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2014

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Articles 7501 - 7530 of 7603

Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Evaluating Seadust Wildlife Controllant™ As A Repellent To Reduce Deer Browse On Douglas-Fir Seedlings, Jimmy D. Taylor Ii Jan 2014

Evaluating Seadust Wildlife Controllant™ As A Repellent To Reduce Deer Browse On Douglas-Fir Seedlings, Jimmy D. Taylor Ii

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Herbivory by black-tailed deer affects growth form and survival of conifer seedlings in western Oregon and Washington, especially Douglas-fir. Several deterrents have been employed to reduce damage to forest resources yet most are ineffective or cost prohibitive. Use of chemical repellents is socially appealing because they offer a potential non-lethal alternative to reduce plant damage (i.e., browse). Commercial deer repellents may employ one or more mechanisms in their formulation, which affect taste, odor, visual, and/or tactile cues when consumed by deer. I evaluated the commercial SeaDust Wildlife Controllant™ as a tool to repel black-tailed deer from Douglas-fir seedlings during spring …

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Estimating The Total Economic Impact Of Black Bear Peeling In Western Oregon Using Gis And Remi, Jimmy D. Taylor Ii, Anita Morzillo, Aaron M. Anderson Jan 2014

Estimating The Total Economic Impact Of Black Bear Peeling In Western Oregon Using Gis And Remi, Jimmy D. Taylor Ii, Anita Morzillo, Aaron M. Anderson

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In parts of the Pacific Northwest, black bears emerge from winter dens with depleted fat reserves and feed on mature conifers by stripping bark and consuming sugar-rich sapwood. Peeling by bears affects commercial conifers through direct loss of the tree or degraded log quality at stand harvest. Bears generally peel trees from 15-30 years old in intensively managed forests until preferred foods such as fruits and berries are available, and a single bear can peel several trees per day. Dying trees have a signature red canopy and are detected in annual aerial forest health surveys; however, trees that scar over …

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Development Of Dietary-Based Toxicity Reference Values To Assess The Risk Of Chlorophacinone To Non-Target Raptorial Birds, Barnett A. Rattner, Rebecca S. Lazarus, Sandra L. Schultz, Katherine E. Horak, Benjamin G. Abbo, Steven F. Volker Jan 2014

Development Of Dietary-Based Toxicity Reference Values To Assess The Risk Of Chlorophacinone To Non-Target Raptorial Birds, Barnett A. Rattner, Rebecca S. Lazarus, Sandra L. Schultz, Katherine E. Horak, Benjamin G. Abbo, Steven F. Volker

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Regulatory changes in the use of some second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides in parts of North America may result in expanded use of first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (FGARs). Recent toxicological studies with captive raptors have demonstrated that these species are considerably more sensitive to the FGAR diphacinone than traditional avian wildlife test species (mallard, bobwhite). We have now examined the toxicity of the FGAR chlorophacinone (CPN) to American kestrels fed rat tissue mechanically amended with CPN, or rat tissue containing biologically-incorporated CPN, for 7 days. Nominal CPN concentrations in these diets were 0.15, 0.75, and 1.5 μg/g food wet weight, and actual CPN …

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Efficacy Of Rodenticides For Roof Rat And Deer Mouse Control In Orchards, Niamh Niamh Quinn, David H. Davis, Richard M. Engeman, Roger A. Baldwin Jan 2014

Efficacy Of Rodenticides For Roof Rat And Deer Mouse Control In Orchards, Niamh Niamh Quinn, David H. Davis, Richard M. Engeman, Roger A. Baldwin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Roof rats and deer mice are occasional pests of orchard crops throughout the world. The application of rodenticides is an effective and practical method for controlling rodent pests and reducing damage. However, a paucity of information exists on the efficacy of rodenticides in orchards for these pest species. To address this gap in knowledge, we first developed an index to measure rodent activity in order to monitor efficacy of rodenticides. We then used this index to test the efficacy of 3 first-generation anticoagulant rodenticide baits to determine their utility for controlling roof rats and deer mice in agricultural orchards. Of …

