Digital Commons Network^™

Increased Soil Frost Versus Summer Drought As Drivers Of Plant Biomass Responses To Reduced Precipitation: Results From A Globally-Coordinated Field Experiment, Hugh A.L. Henry, Mehdi Abedi, Concepcion L. Alados, Karen H. Beard, Lauchlan H. Fraser, Anke Jentsch, Juergen Kreyling, Andrew Kulmatiski, Eric G. Lamb, Wei Sun, Mathew R. Vankoughnett, Susanna Venn, Christiane Werner, Ilka Beil, Irmgard Blindow, Sven Dahlke, Maren Dubbert, Alexandra Effinger, Heath W. Garris, Maite Gartzia, Tobias Gebauer, Mohammed A.S. Arfin Khan, Andrey V. Malyshev, Charles Nock, Janelle P. Paulson, Yolanda Pueyo, Holly J. Stover, Xuechen Yang

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Reduced precipitation treatments often are used in field experiments to explore the effects of drought on plant productivity and species composition. However, in seasonally snow-covered regions reduced precipitation also reduces snow cover, which can increase soil frost depth, decrease minimum soil temperatures and increase soil freeze-thaw cycles. Therefore, in addition to the effects of reduced precipitation on plants via drought, freezing damage to overwintering plant tissues at or below the soil surface could further affect plant productivity and relative species abundances during the growing season. We examined the effects of both reduced rainfall (via rain-out shelters) and reduced snow cover …

The Utah Statesman, February 20, 2018, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Agenda, February 20, 2018, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• EPC February Report
• Koch Task Force Framework

Dietary Intervention With Black Raspberries To Promote Gut Homeostasis And Prevent Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer, Abby D. Benninghoff

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Educational Policies Committee Agenda, February 1, 2018, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Curriculum Subcommittee
• Academic Standards Subcommittee
• General Education Subcommittee

Tremblings, February 2018, Western Aspen Alliance

Tremblings

Ten Years of Aspen Science Outreach

Paul C. Rogers

Like any 10-year-old, we still have a lot of growing up to do. We’re full of energy, regularly enduring bruises and bumps. What parent doesn’t look at their child after a decade and see great potential with a dash of trepidation? Still, 10 years is a significant landmark even after the candles are blown out. Let’s take a brief look at where the Western Aspen Alliance (WAA) has been and where we’re heading.

Curriculum Subcommittee Agenda, February 1, 2018, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

Program Proposal

• Offering a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Science
• Offering a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics
• Offering a Bachelor of Science in Food Science
• Establishing a Department of Marketing and Strategy
• Offering a Master of Science in Data Science

Semester Course Approval Reviews

Other

• Removing Semesters Traditionally Taught from Catalog Descriptions
• Zero Credit Classes
• R401 Process Flow Chart
• Syllabus Update
• Curriculog Input

Educational Policies Committee Minutes, February 1, 2018, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Curriculum Subcommittee report
• Academic Standards Subcommittee report
• General Education Subcommittee report

Curriculum Subcommittee Minutes, February 1, 2018, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

Program Proposal

• Offering a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Science
• Offering a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics
• Offering a Bachelor of Science in Food Science
• Establishing a Department of Marketing and Strategy
• Offering a Master of Science in Data Science

Semester Course Approval Reviews

Other

• Removing Semesters Traditionally Taught from Catalog Descriptions
• Zero Credit Classes
• Syllabus Update

A-Mode And B-Mode Ultrasound Measurement Of Fat Thickness: A Cadaver Validation Study, Dale R. Wagner, Brennan J. Thompson, D. Andy Anderson, Sarah Schwartz

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

Background/Objectives With technological advances, there has been a resurgence in ultrasound as a method to measure subcutaneous fat thickness. Despite the increased interest in this methodology, research comparing A-mode and B-mode ultrasound devices is lacking. Subcutaneous fat thickness measured by a low resolution (2.5 MHz) A-mode ultrasound and a high resolution (12 MHz) B-mode ultrasound were compared to the actual fat thickness in dissected cadavers.

Subjects/Methods Subcutaneous fat thickness of six cadavers was measured at the abdomen, thigh, triceps, and calf (plus chest for males and suprailiac for females) with both ultrasound devices before the cadavers were dissected and site-specific …

Condition-Dependence Of Blue Plumage Coverage In Indigo Buntings Passerina Cyanea, Spencer B. Hudson, Travis E. Wilcoxen

Biology Faculty Publications

Nuptial plumage colouration is seemingly favoured by females of avian species with regards to sexual selection. This particular secondary sexual characteristic has been previously shown to be a condition-dependent signal of individual quality among passerines with pigment-based colouration (i.e. yellows and reds). In contrast, relationships between structural plumage colouration (i.e. blues) and aspects of both physical quality and physiological function have been understudied. Using free-living Indigo Buntings (Passerina cyanea) as a study species, we compared the percentage of blue feather coverage to body condition, innate immune responses, antioxidant capacity, stress physiology, reproductive physiology, and …

