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A Survey Of Proximal Sensilla Associated With Denticle Subrows On Scorpion Pedipalp Fingers (Arachnida: Scorpiones), With Observations On Scorpion Fluorescence, Graeme Lowe, Victor Fet

Euscorpius

Sensilla on the dentate margins of scorpion pedipalp fingers, associated with denticle subrows or terminal denticles, were surveyed by white light, UV fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy. A total of 163 species belonging to 103 genera from 19 families were examined, representing all major phylogenetic lineages in the order. In the majority of species (141/152) with dentition organized into linear subrows of median denticles, a small socketed sensillum with a short shaft was observed at the proximal terminus of each subrow, termed a ‘subrow proximal sensilla’ (SPS). With few exceptions, SPS were non-fluorescent (‘Type N’) in buthids, and fluorescent (‘Type …

Dynamics Of Meiobenthic Fauna In A Tropical Sandy Coast (Chennai, Bay Of Bengal) With Reference To The Physicochemical Parameters, Madhavan Kesavaraj, Md Anwar Nawaz, Zahara Tasneem, Mohammed Asjad Shams Tabrez, Kareem Altaff, Mohamed Saquib Naveed

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The term “meiobenthos” refers to a diverse community of organisms inhabiting the interstitial spaces between sand grains retained on sieve sizes ranging between 38 to 500 μm. This study investigates the diversity and density of meiobenthic communities across five locations along the Chennai coast. We examined the dominant meiobenthic groups, with nematodes exhibiting high dominance at Napier station (288.6 ± 91.07 ind.10cm²) and harpacticoids dominating at Marina station (449.88 ± 264.3 ind.10cm²). To establish the relationship between meiobenthic organisms and environmental parameters, we analyzed seven physicochemical factors throughout the study period. The results indicate a negative correlation between ammonia, nitrate, …

Coral Cover Percentage And Health Condition In Tioman Island Marine Protected Area, Pahang, Malaysia, Nur Addawiah Mohamad Rodzi, Mohamed Fahmy Yusof, Zaidi Che Cob

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Continuous evaluation and monitoring of coral percentage cover and health status is critical for enhancing coral reef resilience management. The present study aimed to determine the coverage and coral status at important sites of Tioman Island Marine Park, which include Renggis Island, Tiong Point and Tekek. Surveillance video recording and in situ observation were carried out using the Coral Video Transect (CVT) method, which were analyzed using the Coral Point Count with Excel extension (CPCe) software. The overall health status for the study area was considered as “fair” with 41.61% ± 4.46% of mean live coral coverage. Among the stations …

An Update On The Phylogeny And Biogeographical History Of Rhipicephalus Sanguineus Complex, Olcay Heki̇moğlu

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Rhipicephalus sanguineus complex is among the most studied hard tick species due to its worldwide distribution and its ability to transmit several pathogens. In this study, new local data and recent global findings were used to reevaluate the evolutionary history and phylogeny of the R. sanguineus complex. Seventy-nine samples of Rhipicephalus sp., which were collected from 32 different localities of Türkiye and one locality from Northern Cyprus, were analyzed using two mitochondrial (mt 16S rDNA, mt 12S rDNA) and one nuclear (ITS2) markers. The findings from phylogenetic trees indicate the presence of a third genetically distinct lineage of R. sanguineus …

The Range Dynamics Of A Cactophilic Drosophila Species Under Climate Change Scenarios, Banu Şebnem Önder, Utku Perktaş

Turkish Journal of Zoology

In this study, we evaluated the historical demography of a cactophilic Drosophila species (Drosophila gouveai) based on previously published mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) data ecological niche modelling. We particularly aimed to test the effect of climate change on the historical demography of D. gouveai during the late Quaternary and the future of the species. For this, we also modelled its host cacti species in its distribution range to reach a more robust biogeographic conclusion. Our results indicate that D. gouveai was as sensitive to climate change as its hosts were. This species experienced an almost complete range shift, range contraction after …

Diet And Reproductive Outputs Of Common Barn-Owl (Tyto Alba) During The Common Vole (Microtus Arvalis) Outbreak And Crash, Gyozo F. Horvath, Adrienn Horváth

Turkish Journal of Zoology

In this paper, we investigated the relationship between the breeding parameters and food composition of the common barnowl (Tyto alba) comparing the outbreak and subsequent crash periods of the common vole (Microtus arvalis) as the barn owl’s main prey. For the analyses, data of 29 (2014 outbreak: 6, 2016 crash: 8; 2019 outbreak: 7, 2021 crash: 7) breeding pairs of barn owls were selected. First, we examined the differences between the breeding parameters (clutch size, number of hatchlings and fledglings), the main and alternative prey taxa (common vole and Apodemus genus), the two derived indices (trophic level index, Microtinae/Murinae ratio) …

