Other Animal Sciences Commons^™

Growth And Age At Reproductive Maturity Of The Carolina Pigmy Rattlesnake, Sistrurus M. Miliarius (Reptilia: Serpentes), Kevin Robert Messenger

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Growth and age at reproductive maturity are life history attributes that play an important role in the development of proper management strategies. The Carolina Pigmy Rattlesnake, Sistrurus m. miliarius, is one of two dwarf rattlesnake species. The subspecies ranges from eastern NC to nearly the southern tip of SC and into the northeastern portion of GA. In NC, where the species’ status is of Special Concern, fragmentation and land development have destroyed most of its historic range. Its small size also makes it highly susceptible to predation. In some parts of the range, commercial collection is another pressure the species …

Octopuses (Enteroctopus Dofleini) Recognize Individual Humans, Roland C. Anderson, Jennifer A. Mather, Mathieu Q. Monette, Stephanie R.M. Zimsen

Sentience Collection

This study exposed 8 Enteroctopus dofleini separately to 2 unfamiliar individual humans over a 2-week period under differing circumstances. One person consistently fed the octopuses and the other touched them with a bristly stick. Each human recorded octopus body patterns, behaviors, and respiration rates directly after each treatment. At the end of 2 weeks, a body pattern (a dark Eyebar) and 2 behaviors (reaching arms toward or away from the tester and funnel direction) were significantly different in response to the 2 humans. The respiration rate of the 4 larger octopuses changed significantly in response to the 2 treatments; …

Squid Dances: An Ethogram Of Postures And Actions Of Sepioteuthis Sepioidea Squid With A Muscular Hydrostatic System, Jennifer A. Mather, Ulrike Griebel, Ruth A. Byrne

Sentience Collection

A taxonomy of the movement possibilities for any species, within the constraints of its neural and skeletal systems, should be one of the foundations of the study of its behaviour. Caribbean reef squid, Sepioteuthis sepioidea, appear to have many degrees of freedom in their movement as they live in a three-dimensional habitat and have no fixed skeleton but rather a muscular hydrostatic one. Within this apparent lack of constraints, there are regularities and patterns of common occurrences that allow this article to describe an ethogram of the movements, postures and positions of squid. Squid have a combination of bent, …

Quality Prevails Over Identity In The Sexually Selected Vocalisations Of An Ageing Mammal, Elodie F. Briefer, Elisabetta Vannoni, Alan G. Mcelligott

Ethology Collection

Background: Male sexually selected vocalisations generally contain both individuality and quality cues that are crucial in intra- as well as inter-sexual communication. As individuality is a fixed feature whereas male phenotypic quality changes with age, individuality and quality cues may be subjected to different selection pressures over time. Individuality (for example, morphology of the vocal apparatus) and quality (for example, body size and dominance status) can both affect the vocal production mechanism, inducing the same components of vocalisations to convey both kinds of information. In this case, do quality-related changes to the acoustic structure of calls induce a modification of …

Identification Of Parelaphostrongylus Odocoilei (Nematoda: Protostrongylidae) First-Stage Larvae In The Feces Of Gray Wolves (Canis Lupus) By Molecular Methods, Heather M. Bryan, Kathrin A. Sim, Chris T. Darimont, Paul C. Paquet, Brent Wagner, Violeta Muñoz-Fuentes, Judit E. Smits, Nell B. Chilton

Parasitology Collection

First-stage nematode larvae with a dorsal-spine (DSL) were detected in five of 1,565 fecal samples from gray wolves (Canis lupus) collected in British Columbia, Canada, between 2005 and 2008. Molecular techniques were used to identify the DSL because it was not possible to determine their species identity using morphologic characters. The DSL were identified as Parelaphostrongylus odocoilei based on the results of single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analyses and DNA sequencing of the ribosomal DNA first and second internal transcribed spacers. Finding DSL of P. odocoilei in the feces of gray wolves was unexpected because P. odocoilei adults are parasites of …

Latitudinal Variation In Seasonal Activity And Mortality In Ratsnakes (Elaphe Obsoleta), Jinelle H. Sperry, Gabriel Blouin-Demers, Gerardo L.F. Carfagno, Patrick J. Weatherhead

