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

Filter Total Items: 16785

Effects of environmental contaminants on snapping turtles of a tidal wetland

Snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) were collected from a brackish-water and a nearly freshwater area in the contaminated Hackensack Meadowlands of New Jersey and an uncontaminated freshwater area in Maryland to determine the effects of environmental contaminants on a resident wetland species. No turtles were observed or caught in the Meadowlands at two trapping sites that were the most heavily
Authors
P.H. Albers, L. Sileo, B. M. Mulhern

Seasonal influence of nutrients on the physiology and behavior of captive canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria)

Captive canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) were maintained ad libitum on five diets during the winters of 1978-79 and 1979-80 to evaluate the effects of varying protein and energy levels on feed intake and condition. Diets were formulated to simulate either a natural diet high in invertebrates or one high in vegetation. Two diets low in protein and energy simulated stress diets. Feed intake du
Authors
M. C. Perry

Relationships between nesting populations of wading birds and wetland habitat features

We used data from censuses of wading bird colonies on the Atlantic coast from Maine to Florida {1976-1977) to examine relationships between population sizes of wading birds {herons, egrets, ibises) and 9 key habitat features. Variables included features of the colony site {island size, dimensions, isolation from adjacent land) and surrounding (5 km circle) potential feeding habitat {wetland area).
Authors
R.M. Erwin, J. A. Spendelow, P.H. Geissler, B.K. Williams

Demography, environmental uncertainty, and the evolution of mate desertion in the snail kite

The Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis), an endangered hawk, has a unique mating system in Florida (Beissinger and Snyder 1987): when food is abundant, males or females desert their mates at nearly equal frequency (ambisexual mate desertion) in the midst of a nesting cycle. I examined the demographic and environmental constraints selecting for a clutch size that permits one parent to desert, yet op
Authors
Steven Beissinger

Effect of anosmia on reproduction in male and female wolves (Canis lupus)

Anosmia was produced in two female and three male wolves by transection of the olfactory peduncle and was confirmed by their inability to detect meat, urine, feces, anal-gland secretions, and fish emulsion. All operated animals continued to investigate the environment with their noses, to interact normally with other pack members, and to feed at levels which maintained presurgical body weights. No
Authors
C.S. Asa, U. S. Seal, E.D. Plotka, M.A. Letellier, L. D. Mech

Constant-parameter capture-recapture models

Jolly (1982, Biometrics 38, 301-321) presented modifications of the Jolly-Seber model for capture-recapture data, which assume constant survival and/or capture rates. Where appropriate, because of the reduced number of parameters, these models lead to more efficient estimators than the Jolly-Seber model. The tests to compare models given by Jolly do not make complete use of the data, and we presen
Authors
C. Brownie, J. E. Hines, J. D. Nichols

Discrimination learning in adult bobwhite quail fed paraquat

Adult male bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) were fed a diet containing 0, 25 or 100 ppm paraquat dichloride. After 60 d on treated diets, discrimination learning was evaluated with acquisition and reversal tests. The three groups performed similarly on these tests. Dose-related histopathological lesions were not found in liver, kidney or lung tissues.
Authors
C. M. Bunck, T.J. Bunck, L. Sileo

Toxicity of methyl parathion to bats: Mortality and coordination loss

The 24-h oral LD50 of methyl parathion (phosphorothioic acid O, O-dimethyl O-(4-nitrophenyl) ester) to little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) (372 mg/kg) was 8.5 times the LD50 for mice (Mus musculus) (44 mg/kg). However, orally dosed mice either died or appeared behaviorally normal after 2 to 3 h, whereas many dosed bats, although alive at 24 h, could not right themselves when placed on their backs
Authors
D. R. Clark

Reproductive success and heavy metal contamination in Rhode Island common terns

Common tern cIutch size, reproductive success and growth of young recorded from an abandoned barge on the Providence River, an area of heavy metal contamination, were equal to, or greater than, .from less contaminated areas. Concentrations of copper and zinc were higher in livers of nestling terns from the Providence River than from other, less contaminated, areas. However, concentrations of magne
Authors
T. W. Custer, J. C. Franson, John F. Moore, J.E. Myers

Mid-winter food use and body weights of mallards and wood ducks in Mississippi

We obtained esophageal food samples from 311 mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and 94 wood ducks (Aix sponsa) and body weights from 2,118 mallards and 315 wood ducks in western Mississippi during December and January 1979-83. On average, mallards ingested 3.0% animal food, principally aquatic invertebrates, and 97.0% plant food. Rice, soybeans, and seeds of 'moist soil' plants provided 41.3, 41.6, and
Authors
D. Delnicki, K. J. Reinecke