Does Healthy Eating Cost More?, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos, Mary Ann Jorgensen, Carrie Durward

All Current Publications

Decisions regarding food choices are based on a variety of factors including cost, taste, convenience, and availability. Most people feel that nutritious foods cost more than foods higher in calories and low in other important nutrients. In effort to save money, people may select less nutritious foods when shopping resulting in less healthy meals and snacks. This is a problem because diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and healthy fats have been found to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease among many others.This fact sheet discusses the cost of healthy eating …

Learning To Listen To Hunger And Fullness Cues, Brittany Bingeman, Jaqueline Neid-Avila

All Current Publications

This fact sheet explains how learning to listen to internal cues, such as hunger and fullness signals, may encourage people to consume less calories and develop a healthier relationship with food .

Hidden Vegetables, Chelsea Feller, Carrie Durward

All Current Publications

It can be difficult to get children to eat enough vegetables, especially if they are picky eaters. Hiding vegetables in other dishes is one way to avoid any disliked flavors or textures. However, there are pros and cons to consider when taking this approach.

How To Nourish Mom And Baby Alike: Nutrition During Pregnancy, Marianne Olsen, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos, Carrie Durward

All Current Publications

This fact sheet offers weight gain and nutrition suggestions that can improve the health of you and your baby during and after pregnancy.

Smoothies - Helpful Or Harmful?, Darla Stoker, Carrie Durward

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes the benefits and drawbacks of including smoothies in the diet.

Evaluating The Impact Of An Exotic Plant Invasion On Rodent Community Richness And Abundance, Trinity N. Smith, Eric M. Gese, Bryan M. Kluever

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), Russian thistle (Salsola kali), and tall tumblemustard (Sisymbrium altissimum) are nonnative plants widely distributed throughout the desert and shrubsteppe communities of the western United States. The impact of these invaders on plant community structure, form, and function has been well documented, but investigations determining the impacts of this cumulative invasion on terrestrial vertebrates have not been undertaken. Our objective was to assess community-level rodent responses to changes in plant community features, with an emphasis on dominance of invasive plant species. We sampled rodent and plant communities in the Great Basin Desert …

Educational Policies Committee Agenda, January 4, 2018, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Curriculum Subcommittee
• Academic Standards Subcommittee
• General Education Subcommittee

Curriculum Subcommittee Agenda, January 4, 2018, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

Program Proposals

• Offering a Masters of Fine Arts in Movement Studies
• Offering a Bachelor of Art in Portuguese
• Offering a Graduate Certificate in Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration

Semester Course Approval Reviews

Other

• Zero Credit Classes
• R401 Process Flow Chart
• Syllabus Update
• USU Advising
• Curriculog Input

Cultivate Spring/Summer 2018, Utah State University

Cultivate Magazine

No abstract provided.

Applied Mathematical Programming, Man-Keun Kim, Bruce A. Mccarl, Thomas H. Spreen

Textbooks

This book is intended to both serve as a reference guide and a text for a course on Applied Mathematical Programming for upper undergraduate and Master level students in Economics, Applied Economics, Agricultural and Resource Economics, and Management; primarily based on McCarl and Spreen (2013). The material presented in McCarl and Spreen (2013) concentrates upon conceptual issues, problem formulation, computerized problem solution, and results interpretation; it is designed for the advanced readers who are familiar with mathematical economics including linear and matrix algebra and also with advanced modeling skills. Upper level undergraduate and/or Master students may not be beneficial from …

Cultivate Fall/Winter 2018, Utah State University

Cultivate Magazine

Bi-annual magazine for the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences.

Librarians In The Lead: A Case For Interdisciplinary Faculty Collaboration On Assignment Design, Rachel Wishkoski, Kacy Lundstrom, Erin Davis

Library Faculty & Staff Publications

Assignment design provides a potential niche for librarians to fill in improving research assignments and in providing opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration on teaching, but this can be difficult work to claim as librarians. In the 2016-2017 academic year, a team of three librarians at Utah State University, a mid-size research university, piloted an assignment design workshop for faculty. Based on a model developed by the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (NILOA), our workshop’s core component was a structured, librarian-facilitated small group discussion among three to four faculty members from a range of academic departments. Interdisciplinary conversation about teaching research …

Twenty Years Of Spayvac® Research: Potential Implications For Regulating Feral Horse And Burro Populations In The United States, Ursula S. Bechert, Mark A. Fraker

