Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Foods And Feeding Habits Of Botulism Intoxicated And Healthy Waterbirds On The Bear River Refuge, Utah With Emphasis On The American Avocet And Blacknecked Stilt, George W. Wilson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Primary objectives of this study were: (1) to compare the food habits of healthy and botulism intoxicated American avocets and blacknecked stilts for qualitative and quantitative differences, (2) to determine which invertebrates found in the tracts of intoxicated and healthy birds contained type C toxin, and (3) to explain apparent susceptibilities among different sexes, ages and species of birds.

Based on percent utilization and occurrence of food items in the esophagus, the diets of healthy and intoxicated birds were similar. However, intoxicated avocets consumed higher proportions of Gastropoda and intoxicated stilts more Hydrophilidae larvae than did healthy birds. Because of …