Animal Sciences Commons^™

Population Ecology And Reproductive Biology Of The Diamondback Watersnake, Nerodia Rhombifer (Serpentes: Colubridae), In Southernmost Texas, Ruben D. Zamora

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Nerodia rhombifer is a polytypic, semi-aquatic snake with a broad geographical distribution ranging from the American Midwest southward to Chiapas, Mexico. Although relatively abundant throughout much of its range, few ecological studies of the species have been conducted. This study provides basic population ecology information in a subtropical habitat. Population data were obtained in a mark-recapture study at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Hidalgo County, Texas, from August 1995 to December 1998. Specimens taken elsewhere in Hidalgo County provided information on the reproductive biology. This study provides the first absolute density estimates from anywhere within the species’ range. Quantitative information …

Records Of Aquatic Beetles (Helophoridae, Hydrophilidae, Hydrochidae, Dytiscidae) And Physico-Chemical Parameters In A Natural Lake (Artvin, Turkey), Ümi̇t İncekara

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Some ecological requirements of aquatic Coleoptera species were studied in a natural lake. Water beetle samples, collected in 2007 from the National Park Sahara-Karagöl belonging to the families Helophoridae, Hydrophilidae, Hydrochidae, and Dytiscidae were identified and listed. Both physical (conductivity and temperature) and chemical (pH, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, hardness, organic matter, chloride, phosphate, and some metal ions) parameters of the inhabited water were measured.

Ecological Succession Of Freshwater Ostracoda (Crustacea) In A Newly Developed Rheocrene Spring (Bolu, Turkey), Okan Külköylüoğlu

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Six species of ostracod (Candona neglecta, Heterocypris incongruens, Ilyocypris bradyi, Darwinula stevensoni, Pseudocandona compressa, and Psychrodromus olivaceus) were collected from a newly developed spring between October 2001 and October 2004. The first 5 species have cosmopolitan distribution in the Holarctic region. The ratio of non-cosmopolitan to cosmopolitan species (called 'pseudorichness') was 0.2, suggesting dominance of cosmopolitan species. Among the species, C. neglecta displayed the highest tolerance to 6 different environmental variables, although its estimated optimum values varied. Except foor redox potential and salinity, optimum values for H. incongruens were the highest. High tolerance and optimum values seemed to provide more …

Slides: "Mitaku Oyasin" Means "We Are All Related", Bob Gough

Shifting Baselines and New Meridians: Water, Resources, Landscapes, and the Transformation of the American West (Summer Conference, June 4-6)

Presenter: Bob Gough, NativeEnergy, Inc.

72 slides

Time Post-Hatch Caloric Value Of Artemia Salina, Jessie M. Sanders

Senior Honors Projects

In aquatic animal collections, such as those in the collection of Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration’s Fish & Invertebrate department, live food is an essential part of the diet of animals that are on display, used in education, and kept in reserve for exhibits. For Mystic Aquarium’s Fish & Invertebrate department, newly hatched Artemia salina, or brine shrimp, are fed to an assortment of fishes and invertebrates, including soft corals and jellyfish. Hatch brine is an important source of fatty acids, which are essential for proper growth and development. Hatch brine starts encapsulated in a cyst form and are …

Differences In Ostracoda (Crustacea) Assemblages Between Two Maar Lakes And One Sinkhole Lake In The Konya Region Of Turkey, Derya Akdemi̇r

Turkish Journal of Zoology

For this study, ostracod samples collected from a total of 9 stations in 2 maar lakes (Acı and Meke) and 1 sinkhole lake (Meyil) in Konya, Turkey were investigated. Accordingly, 14 ostracod taxa (Darwinula stevensoni, Candona angulata, Candona sp. 1, Candona sp. 2, Pseudocandona marchica, Cypria sp., Ilyocypris gibba, I. bradyi, I. monstrifica, Heterocypris salina, Potamocypris sp., Limnocythere sp., Paralimnocythere sp., and Cythereis sp.) belonging to 10 genera were identified. Among them, only 2 species (I. bradyi and P. marchica) were collected alive, while the others were found in sub-fossil form, and some shells of D. stevensoni were found containing …

Ptenoglossa Species (Mollusca: Gastropoda) Distributed Along The Turkish Coast Of The Aegean Sea, Bi̇lal Öztürk, Alper Doğan, Banu Bi̇tli̇s, Mesut Önen

