Life Sciences Commons^™

A Synopsis Of The Ferns And Fern Allies Of Nebraska, With Maps Of Their Distribution, Steven B. Rolfsmeier, Robert B. Kaul, David M. Sutherland

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

An annotated list and county-by-county distribution maps are presented for the 32 species of ferns and fern allies native to Nebraska, based upon field and herbarium studies and critical evaluation of the literature. Native to the state are Isoetes melanopoda, Selaginella rupestris, five species of Equisetum, and 25 species in 18 genera of ferns. Three native species are here verified for the first time, based upon recent collections: Matteuccia struthiopteris var. pensylvanica, Ophioglossum engelmannii, and Pellaeaglabella ssp. glabella. Isoetes melanopoda was rediscovered in 2000, the first record since 1941. Rejected are published reports …

The Prairie Naturalist Volume 33, No.4 December 2001

The Prairie Naturalist

SPECIES, SEASON, AND DENSITY OF BURIED SEEDS SURVIVING FOX SQUIRREL DEPREDATION ▪ C. C. Smith, and J. M. Briggs

RELATI0NSHIP OF HYDROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND POPULATlONS OF BREEDING PIPING PLOVERS ▪ D. S. Licht,

DEMODICOSIS IN A WHITE-TAILED DEER (ODOCOILEUS VIRGINIANUS) IN SOUTH DAKOTA ▪ C. N. Jacques, J. A Jenks. M. B. Hildreth. R. J. Schauer, and D. D. Johnson

SURVEYS OF CALLING AMPHIBIANS IN NORTH DAKOTA ▪ D. H. Johnson, and R. D. Batie

EFFECTS OF HUMAN PRESENCE ON VOCALIZATIONS OF GRASSLAND BIRDS IN KANSAS ▪ S. L Bye, R. J. Robel, and K. E. Kemp

Reviewers 2001

Author …

Bulletin No. 37: Living Resources And Habitats Of The Lower Connecticut River, Glenn D. Dreyer, Marcianna Caplis

Bulletins

No abstract provided.

La Homogeneizacion Paisajistica De Los Valles De Hortmoier Y Sant Aniol (Alta Garrotxa, Girona): Caracterizacion Y Evaluacion De Los Cambios Ambientales En El Periodo 1957-1979-1996 Con Patch Analyst, Josep Vila I Subiros, Joan M. Welch

Geography & Planning Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Vascular Flora Of Van Horn Woods, Plainfield Township, Will County, Il, Joseph Traina

Faculty Publications & Research

The vascular flora at Van Horn Woods Park was surveyed during the 1998-2000 growing seasons. This park is a 30 hectare site located in Plainfield Township, Will County, Illi- nois (SE1/4 S27 T36N R9E). A total of 246 taxa, representing 160 genera and 67 fami- lies, were identified within or immediately adjacent to the park. Seventy-one percent of these taxa were native. Four taxa were collected and submitted to the Morton Arboretum as new county records for Will County. The quality of this site as a natural area was also assessed using quantitative methods based on floral composition and diversity. …

Winter Severity And Wolf Predation On A Formerly Wolf-Free Elk Herd, L. David Mech, Douglas W. Smith, Kerry M. Murphy, Daniel R. Macnulty

USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

We studied wolf (Canis lupus) predation on elk (Cervus elaphus) in Yellowstone National Park from 17 March to 15 April 1997 (severe winter conditions) and from 2 to 31 March 1998 (mild winter conditions) 2-3 years after wolves were reintroduced to the park. Elk composed 91% of 117 kills. Data comparisons for 1997 versus 1998 were: hunting success rate, 26% versus 15%; kill rate, 17.1 kg/wolf/day versus 6.1; percent of kill consumed in first day, 7 versus 86; percent femur marrow fat of adult kills, 27 versus 70; calf:adult ratios of kills, 2:33 versus 17:23; sex …

