Life Sciences Commons^™

Ectoparasite Presence In Select Northcentral Kansas Bat Species, Elizabeth Schumann

Master's Theses

Working with other graduate students on a grant given to Fort Hays State University, from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, I looked at presence and species of ectoparasites on bat species. The main goal of our grant was to quantify and qualify the status of the northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis) in the state of Kansas, and to record data on any bycatch. I worked on our grant in the summer field seasons of 2016 and 2017, May to October, as described by the Indiana bat protocol.

Bats were captured by using mist nets set over …

The Effect Of Vegetative Structure On Nest-Burrow Selection By The Western Burrowing Owl: Comparing Traditional Methods To Photogrammetry With An Unmanned Aerial System, Dylan J. Steffen

Master's Theses

The shortgrass prairie ecoregion in the United States has been reduced to 52% of its historical extent, contributing to reduced habitat for native species. One such species is the Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia). The Western Burrowing Owl subspecies (A. c. hypugaea) is listed as a Species of Special Concern in nearly every western and midwestern state, including Kansas where it is designated as a Tier II Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Habitat destruction due to conversion to cropland, increasing use of pesticides, and reduction in burrowing mammal abundance are the primary threats that have led to …

Influence Of Shaded Conditions On Development Of Asteraceae Species Native To Kansas, Aline Rodrigues De Queiroz

Master's Theses

to the heterogeneity of habitats, all plants are exposed to at least some degree of shade during their lifetime. Reduced light intensity, drops in R:FR ratio, and limited blue light are cues for plants to perceive competition; the shade avoidance syndrome (SAS) is common for grassland species while shade tolerance (ST) is common for forest species when competition is perceived. SAS is characterized by elongation of stems and petioles, reduced branches, decreased leaf area, decreased shoot biomass, and increased number of ramets. ST is characterized by little elongation of stems and petioles, high chlorophyll content and high chlorophyll a/b ratio …

Relationship Between Food Intake And Expression Of O-Linked N-Acetylglucosamine Transferase Messenger Rna In Channel Catfish, Oaklee Abernathy

Master's Theses

Food intake regulation is a complex neural process that involves the coordination of multiple mechanisms. O-linked N-acetylglucosamine transferase (OGT) is a neural nutrient sensor that aids in regulating satiety in mammals. Compared to mammals, little is known about function and regulation of OGT expression in fish. It was hypothesized changes in food intake are associated with changes in OGT expression in channel catfish. The objectives of this study were to examine tissue distribution of OGT mRNA and determine the possible relationship between food intake and OGT mRNA in channel catfish. Screening of the catfish genome database yielded four highly homologous …

Critical Habitat Assessment And Recovery Plan For The Kansas State Threatened Broad-Headed Skink, Allison Hullinger

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Spatial Ecology Of The Western Massasauga (Sisturus Tergeminus) In A Large Interior Wetland, Joshua Mead

Master's Theses

Insight into the spatial ecology of a population of animals provides information valuable to the management and conservation of a species. Reptiles are facing global declines, with 1 in 5 species currently threatened with extinction. For cryptic taxa such as snakes, radio-telemetry allows for individuals to be reliably located on a consistent basis. I used radio-telemetry to investigate the spatial ecology of the Western Massasauga (Sistrurus tergeminus) at Cheyenne Bottoms in Barton County, Kansas. Eighteen individuals (12 male and 6 female) were implanted with very high frequency (VHF) radio transmitters during 2016-2017 and tracked twice weekly from July to November …

An Aerial Perspective: Using Unmanned Aerial Systems To Predict Presence Of Lesser Earless Lizards (Holbrookia Maculata), Sean Rogers

Master's Theses

Implementation of unmanned aerial system (UAS) in conservation biology has allowed researchers to extend their surveying range for monitoring wildlife. Wildlife biologists have started using UAS technology for detecting large species (i.e. elk, manatees) within their surveying range and monitoring changes and disturbance in the landscape. Despite this technological advancement, there are few studies that target smaller species (reptiles, rodents, amphibians) for UAS surveys. The primary reason for this is that these organisms are simply too small for detection for aerial surveying. However, certain species are restricted in their range because they have specific environmental requirements, and the target for …

