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Evolution Of Functional Diversity In Defensive Bacterial Toxins And Parasite Infection Strategy, Logan D. Moore Aug 2024

Evolution Of Functional Diversity In Defensive Bacterial Toxins And Parasite Infection Strategy, Logan D. Moore

Theses and Dissertations

Insects and their natural enemies are engaged in a never-ending battle called the ‘co-evolutionary arms race.’ As a part of these contentious interactions, vulnerable insects evolve natural barriers that prevent successful attacks by their natural enemies. In response, natural enemies evolve strategies that overcome these barriers. Occasionally, microbial symbionts will also participate in these relationships by assisting their insect host in defense against natural enemies or by assisting the natural enemy in subduing its prey. Alternatively, microbial symbionts may become contenders themselves in the co-evolutionary arms race by becoming reproductive parasites of their hosts. To mediate successful outcomes in these …


Performance Evaluation Of Deep Learning Object Detectors For Weed Detection And Real Time Deployment In Cotton Fields, Abdur Rahman Aug 2024

Performance Evaluation Of Deep Learning Object Detectors For Weed Detection And Real Time Deployment In Cotton Fields, Abdur Rahman

Theses and Dissertations

Effective weed control is crucial, especially for herbicide-resistant species. Machine vision technology, through weed detection and localization, can facilitate precise, species-specific treatments. Despite the challenges posed by unstructured field conditions and weed variability, deep learning (DL) algorithms show promise. This study evaluated thirteen DL-based weed detection models, including YOLOv5, RetinaNet, EfficientDet, Fast RCNN, and Faster RCNN, using pre-trained object detectors. RetinaNet (R101-FPN) achieved the highest accuracy with a mean average precision ([email protected]) of 79.98%, though it had longer inference times. YOLOv5n, with the fastest inference (17 ms on Google Colab) and only 1.8 million parameters, achieved a comparable 76.58% [email protected], …


Examination Of The Impact Of Discriminatory Legislation On Gender Minority Stress And Suicide Desire And Intent In Gender Minority Adults, Ashley R. Pate Aug 2024

Examination Of The Impact Of Discriminatory Legislation On Gender Minority Stress And Suicide Desire And Intent In Gender Minority Adults, Ashley R. Pate

Theses and Dissertations

Suicidal ideation and suicide attempt rates are far higher among gender minority individuals than in the general population. In the wake of an unprecedented number of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation being proposed and passed in 2023 in the United States, this study sought to examine the impact of this legislation on gender minority stress and suicidal desire and intent among gender minority adults. Results indicated that anxiety about the legislation was associated with the desire to die, perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and the likelihood of attempting suicide in the future. The perceived impact of the legislation was associated with intent to die …


Ultrasonographic Appearance Of The Spleen Of Growing Kittens Using A High Frequency Linear Transducer, Catana M. Capps Aug 2024

Ultrasonographic Appearance Of The Spleen Of Growing Kittens Using A High Frequency Linear Transducer, Catana M. Capps

Theses and Dissertations

A reticulonodular splenic pattern is commonly associated with neoplastic or infectious etiologies. However, this has been described as an age-related variant in both humans and dogs, likely representing lymphoid follicles. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the ultrasonographic appearance of the spleens of growing kittens mimics the canine presentation. This was a prospective, descriptive study design. Healthy kittens up to 18 months old were scanned using a high frequency linear transducer. A reticulonodular pattern was present in (89%) of spleens. After 4 months of age, there was an overall negative correlation with age and the grade of …


Investigating Differences In Perceived Value And Opportunities For Student Professional Development In Chemistry Graduate Programs, Contessa L. Maggard Aug 2024

Investigating Differences In Perceived Value And Opportunities For Student Professional Development In Chemistry Graduate Programs, Contessa L. Maggard

Theses and Dissertations

The primary focus of chemistry graduate programs in R1 universities in the United States (US) is training students to become research scientists. However, additional skills, such as effective presentations, writing practical proposals, teaching, mentoring, and networking, are essential for successful careers. This study evaluates the emphasis on professional development skills in R1 chemistry graduate programs in the US, as perceived by graduate students and professors, and their perceived adequacy in preparing graduate students for academic careers. A questionnaire survey of current graduate students and faculty members was conducted. Results indicated that current graduate students perceived a lack of development opportunities …


