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Annotated Checklist Of The Avian Species Observed At The Gordon Natural Area (West Chester University, Pa) 2004-2020. Version Ix. Data From Ebird (Through 7/20/2020) And From The 2004 West Chester Bird Club Survey Of The Gna.Ersion Ix., Nur Ritter, Josh R. Auld

Gordon Natural Area Bird Survey Documents

Summary Data Number of Surveys: 108 'Site Visits' by 28 Birders. Note: this does not count the birders who participated in the 2004 West Chester Bird Club Survey as they were not identified on the species checklist. Number of Taxa: 125 Species, in 86 Genera and 38 Families. Abundances The color of each month's 'box' represents the average number of individuals observed during all surveys during that month (see key at the bottom of the page). The first number within the 'box' for each month represents the number of days in which that species was observed during the month; the …

Annotated Checklist Of The Fish Species Observed At The Gordon Natural Area (West Chester University, Pa) 1997-2019. Version I, Nur Ritter

Gordon Natural Area Biodiversity Studies Documents

Summary Data Number of Taxa: 14 Species, in 13 Genera, 6 Families, and 5 Orders. Description Investigation of the ichthyofauna (i.e., fish) of the GNA began has a fairly long-history, but has been sporadic and the findings have been poorly archived. The earliest known research was undertaken by former WCU Biology Professor Win Fairchild. Regrettably, we only have his data from a single study (Butler & Fairchild 2005). WCU graduate student Danielle DiFederico (one of Win Fairchild's students) conducted her Master's research in Plum Run in the early 2000. Following this, there was a long fallow period (with just a …

The Role Of Spine In Causing Lameness In Horses, Raja Zabeeh Ullah Khan

International Programs

Lameness is one of the most important problems of horses. It influences all communities who keep horses. Recent studies have shown the significance of spinal muscles and vertebrae in inducing lameness in horses. The field has not been explored much and requires application of biomechanics to define the role of spine in inducing lameness in horses. This presentation highlights the importance of spine in inducing lameness in horses by relating the solution with biomechanics.

Functional Morphology Of Gliding Flight I. Modeling Reveals Distinct Performance Landscapes Based On Soaring Strategies, Lindsay D. Waldrop, Yanyan He, Tyson L. Hedrick, Jonathan Rader

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The physics of flight influences the morphology of bird wings through natural selection on flight performance. The connection between wing morphology and performance is unclear due to the complex relationships between various parameters of flight. In order to better understand this connection, we present a holistic analysis of gliding flight that preserves complex relationships between parameters. We use a computational model of gliding flight, along with analysis by uncertainty quantification, to 1) create performance landscapes of gliding based on output metrics (maximum lift-to-drag ratio, minimum gliding angle, minimum sinking speed, lift coefficient at minimum sinking speed); and 2) predict what …

Association Between Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms In Sirt1 And Sirt2 Loci And Growth In Tibetan Sheep, Lin-Sheng Gui, Sayed Haidar Abbas Raza, Li Zhou, Matthew Garcia, Ayman Hassan Abd El-Aziz, Dawei Wei, Shengzhen Hou, Jianlei Jia, Zhiyou Wang

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Silent information regulator 1 and 2 (SIRT1, 2) were NAD+-dependent histone or non-histone deacetylase, which emerged as key metabolic sensors in several tissues of mammals. In the present study, the search for polymorphisms within the ovine SIRT1 and SIRT2 loci as well as association analyses between SNPs and growth-related traits were performed in Tibetan sheep. To determine the expression pattern of SIRT1 and SIRT2 genes in Tibetan sheep, the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis revealed that those two genes were widely expressed in diverse tissues. Expression of SIRT1 was less in abomasum of lamb, whereas it …

Transcriptome Analysis And Expression Of Selected Cationic Amino Acid Transporters In The Liver Of Broiler Chicken Fed Diets With Varying Concentrations Of Lysine, Collins N. Khwatenge, Boniface M. Kimathi, Samuel N. Nahashon