The Prairie Naturalist Volume 33, No.3 September 2001

The Prairie Naturalist

SEASONAL REPRODUCTION IN SIGMODON HISPIDUS INHABITING TALLGRASS PRAIRIES OF OKLAHOMA ▪ J. A. Wilson and R. L. Lochmiller

USE OF THE INDEX OF BIOLOGICAL INTEGRITY IN EASTERN SOUTH DAKOtA RIVERS ▪ C. L. Milewski, C. R. Berry, and D. Dieterman

SEED USE BY VERTEBRATES AND INVERTEBRATES IN TALLGRASS PRAIRIE ▪ A. W. Reed, G. A. Kaufman, J. E. Boyer, Jr., and D. W. Kaufman

RANGE EXPANSION OF THE PILEATED WOODPECKER IN NORTH DAKOTA ▪ J. A. Dechant 163

LAB FATTENING AND NON-INVASIVE ESTIMATES OF BODY COMPOSITION IN DEER MICE ▪ E. T. Unangst, Jr., M. J. Blair, M. W. Granger, …

Endangered Species Bulletin, September 2001 - Vol. Xxvi No. 1

Endangered Species Bulletin

In this issue:
4 Incentives for Conservation on Private Lands
6 Preventative Medicine for Species at Risk
8 Partners for Fish and Wildlife
10 Landowners Help Karner Blues
13 Working Together for Riparian Conservation
16 A Safe Harbor for the Red-cockaded Woodpecker
19 Stewardship on the Plains
22 A Partnerships to Restore the Aplomado Falcon
24 New Habitat Conservation Plan Grants
26 A Private Effort to Conserve Biological Diversity
30 Rare Woodpeckers Reintroduced to North Florida
32 Training Courses Highlight Partnerships
34 Partnering with Plants
36 “Working the Sturge”

Genetic Evidence For Two Species Of Elephant In Africa, Alfred L. Roca, Nicholas Georgiadis, Jill Pecon-Slattery, Stephen J. O'Brien

Biology Faculty Articles

Elephants from the tropical forests of Africa are morphologically distinct from savannah or bush elephants. Dart-biopsy samples from 195 free-ranging African elephants in 21 populations were examined for DNA sequence variation in four nuclear genes (1732 base pairs). Phylogenetic distinctions between African forest elephant and savannah elephant populations corresponded to 58% of the difference in the same genes between elephant genera Loxodonta (African) and Elephas (Asian). Large genetic distance, multiple genetically fixed nucleotide site differences, morphological and habitat distinctions, and extremely limited hybridization of gene flow between forest and savannah elephants support the recognition and conservation management of two African …

Managing Birds And Controlling Aircraft In The Kennedy Airport–Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Complex: The Need For Hard Data And Soft Opinions, Kevin Brown, R. Michael Erwin, Milo E. Richmond, P A. Buckley, John Tanacredi Ph.D., Dave Avrin

Faculty Works: CERCOM

During the 1980s, the exponential growth of laughing gull (Larus atricilla) colonies, from 15 to about 7600 nests in 1990, in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and a correlated increase in the bird-strike rate at nearby John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York City) led to a controversy between wildlife and airport managers over the elimination of the colonies. In this paper, we review data to evaluate if: (1) the colonies have increased the level of risk to the flying public; (2) on-colony population control would reduce the presence of gulls, and subsequently bird strikes, at the airport; …

Endangered And Threatened Wildlife And Plants; Establishment Of A Nonessential Experimental Population Of Whooping Cranes In The Eastern United States

Endangered Species Bulletin

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), will reintroduce whooping cranes (Grus Americana) into historic habitat in the eastern United States with the intent to establish a migratory flock that would summer and breed in Wisconsin, and winter in west-central Florida. We are designating this reintroduced population as a nonessential experimental population (NEP) according to section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. The geographic boundary of the NEP includes the States of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, …

The Prairie Naturalist Volume 33, No.2 June 2001

The Prairie Naturalist

A LITERATURE-BASED CHECKLIST OF KANSAS ROBBER FLIES (DIPTERA: ASILIDAE) ▪ R. J. Beckemeyer

DISTRIBUTIONS OF ROOSTING SANDHILL CRANES AS

IDENTIFIED BY AERIAL THERMOGRAPHY ▪ T. L. Parrish, W. A. Hubert, S. H. Anderson, M. 1. Pucherelli, and W. Mangus

