Digital Commons Network^™

Physiological And Genetic Correlates Of Boldness: Characterising The Mechanisms Of Behavioural Variation In Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus Mykiss, Jack S. Thomson, Phillip C. Watts, Tom G. Pottinger, Lynne U. Sneddon

Aquaculture Collection

Bold, risk-taking animals have previously been putatively linked with a proactive stress coping style whereas it is suggested shyer, risk-averse animals exhibit a reactive coping style. The aim of this study was to investigate whether differences in the expression of bold-type behaviour were evident within and between two lines of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, selectively bred for a low (LR) or high (HR) endocrine response to stress, and to link boldness and stress responsiveness with the expression of related candidate genes. Boldness was determined in individual fish over two trials by measuring the latency to approach a novel object. Differences …

Beyond Anthropomorphism: Attributing Psychological Properties To Animals, Kristin Andrews

Attitudes Towards Animals Collection

In the context of animal cognitive research, “anthropomorphism” is defined as the attribution of uniquely human mental characteristics to non-human animals. Those who worry about anthropomorphism in research are confronted with the question of which properties are uniquely human. As animals, humans and non-human animals1 share a number of biological, morphological, relational, and spatial properties. In addition, it is widely accepted and humans and animals share some psychological properties such as the ability to fear or desire. These claims about the properties animals share with humans are often the products of empirical work.

Cetaceans And Primates: Convergence In Intelligence And Self-Awareness, Lori Marino

Sentience Collection

Cetaceans (dolphins, porpoises and whales) have been of greatest interest to the astrobiology community and to those interested in consciousness and selfawareness in animals. This interest has grown primarily from knowledge of the intelligence, language and large complex brains that many cetaceans possess. The study of cetacean and primate brain evolution and cognition can inform us about the contingencies and parameters associated with the evolution of complex intelligence in general, and, the evolution of consciousness. Striking differences in cortical organization in the brains of cetaceans and primates along with shared cognitive capacities such as self-awareness, culture, and symbolic concept comprehension, …

Pantomime In Great Apes: Evidence And Implications, Ann E. Russon, Kristin Andrews

Sentience Collection

We recently demonstrated, by mining observational data, that forest-living orangutans can communicate using gestures that qualify as Pantomime. Pantomimes, like other iconic gestures, physically resemble their referents. More elaborately, pantomimes involve enacting their referents. Holding thumb and finger together at the lips and blowing between them to mean balloon is one example. Here we sketch evidence of pantomime in other great apes, methodological concerns, and sophisticated cognitive capabilities that great ape pantomimes suggest.

Pain Perception In Fish: Evidence And Implications For The Use Of Fish, Lynne U. Sneddon

Veterinary Science and Medicine Collection

Pain assessment in fish is particularly challenging due to their evolutionary distance from humans, their lack of audible vocalization, and apparently expressionless demeanour. However, there are criteria that can be used to gauge whether pain perception occurs using carefully executed scientific approaches. Here, the standards for pain in fish are discussed and can be considered in three ways: neural detection and processing of pain; adverse responses to pain; and consciously experiencing pain. Many procedures that we subject fish to cause tissue damage and may give rise to the sensation of pain. Fish are popular as pets, in animal exhibits, and …

Systematic Review Of Chimpanzee Use In Monoclonal Antibody Research And Drug Development: 1981-2010, Raija Bettauer

Experimentation Collection

This survey examines the extent to which live chimpanzees have been used in monoclonal antibody (mAb) research and the drug approval process. The survey covers 193 scientific articles published during the years 1981-2010, as well as preclinical studies leading to the approval of mAb drugs by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States. The frequency of the articles has decreased by more than two-thirds from their highs in the late 1980’s, and the aggregate number of chimpanzees used in these studies has decreased by more than 90%.

