1,523 research outputs found
FIGURE 2 in A re-description of Cyrtodactylus chrysopylos Bauer (Squamata: Gekkonidae) with comments on the adaptive significance of orange coloration in hatchlings and descriptions of two new species from eastern Myanmar (Burma)
No full textFIGURE 2. Cyrtodactylus aunglini sp. nov. from from Kyauk Nagar Cave, 11 km southwest of Pyin Oo Lwin, Pyin Oo Lwin Township, Pyin Oo Lwin District, Mandalay Region, Myanmar (20.93087°N, 95.22580°E; 715 m in elevation). A. Adult male paratype 13948. B. Adult male paratype 13950. C. Adult male holotype 13947. D. Hatchling LSUHC 13945.Published as part of Grismer, L. Lee, Wood, Perry L., Thura, Myint Kyaw, Win, Nay Myo, Grismer, Marta S., Trueblood, Llyod A. & Quah, Evan S. H., 2018, A re-description of Cyrtodactylus chrysopylos Bauer (Squamata: Gekkonidae) with comments on the adaptive significance of orange coloration in hatchlings and descriptions of two new species from eastern Myanmar (Burma), pp. 151-185 in Zootaxa 4527 (2) on page 159, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4527.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261206
Cyrtodactylus pyadalinensis Grismer & Wood & Thura & Win & Quah 2019, sp. nov.
No full textCyrtodactylus pyadalinensis sp. nov. Panluang-Pyadalin Cave Bent-toed Gecko (Figs. 5, 6) Holotype. Subadult male CAS 226143 collected during the evening on 16 July 2002 by G.O.U. Wogan, R. S. Lucas, J. V. Vindum, Thin Thin, and A. K. Shein from Panluang-Pyadalin Cave Wildlife Sanctuary, Ywangan Township, Shan State, Myanmar (21.107000°N, 96.352111°E; 220 m in elevation). Paratypes. Subadult male CAS 226142 collected during the evening on 16 July 2002 by Htun Win from Panluang-Pyadalin Cave Wildlife Sanctuary, Ywangan Township, Shan State, Myanmar (21.115801°N, 96.360694°E; 346 m in elevation). Adult female LSUHC 13932 collected at 2100 hrs on 26 March 2018 by Perry L. Wood Jr., Nyo Min Htwe, and L. Lee Grismer from immediately outside the Pyadalin Cave, Panluang-Pyadalin Cave Wildlife Sanctuary, Ywangan Township, Taunggyi District, Shan State, Myanmar (21.13275°N, 96.34026°E; 306m in elevation.) Additional material examined. Hatchling LSUHC 13933 bearing the same locality and collection data as LSUHC 13932 except that it was collected by Nyo Min Htwe, Perry L. Wood Jr., and L. Lee Grismer. Diagnosis. Cyrtodactylus pyadalinensis sp. nov. differs from all other species in the peguensis group by having the unique combination of eight supralabials and 6–8 infralabials; 31–33 paravertebral tubercles; 19–21 longitudinal rows of body tubercles; 38–40 ventral scales; 16–18 subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe; 14 or 15 femoral pores in males; nine or 10 precloacal pores in males; two or three rows of enlarged, post-precloacal scales; top of head bearing dark blotches; 4–6 dark body bands; dark body bands lacking paravertebral elements; and maximum SVL of 72.1 mm (Table 4). Description of holotype. Subadult male, SVL 51.1 mm; head moderate in length (HL/SVL 0.28), wide (HW/ HL 0.61), somewhat flattened (HD/HL 0.37), distinct from neck, triangular in dorsal profile; lores inflated, prefrontal region concave, canthus rostralis rounded; snout elongate (ES/HL 0.39), rounded in dorsal profile; eye large (ED/HL 0.21); ear opening elliptical, moderate in size (EL/HL 0.09); eye to ear distance greater than diameter of eye; rostral rectangular, partially divided dorsally, bordered posteriorly by large left and right supranasals separated small internasal, laterally by first supralabials; external nares bordered anteriorly by rostral, dorsally by large supranasal, posteriorly by three postnasals (upper largest), ventrally by first supralabial; eight (R,L) rectangular supralabials extending to below midpoint of eye; seven (R,L) infralabials tapering smoothly to below posterior margin of eye; scales of rostrum and lores flat, larger than granular scales on top of head and occiput; scales on top of head and occiput intermixed with slightly enlarged tubercles; dorsal supraciliaries not elongate or keeled; mental triangular, bordered laterally by first infralabials and posteriorly by large, left and right trapezoidal postmentals that contact medially for 70% of their length posterior to mental; one row of slightly large chinshields tapering posteriorly to fourth infralabial; and gular and throat scales small, granular, grading posteriorly into larger, flatter, smooth, subimbricate to imbricate, pectoral and ventral scales. Body relatively short (AG/SVL 0.44) with weak ventrolateral folds; dorsal scales small, interspersed with larger, semi-regularly arranged, moderately keeled tubercles; tubercles extend from occiput onto base of tail but no farther; tubercles on occiput and nape smaller than those on posterior portion of body; approximately 21 longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles; 