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  1. Article: Physical and Cognitive Performance of the Least Shrew (Cryptotis parva) on a Calcium-Restricted Diet.

    Czajka, Jessica L / McCay, Timothy S / Garneau, Danielle E

    Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)

    2012  Volume 2, Issue 3, Page(s) 172–185

    Abstract: Geological substrates and air pollution affect the availability of calcium to mammals in many habitats, including the Adirondack Mountain Region (Adirondacks) of the United States. Mammalian insectivores, such as shrews, may be particularly restricted in ...

    Abstract Geological substrates and air pollution affect the availability of calcium to mammals in many habitats, including the Adirondack Mountain Region (Adirondacks) of the United States. Mammalian insectivores, such as shrews, may be particularly restricted in environments with low calcium. We examined the consequences of calcium restriction on the least shrew (Cryptotis parva) in the laboratory. We maintained one group of shrews (5 F, 5 M) on a mealworm diet with a calcium concentration comparable to beetle larvae collected in the Adirondacks (1.1 ± 0.3 mg/g) and another group (5 F, 3 M) on a mealworm diet with a calcium concentration almost 20 times higher (19.5 ± 5.1 mg/g). Animals were given no access to mineral sources of calcium, such as snail shell or bone. We measured running speed and performance in a complex maze over 10 weeks. Shrews on the high-calcium diet made fewer errors in the maze than shrews on the low-calcium diet (F1,14 = 12.8, p < 0.01). Females made fewer errors than males (F1,14 = 10.6, p < 0.01). Running speeds did not markedly vary between diet groups or sexes, though there was a trend toward faster running by shrews on the high calcium diet (p = 0.087). Shrews in calcium-poor habitats with low availability of mineral sources of calcium may have greater difficulty with cognitive tasks such as navigation and recovery of food hoards.
    Language English
    Publishing date 2012-08-16
    Publishing country Switzerland
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 2651997-5
    ISSN 2076-328X
    ISSN 2076-328X
    DOI 10.3390/bs2030172
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  2. Article: Deposition of exotic bird-dispersed seeds into three habitats of a fragmented landscape in the northeastern United States

    McCay, Timothy S / McCay, Deanna H / Czajka, Jessica L

    Plant ecology. 2009 July, v. 203, no. 1

    2009  

    Abstract: Dispersal by frugivorous birds facilitates invasion by many exotic plants. We measured the seed rain of ornithochorous native and exotic plants at three habitats of a fragmented landscape of the northeastern United States for 1 year. We studied maple- ... ...

    Abstract Dispersal by frugivorous birds facilitates invasion by many exotic plants. We measured the seed rain of ornithochorous native and exotic plants at three habitats of a fragmented landscape of the northeastern United States for 1 year. We studied maple-beech forests, old fields, and abandoned conifer plantations. Across all sites we collected 2,196 ornithochorous seeds, including seeds from six exotic species and 10 native species. The majority (90%) of collected seeds were from exotic species. Seed dispersal was broadly similar among habitats, though seed rain of exotic species was higher in old fields than forested habitats. Seed rain was not strongly influenced by artificial perches for most species. However, seeds of exotic species were more commonly found in traps under an artificial perch in old fields. Seed rains for the exotic Elaeagnus umbellata, Rhamnus cathartica, and Rosa multiflora were positively associated with local density of mature plants. Seed rain of R. cathartica was positively associated with abundance of seedlings but not saplings, suggesting that post-dispersal mortality was important. Seed dispersal of the exotic Lonicera spp. was high in all habitats, accounting for 66% of all seeds collected. With the exception of Lonicera spp., seed rain of common exotic invaders was affected by the abundance of seed sources, and these species might be effectively controlled by elimination of local fruiting plants. Fruits of Lonicera morrowii, which has extensively invaded our area, are apparently a common component in the diet of frugivores.
    Keywords Elaeagnus umbellata ; Lonicera morrowii ; Rhamnus cathartica ; Rosa multiflora ; birds ; conifers ; diet ; forest habitats ; forests ; fruits ; habitat fragmentation ; indigenous species ; introduced plants ; landscapes ; mature plants ; mortality ; perch ; plantations ; saplings ; seed dispersal ; seedlings ; seeds
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2009-07
    Size p. 59-67.
    Publisher Springer Netherlands
    Publishing place Dordrecht
    Document type Article
    ZDB-ID 1364679-5
    ISSN 1573-5052 ; 1385-0237
    ISSN (online) 1573-5052
    ISSN 1385-0237
    DOI 10.1007/s11258-008-9509-8
    Database NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA)

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