. Healy, B R. Schricker, Robert H. Hines, Jim L. Nelssen, Robert D. Goodband, Donald H. Kropf, Joe D. Hancock

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Sixty crossbred barrows initially weighing 55.7 lb were used to evaluate six experimental treatments during a 5-wk growth trial. Pigs received one of three levels of dietary lysine (1.0, 1.5, or 2.0%) and were injected daily with either 3 mg porcine somatotropin (pST) or placebo. During the first 2 wk of the trial, there was no effect from either pST injection or increasing level of dietary lysine on average daily gain (ADG) or average daily feed intake (ADFI). Also, there was no effect of pST injections on feed conversion (F/G), but those pigs fed diets containing higher levels of lysine …

Effect Of Extrusion On The Nutritional Value Of Soybeans And Sorghum Grain In Finishing Pigs (1990), G E. Fitzner, T L. Weeden, Terry L. Gugle, Robert H. Hines, Joe D. Hancock

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 112 finishing pigs (avg initial wt of 139 lb) was used to determine the effects of adding extruded soybeans and/or sorghum grain to diets for finishing pigs. Treatments were: 1) sorghum-soybean meal control (sorghum-SBM), 2) extruded soybeans and ground sorghum, 3) SBM and extruded sorghum, and 4) extruded soybeans and sorghum. All diets were isocaloric and isolysinic. Using extruded soybeans and/or sorghum improved efficiency of gain compared to the sorghum-SBM control. This response was apparently related to the improved digestibilities of dry matter and nitrogen with the use of extruded ingredients. Optimum digestibility of dry matter and …

Interrelationship Between Hypersensitivity To Soybean Proteins And Growth Performance In Early-Weaned Pigs (1990), D F. Li, P G. Reddy, Frank Blecha, R Klemm, Jim L. Nelssen, Robert D. Goodband

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

One hundred twenty-five pigs were orally infused with 6 g/d of either dried skim milk, soybean meal (48% CP), soy protein concentrate, extruded soy protein concentrate, or experimental soy protein concentrate from 7 to 11 d of age and then fed a diet containing the corresponding protein sources from weaning (d 21) to 35 d of age. All pigs were fed a corn-soybean meal diet containing 10% dried whey, 1.25% lysine, and 3% soybean oil for the remaining 21 d of the experiment. Skin-fold thickness following intradermal injection of protein extracts, xylose absorption, and anti-soy immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers were …

Improving On-Farm Mixing Efficiency (1990), Robert D. Goodband

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Particle size reduction has a great impact on efficiency of feed utilization. Decreasing particle size improves digestibility of nutrients by increasing surface area and allowing for greater interaction with digestive enzymes. In addition, particle size reduction can influence how uniformly feed is mixed and potential for segregation of ingredients. Mixing equipment and times also need to be evaluated to ensure feed uniformity. Very often suggested mixing times underestimate the amount of time necessary to thoroughly mix feed. Items such as worn paddles or ribbons, ribbon or paddle speed, and overfilling mixers increase the time necessary for adequate feed mixing and …

Computerized Records: Use In Troubleshooting Reproductive Problems Of Commercial Swine Herds (1990), Gary Dial

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Swine production has become, in a relatively short time, one of the most competitive agribusinesses. The increase in international exportation of pork, dynamic changes in the efficiency of hog production, and the increasing preference of consumers for alternative meats has mandated that the swine industry be competitive with other producers of protein foodstuffs. Recent changes in the American swine industry have been dynamic. During the past 10 years, the financial advantage of volume selling and buying has led to an unwavering, irreversible evolution toward increasingly larger herd sizes. Accompanying this has been an ongoing trend toward decentralization away from the …

Fat Source Effects On Finishing Steer Digestion And Metabolism, B.J. Bock, D.L. Harmon, Robert T. Brandt Jr., J.E. Schneider

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A replicated 3 x 3 Latin square design was used to explore the effects of fat source (none vs 3.5% soybean oil soapstock or animal tallow) when fed with high (1.0%) calcium on digestion and metabolism of a finishing diet by steers. Adding fat did not affect site or extent of starch or dry matter digestion. A net synthesis of long chain fatty acids occurred in the rumen. Feeding fat tended (P=.ll) to depress bacterial N flowing at the duodenum but did not affect nonbacterial N or total N.

Influence Of Fat And Ionophores On Performance Of Finishing Steers, E.M. Clary, Robert T. Brandt Jr., Ronald V. Pope

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

One hundred ninety-two crossbred steers were used in a 2 x 4 factorially arranged experiment to study the effects of including fat and ionophores in finishing rations. Main effects were level of supplemental fat (0 or 4% tallow) and ionophore type [none, Bovatece (B), Rumensine + 'JYlane (RT), or daily rotation of Band RT (BRT)]. Daily feed intake (P<.10) and daily gain (P<.OO5) were reduced for steers fed R'T, but only when fat was included in the diet. In diets containing no supplemental fat, RT increased daily gain 10%. RT improved feed efficiency 8% (P<.05) in nonfat diets, but there was no difference between ionophores in diets containing fat. Adding fat improved feed efficiency of steers fed no ionophore or B. This study suggests that response of finishing steers to ionophores can be modified by the inclusion of fat in the diet.

Value Of Ralgro® Implants In Feedlot Steers Previously Maintained On A High Endophyte-Infected Fescue Hay, L.R. Corah, F.K. Brazle, Frank Blecha, P.G. Reddy, R.E. Jr. Wary, J. Klindt

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Steers previously fed high-endophyte fescue hay showed a greater response of Ralgro® implants than those fed a low-endophyte hay. The mode of action for this response was not explained by cellular immune system responses or variability in prolactin levels.

