Hazards Affecting Grizzly Bear Survival in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

Abstract: During the past 2 decades, the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) has increased in numbers and expanded its range. Early efforts to model grizzly bear mortality were principally focused within the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone, which currently represents only about 61% of known bear distribution in the GYE. A more recent analysis that explored one spatial covariate that encompassed the entire GYE suggested that grizzly bear survival was highest in Yellowstone National Park, followed by areas in the grizzly bear Recovery Zone outside the park, and lowest outside the Recovery Zone. Although management differences within these areas partially explained differences in grizzly bear survival, these simple spatial covariates did not capture site-specific reasons why bears die at higher rates outside the Recovery Zone. Here, we model annual survival of grizzly bears in the GYE to 1) identify landscape features (i.e., foods, land management policies, or human disturbances factors) that best describe spatial heterogeneity among bear mortalities, 2) spatially depict the differences in grizzly bear survival across the GYE, and 3) demonstrate how our spatially explicit model of survival can be linked with demographic parameters to identify source and sink habitats. We used recent data from radiomarked bears to estimate survival (1983–2003) using the known-fate data type in Program MARK. Our top models suggested that survival of independent (age ≥ 2 yr) grizzly bears was best explained by the level of human development of the landscape within the home ranges of bears. Survival improved as secure habitat and elevation increased but declined as road density, number of homes, and site developments increased. Bears living in areas open to fall ungulate hunting suffered higher rates of mortality than bears living in areas closed to hunting. Our top model strongly supported previous research that identified roads and developed sites as hazards to grizzly bear survival. We also demonstrated that rural homes and ungulate hunting negatively affected survival, both new findings. We illustrate how our survival model, when linked with estimates of reproduction and survival of dependent young, can be used to identify demographically the source and sink habitats in the GYE. Finally, we discuss how this demographic model constitutes one component of a habitat-based framework for grizzly bear conservation. Such a framework can spatially depict the areas of risk in otherwise good habitat, providing a focus for resource management in the GYE.     

Interactions between a stream caddisfly and the algae on its case: factors affecting algal quantity

1. Field experiments were conducted to examine interactions between larvae of the caddisfly Gumaga nigricula and the algae (primarily diatoms) located on their sand grain cases. Floating experimental enclosures were placed in sunlit pools of a California stream. Treatments applied to occupied cases, or to those from which caddisflies had been removed, included variations in grazer density, addition of nutrients, and modification of illumination using shade cloth. 2. Neither faecal-enriched agar in empty cases nor injections of faecal material into plugged cases affected case chlorophyll a concentration; injected nutrients (N and P), however, did increase chlorophyll a concentration. Faecal material may be nutrient poor, or nutrients may not be readily released. In addition, the relatively impermeable case wall may reduce the likelihood that nutrients from caddisflies reach the algae on the outer case surface. 3. Although a Gumaga larva may graze algae from its own case, grazing by conspecifics and the caddisfly Helicopsyche borealis causes a greater reduction in the chlorophyll a content of cases. 4. Chlorophyll a content of empty cases was decreased by experimental reduction of light. Because of shading associated with burrowing, chlorophyll a content of cases occupied by Gumaga was low and was unaffected by experimental light reduction. 5. Removal of Gumaga from its case results in rapid accrual of algae. Thus, the net effect of larval presence is to diminish the algal content of its case.     

Tintinnophagus acutus n. g., n. sp. (Phylum Dinoflagellata), an Ectoparasite of the Ciliate Tintinnopsis cylindrica Daday 1887, and Its Relationship to Duboscquodinium collini Grassé 1952

ABSTRACT. The dinoflagellate Tintinnophagus acutus n. g., n. sp., an ectoparasite of the ciliate Tintinnopsis cylindrica Daday, superficially resembles Duboscquodinium collini Grassé, a parasite of Eutintinnus fraknoii Daday. Dinospores of T. acutus are small transparent cells having a sharply pointed episome, conspicuous eyespot, posteriorly positioned nucleus with condensed chromosomes, and rigid form that may be supported by delicate thecal plates. Dinospores attach to the host via a feeding tube, losing their flagella, sulcus, and girdle to become spherical or ovoid cells. The trophont of T. acutus feeds on the host for several days, increasing dramatically in size before undergoing sporogenesis. Successive generations of daughter sporocytes are encompassed in an outer membrane or cyst wall, a feature not evident in trophonts. Tintinnophagus acutus differs from D. collini in host species, absence of a second membrane surrounding pre‐sporogenic stages, and failure to differentiate into a gonocyte and a trophocyte at the first sporogenic division. Phylogenetic analyses based on small subunit (SSU) ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences placed T. acutus and D. collini in the class Dinophyceae, with T. acutus aligned loosely with Pfiesteria piscicida and related species, including Amyloodinium ocellatum, a parasite of fish, and Paulsenella vonstoschii, a parasite of diatoms. Dubosquodinium collini nested in a clade composed of several Scrippsiella species and Peridinium polonicum. Tree construction using longer rDNA sequences (i.e. SSU through partial large subunit) strengthened the placement of T. acutus and D. collini within the Dinophyceae.     

