Animal Sciences Commons^™

Three-Dimensional Home Range Of The Eastern Fox Squirrel, Sciurus Niger, Joi L. Augustin

Masters Theses

Standard procedures for presenting home range data for species such as the fox squirrel on a single plane do not adequately represent the space they occupy. Comparisons of techniques for presenting the home range of this species on a three-dimensional basis were made using data obtained by direct observations of color marked squirrels. Three-dimensional ellipsoid models of their range varied from 9,154 m³ to 63,811 m³ and were assumed to be more accurate when observation points approached 50 in number. Rectangular parallelepipeds for the same data ranged from 9,784 m³ to 56,836 m³ and resulted in …

Description And Taxonomic Importance Of Penial Morphology In The Cryptodiran Turtles Of Malaysia, Lynn D. Wike

Masters Theses

This paper investigates the use of penial structure to study the relationships among the turtles of peninsular Malaysia. The penial morphology of Malaysian turtles, mainly batagurines, has not been previously described. Herein penes of 12 Malaysian species are described and compared to three Nearctic species. Each was coded for 22 penial characters which were used for numerical analysis by the NT-SYS numerical taxonomy system of multivariate statistical proceedures. The analysis failed to distinguish groups below the family level when the 15 species were tested. The test also failed to distinguish the complexes within the Batagurinae when they were analyzed separately. …

Studies On The Scorpions Of Libya, Nuri Milad Barbash

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Fin Clipping And Tagging On Growth And Behavior Of The Largemouth Bass (Micropterus Salmoides), Daniel M. Daley

Masters Theses

One hundred largemouth bass, ranging in size from 148mm to 385mm, were equally divided into four treatment groups (control, tag only, tag and left pectoral fin clip, and tag and all paired fins clipped) , and placed into a 5.56 hectare pond on 22 May and 25 May 1979. Upon recovery on 28 September 1979, the increase in length from the time of most recent annulus formation was found to be significantly greater in Age I control fish (x̄ = 125mm) than in fish of the same age in the other three treatment groups (x̄ = 110mm, 103mm, and 106mm, …

Analyses Of Illinois Wild Turkey Habitat And April Foods, Kim D. Price

Masters Theses

A vegetative analysis of turkey habitat was conducted in Alexander, Jackson, Union, and Calhoun Counties, Illinois. From these studies it was determined that turkeys inhabit relatively open stands of timber with agricultural fields and forest clearings in close proximity. Species of Quercus comprise approximately 40% or more of the tree species sampled, with Q. alba, Q. rubra, and Q. velutina being the most dominant. Found growing in association with Quercus are species of Carya, Cornus florida, Acer saccharum, Sassafras albidum, Fraxinus americana, and Ulmus rubra, in varying concentrations. The examination of food …

Repopulation Of Fishes In Riley Creek, Coles County, Illinois Following Nitrogen Fertilizer Pollution, Kim James Carney

Masters Theses

The repopulation of stream fishes was studied from 17 May 1979 to 25 October 1979 following a major kill (100% mortality) caused by nitrogen fertilizer pollution in Riley Creek, Coles County, Illinois. The extent of recovery was determined by comparing post-kill collections with pre-kill survey data that was collected on 25 October 1978.

Repopulation began six days after the abatement of the pollution source. It is suggested that the initial source of repopulation was from the nearest undamaged tributary. The first three reinhabitants in order of appearence were: stonerollers (Campostoma anomalum); creek chubs (Semotilus atromaculatus); and …

A Search For Lymphatic Tissue In The Mouse Pineal Gland, John B. Hutchinson

Masters Theses

There is recent evidence that the pineal gland in some species may have lymphatic qualities during early post natal life. In this study the development and structure of the pineal complex in the CDF₁ mouse is examined in fetal, neonatal, juvenile, and adult stages. The gland appears as an out growth of the dorsal wall of the third ventricle of the brain and at ten days gestation attains a mean size of 90 microns in the transverse and 35 microns in the median saggital plane. General and specific staining shows fetal and early post partum tissue to be compact …

Comparative Reproduction Of The Red-Eared Turtle, Pseudemys Scripta Elegans, In Heated And Natural Lakes, Gary Marshal Thornhill

Masters Theses

The effect of heating on aquatic ecosystems by energy producing power plants has not been fully determined. A comparative study of the reproduction of Pseudemys scripta was conducted in heated and natural lakes in southwestern Illinois from 30 March to 10 July, 1979. Lakes used were the same as those used for comparative growth studies of P. scripta by another researcher. Lake Baldwin (heated) has had a reduction in vegetation since that researcher's work. Temperatures were taken of air, water surface, and one meter deep.