An Evaluation Of Trap-Neuter-Release Practices For Free-Roaming Cat Populations, Brian Gaston

Master's Theses

As of 2002, estimates of free-roaming domestic cat (Felis catus) populations exceeded 100 million individuals, throughout the United States. Many lost or abandoned cats will revert to living outdoors as free-roaming individuals. To try to control the abundance of free-roaming cats, trap-neuter-release (TNR) programs have been implemented across the United States. The goal of many TNR programs is to reduce cat populations by sterilizing the individuals to prevent breeding, while also providing food and water to the unconfined colony. However, wildlife conservationists question the effectiveness of TNR programs. The objectives of my study were to: determine the population size and …

Incorporating Multi-Spectral Imaging Into Long-Term Upland Breeding Bird Monitoring, Kyle William Schumacher

Master's Theses

Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in Kansas, United States partnered with Fort Hays State University Hays, KS in 2014 to begin a collaborative research project that aimed to develop a long-term monitoring protocol guided by the Comprehensive Conservation Plan for the refuge published in 2013. This plan identified specific wildlife taxa underrepresented in management impact assessments throughout the property. As a result of this plan, surveys were established to monitor interactions between upland breeding birds and the vegetation community. I conducted point count surveys in 2016, 2017, and 2018 for 122 observation points across four transects. I measured seventeen vegetation variables …

Distribution Of Porcine Endogenous Retrovirus (Perv) Variants In Domestic And Feral Pig, Rashmi Acharya

Master's Theses

Xenotransplantation is considered an alternative to allotransplantation to relieve the current shortage of human organs. Due to their similar size and physiology, the organs of pigs are of particular interest for this purpose. Endogenous retroviruses are a result of integration of retroviral genomes into the genome of infected germ cells as DNA copies (proviruses), which are then carried in all cells of the offspring of the organism. Porcine Endogenous Retroviruses (PERVs) are of special concern because they are found in pig organs and tissue that might be used for xenotransplantation. PERV proviruses, already incorporated into the pig’s genome, can be …

Identification And Characterization Of Tri-Colored Bat Hibernaculum In Russell County, Kansas, Angelica Sprague

Master's Theses

Caves are often essential during hibernation, a sensitive stage in the life cycle of bats. Caves offer more stable conditions, such as temperature and relative humidity, during the changing seasons when food supply is limited, and weather is unstable. As caves in North-Central Kansas are sparse, the hibernating status of tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus) is not well known. Bats are experiencing substantial population declines within the United States, caused primarily by white nose-syndrome, as well as habitat loss and degradation, and increased wind-power facilities. In the winter seasons of 2015 and 2016, I studied tri-colored bat hibernacula. A man-made “cave” …

Diet And Activity Patterns Of Five Bat Species In North-Central Kansas, Holly G. Wilson

Master's Theses

My study focuses on six bat species that occur in north-central Kansas. Although each species is widely distributed, information about their diet and activity patterns is lacking, especially within Kansas. Increased knowledge about bat species in Kansas can provide a baseline for future studies and conservation efforts for the species included in my study; big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis), and tricolored bats (Perimyotis subflavus) were captured and fecal samples were examined for diet diversity. I captured bats in mist nets in the Kansas …

Phylogenetic Distribution Of An Endogenous Strain Of Dahlia Mosaic Virus In Members Of Asteraceae, Keri L. Caudle

Master's Theses

A newly discovered strain of Dahlia mosaic virus (DMV) called DMV-D10 was first observed in Dahlia variabilis in 2008. DMV-D10 does not induce visible symptoms of infection in the host plant, and is classified as an endogenous virus. Endogenous viruses like DMV-D10 have the ability to integrate their viral sequences into the host plant genome, which can be transmitted to offspring. No studies have examined the host range of DMV-D10 outside of the Dahlia genus. Because DMV-D10 has only been observed in Dahlia, the objective for this study was to determine if presence of DMVD10 follows an evolutionary relationship among …

