Watering Sites Research Articles

Consistent individual differences in cattle grazing patterns

Cattle grazing patterns can have a significant impact on the economic and environmental sustainability of rangelands and cattle production. Grazing patterns appear to be driven by consistent individual differences in cattle, deemed ‘grazing personalities’. Optimal distribution of cattle on rangelands can be manipulated by alteration of the environment, like adding water, supplement, or fencing to targeted sites, but few studies address how these management tools are impacting grazing patterns of individual cattle. Our study sought to fill this gap in knowledge by investigating consistency of grazing patterns among fifty cattle, fitted with GPS collars, across two years given the addition of a water site at higher elevation prior to year two. We used Bayesian multivariate mixed models to evaluate consistency, evidenced by among-individual correlations across years with confidence intervals that do not cross 0. We found that cattle were consistent in all rangeland use metrics across years after the addition of the new water site: elevation (Estimate = 0.38, CI = [0.07,0.64]), slope (Estimate = 0.59, CI = [0.21,0.86]), distance to water (Estimate = 0.38 CI = [0.03,0.67]), distance to supplement (Estimate = 0.42, CI = [0.04,0.72]), distance to loafing sites (Estimate = 0.68, CI = [0.24,0.95]), except for distance traveled (Estimate = 0.16,CI = [−0.18, 0.48]). Cows that ventured higher on rangeland in year one (Estimate = 0.84 CI = [0.59,0.98]) and year two (Estimate = 0.93 CI = [0.79,0.99]) and further from watering sites in year two (Estimate = 0.72 CI = [0.41,0.92]) also had more within-individual variability in their grazing patterns than those that stayed at lower elevation and closer to water. These results indicate differences in plasticity or variability can be linked to grazing personalities. There was strong evidence that temperature affected grazing distribution such that on hotter days, cows clumped closer to water and loafing sites, were found at lower elevation, and traveled less far, not reaching supplement sites that were placed at the higher elevations. Based on results of this study, ranchers should consider the effectiveness of management tools on individual cattle and conduct cost-benefit analyses of tools implemented for specific behavior types of cattle. Cattle with behavior types demonstrating more within-cow variability and more ‘hill-climbing’ will impact how cattle graze especially patchy landscapes where resources are distributed across elevation, thus ranchers could potentially match cattle types to rangeland characteristics.

Interference Competition between Wild and Domestic Ungulates at Watering Sites of Gobi Desert, Mongolia

Interference Competition between Wild and Domestic Ungulates at Watering Sites of Gobi Desert, Mongolia

СОДЕРЖАНИЕ МИКРОЭЛЕМЕНТОВ В КРОВИ КРУПНОГО РОГАТОГО СКОТА ПРИАЛИМЕНТАРНОЙ АНЕМИИ, ГИПОКУПРОЗЕ И В ПРОБАХ ПОЧВ ТУВЭ АЙМАКА МОНГОЛИИ И КЯХТИНСКОГО РАЙОНА РЕСПУБЛИКИ БУРЯТИЯ

This paper discusses the results of laboratory tests of biochemical indices of blood serum (copper, iron, protein, albumin, urea, glucose, and alkaline reserve) of cattle of Mongolian and Kalmyk breeds with alimentary anemia and hypocuprosis; the paper also discusses the findings of the comparative study of trace element composition (copper, zinc, cobalt, nickel, molybdenum, strontium, iron, and man-ganese) of the soils of the Töv Aimag of Mongolia and the Kyakhtinsky District of the Republic of Buryatia. The disor-ders of mineral metabolism in animals of Mongolian and Kalmyk breeds with clinical signs of alimentary anemia and hypocuprosis was accompanied by the signs of hypocu-premia and hyposideremia, i.e., insufficient content of cop-per and iron in the blood. When studying the causes of trace element deficiency in cattle, the natural geographic features of the deficiency concern areas were considered. It has been found that the endemic foci are common in light-chestnut soils and thin chestnut soils around lakes and stock watering sites in Mongolia and the Kyakhtinsky District of the Republic of Buryatia. As compared to medi-um-thick chestnut soil, light chestnut soil of the Töv Aimag of Mongolia is poor in copper by 21.9%; cobalt -by 32.4%; strontium -by 11.7%; iron –by 19.7%; manganese -by 9.9%; richer in zinc by 32.9%; molybdenum -by 7.7%. The content level differences in the medium-thick chestnut soil as compared to light chestnut soil of the Kyakhtinsky Dis-trict of the Republic of Buryatia are as following: copper -more by 25.0%; cobalt -by 40.3%; nickel -by 11.8%; mo-lybdenum -by 38.7%; strontium -by 16.3%; iron -by 53.8%.

