Artificial Cavities and Nest Site Selection by Puerto Rican Parrots: a Multiscale Assessment

We examined nest site selection by Puerto Rican Parrots, a secondary cavity nester, at several spatial scales using the nest entrance as the central focal point relative to 20 habitat and spatial variables. The Puerto Rican Parrot is unique in that, since 2001, all known nesting in the wild has occurred in artificial cavities, which also provided us with an opportunity to evaluate nest site selection without confounding effects of the actual nest cavity characteristics. Because of the data limitations imposed by the small population size of this critically endangered endemic species, we employed a distribution-free statistical simulation approach to assess site selection relative to characteristics of used and unused nesting sites. Nest sites selected by Puerto Rican Parrots were characterized by greater horizontal and vertical visibility from the nest entrance, greater density of mature sierra palms, and a more westerly and leeward orientation of nest entrances than unused sites. Our results suggest that nest site selection in this species is an adaptive response to predation pressure, to which the parrots respond by selecting nest sites offering advantages in predator detection and avoidance at all stages of the nesting cycle. We conclude that identifying and replicating the “nest gestalt” of successful nesting sites may facilitate conservation efforts for this and other endangered avian species.

A Field Evaluation of the Time-of-Detection Method to Estimate Population Size and Density for Aural Avian Point Counts

The time-of-detection method for aural avian point counts is a new method of estimating abundance, allowing for uncertain probability of detection. The method has been specifically designed to allow for variation in singing rates of birds. It involves dividing the time interval of the point count into several subintervals and recording the detection history of the subintervals when each bird sings. The method can be viewed as generating data equivalent to closed capture–recapture information. The method is different from the distance and multiple-observer methods in that it is not required that all the birds sing during the point count. As this method is new and there is some concern as to how well individual birds can be followed, we carried out a field test of the method using simulated known populations of singing birds, using a laptop computer to send signals to audio stations distributed around a point. The system mimics actual aural avian point counts, but also allows us to know the size and spatial distribution of the populations we are sampling. Fifty 8-min point counts (broken into four 2-min intervals) using eight species of birds were simulated. Singing rate of an individual bird of a species was simulated following a Markovian process (singing bouts followed by periods of silence), which we felt was more realistic than a truly random process. The main emphasis of our paper is to compare results from species singing at (high and low) homogenous rates per interval with those singing at (high and low) heterogeneous rates. Population size was estimated accurately for the species simulated, with a high homogeneous probability of singing. Populations of simulated species with lower but homogeneous singing probabilities were somewhat underestimated. Populations of species simulated with heterogeneous singing probabilities were substantially underestimated. Underestimation was caused by both the very low detection probabilities of all distant individuals and by individuals with low singing rates also having very low detection probabilities.

The Importance of Agriculture-Dominated Landscapes and Lack of Field Border Effect for Early-Succession Songbird Nest Success

In recent decades, many early-succession songbird species have experienced severe and widespread declines, which often are related to habitat destruction. Field borders create additional or enhance existing early-succession habitat on farmland. However, field border shape and the landscape context surrounding farms may influence the effectiveness of field borders in contributing to the stabilization or increase of early-succession bird populations. We examined the influence of linear and nonlinear field borders on farms in landscapes dominated by either agriculture or forests on nest success and Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) brood parasitism of Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) and Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) nests combined. Field border establishment did not affect nest survival probability and brood parasitism frequency of Indigo Bunting and Blue Grosbeak nests. Indigo Bunting/Blue Grosbeak nest success probability was more than twice as high in agriculture-dominated landscapes (39%) than in forested landscapes (17%), and brood parasitism frequency was high (33%) but did not differ between landscapes. Edges in agriculture-dominated landscapes can be higher-quality habitats for early-succession birds than edges in forest-dominated landscapes, but our field border treatments did not enhance nest success for these birds on farms in either landscape.

Molecular and serological diagnosis of Bartonella infection in 61 dogs from the United States

Molecular diagnosis of canine bartonellosis can be extremely challenging and often requires the use of an enrichment culture approach followed by PCR amplification of bacterial DNA. HYPOTHESES: (1) The use of enrichment culture with PCR will increase molecular detection of bacteremia and will expand the diversity of Bartonella species detected. (2) Serological testing for Bartonella henselae and Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii does not correlate with documentation of bacteremia. ANIMALS: Between 2003 and 2009, 924 samples from 663 dogs were submitted to the North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Vector Borne Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory for diagnostic testing with the Bartonella α-Proteobacteria growth medium (BAPGM) platform. Test results and medical records of those dogs were retrospectively reviewed. METHODS: PCR amplification of Bartonella sp. DNA after extraction from patient samples was compared with PCR after BAPGM enrichment culture. Indirect immunofluorescent antibody assays, used to detect B. henselae and B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii antibodies, were compared with PCR. RESULTS: Sixty-one of 663 dogs were culture positive or had Bartonella DNA detected by PCR, including B. henselae (30/61), B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii (17/61), Bartonella koehlerae (7/61), Bartonella volans-like (2/61), and Bartonella bovis (2/61). Coinfection with more than 1 Bartonella sp. was documented in 9/61 dogs. BAPGM culture was required for PCR detection in 32/61 cases. Only 7/19 and 4/10 infected dogs tested by IFA were B. henselae and B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii seroreactive, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Dogs were most often infected with B. henselae or B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii based on PCR and enrichment culture, coinfection was documented, and various Bartonella species were identified. Most infected dogs did not have detectable Bartonella antibodies.

