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Endangered Species Bulletin, March/June 2002 - Vol. Xxvii No. 2

Endangered Species Bulletin

In this issue:
4 Lands of Contrast, Diversity, and Beauty
8 Endangered Species and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
12 The Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan
16 The Chihuahuan Desert: Diversity at Risk
18 Restoring a Desert Oasis
20 Desert Fish: Life on the Edge
22 Life in Mauna Kea’s Alpine Desert
24 The Tarahumara Frog: Return of a Native
27 Leading-edge Science for Imperiled Bonytail
28 Las Vegas Places its Bets on Habitat Plan
30 Arizona Tribal Partnerships for Wildlife
32 New Mexico’s Little Known Treasures
34 Rio Grande Silvery Minnow
36 Black-footed Ferrets Return to Mexico
38 Regional News and …

Cropwatch No. 2002-1, March 1, 2002, Lisa Brown Jasa

Crop Watch (1994–2005)

Inside

Management tips ……….2

Spring Rains Needed………. 4

Adopting GMOs………. 5

Adjusting Nitroen Rates ……….6

Soil Sampling ……….6

Cutworms in Alfalfa ……….6

Nitrogen Sources………. 7

Winter Annuals in Alfalfa………. 7

Crop Insurance Update………. 8

Weed Guide Expanded………. 8

WeedSOFT Revised ……….9

GMO use survey ……….10

Mammalian Selenoprotein In Which Selenocysteine (Sec) Incorporation Is Supported By A New Form Of Sec Insertion Sequence Element, Konstantin V. Korotkov, Sergey V. Novoselov, Dolph L. Hatfield, Vadim Gladyshev

Vadim Gladyshev Publications

Selenocysteine (Sec), the 21st amino acid in protein, is encoded by UGA. The Sec insertion sequence (SECIS) element, which is the stem-loop structure present in 3’ untranslated regions (UTRs) of eukaryotic selenoprotein- encoding genes, is essential for recognition of UGA as a codon for Sec rather than as a stop signal. We now report the identification of a new eukaryotic selenoprotein, designated selenoprotein M (SelM). The 3-kb human SelM-encoding gene has five exons and is located on chromosome 22 but has not been correctly identified by either Celera or the public Human Genome Project. We characterized human and mouse SelM …

Insect Species Described From Big Bend National Park, Arnold F. Van Pelt

Insecta Mundi

The list contains 192 insect species, of which 139 are primary types. All have been described from material collected in or near Big Bend National Park, Texas.

Larvae And Pupae Of Some New Guinean Tabanidae (Diptera). Ii. Species Of The Genus Tabanus Linnaeus, James T. Goodwin

Insecta Mundi

The larvae and pupae of Tabanus lenticulatus Oldroyd and T. papuensis Oldroyd are described, illustrated, and compared with the other described larvae of Australasian species of Tabanus Linnaeus.

Beetle Fauna Of The Island Of Tobago, Trinidad And Tobago, West Indies, Stewart B. Peck, Joyce Cook, Jerry D. Hardy Jr.

Insecta Mundi

Tobago is a biologically rich but poorly investigated island. In this paper we report the occurrence of 672 species of beetles representing 69 families. Of these, only 95 had been previously reported from the island.

Descriptions Of Four New Species Of Cryptolestes Ganglbauer, With A Revised Key To The New World Species And Notes On Other Species (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae), Michael C. Thomas

Insecta Mundi

The following new species of Cryptolestes Ganglbauer are described and illustrated: Cryptolestes obesus Thomas, new species, Brazil; Cryptolestes turnbowi Thomas, new species, Honduras and Mexico; Cryptolestes inyoensis Thomas, new species, California; Cryptolestes spectabilis Thomas, new species, Ecuador. A revised key to the New World species is provided. The male genitalia are illustrated and the female of C. calabozus Thomas is characterized, and new distribution records are provided for it, C. cornutus Thomas and Zimmerman, C. trinidadensis Thomas, C. curus Lefkovitch, and C. klapperichi Lefkovitch.