31 paravertebral tubercles; approximately 40 flat, imbricate, ventral scales larger than dorsal scales; nine pore-bearing precloacal scales; two rows of large post-precloacal scales; and no deep precloacal groove or depression. Forelimbs moderate in stature, relatively short (FL/SVL 0.15); flat scales of anterior margin of forearm larger than those on body, not interspersed with tubercles; palmar scales raised; digits relatively short, well-developed, inflected at basal, interphalangeal joints, slightly narrower distal to inflections; claws well-developed, sheathed by a dorsal and ventral scale; hind limbs more robust than forelimbs, moderate in length (TBL/SVL 0.16), covered dorsally by granular scales interspersed with slightly larger, weakly keeled tubercles and anteriorly by large, flat, imbricate scales; ventral scales of femora flat, imbricate, larger than dorsals, lacking a distinct row of enlarged femoral scales; small postfemoral scales form an abrupt union with large, flat ventral scales of posteroventral margin of thigh; subtibial scales flat, imbricate; plantar scales slightly raised; digits relatively short, well- developed, inflected at basal, interphalangeal joints, slightly narrower distal to inflections; 18 subdigital lamellae (R,L) on fourth toe; claws well-developed, base of claw sheathed by a dorsal and ventral scale; two enlarged postcloacal tubercles at base of tail; and postcloacal scales flat. Tail original, 56.9 mm in length, 4.9 mm in width at base, tapering to a point; dorsal scales square and flat; transversely enlarged, median, subcaudal scales twice as wide as long, not extending onto lateral margin of tail in original section. Coloration in life (Fig. 6). Dorsal ground color of head body, limbs, and tail yellow; top of head bearing large, dark-brown, irregularly shaped, conjoined blotches edged in yellow; dark-brown, wide, nuchal loop extending from posterior margin of one eye, across occiput, to posterior margin of other eye; nape bearing a wide, dark-brown band edged in yellow; five wide, dark-brown body bands between limb insertions edged in yellow lacking paravertebral components, posterior three obliquely oriented; large, round, dark-brown markings between body bands; 6–8 smaller, diffuse brown blotches along lower margins of flanks; one dark-brown post-sacral band edged in yellow not bearing paravertebral elements; 12 dark-brown caudal bands wider than the 12 yellow caudal bands; dorsal portion of forelimbs darkly mottled to banded; dorsal portion of hind limbs bearing irregularly shaped, darkbrown blotches edged in yellow; and all ventral surfaces generally beige, immaculate. Variation. The paratypes generally approach the holotype in most aspects of coloration and pattern. The most notable difference is in the dorsal banding pattern where the paratypes have more transversely oriented dark, dorsal bands as opposed to the holotype whose bands are more obliquely oriented. In the paratype CAS 226142, the central band between the limb insertions is somewhat oval-shaped and bears a central light spot. The dark dorsal bands in the paratype LSUHC 13933 are considerably narrower than those of all the other specimens in the type series and the distal one-half of the tail is missing. The paratype LSUHC 13932 has a regenerated tail bearing a dark-beige ground color overlain with small, dark, irregularly shaped markings. Meristic differences among specimens of the type series are resented in Table 5. ……continued on the next page 22 TABLE 5. Meristic, mensural, and color pattern data for Cyrtodactylus pyadalinensis sp. nov. and C. nyinyikyawi sp. nov. / = data unobtainable. ……continued on the next page Distribution. Cyrtodactylus pyadalinensis sp. nov. is known only from the vicinity of the Panluang-Pyadalin Cave in the Panluang-Pyadalin Cave Wildlife Sanctuary, Ywangan Township, Taunggyi District, Shan State, Myanmar (Fig. 1). Etymology. The specific epithet, pyadalinensis, is a toponym referring to the type locality in the vicinity of the Pyadalin Cave. Natural history. The type series of Cyrtodactylus pyadalinensis sp. nov. were all collected in the vicinity of the Kinda Reservoir between the Panulaung River and the Pyadalin Cave. This area is within the foothills and rocky plain of the Nwalabo Mountain range on the western fringe of the Shan Plateau (Fig. 1) between 213 and 306 m in elevation. The habitat is composed of low-lying, highly eroded terrain and scree of the Nwalabo Mountains. It bears scattered karstic rocks and boulders surrounded by disturbed, drought-adapted, scrub Indiang Forest vegetation that is seasonally burned (Fig. 7). All specimens were found at night between 1900 and 2300 hrs among small rocks and leaf-leaf litter. Comparisons. Cyrtodactylus pyadalinensis sp. nov. descends from one of the deeper divergences of the peguensis group and the sister