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Gamma Sigma Delta, Nebraska Chapter Newsletter, Issue #17, August 1998

Gamma Sigma Delta, Nebraska Chapter: Newsletters

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE - Keith Niemann, President, Nebraska Chapter

CURRENT GAMMA SIGMA DELTA OFFICERS

GAMMA SIGMA DELTA'S PURPOSE

SCHOLARSHIP RECOGNITION DINNER A WARD RECIPIENTS

NEWS FROM THE HISTORIAN Nebraska Chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta - Charles H. Adams, Nebraska Chapter Historian

NOMINATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP TO GAMMA SIGMA DELTA August 1998

Merit Award Nomination

Teaching Award Nomination

Research Award Nomination

Extension Award Nomination

Gamma Sigma Delta, Nebraska Chapter Newsletter, Issue #16, February 1998

Gamma Sigma Delta, Nebraska Chapter: Newsletters

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE - Keith Niemann, President, Nebraska Chapter

GAMMA SIGMA DELTA ACTIVITIES

NEWS FROM THE HISTORIAN - Charles H. Adams, Historian, Nebraska Chapter

INITIATION AND AWARDS BANQUET RECIPIENTS November 23, 1997

GAMMA SIGMA DELTA 1998 COMMITTEES

The Potential For Managing Urban Canada Geese By Modifying Habitat, James A. Cooper

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Urban Canada goose (Branta canadensis) populations have grown rapidly during the past three decades. This paper reviews short-term and long-term urban goose management techniques, and using data for the Twin Cities of Minnesota, assesses the potential utility of habitat modification. Ninety-four percent of Twin Cities damage complaints occurred during the brood-rearing period, 5% in fall, and >l% in spring and winter. The potential for reducing goose damage by altering nest habitat is insignificant, brood-rearing habitat high but expensive, and fall and winter habitat low and also costly. Fences effectively thwart flightless geese but can entrap birds leading to …

The U.S. Air Force Bird Avoidance Model, Russell P. Defusco

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Each year, the United States Air Force (USAF) reports approximately 3,000 bird strikes to its aircraft. These incidents cost nearly $50 million on average. In the last decade, the Air Force has suffered the loss of 14 aircraft and 33 aircrew fatalities. The other services report higher rates of strikes per flying hour and suffer similar losses. Civilian aircraft are not immune to this problem, and U.S. airlines report nearly $100 million in annual losses. Most bird strikes occur around airfields where habitat management, bird dispersal techniques, and active population control can be employed. For military aircraft, however, the majority …

Overview Of Wild Pig Damage In California, John Mark Frederick

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Pigs (Sus scrofa) were first introduced to California in 1769, and European wild boars were imported to Monterey County in 1925. Descendants of the domestic swine and European wild boars have bred and formed populations of wild pigs. By the mid-1960s 15 counties had populations of wild pigs. Today 45 of California's 58 (78%) counties have reported having populations of pigs. Wild pigs can cause significant damage to farm and rangelands, livestock, natural resources, environmentally sensitive habitats, and property. There are limited estimates of damage caused by wild pigs in California. A survey was sent to all County …

Front Matter & Contents

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Contents

Dynamic Populations and Wildlife Damage Management

Bird Management

Mammals

Predator Management

Field Rodents, Forest Rodents, and Rabbits

Commensal Rodents

Urban and Nuisance Wildlife

Vertebrate Pesticides and Repellents

Economic, Social, and Political Issues

Management Strategies and Techniques

Internet Applications Relating to Wildlife Damage Management

Population Trends And Ecological Attributes Of Introduced Parrots, Doves And Finches In California, Kimball L. Garrett

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

At least 10 species of parrots (Family Psittacidae), along with the Eurasian Collared-Dove (Columbidae: Streptopelia decaocto), Orange [Northern Red] Bishop (Ploceidae: Euplectes frandscanus), and Nutmeg Mannikin ["Spice Finch" or "Spotted Munia"] (Estrildidae: Lonchura punctulata), have recently established significant viable and generally increasing populations in California. Populations of all of these taxa are concentrated in highly modified urban and suburban habitats (parrots, doves) or in flood control basins and river channels with abundant rank annual growth (bishop, mannikin). With various collaborators, the author has monitored these taxa in southern California through the 1990s. Because of the potential for …

The Beaver-A Southern Native Returning Home, Allan E. Houston

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Beaver populations, extirpated in the previous century, have returned to the South often causing severe damage to timber and other resources. Many landowners perceive trapping programs as being ineffectual, perhaps because most programs are overwhelmed with immigrant beavers. To quantify immigration patterns, from November 1984 to May 1985, resident beaver were removed from a 1,619 ha study area in west Tennessee and for the next 40 months immigrants were captured within one month of immigration. Removal patterns of the resident population (169 beavers) suggest that bounty systems may be ineffectual to protect natural resources. Immigration was low (5.5 beavers) June …