Activity patterns and resource partitioning: seven species at watering sites in the Altun Mountains, China

As part of a larger project to examine the richness and distribution of wildlife in Kumtag Desert area, we conducted camera trapping surveys during the period 2010–2012 at seven watering sites in an arid region of the Altun Mountains in western China. Information on activity patterns of the wild bactrian camel (Camelus ferus), kiang (Equus kiang), goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa), argali (Ovis ammon), blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), and wolf (Canis lupus) was obtained. We found that the wild camel, kiang, goitered gazelle, argali, and blue sheep were predominantly diurnal at watering sites, whereas red fox and wolf were nocturnal. Five herbivores partitioned the use of watering sites in a temporal manner to minimize the risk of predation by carnivores. The wild camel was the dominant herbivorous species at the watering sites. The kiang, goitered gazelle, argali, and blue sheep displayed adaptive water use by altering spatial or temporal patterns based on the presence or absence of wild camel, to minimize the risk of interspecific strife. These results are suggestive of the differences in activity patterns that might modulate water partitioning by different species, and provide insights for the development of conservation strategies for integrated species and decisions regarding water development in the Altun Mountains.

Efecto de los gradientes de pastoreo ovino sobre la vegetación y el suelo en Península Valdés, Patagonia Argentina

The introduction of domestic livestock in the arid Patagonia produced changes in vegetation and soil that altered fundamental ecosystem processes, increasing desertification and biodiversity loss. In this region, it is common to observe gradients of decreasing animal activity from watering points where livestock impact is greatest near the watering sites, called piospheres, particularly suitable for assessing the effect of grazing on arid ecosystems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sheep-grazing intensity using piospheres on the structure of the vegetation and soil in shrubby steppes of Peninsula Valdes, Argentina. Variation of plant cover, vertical complexity of the vegetation, number and area of vegetated patches, micro-topography and soil compaction in relation to piosphere gradients were studied using Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMM) and multivariate analyses. Grazing intensity decreased according to increasing distance to the watering point. This fact, explaining more than 50% of the overall environmental variability, confirmed the existence of a piosphere gradient on each studied site. Such environmental changes were characterized by a gradual increase in grass and litter cover, vertical complexity of vegetation and soil microtopography at increasing distances from the watering point. Percentages of bare soil and gravel, cover of annual grasses and soil compaction showed the opposite pattern. This study demonstrates, for the first time, the existence of sheep piospheres in the shrubby steppes of Peninsula Valdes. Our results indicate that sheep-grazing intensity is associated with changes in the structure and composition of the vegetation and the soil characteristics that are compatible with degradation processes in the study region. Taking into account the importance of Peninsula Valdes in the context of biodiversity conservation, more studies of this type are required to implement effective management actions integrating livestock and conservation efforts on the terrestrial ecosystems of the region.

