Digital Commons Network^™

Phenotypically Plastic Responses To Predation Risk Are Temperature Dependent, Thomas M. Luhring, Janna M. Vavra, Clayton E. Cressler, John Delong

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Predicting how organisms respond to climate change requires that we understand the temperature dependence of fitness in relevant ecological contexts (e.g., with or without predation risk). Predation risk often induces changes to life history traits that are themselves temperature dependent. We explore how perceived predation risk and temperature interact to determine fitness (indicated by the intrinsic rate of increase, r) through changes to its underlying components (net reproductive rate, generation time, and survival) in Daphnia magna. We exposed Daphnia to predation cues from dragonfly naiads early, late, or throughout their ontogeny. Predation risk increased r differentially across temperatures …

Drought Early Warning And The Timing Of Range Managers’ Drought Response, Tonya R. Haigh, Jason A. Otkin, Anthony Mucia, Michael Hayes, Mark E. Burbach

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

'e connection between drought early warning information and the timing of rangeland managers’ response actions is not well understood. 'is study investigates U.S. Northern Plains range and livestock managers’ decision-making in response to the 2016 flash drought, by means of a postdrought survey of agricultural landowners and using the Protective Action Decision Model theoretical framework. 'e study found that managers acted in response to environmental cues, but that their responses were significantly delayed compared to when drought conditions emerged. External warnings did not influence the timing of their decisions, though on-farm monitoring and assessment of conditions did. 'ough this case …

The Tail Wagging The Dog: Positive Attitude Towards Livestock Guarding Dogs Do Not Mitigate Pastoralists’ Opinions Of Wolves Or Grizzly Bears, Daniel Kinka, Julie K. Young

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

While the re-establishment of grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) and wolves (Canis lupus) in the American West marks a success for conservation, it has been contentious among pastoralists. Coincidentally, livestock guarding dogs (LGDs; Canis familiaris) have been widely adopted by producers of domestic sheep (Ovis aries) in the United States to mitigate livestock depredation by wild carnivores. We surveyed pastoralists to measure how experience with and attitudes towards LGDs related to attitudes towards livestock predators, and found positive responses regarding LGDs and negative responses regarding wolves and grizzly bears. The more respondents agreed that LGDs reduce the need for lethal management …

Avian Taxonomic And Functional Diversity In Early Stage Of Longleaf Pine (Pinus Palustris) Stands Restored At Agricultural Lands: Variations In Scale Dependency, Myung-Bok Lee, Brian J. Gates, Robert J. Cooper, John P. Carroll

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

In agricultural landscapes, the Longleaf Pine Initiative (LLPI) and the Bobwhite Quail Initiative (BQI) aim to restore longleaf pine forests and early successional habitats, respectively. The early stage of longleaf pine stands and grass and forb vegetation produced by a combination of both restoration programs (LLPI-BQI) may form habitat conditions favorable to early successional bird species and other birds, increasing avian diversity. We investigated how the LLPI and BQI programs affected taxonomic and functional diversity of birds and abundance of early successional birds (grassland and scrub/shrub species), and what environmental characteristics were associated with the diversity and abundance of birds. …

Juvenile Hawksbill Residency And Habitat Use Within A Caribbean Marine Protected Area, Thomas H. Selby, Kristen M. Hart, Brian J. Smith, Clayton G. Pollock, Zandy Hillis-Starr, Madan K. Oli

United States National Park Service: Publications

Understanding the spatial ecology of highly mobile marine vertebrates is necessary for informing conservation and management strategies aimed at protecting such species. Buck Island Reef National Monument (BIRNM), off the coast of St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, harbors critical foraging habitat for Critically Endangered juvenile hawksbills Eretmochelys imbricata that exhibit high site fidelity until sexual maturation. Using an array of fixed passive acoustic receivers that covered over 20.2 km2 at its largest configuration and in-water biannual sampling, we analyzed residency patterns and habitat use of 29 hawksbills. High recapture rates allowed for long- term data collection for some individuals, with …

