Publications
Explore WARC's science publications.
Filter Total Items: 3510
Do bioclimate variables improve performance of climate envelope models? Do bioclimate variables improve performance of climate envelope models?
Climate envelope models are widely used to forecast potential effects of climate change on species distributions. A key issue in climate envelope modeling is the selection of predictor variables that most directly influence species. To determine whether model performance and spatial predictions were related to the selection of predictor variables, we compared models using bioclimate...
Authors
James I. Watling, Stephanie S. Romañach, David N. Bucklin, Carolina Speroterra, Laura A. Brandt, Leonard G. Pearlstine, Frank J. Mazzotti
Record length, mass, and clutch size in the nonindigenous Burmese Python, Python bivittatus Kuhl 1820 (Squamata: Pythonidae), in Florida Record length, mass, and clutch size in the nonindigenous Burmese Python, Python bivittatus Kuhl 1820 (Squamata: Pythonidae), in Florida
The Burmese Python, Python bivittatus Kuhl 1820 (Squamata: Pythonidae), is indigenous to northern India,east to southern China, and south to Vietnam and a few islands in Indonesia (Barker and Barker 2008, Reed and Rodda 2009). This species has been introduced since at least 1979 in southern Florida, USA, where it likely began reproducing and became established during the 1980s (Meshaka...
Authors
Kenneth L. Krysko, Kristen M. Hart, Brian J. Smith, Thomas H. Selby, Michael S. Cherkiss, Nicholas T. Coutu, Rebecca M. Reichart, Leroy P. Nuñez, Frank J. Mazzotti, Ray W. Snow
Biomedical health assessments of the Florida manatee in Crystal River - providing opportunities for training during the capture, handling, and processing of this endangered aquatic mammal Biomedical health assessments of the Florida manatee in Crystal River - providing opportunities for training during the capture, handling, and processing of this endangered aquatic mammal
Federal and state researchers have been involved in manatee (Trichechus manatus) biomedical health assessment programs for a couple of decades. These benchmark studies have provided a foundation for the development of consistent capture, handling, and processing techniques and protocols. Biologists have implemented training and encouraged multi-agency participation whenever possible to...
Authors
Robert K. Bonde, Andrew Garrett, Michael Belanger, Nesime Askin, Luke Tan, Carin Wittnich
Scriptaid and 5-aza-2'deoxycytidine enhanced expression of pluripotent genes and in vitro developmental competence in interspecies Black-footed cat cloned embryos Scriptaid and 5-aza-2'deoxycytidine enhanced expression of pluripotent genes and in vitro developmental competence in interspecies Black-footed cat cloned embryos
Somatic cell nuclear transfer offers the possibility of preserving endangered species including the black-footed cat, which is threatened with extinction. The effectiveness and efficiency of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) depends on a variety of factors, but 'inappropriate epigenetic reprogramming of the transplanted nucleus is the primary cause of the developmental failure of...
Authors
M. C. Gomez, M.N. Biancardi, J.A. Jenkins, C. Dumas, J. Galiguis, G. Wang, C. Earle Pope
An algorithmic and information-theoretic approach to multimetric index construction An algorithmic and information-theoretic approach to multimetric index construction
The use of multimetric indices (MMIs), such as the widely used index of biological integrity (IBI), to measure, track, summarize and infer the overall impact of human disturbance on biological communities has been steadily growing in recent years. Initially, MMIs were developed for aquatic communities using pre-selected biological metrics as indicators of system integrity. As interest in...
Authors
Donald R. Schoolmaster, James B. Grace, E. William Schweiger, Glenn R. Guntenspergen, Brian R. Mitchell, Kathryn M. Miller, Amanda M. Little
Disseminated toxoplasmosis in Antillean manatees Trichechus manatus manatus from Puerto Rico Disseminated toxoplasmosis in Antillean manatees Trichechus manatus manatus from Puerto Rico
Necropsies were conducted on 4 Antillean manatees Trichechus manatus manatus that were stranded in single events on the coastal beaches of Puerto Rico from August 2010 to August 2011. Three manatees were emaciated and the gastrointestinal tracts were devoid of digesta. Microscopically, all manatees had severe widespread inflammatory lesions of the gastrointestinal tract and heart with
Authors
Gregory D. Bossart, Antonio A. Mignucci-Ginannoni, Antonio L. Rivera-Guzman, Nilda M. Jimenez-Marrero, Alvin C. Camus, Robert K. Bonde, Jitender P. Dubey, John S. Reif
Mapping the potential distribution of the invasive Red Shiner, Cyprinella lutrensis (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) across waterways of the conterminous United States Mapping the potential distribution of the invasive Red Shiner, Cyprinella lutrensis (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) across waterways of the conterminous United States
Predicting the future spread of non-native aquatic species continues to be a high priority for natural resource managers striving to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem function. Modeling the potential distributions of alien aquatic species through spatially explicit mapping is an increasingly important tool for risk assessment and prediction. Habitat modeling also facilitates the...
Authors
Helen M. Poulos, Barry Chernoff, Pam L. Fuller, David Butman
The relationship between total cholinesterase activity and mortality in four butterfly species The relationship between total cholinesterase activity and mortality in four butterfly species
The relationship between total cholinesterase activity (TChE) and mortality in four butterfly species (great southern white [Ascia monuste], common buckeye [Junonia coenia], painted lady [Vanessa cardui], and julia butterflies [Dryas julia]) was investigated. Acute contact toxicity studies were conducted to evaluate the response (median lethal dose [LD50] and TChE) of the four species...
Authors
Timothy A. Bargar
Phylogeographic implications for release of critically endangered manatee calves rescued in Northeast Brazil Phylogeographic implications for release of critically endangered manatee calves rescued in Northeast Brazil
1. The Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus), a subspecies of the West Indian manatee, is a large-bodied marine mammal found in fresh, brackish, and marine habitats throughout the Caribbean Islands and Central and South America. Antillean manatees in Brazil are classified as critically endangered, with a census size of approximately 500 individuals. The population in the...
Authors
Fabia O. Luna, Robert K. Bonde, Fernanda L.N. Attademo, Jonathan W. Saunders, Gaia Meigs-Friend, Jose Zanon O. Passavante, Margaret E. Hunter
Prevalence of a potentially lethal parasite of wading birds in natural and agricultural wetlands in south Louisiana Prevalence of a potentially lethal parasite of wading birds in natural and agricultural wetlands in south Louisiana
Gambusia affinis (Western Mosquitofish) were sampled from 18 sites representing marsh, forested wetlands, and agricultural wetlands in south Louisiana to determine distribution and infection parameters of Eustrongylides ignotus, a potentially lethal nematode parasite of wading birds, (n = 400 per site). Overall, prevalence of infection was 0.3%, with significantly higher prevalence in...
Authors
Margaret C. Luent, Melissa Collins, Clinton Jeske, Paul Leberg
Compartment-based hydrodynamics and water quality modeling of a northern Everglades wetland, Florida, USA Compartment-based hydrodynamics and water quality modeling of a northern Everglades wetland, Florida, USA
The last remaining large remnant of softwater wetlands in the US Florida Everglades lies within the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. However, Refuge water quality today is impacted by pumped stormwater inflows to the eutrophic and mineral-enriched 100-km canal, which circumscribes the wetland. Optimal management is a challenge and requires scientifically based...
Authors
Hongqing Wang, Ehab A. Meselhe, Michael G. Waldon, Matthew C. Harwell, Chunfang Chen
Health assessment of captive and wild-caught West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus) Health assessment of captive and wild-caught West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus)
No abstract available.
Authors
M. Andrew Stamper, Robert K. Bonde