Biology Faculty Publications

The ecology of ectotherms should be particularly affected by latitude because so much of their biology is temperature dependent. Current latitudinal patterns should also be informative about how ectotherms will have to modify their behavior in response to climate change. We used data from a total of 175 adult black ratsnakes (Elaphe obsoleta) radio tracked in Ontario, Illinois, and Texas, a latitudinal distance of > 1500 km, to test predictions about how seasonal patterns of activity and mortality should vary with latitude. Despite pronounced differences in temperatures among study locations, and despite ratsnakes in Texas not hibernating and switching from diurnal …

Validation Of Live Animal Ultrasonic Measurements Of Body Composition In Market Lambs, J. C. Emenheiser, S. P. Greiner, Ronald M. Lewis, D. R. Notter

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Market lambs from the state fair of Virginia (n = 172) were ultrasonically evaluated by 4 scan technicians and 3 image interpreters to determine accuracy of ultrasonic estimates of loin muscle area (ULMA), backfat thickness (UBF), and body wall thickness (UBW). Lambs were initially scanned at the preferred magnification setting of each technician; 2 chose 1.5× and 2 chose 2.0×. Lambs were then scanned a second time for ULMA and UBF with machine magnification settings changed from 1.5 to 2.0×, or vice versa, midway through the second scan. Lambs were then slaughtered, and analogous measurements [carcass loin muscle area, …

Auswertung Der In Den Jahren 1993-2009 Im Östlichen Altai (Russland) Und Südöstlichen Altai (Tyva) Gesammelten Federn Und Rupfungen, W.-D. Busching

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

Determination-results of birds from Russian Altai-Mountains and Tyva based on plucked and moult-feathers.

This paper deals with plucked- and moult-feathers of different Central-Asian birds collected by STEPHAN ERNST, DANIEL MICHELE LINDNER and JENS HERING in the Russian Altai- Mountains and Tyva 1993 - 2009.

Beobachtungen Zu Unterscheidungsmerkmalen An Equidenschädeln, Speziell Zwischen Denen Von Mongolischen Dschiggetai Und Pferden, Roland Müller, Joachim Wussow

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

First paragraph:

Von STUBBE et.al. wurden zwischen 2001 und 2004 in der Südmongolei ca. 400 Schädel des Dschiggetai (Equus hemionus hemionus) gesammelt.

Comparative Morphology Of Two Sympatric Species Of Hedgehog In Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia, Richard P. Reading, David Kenny, Sodnomphil Batdorj, James Murdoch

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

Daurian hedgehog (Mesechinus dauuricus) and long-eared hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus) inhabit Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia and both species appear to occupy similar niches. We gathered morphological measurements to test for differences between species and sexes. We hoped to gain insight into the mechanisms that allow the species to coexist. We collected morphometric data from 10 long-eared hedgehogs (6 male, 4 female) and 18 Daurian hedgehogs (10 male, 7 female, and 1 unknown sex). Only total body length in Daurian hedgehogs differed significantly between males and females. Otherwise, we found no significant differences between morphometric measures of …

Estimates Of Toad Headed Agama Density In Three Steppe Habitats Of Mongolia, James Murdoch, Buyandelger Suuri, Richard P. Reading

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

The toad headed agama (Phrynocephalus versicolor) ranges across the arid steppe regions of southern and western Mongolia and represents one of the most common reptiles in the country. However, few details of the species’ population characteristics exist, which may be important for evaluating population trends and assessing its conservation status. We estimated toad headed agama density in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia based on surveys conducted in the summers (June-September) of 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2009. We conducted surveys in three steppe habitats including tall grassland (n = 7), shrub-steppe (n = 7), and semi-shrub steppe …

Beitrag Zur Säugetierfauna Des Staatlichen Naturschutzgebietes Azas In Tyva/Südsibirien = Contributions To Fauna And Ecology Of Small Mammals Of State Nature Reserve “Azas” In The Republic Of Tyva /South Siberia, Annegret Stubbe, Michael Stubbe, V. V. Unžakov, A. P. Saveljev, N. I. Putincev, W. Stubbe

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

During 1988-2004 Russian and German biologists carried out a research of biodiversity of the mountain taiga within the territory of State Nature Reserve “Azas” (Republic of Tyva/Russia). Along with executing the main task – studying and development of an aboriginal population of Tuvinian beavers Castor fiber tuvinicus – materials on the fauna of small mammals of the Todzha kettle were collected. On the basis of samples (about 550 collected micromammals) information on the occurrence, reproduction and morphometric characteristics of four species of Insectivora, six species of Chiroptera and eleven species of small Rodentia inhabiting the territory of the reserve “Azas” …

Im Gedenken An Den Mongolischen Ornithologen Ajurzana Bold (1936-2007), M. Stubbe, Annegret Stubbe

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

Obituary of Mongolian ornithologist Ajurzana Bold (1936-2007).

