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Seasonal Patterns Of Song Structure Variation In A Suboscine Passerine, Bruce A. Robertson, Joseph J. Fontaine, Elizabeth Loomis

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

Studies of song and its function in suboscine passerines are rare. We examined spatial and temporal variation in song structure in a wild population of Olive-sided Flycatchers (Contopus cooperi) and tested among hypotheses explaining this variation. Repeatable variation in song type was observed both within and among individuals. More than 10% of territorial males expressed atypical song types, i.e., permutations of sequential missing and repeated elements of the typical adult song. Atypical songs were predominantly expressed by unpaired males independent of habitat type. A small fraction of males sang atypical song through the middle of the breeding season, …

Regional Differences In The Spatial And Temporal Heterogeneity Of Oceanographic Habitat Used By Steller Sea Lions, Michelle E. Lander, Thomas R. Loughlin, Miles G. Logsdon, Glenn R. Vanblaricom, Brian S. Fadely, Lowell W. Fritz

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Over the past three decades, the decline and altered spatial distribution of the western stock of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in Alaska have been attributed to changes in the distribution or abundance of their prey due to the cumulative effects of fisheries and environmental perturbations. During this period, dietary prey occurrence and diet diversity were related to population decline within metapopulation regions of the western stock of Steller sea lions, suggesting that environmental conditions may be variable among regions. The objective of this study, therefore, was to examine regional differences in the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of …

Antarctica: A Journey Of Discovery, Louise Huffman, Erin Carr, Rita Thomas, Yekaterina Kontar

ANDRILL Project Information

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. ANT-0342484. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or other national or international contributing funding agencies or institutions.

ANDRILL Science Management Office
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
126 Bessey Hall
Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0341
United States

Refuge Update – January/February 2009, Volume 6, Number 1

RefugeUpdate (USFWS-NWRS)

Table of Contents:
Fresh Thinking About Climate Change, page 3
Meet the New Refuge Chief, page 5
Focus on . . . Research on Refuges, pages 8-13
Drive. Dial. Discover., page 14

An Overview Of The International Beaver Ecology And Management Workshop, Jimmy Taylor Ii, David Bergman, Dale L. Nolte

Wildlife Damage Management Conference Proceedings

On 9–12 October 2007, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services (WS) hosted the International Beaver Ecology and Management Workshop in Chandler, Arizona. The workshop was jointly sponsored by the Multi-City Sub-Regional Operations Group (SROG), Tres Rios Ecosystem Restoration and Flood Control Project and WS. The SROG management is comprised of representatives from the cities of Phoenix, Mesa, Glendale, Scottsdale, and Tempe. The workshop emphasized the management of beaver, their ecology, the part they play as a keystone species, and the issues they cause as an invasive species outside of the United States. The …

Limnological Analyses Of Cutler Reservoir And Dingle Marsh With Respect To Eutrophication, J. D. Abbott, Deb Collins, Colin Cook, Dan Lamarra, Ryan Leonard, Ben Marret, Justin Stout, Gilbert Rowley, Jeremy Rowley, Wayne A. Wurtsbaugh

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

Cutler Reservoir is located in Cache county, Utah and was created for the purposes of irrigation, water storage and flood control. High nutrient loading to Cutler has raised concerns about the health of this system and has resulted in it being listed on the state's 303(d) list of impaired waters. The TMDL plan being drafted for Cutler lists dissolved oxygen and phosphorous as the key issues of concern. The underlying problem created by nutrient loading is eutrophication. If Cutler is to remain as a valuable source of recreation, wildlife habitat, and water for the Cache Valley we must understand the …

Managing Predators To Protect Endangered Species And Promote Their Successful Reproduction, Richard M. Engeman, Bernice Constantin, Kenneth S. Gruver, Corey Ross

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Predation critically threatens many rare species, with the deleterious impacts of predation losses compounded by habitat loss. Predators of endangered species are frequently invasive species or artificially over-abundant native species. Often, predation is most damaging to a species' ability to reproduce. We use examples from the tropics to the tundra with which we have been involved to demonstrate how predator management can be a highly effective and economically efficient means to protect populations of rare species and enhance their reproduction.

