Forage selection and habitat architecture as drivers of small mammal community dynamics in an arid, nutrient limited, highly stochastic ecosystem

In the Northern Chihuahuan desert, grassland and shrubland co-occur as separate stable states under similar climatic conditions. In this bottom up (resource driven) system, the magnitude and timing of precipitation events drives primary production which varies from year to year and season to season. Climate change is predicted to alter precipitation regimes, and increase aridity, facilitating shrub encroachment which results in increased landscape heterogeneity and a decrease in plant biodiversity. These changes will likely result in a restructuring of small mammal communities. We used long-term data on precipitation, primary production, and abundances of small mammals in adjacent grassland and shrubland stable states and across an ecotone between grassland and shrubland to characterize foraging patterns in heteromyids, food-caching granivores, and cricetids, omnivores that do not cache and rely on body fat for short term energy reserves. To accomplish this, we trapped 7,063 mice across a grassland/shrubland ecotone which resulted in 3,560 mouse plasma isotope analyses from 1,533 individually marked mice. By comparing raw isotopic values of d13C and d15N in mouse plasma to plant values, we can track community wide foraging patterns. Using a subset of 1,406 plasma samples from one species (Perognathus flavus) we were able to document the development of individualized foraging strategies to alleviate intra-specific competition during a population explosion. The grassland supports a lower density subset of rodent species found in shrubland. Using a 25 year small mammal trapping dataset, there was no indication of directional change in species composition in either stable state, just a temporal reordering of species dominance. Consumer diets track nitrogen on the landscape, with cricetids foraging at a higher trophic level than heteromyids during resource abundance, diets converge and broaden as resources decline. A population boom in Perognathus flavus increased intraspecific competition causing some individuals to specialize on either C3 or C4 resources, while 60% of the population remained generalist foragers. Mice in this community exhibit a high degree of dietary plasticity to survive high stochasticity in resource quantity and quality. This study uses a unique suite of tools to examine the interface of precipitation, primary production, and small mammal foraging characteristics

Conjoint analysis of farmers\u27 response to conservation incentives

Environmental degradation threatens the long term resiliency of the US food and farming system. While USDA has provided conservation incentives for the adoption of best management practices (BMPs), only a small percentage of farms have participated in such conservation programs. This study uses conjoint analysis to examine Vermont farmers\u27 underlying preferences and willingness-to-accept (WTA) incentives for three common BMPs. Based on the results of this survey, we hypothesize that federal cost share programs\u27 payments are below preferred incentive levels and that less familiar and more complex BMPs require a higher payment. Our implications focus on strategies to test these hypotheses and align incentive payments and other non-monetary options to increase BMP adoption

Effects of Occupational Ultrasonic Noise Exposure on Hearing of Dental Hygienists: A Pilot Study

Purpose. The purpose of this case-control study was to determine whether long-term ultrasonic noise exposure via the dental office environment is related to dental hygienists\u27 hearing status. Methods. Registered dental hygienists (N - 698) who live in the Hampon Roads areas of Virginia were mailed a Dental Hygiene Word History Questionnaire to determine who would meet the inclusion criteria and would be willing to participate in the study. Consenting subjects were categorized into one of two groups, according to ultrasonic sealer usage rate, and matched on age. Persons with known hearing loss due to infection, disease, or congenital defect were excluded from the study. The final sample consisted of 20 dental hygienists with a high ultrasonic usage rate and a matched group of 20 dental hygienists who had a low ultrasonic usage rate. Once the groups were formed, a certified audiologist tested subjects\u27 hearing in each ear via the pure-tone audiometer. Audiometric data were analyzed using the analysis of variance for repeated measures procedure to determine if degree of ultrasonic sealer noise exposure in the dental office environment was significantly related to hearing status in these dental hygienists. Results. Results revealed that the right and left ears were not statistically different in the hearing threshold levels, regardless of group status. However, there was a significant difference in the high ultrasonic usage group and the low ultrasonic usage group at the 3000 Hz. No differences were found at the frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 6000, and 8000 Hz. Conclusions. Based on these outcomes, the ultrasonic sealer is not considered to have a negative effect on the hearing of dental hygienists at 500,1000, 2000, 4000, 6000, and 8000 Hz, but may be related to hearing loss at 3000 Hz. Ultrasonic noise may in fact be affecting dental hygienists\u27 hearing at 3000 Hz, but loss of hearing observed at the higher frequencies may be attributed to other unidentified factors present in both groups

