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2008

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Articles 11821 - 11850 of 13174

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Deciphering Climatic History From Lake Sediments, Sherilyn C. Fritz Jan 2008

Deciphering Climatic History From Lake Sediments, Sherilyn C. Fritz

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Faculty Publications

Reconstructing climate from lake sediments can be challenging, because the response of lakes and various components of lake systems are mediated by non-climatic factors, such as geomorphic and hydrologic stetting. As a result, the magnitude of lake response to climatic forcing may be non-linear. In addition, changes in the lake system associated with the aging process or non-climatic influences may alter the response to a given climate perturbation. These non-linear and nonstationary characteristics can produce spatial heterogeneity in the pattern and timing of inferred change. One approach for generating regionally robust climatic interpretations from lakes is to increase coordinated efforts …

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Holocene Multidecadal- To Millennial-Scale Hydrologic Variability On The South American Altiplano, Erick Ekdahl, Sherilyn C. Fritz, Paul A. Baker, Catherine Rigsby, Kirstin Coley Jan 2008

Holocene Multidecadal- To Millennial-Scale Hydrologic Variability On The South American Altiplano, Erick Ekdahl, Sherilyn C. Fritz, Paul A. Baker, Catherine Rigsby, Kirstin Coley

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Faculty Publications

Precipitation on the South American Altiplano varies at a range of temporal scales. A long-term secular increase in moisture availability from the early/mid Holocene to the present, driven by increasing summer insolation resulting from precessional changes in the Earth’s orbit, has been documented in earlier studies. However, higher frequency Holocene variability is not yet understood. Here we present high-resolution diatom assemblage data from two small Altiplano lakes, Lago Lagunillas and Lago Umayo, indicating changes in effective moisture in the southern tropical Andes at decadal, centennial and millennial timescales throughout the mid to late Holocene. A strong millennial-scale component, similar in …

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Reef Foraminifera As Bioindicators Of Coral Reef Health: Low Isles Reef, Northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Jonathan D. Schueth, Tracy D. Frank Jan 2008

Reef Foraminifera As Bioindicators Of Coral Reef Health: Low Isles Reef, Northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Jonathan D. Schueth, Tracy D. Frank

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Faculty Publications

Declining water quality associated with changes in land use over the past century is considered a significant environmental threat to the health of coral platforms of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, in particular for those situated in nearshore areas of the wet tropics. Of these reefs, perhaps the most well known is Low Isles Reef, which has been studied since 1928. Decline in scleractinian coral cover and increased abundances of soft-bodied corals and macroalgae since the 1950’s have led researchers to speculate that the reef is being affected by increased nutrient and sediment fluxes from nearby rivers. The Foraminifera in …

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Stratigraphic Imprint Of The Late Paleozoic Ice Age In Eastern Australia: A Record Of Alternating Glacial And Nonglacial Climate Regime, Christopher R. Fielding, Tracy D. Frank, Lauren P. Birgenheier, Michael C. Rygel, Andrew T. Jones, John Roberts Jan 2008

Stratigraphic Imprint Of The Late Paleozoic Ice Age In Eastern Australia: A Record Of Alternating Glacial And Nonglacial Climate Regime, Christopher R. Fielding, Tracy D. Frank, Lauren P. Birgenheier, Michael C. Rygel, Andrew T. Jones, John Roberts

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Faculty Publications

Stratigraphic and sedimentological data from New South Wales and Queensland, eastern Australia, indicate that the Late Paleozoic Ice Age comprised at least eight discrete glacial intervals (each 1–8 Ma in duration, here termed “glaciations”), separated by nonglacial intervals of comparable duration. These events spanned an interval from mid-Carboniferous (c. 327 Ma) to the early Late Permian (c. 260 Ma), and illustrate a pattern of increasing climatic austerity and increasingly widespread glacial ice from initial onset until an acme in the late Early Permian, followed by an opposite trend towards the final demise of glaciation in the Late Permian. The alternating …

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Speciation Within Bonneted Bats (Genus Eumops): The Complexity Of Morphological, Mitochondrial, And Nuclear Data Sets In Systematics, Molly M. Mcdonough, Loren K. Ammerman, Robert M. Timm, Hugh H. Genoways, Peter A. Larsen, Robert J. Baker Jan 2008