Landscape-Genetic Analysis Of Population Structure In The Texas Gray Fox Oral Rabies Vaccination Zone, Randy Deyoung, Angeline Zamorano, Brian Mesenrink, Tyler A. Campbell, Bruce Leland, Guy Moore, Rodney Honeycutt, J. Jeffrey Root

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In west-central Texas, USA, abatement efforts for the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) rabies epizootic illustrate the difficulties inherent in large-scale management of wildlife disease. The rabies epizootic has been managed through a cooperative oral rabies vaccination program (ORV) since 1996. Millions of edible baits containing a rabies vaccine have been distributed annually in a 16-km to 24-km zone around the perimeter of the epizootic, which encompasses a geographic area >4 x 10⁵ km². The ORV program successfully halted expansion of the epizootic into metropolitan areas but has not achieved the ultimate goal of eradication. Rabies …

Testudines - Turtles, James Delutes Iii, Richard M. Engeman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Chelydra serpentine serpentine (Common Snapping Turtle). Nesting Behavior and Site Selection. On May 31, 2008, we observed a ca. 36 cm CL Chelydra serpentine serpentine in unexpected nesting circumstances. Observations were made from 0908 to 1027 h on clear day with ambient temp ca 24° C. The nest site near Longmont, Colorado, USA (40.1599528°N, 105.1259861°W; WGS84) was 4.3 m from a seasonal ditch running north-south to connect two lakes, one on either side of a busy road. The intriguing aspect of the nest location was that it was immediately adjacent to a heavily traveled concrete sidewalk that bordered a road …

Escherichia Coli, Salmonella, And Mycobacterium Avium Subsp. Paratuberculosis In Wild European Starlings At A Kansas Cattle Feedlot, Shannon M. Gaukler, George M. Linz, Julie S. Sherwood, Neil W. Dyer, William J. Bleier, Yvonne M. Wannemuehler, Lisa K. Nolan, Catherine M. Logue

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The prevalence of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis isolated from the feces of wild European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) humanely trapped at a feedlot in central Kansas was assessed. All E. coli and Salmonella isolates recovered were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System panels and the E. coli isolates were classified as to their content of genes associated with pathogenic E. coli of birds and cattle, including cvaC, iroN2, ompTp, hlyF2, eitC, iss, iutA, ireA, papC, stxI, stxII, sta, K99, F41, and eae. Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Mycobacterium avium …

Avian Use Of Harvested Crop Fields In North Dakota During Spring Migration, Alegra M. Galle, George M. Linz, H. Jeffrey Homan, William J. Bleier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Broad-spectrum herbicide applications and improved harvesting efficiency of crops have reduced the availability of weed seeds and waste grains for game and nongame wildlife. Over the last decade, corn and soybean plantings have steadily increased in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of North Dakota, while sunflower plantings have declined. The PPR is an important corridor for migratory birds, and changes in food availabilities at stopover habitats may affect how food resources are used. In early spring 2003 and 2004, we compared bird use of harvested fields of sunflower, soybeans, small grains, and corn in the PPR of North Dakota. Across …

Predator And Heterospecific Stimuli Alter Behavior In Cattle, Bryan M. Kluever, Larry D. Howery, Stewart W. Breck, David L. Bergman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Wild and domestic ungulates modify their behavior in the presence of olfactory and visual cues of predators but investigations have not exposed a domestic species to a series of cues representing various predators and other ungulate herbivores.We used wolf (Canis lupus), mountain lion (Puma concolor), and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) stimuli (olfactory and visual), and a control (no stimuli) to experimentally test for differences in behavior of cattle (Bos taurus) raised in Arizona. We measured (1) vigilance, (2) foraging rates, (3) giving up density (GUD) of high quality foods and (4) time …

Physiological Stress Response Of Captive White-Tailed Deer To Video Collars, Remington Moll, Joshua J. Millspaugh, Jeff Beringer, Joel Sartwell, Rami Woods, Kurt C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Animal-borne video and environmental data collection systems (AVEDs) are an advanced form of biotelemetry that combines video with other sensors. As a proxy for physiological stress, we assessed fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) excretion in 7 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fitted with AVED dummy collars; 9 additional deer served as controls. We collected fecal samples over 3 2-week periods: pretreatment, treatment, and post-treatment periods. There were no differences in FGMs across time periods (F_2,218 = 1.94, P = 0.147) and no difference between FGMs of control and treatment individuals (F_1,14 = 0.72, P = 0.411). Fecal glucocorticoid …