Risk Assessment Of Severe Weather Events Affecting Animal Production Facilities, Impana Hassan Swamy Gowda Aug 2024

Risk Assessment Of Severe Weather Events Affecting Animal Production Facilities, Impana Hassan Swamy Gowda

Theses and Dissertations

Our research primarily focuses on the risk assessment and vulnerabilities of commercial broiler farms/houses due to severe weather events. The area of focus is counties within a 60-mile radius of broiler processing plants, as most broiler farms/houses are centrally located around these plants. Using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), we calculate a risk index to evaluate the vulnerability of these counties. This study incorporates historical weather event data to identify patterns and predict future risks, providing valuable insights for disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies. Through a detailed analysis of various severe weather events, including tornadoes, hurricanes, …


Boundary Layer Flow Control In Low-Reynolds Numbers Via Internal Acoustic Excitation, Joshua Michael Kiley Aug 2024

Boundary Layer Flow Control In Low-Reynolds Numbers Via Internal Acoustic Excitation, Joshua Michael Kiley

Theses and Dissertations

Aerodynamic flow control using internal acoustic excitation holds promise as it combines the simplicity of passive flow control techniques (in terms of added weight and operational complexity) with the control authority of active flow control methods. While previous studies have analyzed the effects of acoustic excitation on steady wing aerodynamics, the effect of excitation on the unsteady aerodynamics is not known, which is the aim of the current effort. Internally mounted speakers on a symmetric National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) 0012 wing are used to excite the unsteady boundary layer at the wing’s leading edge as it executes linear …


Tree Recruitment Dynamics In An Urban Forested Natural Area, Lee Eric Bridges Aug 2024

Tree Recruitment Dynamics In An Urban Forested Natural Area, Lee Eric Bridges

Theses and Dissertations

Urban forested natural areas (UFNAs) are the remnants of larger forested ecosystems that have become surrounded by urban land development. Due to their proximity to dense population centers, UFNAs provide levels of ecosystem services disproportionate with their small size. However, stressors on UFNAs, such as fragmentation, invasive species, urban heat islands, soil compaction, altered seed predator populations, and disrupted disturbance regimes, can alter species composition and forest structure such that the continued flow of these ecosystem services is unlikely. Further, management of these systems is confounded by their size and location. While most urban forests are managed using individual tree …


Windows Into Changing Landscapes: Bioarchaeological And Geophysical Analysis Of The Grenada Yellow Fever Cemetery, M. Kathryn Mckenna Aug 2024

Windows Into Changing Landscapes: Bioarchaeological And Geophysical Analysis Of The Grenada Yellow Fever Cemetery, M. Kathryn Mckenna

Theses and Dissertations

This project focuses on the Yellow Fever Cemetery of Grenada, Mississippi through geophysical and biological methods. A ground penetrating radar survey was conducted to investigate the landscape and burial patterns in relation to the use of the cemetery throughout high periods of mortality such as a yellow fever epidemic. Additionally, biological methods were used in the analysis of an individual recovered as part of a salvage archaeology event from the cemetery. The multifaceted approach aims to uncover more about the cemetery, landscape, and community as it has changed over time with the influence of extreme events such as the yellow …


An Evaluation Of Avian Use Of Marsh Terraces In Gulf Coastal Wetlands Of Louisiana, Madelyn Belle Mcfarland Aug 2024

An Evaluation Of Avian Use Of Marsh Terraces In Gulf Coastal Wetlands Of Louisiana, Madelyn Belle Mcfarland

Theses and Dissertations

Louisiana’s coastal wetlands support millions of resident and migratory birds annually but account for 80% of the nation’s coastal wetland loss. Marsh terracing is a restoration technique that constructs segmented ridges in open water areas to enhance marsh conditions. Despite widespread use, their value as avian habitat has received limited study. Using ground and aerial surveys, we evaluated avian use of marsh terraces across 24 paired sites (marsh terrace and non-terrace sites) in coastal Louisiana. Avian surveys focused on breeding secretive marsh birds (SMB) and wintering waterfowl. Results indicate that presence or absence of marsh terraces influenced numbers of ducks …


Toward Privacy-Preserving Component Certification For Metal Additive Manufacturing, Mahathir Mohammad Bappy Aug 2024

