Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons^™

Sandhill Crane Abundance At Grays Lake, Idaho, L J. Ball, Jane E. Austin, Adonia R. Henry

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We initiated a study on the breeding ecology of greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) in the Grays Lake basin ofIdaho in 1997. Interest in the status of crane populations at Grays Lake is high; consequently, we present preliminary information on estimated size of the population, changes since the 1970s, and potential environmental factors involved. Drewien (1973) counted an average of549 cranes in the spring and estimated 250 nesting pairs in 1970-71. Number of nesting pairs reportedly increased 33% (to 332) by 1982 in response to intensive management, then declined 40-60% by 1996 (Drewien 1997, and Homocker Wildlife …

Nesting Ecology Of Sandhill Cranes At Grays Lake, Idaho, Jane E. Austin, L. J. Ball, Adonia R. Henry

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We examined the nesting ecology of greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) at Grays Lake, Idaho during 1997-99 to detennine the effects of nest-site characteristics and land use on crane nest success. These are preliminary results from 3 years of a 4-year study. Crane nests were located in portions of the Grays Lake basin from early May through late June each year (n = 131 in 1997; n = 131 in 1998; n = 143 in 1999). Apparent nest success varied among years (54% in 1997, 71% in 1998, and 53% in 1999; overall average of 59%). We …

Translocation Of Florida Sandhill Cranes To Georgia, Wesley A. Abler, Stephen A. Nesbitt

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Wild Florida sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pratensis) were captured in Florida during 3 years and translocated to Grand Bay Wildlife Management Area (GBWMA), Georgia, in an attempt to establish a resident population of Florida sandhill cranes in a location with suitable habitat but no known population of resident sandhill cranes. Translocated second-year subadult cranes commingled with migratory greater sandhill cranes (G. c. tabida) yet remained on GBWMA each year after the migratory birds left the area. Twenty-one of 35 released cranes were visually identified at least 5 months after release, 3 cranes more than 15 months …

Results Of The Second (1996) Experiment To Lead Cranes On Migration Behind A Motorized Ground Vehicle, David H. Ellis, Brian Clauss, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, R. Curt Mykut, Matt Shawkey, Daniel P. Mummert, Daniel T. Sprague, Catherine H. Ellis, F. Benjamin Trahan

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Fourteen greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) were trained to follow a specially-equipped truck and 12 were led along a ca 620-Ian route from Camp Navajo in northern Arizona to the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge near the ArizonalMexico border. Ten survived the trek, 380 Ian of which were flown, although only a few cranes flew every stage of the route. Major problems during the migration were powerline collisions (ca 15, 2 fatal) and overheating (when air temperatures exceeded ca 25° C). The tenacity of the cranes in following both in 1995 and 1996 under unfavorable conditions (e.g., …

Recommendations For The Attachment Of Satellite Transmitters To Cranes, David H. Ellis, Paul W. Howey, Gary L. Krapu

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Recent advances in miniaturization of satellite transmitters have resulted in thumb-sized packages weighing less than 30 g. These are smaller than VHF radios routinely mounted on crane leg bands. With this development and with favorable signal reception results, there is no need for, and much to recommend against, the continued use of back-pack mounts. We provide details for leg-mount attachments.

Resolutions Passed By The North American Crane Working Group Eighth North American Crane Workshop, Albuquerque, New Mexico U.S.A.

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Participants of the Eighth North American Crane Workshop hereby express their thanks and appreciation to the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge for hosting this workshop, to the staff of the Sheraton Old Town Hotel, to the field trip leaders, to the staff of the Bernardo Waterfowl Management Area, and to the committees and individuals who made the workshop a success. The paper sessions were excellent, and the spirit of friendship and dedication to crane conservation among the participants was revitalizing. Special thanks go to NACWG President Scott Hereford and Bosque del Apache Biologist John Taylor for their tireless effort …

Population Genetics Of Midcontinent Sandhill Cranes, Jessica L. Petersen, Richard Bischof, Allen L. Szalanski

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The Midcontinent Sandhill Crane Population is comprised of 3 subspecies, lesser (Grus canadensis canadensis), Canadian (G. c. rowani), and greater (G. c. tabida) sandhill cranes. In conjunction with the USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, we studied the extent of genetic variation between and within each race of the Midcontinent Sandhill Crane Population. DNA was extracted from 150 feather and dried blood samples collected from 1995-99 from sandhill cranes in the Platte River Valley, central Nebraska. Parsimony and maximwn likelihood analysis of the mtDNA D-loop sequences (ca 675 bp amplified using PCR) from 29 …

