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South Dakota State University

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Articles 241 - 270 of 296

Full-Text Articles in Natural Resources and Conservation

Nutrient Transport In The Lake Poinsett System, Jack M. Skille Jan 1971

Nutrient Transport In The Lake Poinsett System, Jack M. Skille

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Concentrations and loads of nutrients transported through the Lake Poinsett system were monitored from April 1, 1970 to April 1, 1971. An annual 2.07x 10~ m3 surface discharge into Lake Poinsett transported 1.66 x 104 kg (PO4) phosphorus, 1.28 x 104 kg nitrate nitrogen, and 3.90 x 104 kg organic carbon. The Big Sioux River-Dry Lake system contributed 63% of the phosphorus, 45% of the nitrate nitrogen, and 43% of the organic carbon load. The remaining portion entered Lake Poinsett from the Lake Albert drainage. Of the annual load of nutrients transported into Lake Poinsett, 33% of the nitrate nitrogen …

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A Clinico-Pathologic Study Of Botulism In Ring-Necked Pheasants, Hazel J. Shave Jan 1971

A Clinico-Pathologic Study Of Botulism In Ring-Necked Pheasants, Hazel J. Shave

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Toxins were produced from 6 strains of Cl. Botulinum, 2 of which killed pheasants. Inoculated birds were observed and a description of the progression of signs of the disease is given. Juvenile pheasants were inoculated with Types A and C toxin intramuscularly and were given the toxin orally. These birds were observed and their clinical signs noted. Adult pheasants were inoculated with toxoid prepared from type C toxin and commercial toxoid; injections were repeated in 21 days. Fourteen days following the final injection, the birds were challenged with toxin. Those protected with toxoid survived, while those receiving saline succumbed. Gross …

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Macroscopic Benthos Populations And Taxonomy Of The Family Chironomidae In Lake Poinsett, South Dakota, Stephen B. Smith Jan 1971

Macroscopic Benthos Populations And Taxonomy Of The Family Chironomidae In Lake Poinsett, South Dakota, Stephen B. Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Benthos samples were collected in Lake Poinsett, a highly eutrophic eastern South Dakota lake, from March 1970 through February 1971. The lake bottom was divided into three substrate types (sand, sand-sapropel mixture and sapropel) and the percent of each substrate type was calculated. Nineteen macroscopic genera were taken from ten sampling stations located throughout the lake. Descriptions are presented for organisms in this group. Diversity of organisms was greatest in the sand substrates, in that all 19 genera were collected. Chironomus spp. (Chironomus plomosus, Chironomus attenuates and six unidentified species) was the most abundant group of organisms and occurred most …

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Movements And Habitat Use By Hen Pheasants During Brood Rearing, Lynn E. Hanson Jan 1971

Movements And Habitat Use By Hen Pheasants During Brood Rearing, Lynn E. Hanson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Land-use patterns characteristic of prime pheasant range in the Great Plains and prairie region have 50-75 percent of the land under cultivation according to Kimball et. al. (1956). Farmland is pheasant habitat, and the production of pheasants is therefore greatly influenced by farming practices. Considerable research has been done on rates of pheasant production, nest success, and cover preferences for nesting. However, little information has been obtained on movements and cover preferences for brood rearing. Most studies of the type of cover utilized by pheasant broods have been based on roadside and random field observations. Kozicky and Hendrickson (1951) carried …

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Interpretive Potential Of South Dakota Wetlands, Douglas C. Harr Jan 1971

Interpretive Potential Of South Dakota Wetlands, Douglas C. Harr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A study was initiated to devise a method for selecting prairie wetlands on which nature interpretation areas could be established. An evaluation form was designed to systematically identify areas of good potential and 64 prairie wetlands were evaluated. Twenty-two percent of the evaluated marshes were found to rank “excellent”: the method of evaluation was determined successful. A survey was initiated to determine visitor preferences for interpretive methods and facilities at an existing wildlife-interpretive trail. Seventy-nine percent of the visitors indicated preference for a self-guiding interpretive trail. Maps and pictures used in conjunction with self-guiding signs were deemed important. Ninety-one percent …

