Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Environmental Sciences

PDF

2009

Institution
Keyword
Publication
Publication Type

Articles 1231 - 1260 of 1339

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Sperm Competition Selects Beyond Relative Testes Size In Birds, Stefan Lupold, George M. Linz, James W. Rivers, David F. Westneat, Tim R. Birkhead Jan 2009

Sperm Competition Selects Beyond Relative Testes Size In Birds, Stefan Lupold, George M. Linz, James W. Rivers, David F. Westneat, Tim R. Birkhead

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Sperm morphology varies considerably across taxa, and postcopulatory sexual selection is thought to be one of the main forces responsible for this diversity. Several studies have investigated the effects of the variation in sperm design on sperm function, but the consequences of variation in sperm design on testis morphology have been overlooked. Testes size or architecture may determine the size of the sperm they produce, and selection for longer sperm may require concomitant adaptations in the testes. Relative testes size differs greatly between species and is often used as an index of sperm competition, but little is known about whether …

Go to article

Sperm Design And Variation In The New World Blackbirds (Icteridae), Stefan Lüpold, George M. Linz, Tim R. Birkhead Jan 2009

Sperm Design And Variation In The New World Blackbirds (Icteridae), Stefan Lüpold, George M. Linz, Tim R. Birkhead

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Post-copulatory sexual selection (PCSS) is thought to be one of the evolutionary forces responsible for the rapid and divergent evolution of sperm design. However, whereas in some taxa particular sperm traits are positively associated with PCSS, in other taxa, these relationships are negative, and the causes of these different patterns across taxa are poorly understood. In a comparative study using New World blackbirds (Icteridae), we tested whether sperm design was influenced by the level of PCSS and found significant positive associations with the level of PCSS for all sperm components but head length. Additionally, whereas the absolute length of sperm …

Go to article

Declining Mortality In American Crow (Corvus Brachyrhynchos) Following Natural West Nile Virus Infection, Lisa M. Reed, Michael A. Johansson, Nicholas Panella, Robert Mclean, Terry Creekmore, Rose Puelle, Nicholas Komar Jan 2009

Declining Mortality In American Crow (Corvus Brachyrhynchos) Following Natural West Nile Virus Infection, Lisa M. Reed, Michael A. Johansson, Nicholas Panella, Robert Mclean, Terry Creekmore, Rose Puelle, Nicholas Komar

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) is known to suffer 100% mortality from infection with the New York 1999 strain of West Nile virus (WNV). Following the initial detection of WNV in North America in 1999, we measured prevalence of WNV-reactive antibodies (‘‘seroprevalence”) in free-ranging American and fish crows (Corvus ossifragus) of central New Jersey after each transmission season through 2005. In 2002, seroprevalence in American crow juveniles increased to 14% from the 5% of the previous year, potentially indicating increased survival in this species. Using the annual seroprevalence measurements and the number of human West Nile …

Go to article

Development Of 10 Polymorphic Microsatellite Loci Isolated From The Mountain Beaver, Aplodontia Rufa Rufa (Rafinesque), Antoinette J. Piaggio, Melissa A. Neubaum, Hesther Yueh, Carol E. Ritland, John J. Johnston, Susan L. Perkins Jan 2009

Development Of 10 Polymorphic Microsatellite Loci Isolated From The Mountain Beaver, Aplodontia Rufa Rufa (Rafinesque), Antoinette J. Piaggio, Melissa A. Neubaum, Hesther Yueh, Carol E. Ritland, John J. Johnston, Susan L. Perkins

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We developed 10 microsatellite markers for the mountain beaver, Aplodontia rufa rufa. In three populations of A. r. rufa, the number of alleles for these loci ranged from monomorphic to nine. Average observed heterozygosities in these populations ranged from 0.29 to 0.60. We also tested previously published markers from the endangered subspecies A. r. nigra in A. r. rufa populations.

