Vincent Schultz

RELATIONSHIP OF SEX AND AGE TO STRONTIUM-90 ACCUMULATION IN WHITE-TAILED DEER MANDIBLES

Mandibles (plus teeth) of 68 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) of various age-classes were collected in December, 1959, at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, to study strontium-90 distribution within a deer herd. No statistically significant difference was observed in the mean strontium90 accumulated by males and females, but there was a significant difference between age-classes. Further, there was no significant age-class-sex interaction, implying that the difference between age-classes was independent of sex. The amount of strontium-90 in the mandible was correlated with year of birth and the annual strontium-90 increment and total strontium-90 in the soil. There were no statistically significant differences between the variances of the age-classes of either sex. Considerable variation in the strontium-90 content of mandibles within age-classes was observed. Since the advent of the atomic age there has been concern about the accumulation of radionuclides by wildlife populations and the effect of such accumulation on wildlife and on persons consuming harvested game animals. Atmospheric nuclear testing and underground testing, where venting occurs, results in introduction of radionuclides into the biosphere. As a result of short physical half-lifes, many of these nuclides are transitory. Historically, major interest has been directed toward carbon-14, cesium-137, iodine-131, and strontium-90. With the exception of iodine-131, these radionuclides have relatively long physical half-lifes. Strontium-90 has a physical half-life of 27 years and a biological half-life in mammals of about 7.5 years (Hawthorn 1959: 1294). It emits only beta particles, has chemical properties similar to calcium, and is deposited in bone where it has a long residence time. This paper is a report on strontium-90 concentrations observed in deer mandibles (plus teeth) collected from a herd of whitetailed deer at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, December, 1959. The paper deals specifically with the concentration of strontium-90 in mandibles by sexes and ageclasses of this herd and with the variability in strontium-90 deposition observed. T Aberdeen Proving Ground herd is unique in Maryland. According to Flyger (1958), the herd is apparently at the limit the habitat can sustain. He has observed that it is not unusual to count 100-200 deer in one morning and that a distinct browse line is evident on the area. Instances of mass mortality have occurred in this herd and the average weight of the deer is 20 pounds less than for deer of the same age-class from western Maryland (Flyger 1958). The only published commentary on the past history of deer in this study area is that of Bullene (1949). He states that when the U. S. Government acquired the area in 1917 there were a few deer. We have received unconfirmed reports that deer were not present on the area at that time, that deer were released in 1932 and 1933, that the stock apparently came from Pennsylvania-probably Indian Town Gap Military Reservation -and consisted of one buck and three does. Regardless of the source of deer, it is quite evident that the initial population was very low and that, as a result of fencing, a mimimum influx into the area occurred, thus resulting in a highly inbred herd. The literature on strontium-90 accumulation in deer bone is rather limited. French (1960) analyzed a deer bone collected in the tropics of Ecuador in 1958 which contained

A Note on Juvenile Mourning Dove Populations at West Palm Beach, Florida

During the period March 1950 through February 1958, C. C. Anderson banded and aged 14,406 mourning doves (Zenaidura macroura) at West Palm Beach, Florida. An interesting characteristic of these data is the high monthly percentages of juveniles in the unbanded adult-juvenile samples during the major portion of each year. This paper is concerned with the trend in the percent of newly banded birds that were juveniles during the period March through February, as well as a comparison of individual period trends through the 8 years of banding. The primary purpose of this paper is to determine whether or not the eight yearly trends of percent juveniles in the unbanded adult-juvenile sample (March through February) can adequately be described by one curvilinear regression line, rather than to speculate on the population characteristics which are reflected in these data.

Some Comments on a Wild Turkey Brood Study

Prior to the hunting season of 1951-52, the Virginia Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries abandoned the practice of approximating the wild turkey kill by game-warden estimates and initiated a compulsory inspection at designated checking stations of all wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) bagged. During the first season in which this regulation was in effect (1951-52), 2,148 wild turkeys were inspected at checking stations. This was the lowest kill figure heretofore released by the Commission. During the open hunting season of 1952-53, only 1,606 wild turkeys were reported. The Commission, concerned by this decline in reported kills, instigated a study of the wild turkey through the Virginia Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit to determine the status of the bird in the Commonwealth. The results of the complete study (McDowell, 1956) will not be discussed in this paper; rather discussion will be restricted to the analysis and appropriateness of the collected brood data in providing information on the status of the turkeys. The collection of brood data was only a small facet of the project of determining whether or not an over-all state decline in the Virginia turkey population was occurring. Brood sizes can be classified into two primary categories: studies of brood sizes at a specific time, and studies of trends through a period of time. The correct categorization of a specific brood study depends upon the objectives of the experimenter in collecting the brood data.