species to the clade (C. niyniykyawi sp. nov. (C. peguensis (C. pyinyaungensis and C. myintkyawthurai))) from which it differs by an uncorrected pairwise sequence divergence of 9.0–10.3%. From C. meersi and C. annandalei which occur outside this clade, it differs by 10.7–11.0% and 14.0–14.3%, respectively. It differs from all other species except C. nyinyikyawi sp. nov. in the dark-brown dorsal bands lacking as opposed to having paravertebral elements. It differs further from C. annandalei in that the top of the head is blotched as opposed to being unicolor. Differences from C. nyinyikyawi sp. nov. are presented in the Comparisons section above. Statistically significant mean differences in meristic characters among C. pyadalinensis sp. nov., C. myintkyawthurai, and C. pyinyaungensis are presented in Tables 3 and 4.Published as part of Grismer, L. Lee, Wood, Perry L., Thura, Myint Kyaw, Win, Nay Myo & Quah, Evan S. H., 2019, Two more new species of the Cyrtodactylus peguensis group (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the fringes of the Ayeyarwady Basin, Myanmar, pp. 274-294 in Zootaxa 4577 (2) on pages 284-291, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4577.2.3, http://zenodo.org/record/399355
Cyrtodactylus nyinyikyawi Grismer & Wood & Thura & Win & Quah 2019, sp. nov.
No full textCyrtodactylus nyinyikyawi sp. nov. Shwe Settaw Bent-toed Gecko (Fig. 4) Holotype. Adult female CAS 226139 collected on 14 September 2002 at 1030 hrs by Thin Thin, Kyi Soe Lwin, and Hla Tun from Shwe Settaw Wildlife Sanctuary, Min Bu Township, Magway Region, Myanmar (20.05972°N, 94.59611°E; 137 m in elevation). Diagnosis. Cyrtodactylus nyinyikyawi sp. nov. differs from all other species in the peguensis group by having the unique combination of nine supralabials; eight infralabials; 35 paravertebral tubercles; 20 longitudinal rows of body tubercles; 35 ventral scales; 19 subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe; four rows of enlarged, post-precloacal scales; keeled, conical, body tubercles; top of head bearing dark blotches; five dark, body bands; dark body bands lacking paravertebral elements; and maximum SVL of 64.5 mm (Table 3). Description of holotype. Adult female, SVL 64.5 mm; head moderate in length (HL/SVL 0.25), wide (HW/ HL 0.62), somewhat flattened (HD/HL 0.42), distinct from neck, triangular in dorsal profile; lores inflated, prefrontal region concave, canthus rostralis rounded; snout elongate (ES/HL 0.40), rounded in dorsal profile; eye large (ED/HL 0.20); ear opening elliptical, moderate in size (EL/HL 0.09); eye to ear distance greater than diameter of eye; rostral rectangular, partially divided dorsally, bordered posteriorly by large left and right supranasals separated small internasal, laterally by first supralabials; external nares bordered anteriorly by rostral, dorsally by large supranasal, posteriorly by three postnasals (upper largest), ventrally by first supralabial; nine (R) supralabials extending to below midpoint of eye ball; eight rectangular infralabials tapering smoothly to below posterior margin of eye ball; scales of rostrum and lores flat, larger than granular scales on top of head and occiput; scales on top of head and occiput intermixed with slightly enlarged tubercles; dorsal supraciliaries not elongate or keeled; mental triangular, bordered laterally by first infralabials and posteriorly by large, left and right trapezoidal postmentals that contact medially for 70% of their length posterior to mental; one row of slightly enlarged chinshields tapering posteriorly to fourth infralabial; and gular and throat scales small, granular, grading posteriorly into larger, flatter, smooth, subimbricate to imbricate, pectoral and ventral scales. Body relatively short (AG/SVL 0.52) with weak ventrolateral folds; dorsal scales small, interspersed with larger, semi-regularly arranged, weakly keeled tubercles; tubercles extend from occiput onto base of tail but no farther; tubercles on occiput and nape smaller than those on posterior portion of body; approximately 20 longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles; approximately 35 paravertebral tubercles; 35 flat, imbricate, ventral scales larger than dorsal scales; seven dimpled, precloacal scales; and four rows of enlarged post-precloacal scales. Forelimbs moderate in stature, relatively short (FL/SVL 0.13); flat scales of anterior margin of forearm larger than those on body, not interspersed with tubercles; palmar scales raised; digits relatively short, well-developed, inflected at basal, interphalangeal joints, slightly narrower distal to inflections; claws well-developed, sheathed by a dorsal and ventral scale; hind limbs more robust than forelimbs, moderate in length (TBL/SVL 0.17), covered dorsally by granular scales interspersed with slightly larger, weakly keeled tubercles and anteriorly by