Speciation Within Bonneted Bats (Genus Eumops): The Complexity Of Morphological, Mitochondrial, And Nuclear Data Sets In Systematics, Molly M. Mcdonough, Loren K. Ammerman, Robert M. Timm, Hugh H. Genoways, Peter A. Larsen, Robert J. Baker

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

We phylogenetically analyze 705 base pairs of the cytochrome-b gene and 351 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) bands from populations of the karyotypically variable Wagner’s bonneted bat, Eumops glaucinus, and the Florida bonneted bat, Eumops floridanus (Chiroptera: Molossidae). Three karyotypes have been documented across the range of E. glaucinus, and we report that the karyotype from Cuba is morphologically similar to that from Jamaica. A 4th karyotype is present in specimens from western Ecuador. Three distinct lineages are present in both the cytochrome-b and AFLP trees. One lineage is restricted to western Ecuador and exhibits cytochrome-b …

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Investigation Of Millimetre Wave Generation By Stimulated Brillouin Scattering For Radio Over Fibre Applications, Markus Junker Jan 2008

Investigation Of Millimetre Wave Generation By Stimulated Brillouin Scattering For Radio Over Fibre Applications, Markus Junker

Doctoral

The rising demand for greater bandwidth and increased flexibility in modern telecommunication systems has lead to increased research activities in the field of Millimetre Wave-Photonics. The combination of an optical access network and the radio propagation of high data-rate signals provides a solution to meet these demands. Such structures are also known as Radio Over Fibre Systems. They implement the optical Millimetre Wave generation in a central station and the transmission of radio waves via a remote antenna unit to the radio cell. The expected data rate is very high, due to the fact that both the optical and the …

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A Quantitative Model For Crm Performance Evaluations, Sanjeev K. Bordoloi, Prabhu Aggarwal, Tom Tobin Jan 2008

A Quantitative Model For Crm Performance Evaluations, Sanjeev K. Bordoloi, Prabhu Aggarwal, Tom Tobin

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

This paper identifies important performance measurements for the operation of CRM units in the call center industry, and then uses Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to compare the performances of a selected set of call centers. The results provide several managerial insights that will assist CRM managers in effective decision making, especially in the areas of increasing efficiencies and improving customer service. Overall, this paper contributes towards managing resources and processes that would aid in the acquisition and support of information technology within a firm.

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Dimensionality Of Thoughts Of Death And Suicide: Evidence From A Study Of Homeless Adolescents, Kevin A. Yoder, Les B. Whitbeck, Dan R. Hoyt Jan 2008

Dimensionality Of Thoughts Of Death And Suicide: Evidence From A Study Of Homeless Adolescents, Kevin A. Yoder, Les B. Whitbeck, Dan R. Hoyt

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

This study used data from a sample of 444 homeless adolescents to determine whether thoughts of death and suicide form one construct (unidimensionality) or two distinct but correlated constructs (multi-dimensionality). Thoughts of death and suicide were common in the sample; over two-thirds of the adolescents positively endorsed at least one of the eight death-or suicide-related items. Evidence regarding dimensionality was mixed. Exploratory factor analysis results and similarity coefficients supported one construct; confirmatory factor analysis and external consistency results provided evidence for two constructs. The results were reconciled by considering suicidality as a continuum from thoughts of death to suicidal ideation, …

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Nitrated Alpha-Synuclein-Activated Microglial Profiling For Parkinson’S Disease, Ashley D. Reynolds, Jason G. Glanzer, Irena Kadiu, Mary Ricardo-Dukelow, Anathbandhu Chaudhuri, Pawel Ciborowski, Ronald Cerny, Benjamin Gelman, Mark P. Thomas, R. Lee Mosley, Howard E. Gendelman Jan 2008

Nitrated Alpha-Synuclein-Activated Microglial Profiling For Parkinson’S Disease, Ashley D. Reynolds, Jason G. Glanzer, Irena Kadiu, Mary Ricardo-Dukelow, Anathbandhu Chaudhuri, Pawel Ciborowski, Ronald Cerny, Benjamin Gelman, Mark P. Thomas, R. Lee Mosley, Howard E. Gendelman

