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Articles 1 - 30 of 95
Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Observations Of Neck-Collared Canada Geese Near John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, Thomas W. Seamans, Scott E. Clemons, Allen L. Gosser
Observations Of Neck-Collared Canada Geese Near John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, Thomas W. Seamans, Scott E. Clemons, Allen L. Gosser
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
Canada geese (Branta canadensis) often cause significant damage when they strike aircraft. They are responsible for a reported minimum of $2.6 million in damage per year to civil aviation in the United States. Knowledge of goose movements in relation to airports would allow wildlife managers to allocate time and funds to manage those populations that pose the greatest threat to aircraft. We placed alpha-numeric neck collars on 300 Canada geese within 8 km of both John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFKIA) and LaGuardia Airport in New York, New York. We conducted weekly observations for 2 years within a …
Richard A. Dolbeer: Scientist, Innovator, Manager, And Mentor, Bradley F. Blackwelll, Travis L. Devault
Richard A. Dolbeer: Scientist, Innovator, Manager, And Mentor, Bradley F. Blackwelll, Travis L. Devault
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
Richard A. Dolbeer retired in September 2008 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services (WS) program. Over the last 30 years, his research has encompassed the areas of population dynamics of pest species, economic assessment of losses, development of practical management techniques for resolving human–wildlife conflicts, and integrated pest management programs in the United States and abroad (Africa, Asia, Latin America). Most notably, he is one of a few individuals who recognized, early on, the cost in lives and property due to wildlife collisions with aircraft and that much of that cost is avoidable through the application of findings …
Tactics And Economics Of Wildlife Oral Rabies Vaccination, Canada And The United States, Ray T. Sterner, Martin I. Meltzer, Stephanie A. Shwiff, Dennis Slate
Tactics And Economics Of Wildlife Oral Rabies Vaccination, Canada And The United States, Ray T. Sterner, Martin I. Meltzer, Stephanie A. Shwiff, Dennis Slate
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
Progressive elimination of rabies in wildlife has been a general strategy in Canada and the United States; common campaign tactics are trap–vaccinate–release (TVR), point infection control (PIC), and oral rabies vaccination (ORV). TVR and PIC are labor intensive and the most expensive tactics per unit area (≈$616/km2 [in 2008 Can$, converted from the reported $450/km2 in 1991 Can$] and ≈$612/km2 [$500/km2 in 1999 Can$], respectively), but these tactics have proven crucial to elimination of raccoon rabies in Canada and to maintenance of ORV zones for preventing the spread of raccoon rabies in the United States. Economic …
Detection Of Protease-Resistant Cervid Prion Protein In Water From A Cwd-Endemic Area, T. A. Nichols, Bruce Pulford, A. Christy Wyckoff, Crystal Meyerett, Brady Michel, Kevin Gertig, Edward A. Hoover, Jean E. Jewell, Glenn C. Telling, Mark D. Zabel
Detection Of Protease-Resistant Cervid Prion Protein In Water From A Cwd-Endemic Area, T. A. Nichols, Bruce Pulford, A. Christy Wyckoff, Crystal Meyerett, Brady Michel, Kevin Gertig, Edward A. Hoover, Jean E. Jewell, Glenn C. Telling, Mark D. Zabel
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is the only known transmissible spongiform encephalopathy affecting free-ranging wildlife. Although the exact mode of natural transmission remains unknown, substantial evidence suggests that prions can persist in the environment, implicating components thereof as potential prion reservoirs and transmission vehicles. CWD-positive animals may contribute to environmental prion load via decomposing carcasses and biological materials including saliva, blood, urine and feces. Sensitivity limitations of conventional assays hamper evaluation of environmental prion loads in soil and water. Here we show the ability of serial protein misfolding cyclic amplification (sPMCA) to amplify a 1.3 x 10-7 dilution of CWD-infected …
Spatial Ecology Of Raccoons Related To Cattle And Bovine Tuberculosis In Northeastern Michigan, Todd C. Atwood, Thomas J. Deliberto, Holly J. Smith, Justin S. Stevenson, Kurt C. Vercauteren
Spatial Ecology Of Raccoons Related To Cattle And Bovine Tuberculosis In Northeastern Michigan, Todd C. Atwood, Thomas J. Deliberto, Holly J. Smith, Justin S. Stevenson, Kurt C. Vercauteren
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
In 1995, Mycobacterium bovis, the causative bacterium of bovine tuberculosis (bTB), was detected in 5 beef cattle operations in Alcona County, Michigan, USA. In accordance with Federal law, the operations were depopulated to prevent the spread of bTB. Subsequent wildlife surveillance programs identified high prevalence of M. bovis in mesocarnivores, including raccoons (Procyon lotor), which suggested that raccoons may be complicit in vectoring the pathogen among livestock operations. Our goal was to develop an empirical basis for generating hypotheses about the likelihood for raccoons to mediate the transmission of bTB to livestock. We found intersexual differences in scale-dependent …
