Life Sciences Commons^™

Trophic Ecology And Habitat Use Of Atlantic Tarpon (Megalops Atlanticus ), Benjamin Neal Kurth

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Fish can have complex life histories and use multiple habitats and resources throughout their life span. Consequently, their life histories are often poorly understood. The Atlantic Tarpon, Megalops atlanticus, is a large, typically migratory, elopomorph fish that is both ecologically and economically important. Atlantic Tarpon are under threat due to regional exploitation, loss of natal and juvenile habitat, poor water management, and offshore impacts. In addition, little is known about its lifelong habitat and resource use. In Chapter 1, I used stable isotope analysis of eye lens δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values to explore patterns in …

Effects Of Parasitism And Mite Control Methods On European Starling Development, Aderinsola Oluwasikemi Odetunde

Theses and Dissertations

Certain developmental stressors can lead to developmental trade-offs in young organisms. Hematophagous ectoparasites are a common stressor experienced by European starlings, and we wished to explore what aspects of an ectoparasite infestation drove trade-offs. The first part of this study was to test the hypothesis that blood loss was the sole mediator of trade-offs due to hematophagous ectoparasite infestation. We used nestlings that were exposed to mites in the nests, nestlings in mite-reduced nests experiencing supplementary blood loss, and nestlings in mite reduced nests with no supplementary blood loss. We also used a new heat treatment to reduce mites in …

Low Florida Coral Calcification Rates In The Plio-Pleistocene, Thomas C. Brachert, Markus Reuter, Stefan Kruger, James S. Klaus, Kevin P. Helmle, Janice M. Lough

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

In geological outcrops and drill cores from reef frameworks, the skeletons of scleractinian corals are usually leached and more or less completely transformed into sparry calcite because the highly porous skeletons formed of metastable aragonite (CaCO3) undergo rapid diagenetic alteration. Upon alteration, ghost structures of the distinct annual growth bands often allow for reconstructions of annual extension ( =  growth) rates, but information on skeletal density needed for reconstructions of calcification rates is invariably lost. This report presents the bulk density, extension rates and calcification rates of fossil reef corals which underwent minor diagenetic alteration only. The corals derive from …

Evaluating Foraging Habits, And Estimating Prey Consumption, And Growth Of Brook Trout In A Coolwater Michigan Stream, Graeme R. Zaparzynski

Masters Theses

Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) are a cold water ectotherm whose native distribution includes most of eastern Canada, the upper Midwestern United States, and the eastern and mid- Atlantic United States as far south as Georgia. The native range of brook trout in the United States has been reduced as a result of interspecific interactions with introduced species, and anthropogenic land use changes that drive water temperature changes in many of their native watersheds. Anthropogenic land-use changes tend to increase thermal regimes of aquatic systems, affecting brook trout physiology and limiting them to colder, headwater reaches. The threat of …

Influence Of Dietary Component Manipulation And Feed Management Strategies On Growth And Rumen Development Of Weaned Dairy Heifers, Tana Shea Dennis

Open Access Dissertations

Well-developed replacement heifers provide a central foundation for the continued success of the dairy industry. Emphasis on improving pre-weaned calf nutrition has predominated in the industry, but opportunities exist to improve post-weaning heifer nutrition and management. We aimed to evaluate common feed management strategies seen in the industry and their effects on growth, feed efficiency (G:F), and rumen development of calves from birth to 8 mo of age using pen- and individually-fed animal trials. Little information exists regarding post-weaning performance and rumen development of calves fed conventional or high planes of nutrition pre-weaning; therefore, we evaluated two milk replacer feeding …

Transgenerational Effects Of Thermal Stress: Impacts On And Beyond Coral Reproduction, Alyson Kuba

HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations

Ocean warming causes stress to corals and records reveal that periods of thermal stress are increasing in frequency and severity. Previous studies show that thermal stress negatively impacts the reproductive output of corals. However, the transgenerational impacts of coral bleaching have never been quantified. As a consequence, it is unclear how ocean warming may alter population dynamics due to effects on reproduction and recruitment. This study quantified the transgenerational impacts of thermal stress in Montastraea cavernosa. To assess transgenerational effects of temperature stress during gametogenesis, colonies were exposed to elevated temperature for two weeks four months prior to spawning, …

