Animal Sciences Commons^™

River Otter Reintroduction In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Jane M. Griess

Masters Theses

Between 26 February and 31 March, 1986, 11 river otter (Lutra canadensis) were obtained from North Carolina, implanted with radio transmitters, and released on Abrams Creek in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A total of 635 radio locations were obtained on eight otters.

Male home ranges averaged 14.1 km during the study (March - December) while female home ranges averaged 15.9 km. There were no significant differences in home range length (p > 0.05) between sexes.

A total of 75 scats (42 samples) were collected during the study. Food items were calculated on frequency of occurrence. Crayfish occurred in …

Effects Of Rainbow Trout Removal On Trout Populations And Food Habits In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, James W. Habera

Masters Theses

The range of the brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has continued to recede since the 1930's in the face of expanding rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) and, more recently, brown trout (Salmo trutta) populations. Exotic salmonid populations have been controlled with relatively intense electrofishing efforts in streams having barriers to prevent reinvasion by these fish.

Two years of moderately intense exotic salmonid removal efforts were evaluated for a group of nine Park streams, eight of which had no effective downstream barrier. Food habits of adult sympatric book and rainbow trout collected from three of the …

The Effects Of Xanthine And Adenosine Analogs On Rat Pup Diaphragmatic Contractility, Liam C. Farrell

Masters Theses

Methylxanthines are commonly used in the treatment of respiratory disorders such as asthma, apnea of prematurity and Cheyne-Stokes respiration. Recently, certain methylxanthines have been found to potentiate the contraction of the diaphragm and increase contraction strength of the fatigued diaphragm. The mechanism of action of the methylxanthines is unknown. Three theories have been proposed but each has its supportive and negative points. One theory is that methylxanthines inhibit cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) which facilitates contraction by increasing cyclic AMP levels in the cell. Another theory is that methylxanthines antagonize adenosine, thus blocking the adenosine-induced inhibition of contraction. The third theory …