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Potential Of Increased Thermal Tolerance As A Response To Acute Heat Stress In A Disease-Transmitting Mosquito Species, Nicole Ashley Scanlon

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Each year hundreds of millions of people are infected with mosquito-borne illnesses. West Nile Virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne diseases in the United States (McDonald et al., 2021). The first case of West Nile Virus was detected in the United States in 1999 (Sejvar, 2003). Since that time the number of cases has dramatically risen. Mosquitoes are ectotherms which means their body temperature is dependent on the thermal conditions outside of their body. Because of this they are very sensitive to changes in their environment. The Earth’s average temperature has been slowly but steadily rising. This small but …

Application Of A High-Resolution Climate Model Dataset To Assess Habitat Suitability For Spotted Wing Drosophila In Southwest Idaho, Elizabeth Padian

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

As global climate change continues to produce large deviations from the normals of the 19th and 20th centuries, the agricultural sector will need to adapt to these changes in order to maintain yields and feed the global population. Crop selections, yield amounts, and pest management techniques may need to be adjusted to adapt. The Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) is a small fruit fly-like bug that can infest berries and stone fruit crops by burrowing into the fruit (at most points in the fruit’s lifecycle) and laying its eggs. These eggs will hatch and the larvae will burrow back out of …

Petrographic Observations Of Stromatolites In The Late Cambrian To Early Ordovician Knox Group, Northwest Georgia And Their Relationship To Stromatolitic Fabrics Over Geologic Time, Evan Ritchey

Honors Theses

Silica deposits are common in Proterozoic carbonate platforms and are interpreted to form early in the diagenetic history of the carbonate strata. Black early diagenetic chert deposits are often associated with evidence of ancient microbial mats, or stromatolites. Proterozoic chert nodules can contain well-preserved microfossils, because silicification occurs rapidly; however, silica deposition has changed over time and it is unclear if similar deposits exist in the Cambrian period after silica-utilizing organisms evolved. The Copper Ridge Dolomite in the Knox Group, northwest Georgia, which was deposited in the late Cambrian to early Ordovician, contains black chert nodules that follow the structure …

Interactive Effects Of Fungal Community Structure And Soil Moisture On Wyoming Big Sagebrush Performance, Arden Marlene Engel

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Large swathes of the North American sagebrush steppe have been converted to grazing and agricultural use. Remaining fragmented areas are threatened by invasive annual grasses and associated perpetuation of increased fire frequency, with efforts to restore sagebrush after fire largely unsuccessful. Lack of success may be due, in part, to poor interactions between sagebrush seed sourced from distant locations and unfamiliar soil fungi.

A greenhouse experiment was designed to evaluate effects of soil fungal community composition on sagebrush reestablishment by answering: (1) How does inoculation with ‘coevolved’ versus ‘foreign’ fungal inoculum impact sagebrush fitness? (2) How does moisture availability modify …

Soil Water Use Efficiency Under Integrated Soil Management Practices In The Drylands Of Kenya, Nathan O. Oduor, Monicah Mucheru-Muna, Jayne Njeri Mugwe, Isaya Sijali, George Nyabuga, Daniel Njiru Mugendi

Graduate School of Media and Communications

Soil moisture scarcity and soil fertility decline in the drylands contribute to declining crop productivity. The possible synergistic effects of integrating soil & water conservation, and soil fertility management practices on soil moisture, and hence water use efficiency (WUE) in the drylands of Tharaka-Nithi County in Kenya was assessed. The experiment was laid in a three by three split plot arrangement, with four replications, for four cropping seasons. Minimum tillagewith mulch, tied ridges, and conventional tillage formed the main plot factors. The sub-plot factors included animal manure plus fertilizer at 120, 60, and 30 N kg ha−1. There was significant …

Effects Of Land Use On Soil Microbial Communities In Tropical Montane Forests Of Malaysian Borneo, Yang Kai Tang

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Land use, such as logging and forest conversion to agriculture, can modify soil physicochemical and biological properties, and affect soil health. To understand how land use change can impact soil properties and canopy structure, we used a land use gradient in Malaysian Borneo consisting of six sites, including old growth forests, mixed forests, and agriculture fields. Specifically, we aimed to answer the following questions: (1) How do soil physicochemical properties vary across land use types? (2) Does bacterial diversity and composition vary across different land use types? (3) Does fungal diversity and composition vary across different land use types? We …