The experimental protocols ranged from single or multiple blood draws to …

Microdialect And Group Signature In The Song Of The Skylark Alauda Arvensis, Elodie Briefer, Fanny Rybak, Thierry Aubin

Sentience Collection

The Skylark Alauda arvensis is a territorial species of open landscape in which pairs settle in stable and adjacent territories during the breeding season. Due to the heterogeneity of the habitat, territories are gathered in patches spaced by a few kilometres, in which each male produces very long and complex flight songs as a part of the territorial behaviour. We showed that, in a given patch, all the males (neighbours) share some particular sequences of syllables in their songs, whereas males settled in different patches (strangers) have almost no sequences in common. Such a phenomenon is known as microdialect. To …

Haemato-Biochemical Changes In Natural Cases Of Canine Babesiosis, Showkat Ahmad Shah, Naresh Kumar Sood, Srinivasa Rao Tumati

Biochemistry Collection

Incidence of severe anemia due to babesiosis in dogs resulting in death in a short time of illness is on the increase in Punjab, during last few decades due to introduction of exotic breeds like Grey Hound, German shepherd, Doberman, Labrador and others. In the present study the hematological and biochemical changes in blood samples obtained from 4 dogs naturally infected with Babesia were evaluated. The dogs were presented to the Department of Veterinary Clinical Services Complex, GADVASU, Ludhiana from August 2008 to April 2009. The evaluation included Hemoglobin (Hb), Red Blood Cell count (RBC), Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Mean …

Biochemical Methane Potential Of Different Organic Wastes And Energy Crops From Estonia, M. Luna-Derisco, A. Normak, K. Orupõld

Biochemistry Collection

The biochemical methane potential (BMP) of different Estonian substrates as alternative sources for biogas production was studied. For this purpose, the BMP test was carried out in batch mode at mesophilic temperature (36°C). Substrates were divided into 2 groups: agricultural substrates (silage, hay, cattle and pig slurry) and food industry residues (milk, brewery and cereal industry residues). Methane yields obtained were between 286–319 L kgVS^-1 for silage and hay, 238–317 L kgVS^-1 for animal slurry and 272–714 L kgVS^-1 for agro-industrial wastes. The highest methane yield was obtained from sour cream (714 L kgVS^-1), the …

Effect Of Dietary Antibacterial Peptide And Zinc-Methionine On Performance And Serum Biochemical Parameters In Piglets, J. H. Wang, C. C. Wu, J. Feng

Biochemistry Collection

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of antibacterial peptide and zinc methionine on performance and some serum biochemical parameters of weaned piglets. Rongchang male piglets (28 days of age, initial weight 8.4 ± 0.65 kg) were used. All piglets were randomly allotted to four diets including the control group, the antibacterial peptide (AP) group containing 10 mg antibacterial peptide/kg diet, the zinc methionine (Zn-Met) group with 1 200 zinc methionine/kg diet (equal to 200 mg Zn²⁺/kg diet), the zinc methionine/antibacterial peptide (Zn/AP) group containing 10 mg antibacterial peptide and 1 200 …

The Canine Sand Maze: An Appetitive Spatial Memory Paradigm Sensitive To Age-Related Change In Dogs, Hannah Salvin, Paul D. Mcgreevy, Perminder S. Sachdev, Michael Valenzuela

Spatial Cognition Collection

Aged dogs exhibit a spectrum of cognitive abilities including a syndrome similar to Alzheimer's disease. A major impediment to research so far has been the lack of a quick and accurate test of visuospatial memory appropriate for community-based animals. We therefore report on the development and validation of the Canine Sand Maze. A 4.5-m-diameter circular pool was filled with a sand and powdered food reward mix to a depth of 10 cm. Dogs were given 4 habituation and 16 learning trials which alternated a food reward being half (control trials) or fully-buried (acquisition trials) in a fixed location. After a …

Implications Of Community Concordance For Assessing Stream Integrity At Three Nested Spatial Scales In Minnesota, U.S.A., Christine L. Dolph, David D. Huff, Christopher J. Chizinski, Bruce Vondracek

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

1. Fish and invertebrate assemblage data collected from 670 stream sites in Minnesota (U.S.A.) were used to calculate concordance across three nested spatial scales (statewide, ecoregion and catchment). Predictive taxa richness models, calibrated using the same data, were used to evaluate whether concordant communities exhibited similar trends in human-induced taxa loss across all three scales. Finally, we evaluated the strength of the relationship between selected environmental variables and the composition of both assemblages at all three spatial scales.

