Digital Commons Network^™

Perceived Benefits And Barriers To Livestock Mortality Composting, Rachel Wieme, Lynne Carpenter-Boggs

Journal of Extension

We conducted webinars in 2020 about livestock mortality composting (LMC). Forty-five attendees completed a survey to evaluate the webinar and help define future educational needs. Major barriers to LMC were lack of experience, public and neighbor perceptions, and environmental management. Most respondents indicated convenience, cost, biosafety, use of product, and environmental management as benefits. An unexpected emotional theme indicated that LMC also supports the “circle of life” and “respect for the animal.” We propose that this theme may be a uniting message to improve public and producer perception of LMC, increase use of LMC, and improve public-producer relationships overall.

Closing The Gap: Methodological Consideration In Predicting Suitable Habitat For Ouachita Fanshell (Cyprogenia Sp Cf Aberti) With Documentation Of Mussel Communities In Small Tributaries In The Ouachita River Watershed, Seth Drake

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

Freshwater mussels are one of the most imperiled taxonomic groups in the world, consequently, much effort is being expended to document the distribution of many mussel species. One tool that can aid in characterizing mussel distributions are species distribution models (SDM). I conducted two studies pertaining to freshwater mussel distributions: (1) utilize Maximum Entropy (MAXENT) modeling to predict potential areas of suitable habitat for the threatened Ouachita Fanshell (Cyprogenia sp cf aberti), and (2) survey small tributaries of the Ouachita River watershed to fill a portion of the information gap surrounding mussel communities in under-surveyed streams. Through changing …

Reproductive Success And Post-Fledging Ecology Of The American Robin (Turdus Migratorius) In Suburban Areas Of The Arkansas River Valley, Brandon Maiersperger

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

Study of the nesting and post-fledging periods is necessary to properly evaluate avian reproductive success. Birds breeding in suburban areas are threatened by a high abundance of predators and limited habitat availability. American Robins (Turdus migratorius) are common birds in suburban areas across North America, but their breeding ecology is understudied. The goals of my study were to: assess robin nest survival and its relationships with nest characteristics, evaluate fledgling survival, movement, and behavior, and determine the fledging sex ratio and sex-based plumage characteristics of fledglings. I found that robin daily nest survival (0.920) was lower than previous …

Omani Camels From A Cultural And Genomics Perspective, Al Muatasim Al Zadjali

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Dromedarian camel, Camelus dromedarius, is native to the Arabian Peninsula, including the Sultanate of Oman. These camels are used for food, milk, as well as show and racing competitions. Despite their economic and cultural importance research on camels in Oman is limited. The goal of this study was to examine their genomic variation, relationship with camels in other parts of the Arabian Peninsula, and to determine if selective breeding has led to the establishment of distinct breeds in Oman. Information was compiled from multiple sources to produce a comprehensive review on the breeding, management, economic and cultural use, …

Ancient Wisdom, Modern Prosperity: Harnessing Traditional Ecological Knowledge To Revitalize Australia's Economy, Environment, And Human Wellbeing, Annabelle L. Baulch

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper explores the traditional knowledge of Australia’s Indigenous people and how it can improve Australia's environment, health, and economic prosperity to shape a more sustainable future. Indigenous Australians managed the land for thousands of years; however, being forced off the land following European colonization resulted in terrible cultural, social, and environmental disruption for Aboriginal Australians and made conservation efforts difficult. Wildfires, imported species, mining, and agriculture is steadily destroying the Australian ecosystem, contributing to climate change, species extinction, and gaps in our cultural and ancestral knowledge. Chapter One overviews Australia's environmental issues; it uses quantitative data to explore the …

Crossing The Ocean: The Importance Of Gene Flow In Island Evolution, Ethan F. Gyllenhaal

Biology ETDs

Islands have long been a critical arena for the development of ecological and evolutionary theory, particular due to persistent open-water gaps between them. In this dissertation I demonstrates how these caps are permeable, which can be leveraged to understand evolution on islands and more broadly. The first chapter develops this connection between ongoing, overwater gene flow and island biogeographic theory, and tests it on an archipelago species. The second take a three-pronged approach in demonstrating how over-water gene flow can bias phylogenetic inference, and how many phylogeographic metrics in islands are likely shaped by long-term gene flow. The final two …

New York City’S Rising Sea Level And Coastal Erosion: Approaches To Resiliency, Ryder D. Isidro

Student Theses 2015-Present

No abstract provided.

