Digital Commons Network^™

Echinococcus Species Infections Among Wild Canids In Pennsylvania, Usa, Kayla Garrett, Justin Brown, Ryan K. A. Grunert, Jonathan Hunte, Mark G. Ruder, Kyle Van Why, Michael J. Yabsley, Christopher A. Cleveland

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Echinococcus species are zoonotic tapeworms that can impact the health of wildlife, domestic animals, livestock, and humans. Two species of interest in North America are Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus canadensis (Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato). The primary wildlife definitive hosts for E. multilocularis and E. canadensis are similar, including red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), coyotes (Canis latrans), and wolves (Canis lupus). These two Echinococcus spp. use different intermediate hosts, including small mammals for E. multilocularis and artiodactylids for E. canadensis. Although historically absent from …

Understory Arthropod Diversity In A Mixed Dryland Ecosystem, Hawai‘I, Matthew J. Madeiros, William P. Haines, Clare E. Aslan, Aaron B. Shiels, Asa Aue, Christina T. Liang

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Tropical drylands are among the most threatened ecosystems worldwide, and fewer than 10% of tropical dry forests in Hawai‘i remain intact. Terrestrial arthropods comprise most of the endemic fauna on many islands, including Hawai‘i, where they provide ecosystem services such as pollination, decomposition, and a reliable prey base for predators. The objective of our study was to measure understory arthropod diversity and relative abundances in two common habitat types within dryland Hawai‘i—a non-native grassland, dominated by Cenchrus setaceus (fountain grass) with few native shrubs, and a native woodland, dominated by Metrosideros polymorpha (‘ōhi‘a). We used generalized additive models to examine …

Evaluation Of Roost Culling As A Management Strategy For Reducing Invasive Rose‑Ringed Parakeet (Psittacula Krameri) Populations, C. Janes Anderson, Leonard A. Brennan, William P. Bukoski, Steven C. Hess, Clayton D. Hilton, Aaron B. Shiels, Shane Siers, Bryan M. Kluever, Page E. Klug

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Rose-ringed parakeets (Psittacula krameri) are one of the most widespread invasive avian species worldwide. This species was introduced to the island of Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i, USA, in the 1960s. The rapidly increasing population has caused substantial economic losses in the agricultural and tourism industries. We evaluated the efficacy of a roost culling program conducted by an independent contractor from March 2020 to March 2021. We estimated island-wide minimum abundance was 10,512 parakeets in January 2020 and 7,372 in April 2021. Over 30 nights of culling at four roost sites, approximately 6,030 parakeets were removed via air rifles with 4,415 …

Social Network Analysis Of White-Tailed Deer Scraping Behavior: Implications For Disease Transmission, Michael E. Egan, Kim M. Pepin, Justin Fischer, Scott R. Hygnstrom, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Guillaume Bastille-Rousseau

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Host contact structure affects pathogen transmission in host populations, but many measures of host contact do not distinguish contacts that are relevant to pathogen transmission from those that are not. Scrapes are sites for chemical communication by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) during the breeding season and potential sites of transmission of prions, the causative agent of chronic wasting disease (CWD). Scrape-related behaviors vary in their probability of transmitting prions to or from the environment, suggesting that behavior be combined with contact structure to better reflect potential heterogeneity in prion transmission at scrapes. We recorded visits and behaviors by …

Disease Progression And Serological Assay Performance In Heritage Breed Pigs Following Brucella Suis Experimental Challenge As A Model For Naturally Infected Feral Swine, Vienna R. Brown, Ryan S. Miller, Courtney F. Bowden, Timothy J. Smyser, Nicholas A. Ledesma, Aim E. Hartwig, Paul Gordy, Aaron M. Anderson, Stephanie M. Porter, Kate Alexander, Zane Gouker, Tom Gidlewski, Richard A. Bowen, Angela M. Bosco-Lauth

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Invasive feral swine (Sus scrofa) are one of the most important wildlife species for disease surveillance in the United States, serving as a reservoir for various diseases of concern for the health of humans and domestic animals. Brucella suis, the causative agent of swine brucellosis, is one such pathogen carried and transmitted by feral swine. Serology assays are the preferred field diagnostic for B. suis infection, as whole blood can be readily collected and antibodies are highly stable. However, serological assays frequently have lower sensitivity and specificity, and few studies have validated serological assays for B. suis in feral swine. …