Post-Drought Survey Of Freshwater Mussels In The Saline And Smoky Hill Rivers With Emphasis On The Status Of The Cylindrical Papershell (Anodontoides Ferussacianus) And Effects Of Lowhead Dams On Growth Of The Pimpleback (Quadrula Pustulosa) In The Neosho River, Kansas, Andrew T. Karlin

Master's Theses

Study 1:Post-drought survey of freshwater mussels in the Saline and Smoky Hill rivers with emphasis on the status of the Cylindrical Papershell (Anodontoides ferussacianus) in Kansas. The Cylindrical Papershell (Anodontoides ferussacianus), considered a “Species in Need of Conservation” in Kansas, historically occurred across much of the state; however, recent studies suggest that the species is currently restricted to the upper Smoky Hill-Saline River Basin, and a survey emphasizing the status of the Cylindrical Papershell conducted in 2011 suggested its conservation status be elevated to endangered. Continuing drought since the completion of the 2011 survey raised concerns regarding the status of …

Soxhlet Extraction Of Avocado Endocarp And Trituration Of Avocado Mesocarp For Biodiesel Production., Ifeoma Oraemesi

Master's Theses

Finding alternative sources of renewable energy is on the rise globally. Renewable sources of energy are advantageous because they are biodegradable, less toxic, and combust efficiently. More importantly, raw materials for these sources can be replenished. One alternative source of energy is biodiesel. Biodiesel is a fuel which consists of mono-alkyl esters of long-chained fatty acids obtained from vegetable oil or animal fats. They serve as efficient fuels to run diesel engines. Biodiesel is produced via transesterification of oils wherein glycerin is a by-product. Avocado (Persea americana) is a fleshy fruit with high lipid content, mostly monounsaturated fats, which amounts …

Using Maximum Entropy Species Distribution Modeling For Long-Term Conservation Planning Of Three Federally Listed Bats In North America, Mitchell L. Meyer

Master's Theses

We are currently in a sixth mass extinction event in which the extinction rate is higher than it has ever been. This mass extinction event is caused by human influence on the environment. Biodiversity is worth conserving because of its many uses to humans. Bats are a diverse group of mammals that humans rely on for pest control services. The gray bat, northern long-eared bat, and Indiana bat are on the Threatened and Endangered Species List and are in need of conservation. I built species distribution models using occurrence records, climate data, and Maximum entropy (MaxEnt) modeling technique. I predicted …

Surveys For Rare And Endangered Mussel Species In Kansas: Traditional Methods And Environmental Dna Analysis, Kaden R. Buer

Master's Theses

The Mucket (Actinonaias ligamentina) is one of the rarest freshwater mussel species in the state of Kansas. It historically occurred in the Kansas and Osage River systems in the state. The Mucket has been extirpated from most streams and rivers in Kansas where it historically occurred, and few specimens have been documented in recent years. The objective of my project was to determine the conservation status of the Mucket by conducting qualitative surveys in the Osage River system of eastern Kansas. My goals were to collect information that will aid in the recovery of the Mucket and to provide information …

Polymorphism In The Prpc Prion Protein Gene In Pigs, Anuja Paudyal

Master's Theses

Protein coding regions of the PrPC gene in 51 pigs belonging to 3 breeds namely Hampshire, Yorkshire, Blue Butt Cross (blue spotted cross from a Hampshire X Yorkshire), and a wild pig were studied. These breeds are used nationwide for commercial purposes. The PrPC gene of the pigs that code for prion proteins were sequenced and studied. Deletions of the octapeptide (WGQPHGGG) were observed in 13 samples that belongs to the crossbreed Dark Cross sow 71 by Blue Butt Boar (Gummy bear). This hydrophobic repeat has been used in experiments as a model to investigate neurodegeneration in prion diseases. Also, …

