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Articles 1 - 11 of 11
Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Land Use Changes And Pheasant Declines In Eastern South Dakota, George M. Vandel
Land Use Changes And Pheasant Declines In Eastern South Dakota, George M. Vandel
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Changes in pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) nesting habitat were investigated on Windsor Township, Brookings County, South Dakota. The population was censused, nesting densities determined, cover was mapped, and an interspersion index determined in 197 7 and 1978. Comparison to a similar study conducted in 1958 and 1959 indicated a decrease in pheasant numbers of 93% for crow counts and 94% in brood counts. Nesting densities decreased by 96%. Pheasant nests were found in about the same proportions per cover type for the two time periods. Hatching success, clutch size, rates of abandonment, and nest destruction were also similar. Nesting habitat occurred …
Forage Fish Populations And Growth Of Muskellunge In A South Dakota Power Plant Cooling Reservoir, James R. Wahl
Forage Fish Populations And Growth Of Muskellunge In A South Dakota Power Plant Cooling Reservoir, James R. Wahl
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The standing crop, age, growth, and impingement loss of forage fishes and the growth rate and impingement loss of muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) were studied to evaluate the use of the Big Stone Power Plant cooling reservoir as an area for rearing and holding muskellunge brood stock. There were 18 species of forage fish present in the reservoir. Sampling indicated that there were 4 major forage fish species. Bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) made up 68.3% of these species; tadpole madtoms (Noturus gyrinus), 25.8%; orangespotted sunfish (L.humilis), 3.6%; and black bullheads (Ictalurus melas), 2.3%. The estimated total standing crop of the 4 forage …
Zooplankton And Ichthyoplankton In A Power Plant Cooling Reservoir, Steven C. Johnson
Zooplankton And Ichthyoplankton In A Power Plant Cooling Reservoir, Steven C. Johnson
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The species composition, abundance, seasonal cycles, distribution, and entrainment mortality of zooplankton and ichthyoplankton were studied in the Big Stone Power Plant cooling reservoir, South Dakota, from January 1979 to April 1980. Mean annual density and biomass of zooplankton for 1979 were 15.8 organisms/liter and 384.7 ug/liter respectively. Cyclopoid copepodites made up 43.0% of the mean annual number, Daphnia pulex, 15.8% and Chydorus sphearicus, 15.2%. Zooplankton density attained a spring maximum of 203.1/liter on 16 May and a fall maximum of 18.7/liter on 15 November. The species composition and density of zooplankton in water entrained by the power plant were …
Feeding Ecology Of Fishes In A South Dakota Power Plant Cooling Reservoir, Robert J. Krska, Jr.
Feeding Ecology Of Fishes In A South Dakota Power Plant Cooling Reservoir, Robert J. Krska, Jr.
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The food habits of bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus), black bullheads Ictalurus melas), and muskellunge (Esox masquinongv) in the Big Stone Power Plant cooling reservoir were studied from January through December 1979. The diet of 794 bluegills >50 mm TL was dominated by vegetation, planktonic crustaceans, dipteran larvae and pupae, and fishes: 214 bluegills < 50 mm TL fed primarily upon chironomid larvae and pupae and cladocerans. There was a significant difference (P50 mm. This was determined by Spearman rank correlation coefficients based upon percent number and percent volume of food items, and mean number of taxa per stomach. Both bluegill length-groups positively selected Chydorinae, ostracods, Caenis spp. larvae, chironomid pupae, and Physa spp., while they negatively selected cyclopoid copepods, Ceriodaphnia spp., and Tanypodinae larvae. Chironomid larvae were positively selected by bluegills mm, but were negatively selected by those >50 mm. Fishes and chironomid larvae were the major food items of 105 black bullheads >120 mm TL; fishes and filamentous algae were the dominant food items of 146 bullheads 5120 mm. Ostracods and dipteran pupae were positively selected, while Tanvpodinae and Chironominae larvae were negatively selected. Chydorinae, …
Helminths Of South Dakota Coyotes, Elizabeth C. Schitoskey
Helminths Of South Dakota Coyotes, Elizabeth C. Schitoskey
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
From September 1976 through January 1978, 343 coyotes (Canis latrans) carcasses were obtained for this study from South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks trappers and from fur buyers. Coyotes were necropsied, internal organs were examined for helminth parasites, and parasites located were collected and identified. Nematodes found included Toxascaris leonine in 215 of 290 (74%), Toxocara canis in 1 of 290, Physaloptera rara in 160 of 290 (55%), Physaloptera preputialis in 1 of 290, Pterygondermatites cahirensis in 28 of 290 (10%), Ancylostoma caninum in 38 of 290 (13%), Uncinaria stenocephala in 1 of 290, Dermatoxys veligera in 1 …
Macroscopic Benthos Populations In A South Dakota Power Plant Cooling Reservoir, Gordon B. Sloane
Macroscopic Benthos Populations In A South Dakota Power Plant Cooling Reservoir, Gordon B. Sloane
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The standing crop, distribution, seasonal variation, and entrainment of benthos were studied at the Big Stone Power Plant cooling reservoir. Benthos samples were collected from January 1979 through March 1980 utilizing a stratified random sampling design in 3 areas related to the thermal discharge site and cooling water intake sites. Maximum surface and bottom water temperatures in the discharge area were 42.0 C and 33.5 C respectively. The intake area had a maximum surface and bottom temperature of 32.0 C and 30.0 C respectively. Reservoir temperatures ranged from 0.0 C to 42.0 C during the study. Dissolved oxygen ranged from …
