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Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

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Natural Resources and Conservation

South Dakota State University

1974

Articles 1 - 6 of 6

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Pheasant Reproduction And Survival As Related To Agricultural Fertilizer Use, Lawrence Francis Fredrickson Jan 1974

Pheasant Reproduction And Survival As Related To Agricultural Fertilizer Use, Lawrence Francis Fredrickson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Wing-clipped wild pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) were stocked in 1-acre and 0.5-acre pens having oat and bromegrass cover in 1972 and 1973 to test effects of fertilizer (Formulations: 34-0-0, 18-46-0, 0-46- 0, and 0-0-60) on pheasant reproduction and survival. One-half of the pens were fertilized with the recommended rate of pelleted fertilizer and the other half without fertilizer. Complete nest searches in July showed that nesting success was not significantly different (P>0.05) between treatments for both years. No significant difference (P>0.05) was found in clutch size or in number of ovulated follicles from control and experimental hens. Significantly more …


Feeding Of Hatchery-Reared Brown Trout (Salmo Trutta L.) In Relation To The Diet In A South Dakota Stream, Richard W. Mccoy Jan 1974

Feeding Of Hatchery-Reared Brown Trout (Salmo Trutta L.) In Relation To The Diet In A South Dakota Stream, Richard W. Mccoy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

One thousand five hundred catchable brown trout (17-26 cm) were stocked into the South Fork of the Yellowbank River May 17, 1973. Samples were taken one month apart from May 22, 1973, through October 29, 1973. Fifteen-minute drift samples were collected every hour for 24 hours and trout were captured every 4 hours. Trout captured ruing the study varied in condition ® from 1.34 to 2.55. Condition progressively decreased through August, rose in September, and decreased again by the October sample. The average weight of brown trout increased through the September sample and decreased in October. Two peaks in number …


Habitat Preferences And Food Habits Of Striped Skunks In Eastern South Dakota, Melvin S. Moe Jan 1974

Habitat Preferences And Food Habits Of Striped Skunks In Eastern South Dakota, Melvin S. Moe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Habitat preferences of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in Brookings County, South Dakota, were determined rom the relationship of nighttime roadside indices to 25 habitat variables of 277, 1-square mile plots. Winter tracking was also conducted. Skunks were collected on the study area in 1972-1972, and contents of 59 stomachs and 63 colons were studied to determine food habits. Indices of prey abundance in different habitat types were obtained from snap-trap surveys. The 25 variables accounted for 14.9 percent of the variation in skunk numbers. The relationships of three of these variables to skunk numbers were significant (P<0.05). The significant variables and the variation accounted for by each were: (a) number of areas of idle grassland, 6.3 percent; (b) number of rockplies, 1.5 percent; and (c) acreage of idle grassland, 1.3 percent. Idle grasslands were the main activity centers of skunks tracked during the winter. Food habits were analyzed for the periods March-April, May-June, July-August, and September-November. Insects were the most frequently found food item in al time periods except March-April, during which mammals occurred more frequently. Mammals made up the largest volume of food in March-April and May-June. Amphibians made up the greatest volume in July-August, while amphibians, mammals, and insects were found in nearly equal volumes in September-November. Bird remains occurred during all time periods. Eggs were found in May-June and July-August. Meadow voles (Microtus spp.), the most frequent mammalian food item during all time periods, were common only in habitat types having heavy residual cover. Idle grassland is an important nestling cover for gamebirds and waterfowl. Since the number of areas of this cover type apparently has a stronger relationship with skunk numbers than its total acreage, grassland nesting cover might best be managed in large, homogeneous blocks. Areas managed in this way would probably support lower skunk densities than more diverse areas containing equal acreages of idle grassland, thus reducing nest predation by skunks. Skunk control programs should be most efficient when centered around idle grassland and rockplies.


Influence Of Vegetation On The Distribution Of Small Mammals On A Waterfowl Production Area, Douglas A. Searls Jan 1974

Influence Of Vegetation On The Distribution Of Small Mammals On A Waterfowl Production Area, Douglas A. Searls

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

. A study was conducted on a Waterfowl Production Area in Brookings County, South Dakota in 1972-73 to determine the distribution and abundance of small mammals. Three cover types, reseeded native grassed, brome-alfalfa, and bluegrass, were studied. Meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanious), and deer mice (Peronyscus maniculatus) were captured most frequently. Jumping ice (Zapus hudsonius), masked shrews (Sorex cinerius), short tailed shrews (Blarins brevicauda), grasshopper mice (Omychomys leucogaster) and house mice (Mis musculus) were also taken. The bluegrass association had the highest number of small mammal captures and the reseeded native grass association has the least. There was no significant difference …


Evaluation Of Duck Production On Waterfowl Production Areas In Northeast North Dakota, Gerald L. Heismeyer Jan 1974

Evaluation Of Duck Production On Waterfowl Production Areas In Northeast North Dakota, Gerald L. Heismeyer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An investigation of duck production on six Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA’s) in northeastern North Dakota was conducted during 1970-73. This investigation was conducted in conjunction with habitat-manipulation study by the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center that entailed prescribed burning of three WPA’s. Wetland habitat conditions, breeding populations and nesting were evaluated all four years. Brood observations were made during the last three years and nesting cover was evaluated during the last two years of investigation. Wetland habitat conditions were generally favorable during the first three years of investigation but in 1973 wetland conditions were extremely poor due to low precipitation …


Studies Of The White Pelican In South Dakota: Reproductive Biology Of Wild Populations And Effects Of Polychlorinated Biphenyls And Ddt On The Behavior Of Penned Birds, Vernon Pat Mccrow Jan 1974

Studies Of The White Pelican In South Dakota: Reproductive Biology Of Wild Populations And Effects Of Polychlorinated Biphenyls And Ddt On The Behavior Of Penned Birds, Vernon Pat Mccrow

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The learning behavior of penned white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) was studies 2 August to 5 October 1972 using a swimming pool – Y-maze apparatus in an operant conditioning experiment. The experiment consisted of three consecutive phases: trial-and-error learning, extinction, and relearning. Three groups of nine pelicans each were studied: a polychlorinated biphenyl (PCE) treated group, a DDT, DDD, DDE treated group, and a Control group. The object of this study was to determine the effect of PCB and DDT, DDD, DDE on the learning ability of penned white pelicans. Control, PCB, and DDT groups of penned white pelicans learned to …