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS FOR NORTH DAKOTA 2000 ▪ R. N. Randall

FIRST RECORD OF THE CINERElJS SHREW FOR RILEY COUNTY, KANSAS. R. S. Matlack, D. W. Kaufman, and R. E. Charlton

BADGER REMOVES EGG FROM ISLAND IN PRAIRIE ALKALI LAKE ▪ B. R. Casler and R. K. Murphy

ON THE RARITY OF FOOD PROVISIONING BY MALE DICKCISSELS ▪ L. D. Igl …

Biodiversity: The World Of Life, Charles H. Smith

DLPS Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Casco Bay Watershed Wetlands Characterization, State Planning Office

Maine Collection

Casco Bay Watershed Wetlands Characterization

State of Maine Executive Department - State Planning Office

Augusta, Maine, May 2001

Contents: Abstract / Background / Getting Started / Designing the System / The Characterization / The Prioritization / Results / Cautions / Significance of the Approach / Literature Cited / Figure 1 - Biophysical Regions of Maine / Appendix A: Steering Committee Members / Appendix B: Field Verification Form / Appendix C: Contacts

Agenda: A Cartography Of Governance: Exploring The Province Of Environmental Ngos, University Of Colorado Boulder. School Of Law, University Of Colorado Boulder. Environmental Program, University Of Tulsa. National Energy-Environment Law & Policy Institute, University Of Colorado Boulder. United Government Of Graduate Students

A Cartography of Governance: Exploring the Province of Environmental NGOs (April 7-8)

Presented by: the Colorado Journal of International Environmental Law and Policy on April 7 & 8, 2001. Symposium director: Lakshman D. Guruswamy.

Co-sponsored by: University of Colorado School of Law, University of Colorado Environmental Program, University of Tulsa National Energy-Environment Law and Policy Institute, University of Colorado United Government of Graduate Students.

The papers and edited proceedings of the conference will be published in a special symposium issue of the Colorado Journal of International Environmental Law & Policy (CJIELP).

"The first objective of the Symposium was to understand and explore the growing importance of nongovernmental actors, and delineate the manner …

Trachelomonas Spp. And Other Euglenophyceae Taxa In A Southeastern Virginia Lake, Harold G. Marshall

Virginia Journal of Science

Trachelomonas species from Lake Kilby, a reservoir lake in southeastern Virginia are described with supportive electron micrographs. The most abundant Trachelomonas species wereT. hispida and T. volvocina. Other members of the Euglenophyceae occurring in this lake are identified.

Endangered And Threatened Wildlife And Plants; Proposal To Establish A Nonessential Experimental Population Of Whooping Cranes In The Eastern United States

Endangered Species Bulletin

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to reintroduce whooping cranes (Grus Americana) into historic habitat in the eastern United States with the intent to establish a migratory flock that would summer and breed in Wisconsin, and winter in west-central Florida. We propose that this reintroduced population be designated a nonessential experimental population (NEP) according to section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. We also announce the availability of the draft environmental assessment for this action. The area proposed for NEP designation includes the States of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, …

The Prairie Naturalist Volume 33, No.1 March 2001

The Prairie Naturalist

VEGETATION STRUCTURE AND INVERTEBRATE BIOMASS OF CONVENTIONAL AND SUSTAINABLE SORGHUM FIELDS IN KANSAS ▪ R. J. Robel and C Xiong

MONTHLY OPEN-WATER BOTTOM TRAWLING AT TWO SOUTH DAKOTA LAKES ▪ B. G. Blackwell and M. L. Brown

WINTER SURVIVAL AND HOME RANGE OF FEMALE RING-NECKED PHEASANT IN RELATION TO FOOD' PLOTS ▪ A E. Gabbert, J. R. Purvis, L. D. Flake, and A P. Leif

THIRD BREEDING RECORD OF BLUE GROSBEAK IN NORTH DAKOTA ▪ K. H. Haas and C A Haas

EVIDENCE OF AMERICAN WOODCOCK NESTING IN SOUTHEASTERN NORTH DAKOTA ▪ F. Y Sargeant and G. A Sargeant

