Animal Sciences Commons^™

Rodent Density And Species Composition In The Snake River Birds Of Prey Natural Area, Idaho, Jon R. Montan Jr.

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Rodent densities were estimated in the major vegetation types of the Snake River Birds of Prey Natural Area in 1975 and 1976 by a combination of live-trapping and kill-trapping. Only deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) were numerous enough to permit reliable density estimates. Relative densities of other rodent species were indicated by kill-trap capture rates. Densities of deer mice correlated well (r = 0.99) with kill-trap capture rates. The use of kill-trapping in place of live-trapping in 1976 permitted extensive sampling throughout the 1930 km² study area. Differences were found among the major vegetation and land-use types in …

Biological Manipulation Of Blackbrush (Coleogyne Ramosissima Torr.) By Browsing With Goats, Frederick D. Provenza

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to provide data on responses of Angora goats and blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima) to a biological manipulation program. Blackbrush utilization levels averaged 30, 16, and 6 percent (545, 367, and 147 kg per hectare) for the heavily, moderately, and lightly browsed pastures, respectively; removal rates of 77, 38, and 19 percent (1164, 582, and 291 kg per hectare) were projected.

Statistically significant differences in body weight loss (P=0.052) were noted for goats browsing in different replications. Goats lost an average of 14 and 19 percent of body weight in replications one and two, …

Continuation Of Spider Research In Arkansas: Ouachita Mountain Area, Peggy Rae Dorris, Fred L. Burnside Jr.

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Addendum To "Fishes Of The Fourche River" In North Central Arkansas, Steve M. Bounds

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Distribution, Habitat Notes, And The Status Of The Ironcolor Shiner, Notropis Chalybaeus Cope, In Arkansas, Henry W. Robison

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Field work throughout Arkansas since 1971 and a search of museum records have yielded 35 collections of the iron color shiner, Notropis chalybaeus Cope (Cyprinidae), not previously documented in Arkansas. From these data the iron color shiner is considered to be confined to the Coastal Plain physiographic province of Arkansas below the Fall Line, becoming most abundant in the Ouachita and Red River drainages of southern Arkansas. Notes on habitat preference, species associates, and current status of N. chalybaeus within Arkansas are presented.

Attraction Of Aerial Insects As A Fish Food Supplement, Andrew J. Merkowsky, Ambus J. Handcock, Scott H. Newton

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Insect populations over a 1.2 hectare southeast Arkansas livestock pond were sampled to consider the possibility of their use as a fish food supplement. A commercial insect attraction unit was suspended above the pond, and attracted insects were collected. Insect populations were sampled 3-4 nights each month, January-December, 1976. Insects collected were identified and analyses were performed to determine nutritional composition and pesticide content. Insect samples were variable, however, 62% of the insects identified were in the Order Diptera and 97% of these were in the Family Chironomidae. Nutritional analyses revealed insects were more than 60% crude protein. Pesticide analysis …

Cave Fauna Of Arkansas: Vertebrate Taxa, V. Rick Mcdaniel, James E. Gardner

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The second in a series of papers describing the fauna of Arkansas caves includes distributional records and ecological status (as a cavernicole) of 53 vertebrate taxa, including: 3 fishes, 7 salamanders, 6 frogs, 3 lizards, 7 snakes, one turtle, 3 birds, and 23 mammals. Several of the taxa occur on state lists of endangered species, but records accumulated during the past 5 years indicate the need for a reevaluation of the actual populational status of these organisms.

