Zoology Commons^™

Kiangs (Equus Kiang, Moorcroft 1841) In Sikkim, India, Natalia V. Paklina, Chris Van Orden

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

Between the 5^th and 10^th of March 2001 we completed a 450 km route by car in Northern Sikkim. During the trip along the southern slopes of the Himalayas and Sikkim Plateau we didn’t see a single kiang. According to the local people and military personnel in Sikkim, kiangs are known only in the outer limits of the Sikkim Plateau, where wild animals have a possibility to migrate free over the Chinese-Indian border. In winter only small groups of kiang incidentally come to the Sikkim Plateau from South Tibet. But in May more of them come there and …

Current Status Of The Khulan (Equus Hemionus) In The Trans-Altai Gobi, Enkhbileg Dulamtseren, Adiya Yadamjav, Dovchindorj Ganbold, Mijidorj Batmunkh

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

Since 1975, 25 wildlife surveys have been conducted in the Trans-Altai Gobi. In this paper we summarize results from the last 11 surveys, conducted between October 2000 and April 2005, and discuss our findings together with results from previous surveys.

Assessment Of Non-Metric Skull Characters And Age Determination In The Asiatic Wild Ass Equus Hemionus: A Methodological Approach, Hermann Ansorge, Annegret Stubbe, Nyamsuren Batsaikhan, Ravčigijn Samjaa, Michael Stubbe

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

The report presents the first information on the use of non-metric skull characters and age determination by tooth section for Asiatic wild asses. It was initiated by a collection of more than 400 skulls of the Asiatic wild ass from the Bordzongijn-Gobi 2002-2004. The methodological overview gives a first research prospect in Asiatic Wild Ass concerning the use of non-metric skull characters as a morphological tool for assessing genetic variability, determining epigenetic divergences and evaluating fluctuating asymmetry. The time course of tooth eruption and replacement in the Asiatic wild ass is described with regard to its use for age determination. …

Territorial Behaviour Of Kiang (Equus Kiang Moorcroft, 1841) In Ladakh (India), Natalia V. Paklina, Chris Van Orden

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

The observations of kiang behavior were made in Navokar Valley northeast of Tso Kar Lake (Ladakh, India) between July 30 and November 22, 2001. In the breeding season (end of July until the end of August) adult kiang males kept not overlapping, protected territories (about 10 km²), and marked by single defecation and urination marks. There were adult females with and without offspring on the territories (up to 12 animals, including the male). The distance between male and females on the territories was usually hundred times bigger, then a distance between stallion and his harem in horses. Females …

Semi-Wild Population Of Kulans In The Bukhara Breeding Centre And Their Co-Habitation With Przewalski’S Horses, Karim Bahloul, Olga B. Pereladova, Natalia V. Soldatova, Ekaterina V. Sidorenko, Antoine J. Sempere

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

Asiatic wild asses and Przewalski's horses initially inhabited steppe, semi-desert and desert areas, but Przewalski's horses became extinct in the wild, and kulans are under threat of disappearance. The Bukhara Breeding Centre (Uzbekistan) was created in 1976 for conservation and reintroduction of wild ungulate species. In 1977-1978, five kulans (two males and three females) from Barsa-Kelmes Island on the Aral lake were introduced to the reserve. The group increased to 25-30 animals in 1995-1998, when five Przewalski's horses from Moscow and St. Petersburg zoos were introduced to the same territory. We analyzed the home ranges, preferred habitats and social interactions …

Social Networks In Wild Asses: Comparing Patterns And Processes Among Populations, Daniel I. Rubenstein, Siva Sundaresan, Ilya Fischhoff, David Saltz

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

Asiatic wild asses inhabit some of the most arid environments in the world. All live in fissionfusion societies, but demography varies and the deserts in which they live often differ in subtle ways. Characterizing details of social structure of wild ass populations has been a challenge and has made it difficult to determine causes and consequences of any differences that might exist. We use network theory to compare the social structures of two populations of Asiatic asses/ onagers inhabiting the Negev desert, Israel and khur of the Little Rann of Kuch, India and show that populations differ in important structural …

An Overview On The State Of Equus Hemionus In Whole China, Weikang Yang

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

The wild ass in China is divided into two species: Gobi khulan (Equus hemionus) and kiang (Equus kiang). Maps and charts of the distribution and population sizes in China and Mongolia of each species are shown from the 1980s through the early 2000s.