Translocation Of Nine-Banded Armadillos, Daniel J. Gammons, Michael Mengak, L. Michael Conner
Translocation Of Nine-Banded Armadillos, Daniel J. Gammons, Michael Mengak, L. Michael Conner
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
During the last 150 years, nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) have increased their range and abundance in the southeastern United States. When foraging, armadillos cause damage to agricultural crops as, as well as cause structural damage to driveways and foundations. Homeowners frequently use translocation to reduce local armadillo abundance. Despite its popularity with the general public, however, the appropriateness of nuisance wildlife translocation presents concerns for biologists. Our objective was to address some of these concerns by examining survival and movements of translocated armadillos. We translocated 12 armadillos (9 male, 3 female) equipped with radio-transmitters and compared their survival …
Deer Guards And Bump Gates For Excluding White-Tailed Deer From Fenced Resources, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Nathan Seward, Michael J. Lavelle, Justin W. Fischer, Gregory Phillips
Deer Guards And Bump Gates For Excluding White-Tailed Deer From Fenced Resources, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Nathan Seward, Michael J. Lavelle, Justin W. Fischer, Gregory Phillips
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) causing damage is a reoccurring theme in the realm of wildlife damage management, especially regarding human safety, disease transmission, and agricultural losses. Fences often are the only reliable long-term nonlethal means of controlling deer damage. The efficacy of fences, however, relies on their weakest link: human-operated gates. Although not overly time-consuming, the act of closing a gate appears to be a burden to individuals, resulting in open-access to an otherwise protected resource. We examined the efficacy of 2 alternatives to traditional gates to evaluate their potential to be used for excluding or containing deer. …
White-Tailed Deer Browsing And Rubbing Preferences For Trees And Shrubs That Produce Nontimber Forest Products, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Peter D. Skelton, Scott J. Josiah, Jason M. Gilsdorf, Dallas R. Virchow, James A. Brandle, Anil K. Jayaprakash, Kent M. Eskridge, Kurt C. Vercauteren
White-Tailed Deer Browsing And Rubbing Preferences For Trees And Shrubs That Produce Nontimber Forest Products, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Peter D. Skelton, Scott J. Josiah, Jason M. Gilsdorf, Dallas R. Virchow, James A. Brandle, Anil K. Jayaprakash, Kent M. Eskridge, Kurt C. Vercauteren
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
Nontimber forest products (food, herbal medicinals, and woody floral and handicraft products) produced in forest, agroforestry, and horticultural systems can be important sources of income to landowners. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) can reduce the quality, quantity, and profitability of forest products by browsing twigs and rubbing stems, resulting in direct and indirect losses to production enterprises. We evaluated deer damage (frequency and intensity of browsing and rubbing) sustained by 26 species of trees and shrubs, the relationships among morphological features of trees and shrubs to damage levels, and the economic impacts of deer damage on the production of …
Avian Use Of Rice-Baited Trays Attached To Cages With Live Decoy Blackbirds In Central North Dakota: Research Update, Jamison Winter, George M. Linz, William Bleier
Avian Use Of Rice-Baited Trays Attached To Cages With Live Decoy Blackbirds In Central North Dakota: Research Update, Jamison Winter, George M. Linz, William Bleier
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
For decades, blackbird depredation of sunflower has been a problem. Sunflower growers consistently place blackbirds in the top tier of problems associated with growing sunflower in the northern Great Plains. Many non-lethal tactics have been employed in an attempt to protect ripening sunflower from foraging flocks of blackbirds. Thinning cattail-choked wetlands to reduce roosting habitat, using pyrotechniques to frighten feeding birds, planting Wildlife Conservation Sunflower Plots to lure bids away from commercial plots, applying taste repellents, and adapting cultural methods such as block planting to synchronize ripening are just a few such tactics. Even so, the numbers of blackbirds migrating …
Evaluation And Development Of Blackbird Repellents For Agricultural Applications, Scott J. Werner, Shelagh Tupper, George M. Linz, H. Jeffrey Homan
