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Genetic Diversity Of Neotropical Myotis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) With An Emphasis On South American Species, Roxanne J. Larsen, Michelle C. Knapp, Hugh H. Genoways, Faisal Ali Anwarali Khan, Peter A. Larsen, Don E. Wilson, Robert J. Baker

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Background: Cryptic morphological variation in the Chiropteran genus Myotis limits the understanding of species boundaries and species richness within the genus. Several authors have suggested that it is likely there are unrecognized species-level lineages of Myotis in the Neotropics. This study provides an assessment of the diversity in New World Myotis by analyzing cytochrome-b gene variation from an expansive sample ranging throughout North, Central, and South America. We provide baseline genetic data for researchers investigating phylogeographic and phylogenetic patterns of Myotis in these regions, with an emphasis on South America.

Methodology and Principal Findings: Cytochrome-b sequences were …

Four Events Of Host Switching In Aspidoderidae (Nematoda) Involve Convergent Lineages Of Mammals, F. Agustín Jiménez-Ruiz, Scott Lyell Gardner, Graciela Navone, Guillermo Ortí

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

The Great American Interchange resulted in the mixing of faunistic groups with different origins and evolutionary trajectories that underwent rapid diversification in North and South America. As a result, groups of animals of recent arrival converged into similar habits and formed ecological guilds with some of the endemics. We present a reconstruction of the evolutionary events in Aspidoderidae, a family of nematodes that infect mammals that are part of this interchange, i.e., dasypodids, opossums, and sigmodontine, geomyid, and hystricognath rodents. By treating hosts as discrete states of character and using parsimony and Bayesian inferences to optimize these traits into the …

Evaluation Of Vascular Changes In Cattle Relative To Time-Off Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue, Jessica R. Bussard

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Twenty-four steers were grazed on endophyte (Neotyphodium coenophialum)-infected [[Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh]; E+] tall fescue (TF) and exposed to ergot alkaloids for an 106-d grazing period. Cattle were removed from pasture, placed in dry lots, and fed a non-toxic diet to evaluate changes in vascular contraction relative to time-off E+ TF pasture. Lateral saphenous veins (SV) were biopsied from steers at 0-, 21-, 42-, and 63-d off TF pasture and from 6 control steers at 0- and 63-d off bermudagrass (BG) pasture. To evaluate contractile response, biopsied SV were exposed to increasing concentrations of ergotamine in a multimyograph. Cross-sectional scans …

Using Radio-Telemetry To Assess The Risk European Starlings Pose In Pathogen Transmission Among Feedlots, Shannon M. Gaukler, H. Jeffrey Homan, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier

Human–Wildlife Interactions

We monitored site-use and movements of 102 radio-tagged European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) during the winter months at 2 concentrated animal feeding operations (feedlots) in central Kansas. Our research investigated the spatial ecology of wintering starlings as part of a broad epidemiological study on the possible role of starlings in pathogen transmission at feedlots. Site fidelity was 0.677 and 0.552 (days at capture-site per total days tagged) for feedlots A and B, respectively. Minimal exchange (9%) occurred between feedlots A and B and was often followed by a roost-site change. Starlings rarely abandoned the feedlot where they were captured, …

Brucellosis In The Greater Yellowstone Area: Disease Management At The Wildlife–Livestock Interface, Brant A. Schumaker, Dannelle E. Peck, Mandy E. Kauffman

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Elk (Cervus elaphus) and bison (Bison bison) of the Greater Yellowstone area are the last known reservoir of bovine brucellosis (Brucella abortus) in the United States. Domestic cattle occasionally contract the disease while grazing in areas where infected wild ungulates have aborted their fetuses or have given birth. Cases of brucellosis in cattle trigger costly quarantine, testing, and culling procedures. Government agencies and stakeholders, therefore, allocate valuable resources to prevent wildlife-to-cattle transmission. Scientific uncertainty about the biology, epidemiology, and economics of brucellosis makes it difficult to determine the length to which society should go to control it or the combination …

Role Of Bird Movements In The Epidemiology Of West Nile And Avian Influenza Virus, Sabir B. Muzaffar, Nichola J. Hill, John Y. Takekawa, William M. Perry, Lacy M. Smith, Walter M. Boyce