Similar Levels Of X-Linked And Autosomal Nucleotide Variation In African And Non-African Populations Of Drosophila Melanogaster, Nadia D. Singh, J. Michael Macpherson, Jeffrey D. Jensen, Dmitri A. Petrov

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Background: Levels of molecular diversity in Drosophila have repeatedly been shown to be higher in ancestral, African populations than in derived, non-African populations. This pattern holds for both coding and noncoding regions for a variety of molecular markers including single nucleotide polymorphisms and microsatellites. Comparisons of X-linked and autosomal diversity have yielded results largely dependent on population of origin.

Results: In an attempt to further elucidate patterns of sequence diversity in Drosophila melanogaster, we studied nucleotide variation at putatively nonfunctional X-linked and autosomal loci in sub-Saharan African and North American strains of D. melanogaster. We combine our experimental …

Comparison Of Aquatic-Insect Habitat And Diversity Above And Below Road Crossings In Low-Order Streams, J. Wesley Neal, Nathan J. Harris, Sathyanand Kumaran, David A. Behler, Thomas J. Lang, Paul R. Port, Marcella Melandri, Benjamin G. Batten

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The effects of road crossings on fish communities have been extensively studied; yet little attention has been given to macroinvertebrate communities. This study evaluated physical stream characteristics, water quality, and aquatic-insect richness from above and below road crossings of low-order streams in the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas. Fifteen road crossings were sampled during October and November 2005. Erosion was significantly higher below road crossings than above. Sites downstream of road crossings had significantly lower pH and significantly higher turbidity than sites upstream of road crossings. Despite differences in water quality and habitat, there was no apparent difference in aquatic-insect …

Habitat Factors Affecting Trap Success Of Swamp Rabbits In Southeastern Arkansas During A Flooding Event, Blair Smyth, Karen B. Vale, Robert E. Kissell Jr.

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Swamp rabbits (Sylvilagus aquaticus) are found in bottomland hardwood ecosystems that have canopy gaps dispersed throughout. During annual flooding of these ecosystems, swamp rabbits often are displaced to adjacent uplands or higher ground within the bottomlands. Trapping of swamp rabbits is reported to be best during times of flooding. We examined habitat characteristics at trap sites to identify the best suits of habitat characters to target when trapping for swamp rabbits during flooding conditions. We conducted trapping for swamp rabbits during a flooding event from 2 January 2007 to 3 February 2007. A total of 511 trap nights yielded 16 …

Distribution Of The Queen Snake (Regina Septemvittata) In Arkansas, Johnathan W. Stanley, Stanley E. Trauth

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

We documented the distribution of the queen snake, Regina septemvittata, in northern Arkansas during the 2005 and 2006 activity seasons. Arkansas currently contains the only known disjunct population of this species west of the Mississippi River. Field work was conducted throughout the Boston Mountains of the Ozark Plateau to verify the presence of queen snakes from historic localities as well as to identify new localities containing these snakes. Seventeen individuals were found in the Mulberry River of Franklin and Johnson counties and the Illinois Bayou watershed of Pope County. Of these 17 snakes, 5 were kept as voucher specimens in …

Survey Of Nesting By Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon Pyrrhonota) And Barn Swallows (Hirundo Rustica) At Highway Bridges In Southern Arkansas, C. Renn Tumlison

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) and Bam Swallow (Hinmdo rustica) both are migratory species that, in Arkansas, were known to nest only in the northern part of the state until the mid to late 1900s. The construction of concrete bridges apparently provided suitable nesting structure for both species. I conducted a survey of bridges along highways in southern Arkansas to look for evidence of nesting by these species. Nests of CliffSwallows were found in AsWey, Bradley, Clark, Cleveland, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Lafayette, Lincoln, Little River, Miller, Nevada, Ouachita, Pike, Sevier, and Union Counties. Nests of Barn Swallows were more …

