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Risk Factors Associated With Developmental Limb Abnormalities In Captive Whooping Cranes, Cristin Kelley, Barry K. Hartup

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

This retrospective survey identifies potential risk factors for developmental limb abnormalities in whooping crane (Grus americana) chicks reared at the International Crane Foundation between 1990 and 2006. We summarized a series of biologicallyrelevant pre- and post-hatch variables from this population using in-house aviculture and veterinary records, and then compared them between chicks with and without developmental carpal, toe and leg deformities. Chi-square analysis revealed associations between 1) rearing style and each type of deformity, 2) egg source and carpal and toe deformities, and 3) the pre-existence of a toe deformity and carpal and leg deformities. Multivariate analyses using …

Habitat Characteristics Influencing Sandhill Crane Nest Site Selection, Anne E. Lacy, Su Liying

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The breeding population of greater Sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) in Wisconsin has greatly increased since the population was nearly extirpated in the mid-1930’s (Henika 1936). The International Crane Foundation (ICF) has been studying these birds for over 10 years in an area with one of the highest density of breeding cranes in the Midwest; we have calculated a nesting density of over 5 pairs/km2 (ICF unpublished data). Prior to this study, little was known about the habitat characteristics that may be influencing nest site selection. We conducted nest surveys by helicopter during the last week of April …

Selection Criteria For Important Sites For Wintering Sandhill Cranes In The Mexican Altiplano, Alberto Lafon Terrazas, Eduardo Carrera Gonzalez

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Conservation of natural resources has increased worldwide, and Mexico shows the same tendency. Unfortunately, selection criteria for conservation areas and objectives do not always follow a methodology that will allow for optimum selection. In Mexico and other countries we have a series of priority sites proposed by experts in various biodiversity areas, based on knowledge of the existing biological resources of the site. This results in two situations: more attention and resources are given to certain areas, but no resources are invested in sites that could be of equal or greater importance than those currently proposed. This leads to knowledge …

Sandhill Crane Nest Habitat Selection And Factors Affecting Nest Success In Northwestern Minnesota, Stephen J. Maxson, John R. Fieberg, Michael R. Riggs

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We studied 62 greater sandhill crane (Grus canadensis tabida) nests in northwestern Minnesota during 1989-1991 to document nest habitat use and selection, nest success, and factors associated with nest success. We recorded 15 habitat variables at each nest and at a randomly selected site in the same wetland. Nests were in basins 0.01-601 ha (Median = 2.2 ha) and at water depths 0-35.7 cm (Median = 9.7 cm). Cattail (Typha sp.) was the dominant vegetation at 58.0% of nests while 21.0% were at sites dominated by phragmites (Phragmites australis). Conditional logistic regression models indicated …

Trends In Sandhill Crane Numbers In Eastern New Mexico, James B. Montgomery Jr.

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Following a 1980s decline in the number of cranes in the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge area of the Pecos River Valley in eastern New Mexico, peak fall migration numbers increased from 5,640 in 1989-90 to 15,790 in 2003-04 and 13,650 in 2004-05. Concurrently, hectares of corn grown for silage to feed dairy cows increased from 1,781 in 1989 to 8,013 in 2003 and 7,325 in 2004. The population goals of the NM Department of Game and Fish are being met but a downturn in the dairy industry could result in a decline in crane numbers.

Timing Of Molt In Florida Sandhill Cranes, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Stephen T. Schwikert

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We observed feather molt in Florida sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pratensis) between 1978 and 1997. We report data from 4 feather groups: remiges, rectrices, wing coverts and contour feathers. In all feather groups, the median date of ecdysis preceded endysis by about 30 days. Endysis in adults was generally later than it was in first- or second-year subadults. Remiges grew at a rate of 4.72 ± 1.56 SD mm per day. We estimated that primary and secondary wing feathers were usually regenerated within 45 to 70 days.

