Life Sciences Commons^™

Which Drone Should You Buy To Study Dolphins?: Assessing Dolphin Response Behavior At Various Heights With Commonly Used Platforms, Savannah Damiano

Graduate Research Conference

Drones are becoming a commonly used platform for understanding dolphin behavior However, this can be an intimidating field to approach as data is sparse on which commonly used drone types are the best to use for marine mammal research.

There is a need to further investigate the advantages and disadvantages of various drone types for marine mammal studies when it comes to disturbance factors.

Three commonly used DJI drone platforms were used to evaluate how drones affect the behavior of dolphins, the DJI Mini 2 the DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced, and the DJI Inspire 2.

The DJI Mavic Enterprise …

Contrasting Orthophotos By Height, Overlap, And Drone, Edward Ironsmith

Graduate Research Conference

Drones have recently become a mainstay for surveying and modeling of small areas of land in a cost-efficient manner. Yet there are many variables that affect the time, quality, and cost of capturing and generating such products. We look at several of these parameters and discuss the alternatives to minimize cost over a series of projects. The parameters in question include height, overlap, sensor resolution, processing time, drone costs, computer costs, processing costs, time in the field, storage, drone endurance and the likelihood of costly delays. A series of flights using different drones and flight parameters were then used to …

Demography Of Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys Temminckii) Across A Fishing Pressure Gradient, Luke Micek

Graduate Research Conference

Demographic data are necessary to predict population responses to environmental and anthropogenic stressors and inform conservation efforts for declining species (Weimerskirch 2018, J.Wildl. Manag.).

The western alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii; hereafter AST; Fig. 5) is the largest species of freshwater turtle in North America and is being considered for Federal listing as a Threatened Species under the Endangered Species Act (Federal Register 2021). Notably, there is a lack of demographic data of AST in Texas.

Passive fishing gear (i.e., trotlines) have been identified as a pervasive threat to AST populations, although this threat has yet to be quantified inTexas …

Seasonal Dynamics And Glycerol-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Variability In Ixodes Scapularis Tick Population In Eastern Texas, Daniela Soto

Graduate Research Conference

Objectives: 1. Document seasonal population dynamics of I. scapularis in eastern Texas. 2. Explore variability of GPDH in I. scapularis ticks in eastern Texas and relate data to its population dynamics.

How Registered Dietitians Can Prevent Foodborne Illness In Long Term Care Facilities, Amanda Albright

Undergraduate Research Conference

The role of a Registered Dietitian (RD) in long-term care facilities (LTCF) is to maintain the nutritional status of their patients by building appropriate diets, advocating for the patient with their doctors, ensuring proper caloric intake, and providing patient education on the relationship between a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle (2022, RD Nutrition Consultants, LLC). Before a RD is able to help ensure proper nutrition for the patient they must the make sure the meal was safely prepared as well as obtained and will not cause any unintentional harm to the patient by causing a foodborne illness. Countless hours …

Air Pollutants Around An Animal Feed Processing Facility In Nacogdoches, Tx: A Study On Their Effect On Local Outdoor Air Quality, Reyna Burns, Remigio Casanova, Cari Mitchell, Caroline Moore, Kaylee Zirlott

Undergraduate Research Conference

In this exploratory study, different odorous compounds were measured near TFP Nutrition to better understand the impact of odor on local outdoor air quality. TFP Nutrition produces pet feed, livestock feed, and agricultural fertilizer for local brand Lone Star Feeds. It is known in the Nacogdoches area for producing powerful odors near its facilities. It is in the downtown area of the city and in proximity to an elementary school, recreational softball fields, and residential homes. Odors can be connected to the presence of air pollutants. This study on air quality was performed to quantify this data on odors for …

Baking Without Gluten: Maximizing Nutrition Without Compromising Appeal, Callie Dunkerson

Undergraduate Research Conference

The purpose of the current study was to determine the appropriate adjustments needed to transform an ordinary muffin recipe into gluten-free (GF) muffins made with flaxseed meal (FM). Two batches of muffins were made, but all-purpose flour was replaced with FM, rice flour (RF), and xanthan gum in the experimental recipe. Participants conducted a sensory evaluation on both muffins. The GF muffin tasted similar to the control (C) but did not align with the C texture. This study illustrates the impact of GF flour components on baked goods and evidences the ability to create healthful and delicious alternatives for individuals …

Coexistence Of Three Stream Dwelling Cyprinid: The Blacktail (Cyprinella Venusta), Blackspot (Notropis Atrocaudalis) And Sabine (N. Sabinae), In Urban Streams In East Texas, Eli Torrez

Undergraduate Research Conference

We examined the population structure of three sympatric shiners Blacktail shiner Cyprinella venusta Blackspot shiner Notropis atrocaudalis and Sabine shiner N sabinae in the La Nana Banita stream complex system in east Texas during three seasons of 2022 and three habitat types ( riffles, and runs) Overall, the three species occurred together in similar habitats during the spring season when habitats were connected Despite the severe 2022 summer fall drought, populations of Blacktail Shiner dominated in the stream habitats However, Sabine shiner, which showed affinity for riffles, declined in occurrence in summer and fall, when riffles were absent due to …