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Fish Survey Of Nathan's Lake, Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge, Corey Lee, William Davison

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

The Columbia Fishery Resources Office conducted fish surveys at Nathan's Lake, a proposed component of Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), in June 2001.  Boyer Chute NWR is located in the Missouri River Floodplain about three miles north or Omaha, NE and four miles southeast of Ft. Calhoun, NE.

Nathan's Lake is located about one mile southwest of Boyer Chute (Figure 1) in Washington County and is connected to the Missouri River by a drainage ditch with a control structure located at the northeast corner of the lake,  Nathan's Lake is approximately a 50-acre shallow lake (0.61-1.22-m) that contains aquatic …

Use Of Py-Gc/Ms Analysis Techniques In Animal Waste Management: A Preliminary Survey Of Dairy Manures, Daniel L. Vaughn, Michael A. Kruge

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The increasing practice of industrial-scale agriculture tends to concentrate large masses of animal waste in relatively compact areas, potentially leading to excessive release of polluting nutrients into waterways during major storms. Anaerobic treatment conditions are generally favored to conserve nitrate N as an agricultural commodity. However, overall N contents in waste are often in excess of crop fertilization needs: storing excess N in soluble nitrate form increases pollution potential. Thus the perceived needs of agriculture and society-at-large become at odds. Organic nitrogen forms (e.g., proteins) are more environmentally stable and are less subject to unintentional release. Although U.S. farmers tend …

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (Cla), Body Fat, And Apoptosis, Jess L. Miner, C. Cederberg, Merlyn K. Nielsen, Xiaoli Chen, Clifton Baile

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine if consumption of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) by mice could induce apoptosis in adipose tissue. Other objectives were to determine the influence of feeding mice CLA for ≤2 weeks on body fat, energy expenditure, and feed intake.

Research Methods and Procedures: A mixture of CLA isomers (predominantly c9,t11 and t10,c12) was included in the AIN-93G diet at 0, 1, and 2%, and fed to mice for 12 days (Trial 1), or was included at 2% and fed to mice for 0, 5, and 14 days (Trial 2). Feed intake …

Use Of Intra-Uterine Insemination Of Pigs: Pros, Cons & Economics, Donald G. Levis, Scott Burroughs, Sara Williams

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Reproductive performance is a major concern for pork producers because the financial stability of a pork enterprise that produces piglets is substantially influenced by fecundity index (FI) for number of piglets born alive (FI = farrowing rate x litter size born alive). It is well known that farrowing rate and litter size are affected by numerous factors. A new reproductive technique that pork producers are hearing and reading about is intra-uterine insemination. Intra-uterine insemination is the process of placing spermatozoa directly into the uterine body instead of the cervix as traditionally done. The uterine body is located between the cervix …

Maximal Replacement Of Forage And Concentrate With A New Wet Corn Milling Product For Lactating Dairy Cows, K. Buddugari, R. J. Grant

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Three experiments were conducted to determine the maximal amount of concentrate and forage that could be replaced with a new wet corn milling product. The corn milling product contained 23.1% crude protein, 9.9% ruminally undegradable protein, 13.7% acid detergent fiber, 40.3% neutral detergent fiber, and 2.6% ether extract (% of dry matter; DM). In experiment 1, 16 Holstein cows were assigned to one of four diets in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with 28-d periods. The four diets contained 54.3% forage (alfalfa:corn silages, 1:1 DM basis) with the wet corn milling product replacing 0, 50, 75, or …

Atresia Revisited: Two Basic Patterns Of Atresia Of Bovine Antral Follicles, H. F. Irving-Rodgers, I. L. Van Wezel, M. L. Mussard, J. E. Kinder, R. J. Rodgers

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Our observations of bovine follicles indicated that the original histological classifications of atresia were inaccurate. A detailed histological, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study of antral follicles from bovine ovaries collected from an abattoir and from animals whose large follicles had been monitored by ultrasonography was conducted to investigate this further. Nidogen and CD68 were immunolocalized to observe the follicular basal lamina and macrophages, respectively. In randomly collected ovaries, approximately one quarter of all antral follicles were undergoing antral atresia, as designated in this study. Antral atresia was characterized by early destruction of the layers of the membrana granulosa closest to the …

Food Habits Of The Ouachita Dusky Salamander, Desmognathus Brimleyorum (Caudata: Plethodontidae), In Arkansas, David H. Jamieson, Peter J. Rust, Stanley E. Trauth

