Population Biology Commons^™

Interactions Of Sandhill Cranes And Whooping Cranes With Foreign Objects In Florida, Martin J. Folk, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Marilyn G. Spalding

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

During studies of Florida sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pralensis), greater sandhill cranes (G. c. tabida), and whooping cranes (G. americana) in Florida, we documented cases where these birds were in contact with human-produced objects that resulted in injury or death. We describe >40 instances in which cranes collided with powerlines or fences, became entangled in string or fishing line, or ingested foreign objects. The effect of human-produced objects on crane populations, particularly small populations, may be significant.

Small Mammal Communities In Riparian And Upland Habitats On The Upper Coastal Plain Of Virginia, A. Scott Bellows, Joseph C. Mitchell

Virginia Journal of Science

We compared small mammal communities between riparian (stream corridor) and nearby upland habitats in a hardwood forest ecosystem on Fort A.P. Hill, Caroline County, Virginia. We used a combination of small-scale drift fence/pitfall trap arrays and snap traps to capture small mammals during April – October 1998, with an additional winter sample in January 1999. We captured seven small mammal species at 14 sites (7 pairs). Numbers of species were not significantly different between habitat types. Bray-Curtis polar ordinations showed that plant and small mammal community compositions were similar in upland sites and that these communities were most varied in …

The Aquaculture Of Non-Endemic Species In Western Australia Silver Perch (Bidyanus Bidyanus), Tina Thorne, H. G. Brayford

Fisheries Management Papers

The development of commercial aquaculture of a non-endemic species such as silver perch raises a number of important issues relating to translocation. These include the potential of the introduced species to: impact on genetic diversity; introduce disease; and impact on - the natural environment; and - the biodiversity of native species. This Management Paper has been drafted in liaison with the Department of Environmental Protection in accordance with the principles of rish assessment, taking into account the above issues. It is considered that the implementation of this policy will protect the natural environment and native fish species. It will also …

Parental Care In Sphaerium Striatinum Lamarck: Evidence For Retention Of Competent Offspring, Mark Beekey, Ronald H. Karlson, Alyse R. Greenberg

Biology Faculty Publications

The timing of offspring release is a fundamental turning point in the life history of any organism. It represents the end to many of the most costly forms of parental care (e.g., provisioning of nutrients for developing eggs and zygotes) and the beginning of an independent life for the offspring. Generally temporal variation in this event is attributed to a variety of physiological and evolutionary trade-offs. Here we examine the retention of offspring in the freshwater clam Sphaerium striatinum Lamarck. Brooded offspring are typically not released into the environment until they are 4.0 mm shell length (SL). We provide evidence …

Biological And Physical Observations On Larval Spot (Leiostomus Xanthurus) Recruiting To Oregon And Ocracoke Inlets North Carolina, Thomas R. Wasaff

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Patterns of abundance, length, age, and growth of larval spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) were compared to assess the variability between spot larvae ingressing to two North Carolina inlets. The source of variability for the recruitment of larval fishes to estuarine nurseries has been linked to environmental stochasticity. Wind data and seasurface temperature satellite images were analyzed as two influential environmental variables that may help explain recruitment variability. As part of the South Atlantic Bight Recruitment Experiment (SABRE), spot larvae were collected between October 1994 and April 1995 as they recruited to Pamlico Sound through Oregon Inlet, located north of Cape Hatteras, …

Los Anfibios Del Monumento Natural Barro Colorado, Parque Nacional Soberania Y Areas Adyacentes, Rafael O. De Sá

Biology Faculty Publications

This book focuses on the batrachofauna of Barro Colorado Nature Monument. Soberania National Park and adjacent areas. It complements other recent publications on Neotropical amphibians such as those by Rodriguez and Duellman ( 1994) on Peru, Achaval and Olmos (1995) on Uruguay, and Meyer and Foster (1996) on Belize. The goal of these books is to reach a wider audience than the more technical batrachofaunal summaries-e.g., Frogs of Boracéia (Heyer 1990). Amphibians of Argentina (Cei 1985), and Frogs of the Genus Eleutherodactylus in Western Ecuador (Lynch and Duellman 1997). These geographically focused guides are especially useful to students, amateur biologists, …