Framework For Drafting Ecological Objectives For Water Sharing Plans - Submission Of The Nsw Aboriginal Land Council, Geoff Scott, New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council

Indigenous Water Justice Symposium (June 6)

Presenter: Phil Duncan, Gomeroi Nation, New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council

4 pages

Contains 1 footnote

Letter addressed to Nick Cook, A/Team Leader, WSP Science & Evaluation - North, NSW Office of Water, from Geoff Scott, Chief Executive Officer, New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council.

Assessment Of A Hatchery Based Rainbow Smelt Supplementation Effort, Andrew O'Malley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax) are an important fish distributed throughout northeastern North America with both anadromous and landlocked populations. Abundance, size at age, and maximum size vary widely among populations and life histories. In order to compare anadromous and landlocked populations, we collected spawning adults in 2014 from four anadromous and three landlocked populations. Scales and otoliths from the anadromous fish were examined and compared for estimates of bias and precision in ageing. Analysis of both scales and otoliths provided age estimates that were acceptable, but estimates from scales were more precise and had less bias. Otoliths were …

Comparison Of Commercial Gecko Food On Growth Of Rhacodactylus Geckos, Kaitlin Leigh Richard

Honors Projects

Available food sources can provide a different effect on the growth rates of Rhacodactylus auriculatus. In this study three food sources were compared, Repashy MRP, Pangea super foods, and GeckoPro New Caledonian blend. These are composed of similar nutrients but tend to have some points where they vary. Thirty-six gargoyle geckos were put through a trial over a 14 week period to determine which commercially available food source provides the best nutrients for growth, as measured by weight gain. Three groups of twelve were chosen based on a variety of ages and sizes to be given three different foods …

Depression In Thermal Performance Of Age-Structured Spirodela Polyrhiza Due To The Presence Of Rhopalosiphum Nymphaeae, Mitchell Matis, Chad Brassil, Colby J. Tanner

UCARE Research Products

Thermal performance curves are keys components of population ecology. We performed this study to determine the effects of aphids on duckweed age-structured models across temperature. Results show a depression in birth rates and maturation of rates of duckweed in the presence of aphids. Regression analysis shows that this depression in maturation and birth is directly proportional to aphid growth rates across temperatures. This hints of the idea of modeling duckweed and aphid growth via nested thermal performance curves.

How Nebraska’S Eastern Saline Wetland Native Plant Species Grow In Response To Restoration Methods: Application Of Different Salinity Level Groundwater, Ellen Dolph, Keunyea Song, Amy Burgin, Trenton E. Franz

UCARE Research Products

Nebraska’s Eastern Saline Wetlands are unique ecosystems endemic to the Salt and Rock Creek waters in Lancaster and Saunders County.

They provide an ecosystem services as well as habitat for endangered species such as the state endangered saltwort (Salicornia rubra) and federally endangered Salt Creek tiger beetle (Cicindela nevadica lincolniana).

Over 80 % of the saline wetlands are highly degraded and in recent years, the Saline Wetland Conservation Partnership has formed to conserve and restore the remaining saline wetland fragments, but there is limited information about inland saline wetland restoration. Purpose: Investigate techniques to better conserve …

Molecular Analysis Confirming The Introduction Of Nile Crocodiles, Crocodylus Niloticus Laurenti 1768 (Crocodylidae), In Southern Florida, With An Assessment Of Potential For Establishment, Spread, And Impacts., Michael R. Rochford, Kenneth L. Krysko, Frank J. Mazzotti, Matthew W. Shirley, Mark W. Parry, Joseph A. Wasilewski, Jeffrey S. Beauchamp, Christpher R. Gillette, Edward F. Metzger Iii, Michiko A. Squires, Louis A. Somma

