Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Animal Sciences

Institution
Keyword
Publication Year
Publication
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 16771 - 16800 of 21422

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Field Application Of A Monoclonal Antibody Panel To Differentiate Porcine Reproductive And Respiratory Syndrome Virus (Prrsv) Isolates, E.A. Nelson, H.A. Jones, L. Yang, K.B. Platt May 2002

Field Application Of A Monoclonal Antibody Panel To Differentiate Porcine Reproductive And Respiratory Syndrome Virus (Prrsv) Isolates, E.A. Nelson, H.A. Jones, L. Yang, K.B. Platt

South Dakota Swine Research Report, 2001

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is recognized as the most economically devastating disease of swine throughout the world. Nucleotide sequencing and serological studies have deomnstrated sustantial antigenic variation amoung PRRS virus (PRRSV) isolates (Murtaugh, et al., 1995; Nelson, et al., 1993, 1996). Recently, European-like PRRSV isolates have been identified in the US (Rossow, et al. 2000) and other new, highly virulent PRRSV isolates have appeared and affect sows at all stages of gestation causing mortality of adult pigs as well as young pigs (Epperson et al., 1997). Therefore, it is even more important to control the spread of these …


Efficacy Of High Oil Corn In Reducing The Severity Of A Prrsv Challenge In Growing Pigs, B.T. Christopherson, R.C. Thaler, C.C. Chase, S.H. Pohl May 2002

Efficacy Of High Oil Corn In Reducing The Severity Of A Prrsv Challenge In Growing Pigs, B.T. Christopherson, R.C. Thaler, C.C. Chase, S.H. Pohl

South Dakota Swine Research Report, 2001

The objectives of this experiment were to determine the effects of high oil corn (HOC) on the aerosol transmission of the porcine reproductive and respiratory synrome virus (PRRSV), and the effects of HOC on PRRSV seroconversion in growing pigs. One hundred PRRSV negative gilts (25 kg) were housed in 1 of 2 mirror imaged rooms. Both rooms contained 10 pens with 5 pigs/pen, and each room had its own separate ventilation and maure handling systems. The study was arranged in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. The main effects consisted of a dietary energy source, (#2 yellow corn (CON) and …


Effects Of Administration Of Estradiol-17p On The Serum And Anterior Pituitary Igf System In Pigs, L.A. Rempel, J.A. Clapper May 2002

Effects Of Administration Of Estradiol-17p On The Serum And Anterior Pituitary Igf System In Pigs, L.A. Rempel, J.A. Clapper

South Dakota Swine Research Report, 2001

The anterior pituitary (AP) gland functions as a storage and releasing unit for several hormones; growth hormone (GH), gonadotrophins (luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone), prolactin, adrenocorticotropin hormone, and tyroid stimulating hormone. Luteinizing hormone (LH) functions to increase ovarian follicular growth and maturation and responds to increasing concentrations of estradiol-17β (E2) that occur at estrus to cause ovulation. Production and secretion of the protein, insulin-like grwoth factor-I (IGF-I), occurs primarily in the liver, in response to GH release from the anterior pituitary gland. Insulin-like growth factor-I increases glucose uptake, amino acid transport, and glycogen synthesis resulting in increased protein accretion …


2001 South Dakota State University Swine Research Report, Department Of Animal And Range Sciences May 2002

2001 South Dakota State University Swine Research Report, Department Of Animal And Range Sciences

South Dakota Swine Research Report, 2001

This is the complete 2001 Swine Research Report issued by the Department of Animal and Range Sciences.


