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Trends In Sandhill Crane Numbers In Eastern New Mexico, James B. Montgomery Jr.

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Following a 1980s decline in the number of cranes in the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge area of the Pecos River Valley in eastern New Mexico, peak fall migration numbers increased from 5,640 in 1989-90 to 15,790 in 2003-04 and 13,650 in 2004-05. Concurrently, hectares of corn grown for silage to feed dairy cows increased from 1,781 in 1989 to 8,013 in 2003 and 7,325 in 2004. The population goals of the NM Department of Game and Fish are being met but a downturn in the dairy industry could result in a decline in crane numbers.

Timing Of Molt In Florida Sandhill Cranes, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Stephen T. Schwikert

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We observed feather molt in Florida sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pratensis) between 1978 and 1997. We report data from 4 feather groups: remiges, rectrices, wing coverts and contour feathers. In all feather groups, the median date of ecdysis preceded endysis by about 30 days. Endysis in adults was generally later than it was in first- or second-year subadults. Remiges grew at a rate of 4.72 ± 1.56 SD mm per day. We estimated that primary and secondary wing feathers were usually regenerated within 45 to 70 days.

Body Mass Index (Bmi) Of Normal Sandhill Cranes, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Marilyn G. Spalding, Kristen L. Candelora, Paul S. Kubilis, Stephen T. Schwikert

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We used linear and mass measurements to construct a body mass index (BMI) for 2 subspecies of sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis). We found that BMI declined during the spring and early summer period. We used the BMI to show that juvenile Florida sandhill cranes (G. c. pratensis) reach their full mass at about 270 days of age, near the age at which they begin to leave the company of their parents. We used mensural data to predict a minimum expected mass for normal sandhill cranes which could be then used to evaluate the relative health of …

Behavior Comparisons For Whooping Cranes Raised By Costumed Caregivers And Trained For An Ultralight-Led Migration, Glenn H. Olsen, John B. French

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The successful reintroduction program being run by the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership using whooping cranes (Grus americana) trained to fly behind ultralight aircraft depends on a supply of these trained crane colts each year. The crane colts are hatched from eggs contributed by the various partners and trained to follow costume clad humans and ultralight aircraft at USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, Maryland, USA. After several seasons of raising small numbers of crane colts (7-14), we wanted to increase the number of birds being trained, but were restrained by limits in our facilities. By altering the established …

Safety Of West Nile Virus Vaccines In Sandhill Crane Chicks, Glenn H. Olsen, Kimberli J. Miller, Douglas E. Docherty, Valerie Bochsler

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

West Nile virus arrived in North America in 1999 and has spread across the continent in the ensuing years. The virus has proven deadly to a variety of native avian species including sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis). In order to provide safe and efficacious protection for captive and released populations of whooping cranes (G. americana), we have conducted a series of four research projects. The last of these was a study of the effects of two different West Nile virus vaccines on young Florida sandhill crane (G. c. pratensis) chicks and subsequent challenge with the virus. …

Use Of Clap Traps In Capturing Nonmigratory Whooping Cranes In Florida, Jeannette M. Parker, Martin J. Folk, Stephen B. Baynes, Kristen L. Candelora

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Between March 2001 and April 2005 we captured 28 nonmigratory Florida whooping cranes (Grus americana) with clap traps. Out of the 6 different capture methods we employed, the clap trap accounted for 42% of our birds captured. Its ability to safely capture one crane or multiple cranes simultaneously, flexibility in size and placement, and low cost make it an important tool to facilitate transmitter replacements and health checks among the experimental Florida whooping crane population.

A Low Intensity Sampling Method For Assessing Blue Crab Abundance At Aransas National Wildlife Refuge And Preliminary Results On The Relationship Of Blue Crab Abundance To Whooping Crane Winter Mortality, Bruce H. Pugesek, Michael J. Baldwin, Thomas V. Stehn

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We sampled blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) in marshes on the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas from 1997 to 2005 to determine whether whooping crane (Grus americana) mortality was related to the availability of this food source. For four years, 1997 - 2001, we sampled monthly from the fall through the spring. From these data, we developed a reduced sampling effort method that adequately characterized crab abundance and reduced the potential for disturbance to the cranes. Four additional years of data were collected with the reduced sampling effort methods. Yearly variation in crab numbers was high, ranging …

Whooping Crane Collisions With Power Lines: An Issue Paper, Thomas V. Stehn, Tom Wassenich

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Collision with power lines is the greatest source of mortality for fledged whooping cranes (Grus americana) in the Aransas-Wood Buffalo population (AWBP) that migrate between the Northwest Territories, Canada to the Texas coast. This paper compiles 45 documented whooping crane mortalities from power line strikes in North America and provides known information on crane / power line interactions. A map of the AWBP whooping crane migration corridor was derived with 100 and 200-mile wide corridors delineated showing the location of known mortalities. Recommendations are provided to try to reduce this major threat facing whooping cranes.

