Digital Commons Network^™

Coral Reef Health Assessments At Four Reefs Near Isla Colón And Isla Bastimentos In Bocas Del Toro, Panama, Rose Clarke

Panama: Tropical Ecology, Marine Ecosystems, and Biodiversity Conservation

Coral reefs are crucial marine ecosystems in the Caribbean Sea, but they are in decline and facing increasing threat from local and global anthropogenic stressors. This study employed a collection of reef health indicators to develop a holistic view of the health of four reefs in the Bocas del Toro archipelago of Panama. Photo and video transect methodology were used to survey fish assemblages, benthic cover, coral bleaching, and coral disease in two reefs exposed to the open ocean and two reefs sheltered in a semi-enclosed bay. Results revealed that the health of sheltered reefs surveyed was generally better than …

Tracing Transitions: Cartographical Assessment Of Agricultural And Industrial Change In The Ecuadorian Amazon, Sage Mailhiot

Ecuador: Comparative Ecology and Conservation

Industrial presence has increased in the Ecuadorian Amazon over the past several decades, in the form of lucrative monoculture cultivation and petroleum extraction. Simultaneously, large quantities of land have been deforested. Using a combination of GIS and remote sensing tools such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and supervised classification, this study assesses the changes in vegetation, land-use, and petroleum infrastructure in the surrounding area of the Kichwa community of Loma del Tigre, between the years 2011-2024. The interactions and connections between these three landscape factors are also considered. The study region encompasses growing urban areas, African palm plantations, pasture, …

2024 Celebration Of Scholarship, Creativity, And Engagement, Todd Bruns, Anna Nelson

Programs

Annually, Eastern Illinois University honors faculty achievements in the areas of research, creativity, and engagement. The list of faculty accomplishments is truly impressive, reflective of an engaged faculty committed to excellence and the ongoing pursuit and creation of knowledge. Many of these accomplishments occurred in collaboration with our students, who serve as co-authors, research assistants and partners in bringing these activities to fruition. In some cases, these professional ambitions transpired over many years and are a testament to persistence and tenacity. We extend a sincere message of congratulations for this diverse range of achievements, which bring distinction to our departments, …

Louisiana Agriculture Magazine, Fall 2024

Louisiana Agriculture

Questions drive the science behind the LSU AgCenter. Researcher Erin Oberhaus wanted to find data to help educate Louisiana horse owners about the use of an important medication, and a water quality specialist wondered if noneconomic bodies of water, which include agricultural ponds, might help people generate electricity. The research projects that grew from their questions are detailed in this issue of Louisiana Agriculture.

Also in this issue, scientists share the results from important soybean studies, and the AgCenter farm to school team shares success stories from school gardens across the state.

Research is at the core of the LSU …

Harvesting Health: The Role Of City Policy In Urban Agriculture And The Downstream Effects On Youth, Lesley Leake

Theses and Dissertations

Contextualizing environmental health within the socio-ecological framework, acknowledges the diverse factors at play in the environment-human dynamic. The research design, methods, and study populations of each chapter vary to match the socio-ecological level(s) of focus and reinforce the translational and interdisciplinary nature of this research. Chapter 2 examines the policy-supports for urban agriculture using a mixed-methods case-study of the City of Charleston, SC to understand how municipal policy (societal) impacts urban agriculture implementation (community) and what impact this has on residents (relationship and individual). Chapter 3 centers on the potential impact of urban farms (community) and their programming (community and …

A Dendrochronological Analysis Of Longleaf And Associated Pines From The Blackwater Ecological Preserve In Southeastern Virginia, Sarah Durham

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The field of dendrochronology utilizes annual tree ring growth data to create chronologies, which function as proxies to measure the effect of climate on radial growth. In the southeastern United States, dendrochronological studies involving the effect of climate on the growth of Pinus species exist, but significant gaps persist. For this study, I: 1) created chronologies of earlywood, latewood, and total ring-width growth for longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.), loblolly pine (P. taeda L.), and pond pine (P. serotina Michx.) and 2) conducted a climate analysis on each species to determine how climatic factors affected radial …