Eviction-Driven Infanticide And Sexually Selected Adoption And Infanticide In A Neotropical Parrot, Steven R. Beissinger, Karl S. Berg

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Significance

Infanticide and adoption are puzzling forms of sexual conflict and cooperation, respectively. However, both may be explained by sexual selection, where an individual later reproduces with the parent whose offspring it killed or adopted. While sexually selected infanticide is well known, evidence for sexually selected adoption is anecdotal. Our long-term study of a parrotlet in Venezuela found infanticide attacks were mostly enacted by nonbreeding pairs attempting to evict parents from their nests to usurp the cavity. Infanticide attacks occurred less often at nests where a parent died, and adoption by stepparents was as common as infanticide. Becoming an adoptive …

Identifying High-Value Tactical Livestock Decisions On A Mixed Enterprise Farm In A Variable Environment, Michael Young, John Young, Ross S. Kingwell, Philip E. Vercoe

Animal production and livestock research articles

Context

Australia is renowned for its climate variation, featuring years with drought and years with floods, which result in significant production and profit variability. Accordingly, to maximise profitability, dryland farming systems need to be dynamically managed in response to unfolding weather conditions.

Aims

The aim of this study is to identify and quantify optimal tactical livestock management for different weather-years.

Methods

This study employed a whole-farm optimisation model to analyse a representative mixed enterprise farm located in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. Using this model, we investigated the economic significance of five key livestock management tactics. These included …

Anticipatory Behaviors And Vocal Expression In A Group Of Captive African Elephants (Loxodonta Africana), Matthew B. Rios

Theses and Dissertations

Animal vocalizations convey motivational and affective properties. Using passive acoustic monitoring and behavioral observations, this study investigated the relationship between vocal communication and anticipatory behaviors within a group of captive African elephants (Loxodonta africana) to inquire whether bioacoustic monitoring has the potential to be used for assessing captive animal welfare.

New Records Of Mesobuthus Rakhshanii Barahoei, 2022 In Iran (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Ersen A. Yağmur, Zhale Baghernavesi, Zahra Taherkhani, Parsa Akbari, Mohammad Moradi

Euscorpius

Mesobuthus rakhshanii Barahoei, 2022 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) was so far known only from the type locality in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran. We give a list of numerous new records of this species from the same province. A map and detailed illustrations are provided.

Fiddler Crab Gut Microbiomes As An Indicator For Eutrophication Due To Waste-Water Contamination In Estuaries, Madison L. Geraci

Honors Theses

Estuaries are unique biogeochemical zones in coastal systems that provide a myriad of ecological functions: providing habitat for critically important fishery species, diverse species of plants and animals, and contributing to nutrient cycling. Estuaries are vulnerable to anthropogenic stressors as they are intersections between marine and terrestrial communities and are often the hotspot of coastal development and activity. Estuarine sediments act as repositories for anthropogenic contaminants, including excess nutrient runoffs and waste-water pollution that can cause states of eutrophication. Microorganisms are sensitive to these environmental changes, presenting a unique opportunity of being useful bioindicators of environmental stress. Isolating microorganisms from …

Post-Mucilage Status Of The Teleost Fish Assemblages In The Sea Of Marmara, Mustafa Sari, Uğur Karadurmuş

Turkish Journal of Zoology

A frightening mucilage event occurred in the Sea of Marmara (SoM) from November 2020 to July 2021, leaving devastating effects on maritime industries, fishing activities and the benthic ecosystem. The mucilage led to intense fish mortalities, particularly affecting species like smelt, anchovy, and picarel, with severe consequences for benthic ecosystems and various marine species. This study aims to analyze the possible long-term effects of the recent mucilage disaster on species diversity and biomass by assessing the current status of teleost fish assemblages in the SoM. The data set is based on bottom trawl surveys carried out at 52 points at …