Western Rock Lobster Management For Seasons 2001/2002 And 2002/2003 : A Discussion Paper, Kevin Donohue

Fisheries Management Papers

In Part One of this paper the discussion is focused on the suggestion that the 2001/2002 catch be increased. In Part Two other suggestions, by associations, that are primarily concerned with other aspects of the management of the fishery are discussed.

Information On Quota Management Of Rock Lobster Fisheries In South Australia, Tasmania And New Zealand., Kevin Donohue, Eric Barker

Fisheries Management Papers

This report provides an update on the information available to Western Australians on the quota management of Australasian rock lobster fisheries. The report keeps Government and industry abreast of developments in alternative management systems and, if necessary, reviews the WA management system.

Comparison Of Larval Myomere Counts Among Species Of Nocomis In Virginia (Actinopterygii: Cyprinidae), Terre D. Green, Eugene G. Maurakis

Virginia Journal of Science

Larval myomere counts of Nocomis platyrhynchus were made using a dissecting light microscope equipped with polarizing filters, and then compared to those of the three other species of Nocomis (Nocomis leptocephalus, Nocomis micropogon, and Nocomis raneyi) found in Virginia. Average preanal myomere counts for N. platyrhynchus (26.9) were significantly different from those of the other three species (N. raneyi =28.7; N. micropogon =26.0; and N. leptocephalus =25.9). This is especially important as larvae of N. leptocephalus, the only other species of Nocomis syntopic with N. platyrhynchus in the upper New River drainage, can now …

New World Nine-Primaried Oscine Relationships: Constructing A Molecular Framework, John Klicka, Kevin P. Johnson, Scott M. Lanyon

Ornithology Program (HRC)

Historically, a paucity of comparative morphological characters has led to much debate regarding relationships within and among the major lineages of New World nine-primaried oscines. More recently, DNA-DNA hybridization studies have provided novel and testable hypotheses of relationships, although no consensus has been reached. For 40 songbird taxa, we obtained 1,929 base pairs (bp) of DNA sequence from the mitochondrial cytochrome-b (894 bp) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (1,035 bp) genes. Phylogenetic analyses confirm the monophyly of this assemblage as traditionally defined. The lineages delineated historically on morphological grounds are retained; finches (Fringillinae) are sister to a well-supported clade …

Breeding Season Demography And Movements Of Eastern Towhees At The Savannah River Site, South Carolina, David G. Krementz, Larkin A. Powell

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

The Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) has undergone population declines across much of its range, especially in New England. Despite being a widespread and, at one time, a common species, relatively little is known about its natural history, ecology, or demographics. We conducted baseline research on Eastern Towhees at the Savannah River Site, South Carolina, in 1995 and 1996 to estimate breeding season survival rates, nest success rates, breeding densities, and daily movements. We also were interested in whether towhees had differences in survival and movement rates between young and mature managed pine stands. We found that survival rates during the …

The Global Decline Of Reptiles, Deja’ Vu Amphibians, J. Whitfield Gibbons, David E. Scott, Travis J. Ryan, Kurt A. Buhlmann, Tracey D. Tiuberville, Brian S. Metts, Judith L. Greene, Tony Mills, Yale Leiden, Sean Poppy, Christopher T. Winne

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

Reptile species are declining on a global scale. Six significant threats to reptile populations are habitat loss and degradation, introduced invasive species, environmental pollution, disease, unsustainable use, and global climate change.

Abalone Aquaculture In Western Australia : Policy Guideline., Fisheries Western Australia.