large, flat, imbricate scales; ventral scales of femora flat, imbricate, larger than dorsals, lacking a distinct row of enlarged femoral scales; small postfemoral scales form an abrupt union with larger, flat ventral scales of posteroventral margin of thigh; subtibial scales flat, imbricate; plantar scales slightly raised; digits relatively short, welldeveloped, inflected at basal, interphalangeal joints, slightly narrower distal to inflections; 19 subdigital lamellae (R,L) on fourth toe; claws well-developed, base of claw sheathed by a dorsal and ventral scale; two enlarged postcloacal tubercles at base of tail; postcloacal scales flat. Proximal 14.4 mm of tail original, posterior 32.4 mm regenerated, 5.4 mm in width at base, tapering to a point; dorsal scales of original of tail granular rapidly becoming flatter posteriorly; dorsal scales of regenerated tail large, flat, semi-regular in arrangement; and transversely enlarged, median, subcaudal scales twice as wide as long, not extending onto lateral margin of tail in original section. Coloration in life (Fig. 4). Dorsal ground color of head body, limbs, and tail yellow; top of head bearing large, dark-brown, irregularly shaped blotches edged in yellow; dark-brown, wide, nuchal loop extending from posterior margin of one eye, across occiput, to posterior margin of other eye; nape bearing a wide, dark-brown band edged in yellow; four wide, dark-brown body bands between limb insertions edged in yellow lacking distinct, paravertebral components; large, round, dark-brown markings between body bands two and three and three and four; seven or eight smaller, somewhat diffuse brown blotches along lower margins of flanks; one wide, dark-brown post-sacral band edged in yellow not bearing paravertebral sections; one dark-brown caudal band on original portion of tail; regenerated portion of tail light-colored bearing diffuse, randomly arranged, dark markings; dorsal portion of forelimbs darkly mottled to banded; dorsal portion of hind limbs bearing irregularly shaped, dark-brown blotches edged in yellow. All ventral surfaces generally beige, immaculate. Distribution. Cyrtodactylus nyinyikyawi sp. nov. is known only from the type locality of the Shwe Settaw Wildlife Sanctuary, Min Bu Township, Magway Region, Myanmar (Fig. 1). Etymology. The specific epithet, nyinyikyawi is a patronym honoring Nyi Nyi Kyaw the Director General of the Forestry Department for his contributions to conservation efforts in Myanmar in general and to our work in particular. Natural History. The holotype CAS 226139 is a gravid female collected on the ground in secondary dry deciduous hardwood forest at 1030 hrs along the edges of a small seasonal lake. Being gravid with two eggs indicates that the monsoon month of September falls within this species’ reproductive season. Comparisons Cyrtodactylus nyinyikyawi sp. nov. is the sister species of a clade that includes the sister species C. peguensis and C. pyinaungensis and C. myinykyawthurai (Fig. 2). It differs from C. peguensis by a 9.3% uncorrected pairwise sequence divergence, from C. myintkyawthurai by an 11.3–12.3% sequence divergence, and from C. pyinaungensis by a sequence divergence of 10.0–10.3%. Outside this clade, C. nyinyikyawi sp. nov. differs from C. meersi by a sequence divergence of 10%, from the Panluang-Pyadalin Cave population if differs by 9.3– 9.7%, and from C. annandalei it differs by 10.3%. It differs from all species of the peguensis group by having a higher number of paravertebral tubercles (35 vs. 25–33, collectively) and differs from all other species except the Panluang-Pyadalin Cave population by the dark dorsal bands lacking distinct, paravertebral elements as opposed to having them (Figs. 4, 5). It differs further from C. annandalei in that the top of the head is blotched as opposed to being unicolor It differs further from the Panluang-Pyadalin Cave population in having 35 as opposed to 38–40 ventral scale rows. Other differences separating C. nyinyikyawi sp. nov. form other peguensis group species are listed in Tables 2 and 3. continued. myintkyawthurai, C. pyinyaungensis, and C. pyadalinensis sp. nov. Remarks. Some (i.e. Dayrat 2005; Thomas Hbrek, in litt, 2018) have grave concerns about descriptions of new species based on only a single specimen, and posit that this should ‘never’ be done because such a description cannot take into account intraspecific variation that could potentially preclude its specific recognition. The myopic nature of this opinion notwithstanding, it is not only incorrect philosophically—as the ontological existence of a species is independent of its diagnosis (Frost & Kluge 1994)—it is counterproductive in reality. Additionally, such tactics would impede biodiversity studies in general and taxonomy in particular. Estimates have shown that 19% of all new vertebrate species described between 2000 