A DNA test to sex most birds.

(1991). Applied Linear Regression Models. Journal of Quality Technology: Vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 76-77.

Applied Linear Regression Models

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A User’s Guide

Basic questions about the life histories of migratory birds have confounded scientists for generations, yet we are nearing an era of historic discovery as new tracking technologies make it possible to determine the timing and routes of an increasing number of bird migrations. Tracking small flying animals as they travel over continental-scale distances is a difficult logistical and engineering challenge. Although no tracking system works well with all species, improvements to traditional technologies, such as satellite tracking, along with innovations related to global positioning systems, cellular networks, solar geolocation, radar, and information technology are improving our understanding of when and where birds go during their annual cycles and informing numerous scientific disciplines, including evolutionary biology, population ecology, and global change. The recent developments described in this article will help us answer many long-standing questions about animal behavior and life histories.

https://bioone.org/journals/bioscience/volume-61/issue-9/bio.2011.61.9.7/Technology-on-the-Move--Recent-and-Forthcoming-Innovations-for/10.1525/bio.2011.61.9.7.pdf

Technology on the Move: Recent and Forthcoming Innovations for Tracking Migratory Birds

In ecology, researchers frequently use observational studies to explain a given pattern, such as the number of individuals in a habitat patch, with a large number of explanatory (i.e., independent) variables. To elucidate such relationships, ecologists have long relied on hypothesis testing to include or exclude variables in regression models, although the conclusions often depend on the approach used (e.g., forward, backward, stepwise selection). Though better tools have surfaced in the mid 1970's, they are still underutilized in certain fields, particularly in herpetology. This is the case of the Akaike information criterion (AIC) which is remarkably superior in model selection (i.e., variable selection) than hypothesis- based approaches. It is simple to compute and easy to understand, but more importantly, for a given data set, it provides a measure of the strength of evidence for each model that represents a plausible biological hypothesis relative to the entire set of models considered. Using this approach, one can then compute a weighted average of the estimate and standard error for any given variable of interest across all the models considered. This procedure, termed model-averaging or multimodel inference, yields precise and robust estimates. In this paper, I illustrate the use of the AIC in model selection and inference, as well as the interpretation of results analysed in this framework with two real herpetological data sets. The AIC and measures derived from it is should be routinely adopted by herpetologists.

/pdf/improving-data-analysis-in-herpetology-using-akaike-s-26q34gupt7.pdf

Improving data analysis in herpetology: Using Akaike's information criterion (AIC) to assess the strength of biological hypotheses

Flooded rice fields are important foraging habitats for waterfowl in the lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV). Waste rice previously was abundant in late autumn (140–492 kg/ha), but early planting and harvest dates in recent years may have increased losses of waste rice during autumn before waterfowl arrive. Research in Mississippi rice fields revealed waste-rice abundance decreased 79–99% during autumns 1995–1996 (Manley et al. 2004). To determine if this trend existed throughout the MAV, we used multistage sampling (MSS) to estimate waste-rice abundance during September–December 2000–2002. Averaged over years, mean abundance of waste rice decreased 71% between harvest (x = 271.0 kg/ha, CV = 13% n = 3 years) and late autumn (x = 78.4 kg/ha, CV = 15% n = 3). Among 15 models formulated to explain variation in rice abundance among fields and across years, the best model indicated abundance of waste rice in late autumn differed between harvester types (i.e., conventional > stripper header) and ...

Waste rice for waterfowl in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley

. Worldwide, rice (Oryza sativa) agriculture typically involves seasonal flooding and soil tillage, which provides a variety of microhabitats and potential food for birds. Water management in rice fields creates conditions ranging from saturated mud flats to shallow (<30 cm) water, thereby attracting different guilds of birds. Grain not collected during harvest (i.e. waste rice) is typically the most abundant potential food of birds in rice fields, with estimates of seed mass from North America ranging from 66–672 kg/ha. Although initially abundant after harvest, waste rice availability can be temporally limited. Few abundance estimates for other foods, such as vertebrate prey or forage vegetation, exist for rice fields. Outside North America, Europe and Japan, little is known about abundance and importance of any avian food in rice fields. Currently, flooding rice fields after harvest is the best known management practice to attract and benefit birds. Studies from North America indicate specific ...

