Landscape-Scale Epidemiological Dynamics Of Sars-Cov-2 In White-Tailed Deer, Joshua Hewitt, Grete Wilson-Henjum, Derek T. Collins, Timothy J. Linder, Julianna B. Lenoch, Jonathan D. Heale, Christopher A. Quintanal, Robert Pleszewski, Dillon S. Mcbride, Andrew S. Bowman, Jeffrey C. Chandler, Susan A. Shriner, Sarah N. Bevins, Dennis J. Kohler, Richard B. Chipman, Allen L. Gosser, David L. Bergman, Thomas J. Deliberto, Kim M. Pepin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Understanding pathogen emergence in new host species is fundamental for developing prevention and response plans for human and animal health. We leveraged a large-scale surveillance dataset coordinated by United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and State Natural Resources Agencies to quantify the outbreak dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in North American white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus; WTD) throughout its range in the United States. Local epidemics in WTD were well approximated by a single-outbreak peak followed by fade out. Outbreaks peaked early in the northeast and mid- Atlantic. Local effective reproduction ratios of SARS-CoV-2 were between …

What Is Known, Unknown, And Needed To Be Known About Damage Caused By Wild Pigs, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Kim M. Pepin, Seth M. Cook, Sophie Mckee, Abigail Pagels, Keely J. Kohen, Ingrid A. Messner, Michael P. Glow, Nathan P. Snow

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Damage assessments provide evidence for initiating and evaluating management programs that protect natural resources and human livelihoods against invasive species. Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) cause extensive damage in their native and non-native ranges, but the extent of current damage and efficacy of management of the damage (i.e., population control of wild pigs, exclusion fencing, etc.) remains poorly described. We conducted a systematic review of physical damage caused by wild pigs to summarize what is known and identify knowledge gaps for damage assessment. Wild pig damage assessments have been overwhelmingly qualitative (84% of studies) and measured differently across studies, …

Tracking Sero-Molecular Trends Of Swine Brucellosis In Hawai'i And The Central Pacific, Thi Hai Au La, Ian A. Mcmillan, Prashant Dahal, Andrew H. Burger, Mahdi Belcaid, Darrin M. Phelps, Samuel M. Goldstein, Vienna R. Brown, Michael H. Norris

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Introduction

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease of mammals caused by bacterial species of the Brucella genus. The reservoir for disease is typically mammals, with species of Brucella found infecting amphibians, bats, and marine mammals. Brucella spp. can pass directly to humans through contact with infected animals or their products. Brucella spp. can cause chronic debilitating infections in mammals, including humans, and is associated with spontaneous abortions in infected animals, causing reduced fecundity. In Hawai‘i, terrestrial species that could harbor Brucella spp. include swine, cattle, horses, and axis deer among others. The numerous feral swine in Hawai‘i are known to carry …

Stream Restoration Effectiveness In Mullins Creek In Fayetteville, Arkansas, Amadeo Scott, Shannon Speir

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Lotic waterways are vital for habitat, food, water, and flood protection, but urbanization poses a major threat to their integrity. Runoff from urban surfaces leads to pollution, flashiness, loss of biodiversity, and other symptoms, also known as Urban Stream Syndrome (USS). Streams can be restored in order to combat USS, but most restorations are not monitored, so their long-term effectiveness is unknown. This study quantitatively evaluated a decade-old stream restoration in Fayetteville, Arkansas, to assess its effectiveness in combating USS and achieving set restoration goals, and to gain insights for future restoration projects. Restoration goals included decreasing erosion and sedimentation, …

A Preliminary Investigation Of Adherence To Shell Length Regulations And Adaptive Capacity Of The Turneffe Atoll Queen Conch (Aliger Gigas) Fishery, Belize, Elsa M. K. Brenner, Vincent Sollitto, Vincent Baribeau, Rebecca Branconi, Paul Simonin

Gulf and Caribbean Research

No abstract provided.