Ronald Cerny Publications

(PD). This can occur, in part, by modulation of glial function following activation by soluble or insoluble modified alphasynuclein (α-syn), a chief component of Lewy bodies that is released from affected dopaminergic neurons. α-Syn is nitrated during oxidative stress responses and in its aggregated form, induces inflammatory microglial functions. Elucidation of these microglial function changes in PD could lead to new insights into disease mechanisms. To this end, PD-associated inflammation was modeled by stimulation of microglia with aggregated and nitrated α-syn. These activated microglia were ameboid in morphology and elicited dopaminergic neurotoxicity. A profile of nitrated, aggregated α-syn-stimulated microglia was …

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Phosphorylation Of Muc1 By Met Modulates Interaction With P53 And Mmp1 Expression, Pankaj K. Singh, Michelle E. Behrens, John P. Eggers, Ronald Cerny, Jennifer M. Bailey, Kandavel Shanmugam, Sandra J. Gendler, Eric P. Bennett, Michael A. Hollingsworth Jan 2008

Phosphorylation Of Muc1 By Met Modulates Interaction With P53 And Mmp1 Expression, Pankaj K. Singh, Michelle E. Behrens, John P. Eggers, Ronald Cerny, Jennifer M. Bailey, Kandavel Shanmugam, Sandra J. Gendler, Eric P. Bennett, Michael A. Hollingsworth

Ronald Cerny Publications

MUC1, a transmembrane mucin, is a key modulator of several signaling pathways that affect oncogenesis, motility, and cell morphology. The interaction of MUC1 cytoplasmic tail (MUC1CT) with signal transducers and its nuclear translocation and subsequent biological responses are believed to be regulated by phosphorylation status, but the precise mechanisms by which this occurs remain poorly defined. We detected a novel association between the Met receptor tyrosine kinase and the MUC1CT. Met catalyzed phosphorylation of tyrosine at YHPM in the MUC1CT. Stimulation of S2-013.MUC1F pancreatic cancer cells with hepatocyte growth factor facilitated nuclear localization of MUC1CT, as determined by real time …

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Classification Of Chemical Reactions: Stages Of Expertise, Marilyne Stains, Vicente Talanquer Jan 2008

Classification Of Chemical Reactions: Stages Of Expertise, Marilyne Stains, Vicente Talanquer

Department of Chemistry: Faculty Publications

In this study we explore the strategies that undergraduate and graduate chemistry students use when engaged in classification tasks involving symbolic and microscopic (particulate) representations of different chemical reactions. We were specifically interested in characterizing the basic features to which students pay attention when classifying chemical reactions at the symbolic and microscopic levels. We identified the categories that students create when classifying chemical reactions, and compared the performance in simple classification tasks of students with different levels of preparation in the discipline. Our results suggest that advanced levels of expertise in chemical classification do not necessarily evolve in a linear …

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Influence Of Heterocyclic And Oxime-Containing Farnesol Analogs On Quorum Sensing And Pathogenicity In Candida Albicans, Roman Shchepin, Dhammika H.M.L.P. Navarathna, Raluca Dumitru, Shane Lippold, Kenneth W. Nickerson, Patrick Dussault Jan 2008

Influence Of Heterocyclic And Oxime-Containing Farnesol Analogs On Quorum Sensing And Pathogenicity In Candida Albicans, Roman Shchepin, Dhammika H.M.L.P. Navarathna, Raluca Dumitru, Shane Lippold, Kenneth W. Nickerson, Patrick Dussault

Patrick Dussault Publications

A series of synthetic molecules combining a geranyl backbone with a heterocyclic or oxime head group are quorum-sensing molecules that block the yeast to mycelium transition in the dimorphic fungus Candida albicans. A number of the analogs have an IC50 ≤ 10 μM, a level of potency essentially identical to the natural quorum sensing signal, the sesquiterpene farnesol. Two of the most potent analogs, neither toxic toward healthy mice, display remarkably different effects when co-administered with C. albicans. While neither offers protection from candidiasis, one analog mimics farnesol in acting as a virulence factor, whereas the other …

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Fumonisin Level In Corn-Based Food And Feed From Linxian County, A High-Risk Area For Esophageal Cancer In China, Jiansheng Wang, Ying Zhou, Wanbo Liu, Xiangcheng Zhu, Liangcheng Du, Qiaomei Wang Jan 2008