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Avian influenza virus (AIV) is influenced by site fidelity and movements of bird hosts. We examined the movement ecology of American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) as potential hosts for West Nile virus (WNV) and greater white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons frontalis) as potential hosts for AIVs. Research was based on radio-telemetry studies conducted in the Central Valley of California, USA. While crows were restricted to a small area of only a few square kilometers, the distribution of the geese encompassed the northern Central Valley. The crows used 1.5 to 3.5 different roosting areas monthly from February through October, …

Serologic Evidence Of Brucella And Pseudorabies In Mississippi Feral Swine, Sherman W. Jack, James C. Cumbee Jr., Kristina C. Godwin

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Feral swine (Sus scrofa) are an ever-increasing problem across the United States. Besides physical environmental damage that they cause, they may harbor and transmit a number of pathogens to humans, livestock, and other domestic animals. We sampled feral swine across the state of Mississippi for titers to several diseases. Antibodies against Brucella were found in 16 of 499 (3.2%) feral swine, and antibodies against pseudorabies (porcine herpes virus, type 1; Herpesveridae sp.) virus were identified in 37 of 499 (7.4%) feral swine from across the state of Mississippi. Evidence of classical swine fever, African swine fever, swine influenza, …

Lead From Spent Ammunition: A Source Of Exposure And Poisoning In Bald Eagles, Luis Cruz-Martinez, Patrick T. Redig, John Deen

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Ongoing occurrence of elevated levels of lead in bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) following the ban on lead shot for waterfowl hunting led us to hypothesize that spent lead from ammunition, which is present in field residues of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), represented a source of lead exposure in eagles. We conducted a case-control study using data from 1,277 bald eagles admitted for rehabilitation from January 1996 through December 2009. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to predict the odds of elevated lead levels using admission date in relation to deer hunting season, recovery location in …

Landowner Attitudes Toward Introduced Wild Turkeys In Northwestern Minnesota, Chad J. Parent, Brett J. Goodwin, Eric M. Dunton

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) were introduced to northwestern Minnesota, USA, in 2006 and 2007. This provided an opportunity to examine landowner feelings for a wildlife species not endemic to the region. In 2007, we mailed surveys to 200 landowners to evaluate landowner interactions, feelings, and concerns with turkeys. Overall response rate was 76%. Eighty-nine percent of respondents in northwestern Minnesota reported positive feelings toward turkeys, 9% were indifferent, and 2% reported negative feelings. The introduced turkeys were not perceived to be problematic:

Effects Of Hikers And Boats On Tule Elk Behavior In A National Park Wilderness Area, Benjamin H. Becker, Christopher M. Moi, Thomas J. Maguire, Robert Atkinson, Natalie B. Gates

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Human disturbance of wildlife may cause disruption of normal feeding, resting, reproduction, or care for juveniles. Such disturbance may be particularly undesirable in federally managed wilderness areas designed to minimize human influences on natural resources. We recorded tule elk (Cervus elephus nannodes) responses (standing, walking away, running) to off-trail hikers, off-shore boats, and other natural and anthropogenic factors in Point Reyes National Seashore in northern California during 2002 to 2008. Most disturbance behaviors were related to other elk exhibiting rutting behaviors, but off-trail hikers still explained a 100% increase and off-shore boats a 15% increase in baseline disturbance …

Management Of Double-Crested Cormorants To Improve Sport Fisheries In Michigan: Three Case Studies, Brian S. Dorr, Shauna L. Hanisch, Peter H. Butchko, David G. Fielder

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Impacts of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) to fisheries have been documented, but evaluation of the process and outcomes of cormorant management to reduce impacts on fisheries is lacking. We provide a synthesis of adaptive management of double-crested cormorants in the Les Cheneaux Islands (LCI), Brevoort Lake, and Drummond Island, Michigan from 2004 to 2007. The LCI management focused on reducing numbers of nesting cormorants in the region as a means of improving the yellow perch (Perca flavescens) population and fishery. At Brevoort Lake and Drummond Island, management focused on lethal and nonlethal harassment of spring migrating …

Excluding Feral Swine, Javelinas, And Raccoons From Deer Bait Stations, J. Mathews Pound, Kimberly H. Lohmeyer, Ronald B. Davey, Lisa A. Soliz, Pia U. Olafson