Human–Wildlife Interactions

There are currently >75,000 feral horses (Equus ferus caballus) and burros (E. asinus ) on U.S. public lands, yet the Appropriate Management Level (AML) is set at just under 27,000. Wildlife managers, conservation biologists, and livestock ranchers are concerned about the impacts that these free-ranging horses have on shared rangelands. Immunocontraceptive vaccines may have the greatest potential to regulate horse population numbers once AML is reached; however, the vaccine must have multi-year efficacy to be both technically feasible and cost-effective. Immunocontraception based on porcine zona pellucida (PZP)-specific antigens is highly tissue-specific, targeting the ova, and blocking sperm binding through antibody …

Managing Human-Habituated Bears To Enhance Survival, Habitat Effectiveness, And Public Viewing, Kerry A. Gunther, Katharine R. Wilmot, Steven L. Cain, Travis C. Wyman, Eric G. Reinertson, Amanda M. Bramblett

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The negative impacts on bears (Ursus spp.) from human activities associated with roads and developments are well documented. These impacts include displacement of bears from high-quality foods and habitats, diminished habitat effectiveness, and reduced survival rates. Additionally, increased public visitations to national parks accompanied with benign encounters with bears along park roads have caused more bears to habituate to the presence of people. In some contexts, habituation can predispose bears to being exposed to and rewarded by anthropogenic foods, which can also lower survival rates. The managers and staff of Yellowstone National Park located in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, …

Framing Contemporary U.S. Wild Horse And Burro Management Processes In A Dynamic Ecological, Sociological, And Political Environment, J. Derek Scasta, Jacob D. Hennig, Jeffrey L. Beck

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act (WFRHBA) of 1971 established all “unbranded or unclaimed” equids on U.S. public lands as “living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West.” Today, >72,000 feral horses (Equus ferus caballus) and burros (E . asinus ; WHB) live on western U.S. public rangelands. The number of WHBs exceeds the Bureau of Land Management’s maximum Appropriate Management Level (AML) of 26,715 by a factor of approximately 2.7 and has nearly doubled from 2007–2015. The AML was set to balance WHB numbers with rangeland health and support other uses such as wildlife habitat …

Resource Selection Of Free-Ranging Horses Influenced By Fire In Northern Canada, Sonja E. R. Leverkus, Samuel D. Fuhlendorf, Marten Geertsema, Brady W. Allred, Mark Gregory, Alexandre R. Bevington, David M. Engle, J. Derek Scasta

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Free-ranging or feral horses (Equus ferus caballus) were important to the livelihood of First Nations and indigenous communities in Canada. The early inhabitants of the boreal region of British Columbia (BC) capitalized on naturally occurring wildfires and anthropogenic burning to provide forage for free-ranging horses and manage habitat for wildlife. This form of pyric herbivory, or grazing driven by fi re via the attraction to the palatable vegetation in recently burned areas, is an evolutionary disturbance process that occurs globally. However, its application to manage forage availability for free-ranging horses has not been studied in northern Canada. Across Canada, there …

Experimental Tests Of Nonsurgical Reproductive Inhibitors To Prevent Coyote Reproduction, Julie K. Young, Marjorie J. Macgregor, Eric M. Gese, Douglas C. Eckery

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Sterilization is an effective nonlethal tool to reduce livestock depredation by coyotes (Canis latrans) because adults without pups to provision are less likely to kill livestock. Surgical sterilization is costly and invasive, so identifying non-surgical methods for canids that allows wide-scale application is important. We conducted a preliminary assessment of two types of reproductive inhibitors (gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine and deslorelin, a GnRH agonist, on coyote reproductive capabilities. We treated captive coyotes with a GnRH vaccine (n = 6 males, n = 6 females) or deslorelin (n = 6 males), measured number of litters and pups born, …

Can The Vaquita Be Saved From Extinction?, Gerardo Rodríguez-Quiroz, Wenceslao Valenzuela-Quiñonez, Héctor A. González-Ocampo, Alfredo Ortega-Rubio

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The vaquita (Phocoena sinus) is considered the world’s most endangered marine mammal. It is the smallest member of the porpoise family endemic to the upper part of the Gulf of California. The current population is estimated at less than 30 individuals. The primary reasons for the species decline includes limited habitat and incidental mortalities associated with illegal gillnet fishing activities. Since 2008, the Mexican government has taken environmental and economic actions to protect the vaquita’s focusing in reducing by-catch deaths to zero. In 2015, a federal Agreement decreed by the Secretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería, Desarrollo Rural, Pesca y …

Lead Concentrations In White-Tailed Deer Tissue Due To Retained Bullets, Meghan C. Zimmer, Tod L. Osier

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Mobilization of lead from retained bullets may lead to elevated lead levels in game tissue with consequences for consumers. We investigated lead mobilization in 2 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) carrying retained lead ammunition from previous gunshot wounds. Lead concentrations in muscle tissue of deer with retained lead bullets were in the same range as control deer. In contrast, 1 deer had higher bone lead levels than controls, suggesting mobilization occurred. Our results suggest that lead mobilization to meat from retained lead bullets does not appear to pose a consumption risk for those consuming meat that is physically distant from lead …