BOOK …

Rare, Threatened And Endangered Plants And Animals Of Oregon (2001), James S. Kagan, Sue Vrilakas, Eleanor P. Gaines, Cliff Alton, Ken Popper, Mark A. Stern, Eric Scheuering, John A. Christy, Mary Finnerty, Jon Hak, Anthony A. Tovar, Michael Murray, Claudine Tobalske, Oregon Natural Heritage Program

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Extinction is a natural process. Today, however, plant and animal species are disappearing world-wide at an accelerated pace. Based on current trends, half of the species on earth will be extinct within the next 100 years. The major cause of this phenomenon is large-scale destruction of native habitats, which has increased since European settlement began in the mid 1800's - in Oregon and throughout the New World.

Once lost, a species can never be recovered, and there is no way of knowing how useful it may have been. We do know that human beings and many of their industries depend …

Origin And Conservation Genetics Of Threatened Ute Ladies’-Tresses, Spiranthes Diluvialis (Orchidaceae), Allen L. Szalanski, Gerry Steinauer, Richard Bischof, Jessica Lynn Petersen

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The Ute ladies’-tresses, Spiranthes diluvialis, is listed as a threatened orchid in west-central United States by the Federal government. Information on its origin and patterns of genetic variation is needed to develop effective conservation strategies for this species. DNA sequencing and polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to evaluate genetic variation and structure of 23 populations of S. diluvialis. In addition, four congeneric species were analyzed to determine possible origins of the putative allotetraploid S. diluvialis. DNA sequencing and PCR-RFLP analysis of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and mitochondrial and chloroplast DNA …

Tiger Restoration In Asia: Ecological Theory Vs. Sociological Reality, Ronald Tilson, Philip J. Nyhus, Neil Franklin

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Mortality Of Whooping Crane Colts In Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada, 1997-99, Douglas G. Bergeson, Brian W. Johns, Geoffrey L. Holroyd

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Twenty-two whooping crane (Grus americana) pairs with 2 young were monitored in Wood Buffalo National Park (WBNP) over 3 years to determine causes of colt mortality. The family groups were monitored from the ground, air, and with the aid ofradioteiemetry. We attached transmitters to 18 colts: 5 (28%) fledged, 5 (28%) succumbed to cumulative effects (head trauma, stress, exposure and/or infection), 4 (22%) were lost to unknown causes (3 of these went missing after they had lost their transmitters), 2 (11%) were taken by foxes (Vulpes vulpes), 1 (5.5%) was lost to raven (Corvus corax …

Translocation Of Florida Sandhill Cranes To Georgia, Wesley A. Abler, Stephen A. Nesbitt

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Wild Florida sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pratensis) were captured in Florida during 3 years and translocated to Grand Bay Wildlife Management Area (GBWMA), Georgia, in an attempt to establish a resident population of Florida sandhill cranes in a location with suitable habitat but no known population of resident sandhill cranes. Translocated second-year subadult cranes commingled with migratory greater sandhill cranes (G. c. tabida) yet remained on GBWMA each year after the migratory birds left the area. Twenty-one of 35 released cranes were visually identified at least 5 months after release, 3 cranes more than 15 months …

Nocturnal Roost Site Selection And Diurnal Habitat Use By Sandhill Cranes During Spring In Central Nebraska, Craig A. Davis

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

During spring 1998 and 1999, the Platte River Whooping Crane Maintenance Trust conducted ground and aerial surveys of staging sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis; hereafter, cranes) to detennine roost site selection and habitat-use patterns along a l20-Ian stretch of the Platte River in south-central Nebraska. Cranes peaked at 232,023 during 22-28 March 1998 and 206,074 during 28 Februaty-6 March 1999 in the study area, a portion of the total crane staging area in the Platte River Valley. Diurnal observations showed that 48% of the cranes were in com fields, 34% in lowland grasslands, 13% in alfalfa fields, and 5% …

The Effects Of Semen Collection On Fertility In Captive, Naturally Fertile, Sandhill Cranes, Guojun Chen, George F. Gee, Jane M. Nicolich, Joanna A. Taylor

