Population Ecology of Common Gallinules in Southwestern Lake Erie Marshes

Author Institution: Ohio Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, The Ohio State UniversityPopulation size, distribution, reproduction, and habitat selection of common gallinules (Gallinula chloropus) were studied in 1977-78 in the southwestern Lake Erie marshes in Ohio. Gallinules were censused by playing a tape-recorded call and counting the number of individuals responding within a 40-m radius. Eight to 30 of these 0.5-ha circular plots were placed randomly in each of 16 marsh habitats. The frequency of nonresponse was estimated from the responses of pairs with known locations, and estimates were corrected for nonresponse. Nest-density estimates from strip-transects were not different (P > 0.05) from pair-density estimates based on calling males. Pair-density estimates ranged from 0.2 to 4.6 pairs per ha. The population for 1978 was estimated to be 1,197 ± 149 pairs in 5,188 ha of wetland. Clutch size averaged 8.04 ± 0.56 eggs for 55 clutches, and 77% of 61 nests hatched at least 1 egg. Twenty-eight brood counts averaged 3.6 ± 0.6 fledged young. Gallinule densities were highest on semipermanently flooded wetlands with narrow-leaved, persistent emergent vegetation, an abundance of submergent aquatic plants, and a 1:1 ratio of cover to open water

A Survey of Bats in Wayne National Forest, Ohio

Author Institution: Ohio Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, The Ohio State UniversityDistribution, abundance, habitat selection, and activity of bats in Wayne National Forest, Ohio, were studied during the winters and summers of 1979 and 1980. Methods included winter surveys of abandoned mines and mist netting of riparian sites in summer. Four species of bats were found hibernating in 23 of 65 coal mine shafts examined, and big brown bats, Epteskus fuscus, were most abundant. Mines with long tunnel systems had significantly higher temperatures than those with shorter systems, but humidity did not differ between mine types. Big brown bats chose the cooler mines and in general showed the greatest tolerance of climatic extremes. Eight species of bats totaling 261 individuals were captured by mist netting at 163 riparian locations in 5 watersheds. Little brown bats, Myotis lucifugus, comprised 56% of all bats captured. Big brown bats (14%), eastern pipistrels, Pipistrellus subflavus (13%), and red bats, Lasiurus borealis (13%), were the next most abundant species in mist net samples. No Indiana bats, Myotis sodalis, were captured. Big brown bats preferred to forage in forested habitats. Activity for most species was highest soon after sunset, but activity in big brown bats peaked 0.5 hr later than in the other species

Effect of Ankle Taping and Bracing on Dynamic Balance and Perception of Stability

Ankle injuries are the most common injury associated with sports participation. A recent study examining NCAA injury data found that 14.9% of all injuries sustained in 15 intercollegiate sports were injuries to the ankle. Taping and bracing are commonly used measures to prevent and/or protect the ankle from injury. Patients often report a feeling of increased stability due to tape and/or brace, however previous studies examining the effect of ankle appliances on stability have produced conflicting results. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of taping and bracing on dynamic stability, and the perception of stability with and without ankle taping and bracing during dynamic stability testing

Nutritive Levels in Plants from Stripmined Areas in Eastern Ohio

Author Institution: Ohio Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, The Ohio State UniversityData on nutritive quality of vegetation for stripmined lands were obtained in 1972-73 from 2 Ohio counties, one having generally acidic spoil banks and the other having calcareous spoils. Proximate analysis of water, ash, crude protein, ether extract, cell-wall constituents, and nitrogen-free extract revealed few significant differences between plants growing on stripped and undisturbed (control) plots. Plants also were analyzed for 6 essential elements by emission spectrography. Levels of potassium were significantly higher in plants from control plots. Calcium levels were higher in plants from alkaline spoils, and manganese levels were higher in plants from acidic mined plots. Manganese levels exceeded 600 ppm in some plant samples from acidic spoil banks. Even when plants from stripped plots contained significantly less of a given element, levels were generally not low enough to indicate nutrient deficiency

Monitoring wolf populations using howling points combined with sign survey transects

Wolves respond to simulated howling, especially during the mating and breeding seasons. Simulated howling points are, therefore, commonly used by many wolf researchers around the world to estimate pack numbers in a given area. A large amount of information is available on various pack breeding areas in Asturias, the only region in north-western Spain where the Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus, Cabrera 1907) is not classed as a game species. Wolf research began there in the early 1980s. We present the results of the latest study on population status, conducted between July and November, 2001. Using sampling transects to detect wolf scat and scratch marks and designated howling and observation points, twenty one (21) wolf packs were definitely located, with two others considered “likely”. Nineteen (19) packs were detected using howling points (n=314). The results of this study show that simulated howling points and sampling transects are reliable and inexpensive way of detecting wolf packs