Relationship between cranial damage attributable to Skrjabingylus (Nematoda) and braincase capacity in the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis)

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (9) ◽  
pp. 2004-2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesus E. Maldonado ◽  
Gordon L. Kirkland Jr.
Keyword(s):  
Mephitis Mephitis ◽  
Cranial Capacity ◽  
Striped Skunk ◽  
Skull Size ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Striped Skunks

Cleaned and dried crania of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis), with and without external lesions attributable to Skrjabingylus spp. (Nematoda, Metastrongyloidea), were examined to determine the relationship between braincase capacity in M. mephitis and cranial damage attributable to Skrjabingylus spp. The rate of increase in braincase or cranial capacity as a function of skull size was significantly less in crania evincing Skrjabingylus lesions. In general, braincase capacity tended to be smaller in specimens evincing cranial lesions than in comparable-sized skulls lacking lesions. In a sample of 16 freshly killed M. mephitis, 7 of 8 specimens that harbored adult Skrjabingylus chitwoodorum evinced both external lesions and macroscopic damage to the roof of the braincase, whereas none of 8 specimens free of adult S. chitwoodorum had any external or internal cranial lesions. These results support the hypothesis that downwarping of the cranial roof and corresponding reduction in braincase capacity in M. mephitis are associated with Skrjabingylus infections. Such changes in the cranium could explain, at least in part, behavioral aberrations in M. mephitis infected with Skrjabingylus spp.

scholarly journals Summer Movements and Impact of Individual Striped Skunks, Mephitis mephitis, on Duck Nests in Saskatchewan

2006 ◽  
Vol 120 (3) ◽  
pp. 342
Author(s):  
Serge Larivière ◽  
Lyle R. Walton ◽  
François Messier
Keyword(s):  
Mephitis Mephitis ◽  
Direct Function ◽  
Canadian Prairies ◽  
Striped Skunk ◽  
Intensive Observations ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Foraging Movements ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Striped Skunks ◽  
Nesting Season

Striped Skunks (Mephitis mephitis) are important predators of duck eggs in the Canadian prairies. We estimated the impact of individual Striped Skunks on duck nests by intensive observations of foraging movements and depredation of duck nests in southern Saskatchewan, 1993-1994. Nightly, skunk movements were variable (range 0-20 km per night), and did not differ among seasons for females, or between males and females during the parturition/rearing season. Overall, nightly movement of Striped Skunks averaged 7.4 km for females (SD = 5.9 km, n = 20 females) and 6.7 km for males (SD = 3.2 km, n = 5 males). During 1,873 h of radio-tracking, we observed depredation of 10 duck nests by 8 skunks (7 F, 1 M). Using our observed estimate of one depredation for every 187 h, and averaged nightly activity of 8-10 h per night, we estimated that individual skunks find one duck nest every 19-23 nights. Thus, during the 60-day nesting season for ducks (mid-May to mid-July), individual skunks probably find 2-3 duck nests. These observations reinforce the growing evidence that, at normal duck nest densities (<2.5 nests/ha), depredation of eggs by Striped Skunks is opportunistic, and the impact of Striped Skunks on duck nests is a direct function of Striped Skunk abundance.

scholarly journals Home Range, Movements, and Habitat Utilization of Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada: Disease Management Implications

2011 ◽  
Vol 125 (1) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rick Rosatte ◽  
Paula Kelly ◽  
Mike Power
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Mephitis Mephitis ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Ecological Data ◽  
Striped Skunk ◽  
Rabies Control ◽  
Radio Transmitters ◽  
Striped Skunks

A total of 28 Striped Skunks (Mephitis mephitis) were fitted with radio-transmitters and their movements were monitored in Scarborough (Toronto), Ontario, in 1986 and 1987. Mean annual home range size for combined sex and age classes of Striped Skunks was 0.9 km2 (SD = 1.4) (range = 0.1-5.0 km2). Home ranges were smaller during winter (avg = 0.04 km2, SD = 0.05) than during fall (avg = 0.67 km2, SD = 1.09) (P = 0.055) but not different from ranges during spring (avg = 0.25 km2, SD = 0.31) or summer (avg = 0.27 km2, SD = 0.43). Nightly movements ranged between 0.1 km and 3.0 km and were greatest during October. Skunks were located more often in field habitats (56% of observations) than in residential (23%), field/industrial (10%), or industrial (8%) habitats. Ecological data on Striped Skunks were used in the design of rabies control tactics for use in urban areas in Ontario, Canada.

PSVI-8 Meta-regression Analysis to Determine the Relationship Between Growing Pig Body Weight and Variation

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 218-219
Author(s):  
Andres Fernando T Russi ◽  
Mike D Tokach ◽  
Jason C Woodworth ◽  
Joel M DeRouchey ◽  
Robert D Goodband ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Polynomial Regression ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Prediction Equations ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract The swine industry has been constantly evolving to select animals with improved performance traits and to minimize variation in body weight (BW) in order to meet packer specifications. Therefore, understanding variation presents an opportunity for producers to find strategies that could help reduce, manage, or deal with variation of pigs in a barn. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted by collecting data from multiple studies and available data sets in order to develop prediction equations for coefficient of variation (CV) and standard deviation (SD) as a function of BW. Information regarding BW variation from 16 papers was recorded to provide approximately 204 data points. Together, these data included 117,268 individually weighed pigs with a sample size that ranged from 104 to 4,108 pigs. A random-effects model with study used as a random effect was developed. Observations were weighted using sample size as an estimate for precision on the analysis, where larger data sets accounted for increased accuracy in the model. Regression equations were developed using the nlme package of R to determine the relationship between BW and its variation. Polynomial regression analysis was conducted separately for each variation measurement. When CV was reported in the data set, SD was calculated and vice versa. The resulting prediction equations were: CV (%) = 20.04 – 0.135 × (BW) + 0.00043 × (BW)2, R2=0.79; SD = 0.41 + 0.150 × (BW) - 0.00041 × (BW)2, R2 = 0.95. These equations suggest that there is evidence for a decreasing quadratic relationship between mean CV of a population and BW of pigs whereby the rate of decrease is smaller as mean pig BW increases from birth to market. Conversely, the rate of increase of SD of a population of pigs is smaller as mean pig BW increases from birth to market.

scholarly journals Streptococcus equisimilis Infection in Striped Skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in Saskatchewan

2002 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 641-643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yeen Ten Hwang ◽  
G. Wobeser ◽  
S. Larivière ◽  
F. Messier
Keyword(s):  
Mephitis Mephitis ◽  
Striped Skunks

A Sarcocystis neurona-like Organism Associated with Encephalitis in a Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)

1996 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 172 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Dubey ◽  
A. N. Hamir ◽  
M. Niezgoda ◽  
C. E. Rupprecht
Keyword(s):  
Mephitis Mephitis ◽  
Sarcocystis Neurona ◽  
Striped Skunk

Spatial ecology of urban striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in the Northern Great Plains: a framework for future oral rabies vaccination programs

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 539-552
Author(s):  
Anna L. Schneider ◽  
Amy T. Gilbert ◽  
W. David Walter ◽  
Gregory S. Vandeberg ◽  
Jason R. Boulanger
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Spatial Ecology ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Mephitis Mephitis ◽  
Vaccination Programs ◽  
Striped Skunks ◽  
Rabies Vaccination
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