Turtles were caught by hand, trammel nets, and in carp-baited hoop nets. Captured turtles were …

Dirofilaria Immitis In The Wild Canids Of Illinois, Thomas J. Kick

Masters Theses

The heartworm, Dirofilaria immitis, is widespread in dogs in North America and has been reported in wild canids in many states. This is a report of this parasite in hearts removed from coyote, red fox and gray fox carcasses collected in Illinois. A total of 415 coyotes had a significantly higher infection rate (23.6%) than 225 red foxes (3.6%) and 99 gray foxes (3.0%). Infection rates in red foxes and coyotes were significantly higher in or near the Wabash Border Natural Division along the eastern side of the state, suggesting a relationship between infection rates and this region. The …

Evaluation Of Potential Wild Turkey Habitat In Eastern Illinois, Cara B. Daugherty

Masters Theses

Reestablishment of the wild turkey has been successful in the southern part of Illinois where large established tracts of woodland occur. However, turkeys are capable of surviving in areas with less forest cover, if food, nesting materials and protection are available. This project evaluated the potential turkey habitat of a 14-county area of eastern Illinois along the drainage of the Wabash River. Six potential release sites were selected and the habitat evaluated. In these areas, oak (Quercus spp.) and hickory (Carya spp.) were the dominant tree species. Disturbance from human populations was determined in each of …

A Diet And Reproductive Study For Selected Species Of Malaysian Turtles, Colleen E. Kimmel

Masters Theses

Batagur baska, Callagur borneoensis, Cuora amboinensis, Cyclemys dentata, Orlitia borneensis, Siebenrockiella crassicollis, and Trionyx cartilagineus are suggested to be omnivorous by diet analysis. Cyclemys and Orlitia are the more herbivorous of the seven species examined. Batagur and Callagur are two closely related sympatric species that appear to have diverged sufficiently to eliminate competition for food resourses, as indicated by Morista's Index of Niche Overlap. Along the Perak River and it's tributaries in West Malaysia, Batagur and Callagur feed primarily upon the fruit of the berembang tree. In Trengganu (eastern Malaysia), the berembang is absent …

Notes On Seasonal Variation And Infectivity Of Haemogamasus Reidi, A Vector Of Hepatozoon Griseisciuri, On Eastern Gray Squirrels, Sciurus Carolinensis, Mohammed Bashiru

Masters Theses

Five hundred and twenty-two squirrels were trapped and retrapped from a population in Montgomery County, Maryland during 1974-1975. One hundred and forty-one squirrels were found to harbor an average of 10.6 mites (Range 175-1). While male squirrels outnumbered females (79 vs 62) females harbored more mites than males (829 vs 666). During the spring the average number of mites per captured squirrel increased to an average of 18.1 per squirrel. The average declined to 6.8, 4.8 and 3.3 per squirrel in summer, fall and winter respectively. Throughout the collection period adult female mites were by far more numerous on hosts …

Histology Of Dichromatic And Seasonal Color Change Of The Cranial Region Of Callagur Borneoensis, Kevin William Matson

Masters Theses

Male Callagur borneoensis exihibit sexual dichromatism and seasonal coloration which is rare among turtles. In the breeding season male's heads are colored white with a scarlet stripe from the occiput to the tip of the snout. After the breeding season they change to drab charcoal-gray to black with a dull orange-yellow stripe. Females and juveniles are a drab brown throughout the year.

