Life Sciences Commons^™

Automating Pharmacokinetic Predictions In Artemisia, Celin Younan

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Pharmacokinetics (PK) is the time course of a compound in the body that is dependent on mechanisms of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion or ADME. A thorough understanding of PK is essential to predict the consequences of organisms exposed to chemicals. In medicine, predictions of PK of drugs allows us to properly prescribe drug treatments. In toxicology, PK allows us to predict the potential exposure of environmental contaminants and how they may affect organisms at the time of exposure or in the future. Chemical ecology could benefit from computational predictions of PK to better understand which plants are consumed or …

The Role Of Decorin And Biglycan In Cns Angiogenesis And Eae Recovery, Kristina Chapman

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a severe demyelinating disease of the Central Nervous System (CNS) associated with an autoimmune response directed against myelin antigens. Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from preexisting ones, is a vital process for tissue regeneration and wound healing but is a pathological hallmark of both MS and an MS mouse model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). This type of aberrant angiogenesis is a fundamental event during an inflammatory injury, which is mutually dependent upon the intrusion of inflammatory molecules, disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and immature vessel formation. In the EAE recovery phase, this process …

Understanding Temporal Dynamics Of Plant Specialized Metabolites In Response To Simulated Browsing In Winter, Bryanna Hope Bright

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Plants are continually defending themselves from the herbivores that consume them, often using an array of plant specialized metabolites (PSMs). Volatile organic compounds, including monoterpenes, are one such type of PSMs that can be emitted and induced by plants in response to mechanical damage and herbivory. These volatiles serve as direct defenses against herbivores and can alert neighboring plants about potential threats, resulting in protection against future attacks. However, how these chemicals change over time in response to browsing by vertebrates in the winter has received limited attention and is crucial to interpreting how monoterpenes defend plants against vertebrate herbivores. …

Nutrient Recovery From Wastewater By A Consortium Of Algae Species For Biofuel Production, Edgardo Ayala

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Current energy sources are predominantly petroleum-based and their use increases greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As the global population grows, and along with it the demand for energy, there is a need to further develop renewable energy sources to avoid the effects of increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentrations on the climate. Biofuels, a renewable energy source, have gained significant interest as a replacement for petroleum-based fuels due to their environmental benefits and carbon neutrality. Biofuels are expected to make up 9.0% of the total fuel consumption in the U.S. by 2040, up from 7.3% in 2019 [1]. Currently, terrestrial crop-based biofuels …

Drought Tolerance Of Artemisia Tridentata In Response To Herbivory And Mycorrhizal Colonization, Mathew Geisler

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Interactions with other organisms can affect a plant’s ability to cope with drought. The re-establishment of Artemisia tridentata, a keystone species of the sagebrush steppe, is often limited by summer drought. This study investigated the effect of two biotic factors, herbivory and symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), on the drought tolerance of Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis (Wyoming big sagebrush) seedlings. For this purpose, I conducted two separate but concurrent field experiments. The herbivory experiment had three treatments: seedlings without tree protectors and seedlings within Vexar or metal-mesh tree protectors. In the mycorrhizal experiment, all seedlings were within metal-mesh …

The Effects Of Roads On Movement, Flight Dynamics, Occupancy, And Productivity In Barn Owls (Tyto Alba), Brian Thomas Busby

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Barn Owls (Tyto alba) are a species of conservation concern in many portions of their cosmopolitan range. One important factor contributing to population declines and sometimes local extirpations is roads, which can cause direct mortality through Barn Owl-vehicle collisions, fragment habitat, limit dispersal and movement, and imperil long-term population viability. However, the effects of roads on Barn Owl reproduction are less clear. Further, the cumulative effects of roads on Barn Owls can be dependent on how they respond to them. Road and traffic responses of animals have been classified into four categories: 1) speeders, who increase speed to …

Sex, Body Size, And Winter Weather Explain Migration Strategies In A Partial Migrant Population Of American Kestrels (Falco Sparverius), Sadie Claire Ranck