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Food Habits Of Black Crappies, White Crappies, Yellow Perch And White Suckers In A Small Impoundment In Northeastern South Dakota, Dennis Unkenholz Jan 1971

Food Habits Of Black Crappies, White Crappies, Yellow Perch And White Suckers In A Small Impoundment In Northeastern South Dakota, Dennis Unkenholz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Crustaceans, aquatic insects and fish were the most important food items found in stomach samples. Black crappies depended on zooplankton and aquatic insects as their major food source as they occurred in all samples and were major food items in 70 percent and 40 percent respectively. Insects, zooplankton and fish were the major food items of white crappies. Insects were the dominant forage present in 54 percent of the samples while zooplankton and fish were dominant in 36 percent and 21 percent of the samples respectively. Perch relied on crayfish, fish and aquatic insects as their major food source. Aquatic …

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Food Habits Of Deer In The Southern Black Hills As Determined By The Point Technique, Theron E. Schenck Jan 1971

Food Habits Of Deer In The Southern Black Hills As Determined By The Point Technique, Theron E. Schenck

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

White-tailed (Odocoileus virginianus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionius) were collected in 1968 and 1969 for a study of food habits. Rumen contents were analyzed by use of the point-analysis technique and weights. This is the first food habits study from the southern Black Hills and is necessary for proper deer management. To evaluate the suitability of the point technique for Black Hills vegetation, an artificial population was constructed from known weights of a forb, (Achillea lanulosa), grass (Oryzopsis asperfoliz), rose (Rosa sp.), kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa). Each population was tested with 100-point trails and 200-point trials. …

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Effects Of Dieldrin On The Social Interactions Of Penned Pheasants And Chickens, Nancy Hayden Field Jan 1971

Effects Of Dieldrin On The Social Interactions Of Penned Pheasants And Chickens, Nancy Hayden Field

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Studies to determine the effects of dieldrin on social hierarchy of pheasants and chickens were initiated in 1970. Social interactions were observed among groups of pheasant chicks, adult cock and hen pheasants and peck-order development among groups of young pheasants. To determine the effects of dieldrin on the pecking behavior of individual birds, pairs of pheasants and pairs of chickens were placed in a neutral cage. When patterns of dominance and subordination were consistent, dieldrin in capsules (4 mg to pheasants and 6 and 10 mg to chickens twice weekly) was given to one member of each pair and birds …

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A Comparison Of Aspen And Pine Communities In The Northern Black Hills, Jeremiah J. Kranz Jan 1971

A Comparison Of Aspen And Pine Communities In The Northern Black Hills, Jeremiah J. Kranz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Three study areas, each containing an aspen (Populus tremuloides) community, a pine (Pinus ponderosa) community, and a mixed aspen-pine community, were studied during the summers of 1968, 1969, and 1970. Soil chemistry, plant chemistry, overstory density, understory production, and use by whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and cattle (Bos taurus) were determined for each community in each study. Pine and aspen communities of one study area were sampled for soil and plant chemistry. Soil phosphate and potassium levels were higher in the aspen community, while soil nitrates were higher in the pine community. Soil pH was similar to the two communities. …

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Effects Of Aldrin On Young Pen-Reared Pheasants, Joseph Edward Hall Jan 1970

Effects Of Aldrin On Young Pen-Reared Pheasants, Joseph Edward Hall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Three levels of encapsulated aldrin (.05, 1.0, and 1.5 mg) were administered weekly to young pen-reared pheasants from 5 to 11 weeks of age to determine effects on growth and residue levels in brain, feathers, and whole body during and after treatment. During treatment, birds were weighed weekly. After treatment ceased, birds were weighed every other week until 21 weeks of ---. Analysis of residues was by electron capture gas chromatography. Growth of pheasants --- 5 to 21 weeks of age was depressed (P 0.01) by administration of aldrin dosages of 1.0 to 1.5 mg. Aldrin values in the brain …

