Life Sciences Commons^™

The Coyote (Canis Latrans) In Panama, Eustorgio Méndez, Francisco Delgádo, Demetrio Miranda

Conservation Collection

This report reveals that the coyote, Canis Iatrans, has recently extended its southern range to Panama. The skin of one adult female coyote killed by hunters at Los Pirales, a farm near Gualaca in Chiriqui Province, western Panama, has been deposited in the Gorgas Memorial Laboratory Vertebrate Collection. Other coyotes have been observed in Alanje, Boquete and Boqueron, other localities of the same province. The probable range of the coyote in Panama is indicated, and the need for an urgent management strategy for this canid in the Republic is also expressed.

The Buller-Steer Syndrome, Richard Ulbrich

Ethology Collection

Bulling among steers is an abnormal behavioral trait and is a common health and economic problem in feedlot operations. Factors associated with the buller-steer syndrome are hormonal implantation, seasonality and environmental conditions, stress, overcrowding, and social interaction between individuals. Research has examined relationships between these and other factors and buller occurrence. Boredom of feedlot cattle may contribute to buller occurrence and other undesirable behavior more than we might suspect. Research is needed to determine the feasibility of enriching the environment of penned livestock in general, the goal of which would be, in theory, the elimination of undesirable behavior as well …

Spatial Memory And The Performance Of Rats And Pigeons In The Radial-Arm Maze, Alan B. Bond, Robert G. Cook, Marvin R. Lamb

Papers in Behavior in Biological Sciences

The resource-distribution hypothesis states that the ability of an animal to remember the spatial location of past events is related to the typical distribution of food resources for the species. It appears to predict that Norway rats would perform better than domestic pigeons in tasks requiring spatial event memory. Pigeons, tested in an eight-arm radial maze, exhibited no more than half of the memory capacity observed in rats in the same apparatus and may not have used spatial memory at all. The results were interpreted as supporting the hypothesis.

Die Erforschung Der Herpetofauna Der Mongolischen Volksrepublik: Situation Und Perspektiven, Günther Peters

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

First paragraph:

Die Landschaften der Mongolei sind arm an Reptilien- und Amphibienarten. Dieser Umstand mag die Frage aufwerfen, ob herpetologische Untersuchungen in Beschränkung auf das Territorium der MVR eine nennenswerte Perspektive haben könnten, nachdem Artenspektrum und Verbteitung der Species annähernd vollständig erkundet sind. Ein Herpetologe wird zweifellos für seine Arbeit auch in diesem Land eine Zukunft sehen, doch muß wohl von vornherein eingestanden werden, daß das Volumen der Probleme dieses Faches hinter denen der übrigen Disziplinen der Vertebratenzoologie und der Entomologie in einem bescheidenerem Rahmen verbleibt. Dies gilt sowohl im rein wissenschaftlichen als erst recht auch im angewandten Bereich ihrer …

Giving-Up As A Poisson Process: The Departure Decision Of The Green Lacewing, Alan B. Bond

Alan Bond Publications

Predators that forage for aggregated prey appear to require a decision rule for determining the point at which to discontinue their search in a given prey patch and move on to another. Although the optimum rule depends heavily on features of the searching behavior of the predator and the distribution of the prey (Oaten 1977), most previous authors have assumed that the decision must involve an assessment of the capture rate within a patch and a comparison with the mean capture rate in the environment as a whole (Krebs 1978). When the perceived quality of the given patch becomes significantly …

The Development Of Effective Endothermy And Homeothermy By Nestling Piñon Jays, Larry Clark

Larry Clark

No abstract provided.

The Development Of Effective Endothermy And Homeothermy By Nestling Pition Jays, Larry Clark

Larry Clark

No abstract provided.

