Copyright (c) 2011 All rights reserved. http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy Recent documents in Timothy R. Brophy en-us Thu, 25 Aug 2011 01:32:50 PDT 3600 http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/24 http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/24 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 06:30:49 PDT Timothy R. Brophy Book Reviews http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/23 http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/23 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:50:59 PDT Reproduction and health were studied in a beaver (Castor canadensis) population from Prince William County, Virginia during 1998. Copulating beavers were observed in Quantico Creek at Prince William Forest Park on 22 January. Seven females from Quantico Marine Base were trapped between January and May, sacrificed, and dissected. Those reproductively active weighed over 39 pounds (17.7 kg) and were trapped before 1 March. Mean litter size based on counts of corpora lutea was 4.80 young (3-7); however, litter size based on the number of embryos present was only 2.75 (1-3), comparable to most others reported in the literature. Five of the seven dissected females had prime pelts, one an average pelt, and one a poor quality pelt. Subcutaneous fat deposits and those at the base of the tail were moderate to high in all females. Four contained moderate mesenteric deposits, while three had low to no mesenteric fat present. No abnormalities were found in the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, or bladder. Four females had suffered wounds to either the tail and/or body, possibly from male courtship. The females harbored two of the most common beaver helminths: the stomach nematode, Travassosizts america1711S (100% incidence) and the cecal trematode, Stichorchis subtriquetnis (86% incidence). Compared to other reported studies, these worm burdens were moderate to average.

]]> Timothy R. Brophy et al. Articles http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/22 http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/22 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:50:40 PDT We describe reproduction in West Virginia populations of the southern two-lined salamander (Eurycea cirrigera) and provide insights into the behavioral ecology of this wide-ranging urodele. The first signs of reproduction are evident well before the arrival of Spring. Sexually mature adults inhabit the cold, rocky streams of southwestern West Virginia in early February. Females arc known by the presence of large oocytes visible through the body wall and males by their extremely swollen heads. Breeding occurs in the stream during late March and is marked by the presence of gravid females with sperm caps in their posterior cloacae. Eggs are deposited from mid-March through early April on the underside of flat rocks in cool, shallow, and swiftly flowing streams. Females guard their nests against potential predators, including other two-lined salamanders. Hatchlings emerge as miniature adults with gills after several months of development.

]]> Timothy R. Brophy et al. Articles http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/21 http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/21 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:19:03 PDT Michelle McConnachie et al. Presentations http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/20 http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/20 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:19:02 PDT Allometric growth and sexual dimorphism of the shell is evident in Malayemys macrocephala from the Chao Phraya River Basin of central Thailand. Differences in allometric growth between males and females produce sexually dimorphic adults. Adult females exhibit larger sizes and have relatively wider and higher shells and longer plastra than males.

]]> Timothy R. Brophy Articles http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/19 http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/19 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:19:01 PDT Timothy R. Brophy Presentations http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/18 http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/18 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:19:01 PDT Timothy R. Brophy et al. Articles http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/17 http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/17 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:19:00 PDT Timothy R. Brophy et al. Presentations http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/16 http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/16 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:18:59 PDT Geographic variation was studied in the south-east Asian turtles of the genus Malayemys (Testudines: Bataguridae). Discriminant function analysis of head-stripe and shell characters reveals a clear pattern of geographic variation that is consistent with the topography of south-east Asia and the poor dispersal abilities of these turtles. Two phenotypically and morphologically distinct groups of Malayemys occur allopatrically in lowland areas of mainland south-east Asia, and my data concludes that each should be recognized as a distinct species. Turtles from the Mekong River Basin retain the name Malayemys subtrijuga (Schlegel and Müller, 1844), whereas those from the Chao Phraya and Mae Klong river basins, coastal areas of south-eastern Thailand, and the Malay Peninsula are assigned the name Malayemys macrocephala (Gray, 1859). Malayemys macrocephala has four or fewer nasal stripes (99%) and an infraorbital stripe that is relatively wide at the loreal seam (98% of InfSW/HW=0.07-0.18) and does not extend or extends only slightly superior to the loreal seam (96%). Conversely, M. subtrijuga has six or more nasal stripes (89%) and an infraorbital stripe that is relatively narrow at the loreal seam (92% of InfSW/HW=0.02-0.06), extends completely superior to the loreal seam (96%), and usually joins the supraorbital stripe (64%). Female M. macrocephala also have relatively longer AnL and relatively shorter Vert5L and PecL than M. subtrijuga. Similarly, male M. macrocephala have relatively longer PPLL and AbdL, relatively shorter Pleu1L and PecL, and greater RLatK values than M. subtrijuga. Both species are potentially threatened by overcollection and habitat destruction, and should be protected as separate taxa of concern. In addition, discriminant function analysis of shell and head-stripe characters suggests that M. subtrijuga on Java are derived by human intervention primarily from the Mekong River Basin.