Growth, Mortality, Food Habits, And Fecundity Of The Buffalo River Smallmouth Bass, Raj V. Kilambi, Walter R. Robison, James C. Adams

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Total length-scale radius, and length-weight relationships were determined for smallmouth bass from the Buffalo River. The back calculated lengths were used in analyzing the age-length data by the Bertalanffy growth formula. Asymptotic length and weight were estimated as 58.3 cm and 4.6 lbs, respectively. Annual mortality of 36 percent was estimated by the catch curve method. Insects (54%), fishes (16%), and crayfish (14%) were the abundant food organisms by frequency of occurrence; while fishes (64%) and crayfish (29%) were the dominant food items by the gravimetric method. Based on the gonosomatic indices and frequency distribution of ovum diameter measurements, smallmouth …

Fishes Of The Eleven Point River Within Arkansas, Michael B. Johnson, John K. Beadles

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

A survey of the fishes of the Eleven Point River and its tributaries was made between 31 January 1976 and 13 February 1977. Sixty-three collections, literature records and personal communications revealed 90 species distributed among 19 families. This study revealed 31 species previously not reported for this river system. The Eleven Point River is a clear, predominantly springfed Ozark stream which is located in western Randolph County. From the Arkansas-Missouri state line, the Eleven Point River flows south for approximately 64 km before joining the Spring River. Terrain in the Arkansas portion of this river is rugged as the river …

Fishes Of Crowley's Ridge In Arkansas, Robert F. Fulmer, George L. Harp

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Crowley's Ridge is one of the six natural geographic divisions of Arkansas which rises out of the Mississippi embayment as a relatively steep, uncultivated loessial mass. The ridge is drained by a network of headwater streams which are relatively clear with alkaline pH values and uniformly low alkalinity values. Carbon dioxide values were moderate and oxygen values were adequate. The fish species collected were basically headwater in composition. Isolated groups of characteristically upland species indicate that environmental quality of adjacent deltaic streams was better at one time.

Fishes Of Sylamore Creek, Stone County, Arkansas, George C. Frazier, John K. Beadles

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

A survey of the fishes of Sylamore Creek in northcentral Arkansas yielded a total of 15,041 specimens representing 44 species, including one hybrid, distributed among 11 families. The three most abundant fishes collected were: Notropis pilsbryi Fowler, Dionda nubila (Forbes), and Notropis telescopus (Cope), respectively. Two species, Campostoma anomalum pullum (Agassiz), and N. pilsbryi, were collected at every station. Sylamore Creek is a clear predominantely spring-fed stream that originate in the Ozark Mountains of northcentral Arkansas and empties into the White River 72.3 km above Bates vilie. Sylamore Creek is composed of two branches, North and South Sylamore, which comprise …

Fishes Of Randolph County, Arkansas, Steve M. Bounds, John K. Beadles, Billy M. Johnson

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

A survey of the fishes of Randolph County in northcentral Arkansas was made between June 1973 and March 1977. Field collections, literature records, and museum specimens revealed the ichthyofauna of Randolph County to be composed of 128 species distributed among 24 families. Cyprinidae was the largest family, being represented by 34 species while Percidae was represented by 24 species. Randolph County is composed of Ozark Uplands and Coastal Plain areas. All of the stream systems flow into the Black River system with the exception of Village Creek in the southeastern corner of the county which flows into White River. The …

Visual Detection Of Cryptic Prey By Blue Jays (Cyanocitta Cristata), Alexandra T. Pietrewicz, Alan Kamil

Avian Cognition Papers

Blue jays learned to respond differentially to the presence or absence of Catocala moths in slides. This detection of the moths by the jays was affected by the background upon which the moth was placed and its body orientation, thus providing an objective measure of crypticity. These procedures are useful for the study of visual detection of prey.

Studies On The Grooming Behavior And Morphology Of The Freshwater Prawn, Palaemonetes Kadiakensis, Bruce E. Felgenhauer

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Live Trap Preference Among Grassland Mammals, Robert K. Rose, Norman A. Slade, James H. Honacki

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

In two independent studies, small mammals of grassland communities in eastern Kansas, when given a choice, preferred Fitch to Sherman live traps. Except for the harvest mice in the demographic study, the type of preferred trap and magnitude of selection was remarkably comparable, with microtines showing slight, and cricetines strong, preferences overall. The merits of each type of trap are compared, and related to season, weather, prior experience, and trap-associated mortality.