Evaluation Of The Effect Of Hydrated Lime On The Scavenging Of Feral Swine (Sus Scrofa) Carcasses And Implications For Managing Carcass-Based Transmission Of African Swine Fever Virus, Courtney F. Bowden, James Grinolds, Gregory Franckowiak, Loma Mccallister, Joe M. Halseth, Matthew Cleland, Travis Guerrant, Michael J. Bodenchuk, Robert Miknis, Michael C. Marlow, Vienna R. Brown

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

African swine fever (ASF) is a devastating hemorrhagic disease marked by extensive morbidity and mortality in infected swine. The recent global movement of African swine fever virus (ASFV) in domestic and wild swine (Sus scrofa) populations has initiated preparedness and response planning activities within many ASF-free countries. Within the US, feral swine are of utmost concern because they are susceptible to infection, are wide-spread, and are known to interact with domestic swine populations. African swine fever virus is particularly hardy and can remain viable in contaminated carcasses for weeks to months; therefore, carcass-based transmission plays an important role in the …

Perturbations Highlight Importance Of Social History In Parakeet Rank Dynamics, Annemarie Van Der Marel, Xavier Francis, Claire L. O'Connell, Cesar O. Estien, Chelsea Carminito, Virginia Darby Moore, Nickolas Lormand, Bryan M. Kluever, Elizabeth A. Hobson

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Dominance hierarchies can provide many benefits to individuals, such as access to resources or mates, depending on their ranks. In some species, rank can emerge as a product of a group’s history of social interactions. However, it can be difficult to determine whether social history is critical to rank in observation-based studies. Here, we investigated rank dynamics in three captive groups of monk parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus). We used experimental social perturbations to test whether social history shapes rank emergence in these groups. Using targeted removals and reintroductions, we tested whether differently ranked individuals could re-take their ranks in hierarchies after …

Distribution Of The Misfolded Isoform Of The Prion Protein In Peripheral Tissues And Spinal Cord Of Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus Elaphus Nelsoni) With Naturally Occurring Chronic Wasting Disease, Terry R. Spraker, Thomas Gidlewski, J. G. Powers, T. A. Nichols, M. A. Wild

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an infectious transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of cervids associated with the presence of a misfolded prion protein (PrPCWD). Progression of PrPCWD distribution has been described using immunohistochemistry and histologic changes in a single section of brain stem at the level of the obex resulting in scores from 0 (early) to 10 (terminal) in elk with naturally occurring CWD. Here we describe the spread and distribution of PrPCWD in peripheral tissues and spinal cord in 16 wild and 17 farmed Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) with naturally occurring CWD and correlate these findings with obex scores. …

Predator Telemetry Informs Temporal And Spatial Overlap With Stocked Salmonids In Lake Huron, David G. Fielder, Todd A. Hayden, Thomas R. Binder, Brian S. Dorr, Heidi A. Currier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Double-Crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auratus), Walleyes (Sander vitreus), and Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) are migratory predators that undergo extensive movements in Lake Huron. Stocking of juvenile salmonid fish (Oncorhynchus and Salmo sp.) is an important component of fishery management in Lake Huron and assessing the spatial and temporal extent of predator movements is a useful consideration for determining when and where to stock juvenile fish to reduce predation and maximize survival. Previous investigation indicated that some Walleyes migrate to the main basin of Lake Huron in spring from Saginaw Bay. Similarly, telemetry studies of Lake Trout movement in Lake Huron have …

Role Of Social Structure In Establishment Of An Invasive Large Mammal After Translocation, Lindsay M. Clontz, Anni Yang, Sarah M. Chinn, Kim M. Pepin, Kurt C. Vercauterten, George Wittemyer, Ryan S. Miller, James C. Beasley

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Background

Data on the movement behavior of translocated wild pigs is needed to develop appropriate response strategies for containing and eliminating new source populations following translocation events. We conducted experimental trials to compare the home range establishment and space-use metrics, including the number of days and distance traveled before becoming range residents, for wild pigs translocated with their social group and individually.