Evaluation And Development Of Blackbird Repellents For Agricultural Applications, Scott J. Werner, Shelagh Tupper, George M. Linz, H. Jeffrey Homan
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
We evaluated several registered fungicides and insecticides, and several natural compounds as candidate blackbird repellents for protecting agricultural production. We tested more than 750 red-winged blackbirds at the National Wildlife Research Center’s outdoor animal research facility in Fort Collins, CO to evaluate (1) their preference for treated versus untreated rice and sunflower seeds and (2) their consumption of seeds treated with varying concentrations of candidate repellents. Concentrations were varied between 10% and 200% of labeled application rates. With few exceptions, blackbirds discriminated between untreated seeds and seeds treated with one of the candidate repellents. We observed greatest repellency with caffeine …
Avian Visual System Configuration And Behavioural Response To Object Approach, Bradley F. Blackwell, Esteban Fernandez-Juricic, Thomas W. Seamans, Tracy Dolan
Avian Visual System Configuration And Behavioural Response To Object Approach, Bradley F. Blackwell, Esteban Fernandez-Juricic, Thomas W. Seamans, Tracy Dolan
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
Antipredator behaviour theory provides a framework to understand the mechanisms behind human– wildlife interactions; however, little is known about the role of visual systems in the responses to humans. We quantified responses of brown-headed cowbirds, Molothrus ater (Boddaert), and mourning doves, Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus), to object approach (a ground-based vehicle) and vehicle lighting regimen, and we examined two visual properties (visual acuity and visual fields) that could influence antipredator behaviour. Brown-headed cowbird groups exposed to vehicle approach and constant illumination of the vehicle-mounted lamp showed alert behaviour earlier than did groups exposed to pulsating treatments or no lamp. Interestingly, light …
Use Of Infrared Thermography To Detect Thermographic Changes In Mule Deer (Odocoileus Hemionus) Experimentally Infected With Foot-And-Mouth Disease, Mike R. Dunbar, Shylo R. Johnson, Jack C. Ryan, Matt Mccollum
Use Of Infrared Thermography To Detect Thermographic Changes In Mule Deer (Odocoileus Hemionus) Experimentally Infected With Foot-And-Mouth Disease, Mike R. Dunbar, Shylo R. Johnson, Jack C. Ryan, Matt Mccollum
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
Infrared thermography (IRT) measures the heat emitted from a surface, displays that information as a pictorial representation called a thermogram, and is capable of being a remote, noninvasive technology that provides information on the health of an animal. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) caused by FMD virus (FMDV) is a severe, highly communicable viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals, including both domestic and wild ruminants. Early detection of the disease may reduce economic loss and loss of susceptible wildlife. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of IRT to detect possible heat changes associated with sites of infection with FMDV …
Spatial Ecologyand Social Interactions Of Jaguars (Panthera Onca) In The Southern Pantanal, Brazil, Sandra M. C. Cavalcanti, Eric M. Gese
Spatial Ecologyand Social Interactions Of Jaguars (Panthera Onca) In The Southern Pantanal, Brazil, Sandra M. C. Cavalcanti, Eric M. Gese
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
The Pantanal of Brazil is an important area for the conservation of jaguars (Panthera onca). As the size of traditional large ranches in the Pantanal decreases, human access to jaguar habitat increases, resulting in human-altered landscapes that may influence patterns of resource selection and space use by jaguars. We used global positioning system radiocollars to study jaguars in the southern Pantanal. We radiocollared 10 jaguars (6 males and 4 females), obtained 11,787 locations, and examined their space use, movement rates, and social interactions between October 2001 and April 2004. Estimates of 90% kernel home ranges varied among animals …
Serologic Evidence Of Avian Influenza (H4n6) Exposure In A Wild-Caught Raccoon, Nathan M. Roberts, David J. Henzler, Larry Clark
Serologic Evidence Of Avian Influenza (H4n6) Exposure In A Wild-Caught Raccoon, Nathan M. Roberts, David J. Henzler, Larry Clark
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
Growing concerns about avian influenza, and its effect on agriculture and human health, have highlighted the need to understand the role of wildlife in maintaining and spreading the virus. We surveyed the wildlife inhabiting a poultry farm with recent I-I3N6 and H4N6 avian influenza virus exposure in Pennsylvania, U.S.A. One raccoon (Procyon lotor) tested positive for H4N6 antibodies. This is the first recorded incident of avian influenza exposure in a wild raccoon. We suggest that raccoons may play a role in the transmission of avian influenza viruses and in compromising biosecurity efforts at poultry operations.