Pathogenesis And Epidemiology Of Brucellosis In Yellowstone Bison: Serologic And Culture Results From Adult Females And Their Progeny, Jack C. Rhyan, Keith Aune, Thomas Roffe, Darla Ewalt, Steve Hennager, Tom Gidlewski, Steve Olsen, Ryan Clarke

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Our objective in this prospective study was to determine the natural course of Brucella abortus infection in cohorts of seropositive and seronegative, female bison (Bison bison) and their offspring in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) for 5 yr. We collected specimens from 53 adult females and 25 calves at least once and from 45 adults and 22 calves more than once. Annual seroconversion rates (negative to positive) were relatively high (23% for calves and juvenile bison, 6% in the total sample of adult female bison in our study, and 11% in the adult females that began the study as …

Wildlife Collisions With Aircraft: A Missing Component Of Land-Use Planning For Airports, Bradley F. Blackwell, Travis L. Devault, Esteban Fernández-Juricic, Richard A. Dolbeer

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Projecting risks posed to aviation safety by wildlife populations is often overlooked in airport land-use planning. However, the growing dependency on civil aviation for global commerce can require increases in capacity at airports which affect land use, wildlife populations, and perspectives on aviation safety. Our objectives were to (1) review legislation that affects airports and surrounding communities relative to managing and reducing wildlife hazards to aviation; (2) identify information gaps and future research needs relative to regulated land uses on and near airports, and the effects on wildlife populations; and (3) demonstrate how information regarding wildlife responses to land-use practices …

Assessing Allowable Take Of Migratory Birds, Michael Runge, John Sauer, Michael L. Avery, Bradley F. Blackwell, Mark Koneff

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Legal removal of migratory birds from the wild occurs for several reasons, including subsistence, sport harvest, damage control, and the pet trade. We argue that harvest theory provides the basis for assessing the impact of authorized take, advance a simplified rendering of harvest theory known as potential biological removal as a useful starting point for assessing take, and demonstrate this approach with a case study of depredation control of black vultures (Coragyps atratus) in Virginia, USA. Based on data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey and other sources, we estimated that the black vulture population in Virginia …

Ecological Correlates Of Risk And Incidence Of West Nile Virus In The United States, Brian F. Allan, R. Brian Langerhans, Wade A. Ryberg, William J. Landesman, Nicholas W. Griffin, Rachael S. Katz, Brad J. Oberle, Michele R. Schutzenhofer, Kristina N. Smyth, Annabelle De St. Maurice, Larry Clark, Kevin R. Crooks, Daniel E. Hernandez, Robert G. Mclean, Richard S. Ostfeld, Jonathan M. Chase

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

West Nile virus, which was recently introduced to North America, is a mosquito-borne pathogen that infects a wide range of vertebrate hosts, including humans. Several species of birds appear to be the primary reservoir hosts, whereas other bird species, as well as other vertebrate species, can be infected but are less competent reservoirs. One hypothesis regarding the transmission dynamics of West Nile virus suggests that high bird diversity reduces West Nile virus transmission because mosquito blood-meals are distributed across a wide range of bird species, many of which have low reservoir competence. One mechanism by which this hypothesis can operate …

Comparison Of Injuries To Coyote From 3 Types Of Cable Foot-Restraints, Patrick Darrow, Ramona Skirpstunas, S. Wade Carlson, John Shivik

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We compared injury rates among captured coyotes (Canis latrans) to determine if modifications to cable foot-restraints would decrease resulting injuries. Mean International Standardization Organization’s injury scores of coyotes caught in 3 types of cable foot-restraints were 22.2, 37.9, and 60.4 (F_2,41 = 4.63, P = 0.015) for a chain-loop, standard cable, and sleeved cable, respectively. These results may be important for trappers and researchers to consider when using a cable foot-restraint device to capture wildlife.