Center For Grassland Studies, Volume 25, Issue 3, Fall 2019

Center for Grassland Studies: Newsletters

Leadership Transition within Center for Grassland Studies

Director's Column

Alumni Updates: Keith Harmoney, Range Scientist, Kansas State University, State Agricultural Research Center-Hays

2019 Nebraska Grazing Conference Highlights

Nine-Mile Prairie: Now and Forever

GRLS Internship: Intern and Provider Perspectives

Clubs Welcome New Members

PGA Golf Management Students Go Global

Windh to Focus on GRLS / GECM Recruitment

Chinese Culture Club, Ashley Thyes

Honors Program: Expanded Learning Clubs

Afterschool club that teaches students about Chinese culture and teaches them how to speak and white various words and phrases.

Green Club After School Program Curriculum, Megan Willburn

Honors Program: Expanded Learning Clubs

Green Club is an after school program which encourages students to develop environmental empathy, passions for environmental sustainability, and knowledge about the workings of environmental systems.

Art And The Environment, Ellen Dexter, Lydia Dexter

Honors Program: Expanded Learning Clubs

After school club that teaches the importance of sustainable practices and conversation activities through art projects and imagination.

Fish & Wildlife News: Fall 2019, Matt Trott

Fish and Wildlife News

No abstract provided.

The Changing Role Of Rodenticides And Their Alternatives In The Management Of Commensal Rodents, Gary Witmer

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Rodents cause substantial damage and losses of foodstuffs around the world. They also transmit many diseases to humans and livestock. While various methods are used to reduce damage caused by rodents, rodenticides remain an important tool in the toolbox. However, like all tools, rodenticides have advantages and disadvantages. Several considerations are shaping the future of rodenticide use, including manufacturing and registration costs, concern about toxicity levels and nontarget animal hazards, potential hazards to children, reduced effectiveness of some formulations, and humaneness to the targeted rodents. Many of these disadvantages apply to anticoagulant rodenticides, and their use is being more restricted …

Student Support Program Outputs, Outcomes And Impacts Report

Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute: Administrative Materials

The Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) inititated its Postdoctoral and Student Support Programs in 2014. The following details their achievements.

Round One -- The institute first provided undergraduate, graduate student and postdoctoral support to faculty who were selected following a call for proposals in 2014. Support was awarded for two postdocs, five graduate students, and two projects with undergraduate students. By FY19 a small amount of support continues for Francisco Munoz-Arriola’s program. Outputs include presentations, grants and publications. The other faculty who have received support are: Vijendra Boken, UNK Geography & Earth Science; Carrick Detweiler, UNL …

Purpose, Meaning, And Exploring Vocation In Honors Education, Erin Vanlaningham, Robert J. Pampel, Jonathan D. Kotinek, Dustin J. Kemp, Aron Reppmann, Anna Stewart

Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council Online Archive

This paper examines the importance of cultivating a sense of vocation in honors education. Through examples of coursework, program initiatives, and advising strategies, authors from across five institutions align the scholarship of vocation with best practices and principles in contemporary honors discourse, defining vocation in the context of higher education and describing how this concept works within honors curricula to enrich student experience and cultivate individual understandings of purpose. By focusing on critical reflection processes, Ignatian pedagogy, and theories of moral development and reasoning, the authors offer different models to advance the thesis that honors educators can and should address …

Nebline, October 2019

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Groundwater Protection: It’s Up to Everyone