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

The Status And Distribution Of The Topeka Shiner Notropis Topeka In Eastern South Dakota, Carmen M. Blausey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Topeka shiner Notropis topeka is a small (< 75 mm) minnow that inhabits prairie streams in several north central plains states. Once widespread and abundant throughout its historic range, the Topeka shiner is now found only in isolated populations. Because of an 80% reduction in occurrence throughout their range, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Topeka shiner as endangered in January 1999. At the time, limited information on habitat preferences and dist1ibution existed for this species in South Dakota. The objectives of this study were to measure local habitat features and water quality conditions at the reach scale at Topeka shiner study sites, create a model using these data to determine favorable habitat conditions, and identify fish species commonly associated with Topeka shiners. Fish and habitat data were collected at 61 tributary sites of the James, Vermillion, and Big Sioux rivers from June through September in 1999 and 2000. Sample sites in 1999 were based on historic Topeka shiner records in the South Dakota Natural Heritage Database. Sample sites in 2000 were based on a draft GIS model identifying potential Topeka shiner streams. Fish were collected with seines between block nets and standard procedures were used to measure physical and hydrological features of stream reaches. Cyprinids dominated the fish community for each river basin during both sample years. Insectivores and omnivores were the dominant trophic classes for each river basin for both sample years. Fish community associations for Topeka shiners were based on two stepwise logistic regression models: abundance of individual species at each site and presence or absence of individual species at each site. The abundance model indicated that Topeka shiners were most commonly associated with orangespotted sunfish Lepomis lutrenis and tadpole madtoms Noturns gyrinus. The presence/absence model showed that Topeka shiners were typically associated with red shiners Notropis lutrenis, tadpole madtoms Noturns gyrinus, black bullheads Ameiurus melas, and bigmouth shiners Notropis dorsalis. Habitat preferences were based on three stepwise logistic regression models: physical habitat water quality, and substrate composition at the reach scale. The physical habitat model indicated that Topeka shiners are associated with stream reaches that had low animal use, overhanging vegetation, stream bank vegetation comprised of sedges/rushes, low depositional zones, and run macrohabitat. The water quality model did not indicate any favorable or preferred conditions. The substrate model indicated that Topeka shiners are associated with stream reaches that had fine gravel or cobble substrates. The results of my study will lead to a better understanding of Topeka shiner distribution and habitat, and aid federal and state agencies in making management decisions that provide for protection and preservation of this species.

Redescription Of Eimeria Macyi (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) From The Eastern Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus Subflavus (Mammalia: Chiroptera), From Arkansas, Chris T. Mcallister, Steve J. Upton, Stanley E. Trauth, David W. Allard

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Yield-Per-Recruit Analysis For Black Drum, Pogonias Cromis, Along The East Coast Of The United States And Management Strategies For Chesapeake Bay, Cynthia M. Jones, Brian K. Wells

OES Faculty Publications

Black drum, Pogonias cromis along the U.S. East Coast is subject to commercial and recreational harvest. However, prior to this study no modeling had been undertaken to examine the potential for overfishing in the Chesapeake Bay region. We present evidence from yield-per-recruit models that growth overfishing of black drum is unlikely under current fishing practices in this region. Particular attention was given to fishing practices in the Chesapeake Bay region where old, large fish predominate in the commercial and recreational catches (mean age=26 years: mean total length=108.4 cm; mean weight 22.1 kg). Yield-per-recruit model results showed that growth overfishing was …

Growth Rate Variability And Lipofuscin Accumulation Rates In The Blue Crab Callinectes Sapidus, Se-Jong Ju, David H. Secor, H. Rodger Harvey

OES Faculty Publications

To better understand growth and age-pigment (lipofuscin) accumulation rates of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus under natural conditions, juveniles (33 to 94 mm carapace width) were reared in outdoor ponds for over 1 yr. Growth rates, measured by carapace width, during summer and fall exceeded all those reported in the literature; the initial carapace width of 59 ± 14 mm (mean ± SD) increased to 164 ± 15 mm within a 3 mo period. No growth occurred during winter months (November to April) at low water temperatures. Growth rates of crabs in ponds were substantially higher (von Bertalanffy growth parameter …

Renesting - Female's Success After Nesting Failure And The Renesting Of The Dickcissel (Spiza Americana) At Prairie Ridge State Natural Area, Kevin L. Wentworth

