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Measuring & Monitering Plant Populations, Caryl L. Elzinga, Daniel W. Salzer, John W. Willoughby

United States Bureau of Land Management: Staff Publications

This technical reference describes the role of effective monitoring and provides a step-by-step overview of the entire monitoring process for single plant species. The challenges of successful monitoring involve efficient and specific design and a commitment to implementation of the monitoring project, from data collection to reporting and using results. The material in this reference is presented in a logical progression from planning and objective setting, designing the methodology, and taking the measurements in the field to analyzing and presenting the data and making the necessary management responses. However, many of the steps occur simultaneously or provide feedback for the …

Linking People, Purpose, And Place: An Ecological Approach To Agriculture, Heidi Carter, Richard Olson, Charles A. Francis

CARI Extension and Education Materials for Sustainable Agriculture

Linking Ecology and Agriculture

Whole Farm Planning

Soil Quality

Agroforestry

Grazing Systems

Weed and Insect Management

Farmer Groups

Farmland Conversion

Resources and Information Sources

Facing A Watershed: Managing Profitable And Sustainable Landscapes In The 21st Century, Heidi Carter, Richard Olson, Charles A. Francis

CARI Extension and Education Materials for Sustainable Agriculture

Overview of Freshwater Use, Introduction to Watershed Management, and a Watershed Management Plan

Group Dynamics in Designing and Implementing a Watershed Management Plan

Information Sources for Watershed Management

Conservation Buffers and Riparian Management

Farmland Protection, Green Corridors, and Suburban Sprawl

Information Sources for Sustainable Agriculture and Sustainable Agriculture Education

Foraging Modes Of Chinstrap Penguins: Contrasts Between Day And Night, John K. Jansen, Peter L. Boveng, John L. Bengtson

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Penguins rely on vision to travel and hunt at sea. Vision in marine predators, particularly those hunting phototactic prey under a broad range of light intensities, must be better understood to realize how these species respond to changes in their environment. We studied the effects of daily cycles in light intensity on visual predators by examining the duration and timing of chinstrap penguins' Pygoscelis Antarctica foraging trips and the size, composition, and timing of their meals. We used radio telemetry and stomach-contents sampling to study adult penguins that were provisioning chicks during the summers of 1993 and 1994 at Seal …

Sounds Recorded From Baird's Beaked Whale, Berardius Bairdii, Stephen Dawson, Jay Barlow, Don Ljungblad

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

The vocal behavior of ziphiid whales is very poorly known. Free-swimming northern bottlenose whales, Hyperoodon ampullatus, have been recorded producing 3-16 kHz whistles and chirps (Winn et al. 1970; linear equipment frequency response 500 Hz-14 kHz) and 20-30 kHz ultrasonic clicks (Fauchner and Whitehead, unpublished data; equipment response to 35 kHz). A free-swimming mesoplodont beaked whale (probably Mesoplodon hertori) produced ultrasonic clicks (Ljungblad, unpublished data; equipment frequency response to 32 kHz). Sounds have been recorded from a stranded Blainville's beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris (Caldwell and Caldwell 1971; equipment frequency response 40 Hz-20 kHz) and a post-stranding, captive …

Seasonal Patterns In The Abundance And Distribution Of California Cetaceans, 1991-1992, Karin A. Forney, Jay Barlow

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

This study presents a detailed seasonal comparison of the abundance and distribution of cetaceans within 100-150 nmi (185-278 km) of the California coast during 1991 and 1992. The results of a shipboard line-transect survey conducted in July-November 1991 (“summer”) were compared to those from aerial line-transect surveys conducted in March-April 1991 and February-April 1992 (“winter”). Using a confidence-interval-based bootstrap procedure, abundance estimates for six of the eleven species included in the comparison exhibited significant (a = 0.05) differences between the winter and summer surveys. Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus), common dolphins ( …

1997 Inventory For Spiranthes Diluvialis Sheviak In Western Nebraska: A Final Report, Volume I, Terri Hildebrand

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

This study resulted from an agreement between Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFW). After the 1996 discovery of Spiranthes diluvialis, in western Nebraska, NGPC was seeking to determine the extent of the Nebraska population. Information on the wet meadow community of orchid occurrence in Nebraska and eastern Wyoming was needed. This report includes descriptions of communities inventoried, Spiranthes diluvialis populations, and additional species monitored by Nebraska and Wyoming Natural Heritage programs.

