The relationship between nectar sources and regal fritillary (Speyeria idalia Drury) butterfly populations.

I investigated the relationship between nectar source diversity and regal fritillary (Speyeria idalia Drury) butterfly populations at ten native tallgrass prairie sites in eastern Nebraska. Walking-transect surveys were used to establish regal fritillary population-density indices in 1996 and 1997. Flowering-plant surveys were also conducted, coincident with the butterfly surveys, and were used to develop blossom-density, and abundance indices. Spearman rank correlation was used to examine relationships between regal fritillary density indices and plant survey variables. Two significant, positive correlations were identified between (1) 1996 population-density indices and 1996 blossom-diversity indices for known nectaring sources of the regal fritillary (n = 10, r = 0.903, P \u3c 0.000) and between (2) 1997 population-density indices and 1996 blossom-diversity indices for known nectaring sources of the regal fritillary (n = 10, r = 0.770, P = 0.009). No significant relationship was found between 1997 population-density indices and 1996 blossom-diversity indices for known nectaring sources of regal fritillary (n = 10, r = 0.726, P = 0.018), and in 1997 (n = 10, r = 0.646, P = 0.044). I used intraclass correlation to see if there was greater variation in population-density indices between sites or years. The calculated intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.648 (P = 0.012) suggests that differences in population-density indices are more attributed to differences between years. Approximately half of all nectar visits were to Asclepias spp. This study showed that positive relationships do exists between regal fritillary densities and nectar source diversity, although this relationship may vary from year to year. Further, large site size appears to be beneficial to regal fritillary populations

Coyote Food Habits at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Nebraska

Coyote (Canis latrans) food habits were detennined from 490 scats collected from October 1994 to October 1995 at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge (DNWR), along the Nebraska/Iowa border. Mammals occurred most frequently, as measured by percent-of-scats (POS) , followed by vegetation, birds, and invertebrates. Mammals also constituted the largest portion of coyote diet, as determined by fresh weight correction factors. Within the mammalian category, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) occurred most frequently and constituted the largest portion of diet by fresh weight correction factors. White-tailed deer occurrence and importance in diet peaked in June, which corresponds to the fawning period of white-tailed deer at DNWR. Mammals occurred in greater than 75 POS in all months except July and August, when mammals occurred in 38 and 30 POS, respectively. In July and August, vegetation in coyote scats, primarily mulberries (Morus spp.), was highest at 88 and 83 POS, respectively. Invertebrate occurrence peaked in May and in September. Bird occurrence peaked in December, which corresponded with the snow goose (Chen caerulescens) migration, and May, which corresponded with the nesting period for several species of ground nesting birds

Bats of Saint Martin, French West Indies/Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles

Six species of bats have been previously reported from the Antillean island of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten—Artibeus jamaicensis, Brachyphylla cavernarum, Molossus molossus, Tadarida brasiliensis, Noctilio leporinus, and Myotis nigricans nesopolus. Our field research reported herein documents an additional three species of bats from the island for the first time—Monophyllus plethodon, Ardops nichollsi, and Natalus stramineus. Re-examination of the single voucher of Myotis nigricans nesopolus has led us to exclude this species from the fauna of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten. Based on our field research and the study of specimens housed in museum collections, we present information on the eight species of bats that we have documented as occurring on Saint Martin/Sint Maarten. The average rate of fruit bat captures on Saint Martin/Sint Maarten (0.92 bats per net-night— BNN) falls towards the lower end of the range (0.65-2.47 BNN) reported from nearby islands in the northern Lesser Antilles and below the range (2.20-5.93 BNN) reported for mainland populations of Neotropical fruit bats. We discuss possible causes of these decreased population levels and we express some concerns about the future conservation status of the chiropteran fauna of the island

Mammals of Nebraska: Checklist, Key, and Bibliography

The Recent mammalian fauna of Nebraska is composed of 89 native species, 8 domestic species that can have feral populations, and 4 wild species introduced by humans, but not by intentional action. Thus, the included checklist and dichotomous key contain 101 species of mammals. Of the native species, 36 are rodents, 20 carnivores, 13 bats, 7 shrews and mole, 7 even-toed ungulates, 4 rabbits and hares, 1 armadillo, and 1 opossum. Another 8 species are identified as potentially occurring in peripheral areas of Nebraska. The bibliography includes 1693 entries that each contain data concerning one or more species of mammals from Nebraska

A conservation assessment of Franklin\u27s ground squirrel (Spermophilus franklinii Sabine 1822): Input from natural history, morphology and genetics

My dissertation research represents an important contribution to the literature on Franklin\u27s ground squirrel, Spermophilus franklinii , and is the first systematic attempt to inform its conservation and management. In the southeastern portion of its geographic range, S. franklinii has been listed or proposed for listing as a state-endangered species, in contrast to central and northern portions where it is trapped as a nest-predator on wildlife refuges. Because knowledge of the extent and type of geographic variation found within a species is critical to its conservation and management, the regional disparity in views concerning S. franklinii served as the impetus for my study of its patterns of geographic variation. Morphometric analyses of 11 skull measurements indicated little morphological variation in S. franklinii, with the exception of a significant latitudinal cline in size displayed by both sexes: individuals from southern latitudes were generally larger than individuals from northern latitudes. Genetic analyses, based on the mitochondrial DNA control region, also indicated little geographic variation. These findings support the monotypic status of the species. The distribution of genetic variation in S. franklinii was not evenly distributed throughout its geographic range. Low genetic variation was found in northern and southeastern regions—reflective of range expansion events—in contrast to the southwestern region, which exhibited the greatest genetic variability and coincides with the region that has been occupied by S. franklinii since the Pleistocene. These patterns conform remarkably to expectations for a species that occupies post-glacially colonized regions, which include the northern portions of S. franklinii\u27s range. Although S. franklinii, which prefers savanna-like habitat, may have an affinity for northern regions, the current concern for declining southern populations is warranted, particularly because these populations contain the greatest portion of the species\u27 genetic variability. The past response of S. franklinii to warming periods, range shifts north, may signal a cause for additional concern for the loss of southern populations in the face of current global warming trends

