Population Biology Commons^™

Autumn Sandhill Crane Migration In Southeastern Oregon, Carroll D. Littlefield

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Each autumn, from 2,000 to 3,000 greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) of the Central Valley Population congregate on Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Migratory behavIor, flock SIzes and arrivals and departures from this important autumn use area were observed for 13 years (1970-1986). Average size of flocks arriving from the north was 15.7, with those arriving from the southwest averaging 7.4. Flocks departing for California wintering areas averaged 9.2, but as smaller groups merged, flock , sizes increased to 24.8 (35 km southwest from the departure area). Most flIghts were at speeds ra~?mg from 56 to 88 kmh-l, …

Habitat Use By Florida Sandhill Cranes In The Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia, Alan J. Bennett

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Habitat selection by Florida sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pratensis) in the Okefenokee Swamp was studied 1985-87. Wetland habitats were used exclusively. Herbaceous emergent marsh was the only habitat selected throughout the year. Although composing only 12.6% of the Swamp, such marsh received 54.8% use. Use of macrophyte emergent marsh (aquatic bed) peaked during summer and averaged 24.2% throughout the year. Shrub-scrub marsh, used for nesting, received 14.2% use. Habitat selection by adults and subadults (1-3 year-olds) was similar. Significant differences occurred only in spring when adults utilized Carex sp. and shrub-scrub marsh for nesting. Water depths in the …

Sandhill Crane Mortality Resulting From Neckbands, Alan Bennett

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Forty-three greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) and 18 Florida sandhill cranes (G. c. pratensis) were captured and fitted with plastic neckbands in 1985 and 1986. Nine (15%) died after inserting their bills inside their bands and were unable to free themselves. Death from neckbands occurred in 3 (20%) of 15 radio-tagged cranes, suggesting that the actual mortality was higher than that observed. No neckband-related deaths were observed in cranes < 12 months of age, and females exhibited mortality 2.5 times higher than males. Mortality was equally divided between cranes that received secured and unsecured neckbands. Increasing the height of neckbands from 6.5 to 8.2 cm did not reduce the incidence of death.

Territorial Behavior Of Florida Sandhill Cranes In The Okefenokee Swamp, Laurel A. Bennett, Alan J. Bennett

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Intraspecific and territorial interactions of adult Florida sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pratensis) were studied in the Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia 1985-87. Adult pairs occupied exclusive and defended territories year round. We did not observe social behavior or flocking by adult cranes. Reproductive success did not influence the fidelity of pairs to their territories or aggressiveness toward other cranes. Females that lost mates retained their territories and eventually re-paired. Territorality was most intense during fall and winter and may have been necessary to maintain feeding areas. Habitat conditions in the Okefenokee Swamp may dictate territorality, not sociality, as a strategy …

Reducing Conflicts Between Snow Goose Hunters And Whooping Cranes At Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Robert H. Edens

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The Bosque snow goose (Chen caerulescens) hunt was initiated in 1966 and had become an important recreational hunt by 1975, when the experimental whooping crane (Grus americana) foster parent program was initiated. Since 16 sandhill cranes (G. canadensIs) had been mistakenly shot prior to the program, concern was that whooping cranes might also be shot. The Bosque Snow Goose Hunter Training Program was initiated in 1977, consisting of a 1-hour slide/tape presentatIon and a 10-minute bird identification test. Modifications to hunt procedures and the requirement of all hunters to attend the hunter training program …

Land Use Status And Trends Of Potential Whooping Crane Release Sites In Central Florida, Mary Anne Bishop

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Three areas in central Florida, identified as potential sites for the reintroduction of a nonmigratory flock of whooping cranes (Grus americana), were evaluated. and ranked as to their priority for reintroduction based on their land use status and trends. The Kissimmee Prairie, including Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area, Prairie-Lakes State Preserve, and the National Audubon Society's Kissimmee Prairie Sanctuary was ranked first, the Webb Wildlife Management Area second, and Myakka River State Park third. Primary criteria used for each site and its surrounding lands included acreage, ownership, management, public use, access, potential threats, and the potential to support …

Relationship Of Channel Maintenance Flows To Whooping Crane Use Of The Platte River, Craig A. Faanes, David B. Bowman

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Periodic high flows in the Platte River are necessary to scour vegetation and redistribute sediment in the stream channel. Peak and mean annual flows have been reduced by as much as 70% from pre-development times, but channel maintenance flows still occur, although at a much reduced frequency and magnitude of occurrence. Use of the Platte River by migrant whooping cranes (Grus americana) in recent years appears to be related to the recent occurrence of flows in excess of 8,000 cfs for 5 or more consecutive days.

