Animal Sciences Commons^™

Sandhill Crane Abundance At Grays Lake, Idaho, L J. Ball, Jane E. Austin, Adonia R. Henry

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We initiated a study on the breeding ecology of greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) in the Grays Lake basin ofIdaho in 1997. Interest in the status of crane populations at Grays Lake is high; consequently, we present preliminary information on estimated size of the population, changes since the 1970s, and potential environmental factors involved. Drewien (1973) counted an average of549 cranes in the spring and estimated 250 nesting pairs in 1970-71. Number of nesting pairs reportedly increased 33% (to 332) by 1982 in response to intensive management, then declined 40-60% by 1996 (Drewien 1997, and Homocker Wildlife …

Nesting Ecology Of Sandhill Cranes At Grays Lake, Idaho, Jane E. Austin, L. J. Ball, Adonia R. Henry

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We examined the nesting ecology of greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) at Grays Lake, Idaho during 1997-99 to detennine the effects of nest-site characteristics and land use on crane nest success. These are preliminary results from 3 years of a 4-year study. Crane nests were located in portions of the Grays Lake basin from early May through late June each year (n = 131 in 1997; n = 131 in 1998; n = 143 in 1999). Apparent nest success varied among years (54% in 1997, 71% in 1998, and 53% in 1999; overall average of 59%). We …

Translocation Of Florida Sandhill Cranes To Georgia, Wesley A. Abler, Stephen A. Nesbitt

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Wild Florida sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pratensis) were captured in Florida during 3 years and translocated to Grand Bay Wildlife Management Area (GBWMA), Georgia, in an attempt to establish a resident population of Florida sandhill cranes in a location with suitable habitat but no known population of resident sandhill cranes. Translocated second-year subadult cranes commingled with migratory greater sandhill cranes (G. c. tabida) yet remained on GBWMA each year after the migratory birds left the area. Twenty-one of 35 released cranes were visually identified at least 5 months after release, 3 cranes more than 15 months …

Results Of The Second (1996) Experiment To Lead Cranes On Migration Behind A Motorized Ground Vehicle, David H. Ellis, Brian Clauss, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, R. Curt Mykut, Matt Shawkey, Daniel P. Mummert, Daniel T. Sprague, Catherine H. Ellis, F. Benjamin Trahan

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Fourteen greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) were trained to follow a specially-equipped truck and 12 were led along a ca 620-Ian route from Camp Navajo in northern Arizona to the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge near the ArizonalMexico border. Ten survived the trek, 380 Ian of which were flown, although only a few cranes flew every stage of the route. Major problems during the migration were powerline collisions (ca 15, 2 fatal) and overheating (when air temperatures exceeded ca 25° C). The tenacity of the cranes in following both in 1995 and 1996 under unfavorable conditions (e.g., …

Recommendations For The Attachment Of Satellite Transmitters To Cranes, David H. Ellis, Paul W. Howey, Gary L. Krapu

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Recent advances in miniaturization of satellite transmitters have resulted in thumb-sized packages weighing less than 30 g. These are smaller than VHF radios routinely mounted on crane leg bands. With this development and with favorable signal reception results, there is no need for, and much to recommend against, the continued use of back-pack mounts. We provide details for leg-mount attachments.

Resolutions Passed By The North American Crane Working Group Eighth North American Crane Workshop, Albuquerque, New Mexico U.S.A.

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Participants of the Eighth North American Crane Workshop hereby express their thanks and appreciation to the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge for hosting this workshop, to the staff of the Sheraton Old Town Hotel, to the field trip leaders, to the staff of the Bernardo Waterfowl Management Area, and to the committees and individuals who made the workshop a success. The paper sessions were excellent, and the spirit of friendship and dedication to crane conservation among the participants was revitalizing. Special thanks go to NACWG President Scott Hereford and Bosque del Apache Biologist John Taylor for their tireless effort …

Population Genetics Of Midcontinent Sandhill Cranes, Jessica L. Petersen, Richard Bischof, Allen L. Szalanski

