Biodiversity Commons^™

Isotopes From Fecal Material Provides Evidence Of Recent Diet Of Prairie Deer Mice, John W. Doudna, Brent J. Danielson

The Prairie Naturalist

Prairie deer mice are important predators in many agricultural systems, and through their diet they can help to regulate pest insect and weed populations. Our objective was to test whether fecal material is an effective means of detailing the foraging ecology of small mammals. We conducted three studies to evaluate the efficacy of this technique: 1) field-collected fecal material from unknown deer mice from late winter to early spring, 2) fecal material collected in an enclosure with mice fed a mix of C3 and C4 plant seeds, and 3) fecal material from tagged female mice in the field. We detected …

Book Review: Better Birding: Tips, Tools, And Concepts For The Field. George L. Armistead And Brian L. Sullivan., Stephen J. Dinsmore

The Prairie Naturalist

George Armistead and Brian Sullivan have written a book whose aim is to provide birders with a solid foundation upon which to develop better birding skills. They advocate a more holistic approach to bird identification than simply looking at a set of predetermined field marks. To that end, their approach combines traditional field identification approaches with behavioral and habitat cues, as well as natural history, to broaden bird identification skills. This is not the first book to make a case for looking at bird identification more broadly, although their specific approach seems unique. The authors offer constructive criticism of “traditional” …

Mink Predation Of Brown Trout In A Black Hills Stream, Jake Davis, Jerry W. Wilhite, Steven R. Chipps

The Prairie Naturalist

In the early 2000’s, declines in the brown trout (Salmo trutta) fishery in Rapid Creek, South Dakota, caused concern for anglers and fisheries managers. We conducted a radio telemetry study in 2010 and 2011 to identify predation mortality associated with mink, using hatchery-reared (2010) or wild (2011) brown trout. Estimated predation rates by mink (Mustela vison) on radio-tagged brown trout were 30% for hatchery fish and 32% for wild fish. Size frequency analysis revealed that the size distribution of brown trout lost to predation was similar to that of other, radio-tagged brown trout. In both years, a higher proportion of …

Fixed Versus Random Sampling Designs In Small South Dakota Glacial Lakes, Bradley J. Smith, Nathan S. Kruger, Nicholas S. Voss, Brian G. Blackwell

The Prairie Naturalist

Choice of sampling design is fundamental when planning surveys to monitor fisheries resources. However, little is known about the impact that different sampling designs may have on commonly collected fish population metrics used to index relative abundance, size structure, and diversity in small (<200 ha) glacial lakes. To address this issue, we sampled three small glacial lakes in eastern South Dakota with modified fyke nets and gill nets at fixed sites used by South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks and a complement of nets at randomized sites. Catch per unit effort (CPUE), proportional size distribution (PSD), and PSD-preferred (PSD-P) were compared between fixed and random designs for each species and gear by lake while Bray-Curtis distances were calculated between sample designs for each gear type in each lake. Precision of CPUE estimates for routinely indexed species were calculated for both gears used by each sampling design. No consistent bias in calculated population metrics was detected between sampling designs for any species collected with either gear type in the three lakes. Sampling precision of CPUE estimates were low for both gears and study designs; though randomized sites tended to yield lower precision. Power analyses indicated that current levels of sampling effort are insufficient to detect differences in CPUE or PSD/PSD-P between fixed and random sampling designs. In addition to being small, study lakes had relatively homogenous habitat allowing for effective sampling resulting in similar values of CPUE and PSD/PSD-P for both fixed and random study designs, and high assemblage overlap. We conclude that fixed sampling sites provide adequate representation of fish communities in small glacial lakes and are sufficient for monitoring temporal changes in these small, but numerous, systems.

