Digital Commons Network^™

Invasive Coqui Frogs Are Associated With Differences In Mongoose And Rat Abundances And Diets In Hawaii, Shane A. Hill, Karen H. Beard, Shane R. Siers, Aaron B. Shiels

Ecology Center Publications

With the increasing rate of species being introduced to areas outside of their native ranges, non-natives are likely to interact in ways that influence each other’s populations. The high densities of invasive coqui frogs (Eleutherodactylus coqui) in Hawaii have been hypothesized to increase non-native mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) and rat (Rattus spp.) abundances, and in turn increase bird nest depredation rates. We compared the relative abundances of rats and mongooses and artificial bird nest predation rates at 12 sites that had plots with similar habitat invaded and not invaded by coqui frogs across the island of …

Comparison Of Nest Defense Behaviors Of Goshawks (Accipiter Gentilis) From Finland And Montana, Marilyn Wright, Risto Tornberg, Dustin H. Ranglack, Nate Bickford

Biology Student Research

As human impacts on wildlife have become a topic of increasing interest, studies have focused on issues such as overexploitation and habitat loss. However, little research has examined potential anthropogenic impacts on animal behavior. Understanding the degree to which human interaction may alter natural animal behavior has become increasingly important in developing effective conservation strategies. We examined two populations of northern goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) in Montana and Finland. Goshawks in Finland were not protected until the late 1980s, and prior to this protection were routinely shot, as it was believed that shooting goshawks would keep grouse populations high. In the …

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Agenda, March 18, 2019, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• EPC Monthly Report - March 7, 2019
• 2019-2020 Faculty Senate Calendar
• Budget and Faculty Welfare Annual Report
• Research and Graduate Studies Annual Report
• 405.11.2 Term Appointment Promotions (second reading)
• Library Discussion (subscription costs)
• Call for Nominations - Faculty Senate President Elect

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Minutes, March 18, 2019, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• 2019-2020 Faculty Senate Calendar
• Budget Faculty Welfare Annual Report
• Research and Graduate Studies Annual Report
• Library Discussion (Subscription Costs) - Jeanne Davidson
• Spring Break 2020 Calendar Update
• Parking Committee Annual Report
• Koch Task Force Resolution

Chronosequence And Direct Observation Approaches Reveal Complementary Community Dynamics In A Novel Ecosystem, Andrew Kulmatiski, Karen H. Beard

Ecology Center Publications

Non-native, early-successional plants have been observed to maintain dominance for decades, particularly in semi-arid systems. Here, two approaches were used to detect potentially slow successional patterns in an invaded semi-arid system: chronosequence and direct observation. Plant communities in 25 shrub-steppe sites that represented a 50-year chronosequence of agricultural abandonment were monitored for 13 years. Each site contained a field abandoned from agriculture (ex-arable) and an adjacent never-tilled field. Ex-arable fields were dominated by short-lived, non-native plants. These ‘weedy’ communities had lower species richness, diversity and ground cover, and greater annual and forb cover than communities in never-tilled fields. Never-tilled fields …

Breeding Record Of The Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes Monachus (Timminek, 1823) At Emi Abumo Woro, Kogi State, Nigeria, K. L. Adang, D. Tanko, K. L. Saliu, Umarfarooq Abdulwahab

Watershed Sciences Student Research

The hooded vulture Necrosyrtes monachus is a critically endangered species and recently published evidence suggests that its population is experiencing an extremely rapid decline, owing to indiscriminate poisoning, trade for traditional medicine, hunting, persecution, electrocution, habitat loss and degradation. As a result of these threats, the species is gradually disappearing from its range and thus, the sighting of vultures or their nests is becoming very rare. This paper thus, presents a report on the sighting of the Hooded Vulture and its nest at Emi Abumo Woro Village, Kogi State, Nigeria. This is an evident and equally an indication that Emi …

Collaborative Research: Linking Ion Transport, Energetics And Species Distributions In Freshwater Ecosystems, Charles P. Hawkins

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Usu Researchers Model Effects Of Microgravity On Muscles During Spaceflight | College Of Engineering, Utah State University

College of Engineering News

Researchers at Utah State University are improving the ways we model muscle loss during spaceflight. Using a rotating cell culture device that simulates microgravity, a team of biological engineers tested various materials and methods to develop a protocol that mimics the physical changes seen in atrophying muscle.

