1,721,044 research outputs found
Bananaquit Data
No full textDescription for associated program R input file for analysis of age and sex specific recapture probability and survival of Bananaquits (Coereba flaveola) in relation to annual weather conditions on Guana Island, British Virgin Islands, Octobers 2003 - 2012.
Each section of input file has data for individual birds. Sections are denoted with /* nine digit number */ which is the band number of an individual bird.
Following each band number is: capture history, then 2 groups (AHY Males, AHY Females; unknown sex individuals not assigned sex by model were removed)
This is followed by 2 individual covariates: wing chord in mm & mass in g.
This is followed by 8 time covariates (10 years of each in order): net-hrs, SPEI in 1, 2, 6, and 12 month intervals, plus the Dec-Feb, March, and April-June SPEI
Survey Locations for Mexican Spotted Owl
No full textLocation data where Audio Recording Units were located to passively sample for Mexican spotted owls in the Trans Pecos region of Texas
Wood Frog and Boreal Chorus Frog Distribution and Habitat Associations in Wapusk National Park, Cape Churchill, Manitoba: 2005 Summary Report
No full textConcern about amphibian populations at a global scale has resulted in recent efforts to establish monitoring programs for amphibians in North America (e.g., North American Amphibian Monitoring Program; Weir and Mossman 2004) and elsewhere, although these monitoring efforts have not been extended to subarctic regions. Distribution, abundance, population dynamics, and habitat relationships of anurans that inhabit subarctic regions are poorly understood, and anuran monitoring protocols developed for temperate regions may not be useful across large roadless areas of northern landscapes. Arctic and sub-arctic regions of North America are also areas predicted to experience changes in climate, and in some areas, have experienced habitat alteration due to high rates of herbivory by breeding and migrating waterfowl, especially snow geese (Chen caerulescens). Environmental and habitat changes may influence the distribution and abundance of anurans that inhabit arctic and subarctic regions (Wassersug 1992, Crump et al. 1999)Andersen, David E; Boal, Clint W; Reiter, Matthew E. (2005). Wood Frog and Boreal Chorus Frog Distribution and Habitat Associations in Wapusk National Park, Cape Churchill, Manitoba: 2005 Summary Report. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/183526
Species Composition, Distribution, and Habitat Associations of Anurans in a Subarctic Tundra Landscape Near Cape Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
No full textDistribution, abundance, and habitat relationships of anurans that inhabit subarctic regions are poorly understood, and anuran monitoring protocols developed for temperate regions may not be applicable across large roadless areas of northern landscapes. In addition, arctic and subarctic regions of North America are predicted to
experience changes in climate and, in some areas, recently have experienced habitat alteration due to high rates of herbivory by breeding and migrating waterfowl. To better understand subarctic anuran abundance, distribution, and habitat associations, we conducted anuran calling surveys in the Cape Churchill region of Wapusk National Park, Manitoba in 2004 and 2005. We conducted surveys along ~1-km transects distributed across 3 landscape types (coastal tundra, interior sedge meadow/ tundra, and boreal forest/ tundra interface) and estimated the probability of detection and density of Boreal Chorus Frogs (Pseudacris maculata) and Wood Frogs (Rana sylvatica). We detected a Wood Frog or Boreal Chorus Frog on 22 (87%) of 26 transects surveyed, and probability of detection varied between years and species and among landscape types. Estimated density of both species increased from the coastal zone inland toward the boreal forest edge. Our results suggest that anurans occur across a wide range of habitats in this subarctic tundra landscape, that there are spatial patterns in anuran abundance, and that considerations for both spatial and temporal variation need to be incorporated into surveys for subarctic anurans.Reiter, Matthew E; Boal, Clint W; Andersen, David E. (2006). Species Composition, Distribution, and Habitat Associations of Anurans in a Subarctic Tundra Landscape Near Cape Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/183608
FACTORS AFFECTING DISTRIBUTION AND DETECTION OF BOREAL CHORUS FROGS (Pseudacris maculata) AND WOOD FROGS (Rana sylvatica) AT CAPE CHURCHILL, MANITOBA
No full textAmphibian populations are declining globally (Jennings and Hayes 1985, Beebee
et al. 1990, Blaustein and Wake 1990). Disease, introduced predators, ultraviolet
radiation, pollution, environmental change, and habitat loss and degradation have been
suggested factors responsible for amphibian population declines (Jennings and Hayes
1985, Beebee et al. 1990, Laurance et al. 1996, Pounds et al. 2006). However, the
relative importance of each potential factor is often unknown in specific cases. Because
the processes that underlie amphibian declines are not well understood, collaborative
efforts, such as the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program (NAAMP), have
been developed to collect basic ecological data, and to systematically monitor amphibian
population trends. Despite efforts such as the NAAMP, there are still many areas where
amphibian surveys have not been conducted and little is known about local populations.Mannan, Nicholas R; Perry, Gad; Andersen, David E; Boal, Clint W. (2006). FACTORS AFFECTING DISTRIBUTION AND DETECTION OF BOREAL CHORUS FROGS (Pseudacris maculata) AND WOOD FROGS (Rana sylvatica) AT CAPE CHURCHILL, MANITOBA. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/183533
Effects of source population and holding time on northern bobwhite translocation success