2. Significant concordance between fish and invertebrate communities occurred at the statewide scale as well as in six of seven ecoregions and …

Advertisement Call And Distribution Of The Treefrogs Hyla Chrysoscelis And Hyla Versicolor In Virginia, Joseph C. Mitchell, Christopher A. Pague

Virginia Journal of Science

The gray treefrog complex consists of two sibling species that are indistinguishable morphologically, the diploid Hyla chrysoscelis and the tetraploid Hyla versicolor. Identification is possible in the field only by audio recognition of male advertisement call trill rates (pulses/second). During 1979-1983 we evaluated taped calls of these two species taken from 89 populations from throughout Virginia to map their respective ranges and to evaluate differences in call parameters. Hyla chrysoscelis occurs in the Coastal Plain, eastern and southern Piedmont, and in southwestern Virginia. Hyla versicoloroccurs in the Piedmont, Blue Ridge, and Ridge and Valley regions south to Wythe …

Development Of An Ecosystem Approach To The Monitoring And Management Of Western Australian Fisheries. Final Frdc Report : Project 2005/063, Norman G. Hall, Brent S. Wise

Fisheries Research Reports

Objectives 1. Test the robustness of statistical procedures to identify impacts of multi-sector fishing on community composition using existing fishery data. 2. Assess the level of change in community composition in each bioregion of WA during the previous 30 years. 3. Identify key data to which ecosystem structure and management strategies are most sensitive and which should be collected in the future. 4. Identify critical changes in exploitation and/or environment that would impact marine ecosystems markedly. 5. Identify areas where more detailed research and/or monitoring are needed.

Developing Mechanisms For The Transfer And/Or Adjustment Of Rock Lobster Shares Between Sectors In Western Australia And South Australia Frdc Project No. 2007/050, Chris Reid, Western Australian Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Management Papers

The purpose of this report has been to investigate potential reallocation mechanisms for the transfer and/or adjustment of catch shares between sectors and the requirements to allow for their implementation, with particular reference to their application in the Western and South Australian rock lobster fisheries. While the report focuses on the commercial and recreational sectors of these fisheries, potentially all non-commercial fishing sectors could be included under a given mechanism in the same manner as that outlined for the recreational sector, subject to the appropriateness of allowing the sector’s allocation to be transferable.

Black-Capped Chickadee, Alec R. Lindsay Ph. D.

Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

Bats Of Kansas, Dale W. Sparks, Curtis J. Schmidt, Jerry R. Choate

Sternberg Museum of Natural History Faculty Publications

In memory of Curtis J. Schmidt (1977-2022)

Invariably, our most feared neighbors on planet earth are the animals that we know the least about. Almost as frequently, when people are exposed to these animals, the fear turns quickly to fascination. Unfortunately, many of these animals are accessible only to the professional scientist. Though science has made great strides in understanding the basic biology and behaviors of many of our least-known animals, this information is generally kept locked away from the general public by the dry, technical language of science. In this publication, it is our hope to open your eyes …

Population Variation Of Codling Moth Cydia Pomonella (Lep.; Tortricidae) Based On Molecular Data From Northwestern Iran, Samad Khaghaninia, Seyed Abolgasem Mohammadi, Ali Morad Sarafrazi, Karim Haddad Irani Nejad

Turkish Journal of Zoology

In order to study population structure in the codling moth (Cydia pomonella L.) using RAPD markers, 13 geographical populations from northwestern Iran were collected during 2003 and 2004. Genomic DNA was extracted from 10 overwintering larvae of each population. Out of 60 tested primers, 18 amplified 236 polymorphic bands. The total number of bands in the population varied from 169 to 206 in the Mughan and Zunuz populations, respectively. Within-population genetic diversity, based on Nei's genetic index, ranged from 0.228 to 0.281 for the Shabestar and Zunuz populations, respectively. An analysis of the molecular variance revealed significant differences within and …