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The Midcontinent Sandhill Crane Population is comprised of 3 subspecies, lesser (Grus canadensis canadensis), Canadian (G. c. rowani), and greater (G. c. tabida) sandhill cranes. In conjunction with the USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, we studied the extent of genetic variation between and within each race of the Midcontinent Sandhill Crane Population. DNA was extracted from 150 feather and dried blood samples collected from 1995-99 from sandhill cranes in the Platte River Valley, central Nebraska. Parsimony and maximwn likelihood analysis of the mtDNA D-loop sequences (ca 675 bp amplified using PCR) from 29 …

Aspects Of Reproduction And Pair Bonds In Florida Sandhill Cranes, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Martin J. Folk, Stephen T. Schwikert, James A. Schmidt

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

From 1980-98 we captured and uniquely marked more than 400 Florida sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis prafensis). Age ratios of the marked population, excluding juveniles, was 66% adult and 33% subadult, and the sex ratio was 49% male and 51% female. Average clutch size for 210 nests checked from 1983-97 was 1.78 ± 0.18 (SD) and frequency of l-egg clutches varied among years. Average post-fledging brood size from 1991 to 1997 was 1.27 ± 0.17 (SD), included a 3-chick brood. Average percent ofYOlmg from 2 study areas, 1991-97 was 11.9 ± 3.23 (SD). We observed renesting up to 3 …

An Update Of The Florida Whooping Crane Release Project Through June 2000, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Martin J. Folk, Kathleen A. Sullivan, Stephen T. Schwikert, Marilyn G. Spalding

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Whooping cranes (Grus americana) reared mostly at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (patuxent) or the International Crane Foundation (ICF) have been released in Florida in an effort to reestablish a nonmigratory population in the southeastern United States. From 1993 through spring of 2000, we released 208 cranes. Modifications to the release procedure instituted in 1995 have greatly reduced mortality from the initial release period. First year mortality has averaged 50%. A longterm drought that began after spring 1998 may have contnbuted to increased first year mortality in recent years. Most mortality has been from predation, mostly bobcat …

A Comparison Of Behavior For Two Cohorts Of Captive-Reared Greater Sandhill Cranes Released In Northern Arizona, Daniel P. Mummert, Carol L. Chambers, David H. Ellis

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

To determine how the behavior of greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) changes according to time of year, time of day, and number of days after release, we observed the activities of 2 groups of captive-reared greater sandhill cranes at Mormon Lake, northern Arizona. The behaviors we compared were alert, loafing, sleeping, foraging, preening, locomotion, and other. We found costume-reared subadult greater sandhill cranes that were established at the study site for a year spent more time foraging and being alert towards predators than parent -reared juvenile greater sandhill cranes that were recently released from captivity. We also …

Sandhill Crane Nest And Egg Characteristics At Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon, Carroll D. Littlefield

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

For the period 1969-89, greater sandhill crane (Grus canadensis tabida) nest and egg characteristics were assessed for pairs on the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge (Malheur), Oregon. Nests mostly were in broad-fruited burreed (Sparganium eurycarpum) and hardstem bulrush (Scirpus acutus) and were constructed primarily of the same vegetative species that surrounded nests. Averages for nest parameters were diameter 127 xIII cm, crown diameter 77 x 69 cm, bowl diameter 41 x 37 em, bowl depth 5.8 em, nest height 12.4 em, and water depth 25.8 cm. Nests were placed in vegetation with a mean height …

Effects Of An Early Spring Burn On Greater Sandhill Crane Nesting Success At Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon, Carroll D. Littlefield, John E. Cornely, Bradley D. Ehlers

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

A 2430 ha prescribed burn was conducted on Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Harney County, Oregon in March 1985. About 35 days later, 11 greater sandhill crane (Grus canadensis tabida) pairs nested within the burned area; 9 of these hatched. The remaining 2 clutches were destroyed by coyotes (Canis latrans). Crane hatching success was significantly higher (P = 0.01) on the burned area (81.8%) than elsewhere (38.5%). Two factors were likely responsible for the higher success rate in the burn; nests were placed in deeper water and the smaI1 mammal prey base was temporarily reduced or eliminated …

