Life Sciences Commons^™

Spruce Budworm Defoliation Dynamics And Its Influence On The Acadian Forest, Cen Chen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Spruce budworm (SBW; Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.)) is the primary forest defoliator in North America. SBW defoliation has affected tens of millions ha of forests during its periodic outbreaks and caused severe growth reduction and mortality of spruce-fir (Picea-Abies) species. Evaluating these damaging effects of SBW defoliation requires understandings of the variation and dynamics of defoliation, as well as trees' variable responses to defoliation in consideration of various tree- stand-, and site-level factors. In this dissertation, we developed statistical models to 1) evaluate influences of SBW defoliation on spruce-fir stand dynamics of annual volume net growth, mortality, …

Effect Of Cutting Interval On Yield And Quality Of Three Brachiaria Hybrids In Thailand, Michael D. Hare, Supaphan Phengphet, Theerachai Songsiri, Naddakorn Sutin, Eduardo Stern

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

In field trials in Thailand, Brachiaria hybrid cv. Mulato II produced significantly more green leaf, particularly during the dry season, than other brachiaria grasses (Hare et al. 2009). Cultivar Cayman produced more dry matter (DM) than Mulato II in one out of 3 wet seasons, and line BRO2/1794 produced similar DM yields to Mulato II (Pi-zarro et al. 2013).

The objective of this field study was to determine the effects of varying cutting intervals on growth and forage quality of hybrid brachiaria grasses in Thailand on infertile soils.

Pre-Juvenile Naked Goby (Gobiosoma Bosc) Age And Growth, Annamaria Deitz, Juliana Harding

Honors Theses

Due to the abundance of larval naked gobies, Gobiosoma bosc, within the estuarine ichthyoplankton, it is important to understand their age and growth. Naked gobies are a largely distributed, both geographically and within an estuary, small, benthic fish species. There are 3 pairs of otoliths, calcium carbonate structures within the ear canal, that detect vibrations and record the age of the fish, both daily and annually. Using laboratory-reared gobies of a known age (Tremont et al. 2015), daily signatures on the sagittal otoliths were first validated to be daily, then a growth curve for the wild caught larvae was …

A Mitotic Cue Triggers The Resumption Of Cell Growth After Division, Afton R. Russell

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Incorporating Early Life History And Recruitment In Analysis Of Population Dynamics Of Wetland Fishes, John Vincent Gatto

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hydrological variation is believed to be the major abiotic factor influencing fish recruitment in floodplain ecosystems. However, past studies fail to address the impact of hydrology on the three major drivers of recruitment: age-specific growth and mortality, and dispersal. I examined long-term recruitment dynamics for six fish species inhabiting the Everglades by addressing the impact of hydrology on these important characteristics. I then linked these changes to annual fluctuations in population size.

Before interpreting time-series data on recruitment, I evaluated the impact of size-selective bias from sampling gear on our interpretation of hydrological drivers of recruitment. Analyses revealed that individuals …

Urban Regeneration, Fall/Winter 2003, Issue 7

Sustain Magazine

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of The Survival And Growth Of West Gulf Coastal Plain Pine In East Texas, Jamie Hooker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

West Gulf Coastal Plain provenance loblolly (Pinus taeda L.), longleaf (Pinus palustris Mill.), shortleaf (Pinus echinata Mill.), and slash pines (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) were planted in East Texas to compare initial growth and survival. Containerized seedlings were planted in December 2015 on three study sites in Shelby, Houston, and Cherokee counties using a randomized complete block design. Seedlings were measured in January-February 2016 and again January-February 2017, January 2018, and January 2019. Three years after planting, survival was best (76.4%) in Houston County and was lowest in Cherokee County (26.4). Damage by Texas leafcutter ants (Atta …