Release Of Sandhill Crane Chicks Hand-Reared With Artificial Stimuli, Robert H. Horwich, John Wood, Ray Anderson

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Greater sandhlll crane chicks (Grus canadensis tabida) were hand-reared using moveable puppets and vocalizing crane models as substitute parents. Their parental attachment was transferred to a crane-costumed human who introduced them to a wild environment and to wild foods. Five chicks were gentle-released in Wisconsin when 3.5 months old, a period of high sociality, and all successfully joined wild cranes. Following their first few weeks in association with wild cranes, their behavior was normal and comparable to that of wild chicks and they achieved normal flight distance from humans. Four of the 5 were relocated in Wisconsin the …

Whooping Cranes At The San Antonio Zoo, Jacqueline A. Lauver

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Since April, 1956, when an injured whooping crane (Grus americana) was received for rehabilitation, the San Antonio Zoo has maintained these birds in the collection and is 1 of only 2 zoos to have raised them. The zoo's management efforts, combined with favorable climatic cbnditions and water sources have contributed to a successful breeding program. The whooping crane is 1 of 7 crane species successfully bred, and 1 of 8 crane species currently in the collection.

The Contingency Plan For Federal-State Cooperative Protection Of Whooping Cranes, James C. Lewis

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

A "Contingency Plan for Federal-State Cooperative Protection of Whooping Cranes" was developed in 1985 to protect migrating whooping cranes (Grus americana). Thirteen states and the U.s. Fish and Wildlife Service implemented the plan in summer 1985. One state and one feq,eral employee, and alternates, are appointed as the "key contact" individuals within each state. Reports of sightings of whooping cranes are forwarded to these key contacts and they coordinate the response to sightings. An important part of the plan is education activities designed to increase the public's ability to identify whooping cranes and to encourage the reporting of …

Introduction Of Whooping Cranes In Eastern North America, James C. Lewis, F. Graham Cooch

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Whooping cranes (Grus americana) historically occurred throughout most of North America. A migration route last used prior to 1857 crossed the Appalachians to Atlantic Coast wintering grounds in coastal areas of New Jersey, South Carolina and river deltas farther south. The species disappeared from most eastern North American locations in the late 1800's. The winter 1987 population consisted of 43 captive birds and 154 in 2 wild subpopulations. Pursuant to both Canadian and u.s. recovery plans, sites in Michigan-Ontario, Georgia and Rorida are being considered as potential release locations for establishing an eastern population. Cross-fostering, gentle release and …

Mate Recognition And Fidelity In Captive Sandhill Cranes, Peter W. Shannon

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Two pairs of greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) were maintained at Audubon Park Zoo in separate but adjacent exhibits. The male of pair #2 was killed and due to medical problems associated with the female of pair #1, male #1 and female #2 were placed together. These birds subsequently bonded but did not nest. Following a 17 month separation, female #1 was moved to an area where she could hear but not see male #1 and female #2 . Almost immediately, male #1 began attempting to move himself closer to female #1 . They were placed together, …

Whooping Crane Habitat Alteration Analysis At Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas, C. Lee Sherrod, Richard Medina

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Aquatic, wetland, and upland habitat changes were quantified within the approximate critical habitat of the endangered whooping crane (Grus americana) along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) through Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and San Antonio, Bay, Texas. Study procedures employed comparative analysis of pre-GIWW (1930) and present (1986) aerial photography to provide a basis for the assessment of positive and negative impacts of the construction, operation and maintenance of the GIWW, principally on the whooping crane, but also on biota in general. Thirteen habitat mapping categories were utilized to describe an approximately 1,830 m wide corridor along the GIWW …

Lead Poisoning In A Whooping Crane, S. Bret Synder, Michael J. Richard, John P. Thilsted, Roderick C. Drewien, James C. Lewis

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The first known incident of lead poisoning in a whooping crane (Grus americana) occurred as the affected bird completed its second migration from Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Idaho to Bosque del Apache NWR, New Mexico. It fell ill about 4 1/2 weeks after reaching the winter site and was captured. The bird exhibited signs of anorexia and starvation, weakness with drooped wings, greenish watery diarrhea and an unusual gaping of the mouth with abnormal swallowing motions. Blood showed marked polychromasia (>50%) and reticulocytosis (>80%) of RBC's. Serum chemistry values were not diagnostic. A radiograph …

Crane Migration In Northern New Mexico, Dale W. Stahlecker

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) and foster-reared whooping cranes (G. americana) were monitored on a 345 km migration between their traditional stopover in southcentral Colorado and their winter grounds in central New Mexico during 4 autumns (1984-87) and 1 spring (1985). Autumn sandhill crane counts totaled 17,363 in 1984, 9,317 in 1985, 29,053 in 1986, and 26,552 in 1987. Peak flights of over 7,000 cranes in 1 day were recorded in both 1986 and 1987. More than 50% of the cranes were counted on just 4 days in 1984, 1986 and 1987. At least 27% …

