Effect of Oil and Natural Gas Development on Survival and Health of White-tailed Deer in the Western Dakotas

Oil and gas development in North Dakota has resulted in the need for information regarding how increased activity has affected white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations. We evaluated white-tailed deer ecology in response to energy development and hypothesized that oil and gas development would negatively affect adult and neonate white-tailed deer due to increased vehicle traffic and human-related effects. We captured and radio-collared adult female and neonate white-tailed deer across three study areas: Dunn County, North Dakota, an area influenced by energy development, and Grant County, North Dakota, and Perkins County, South Dakota, areas not impacted by energy development at this time. We radio-collared 84 neonates and 150 adult females during 2014 and 73 neonates and 15 adult females during 2015. We observed 31 adult female and 44 neonate mortalities during the study. Predation was the greatest source of adult female (35%) and neonate mortality (61%). Intrinsic three- and six-month fawn survival models indicated capture type (six-months: 53%, SE = 0.07 and 74%, SE = 0.05, VIT and opportunistic six-month fawns, respectively) influenced survival. Extrinsic three- and six-month fawn survival models indicated that canopy cover at capture locations positively influenced fawn survival, whereas precipitation during 3-8 weeks of age negatively influenced fawn survival (six-months: 72%, SE = 0.04). Distance to nearest oil well did not influence survival (β = -0.21, SE = 0.56). We also estimated survival rates based on study area (Dunn, Grant, and Perkins counties) and season (Post-hunt, January-April; Pre-hunt, May-August; and Hunt, September-December). Dunn County displayed the highest annual survival rate (96%, SE=0.02) followed by Perkins (93%, SE = 0.03) and Grant (75%, SE = 0.06) counties. Seasonal survival was highest (100%) during Pre-hunt and Post-hunt periods in Dunn and Perkins counties and was lowest during the Post-hunt period in Grant County (87%). We analyzed 2014 and 2015 blood serum separately because all chemistry tests in Grant County differed (p \u3c 0.01) between 2014 and 2015 except aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, and calcium. We found differences (p \u3c 0.05) in creatinine kinase, globulin, glucose, lactate dehydrogenase, magnesium, sodium, and total protein values among study areas during 2014. Pathogens with the highest antibody prevalence included West Nile Virus (85%), epizootic hemorrhagic disease (48%), and malignant catarrhal fever (32%). We speculate that low sodium values and West Nile Virus may be contributing to low neonate survival rates in Grant County. Serum chemistry differences may be attributed to differences in forage quality and availability across study areas. Our results indicated that oil and natural gas development did not negatively affect white-tailed deer survival and health. Other density-dependent factors likely explained differences in survival across study areas; nevertheless, further monitoring is needed to assess long-term responses of white-tailed deer to energy development

Serological Survey and Pathogen Exposure of Adult Female White-tailed Deer in the Western Dakotas

Establishing baseline values for pathogen exposure and nutritional indices is necessary to monitor population health. However, little is known about white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) pathogen exposure and nutritional condition in the Northern Great Plains. Our objective was to assess pathogen exposure and establish nutritional indices for female white-tailed deer in Dunn and Grant counties, North Dakota and Perkins County, South Dakota. During 2014, we collected blood serum from 150 adult female white-tailed deer. Pathogens with the highest antibody prevalence included West Nile Virus (WNV; 85%), epizootic hemorrhagic disease (48%), and malignant catarrhal fever (32%). Serum values for creatine kinase, globulin, glucose, potassium, and lactate dehydrogenase in all three study areas were higher than reference ranges while sodium was low in Grant County relative to Dunn and Perkins counties. We speculate that high exposure of WNV and high potassium values combined with low sodium values may affect neonate survival in Grant County. However, regional differences in pathogen exposure, their connection to serum values, and their potential interactive effects on survival are not well understood

Serological Survey and Pathogen Exposure of Adult Female White-tailed Deer in the Western Dakotas

Establishing baseline values for pathogen exposure and nutritional indices is necessary to monitor population health. However, little is known about white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) pathogen exposure and nutritional condition in the Northern Great Plains. Our objective was to assess pathogen exposure and establish nutritional indices for female white-tailed deer in Dunn and Grant counties, North Dakota and Perkins County, South Dakota. During 2014, we collected blood serum from 150 adult female white-tailed deer. Pathogens with the highest antibody prevalence included West Nile Virus (WNV; 85%), epizootic hemorrhagic disease (48%), and malignant catarrhal fever (32%). Serum values for creatine kinase, globulin, glucose, potassium, and lactate dehydrogenase in all three study areas were higher than reference ranges while sodium was low in Grant County relative to Dunn and Perkins counties. We speculate that high exposure of WNV and high potassium values combined with low sodium values may affect neonate survival in Grant County. However, regional differences in pathogen exposure, their connection to serum values, and their potential interactive effects on survival are not well understood

Rgs1 and Gnai2 Regulate the Entrance of B Lymphocytes into Lymph Nodes and B Cell Motility within Lymph Node Follicles

SummarySignaling by G protein-coupled receptors coupled to Gαi assists in triggering lymphocyte movement into and out of lymph nodes. Here, we show that modulating the signaling output from these receptors dramatically alters B cell trafficking. Intravital microscopy of adoptively transferred B cells from wild-type and Rgs1−/− mice revealed that Rgs1−/− B cells stick better to lymph node high endothelial venules, home better to lymph nodes, and move more rapidly within lymph node follicles than do wild-type B cells. In contrast, B cells from Gnai2−/− mice enter lymph nodes poorly and move more slowly than do wild-type B cells. The Gnai2−/− mice often lack multiple peripheral lymph nodes, and their B cells respond poorly to chemokines, indicating that Gαi1 and Gαi3 poorly compensate for the loss of Gαi2. These results demonstrate opposing roles for Rgs1 and Gnai2 in B cell trafficking into and within lymph nodes

Algebraic Properties of Qualitative Spatio-Temporal Calculi

Qualitative spatial and temporal reasoning is based on so-called qualitative calculi. Algebraic properties of these calculi have several implications on reasoning algorithms. But what exactly is a qualitative calculus? And to which extent do the qualitative calculi proposed meet these demands? The literature provides various answers to the first question but only few facts about the second. In this paper we identify the minimal requirements to binary spatio-temporal calculi and we discuss the relevance of the according axioms for representation and reasoning. We also analyze existing qualitative calculi and provide a classification involving different notions of a relation algebra.Comment: COSIT 2013 paper including supplementary materia