Digital Commons Network^™

Ontario’S Double-Crested Cormorant Hunting Season May Be Ineffective But That Doesn’T Mean There Are No Conflict Issues, Brian S. Dorr, David G. Fielder, James R. Jackson, James F. Farquhar, Douglas W. Schultz, Randall M. Claramunt

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Managing Roof Rats In Citrus Orchards: Initial Efforts Toward Building An Integrated Pest Management Program, Roger A. Baldwin, Justine A. Smith, Ryan Meinerz, Aaron B. Shiels

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Roof rats cause extensive damage in orchards throughout the world. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems are the best option for managing rodents, yet few management systems have been developed and tested to control roof rats in agricultural settings. We initiated a study in 2020 to provide the foundation for an IPM program to manage roof rats in California citrus orchards. Our initial efforts centered on developing effective monitoring strategies for roof rats to determine when management actions are needed, assessing rat movement patterns to determine proper placement of management tools, and conducting initial tests of Goodnature A24 self-resetting traps and …

Development Of A Novel Vertebrate Pesticide For The Invasive Small Indian Mongoose, Carmen Antaky, Steven C. Hess, Israel Leinbach, Robert T. T. Sugihara, Emily W. Ruell, Shane Siers

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Small Indian mongooses are detrimental introduced predators in the United States, where they depredate native species, serve as vector of disease, and threaten public safety. Due to the risk of accidental introduction to mongoose-free islands, high cost and limitations to trapping, and no national (Section 3) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered toxicants for mongoose control, there is a need for an efficacious toxic bait for mongooses for use in conservation areas and at points of entry in the United States. Over the last five years, the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) worked to develop a toxic bait for mongooses for registration …

Abert’S Squirrel Management In Support Of Endangered Mount Graham Red Squirrel Recovery In Arizona, Aaron R. Morehead, Christopher Carillo, Holly Hicks, Wade Sanders, David L. Bergman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Recovery of the endangered Mount Graham red squirrel (MGRS) will likely be long and challenging. Its limited habitat, isolation to Pinaleño Mountain range, and demographic characteristics restrict its ability to rebound quickly from threats that impact both the squirrel and its habitat. Currently, threats to the MGRS include habitat degradation and loss through high-severity wildfire, fire suppression activities, insect outbreaks, climate change, and human development, and predation, as well as competition with Abert’s squirrels. The most recent wildfire in 2017 impacted over 48,000 acres of already reduced habitat. A critical first step is to protect and manage the remaining population …

Migratory Movements And Home Ranges Of Geographically Distinct Wintering Populations Of A Soaring Bird, Ryo Ogawa, J. Brian Davis, D. Tommy King, L. Wes Burger, Bronson K. Strickland, Marsha A. Sovada, Guiming Wang, Fred L. Cunningham

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Migratory soaring birds exhibit spatiotemporal variation in their circannual movements. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain how different winter environments affect the circannual movement patterns of migratory soaring birds. Here, we investigated annual movement strategies of American white pelicans Pelecanus erythrorhynchos (hereafter, pelican) from two geographically distinct wintering grounds in the Southern and Northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM).We hypothesized that hourly movement distance and home range size of a soaring bird would differ between different geographic regions because of different thermals and wind conditions and resource availability. We calculated average and maximum hourly movement distances and seasonal home ranges of GPS-tracking pelicans. …

Invasive Rodent Responses To Experimental And Natural Hurricanes With Implications For Global Climate Change, Aaron B. Shiels, Gabriela E. Ramírez De Arellano, Laura Shiels

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Hurricanes cause dramatic changes to forests by opening the canopy and depositing debris onto the forest floor. How invasive rodent populations respond to hurricanes is not well understood, but shifts in rodent abundance and foraging may result from scarce fruit and seed resources that follow hurricanes. We conducted studies in a wet tropical forest in Puerto Rico to better understand how experimental (canopy trimming experiment) and natural (Hurricane Maria) hurricane effects alter populations of invasive rodents (Rattus rattus [rats] and Mus musculus [mice]) and their foraging behaviors. To monitor rodent populations, we used tracking tunnels (inked and baited cards …

Improving Efficiency Of Prairie Dog Surveys By Using A Small Copter Drone, Aaron B. Shiels, J. W. Fischer, Danika Spock, Meagan Allira

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Prairie dogs are an accessible and enjoyed wildlife species in Colorado that require occasional surveys because populations can change abruptly due to plague outbreaks or human-induced control. We evaluated the use of small copter drones at four prairie dog colonies on Open Space and Mountain Parks lands, City of Boulder, to determine if this methodology improves efficiency over ground-based survey methods. We counted prairie dogs and burrows using two types of drones (DJI Matric 210 and Autel Evo II) at altitudes 100', 150', and 400' (burrows only). We recorded video and merged still images into orthomosaics prior to having USDA …