Utilización de aguajes por el borrego cimarrón (Ovis canadensis cremnobates) y análisis de calidad del agua en Sierra Santa Isabel, Baja California, México

Water used by bighorn sheep during the 2011 and 2013 dry seasons and the rainy season and drought of 2015 in the Sierra Santa Isabel of the State of Baja California, Mexico was analyzed for seven physicochemical parameters. At four watering sites, 260 photographs of sheep were obtained. Females, yearlings, and lambs accounted for 73% of the photographs. In the rainy season at two watering sites, conductivity was 1.31 µS/cm2 and 1.92 µS/cm2 and total dissolved solids was 0.65 and 0.95 ppt, indicating low salt content and safe for bighorn sheep. The watering sites with greater use by bighorn sheep were El Zamora (n = 120) and El Cordero (n = 67), which also had the best water quality. The frequent use by females and yearlings of the two sites with optimal water quality support the belief that watering sites for lambing and recruitment of bighorn sheep is important.

Pasture BMP effectiveness using an HRU-based subarea approach in SWAT

Many conservation programs have been established to motivate producers to adopt best management practices (BMP) to minimize pasture runoff and nutrient loads, but a process is needed to assess BMP effectiveness to help target implementation efforts. A study was conducted to develop and demonstrate a method to evaluate water-quality impacts and the effectiveness of two widely used BMPs on a livestock pasture: off-stream watering site and stream fencing. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was built for the Pottawatomie Creek Watershed in eastern Kansas, independently calibrated at the watershed outlet for streamflow and at a pasture site for nutrients and sediment runoff, and also employed to simulate pollutant loads in a synthetic pasture. The pasture was divided into several subareas including stream, riparian zone, and two grazing zones. Five scenarios applied to both a synthetic pasture and a whole watershed were simulated to assess various combinations of widely used pasture BMPs: (1) baseline conditions with an open stream access, (2) an off-stream watering site installed in individual subareas in the pasture, and (3) stream or riparian zone fencing with an off-stream watering site. Results indicated that pollutant loads increase with increasing stocking rates whereas off-stream watering site and/or stream fencing reduce time cattle spend in the stream and nutrient loads. These two BMPs lowered organic P and N loads by more than 59% and nitrate loads by 19%, but TSS and sediment-attached P loads remained practically unchanged. An effectiveness index (EI) quantified impacts from the various combinations of off-stream watering sites and fencing in all scenarios. Stream bank contribution to pollutant loads was not accounted in the methodology due to limitations of the SWAT model, but can be incorporated in the approach if an amount of bank soil loss is known for various stocking rates. The proposed methodology provides an adaptable framework for pasture BMP assessment and was utilized to represent a consistent, defensible process to quantify the effectiveness of BMP proposals in a BMP auction in eastern Kansas.

Activity patterns of wild Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus) in the northern piedmont of the Altun Mountains, China

There are significant gaps in our knowledge of wild camel ecology; especially the activity patterns that allow them to adapt to desert environments. The wild Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) is a critically endangered species that survives in the extreme desert conditions of Central Asia. We conducted camera trapping surveys at seven watering sites in the northern piedmont of the Altun Mountains from 2010 to 2012. We analyzed the frequency of photo-captures to elucidate the wild camels’ diel activity patterns, and the seasonal variation in their activity at watering sites. We found that these wild camels were predominantly diurnal at watering sites, with an increase in relative activity from sunrise, reaching a peak toward midday, and then gradually decreasing in activity until sunset. The camels visited watering sites more often in winter than in summer. These results provide a guide for water development in the conservation of ungulates in arid areas.

Evaluation of selected soil properties for indicating cattle activity at off-stream watering and river access sites in southern Alberta