Papers in Herpetology

The state of Florida, USA, has more introduced herpetofauna than any other governmental region on Earth. Four species of nonnative crocodilians have been introduced to Florida (all since 1960), one of which is established. Between 2000–2014 we field-collected three nonnative crocodilians in Miami-Dade County, Florida, and one in Hendry County, Florida. We used DNA barcoding and molecular phylogenetics to determine species identification and native range origin. Also, we described diet, movement, and growth for one crocodile. Our molecular analyses illustrated that two of the crocodiles we collected are most closely related to Nile Crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) from South Africa, suggesting …

Bioeconomic Evaluation Of Commercial-Scale Stock Enhancement In Abalone, Anthony M. Hart, Lachlan W.S. Strain

Fisheries research reports

The evaluation of commercial-scale stock enhancement was undertaken to determine its viability in the Western Australian Greenlip Abalone fishery. The key outcome of the project is that commercial-scale abalone stock enhancement is environmentally and economically achievable. The bioeconomic analysis revealed significant economic potential of a stock enhancement program for Australian Haliotis laevigata fisheries.

Regeneration And Healing Of Bone And Cartilage In Type-1 And Type-2 Diabetes: The Effects Of Insulin, Sümeyya Akyol, Mehmet Aki̇f Güleç, Hi̇lmi̇ Demi̇ri̇n, Ömer Akyol

Turkish Journal of Biology

Increased fragility of long bones and delay in fracture healing in adults as well as skeletal development disorders in children are thought to be associated with endochondral ossification problems. The extracellular matrix (ECM) of cartilage is absorbed during endochondral ossification. During the recovery process from damage, chondrocytes undergo hypertrophy and increase their cell volume; on the other hand, it is also necessary to digest the ECM elements around the cells. Recent research on the proteolytic enzymes in ECM assumed to be responsible for the digestion is connected to proteinases digesting type II collagen and aggrecan. ADAMTS1, 4, and 5 are …

The C-Terminal Motif Of Siago1b Is Required For The Regulation Of Growth, Development And Stress Responses In Foxtail Millet (Setaria Italica (L.) P. Beauv), Xiaotong Liu, Sha Tang, Guanqing Jia, James C. Schnable, Haixia Su, Chanjuan Tang, Hui Zhi, Xianmin Diao

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv), which belongs to the Panicoideae tribe of the Poaceae, is an important grain crop widely grown in Northern China and India. It is currently developing into a novel model species for functional genomics of the Panicoideae as a result of its fully available reference genome sequence, small diploid genome (2n=18, ~510 Mb), short life cycle, small stature and prolific seed production. Argonaute 1 (AGO1), belonging to the argonaute (AGO) protein family, recruits small RNAs and regulates plant growth and development. Here, we characterized an AGO1 mutant (siago1b) in foxtail millet, which …

Comparing The Effects Of Butyric Acid Source And Level On Growth Performance Of Nursery Pigs, K. M. Gourley, J. C. Woodworth, J. M. Derouchey, M. D. Tokach, R. D. Goodband, S. S. Dritz

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 398 pigs (PIC 19 × 1050 or PIC 3 × C29, initially 13.56 ± 0.02 lb) were used in a 42-d growth study to compare the effects of increasing two different sources of encapsulated butyric acid on growth performance of nursery pigs fed meal diets. Dietary treatments were arranged as a 2 × 2 + 1 factorial with main effects of butyric acid source (ButiPEARL vs. ButiPEARLZ; Kemin Industries, Des Moines, IA) and level (low (1 or 1.38 lb/ton) vs. high (2 or 2.76 lb/ton) respectively) plus a control diet without any butyric acid. The inclusion rates …

Effects Of A Gluco-Oligosaccharide On Growth Performance Of Nursery Pigs, F. Wu, M. D. Tokach, J. M. Derouchey, S. S. Dritz, J. C. Woodworth, R. D. Goodband

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 3,456 nursery pigs (PIC L337 × 1050, initially 12.4 lb BW) were housed in 3 commercial research rooms and used in a 42-d growth study to determine the effects of gluco-oligosaccharide (Midori USA, Inc., Cambridge, MA) on growth performance. In each room, pens of pigs (27 pigs/pen) were blocked (6, 5, and 5 blocks in rooms 1, 2, and 3, respectively) by initial pen BW. Within blocks, pens were allotted randomly to 1 of 8 dietary treatments in a 2-phase feeding program (d 0 to 14 and d 14 to 42). Dietary treatments were arranged in a …