The Nutritional Power of Pumpkins

Recipe of the Month

Sulfur Deficiency in Corn

Planting Garlic in the Fall Vegetable Garden

Composting Demonstrations

I Spy a Spider: Common Spiders Around the Home

Invasive Species: American Bullfrog

Plant Spring Bulbs for Pollinators

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

Become a Master Gardener

Chatting With Babies Helps Brain Development

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Kelsey Ebke

4-H Golf Tournament Fundraiser, Sept. 29

4-H Specialty Clubs Invite New Members

4-H Announcements for 4-H'ers and Volunteers

State Fair 4-H Top Results

Lancaster County 4-H Quilt of Valor Presented …

Water Current, Volume 51, No. 2, Fall 2019

Water Current Newsletter

2019 Water & Natural Resources Tour Makes Waves in Montana

NWC Takes Road Trips this Summer and Fall

Building Nebraska’s Clean Water Future: A Nitrate Strategy

Blanket Statements, Issue 140, Fall 2019

Blanket Statements: News Publication of the American Quilt Study Group

Blanket Statements, Issue 140, Fall 2019

Growing A Healthy Future, Fall 2019

Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources: Institute Publications

Supporting Rural Nebraska; ‘Finding order in the chaos’– Nebraska Extension steps up in wake of flooding; Irrigation canal collapse; Raising Nebraska adds flood, climate experience to exhibit space; Nebraska-developed tool suite brings context to climate change; Namibia experiences shape outlook of Nebraska professor, students; Yeutter Institute brings new opportunities for students, public; Podcast shows why "trade matters" to Nebraskans and the United States; CASNR grads making an impact across industries; Compact aims to boost ag, natural resource industries in northeast Nebraska; Nebraska program helps guard against food allergens; CAREER award helps Yin develop tools to find key enzymes

Challenges And Opportunities For Weed Control In Nebraska Popcorn, Ethann R. Barnes

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Weed control in popcorn is challenging with limited herbicide options and popcorn’s perceived sensitivity to herbicides. Understanding the impact of weeds maximizes yield and profit. New herbicide-resistant crops increase chances of drift or misapplication into popcorn, which doesn’t have herbicide-resistant traits. Herbicides that are labeled in popcorn are often only conditionally labeled with reduce rates, warnings, or limited popcorn types. Dent-sterility in popcorn is contingent on the Ga1 gene (Ga1-s), but this system is at risk from Ga1-m field corn introduced from Mexico because it overcomes dent-sterility. This risk is under-assessed as Ga1-m carriers are undocumented and Mexican germplasm usage …

Rangeland Management During Drought: Assessing Social–Ecological And Cognitive Indicators Of Ranchers’ Adaptive Capacity, Tonya Haigh

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

Rangeland managers face challenges to adapt to climate extremes, and research is needed on how to support their adaptive capacity for managing climate risk. This study evaluates adaptive capacity using an integrated vulnerability and resilience conceptual model and three cognitive behavioral models. Overarching research questions focus on the relationship between protective action and impacts and the best predictors of taking action in response to drought. Three studies address these questions, using quantitative data collected from two post-drought surveys of rangeland-based livestock managers in the Northern Great Plains of the U.S. The studies find evidence of the roles of social-ecological sources …

Rose-Ringed Parakeets, Page E. Klug, William P. Bukoski, Aaron B. Shiels, Bryan M. Kluever, Shane R. Siers

Wildlife Damage Management Technical Series

Rose-ringed parakeets (Psittacula krameri; hereafter RRPA; Figure 1) are an invasive species in the United States, present in Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and Virginia, and with established populations in California, Florida, and Hawaii. They are also the most successful species of invasive parakeet, worldwide. RRPA can cause significant damage to agriculture, including grains, oilseeds, fruits, and ornamental plants. Large flocks of RRPA roost near human infrastructure resulting in concerns about human health and safety (e.g., collisions with aircraft, disease transmission, feces accumulation, and noise complaints). The population growth and spread of RRPA is of conservation concern given the potential impact on …

Tracking Canada Geese Near Airports: Using Spatial Data To Better Inform Management, Ryan Askren, Brett E. Dorak, Heath M. Hagy, Michael W. Eichholz, Brian E. Washburn, Michael P. Ward