Migratory Goose Arrival Time Plays A Larger Role In Influencing Forage Quality Than Advancing Springs In An Arctic Coastal Wetland, Karen H. Beard, Ryan T. Choi, A. Joshua Leffler, Lindsay G. Carlson, Katharine C. Kelsey, Joel A. Schmutz, Jeffrey M. Welker

Ecology Center Publications

With warmer springs, herbivores migrating to Arctic breeding grounds may experience phenological mismatches between their energy demands and the availability of high quality forage. Yet, how the timing of the start of the season and herbivore arrival influences forage quality is often unknown. In coastal western Alaska, approximately one million migratory geese arrive each spring to breed, where foliar %N and C:N ratios are linked to gosling survival and population growth. We conducted a three-year experiment where we manipulated the start of the growing season using warming chambers and grazing times using captive Pacific black brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) to …

Educational Policies Committee Program Proposal, College Of Agriculture And Applied Sciences, March 8, 2019 - Ranch Horse Management Certificate, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

The Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science in the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences proposes offering a Ranch Horse Management Certificate of Completion.

Lack Of Antinociceptive Cross-Tolerance With Co-Administration Of Morphine And Fentanyl Into The Periaqueductal Gray Of Male Sprague-Dawley Rats, Erin N. Bobeck, Shauna M. Schoo, Susan L. Ingram, Michael M. Morgan

Biology Faculty Publications

Tolerance to the antinociceptive effect of mu-opioid receptor (MOPr) agonists, such as morphine and fentanyl, greatly limits their effectiveness for long-term use to treat pain. Clinical studies have shown that combination therapy and opioid rotation can be used to enhance opioid-induced antinociception once tolerance has developed. The mechanism and brain regions involved in these processes are unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contribution of the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) to antinociceptive tolerance and cross-tolerance between administration and co- administration of morphine and fentanyl. Tolerance was induced by pretreating rats with morphine or fentanyl or low-dose combination …

Weak Spatiotemporal Response Of Prey To Predation Risk In A Freely Interacting System, Jeremy J. Cusack, Michel T. Kohl, Matthew C. Metz, Tim Coulson, Daniel R. Stahler, Douglas W. Smith, Daniel R. Macnulty

Ecology Center Publications

1. The extent to which prey space use actively minimizes predation risk continues to ignite controversy. Methodological reasons that have hindered consensus include inconsistent measurements of predation risk, biased spatiotemporal scales at which responses are measured and lack of robust null expectations.

2. We addressed all three challenges in a comprehensive analysis of the spatiotemporal responses of adult female elk (Cervus elaphus) to the risk of predation by wolves (Canis lupus) during winter in northern Yellowstone, USA.

3. We quantified spatial overlap between the winter home ranges of GPS-collared elk and three measures of predation risk: …

Inducing Reversions Between Asexual And Sexual Reproductive Strategies In Daphnia, Alex Braeger

Research on Capitol Hill

We are testing the effects of numerous treatments (both chemical and non-chemical) on crustaceans, with the goal of controlling the male to female ratio and the method of reproduction they use (sexual or asexual).

Fermentation Of Prebiotics In Whole Food Powders By Probiotic Bacteria Strains, Michaela Brubaker, Sumira Phatak

Research on Capitol Hill

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Modification of the gut microbiome offers potential for CRC prevention.

Camera Surveys To Monitor Small Mammals In Cedar Breaks National Monument, Ethan Hammer

Research on Capitol Hill

Using remote cameras to capture photos of wildlife is an increasingly common way to monitor and document species populations.

To detect an animal with a remote camera, the animal must:

• Have enough body heat to trigger the camera
• Move slowly enough to allow for a sharp picture to be taken

Small mammals often fail to meet these two requirements for detection, as they move quickly and produce less heat. As a result, current camera trapping methods miss many species.

We have developed a ‘small mammal’ method that will try to fix the problems that come with camera trapping small mammals. …

Germ Cell-Depleted Ovaries Improve Metabolic Health In Post-Reproductive Mice, Kyleigh Tyler

Research on Capitol Hill

Reproductive senescence is correlated with many deleterious heath conditions. In human females, the decline of health associated with reproductive function is termed “menopause.“ One of the declining health factors is metabolism.

In order to understand how ovaries contribute to metabolic health, we further studied the structure of ovaries. Within ovaries, there are two main types of cells:

• Germ Cells (oocyte): Play a central role in reproduction (egg)
• Somatic Cells: Supporting cells for germ cells

This study aimed to understand the relationship between germ cells and somatic cells and how this relationship influenced metabolism.