Turkish Journal of Zoology

This study was performed to determine Ptenoglossa species (Mollusca, Gastropoda) distributed along the Turkish coastline of the Aegean Sea. The examination of samples, taken between 1995 and 2005 from various biotopes and depths up to 300 m, yielded 249 specimens and 130 shells, belonging to 33 ptenoglossate species, of which Monophorus thiriotae Bouchet 1984, Similiphora similior (Bouchet and Guillemot 1978), Cerithiopsis diadema Monterosato 1874, Cerithiopsis jeffreysi Watson 1885, Krachia tiara (Monterosato 1874), Punctiscala cerigothana (Sturani 1896), Melanella boscii (Payraudeau 1826), and Nanobalcis nana (Monterosato 1878) were unrecorded from the Turkish coasts. Furthermore, M. thiriotae and K. tiara are new reports …

Feeding Performance In Hawaiian Stream Goby Fishes: Morphological And Functional Analysis, Takashi Maie

All Theses

Distributions of Hawaiian stream fishes are typically interrupted by waterfalls that divide streams into lower and upper segments. Larvae hatched upstream are flushed into the ocean, and must climb these waterfalls to reach adult habitats when returning back to freshwater as part of an amphidromous life cycle. Stream surveys and studies of climbing performance show that Lentipes concolor can reach fast-flowing upper stream segments, but that Awaous guamensis reaches only slower, lower stream segments. Gut content analyses for these two species indicate that diet differs between them only by 10% or less dry weight for most major components (mostly green …

Importance Of Early Successional Forest For Wildlife In Southern New England, Amy Wynia

Senior Honors Projects

Many bird species that require early successional forest are declining in the Northeast U.S. because such habitat is relatively rare and when they inhabit the more common mature forests or suburban areas they are less successful. Early successional forest is maintained by regular disturbance (wind, fire, clear-cutting, and flooding) which has been happening less frequently during the past 50 years. Bird species that have declined during this time and which inhabit early successional forest include ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata), chestnut-sided warbler (Dendroica pensylvanica), gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis), field sparrow (Spizella pusilla), golden-winged warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera), eastern …

Ecology And Morphological Comparison Between Rough Greensnakes (Opheodrys A. Aestivus) And Eastern Smooth Greensnakes (Opheodrys V. Vernalis) In West Virginia, Timothy Earl Baldwin

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Since 1971, documented Rough Greensnake (Opheodrys aestivus) occurrences in West Virginia have declined from approximately 100 to less than 20 occurrences in the last 10 years. In contrast to the decline of Rough Greensnakes in WV, Smooth Greensnake (O. vernalis) populations appear to be stable over the same period of time. Historic sites from the West Virginia Biological Survey were cross referenced with habitat descriptions in published literature to establish research locations. One hundred nineteen Rough and Smooth Greensnakes were measured for snout-vent length and total body length, and of these, 78 were measured in detail for external head morphology …

Contributions To The Chiroptera Of Mongolia With First Evidences On Species Communities And Ecological Niches, Dietrich Dolch, Nyamsuren Batsaikhan, Klaus Thiele, Frank Burger, Ingo Scheffler, Andreas Kiefer, Frieder Mayer, Ravčigijn Samjaa, Annegret Stubbe, Michael Stubbe, Leonard Krall, Dirk Steinhauser

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

In this paper are presented the accounts of 13 identified bat species from a total of 628 captured specimens from 32 locations in Mongolia during three field expeditions. These species accounts include taxonomical, morphological, and ecological data resulting from observations and further analyses. As a result of this work the distribution of some bat species in Mongolia can be drawn in more detail. For instance, Vespertilio murinus is much wider distributed and abundant than the former records indicate. The Plecotus species were clearly identified by genetic analyses combined with morphological characteristics. Moreover, the second record for Eptesicus serotinus and the …

Ecological Investigations Of Chukars In Western Utah, Randy T. Larsen

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents three separate manuscripts in chapter format dealing with the ecology of Chukars (Alectoris chukar) in western North America. All three manuscripts have been formatted for publication in professional journals. Chapter one confirms discovery of ingested lead pellets in Chukars across a broad region of western Utah including all four western counties sampled. Prevalence rates were 1.9% (n=105) for crops and 10.7% (n=75) of gizzards showing no evidence of penetration wounds. Ingestion is likely related to grit size preferences that are consistent with common shot sizes. The second chapter describes watering patterns and water-site selection of Chukars. Chukars …

