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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons™
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Articles 1 - 19 of 19
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Brown-Headed Cowbirds In Grasslands: Their Habitats, Hosts, And Response To Management, Jill Shaffer, Christopher Goldade, Meghan Dinkins, Douglas Johnson, Lawrence Igl, Betty Euliss
Brown-Headed Cowbirds In Grasslands: Their Habitats, Hosts, And Response To Management, Jill Shaffer, Christopher Goldade, Meghan Dinkins, Douglas Johnson, Lawrence Igl, Betty Euliss
USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
The brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) is an obligate brood parasite whose numbers have increased in recent decades to the potential detriment of the species that they parasitize. Thus, most management efforts focus on discouraging brown-headed cowbird parasitism or controlling brown-headed cowbird populations. Keys to discouraging cowbird parasitism or controlling populations of brown-headed cowbirds in the Great Plains are maintaining large expanses of grassland, eliminating foraging areas (e.g., feedlots) and perch sites, and reducing the extent of overgrazed pastures.
What Hypothesis Tests Are Not: A Response To Colegrave And Ruxton, Douglas H. Johnson
What Hypothesis Tests Are Not: A Response To Colegrave And Ruxton, Douglas H. Johnson
USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
It is always flattering to see one’s work cited by others. Not only does it boost the ego, but it provides a satisfying feeling that one’s efforts are both appreciated and contributing to the advance of science. So I was pleased when a colleague pointed out that Colegrave and Ruxton (2003) had cited a recent paper of mine, ‘‘The insignificance of statistical significance testing’’ ( Johnson, 1999). In that article I argued, as did Colegrave and Ruxton, that confidence intervals often are much more informative than are p values associated with hypothesis tests.
Guidelines For Managing Lesser Prairie-Chicken Populations And Their Habitats, Christian A. Hagen, Brent E. Jamison, Kenneth M. Giesen, Terry Z. Riley
Guidelines For Managing Lesser Prairie-Chicken Populations And Their Habitats, Christian A. Hagen, Brent E. Jamison, Kenneth M. Giesen, Terry Z. Riley
USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus paidicinctus) populations have declined by >90% since the 1800s. These declines have concerned both biologists and private conservation groups and led to a petition to list the lesser prairie-chicken as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Most of the land in the current range of the lesser prairie-chicken is privately owned, and declines have been primarily attributed to anthropogenic factors. Conversion of native rangeland to cropland and excessive grazing have been implicated as leading causes in the species' decline. Periodic drought probably has exacerbated these problems. Little research on habitat requirements was conducted prior to …
Does Presence Of Permanent Fresh Water Affect Recruitment In Prairie-Nesting Dabbling Ducks?, Gary Krapu, Pamela Pietz, David Brandt, Robert Cox Jr.
Does Presence Of Permanent Fresh Water Affect Recruitment In Prairie-Nesting Dabbling Ducks?, Gary Krapu, Pamela Pietz, David Brandt, Robert Cox Jr.
USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
In the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of North Dakota, USA, American mink (Mustela vison) are a major predator of ducklings. Mink populations plummet during severe droughts, but some mink survive where permanent fresh water is available. In 1992–1993, we evaluated whether development of a permanent water body, the 125- km McClusky Canal (MC), had affected survival of gadwall (Anas strepera) and mallard (A. platyrhynchos) broods and ducklings in surrounding wetland complexes. Twelve of 25 radiomarked gadwall and mallard hens experienced total brood loss, and 148 of 199 radiomarked ducklings from 58 broods died by …
Tracking Of White-Tailed Deer Migration By Global Positioning System, Michael Nelson, L. David Mech, Paul F. Frame
Tracking Of White-Tailed Deer Migration By Global Positioning System, Michael Nelson, L. David Mech, Paul F. Frame
USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
We used global positioning system (GPS) radiocollars on female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) to document details of onsets of migrations, rates of travel, patterns of travel, durations of migrations, and distances traveled by 8 deer in spring and 4 deer in autumn in northeastern Minnesota in 1998, 1999, and 2001. In spring, deer migrated 23–45 km during 31–356 h, deviating a maximum 1.6–4.0 km perpendicular from a straight line of travel between their seasonal ranges. They migrated a minimum of 2.1–18.6 km/day over 11–56 h during 2–14 periods of travel. Minimum travel during 1-h intervals averaged 1.5 km/h …
Transmission Of Neospora Caninum Between Wild And Domestic Animals, L. F. P. Gondim, M. M. Mcallister, N. E. Mateus-Pinilla, W. C. Pitt, L. D. Mech, M. E. Nelson
Transmission Of Neospora Caninum Between Wild And Domestic Animals, L. F. P. Gondim, M. M. Mcallister, N. E. Mateus-Pinilla, W. C. Pitt, L. D. Mech, M. E. Nelson
USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
To determine whether deer can transmit Neospora caninum, brains of naturally infected white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were fed to 4 dogs; 2 of these dogs shed oocysts. Oocysts from 1 of the dogs were tested by polymerase chain reaction and found to be positive for N. caninum and negative for Hammondia heydorni. The internal transcribed spacer 1 sequence of the new strain (designated NC-deer1) was identical to N. caninum from domestic animals, indicating that N. caninum is transmitted between wild and domestic animals, often enough to prevent divergent evolution of isolated populations of the parasite. NC-deer1 …
Effects Of Management Practices On Grassland Birds: American Bittern, Jill A. Dechant, Marriah L. Sondreal, Douglas H. Johnson, Lawrence D. Igl, Christopher M. Goldade, Amy L. Zimmerman, Betty R. Euliss
Effects Of Management Practices On Grassland Birds: American Bittern, Jill A. Dechant, Marriah L. Sondreal, Douglas H. Johnson, Lawrence D. Igl, Christopher M. Goldade, Amy L. Zimmerman, Betty R. Euliss
USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Information on the habitat requirements and effects of habitat management on grassland birds were summarized from information in more than 4,000 published and unpublished papers. A range map is provided to indicate the relative densities of the species in North America, based on Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data. Although birds frequently are observed outside the breeding range indicated, the maps are intended to show areas where managers might concentrate their attention. It may be ineffectual to manage habitat at a site for a species that rarely occurs in an area. The species account begins with a brief capsule statement, which …
Analyis Of Predator Movement In Prairie Landscapes With Contrasting Grassland Composition, Michael L. Phillips, William R. Clark, Sarah M. Nusser, Marsha A. Sovada, Raymond J. Greenwood
Analyis Of Predator Movement In Prairie Landscapes With Contrasting Grassland Composition, Michael L. Phillips, William R. Clark, Sarah M. Nusser, Marsha A. Sovada, Raymond J. Greenwood
USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Mammalian predation influences waterfowl breeding success in the U.S. northern Great Plains, yet little is known about the influence of the landscape on the ability of predators to find waterfowl nests. We used radiotelemetry to record nightly movements of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in two 41.4-km2 study areas in North Dakota. Study areas contained either 15–20% grassland (low grassland composition) or 45–55% grassland (high grassland composition). Grasslands included planted cover, pastureland, and hayland. We predicted that the type and composition of cover types in the landscape would influence both predator …
The Flora Of The Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota, David M. Mushet, Ned H. Euliss Jr., Stephen P. Lane, Christopher M. Goldade
The Flora Of The Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota, David M. Mushet, Ned H. Euliss Jr., Stephen P. Lane, Christopher M. Goldade
USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
