Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Livestock Grazing On Rangeland Biodiversity: A Meta-Analysis Of Grouse Populations, Seth J. Dettenmaier, Terry A. Messmer, Torre J. Hovick, David K. Dahlgren

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Livestock grazing affects over 60% of the world’s agricultural lands and can influence rangeland ecosystem services and the quantity and quality of wildlife habitat, resulting in changes in biodiversity. Concomitantly, livestock grazing has the potential to be detrimental to some wildlife species while benefiting other rangeland organisms. Many imperiled grouse species require rangeland landscapes that exhibit diverse vegetation structure and composition to complete their life cycle. However, because of declining populations and reduced distributions, grouse are increasingly becoming a worldwide conservation concern. Grouse, as a suite of upland gamebirds, are often considered an umbrella species for other wildlife and thus …

Understanding The Contributions Of Beef Cattle To Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Elizabeth Stewart, Eric Thacker, Matthew D. Garcia, Juan J. Villalba

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes current and projected beef consumption, methane, nitrogen, beef cattle production, and possibilities for more sustainable beef production.

Growing Hummingbird Mint In Utah Gardens, Taun Beddes, Michael Caron

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes hummingbird mints, a group of ornamental herbaceous perennials, that bloom from early summer to fall. It describes varieties, fertilization, planting and irrigation, diseases and pests and maintenance.

Mental Health, Information Literacy, And The Slenderman Stabbing Case, Rachel Robinson-Greene

Languages, Philosophy, and Communication Studies Faculty Publications

On May 31, 2014, two 12-year-old girls lured a friend, also 12, into the woods with the promise of a game of hide-and-seek. Once there, one of the girls pinned their friend down, while the other stabbed her 19 times with a long-bladed kitchen knife, causing serious injuries to major organs and arteries. The young perpetrators then fled the scene, leaving their young friend to die of her injuries. Miraculously, the victim survived. She was able to crawl to a road where a cyclist found her and went for help.

The Utah Statesman, September 26, 2017, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Commentary: Wildlife Tourism As Crop Protection? Double-Goal Provisioning And The Transvaluation Of The Macaque In Postwar Japan, John Knight

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Human–wildlife interfaces are often sites of friction and conflict in the form of crop and livestock depredations that can lead to negative local attitudes towards the animals responsible. This paper examines the use of provisioning to reduce wildlife damage through diversion (‘diversionary feeding’) and to display the diverted animals for tourism. It focuses on a macaque (Macaca fuscata) provisioning initiative from the municipality of Ōita in western Japan that set out to achieve these two objectives of crop protection and tourism. Provisioning succeeded in establishing the macaques as a popular tourist attraction, but it has been far less …

Use Of Soil Chemical Analysis To Detect Commercial Wildlife Game Baits, Aaron Haines, Angela Fetterolf, Meta Griffin, Tristan Conrad, Steven Kennedy

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Hunters and poachers often use commercially-available, nutrient-rich baits to attract wildlife game animals. We used atomic absorption spectroscopy and ion selective electrochemical analysis techniques to determine whether two common proprietary baits (Deer Cane and Acorn Rage) would leave detectable chemical signatures in soil (i.e., Na⁺, Cl^-, and Ca⁺²). Our goal was to evaluate low cost tests which could be replicated by wildlife conservation officers in the field. To complete the evaluation we randomly placed two commercial baits on 3 sites in The Millersville University Biological Preserve in Millersville, PA. We collected soils samples from …

Humans As Prey: Coping With Large Carnivore Attacks Using A Predator-Prey Interaction Perspective, Vincenzo Penteriani, Giulia Bombieri, José María Fedriani, José Vicente López-Bao, Pedro José Garrote, Luca Francesco Russo, María Del Mar Delgado

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The number of attacks on humans by large carnivores in North America is increasing. A better understanding the factors triggering such attacks is critical to mitigating the risk of future encounters in landscape where humans and large carnivore co-exist. Since 1955, of the 632 attacks on humans by large carnivores, 106 (17%) involved predation. We draw on concepts and empirical evidence from the Predator-Prey Interaction Theory to provide insights into how to reduce predatory attacks and, thus, improve human-large carnivore co-existence. Because large carnivore-caused mortality risks for humans are comparable to those shown by other mammal species in response to …

Community Perceptions Of Grivet Monkey Crop Depredation In The Ethiopian Highlands: Implications For Primate Conservation, Aschalew Alelign, Meheretu Yonas

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Human–primate conflicts in Africa have been increasing due to increased human population growth and the resulting competition for forest resources. The Ethiopian Highlands in northern Ethiopia, home to the grivet monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops), once consisted of large forested areas. This region has been severely denuded and now exhibits only small forest patches remaining at sites with special cultural significance in the immediate vicinity of churches. These forest patches, surrounded by agricultural crops, provide refugia habitat for the grivet monkey. We randomly surveyed 50 villagers living near the Batiero Church Forest, a 45-ha forest patch located in northern Ethiopia, to determine …