Strawberry-Flavored Baits For Pharmaceutical Delivery To Feral Swine, Tyler A. Campbell, David B. Long

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

More effective methods to control feral swine (Sus scrofa) damage are needed. We evaluated 8 oral delivery systems designed to deliver pharmaceuticals to feral swine on 2 properties in southern Texas, USA. We used modified PIGOUT feral pig bait (Animal Control Technologies Australia P/L, Somerton, Victoria, Australia) throughout our trials to compare species-specific visitation and removal rates. Given our consistent finding of high non-target removal of baits intended for feral swine, we question whether a swine-specific oral delivery system exists for this region.

Third Report Of The North Dakota Bird Records Committee: 2004-2005, Dan Svingen, Ron E. Martin

The Prairie Naturalist

Since 1979, North Dakota's bird records committee has collected, evaluated, and archived documentations of rare bird occurrences in the state. In 2004 and 2005, this committee resolved 189 rare bird records. On the basis of these record reviews, six species were ad~ed to the North Dakota state bird list: mottled duck (Anas fulvigula), yellow-billed loon (Cavia adamsii), white-tailed kite (Elanus leucurus), little stint (Calidris minuta), glaucous-winged gull (Larus glaucescens), and great black-backed gull (Larus marinus). Four species were added to the list of nesting species within the state: snowy …

Effect Of Drought And Agriculture On Ring-Necked Pheasant Abundance, Nebraska Panhandle, Charles J. Randel Iii

The Prairie Naturalist

The objectives of my study were to detennine the effects of drought (e.g., Palmer Modified Drought Severity Index; PMDI, Bridges et at. 2001) and/or agricultural practices (e.g., conversion) on RNP abundance in the Nebraska Panhandle (NP).

My RNP survey data were found to be correlated negatively to drought condition (PMDI) in January, February, and April. This was supported by Snyder (1984) and Riley (1995), both of whom reported that decreased precipitation in spring affected RNP production in the western Great Plains and Iowa, respectively. Late winter and early spring drought affect subsoil moisture and decrease primary production (Kiesselbach et al. …

The Prairie Naturalist Manuscript Submission Guidelines, Christopher N. Jacques, Troy W. Grovenburg, Jonathan Jenks

The Prairie Naturalist

These guidelines present The Prairie Naturalist (PNAT) policies and procedures for submitting scientific manuscripts for consideration for publication. In January 2009, a change in Editorial staff occurred and these guidelines address the ongoing transition and update the online "Suggestions for Contributors" guidelines provided on the PNAT website (http://www.fhsu.edu/biology/pn/prairienat.htm); these instructions supersede all previous guidelines. Tables and appendices are included for common word expressions with superfluous wording, examples of correct format and style guidelines for tables accompanying manuscripts, guidance in properly preparing Research Articles and Notes, citing literature, and mandatory abbreviations for tables, figures and parenthetical expressions.

2009 Bird Strike North America Conference Program

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 11th (2009)

Bird Strike Committee Canada and Bird Strike Committee USA are very pleased to welcome you to the 2009 Bird Strike North America Conference in Victoria, British Columbia. This is the eleventh combined meeting of Bird Strike Committee USA and Bird Strike Committee Canada. This year there are over 41 papers in 9 technical sessions, as well as exhibitor displays and posters. There will also be lots of time to reconnect with old friends and colleagues and to meet new ones. We hope you enjoy the conference sessions, the special events and your stay in the beautiful city of Victoria.

Testing A Passive Tracking Index For Monitoring The Endangered Ethiopian Wolf, Paul Paul Evangelista, Richard M. Engeman, Lucy Tallents

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The endangered Ethiopian wolf is considered the rarest canid in Africa. The species faces many threats and is particularly vulnerable to diseases such as rabies. A simple, low-technology means to monitor populations would greatly facilitate conservation efforts, through early detection of population changes and behavior, and signaling a need for intervention. We tested a passive tracking index methodology, which has been a valuable tool for indexing canids and other species around the world. The method uses counts of track intrusions into plots placed in the animals’ routes of travel as the basis for calculating an index. Unlike for other species, …

Ecosystem Jenga!, Natalie Umphlett, Tierney Brosius, Ramesh Laungani, Diandra L. Leslie-Pelecky

High Plains Regional Climate Center: Staff Publications

Students are often taught that ecosystems are "delicately balanced," But what. exactly, does this mean? How do we help students relate what they learn in the classroom about ecosystems to the world immediately around them?

