Digital Commons Network^™

Guide To Quaking Aspen Ecology And Management With Emphasis On Bureau Of Land Management Lands In The Western United States, Paul C. Rogers

Aspen Bibliography

No abstract provided.

Genotypic Variability In Populus Tremula L. Affects How Anthropogenic Nitrogen Enrichment Influences Litter Decomposition, Franziska Bandau, Benedicte Riber Albrectsen, Riitta Julkunen-Tiitto, Michael J. Gundale

Aspen Bibliography

No abstract provided.

Can Carbon Fluxes Explain Differences In Soil Organic Carbon Storage Under Aspen And Conifer Forest Overstories?, Antra Boca, Helga Van Miegroet

Aspen Bibliography

No abstract provided.

Aspen Health On National Forests In The Northern Rocky Mountain Region, James T. Blodgett, Kurt K. Allen, Kendra Schotzko, Al Dymerski

Aspen Bibliography

No abstract provided.

Climatic Sensitivity Of A Mixed Forest Association Of White Spruce And Trembling Aspen At Their Southern Range Limit, Sophan Chhin, G. Geoff Wang

Aspen Bibliography

No abstract provided.

Post-Glacial Biogeography Of Trembling Aspen Inferred From Habitat Models And Genetic Variance In Quantitative Traits, Chen Ding, Stefan G. Schreiber, David R. Roberts, Andreas Hamann, Jean S. Brouard

Aspen Bibliography

No abstract provided.

Maintaining Ecosystem Resilience: Functional Responses Of Tree Cavity Nesters To Logging In Temperate Forests Of The Americas, Jose Tomas Ibarra, Michaela Martin, Kristina L. Cockle, Kathy Martin

Aspen Bibliography

Logging often reduces taxonomic diversity in forest communities, but little is known about how this biodiversity loss affects the resilience of ecosystem functions. We examined how partial logging and clearcutting of temperate forests influenced functional diversity of birds that nest in tree cavities. We used point-counts in a before-after-control-impact design to examine the effects of logging on the value, range, and density of functional traits in bird communities in Canada (21 species) and Chile (16 species). Clearcutting, but not partial logging, reduced diversity in both systems. The effect was much more pronounced in Chile, where logging operations removed critical nesting …

Quaking Aspen In The Northern Rockies Retention And Restoration, Camille Stevens-Rumann, Penelope Morgan, Eva Strand, Diane Abendroth

Aspen Bibliography

No abstract provided.

Assessment Of Aspen Ecosystem Vulnerability To Climate Change For The Uinta-Wasatch- Cache And Ashley National Forests, Utah, Janine Rice, Tim Bardsley, Pete Gomben, Dustin Bambrough, Stacey Weems, Allen Huber, Linda A. Joyce

Aspen Bibliography

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Occupational Licensing On Women And Minorities In Utah, Jacob Caldwell, Colton Cowan, Olivia Abercrombie

Research on Capitol Hill

The Effect of Occupational Licensing on Women and Minorities in Utah

Jacob Caldwell, Colton Cowan, Olivia Mackelprang, Fiona Harrigan

All state governments require occupational licenses in order to work in certain fields. Previous research and economic theory suggest occupational licenses are used to restrict the entry of workers into a chosen field, thus lowering the competition in a certain field (Young, 2012). Though costly to the licensed businesses, the lowered competition results in the ability to charge higher prices which may result in a net gain for the licensee (Stigler, 1971; Peltzman, 1976).We collect, analyze, and create an index from …

Optimizing The Growth And Characterization Of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells, Lori Caldwell

Research on Capitol Hill

Introduction: Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in developed countries and accounts for nearly 10% of vision loss around the world. One major difficulty in studying AMD is modeling the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in vitro. The RPE is a single layer of cells that supports photoreceptors by providing nutrients and filtering waste products. RPE cells grow on the acellular Bruch’s membrane, which sits directly superior to the choroid layer. RPE have a characteristic dark pigment and grow in tight polygonal cell junctions. When grown in tissue culture flasks, these characteristics are not exhibited. …

Murder She Wrote: Death And Drama In Nesting Woodpeckers, Mariah Panoussi, Taryn Rodman, Allison Stassel, Ryan Sabel, Melanie Athens, Blake Christensen, Ryan Gallegos, Taylor Albrecht