and 2010 were based on a single specimen (Lim et al. 2012) and that number is likely to have increased in the last seven years—an indication that often, this is the logical first step in constructing species delimitation hypotheses (i.e. integrative taxonomies). Furthermore, with well-supported phylogenetic data such as that herein indicating that the specimen in question is not nested within or a sister species to any other species and shares a 9.3–12.3% uncorrected pairwise sequence divergence from its closest relatives, renders any morphological arguments to the contrary moot—regardless of these arguments’ erroneous conflation and confusion of ontology and epistemology. However, in this case, Cyrtodactylus nyinyikyawi sp. nov. has widely differing morphological and color pattern characters that at this point, distinguish it from all other species in the peguensis group, thus further eclipsing assumptions that it may be conspecific with something else. We are concerned about describing a new species based on a single specimen but only because the diagnosis is incomplete, not because it has anything to do with the reality of the specimen representing a distinct, independently evolving lineage based on the molecular evidence. Given the general ongoing biodiversity crisis throughout Southeast Asia, we felt it prudent to describe this species for potential protective status rather than delay its publication for the sake of a better diagnosis. The weak part of recognizing this specimen as a distinct species is not the incomplete diagnosis, but that the species was initially delimited on the basis of a single-locus mtDNA phylogeny. It is well-documented that mtDNA phylogenies can reveal significant structure in a data set by recovering sequentially nested monophyletic groups even though within that same data set, nuclear genes can indicate significant gene flow among these groups (e.g. Shaw 2002; Fisher-Reid & Wiens,2011; Toews & Brelsford 2012), thus precluding their species status. This weakens any hypothesis of specific identity based solely on mtDNA data. Nonetheless, given the current data available concerning its phylogenetic relationships and the discrete morphological and color pattern differences separating C. nyinyikyawi sp. nov. from its congeners in the peguensis group, we regard its specific identity as a robust, testable hypothesis.Published as part of Grismer, L. Lee, Wood, Perry L., Thura, Myint Kyaw, Win, Nay Myo & Quah, Evan S. H., 2019, Two more new species of the Cyrtodactylus peguensis group (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the fringes of the Ayeyarwady Basin, Myanmar, pp. 274-294 in Zootaxa 4577 (2) on pages 280-283, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4577.2.3, http://zenodo.org/record/399355
Does the spatial arrangement of urban landscape matter? Examples of urban warming and cooling in Phoenix and Las Vegas
No full textabstract: This study examines the impact of spatial landscape configuration (e.g., clustered, dispersed) on land-surface temperatures (LST) over Phoenix, Arizona, and Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. We classified detailed land-cover types via object-based image analysis (OBIA) using Geoeye-1 at 3-m resolution (Las Vegas) and QuickBird at 2.4-m resolution (Phoenix). Spatial autocorrelation (local Moran’s I ) was then used to test for spatial dependence and to determine how clustered or dispersed points were arranged. Next, we used Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data acquired over Phoenix (daytime on 10 June and nighttime on 17 October 2011) and Las Vegas (daytime on 6 July and nighttime on 27 August 2005) to examine day- and nighttime LST with regard to the spatial arrangement of anthropogenic and vegetation features. Local Moran’s I values of each land-cover type were spatially correlated to surface temperature. The spatial configuration of grass and trees shows strong negative correlations with LST, implying that clustered vegetation lowers surface temperatures more effectively. In contrast, clustered spatial arrangements of anthropogenic land-cover types, especially impervious surfaces and open soil, elevate LST. These findings suggest that city planners and managers should, where possible, incorporate clustered grass and trees to disperse unmanaged soil and paved surfaces, and fill open unmanaged soil with vegetation. Our findings are in line with national efforts to augment and strengthen green infrastructure, complete streets, parking management, and transit-oriented development practices, and reduce sprawling, unwalkable housing development.Corresponding Author:
Soe Win Myint
Arizona State University
[email protected]
Local strong D-Monotonicity of the Kalai-Smorodinsky and Nash bargaining solution
No full textbargaining
