Life Sciences Commons^™

Mountain Pine Beetle Fecundity And Offspring Size Differ Among Lodgepole Pine And Whitebark Pine Hosts, Donovan Gross

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelmann) is a treeline species in the central Rocky Mountains. Its occupation of high elevations previously protected whitebark pine from long-term mountain pine beetle outbreaks. The mountain pine beetle, however, is currently reaching outbreaks of record magnitude in high-elevation whitebark pine. We used a factorial laboratory experiment to compare mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) life history characteristics between a typical host, lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Engelmann), and whitebark pine. We tested the effects of natal host and brood host on beetle fecundity, offspring size, and brood sex-ratio. We reared mountain pine beetles …

What Are Consumers In Moyale, Kenya Willing To Pay For Improved Milk Quality?, D. Layne Coppock, Francis O. Wayua, Mohamed G. Shibia, Moses S. Mamo

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

Pastoralists in northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia may be able to diversify income by selling milk to urban residents. However, milk sold in open-air markets is often low in quality because it has been transported long distances without refrigeration and is subject to spoilage, or because milk is adulterated prior to sale to boost volume or enhance appearance. Open-air markets are characterized by low-income consumers who must make choices about milk quality with virtually no information other than their own sensory perceptions. PARIMA researchers used an experimental-auction approach to determine what residents in Moyale, Kenya, are willing to pay (WTP) …

Successful Implementation Of Collective Action And Human-Capacity Building Among Pastoralists In Southern Ethiopia: Lessons Learned, 2001-2008, D. Layne Coppock, Seyoum Tezera, Solomon Desta, Getachew Gebru

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

Since 2000 the PARIMA project has implemented pilot risk-management activities among poverty-stricken, semi-settled pastoralists in southern Ethiopia. The goal has been to improve human welfare via collective action and capacity building. Outcomes include progress in income generation, asset conservation, and livelihood diversification. The approach has been unique to southern Ethiopia in that a bottom-up, participatory perspective has dominated. It has focused on the priorities and felt needs of local people rather than top-down development of livestock or agricultural technology. Fifty-nine collective-action groups were created. Dominated by women, they have included over 2,300 members and most groups have been recently merged …

Are Cattle Die-Offs Predictable On The Borana Plateau, D. Layne Coppock, Getachew Gebru, Solomon Desta, Sintayehu Mesele, Seyoum Tezerra

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

Drought regularly affects rangelands and contributes to high death rates for livestock and poverty for pastoralists. But do livestock losses occur randomly simply when rainfall is low, or are they cyclical and predictable? Previously, PARIMA researchers proposed that high stocking rates—combined with low rainfall—trigger livestock die-offs on the Borana Plateau. It takes about six years for animal numbers to recover, setting the stage for another die-off when a dry year occurs. This “boom-and-bust” cycle is based on observed herd crashes in 1983-5, 1991-3, and 1998-9. Researchers predicted in 2002 that the next major die-off would occur during 2004-06, and one …

The Genetics Of Colonization In Two Amphibian Species After The 1980 Eruption Of Mount St. Helens, Kristin Ann Bakkegard

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The genetics of colonization is understudied in salamanders but has large conservation implications as new habitats are formed or restored to their previous condition. The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens provided a natural experiment to study the genetic effects of a large infrequent environmental disturbance on two species of salamander, Taricha granulosa (Rough-skinned newt) and Ambystoma gracile (Northwestern salamander). Both these species breed in ponds, and are thought to exhibit high breeding site fidelity and low vagility. I designated three treatments based on the effects of the eruption: new ponds (created by the eruption, immigrants only), recovery lakes (in …

Reproductive Tactics Of Aphidophagous Lady Beetles: Comparison Of A Native Species And An Invasive Species That Is Displacing It, Yukie Kajita

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Coccinella septempunctata L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) has been introduced to North America in recent decades, raising concerns of adverse impacts on native lady beetles, including the congeneric C. transversoguttata richardsoni (Brown). The central focus of my dissertation is to understand the importance of reproduction, in particular, in promoting invasion of C. septempunctata and its replacement of native lady beetles in alfalfa fields of western North America.

