Zoology Commons^™

The Effects Of Dieldrin On Chickens, Sondra Severson

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

In this study, insecticide residues in chicken eggs, livers, and fats were monitored in a flock of chickens for seventy-nine days. The test group was fed dieldrin in their drinking water for eighteen days and then was returned to normal water for forty-two more days. The sacrificed birds of the test group showed a 0.39 ppm average increase in dieldrin residue in the eggs, 0 .14 ppm in the livers and 9.54ppm in the fats when compared with the control eggs. livers and fats respectively. The I-test calculations showed these results to be significant.

Observations of the embryos from the …

Vasectomization & Colloidal Particle Uptake By Cells Of The Caput Epididymis, Gaylan Smith, Wayne A. Becker

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

India ink was injected into the rete testes of 15 male mice and 15 male rats. The progress of the particulate matter through the epididymis was examined by histological methods at intervals from 4 to 24 hours. Preliminary observations suggest that vasectomization does not alter the ability of the proximal caput epididymis to absorb particulate matter.

Mammals Of Southwestern Minnesota, Carl H. Ernst, Lee French

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Ranges of the 45 wild mammals occuring in southwestern Minnesota are discussed and documented. Eight other species that either formerly occurred in the area or might exist but have not yet been documented also are considered. Seven species are recorded from southwestern Minnesota for the first time: Scalopus aquaticus, Myotis keenii, Lasionycteris noctivagans, Marmota monax, Spermophilus franklinii, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus, and Rattus norvegicus.

Comparison Of Artificial Substrates In Bottom Fauna Studies On A Large River, David R. Mcconville

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

During the summer of 1974, five types of artificial substrates and grab sampling were evaluated for sampling efficiency in pool No. 3 of the Upper Mississippi River. A total of 35 taxa of organisms were collected by the different techniques. Ponar grab sampling collected representatives of only eight taxa, whereas concrete block samplers collected 22 taxa . Intermediate in taxonomic collection were the Hester-Dendy samplers with 21 taxa, the barbecue basket samplers with 20 taxa, the Miller samplers with 17 taxa, and conservation webbing with 12 taxa. The barbecue basket samplers were the most productive, yielding at least five times …

Discovery Of The Northern Hog Sucker In The Ottertail River, Mark A. Otnes

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

On June 3, 1973 several specimens of the Northern Hog Sucker (Hypentelium nigricans), were collected from a six-mile stretch of the Ottertail River, Aurdal Township, Ottertail County in Minnesota. Previous to this the Northern Hog Sucker has never been collected or reported from the Red River drainage, of which the Ottertail River is a part, nor from Upper Mississippi River Basin adjacent to the Red River drainage. As far back as 1907 researchers erroneously reported the Northern Hog Sucker from the Upper Mississippi River Basin.

Distribution Of The Blue-Spotted Salamander Ambystoma Laterale Hallowell In Minnesota, David C. Kramer

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

This paper brings together the known locality records of Ambystoma laterale in Minnesota. Recent nomenclature changes involving this salamander, its favored habitat and possible range extensions also are included .

Blood Chemistry Values For Some Fishes Of The Upper Mississippi River, Joseph B. Hunn

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Plasma concentrations of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, inorganic phosphate, glucose, lactic acid and total carbon dioxide and whole blood pH and hematocrit were determined for nine species of fish from the Upper Mississippi River area. Most of the values obtained fall within the range of values published for other freshwater fishes, except that the plasma concentrations of potassium and chloride in sexually mature walleye pike were low. The chloride was compensated for by a high plasma total carbon dioxide. Further studies should establish whether these blood chemistry values may be considered of normal range. counties.

Mouth Brooding Behavior In The Substrate Spawning Cichlid, Tilapia Sparrmani, Hollie L. Collins

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Tilapia sparrmani has long been considered a substrate spawning fish but a considerable number of oral brooding tactics hove been observed. Two "experiments" where foreign species young were nurtured orally suggest rather strong oral brooding tendencies for this species.

White-Tailed Deer In Southeastern Minnesota: Winter Observations, Robert D. Dorn

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Food habits, movements, vegetation type use, and bedding of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus borealis) were observed while snow-tracking in southeastern Minnesota. Waste corn (Zea Mays) was the most important food item. Three dogwoods (Cornus racemosa, C. rugosa, C. alternifolia), all non-commercial forest species, were the most important for browse. Acorns were unavailable due to crop failure. Six trails made in less than 24 hours covered more than 1 mile each, straight line distance. The longest was 31/s miles. Snow did not appear to affect movements. About two-thirds of the beds were on wooded uplands. Browsing areas appeared dependent on bedding …

Looking At Wolves As Scientific Subjects Rather Than As Storybook Villains, John Mcclung

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Minnesota researchers, attempting to separate objective data about timber wolves from emotional attitudes, are compiling information gathered over a period of several years in the state's north woods. Findings suggest that laws to protect and preserve this animal may be as necessary as programs to control predations on deer or domestic livestock.