Aspects Of Reproduction And Pair Bonds In Florida Sandhill Cranes, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Martin J. Folk, Stephen T. Schwikert, James A. Schmidt

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

From 1980-98 we captured and uniquely marked more than 400 Florida sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis prafensis). Age ratios of the marked population, excluding juveniles, was 66% adult and 33% subadult, and the sex ratio was 49% male and 51% female. Average clutch size for 210 nests checked from 1983-97 was 1.78 ± 0.18 (SD) and frequency of l-egg clutches varied among years. Average post-fledging brood size from 1991 to 1997 was 1.27 ± 0.17 (SD), included a 3-chick brood. Average percent ofYOlmg from 2 study areas, 1991-97 was 11.9 ± 3.23 (SD). We observed renesting up to 3 …

An Update Of The Florida Whooping Crane Release Project Through June 2000, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Martin J. Folk, Kathleen A. Sullivan, Stephen T. Schwikert, Marilyn G. Spalding

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Whooping cranes (Grus americana) reared mostly at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (patuxent) or the International Crane Foundation (ICF) have been released in Florida in an effort to reestablish a nonmigratory population in the southeastern United States. From 1993 through spring of 2000, we released 208 cranes. Modifications to the release procedure instituted in 1995 have greatly reduced mortality from the initial release period. First year mortality has averaged 50%. A longterm drought that began after spring 1998 may have contnbuted to increased first year mortality in recent years. Most mortality has been from predation, mostly bobcat …

A Comparison Of Behavior For Two Cohorts Of Captive-Reared Greater Sandhill Cranes Released In Northern Arizona, Daniel P. Mummert, Carol L. Chambers, David H. Ellis

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

To determine how the behavior of greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) changes according to time of year, time of day, and number of days after release, we observed the activities of 2 groups of captive-reared greater sandhill cranes at Mormon Lake, northern Arizona. The behaviors we compared were alert, loafing, sleeping, foraging, preening, locomotion, and other. We found costume-reared subadult greater sandhill cranes that were established at the study site for a year spent more time foraging and being alert towards predators than parent -reared juvenile greater sandhill cranes that were recently released from captivity. We also …

Sandhill Crane Nest And Egg Characteristics At Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon, Carroll D. Littlefield

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

For the period 1969-89, greater sandhill crane (Grus canadensis tabida) nest and egg characteristics were assessed for pairs on the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge (Malheur), Oregon. Nests mostly were in broad-fruited burreed (Sparganium eurycarpum) and hardstem bulrush (Scirpus acutus) and were constructed primarily of the same vegetative species that surrounded nests. Averages for nest parameters were diameter 127 xIII cm, crown diameter 77 x 69 cm, bowl diameter 41 x 37 em, bowl depth 5.8 em, nest height 12.4 em, and water depth 25.8 cm. Nests were placed in vegetation with a mean height …

Effects Of An Early Spring Burn On Greater Sandhill Crane Nesting Success At Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon, Carroll D. Littlefield, John E. Cornely, Bradley D. Ehlers

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

A 2430 ha prescribed burn was conducted on Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Harney County, Oregon in March 1985. About 35 days later, 11 greater sandhill crane (Grus canadensis tabida) pairs nested within the burned area; 9 of these hatched. The remaining 2 clutches were destroyed by coyotes (Canis latrans). Crane hatching success was significantly higher (P = 0.01) on the burned area (81.8%) than elsewhere (38.5%). Two factors were likely responsible for the higher success rate in the burn; nests were placed in deeper water and the smaI1 mammal prey base was temporarily reduced or eliminated …

Evaluation Of The Major Histocompatibility Complex (Mhc) In Cranes: Applications To Conservation Efforts, Susan I. Jarvi, Marcia M. Miller, Ronald M. Gotol, George F. Gee, W. Elwood Briles

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Although there have been heated discussions concerning the relative importance of using Mhc diversity as a basis for selecting breeders in conservation projects, most parties agree that the genetic variability residual in an endangered species should be maintained through genetic management, if at all possible. Substantial evidence exists (particularly in birds) documenting the influences of specific Mhc haplotypes on disease outcome and also that those individuals which are heterozygous for Mhc alleles appear to have an advantage for survival over those that are homozygous. Thus, conservation of genetic variability of the Mhc is likely important for the preservation of fitness, …