Miller, J. J., Curtis, T. W., Bremer, E., Chanasyk, D. S. and Willms, W. D. 2013. Evaluation of selected soil properties for indicating cattle activity at off-stream watering and river access sites in southern Alberta. Can. J. Soil Sci. 93: 343–358. Off-stream watering troughs may reduce surface water pollution by shifting nutrient distribution from natural watering sites along the river to around artificial water troughs some distance from the river. The objective of our study was to evaluate the suitability of nine soil properties for assessing the impacts of cattle activity adjacent to eight watering sites. Nine surface (0–5 cm) soil properties were evaluated along four 100-m transects at the five off-stream water troughs and three river access sites along the Lower Little Bow River in southern Alberta over 4 yr (2007–2010). The properties included P (total P, soil test P or STP), N (total N, NO3-N, NH4-N), total C, total C:total N ratio (TC:TN), chloride (Cl), and soil bulk density. Soil test P was significantly (P≤0.05) enriched at 65% of site-year comparisons, followed by total C (63%), NO3-N (55%), total P and TC:TN (50%). This suggested that these soil properties were relatively good indicators of cattle activity at the majority (>50%) of watering sites. Chloride was a valid indicator only in non-saline areas (100% of four non-saline sites). Total C and TC:TN ratios were not valid indicators in the calcareous soils at all sites because of possible confounding influence of inorganic C. Overall, we recommend Cl as an indicator of cattle activity at watering sites not affected by soil salinity and high natural Cl levels, and STP as the best overall indicator of cattle activity at off-stream watering sites and river access sites. Certain soil properties were also influenced by distance from watering site, stocking rate, precipitation, and age of water trough.

Partitioning of anthropogenic watering sites by desert carnivores

AbstractWe investigated the role of water features as focal attractors for gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), coyotes (Canis latrans), and bobcats (Felis rufus) in west Texas to determine if they were foci for interspecific interaction. Mixed effects models indicated that species partitioned use of water features spatially and temporally. Linear models indicated factors influencing relative activity at water features varied by species. For coyotes and bobcats, the water availability model, containing days since last rainfall and nearest‐neighbor distance to water was best supported by the data, with relative activity increasing with time between rainfall and distance between waters. For gray foxes, the best approximating model indicated that relative activity was inversely correlated to coyote and bobcat activity indices, and positively correlated to topographical complexity. Encounters between carnivore species were low, with most occurring between coyotes and gray foxes, followed by coyotes and bobcats, and bobcats and gray foxes. These findings suggest a behavioral‐environmental mechanism that may function to modulate resource partitioning by carnivores in the arid West. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.

Soil test phosphorus and nitrate adjacent to artificial and natural cattle watering sites in southern Alberta

Off-stream watering troughs may reduce surface water pollution by keeping nutrients away from natural water bodies, but may increase nutrient contaminant of groundwater. The objective of this study was to determine to what extent off-stream watering troughs active for 2 to 7 yr caused enrichment and leaching of soil test P (STP) and KCl-extractable NO3-N. The study was conducted in the Lower Little Bow (LLB) River watershed of southern Alberta, Canada. Soil samples were obtained at three recently installed off-stream watering troughs, four active cattle watering sites adjacent to the LLB River, and at two sites along a fenced reach of the river with no cattle access. At each location, samples were obtained along four 100-m transects. Surface (0-5 cm) soil immediately adjacent to the LLB River was not enriched in STP or NO3-N, which was attributed to flushing of nutrients during periods of high flow. Surface soil at distances ≤ 5 m from the three water troughs was approximately three times higher in STP than surface soil obtained at distances ≥10 m and was seven times higher in NO3-N. Subsurface soil layers adjacent (3 m distance) to the three water troughs were not enriched in STP compared with background levels (100 m distance). The subsurface soil adjacent (3 m) to the longest active watering trough was enriched in NO3-N to the 60 cm depth compared with background levels (100 m). Greater nutrient enrichment at the off-stream watering troughs than at the cattle watering sites adjacent to the river suggested that this beneficial management practice (BMP) was effective in shifting nutrient distribution away from the river. Key words: Pasture, nutrient leaching, nitrate, best management practices

Interactions between Feral Horses and Desert Bighorn Sheep at Water

We studied sympatric populations of native bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) and feral horses (Equus caballus )t o quantify their spatial and temporal overlap and to determine whether horses interfered with use of water by bighorn sheep. We observed no evidence of direct competition, but our field experiment, which involved placing desert-acclimated domestic horses near watering sites used by bighorn sheep, demonstrated that bighorn sheep avoided sites with horses nearby. The presence of domestic horses near a watering site preferred by bighorn sheep resulted in a 76% reduction in the number of groups of bighorn sheep coming to water at that location and a concomitant increase in the number of bighorn sheep watering at other sites. An experimental approach to studying competition between large mammals has been problematic and to our knowledge this study constitutes the 1st manipulative field experiment to test for competitive interactions between feral horses and native ungulates.