Masters Theses

Renesting - Female's success after nesting failure. Many birds are unsuccessful in their first nesting attempt, so renesting is often a very important way for birds to increase their lifetime fitness and for populations to maintain stable numbers. I examined the importance of renesting and the factors that encourage or discourage a female from renesting and also the factors that affect the success of these renests. I also looked for patterns in renesting behavior (e.g., renesting interval, renesting distance, percentage of females that attempt renests, and the success of renests) of birds by comparing different studies. I used a total …

Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 31 - Feeding Lupins To Fish: A Review Of The Nutritional And Biological Value Of Lupins In Aquaculture Feeds, Brett Glencross

Fisheries Occasional Publications

Lupins are the harvested seed of species from the Lupinus genus, a group within the leguminous bean and pea family Fabaceae. Legumes are particularly valuable agricultural crops because of their capacity to provide a grain crop and also fix and return nitrogen to soils and improve the soil value for further cropping. The oilseeds, soybeans and peanuts are also leguminous plants, though traditionally they have been cropped for their oil value, whereas lupins, are cropped for both their protein and nitrogen fixing value (Gladstones, 1998; Perry et al., 1998).

The three key commercial species of lupins are L. angustifolius (Narrow-leafed …

Determination Of Some Population Parameters And Reproduction Period Of Whiting (Merlangius Merlangus Euxinus Nordmann, 1840) On The Trabzon-Yomra Coast In The Eastern Black Sea, Erhan Çi̇loğlu, Cemaletti̇n Şahi̇n, Mustafa Zengi̇n, Yaşar Genç

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

In this study, the growth, age composition, sex ratio, condition factor and spawning period of whiting (Merlangius merlangus euxinus Nordmann, 1840) on the eastern part of the Trabzon-Yomra coast were investigated. During the study, a total of 1730 fish (1122 females and 608 males) ranging in age from group I to IX were examined. The chi squared test was used to calculate ratios between female and male specimens and no significant difference was found (P>0.05), and the relative growth length and the relative growth weight differences between females and males were not found to be statistically significant (P>0.05). …

Some Biological Characteristics Of Silurus Triostegus Heckel, 1843 From Atatürk Dam Lake (Turkey), Seyi̇t Ahmet Oymak, Kemal Solak, Erhan Ünlü

Turkish Journal of Zoology

In this study, some biological characteristics such as age and sex composition, growth in length and weight, age-length, age-weight and length-weight relationships, condition factor spawning time, age of sexual maturity, and fecundity of Silurus triostegus in Atatürk Dam lake were investigated. The percentage of females was 48.3% and that of males 57.7% out of 623 specimens belonging to age groups I-XI. Isometric growth patterns were proved from the length-weight relationships. It was estimated that the females had higher Lo (202.85 cm) and lower low K (0.046871) values than males (Lo 113.98 cm and K = 0.101972). Mean condition factors of …

Systematical Studies On The Genus Bracon (Glabrobracon) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae: Braconinae) In Ankara Province, Yasemi̇n Güler, Neşe Çağatay

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The present study includes the species Bracon (Glabrobracon ) osculator Nees, B. (G.) lividus Telenga, B. (G.) planinotus Tobias, B. (G.) tschitcherini Kokoujev, B. (G.) helleni Telenga, B. (G.) piger Wesmael, B. (G.) variator Nees from the genus Bracon Fabricius (Hymenoptera, Braconidae: Braconinae). Morphological descriptions and its general distribution and distribution in Turkey are given. Bracon (G.) planinotus Tobias and B. (G.) helleni Telenga were found to be new records for Turkish fauna.

Comparable Age Determination In Different Bony Structures Of Pleuronectes Flesus Luscus Pallas, 1811 Inhabiting The Black Sea, Nazmi̇ Polat, Derya Bostanci, Savaş Yilmaz

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The aim of this study is to determine the most reliable bony structure for ageing of Pleuronectes flesus luscus inhabiting the Black Sea. The age determination method and its accuracy are the most important subjects for the evaluation of age-weight-length relationships in fisheries biology, since the estimates of survival, growth and mortality rates, and the analysis of year classes and recruitment all depend on age structure. In this study, scales, vertebrae and otoliths removed from each fish were examined by two readers three times each without reference to any data except the date of capture. The precision of readers and …