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Ecology Of The Black-Footed Ferret And The Black-Tailed Prairie Dog, Robert G. Sheets Jan 1970

Ecology Of The Black-Footed Ferret And The Black-Tailed Prairie Dog, Robert G. Sheets

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research involving the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) and black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) was conducted during 1968 and 1969. Eighteen prairie dog burrows were excavated in 1968 and 1969. Burrow systems ranged from 13 to 109 feet long and 3 to 14 feet deep. Fifteen of the burrows exhibited dome-shaped entrances leading to a gradually descending passageway which made an abrupt vertical ascent to a crater-shaped entrance. Nest chambers were found in 6 burrows. Earthen plugs created by prairie dogs in burrows after ferret departure ranged from 9 to 33 feet long. Eighty-two ferret scats were recovered. Animal remains found …

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Pheasant Use And Waterfowl Production On State And Private Lands, Charles R. Elliott Jan 1970

Pheasant Use And Waterfowl Production On State And Private Lands, Charles R. Elliott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) use on state-owned game production areas was compared to that on privately-owned areas in east-central South Dakota. Four 80-acre and four 160-acre tracts of state lands were paired with private areas of the same size having the same amount of wetland and were selected from aerial photographs taken before the purchase of the state-owned areas. None of four nests were successful on private areas in 1968 and three of five nests were successful on game production areas. In 1969 three of 19 nests were successful on private areas and 10 of 21 nests were successful on …

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Feeding Of Black Bullheads Ictalurus Melas (Rafinesque) In Experimental Cages, Kay R. Hill Jan 1970

Feeding Of Black Bullheads Ictalurus Melas (Rafinesque) In Experimental Cages, Kay R. Hill

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Black bullheads, Ictalurus melas (Rafinesque), were grown experimentally from July 25, 1969, through October 21, 1969. The fish, collected from Lake Poinsett, were grown in five cages each with a water volume of 2.6 m³ and five cages each with a volume of 3.86 m³. The larger cages contained nearly 60 percent of the total 323 m³ of water volume in the cages. No significant difference in fish growth between the two cage sizes were observed. Fish in large cages gained 204.4 Kg and were fed 1550.8 Kg of food, for a food conversion of 6.60. Fish in smaller cages …

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A Food Habits Study Of Whitetail Deer In The Black Hills, James Carl Schneeweis Jan 1969

A Food Habits Study Of Whitetail Deer In The Black Hills, James Carl Schneeweis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Food habits of whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the northern Black Hills were studied during fall and winter 1966067 and 1967-68 and also during summer 1967. Summer study was confined to aspen (Populus tremuloides) areas and involved stomach analysis and a pasture study. Fall and winter food habits were determined by stomach analysis only. Associated aspen vegetation was sampled to find a representative site for construction of a 0.7 acre enclosure. Two deer were placed in a utilization section of the enclosure for 18 days during mid-summer. Annual growth was clipped in a control section of the pasture to estimate …

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Food Selectivity Of Bigmouth Buffalo (Ictiobus Cyprinellus, Valenciennes) In Lake Poinsett, South Dakota, Victor J. Starostka Jan 1969

Food Selectivity Of Bigmouth Buffalo (Ictiobus Cyprinellus, Valenciennes) In Lake Poinsett, South Dakota, Victor J. Starostka

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Food habits of bigmouth buffalo fry, subadults, and adults were studied in lake Poinsett, South Dakota, from January to November, 1968. Fifty-six fry fed primarily (75.0% by volume) on benthic organisms. Four hundred fifty-five subadults and adults fed entirely on plankton. Daphnia pulex adults comprised 83.7 to 96.7% of the food items during periods of ice cover (January to April). Daphnia pulex adults and juveniles comprised 68.5% by volume and cyclopoid copepods 29.7%^ of the diet from April to July. Summer (July to October) samples showed ingestion of D. pulex adults and juveniles (36.9%), Anacystis sp. (22.3%), and Daphnia galeata …