Go to article

White-Tailed Deer Herbivory And Timber Harvesting Rates: Implications For Regeneration Success, Brad F. Miller, Tyler A. Campbell, Benjamin R. Laseter, W. Mark Ford, Karl V. Miller Jan 2009

White-Tailed Deer Herbivory And Timber Harvesting Rates: Implications For Regeneration Success, Brad F. Miller, Tyler A. Campbell, Benjamin R. Laseter, W. Mark Ford, Karl V. Miller

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Herbivory by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) can affect forest regeneration. Typical measures to ensure forest regeneration have included physical barriers or direct manipulation of deer densities. However, altering silvicultural practices to provide abundant deer forage has not been tested thoroughly. We examined browse species preferences and changes in herbivory rates in 1–6 year old regeneration areas from 2001 to 2004 in the central Appalachians on the MeadWestvaco Wildlife and Ecosystem Research Forest in West Virginia. Woody vegetation reached the maximum plot coverage by the 4th growing season. However, the establishment of less abundant woody species, such as northern …

Go to article

Feasibility Of Infectious Prion Digestion Using Mild Conditions And Commercial Subtilisin, John L. Pilona, Paul B. Nash, Terry Arver, Don Hoglund, Kurt C. Vercauteren Jan 2009

Feasibility Of Infectious Prion Digestion Using Mild Conditions And Commercial Subtilisin, John L. Pilona, Paul B. Nash, Terry Arver, Don Hoglund, Kurt C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Two serine protease enzymes, subtilisin 309 and subtilisin 309-v,were used to digest brain homogenates containing high levels of prion infectivity using mildly alkaline conditions to investigate prion decontamination methods. To establish that PrPres infectivity was eliminated, we utilized the Rocky Mountain Laboratory (RML) mouse-adapted scrapie model system for bioassay. Only one digestion condition (subtilisin 309 at 138mAU/ml, 55 ◦C and 14 h digestion time pH 7.9) was considered to be highly relevant statistically (P < 0.001) compared to control, with 52% of challenged mice surviving until the end of the study period. In contrast, treatment of PrPres by autoclaving at 134 ◦C or treatment with hypochlorite at a concentration of 20,000ppm completely protected mice from prionosis. Further, in vitro assays suggest …

Go to article

Experimental Infection Of Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon Pyrrhonota) With Varying Doses Of West Nile Virus, Paul T. Oesterle, Nicole M. Nemeth, Kaci K. Vandalen, Heather Sullivan, Kevin T. Bentler, Ginger R. Young, Robert G. Mclean, Larry Clark, Cynthia Smeraski, Jeffrey S. Hall Jan 2009

Experimental Infection Of Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon Pyrrhonota) With Varying Doses Of West Nile Virus, Paul T. Oesterle, Nicole M. Nemeth, Kaci K. Vandalen, Heather Sullivan, Kevin T. Bentler, Ginger R. Young, Robert G. Mclean, Larry Clark, Cynthia Smeraski, Jeffrey S. Hall

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) were inoculated with differing doses of West Nile virus (WNV) to evaluate their potential role as reservoir hosts in nature. Swallows often nest in large colonies in habitats and months associated with high mosquito abundance and early WNV transmission in North America. Additionally, cliff swallow diet consists of insects, including mosquitoes, leading to an additional potential route of WNV infection. The average peak viremia titer among infected cliff swallows was 106.3 plaque-forming units (PFU)/mL serum and the reservoir competence index was 0.34. There was no correlation between dose and probability of becoming infected …

Go to article

Eight Polymorphic Microsatellite Loci Developed And Characterized From Townsend’S Big-Eared Bat, Corynorhinus Townsendii, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Katie Erin G. Miller, Marjorie D. Matocq, Susan L. Perkins Jan 2009

Eight Polymorphic Microsatellite Loci Developed And Characterized From Townsend’S Big-Eared Bat, Corynorhinus Townsendii, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Katie Erin G. Miller, Marjorie D. Matocq, Susan L. Perkins

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Two of the five subspecies of the western big-eared bat, Corynorhinus townsendii, are listed as federally endangered with the remaining three being of conservation concern. Knowing the degree of connectivity among populations would aid in the establishment of sound conservation and management plans for this taxon. For this purpose, we have developed and characterized eight polymorphic microsatellite markers.

