Digital Commons Network^™

Populations Of The Stygobiotic Amphipod Palearcticarellus Pusillus (Martynov, 1930) Maintain Genetic Connectivity Between The Mountain Springs And The Deep Bottom Habitats Of Lake Teletskoye (Altai Mountains, Russia), Ivan Marin, Liubov Yanygina, Svetlana Ostroukhova, Dmitry Palatov

International Journal of Speleology

The diversity of underground fauna is often associated with the presence of karst areas, which have extensive underground cavities and connecting channels. Non-karst areas, however, make up a larger portion of the planet’ surface, and our understanding of the distribution and dispersal abilities of underground fauna in these areas currently remains limited. During a recent study of the diversity of stygobiotic crustaceans in the mountain streams of the Kurai Mountain Range (Altai, Russia), a small-sized species of crangonyctid amphipod, Palearcticarellus pusillus (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Crangonyctidae) was found in high-altitude springs. This species has been previously known only from deep-water habitats in …

Fundamental Theory And Technological Innovation In Soil Carbon And Nitrogen Cycling: Promoting Sustainable Development Of Agriculture, Xu Zhao, Longlong Xia, Yongqiu Xia, Xiaoyuan Yan

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The Changshu National Agro-Ecosystem Observation and Research Station (hereinafter referred to as Changshu Station) was officially established in 1987. Changshu Station is the only multidisciplinary comprehensive observation, research, and demonstration station within Chinese Academy of Sciences in the Yangtze River Delta region, focusing on researches about agricultural production, resources utilization, and environmental protection. Since its establishment, Changshu Station is the pioneer in conducting systematic observational research on soil nitrogen cycling, soil carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation, and agricultural non-point source pollution. Over the past five years, Changshu Station has focused on three major scientific issues facing green and sustainable …

Risk Of Invasive Waterfowl Interaction With Poultry Production: Understanding Potential For Avian Pathogen Transmission Via Species Distribution Models, Reilly T. Jackson, Percival Matzinger Marshall, Chris R. Burkhart, Julia Schneck, Grant Kelly, Caleb P. Roberts

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza have devastated poultry production across the United States, with more than 77 million birds culled in 2022–2024 alone. Wild waterfowl, including various invasive species, host numerous pathogens, including highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV), and have been implicated as catalysts of disease outbreaks among native fauna and domestic birds. In major poultry-producing states like Arkansas, USA, where the poultry sector is responsible for significant economic activity (>$4 billion USD in 2022), understanding the risk of invasive waterfowl interactions with domestic poultry is critical. Here, we assessed the risk of invasive waterfowl-poultry interaction …

Crispr-Cas9 And Cas12a Target Site Richness Reflects Genomic Diversity In Natural Populations Of Anopheles Gambiae And Aedes Aegypti Mosquitoes, Travis C Collier, Yoosook Lee, Derrick K Mathias, Víctor López Del Amo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Due to limitations in conventional disease vector control strategies including the rise of insecticide resistance in natural populations of mosquitoes, genetic control strategies using CRISPR gene drive systems have been under serious consideration. The identification of CRISPR target sites in mosquito populations is a key aspect for developing efficient genetic vector control strategies. While genome-wide Cas9 target sites have been explored in mosquitoes, a precise evaluation of target sites focused on coding sequence (CDS) is lacking. Additionally, target site polymorphisms have not been characterized for other nucleases such as Cas12a, which require a different DNA recognition site (PAM) and would …

Support For Climate Shaping The Mitochondrial Dna Contact Zone In The Audubon's Warbler, Kyana Nina Montoya

Biology ETDs

Mitochondrial introgression has potential consequences for physiology and adaptation, but its causes are poorly understood. The Audubon’s Warbler (AUWA; Setophaga coronata auduboni) provides a case study to examine those causes as mitochondrial introgression has swept through part of the range. The northern mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) introgressed from the Myrtle Warbler (MYWA; S. c. coronata) and is 4% divergent from the southern mtDNA. Incomplete introgression suggests discordant AUWAs conferred a selective advantage in the north; it was hypothesized that energetic demands associated with migration formed this advantage. We tested two hypotheses to explain partial introgression and the mtDNA distribution …