Body Mass Index (Bmi) Of Normal Sandhill Cranes, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Marilyn G. Spalding, Kristen L. Candelora, Paul S. Kubilis, Stephen T. Schwikert

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We used linear and mass measurements to construct a body mass index (BMI) for 2 subspecies of sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis). We found that BMI declined during the spring and early summer period. We used the BMI to show that juvenile Florida sandhill cranes (G. c. pratensis) reach their full mass at about 270 days of age, near the age at which they begin to leave the company of their parents. We used mensural data to predict a minimum expected mass for normal sandhill cranes which could be then used to evaluate the relative health of …

Behavior Comparisons For Whooping Cranes Raised By Costumed Caregivers And Trained For An Ultralight-Led Migration, Glenn H. Olsen, John B. French

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The successful reintroduction program being run by the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership using whooping cranes (Grus americana) trained to fly behind ultralight aircraft depends on a supply of these trained crane colts each year. The crane colts are hatched from eggs contributed by the various partners and trained to follow costume clad humans and ultralight aircraft at USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, Maryland, USA. After several seasons of raising small numbers of crane colts (7-14), we wanted to increase the number of birds being trained, but were restrained by limits in our facilities. By altering the established …

Safety Of West Nile Virus Vaccines In Sandhill Crane Chicks, Glenn H. Olsen, Kimberli J. Miller, Douglas E. Docherty, Valerie Bochsler

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

West Nile virus arrived in North America in 1999 and has spread across the continent in the ensuing years. The virus has proven deadly to a variety of native avian species including sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis). In order to provide safe and efficacious protection for captive and released populations of whooping cranes (G. americana), we have conducted a series of four research projects. The last of these was a study of the effects of two different West Nile virus vaccines on young Florida sandhill crane (G. c. pratensis) chicks and subsequent challenge with the virus. …

Use Of Clap Traps In Capturing Nonmigratory Whooping Cranes In Florida, Jeannette M. Parker, Martin J. Folk, Stephen B. Baynes, Kristen L. Candelora

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Between March 2001 and April 2005 we captured 28 nonmigratory Florida whooping cranes (Grus americana) with clap traps. Out of the 6 different capture methods we employed, the clap trap accounted for 42% of our birds captured. Its ability to safely capture one crane or multiple cranes simultaneously, flexibility in size and placement, and low cost make it an important tool to facilitate transmitter replacements and health checks among the experimental Florida whooping crane population.

A Low Intensity Sampling Method For Assessing Blue Crab Abundance At Aransas National Wildlife Refuge And Preliminary Results On The Relationship Of Blue Crab Abundance To Whooping Crane Winter Mortality, Bruce H. Pugesek, Michael J. Baldwin, Thomas V. Stehn

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We sampled blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) in marshes on the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas from 1997 to 2005 to determine whether whooping crane (Grus americana) mortality was related to the availability of this food source. For four years, 1997 - 2001, we sampled monthly from the fall through the spring. From these data, we developed a reduced sampling effort method that adequately characterized crab abundance and reduced the potential for disturbance to the cranes. Four additional years of data were collected with the reduced sampling effort methods. Yearly variation in crab numbers was high, ranging …

Whooping Crane Collisions With Power Lines: An Issue Paper, Thomas V. Stehn, Tom Wassenich

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Collision with power lines is the greatest source of mortality for fledged whooping cranes (Grus americana) in the Aransas-Wood Buffalo population (AWBP) that migrate between the Northwest Territories, Canada to the Texas coast. This paper compiles 45 documented whooping crane mortalities from power line strikes in North America and provides known information on crane / power line interactions. A map of the AWBP whooping crane migration corridor was derived with 100 and 200-mile wide corridors delineated showing the location of known mortalities. Recommendations are provided to try to reduce this major threat facing whooping cranes.

A Year-Long Study Of Food Consumption By Captive Whooping Cranes At The International Crane Foundation, Jessica J. Stocking, Michael S. Putnam, Nathanial B. Warning

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Throughout 2002, we recorded daily food consumption by 12 pairs of captive whooping cranes (Grus americana). For 7 pairs we recorded food consumption throughout the entire year while there were large continuous gaps in measurements of food consumption for 5 pairs that raised chicks that year. Birds received both a maintenance and breeder diet, and for both we converted food consumption to energy intake (Joules/g body mass) using the combined fall weights of female and male. We compared daily energy intake with 6 meteorological variables (involving temperature, wind speed and humidity), photoperiod (natural and artificial) and egg laying …

Resolutions Passed By The North American Crane Working Group, Tenth North American Crane Workshop Zacatecas City, Zacatecas, Mexico, North American Crane Working Group