Susceptibility Of Wild Canids To Sars-Cov-2, Stephanie M. Porter, Aim E. Hartwig, Helle Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Angela M. Bosco-Lauth, J. Jeffrey Root

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We assessed 2 wild canid species, red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and coyotes (Canis latrans), for susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2. After experimental inoculation, red foxes became infected and shed infectious virus. Conversely, experimentally challenged coyotes did not become infected; therefore, coyotes are unlikely to be competent hosts for SARS-CoV-2.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple instances of natural infections with SARS-CoV-2 have been reported in pet dogs, likely after exposure to an infected human (1–3). Domestic dogs appear to be minimally susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, as indicated by experimental inoculations resulting in reverse transcription PCR–positive samples and low titer antibody responses but no clinical …

Exploring The Value Of A Global Gene Drive Project Registry, Riley I. Taitingfong, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Cinnamon S. Bloss, Et Al.

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Recent calls to establish a global project registry before releasing any gene-drive-modified organisms (GDOs) have suggested a registry could be valuable to coordinate research, collect data to monitor and evaluate potential ecological impacts, and facilitate transparent communication with community stakeholders and the general public. Here, we report the results of a multidisciplinary expert workshop on GDO registries convened on 8–9 December 2020 involving 70 participants from 14 countries. Participants had expertise in gene drive design, conservation and population modeling, social science, stakeholder engagement, governance and regulation, international policy, and vector control; they represented 45 organizations, spanning national and local governmental …

Significance Of Autumn And Winter Food Consumption For Reproduction By Southern Beaufort Sea Polar Bears, Ursus Maritimus, Blaine D. Griffen, John P. Whiteman, Sariah Pullan

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in the southern Beaufort Sea experience long annual periods when preferred seal prey are scarce or are unavailable. Consumption of bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) carcasses from native Alaskan subsistence hunting is increasingly common for onshore polar bears, yet the energetic consequences of this consumption remain unclear. We use data on bears captured repeatedly over periods that encompassed autumn and winter, combined with calculations, to show that adult female bears likely consume an average of at least 4 seal equivalents during both autumn and winter periods and that considerable variation in energy intake …

Motivated Science: What Humans Gain From Denying Animal Sentience, Uri Lifshin

Animal Sentience

Resistance to the idea that non-human animals are sentient resembles erstwhile resistance to the theory that the earth is not the centre of the universe, or that humans evolved from “apes”. All these notions are psychologically threatening. They can remind people of their own creatureliness and mortality and might make them feel guilty or uncertain about their way of life. An honest debate over animal sentience, welfare and rights should consider the human motivation to deprive animals of these things in the first place. I briefly review empirical evidence on the psychological function of denying animal minds.

Succession Of Carrion Insects On Pig Carcasses Relocated From Indoor To Outdoor Conditions, Sudarat Fueangmeekun

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Forensic entomological evidence can be used to solve relocations cases. However, forensic entomological studies on corpse relocation in Thailand is limited, therefore, this research aimed to study insect succession on pig carcasses relocated from indoor to outdoor conditions and pig carcasses refrigerated for 3 days before relocated to the outdoor condition. Nong Hin District in Loei Province was chosen to be the study site. The study was conducted in three seasons: winter, summer and monsoon. There were three experiments in each season: 1) non-relocation (control), 2) relocation from an indoor to an outdoor condition, and 3) refrigeration before relocation. There …

Feral Horses, Feral Asses, And Professional Politicians: Broodings From A Beleaguered Biologist, Vernon C. Bleich

Human–Wildlife Interactions

As a member of National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board, I gained insight into several aspects of feral equid management that previously had been somewhat cryptic. Foremost in my experience, though, was the dedication and professionalism of the board members with whom I served. During my tenure, the professional approach to management and the frustration faced by employees within the Horse and Burro Program became increasingly apparent. Further came the realization that the effectiveness of the board and program can be improved substantially, if (1) the board is provided the opportunity to rebut or counter incorrect or misleading information …

Mitigating Bighorn Sheep–Vehicle Collisions And Habitat Fragmentation With Overpasses And Adaptive Mitigation, Jeffrey W. Gagnon, Chad D. Loberger, Kari S. Ogren, Scott C. Sprague, Susan R. Boe, Raymond E. Schweinsburg