Toward Privacy-Preserving Component Certification For Metal Additive Manufacturing, Mahathir Mohammad Bappy

Theses and Dissertations

Metal-based additive manufacturing (AM) has emerged as a cutting-edge technology for fabricating complex geometries with high precision. However, the major challenges to the wider adoption of metal AM technologies are process uncertainty-induced quality issues. Consequently, there is an urgent need for fast and reliable certification techniques for AM components, which can be achieved by leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled modeling. Developing a robust AI-enabled model presents a significant challenge because of the costly and time-intensive nature of acquiring diverse and high volume of datasets. In this context, the data-sharing attributes of Manufacturing-as-a-Service (MaaS) platforms can facilitate the development of AI-enabled certification …


Predictions Of Thermo-Fluid Transport Over A Poultry Incubation Period Using High Performance Computing, Melvy Fernandes Aug 2024

Predictions Of Thermo-Fluid Transport Over A Poultry Incubation Period Using High Performance Computing, Melvy Fernandes

Theses and Dissertations

The quality of hatchery conditions significantly impacts the hatchling health. An insight into the spatiotemporal distribution of environmental factors like temperature, ventilation, humidity, and CO2 within an incubator can be the key to reduce the pathogen spread. The objective of this study is to develop an efficient computational fluid dynamics model to predict thermo-fluid and scalar transport over an incubation period using high performance computing systems. Various modeling approaches for grid generation, inflow conditions, fan and heater modeling, and scalar transport are evaluated to identify cost effective numerical models and allow long time simulations with reliable data. The model is …


Longitudinal Influences Of Parental Relationships On Positive Adolescent Functioning, Rebekah Buckley Sparks Aug 2024

Longitudinal Influences Of Parental Relationships On Positive Adolescent Functioning, Rebekah Buckley Sparks

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the longitudinal influences of parental relationships – romantic, co-parenting, and parent-child – on positive adolescent functioning. Utilizing data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, this study investigates how various dimensions of parental relationships impact adolescent well-being at age 15, as measured by the EPOCH scale. Grounded in Attachment Theory and the Life Course Perspective, this research highlights the interconnectedness of early parental interactions and their long-term effects on adolescents’ emotional and social development. Key findings indicate that supportive and stable parental relationships significantly enhance adolescents’ engagement, perseverance, optimism, connectedness, and happiness. The study emphasizes …


The Conservation Of Brain Folding Mechanics, Amber Cook Aug 2024

The Conservation Of Brain Folding Mechanics, Amber Cook

Theses and Dissertations

The pattern and complexity of cerebellar folding varies across vertebrates. However, little is known about how the tissue-level mechanics are adjusted to create species-specific folding patterns. Here, we utilize a variety of species with differences in cerebellar folding amount to investigate two tissue-level mechanics known to affect folding—differential expansion and outer layer thickness. We found that the level of differential expansion between the outer and inner layers of the cerebellum broadly correlates with folding amount and that the thickness of the outer layer is important as thicker outer layers require more differential expansion to fold. Additionally, we find that both …


Buffering The Strained Relation Between Masculinity And Social Support With Self-Compassion, Nathan Barclay Aug 2024

Buffering The Strained Relation Between Masculinity And Social Support With Self-Compassion, Nathan Barclay

Theses and Dissertations

Men experience high rates of negative health outcomes and often have difficulty identifying and seeking support for their issues. Traditional masculine socialization has been identified as a potential determinant of this effect, as masculine ideals often conflict with prosocial help-seeking behaviors. Men who experience this sort of socialization need better support for their mental health and are less likely to seek it out in a professional setting. Therefore, other models of support, like social support, should be investigated. Additionally, factors that impact the way that men perceive social support should be explored, one of which may be self-compassion. The current …


Evaluating The Use Of Soil Amendments For Shortleaf Pine (Pinus Echinata) Restoration On Post-Mined Landscapes, Casey Iwamoto Aug 2024

Evaluating The Use Of Soil Amendments For Shortleaf Pine (Pinus Echinata) Restoration On Post-Mined Landscapes, Casey Iwamoto