Evaluation Of The Major Histocompatibility Complex (Mhc) In Cranes: Applications To Conservation Efforts, Susan I. Jarvi, Marcia M. Miller, Ronald M. Gotol, George F. Gee, W. Elwood Briles

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Although there have been heated discussions concerning the relative importance of using Mhc diversity as a basis for selecting breeders in conservation projects, most parties agree that the genetic variability residual in an endangered species should be maintained through genetic management, if at all possible. Substantial evidence exists (particularly in birds) documenting the influences of specific Mhc haplotypes on disease outcome and also that those individuals which are heterozygous for Mhc alleles appear to have an advantage for survival over those that are homozygous. Thus, conservation of genetic variability of the Mhc is likely important for the preservation of fitness, …

Distribution, Abundance, And Reproduction Of The Cuban Sandhill Crane (Grus Canadensis Nesiotes), Xiomara Galvez Aguilera, Vicente Berovides Alvarez, Jose Rivera Rosales

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We discuss the distribution, abundance, and reproduction of the Cuban sandhill crane (Grus canadensis nesiotes). This is an overview of a 5-year study conducted by the National Organization for the Protection of Flora and Fauna of the Ministry of Agriculture for the Republic of Cuba and assisted by the International Crane Foundation and Brehm Fund. The distribution of this subspecies was determined by visiting potential sites and areas where this race has previously been reported. Nine new populations were found. This brings the total to 11 on the Isle of Cuba, 1 on Cayo Romano, and 2 on …

Interactions Of Sandhill Cranes And Whooping Cranes With Foreign Objects In Florida, Martin J. Folk, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Marilyn G. Spalding

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

During studies of Florida sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pralensis), greater sandhill cranes (G. c. tabida), and whooping cranes (G. americana) in Florida, we documented cases where these birds were in contact with human-produced objects that resulted in injury or death. We describe >40 instances in which cranes collided with powerlines or fences, became entangled in string or fishing line, or ingested foreign objects. The effect of human-produced objects on crane populations, particularly small populations, may be significant.

Review Of The Historical And Present Status Of The Lesser Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus Pallidicinctus) In Texas, Robert M. Sullivan, John P. Hughes, James E. Lionberger

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

Historically, the lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) occurred in sandy rangeland throughout the northeastern and southwestern (Permian Basin) regions of the Texas Panhandle. Analyses of the historical distribution showed a large reduction in the range of the species in Texas between 1963 and 1980 (78% or 1,070,426 ha), particularly in the southwestern and east-central panhandle, whereas populations in the northeastern Panhandle remained relatively stable. In the northeastern Panhandle, average number of males per lek increased since 1942. In the southwestern Panhandle, average numbers of males per lek decreased dramatically from 1969 to 1981 and from 1985 to 2000, but …

Creston National Fish Hatchery, Montana Restoring America’S Fisheries

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

The National Fish Hatchery System (NFHS) is comprised of 70 Fish Hatcheries, 7 Fish Technology Centers, and 9 Fish Health Centers nation wide.  The NFHS operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a unique responsibility in helping restore native aquatic populations, mitigate for fisheries lost as a result of federal water projects, provide fish to benefit Tribes and the National Wildlife Refuges, and to recover species listed under the Endangered Species Act.  The NFHS works closely with other programs in the Service and with the States, Tribes, and the private sector to complement habitat restoration and other resource …

D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery, South Dakota Restoring America’S Fisheries

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

Established in 1896, DC Booth Historic NFH, formerly Spearfish NFH, is one of the oldest operating hatcheries in the country dedicated to fish culture and resource management.  The hatchery was constructed to propagate, stock, and establish trout populations in the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming.  After a very successful fish production history, the hatchery ceased operations in the mid-80's and reopened with a new mission and partnership to help preserve the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's historic and cultural heritage.