A Survey Of The Mussels (Pelecypoda: Unionoidia: Unionacea) Of Twelvepole Creek, West Virginia With A Study Of Commensal Algae Found On Selected Mussels, Kevin Joe Smith

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

A survey of the Unionacea of Twelvepole Creek, West Virginia was conducted coupled with a qualitative study of commensal algae found on selected mussel species. The naiads and the algae were found to have diverse populations. Naiads collected during the survey were represented by 23 species, 16 genera and 2 families. Corbicula fluminea was found to be confined largely to the main branch of Twelvepole, with no individuals being collected from the East or West Forks and only limited collections near the mouth of Beechfork Creek. Lampsilis radiata luteola and L. ventricosa were found to have the greatest distribution, being …

The Naiads (Mollusca: Unionidae) From Two Prehistoric Sites Along The Ohio River, Mason County, West Virginia, Beverly Dawn Spurlock

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Archeological naiad valves representing 29 species were recovered from two Late Prehistoric Indian villages along the Ohio River, Mason County, West Virginia. Surface collections and limited excavation provided a total of 1,599 identifiable valves and valve fragments. Dif­ferences in species compositions and relative abundances between the two middens were noted. Samples from the Rolf Lee Farm Site (46MS51) contained 28 species while the Lewis-Old Town Farm Site (46MS57) produced only 23 species. Comparisons were made with other nearby prehistoric shell deposits and also with more recent twentieth century collections from this reach of the river. Nine of the archeological species …

Food Habits Of Largemouth Bass, Micropterus Salmoides (Lacepede) And Spotted Bass, Micropterus Punctulatus (Rafinesque), From Beech Fork Reservoir, A New Impoundment In Wayne And Cabell Counties, West Virginia, Michael A. Arcuri

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

A study was undertaken to determine the food habits of two game fishes, the largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede) and the spotted bass M. punctulatus (Rafinesque) in Beech Fork Reservoir shortly after its impoundment. A total of 171 largemouth bass and 95 spotted bass were collected from July 1978, through June 1979, and their stomach contents analyzed.

Largemouth bass fed primarily on fishes, particularly young-of-the-year bluegill. Aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates were also important food items, especially during the spring and fall . The dominant aquatic forms were chironomid larvae and pupae while the dominant terrestrial forms were adult dipterans.

Spotted …

A Taxonomic Study Of The Symphitopsyche Pictet And Hydropsyche Ulmer Larvae Of West Virginia (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae), Charlene Kay Nugen

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

A survey of the larval Symphitopsyche and Hydropsyche of West Virginia revealed fifteen species (S. morosa, S. walkeri, S. bronta, S. slossonae, S. macleodi, S. sparna, S. ventura, H. orris, H. phalerata, H. hoffmani, H. scalaris, H. leonardi, H. hageni, H. dicantha, H. simulans) eleven of which were state records (Table 1). Two species groups (S. bifida group, H. depravata group) were also found in the state possibly adding four more species (S. bifida, S.cheilonis, H. depravata,H. betteni) (Table 1). Hydropsyche phalerata, S. walkeri, and H. leonardi were the most scarce in the state and the H. depravata group had …

Attributes Of Dispersing Meadow Voles In Open-Grid Populations, Raymond D. Dueser, Marcia L. Wilson, Robert K. Rose

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Dispersal was investigated in two open-grid populations of meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus (Ord, 1815) an central Virginia (U.S.A.) from November 1974 to April 1978. "Dispersal" was defined as immigration onto open, occupied population grids. Dispersers were distinguished from residents by weight at first capture. Individuals first captured at weights <30 g were classified as residents; those first captured at >30 g were classified as dispersers. Three independent lines of evidence support the validity of the 30-g criterion for recognizing dispersers in these vole populations. With frequent trapping and high trappability, particularly of young animals, this open-grid method of study offers two advantages in the study of dispersal. First, dispersers identified …

Correlation Of Hook-And-Line Vulnerability Of Largemouth Bass (Micropterus Salmoides) With Selected Physicochemical Parameters At Ridge Lake, Dale P. Burkett

