Digital Commons Network^™

A Taxonomic Study Of The Morphological Variation And Intergradation Of Chrysemys Picta (Schneider) (Emydidae, Testudines) In West Virginia, Melissa R. Mann

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Two subspecies of Chrysemys picta (C. p. picta and C. p. marginata) occur in West Virginia. The Allegheny Mountains have historically separated the distribution of C. p. picta and C. p. marginata; however, intergrades occur where ranges overlap. These intergrades display morphological characteristics that are often intermediate to the original subspecies. Morphological variation of C. picta was examined by comparing specimens from possible areas of C. p. picta x C .p. marginata intergradation in West Virginia to geographic areas that are not exposed to subspecies distribution overlap. Characters traditionally used to separate C. p. picta and C. p. marginata were …

Animal Science Newsletter, Winter 2007

Department of Animal Science: Departmental News

Contents:

From The Interim Department Head’s Desk
Bovine 3D Project Readies High-Tech Carcass for Classroom, Industry
Spangler is New Faculty Member
Emeriti News
FIPSE Program Offers International Ag Discussion
Van Vleck Retires
University of Nebraska–Lincoln Poultry Scholarships
Recent Awards and Recognitions
Block and Bridle Club
Animal Science Graduate Student Association
Ambassadors Help Make a Difference
Livestock Judging Team
Horse Judging Team
Equestrian Team
Bobby Moser Thankful for his Decision to Attend UNL
Drive Through Nebraska as a Teen led Burnell to UNL
Former Graduate Student Jerry Reeves Retires
Karlis Ulmanis — From Alum to Prime Minister
Walking Down Memory Lane …

Comparison Of Performance And Economics Of A Long-Yearling And Calf-Fed System, W. A. Griffin, T. J. Klopfenstein, G. E. Erickson, D. M. Feuz, James C. Macdonald, D. J. Jordon

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Performance and economics of calf feeding and feeding long-yearlings was compared from University of Nebraska research conducted from 1996 to 2004. All calves in these studies were spring born and purchased the subsequent fall. The heaviest calves (292 ± 5 kg) were placed into the feedlot and fed an average of 168 d (calf-feds), whereas the lighter calves (239 ± 5 kg) were placed into a long-yearling system consisting of corn residue grazing followed by summer grazing before entering the feedlot for finishing. Long-yearlings were fed in the feedlot for an average of 90 d. At the beginning of the …

Genetic Parameters For Yield Traits Of Cows Treated Or Not Treated With Bovine Somatotropin, A. Al-Seaf, Jeffrey F. Keown, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic correlations between yield traits of cows treated with bovine somatotropin (bST) and the same yield traits of untreated cows. Lactation records from registered Holstein cows were divided by parity into 3 data sets: 1, 2, and 3 through 5. Approximately 10% of the records in each data set were from cows treated with bST. The numbers of records of treated and untreated cows in the data sets were 4,337 and 48,765; 3,730 and 37,796; and 3,645 and 33,957. Two-trait animal models (records for cows treated or not treated) were used to …

Boletín De Grupo De Especialistas En Crácidos 23-28 (2007-2009), Iucn, Birdlife International, Cracid Specialist Group

Galliformes Specialist Group and Affiliated Societies: Newsletters

Volume 23 (Spring 2007)

Registros de anidamiento del pavo de cacho (Oreophasis derbianus) en el Volcan Atitlán, Guatemala, Knut Eisermann, Andy Burge, y Gerardo López

Registros de ninhos de Oreophasis derbianus no Vulcão Atitlan, Guatemala, Knut Eisermann, Andy Burge, e Gerardo López

Nesting records of horned guan (Oreophasis derbianus) on Atitlán Volcano, Guatemala, Knut Eisermann, Andy Burge, and Gerardo López

El redescubrimiento de la chachalaca de la Isla Utila (Ortalis vetula deschauenseei), Sheri L. Glowinski

Redescoberta do aracuã da Ilha Utila (Ortalis vetula deschauenseei), Sheri L. Glowinski