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Partially migratory systems describe populations that consist of both individuals that migrate away from the breeding grounds for the winter, and others that remain resident near their nesting sites year-round. Partial migration is the most common type of migration across all animal taxa, but the evolution, maintenance, and consequences associated with different movement strategies are still poorly understood. Studying the factors that drive migratory strategies and the associated consequences of those decisions is important to understand how migratory animals may adapt to climate change. Partial migrant populations offer a great opportunity for which to study these questions because individuals with …

Gather Round The Tree: Woody Aboveground Biomass Increases Animal Presence And Species Richness In A Tropical Forest-Savanna Ecotone, Merry Vanessa Marshall Davidson

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Boundaries between ecosystems are often biodiversity hotspots with relatively high vulnerability to global change. The boundary between tropical rainforest and savanna ecosystems in the Amazon presents an ecotone that is undergoing a shift in ecosystem structure, as a warming climate promotes the expansion of grassland. How animal communities in the Amazon will respond to changes in ecosystem structure is a crucial unanswered question with implications for the many ecosystem services that animals provide, from a food source for Indigenous people to seed dispersal for vulnerable tree populations. Recent modeling work has forecasted that faunal savannization will occur in the Amazon, …

From Microbes To Management: Spatial And Temporal Variations In Available Vegetation Affect The Gut Microbiota In A Population Of Free-Ranging Generalist Herbivores, Olivia K. Rodríguez

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The effects of extrinsic environmental factors that shape ecological systems are not only seen at the macroscopic level, but additionally influence and govern the host-associated microbial communities of their mammalian hosts. These microbial communities are susceptible to the fluctuation of abiotic and biotic factors which affect their host organisms. The surge in the research of microbiota–communities of archaea, bacteria, fungi, and viruses residing in various environmental systems–has shown that these communities can profoundly influence animal health. As such, monitoring microbiota has allowed for a new approach to study animal health and physiology. This is of particular benefit in the conservation …

New Applications For The Kinetic Exclusion Assay (Kinexa), Mark Harrison Smith

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the fundamental principles and applicability of the kinetic exclusion assay (KinExA), developed and marketed by Sapidyne Instruments of Boise, Idaho, since 1995. Chapter One reviews and consolidates the manufacturer’s guidance and many early papers that delineate the practical and theoretical aspects of the technology. In brief, KinExA is a two stage analytical system. In stage one, a number of solutions are prepared, whereby one of the partners is kept constant (the constant binding partner, or CBP), while the other (the titrant) is varied, usually in serial dilution. As the titrant is increased, the free CBP decreases, and …

Natural Noise Can Influence Bird Foraging And Vigilance Behavior, Kate Antonia Sweet

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Natural sounds are an often overlooked, yet important component of an animal’s habitat. The acoustic environment may be especially significant during foraging, because a noisy world can limit auditory surveillance. Here, we investigated how natural noise structures the foraging vigilance trade-off to understand how intense acoustic environments may have shaped antipredator behavior across the evolutionary past, and better inform conservation efforts in the present.

First, in Chapter 1, I directly compared the foraging and vigilance behaviors of captive song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) in anthropogenic and natural noise. We recorded foraging trials in 4 playback conditions (roadway traffic, whitewater …

Soil Response To Fire Frequency In The Northern Columbia Basin Sagebrush Steppe, Leslie C. Nichols

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Fire is one of the most significant disturbances in an ecosystem, as it is capable of altering the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil, and the fire frequency in semi-arid ecosystems is increasing. These changes can potentially alter plant-soil feedbacks that may affect post-fire recovery of the native plant and soil communities and lead to an ecosystem state change. However, there is much uncertainty about the magnitude of change as soils are exposed to more fires, because soil recovery and changes in fire severity following a first fire mediate the impact of successive fires on soil properties. To improve …

A Metanalysis Of Sequences Of Vascular Plants In The World’S Biodiversity Hotspots With A Special Section On Madagascar, John Michael Adrian Wojahn

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Humans have become a major factor in reshaping the Earth’s biosphere. One of the major effects of human changes to the environment is an increase in the rate of species extinction as compared to background rates. Biodiversity hotspots are areas whose species assemblages are very rich (50% of the world’s plants and 42% of land vertebrates) yet very threatened with extinction ( > 70% habitat destruction), and which ought to be foci for conservation efforts. The intense peril in which the flora of these endangered regions are requires an equally intense response from the scientific community. This study investigated the benefits …