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Water Quality Changes Under Ice Cover In Northern Prairie Lakes, Steven P. Gloss Jan 1969

Water Quality Changes Under Ice Cover In Northern Prairie Lakes, Steven P. Gloss

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Water quality changes under ice cover were studied in seven northern prairie lakes. The lakes are high in dissolved materials and exist essentially as closed systems during the winter months. Ice cover ranging from 53 to 86 cm developed on the lakes. Melted ice samples showed small amounts of dissolved impurities present in surface layers of the ice. No substantial concentrations of any ions were found in the ice of lower layers. Specific conductance increased over 40% under ice cover in two of the lakes studied. Increases in other lakes ranged from 19 to 38%. Major ions showed increases similar …

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Evaluation Of The Ovulated Follicle Technique As A Means Of Determining Pheasant Production, C. Denis Allen Jan 1969

Evaluation Of The Ovulated Follicle Technique As A Means Of Determining Pheasant Production, C. Denis Allen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A study of the ovulated follicle technique for determining egg production in pheasants was conducted during 1967 - 1969. Evidence indicated collection of wild hens for follicle counts should be between 5 and 14 weeks after cessation of laying. Questionable follicles encountered should be considered ovulated follicles and included in the counts. Most questionable follicles were believed to originate from ovulated atretic follicles that were harder to identify because of their particular stage of regression. The influence of freezing on atretic follicle counts was studied, and no adverse effects were found. A technique was developed for selectively staining atretic follicles. …

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Summer Movements Of Bigmouth Buffalo In Lake Poinsett, South Dakota, Thomas J. Clifford Jan 1969

Summer Movements Of Bigmouth Buffalo In Lake Poinsett, South Dakota, Thomas J. Clifford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Movements of bigmouth buffalo in Lake Poinsett, South Dakota were studied from 1 June to 31 August, 1968. Bigmouth buffalo were individually marked with Styrofoam floats and tracked visually during daylight hours. Buffalo at a relatively constant, slow rate averaging .346 km/hr (0.05 km/hr to 1.4 km/hr). Two study indicated that bigmouth buffalo in Lake Poinsett had no home range or homing tendency and inhabited all vertical strata. Bigmouth buffalo schools in Lake Poinsett exhibited a free interchange of individuals. An evaluation of large mesh gill nets as a commercial fishery tool indicated that 10.0 cm bar measure gill nets …

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Fish Populations Of Two Small Impoundments In Northeastern South Dakota, William C. Thorn Jan 1969

Fish Populations Of Two Small Impoundments In Northeastern South Dakota, William C. Thorn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Thirteen species and large standing crops of fish were found in Blue Cloud Abbey Pond and Labolt Pond, South Dakota. Adult population was estimated to be 5184 fish in Abbey Pond and 5016 in Labolt Pond. Composition of the populations differed. Black crappies were most numerous in Abbey Pond; white crappies, in Labolt Pond. Total standing crop of adult fish in Abbey Pond (573.1 kg/ha) was slightly greater than in Labolt Pond (550.6 kg/ha). Black crappies in Abbey Pond and white suckers in Labolt Pond were the species with highest standing crops. Growth of fish was more rapid in Labolt …

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Effects Of Aldrin On Young Pheasants Under Semi-Natural Conditions, Ronald Eugene Thill Jan 1969

Effects Of Aldrin On Young Pheasants Under Semi-Natural Conditions, Ronald Eugene Thill