Results

We found wild pigs translocated with their social group made less extensive movements away from the release location and established a stable home range ~5 days faster than those translocated individually. We also examined how habitat quality …

Drought Influences Annual Survival Of Painted Turtles In Western Nebraska, Allyson N. Beard, Larkin Powell

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Aquatic habitats in the Great Plains of North America have increased risk of droughts under climate forecasts. Droughts have the potential to influence the population dynamics of pond turtles, and long-term studies are useful to assess the impact of climatic variation on turtles. We compiled twelve years of mark-recapture data for painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) captured in a pond in Keith County, Nebraska during 2005–2016 that included two periods of drought. We used a robust design analysis to investigate influences on population size, annual survival, temporary immigration, and capture probability. Estimates of the annual population size ranged from 92 (CI: …

20 Years Of Change In Tundra Ndvi From Coupled Field And Satellite Observations, F. K. Huemmrich, J. Gamon, P. Campbell, M. Mora, S. Vargas, B. Almanza, C. Tweedie

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Confounding Effects Of Snow Cover On Remotely Sensed Vegetation Indices Of Evergreen And Deciduous Trees: An Experimental Study, R. Wang, K. R. Springer, John A. Gamon

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Measuring And Preliminary Modeling Of Drift Interception By Plant Species, Jonnie B. Dunne, Shanique L. Grant, Jeffrey A. Golus, Jeffrey W. Perine, Stefan Wolf, Michael Winchell, T. Mark Ledson, Ian Whenham

West Central Research and Extension Center, North Platte

Currently, the concept of plant capture efficiency is not quantitatively considered in the evaluation of off-target drift for the purposes of pesticide risk assessment in the United States. For on-target pesticide applications, canopy capture efficiency is managed by optimizing formulations or tank-mixing with adjuvants to maximize retention of spray droplets. These efforts take into consideration the fact that plant species have diverse morphology and surface characteristics, and as such will retain varying levels of applied pesticides. This work aims to combine plant surface wettability potential, spray droplet characteristics, and plant morphology into describing the plant capture efficiency of drifted spray …

An Efficient And Low-Cost Method To Create High-Density Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers In Cvd Diamond For Sensing Applications., Prem Bahadur Karki, Rupak Timalsina, Mohammadjavad Dowran, Ayodimeji E. Aregbesola, Abdelghani Laraoui, Kapildeb Ambal

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

The negatively charged Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV^-) center in diamond is one of the most versatile and robust quantum sensors suitable for quantum technologies, including magnetic field and temperature sensors. For precision sensing applications, densely packed NV^- centers within a small volume are preferable due to benefiting from 1/√𝑁 sensitivity enhancement (N is the number of sensing NV centers) and efficient excitation of NV centers. However, methods for quickly and efficiently forming high concentrations of NV^- centers are in development stage. We report an efficient, low-cost method for creating high-density NV^- centers production from a relatively …

Orb-Web Spider Argiope (Araneidae) As Indigenous Arrow Poison Of G/Ui And G//Ana San Hunters In The Kalahari, Tharina L. Bird, Smith Moeti, Robert K. Hitchcock, Melinda C. Kelly, Lefang L. Chobolo, Nonofo Gotcha, Kgosi K. Moatlhodi, Leungo D. Mukoka, Emmanuel K. Sekopo, Caroline Simmrita Chaboo

University of Nebraska State Museum: Staff and Affiliates, Publications

Hunting has been crucial in early human evolution. Some San (Bushmen) of southern Africa still practice their indigenous hunting. The use of poisons is one remarkable aspect of their bow-and-arrow hunting but the sources, taxonomic identifications of species used, and recipes, are not well documented. This study reports on fieldwork to investigate recent indigenous hunting practices of G/ui and G//ana San communities in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR), Botswana. Here we discuss their use of spider poison. The hunters use the contents of the opisthosoma (‘abdomen’) of a spider as sole ingredient of the arrow poison and discard the …

Army Global Missile Defense Operations, United States Army

United States Army: Field Manuals

Army Global Missile Defense Operations, United States Army Field Manual FM 3-27

Reconnaissance And Security Operations, United States Army

United States Army: Field Manuals

Reconnaissance and Security Operations, United States Army Field Manual FM 3-98

Nebraska Water Center Annual Report 2023, Nebraska Water Center, Daugherty Water For Food Global Institute

Nebraska Water Center: Administrative Materials

The report's highlights updates including the water sciences laboratory, AltEn contamination monitoring and the Know your well project.