Distribution, Abundance, And Reproduction Of The Cuban Sandhill Crane (Grus Canadensis Nesiotes), Xiomara Galvez Aguilera, Vicente Berovides Alvarez, Jose Rivera Rosales

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We discuss the distribution, abundance, and reproduction of the Cuban sandhill crane (Grus canadensis nesiotes). This is an overview of a 5-year study conducted by the National Organization for the Protection of Flora and Fauna of the Ministry of Agriculture for the Republic of Cuba and assisted by the International Crane Foundation and Brehm Fund. The distribution of this subspecies was determined by visiting potential sites and areas where this race has previously been reported. Nine new populations were found. This brings the total to 11 on the Isle of Cuba, 1 on Cayo Romano, and 2 on …

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.

Nine New Species Of Lacinipolia (Noctuidae) From Arizona, California And Vicinity, Charles L. Selman, Ron Leuschner

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

This article formalizes the taxonomic conclusions of the senior author’s 1975 successful doctorate dissertation. The nine new species defined in that 1975 dissertation are here formally described in compliance with the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). The authors have essentially abstracted the original 447 page dissertation and designated types. The new Lacinipolia species are: delongi, aileenae, triplehorni, bucketti, baueri, sharonae, martini, fordi, and franclemonti. The purpose of this paper is simply to make these names available to the scientific community and professional researchers by making them ICZN-compliant.

Records For The Utilization Of Prunus As A Larval Foodplant By 71 Species Of Lepidoptera In Northeast California, Laurence L. Crabtree, Ron Leuschner

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Twenty-six sites in five northeastern California counties (Shasta, Modoc, Plumas, Lassen, Tehama) were surveyed from 1991 to 1999 for the presence of lepidopteran larvae on naturally occurring shrubs of the genus Prunus. To date, a total of seventy-one species of Lepidoptera from seventeen families have been documented to utilize one or more of the area’s three Prunus species (P. emarginata, P. subcordata, and P. virginiana var. demissa).

A Taxonomic Study Of, And Key To, The Lecithoceridae (Lepidoptera) From Guizhou, China, Chunsheng Wu

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

This paper provides a key to twelve species (in ten genera and three subfamilies) of Lecithoceridae from Guizhou Province, China. Among them, three species are unnamed and eight are new Guizhou Province records. The female of Opacoptera ecblasta Wu is known for the first time and its genitalia are illustrated for the first time.

The Biology, Life History, And Taxonomy Of Celastrina Neglectamajor (Lycaenidae: Polyommatinae)., Harry Pavulaan, David M. Wright

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

The biology and life history of Celastrina neglectamajor is described. This lycaenid butterfly was first described from West Virginia, United States by 19th century lepidopterist, William H. Edwards, as a redescription of Lycaena pseudargiolus (Boisduval & Le Conte). Edwards provided evidence of its unique late spring flight, Appalachian affinity, and larval host Cimicifuga racemosa (Ranunculaceae). Edwards and subsequent authors, most notably Samuel Scudder of New England, treated it as an infrasubspecific form of the common eastern Celastrina ladon. In 1908 Tutt applied the form name neglectamajor, describing it from one of Edwards’ 1884 figures. For nearly a century, …

Do Timing And Pattern Of Myogenesis Correlate With Life History Mode In Anurans?, Matthew T. Smetanick, Rafael O. De Sá, Gary P. Radice

Biology Faculty Publications

The timing and pattern of myogensis varies among anurans that have been studied and the different patterns may provide useful phylogenetic information. Specific myogenic markers have been described (Muntz, 1975; Kielbowna, 1981; Boudjelida & Muntz, 1987; Radice et al., l989) and they can provide information on evolutionary changes for closely related lineages within a clade. For example, we previously compared first appearance of a muscle-specific protein, first twitch of axial muscle, onset of multinucleation within axial myotome, and first heartbeat in two pipid genera (Smetanick, et al., 1999). We found that although the timing of myogensis differed, the sequence of …

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, …

A New North American Swallowtail Butterfly: Description Of A Relict Subspecies Of Pterourus Troilus (Papilionidae) From The Southern Tip Of Florida, Ronald R. Gatrelle