Transmission Of Porcine Reproductive And Respiratory Syndrome Virus By Semen Is Dose Dependent, C.D. Nelson, R.R. Rowland, D.A. Benfield May 2002

Transmission Of Porcine Reproductive And Respiratory Syndrome Virus By Semen Is Dose Dependent, C.D. Nelson, R.R. Rowland, D.A. Benfield

South Dakota Swine Research Report, 2001

Procine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is transmitted through semen via natural mating or atrificial insemination. However, the minimal infective dose of PRRSV required to effect transmission through semen is not known. In this study, we induced estrus in PRRSV seronegative gilts and then artificially inseminated these animals with extended, commercial boar semen “seeded” with difference concentrations (2, 20, 200, 2,000, 20,000, 200,000, or 2,000,000 TCID50/50 ml of semen) of the PRRSV isolate SD 92-23983. Infection of gilts by PRRSV was confirmed by weekly bleedings of these animals to detect serconversion using the commercial IDEXX ELISA. All pigs (n=7) …


Kentucky Warbler (Vol. 78, No. 2), Kentucky Library Research Collections May 2002

Kentucky Warbler (Vol. 78, No. 2), Kentucky Library Research Collections

The Kentucky Warbler

No abstract provided.


Effect Of Diet Complexity And The Additive Effect Of Pharmacological Levels Of Zno And Carbadox On The Performance Of Weaned Pigs, D.Y. Lee, G.W. Libal, C.R. Hamilton, D.N. Peters May 2002

Effect Of Diet Complexity And The Additive Effect Of Pharmacological Levels Of Zno And Carbadox On The Performance Of Weaned Pigs, D.Y. Lee, G.W. Libal, C.R. Hamilton, D.N. Peters

South Dakota Swine Research Report, 2001

The scientific literature documents the efficacy of antibacterial feed additives for weaned pigs. More recently, Feeding therapeutic levels of supplemental zinc (Zn) from zinc oxide (ZnO) stimulated voluntary feed intake and weight gain of young pigs. Over the last decade, research demonstrated that swine diets contianing sub-therapeutic levels of various antibiotics combined with pharmacological levels of copper (Cu) resulted in better performance than when either ingredient was provided individually. In 1982, an additive improvement in performance was found when a sub-therapeutic level (55 mg/kg) of carbodox (CARB) and high level of Cu (125 mg/kg) were provided in combination in a …


Processes For The Allocation, Reallocation And Governance Of Resource Access In Connection With A Framework For The Future Management Of Fisheries In Western Australia, Government Of Western Australia Department Of Fisheries May 2002

Processes For The Allocation, Reallocation And Governance Of Resource Access In Connection With A Framework For The Future Management Of Fisheries In Western Australia, Government Of Western Australia Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Management Papers

This paper outlines the issues associated with developing a framework to deal explicitly with the allocation, reallocation and the governance of access to the fisheries resources of Western Australia.


Habitat Use And Partitioning Between The Evening Bat, Nycticeius Humeralis, And The Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus Fuscus, In Indiana, Joseph E. Duchamp May 2002

Habitat Use And Partitioning Between The Evening Bat, Nycticeius Humeralis, And The Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus Fuscus, In Indiana, Joseph E. Duchamp

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to look at possible methods of prey-resource partitioning between two sympatric species of bat that have similar diets: the evening bal, Nycticeius humeralis, and the big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus. Thirty-four adult female bats were radio tracked during this study: 11 evening bats and 11 big brown bats near a suburb oflndianapolis, IN in 2001, and 11 evening bats and l big brown bat in the bottomland forest of Prairie Creek, IN in 1999 and 2000. Habitat use and foraging patterns were evaluated using radio-telemetry and a geographic information system (GIS). Habitat selection was …


Wpa News 69 (2002), World Pheasant Association May 2002

Wpa News 69 (2002), World Pheasant Association

Galliformes Specialist Group and Affiliated Societies: Newsletters

WPA News (May 2002), number 69

Published by the World Pheasant Association


Ecology Of The Missouri River. Progress Report, Dingell-Johnson Project F-75-R-19, Supplement 1- Missouri River Creel Survey, Camp Creek To Kansas State Line, 31 March Through 12 October 2001, Gerald Mestl May 2002

Ecology Of The Missouri River. Progress Report, Dingell-Johnson Project F-75-R-19, Supplement 1- Missouri River Creel Survey, Camp Creek To Kansas State Line, 31 March Through 12 October 2001, Gerald Mestl

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: White Papers, Conference Presentations, and Manuscripts

