Robert B. Dahlgren

Ungulate Habitat Relationships in Wind Cave National Park

Etude du chevauchement des ressources alimentaires chez Cervus elaphus, Odocoileus hemionus, Antilocapra americana, Bison bison dans cette reserve du Dakota. Il existe une faible competition parmi ces especes, sauf pour B.b. et A.a.

Effects of Polychlorinated Biphenyls on Pheasant Reproduction, Behavior, and Survival

Cock pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) were given single capsules weekly containing either 0 or 25 mg polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) for 17 weeks in the spring of 1970. Hen pheasants mated to these cock groups were given single capsules weekly containing 0, 12.5, or 50 mg PCB (Aroclor 1254). Among groups receiving PCB, egg production was depressed significantly ( P < 0.05), and the number of eggs that were pipped but not hatched was increased significantly (P < 0.05). Even though weekly weight changes of hens, fertility and hatchability of eggs, mortality of adults, and eggshell thickness did not appear to be affected by PCB, total reproductive success was depressed. Behavior, on a visual cliff, of chicks hatched from hens given 50 mg weekly was significantly different (P < 0.01), more of them jumped to the visually deep side or made no choice of sides than chicks from other groups. Mortality of chicks from hatching to 6 weeks of age was significantly greater (P < 0.01) in the offspring of hens receiving 50 mg PCB weekly, and surviving chicks of this group were significantly lighter (P < 0.05) in weight than other groups at 6 weeks of age. EFFECTS OF PCB S ON PHEASANTS * Dahlgren and Linde} 315 tivity of Heterakis gallinae eggs with Histomonas meleagridis. Exptl. Parasitol. 6(2):189193. , AND ANNE M. CHUTE. 1970. Relative importance of young and mature turkeys and chickens in contaminating soil with Histomonas-bearing Heterakis eggs. Avian Diseases 14(2):342-348. , AND . 1971. The ring-necked pheasant ( Phasian1ls colchicus torquatus ) as a host for Heterakis gallinarum and Histomonas meleagridis. Am. Midland Naturalist. ( In press. ) PHILLIPS, J. C. 1928. Wild birds introduced or transplanted in North America. U. S. Dept. Agr. Tech. Bull. 61. 64pp. Received for publication October 10, 1970. Polychlorinated biphenyls have been detected in wildlife in Europe (The New Scientist 1966, Holden and Marsden 1967, Holmes et al. 1967, Jensen et al. 1a9, Koeman et al. 1969) and in the United States ( Risebrough et al. 1968, Anderson et al. 1969, Bagley et al. 1970, Risebrough 1970). This chlorinated hydrocarbon was found as a residue in tissues of both seabirds and land-dwelling species. The induction of steroid enzymes in the liver by PCB has been demonstrated in both laboratory rats ( Street et al. 1969 ) and in pigeons (Risebrough et al. 1968); and 1 Supported jointly by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, U. S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, South Dakota State University) and The Wildlife Management Institute. since the capacity of PCB to induce these enzymes is as potent as or more potent than DDT, PCBs have been implicated in eggshell thinning. Sax ( 1963:596) indicated that the liver of man could be injured by PCB; liver damage has been shown for guinea pigs, laboratory rats, and domestic rabbits by Miller (1944). McCune et al. (1962) and Flick et al. (1N5) found that PCB fed to young chickens produced edema and pathological changes in internal organs. The objective of our study was to evaluate the effects of PCB on reproduction, survival, and behavior of pheasants. We are grateful to W. L. Tucker, Statistician, Agricultural Experiment Station, South Dakota State University, for statistical advice. This study was conducted with This content downloaded from 157.55.39.147 on Wed, 18 May 2016 06:25:18 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 316 Journal of Wildlife Management, Vol. 35, No. 2, April 1971 funds supplied by the U. S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife.

