The objective of this study was to monitor the effects on physical and reproductive parameters in mares supplemented with Ractopamine HCl (RAC), in an effort to provide some insight concerning the use of RAC in horse diets. Physical deviation was recorded via measurements of body weight (BW), muscle size, and fat deposition. Reproductive deviation was recorded via ultrasonographic measurement of follicular growth and ovulation, while hormonal analyses were conducted for leptin and luteinizing hormone (LH). Data analyses of physical measurements indicated an effect of RAC supplementation (P<.001) as treated horses had a greater increase in BW compared to the controls. Treatment horses increased gaskin circumference (P<.001) compared to horses on the control diet. Both groups showed an increase in rump fat with the treated horses gaining less (P<.05). A similar effect was revealed in body fat percentage (P<.01) with the treated horses gaining less when compared to the controls. No statistical differences were noted for changes in forearm circumference or rib fat. No change was derived for length of estrous or pre-ovulatory follicle size between groups. When analyzing the data from first to last cycle in the treatment group, length of estrous was significantly (P<.05) shortened over the 90-day study. Upon analysis of serum leptin concentrations, the control group had a significantly (P<.001) higher overall concentration as compared to the treated horses; however, no difference was noted for normalized data, though RAC supplementation may have caused the profile of leptin to become more erratic. Analysis of LH concentrations revealed a strong trend (P=0.0527) of RAC-supplemented horses having a lower mean concentration of LH throughout the 90-day study as compared to the controls. Means were also analyzed for day and treatment by day effects, suggesting possible trends (P=0.2944 and P=0.1591 respectively) of seasonality. Area Under the Curve (AUC) was calculated for individual horses and analyzed for treatment effects. Only a trend (P=0.1631) was noted for RAC-supplemented horses having a smaller AUC (80.10 ± 29.72) as compared to the controls (140.60 ± 27.50).

Habitat disturbances play a major role in wildlife distribution. Disturbances such as loss of breeding habitat and fragmentation are of particular concern for Neotropical migrant songbird populations. Additionally, different avian species respond differently to the surrounding environment at different spatial scales. Thus, multi-scale studies on bird abundance and reproductive success is necessary for evaluating the effects of habitat alterations. The golden-cheeked warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia) is a Neotropical migrant songbird that breeds exclusively in central Texas. In 1990, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the golden-cheeked warbler as endangered, providing habitat loss among the list of justifications. Habitat requirements for this species are known to include mature juniper-oak (Juniperus-Quercus) woodlands; however, relationships between habitat characteristics and golden-cheeked warbler reproductive success remain unclear. Whereas the majority of golden-cheeked warbler research has focused on areas in the center of the breeding range, little is known about interactions between warblers and the environment at the edge of the range. Therefore, it is important to understand these relationships for successful golden-cheeked warbler management. I investigated relationships between golden-cheeked warbler reproductive success and habitat characteristics, including canopy closure and tree species composition, at the study site and territory scale. My study took place within Kickapoo Cavern State Park and surrounding private properties in Kinney and Edwards counties in the southwest corner of the golden-cheeked warbler breeding range. I derived habitat characteristics from satellite imagery from the US Geological Survey National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD) and from field sampling. The NLCD provided data on canopy closure and tree species composition at a 30 m resolution. Additionally, I used spherical densitometers and transect evaluations to ground-truth data and take more detailed measurements. I determined reproductive success by nest monitoring and the Vickery index when nests could not be found. I monitored 80 territories across six study sites in 2009 and 2010. Reproductive success was 39.5 percent in 2009 and 59.4 percent in 2010. I found statistically significant results at the study site scale, whereas golden-cheeked warbler abundance increased as the portion of woodland increased. Similarly, I found that golden-cheeked warbler reproductive success increased at the study site scale as canopy closure increased. I did not find correlations between reproductive success and canopy closure or tree species composition at the territory scale. Results suggest that golden-cheeked warblers utilize a wider variety of habitat composition than previously thought, and habitat composition as a whole may not be the driving factors influencing warbler reproductive success in this region.

Tarebia granifera is an ovoviviparous and parthenogenetic freshwater snail indigenous to South East Asia. T. granifera was introduced into many areas of the world as a result of human activity and caused detrimental effects on native freshwater snails. T. granifera also served as the first intermediate hosts of many digenetic trematodes. Specimens of T. granifera were collected seasonally in Jinlun River, S.E. Taiwan, from April, 2003 to January, 2004. The embryo composition in the brood pouches was compared among seasons. We found the species was fertile and the embryo composition was similar throughout the year. The maximum embryo number occurred in October, 2003, and the minimum occurred in January, 2004. T. granifera was reared to compare juvenile releasing rates in summer and winter. More juveniles were released per mother-snail in summer than in winter. And low water temperature seemed to inhibit juvenile release in cold days. The survival rates of brooded juveniles outside brood pouches were tested. Except the smallest size group (shell height=0.25~0.50mm), all others (0.5~1.25mm) had high survival rates approaching 100%. About 15% of the snails were infested by unidentified xiphidiocercariae. Larger snails were more likely to be infected and the infected snails were less likely to be fertile than uninfected ones.