The 1996 discovery of Spiranthes diluvialis in Nebraska by Hazlett merited the need for further inventory for the species …

Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre, Volume 5-3, Winter 1998

Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre: Newsletters and Publications

Quebec Pathologist
Italian Conference
A Critical Need for Information on Diseases of Wild Amphibians
Update on Zoonoses(Chlamydiaand Hanta Virus)
Listeriosis in a Canada goose
Bowhead whale stranding on the northeast coast of Newfoundland
Diseases of beluga whales from the St. Lawrence Estuary: 1998
Syngamiasias in an American robin
Lead poisoning in Canada geese due to skeet shot ingestion
Canine distemper virus in raccoons and striped skunks
Oral masses in Mourning doves
Hairless Grey Squirrels
Chronic wasting disease in a game farm elk in Saskatchewan
Toxoplasmosis in a merlin
Botulism losses in 1998
Avian Cholera in double-crested cormorants

Porcupine Damage And Repellent Research In The Interior Pacific Northwest, Gary W. Witmer, Michael J. Pipas

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum) rely on trees and shrubs for winter food and can cause serious, localized damage to conifers. Twenty-two percent of ponderosa trees (Pinus ponderosa) examined in southeastern Washington were damaged by porcupines. Most damage involved complete girdling of the mid- to upper boles of the larger trees (12 to 30 cm dbh) in the stand. Preliminary repellent trials with captive porcupines suggested that several materials might reduce tree damage, especially predator-associated odors. Field trials are needed to assess efficacy and duration of protection under ambient winter conditions.

Rat Management For Endangered Species Protection In The U.S. Virgin Islands, Gary W. Witmer, Earl W. Campbell Iii, Frank Boyd

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Introduced roof rats (Rartus rattus) pose a substantial threat to the fauna and flora of many tropical islands. In the Caribbean, there is concern about rat impacts to several endangered species, including the Atlantic hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and the least tern (Sterna antillarum). The authors surveyed the rat population on Buck Island, Buck Island Reef National Monument, U .S. Virgin Islands in February 1998. Based on three nights of trapping, rats were of low to moderate abundance during the sampling period when compared to results from other Caribbean islands. The impact of …

Research And Management Of Bird Depredations At Catfish Farms, Mark E. Tobin

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Depredations by fish-eating birds are a major constraint on production at commercial catfish facilities in the southeastern United States. A recent survey of catfish farmers estimated total losses due to direct predation by birds and costs associated with employing preventive measures at $17 million, or 4% of national sales. In 1988, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) established a research station in Mississippi to develop more effective methods for reducing the impact of birds on southeastern aquaculture farms. This paper describes the impact of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus, DCCO) on the catfish industry, …

The Use Of Aerosol Repellents As An Avian Deterrent Strategy, Gwen R. Stevens, Larry Clark, Richard A. Weber

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Traditional protective measures to keep wildlife away from areas include exclusion by use of netting, hazing, and chemical repellents. The primary problem with most hazing systems is that wildlife quickly habituate to the devices if their use falls into a predictable pattern. Repellent substances cause wildlife species to avoid otherwise attractive or palatable resources by creating a disincentive to visit a specific area or consume a particular resource. Chemical repellents, both lethal and non-lethal, are typically used for agricultural and horticultural purposes, but in addition may provide a strategy to deter wildlife in other contexts. Aerosol delivery of chemical repellents …

Deer On Airports: An Accident Waiting To Happen, Sandra E. Wright, Richard A. Dolbeer, Andrew J. Montoney