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Florida Crane habitat resolution
Florida has the largest population of non-migratory sandhill cranes in the world and winters a significant portion of the eastern population of greater sandhill cranes. And in Florida, efforts are underway to introduce migratory and non-migratory whooping cranes. In order to successfully establish and sustain these populations, appropriate habitat needs to be available. About 40% of Florida’s best crane habitat has been lost between 1973 and 2003, and the amount has increased since then. Because of this, these valuable populations of cranes are finding it more difficult to locate suitable habitat. We the NACWG by this …

Characterization Of A Contact Zone Between Two Subspecies Of The Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus Fuscus) In Nebraska, Justin D. Hoffman, Hugh H. Genoways

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Two subspecies of the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) are reported to occur in Nebraska. The eastern race, E. f. fuscus, is reportedly bigger and darker than its western counterpart E. f. pallidus. Where these 2 subspecies come in contact is the subject of debate. We used external, cranial, and colorimetric data to investigate geographic variation among populations of E. fuscus in Nebraska to determine the location of the zone of contact between E. f. fuscus and E. f. pallidus. We discovered significant variation in external, cranial, and colorimetric data, suggesting that E. fuscus is …

2008 Annual Report: Migratory Bird Conservation Commission

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

Table of Contents

The Service’s Legacy of Conserving Migratory Waterfowl Habitat

The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission

The Migratory Bird Conservation Fund

MBCC Approvals for Fiscal Year 2008

MBCF Land Acquisitions for Fiscal Year 2008

National Wildlife Refuge System –– New Area and Boundary Addition Approvals for Fiscal Year 2008

Notes on Tables One and Two

Map – National Migratory Bird Refuges

Table One – National Migratory Bird Areas

Map – Wetland Management Districts

Table Two – National Waterfowl Production Areas

North American Wetlands Conservation Fund Summary of MBCC Approvals for Fiscal Year 2008

Table Three – U.S. Wetlands Conservation Standard …

Birds Of Conservation Concern 2008

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

The 1988 amendment to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act mandates the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to “identify species, subspecies, and populations of all migratory nongame birds that, without additional conservation actions, are likely to become candidates for listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973.” Birds of Conservation Concern 2008 (BCC 2008) is the most recent effort to carry out this mandate. The overall goal of this report is to accurately identify the migratory and non-migratory bird species (beyond those already designated as federally threatened or endangered) that represent our highest conservation priorities. The …

Does Dam Parity Affect Progeny Health Status?, Thomas E. Burkey, Phillip S. Miller, Rodger K. Johnson, Duane Reese, Roman Moreno

Nebraska Swine Reports

A preliminary experiment was conducted to investigate the health status of progeny derived from different parities; health status was characterized by evaluating the ability of Pl and P3 dams to produce and passively transfer immunoglobulins (IgA and IgG) to their progeny. At parturition, circulating concentrations of IgA and IgG were greater (P < 0.01 ) in P3 dams compared to P1 dams. As expected, during lactation, concentrations of IgA and IgG were greater (P < 0.002) in colostrum compared to milk (mid- and late-lactation). No parity differences were observed in immunoglobulin concentrations in colostrum or milk obtained from P1 and P3 dams. However, when immunoglobulins were quantified in the progeny of Pl and P3 dams a parity x time interaction was observed for circulating IgG (P < 0.03) and a trend for a parity x time interaction was observed for IgA (P = 0.06). Within a time point (d), serum IgG was greater (P < 0.001) in P3 progeny compared to P1 progeny for each time point measured. These results suggest that health status, as indicated by circulating immunoglobulin concentration, in neonatal pigs, may be affected by dam parity.

Molecular Evolution Of The Cytochrome C Oxidase Subunit 5a Gene In Primates, Monica Uddin, Juan C. Opazo, Derek E. Wildman, Chet C. Sherwood, Patrick R. Hof, Morris Goodman, Lawrence I. Grossman

Wayne State University Associated BioMed Central Scholarship

Abstract

Background

Many electron transport chain (ETC) genes show accelerated rates of nonsynonymous nucleotide substitutions in anthropoid primate lineages, yet in non-anthropoid lineages the ETC proteins are typically highly conserved. Here, we test the hypothesis that COX5A, the ETC gene that encodes cytochrome c oxidase subunit 5A, shows a pattern of anthropoid-specific adaptive evolution, and investigate the distribution of this protein in catarrhine brains.

