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Publications

These publications showcase the significant science conducted in our Science Centers.

Filter Total Items: 16785

Exposure to insecticides of brushland wildlife within the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, USA

Brushland wildlife within the Lower Rio Grande Valley of south Texas were studied following applications of eleven insecticides to nearby sugarcane or cotton fields. During the study no wildlife were found dead. Mean brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity of great-tailed grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus) and mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) was significantly lower than controls following applica
Authors
T. W. Custer, C. A. Mitchell

Habitat selection and management of the Hawaiian crow

The abundance and range of the Hawaiian crow, or alala, (Corvus hawaiiensis) have decreased drastically since the 1890's. Fewer than 10 breeding pairs remained in the wild in 1985. A sample of 82 nests during 1970-82 were used to determine habitat associations. Two hundred firty-nine alala observations were used to estimate densities occurring in different vegetation types in 1978. Compared to ava
Authors
J.G. Giffen, J. M. Scott, S. Mountainspring

A quick-catch corral trap for wintering canvasbacks

We designed a bait trap for wintering Canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) that has proven more effective than conventional funnel or slot entrance traps for diving ducks. The unique feature of this trap is the corral entrance that presents unimpaired access to the bait and thus ease of entrance to the trap. Catches of 50-75 ducks have been made in a matter of minutes at prebaited sites.
Authors
G. M. Haramis, E.L. Derleth, D.G. McAuley

Mercury accumulation in mallards fed methylmercury with or without added DDE

Adult female mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were fed a control diet or diets containing 1 ppm methylmercury chloride, 5 ppm methylmercury chloride, 1 ppm methylmercury chloride plus 5 ppm DDE, or 5 ppm methylmercury chloride plus 5 ppm DDE. The presence of DDE in the diet did not affect retention of mercury in breast muscle or eggs. There was a good correlation between the levels of mercury in the
Authors
G. H. Heinz

Reproduction in mallards fed selenium

Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were fed diets containing 1, 5, 10, 25 or 100 ppm selenium as sodium selenite, a diet containing 10 ppm selenium as seleno-DL-methionine or a control diet. There were no effects of 1, 5 or 10 ppm selenium as sodium selenite on either weight or survival of adults or on reproductive success, and there did not appear to be a dose-response relationship at these lower leve
Authors
G. H. Heinz, D. J. Hoffman, A. J. Krynitsky, D.M.G. Weller

Embryotoxicity, teratogenicity, and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity in Forster's terns on Green Bay, Lake Michigan

Known reproductive problems, including congenital malformations and poor hatching success, exist for the state endangered Forster's tern (Sterna forsteri) in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Twenty Forster's tern eggs were collected from separate nests at (i) a natural colony with documented reproductive problems, situated at Green Bay, Lake Michigan, and (ii) an inland colony at Lake Poygan (control) where
Authors
David J. Hoffman, Barnett A. Rattner, Louis Sileo, Douglas E. Docherty, Timothy J. Kubiak

Cardiovascular and behavioral responses of gray wolves to ketamine-xylazine immobilization and antagonism by yohimbine

Adult wolves (Canis lupus) were immobilized with 6.6 mg/kg ketamine hydrochloride (KET) and 2.2 mg/kg xylazine hydrochloride (XYL) administered intramuscularly. Induction time was 4.6 ± 0.3 min (x̄ ± SE). Immobilization resulted in significant bradycardia and hypertension (P < 0.05). Twenty min after induction, the wolves were given 0.05–0.60 mg/kg yohimbine hydrochloride (YOH). Yohimbine given in
Authors
T.J. Kreeger, A.M. Faggella, U. S. Seal, L. D. Mech, Margaret Callahan, B. Hall

Wildlife resources at risk through acidification of wetlands

No abstract available.
Authors
J. R. Longcore, R.K. Ross, K.L. Fisher

Selenium accumulation in mammals exposed to contaminated California irrigation drainwater

In May 1984, 332 mammals of 10 species were collected at Kesterson Reservoir (San Joaquin Valley, Merced Co., CA), which had received selenium-laden irrigation drainwater, and at the nearby Volta Wildlife Area, which had not. The study concentrated on the California vole (Microtus californicus); 88 were taken at Kesterson, 89 at Volta. Mean selenium concentrations in livers were as much as 522 tim
Authors
D. R. Clark

Winter fasting and refeeding effects on urine characteristics in white-tailed deer

The effects of dietary protein, fasting, and refeeding on urinary characteristics of 9 captive, female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were studied from 23 February to 3 May 1984. Urinary sodium (na) and potassium (K) were diminished in fasted deer after 2 and 4 weeks. Renal excretion of Na and K were lower, whereas urinary phosphorus (P) was higher in fasted deer compared to deer fed h
Authors
G. D. DelGiudice, L. D. Mech, U. S. Seal, P.D. Karns