Fisheries Management Papers

Experimental or commercial abalone aquaculture is being pursued in many countries with major investments in The United States, Taiwan, China and Korea as well as in Australia. The combined total abalone aquaculture production from China and Taiwan was reported to be in the order of 2,000 tonnes and continues to rise. As cultured ‘cocktail’ abalone are below the legal harvest size of wild abalone, there will be limited competition between aquaculture and the wild fisheries.

Review Of The Western Australian Pilchard Fishery 12 -16 April 1999, K. L. Cochane

Fisheries Management Papers

A workshop was held on Monday 12 April 1999 at which presentations were made by representatives of Fisheries WA, speakers from other state fisheries agencies and the Western Australian (WA) pilchard industry. This workshop identified some of the key concerns in the assessment and management of the fishery. This report presents the conclusions reached by the reviewer at the end of the process, which were also presented to members of the WA pilchard fishing industry in Albany on Friday 16 April.

Comparing The Tadpoles Of Hyla Geographica And Hyla Semilineata, Anne D'Heursel, Rafael O. De Sá

Biology Faculty Publications

External morphology, internal oral anatomy, and chondrocranial anatomy were examined for tadpoles of Hyla geographica from the Amazon rainforest, Brazil, and Hyla semilineata from the Atlantic rainforest, Brazil. Here, we provide morphological larval data to help diagnose these closely related species. Scanning electron microscopy analysis of buccal morphology showed the most distinctive features between these species: the distance between the lingual papillae in the buccal floor of H. geographica is three times greater than that distance in H. semilineata, and the relative size of the lingual papillae in H. geographica is less than half their size in H. semilineata. Although …

Draft Shark Bay Pink Snapper Management Plan 1999, Fisheries Western Australia.

Fisheries Management Papers

This draft management plan was prepared by the Fisheries Department on 12 July 1999 for the Minister for Fisheries for the purpose of facilitating consultation in resepct of the proposal by the Minister to determine a new Management Plan for the Shark Bay Pink Snapper Fishery.

The Translocation Of Barramundi. A Discussion Paper., Makaira Pty Ltd

Fisheries Management Papers

There is recognisable economic benefit to the translocation of barramundi, but there is also a need to ensure the translocation will not adversely impact upon the genetic diversity, introduce disease or impact on the natural environment and biodiversity. This discussion paper has been prepared to provide information to assist in the assessment of the possible impact of translocation of barramundi into and within Western Australia, for the purposed of recreational stock enhancement, aquaculture development and domestic stocking. In contemplating the translocation any aquatic species, signigicant economic and social benefits must be balanced with biological and environmental risks; that is, the …

The Timing And Pattern Of Myogenesis In Hymenochirus Boettgeri, Matthew T. Smetanick, Rafael O. De Sá, Gary P. Radice

Biology Faculty Publications

Differences in the relative timing of homologous developmental events among closely related species, known as heterochronies, may provide valuable clues in understanding evolutionary relationships (McKinney, 1988; McNamara, 1995). Examining the timing of myogenic events is a relatively easy and effective method for finding heterochronic events. For example, whether muscle proteins and myofibrils appear before or after multinucleation can be determined through histological techniciques (Kielbowna, 1981). Simple observations of live specimens can pinpoint functional landmarks such as first twitch (spontaneous or due to external stimuli) and first heartbeat.

Natural History Of The Northern Spring Salamander Gyrinophilus Porphyriticus Porphyriticus At The Westvaco Wildlife And Ecosystem Research Forest In Randolph County, West Virginia, Brian A. Lindley

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this thesis research was to study the natural history of the northern spring salamander Gyrinophilus p. porphyriticus in West Virginia. The objectives of this study were to determine the environmental characteristics of the habitat of Gyrinophilus p. porphyriticus, to determine its reproductive biology, and then examine non-reproductive aspects of the natural history of the species. Study sites were located at the Westvaco Wildlife and Ecosystem Research Forest (WWERF) in Randolph County, West Virginia. Four sites on three streams were divided into two 25m transects. All sites were examined once each month from August 1997 through November 1998 …

