As habitat loss and fragmentation are major causes of decline in animal species, studying habitat requirements in these species is a key component of their recovery. I investigated the relationship between landscape composition and habitat use of Blanding’s turtles, Emydoidea blandingii, a freshwater turtle threatened by habitat loss and road mortality on most of its Canadian range. In 2010, I conducted a radio-telemetry survey of 44 Blanding’s turtles in southern Québec, Canada, and modelled their home range size from land cover proportions measured at many spatial scales. I also used data from a visual survey conducted in 2008 and 2009 to model wetland occupancy of the species at the landscape scale. Home range size of the Blanding’s turtle was significantly correlated to landscape composition, and the proportions of agriculture, open water and anthropogenic lands had the strongest relationships with home range size. However, those relationships were weak and the models were unable to predict home range size accurately. At the landscape scale, land cover and road density poorly predicted probability of occurrence, and Blanding’s turtles occupied wetlands in both disturbed and natural sites. Management of the species should focus on protecting sites of occurrence with high wetland density, low road density, and sufficient suitable habitat to cover their seasonal movement patterns.

The overall objective of this thesis was to determine selenium (Se) levels in the major compartments of aquatic ecosystems and correlate these data with potential Se effects on early life stages of two native fish species. This work was conducted at two uranium (U) mines located in northern Saskatchewan, Key Lake mine and McClean Lake mine. In addition, a site fidelity study was conducted at Key Lake mine to evaluate movement patterns of northern pike inhabiting lakes receiving effluent discharges.<p> At Key Lake mine, Se was accumulated and biomagnified several orders of magnitude higher than its concentration in water (0.7-2.7 µg/L) in lakes receiving discharges, with Se in prey organisms reaching levels above the proposed 3-11 µg/g dry weight (DW) dietary toxicity threshold for fish. Increased concentrations of Se in aquatic biota led to an increase in the Se concentrations in eggs and tissues of northern pike that rely on these organisms as food sources. Furthermore, increases in the incidence of Se-induced deformities above 30% were recorded in fry originating from adults exposed to high levels of dietary Se (> 3µg/g, DW). The increased frequency of deformities found in northern pike fry was associated with a significant increase in the level of Se in northern pike eggs from exposure sites (31.28 - 48.23 µg/g DW) compared to reference (3.19 ± 0.29 µg/g DW).<p> At McClean Lake mine, Se was accumulated and biomagnified through the aquatic food chain with concentrations in some biota groups (e.g., forage fish) exceeding the lower limit (> 3µg/g DW) of the 3-11µg/g (DW) threshold for dietary Se toxicity in fish. Although both northern pike and white sucker females collected from the exposure site showed greater levels of Se in egg and tissues compared to fish collected from a reference site (likely caused by exposure to elevated levels of Se in prey organisms), no increases in Se-induced deformities were found in the developing fish larvae. The lack of a toxic response in fish larvae is in agreement with Se thresholds for early life stage deformities, with egg Se concentrations in northern pike and white sucker collected at the exposure site below the proposed 10 µg/g (DW) threshold associated with the presence of developmental abnormalities. The applicability of the proposed 7.91 µg/g (whole body, DW) Se toxicity threshold to cold water fish is controversial given that most of the research has focused on warm water fish. Therefore, there is an urgent need to conduct studies that allow us to better understand the environmental fate and effects of Se in north temperate (cold water) aquatic systems. The results of my research will contribute valuable information for the establishment of a realistic and environmentally relevant Se threshold for the protection of fish populations in Canadian waters. During the site fidelity study, fish locations were seasonally and daily recorded using a Lotek SRX_400 receiver with handheld Yagi antenna. The results suggest that tagged pike did not migrate out of the study area throughout the study period, with the mean distance traveled ranging from 50 to 400 m. Differences in movement (distance traveled) and home range were found between reference and exposure sites. Overall data suggest that radio-telemetry is a useful tool in environmental studies. This information on northern pike behavior will be valuable towards developing non-lethal sampling methods that could be applied for assessing the effects of industrial discharges in north temperate aquatic ecosystems.

