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Group Housing And Social Stress In Side-Blotched Lizards (Uta Stansburiana), Marilize Van Der Walt

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Stress in regards to an animal's social housing environment is well studied in mammals; however there are few studies examining this in reptiles and the results are thus far unclear. For example, behavioral evidence shows adverse effects from individual housing in juvenile chameleons, however physiological measures in whiptail lizards show adverse effects from group housing. Because some reptiles appear to be affected negatively by their social housing environment while others are impacted positively, if we can discover the reason for these differences, we will be able to implement the most effective housing regimes for reptiles. In this study, we tested …

Sources Of Uncertainty In Stream Nutrient Sampling Below A Point Source, Alexandria Hayden Campbell

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The goal of this study was to determine what aspects of sampling and sample storage could lead to uncertainty when taking samples in a stream below a point source. Sources of uncertainty studied were the locations where the samples were taken to assess if nutrients were adequately mixed within a cross-section, different filtration techniques, dilution errors, analytical uncertainty, and freezing time. Bootstrapping analyses were used to determine whether mixing and dilution errors led to uncertainty, while one-way ANOVAs were used to evaluate filtration techniques and storage time. Sample spikes to determine percent recovery of nutrients and repeat sample analyses are …

An Overview Of Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis In Utah, With A Focus On Boreal Toads And Their Changing Conservation Status, Samantha A. Beirne

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The Boreal Toad (Anaxyrus boreas) has disappeared from a large portion of its range in southern Utah and it has been questioned whether Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd, also known as chytrid) has played a role in its disappearance. The role of chytrid in range contraction of Boreal Toads and other amphibians in Utah is unknown. The primary objective of this project is to determine if any historic Boreal Toad specimens have chytrid to determine its arrival in Utah. If any old specimens test positive, the secondary goal of this study is to determine if there is a relationship between …

Quantifying Non-Game Fish Sampling Biases And Demographics To Better Understand The Role Of Fish In Pelican Diet And Distribution At Strawberry Reservoir, Ut, Jamie Reynolds

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Predation and competition are natural ecological processes, though these interactions occasionally cause concern among humans when ecosystem services are involved (e.g., popular fisheries in highly managed systems). The population of American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) at Strawberry Reservoir (Utah) has increased dramatically in the last decade, as have the populations of Utah sucker (Catostomus ardens) and Utah chub (Gila atraria). Anglers and managers are concerned that predation by pelicans and competition from non-game fish species are negatively impacting the reservoir's prized Bonneville cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii utah) fishery. My project focused on …

The Effects Of Zno Nanoparticles On Egg, Larva, And Adult Rough-Skinned Newts (Taricha Granulosa), Austin Reid Spence

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles on egg, larva, and adult rough-skinned newts, Taricha granulosa. To date, little research has been done to investigate the potentially detrimental effects of nanoparticles on amphibians, especially salamanders and newts (caudates). Chronic toxicity was tested on eggs and larvae, and acute toxicity was tested on eggs, larvae, and adults. For eggs, chronic exposure to ZnO nanoparticles caused higher mortality at 10.0 and 100.0 mg/L compared to 0.0, 0.1, and 1.0 mg/L. When given an acute exposure (24h) to nanoparticles at a late incubation stage, …

Investigating The Pathogenecity Of Chl1 Leu17phe Polymorphism In Schizophrenia, Brooke Nichole Hansen

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Schizophrenia is a devastating brain disorder that affects a surprising 1% of the world's population. Despite this prevalence, little is known about the molecular aspects of this disorder making it both difficult to diagnose and treat. Several studies have identified the CHL1 gene (Close Homolog of L1), sometimes referred to as CALL, as a risk gene for schizophrenia. CHL1, a neural cell adhesion molecule, has major roles in cell migration, and the development of dendritic and axonal projections. Therefore any deficiency in CHL1 may result in brain defects similar to those identified in schizophrenic populations. Moreover, in genetically engineered mice, …

Increasing Vaccine Accessibility Through Cost Alternative Manufacturing And Elimination Of The Cold Chain, Jorgen Madsen

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Millions of people die each year from infectious diseases. This is partly due to the difficulty of transporting temperature dependent vaccines through what is called the cold chain in developing countries. I hypothesize that we can increase vaccine accessibility by finding cost effective alternatives to vaccine production and by eliminating the cold chain through vaccine stabilizers. The gold standard in purification of influenza virus is by means of ultracentrifugation. Although effective, this process is very expensive and thus impractical for developing countries. I hypothesize that column chromatography can be a cost efficient alternative that is as effective as ultracentrifugation. The …

The Influence Of Invasive Plants On The Small Mammal Community In A Cold Desert, Trinity N. Smith

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Exotic invasive species can alter ecosystem health. Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), Russian thistle (Salsola kali) and tall tumble mustard (Sisymbrium altissimum) are widely distributed invasive plants occurring throughout desert and shrub-steppe communities in the western United States. Due to the relative ease of capture, small mammal community metrics are often used to quantify overall ecosystem health. Studies examining small mammal communities are numerous but few have specifically examined the effects of invasive plants at the community level in arid ecosystems. In this study I examined community level small mammal responses to changes in microhabitat features, …

Microhabitat Selection By Greater Sage-Grouse Hens In Southern Wyoming, Scott T. Mabray

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) populations have been declining throughout the western United States over the past 3 decades. Habitat loss within the range sagebrush steppe ecosystem is a major factor leading to sage-grouse population decline. Understanding the use of microhabitats by hen sage-grouse may provide data that will allow managers to reduce the decline in the sage-grouse population.

My objective was to determine the factors lead to site selection by hen sage-grouse hens. This was accomplished by addressing several questions regarding the interactions of habitat selection and predator avoidance among sage-grouse hens. I examined if (1) sites occupied …

Water Decision-Making Under Uncertainty, Augustina Yaa Oye Odame

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This dissertation is made up of three separate studies under the unifying theme of “Water Decision-Making under Uncertainty.” The first study analyzed a farmer’s decision to invest in a more efficient irrigation system given uncertainty about future water supplies and his post-investment efficiency. It found the price at which farmers would no longer produce to be a bigger consideration in irrigation investment than previously thought. It also found support for a careful identification and consideration of all significant sources of uncertainty in order to create better policy incentives for irrigation technology investments.

The second study extended the first to allow …

Development Of Genetic Goat And Hamster Models Of Atrial Fibrillation And Long Qt Syndrome; And Genetic Hamster Models Of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, Dane A. Rasmussen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and long QT syndrome (LQTS) are potentially lethal heart rhythm disorders that can be caused by mutations in the potassium channel gene KCNQ1. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a viral infection with the potential to replicate the devastating effects of the SARS outbreak in 2003. All three of these diseases are in need of genetic animal models.

To address these needs, my thesis project focused on the development of genetic goat and hamster models of AF and LQTS, and genetic hamster models of MERS. Because of the goat’s similar organ size/physiology and the hamster’s similar lipid …