An Annotated Checklist Of Wisconsin Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera), Nadine A. Kriska, Daniel K. Young

Insecta Mundi

A survey of Wisconsin Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera) conducted from literature searches, collection inventories, and three years of field work (1997-1999), yielded 177 species representing nine families, two of which, Ochodaeidae and Ceratocanthidae, represent new state family records. Fifty-six species (32% of the Wisconsin fauna) represent new state species records, having not previously been recorded from the state. Literature and collection distributional records suggest the potential for at least 33 additional species to occur in Wisconsin.

The Diversity And Floral Hosts Of Bees At The Archbold Biological Station, Florida (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), Mark Deyrup, Jayanthi Edirisinghe, Beth Norden

Insecta Mundi

A list is provided of 113 species of bees and their 157 known floral hosts at the Archbold Biological Station(ABS), a 2105 ha site on the Lake Wales Ridge in Highlands County in south-central Florida. This is more species than might be expected at a single site so far south in Florida, based on previous studies in the Miami area and Everglades National Park, but fewer species than would be expected in an upland area of similar size with open habitats in north Florida, the mid-Atlantic states, or the upper Midwest. The small size of the fauna might be correlated …

New Records Of Tephritidae (Diptera) From Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Ii, Bruce D. Sutton, Gary J. Steck, Don Defoe

Insecta Mundi

Thirty additional species of tephritid flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) from Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP), including historical records, are presented together with information on host(s), if known, distributions, and life histories. This brings the total number of tephritid flies recorded from GSMNP to 46.

The Status Of Euaresta Stelligera (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae), Allen L. Norrbom

Insecta Mundi

Based on examination of morphological characters of specimens from throughout their ranges, Euaresta stelligera (Coquillett) is confirmed to be a distinct species from E. bellula (Snow). The diagnostic characters, distributions, and host plants of both species are discussed. New distribution records for E. aequalis (Loew) and E. tapetis (Coquillett) are also provided, and an error concerning the range of Valentibulla californica is noted.

The Probe, Issue 221 – March/April 2002

The Probe: Newsletter of the National Animal Damage Control Association

Does Nature Want Us to Kill Wild Animals? -- Walter E. Howard
News From The Berryman Institute, Utah State University -- Michael Conover, Director
NADCA Minutes of Annual Meeting: Reno, NV March 5, 2002
What characteristics are used to differentiate reptiles from amphibians?
Regulatory Actions on the Horizon -- Kevin D. Clark, President, Critter Control, Inc.
The five remaining members of the Whitehawk wolf pack located in the White Cloud Mountains of Idaho, were gunned down by helicopter earlier this month.
Washinghton’s Initiative 713 is reeking havoc among trappers, farmers, and wildlife managers. Outlawing steel jaw and body gripping traps, …

Nebline, March 2002

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

There’s No Place Like Home - lancaster.unl.edu
How We Use the Internet
Parsley
2002 Perennial Plant of the Year
Pruning Mature Deciduous Shrubs
Composting Workshops and Demonstrations
Horticulture information center
Get Your Bird Houses Ready Now
Pest-Proof Your House
Carpenter Ants Active in Early Spring
Uses of CCA-Treated Wood Will be Removed
Managing Grass Pastures in Eastern Nebraska
Chemigation Training Scheduled March 21
2002 Master Conservationist Award Nominations due April 1
Consider a Living Snow Fence for Next Winter
“Helping Acreage Owners Manage Their Rural Living Environment”
Newest Ways to Plant Trees
Criteria for Successful Bat Houses
April/May UNL Programs …

Night Moves: A Qualitative Investigation Of Street-Level Sex Work, Rochelle L. Dalla

