DOCSLIB.ORG

California Condors in the Pacific Northwest: Integrating History, Molecular Ecology, and Spatial Modeling for Reintroduction Planning

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
California Condors in the Pacific Northwest: Integrating History, Molecular Ecology, and Spatial Modeling for Reintroduction Planning AN ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION OF Jesse D’Elia for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Wildlife Science presented on December 8, 2014. Title: California Condors in the Pacific Northwest: Integrating History, Molecular Ecology, and Spatial Modeling for Reintroduction Planning Abstract approved: ________________________________________________ Susan M. Haig Reintroduction programs are increasingly being used to save animals from extinction and aid in their recovery. The California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus), one of the most endangered birds in the world, is a remarkable example of how reintroduction programs can help rapidly increase a species’ population numbers and range following a population bottleneck. Despite these gains, condors remain a critically endangered species and are absent from the northern half of their historical range. Here I evaluated questions concerning the biological feasibility of reintroducing California Condors to their former range in the Pacific Northwest using a multidisciplinary approach, employing the fields of history, molecular ecology, and spatial modeling. A review of the historical evidence, including the archeological and paleontological record, use of condors in Native American culture, and early historical accounts of explorers and naturalists, suggest that condors were once widely distributed and likely abundant in the Pacific Northwest. It is also likely that they were breeding birds in the region, rather than seasonal migrants. Examination of 526 base pairs from the control region of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) harvested from California Condor museum samples (n = 67) and genetic founders of the captive population (n =14) revealed 18 haplotypes in the historical population, 14 of which have not been reported previously. Only three of these haplotypes survived the genetic bottleneck, indicating > 80% reduction in haplotype richness. This substantial loss of genetic diversity is consistent with the hypothesis that condor populations were relatively abundant at the time of Euro-American contact, but declined rapidly as a result of human causes. I found no spatial sorting of haplotypes in the historical population, which suggests historical gene flow between the Pacific Northwest and southern and central California. Therefore, conservation strategies should consider restoring rangewide metapopulation connectivity when planning future reintroductions. Finally, I developed and tested activity- specific ecological niche models (nesting, roosting, and feeding) to identify areas in the Pacific Northwest that have retained ecological characteristics similar to those where condors have been observed in the last several decades. These models were integrated with information on condor movement ecology and biology to produce predictive maps of reintroduction site suitability across California, Oregon, and Washington. Ecological niche models were consistent with published knowledge of California Condor ecology, had good predictive performance when tested with data withheld from model development, and identified several candidate reintroduction areas. Results suggest that > 70% of the modeled nesting habitat and > 60% of the modeled roosting and foraging habitat in Washington, Oregon, and California is currently unoccupied. Thus, there are large unoccupied regions of the California Condor’s historical range in the Pacific Northwest that still possess relevant ecological features similar to currently occupied habitats, and therefore warrant consideration for future reintroduction efforts. In summary, this study provides foundational information to inform condor reintroductions to the Pacific Northwest. Key findings include: (1) extensive evidence that condors previously occupied the Pacific Northwest, likely in large numbers, prior to Euro-American expansion; (2) the lack of historical population structure, suggestive of historical gene flow between condor populations in the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere in the range; and, (3) identification of several candidate reintroduction areas in the Pacific Northwest that have retained environmental conditions that appear suitable for condor recovery. ©Copyright by Jesse D’Elia December 8, 2014 All Rights Reserved California Condors in the Pacific Northwest: Integrating History, Molecular Ecology, and Spatial Modeling for Reintroduction Planning by Jesse D’Elia A DISSERTATION submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Presented December 8, 2014 Commencement June 2015 Doctor of Philosophy dissertation of Jesse D’Elia presented