Abstracts from PROCEEDINGS of the 13Th NORTH AMERICAN CRANE ORKW SHOP

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Abstracts from PROCEEDINGS of the 13Th NORTH AMERICAN CRANE ORKW SHOP University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Proceedings of the North American Crane North American Crane Working Group Workshop 2016 Abstracts from PROCEEDINGS OF THE 13th NORTH AMERICAN CRANE ORKW SHOP Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nacwgproc Part of the Behavior and Ethology Commons, Biodiversity Commons, Ornithology Commons, Population Biology Commons, and the Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the North American Crane Working Group at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Proc. North Am. Crane Workshop 13:2016 ABSTRACTS 111 AGE-SPECIFIC SURVIVAL OF GREATER SANDHILL CRANE COLTS IN NEVADA CHAD AUGUST, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Port Arthur, TX 77640, USA JIM SEDINGER, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada-Reno, Reno, NV 89512, USA CHRIS NICOLAI, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Reno, NV 89502, USA Abstract: We estimated daily survival rates and fledging success and evaluated factors influencing survival of greater sandhill crane (Grus canadensis tabida) chicks (i.e., colts) in northeastern Nevada. We monitored 101 colts during 2009-2010. We found survival was lower on Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge compared to private or state-owned lands. Colts located on the Refuge had essentially no prospect of fledging (1 ± 6% in 2009, <1 ± 3% in 2010), whereas colts located on private and state lands had higher and more variable probability of fledging (25 ± 13% in 2009, 15 ± 9% in 2010). Daily survival rates were lowest early in development and increased with age of colts. We did not detect an effect of weather or habitat use on survival. Our results support previous findings of predation as the primary cause of pre-fledging mortality in cranes. Our findings are inconsistent with sibling competition as a major source of mortality but support extrinsic factors as important determinants of survival. Our results suggest that management of predator populations may influence fledging of cranes in northeast Nevada. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN CRANE WORKSHOP 13:111 Key words: chick survival, fledging success,Grus canadensis, Nevada, sandhill crane. WHOOPING CRANE DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT USE: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE? JANE AUSTIN, U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, ND 58401, USA MATTHEW HAYES, International Crane Foundation, Baraboo, WI 53913; and Department of Animal Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA JEB BARZEN, International Crane Foundation, Baraboo, WI 53913, USA Abstract: Accurate determination of the historic range for a species can be important to the success of the species conservation and reintroduction efforts. The remnant wild population of the endangered whooping crane (Grus americana) historically had a wide distribution but is now limited to a small portion of that range. What can past and present whooping crane distributions tell us about the future? In addition to historic data compiled by R. P. Allen in 1952, we obtained 76 supplementary records and used geographic information systems to re-assess historic distribution and habitats of whooping cranes in their former breeding and wintering ranges. We extended the breeding, summering, and wintering ranges into several new areas. Whooping cranes historically were found in 9 biomes and many ecoregions, extending from the tundra and boreal forests of northwestern Canada to the Gulf Coast and xeric shrublands of interior Mexico. Based on crane life history, landscape, and wetland features of historic locations, we identified 4 features common to breeding and wintering areas: 1) high densities of wetlands or large wetland complexes; 2) shallow, open wetland systems with emergent vegetation; 3) subtle to rolling topography that provides an interspersion of wetland and low meadow or prairie habitats with relatively sparse cover of trees and shrubs; and 4) high productivity due to hydrological pulsing, periodic inflow of nutrients, or periodic disturbances. The new insights from this assessment, combined with site-specific studies of current habitat use by whooping cranes, should better inform future evaluations and selection of reintroduction sites. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN CRANE WORKSHOP 13:111 Key words: distribution, Grus americana, habitat, historic range, whooping crane. 112 ABSTRACTS Proc. North Am. Crane Workshop 13:2016 BEHAVIORAL MOVEMENTS OF ARANSAS-WOOD BUFFALO WHOOPING CRANES: ANOMALIES OR INDICATIONS OF WAYS TO FURTHER ENHANCE SPECIES RECOVERY DAVID BAASCH, Platte River Recovery Implementation Program, Kearney, NE 68849, USA MARK BIDWELL, Canadian Wildlife Service, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 0X4, Canada WADE HARRELL, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Austwell, TX 77950, USA KRIS METZGER, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, NM 87102, USA AARON PEARSE, U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, ND 58401, USA MARY HARNER, The Crane Trust, Wood River, NE 68883, USA Abstract: Aransas-Wood Buffalo whooping cranes (Grus americana) usually summer and nest in and around Wood Buffalo National Park, winter at or near Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, and migrate between these sites during spring and fall each year. Since 2010 the Whooping Crane Tracking Partnership has monitored movements of 57 individual whooping cranes marked with transmitters that collect multiple GPS locations per day. The Whooping Crane Tracking Project and advancements in technology have provided an unprecedented opportunity to study this imperiled species in ways that to date have not been possible. Among other things, we have observed many behavioral movements that are well documented in the literature, but other movements have rarely or never been observed or reported. We have been able to document birds that summered in Saskatchewan, western Alberta, and eastern British Columbia, and even birds that spent weeks hundreds of km north of Wood Buffalo National Park. We have also observed migration paths that were well outside the range of the typical migration corridor and have documented birds wintering over 160 km, inland and along the Gulf Coast, from the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Here we present some behavioral movements observed to date that may provide additional insight into the recovery of the species. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN CRANE WORKSHOP 13:112 Key words: Aransas, Grus americana, movements, tracking, whooping crane, Wood Buffalo. Proc. North Am. Crane Workshop 13:2016 ABSTRACTS 113 INFLUENCES ON NEST SUCCESS IN A REINTRODUCED POPULATION OF WHOOPING CRANES JEB BARZEN, International Crane Foundation, Baraboo, WI 53913, USA SARAH CONVERSE, U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD 20708, USA PETER ADLER, Department of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA ELMER GRAY, Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA ANNE LACY, International Crane Foundation, Baraboo, WI 53913, USA EVA SZYSZKOSKI, International Crane Foundation, Baraboo, WI 53913, USA ANDREW GOSSENS, International Crane Foundation, Baraboo, WI 53913, USA Abstract: Historical nesting areas of extirpated whooping cranes (Grus americana) included wetlands in divergent taiga, tallgrass prairie, and Gulf coast biomes. The wild migratory population breeds in taiga while, since 2001, the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership has worked to reintroduce an Eastern Migratory Population (EMP) in the tallgrass biome. Compared with previous reintroductions, most aspects of the EMP reintroduction have been successful. Adult survival is high, and pairing, foraging, migratory, and copulatory behaviors appear normal. Reproductive rates, however, are unsustainable. Multiple hypotheses including attacks by blood-feeding black flies (Simulium spp.), slow maturation of breeding birds, inappropriate energy-storage patterns, mal-adaptations to wild situations, inappropriate habitat use, and predation all potentially explain low nest success and are not mutually exclusive. Abundance of avian-feeding black fly species was related to nest failure, but the relevant species were found in high numbers only in the Necedah area. In 2012, when black fly populations were suppressed, nest success increased to 45% although only 2 of 9 chicks fledged, further suggesting that multiple biological constraints were involved. In 2013, a second control year in which black fly populations were not suppressed, nest success was again low. Conservation actions include maintaining the core population near Necedah along with other potential actions such as facilitating dispersion to new habitats that have different wetland productivity levels, black fly populations, and predator communities. How birds use the varied landscapes they inhabit can help guide reintroduction efforts as the reintroduced birds respond to varied situations for the first time in more than a century. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN CRANE WORKSHOP 13:113 Key words: black flies, Eastern Migratory Population ,Grus americana, nesting, whooping crane. 114 ABSTRACTS Proc. North Am. Crane Workshop 13:2016 DETERMINING DIET COMPOSITION AND INGESTION RATE OF CRANES THROUGH FIELD MEASUREMENT JEB BARZEN, International
Recommended publications
  • Observations of Pale and Rüppell's Fox from the Afar Desert
    Dinets et al. Pale and Rüppell’s fox in Ethiopia Copyright © 2015 by the IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group. ISSN 1478-2677 Research report Observations of pale and Rüppell’s fox from the Afar Desert, Ethiopia Vladimir Dinets1*, Matthias De Beenhouwer2 and Jon Hall3 1 Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA. Email: [email protected] 2 Biology Department, University of Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31-2435, BE-3001 Heverlee, Belgium. 3 www.mammalwatching.com, 450 West 42nd St., New York, New York 10036, USA. * Correspondence author Keywords: Africa, Canidae, distribution, Vulpes pallida, Vulpes rueppellii. Abstract Multiple sight records of pale and Rüppell’s foxes from northwestern and southern areas of the Afar De- sert in Ethiopia extend the ranges of both species in the region. We report these sightings and discuss their possible implications for the species’ biogeography. Introduction 2013 during a mammalogical expedition. Foxes were found opportu- nistically during travel on foot or by vehicle, as specified below. All coordinates and elevations were determined post hoc from Google The Afar Desert (hereafter Afar), alternatively known as the Afar Tri- Earth. Distances were estimated visually. angle, Danakil Depression, or Danakil Desert, is a large arid area span- ning Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somaliland (Mengisteab 2013). Its fauna remains poorly known, as exemplified by the fact that the first Results possible record of Canis lupus dates back only to 2004 (Tiwari and Sillero-Zubiri 2004; note that the identification in this case is still On 14 May 2007, JH saw a fox in degraded desert near the town of uncertain).
    [Show full text]
  • Predicting the Responses of Native Birds to Transoceanic Invasions by Avian Brood Parasites
    J. Field Ornithol. 86(3):244–251, 2015 DOI: 10.1111/jofo.12111 Predicting the responses of native birds to transoceanic invasions by avian brood parasites Vladimir Dinets,1,5 Peter Samaˇs,2 Rebecca Croston,3,4 Toma´ˇsGrim,2 and Mark E. Hauber3 1Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA 2Department of Zoology and Laboratory of Ornithology, Palacky´ University, Olomouc 77146, Czech Republic 3Department of Psychology, Hunter College and the Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, New York 10065, USA 4Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA Received 19 April 2015; accepted 6 June 2015 ABSTRACT. Three species of brood parasites are increasingly being recorded as transoceanic vagrants in the Northern Hemisphere, including two Cuculus cuckoos from Asia to North America and a Molothrus cowbird from North America to Eurasia. Vagrancy patterns suggest that their establishment on new continents is feasible, possibly as a consequence of recent range increases in response to a warming climate. The impacts of invasive brood parasites are predicted to differ between continents because many host species of cowbirds in North America lack egg rejection defenses against native and presumably also against invasive parasites, whereas many hosts of Eurasian cuckoos frequently reject non-mimetic, and even some mimetic, parasitic eggs from their nests. During the 2014 breeding season, we tested the responses of native egg-rejecter songbirds to model eggs matching in size and color the eggs of two potentially invasive brood parasites. American Robins (Turdus migratorius)areamongthe few rejecters of the eggs of Brown-headed Cowbirds (M.