Vigilance Behavior Of Common Crane Grus Grus In Flocks During Spring, Summer, And Autumn, Kristina Kondrakova, Alexander Sharikov

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Vigilance is a key behavioral element aimed to detect potential predators or rivals. In this study, we examined the vigilance levels of common cranes that exhibit flocking behavior during the spring, summer, and autumn seasons. We considered the influence of both social (age, presence of offspring, and flock size) and environmental factors (habitat type, time of day, and study period). Parents allocated more time for vigilance than nonparents and juveniles. The alertness of nonparents was lower in flocks of size 51–150 individuals compared to flocks under 50 and over 150 birds. Juveniles increased their vigilance at the end of the …

Can Wildlife Mortality On A Local Road Tell Something General? An Answer From A Protected Area In South-Western Romania, Diana Cupşa, Severus Daniel Covaciu Marcov, Robert Liviu Mihai Rengle, Amalia Raluca Dumbrava, Sára Ferenti, Adriana Petruş Vancea

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Between June 2020 and May 2021, we studied the fauna road mortality on a recently asphalted local road in a protected area in southwestern Romania (Iron Gates Natural Park–IGNP). Despite our expectation of reduced road mortality because of the very low traffic (3.97 cars/hour), numerous animals belonging to a high number of taxa were killed. Animals were killed throughout the entire year, even amphibians in the winter months, which normally should hibernate in that period. Road mortality differences between periods and sectors were obvious. Plant assemblages near the road influence the composition and intensity of road mortality. Diverse habitats near …

On The Oviposition Of Homonota Aff. Darwinii In The Puna Region Of The Central Andes Of Argentina, Franco Valdez Ovallez, Rodrigo Gómez Alés, Rodrigo Nieva Cocilio, Tomás Martínez, Juan Carlos Acosta, José Villavicencio, Graciela Blanco

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Communal nest egg-laying refers to females laying their eggs with those of their conspecifics under or within artificial or natural structures. Homonota aff. darwinii is a recently discovered species that has not yet been formally described. The objective of this work is to characterise the oviposition of this species in the Puna region in the Central Andes of Argentina. We recorded the type and surface of the rocks where the eggs were laid, the temperature of the substrate, and the temperature of the rock surface facing the substrate. In addition, we recorded the daily temperature variation that a randomly selected …

The Association Between Clai Polymorphism And Hygienic Behavior In Apis Mellifera, İnci̇ Şahi̇n Negi̇ş, Mustafa Ki̇bar, İbrahi̇m Ayteki̇n

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Hygienic behavior represents one of the most prominent disease resistance mechanisms developed by honeybees. This behavior is known to be influenced by the genotype and environmental factors. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of SNP-8 polymorphism and environmental factors on hygienic behavior in different Apis mellifera breeds. A total of fourteen colonies and 148 bees from seven different bee breeds were used for the Pin-killed Brood Assay (PKB) test and PCR-RFLP analysis, respectively. The PKB assay revealed a wide range of hygienic behavior, spanning from 68% to 100% across the fourteen colonies. The frequencies of the H (High) …

The Long-Term Effects Of Prescribed Fire On Floral Abundance And Bumble Bee Abundance In Mixed-Oak Forests Of Southeastern Ohio, Moses Shafer

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Pollinators are declining due to climate change and habitat loss driven by agriculture and urbanization. In fire-adapted ecosystems, fire promotes the biodiversity of plants by creating space, reducing competition, and increasing light and nutrient availability. However, little is known regarding the effects of fire on floral abundance of plants used by Bombus. The overall goal of this project was to assess the long-term effects of fire on floral abundance and Bombus abundance. Our specific questions were: (1) How does fire frequency influence floral abundance?, (2) How does fire frequency influence floral abundance of species specifically utilized by bumble bees?, …

Microhabitat Selection Of Adult Female Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes (Crotalus Adamanteus) In The Carolinas, Matthew Gacheny