Occlusal Surface Variations In Genetically-Identified Specimens Of The Genus Apodemus (Mammalia: Rodentia) Distributed In The Northern Anatolia Region And Three Turkish Islands: Gökçeada, Marmara Island And Bozcaada, Duygu Korkmaz, Engin Selvi̇, Nuri Yi̇ği̇t, Ercüment Çolak

Turkish Journal of Zoology

A total of 134 Apodemus samples, whose genetic diagnoses had been previously conducted, were morphologically examined from 39 localities in Northern Anatolia, Thrace, Gökçeada, Bozcaada and the Marmara Island. The variation boundaries of dental variations in the distribution areas of five Apodemus species (Apodemus flavicollis, Apodemus witherbyi, Apodemus sylvaticus, Apodemus uralensis, Apodemus mystacinus) included in the research were determined. The defining morphological characters of Apodemus species, which have a complex taxonomic status, and their variations according to regions were identified using samples that had undergone genetic diagnoses. It was determined whether geographical barriers such as the Marmara Sea, the Bosphorus …

The Common Wall Lizard Podarcis Muralis (Reptilia: Lacertidae) Shows Diverse Food Preferences And Intraspecific Difference: A Study Case From Bulgaria, Emiliya Vacheva, Borislav Naumov

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The Common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) has the largest range among the genus Podarcis. Although there are a number of studies on its diet, data on regional level remains insufficient, particularly from a purely ecological perspective. We investigated 194 individual faecal samples of P. muralis obtained from two localities in western Bulgaria with the aim of clarifying the composition of the trophic spectrum of the species, as well as the intra-population characteristics in terms of age and sex. In one study site we compared the realized trophic niche (prey items from the faecal pellets) with the fundamental (invertebrates collected via …

Sexual Size Dimorphism Of Darevskia Schaekeli (Sauria: Lacertidae), Seyyed Saeed Hosseinian Yousefkhani, Saeed Morvari

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Sexual dimorphism has been established as one of the important evolutionary results in the process of sexual selection between males and females of different species. Distinct morphological features between males and females can also be seen in reptiles. Lizards of the genus Darevskia show sexual dimorphism, as Darevskia schaekeli was studied as an example. The morphological traits investigated between males and females of this species showed that head length, trunk length, length of forelimbs and hindlimbs as well as the number of femoral pores are more in males than in females. All these morphological traits, which were more in males …

Impacts Of Urbanization On Demographics And The Stress Level Of White-Tailed Deer In The Piedmont Of South Carolina, Cameron Bramhall

Graduate Theses

Population demographics and density studies are a common way of determining number of individuals in location. Understanding how many individuals and sex ratios can help estimate total populations for future potential management practices. For white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), commonly referred to as whitetail deer, like other cervids, having too many or too few individuals in an area can cause issues. Some of the issues that may arise with too many individuals include higher disease potential, and a general lack of resources leading to an increase in competition. As areas that were once habitat for whitetail deer become more and more …

West Coast Rock Lobster Resource Harvest Strategy, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Management Papers

Harvest strategies for Western Australia’s (WA) aquatic resources are formal documents developed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD, the Department) to support decision-making processes that ensure the outcomes are consistent with the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD; Fletcher 2002a) and Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM; Fletcher et al. 2012). Harvest strategies are a key component of all contemporary fishery management systems and a requirement for certification under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). The objectives of ESD are reflected in the objectives of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (FRMA) and the Aquatic Resources Management Act …

Assessing Population Size And Survival Rate Of Pelophylax Bedriagae Caralitanus, In A Well-Protected Nature Park In Türkiye, Ayfer Şirin, Akın Kiraç, Gürçay Kıvanç Akyildiz, Eyup Başkale