How Water Level And Irrigation Practices Affect Waterbird Community, Nesting, And Foraging Habitat Use On The Duck Valley Indian Reservation, Jamie L. Burke

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Loss of habitat continues to threaten all bird populations. Despite efforts for conservation of wetlands, waterbirds continue to face habitat threats especially in western North America where water resources are limited across the landscape. The White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) is a colonial nesting waterbird of conservation concern that builds nests in emergent vegetation of freshwater wetlands throughout the western United States. An ibis breeding colony site located at the Blue Creek Wetland complex on Duck Valley Indian Reservation may face habitat threats in the future due to plans intended to increase irrigation water use efficiency. Plans include manipulation …

Integrating Social Dimensions Into Spatial Connectivity Planning For Grizzly Bears, Abigail Sage

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

In anthropogenic landscapes, which prevail globally, preserving key habitat corridors or routes between wildlife populations is vital for long-term species persistence. Animals moving through these corridors can encounter a number of barriers, including roads, fences, or other human land-uses. Additionally, people unwilling to cohabitate with wildlife can also kill animals considered nuisances or disturb animals in ways that reduce their fitness. The spatial patterns of human tolerance therefore play an important role in the efficacy of habitat corridors. Although there are large bodies of research on habitat corridors and human attitudes toward wildlife, studies that examine the spatial interaction of …

Genetic Variability Of Cultivars Shape Biochemical Profiles In A Bioenergy Cropping System, Megan Kelly-Slatten

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The largest terrestrial carbon (C) pool on Earth is the soil, surpassing both biotic and atmospheric C pools combined. The majority of C stabilized in soil is root-derived, and root derived C is the preferred food source for the soil microbial community. Recent studies have indicated that the perennial bioenergy crops Panicum Virgatum (hereafter: switchgrass) and Andropogon Gerardii (hereafter: big bluestem) accumulate significant amounts of soil C owing to their extensive root systems, and that soil C accumulation rates are driven by inter- and intra-specific variability in plant traits. While soil C accumulation in the short term (i.e. after two …

Seed Predation By Owyhee Harvester Ants And The Potential Of Seed Introductions In Recovery Efforts For Slickspot Peppergrass, Jennifer A. Brown

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Slickspot peppergrass (Lepidium papilliferum) is a rare plant endemic to the sagebrush-steppe habitat in southwestern Idaho. Within sagebrush-steppe, the plant is restricted to microsites known as “slick spots”– shallow depressions of soil characterized by distinct clay layers and surface water retention that is higher than that of surrounding areas. Having one of the highest extirpation rates among rare plant taxa in Idaho, and considering its unique habitat requirements, limited range, and declining numbers, land managers and conservationists have voiced concern regarding the species’ long-term viability. While range-wide declines in slickspot peppergrass have been attributed largely to the loss …

Old Enemies With New Problems?: Investigating The Ecological Relationship Between Ridgway’S Hawk And The Parasitic Nest Fly Philornis Pici, Christine Deegear Hayes

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Modern conservation efforts tend not to focus on individual species, but rather on the entire ecosystem of a species in peril. Many ecological factors can affect a species’ ability to maintain healthy populations. Parasites, which derive nutrients at the expense of their hosts, can reduce host fitness and limit population growth, acting as biological controls in healthy ecosystems. The negative impacts of parasites on their hosts can be exacerbated by climate change and anthropogenic land-use practices in ways that may limit recovery or drive host species to extinction. Introduced parasitic nest flies in the genus Philornis (Diptera: Muscidae) are threatening …

Methodological Advances For Understanding Social Connectivity And Environmental Implications In Multi-Use Landscapes, Matthew Clark

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Integrated social-ecological systems research is challenging; complicated feedback and interactions across scales in multi-use landscapes are difficult to decouple. Novel methods and innovative data sources are needed to advance social-ecological systems research. In this thesis, we use network science as a means of explicitly assessing feedback between social and ecological systems, and internet search data to better predict visitation in protected areas. This thesis seeks to provide empirical examples of emerging social-ecological systems science methods as a precedent for resource managers on-the-ground, as well as extending the line of scientific inquiry on the subject