Effects Of Feeding A Finishing Diet Blended With Different Phases Of Nursery Diets On Growth Performance And Economics Of Nursery Pigs, F. Wu, K. Coble, C. Hastad, M. D. Tokach, J. M. Derouchey, S. S. Dritz, J. C. Woodworth, R. D. Goodband

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 1,260 weaned pigs (PIC TR4 × (Fast LW × PIC L02); initially 12.9 lb BW)) were housed in a commercial research barn and used in a 47-d study to determine the effects of blending a finishing diet into different phases of nursery diets on pig growth performance. Pens of pigs were blocked by initial BW and gender and allotted to 1 of 4 treatment groups (15 pens/treatment). In a 5-phase feeding program, the 4 treatments were: 1) standard nursery diets throughout (control); or standard nursery diets with 5.5 lb/pig of late finishing feed blended at the beginning …

Effects Of Increasing Levels Of Copper From Either Cuso4 Or Combinations Of Cuso4 And A Cu-Amino Acid Complex On Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, And Economics Of Finishing Pigs, C. B. Carpenter, J. C. Woodworth, J. M. Derouchey, M. D. Tokach, R. D. Goodband, S. S. Dritz, Z. J. Rambo

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 1,089 pigs (PIC 280 ×1050; initially 82.2 lb) were used in a 105-d experiment to determine the effects of increasing added Cu from either CuSO₄alone or a 50/50 blend of CuSO₄and Cu-AA (Availa^®-Cu, Zinpro Corporation, Eden Prairie, MN) on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and economics of finishing pigs. All 6 dietary treatments contained 17 ppm Cu from CuSO₄from the trace mineral premix. Additional treatment diets contained added CuSO₄to provide 70 and 130 ppm total Cu or a 50/50 blend of added Cu from CuSO₄and Cu-AA …

Effects Of Dietary Standardized Ileal Digestible Isoleucine:Lysine Ratio On Nursery Pig Performance, A. B. Clark, M. D. Tokach, J. M. Derouchey, S. S. Dritz, K. Touchette, R. D. Goodband, J. C. Woodworth

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 560 nursery pigs were used in 2 experiments to evaluate the effects of increasing dietary standardized ileal digestible (SID) Isoleucine:Lysine (Ile:Lys) ratio on growth performance. In Exp. 1, 280 pigs (PIC 327 × 1050, initially 14.9 lb BW) were fed experimental diets for 12 d with 8 replications and 5 pigs per pen. In Exp. 2, 280 pigs (DNA Genetics Line 600 × Line 241, initially 13.3 lb BW) were fed experimental diets for 18 d with 8 replications and 5 pigs per pen. In both experiments, pens were allotted to 1 of 7 dietary treatments in …

Effects Of Aminogut And Diet Formulation Approach On Growth Performance And Economic Return In Nursery Pigs, M. A. Gonçalves, M. D. Tokach, S. S. Dritz, K. Touchette, J. M. Derouchey, J. C. Woodworth, R. D. Goodband

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Diets containing animal protein sources have higher levels of glutamine than diets based on plant protein sources. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effects of AminoGut (Ajinomoto Heartland, Inc., Chicago, IL) and protein source (animal vs. plant proteins) on growth performance and economic return in nursery pigs from 12 to 60 lb. AminoGut is a product that contains both glutamine and glutamate. A total of 1,134 pigs (337 × 1050; PIC, Hendersonville, TN, initially 11.6 ± 0.18 lb BW) were used in a 52-d trial. At the beginning of the experiment, pigs were weighed in pens, …

A Highly Sensitive Underwater Video System For Use In Turbid Aquaculture Ponds, Chin-Chang Hung, Shih-Chieh Tsao, Kuo-Hao Huang, Jia-Pu Jang, Hsu-Kuang Chang, Fred C. Dobbs

OES Faculty Publications

The turbid, low-light waters characteristic of aquaculture ponds have made it difficult or impossible for previous video cameras to provide clear imagery of the ponds' benthic habitat. We developed a highly sensitive, underwater video system (UVS) for this particular application and tested it in shrimp ponds having turbidities typical of those in southern Taiwan. The system's high-quality video stream and images, together with its camera capacity (up to nine cameras), permit in situ observations of shrimp feeding behavior, shrimp size and internal anatomy, and organic matter residues on pond sediments. The UVS can operate continuously and be focused remotely, a …

An Investigation Of Juvenile Alewife (Alosa Pseudoharengus) Habitat Use And Growth Using Natural Markers, Gregory Norman Labonte Ms

All Student Scholarship

This research attempts to connect patterns in growth and migration of an anadromous species. The goal of this research was to understand habitat movements and growth of juvenile alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) in the Penobscot Estuary and Bay through the use of otolith microchemistry, otolith growth increments, and a laboratory stable isotope turnover study. Understanding the connection between growth and movement of juvenile alewives may lead to more accurate and sophisticated conservation and restoration methods for anadromous species.

Effects Of Dietary Standardized Ileal Digestible Valine:Lysine Ratio On 14 To 22 Lb Nursery Pigs, A. B. Clark, M. D. Tokach, J. M. Derouchey, S. S. Dritz, K. Touchette, R. D. Goodband, J. C. Woodworth

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 280 nursery pigs (PIC 327 × 1050; initially 14.4 lb BW) were used in a 28-d growth trial to evaluate the effects of increasing dietary standardized ileal digestible (SID) Valine:Lysine (Val:Lys) ratio on nursery pig growth performance. Pigs were weaned at approximately 21 d of age and allotted to pens according to BW and gender. A common starter diet was fed for 5 d, and then pens were allotted to 1 of 7 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design according to BW. Experimental diets were fed for 14 d, which included SID valine concentrations of …

Long-Term Impacts Of Fuel Treatments On Tree Growth And Aboveground Biomass Accumulation In Ponderosa Pine Forests Of The Northern Rocky Mountains, Kate A. Clyatt

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

In western North America, many low-elevation, dry forest types historically experienced frequent, low-severity fires. However, European settlement and fire suppression policies have contributed to over a century of fire exclusion, substantially altering forest structure and composition. There is considerable interest in restoring fire resilient characteristics to these forests through fuel reduction treatments. One limitation of current research on the impacts of fuel treatments is treatment longevity, as few studies have been able to quantify long-term responses to commonly applied treatments. This research evaluated tree growth and aboveground biomass responses 23 years after treatment in two silvicultural installations with different underburning …

Effects Of Increasing Dietary Standardized Ileal Digestible Lysine On 15 To 24 Lb Nursery Pigs, A. B. Clark, M. D. Tokach, J. M. Derouchey, S. S. Dritz, R. D. Goodband, J. C. Woodworth, K. Touchette

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 300 nursery pigs (PIC 327 × 1050, initially 14.8 lb BW) were used in a 28-d growth trial to evaluate the effects of increasing dietary standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine (Lys) on nursery pig growth performance. Pigs were weaned at approximately 21 d of age and allotted to the pens according to BW and gender. A common starter diet was fed for 6 d, then pens were allotted to 1 of 6 dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. Experimental diets were fed for 14 d followed by a common diet for 14 d. The 6 dietary …

Growth, Slaughter, And Carcass Characteristics Of Honamlı, Hair, And Honamlı X Hair (F1) Male Goat Kids Bred Under Extensive Conditions, Aykut Asim Akbaş, Mustafa Saatci

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Growth and carcass characteristics of Honamlı, Hair, and Honamlı x Hair crossbred goat kids were investigated in this study. Seven kids, having live weights between 25 and 30 kg, were slaughtered. It was found that the live weights of Honamlı, Hair, and Honamlı x Hair kids were 3.90 kg and 27.50 kg, 3.04 kg and 16.91 kg, and 3.58 kg and 22.07 kg at birth and on the 120th day, respectively. Honamlı kids had higher body measurements, as well as birth and live weights, when compared to the other genotypes. While flocks had an important effect (P < 0.001) on all growth periods, the effect of dam age on body measurements was also significant (P > 0.05), except on …