Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons^™

Survival And Sources Of Mortality In Florida Sandhill Crane Chicks: Hatching To Fledging, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Stephen T. Schwikert, Marilyn G. Spalding

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Forty-five pairs of Florida sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pratensis) were monitored during the nesting seasons from 1996 through 1999. Thirty-eight chicks were produced from 25 successful nests. Twenty-one of these survived to fledging age. Predation was the source of most (81%) of the mortality for which a cause was determined. Mammals were the primary predator. Average age at time of mortality was 27.2 days for the 17 chicks lost.

Interaction Of Young Florida Sandhill Cranes With Their Parents, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Paul S. Kubilis, Stephen T. Schwikert

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We studied the interactions of 46 Florida sandhill crane (Grus canadensis pratensis) chicks and their parents from hatching until the chicks left the family group. Our goal was to see if young remained closer to one parent than the other and if the distance between a chick and its parents increased as the young approached the age of independence. Using a population of individually marked adult pairs, we ranked the distance to and gender of the nearest parent during 233 30-minute observation periods. Between hatching and 180 days of age, chicks showed a greater tendency to be nearer …

Infectious Bursal Disease In Wild Populations Of Turkeys And Sandhill Cranes: Preliminary Findings, Kristen L. Candelora, Marilyn G. Spalding, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Holly S. Sellers, Jeremy Olson, Larry Perrin, Jeannette Parker

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Captive-reared whooping cranes (Grus americana) released into Florida for the resident reintroduction project experienced unusually high mortality and morbidity during the 1997-1998 and 2001-2002 release seasons (Spalding et al. 2008). Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) serotype 2 is currently under investigation as the factor that precipitated the mortality events. A small percentage of whooping cranes have been exposed to IBDV in the captive setting. However, many more are being exposed postrelease, and prevalence of exposure seems to increase with age or length of time the birds are in the wild in Florida (Spalding et al. 2008). The goals …

Reduction Of Crop Depredations By Cranes At Daursky State Biosphere Reserve, Siberia, Oleg A. Goroshko, John E. Cornely, Stephen H. Bouffard

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The Daursky State Biosphere Reserve (SBR) in southern Siberia includes the Torey Lakes, the largest lakes in the Trans-Baikal region. The Torey Lakes support tens of thousands of breeding waterbirds and about a million waterbirds during migration. Peak numbers of birds staging during fall coincide with grain harvest. Crop fields around the Torey Lakes attract 50,000 to 70,000 waterbirds, primarily cranes with lesser numbers of waterfowl, causing significant crop damage in fields near Daursky SBR. Investigations of the problem have been ongoing since 1992. Field consultation by Cornely and Bouffard in 2001 resulted in recommendations to reduce depredations. The consultation …

Reproductive Health Of The Florida Flock Of Introduced Whooping Cranes, Marilyn G. Spalding, Martin J. Folk, Stephen A. Nesbitt

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We examined the reproductive parameters of the introduced non-migratory flock of whooping cranes in Florida. Of 289 cranes introduced, 67 males and 65 females survived at least 3 years. The first behavioral pairs appeared in 1995, and eggs were first laid in 1999. In total, eggs were laid in 47 nests, 17 chicks hatched, and 4 young fledged by 2005. Severe drought conditions through 2001 were thought to be the reason for low reproductive nest success. In 2003 nesting conditions improved and 71% of nests with eggs, hatched chicks. During the next 2 years, with continued wet conditions, the proportion …

Distribution And Dispersion Patterns Of Sandhill Crane Flocks In The Platte River Valley, Brian Lorenz, Felipe Chavez-Ramirez

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We evaluated sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) flock distribution and dispersion patterns along the Platte River Valley, Nebraska, in 2002-2003. The objectives were to: (a) determine the overall distribution and relationship between roosting and foraging flock numbers by bridge segments, (b) evaluate flocking characteristics in relation to abundance of cranes in different bridge segments and total abundance, and (c) correlate dispersion patterns and habitat use to period of migration, roost locations, and habitat types. Preliminary predictions included: foraging flock dispersions would be correlated with roost locations; greater numbers and larger flock sizes will be present in bridge segments with …

Responses Of Nesting Sandhill Cranes To Research Activities And Effects On Nest Survival, Jane E. Austin, Deborah A. Buhl

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We examined the response of nesting greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) to research-related activities at Grays Lake, Idaho, during 1997–2000. Data were collected on >500 crane nests from 53 fields that were exposed to variable levels of research activity, from fields subjected to only periodic searches for and monitoring of crane nests (crane-only fields) to fields subjected to periodic searches for and monitoring of all waterbird nests as well as breeding bird surveys, nocturnal amphibian surveys, and other research-related activities (multi-use fields). For each nest, we calculated the visit rate to the field during the period the …

Whooping Cranes And Human Disturbance: An Historical Perspective And Literature Review, Thomas E. Lewis, R. Douglas Slack

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Whooping cranes (Grus americana) generally are not tolerant of human disturbance. Much anecdotal evidence in the literature and recent studies has shown that human disturbances cause aversive behavior in whooping cranes. Herein, we review and summarize the long history of acceptance by researchers and managers that human disturbance impacts whooping cranes and support actions to minimize human disturbance to this critically endangered species.