Effects Of Actinomycetes On Root Growth Of Onobrychis Viciaefolia And Rhizosphere Soil Fertility In Dumping Site Of Open-Pit Mine In Arid Area, Cao Shumiao, Wang Qiangmin, Yang Fan, Yang Jian, Zhang Haihan, Xu Ganggang, Zhu Shibin

Coal Geology & Exploration

In order to resolve the issue of soil degradation in the dumping site of open-pit coal mine in arid area, the effects of actinomycetes on the root growth and rhizosphere soil fertility of onobrychis viciaefolia in the dumping site of Xinjiang Heishan Open-pit Coal Mine were investigated by highly efficient actinomycete inoculation and in-situ pot experiment. The results show that: (1) Under the drought conditions, actinomycetes inoculation could significantly promote the development of root morphology and the growth of onobrychis viciaefolia. Compared with the control without actinomycetes inoculation, the total root length, average root diameter, root surface area and …

The Bellarmine Bee Bed: Organizing A Native Plant Garden Using Feedback From The Local Community, Kate Moran

Undergraduate Theses

Animal pollinators are the cornerstone of healthy ecosystems. Their survival is essential for the persistence of entire food chains: from the flowers they cross-pollinate directly, to the animals who depend on those plants for nutrition. The establishment of pollinator gardens—particularly ones that consist of native plants—is an effective way to enhance their biodiversity, abundance, and well-being.

The main goal of this thesis is to construct a pollinator garden that maximizes the benefits for animal pollinators using feedback from local gardeners. A survey was used to gather information about the popularity and preferences of 40 flowering plants, and after analyzing the …

Effect Of Foliar Application Of Dse Fungal Solution On Growth Of Morus Alba And Its Prospects Of Ecological Restoration Application, Bi Yinli, Wang Zhuoyou, Ke Zengming

Coal Geology & Exploration

Microbial reclamation technology has been widely used in the ecological restoration of western arid and semi-arid coal mining areas. Convenient application of microbial agent has important significance for improving the efficiency of ecological management in coal-mining subsidence. Herein, this study tested with Morus alba as the study object, and the dark septate endophyte (DSE) as the test fungus. using a greenhouse pot experiment with three treatments, which including the root inoculation of DSE fungus (GXZR), foliar application of DSE fungus (YMTM) and control Morus alba (CK), this study investigated the effects of different inoculation methods on the growth of Morus …

Animal Performance And Productivity Of New Ecotypes Of Brachiaria Brizantha In Brazil, Valéria P. B. Euclides, Manuel C. M. Macedo, Cacilda B. Do Valle, R. Flores, M. P. Oliveira

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Brazil has the competitive advantage of a very dynamic and cost effective animal production system on pastures over other countries. The pursuit for more productive forages that will result in higher quality beef at a lower cost is then justified. Brachiaria is the most important forage genus utilised in Brazil, thus an intense search for new cultivars amongst collected and introduced ecotypes from Africa is underway. Following agronomic evaluation of this material in plots, 8 pre-selected Brachiaria ecotypes were tested under intermittent grazing in paddocks (Euclides et al., 2001). Continuing on the process of cultivar development, two out of …

Development Of A Bahiagrass Paspalum Notatum Flugge With Increased Short-Day Biomass, P. Mislevy, Ann R. Blount, T. R. Sinclair

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Low herbage productivity of subtropical grasses during the short-day winter months of October through to March can place a severe burden on livestock producers in Southeastern U.S. Researchers at the University of Florida (Sinclair et al., 2001) hypothesised that the decrease in forage production might result from physiological dormancy induced by short day length. A study using artificial lights to extend the day length demonstrated that maintaining the day length at 15 hr during the short-day length period increased 'Pensacola' bahiagrass P. notatum Flugge saure Parodi forage yield 122% when compared with normal photoperiod (Mislevy et al., 2001). …