on December 8, 2014. APPROVED: _________________________________________________ Major Professor, representing Wildlife Science _________________________________________________ Head of the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife _________________________________________________ Dean of the Graduate School I understand that my dissertation will become part of the permanent collection of Oregon State University libraries. My signature below authorizes release of my dissertation to any reader upon request. _________________________________________________ Jesse D’Elia, Author ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The work of conceiving, carrying out, and completing this dissertation was far from a solo endeavor. I am indebted to so many people for offering their time, assistance, data, encouragement, knowledge, and patience as I navigated this odyssey. First, I thank my family for their unmitigated love and support - my grandparents, for their wisdom and for setting an amazing example that I try to live up to every day; and, my parents, Ralph and Barbara D’Elia for their through-and-through love, support, and encouragement — no matter what. Thanks also to my three brothers, Jay, Ryan, and Matt for their always present comradery and advice over the years. To my wife Courtney, no words can express the gratitude for all of the sacrifices you’ve made while I was on this adventure. You have been my rudder in rough seas, my sail in the wind, and my sun on a calm day. And, to my children - who will never fully understand how much of what I do is for you (no matter how many times I tell you). Thank you. I love you. I thank my advisor and mentor Dr. Susan Haig for suggesting I focus my research on California Condors and for providing exceptional encouragement, support, and guidance. Thanks also the other members of my committee—Dr. Matthew Betts, Dr. Clint Epps, Dr. Matthew Johnson, and Dr. Bruce Marcot—who provided excellent feedback on my study plan and earlier drafts of this dissertation and its component parts. This work is vastly improved as a direct result of your contributions. Thanks also to my Graduate Council Representatives to the committee, Dr. Frank Tepley, and Dr. Daniel Luoma. In addition to committee members, there are other individuals that deserve special mention. Thanks to Sanford Wilbur, principal condor researcher from 1970 to 1980, for his role as a key source of information on the historical occurrence records of California Condors in the region, something he has been investigating for decades. Thanks also to Dr. Noel Snyder, principal condor researcher in the 1980s, for suggesting several important corrections and additions to the chapter on the history of California Condors in the Pacific Northwest that made the dissertation more accurate and complete. Jan Hamber, in addition to being one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, was extremely generous with her time and her firsthand knowledge of the history of the condor recovery program and the extensive files she keeps at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History were most helpful and interesting. I also thank Jesse Grantham, California Condor Recovery Coordinator (2004–2012), for stimulating discussions on condor ecology and hosting me on a number of occasions to view condors in the wild and to sift through the official condor recovery files housed at the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Condor Recovery Office in Ventura, California. Many other people deserve recognition for sharing their knowledge of California Condors and guiding me see condors in the wild. For this I thank Joseph Brandt, Joe Burnett, Eddie Feltes, Daniel George, Chris Parish, Scott Scherbinski, Kelly Sorensen, and Mike Tyner. Finally, I must thank all of my coworkers and mangers at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their encouragement and support for this research. I especially thank Ren Lohoefener, Robyn Thorson, Richard Hannan, Theresa Rabot, Paul Henson, Patrick Sousa, John McCamman, Scott McCarthy, Marilet Zablan, and Kit Hershey. Support for this work was provided by the Oregon State University Graduate School’s Laurels Block Grant, the Delson Bridge to the Future Fund, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Geological Survey Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center. CONTRIBUTION OF AUTHORS This study was performed in the laboratory of Dr. Susan M. Haig who provided financial support, advice, and assisted with the organization and development of this dissertation. All laboratory work for Chapter 3 was performed by Tom Mullins and his staff in Dr. Susan Haig’s genetics lab. Dr. Mark Miller, also in Susan Haig’s lab, assisted with statistical analyses for Chapter 3. Dr. Susan Haig, Dr. Matthew Johnson (USDA Plumas National Forest), and Dr. Bruce Marcot (USDA Pacific Northwest Forest Research Station) assisted with study design for Chapter 4. Dr. Johnson also assisted in acquiring spatial data for atmospheric variables. Rich