Transcriptome-Wide Genetic Variations In The Legume Genus Leucaena For Fingerprinting And Breeding, Yong Han, Alexander Abair, Julian Van Der Zanden, Madhugiri Nageswara-Rao, Saipriyaa Purushotham Vasan, Roopali Bhoite, Marieclaire Castello, Donovan Bailey, Clinton K. Revell Dr, Chengdao Li, Daniel Real

Grain and Other Field Crops Research Articles

Leucaena is a versatile legume shrub/tree used as tropical livestock forage and in timber industries, but it is considered a high environmental weed risk due to its prolific seed production and broad environmental adaptation. Interspecific crossings between Leucaena species have been used to create non-flowering or sterile triploids that can display reduced weediness and other desirable traits for broad use in forest and agricultural settings. However, assessing the success of the hybridisation process before evaluating the sterility of putative hybrids in the target environment is advisable. Here, RNA sequencing was used to develop breeding markers for hybrid parental identification in …

Spatial And Temporal Analysis Of Pm 2.5 Concentrations In Chicago Along The Lakefront Trail Using Wearable Air Quality Sensors, Jacob A. Johnson

DePaul Discoveries

Mass urbanization and transportation practices have resulted in high amounts of air pollution. Air pollution can have detrimental effects on human health causing respiratory issues as well as other health complications. Certain areas of cities experience more exposure to air pollution which can also cause them to have more health issues and lower life expectancy. These areas are often associated with disinvestment and minoritized communities of color. This research explores patterns of air quality related to environmental justice areas using low-cost wearable air quality monitoring sensors attached to a bicycle. Data was collected along the Lakefront Trail stretching from Irving …

Limited Thermal Plasticity In High Mountain Tropical Water Bear, Juan Manuel Carvajalino-Fernández, Valentina Diaz-Galvis, Alan Dante Torres-Jaramillo

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Tardigrades, a phylum of microscopic organisms well known for their resistance to extreme conditions thanks to adaptations such as cryptobiosis, in which they are able to suspend their metabolism until more favorable conditions arise. These organisms are found in a wide range of environments, and high Andean mountains are not the exception, even though weather conditions are highly variable during the day, let alone a month. An experiment was thus conducted at 2600m in Bogotá, Colombia to evaluate the resistance of Macrobiotus sp. found on trees, three sets of fifteen tardigrades were exposed to 20 °C, 30 °C and 40 …

Modeling Habitat Suitability And Current Distribution Of The Relicted Maghreb Magpie (Pica Mauritanica), Kamel Eddine Mederbal, Mohcen Menaa, Abdallah Aouadi, Lamia Boutabia, Lamia Bensaâd-Bendjedid, Khalladi Mederbal, Amira Bouderbala, Abderrahmane Chebli, Salah Telailia

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The Maghreb Magpie (Pica mauritanica) is an endemic bird to North Africa, encompassing Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. Unfortunately, its population is facing a significant decline primarily attributed to habitat loss and fragmentation resulting from urbanization and agricultural practices. Due to the lack of studies on habitat requirements of Pica mauritanica on a large scale, investigating the habitat preferences of this species and thereby understanding the potential threats, remains crucial for effective conservation strategies. We performed species distribution modeling (SDM), incorporating both occurrence records and predictor variables, to investigate the potentially suitable habitat and the factors influencing the distribution of the …

Revisiting The Freshwater Imperative: Harnessing Team Science To Face Emerging Challenges To Freshwaters, Steven Sadro, Erin R. Hotchkiss, Kathryn L. Cottingham, Michael J. Vanni, Shannon Speir, Catherine M. O'Reilly

