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Scwds Briefs: Volume 14, Number 4 (January 1999)

Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study: Publications

SCWDS BRIEFS
January 1999
Wildlife Health Alert on Neurologic Disease in Ducks and Eagles
National Wildlife Health Center of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Vacuolar myelinopathy
Michigan TB Update
Bovine tuberculosis (TB)
Liberalization of hunting regulations
TB Regs Finalized for Cervids
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Captive cervid herds in regard to TB status
Eastern and Western Regional Emergency Animal Disease Eradication Organizations (READEO)
"Nimby" Test Exercise
Arkansas Elk Hunt
Model Health Protocol for Importation of Wild Elk for Restoration
Diseases of major concern, i.e., chronic wasting disease, bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis, Johne's disease, and Pasteurella pneumonia
Sarcocystis
Anaplasma …

1999 Nebraska Central Mixedgrass Prairie Rapid Ecological Assessment, Mike Bullerman

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

This document has been prepared in partial fulfillment of the 1999 Central Mixedgrass Prairie ecoregion [CMGP] Rapid Ecological Assessment [REA] contract between the Nebraska Chapter of The Nature Conservancy [TNC] and Michael J. Bullerman [“contractor”]. The contract provided for the survey of selected untilled landscapes within the Nebraska portion of the CMGP ecoregion, excluding the Sandhills. The objectives of this study were to:

1) Identify relatively intact CMGP landscapes within the state of Nebraska,

2) Determine the ecological condition, threats, unique features, and conservation potential of these landscapes,

3) Determine land use practices implemented by landowners,

4) Determine landowner attitudes …

Microlevel Climate Change Due To Changes In Surface Features In The Ganges Delta, M. M. Adel

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The Ganges had been the world's 8th largest river in terms of the volume of water discharge of 490 km3/yr to the ocean 4 prior to 1975. Since that time, over a period of two decades, India has reduced the Ganges discharge through Bangladesh to 40% from its original annual average discharge of 1,932+7-223 m3 /s by diverting water for irrigation in her upper states. The , resulting consequences have been disastrous due to the depletion of the surface water resources. One of the devastating consequences has been the generation of extreme climate. The summertime maximum temperature has risen to …

Field Sampling And Necropsy Examination Of Fish, A. S. Kane, A. Baya, R. Reimschuessel, K. M. St. Pé, C. A. Poukish, C. P. Driscoll

Virginia Journal of Science

This paper presents an overview of observational and fish sampling tech­niques for investigating fish lesions, morbidity and mortality. These sam­pling techniques and investigations are much like detective work and require attention to detail, common sense, technical proficiency and experience. To solve the mystery of a fish kill, the investigator must use available evidence and clues to piece together a series of events that often have long since passed. The cause of these field events may be chemical, biological or physical; more often, it is some combination of these. An initial categorization approach may be used to reduce the great number …

Designing An Analytic Deliberative Process For Environmental Health Policy Making In The U.S. Nuclear Weapons Complex, Seth Tuler, Thomas Webler

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

Using a National Research Council Report as a centerpiece, Drs. Tuler and Webler evaluate the effectiveness of a conceptual approach to risk policy-making.

Demonstration Of Tritrichomonas Foetus In The External Genitalia And Of Specific Antibodies In Preputial Secretions Of Naturally Infected Bulls, J. C. Rhyan, K. L. Wilson, B. Wagner, M. L. Anderson, R. H. Bondurant, D. E. Burgess, G. K. Mutwiri, L. B. Corbeil

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Portions of penis and prepuce were collected from 24 bulls with current or recent Tritrichomonas foetus infection. Epididymides were collected from seven of the bulls, and seminal vesicles and prostate were collected from four. Following immunohistochemical staining with two monoclonal antibodies (34.7C4.4 and TF1.15) prepared against T. foetus surface antigens, trichomonads were identified in sections from 15 of the bulls. Organisms were most often located in penile crypts in the midshaft and caudal regions and less often in preputial crypts. Trichomonads were not observed in sections from other genitalia or in subepithelial tissue. T. foetus antigen, however, was present in …