The Effects Of Environmental Variability And Latitude On Breeding Behaviors And Life History Traits Of Aves In North America, Elizabeth E. Tharman

Master's Theses

Breeding systems among Aves have garnered attention in the last several decades as many species considered monogamous have been found to exhibit an alternative breeding system such as polygyny, polyandry, cooperative breeding, or colonial nesting. My thesis focuses on assessing the correlations between type of breeding system and resource availability by using environmental variables as proxy variables. It also assess the correlations between life history trait variables and environmental variables. Both breeding system and life history traits are analyzed at the species and population levels while controlling for phylogenetic relationships and geographic location when appropriate. Breeding system among species was …

"Survey Of Anuran Chytrid (Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis) In Kansas And The Influence Of Anuran Life History In Occurrence", Ariel Snyder

Master's Theses

Amphibians are one of the most threatened groups of organisms worldwide. Introduction of non-native predators and habitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation can be attributed to many declines. However, declines in protected areas might be due to the emergence of novel diseases such as ranavirus and chytridiomycosis. Chytridiomycosis has been implicated in the decline of many species world-wide, including the decline of Boreal Toads and Yellow-Legged Frogs in North America. Chytridiomycosis is caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, or “chytrid”. Chytrid has been detected in Colorado, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, and was first reported in two counties in south-central Kansas in 2014. …

Determination Of Evolutionary History Of Big Bluestem Populations Through Chloroplast Dna Analysis, Tej Man Tamang

Master's Theses

Andropogon gerardii Vitman (big bluestem) is one of the most dominant and widely distributed grasses of the North American prairie. It is widely used in restoration projects for the recovery of grassland ecosystems. A. gerardii demonstrates genetic and adaptive variation among populations across the prairie. With the objective to understand the evolutionary relationship between the A. gerardii populations, two noncoding chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) spacers (rpl32-trnL(UAG) and trnQ(UUG)-rps16) were studied. Similarly, genetic differentiation among the populations was also calculated based on the spacers. The trnQ(UUG)-rps16 spacer had more polymorphic sites than the rpl32-trnL(UAG) spacer. A phylogenetic tree based on combined cpDNA …

Gender Differences In Space-Use Patterns And Microhabitat Characteristics Of Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys Volans) In Northeastern Iowa, Elizabeth G. Bainbridge

Master's Theses

Southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) is common throughout the eastern deciduous forests of the United States, southern Canada, Mexico, and Central America. However, within the state of Iowa G. volans currently is listed as a “species of special concern.” This status is due to general loss of local habitat and lack of information about the species within the state. The state of Iowa has lost a majority of its native land cover over the past century due to intensive agricultural practices. Most native forests have been reduced drastically. The majority of habitat that would be suitable for southern flying squirrel …

Evaluating The Effect Of Water Supplementation On Ring-Necked Pheasant And Mesocarnivore Occupancy In Western Kansas, Brandon L. Calderon

Master's Theses

A “guzzler” is any structure that stores and supplements water for wildlife populations. They are often used to target economically influential game species where water is thought to be potentially limiting. Upland game, like the ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) in the semi-arid landscape of western Kansas, represent such populations as guzzlers have become common practice in wildlife management applications across the region, especially on lands enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). However, little is known about the spatial response, if any, of wildlife populations to guzzlers or the potential increased risk they pose for predation. From June to August …

Organismal Composition And Photosynthetic Traits Of Biological Soil Crusts In Prairie Ecosystems Ofthe Great Plains, Brendon C. Mccampbell

Master's Theses

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are soil-surface microecosystems composed of a close association of algae, cyanobacteria, fungi, lichens, and non-vascular plants with soil particles. BSCs have several ecological functions including carbon fixation, nitrogen fixation, nutrient relations, soil stabilization, water relations, and floral community development, which make them extremely important in many of the ecosystems where they occur. While BSCs have been studied throughout the American West, little work has been done in the Great Plains region where they are less prominent among the dominant vascular plant communities. This study examined organismal composition and photosynthetic traits of BSCs in four ecosystems within …