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Effects of aldrin on young pheasants were studied under semi-natural conditions in four one-acre enclosures during the summer of 1968. The center two-thirds of each plot was planted in corn; remaining peripheral cover was maintained in smooth brome and alfalfa. Prior to planting, center portions of two plots were sprayed with 2 pounds of aldrin per acre on Hay 20, while remaining plots served as controls. On June 12, four family units consisting of two broody pheasant hens and two bantam hens with 15 three-day-old chicks each were confined in plots. Hens and broods were given free run 10 days …

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An Evaluation Of The Roadside Technique For Censusing Breeding Waterfowl, Darrel W. Sauder Jan 1969

An Evaluation Of The Roadside Technique For Censusing Breeding Waterfowl, Darrel W. Sauder

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An evaluation of the roadside technique for censusing breeding waterfowl was conducted in east-central South Dakota. On the 54-mile transect used in 1968, number of coutns necessary to be within 20 percent of population mean with specified confidence of 0.90 for blue-winged teal (Anas discors) and gadwall (Anas strepera) was five and three using miles or wetlands. Within same limits counts needed for mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) were at least four for miles and three for wetlands. Shorter transects, used in 1967 required more counts. Transects 21 miles long required up to 10 counts based on miles and 11 based on …

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Aeration Of Stockade Lake, South Dakota, Larry C. Vanray Jan 1969

Aeration Of Stockade Lake, South Dakota, Larry C. Vanray

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Intermittent aeration of Stockade Lake (2,470 acre feet) during the summers of 1967 and 1968 temporarily altered the thermal profile and phytoplankton density. Continual aeration for 48 hours in the deepest portion of this eutrophic lake produced epilmnetic cooling, hypolimnetic warming and apparent reduction of algal populations at three sampling stations in various parts of the lake. Dye, released at the aeration site, was found at all depths throughout the lake after 461/2 hours aeration. Air bubbles, rising from diffuser blocks near the lake bottom, carried cold, hypolimnetic water to the surface at a rate of 4.7 million gallons per …

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Effects Of Dieldrin On Reproduction Of Penned Hen Pheasants In The Second Generation, William Lyman Baxter Jan 1968

Effects Of Dieldrin On Reproduction Of Penned Hen Pheasants In The Second Generation, William Lyman Baxter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Effects of dieldrin on penned hen pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) which were the offspring of hens receiving encapsulated dieldrin the previous year were measured. Hens produced by the previous year's control group received 0, 6, 8, or 12 mg of dieldrin per week for 14 weeks. Hens from treated groups received 0 or 6 mg per week. Effects of dieldrin were evaluated by influences upon reproductive success. Mortality occurred in all groups receiving dieldrin, and appeared to be correlated with a reduction in egg production. Dieldrin lowered egg production by reducing food consumption in the 12 mg group and two groups …

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The Fish Population Of Lake Poinsett, South Dakota, As Indicated By The Catch, James C. Congdon Jan 1968

The Fish Population Of Lake Poinsett, South Dakota, As Indicated By The Catch, James C. Congdon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Gill nets, trap nets, an otter trawl, and a boom-type electric shocker were utilized to obtain samples of the fish population of Lake Poinsett, South Dakota. The species and size composition of the samples differed significantly with time of season, time of day, location on the lake, and type of gear. Decreased activity following spawning was the apparent cause of a midsummer decline in gill net and trap net catches of black bullhead, black crappie, and white crappie. A late summer increase in the catch of yearling black bullheads, crappies, white bass, carp and bigmouth buffalo was attributed to an …

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Snapping Turtle Life History On Lacreek Refuge, South Dakota, Donald Arthur Hammer Jan 1968

Snapping Turtle Life History On Lacreek Refuge, South Dakota, Donald Arthur Hammer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Investigations of the snapping turtle population on Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge in south-central South Dakota were conducted during 1965-67. Turtles captured by trapping, “hooking”, boxing nests and catching nesting females were measured, marked and released. Turtles were marked by toe-clipping, routing, flagging, and tagging. Attaching a metal tag with a “pop-rivet gun” was the most successful marking technique. Molluscs (95 percent frequency) and vegetation (91 percent frequency) were the most important food items of 22 turtles captured on Valentine Refuge in north-central Nebraska. Bird remains were found in 23 percent of the stomachs. Recapture of marked turtles indicated that individual …