Quantifying Wild Pig Disturbance In Pastures And Wetlands Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Derived Imagery, Wesley M. Anderson, Bethany Wight, Raoul K. Boughton

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for agricultural and environmental research has increased markedly in recent years, and a key application has been to conduct damage assessments. Invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa) cause both agricultural and environmental damage, and past studies have utilized UAVs to quantify this damage. Each methodology has advantages, but they also have drawbacks such as high rates of damage omission or reliance upon a near-infrared camera, which may be prohibitively expensive for some land managers and scientists. Our objective was to develop a methodology that could be easily implemented to conduct wild pig …

Spatial Predictors Of Human–Black Bear Interactions In Nova Scotia, Canada, Jason I. Airst, Tricia B. Fleming

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The increased global frequency of human–wildlife conflict with large, wild carnivores and omnivores negatively impacts human, wildlife, and ecosystem health. The goal of this study was to determine what landscape characteristics best predicted where human–black bear (Ursus americanus) interactions occurred in Nova Scotia, Canada, to support management efforts. We compared the location of 3,278 human–bear conflict reports and 867 non-conflict reports collected between 2017 and 2021 to 12,000 randomly generated locations. Data were analyzed using logistic additive mixed models. We found that interactions (conflict and non-conflict reports) occurred near roads and farther from forests and surface water features. …

Feeding Systems And Fresh Lamb Color Stability, Koushik Mondal

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Consumers consider the surface color of fresh lamb as the indicator of freshness and wholesomeness, which affects their purchase decisions. The redox chemistry of myoglobin (Mb) determines the color of fresh lamb. Artificial raising on milk replacer (a pre-weaning strategy) as well as red clover supplementation are management strategies used in lamb production. This thesis focuses on the effects of artificial raising on milk replacer and red clover supplementation on the color and oxidative stability of fresh lamb.

In the first experiment, the effect of pre-weaning with milk replacer on the carcass attributes, color stability and lipid oxidation of lamb …

The Morphological Evolution Of The Inner Ear In Lacertoidea (Squamata), Cristian Hernandez

Biology Dissertations - Archive

The popularization of high-resolution computed tomography(HRCT) has produced a revolution in the field of comparative anatomy. This technology allows us to reach a level of morphological detail in our observations that has never been possible previously. Now we can perform digital dissections isolating structures of interest such as individual bones, soft tissue organs, and even generate 3D models of body cavities (endocasts) such as the braincase and inner ear. Encompassed with the progress of the HRCT, 3D geometric morphometrics have emerged as a common tool to address morphological questions in a statistical context that outperforms the traditional 2D geometric morphometrics. …

Genetic Tracking Of A Rabid Coyote (Canis Latrans) Detected Beyond A Rabies Enzootic Area In West Virginia, Usa, Matthew W. Hopken, Crystal Gigante, Amy T. Gilbert, Richard B. Chipman, Jordana D. Kirby, Rene Edgar Condori, Samuel Mills, Chelsea Hartley, John Forbes, Lisa Dettinger, Dongxiang Xia, Yu Li, Bridgett Vonholdt

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Wildlife translocation and cross-species transmission can impede control and elimination of emerging zoonotic diseases. Tracking the geographic origin of both host and virus (i.e., translocation versus local infection) may help determine the most effective response when high-risk cases of emerging pathogens are identified in wildlife. In May 2022, a coyote (Canis latrans) infected with the raccoon (Procyon lotor) rabies virus variant (RRV) was collected in Lewis County, West Virginia, USA, an area free from RRV. We applied host population genomics and RRV phylogenetic analyses to determine the most likely geographic origin of the rabid coyote. Coyote …

Estimation Of Probability Of Habitat Use Of Roosevelt Elk On The Olympic Peninsula, Vincent Michael Gugliotti

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

Estimating the probability of habitat use for a particular species is crucial to the direct management and conservation of that species. Without knowledge of habitat preferences, managers cannot effectively focus efforts on vital resources or landscape types. However, modelling probability of habitat use can be done in several ways which leaves room for variation and uncertainty in the estimates produced by each method. This study is an examination of the variation between two estimates of probability of habitat use while focusing on a particular subspecies of elk that inhabits a unique ecosystem relative to other elk subspecies. I modeled elk …

Fillet Weight Comparison For Bluegill, Black Crappie, And Yellow Perch, Mikenna A. Pattrin

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Panfish, including bluegill Lepomis macrochirus, black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus, and yellow perch Perca flavescens are three sought-after species. Anglers often perceive a change in regulations as an attempt at limiting the amount of harvest. However, the goal of many regulation proposals is to increase the size structure of panfish, allowing anglers to achieve their ideal harvest with less fish. The primary objective of this study was to assess the relationship between panfish fillet weight and total length to estimate how many fillets would be needed to reach a harvest weight of 0.5 lbs. The secondary objective was to …

