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Articles 1 - 17 of 17
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Thin Soils And Sacbes: The Soil Resources Of Uci, Yucatan, Mexico, Zachary S. Larsen
Thin Soils And Sacbes: The Soil Resources Of Uci, Yucatan, Mexico, Zachary S. Larsen
Theses and Dissertations
The objective of this study was to use pedological evidence in conjunction with Geographic Information Systems, and soil physical and chemical analyses as means to better understand the agricultural landscape surrounding the ancient Maya city of Uci. Specifically, the query of this thesis is to determine whether there is an association between settlement density and soil resources, and what relationship if any there is between the ancient sacbe of Uci and its surrounding agricultural potential. Stable carbon isotope analysis of the humin fraction of the soil organic matter was conducted on several profiles from karst depressions known as rejolladas near …
Cultural Thinning Of Native Sagebrush Stands To Increase Seed Yields, Kurt David Elder
Cultural Thinning Of Native Sagebrush Stands To Increase Seed Yields, Kurt David Elder
Theses and Dissertations
Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) is an important native shrub in the Great Basin because of its wide distribution where it dominates over 60 million ha and provides essential habitat and forage for many varied species. The hand collection of sagebrush seed often results in seed scarcity and the available seed quantities are at times inadequate to revegetate large areas that have been disturbed, resulting in a demand for sagebrush seed. Study locations were selected near Scipio and Sahara sand dunes of Utah, and treatments were 1-) control, no treatment applied area left undisturbed 2-) general chemical strip …
Transcriptome And Methylation Analysis Of Gossypium Petal Tissue, Aditi Rambani
Transcriptome And Methylation Analysis Of Gossypium Petal Tissue, Aditi Rambani
Theses and Dissertations
Polyploidization instantly doubles all genome content by combining two genomes that have markedly different methylation and gene expression levels. This process may be accompanied by genetic and epigenetic changes in each genome. Sequencing of the transcriptome (RNA-seq) and the methylome (bisulfite treated libraries whole genome libraries) were used to measure gene expression and methylation levels of genic regions of allopolyploid cotton petals and petals of their diploid relatives. Many differentially expressed genes detected by RNA-seq were consistent with expression levels previously detected by microarrays. RNA-seq results also reconfirmed the presence of general polyploid gene expression trends like expression level dominance …
Transcriptome Analysis Of Drought Induced Stress In Chenopodium Quinoa, Joshua Arthur Raney
Transcriptome Analysis Of Drought Induced Stress In Chenopodium Quinoa, Joshua Arthur Raney
Theses and Dissertations
RNA-seq transcriptome analysis of Chenopodium quinoa at different water treatment levels was conducted in a greenhouse study using four water treatments (field capacity to drought) on a valley ecotype quinoa (variety Ingapirca) and an Altiplano Salares ecotype quinoa (variety Ollague). Physiological results support the earlier findings that the Salares ecotypes display greater tolerance to drought-like stress conditions than the valley ecotypes (as determined by growth rate, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and stem water potential). cDNA libraries from root tissue sample for each treatment x variety combination were sequenced using Illumina Hi-Seq technology in an RNA-seq experiment. De novo assembly of …
A Survey Of Invasive Exotic Ants Found On Hawaiian Islands: Spatial Distributions And Patterns Of Association, Camie Frandsen Martin
A Survey Of Invasive Exotic Ants Found On Hawaiian Islands: Spatial Distributions And Patterns Of Association, Camie Frandsen Martin
Theses and Dissertations
An intensive sampling of all ant species encountered on 6 Hawaiian Islands: Big Island, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai took place between 1988 and 1996. Species presence and absence was recorded at each site. Using remote sensing, variables were added insitu and used throughout my analysis. Species accumulation curves suggest that sampling was comprehensive. There is a significant trend between island area and species richness which validates the Theory of Island Biogeography for invasive species. Islands were found to be significantly nested by area, order, and tourism. Cluster analysis shows a link between elevation, land-use and island, and species …
Improving Phosphorus Use Efficiency Through Organically Bonded Phosphorus, Micheal W. Hill
Improving Phosphorus Use Efficiency Through Organically Bonded Phosphorus, Micheal W. Hill
Theses and Dissertations
Current maximum efficiency of phosphorus (P) fertilizers that is utilized by plants in the same year of application ranges from near zero to thirty percent. Despite low utilization of P in crop production, yields are often limited by P deficiencies. Innovative technology is requisite to achieve greater efficiency as fertilizer demands are increasing, while phosphorus mineral resources are rapidly being depleted. A growing environmental concern for nutrient pollution of surface waters also carries significant weight. A novel new product, Carbond® P, is promising technology to increase P use efficiency. Research is needed to understand its capabilities and the functioning mechanisms …