Comparing Independent Approaches To Estimate Age At Size Of The Jonah Crab (Cancer Borealis): Corroborating Gastric Mill Band Counts As A Direct Aging Method, Carlton Huntsberger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Knowing the age of an organism is essential in understanding the dynamics and management of wild populations. Age determination has been an especially long-standing challenge in the study of crustaceans, since they posed a unique challenge, shedding all calcified structures with each molt. The Jonah crab (Cancer borealis), is one of many commercially harvested crustaceans for which no absolute aging method has yet been established. It is an ecologically important species and a newly managed fishery in New England and Atlantic Canada. The recent increase of commercial fisheries for this species has highlighted the large data gap of …

A Snapshot Of The Age, Growth, And Reproductive Status Of Gray Triggerfish (Balistes Capriscus, Gmelin 1789) On Three Artificial Reefs In The Northwest Gulf Of Mexico, Adam M. Lee

Theses and Dissertations

Age, growth, and reproductive status of gray triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) were identified from 2015-2016 on artificial reefs in the northwest Gulf of Mexico. Individuals ranged from 232-432 mm fork length with and a mean fork length of 319 mm. Individuals from age 0.2 to 5.2 yrs were observed with a weight to length relationship of Wg = 1.1 x -104 x FL2.7 (r2 = 0.94, n = 112), where FL = fork length (mm) and Wg = weight (g). A von Bertalanffy growth equation of Lt = 326(1 - e - 0.9 (t + 1.71)) was calculated irrespective …

Population Characteristics Of Co-Managed White Bass And Hybrid Striped Bass In Lake Mcconaughy, Nebraska, Benjamin J. Schall, Casey W. Schoenebeck, Keith D. Koupal

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

White Bass (Morone chrysops) and Hybrid Striped Bass (M. saxatillis × M. chrysops) populations often coexist in the same waterbody and are known to achieve different lengths, have differing reproductive success, and provide different opportunities for anglers. However, comparative population dynamics from systems where Moronids are managed with the same regulation is often lacking. This study aimed to assess the recruitment, mortality, and growth of these species from seasonal samples collected at Lake McConaughy in 2015 and fall 2016. White Bass demonstrated highly variable recruitment in Lake McConaughy despite stocking efforts (mean recruitment variability index = …

Fermentation Of Prebiotics In Whole Food Powders By Probiotic Bacteria Strains, Michaela Brubaker, Sumira Phatak

Research on Capitol Hill

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Modification of the gut microbiome offers potential for CRC prevention.

A Pilot Study Of The Effects Of Mycoplasma Ovipneumoniae Exposure On Domestic Lamb Growth And Performance, Thomas E. Besser, Jessica Levy, Melissa Ackerman, Danielle Nelson, Kezia R. Manlove, Kathleen A. Potter, Jan Busboom, Margaret Benson

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae is a globally distributed pathogen that has been associated with pneumonia in both domestic and wild Caprinae. It is closely related to M. hyopneumoniae, a respiratory pathogen of swine that is associated with decreased growth rates of pigs as well as clinical respiratory disease. In order to assess the effects of M. ovipneumoniae on lamb performance, we generated a cohort of lambs free of M. ovipneumoniae by segregation of test negative ewes after lambing, then compared the growth and carcass quality traits of M. ovipneumoniae-free and -colonized lambs from weaning to harvest. Some signs of respiratory disease …

Temperature Dependent Development Of Sugarcane Aphids Melanaphis Sacchari, (Hemiptera: Aphididae) On Three Different Host Plants With Estimates Of The Lower And Upper Threshold For Fecundity, Michael A. De Souza, J. Scott Armstrong, W. Wyatt Hoback, Phillip G. Mulder, Sulochana Paudyal, John E. Foster, Mark E. Payton, Josephine Akosa