Aspects Of The Ecology Of Fish And Commercial Crustaceans Of The Blackwood River Estuary, Western Australia, R.C. J. Lenanton

Fisheries Research Bulletins

Beach seine nets, set or mesh nets, otter trawls and plankton nets were used to sample fish and commercial crustaceans every two months over the period March 1974 to March 1975, and again in July 1975 at a number of stations throughout the Blackwood River estuary, Western Australia.

Analysis Of The Capture-Recapture Method Of Determining Fish Population Size In A Pond Community, Richard E. Hall

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Ecology Of The Pirate Perch, Leslie D. Frankland

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Food Habits Of Ictalurus Natalis, Centrarchus Macropterus And Perca Flavescens In Lake Drummond In The Dismal Swamp Of Virginia, Steven C. Russell

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The food habits of yellow bullhead catfish (Ictalurus natalis), yellow perch (Perea flavescens), and fliers (Centrarchus macropterus) in Lake Drummond in the Dismal Swamp were examined. Seventy yellow bullheads (42 mm to 255 mm), 136 yellow perch (41 mm to 280 mm), and 110 fliers (81 mm to 140 mm), were collected with gill nets, traps, seins, and electro-fishing gear from June through November of 1975. Frequency of occurrence and volumentric data were used to evaluate the relative importance of food items. Spearman's rank correlation coef­ficient was determined from the data to test differences …

Feeding Behavior Of Pen Reared Mule Deer Under Winter Range Conditions, Michael A. Smith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study examined the feeding responses of mule deer to a system of spring livestock grazing. The specific purposes were 1) to determine botanical composition of diets selected by mule deer on a winter range subjected to previous spring grazing by sheep compared to one with no sheep grazing and 2) to develop a basis for predicting selection of individual plants by deer, based on physical characteristics of the plants and the species and physical proximity of associated plants.

The study was conducted within the framework of a completely randomized experimental design with two treatments. Variables controlled for each unit …

Forage Selection And Nutrition Of Sheep And Goats Grazing In The Tunisian Pre-Sahara, Rudolfo Ricardo Griego

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Nomadic pastoralism has been the traditional method of utilizing grazing resources in arid and semi-arid regions of Africa. However, increased sedentarization accompanied by growing human and animal populations during the past two decades is thought to be accelerating the desertification process, or desert expansion. The specific interactions of the grazing animal with this process has been speculated upon but not studied in detail. A comparative study was initiated during the spring grazing season of 1974 to determine sheep and goat nutritional and production responses, as well as patterns of vegetative selection and utilization under the pastoral system currently employed in …

A New Species Of Chiroderma From Guadeloupe, West Indies (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae), Robert J. Baker, Hugh H. Genoways

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

During the course of a study of the bat faunas of the Caribbean islands we obtained a specimen of Chiroderma from the island of Guadeloupe in the Lesser Antilles. The nearest known populations of this genus occur on Tobago and Trinidad (C. villosum and C. trinitatum). approximately 550 kilometers to the south. This specimen represents a distinct new species that appears to be most closely related to C. doriae and C. villosum. This new species is named and described.

Influence Of A Dry Wash Habitat On Distribution And Movement Of Heteromyid Rodents, Jeffrey S. Green

Theses and Dissertations

Three heteromyid rodent species were studied in relation to a large dry wash in Millard County, Utah, during the summer, 1974. Data were gathered with three trapping grids and analyzed to determine if the dry wash influenced rodent movement and distribution patterns. Dipodomys ordii and Dipodomys microps were distributed non-randomly in the dry wash and adjacent habitat, but Perognathus Zongimembris seemed to be randomly distributed. Dipodomys ordii was significantly correlated with wash habitat, but D. microps was found most frequently in upland areas. Soil and vegetative differences and competition were possible causes for the observed distribution. The wash was observed …

Improved Techniques For Marking, Night-Viewing, And Aging White-Tailed Deer, Odocoileus Virginianus, Barnard Hodge Powell

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

These studies were concerned with the development of methods to assist investigators of wildlife population research. Specifically they involve the description of (1) A device which enables an investigator to mark deer at medium range using specially modified darts fired by conventional tranquilizer rifles, (2) Construction of infrared viewers and light sources using surplus equipment and (3) Studies to develop a method of making permanent deer dental impressions under field conditions.