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Amino acids are known to play a key role in gene expression regulation. Amino acid signaling is mediated via two pathways: the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) and the amino acid responsive (AAR) pathways. Cationic amino acid transporters (CATs) are crucial in these pathways due to their sensing, signaling and transport functions. The availability of certain amino acids plays a key role in the intake of other amino acids, hence affecting growth in young birds. However, the specific mechanism for regulating lysine transport for growth is not clear. In this study, we analyze the transcriptome profiles and mRNA …

Algal Coverage Detection And Classification Using Envi: Correlation With Dissolved Oxygen Levels In Elkhorn Slough, Ca, Jason Dawson

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Estuaries are exposed to varying stressors, whether they be physical, chemical, or environmental. The most notable of stressors is eutrophication of coastal and inland ecosystems. This is a result of increased supply of nutrients fueling production within the system. One outcome of this increased nutrient load to the system is that of algal blooms. These blooms can impact the aesthetic appearance and degrade the quality of health of the system. Many of these coastal zones and waterways are critical habitats for many biological (some endangered) species and serve as recreational areas for human populations. Elkhorn Slough, California is one of …

To Feed Or Not To Feed: Examining The Effects Of Provisioning Tourism On Nurse Sharks In Caye Caulker, Belize, Carlee Jackson

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Wildlife tourism is increasing in popularity around the world, creating the need to understand alterations in animal behavior and spatial distributions that may occur due to associated anthropogenic disturbances. Nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum, Bonnaterre 1788) are commonly used for wildlife tourism within the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve in Belize. Shark and Ray Village (SRV) is a site within the reserve where nurse sharks are consistently fed by tour/snorkel boats to create an interactive experience with tourists, termed provisioning tourism. Prior to this experiment, no studies had been conducted in SRV to evaluate the impact of provisioning tourism (tourism …

Imidacloprid Movement Into Fungal Conidia Is Lethal To Mycophagous Beetles, Robin A. Choudhury, Andrew M. Sutherland, Matt J. Hengel, Michael P. Parrella, W. Douglass Gubler

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Applications of systemic pesticides can have unexpected direct and indirect effects on nontarget organisms, producing ecosystem-level impacts. We investigated whether a systemic insecticide (imidacloprid) could be absorbed by a plant pathogenic fungus infecting treated plants and whether the absorbed levels were high enough to have detrimental effects on the survival of a mycophagous beetle. Beetle larvae fed on these fungi were used to assess the survival effects of powdery mildew and imidacloprid in a factorial design. Fungal conidia were collected from treated and untreated plants and were tested for the presence and concentration of imidacloprid. The survival of beetles fed …

Porcine Cytokines, Chemokines And Growth Factors: 2019 Update, Harry D. Dawson, Yongming Sang, Joan K. Lunney

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Pigs are a major food source worldwide as well as major biomedical models for human physiology and therapeutics. A thorough understanding of porcine immunity is essential to prevent and treat infectious diseases, and develop effective vaccines and therapeutics. The use of pigs as biomedical models is dependent on the growing molecular and immune toolbox. This paper summarizes current knowledge of swine cytokines, chemokines and growth factors, identifying 289 pig proteins, characterizing knowledge of their gene structures and families. It identifies areas in the current swine genome build that need to be clarified. A broad-based literature and vendor search was conducted …

Evaluation Of A Novel Shallow Aggregate Ebb-And-Flood Culture System And Transplant Size Effects On Hydroponic Basil Yield, Samuel Doty, Ryan W. Dickson, Michael Evans

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

Ornamental bedding plant operations transitioning to leafy greens and herb production must decide whether to invest in new hydroponic equipment or modify existing culture systems for edible crops. In addition, common practices used to increase space-use and production efficiencies during bedding plant production may be modified for hydroponic leafy greens and herbs, such as purchasing large seedlings for transplant. The objective of the first experiment was to evaluate plant growth in a modified and novel shallow aggregate ebb-and-flood (SAEF) system intended for bedding plant growers with an emphasis on comparing yield across four basil (Ocimum basilicum) cultivars grown …

Comparative Spatial And Behavioral Ecology Of The Prairie Lizard Sceloporus Consobrinus In The Arkansas River Valley, E. A. Free Kashon