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

Brown Treesnakes: A Potential Invasive Species For The United States, Samantha Sue Kahl, Scott E. Henke, Marc A. Hall, David K. Britton

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Brown treesnakes (ˆ) are mildly venomous, exotic snakes that have the potential to become an invasive species in North America, Hawaii, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The snake is native to northern and eastern Australia, New Guinea, and other islands of northern and western Melanesia. The snakes were first found outside their native range on Guam in 1953. The exact date they reached the island is uncertain, but they are believed to have arrived on military cargo transport vessels some time during or just after World War II. During the years that followed, the population of brown …

Examining A Potential Brown Treesnake Transport Pathway: Shipments From Guam, Samantha Sue Kahl, Scott E. Henke, Marc A. Hall, Andrea R. Litt, Gad Perry, David K. Britton

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Shipments of cargo and household goods have been identified as pathways for brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) transport from Guam to other locations. We analyzed data regarding shipments of military household goods leaving Guam during 2006 to 2009 to identify the potential for human transport of brown treesnakes to the United States by determining when shipments most commonly occur and identifying primary receiving areas. We found that the number of shipments was highest during the months of May and June and that California receives more shipments (23% of total shipments) than any other location. Approximately 98% of shipments originated …

Efficacy Of Aerial Broadcast Baiting In Reducing Brown Treesnake Numbers, Larry Clark, Peter J. Savarie

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) is an invasive predator that was introduced on Guam as a stowaway in cargo after World War II. Since then, the population has exploded, attaining 50 to 100 snakes per ha in some areas. The snake has caused the extirpation of ten of the 12 native forest bird species on Guam. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, has a program to deter the spread of snakes from Guam to other islands. Hand capture from fences, trapping, toxic bait stations, and canine inspection of outbound cargo methods are used in the control program …

Efficacy, Effort, And Cost Comparisons Of Trapping And Acetaminophen-Baiting For Control Of Brown Treesnakes On Guam, Larry Clark, Peter J. Savarie, John A. Shivik, Stewart W. Breck, Brian S. Dorr

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) are an invasive species to the island of Guam. Because they have extirpated the native forest avifauna on Guam and are a threat to other Pacific islands, the development of efficient and cost-effective methods to control them is desired. We compared the efficacy, cost, and effort required to remove brown treesnakes on 6-ha plots in forest scrub on Guam, using 2 methods: trapping and poison baiting. Toxic baits consisted of dead neonatal mice adulterated with 80-mg acetaminophen. To assess efficacy, we used mark-recapture methods to estimate snake abundance on plots 12 days before and 12 days …

A Model To Predict The Likelihood Of Cliff Swallow Nesting On Highway Structures In Northern California, Robert W. Coates, Michael Delwiche, W. Paul Gorenzel, Terrell P. Salmon

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) are colonially breeding migratory birds that frequently nest on highway structures. Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, people cannot harm swallows or their active nests. This restriction causes problems and delays for construction and maintenance divisions of many departments of transportation. In planning future projects, it would be useful for these divisions to have a habitat selection model that can predict the likelihood of cliff swallow nesting on a particular highway structure. We used logistic regression on data collected from 206 highway structures and 2 different land cover data sets to develop …

Sterilization As An Alternative Deer Control Technique: A Review, Jason R. Boulanger, Paul D. Curtis, Evan G. Cooch, Anthony J. Denicola

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Burgeoning white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations in suburban landscapes continue to impact communities and challenge natural resource managers. Increased deer-related damage to vegetation, ecosystems, and automobiles can exceed the tolerance of local stakeholders. We provide an overview of the potential efficacy of using surgical sterilization to help manage populations and conflicts associated with locally overabundant white-tailed deer populations. We review theoretical and fi eld studies pertaining to deer sterilization, and provide research priorities to help guide future sterilization efforts. Recent fi eld studies suggest that sterilization of female deer remains expensive, at approximately $1,000 per surgery. Sterilization may …

Effects Of Grassland Alteration From Mowing And Fire On Bird Activity At A Colorado Airfield, Kara A. Carragher, Rick M. Clawges, Rick L. Bunn, Helen K. Pigage, Jon C. Pigage