Nesting Of Greater Sandhill Cranes On Seney National Wildlife Refuge, Richard P. Urbanek, Theodore A. Bookhout

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

During 1987, 59 nests of 57 pairs of greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) were located, mainly from the air, on or near the Seney National Wildlife Refuge, Michigan, and 52 nests were ground-checked. Nests were in available palustrine classes without tree canopies. Only 19% were in Sphagnum bogs, in which most nests from other areas of the Upper Peninsula have been found. Cattail (Typha latifolia) marshes, most prevalent in the managed area of the refuge, contabed 44% of the nests, and sedge (Carex spp.) marshes accounted for 37%. Important co-dominant plant species were leatherleaf …

Renesting Of Mississippi Sandhill Cranes In Jackson County, Mississippi 1965–1989, Jacob M. Valentine Jr.

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Among 118 active nests of Mississippi sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pulla) in Jackson County, Mississippi, 1%5-1989, 13 were renests. Three chicks from 19 wild and 3 from 3 Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (PWRC) switched eggs hatched in 13 first nests, but 5 died early and 1 after 2 weeks. Ten eggs were dead (infertile or the embryos died) in or at the nest. Two clutches (3 eggs) were destroyed by mammalian predators, 2 eggs were taken for captive propagation, and 1 was pecked and destroyed by the crane pair. Three chicks hatched from 22 wild eggs and 1 …

The Study Of Relatedness And Genetic Diversity In Cranes, George F. Gee, Herbert C. Dessauer, Jonathan Longmire, W. Elwood Briles, Raymond C. Simon

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is responsible for recovery of endangered species in the wild and, when necessary, maintenance in captivity. These programs provide an immediate measure of insurance against extinction. A prerequisite inherent in all of these programs is the preservation of enough genetic diversity to maintain a viable population and to maintain the capacity of the population to respond to change. Measures of genetic diversity examine polymorphic genes that are not influenced by selection pressures. Examples of these techniques and those used to determine relatedness are discussed. Studies of genetic diversity, electrophoresis of blood proteins, relatedness, …

Wildlife Corridors In The Wheatbelt, Richard Hobbs, Denis Saunders

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Native vegetation in the Western Australian wheatbelt now persists mostly in small areas that remained uncleared for various reasons. (See 'Remnant vegetation on farms is a valuable resource' on page 43.) On their own, most of these remnant areas are difficult to manage, and too small to retain viable populations of many of the birds and other animals found in the wheatbelt. These patches of vegetation can be linked by wildlife corridors, which may increase the ability of the wildlife to move about and persist in the area

Historic Trends In The Distribution And Populations Of Estuarine Marsh Birds Of The Connecticut River, Robert J. Craig

Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station

No abstract provided.

Colony Survivorship In Pogonomyrmex Occidentalis, Western Harvester Ant, In Western Nebraska, Kathleen H. Keeler

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Little is known about the life span of individual ant colonies (Keeler, 1981), even though the dynamics of some species, such as harvester ants, are crucial to the structure of plant and animal communities (e.g., Brown et al., 1979). This note reports the results of 10 years of observations on a population of harvester ants.

Fifty-six mounds of Pogonomyrmex occidentalis Cresson (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), western harvester ant, were permanently marked with aluminum tags in August 1977. The site, about 1 ha just south of the University of Nebraska's Cedar Point Biological Station, Keith Co., Nebraska, was within a pasture subject to …

Vegetation Patterns In Relation To Topography And Edaphic Variation Nebraska Sandhills Prairie, P. W. Barnes, A. T. Harrison, S. P. Heinisch

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Detailed studies on soil texture and moisture retention indicate a close association between edaphic features and the distribution and composition of plant communities along topographic gradients at Arapaho Prairie, a typical, semi-arid Nebraska Sandhills prairie. The vegetation characteristics of three major habitat types (ridge, slope, and valley) and several minor subtypes (swale, stable ridge, and eroding ridge) are recognized and quantitatively described. Texture analysis indicates that the soils of dune slopes and ridges are largely azonal and are very coarse with substantially lower fine fractions (silt-clay ~ 13-15%) than soils of the more lowland swale and valley sites where surfact …

Activity Levels Of Arboreal Rodents Peromysus And Ochrotomys Evaluated With Nest Cans In Seasonally Flooded Forests, John W. Walke

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The diversity and density of small mammals in the Dismal Swamp are believed to be small. To test this, four 1.96 ha grids were established and operated in the Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, from September 1981 to November 1982. Number 10 metal cans covered with plastic lids were placed as nest boxes at 0.5 to 1.5 m height on trees. A 2.5 cm hole allowed access by arboreal rodents, to each nest can. The activity level of the two arboreal rodents, Peromyscus leucopus and Ochrotomys nuttalli, was evaluated by observing types of activity ranging from presence of mice to …

The Effects Of Mowing On The Rodent Community Of A Native Tall Grass Prairie In Eastern Nebraska, Cliff A. Lemen, Mary K. Clausen

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Our results indicate that mowing, like burning, greatly reduces the use of an area by Microtus and increases the density of Peromyscus maniculatus until the grass can grow back. Depending on the rate of growth of the grass this process can take more than a year. If the prairie is mowed every year to maximize the production of hay, populations of Microtus cannot be maintained at high densities.