Rediscovery of the Utila Island …

Wpa News 78 (2007), World Pheasant Association

Galliformes Specialist Group and Affiliated Societies: Newsletters

WPA News (Winter 2007), number 78

Published by the World Pheasant Association

Wpa News 80 (2007/2008), World Pheasant Association

Galliformes Specialist Group and Affiliated Societies: Newsletters

WPA News (Winter 2007/2008), number 80

Published by the World Pheasant Association

Utilization Of Corn Co-Products In The Beef Industry: Feeding Of Corn Milling Co-Products To Beef Cattle, Galen E. Erickson, Virgil R. Bremer, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Leslie Aaron Stalker, Richard J. Rasby

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Corn milling co-products are expected to increase dramatically in supply as the ethanol industry expands. Distillers grains, corn gluten feed, or a combination of both co-products offer many feeding options when included in pasture and feedlot diets. These co-product feeds may effectively improve cattle performance and operation profitability. When these co-products are fed in feedlot diets, adjustments to grain processing method and roughage level may improve cattle performance. Innovative storage methods for wet co-products and the use of dried co-products offer small operations flexibility when utilizing co-products. As new co-products are developed by ethanol plants, they should be evaluated with …

Selection And Dietary Quality Of Beef Cattle Grazing Smooth Bromegrass, Switchgrass, And Big Bluestem, B. H. Kirch, L. E. Moser, S. S. Waller, T. J. Klopfenstein, G. E. Aiken, J. R. Strickland

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The ability of grazing animals to enhance quality of diet by selection is important in production. The study determined the effects of selection on dietary quality of cattle grazing monocultures of smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss; SB), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.; SG), and big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman; BB) as influenced by plant maturity. Three ruminally-fistulated steers (295 kg) strip-grazed SB, SG, and BB at vegetative, elongation, early reproductive, and a regrowth stage of development. Selection was maximized by providing cattle access to 40 kg of DM/d per head. Clipped samples were compared with dietary samples accumulated during 45 min …

Comparison Of Aquatic-Insect Habitat And Diversity Above And Below Road Crossings In Low-Order Streams, J. Wesley Neal, Nathan J. Harris, Sathyanand Kumaran, David A. Behler, Thomas J. Lang, Paul R. Port, Marcella Melandri, Benjamin G. Batten

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The effects of road crossings on fish communities have been extensively studied; yet little attention has been given to macroinvertebrate communities. This study evaluated physical stream characteristics, water quality, and aquatic-insect richness from above and below road crossings of low-order streams in the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas. Fifteen road crossings were sampled during October and November 2005. Erosion was significantly higher below road crossings than above. Sites downstream of road crossings had significantly lower pH and significantly higher turbidity than sites upstream of road crossings. Despite differences in water quality and habitat, there was no apparent difference in aquatic-insect …

Habitat Factors Affecting Trap Success Of Swamp Rabbits In Southeastern Arkansas During A Flooding Event, Blair Smyth, Karen B. Vale, Robert E. Kissell Jr.

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Swamp rabbits (Sylvilagus aquaticus) are found in bottomland hardwood ecosystems that have canopy gaps dispersed throughout. During annual flooding of these ecosystems, swamp rabbits often are displaced to adjacent uplands or higher ground within the bottomlands. Trapping of swamp rabbits is reported to be best during times of flooding. We examined habitat characteristics at trap sites to identify the best suits of habitat characters to target when trapping for swamp rabbits during flooding conditions. We conducted trapping for swamp rabbits during a flooding event from 2 January 2007 to 3 February 2007. A total of 511 trap nights yielded 16 …

Distribution Of The Queen Snake (Regina Septemvittata) In Arkansas, Johnathan W. Stanley, Stanley E. Trauth

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

We documented the distribution of the queen snake, Regina septemvittata, in northern Arkansas during the 2005 and 2006 activity seasons. Arkansas currently contains the only known disjunct population of this species west of the Mississippi River. Field work was conducted throughout the Boston Mountains of the Ozark Plateau to verify the presence of queen snakes from historic localities as well as to identify new localities containing these snakes. Seventeen individuals were found in the Mulberry River of Franklin and Johnson counties and the Illinois Bayou watershed of Pope County. Of these 17 snakes, 5 were kept as voucher specimens in …