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Freshwater ecosystems face ever increasing environmental and ecological challenges. Recognition of those challenges is not new—over 30 years ago, a series of workshops convened to develop a research agenda (The Freshwater Imperative) to address those challenges. It was recognized that a critical component of solving the problems that freshwater ecosystems face would require greater interdisciplinary collaboration. Here, we discuss the context for the “Revisiting the Freshwater Imperative” workshop and describe how a small-workshop model can be used effectively to seed longer term collaborative partnerships in support of meeting the challenges freshwater ecosystems face. Some key recommendations include: (1) …

A Comparative Analysis Of Openet For Evaluating Evapotranspiration In California Almond Orchards, Kyle Knipper, Martha Anderson, Nicholas Bambach, Forrest Melton, Zac Ellis, Yun Yang, John Volk, Andrew J. Mcelrone, William Kustas, Matthew Roby, Will Carrara, Sebastian Castro, Ayse Kilic, Joshua B. Fisher, Anderson Ruhoff, Gabriel B. Senay, Charles Morton, Sebastian Saa, Richard G. Allen

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The almond industry in California faces water management challenges that are being exacerbated by droughts, climate change, and groundwater sustainability legislation. The Tree-crop Remote sensing of Evapotranspiration eXperiment (T-REX) aims to explore opportunities to improve precision irrigation management for woody perennial cropping systems. Almond orchards in the California Central Valley were equipped with eddy covariance flux measurements to evaluate satellite remote sensing-based evapotranspiration (RSET) models. OpenET provides high-resolution (30-m spatial and daily temporal) RSET data, synthesizing decades of research for practical water management. This study provides an evaluation of OpenET performance at six almond sites covering a large range in …

Wildlife Conservation: The Importance Of Individual Personality Traits And Sentience, Karen A. Owens, Gosia Bryja, Marc Bekoff

Animal Sentience

Individual differences in personality types within the same species have been studied much less than differences between species and populations. Personality differences are related to risk-taking and exploration, which in turn correlate with individuals' daily responses, decisions, and fitness. Bold and shy personality types can have different advantages and disadvantages under different social or environmental pressures. Analyzing personality differences has helped clarify how elk habituate to a well-populated area and how management strategies can be adapted to them. For wolves newly repatriated to Colorado, individual personality factors are likely to prove important for adapting to their new homes as well …

A Two-Part Project, Phil Warburton

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

1) an analysis of the constraints to the use of entomological observations collected by citizen scientists for research

The online database, iNaturalist, is transforming observational entomology with a massive and valuable database of photographed insect sightings in their environment. Increasingly, iNaturalist is becoming a rich source of scientific data for research purposes. However, iNaturalist faces a hidden but potentially serious crisis-in-the making. The phenomenal growth threatens to outstrip the capacity of expert insect identifiers.

As the database grows rapidly, the rate of identification of insect observations to the “Research Grade” standard is in decline. Furthermore, the number of expert identifiers …

Decentralized Clinical Trials For Medications To Reduce The Risk Of Dementia: Consensus Report And Guidance, Leanne Howard, Carla Abdelnour, Erin Abner, Ricardo F. Allegri, Hiroko H. Dodge, Serge Gauthier, Camilla M. Hoyos, Gregory Jicha, Patrick G. Kehoe, Catherine J. Mummery, Adesola Ogunniyi, Nikolaos Scarmeas, Xiaoying Chen, Jodie R. Titiner, Christopher R. Weber, Ruth Peters

Neurology Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Recent growth in the functionality and use of technology has prompted an increased interest in the potential for remote or decentralized clinical trials in dementia. There are many potential benefits associated with decentralized medication trials, but we currently lack specific recommendations for their delivery in the dementia field.

METHODS: A modified Delphi method engaged an expert panel to develop recommendations for the conduct of decentralized medication trials in dementia prevention. A working group of researchers and clinicians with expertise in dementia trials further refined the recommendations.