Summer Watering Patterns Of Mule Deer And Differential Use Of Water By Bighorn Sheep, Elk, Mule Deer, And Pronghorn In Utah, Andrew V. Shields
Summer Watering Patterns Of Mule Deer And Differential Use Of Water By Bighorn Sheep, Elk, Mule Deer, And Pronghorn In Utah, Andrew V. Shields
Theses and Dissertations
Changes in the abundance and distribution of free (drinking) water can influence wildlife in arid regions. In the western USA, free water is considered by wildlife managers to be important for bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), elk (Cervus elaphus), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), and pronghorn (Antilocapra americana). Nonetheless, we lack information on the influence of habitat and landscape features surrounding water sources, including wildlife water developments, and how these features may influence use of water by sexes differently. Consequently, a better understanding of differential use of water by the sexes could influence the conservation and management of those ungulates and water …
Habitat Selection Of Greater Sage-Grouse Centrocercus Urophasianus And Northern River Otters Lontra Canadensis In Utah, Matthew D. Westover
Habitat Selection Of Greater Sage-Grouse Centrocercus Urophasianus And Northern River Otters Lontra Canadensis In Utah, Matthew D. Westover
Theses and Dissertations
Greater sage-grouse populations have decreased steadily since European settlement in western North America. Reduced availability of brood-rearing habitat has been identified as a limiting factor for many populations. We used radio-telemetry to acquire locations of sage-grouse broods from 1998 to 2012 in Strawberry Valley, Utah. Using these locations and remotely-sensed imagery, we proceeded to 1) determine which features of brood-rearing habitat could be identified using widely available, fine-scale imagery 2) assess the scale at which sage-grouse selected brood-rearing habitat in our study area, and 3) create a predictive habitat model that could be applied across our large study area to …
Alteration Of Behavior By Desert Bighorn Sheep From Human Recreation And Desert Bighorn Sheep Survival In Canyonlands National Park: 2002 - 2010, Kanalu K. Sproat
Alteration Of Behavior By Desert Bighorn Sheep From Human Recreation And Desert Bighorn Sheep Survival In Canyonlands National Park: 2002 - 2010, Kanalu K. Sproat
Theses and Dissertations
Human encroachment into wilderness areas can influence the persistence of wildlife populations by decreasing and degrading habitat, displacement, and decreasing survival. For bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), some human activities are detrimental, causing both physiological stress and habitat abandonment. Between 1979 and 2000, human recreation has increased over 300% in areas occupied by desert bighorn sheep (O. c. nelsonii) in southeastern Utah. We investigated if an increase in human activity in areas used by bighorns affected their behavior. We observed 34 bighorn sheep using focal-animal sampling for >14 hrs to compare time spent grazing and scanning between areas of high and …
Effectiveness Of Phosphorus Fertilizers In Hydroponics And Glasshouse Settings With Moderate And High Organic Matter Soils, Jeffrey Sean Christian Summerhays
Effectiveness Of Phosphorus Fertilizers In Hydroponics And Glasshouse Settings With Moderate And High Organic Matter Soils, Jeffrey Sean Christian Summerhays
Theses and Dissertations
Phosphorus (P) is poorly soluble in most soils and, thus, has poor plant uptake efficiency. AVAIL® and Carbond P (CBP) are new fertilizer products shown to increase P use efficiency (PUE) and increase crop yields when grown in P limiting soils. Carbond P has specifically been seen to increases P uptake and crop yields in soils low in P, although effectiveness in regards to soil organic matter is unknown. The objectives of these studies were to determine if the mode of action for these products is related to physiological response, to determine if Carbond P is toxic to plant roots …
Characterization And Variable Expression Of The Cslf6 Homologs In Oat (Avena Sp.), Melissa A. Coon
Characterization And Variable Expression Of The Cslf6 Homologs In Oat (Avena Sp.), Melissa A. Coon
Theses and Dissertations
(1,3;1,4)-β- D-glucan (β-glucan) is a plant cell wall hemicellulose and a main component of endosperm cell walls. The Cellulose Synthase F family of genes is involved in the synthesis of β-glucan. In this study full-length genomic sequences of CslF6 were obtained from multiple Avena species. Three unique alleles were found in each A. sativa line. Comparisons of these alleles to diploid Avena species allowed for identification of the genomic origin of each allele. The A and D genome alleles had identical amino acid sequences while the C-genome had 13 different amino acids. Global expression of CslF6 was completed at three …
Translocation Mortality And Local, Regional, And Continental Diet Of The Northern River Otter (Lontra Canadensis), Casey Craig Day
Translocation Mortality And Local, Regional, And Continental Diet Of The Northern River Otter (Lontra Canadensis), Casey Craig Day
Theses and Dissertations