Human–Wildlife Interactions

As transportation infrastructure expands to accommodate increasing human population growth, wildlife–vehicle conflicts (WVCs) are a growing concern for motorist safety and wildlife populations. In the case of large ungulates, minimal information exists on successful mitigation of WVCs involving bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) and habitat fragmentation. Too address this void, we evaluated the effectiveness of 3 new wildlife overpasses, 3 culverts, 2 bridges, and ungulate exclusionary fencing as potential desert bighorn sheep (O. c. nelsoni; sheep) crossing opportunities along US Highway 93 in Arizona, USA. We evaluated sheep movements using global positioning system (GPS) radio-transmitter collars and …

Bear-Caused Human Fatalities In Yellowstone National Park: Characteristics And Trends, Kerry A. Gunther

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Three fatal bear (Ursus spp.) attacks in Yellowstone National Park (YNP), USA, from 2011 to 2015 were a catalyst for YNP managers to evaluate the circumstances of bear-caused fatalities as well as the bear safety messages it distributes to park visitors. I reviewed records of all fatal bear attacks that occurred in YNP from 1872 to 2018. Seven of the 8 fatalities were caused by grizzly bears (U. arctos horribilis). The per capita risk of being killed by a grizzly bear was 1 fatality for every 26.2 million park visits. Most fatal bear attacks in YNP involved …

Impact Of Covid-19 On Aviation-Wildlife Strikes Across Europe, Isabel C. Metz, Marta Giordano, Dionysios Ntampakis, Marianna Moira, Anneke Hamann, Rosanne Blijleven, Jürgen J. Ebert, Alessandro Montemaggiori

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Collisions between aircraft and wildlife (i.e., wildlife strikes) pose a serious threat toward the safety of aircraft, its crew, and passengers. The effects of COVID-19 related travel restrictions on wildlife strikes are unknown. With this study, we aim to address this information gap by assessing the changes of wildlife hazard management performance across European airports during the lockdown period (e.g., period of reduced operations and borders closure in spring 2020). We also sought to raise awareness of the importance of wildlife strike prevention in times of reduced operations. The objective of our study was to compare wildlife strike data before …

Is Mitigation Translocation An Effective Strategy For Conserving Common Chuckwallas?, Chad A. Rubke, Daniel J. Leavitt, Woodrow L. Crumbo, Brock Williams, Ashley A. Grimsley-Padron, Kristin J. Gade, Russell Benford, Michael F. Ingraldi, Brian K. Sullivan, Ryan P. O’Donnell

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Mitigation translocation remains a popular conservation tool despite ongoing debate regarding its utility for population conservation. To add to the understanding of the effectiveness of mitigation translocation, in 2017 and 2018 we monitored a population of protected common chuckwallas (Sauromalus ater) following translocation away from the area of construction of a new highway near the South Mountains, Phoenix, Arizona, USA. We removed chuckwallas from the construction right-of-way, paint-marked and pit-tagged them, and then released them in a nearby municipal preserve. We deployed very high frequency radio-telemetry transmitters on a sub-sample of 15 translocated adult chuckwallas. We monitored the …

Stakeholder Acceptance Of Wild Equid Fertility Control Mirrors Global Shifts In Attitudes To Wildlife Management, Giovanna Massei, Stephanie L. Boyles Griffin

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Wild equid (horses [Equus ferus] and burros [E. asinus]) populations have increased on public lands in the United States since the passage of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. As of March 1, 2022, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) estimated that wild equid populations on designated herd management areas (HMAs) may exceed 82,000 animals. In 2020, the total population of wild equids in the United States was estimated to exceed 300,000 animals. The BLM sets an appropriate management level (AML) for wild horse and burro herds on each HMA and removes animals …

Fish Biodiversity In Zhanjiang Mangroves National Nature Reserve, China, Juan Lei, Yongyan Liao, Wei Tang, Dong Xie, Teng Wang, Wen Xiong, Peter A. Bowler

Turkish Journal of Zoology

China's mangroves provide important habitat for many endangered fish species, but, there has been little research upon the diversity and the distribution of fish species within mangroves habitats. To compile an inventory of fish fauna in this field, a total of 14 ichthyological surveys were conducted in Zhanjiang Mangrove during different seasons between August 2016 and December 2019. A total of 208 fish species have identified belonging to 18 orders, 69 families and 142 genera from Zhanjiang Mangroves National Nature Reserve, the largest mangrove habitat in China. Of these 17 species are listed as threatened species in the IUCN Red …

Molecular And Otolith Shape Analyses Of Scorpaena Spp. In The Turkish Seas, Serdar Yedi̇er, Derya Bostanci