This study was performed to determine the mechanisms of this color change at the histological level. Histological preparation of the head revealed a significant increase in vascular tissue just below the epidermis of the stripe area with increased …

Coccidian Parasites Of Wild Turkeys, Meleagris Gallopavo Silvestris, In Illinois, D. Michael Watkins

Masters Theses

Fecal samples from 124 wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris), collected in three southern Illinois counties, were examined for coccidia. Three and two tenths percent (4) of the birds sampled were infected with Eimeria of apparently four different species. These species were tentatively designated as: E. meleagridis, E. adendeides, E. meleagrimitis and E. subrotunda.

The Ecology Of Invertebrate Drift And Feeding Chronology Of The Striped Shiner, Notropis Chrysocephalus (Rafinesque) In Polecat Creek, Illinois, Dennis L. Newman

Masters Theses

The downstream drift of macroinvertebrates and the daily feeding cycle of the striped shiner, Notropis chrysocephalus (Rafinesque), were studied during the spring and summer of 1978 in Polecat Creek, Illinois. The purpose of the study was to: investigate the drift phenomenon of an entire lotic community, determine the pattern of diel periodicity for several important benthic populations, make qualitative and quantitative assessments of the relation of drift to benthos, and examine drift in relation to the daily feeding ecology of a cyprinid carnivore.

Polecat Creek at the sampling site was a relatively fast-flowing third-order stream, with frequent riffles. Drift sampling …

Feeding Habits And Behavior Of The Whiptail Lizard Cnemidophorus Tigris On Partida Island, Patrick Alan Malone

Masters Theses

The feeding habits of the whiptail lizard Cnemidophorus tigris were studied from May 25 until July 23, 1977 on the Partida Island in the Gulf of California. Analysis of the stomach contents of 91 lizards revealed that during this period the eggs and young of the least and black petrel are a primary food source while tenebrionid beetles become a major food source after bird products become unavailable.

The Structure And Fate Of Germinal Plasm In The Asiatic Fire-Bellied Frog, Bombina Orientalis (Anura-Discoglossidae), Ted W. Odom

Masters Theses

Lehman's polychrome stain was used to follow the fate of germinal plasm in early development of Bombina orientalis embryos. Islets of germinal plasm approximately 6 um in diameter were observed in the vegetal pole region of the 2-cell embryo. By the 4-cell stage, some of these islets had coalesced to form larger ones so that two size classes of islets were present (approximately 7.5 and 19.5 um in diameter).

As cleavage continued to the 16-cell stage, the islets were moved further up the cleavage furrow and were always observed to remain in close association with the cleavage membrane. The islets …

A Histochemical Study Of Tooth Development In The Chinese Hamster (Cricetulus Griseus), Robert B. Daszkiewicz

Masters Theses

The normal morphological development of the Chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus) during the last week of gestation was studied. A review of the literature reveals no distinct study of tooth development in this species. An identical gestation period is found in the mouse (Mus musculus) making direct comparison between the embryos of the same age of the two species feasible. During this investigation, it was found that morphological tooth development in the Chinese hamster lagged behind that of the mouse by about 2 days. On day 14 of gestation in the Chinese hamster, the oral epithelium is …

Capillaria Sp. From Cryptotis Parva, Joseph N'Dong

Masters Theses

Twenty-nine Cryptotis parva were trapped at Lincoln Log Cabin State Park in Coles County Illinois between 22 December 1976 and 31 January 1978. Trapped specimens were necropsied and examined for the presence of helminth parasites. Nematode infections were found to be present in eight (27.2%) of the shrews collected with five (17.2%) of the males and three (10.3%) of the females infected. Three adult female nematodes were recovered from the small intestines of the host specimens, described and identified as the genus Capillaria. No male Capillaria were obtained and therefore species identification was impossible. However, the general appearance of …

Utilization Of Heat Sensitivity In Crotalidae, James Cordrey Miller

Masters Theses

Specimens of five genera of snakes (Crotalus, Agkistrodon, Bitis, Epicrates, and Elaphe) were tested for use of thermal cues in food selection. Results indicate that pit vipers (Crotalus and Agkistrodon) and boas (Epicrates) utilize thermal radiation in selection of food. It was also indicated that Crotalus (rattlesnakes) do not invariably show a reflexive strike before food is investigated or ingested.