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Evaluations Of Techniques For Estimating Fall Age Ratios Of Canada And Snow Geese, Kenneth Frederick Higgins Jan 1968

Evaluations Of Techniques For Estimating Fall Age Ratios Of Canada And Snow Geese, Kenneth Frederick Higgins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Validity of flock counts, average group-size counts, cannot-net catches, and hunter-bag checks for estimating productivity of lesser snow geese (Anser caerulescens caerulescens) and small Canada geese (Branta cnadensis hutchinsii-parvipes complex) was studied at Sand Lake and Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuges during fall, 1965 and 1966. Age-ratios obtained from flock counts vaired with the number of flocks sampled, wind velocity and amount of sky cover. If adequate sampling sites are selected and weather conditions are standardized, age ratio data from flock counts are of value for assessing productivity. Variation in group composition and number contributed to the bias in average group-size …

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Life History And Ecology Of The Black-Footed Ferret In The Wild, Conrad N. Hillman Jan 1968

Life History And Ecology Of The Black-Footed Ferret In The Wild, Conrad N. Hillman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Twenty-one black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) were observed at six different locations in southwest South Dakota between April 1966, and September 1967. All observations were made on black-tailed prairie-dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) towns from 15 to 100 acres in size. Because of the proximity of towns inhabited by ferrets, it was possible that individual animals were observed in more than one location. Three litters of ferrets were studied. Young ferrets were most active during early morning and late evening hours. Ferrets remained as a group until early fall when dispersal evidently occurred. Young ferrets accepted live-tethered and dead prairie dogs, mice, cottontails …

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Food Habits And Energy Utilization Of Badgers, Grant K. Jense Jan 1968

Food Habits And Energy Utilization Of Badgers, Grant K. Jense

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A study was initiated in 1966 to determine food habits and energy utilization of badgers. Digestive tracts were collected in eastern South Dakota from November 1966 to November 1967. A male and a female badger were used for two energy-balance and three digestion trials. Ground squirrels, mice and rabbits were found to be the most important mammal foods eaten. Birds and eggs were only eaten during spring and summer. Toads and grains were important fall foods. Insects were eaten throughout the year but usually only in trace amounts. However, when available, badgers ate large quantities of beetles and ground-nesting bees. …

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A Survey Of Pollution On Selected Streams In The Black Hills Of South Dakota, Thomas J. Jurgens Jan 1968

A Survey Of Pollution On Selected Streams In The Black Hills Of South Dakota, Thomas J. Jurgens

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Seven Streams in the Black Hill of South Dakota were surveyed to determine the influence of suspected sources of pollution on these streams. The sources of pollution included both sewage treatment plant effluents and mining wastes. A comparison of the benthic fauna community below a pollution source to that above it was the primary basis for evaluating the effect of the pollution source on the stream. The results of the benthic fauna samples indicated that the streams surveyed were being polluted. The degree of pollution of each stream was also indicated by these results. Chemical analysis were sued to verify …

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Limnology Of Selected South Dakota Lakes, Artwin E. Schmidt Jan 1968

Limnology Of Selected South Dakota Lakes, Artwin E. Schmidt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Physical, chemical, and biological aspects of 45 lakes in South Dakota were studied from July 1965 to July 1967. Maximum water temperature at the surface reached 28 C. Most of the lakes studied exhibited continuous circulation except when ice covered. Thermocline formation was observed in six of the lakes. Light transmission was influenced by turbidity, and varied greatly within individual lakes and among lakes. Dissolved oxygen concentrations ranged from near saturation to less than the recommended minimum for fish life. All likes studied were basic ranging from a pH of 7.1 to 11.3. Specific conductance of lakes occupying open basins …

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