Certain Reproductive Characteristics Of The Catfish (Clarias Gariepinus Burchell, 1822) Living In The River Asi, Turkey, Şükran Özdi̇lek Yalçin, Kemal Solak, İhsan Akyurt

Turkish Journal of Zoology

A total of 523 C. gariepinus caught in the River Asi were surveyed from October, 1996 to September, 1998 to find out the age distribution throughout the population that varied between 0+ and 5 years of age, with the one year age group observed to be dominant in number. Findings also showed that both sexes started to reach maturity at the age of 1, and all the fishes examined had become mature by the end of the second year. The average diameter of ripened eggs was 1.41 - 1.66 mm. They spawned in a period from May to August when …

Food Items And Feeding Rates For Wild Whooping Crane Colts In Wood Buffalo National Park, Douglas G. Bergeson, Mark Bradley, Geoffrey L. Holroyd

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Food habits of 5 whooping crane (Orus americana) colts in 4 nest ponds were recorded in the days following hatching in Wood Buffalo National Park (WBNP). In total, 93 hours of observations were made from blinds that were 60-80 m away from the nest. Spotting scopes and binoculars were used to identify food items. The adults were observed bringing the following items to the colts: adult dragonflies (Libellula sp., and Aeshna sp.), fish (Culaea inconstans), diving beetles (Rhantus binotatus, Acilius semisulcatus, Oraphoderus occidentalis, and Dytiscus alaskanus), damselflies (Enallagma sp., and Lestes sp.), …

Sandhill Crane Abundance At Grays Lake, Idaho, L J. Ball, Jane E. Austin, Adonia R. Henry

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We initiated a study on the breeding ecology of greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) in the Grays Lake basin ofIdaho in 1997. Interest in the status of crane populations at Grays Lake is high; consequently, we present preliminary information on estimated size of the population, changes since the 1970s, and potential environmental factors involved. Drewien (1973) counted an average of549 cranes in the spring and estimated 250 nesting pairs in 1970-71. Number of nesting pairs reportedly increased 33% (to 332) by 1982 in response to intensive management, then declined 40-60% by 1996 (Drewien 1997, and Homocker Wildlife …

Nesting Ecology Of Sandhill Cranes At Grays Lake, Idaho, Jane E. Austin, L. J. Ball, Adonia R. Henry

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We examined the nesting ecology of greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) at Grays Lake, Idaho during 1997-99 to detennine the effects of nest-site characteristics and land use on crane nest success. These are preliminary results from 3 years of a 4-year study. Crane nests were located in portions of the Grays Lake basin from early May through late June each year (n = 131 in 1997; n = 131 in 1998; n = 143 in 1999). Apparent nest success varied among years (54% in 1997, 71% in 1998, and 53% in 1999; overall average of 59%). We …

Translocation Of Florida Sandhill Cranes To Georgia, Wesley A. Abler, Stephen A. Nesbitt

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Wild Florida sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pratensis) were captured in Florida during 3 years and translocated to Grand Bay Wildlife Management Area (GBWMA), Georgia, in an attempt to establish a resident population of Florida sandhill cranes in a location with suitable habitat but no known population of resident sandhill cranes. Translocated second-year subadult cranes commingled with migratory greater sandhill cranes (G. c. tabida) yet remained on GBWMA each year after the migratory birds left the area. Twenty-one of 35 released cranes were visually identified at least 5 months after release, 3 cranes more than 15 months …

Results Of The Second (1996) Experiment To Lead Cranes On Migration Behind A Motorized Ground Vehicle, David H. Ellis, Brian Clauss, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, R. Curt Mykut, Matt Shawkey, Daniel P. Mummert, Daniel T. Sprague, Catherine H. Ellis, F. Benjamin Trahan

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Fourteen greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) were trained to follow a specially-equipped truck and 12 were led along a ca 620-Ian route from Camp Navajo in northern Arizona to the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge near the ArizonalMexico border. Ten survived the trek, 380 Ian of which were flown, although only a few cranes flew every stage of the route. Major problems during the migration were powerline collisions (ca 15, 2 fatal) and overheating (when air temperatures exceeded ca 25° C). The tenacity of the cranes in following both in 1995 and 1996 under unfavorable conditions (e.g., …

Recommendations For The Attachment Of Satellite Transmitters To Cranes, David H. Ellis, Paul W. Howey, Gary L. Krapu

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Recent advances in miniaturization of satellite transmitters have resulted in thumb-sized packages weighing less than 30 g. These are smaller than VHF radios routinely mounted on crane leg bands. With this development and with favorable signal reception results, there is no need for, and much to recommend against, the continued use of back-pack mounts. We provide details for leg-mount attachments.