Macrobenthos Population Changes In Crystal Lake, Arkansas, Subsequent To Cage Culture Fish, James C. Adams, Raj V. Kilambi, William A. Wickizer, Arthur V. Brown

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

A three-year study was conducted to determine the possible effects of cage culture of fish on the environment of Crystal Lake, Arkansas. The investigation consisted of three periods: pre- (November 1971-October 1972), during- (November 1972-October 1973), and post- (November 1973-October 1974) cage culture. Numbers and biomass of benthos per square meter for pre-, during-, and post-culture periods were 1353 (10.0g), 730 (8.8g), and 1028 (4.1g), respectively. Numerically, Chaoborus sp., Chironomidae, and Oligochaeta comprised more than 97%. Chaoborus was the most numerous organism before fish culture (>68%), but dominance shifted to the Oligochaeta (>58%) after culture.

Distributional Records Of Amphibians And Reptiles From Coastal Plain Of Arkansas, Edmond J. Bacon Jr., Zane M. Anderson

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Distribution of amphibians and reptiles in the West Gulf Coastal Plain and Mississippi Alluvial Plain is not well known because extensive collecting has not been done in these areas and data in museums have not been published. New distributional records for three salamanders (Desmognathus fuscus brimleyorum, Manculus quadridigitarus, Plethodon glutinosus glutinosus) , two anurans (Rana areolata circulosa, Scaphiopus holbrooki holbrooki), and one snake (Lampropeltis doliata amaura) are presented. Additional collecting will be necessary to determine the exact range and status of the secretive species.

Continuation Of Mourning Dove Studies In Clark County, Arkansas, With Emphasis On Cyclical Behavioral Patterns, Thurman Booth, Fred L. Burnside Jr., Jan Burnside, Peggy Rae Dorris

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

In conjunction with the U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, the Henderson State University Biology Department has continued a study of mourning doves in Clark County, Arkansas, with emphasis on cyclical behavioral patterns. Three hundred forty-three mourning doves were baited, trapped, and banded to obtain information concerning age, sex, populations, retraps, abnormalities, migrations, trap injuries, cyclical behavioral patterns, and other factors.

Characteristics And Behavior Of Guineafowl And Domesticated Chicken Hybrids, Earl L. Hanebrink

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The description, behavior, and morphologic measurements are presented for two hybrid crosses of domesticated chicken and guineafowl. The ease at which gallinaceous birds hybridize might warrant a closer look at the classification system. Possibly the number of families in the superfamily Phasianoidea should be reduced as some other researchers suggest.

Breeding Birds And Vegetation Of The Central Illinois Floodplain Forest, Daniel Edward Varland

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Land Snail Diversity At Rocky Branch Nature Preserve, Clark County, Illinois, Daniel J. Mott

Masters Theses

Terrestrial, shell-bearing gastropods were collected at Rocky Branch Nature Preserve, Clark County, Illinois. A total of three hundred nineteen specimens were collected representing five families and fifteen species. Two species of the family Endodontidae, eight species of the family Polygyridae, three species of the family Zonitidae, and one species in each of the families Pupillidae and Succineidae were collected.

In addition, an attempt was made to find the relationship between species diversity and dominant woody vegetation and soil quality. The land at Rocky Branch Nature Preserve ranges from lowland flood plain to high second growth forest. The dominant trees of …