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

The authors analyzed data on civil aircraft strikes with wild ungulates (deer [Odocoileus spp.], elk [Cervus canadensis] and moose [Alces alces]) in the U.S. from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Wildlife Strike Database and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Aviation Accident Database for 1983 to 1997. Prior to 1991, the FAA Form 5200-7 for reporting strikes was designated solely for bird strike data, thus, strike reports for non-avian species prior to 1991 are underrepresented. A total of 343 ungulate strikes was reported, 48 from 1983 to 1990 and 295 from 1991 to 1997. Forty-four …

Comparison Of White Mineral Oil And Corn Oil To Reduce Hatchability In Ring-Billed Gull Eggs, Patrica A. Pochop, John L. Cummings, Christi A. Yoder, John E. Steuber

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Oiling eggs is a potential management method for controlling nuisance or depredating populations of ring-billed gulls, Canada geese, and other bird species. However, no registration for an oiling compound currently exists with the Environmental Protection Agency. Efficacy data were collected for white mineral oil and corn oil to reduce the hatchability of ring-billed gull eggs. Egg failure was 99% in corn oil, 96% in white mineral oil, and 35% in control eggs. Most treated eggs that hatched were treated early in the incubation period, 1 to 8 days after clutch completion. A Wildlife Service Technical Note on the use of …

Fertility Control In Coyotes: Is It A Potential Management Tool?, Thomas J. De Liberto, Eric M. Gese, Frederick F. Knowlton, J. Russell Mason, Michael R. Conover, Lowell Miller, Robert H. Schmidt, Michael K. Holland

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Fertility control in wildlife is emerging as a potential management tool. Published research on feral horses, deer, rodents, and rabbits suggest an effective agent producing reversible infertility in these species could be developed. Furthermore, anecdotal reports suggest that infertility can be induced in a greater array of species. In this paper, the authors review methods of fertility control being studied for application in wildlife and focus on their studies designed to evaluate the effectiveness of fertility control agents in coyotes (Canis latrans). Immunocontraception using porcine zona pellucida (PZP) is currently the most promising method of fertility control in …

Tracing The History Of Blackbird Research Through An Industry's Looking Glass: The Sunflower Magazine, George M. Linz, H. Jeffrey Homan

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

The Sunflower magazine, the voice of the National Sunflower Organization, featured articles in January 1978 and December 1996 that began with these words, "If Old King Cole was a merry old soul, it was probably because he had only four and twenty blackbirds to contend with, and they were all out of commission!" This quotation captures the sentiments of sunflower growers, who have identified blackbirds as a major production problem since the 1960s. The National (formerly Denver) Wildlife Research Center, a unit within the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services, is charged with both …

The Impact Of Timber Management On The Phytochemicals Associated With Black Bear Damage, Dale L. Nolte, Bruce A. Kimball, Georg J. Ziegltrum

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Black bears forage on Douglas-fir vascular tissue in the spring, and this behavior can be severely detrimental to the health and economic value of a timber stand. Foraging is selective in that not all stands are damaged and, within a stand, one tree may be stripped while its neighbor is ignored or minimally sampled. A series of studies was conducted to assess whether bear selectivity is affected by chemical constituents within vascular tissue, and whether these constituents are affected by silvicultural practices. The results are interpreted to identify forest practices that may alleviate damage, or at least predict where damage …

Wildlife Information Sources And Search Methods On The Internet, Diana L. Dwyer

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Vertebrate pest damage information is pulled from a variety of disciplines ranging from wildlife management to psychology. The Internet has opened the door to what seems to be an unending number of information sources. Researchers can become overwhelmed by the choices and different levels of information available. The correct use of search engines and a checklist of criteria to evaluate the quality of information obtained can help to eliminate the extraneous information and make the time spent on the Internet more productive. There are a large number of wildlife, biology, environmental, and other related sites that are especially useful to …

Potential Bird Repellents To Reduce Bird Damage To Lettuce Seed And Seedlings, John L. Cummings, Patricia A. Pochop, Christi A. Yoder, James E. Davis Jr.