Go to article

Development And Characterization Of 15 Polymorphic Microsatellite Loci Isolated From Rafinesque’S Big-Eared Bat, Corynorhinus Rafinesquii, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Julia A. Figueroa, Susan L. Perkins Jan 2009

Development And Characterization Of 15 Polymorphic Microsatellite Loci Isolated From Rafinesque’S Big-Eared Bat, Corynorhinus Rafinesquii, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Julia A. Figueroa, Susan L. Perkins

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We developed and characterized 15 microsatellite markers for Rafinesque’s big-eared bat, Corynorhinus rafinesquii. In a population from Tennessee, the number of alleles per locus ranged from three to 13 and observed heterozygosities were 0.35 to 0.97 per locus. These loci will provide appropriate variability for estimation of population connectivity, demographic parameters, and genetic diversity for this species of concern.

Go to article

Experimental Infection Of Richardson’S Ground Squirrels (Spermophilus Richardsonii ) With Attenuated And Virulent Strains Pf Brucella Abortus, Pauline Nol, Steven C. Olsen, Jack C. Rhyan Jan 2009

Experimental Infection Of Richardson’S Ground Squirrels (Spermophilus Richardsonii ) With Attenuated And Virulent Strains Pf Brucella Abortus, Pauline Nol, Steven C. Olsen, Jack C. Rhyan

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

A previous investigation of the safety of Brucella abortus strain RB51 (sRB51) in various nontarget species suggested that Richardson’s ground squirrels (Spermophilus richardsonii) may develop persistent infections when orally inoculated with the vaccine. In the present study, sRB51, B. abortus strain 19 (s19), and virulent B. abortus strain 9941 (s9941) were administered orally to Richardson’s ground squirrels to further characterize B. abortus infection in this species. Six groups of nongravid ground squirrels were orally inoculated with 6x108 colony forming units (cfu) sRB51 (n=10), 2.5x104 cfu s19 (n=10), 2.5x107 cfu s19 (n=6), 1.3x106 cfu s9941 …

Go to article

Intraspecific Comparison Of Population Structure, Genetic Diversity, And Dispersal Among Three Subspecies Of Townsend’S Big-Eared Bats, Corynorhinus Townsendii Townsendii, C. T. Pallescens, And The Endangered C. T. Birginianus, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Kirk W. Navo, Craig W. Stihler Jan 2009

Intraspecific Comparison Of Population Structure, Genetic Diversity, And Dispersal Among Three Subspecies Of Townsend’S Big-Eared Bats, Corynorhinus Townsendii Townsendii, C. T. Pallescens, And The Endangered C. T. Birginianus, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Kirk W. Navo, Craig W. Stihler

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Townsend’s big-eared bat, Corynorhinus townsendii, is distributed broadly across western North America and in two isolated, endangered populations in central and eastern United States. There are five subspecies of C. townsendii; C. t. pallescens, C. t. australis, C. t. townsendii, C. t. ingens, and C. t. virginianus with varying degrees of concern over the conservation status of each. The aim of this study was to use mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA data to examine genetic diversity, population differentiation, and dispersal of three C. townsendii subspecies. C. t. virginianus is found in isolated populations in the eastern United States and …

Go to article

Alkaline Hydrolysis Of Mouse-Adapted Scrapie For Inactivation And Disposal Of Prion-Positive Material, R. G. L. Murphy, J. A. Scanga, B. E. Powers, J. L. Pilon, K. C. Vercauteren, P. B. Nash, G. C. Smith, K. E. Belk Jan 2009

Alkaline Hydrolysis Of Mouse-Adapted Scrapie For Inactivation And Disposal Of Prion-Positive Material, R. G. L. Murphy, J. A. Scanga, B. E. Powers, J. L. Pilon, K. C. Vercauteren, P. B. Nash, G. C. Smith, K. E. Belk