Specific Measurements Of A Yellow Perch Head Compared To The Total Length, Alex Timm

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Yellow Perch Perca flavescens is a popular fish for harvesting in Minnesota. Because of this the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources survey populations with gill nets, however, some water bodies have Rusty Crayfish Faxonius rusticus that commonly consume most of the body leaving only the head to be accurately measured. The goal of this research was to see if there is a relationship between specific measurements of the head and the total length of the fish. The number of Yellow Perch sampled in this study was 72 and all came from Lake Bemidji in Minnesota during the month of October …

The Effects Of Early Exposure To Prescription/Illicit Drugs And Drug Metabolites On Larval Zebrafish Behavioral And Motor Function Development, Jacob Thomas, Dena Weinberger, Bikram Subedi, Brandon Capps

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

THE EFFECTS OF EARLY EXPOSURE TO PRESCRIPTION/ILLICIT DRUGS AND DRUG METABOLITES ON LARVAL ZEBRAFISH BEHAVIORAL AND MOTOR FUNCTION DEVELOPMENT

A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Department of Biology

Murray State University

Murray, Kentucky

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Masters In Science

By Jacob Thomas, B.S., Murray State University

December 2024

Acknowledgements

Brandon Capps, who pretty much did a whole third of the legwork on this project and saved me lots of headaches;

Chandler Maddox, one of the University of Kentucky’s finest undergrads who came in from the top rope with a folding chair …

Characterizing The Habitat Use Of Pacific Coast Feeding Group Gray Whales (Eschrichtius Robustus) And The Spatial And Temporal Variability Of Their Benthic And Planktonic Invertebrate Prey In Northern California, Robyn E. Norman

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

As opportunistic foragers, the Eastern North Pacific population (~20,000) of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) feed on diverse benthic and planktonic invertebrates in northern Alaska foraging grounds before they undertake one of the largest yearly migrations of any mammal to breed in Baja California, Mexico. While most of the population travels to the summer foraging grounds in Alaska, a sub-group of whales (~230) called the Pacific Coast Feeding Group (PCFG) summer between British Columbia, Canada, and northern California. The diet of PCFG whales typically includes high-density and/or high-caloric prey items like mysids and diverse species of amphipods, yet a …

Studying Redtail And Silver Surfperch In Sandy Beach Surf Zones With Mpas In Humboldt County, California, Usa, Noah G. Angell

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The sandy beach surf zone (SBSZ) represents an ecologically, economically, and culturally important marine habitat around the world. Despite its significance, the SBSZ has been historically underrepresented in marine and coastal ecology research. This in turn has caused many inshore marine species that prefer this habitat to be largely ignored. Two particular species, the Redtail surfperch Amphistichus rhodoterus and the Silver surfperch Hyperprosopon ellipticum, have not been well studied in the PNW region . There are merely three studies conducted on the Redtail surfperch in the Pacific Northwest region and the Silver surfperch has received even less research attention with …

The Impacts Of Anthropogenic Activity And Climate Change On The Formation Of Harmful Algal Blooms (Habs) And Its Ecological Consequence, Zhangxi Hu, Aifeng Li, Zhun Li, Margaret R. Mulholland

OES Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Diel Vertical Migration Rates Of The Dinoflagellate Species Margalefidinium Polykrikoides In A Lower Chesapeake Bay Tributary, S. Clayton, Jacqueline B. Chrabot, Michael Echevarria, Leah Gibala-Smith, Kathryn Mogatas, Peter Bernhardt, Margaret R. Mulholland

OES Faculty Publications

Margalefidinium polykrikoides is a mixotrophic dinoflagellate harmful algal bloom (HAB) species that blooms annually in the lower Chesapeake Bay. M. polykrikoides undertakes a diel vertical migration (DVM) which may give it a competitive advantage over purely phototrophic organisms who cannot access deeper nutrient pools and allow it to form large toxic blooms. Laboratory-based estimates of M. polykrikoides’ DVM rates suggest that it is one of the fastest known dinoflagellate swimmers and understanding this behavior is likely important for modeling and predicting M. polykrikoides blooms. However, to date, no field-derived estimates of M. polykrikoides’ DVM rates have been made in the …

