FAHY, DANIEL P.; SPIELER, RICHARD E. Activity
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*FAHY, DANIEL P.; SPIELER, RICHARD E. Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center, 8000 North Ocean Drive, Dania Beach, FL 33004, USA Activity patterns, distribution and population structure of the yellow stingray, Urobatis jamaicensis in Southeast Florida. The yellow stingray, Urobatis jamaicensis is a commonly observed elasmobranch in coastal waters of Southeast Florida. Despite their frequent occurrence the ecology of yellow stingrays remains poorly understood. Acoustic tracking and extensive visual point counts were conducted to determine the short-term movements, seasonal distribution and population structure of yellow stingrays in Broward County, Florida. Diel activity patterns displayed intermittent movements throughout the day; however, nocturnal movements exhibited a significant increase in both rates of movement and space utilization. Total daily movements were confined to relatively small areas (mean = 21,403m2 +/- 10,696 SEM) and demonstrated strong site fixity, which implies a possible display of home ranging behavior. However, intermittent tracking across several days indicates that yellow stingrays may not utilize their full range on a daily basis. Landscape topography demonstrated considerable influence on the space utilization of stingrays and movements varied with proximity to the reef edge/sand interface. Yellow stingrays remained permanent residents within the study site with no indication of varying inshore/offshore seasonal distribution. Apparent gender segregation was noted during spring months (March, April, May) with females dominating the inshore region 20F:8M. Average individual size of the population was 333mm total length (TL), with females dominating the larger size classes (>350mm TL). The occurrence of increased numbers of intermediate size classes (250-299mm to 300-349mm TL) on the offshore reef suggests a potential ontogenetic shift to deeper water or range expansion. Field observations of gravid females occurred throughout the year, however, the annual reproductive cycle remains unclear. Reports of a 3-month gestation rate and observed peaks in non-gravid females during the months of February and October suggest two separate ovulatory cycles. Preliminary results from an on-going reproductive study further indicate a biannual cycle with an undetermined number of broods produced per female each year. ______________________________________________________________________________ *FARIA, VICENTE V.; MCDAVITT, MATTHEW T. (VVF) Iowa State University, Dept. of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Ames, IA 50011, USA; (MTM) 3371 Turnberry Circle, Charlottesville, VA 22911, USA Trying again two centuries later: an essay on the various species of sawfish (Chondrichthyes, Pristiformes) The sawfishes, family Pristidae, is comprised of seven nominal species: Anoxypristis cuspidata, Pristis pectinata, P. zijsron, P. clavata, P. perotteti, P. microdon and P. pristis. However, due to considerable taxonomic confusion this number may in fact vary between four and ten. Among the reasons for this taxonomic disarray is that many of the original species descriptions were extremely abbreviated, and in some cases not even based on specimens, or based only on isolated anatomical parts; only two of the six type specimens are available for examination today; poor representation of specimens in collections, which mostly consist of dried rostra or very young specimens; and scarcity of these animals in their natural habitat due to overfishing. In the present study we reviewed sawfish taxonomy based on evidence from (1) morphological (external morphometric and meristic characters) and molecular data (DNA sequence from one mitochondrial gene, NADH-2) of representative specimens, (2) museum records and historical specimens, (3) distributional information derived from archaeological remains and anthropological artifacts and (4) review of the primary literature. Inferences based on our results are discussed in the context of sawfish diversity, geographical distribution and historical taxonomy. ______________________________________________________________________________ *FEINBERG, JEREMY A.; GOODYEAR, STEPHEN E. (JAF) U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Upton Ecological and Research Reserve, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA; (SEG) The University of Texas at Austin, Section of Integrative Biology, Austin, TX 78712, USA Home range and activity patterns of eastern hognose snakes, Heterodon platyrhinos, in the Central Pine Barrens of Long Island, New York The Eastern Hognose Snake, Heterodon platyrhinos, was historically abundant on Long Island, New York. However, pressures associated with habitat loss, fragmentation, and other anthropogenic disturbances