Survival Of Hand-Reared Mallards (Anas Platyrhynchos) On Artificial Farm Ponds, Lawrence L. Thomforde

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

The survival of hand-reared, game-farm mallards released on artificial farm ponds was studied in Goodhue County, Minnesota. Of the 300 ducklings released each year from 1965 through 1967, an average of 45 per cent survived until most were capable of flying. More ducklings survived when released on ponds fenced from livestock than on unfenced ponds. Grazing livestock severely reduce cover vegetation around unfenced ponds. A total of 3.7 per cent of the bands were recovered. The first year recoveries represent 64 per cent of all the bands reported. Thirty-nine per cent of the band recoveries occurred within 15 miles of …

Movement Of Franklin's Ground Squirrel Into Northeastern Minnesota, Jerome D. Robins

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Specimens of Franklin's ground squirrel have been obtained in several localities in St. Louis County, Minnesota. The movement of this prairie-dwelling rodent into the montane coniferous forest region of northeastern Minnesota may be related to recent man-made changes in the habitat.

Incidence Of Trematode Infection Of Snails In A Small Minnesota Lake, Ellen Shaffer

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

The study on which this paper is based was a preliminary effort to determine three factors: (1) the nature of the snail and trematode fauna of a small lake, (2) the incidence of trematode infection in the snail population, and (3) possible changes in the incidence of trematode infection in snails at various periods in a single summer.

Skull Key To Adult Minnesota Mammals, Carl H. Ernst

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

An artificial key to the skulls of adults of the mammals reported from Minnesota is presented for possible use not only by wildlife and professional biologists, but also by those lay persons interested in identifying skulls they might find in Minnesota.

Pollution And Evolution, David J. Merrell

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Three examples, industrial melanism in moths, insecticide resistance in insects, and myxomatosis in Australian rabbits, are used to illustrate the concept that evolution may result from tampering with the physical or biotic environment of a species. Hence, concern about the effects of pollution must encompass not only the possibility of extinction but the possibility of evolution. In the case of harmful species, biological or chemical control measures may result in populations more refractory to control than the original untreated populations.

Rest Site Selection By Radio-Tagged Raccoons, Jay H. Schnell

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Daytime resting sites and behavior of 14 radio-tagged raccoons were studied from April 18 to November 27, 1965, with types and use of the sites, daytime activity and shifts at the sites, and approach movements previous to resting being analyzed. The radio system pinpointed 173 rest sites, 7 4 per cent in swamps, 17 per cent in hollow trees, and 9 per cent in squirrel or bird nests. Use of the rest sites did not correlate with habitat type or size of the home range or with distances which animals traveled during their active nightly period. Behavioral influences in selection …

Propagation Of Pike In Multi-Purpose Lake Management, Oliver M. Jarvenpa, Warren Kirsch

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Methods for rearing, harvesting, and management use of pike (Esox lucius L) in Minnesota are described, especially as related to multiple use of shallow water areas. Principal emphasis is placed on the method of removing fingerling and yearling pike in winter from shallow lakes. Such lakes often raise wild rice and also are utilized by waterfowl. The pike, spawned naturally in these lakes, are harvested by pumping aerated water through fish traps when oxygen levels in the lake become low. Pumping is most effective when oxygen levels in the lake fall below 2 parts per million but is higher in …

Anabaenopsis Raciborskii Woloszynska In Minnesota Lakes, Hibbert Hill

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Anabaenopsis Raciborskii Woloszynska has been observed in Lakes near Minneapolis, Minnesota, during the period 1966-1969. The variations found are described. This alga has not previously been described from the Great Lakes States.

A Bull Snake Encounter With Young Ground Squirrels, Orrin J. Rongstad

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Apparent results of on encounter of a bull snake, Pituophis catenifer, with a litter of three thirteen-lined ground squirrels, Citellus tridecemlineatus, suggests that bull snakes may have eliminated young ground squirrels from a 3-acre lawn of the Cedar Creek Natural History Area at Bethel, Minn., during the summer of 1967.

Natural Selection In A Leopard Frog Population, David J. Merrell

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

In a population of immature leopard frogs (Rana pipiens) at Mud Lake, Washington County, Minnesota, a high frequency of unilateral deformity of the hind legs was observed in 1965. Metamorphosis from tadpole to frog took place during July, and samples in late July averaged 14.8% deformed frogs. By late September, the frequency of deformed frogs had decreased to 3.6%, presumably as the result of natural selection.

Schistosome Dermatitis At Basswood Lake, Minnesota, James A. Zischke, Deloris Palmquist Zischke

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

During the summer of 1965 cases of schistosome dermatitis were reported at the Associated Colleges of the Midwest Wilderness Field, Station on Basswood Lake, Minnesota. Collection and isolation of gastropods from the lake revealed an extremely high incidence of Trichobilharzia ocellata infections in Lymnaea stagnalis. A flock of semi-domestic mallard ducks first introduced al the lake in 1963 are believed to be the principal definitive hosts contributing to the epidemiology of the parasite in the area.