Influence Of Exogenous Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone On Seasonal Reproductive Behavior Of The Coyote (Canis Latrans), D. A. Carlson, E. M. Gese
Influence Of Exogenous Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone On Seasonal Reproductive Behavior Of The Coyote (Canis Latrans), D. A. Carlson, E. M. Gese
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
Wild Canis species such as the coyote (C. latrans) express a suite of reproductive traits unusual among mammals, including perennial pair-bonds and paternal care of the young. Coyotes also are monestrous, and both sexes are fertile only in winter; thus, they depend upon social and physiologic synchrony for successful reproduction. To investigate the mutability of seasonal reproduction in coyotes, we attempted to evoke an out-of-season estrus in October using one of two short-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agents: (1) a GnRH analogue, deslorelin (6-D-tryptophan-9-(N-ethyl-L-prolinamide)-10-deglycinamide), 2.1 mg pellet sc; or (2) gonadorelin, a GnRH (5-oxoPro-His-Trp-Ser-Tyr-Gly-Leu-Arg-Pro-GlyNH2) porcine hypothalamic extract, …
Testudines - Turtles, James Delutes Iii, Richard M. Engeman
Testudines - Turtles, James Delutes Iii, Richard M. Engeman
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
Chelydra serpentine serpentine (Common Snapping Turtle). Nesting Behavior and Site Selection. On May 31, 2008, we observed a ca. 36 cm CL Chelydra serpentine serpentine in unexpected nesting circumstances. Observations were made from 0908 to 1027 h on clear day with ambient temp ca 24° C. The nest site near Longmont, Colorado, USA (40.1599528°N, 105.1259861°W; WGS84) was 4.3 m from a seasonal ditch running north-south to connect two lakes, one on either side of a busy road. The intriguing aspect of the nest location was that it was immediately adjacent to a heavily traveled concrete sidewalk that bordered a road …
Field Test Of A Single-Injection Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone Immunocontraceptive Vaccine In Female White-Tailed Deer, James P. Gionfriddo, John D. Eisemann, Kevin J. Sullivan, Ronald S. Healey, Lowell A. Miller, Kathleen A. Fagerstone, Richard M. Engeman, Christi A. Yoder
Field Test Of A Single-Injection Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone Immunocontraceptive Vaccine In Female White-Tailed Deer, James P. Gionfriddo, John D. Eisemann, Kevin J. Sullivan, Ronald S. Healey, Lowell A. Miller, Kathleen A. Fagerstone, Richard M. Engeman, Christi A. Yoder
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
The development and use of safe, effective and practical wildlife contraceptive agents could reduce reproduction in locally overabundant deer populations in situations where traditional management tools such as regulated hunting cannot be employed. GonaCon Immunocontraceptive Vaccine (the commercial name for a particular gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-based emulsion) was tested in adult female white-tailed deer in a fenced herd near Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. Observations of udder condition were used to identify does that had become pregnant. Necropsy observations, histopathology and serum concentrations of anti-GnRH antibodies, luteinising hormone and progesterone were used to compare health and reproductive status of treated (n = …
Escherichia Coli, Salmonella, And Mycobacterium Avium Subsp. Paratuberculosis In Wild European Starlings At A Kansas Cattle Feedlot, Shannon M. Gaukler, George M. Linz, Julie S. Sherwood, Neil W. Dyer, William J. Bleier, Yvonne M. Wannemuehler, Lisa K. Nolan, Catherine M. Logue
Escherichia Coli, Salmonella, And Mycobacterium Avium Subsp. Paratuberculosis In Wild European Starlings At A Kansas Cattle Feedlot, Shannon M. Gaukler, George M. Linz, Julie S. Sherwood, Neil W. Dyer, William J. Bleier, Yvonne M. Wannemuehler, Lisa K. Nolan, Catherine M. Logue
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
The prevalence of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis isolated from the feces of wild European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) humanely trapped at a feedlot in central Kansas was assessed. All E. coli and Salmonella isolates recovered were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System panels and the E. coli isolates were classified as to their content of genes associated with pathogenic E. coli of birds and cattle, including cvaC, iroN2, ompTp, hlyF2, eitC, iss, iutA, ireA, papC, stxI, stxII, sta, K99, F41, and eae. Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Mycobacterium avium …
Avian Use Of Harvested Crop Fields In North Dakota During Spring Migration, Alegra M. Galle, George M. Linz, H. Jeffrey Homan, William J. Bleier
Avian Use Of Harvested Crop Fields In North Dakota During Spring Migration, Alegra M. Galle, George M. Linz, H. Jeffrey Homan, William J. Bleier
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
Broad-spectrum herbicide applications and improved harvesting efficiency of crops have reduced the availability of weed seeds and waste grains for game and nongame wildlife. Over the last decade, corn and soybean plantings have steadily increased in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of North Dakota, while sunflower plantings have declined. The PPR is an important corridor for migratory birds, and changes in food availabilities at stopover habitats may affect how food resources are used. In early spring 2003 and 2004, we compared bird use of harvested fields of sunflower, soybeans, small grains, and corn in the PPR of North Dakota. Across …