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

The authors evaluated the effectiveness of ReJeX-iT® AG-145, Mesurol®, activated charcoal, lime, and fipronil to reduce homed lark damage to lettuce seeds and seedlings. In Experiment 1, homed larks consumed significantly more feed mixture (50:50 grains and lettuce seed) than untreated clay-coated lettuce seed in a three-day choice-test. In Experiment 2, where clay-coated lettuce seed was treated with ReJeX-iT® AG- 145, Mesurol®, activated charcoal, or lime, there was no significant difference in consumption of untreated clay-coated lettuce seed and treated clay-coated lettuce seed. Homed larks consumed insignificant amounts of all seed treatments including untreated coated lettuce seed. In this experiment …

Managing Island Biotas: Brown Treesnake Control Using Barrier Technology, Gad Perry, Earl W. Campbell Iii, Gordon H. Rodda, Thomas H. Fritts

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

The brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis), accidentally introduced to the previously snake-free U.S. island of Guam after World War 11, decimated the island's naive wildlife. Today, it periodically stows away on craft going to other islands where the ecological damage may be repeated. Barriers offer an effective tool for keeping the snakes out of areas from which they can disperse off-island, as well as sites identified as critical for the protection of human health, conduct of economic activity, or conservation of endangered species. The authors have developed a variety of barrier designs which repulse at least 95% of snake …

Effects Of Taste Stimuli (Quinine And Sucrose) In Pelleted Granulated, And Wax Block Baits On Feeding Preferences Of Northern Pocket Gophers (Thomomys Talpoides), Stephen A. Schumake, Geraldine R. Mccann

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

A two-choice, taste preference study was conducted using 18 northern pocket gophers to evaluate pelleted sorghum, granulated sorghum, and wax block baits containing either 0.01 to 0.05 % quinine or 0.10 to 5.0 % sucrose. Bait consumption was significantly higher across treatments (P≤.001) for granulated sorghum, followed by pelleted sorghum, and wax blocks. Gophers also showed a high frequency of moving the granulated bait in their cheek pouches to be deposited at alternate locations within their cages. Although increasing sucrose concentration did not produce significantly (P ≥.10) enhanced consumption for any of the baits, a trend toward increasing preference with …

Evaluation Of Acrolein As A Fumigant For Controlling Northern Pocket Gophers, George H. Matschke, Geraldine R. Mccann, Rebecca A. Doane

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Baker Performance Chemical Incorporated entered into a cooperative agreement with the National Wildlife Research Center to evaluate acrolein as a fumigant for controlling northern pocket gophers (Thomomys talpoides). In October 1996, a 44.5 ha (110 acre) irrigated alfalfa hay field was selected as the study site in Franklin County, Washington. Eight treatment units (TUs), six fumigated and two control, were established on the study site. On the six fumigated TUs, 58.9% of the sample plots were inactive, whereas, all sample plots (100%) on the two control TUs were active. The 58.9% mean reduction in pocket gopher activity on …

Mammal Repellents: Options And Considerations For Development, J. Russell Mason

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Repellents include chemical substances, visual displays, and sonic and ultrasonic deterrent systems. The use of electric shock also can be considered as a repellent category. Each of these categories is discussed, together with their respective utilities, constraints on their usefulness, and possibilities for future development. Economic considerations that may impede or expedite the development of new strategies are presented. Repellent effectiveness depends upon a complex of variables, including the palatability of protected and alternative foods, weather conditions, and the number of animals causing problems. Invariably, repellents are most useful when used as components of integrated pest management strategies

Evaluation Of Electronic Frightening Devices As White-Tailed Deer Deterrents, Jerrold L. Belant, Thomas W. Seamans, Laura A. Tyson

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

The authors evaluated the effectiveness of the motion-activated Usonic Sentry (with and without strobe), motion-activated Yard Gard, and Electronic Guard for deterring white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from preferred feeding areas from February to April 1996. Two four-week experiments were conducted, monitoring deer use (number of intrusions and corn consumption) at eight feeding stations in a 2,200 ha fenced facility in northern Ohio with high deer densities (≥ 38/km²). During these experiments, one of the devices was positioned at each of four sites. The mean (± SE, n = 4) daily number of deer intrusions at feeding …