This report describes Missouri River activities and results related to a channelized Missouri River creel survey conducted from 31 March through 12 October 2001. This is the second of a planned annual creel survey to be conducted on alternating sections of the channelized Missouri River to measure changes in recreational fishing activity, especially those changes due to large scale habitat restoration efforts. Future reports will contain additional analyses of these data. Anglers spent over 22,000 hours fishing the Missouri River from Camp Creek (rkm 883.5) to the Kansas state line (rkm 790.2) during the survey period. Effort peaked during the …


Ocelot Distribution In The Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Kevin James Shinn May 2002

Ocelot Distribution In The Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Kevin James Shinn

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Weaver hair-snaring surveys were conducted at 125 sites on 27 Refuge tracts to obtain information about the distribution and population status of the endangered ocelot ( Leopardus pardalis ) in the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The surveys resulted in 33.6% of the pads “hit”, including 8 by ocelot and 29 by bobcat. There was no significant difference in the number of ocelot hits between warm and cool seasons or between the sexes. Preferred habitat consists of dense thornscrub brush. Four species, snake-eyes, granjeno, honey mesquite, and colima comprise 50% or more of the total cover at each …


Coyote Foraging Ecology, Vigilance, And Behavioral Cascades In Response To Gray Wolf Reintroduction In Yellowstone National Park, T. Adam Switalski May 2002

Coyote Foraging Ecology, Vigilance, And Behavioral Cascades In Response To Gray Wolf Reintroduction In Yellowstone National Park, T. Adam Switalski

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Vigilance behavior can aid in the detection of predators and may also play a role in observation of conspecifics, in food acquisition, and in the prevention of kleptoparasitism. However, in most occasions, vigilance is most important as an antipredator function. Generally, factors that increase the risk of predation also increase the amount of vigilance. We examined whether the reintroduction of the large predator, the wolf, in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) would influence coyote vigilance and foraging ecology. From December 1997 to July 2000, we collected 1743 h of coyote activity budgets. Coyote home ranges occurred within wolf territories (termed high-use …


Movement Patterns Of Phrynosoma Mcallii And Phrynosoma Platyrhinos In Response To Substrate Texture, Daniel H. Foley Iii May 2002

Movement Patterns Of Phrynosoma Mcallii And Phrynosoma Platyrhinos In Response To Substrate Texture, Daniel H. Foley Iii

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

During the summers of 1999 and 2000 the apparent habitat partitioning of two species of sympatric horned lizards was investigated at the Barry M. Goldwater Bombing Range near Yuma, Arizona. The flat-tailed horned lizard, Phrynosoma mcallii, and the desert horned lizard, P. platyrhinos, overlap in range in portions of the Sonora desert in the southwestern United States. However, upon finer scale examination, it appeared that these horned lizards were partitioning the available habitat according to soil substrate texture. Phrynosoma mcallii appeared to be exclusively found in areas of fine, loose, wind-blown sands, in contrast to P. platyrhinos, …


Physiological Importance Of 1,25(Oh)2D3 Membrane-Initiated And Nuclear Actions In Chickens As A Function Of Growth, And Maturation In Male And Female Chickens, Birgitta Larsson May 2002

Physiological Importance Of 1,25(Oh)2D3 Membrane-Initiated And Nuclear Actions In Chickens As A Function Of Growth, And Maturation In Male And Female Chickens, Birgitta Larsson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

It is well established that l,25(OH)2D3 is a major regulator of calcium homeostasis. The steroid exerts its effects on its target organs by two mechanisms, a slow mechanism mediated by nuclear vitamin D receptors (nVDR), and a rapid mechanism mediated by the l,25(OH)2D3 membrane-associated rapid response steroid binding protein (l,25D3-MARRS bp). In this dissertation, the physiological relevance of membrane initiated steroid signaling was investigated by studying the correlation of age in male and female chickens with the magnitude of responses to l,25(OH)2D3 in duodena from 7-, 14-, 28-, and …


Factors Affecting The Harvest Vulnerability Of Trumpeter Swans, Heidi L. Tangermann May 2002

Factors Affecting The Harvest Vulnerability Of Trumpeter Swans, Heidi L. Tangermann