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

A neotype is designated for Papilio troilus Linnaeus, 1758 from Middleton Place Plantation, Charleston County, South Carolina, United States. A neotype is designated for Papilio ilioneus J.E. Smith, 1797 from Burke County, Georgia. Abbot’s ilioneus figures in Smith are the first published representations of nominotypical Pterourus troilus troilus. Papilio troilus variation texanus Ehrmann, 1900 was described from Houston, Texas. The texanus type is in the Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The name texanus was restricted (by original description) to a gray male form and is not subspecifically available under International Code for Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) article 45.5 or …

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, …

A New Species Of Angulopis (Lycaenidae, Eumaeini) From Relict Coastal Forest In East-Central Argentina, Gustavo Canals, Kurt Johnson

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Angulopis puntalaraensis is described from a single female specimen collected between 1950 and 1955 in the National Reserve Punta Lara, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. This site is a relict of coastal gallery forest. No other specimens are known.

Description Of A New Subspecies Of Poanes Aaroni (Hesperioidae: Hesperiinae) From The West Central Gulf Coast Of The Southern United States, Ronald R. Gatrelle

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Poanes aaroni bordeloni is described from Jefferson County, Texas, United States. This taxon is part of a lepidopteran community endemic to the west central area of the United States Gulf Coast between Mobile Bay, Alabama and Galveston Bay, Texas. As such, bordeloni is defined taxonomically by its evolutionary development as much as by its facies. Bordeloni is the largest aaroni subspecies. Bordeloni males are marked much like those of P. a. howardi both dorsally and ventrally. Bordeloni females usually have the fulvous spotting on the dorsal forewings reduced as in P. a. minimus females while …

Benthic Biological Monitoring Program Of The Elizabeth River Watershed (1999), Daniel M. Dauer

Elizabeth River Reports

Executive Summary

A study of the macrobenthic communities of the Elizabeth River watershed was conducted in summer 1999. The three objectives of the Benthic Biological Monitoring Program of the Elizabeth River watershed are: (1) To characterize the health of regional areas of the tidal waters of the Elizabeth River watershed Chesapeake Bay as indicated by the structure of the benthic communities. These characterizations are based upon application of benthic restoration goals and the Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity (BIBI) developed for the Chesapeake Bay to five primary strata - the Mainstem of the river, the Lafayette River, the Southern Branch, …

Dc Birdscape: A Program For Monitoring Neotropical Migratory Birds In Washington, Dc, John Sauer, John Hadidian, Sam Droege, Paul Handly, Carolyn Williams, Christopher Swarth, George Didden, Jane Huff

Biogeography and Ecological Opportunity Collection

Urban and suburban habitats often contain a variety of Neotropical migratory birds, but are poorly sampled by programs such as the North American Breeding Bird Survey. DC Birdscape was developed to inventory and monitor birds in Washington, DC. Birds were surveyed using a systematic sample of point counts during 1993-1995. Results indicate that species richness of Neotropical migratory birds varied among land-use categories, and that maximum species richness occurred in parkland habitats. Although DC Birdscape has provided relevant information on bird distribution and species richness, it is unclear whether the information is of sufficient management interest to support its continuation …

A New Elfin Butterfly (Lycaenidae: Eumaeini) From Northern China With Comments On The Nomenclature Of Palaearctic Elfins, Kurt Johnson

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Ahlbergia hsui, new species, is described from two specimens recently collected in China’s Nan Shan area of endemism located along the boundary of northern China with Mongolia. In discussing the new species, the historical literature concerning Palaearctic elfin butterflies is reviewed and compared to nomenclatorial usages in D’Abrera’s widely disseminated 1993 treatment of Palaearctic butterflies; 25 errors or omissions in the latter treatment are corrected.

Three New Hesperioidae (Hesperiinae) From South Carolina: New Subspecies Of Euphyes Bimacula, Poanes Aaroni, And Hesperia Attalus, Ronald R. Gatrelle

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Euphyes bimacula arbogasti is described as a new subspecies from Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States. It is known from only a few widely scattered colonies in the coastal swamp forests of the southeastern United States from Georgia to southeastern North Carolina. It is darker then E. b. bimacula and E. b. illinois. Poanes aaroni minimus is described as a new subspecies from Bull Swamp, Orangeburg County, South Carolina. This unique inland subspecies is presently known only from the type locality. It is darker then P. a. aaroni and P. a. …