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Iophenoxic Acid And Rhodamine B As Biomarkers Of Bovine Tuberculosis Vaccine Bait Uptake By White-Tailed Deer, Gregory E. Phillips, David A. Goldade, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Troy L. Ott, Donald C. Wagner Jan 2014

Iophenoxic Acid And Rhodamine B As Biomarkers Of Bovine Tuberculosis Vaccine Bait Uptake By White-Tailed Deer, Gregory E. Phillips, David A. Goldade, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Troy L. Ott, Donald C. Wagner

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium bovis, exists in free-ranging white-tailed deer in portions of northeastern Lower Michigan where deer herds serve as reservoirs and sources for reinfection of livestock herds. Density reduction and vaccination of reservoir host populations could be used together to reduce prevalence or eliminate the disease. Voluntary oral uptake of vaccine by deer is the most feasible mode of delivery. High probability of eliminating bTB would depend, in part, on a high proportion of deer being vaccinated. Chemical biomarkers could be used to estimate the proportion of a deer population consuming baits. Three …

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Potential Use Of Perennial Sunflower To Reduce Blackbird Damage To Sunflower, George M. Linz, Brent Hulke, Michael Kantar, Jeffrey Homan, Robert Stupar, Donald Wyse Jan 2014

Potential Use Of Perennial Sunflower To Reduce Blackbird Damage To Sunflower, George M. Linz, Brent Hulke, Michael Kantar, Jeffrey Homan, Robert Stupar, Donald Wyse

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Wildlife Conservation Sunflower Plots (WCSP) have shown potential to reduce blackbird (Icteridae) damage in commercial sunflower. Also known as lure, decoy, or trap crops, WCSP are strategically placed food plots that provide an easily available and proximate food source that entices blackbirds away from valuable commercial crops. By providing an alternative food source, WCSP reduce direct damage to commercial fields, while also lowering indirect costs that producers incur attempting to prevent blackbird damage. However, cost inefficiencies have deterred widespread use of WCSP. Cost-benefit ratios of using WCSP would be greatly improved if a perennial sunflower were used instead of the …

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Effectiveness Of Foliar Applications Of 9,10-Anthraquinone For Reducing Blackbird Damage To Sunflower, George M. Linz, Scott J. Werner, Megan Niner, Jeffrey Homan Jan 2014

Effectiveness Of Foliar Applications Of 9,10-Anthraquinone For Reducing Blackbird Damage To Sunflower, George M. Linz, Scott J. Werner, Megan Niner, Jeffrey Homan

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Anthraquinone is an effective chemical seed repellent that protects newly planted crops from depredation by granivorous birds. We are experimenting with foliar applications of 9,10-anthraquinone (AQ) to reduce blackbird (Icteridae) damage to ripening sunflower. Sunflower heads generally turn downward as the achenes mature. With the methods currently available for spraying crops, application of AQ directly onto sunflower achenes is nearly impossible. Blackbirds sometimes remove sunflower bracts prior to eating achenes. Thus, getting AQ droplets directly on the achenes may not be necessary, and spraying the heads should expose blackbirds to AQ as they remove bracts. Studies using caged red-winged blackbirds …

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A Recent Epizootic Of Skunk Rabies And Associated Spillover In Northern Colorado, Usa, Amy Gilbert, Dennis Kohler, Tara Rigg, Justin W. Fischer, Terry Spraker, Karen Fox, Kurt C. Vercauteren Jan 2014

A Recent Epizootic Of Skunk Rabies And Associated Spillover In Northern Colorado, Usa, Amy Gilbert, Dennis Kohler, Tara Rigg, Justin W. Fischer, Terry Spraker, Karen Fox, Kurt C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Rabies is a fatal viral zoonosis that is transmitted by bite contact with saliva of an infected animal. In the U.S., human deaths are rare, but each year over 5,000 rabid animals are reported and over 90% of cases are from wildlife. Multiple species of carnivores and bats are the primary sylvatic reservoirs in the U.S., and several variants circulate independently among these two taxonomic orders. Rabies prevention efforts led by USDA APHIS Wildlife Services using live recombinant vaccine baiting began in 1995 and currently target raccoons and canids, but the territory of the south-central skunk rabies virus variant has …