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Ancient Mitogenomes Shed Light on the Evolutionary History And
    Ancient Mitogenomes Shed Light on the Evolutionary History and Biogeography of Sloths Frédéric Delsuc, Melanie Kuch, Gillian Gibb, Emil Karpinski, Dirk Hackenberger, Paul Szpak, Jorge Martinez, Jim Mead, H. Gregory Mcdonald, Ross Macphee, et al. To cite this version: Frédéric Delsuc, Melanie Kuch, Gillian Gibb, Emil Karpinski, Dirk Hackenberger, et al.. Ancient Mitogenomes Shed Light on the Evolutionary History and Biogeography of Sloths. Current Biology - CB, Elsevier, 2019. hal-02326384 HAL Id: hal-02326384 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02326384 Submitted on 22 Oct 2019 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. 1 Ancient Mitogenomes Shed Light on the Evolutionary 2 History and Biogeography of Sloths 3 Frédéric Delsuc,1,13,*, Melanie Kuch,2 Gillian C. Gibb,1,3, Emil Karpinski,2,4 Dirk 4 Hackenberger,2 Paul Szpak,5 Jorge G. Martínez,6 Jim I. Mead,7,8 H. Gregory 5 McDonald,9 Ross D. E. MacPhee,10 Guillaume Billet,11 Lionel Hautier,1,12 and 6 Hendrik N. Poinar2,* 7 Author list footnotes 8 1Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution de Montpellier
    [Show full text]
  • Short Communications
    SHORT COMMUNICATIONS J. Raptor Res. 53(4):419–430 Ó 2019 The Raptor Research Foundation, Inc. COMMENTARY:DEFINING RAPTORS AND BIRDS OF PREY 1 CHRISTOPHER J. W. MCCLURE, SARAH E. SCHULWITZ, AND DAVID L. ANDERSON The Peregrine Fund, 5668 West Flying Hawk Lane, Boise, ID 83709 USA BRYCE W. ROBINSON Ornithologi, PO Box 6423, Boise, ID 83707 USA ELIZABETH K. MOJICA EDM International, Inc. 4001 Automation Way, Fort Collins, CO 80526 USA JEAN-FRANCOIS THERRIEN Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, 410 Summer Valley Road, Orwigsburg, PA 17961 USA M. DAVID OLEYAR HawkWatch International, 2240 South 900 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84106 USA JEFF JOHNSON University of North Texas, Department of Biological Sciences, 1155 Union Circle #310559, Denton, TX 76203 USA ABSTRACT.—Species considered raptors are subjects of monitoring programs, textbooks, scientific societies, legislation, and multinational agreements. Yet no standard definition for the synonymous terms ‘‘raptor’’ or ‘‘bird of prey’’ exists. Groups, including owls, vultures, corvids, and shrikes are variably considered raptors based on morphological, ecological, and taxonomic criteria, depending on the authors. We review various criteria previously used to define raptors and we present an updated definition that incorporates current understanding of bird phylogeny. For example, hunting live vertebrates has been largely accepted as an ecological trait of raptorial birds, yet not all species considered raptors are raptorial (e.g., Palm-nut Vulture [Gypohierax angolensis]), and not all raptorial birds are considered raptors (e.g., skuas [Stercorariidae]). Acute vision, a hooked bill, and sharp talons are the most commonly used morphological characters for delineating raptors; however, using those characters as criteria may cause confusion because they can be vague and exceptions are sometimes made.
    [Show full text]
  • Amazing Facts the King Vulture Is the Only Surviving Member of the Genus Sarcoramphus
    King Vulture Sarcoramphus papa Bird Scientific Name Sarcoramphus papa Other Names None Range South and Central America from Mexico to northern Argentina Habitat Savannas, tropical forests and grasslands Description A large, white vulture with grayish-black wings and tail feathers, and a pronounced skin flap (caruncle) on the upper beak. The head and neck are bald with the skin color varying in Behavior color including yellow, orange, blue, purple, These birds are diurnal, spending their daytime hours soaring high in and red. the sky on thermals searching for food using keen eyesight. They are Average Size considered resident birds that are non-migratory and maintain a set Height: 20 in. home range. King Vultures are often seen alone or in small family groups Wingspan: 5.5 – 6.5 ft. numbering approximately 15 individuals, and will tolerate other animals and Weight: 6 – 10 lbs. vulture species in the same proximity. Even though they are the dominant vulture at the feeding site and usually the first to arrive, they are not Lifespan territorial with the smaller vultures that feed alongside them. In the wild: Estimated at 25 years The head and neck of the King Vulture lack feathers to help prevent In captivity: Up to 35 years infections and to keep the remains of the carcass from damaging the feathers. After eating, Vultures relax in the sun and allow the heat to bake Diet off the bacteria. In the wild: Carrion In captivity: Rodents, fish and prepared meat Reproduction and Breeding Incubation There is limited information on wild courtship and breeding of this species, 53 – 58 days but because they breed well in captivity, there is reliable data from numerous captive settings.