The 92 ha Cottonwood Lake Study Area is located in south-central North Dakota along the eastern edge of a glacial stagnation moraine known as the Missouri Coteau. The study area has been the focus of biological and hydrological research since the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service purchased the site in 1963. We studied the plant communities of the Cottonwood Lake Study Area from 1992 to 2001. During this time period, the vascular flora of the study area consisted of 220 species representing 52 families. Over half of the species were perennial forbs (117 species). Perennial grasses (26 species) and …
Nesting Biology Of Three Grassland Passerines In The Northern Tallgrass Prairie, Maiken Winter, Douglas H. Johnson, Jill A. Shaffer, W. Daniel Svedarsky
Nesting Biology Of Three Grassland Passerines In The Northern Tallgrass Prairie, Maiken Winter, Douglas H. Johnson, Jill A. Shaffer, W. Daniel Svedarsky
USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Basic nesting information on grassland passerines is needed for improving grassland bird management. Among the information needs are (1) the suitability of nesting habitat, (2) periods during the breeding season in which birds are most vulnerable to disturbances, and (3) how to fit grasslands into a priori- tization scheme for conservation. Comparisons of nesting parameters among grassland species will help identify important management considerations. We describe and compare nest-site characteristics, nesting phenology, clutch size, hatching and fledging success, and brood parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) for three grassland passerine species nesting in tallgrass prairie of northwestern Minnesota …
Record High Wolf, Canis Lupus, Pack Density, L. David Mech, Shawn Tracy
Record High Wolf, Canis Lupus, Pack Density, L. David Mech, Shawn Tracy
USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
This report documents a year-around Wolf (Canis lupus) density of 18.2/100 km2 and a summer density of 30.8/100 km2, in a northeastern Minnesota Wolf pack. The previous record was a summer density of 14.1/100 km2, for a Wolf pack on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
Unusual Behavior By Bison, Bison Bison, Toward Elk, Cervus Elaphus, And Wolves, Canis Lupus, L. David Mech, Rick T. Mcintyre, Douglas W. Smith
Unusual Behavior By Bison, Bison Bison, Toward Elk, Cervus Elaphus, And Wolves, Canis Lupus, L. David Mech, Rick T. Mcintyre, Douglas W. Smith
USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Incidents are described of Bison (Bison bison) in Yellowstone National Park mauling and possibly killing a young Elk (Cervus elaphus) calf, chasing wolves (Canis lupus) off Elk they had just killed or were killing, and keeping the wolves away for extended periods. During one of the latter cases, the Bison knocked a wolf-wounded Elk down. Bison were also seen approaching wolves that were resting and sleeping, rousting them, following them to new resting places and repeating this behavior. These behaviors might represent some type of generalized hyper-defensiveness that functions as an anti-predator strategy.
Nutrient Reserves Of Lesser Scaup (Aythya Affinis) During Spring Migration In The Mississippi Flyway: A Test Of The Spring Condition Hypothesis, Michael Anteau, Alan Afton
Nutrient Reserves Of Lesser Scaup (Aythya Affinis) During Spring Migration In The Mississippi Flyway: A Test Of The Spring Condition Hypothesis, Michael Anteau, Alan Afton
USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
The continental scaup population (Lesser [Aythya affinis] and Greater [A. marila ] combined) has declined markedly since 1978. One hypothesis for the population decline states that reproductive success has decreased because female scaup are arriving on breeding areas in poorer body condition than they did historically (i.e. spring condition hypothesis). We tested one aspect of that hypothesis by comparing body mass and nutrient reserves (lipid, protein, and mineral) of Lesser Scaup at four locations (Louisiana, Illinois, Minnesota, and Manitoba) between the 1980s and 2000s. We found that mean body mass and lipid and mineral reserves of females …
Patterns Of Variation In Clutch Sizes In A Guild Of Temperate-Nesting Dabbling Ducks, Gary Krapu, Ronald Reynolds, Glen Sargeant, Randy Renner
Patterns Of Variation In Clutch Sizes In A Guild Of Temperate-Nesting Dabbling Ducks, Gary Krapu, Ronald Reynolds, Glen Sargeant, Randy Renner
USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
We investigated patterns and causes of variation in clutch sizes in a guild of five species of temperate-nesting dabbling ducks (Mallard [Anas platyrhynchos], Northern Pintail [“pintail,” A. acuta], Gadwall [A. strepera], Blue-winged Teal [“teal,” A. discors], and Northern Shoveler [“shoveler,” A. clypeata]) during 1993–1995 in the Prairie Pothole Region of midcontinental North America. Clutch sizes (mean ± SE) were largest for teal (10.80 ± 0.03), followed in descending order by those of shoveler (10.31 ± 0.05), Gadwall (9.92 ± 0.04), Mallard (8.91 ± 0.04), and pintail (7.66 ± 0.06). In Mallard, pintail, and …
Less Waste Corn, More Land In Soybeans, And The Switch To Genetically Modified Crops: Trends With Important Implications For Wildlife Management, Gary L. Krapu, David A. Brandt, Robert R. Cox Jr.