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Prion diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, chronic wasting disease, and scrapie pose serious risks to human and animal health due to a host of disease-specific factors, including the resistance of infectious prions (PrPSc) to natural degradation and to most commercial inactivation procedures. In an attempt to address this concern, a mouse model was used to compare the efficacy of an alkaline hydrolysis process with a simulated continuous-flow rendering treatment for disposal of PrPSc-infected biological material. Female C57/BL6 mice (N = 120) were randomly divided into 4 treatment groups (n = 30), and each mouse was …

Go to article

Physiological Stress Response Of Captive White-Tailed Deer To Video Collars, Remington Moll, Joshua J. Millspaugh, Jeff Beringer, Joel Sartwell, Rami Woods, Kurt C. Vercauteren Jan 2009

Physiological Stress Response Of Captive White-Tailed Deer To Video Collars, Remington Moll, Joshua J. Millspaugh, Jeff Beringer, Joel Sartwell, Rami Woods, Kurt C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Animal-borne video and environmental data collection systems (AVEDs) are an advanced form of biotelemetry that combines video with other sensors. As a proxy for physiological stress, we assessed fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) excretion in 7 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fitted with AVED dummy collars; 9 additional deer served as controls. We collected fecal samples over 3 2-week periods: pretreatment, treatment, and post-treatment periods. There were no differences in FGMs across time periods (F2,218 = 1.94, P = 0.147) and no difference between FGMs of control and treatment individuals (F1,14 = 0.72, P = 0.411). Fecal glucocorticoid …

Go to article

Benefit Cost Scenarios Of Potential Oral Rabies Vaccination For Skunks In California, Stephanie A. Shwiff, Ray T. Sterner, Robert Hale, Michele T. Jay, Ben Sun, Dennis Slate Jan 2009

Benefit Cost Scenarios Of Potential Oral Rabies Vaccination For Skunks In California, Stephanie A. Shwiff, Ray T. Sterner, Robert Hale, Michele T. Jay, Ben Sun, Dennis Slate

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Scenario-based analyses were computed for benefits and costs linked with hypothetical oral rabies vaccination (ORV) campaigns to contain or eliminate skunk-variant rabies in skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in California, USA. Scenario 1 assumed baiting eight zones (43,388 km2 total) that comprised 73% of known skunk rabies locations in the state. Scenario 2 also assumed baiting these eight zones, but further assumed that added benefits would result from preventing the spread of skunk-variant rabies into Los Angeles County, USA. Scenarios assumed a fixed bait cost ($1.24 each) but varied campaigns (one, two and three annual ORV applications), densities of …

Go to article

Captive Coyotes Compared To Their Counterparts In The Wild: Does Environmental Enrichment Help?, John A. Shivik, Gernrna L. Palmer, Eric M. Gese, Britta Osthaus Jan 2009

Captive Coyotes Compared To Their Counterparts In The Wild: Does Environmental Enrichment Help?, John A. Shivik, Gernrna L. Palmer, Eric M. Gese, Britta Osthaus

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

This article attempts to determine the effects of environment (captive or wild) and a simple form of environmental enrichment on the behavior and physiology of a nonhuman animal. Specifically, analyses first compared behavioral budgets and stereotypic behavior of captive coyotes (Canis latrans) in kennels and pens to their counterparts in the wild. Second, experiments examined the effect of a simple form of environmental enrichment for captive coyotes (food-filled bones) on behavioral budgets, stereotypes, and corticosteroid levels. Overall, behavioral budgets of captive coyotes in both kennels and pens were similar to those observed in the wild, but coyotes in …

Go to article

Impact Of Age And Sex Of Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus Elaphus Nelson) On Follicle Counts From Rectal Mucosal Biopsies For Preclinical Detection Of Chronic Wasting Disease, Terry R. Spraker, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Tom L. Gidlewski, Randy D. Munger, W. David Walter, Aru Balachandran Walter Jan 2009