Spring Migratory Habits And Breeding Distribution Of Lesser Sandhill Cranes That Winter In West-Central New Mexico And Arizona, Gary L. Krapu, David A. Brandt

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Little information exists on the spring migratory habits and breeding distribution of lesser sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis canadensis) that winter in west-central New Mexico and southeastern Arizona. To address this question, we captured and attached a total of 6 Platform Transmitting Terminals (PTT) to adult lesser sandhill cranes at 2 sites each in west-central New Mexico and southeastern Arizona during December 2001 and monitored the birds’ movements to arrival on their arctic breeding grounds. After departing from their wintering grounds, 2 of the cranes stopped at Monte Vista NWR in south-central Colorado where they stayed for 17 and …

Egg Breakage By Captive Cranes At The International Crane Foundation, Stacy Puchta, Michael S. Putnam, Kelly Maguire

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Captive cranes can break eggs through deliberate destruction, clumsy parental behavior, or accidentally because of thin shells. We report on the frequency of egg breakage by pairs of captive cranes at the International Crane Foundation (ICF). Among the 15 species of cranes and 1 hybrid female, all except a grey-crowned crane (Balearica regulorum) have broken eggs at ICF. Some pairs broke 1/3 or more of their eggs despite efforts by aviculturists to retrieve them before breakage. We compared the proportion of broken eggs among 7 species where we have data from >5 individual females and more than 150 eggs …

West Nile Encephalitis In A Captive Florida Sandhill Crane, Cristina M. Hansen, Barry K. Hartup, Olga D. Gonzalez, Douglas E. Lyman, Howard Steinberg

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

A 37 year old captive male Florida sandhill crane (Grus canadensis pratensis) housed at the International Crane Foundation exhibited abnormal neurologic signs in the fall of 2006. Despite therapy and supportive care, the neurologic signs worsened and the crane was euthanized after 6 days. Antemortem and postmortem serum was positive for flavivirus antibody, and a cloacal swab was positive for West Nile virus (WNV) by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Pectoral muscle atrophy and multifocal myocardial necrosis were observed at necropsy. Histopathologic findings included inflammatory and necrotic lesions in sections of brain, spinal cord, eye, heart, blood …

Survival, Movements, Social Structure, And Reproductive Behavior During Development Of A Population Of Reintroduced, Migratory Whooping Cranes, Richard P. Urbanek, Lara E. A. Fondow

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

An effort to reintroduce a migratory population of whooping cranes (Grus americana) into eastern North America began in 2001. During 2001-2004, 53 juveniles were released. All chicks were hatched at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Maryland, and transferred to Necedah National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Wisconsin. Chicks were costume/isolation-reared and, with few exceptions, trained to follow ultralight aircraft, which led them to Chassahowitzka NWR, Central Gulf Coast of Florida. All individuals successfully returned to Central Wisconsin during their first spring migration except for the following: 5 individuals that were unable to navigate around Lake Michigan after taking an easterly migration …

Common Crane Management In Germany: Monitoring, Protection, And Scientific Work, Hartwig Prange

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

About 200,000 common cranes (Grus grus) from northern, middle, and northeastern parts of Europe are migrating on the West-European route. In the northeast part of Germany 160,000 cranes stop over simultaneously during migration. This number has increased since the early 1980´s by 3-fold. About 60 sites with from 200 to 50,000 cranes are systematically observed from August to December by local expert groups. The overnight roosts are in ponds, swamps, and lakes, actively flooded meadows, and brown coal mines as well as in shallow backwaters of the Baltic Sea. They have been used year after year. More than …

A Landscape Perspective Of Whooping Crane Migration Through Nebraska: Conservation And Management Implications, Felipe Chavez-Ramirez, Chris Helzer, Paul Tebbel

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Past and current discussions of conservation of whooping crane (Grus americana) stopover habitat in Nebraska have long been focused on the Platte River. We evaluated the distribution of whooping crane stopover sites in Nebraska in a broader context to (a) determine the distribution of whooping crane stopover sites on the Platte River relative to other landscapes and (b) use whooping migratory behavior data to systematically define and explain patterns of stopover clusters. The distribution of stopover clusters suggests rainwater basin wetlands and the Platte River may be used interchangeably by migrating whooping cranes. The Rainwater Basin and Platte River appear …