Assessing Genetic Variation Of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep At Elk Mountain, Brynn L. Parr, Rebeca L. Juarez, Jonathan A. Jenks

The Prairie Naturalist

The bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis) herd occupying the Elk Mountain Region of South Dakota and Wyoming was established in 2001 with 20 individuals. An additional 7 ewes were released in 2004. The population increased to approximately 120 individuals in 2009, but subsequently declined to an estimated 80 individuals. Because of the low population size used to establish the herd and relative isolation of the Elk Mountain Region, potential factors associated with the population decline included reduced genetic diversity. Our objectives were to: 1) assess genetic diversity, 2) measure effective population size (Ne), and 3) compare the genetic diversity of …

Keys To Lichens Of North America, Revised And Expand- Ed. Irwin M. Brodo (Photographs By Sylvia Duran Sharnoff And Stephen Sharnoff; Drawings By Susan Laurie-Bourque)., Caleb A. Morse

The Prairie Naturalist

It would be hard to overestimate the importance of the 2001 publication of Lichens of North America (hereafter LNA) by Irwin Brodo, Silvia Duran Sharnoff, and Stephen Sharnoff (Brodo et al. 2001). Beautifully illustrated, LNA included both an excellent overview to lichenology—including such diverse topics as chemistry, ecology, ethnolichenology, and specimen preparation—and descriptions of more than 800 of the common and charismatic lichens of North Ameri- ca. It is the rare book that provides a good introduction to the discipline, while serving as an essential tool for lichenologists. LNA is frequently cited in journals as an authoritative source on spot …

Varmints And Victims: Predator Control In The Ameri- Can West. Frank Van Nuys., Phil Mastrangelo

The Prairie Naturalist

Having recently retired after 30+ years working in the field of human-wildlife conflicts, including predator conflicts with livestock, I looked forward to reading Varmints and Victims: Predator Control in the American West by Frank Van Nuys. As a wildlife biologist with an interest in the history of wildlife management in North America, I was further intrigued by the subject matter selected by Van Nuys.

In the book’s introduction, Van Nuys explains how the issue of mountain lion (Puma concolor) management in his home state of South Dakota sparked his interest in further exploring the history of predators and their management …

Notes: Comparisons Of Catch Between Two Bait Types With An Emphasis On Pallid Stur- Geon, Thad W. Huenemann, Kirk D. Steffensen

The Prairie Naturalist

Trotline sampling has been a common practice used by commercial and recreational anglers to target specific fish species (e.g. Ictaluridae and Acipenseridae), while biologists have used them as a management tool to monitor and evaluate fish populations (Graham 1997, Vokoun and Rabeni 1999, Arterburn and Berry 2002, Steffensen et al. 2011). Different trotline configurations have been evaluated to determine which combination of hook type and bait produces higher catch rates for catfish species (Johnson 1987, Arterburn and Berry 2002) but this information is lacking for sturgeon species. For example, Arterburn and Berry (2002) concluded that channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were …

Effect Of Different Plant Extracts On Termite Species (Heterotermis Indicola), Nazeer Ahmed, Zelle Huma, Misbah Ul Haq, Saif -Ur- Rehman, Misbah Ullah, Saeed Ahmed

Journal of Bioresource Management

This study was carried out to find the effect of some commonly present plant products on termite species (Heterotermis indicola) which are a major threat worldwide. Three different concentrations (20%, 10%, 5%) of various solutions consisting of garlic, Neem and tobacco was used in hot and cold water. Hot and cold water results showed that a high concentration treatment of the garlic (20%) solution caused 100% mortality after 48 hours, but in the case of the tobacco concentration (20%) of the solution in only cold water resulted in 100% mortality. As the concentration become lower, the efficiency becomes …

Ethnoecological Studies Of Herbs And Shrubs Of Miani Sahib Graveyard, Lahore City, Punjab, Pakistan, Anis Ali Shah, Zaheer -Ud-Din Khan, Musarrat Ramzan, Rabia Saba

Journal of Bioresource Management

This survey was carried out to prepare a plant inventory for the exploration of the ethnobotanical importance of the plants in the Miani Sahib Graveyard and to understand the effectiveness of graveyards in conserving plant diversity. Plants were collected in different seasons of the year and were dried, pressed, mounted and identified with the help of Flora of Pakistan. Our ethnobotanical study was carried out by interviewing the herbal drug dealers, timber dealers, fuel wood sellers, and the local elderly people residing in the adjacent areas of Miani Sahib and hakims through a questionnaire. Cyperaceae was noticed as the dominant …

