Seasonal Variation in Thyroid Gland Activity in Pheasants

Author Institution: Department of Zoology, Ohio University, Athens, OhioThyroid glands from 167 pheasants (Korean-Phasianus colchicus karpowi, Persian- Phasianus colchicus persicus, green-Phasianus versicolor, and Reeves-Syrmaticus reevesii) were examined to determine if there were a seasonal or sexual variation in (1) the weight of the thyroid gland and (2) thyroid activity as determined by histological techniques. A Thyroid Activity Index, which histologically rates thyroid activity from 1 to 5 (inactive to very active), was employed to evaluate the functional state of the gland. Five males and five females each of the pheasant groups were sacrificed in January, April, July, and October. Generally, the thyroid glands were most active in January and April and least active in July and October. An inverse relationship seemed to exist: the lighter the gland, the more active it is, and the heavier the gland, the less active it is

Mammalogy at Texas Tech University: A Historical Perspective

The mammalogy program at Texas Tech University officially was established in 1962, when Robert L. Packard joined the faculty of the Department of Biological Sciences. As the institution\u27s first mammalogist, Packard took the initiative to develop a strong program of mammalian research and education. Influenced by the successful program built by his mentor, E. Raymond Hall, at the University of Kansas, Packard modeled similar goals for Texas Tech University. Those goals included a strong emphasis on both undergraduate and graduate education and research, with several mammalogy faculty members, and the establishment and growth of a large and active mammal collection