Mississippi Sandhill Crane Conservation Update, 2003–2005, Scott G. Hereford, Tracy E. Grazia

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The Mississippi sandhill crane (Grus canadensis pulla) is an endangered non-migratory subspecies found on and near the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Mississippi. From 2003 to 2005, conservation efforts for the recovery of this population included management activities such as protection and law enforcement, restocking, predator management, farming, prescribed burning, mechanical vegetation removal, hydrological restoration, pest plant management, and education. To maintain open savanna, 1842 hectares were burned annually, with 38% during the growing season. To restore open savanna, 506 hectares of woody vegetation were removed using mechanical methods. To bolster the population, we released 17-25 captive-reared …

Modeling Algae Self-Replenishment, V. S. Manoranjan, Miguel A. Olmos Gomez, R. Corban Harwood

Faculty Publications - Department of Mathematics

This paper presents a sunlight-dependent algae growth model. Driven by the circumstances surrounding Lake Chapala, Mexico, this theoretical model is an endeavor to understand the resilient sustainability of algae that threatens the area’s ecosystem. In this paper, free-floating algae (phytoplankton) are treated as two distinct populations according to their location in the body of water: the vibrant sunlit upper region and the stagnate lower region where photosynthesis is not possible. The numerical solution for the model is analyzed and results are discussed in light of previous studies and the state of Lake Chapala.

Management Of Lands Along The Platte River From Elm Creek To Lexington, Nebraska, As Crane Habitat, James J. Jenniges, Mark M. Peyton

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

To meet Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license requirements for the operation of 5 hydroelectric power plants on the North Platte and Platte Rivers in Nebraska, the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) and The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District (Central) together have become the second largest owners and managers of lands for the conservation of endangered species and migratory waterbirds along the central reach of the Platte River. We describe here the management activities on the properties, success of the management in achieving objectives, and the response of sandhill (Grus canadensis) and whooping cranes (G. …

Terrestrial Habitat Use Of Marbled Salamanders Ambystoma Opacum: A Site Specific Approach, Frank Piccininni

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Habitat destruction, fragmentation and degradation have contributed heavily to the decline of amphibian populations such as Marbled Salamanders (Ambystoma opacum). Often, ambystomatid water resources are conserved without consideration for the equally important terrestrial habitat. This is partly due to a lack of information regarding the relationship between ecological succession, plant community composition, microhabitat and salamander abundance. Three sampling transects consisting of drift fence arrays, vegetation assessments and microhabitat surveys were extended 100 m into the terrestrial habitat surrounding a seasonal wetland at Beech Fork State Park in Wayne County, West Virginia. Principal components analysis was used to identify …

Winter 2008, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.

A Sex Difference In Seasonal Timing Of Birth In A Livebearing Fish, Eric T. Schultz

EEB Articles

Sex differences in seasonal timing include differences in hatch- or birth-date distribution and differences in the timing of migration or maturation such as protandrous arrival timing (PAT), which is early male arrival at breeding sites. I describe a novel form of protandrous arrival timing, as a sex difference in birth-date distribution in a live-bearing fish (Dwarf Perch, Micrometrus minimus). In this species, birth coincides with arrival at breeding sites because newborn males are sexually active. A series of samples of pregnant females and young of year was collected in Tomales Bay, CA. I analyzed the daily age record in otoliths …

Mating Systems, Copulatory Organ Size, And Scaling Relationship In Mollies (Poecilia Spp.), Martha Divver, Eric T. Schultz

EEB Articles

Copulatory organs rapidly evolve and are subject to complex selective pressures affecting mating success. One feature of copulatory organs that is subject to such selective pressures is size. Benefits of longer organs may include greater signal effectiveness in courtship and longer ‘reach’ when attempting copulations with evasive females. Costs of longer organs may include impaired locomotion, increased energetic cost or reduced mechanical compatibility with female genitalia. The optimal size for a copulatory organ may vary with mating behavior. The objective of this study is to examine among-species variability in copulatory organ size, body size and the relationship between copulatory organ …

Plaster Creek Watershed Management Plan, Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr, & Huber, Inc.

Watershed Reports

The quality of Plaster Creek is influenced by many factors, such as human activities within the Plaster Creek Watershed (Watershed), physical and biological characteristics of the natural resources, and the management of those resources. This document provides an overview of these diverse aspects of the Watershed, including detailed information about the sources and causes of watershed pollution, recommendations needed to address impairments, and steps to implement the recommendations.

