O exame oftálmico, em aves, demanda conhecimentos sobre as particularidades do olho e de seus anexos, já que, por exemplo, a predominância de fibras musculares estriadas, na íris, impede a obtenção de midríase com fármacos convencionais, como parassimpatolíticos e simpatomiméticos. Objetivando-se estabelecer protocolo efetivo e seguro para a obtenção de midríase em duas espécies de papagaios do gênero Amazona, optou-se por utilizar a aplicação tópica do brometo de rocurônio (10 mg/ml), em ambos os olhos. Foram avaliados 12 papagaios-verdadeiros (Amazona aestiva) e 12 papagaios-do-mangue (Amazona amazônica), adultos, com sexo indeterminado, sadios e sem oftalmopatias, os quais foram submetidos a três protocolos com doses crescentes de rocurônio, aplicadas com pipeta: ROC1 (instilação única de 20 &micro;l); ROC2 (instilação dupla de 20 &micro;l, a cada 15 minutos) e ROC3 (instilação tripla de 20 &micro;l, a cada 15 minutos). Presença ou não de resposta pupilar à luz (RPL) por estímulo direto com transiluminador de Finoff e mensuração do diâmetro pupilar com paquímetro digital foram verificadas antes (M0) e após os tratamentos, nos tempos de 15 (M15), 30 (M30), 45 (M45), 60 (M60), 120 (M120), 180 (M180), 240 (M240), 300 (M300) e 360 (M360) minutos, assim como após 24 horas (M24H). A ocorrência de sinais adversos locais e sistêmicos foi monitorada durante os períodos de avaliação. Quanto ao diâmetro pupilar, diferenças significativas (p<0,05) foram observadas comparando-se ROC1 com ROC2, em M45 e M60 e, em ROC1 com ROC3, de M15 a M60, nos papagaios-verdadeiros. Nos papagaios-do-mangue, diferenças foram observadas comparando-se ROC1 com ROC2 e ROC1 com ROC3, de M15 a M360. Em relação aos protocolos ROC2 com ROC3, diferenças estiveram presentes em M15, M30 e M120. RPL diminuída foi observada em 16,7% dos papagaios-verdadeiros e 25% dos papagaios-do-mangue, em ROC1; ausência foi manifesta por dois papagaios-verdadeiros (16,7%). Em ROC2, diminuição da intensidade da RPL ocorreu em 50% dos papagaios-verdadeiros e 25% dos papagaios-do-mangue; RPL foi ausente em um papagaio-verdadeiro (8,3%) e 25% dos papagaios-do-mangue. Em ROC3, verificou-se resposta pupilar atenuada em 25% dos papagaios-verdadeiros e dos papagaios-do-mangue; a mesma esteve ausente em dois papagaios-verdadeiros (16,7%) e 41,7% dos papagaios-do-mangue. Diferenças significativas quanto ao parâmetro, entre os três protocolos, não foram observadas nos papagaios-verdadeiros; já nos papagaios-do-mangue, ocorreram entre ROC1 e ROC3, de M15 a M120. Efeitos adversos locais não foram verificados e dentre os sistêmicos, constatou-se somente paralisia palpebral transitória em graus variáveis. Em ROC1, paralisia ocorreu em um papagaio-verdadeiro (8,3%); com ROC2, em 33,3% dos papagaios-verdadeiros e 16,7% dos papagaios-do-mangue e, em ROC3, em 50% dos papagaios-verdadeiros e 58,3% dos papagaios-do-mangue. Diferenças significativas (p<0,05) quanto à paralisia palpebral, não foram observadas entre ROC1 e ROC2, nos papagaios-verdadeiros, sendo identificadas em M15, à comparação de ROC1 com ROC3. Nos papagaios-do-mangue, ocorreram entre ROC1 e ROC3 e ROC2 e ROC3, em M15. Os resultados permitiram concluir que midríase superior e duradoura foi obtida nos protocolos ROC2 e ROC3, considerados mais efetivos e relativamente seguros mediante a ocorrência de efeitos colaterais brandos / The ophthalmic examination in birds demands knowledge about the ophthalmic particularities. For example, the predominance of striated muscle fibers in the iris prevents mydriasis with conventional drugs, such as parasympatholytic and sympathomimetics. The purpose of this study was to establish an effective and safe protocol to obtain mydriases in two species of parrots (Amazona aestiva and Amazona amazonica) by the topical application of rocuronium bromide (10 mg/ml) in both eyes. Twelve blue-fronted Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva) and twelve orange-winged Amazon parrots (Amazona amazonica), adults, with undetermined sex, healthy and without ocular diseases, were submitted to three protocols with different doses of rocuronium, applied with a pipette: ROC1 (20 &micro;l of rocuronium, single dose), ROC2 (20 &micro;l of rocuronium, two doses with 15 minutes apart) and ROC3 (20 &micro;l of rocuronium, three doses