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner) is a serious economic threat to grain sorghum across the U.S. sorghum belt. It can develop on multiple grass hosts but only appears to survive winter temperatures in Texas near the Mexican border, Florida and Louisiana. Because survival and reproduction of aphids is dependent on access to appropriate nutrition and temperatures at which metabolic processes are maintained, we evaluated the growth, reproduction and survival of sugarcane aphids at constant temperatures (5°C,10°C,15°C,20°C,25°C,30°C,35°C) on three known hosts, sorghum, Johnsongrass, and Columbus grass. Longevity, fecundity, number of female nymphs/d, reproductive period in d, and intrinsic rate of …

Comparison Of Different Functions To Describe Growth From Weaning To Maturity In Crossbred Beef Cattle, Madeline J. Zimmermann, Larry A. Kuehn, Matthew L. Spangler, R. Mark Thallman, Warren M. Snelling, Ronald M. Lewis

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Cow mature weight (MWT) has increased in the past 30 yr. Larger cows cost more to maintain, but their efficiency—and thus profitability— depends on the production environment. Incorporating MWT effectively into selection and mating decisions requires understanding of growth to maturity. The objective of this study was to describe growth to maturity in crossbred beef cattle using Brody, spline, and quadratic functions. Parameter estimates utilized data on crossbred cows from cycle VII and continuous sampling phases of the Germplasm Evaluation Program at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center. The MWT were estimated at 6 yr from the fitted parameters obtained …

The Applicability Of New Training Systems For Sweet Cherry In Turkey, Di̇lek Soysal, Leyla Demi̇rsoy, İdri̇s Maci̇t, Gregory Lang, Hüsnü Demi̇rsoy

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The use of training systems for cherry trees is significantly important, as they form the basis of future shoots, which are potential producers of fruits. Numerous studies have been carried out on training systems for cherries around the world. It is well known that new training systems result in a shorter fruiting time and ease mechanical operations, such as harvesting and pruning. Unfortunately, new systems have never been tried for sweet cherry in Turkey. This study was aimed at determining the effect of different training systems, such as tall spindle axe (TSA), super spindle axe (SSA), upright fruiting offshoots (UFO), …

Identification Of Quantitative Trait Loci For Plant Height, Crown Diameter, And Plant Biomass In A Pseudo-F2 Population Of Switchgrass, Megan Taylor, Carl-Erik Tornqvist, Xiongwei Zhao, R. W. Doerge, Michael D. Casler, Yiwei Jiang

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a perennial warm-season grass that produces high biomass yield. Identification of mechanisms for genetic regulation of biomass traits has potential to facilitate genetic manipulation of switchgrass for enhancing biomass yield. The objective of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci for biomass-related traits in a pseudo-F₂ population of switchgrass derived from an upland cross with a lowland switchgrass cultivar. Plant height (HT), crown diameter (CD), and plant biomass (PB) were assessed in field studies in 2015 and 2016. Plant height was positively correlated with PB in both years but only correlated with …

Evaluating The Interactive Effects Of Cordyceps Mushroom Powder And Carbadox To Pharmacological Copper And Zinc For Nursery Pigs, J. Richert, M. Thayer, C. Chastain, A. Duttlinger, J. Feldpausch, R. Garcia, B. Richert, J. L. Nelssen

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The objective of this study was to evaluate the independent and additive effects ofCordycepsmushroom powder (MP) and carbadox to pharmacological levels of copper and zinc in nursery pig diets. Two hundred and ten crossbred weanling pigs (Duroc × (York × Landrace)) average of 19 d of age and 12.8 lb were used in a 33-day growth trial. Pigs were allotted by weight, sex, ancestry, and assigned to body weight (BW) blocks. Within BW blocks, sex ratios were constant in each pen. Pen was the experimental unit, and growth performance was analyzed using BW, average daily gain (ADG), average …

The Effects Of Cordyceps Mushroom Powder And Purified Mushroom Beta-Glucan On Nursery Pig Performance, J. Richert, M. Thayer, C. Chastain, A. Duttlinger, J. Feldpausch, R. Garcia, B. Richert, J. L. Nelssen