Distribution And Ecology Of Freshwater Ichthyofauna Of The Biga Peninsula, North-Western Anatolia, Turkey, Hasan Musa Sari, Süleyman Balik, Mustafa Ruşen Ustaoğlu, Ali̇ İlhan

Turkish Journal of Zoology

This research was carried out at 35 stations in 16 different streams on the Biga Peninsula during the spring and summer of 2000 and 2001 to determine the freshwater ichthyofauna and community features. In addition, some physical and chemical parameters of the streams were determined in their natural environment. Fourteen taxa belonging to 5 families were determined. Leuciscus cephalus, Petroleuciscus borysthenicus, Rhodeus amarus, Phoxinus phoxinus, Chalcalburnus chalcoides, Barbus tauricus escherichi, Gobio gobio, Capoeta capoeta bergamae, Vimba vimba, Cobitis fahirae and Neogobius fluviatilis are recorded for the first time from the Biga Peninsula. The most abundant species in the study area …

First Results Of Wild Ass Research In The South Gobi Aymag/Mongolia In 2003 And 2004, Annegret Stubbe, Michael Stubbe, N. Batsajchan, R. Samjaa, S. Doržderem

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

The population of the Mongolian wild ass belongs to the nominate form Equus hemionus hemionus described by Pallas in 1775. This species is adapted to semidesert habitats in the Gobi region and is listed in the Red Book of Mongolia as well as on appendix I of the Washington Convention (CITES). Mapping of the northern border of the distributional range showed a remarkable decrease in size in comparison to the maps of Murzaev (1954) or Bannikov (1954). The pressure of civilization, settlements, motorization, and increasing numbers of domestic livestock in connection with the occupation of water resources and illegal hunting …

Beiträge Zur Ökologie Und Verbreitung Der Steppenwühlmaus Microtus Brandti Radde, 1861 In Der Mongolei = Ecology And Distribution Of The Steppe Vole Microtus Brandti Radde, 1861 In Mongolia, N. Dawaa, Michael Stubbe, Annegret Stubbe

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

Microtus brandti is one of the most important pest species of Mongolian rodents. Since the publication of Bannikov (1954) the area of expansion is increased, in the Archangaj-Aimag 200 km westward, in the Central Aimag 70 km to the North and in the north-eastern part of Dornogov’- Aimag about 110 km to the South. In years of gradation the plant cover was exterminated up to 100%. We can distinguish a zone of exposed harmfulness with a damage of 70-100%. In this region 16 great centers of infestation were listed. Between 1925 and 1985 six important calamities were noticed, in intervals …

Das Arteninventar Der Avifauna Der Mongolei Während Einer Nord-Süd-Durchquerung 1997, Tobias Stenzel, Michael Stubbe, R. Samjaa, Annegret Stubbe, C. Dulamsuren

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

Here we present a detailed report on bird biodiversity of ecosystems along a North-South transect through Mongolia in 1997whic h serves as a guideline for further research projects and training for students in all Mongolian vegetation zones from northern steppes to southern deserts.

Two hundred fifty-five bird species were observed between 21st of July and 10th of August 1997. The main study sites were located in the North the Selenge-Orchon-basin with meadows and dune woodlands 15 km southern from Suchbaatar, the Middle Gobi-Aimag with desert steppes and sajrs (covered with Ulmus pumila) and in the Bordzongijn-gobi in the South …

Natural History And Karyology Of The Yucatán Vesper Mouse, Otonyctomys Hatti, Hugh H. Genoways, Robert M. Timm, Mark D. Engstrom

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Seventeen specimens of the rare Yucatán vesper mouse, Otonyctomys hatti, are now known from Belize, Guatemala, and the Mexican states of Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Yucatán. We herein report a second specimen of O. hatti, from Belize, extending the known geographic range of the species 95 km to the southeast in the country. This is the first location at which O. hatti has been taken sympatrically with the Central American vesper mouse, Nyctomys sumichrasti. We also report data on three additional specimens of O. hatti from Campeche. Nyctomys and Otonyctomys share similar habits and habitat requirements, and …