Research on Capitol Hill

Woodpeckers serve a vital role as a keystone species in their respective biome by excavating nesting cavities that are in turn used by numerous forest birds and animals. These secondary cavity nesters rely heavily on the success of primary nesters in order to ensure their own reproductive success. Unfortunately numerous woodpeckers, such as the Black-backed (Picoides arcticus) and White-headed Woodpeckers (Picoides albolarvatus), have seen a large decline in numbers and are now considered a threatened species. Inability for these woodpeckers to reproduce creates a top-down trophic cascade in their biome. In an effort to better understand …

Royal Jelly Diet For In-Vitro Rearing Of Bumble Bee Larvae, Shannon Heiner

Research on Capitol Hill

Royal Jelly Diet for in-vitro Rearing of Bumble Bee Larvae

Successful in-vitro rearing of honey bees (Apis mellifera) has supported scientific advancements through accelerated laboratory research studies. However, in-vitro rearing has never successfully been conducted for any species of bumble bee larvae. The objective of this research was to test techniques to rear bumble bee larvae in-vitro. With in-vitro rearing, researchers are able to control and manipulate variables such as diet and pesticide exposure, to observe their effects on the study organisms. Additionally, comparison of experimental data to natural situations can lead to insights about the performance of bumble …

Identifying Multiple Predictors Of Physical Rehabilitation Outcomes, Jacklyn M. Sullivan, Elizabeth B. Fauth, Sydney Y. Schaeffer

Research on Capitol Hill

Previous studies have suggested that disability in activities of daily living (ADLs) is an outcome of cognitive impairment, physical limitations, psychosocial factors, and environmental constraints. We hypothesis that cognitive abilities and psychosocial factors measured at admission can be used to predict a patients physical therapy progression in a transitional care facility. Environmental conditions were held constant for all patients and physical limitations were not used as a predictor of therapy progression, as the test for therapy progression is based on physical ability. In a sample of adults (n=93) aged 38-98 receiving physical rehabilitation treatment, we collected Minimum Data Set (MDS) …

Acceptance And Commitment Therapy As A Treatment For Anxiety And Depression: A Review, Michael P. Twohig, Michael E. Levin

Psychology Faculty Publications

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a modern form of cognitive behavioral therapy based on a distinct philosophy (functional contextualism) and basic science of cognition (relational frame theory). This article reviews the core features of ACT’s theoretical model of psychopathology and treatment as well as its therapeutic approach. It then provides a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating ACT for depression and anxiety disorders. Summarizing across a total of 36 RCTs, ACT appears to be more efficacious than waitlist conditions and treatment-as-usual, with largely equivalent effects relative to traditional cognitive behavioral therapy. Evidence from several trials also indicate …

From Wearing To Wondering: Treating Wearable Activity Trackers As Objects Of Inquiry, Joel R. Drake, Ryan Cain, Victor R. Lee

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

Wearable technologies represent a rapidly expanding category of consumer information and communications technologies. From smartwatches to activity tracking devices, wearables are finding their way into many aspects of our lives, changing the way we think about ourselves and the world around us. The rapid adoption of these tools in everyday life hints at the possibilities these devices may hold in school and other educational settings. Drawing on examples taken from a five-year study using wearable fitness tracking devices in elementary and middle school classrooms, this paper presents two examples of how wearable devices can be appropriated for use in school …

Patterns Of Crop Rading By Wild Ungulates And Elephants In Ramnagar Forest Division, Uttarakhand, Ankur Kumar, Harendra Singh Bargali, Ashish David, Advait Edgaonkar

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Crop raiding is a major form of human–wildlife conflict that not only affects livelihoods of farmers living close to forest areas but also jeopardizes the objective of wildlife conservation. In this study, we report patterns associated with crop raiding based on periodic fi eld inspections of 95 crop fields spread across 16 villages in India. Average raided area of the fi eld was highest in seedling stage (21%). Fields closer to the forest edge incurred higher damage in the seedling (22%) and mature stages (7%) than fields farther from the forest edge, although this was not statistically significant. Guarding was …

Associate Editors

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

Inventory Of Wildlife Use Of Mortality Pits As Feeding Sites: Implications Of Pathogen Exposure, Jeremy W. Ellis, Susan A. Shriner, Hailey E. Mclean, Lauren Petersen, J. Jeffrey Root