    [Show full text]
  • Aggregated Occurrence Records of the Invasive Alien Striped Field Mouse (Apodemus Agrarius Pall.) in the Former USSR
    Biodiversity Data Journal 9: e69159 doi: 10.3897/BDJ.9.e69159 Data Paper Aggregated occurrence records of the invasive alien striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius Pall.) in the former USSR Lyudmila A Khlyap‡, Vladimir Dinets §,|, Andrey A Warshavsky‡‡, Fedor A Osipov , Natalia N Dergunova‡, Varos G Petrosyan‡ ‡ A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia § University of Tennessee, Knoxville, United States of America | Kean University, Union, United States of America Corresponding author: Varos G Petrosyan ([email protected]) Academic editor: Alexander E Balakirev Received: 26 May 2021 | Accepted: 17 Jun 2021 | Published: 22 Jun 2021 Citation: Khlyap LA, Dinets V, Warshavsky AA, Osipov FA, Dergunova NN, Petrosyan VG (2021) Aggregated occurrence records of the invasive alien striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius Pall.) in the former USSR. Biodiversity Data Journal 9: e69159. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.9.e69159 Abstract Background Open access to occurrence records of the most dangerous invasive species in a standardised format have important potential applications for ecological research and management, including the assessment of invasion risks, formulation of preventative and management plans in the context of global climate and land use changes in the short and long perspective. The striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius Pallas, 1771) is a common species in the temperate latitudes of the Palaearctic. Due to land use and global climate changes, several waves of expansion of the range of this species have been observed or inferred. By intrusion into new regions, the striped field mouse has become an alien species there. Apodemus agrarius causes significant harm to agriculture and is one of the most important pests of grain crops.
    [Show full text]
  • Proceedings 13 Promo.Pdf
    FRONTISPIECE. Gary Krapu, Research Wildlife Biologist Emeritus, USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, received the L. H. WALKINSHAW CRANE CONSERVATION AWARD in recognition of his career-long work to better understand the needs of sandhill cranes in the Platte River ecosystem; initiate a comprehensive, long-term research program to guide conservation and management of the Mid-continental Population of sandhill cranes; and for collaborative research efforts with biologists of other nations to guide international conservation of cranes. The Award was presented by Jane Austin, President of the North American Crane Working Group, on 17 April 2014. Gary received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Animal Ecology from Iowa State University. He was employed as a Research Wildlife Biologist at Northern Prairie under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Geological Survey from 1968 until his retirement in 2011 and in emeritus status thereafter. While at Northern Prairie, he also conducted studies on waterfowl, including wetland habitat requirements, role of stored nutrients in waterfowl reproduction, brood habitat use and factors influencing duckling survival, waterfowl nutrition, and staging ecology of white-fronted geese. He continues to conduct research on sandhill cranes at Northern Prairie, primarily studying population dynamics of the Mid-continent Population and the geographic distribution and ecology of sandhill cranes breeding in Russia and western Alaska. (Photo by Glenn Olsen) Front cover: Whooping crane family at nest, Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana, April 2016, by Eva Szyszkoski, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Back cover: Scenes from the Thirteenth Workshop in Lafayette, Louisiana, by Barry Hartup, Glenn Olsen, Tommy Michot, Eva Szyszkoski, Richard Urbanek, and Sara Zimorski.
    [Show full text]
  • Digitalcommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Proceedings of the North American Crane North American Crane Working Group Workshop