A Comparison Of Small Mammal Communities Among Three Habitats In Western North Dakota, Samantha R. Pounds

Master's Theses

There is recent oil and natural gas development within western North Dakota, which makes it imperative to update outdated and incomplete small mammal records. Small mammals are vital components to many ecosystems, including grasslands. Small mammals contribute to grazing, seed dispersal, and provide food for other animals. I surveyed small mammals in three habitats, grassland, badland, and wet meadow, in the summers of 2014 and 2015 in western North Dakota. In 2014, I surveyed in 8 badland and 10 grassland habitats and in 2015 I surveyed in 1 badland, 13 grassland, and 4 wet meadow habitats, with 1 transect per …

Effects Of Environmental And Anthropogenic Factors On The Range Contraction Of Bird And Mammal Species, Patrice M. Betz

Master's Theses

The largest contributor to biodiversity loss is habitat destruction caused by humans. A common consequence of habitat destruction is a reduction in the geographic range of a species. Little research has been done to separate the contribution of anthropogenic and environmental variables to the extinction or persistence of species that have experienced range contraction. In this thesis, I examined the relative effects of several variables (elevation, mean annual precipitation, mean annual temperature, human population density, distance from roads, and proportion of land converted to built-up land, cropland, and rangeland) on the geographic ranges of declining bird and mammal species from …

Occupancy Modeling Of Herpetofauna And Grassland Nesting Birds At Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, Kasandra A. Brown

Master's Theses

Only about 11% of native grasslands remain in the United States (North America Bird Conservation Initiative, 2011). Grasslands are a considerable source of biodiversity and play a crucial role in nutrient cycling (Suttie et al. 2005; Holechek et al. 2011). Stewards, such as the US Fish and Wildlife Service, are essential to grassland conservation, especially in Kansas, where less than one percent of land is under federal stewardship or public trust (Holechek et al. 2011). Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, an 8,900 hectare refuge located in Stafford County, has traditionally been managed as a stopover for migratory birds, but is now …

Population Structure And Habitat Association Of Aquatic Testudines In Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, Jeffrey T. Seim

Master's Theses

I researched aquatic turtle population structure and habitat association of the turtles of Quivira National Wildlife Refuge (QNWR), in central Kansas. This group of organisms was focused on because of the lack of baseline knowledge and understanding of species presences, population sizes, structure, or habitat use on the refuge. I selected wetland units for sampling based on water permanence and quality of habitat. I then deployed baited hoop traps on these wetland units from April 24 to July 4, 2015. Captures were identified to species, measured, marked, and then release. Schnabel Multiple Census Method and Combined Percent Estimates were used …

Age, Growth, And Simulation Modeling To Characterize Fish Populations At Two Reservoirs In South-Central Kansas, Brian Serpan

Master's Theses

Several fish populations in Kansas are heavily exploited. To obtain insight into the response of fish populations to management actions, fisheries biologists must obtain as much information as possible with limited resources. To address these challenges, biologists often use age and growth information to understand the age structure of the populations, estimate recruitment and mortality, and gain insight into environmental and genetic factors influencing growth. In addition, age and growth data are used to generate yield-per-recruit models, which allow biologists to extrapolate population trends and make broad predictions about population responses to different management actions. Cheney and El Dorado reservoirs …

Effect Of Grain, Region, And Human Influence On Higher Taxonomic Surrogacy, Frances Owen

Master's Theses

Surrogacy is a common tool within conservation and can be useful when scientists lack detailed knowledge of a system. Higher taxonomic surrogacy is appealing because it can save time and money. However, this technique might vary in effectiveness depending on the taxonomic level, spatial grain, region, and impact by humans. In this thesis I addressed some of the common concerns with higher taxonomic surrogacy using Breeding Bird Atlas data from six states (Colorado, Florida, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington). I compared the coefficients (slopes) of my models rather than the R2 values relied on by other higher taxonomic surrogacy …