Survey Of Nesting By Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon Pyrrhonota) And Barn Swallows (Hirundo Rustica) At Highway Bridges In Southern Arkansas, C. Renn Tumlison

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) and Bam Swallow (Hinmdo rustica) both are migratory species that, in Arkansas, were known to nest only in the northern part of the state until the mid to late 1900s. The construction of concrete bridges apparently provided suitable nesting structure for both species. I conducted a survey of bridges along highways in southern Arkansas to look for evidence of nesting by these species. Nests of CliffSwallows were found in AsWey, Bradley, Clark, Cleveland, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Lafayette, Lincoln, Little River, Miller, Nevada, Ouachita, Pike, Sevier, and Union Counties. Nests of Barn Swallows were more …

First Arkansas Records For White Perch, Morone Americana (Gmelin),(Teleostei: Moronidae), Thomas M. Buchanan, Robert L. Limbird, Frank J. Leone

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Status, Distribution, And Density Of White-Tailed Jackrabbits And Black-Tailed Jackrabbits In South Dakota, Dustin J. Schaible

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The status of jackrabbit (Lepus spp.) populations throughout the Northern Great Plains has been a cause for concern by wildlife managers in recent years and there has been a paucity of information about the ecology of the white-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii) and the black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) in South Dakota. Since there have been little monitoring efforts for hares, 21 permanent spotlight line transects were established across South Dakota for future surveying efforts. These transects were surveyed to obtain baseline information about jackrabbit density and distribution throughout the state. Jackrabbit density was highest in the northwestern portions of the state …

Summer Food Habits Of Young Grass Pickerel (Esox Americanus),Warmouth (Lepomis Gulosus), And Logperch (Percina Caprodes) From A Cove In Lake Ouachita, Garland County, Arkansas, C. Renn Tumlison, Christian Carroll, Matt Greenwood

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Differential Classical Conditioning Of The Gill-Withdrawal Reflex In Aplysia Recruits Both Nmda Receptor-Dependent Enhancement And Nmda Receptor-Dependent Depression Of The Reflex, Shekib A. Jami, William G. Wright, David L. Glanzman

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Differential classical conditioning of the gill-withdrawal response (GWR) in Aplysia can be elicited by training in which a conditioned stimulus (CS) delivered to one side of the siphon (the CS+) is paired with a noxious unconditioned stimulus (US; tail shock), while a second conditioned stimulus (the CS-), delivered to a different siphon site, is unpaired with the US. NMDA receptor(NMDAR) activation has been shown previously to be critical for nondifferential classical conditioning in Aplysia. Here, we used a semi-intact preparation to test whether differential classical conditioning of the GWR also depends on activation of NMDARs. Differential training produced conditioned enhancement …

Nest Reuse By Eastern Kingbirds: Adaptive Behavior Or Ecological Constraint?, Lucas J. Redmond, Michael T. Murphy, Amy C. Dolan

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The reuse of old nests by open-cup nesting passerines is a seemingly rare but potentially adaptive behavior if, as a consequence, females begin to breed earlier, lay larger clutches, or fledge more young. We report an unusually high rate of nest reuse (~10% of 341 nests) for Eastern Kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus) breeding at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon. We found no difference in availability of nesting habitat or food abundance in territories in which nests were and were not reused. We also found no support for the hypotheses that kingbirds benefited from nest reuse by breeding earlier, laying …

Habitat And Distribution Of The Ruffed Lemur, "Varecia", North Of The Bay Of Antongil In Northeastern Madagascar, Evon R. Hekkala, Marius Rakotondratsima, Natalie Vasey