Theses and Dissertations

Coal strip mining leaves widespread degraded soil throughout the southeastern US. These soils tend to have low pH, high bulk density, impacted hydrologic processes, and an accumulation of heavy metals that limit revegetation and reforestation efforts. Shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) can tolerate these poor conditions on post-mined sites and has the largest native pine range in the southeastern US, making it an ideal species for restoration efforts. Additionally, the use of soil amendments to improve soil physical and chemical parameters is expected to lead to improved plant establishment and growth. To address the challenges associated with degraded post-mined landscapes, two …


Movement Ecology And Nest-Site Selection Of Rock Iguanas Across A Gradient Of Anthropogenic Disturbance, James Walter Wehsener Aug 2024

Movement Ecology And Nest-Site Selection Of Rock Iguanas Across A Gradient Of Anthropogenic Disturbance, James Walter Wehsener

Theses and Dissertations

Analysis of animal movement has been integrated into a framework of four components: internal state, motion capacity, navigation capacity, and external factors (Nathan et al., 2008). We used this framework to enhance understanding of movement behavior in the 15 West Indian rock iguana (Cyclura) taxa and to inform conservation management. Our review found that adult female Cyclura large-scale movement is primarily driven by nesting and migrations. Nest site selection also influences hatchling dispersal, but few studies identify preferred habitats for nesting females. Anthropogenic impacts on nesting ecology are largely unexplored, especially in Cyclura carinata. We studied C. carinata nesting ecology …


Efficacy Of Recycled Glass Cullet As A Soil Substrate For U.S. Gulf Coast Salt Marsh Restoration, Ansley Levine Aug 2024

Efficacy Of Recycled Glass Cullet As A Soil Substrate For U.S. Gulf Coast Salt Marsh Restoration, Ansley Levine

Theses and Dissertations

Recycled glass cullet is a potential alternative to fill substrate in salt marsh restoration projects, given its similarity to natural silica sands. However, the ability for common salt marsh plants to grow in glass cullet has not yet been tested. An outdoor mesocosm experiment assessed the ability of the dominant mid-marsh plant Juncus roemerianus and the upland marsh plant Spartina patens to grow in various mixtures of glass cullet versus fill soil. Results showed that J. roemerianus can survive in glass cullet, but growth declined as the proportion of cullet increased. However, S. patens grew comparably, if not better, in …


A Geant4 Based Simulation Toolkit For Detector Response Evaluations In Operational Health Physics And Nuclear Safety Applications, Ronald James Unz Aug 2024

A Geant4 Based Simulation Toolkit For Detector Response Evaluations In Operational Health Physics And Nuclear Safety Applications, Ronald James Unz

Theses and Dissertations

This work describes the development of a Monte Carlo simulation toolkit built on the Geant4 framework for applied health physics applications. The toolkit is designed to construct complex radiation fields and measure how radiation detectors respond to those fields, specifically radiation fields expected to be encountered in environmental and safety applications. The toolkit, along with its development and validation, is described. The use of the toolkit for performing minimum detectable concentration evaluations is outlined, following methods described in the Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual (MARSSIM) and Nuclear Regulatory Guidance Manual 1507, which detail Minimum Detectable Concentrations for Typical …


Steric Tuning Of Hexadentate Chelates And Their Effects On The Stability And Redox Properties Of First-Row Transition Metals, Ryan Benjamin Gaynor Aug 2024

Steric Tuning Of Hexadentate Chelates And Their Effects On The Stability And Redox Properties Of First-Row Transition Metals, Ryan Benjamin Gaynor

Theses and Dissertations

Chelation of first-row transition metals has many useful properties in the biomedical and industrial fields due to the stabilizing and/or property-altering effects that certain chelates can induce in these metals. One such useful design principle for these chelates is the addition of bulky steric groups which can have an added effect on these properties. Chapter I will explore the origins of these effects and show examples of how these effects are leveraged to produce useful complexes in a variety of applications. In Chapter II, we will discuss our choice of ligand design and the development of related synthetic procedures for …


Using Phenological And Physiological Data To Improve Bioenergy Feedstock Production Of Populus In The Southeastern United States, Jiaxin Wang Aug 2024

Using Phenological And Physiological Data To Improve Bioenergy Feedstock Production Of Populus In The Southeastern United States, Jiaxin Wang

Theses and Dissertations

Climate change poses a significant threat to bioenergy production, impacting plant’s phenology and physiological performance. Investigating the adaptation of bioenergy crops like Populus is crucial for sustaining production. Populus, known for its genetic variation and ease of study, offers insights into tree responses to climate change. My research, part of the Advancing Populus Pathways in the Southeast (APPS) project, focuses on various Populus genotypes across multiple growing seasons, exploring phenology under different management strategies. Planting Populus across two sites, namely Monroe and Pontotoc, allows for the examination of genotype responses to climate change factors, particularly in terms of phenology and …


Divergent Selection For Anthesis Of Annual Ryegrass (Lolium Perenne Ssp. Multiflorum), Prakriti Adhikari Aug 2024

Divergent Selection For Anthesis Of Annual Ryegrass (Lolium Perenne Ssp. Multiflorum), Prakriti Adhikari

Theses and Dissertations

Annual ryegrass (Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum) is an excellent cover crop for winter-fallow fields of the Southeast. However, late senescence and herbicide resistance pose challenges for spring eradication. This study aims to develop a ryegrass variety that naturally senescence early using the recurrent phenotypic selection. A base population with anthesis dates from March 21 to April 2 was collected in 2022. 903 seedlings of this population were grown in Cycle0. For Cycle1, the Cycle0 population upon anthesis was segregated into NV0 (11 non-vernalizing), E0 (earliest 70 to anthesis), and L0 (last 70 to anthesis). Isolated groups were allowed to polycross …


Nest Box Use By Common Goldeneye (Bucephala Clangula) In The Chena River System, Interior Alaska, Riley D. Porter Aug 2024

Nest Box Use By Common Goldeneye (Bucephala Clangula) In The Chena River System, Interior Alaska, Riley D. Porter

Theses and Dissertations

Various environmental and demographic factors can influence nest site selection in cavity-nesting birds. Nest site choices may involve females’ familiarity with local habitats or resources, or information gained about the quality of a potential nest site. Common Goldeneyes (Bucephela clangula) are philopatric, yet some proportions of available nest boxes commonly remain vacant during breeding seasons throughout the birds’ range. As part of a long-term (1997-2022) study of Common Goldeneyes, I monitored 150 nest boxes in 2021 and 2022 in the Chena River State Recreation Area, Fairbanks, Alaska. I studied use of nest boxes based on box- and landscape specific habitat …


Designing And Understanding Physical Behavior Of Polymeric Materials, Chinmoy Saha Aug 2024

Designing And Understanding Physical Behavior Of Polymeric Materials, Chinmoy Saha

Theses and Dissertations

Organic conjugated polymers (CPs) are emerging materials for advanced electronic applications such as organic photovoltaics (OPVs), field-effect transistors (OFETs), light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), flexible and wearable electronics, and biomedicals. High-spin donor-acceptor CPs have been investigated for their potential applications in magnetic and spintronic devices. Inter-chain charge transfer among these high-spin polymers mainly depends on the nature of the local structure of the thin film and pi-stacking between the polymer chains. However, the microscopic structural details of high-spin polymeric materials are rarely studied, especially in the liquid phase, and remain largely unexplored. This study examined the effects of oligomer chain length, side …


Factors Associated With Undergraduate Students Pursuing Health And Dietetic Careers, Claire Bolen Hardin Aug 2024

Factors Associated With Undergraduate Students Pursuing Health And Dietetic Careers, Claire Bolen Hardin

Theses and Dissertations

This descriptive cross-sectional study investigated factors that influenced undergraduate students’ career paths within health care and the dietetics field. A 34-item Qualtrics survey was emailed to undergraduate students. Most of the participants (N=355) were females (72.2%), 72.9% were white students and 21.6% were black or African Americans. Results indicated the main reason students chose their major was personal interest. Other reasons included lifestyle, family, potential financial success, and friends. More than 50% of students indicated they personally knew someone who has the job they desire after college. Diversity within majors and health-related professions could be influenced by gender and ethnicity. …


Simulated Residual Nitrogen Scavenging And Recovery Among Cover Crop Systems Using Nitrogen-15 In A Corn Production Setting, Curtis Champ Knight Aug 2024

Simulated Residual Nitrogen Scavenging And Recovery Among Cover Crop Systems Using Nitrogen-15 In A Corn Production Setting, Curtis Champ Knight

Theses and Dissertations

Nitrogen recovery and contribution to production agricultural systems are critical services provided by cover crops investigated in this study. Research was conducted to evaluate the effect of simulated residual N (SRN) on N recovery in various winter cover crop systems (CCS) and subsequent effects on corn N uptake. Biomass, C and N measurements, 15N recovery, and sources of N acquisition were quantified among CCS. Subsequently, CCS and SRN effects on corn productivity and N status were quantified. Grass-included CCS had the greatest N scavenging ability by CCS termination, though they had negative or neutral effects on corn N acquisition. Brassicas-included …


Time After Time: Deciphering Structural Violence And Vulnerability Using Postmortem Recovery Time Data And Demographics Throughout The Southeast Region Of The United States, Elise J. Adams Aug 2024

Time After Time: Deciphering Structural Violence And Vulnerability Using Postmortem Recovery Time Data And Demographics Throughout The Southeast Region Of The United States, Elise J. Adams

Theses and Dissertations

Over the last few decades, forensic anthropological research has made significant strides in developing better methods for decedent identification and increasing the accuracy of time since death/postmortem interval (PMI) estimations within medicolegal contexts. Until recently however, there has been little emphasis placed on how socioeconomic considerations might be connected, especially regarding recovery times for individuals from various demographic backgrounds. Using intersectional and biocultural frameworks and data collected from forensic anthropologists and medicolegal labs throughout the Southeastern US, this research aims to decipher the role that inequality, through instances of social vulnerability and structural violence, plays in recovery time data throughout …


Silvicultural Strategies For Converting Longleaf Pine Plantations To Multi-Aged Stands With Groundcover Species Restoration In Georgia, Usa, Gabriel F. Nyen Aug 2024

Silvicultural Strategies For Converting Longleaf Pine Plantations To Multi-Aged Stands With Groundcover Species Restoration In Georgia, Usa, Gabriel F. Nyen

Theses and Dissertations

For some forest landowners in the southern USA, multiple ecological and economic objectives are met through the conversion of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) plantations to uneven-aged stands. This study was conducted in eight similarly-aged longleaf pine plantations at The Jones Center at Ichauway in southwestern Georgia. The stands were disturbed by commercial thinning in 2014 and partially disturbed by Hurricane Michael in 2018 and half of the stands were seeded with native grasses and a forb in 2015. I developed explanatory models of groundcover biomass and longleaf pine seedling occurrence and density. I detected a community composition difference in groundcover …


Examining The Impact Of De-Escalation Training For Rural Mississippi Leos: Using Simulation To Assess Behavioral Outcomes, Deepali Manoj Dhruve Aug 2024

Examining The Impact Of De-Escalation Training For Rural Mississippi Leos: Using Simulation To Assess Behavioral Outcomes, Deepali Manoj Dhruve

Theses and Dissertations

People with mental illness (PMI) are at a 67% greater risk of arrest and 16 times greater risk of being killed during a police incident than other civilians. Indeed, law enforcement officers (LEOs) report lacking expertise when addressing mental health calls, and existing trainings aimed at reducing violence in LEO encounters with PMI do not account for challenges specific to rural LEOs. Additionally, many trainings are severely lacking in assessing outcome changes pre- and post-training with more than half of trainings relying on survey-based knowledge subject to social desirability bias and inaccurate self-assessment. This study aimed to address limitations in …


Reproductive Ecology And Latitudinal Variation Of Three Cavity Nesting Duck Species In Eastern United States, Hunter Elijah Mentges Aug 2024

Reproductive Ecology And Latitudinal Variation Of Three Cavity Nesting Duck Species In Eastern United States, Hunter Elijah Mentges

Theses and Dissertations

Survival of females, nests, and ducklings strongly influence annual recruitment in North American ducks. Studies of cavity-nesting ducks using nest boxes, such as wood ducks (Aix sponsa), hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) and black-bellied whistling duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) historically have investigated extrinsic factors, such as nest predation, and how it influenced nest success. For my study, I evaluated data from 1,403 monitored nest boxes collected from eight states, 2020–2022. I studied intrinsic characteristics related to reproduction, such as egg and clutch sizes, and eggshell strength in the 3 cavity-nesting ducks. Variables including clutch size, egg mass, parasitism, and onset of incubation …