Results

In a dataset comprising 29 vertebrate taxa, including representatives from all major groups of primates, there is nearly 100% conservation of the COX5A amino acid sequence among extant, non-anthropoid placental mammals. The most recent common …

The Use Of Extractable Lipofuscin For Age Determination Of Crustaceans: Reply To Sheehy (2008), H. Rodger Harvey, David H. Secor, Se-Jong Ju

OES Faculty Publications

The heterogeneous mixture of metabolic by-products termed lipofuscin (LF) or age pigments has long been known to accumulate in post mitotic cells with increasing age. In crustaceans several approaches have been developed over the years to track LF accumulation and provide a proxy for chronological age. Histological approaches have been traditionally used for LF determination of crustaceans (e.g. Sheehy et al. 1994, Mar Biol 121:237-245), but over the last decade extraction approaches for neural tissues have been introduced (Ju et al. 1999, Mar Ecol Prog Ser 185:171-179) and tested (Ju et al. 2001, Mar Ecol Prog Ser 224:197-205; 2003, Fish …

Otolith Chemistry Indicates Population Structuring By The Antarctic Circumpolar Current, Julian R. Ashford, Cynthia M. Jones, Eileen E. Hofmann, Inigo Everson, Carlos A. Moreno, Guy Duhamel, Richard Williams

CCPO Publications

Large-scale transport of seawater in ocean currents may generate spatially complex population structure through the advection of life stages of marine fish species. To test this, we compared the chemistry of otolith nuclei from Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides), presently managed as spatially discrete Populations corresponding to fishing management areas along the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), which transports water eastward around the Southern Ocean. The chemistry of otolith nuclei, laid down during early life, differed significantly between fishing areas Off South America and the Antarctic and between some Antarctic areas. However, we found significant discrepancies from expectation for a …

Population Ecology Of The Golden Mouse, Robert K. Rose

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

An understanding of the population dynamics of a species requires knowledge of the major life-history parameters of a population, including age at maturity, distribution of age classes, and lifetime reproductive contribution of the sexes, sex ratio, length of the breeding season, mean litter size, rates of growth and survival, and life span. Because few long-term studies have been conducted with Ochrotomys nuttalli as the focal species of investigation, only fragmentary information is available for many population parameters. As importantly, densities of golden mice often are low, making them difficult to evaluate statistically. Little has been published on age at maturity …

Examination Of Crayfish Biodiversity And Distribution Within The Grand River, Michigan, Norrissa M. Thomas, Daniel A. Bergman

Student Summer Scholars Manuscripts

Invertebrates make up a large part of the world's biological diversity and perform essential ecological functions. Many invertebrates are under threat of extinction due to extreme transformations of habitats. Crayfish are one such threatened invertebrate. Crayfish are keystone species in many freshwater systems. Keystone species are those species most important in shaping the ecology of a system. Crayfish are an important resource for many animals and affect species diversity and abundance. Specifically, crayfish can adversely affect ecosystems by removing plants, making the water turbid. They also prey on fish eggs reducing their numbers. There are 415 species of crayfish in …

Earthworm Abundances In Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue Pastures In Northwest Arkansas, Ashley Rashe, Mary C. Savin

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

The ecology of organisms that co-evolve within an ecosystem is likely to be distinct from that involving organisms recently introduced into an area. To better understand the relationship of earthworms with endophyte-infected tall fescue, earthworms in novel and toxic endophyte-infected tall fescue pastures were enumerated and identified as adults or juveniles. We hypothesized that differences in endophyte infection of the fescue would influence earthworm abundances. Earthworms in two toxic and two novel endophyte-infected tall fescue fields in Fayetteville, Ark., were sampled weekly from January through July 2007. Each type of endophyte-infected pasture was established in 1997 and 2003. Sampling was …

Low-Density Rodent Communities In Eastern Virginia, Robert K. Rose, Jean F. Stankavich

Virginia Journal of Science

Two communities of small mammals were live trapped every other week for 15 months in linear oilfield habitat bordered by forested swampland in eastern Virginia. All nine species of the rodent community were present, mostly in low numbers and often intermittently. All species were characterized by high transiency, with a minority of marked animals becoming resident. Despite high trappability, all but two species in these communities had extremely low densities, suggesting that most species could not sustain populations via in situ reproduction.