    [Show full text]
  • Extinction of Harrington's Mountain Goat (Vertebrate Paleontology/Radiocarbon/Grand Canyon) JIM I
    Proc. Nati. Acad. Sci. USA Vol. 83, pp. 836-839, February 1986 Geology Extinction of Harrington's mountain goat (vertebrate paleontology/radiocarbon/Grand Canyon) JIM I. MEAD*, PAUL S. MARTINt, ROBERT C. EULERt, AUSTIN LONGt, A. J. T. JULL§, LAURENCE J. TOOLIN§, DOUGLAS J. DONAHUE§, AND T. W. LINICK§ *Department of Geology, Northern Arizona University, and Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff, AZ 86011; tDepartment of Geosciences and tArizona State Museum and Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721; §National Science Foundation Accelerator Facility for Radioisotope Analysis, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721 Communicated by Edward S. Deevey, Jr., October 7, 1985 ABSTRACT Keratinous horn sheaths of the extinct Har- rington's mountain goat, Oreamnos harringtoni, were recov- ered at or near the surface of dry caves of the Grand Canyon, Arizona. Twenty-three separate specimens from two caves were dated nondestructively by the tandem accelerator mass spectrometer (TAMS). Both the TAMS and the conventional dates indicate that Harrington's mountain goat occupied the Grand Canyon for at least 19,000 years prior to becoming extinct by 11,160 + 125 radiocarbon years before present. The youngest average radiocarbon dates on Shasta ground sloths, Nothrotheriops shastensis, from the region are not significantly younger than those on extinct mountain goats. Rather than sequential extinction with Harrington's mountain goat disap- pearing from the Grand Canyon before the ground sloths, as one might predict in view ofevidence ofclimatic warming at the time, the losses were concurrent. Both extinctions coincide with the regional arrival of Clovis hunters. Certain dry caves of arid America have yielded unusual perishable remains of extinct Pleistocene animals, such as hair, dung, and soft tissue of extinct ground sloths (1) and, recently, ofmammoths (2).
    [Show full text]
  • CALIFORNIA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY, Nos. 32 (1955) To
    REPORTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY No. 75 CHECK LIST AND INDEX TO REPORTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY, Nos. 32 (1955) to 74 (1968); CHECK LIST OF CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE ARCHAE- OLOGICAL RESEARCH FACILITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY, No. 1 (1965) to No. 30 (1976) AND OTHER INFORMATION ON ACTIVITIES OF THE SURVEY AND THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH FACILITY, 1948-1972. Robert F. Heizer ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH FACILITY Department of Anthropology Berkeley 1972 Revised edition, 1976 REPORTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY No. 75 CHECK LIST AND INDEX TO REPORTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY, Nos. 32 (1955) to 74 (1968); CHECK LIST OF CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE ARCHAE- OLOGICAL RESEARCH FACILITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY, No. 1 (1965) to No. 30 (1976) AND OTHER INFORMATION ON ACTIVITIES OF THE SURVEY AND THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH FACILITY, 1948-1972. Robert F. Heizer ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH FACILITY Department of Anthropology Berkeley 1972 Revised edition, 1976 PREFACE We provide here a brief index to Reports No. 32-74 (1955-1968) of the University of California Archaeological Survey, Berkeley (UCAS). This is intended as a continuation of the index of Reports No. 1-30 which was published in UCAS Report No. 31, 1955. To this index is added a check list of Reports No. 1-75 of the UCAS and a check list of Contributions, No. 1-30 of the Archaeological Research Facility of the Department of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley (ARF). Further, a brief history of the University of California Archaeological Survey and its successor, The Archaeological Research Facility, is provided, together with a listing of the manuscripts and maps filed with the Archaeological Research Facility, and a list showing numbers of archaeological sites in the permanent California site file maintained by the ARF.