Studies were conducted to compare reproductive tactics of the invasive C. septempunctata and the native C. transversoguttata, by addressing: 1) maximum rate of reproduction of overwintered lady beetles, 2) population dynamics of the invasive …

Effect Of Processing And Formulation Conditions On Physicochemical Characteristics Of Food Emulsions, Megan Tippetts

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The objective of this research was to systematically study the effect of processing conditions on crystallization behavior and destabilization mechanisms of oil-in-water (o/w) emulsions. The effects of oil content (20 and 40 wt %); crystallization temperature (T_c = 10, 5, 0, -5, -10 °C); homogenization conditions, such as high shear (HS), very low pressure homogenization (VLPH), and high pressure homogenization (HPH); and cooling rate (0.2 and 30 °C/min) on both thermal behavior and destabilization mechanisms were analyzed. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was added to VLPH emulsions and its effect on the physicochemical and oxidative stabilities and flavor was studied.

Emulsions …

A Conceptual Framework For Understanding Effects Of Wildlife Water Developments In The Western United States, Randy T. Larsen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Free water can be a limiting factor to wildlife in arid regions of the world. In the western United States, management agencies have installed numerous, expensive wildlife water developments (e.g. catchments, guzzlers, wells) to: 1) increase the distribution or density of target species, 2) influence animal movements, and 3) mitigate for the loss of available free water. Despite over 50 years as an active management practice, water developments have become controversial for several species. We lack an integrated understanding of the ways free water influences animal populations. In particular, we have not meshed understanding of evolutionary adaptations that reduce the …

Livestock Mortality At Beef Farms With Chronic Wolf (Canis Lupus) Depredation In The Western Great Lakes Region (Wglr), Arion Vandergon

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Gray wolf (Canis lupus) depredation on beef calves has been studied extensively in recent years. As wolf populations increase throughout the United States there is a corresponding increase in wolf/livestock interactions. Most research concentrates on summaries of reported depredations and surveys of producers affected by depredations. The objective of this study was to present data on the fate of beef calves on 3 farms in Minnesota and Wisconsin over a 2-year period. Predator presence/absence was studied as an indicator of potential depredations. Also, data are presented comparing 2 techniques that may aid researchers and livestock producers with monitoring …

Some Items To Consider Before You Change The Calving Season Of Your Beef Cow Herd, Randall D. Weidmeier, Adam Summers, D. R. Zobell, Dillon M. Feuz

All Current Publications

This publication gives important items to consider before changing calving seasons of beef cow herds.

Nutrient Loading And Eutrophication In The Great Salt Lake, Wayne A. Wurtsbaugh

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Effect Of The Addition Of Waxes On The Crystallization Behavior Of Anhydrous Milk Fat, Silvana Martini, Amalia A. Carelli, Jiwon Lee

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Physicochemical characteristics of lipid-based foods depend, among other factors, on the microstructure and the characteristics of the lipid network formed during crystallization. The objective of this study, was to evaluate the effect of the addition of sunflower oil waxes on the crystallization and melting behavior of anhydrous milk fat (AMF), a lipid with a low content of palmitic and trans-fatty acids. The crystallization and melting behavior of AMF alone and with the addition of 0.25 and 0.5% of waxes was studied using a differential scanning calorimeter. The morphology of the crystallized samples was evaluated with a polarized light microscope. The …

Vegetable Exhibits At Fairs And Shows, John Wesley, Maggie Wolf

All Current Publications

This publication gives tips on how to choose the best produce for vegetable exhibits and what the judges are looking for in the displays.

Embryology: Life In Twenty-One Days, John Wesley

All Current Publications

This publication explains the process of an egg hatching into a chick.

Strawberry Irrigation, Brent Black, Dr. Robert Hill, Dr. Grant Cardon

Gardening

No abstract provided.

Strawberries In The Garden, Brent Black, Michael Pace, Jerry Goodspeed

Gardening

No abstract provided.

Helium Quality Affects Thermal Desorber Calibration, Joseph F. Romagnano, Bruce Bugbee

Techniques and Instruments

Thermal desorption technology increases the sensitivity of gas chromatography, but it also can concentrate contaminants from any gas stream that passes over a trap.

If contaminants interfere with the elution of the compound of interest, it is impossible to get a clean blank run (no sample applied yet there is still a peak) and the calibration curve will not pass through zero. This may be the result of contamination in either the gases used to blend the standards (trap tubes) or gases used internally by desorber (cold trap). However, when combined with an inability to get a clean zero, the …

Boiling Water Canning Lemon Or Lime Curd, Brian Nummer

All Current Publications

This publication includes recipe and instructions on canning lemon and lime curd using boiling water method.