Impact Of Age And Sex Of Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus Elaphus Nelson) On Follicle Counts From Rectal Mucosal Biopsies For Preclinical Detection Of Chronic Wasting Disease, Terry R. Spraker, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Tom L. Gidlewski, Randy D. Munger, W. David Walter, Aru Balachandran Walter

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

To determine if the number of rectal lymphoid follicles decreases with respect to age and sex relative to diagnosis of chronic wasting disease (CWD), rectal biopsies (n = 1,361) were taken from captive Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) at 4 ranches in the western United States between 2005 and 2008. Rectal tissues were stained with a monoclonal antibody (F99/97.6.1), which selectively stains the abnormal isoform of the prion protein associated with CWD of elk. The number of lymphoid follicles obtained from typical biopsy tissues decreased with the age of the animal. The acceptable number of lymphoid follicles …

Go to article

Monitoring Exposure To Avian Influenza Viruses In Wild Mammals, Kaci K. Vandalen, Susan A. Shriner, Heather J. Sullivan, J. Jeffrey Root, Alan B. Franklin Jan 2009

Monitoring Exposure To Avian Influenza Viruses In Wild Mammals, Kaci K. Vandalen, Susan A. Shriner, Heather J. Sullivan, J. Jeffrey Root, Alan B. Franklin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

1. Avian influenza (AI) viruses primarily circulate in wild waterfowl populations and are occasionally transmitted to domestic poultry flocks. However, the possible roles of other wildlife species, such as wild mammals, in AI virus ecology have not been adequately addressed.

2. Due to their habitat and behavior, many wild mammals may be capable of transmitting pathogens among wild and domestic populations. Exposure to AI viruses has been reported in an array of wild and domestic animals. The presence of wild mammals on farms has been identified as a risk factor for at least one poultry AI outbreak in North America. …

Go to article

Longevity Of Dayglo Fluorescent Particle Marker Used To Mark Birds In Flight Pen And Field, Shelagh K. Tupper, John L. Cummings, Richard M. Engeman Jan 2009

Longevity Of Dayglo Fluorescent Particle Marker Used To Mark Birds In Flight Pen And Field, Shelagh K. Tupper, John L. Cummings, Richard M. Engeman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Spray application of fluorescent particles is a widely used and very valuable technique for marking birds. This remains one of the few practical means to mark large numbers of birds for monitoring movement, despite recent availability of a variety of more technologically advanced options. We monitored the longevity of the DayGlo fluorescent particle marker on red-winged blackbirds under simulated field conditions in a flight pen, and in an observational field experiment. In the pen study we banded 52 red-winged blackbirds with individually numbered leg bands, and sprayed them with DayGlo fluorescent particle marker from a distance of ~50 cm, on …

Go to article

Evaluation Of An Epitope-Blocking Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay For The Detection Of Antibodies To Influenza A Virus In Domestic And Wild Avian And Mammalian Species, Heather J. Sullivan, Bradley J. Blitvich, Kaci K. Vandalen, Kevin T. Bentler, Alan B. Franklin, J. Jeffrey Root Jan 2009

Evaluation Of An Epitope-Blocking Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay For The Detection Of Antibodies To Influenza A Virus In Domestic And Wild Avian And Mammalian Species, Heather J. Sullivan, Bradley J. Blitvich, Kaci K. Vandalen, Kevin T. Bentler, Alan B. Franklin, J. Jeffrey Root

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

An epitope-blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (bELISA) was developed for the detection of antibodies to influenza A virus in taxonomically diverse domestic and wild vertebrate species. In contrast to the bELISAs published previously that require reagent production, manipulation by the end-user, or have not been evaluated for use with both mammalian and avian species, this assay is performed using commercially available recombinant nucleoprotein antigen and corresponding nucleoprotein-specific monoclonal antibody and has been shown to work with multiple avian and mammalian species. The efficacy of the bELISA as a serum screening assay was compared to the agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) assay using …