The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (Epa) : Its Structure, Functions And Performance 1971-1996, Vincent Cusack

Theses : Honours

This study examines the effectiveness of the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), from its inception in 1971 to 1996. While environmental concerns have risen considerably in recent times, environmental awareness can be traced back to early historical beginnings. Yet, despite this initial awareness it took some time before environmental problems permeated the public consciousness, to occupy the political agenda. However, in the early 1970s, governments throughout the First World responded to research and heightened awareness of environmental concerns, with specific legislation to protect the environment. A common feature of the legislation, was the provision for a main administrative body …

Managing Mountain Bike Impacts In The South West Of Western Australia : Combining Biophysical Impact Studies With Rider Preferences For Better Trail Design, Ute Goeft

Theses : Honours

This thesis examines the environmental impacts of mountain bikes on trails in the southwest of Western Australia and the preferences, perceptions, trail use and demographics of mountain bike riders in that region. This information is important for resource managers and trail developers to ensure that the trails that are provided and planned for mountain bike use in the region are environmentally appropriate and acceptable to users. The environmental impacts were examined through biophysical studies, which investigated soil loss, soil compaction and vegetation damage on and adjacent to mountain bike trails over a period of six months. A mountain bike racing …

Avon And Upper Hotham Region Natural Resource Atlas, Sarah Weaving, Jason Batory

All other publications

The Avon and Upper Hotham Region Atlas is one of a series of Natural Resource Atlases covering the agricultural region of Western Australia. The purpose of the Atlas is to provide data for local people who manage or have an interest in natural resources. This includes the members of Land Conservation District Committees (LCDC), catchment groups, local government, non-government organisations, conservation groups, schools and libraries.

The aim of this publication is to bring together land and natural resource information from a number of sources and present it in a clear and accessible way. The data covers a number of topics …

Social And Economic Data For Regional And Natural Resource Management In Western Australia's South West Catchment : Results Of The 2006 Landholder Survey, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia, South West Catchments Council (W.A.), Michael Hanslip, Australia. Bureau Of Rural Sciences.

All other publications

This report presents a summary of the key findings from a mailed survey to 2,000 landholders in the South West Region of Western Australia in 2006. The survey gathered information on the key social and economic factors affecting landholder decision-making about the adoption of practices expected to improve the management of natural resources in the region. The response rate for the survey was 69.4%.

The South West Catchment Council, Western Australian Department of Agriculture and Food and the Bureau of Rural Sciences were key project partners. Funding was from a mix of national, state and regional programmes, including the Natural …

A Woman's Field Is Made At Night: Gendered Land Rights And Norms In Burkina Faso, Michael Kevane, Leslie C. Gray

Economics

Gendered social norms and institutions are important determinants of agricultural activities in southwestern Burkina Faso. This paper argues that gendered land tenure, in particular, has effects on equity and efficiency. The usual view of women as holders of secondary, or indirect, rights to land must be supplemented by a more nuanced understanding of tenure. Women's rights are in fact considerably more complex than the simple right to fields from their husbands. First, women's rights to property obtained from men may be coupled with other rights and obligations. In many ethnic groups, women have share rights to the harvest of their …

Department Of Fisheries Annual Report 1998/99, Department Of Fisheries, Western Australia

Department of Fisheries Annual Reports

In accordance with Section 62 of the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985, I submit for your information and presentation to Parliament the Annual Report of the Fisheries Department for the financial year ending 30 June 1999.

The Annual Report of Fisheries WA has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Financial and Administration and Audit Act 1985 and Secon 263 of the Fish Resouces Management Act 1994.