Genetic And Molecular Characterization Of Temperate And Tropical Forage Maize Inbred Lines, B. Alarcón-Zúñiga, E. Valadez-Moctezuma, T. Cervantes-Martinez, T. Cervantes-Santana, M. Mendoza‐Rodriguez

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The livestock feeding in the Central highland of Mexico is based on harvest, grazing and annual forage conservation, being forage maize the most important silage crop (Alarcón, 1995). Even though forage maize is extensively bred in Europe, USA and Asia since 1900's, this started in Mexico in the 1960's, and little is known about the genetic diversity in both agronomic and nutritive value traits. Our breeding program goals are to analyze combining ability of biomass and quality predictors and to study the genetic relationship of inbred lines between lowland tropical and temperate races from Mesa Central, by genetic and molecular …

Effect Of Applied Biosolids To Bahiagrass Pastures On Copper Status Of Cattle, M. E. Tiffany, L. R. Mcdowell, G. A. O'Connor, N. S. Wilkinson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

When grazing ruminants consume forages high in Mo but adequate in S, there is a risk of molybdenosis (a Mo-induced Cu deficiency). This occurs when Mo, S, and Cu join to form Cu-thiomolybdate complexes in the rumen that are not readily absorbed (Suttle, 1991). High dietary S reduces Cu absorption, possibly due to unabsorbable Cu sulphide formation, independent from its part in thiomolybdate complexes. The use of municipal sludge (biosolids) as a pasture fertiliser is of interest since some contain high Mo which may induce Cu deficiency. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and Cu status …

An In Vitro Investigation Of Forage Factors Which Affect The Production Of Conjugated Linoleic Acid And Trans Vaccenic Acid In The Rumen. Ii. Wilting & Cell Damage, Michael R. F. Lee, J. K. S. Tweed, Nigel D. Scollan, R. J. Dewhurst

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Previous studies have shown that cis 9 trans 11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) concentrations are higher for summer milk produced from cows grazing fresh pastures than for winter milk when conserved forages are fed (Jahreis et al., 1997). Furthermore, Offer (2003) showed that a similar depression in milk fat CLA occurred if grass was simply cut and fed after a short wilt. This experiment investigated the effect of wilting on the production of CLA and trans vaccenic acid (TVA) in an in vitro rumen simulation, and whether any differences could be related to changes in plant structure. It was …

Effects Of Grassland Management On Herbage Lipid Composition And Consequences For Fatty Acids In Milk, Anjo Elgersma, P. Maudet, I. Witkowska, A. C. Wever

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Herbage provides bulk feed and is the basis for ruminant nutrition. Herbage lipids, especially C18:3, are a major source of beneficial fatty acids (FA) in milk. These desired FA are unsaturated FA such as CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), especially the isomer rumenic acid, and also vaccenic acid, both trans omega-7 FA (Ellen & Elgersma, 2004). As information on lipids in forages is scarce, effects were studied of N application level and regrowth period on the lipid concentration and FA composition of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), the most important forage in temperate climate zones. A linear relation had previously …

Effect Of Feeding L-Carnitine And Sunflower Seeds On Cla Content Of Pasture-Fed Beef, S. L. Scott, W. P. Mccaughey, K. E. Buckley

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Pasture finishing enhances levels of conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) in beef lipids (Shanta et al. 1997). CLA (e.g., C18:2 c9, t11), formed during biohydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the rumen, can reduce the incidence of heart disease, cancer and obesity in humans. However, pasture finishing cattle can reduce carcass grade. Feeding pasture-fed cattle a high-grain diet for a short finishing period (~60 d) improves grades but may reduce lipid CLA levels. A feeding regime is required that maintains the positive nutritional attributes of pasture-fed beef and improves the meat grade. The objective of this study was to investigate …

Content, Pattern And Esterification Of Fatty Acids In Fresh Grass In Relation To Extraction Solvents And Sample Storage Conditions, Marta Lourenço, Veerle Fievez

