Variation in the incidence of botfly larvae ( Cuterebra ) in two sympatric species of Peromyscus in northern Colorado

Differences in botfly parasitism were observed in the sympatric species Peromyscus maniculatus and P. difficilis in northern Colorado. The overall incidence of infection was 13.7 percent in P. maniculatus and only 0.6 percent in P. difficilis. The incidence of parasitism was affected markedly by trapping locality and by month of capture.     

Diplostomiasis in native and introduced fishes from Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming

Totals of 101 native Yellowstone cutthroat ( Oncorhynchus clarki bouvieri ), 27 introduced lake trout ( Salvelinus namaycush ), and 40 introduced longnose sucker ( Catostomus catostomus ) from Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming, USA, were examined for eye flukes. Metacercariae of the trematode fluke Diplostomum were in vitreous humor and/or lens of 94% of Yellowstone cutthroat trout, 92% of lake trout, and 78% of longnose sucker. Longnose sucker had 7% prevalence of infection in both lens and vitreous humor of metacercariae, while Yellowstone cutthroat trout had 3% and lake trout 8%. Diplostomum spathaceum was in lens tissue of 5% of infected Yellowstone cutthroat trout and 93% of longnose sucker; Diplostomum baeri was in vitreous humor of 92% each of infected Yellowstone cutthroat trout and lake trout. Morphological characteristics indicate that a single species infected the lens of Yellowstone cutthroat trout and longnose sucker, while another species infected lake trout. Impacts of the parasite interchange between native and introduced fishes of Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming, are unknown but should be monitored each year.     

Discovery of a large population of the rare winter stonefly Isocapnia mogila Ricker in the Mad River, California (Plecoptera, Capniidae)

Isocapnia mogila , a rare winter stonefly, is found in good numbers in Humboldt County, California. In the 50 years since this species was described, very few specimens were recorded from only 4 sites in California and Oregon. Emergence seems to be higher in the fall and early winter than in the late winter and spring.     

Genetic structure in striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) on the Southern High Plains of Texas

Genetic variation within populations reflects population-level social and demographic processes and influences how a population behaves as an evolutionary unit. We examined partitioning of genetic variation in striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) from the Southern High Plains of Texas during 1994-1995. Sixty-nine male and 35 female skunks were sampled on four 12.8-km 2 study plots. Plot centers ranged from 17.6 to 61.6 km apart. We used multi-locus DNA fingerprinting with 2 probes, pV47 and CTTxAGG, to test 3 hypotheses: (1) females are more genetically similar to other females than males are to other males on the same plot (indicating greater female philopatry than male philopatry), (2) genetic similarity is greater within plots than among plots (indicating partitioning of genetic variation in space), and (3) genetic similarity of males decreases as the distance separating males increases (indicating geographic distance affects rates of gene flow). In general, males on a plot had lower average genetic similarity than females. Genetic similarity within plots was not different from genetic similarity among plots for males or for females. Genetic similarity of males did not decrease with increasing distance among plots. The lack of geographical genetic structure in striped skunks suggests at the scale of this study (< 60 km) that gene flow of biparentally inherited genes is not distance-mediated. However, the higher similarity values for females than for males on the same plot supports an effect of male-biased dispersal and female philopatry on partitioning of genetic variation between sexes.     

Notes on the spotted bat ( Euderma maculatum ) from southwest Utah

In May 1974 four male spotted bats were netted near St. George, Utah. Contrary to published speculation on Euderma, indications are that the spotted bat in southwest Utah (1) is not a late flyer, (2) does not feed solely on moths, (3) may drop to the ground on occasion to forage, (4) is not a rapid flyer, and (5) appears to utilize crevices as roosting sites. &nbsp;     

Apple maggot ( Rhagoletis pomonella ) adaptation for cherries in Utah

The apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) is reported from Utah County, Utah, where it has adapted to sour cherries. It has been taken repeatedly from pheromone traps in the vicinity of hawthorn ( Crataegus douglassii ), but there are no Utah data that suggest it has adapted to apples.     

Comparative habitat and community relationships of Atriplex confertifolia and Sarcobatus vermiculatus in central Utah

Thirty-four study sites were established in shadscale ( Atriplex confertifolia [Torr. & Frem.] Wats.) and greasewood ( Sarcobatus vermiculatus [Hoov. Torr. in Emory) communities bordering Utah Lake in central Utah. Differences in species composition, vegetation, and soil characteristics were assessed. Significant differences in soil factors between the two communities were found for sand, calcium, manganese, zinc, and copper. Soluble salts and sodium concentrations were generally higher in the greasewood type, but differences were not significant. Major differences were found in understory species, with burr buttercup ( Ranunculus testiculatus Grantz) showing significantly greater cover in the shadscale community and cheatgrass ( Bromus tectorum L.) showing significantly greater cover in the greasewood community.     

Cedar Hollow, an early Holocene faunal site From Whidbey Island, Washington

Coastal erosion at central Whidbey Island reveals a cross-section view of dune sands that contain the only known record of animals that inhabited the Pacific Northwest coast during the early Holocene. Mammal fossils include bones and teeth of deer, wolf, brown bear, and several species of rodents. A deer vertebra from basal beds yielded a 14 C age of 8840 ± 50 yr BP. The faunal diversity suggests that the region was repopulated relatively quickly following the final retreat of the Cordilleran sheet. This paleofauna was quite different from that of the late Pleistocene, when the region was inhabited by mammoth, musk oxen, giant sloth, and other large mammals. Avian remains include hawks, geese, and seabirds, 3 groups that occupied quite different ecological niches. Early Holocene bird fossils from Whidbey Island are dissimilar to late Pleistocene avifaunas from inland sites in California and Oregon, evidence that the coastal environment offered habitat conditions quite unlike those of interior wetlands.     

Big sagebrush ( Artemisia tridentata vaseyana ) and longleaf snowberry ( Symphoricarpos oreophilus ) plant associations in northeastern Nevada

Artemisia tridentata/Symphoricarpos oreophilus and Symphoricarpos oreophilus/Artemisia tridentata &nbsp;plant associations were studied in northeastern Nevada. A 60-stand reconnaissance followed by a detailed study of 37 stands differentiated five important habitat types using an association table approach. Data reduction with DECORANA and TWINSPAN also described five plant associations that were differentiated by species occurrence and geographical distribution. All stands were found at elevations between 2,200 and 3,100 m in areas where snow accumulates and is late to melt. Stands are found on 15 families of soils that are relatively deep, often skeletal, dark colored, and productive. The dominant perennial grasses included Agropyron spicatum, Agropyron trachycaulum, and Festuca idahoensis.     

Glycoprotein biosynthesis in splenic cells. Purification of a microsomal galactosyl-transferase.

One part of the microsomal galactosyl-transferase activity of splenic cells of rats can by solubilized by the action of Triton X-100 and Tween 20. Its purification on a Sephadex G-200 column and by electrophoresis on a polyacrylamide gel leads to a solution of high specific enzymic activity.