แหล่งที่อยู่และแบบจำลองการกระจายของจิ้งเหลนภูเขาสกุล Sphenomorphus Fitzinger, 1843 ในอุทยานแห่งชาติดอยภูคา จังหวัดน่าน, ธนกฤต สัมพันธ์แพ

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

จิ้งเหลนภูเขาในสกุล Sphenomorphus Fitzinger, 1829 เป็นจิ้งเหลนที่มีความหลากหลายทางชนิดและมีพฤติกรรมตามธรรมชาติที่มักหลบซ่อนตัว จึงทำให้จิ้งเหลนสกุลนี้หลายชนิดยังขาดข้อมูลแหล่งที่อยู่และข้อมูลทางภูมิศาสตร์ โดยเฉพาะชนิดที่อาศัยอยู่ในพื้นที่ภูเขาสูงในทางภาคเหนือ นอกจากในอุทยานแห่งชาติดอยภูคา จังหวัดน่าน พบจิ้งเหลนภูเขา 3 ชนิด ได้แก่ จิ้งเหลนภูเขาเกล็ดเรียบ จิ้งเหลนภูเขาอินเดีย และจิ้งเหลนภูเขาแกรนดิสัน แต่อย่างไรก็ตามข้อมูลแหล่งที่อยู่และการศึกษาขอบเขตการกระจายของจิ้งเหลนเหล่านี้ยังไม่ชัดเจน ดังนั้นงานวิจัยนี้จึงมีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อศึกษาแหล่งที่อยู่ของจิ้งเหลนภูเขาในอุทยานแห่งชาติดอยภูคาและประเมินภูมิศาสตร์การกระจายโดยใช้แบบจำลองการกระจายของชนิด (species distribution modeling; SDM) การสำรวจในภาคสนามใช้วิธีสำรวจแบบพบเห็นตัวร่วมกับการกำหนดเส้นสำรวจ ข้อมูลแหล่งที่อยู่และข้อมูลปัจจัยสภาพแวดล้อมนำมาวิเคราะห์ด้วยการทดสอบไคสแควร์และการวิเคราะห์องค์ประกอบหลัก จากนั้นนำข้อมูลพิกัด GPS จากการสำรวจภาคสนาม ข้อมูลตัวอย่างอ้างอิงในพิพิธภัณฑ์ธรรมชาติวิทยา ข้อมูลจาก GBIF และการลาดตระเวนเชิงคุณภาพ มาทำการวิเคราะห์ด้วยแบบจำลองการกระจายของชนิดร่วมกับปัจจัยสภาพอากาศจาก WorldClim ทั้ง 15 ปัจจัย และปัจจัยเชิงพื้นที่ 2 ปัจจัย ได้แก่ ความสูงจากระดับน้ำทะเล และ ความลาดชัน จาก OpenDataSoft ด้วยโปรแกรม MaxEnt ผลการศึกษาแหล่งที่อยู่พบว่า จิ้งเหลนภูเขาเกล็ดเรียบอาศัยอยู่ในป่าเบญจพรรณ จิ้งเหลนภูเขาอินเดียอาศัยอยู่ในป่าสนและป่าดิบเขา และ จิ้งเหลนภูเขาแกรนดิสันอาศัยอยู่ในป่าดิบเขาเท่านั้น ผลการศึกษาแหล่งที่อยู่ย่อยพบว่าก้อนหิน เป็นองค์ประกอบที่พบได้มากที่สุดในพื้นที่อาศัยของจิ้งเหลนภูเขาเกล็ดเรียบ และกองใบไม้เป็นองค์ประกอบที่พบได้มากที่สุดในพื้นที่อาศัยของจิ้งเหลนภูเขาอินเดียและจิ้งเหลนภูเขาแกรนดิสัน การวิเคราะห์องค์ประกอบหลักตัวแปรสิ่งแวดล้อมที่มีอิทธิพลต่อการเลือกใช้แหล่งที่อยู่ย่อยของจิ้งเหลนภูเขาเกล็ดเรียบ จิ้งเหลนภูเขาอินเดีย และ จิ้งเหลนภูเขาแกรนดิสัน คือ อุณหภูมิอากาศ ระดับความสูงจากน้ำทะเลและความชื้นสัมพัทธ์ในอากาศ ตามลำดับ ผลการศึกษาแบบจำลองการกระจายของชนิด พบว่าปัจจัยสำคัญสำหรับการทำนายแหล่งที่อยู่ของจิ้งเหลนภูเขาเกล็ดเรียบและจิ้งเหลนภูเขาอินเดียคือ อุณหภูมิช่วงรายวันเฉลี่ย และ ปัจจัยสำคัญสำหรับการทำนายแหล่งที่อยู่ของจิ้งเหลนภูเขาแกรนดิสันคือปริมาณน้ำฝนตามฤดูกาล และยังพบว่าแนวโน้มการกระจายของจิ้งเหลนภูเขาเกล็ดเรียบอยู่บริเวณพื้นที่ราบเชิงเขา จิ้งเหลนภูเขาอินเดียอยู่บริเวณตามแนวเทือกเขาและ จิ้งเหลนภูเขาแกรนดิสันอยู่บริเวณยอดเขาสูงของอุทยานแห่งชาติดอยภูคาเท่านั้น ผลของการศึกษาที่ได้สามารถนำมาใช้ในการวางแผนการอนุรักษ์และยังแสดงให้เห็นถึงการประยุกต์ใช้แบบจำลองถิ่นอาศัยในการทำนายแผนที่การกระจายทางภูมิศาสตร์ของสัตว์เลื้อยคลาน