Proceedings of the Regional Technical Consultation on Stock Enhancement for Threatened Species of International Concern, Iloilo City, Philippines, 13-15 July 2005
No full textPresented in the paper are the stock enhancement programs of the Union of Myanmar which is being implemented by the Department of Fisheries. The State’s vision is to assist the national economy by promoting livelihood programs for rural people through the development of the fisheries sector. To achieve such goal, one of the major activities is to undertake a stock enhancement program which has been implemented since 1983. The DOF subsidizes the annual seeding of freshwater fish and prawns into natural waters. Species used in seeding include common carp (Cyprinus carpio), tilapia (Oreochromis), rohu (Labeo rohita), catla (Catla catla), and featherbacks fish (Notopteridae), freshwater prawn Macrobrachium and tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon. Activities include annual stocking of seeds in the Ayeyarwaddy River and its tributaries, lakes, reservoirs, dams and other bodies of water
Study on Microstructural and Temperature Dependent Electrical Conductivity of Magnesium Ferrite, MgFe2O4
No full textMagnesium Ferrite, MgFe2O4, was prepared by solid state reaction method. Analar grade Magnesium Oxide, MgO and Ferric Oxide, Fe2O3 with stoichiometric composition were used to prepare the sample. Morphological features of the as-prepared sample were studied by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). SEM micrograph shows that the sample is circular shape with the grain sizes 0.10 m – 0.50 m and the samples are homogeneous. Temperature dependent electrical conductivities of the sample were investigated in the temperature range 300 K – 973 K. Experimental results show that the sample is a fast ion conductor in high temperatures
California's Central Valley
No full textPresented at Water for agriculture and wildlife and the environment: win-win opportunities: proceedings from the USCID wetlands seminar on June 27-29, 1996 in Bismarck, North Dakota.Because of the importance of California's Central Valley and private lands to waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited (DU) increased its conservation effort on private lands in 1990. This private land effort, delivered from DU's Western Regional Office in Sacramento, is known as Valley CARE (Conservation of Agriculture, Resources, and the Environment). Valley CARE emphasizes agricultural enhancement and wetland restoration and enhancement conservation efforts among the three geographically distinct areas of the Central Valley: the Sacramento Valley, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta), and the San Joaquin Valley. From surveys conducted by DU of water districts in the Sacramento Valley, during 1993-94, rice growers winter-flooded at least 90,000 acres (36,423 ha) of harvested rice fields; during 1994-95, winter-flooded rice acreages increased to over 140,000 (56,658 ha); and during 1995-96, at least 100,000 acres (40,470 ha) of harvested rice fields were winter-flooded. DU also works with farmers in the Delta to winter-flood harvested com and wheat for shorebirds, swans, geese, ducks, and other waterbirds. Cooperating landowners contributed nearly 17,000 flooded acres (6,880 ha) during 1994-95 and about 16,000 acres (6,475 ha) during 1995-% to over 30,000 acres (12,141 ha) that were flooded in the Delta during those years. The expected agronomic values and economic benefits of agricultural enhancement appear to be as high as expected and the biological values are substantial. Close to 30% of all waterbirds using rice fields are non-waterfowl species and half of these are shorebirds. DU also has expanded the Valley CARE effort in the Central Valley to establish a series of permanent wetland restorations and enhancements along with the agricultural systems. This mosaic landscape approach is fundamental to the ongoing management efforts for migratory waterbirds in California's Central Valley. This program's results demonstrate what can be accomplished when private conservation groups and agricultural organizations work together and with traditional government wildlife agencies for the mutual benefit of agriculture and conservation
Multiple purpose wetlands
