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Natural Resources and Conservation

South Dakota State University

1972

Articles 1 - 10 of 10

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Effects Of Polychlorinated Biphhenyls In The Ring-Necked Pheasant, Robert Bernard Dahlgren Jan 1972

Effects Of Polychlorinated Biphhenyls In The Ring-Necked Pheasant, Robert Bernard Dahlgren

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In 1970 and 1971, cock pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) were given single capsules weekly containing 0 and 25 mg polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), Aroclor 1254, and hens were given O, 12.5, and 50 mg. Egg production was reduced (P<0.01) in the hens given 50 mg PCB both years. Fertility, determined by visual inspection of incubated eggs, was unaffected by PCB. Hatchability was lowest in the group of hens given 50 mg in both years but significantly lower (P<0.01) only in 1971. PCB adversely affected the viability of the embryo both years, as the number of eggs pipped but not hatched in PCB groups was higher (P<0.05). PCB did not affect eggshell thickness. Behavior on the visual cliff shortly after hatching was affected among offspring of hens given 50 mg PCB in 1970 (P,0.01). Offspring of hens given 50 mg chose the visually-deep side of the cliff. No differences in behavior on the visual cliff were evident in 1971. Response to hand catching of offspring was affected in 1970 (P <0.01). The ability of penned pheasants to avoid hand capture was least where both parents received PCB, followed by those where hens only, cocks only and neither parent received PCB. No differences in response to hand capture among groups were found in 1971. Weights of chicks from hens on 50 mg were lower (P<0.01) at 6 weeks of age in 1970. This effect was not seen in 1971. Survival of chicks in brooders to 6 weeks of age was lower (P<0.01) in offspring of hens given 50 mg PCB weekly in 1970. No differences were found among offspring of treatment groups in 1971. Survival from 6 weeks of age to fall was similar in all groups. Overall survival from hatching to fall was less (P<.0.05) in offspring of hens given 50 mg weekly in both years combined. No differential effect was found between sexes for survival. PCB in doses varying front 10 mg to 210 mg daily caused hyper-excitability, weakness, tremoring, lack of appetite, lack of feathers, and a comatose death. Birds 11-weeks old given 10 or 20 mg PCB daily, birds 6 to 9 months old given 50 or 100 mg each 3.5 days, and adult hens given up to 50 mg once a week continued to eat. Eleven-week old birds given 210 mg daily stopped eating or those given 210 mg daily, the heaviest birds lost the greatest percentage of their weight (15 to 31 percent) before death occurred (1.3 to 4.3 days). Birds intentionally starved at the same time lost a greater percentage of weight (27 to 51 percent) before death (2.3 to 8.6 days). Some adult hens were given a single 50-mg capsule and samples of whole body, brain, liver, muscle, eggs, and feces were analyzed to determine patterns of storage and excretion. Levels of PCB were highest at 12 hours after capsule administration. Residues were highest in liver, followed by brain and muscle over 28 days following the single 50-mg capsule. From 94 to 98 percent of the administered dose was absorbed and 40.5 mg of the 50mg were in the body after 28 days. Hens were in a state of low egg production and excreted 4.2 mg in the eggs and 4.0 mg in the feces over 28 days. Excretion in the egg could be an important means of ridding the body of PCB. Four hens from the 1970 breeding experiment, given 17 capsules weekly containing 12.5 mg PCB and killed 1 week following the last capsule, had from 37 to 56 percent of the administered dose in their bodies. Four hens on the 50-mg level in 1970 had from 60 to 82 percent of the dose given. Five hens given 12.5 mg weekly for 16 weeks in 1971 had an average of 23.8 ppm PCB in their bodies 1 week after the last capsule, three hens had an average of 13.6 ppm after 3months on a clean diet, and three others had an average of 20.9 ppm after 6 months. Excretion was variable and slow. An analysis of brain, liver, and muscle tissues from dead and surviving birds fed PCB at various levels showed that brain residue levels from 300 to 400 ppm wet weight were indicative of death from FCB toxicosis. Liver and muscle levels were too variable to be useful in assessing cause of death. Administration of PCB decreased weights of heart and spleen (P <0. 01) at all levels given and increased weights of kidneys and livers in birds given 10- and 20-rng doses daily (P <0. 01) but not in birds given 210 mg daily. Splenic atrophy, where spleens were small, pale-tan color, and had wrinkled capsules resulting from depletion of lymphatic nodules, was characteristic of birds given PCB. PCB and dieldrin were given singly and jointly, and only additive, not synergistic, effects were noted. Livers of wild pheasants from Pennsylvania, Indiana, and South Dakota had no more than 2 ppm PCB. This indicates low-level contamination.