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Effects Of Vaccination Against Gdf9 And Bmp15 On Fertility And Ovarian Function In The White-Tailed Deer, Douglas C. Eckery, Lowell A. Miller, Gary J. Killian, Anthony J. Denicola Jan 2014

Effects Of Vaccination Against Gdf9 And Bmp15 On Fertility And Ovarian Function In The White-Tailed Deer, Douglas C. Eckery, Lowell A. Miller, Gary J. Killian, Anthony J. Denicola

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The physiological mechanisms controlling ovarian follicular growth and ovulation involve a complex exchange of systemic signals and a localized exchange of molecules between the oocyte and surrounding somatic cells. It has been demonstrated that the oocyte itself plays an essential role in regulating these processes by secreting two key regulatory proteins: bone morphogenetic protein-15 (BMP15) and growth and differentiation factor-9 (GDF9). Natural mutations in their expression and vaccination against these growth factors have been shown to cause sterility in sheep. The aim of this 3-year study was to determine the effect of vaccination against GDF9 and BMP15 on fertility in …

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Economic Analysis Of Indemnity Payments For Wolf Depredation On Cattle In A Wolf Reintroduction Area, Aaron M. Anderson, Karen Gebhardt, Katy N. Kirkpatrick, David L. Bergman, Stephanie A. Shwiff Jan 2014

Economic Analysis Of Indemnity Payments For Wolf Depredation On Cattle In A Wolf Reintroduction Area, Aaron M. Anderson, Karen Gebhardt, Katy N. Kirkpatrick, David L. Bergman, Stephanie A. Shwiff

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Mexican gray wolves were reintroduced into New Mexico and Arizona in 1998. When wolves kill a producing cow, ranchers in the region are eligible to receive an indemnity payment equal to the market value of the lost animal. We developed a model that allows estimation of the present value of the revenue stream that a cow or herd provides and find that if a producing cow is killed, the decrease in the present value of the rancher’s revenue stream is about $1,230. Mean indemnity payments are currently $1,000, implying ranchers are not being sufficiently compensated.

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Safety And Immunogenicity Of Ontario Rabies Vaccine Bait (Onrab) In The First Us Field Trial In Raccoons (Procyon Lotor), Dennis Slate, Richard B. Chipman, Timothy P. Algeo, Samuel A. Mills, Kathleen M. Nelson, Christopher K. Croson, Edward J. Dubovi, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Randall W. Renshaw, Todd Atwood, Shylo Johnson, Charles E. Rupprecht Jan 2014

Safety And Immunogenicity Of Ontario Rabies Vaccine Bait (Onrab) In The First Us Field Trial In Raccoons (Procyon Lotor), Dennis Slate, Richard B. Chipman, Timothy P. Algeo, Samuel A. Mills, Kathleen M. Nelson, Christopher K. Croson, Edward J. Dubovi, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Randall W. Renshaw, Todd Atwood, Shylo Johnson, Charles E. Rupprecht

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In 2011, we conducted a field trial in rural West Virginia, USA to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of a live, recombinant human adenovirus (AdRG1.3) rabies virus glycoprotein vaccine (Ontario Rabies Vaccine Bait; ONRAB) in wild raccoons (Procyon lotor) and striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis). We selected ONRAB for evaluation because of its effectiveness in raccoon rabies management in Ontario and Quebec, Canada, and significantly higher antibody prevalence rates in raccoons compared with a recombinant vaccinia-rabies glycoprotein (V-RG) vaccine, Raboral V-RGH, in US–Canada border studies. Raccoon rabies was enzootic and oral rabies vaccination (ORV) had never been …