Non-Predator Vertebrate Pest Damage In California Agriculture: An Assessment Of Economic Impacts In Selected Crops, Brent Hueth, Daniel Cohen, David Zilberman

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

State-wide economic impacts of non-predator vertebrate pest damage were estimated for all pests causing damage in 19 California commodities. Average field-level damage estimates and vertebrate control costs were collected for each commodity, and across six production regions. Economic impacts were estimated by comparing simulated market outcomes in the absence of vertebrate pest damage with observed market outcomes. This analysis indicates that, for the 19 commodities considered, the economic cost of vertebrate pest damage ranged between $46.9 to $162.8 million during 1995 with a mean estimated impact of $95.9 million.

Social And Biological Aspects Of Non-Native Red Fox Management In California, Jeffrey C. Lewis, Kevin L. Sallee, Richard T. Golightly Jr., Ronald M. Jurek

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Since the late 1800s, non-native red foxes have been introduced in California for fur farming and fox hunting. Dispersal, population growth, and extensive translocations by humans have aided the expansion of the nonnative fox population throughout many of the lowland and coastal areas of the state. Since the 1980s, non-native red foxes have been recognized as predators of a number of endangered species. Trapping and euthanizing non-native red foxes have been used as methods to protect these endangered species, but have been opposed by some members of the public. Opposition by animal rights groups to red fox trapping and euthanization …

Barn Owl Nest Boxes Offer No Solution To Pocket Gopher Damage, Rex E. Marsh

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

The belief that native predators such as bam owls (Tyto alba) keep native rodents such as pocket gophers (Thomomys spp.) in check has a long history, in spite of a lack of evidence that such predators play any role in lowering pest rodent populations to the extent that their pest status is measurably influenced. Attempts to artificially increase native predators such as bam owls in the hope of increasing predation on native pest rodents is not new and has been explored many times in the past, but as yet evidence of success is absent. Since predation is …

Conference Participants

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

The number of registered attendees was 409. The participants came from 31 states, the District of Columbia, and from 6 other countries. The wide representation from the United States and countries throughout the world contributed to the success of the Conference by providing a highly knowledgeable and diversified group for the exchange of research progress, new ideas, and information on a wide range of vertebrate pest topics.

Are Barn Owls A Biological Control For Gophers? Evaluating Effectiveness In Vineyards And Orchards, Thomas Moore, Dirk Van Vuren, Chuck Ingels

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Several rodent species cause damage in vineyards and orchards. Current efforts to reduce chemicals used to control rodents are encouraging development of alternative practices, such as biological control. For several years growers in California have been installing artificial owl nest boxes to attract barn owls with the hope of reducing rodents, especially gophers, through predation. Effectiveness of barn owls as biological control of gophers in vineyards and orchards is unknown. The purpose of the study was to use growers surveys and diet analysis to assess the effectiveness of installing barn owl nest boxes to control gophers. Surveys of growers that …

Control Of Rats Resistant To Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides, Roger J. Quy, Alan D. Macnicoll, David P. Cowan

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides were introduced to control Norway rats that had become resistant to first-generation compounds. Unfortunately, some rats have become resistant to these as well. The lack of alternative rodenticides with the same attributes of ease of use and relative safety is potentially a serious problem should resistance become so widespread that anticoagulants are no longer effective. However, the second-generation anticoagulants difenacoum and bromadiolone can still be effective provided most rats in a population possess only a low degree of resistance to them. Measures that maximize the uptake of bait, such as using the most palatable formulation, baiting burrows …

Rabbit Calicivirus: Update On A New Biological Control For Pest Rabbits In Australia, Peter O'Brien, Sandra Thomas

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Rabbit calicivirus disease (RCD), also known as rabbit haemorrhagic disease, is being used to control wild rabbits in Australia. Deliberate release of RCD followed extensive non-target animal and human testing and consideration of some 472 submissions. A national monitoring and surveillance program is in place to quantify the impact of RCD on rabbits, rabbit damage, predators, competitors, and ecosystems. Preliminary data suggest wide spatial variation in RCD impact, from no observable effect to > 90% mortality and marked response in competitors and vegetation. This paper provides an overview of rabbit impact in Australia, details of the considerations and testing that preceded …

Closing Remarks - Eighteenth Vertebrate Pest Conference, Terrell P. Salmon

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

As Chair-Elect of the Council, I would like to thank all of those who participated in this 18th Vertebrate Pest Conference here at the Double Tree Hotel, Costa Mesa, California. Thanks to A. Charles Crabb, University of California, for handling all arrangements for this event.

We had a total attendance of 409 from 31 states in the U.S., including attendees from 6 countries outside the U.S. This is the largest attended conference in the last four held, although attendance from foreign countries was down.

