@article{rockhill_sollman_powell_deperno_2016, title={A Comparison of Survey Techniques for Medium- to Large-sized Mammals in Forested Wetlands}, volume={15}, ISSN={["1938-5412"]}, DOI={10.1656/058.015.0112}, abstractNote={Abstract 
 Monitoring mammals is becoming increasingly important as state and federal agencies develop wildlife action plans addressing increased urbanization and climatechange impacts on plant and animal populations. We designed and implemented surveys applicable to forested wetlands to assess detection rates, estimate species richness, compare species distributions, and assess relative cost versus success among techniques. The survey techniques implemented included opportunistic observations, predator calling, spotlighting, scent stations, camera survey, and foothold trapping. Opportunistic observations produced the highest species-richness estimate (14), and were the least expensive ($0) because they were conducted while implementing other survey techniques. Trapping was the most expensive technique with a cost of $61 per animal detected but provided age structure and population estimates through mark—recapture analysis. Camera survey was relatively expensive with a cost of $1865 for the entire study period but recorded the most detections (n = 673), which resulted in a low per detection cost ($3). Opportunistic observations and camera surveys documented 2 species not detected by any other method. Our results indicate that, although camera survey was a cost-effective way to detect mammals, richness and distribution estimates could be improved by incorporating a variety of monitoring techniques specific to forested wetlands.}, number={1}, journal={SOUTHEASTERN NATURALIST}, author={Rockhill, Aimee P. and Sollman, Rahel and Powell, Roger A. and DePerno, Christopher S.}, year={2016}, month={Mar}, pages={175–187} }
 @article{rockhill_deperno_powell_2013, title={The Effect of Illumination and Time of Day on Movements of Bobcats (Lynx rufus)}, volume={8}, ISSN={1932-6203}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0069213}, DOI={10.1371/journal.pone.0069213}, abstractNote={Understanding behavioral changes of prey and predators based on lunar illumination provides insight into important life history, behavioral ecology, and survival information. The objectives of this research were to determine if bobcat movement rates differed by period of day (dark, moon, crepuscular, day), lunar illumination (<10%, 10 - <50%, 50 - <90%, >90%), and moon phase (new, full). Bobcats had high movement rates during crepuscular and day periods and low movement rates during dark periods with highest nighttime rates at 10-<50% lunar illumination. Bobcats had highest movement rates during daytime when nighttime illumination was low (new moon) and higher movement rates during nighttime when lunar illumination was high (full moon). The behaviors we observed are consistent with prey availability being affected by light level and by limited vision by bobcats during darkness.}, number={7}, journal={PLoS ONE}, publisher={Public Library of Science (PLoS)}, author={Rockhill, Aimee P. and DePerno, Christopher S. and Powell, Roger A.}, editor={Somers, MichaelEditor}, year={2013}, month={Jul}, pages={e69213} }
 @article{rockhill_chinnadurai_powell_deperno_2011, title={A COMPARISON OF TWO FIELD CHEMICAL IMMOBILIZATION TECHNIQUES FOR BOBCATS (LYNX RUFUS)}, volume={42}, ISSN={["1937-2825"]}, DOI={10.1638/2010-0152.1}, abstractNote={Abstract: Anesthetic protocols that allow quick induction, short processing time, and rapid reversal are necessary for researchers performing minimally invasive procedures (including morphometric measurements or attachment of radiocollars). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of medetomidine and butorphanol as a substitute for xylazine in ketamine-based field immobilization protocols for bobcats (Lynx rufus) to reduce recovery and total field times. During 2008 and 2009, 11 bobcats were immobilized with an intramuscular combination of ketamine (10 mg/kg)-xylazine (0.75 mg/kg) (KX) or ketamine (4 mg/kg)-medetomidine (40 mcg/kg)-butorphanol (0.4 mg/kg) (KMB). Time to initial sedation, recumbency, and full anesthesia were recorded postinjection. Time to head up, sternal, standing, full recovery, and total processing times were recorded post-reversal. Throughout anesthesia, heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT), and noninvasive hemoglobin-oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded at 5-min intervals. The KX combination had a median time to full anesthesia of 10 min, a median recovery time of 46 min, and a median total processing time of 83 min. Alternatively, the KMB combination had a median time to full anesthesia of 21 min, a median recovery time of 18 min, and a median total processing time of 64 min. The KX protocol produced a median HR of 129 beats/min, RR of 25 breaths/min, RT of 38.3°C, and SpO2 of 93%. The KMB protocol produced a median HR of 97 beats/min, RR of 33 breaths/min, RT of 38.4°C, and SpO2 of 92%. Though both protocols provided safe and reliable sedation, the benefits of using medetomidine and butorphanol to lower ketamine doses and decrease processing time for brief nonsurgical sedation of bobcats in the field are presented.}, number={4}, journal={JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE}, author={Rockhill, Aimee P. and Chinnadurai, Sathya K. and Powell, Roger A. and DePerno, Christopher S.}, year={2011}, month={Dec}, pages={580–585} }
 @article{turner_rockhill_deperno_jenks_klaver_jarding_grovenburg_pollock_2011, title={Evaluating the Effect of Predators on White-Tailed Deer: Movement and Diet of Coyotes}, volume={75}, ISSN={["0022-541X"]}, DOI={10.1002/jwmg.109}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT 
 Coyotes (Canis latrans) may affect adult and neonate white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) survival and have been implicated as a contributor to the decline of deer populations. Additionally, coyote diet composition is influenced by prey availability, season, and region. Because coyote movement and diet vary by region, local data are important to understand coyote population dynamics and their impact on prey species. In southeast Minnesota, we investigated the effect of coyotes on white-tailed deer populations by documenting movement rates, distances moved, and habitats searched by coyotes during fawning and nonfawning periods. Additionally, we determined survival, cause-specific mortality, and seasonal diet composition of coyotes. From 2001 to 2003, we captured and radiocollared 30 coyotes. Per-hour rate of movement averaged 0.87 km and was greater (P = 0.046) during the fawning (1.07 km) than the nonfawning period (0.80 km); areas searched were similar (P = 0.175) between seasons. Coyote habitat use differed during both seasons; habitats were not used in proportion to their availability (P < 0.001). Croplands were used more (P < 0.001) than their proportional availability during both seasons. Use of grasslands was greater during the fawning period (P = 0.030), whereas use of cropland was greater in the nonfawning period (P < 0.001). We collected 66 fecal samples during the nonfawning period; coyote diets were primarily composed of Microtus spp. (65.2%), and consumption of deer was 9.1%. During the study, 19 coyotes died; annual survival rate range was 0.33–0.41, which was low compared with other studies. Consumption of deer was low and coyotes searched open areas (i.e., cropland) more than fawning areas with dense cover. These factors in addition to high coyote mortality suggested that coyote predation was not likely limiting white-tailed deer populations in southeast Minnesota.}, number={4}, journal={JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT}, author={Turner, Melissa M. and Rockhill, Aimee P. and Deperno, Christopher S. and Jenks, Jonathan A. and Klaver, Robert W. and Jarding, Angela R. and Grovenburg, Troy W. and Pollock, Kenneth H.}, year={2011}, month={May}, pages={905–912} }