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Two species of swan are regularly found in Utah, tundra swans (Cygnus columbianus) and trumpeter swans (Cygnus buccinator). Tundra swans migrate through Utah. During the fall migration period they are hunted in the state under guidelines established by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Trumpeter swans are occasional visitors to Utah during the same migration period. Because trumpeter swans are difficult to distinguish from tundra swans in flight, they 11 are at risk of being harvested during the swan hunt. In my thesis, I examine the factors that may influence trumpeter swan vulnerability to …


Rapid Actions Of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 On Phosphate Uptake In Isolated Chick Intestinal Cells, Bin Zhao May 2002

Rapid Actions Of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 On Phosphate Uptake In Isolated Chick Intestinal Cells, Bin Zhao

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] has been shown to promote phosphate transport rapidly in the perfused duodenal loop, relative to controls, reaching treated/av basal at T = 40 min = 1.82 ± 0.42 and 1.11 ± 0.21, respectively.

By using isolated chick enterocytes, studies were undertaken to determine whether 1,25(OH)2D3 has a direct effect on isolated intestinal cells that is manifested by either enhanced uptake or extrusion of phosphate.

In time course studies, with 4- to 8-wk-old chicks, 32P uptake in enterocytes at 10 min after addition of test substance was 0%, 130%, …


Uncertainty Of Exploitation Estimates Made From Tag Returns, L.E. Miranda, R.E. Brock, Brian S. Dorr Apr 2002

Uncertainty Of Exploitation Estimates Made From Tag Returns, L.E. Miranda, R.E. Brock, Brian S. Dorr

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Over 6,000 crappies Pomoxis spp. were tagged in five water bodies to estimate exploitation rates by anglers. Exploitation rates were computed as the percentage of tags returned after adjustment for three sources of uncertainty: post-release mortality due to the tagging process, tag loss, and the reporting rate of tagged fish. Confidence intervals around exploitation rates were estimated by re-sampling from the probability distributions of tagging mortality, tag loss, and reporting rate. Estimates of exploitation rates ranged from 17% to 54% among the five study systems. Uncertainty around estimates of tagging mortality, tag loss, and reporting resulted in 90% confidence intervals …


Patterns Of Avifauna Use Of Constructed Wetlands In The Beaver Creek Wetland Complex, Menifee County, Kentucky, Michael E. Kenawell Apr 2002

Patterns Of Avifauna Use Of Constructed Wetlands In The Beaver Creek Wetland Complex, Menifee County, Kentucky, Michael E. Kenawell

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Science and Technology at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science by Michael E. Kenawell on April 16, 2002.


Reproduction Of Black Drum, Pogonias Cromis, From The Chesapeake Bay Region, Brian K. Wells, Cynthia M. Jones Apr 2002

Reproduction Of Black Drum, Pogonias Cromis, From The Chesapeake Bay Region, Brian K. Wells, Cynthia M. Jones

Virginia Journal of Science

Ovaries of black drum, Pogonias cromis, collected from the Chesapeake Bay region in 1992, were used to describe reproductive strategy and fecundity. Histological examination showed that black drum spawn in the Chesapeake Bay region from April through early June. Distributions of oocyte diameter showed distinct oocyte-developmental groups indicating that Chesapeake Bay black drum are group-synchronous batch spawners. Female black drum are extremely fecund ranging from 414,000 to 3,736,000 hydrated oocytes (mean = 1,389,000) per batch with a spawning periodicity of 3.8 days. Estimates of spawning strategy, spawning periodicity, and batch fecundity for black drum from the Chesapeake Bay region …


Plasma And Testicular Testosterone Levels, Volume Density And Number Of Leydig Cells And Spermatogenic Efficiency Of Rabbits, A.C.S. Castro, William E. Berndtson, F. M. Cardoso Apr 2002

Plasma And Testicular Testosterone Levels, Volume Density And Number Of Leydig Cells And Spermatogenic Efficiency Of Rabbits, A.C.S. Castro, William E. Berndtson, F. M. Cardoso