with 15 minutes apart). Pupillary light reflex (PLR) was tested by direct stimulation with Finoff transilluminator and pupillary diameter was measured with digital caliper before (M0) and after treatments in times of 15 (M15), 30 (M30), 45 (M45), 60 (M60), 120 (M120), 180 (M180), 240 (M240), 300 (M300) and 360 (M360) minutes, and after 24 hours (M24H). The occurrence of local and systemic adverse signs was monitored. Considering pupillary diameter, significant differences (p <0.05) were observed comparing ROC1 with ROC2, in M45 and M60, and ROC1 with ROC3, M15 to M60, in Amazona aestiva. Differences were observed comparing ROC1 with ROC2 and ROC1 with ROC3, from M15 to M360, in Amazona amazonica. Regarding ROC2 with ROC3 protocols, there were differences in M15, M30 and M120. Diminished PLR was observed in 16.7% of Amazona aestiva and in 25% of Amazona amazonica, in ROC1; absence was manifested by 16.7% of Amazona aestiva. In ROC2, decreased PLR occurred in 50% of Amazona aestiva and 25% of Amazona amazonica; PLR was absent in one Amazona aestiva (8.3%) and 25% of Amazona amazonica. In ROC3, there was attenuated pupillary reflex in 25% of both species, and absent in 16,7% of Amazona aestiva and 41.7% of Amazona amazonica. Significant differences between the three protocols were not observed in Amazona aestiva, however, in Amazona amazonica, there was significant difference between ROC1 and ROC3, from M15 to M120. Local adverse effects were not observed. Regarding to systemic effects, only transient lower eyelid paresis was noted in varying degrees. In ROC1, paresis occurred in one Amazona aestiva (8.3%), in ROC2, in 33.3% of Amazona aestiva and 16,7% of Amazona amazonica, in ROC3, in 50% of Amazona aestiva and 58.3%. of Amazona amazonica. Significant differences (p<0.05) regarding palpebral paresis were not observed between ROC1 with ROC2, in Amazona aestiva, but they were identified in M15, comparing ROC1 with ROC3. In Amazona amazonica, differences occurred in M15, comparing ROC 1 with ROC3 and ROC2 with ROC3. The results of this study indicate that a greater and more lasting mydriasis was obtained in ROC2 and ROC3. These two protocols were considered most effective and relatively safe because of mild side effects manifested

Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / Micheal J. Brouk / Two studies were conducted that focused on either the accuracy of hand-held near infrared spectrophotometer (NIR) units and two on-farm testing methods compared to conventional 105°C oven drying of corn silage or the use of a starling resistant supplement in total mixed rations (TMR) for lactating dairy cattle. Study 1 evaluated the accuracy of three NIR units (Digi-Star Moisture Tracker, Topcon Agriculture, Fort Atkinson, WI), food dehydrator (FD) (Nesco®, Two Rivers, WI), and a Koster Tester (KT) (Koster Moisture Tester, Inc., Brunswick, OH) to conventional 105°C forced air oven drying. Samples were taken at four Kansas dairy farms and analyzed for DM daily for 20 d. Two calibrations were tested within each NIR unit: NIRu was the DM predicted from the factory-preset calibration, and NIRc was a bias-adjusted DM prediction based on the average difference of oven-dried corn silage and NIRu over the 20-d study. Average oven DM of corn silage was 38.38% ± 0.59 for the 20-d experiment. All three NIRu measurements were lower (P<0.05) than the oven value. While all 3 NIRc predictions were similar (P>0.05) to oven value. KT value was similar (P>0.05) to the oven, while FD value was over estimated DM. (P<0.05). The hand-held NIRS units accurately predicted DM content of the corn silages when the factory preset calibrations were corrected for bias. While the food dehydrator over-estimated the DM of the corn silage and the Koster Tester accurately predicted DM. Study 2 was designed to evaluate the lactation performance of post-peak dairy cattle when using a starling resistant grain supplement. Sixteen prim- and multiparous Holstein cows were housed individually in a tie-stall barn, milked 3x daily, and fed 2x daily. Cows were fed two nutritionally similar diets: 1. TMR with grain in mash form and 2. TMR with grain supplement in a pellet with a 0.953-cm diameter. This study was designed as a single reversal experiment with two 14 d periods with the first 7 d used for