The dynamic changes in skin mast cell (MC) numbers around incised wounds were studied, using experimental designs amenable to multiple analyses of variance. Sixty-four Wistar albino rats were shaved in the interscapular region, wounded or not wounded, and then killed 2 or 10 days later. During this period, the rats were exposed continually to a cold (2 degrees C) or control (20 degrees C) climate and treated daily over the shaved region with either tap water or a weak sulphuric acid (pH 3.5) solution. The MCs within five adjacent fields of the wound or the control reference and within the superficial and deep halves of the skin were counted (at x 400). The greatest decrease in MC numbers occurred within about 700 microns of the wound. Whereas the paucity of MCs within the wound region was evident at 2 days, near-normal levels were achieved by day 10. Cold exposure produced little effect, but MCs responded differently to the water and acid treatments as a function of distance and skin depth.

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Recent success of Eastern Wild Turkey {Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) reintroductions across southern Ontario has prompted wildlife managers to investigate the potential of extending the northern limit of this subspecies' range. We monitored the survival and reproduction of introduced Wild Turkeys on the Precambrian Shield in central Ontario during 1999-2001. Mean annual survival of 39 radio-tagged hens was 0.288 ± 0.057 SE. Summer and winter survival rates differed between the first and second years of the study. Spring and fall survival rates did not differ significantly between years. Reproductive parameters that characterized the population included a nesting rate of 0.588, mean clutch size of 10.0 eggs/nest, nest success of 0.500, hatching rate of 0.81, hen natality rate of 1.18 females hatched/female, poult survival of 0.54, and fall recruitment of 0.63 juvenile females/breeding hen. Success of the pilot Wild Turkey introduction in central Ontario was compromised by high predation, low numbers of introduced birds, and a prolonged period of deep snow during 2000-2001.