Experimental Infections Of Muskoxen (Ovibos Moschatus) And Domestic Sheep With Umingmakstrongylus Pallikuukensis (Nematoda: Protostrongylidae): Parasite Development, Population Structure, And Pathology, Susan J. Kutz, Eric P. Hoberg, Lydden Polley

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Three captive muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) were successfully infected with third-stage larvae of Umingmakstrongylus pallikuukensis digested or emerged from the slugs Deroceras reticulatum and D. laeve, for the first time completing the life cycle of this parasite under experimental conditions. The course of parasite development and patency was followed for 26 months post infection (p.i.) using fecal examinations and radiography. The prepatent periods in two of the muskoxen were 91 and 95 days and the patent period in one extended for 23 months. Larval production peaked 13–14 months p.i. On postmortem of two of the muskoxen at months …

The Chondrocranium Of The Mexican Burrowing Toad, Rhinophrynus Dorsalis, Charles C. Swart, Rafael O. De Sá

Biology Faculty Publications

The chondrocranium of Rhinophrynus dorsalis is described and illustrated. Autapomorphies of R. dorsalis are the presence of the symplectic cartilage and a cartilaginous process on the ascending process of the palatoquadrate. Synapomorphies of Rhinophrynus shared with the Pipidae are: (1) early formation of the lower jaw and (2) presence of a suprarostral plate. Alternative developmental pathways for the formation of the suprarostral plate are considered. Histological data indicates that the suprarostral plate forms from: (1) the early fusion of the cornua trabeculae with the suprarostral cartilages, (2) an anterior growth of the ethmold plate, and (3) subsequent fusion …

Unidad De Los Anfibios Modernos Como Grupo Natural, Rafael O. De Sá

Biology Faculty Publications

RESUMEN

La monofilia de la infraclase Lissamphibia ha sido cuestionada. Algunos autores sugieren un origen independiente del Orden Gymnophiona basados en la condición compacta (= estegocrotafía) del cráneo de la cecilias. La presente revisión indica la irrelevancia del estegocrotafismo para establecer las relaciones filogenéticas del grupo. Los datos disponibles sugieren: 1) el estegocrotafismo es secundariamente derivado en cecilias, y 2) Lissamphibia representa un grupo monofilético.

SUMMARY

Unity of modern Amphibians as a natural group

The monophyly of Lissamphibia has been previously questioned. Some authors suggested an independent origin of Gymnophiona based on the solid condition (= stegokrotaphy) of the caecilian …

Changes In Small Mammal Community Attributes Associated With Increasing Pine Stand Age In Managed Pine Plantations In Southeastern Virginia, James Douglas Dolan

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Loblolly pine plantations were examined at different ages to identify small mammal community attributes in relation to the succession of the plant community. Forest floor and understory plant communities were characterized. Small mammals were collected by Fitch (live) traps and pitfall traps in four age classes during five seasons of study. Fitch live traps and pitfall traps were used in conjunction with one another to obtain the most accurate depiction of the small mammal community. Fitch traps accounted for 65 % of small mammal captures and 7 of 9 species captured. Small mammal abundance and biomass declined with increasing stand …

A Strategy For The Future Management Of The Joint Authority Northern Shark Fishery. A Discussion Paper., Tim Bray, Jo Kennedy

Fisheries Management Papers

This paper discusses the current status of the Joint Authority Northern Shark Fishery (JANSF), and the major issues affecting it. The main aim of the document is to present a seires of recommendations to enable effective future management of this resource. The paper provides a brief introduction to the JANSF, followed by an examination of the resource base of the fishery (primary species, stock distribution and stock assessment).

