{"title":"Oregon Spotted Frog (Rana pretiosa) Migration from an Aquatic Overwintering Site: Timing, Duration, and Potential Environmental Cues","authors":"J. Bowerman, C. Pearl","doi":"10.1637/0003-0031-184.1.87","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1637/0003-0031-184.1.87","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Relatively few North American anurans overwinter in water and information is sparse on their movement from overwintering habitat to breeding sites. Oregon spotted frogs (Rana pretiosa) breed explosively in early spring and often overwinter submerged at sites that are distanced from breeding habitats. In montane parts of their range, wintering and breeding habitats can remain frozen for months. We investigated timing, duration, and potential cues for R. pretiosa migrations from a wintering lake near the Cascade Mountains in central Oregon, U.S.A. First and median migrant males moved slightly earlier than females. Onset of migration was as early as February 12 (males) and as late as April 4 (females) in years of mild and extended winters, respectively. Frogs were active at water temperatures below those associated with early breeding activities in one lowland R. pretiosa population. Higher proportions of frogs migrated before ice-out in years of prolonged winter conditions. Migrations were temporally compressed in years of later movement. This migration ‘rush’, along with the ability to move at cold temperatures and to vary timing of migrations likely helps montane R. pretiosa deal with colder and more variable spring conditions than lowland populations.","PeriodicalId":50802,"journal":{"name":"American Midland Naturalist","volume":"184 1","pages":"87 - 97"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2020-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43081628","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Population Trends in Royal Catchfly (Silene regia) at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, Missouri","authors":"K. Kull","doi":"10.1637/0003-0031-184.1.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1637/0003-0031-184.1.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Royal catchfly (Silene regia, Caryophyllaceae) is a rare, tap-rooted, perennial forb known to occupy Midwestern prairies, glades, and savannas, which are increasingly fragmented. Though not federally listed, it is recognized as rare, threatened, or endangered in six states. We resurveyed 15 populations identified in 1980s–1990s monitoring at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, Republic, MO. Abundance at each site was collected in 6 y (1988–1989, 1998–2000, 2019); measures of plant height and stems browsed were collected in 4 y (1998–2000, 2019). Fire history and precipitation were also explored. Mean royal catchfly abundance per population declined significantly over the study period, and only five of 15 populations supported extant populations in 2019. Year, site location, and the interaction between the two were highly significant factors in explaining variation of height measures and proportion of stems browsed. Plant height was significantly higher in 2019 than any other year, corresponding with overgrowth of competing vegetation and a wet spring. Prescribed fires became less frequent over the study period, and the mean fire return interval was higher than the historical regime of the region (9.7 y vs. 4–8 y). The decline of royal catchfly at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield and similar sites points to the need for fire management and restoration of prairie and savanna ecosystems for the persistence of this rare species.","PeriodicalId":50802,"journal":{"name":"American Midland Naturalist","volume":"184 1","pages":"1 - 16"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2020-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43304920","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alexander Peña-Peniche, Irene Ruvalcaba-Ortega, R. Castillo
{"title":"Noteworthy Wintering Records and Habitat of LeConte's Sparrow (Ammospiza leconteii) in Grasslands of Coahuila, Northern Mexico","authors":"Alexander Peña-Peniche, Irene Ruvalcaba-Ortega, R. Castillo","doi":"10.1637/0003-0031-184.1.123","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1637/0003-0031-184.1.123","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. There is limited knowledge on the winter distribution of LeConte's Sparrow, especially in northern Mexico where it is considered scarce and rare. We captured and banded two individuals of LeConte's Sparrow (Ammospiza leconteii) during consecutive winters (2016-2017, 2017-2018; one in each season) in an intermountain grassland of northern Coahuila, Mexico. These records were ca. 300 km outside the known wintering range of this species. Vegetation was variable at both sites. The first wintering site consisted of low grass cover (18.7%) dominated by Eragrostis and Bouteloua; the second site consisted of 72.6% grass cover, mainly composed of Bouteloua and Botriochloa.","PeriodicalId":50802,"journal":{"name":"American Midland Naturalist","volume":"184 1","pages":"123 - 127"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2020-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46225792","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Karen E. Powers, M. T. Mengak, R. R. Sheehy, W. Ford, R. Reynolds
{"title":"Bot Fly Parasitism of Allegheny Woodrats (Neotoma magister) in Virginia","authors":"Karen E. Powers, M. T. Mengak, R. R. Sheehy, W. Ford, R. Reynolds","doi":"10.1637/0003-0031-184.1.62","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1637/0003-0031-184.1.62","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. The Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister) is a species of high conservation concern and relatively well-studied with respect to habitat use/associations, food habits, conservation genetics, and population trends. However, with the exception of raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) occurrence and etiology in woodrats, most disease and parasite ecology aspects for the woodrat are unknown. Herein, we examined the prevalence of bot flies (Cuterebra) over nearly three decades of woodrat surveys (1990–2018) in the central Appalachian Mountains of western Virginia. We use genetic analyses to identify recent bot fly specimen collections from a woodrat captured in 2017. Though highly variable from year to year, the overall prevalence of