Management Of Sclerotium Rolfssi Through Methanolic Leaf Extract Of Alstonia Scholaris (L.) R. Br. And Azadirachta Indica L., Beenish Zia Butt, Nighat Sana, Saba Butt

Journal of Bioresource Management

Sclerotium rolfsii is a polyphagous soil borne fungus infecting more than 500 plant species across the world that is causing vast losses. Although the fungus is soil and seed borne, soil borne inoculum is most vital in infection-causing and syndrome development. Treating soil borne pathogens with fungicides is not reasonable due to very high costs. Environmental hazards are also involved. Therefore, integrated management of pathogens using biological controlling agents is the paramount alternative. Extracts of higher plants have demonstrated a wide range of activity against plant pathogenic organisms. The present research work was carried out to manage the pathogen and …

Effect Of Canopy Cover Of Capparis Decidua Forsk. On Soil Conditions In Thal Desert, Ghulam Yasin, Muhammad Farrakh Nawaz, Faiz Rasool, Muhammad Talha Bin Yousuf, Muhammad Qaisar Nazir, Atif Javed

Journal of Bioresource Management

Desert shrubs have a deep root system which allows them to explore the soil minerals and moisture from deeper horizons of soil and strongly support the local dwellers’ livelihoods. Capparis decidua (Forsk.) Edgew, generally known as karir, a xerophytic, densely branched shrub, is widely found in arid and semi-arid areas of Pakistan. The present study was conducted at four different sites in the Thal desert to determine the canopy effect of C. decidua on soil nutrients. Soil nutrients under the plant canopy (UC), at a distance of 150 cm away from the canopy (D150) and 300 cm away from the …

Microwave Assisted Extraction Of Phenolics From Trachyspermum Ammi (L.) Sprague, Sumera Javad, Maimoona Mubarik, Arusa Aftab, Amina Tariq

Journal of Bioresource Management

Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the family Apiaceae and is mostly administered for stomach disorders. During the present research work, cold maceration and Microwave Assisted Extraction (MAE) of T. ammi Sprague was done by using methanol, dichloromethane and n-hexane separately as extracting solvents. For cold maceration, 2, 4, 6, 18 and 24 hours of time durations were used for each solvent. Maximum extract (50mg/g) was obtained at 18 hours of cold maceration with methanol, while maximum phenolics were also obtained from the same extract, which were calculated to be 170.89μg/g equivalent of Gallic acid. …

Evaluation Of Diver® Concentration Against Cotton Mealybug, Phenacoccus Solenopsis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) And Its Parasitoid, Aenasius Bambawalei (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) In Laboratory, Muhammad Arfat Ashraf, Saif -Ur- Rehman, Nazeer Ahmed, Muhammad Salman Hameed, Saeed Ahmed, Zelle Huma

Journal of Bioresource Management

Bio-assay of Diver® for mealy-bug and its parasitoid, A. bambawalei, was carried out during 2010-2011 in the IPM Laboratory, Department of Agri. Entomology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. All the concentrations of Diver®, which were applied in laboratory conditions, were effective against mealy-bug. Diver® is the best mineral oil to control mealy-bug when compared to other synthetic pesticides. On the numerical basis of data, which were recorded on mortality basis, the highest concentration of Diver® was most effective against mealy-bug, followed by the other concentrations. All the concentrations of Diver® on the parasitoid of mealy-bug swerve less and their effects …

Impact Of Pre-Emergence Herbicides For The Control Of Weeds In Chick Pea (Cicer Arietinum L.) Under Hot Arid Climate, Ghulam Abbas, Aziz Ahmed, Marghub Amer, Zafar Abbas, Mudassir -Ur- Rehman, Aamir Hussain, Ghulam Abbas Khan