Go to article

The Economics Of Threatened Species Conservation: A Review And Analysis, Ray T. Sterner Jan 2009

The Economics Of Threatened Species Conservation: A Review And Analysis, Ray T. Sterner

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Stabilizing human population size and reducing human-caused impacts on the environment are keys to conserving threatened species (TS). Earth's human population is ~ 7 billion and increasing by ~ 76 million per year. This equates to a human birth-death ratio of 2.35 annually. The 2007 Red List prepared by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) categorized 16,306 species of vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, and other organisms (e.g., lichens, algae) as TS. This is ~ 1 percent of the 1,589,161 species described by IUCN or ~ 0.0033 percent of the believed 5,000,000 total species. Of the IUCN’s …

Go to article

Antemortem Detection Of PrpCwd In Preclinical, Ranch-Raised Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus Elaphus Nelson) By Biopsy Of The Rectal Mucosa, Terry R. Spraker, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Thomas Gidlewski, David A. Schneider, Randy Munger, Aru Balachandran, Katherine I. O’Rourke Jan 2009

Antemortem Detection Of PrpCwd In Preclinical, Ranch-Raised Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus Elaphus Nelson) By Biopsy Of The Rectal Mucosa, Terry R. Spraker, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Thomas Gidlewski, David A. Schneider, Randy Munger, Aru Balachandran, Katherine I. O’Rourke

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Antemortem biopsy of the rectal mucosa was evaluated as a method for the preclinical diagnosis of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a herd of ranch-raised Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelson) quarantined because of exposure to CWD. Biopsy samples were obtained from 41 elk during the winter of 2005–2006 and from 26 elk from that herd still alive and available for testing during the winter of 2006–2007. Samples were examined for PrPCWD, the protein marker for CWD infection, by immunohistochemistry. PrPCWD was detected in follicles of the rectoanal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue in biopsy samples from …

Go to article

Threshold Concentrations Of An Anthraquinone-Based Repellent For Canada Geese, Red-Winged Blackbirds, And Ring-Necked Pheasants, Scott J. Werner, James C. Carlson, Shelagh K. Tupper, Michele M. Santer, George M. Linz Jan 2009

Threshold Concentrations Of An Anthraquinone-Based Repellent For Canada Geese, Red-Winged Blackbirds, And Ring-Necked Pheasants, Scott J. Werner, James C. Carlson, Shelagh K. Tupper, Michele M. Santer, George M. Linz

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Wildlife repellents provide a non-lethal alternative for managing the monetary impacts of agricultural depredation. For the purpose of developing of an effective avian repellent, we established repellency thresholds of an anthraquinone-based repellent for Canada geese (Branta canadensis), red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus), and ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) in captivity. We conducted a concentration–response experiment with Canada geese offered cornseeds treated with six concentrations of Avipel repellent (a.i. 50% 9,10-anthraquinone). Based upon our laboratory efficacy data, we used non-linear regression to predict a threshold concentration of 1450 ppm anthraquinone for geese offered treated corn seeds (i.e., …

Go to article

Options For The Control Of Disease 3: Targeting The Environment, Alastair Ward, Kurt C. Vercauteren, W. David Walter, Emmanuellle Gilot-Fromont, Sophie Rossi, Gareth Edwards- Jones, Mark S. Lambert, Michael R. Hutchings, Richard J. Delahay Jan 2009

Options For The Control Of Disease 3: Targeting The Environment, Alastair Ward, Kurt C. Vercauteren, W. David Walter, Emmanuellle Gilot-Fromont, Sophie Rossi, Gareth Edwards- Jones, Mark S. Lambert, Michael R. Hutchings, Richard J. Delahay

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Management of wildlife disease can be targeted at pathogens, hosts or vector populations, but may also focus on the environment. As constituent elements of any given environment, resident wildlife populations, and their pathogens, may be profoundly influenced by environmental change, in terms of their abundance, distribution and behavior. Hence, it is reasonable to expect that incorporation of environmental manipulation into a program to control wildlife diseases may potentially result in outcomes as effective as direct intervention aimed at hosts, pathogens and vectors.