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Proceedings of the North American Crane North American Crane Working Group Workshop 2016 Frontmatter for PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRTEENTH NORTH AMERICAN CRANE WORKSHOP David A. Aborn Richard Urbanek Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nacwgproc Part of the Behavior and Ethology Commons, Biodiversity Commons, Ornithology Commons, Population Biology Commons, and the Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the North American Crane Working Group at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRTEENTH NORTH AMERICAN CRANE WORKSHOP 14-17 April 2014 Lafayette, Louisiana FRONTISPIECE. Gary Krapu, Research Wildlife Biologist Emeritus, USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, received the L. H. WALKINSHAW CRANE CONSERVATION AWARD in recognition of his career-long work to better understand the needs of sandhill cranes in the Platte River ecosystem; initiate a comprehensive, long-term research program to guide conservation and management of the Mid-continental Population of sandhill cranes; and for collaborative research efforts with biologists of other nations to guide international conservation of cranes. The Award was presented by Jane Austin, President of the North American Crane Working Group, on 17 April 2014. Gary received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Animal Ecology from Iowa State University. He was employed as a Research Wildlife Biologist at Northern Prairie under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • A Reference Guide for Conservation and Development. Mckinleyville, CA
    OVERVIEW OVERVIEW Newell, J. 2004. The Russian Far East: A Reference Guide for Conservation and Development. McKinleyville, CA: Daniel & Daniel. 466 pages 22 THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST OVERVIEW OVERVIEW Newell, J. 2004. The Russian Far East: A Reference Guide for Conservation and Development. McKinleyville, CA: Daniel & Daniel. 466 pages O v e r v i e w 23 OVERVIEW OVERVIEW Newell, J. 2004. The Russian Far East: A Reference Guide for Conservation and Development. McKinleyville, CA: Daniel & Daniel. 466 pages 24 THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST OVERVIEW OVERVIEW Newell, J. 2004. The Russian Far East: A Reference Guide for Conservation and Development. McKinleyville, CA: Daniel & Daniel. 466 pages O v e r v i e w 25 OVERVIEW OVERVIEW Newell, J. 2004. The Russian Far East: A Reference Guide for Conservation and Development. McKinleyville, CA: Daniel & Daniel. 466 pages 26 THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST OVERVIEW OVERVIEW Newell, J. 2004. The Russian Far East: A Reference Guide for Conservation and Development. McKinleyville, CA: Daniel & Daniel. 466 pages O v e r v i e w 27 OVERVIEW OVERVIEW Newell, J. 2004. The Russian Far East: A Reference Guide for Conservation and Development. McKinleyville, CA: Daniel & Daniel. 466 pages 28 THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST OVERVIEW OVERVIEW permafrost becomes swampy, however, organic matter quick- Ecology ly decomposes, releasing trapped methane and CO2 from the plant matter and soil. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas Josh Newell and Vladimir Dinets with a warming effect ten to twenty times higher than that of Researchers and scholars have written extensively on the envi- CO2. Logging, mining, and other industrial activity can also ronmental destruction that occurred under the Soviet Union.
    [Show full text]
  • Bonelliís Eagle Aquila Fasciata Renschi in the Lesser
    FORKTAIL 29 (2013): 100–106 Bonelli’s Eagle Aquila fasciata renschi in the Lesser Sundas, Wallacea: distribution, taxonomic status, likely origins and conservation status COLIN R. TRAINOR, STEPHEN J. S. DEBUS, JERRY OLSEN, JANETTE A. NORMAN & LES CHRISTIDIS Records of Bonelli’s Eagle Aquila fasciata renschi on 18 islands in the Lesser Sundas, from Lombok to the Tanimbar islands, in Indonesia and Timor-Leste are reviewed, and its taxonomic status examined. The species is resident on many islands, known to breed on several of the larger islands and is most abundant on Flores and Timor. It appears to be rare on Lombok and Sumba. There is minimal genetic differentiation between local subspecies A. f. renschi and nominate A. f. fasciata, suggesting only recent geographic isolation and that it should not be afforded species status. The species may have been introduced to the Lesser Sundas by traders or colonists in the past. The species’s biology and ecology are poorly known in Wallacea. It occurs in a wide range of sites from sea level to about 2,000 m, in wooded habitats with a preference for tropical forest. The sparse data on diet show that it feeds on introduced wild junglefowl Gallus sp., but presumably it also feeds on large-bodied frugivorous pigeons, other birds and small mammals. The two reports of nesting were in May and June–July. The frequency of records on Flores and Timor suggests that these populations are currently secure, but may be threatened by hunting, capture and deforestation. A predator of village chickens, it is likely to be targeted by local communities.
