Zoology Commons^™

Observations Of Reproduction In Mountain Lions From Nebraska, Sam Wilson, Justin D. Hoffman, Hugh H. Genoways

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Occurrences of mountain lions (Puma concolor) in Nebraska have been steadily increasing; however, reproductive activity in mountain lions has not been documented in the state. We present the first evidence of mountain lion reproduction in Nebraska since mountain lions recolonized the state in the early 1990s. On 28 February 2007, a spotted kitten was hit by a vehicle in northwestern Nebraska; and based on body length and weight, we estimate its age at 3.9 months. On 20 December 2008, a female mountain lion and spotted kitten were photographed in the northwestern part of the state. On 9 May …

Effects Of Uv Light On Local Stream Frog Behavior, John Buie, Eiichiro Uemura, Candy Hwang, D. Lee, Craig Sutter, Evan Mattiasen, Thomas Vandergon, Rodney Honeycutt, Lee Kats

Featured Research

Amphibian declines have been well documented throughout the world. Several studies have examined whether UV radiation from the sun is a possible contributing cause to declining populations. In Southern California, two closely related species of treefrogs, Pseudacris hypochondriaca and Pseudacris cadaverina, coexist in many perennial streams. P. hypochondriaca is primarily nocturnal while P. cadaverina is known to bask in direct sunlight. The purpose of the study is to determine how the two different species of frogs will react under different types of light emitted by a portable flashlight. The light was emitting either UV radiation or visible light, or …

Conceptual Model For Thermal Limits On The Distribution Of Reptiles, J. Sean Doody, Jennifer A. Moore

USF St. Petersburg Campus Faculty Publications

Recent climate change has re-invigorated scientific interest in the dynamics of geographic distributions of organisms. Climate responses and their biogeographical ramifications can be predicted indirectly by studying variation in fitness-related traits across environmental gradients in wide-ranging species. We review evidence for such variation in reptiles. Clinal variation in seasonal timing (onset) of nesting is common but may offer only minor compensation. In contrast, clinal variation in nesting behavior in two wide-ranging species suggests that reptiles can use nest site choice to counter climate differences. We suggest that when range boundaries located at climate extremes are determined by thermal conditions of …

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” …

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

Ectoparasites Of Bats In Mongolia (Ischnopsyllidae, Nycteribiidae, Cimicidae And Spinturnicidae), Ingo Sceffler, Dietrich Dolch, Jargalsaikhan Ariunbold, Nyamsuren Batsajchan, Andreas Abraham, Klaus Thiele

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

For large parts of the world, the knowledge of bat ectoparasites is still scanty. Regarding Mongolia, only few studies exist to date. This paper analyzes results from extensive captures between 2005-2008, carried out in different sites of Mongolia. Discussed ectoparasites include bat fleas, (Ischnopsyllidae), bat flies (Nycteribiidae), and bat bugs (Cimicidae) and spinturnicid mites (Spinturnicidae). A number of species found in this study were new records for Mongolia, and for many species additional sites were reported. For some bat species, the spectrum and frequency of larger ectoparasites could be determined for the first time.

Cargo Of Birds To Arkansas, The Hurricanes In 2008 And The Swept Clean Hypothesis, Douglas A. James, Kimberly G. Smith, Joseph C. Neal, John G. Hehr

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Three hurricanes in the hurricane season of 2008 brought to Arkansas several unusual marine and other birds from southerly locations. There were 10 species noted, totaling 44 individual birds. Sooty Terns, numbering 15, were the most numerous. Laughing Gulls were next in abundance. In the mix of birds there was only 1 new species for the state, a Least Grebe. The hurricanes brought vastly different cargos of birds, and two hypotheses relating to how hurricanes transport birds are proposed. The findings supported the "swept clean" hypothesis over the "blown through" hypothesis.

Evaluation Of Fish And Macroinvertebrate Indices Of Biotic Integrity In The Bioassessment Of The Illinois River Basin, Rebekah Hotz

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

Evaluating performances of the fish and invertebrate Indices of Biotic Integrity (IBIs) for a region is important to maintain rigorous assessment of the environmental quality of streams, especially with increasing urbanization. Timing of the assessment is considered important, with the critical season (low flow, high temperature) preferred, but the primary season (spring– summer) may be as efficient. I assisted with the collection and analysis of fish and macroinvertebrates using methods developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) Rapid Bioassessment Protocols (RBPs) and the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), along with obtaining habitat and chemical assessments during primary …

Molecular Identification Of Arowana Species Based On Cytochrome B And Cytochrome C Oxidase I (Coi) / Maryam Zahedi Fard, Maryam Zahedi Fard

Student Works (2010-2019)