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The relatively high content of linolenic acid (C18:3 n-3) in forages has lead to research on the role of forage based feeding strategies in the production of healthier milk. In these studies, forage samples are often stored, although analysis immediately after harvest has been considered to avoid oxidative deterioration and transformation of unsaturated fatty acids (FA) (Christie, 1993; Frankel, 1998). In the current study, we evaluated the effect of different storage conditions (fresh grass samples under liquid nitrogen (liq.N₂) or in a cool box during 3h or at -20ºC, -80ºC or in the extraction solvent at -20°C, during …

Traditional Cattle Feeding Stuffs: Fatty Acid Profile, A. M. Peres, L. Dias, J. Sá Morais, F. Sousa, J. M. Pires

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are perceived to be healthier than saturated fatty acids. Therefore, in order to be able to manipulate the fatty acid profile of meat and/or milk, to respond to the consumer demands, knowledge of the fatty acid profile of feeding stuffs for cattle is of major importance (LeDoux et al., 2002; Petit, 2002). In this work a preliminary study was made of the fatty acid profile of the cow's diet in a traditional farm production system.

Finishing Effect On Fatty Acid Profile Of Intramuscular Fat In Extensively Reared Steers, N. Aldai, B. E. Murray, A. I. Nájera, K. Osoro

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Both the amount and the composition of fat depots in beef may be influenced by several factors i.e. feeding system. Related to this factor, extensively reared cattle may produce beef with a more desirable fatty acid (FA) composition in terms of beneficial effect on human health, especially in relation to the content of n-3 type FAs. However, concentrate finishing improves some carcass traits and meat quality. In this sense, the objective of this work was to study the effect of concentrate finishing on intramuscular (IM) FA profile of Longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle in pasture fed steers.

Effect Of Perennial Ryegrass Cultivars On The Fatty Acid Composition In Milk Of Stall-Fed Cows, Anjo Elgersma, H. J. Smit, G. Ellen, S. Tamminga

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Herbage provides bulk feed for ruminants and plant lipids, especially C18:3, are a major source of benefical fatty acids (FA) in milk. There are very few direct comparisons allowing a precise evaluation of the effects of the basal forage diet on milk FA composition. Grass quality differences can affect rumen metabolism and there could be opportunities to change the composition of ruminant products through choice of grass cultivar. To test this hypothesis, six cultivars were fed to dairy cows in a stall-feeding trial with fresh grass to evaluate the effect of grass cultivar on rumen VFA and milk FA composition …

Antioxidative Activities Of Alfalfa And Timothy Varieties, J. K. Lee, H. S. Park, J. G. Kim, B. H. Paek, J. H. Fike

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The term "functional foods" is often used as a generic description for the beneficial effects of ingested foods that go beyond their traditional nutritive value (Bauman et al., 2001). Milk and dairy products are important dietary sources of nutrients, providing energy, high quality protein, and a variety of vitamins and minerals. Recent research has focused on altering the fat and protein content of milk and other dairy products in order to improve their nutrient content to more aptly reflect current dietary recommendations and trends. As a result, additional focus is being given to designing foods that have beneficial effects …

Forage Yield And Nutritive Value Of 30 Cultivars Of Maize For Silage In The Highland Valleys Of Central Mexico, G. Tovar, J. L. Arellano, M. E. Sosa, C. Sánchez, H. P. Pérez, E. Vera, U. M. Vera, J. I. Vázquez

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In Mexico, the selection of maize cultivars for forage has mainly been based on dry matter (DM) yields, not considering nutritional quality as an important evaluation parameter. The objective of this study was to assess forage yield and nutritive value of Highland and Subtropical maize cultivars for silage in the Highland Valleys of Central México.

Hybrids Between Meadow And Smooth Bromegrass: A New Forage Crop For Canada, B. E. Coulman, Y. S. N. Ferdinandez

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) has been an important hay grass in the agricultural regions of western Canada for approximately 50 years. Meadow bromegrass (B. riparius Rehm.) has become the most important pasture species in this region over the last 15 years. It is possible to produce hybrids between these species, which could lead to the development of a type of bromegrass which would be useful for both hay and pasture purposes.