RESULTS: Overall, the recommendations support the delivery of decentralized trials in dementia prevention …

Manipulations Of The Caenorhabditis Elegans Microbiome Reveal Influences Of Detrimental Members On Host Life History Traits, Ashley Elizabeth Foltz

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Microbiomes are a fundamental part of eukaryotic organisms and play a role in both host health and fitness. Although microbiomes are often associated with health and positive effects on the host, certain microbiome compositions are also associated with disease. We used Caenorhabditis elegans and its experimental microbiome, CeMbio to explore the interactions that individual microbiome members have with other microbes, with the host, and how the entire microbiome community interacts with the host. We found that individual CeMbio members have varying effects on host health and fitness compared to the whole community. This suggested that there is synergy occurring in …

Spatial Ecology Of Mountain Lions Throughout Their Distribution In California, Kyle Duncan Dougherty

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Mountain lions (Puma concolor) have been studied extensively throughout their wide geographic distribution in the Western Hemisphere, but most research has been conducted at relatively small spatial scales. We used GPS telemetry data contributed by researchers in 16 study areas throughout California to advance understanding of mountain lion spatial ecology. First, we investigated multi-scale resource selection of mountain lions relative to spatially varying risk of intentional human-caused mortality associated with livestock depredation management. We show that individuals that proactively avoided mortality risk when selecting home ranges were able to relax their avoidance of risk when making resource selection …

Spatial Ecology Of Mountain Lions Throughout Their Distribution In California, Kyle D. Dougherty

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Mountain lions (Puma concolor) have been studied extensively throughout their wide geographic distribution in the Western Hemisphere, but most research has been conducted at relatively small spatial scales. We used GPS telemetry data contributed by researchers in 16 study areas throughout California to advance understanding of mountain lion spatial ecology. First, we investigated multi-scale resource selection of mountain lions relative to spatially varying risk of intentional human-caused mortality associated with livestock depredation management. We show that individuals that proactively avoided mortality risk when selecting home ranges were able to relax their avoidance of risk when making resource selection …

Hybridization Between The Rare Gray-Headed Chickadee And The Abundant Boreal Chickadee In The Midst Of Shifting Climate, Matthew R. Armstrong

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

As species respond to changing climate, distributions and abundances may shift and alter species interactions. Hybridization, a relatively widespread phenomenon becoming more common with climate change, can have beneficial and detrimental effects on population growth rates and genetic integrity. Beneficial effects due to the introduction of advantageous alleles and increased genetic diversity may result from hybridization. Species may also accrue fitness costs associated with changing climates if mismatches occur between environmental variables and phenotypes. The gray-headed chickadee, Poecile cinctus lathami, is an extremely rare songbird that has experienced marked declines in recent decades within its restricted distribution in Alaska …

Integrating Remote Sensing And Machine Learning To Determine Past, Current And Future Crop Water Use From The Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System, Moaz Ishag

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The agriculture sector is a significant consumer of water, and sustainable water use begins with monitoring irrigated land. Delineating irrigated land supports decision-makers and promotes the sustainable use of this crucial resource. This study focuses on the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS), the largest aquifers in the world, which spans Egypt, Sudan, Libya, and Chad. The study aims to: 1) quantify the increase in irrigated hectares (both pivot and non-pivot) from 2000-2001 to 2023-2024; 2) identify major irrigated crop types and their water requirements; and 3) quantify groundwater crop water use from the NSAS using remote sensing via the Google …

Uncovering Over 150 Years Of Herbarium Specimen Data To Examine The Impacts Of Climate Change On Alpine Plant Phenology In The Southern Rocky Mountains, Erin Berkowitz

Museum Studies Theses

Due to generalized botanical collecting practices, herbarium specimens provide important long term data dating back hundreds of years. The historical data preserved in herbaria can be used to study biological responses to climate change, such as changes in plant phenology, across various habitats including understudied alpine ecosystems. This study will use historical data from over one hundred years of plant collecting, along with updated collecting and community science efforts, to investigate how climate change is influencing alpine plant phenology in the Southern Rocky Mountains. These records will be analyzed alongside historical climate data to explore phenological sensitivities to climate change, …