an adaptation period and the last 7 d used for data collection in each period. Dry matter intake (DMI), water intake, and milk production was recorded daily. Feed ingredients, TMRS, refusals, and milk samples were collected the last 3 d of each period for analysis. TMRs and refusals were analyzed for particle size distribution with a Penn State Particle Separator. The pelleted supplement had a higher (P<0.05) percentage of DM retained on the 8.0-19.0mm sieve than the mash supplement as the pellet diameter was >8.0mm and could not pass through that sieve. There was no effect of diet (P>0.05) for DMI, feed efficiency, milk component percentage, and protein yield. There was a diet effect (P<0.05) for milk production, fat-corrected milk, energy-corrected milk, solid-corrected milk, and fat yield with lower observed values when cows were fed the pelleted supplement. This leads to the conclusion while a 0.953-cm diameter pellet will reduce starling consumption, it may result in lower milk production of post-peak Holstein cows.

The thesis deals with inventory survey of birds in the area of natural park Čeřínek. This paper examines the various data points from bird census, which took place from March 2017 to November 2017. The aim is to compare my inventory survey with results of Czech Society for Ornithology in Vysočina. Keywords: inventory, bird, species, nature park, dominance, frequency

Proof that public hunting on private lands is a growing Utah problem is, perhaps, most easily found by driving down any country lane. “No Trespassing" signs come one to a fence post or so it must seem to the pheasant hunter. His quarry is the most popular of Utah's farm game species and, unfortunately, the most popular subject of farmer-sportsmen disputes. Reasoning that short seasons reduce hunter nuisances and property damage, landowners have long advocated three to five day pheasant seasons. And because of this and a former game department concern about overshooting the birds (Utah Fish and Game Commission, 1941) Utah has had traditionally short pheasant hunting seasons. When biologists found it practically impossible to overshoot pheasants with rooster-only hunts (Allen, 1947 , 1956) Utah's game technicians and some sportsmen began advocating longer hunts. The longer seasons they felt, would increase the harvest of cocks and the public's recreational opportunity. Farmers have not been receptive to increased public recreation on their farms and have resisted pheasant hunts that are longer than, if as long as the standard three days. Some landowner groups have even rejected the three-day seasons and set their own, shorter seasons. Other upland game birds (partridges, quail and mourning doves) frequent private lands, and while they are not as popular with hunters as pheasants are, they figure in hunting-season problems. This has been particularly true of mourning doves. Attempts were made during the 1957 session of the Utah State Legislature to prohibit mourning dove hunting (Stokes I 1957). Advocates of this legislation felt that dove seasons led to property damage and nuisance and also encouraged pheasant poaching. The concern with these, as well as other problems stemming from upland bird hunting on private lands, revealed a need for more detailed information about the se problems. Therefore, a survey of farmers was initiated which had these specific objectives: 1. Determine the amount of upland bird habitat open to public hunting. 2. Learn the reasons why landowners close their property to public hunting. 3 Establish the number of landowners suffering from hunter caused nuisance and damage and the cost of such damage. 4 Find what, if any, method of hunter control held property damage and nuisance to farmers at an acceptable minimum. A review of the literature on farmer-sportsman relations reveals that few states have tried to study their problems carefully before attempting to solve them. The review also disclosed that much of what has been done is so specialized or based upon such limited information that it cannot honestly be compared to problems in other states or even to other areas in the same state. At the outset, I should mention that certain aspects of this criticism will apply to attempts to use this survey as a blanket generalization for the entire State.