/pdf/avian-foods-foraging-and-habitat-conservation-in-world-rice-4pik7qtlw3.pdf

Avian Foods, Foraging and Habitat Conservation in World Rice Fields

The habitat concept in inland fisheries has been less studied than wildlife ecology. Since 1950, the cumulative number of publications about “freshwater or inland habitat and fisheries management” has been 60%–95% less than those considering “habitat and wildlife management.” The number of publications about “marine, river, and stream habitat and fisheries management” has also generally exceeded those for “lake habitat and fisheries management.” We provide a perspective comparing inland fish and wildlife habitat management systems and highlight lessons from wildlife ecology that could benefit inland fisheries. We reason that wildlife habitat management has become widespread and accepted because humans share habitats with wildlife and positive/negative responses to habitat restorations/loss are directly observable. We recommend that inland fisheries habitat studies and restorations include opportunities for humans to directly observe the ecological benefits of such practices. To support aquatic habitat man...

Inland Fisheries Habitat Management: Lessons Learned from Wildlife Ecology and a Proposal for Change

Conservation programs that facilitate restoration of natural areas on private land are one of the best strategies for recovery of valuable wetland acreage in critical ecoregions of the United States. Wetlands enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) provide many ecological functions but may be particularly important as habitat for migrant and resident waterbirds; however, use of, and factors associated with use of, CREP wetlands as stopover and breeding sites have not been evaluated. We surveyed a random sample of CREP wetlands in the Illinois River watershed in 2004 and 2005 to quantify use of restored wetlands by spring migrating and breeding waterbirds. Waterbirds used 75% of wetlands during spring migration. Total use-day abundance for the entire spring migration ranged from 0 to 49,633 per wetland and averaged 6,437 ± 1,887 (SE). Semipermanent wetlands supported the greatest total number of use-days and the greatest number of use-days relative to wetland area. Species ...

Waterbird Response to Wetlands Restored Through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program

Bighead (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis [Richardson, 1845]) and silver (H. molitrix [Valenciennes, 1844]) carps (collectively, Asian carp) have invaded the Mississippi River Basin and successfully established populations in the Illinois River, where they have negatively influenced native fishes and now pose an imminent threat to invading Lake Michigan through the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. Sound-bubble-strobe light barrier (SBSLB) technologies may have the potential to slow Asian carp range expansions; for example, a sound-bubble barrier was 95% effective at deterring bighead carp passage in a hatchery raceway experiment. In 20092010, we tested the effectiveness of a SBSLB at repelling Asian and non-Asian carp species (all other fishes tested) within Quiver Creek, a tributary to the Illinois River. To test barrier effectiveness, Asian carp and non-Asian carp species were removed from upstream of the barrier, marked, and released downstream of the SBSLB. Asian carp were also collected from the mainstem Illinois River and transplanted downstream of the barrier. Trials were conducted with the SBSLB ON and OFF to determine upstream passage rates. Short-term and extended trials were also conducted to test for differences in upstream passage rates using sound, bubbles, and strobe lights (flashing and not flashing) versus sound and bubbles only. Barrier effectiveness was evaluated by upstream recaptures. Two of 575 marked silver carp and 85 of 2,937 marked individuals of other fish species breached the barrier and were recaptured. No marked bighead carp (n=101) made upstream passage. Our results suggest that SBSLB technologies could be used as a deterrent system to repel Asian carp, but should not be used as an absolute barrier to prevent range expansions. Potential negative influences of this technology on non-target fishes must also be evaluated prior to implementation as a management tool.

Joshua D. Stafford

Papers

Waste rice for waterfowl in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley

Avian Foods, Foraging and Habitat Conservation in World Rice Fields

Inland Fisheries Habitat Management: Lessons Learned from Wildlife Ecology and a Proposal for Change

Waterbird Response to Wetlands Restored Through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program

In-situ tests of sound-bubble-strobe light barrier technologies to prevent range expansions of Asian carp