Temporal Dynamics Of Group Size And Sexual Segregation In Ibex, N. J. Singh, S. Amgalanbaatar, Richard P. Reading

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

Group size is an important variable describing behavioral ecology of animals. A variety of factors such as habitat characteristics, life history, spatio-temporal resource dynamics, population density, predation risk, competition with kin, and social learning often determine group size in large mammals. We studied temporal dynamics of group size in Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica) in a protected area in Mongolia. We measured monthly and yearly variations in typical group size and used the sexual segregation and aggregation statistic to assess sexual segregation. Ibex formed the largest groups in November and smallest groups in July. However, group sizes did not …

Verzeichnis Der In Den „Beiträgen Zur Gefiederkunde Und Morphologie Der Vögel“ Hefte 1-14 Beschriebenen Und Der Vom Verfasser Im Übrigen Schrifttum Publizierten Federbestimmungsmerkmale Von Mongolischen Vögeln, W.-D. Busching

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

First paragraph:

Seit der ersten Mongolisch-Deutschen Biologischen Expedition im Jahre 1962 hat die Erforschung der Avifauna große Fortschritte gemacht, wobei im Zoologischen Institut der Martin Luther Universität Halle-Wittenberg, der Mongolischen Akademie der Wissenschaften und dem Biologischen Institut der Nationaluniversität der Mongolei in Ulaanbaatar umfangreiche Balgund Skelettsammlungen angelegt wurden. Nicht wenige Vogelfunde lagen aber in Form von Nahrungsresten der Greifvögel, Eulen und des Haarraubwildes vor und waren damit nur schwer anzusprechen. So gingen die aufgesammelten Rupfungen und Säugetierrisse zumeist an den Autor, in der Hoffnung, dass sie bestimmt werden können.

Waterbirds Of Uvs-Nuur Depression, T. P. Archimaeva-Ozerskaya, V. I. Zabelin

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

This report provides an overview of water birds (Non-Passeriformes) inhabiting the lakes of Uvs- Nuur Depression. The article includeds material obtained during field work in the Uvs-Nuur Depression during 1999-2006, unpublished observations of rare vagrant species of birds, and data from the literature. Altogether we and others recorded 81 bird species from ten families on the lakes within the basin. The list we provide does not include sparrows or birds from habitats closely associated with the basin. The following non-Passeriformes bird families were noted (with the number of species in parentheses): Gaviidae (1), Podicipedidae (2), Phalacrocoracidae (1), Ardeidae (5), Anatidae …

In Memoriam, Academician Prof. Dr. Osor Shagdarsuren (1929-2010), Sundev Gombobaatar, D. Sumiya, R. Samiya, B. Bayartogtokh, S. Shar, Nyamsuren Batsajchan, M. Altantsetseg, Ch. Uuganbayar, D. Usukhjargal, P. Amartuvshin, P. Jargalsaikhan, Sh. Boldbaatar, N. Tseveenmyadag, G. Mainjargal, B. Nyambayar, E. R. Potapov, Michael Stubbe, Annegret Stubbe, Andrew Dixon

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

Academician, Professor Osor Shagdarsuren passed away due to apoplexy on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at the age of 81. He was one of the most respected Mongolian ornithologists, biologists, and educators. The Mongolian scientific community has lost one of its greatest members, the premier Mongolian ornithologist.

Gustav Radde In Sibirien: Zum 150. Jubiläum Der Baikalexpedition (1855-1859), Juri Durnev, Michael Stubbe, Annegret Stubbe

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

Unter den Beiträgen der deutschen Gelehrten zur Erforschung der Fauna der Baikalregion sind die Arbeiten von Gustav Radde besonders hervorzuheben. Er war nach I. Georgi der zweite Gelehrte, der den Versuch machte, den Baikalsee mit dem Boot für zoologische Untersuchungen zu bereisen. G. Radde untersuchte die Wirbeltiere der Baikalküsten und des Chamar-Daban-Gebirges. Er bestieg als erster Naturforscher den höchsten Gipfel Ostsibiriens, den Munku-Sardyk.