Evaluating Oral Histories For Restoration Ecology, Margaret Robertson

Theses : Honours

Significant ecological restoration is required in the agricultural regions of south-western Australia. Environmental history, including local knowledge based on long-term observation of the biophysical environment, can help guide this process. Scientists already use local anecdotal information because other information sources are absent or too recent, yet they are often skeptical of its veracity. This study focused on whether environmental oral histories can be evaluated for factual accuracy and their capacity to be useful in the restoration process. Some of the complexities associated with linking environmental histories with restoration ecology, and the role played by oral histories in establishing the link …

Spatial Distribution And Habitat Characterization Of Anopheline Mosquito Larvae In Western Kenya, Noboru Minakawa, Clifford M. Mutero, John I. Githure, John C. Beier, Guiyun Yan

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Studies were conducted to characterize larval habitats of anopheline mosquitoes and to analyze spatial heterogeneity of mosquito species in the Suba District of western Kenya. A total of 128 aquatic habitats containing mosquito larvae were sampled, and 2,209 anopheline and 10,538 culicine larvae were collected. The habitats were characterized based on size, pH, distance to the nearest house and to the shore of Lake Victoria, coverage of canopy, surface debris, algae and emergent plants, turbidity, substrate, and habitat types. Microscopic identification of third and fourth-instar anopheline larvae did not yield any Anopheles funestus or other anophelines. A total of 829 …

Vitamin Effect On The Aerobic Biodegradation Of Phenanthrene, Antracene, Fluoranthene, And Pyrene In A Contaminated Soil From An Industrial Site, Ilkay Cam

Theses

Bioremediation of organic wastes is often a cost-effective technology for the in situ treatment of contaminated soils. In this study, the possibility of increasing the rate and extent of biodegradation for phenathrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, and pyrene in an industrial PAH contaminated soil via vitamin mixture supplementation was explored.

Soil contained with PAHs was obtainecl from the Bayway refinery site formerly owned by Exxon (Linden, NJ). Experiments were conducted in which the contaminated soil was amended with a mixtures of four vitamins (niacin, biotin, folic acid, and panthothenic acid). Peat moss, a common soil amendment, was also added in some experiments. …

Sub-Lethal Effects Of Hypoxia/Hypercapnia On Callinectes Sapidus In The York River Estuary, Virginia, Sandra R. Hypes

Theses and Dissertations

This research examined effects of hypoxic environments on blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus in an estuarine environment. Hypoxic conditions were treated as a multiple stressor involving low dissolved oxygen (D.O.), increased carbon dioxide (hypercapnia), and low pH concurrently. The objectives were to: 1) identify hypoxiahypercapnia by monitoring D.O. and pH as an indicator of hypercapnia in shallow regions of the York River, 2) measure blue crab abundance, and 3) describe blue crab responses to hypoxiahypercapnia via field work at Taskinas Creek and lab measurements of respiration. Ambient D.O. and pH were positively correlated in the Taskinas Creek and York River sites …

Quantitation Of Pyrethrum Residues In Brown Tree Snakes, John J. Johnston, Carol A. Furcolow, Stephanie A. Volz, Richard E. Mauldin, Thomas M. Primus, Peter J. Savarie, Joe E. Brooks

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

A reversed-phase solid-phase extraction–gas chromatography (SPE–GC)–electron capture detection method is developed to quantitate individual rethrin residues in pyrethrum-exposed brown tree snakes. Aliquots (6 g) of homogenized snake tissue are extracted with 10 mL acetonitrile. The rethrins are recovered from the acetonitrile extract and concentrated using C₈ SPE. The rethrins are eluted from the SPE column with pentane, evaporated to near dryness, and reconstituted to 1 mL with 1-propanol. Individual rethrins are quantitated using GC analysis of the 1-propanol solution. Method limits of detection for rethrins range from 0.63 to 6.51 ng/g. The mean recovery for all rethrins is 70.8% …

Changes In Early Winter Abundance Of Four Gull (Larus) Species On Western Lake Erie, 1951-1995, Laura A. Tyson, Richard A. Dolbeer, Jerrod L. Belant

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Many gulls (Larus spp.) that nest on and north of the Great Lakes concentrate along the south shore of western Lake Erie in early winter. Monitoring population trends of these gulls is important because of increasing conflicts between gulls and humans. We used data from four Christmas Bird Count locations to examine population trends of four gull species on western Lake Erie during nine 5-year periods, 1951-1995. Overall, ring-billed gulls (Z. delawarensis} were the dominant species (59% of gulls counted) followed by herring (Z. argentatus, 20%), Bonaparte's (Z. Philadelphia, 18%) and great blackbacked (Z. marinus, 0.2%) gulls. Ring-billed gulls displayed …