Observations On The Ecology, Reproduction And Behavior Of Spermophilus Bennett, 1835 (Mammalia: Rodentia) In Turkey, Şaki̇r Özkurt, Nuri̇ Yi̇ği̇t, Ercüment Çolak, Mustafa Sözen, Muhammed Mouradi Gharakheloo

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Field and laboratory investigations on the ecology, reproduction and behavior of Spermophilus citellus and Spermophilus xantophrymnus were performed over a period of 4 years. Both S. citellus and S. xanthophrymnus are diurnal species and occupy semiarid steppe areas in Turkish Thrace and Anatolia, respectively. Distribution of the former species is confined to restricted steppe areas in Turkish Thrace whilethe, latter lives on the Anatolian steppe, and is sympatric with Meriones tristami, Mesocricetus brandthi, Allactaga williamsi and Microtus spp. The burrows of both species have one entrance, and are built separately in the field. They constitute small social colonies and communicate …

Water Mite (Acari, Hydrachnellae) Fauna Of Lake Çapalı, Afyon, Turkey, Yunus Ömer Boyaci, Muhli̇s Özkan

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Through 10 monthly sampling, a total of 7434 water mites belonging to 24 species and 9 families from Lake Çapalı were caught and identified. Of these, Piona variabilis and Arrenurus batillifer are new records for the Turkish fauna. Besides the index of species diversity, frequency analysis and the ecological characters of the study area, constant, associated, euconstant, influent and accidental species were determined.

Bats Of Nevis, Northern Lesser Antilles, Scott C. Pedersen, Hugh H. Genoways, Matthew N. Morton, James W. Johnson, Siân E. Courts

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Only one species of bat, Molossus molossus, previously has been documented as occurring on the northern Lesser Antillean island of Nevis. Field research and reviews of existing museum collections have provided documentation based on voucher specimens for an additional seven species occurring on the island — Noctilio leporinus, Brachyphylla cavernarum, Monophyllus plethodon, Ardops nichollsi, Artibeus jamaicensis, Natalus stramineus, and Tadarida brasiliensis. The biological diversity of the chiropteran fauna on Nevis is similar to that found on other islands in the northern Lesser Antilles. Ecologically, this is a simple chiropteran fauna, including one …

Observations On The Mole Vole, Ellobius Lutescens Thomas 1897, (Mammalia: Rodentia) In Turkey, Yüksel Coşkun, Servet Ulutürk

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Ellobius lutescens is the only species of the genus Ellobius living in eastern Anatolia. They are highly adapted to underground life. There is no knowledge about the ecological peculiarities, population structures or detailed range of this species in Turkey. Data were recorded during field studies and laboratory observations of 42 specimens collected from 12 different localities. The distribution area is 8 km north of Muradiye in the north, the eastern border beyond the Turkish border, 32 km north of Çatak in the south, 5-6 km east of Uysal in the west, and Yüksekova in the southeast, the eastern border beyond …

Bulletin No. 37: Living Resources And Habitats Of The Lower Connecticut River, Glenn D. Dreyer, Marcianna Caplis

Bulletins

No abstract provided.

Mammals Of Fort A. P. Hill, Caroline County, Virginia And Vicinity, A. Scott Bellows, Joseph C. Mitchell, John F. Pagels, Heather N. Mansfield

Virginia Journal of Science

Fort A.P. Hill (APH) is a 30,329 ha military training installation (U.S. Army) located in the upper Coastal Plain of Caroline County, Virginia. It was formed in 1941 and named in honor of Civil War Confederate Lt. General Ambrose Powell Hill. The current landscape includes a mosaic of habitats that range from old fields to hardwood forests. Forty species of mammals are known to exist on or near the installation. These include one marsupial, five insectivores, 9 chiropterans, one lagomorph, 12 rodents, 10 carnivores, and one cervid. We have studied many of the species on APH since 1997. In this …

Effects Of Hydroperiod On Metamorphosis In Rana Sphenocephala, Travis J. Ryan, Christopher T. Winne