Radio-Tracking The Movements Of A Young Male Raccoon, Frank J. Turkowski, L. David Mech

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Movements of o young male raccoon (Procyon lotor) were studied for four months in 1965 through the use of an automatic radio-tracking system. Data for 135 days were collected, and 2,065 locations were recorded. The study animal usually rested throughout the day at different sites. Nightly activity usually began within an hour before or after sunset and ceased within an hour before or after sunrise; the mean duration of the active period was 9 hours and 5 minutes (S.E. = 19 minutes). Nightly movements varied both in extent and areas visited. The raccoon visited a certain cornfield on 87 per …

Lead Shot In Some Spring Migrant Ducks, Robert L. Jessen, Dwain W. Warner, Francis A. Spurrell, John P. Lindmeier, Bertin W. Anderson

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

The incidence of lead shot in l ,687 lesser scaup (Athya affinis) and 416 ring-necked ducks (Athya collaris) in spring migration in Minnesota and the implications as related to the bird population and hunting harvest the preceding fall are considered in this study. The ducks, which were examined for shot by photofluorographic radiography had died as a result of oil pollution on the Mississippi River in the vicinity of Red Wing in the spring of 1963. The birds were separated into two age groups and by sex. Yearling lesser scaup had a body shat incidence (proportion of birds containing shot) …

A 'New' Hybrid Minnow, Gary L. Phillips, David A. Etnier

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

The specimen of a hybrid between the minnows Chrosomus erythrogaster and Dionda nubila is described. Taken in southeastern Minnesota near the known northernmost distributional limits of both parent species, this hybrid is between the parental extremes in most of the anatomical features examined.

The Moose In Northeastern Minnesota, Patrick D. Karns

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

The succession of dominant cervids in northeastern Minnesota since settlement has passed from moose and woodland caribou to moose lo white-tailed deer and is now returning to moose. Results of recent studies show high moose densities in some areas are leading lo range deterioration and reduced net productivity. Pneumostrongylus tenuis, a common parasite of white-tailed deer but fatal to moose, is the etiological agent of moose disease. With increases in deer density, such as occurred in the 1920's and 30's, the reports of this disease in moose became more prevalent. Presently, where moose occur on the high deer density areas …

Northern Pike Production In Phalen Pond, Minnesota, James E. Bryan

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

In this study, certain physical, chemical and biological conditions were observed in order to relate them to the development and survival of eggs and young northern pike in a small pond. The spawning period lasted one week and was interrupted by unfavorable weather. Low temperature caused the eggs to develop at a rate slower than the rate other workers have shown to be normal. Many eggs between stages II and Ill appeared to be developing abnormally and were perhaps reacting to an unsuitable environmental condition. Since 90% of all eggs completed development, neither slow nor abnormal development increased the egg …

Evidence For Seasonal Variation In Incidence Of Renal Adenocarcinoma In Rana Pipiens, Robert Gilmore Mckinnell

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

A high incidence of frog renal adenocarcinoma as determined by autopsy in purchased late fall and winter individuals is contrasted to the scarcity of the adenocarcinoma in summer field captured frogs.

An Extension Of The Ranges Of The Burnsi And Kandiyhi Variants Of Rana Pipiens, Robert G. Mckinnell, Beverly Kerr Mckinnell

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Kandiyohi and burnsi frogs were collected in counties not previously reported to have these variants of R. pipiens.

Revised Distribution Records Of Some Minnesota Fishes, With Addition Of Two Species To The Faunal List, Gary L. Phillips, James C. Underhill

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Recent collections of fishes in Minnesota hove resulted in the addition of two species, Moxostoma carinatum (Catostomidae) and Ammocrypta asprella (Percidae), to the state's inland faunal list. Additional information on the distribution of 11 other species (Minytrema melanops, Hybopsis x-punctata, Opsopoeodus emiliae, Dionda nubiloa, Notropis amnis, Notropis texanus, Notropis umbratilis, Pimephales vigilax, Lepomis humilis, Etheostoma asprigene, ond Etheostoma microperca) is presented . Collections in large rivers are responsible for several new distribution records, and further sampling in such habitats should lead to further discoveries.

A Study Of The Communities Of Aquatic Macro-Invertebrates Of The Merging Of The Mississippi And Chippewa Rivers, Using A Biplate Substrate Sampler, Robert R. Elbert, Clarence D. Mcnabb

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Using a biplate substrate sampler, aquatic macro-invertebrates were collected during the fall, winter and spring seasons at the confluence of the Mississippi and Chippewa Rivers along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border. The substrate sampler proved very desirable in pointing out extreme community variations which existed between the two rivers. It was found that the members of a downstream community were a blend of the communities present in upstream tributaries. However, as compared with upstream communities, a shift in dominant organisms occurred. Striking seasonal changes appeared in the invertebrate populations as well as the environment of the rivers. All sampling revealed "clean water" …