In the first chapter of this …

The Endosymbiotic Gut Fungus Zancudomyces Culisetae Influences Transstadial Transmission Of Host-Associated Microbiota In The Yellow Fever Mosquito (Aedes Aegypti), Jonas Frankel-Bricker

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Mosquitoes are vectors for a variety of human pathogens and have a significant impact on human health worldwide. There is growing evidence that host-associated microbiota influence mosquito vector competence for certain viruses. Transstadial transmission of bacteria from larvae through pupae to adults could affect these interactions, though further studies are needed to fully unravel the mechanisms involved. Current microbiome research primarily focuses on bacterial communities, whereas the potential role endosymbiotic gut fungi have in transstadial transmission dynamics remains largely unknown. Trichomycetes is an ecological group of endosymbiotic microfungi that colonize the digestive tracts of arthropod hosts, including the Yellow Fever …

Patterns Of Genetic Structure In The American Kestrel (Falco Sparverius): Influence Of Distance And Migration And Implications For Monitoring And Management, Michaela Brinkmeyer

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Genetic structure is useful for inferring patterns of selection, gene flow and connectivity, and can define management units that aid in interpretation of spatially-specific trends and species management. American kestrels (Falco sparverius) are a widespread, generalist species with fully migratory, partial migrant, and resident populations. In many parts of their range, kestrels show evidence of declining population trends; however, it has been difficult to identify threats to kestrels because of differences in regional trends. We used a genome-wide sequencing approach to investigate the genetic structure of American kestrels, test hypotheses about the processes that influence genetic structuring of …

Mastering Mycological Mysteries With Explorations Of Harpellales Associated With Culicidae And Other Dipterans In Idaho, Michael Mccormick

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Presented is the first field survey and laboratory-based study focused on Harpellales gut fungi found in Culicidae (mosquito) larvae collected from various parts of Idaho. Overall, 34 sites were sampled ranging from urban storm drains and irrigation puddles to pristine stream-side puddles. These sites yielded 17 different species of mosquitoes and three previously described species of gut fungi. Three species of mosquitoes were the first recorded observations as hosts of the following gut fungi: Culiseta alaskaensis was infested with Zancudomyces culisetae (from Renwyck Creek), Culex tarsalis with Smittium culicis (from Cottonwood Creek), and Ochleratus sp. with Smittium minutisporum (from Bear …

Quantifying Mammalian Interactions And Distributions To Inform Conservation Planning In Mozambique, Tara Easter

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Protected areas are a staple in conservation, but human activities outside of protected areas drive species interactions, compositions, and distributions. Research is especially needed in these multi-use landscapes to maintain habitat connectivity for entire wildlife communities between protected areas. Yet, such research is lacking in areas it is needed most, such as in sub-Saharan Africa, where human populations are expected to double by 2050. My objectives were to quantify mammal distributions, interactions, community compositions, and their relationships with human and natural factors within a sustainable-use forestry concession outside of Gorongosa National Park. I used recently developed multispecies occupancy models to …

A Human-Environment Systems Approach To Outdoor Recreation, Human Biological Stress, And Landscape Aesthetics, Ellie Dawn Opdahl

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Outdoor recreation, as the intersection between physical exercise and nature, provides a multitude of psychological and physiological benefits to human well-being. Though many studies have reported qualitative stress reduction from outdoor recreation, few have focused on quantitative measurements of stress across recreational activity types, intrapersonal differences, and environmental variables. To determine whether outdoor recreation affects physiology, we collected 190 paired salivary cortisol and testosterone samples and 157 surveys from 88 hikers, 81 mountain bikers, and 44 off-highway vehicle (OHV) motorists. After recreation, cortisol concentrations were significantly reduced in hikers and OHV motorists, but cortisol and testosterone concentrations increased in mountain …

Building The Full Annual Cycle Picture For Long-Billed Curlews: Correlates Of Nest Success In The Breeding Grounds And Spatial Distribution And Site Fidelity In The Wintering Grounds, Stephanie E. Coates