The northern river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a semi-aquatic carnivore whose range extends throughout most of the United States and Canada. The northern river otter experienced a severe range contraction post-European settlement, but due to widespread management has in recent decades begun to recover much of its former range and habitat. We translocated 27 river otters from Utah and Idaho to the Provo River, Utah from November 2009 through January 2012 in a reintroduction effort to restore the northern river otter to its native range. Of these 27 otters, 6 died as a result of effects related to the translocation. …
Plant Establishment And Soil Microenvironments In Utah Juniper Masticated Woodlands, Kert R. Young
Plant Establishment And Soil Microenvironments In Utah Juniper Masticated Woodlands, Kert R. Young
Theses and Dissertations
Juniper (Juniperus spp.) encroachment into sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) and bunchgrass communities has reduced understory plant cover and allowed juniper trees to dominate millions of hectares of semiarid rangelands. Trees are mechanically masticated or shredded to decrease wildfire potential and increase desirable understory plant cover. When trees are masticated after a major increase in tree population density and associated decrease in perennial understory cover, there is a risk that invasive annual grasses will dominate because they are highly responsive to the increased resource availability that commonly follows removal of the main resource user. To determine if tree mastication increases …
Post-Fire Soil Water Repellency: Extent, Severity And Thickness Relative To Ecological Site Characteristics Within Piñon-Juniper Woodlands, Daniel Lewis Zvirzdin
Post-Fire Soil Water Repellency: Extent, Severity And Thickness Relative To Ecological Site Characteristics Within Piñon-Juniper Woodlands, Daniel Lewis Zvirzdin
Theses and Dissertations
Erosion and weed dominance often limit the recovery of burned piñon-juniper woodlands. Soil water repellency (SWR) is one factor that may contribute to this by increasing overland flow and impeding seedling establishment. In spite of these effects, the extent of SWR within piñon-juniper woodlands is unknown. In this study, the extent, severity and thickness of SWR were sampled across 41 1,000 m2 plots within three 2009 Utah wildfires. Predictive models of SWR were built from ecological site characteristic data collected at each site. Across the study, SWR was found at 37% of the points sampled. SWR extent was strongly related …
An Object-Based Image Analysis Of Treated And Untreated Pinyon And Juniper Woodlands Across The Great Basin, April Hulet
An Object-Based Image Analysis Of Treated And Untreated Pinyon And Juniper Woodlands Across The Great Basin, April Hulet
Theses and Dissertations
Land managers need to rapidly assess vegetation composition and bare ground to effectively evaluate, manage, and restore shrub steppe communities that have been encroached by pinyon and juniper (P-J) trees. A major part of this process is assessing where to apply mechanical and prescribed fire treatments to reduce fuel loads and maintain or restore sagebrush steppe rangelands. Geospatial technologies, particularly remote sensing, offers an efficient option to assess rangelands across multiple spatial scales while reducing the need for ground-based sampling measurements. High-spatial resolution color-infrared imagery (0.06-m pixels) was acquired for sagebrush steppe communities invaded by P-J trees at five sites …
Plant-Soil Feedbacks And Subalpine Fir Facilitation In Aspen-Conifer Forests, Joshua R. Buck
Plant-Soil Feedbacks And Subalpine Fir Facilitation In Aspen-Conifer Forests, Joshua R. Buck
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis includes two studies. The first study examined changes in soil characteristics as a result of prolonged conifer dominance in successional aspen-conifer forests. Changing disturbance patterns in aspen-conifer forests appear to be altering successional dynamics that favors conifer expansion in aspen forests. The primary objective of this paper was to identify how increasing conifer dominance that develops in later successional stages alters forest soil characteristics. Soil measurements were collected along a stand composition gradient: aspen dominated, aspen-conifer mix, conifer dominated and open meadow, which includes the range of conditions that exists through the stages of secondary succession in aspen-conifer …
Cheatgrass (Bromus Tectorum), Native Grasses, And Small Mammals In The Great Basin: A Test Of The Apparent Competition Hypothesis Facilitated By A Novel Method Of Decanting Seeds From A Flotation Solution, Jacob Elias Lucero
Theses and Dissertations
The effect of shared enemies between invasive and native species has been argued to facilitate biological invasions (i.e., the apparent competition hypothesis or ACH). This study investigated a previously untested possibility: whether granivorous small mammals facilitate cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) invasion by driving food-mediated apparent competition between cheatgrass and native grasses. Specifically, we tested three predictions that must be true if such apparent competition occurs. First, cheatgrass invasion augments total seeds available to granivorous small mammals. Second, density of granivorous small mammals increases in response to increased seed availability (simulated with experimental additions of cheatgrass seeds). Third, granivorous small …