Theses and Dissertations from 2020

Habitat-driven differences in reptile life-histories have been observed in many species. Prairie lizards, Sceloporus consobrinus, in the Arkansas River Valley inhabit rocky, forested, and intermediate habitat types that exhibit different thermal resource availabilities and habitat structures. I studied prairie lizard space usage and antipredator responses to examine whether lizards exhibit habitat-driven differences in ecology, and whether these differences are influenced, in part, by individual personality. I utilized radio telemetry to track lizards in each of these habitat types and established estimates of space usage and daily linear movements. I used behavioral approaches to quantify lizard antipredator responses to a simulated …

Effects Of Management Efforts On Fledging Success Of Endangered Interior Least Terns (Sternula Antillarum Athalassos) On The Mcclellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System In Arkansas, Trevor N. Jensen

Theses and Dissertations from 2020

The Interior Least Tern (Sternula antillarum athalassos) is an endangered shorebird that primarily nests in colonies on barren riverine sandbars on many major river systems throughout the central United States. Water resource development projects such as damming and channelization have altered the natural flow regimes of these systems leading to a decrease in sandbar quality and quantity, and as a result this species is dependent on management to ensure their recovery. Managers within Arkansas have been applying a variety of management approaches to improve sandbar nesting habitat and success of this population intermittently since 2002, with increased intensity since 2015. …

Kentucky Warbler (Vol. 96, No. 3), Kentucky Library Research Collections

The Kentucky Warbler

No abstract provided.

The Potential Impacts Of Soy Protein On Fish Gut Health, Vikas Kumar, Sakhawat Hossain, Janice A. Ragaza, Marina Rubio Benito

Biology Faculty Publications

Soy protein is the major source of protein as fishmeal replacement in fish feed because of its worldwide availability and low price. However, the presence of high carbohydrate content along with saponins, lectins, and phytates can have a negative impact on fish gut health. Based on the literature and our lab studies, dietary soybean meal can cause a dose-dependent type of distal intestine inflammation called enteritis in commercial fish species including salmonids. This leads to reduced absorptive capacity, increased mucus secretion, hyperpermeability, and leucocyte infiltration in the lamina propria and submucosa, also inducing the pro-inflammatory cytokine genes expression, including Il-1β, …

2019 (31st) Report Of The Nou Records Committee, Mark A. Brogie

Nebraska Bird Review

The functions and methods of the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee (NOURC) are described in its bylaws (NOURC 2010). The committee’s purpose is to provide a procedure for documenting unusual bird sightings and to establish a list of all documented birds for Nebraska. Species for which the NOURC seeks documentation (NOURC Review List) can be found at the NOU website www.NOUbirds.org. Starting in 2020, the NOURC will deal mainly with those species deemed as Accidental on the “Official List of the Birds of Nebraska”. Casual species and out-ofrange species will continue to be summarized in the “Seasonal Reports” of the …

Next-Generation Sequencing In Equine Genomics, Jessica L. Petersen, Stephen J. Coleman

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

• Next-generation sequencing of both DNA and RNA represents a second revolution in equine genetics following publication of the equine genome sequence.

• Technological advancements have resulted in a wide selection of next-generation sequencing platforms capable of completing small targeted experiments or resequencing complete genomes.

• DNA and RNA sequencing have applications in clinical and research environments.

• Standards for the validation and sharing of next-generation sequencing data are critical for the widespread application of the technology and applications discussed herein.

• As researchers and clinicians develop a better understanding of how genetic variation and phenotypic variation are linked, next-generation sequencing could help pave the …

Evaluating The Effect Of The Removal Of Non-Native Trout In Two High Elevation Tributary Streams In The Intermountain West, Clint Brunson

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Native fish species such as Bonneville Cutthroat Trout (BCT) require cold, clear, well-connected streams for spawning and rearing as well as access to complimentary habitats. Increasing river temperatures and lower water flows may have allowed non-native Brown Trout (BNT) to migrate into higher elevation pristine streams. Additionally, anthropogenic actions such as stocking non-native Brown and Brook (BKT) and Rainbow Trout (RBT) for angling opportunities impact BCT. Invasion of these tributaries by non-native species may reduce or eliminate cutthroat trout by predation, competition, displacement, genetic suppression, and exclusion. A seven-fold increase in BNT numbers of 50 to 350 from 2017 to …