Spatial And Abiotic Effects Of Urbanization On Small Mammal Communities, Bri Casement

Master's Theses

Urbanization, the phenomenon of increasing human population density and artificial structures, is known to decrease the richness, abundance, and diversity of native wildlife populations, fragment natural areas, and increase human and human-commensal animal interactions with wildlife. Dynamics of species persistence in habitat fragments is often understood in the framework of island biogeography theory (IBT), with habitat fragments being analogous to oceanic islands. Despite the conceptual similarities between oceanic islands in IBT and urbanized habitat fragments (fragment size, fragment age, and distance to immigration sources), there are important differences. In urban fragments, the matrix is not completely impassible, habitats within fragments …

Sequencing Of Kaposi’S Sarcoma Herpesvirus (Kshv) Genomes From Persons Of Diverse Ethnicities And Provenances With Kshv-Associated Diseases Demonstrate Multiple Infections, Novel Polymorphisms, And Low Intra-Host Variance, Vickie A Marshall, Elena M Cornejo Castro, Charles A Goodman, Nazzarena Labo, Isabella Liu, Nicholas C Fisher, Kyle N Moore, Ananthakrishnan Nair, Taina Immonen, Brandon F Keele, Mark N Polizzotto, Thomas S Uldrick, Yunxiang Mu, Tanuja Saswat, Laurie T Krug, Kevin M Mcbride, Kathryn Lurain, Ramya Ramaswami, Robert Yarchoan, Denise Whitby

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Recently published near full-length KSHV genomes from a Cameroon Kaposi sarcoma case-control study showed strong evidence of viral recombination and mixed infections, but no sequence variations associated with disease. Using the same methodology, an additional 102 KSHV genomes from 76 individuals with KSHV-associated diseases have been sequenced. Diagnoses comprise all KSHV-associated diseases (KAD): Kaposi sarcoma (KS), primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), KSHV-associated large cell lymphoma (KSHV-LCL), a type of multicentric Castleman disease (KSHV-MCD), and KSHV inflammatory cytokine syndrome (KICS). Participants originated from 22 different countries, providing the opportunity to obtain new near full-length sequences of a wide diversity of KSHV genomes. …

Asynchronous Movement Patterns Between Breeding And Stopover Locations In A Long-Distance Migratory Songbird, Theodore J. Zenzal Jr., Andrea Contina, Hannah B. Vander Zanden, Leanne K. Kuwahara, Daniel C. Allen, Kristen M. Covino

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

The species-specific migratory patterns and strategies of many songbirds remain unknown or understudied, as research in animal ecology is biased toward the breeding period, with the fewest studies on the migratory period across taxa. Identifying large-scale spatiotemporal migratory patterns is challenging, as individuals within a species may vary in their migratory behavior and strategies. The Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) is a Nearctic-Neotropical migrant that is relatively well studied during the breeding season, but its species-wide migratory patterns remain understudied. Our aim in studying Yellow Warbler movement ecology was to characterize temporal migration patterns during fall migration. We sought …

Offsetting, Paul Govind, Donna Houston, Michelle Mei Ling Lim, Andrew Mcgregor, Emily O'Gormon, Sandie Suchet-Pearson, Jonathan Symons

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

In Australia, the State of the Environment 2021 report (hereafter, SOE) revealed an unprecedented rate of biodiversity loss. 1 Yet development projects that will reduce biodiversity further continue to receive legal approval. Indeed, shortly after the release of the report, a new outer ring road was approved for construction in the state of Western Australia. 2 Land clearing undertaken as part of the project will result in significant loss of existing habitat for critically endangered western ringtail possums and endangered black cockatoos. This destruction was legitimized through the state government’s commitment to undertake “biodiversity offsetting,” whereby the loss of possum …

