In 1967 this study was initiated to evaluate the self-guided visitor tour of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. A 20 page visitor information booklet and tour guide was prepared and published for distribution at the refuge, and its effectiveness in telling the refuge story was evaluated. To gain a measure of the self-guided tour in terms of quality, visitor use patterns and satisfactions were critically examined. To gather data on visitor use of the refuge, the visiting public was directly sampled by three methods: mail questionnaires, on-site interviews and candid tower observations of groups on the tour. The information and tour guide booklet was not as effective as it should have been in telling the refuge story. Only one-fourth of the visitor groups purchased the guide, and only about half of these groups used it to any degree at the refuge. Based on expressions of visitor satisfaction, the self-guided tour at Bear River Refuge should be termed a quality recreational activity. The continued quality of the tour depends upon sustained proper management and development of the refuge area to maintain it as a prime nesting and feeding area for migratory birds.

Since the development of Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area in 1937, the Canada goose (Branta canadesis moffitti) population increased to a peak in 1949 and then declined slightly. Nelson (1954) noted that the decrease in population was probably due to either a change in habitat or increased hunting pressure. In recent years, direct band returns have indicated a high mortality rate in the population. This project was initiated to determine the relative stability of the Canada goose population and to measure, as closely as possible, the effect of a high mortality rate upon the nesting population.

Chikungunya (CHIK) is an emerging viral disease, which causes significant morbidity and mortality throughout tropical/subtropical areas of the world, including a recent outbreak in the Americas. Disease typically includes fever, rash, and arthritis. Joint involvement is generally self-limiting, but infection with Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) can lead to chronic debilitating arthritis that can last for months to years. With no vaccine and no licensed treatment, suitable animal models of CHIKV are needed to test intervention strategies. We developed a model of CHIK in DBA1/J mice that develop joint swelling, increase in inflammatory cytokines and splenomegaly in mice, which include important symptoms of disease seen in infected humans. We used this model to test the hypothesis that treatment with immune-modulatory compounds would ameliorate disease. GP1681, which suppresses TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, exacerbated CHIK as indicated by increased footpad swelling and viral load. Prophylactic treatment with mDEF201, an adenovirus-vectored interferon, reduced disease, including joint swelling, virus titers at the site of virus challenge and inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, MCP-1, MIP-1α, and RANTES), although efficacy waned as treatment initiation was extended beyond virus challenge. Methotrexate treatment was also effective at ameliorating joint swelling and other disease parameters. Actemra (ACT), an anti-IL-6 antibody, reduced IL-6 levels to baseline, although the resulting improvement in footpad swelling was not significant. Combination therapy with methotrexate and ACT resulted in reduced footpad swelling. Based on our results, immune modulators have potential for the treatment of CHIKV and some of the compounds tested might have potential for clinical developmental.

The objectives of this research were to examine the metabolism in vivo of the pesticide leptophos in the rat under normal conditions and during inhibition of the mixed-function oxidases and during depletion of glutathione. Glutathione is a cofactor in the conjugation reactions of the glutathione-S-transferases. Both the mixed-function oxidase system and the glutathione-S-transferases have been shown to be important in the biotransformation of other organophosphate pesticides. Urinary metabolites of leptophos were extracted, derivatized and subsequently analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. The methods used to analyze for alkyl phosphonates were subject to several shortcomings and modifications of the original procedure were necessary. With the modifications the method gave reliable and reproducible results. The results of this study showed that the distribution of leptophos metabolites excreted in the urine of normal rats was methyl phenylthiophosphonate 63%, methyl phenylphosphonate 23%, and phenyl phosphonic acid 14%. These metabolites were both qualitatively and quantitatively similar to those reported for the mouse. In addition, manipulation of metabolic pathways supported the predictions made as to the nature (i.e., oxidative or conjugative) of the various pathways of leptophos metabolism. The results indicate that demethylation and possibly dearylation of leptophos axon are GSH-dependent reactions and that dearylation of leptophos is an MFO-mediated detoxification pathway.

Milk samples from fifty individual Holstein cows at the Utah State University Dairy Farm were tested monthly for 10 months for total protein, casein, fat, somatic cells and pH. A new instrument (Foss Formagraph) was used to measure the coagulation properties of the samples. Simulated cheese making procedures were utilized to measure recovery of fat and protein. All the data were statistically analyzed in relation to individual animals, stage of lactation, number of lactation and milk yield. Significant variations in clotting time and curd firmness were observed in relation to period of lactation, season, individual cow difference, and milk pH. A high, negative correlation (-0.86) was observed between clotting time and curd firmness. The mean clotting time generally increased as lactation progressed and milk yield decreased. '!his coincided with the change in seasons from Summer, when the cows were generally in mid lactation, to Winter when they were in late lactation. Curd firmness was generally greater in Summer than in Fall or Winter. Milk samples from 38% of the cows did not coagulate, one month prior to their dry periods. Frequency of the failure of milk to coagulate one month before the dry period was highest in Winter (68.4%) and Fall (31.6%). All samples from cows dried in the Summer coagulated one month before drying. A procedure was developed for measuring the coagulation efficiency of milk from individual cows. Milk pH was the most significant and independent source of variation affecting clotting time and curd firmness. Stage of lactation correlated significantly and positively with total protein, casein, fat, pH and negatively with milk yield. Total protein, casein, fat, pH and somatic cell counts were highest in Winter, when milk yields were lowest and average days in lactation were longest. The amounts of casein plus fat that were measured were substituted in the Van Slyke and Price formula to estimate cheese yields during Winter months (January through March). Values ranged from 5.42 to 14.03 lb per 100 lb milk from individual cows with a mean value of 9.18 lb/100 lb milk. Percentages of milk fat plus casein lost in whey ranged from 13.3 to 23.9% with a mean of 17.8% for individual cows.