Non-Irrigated Pasture Establishment And Maintenance, Howard Horton, Burke Davenport, Linden Greenhalgh

All Current Publications

Small acreage lots are becoming increasingly common throughout Utah. Many of these units have limited or no irrigation. This presents an added challenge to the owner or manager.

Small Acreage Low Flow (Micro Or Drip) Irrigation System Design And Installation, Ronald Patterson

All Current Publications

Irrigation has been an essential part of Utah’s agriculture since pioneer days. Over half of Utah’s 1.3 million irrigated acres are watered using surface methods such as flood, furrow, border, or basin irrigation.

Nutrient Content Of Camelina Sativa And Feeding Trials In Turkeys, David Frame, Matt Palmer

All Current Publications

There is increasing interest in converting waste cooking oil and oil produced from oilseed crops, such as camelina, into biofuels in order to decrease dependence on petroleum products for fuel sources.

Yellow Sac Spiders, Ryan S. Davis

All Current Publications

Most Utahn’s are familiar with the hobo spider (Tegenaria agrestis) and its potentially harmful bite. However, most Utahn’s don’t know that there is another spider commonly entering homes that may have a similar, but less toxic bite than the hobo—the yellow sac spider Chiracanthium inclusum).

Equine Immunity, Vaccination Guidelines, And Recommendations, Kerry Rood, Patricia Evans

All Current Publications

No abstract provided.

Equine Immunity, Vaccination Guidelines, And Recommendations, Patricia Evans, Kerry A. Rood

All Current Publications

This publication provides vaccination guidelines, recommendations, and suggestions for a healthy horse.

Small Acreage Irrigation Management, Kevin M. Heaton

All Current Publications

Field irrigation application methods include surface (wild flooding, border, furrow, basins), sprinkler (hand line, wheel move, solid set, center pivot), low flow or micro-irrigation (drip, trickle, micro-spray), and subirrigation (water table manipulation under special conditions).

Crickets, Erin W. Hodgson, Jessie Trina

All Current Publications

Crickets are closely related to grasshoppers and katydids, all belonging in the order Orthoptera. The family of “true crickets” is called Gryllidae, which includes more than 900 different species worldwide. In Utah, we have several species of field crickets and snowy tree crickets located throughout the state. True crickets are often confused with grasshoppers and katydids because they have similar body shapes and large hind legs for jumping.

Small Grains, Unknown Unknown

All Current Publications

This fact sheet lists details of small grains crop insurance.

Distinct Contributions Of Model Masp1 And Masp2 Like Peptides To The Mechanical Properties Of Synthetic Major Ampullate Silk Fibers As Revealed In Silico, Amanda E. Brooks, Shane R. Nelson, Justin A. Jones, Courtney Koenig, Michael Hinman, Michael Hinman, Shane Stricker, Randolph V. Lewis

Biology Faculty Publications

All characterized major ampullate silks from orb-web weaving spiders are composites of primarily two different proteins: MaSp1 and MaSp2. The conserved association of MaSp1 and MaSp2 in these spider species, the highly conserved amino acid motifs, and variable ratios of MaSp1 to MaSp2 demonstrate the importance of both MaSp1 and MaSp2 to the strength and elasticity of the fiber. Computer simulated mechanical tests predicted differing roles for MaSp1 and MaSp2 in the mechanical properties of the fibers. Recombinant MaSp1 and MaSp2 proteins were blended and spun into fibers mimicking the computer-simulated conditions. Mechanical testing verified the differing roles of MaSp1 …

Genomic Profiling Reveals An Alternate Mechanism For Hepatic Tumor Promotion By Perfluorooctanoic Acid In Rainbow Trout, Susan C. Tilton, Gayle A. Orner, Abby D. Benninghoff, Hillary M. Carpenter, Jerry D. Hendricks, Cliff B. Pereira, David E. Williams

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Background

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a potent hepatocarcinogen and peroxisome proliferator (PP) in rodents. Humans are not susceptible to peroxisome proliferation and are considered refractory to carcinogenesis by PPs. Previous studies with rainbow trout indicate they are also insensitive to peroxisome proliferation by the PP dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), but are still susceptible to enhanced hepatocarcinogenesis after chronic exposure.

Objectives

In this study, we used trout as a unique in vivo tumor model to study the potential for PFOA carcinogenesis in the absence of peroxisome proliferation compared with the structurally diverse PPs clofibrate (CLOF) and DHEA. Mechanisms of carcinogenesis were identified from …

Sagestep News, Summer 2008, No. 6, Sagestep

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