Navigating Ethical Challenges In Online Wildlife Trade Research, Thais Q. Morcatty, Shan Su, Penthai Siriwat, Astrid Alex Andersson, Sadek Atoussi, Kim Feddema, Sergio Henriques, Jordi Janssen, Anushri Karve, Jennifer Pytka, Ruth M. Thompson, Vincent Nijman, Joss Wright, David L. Roberts

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The surge in internet accessibility has transformed wildlife trade by facilitating the acquisition of wildlife through online platforms. This scenario presents unique ethical challenges for researchers, as traditional ethical frameworks for in-person research cannot be readily applied to the online realm. Currently, there is a lack of clearly defined guidelines for appropriate ethical procedures when conducting online wildlife trade (OWT) research. In response to this, we consulted the scientific literature on ethical considerations in online research and examined existing guidelines established by professional societies and ethical boards. Based on these documents, we present a set of recommendations that can inform …

Seasonal Dynamics In Land Surface Temperature In Response To Land Use Land Cover Changes Using Google Earth Engine, Lei Feng, Sajjad Hussain, Narcisa G. Pricope, Sana Arshad, Aqil Tariq, Li Feng, Muhammad Mubeen, Rana Waqar Aslam, Mohammed S. Fnais, Wenzhao Li, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Changes in land use and land cover (LULC) are critical for evaluating global spatiotemporal trends, especially regarding climate change and urbanization. This study investigates the dynamics of Landsat surface temperature (LST) in response to LULC changes and their effects on the seasonal microclimate in Kasur District, Pakistan. Using the Google Earth Engine platform, we employed a random forest algorithm to detect LULC changes (cropland, forest, built-up, fallow, barren, and water) and analyze seasonal spectral indices from Landsat imagery for 1988, 2002, and 2022. Significant LULC changes were observed, including a 9.8% increase in built-up areas, a 4.2% decrease in cropland, …

Projected Near-Future Flooding And Warming Increase Graminoid Biomass In A High-Latitude Coastal Wetland, Matteo Petit Bon, A. Joshua Leffler, Katharine C. Kelsey, Tyler J. Williams, Karen H. Beard

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

1. With rapid climate warming, some coastal high-latitude ecosystems are experiencing more frequent tidal floods. Yet little is known about tundra plant-community responses to flooding, and whether Arctic warming may modulate such responses.

2. In a 2-year, full-factorial field experiment in coastal tundra wetlands of the Yukon-Kuskokwim (Y-K) Delta (western Alaska), we simulated periodic tidal flood events at two severities under both ambient and warmed summer conditions and measured above-ground plant-community responses. Low-severity flooding represented overbank flooding 1 day per month, which is consistent with projections in the next 5 years. High-severity flooding represented a more impactful flooding regime (three consecutive days …

A Call For Better Understanding Household Complexity In Environmental Social Science, Rebecca Nixon, Brooke Mcwherter, Anna Erwin, Jonathan Bauchet, Zhao Ma

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Current Status And Research Directions In Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Hagop Kantarjian, Gautam Borthakur, Naval Daver, Courtney D Dinardo, Ghayas Issa, Elias Jabbour, Tapan Kadia, Koji Sasaki, Nicholas J Short, Musa Yilmaz, Farhad Ravandi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The understanding of the molecular pathobiology of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has spurred the identification of therapeutic targets and the development of corresponding novel targeted therapies. Since 2017, twelve agents have been approved for the treatment of AML subsets: the BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax; the CD33 antibody drug conjugate gemtuzumab ozogamicin; three FLT3 inhibitors (midostaurin, gilteritinib, quizartinib); three IDH inhibitors (ivosidenib and olutasidenib targeting IDH1 mutations; enasidenib targeting IDH2 mutations); two oral hypomethylating agents (oral poorly absorbable azacitidine; fully absorbable decitabine-cedazuridine [latter approved as an alternative to parenteral hypomethylating agents in myelodysplastic syndrome and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia but commonly used in …

An Automated Machine Learning Approach To The Retrieval Of Daily Soil Moisture In South Korea Using Satellite Images, Meteorological Data, And Digital Elevation Model, Nari Kim, Soo-Jin Lee, Eunha Sohn, Mija Kim, Seonkyeong Seong, Seung Hee Kim, Yangwon Lee

