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The UDSpace Institutional Repository collects and disseminates research material from the University of Delaware.
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A Quantitative Summary of Attitudes toward Wolves and Their Reintroduction (1972-2000)
(Wildlife Society Bulletin, 2002) Williams, Christopher K.; Ericsson, Göran; Heberlein, Thomas A.
This paper reports an analysis of support for wolves (Canis spp.) reported in 38 quantitative surveys conducted between 1972 and 2000. Of 109 records reported in these surveys, a majority (51 %) showed positive attitudes toward wolves and 60% supported wolf restoration. Attitudes toward wolves had a negative correlation with age, rural residence, and ranching and farming occupations, and positive correlation with education and income. Thirty-five percent of ranchers and farmers surveyed had positive attitudes toward wolves. Among surveys of the general population samples, 61 % expressed positive attitudes. Surveys of environmental and wildlife groups showed an average of 69% support. Surveys in the lower 48 states showed higher proportions of positive attitudes than surveys in Scandinavia and Western Europe, where a majority did not support wolves. Among all surveys, 25% of respondents had neutral attitudes toward wolves. Positive attitudes toward wolves did not appear to be increasing over time. Because attitudes toward wolves are often not strong among the general public, they have the potential to change rapidly if linked to other, stronger attitudes and beliefs. We expect that progress in education and urbanization will lead to increasingly positive attitudes over time. Negative attitudes associated with age are probably a cohort effect, and we should not expect the aging populations in the United States and Europe to lead to more negative wolf attitudes. Paradoxically, successful wolf reintroductions are likely to reduce general positive sentiment, since the presence of wolves gives people a more balanced experience with the animals. Traditionally, people with the most positive attitudes toward wolves have been those with the least experience.
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Health Status of Northern Bobwhite Quail (Colinus virginianus) in Eastern Kansas
(Avian Diseases, 2000) Williams, Christopher K.; Davidson, William R.; Lutz, R. Scott; Applegate, Roger D.
SUMMARY. The health status of wild northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) from Lyon County, Kansas, was evaluated by conducting comprehensive health assessments on 25 birds. Gross lesions indicative of avian pox, ulcerative enteritis, and quail bronchitis were not present. Serologic tests for antibodies to Salmonella pullorum, Salmonella gallinarum, Pasteurella multocida, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Mycoplasma synoviae, and avian adenoviruses were all negative. Intestinal coccidia (Eimeria spp.) were found in 36% of the birds. Only three species of helminth parasites were found: Dispharynx nasuta in two birds, Cyrnea colini in one bird, and larval Physaloptera sp. in four birds. Arthropod parasites (ticks, lice, mites, and/ or chiggers) were present on 96% of the birds examined. Compared with wild bobwhite populations in the southeastern United States, the diversity, prevalence, and intensities of microbial and parasitic agents were low.
RESUMEN. Nota de Investigacion-Estado de salud de la codorniz blanca del Norte en el oriente de Kansas. Se realiz6 un estudio detallado del estado de salud de la codorniz silvestre blanca del norte (Colinus virginianus) en el condado de Lyon, Kansas en 25 aves. Las lesiones a la necropsia indicaron que la viruela aviar, la enteritis ulcerativa y la bronquitis de la codorniz no estaban presentes. Las pruebas serologicas para anticuerpos contra Salmonella pullorum, Salmonella gallinarum, Pasteurella multocida, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Mycoplasma synoviae y adenovirus aviares fueron negativas. Se observ6 coccidia intestinal (Eimeria spp.) en 36% de las aves. Se encontraron tres especies de helmintos uinicamente, Dispharynx nasuta en dos aves, Cyrnea colini en un ave y un estado larvario de Physaloptera sp. en cuatro aves. Los parasitos artropodos (garrapatas, piojos, acaros y niguas) estuvieron presentes en el 96% de las aves examinadas. La diversidad, la prevalencia y la intensidad de agentes parasiticos y microbianos fue baja, comparada con las poblaciones silvestres de codornices blancas en el sureste de los Estados Unidos.
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A comparison of raptor densities and habitat use in Kansas cropland and rangeland ecosystems
(Journal of Raptor Research, 2000-09) Williams, Christopher K.; Applegate, Roger D.; Lutz, R. Scott; Rusch, Donald H.