FOOD HABITS OF ELK IN THE NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS

Food habits of elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) were determined by 92 feeding-site examinations and examination of 30 rumen samples. Graminoids were the major forage class eaten in spring and summer. Forbs were the most important forage class in fall and winter, but moderate amounts of graminoids also were eaten. Elk seldom fed on browse throughout the year. Major plants eaten by elk included big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi), Louisiana sagewort (Artemisia ludoviciana), and threadleaf sedge (Carex filifolia). J. WILDL. MANAGE. 47(4):916-923 Food habits of elk have been exten- sively studied in the Rocky Mountain re- gion (Kufeld 1973), but few studies have been conducted on the Great Plains. Buechner (1950) conducted a 7-week study of elk food habits in Oklahoma, and Mackie (1970) analyzed elk food habits at the edge of the Great Plains in the Mis- souri Breaks of central Montana. We con- ducted a study of elk food habits in Wind Cave National Park (WCNP), South Da- kota, from July 1976 to August 1977 to determine elk feeding patterns through- out the year and to identify key forage species.

Effects of Dieldrin in Penned Pheasants through the Third Generation

In 1968 and 1969, single capsules containing lactose or lactose and dieldrin were given weekly to pheasants (Phasianus colchicus); hens received 0, 6, or 10 mg and cocks received 0, 4, or 6 mg. Offspring of these birds were bred in 1969 and 1970, and offspring of second generation birds were bred in 1970 and 1971. Direct mortality occurred in breeders at all levels of dieldrin administered, but weights of breeders were not affected by dieldrin. Egg production, fertility, hatchability, viability of chicks at hatching, and weights of chicks from 4 to 6 weeks of age exhibited no relationship to treatment, and were erratic among groups and years. Survival of chicks to 4, 5, or 6 weeks of age was affected (P 0.05). Offspring of parents given dieldrin chose the deep side of a visual cliff more often than control chicks (P < 0.05), as did their progeny in the second and third generations. Offspring of parents given dieldrin were more easily caught by hand (P < 0.01); this effect was also found in the second and third generation. Behavior, both on the visual cliff and in response to hand catching, was generally most affected where both parents or ancestors had been given dieldrin, and less, but still affected, where either parent or ancestor had been given dieldrin. A genetic mechanism may have been involved in effecting aberrant behavior patterns. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 38(2):320-330 Previous research on effects of dieldrin in hen pheasants was reported by Lamb et al. (1967) and Atkins and Linder (1967). Limited work on firstand second-generation hens was reported by Baxter et al. (1969). In order to elucidate possible effects of dieldrin on second and third generations, to continue work through the third generation, and to determine the role of the cock in reproductive and behavioral effects, we initiated the treatment of both cocks and hens with measured doses of dieldrin in 1968. Behavioral effects in first-generation birds have been reported (Dahlgren et al. 1970). This paper reports effects of dieldrin on reproduction, behavior, and survival through the third generation. We are grateful to W. L. Tucker, Agricultural Experiment Station Statistician, for statistical advice, and to C. W. Carlson, Animal Science Department, South Dakota State University, for use of incubator faciliti s. Use of trade names in this paper does not imply endorsement. MATERIALS AND METHODS Breeding stock was purchased from the Ringneck Ranch, Frederick, South Dakota, in the fall of 1967; other stock was purchased from the South Dakota Pheasant Co., Canton, for research in 1969. Breeding hens about 1 year of age were kept in individual cages and pool-mated to cocks kept in larger breeding cages (Atkins and Linder 1967). Birds were placed on 16 hours of artificial light in late January. Treatment was begun in February and eggs were collected beginning in early March. Technical-grade dieldrin, supplied by Shell Chemical Co., was ground, mixed with lactose, and administered in No. 5 gelatin 1 Funds for this study were supplied to the South Dakota Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit by the U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. The Unit is supported jointly by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, South Dakota State University, and the Wildlife Management Institute. 2 Present address: Iowa Coop. Wildlife Res. Unit, I.S.U., Ames 50010. 320 J. Wildl. Manage. 38 (2):1974 This content downloaded from 157.55.39.153 on Mon, 19 Sep 2016 04:59:40 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms EFFECTS OF DIELDRIN IN PHEASANTS * Dahlgren and Linder 321 capsules via a glass tube inserted into the esophagus. Pure lactose was given to control birds. For 17 weeks, in 1968, 0, 4, or 6 mg dieldrin was administered in single weekly doses to cocks and 0, 6, or 10 mg was given to hens. Progeny of these cocks and hens were designated as 0-0, 0-6, 0-10, 4-0, 4-6, 4-10, 6-0, 6-6, and 6-10. (The first number is the weekly dieldrin level given to the cock, and the second is that given to the hen.) In 1969, newly purchased breeding stock was treated in a similar fashion, but for only 16 weeks. Also, in 1969, progeny of birds treated the previous year were either bred without further treatment or were given 6 mg dieldrin once a week for 16 weeks so that progeny were produced as follows: 0-0/0-0, 0-0/6-0, 0-0/6-6, 0-0/10-0, 6-0/0-0, 6-0/6-0, 6-0/6-6, 6-6/0-0, 6-6/6-0, and 6-6/ 6-6. (The first number to the left of the slash indicates the level given to both parents of the cocks in the previous year, and the second number the level of dieldrin currently given the cock, while the first number to the right of the slash indicates the level given to both parents of the hen the year previous except that hens in the 0-0/ 10-0 group were offspring of cocks given 6 mg and hens given 10 mg and the last number the level given to the hen the second or current year.) Second-generation work was similar in 1970 except that progeny of parents given 10 mg dieldrin did not survive to breeding age. For third-generation work in 1970, only controls and offspring of ancestors given 6 mg dieldrin were available as breeders. Part of the birds that had both parents given 6 mg dieldrin for 2 years previous were again given 6 mg dieldrin for 16 weeks so offspring produced were designated 0-0-0/0-0-0, 6-6-0/6-6-0, and 6-6-6/ 6-6-6. In 1971 no dieldrin was administered and offspring in the third generation were designated 0-0-0/0-0-0, 0-0-0/6-6-0, 6-6-0/ 0-0-0, and 6-6-0/6-6-0. Adult cocks and hens were weighed weekly to the nearest gram at the time capsules were administered. Cock breeding groups ranged from 2 to 5 individuals, so that each cock would not have to service more than 4 hens per season. Hen groups were from 4 to 10 for any category of treat-