Special thanks go to Chair, Rex O. Baker, Cal Poly State University at Pomona, who kept …

Wildlife Damage And Control Research And Extension Programs: Cost Recovery Strategies, Terrell P. Salmon

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

This paper discusses cost recovery strategies for vertebrate pest control research and extension programs. It gives an historical background using California examples about how these programs have been supported in the past. Current situations and future trends in supporting research and extension in the vertebrate pest area are also discussed.

Monk Parakeets In The United States: Population Growth And Regional Patterns Of Distribution, Stephen Pruett-Jones, Keith A. Tarvin

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Records from Christmas Bird Counts were summarized to assess population growth of the Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) in the United States from 1975 to 1996. Population growth over this period fits an exponential model of population growth with a current annual rate of increase of 12.9% and a doubling time of 5.4 years. Since 1990, however, population growth on a national scale has slowed considerably, suggesting that the species may be approaching a carrying capacity. In contrast to the results across the entire United States, the population of Monk Parakeets in northeastern Illinois has dramatically increased in numbers …

Management Of Red Squirrel Feeding Damage To Lodgepole Pine By Stand Density Manipulation And Diversionary Food, Thomas P. Sullivan

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

The red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) feeds on the vascular tissues of sapling lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) during spring periods in forests of interior British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. This damage may lead to mortality and reduced growth of crop trees in managed stands. Manipulation of stand density by pre-commercial thinning to densities < 1,000 stems/ha is an effective method to lower squirrel populations and feeding damage. Lowering stand density enhances the growth of crop trees, and understory herbs and shrubs as wildlife habitat, while protecting trees from squirrel feeding. This approach has been successful in several forest ecological zones. An alternative management tool is provision of diversionary food (sunflower seed) for those stands susceptible to feeding damage, and where stand thinning has already been completed. Diversionary food can be applied aerially and is very cost effective for protecting managed stands. These techniques may be used to maintain or even enhance species diversity of small mammal communities in those forest stands requiring protection.

Conservation Implications Of Feral Pigs In Island And Mainland Ecosystems, And A Case Study Of Feral Pig Expansion In California, Rick A. Sweitzer

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Feral pigs (Sus scrofa) are an exotic ungulate which have been widely introduced worldwide with multiple ecosystem and economic consequences. The author conducted a semi-comprehensive literature review directed at identifying the current state of knowledge related to the effects of feral pigs on island and mainland plant and animal communities. Also, the author describes the situation in California where feral pigs that were introduced in the late 1700s are now widespread due to hunting-related introductions and natural range extensions. Feral pigs on predator-free oceanic islands are a serious conservation problem because they attain high densities and have contributed …

Manipulating Habitat Quality To Manage Vertebrate Pests, Dirk Van Vuren

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Wildlife damage management has often emphasized density reduction through lethal means. In addition to facing increasing regulatory and social restrictions, this approach also faces ecological problems; density reduction without a concomitant decrease in carrying capacity may only stimulate density-dependent responses that quickly return population densities to pre-control levels. Consequently, habitat manipulation, either to reduce pest density or to divert the pest away from the commodity, has been pursued as an alternative. Habitat manipulation has proven effective in some circumstances and appears promising in others, but the approach is limited by our ability to identify limiting resources or highly preferred foods …

Characterization And Improvement Of Eos Land Products Using Measurements At Ameriflux Grassland And Wheat Sites In The Arm/Cart Region: Research Annual Performance Report For Period March 1, 1998- January 8, 1999, E. A. Walter-Shea, S. B. Verma

School of Natural Resources: Documents and Reviews

No abstract provided.

Ecologic Studies Of Rodent Reservoirs: Their Relevance For Human Health, James N. Mills, James E. Childs

Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease: Publications

Within the past few years, the number of “new” human diseases associated with small-mammal reservoirs has increased dramatically, stimulating renewed interest in reservoir ecology research. A consistent, integrative approach to such research allows direct comparisons between studies, contributes to the efficient use of resources and data, and increases investigator safety. We outline steps directed toward understanding vertebrate host ecology as it relates to human disease and illustrate the relevance of each step by using examples from studies of hosts associated with rodent-borne hemorrhagic fever viruses.