Amphibian, Reptile, And Small Mammal Associates Of Ozark Pocket Gopher Habitat In Izard County, Arkansas, M. Connior, I. Guenther, Thomas S. Risch, Stanley E. Trauth

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

We conducted a study of the amphibian, reptile, and small mammal community assemblage of Ozark pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius ozarkensis) habitat in north-central Arkansas. We used 2 methods to capture individuals: hand capture and drift fences. During the study, we captured and marked a total of 9 anuran, 4 salamander, 5 lizard, 3 turtle, 16 snake, and 8 small mammal species exclusive of pocket gophers. We found one hatchling three-toed box turtle (Terrapene carolina triunguis) and one rough earth snake (Virginia striatula) inside a pocket gopher burrow and mound, respectively. Additionally, we witnessed both eastern racers (Coluber constrictor) and eastern …

Seeding Effectiveness And Natural Regeneration Of Mojave Desert Plant Communities After 2005-2006 Wildland Fires, E. Cayenne Engel, Scott R. Abella, Christina L. Lund

Fire Science Presentations

1) Assessment of BLM seeding effectiveness in mid-elevation burn where pre-burn plant communities were dominated by blackbrush, Joshua trees, and creosote.

2) Patterns driving fire recovery at the landscape scale:

• Link initial vegetation, environment, and soils
• Are there patterns that can be gleaned that can then be applied to management prescriptions?

Interagency Science And Research Strategy, Limnological Assistance For Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Limnological Studies

Helping improve operational efficiency, enhance land stewardship, resource protection, and conservation on the shared public land.

Ecological Consequences Of Invasion Of The Quagga Mussel (Dreissena Bugensis Andrusov 1897) Into Lake Mead, David Wong, Shawn Gerstenberger, Todd Tietjen, Sara Ann Mueting, Eric Michael Loomis

Limnological Studies

Consequences of Invasion of the Quagga Mussel into Lake Mead

Temporal Distribution Of Harvested Mid-Continent Sandhill Cranes Within The Central Flyway States During The 1997–2001 Hunting Seasons, Adrianna C. Araya, James A. Dubovsky

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Since 1975, annual harvest estimates for Mid-Continent sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) have been collected in all states for which a hunting season has been authorized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). Although these data have been used to monitor the harvest of the Mid-Continent population, analyses to promote understanding of the temporal distribution of harvested sandhill cranes by individual states throughout the Central Flyway have not been conducted. For the 1997-2001 hunting seasons, we collected harvest questionnaires from 4,408 hunters in the Central Flyway who provided information about the date, location, and number of harvested sandhill …

Is Magnitude Of Fat Storage By Spring-Staging Sandhill Cranes Declining In The Central Platte River Valley, Nebraska?, David A. Brandt, Gary L. Krapu

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Proximate analyses of carcasses of sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) collected in the Central Platte River Valley (CPRV), Nebraska, during spring 1999 indicated a marked decline in fat levels from springs 1978 and 1979. Concern that amounts of fat cranes stored by their spring departures from the CPRV may have further declined prompted this evaluation. For our assessment, we made use of morphological measurements (culmen post nares, tarsus, flattened wing chord) along with body mass on each of 810 sandhill cranes that were collected for proximate analysis or captured with rocket nets at widely distributed sites in the CPRV during 1978-1979 …

Hunting Success For Mid-Continent Sandhill Cranes In The Central Flyway: Comparing Current And Historic Results, James A. Dubovsky, Adrianna C. Araya

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Sport hunting for the Mid-continent population of sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) in the United States resumed in New Mexico in 1961 after a 45-year moratorium. Interest in crane hunting continued to increase and by 1975, 8 states were participating in sandhill crane hunting. Currently, hunting seasons have been established in all Central Flyway states except Nebraska. Efforts to collect information on the annual harvest of sandhill cranes began in 1975 when hunters were required to obtain federal sandhill crane hunting permits. The permits included a hunting diary whereby hunters were asked to record information about their daily hunting …

Feather Molt Of Nonmigratory Whooping Cranes In Florida, Martin J. Folk, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Jeannette M. Parker, Marilyn G. Spalding, Stephen B. Baynes, Kristen L. Candelora

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Molt patterns of wild whooping cranes (Grus americana) are largely unknown, and what knowledge we have has been based on scant data. We documented patterns of feather molt in nonmigratory whooping cranes in Florida during 1993-2005. All birds replaced flight feathers (remiges) in a synchronous (simultaneous) manner and spent time flightless. It took 38-46 days (mean = 44 days, n = 8) for feathers to regrow and birds to regain flight ability. When flightless due to remigial molt, cranes became more secretive and spent more time in wetlands during feather regrowth. Most (70%) whooping cranes first molted their …