Article
Effects of Sublethal, Cerebral X-irradiation on Movement, Activity and Home-range Patterns of Black-tailed Jackrabbits
Health Physics
(1973)
Abstract
Effects of sublethal, cerebral X-irradiation on movement, activity and home-range patterns of black-tailed jackrabbits were studied in northeastern Utah using radio-telemetry. Irradiation of 70 captive animals using a 200 K.V.A., 8A X-ray machine indicated an LD50(30>) between 5556 and 6200R. Nine wild, free-living experimentals were trapped in desert terrain, field irradiated at a dosage of 5000R, transmittered, and released at the capture sites. Seven wild controls were treated similarly but were not irradiated. Experimentals had a mean hourly movement of 1176.8 ft and controls 980.0 ft (P < 0.05). Experimentals had a bimodal activity curve with peaks at 5:00 p.m. and 3:00–5:00 a.m. Controls displayed no such pattern. Experimentals had a mean daily home range of 66.1 acres and controls 34.1 acres (P < 0.05). Experimentals had a seasonal home range of 279.0 acres and controls 247.0 acres (P > 0.05). A probability index showing the frequency distribution of each animal's activity within 300 ft concentric, circular bands around a geometric center of activity showed similar distributions for controls and experimentals (P > 0.05). The greatest activity concentrations were within the innermost band for each group but experimentals had a greater scatter of points in the outermost zone. Sublethal, cerebral irradiation appear s to have increased activity levels of experimental animals but not changed those home-range characteristics involving total area occupied and tenacity of site attachment. This increased activity may have resulted from cortex inhibitory areas which permitted greater expression of activity from the limbic system.
Disciplines
Publication Date
November, 1973
Citation Information
Frederic H. Wagner and Lewis Nelson. "Effects of Sublethal, Cerebral X-irradiation on Movement, Activity and Home-range Patterns of Black-tailed Jackrabbits" Health Physics Vol. 25 Iss. 5 (1973) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/frederic_wagner/31/