The author's main purpose is to discover and record what insects are present at different locations in the Logan River during the months of September, 1953, to June, 1954.

No description available.

The effects of roads, buildings, and cities on animal populations are widespread and, often times, disastrous. These structures fragment animals' homes, inhibiting their ability to obtain essential resources and to reproduce. The question arises then: Under what circumstances can an animal population persist in a fragmented landscape? To attempt to answer this question, we present a spatially explicit reaction-diffusion model with varying growth and diffusion rates that incorporates animal behavior at points where habitats are fragmented for four different habitats. The outcome of extinction or persistence of the animal population is determined by examining the effects of changing parameters on the principal eigenvalue of the associated eigenvalue problem. These results are also interpreted biologically and used to predict how wildlife protective measures should be implemented.

Since the 1980s the overall giraffe population has dropped at least 40% causing some researchers to label this rapid decline as the "Silent Extinction." Due to this plummet, understanding the behaviors of the giraffe population is absolutely necessary before they are on the brink of extinction. Through the usage of mathematical modeling methodologies, a general model is created to illustrate the relationship between juvenile and adult female giraffes through numerous interaction parameters. Variations on specific variables generate different simulations, which allows more biological accuracy. With each variation having an established coexistence equilibrium between the juvenile and adult female populations, the research changes the focus from the general model to a patch model. The patch model is an extension of the general model where population migration occurs between two regions. One patch will represent the general circumstances a giraffe may encounter with the other patch illustrating life on a protected wildlife reserve. Studying the impact of different characteristics an environment may have such as resources and predation gives insight on the effect of influential factors giraffes encounter daily. Through knowledge obtained from both mathematical models, researchers and conversationalists can gain insight on giraffe behaviors to help increase population size before they are extinct.

Urbanization and an expanding human population have led to a large degree of habitat destruction and fragmentation. These, in turn, reduce biodiversity and wildlife population sizes on a global scale. Transportation infrastructure, such as roads and railways, are some of the largest contributors to habitat fragmentation. Roads are well-established to negatively impact wildlife, but some studies suggest a potential use in habitat connectivity by functioning as wildlife corridors to connect distant populations. Railways are similarly known to impact wildlife by increasing mortality rates as well as provide unique risks such as electrocution and entrapment when compared to roads. However, the influence of railways on the movement and behavior of most taxa remains understudied. Here, I used Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) at the John F. Kennedy Space Center as a model system to (1) determine whether roadsides are or could be used as a wildlife corridor to connect distant habitats and (2) evaluate the impacts of railways on tortoise movement and behavior while providing management implications for both roads and railways. To examine the use of roadsides as wildlife corridors, I tracked the movement of individuals found along roadsides using radio-telemetry to determine if tortoises used the roadsides to move between inland and coastal habitat. In addition, I compared home range sizes of tortoises along roads to those of inland and coastal habitats to examine differences in spatial use patterns with regards to roads. I translocated tortoises from distant habitats into the roadside corridors to determine whether they would use the roadsides as a connective route to return to their original capture location. Overall, I determined that roadsides do not function as movement pathways, as even translocated tortoises remained along roads throughout the duration of the study. Instead, roads appear to function as long-term residential areas and potentially suitable habitat. I suggest management of roadsides to reduce mortality and further studies to examine the potential of roadsides acting as ecological traps. To study the impact of railways on tortoise movement and behavior I first used radio-telemetry to track the movement of tortoises found less than 100 m from railways. I simulated movement by using 1000 correlated random walks per tortoise to determine if the number of observed crossing events were significantly less than what would be expected by chance. Second, I measured behavior via continuous focal sampling for one hour to determine railway crossing ability and test for behavioral differences associated with the familiarity of the railways using a principal component analysis. Lastly, I tested if trenches dug underneath the rails could be used as a management strategy to alleviate the impact of railways on tortoises. I found that tortoises are unlikely to cross the railways and the number of observed crossing events were significantly less than what we would expect by chance. Additionally, familiarity with the railway did not have any influence on a tortoise's ability to cross nor their behavior. Trenches were frequently used to move from one side of the railway to the other and are, therefore, a valid management strategy to alleviate the impacts railways have on tortoise mortality, movement, and behavior. Overall, I conclude that transportation infrastructure and the expanding human population have immense impacts on wildlife, especially on turtles and tortoises. I recommend further research continue to identify unique management strategies as well as alternative barriers that may play a large role in a species' decline.