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Fitting Outbreak Models To Data From Many Small Norovirus Outbreaks, Eamon B. O'Dea, Kim M. Pepin, Ben A. Lopman, Claus O. Wilke Jan 2014

Fitting Outbreak Models To Data From Many Small Norovirus Outbreaks, Eamon B. O'Dea, Kim M. Pepin, Ben A. Lopman, Claus O. Wilke

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Infectious disease often occurs in small, independent outbreaks in populations with varying characteristics. Each outbreak by itself may provide too little information for accurate estimation of epidemic model parameters. Here we show that using standard stochastic epidemic models for each outbreak and allowing parameters to vary between outbreaks according to a linear predictor leads to a generalized linear model that accurately estimates parameters from many small and diverse outbreaks. By estimating initial growth rates in addition to transmission rates, we are able to characterize variation in numbers of initially susceptible individuals or contact patterns between outbreaks. With simulation, we find …

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Improving Pandemic Influenza Risk Assessment, Colin A. Russell, Peter M. Kasson, Ruben O. Donis, Steven Riley, John Dunbar, Andrew Rambaut, Jason Asher, Stephen Burke, C. Todd Davis, Rebecca J. Garten, Sandrasegaram Gnanakaran, Simon I. Hay, Sander Herfst, Nicola S. Lewis, James O. Lloyd-Smith, Catherine A. Macken, Sebastian Maurer-Stroh, Elizabeth Neuhaus, Colin R. Parrish, Kim M. Pepin, Samuel S. Shepard, David L. Smith, David L. Suarez, Susan C. Trock, Marc-Alain Widdowson, Dylan B. George, Marc Lipsitch, Jesse D. Bloom Jan 2014

Improving Pandemic Influenza Risk Assessment, Colin A. Russell, Peter M. Kasson, Ruben O. Donis, Steven Riley, John Dunbar, Andrew Rambaut, Jason Asher, Stephen Burke, C. Todd Davis, Rebecca J. Garten, Sandrasegaram Gnanakaran, Simon I. Hay, Sander Herfst, Nicola S. Lewis, James O. Lloyd-Smith, Catherine A. Macken, Sebastian Maurer-Stroh, Elizabeth Neuhaus, Colin R. Parrish, Kim M. Pepin, Samuel S. Shepard, David L. Smith, David L. Suarez, Susan C. Trock, Marc-Alain Widdowson, Dylan B. George, Marc Lipsitch, Jesse D. Bloom

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Assessing the pandemic risk posed by specific non-human influenza A viruses is an important goal in public health research. As influenza virus genome sequencing becomes cheaper, faster, and more readily available, the ability to predict pandemic potential from sequence data could transform pandemic influenza risk assessment capabilities. However, the complexities of the relationships between virus genotype and phenotype make such predictions extremely difficult. The integration of experimental work, computational tool development, and analysis of evolutionary pathways, together with refinements to influenza surveillance, has the potential to transform our ability to assess the risks posed to humans by non-human influenza viruses …

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Invasive Black Spiny-Tailed Iguanas (Ctenosaura Similis) On Gasparilla Island, Florida, Usa, Michael L. Avery, Eric A. Tillman, Conny Spurfeld, Richard M. Engeman, Kelin P. Maciejewski, Jessica D. Brown, Emily A. Fetzer Jan 2014

Invasive Black Spiny-Tailed Iguanas (Ctenosaura Similis) On Gasparilla Island, Florida, Usa, Michael L. Avery, Eric A. Tillman, Conny Spurfeld, Richard M. Engeman, Kelin P. Maciejewski, Jessica D. Brown, Emily A. Fetzer

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The native range of Ctenosaura similis extends from southern Mexico through Panama. From an initial introduction of 3 animals in 1979, the species now numbers in the thousands on Gasparilla Island in southwest Florida. In response to complaints of property damage from residents and threats to native species, local officials and the US Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services began a removal program in 2008. Through 2011, trappers removed 9467 ctenosaurs. The number removed declined from 32 iguanas/day in 2008 to 1.9 iguanas/day in 2011 despite no easing of the control effort. We necropsied 2757 ctenosaurs to document aspects of their …