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Reptiles rely on environmental conditions to regulate body temperature using behavioral strategies to meet basic life history needs. Viviparous squamates use thermoregulatory behaviors to meet energetic requirements for vitellogenesis and gestation, which carry considerable energetic costs and must balance with maintenance and survival. Embryonic development is often optimized in a narrower temperature range than the mother’s preferred temperature, creating an intergenerational conflict that should be addressed with maternal microhabitat selection. Field-based studies are needed to understand the link between the thermal biology of reptiles, their reproduction, and implications for population viability. With a use-availability logistic regression framework, I examined thermal …

Changes In Milk Protein Functionality At Low Temperatures And Rennet Concentrations, Mahmoud E. A. Hamouda, Prafulla Salunke

Dairy Science and Food Science Faculty Publications: 2022 to Present

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of low-concentration rennet on the chemical, rheological characteristics, and protein fractions of skim milk (SM) at 4 ± 1 °C. Skimmed milk (SM) was divided into four lots of 500 mL, and diluted rennet (1:10,000) was added at different levels at 4 ± 1 °C. The treatments included control (no rennet), T1 (0.001 mL/rennet), T2 (0.01 mL rennet), and T3 (0.1 mL rennet) treatments, which were incubated for 24 h. The sampling was performed at 0, 1, 2, 6, 12, and 24 h, and the SM after incubation time was heated to 73 …

Factors Associated With Acoustic Bat Presence During Spring Emergence In The Appalachian Mountains Of Western Virginia, Emily Kirk Pody

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Studies of threats that bats face during hibernation have increased in response to white-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease that has ravaged North American bat populations. However, impacts of WNS on bat ecology during spring emergence, when bats are potentially recovering from infection and allocating resources for reproduction, is relatively understudied. As more bat species become listed at the federal and state level, the need to understand the factors associated with spring emergence is critical for improving conservation guidelines and habitat management practices. Acoustic monitoring is an efficient method for monitoring bat presence for prolonged periods of time, giving biologists …

Do Nest Box Temperatures Affect Nest Success And Nestlings Growth For Eastern Bluebirds?, Mathew Gordon, Katie Stumpf

Graduate Research Showcase

Rising global temperatures due to climate change have caused declines in many species. For birds, temperature is a primary factor in nest site selection and nest success, so successful management will require temperature mitigation techniques. Secondary cavity nesting birds such as the Eastern Bluebird are particularly vulnerable as common occupants of nest boxes, which are often warmer inside than the outside ambient temperature. Temperatures exceeding 42°C can have numerous negative consequences for Bluebirds, including reducing hatching success and nestling growth. We monitored 50 Eastern Bluebird nest boxes (25 are painted white and 25 are unpainted) at Panola Mountain State Park …

Fisheries Research Report No. 346: West Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource Synopsis 2024, Emily A. Fisher, David Fairclough

Fisheries Research Reports

The West Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource (WCDSR) comprises over 100 species that inhabit inshore (20-250 m deep) and offshore ( > 250 m deep) waters of the West Coast Bioregion (WCB; north of Kalbarri to east of Augusta).

The WCB is predominantly a temperate oceanic zone with these waters influenced by the Leeuwin Current that transports warm, low-nutrient water southward along the western edge of the continental shelf.

To monitor and assess the WCDSR, indicator species have been selected using a risk-based approach that considers their inherent vulnerability to fishing, level of targeting and catch taken by fishers, and the amount …

An Overview Of Operational Welfare Indicators For Farmed Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus), Bevin Meyer, Wasseem Emam

Aquaculture

Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is the second-most widely farmed fish species globally, playing a critical role in food security and livelihoods, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. With the increasing global focus on the ethical and sustainable production of animal-source foods, the assessment and improvement of fish welfare in aquaculture systems has become a priority. This report provides a structured review of operational welfare indicators (OWIs) that can be used to assess the on-farm welfare of Nile tilapia across various production systems. Drawing on a broad range of scientific literature and industry practices, the report categorises OWIs into …

Complexities Of Consistent Individual Behavioral Differences In Effective Wildlife Management, Nathalie R. Sommer

Animal Sentience

The study of animal personality, or consistent individual behavioral differences, has faced numerous challenges since its inception, including terminological disputes, labor-intensive methodologies, and notable retractions. This commentary explores the mechanisms behind personality traits, questioning the link between personality and sentience, and highlights the bias towards megafauna in wildlife management. It underscores the ecological and ethical significance of considering arthropod personalities and the complexities of integrating personality into wildlife reintroductions. Caution is advised in generalizing personality effects, and the limitations of current measurement techniques are discussed, suggesting that personality traits should be one of many factors in comprehensive management strategies.