Institute for ECHO Articles and Research

Soil moisture is a critical parameter that significantly impacts the global energy balance, including the hydrologic cycle, land–atmosphere interactions, soil evaporation, and plant growth. Currently, soil moisture is typically measured by installing sensors in the ground or through satellite remote sensing, with data retrieval facilitated by reanalysis models such as the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Reanalysis 5 (ERA5) and the Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS). However, the suitability of these methods for capturing local-scale variabilities is insufficiently validated, particularly in regions like South Korea, where land surfaces are highly complex and heterogeneous. In contrast, artificial intelligence …

Olaf: An Assessment Of Online Learning Outcomes Among Forestry And Natural Resource Management University Students, Krista Merry, Pete Bettinger, Taeyoon Lee

Journal of Extension

Online learning has become an important advance in education in the last decade. We developed an online learning system related to land and tree measurements. University students were given pre- and post-exposure surveys for two courses offered within the online system. Surveys were designed to assess whether the knowledge level and confidence of students increased through interaction with the online system. A final assessment was conducted to understand user experiences with the online technology. Statistically significant increases in knowledge and confidence concerning land measurement concepts and tree measurement topics were evident among survey participants. Survey participants agreed that the course …

The Environment Of Glaciovolcanic Caves And Their Value As Planetary Analogues, Christian Stenner, Lee J. Florea, Linda Sobolewski, Andreas Pflitsch, Morgan Cable, Roberto Anitori, Richard E. Davis, Kathleen Graham, Glyn Williams-Jones

FRONTIERS UNBOUND: Exploring Extreme Environments

No abstract provided.

Deciphering Above-Treeline Vegetation Greenness Trends: Insights From The Carpathian Mountains, Pavel Dan Turtureanu, Arthur Bayle, Nicoud Baptiste, Olimpiu Traian Pop, Mihai Pușcaș, Philippe Choler

FRONTIERS UNBOUND: Exploring Extreme Environments

No abstract provided.

Biology Department Publications: 2023, Sam Lindgren

Biology Department Bibliographies

This document is a non-comprehensive list of publications made by graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and faculty members in the Biology Department in 2023. It indexes those publications available through PubMed and Scopus, and serves as an archival record of the Department’s robust scholarly contributions.

Biology Department Publications: 2008, Sam Lindgren

Biology Department Bibliographies

This document is a noncomprehensive list of publications made by graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and faculty members in the Biology Department in 2008. It indexes those publications available through major databases, and serves as an archival record of the Department’s robust scholarly contributions.

Extension Impacts On Onion Ipm: Current Perspectives From The Industry, Gina Greenway, Brian Nault, Silvia Rondon, Stuart Reitz

Journal of Extension

An assessment was conducted to evaluate perceived risk from the most serious pests and diseases facing the allium industry and to identify practices that would improve adoption of integrated pest management (IPM). The survey was administered to growers attending annual onion production and management meetings in Oregon and New York. Results indicate that thrips and thrips-vectored Iris Yellow Spot Virus were perceived as a high-risk problem by 87% of respondents. Demonstrating the efficacy of IPM on a commercial scale and improving collaborative efforts between universities and growers were identified as high impact practices to improve adoption of IPM.

Morphometric And Meristic Differentiation Among Five Populations Of Delminichthys Ghetaldii (Actinopterygii, Cyprinidae) From Five Karst Fields In Eastern Herzegovina, Dušanka Berak Čihorić, Ana Marić, Danilo Mrdak, Predrag Simonović

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The primary objectives of this study were to advance our understanding of the morphological intricacies exhibited by the endemic fish species, Delminichthys ghetaldii, commonly known as the Trebinje minnow, and to determine intraspecific morphological variability. The study involved the examination of 76 mature specimens collected from five distinct karst fields located within the Dinaric region of Eastern Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, since the year 2018. A comprehensive analysis of 22 morphometric and 8 meristic characters was conducted to unravel the underlying patterns of variation. Discriminant Function Analysis was employed for the thorough investigation of morphometric traits, whereas Canonical Correspondence Analysis …

The Skin Microbiome And Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma, Gail Hillary Lantaca Enriquez