The "Challenge" Of Depletion: Why The Oyster Fishery Is Not Self-Regulating, Eric N. Powell, John M. Klinck, Leanne M. Poussard

Faculty Publications

© 2020 National Shellfisheries Association. All rights reserved. The possibility that the economics of the oyster fishery impose a self-limitation on overharvesting has been proffered on occasion. The inefficiency of harvesting by the fishery has been evaluated and estimates of the exploitation rate permissible under conditions of maximum sustainable yield have been obtained in previous studies. The question becomes to what extent does the inefficiency of harvest interact with the economics of the fishery to compromise ready detection of overfishing? This study explores the possibility that the constraint of economics on the fishery occurs at oyster exploitation rates that are …

Prevalence Of Anticoagulant Rodenticides In Ferruginous Hawk Nestlings And Evaluation Of A Novel Method To Rapidly Assess Exposure, Ariana Joyce Dickson

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) are compounds commonly used to control rodent pests by inhibiting an enzyme critical for synthesis of clotting factors in their blood. Secondary and tertiary poisoning of non-target species frequently occur, especially of predators that consume rodents, including many species of raptors. Although raptor exposure to ARs has been documented on at least three continents, patterns, pathways and the sub-lethal effects of exposure are not well studied. This has created a substantial need to monitor the effects of ARs in free-living populations. I evaluated the prevalence of secondary, non-target exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides experienced by a predatory raptor, …

Feral Swine, Michael P. Glow, Nathan P. Snow, Kurt C. Vercauteren

Wildlife Damage Management Technical Series

Feral swine (Sus scrofa; Figure 1), also known as feral hogs, feral pigs, wild pigs, wild boar, or other similar derivations, are a non-native species considered to be one of the most destructive invasive terrestrial vertebrates in North America. While feral swine populations remained relatively small and confined in the continental United States following initial introductions by European explorers during the 15th century, substantial range expansion has occurred across every geographical region of the United States (Figure 2). This expansion has primarily been attributed to human-mediated movements, predominately for the purpose of establishing populations for recreational hunting, and facilitated by …

Gear Specific Catch Rates And Population Dynamics Of Channel Catfish In The Mississippi River, Colby Gainer

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Perpetual anthropogenic alterations have imposed deleterious effects on aquatic ecosystems. In the Mississippi River, channelization, dams, and loss of floodplain connectivity have all been reputed as detrimental. Dynamic rate functions (i.e., recruitment, growth, and mortality) are the driving forces behind fish populations. Understanding population dynamics is important for guiding management decisions. Knowledge of vital rates can provide pivotal information that will determine spatiotemporal population-level changes within the system. In the Mississippi River, Channel Catfish are a commercially and recreationally important species. However, limited population demographic information currently exists in the Upper Mississippi River. We sought to determine the most effective …

One In The Hand Worth Two In The Bush? Reproductive Effort Of Young Males Is Not Affected By The Presence Of Adult Males, Kevin L. Monteith, Kyle B. Monteith, Jonathan A. Jenks, Rhiannon P. Jakopak

Natural Resource Management Faculty Publications

Reproduction is a costly endeavor, and most large, long-lived, and iteroparous mammals exhibit conservative life-history tactics wherein an individual may forego or abandon a reproduction event for the sake of survival. Nevertheless, risks and benefits associated with reproduction are not equal across males and females, nor across their life. Whereas expenditure for females is associated with rearing young (e.g., lactation), expenditure for males occurs with securing mating opportunities. Young males may be more successful when dominant males are lacking, but it is less clear whether—and at what cost—young males will expend effort when those opportunities arise. We designed an experiment …

Causal Explanations For The Evolution Of ‘Low Gear’ Locomotion In Insular Ruminants, Roberto Rozzi, Sara Varela, Pere Bover, Jeff Martin