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
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
USDA 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 …
Landscape Genetics Of Raccoons (Procyon Lotor) Associated With Ridges And Valleys Of Pennsylvania: Implications For Oral Rabies Vaccination Programs, J. Jeffrey Root, Robert B. Puskas, Justin W. Fischer, Craig B. Swope, Melissa A. Neubaum, Serena A. Reeder, Antoinette J. Piaggio
Landscape Genetics Of Raccoons (Procyon Lotor) Associated With Ridges And Valleys Of Pennsylvania: Implications For Oral Rabies Vaccination Programs, J. Jeffrey Root, Robert B. Puskas, Justin W. Fischer, Craig B. Swope, Melissa A. Neubaum, Serena A. Reeder, Antoinette J. Piaggio
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
Raccoons are the reservoir for the raccoon rabies virus variant in the United States. To combat this threat, oral rabies vaccination (ORV) programs are conducted in many eastern states. To aid in these efforts, the genetic structure of raccoons (Procyon lotor) was assessed in southwestern Pennsylvania to determine if select geographic features (i.e., ridges and valleys) serve as corridors or hindrances to raccoon gene flow (e.g., movement) and, therefore, rabies virus trafficking in this physiographic region. Raccoon DNA samples (n = 185) were collected from one ridge site and two adjacent valleys in southwestern Pennsylvania (Westmoreland, Cambria, Fayette, …
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
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
USDA 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 …
Invasive Litter, Not An Invasive Insectivore, Determines Invertebrate Communities In Hawaiian Forests, Nathania C. Tuttle, Karen H. Beard, William C. Pitt
Invasive Litter, Not An Invasive Insectivore, Determines Invertebrate Communities In Hawaiian Forests, Nathania C. Tuttle, Karen H. Beard, William C. Pitt
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
In Hawaii, invasive plants have the ability to alter litter-based food chains because they often have litter traits that differ from native species. Additionally, abundant invasive predators, especially those representing new trophic levels, can reduce prey. The relative importance of these two processes on the litter invertebrate community in Hawaii is important, because they could affect the large number of endemic and endangered invertebrates. We determined the relative importance of litter resources, represented by leaf litter of two trees, an invasive nitrogen-fixer, Falcataria moluccana, and a native tree, Metrosideros polymorpha, and predation of an invasive terrestrial frog, Eleutherodactylus …
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
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
USDA 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.
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
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
USDA 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 …
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
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
USDA 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 …
The Economics Of Threatened Species Conservation: A Review And Analysis, Ray T. Sterner
The Economics Of Threatened Species Conservation: A Review And Analysis, Ray T. Sterner
USDA 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 …
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
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
USDA 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 …
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
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
USDA 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 …
Ecological Correlates Of Risk And Incidence Of West Nile Virus In The United States, Brian F. Allan, R. Brian Langerhans, Wade A. Ryberg, William J. Landesman, Nicholas W. Griffin, Rachael S. Katz, Brad J. Oberle, Michele R. Schutzenhofer, Kristina N. Smyth, Annabelle De St. Maurice, Larry Clark, Kevin R. Crooks, Daniel E. Hernandez, Robert G. Mclean, Richard S. Ostfeld, Jonathan M. Chase
Ecological Correlates Of Risk And Incidence Of West Nile Virus In The United States, Brian F. Allan, R. Brian Langerhans, Wade A. Ryberg, William J. Landesman, Nicholas W. Griffin, Rachael S. Katz, Brad J. Oberle, Michele R. Schutzenhofer, Kristina N. Smyth, Annabelle De St. Maurice, Larry Clark, Kevin R. Crooks, Daniel E. Hernandez, Robert G. Mclean, Richard S. Ostfeld, Jonathan M. Chase
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
West Nile virus, which was recently introduced to North America, is a mosquito-borne pathogen that infects a wide range of vertebrate hosts, including humans. Several species of birds appear to be the primary reservoir hosts, whereas other bird species, as well as other vertebrate species, can be infected but are less competent reservoirs. One hypothesis regarding the transmission dynamics of West Nile virus suggests that high bird diversity reduces West Nile virus transmission because mosquito blood-meals are distributed across a wide range of bird species, many of which have low reservoir competence. One mechanism by which this hypothesis can operate …