Master's Theses

Skin microbiota is associated with disease activity in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). A common treatment for CTCL, narrowband ultraviolet B (nbUVB) phototherapy, has shown to shape the skin microbiome in association with disease improvement in other skin disorders such as atopic dermatitis. To assess the effect of nbUVB phototherapy on the skin microbiome, we performed a longitudinal analysis of skin samples of CTCL patients receiving nbUVB. We found that the treatment led to increased bacterial diversity and reduced abundances of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus lugdunensis, both bacteria known to be pathogenic. These findings imply that nbUVB treatment changes the skin …

Invasive Species Common Names: Working Towards More Inclusive Invasive Species Education And Outreach, Megan M. Weber, Angela Gupta, Nicholas B.D. Phelps, Douglas A. Jensen, Robert C. Venette

Journal of Extension

Invasive species harm natural and managed ecosystems. Awareness and management of these species depends on effective education and outreach. Traditional common names, including those with geographic references, for many invasive pests may perpetuate slanderous terms or stigmatize people from that place. To create more inclusive invasive species educational materials, the University of Minnesota Extension’s Invasive Species Community of Practice developed guidelines for selection of common names. Suggested names were shared with others involved in invasive species communications, leading to broader adoption. These guidelines may be useful to others who struggle to find descriptive, non-alienating common names for invasive species.

A Midwest Perspective On Biochar Integration In Extension, Blake C. Colclasure, Elizabeth Bose, Jack Dempsey, Taylor K. Ruth

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Biochar can be considered a climate-smart, agricultural soil amendment due to its ability to provide long-term storage of carbon. Research examining the impacts of biochar-enriched soils reported improved soil characteristics often leading to agricultural benefits, especially in nutrient-poor soils. Despite the potential use of biochar in the Midwest, United States, few studies have examined biochar in Extension. This study, guided by the Theory of Reasoned Action, used survey methodology to collect information on Midwest Extension agents’ (n = 125) knowledge, attitudes, and subjective normative beliefs toward biochar. These factors, along with agents’ demographics and perceptions toward sustainable soil amendments, were …

From Turf To Turf: Fungal Invasion Of Ascocoryne Turficola In A Northern Michigan Bog, Evan L. Coscarelli-Trott

All NMU Master's Theses

This is the first paper to report Ascocoryne turficola Boud. 1905 (Helotiales: Ascomycota) within the United States. It is an obligate bog fungus native to Europe and Siberia, where it is extremely rare across most of its range. A. turficola appeared at Lily Pond Bog in Marquette, Michigan (87.47º W, 46.59º N) in 2019, almost contemporaneous with anecdotal reports in Minnesota and Ontario. Since 2019, the Lily Pond population has exploded and become the dominant fungus in this bog but has yet to spread to similar bogs nearby. This species is adapted to long distance dispersal and carries the potential …

An Analysis Of Suspected Microplastics In The Muscle And Gastrointestinal Tissues Of Fish From Sarasota Bay, Fl: Exposure And Implications For Apex Predators And Seafood Consumers, Eric Conger, Miranda Dziobak, Elizabeth J Berens Mccabe, Tita Curtin, Ayushi Gaur, Randall S Wells, John E Weinstein, Leslie B Hart

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Microplastics have been found in the gastrointestinal (GI) fluid of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), inhabiting Sarasota Bay, FL, suggesting exposure by ingestion, possibly via contaminated fish. To better understand the potential for trophic transfer, muscle and GI tissues from 11 species of dolphin prey fish collected from Sarasota Bay were screened for microplastics (particles <5 mm diameter). Suspected microplastics were found in 82% of muscle samples (n=89), and 97% of GI samples (n=86). Particle abundance and shapes varied by species (p<0.05) and foraging habit (omnivore vs. carnivore, p<0.05). Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides) had the highest particle abundance for both tissue types (muscle: 0.38 …

Survey Of Soilborne Pathogens Infecting Strawberry In Oxnard, California & Effect Of Planting Date And Chill Treatment On Yield Of Strawberry, Samantha Z. Simard