Coyote Food Habits at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Nebraska

Coyote (Canis latrans) food habits were detennined from 490 scats collected from October 1994 to October 1995 at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge (DNWR), along the Nebraska/Iowa border. Mammals occurred most frequently, as measured by percent-of-scats (POS) , followed by vegetation, birds, and invertebrates. Mammals also constituted the largest portion of coyote diet, as determined by fresh weight correction factors. Within the mammalian category, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) occurred most frequently and constituted the largest portion of diet by fresh weight correction factors. White-tailed deer occurrence and importance in diet peaked in June, which corresponds to the fawning period of white-tailed deer at DNWR. Mammals occurred in greater than 75 POS in all months except July and August, when mammals occurred in 38 and 30 POS, respectively. In July and August, vegetation in coyote scats, primarily mulberries (Morus spp.), was highest at 88 and 83 POS, respectively. Invertebrate occurrence peaked in May and in September. Bird occurrence peaked in December, which corresponded with the snow goose (Chen caerulescens) migration, and May, which corresponded with the nesting period for several species of ground nesting birds

Reproduction and Seasonal Activity of Silver-Haired Bats in Western Nebraska

Silver-haired bats (Lasionycteris noctivagans) were thought only to migrate through Nebraska; however, recent surveys in eastern Nebraska report summer records of females and their young. Our study in western Nebraska also shows that silver-haired bats are summer residents. We discovered the 1st reproductively active L. noctivagans in this part of the state. We caught lactating females and volant young in riparian forests along the North Platte River and in forested areas of the Pine Ridge. Previously, adult males were not known from Nebraska in summer, and only 4 records of L. noctivagans were known from western Nebraska during migration. On 28 July we captured an adult male in a coniferous forest of the Wildcat Hills, and we have more than 100 records of migrating individuals. Lastly, an obese L. noctivagans captured on 4 November may represent an individual preparing to hibernate in the state

Observations on Small Mammals Recovered from Owl Pellets from Nebraska

Mammalian remains from owl pellet material collected in 24 Nebraska counties were examined, A total of 1262 individual mammals was identified from all owl pellet material and included 19 identifiable species and 21 total genera. The most commonly consumed prey by owls across the state were Microtus (41 % of identifiable prey material), followed by Peromyscus (18%), and Reithrodontomys (11%). Significant locality information for the northern grasshopper mouse (Onychomys leucogaster), the southern bog lemming (Synaptomys cooperi), and the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) are reporte

Detection of Pseudogymnoascus destructans during Summer on Wisconsin Bats

White-nose syndrome (WNS) affects bats primarily in winter, with Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the fungus that causes WNS, growing on bats in colder climates as they are hibernating. As a result, nearly all disease investigations have been conducted on bats in the winter or as they are emerging in spring. Although P. destructans has been detected on bats during the summer season, the seasonal dynamics of infection during this period remain poorly understood. To test for the presence of P. destructans during the summer season, we sampled bats that were free flying from June 2017 to September 2017 and also sampled bats from a maternity roost in August and outside a known hibernaculum in September. We collected skin swabs from the muzzle and forearm of bats, and using real-time PCR methods, we detected P. destructans DNA on 16% (12/76) of bats sampled in Wisconsin, US, including juvenile little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) from bat house maternity roosts, and free-flying adult bats of two species captured in June, the little brown bat and the migratory eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis). These data illustrated the potential for P. destructans to be transferred and dispersed among bats during the summer and highlighted the complex seasonal dynamics associated with this pathogen

Bats of Saint Martin, French West Indies/Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles

Six species of bats have been previously reported from the Antillean island of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten—Artibeus jamaicensis, Brachyphylla cavernarum, Molossus molossus, Tadarida brasiliensis, Noctilio leporinus, and Myotis nigricans nesopolus. Our field research reported herein documents an additional three species of bats from the island for the first time—Monophyllus plethodon, Ardops nichollsi, and Natalus stramineus. Re-examination of the single voucher of Myotis nigricans nesopolus has led us to exclude this species from the fauna of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten. Based on our field research and the study of specimens housed in museum collections, we present information on the eight species of bats that we have documented as occurring on Saint Martin/Sint Maarten. The average rate of fruit bat captures on Saint Martin/Sint Maarten (0.92 bats per net-night— BNN) falls towards the lower end of the range (0.65-2.47 BNN) reported from nearby islands in the northern Lesser Antilles and below the range (2.20-5.93 BNN) reported for mainland populations of Neotropical fruit bats. We discuss possible causes of these decreased population levels and we express some concerns about the future conservation status of the chiropteran fauna of the island