Draft Genome Assembly And Population Genetics Of An Agricultural Pollinator, The Solitary Alkali Bee (Halictidae: Nomia Melanderi), Karen M. Kapheim, Hailin Pan, Cai Li, Charles Blatti Ill, Brock A. Harpur, Panagiotis Ioannidis, Beryl M. Jones, Clement F. Kent, Livio Ruzzante, Laura Sloofman, Eckart Stolle, Robert M. Waterhouse, Amro Zayed, Guojie Zhang, William T. Wcislo

Biology Faculty Publications

Alkali bees (Nomia melanderi) are solitary relatives of the halictine bees, which have become an important model for the evolution of social behavior, but for which few solitary comparisons exist. These ground-nesting bees defend their developing offspring against pathogens and predators, and thus exhibit some of the key traits that preceded insect sociality. Alkali bees are also efficient native pollinators of alfalfa seed, which is a crop of major economic value in the United States. We sequenced, assembled, and annotated a high-quality draft genome of 299.6 Mbp for this species. Repetitive content makes up more than one-third of …

Measuring And Building Soil Health, Matt Yost, Grant Cardon, Brad Crookston, Jennifer Reeve, Earl Creech

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provide facts about soil health and will help land managers understand what soil health is, how to measure it, and how to potentially build it on their soils.

Livestock Grazing And Sage-Grouse: Science, Policy, And The 7-Inch Rule, David K. Dahlgren, Eric Thacker

All Current Publications

This fact sheet discusses livestock grazing and its impact on sage-grouse.

Long-Term Evidence For Fire As An Ecohydrologic Threshold-Reversal Mechanism On Woodland-Encroached Sagebrush Shrublands, Christopher Jason Williams, Frederick B. Pierson, Sayjro K. Nouwakpo, Patrick R. Kormos, Osama Z. Al-Hamdan, Mark A. Weltz

Articles

Encroachment of sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) shrublands by pinyon (Pinus spp.) and juniper (Juniperus spp.) conifers (woodland encroachment) induces a shift from biotic‐controlled resource retention to abiotic‐driven loss of soil resources. This shift is driven by a coarsening of the vegetation structure with increasing dominance of site resources by trees. Competition between the encroaching trees and understory vegetation for limited soil and water resources facilitates extensive bare intercanopy area between trees and concomitant increases in run‐off and erosion that, over time, propagate persistence of the shrubland‐to‐woodland conversion. We evaluated whether tree removal by burning can decrease late‐succession woodland …

Injury Scores And Spatial Responses Of Wolves Following Capture: Cable Restraints Versus Foothold Traps, Eric M. Gese, Patricia A. Terletzky, John D. Erb, Kevin C. Fuller, Jeffery P. Grabarkewitz, John P. Hart, Carolin Humpal, Barry A. Sampson, Julie K. Young

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Wolves (Canis lupus) have been captured with foothold traps for several decades to equip them with radiocollars for population monitoring. However, trapping in most areas is limited to spring, summer, and autumn as cold winter temperatures can lead to frozen appendages in trapped animals. In addition, conflicts arise when domestic dogs encounter these traps in nonwinter seasons. An alternative capture method is the use of cable restraint devices (modified neck snares) in the winter. We evaluated injury scores, movement patterns, and space use of wolves captured in cable restraint devices and foothold traps in north‐central Minnesota, USA, during …

Congruent Phylogenetic Relationships Of Melaphidina Aphids (Aphididae: Eriosomatinae: Fordini) According To Nuclear And Mitochondrial Dna Data With Taxonomic Implications On Generic Limits, Zhumei Ren, Carol D. Von Dohlen, A. J. Harris, Rebecca B. Dikow, Xu Su, Jun Wen

Biology Faculty Publications

Melaphidina aphids (Rhus-gall aphids; Eriosomatinae: Fordini) comprise five genera from eastern Asia and one monotypic genus from eastern North America. Melaphidina are unique in feeding on plant species of Rhus subgenus Rhus (Anacardiaceae), on which they form galls during the summer. The phylogenetic relationships among some species of Melaphidina aphids remain controversial. In this study, we sought to resolve the backbone phylogeny of Melaphidina aphids by sampling 15 accessions representing all six genera, all species, and all subspecies except Meitanaphis microgallis using 20 gene regions: five nuclear genes as well as 13 protein-coding genes and two rRNA genes …

Voices From Drug Court: Partnering To Bring Historically Excluded Communities Into The Archives, Randy Williams, Jennifer Duncan