The study site, Nine Mile Prairie, is one of the few natural tallgrass prairies remaining in eastern Nebraska. It covers about 240 acres and is located 5 km north and 9 km …

Muscongus Bay, Marine Wildlife Inventory And Evaluation, Alan E. Hutchinson, Sandra J. Lovett

Maine Collection

Muscongus Bay, Marine Wildlife Inventory and Evaluation

by Alan E. Hutchinson and Sandra J. Lovett

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Augusta, Maine, February, 1984.

Contents: Preface / Acknowledgment / List of Tables / List of Figures / Introduction / Resource Inventory / Resource Evaluation / Resource Impact Assessment / Conclusions and Recommendations / References / Appendix

Distributions, Densities, And Relative Abundances Of Grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) In A Nebraska Sandhills Prairie, Anthony Joern

Entomology Papers from Other Sources

Grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) represent a conspicuous and often important component of grassland systems (Odum et al. 1962, Smalley 1960, Sinclair 1975, Van Hook 1971, Wiegert 1965). Often, assemblages of grasshoppers are quite diverse and may, on occasion, consume a large fraction of the available vegetation (Hewitt 1977, Hewitt et al. 1976, Mitchell and pfadt 1974). As such, grasshoppers have the potential of being very important in the nutrient and energy flow in grassland ecosystems. However, to understand the impact of grasshoppers at the ecosystem level requires that the densities and fluctuations of populations as well as the species composition of …

Preliminary Report Of Colony Survivorship In The Western Harvetser Ant (Pogonomyrmex Occidentalis) In Western Nebraska, Kathleen H. Keeler

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Colonies of Pogonomyrmex occidentalis Cresson (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) may live an average of 22 to 43 years. The population dynamics of individual colonies of P. occidentalis adjacent to the Univ. Nebraska's Cedar Point Biol. Sta., Keith Co., Nebraska, is the subject of an ongoing investigation. The habitat is a moderately grazed shortgrass prairie dominated by Bouteloua hirsuta, B. gracilis, and Buchloe dactyloides, with Stipa comata, Aristida spp., and various forbs. The colonies studied are in a triangular area about 400 m long and 100 m across at the widest point. The area appears to be at carrying …

Introduced Species And The Issue Of Animal Welfare, Michael Hutchins, Victoria Stevens, Natasha Atkins

Ecology Collection

Recently, considerable debate has been heard about the control or elimination of introduced or "exotic" animals on publicly held U.S. lands. Species introductions, whether intentional or unintentional, seem to be an inevitable result of human activities, but they may result in both economic and ecological problems: It has been estimated that over 90 percent of all such introductions have been harmful in some respect. Control of exotics can be accomplished through containment, shooting, poisoning, reintroduction of native predators, introduction of disease organisms, live capture and removal, and reproductive inhibition.

Those who must make decisions about the fate of introduced species …

The Leopard In Africa: Biological And Cultural Realities, Norman Myers

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The author comments on a proposal to change the leopard's status in Africa from endangered to threatened, which would open the leopard up to sport hunting. This proposed change would be a mistake, in the author's opinion. While the leopard still occurs in satisfactory numbers in some countries despite being rarely seen, its population is much lower than it could in other countries. The author notes that the real problem is not the species' biological status but the institutional, socio-cultural, and economic considerations. Wildlife conservation in Africa is challenging enough without the further complications that sport hunting brings.

Demographic And Reproductive Parameters Of The Yellow-Cheeked Pocket Gopher (Pappogeomys Castanops), Michael J. Smolen, Hugh H. Genoways, Robert J. Baker

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

A population of Pappogeomys castanops simulans was live-trapped on a 3.5-ha study area in Lubbock, Texas, from September 1971 to September 1973. Seasonal and annual differences in population size were observed, with the population fluctuating between 20 and 25 gophers. Female reproductive activity began in January and continued until October, with an obvious period of recruitment lacking; however, a peak was observed in March and April. Females produced as many as three litters per reproductive season. Females born early in the year were sexually mature within the reproductive season of their birth. Females had an average survival rate of 56 …