Risk factors associated with the prevalence of tuberculosis-like lesions in fenced wild boar and red deer in south central Spain

In recent decades the management of large game mammals has become increasingly intensive in south central Spain (SCS), resulting in complex epidemiological scenarios for disease maintenance, and has probably impeded schemes to eradicate tuberculosis (TB) in domestic livestock. We conducted an analysis of risk factors which investigated associations between the pattern of tuberculosis-like lesions (TBL) in wild boar (Sus scrofa) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) across 19 hunting estates from SCS and an extensive set of variables related to game management, land use and habitat structure. The aggregation of wild boar at artificial watering sites was significantly associated with an increasing risk of detecting TBL in both species, which probably relates to enhanced opportunities for transmission. Aggregation of wild boar at feeding sites was also associated with increased risks of TBL in red deer. Hardwood Quercus spp. forest availability was marginally associated with an increased risk of TB in both species, whereas scrubland cover was associated with a reduced individual risk of TBL in the wild boar. It is concluded that management practices that encourage the aggregation of hosts, and some characteristics of Mediterranean habitats could increase the frequency and probability of both direct and indirect transmission of TB. These findings are of concern for both veterinary and public health authorities, and reveal tuberculosis itself as a potential limiting factor for the development and sustainability of such intensive game management systems in Spanish Mediterranean habitats.

Effects of livestock watering sites on alien and native plants in the Mojave Desert, USA

Increased livestock densities near artificial watering sites create disturbance gradients called piospheres. We studied responses of alien and native annual plants and native perennial plants within 9 piospheres in the Mojave Desert of North America. Absolute and proportional cover of alien annual plants increased with proximity to watering sites, whereas cover and species richness of native annual plants decreased. Not all alien species responded the same, as the alien forb Erodium cicutarium and the alien grass Schismus spp. increased with proximity to watering sites, and the alien annual grass Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens decreased. Perennial plant cover and species richness also declined with proximity to watering sites, as did the structural diversity of perennial plant cover classes. Significant effects were focused within 200 m of the watering sites, suggesting that control efforts for alien annual plants and restoration efforts for native plants should optimally be focused within this central part of the piosphere gradient.

A longitudinal epidemiological survey of bovine trypanosomosis and its vectors in the White Volta river basin of Northern Ghana

A longitudinal epidemiological survey of bovine trypanosomosis and its vectors was carried out in the Volta river basin of Northern Ghana to determine the relationship between cattle management and the incidence of bovine trypanosomosis. Two groups of sentinel cattle under different systems of management, classified as “fully-sedentary” and “partially-sedentary” (depending on the type of management) were followed over a 1-year period starting from March 2003 onwards. Cattle were screened at intervals of 3 months using the buffy coat technique (BCT). Buffy coat specimen from animals that were positive for the BCT and those that were negative, but with a packed cell volume (PCV) of less than 21% were further tested using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Plasma from all animals were tested for antibody using the indirect antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Trypanosomosis challenge was determined in tandem with the epidemiological survey with watering sites of sentinel cattle being the foci of interest. The parasitological prevalence at the start of the survey was higher in the fully-sedentary group (9%) than in the partially-sedentary group (3%). In subsequent visits, however, the parasitological incidence was consistently higher in the partially-sedentary group than in the fully-sedentary group. The mean seroprevalence (ELISA) of both groups increased from 3% in March to 54% in December. Statistical analysis of the serological results using a random effect logistic regression, showed a significant difference in incidence of bovine trypanosomosis between the two groups. There was also a significant effect of time. The influence of cattle herding on host–vector–parasite interface and its consequence on the incidence of trypanosomosis are discussed.