The overall objective of this thesis was to determine selenium (Se) levels in the major compartments of aquatic ecosystems and correlate these data with potential Se effects on early life stages of two native fish species. This work was conducted at two uranium (U) mines located in northern Saskatchewan, Key Lake mine and McClean Lake mine. In addition, a site fidelity study was conducted at Key Lake mine to evaluate movement patterns of northern pike inhabiting lakes receiving effluent discharges.<p> At Key Lake mine, Se was accumulated and biomagnified several orders of magnitude higher than its concentration in water (0.7-2.7 µg/L) in lakes receiving discharges, with Se in prey organisms reaching levels above the proposed 3-11 µg/g dry weight (DW) dietary toxicity threshold for fish. Increased concentrations of Se in aquatic biota led to an increase in the Se concentrations in eggs and tissues of northern pike that rely on these organisms as food sources. Furthermore, increases in the incidence of Se-induced deformities above 30% were recorded in fry originating from adults exposed to high levels of dietary Se (> 3µg/g, DW). The increased frequency of deformities found in northern pike fry was associated with a significant increase in the level of Se in northern pike eggs from exposure sites (31.28 - 48.23 µg/g DW) compared to reference (3.19 ± 0.29 µg/g DW).<p> At McClean Lake mine, Se was accumulated and biomagnified through the aquatic food chain with concentrations in some biota groups (e.g., forage fish) exceeding the lower limit (> 3µg/g DW) of the 3-11µg/g (DW) threshold for dietary Se toxicity in fish. Although both northern pike and white sucker females collected from the exposure site showed greater levels of Se in egg and tissues compared to fish collected from a reference site (likely caused by exposure to elevated levels of Se in prey organisms), no increases in Se-induced deformities were found in the developing fish larvae. The lack of a toxic response in fish larvae is in agreement with Se thresholds for early life stage deformities, with egg Se concentrations in northern pike and white sucker collected at the exposure site below the proposed 10 µg/g (DW) threshold associated with the presence of developmental abnormalities. The applicability of the proposed 7.91 µg/g (whole body, DW) Se toxicity threshold to cold water fish is controversial given that most of the research has focused on warm water fish. Therefore, there is an urgent need to conduct studies that allow us to better understand the environmental fate and effects of Se in north temperate (cold water) aquatic systems. The results of my research will contribute valuable information for the establishment of a realistic and environmentally relevant Se threshold for the protection of fish populations in Canadian waters. During the site fidelity study, fish locations were seasonally and daily recorded using a Lotek SRX_400 receiver with handheld Yagi antenna. The results suggest that tagged pike did not migrate out of the study area throughout the study period, with the mean distance traveled ranging from 50 to 400 m. Differences in movement (distance traveled) and home range were found between reference and exposure sites. Overall data suggest that radio-telemetry is a useful tool in environmental studies. This information on northern pike behavior will be valuable towards developing non-lethal sampling methods that could be applied for assessing the effects of industrial discharges in north temperate aquatic ecosystems.

Goitered gazelle is one of the threatened species of Turkey living in only &amp / #289 / anliurfa region. In this study, goitered gazelles have been released to their previous habitat in Sanliurfa-Suru&ccedil / region and seven of females were collared with GPS collars. These individuals were monitored for a year and their seasonal habitat selection and home range sizes are determined by using location data recorded on the collars. In addition to 4 seasons of the year, home range and habitat selection are estimated for mating and calving periods. Also, summer period is divided to two as summer1 and summer 2 because of changing availability of water resources in study area. Seasonal home range sizes of GPS collared gazelles are estimated as average 3.61 &plusmn / 0.47 km2 for winter, 3.96 &plusmn / 0.44 km2 for spring, 4.55 &plusmn / 1.35 km2 for summer1, 2.26 &plusmn / 0.20 km2 for summer2, 3.38 &plusmn / 0.44 km2 for autumn, 1.37 &plusmn / 0.50 km2 for mating season, and 1.66 &plusmn / 0.50 km2 for calving season.Seven habitat variable layers were prepared for the evaluation of seasonal habitat selection of GPS collared female gazelles. Gazelles were selected east aspects in summer and west aspects in winter seasons and, north and flat aspects were avoided in all seasons for a year. Water can be considered the key habitat variable for the goitered gazelles. The results show that some home ranges are outside of the protected area and gazelles do not use large areas in the protected area. In order to improve conservation of gazelles, protected area should be re-arranged and shifted to more intensely used areas by gazelles.