Mark-Recapture Methods In Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus Adamanteus) Monitoring, Carissa J. Adams

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes (Crotalus adamanteus; EDB) are an imperiled species native to the Southeastern United States longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) ecosystem. Several markrecapture methods have been used range-wide in hopes of increasing knowledge on their population numbers. I explored the efficacy of two mark-recapture methods (scale cauterization and dorsal head photography) using the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC EDB population in this multi-part study. The first method I evaluated was ventral scale branding, which has been widely implemented without knowledge of brand permanence. I classified misidentification errors at capture status (new versus recapture) and …

Toolkit To Address Free-Ranging Domestic Cats On Agency Lands Managed For Native Wildlife And Ecosystem Health, Sara H. Schweitzer, Colin M. Gillin

Human–Wildlife Interactions Monographs

Native flora and fauna of North America face numerous threats, and impacts from invasive species are some of the most challenging. Free-ranging domestic cats (Felis catus) are extremely harmful to wildlife and the environment. The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) developed a toolkit to provide guidance to fish and wildlife agencies as they address free-ranging domestic cats on agency lands managed for native wildlife and ecosystem health. Topics in this document include wildlife conservation, infectious diseases, legal issues, education and outreach, human dimensions, partnerships, management strategies, and model regulatory and legal language. This toolkit is not …

Patterns Of Genetic Structure In Spiders Beetles, Naiya Sims

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Spider beetles are a poorly known group of North American beetles in the family Ptinidae. Protection of biodiversity requires knowledge of species- and population-level distinctiveness, so data regarding genetic structure of spider beetles can shed light on conservation priorities. Spider beetles in the genus, Coleotestudus, are distributed broadly in the southwestern US. Given their small size and lack of flight, it is presumed that the dispersal capability of Coleotestudus is limited, leading to strong population structure on a small spatial scale. We used a three-enzyme restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing (3RAD) strategy to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) throughout the genome …

Determining The Applicability Of Milkfish (Chanos Chanos) For Skin Grafting Through Microbiological And Histological Evaluations, Janice A. Ragaza, Bianca Patrice Go

Ateneo Aquatic and Fisheries Resources Laboratory

Tilapia fish skin, rich in Type I collagen, has been shown to accelerate wound healing, reduce infection rates, and create an optimal environment for wound care. However, the potential application of other fish species, like milkfish, for skin grafting remains underexplored. Milkfish (C. chanos), an economically significant species in the Philippines, could expand the donor pool for fish skin grafting, addressing the accessibility issues in resource-limited regions where traditional graft materials may be costly or scarce. The current study investigates the feasibility of applying tilapia fish skin sterilization techniques to milkfish skin. Collected and prepared milkfish skin was …

Environmental Biology Masters Capstone, Antonio Gonzalez-Pita

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Human wildlife interactions (HWI) pose a complex challenge for wildlife managers. Human encroachment into wildlife habitat and the growing number of outdoor recreationists are increasing the frequency of contact and conflict, especially in regions such as the Front Range of Colorado. Geographic information systems (GIS), which use a combination of remote sensing and environmental survey data, allow for predictive spatial analyses of where human wildlife interactions are likely to occur. I used publicly reported observations of moose to create spatial predictive maps in a species distribution model framework. Slope and elevation were shown to be the strongest predictors of HWI, …

Limitations Of Invasive Snake Control Tools In The Context Of A New Invasion On An Island With Abundant Prey, Shane R. Siers, Melia G. Nafus, Jereid E. Calaor, Rachel M. Volsteadt, Matthew S. Grassi, Megan Volsteadt, Aaron F. Collins, Patrick D. Barnhart, Logan T. Huse, Amy A. Yackel Adams, Diane L. Vice

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In October 2020, a new population of invasive brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) was discovered on the 33-ha Cocos Island, 2.5 km off the south coast of Guam, United States. Cocos Island is a unique conservation resource, providing refuge for many lizards and birds, including endangered species, which were extirpated from mainland Guam by invasive predators including brown treesnakes. We sought to evaluate the usefulness of toxic baiting with acetaminophen-treated carrion baits and cage trapping, common tools for the control of brown treesnakes on mainland Guam, as potential eradication tools on Cocos Island. We evaluated multiple bait types and …

Site-Specific Space Use And Resource Selection By Black Vultures (Coragyps Atratus) In The Southeastern Usa, Betsy Evans, John S. Humphrey, Eric A. Tillman, Michael L. Avery, Bryan M. Kluever