Ecology Of Eurasian Black Vultures (Aegypius Monachus) In Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia, Richard P. Reading, David Kenny, John Azua, Travis Garrett, Mary Jo Willis, Tsolmonjav Purevsuren

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

We studied the nesting ecology and movement patterns of Eurasian black vultures (Aegypius monachus) nesting in and near Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Dornogobi Aimag, Mongolia. From 2003 till 2009, we monitored nesting pairs from incubation to fledging and compared nesting success for pairs nesting on rocks and trees. We captured chicks just prior to fledging to apply leg bands and wing tags. We also captured adults in June and attached solar-powered global positioning system (GPS)/satellite telemetry units, leg bands, and wing tags. We collected resighting data on marked birds opportunistically and telemetry data on tagged birds. We monitored …

Zum 300. Geburtstag Georg Wilhelm Stellers, Peter Hoffmann

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

First paragraph:

Genau heute vor 300. Jahren, am 10. März 1709, wurde Georg Wilhelm Steller in Windsheim/ Franken geboren. Sein Name wird in den Quellen, Kirchenbüchern usw. Stöhler, Stöller, Stoeller geschrieben. Eine solche unterschiedliche Schreibweise des Namens darf uns nicht irritieren – bis zur Gründung von Standesämtern 1878 wurden in Deutschland Personenstandsdaten von den Pastoren aufgezeichnet, die in die Kirchenbücher die Namen in der Form eintrugen, wie sie sie gehört hatten. Und auch in anderen Dokumentationen, etwa in den Akten eines Stadtarchivs, wurden Eigennamen meist nach dem Gehör notiert. Erst die standesamtliche Registrierung brachte auch eine Normierung der Schreibweise von …

Characteristics Of Mongolian Wild Ass Hooves (Equus Hemionus Hemionus), Jan Gahsche, Michael Stubbe, Matthias Oppermann, N. Batsajchan, Annegret Stubbe

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

Measurements of hoof angles, hoof length, toe length, etc., and non-metrical hoof characters of Mongolian Wild Ass carcasses collected in in the South Gobi and in Bordzongijn-Gobi desert are presented. Khulan hooves are flat, wide and look big in relation to the animal’s dimensions. Remarkably is the wide variability in size, angles, in non metric characteristics like shape, color and the occurrence of particularly prolonged hoof wall and flaring walls. For example, toe angles are 52° for front and 54° for hind hooves on average. This measures and the suggested graphical model of the „ideal hoof shape“ can assist to …

Brutareale Und Brutbiologie Der Greifvogelarten Der Mongolei = Grid Mapping And Breeding Ecology Of Raptors In Mongolia, Michael Stubbe, Annegret Stubbe, Nayamsuren Batsaikhan, Sundev Gombobaatar, T. Stenzel, H. Von Wehrden, Sh. Boldbaatar, B. Nayambayar, D. Sumjaa, Ravčigijn Samjaa, N. Ceveenmjadag, A. Bold

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

This work summarizes the longtime ecological research of the German-Mongolian scientific cooperation regarding biodiversity studies in Central Asia, focusing on native raptor species (Aves: Falconiformes). There is included a short overview on the history of raptor research in Mongolia. One of the primary goals was the creation of distribution maps of breeding records based on definitive time and space coordinates. Additional data on the breeding biology amend the distribution data. Currently 43 raptor species are recorded for Mongolia. Whenever possible were also incorporated data from adjacent regions of Mongolia (China, Tuva, Burjatia, Pribaikalia), in order to embed the avifauna of …

A Contribution To The Bats Inhabiting Arid Steppe Habitats In Central Mongolia, Nyambayar Batbayar, Ariunbold Jargalsaikhan, Sukhchuluun Gansukh