The main goal of this thesis was to develop new methods and knowledge that will explain and predict species differences in sensitivity to dioxin-like compounds (DLCs) in birds. The important achievements and results obtained from the four experimental chapters of this thesis are summarized as follow: (1) an efficient luciferase reporter gene (LRG) assay was developed for use with 96-well cell culture plates; (2) the results obtained from LRG assay were shown to be highly correlated to available in ovo toxicity data; (3) amino acids at positions 324 and 380 within the aryl hydrocarbon receptor 1 ligand binding domain (AHR1 LBD) were shown to be responsible for reduced Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) AHR1 activity to induce a dioxin-responsive reporter gene in comparison to chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), and ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) AHR1 in response to different DLCs; (4) AHR1 LBD sequences of 86 avian species were studied and differences at amino acid sites 256, 257, 297, 324, 337 and 380 were identified. It was discovered that only positions 324 and 380 play a role in AHR1 activity to induce a dioxin-responsive gene; (5) in COS-7 cells expressing chicken AHR1, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran (PeCDF) are equipotent inducers of the reporter gene and bind with similar affinity to chicken AHR1, however, in the cells expressing pheasant, Japanese quail and common tern (Sterna hirundo) AHR1, PeCDF is a stronger inducer than TCDD. PeCDF also binds with higher affinity to pheasant and quail AHR1 than TCDD. The results of this thesis show that embryo lethal effect of DLCs in avian species can be predicted by use of two new non-lethal methods: (1) the LRG assay and (2) determination of the identity of the amino acids at positions 324 and 380. The findings and methods described in this thesis will be of use for environmental risk assessments of DLCs.

Decision support systems (DSS) that integrate long-term duck population and land use data are currently being used to develop conservation programs on the Canadian prairies. However, understanding inter-relationships between ducks and other grassland bird species would greatly enhance program planning and delivery among various bird conservation initiatives. Therefore, to achieve these goals, grassland bird species richness and relative abundance were compared between areas of low, moderate and high predicted waterfowl breeding densities (strata) in the southern Missouri Coteau, Saskatchewan. Roadside point counts were conducted during spring 2001 and 2002, and habitats were delineated within 400 m radius of each point. More birds of more species were encountered in the high density waterfowl stratum when compared with low but species that tended to co-occur with ducks were primarily wetland-associated. Overall, duck and other grassland bird species richness and abundance were moderately correlated (0.69 > r > 0.37, all Ps < 0.05); strong positive correlations between priority species of conservation concern and northern pintails were not found. No difference in mean number of priority grassland species occurred among strata, but differences were found for both number of species and total birds detected among routes within strata. High duck density stratum was more heterogeneous, consisting of greater areas of forage, shrub, wetlands, and open water bodies whereas low stratum contained larger, more uniformly-shaped habitat patches and greater proportion of cropland. Ordination analyses revealed that most priority species occurred in grassland-dominated sites with lower shrub area and wetland density whereas most wetland-associated species, including ducks and 2 priority species (Wilsons phalarope and marbled godwit) inhabited cultivated areas with higher wetland density. Ducks and priority species generally did not co-occur at the stop-level in highly heterogeneous landscapes but suitable habitats for both groups may exist in near proximity. In homogeneous landscapes, ducks and other wetland-associated common species were less abundant because of limited number of suitable wetlands. To achieve these dual goals, conservation efforts should be focused in areas containing wetlands adjacent to contiguous tracts of native pasture.