Journal of Bioresource Management

The experiments were conducted at Adaptive Research Farm Karor Lal Eason and farmers’ field, i.e. Mouza Nawan Kot, Tehsil Choubara during Rabi 2014-15. The purpose of the experiment was to evaluate the effect of different herbicides for the control of weeds on chick pea.Two pre-emergence herbicides with two different doses, viz. Pendimethalin330 EC @ 2500 ml ha-1 before sowing, Pendimethalin330 EC @ 3750 ml ha-1before sowing, Top Max 90% EC. (Metachlor 83% + Pendimethalin13%) @ 2250 ml ha-1 before sowing and TopMax 96% (Metachlor83% + 13%)@ 3350 ml ha-1, were tested. An untreated plot was also included in the experiment. …

Green Roofs And Urban Biodiversity: Their Role As Invertebrate Habitat And The Effect Of Design On Beetle Community, Sydney Marie Gonsalves

Dissertations and Theses

With over half the world's population now living in cities, urban areas represent one of earth's few ecosystems that are increasing in extent, and are sites of altered biogeochemical cycles, habitat fragmentation, and changes in biodiversity. However, urban green spaces, including green roofs, can also provide important pools of biodiversity and contribute to regional gamma diversity, while novel species assemblages can enhance some ecosystem services. Green roofs may also mitigate species loss in urban areas and have been shown to support a surprising diversity of invertebrates, including rare and endangered species. In the first part of this study I reviewed …

Neotype Designation For Scorpiops Pachmarhicus Bastawade, 1992 (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae), With Redescription And Notes On The Species, Zeeshan A. Mirza, Gaurang Gowande

Euscorpius

Scorpiops pachmarhicus Bastawade, 1992 was described based on specimens collected from Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh. An expedition to the type locality led to discovery of a population at the type locality which permit us to designate a neotype for the species as types of the species are presently not traceable.

Characterization Of The Marine Sponge Amphimedon Compressa Microbiome Across A Spatial Gradient, Renee Michelle Potens

HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations

Diverse and ecologically important microbial communities (microbiomes) are symbiotic within marine sponges. In this study, the microbiome of Amphimedon compressa from three sample locations (Broward and Dade Counties, Southeast Florida, USA and the Southern Caribbean, Bocas del Toro, Panama) is characterized using 16S rRNA Illumina sequencing. The predominant taxa are Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria, as expected for Low Microbial Abundance sponges, accounting for over 53% of the total microbiome community. The numbers of Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) decrease from Broward County (2,900) to Dade County (2,300) and then Bocas del Toro (1,200). The correlates to a decreasing north-south gradient of …

Preserving Biodiversity For A Climate Change Future: A Resilience Assessment Of Three Bay Area Species--Adenostoma Fasciculatum (Chamise), Arctostaphylos Canescens (Hoary Manzanita), And Arctostaphylos Virgata (Marin Manzanita), Alison S. Pollack

Master's Projects and Capstones

Anthropogenic climate change is an undeniable threat to the future of the natural world and human civilization. These shifts will have profound impacts on vegetation, especially for species endemic to isolated regions or sensitive to climate change factors. However, species resilience can predict success into the next century. Resilience is defined as the ability to withstand climate change factors, whereas vulnerability is defined as susceptibility to climate induced stress or damage.

Chaparral and coastal scrub ecosystems within the Bay Area of California provide a unique context for examining resilience, as many species are adapted to high temperatures, drought, and wildfire—all …

The Mexican Water Forest: Benefits Of Using Remote Sensing Techniques To Assess Changes In Land Use And Land Cover, Maria F. Lopez Ornelas

Master's Projects and Capstones

In the past 30 years, anthropogenic activities like urbanization, agriculture, road fragmentation and deforestation have resulted in changes in the land use and land cover (LULC) in the Mexican Water Forest. Due to the important ecosystem services, and the natural resources this forest provides, in Mexico, it has become increasingly necessary to use new technologies and tools to support the planning, implementation and integration of forest management and conservation plans, as well as ecological and socioeconomic analysis of this ecosystem. Remote Sensing techniques and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have been a true technological and methodological revolution in the acquisition, management …