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Incorporating Cold-Air Pooling Into Downscaled Climate Models Increases Potential Refugia For Snow-Dependent Species Within The Sierra Nevada Ecoregion, Ca, Jennifer A. Curtis, Lorraine E. Flint, Alan L. Flint, Jessica D. Lundquist, Brian Hudgens, Erin E. Boydston, Julie K. Young Jan 2014

Incorporating Cold-Air Pooling Into Downscaled Climate Models Increases Potential Refugia For Snow-Dependent Species Within The Sierra Nevada Ecoregion, Ca, Jennifer A. Curtis, Lorraine E. Flint, Alan L. Flint, Jessica D. Lundquist, Brian Hudgens, Erin E. Boydston, Julie K. Young

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We present a unique water-balance approach for modeling snowpack under historic, current and future climates throughout the Sierra Nevada Ecoregion. Our methodology uses a finer scale (270 m) than previous regional studies and incorporates cold-air pooling, an atmospheric process that sustains cooler temperatures in topographic depressions thereby mitigating snowmelt. Our results are intended to support management and conservation of snow-dependent species, which requires characterization of suitable habitat under current and future climates. We use the wolverine (Gulo gulo) as an example species and investigate potential habitat based on the depth and extent of spring snowpack within four National …

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Calving Location Selection Patterns Of Saiga Antelope In Mongolia, B. Buuveibaatar, T. K. Fuller, J. K. Young, J. Berger Jan 2014

Calving Location Selection Patterns Of Saiga Antelope In Mongolia, B. Buuveibaatar, T. K. Fuller, J. K. Young, J. Berger

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Habitat selection for calving by ungulates is an important behavioral trait because it affects neonate survival. Generally, ungulate calving site selection varies by vulnerability to predators, local topography, habitat quality and level of human disturbance. The Mongolian saiga (Saiga tatarica mongolica) is endemic to Mongolia where a threatened population of ∼7000 exists in the northern Gobi Desert. We analyzed factors that could affect selection of saiga calving locations in the Sharga Nature Reserve, western Mongolia, using data obtained from ground surveys over 4 years between 2008 and 2012. Multiple factors explain calving location selection by saiga antelopes, based …

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Determination Of Residue Levels Of Alphachloralose In Duck Tissues, David A. Goldade, Randal S. Stahl, John J. Johnston Jan 2014

Determination Of Residue Levels Of Alphachloralose In Duck Tissues, David A. Goldade, Randal S. Stahl, John J. Johnston

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Alpha-chloralose (AC) is used to capture nuisance waterfowl so that they can be relocated. Concerns for food safety limit its use prior to or during the waterfowl hunting season. To determine its half-life in tissue, we administered AC to adult male (n = 7) and female (n = 5) mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) via oral gavage. A gel capsule containing 100 μCi of radioactive AC (14C-AC) and sufficient nonlabeled AC to produce a dose of approximately 30 mg/kg was given to each duck.The ducks were euthanized at 2, 6, 10, and 18 hours postdosing (n = …

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Anthropogenic Conditioning Of Gray Jays To A Nutritious, Seasonal Aquatic Food Source, R. M. Engeman, C. J. Wiloth Jan 2014

Anthropogenic Conditioning Of Gray Jays To A Nutritious, Seasonal Aquatic Food Source, R. M. Engeman, C. J. Wiloth

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Gray Jays (Perisoreus canadensis) read ily learn that humans can be excellent sources of food (e.g. Rutter 1969) and therefore are common in many picnic areas, campgrounds and other areas frequented by humans in the Rocky Mountains. Bes ides rapid recognition of humans as sou rces of food, Gray Jays also do not appear to readily forget a discovered food source (e.g. Rutter 1969). Gray Jays also optimize food selection on the bas is of caloric intake and the effort required to identify and handle the food items (Maccarone and Montevecchi 1986) aga in, making places such as …