Human–Wildlife Interactions

To better understand the use of mortality pits by wildlife and possible pathogen dissemination from the resulting wildlife contact in these areas, we used 8 camera traps on 4 mortality pits in Colorado from June to December 2014 to create a species inventory and establish use estimates for those species. We observed 43 species visiting (in or near) the mortality pits during 1,168 total camera trap days. Of these, 24 species directly interacted with the mortality pits or carcasses contained within them. The most common visitors to mortality pits were raccoons (Procyon lotor), coyotes (Canis latrans), domestic dogs (Canis lupus …

Best Management Practices In Counting Urban Black Bears, Jonathan L. Fusaro, Mary M. Conner, Michael R. Conover, Timothy J. Taylor, Marc W. Kenyon Jr.

Human–Wildlife Interactions

DNA-based capture-mark-recapture (CMR) techniques are commonly used to obtain population parameters of black bears (Ursus americanus) in rural and wildland landscapes; however, these techniques have not been implemented in urban clusters (i.e., 2,500 to 50,000 residents). Black bears can readily habituate to urban clusters, and wildlife managers need to monitor and manage these urban bear populations. We modified DNAbased CMR for black bear using hair-snares to take into account the small home ranges of urban bears, urban bear behavior, and human safety within Mammoth Lakes, California, USA. We conducted this study for 3 fi eld seasons in 2010, 2011, and …

Revised Structure And Correlation Of The Great Salt Lake, North Promontory, Rozel And Hansel Valley Fault Zones Revealed By The 2015-2016 Low Stand Of Great Salt Lake, Susanne U. Jänecke, James P. Evans

Geosciences Faculty Publications

Years of drought conspired to produce the present historic low stand in Gunnison Bay of Great Salt Lake. The lake has receded enough to expose the Great Salt Lake fault zone, and reveal its geometry through the shallow and clear lake water. We mapped the newly visible escarpments along the fault zone, upgraded the Utah fault map, and revised the regional correlation of the Great Salt Lake, Rozel, and North Promontory fault zones. We explored the origin of wave-cut platforms in the footwall of the faults, and identify geometrically unique types of microbial communities along faults and fault-related springs and …

Effects Of Human State Park Visitation Rates On Escape Behavior Of White-Tailed Deer, Nicholas M. Sutton, Edward J. Heske

Human–Wildlife Interactions

State parks are typically established to preserve natural or native habitats for wildlife while simultaneously providing recreational experiences for humans. However, because of their proximity to urban centers, the level of human visitation associated with state parks may be highly variable. Little information has been published regarding the effect of human visitation levels on wildlife escape behavior in state parks. We evaluated flight initiation distances (FIDs) and buff er distances (i.e., the difference between alert and flight distances) for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus; deer) from September 2013 to August 2014 at 3 state parks in east-central Illinois with different human …

Impact Locations And Damage To Civil And Military Rotary-Wing Aircraft From Wildlife Strikes, Brian E. Washburn, Paul J. Cisar, Travis L. Devault

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Rotary-wing aircraft (e.g., helicopters and tilt-wing aircraft) are an important component of all U.S. military services and the U.S. civil aviation industry. Our analyses of wildlife strikes to military rotary-wing aircraft, both within the United States and during overseas deployments, as well as civil helicopters, have shown there are important patterns within wildlife strike data for flight operations conducted on airfields and during off-airfield missions. Birds accounted for 93% of the wildlife strikes where the animal was identified, and mammals (primarily bats) accounted for 7%. Wildlife impacted all parts of civil helicopters and military rotary-wing aircraft during strike events; however, …

Positive Bias In Bird Strikes To Engines On Left Side Of Aircraft, Richard A. Dolbeer, William J. Barnes

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Previous studies have indicated more birds collide with communication towers equipped with red warning lights than with towers equipped with lights of shorter wavelengths. We used the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s National Wildlife Strike Database to determine if a similar relationship exists for turbine-powered jet aircraft with 2 underwing- or fuselage-mounted engines and bird strikes. We compared bird strikes reported to engine #1 (left side = red lighting) or to engine #2 (right side = green lighting) using chi-square tests (α = 0.05). For both underwing- and fuselage-mounted engines, more (P ≤ 0.04) strikes were reported for engine #1 compared …