Decision support systems (DSS) that integrate long-term duck population and land use data are currently being used to develop conservation programs on the Canadian prairies. However, understanding inter-relationships between ducks and other grassland bird species would greatly enhance program planning and delivery among various bird conservation initiatives. Therefore, to achieve these goals, grassland bird species richness and relative abundance were compared between areas of low, moderate and high predicted waterfowl breeding densities (strata) in the southern Missouri Coteau, Saskatchewan. Roadside point counts were conducted during spring 2001 and 2002, and habitats were delineated within 400 m radius of each point. More birds of more species were encountered in the high density waterfowl stratum when compared with low but species that tended to co-occur with ducks were primarily wetland-associated. Overall, duck and other grassland bird species richness and abundance were moderately correlated (0.69 > r > 0.37, all Ps < 0.05); strong positive correlations between priority species of conservation concern and northern pintails were not found. No difference in mean number of priority grassland species occurred among strata, but differences were found for both number of species and total birds detected among routes within strata. High duck density stratum was more heterogeneous, consisting of greater areas of forage, shrub, wetlands, and open water bodies whereas low stratum contained larger, more uniformly-shaped habitat patches and greater proportion of cropland. Ordination analyses revealed that most priority species occurred in grassland-dominated sites with lower shrub area and wetland density whereas most wetland-associated species, including ducks and 2 priority species (Wilsons phalarope and marbled godwit) inhabited cultivated areas with higher wetland density. Ducks and priority species generally did not co-occur at the stop-level in highly heterogeneous landscapes but suitable habitats for both groups may exist in near proximity. In homogeneous landscapes, ducks and other wetland-associated common species were less abundant because of limited number of suitable wetlands. To achieve these dual goals, conservation efforts should be focused in areas containing wetlands adjacent to contiguous tracts of native pasture.

With a   growing human population, cities keep growing worldwide altering ecosystem   and thereby affecting the species living in these areas. Most studies of   urbanization and its effect on ecosystem have been conducted in the western   world and little is known about its effect in the neotropical part of the   world. I examined effects of fragment size, vegetation structure and   connectivity of urban green areas on bird species richness, mean abundance,   diversity and biomass in La Paz, Bolivia. Additionally, the effects of   different disturbance variables on bird community were evaluated. In total,   36 bird species were found in 24 fragment of varying size, connectivity and   level of disturbance. Bird species richness decreased with increasing   disturbance while connectivity and fragment size did not contribute   significantly to explain the variation in species richness at count point scale (p&gt;0.005, multiple linear regression). At fragment   scale, however, species richness increased with fragment sizes,   which has been shown in other studies from neotrophical regions. Variation in   abundance, diversity or biomass could not be explained by connectivity,   fragment size or disturbance.     Furthermore, coverage of construction had a negative effect on species   richness while coverage of bushes and coverage of herbs were negatively   related to biomass and diversity, respectively. The composition of bird   species differed with size and disturbance of the fragments, so that more   omnivorous and granivorous species such as Zonotrichia capensis, Turdus chiguanco and Zenaida auriculata, were present in areas highly affected by human activities. Larger fragments,   less affected by human presence held a larger proportion of insectivorous   species.