Estimating Daily Growth Of Age-0 Channel Catfish In A Free-Flowing, Commercially Exploited Midwestern River, Kaleb B. Wood

Masters Theses

The larval stage in fishes is an important stage in the life history, as their survival dictates the ability of the population to sustain itself as an adult population. While there is a plethora of information available for juvenile and adult life stages of Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), very little is understood about their larval life stage. This study sought to determine overall density, growth rates, and size structure of cohorts of age-0 Channel Catfish during a study year on the Wabash River. In 2018, I sampled age-0 Channel Catfish using a benthic trawl from May to September. …

Using Community Science To Monitor Eastern Box Turtles And Engage Public In Conservation, Sarah Zoppa

Masters Theses

The eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina; EBT) is a charismatic species with populations in decline due to habitat loss, disease, and other anthropogenic factors. However, due to their cryptic nature, studying an EBT population can be a difficult and intensive process. To investigate EBT populations in Coles County, Illinois, we used a combination of community science and computer-based pattern analysis to develop an approach to tracking individual turtles. Citizen volunteers submitted photos of encountered eastern box turtle carapaces for shell pattern analysis along with GPS coordinates of the encounter. We have received 220 submissions from 47 community volunteers. …

Nocturnal Behavior Of Communally Roosting American Crows (Corvus Brachyrhynchos), Caitlin M. Mrowiec

Masters Theses

During the winter months in Charleston, Illinois, thousands of American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) gather together each night to roost. While aspects of this impressive sight have been studied elsewhere, there is very limited information on how crows behave at night. Additionally, the mechanics and origins of communal roosting are not especially well understood, and the behaviors involved are not always consistently described. This study sought to provide a more complete assessment of crow communal roosting after sunset. I collected data between 2018 and 2020 by locating communal roosts and conducting continuous observations for 4 hours after sunset, with additional checks …

High Prevalence Of Trypanosoma Cruzi Infection In Raccoons (Procyon Lotor) And Associated Risk To Humans In Central Illinois, Esther Onuselogu

Masters Theses

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, remains a neglected tropical disease and a growing health threat in the United States. Raccoons (Procyon lotor) often coexist with humans in urban and suburban areas and serve as reservoir hosts for T. cruzi. While T. cruzi is rare in humans and domestic animals in the U.S., it is common in wildlife species, particularly raccoons and Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana). This study aimed to assess the prevalence of T. cruzi infection in the raccoon population of Central Illinois and evaluate the risk of transmission to humans. …

Can Edna Be Used To Locate Shawnee Hills Cavefish Forbesichthys Papilliferus?, Megan Brandt, Timothy Spier Phd, Gary Zeruth Phd

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Traditional stream fish sampling methods, such as seining and electrofishing, are time consuming, expensive, and limited to short stretches of stream. However, the analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) from water samples promises to be a quick, inexpensive method for detecting fish. The streams of the Land Between the Lakes Recreational Area (LBL) are unique, undisturbed streams which contain many interesting fish species for which little information exists. One such rare species is the Shawnee Hills Cavefish Forbesichthys papilliferus, which is known to exist in a few LBL streams. However, the complete distribution of the Shawnee Hills Cavefish in LBL …