Anthropology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Here we present information on the conservation status of ruffed lemurs (Varecia) north of the Bay of Antongil in northeastern Madagascar. Two contiguous protected areas were recently established that traverse this region via blocks of forest connected by narrow forest corridors: the Masoala National Park, which expands further to the east, and the Makira Protected Area, which expands further to the west and northwest. The two extant ruffed lemurs, Varecia variegata and V. rubra, overlapped in this region historically and, on rare occasions, hybridized. As such, land north of the Bay of Antongil is a critical part …

A Practical Approach To Phylogenomics: The Phylogeny Of Ray-Finned Fish (Actinopterygii) As A Case Study, Chenhong Li, Guillermo Orti, Gong Zhang, Guoqing Lu

Biology Faculty Publications

Background: Molecular systematics occupies one of the central stages in biology in the genomic era, ushered in by unprecedented progress in DNA technology. The inference of organismal phylogeny is now based on many independent genetic loci, a widely accepted approach to assemble the tree of life. Surprisingly, this approach is hindered by lack of appropriate nuclear gene markers for many taxonomic groups especially at high taxonomic level, partially due to the lack of tools for efficiently developing new phylogenetic makers. We report here a genome-comparison strategy to identifying nuclear gene markers for phylogenetic inference and apply it to the …

Efficacy Of Solanum Villosum Mill. (Solanaceae: Solanales ) As A Biocontrol Agent Against Fourth Instar Larvae Of Culex Quinquefasciatus Say, Nandita Chowdhury, Indranil Bhattacharjee, Subrata Laskar, Goutam Chandra

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Dried ground leaves of Solanum villosum, Mill. were extracted with 5 different solvents [petroleum ether, benzene, choloform:methanol (1:1 v/v), acetone, and absolute alcohol] to determine the best extractant for subsequent isolation and characterization of larviciding compounds. Each batch of larvae (10 per batch) was treated with 30 ppm, 50 ppm, and 100 ppm of each extract in 3 replicates. All eluted fractions were found to induce significant mortality in test mosquito species. The petroleum ether eluted fraction was the least toxic, whereas the chloroform:methanol (1:1 v/v) eluted fraction was the most toxic to the larvae. A very high mortality rate …

A Preliminary Study On The Population Characteristics Of The Lessepsian Species Pseudonereis Anomala (Polychaeta: Nereididae) In İskenderun Bay (Levantine Sea, Eastern Mediterranean), Meli̇h Ertan Çinar, Cem Altun

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The present paper deals with the population structure and biology of Pseudonereis anomala collected from different shallow-water habitats of İskenderun Bay in September 2005. In all, 434 specimens of P. anomala were found in the area. The maximum density and biomass values of the species in the area were 2475 ind. m^{-2} (on Jania rubens) and 7.85 g m^{-2} (among the bivalve Brachidontes pharaonis), respectively. The relationships among the biometrical measurements of the P. anomala specimens were assessed using regression and correlation analyses. The growth of P. anomala seems to be allometric. Among the specimens examined, only one specimen had …

Subfamily Phyllostominae Gray, 1825 From Mammals Of South America, Stephen L. Williams, Hugh H. Genoways

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

The subfamily Phyllostominae is distributed from the southern United States (Arizona, California, and southern Nevada), southward into northern Argentina, Paraguay, and southern Brazil. South American phyllostomines are primarily restricted to the mainland, but also occur on a few major islands off the coast of South America, such as Margarita Island (Venezuela), Trinidad and Tobago, and the Netherlands Antilles, as well as the Greater and Lesser Antilles. The number of genera and species recognized in the subfamily depends on the taxonomic interpretations of the content of the genera Lophostoma, Micronycteris, Mimon, Phyllostomus, and Tonatia. In near agreement with the …

2007 South Dakota Beef Report, Department Of Animal And Range Sciences, South Dakota State University, Agricultural Experiment Station, South Dakota State University, Cooperative Extension Service, South Dakota State University

South Dakota Beef Report, 2007

This is the 2007 South Dakota Beef Report. The articles published in this report summarize many of the beef cattle research activities conducted at South Dakota State University during 2007. The articles in this report have many levels of application. Some information has immediate application for your farm, ranch, or agribusiness. The articles include information on nutrition, feed management, reproductive management, health, growth and development, and economics of the cattle and beef industry in South Dakota.