Bullet and Shrapnel Embolism: When “Uncommon” Meets “Dangerous”

Bullet and shrapnel embolism (BSE) is well described in the literature. Despite that, its rare occurrence creates a diagnostic challenge for providers tending to penetrating trauma victims. As with other forms of embolic phenomena, cases of BSE require a blend of superb clinical expertise and experience, as well as a high diagnostic index of suspicion. Management is highly individualized and spans a broad spectrum of options from “watchful waiting” to open heart surgery. Due to the risk of retained projectile migration through tissues, including erosion into surrounding anatomic structures, non-operative approaches warrant long-term clinical surveillance. When promptly recognized and treated appropriately, patients with BSE can be expected to have excellent clinical outcomes

Understanding Paramedic, Trial Network, and Patient’s Family Experiences in Emergency Research Clinical Trials

Strategies to Innovate EmeRgENcy Care Clinical Trials Network (SIREN)National Institutes of Healthhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/166477/1/Westat Reports Combined SIREN Experience Supplement.pdfDescription of Westat Reports Combined SIREN Experience Supplement.pdf : Westat ReportsSEL

Mapping Alternative Impact: Alternative approaches to impact from co-produced research

No abstract available

Adult Cleaner Wrasse Outperform Capuchin Monkeys, Chimpanzees and Orang-utans in a Complex Foraging Task Derived from Cleaner – Client Reef Fish Cooperation

The insight that animals’ cognitive abilities are linked to their evolutionary history, and hence their ecology, provides the framework for the comparative approach. Despite primates renowned dietary complexity and social cognition, including cooperative abilities, we here demonstrate that cleaner wrasse outperform three primate species, capuchin monkeys, chimpanzees and orang-utans, in a foraging task involving a choice between two actions, both of which yield identical immediate rewards, but only one of which yields an additional delayed reward. The foraging task decisions involve partner choice in cleaners: they must service visiting client reef fish before resident clients to access both; otherwise the former switch to a different cleaner. Wild caught adult, but not juvenile, cleaners learned to solve the task quickly and relearned the task when it was reversed. The majority of primates failed to perform above chance after 100 trials, which is in sharp contrast to previous studies showing that primates easily learn to choose an action that yields immediate double rewards compared to an alternative action. In conclusion, the adult cleaners’ ability to choose a superior action with initially neutral consequences is likely due to repeated exposure in nature, which leads to specific learned optimal foraging decision rules

The Grizzly, February 13, 1996

Summer Research at Ursinus • Fairley Will Not Plead Insanity • Merck Announces HIV Drug Results • Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Lynn Thelen • Joe Clark, Gospel Choir Highlight Diversity Week • Information Superhighway Control • Captain Offender • In Search of Aristotle\u27s Prime Mover • An Entirely Warped Romantic Interlude • Hey Students, Take Some Initiative! • Do You Believe in Magic? • Take it Back, Captain Jack! • Not Slick Enough • Strike up the (String) Band! • Ursinus Handles Swarthmore, 70-39 • Ursinus Edges Washington, 64-62 • Swarthmore Sweeps UC Swim Teams • Gymnasts Victorious • Bears Regain Centennial Titlehttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1374/thumbnail.jp

Surfactant Protein-D is essential for immunity to Helminth Infection

Author Summary Infections by parasitic worms are very common, and controlling them is a major medical and veterinary challenge. Very few drugs exist to treat them, and the parasites can develop resistance to these. In order to find new ways to control worm infections, understanding how our immune system responds to them is essential. Many important parasitic worm infections move through the host lung. In this study we show that a major secreted protein in the lung, Surfactant Protein D (SP-D), is essential for immunity to a parasitic worm infection. We found that this protein binds to worm larvae in the lung to help the immune system kill them. Infecting mice that do not express SP-D with worms demonstrates SP-D is important in this immune response. These mice are unable to launch an effective anti-worm immune response and have many more worms in their intestine compared to mice that do express SP-D. We also show that if we increase SP-D levels in the lung the mouse has better immunity to worms. Together this shows for the first time that SP-D is very important for immunity to worm infections