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Analysis Of Experimental Antimicrobial Prevention Strategies Against Microbial Contamination Of Locally Harvested Poultry And Produce In West Virginia, Rebecca Breanne Stearns

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Fresh produce and poultry have been associated with several foodborne illness outbreaks. Strategies to mitigate these risks are a much-needed research priority; therefore, five experiments were conducted to analyze pathogen cross-contamination capabilities on produce and poultry. Microbial contamination prevention and reduction strategies were also studied.

In Chapter Two, three antimicrobial delivery methods in combination with increasing concentrations of hydrogen peroxide-peroxyacetic acid (H₂O₂-PAA) (0.05-0.25 ml/dL) were compared to evaluate their ability to reduce and prevent cross-contamination of Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) and Listeria innocua (L. innocua) on inoculated apples. Apples have been …

Determining The Effects Of Imidacloprid On Non-Target Soil Organisms In Hemlock Stands, Braley Burke

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), Adelges tsugae Annand (Hemiptera: Adelgidae), is an invasive insect that is causing mortality of eastern hemlock trees, Tsuga canadensis, and Carolina hemlock trees, Tsuga caroliniana, across the eastern United States. To protect these ecologically important tree species, a neonicotinoid insecticide, imidacloprid, is commonly used. Imidacloprid is an effective treatment and can remain effective against HWA for four to six years but long-term (≥ one year after application) non-target effects of imidacloprid on forest ecosystems are not well-studied. This study examined terrestrial non-target effects of imidacloprid in hemlock stands with different treatment histories to …

Nitrogen Fertilization Decouples Roots And Microbes In Temperate Forests: Impacts On Soil Carbon And Nitrogen Cycling, Joseph E. Carrara

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Since the start of the industrial revolution the burning of fossil fuels has resulted in enhanced nitrogen (N) inputs into temperate forests through atmospheric deposition. As N is the limiting nutrient for tree growth across most forests, these inputs have generally enhanced above-ground biomass accumulation. However, the impacts of added N on soil carbon storage (C) are less straightforward. While the mean N response across studies is an enhancement of soil C, these results are variable with some studies reporting net C losses. The classic paradigm posits that N enhances soil C through negative effects on fungal decomposers. However, some …