Summer And Fall Ecology Of Gray Patridge In Eastern South Dakota, Jerry W. Hupp
Summer And Fall Ecology Of Gray Patridge In Eastern South Dakota, Jerry W. Hupp
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Gray partridge (Perdix perdix) nesting biology, summer and fall habitat utilization, home range, and food habits were studied in Brookings County, South Dakota, during 1978-79. Data were collected on a 62 km² study area 16 km northeast of Brookings. Nesting habitats, success, and clutch size were determined from 44 randomly located nests. Most nests (91%) were in grassy roadsides and fencerows. Few birds nested in cover dominated by legume vegetation. Average clutch size of completed nests was 17.8 eggs and nest success was 37%. Mammalian predation was the major cause (50%) of nesting failure. Gray partridge habitat utilization was determined …
Food Habits And Growth Of Rainbow Trout In A Prairie Pond, Ronald Marvin Koth
Food Habits And Growth Of Rainbow Trout In A Prairie Pond, Ronald Marvin Koth
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) were introduced into Lower Abbey Pond, South Dakota, at a stocking rate of 772/ha in June 1977. Sampling was begun in January 1978 to determine food habits and growth of the fish. Trout and environmental samples were taken at 10 day or monthly intervals depending upon the season. A linear index of food selection was calculated and growth data was analyzed using the SHAD computer program. Food habits were determined for 159 rainbow trout collected from January 1978 to October 1978. Stomachs contained a total of 5,700 food organisms with major constituents by number being notonectids …
Nesting And Brood Rearing Ecology Of The Vancouver Canada Goose On Admiralty Island Southeast Of Alaska, Charles S. Lebeda
Nesting And Brood Rearing Ecology Of The Vancouver Canada Goose On Admiralty Island Southeast Of Alaska, Charles S. Lebeda
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Nesting and brood rearing biology of Vancouver Canada geese (Branta canadensis fulva) was studied in 1978 (preliminary) and from April-August 1979 in Seymour Canal, Admiralty Island, Alaska. Geese used trees for perching during the incubation period (24 April-7 June) and use was significant (P < .0001) for early morning hours. This behavior is considered unique among all Canada goose subspecies. An average of 86.3 search hours were conducted for each of 19 active nests located in 1979. Seven additional nests from previous years were also located. Twenty-two nests were located in forest habitat •. All forest nests were in association with vegetation similar to vegetation described for U.S. Forest Service classification of F4 and F5 (poorly drained) soil types. Mean clutch size was 4.4 ± 1.3 eggs. Mean egg length and width were 86.1 mm± 3.14 and 56.4 mm± 2.76, respectively. Success of all nests hatching at least one egg was 55.6%. Egg hatching success of successful nests was 95.7%. Total hatching success of all eggs was 62.0%. Forest habitat was used extensively for brood rearing. Broods generally avoided large bodies of water. Single family broods were found most often in forest habitat while creches were more common in meadows and intertidal zones. Breeding adults and goslings were comparatively less vocal in the forest. Goslings less than 2 weeks of age used forest habitat extensively and shifted to forest edge and intertidal zones with age. Forest habitats, rather than open water, were used as escape cover by breeding adults and broods. Nesting and brood rearing habitat was similar, thus, nest site selection may be closely tied to requirements for brood rearing habitat. Molting, non-breeding or unsuccessful breeding geese also used forest habitat freely and avoided observers by fleeing into the forest. Use of habitat compared to tide stage was significant (P < .0001) and may be a function of availability. Habitat use compared to daily time periods appeared to reflect feeding activity peaks in early morning and late afternoon. Adult geese primarily used the intertidal zone during pre-incubation; the grassy intertidal zone was used more during incubation and post-incubation. Skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanum) comprised 23.8% aggregate of foods utilized and appeared to be the most important food during brood rearing. Goslings and molting geese also utilized sea lettuce (Ulva spp.) and blueberry (Yaccinium spp.) berries. Plant matter comprised the bulk of food items.
Winter And Spring Ecology Of Gray Partridge In East Central South Dakota, Loren M. Smith
Winter And Spring Ecology Of Gray Partridge In East Central South Dakota, Loren M. Smith
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Gray partridge (Perdix perdix) habitat utilization, home range, and food habits were studied in Brookings County, South Dakota during winter and spring of 1979 and 1980. Habitat utilization and food habits data were analyzed in 2-month periods; winter (December 22-February 21), early spring (February 22-April 21), and late spring (April 22-June 21). Habitat utilization was determined through radio telemetry, roadside surveys, and incidental observations. Chi-square analysis was used to determine habitat selection of partridge. Home range was determined to via radio telemetry data. Food habits were analyzed with percent volume and frequency of occurrence methods. In winter partridge utilized pasture …
Nesting Giant Canada Geese In Western South Dakota, Doyle M. Stiefel
Nesting Giant Canada Geese In Western South Dakota, Doyle M. Stiefel
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Giant Canada geese (Branta Canadensis maxima) began nesting on 27 March 1976 and 2 April 1977. Peak hatch occurred from 15 to 21 May 1976 and 22 to 28 May 1977 and the nesting season lasted 69 days in 1976 and 83 days in 1977. Average clutch size was 4.8 eggs per nest in 1976 and 5.0 in 1977. Thirty-three percent of all eggs observed in 1976 and 23% in 1977 failed to hatch. Infertility and desertion were the main reasons that eggs did not hatch. Seventy percent of the territorial pairs in 1976 and 41% in 1977 nested. Nesting …