Natural Resource Management Faculty Publications

Aim: Mammals on islands often undergo remarkable evolutionary changes. The acquisition of ‘low gear’ locomotion, namely short and robust limb elements, has been typically associated with the island syndrome in large mammals and, especially, ruminants. Here we provide an investigative framework to examine biotic and abiotic selective factors hypothesized to influence evolution of this peculiar type of gait. Location: Islands worldwide.
Taxon: Bovidae.
Methods: We calculated response variables associated with ‘low gear’ locomotion in 21 extinct and extant insular bovids. We assembled data on the physiography of 11 islands and on life history and ecological traits of the focal taxa. …

Not The Latest Science: National Recommended Water Quality Criteria For Aquatic Life Under The Clean Water Act, Sam B. Duggan, Christopher J. Kotalik

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

Artificial Night Lighting And Anthropogenic Noise Alter Animal Activity, Body Condition, Species Richness, And Community Structure, Joshua Willems

Master's Theses

Sensory pollution from artificial night-lighting and anthropogenic noise have increased at a dramatic rate over the last several decades. Alterations to the sensory environment have been found to affect wildlife in a wide variety of ways including behavioral changes, physiological responses, changes in species interactions, and altered community structure. Increased levels of light and noise pollution can originate from many sources including roads, energy development and infrastructure, and urbanization. Even remote or protected areas are not immune to the effects of increased sensory disturbances with 63 percent of protected areas within the United States found to have been exposed to …

An Evaluation Of Bird And Bat Mortality At Wind Turbines In The Northeastern United States, Daniel Y. Choi, Thomas W. Wittig, Bryan M. Kluever

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Wind energy offers substantial environmental benefits, but wind facilities can negatively impact wildlife, including birds and bats. Researchers and managers have made major efforts to chronicle bird and bat mortality associated with wind facilities, but few studies have examined the patterns and underlying mechanisms of spatial patterns of fatalities at wind facilities. Understanding the horizontal fall distance between a carcass and the nearest turbine pole is important in designing effective search protocols and estimating total mortality. We explored patterns in taxonomic composition and fall distance of bird and bat carcasses at wind facilities in the Northeastern United States using publicly …

Estimation Of Wildlife Damage From Federal Crop Insurance Data, Sophie Mckee, Stephanie A. Shwiff, Aaron M. Anderson

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

BACKGROUND: Wildlife damage to crops is a persistent and costly problem for many farmers in the USA. Most existing estimates of crop damage have relied on direct assessment methods such as field studies conducted by trained biologists or surveys distributed to farmers. In this paper, we describe a new method of estimating wildlife damage that exploits federal crop insurance data. We focused our study on four crops: corn, soybean, wheat, and cotton, chosen because of their economic importance and their vulnerability to wildlife damage.

RESULTS: We determined crop-raiding hot spots across the USA over the 2015–2019 period and identified the …

Genotoxic And Hematological Effects Of Endocrine Disruptive Chemicals, Bisphenol A And Nonylphenol, On Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus), Sahardin Muhammad Faris

Student Works (2020-2029)

This study was performed to evaluate the genotoxicity and hematology effects of single and binary exposure of bisphenol A and nonylphenol towards Oreochromis niloticus. O. niloticus was singly exposed to bisphenol A at concentration of 2 mg/l and nonylphenol at concentration of 0.04 mg/l in 16 L glass tank. O. niloticus was also synergistically exposed to the both concentration of 2 mg/l of bisphenol A and 0.04 mg/l of nonylphenol. Four fishes were randomly used for four exposures after two weeks acclimatization. All of them were exposed to the compound for 96 hours without water change prior observation. Fishes were …

A Histopathological Review Of Immune Response In Largemouth Bass To Parasitic Infections Of Soft Tissues, James D. Stephenson

Theses and Dissertations

The immune response can serve as a key indicator of a fish’s overall health and the effect stressors have on the health of the fish. Anthropogenic factors can stress a fish’s immune system and inhibit immune responses. This study investigated the response of eosinophilic cells and macrophage aggregates to parasites in the livers, spleens, and gonads of Largemouth Bass, Micropterus salmoides. Largemouth Bass were sampled from three bodies of water in the Chattahoochee Valley of varying levels of urbanization. Histopathology of the aforementioned organs was conducted to observe both the parasite density and immune response. Eosinophilic cells were shown …