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

The subculture of street-level sex work including the social environment, drug use and abuse, and violence was examined. Personal interviews were conducted with 43 women involved in streetwalking prostitution. Data were analyzed using Phenomenological Descriptive Analysis (Colaizzi, 1978). Several participants reported developing emotional relationships and having children with clients, former clients, or pimps; some participants were married to men who pimped them. Supportive relationships with other streetwalkers were largely nonexistent; streetwalking constitutes a solitary business for most. The majority reported drug addiction, although less than half entered prostitution to support an already established drug habit. Financial need propelled many into …

Migrations Of The Imagination: Photographs By Michael Forsberg, Drawings, Sculptures And Quotations By Paul A. Johnsgard, And Additional Works Of Art, Paul A. Johnsgard, Michael Forsberg

Papers in Ornithology

Migrations of the imagination are those images, sounds, smells, and tastes that transport one to another time and place, possibly as close as Nine- Mile Prairie near Lincoln, or perhaps as far away as the Canadian high arctic, and to times that may be decades or centuries removed from one's personal life and experiences. They hold us in their thrall, expanding our vision, and touching our lives in special ways. They help retrieve our own memories or perhaps stir us to make new ones that will live with us for a lifetime.

The migratory images here are those of nature, …

Thermodynamics And Bioenergetics, Yaşar Demirel, Stanley I. Sandler

Papers in Thermal Mechanics

Bioenergetics is concerned with the energy conservation and conversion processes in a living cell, particularly in the inner membrane of the mitochondrion. This review summarizes the role of thermodynamics in understanding the coupling between the chemical reactions and the transport of substances in bioenergetics. Thermodynamics has the advantages of identifying possible pathways, providing a measure of the efficiency of energy conversion, and of the coupling between various processes without requiring a detailed knowledge of the underlying mechanisms. In the last five decades, various new approaches in thermodynamics, non-equilibrium thermodynamics and network thermodynamics have been developed to understand the transport and …

Nomenclatural And Taxonomic Changes, New Distribution And Biological Records For Jewel Beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae ), C. L. Bellamy

Insecta Mundi

Replacement names, nomenclatural, distributional and biological notes are presented for 21 species of Buprestidae (Coleoptera). Agrilodes strandi ssp. meranus Obenberger, 1942, and Polybothris (Amphisbeta) vitalisi var. stygia, Obenberger, 1942, are proposed to allow the subspecies or variety names define the species, respectively, with strandi and vitalisi remaining in synonymy as nomina nuda. Acmaeodera ruficaudis macfadyeni is proposed as a new replacement name for Acmaeodera ruficaudis pinguis Holm, 1985, preoccupied by A. pinguis Fairmaire, 1902; Buprestis aenescens Wiedemann, 1823 is synonymized under Buprestis albomarginata Herbst, 1801; Buprestis planus Fabricius, 1798 is transferred to Dismorpha Gistel, 1848; Damarsila conturbata Thomson, 1879 …

A Review Of The Nearctic Jumping Spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) Of The Subfamily Euophryinae North Of Mexico, G. B. Edwards

Insecta Mundi

The generic and specific composition of the Nearctic jumping spiders of the subfamily Euophryinae north of Mexico is reviewed, and the biogeographic affinities of the constituent groups are diagnosed. The five North American species of Habrocestum are removed from that non-euophryine genus; four are placed in the New Genus Naphrys, type species Habrocestum acerbum Peckham & Peckham 1909, creating the following New Combinations: Naphrys acerba (Peckham & Peckham), Naphrys bufoides (Chamberlin & Ivie 1944), Naphrys pulex (Hentz 1846), and Naphrys xerophila (Richman 1981). The fifth species is not an euophryine, and becomes Chinattus parvulus (Banks 1895), New Combination. Four …

Transport Of Space Environment Electrons: A Simplified Rapid-Analysis Computational Procedure, John E. Nealy, Brooke M. Anderson, Francis Cucinotta, John W. Wilson, Robert Katz, C. K. Chang