Using The Judas Technique To Locate And Remove Wintertime Aggregations Of Invasive Common Carp, P. G. Bajer, Christopher J. Chizinski, P. W. Sorensen

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

Radio- and acoustic telemetry in three Midwestern lakes demonstrated that common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., aggregate as water temperatures descend below 10C. Particularly dense aggregations formed at temperatures <5 >C, and once located, these aggregations could be removed with an efficiency of up to 94% using seine nets. Carp aggregated just below the surface of the ice (approximately 1.5 m) and rarely descended to warmer waters, which extended down to 10 m. Although aggregations consistently formed close to shore, their locations could not be explained by temperature or dissolved oxygen. The aggregations also moved frequently, making radio-tagged fish invaluable to locate …

Mixed-Source Reintroductions Lead To Outbreeding Depression In Second-Generation Descendents Of A Native North American Fish, David D. Huff, Loren M. Miller, Christopher J. Chizinski, Bruce Vondracek

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

Reintroductions are commonly employed to preserve intraspecific biodiversity in fragmented landscapes. However, reintroduced populations are frequently smaller and more geographically isolated than native populations. Mixing genetically, divergent sources are often proposed to attenuate potentially low genetic diversity in reintroduced populations that may result from small effective population sizes. However, a possible negative tradeoff for mixing sources is outbreeding depression in hybrid offspring. We examined the consequences of mixed-source reintroductions on several fitness surrogates at nine slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus) reintroduction sites in south-east Minnesota. We inferred the relative fitness of each crosstype in the reintroduced populations by comparing …

Breeding Bird Response To Partially Harvested Riparian Management Zones, Christopher J. Chizinski, Anna Peterson, Joann Hanowski, Charles R. Blinn, Bruce Vondracek, Gerald J. Niemi

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

We compared avian communities among three timber harvesting treatments in 45-m wide even-age riparian management zones (RMZs) placed between upland clearcuts and along one side of first- or second-order streams in northern Minnesota, USA. The RMZs had three treatments: (1) unharvested, (2) intermediate residual basal area (RBA) (targeted goal 11.5m²/ha, realized 16.0m2/ha), and (3) low RBA (targeted goal 5.7m²/ha, realized 8.7m²/ha). Surveys were conducted one year pre-harvest and three consecutive years post-harvest. There was no change in species richness, diversity, or total abundance associated with harvest but there were shifts in the types of …

Feed Efficiency - How Should It Be Used For The Cow Herd?, Andrew J. Roberts, Rick Funston, Travis Mulliniks, Mark Petersen, Mike Macneil

Range Beef Cow Symposium

Improving cow herd efficiency is critical because approximately 70% of the feed inputs required to produce a slaughter animal are used for maintenance, the majority of which is utilized by the dam (Williams and Jenkins, 2006). To date, much of the efforts to improve efficiency in cattle have focused on different measures of feed efficiency (variations in amount of feed consumed and rate of weight gain) determined during the growing phase. While this approach provides pertinent information concerning efficiency during the growing phase, the relationship to cow efficiency remains to be determined. When considering the usefulness of feed efficiency as …

The Importance Of Maintaining Structure To Ring-Necked Pheasant And Waterfowl Production In The Upper Great Plains, Benjamin Geaumont, Kevin Sedivec, Christopher Schauer

Range Beef Cow Symposium

Introduction

Privately owned lands serve a crucial role in maintaining wildlife populations. Perhaps that is because approximately 60 percent of the land in the United States is privately owned (Lubowski et al. 2006). While many private landowners are aware that how they use their lands will impact wildlife, some private landowners are looking for ways to maintain wildlife populations at increased levels for both aesthetic and economical purposes. In recent years, expenditures associated with hunting have boosted many local economies as well as benefiting private landowners (Benson, 1989; Das and Rainey, 2009). As such, landowners who are concerned with both …

Cow Side Of Producing A 1,000 Lb. Feeder, Cow Size And Expenses, Ken Olson, Justin Waggoner, John Jaeger

Range Beef Cow Symposium

Introduction

Do relationships exist between cow size, nutrient requirements, and production capability? We can assume that a bigger cow will require more nutrients. What are the characteristics of that relationship? Is it a direct response wherein a cow that is 10% bigger than another will require 10% more nutrients, or is there economy of scale, so to speak? Can we assume that a bigger cow will be more productive? Is it automatic that bigger size means faster growth so we can expect the calves of bigger cows to grow faster? We will explore these relationships.