First Arkansas Records For White Perch, Morone Americana (Gmelin),(Teleostei: Moronidae), Thomas M. Buchanan, Robert L. Limbird, Frank J. Leone

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Status, Distribution, And Density Of White-Tailed Jackrabbits And Black-Tailed Jackrabbits In South Dakota, Dustin J. Schaible

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The status of jackrabbit (Lepus spp.) populations throughout the Northern Great Plains has been a cause for concern by wildlife managers in recent years and there has been a paucity of information about the ecology of the white-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii) and the black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) in South Dakota. Since there have been little monitoring efforts for hares, 21 permanent spotlight line transects were established across South Dakota for future surveying efforts. These transects were surveyed to obtain baseline information about jackrabbit density and distribution throughout the state. Jackrabbit density was highest in the northwestern portions of the state …

Summer Food Habits Of Young Grass Pickerel (Esox Americanus),Warmouth (Lepomis Gulosus), And Logperch (Percina Caprodes) From A Cove In Lake Ouachita, Garland County, Arkansas, C. Renn Tumlison, Christian Carroll, Matt Greenwood

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Differential Classical Conditioning Of The Gill-Withdrawal Reflex In Aplysia Recruits Both Nmda Receptor-Dependent Enhancement And Nmda Receptor-Dependent Depression Of The Reflex, Shekib A. Jami, William G. Wright, David L. Glanzman

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Differential classical conditioning of the gill-withdrawal response (GWR) in Aplysia can be elicited by training in which a conditioned stimulus (CS) delivered to one side of the siphon (the CS+) is paired with a noxious unconditioned stimulus (US; tail shock), while a second conditioned stimulus (the CS-), delivered to a different siphon site, is unpaired with the US. NMDA receptor(NMDAR) activation has been shown previously to be critical for nondifferential classical conditioning in Aplysia. Here, we used a semi-intact preparation to test whether differential classical conditioning of the GWR also depends on activation of NMDARs. Differential training produced conditioned enhancement …

Stock Assessment And Management Of The Egyptian Sole Solea Aegyptiaca Chabanaud, 1927 (Osteichthyes: Soleidae), In The Southeastern Mediterranean, Egypt, Sahar Fahmy Mehanna

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Aspects of the population dynamics of the Egyptian sole, Solea aegyptiaca, which is a commercially important endemic and demersal flatfish species in the Egyptian Mediterranean waters, were described based on materials collected monthly between February 2004 and May 2005 from the fishing harbor at Port Said city. Age and growth studies based on sagittal otoliths revealed that this species is relatively fast growing with a maximum age of 4 years. Marginal increment analysis suggested that bands on sagittae are deposited once a year during the winter. Mean back-calculated total lengths ranged from 17.75 cm at age I to 28.22 cm …

Habitat And Distribution Of The Ruffed Lemur, "Varecia", North Of The Bay Of Antongil In Northeastern Madagascar, Evon R. Hekkala, Marius Rakotondratsima, Natalie Vasey

Anthropology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Here we present information on the conservation status of ruffed lemurs (Varecia) north of the Bay of Antongil in northeastern Madagascar. Two contiguous protected areas were recently established that traverse this region via blocks of forest connected by narrow forest corridors: the Masoala National Park, which expands further to the east, and the Makira Protected Area, which expands further to the west and northwest. The two extant ruffed lemurs, Varecia variegata and V. rubra, overlapped in this region historically and, on rare occasions, hybridized. As such, land north of the Bay of Antongil is a critical part …

Subfamily Phyllostominae Gray, 1825 From Mammals Of South America, Stephen L. Williams, Hugh H. Genoways