As scientists who work closely with middle school students as part of a National Science Foundation-funded Graduate Fellows in K-12 Education program called Project Fulcrum. we have learned that abstract concepts, such as "delicately balanced ecosystem," are often not truly understood. We addressed this concern in a seventh-grade science classroom in Lincoln. Nebraska. by introducing students to locally threatened saline wetlands and the endangered Salt …

Trends In Summer Coyote And Wolf Predation On Sheep In Idaho During A Period Of Wolf Recovery, Alegra Galle, Mark Collinge, Richard Engeman

Wildlife Damage Management Conference Proceedings

Before the reintroduction of gray wolves (Canis lupus) to Idaho in 1995–1996, the primary depredation problem for livestock producers in summer was coyote (Canis latrans) predation on sheep and lambs. Since the reintroduction and biological recovery of wolves in Idaho, wolf predation on livestock has become a bigger problem in some areas than coyote predation. We evaluated trends in predation on sheep by coyotes and wolves in Idaho during the summer months, when most sheep are grazed on United States Forest Service (USFS) grazing allotments and are most vulnerable to wolf predation. An analysis of the …

Vole Problems, Management Options, And Research Needs In The United States, Gary W. Witmer, Nathan P. Snow, L. Humberg, T. Salmon

Wildlife Damage Management Conference Proceedings

Voles (Microtus spp.) are ubiquitous to the northern hemisphere. Numerous species occur in North America and several species cause significant damage of various types: food crops, livestock forage production (e.g., alfalfa), nursery trees, reforestation, orchards, rangeland forage, and damage to lawns, golf courses and ground cover. Much research has been conducted with voles and a number of management options have been developed, including habitat manipulation, rodenticides, traps, repellents, barriers, supplemental feeding, and increased natural predation. However, significant damage still occurs because voles are not easily managed. Voles are small and secretive, prolific, active year-round, able to exploit refugia, and …

Evolving Bird Management Research At The Usda Wildlife Service’S National Wildlife Research Center, Mark Tobin

Wildlife Damage Management Conference Proceedings

As the methods-development arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program, the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) is charged with developing tools and information for protecting agriculture, human health and safety, and property from problems caused by wildlife, including birds. Increasingly the NWRC is being asked to provide basic ecological information on the population status of various bird species, and its role is expanding from a reactive one of providing management options to that of predicting long-term implications of various management actions. This paper describes several areas of research by NWRC scientists to address population-level questions in support …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Grassbed Treatments As Habitat For Juvenile Black Bass In A Drawdown Reservoir, D. R. Ratcliff, Wayne A. Wurtsbaugh, J. Zustak

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

Many reservoirs in arid regions experience highly variable water levels caused by seasonal inflow fluctuations and designated outflow requirements. At Shasta Lake, California, managers plant cereal-grain grassbeds on exposed drawdown shorelines to increase juvenile fish habitat, localize productivity, and increase invertebrate fish prey. To determine the efficacy of these plantings, the abundance of juvenile black basses Micropterus spp. (20–55 mm standard length) and the amount of periphyton and macroinvertebrate prey were compared among three treatment types: (1) planted grassbeds of cereal barley Hordeum vulgare; (2) artificial rope grassbeds, which eliminated physical deterioration and nutrient release; and (3) nonplanted control sites …

Water And The Mountains: Maya Water Mangement At Caracol, Belize, James Crandall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Water management techniques in the Southern Maya Lowlands are both regionally diverse and site specific. This thesis examines the water management strategies of the Classic Period Maya at the site of Caracol, Belize. While it is likely that elites at Caracol controlled the redistribution of resources, i.e. craft and agricultural products, it is probable that the production of agricultural resources and the maintenance of water resource acquisition took place on a more local level. In order to test this hypothesis, a sample of five reservoirs were examined through original research -- and situated in conjunction with past settlement studies -- …