    [Show full text]
  • Trade in Andean Condor Vulture Gryphus Feathers and Body Parts in the City of Cusco and the Sacred Valley, Cusco Region, Peru Robert S
    Vulture News 61 September 2011 Trade in Andean Condor Vulture gryphus feathers and body parts in the city of Cusco and the Sacred Valley, Cusco region, Peru Robert S. R. Williams1*, Jose Luis Jara1, Daphne Matsufuiji2 and Anahi Plenge2 1Frankfurt Zoological Society and the Andean Condor Working Group – Peru 2Clorinda Matto de Turner 305, Urb. Magisterio, Cusco, Peru *Corresponding author: [email protected] Summary The sale of Andean Condor feathers and body parts is undertaken openly in the tourist markets of Cusco and the Sacred Valley. This trade is illegal but there is no enforcement of existing legislation. We visited the main tourist markets of the region to ascertain the extent of the trade, reasons motivating it and value. We found condor feathers for sale in 26 establishments. Feathers were sold singly, decorated and incorporated in handicrafts. Prices ranged from 5 soles for a small body feather to 160 soles for a main primary and we found handicrafts for sale at prices of up to 650 soles (featuring 6 feathers). We were offered a whole condor for sale at a market in Cusco for 2,500 soles. Investigations revealed that there are condor hunters working to supply this trade in both the Cordillera Vilcabamba and Cordillera Vilcanota and that the town of Calca is the base of much of the handicraft production. The trade is mainly based on three uses: alternative healing, shamanic ceremonies and souvenirs. It is crucial that the Peruvian authorities honour their commitments under international conventions and act immediately to stop this illegal trade, which is further threatening a species that is already in a precarious situation.
    [Show full text]
  • Ostrich Production Systems Part I: a Review
    11111111111,- 1SSN 0254-6019 Ostrich production systems Food and Agriculture Organization of 111160mmi the United Natiorp str. ro ucti s ct1rns Part A review by Dr M.M. ,,hanawany International Consultant Part II Case studies by Dr John Dingle FAO Visiting Scientist Food and , Agriculture Organization of the ' United , Nations Ot,i1 The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. M-21 ISBN 92-5-104300-0 Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without any prior written permission from the copyright holders provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without written permission of the copyright holders. Applications for such permission, with a statement of the purpose and extent of the reproduction, should be addressed to the Director, Information Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Viale dells Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy. C) FAO 1999 Contents PART I - PRODUCTION SYSTEMS INTRODUCTION Chapter 1 ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF THE OSTRICH 5 Classification of the ostrich in the animal kingdom 5 Geographical distribution of ratites 8 Ostrich subspecies 10 The North
    [Show full text]
  • 71St Annual Meeting Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Paris Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada, USA November 2 – 5, 2011 SESSION CONCURRENT SESSION CONCURRENT