parasitism was low (typically < 4% of captures). As such, bot flies do not appear to be a widespread parasitic burden to Allegheny woodrats in Virginia. Genetic analysis of four collected bot fly larvae was inconclusive, as the genetic signature of these woodrat bots did not match any of the six bot species known to parasitize rodents and lagomorphs in the eastern United States. Further collections and genetic analyses will be needed to determine if the genetic database is incomplete or incorrect, or if our find is a new species of bot fly not yet taxonomically recognized.","PeriodicalId":50802,"journal":{"name":"American Midland Naturalist","volume":"184 1","pages":"62 - 72"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2020-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46815967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A New Addition to the Devonian Elasmobranch Fauna of Michigan, U.S.A.","authors":"A. L. Swinehart, M. Hoenig, M. Ginter","doi":"10.1637/0003-0031-184.1.109","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1637/0003-0031-184.1.109","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. A tooth of Phoebodus cf. P. sophiae (Chondrichthyes, Elasmobranchii) was recovered from the Middle Devonian, Early Givetian, Rockport Quarry Limestone Formation in Alpena, Michigan. It is the first known record of the taxon in Michigan and the third known locality from North America. It is the oldest known record in North America, and possibly worldwide, and may extend the known temporal range of the genus. Previous known records for P. sophiae have been confined to the middle Givetian Polygnathus varcus conodont zone, and the taxon was thought to be a possible index fossil for the middle Givetian. The present record extends the taxon to the early Givetian P. hemiansatus conodont zone and, thus, complicates the use of P. sophiae as a proxy index fossil for the P. varcus zone.","PeriodicalId":50802,"journal":{"name":"American Midland Naturalist","volume":"184 1","pages":"109 - 115"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2020-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46676284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Prescribed Fire Has a Greater Impact on Artificial Nest Predation Than a Recent Bison Re-introduction in Illinois Tallgrass Prairie","authors":"Heather Herakovich, H. Jones","doi":"10.1637/0003-0031-184.1.48","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1637/0003-0031-184.1.48","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Grazing differentially affects both the abundance and breeding success of grassland birds (e.g., due to differences in bird species' preferences for sparse or dense vegetation structure, nest predator response to grazing, and/or trampling of nests). Coupled with prescribed fire, grazing impacts can be compounded by pyric herbivory—the preference of grazers to choose newly-burned sites in which to graze. The purpose of this study was to determine how a recent re-introduction of American bison (Bison bison) coupled with prescribed fire may impact grassland bird nests. Artificial nests were used to determine if grazing and fire impacted nest success, total mammalian depredation, and depredation by the most common nest predator, mice (Peromyscus spp.). Artificial nests were placed in sites with and without bison before (2014) and after bison re-introduction (2015–2018); sites had fire return intervals from 1–2 y. We found the re-introduction of bison had a negligible influence on nest success and total mammalian depredation. However, nest success was lower in burned sites compared to unburned sites. The decrease in nest success correlated with an increase in total proportion of depredation events in burned sites compared to unburned sites. In addition, the proportion of Peromyscus spp. depredation events was marginally higher in burned sites compared to unburned sites. Although predation by Peromyscus increased after bison re-introduction, prescribed fire differences drove this change. Our results suggest prescribed fire may increase nest predation of artificial nests, indicating a possible impact on ground-nesting grassland birds. In contrast, bison had a negligible impact on artificial nest success in the first 4 y following their re-introduction.","PeriodicalId":50802,"journal":{"name":"American Midland Naturalist","volume":"184 1","pages":"48 - 61"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2020-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44776049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Nesting Records and Habitat of the Common Black-Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus) in Natural Protected Area Maderas del Carmen, Coahuila, México","authors":"Eliphaleth Carmona-Gómez, Ricardo Canales-Del-Castillo, Irene Ruvalcaba- Ortega, John Klicka, Alejandro Espinosa-Treviño, Jonás Delgadillo-Villalobos","doi":"10.1637/0003-0031-184.1.116","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1637/0003-0031-184.1.116","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. The Common Black Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus), a widespread neotropical raptor, has been known since the 1970s to nest as far north as western Texas, but few breeding records exist for the adjacent area of northcentral Mexico. In 2015 we located two active nest sites within the Maderas del Carmen Flora and Fauna Protection Area at northwestern Coahuila. The nest sites were in Pecan (Carya illinoiensis) and Arizona Pine (Pinus arizonica) trees, both near natural permanent water sources. Our recent nest site records along with others in eastern Coahuila suggest the existence of a corridor connecting Texas and Nuevo León populations, highlighting the importance of transboundary natural protected areas for species conservation.","PeriodicalId":50802,"journal":{"name":"American Midland Naturalist","volume":"184 1","pages":"116 - 122"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2020-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45201162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Ellison, N. Gotelli, L. Błędzki, Jessica L. Butler