Use Of Waterfowl Production Areas By Ducks And Coots In Eastern South Dakota, Spencer Vaa Jan 1972

Use Of Waterfowl Production Areas By Ducks And Coots In Eastern South Dakota, Spencer Vaa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The use of Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA) by American coots (Fulica americana) and ducks was studied during 1970 and 1971 in east-central South Dakota The Eriksrud WPA, a type IV wetland with 55 acres of water area and 35 acres of upland, contained 188 coot nests during the 2-year study. Of the 188 coot nests, 178 hatched for a success rate of 95 percent. Average clutch size of 130 completed clutches was 8.4. Average size of 21 coot broods from 4 to 6 weeks of age was 6.1. Coot production on the Eriksrud area was estimated at 543 young per …


Development Of Techniques For Distribution Of Baits To Raccoon For Chemosterilant Studies, Richard L. Nelson Jan 1972

Development Of Techniques For Distribution Of Baits To Raccoon For Chemosterilant Studies, Richard L. Nelson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sudan Red IV, Sudan Black B, and demethylchlortetracycline (DMCT) were tested as physiological markers in baits for raccoon (Procyon lotor). DMCT was readily detected in the jawbone of raccoons given 50 mg when examined under an ultraviolet light at period of 7, 30, 75, and 450 days following treatment. Seven days after administering 75 mg of Sudan Red IV, it could not be detected in fat deposits. Sudan Black B, administered in similar dosage, could not be detected at 30 days. A total of 1826 chicken eggs containing 50 mg DMCT was distributed on a 25 square-mile study area between …


Influence Of Weather On Movement And Habitat Use Of Hen Pheasants During Brood Rearing, James M. Ruth Jan 1972

Influence Of Weather On Movement And Habitat Use Of Hen Pheasants During Brood Rearing, James M. Ruth

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pheasants survive in a wide range of yearly weather extremes but can be limited by certain short-term weather factors (Graham and Hosterburg 1948). Study of short-term weather conditions can therefore be important in understanding pheasant survival. Many studies have been done on yearly and seasonal effects of weather on pheasant production and survival. Bemitt and Terril (1940) reported on possible temperature factors in pheasant management in the north central area of the United States. Effects of weather on pheasant reproduction were studied by Buss and Swanson (1950) and Kozieky et al. (1955). MacKullan and Eherhardt (1953) studied the tolerance of …


Food Habits Of Fish In A Multispecies Farm Pond, Thomas W. Gengerke Jan 1972

Food Habits Of Fish In A Multispecies Farm Pond, Thomas W. Gengerke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Food habits of yellow perch, bluegill, and black crappie were studied during 1970 and 1971 in Abbey Pond, South Dakota. Aquatic insects, zooplankton, mollusks, and fish were the most frequently consumed food items by the three species. Yellow perch led primarily on aquatic insects, zooplankton, and mollusks. Aquatic insects were dominant (by volume) in 40.0 and 61.5 percent of the samples respectively for the two years. Zooplankton, mollusks, aquatic insects, and bryozoans were the dominant food items by volume of adult bluegills. On an annual basis aquatic insects were the most important food item in the diet. Adult black crappies …