Chinese spined loach, Cobitis sinensis complex are primary benthic fishwater fishes with inhabiting on the substratum of small pebbles or coarse sand in mountain streams. In Taiwan, C. sinensis complex has been recorded from most drainages of western side of the Central Mountain Ridge including from Ilan, Taipei, even to Pingtung County. In Taiwan, all Cobitis populations have been considered as C. sinensis which types assigned from the Szechuan province, Yangtsi River basin by Sauvage and Dabry de Thiersant (1874). Due to very limited diagnostic morphological features can be detected and studied in detail, it¡¦s more important for reconstructing the molecular phylogenetic relationship by DNA sequences. We also study in the reproductive biology by the samples in Kao-ping River, and to compare the realationship by the samples in Tan-shuei River. By morphological analysis and mtDNA D-loop sequences clustering, we can recognize the C. sinensis complex of Taiwan and southern China into three group: (1) northern and middle Taiwan (NT) (as typical C. sinensis); (2) three River basins in southern Taiwan (ST) (C. sp1); (3) other samples from the Fujian provinces (ST) (C. sp2). They can be distinguished by very distinct differentiations of the scale of Canestrini. The type of NJ tree and MP tree are the overall same topology, mean that the trees of result are the stable phylogenetic tree of the whole C. sinensis complex. By the result of reproductive biological study, GSI index rise in May and drop off in September, the high peak time is close to five months. The increasing tendency of GSI is later than the temperature rising, but earlier than the rainfall begin in July. They share the similar trend among the comparison of the mature of gonad¡Bthe distribution of egg diameter and GSI index.

Wendan Citrus grandis was introduced from FuJian province to Taiwan in 1701 (Kanghsi 40 years, Ching dynasty), and wide planted around Madou county, Tainan since. In recent years, it was found that Wendan was easily infected and damaged by long-horn beetle Philus antennatus, which caused damage even worse than another destructive insect, white-spotted Long-horned beetle Anoplophoa malasiaca. From May 2003 to May 2009, I investigated the reproduction, development and population dynamics of the beetle in a shaddock orchard in Madou, and conducted experiments on its behavior. The results showed that wrinkled triple like T character in the front chest and pronotum is one of the characteristics of Philus antennatus larva. The adults were nocturnal and often came out of the excavation in the night to copulate. After copulation, female would lay eggs in a small crack. After hatched, the larvae drilled into soil and dwelled in the host plant, eating wendan¡¦s fibrous roots, the phloem of the major roots, etc. Tender fibrous roots of shaddock¡¦s trunk were severely damaged by the larvae, resulting in host plants not able to transport water and nutrients to the leaves, which would dry out and drop. Consequently, the host plants would gradually die. The life cycle of Philus antennatus lasted about one to two years. Four stages, egg, larva, pupa and adult were observed to complete metamorphosis. The adult¡¦s life is short. After eclosion, the adults hide in the soil and do not eat. They will come out of the excavation only for copulation, and then died about 5 days after copulation. Eclosion stage lasts about 30 days, starting in late May, and incubation of egg takes about 13 -18 days. The larva stage lasts 1-2 years. But with bad climate or unfavorable environment, ecdysis would extend, and larvae would not eclosion

Abstract This study investigated the reproductive behaviors of Formosan macaques (Macaca cyclopis) from July 2000 to July 2002 with 608 field hours in Mt. Lonvegity. I followed troops C and Cd that resulted from a fission of troop C in Dec. 2000. During these two mating seasons, 19 sexually mature males and 19 females were involved in 188 mounting/thrusting series. These included 139 single and 49 multi-mounting thrusting series. The peak frequency of copulation was in Dec. in both years with means of 1.34/hr and 0.94/hr. However, the maximum number of males and females involved were in Nov and Nov~Dec.. with 18 (9M9F, 2001) and 22 (12M10F, 2001) individuals. The residency and ranks of males influence their copulation strategies. Alpha males performed over half of the multi-mount copulations (55.1%), followed by non-troop males and other troop males (each, 22.45¢M). On the other hand, the highest proportion of single mount copulations were from OTM (38.13%)¡CBiting and copulation calls occurred more frequently in multi-mount than in single mount copulation. The duration of thrust was longest in the last mount of multi-mount copulation series (10.9 sec ¡Ó5.4, n=45), next in single mount (8.16 sec ¡Ó4.2). Male dominant rank influenced the occurrence of consortships between heterosexual pairs. Nearly all of consortships observed were performed by troop males (94/105 = 89.4%), NTM just 10.48¢M(11/105 = 10.48%)¡CHigh-ranking males guarded estrous females and interfered low-ranking males' copulation. The later used sneaky mating during the absence of dominant males or in the peripheral part of a social troop with poor visibility.¡C Troop C was dominant to troop Cd in habitat utilization and intertroop interaction. Troop C often chased troop Cd away (78.3%) or troop C withdrew voluntarily (21.7%). After the troop fission, the peak of monthly frequency of copulation in Cd was higher than that in troop C (two mating seasons: 3.33/hr versus 1.44/hr, 2.80/hr versus 0.74/hr). The birth rates of these two troops both increased from 2001 to 2002 (C: 37.5% to 81.3%; Cd: 50.0% to 100%)¡C