Potential Effect Of The Proposed R-Project Transmission Line On The Aransas-Wood Buffalo Whooping Crane Population, Jeb A. Barzen, J. Michael Engels, Lisa H. Elliott, Douglas H. Johnson

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Whooping cranes (Grus americana) frequently encounter electrical transmission or distribution lines located throughout most of their range. We estimated the probability of at least 1 whooping crane being killed by colliding with a proposed transmission line (the R-project) planned to cross the primary whooping crane migration corridor in Nebraska. We also estimated the number of individuals that might be killed by the line. We used telemetry data provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and its partners, collected from 2009 to 2018, as well as published data, to estimate: 1) the probability that a migrating whooping crane would stop within the …

Thirteen-Year Status Of The Louisiana Nonmigratory Whooping Crane Reintroduction, Eva K. Szyszkoski, Sara E. Zimorski, Hillary L. Thompson

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

During 2011–2023, 167 captive-reared whooping cranes (Grus americana) were released in the Louisiana Nonmigratory Population: 157 were costume-reared and 10 were parent-reared. There were 5 additional whooping cranes translocated to Louisiana from the Florida Nonmigratory Population. Approximately 68.7% of released cranes survived 1 year post-release and 51.3% survived 3 years following release. During 2011–2017, large cohorts of captive-reared cranes were released and the population size increased rapidly. The population grew more slowly during 2018–2023 when cohort sizes were smaller but there were more wild-hatched cranes that fledged. There were 114 mortalities, and of the 85 where remains were recovered, the …

Releases Of After Hatch Year And Adult Whooping Cranes In The Reintroduced Eastern Migratory Population, Stephanie M. Schmidt, Hillary L. Thompson

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The reintroduced Eastern Migratory Population of whooping cranes (Grus americana) experiences low recruitment and high mortality. To support and supplement this population’s growth, ex-situ breeding and release programs prioritizing the release of juvenile whooping cranes (121.1 ± 2 days after hatch) are used. However, extenuating circumstances have resulted in the release of 4 after-hatch-year and 1 adult whooping crane between 2018 and 2022. Although the sample size is small, these unique cases are informative for future management and release, revealing lower survival 1 year after release (20%) than traditional release methods (parent-reared: 69.0%; costume-reared: 64.4%), and average post-release survival of …

Comparisons Of Habitat Use Between Parent-Reared And Costume-Reared Whooping Cranes In The Eastern Migratory Population, 2012–2023, Mary Anderson, Glenn H. Olsen, Susie Dunham, Hillary L. Thompson, Marianne M. Wellington

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Different rearing and release methods have been used to introduce captive-raised whooping cranes (Grus americana) into eastern North America. One method, parent-rearing, coupled with direct release into the wild, offers several benefits over costume-rearing cranes coupled with guided migration by ultralight aircraft. However, little research has compared how these different rearing methods may influence post-release behavior of cranes in the wild. We compare habitat use between costume and parent-reared cranes. Habitat use is an expression of behavior, where cranes choose which habitats in which to spend their time. Using leg-band-mounted satellite transmitters, we documented habitat use patterns of costume-reared and …

Maximum Daily Dispersal Distance Of Wintering Whooping Cranes At Goose Pond Fish And Wildlife Area, Indiana, Alicia M. Ward, Hillary M. Thompson, Allisyn-Marie T. Y. Gillet, Amy J. Kearns, Andrew J. Caven

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Whooping cranes (Grus americana) are an endangered species consisting of 4 populations, including the Eastern Migratory Population (EMP), a reintroduced experimental population that is not yet self-sustaining. The EMP breeds in Wisconsin and winters primarily in Indiana and Alabama. The International Crane Foundation and its partners release captive-reared chicks into the EMP annually to support the growth of the population. This population continues to face multiple threats throughout its flyway, including habitat loss and degradation, and collision mortalities. By analyzing global positioning system (GPS) data from whooping cranes at a primary wintering site, Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area (FWA, …

The Diets Of Wild And Reintroduced Whooping Cranes, Heather A. Neri, Glenn H. Olson, Eric C. Kindahl, Susan L. Carney