Fumonisin Level In Corn-Based Food And Feed From Linxian County, A High-Risk Area For Esophageal Cancer In China, Jiansheng Wang, Ying Zhou, Wanbo Liu, Xiangcheng Zhu, Liangcheng Du, Qiaomei Wang

Liangcheng Du Publications

The level of mycotoxin fumonisins in corn-based food and feed collected from Linxian County, a high-risk area for esophageal cancer in China, has been analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatographic coupled with evaporative laser scattering detector (HPLC-ELSD). A total of 104 corn kernel samples were obtained from local households, granaries, wholesale markets (central markets), and retail markets (stores and supermarkets). Fumonisin B1 (FB1) was detected in the samples from households, granaries, central markets, and stores, with a positive rate of 61.5%, 50%, 33.3%, and 17%, respectively. No fumonisin was detected in samples from the supermarket. The highest FB1 levels (0.30–3.20 μg/ …

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Mechanisms Of Hemoglobin Adaptation To High Altitude Hypoxia, Jay F. Storz, Hideaki Moriyama Jan 2008

Mechanisms Of Hemoglobin Adaptation To High Altitude Hypoxia, Jay F. Storz, Hideaki Moriyama

Hideaki Moriyama Publications

Evidence from a number of vertebrate taxa suggests that modifications of hemoglobin (Hb) function may often play a key role in mediating an adaptive response to high altitude hypoxia. The respiratory functions of Hb are a product of the protein’s intrinsic O2-binding affinity and its interactions with allosteric effectors such as protons, chloride ions, CO2, and organic phosphates. Here we review several case studies involving high altitude vertebrates where it has been possible to identify specific mechanisms of Hb adaptation to hypoxia. In addition to comparative studies of Hbs from diverse animal species, functional studies of …

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Mechanisms Of Hemoglobin Adaptation To High Altitude Hypoxia, Jay F. Storz, Hideaki Moriyama Jan 2008

Mechanisms Of Hemoglobin Adaptation To High Altitude Hypoxia, Jay F. Storz, Hideaki Moriyama

Hideaki Moriyama Publications

Evidence from a number of vertebrate taxa suggests that modifications of hemoglobin (Hb) function may often play a key role in mediating an adaptive response to high altitude hypoxia. The respiratory functions of Hb are a product of the protein’s intrinsic O2-binding affinity and its interactions with allosteric effectors such as protons, chloride ions, CO2, and organic phosphates. Here we review several case studies involving high altitude vertebrates where it has been possible to identify specific mechanisms of Hb adaptation to hypoxia. In addition to comparative studies of Hbs from diverse animal species, functional studies of …

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Preface To Proceedings Of The Fourth San Luis Symposium On Surfaces, Interfaces And Catalysis, Jose Rodriguez, Marjorie Langell Jan 2008

Preface To Proceedings Of The Fourth San Luis Symposium On Surfaces, Interfaces And Catalysis, Jose Rodriguez, Marjorie Langell

Marjorie A. Langell Publications

The following Special Issue of The Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical consists of the Proceedings of The Fourth San Luis Symposium on Surfaces, Interfaces and Catalysis, a Pan-American Advanced Studies Institute, which took place in Cuernavaca, Mexico, on April 14–23, 2007. This was the fourth in a series of symposia designed to strengthen the links between Latin American and US and European scientists in the areas of surface science and catalysis. The concept was born at a conference in August of 1994 organized to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of the city of San Luis in Argentina. …

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Endogenous And Exogenous Control Of Ecosystem Function: N Cycling In Headwater Streams, H. M. Valett, S. A. Thomas, P. J. Mulholland, J. R. Webster, C. N. Dahm, C. S. Fellows, C. L. Crenshaw, C. G. Peterson Jan 2008

Endogenous And Exogenous Control Of Ecosystem Function: N Cycling In Headwater Streams, H. M. Valett, S. A. Thomas, P. J. Mulholland, J. R. Webster, C. N. Dahm, C. S. Fellows, C. L. Crenshaw, C. G. Peterson