No full textNorthern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) have become a species of great conservation priority because of widespread and ongoing population declines. Translocations of wild individuals have been readily utilized to re-establish viable populations. Long-distance translocations are becoming increasingly necessary to access a source population with densities high enough to support translocation. Two uncertainties exist regarding the efficacy of long-distance translocations: choosing a source population with adaptations that will be successful in a novel environment and mitigating the stress response common during the translocation process. I translocated bobwhites from the South Texas Plains and the Floridian Coastal Plain to a recipient site in the Floridian Coastal Plain to compare the survival and reproductive success of bobwhites translocated from two different source populations. I also evaluated how varying holding times during the translocation process and using antioxidant-enriched feed for stress mitigation influenced the success of the translocated individuals. Breeding season survival was similar between source populations; however, productivity was lower for the bobwhites translocated from the South Texas Plains. Translocated bobwhites held for 12-14 days had lower survival than those held for < 48 hours and 6-8 days. I observed high rates of mortality during the transport and holding processes, but treatment with an antioxidant-enriched feed prior to capture effectively reduced holding mortalities. Long-distance translocated bobwhites may have the adaptive capacity to be successful in novel environments, but the consequences of translocation stress are detrimental. This knowledge will ultimately inform future translocation practices to better improve ongoing bobwhite restoration efforts.Restricted until 06/2027. To request the author grant access, click on the PDF link to the left
Nest Survival and Nest-site Selection of Avian Communities in Pinyon-juniper Woodlands Undergoing Thinning Treatments
Get PDFThis study was proposed in 2018 in collaboration with the New Mexico Migratory Bird Division of the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Texas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at Texas Tech University. The data for this project were collected on the Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area (NCA) in Lincoln County, NM over the course of three breeding seasons (2019-2021). The Roswell office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) facilitated access and permits to conduct this research. The purpose of this study was to investigate nest survival and nest-site selection for pinyon-juniper specialists breeding at Fort Stanton among control (i.e., unthinned) and treated (i.e., prescription thinning) pinyon-juniper woodlands. We analyzed nest survival rates for 9 species of breeding birds and found no differences in between treated and untreated plots. However, we found several nest-site habitat characteristics associated with nest survival. Additionally, we investigated habitat characteristics associated with selected nest-sites for 7 species of breeding birds. The results are intended to inform land managers on how current management strategies impact the associated bird communities. Results from our study will provide feedback to land managers that are aiming to conserve pinyon-juniper bird communities while meeting the broader objectives of the NCA (National Conservation Area). Two chapters are presented in this thesis to facilitate future publications. Citation guidelines were adopted from the American Ornithological Society per my advisor, Dr. Clint Boal
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Get PDFThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Anti-predatory behavior of northern bobwhite in the rolling plains of Texas
No full textNorthern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus; hereafter bobwhites) are a species of great economic importance but have declining populations range-wide. As a result, bobwhites are a highly researched species. Flight behavior and cover use patterns of northern bobwhites have been examined in several studies, all of which have contributed to a large set of habitat management recommendations for the species. However, the existing data lack quantitative measures of how bobwhites respond to natural threat, not solely direct human disturbance. I examined aspects of bobwhite behavior in response to four threat categories: researcher, hunter, raptor, and mammalian. I found that bobwhite flight distance is best predicted by threat type, covey size, and wind speed. I found that bobwhites flushed by the hunter threat (P = 0.034) and the raptor threat (P < 0.0001) selected for significantly higher visual obstruction at landing sites compared to availability. Raptor-flushed bobwhites also selected for significantly higher shrub density (P < 0.0001) and lower angle of obstruction (P <0.0001) at landing points than what were randomly available. In the process of data collection I also observed bobwhite roost locations (n=24) to have lower visual height obstruction (P = 0.03), lower shrub density (P = 0.02), and higher angles of obstruction (P = 0.005) than bobwhite diurnal locations. My results verify that bobwhite escape strategies and cover use vary among threat types. These results support current management recommendations of creating a patchwork of vegetation covers for bobwhite, but also indicate the importance of understanding of bobwhite behavior to improve management and conservation strategies.
To examine how bobwhites respond to a raptor threat, we used a trained northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), a bird often used for falconry. The practice of falconry is over 2000 years old. It is a form of hunting wild quarry in its natural state and habitat by means of a trained raptor. Researchers, specifically when studying wild raptors, have used techniques from falconry and at times used trained raptors for research purposes. Studies with trained raptors have investigated raptor flight characteristics and morphology, behaviors, predator ecology, and their effect on prey ecology and behavior. Despite the potential applications of falconry within the field of wildlife research, trained raptors are an under-used resource; this is 1 of only 2 studies to use a trained raptor to investigate prey species behavior in a non-captive setting. I review the methods and results for studies involving trained raptors within the field of wildlife research. I then discuss the logistical constraints and limitations of working with a raptor in a research setting. Finally, I offer suggestions for future research using trained raptors.This thesis won 1st Place in the Texas Tech University Outstanding Thesis and Dissertation Award, Biological Life Sciences, 2013.Embargo status: Restricted to TTU community only. To view, login with your eRaider (top right). Others may request access exception from the author by clicking on the PDF link to the left
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