    ISSN 1937-2809 online Journal of Supplement to the November 2011 Vertebrate Paleontology Vertebrate Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Society of Vertebrate 71st Annual Meeting Paleontology Society of Vertebrate Las Vegas Paris Nevada, USA Las Vegas, November 2 – 5, 2011 Program and Abstracts Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 71st Annual Meeting Program and Abstracts COMMITTEE MEETING ROOM POSTER SESSION/ CONCURRENT CONCURRENT SESSION EXHIBITS SESSION COMMITTEE MEETING ROOMS AUCTION EVENT REGISTRATION, CONCURRENT MERCHANDISE SESSION LOUNGE, EDUCATION & OUTREACH SPEAKER READY COMMITTEE MEETING POSTER SESSION ROOM ROOM SOCIETY OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS SEVENTY-FIRST ANNUAL MEETING PARIS LAS VEGAS HOTEL LAS VEGAS, NV, USA NOVEMBER 2–5, 2011 HOST COMMITTEE Stephen Rowland, Co-Chair; Aubrey Bonde, Co-Chair; Joshua Bonde; David Elliott; Lee Hall; Jerry Harris; Andrew Milner; Eric Roberts EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Philip Currie, President; Blaire Van Valkenburgh, Past President; Catherine Forster, Vice President; Christopher Bell, Secretary; Ted Vlamis, Treasurer; Julia Clarke, Member at Large; Kristina Curry Rogers, Member at Large; Lars Werdelin, Member at Large SYMPOSIUM CONVENORS Roger B.J. Benson, Richard J. Butler, Nadia B. Fröbisch, Hans C.E. Larsson, Mark A. Loewen, Philip D. Mannion, Jim I. Mead, Eric M. Roberts, Scott D. Sampson, Eric D. Scott, Kathleen Springer PROGRAM COMMITTEE Jonathan Bloch, Co-Chair; Anjali Goswami, Co-Chair; Jason Anderson; Paul Barrett; Brian Beatty; Kerin Claeson; Kristina Curry Rogers; Ted Daeschler; David Evans; David Fox; Nadia B. Fröbisch; Christian Kammerer; Johannes Müller; Emily Rayfield; William Sanders; Bruce Shockey; Mary Silcox; Michelle Stocker; Rebecca Terry November 2011—PROGRAM AND ABSTRACTS 1 Members and Friends of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, The Host Committee cordially welcomes you to the 71st Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology in Las Vegas.
    [Show full text]
  • Discover California State Parks in the Monterey Area
    Crashing waves, redwoods and historic sites Discover California State Parks in the Monterey Area Some of the most beautiful sights in California can be found in Monterey area California State Parks. Rocky cliffs, crashing waves, redwood trees, and historic sites are within an easy drive of each other. "When you look at the diversity of state parks within the Monterey District area, you begin to realize that there is something for everyone - recreational activities, scenic beauty, natural and cultural history sites, and educational programs,” said Dave Schaechtele, State Parks Monterey District Public Information Officer. “There are great places to have fun with families and friends, and peaceful and inspirational settings that are sure to bring out the poet, writer, photographer, or artist in you. Some people return to their favorite state parks, year-after-year, while others venture out and discover some new and wonderful places that are then added to their 'favorites' list." State Parks in the area include: Limekiln State Park, 54 miles south of Carmel off Highway One and two miles south of the town of Lucia, features vistas of the Big Sur coast, redwoods, and the remains of historic limekilns. The Rockland Lime and Lumber Company built these rock and steel furnaces in 1887 to cook the limestone mined from the canyon walls. The 711-acre park allows visitors an opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere of Big Sur’s southern coast. The park has the only safe access to the shoreline along this section of cast. For reservations at the park’s 36 campsites, call ReserveAmerica at (800) 444- PARK (7275).