Dietary Habits Of The Common Rodents In An Agrecosystem In Argentina, Barbara A. Ellis, James N. Mills, Gregory E. Glass, Kelly T. Mckee Jr, Delia A. Enria, James E. Childs

Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease: Publications

Dietary habits of five common rodents in agroecosystems on the central Argentine Pampa were studied for 15 months using microhistological analysis of stomach contents. All five rodent species were omnivorous, but proportions of major dietary items (arthropods, dicot leaves and seeds, monocot leaves and seeds) varied among species and seasons. Akodon azarae largely was entomophagous; arthropods formed 41-62% of the diet in all seasons. The other four species (Calomys musculinus, Calomys laucha, Bolomys obscurus, and Oligoryzomys flavescens) consumed most diet items throughout the year, but relative proportions varied among seasons. Leaves formed a relatively minor proportion of the …

Plasmodium Vivax: A Monoclonal Antibody Recognizes A Circumsporozoite Protein Precursor On The Sporozoite Surface, Lilia Gonzalez-Ceron, Mario H. Rodriguez, Robert A. Wirtz, Barbara J. Sina, Olga L. Palomeque, Jose A. Nettel, Victor Tsutsumi

United States Army: Publications

The major surface circumsporozoite (CS) proteins are known to play a role in malaria sporozoite development and invasion of invertebrate and vertebrate host cells. Plasmodium vivax CS protein processing during mosquito midgut oocyst and salivary gland sporozoite development was studied using monoclonal antibodies which recognize different CS protein epitopes. Monoclonal antibodies which react with the CS amino acid repeat sequences by ELISA recognized a 50- kDa precursor protein in immature oocyst and additional 47- and 42- kDa proteins in older oocysts. A 42-kDa CS protein was detected after initial sporozoite invasion of mosquito salivary glands and an additional 50-kDa precursor …

Vertebrate Pests Of Agriculture, Forestry And Public Lands: 1998 Annual Meeing

Western Region Coordinating Committee for Vertebrate Pests of Agriculture, Forestry, and Public Lands (WCC-95)

Capsaicin, northern pocket gophers and behavior, Leonard Askham

Efficacy of the aerial application of methyl anthranilate in reducing blackbird damage to sweet corn and sunflowers, Robert Timm and John Hays

Livestock protection collar use at the U.C. Hopland Research & Extension Center, Craig Ramey, et al.

Non-target hazards of 2% zinc phosphide grain bait to free-ranging ring-necked pheasants in northern California alfalfa fields, Delsey Whisson

The problem of Belding's ground squirrels in alfalfa in northeastern California, Craig Ramey

Comparison of spot baiting to bait stations using chlorophacinone for control of Belding's ground squirrels in northern California Dwayne Etter

Operation and …

Fm 34-54, Technical Intelligence, 30 January 1998, Robert Bolin , Depositor

United States Department of Defense Military Intelligence

This manual defines and describes the technical intelligence mission. It names the key technical intelligence organizations involved at the national level and their interrelationships and responsibilities.

The manual describes in detail the technical intelligence organizations and operations in a US command in the field. It discusses at length the responsibilities on the key staff sections in the command.

It has extensive appendices explaining forms and procedures used by forces in the field. It has an excellent list of acronyms and glossary.

Comment by the depositor

A clear understanding of the evolution of technical intelligence may not be needed by the …

Binder Containing Plant Protein And Densified Refuse Fuel Cubes Made Using Same And Methods Of Making Them, Jerry D. Eastin, David Jones, Darin Dux, Harold Earl Egger

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

To form a binder from naturally occurring products or a fuel brick or pellet using the binder without extraction or purification steps, the binder utilizes proteins from the germ or endosperm of cereal grasses or from the seed of buckwheat, oil seed plants, Amaranthus or leguminous plants or from leaves or from grain stillage. The protein has a thermoplastic microstructure with linear polymers of molecular weight of at least 2,000 linked with peptide linkages of at least 50 in number. The binder is mixed with waste such as municipal waste without further processing and processed in a pelleting machine.

Stable Isotope Analyses Of Tooth Annuli Reveal Temporal Dietary Records: An Example Using Stellar Sea Lions, Keith Hobson, John Sease

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Stable isotope analysis of teeth of marine mammals can provide valuable information on trophic level and source of feeding. However, the isotopic analysis of whole teeth presents only an average dietary estimate for individuals across the period of growth of that tooth. While such analyses can be valuable, particularly in the case of fossil material, in contrast, isotopic analysis of individual annuli of teeth can provide dietary information for each year of tooth growth, in some cases representing the whole of the animal's life. We measured stable-carbon isotope ratios (¹³C/¹²C) in the inorganic (hydroxyapatire) and stable-nitrogen …

G98-1347 Protecting Bees When Using Insecticides, Marion D. Ellis, Frederick P. Baxendale, David L. Keith

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Bees are valuable pollinators and need to be protected when pesticides are applied, especially when plants are in bloom. Learn how to best protect them with tips for specific crops, chemicals, and application times.

Bees are valuable pollinators of 95 crops grown in the United States. Bee-pollinated crops have a farm value of approximately $10 billion. Bees are as vital as soil fertility, irrigation, and pest control in the production of crops requiring bee pollination. Bees also are valuable pollinators of many wild plants that provide food and cover to wildlife, contribute to soil fertility and erosion control, and add …