The demography of ovenbirds (<i>Seiurus aurocapillus</i>) was compared in landscapes highly fragmented by agriculture, moderately fragmented by commercial harvesting, and in contiguous boreal forest of Saskatchewan. Various survey techniques demonstrated that ovenbirds were less common in small, isolated forest patches in fragmented landscapes relative to contiguous forest. Male ovenbirds in fragmented landscapes (84 to 87% paired) had a lower probability of attracting females relative to males in contiguous forest (97%). Competition for territories was intense, as removal experiments demonstrated the presence of non-territorial male floaters. However, floaters were more common in contiguous forest, indicating this habitat was most preferred. Nesting success was lower in small farm fragments (29%) than the other landscapes (43 to 58%), due to high nest predation. Apparent annual survival of males was lower in small farm fragments (30%) relative to the other landscapes (57 to 60%). The difference in adult survival among landscapes was not caused by increased mortality in small farm fragments, but likely occurred because failed breeders (20% annual return rate) dispersed more than successful breeders (50%). Overall, small farm fragments were population sinks, where the number of adult birds lost to mortality and emigration exceeded the number of young produced. However, population size was constant over the length of the study indicating that populations in small farm fragments were rescued from extinction by immigration of birds from contiguous forest, where excess juveniles were produced. Populations in farm fragments were more likely to be rescued from local extinction by first time breeders (95% first time breeders) than the other landscapes (65 to 75%). <p>Increased turnover in small farm fragments, also resulted in a greater proportion of first time breeders (60%) in small farm fragments than the other landscapes (44 to 46%). These results support the idea that forest songbirds select habitat in a ideal preemptive manner. Younger individuals seem to be forced to settle in low-quality farm fragments, due to competition from older birds in the more optimal contiguous forest. Forest fragmentation bad a negative impact on ovenbirds and likely is an important factor influencing the decline of this and other Neotropical migrant species.

The avian influenza virus can be transmitted from sick birds to other birds by fecal and oral secretion. Therefore, when birds with avian influenza virus enter domestic bird farms and make contacts, it is possible to carry the virus in and transmit it to domestic birds. Since the outbreak of the avian influenza in Taiwan, most bird farms had set up the screen. Yet, the actual effectiveness of screen coverage rate has not been researched. This study will discuss further regarding the results of different screen coverage rate in preventing wild birds¡¦ entering to poultry farms in Kaohsiung area. Field observations were carried out at the wetlands in Kaohsiung county, including Old Railroad Bridge artificial wetland, Fongshan reservoir and 20 poultry farms which were less than five kilometers away from wetlands from September 2008 to October 2009. Chicken and duck farms were analyzed respectively, and the screen coverage rate was categorized into full, partial and no coverage, respectively. The aims of the study were to investigate the effect of screen coverage on the entrance of wild birds to the farms, and found out the potential bridge species near poultry farms. By observing different levels of screen coverage in poultry farms, migratory birds¡¦ activity, and the contact situation between wild and domestic birds, we can analyze the contact level of high risk species and speculate possible transmission path of the avian influenza, and understand the effectiveness of the screens. Also, showing the correlation between the density of domestic poultry and the number of wild bird enterance. The result showed, in terms of screen with different coverage rates, the number of bird species within the duck farms had significant different in full and no coverage. The number of total birds within the duck and chicken farms with full coverage was significant less than partial coverage. Both in chicken and farms, screen had a great effectively in preventing small sized birds entering, yet not on big sized birds. The density of domestic poultry and the number of wild bird enterance showed negative correlation only in chicken farms with partial coverage. In terms of the wild land birds entering poultry farms, Passeer montanus is the largest species, followed by Hirundo rustica and Streptopelia tranquebarica. As for aquatic birds, it is mainly of Ardeidae, Scolopacidae, Charadriidae and Rallidae. Among all, Passeer montanus, Hirundo rustica, Streptopelia tranquebarica, and Bubulcus ibis are not migratory birds and highly pathogenic avian influenza virus species which move between poultry farms and wetlands. Therefore, they were considered bridge species. Due to the bridge species makes direct contacts with poultry, it might be the spreader of the virus. Decreasing the possibility of wild birds¡¦ contact with poultry is an important mechanism for avian influenza control. Also, based on the model of European Food Safety Authority (ESFA), risk assessments will be conducted on Kaohsiung County wetland¡¦s migratory birds¡¦ highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 transmission to poultry farms.