Abstract Most male individuals of all species of the genus Scarus which were reversed from females, are called ¡§secondary males¡¨. However, a few individuals of ¡§primary males¡¨ would have male¡¦s reproductive ability, but never process sex reversal in their lifespan, and keeping female¡¦s outlook (initial phase). Because parrotfishes have these two kinds of males existing in the same species, they belong to ¡§diandry¡¨ protogynous hermaphroditisms. Previous studies suggested that the mechanisms that cause primary male might be due to social effect or genetic control. In our experiments, Blue barred parrotfish (Scarus ghobban) and rivulated parrotfish (Scarus rivulatus) were used to study the sex reversal model of parrotfish and the possible reasons that cause the juveniles develop to be primary males. This study including three major parts: (1) the relationship between body size and sexual types of two species. (2) the comparison of the tissue structures of the testes in both male types by histological observation. (3) the possible karyotypes difference, i.e. the genetic differences between primary and secondary male. This study shown that the body size of blue barred parrotfish (initial phase: 100-475 mm; terminal phase: 275-525 mm) were larger than rivulated parrotfish (initial phase: 126-270 mm; terminal phase: 246-350 mm), and there was a wider overlap zone between both color phases in Blue Barred parrotfish (S. ghobban: 47.2%, then S. rivulatus: 10.7%). Histological results showed that no matter primary or secondary males, they all had classical lobular testes. But, by contrast of the pure testis tissue of primary male, there were many mature or atric oocytes that remained in the testis of secondary male. Additionally, a few secondary males of the blue barred parrotfish were discovered whose process of sex reversal occurred earlier or faster than that for normal secondary males. Histological evidence further suggested that these individuals had never had a female reproductive function. Furthermore, these males which had no difference with other secondary males was found on the chromosome level. In our study, a heteromorphic chromosome was observed between primary males and secondary males of the rivulated parrotfish (Scarus rivulatus), which could prove that being a primary male is predetermined by a genetic factor. Based on the ecological interactive diversity of the two species, a preliminary hypothesis was put forth to explain those phenomena. Due to the spawning tactics used, the proportion of primary males in rivulated parrotfish populations is much higher than that in blue-barred parrotfish populations. On the other hand, the appearance of premature males was suggested to be a way of supplying sperm which was lacking in the population of the blue-barred parrotfish.

The current study involved two experiments which were conducted at the Texas A&M Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Uvalde (semi-arid environment) from 2002 to 2004. In experiment one, Bonsmara bulls (n = 19; 20-24 mo of age) were joined with multiparous, crossbred females (n =586) for 90 d in 2003 and 2004. Bulls were allotted by selected physical traits, seminal traits, social rank, and serving capacity to one of two bull to female ratio (BFR) treatments: Conventional (1:21-1:29; n = 6 pastures) or Low (1:47-1:52; n = 2 pastures) BFR. Pregnancy rate (P = 0.33), calving rate (P = 0.26), and calving date (P = 0.22) did not differ between Conventional and Low BFR treatments. Post-breeding evaluation of bulls in 2002 (n = 16) indicated that social rank, but not seminal traits, was significantly correlated with pre-breeding values (P < 0.05). The current study demonstrates that Low BFR can be utilized in single- and multisire, 90-d breeding pastures of up to 2,090 ha without adversely affecting reproductive performance. In experiment two, yearling, one-half or three-quarter Bonsmara heifers (n = 106; 11-14 mo of age) were palpated per rectum and assigned a reproductive tract score (RTS) immediately prior to the beginning of the breeding season. Reproductive performance was measured in their two subsequent breeding years in order to estimate the value of the RTS system in extensively-managed, natural mating, 90-d breeding season programs. RTS was positively correlated (p < 0.01) with frame score (r = 0.25), age (r = 0.31), weaning weight (r = 0.47), and the weight of the heifer on the day of RTS exam (r = 0.56). The RTS means by dam parity also differed (P < 0.03). A lower (P < 0.01) percentage of females conceived during each of their first two breeding seasons for heifers of RTS 1 and 2 (65.2%) than for heifers of RTS 3, 4, and 5 (91.2%). Females with a RTS of 1 had a lower pregnancy rate over each of their first two breeding seasons, conceived later during their first breeding season, weaned lighter first calves, and remained lighter each year for fall body weight and body condition score than did heifers with RTS of 2 to 5 (P < 0.05). Collectively, the results of the current study indicate that heifers with a RTS of 1 immediately prior to a 90-d breeding season should be culled. Consideration should also be given to eliminating RTS 2 heifers, but further studies will be needed to confirm the potential economic advantage of this practice.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 2009. / "Graduate Program in Toxicology." Includes bibliographical references (p. 62-72).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.