Less Waste Corn, More Land In Soybeans, And The Switch To Genetically Modified Crops: Trends With Important Implications For Wildlife Management, Gary L. Krapu, David A. Brandt, Robert R. Cox Jr.
USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
American agriculture has provided abundant high-energy foods for migratory and resident wildlife populations since the onset of modern wildlife management. Responding to anecdotal evidence that corn residues are declining in cropland, we remeasured waste corn postharvest in the Central Platte River Valley (CPRV) of Nebraska during 1997 and 1998 to compare with 1978. Post-harvest waste corn averaged 2.6% and 1.8% of yield in 1997 and 1998, respectively. After accounting for a 20% increase in yield, waste corn in 1997 and 1998 was reduced 24% and 47% from 1978. We also evaluated use of soybeans by spring-staging sandhill cranes ( Grus …
Nutritional Condition Of Northern Yellowstone Elk, Rachel Cook, John G. Cook, L. David Mech
Nutritional Condition Of Northern Yellowstone Elk, Rachel Cook, John G. Cook, L. David Mech
USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
We estimated nutritional condition for 96 female northern Yellowstone elk (Cervus elaphus nelson) during mid-to late winter 2000, 2001, and 2002. Neither year nor capture location significantly influenced any measure of condition (body fat, body mass, and longissimus dorsi thickness; P ≥ 0.14). Overall, age = 8.9 years ± 0.4 SE, body fat = 9.5% ± 0.4, body mass = 235.1 kg ± 2.2, and longissimus dorsi muscle thickness = 5.6 cm ± 0.1. Despite an age segregation pattern across the winter range (P = 0.016), we found no evidence of bias in our estimates of nutritional condition …
Is Climate Change Affecting Wolf Populations In The High Artic?, L. David Mech
Is Climate Change Affecting Wolf Populations In The High Artic?, L. David Mech
USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Gobal climate change may affect wolves in Canada’s High Arctic (80◦ N) acting through three trophic levels (vegetation, herbivores, and wolves). A wolf pack dependent on muskoxen and arctic hares in the Eureka area of Ellesmere Island denned and produced pups most years from at least 1986 through 1997. However, when summer snow covered vegetation in 1997 and 2000 for the first time since records were kept, halving the herbivore nutrition-replenishment period, muskox and hare numbers dropped drastically, and the area stopped supporting denning wolves through 2003. The unusual weather triggering these events was consistent with global-climate-change phenomena.
Temporal Dynamics Of Leafy Sspurge (Euphorbia Esula) And Two Species Of Flea Beetles (Aphthona Spp.) Used As Biological Control Agents, Diane L. Larson, James B. Grace
Temporal Dynamics Of Leafy Sspurge (Euphorbia Esula) And Two Species Of Flea Beetles (Aphthona Spp.) Used As Biological Control Agents, Diane L. Larson, James B. Grace
USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
The goal of this study was to evaluate the biological control program of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) in a large natural area, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, western North Dakota, USA. Aphthona lacertosa and Aphthona nigriscutis have been released at more than 1800 points in the 18,600-ha South Unit of the park beginning in 1989; most releases have occurred since 1994. We established permanent vegetation plots throughout the infested area of the park and determined stem counts and biomass of leafy spurge and abundance of the two flea beetle species at these plots each year from 1999 to 2001. …
Effects Of Distance From Cattle Water Developments On Grassland Birds, Andrea L. Fontaine, Patricia L. Kennedy, Douglas H. Johnson
Effects Of Distance From Cattle Water Developments On Grassland Birds, Andrea L. Fontaine, Patricia L. Kennedy, Douglas H. Johnson
USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Many North American grassland bird populations appear to be declining, which may be due to changes in grazing regimes on their breeding areas. Establishment of water developments and confining cattle (Bos taurus L.) to small pastures often minimizes spatial heterogeneity of cattle forage consumption, which may lead to uniformity in vegetative structure. This increased uniformity may provide suitable habitat for some bird species but not others. We assessed how cattle use, vegetative structure, and bird population densities varied with increasing distance from water developments (0-800 m) on the Little Missouri National Grassland (LMNG) in North Dakota. Lark buntings ( …