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Allochthonous inputs act as resource subsidies to many ecosystems, where they exert strong influences on metabolism and material cycling. At the same time, metabolic theory proposes endogenous thermal control independent of resource supply. To address the relative importance of exogenous and endogenous influences, we quantified spatial and temporal variation in ecosystem metabolism and nitrogen (N) uptake using seasonal releases of 15N as nitrate in six streams differing in riparian–stream interaction and metabolic character. Nitrate removal was quantified using a nutrient spiraling approach based on measurements of downstream decline in 15N flux. Respiration (R) and gross primary production (GPP) …

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Setting Ubvri Photometric Zero-Points Using Sloan Digital Sky Survey Ugriz Magnitudes, Taylor S. Chonis, C. Martin Gaskell Jan 2008

Setting Ubvri Photometric Zero-Points Using Sloan Digital Sky Survey Ugriz Magnitudes, Taylor S. Chonis, C. Martin Gaskell

C. Martin Gaskell Publications

We discuss the use of Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) ugriz point-spread function (PSF) photometry for setting the zero points of UBVRI CCD images. From a comparison with the Landolt (1992, AJ, 104, 340) standards and our own photometry we find that there is a fairly abrupt change in B, V, R, and I zero points around g, r, i ∼ 14.5, and in the U zero point at u ∼ 16. These changes correspond to where there is significant interpolation due to saturation in the SDSS PSF fluxes. There also seems to be another, much smaller systematic effect …

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Experimental Evidence Of Strain Relaxed Domain Structure In (100)/(001)-Oriented Epitaxial Lead Titanate Thick Films Grown By Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition, Hiroshi Nakaki, Yong Kwan Kim, Shintaro Yokoyama, Rikyu Ikariyama, Hiroshi Funakubo, S. K. Streiffer, Ken Nishida, Keisuke Saito, Alexei Gruverman Jan 2008

Experimental Evidence Of Strain Relaxed Domain Structure In (100)/(001)-Oriented Epitaxial Lead Titanate Thick Films Grown By Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition, Hiroshi Nakaki, Yong Kwan Kim, Shintaro Yokoyama, Rikyu Ikariyama, Hiroshi Funakubo, S. K. Streiffer, Ken Nishida, Keisuke Saito, Alexei Gruverman

Alexei Gruverman Publications

Epitaxial (100)/(001)-oriented PbTiO3 films with thickness of 2.8 μm were grown on Nb-doped (100) SrTiO3 substrates by pulsed metal organic chemical vapor deposition. Complex domain structures consisting of c-domains (c1) and three types of a-domains (a1, a2, and a3) were observed by piezoresponse force microscopy in conjunction with high-resolution x-ray diffraction analysis. The obtained results suggest that (a2/a3) and (a1/c1) domain configurations represent mostly strain-relaxed structures. This conclusion is in good agreement with theoretical predictions made for thick films [Phys. State., Solidi 37, 329 (1976)].

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Nanodomain Faceting In Ferroelectrics, J. F. Scott, Alexei Gruverman, D. Wu, M. Alexe Jan 2008

Nanodomain Faceting In Ferroelectrics, J. F. Scott, Alexei Gruverman, D. Wu, M. Alexe

Alexei Gruverman Publications

We show that after long times (24 h), individual circular domains in 50 nm thick [0 0 1] epitaxial films of ferroelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) develop facets due to the crystalline anisotropy, e.g. along [1 0 0] directions. This appears to be a creep process (Tybell et al. 2002 Phys. Rev. Lett. 89 097601; Paruch et al. 2006 J. Appl. Phys. 100 051608) and was first seen in a nanoarray of 180° domains (Ganpule et al. 2002 Phys. Rev. B 65 014101). The effect is independent of polarity and thus rules out any electronic dependence on different work functions …

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Examining The Cognitive Processes Used By Adolescent Girls And Women Scientists In Identifying Science Role Models: A Feminist Approach, Gayle A. Buck, Vicki L. Plano Clark, Diandra Leslie-Pelecky, Yun Lu, Patricia R. Cerda-Lizarraga Jan 2008

Examining The Cognitive Processes Used By Adolescent Girls And Women Scientists In Identifying Science Role Models: A Feminist Approach, Gayle A. Buck, Vicki L. Plano Clark, Diandra Leslie-Pelecky, Yun Lu, Patricia R. Cerda-Lizarraga