Development Of Seed Treatments To Control Blackbirds, Michael L. Avery, David Decker, John S. Humphrey

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Bird repellents to protect seeds are a potentially important aspect of integrated vertebrate pest management strategies. Yet, there currently are no repellents registered for seed treatment uses. This is due not to lack of effective candidate compounds, but to monetary and regulatory constraints that inhibit commercialization of promising compounds. Two examples of this dilemma are methiocarb and anthraquinone, each of which has considerable potential for bird repellent uses and each of which faces considerable registration hurdles as prospective seed treatment compounds. A concerted, coordinated effort among private industry, producer groups, and state and federal agencies may be the best strategy …

The Bait Surcharge Program: Research Improves Zinc Phosphide Use For Vole Control In Alfalfa, Ray T. Sterner

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

This paper describes several unexpected benefits of rodenticide-registration research funded by The California Bait Surcharge Program. An enclosure-type study was conducted to determine efficacy of single, pre- and test-bait broadcasts (10 lb./ac.) of 0% and 2% zinc phosphide (Zn₃P₂, CAS #1314-84-7) steam-rolled-oat (SRO) groats to control voles (Microtus spp.) in alfalfa (Medicago sariva). Unexpected research spinoffs resulted from the use of: 1) eight randomly-located, sieved-dirt plots per enclosure to monitor bait distribution, bait removal, and rodent/avian (non-target) activity; 2) a bait-weathering plot and bait-sample analyses to monitor Zn₃P₂ biodeterioration; and …

The Development Of An Integrated Pest Management Plan For Roof Rats In Hawaiian Macadamia Orchards, Earl W. Campbell Iii, Ann E. Koehler, Robert T. Sugihara

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Roof rats (Rattus rattus) damage an estimated 5 to 10% of the developing nut crop in Hawaiian macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia) orchards. Relevant aspects of roof rat biology in macadamia orchards have and continue to be studied with the ultimate goal of developing an ecologically sound and cost-effective integrated pest management plan. The field component of a two-year study of roof rat populations in macadamia orchards has recently been completed. The goal of this study is to clarify the relationship between roof rat seasonal abundance, macadamia flowering, and nut production on five orchards in three regions on …

Population Dynamics: The Foundation Of Wildlife Damage Management For The 21st Century, Richard A. Dolbeer

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

To justify and defend lethal or reproductive control programs to solve vertebrate pest problems, wildlife biologists must have a sound understanding of the population status and dynamics of the problem species. Models are essential to project how populations will respond to proposed management actions, providing a scientific foundation to counter the emotional debates that often arise. Four population models (PM1 to PM4) for predicting population responses are described. PM1 and PM2 explore the relative efficacy of reproductive and lethal control for vertebrate species over 10-year intervals. PM3 simulates population responses to actual management actions through 10-year intervals. PM4 simulates population …

Review Of Bird Repellents, Larry Clark

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Despite a general perception that there is an abundance of nonlethal control technologies, the fact remains that there are fewer registered products and active ingredients for repellents in the U.S. than there were 10 and 20 years ago. This review discusses the technical issues relating to the discovery, formulation, and delivery of chemical repellents, and suggests future avenues of research that would improve our ability to develop effective chemical repellents.

Challis Resource Area Proposed Resource Management Plan And Final Environmental Impact Statement, United States Department Of The Interior, Bureau Of Land Management

Resource Management Plans (ID)

The Challis Proposed Resource Management Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement (PRMP/FEIS) describes the Bureau of Land Management's proposed plan for managing approximately 792,567 acres of public lands administered by the BLM within the Challis Resource Area. The PRMP/FEIS is based on the Preferred Alternative (Alternative 2) described in the Challis Draft RMP/EIS (BLM, May 1996), as modified in response to public and tribal comments and internal BLM recommendations. It describes changes from and corrections to the Challis Draft RMP/EIS, updates the discussion of the affected environment, provides an analysis of environmental consequences for the Proposed RMP, and records public comments and …