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

The subfamily Phyllostominae is distributed from the southern United States (Arizona, California, and southern Nevada), southward into northern Argentina, Paraguay, and southern Brazil. South American phyllostomines are primarily restricted to the mainland, but also occur on a few major islands off the coast of South America, such as Margarita Island (Venezuela), Trinidad and Tobago, and the Netherlands Antilles, as well as the Greater and Lesser Antilles. The number of genera and species recognized in the subfamily depends on the taxonomic interpretations of the content of the genera Lophostoma, Micronycteris, Mimon, Phyllostomus, and Tonatia. In near agreement with the …

Status Of Birds Newly Recorded In Arkansas Since 1985, Douglas A. James, Joseph C. Neal, Max Parker, Charles Mills

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

In 1994 we published an annotated list of 14 bird species that were newly discovered in Arkansas since the publication in 1986 of the monograph "Arkansas Birds, Their Distribution and Abundance." We now add 22 more new species found in Arkansas since the 1994 publication, and update the status of the original 14. Adding these 36 species to the number included in "Arkansas Birds" totals 402 bird species currently reported in Arkansas.

Additional Geographic Records For The Goldstripe Darter, Etheostoma Parvipinne (Perciformes: Percidae), From Arkansas, Chris T. Mcallister, Henry W. Robison, C. Renn Tumlison

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Recent Observations Of The Distribution Of Woodchucks (Marmota Monax) In Arkansas, C. Renn Tumlison, D. Blake Sasse, Todd Pennington, Nicole Freeman

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

During the last couple of decades, the distribution of the woodchuck (Marmota monax) appeared to be expanding southward in Arkansas (Tumlison et al. 2001). An increase in the frequency of new sightings led us to re-evaluate the present status of this species of squirrel in the state. The woodchuck is not easily confused with other mammals, therefore we sought records of sightings to update information about its distribution. Recent range expansion had been documented in southwestern Arkansas, so we placed notices in stores and advertised in local newspapers in that region to intensively seek new records of sightings from the …

The Value Of Oil Mallee Plantations And Revegetated Farm Land In The Southern Wheatbelt Region Of Western Australia For The Conservation Of The Western Pygmy Possum (Cercartetus Concinnus), Marie Short

Theses : Honours

Revegetation has the potential to enhance conservation of wildlife in rural environments, but few studies have tested whether the proposed benefits are realized. It is important to understand the role played by farm tree plantations in the landscape and how the potential biodiversity benefits may be enhanced without interfering with economic goals (Lamb, 1998). The adoption of oil mallee farming systems across the agricultural zone in south-west Western Australia is resulting in large areas of farmland being planted to native perennial tree species (Smith, 2004). While not planted for their conservation benefit, oil mallee systems may nonetheless enhance biodiversity. The …

Dietary Sequestration Of Defensive Steroids In Nuchal Glands Of The Asian Snake Rhabdophis Tigrinus, Deborah A. Hutchinson, Akira Mori, Alan H. Savitsky, Gordon M. Burghardt, Xiaogang Wu, Jerrold Meinwald, Frank C, Schroeder

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The Asian snake Rhabdophis tigrinus possesses specialized defensive glands on its neck that contain steroidal toxins known as bufadienolides. We hypothesized that R. tigrinus does not synthesize these defensive steroids but instead sequesters the toxins from toads it consumes as prey. To test this hypothesis, we conducted chemical analyses on the glandular fluid from snakes collected in toad-free and toad-present localities. We also performed feeding experiments in which hatchling R. tigrinus were reared on controlled diets that either included or lacked toads. We demonstrate that the cardiotonic steroids in the nuchal glands of R. tigrinus are obtained from dietary toads. …

Geographic Distribution: Ramphotyphlops Braminus (Brahminy Blindsnake). Usa: Florida: Volusia Co, Louis A. Somma, Paul E. Skelley

Papers in Herpetology

RAMPHOTYPHLOPS BRAMINUS (Brahminy Blindsnake). USA: FLORIDA: VOLUSIA Co.: New Smyrna Beach. 23Septernber 2006. Collected by Stacy Simmons. Verified by Kenneth L. Krysko, Florida Museum ofN atural History, University of Florida. One individual found on floor of residence. UF 151313. First county record. Originally turned in to Division of Plant Industry (DPI) , Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Gainesville, Florida, as a "worm for ID" on 27 September 2006; Entomology Log No. 6879. It is not clear if this single specimen indicates an established breeding colony in this county. However, this invasive, parthenogenic exotic is established in other Florida …