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Grass management has been used for many years at airports in an attempt to reduce numbers of birds and other wildlife and the collisions with aircraft associated with them. We evaluated the impacts of grassland alteration by mowing and fi re on the abundance, diversity, and frequency of birds using 1 control and 2 experimental grass plots from 2009 to 2010 on a U.S. Army airfield in Colorado located in short-grass prairie. Density of breeding birds was highest in the mowed plot. Numbers of birds observed in 34 surveys conducted during the non-breeding season in the burned (x = 41) …

Mixed-Breed Guarding Dogs Reduce Conflict Between Goat Herders And Native Carnivores In Patagonia, Alejandro González, Andrés Novaro, Martín Funes, Oscar Pailacura, María Jose Bolgeri, Susan Walker

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Goat husbandry is the main rural livelihood in the northern Patagonian steppe of Argentina, and herders kill any carnivore that they believe threatens their herds, including the endangered Andean cat (Leopardus jacobita). We evaluated the use of local, mediumsized, mixed-breed guarding dogs to reduce predation and retaliatory killing of carnivores. We interviewed 64 herders, and delivered 37 puppies to 25 herders. Most economic loss was attributed to cougars (Puma concolor) and culpeos (Lycalopex culpaeus). All herders with dogs that reached the working stage reported reduced rates of predation, and 88% reported that they no …

Commentary: Some Successful Methods To Mitigate Conflicts Caused By Common Ravens In An Industrial Environment, Rod J. Merrell

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

Nutrient Transport By Shrimp Hepatopancreas, Tamla A. Simmons

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Purified brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) were isolated to characterize primary cellular transport mechanisms for white shrimp. The ultimate goal is to determine the effective components of a shrimp’s diet, thereby enhancing growth, as well as nutrient content. Juvenile shrimp are dependent on plant material as a food source. Potassium is a key component of plants, thus it may play a role in nutrient transport. In addition, divalent metals have been shown to act as co-transporters in several other organisms, thus they may serve as a transport mechanism for shrimp.

Fresh, live, white or brown shrimp were obtained, and from …

Leptodactylus Pentadactylus, Miriam M. Heyer, W. R. Heyer, Rafael O. De Sá

Biology Faculty Publications

Adult Leptodactylus pentadactylus (Figure 1) are large, the head is about as wide as long, and the hind limbs are moderately long (Table 1; Heyer and Thompson [2000] provided definitions of adult size and leg length categories for Leptodactylus). Male vocal sacs are not visible externally or are moderately expanded as a single sac. Sexually active males usually do not have hypertrophied forearms (the largest male examined, 195 mm SVL, has very weakly hypertrophied forearms), only the largest males have a single small to moderate size black spine on each thumb. No males have chest spines. Dorsolateral folds are …

Preliminary Studies On Aquatic Oligochaeta In And Around Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, Mohammed Ibrahim Naveed

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Aquatic oligochaetes were studied in 2 lowland regions (the Chennai and Tiruvallur districts) and a mountainous area (Ooty) in Tamil Nadu, southern India. Quantitative core samples, 2.5 cm in diameter, were collected monthly from April 2005 to March 2006 in Kodungaiyur Swamp and Pandinellur Swamp, the 2 main sites commercially exploited for aquatic Oligochaeta in Chennai. Random qualitative samples were collected from other sites using corers or strainers. In total, 9 naidids and 4 tubificids were identified during this survey. Dero indica, D. zeylanica, D. digitata, and Pristina jenkinae are first reports from Chennai. L. hoffmeisteri, the worm commercially marketed …

About The Scientific Names Of Paraphyletic Taxa, Tarmo Timm

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The 'naturality' of monophyletic taxa in comparison with that of paraphyletic ones is discussed, with examples from Clitellata. Regular scientific names for paraphyletic taxa are inevitable in a workable biological classification.