Capsicum-Laden Soils Decrease Contact Time By Northern Pocket Gophers, Ray T. Sterner, Kelly Hollenbeck, Stephen Shumake

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Fossorial rodents damage lawns/water impoundments/ crops. We conducted a two-choice, parametric-type study to determine the effects of capsicum-oleoresin/soil mixtures (0.00, 0.75, 1.50, and 2.25%) upon soil-contact, soil-digging, and pelage-grooming behaviors in northern pocket gophers (Thomomys talpoides). In 3 alternate-day (1-h/day) exposures to ≥1.50% capsicum-oleoresin soil mixtures, gophers decreased mean soil contact time by 46% relative to placebo-exposed animals. Grooming time yielded a concentration x trial interaction that showed intense grooming by capsicum-exposed animals during trial 1, with "convergence" of times to near those of the "placebos" (0.00% capsicum oleoresin) by trial 3. The significant decrease in grooming activity …

Impact Of Snowfall On The Utah Preventive Aerial Hunting Program, Kimberly K . Wagner, Michael R. Conover

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Aerial hunting is one of the tools used by wildlife managers to reduce predation by coyotes (Canis latrans) on livestock and wildlife (Guthery and Beasom 1977, Sterner and Schumake 1978, Stout 1982. Smith et al. 1986). In research conducted by Wagner and Conover (1999), areas with preventive aerial hunting had fewer confirmed and estimated lamb losses to coyote predation and required significantly fewer hours of additional corrective predation management than areas without aerial hunting. Aerial hunting is perceived to be especially valuable for large areas and areas with rough terrain and limited access (United States Department of the …

Effective Of Preventive Coyote Hunting On Sheep Losses To Coyote Predation, Kimberly Wagner, Michael Conover

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Aerial hunting is commonly used by agriculture agencies in the Intermountain West to reduce coyote (Canis latrans) predation on domestic sheep. We assessed the effect of aerial hunting of coyotes on sheep losses to coyotes, and the need for corrective predation management (hours of work, device nights) on the same pastures when sheep arrived for the subsequent summer grazing season (3-6 months after aerial hunting). Comparisons were made between paired pastures with (treated) and without (untreated) winter aerial hunting from helicopters. Average (x ± SE) pasture size was 45.2 ± 14.1 km² (n = 21) for treated …

Nightly And Seasonal Movements Of Boiga Irregularis On Guam, Mark Tobin, Robert Sugihara, Patricia Pochop, Michael Linnell

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Brown tree snakes (Boiga irregularis, BTS), inadvertently introduced to the island of Guam shortly after World War II, have had catastrophic effects on the native fauna of this U.S. territory. We used radio-telemetry to monitor daytime refugia and nightly movements of 60 BTS (30 during each of two seasonal periods) to determine the extent of nightly, weekly, and monthly movements. Eighty-three percent of subadult daytime sightings were in trees, compared to only 49% of adult daytime sightings. Most measures of movement did not vary with seasonal period, sex, or age class. BTS moved an average of 64 m …

Repellents To Reduce Cable Gnawing By Northern Pocket Gophers, Stephen A. Shumake, Ray T. Sterner, Stanley E. Gaddis

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

There is a continuing need to develop improved repellent formulations to protect buried cable installations from damage by problem wildlife. We evaluated 2.0% mass/mass levels of capsaicin and denatonium benzoate in a polybutene carrier material (Indopol®) and an aboveground, rodent-deer plastic mesh barrier (Vexar®) for reducing gnawing by northern pocket gophers (Thomomys talpoides) on communications cable (RG-8U). When treatments were applied as surface coatings, neither capsaicin nor denatonium samples were lower (P > 0.05) in measnres of cable damage compared to control (Indopol® alone) or samples treated with Vexar® plastic mesh. When the test was repeated with a new …