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

Hydroperiod, the time a temporary pond holds water, is an important factor influencing recruitment in amphibian populations and structuring amphibian communities. We conducted an experiment to test the effect of hydroperiod on metamorphic traits of the southern leopard frog (Rana sphenocephala), a common amphibian in the southeastern United States. We reared larval R. sphenocephala in artificial ponds at a density of 32 larvae per tank (initial volume = approximately 650 liter). We dried the tanks according to natural patterns, using three different hydroperiods (60, 75 and 90 d). Experimental hydroperiods had a significant effect on the number of …

A Study On The Heteroptera Fauna Of Bozcaada (Çanakkale Province), Özlem Özsaraç, Suat Kiyak

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Ecological and faunistic information on 385 Heteropteran specimens, belonging to 38 species of 30 genera of 9 families, collected from Bozcaada, between May and September 1996, is given. Thirty-six of these 38 species are new records for the fauna of Bozcaada.

Macroevolution In Microchiroptera: Recoupling Morphology And Ecology With Phylogeny, Patricia W. Freeman

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

No family of mammals has undergone a greater adaptive radiation than phyllostomid bats. Phylogeny combined with eco-morphological considerations of trophic structures can help understand this adaptive radiation and the evolution of Microchiroptera. Microchiropteran bats are overwhelmingly insectivorous, and constraints within the morphospace of insectivory have produced a dynamic equilibrium in bat morphologies that has persisted for 60 million years. The ability to eat fruit may be the key synapomorphy that allowed phyllostomids to escape insectivore morphospace and diversify. Although many phyllostomids have changed greatly, others that have maintained insectivory have changed little, which is equally remarkable.

Observations On The Reproductive Biology Of Gerbillus Dasyurus (Wagner, 1842) (Mammalia: Rodentia) In Turkey, Ercüment Çolak, Mustafa Sözen, Nuri̇ Yi̇ği̇t, Şaki̇r Özkurt

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The reproductive data along with some ecological observations of Gerbillus dasyurus are reported based on field studies and investigations in captivity. The findings indicate that the favorable habitat of G. dasyurus is rocky areas with sparse vegetated soil and that the reproduction period extends from January to September. According to the reproductive data, the average weight at birth is 2.22 g., litter size ranges from 3 to 9, with an average of 5.66, a female gives three litters during a reproduction period. The eyes and ears also open at 16 days, weaning takes place at 32 days, and they become …

Patella Species (Archaeogastropoda) Distributed In Saros Bay (Northest Aegean Sea), Bi̇lal Öztürk, Zeki̇ Ergen

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The present study has been carried out in order to determine the Patella species distributed in Saros Bay located on the northest of the Aegean Sea. For this purpose, 3 stations in the north and 3 stations in the south of the bay were chosen and a total of 340 specimens were collected from the 6 stations. In each station, 2 m2 of sampling area was considered. As a result of the taxonomic examinations based on the radula teeth, the Patella genera was represented by three species (Patella caerulea, Patella ulyssiponensis and Patella rustica) in Saros Bay. It was determined …

A Morphological Investigation On The Anuran Species Of The Reşadiye (Datça) Peninsula (Anura: Bufonidae, Hylidae, Ranidae), Cemal Varol Tok

Turkish Journal of Zoology

In this survey the amphibian fauna of Reşadiye (Datça) Peninsula, which has not been studied in detail so far, is given. No urodelan species has been encountered during the present work; but the presence of four different species belonging to three anuran families is established. Bufo bufo, Bufo viridis, Hyla arborea and Rana ridibunda specimens were collected from two, five, three and six different localities respectively, establishing the status of the peninsula's anura fauna. A total of 125 adult and two juvenile specimens were studied morphologically. Some observations on the ecological and biological characteristics of the anurans are also given.

The Arctic And Antarctic: An Integrated Curriculum Unit, Grades K-2, Institute For The Development Of Gifted Education, Ricks Center For Gifted Children, University Of Denver

Ricks Curriculum Units Series

An integrated curriculum is an instructional approach that connects the disciplines to an underlying theme or topic. Immersing students in an integrated-thematic unit provides the backdrop for experiences to occur across the disciplines. Shaping coursework around integrated themes is especially appropriate for gifted students, however using an integrated-thematic curriculum is appropriate for all learners as it develops students' abilities to make connections, to solve problems by looking at multiple perspectives, and to integrate information from different fields of experience. An integrated-thematic curriculum permits students to be active participants in their own learning as they design their own explorations and take …