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Migratory birds face threats throughout the annual cycle, and cumulative effects from linkages between the breeding and non-breeding grounds may impact species at the population level. Long-billed Curlews (Numenius americanus) are a migratory shorebird of conservation concern associated with grasslands that show breeding population declines at some regional and local scales. Curlews exhibit high site fidelity to breeding territories, but also spend approximately 75% of the year on the wintering grounds. Therefore, localized population declines could indicate localized threats, in the breeding or wintering grounds. However, little information is available regarding the spatial distribution of curlews on the …

The Cost Of Roaming Free: Assessing The Effects Of Plant Secondary Metabolites On Diet Selection And Nutritional Condition In A Free-Ranging Generalist Herbivore, Daniel Patrick Melody

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Large vertebrate herbivores have a wide variety of browsing options available. However, most plants contain a suite of plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) that can have toxic effects when ingested. Herbivores must therefore make dietary choices that minimize the potentially harmful effects of PSM ingestion and maximize the use of available nutrients and protein. During winter months, in northern latitudes, climatological factors restrict browsing options and many populations of herbivores must subsist primarily on forage that is relatively poor in nutritional quality and high in PSMs. Many species of herbivores have developed a suite of behavioral and physiological adaptations to cope …

The Relative Importance Of Fire History, Management Treatments, Biotic, And Abiotic Factors On The Abundance Of Key Vegetative Components In An Endangered Sagebrush-Steppe Ecosystem, Ann Marie Raymondi

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Dryland ecosystems are globally distributed and occupy nearly half of Earth’s terrestrial surface. Drylands are particularly vulnerable to degradation and their restoration has become a global concern. Sagebrush-steppe ecosystems in the intermountain western United States have been subject to decades of active management efforts to address invasive species and restore plant communities, and can serve as a relevant case study to investigate dynamics between fire, invasive species, and management treatments in a representative dryland system. My objective was to determine the relative importance of fire history, management treatment history, abiotic, and biotic factors in relation to the abundance of key …

The Role Of Disease And Ectoparasites In The Ecology Of Nestling Golden Eagles, Benjamin Michael Dudek

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Climate and anthropogenic land use changes can alter biological communities and affect disease infection rates and parasite species distribution and abundance. Management to mitigate the threats of emerging infectious diseases and parasite species requires identifying and understanding factors that influence individual susceptibility within populations. Golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in southwestern Idaho face several current and emerging threats, including a landscape-mediated diet shift that has increased the potential for disease infection, and warming temperatures that may increase the distribution and abundance of hematophagous ectoparasites. We examined prevalence of Trichomonas gallinae infection in golden eagle nestlings across western North America …

Barn Owls (Tyto Alba) Crossing The Road - Examining The Interplay Among Occupancy, Behavior, Habitat Selection, And Roadway Mortality In Southern Idaho, Tempe Regan

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Barn Owls (Tyto alba) are killed by vehicle collisions in greater numbers than any other North American bird of prey. Interstate-84 (I-84) in southern Idaho, USA has among the world’s highest known rates of Barn Owl-vehicle collisions. Little is known about Barn Owl occupancy in this region, so it is unclear if owls are killed in proportion to their abundance, or if they are equally abundant in segments with lower mortality and somehow escape collisions. Furthermore, studies of Barn Owl movements and behavior are limited. I was interested in understanding (1) factors that affect Barn Owl occupancy in …

Spatial, Roadway, And Biotic Factors Associated With Barn Owl (Tyto Alba) Mortality And Characteristics Of Mortality Hotspots Along Interstates 84 And 86 In Idaho, Erin Melissa Arnold

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

One of the world’s highest roadway mortality rates for barn owls (Tyto alba) occurs along Interstate 84/86 (I-84/86) in southern Idaho. Although mortality occurs in numerous portions of the I-84/86 corridor, there are segments where relatively much higher numbers of owls are killed (in total comprising >20% of the corridor total, hereafter “hotspots”). My objectives were to 1) identify areas of greatest mortality (hotspots), 2) understand the spatial, roadway, and biotic factors potentially contributing to barn owl-vehicle collisions and 3) assess how mortality hotspots have changed over time. If factors contributing to barn owl mortality along highways can …