A Literature Review Of The Effects Of Energy Development On Ungulates: Implications For Central And Eastern Montana, Mark Hebblewhite

Wildlife Biology Faculty Publications

A literature review of >160 scientific and technical reports was conducted to review the effects of energy development ungulates, separated by important seasonal and habitat types. Effects of energy development and human activity in general were assessed for elk, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, moose, bighorn sheep and woodland caribou. Weaknesses of the existing literature in addressing and providing guidelines for the management of energy development are presented. A recommended course of action for management oriented research is presented. Finally, a searchable electronic database is developed of the literature including abstracts and digital copies to aid in evaluating future energy development …

Mycobacteriosis-Associated Mortality In Wild Striped Bass (Morone Saxatilis) From Chesapeake Bay, Usa, D. T. Gauthier, R. J. Latour, D. M. Heisey, C. F. Bonzek, J. Gartland, E. J. Burge, W. K. Vogelbein

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The striped bass (Morone saxatilis) is an economically and ecologically important finfish species along the Atlantic seaboard of the United States. Recent stock assessments in Chesapeake Bay (USA) indicate that non-fishing mortality in striped bass has increased since 1999, concomitant with very high (>50%) prevalence of visceral and dermal disease caused by Mycobacterium spp. Current fishery assessment models do not differentiate between disease and other components of non-fishing mortality (e. g., senescence, predation); therefore, disease impact on the striped bass population has not been established. Specific measurement of mortality associated with mycobacteriosis in wild striped bass is …

Engaging Recreational Fishers In Management And Conservation: Global Case Studies, Elise F. Granek, Elizabeth M.P. Madin, M. A. Brown, Will F. Figueira, Darren S. Cameron, Zeb Hogan, Gerry Kristianson, Pierre De Villiers, Jack E. Williams, John R. Post, S. Zahn, R. Arlinghaus

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Globally, the number of recreational fishers is sizeable and increasing in many countries. Associated with this trend is the potential for negative impacts on fish stocks through exploitation or management measures such as stocking and introduction of non-native fishes. Nevertheless, recreational fishers can be instrumental in successful fisheries conservation through active involvement in, or initiation of, conservation projects to reduce both direct and external stressors contributing to fishery declines. Understanding fishers’ concerns for sustained access to the resource and developing methods for their meaningful participation can have positive impacts on conservation efforts. We examined a suite of case studies that …

A Spatial Sirs Boolean Network Model For The Spread Of H5n1 Avian Influenza Virus Among Poultry Farms, Alexander Kasyanov, Leona Kirkland, Mihaela Teodora Matache

Mathematics Faculty Proceedings & Presentations

To predict the spread of Avian Influenza we propose a synchronous Susceptible-Infected-Recovered-Susceptible (SIRS) Boolean network of poultry farms, using probabilistic Boolean rules. Gravity models from transportation theory are used for the probability of infection of a node in one time step, taking into account farm sizes, distances be- tween farms, and mean distance travelled by birds. Basic reproduction numbers are computed analytically and numerically. The dynamics of the network are analyzed and various statistics considered such as number of infected nodes or time until eradication of the epidemic. We conclude that mostly when large farms (eventually) become infected the epidemic …

Interrupted Vs. Uninterrupted Training On Bmd During Growth, B. M. Goettsch, M. Z. Smith, J. A. O'Brien, G. V. Gomez, S. V. Jaque, Ken D. Sumida

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

This study compared a resistance training program where the exercise was uninterrupted (UT, i.e., continuous repetitions) against a resistance training program where the exercise was interrupted (IT, i.e., 3 exercise sessions during a training day) for enhancing bone modeling and bone mineral density (BMD) in maturating animals. The total volume of work performed between the two resistance training programs was equivalent by design. 24 young male rats were randomly divided into Control (Con, n = 8), UT (n = 8) and IT (n=8) resistance trained groups. The UT and IT groups were conditioned to climb a vertical ladder with weights …