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

One hundred thirty-two gilts and barrows (18.2 d of age) weighing an average of 13.4 lb (Duroc × (York × Landrace)) were put on test for a 35-day growth trial to assess the effects ofCordycepsmushroom powder (MP) or purified mushroom beta-glucan (BG) as an antibiotic alternative in nursery diets. There were 6 diets, negative and positive controls (NC and PC), 150 and 300 ppm mushroom powder, and 150 and 300 ppm beta-glucan equivalents to the MP diets. Pigs were divided by weight, sex, litter, and assigned to 6 body weight (BW) blocks. Within BW blocks, sex ratios were …

Effects Of Soybean Meal Level On Growth Performance Of 25- To 50-Lb Nursery Pigs, H. S. Cemin, M. D. Tokach, S. S. Dritz, J. C. Woodworth, J. M. Derouchey, R. D. Goodband

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Four experiments were conducted to determine the effects of increasing soybean meal (SBM) level in diets with or without 25% distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) on growth performance of nursery pigs raised in university or commercial facilities. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial with main effects of SBM (27.5, 32.5, or 37.5% of the diet) and DDGS (0 or 25% of the diet). A total of 296, 2,502, 4,118, and 711 pigs initially 23.2, 25.7, 27.5, and 27.1 lb body weight (BW) were used in Exp. 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. There were 10, 16, …

American White Pelican (Pelecanus Erythrorhynchos) Growth, Nutrition And Immunology, Treena L. Ferguson, Brian J. Rude, D. Tommy King

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Limited information about nutrition exists on American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) from hatching to fledging. To detail immunity, metabolism and nutrition of juvenile American White Pelicans, during 22-23 July 2011, 103 samples of regurgitate matter were collected at five Chase Lake, North Dakota, USA, and three Bitter Lake, South Dakota, USA, sub-colonies. Regurgitate sample nutrient content was significantly different for organic matter (P = 0.012), crude protein (P = 0.001), neutral detergent fiber (P = 0.014), acid detergent fiber (P = 0.005) and energy (P = 0.034) between North (n = 5) …

Growth And Survival Of Wild And Head-Started Blanding’S Turtles (Emydoidea Blandingii), Callie Klatt Golba

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Blanding’s Turtles (IUCN Endangered) are long-lived reptiles with delayed sexual maturity. Anthropogenic landscape changes have increased threats to juvenile turtles, resulting in unnaturally low recruitment. Head-starting has become a popular conservation strategy that aims to increase juvenile recruitment by avoiding the increased predation of the vulnerable nest and hatchling age-class. However, there is still debate about whether or not it is an effective management tool. Assessments of head-starting are becoming more prevalent, but long-term studies are needed to critically evaluate the success of such interventions. In particular, information is needed on how head-starts fare compared to wild-born turtles. The Lake …

Visualization Is Crucial For Understanding Microbial Processes In The Ocean, Marta Sebastián, Josep M. Gasol

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Recent developments in community and single-cell genomic approaches have provided an unprecedented amount of information on the ecology of microbes in the aquatic environment. However, linkages between each specific microbe's identity and their in situ level of activity (be it growth, division or just metabolic activity) are much more scarce. The ultimate goal of marine microbial ecology is to understand how the environment determines the types of different microbes in nature, their function, morphology and cell-to-cell interactions and to do so we should gather three levels of information, the genomic (including identity), the functional (activity or growth), and the morphological, …

Effects Of Weaning Age And Antibiotic Use On Pig Performance In A Commercial System, J. E. Faccin, M. W. Allerson, J. C. Woodworth, J. M. Derouchey, M. D. Tokach, S. S. Dritz, R. D. Goodband