Cow Size

It is commonly …

Genomics For The Rancher: How Does It Work And What Does It Mean?, Jack C. Whittier

Range Beef Cow Symposium

Introduction

I am continually amazed at the tools we have in today’s world to assist in making better and better decisions. This is true in most aspects of our lives – from communications to computers; from entertainment to eating; from politics to travel; and many, many more components of what we do and how we live. The digital age has created an information explosion, and livestock production has not been left out of this progress.

Another amazing aspect of today’s world is the vast knowledge being uncovered and refined in the world of biology and science. Gregor Mendel, an Austrian …

Angler Survey Of The Connecticut River, Justin P. Davis

EEB Articles

The Connecticut River is the largest and most diverse inland fishery resource in the State of Connecticut. Significant improvements in water quality over the past 30 years have led to progressive increases in recreational use, presumably increasing fishing pressure on some species and possibly decreasing overall fishing quality. To address this concern, the Inland Fisheries Division (IFD) of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) conducted an angler survey on the entire portion of the Connecticut River within the state during March-October of 2008-09. The survey used a similar design as a smaller-scale survey of the river’s …

Effect Of Ejaculation Frequency On Spermatozoa Survival In Diluted Semen From Pleven Blackhead Rams, Stanimir Yotov, Ivan Fasulkov, Nasko Vassilev

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The effect of ejaculation frequency on spermatozoa survival in diluted Pleven Blackhead ram semen was investigated. Thirty-two ejaculates were examined. From each ram 4 ejaculates were collected at 10-min intervals in the morning and in the afternoon. Semen parameters, namely, color, density, transparency, volume, concentration, motility, and abnormal sperm, for each ejaculate were determined. The sperm motility was assessed from the moment of dilution up to 60 min at 10-min intervals, then again at 90 min and 120 min. The semen characteristics were determined by means of "Motic Image Plus" equipment and the data were processed statistically. Sperm volume and …

Effect Of Stocking Rate On Animal Performance And Diet Quality While Grazing Cornstalks, Jennifer A. Gigax, Crystal D. Buckner, L. Aaron Stalker Stalker, Terry Klopfenstein, Simon J. Van Donk

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Four treatments were used to evaluate levels of corn residue removal on nutrient quality and cattle performance over time. Treatments included no removal of residue, stocking rates of one or two animal unit months/acre (AUM/acre), or baling. Residue samples were taken before and after grazing from all treatment paddocks to determine residue amounts, and were analyzed for OM, CP, NDF, and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD). Cattle weights and BCS scores were recorded prior to and at the conclusion of the trial. Cattle consumed husk and leaf material first, followed by cobs at a lesser rate. Husk and leaf …

Statistics Used In The Nebraska Beef Report And Their Purpose

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The purpose of beef cattle and beef product research at UNL is to provide reference information that represents the various populations (cows, calves, heifers, feeders, carcasses, retail products, etc.) of beef production. Obviously, researchers cannot apply treatments to every member of a population; therefore, they must sample the population. The use of statistics allows researchers and readers of the Nebraska Beef Report the opportunity to evaluate separation of random (chance) occurrences and real biological effects of a treatment. Following is a brief description of the major statistics used in the beef report. For a more detailed description of the expectations …

The Mayfly Newsletter, Peter M. Grant

The Mayfly Newsletter

The Mayfly Newsletter is the official newsletter of the Permanent Committee of the International Conferences on Ephemeroptera.