Food Habits of Wolves in Kluane National Park

The food habits of wolves (Canis lupus) were studied at two different den-sites in Kluane National Park in the southwest of the Yukon Territory, in 1972 and 1973, as part of an assessment of predator-prey dynamics in that newly-designated reserve. No published data exist on the diets of wolves in northern British Columbia or the Yukon Territory; the closest available information concerns the wolf populations of Alaska

Landscape Influence on Canis Morphological and Ecological Variation in a Coyote-Wolf C. lupus × latrans Hybrid Zone, Southeastern Ontario

The ecology of Coyote-Wolf (Canis latrans × C. lupus) hybrids has never fully been typified. We studied morphological and ecological variation in Canis within a region of Coyote-Wolf hybridization in southeastern Ontario. We assessed Canis morphology from standard body measurements and ten skull measurements of adult specimens and found that Canis in this region are morphologically intermediate between Algonquin Provincial Park Wolves (C. lupus lycaon) and Coyotes, indicating a latrans × lycaon hybrid origin; however, there is a closer morphological affinity to latrans than lycaon. Analysis of 846 scats indicated dietary habits also intermediate between lycaon and Coyotes. We used a geographic information system (GIS) to assess spatial landscape features (road density, land cover and fragmentation) for six study sites representing three landscape types. We found noticeable variation in Canis morphology and diet in different landscape types. In general, canids from landscape type A (lowest road density, more total forest cover, less fragmentation) displayed more Wolf-like body morphology and consumed a greater proportion of larger prey (Beaver [Castor canadensis] and White-tailed Deer [Odocoileus virginianus]). In comparison, canids from landscape types B and C (higher road density and/or less total forest cover, more fragmentation) were generally more Coyote-like in body and skull morphology and made greater use of medium to small-sized prey (Groundhog [Marmota monax], Muskrat [Ondatra zibethicus] and lagomorphs). These landscape trends in Canis types suggest selection against Wolf-like traits in fragmented forests with high road density. The range of lycaon southeast of Algonquin Provincial Park appears to be limited primarily due to human access and consequent exploitation. We suggest that road density is the best landscape indicator of Canis types in this region of sympatric, hybridizing and unprotected Canis populations

Interplay of Spin and Orbital Angular Momentum in the Proton

We derive the consequences of the Myhrer-Thomas explanation of the proton spin problem for the distribution of orbital angular momentum on the valence and sea quarks. After QCD evolution these results are found to be in very good agreement with both recent lattice QCD calculations and the experimental constraints from Hermes and JLab

A proposed comprehensive conservation and management plan for the ungranted state lands in Accomack and Northampton countie

The goal of this management plan is to conserve and manage the fragile and dynamic coastal habitat and resources subject to this plan while accommodating compatible public uses. To date 28,507 acres of ungranted state lands have been identified in Accomack and Northampton Counties. The purpose of this plan 1s to develop a comprehensive conservation and management strategy for these state owned beaches marshes, meadowlands, commons, and other coastal lands which constitute a fragile and dynamic natural coastal resource of the Commonwealth of Virginia

Physical Nucleon Properties from Lattice QCD

We demonstrate that the extremely accurate lattice QCD data for the mass of the nucleon recently obtained by CP-PACS, combined with modern chiral extrapolation techniques, leads to a value for the mass of the physical nucleon which has a systematic error of less than one percent.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure