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End Matter, Vol. 77 No. 2

Western North American Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Single-Species And Multiple-Species Connectivity Models For Large Mammals On The Navajo Nation, Erica Fleishman, Jesse Anderson, Brett G. Dickson

Western North American Naturalist

Estimation of connectivity for multiple species could increase the efficiency of resource management and elucidate trade-offs among maintenance of connectivity for different taxa. We identified potential areas of high connectivity for 5 species of mammals on the Navajo Nation and adjacent lands in Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, USA: mountain lion (Puma concolor), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni), American black bear (Ursus americanus), and pronghorn (Antilocapra americana). These species were identified by the Navajo Nation as relevant to the benefit of their present and future …

Westward Expansion Of The Evening Bat (Nycticeius Humeralis) In The United States, With Notes On The First Record From New Mexico, Brett R. Andersen, Keith Geluso, Hans W. Otto, Larisa Bishop-Boros

Western North American Naturalist

The general lack of trees in the Great Plains has limited colonization by eastern woodland mammals in the past, but recent expansion of forests in corridors along prairie waterways and in towns has enabled an assortment of woodland species to expand distributional ranges westward. The evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis) historically occurred in woodlands throughout the eastern United States. Following our capture of the first evening bat in New Mexico, we updated the distributional range for this species by amassing recent records from published literature and museum voucher records west of its historic range published in 1981, the last …

A Surprising Discovery Of American Pika Sites In The Northwestern Great Basin, Mackenzie R. Jeffress, K. Jane Van Gunst, Constance I. Miller

Western North American Naturalist

Although the American pika (Ochotona princeps) continues to receive attention due to documented declines and range retractions, particularly in the Great Basin, thorough range inventories have yet to be completed in many parts of the region. Here we report on recently discovered populations in northwestern Nevada in areas not suspected to support pika activity under current climate regimes. We describe 238 new locations (“sites”) with evidence of past or current occupancy by pikas which cluster into 31 locales, which we interpret as metapopulations or “demes,” in 15 distinct mountain ranges or geographic areas. We documented twice as many …

Germination Of Netleaf Hackberry Seeds On The North Sides Of Boulders: A Shift Away From Patterns Of Mature Hackberry Distribution?, Michael T. Stevens, Daniel L. Holland

Western North American Naturalist

Because limited numbers of netleaf hackberry (Celtis reticulata) seedlings are observed in nature, we evaluated patterns of germination of hackberry seeds (n = 2545) that we planted near boulders in the Wasatch Mountain foothills. Seeds were followed over 2 growing seasons. Germination rates were very low overall, but significantly more seeds germinated on the north sides of boulders compared to other boulder aspects. That we found higher rates of germination on the north sides of boulders, instead of on the south sides of boulders where mature hackberry shrubs tend to grow, could reflect year-to-year variation in seed …

Distribution Of Western Juniper Seeds Across An Ecotone And Implications For Dispersal, Lindsay A. Dimitri, William S. Longland

Western North American Naturalist

Western juniper woodlands have been the focus of extensive research and management due to range expansion and infilling that began over a century ago. Understanding juniper seed dispersal is vital to identifying processes behind this expansion. Dispersal of Juniperus seeds has generally been attributed to consumption of female juniper cones (“berries”) by frugivorous birds and mammals, which then defecate seeds after gut passage. However, recent studies have found that scatter-hoarding rodents harvest and cache juniper seeds. Rodents caching and failing to recover juniper seeds that have been removed from feces may constitute a secondary mode of dispersal that accounts for …

Limitations In The Reproductive Success Of A Burrow-Nesting Bird (Momotus Mexicanus) During A Humid Season, Grégory Michaël Charre, Omar Paniagua, Marcela Osorio-Beristain

Western North American Naturalist

Burrow-nesting birds are limited by access to nest sites, particularly in years of very high humidity levels, such those seen with El Niño, or in forests that are fragmented due to the effects of human activity. We assessed the breeding success of Momotus mexicanus nesting along the earth bank of a secondary road corridor in a seasonally dry tropical forest in Central Mexico. We monitored 28 nests during the reproductive period and characterized the composition of the soil where they were constructed, as well as other physical variables. One nest produced 2 fledglings, and the other 27 failed to …

Historical Occurrence Of White-Tailed Ptarmigan In Wyoming, Clait E. Braun, Gregory T. Wann

Western North American Naturalist

We found 13 specimens (11 museum skins, 2 skeletons) of White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura) collected in Wyoming. All were collected in the 1911–1967 period: 12 from the Snowy Range (Albany County) and one from near Encampment (Carbon County). The last verifiable observations of White-tailed Ptarmigan in the Snowy Range were 2 separate reports in 1974, both of 4 individuals in the same location. A more recent report of 2 birds north of the Snowy Range on 15 October 2005 has also been verified. None of the verifiable observations or collection events was of more than 6 individuals. Most …

Range Extension Of The Giant Water Bug Belostoma Flumineum Say 1832 (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) To Saskatchewan, Canada, Iain D. Phillips, Stephen Srayko, Kate S. Prestie, Aaron J. Bell, Dale Parker

Western North American Naturalist

We collected a single specimen of the giant water bug Belostoma flumineum Say 1832 (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) during routine macroinvertebrate biomonitoring in the Souris River, Saskatchewan. This is the first record of B. flumineum in the province of Saskatchewan and represents a more northern record than the previously documented locations in Montana, North Dakota, and southeastern Manitoba.


Colectamos un único ejemplar de la chinche gigante de agua Belostoma flumineum Say 1832 (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) durante un biomonitoreo de rutina de macroinvertebrados en el río Souris, Saskatchewan. Este es el primer registro de B. flumineum en la provincia de Saskatchewan y representa un …

Genetic Structure Across A Contact Zone Between Xerospermophilus Ground Squirrels In Southern California, Philip Leitner, Jennifer Rippert, Majorie D. Matocq

Western North American Naturalist

The Mohave ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus mohavensis) is endemic to the western Mojave Desert of California and is state-listed as Threatened. This species is of conservation concern because of the potential for large-scale renewable energy development within its range. Recent evidence suggests that this threatened species may at least occasionally hybridize with the closely related round-tailed ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus tereticaudus) where the species come into contact. As a result, there is great interest in the distribution of the Mohave ground squirrel, especially where it may come in contact with the round-tailed ground squirrel. One of the least …

Final Report For The 2015 Meg Entitled: Development Of Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (Q-Pcr) Assays For The Detection And Identification Of Human Tick-Borne Pathogens, Richard Robison

Journal of Undergraduate Research

1. Develop singleplex q-PCR assays to identify the tick-borne pathogens Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia hermsii, Bartonella henselae, and Babesia microti. Primer generation software will be used to design primer and probe sequences that will theoretically perform optimally in PCR reactions. All sequences will be subjected to BLAST searches to confirm their specificity for a particular organism. Once primer sequences have been obtained, they will be synthesized by Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc. (IDT). These primers will be evaluated in q-PCR reactions using target DNA from multiple isolates and SyberGreen to detect nucleic acid amplification. Parameters for each reaction will be optimized using these …

Byu Undergraduate Explore The Development Of Scientific Reasoning Ability In Stem Majors And Its Correlation To Student Performance And Retention, Jamie Jensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This report will outline how effectively we met our academic and mentoring objectives. I have listed below both the academic and mentoring objectives put forth in the original proposal and have outlined how they were met or modified over the course of the past two years. Let me just start out by saying how proud I am of my undergraduate team of researchers. They have been absolutely AMAZING and have taken this project on with incredible autonomy. Although we are a bit behind our anticipated schedule (due to the autonomy that I have tried to foster with the students), the …

The Role Of Lkb1 In Obesity-Induced Skeletal Muscle Inflammation And Insulin Resistance, David Thomson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The incidence of obesity and the health consequences that accompany it have increased rapidly over the past decade. Understanding the molecular pathways involved in its development will be crucial in developing novel treatment strategies for obesity and associated disorders. Low-grade inflammation likely plays a major role in many of the complications of obesity. We proposed to study the role of liver kinase B1 (LKB1) in the development of inflammation and insulin resistance in obese mice and saturated fatty acid-induced insulin-resistant cells.

Autoimmunity-Promoting B Cell Effects Of The Risk Factor Irf5, Brian Poole

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The academic objectives of this proposal were met. Using the funding provided by the MEG, we generated data that were used to publish two peer-reviewed journal articles:

Synaptic Modification Of Inhibitory Inputs To Gaba Neurons In The Ventral Tegmental Area: A Novel Potential Target Mediating Reward And Addiction In The Brain, Jeff Edwards

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The objectives of this award were met, especially in regard to the mentoring focus of the award. The students have been mentored and trained in an effective manner as outlined in my Mentoring Plan (abbreviated below). This includes mentoring students in research, writing, publishing, presenting at conferences, etc. Indeed, one measure of the success of mentoring is demonstrated by the fact that all the students graduating from my lab during this time were accepted to the professional school of their choice (see students listed below). Research, especially where the students are actually involved in all aspects of it including data …

The Role Of Nr4a1 In Maternal Obesity Induced Beta Cell Expansion, Jeffery S. Tessem

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The academic objectives of this Mentoring Environment Grant (MEG) were to 1) train undergraduate students in the scientific process to prepare them in careers as physicians and scientists, and 2) to examine the relationship between in utero Nr4a1 beta cell specific deletion during maternal overnutrition and obesity on beta cell mass at birth and diabetic onset. We were successful in accomplishing these objectives, as evidenced by the training of four undergraduate students, presentation of research and local and national meetings, and initial preparation of a manuscript reporting our findings.

Insect Visual Systems And Fossils To Provide Students A Clear Vision Of 21st Century Phylogenetic Systematics, Seth M. Bybee

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Goals one and three were both very successful (more below), however goal two became bogged down and was ultimately abandoned. CT-scanning is a process that requires hundreds or even thousands of fine x-rays through an organism in cross-section to be “stacked” together. Stacking the x-rays together allows researchers to literally explore the internal and external anatomy of organisms in ways never before possible. The most successful scans are those produced when tissues are discrete and have different attributes in terms of pattern, hardness, etc. We focused heavily on fossil specimens embedded in amber. Unfortunately, the cuticle of these specimens were …

Bidirectional Relations Between Prosocial Behavior And Self-Regulation Across Adolescence, Madison Kate Memmott

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to take a multidimensional perspective to prosocial behavior and self-regulation by analyzing longitudinal, bidirectional relations between prosocial behavior toward strangers, friends, and family members and behavioral, cognitive, and emotional dimensions of self-regulation across adolescence. Participants included reports from 500 adolescents (age Time 1 = 12, Time 2 = 14, Time 3 = 16, Time 4 = 18; 52% female, 77% European American) taking part in the Flourishing Families Project. Nine cross-lagged panel models were conducted analyzing longitudinal associations between each target of prosocial behavior and each dimension of self-regulation. Results revealed that in early …

Response To Drought Of A Stream Fish Assemblage In A High Elevation Stream In The Intermountain West, Richard M. Simkins

Theses and Dissertations

One of the most influential disturbances for stream fish assemblages is large-scale declines in flow caused by periods of drought. Although stream characteristics are known to influence the response of stream fishes to drought, we asked if ecological traits of stream fishes determine, in part, their population level response to drought. To test for ecological trait-based responses to drought in a stream fish assemblage, we quantified species abundances over a period of 5 years that represented a wet to dry period. We sampled stream fishes in Yellow Creek, Wyoming, USA, a high elevation stream dependent on snow-storage for most of …

Shifting Views On The Male-Female Relationship: Same-Sex Marriage And Other Social Consequences, W. Justin Dyer

Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel

The past two decades in the United States have seen the near-universal definition of marriage (between a man and woman) shift dramatically from majority acceptance to majority rejection. In 1996, 65 percent of Americans favored marriage as only between a man and a woman, but by 2015, the year the US Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage, only 39 percent favored maintaining marriage as between a man and a woman.

Acylation Of Superoxide Dismutase 1 (Sod1) At K122 Alters Sod1 Localization And Sod1-Mediated Inhibition Of Mitochondrial Respiration, Nathan William Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

Cu/Zn Superoxide Dismutase (SOD1), is a ubiquitous antioxidant enzyme with several emerging roles outside of its canonical function. SOD1 is also emerging in central roles in cancer and neurodegenerative pathologies. Little is known about SOD1 regulation, particularly at a post-translational level. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) play an important role in enabling proteins to rapidly respond to their environment. Therefore, identifying specific PTMs involved in protein regulation represents a powerful opportunity to interfere with any associated pathologies. This work employs proteomics to identify mechanisms of post-translation regulation on cell survival signaling proteins. We focused on SOD1, which protects cells from oxidative stress. …

Differences In German Youth Gender Ideologies: The Relationship Between Family Structure And Doing Gender, Alyssa Jane Alexander

Theses and Dissertations

Gender ideologies, which are constantly changing, are important for many outcomes in life, but the majority of gender ideology research focuses mainly on adults. Past research studying adult gender ideologies finds that adults' current relationship status affects their ideologies. For instance, divorced adults hold egalitarian ideologies more than stable married adults do (Davis, Greenstein and Marks 2007). Researchers attribute this finding to the types of gender behaviors adults perform with their partner or alone. What about youth? Understanding how these ideologies develop earlier in life is important, yet research rarely focuses on youth gender ideologies or their development. My research …

Co-Localization Patterns Of Aquaporin-4 With Amyloid Beta And Cd68 In Alzheimer's Disease And Cerebrovascular Disease, Anthony Bryan Crum

Theses and Dissertations

Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) is a key component in maintaining proper glymphatic flow. In recent years, the glymphatic system has been discovered and approached as a major factor in amyloid plaque clearance in Alzheimer's disease. This study examines the depolarization of AQP4 from the astrocytic endfeet and subsequent co-localization with amyloid plaques in the hippocampus and subiculum. Results show a significant pattern of co-localization in advanced Alzheimer's disease, as well as increases in AQP4 in cerebrovascular disease. This pattern shows AQP4 should be approached as a promising therapeutic area in future research.

Perceived Effects Of Open Textbook Usage On Secondary Science Classroom Practice, Stacie Lee Mason

Theses and Dissertations

Open Educational Resources (OER) provide openly licensed alternatives to commercial instructional materials. Proponents of K-12 OER suggest that their benefits include cost savings, increased access, improved quality, and increased teacher professionalism or empowerment. While the small body of K-12 OER research is growing, perceived benefits of K-12 OER usage have not yet been proven. The purpose of this qualitative study is to understand whether certain potential benefits were being realized by a group of secondary teachers using open science textbooks. In surveys and interviews, teachers were asked to describe their classroom practice before and after adopting an open textbook, including …

Do Adults Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorders Have An Advantage In Real-World Visual Search Tasks?, Nicholas Charles Russell

Theses and Dissertations

Individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) often perform better than typically developing (TD) individuals in simple, albeit difficult, visual search tasks. This ability is often attributed to a lack of drive for coherence or superior local processing. We compare thirty adults with ASD with forty-nine TD individuals and twenty-seven adults with anxiety (ANX) across two real-world visual search tasks. Individuals had to find either a number superimposed over a real-world scene ("œno context" condition) or an object located in a contextually relevant location ("œcontext" condition). Each participant completed forty-one trials in each condition, each with a unique scene. Eye movements …

Adapting Dracula: The Afterlives Of Stoker's Memes In Nosferatu (1922) And Dracula (1979), Ian Duncan Mcarthur

Theses and Dissertations

Dracula is a narrative that has risen above its own origins, having been translated and adapted across mediums it has inundated culture with vampires. However, with each adaptation the narrative and characters adapt into something new. This study is interested in the mechanism behind this evolution and argues that memes and, and their interpretations, are largely responsible for these shifts across adaptations. Three memes, in particular, tend to be adapted in films of Dracula. They include Dracula's appearance, Mina's empowerment, and the nature of the bite that they share. This analysis covers how these memes functioned in Stoker's original …

Correlates Of Risky Sexual Behavior In The People's Republic Of China, Kersti A. Spjut

Theses and Dissertations

Risky sexual behaviors, or behaviors with the risk of an adverse health outcome, are on the rise. Rates of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are also on the rise. Research suggests that several variables are closely related to human sexual behavior, namely sexual attitudes, sexual knowledge, and gender. Individuals with more permissive sexual attitudes tend to engage in riskier sexual behaviors. Studies examining the relationship between sexual knowledge and risky sexual behavior show both positive and negative associations. Although risky behaviors can occur between partners of any gender, the present study focuses on heterosexual relationships.The present study uses data from a …

Comparing The Awl And Avl In Textbooks From An Intensive English Program, Michelle Morgan Hernandez

Theses and Dissertations

Academic vocabulary is an important determiner of academic success for both native and non-native speakers of English (Corson, 1997; Gardner, 2013; Hsueh-chao & Nation, 2000). In an attempt to address this need, Coxhead (2000) developed the Academic Word List (AWL)—a list of words common across a range of academic disciplines; however, Gardner & Davies (2014) identified potential limitations in the AWL and have more recently produced their own list of core academic vocabulary—the Academic Vocabulary List (AVL). This study compares the occurrences of the AWL and AVL word families in an intensive English program (IEP) corpus of 50 texts to …

Sentence-Level Construction Methods: Skills Taught Are Skills Used, Susan Allsop Shelton

Theses and Dissertations

The findings of this study predict that students who utilize five specific sentence constructions on timed single-draft writing compositions will have higher holistic scores than students who do not utilize the specific constructions. Students in the treatment group who were taught to use the five constructions through thorough and consistent instruction in a semester length first year writing course showed statistically significant gains, 4.698 points on a 0-18 scale, based on comparison of pre-test and post-test writing samples. The findings suggest that specific style instruction at the sentence level should be part of the first year writing course curriculum, and …

Role Of Terrestrial Organic Matter In Food Webs Of The Rocky Intertidal Zone, Douglas O. Fairbanks

Theses and Dissertations

Terrestrial organic matter (TOM) constitutes an important source of energy in many aquatic environments (streams, lakes, wetlands). This is the first study to examine the role of TOM in food webs of the rocky intertidal zone. We compared the consumption of red alder leaves (Alnus rubra) to common marine sources of drifting detritus along the southern Oregon coast (Nereocystis luetkeana, Phyllospadix spp., and Fucus gardneri). We used short term (hours to days) and long term (months) feeding experiments to compare the rate of consumption among each plant species during the Spring and Fall of 2014 …