Western Rock Lobster Management - Options And Issues, Kevin Donohue

Fisheries Management Papers

Following the Rock Lobster Industry Advisory Committee meeting of the 3 March 1998 the Minister has advised that his position is that there will be no management changes for the 1998/99 season. The purpose of this paper is primarily to provide information explaining management options and issues for consideration of the long term management of the fishery. The paper is divided into three main sections which detail options that have been identified as having the potential to increase the catch value over the next three years. In the first section, an option for enhancing the catch value by transferring lobsters …

Fisheries Research Report No. 110 - A Research Vessel Survey Of Bottom Types In The Area Of The Abrolhos Islands And Mid-West Trawl Fishery., C. J. Dibden, L. M. Joll

Fisheries Research Reports

To address the concern expressed by Commercial rock lobster fishers operating in the Abrolhos Islands area, that expanding saucer scallop trawl activity was damaging the sea floor biota in areas which they considered good rock lobster habitat and poor scallop habitat, an underwater video survey was conducted by the Fisheries Department Research Division, with the following objectives:

1. Examine, classify and map the benthic habitat of areas currently and historically trawled for scallops in the Abrolhos Islands area and adjacent waters;

2. Examine, classify and map the benthic habitat of areas adjacent to these trawled areas, where potential for conflict …

Summary Of Submissions To Fisheries Management Paper No 108 - Issues Affecting Western Australia's Inshore Crab Fishery, Cathy Campbell

Fisheries Management Papers

The summary of submissions is a record of comments offered in respect to the contet of Fisheries Management Paper No. 108 : Issues affecting Western Australia's inshore crab fishery (the Issues Paper) and submitted by groups or individuals who have an interest in inshore crab fishing activity in this State. Concerns of the respective parties included a percieved decline in recreational crab catches at specific locations; instances of conflict between commerical and recreational crabs fishers in Geographe Bay; concern for the types of gear used to take crabs; a substantial rise in the catch of crabs in the Cockburn Sound …

Effect Of Sampling Errors On Estimates Of Recruitment And Fishing Mortality From Separable Virtual Population Analysis, Emmanis Dorval

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Separable virtual population analysis (SVPA) models provide estimates of historical recruitment and fishing mortality from analyzing catch data based on the separability of fishing mortality into age specific-gear selection and yearly mortality. These models assume that the catch is randomly sampled and that sampling error is a random variable with constant variance and mean equal to zero. These models do not account for sampling measurement errors that occur when the catch partitioned by age is not measured on every sampling unit without error, and spatio-temporal errors that occur when the observed catch is not representative of the harvested population throughout …

Ecology And Natural History Of The Cow Knob Salamander, Plethodon Punctatus Highton, In West Virginia, Robert B. Tucker

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Very little has been written on the ecology and natural history of the Cow Knob salamander, Plethodon punctatus Highton, since it was described by Highton (1971). Plethodon punctatus is known only from the higher elevations of Great North (above 2,800 ft) and Shenandoah (above 3,000 ft.) Mountains in Virginia and West Virginia (Highton, 1972; Conant and Collins, 1991). The type locality is Cow Knob, Pendleton County, West Virginia. Plethodon punctatus is a large (up to 75 mm snout-to-vent length) dorso-ventrally flattened salamander with creamish iridiophore spots on the back and sides, webbed feet for a fossorial lifestyle, and large …

Life History, Ecology, And Low Ph Tolerance Of The Freshwater Prawn, Palaemonetes Kadiakensis Rathbun, In A Mitigated Wetland Of The Green Bottom Wildlife Management Area, West Virginia, Jennifer Ann Aderman

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

An ecological life history study of the freshwater prawn Palaemonetes kadiakensis was conducted at the mitigated wetland of the Green Bottom Wildlife management Area (GBWMA). Monthly samples were collected from November 1996 through November 1997. In addition, weekly samples were collected from May through November for growth and reproductive analysis. Monthly samples yielded 520 prawns. Palaemonetes kadiakensis had a one-year life cycle, with all adults dying by September. Males averaged 23.82 mm (range = 14.15 to 36.75 mm) and females averaged 26.78mm (range = 15.06 to 38.60 mm) in length. Males averaged 0.087g (range = 0.014to 0.293 g) and females …