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

North American populations of Black Vultures Coragyps atratus have increased and expanded their distribution in the southern and eastern USA. In conjunction with these patterns has been a rise in human–vulture conflicts. To improve our understanding of space use patterns and better inform management, we evaluated the movements of Black Vultures (n = 23) in the southeastern USA using a long-term GPS tracking database. Our specific objectives were to: (1) quantify home-range sizes in relation to season and geographical study location and (2) examine within-home-range resource selection to identify landscape and anthropogenic factors influencing roost and diurnal space use. …

Antipredator Blood-Squirting Defense In Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma): Chemical Isolation Of Plasma Component(S), Pogonomyrmex Ant Dietary Origin, And Evolution, Wade C. Sherbrooke, Bruce A. Kimball

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

North American horned lizards of the genus Phrynosoma are largely myrmecophagous and squirt systemic blood from circumocular sinuses during encounters with certain mammalian predators. The predators react with distinct revulsion. Using bioassay-guided fractionation of blood plasma, we endeavored to identify the source and characteristics of the active chemical compound(s) responsible for this negative oral response. Our results of coyote bioassays and a series of novel mouse bioassay experiments were largely concordant. The active compound(s) was likely plasma-borne with a molecular weight (mw) of between 800 and 1,600. To identify the source of the active compound(s), we noted bioassay responses …

Eradication Of Feral Swine From A Barrier Island In Florida, Usa: An Examination Of Effort And Multi-Method, Multi-Species Population Indexing, Richard M. Engeman, Eric A. Tillman, Betsy A. Evans, John C. Griffin, Garrison Grobaski, Bradley S. Smith, John Stark, Bryan M. Kluever

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Feral swine (Sus scrofa) were targeted for and successfully eradicated from Saint Vincent Island (SVI), a National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) along the coast of Florida’s panhandle to protect its habitats and uncharacteristically high diversity of wildlife species for barrier islands in the region, including federal and state-listed threatened and endangered species. The eradication effort was initiated in early 2015 and concluded in 2019. A total of 438 feral swine were removed from the Island, 417 by federal control experts and 21 by recreational hunters. In general, the amount of effort needed to eradicate each feral swine slowly increased …

Downed Wood Removal Effects On Survival And Site Fidelity Of Woodrats In A California Oak Woodland, Timothy J. Smyser, Michael A. Hardy, Amy J. Davis, William L. Preston, William D. Tietje

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Owing to the increasing intensity and frequency of wildfires in the western United States, the removal of woody debris (downed dead wood and snags) from fire‐prone landscapes is being evaluated for wildfire mitigation. Consequently, the study of the ecological value of coarse woody debris to sustain dependent species has become of foremost importance. From 2004–2009, we used a before‐after control‐impact (BACI) study design to assess the effects of downed wood removal on a population of big‐eared woodrats (Neotoma macrotis) in an oak woodland (Quercus spp.) in coastal‐central California, USA. Using Pollock's robust design mark‐recapture analyses (with 12 …

High Thermal Quality Rookeries Facilitate High Thermoregulatory Accuracy In Pregnant Female Rattlesnakes, Haley A. Moniz, Jack Henry Buck, Hayley L. Crowell, Scott M. Goetz, Trevor D. Ruiz, Emily N. Taylor, Scott M. Bobacks

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Temperature is a primary factor influencing organismal development, and the fluctuating daily and seasonal thermal regimes of temperate climates may challenge the ability of viviparous reptiles to optimize body temperatures during gestation. Testing how viviparous reptiles navigate highly variable thermal conditions (e.g., relatively cold nights and/or highly fluctuating temperatures) is a powerful way to understand how they use microhabitats for thermoregulatory benefits. We assessed the thermal ecology of pregnant and non-pregnant female prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis) inhabiting a high-elevation, montane shrubland in northwest Colorado throughout their short summer active season, addressing the thermal consequences of microhabitat selection with …

Characterizing Feral Swine Movement Across The Contiguous United States Using Neural Networks And Genetic Data, Rachael M. Giglio, Courtney F. Bowden, Ryan K. Brook, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Timothy J. Smyser

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Globalization has led to the frequent movement of species out of their native habitat. Some of these species become highly invasive and capable of profoundly altering invaded ecosystems. Feral swine (Sus scrofa × domesticus) are recognized as being among the most destructive invasive species, with populations established on all continents except Antarctica. Within the United States (US), feral swine are responsible for extensive crop damage, the destruction of native ecosystems, and the spread of disease. Purposeful human-mediated movement of feral swine has contributed to their rapid range expansion over the past 30 years. Patterns of deliberate introduction of …