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers has been widely used to better resolve the taxonomic identification as well as display the genetic relatedness of different species and closely related fish. The highly cost ornamental fish, Asian arowana (Scleropages formosus) of family Osteoglossidae has different colored strains that are geographically distributed in different regions around Southeast Asia. The taxonomic classification of these different strains still remains unclear and disputable. The partial sequences of the cytochrome b and the DNA barcoding gene, cytochrome C oxidase were analyzed and assessed for molecular identification; to differentiate the colored varieties of this species. The results of this …

Simple Predictors Of Bite Force In Bats: The Good, The Better, And The Better Still, Patricia W. Freeman, Cliff A. Lemen

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Bite forces of 39 species from six families of New World bats with a variety of diets are quantified with a force meter under field conditions. Using regression approaches we search for a model that is a good morphological predictor of these bite forces. Body mass, an index that ignores differences in skull morphology, has a statistically significant relationship with bite force (R² = 0.76) but is a relatively poor predictor compared with our best model (R² = 0.94). The two best models of the eight we examine are one based on an estimate of strength …

Lakewood Farm: The Private Zoo That The Public Loved, Geoffrey D. Reynolds

Faculty Publications

Lakewood Farm:  The Private Zoo That the Public Loved is an article concerning the private zoo in Holland, Michigan, that was owned by Chicago coal merchant George Fulmer Getz and helped form the Illionois based Brookfiekd Zoo and John Ball Zoo of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Review Of The Species Of Gugolzia Delucchi And Steffan (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) In Europe And Turkey, With Descriptions Of New Species, Mi̇kdat Doğanlar, Oğuzhan Doğanlar

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The species of Gugolzia (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea, Pteromalidae) in Europe and Turkey were reviewed, and an identification key for differentiating the species is provided. Newly discovered diagnostic characters of the genus were added to the diagnoses given by earlier authors. Species were recorded as parasitoids of phytophagous Eurytomidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). New host and distributions are for Gugolzia harmolitae, which was reared from Tetramesa romana feeding on shoots of Arundo donax (Poaceae), Gugolzia karadagae n.sp. from Eurytoma plotnikovi feeding on fruits of Pistacia vera together with Megastigmus pistaciae (Chalcidoidea: Torymidae) in Gaziantep province, and Gugolzia melengicia n.sp. from fruits of Pistacia terebinthi …

A Contribution To The Tachinid Flies Of The Subfamilies Exoristinae And Tachininae (Diptera: Tachinidae) From Fars Province, Iran, Mehdi Gheibi, Hadi Ostovan, Karim Kamali

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Data are given on the distribution of 40 species belonging to the subfamilies Exoristinae and Tachininae that were collected by the first author in Fars province, Iran, during 2006-2007. In all, 22 species were recorded for the first time from Iran and 34 species from Fars province. Erynniopsis antennata (Rondani, 1861) was reared for the first time on the host Diorhabda elongate (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).

Verdanus Artvinensis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), A New Leafhopper Species From Northeastern Turkey, Şaban Güçlü

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Verdanus artvinensis n. sp. from northeastern Turkey is described and illustrated. The main characteristics of this species are compared with those of V. pazoukii (Dlabola, 1980), a closely related species. A key to distinguish these 2 species is provided.

Additional Contribution To The Study Of The Freshwater Fauna Of Testate Amoebae In Southeast Azerbaijan, Nataly Snegovaya, Ilham Alekperov

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Investigations of the inland water bodies of southeast Azerbaijan (mainly near the city of Lenkoran and its suburbs) yielded 11 additional species of freshwater testate amoebae. Among these, 7 species (Oopyxis lenkoranica sp.n., Pentagonia azerbaijanica sp.n., Difflugia lenkoranica sp.n., D.talyshica sp.n., D.sapnakeranica sp.n., D.pressula sp.n., and D.girkanica sp.n.) are new to science. Descriptions of all 11 species are given.

The Occurrence Of The Subgenus Microlaccobius Gentili In Turkey (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae, Laccobius), With Taxonomic Notes, Mustafa Cemal Darilmaz, Suat Kiyak

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Distributional data and the chorotype of all known taxa of Turkish species of the subgenus Microlaccobius Gentili, 1974 are summarized. The taxonomic position of Laccobius gracilis persicus Gentili, 1974 is discussed and L. persicus is elevated to the level of valid species and new record for the Turkish fauna. A short identification key of Turkish species of the subgenus is also given.

New Records Of Leptostracans (Crustacea, Phyllocarida) From The Eastern Mediterranean, Cengi̇z Koçak, Juan Moreira, Tuncer Katağan

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Knowledge about leptostracans from the Mediterranean Sea is still scarce. Examination of samples collected from the Aegean Sea off Turkey and from Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean Sea revealed new localities and range extensions for 2 species of leptostracans: Nebalia strausi Risso, 1826, and N. kocatasi Moreira, Koçak, and Katagan, 2007. The record of N. kocatasi is the first for Cyprus and for the Levantine Basin. Additional specimens (Nebalia sp. 1 and Nebalia sp. 2) might prove to belong to 2 new species but the lack of material prevents their formal description.