Do You Hear What I Hear? Human Perception Of Coyote Group Size, Kyle Brewster, Scott E. Henke, Alfonso Ortega, John Tomecek, Benjamin Turner

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Recordings of 1 – 4 coyotes (Canis latrans) that were howling and yip-yapping were played to 427 participants who were asked to estimate the number of coyotes they perceived to hear. Participants were separated by gender (M or F), age group ( 35), resident location (urban, suburban, or rural), and occupation type (rancher/farmer or non-rancher/farmer). Differences between participants concerning gender, age group, resident location, and occupation type were not observed; however, treatment differences were observed. Participants were able to discern differences in the number of coyotes howling with the addition of each coyote; however, participants consistently overestimated the …

Food Habits And Anthropogenic Supplementation In Coyote Diets Along An Urban-Rural Gradient, Erica Santana, Jim Armstrong

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Coyotes are recent colonists of the Southeast and have broadened their niche to include exploitation of urban areas. The aim of this study was to examine diet of coyotes inhabiting areas of differential development by humans and assess prevalence of anthropogenic feeding, to detect a possible shift in dietary trends. In urban, exurban, and rural areas of east-central Alabama, 159 fecal samples were collected and examined to reconstruct the diet. Consumption of anthropogenic food did not vary significantly along an urban-rural gradient and foods consumed were similar among habitats. While results of this study can provide insight to guide decisions …

Using Resident-Based Hazing Programs To Reduce Human-Coyote Conflicts In Urban Environments, Mary Ann Bonnell, Stewart W. Breck

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Abstract The concept of hazing (aversive conditioning) is often promoted as a tool for reducing human-coyote (Canis latrans) conflicts in urban environments. Little scientific evidence exists on the effectiveness of hazing, particularly hazing applied by residents (i.e., community-level hazing). Wildlife professionals question if residents will properly and consistently apply hazing techniques and if hazing impacts coyote behavior over short- and long-term periods. We describe two separate efforts designed to encourage residents to haze coyotes in the Denver Metro Area; a citizen-science program and an open space hazing trial. Both efforts were intended to be management techniques that either …

Evaluating Lethal And Nonlethal Management Options For Urban Coyotes, Stewart W. Breck, Sharon A. Poessel, Mary Ann Bonnell

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Human-coyote conflict in urban environments is a growing issue in cities throughout the United States with the primary problem being the development of problem individuals that are overly bold and aggressive with people and pets. Little research has focused on management options to deal with this conflict. We better define lethal and nonlethal management strategies associated with proactive and reactive management of coyotes with an emphasis on management of problem individuals. We then provide data from research in the Denver Metropolitan Area (DMA) that focused on reactive lethal removal of problem coyotes and reactive nonlethal hazing (i.e., community-level hazing, a …

Coyote Attacks On Humans, 1970-2015: Implications For Reducing The Risks, Rex O. Baker, Robert M. Timm

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Beginning with the emerging pattern of urban and suburban coyotes (Canis latrans) attacking humans in southern California in the late 1970s, we analyzed information from reported attacks to better understand the factors contributing to changes in coyote behavior. We subsequently used updated data collected largely in urban and suburban environments in the United States and Canada during the past 30 years to develop strategies to reduce the risk of attacks. In the 1990s, increased incidents of coyote attacks were reported in states beyond California and in Canadian provinces. We documented 367 attacks on humans by coyotes from 1977 …

In The News, Jason Matthews, Joe Caudell

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

Improving The Pcr Protocol To Amplify A Repetitive Dna Sequence, J. Riet, L.R. V. Ramos, Randolph V. Lewis, L. F. Marins

Biology Faculty Publications

Although PCR-based techniques have become an essential tool in the field of molecular and genetic research, the amplification of repetitive DNA sequences is limited. This is due to the truncated nature of the amplified sequences, which are also prone to errors during DNA polymerase-based amplification. The complex structure of repetitive DNA can form hairpin loops, which promote dissociation of the polymerase from the template, impairing complete amplification, and leading to the formation of incomplete fragments that serve as megaprimers. These megaprimers anneal with other sequences, generating unexpected fragments in each PCR cycle. Our gene model, MaSp1, is 1037-bp long, …

The Utah Statesman, September 19, 2017, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Agenda, September 18, 2017, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• EPC Annual Report
• Honors Program Report
• Parking Committee Annual Report
• Libraries Advisory Council Annual Report
  
  
  

The Utah Statesman, September 12, 2017, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Faculty Senate Agenda, September 11, 2017, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Research & Graduate Studies
• Graduate School Feedback

Curriculum Subcommittee Agenda, September 7, 2017, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

Program Proposals

• Adding a school-based and community-based emphases to the Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Education
• Offering a Masters in Communication Sciences
• Offering an Interfaith Leadership Certificate of Proficiency