A Year-Long Study Of Food Consumption By Captive Whooping Cranes At The International Crane Foundation, Jessica J. Stocking, Michael S. Putnam, Nathanial B. Warning

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Throughout 2002, we recorded daily food consumption by 12 pairs of captive whooping cranes (Grus americana). For 7 pairs we recorded food consumption throughout the entire year while there were large continuous gaps in measurements of food consumption for 5 pairs that raised chicks that year. Birds received both a maintenance and breeder diet, and for both we converted food consumption to energy intake (Joules/g body mass) using the combined fall weights of female and male. We compared daily energy intake with 6 meteorological variables (involving temperature, wind speed and humidity), photoperiod (natural and artificial) and egg laying …

Resolutions Passed By The North American Crane Working Group, Tenth North American Crane Workshop Zacatecas City, Zacatecas, Mexico, North American Crane Working Group

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Florida Crane habitat resolution
Florida has the largest population of non-migratory sandhill cranes in the world and winters a significant portion of the eastern population of greater sandhill cranes. And in Florida, efforts are underway to introduce migratory and non-migratory whooping cranes. In order to successfully establish and sustain these populations, appropriate habitat needs to be available. About 40% of Florida’s best crane habitat has been lost between 1973 and 2003, and the amount has increased since then. Because of this, these valuable populations of cranes are finding it more difficult to locate suitable habitat. We the NACWG by this …

Michigan Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Project: 2008 Activities Report

Michigan Bovine Tuberculosis Bibliography and Database

Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that is close to being eradicated in the United States, but still poses a significant risk to domestic livestock, wildlife, companion animals, and humans throughout the world. The Michigan Bovine TB Eradication Project involves a multiagency team of experts from the Michigan Departments of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Community Health, Michigan State University, and the US Department of Agriculture.

Blood Culture And Stimulation Conditions For The Diagnosis Of Tuberculosis In Cervids By The Cervigam Assay, W. R. Waters, M. V. Palmer, T. C. Thacker, K. Orloski, P. Nol, N. P. Harrington, S. C. Olsen, B. J. Nonnecke

Michigan Bovine Tuberculosis Bibliography and Database

Mitogen- and antigen-induced interferon-γ (IFN-γ) responses of peripheral blood leucocytes from cervids were evaluated by a commercial whole-blood assay. The assay was applied to Mycobacterium bovis-infected white-tailed deer and reindeer, M bovis BCG-vaccinated white-tailed deer and elk, and unvaccinated, uninfected white-tailed deer, fallow deer, elk and reindeer. The responses of the M bovis-infected white-tailed deer to pokeweed mitogen (PWM) varied with time and between individuals. The responses of the M bovis-infected reindeer to PWM and M bovis purified protein derivative (PPD) were positively associated. Samples from tuberculosis-free captive herds in various parts of the USA were also …

Sentinel-Based Surveillance Of Coyotes To Detect Bovine Tuberculosis, Michigan, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Todd C. Atwood, Thomas J. Deliberto, Holly J. Smith, Justin S. Stevenson, Bruce V. Thomsen, Thomas Gidlewski, Janet Payeur

Michigan Bovine Tuberculosis Bibliography and Database

Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is endemic in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the northeastern portion of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Bovine TB in deer and cattle has created immense fi nancial consequences for the livestock industry and hunting public. Surveillance identified coyotes (Canis latrans) as potential bio-accumulators of Mycobacterium bovis, a finding that generated interest in their potential to serve as sentinels for monitoring disease risk. We sampled 175 coyotes in the bovine TB–endemic area. Fifty-eight tested positive, and infection prevalence by county ranged from 19% to 52% (statistical mean 33%, SE 0.07). By contrast, prevalence in …

The Leading Object: January 2008

Leading Object

Content:
Perspectives: John C. Owens
Extension works with NACO to Improve County Government Leadership
ACE Communicator Award Given to Evertson
Livestock Judging Led Hamilton to UNL and Impacted Life After Graduation
Koelsch Named Assistant Dean of Extension
Grants to Help Forest Service Reduce Wildfire Risk
Behl, Clang Receive OEA Recognition
ZB Mayo Gets NEOPA Honor
Renovation Work to Begin on Two East Campus Buildings

The Leading Object: September 2008, John C. Owens

Leading Object

Perspectives; New strategic plan results in IANR road map for next eight years; Birnstihl represents IANR on alumni committee; Successful swine business highlights Pillen’s career; Black named chair of Department of Biochemistry; Food Processing Center offers certification course in Spanish; Three receive OEA Awards; Husker Harvest Days emphasizes water

A New Species Of Schizomyia (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), A Pest Of Fernaldia Pandurata (Apocynaceae) In Central America, Raymond Gagne, Rafael Menjivar

USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory

A new species of gall midge, Schizomyia loroco Gagné (Diptera:Cecidomyiidae), is described from loroco, Fernaldia pandurata (A. DC.) Woodson (Apocynaceae), from El Salvador. Females lay eggs in flower buds that then produce characteristic galls. The new species is described, illustrated, and compared to its congeners.