incurred catastrophic impacts upon populations over the past several decades. By the end of the twentieth century, most local experts believed the species to be completely extirpated from Long Island. Then, in 2002, five observations of H. platyrhinos were made at the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), a 2,130-ha facility located in the east- central Pine Barrens region of the island. These observations spurred biologists from BNL and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to initiate an extensive program aimed at studying the ecology and habitat use of hognose snakes at BNL while also trying to identify any other remnant island populations via communications with local naturalists and requests to the general public through the local media. To better understand the behavioral ecology of H. platyrhinos we used radio telemetry to track movements of 12 snakes (3 males: 9 females) and mapped all locations using GPS and GIS. From three years of tracking we have obtained data on movement patterns, home range sizes, and habitat usage as well as a number of other ecological attributes. Our results confirm that home ranges of individual hognose snakes are extensive (> 30 ha in some cases) and that movement patterns show trends regarding daily and yearly cycles. Estimates of home range sizes are needed to determine the amount of land and types of landscapes necessary to manage viable populations of H. platyrhinos. As destructive habitat modifications continue, our research can be used as a foundation for protecting H. platyrhinos in Pine Barrens habitats of the northeastern U.S. ______________________________________________________________________________ *FELLERS, GARY M.; KLEEMAN, PATRICK M.; SPARLING, DONALD W.; McCONNELL, LAURA L. (GMF, PMK) Western Ecological Research Center, USGS, Point Reyes National Seashore, Point Reyes, CA 94956, USA; (DWS) Cooperative Wildlife Research Center, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA; (LLM) U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Environmental Quality Laboratory, Building 007, Room 225, BARC-W, Beltsville, MD 20705 USA Role of contaminants in the decline of amphibians in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA Several species of amphibians are experiencing severe population declines in of the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. This is occurring in some of the largest wilderness areas including Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks. Some species are absent from much of their original range. There is strong evidence that prevailing westerly winds transport airborne pesticides from the Central Valley of California into the mountains where they are deposited with rain or snow. We have several lines of observational and experimental evidence that provide evidence that amphibian declines in the Sierra Nevada are caused by pesticides. 1) Some insecticides inhibit cholinesterase activity not only in insects, but in non-target vertebrates as well. Cholinesterase is an enzyme essential for proper nerve function, and depressed cholinesterase activity inhibits the ability to jump, swim, and breathe. We examined Hyla regilla and found that tadpoles from Yosemite and Sequoia had reduced levels of cholinesterase compared to coastal sites. 2) Laboratory experiments using two native frogs, Hyla regilla and Rana boylii, have shown that the pesticides applied in the greatest quantity (kg of active ingredient) in the Central Valley (chlorpyrifos and endosulfan) have significant negative effects on survival, percent survival to metamorphosis, time to metamorphosis, and size at metamorphosis. Endosulfan was more toxic than chlorpyrifos, and R. boylii were more sensitive than Hyla regilla. 3) We have measured levels of contaminants in Hyla regilla adults and tadpoles, as well as in air, snow, sediment, and pond water in the Sierra Nevada, and coastal control sites. Environmental concentrations of chlorpyrifos and endosulfan are similar to those that cause reduced survival in laboratory experiments. Our work demonstrates that environmentally realistic concentrations of commonly used pesticides can have an impact on native amphibians in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. ______________________________________________________________________________ *FERGUSON, GARY W.; GEHRMANN, WILLIAM H.; KARSTEN, KRISTOPHER B.; LANDWER, ALLAN J.; CARMAN, ELLIOTT N.; CHEN, TAI C.; HOLICK, MICHAEL F. (GWF,WHG) Department of Biology, Box 298930, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX 76129, USA; (KBK) Department of Zoology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA; (AJL) Department of Biology, Hardin-Simmins University, Abilene, TX 79698, USA; (ENC) Alan Plummer Associates, Inc, 841 West Mitchell Street, Fort Worth, TX 76013, USA; (TCC, MFH) Vitamin D, Skin and Bone Laboratory,