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The adaptation of birds to urban environments has created direct hazards to air transportation with the potential for catastrophic incidents. Bird–aircraft collisions involving Canada geese (Branta canadensis; goose) pose greater risks to aircraft than many bird species due to their size and flocking behavior. However, information on factors driving movements of geese near airports and within aircraft arrival/departure areas for application to management are limited. To address this need, we deployed 31 neck collar-mounted global positioning system transmitters on Canada geese near Midway International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, USA during November 2015 to February 2016. We used the movement data …

Dynamic Evolution In The Key Honey Bee Pathogen Deformed Wing Virus: Novel Insights Into Virulence And Competition Using Reverse Genetics, Eugene V. Ryabov, Anna K. Childers, Dawn Lopez, Kyle Grubbs, Francisco Posada-Florez, Daniel Weaver, William Girten, Dennis Vanengelsdorp, Yanping Chen, Jay D. Evans

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

The impacts of invertebrate RNA virus population dynamics on virulence and infection out- comes are poorly understood. Deformed wing virus (DWV), the main viral pathogen of honey bees, negatively impacts bee health, which can lead to colony death. Despite previ- ous reports on the reduction of DWV diversity following the arrival of the parasitic mite Var- roa destructor, the key DWV vector, we found high genetic diversity of DWV in infested United States honey bee colonies. Phylogenetic analysis showed that divergent US DWV genotypes are of monophyletic origin and were likely generated as a result of diversification after a genetic …

Effectiveness Of Snap And A24-Automated Traps And Broadcast Anticoagulant Bait In Suppressing Commensal Rodents In Hawaii, Aaron B. Shiels, Tyler Bogardus, Jobriath Rohrer, Kapua Kawelo

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Commensal rodents (invasive rats, Rattus spp.; house mice, Mus musculus) are well established globally. They threaten human health by disease transfer and impact economies by causing agricultural damage. On island landscapes, they are frequent predators of native species and affect biodiversity. To provide managers with better information regarding methods to suppress commensal rodent populations in remote island forests, in 2016 we evaluated the effectiveness of continuous rat trapping using snap-traps, Goodnature® A24 self-resetting rat traps, and a 1-time (2-application) hand-broadcast of anticoagulant rodenticide bait pellets (Diphacinone-50) applied at 13.8 kg/ha per application in a 5-ha forest on Oahu, Hawaii, USA. …

Microbiome-Gut-Brain Axis As A Biomolecular Communication Network For The Internet Of Bio-Nanothings, Ian F. Akyildiz, Jiande Chen, Maysam Ghovanloo, Ulkuhan Guler, Tevhide Ozkaya-Ahmadov, Massimiliano Pierobon, A Faith Sarioglu, Bige D. Unluturk

School of Computing: Faculty Publications

This article presents fundamental challenges in the development of a self-sustainable and biocompatible network infrastructure to interconnect the next-generation electrical and biological wearable and implantable devices, i.e., the Internet of Bio-NanoThings. The direct contact of IoBNT devices with the human body, where the cells naturally communicate and organize into networks, suggests the possibility to exploit these biological communications for the device-to-device interconnection. The aim of this work is to investigate minimally invasive, heterogeneous, and externally accessible electrical/molecular communication channels to transmit information between these devices through the Microbiome-Gut-Brain Axis (MGBA), composed of the gut microbial community, the gut tissues, the …

Application Strategy For An Anthraquinonebased Repellent And The Protection Of Soybeans From Canada Goose Depredation, Scott J. Werner, Matthew Gottlob, Charles D. Dieter, Joshua D. Stafford

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Agricultural crops can sustain extensive damage caused by Canada geese (Branta canadensis) when these crops are planted near wetlands or brood-rearing sites. From 2000 to 2015, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks spent >$5.6 million to manage damages caused by Canada geese to agricultural crops (primarily soybeans) in South Dakota, USA. For the purpose of developing a repellent application strategy for nonlethal goose damage management, we comparatively evaluated the width of anthraquinone applications (i.e., 9.4 L Flight Control® Plus goose repellent/ha [active ingredient: 50% 9,10-anthraquinone] at 0–36 m versus 0–73 m perpendicular to the edge of wetlands in 2014), the …