A New Species Of Wockia Heinemann, 1890 (Lepidoptera: Urodidae) From Korea, Jae-Cheon Sohn, David Adamski

USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Wockia koreana Sohn, n. sp., is described from Korea, representing the first record of Urodidae in eastern Asia. Biological and distributional data including host-plant records are provided. Photographs of the holotype and dimorphic antennal and hind tibial features are included in addition to illustrations of wing venation and male and female genitalia.

North American Species Of Agrostocynips Diaz (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Eucoilinae), Parasitoids Of Agromyzidae (Diptera): Bionomics And Taxonomy, Matthew L. Buffington, Sonja J. Scheffer

USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory

The genus Agrostocynips Diaz is redescribed, as well as two species endemic to the Nearctic: Agrostocynips diastrophi (Ashmead) and A. robusta (Ashmead). Previous to this study, only Neotropical species of Agrostocynips were well diagnosed both taxonomically and biologically. Agrostocynips belongs to the Zaeucoila group of genera, which are Neotropical eucoilines that principally parasitize Agromyzidae (Diptera); among these genera, species of Agrostocynips are some of the few representatives that are found in the Nearctic. Detailed host records and biological notes are provided for the Nearctic species.

A New Species Of Eurytoma (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) Attacking Quadrastichus Spp. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) Galling Erythrina Spp. (Fabaceae), With A Summary Of African Eurytoma Biology And Species Checklist, Michael William Gates, Gerard Delvare

USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Eurytoma erythrinae Gates and Delvare, new species, is described and illustrated. This species was reared from fieldcollected galls on Erythrina spp. (Fabaceae) induced by Quadrastichus spp. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), in Tanzania, Ghana, and South Africa. It is compared with very similar African species, Eurytoma radicicola Risbec. Afrotropical species classified in Eurytoma are reviewed and twenty-seven new combinations are proposed: Aximopsis acaciacola (Hedqvist) comb. n., A. caryedocida (Rasplus) comb. n., A. lamtoensis (Rasplus) comb. n., A. mateui (Hedqvist) comb. n., A. mimosarum (Rasplus) comb. n., A. obocki (Risbec) comb. n., A …

Nebraska Forest Service Wood Waste Supply & Utilization Assessment, Rich Lane

Nebraska Forest Service: Publications

Increased utilization of wood waste can help decrease our Nation’s dependence on foreign energy purchases, generate energy cost-savings, enhance the efficiencies of forest and range management efforts, reduce the amount of wood waste disposed of in landfills and stimulate local economic development. In 2006 a Rand Corporation analysis found that 25% of the Nation’s energy could be competitively produced from ethanol, wind power and other forms of renewable energy such as woody biomass. A national alliance, known as the Energy Future Coalition, has subsequently advanced the “25 x 25 Initiative”. (www.25x25.org) The Coalition’s vision, now endorsed by the National Association …

Buff-Breasted Sandpiper Density And Numbers During Migratory Stopover In The Rainwater Basin, Nebraska, Joel G. Jorgensen, John P. Mccarty, Lareesa Wolfenbarger

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: Staff Research Publications

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis) is a shorebird of conservation concern whose migration patterns and population size are poorly known. We conducted surveys in the Eastern Rainwater Basin, Nebraska, in 2004 and 2005 using distance sampling. This survey produced density estimates of 0.09 birds per ha in 2004 and 0.04 birds per ha in 2005. Because the study area was explicitly defined by soil characteristics, we were able to extrapolate from density estimates to produce predictions of overall numbers in the study area. We produced minimum estimates of the numbers of Buff-breasted Sandpipers stopping over in the region—43 …

Characterization Of A Contact Zone Between Two Subspecies Of The Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus Fuscus) In Nebraska, Justin D. Hoffman, Hugh H. Genoways

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Two subspecies of the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) are reported to occur in Nebraska. The eastern race, E. f. fuscus, is reportedly bigger and darker than its western counterpart E. f. pallidus. Where these 2 subspecies come in contact is the subject of debate. We used external, cranial, and colorimetric data to investigate geographic variation among populations of E. fuscus in Nebraska to determine the location of the zone of contact between E. f. fuscus and E. f. pallidus. We discovered significant variation in external, cranial, and colorimetric data, suggesting that E. fuscus is …

African American Women And Hypertension: Their Resources Of Information, Knowledge Level, And Health Promoting Behaviors, Winnie Wood