Problem-Based Learning Model Assisted With A Humanistic-Merdeka Belajar Approach Improved Biology Students’ Learning Ownership, Dita Tri Mulyani, Dwi Listyorini

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

Fostering ownership over learning constitutes a pivotal aspect for students to cultivate a comprehensive understanding, employ cognitive strategies effectively, hone essential skills, and refine learning methodologies. Preliminary studies have underscored a prevalent deficiency in the learning ownership among biology students, categorizing it as notably low. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the effect of the Project Based Learning (PBL) model assisted with a Humanistic-Merdeka Belajar (HMB) approach, in nurturing students’ ownership of their learning endeavors. Employing a quasi-experimental design, the research adopts a pre-test post-test non-equivalent control group configuration, administered both prior to and following the intervention within …

Trypanosomiasis And Its Diagnostic Techniques In Camel: A Comprehensive Review, Muhammad Aqeel, Amjad Hussain Mirani, Parvez Ahmed Khoso, Jam Kashif Sahito, Abdul Latif Bhutto, Riaz Ahmed Leghari, Muhammad Mohsen Rahimoon, Nuzhat Parveen Junejo

Journal of Bioresource Management

Trypanosomiasis, a parasitic disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Trypanosoma, poses a significant threat to camel populations worldwide. This study designed for the diagnostic techniques used for detecting Trypanosoma infections specifically in camels. The disease, commonly known as camel trypanosomiasis or surra, adversely impacts the health and productivity of camels, thereby affecting livelihoods dependent on these animals. Various diagnostic methods are employed for the detection of Trypanosoma infection in camels, including microscopic examination of blood smears, serological tests like ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay), and molecular techniques such as PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction). Each method has its strengths and …

Growing Urbanization In The Jammu Province Of Jammu And Kashmir, India: An Environmental And Social Interpretation, Rani Mughal, Javed Manzoor, Rouf Ahmad Wagay

Journal of Bioresource Management

Urbanization is a global phenomenon with profound implications for both physical and social landscapes and plays a noteworthy role in the progression and advancement of human civilizations. Urbanization influences and changes the social, economic, political, and traditionalorganization of a society. This paper examines the process and consequences of urbanization in the Jammu province of J&K India, focusing on its physical transformation and social dynamics. This study employs a descriptive research approach to investigate the multifaceted aspects of urbanization by synthesizing data from various sources, including demographic surveys, interviews, and spatial analysis. The study showed that Jammu province is gradually proceeding …

A Comparative Review Of Soil Carbon Sequestration Methods In Brazil’S Agriculture, Skylar Cheng

Discussions

Brazil is under unique pressure to adopt sustainable agricultural practices due to its intricate biodiversity and globally dominant agricultural sector. Increasing soil degradation, agricultural land expansion, and rising levels of atmospheric carbon are nationwide concerns that require multifaceted solutions. Integrated agricultural systems, which rehabilitate soils through crop, forage, and livestock rotation as well as biochar—a carbon-rich soil amendment—can address such concerns. These sustainable farming practices improve carbon sequestration and soil fertility; however, uptake remains minimal due to environmental, economic, and policy barriers. Accordingly, this paper proposes a comprehensive model of integrated systems and biochar, in which the benefits of one …

Socio-Economic And Climate Change In Mongolia - Effects On Grassland Ecosystems, C Opp

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In Mongolia, in combination with strong changes of the whole society during the past 76 years, from the feudal system to socialism and from the socialist system of planned development to the market economy, there are a lot of changes in the use of natural resources all over the country. In consequence of this a lot of effects on grassland ecosystems, caused by socio-economic and climate driving factors, were observed and studied in different scales: zonal, regional, local.

[Discussions] Vol. 20 Iss. 1

Discussions

This issue of Discussions was published for the Spring 2024 cycle.