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Diets of Desert Cottontail on Prairie Dog Colonies in Western South Dakota
Get PDFFecal pellets of desert cottontail (Sylvaligus audubonii) were collected during 1981 in May, June, July, August and September for dietary analysis to determine composition of forage plants. Four plants made up 70 percent of the total diet. Forage plants, in order of significance, were western wheat grass (Pascopyrum smithii), fescue (Festuca spp), squirretail (Sitanion hystrix), and plains muhly (Muhlenbergia cuspidata). The most common forb in diets was scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) and the shrub, plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha). Grasses in the diet ranged from 65 percent to 88 percent while forbs and shrubs ranged from 11 percent to 31 percent, 1 percent to 6 percent, respectively. Botanical composition in the plant community varied throughout the season
Building a Conservation Ethic in the New Outdoor Economy 2019 Annual Meeting
No full textOur Greetings! This conference has always been a highlight of the year for me as a wildlife professional. It’s an opportunity for all of us to get together in one place, catch up, and share what we’ve been learning. Whether we are current professionals, retirees seasoned with wisdom or the future generation of wildlifers, it’s a great time to visit and celebrate one another’s research and accomplishments. We all have something to learn from and help cultivate in each other. I’m honored to be your incoming president and to work with an amazing team to carry on The Wildlife Society tradition by helping put together this conference. I hope you will all enjoy it and ideally, draw a little inspiration from it, too.
Our conference theme this year is “Building a Conservation Ethic in the New Outdoor Economy.” It has been 20 years since we explored recreation as a conference topic. I believe it is more relevant now than ever, with a growing recreation economy in Montana. Most of us are outdoor enthusiasts and were likely drawn to wildlife work because of our love of the outdoors. If you’re like me, you are happiest with the stars as a roof over your heads.
Here’s a little more about the theme: The outdoor recreation industry is growing faster than ever in Montana. More people are flocking to parts of Montana because of our incredible natural beauty and outdoor opportunities. Wild places that may have been a secret a decade ago are more accessible to people than ever from information sharing through social media and new technologies that make it easier to get there and people are recreating in new and diverse ways. As growing pressures on wildlife and habitat continue to build, we need to foster and grow our constituencies. On the one hand we need more people to get outside and care about wildlife and wild places. But are we adequately connecting and helping build a conservation ethic in this growing sector of the public that are already out there? This conference will explore the changing face of recreation as it relates to conservation and the challenges and opportunities therein.
I was drawn to this topic not only because of its impacts on wildlife conservation but also its relevance to our Montana culture and our own outdoor ethics. We have five outstanding plenary speakers and an excellent banquet speaker who will explore this topic. On Tuesday evening after the welcome reception we will have Movie Night and show four films that explore the wildlife/recreation interface.
The Board has worked hard this year to encourage student participation in the conference by providing more grants for student travel for more colleges, continuing to support our MSU and UM student chapters, and running a student artwork contest (see cover!). Overall, we have a great selection of workshops, talks, speakers, awards, raffles, student participation and social opportunities. Welcome to the 57th Annual Conference
A Review on Prophylaxis Treatments for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Infections
No full textChronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow that degrades the immune system of a person. This is due to the uncontrolled white blood cell (lymphocyte) growth. The disruption of lymphocyte growth affects the response to pathogens, leading to a disruption in the immune system. Patients with CLL are prone to infections due to their immunodeficiency. As of 2019, there have been 20, 720 new cases of CLL in the United States and approximately 3,930 deaths. Recent studies have analyzed infection prevention methods to increase survival rates for people with CLL. Intravenous Immunoglobulin Prophylaxis (IVIG) has been demonstrated to elevate levels of immunoglobulins, which are as the first line of defense against pathogens. The IVIG entails extracting antibody proteins from the plasma of a healthy donor and injecting those antibodies into a CLL patient. Another treatment for this infection is the antimicrobial drug Fludarabine Prophylaxis (FAMP). FAMP reduces the growth of lymphocytes in the blood system which allows for the immune system to produce regular amounts of immunoglobulins necessary to prevent infections. This review compares the biochemistry of IVIG and FAMP as treatments for infections in patients with CLL and indicates that IVIG is a more effective treatment than FAM