Value Of Rice Mill Feed As A Feedstuff For Backgrounding Heifers, F.K. Brazle, K.P. Coffey

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Stocker heifers were fed diets of either 67% rice mill feed + 33 % dehydrated alfalfa pellets (RA) or a 67% grain sorghum + 33% dehydrated alfalfa pellets (GA). The RA heifers consumed more feed daily but gained slower (P<.05), resulting in poorer feed efficiency. RA heifers also had a lower percentage shrink (P<.05) during the first 2 1/2 hr of simulated trucking. Rice mill feed is a poor feedstuff for growing calves when included in rations at high levels.

Effects Of Finaplix® Synovex-S®, And Ralgro® Implants, Singularly Or In Combinations, On Performance, Carcass Traits, And Longissimus Palatability Of Holstein Steers, J.K. Apple, D.D. Simms, Gerry L. Kuhl, Michael E. Dikeman, Curtis L. Kastner

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Over the entire feeding period (249 d). Finaplix® (F) plus Synovex-S® (S)-implanted steers had higher (P<.05) daily gains than F+Ralgro® (R), F; and control (C) steers. All treatments produced higher (P<.05) daily gains than C. with the exception of F: The only feed efficiency differences were during the fourth implant period. when F steers were more (P<.05) efficient than F+R or C steers. The F+S and F+R steers had higher (P<.05) masculinity scores than Sand C steers. Carcasses of F +S steers were heavier (P<.05) than those of F and C steers. The F+S steers had larger (P<.05) ribeyes than R, F; and C steers. Also, F+S steers tended (P=.07) to have lower yield grades than S, R. or C steers. Even though marbling scores and quality grades were similar (P>.05) among treatments. only 50% of F+S carcasses graded low Choice or higher compared to a range of 75 to 100% for the other treatments. The only meat palatability differences were tenderness scores; steaks from Sand F + R steers were less tender (P<.07) than those from Rand C steers.

Effects Of Processing Variables On Iridescence In Precooked Beef, H. Wang, Donald H. Kropf, Melvin C. Hunt, Curtis L. Kastner

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Beef semitendinosus (ST) muscles with injected water (3 or 10% of raw muscle weight) and phosphate (0.3%) were cooked to final internal temperatures of 130 (held at 130 for 121 min), 140 (held at 140 for 12 min), 145, or 155°1\ then sliced at 30, 45, 120, 130, or 145<>P by either a dull or a sharp slicer. Biceps femoris (BF) muscles had the same treatment but only at 3% water addition. Controls were uninjected muscles from the opposite side of the carcass. For ST muscles (all with 0.3% added phosphate), 3% added water resulted in less iridescence than …

An Evaluation Of Seven Pioneer Corn Hybrids For Silage And A Comparison Of Irrigated Vs Dryland Silages, D.G. Tiemann, K.K. Bolsen, R. Suazo, D. Johnson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Seven Pioneer corn hybrids and one grain sorghum hybrid were grown under both irrigated and dryland conditions in 1988 and compared for agronomic and silage quality traits. Com hybrid silage yields ranged from 4.5 to 7.6 tons of dry matter (OM) per acre (mean, 5.8 tons) and grain yield, from 64 to 115 bu per acre (mean, 87 bu). Pre-ensiled DM content of the corn hybrids ranged from 26.7 to 33.0% (mean, 29.5%) and plant height from 82 to 108 in. (mean, 94 in.). In a digestion trial with sheep, apparent DM digestibility ranged from 66.0 to 71.0% (mean 69.6%); …

Preliminary Carcass And Meat Research Results From Cycle Iv Of The Cattle Germ Plasm Evaluation Program, L.V. Cundiff, R.M. Koch, K.E. Gregory, J.D. Crouse, Michael E. Dikeman

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Preliminary data representing two of five calf crops in Cycle IV of the Germ Plasm Evaluation Program are reported. Carcass and meat data from 454 steers produced by mating 11 sire breeds to Hereford and Angus dams were obtained. Hereford (H) and Angus (A) sires born in the late 1960's (original) and also 1982 to 1984 (new) were compared. Steers sired by the new sample of H and A sires were heavier at slaughter than those of original sires, whereas marbling and percentages of trimmed retail product (% TRP) have not changed. HA and AH had lower % TRP than …

Characteristics Of The Indigenous Microflora From Five Silage Crops In 1987, R.A. Hart, F. Niroomand, K.K. Bolsen, M.A. Lubinski, W.R. Aimutis

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Indigenous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from five silage crops in the 1987 growing season: wheat, alfalfa, com, interseeded grain sorghum and soybeans, and forage sorghum. All crops had post-harvest LAB counts that exceeded 5 x 105 colony-forming units/g. There were no significant correlations between rate of fermentation during the first 7 d post-ensiling and the indigenous LAB counts. However, corn and sorghum, which fermented rapidly, had higher populations of homofermentative LAB, and the isolates showed higher rod to cocci ratios compared to the other three crops. Most of the homofermentative rods isolated were Lactobacillus plantarum, and most of …

Indigenous Microflora On Alfalfa And Corn, And Population Changes During Ensiling, C. Lin, R.A. Hart, K.K. Bolsen, J.T. Dickerson, J.L. Curtis

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Enterobacteriaceae, yeasts, molds, and lactate-using yeasts were examined on four cuttings of alfalfa, each at three maturity stagest and three com hybrids in 1989. In addition, microflora population changes were traced during ensiling for the second and fourth cutting alfalfas and the three com hybrids. Enterobacteriaceae were predominant on alfalfa; yeasts, molds, and Enterobacteriaceae predominated on com. Higher proportions of lactate-using yeast were found on com than alfalfa. Lactic acid bacteria comprised a small (104 to 105 CFU/g) proportion of the total (lot») populations, with streptococci the main indigenous LAB group. Lactobacilli, pediococci, and leuconostoc were …