Diets and foraging behaviour of red and eastern grey kangaroos in arid shrub land: is feeding behaviour involved in the range expansion of the eastern grey kangaroo into the arid zone?

Eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) have expanded into arid areas usually the habitat of red kangaroos (Macropus rufus). Extra watering sites for domestic stock is the suggested reason. However, changes in vegetation also have occurred due to grazing from domestic stock. We investigated the foraging strategies of M. giganteus and M. rufus in arid rangeland to see if these are involved in the range changes. Foraging patterns were similar, with both species mostly foraging at night; total feeding times were the same. M. giganteus and M. rufus had differing diets, though there was considerable overlap of 81 - 87%. Both species were highly selective, having similar narrow dietary niche breaths. Differences in plant preferences occurred and though both species had a preference for grass that of M. giganteus was higher. A larger foregut in M. giganteus reinforces its focus on grass. M. rufus also selected dicot forbs and malvaceous sub-shrubs. Both kangaroos showed avoidance of abundant chenopod shrubs (saltbushes and bluebushes) and trees. It is likely that the changes to arid-zone vegetation, with a shift to grass and annual dicot forbs, has been important for the expansion of M. giganteus, possibly combined with the greater availability of water.

Onchocerca ochengi transmission dynamics and the correlation of O. ochengi microfilaria density in cattle with the transmission potential.

The intensity of natural transmission of Onchocerca ochengi and Onchocerco volvulus by anthropo-boophilic Simulium damnosum s.l. was studied longitudinally in two cattle watering sites of a cattle ranch within a predominantly cattle populated area of the Guinea savanna of Cameroon and related to cattle O. ochengi skin microfilaria abundance. During the 12 months study period, a total of 4696 flies was individually dissected to examine the monthly transmission potential (MTP) of O. ochengi and O. volvulus. The estimated Simulium damnosum s.l. annual biting rates (ABR) on human baits were 47529 flies at the bank of the Vina "du sud" river. The ABR at the lake, which was situated at about 2 km upland from the perennial river, was 8579. The monthly parous rate was highly correlated with monthly biting rate. The annual transmission potentials (ATP) of O. ochengi were calculated to be 7732 and 1669 at the riverbank and the lake, respectively. Transmission occurred mainly in the dry season, peaking in the months of January to mid-March when dermal microfilaria density in the animals was also the highest. The O. ochengi microfilaria uptake by the fly vectors was host microfilaria density-dependent. The MTP of O. ochengi was positively correlated with dermal microfilaria density. The mean number of microfilariae per fly taken up during a blood meal was high during the dry season as was the mean number of infective larvae per fly but declined significantly with the onset of the early rains. A similar seasonality of transmission was also observed for O. volvulus that was concurrently transmitted by the same vector flies, but its ATP was comparatively much lower: 1332 infective larvae per man per year at the riverbank and 107 around the lake. The population dynamics of cattle microfilariae therefore plays an important role in the regulation of O. ochengi transmission.

