West Nile Virus Exposure in Black Bears of Northeastern Wisconsin

ABSTRACT Knowledge of the distribution and pathology of West Nile virus (WNV) in black bears is a necessary tool that allows wildlife managers to implement a management plan, set harvest quotas, and relocate nuisance bears. We studied the presence and significance of WNV titers in free-roaming black bears (Ursus americanus) in northeastern Wisconsin between February 2003 and March 2005. Serum neutralizing antibodies to WNV, with confirmation by plaque-reduction neutralization test to both WNV and Saint Louis encephalitis, identified exposure in 13 of 74 (17.6%) bears. This compares with a 6% infection rate in black bears in Virginia and 22% in European brown bears (Ursus arctos). Pathologic effects from exposure to WNV were not seen in any of the black bears studied.     

Biodiversity in tropical agroforests and the ecological role of ants and ant diversity in predatory function

Abstract.  1. Intensive agricultural practices drive biodiversity loss with potentially drastic consequences for ecosystem services. To advance conservation and production goals, agricultural practices should be compatible with biodiversity. Traditional or less intensive systems (i.e. with fewer agrochemicals, less mechanisation, more crop species) such as shaded coffee and cacao agroforests are highlighted for their ability to provide a refuge for biodiversity and may also enhance certain ecosystem functions (i.e. predation).
2. Ants are an important predator group in tropical agroforestry systems. Generally, ant biodiversity declines with coffee and cacao intensification yet the literature lacks a summary of the known mechanisms for ant declines and how this diversity loss may affect the role of ants as predators.
3. Here, how shaded coffee and cacao agroforestry systems protect biodiversity and may preserve related ecosystem functions is discussed in the context of ants as predators. Specifically, the relationships between biodiversity and predation, links between agriculture and conservation, patterns and mechanisms for ant diversity loss with agricultural intensification, importance of ants as control agents of pests and fungal diseases, and whether ant diversity may influence the functional role of ants as predators are addressed. Furthermore, because of the importance of homopteran-tending by ants in the ecological and agricultural literature, as well as to the success of ants as predators, the costs and benefits of promoting ants in agroforests are discussed.
4. Especially where the diversity of ants and other predators is high, as in traditional agroforestry systems, both agroecosystem function and conservation goals will be advanced by biodiversity protection.     

Population Growth and Demography of Common Loons in the Northern United States

ABSTRACT We used recent developments in theoretical population ecology to construct basic models of common loon (Gavia immer) demography and population dynamics. We parameterized these models using existing survival estimates and data from long-term monitoring of loon productivity and abundance. Our models include deterministic, 2-stage, density-independent matrix models, yielding population growth-rate estimates (λ) of 0.99 and 1.01 for intensively studied populations in our Wisconsin, USA, and New Hampshire, USA, study areas, respectively. Perturbation analysis of these models indicated that estimated growth rate is extremely sensitive to adult survival, as expected for this long-lived species. Also, we examined 20 years of count data for the 2 areas and evaluated support for a set of count-based models of population growth. We detected no temporal trend in Wisconsin, which would be consistent with fluctuation around an average equilibrium state but could also result from data limitations. For New Hampshire, the model set included varying formulations of density dependence and partitioning of stochasticity that were enabled by the annual sampling resolution. The best model for New Hampshire included density regulation of population growth and, along with the demographic analyses for both areas, provided insight into the possible importance of breeding habitat availability and the abundance of nonbreeding adults. Based on these results, we recommend that conservation organizations include nonbreeder abundance in common loon monitoring efforts and that additional emphasis be placed on identifying and managing human influences on adult loon survival.     

Gregory G. Maskarinec,The Rulings of the Night: An Ethnography of Nepalese Shaman Oral Texts

Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry -     

Influence of Anthropogenic Structures on Northern Bobwhite Space Use in Western Oklahoma

ABSTRACT Anthropogenic structures associated with energy development and other activities are a growing concern in wildlife conservation because of habitat loss and fragmentation. We conducted a retrospective analysis of effects of barbed-wire fences, oil-extraction structures, aboveground power lines, resurfaced roads, and artificial water sites on space use by northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus)in western Oklahoma, USA. Nest location data accrued during 1991–2002 and radiolocation data during 1997–2002. Data suggested fences had a weak repellent effect at distances <300 m, oil structures had neutral effects at distances <800 m, aboveground power lines had neutral effects at distances <250 m, resurfaced roads attracted at distances <350 m, and water sites had neutral effects at distances <250 m. Generally, anthropogenic structures seemed compatible with bobwhite populations on our study area, given density and dispersion of the structures that existed.     

Genetic evidence for different migration routes of freshwater fish into Norway revealed by analysis of current perch (Perca fluviatilis) populations in Scandinavia

To elucidate the colonization of freshwater fish into Norway following the last deglaciation of Europe 10 000 years ago, we have performed a survey using mitochondrial DNA variation (20 populations) and multilocus DNA fingerprinting (14 populations) of the widely distributed perch ( Perca fluviatilis ) from the Scandinavian peninsula and the Baltic Sea. Sequence analysis of a 378 bp segment of the perch mitochondrial control region (D-loop) revealed 12 different haplotypes. A nested clade analysis was performed with the aim of separating population structure and population history. This analysis revealed strong geographical structuring of the Scandinavian perch populations. In addition, the level of genetic diversity was shown to differ considerably among the various populations as measured by the bandsharing values ( S -values) obtained from multilocus DNA fingerprinting, with intrapopulation S -values ranging from 0.19 in Sweden to 0.84 in the central part of Norway. Analysis of the intrapopulation S -values, with S -value as a function of lake surface area and region, showed that these differences were significant. The mitochondrial and DNA fingerprinting data both suggest that the perch colonized Norway via two routes: one from the south following the retreating glacier, and the other through Swedish river systems from the Baltic Sea area. Perch utilizing the southern route colonized the area surrounding Oslofjord and the lakes which shortly after deglaciation were close to the sea. Fish migrating from the Baltic Sea seem to have reached no further than the east side of Oslofjord, where they presumably mixed with perch which had entered via the southern route. It seems likely that the migration events leading to the current distribution of perch also apply to other species of freshwater fish showing a similar distribution pattern.