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 2,184 barrows and gilts (DNA 600 × PIC L42) were used in a study from weaning to market to evaluate the effect of increasing weaning age and antibiotic use on pig performance in a commercial production system. A 3 × 2 factorial arrangement was used. The treatments included weaning age (18.5, 21.5, or 24.5 days of age) and the use of antibiotic (AB) or antibiotic free (ABF). There were 14 replicate pens per treatment and 26 pigs per pen (13 barrows and 13 gilts). Pigs were weaned from a 4,000-sow farm and placed in pens by weaning …

Evaluation Of Flax Oil Supplementation On Performance Of Growing Dairy Heifer Calves And Lactating Cows, Chelsea Rose Schossow

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Utilization of flax oil is new to the livestock industry, and limited research has been done to see the benefits of feeding the highly unsaturated oil to both dairy calves and lactating cows. Two studies were conducted to evaluate the potential benefits of flax oil as a lipid supplement. The first study compared the supplementation of two plant based oils to growing dairy calves. Thirty-six female Holstein calves in individual hutches were used in a 12-wk randomized complete block design study. Treatments were: 1) control (CON) with no oil, 2) 80 g/d of flax oil (FLAX), and 3) and 80 …

Anabolic Hormone Exposure During Various Stages Of Growth: Effects On Post-Weaning Performance, Frame Size, And Carcass Characteristics Of Calf-Fed Steers, Wesley W. Gentry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The growth promoting activity of implants have been documented. However, stage of growth in which the implant is administered may alter growth performance and carcass traits. An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of administering a conventional implant (Synovex C; SYN-C), or an extended-release combination implant (Synovex One Grass; ONE-G) to suckling steer calves on weaning weight, post-weaning growth performance, and carcass characteristics. Suckling steer calves were either not implanted (NONE) or were implanted with SYN-C or ONE-G. Steer calves were predominantly 30 to 60 d of age when implants were administered. Steers were weaned 176 d post-suckling implant …

Causes And Possible Consequences Of Hybridisation In Angelfishes At Christmas Island, Federico Vitelli

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The angelfishes (family Pomacanthidae) have the greatest proportion (~30%) of hybridising species, compared to other families of reef fishes, with 26 species implicated in hybridisation. However, very little is known about hybridisation in angelfish, especially in terms of fitness of the hybrids and possible ecological consequences. Hybrids between three species (C. flavissima, C. eibli and C. vroliki) in the genus Centropyge have previously been reported from Christmas island, where these have been observed in heterospecific harems and interbreeding. This provides the unique opportunity to examine the breakdown in assortative mating in marine fishes. The broad aim of this …

Effects Of The Feeds Containing Hazelnut Meal As Plant Protein Source On Growth Performance And Body Composition Of Siberian Sturgeon (Acipenser Baeri) And Economic Profitability Value, Huri̇ye Ariman Karabulut, İlker Zeki̇ Kurtoğlu, Yunus Emre Kirtan

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

In this study, the effects of feeding with the diets containing hazelnut meal (HM) at different levels (0%, 15%, 30%, and 45%) on the growth performance and body composition of Siberian sturgeon were investigated. The study was carried out for 90 days with 3 replicates (n = 15; 283.1 ± 6.52 g fish weight). The highest weight gain (180.62 ± 2.84%) was observed in the control group followed by 15%, 30%, and 45% HM. When the groups were evaluated in terms of SGR, FCR, and PER, the control group was observed to have the best performance. The control group and …

Thermal Performance Of Growth At Consumption Maximum (C-Max) And Routine Metabolic Rate (Rmr) In Brook Trout Salvelinus Fontinalis From Four Populations In Central Appalachia, Cory Michael Hartman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Growth of an individual is the end result of many physiological processes stemming from the consumption of food items. These processes can be influenced by many variables including temperature. Current bioenergetics models for Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis suggest growth increases with temperature until an inflection point of 20.2°C. With a warming climate, and water temperatures expected to rise, the ability of a population to adapt to the warming environment is crucial to the survival of the species. For this study we sought to see how spatial variation would influence the specific consumption, conversion efficiency, and specific growth at consumption maximum …