Legacy Effects of Abandoned Insect Ecosystem Engineering Structures on Montana Stream Hydraulics
No full textHabitat modifications from ecosystem engineering can have profound legacy effects on ecological processes and communities. Our research identifies a hydraulic effect stemming from net-spinning caddisfly (Hydropsychidae) retreat structures that are ubiquitous in Montana stream ecosystems and describes the longevity of this effect over ecologically relevant timescales. We used a laboratory experiment to investigate how caddisfly net and retreat structures built in Montana streams influence fluid dynamics at local spatial scales over a two month time period after simulating abandonment by removing the caddisly larvae, leaving the retreat structure intact. We made velocity measurements with accoustic doppler velocimetery around caddisfly silk structures to test how hydropsychid caddisflies influence flow velocity and if any changes to flow velocity are maintained after the structure is abandoned by its caddisfly. We found that caddisfly silk nets reduce flow downstream of the structure by 85% and upstream of the structure by 17%. We also found that caddisfly silk structures without their caddisfly present can persist for over 60 days, suggesting ecologically significant legacy effects of these biotic structures on near bed hydraulics. The legacy of these local changes to hydrology may provide important refugia for less flow-tolerant benthic macroinvertebrate taxa and especially to those with rapid life histories and high turnover rates. Future work could address variation in the magnitude and duration in biotic engineering effects among different silk-producing species, densities of the structures through space or time, and decay rates of the silk structures at different flows that span those observed in Montana streams
Sin Nombre Virus Prevalence in Peromyscus Maniculatus Captured in Ranch Buildings in Southeastern Montana
No full textSin Nombre Virus (SNV) is a type of Hantavirus that is carried by deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus). When SNV is transmitted to humans it causes a serious, sometimes fatal, illness known as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). Most HPS cases are linked to SNV exposure in peridomestic environments, particularly human dwellings and out-buildings such as garages, sheds, or barns. While many studies have examined SNV prevalence and transmission in natural environments, little work has been done in peridomestic environments. The objectives of my study were to determine the prevalence of SNV in deer mice found in the outbuildings of my family’s ranch south of Hardin, MT. I used Sherman live traps to capture mice in around ranch buildings for 3 nights each month beginning in August 2018 and continuing until February 2019. Captured mice were ear tagged with sequentially numbered metal fingerling tags and a blood samples were collected. Blood samples were tested for antibodies reactive with SNV recombinant nucleocapsid protein by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). During the course of my study I collected 31 blood samples from 25 different mice captured in ranch buildings. The majority of mice I captured were females (64%) and capture were highest in December. None of the mice I captured tested positive for SNV antibodies
Studying Codon Bias and Kidney Dysfunction in a Mouse Model for Familial Dysautonomia
No full textFamilial dysautonomia (FD) is a debilitating disease primarily known for its damage to the peripheral nervous system. However, kidney failure is the most common cause of death in FD patients. FD results from a mutation in the ELP1 gene, which is part of the 6-subunit complex, Elongator. It is known that some genes preferentially use specific synonymous codons, and Elongator is essential for translating genes that are enriched in either AA- or AG-ending synonymous codons. It has been assumed that kidney disease in FD results from irregular blood pressure and compromised innervation of kidney vasculature. However, here we show that ELP1 is robustly expressed in the kidney collecting duct, suggesting that it may play a direct role in kidney function and therefore the dysfunction in FD. To investigate this hypothesis, we made a mouse model where ELP1 is selectively ablated in the kidney collecting duct. Our data indicate an essential role for ELP1 in normal kidney function. These data suggest that compromised ELP1 levels in the kidneys of FD patients may be a contributing factor to chronic kidney disease. Our ongoing work focuses on identifying kidney-specific, codon-biased genes that are misregulated in the absence of Elongator and thus contribute to kidney dysfunction
Detection of Tetracapsuloides Bryosalmonae in the Beaverhead River using Environmental Dna Analysis