An Analysis of Variance Applicable to Transect Population Data

BumP, GARDINER, ROBERT W. DARROW, FRANxK C. EDMINSTER, AND WALTER F. CRISSEY. 1947. The ruffed grouse--life history, propagation, management. New York State Cons. Dept., Albany, xxxvi 915pp. DORNEY, ROBERT S., AND HELMER M. MATTISON. 1956. Trapping techniques for ruffed grouse. J. Wildl. Mgmt., 20(1):47-50. HALE, JAMES B., ROBERT F. WENDT, AND GEORGE C. HALAZON. 1954. Sex and age criteria for Wisconsin ruffed grouse. Wis. Cons. Dept., Tech. Wildl. Bull. No. 9. 24pp. HowE, W. S. 1951. Are Maines ruffed grouse larger? Maine Dept. Inland Fisheries and Game, Augusta. 9pp., mimeo. PETRIDES, GEORGE A. 1942. Age determination in American gallinaceous game birds. Trans. N. Amer. Wildl. Conf., 7:308-328.

A Bibliography of Quantitative Ecology

In what case do you like reading so much? What about the type of the a bibliography of quantitative ecology book? The needs to read? Well, everybody has their own reason why should read some books. Mostly, it will relate to their necessity to get knowledge from the book and want to read just to get entertainment. Novels, story book, and other entertaining books become so popular this day. Besides, the scientific books will also be the best reason to choose, especially for the students, teachers, doctors, businessman, and other professions who are fond of reading.

Calcium Content of White-Tailed Deer Mandibles

The percentage of calcium in the ash of white-tailed deer mandibles was determined for 68 specimens collected from a Maryland herd. There was no statistically significant differences among ages or between sexes. The overall average percent, 37.8, was comparable with presented values for North American big game. During an investigation of strontium-90 accumulation in a Maryland herd of whitetailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) (Schultz and Flyger 1965), I collected data on the calcium content of mandible ash. These data were collected because strontium accumulates in the bone mineral where it behaves like calcium. Furthermore, calcium data are used in an expression known as the strontium unit (1 micromicrocurie of 90Sr per gram of calcium) or in a strontiumcalcium ratio. The purpose of this paper is to record these data and to evaluate the relationship of calcium content of mandibles to sex and age of deer in this Maryland herd. In addition, I desire to summarize the data known to me on the calcium content of bones of big game. The deer mandibles were collected at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in December, 1959. Details concerning the study area, sample characteristics, and statistical procedures are presented in Schultz and Flyger (1965). The calcium determinations for this paper and those reported by Schultz and Longhurst (1963) were conducted by contractors of the U. S. Atomic Energy Commissions Health and Safety Laboratory, utilizing procedures recommended by the laboratory (Harley and Whitney 1957). The average difference of the percentages between seven blind duplicate determinations was 0.71 ? 0.12 (sE). I am indebted to personnel of the U. S. Atomic Energy Commissions Health and Safety Laboratory for supervising the calcium analyses and to J. L. Carmon and J. Fortson who so kindly did the machine computations for the least-squares analysis. K. J. Chiavetta, R. D. McDowell, C. W. Severinghaus, and J. E. Tanck estimated the age of the specimens. I am also indebted to F. B. Turner who commented on

Further Notes on Quail Density and Farm Composition

CUMMINGS, E. G. AND T. L. QUAY. 1953. Food habits of the mourning dove in North Carolina. J. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc., 69(2):142-149. HITCHCOCK, A. S. 1951. Manual of the grasses of the United States (2nd ed.; rev. by Agnes Chase). U.S.D.A., Misc. Publ. No. 200. 1,051pp. KELSEY, H. D. AND W. A. DAYTON (Edit. Comm.). 1942. Standardized plant names. Harrisburg, Pa.: J. Horace McFarland Co. 675pp. KNAPPEN, P. 1938. Preliminary report on some of the important foods of the mourning dove in the Southeastern United States. Trans. No. Amer. Wildl. Conf., 3:776-781. KORSCHGEN, L. J. 1955. A study of the food habits of Missouri doves. Mo. Cons. Comm. 31pp. MCCLURE, H. E. 1943. Ecology and management of the mourning dove, Zenaidura macroura (Linn.), in Cass County, Iowa. Ia. Agric. Expt. Sta., Res. Bull. 310. Pp. 356-415. MARTIN, A. C., H. S. ZIM, AND A. L. NELSON. 1951. American wildlife and plants. N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Book Co. 500pp. MOORE, G. C. AND A. M. PEARSON. 1941. The mourning dove in Alabama. Ala. Coop. Wildl. Res. Unit. 35pp. PEARSON, A. M. AND L. G. WEBB. 1942. Mourning dove a strict vegetarian. Ala. Cons., 14(11):3,12. ROSENE, W., JR. 1939. A preliminary investigation of the food habits of the mourning dove in Alabama. U.S.D.A., Bur. Biol. Surv., Wildl. Res. and Mgmt. Leaf. BS-133. 10pp. (mimeo.) SMALL, J. K. 1933. Manual of southeastern flora. Chapel Hill: Univ. No. Carolina Press. 1,554pp. SOUTHEASTERN Assoc. OF GAME AND FISH COMMISSIONERS. 1957. Mourning dove investigations, 1948-56. Tech. Bull. 1. 166pp. WINSTON, F. A. 1954. Status, movement and management of the mourning dove in Florida. Fla. Game and Fresh Water Fish Comm., Tech. Bull. 2. 86pp.