Go to article

Crop, Native Vegetation, And Biofuels: Response Of White- Tailed Deer To Changing Management Priorities, W. David Walter, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Jason Gilsdorf, Scott E. Hygnstrom Jan 2009

Crop, Native Vegetation, And Biofuels: Response Of White- Tailed Deer To Changing Management Priorities, W. David Walter, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Jason Gilsdorf, Scott E. Hygnstrom

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The expansion of the cellulosic biofuels industry throughout the United States has broad-scale implications for wildlife management on public and private lands. Knowledge is limited on the effects of reverting agriculture to native grass, and vice versa, on size of home range and habitat use of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). We followed 68 radio-collared female deer from 1991 through 2004 that were residents of DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge (DNWR) in eastern Nebraska, USA. The refuge was undergoing conversion of vegetation out of row-crop agriculture and into native grass, forest, and emergent aquatic vegetation. Habitat in DNWR consisted of …

Go to article

Influence Of Vitamin K-Rich Plant Foods On Anticoagulant Baiting Efficacy In Wild House Mice, Wild Norway Rats, And Wild Black Rats, G. W. Witmer, P. W. Burke Jan 2009

Influence Of Vitamin K-Rich Plant Foods On Anticoagulant Baiting Efficacy In Wild House Mice, Wild Norway Rats, And Wild Black Rats, G. W. Witmer, P. W. Burke

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Rodents introduced to islands have caused the extinction of many species of animals. Anticoagulant rodenticides are relied on to eradicate rodents from these islands, but if the rodents are eating plant materials that contain high amounts of vitamin K (the antidote to anticoagulants) anticoagulant rodenticides may not be effective. In a laboratory trial, individually caged Noway Rats Rattus norvegicus, Black Rats R. raffus and House Mice Mus musculus were fed fresh plant material high in vitamin K (Collards [0.62 mg vitamin K per 100 g] and Brussels Sprouts [0.19 mg vitamin K per 100 g]) for a period of …

Go to article

Humoral Immunity To West Nile Virus Is Long-Lasting And Protective In The House Sparrow (Passer Domesticus), Nicole M. Nemeth, Paul T. Oesterle, Richard A. Bowen Jan 2009

Humoral Immunity To West Nile Virus Is Long-Lasting And Protective In The House Sparrow (Passer Domesticus), Nicole M. Nemeth, Paul T. Oesterle, Richard A. Bowen

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a common and abundant amplifying host of West Nile virus (WNV) and many survive infection and develop humoral immunity. We experimentally inoculated house sparrows with WNV and monitored duration and protection of resulting antibodies. Neutralizing antibody titers remained relatively constant for ≥ 36 months (N = 42) and provided sterilizing immunity for up to 36 months post-inoculation in 98.6% of individuals (N = 72). These results imply that immune house sparrows are protected from WNV infection for multiple transmission seasons. Additionally, individuals experiencing WNV-associated mortality reached significantly higher peak viremia …

Go to article

Prevalence Of Antibodies To West Nile Virus And Other Arboviruses Among Crested Caracaras (Caracara Cheriway) In Florida, Nicole M. Nemeth, James F. Dwyer, Joan L. Morrison, James D. Fraser Jan 2009

Prevalence Of Antibodies To West Nile Virus And Other Arboviruses Among Crested Caracaras (Caracara Cheriway) In Florida, Nicole M. Nemeth, James F. Dwyer, Joan L. Morrison, James D. Fraser