No full textTetracapsuloides bryosalmonae is a Myxozoan parasite that causes proliferative kidney disease (PKD) in Salmonid fish. An outbreak of PKD in the Yellowstone River in 2016 resulted in a significant kill of mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni); however, the exact reason for this outbreak remains unclear. Researchers first suspected a recent introduction of the parasite, but the analysis of samples collected from the Yellowstone prior to 2016 revealed that the parasite was present before to this event. This led to the hypothesis that environmental conditions may have exacerbated the effects of infection leading to increased mortality. To obtain more insight into the effects of environmental conditions it would be helpful to compare the spatial and temporal distribution of T. bryosalmonae in the Yellowstone to other rivers where the parasite is known to occur. This comparison should include other freestone rivers with environmental conditions similar to the Yellowstone, as well as tailwaters with different parameters. We thought the Big Hole and Beaverhead rivers might be suitable for this purpose. The parasite was detected in the Big Hole in 2016, but there is no documented occurrence of the parasite in the Beaverhead. Therefore, we collected eDNA samples from five locations on the Beaverhead river in May, August and September and tested them by PCR using primers specific for T. bryosalmonae 18S rDNA. We detected parasite DNA at one of the five locations in two of the three samples collected from that location. To our knowledge, this is the first report of T. bryosalmonae in the Beaverhead River and it indicates that the Beaverhead may be suitable for a long-term study examining the spatial and temporal distribution of T. bryosalmonae. In addition, the positive samples will provide another source of parasite DNA from Montana that can be used in comparative genetic studies
Effectiveness of Teeth Cleaning Treats on Dogs Oral Hygiene
No full textDomestic dogs can transfer bacteria from their mouth to the mouth of a human, the most common being bacteria that cause gingivitis and periodontitis. Even though most humans will not receive any medical consequences from this bacteria, problems may arise if that human has a reduced immune system. The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effectiveness of oral hygiene treats in reducing bacterial growth in domestic dog mouths (Canis lupus familiaris). The saliva samples were taken from dogs at Associated Veterinary Services (AVS), the University of Providence (UP), and the Great Falls Animal Shelter (GFAS), located in Great Falls, Montana. Information such as age, breed, weight, health, food consumption, and oral care for each dog was recorded. There were 30 dogs sampled. A cheek swab was taken from each dog immediately before the canine received an oral hygiene treat and 5 minutes after treat administration. Canine saliva samples were placed on agar plates. Before the samples were placed on the agar plates, each agar plate was divided in half and labeled “before treat” and “after treat”. The samples were then incubated for 7 days in a CO2 incubator set at 37 ºC. After 3, 5, and 7 days, the plates were examined. The preliminary results cannot identify what kinds of bacteria were growing. On day 7, before the treat was given, xÌ = 9.8% growth (SD = 15.705). After the treat was given, xÌ= 10.023% growth (SD = 17.284). The results suggest that there is no difference in the amount of growth between the Before and the After (F = 0.250, P = 0.619, df = 1, 53). The results indicate the oral hygiene treats were ineffective in the short amount of time the treats were given, but further studies are necessar
Evaluating the Accuracy of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Using Hemodynamic Properties
No full textThis comparative survey explores the relationships between the discipline of bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) and hemodynamic blood properties, such as viscosity and hematocrit. In BPA, forensic scientists study the phase change of blood when in contact with air, but little forensic literature connects blood biomechanics, such as hematocrit levels to BPA. Red blood cell count, or hematocrit, in females (37-48% of blood volume) is slightly lower than males (45-52% of blood volume) from menstrual red cell loss, etc. Strong evidence suggests that erythrocytes influence blood viscosity because of their high concentration (4-6 x 10^6 RBC/mm3 or 40-45% of blood volume in healthy individuals). When whole blood is altered by a disorder/disease or alcohol intake, hematocrit levels can be affected as well. With this knowledge, there is reason to believe that blood viscosity changes with individualistic hematocrit levels. Therefore, it is hypothesized that traditional BPA angle of impact tests can produce inaccurate results. Intravenous blood samples were drawn from 9 volunteers (all women, including 8 with blood disorders/alterations and 1 healthy control) at the University of Providence into collection tubes containing ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid as an anticoagulant. Each sample was tested for viscosity using a Canon-Fenske viscometer and for hematocrit levels using an LW Scientific ZipCombo centrifuge. Finally, each sample was used to make several blood stains at varying degrees of impact (10°, 30°, 60°, and 90°). A MANOVA was used to compare viscosity, hematocrit, and angle of impact variables against each other within the 8 participants. This survey connects hemodynamic properties to angle of impact tests in BPA by significantly showing how bloodstains can be inaccurately misinterpreted. By examining blood viscosity among several individuals, this research assesses the accuracy of BPA by comparing experimental and expected bloodstain angles and creating individualistic standards for future forensic methods