User-Responsivity And Environment-Sensitivity Consideration For State-Funded Housing In Alain City, Nassra Saif Al Daheri

Theses

Massive housing projects have shown that prospective users are rarely given the opportunity to participate in the design decisions. Subsequently, such schemes commonly fail to accommodate all their needs. In the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the housing projects that aim at resettling of Bedouin into newly developed urban communities are state-funded. Many of these houses that were built in the late seventies and early eighties were transferred back to the state (in a very bad condition due to the users random modifications and additions) in exchange of newer better houses. The lack of an adaptive design concept that can accommodate …

The Use Of Bauxite Residue As A Soil Amendment In The Peel -Harvey Coastal Plain Catchment - Environmental Monitoring Report August 1999, Mark Rivers

Natural resources published reports

The Peel-Harvey Coastal Plain Catchment is located immediately south of Perth in Western Australia and covers approximately 190,000 ha. It extends from Forrestdale in the north to Harvey in the south, and west from the Darling Scarp to Mandurah on the coast. The boundary of the catchment, as illustrated in Figure 1, represents the area which has been approved by the DEP for the broadscale application of Alkaloam as a soil amendment. (This figure also indicates features and regions of importance in this project).

The region experiences a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters with most …

Future Directions For The Rock Lobster Industry Advisory Committee And The Western Rock Lobster Managed Fishery, Kevin Donohue

Fisheries Management Papers

This paper is divided into two parts. The purpose of Part One is to get Industry's views on the six key questions concerning the Rock Lobster Industry Advisory Committee's role, operation and advice. The purpose of Part Two is to present those management issues identified at the joint RLIAC/Western Rock Lobster Development Association workshop held on the 16 September 1998.

Management Of The Houtman Abrolhos System., Kim Nardi, Abrolhos Islands Management Advisory Committee

Fisheries Management Papers

The Abrolhos System is the Houtman Abrolhos Islands and adjoing State Territorial Waters. It is an important part of the Western Australian environment. Has major significance in conservation of flora and fauna and also in geological terms. The waters adjoining State Territorial Waters contain some of the most highly valued marine systems in the State. These include sites of historical shipwrecks in Australia. The are of great interest to visitors and support a relatively small but growing recreation and tourism industy.

The area is integral to the Western rock lobster fishery, which is that State's premier primary industries. The Abrolhos …

Year In Review - 1998, Annis Water Resources Institute

AWRI Reviews

No abstract provided.

The Probe, Issue 195 – December 1998

The Probe: Newsletter of the National Animal Damage Control Association

Rabies -- Mike Dwyer, NADCA Director, Great Lakes Region
Position Available: Wildlife Biologist, JFK Airport
NWCO Organization Forms in Calif.
Update on Idaho Wolf Damage
Wildlife Wins in UT, OH, MN, Loses in CA
Schmidt to be Appointed NADCA President
Rabies in Bats: The following article was authored by Kate Lewandowski and is reprinted with permission from "SCWDS Briefs," the quarterly newsletter of the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA.

Bird-Strike Committee -USA Abstracts

CANADA GEESE AND SNOW GEESE – REASSESSING TRADITIONAL PARADIGMS FOR MANAGEMENT -- Robert Blohm, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Migratory Bird …

Water Current, Volume 30, No. 6, December 1998

Water Current Newsletter

Additional Research Shows Promise for Buffer Strips
From the Director: Testing Your Drinking Water; Drinking Water Tabloid Suggestions; USGS RFPs
Planning Nebraska's Water Future
Where Do You Get Your Water From?
Recycling Program Collects 49 Tons of Plastic
Lingle Earns Extension Wildlife Award
Laundry Disk ClaimsDon't Hold Water
Seminars Spotlight Latest in Water Research
Nation's Water Use Down, USGS Says
Water News Briefs
Agronomy Society Lauds Website
Free Wetlands Tabloid
Franti Earns Research Award
Looking for Ideas
Ben Nelson Service Award
Great Plains Research Articles
Assessing the Impact of Waste Lagoons on Groundwater