The Seasonal Nutritional Value Of Kikuyu Oversown With Ryegrass And Clover, Robin Meeske, Philip R. Botha, Hennie A. Snyman

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

To overcome the seasonality and relatively low forage quality of kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum), annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum spp.), perennial white (Trifolium repens) and red clover (Trifolium pratense) can be incorporated into an existing kikuyu stand to improve pasture quality and spring production. The aim of this study was to determine the quality of kikuyu (K), kikuyu oversown with annual ryegrass (KR), kikuyu oversown with a mixture of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and perennial white and red clover (KRC) and kikuyu oversown with a mixture of white and red clover (KC), in …

Liveweight Gain Of Lambs Grazing Six Short-Term Ryegrass Cultivars, W. W. Nichol, M. G. Norriss

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Increasing dry matter (DM) production per ha is a key goal in ryegrass (Lolium) breeding programmes (Easton et al., 2002), based on the assumption that increased DM yield will in turn increase profitability per ha, through an increase in animal productivity. However, the performance of animals grazing pasture can also be modified by the quality of the forage on offer, and the presence of toxins within the pasture. The objective of this study was to compare the liveweight gain per hectare of lambs grazing six short-term ryegrasses, which had been selected for various combinations of improved DM …

Year-Round Grazing Of Beef Cows On Pangolagrass (Digitaria Decumbens Cv.Transvala) Pasture In Southern Area Of Japan, Yuji Nakanishi, Kiyoshi Hirano, A. Shouji

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The southern area of Japan (Okinawa) has a sub-tropical climate. In this area beef calf production is now based on year-round grazing on giant stargrass (Cynodon aethiopicus Clayton & Haylan). However, the numbers of beef cows in this area are increasing rapidly and a grass with higher productivity than giant stargrass is required. The objective of this experiment was to examine the possibility of using pangolagrass (Digitaria decumbens cv. Transvala) pasture in this area.

Economic Comparison Of Pasture Based Lamb Production Systems In Southern Australia, A. J. Kennedy, A. N. Thompson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Lamb production enterprises in southern Australia utilise a pasture base as their primary nutrition source due to its low cost. Holmes Sackett & Associates (2003) identified that increasing total lamb weight per hectare by increasing ewe stocking rate, animal genetic potential and weaning percentage can increase enterprise profitability. The limitation of these enterprises is the seasonal and geographic variations impeding pasture production and quality. The 'MoreLamb Quality Pasture' project is demonstrating the benefits of mixing high performing grass, legume and herb species to extend the pasture-growing season and increase pasture quality. Key economic indicators of three pasture systems and commercial …

Sustainability Of Beef, Dairy And Goat Production With Batiki Grass (Ischaemum Aristatum Var. Indicum) In The Dry Season In Samoa, E. M. Aregheore

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Batiki grass (Ischaemum aristatum var. indicum) was introduced to Samoa from Fiji in the early 1970s to complement other existing natural or unimproved grasses and is now the most common propagated pasture grass in Samoa. The contrast between the wet and the dry seasons has a great impact on the nutritive value of batiki grass. Aregheore (2002) observed reduced growth rate, poor body condition score and low performance in steer calves and goats offered batiki as the sole diet during the dry season. This paper reports on the sustainability of beef, dairy and goat production with batiki grass …

Goose Meat Production Responses To Grass Based Diets, P. Gyüre, G. Nagy, S. Mihók

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Goose meat and feather production are important elements of farming in Hungary. There were no available data on grass intake by geese or the production potential of grass in goose farming, therefore, we conducted a series of experiments between 2000 and 2003 on goose production responses to grass-based diets.

Weight Gain Of Nellore X Red Angus, Holstein X Zebu, And Nellore Steers Supplemented On Brachiaria Brizantha Cv. Marandú Pasture, R. A. Reis, D. Freitas, F. L. Fregadolli, L. M. A. Bertipaglia, T. T. Berchielli, K. T. De Resende, D. S. Ferreira, A. G. Caselli

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Supplementation is a very efficient approach for improving animal performance and gain/ha in grazing systems in tropical conditions. However, care needs to be taken to avoid substitution effects (Moore et al., 1999). Results may also depend on animal genetics and the availability and nutritional value of forage. This trial aimed to evaluate different levels of supplementation using steers from different genetic groups on palisade grass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandú) pasture during the rainy season.