Robert Katz Publications

A computational procedure for describing transport of electrons in condensed media has been formulated for application to effects and exposures from spectral distributions typical of electrons trapped in planetary magnetic fields. The procedure is based on earlier parameterizations established from numerous electron beam experiments. New parameterizations have been derived that logically extend the domain of application to low molecular weight (high hydrogen content) materials and higher energies (~50 MeV). The production and transport of high energy photons (bremsstrahlung) generated in the electron transport processes have also been modeled using tabulated values of photon production cross sections. A primary purpose for …

Synopsis Of Freshwater Crayfish Diseases And Commensal Organisms, Brett F. Edgerton, Louis H. Evans, Frances J. Stephens, Robin M. Overstreet

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Disease agents and pests associated with freshwater crayfish fall into six main categories—viruses, bacteria, rickettsia-like organisms (RLOs), fungi, protists, and metazoans. Data and information on specific disease agents and pests from each of these categories are presented in this synopsis. Each agent or group of agents is considered under the following headings—condition, causative agent(s), life cycle/life history, epizootiology, pathology, pathogen viability. Information for the synopsis was obtained from the published literature and from personal contact with internationally recognized experts in freshwater crayfish aquaculture, biology, and disease. Data of relevance for import risk analysis are summarized.

Import risk analysis is the …

Agroecosystems, Nitrogen-Use Efficiency, And Nitrogen Management, Kenneth G. Cassman, Achim R. Dobermann, Daniel T. Walters

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The global challenge of meeting increased food demand and protecting environmental quality will be won or lost in cropping systems that produce maize, rice, and wheat. Achieving synchrony between N supply and crop demand without excess or deficiency is the key to optimizing trade-offs amongst yield, profit, and environmental protection in both large-scale systems in developed countries and small-scale systems in developing countries. Setting the research agenda and developing effective policies to meet this challenge requires quantitative understanding of current levels of N-use efficiency and losses in these systems, the biophysical controls on these factors, and the economic returns from …

Distribution, Abundance And Habitat Use Of American White Pelicans In The Delta Region Of Mississippi And Along The Western Gulf Of Mexico Coast, D. Tommy King, Thomas C. Michot

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Aerial surveys of American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) were conducted over coastal Louisiana and the delta region of Mississippi on 1-2 days during December, February, and April each year from 1997 to 1999. Additional surveys were conducted in coastal Texas and Mexico during January 1998 and 1999. The numbers, location, and habitat of all pelicans observed were recorded. The coastal zone of Louisiana consistently had higher numbers of pelicans (18,000 to 35,000 birds) than other areas surveyed (3,000 to 8,000 birds), indicating that Louisiana may be the most important wintering area for American White Pelicans east of the …

Have Population Increases Of Large Birds Outpaced Airworthiness Standards For Civil Aircraft?, Richard A. Dolbeer, Paul Eschenfelder

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Bird-aircraft collisions (bird strikes) are an increasing safety and economic concern to the USA civil aviation industry, costing over $400 million each year. One approach to reducing risks associated with strikes is to require commercial aircraft components to meet certain standards of safe performance in the event of a bird strike. The Federal Aviation Administration has developed airworthiness standards for airframes, windshields and engines using a single 4-lb (1.82-kg) bird mass as the maximum that must be tested (with the exception of a single 8-lb bird for the empennage, 6-lb bird for certain mid-sized engines that may be developed in …

Oral Rabies Vaccination: A National Perspective On Program Development And Implementation, Dennis Slate, Richard B. Chipman, Charles E. Rupprecht, Thomas J. Deliberto

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Persistence of unique rabies virus variants in a diverse array of terrestrial carnivores and insectivorous bats makes rabies control in the US. a complex task The public health system in the U.S. is effective in keeping human deaths near zero each year in the face of enzootic wildlife rabies, but the annual cost of coexistence with the disease is high, exceeding $300 million. In addition, each year tens of thousands of people are impacted by anxiety, fear, and trauma associated with potential or actual rabies exposure to themselves and their domestic animals. Exclusion, proper storage and disposal of garbage, and …

An Extraordinary Raccoon, Procyon Lotor; Density At An Urban Park, Henry T. Smith, Richard M. Engeman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We report on a high density Raccoon (Procyon lotor) population at a 70.9 ha urban park in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where in a five-day period 160 raccoons/km², and is one of the densest Raccoon populations reported. We discuss the ramifications of high density urban Raccoon populations relative to wildlife disease contagions and endangered species protection.