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Weighing Empirical And Hypothetical Evidence For Assessing Potential Invasive Species Range Limits: A Review Of The Case Of Burmese Pythons In The Usa, Richard M. Engeman, Michael L. Avery, Elliot Jacobson Jan 2014

Weighing Empirical And Hypothetical Evidence For Assessing Potential Invasive Species Range Limits: A Review Of The Case Of Burmese Pythons In The Usa, Richard M. Engeman, Michael L. Avery, Elliot Jacobson

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Range expansion potential is an important consideration for prioritizing management actions against an invasive species. Understanding the potential for range expansion by invasive reptiles such as the Burmese python can be challenging, because the lack of knowledge on fundamental physiological and behavioral constraints initially forces reliance on modeling to predict hypothetical invasive range potential. Hypothetical predictions for Burmese python range limits in the USA have been highly divergent, from only extreme South Florida and the extreme southern Gulf edge of Texas to a broad swath over the southern third of the continental USA. Empirical observations on python thermal tolerances and …

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Russian Olive (Elaeagnus Angustifolia) Dispersal By European Starlings (Sturnus Vulgaris), Ryan J. Edwards, Larry C. Clark, K. George Beck Jan 2014

Russian Olive (Elaeagnus Angustifolia) Dispersal By European Starlings (Sturnus Vulgaris), Ryan J. Edwards, Larry C. Clark, K. George Beck

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Studies were conducted to document that European starlings consume Russian olive fruits and determine subsequent effects on seed germination. In the first study, avian feeding patterns at Russian olive trees were monitored over a 1-yr period using motion activated digital photography. Starlings fed on Russian olive fruits with highest activity occurring in November and December. In a second study, 20 captive European starlings were fed Russian olive fruits and seed germination rates were determined for three categories: consumed by starlings, hulled fruits (pericarp removed), and whole fruits. Starlings readily consumed Russian olive fruits and most seeds were regurgitated 30 min …

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Geographic Segregation And Evidence Of Density-Dependent Changes In Sex Ratios In An Abundant Colonial Waterbird, Brian S. Dorr, Katie C. Hanson-Dorr, Travis L. Devault, Alban Guillaumet, Scott C. Barras Jan 2014

Geographic Segregation And Evidence Of Density-Dependent Changes In Sex Ratios In An Abundant Colonial Waterbird, Brian S. Dorr, Katie C. Hanson-Dorr, Travis L. Devault, Alban Guillaumet, Scott C. Barras

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Demographic information, such as geographic segregation of sexes and sex ratio data, is needed to develop, model and evaluate conservation and management strategies for wildlife. A variety of physiological, behavioral and environmental factors can influence segregation of sexes and sex ratios, many of which originate with density- dependent processes. Departure from 50:50 sex ratios of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) collected during control efforts in breeding and wintering areas across their eastern range of the USA were evaluated using using a Z-test as well as Stouffer’s weighted Z-tests. In addition, a specifically-designed randomization test was used to evaluate density-dependent …

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Evaluation Of Techniques To Reduce Deer And Elk Damage To Agricultural Crops, Heather E. Johnson, Justin W. Fischer, Matthew Hammond, Patricia D. Dorsey, W. David Walter, Charles Anderson, Kurt C. Vercauteren Jan 2014

Evaluation Of Techniques To Reduce Deer And Elk Damage To Agricultural Crops, Heather E. Johnson, Justin W. Fischer, Matthew Hammond, Patricia D. Dorsey, W. David Walter, Charles Anderson, Kurt C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) provide important recreational, ecological, and economic benefits, but can also cause substantial damage to agricultural crops. Cervid damage to agriculture creates challenges for wildlife agencies responsible for minimizing crop depredation while maintaining healthy deer and elk populations. Sunflower producers in southwestern Colorado, USA, have experienced high deer and elk damage and were interested in temporary methods to reduce damage that were cost-effective for rotational crops. To address this challenge, we investigated 3 temporary, non-lethal exclusion and repellent techniques for reducing deer and elk damage to …