Master's Theses

Survey to quantify the frequency of the five main pathogens (Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae races 1 and 2, Verticillium dahliae, and Phytophthora spp.) infecting strawberry in the Oxnard growing district of California. M. phaseolina was the most prevalent pathogen detected in diseased plants in the Oxnard growing district, present in 67.6% of samples positive for at least one pathogen. F. oxysporum f. sp. fragariae race 1 (35.3%), V. dahlia (8.8%), F. oxysporum f. sp. fragariae race 2 (5.9%) and Phytophthora spp. (2.9%) followed at lower prevalence. Associations were found between fewer drip irrigation lines …

Beneficial Effects Of Lactobacillus Plantarum On Growth Performance, Immune Status, Antioxidant Function And Intestinal Microbiota In Broilers, Xiao Xiao, Tiantian Cui, Songke Qin, Tao Wang, Jinsong Liu, Lihan Sa, Yanping Wu, Yifan Zhong, Caimei Yang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) has been globally regarded as antibiotic alternative in animal farming in the past few years. However, the potential function of L. plantarum in broilers has not been systemically explored. In this study, a total of 560 one-day-old yellow-feathered broilers were randomly divided into 3 groups, fed with basal diet and drank with L. plantarum HJZW08 (LP) at the concentration of 0 (CON), 1000 × 10^5 (LP1000), and 2000 × 10^5 CFU/L (LP2000) for 70 d. Results showed that the body weight (BW), average daily …

Horizontal Gene Transfer In Intergenomic Conflicts Between Bacteria And Their Genetic Parasites, Pavithra A.S

Theses and Dissertations

Bacteria are constantly infected by obligate acellular genetic parasites, such as plasmids and phages. The genetic conflicts between bacteria and their parasites, aggravated by horizontal gene transfer, exert significant ecological and evolutionary pressure on their respective genomes. The eco-evolutionary significance of parasite-derived elements on bacterial genomes is not well understood.

This study explored the genomics of plasmid-derived genetic elements such as antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), type II endonuclease toxin-antitoxin systems (TAs) and endonuclease colicin-like bacteriocin (CLB) operons, and phage-derived prophages of Escherichia coli using bioinformatics and developing novel hybrid agent-based models. We sequenced eight E. coli isolated from local wastewater …

Terrestrial Salinization Impacts On Growth And Behavior Of A Common Detritivore Armadillidium Vulgare (Isopoda), Danielle Harmoney Orcutt

Master's Theses

Climate change and human activities are changing the nutritional landscape by increasing the availability of some essential elements and decreasing others. Sodium (Na) is an essential element in heterotrophs, which is required for water regulation, nerve function, and muscle function. Heterotrophs can acquire Na through diet and environment, often experiencing limited availability of Na due to plants concentrating Na 10-100 times less than heterotrophs need. The Sodium Subsidy-Stress (SSS) hypothesis posits that organismal performance follows a hump-shaped curve of a physiological response, where Na acts as a subsidy, increasing organismal performance such as growth until an optimal threshold is reached, …

Wolverine Habitat Suitability Analysis In Lake County, Colorado, Using Gis, Jake Hostnik

Geography and the Environment: Graduate Student Capstones

This project explores the reintroduction of the wolverine (Gulo gulo luscus) to Colorado’s mountainous regions, where the species has been extirpated due to habitat destruction and human activities. The study uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to identify optimal habitats for wolverine reintroduction, considering factors like snowpack duration, prey availability, and human disturbance. By creating a GIS-based habitat suitability model, this research will guide conservationists in selecting reintroduction sites. The project addresses the species' role in maintaining alpine ecosystem balance and contributes to the broader understanding of biodiversity restoration in the face of climate change. Results will inform future conservation planning …

Key Largo Mangrove Population Monitoring: A Remote Sensing Analysis And Classification Methodology Review, David Lackajs

Geography and the Environment: Graduate Student Capstones

Mangrove forests are some of the world's most bio-diverse habitats, providing essential services to the surrounding coasts. Removal of these habitats has a devastating impact on the ecosystems within them. The Florida Keys are some of the last areas in the United States with extensive mangrove populations. One specific area, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, has been under state protection since 1959. For that reason, mangrove forest habitats there are less fragmented. This study uses remotely sensed imagery to quantify and analyze mangrove populations in this area using two methods: sub-pixel analysis and supervised classification. The …