A Study Of Symbiosis Involving The Fish-Eating Bat (Myotis Vivesi), The Least Petrel (Halocyptera Microsoma), The Black Petrel (Oceanodroma Melania), And The Lizard (Cnemidophorus Tigris), Joel King

Masters Theses

A field study was conducted on Partida Island in the Gulf of Mexico on the dates May 26 through July 26, 1977, inclusive.

Field observations were made of the lizard (Cnemidophorus tigris) preying on eggs and hatchlings of the least petrel (Halocyptena microsoma), and the black petrel (Oceanodroma melania). The petrels roost among rock slides with the fish-eating bat (Myotis vivesi).

In 24 trials of experimental boxes with lizards, bats, and petrels as subjects, 16 trials resulted in aggression of bats to lizards.

A symbiosis is postulated between bats and petrels.

Epizoic Protozoa Of Planktonic Copepoda And Cladocera From A Small Eutrophic Lake, And Their Possible Use As Indicators Of Organic Water Pollution, Michael Stevens Henebry

Masters Theses

The epizoic protozoa of planktonic copepoda and cladocera from a eutrophic lake (Ashmore Lake, Coles County, Illinois) were studied over a 13-week period in the summer and fall of 1975. All organisms were collected with a 125 micron mesh plankton net. Epizoans (all peritrichs and suctorians) were hosted by three of four species of copepods and four of the ten species of cladocerans. The percentage of total organisms hosting epizoans varied significantly (0.001 alpha level) by month, but averaged 11.6 percent. This high occurrence of epizoans was thought to be related to the highly-eutrophic conditions existing in the lake. If …

Effects Of Indomethacin On Gastric Secretion And Duodenal Ulcer Formation In Bile Duct-Ligated Rats, Diane M. Przewozniak

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Cold Exposure On Serum Levels Of Corticosteroid-Binding Globulin In Male And Virgin Female Rats, Erik R. Larsen

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

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

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Blood Parasites Of Squirrels From Coles And Lake Counties In Illinois, Nicholas I. Obiri

Masters Theses

Hepatozoon and microfilariae are described from the blood of fox and gray squirrels captured in Coles and Lake Counties in Illinois during 1976 and 1977. The hepatozoon species is identified as Hepatozoon griseisciuri on the basis of parasite morphology and hosts. A higher rate of infection (35.7% : 11.1%) was observed in gray squirrels than in fox squirrels and more adults were infected than juveniles. No microfilariae were found in gray squirrels but fox squirrels had a 57.1% infection rate with no difference based on age. The observed microfilariae are similar to that described by Davidson from Maryland gray squirrels …

Production And Utilization Of Sunflower Food Plots At Shelbyville Wildlife Management Area, Illinois, Duane T. Dust

Masters Theses

Three sunflower (Helianthus annuus) fields from 3.2 ha to 1.0 ha in size, planted on the Shelbyville Wildlife Management Area, Illinois were analyzed for seed production and utilization by birds. Seed in heads and on the ground were sampled and species and numbers of birds in the fields were censused at two week intervals from September, 1976 to February, 1977. Decline in seed availability was most rapid in the smallest field and least rapid in the largest field. Fields and portions of fields adjacent to wooded cover were also utilized more rapidly. American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) …

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

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Superovulation On The Reproductive Cycle Of Mature Female Mus Musculus, David F. Grace

Masters Theses

A total of 38 Mus musculus were used to compare superovulation to normal ovulation in three different areas of the reproductive cycle. The areas studied include the fertilization and abortion rates, alternation of ovarian function, and normalization of estrus cycling. No statistically significant differences were noted between the two groups in either fertility rates or abortion rates. A distinct difference was noted in alternation of ovarian function. Normally ovulating mice showed a distinct right or left preference in the number of ova ovulated from each ovary. Animals showing a left preference exhibited approximately a 2:1 ratio and animals with a …

Ecology Of The Pirate Perch, Leslie D. Frankland

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.