Today, DC Booth Historic NFH serves as a living fishery museum to the public and many organizations.  Still …

Hotchkiss National Fish Hatchery, Colorado Restoring America’S Fisheries

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

Hotchkiss NFH was established in 1967 as part of the Colorado River Storage Project Act.  Located on 59 acres of forest surroundings on the North Fork of the Gunnison River, the hatchery's cold, clean water supply comes from the adjacent Tommy Dowell Spring.

Tommy Dowell Spring was created in the 1930's by an earthquake near Salt Lake City, whose tremors also affected the Hotchkiss area.  The spring has a constant water temperature of 56 °F and flows from 2,200 to 5,000 gallons per minute, providing the ideal conditions for trout production.

Currently, the hatchery is rearing rainbow trout for stocking …

2001 Nebraska Swine Report

Nebraska Swine Reports

Nutrition
Phytase in Swine Diets
Dietary Manipulation to Reduce Ammonia Concentration in Nursery Pig Facilities
Plasma Urea Concentrations of Pigs on Commercial Operations
Replacing Conventionally Processed Soybean Meal with Extruded/Expelled Soybean Meal in Swine Diets
Economic Value of Ractopamine (Paylean™) for Finishing Pigs
Valine, Isoleucine, and Histidine Supplementation of Low-Protein, Amino Acid-Supplemented Diets for Growing Pigs
Dietary Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) and Body Fat Changes
The Effect of Compensatory Growth on Organ Weights and Carcass Composition in Growing Gilts
Factors Affecting Small Intestine Development in Weanling Pigs

Genetics
Two-stage Selection for Ovulation Rate and Litter Size in Swine – an …

Supreme Court Rules In Progress Pig Case, J. David Aiken

Nebraska Swine Reports

Article 8 §12 of the Nebraska constitution (Initiative 300) establishes several requirements for corporations to legally qualify as family farm or ranch corporations. Under one provision, a majority of the family farm or ranch corporation’s shareholders must be family members, “at least one of whom is a person residing on or actively engaged in the day-to-day labor and management of the farm or ranch.” In Hall v Progress Pig Inc., 259 Neb 407 (May 12, 2000) (Progress Pig II) the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that where no family member resides on the farm or ranch, a family member must …

Phytase In Swine Diets, Mike Brumm

Nebraska Swine Reports

An experiment was conducted to determine whether phytase additions to swine growing-finishing diets improved the availability of lysine, calcium, energy and phosphorus in corn and soybean meal-based diets. Diets investigated for growing-finishing barrows of high-lean-gain potential included: 1) University of Nebraska recommended diet formulations; 2) diets formulated to contain 85% of the lysine recommended; 3) lysine-deficient diets formulated with phytase; 4) phytase-formulated diets with phytase deleted; and 5) phytase-formulated diets with phytase deleted and with additional calcium and phosphorus. Pigs fed diets formulated to 85% of the recommended lysine level had slower growth, slower daily lean gain, poorer feed conversion, …

The Effect Of Compensatory Growth On Organ Weights And Carcass Composition In Growing Gilts, Robert L. Fischer, Phillip S. Miller, Austin Lewis

Nebraska Swine Reports

An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of compensatory growth and amino acid supply on organ weights and carcass characteristics in growing gilts. Gilts were fed either a corn-soybean meal diet or a corn-soybean meal diet supplemented with crystalline lysine. Pigs were randomly allotted to either a 21-day ad libitum eating period or a 42-day restricted-realimentated feeding period. The restricted-realimentated (RR) feeding period consisted of a 21-day restriction period and a 21- day ad libitum eating period (realimentation). During the restriction period, pigs were fed to maintain body weight. Results indicated that during the restriction period, gilts had a …

Factors Affecting Small Intestine Development In Weanling Pigs, Steven J. Kitt, Phillip S. Miller, Austin Lewis

Nebraska Swine Reports

The pig faces significant biological and environmental challenges after weaning. A great deal of information is available on behavior, environment, health, and nutrition of the newly weaned pig; however, newly weaned pigs still suffer a growth lag. The pig’s small intestinal structure and function is altered during the days that follow weaning. As a consequence, the digestive and absorptive capacity of weanling pigs is decreased during this period and this may be partially responsible for the post weaning growth lag. Additionally, health benefits may be associated with an improved small intestinal structure and function. The goal of this article is …