    [Show full text]
  • Newell, J. 2004. the Russian Far East: a Reference Guide for Conservation and Development
    Appendix A Major topological features in the RFE Size Maximum Elevation (m Last Seas (000 sq. km) depth (m) Active volcanoes Location above sea level) eruption Beringovo (Bering Sea) 2,315 5,500 Kamchatka Okhotskoe (Sea of Okhotsk) 1,603 3,521 Klyuchevskoi Vostochny Yaponskoe (Sea of Japan) 1,602 3,720 (Eastern) Range 4,800 ongoing Vostochno-Sibirskoe (East Siberian Sea) 913 915 Tolbachik Vostochny Range 3,682 1976 Laptevykh (Laptev Sea) 662 3,385 Ichinsky Sredinny (Central) Range 3,621 unknown Chukotskoe (Chukchi Sea) 595 1,256 Kronotsky Gamchen Ridge 3,528 1923 Koryaksky Vostochny Range 3,456 1957 Length Basin size Shiveluch Vostochny Range 3,283 2001 Rivers and tributaries (km) (000 sq. km) Bezymyanny Vostochny Range 3,085 1998 Zhupanovsky Vostochny Range 2,927 1956 Amur (with Argun) 4,444 1,855 Avacha Vostochny Range 2,750 1991 Lena 4,400 2,490 Mutnovsky Vostochny Range 2,323 1999 Olenyok 2,270 219 Maly (Lesser) Kolyma 1,870 422 Semlyachik Vostochny Range 1,560 1952 Indigirka 1,726 360 Karymsky Vostochny Range 1,486 2001 Anadyr 1,150 191 Vilyui (tributary of Lena) 2,650 454 Kuril Islands Aldan (tributary of Lena) 2,273 729 Alaid Atlasov I. 2,339 2000 Olyokma (tributary of Lena) 1,436 210 Tyatya Kunashir I. 1,819 1973 Zeya (tributary of Amur) 1,242 233 Chikurachki Paramushir I. 1,816 1995 Markha (tributary of Vilyui) 1,181 99 Fussa Paramushir I. 1,772 1984 Omolon (tributary of Kolyma) 1,114 113 Sarychev Matua I. 1,446 1976 Krenitsyn Onekotan I.
    [Show full text]
  • MG Invasive Species
    5/4/20 What are invasive species? • Non-native organisms that cause or are likely to cause harm to ecosystems, commerce or human health when they invade a new Hillebrand Steve, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service environment. Invasive Species Phil Woolery European starling An Equal Access/Equal Opportunity University An Equal Access/Equal Opportunity University Native Species VS. Exotic How did they get here? • Native – Species present in North America before European settlement • Conservation- soil – Can be native to different part of the country, erosion, wildlife but have been moved- black locust habitat • Exotic • Accidental- came – Not present before European settlement with something else – Not all of these are invasive • Ornamental- – Also non-native, alien, or introduced escapes An Equal Access/Equal Opportunity University An Equal Access/Equal Opportunity University Invasion Map What makes them successful • High reproductive capacity • Effective seed dispersal • Competitive advantige • Tolerant of a variety of growing conditions • Allelopathy - chemical warfare • Lack of natural enemies/controls • Disturbance or change in the local ecosystem creating an Source: US Forest Service invadable space An Equal Access/Equal Opportunity University An Equal Access/Equal Opportunity University 1 5/4/20 Why should I care? • Outcompete native species • Kill native plants • Reduce wildlife habitat • Alter ecosystem processes • Increase costs (Source: Southwest Montana Science Partnership’s Module on Plants and Pollinators) • Increase in disease
    [Show full text]
  • Unprovoked Mouth Gaping Behavior in Extant Crocodylia
    Journal of Herpetology, Vol. 54, No. 4, 418–426, 2020 Copyright 2020 Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Unprovoked Mouth Gaping Behavior in Extant Crocodylia 1,2 3 4 NOAH J. CARL, HEATHER A. STEWART, AND JENNY S. PAUL 1Reptile Department, St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, St. Augustine, Florida, 32080, USA 3Department of Biology, McGill University, Montre´al, Que´bec, Canada H3A 1B1 4Greg A. Vital Center for Natural Resources and Conservation, Cleveland State Community College, Cleveland, Tennessee, 37320, USA ABSTRACT.—Unprovoked mouth gaping behavior is ubiquitous throughout 24 extant members of Crocodylia, yet information on gaping Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/journal-of-herpetology/article-pdf/54/4/418/2696499/i0022-1511-54-4-418.pdf by guest on 06 January 2021 is limited. Proposed hypotheses for gaping include thermoregulation and the evaluation of potential environmental conditions. To determine temperature effects, we tracked head surface (Tsh), body surface (Tsb), and ambient (Ta) temperatures with insolation utilization and positions. To evaluate potential environmental stimuli, we tested behavioral effects (i.e., open-eye frequency) and recorded conspecific presence, day and night events, and interaction with flies and fish. We included 24 extant species representatives, with detailed assessments of American Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis), Crocodylus siamensis, Crocodylus intermedius, Crocodylus rhombifer, and Crocodylus halli. Observations occurred during a range of Ta (3.89–32.228C) with mean Tsh consistently higher than both Tsb and Ta across all crocodilians. Differences in Tsh and Ta were most pronounced with head in the sun. However, no significant differences in Tsh and Tsb were detected for A.