We counted raptors on line transects along roads to assess densities, species diversity, and habitat selection of winter raptors between cropland and rangeland habitats in eastern Kansas. We conducted counts every 2 wk between September-March 1994-98. Species diversity indices did not differ between the two habitats (P -- 0.15). We calculated density estimates and cover type selection for Red- tailed Hawks (Buteojamaicensis), Northern Harriers (Circus cyaneus), and American Kestrels (Falco sparv- erius). Red-tailed Hawks and Northern Harrier densities were higher in cropland, while kestrel densities did not differ between the two habitats. All three species across both habitats had a general preference for idleland habitat. We believe three factors could explain the higher raptor densities in cropland: increased prey abundance, increased visibility of prey associated with harvested agriculture fields, and/ or a higher relative amount of preferred hunting habitat.
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Factors Influencing a 24-Hour Time-Budget for Wintering Atlantic Brant
(Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management, 2019-02-01) Heise, Jeremiah R.; Williams, Christopher K.; Castelli, Paul M.
The wintering period is often a limiting time for waterfowl. To understand the behavioral dynamics of Atlantic brant Branta bernicla hrota wintering along coastal New Jersey, USA, we conducted observations across the full 24-h diel period in an effort to construct an accurate time-budget model for the wintering population. In most behavioral studies, it is only possible to collect diurnal and crepuscular behavior data, forcing the assumption that these data are representative of nocturnal behavior in order to model the full 24-h diel period. We collected behavior data in 5,902 instantaneous observational scans across 4 time periods (morning crepuscular, diurnal, evening crepuscular, and nocturnal) from the third week in October to the third week in February 2009–2010 and 2010–2011. Brant primarily allocated time toward swimming (43.5%), feeding (26.4%), resting (15.4%), and flying (7.7%); these proportions differed significantly across times of day. Brant exhibited decreased flight (4.8% vs. 9.3%) and feeding (22.3% vs. 29.6%) and increased resting behavior (24.4% vs. 10.5%) nocturnally compared with diurnal periods. We further modeled explanatory environmental variables, hunting effects (open vs. closed seasons, locations open vs. closed to hunting), and time of day (diurnal and nocturnal only) on wintering behaviors. Feeding, resting, and swimming behavior presence were most influenced by a predictive model of (Hunt Season × Hunt Location × Period) + (Tide × Period). Flight behavior presence were most influenced by a predictive model of (Hunt Season × Hunt Location × Period) + (Tide × Temperature). There is an interactive effect of hunting pressure and period of day on observed activity; therefore, our results demonstrate that not accounting for nocturnal variation in behavior can lead to biases when extrapolating to energy expenditure models. Additionally, hunting areas proved to be nocturnally valuable because these areas contain valuable energy resources that may be unavailable diurnally, and our observations show that brant will shift their activities around hunting pressures to make use of these areas.
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Does Invasive Common Reed in Coastal Salt Marshes Affect Dabbling Duck Food Availability?
(Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management, 2020-06-26) Van Neste, Kristen M.; Williams, Christopher K.; Castelli, Paul M.
Common reed, Phragmites australis, a nonnative perennial grass, is considered a nuisance species to land managers and wildlife biologists. Common reed thrives in areas with reduced soil salinities, increased nitrogen availability, and anthropogenic shoreline development. The expansion of nonnative common reed into tidal wetlands of North America detrimentally affects native wildlife by altering resource utilization, modifying trophic structures, and changing disturbance regimes. Thus, it also has the potential to drastically affect dabbling duck (Family Anatidae, SubFamily Anatinae, Tribe Anatini) energetic carrying capacity in salt marsh ecosystems. We assessed whether invaded monocultures of common reed in dabbling duck habitat could alter the availability of invertebrate and seed foods for the mallard Anas platyrhynchos, American black duck Anas rubripes, green-winged teal Anas crecca, northern shoveler Spatula clypeata, and northern pintail Anas acuta as compared with wetland type (mudflat, low marsh, high marsh, and impoundments). We compared food and energy availability in > 90% common reed monocultures with noncommon reed-invaded salt marshes in five study areas in Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, New Jersey, 2015–2016. To estimate wetland-specific food energy supply, we collected sediment core samples, fixed them with formalin, and washed, dried, sorted, and weighed them for seeds and invertebrates. We multiplied biomass (g) by true metabolizable energy values to estimate species-specific dabbling duck food energy availability. We further estimated wetland-specific energetic carrying capacity (duck energy days) on the basis of known species-specific energetic demands. We determined that duck energy days/ha were greater for dabbling ducks in wetlands invaded with common reed because they contained more consumable seed energy and less consumable invertebrate energy. However, future research should explore how accessible these foods are when common reed grass is dense. To aid in restoration efforts once common reed is removed by control efforts, our results indicate that a robust seed bank exists in the soil strata, thus increasing salt-marsh seed biodiversity.