Histology Of The Androgenic Gland In Eriphia Verrucosa (Forskål, 1775) (Decapoda, Brachyura), Meli̇ke Erkan, Yasemi̇n Tunali, Serap Eki̇nci̇, Si̇mge Kara

Turkish Journal of Zoology

This study investigated the histology of the androgenic gland in Eriphia verrucosa (Forskål, 1775). The results obtained with light microscopy show that the androgenic gland in this species consists of 2 cell types. Type 1 cells are small and do not contain a secretory product. Type 2 cells are considerably larger and may produce a proteinaceous secretion. This study identified the location and structure of the androgenic gland in Eriphia verrucosa, which is an economically important brachyuran crab, and revealed the chemical nature of the secretions produced by its cells.

Growth And Length-Weight Relationships Of The Horse Mackerel, Trachurus Mediterraneus Ponticus (Aleev, 1956), Off The Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, Maria Hristova Yankova, Violin Stoyanov Raykov, Dimitar Borisov Gerdzhikov, Petya Bogomilova Frateva

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Between April 2007 and October 2008 we collected 1995 horse mackerel specimens from the territorial waters of the Bulgarian Black Sea. Age, length, and weight of these specimens were determined to estimate length-weight relationships and age composition. The present study utilized otolith characterization to determine age. The sex ratio was 1:1.36686 (M:F). The prevalent age classes were 2+, 3+, and 4+. The exponent b of equation resulted in the value 3.3046, which indicates that the weight growth is positive allometric. Growth parameters of the von Bertalanffy equation were separately evaluated for females and males as follows: L_{\infinity} = 19.66, K …

Age, Growth, Length-Weight Relationship And Reproduction Of The Striped Seabream (Lithognathus Mormyrus L., 1758) (Sparidae) In The Beymelek Lagoon (Antalya, Turkey), Yilmaz Emre, İsmet Balik, Çeti̇n Sümer, D. Aytuğ Oskay, H. Özgür Yeşi̇lçi̇men

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Age, growth, length-weight relationship and reproduction were investigated for striped seabream (Lithognathus mormyrus L., 1758) collected from Beymelek Lagoon (Antalya, Turkey) between February 2006 and January 2007. The ages of striped seabream ranged from 0 to 3 years for males and from 0 to 4 years for females. Their total lengths and weights ranged between 14.4 and 26.4 cm and 42 and 297 g for males and 14.3 and 27.4 cm and 40 and 329 g for females, respectively. The growth parameters of the von Bertalanffy equation were: L_{\infinity} = 28.3 cm, K = 0.456 year^{-1} and t_0 = -1.859 …

Length-Weight Relationships Of Marine Fishes Off Yumurtalık Coast (İskenderun Bay), Turkey, Gökhan Gökçe, Mustafa Çeki̇ç, Hali̇t Fi̇li̇z

Turkish Journal of Zoology

In this study, length and weight data are presented for 33 fish species inhabiting littoral habitats off the Yumurtalık coast. Samples were collected with combined gill and trammel nets. Parameters of the length-weight relationships were estimated for 14 species. The b values ranged between 2.35 and 3.53. For remained 19 species, the parameter a was estimated by setting b = 3.0.

Cytogenetic Analysis Of Pseudophoxinus Antalyae, Bogustkaya, 1992 (Pisces: Cyprinidae) From The Eastern Mediterranean River Basin, Turkey, Serap Ergene, Arzu Karahan, Mustafa Kuru

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The karyotype of Pseudophoxinus antalyae was analyzed using G-banding, C-banding, Ag-NOR staining, and Q-banding. Chromosome analysis of this species, which lives in the Berdan River and Berdan Dam Lake, was performed with the air-drying technique, using gill and fin epithelium cells. The diploid chromosome number of P. antalyae was determined to be 2n = 50, comprising 16 metacentric, 14 submetacentric, 12 subtelocentric, and 8 acrocentric (NF = 92) chromosomes. The largest chromosome pair of the complements was characteristically a submetacentric. The nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) were apparently located in subtelocentric chromosome pairs. The karyotype of P. antalyae is reported for …

Distribution Of The Southeastern Shrew (Sorex Longirostris Longirostris) In Arkansas, G. A. Mikel, Gary A. Heidt, David W. Clark

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The southeastern shrew (Sorex longirostris longirostris) is considered uncommon and, due to a lack of knowledge, a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Arkansas. Also, eastern Arkansas may represent a gap in the species’ distribution. Therefore, we evaluated persistence at previous capture sites, surveyed additional counties, quantified microhabitat at our capture locations, and compiled occurrences. Since Sealander and Heidt’s (1990) Arkansas Mammals detailed its occurrence, additional captures by Huston and Nelson (1994), Showen (2006), and this study document new counties (Pope and Searcy) and a new ecoregion (Arkansas Valley). Number of specimens in Arkansas has increased to 17 in 11 …