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We characterized the diets of the recently established Eastern Migratory Population (EMP) and the extant Aransas-Wood Buffalo population (AWBP). Starting in 2013, frozen proventriculus and ventriculus contents from previously collected dead whooping cranes from both populations were examined to identify dietary items and quantity. EMP whooping cranes (n = 29) consumed benthic macro-invertebrates, beetles, crabs/crayfish, vegetation, seeds, mollusks, and unidentifiable vertebrates. The diets of AWBP whooping cranes (n = 7) examined included all the same food items except benthic macro-invertebrates. Both populations also consumed a variety of non-food items, including plastic and metal. Our data suggests that the wild and …

Lead And Mercury Exposure In Eastern Whooping Cranes: Cause For Concern?, Barry K. Hartup, Anne E. Lacy, Hillary L. Thompson

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The dietary uptake of lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) risks limiting population growth of reintroduced whooping cranes (Grus americana) in the Eastern Migratory Population (EMP). We evaluated these potentially toxic trace elements in blood and marginal covert feathers of wild-hatched juvenile and adult cranes sampled in the Wisconsin breeding range between 2016 and 2023. Samples were obtained at live capture events, and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry for Pb and Total Hg (THg). Blood Pb concentrations from adults were greater than those of juveniles, but feather Pb concentrations were similar between age classes. Blood and feather THg concentrations were …

Sandhill Crane Lead Poisonings Linked To A Wetland Restoration, Andrew J. Caven, Joshua D. Wiese

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Toward the end of the 2018 spring sandhill crane migration on the Platte River in Nebraska, we detected 7 dead cranes near a recently restored wetland within 200 m of the river’s main channel. Topographic recontouring of the soils had occurred in January of 2018 and the area was not yet revegetated. The area had formerly hosted an excavated pond where hunting occurred for many years prior to the 1991 ban on lead ammunition for waterfowl harvest. Two of the cranes with no physical signs of trauma were submitted for necropsy. The cause of death in both cases as lead …

Predators And Scavengers Of Eastern Migratory Whooping Crane Eggs, Hillary L. Thompson, Nicole M. Gordon

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The Eastern Migratory Population of whooping cranes (Grus americana) is not yet self-sustaining, primarily due to low recruitment. We deployed 81 cameras on whooping crane nests in Wisconsin during 2019–2024 to determine the fate of each nest. We identified 7 instances of depredation of crane eggs and 10 of abandoned eggs that were later scavenged. Coyotes (Canis latrans, n = 3 nests) and raccoons (Procyon lotor, n = 2) were the primary predators of crane eggs. We documented common ravens (Corvus corax, n = 2 nests), American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos, n = 2), a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus, n = …

Correlates Of Sandhill Crane Off-Channel Roosting Behavior In The Platte Valley, Bethany L. Pstrom, Andrew J. Caven

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

During spring migration, more than 1 million sandhill cranes stage along the Platte River in central Nebraska. Appropriate river flows can support ideal depths for roosting and provide protection from terrestrial predators. Cranes and other waterbirds occasionally roost outside of the river channel or reduce diurnal activity therein but conditions under which this occurs remain poorly defined. Despite the ability to influence flows in this highly managed river system, many hydrological factors remain outside of managers’ control. We examine the proportion of sandhill cranes detected in nonriverine habitat during weekly aerial surveys from mid-February to mid-April from 2016 to 2023. …

Population Status Of Pacific Coast Canadian Sandhill Cranes Along The Lower Columbia River, Oregon And Washington, Usa, Mark A. Stern, Alex Chmielewski, Ginny A. Stern, Kenneth J. Popper, Jen L. Newlin, Mark A. Nebeker, Gary L. Ivey, Gary L. Ivey

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Pacific coast Canadian sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis rowani) breed in coastal regions of British Columbia and southeast Alaska and are considered a unique population within the Pacific Flyway. These cranes stage during fall migration along the Lower Columbia River at Sauvie Island Wildlife Area (SIWA), Oregon, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (RNWR), Washington, and on adjacent lands. Peak numbers of cranes congregate here in late September through mid-October, with most of these cranes continuing south to winter in the Central Valley of California. During 2003–2024, we conducted single-day counts annually of cranes during peak fall migration as cranes flew into their …