Movement Ecology Of Paddlefish And Walleye Reveal The Importance Of Continued Interjurisdictional Management In Riverine And Lacustrine Systems, Kaitlyn Bearden

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Fisheries systems function at broad spatial and temporal scales. Fishes within these systems are often highly mobile and move to locate adequate habitat, to feed and reproduce. As individuals navigate their environment, they potentially cross regulatory boundaries (state or federal) and or encounter physical barriers such as dams. Regulatory boundaries may not physically impede fish movement, but they are visible to fisheries managers thus the fishes within them may be vulnerable to varying management and harvest regulations. Physical boundaries (e.g., dams) are also particularly problematic for highly mobile species in large river systems. In chapter two, I documented that apparent …

Feeding Isoacids To Swine: Inclusion Level And Interactions With Dietary Fiber And Protein, Angie Patricia Benavides Infante

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In animal production, research is continually being carried out into implementing new feeding strategies, such as incorporating new alternative ingredients or additives that improve the quality of the diet, reduce the cost of diets, or have effects on intestinal health. The inclusion of branched-chain volatile fatty acids has been investigated in ruminants, and it has been found that a diet supplemented with BCVFA increases fiber digestibility as well as increases cellulolytic bacteria in the rumen. There is little information about the possible effects on pigs supplemented with BCVFA. According to this, the first study aims to evaluate the optimal inclusion …

The Influence Of By-O-Reg+ Beef, An Oregano-Based Essential Oil Supplement, On Growth Performance, Carcass Traits And Meat Quality Of Finishing Beef Steers, Bergin Mackenzie Debruin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this thesis was to determine the influence of an oregano-based essential oil (OEO; By-O-Reg+ Beef), on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of beef steers finished in an all-natural program. Yearling steers were allotted to 16 pens (n = 8 pens per treatment, 8 steers per pen). Treatments included: 1) control (CON) fed no oregano-based essential oil and 2) group fed 4 g/steer daily of By-O-Reg+ Beef. Steers were harvested on day 149 of the feeding period. Standard carcass data was collected and instrumental color (L*, a*, b*) was recorded. Strip loins were collected from a …

Comparison Of Nonlinear Models For Predicting Live Weight Growth Curves In Lambproduction Of Kıvırcık And Karacabey Merino, Vasfi̇ye Kader Esen, Orhan Karadağ, Cengi̇z Elmaci, Seli̇m Esen

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

To achieve sustainable lamb production, it is crucial to determine the optimal slaughter age for maximum economic efficiencyand have a comprehensive understanding of breed characteristics. This study focuses on evaluating different nonlinear models todetermine the optimal slaughter age for Karacabey Merino and Kıvırcık lambs, renowned for their early development and superiormeat quality, respectively. The dataset comprised age-related live weight data from 98 lambs, including 36 female and 15 male Kıvırcıklambs, as well as 33 female and 14 male Karacabey Merino lambs. Six models, namely, negative exponential, Brody, Gompertz, logistic,Bertalanffy, and Richards were utilized to analyze the data. The model parameters …

Behavioral Ecology Of The Colorado Brown Tarantula (Aphonopelma Hentzi): Activities Displayed Around The Burrow Through Juvenile Group Dispersal, Bradley Allendorfer

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The life history strategy of the Colorado brown tarantula (Aphonopelma hentzi) typically includes males spatially scattering in search for a female mate in the fall, followed by female attendance of fertilized eggs the following summer. Here, I highlighted aspects associated with this female parental care. Specifically, I compared the activities of maternal (egg-attending) tarantulas to their non-maternal (not egg-attending) counterparts, as this may be a costly time for these egg-attending individuals. I concluded that maternal individuals tended to show reduced activity at the burrow entrance, however; these, results were significant in only one comparison. After weeks of this parental care, …

An Updated Outline For Clearing And Staining Of Preserved Specimens, Sadie E. Smith

Honors Theses and Capstones

This protocol outlines a enhanced clearing and staining procedure for persevered specimens, focusing on the visualization of cartilage and bone in small taxa. With origins from O. Shultze's diaphonization methodology in 1897, the process of clearing and staining improves the clarity and contrast of intricate tissues. It is essential for studies in developmental biology, histology and anatomy. This protocol covers the key steps of the process while detailing the materials, solutions and estimated timeline for each step pertaining to specific taxa. The aim of the protocol is to standardize and provide guidance for procedures in the Biological Sciences department at …