Semester Course Approval Reviews

Other

• Revised R401 Process and Timeline
• Syllabus Updates
• Curriculog Update

Moral Obligations In Hurricane Conditions, Rachel Robinson-Greene

Languages, Philosophy, and Communication Studies Faculty Publications

On August 25, Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas. The storm devastated the state, destroying homes and business and claiming many lives. Faced with such dire circumstances, many people living in Texas found and continue to find themselves in need of assistance from others. Many have stepped up to provide support. At least two prominent donors faced public criticism for their donation efforts. Popular television cook Rachel Ray donated $1 million specifically to shelters providing disaster relief to animals. Actress Ruby Rose took to Twitter to announce her intention to match donations up to $10,000 for relief to the Montrose …

Educational Policies Committee Agenda, September 7, 2017, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Subcommittee Reports
• Curriculum Subcommittee
• Course Approvals
• Program Proposals
• Academic Standards Subcommittee
• General Education Subcommittee

The Utah Statesman, September 5, 2017, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Interest Exceeds Understanding In Public Support Of Bee Conservation, Joseph S. Wilson, Matthew L. Forister, Olivia Messinger Carril

Biology Faculty Publications

Recent analyses suggesting that certain populations of bees may be declining have led to a variety of conservation efforts, many of which rely on public support and participation. However, little is known about the public's knowledge of bee diversity. We carried out a survey to measure public understanding of bee diversity and found that although 99% of respondents believed that bees are critical or important, only 14% were able to guess within 1000 the actual number of bee species in the US. Furthermore, when reviewing a selection of photographs depicting various insects, many respondents were unable to discern bees from …

Studies Of Wolf X Coyote Hybridization Via Artificial Insemination, L. David Mech, Cheryl S. Asa, Margaret Callahan, Bruce W. Christensen, Fran Smith, Julie K. Young

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Following the production of western gray wolf (Canis lupus) x western coyote (Canis latrans) hybrids via artificial insemination (AI), the present article documents that the hybrids survived in captivity for at least 4 years and successfully bred with each other. It further reports that backcrossing one of the hybrids to a male gray wolf by AI also resulted in the birth of live pups that have survived for at least 10 months. All male hybrids (F1 and F2) produced sperm by about 10 months of age, and sperm quality of the F1 males fell within the …

Disaster Losses And Related Tax Rules, Jc Hobbs

Rural Tax Education

The dollar value of property losses due to fires, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, lightning, freezes, etc. can be substantial. Federal income tax regulations often provide relief by allowing deductions for losses of both business-use and personal-use property. This fact sheet describes losses to property, the process used to determine if you have a deductible loss, how insurance proceeds and cost share benefits are treated, and how to reconstruct records to document a loss. Examples help explain the rules that apply to property found on the farm including buildings, machinery, livestock, feed, supplies, personal residence and the contents and personal vehicles. A …

The Back Page: Management Or Emotions - What Do The People Think?, Terry A. Messmer

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Over the last several months, I have participated on a national steering committee that organized and conducted the National Wild Horse and Burro (WHB) Summit. The Summit was held in Salt Lake City, Utah, August 22–24, 2017. My role was to put together a program that reviewed the role of science in WHB policies and management. The program was designed to inform and educate an audience that expressed an interest in WHB management and a concern that status quo management wasn’t working. Attendees represented a wide and diverse audience of >100 groups, organizations, and agencies, including representatives of horse advocacy …

Comparison Of Proteomic Profiles Of The Venoms Of Two Of The 'Big Four' Snakes Of India, The Indian Cobra (Naja Naja) Andthe Common Krait (Bungarus Caeruleus), And Analyses Of Their Toxins, Manisha Choudhury, Ryan J.R. Mccleary, Manish Kesherwani, R. Manjunatha Kini, Devadasan Velmurugan

Biology Faculty Publications

Snake venoms are mixtures of biologically-active proteins and peptides, and several studies have described the characteristics of some of these toxins. However, complete proteomic profiling of the venoms of many snake species has not yet been done. The Indian cobra (Naja naja) and common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) are elapid snake species that are among the ‘Big Four’ responsible for the majority of human snake envenomation cases in India. As understanding the composition and complexity of venoms is necessary for successful treatment of envenomation in humans, we utilized three different proteomic profiling approaches to characterize these venoms: i) one-dimensional SDS-PAGE coupled …

The Nuclear And Mitochondrial Genomes Of The Facultatively Eusocial Orchid Bee Euglossa Dilemma, Philipp Brand, Nicholas Saleh, Hailin Pan, Cai Li, Karen M. Kapheim, Santiago R. Ramírez

Biology Faculty Publications

Bees provide indispensable pollination services to both agricultural crops and wild plant populations, and several species of bees have become important models for the study of learning and memory, plant–insect interactions, and social behavior. Orchid bees (Apidae: Euglossini) are especially important to the fields of pollination ecology, evolution, and species conservation. Here we report the nuclear and mitochondrial genome sequences of the orchid bee Euglossa dilemma Bembé & Eltz. E. dilemma was selected because it is widely distributed, highly abundant, and it was recently naturalized in the southeastern United States. We provide a high-quality assembly of the 3.3 Gb genome, …