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We documented the antibody prevalence to three arboviruses, St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV), eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), and West Nile virus (WNV), in Crested Caracaras (Caracara cheriway; n = 80) in Florida from 2007 to 2008. Antibody prevalence to WNV was higher (9%) than for the other viruses. Most seropositive birds were adults (≥3 yr of age), with 55% of adults testing positive for antibodies to at least one virus. Adults were significantly more likely to have antibodies to WNV than nonadults (P<0.001). Prevalence of SLEV and EEEV antibodies among Crested Caracaras was 3% for each virus, and three adult caracaras had indistinguishable anti-flavivirus antibodies. The susceptibility of Crested Caracaras to adverse effects of WNV, SLEV, or EEEV infection remains unknown; however, we observed that some free-ranging individuals survived infection and successfully fledged young. Knowledge of arboviral infection among Florida’s Crested Caracara, which is both state and federally threatened, is valuable considering increasing pressure on this population from rapid and extensive habitat alterations.

Go to article

West Nile Virus Detection In Nonvascular Feathers From Avian Carcasses, Nicole M. Nemeth, Ginger R. Young, Kristen L. Burkhalter, Aaron C. Brault, William K. Reisen, Nicholas Komar Jan 2009

West Nile Virus Detection In Nonvascular Feathers From Avian Carcasses, Nicole M. Nemeth, Ginger R. Young, Kristen L. Burkhalter, Aaron C. Brault, William K. Reisen, Nicholas Komar

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

West Nile virus (WNV) is a public health threat and has caused the death of thousands of North American birds. As such, surveillance for WNV has been ongoing, utilizing numerous biological specimens and testing methods. Nonvascular (i.e., fully grown) feathers would provide a simple method of collection from either dead or live birds of all ages and molt cycles, with presumably less biosafety risk compared with other specimen types, including feather pulp. The current study evaluates WNV detection in nonvascular feathers removed from naturally infected avian carcasses of several species groups. Feathers of corvid passeriforms had the highest sensitivity of …

Go to article

Pathogenesis And Epidemiology Of Brucellosis In Yellowstone Bison: Serologic And Culture Results From Adult Females And Their Progeny, Jack C. Rhyan, Keith Aune, Thomas Roffe, Darla Ewalt, Steve Hennager, Tom Gidlewski, Steve Olsen, Ryan Clarke Jan 2009

Pathogenesis And Epidemiology Of Brucellosis In Yellowstone Bison: Serologic And Culture Results From Adult Females And Their Progeny, Jack C. Rhyan, Keith Aune, Thomas Roffe, Darla Ewalt, Steve Hennager, Tom Gidlewski, Steve Olsen, Ryan Clarke

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Our objective in this prospective study was to determine the natural course of Brucella abortus infection in cohorts of seropositive and seronegative, female bison (Bison bison) and their offspring in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) for 5 yr. We collected specimens from 53 adult females and 25 calves at least once and from 45 adults and 22 calves more than once. Annual seroconversion rates (negative to positive) were relatively high (23% for calves and juvenile bison, 6% in the total sample of adult female bison in our study, and 11% in the adult females that began the study as …

Go to article

Parasite Species Associated With Wild Plateau Pika (Ochotona Curzoniae) In Southeastern Qinghai Province, China, Chengmin Wang, Hongxuan He, Ming Li, Fumin Lei, J. Jeffrey Root, Yanyun Wu, Jianhua Qin Jan 2009

Parasite Species Associated With Wild Plateau Pika (Ochotona Curzoniae) In Southeastern Qinghai Province, China, Chengmin Wang, Hongxuan He, Ming Li, Fumin Lei, J. Jeffrey Root, Yanyun Wu, Jianhua Qin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

A survey was conducted to determine the prevalence and seasonal abundance of egg, larval, and adult stages of helminths; oocyts of protozoans; and ectoparasites of plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae) in seven areas of southeastern Qinghai Province, China, during August 2006 and May 2007. Fecal samples collected from 430 plateau pikas were examined by the modified McMaster technique, which revealed that 83% of the samples contained eggs from two or more helminth species. Mean fecal egg counts were generally moderate and showed the same trend irrespective of the age or sex of the pikas. The prevalence and counts of …

Go to article

First Prev Next Last