Protostrongylid Parasites And Pneumonia In Captive And Wild Thinhorn Sheep (Ovis Dalli), Emily J. Jenkins, A. M. Veitch, Susan J. Kutz, T. K. Bollinger, J. M. Chirino-Trejo, B. T. Elkin, K. H. West, Eric P. Hoberg, L. Polley

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

We describe health significance of protostrongylid parasites (Parelaphostrongylus odocoilei and Protostrongylus stilesi) and other respiratory pathogens in more than 50 naturally infected Dall’s sheep (Ovis dalli dalli) from the Mackenzie Mountains, Northwest Territories (1998–2002) as well as in three Stone’s sheep (O. d. stonei) experimentally infected with P. odocoilei (2000–2002). Histological lesions in the brain and distribution of P. odocoilei in the muscles of experimentally and naturally infected sheep were consistent with a previously hypothesized ‘‘central nervous system to muscle’’ pattern of migration for P. odocoilei. Dimensions of granulomas associated with eggs of …

Chlorophacinone Baiting For Belding’S Ground Squirrels, Craig A. Ramey, George H. Matschke, Richard M. Engeman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The efficacy of using 0.01% chlorophacinone on steam-rolled oat (SRO) groats applied in CA alfalfa by spot-baiting/hand baiting around burrow entrances (~11.5 g) to control free-ranging Belding's ground squirrels (Spermophilus beldingi) were compared in 6 randomly assigned square treatment units (TUs). Four TUs were given the rodenticide and 2 treated with placebo bait. Each TU was a 0.4 ha square surrounded by a similarly treated 5.5 ha square buffer zone. Baits were applied on May 13 and re-applied, on May 20 and May 22, after 7 days of un-forecasted cool wet weather greatly reduced their above ground activity. Pesticide (EPA …

Review: Birds Of Georgia, Ruth Hayden

Georgia Library Quarterly

Review of the non-fiction book "Birds of Georgia," by Dr. John W. Parrish, Jr., Giff Beaton, and Gregory Kennedy, with contributions from Chris Fisher and Andy Bezener.

Giant Pandas Balance Energy Budgets With Metabolic Depression: Insights From Radar Detection Of Heart Rates, Tommy Gene Finley

Theses and Dissertations

Giant pandas ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca ) are flagship species for conservation because of their endangered status and charismatic nature. Giant pandas are placed in the bear family (Urisidae) within the order Carnivora. They specialize on a diet of bamboo, yet retain a typical carnivore gastrointestinal tract. Low energy digestive efficiency (9.5–34%) was calculated from bamboo-only digestibility trials conducted on captive giant pandas. Huge amounts of bamboo are consumed to overcome inefficient extraction and thus obtain sufficient energy and nutrients. I designed this study to gain insights into giant panda energy balance by measuring heart rates during sleep, their primary means …

A Preliminary Study On Growth Parameters And Mortality Rates Of The Barbel (Barbus Tauricus Escherichi Steindachner, 1897) In Yeşildere Stream, Rize, Turkey, Cemaletti̇n Şahi̇n, Hasan Oğuz İmamoğlu, Davut Turan, Bülent Verep, Vatan Taşkin

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Growth parameters and mortality rates of the Barbus tauricus escherichi population inhabiting in Yeşildere Stream were investigated. In particular, age and size distributions, asymptotic growth, and mortality rates by age group classes were estimated. A total of 304 B. t. escherichi specimens were sampled between June 2001 and July 2002. The population consisted of 5 age classes (i.e. 0 to IV) with minimum and maximum sizes of 5 cm to 23 cm in total length. The mean growth parameters were determined as L_{infinity} = 26.63 cm, K = 0.274, and t_0 = -1.009 with the scale method and as L_{infinity} …