{"title":"Regulation by the Pitcher Plant Sarracenia purpurea of the Structure of its Inquiline Food Web","authors":"A. Ellison, N. Gotelli, L. Błędzki, Jessica L. Butler","doi":"10.1674/0003-0031-186.1.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1674/0003-0031-186.1.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Phytotelmata, the water-filled habitats in pitcher plants, bromeliad tanks, and tree-holes, host multitrophic food webs that are model experimental systems for studying food-web structure and dynamics. However, the plant usually is considered simply as an inert container, not as an interacting part of the food web. We used a manipulative field experiment with a response-surface design to determine effects of nutrient enrichment (multiple levels of NH4NO3, PO4, and captured prey), top predators (removed or present), and the plant itself (with or without plastic tubes inserted into the pitchers to isolate the food web from the plant) on the macrobial food web within the modified leaves (“pitchers”) of the carnivorous pitcher plant Sarracenia purpurea. Connection to the plant, addition of NH4NO3, and removal of the top predator significantly increased the food web's saturation, defined as its trophic depth and number of interactions. No effects on food-web saturation resulted from addition of PO4 or supplemental prey. Plants such as S. purpurea that create phytotelmata are more than inert containers and their inhabitants are more than commensal inquilines. Rather, both the plant and the inquilines are partners in a complex network of interactions.","PeriodicalId":50802,"journal":{"name":"American Midland Naturalist","volume":"186 1","pages":"1 - 15"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2020-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42071985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
R. Rosenfield, Madeline G. Hardin, Alexandra M. Rosenfield, Keeley M. Rosenfield
{"title":"Are There Differences in Select Ecological Attributes and Reproductive Output of Yearling Female Cooper's Hawks (Accipiter cooperii) Breeding in Urban vs. Rural Landscapes in Wisconsin?","authors":"R. Rosenfield, Madeline G. Hardin, Alexandra M. Rosenfield, Keeley M. Rosenfield","doi":"10.1637/0003-0031-183.2.246","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1637/0003-0031-183.2.246","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Cooper's Hawks (Accipiter cooperii) nest commonly in various habitats throughout North America, but there are few comparative studies of the ecology of urban vs. rural nesting birds, especially regarding 1 y olds whose inexperience is purported to place them under different selective pressures than more commonly nesting hawks ≥ 2 y of age. Notably, selective pressures of cities have prompted recent changes in the life histories and phenotypes of urban birds, and some of these pressures may be age dependent. We investigated select intrinsic properties of individuals and reproductive output of breeding yearling females and their mates for potential differences in the ecology of urban vs. rural birds in Wisconsin, 1980–2017. We found no differences in mean body mass of yearling females, their male mates, nesting phenology, nor in average clutch or brood counts in urban vs. rural Cooper's Hawks. Excluding one instance, yearling females were mated to older males, ≥ 2 y of age, and within 33 pairs birds mated by like sizes (small/small, etc.). Sums of masses for paired birds were not correlated with their brood sizes, in contrast to our earlier findings on the same study areas where brood size was positively and significantly correlated with summed masses of paired birds ≥ 2 y old who also mated by similar size. We call for more comparative studies of Cooper's Hawks in cities < 100,000 people as studied herein, as most research on urban nesting Cooper's Hawks stem from large, metropolitan cities with about 1 million people, which are less prevalent than smaller cities as we investigated. Indeed, there is growing evidence worldwide that the types and strength of selective pressures on urban wildlife is greater in larger cities, yet less is known about small cities.","PeriodicalId":50802,"journal":{"name":"American Midland Naturalist","volume":"183 1","pages":"246 - 251"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2020-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41957424","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jana Gedymin Viel, A. Donnelly, G. Fredlund, W. Mueller, Ryan S. Brady
{"title":"Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) Occurrence in Urban Areas Southeastern Wisconsin, U.S.A.","authors":"Jana Gedymin Viel, A. Donnelly, G. Fredlund, W. Mueller, Ryan S. Brady","doi":"10.1637/0003-0031-183.2.233","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1637/0003-0031-183.2.233","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Limited survey data and numerous anecdotal accounts indicate the Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) is experiencing population declines not only in Wisconsin, U.S.A., but across large parts of their range in North America. However, it is possible estimates from current avian monitoring efforts are not representative, because surveys are not necessarily conducted at dusk when C. minor are most active, nor do they specifically target urban areas where a portion of the C. minor population are known to nest on flat graveled rooftops. Therefore, urban crepuscular monitoring protocols are needed to address these issues, enhance current monitoring efforts, and gain a better understanding of C. minor demographics. In this study we used a citizen science-based methodology to survey 92 municipalities in southeastern Wisconsin in areas with varying degrees of urbanization to establish baseline data for this species that can then be compared to future counts. We investigated the influence of a range of environmental and ecological factors, as well as landscape features and land cover types in relation to C. minor occurrence. C. minor detection was positively correlated with Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) counts, the number and area (m2) of flat graveled rooftops, and heavily developed land cover types. The surveys also revealed a negative correlation between agricultural land cover and C. minor occurrence. Overall, the use of citizen science to establish a baseline for C. minor was successful and may be adapted and applied to other crepuscular bird species at a broader geographic scale of similar landscape type.","PeriodicalId":50802,"journal":{"name":"American Midland Naturalist","volume":"183 1","pages":"233 - 245"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2020-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47401064","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}