Biological Sciences

Plasma and tissue testosterone concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay in 12 eight-month-old sexually mature New Zealand White rabbits and evaluated for possible associations with spermatogenic efficiency as well as with volume density and number of Leydig cells. Testicular tissue was processed histologically and histometry was performed in order to quantify germ cells, Sertoli cells and Leydig cells. Spermatogenic efficiency, reported as the ratios among germ cells (spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes and round spermatids) and by the ratio of germ cells to Sertoli cells, was not associated with testosterone levels. However, Leydig cell parameters such as number of Leydig cells per gram …


Autotrophic Picoplankton: Their Presence And Significance In Marine And Freshwater Ecosystems, Harold G. Marshall Apr 2002

Autotrophic Picoplankton: Their Presence And Significance In Marine And Freshwater Ecosystems, Harold G. Marshall

Virginia Journal of Science

Invited lecture: Autotrophic Picoplankton Workshop, 52nd Congress of the Polish Botanical Society, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland, September 2001 .


Fisheries Research Report No. 133 - Preliminary Assessment And Seasonal Fluctuations In The Fish Biota Inhabiting The Concentrator Ponds Of Dampier Salt, Port Hedland, With Options For The Potential Application Of Results, Brett Molony, Gareth Parry Apr 2002

Fisheries Research Report No. 133 - Preliminary Assessment And Seasonal Fluctuations In The Fish Biota Inhabiting The Concentrator Ponds Of Dampier Salt, Port Hedland, With Options For The Potential Application Of Results, Brett Molony, Gareth Parry

Fisheries Research Reports

The concentrator ponds (CPs) of Dampier Salt, Port Hedland, cover an area in excess of 7 300 ha. Water is pumped from two adjacent, mangrove-lined estuaries at certain times of the year and small and larvae fishes are carried into the ponds, becoming trapped. A survey of the fish biota within the CPs was undertaken at four time periods between May 2000 and February 2001 to identify the species of fishes present and to estimate their abundances and distribution throughout the CPs. Further, the Artemia resources within the CPs were also assessed for identification of species and quality.

Forty two …


Fisheries Research Report No. 134, Vol 1 - Towards An Assessment Of The Natural And Human Use Impacts On The Marine Environment Of The Abrolhos Islands, F J. Webster, C J. Dibden, C F. Chubb Apr 2002

Fisheries Research Report No. 134, Vol 1 - Towards An Assessment Of The Natural And Human Use Impacts On The Marine Environment Of The Abrolhos Islands, F J. Webster, C J. Dibden, C F. Chubb

Fisheries Research Reports

The State Territorial Waters surrounding the Abrolhos Islands are gazetted as a Fish Habitat Protection Area and vested with the Minister for Fisheries under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994. Three Fisheries Management Papers have identified management priorities for the marine environment at the Abrolhos Islands:

  • Management of the Houtman Abrolhos System
  • Aquaculture Plan for the Houtman Abrolhos Islands
  • Sustainable Tourism Plan for the Houtman Abrolhos Islands.

These plans and other national and international obligations to examine the effect of extractive and non-extractive anthropogenic activities on marine habitats (eg. Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) led to …


Draft Bycatch Action Plan For The Shark Bay Prawn Managed Fishery (Full Report), Jo Bunting Apr 2002

Draft Bycatch Action Plan For The Shark Bay Prawn Managed Fishery (Full Report), Jo Bunting

Fisheries Management Papers

Two versions of the draft Bycatch Action Plan for the Shark Bay Prawn Managed Fishery have been released for public comment. The ‘Full Report’ (this document - Fisheries Management Paper No. 147) is a comprehensive version of the plan containing detailed rationale and justification for the objectives and actions proposed in the plan. The Full Report also provides detailed background information regarding issues such as the natural environment in Shark Bay, current management arrangements within the prawn fishery and existing information on bycatch. A shorter ‘Summary Report’ is also available for comment. The Summary Report (Fisheries Management Paper No. 148) …


Draft Bycatch Action Plan For The Shark Bay Prawn Managed Fishery (Summary Report), Jo Bunting Apr 2002

Draft Bycatch Action Plan For The Shark Bay Prawn Managed Fishery (Summary Report), Jo Bunting