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Estimating population trends provides valuable information for conservation biologists. Although there are many methods for estimating demographic rates, capture-mark-recapture (CMR) methods are known to be the most realistic method that can provide detailed data on individuals and populations, including the achievement of conservation goals. This study focused on determining the population trend of Pelophylax bedriagae caralitanus, Beyşehir frog using the CMR method in a protected area during the 2011 - 2019 breeding seasons. Our CMR data led to the selection of a model-considering constant survival rates, capture/recapture probabilities, and year-specific immigration/emigration patterns [Φ(··) y'(t) y''(t) p(··) = c(··) N(t)]-as the …

Design Of Small-Scale Milk Processing Facility, Luke Bond, Robert Stenzel, Ry Steffen, John Van Nieuwenhuyse, Rossana Villa-Rojas, Terry Howell Jr., Tami M. Brown-Brandl, Forrest Kievit

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Masters Project Reports

This project was intended to investigate the feasibility of a proposed modular dairy processing facility collocated with a small dairy on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Innovation Campus. Priority was placed upon cost savings for equipment to be used in processing. Process flow diagrams, floor plans, production schedules, risk assessments, and plans for wastewater treatment were all developed to address the needs of the plant should it be built. A Monte Carlo simulation was conducted to evaluate the timeline for breaking even financially, resulting in the potential for a payback period of 4.5 years. The 4.5-year payback period was based on …

Phenotypic Plasticity In Pigmentation: Investigating Coloration Patterns In Anablepsoides Hartii Population Responses To Environmental Variation, Jasdeep Kaur

2024 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

In this study, we investigated the color-changing capabilities of Trinidadian killifish, Anablepsoides hartii, through exposure to varied color conditions over defined periods of time. Our experiment aims to understand adaptive responses when killifish are subjected to different color backgrounds, exploring their mechanisms to change color. By subjecting the species to different environmental color variations, we sought to discern color change patterns, which could indicate adaptive responses related to camouflage, stress, behavior clues, and physiological adjustments. Carefully controlling environmental factors, we monitored and documented the fishes’ color changes, aiming to provide insights into the interplay between fish’s developmental plasticity and its …

Effects Of Maternal Infant-Directed Sensory Cues On Early Weaned Piglet Behavior, Mattie Still

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

In the commercial pig production industry, weaning is a stressful time. Stress is related to loss in production due to increased incidence of illness, increased aggression, and reduced rate of gain, which results in economic losses for the producer. The purpose of this continuous behavior study was to explore the effects of provisional own-mother olfactory and auditory stimuli on early weaned piglet behavior and growth. During days 7-14 postpartum, the grunting of 12 individual sows was recorded while their piglets nursed. The audio files were put into a single loop with grunting occurring for 20 minutes followed by 60 minutes …

Migration And Breeding Ecology Of King Rails (Rallus Elegans) In Southeast Arkansas, Jessica Schmit

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

King Rails (Rallus elegans) are a secretive marsh bird species of conservation concern in Arkansas. Freddie Black Choctaw West WMA in southeast Arkansas has multiple confirmed pairs of breeding King Rails and offered an opportunity to investigate King Rail migration ecology, as well as nesting ecology and nest site selection. In Chapter 1, we determined migratory status (resident vs. migratory) and described seasonal movement. To do this, we captured and outfitted 23 birds with Argos GPS tags to track migration patterns throughout the season. We found that most of the population did not make long distance migrations but instead were …

Using Annual Forages To Replace Declining Cool-Season Grass Pasture Availability, Jonathon Matthew Jenkins

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

As land area in grain crop production increases in the US Midwest, perennial pasture availability decreases but the demand increases. Matching the seasonal growth patterns of C₃ and C₄ plant species to grow forages that are complementary allows producers to fill production gaps in otherwise monoculture systems and possibly increase overall productivity. One way to fill the forage production gap of C₃ grass dominated pastures is by producing a warm-season, annual forage in a separate field. However, with continual reductions in land availability, this may not be an option. Using two studies, our objectives were to improve …