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We tested to see if semen collection interferes with fertility in naturally fertile pairs of cranes. We used 12 naturally fertile, Florida sandhill crane (Grus canadensis pratensis) pairs for this study, 6 control and 6 experimental. All pairs had previously produced fertile eggs. Semen was collected on Tuesday mornings and Friday afternoons from 26 February 1993 to 4 June 1993. We used standard artificial insemination methods to collect and to evaluate the semen and spermatozoa. Semen collection had minimal effect on semen quality and semen quantity. Semen volume, sperm density, sperm motility, sperm morphology, sperm viability, sperm number …

Platte River Cooperative Agreement And Proposed Program: Efforts To Protect, Restore, And Manage Habitat For Whooping Cranes, Least Terns, And Piping Plovers, Clayton Derby, Dale Strickland

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

On 1 July 1997 the states of Nebraska, Wyoming, and Colorado and the U.S. Department of the Interior signed the "Cooperative Agreement for Platte River Research and Other Efforts Relating to Endangered Species Habitats Along the Central Platte River, Nebraska" (Cooperative Agreement). In the Cooperative Agreement, the four parties set forth a "Proposed Platte River Recovery Implementation Program" (Program). The proposed incremental Program uses adaptive management to provide benefits to whooping cranes (Grus americana), least terns (Sterna albifrons), and piping plovers (Charadrius melodus). The proposed Program will also test the assumption that it is possible …

Results Of The Utah-Arizona Stage-By-Stage Migrations, David H. Ellis, Carolee Mellon, Matthew Kinloch, Tressa Dolbeare, Damien P. Ossi

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

In an effort to find a safer means of teaching cranes new migration routes, each year (in 1998 and 1999) we transported a group of greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) stage-by-stage, in a horse trailer, with stops for brief flights at about 30-km intervals, along a 1300-1400-km fall migration route from Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge (Fish Springs) in west-central Utah to the vicinity of Gila Bend, Arizona. Thereafter, we released them into a wild flock of sandhill cranes. All stage-by-stage birds were hand-reared with both a plastic crane decoy (to encourage them to roost in water) …

Minimum Survival Rates For Mississippi Sandhill Cranes: A Comparison Of Hand-Rearing And Parent-Rearing, David H. Ellis, George F. Gee, Glenn H. Olsen, Scott G. Hereford, Jane M. Nicolich, Nancy J. Thomas, Meenakshi Nagendran

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Hand-reared (56) and parent-reared (76) juvenile Mississippi sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pulla) were produced at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (patuxent), Laurel, Maryland over a 4-year period (1989-92) and released at the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge), Gautier, Mississippi in a controlled experiment. Hand-reared survival rates proved higher than for parent-reared survival for each time category: 6 months, 86% versus 75%; 1 year, 77% versus 68%; 2 years, 66% versus 53%; 3 years, 55% versus 43%: partial data for fourth and fifth years were 57% versus 31 % and 48% versus 37%.

Lessons From The Motorized Migrations, David H. Ellis, George F. Gee, Kent R. Clegg, Joseph W. Duff, William A. Lishman, William J. L. Sladen

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Ten experiments have been conducted to determine if cranes can be led on migration and if those so trained will repeat migrations on their own. Results have been mixed as we have experienced the mishaps common to pilot studies. Nevertheless, we have learned many valuable lessons. Chief among these are that cranes can be led long distances behind motorized craft (air and ground), and those led over most or the entire route will return north come spring and south in fall to and from the general area of training. However, they will follow their own route. Groups transported south and …

Proceedings Of The Eighth North American Crane Workshop, 11–14 January 2000: Preface And Contents

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

This volume includes reports from the January 2000 conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, 2 papers not included in the previous proceedings, and a small number of invited papers intended to broaden the scope of the volume and to replace the few papers presented at the conference but withdrawn from publication. In serving as Editor, I wish, first of all, to express thanks to the many authors, reviewers, and associate editors, and to Gary Lingle who hosted the conference and was the intended Chief Editor: Gary underwent an employment change early in 2001 and so passed the task to me. I …