A5058624411- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Bee Products Chemical Analysis
- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Plant and animal studies
- Indigenous Studies and Ecology
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Plant Toxicity and Pharmacological Properties
- Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies
- Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Veterinary Medicine and Surgery
- Gait Recognition and Analysis
- Ethnobotanical and Medicinal Plants Studies
United States Geological Survey
2015-2024
Fort Collins Science Center
2015-2024
Rocky Mountain Research Station
2012-2023
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
1986-2021
Ecological Society of America
2016-2020
Colorado State University
2015-2016
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
1986
Intercontinental movements of invasive species continue to modify the world's ecosystems. The plague bacterium (Yersinia pestis) has colonized and altered animal communities worldwide but received much more attention as a human pathogen. We reviewed studies on ecology Y. pestis in ancient foci central Asia western North America, where apparently become established recently. Although rodent populations both continents are affected dramatically by epizootics plague, epidemiologically important...
Black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) require extensive prairie dog colonies (Cynomys spp.) to provide habitat and prey. Epizootic plague kills both dogs is a major factor limiting recovery of the highly endangered ferret. In addition epizootics, we hypothesized that enzootic plague, is, presence disease-causing Yersinia pestis without any noticeable die off, may also affect ferret survival. We reduced risk on portions two reintroduction areas by conducting flea control for 3 years....
Plague causes periodic epizootics that decimate populations of prairie dogs (PDs) (Cynomys), but the means by which causative bacterium (Yersinia pestis) persists between are poorly understood. in PDs might arise as result introductions Y. pestis from sources outside PD colonies. However, it remains possible plague during interepizootic periods and is transmitted at low rates among highly susceptible individuals within their If this true, application vector control to reduce flea numbers...
Burrows within black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies on the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, Colorado, were dusted with deltamethrin insecticide to reduce flea (Insecta: Siphonaptera) abundance. Flea populations monitored pre- and posttreatment by combing dogs collecting fleas from burrows. A single application of significantly reduced plague vector Oropsylla hirsuta, other species in burrows for at least 84 d. epizootic Refuge caused high mortality some...
ABSTRACT In recent years, people have interpreted scientific information about the black‐tailed prairie dog ( Cynomys ludovicianus ) in various, and sometimes conflicting, ways. Political complexity around relationship among dogs, agricultural interests, wildlife has increased particularly when dogs occur on publicly owned lands leased to private entities for livestock grazing. Some proposed that estimates of spp.) numbers from 1900 are inflated, grazing is not unique (other grazers similar...
Black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) apparently were extirpated from all native habitats by 1987, and their repatriation requires a combination of captive breeding, reintroductions, translocations among sites. Improvements in survival rates released have resulted experience quasi-natural environments during rearing. Reestablishment self-sustaining wild population 1999 provided the 1st opportunity to initiate new populations translocating wild-born individuals. Using radiotelemetry, we...
Invasive transformer species change the character, condition, form, or nature of ecosystems and deserve considerable attention from conservation scientists. We applied concept to plague bacterium Yersinia pestis in western North America, where pathogen was introduced around 1900. Y. transforms grassland by severely depleting abundance prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) thereby causing declines native diversity, including threatened endangered species; altering food web connections; import export...
Sylvatic plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, frequently afflicts prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.), causing population declines and local extirpations. We tested the effectiveness of bait-delivered sylvatic plague vaccine (SPV) in dog colonies on 29 paired placebo treatment plots (1-59 ha size; average 16.9 ha) 7 western states from 2013 to 2015. compared relative abundance (using catch per unit effort (CPUE) as an index) apparent survival 26 plots, 12 with confirmed or suspected (Y. pestis...
Numbers of adults and juveniles in the single known free-ranging population endangered black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) at Meeteetse, Wyoming were estimated annually July from spotlighting as 88 (1983), 129 (1984), 58 (1985). Population sizes September, determined mark-recapture studies, 128 ± 25 (1984) 31 8 Lower estimates 1985 reflected, least part, an ongoing epizootic canine distemper ferrets that decimated through November 1985, reducing it to ca. 6 individuals. From 1982 adult...
Black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) likely were extirpated from the wild in 1985–1986, and their repatriation depends on captive breeding reintroduction. Postrelease survival of animals can be affected by behavioral changes induced captivity. We released neutered Siberian polecats (M. eversmanii), close relatives ferrets, 1989–1990 black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies Colorado Wyoming initially to test rearing reintroduction techniques. Captive-born reared cages or...
When large carnivores are extirpated from ecosystems that evolved with apex predators, these systems can change at the herbivore and plant trophic levels. Such changes across levels called cascading effects they very important to conservation. Studies on of reintroduced wolves in Yellowstone National Park have examined interaction pathway ( Canis lupus L., 1758) ungulates plants. This study examines coyotes rodents (reversing mesopredator release absence wolves). Coyotes latrans Say, 1823)...
Abstract Plague is a reemerging, rodent-associated zoonosis caused by the flea-borne bacterium Yersinia pestis. As vector-borne disease, rates of plague transmission may increase when fleas are abundant. Fleas highly susceptible to desiccation under hot-dry conditions; we posited that their densities decline during droughts. We evaluated this hypothesis with black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) in New Mexico, June–August 2010–2012. Precipitation was relatively plentiful 2010 and...
Plague (caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis) is a deadly flea-borne disease that remains threat to public health nearly worldwide and particularly disruptive ecologically where it has been introduced. We review hypotheses regarding maintenance transmission of Y. pestis, emphasizing recent data from North America supporting persistent results in sustained non-epizootic (but variable) rates mortality hosts. This mechanism may facilitate periodic epizootic eruptions "in place" because need...
Predation can be a critical factor influencing recovery of endangered species. In most efforts lethal and nonlethal influences predators are not sufficiently understood to allow prediction predation risk, despite its importance. We investigated whether landscape features could used model risk from coyotes (Canis latrans) great horned owls (Bubo virginianus) on the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes). location data reintroduced ferrets 3 sites in South Dakota determine exposure typically...
Ectoparasites are often difficult to detect in the field. We developed a method that can be used with occupancy models estimate prevalence of ectoparasites on hosts, and investigate factors influence rates ectoparasite while accounting for imperfect detection. describe approach using study fleas (Siphonaptera) black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). During each primary occasion (monthly trapping events), we combed dog three consecutive times (15 s/combing). robust design modeling...
Abstract Grooming is a common animal behavior that aids in ectoparasite defense. Ectoparasites can stimulate grooming, and natural selection also favor endogenous mechanisms evoke periodic bouts of “programmed” grooming to dislodge or kill ectoparasites before they bite feed. Moreover, function as displacement communication behavior. We compared the behaviors adult female black‐tailed prairie dogs ( Cynomys ludovicianus ) on colonies with without flea control via pulicide dust. Roughly 91%...
Plague, a flea-borne disease, hampers efforts to restore populations of black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes), which occupy colonies prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) in North America. Plague is managed by infusing dog burrows with DeltaDust® 0.05% deltamethrin, pulicide that kills fleas. Experiments are needed identify pulicides can be used rotation DeltaDust for integrated plague management. In South Dakota, USA, we tested the efficacy four dusts when applied at rate 8 g per burrow on...