    [Show full text]
  • The Andean Condor: a Field Study ______
    _____________________________________ THE ANDEAN CONDOR: A FIELD STUDY _____________________________________ By: Jerry McGahan Box 71 Arlee, MT 59821 (406) 726-3480 [email protected] JerryMcGahan.com With photographs, field, and clerical assistance by: Libby Sale Dedicated to the Memory of Carlos Lehmann V Maria Koepcke Enrique Avila William Millie i Table of Contents PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDMENTS……………………………………………………… 1 1 THE STUDY .............................................................................................................................. 6 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 6 STUDY AREAS .............................................................................................................. 15 Colombia .............................................................................................................. 15 Cerro Illescas ....................................................................................................... 18 Paracas ................................................................................................................ 20 THE SUBJECT ................................................................................................................ 21 Taxonomy ............................................................................................................. 21 Description ........................................................................................................... 22
    [Show full text]
  • Olfactory Sensitivity of the Turkey Vulture (Cathartes Aura) to Three Carrion-Associated Odorants
    OLFACTORY SENSITIVITY OF THE TURKEY VULTURE (CATHARTES AURA) TO THREE CARRION-ASSOCIATED ODORANTS STEVEN A. SMITH • AND RICHARD A. PASELK Departmentsof BiologicalSciences and Chemistry, Humboldt State University, Arcata,California 95523 USA ABSTRACT.--TheTurkey Vulture (Cathartesaura) is generally thought to rely on olfactory cuesto locate carrion. Becausevertically rising odorantsare dispersedrapidly by wind tur- bulence, we predict that Turkey Vultures should be highly sensitive to these chemicalsto detect them at foraging altitudes. Olfactory thresholdsto three by-productsof animal decomposition(1 x 10-6 M for buta- noic acid and ethanethiol, and 1 x 10-5 M for trimethylamine) were determined from heart- rate responses.These relatively high thresholds indicate that these odorantsare probably not cuesfor foraging Turkey Vultures. Odorant thresholds,food habits of Turkey Vultures, and the theoretical properties of odorant dispersion cast some doubt on the general impor- tanceof olfaction in food locationby this species.Received 23 September1985, accepted 3 March 1986. THEsensory modality by which Turkey Vul- Companydiscovered that natural gas leaks could tures (Cathartes aura) locate carrion has been be tracedby injectingethanethiol into gaslines debatedby naturalistsfor nearly 140 years(see and patrolling the lines for Turkey Vultures Stager1964 for review). Most of the controver- that, ostensibly,were attractedto the metcap- sy concernedwhether olfaction or vision was tan (Stager 1964). Stager (1964: 56) concluded the more important sense,although other the- from anatomical examinations and field tests ories included an "occult" sense (Beck 1920), that the Turkey Vulture "possessesand utilizes the noiseof carrion-eatingrodents, or the noise a well developedolfactory food locatingmech- of carrion-eatinginsects (Taber 1928, Darling- anism." ton 1930) as attractingTurkey Vultures to their If Turkey Vulturesrely on olfactorycues to prey.
    [Show full text]
  • References and Appendices
    References Ainley, D.G., S.G. Allen, and L.B. Spear. 1995. Off- Arnold, R.A. 1983. Ecological studies on six endan- shore occurrence patterns of marbled murrelets gered butterflies (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae): in central California. In: C.J. Ralph, G.L. Hunt island biogeography, patch dynamics, and the Jr., M.G. Raphael, and J.F. Piatt, technical edi- design of habitat preserves. University of Cali- tors. Ecology and Conservation of the Marbled fornia Publications in Entomology 99: 1–161. Murrelet. USDA Forest Service, General Techni- Atwood, J.L. 1993. California gnatcatchers and coastal cal Report PSW-152; 361–369. sage scrub: the biological basis for endangered Allen, C.R., R.S. Lutz, S. Demairais. 1995. Red im- species listing. In: J.E. Keeley, editor. Interface ported fire ant impacts on Northern Bobwhite between ecology and land development in Cali- populations. Ecological Applications 5: 632-638. fornia. Southern California Academy of Sciences, Allen, E.B., P.E. Padgett, A. Bytnerowicz, and R.A. Los Angeles; 149–169. Minnich. 1999. Nitrogen deposition effects on Atwood, J.L., P. Bloom, D. Murphy, R. Fisher, T. Scott, coastal sage vegetation of southern California. In T. Smith, R. Wills, P. Zedler. 1996. Principles of A. Bytnerowicz, M.J. Arbaugh, and S. Schilling, reserve design and species conservation for the tech. coords. Proceedings of the international sym- southern Orange County NCCP (Draft of Oc- posium on air pollution and climate change effects tober 21, 1996). Unpublished manuscript. on forest ecosystems, February 5–9, 1996, River- Austin, M. 1903. The Land of Little Rain. University side, CA.
    [Show full text]