Waterfowl Production In The James River Valley Of South Dakota, William E. Wheeler Jan 1972

Waterfowl Production In The James River Valley Of South Dakota, William E. Wheeler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A study of waterfowl production was conducted on two study areas in the James River Valley of South Dakota in 1971 and 1972. Its objectives were to measure rates of reproductive success and to determine the effect of land use and other influences on duck production. The five most abundant species of nesting ducks were blue-winged teal (Anas discors), mallard (platyrhvnchos), gadwall (A. strepera), shoveler (clypeata), and pintail (acuta). Seventy-two percent of the wetland habitat on the study areas consisted of temporary (Type l and Type 3) water areas. Only 3.9 percent of the wetlands represented semi-permanent (Type 4) and …


Use Of Eelctrophoresis To Determine Populations Of Pheasants In South Dakota, David George Montag Jan 1972

Use Of Eelctrophoresis To Determine Populations Of Pheasants In South Dakota, David George Montag

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) is an important game bird, and various management techniques have been implemented in its behalf. One of the most common practices has been transplanting or stocking wherein pheasants are introduced into an area with a depleted population in hopes of increasing pheasant production. The effects of such programs are difficult to evaluate since there is no way of knowing if the introduced birds are in any way responsible for production changes which subsequently occur. If the taxonomic characteristics of the native and the introduced populations could be determined, the effect that introduced birds have on …


Effects Of Diethylstilbestrol On Reproduction In The Black-Tailed Prairie Dog, Donald G. Pfeiffer Jan 1972

Effects Of Diethylstilbestrol On Reproduction In The Black-Tailed Prairie Dog, Donald G. Pfeiffer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research was conducted in southwestern South Dakota in 1970 and 1971 to obtain information on the reproductive cycle of the black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) and to test effectiveness of diethylstilbestrol as a reproductive inhibitor. Embryo body lengths from 10 pregnant females were compared to body lengths of 14 known day-old young to learn the peak breeding period when an estrogenic chemosterilant would be most effective. Conception dates were obtained for three females by backdating the gestation period. The breeding peak was found to occur in late February and early March in South Dakota. Nine of 11 Prairie dogs were …


Food Selectivity Of The Black Bullhead (Ictalurus Melas, Rafinesque) In Lake Poinsett, South Dakota, Andrew J. Repsys Jan 1972

Food Selectivity Of The Black Bullhead (Ictalurus Melas, Rafinesque) In Lake Poinsett, South Dakota, Andrew J. Repsys

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The food habits of young-of-the-year, subadult and adult black bullheads were studied in Lake Poinsett, South Dakota, from March, 1970, to April, 1971. Two hundred twenty young-of-the-year (37-87 mm total length) fed primarily on limnetic cladocerans and copepods. Leptodora and Diaphanosoma comprised 86.5% of the total food volume. Chironomid larvae and pupae made up 5.6% of the total. Other benthic organisms and littoral cladocerans together contributed less than 1%. Stomach contents of 608 subadult and adult black bullhead (143-304 mm total length) indicated significant seasonal vairaiton in diet. Daphnia pulex and chronomid larvae were important food items in winter. Bullheads …


Pheasant Production Using Wild Cocks And Penned Game-Farm Hens, Michael R. Grode Jan 1972

Pheasant Production Using Wild Cocks And Penned Game-Farm Hens, Michael R. Grode

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pheasant production using free-flying wild cooks and penned game-farm hens was evaluated during 1971. Hens were placed in 0.5-acre pens to compare production at density levels of 10, 20, and 40 hens per acre. Wild cooks entered the 0.5-acre pens the day following introduction of the game-farm hens. The greatest numbers of cooks were observed in the pens with the highest density of hens. Censusing in mid-March indicated a population of 12 to 15 wild cooks in the vicinity of the study pens. A known mortality of 31 hens occurred and percentage mortality was similar at each density level. Pulling …