Turkish Journal of Zoology

This study aims to investigate the discrimination and the phylogenetic relationship of five Scorpaena species (S. elongata, S. maderensis, S. notata, S. porcus, and S. scrofa), sampled from eight locations in the four seas (Mediterranean Sea, Aegean Sea, Black Sea, and Sea of Marmara) in Turkey, using both molecular and otolith shape analyses. Totally, 1360 samples were examined for otolith shape analyses, and 51 of them were also used in the molecular analysis (COI sequences, 652 bp). Eighteen haplotypes were determined in the 5 species of the genus Scorpaena; 3 haplotypes for S. elongata, S. maderensis and S. scrofa, 4 …

Effects Of Ni (Ii) P-Hydroxybenzoate With Caffeine On Metabolic, Antioxidant, Andbiochemical Parameters Of Model Insect Galleria Mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), Serkan Sugeçti̇, Kemal Büyükgüzel

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Many insecticides used against pests cause environmental pollution. Therefore, it is very important to develop new alternative strategies to toxic insecticides. In this study, the physiological and biochemical effects of Ni (II) p-hydroxybenzoate with caffeine on the model insect Galleria mellonella were investigated. In the present study, transferase enzyme activities such as alanine transferase, aspartate transferase and gamma-glutamyl transferase, which regulate amino acid metabolism, were altered in hemolymph of G. mellonella larvae exposed to Ni (II) p-hydroxybenzoate with caffeine. In addition, the activities of metabolic enzymes such as creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and amylase increased in hemolymph of G. mellonella …

Oxygen Consumption Rates And Respiratory Carbon Losses In Three Species Of Copepods(Acartia Clausi, Calanus Helgolandicus And Limnocalanus Macrurus) During Starvation, Leonid Svetlichny, Maiju Lehtiniemi, Outi Setälä, Anne-Mari Lehto, Larysa Samchyshyna, Yulia Gromova, Melek İşi̇ni̇bi̇li̇r Okyar, Ezgi̇ Emi̇ş Türkeri̇, Kami̇l Mert Eryalçin, Gülşah Can Kayadelen, Ahmet Erkan Kideyş

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Calanoid copepods with different life cycle strategies demonstrate varied velocity in the utilization of energy resources during starvation. This study analyzes the influence of multiday starvation on the rate of total, basal and active energy metabolism in adult females of two Marmara Sea and one Baltic Sea species of copepods; epiplanktonic Acartia clausi unable to accumulate lipid reserves and mesoplanktonic Calanus helgolandicus with minor lipid reserves in the oil sac (approximately 7% of body volume) and the Baltic Sea copepod Limnocalanus macrurus in quasi-diapausing state with large lipid reserves in the oil sac (approximately 19% of body volume). Initially, total …

Halyomorpha Halys Stål, (Hemiptera:Pentatomidae) Feeding Effects On Some Agriculturalfruits In Georgia, Manana Kereselidze, Daniela Pilarska, Nika Guntadze, Andreas Linde

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Feeding effects of the invasive, polyphagous brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera:Pentatomidae), on some agricultural fruits (hazelnut, blueberry, mandarin, lemon) were investigated in Guria and Samegrelo regions of Georgia in 2019 and 2020. The damage to hazelnut kernels was evaluated when H. halys adults were allowed to feed on kernels in different stages of development. Furthermore, BMSB adults were allowed to feed on almost ripened fruits of blueberry, on small mandarin fruits which were not yet well developed, and on ripened fruits of mandarin. The evaluation of damage on lemon was recorded after allowing adult BMSB on small, …

Revitalizing Conservation And Management Of The American Crocodile (Crocodylus Acutus) In The Dominican Republic, Robert Greco

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Crocodilian populations declined globally during the 20^th century because of overhunting and habitat loss. Some crocodilian populations have recovered recently through legal protections and habitat restoration, but the status of many crocodilian populations are still unknown because of a lack of recent data. The American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) population in the Dominican Republic (DR) is one of these data-deficient populations, with country-wide surveys not carried out since the 1980s. From May through July 2021 we surveyed areas within DR where C. acutus is still likely residing. Our surveys yielded no crocodile sightings in Monte Cristi, suggesting that …

Gut Microbiome And Epigenetics Analysis Of Common Long-Tailed Macaque Macaca Fascicularis Fascicularis And Burmese Long-Tailed Macaque M. Fascicularis Aurea In Different Habitat Types, Raza Muhammad

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Macaca fascicularis (long-tailed macaques) occupy a wide habitat range in Southeast Asia and are divided into 10 subspecies. Among the 10 subspecies, M. f. fascicularis (Mff) encompassed the largest distribution, and M. f. aurea (Mfa) was the only Old-World monkey reported using stone as tools to forage encased food. Previous studies indicated the distinctive genetic characteristics between the two subspecies, and Mfa primarily inhabited coastal and estuary habitats to a greater extent than the overall Mff populations. Thus, the ecological conditions appeared to be conducive to natural selection of stone-tool use behavior. Based on the current interest in an association …