    [Show full text]
  • Crane Dances As Play Behaviour
    Ibis (2013), 155, 424–425 Crane dances as play behaviour VLADIMIR DINETS* Louisiana Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, USGS, 124 School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70820, USA All species of crane (Gruidae) engage in a specta- Dancing can also serve as displacement activity cular behaviour known as dancing (Ellis et al. when cranes are nervous, but in most cases it is 1998). Crane dances have inspired humans since not performed in response to readily apparent the Stone Age (Russell & McGowan 2003), and stimuli (Archibald & Meine 1996). It usually imitation dances are known in numerous human occurs when the birds are relaxed and at ease cultures worldwide (Armstrong 1943). However, (Potapov et al. 1987) and is often contagious the function of this behaviour is poorly (Archibald & Meine 1996). At the autumn staging understood, and explanations for it are sometimes grounds of Demoiselle Crane Antropoides virgo in contradictory. Mongolia, thousands of individuals can sometimes Lorenz (1963) considered crane dance to be an be seen dancing at the same time (V. Dinets pers. appeasement ceremony. However, this explanation obs.). cannot be true in many situations in which dances Finally, it is important to note that courtship are performed. Cranes dance most often when rituals of cranes involve prolonged bouts of danc- relaxed, and often while not involved in any ing. In this case, the function of dancing seems to obvious social interaction; they also sometimes be obvious. But this is unlikely to apply to dances dance while alone (Potapov et al. 1987; V. Dinets by immature birds, unpaired adults and migratory/ pers.
    [Show full text]
  • Handbook of Mammals of the World, Vol. 8. – a Brief Review VLADIMIR DINETS
    Handbook of Mammals of the World, Vol. 8. – a brief review VLADIMIR DINETS The volume suffers from the same problems as previous ones: insufficient editorial oversight and pro-splitting bias. Many well-substantiated lumps are mentioned in the text but not followed, while doubtful splits are often implemented too eagerly. There are numerous errors that even the most cursory editing should have fixed, and the text is highly repetitive (in treeshrew chapters, almost every sentence is repeated at least three times). The volume continues HMW’s charming tradition of providing color illustrations of “external appearance” for species known only from skeletal material, such as Somali golden mole (known only from a few bones found in an owl pellet). Changes compared to IUCN list: Armadillos: Dasypus beniensis and D. pastasae are included in D. kappleri as subspecies; D. hybridus (Argentina, Uruguay and S Brazil) split from D. septemcinctus. A recent paper by Feijo et al. found hybridus to be a subspecies of septemcinctus, and both pastasae and beniensis to be full species separate of D. pastasae, but that paper was based on morphometrics while molecular approaches are clearly more desirable for this group. Anteaters: northern and southern tamanduas are listed as separate species despite compelling evidence to the contrary (mentioned in the family chapter but not in species accounts). Cyclopes has been recently split into 7 species: C. dorsalis (Mexico to W Ecuador), C. didactylus (Orinoco basin to NE Brazil, incl. Trinidad), C. ida (N of Amazon River from E Ecuador to Manaus), C. thomasi (S of Amazon River from Peru to Madeira River), C.
    [Show full text]