El catálogo de próxima generación o NextGen : una herramienta de descubrimiento para el catálogo en línea

La herramienta de descubrimiento que ha dado lugar al llamado catálogo de próxima generación o NextGen es una interfaz ensamblada a la base de datos del catálogo en línea, que proporciona opciones similares a las de los motores de búsqueda de la World Wide Web. Entre las características más importantes se pueden mencionar: búsqueda por palabras claves del usuario, corrección de ortografía, asociación de palabras por prefijos y sufijos, gradación por relevancia, búsqueda booleana guiada, navegación facetada, ofrecimiento de ítems relacionados, servicios personalizados como MiCuenta o MiBiblioteca, opciones de diseño, características de la Web social como etiquetado o folksonomía, inclusión de reseñas, anotaciones o calificaciones por parte de los usuarios, aportes de la producción propia, creación de grupos de interés, etc. El desafío que se presenta es repensar el catálogo de modo que contribuya a descubrir la información del modo más eficiente posible, con inclusión de resúmenes, notas de contenido o vínculo al texto completo de los documentos. Existen experiencias basadas en programas comerciales como el catálogo de las bibliotecas de la North Carolina State University (Sirsi/Dynyx + interfaz Endeca) y otras con recursos open source como la de BRAC University de Bangladesh (Koha + Vufind). Se considera que esta última experiencia puede ser de interés para las bibliotecas de nuestro medio.

El catálogo de próxima generación o NextGen : una herramienta de descubrimiento para el catálogo en línea

La herramienta de descubrimiento que ha dado lugar al llamado catálogo de próxima generación o NextGen es una interfaz ensamblada a la base de datos del catálogo en línea, que proporciona opciones similares a las de los motores de búsqueda de la World Wide Web. Entre las características más importantes se pueden mencionar: búsqueda por palabras claves del usuario, corrección de ortografía, asociación de palabras por prefijos y sufijos, gradación por relevancia, búsqueda booleana guiada, navegación facetada, ofrecimiento de ítems relacionados, servicios personalizados como MiCuenta o MiBiblioteca, opciones de diseño, características de la Web social como etiquetado o folksonomía, inclusión de reseñas, anotaciones o calificaciones por parte de los usuarios, aportes de la producción propia, creación de grupos de interés, etc. El desafío que se presenta es repensar el catálogo de modo que contribuya a descubrir la información del modo más eficiente posible, con inclusión de resúmenes, notas de contenido o vínculo al texto completo de los documentos. Existen experiencias basadas en programas comerciales como el catálogo de las bibliotecas de la North Carolina State University (Sirsi/Dynyx + interfaz Endeca) y otras con recursos open source como la de BRAC University de Bangladesh (Koha + Vufind). Se considera que esta última experiencia puede ser de interés para las bibliotecas de nuestro medio.

El catálogo de próxima generación o NextGen : una herramienta de descubrimiento para el catálogo en línea

La herramienta de descubrimiento que ha dado lugar al llamado catálogo de próxima generación o NextGen es una interfaz ensamblada a la base de datos del catálogo en línea, que proporciona opciones similares a las de los motores de búsqueda de la World Wide Web. Entre las características más importantes se pueden mencionar: búsqueda por palabras claves del usuario, corrección de ortografía, asociación de palabras por prefijos y sufijos, gradación por relevancia, búsqueda booleana guiada, navegación facetada, ofrecimiento de ítems relacionados, servicios personalizados como MiCuenta o MiBiblioteca, opciones de diseño, características de la Web social como etiquetado o folksonomía, inclusión de reseñas, anotaciones o calificaciones por parte de los usuarios, aportes de la producción propia, creación de grupos de interés, etc. El desafío que se presenta es repensar el catálogo de modo que contribuya a descubrir la información del modo más eficiente posible, con inclusión de resúmenes, notas de contenido o vínculo al texto completo de los documentos. Existen experiencias basadas en programas comerciales como el catálogo de las bibliotecas de la North Carolina State University (Sirsi/Dynyx + interfaz Endeca) y otras con recursos open source como la de BRAC University de Bangladesh (Koha + Vufind). Se considera que esta última experiencia puede ser de interés para las bibliotecas de nuestro medio.

Runaway truck arresting schemes. Final report.

North Carolina Department of Transportation, Raleigh

Probability sampling to measure pollution from rural land runoff /

Mode of access: Internet.

Vegetable wasps and plant worms : a popular history of entomogenous fungi, or fungi parasitic upon insects /

Includes indexes.

An experimental and analytical investigation of the vibration noise generation mechanism in truck tires. Interim report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Heavy Duty Vehicle Research, Washington, D.C.

Evaluation of safety, design, and operation of shared-use paths : final report /

"HRDS-06/07-07(500)E"--Back cover.

A monograph of the Membracidæ,

Issued in 6 parts, 1901-03.