Mourning Dove Movements during the Reproductive Season in Southeastern Idaho

We determined movements of mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) in relation to selected manmade ponds on the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) in southeastern Idaho using radio telemetry during June-August in 1984 and 1985. Maximum distances were measured from dove feeding and loafing sites to watering sites (? = 3.1 km) for 40 doves and to nest sites (t = 3.7 km) for 12 doves. The daily maximum distances from feeding and loafing sites of individual mourning doves to their known watering sites and nesting sites averaged 0.5-2.0 km (n = 8) and 1.1-3.8 km (n = 5), respectively. Movements of adults indicated that mourning dove populations in desert areas would be enhanced by establishing additional permanent watering sites where distances between existing sites are >6 km. Movements of adult doves also indicated minimal opportunity for transport of radionuclides from contaminated ponds in INEL to areas outside INEL during the reproductive season. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 52(3):477-480 Mourning doves on INEL in southeastern Idaho are dependent on water sources made or manipulated by man. Some mourning doves use man-made ponds on INEL that have been contaminated with radionuclides (Arthur and Markham 1978, Halford and Millard 1978); relatively low levels of Cesium-137 contamination have been reported in some of these doves (Markham and Halford 1982). Because of their potentially high mobility, doves using man-made ponds on INEL are capable of feeding and/or nesting in areas adjacent to INEL. Doves using contaminated ponds may thus provide a potential pathway for radionuclide transport to areas off the site. Our objective was to determine daily movements of mourning doves in relation to their watering sites and nests in a cold desert ecosystem. Particular attention was given to doves that used the Test Reactor Area (TRA) radioactive leaching pond to discern whether they were providing a pathway for contaminant transport to areas off INEL. Mourning doves were also monitored at the Naval Research Facility (NRF) This content downloaded from 157.55.39.107 on Wed, 30 Mar 2016 06:44:29 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 478 MOURNING DOVE MOVEMENTS * Howe and Flake J. Wildl. Manage. 52(3):1988 where none of the ponds were used for radionuclide leaching. Most studies of mourning dove movements have been based on recaptures and band returns. For example, Channing (1979) and Leopold and Dedon (1983) reported movements, based on band returns, of nonmigratory mourning doves in central California. Tomlinson et al. (1960) studied the local movements of mourning doves in Missouri by recording recaptures in walk-in traps placed at 0.4 km intervals over 1,295 ha. Few studies of movements of mourning doves have been conducted using radio telemetry. Hitchcock and Mirarchi (1984) and Grand et al. (1984) did extensive telemetry studies on fledgling doves in Alabama, and Sayre et al. (1980) used radio telemetry to determine daily maximum movements and activity patterns of adult mourning doves in Missouri. We are grateful to O. D. Markham, K. F. Higgins, T. R. McCabe, and C. G. Scalet for project and manuscript review. We thank W. L. Tucker for guidance on statistical design and analysis. We are obliged to INEL staff and technicians who assisted in the collection of data. This research was funded by the Office of Health and Environmental Research, U.S. Department of Energy. This is a contribution of the INEL Radioecology and Ecology program.

Some effects of land use on bacteriological water quality in a recreational lake

A study was conducted to detect the source of fecal indicator bacteria and the resulting degree of bacteriological water quality impairment of Mississippi Lake, a shallow eutrophic lake in southern Ontario, Canada. The lake was intensively sampled during two 5-day periods in late May-early June, and in July of 1976. The main detectable sources of fecal coliform were cattle watering sites, farms, public beaches, some flooded and substandard septic tanks, and a bird sanctuary. The impairment of water quality was localized to shoreline locations near the suspected source of the input of bacteria. After rainfall, about a 10-fold increase was noted in the levels of fecal coliforms and fecal steptococci in all lake surface water sampled. The effect was short-lived lasting only 2 or 3 days after the main rainfall. The levels of indicator bacteria were low and did not exceed maximum levels set down for Water Quality Management in Ontario, of 1000 TC(100 ml) −1 and 100 FC(100 ml) −1 at recreational areas. For this lake and six others in southern Ontario, the LOG of spring densities of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria correlated significantly with the LOG of mean summer chlorophyll a concentration ( r = 0.80). Cottagers on Mississippi Lake were surveyed for their swimming habits and for the incidence of disease associated with swimming. The largest cause of disease associated with bathing, 57 of 67 reported infections, was infection of the ear; 3.28% of bathers at shoreline cottages suffered ear infections. The frequency of ear infections in the population of swimmers was significantly associated with the amount of swimming in the lake. Males and females were infected at equal rates. Young people suffered a significantly higher rate of ear infections than adult bathers. Frequency of water contact was probably greater in young people than in adults and may explain the greater number of ear infections in young swimmers. These studies provided the basis for recommendations designed to improve lakewater quality.