Helminth Parasites Of The Lemon-Yellow Tree Frog, Hyla Savignyi (Hylidae), From Turkey, Hi̇kmet Sami̇ Yildirimhan, Nurhan Sümer, Sezen İncedoğan, Charles Robert Bursey

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Forty lemon-yellow tree frogs, Hyla savignyi, collected from Kırıkhan, Turkey (25 in April 2009, 15 in April 2010), were examined for helminths, and 21 frogs were found to be infected. One species of Monogenea (Polystoma integerrimum), 3 species of Digenea (Diplodiscus subclavatus, Halipegus kessleri, and Pleurogenoides medians), 1 species of Cestoda (Nematotaenia dispar), and 2 species of Nematoda (Aplectana brumpti and Cosmocerca commutata) were found. Hyla savignyi represents a new host record for Polystoma integerrimum, Diplodiscus subclavatus, Halipegus kessleri, Pleurogenoides medians, Aplectana brumpti, and Cosmocerca commutata.

New Locality Records Of The Snake-Eyed Lizard, Ophisops Elegans Ménétriés, 1832 (Squamata: Lacertidae), In The Western Black Sea Region Of Anatolia, Mehmet Zülfü Yildiz, Bahadir Akman, Bayram Göçmen

Turkish Journal of Zoology

We report 18 specimens of Ophisops elegans from Kastamonu and Sinop provinces in the western Black Sea region of Anatolia. Previously, the northernmost known locality for O. elegans in Anatolia was Sinop Province. These new records extend the known distribution area of the species and fill the gaps in the distribution range of the species in the Black Sea region. The specimens were compared with the geographically closest subspecies, O. e. centralanatoliae from Ulukışla, Niğde. On the basis of pholidosis, coloration, and pattern, the new specimens can be included in the subspecies O. e. centralanatoliae.

Investigation Of Acute Toxicity Of Cadmium-Arsenic Mixtures To Daphnia Magna With Toxic Units Approach, Şeyda Fi̇ki̇rdeşi̇ci̇, Ahmet Altindağ, Ebru Özdemi̇r

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The acute toxicities of cadmium chloride (CdCl_2.H_2O), arsenic trioxide (AS_2O_3), and their mixtures to Daphnia magna were investigated by employing the statistical method of aquatic toxicity. The data obtained were statistically evaluated with probit analysis method (SPSS 17.0). The 24 h LC_{50} of Cd and As to Daphnia magna was estimated to be 44 µg L^{-1} for Cd, and 509 µg L^{-1} for As, respectively. With Behrens-Karber method the 24 h LC_{50} of these metals was found to be 46 µg L^{-1} and 509 µg L^{-1}, respectively. The 2 methods were in good agreement. The results suggested that D. magna …

A Checklist Of Turkish Rotifers, Mustafa Ruşen Ustaoğlu, Ahmet Altindağ, Murat Kaya, Nuray Akbulut, Ahmet Bozkurt, Di̇dem Özdemi̇r Mi̇s, Si̇bel Atasağun, Sevi̇l Erdoğan, Aysel Bekleyen, Serap Saler, Hacer Canan Okgerman

Turkish Journal of Zoology

In a book chapter containing the first checklist and distribution of Turkish rotifers, published in 1999, were listed 167 taxa. The second checklist, published in 2004, reported 229 rotifer taxa in Turkey. During the 7 years since this checklist process, many studies have been carried out and we have prepared a new checklist of Turkish rotifers in the present study. In all, 341 rotifer taxa have been recorded to date.

Scale Insect (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) Species On Pine Trees Of Turkey, Selma Ülgentürk, Nevzat Evren, Bi̇kem Ayhan, Özlem Dostbi̇l, Oktay Dursun, Hasan Sungur Ci̇velek

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Coccoidea species on pine trees (Pinus brutia, P. halepensis, and P. pinea) were collected from natural pine forests, mainly in the Aegean, Mediterranean, and some neighboring (Central Anatolian, Marmara) regions of Turkey in 2008-2011. A total of 14 species were determined from Coccidae (2 species), Diaspididae (8 species) Marchalinidae (1 species), Matsucoccidae (1 species), Monophlebidae (1 species), and Pseudococcidae (1 species), and 2 of them (Gomezmenoraspis pinicola Leonardi and Poaspis intermedia Goux) are new records for Turkish fauna. While the most common pests were respectively Leucaspis pusilla Löw, Marchalina hellenica Gennadius, Matsucoccus josephi (Bodenheimer and Harpaz), G. pinicola, and Palaeococcus …