Comparing Urban And Wildland Bear Densities With A Dna-Based Capture-Mark-Recapture Approach, Jonathan L. Fusaro, Mary M. Conner, Michael R. Conover, Timothy J. Taylor, Marc W. Kenyon Jr., Jamie R. Sherman, Holly B. Ernest

Human–Wildlife Interactions

California’s black bear (Ursus americanus) population has tripled over the last 3 decades, causing an increased incidence of human–bear conflicts, many of which now occur in urban areas. Consequently, it is imperative that bear managers have the ability to monitor population parameters in both wildland and urban environments to help manage bears. Capture-mark-recapture (CMR) methods using uniquely typed genetic samples (DNA) collected via hair-snares have been widely used to monitor bears in wildland areas. However, we are unaware of researchers applying this technique to bears occupying urban areas. We implemented a multi-year DNA-based CMR study to compare bear densities between …

Public Geospatial Datasets As An Approach To Maximizing Efficiency In The Collection Of Site Covariates In Wildlife–Vehicle Collision Studies, James A. Vance, Walter H. Smith, Gabrielle L. Smith

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Wildlife–vehicle collisions (WVCs) are a major research focus because of increasing human health and safety concerns and the potential for biological impacts on wildlife. A key component of both understanding the causes of WVCs and designing mitigation measures is the collection and analysis of environmental and roadway data at WVC sites. However, collecting these site data can be logistically challenging and potentially dangerous to researchers. We studied the feasibility and accuracy of using public geospatial datasets, particularly Google Earth and Street View, as an alternative approach to assessing WVC onsite covariates. We randomly selected 50 sites from a larger WVC …

Achieving And Maintaining Sustainable White-Tailed Deer Density With Adaptive Management, David S. Decalesta

Human–Wildlife Interactions

A leadership team developed an adaptive management program to reduce deer density and impact on a 29,642-ha forested demonstration area in northwest Pennsylvania incorporating goal setting, monitoring, and communicating with and motivating hunters. We linked reduction of deer density to environmentally sustainable levels with an appeal to the values of hunters (improving deer and habitat quality). The communication program educated and involved hunters as active participants in all phases of the management plan. We monitored deer density, deer impact, deer health, and hunter satisfaction to adjust numbers of permits for harvesting antlerless deer and to improve hunter access and use …

Seasonal And Regional Animal Use Of Drainage Structures To Cross Under Roadways, James L. Sparks, J. Edward Gates

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Road drainage structures, hereafter designated culverts, are often used by wildlife and other animals to cross under roadways. However, crossings may vary by species, culvert design, different environmental factors, and land-use and land-cover (LULC) at culvert sites. We monitored 265 culverts located throughout Maryland, USA, with motion-detecting game cameras to assess seasonal and regional effects on culvert crossing rates by wildlife and other animal species considered common to the areas. Northern raccoon (Procyon lotor) and Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) exhibited lower crossing rates in culverts during winter than at other times of the year. We did not detect any difference …

A Computational Study Of Vegf Production By Patterned Retinal Epithelial Cell Colonies As A Model For Neovascular Macular Degeneration, Qanita Bani Baker, Gregory J. Podgorski, Elizabeth Vargis, Nicholas Flann

Biology Faculty Publications

Background: The configuration of necrotic areas within the retinal pigmented epithelium is an important element in the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In the exudative (wet) and non-exudative (dry) forms of the disease, retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells respond to adjacent atrophied regions by secreting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that in turn recruits new blood vessels which lead to a further reduction in retinal function and vision. In vitro models exist for studying VEGF expression in wet AMD (Vargis et al., Biomaterials 35(13):3999–4004, 2014), but are limited in the patterns of necrotic and intact RPE epithelium they can …

Biomanufacturing Through Igem-An International Student Competition, Asif Rahman, Ryan J. Putman, Neal Hengge, Charles D. Miller

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

The foundations of synthetic biology are built on molecular biology and genetic engineering. One of the purposes of synthetic biology is to make biology easier to engineer by the creation of standardized biological parts and devices. There are a wide range of potential applications for synthetic biology and a variety of approaches to constructing parts and systems. Undergraduate Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) students from around the world apply synthetic biology principles at the annual International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition to demonstrate functioning biological systems created from standardized parts. The iGEM competition will continue to add to the …