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Improved Satellite Transmitter Harness Attachment Technique, John S. Humphrey, Michael L. Avery Jan 2014

Improved Satellite Transmitter Harness Attachment Technique, John S. Humphrey, Michael L. Avery

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Kenward et al. (2001) observed: ‘‘Techniques for studying animals should not prejudice either the welfare of the individuals or the scientific quality of the results. This is especially important when advances in technology create new opportunities, as well as new risks.’’ Satellite telemetry technology has revolutionized the ability of scientists to conduct long-term studies of avian movements and behavior (e.g., Prince et al. 1992, Cappelle et al. 2011, Chevallier et al. 2011). Effective application of this technology depends on many factors, including the proper attachment of the transmitter to the bird. For large birds, transmitters are attached using a backpack-style …

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Environmental Contaminant Concentrations In Canada Goose (Branta Canadensis) Muscle: Probabilistic Risk Assessment For Human Consumers, Katherine E. Horak, Richard Chipman, Lisa Murphy, John Johnston Jan 2014

Environmental Contaminant Concentrations In Canada Goose (Branta Canadensis) Muscle: Probabilistic Risk Assessment For Human Consumers, Katherine E. Horak, Richard Chipman, Lisa Murphy, John Johnston

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The issue of food insecurity affects millions of people in the United States every year. Often these people rely on soup kitchens, food banks, and shelters for proper meals, and these organizations often depend on donations to meet needs. One of the most limited food resources is meat. To help alleviate this problem, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services donates more than 60 tons of wild game (deer, moose, feral hogs, goats, geese, and ducks) to a variety of charitable organizations each year. Although commercially produced meat routinely undergoes screening for contaminants, potential exposure to environmental contaminants from eating …

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Effects Of Spatiotemporal Resource Heterogeneity On Home Range Size Of American Beaver, L. F. Mcclintic, J. D. Taylor Ii, J. C. Jones, R. D. Singleton, G. Wang Jan 2014

Effects Of Spatiotemporal Resource Heterogeneity On Home Range Size Of American Beaver, L. F. Mcclintic, J. D. Taylor Ii, J. C. Jones, R. D. Singleton, G. Wang

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Home range size of terrestrial animals may be influenced by spatiotemporal dynamics of resources. However, little is known regarding the effects of spatiotemporal resource availability on semi-aquatic central place foragers such as the American beaver Castor canadensis. From January 2011 to April 2012, 26 beavers at 11 wetlands at Redstone Arsenal in north-central Alabama, USA, were captured and radio-tracked using radio telemetry. The objectives of this study were to test the predictions of three hypotheses: (1) the resource dispersion hypothesis: more spatially dispersed resources throughout a landscape increase home range sizes; (2) the temporal resource variability hypothesis: more temporally …

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The Spring Migration Of Adult North American Ospreys, Mark S. Martell, Richard O. Bierregaard Jr., Brian E. Washburn, John E. Elliott, Charles J. Henry, Robert S. Kennedy, Iain Macleod Jan 2014

The Spring Migration Of Adult North American Ospreys, Mark S. Martell, Richard O. Bierregaard Jr., Brian E. Washburn, John E. Elliott, Charles J. Henry, Robert S. Kennedy, Iain Macleod

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Most North American Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) are migratory, breeding in northern latitudes and migrating long distances to and from their wintering grounds in the tropics. Although fall migration patterns of North American Ospreys have been described and studied, very little has been published about the spring migration of these birds. We used satellite telemetry to: (1) determine the characteristics (timing, duration, migratory routes) of spring migrations of Ospreys; (2) determine if differences in spring migration patterns existed between sexes and among three breeding populations (east coast, midwestern, and western); and (3) compare consecutive fall and spring migrations of …