]]> Timothy R. Brophy Presentations http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/15 http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/15 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:18:58 PDT Michelle McConnachie et al. Presentations http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/14 http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/14 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:18:58 PDT Timothy R. Brophy et al. Articles http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/13 http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/13 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:18:56 PDT Sexual dimorphism, allometry, and vertebral scute morphology were studied in the Malayan flat-shelled turtle, Notochelys platynota (Gray, 1834). Adult males (mean CL = 238.29 ± 50.68 mm, range 130.5-282.0, n = 16) were, on average, larger than adult females (mean CL = 203.48 ± 52.50 mm, range 125.3-330.0, n = 44). The five largest individuals in the study, however, were females (283-330 mm CL). The SDI value for this species was calculated as -1.17. Sexual dimorphism of the shell was not evident when examined by ANCOVA. The regression slopes of males and females differed significantly (P < 0.05) in only one of 26 characters examined. Allometric growth of the shell, however, was evident in N. platynota. Shell shape changed as CL increased proportionally more than shell width, shell height and plastral length (18/26 characters). This allometric growth pattern yields adults with relatively narrower and flatter shells than juveniles. Of 127 specimens examined, 3.9% (n = 5) had five vertebral scutes, 85.0% (n = 108) had six, 10.2 % (n = 13) had seven and 0.8% (n = 1) had eight vertebrals. In specimens with five vertebrals (presumably the ancestral condition), all scutes were large, broader than long, and of similar length. In specimens with six or seven vertebrals, the first four and last vertebrals (Vert6 or 7) were large and broader than long. The smaller supernumerary scutes characteristic of this species were usually found between the fourth and last vertebrals and were occasionally longer than broad (5% of specimens, n = 5). The presence of supernumerary scutes does not affect the relative length of the entire vertebral series, as evidenced by a lack of variation in this character among specimens with five, six and seven vertebrals. Instead, as suggested by an increased width to length ratio of several normal scutes in specimens with six or seven vertebrals, there is a shortening of several normal scutes to accommodate the additional ones. In specimens with six or seven vertebral scutes, the relative lengths of most normal vertebrals (all except Vert1) were noticeably shorter than in specimens with five vertebral scutes. The fourth and last (Vert6 or 7) vertebrals were the shortest of these normal scutes.

]]> Timothy R. Brophy et al. Articles http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/11 http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/11 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:18:55 PDT Timothy R. Brophy et al. Articles http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/12 http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/12 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:18:55 PDT Timothy R. Brophy et al. Field Notes http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/9 http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/9 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:18:53 PDT Timothy R. Brophy Other http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/10 http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/10 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:18:53 PDT We give the first dietary report for a lentic population of two-lined salamander larvae (Eurycea bislineata complex) and the first dietary comparison of lentic and lotic populations simultaneously. Diets of Eurycea cirrigera (Southern Two-lined salamander) larvae were investigated from pond and stream habitats in southern West Virginia during 1994 and 1995. Pond larvae consumed nine prey taxa dominated by chironomid larvae and ostracods, with copepods contributing significantly on most sampling dates. Stream larvae consumed 15 prey taxa dominated by copepods, isopods, and chironomid larvae. Seasonal shifts in diet were apparent at both sites. Comparisons between sites (D = % dietary overlap and rs = Spearman rank correlation coefficient) indicate that larval diets are different at each site (D = 8.1-41.8; rs =-0.4091 to 0.5606, p = 0.l0-0.96). This is most likely due to differences in prey availability at each site. These results emphasize the generalist nature of Two-lined salamander larvae.

]]> Timothy R. Brophy et al. Articles http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/8 http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/8 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:18:50 PDT Allometry, sexual dimorphism, and geographic variation were studied in the Malayan snail-eating turtle, Malayemys subtrijuga (Schlegel and Müller, 1844), using regression and discriminant function analyses. Allometry was evident in M. subtrijuga from the Chao Phraya River Basin. Shell shape changed in males as carapace length increased more than shell width and height, whereas females showed proportional changes. This difference in allometric growth yielded sexually dimorphic adults. Females attained larger sizes and had relatively wider and higher shells than males. Discriminant function analysis of shell and head-stripe characters revealed a clear pattern of geographic variation that was consistent with the topography of Southeast Asia and the poor dispersal abilities of these turtles. Two morphologically distinct groups of Malayemys occur allopatrically in lowland areas of mainland Southeast Asia, and each requires recognition as a distinct species. Turtles from the Mekong River Basin retain the name Malayemys subtrijuga (Schlegel and Müller, 1844), whereas those from the Chao Phraya and Mae Khlong basins, coastal areas of southeastern Thailand, and the Malay Peninsula are assigned the name Malayemys macrocephala (Gray, 1859). Both species are potentially threatened by overcollection and habitat destruction, and should be protected separately. Finally, discriminant function analysis of shell and head-stripe characters suggested that M. subtrijuga on Java were derived from the Mekong River Basin.

]]> Timothy R. Brophy Articles http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/7 http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/7 Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:11:39 PDT Timothy R. Brophy Book Reviews http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/6 http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/6 Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:30:55 PDT Timothy R. Brophy Field Notes http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/4 http://works.bepress.com/timothy_brophy/4 Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:30:54 PDT Timothy R. Brophy Field Notes