A Review Of Rat Lungworm Infection And Recent Data On Its Definitive Hosts In Hawaii, Chris Niebuhr, Susan I. Jarvi, Shane R. Siers

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) is a zoonotic nematode that causes rat lungworm disease (angiostrongyliasis), a potentially debilitating form of meningitis, in humans worldwide. The definitive hosts for rat lungworm are primarily members of the genus Rattus, with gastropods as intermediate hosts. This parasite has emerged as an important public health concern in the United States, especially in Hawaii, where the number of human cases has increased in the last decade. Here we discuss the current knowledge of the rat lungworm, including information on the life cycle and host species, as well as updates on known infection levels. Three species of …

Estimating Waterbird Abundance On Catfish Aquaculture Ponds Using An Unmanned Aerial System, Paul C. Burr, Sathishkumar Samiappan, Lee A. Hathcock, Robert J. Moorhead, Brian S. Dorr

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In this study, we examined the use of an unmanned aerial system (UAS) to monitor fish-eating birds on catfish (Ictalurus spp.) aquaculture facilities in Mississippi, USA. We tested 2 automated computer algorithms to identify bird species using mosaicked imagery taken from a UAS platform. One algorithm identified birds based on color alone (color segmentation), and the other algorithm used shape recognition (template matching), and the results of each algorithm were compared directly to manual counts of the same imagery. We captured digital imagery of great egrets (Ardea alba), great blue herons (A. herodias), and doublecrested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) on aquaculture …

Gamma Sigma Delta, Nebraska Chapter Newsletter, Issue #58 Fall 2019

Gamma Sigma Delta, Nebraska Chapter: Newsletters

Important dates

President's message, Gary Brewer

Nebraska Chapter and undergraduate members recognized by Gamma Sigma Delta International

University of Nebraska is the FY2019 recipient of the Outstanding Chapter Award

Micha Most is the 2019 recipient of the Honor Society of Agriculture Gamma Sigma Delta International Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship

Katlin Taylor is the 2019 recipient of the John Riley Service Scholarship

Gamma Sigma Delta committees 2019

Gamma Sigma Delta 2020 annual dues notice for Nebraska Chapter

Membership renewal form

Gamma Sigma Delta Outstanding Graduate Student Award fund

In memoriam: Robert Carl Sorensen (July 24, 1933-June 4, 2019), former Professor of Agronomy, …

Demographics Of A Painted Turtle (Chrysemys Picta) Population Responding To Drought In The Nebraska Sandhills, Allyson Beard

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

A large portion of herpetofauna species are declining as a result of anthropogenic influences such as habitat destruction and climate change, and turtles are no exception. Studying demographics of turtle populations in a wide variety of settings could help establish a baseline for future species management because demographics such as survival and movement are essential to understanding the ecology of a species. We conducted a long-term mark-recapture study on painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) in a permanent pond in the Nebraska Sandhills to exam population size, survival, and movement of an aquatic turtle as drought conditions changed in a …

Eastern Iowa Farmers’ Attitudes Towards The Incorporation Of Prairie Strips In Agricultural Fields And Economic Incentives, Ashley E. Becker, Robin A. Anderson, Amy C. Blair

RURALS: Review of Undergraduate Research in Agricultural and Life Sciences

Extreme prairie habitat loss in Iowa due to the conversion of land to agricultural fields has resulted in negative consequences, including increased erosion, increased runoff, and decreased biodiversity. By incorporating prairie strips into agricultural fields, the aforementioned consequences can be minimized. This practice is the initiative of the Science-based Trials of Rowcrops Integrated with Prairie Strips (STRIPS) team at Iowa State University. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers economic incentives for incorporating conservation practices like prairie strips, yet prairie strip use is not widespread. To examine this issue, the attitudes of ten farmers towards employing these practices were measured …