Dietary Conjugated Linoleic Acid (Cla) And Body Fat Changes, Jess L. Miner, Chris Cederberg, Xiaoli Chen, Clifton Baile, Merlyn K. Nielsen

Nebraska Swine Reports

Feeding mixed isomers of linoleic acid with conjugated double bonds (CLA) reduces body fat in several species, including pigs. To learn about the mechanism involved, we fed CLA to sexually mature mice at 0, 1 and 2% of the diet for 5, 12 and 14 days. Dietary CLA reduced body fat by nearly 50% but did not reduce body weight. Mice fed CLA also experienced programmed death (apoptosis) of fat cells. This implicates a new mechanism (fat cell death) by which CLA reduces body fat without reducing lean. The effectiveness of feeding CLA for as few as five days may …

Replacing Conventionally Processed Soybean Meal With Extruded/Expelled Soybean Meal In Swine Diets, Andrea M. Tucker, Phillip S. Miller, Austin Lewis, Duane Reese

Nebraska Swine Reports

The effects of extruded/expelled soybean meal (ESBM) on growth performance and carcass composition of pigs from weaning to slaughter were investigated. Two experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, weaned pigs were fed a diet containing either conventional solvent-extracted soybean meal or ESBM. Average daily gain and feed efficiency were greater in pigs fed the control diet. The second experiment was designed to determine whether nursery diet influenced performance during the growing-finishing period. In the second experiment, half of the pigs from Experiment 1 were assigned to either a control or ESBM diet and were fed until slaughter. Average daily …

What We Know About Minnesota's First Endangered Fish Species: The Topeka Shiner, Jay T. Hatch

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

The Topeka shiner, Notropis topeka, is the first of Minnesota's native ichthyofauna to be classified as federally endangered. The species is in serious decline in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa but is far more common in Minnesota than once was thought. At present, it is known from 89 sites in 17 streams of the Missouri River Drainage. Topeka shiners are multiple-clutch spawning nest associates of sunfishes and reproduce over an eight- to ten-week period between late May and early August. Mean clutch size is 261 to 284. Longevity is three years. Males grow faster than females, reaching longer mean total …

Twenty-Five Years Of Population Fluctuations Of Microtus Ochrogaster And M-Pennsylvanicus In Three Habitats In East-Central Illinois, Lowell L. Getz, Joyce E. Hofmann, Betty Mcguire, Thomas W. Dolan Iii

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Populations of 2 species of arvicoline rodents, the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) and meadow vole (M. pennsylvanicus), were monitored monthly in alfalfa, bluegrass, and tallgrass prairie habitats in east-central Illinois from 1972 through 1997. Alfalfa provides very highquality preferred food and poor vegetative cover for both vole species, whereas bluegrass provides intermediate food and vegetative cover. Preferred food resources were very low, especially for M. ochrogaster, and vegetative cover was very dense in tallgrass prairie. Maximum and mean population densities of M. ochrogaster were highest in alfalfa, intermediate in bluegrass, and lowest in tallgrass prairie. …

The Development Of European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus Labrax L., 1758) Eggs In Relation To Temperature, Şahi̇n Saka, Kürşat Firat, H. Okan Kamaci

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

In this study, the development of European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L., 1758) eggs was investigated at different temperatures. The experiments were carried out at 15ºC and 17ºC. The average diameters of the eggs were determined tobe approximately 1.162±0.004 mm. The embryonic development of the eggs was observed every hour and then photographed. The hatching rates were found to be 84.8-89.4% at 15ºC and 82.3-86.3% at 17ºC, respectively. Hatching of the larvae took 87 hours at 15ºC and 69 hours at 17ºC.

Blood Parasites Of Wild Pigeons In Ankara District, Yunus Gicik, M. Özkan Arslan

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

A total of 200 wild pigeons, 82 young and 118 adults, captured from 12 localities in Ankara District, were examined for blood parasites. Haemoproteus columbae was found in 57% (114/200) of the pigeons examined, and no other blood parasites were detected.