Resolutions Passed By The North American Crane Working Group Eighth North American Crane Workshop, Albuquerque, New Mexico U.S.A.

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Participants of the Eighth North American Crane Workshop hereby express their thanks and appreciation to the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge for hosting this workshop, to the staff of the Sheraton Old Town Hotel, to the field trip leaders, to the staff of the Bernardo Waterfowl Management Area, and to the committees and individuals who made the workshop a success. The paper sessions were excellent, and the spirit of friendship and dedication to crane conservation among the participants was revitalizing. Special thanks go to NACWG President Scott Hereford and Bosque del Apache Biologist John Taylor for their tireless effort …

Population Genetics Of Midcontinent Sandhill Cranes, Jessica L. Petersen, Richard Bischof, Allen L. Szalanski

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The Midcontinent Sandhill Crane Population is comprised of 3 subspecies, lesser (Grus canadensis canadensis), Canadian (G. c. rowani), and greater (G. c. tabida) sandhill cranes. In conjunction with the USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, we studied the extent of genetic variation between and within each race of the Midcontinent Sandhill Crane Population. DNA was extracted from 150 feather and dried blood samples collected from 1995-99 from sandhill cranes in the Platte River Valley, central Nebraska. Parsimony and maximwn likelihood analysis of the mtDNA D-loop sequences (ca 675 bp amplified using PCR) from 29 …

Aspects Of Reproduction And Pair Bonds In Florida Sandhill Cranes, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Martin J. Folk, Stephen T. Schwikert, James A. Schmidt

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

From 1980-98 we captured and uniquely marked more than 400 Florida sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis prafensis). Age ratios of the marked population, excluding juveniles, was 66% adult and 33% subadult, and the sex ratio was 49% male and 51% female. Average clutch size for 210 nests checked from 1983-97 was 1.78 ± 0.18 (SD) and frequency of l-egg clutches varied among years. Average post-fledging brood size from 1991 to 1997 was 1.27 ± 0.17 (SD), included a 3-chick brood. Average percent ofYOlmg from 2 study areas, 1991-97 was 11.9 ± 3.23 (SD). We observed renesting up to 3 …

An Update Of The Florida Whooping Crane Release Project Through June 2000, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Martin J. Folk, Kathleen A. Sullivan, Stephen T. Schwikert, Marilyn G. Spalding

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Whooping cranes (Grus americana) reared mostly at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (patuxent) or the International Crane Foundation (ICF) have been released in Florida in an effort to reestablish a nonmigratory population in the southeastern United States. From 1993 through spring of 2000, we released 208 cranes. Modifications to the release procedure instituted in 1995 have greatly reduced mortality from the initial release period. First year mortality has averaged 50%. A longterm drought that began after spring 1998 may have contnbuted to increased first year mortality in recent years. Most mortality has been from predation, mostly bobcat …

A Comparison Of Behavior For Two Cohorts Of Captive-Reared Greater Sandhill Cranes Released In Northern Arizona, Daniel P. Mummert, Carol L. Chambers, David H. Ellis

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

To determine how the behavior of greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) changes according to time of year, time of day, and number of days after release, we observed the activities of 2 groups of captive-reared greater sandhill cranes at Mormon Lake, northern Arizona. The behaviors we compared were alert, loafing, sleeping, foraging, preening, locomotion, and other. We found costume-reared subadult greater sandhill cranes that were established at the study site for a year spent more time foraging and being alert towards predators than parent -reared juvenile greater sandhill cranes that were recently released from captivity. We also …

Sandhill Crane Nest And Egg Characteristics At Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon, Carroll D. Littlefield

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

For the period 1969-89, greater sandhill crane (Grus canadensis tabida) nest and egg characteristics were assessed for pairs on the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge (Malheur), Oregon. Nests mostly were in broad-fruited burreed (Sparganium eurycarpum) and hardstem bulrush (Scirpus acutus) and were constructed primarily of the same vegetative species that surrounded nests. Averages for nest parameters were diameter 127 xIII cm, crown diameter 77 x 69 cm, bowl diameter 41 x 37 em, bowl depth 5.8 em, nest height 12.4 em, and water depth 25.8 cm. Nests were placed in vegetation with a mean height …