Response Of Fish Assemblages To Increased Connectivity And Habitat Restoration In Bayou St. John, A Degraded Waterway In New Orleans, La, Alia Jones

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Bayou St. John is a degraded waterway located within the City of New Orleans. The Bayou, which is disconnected from Lake Pontchartrain by floodgates, has undergone restoration efforts to improve connectivity through frequent floodgate openings and marsh habitat restoration outside of the floodgates. To assess possible responses of local fish assemblages to these restoration efforts, I analyzed long-term fish assemblage data from three sites located inside of the floodgates and one site located at the restored marsh outside of the floodgates. Two sites inside of the floodgates experienced significant changes in assemblages between the pre-opening period (2006-2012) and post-opening period …

Female Choice: Attraction In The Animal Kingdom, Lindsay Culpepper

Honors Theses

Across taxa, choosing a mate is one of the most crucial decisions a female can make. This choice can come with direct benefits like protection and parenting assistance, but it may also provide indirect benefits through the survival of her offspring and thus the continuation of her genes. The female considers numerous qualities when making that choice, evaluating aspects of potential mates’ physical appearance and behavior. Understanding female choice is crucial to effective animal conservation and management, as it has significant implications for captive breeding programs, both in terms of output and in preparing offspring for release. This thesis will …

Assessing The Impact Of Spraying An Enterococcus Faecium-Based Probiotic On Day-Old Broiler Chicks At Hatch On The Incidence Of Bacterial Chondronecrosis With Osteomyelitis Lameness Using A Staphylococcus Challenge Model, Anh Dang Trieu Do, Amanda Anthney, Khawla Alharbi, Andi Asnayanti, Antoine Meuter, Adnan Ali Khalaf Alrubaye

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) lameness is a bone disease characterized by the translocation of bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract, which colonize microfractures in broiler leg bones caused by rapid animal growth rate and weight gain, resulting in lameness. As such, BCO lameness represents a significant challenge for the poultry industry. This study aims to evaluate the effect of spraying broiler chicks on d0 at hatch with an Enterococcus faecium probiotic on the incidence of BCO-induced lameness, utilizing a Staphylococcus aureus challenge model. There were four treatments: (1) negative control (no probiotic + no challenge, NC); (2) positive control (no …

Investigating The Demise Of East Bank Ridge Through Local Fishery Perceptions And Fish Population Metrics, Marissa R. Lamb

Theses and Dissertations

East Bank Ridge is a natural reef formation located 18 nautical miles off the coast of South Padre Island, covering an area of over 80 km2, with the southern portion extending into Mexico. There is no previous record of the structural composition or fish community present at the site. The ridge was a well-known fishing site in the local community over the past decades but catch rates have decreased substantially according to personal accounts from local anglers. In this study, areas of reef habitat were identified, and fish presence and abundance metrics were determined at East Bank Ridge. These measures …

Ecological Dynamics Of Cenozoic North American Mammals, Alexandria Brandis Shupinski

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Understanding how community structure is affected by various ecological, climatic, and environmental changes is a long-standing goal in ecology. However, disentangling human impacts from these other variables is difficult when using short modern timescales and anthropogenically altered communities. The fossil record provides a means to investigate community structure dynamics across critical intervals, excluding humans as a variable. Here, in three studies, I assess changes in North American mammal paleocommunity structure across the last 66 million years (Ma) at multiple temporal and spatial scales. In Chapter 1, I identify changes in mammal functional diversity (FD) locally and continentally, using three independent …

The Influence Of Researcher Disturbance On Raccoon Predation Of American Alligator Nests, Clarissa Tuten

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are a dominant predator of American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) nests in the southeastern United States, using a combination of olfactory, visual, and tactile cues to identify nest locations. Studies on alligator nesting ecology typically require researchers to create paths through marsh habitat, potentially introducing visual and olfactory cues raccoons may use to locate nests. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of human visitation to alligator nests on the frequency of raccoon nest predation at two sites in coastal South Carolina, Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center (TYWC) and Santee Coastal Reserve (SCR). We hypothesized that …