Survival of Rio Grande Wild Turkeys on the Edwards Plateau of Texas

Abstract: The southeastern portion of the Edwards Plateau of Texas, historically a stronghold of Rio Grande wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia), has seen a decline in turkey numbers since the 1970s. Because adult and juvenile survival are key parameters affecting turkey population dynamics, we used radiotagged individuals to compare Rio Grande wild turkey survival in areas of suspected decline versus stable portions of the Edwards Plateau during 2001–2003. Reproductive period (breeding or nonbreeding) had an impact on survival, but differences in age, sex, or region did not influence survival. Model averaged estimates of monthly survival were 0.97 (SE = 0.005) for nonbreeding periods and 0.96 (SE = 0.007) for breeding periods. Our results indicate juvenile and adult survival in the declining areas was similar to survival in the stable areas of the Edwards Plateau. This suggests causes of the decline might be associated with differences during other life-history stages, such as nest success or poult survival, although we cannot rule out the possibility juvenile or adult survival contributed to the decline in the past. This situation demonstrates why wildlife managers should be cognizant of the implications of initiating long-term monitoring programs after changes in population status occur, rather than initiating them in expectation of such changes.     

Phylogeny of the parasitic wasp subfamily Euphorinae (Braconidae) and evolution of its host preferences

The braconid subfamily Euphorinae is a large, cosmopolitan group of endoparasitoid wasps. The majority of species attack adult hosts, a strategy that is rare among parasitic wasps, but there are also many species that attack nymphs and larval stages. Euphorine hosts may belong to a variety of insect orders (Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Neuroptera, Psocoptera, Orthoptera and Lepidoptera) although most euphorine tribes are confined to Coleoptera. Here we investigate the phylogenetic relationships of the Euphorinae based on molecular data (3 kb of nucleotide data from four markers: 18S, 28S, CAD and COI) and propose a higher‐level classification based upon the resulting phylogeny. We also infer the evolution of host associations and discuss the diversification of the Euphorinae. Results from both Bayesian inference and maximum‐likelihood analysis show that the subfamily, as previously circumscribed, is paraphyletic. We propose that the subfamily be expanded to include the tribes Meteorini and Planitorini (Mannokeraia + Planitorus), so that it corresponds to a clade that is strongly supported as monophyletic in our analyses. Based on our results, a revised higher classification of the Euphorinae is proposed, in which 52 extant genera and 14 tribes are recognized. We reinstate the genus Microctonus belonging to the tribe Perilitini, and synonymize Ussuraridelus with Holdawayella, Sinuatophorus with Eucosmophorus. Furthermore, we propose the following tribal rearrangements: Spathicopis and Stenothremma are transferred to Perilitini; Tuberidelus, Eucosmophorus and Plynops to Cosmophorini; Ecclitura to Dinocampini; Chrysopophthorus, Holdawayella and Wesmaelia to Helorimorphini; Proclithroporus and Heia to Townesilitini. The monotypic tribe Cryptoxilonini is synonymized with Cosmophorini. The genera Pygostolus and Litostolus are placed in a separate tribe, Pygostolini, previously recognized as a subtribe among the Centistini. Parsimony‐based ancestral state reconstructions suggest that the ancestor of Euphorinae was a parasitoid of lepidopteran larvae, and that a host shift to larval Coleoptera occurred only in one clade of the Meteorini, some members of which secondarily shifted back to larval lepidopteran hosts. In the remainder of the subfamily, there was an initial shift from larval to adult coleopterans, followed by subsequent shifts to adults or larvae of Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Neuroptera, Orthoptera and Psocoptera.     

Salt sensitivity in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.): ions in reproductive tissues and yield components in contrasting genotypes

The reproductive phase in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is affected by salinity, but little is known about the underlying cause. We investigated whether high concentrations of Na⁺ and Cl^– in the reproductive structures influence reproductive processes. Chickpea genotypes contrasting in tolerance were subjected to 0, 35 or 50 mm NaCl applied to soil in pots. Flower production and abortion, pod number, percentage of empty pods, seed number and size were evaluated. The concentrations of Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl^– were measured in various plant tissues and, using X‐ray microanalysis, in specific cells of developing reproductive structures. Genotypic variation in reproductive success measured as seed yield in saline conditions was associated with better maintenance of flower production and higher numbers of filled pods (and thus seed number), whereas seed size decreased in all genotypes. Despite the variation in reproductive success, the accumulation of Na⁺ and Cl^– in the early reproductive tissues of developing pods did not differ between a tolerant (Genesis836) and a sensitive (Rupali) genotype. Similarly, salinity tolerance was not associated with the accumulation of salt ions in leaves at the time of reproduction or in seeds at maturity.