In this thesis the demography, home range and habitat selection of a reintroduced population of Anatolian mouflon (Ovis gmelinii anatolica), which had a single remaining population, was studied to evaluate the reintroduction success and determine the conservation management interventions. For this purpose among 104 individuals reintroduced in Sariyar Wildlife Protection Area (Ankara, Turkey), 40 adults were radio-collared and 28 juvenile were ear-tagged and monitored from 2005 to 2009. The survival of the population according to the age groups (females, 0: 0.5423, 1: 0.60, 2: 0.5316, 3: 0.6637, 3+: 0.6728) and the fecundity of adult females (2: 0.2260, 3: 0.2034, 3+: 0.2034) are estimated. A population viability analysis was performed and the persistence of the population within the next 20 years was estimated. Increasing the survival rate of adult female through conservation or restocking the population with at least six adult females every year decreased the risk of extinction in the near future considerably. The year-round home ranges of the individuals ranged between 805 &ndash / 3435 ha. (Mean &plusmn / SE: 1934 &plusmn / 140 ha). The movements of the tracked individuals followed seasonal patterns: centers of activities changed according to seasons in 80% of the adult mouflon. Reintroduced mouflon selected southern aspects (p=0.001), increasing slopes &ndash / especially medium to high slope terrain &ndash / (slope &gt / 30&deg / , p=0.002), and distant locations to villages and roads. Results indicate that appropriate protective measures should be implemented immediately to mitigate the causes of juvenile mortality. Restocking the population for the next 10 years with adult females would have a stabilizing effect on the declining population and will act as a buffering mechanism during the adaptation period to the new area.

Title from title page of PDF (University of Missouri--St. Louis, viewed February 10, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-99). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-99). Also available on the Internet.

Human-caused destruction of xeric habitats in Florida that support gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus Daudin) is occurring at a rapid rate. One conservation strategy that has been used for numerous taxa is translocation. The effects of translocation on the health, reproductive activity, and movements of translocated and resident telemetered individuals was evaluated for a population of gopher tortoises in central-Florida from 2001 to 2004. Only one of the 13 individuals released left the site during the study. The home range estimates of resident individuals were not significantly different before and after the release of the translocated individuals on the site, and all mean home ranges fit within the range of estimates reported in the literature for natural populations of gopher tortoises. Habitat use of several individual resident gopher tortoises was significantly different after the translocation events. The degree that the home ranges of the residents were overlapped by other individuals in the study was not significantly different. The spatial locations of the home ranges of resident and translocated individuals were significantly different. There was evidence of reproduction for both resident and translocated females a year after the release of the translocates. The body condition of the resident individuals was higher at the end of the study relative to the start, although this may be explained by other factors. This study illustrates some of the problems associated with studies designed to assess translocation success, namely the lack adequate baseline data for the population and the challenge of balancing the sample sizes necessary for acceptable statistical power with the mechanics of translocation. The results of this study suggest that translocation is a potentially useful conservation strategy, although there are other potential consequences of translocation that need to be considered prior to its implementation.

About 1,600,000 ha of desert mule deer range in Mexico are currently altered with vegetation clear-cutting and establishment of buffelgrass pastures. Consequently, the availability of resources as cover and forage from scrub vegetation has been reduced for mule deer. No previous research has been conducted to investigate how desert mule deer respond to those alterations. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to examine movements of mule deer, evaluate their home range sizes and determine habitat use, and analyze their diets in areas of central and western Sonora, Mexico. The approach involved the use of radiotelemetry techniques and GIS programs to calculate home range sizes, examine selection of vegetation associations, and identify the specific components of habitat that distinguished the characteristics of selected sites by desert mule deer. I used the microhistological technique to determine botanical components of desert mule deer diets, and compare diets of desert mule deer and cattle in habitat with buffelgrass pastures. Diet analyses included spatial and temporal comparisons of diversity and similarity indices. Sizes of home ranges were larger in the more arid environments of western Sonora (27.3 km2) than in central Sonora (14.5 km2). Desert mule deer used altered habitat differently than use areas without buffelgrass, however, there was no difference in the size of home ranges of mule deer from inside buffelgrass areas and the size of home ranges of deer in native scrub vegetation. Thermal cover, ground cover, and percent of gravel in the ground were the variables that distinguished locations selected by desert mule deer. Desert mule deer selected xeroriparian vegetation and sites closer to water sources. Water sources may have influenced mule deer to stay in buffelgrass areas despite the lack of cover and forage from shrubs and trees. For diets of mule deer, I identified 96 plant species, 69 of which have not previously been reported as forage for this herbivore. Desert mule deer and cattle shared 45 forage species from central Sonora. However, biological overlap of diets occurred only for spring. Results from these studies provide information to understand ecological relationships of desert mule deer on altered habitats.