Diandra Leslie-Pelecky Publications

Women remain underrepresented in science professions. Studies have shown that students are more likely to select careers when they can identify a role model in that career path. Further research has shown that the success of this strategy is enhanced by the use of gender-matched role models. While prior work provides insights into the value of using role models, it does not explain the cognitive process involved in girls identifying role models from nontraditional careers for women. This feminist study addresses this gap by examining the cognitive process eighth-grade girls use in identifying a person as a science role model …

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Mammalian Visitation To Candidate Feral Swine Attractants, Tyler A. Campbell, David B. Long Jan 2008

Mammalian Visitation To Candidate Feral Swine Attractants, Tyler A. Campbell, David B. Long

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Few data exist regarding suitable feral swine (Sus scrofa) attractants in the United States. We compared species-specific visitation and contact rates of mammals to 11 candidate feral swine attractants at scent stations using motion-sensing digital photography to identify promising attractants. We found feral swine had greater visitation rates to apple and strawberry stations than to control stations. We recommend managers consider using strawberry attractants for feral swine-specific applications. If, however, a general feral swine attractant is needed, then apple, berry, or caramel attractants may perform well.

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Avoidance Of Hydrolyzed Casein By Mice, Kristin L. Field, Bruce A. Kimball, Julie A. Mennella, Gary K. Beauchamp, Alexander A. Bachmanov Jan 2008

Avoidance Of Hydrolyzed Casein By Mice, Kristin L. Field, Bruce A. Kimball, Julie A. Mennella, Gary K. Beauchamp, Alexander A. Bachmanov

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

When casein, a milk protein, is hydrolyzed, it renders human foods that contain it (e.g., hypoallergenic infant formula, cheeses) distasteful to many people. This rejection of hydrolyzed casein (HC)-containing foods has recently been found to also occur in a non-human species (deer, Odocoileus spp.). Identifying other animals that avoid HC would facilitate understanding how and why HC-containing food is often rejected. This study determined whether HC-containing food is avoided by Mus musculus and whether consumption patterns were sensitive to testing conditions, specifically food form (powder, pellet or dough) and food access (ad libitum or 1.5 h/day following 6 h …

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A Grower’S Guide For Planting Wildlife Conservation Sunflower Plots, George M. Linz, H. Jeffrey Homan, Heath M. Hagy, Jon M. Raetzman, Linda B. Penry, William J. Bleier Jan 2008

A Grower’S Guide For Planting Wildlife Conservation Sunflower Plots, George M. Linz, H. Jeffrey Homan, Heath M. Hagy, Jon M. Raetzman, Linda B. Penry, William J. Bleier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Wildlife conservation sunflower plots (lure plots) are used to protect high value oil and confectionery sunflower. Lure plots are used to draw blackbirds away from commercial fields to reduce sunflower damage. From 2004-2007, USDA Wildlife Services funded a pilot program for growers to plant 20-acre lure plots to test their effectiveness for reducing damage to nearby commercial fields. Damage in the plots ranged from 0% to 100%. We describe here the characteristics of the lure plots that received extensive bird damage. These characteristics provide examples for the proper use of lure plots.

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Breeding Red-Winged Blackbird Response To Conspecific Models Placed In Pre-Copulatory Position: Implications For Reproductive Control, Laurel L. Moulton, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier Jan 2008

Breeding Red-Winged Blackbird Response To Conspecific Models Placed In Pre-Copulatory Position: Implications For Reproductive Control, Laurel L. Moulton, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Sunflower producers in the northern Great Plains are annually plagued by feeding flocks of blackbirds, especially red-winged blackbirds (RWBL). Increased sunflower production and concomitant human-blackbird conflicts have prompted sunflower producers to demand that management strategies be developed to reduce the annual crop losses estimated at ≥ $10 million (Linz et al. 1996). Past techniques aimed at reducing blackbird damage have had varying degrees of success and the annual loss of sunflower remains the same (Peer et al. 2002). Thus, there is a need for new innovative approaches to managing blackbird damage.