Fisheries Management Papers

The Department of Fisheries invites people to make a submission on the issues and recommendations of this report - Draft Bycatch Action Plan for the Shark Bay Prawn Managed Fishery. This draft plan has been prepared by the Department of Fisheries' Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program. Two versions of the draft Bycatch Action Plan for the Shark Bay Prawn Managed Fishery have been released for public comment. The ‘Summary Report’ (this document - Fisheries Management Paper No. 148) provides a brief summary of the background information used in the development of the plan and focuses on its objectives and …


Fisheries Management Report No. 6 - Proceedings Of Marron Farming Open Day 2002, Greg B. Maguire Apr 2002

Fisheries Management Report No. 6 - Proceedings Of Marron Farming Open Day 2002, Greg B. Maguire

Fisheries Published Reports

The marron industry is of considerable importance to the Department of Fisheries, being one of the older aquaculture industries in Western Australia, and one that accounts for around half the aquaculture licence holders in the State. While it has not grown as quickly as many hoped in the past, in 2000/01, some 52.2 tonnes of marron were produced, worth $1.18 million at the farm gate.

It is regionally significant, particularly in the south-west, and depending on appropriate site selection, has considerable potential in other areas. Farms are distributed from near Geraldton to around Bremer Bay, with additional interest around Esperance. …


Fisheries Research Report No. 139 - A 12-Month Survey Of Recreational Fishing In The Gascoyne Bioregion Of Western Australia During 1998-99, Neil R. Sumner, P C. Williamson, B E. Malseed Apr 2002

Fisheries Research Report No. 139 - A 12-Month Survey Of Recreational Fishing In The Gascoyne Bioregion Of Western Australia During 1998-99, Neil R. Sumner, P C. Williamson, B E. Malseed

Fisheries Research Reports

A 12-month creel survey of recreational boat-based and shore-based fishing in the Gascoyne bioregion of Western Australia was conducted between April 1998 and March 1999. During the survey 1,738 boat crews were interviewed at public boat ramps when they returned from their fishing trip. During patrols conducted along the coastline 695 groups of boat-based fishers and 1,060 groups of shore-based fishers were interviewed at fishing locations and camp sites.

The total annual recreational fishing effort for the Gascoyne bioregion was 243,000 fisher days (95%CI: 222,000 – 264,000). This comprised 113,000 fisher days by boats launched from public ramps, 53,000 fisher …


Reproductive Differences Among Delmarva Grass Shrimp (Palaemonetes Pugio And P. Vulgaris) Populations, Holly H. Ganz, Robert E. Knowlton Apr 2002

Reproductive Differences Among Delmarva Grass Shrimp (Palaemonetes Pugio And P. Vulgaris) Populations, Holly H. Ganz, Robert E. Knowlton

Virginia Journal of Science

Populations of female grass shrimps (Palaemonetes pugio and P. vulgaris) were sampled from five coastal embayments in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia (Delmarva) and compared with respect to reproductive and life history attributes. We observed interspecific differences in timing of reproduction, carapace length, ratio of carapace length to total body length, body weight, clutch weight, clutch size, and egg volume. Onset of reproduction in P. vulgaris lagged behind P. pugio. Although there was no difference in the relationship between clutch size and carapace length for the two species, carapace length/total body length in P. pugio was greater than …


Anting Behavior In Birds: Ant Selection And Effect Of Ant Chemistry On Feather Ectoparasites, Hannah Carrington Revis Apr 2002

Anting Behavior In Birds: Ant Selection And Effect Of Ant Chemistry On Feather Ectoparasites, Hannah Carrington Revis

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Active anting behavior occurs when songbirds apply ants to their feathers. During anting displays, a bird draws its wings forward in front of the head and swings its tail around to the far right or left. Both wing and tail feathers are then rubbed with ants held in the bird's beak. The potential associations among ants, feather ectoparasites and birds make anting behavior an important community-level interaction. Although this behavior is cosmopolitan in distribution and occurs in a wide variety of passerine birds, it remains poorly understood. This dissertation tested hypotheses about anting behavior through controlled experiments with captive songbirds …