Journal of Western Archives

While many archivists have evolved their professional scope to bring diversity into their collections, we posit that much can still be done. One area for growth is greater work by archival professionals to partner with communities to help them tell and preserve their own stories, incorporating a community’s own perspective and goals. This article discusses the community-based project between the Cache Valley Utah Drug Court and Utah State University Library’s Special Collections & Archives. The project was conceived and co-managed by Andrew Dupree (name used with permission), a participant and now graduate of the Cache Valley Drug Court. Perhaps the …

Death By State? The Country Discusses Abolition Of Capital Punishment, Rachel Robinson-Greene

Languages, Philosophy, and Communication Studies Faculty Publications

Many Netflix viewers in recent weeks have familiarized themselves with the details of a set of notorious crimes committed by a criminal executed by the state of Florida in the 1980’s. The Ted Bundy Tapes tells the story of the life and crimes of Theodore Robert Bundy, a depraved serial killer who raped, tortured, and killed women and engaged in necrophilic acts with their bodies. A case like Bundy’s is just the kind of case that motivates supporters of the death penalty in their arguments for the claim that capital punishment is a moral necessity.

The Utah Statesman, February 19, 2019, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Muscle Atrophy Marker Expression Differs Between Rotary Cell Culture System And Animal Studies, Charles P. Harding, Elizabeth Vargis

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

Muscular atrophy, defined as the loss of muscle tissue, is a serious issue for immobilized patients on Earth and for humans during spaceflight, where microgravity prevents normal muscle loading. In vitro modeling is an important step in understanding atrophy mechanisms and testing countermeasures before animal trials. The most ideal environment for modeling must be empirically determined to best mimic known responses in vivo. To simulate microgravity conditions, murine C2C12 myoblasts were cultured in a rotary cell culture system (RCCS). Alginate encapsulation was compared against polystyrene microcarrier beads as a substrate for culturing these adherent muscle cells. Changes after culture …

The Utah Statesman, February 12, 2019, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Dacar Cas/Somali Red Aloe: A New Species Of Aloe (Asphodelaceae) From Somaliland, Mary E. Barkworth, Ahmed Ibrahim Awale, Faisal Jama Gelle

Biology Faculty Publications

A new species of Aloe (Asphodelaceae) is described from Somaliland. It differs from other species in forming large clumps and in having sap that is initially yellow but quickly turns bright red and then dark red or reddish-brown, paniculate red-flowered inflorescences and uniformly coloured leaves with red teeth. Its recognition raises the number of species known from the combined area of Somaliland and Somalia s.s. from 31 to 36. A map portraying species density of Aloe by country, as that genus is now interpreted, shows that Aloe has its highest density on islands in the Indian Ocean but that, within …

Transition State Analysis Of The Reaction Catalyzed By The Phosphotriesterase From Sphingiobium Sp. Tcm1, Andrew N. Bigley, Dao Feng Xiang, Tamari Narindoshvili, Charlie W. Burgert, Alvan C. Hengge, Frank M. Raushel

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Organophosphorus flame retardants are stable toxic compounds used in nearly all durable plastic products and are considered major emerging pollutants. The phosphotriesterase from Sphingobium sp. TCM1 (Sb-PTE) is one of the few enzymes known to be able to hydrolyze organophosphorus flame retardants such as triphenyl phosphate and tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate. The effectiveness of Sb-PTE for the hydrolysis of these organophosphates appears to arise from its ability to hydrolyze unactivated alkyl and phenolic esters from the central phosphorus core. How Sb-PTE is able to catalyze the hydrolysis of the unactivated substituents is not known. To interrogate the catalytic …

A Pilot Study Of The Effects Of Mycoplasma Ovipneumoniae Exposure On Domestic Lamb Growth And Performance, Thomas E. Besser, Jessica Levy, Melissa Ackerman, Danielle Nelson, Kezia R. Manlove, Kathleen A. Potter, Jan Busboom, Margaret Benson

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae is a globally distributed pathogen that has been associated with pneumonia in both domestic and wild Caprinae. It is closely related to M. hyopneumoniae, a respiratory pathogen of swine that is associated with decreased growth rates of pigs as well as clinical respiratory disease. In order to assess the effects of M. ovipneumoniae on lamb performance, we generated a cohort of lambs free of M. ovipneumoniae by segregation of test negative ewes after lambing, then compared the growth and carcass quality traits of M. ovipneumoniae-free and -colonized lambs from weaning to harvest. Some signs of respiratory disease …