Life Sciences Commons^™

Cats Of Unl: An Investigation Into The Human-Feral Cat Relationships On A University Campus In Nebraska, Jacey Skoda

Honors Theses

At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), there exists a population of feral cats that is monitored and cared for by a group known as Husker Cats. As the cats wander the sidewalks and gardens of the university, they may appear non-threatening and pleasant to have around. However, a feral cat presence could have detrimental impacts on the surrounding ecosystem, property, and community. The first component of this project, a survey of individuals on UNL campus, ultimately seeks to understand what those in the UNL community know about the feral cats, how they feel about the feral cats, and how they …

Acute Copper (Cu) Toxicity In Dragonfly Naiads (Insecta: Odonata), Jeff M. Simpson

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

The objective of this study was to examine the effects copper (Cu) on mortality within a pair of test groups of naiads in the order Odonata, and to replicate previous observations regarding their potential uses as indicators for water quality. Few past studies have examined toxicity within relation to the odonates. It has been suggested that this order may contain valuable model organisms (Tollett et al., 2008). Very little focus has been given to odonates as bioindicators, with the few studies done being performed on species that would typically inhabit lentic environments (Trevino, 1999). Similarly, the test subjects for this …

Teaching Agroecology: Preparing Students For Navigating Uncharted Territory, Charles A. Francis, Steve Gliessman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Agroecologists understand that farming and food systems are more complex than the aggregation of their components. This realization drives our choices of learning strategies and activities that will prepare students for complexity and uncertainty. Our quest for a just, sustainable, and nutritious food system adequate to equitably serve everyone on the planet today and into the future is an enormous challenge. An undertaking of this magnitude will be met only with major adjustments informed by thoughtful teaching and practicing problem solving skills through a new educational lens. The principles of agroecology help us focus this lens on the wicked problems …

Assessment Of Spilled Toxic Bait By Wild Pigs And Potential Risk To Non-Target Species, John C. Kinsey, Justin A. Foster, Nathan P. Snow, Jason D. Wishart, Linton D. Staples, Janis K. Bush, Kurt V. Vercauteren

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Background

In 2018, a sodium nitrite (SN)-based toxic bait for invasive wild pigs (hereafter wild pigs; Sus scrofa), was evaluated to determine its effectiveness in reducing local wild pig populations in Texas. Localized population reductions of > 70% were achieved, but spillage of bait outside wild pig-specific feeders (bait stations) caused by feeding wild pigs resulted in the deaths of non-target animals. To evaluate risks to non-target animals, we tested whether bait presentation influenced the total amount of bait spilled by wild pigs and estimated the associated risk to non-target species.

Results

We found that bait spilled outside bait stations …