Neotropical Frogs In Hawaii: Status And Management Options For An Unusual Introduced Pest, Earl W. Campbell Iii, Fred Kraus

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Two species of Neotropical frog, Eleutherodactylus coqui and E. planiroshir, have been introduced into the state of Hawaii via the horticulture trade. Since 1997 frog colonies within the state have rapidly spread from accidental and intentional causes, and frog abundance within colonies has grown rapidly. Colonies of these frogs are currently known from 262+ locations on the island of Hawaii, 45+ on Maui, 35+ on Oahu, and 2+ on Kauai Although these frogs were originally restricted to horticulture sites, they are now found in residential areas, resorts and hotels, and public lands. Within their native range, they may reach …

Understanding Avian Vision: The Key To Using Light In Bird Management, Bradley F. Blackwell

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Vision is a primary and highly developed sensory pathway in buds. Light, both diffuse and wavelength-specific (e.g., as produced by lasers) has recently been demonstrated as a potential means of effecting changes in timing and consistency of flock response to an approaching vehicle (simulating an aircraft) and as an avian dispersal method. However, in experiments to date, the effectiveness of light in eliciting an avoidance or dispersal response in birds has varied by species and context. To effectively use light in managing avian conflicts with humans, a better understanding of the complexities of avian retinal physiology relative to phototaxic responses …

Vegetation Management Approaches For Reducing Wildlife-Aircraft Collisions, Scott C. Barras, Thomas W. Seamans

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Wildlife-aircraft collisions (wildlife strikes) pose safety risks to aircraft and cost civil aviation over $390 million annually in the USA. We reviewed the results of prior studies to summarize the vegetation management techniques that have proven effective for wildlife strike reduction or have shown potential for achieving the same goal. Habitat components that may affect wildlife use of airports include food, cover, water, and loafing areas. Improperly managed natural and ornamental vegetation on airports can be important attractants for wildlife that pose strike hazards. However, effective vegetation management can reduce these hazards. Maintaining tall herbaceous vegetation may reduce the availability …

Monk Parakeet Management At Electric Utility Facilities In South Florida, Michael L. Avery, Ellis C. Greiner, James R. Lindsay, James R. Newman, Stephen Pruett-Jones

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The monk parakeet (Myiopsiirta monachus) is native to South America but has become established in several locations throughout the United States through purposeful and accidental releases. The species is unique among parrots in that it is not a cavity-nester, but instead it builds a bulky nest structure of sticks. Often, in its native range and in the United States, the parakeet selects a electric utility structure as a nest site. Material from the nest then can cause short-circuits that result in damage to the utility structure and a subsequent power outage. In south Florida monk parakeet damage and …

Habitat Management Approaches For Reducing Wildlife Use Of Airfields, Scott C. Barras, Thomas W. Seamans

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Wildlife-aircraft collisions (wildlife strikes) pose safety risks to aircraft and cost civil aviation over $390 million annually in the USA We reviewed published studies to summarize findings on habitat management techniques that have shown potential for wildlife strike reduction. Habitat components that may attract wildlife to airports include food, cover, water, and loafing areas. Although maintaining tall herbaceous vegetation on airfields may reduce the attractiveness of loafing and feeding sites for some species of birds such as gulls, this strategy may also increase cover and food resources for other hazardous species. Thus, optimum vegetation height management strategies require further research …