Dieldrin Effects on Susceptibility of Penned Pheasants to Hand Capture

The offspring of pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) which were given 16 capsules once a week of lactose or combinations of lactose and 4, 6, or 10 mg technical grade dieldrin were placed in outdoor pens when 5 weeks of age. In July, August, October, December, and January, these young pheasants were caught by hand. They were more easily caught if both parents had received dieldrin, followed in order by those where hens only and cocks only had received dieldrin. In conducting studies of the effects of dieldrin on pheasants, we observed that chicks produced by parents given dieldrin appeared to be more readily caught by hand than those hatched from parents not given dieldrin. All of the chicks were then caught by hand several times over a 6nlonth period to document differences in susceptibility to capture. Baxter et al. (1969) reported that pheasant chick behavior in a visual cliff test was apparently affected by dieldrin given their parents. Effects of dieldrin on the relearning of visual discrimination and vigilance behavior by sheep have been reported by VanGelder et al. ( 1969). James and Davis ( 196S) reported DDT effects on discrimination ability of the bobwhite quail (Colinus vir. . gtnzanus . We are grateful to W. L. Tucker, South Dakota State University Agricultural Experiment Station Statistician, for his advice on data analysis. The South Dakota Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit is jointly supported by the South Dakota Department of Games, Fish and Parks, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, South Dakota State University and Wildlife Management Institute. METHODS AND PROCEDURES First generation stock used in this study vt7as purchased from South Dakota Pheasant Company, Canton, South Dakota, in the winter of 1969. Second generatioln birds were offspring we raised from birds purchased from Ringneck Ranch, Frederick, South Dakota, which were given capsules vv-eekly containing 0, 4, 6, or 10 mg dieldrin for 17 weeks from February-June, 1968. From February-June, 1969, all of these yearling birds were given 16 weekly doses of 0, 4, 6, or 10 mg dieldrin. Technical grade dieldrin (furnished by Shell Chemical Company) was administered with lactose in No. 5 gelatin capsules; pure lactose capsules were given to control birds. Based on average food consumption, a 6-mg capsule would correspond to approximately 20 ppm in the diet (Baxter et al. 19699. The general regimen of diet and care followed in this study was that described by Baxter et al. ( 1969 ) . Individually numbered eggs were incubated in pedigree cages; chicks were wing banded at hatching. Chicks used in this study were from 14 hatches betw7een April S-July 12, 1969. They were kept in brooders for 5 weeks and each weekly hatch was then placed outside in a 16x 16-ft pen. On July 14, lS, and 24, all the chicks in pens were caught for the first time. Chicks were again caught on August 18 and October 1. In December, birds were separated