Masters Theses

Fluctuation in kilograms of largemouth bass caught per man-hour of fishing pressure (catch rate) in Ridge Lake (a 6.8ha impoundment located in Fox Ridge State Park, Coles County, Illinois) was positively correlated with dissolved oxygen concentration (r=0.7490), conductivity (r=0.7439), pH (r=0.5965), and alkalinity (r=0.7531). Negative correlations were found between largemouth bass catch rate and turbidity (r=-0.5145), as well as ammonia (r=-0.4694). No significant (p<0.05) correlations were found between catch rate and column water temperature, air temperature, barometric pressure, water level, maximum water temperature, minimum water temperature, maximum air temperature, or minimum air temperature.

Models describing the relationships of the most significant physicochemical parameters to catch rate of largemouth bass were chosen to represent the effects of environment …

Abnormal Behavior As An Indication Of Immaterial Suffering, Hans Hinrich Sambraus

Sentience Collection

Reactive abnormal behavior is the convincing proof of immaterial suffering for the ethologist. We consider abnormal that behavior which does not correspond to, or is without object, which appears with sharply increased or decreased frequency, or which is abnormal in its motor pattern. Moreover, much reactive abnormal behavior manifests itself in stereotypies, i.e., the movement is repeated continuously in the same way. Among wild animals and in traditional forms of animal production abnormal behavior is unknown. However, it is encountered often in animals in intensive husbandry systems, and it can be demonstrated that abnormal behavior is actually brought about by …

Is Nature Our Birthright?, Nancy Heneson

Ecology Collection

It is of course impossible to escape the notion of self-interest in our relationship with nature. In fact, it is "unnatural," if one understands (and, one is forced to say nowadays, believes in) evolution. However, there is no real justification for either disguising this as stewardship or perverting it into dominionism. Every organism has an impact on the environment, and it is not only idealistic but biologically nonsensical to argue that we should leave everything alone. However, when decisions on policy are made which direct the future use of land, plants and animals, at least let the rationale not be …

The Foods And Associated Feeding Behavior Of The Yellow-Bellied Marmot, Marmota Flaviventris, Mark William Jonasson

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

Getting Educated At The Zoo, Nancy Heneson

Zoos and Aquariums Collection

In this issue we present three papers that deal with the subject of the zoo. Although the focal concern of each paper is different and the positions of the authors range from whole-hearted support of the institution to frank skepticism, all express a belief in the potential educational value of zoos. This editorial, however, has a different premise. It is not meant to criticize the other papers, but rather to raise questions from another point of view.

Tree Biomass Estimates For Minnesota's Aspen-Birch Forest Survey Unit, Gerhard K. Raile, Pamela J. Jakes

Aspen Bibliography

No abstract provided.

Occurrence Of The Land Planarians Bipalium Kewense And Geoplana Sp. In Arkansas, James J. Daly, Julian T. Darlington

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Ecology And Regeneration Of Aspen In Relation To Managment, R.K. Tew

Aspen Bibliography

No abstract provided.

Minnesota's Aspen Resource, Pamela J. Jakes

Aspen Bibliography

No abstract provided.

Pentatomidae Of Arkansas, Harvey E. Barton, Linda A. Lee

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

A total of 30 genera and 53 species and subspecies of Pentatomidae are reported as occurring or possibly occurring in Arkansas. Fifty species and subspecies contained in 29 genera were collected or recorded from previously collected material. Based on distributional records in the literature, three additional species and one genus are listed as probably occurring in Arkansas. County and seasonal records are reported for each taxon.