One approach is to find non-lethal species-specific methods of …

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Evaluation Of Stop-Level Vs. Route-Level Breeding Bird Survey Counts For Modeling The Influence Of Land Use And Climate On Breeding Blackbird Abundance In North Dakota, Michelle L. Petersen, George M. Linz, Greg Forcey, Wayne Thogmartin, William J. Bleier Jan 2008

Evaluation Of Stop-Level Vs. Route-Level Breeding Bird Survey Counts For Modeling The Influence Of Land Use And Climate On Breeding Blackbird Abundance In North Dakota, Michelle L. Petersen, George M. Linz, Greg Forcey, Wayne Thogmartin, William J. Bleier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus), and Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) are the three most abundant blackbird species (Icteridae) found in North Dakota and comprise almost 10% of its avian population (Stewart and Kantrud 1972). Blackbird abundance combined with their food habitats make them significant agricultural pests on sunflower. Cost estimates for blackbird damage to sunflower in the North Dakota are likely over $10 million dollars annually (Kleingartner, pers. comm). Because of this economic impact blackbirds have on agriculture, it is important to understand land use and climatic factors influencing blackbird …

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Development Of Polymorphic Microsatellite Loci For The Common Vampire Bat, Desmodus Rotundus (Chiroptera: Phylostomidae), Antoinette J. Piaggio, John J. Johnston, Susan L. Perkins Jan 2008

Development Of Polymorphic Microsatellite Loci For The Common Vampire Bat, Desmodus Rotundus (Chiroptera: Phylostomidae), Antoinette J. Piaggio, John J. Johnston, Susan L. Perkins

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) is one of three haematophagous species of bats and the only species in this genus. These New World bats prey on mammals and create significant economic impacts through transmission of rabies in areas where livestock are prevalent. Furthermore, in some portions of their range, it is not uncommon for them to prey upon humans. It is critical to the management of this species and for understanding the spread of bat rabies that detailed studies of D. rotundus population structure be conducted. To further such studies, we have characterized 12 microsatellite loci for …

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Isolation Of Microsatellite Loci From The Coqui Frog, Eleutherodactylus Coqui, Maureen B. Peters, Karen H. Beard, Cris Hagen, Eric M. O'Neill, Karen E. Mock, William Pitt Jan 2008

Isolation Of Microsatellite Loci From The Coqui Frog, Eleutherodactylus Coqui, Maureen B. Peters, Karen H. Beard, Cris Hagen, Eric M. O'Neill, Karen E. Mock, William Pitt

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Thirteen microsatellite loci were isolated from the coqui frog (Eleutherodactylus coqui) and optimized for future research. The loci were screened across 37 individuals from two Puerto Rican populations. Loci were variable with the number of alleles per locus ranging from three to 38. Polymorphic information content ranged from 0.453 to 0.963 and observed heterozygosity for each population ranged from 0.320 to 0.920.

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Evaluation Of An Electrified Mat As A White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus) Barrier, Thomas W. Seamans, David A. Helon Jan 2008

Evaluation Of An Electrified Mat As A White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus) Barrier, Thomas W. Seamans, David A. Helon

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) pose economic and safety problems for agricultural and transportation industries. We tested an electronic mat to determine if it would reduce deer crossing through fence openings. We measured deer intrusions and corn consumption at five sites with charged mats and five sites with non-charged mats. Weekly intrusions at treated sites decreased an average of 95% from pre-treatment. Weekly intrusions at control sites were reduced 60% during weeks 1 and 2 and increased to 10% reduction by week 6. Weekly corn consumption at treated sites decreased from pretreatment through all treatment weeks. Weekly corn consumption …

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Avian Use Of Rice-Baited Trays Attached To Cages With Live Decoy Blackbirds In Central North Dakota, Jamison B. Winter, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier Jan 2008

Avian Use Of Rice-Baited Trays Attached To Cages With Live Decoy Blackbirds In Central North Dakota, Jamison B. Winter, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

For several decades, blackbird depredation of sunflower has been a continuous problem. Sunflower growers consistently place blackbirds in the top tier of problems associated with growing sunflower in the northern Great Plains. Many non-lethal tactics have been employed in an attempt to protect ripening sunflower from foraging flocks of blackbirds. Thinning cattail-choked wetlands to reduce roosting habitat, using pyrotechniques to frighten feeding birds, planting Wildlife Conservation Sunflower Plots to lure birds away from commercial plots, applying taste repellents, and adapting cultural methods such as block planting to synchronize ripening are just a few such tactics. Even so, the numbers of …

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