An Updated And Annotated Checklist Of The Malacostraca (Crustacea) Species Inhabitedturkish Inland Waters, Mehmet İpek, Murat Özbek

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The current status and annotated checklist of fresh- and brackish-water amphipod species inhabiting the inland waters (streams, lakes, ponds, lagoons, subterranean waters, etc.) of Turkey is presented. Totally, 171 papers, 3 books, 3 book chapters, 5 conference papers, 2 projects, 3 PhD and 3 MSc thesis were examined in the present study. As the result of the previous records, 201 taxa comprising 121 amphipods (16 families, 31 genera), 27 isopods (9 families, 13 genera), 9 mysids (1 family, 5 genera), 4 tanaids (3 families, 4 genera) and 40 decapods (16 families, 18 genera) were compiled. All the previously recorded localities …

Length-Weight Relationships Of 28 Fish Species Caught From Demersal Trawl Survey In Themiddle Black Sea, Turkey, Murat Dağteki̇n, Yaşar Genç, Nazli Kasapoğlu, Gökhan Eri̇k, Devri̇m Seli̇m Misir, Sali̇h İlhan, Meltem Ok, Cemi̇l Altuntaş, Uğur Özsandikçi, Ferhat Büyükdeveci̇, Tuğba Kaya, Ayşe Cebeci̇, Asi̇ye Nur Saltan, Ati̇la Haşi̇moğlu, Şi̇ri̇n Fi̇ri̇di̇n

Turkish Journal of Zoology

This study provides updated the length-weight relationships and Fulton's condition factor of 28 fish species belonging to 23 families from the Black Sea. Samples were collected along the depths between 0-100 meters by demersal trawl surveys conducted seasonally from May 2017 to September 2019. A total of 83,885 specimens were collected. The length-weight relationships and Fulton's condition factor, minimum, maximum and mean lengths, total weights, descriptive statistics, and growth type were provided for all the species. The results indicate that LWR parameters of b varied from 2.2039 to 3.737 and Fulton's condition factor varied between 0.004 and 1.18. These findings …

A Review Of The Alien Fishes Of Turkish Inland Waters, Erdoğan Çi̇çek, Soheil Eagderi, Sevi̇l Sungur

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Aquaculture, recreational fishing, restocking, biological control, and the ornamental fish trade have increased the number of nonnative fish in Turkish inland waters. This work reviews the history, current state, and tendencies of fish introductions into Turkish freshwaters. To date, it is known that a total of 34 exotic species (except two marine and three misidentified species) have been introduced deliberately or accidentally into Turkish inland waters, of which, only 19 species have been established in wild ecosystems. A total of five acclimatized species, viz. Coregonus lavaretus, C. macrophthalmus, Salmo salar, Salvelinus alpinus, and S. fontinalis and four species, viz. Hypophthalmichthys …

Marine Mucilage In The Sea Of Marmara And Its Effects On The Marine Ecosystem: Mass Deaths, Uğur Karadurmuş, Mustafa Sari

Turkish Journal of Zoology

In April of 2021, there was a massive explosion of marine mucilage in the Sea of Marmara, as a result, many invertebrates of marine communities suffered mass mortality. We summarize our results about the devastating effect of mucilage bloom on mass deaths in the Sea of Marmara. The phenomena were lethal to the pelagic fishes and crustaceans, and individuals were impacted severely smothered by mucilage or anoxia. Mucilage accumulations have shown their effectiveness in many areas around the Kapıdağ Peninsula. Misakça, Şirinçavuş, Narlı, and Tatlısu regions, where mass death cases occurred, were selected as study areas, and these areas are …

Earthworm Community Structure Along Altitudinal Gradients On The Western Slopes Ofkopaonik Mountain In Serbia, Filip Popovic, Mirjana Stojanovic, Slobodanka Radosavljevic, Tanja Trakic, Jovana Sekulic

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The aim of this study is to examine the altitudinal patterns of earthworm community structure at different habitat types on the western slopes of Kopaonik Mountain. In total, 30 plots between 420 and 1950 m a.s.l. were sampled within two years' fieldwork. Overall, 27 earthworm taxa belonging to 11 genera were found at the study sites. A combination of Pearson's correlation, polynomial regression, and cluster analysis (UPGMA) was used for determining the effects of altitude on the earthworm community structure. The earthworm abundance and species richness monotonically decreased with the increase in altitude, showing a significant negative correlation. Cluster analysis …