Discovery: The Student Journal Of Dale Bumpers College Of Agricultural, Food And Life Sciences - Volume 8 2007, Several Authors

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

No abstract provided.

Dietary Sequestration Of Defensive Steroids In Nuchal Glands Of The Asian Snake Rhabdophis Tigrinus, Deborah A. Hutchinson, Akira Mori, Alan H. Savitsky, Gordon M. Burghardt, Xiaogang Wu, Jerrold Meinwald, Frank C, Schroeder

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The Asian snake Rhabdophis tigrinus possesses specialized defensive glands on its neck that contain steroidal toxins known as bufadienolides. We hypothesized that R. tigrinus does not synthesize these defensive steroids but instead sequesters the toxins from toads it consumes as prey. To test this hypothesis, we conducted chemical analyses on the glandular fluid from snakes collected in toad-free and toad-present localities. We also performed feeding experiments in which hatchling R. tigrinus were reared on controlled diets that either included or lacked toads. We demonstrate that the cardiotonic steroids in the nuchal glands of R. tigrinus are obtained from dietary toads. …

Similar Levels Of X-Linked And Autosomal Nucleotide Variation In African And Non-African Populations Of Drosophila Melanogaster, Nadia D. Singh, J. Michael Macpherson, Jeffrey D. Jensen, Dmitri A. Petrov

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Background: Levels of molecular diversity in Drosophila have repeatedly been shown to be higher in ancestral, African populations than in derived, non-African populations. This pattern holds for both coding and noncoding regions for a variety of molecular markers including single nucleotide polymorphisms and microsatellites. Comparisons of X-linked and autosomal diversity have yielded results largely dependent on population of origin.

Results: In an attempt to further elucidate patterns of sequence diversity in Drosophila melanogaster, we studied nucleotide variation at putatively nonfunctional X-linked and autosomal loci in sub-Saharan African and North American strains of D. melanogaster. We combine our experimental …

Reproductive And Metabolic Effects Of Recombinant Equine Leptin On Seasonally Anovulatory Mares, Pamela Boliew Mitcham

LSU Master's Theses

Mares of poor body condition have low plasma leptin concentrations, while obese mares have the highest concentrations. Leptin is a primary signal of body condition to the brain in other species; therefore, low leptin concentrations in thin mares could contribute to their extended anovulatory period in winter compared to obese mares. The current experiment was designed to determine whether recombinant equine leptin, administered to seasonally anovulatory mares, would induce ovarian activity and ovulation in the winter. Leptin effects on metabolism were also studied. Beginning January 7, leptin-treated mares (n = 9) received daily i.m. injections of 10 mg recombinant equine …

Landholder Information For The Safe Use And Management Of 1080, Renee Donovan, David Goodall

Biosecurity published reports

This manual outlines your roles and responsibilities for using and managing 1080. In particular this manual outlines the essential information you need to know in regard to:

• The legislative requirements for 1080 control in Western Australia
• The properties and mode of action of 1080
• How to lodge an application to lay 1080 baits How to safely store and transport 1080
• The procedures and notification required to carry out a baiting proposal
• Personal safety, identifying signs of poisoning & effecting appropriate first aid treatment
• Your responsibilities for notifying DAFWA and the Police of any accidents or incidents
• Methods for evaluating the …

Northern Goshawk Nest Activity As An Indicator Of Habitat Quality On Three National Forests In Southern Utah, K. S. Marvel, R. L. Rodriguez, Landon R. Jones

Student Works

The Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) has been a species of concern in the western United States since it was thought to be in decline in the 1970s. Loss of critical breeding and wintering habitat has contributed, in part, to this decline. In the U.S., the goshawk was listed in 1991 as a sensitive species for the Intermountain Region of the Forest Service. This region includes all National Forests in Utah. The goshawk also holds the status of a Management Indicator Species (MIS) on all six National Forests in Utah (USDA Forest Service 1999). The aim of the Forest Service was …