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The Influence Of Breeding Experience On Nest Success In Red-Winged Blackbird, George M. Linz, Richard S. Sawin, Mark W. Lutman Jan 2014

The Influence Of Breeding Experience On Nest Success In Red-Winged Blackbird, George M. Linz, Richard S. Sawin, Mark W. Lutman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is a polygynous species, and females are typically responsible for the majority of parental care. Despite their limited involvement, males can contribute to reproduction through nest defense and the feeding of nestlings. Some aspects of nest defense may be learned, and older males are more likely to feed young, suggesting that males with previous breeding experience may enjoy higher nest success than their naïve counterparts. We manipulated territory ownership on 10 wetlands in central North Dakota in order to examine the influence of breeding experience on reproductive success. We found no evidence that …

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Modeling Black Bear Population Dynamics In A Human-Dominated Stochastic Environment, David L. Lewis, Stewart W. Breck, Kenneth R. Wilson, Colleen T. Webb Jan 2014

Modeling Black Bear Population Dynamics In A Human-Dominated Stochastic Environment, David L. Lewis, Stewart W. Breck, Kenneth R. Wilson, Colleen T. Webb

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Many large carnivore populations exist in human-influenced stochastic environments where availability of natural food sources vary annually and anthropogenic food sources can supplement energetic demands, but at a potential demographic cost due to human–wildlife conflict and subsequent conflict management. Understanding how these competing factors influence a population is complex and difficult to study, but here we demonstrate the utility of using a stochastic projection matrix model and perturbation analysis to gain insight into this problem. We modeled a black bear population subjected to stochastic failures of fruiting and masting species, but with access to garbage in urban environments.We parameratized our …

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Regulation Of Tree Squirrel Populations With Immunocontraception: A Fox Squirrel Example, Sara K. Krause, Douglas A. Kelt, Dirk H. Van Vuren, James P. Gionfriddo Jan 2014

Regulation Of Tree Squirrel Populations With Immunocontraception: A Fox Squirrel Example, Sara K. Krause, Douglas A. Kelt, Dirk H. Van Vuren, James P. Gionfriddo

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Tree squirrels (Sciurus spp.) are highly successful immigrants to urban and suburban areas in North America and Europe, causing both economic and ecological damage. Control of such invasive populations is challenging but of increasing importance to local managers. We studied an invasive population of fox squirrels (S. niger) and applied an immunocontraceptive vaccine in an experimental study of demographic control. Here we integrate our data into a simple stage-structured population model to simulate population reduction under 2 treatment levels (60 and 80% of females, respectively) for vaccines lasting from 1 to 5 years. Contraception can be an …

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Parenteral Administration Of Gnrh Constructs And Adjuvants: Immuneresponses And Effects On Reproductive Tissues Of Male Mice, Sameer Sharma, Ian Mcdonald, Lowell Martin, Lyn A. Hinds Jan 2014

Parenteral Administration Of Gnrh Constructs And Adjuvants: Immuneresponses And Effects On Reproductive Tissues Of Male Mice, Sameer Sharma, Ian Mcdonald, Lowell Martin, Lyn A. Hinds

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Two gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) constructs prepared by either chemical conjugation tokeyhole limpet hemocyanin (GnRH-KLH) or as an expressed recombinant fusion protein (Multimer) wereevaluated with or without adjuvants (immunostimulating complexes, ISCOMs, or cytosine-phosphate-guanosine oligodeoxynucleotides, CpG ODNs). After subcutaneous administration to Balb/c male mice atWeeks 0, 2 and 4, these preparations were assessed for induction of immune responses and effects onreproductive organs. GnRH-KLH plus ISCOMs formulation induced strong IgG immune responses fromWeek 4 through Week 12 resulting in consistent reproductive organ atrophy by Week 12 after sub-cutaneous administration. GnRH-KLH plus CpG ODNs generated immune responses but no atrophy ofreproductive tissues by …

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