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

Bats of the steppe habitat require particular attention in Mongolia because of increasingly frequent droughts and the looming specter of global warming which could have a devastating impact on their population. Especially the bats in arid steppe region lack of water resources. All bat species we trapped in Erdenesant, Tov aimag, were using hand dug wells as water source indicating the significance of water availability. Many wells have been dried out or polluted in Mongolia in recent years due to warming effect of climate change and artisanal mining activities, but the extent of their impacts on bat populations have to …

Einige Bemerkungen Zur Biologie Der Wüstenkröte (Bufo Raddei), Ellen Driechciarz, René Driechciarz

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

Some localities in the Taatsyn river in the valley of the Great Lakes in the South of Changaj in Mongolia were found to harbor Bufo raddei. The authors collected data on population density and tadpole holes of the larvae, collected for the first time from this Asian amphibian species.

Betr.: Schutz Des Wildesels/Kulans (Equus H. Hemionus) In Der Mongolei [Letter], Annegret Stubbe, Michael Stubbe

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

Letter to R. Grube of Deutschen Bahn AG in Berlin, Germany, asking for dispensation as the authors attempted to relocate a herd of wild asses (Equus h. hemionus) from a site in Mongolia where they would in harm's way due to development.

Do Nest Materials And Nest Substrates Affect The Breeding Of Buteo Hemilasius In The Mongolian Steppe?, Sundev Gombobaatar, B. Odkhuu, Yosef Reuvan, B. Gantulga, B. Amartuvshin, D. Usukhjargal

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

Upland buzzards occur across Mongolia excluding lush taiga forest and breeds from the Mongolian Altai mountains to the western foothills of the Great Khyangan Mountains. Our field work was conducted during the breeding season of the species in Mongolia from 2001 to 2007. Nest materials of the studied nests contained natural (twigs of elm tree, shrubs, tail, and mane of horse, hair of cows, fur of sheep, goats and camels), and artificial or man-made (cotton, plastic bags, wires, cables, and others) materials. Contents of the nesting materials of the species were differed by location, region and breeding pair’s behavior. A …

Das Baikalo-Mongolische Übergangsgebiet Und Seine Bedeutung Für Die Dynamik Der Avifauna Der Baikalgrabenzone, Juri Durnev, Marina Sonina

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

The „Baikalgrabenzone“ or Tunka valley is the area between the lake Chubsugul in the Southwest and the bassin of the river Oljekma in the Northeast. It’s an important biogeograhic region. Some bird species are immigrating from Mongolia in this area, some other species are disapeared here. In the ornithofauna can be distinguished ten types of zoogeographic origin.

Paleo-Environmental Changes In The Uvs Nuur Basin (Northwest-Mongolia), Michael Walther

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

Geomorphological, geochemical, sedimentological and palynological results are presented against the background of palaeoclimatic changes during the past 15,000 years, yielding a chrono-, bio- and morphostratigraphical model of landscape evolution in the region of northern Central Asia. Holocene and Late-Glacial climatic fluctuations there are shown to correlate well with conditions in central Europe. Particular attention is given to the importance of the palaeoclimatic interpretation of lake Basin sediments when reconstructing the palaeoenvironment.

Water Use Of Asiatic Wild Asses In The Mongolian Gobi, Petra Kaczensky, V. Dresley, D. Vetter, H. Otgonbayar, C. Walzer

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

Water is a key resource for most large bodied mammals in the world’s arid areas. With the growing human population, access to water for wildlife often becomes compromised. Equids are typical inhabitants of semi-arid to arid rangelands and need regular access to fresh water. However, their water needs are difficult to study under free-ranging conditions. In this study we investigated Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus) use of permanent water points in the Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area (SPA) in south-western Mongolia. We combined observational data from one specific water point with high frequency GPS location data from …

The Use Of High Frequency Gps Data To Classify Main Behavioural Categories In A Przewalski’S Horse In The Mongolian Gobi, Petra Kaczensky, Klaus Huber

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

Behavioral observations of free ranging animals can provide important insight into many aspects of their biology but are not without problems. The recent development of GPS technology allows to remotely collect high precision location data at fixed intervals. We tested whether it is possible to classify the behavior of a Przewalski’s horse in the Mongolian Gobi into Resting, Grazing and Moving based on GPS locations collected at 15 minute intervals by comparing GPS data with direct observations. Although behavioral categories lasting for 15 minutes could by fairly reliably separated based on the distances covered between successive fixes, almost half the …