No full textPresented at Water for agriculture and wildlife and the environment: win-win opportunities: proceedings from the USCID wetlands seminar on June 27-29, 1996 in Bismarck, North Dakota.Creating multiple purpose wetlands on large unfragmented tracts of western grasslands affords a unique opportunity to serve both ranching and wildlife interests by simultaneously enhancing livestock performance, range condition, and waterfowl production. While surface water developments on western grasslands have long been recognized as an effective technique for improving grazing distribution, more recent data suggest that such developments also have high potential for waterfowl production. Dabbling duck productivity rates per surface acre of water in these systems are often 2-4 times higher than in more traditional habitats of the Prairie Pothole Region where waterfowl managers have traditionally focused their efforts. Throughout the Prairie Pothole Region dabbling duck recruitment appears to be severely limited by the combined influences of nesting habitat fragmentation and artificially high predator densities supported by anthropogenic landscape changes. Conversely, western grasslands are characterized by relatively large tracts of nesting cover, low density predator communities, and as a result, high duck productivity when adequate surface water is available. Recognizing the multiple benefits of created wetlands, beginning in 1992 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service initiated a unique statewide partnership in South Dakota to create multiple purpose wetlands on private and tribal grasslands. Emphasis was placed on creating multiple purpose wetlands on large unfragmented tracts of grassland, including for the first time, sites outside of the traditional Prairie Pothole Region. Primary partners in this program include the North American Wetlands Conservation Council, Ducks Unlimited Incorporated, Native American Tribes, the South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts, the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, county Conservation Districts and individual landowners. Through this partnership over 450 wetlands have been created, with 30% occurring on western grasslands outside of the Prairie Pothole Region. As expected, tangible benefits noted from wetlands created through this partnership include improved grazing distribution and livestock performance, enhanced range condition and localized increases in waterfowl production. More importantly, as a result of this program many participating landowners have expressed a renewed enthusiasm for the intangible benefits of wildlife conservation. Interest in this program continues to grow providing an example of a true working partnership between agriculture and wildlife
1996 USCID wetlands seminar
No full textPresented at Water for agriculture and wildlife and the environment: win-win opportunities: proceedings from the USCID wetlands seminar on June 27-29, 1996 in Bismarck, North Dakota.In the mid-1980s, several irrigation projects were evaluated and proposed for development as part of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Project. Included as part of the Central South Dakota project was the evaluation of waterfowl enhancement opportunities. During these studies, it was found that waterfowl production is generally limited, even though there may be wetlands available, by an inadequate number of wetlands that maintain water throughout the duck brood rearing season. With proper planning the development of these proposed irrigation projects would have provided the source of water for the increased production of waterfowl. This paper discusses in some detail an evaluation made in association with the Bureau of Reclamation's proposed CENDAK Irrigation Project. Three of six Central South Dakota counties located in the CENDAK Project area were evaluated for the potential to increase wildlife productions. Forty thousand two hundred (40,200) acres of wetlands were identified in these counties as having enhancement potential on the basis of wetland permanency, size, and proximity to planned irrigation canals and the source of water that the project would provide. In conjunction with the irrigation study, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service selected four wetland areas for further evaluations. Changes in duck population were evaluated by a mallard production simulation model. Three different types of management actions were evaluated. The first action, which just provided supplemental water from the irrigation system to existing wetlands, produced an increase in the recruitment rate at up to 660 percent greater than present conditions. Production of young increased up to 28 times over present conditions as a result of supplying supplemental water. The other two Management Action plans required more extensive development but had similar results. Development costs for the three management actions varied depending upon the amount of land in private ownership. The development cost ranged from 680 per wetland acre for a more extensive action plan at a wetland that was entirely in private ownership. Federal cost sharing could be available if enhancement was included as part of the Federal Water Project. Similar waterfowl enhancement opportunities are likely to exist in other parts of the Great Plains through better integration of irrigation projects and fish and wildlife enhancement
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