Graduate Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to describe the information resources, level of knowledge on hypertension, and health promoting behaviors (diet and exercise) of young African American women, and to determine whether there was a relationship between their knowledge level and health promoting behaviors (diet and exercise). The study sample consisted of African American women (N=31) 18 to 30 years old. Data was collected using a demographic questionnaire, High Blood Pressure IQ Quiz, and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II. Participants reported they received majority of their information from doctors, family, television, and schools. Participants scored an average of 70% …

Special Issue: Evolutionary Perspectives On Salmonid Conservation And Management, Robin Waples, Andrew P. Hendry

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

This special issue of Evolutionary Applications comprises 15 papers that illustrate how evolutionary principles can inform the conservation and management of salmonid fishes. Several papers address the past evolutionary history of salmonids to gain insights into their likely plastic and genetic responses to future environmental change. The remaining papers consider potential evolutionary responses to climate warming, biological invasions, artificial propagation, habitat alteration, and harvesting. All of these papers consider how such influences might alter selective regimes, which should then favour plastic or genetic responses. Some of the papers then go on to document such responses, at least some of which …

Evolutionary History Of Pacific Salmon In Dynamic Environments, Robin Waples, George R. Pess, Tim Beechie

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Contemporary evolution of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) is best viewed in the context of the evolutionary history of the species and the dynamic ecosystems they inhabit. Speciation was complete by the late Miocene, leaving c. six million years for intraspecific diversification. Following the most recent glacial maximum, large areas became available for recolonization. Current intraspecific diversity is thus the product of recent evolution overlaid onto divergent historical lineages forged during recurrent episodes of Pleistocene glaciation. In northwestern North America, dominant habitat features have been relatively stable for the past 5000 years, but salmon ecosystems remain dynamic because of disturbance …

References From Conservation Buffers: Design Guidelines For Buffers, Corridors, And Greenways, Gary Bentrup

United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

References from Conservation Buffers: Design Guidelines for Buffers, Corridors, and Greenways

Over 80 illustrated design guidelines for conservation buffers are synthesized and developed from a review of over 1,400 research publications. Each guideline describes a specific way that a vegetative buffer can be applied to protect soil, improve air and water quality, enhance fish and wildlife habitat, produce economic products, provide recreation opportunities, or beautify the landscape. These science-based guidelines are presented as easy-to-understand rules-of-thumb for facilitating the planning and designing of conservation buffers in rural and urban landscapes.

Genetic Isolation And Morphological Divergence Of Black Sea Bottlenose Dolphins, Karine A. Viaud-Martineza, Robert L. Brownell Jr., Andrew J. Bohonak, Anastasia Komnenouc

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

The Black Sea is a semi-enclosed body of water that differs from the adjacent Mediterranean Sea in terms of its biodiversity, oceanographical and ecological characteristics. There is growing international concern about pollution in the Black Sea and other anthropogenic threats to its fauna. The bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is one of three species of cetaceans living in the Azov-Black Sea basin. Despite considerable research on bottlenose dolphins elsewhere, the extent of human impacts on the Black Sea populations is unknown. Previous attempts to award special conservation status to Black Sea cetaceans have failed specifically because policy makers have viewed their …

Spatial Methods For Plot-Based Sampling Of Wildlife Populations, Jay M. Ver Hoef

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Classical sampling methods can be used to estimate the mean of a finite or infinite population. Block kriging also estimates the mean, but of an infinite population in a continuous spatial domain. In this paper, I consider a finite population version of block kriging (FPBK) for plot-based sampling. The data are assumed to come from a spatial stochastic process. Minimizing mean-squared-prediction errors yields best linear unbiased predictions that are a finite population version of block kriging. FPBK has versions comparable to simple random sampling and stratified sampling, and includes the general linear model. This method has been tested for several …

An Animal Movement Model Incorporating Home Range And Habitat Selection, Aaron Christ, Jay Ver Hoef, Dale L. Zimmerman

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Wildlife biologists are often interested in how an animal uses space and the habitat resources within that space. We propose a single model that estimates an animal’s home range and habitat selection parameters within that range while accounting for the inherent autocorrelation in frequently sampled telemetry data. The model is applied to brown bear telemetry data in southeast Alaska.

Letter To The Editor: Comment On ‘‘Toxicity Of Weathered Exxon Valdez Crude Oil To Pink Salmon Embryos’’, Ron A. Heintz, Jeffrey W. Short, Stanley D. Rice, Mark G. Carls

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

We take issue with an article by Brannon et al. in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry questioning the validity of our work on the toxicity of petroleum-derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to the early life stages of fish. Beginning in 1997, we published a series of articles demonstrating adverse effects in response to PAH exposure at concentrations in the low parts per billion. Based on their attempt to reproduce our results, Brannon et al. argue that the effects we described were an artifact caused by contact with PAH-laden oil microdroplets instead of dissolved PAHs and, therefore, that our results likely are …