Microhabitat Distribution And Its Effect Of Prey Utilization In Sympatric Populations Of Plethodon Glutinosus And Plethodon Dorsalis In Northwestern Arkansas, James M. Britton

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

A study was done on sympatric populations of Plethodon glutinosus and P. dorsalis in northwestern Arkansas to determine the relative distribution of the two species and the relationship between their distribution and the utilization of available prey. Upon capture, total length, location, and habitat type were recorded for each salamander. Stomach content samples were obtained by forced regurgitation, and the animals were released. Samples of the local litter fauna were taken to determine prey availability. Habitat data were obtained for 171 salamanders; 76 P. glutinosus and 95 P. dorsalis. Stomach content samples were taken from 67 salamanders; 32 P. glutinosus …

Seasonal Abundance, Movement And Diversity Of Fishes In An Ozark Stream, Michael R. Dewey

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Seasonal fluctuations in fish abundance in Mud Creek occurred throughout the year at all sampling stations. At the two upper stations abundance was high and unstable during winter and early spring and decreased after heavy rainfall in mid-April. Abundance was low throughout the summer months, increasing in the fall due to large numbers of young-of-the-year. However, a different seasonal cycle occurred at the lower station which included deeper pools. Numbers were low and stable throughout the winter and early spring but high and unstable during the summer. Bigeye shiners (Notropis boops) and bluntnose minnows (Pimephales notatus) were the most mobile …

Preliminary Report On The Fishes Of The Upper Saline River, Polk And Howard Counties, Arkansas, And Observations On Their Relationships With Land Use And Physiochemical Conditions, Stephen A. Sewell

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The Saline River of southwest Arkansas was impounded by Dierks Lake in 1975. Intensive collecting efforts were made in the river system above Dierks Lake during March, April, and May 1980. Collected specimens were compared with ichthyofaunal lists prior to impoundment. Historic occurrants which were not collected include Notropis amnis, Notropis ortenburgeri, Moxostoma duquesnei, Ammocrypta vivax, and Percina copelandi. Additions to the ichthyofaunal list for the drainage include Fundulus notatus, Etheostoma spectabile, and Percina caprodes. The evidence indicates that 33 species representing six families inhabit the system from the headwaters in Polk County, Arkansas, to Dierks Lake, Howard County, Arkansas. …

Crowley's Ridge Biological Station--An Educational Center, Jewel E. Moore, Inez Hartsoe

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Flying Insect Populations As Sampled By Malaise Trap On Crowley's Ridge In Northeast Arkansas, Lynita M. Cooksey, Harvey E. Barton

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Malaise trap collections from woodlot and open field sampling sites on Crowley's Ridge yielded 10,830 individuals during the months of May, July and September, 1980. Greatest numbers of insects were collected in May, with fewest in September. Four orders comprised 97% of the total catch: Diptera (57%), Lepidoptera (17%), Hymenoptera (15%) and Homoptera (8%). Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Neuroptera, Odonata and Orthoptera comprised the remaining 3%. Ordinal composition and seasonal occurrence patterns are discussed and compared for the two sampling sites.

Physiological Research On Adventitious Shoot Development In Aspen, George A. Schier

Aspen Bibliography

No abstract provided.

Chesapeake Bay Bibliography - Volume V. Virginia And Maryland Waters, Marilyn Neff Loesch

Reports

The Chesapeake Bay Bibliography was initiated by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science in response to growing resource management problems of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. With these problems came the realization that planning and management of such a great natural resource is an overwhelming task requiring the best available information. This bibliography, therefore, was undertaken to document existing sources of information, to help identify research and data gathering needs, and to develop a comprehensive research and information services programs for individuals interested in research on, and management of the natural resources of the Chesapeake Bay region.

The four …

Revetment Clearing, Its Influence On Riparian Mammal Communities, Robert E. Willis

Dissertations and Theses

Over 115 miles of rock revetment have been constructed in the Willamette Basin to protect river banks. This study examines the effect on riparian mammals of maintaining these revetments by vegetation and debris clearing. Differences between cleared and uncleared revetments were measured using a canopy coverage method of vegetation analysis; mammals were studied by trapping, by direct observation, and by noting such signs as scats, tracks, etc.