Digital Commons Network^™

In Memory William B. Jackson, Michael W. Fall

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

Integration Of Remote Lidar And In-Situ Measured Data To Estimate Particulate Flux And Emission From Tillage Operations, Vladmir V. Zavyalov, Gail E. Bingham, Michael D. Wojcik, Jerry L. Hatfield, Thomas D. Wilkerson, Randy S. Martin, Christian Marchant, Kori D. Moore, Bill Bradford

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Agriculture, through wind erosion, tillage and harvest operations, burning, diesel-powered machinery and animal production operations, is a source of particulate matter emissions. Agricultural sources vary both temporally and spatially due to daily and seasonal activities and inhomogeneous area sources. Conventional point sampling methods originally designed for regional, well mixed aerosols are challenged by the disrupted wind flow and by the small mobile source of the emission encountered in this study. Atmospheric lidar (LIght Detection And Ranging) technology provides a means to derive quantitative information of particulate spatial and temporal distribution. In situ point measurements of particulate physical and chemical properties …

Improved Methods For Deterring Cliff Swallow Nesting On Highway Structures, Michael Delwiche, Robert W. Coates, W. Paul Gorenzel, Terrell P. Salmon

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) are migratory birds that frequently nest on highway structures, such as bridges. Because cliff swallows are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, nesting control methods must not harm cliff swallows or disturb active nests. This can cause delays for maintenance divisions of state departments of transportation, resulting in additional cost. In a multiyear project, we evaluated the effects of bioacoustic deterrents and bridge surface modifications on nesting behavior of cliff swallows. We used cliff swallow alarm and distress calls as bioacoustic deterrents (hereafter, broadcast calls [BC]) because they previously had been …

Optimizing The Physical And Nutritional Environment Of Unleached Root-Zones, Curtis B. Adams

Publications

Unleached root-zones represent an environmental ideal by eliminating wasteful leaching of nutrients and water. NASA grows plants in space in unleached root-zones, incorporating polymer-coated fertilizer (PCF) into a ceramic media (Turface or Profile). However, lack of growth productivity in space has led to the need for research to improve the nutritional and physical environment of the root-zone, which is the objective of this research. PCF types are diverse in release characteristics and the effects of temperature and substrate water content have not been well characterized. In spite of widespread use, studies on chemical properties and applied studies to verify soil …

The Combined Influence Of The Local Environment Andregional Enrichment On Bird Species Richness, Ethan P. White, A. H. Hurlbert

Biology Faculty Publications

It is generally accepted that local species richness at a site reflects the combined influence of local and regional processes. However, most empirical studies evaluate the influence of either local environmental variables or regional enrichment but not both simultaneously. Here we demonstrate the importance of combining these processes to understand continental scale richness patterns in breeding birds. We show that neither regional enrichment nor the local environment in isolation is sufficient to characterize observed patterns of species richness. Combining both sets of variables into a single model results in improved model fit and the removal of residual spatial autocorrelation. At …

Loss Of Foundation Species Increases Population Growth Of Exotic Forbs In Sagebrush Steppe, J S. Prevey, M J. Germino, Nancy J. Huntly

Biology Faculty Publications

The invasion and spread of exotic plants following land disturbance threatens semiarid ecosystems. In sagebrush steppe, soil water is scarce and is partitioned between deeprooted perennial shrubs and shallower-rooted native forbs and grasses. Disturbances commonly remove shrubs, leaving grass-dominated communities, and may allow for the exploitation of water resources by the many species of invasive, tap-rooted forbs that are increasingly successful in this habitat. We hypothesized that exotic forb populations would benefit from increased soil water made available by removal of sagebrush, a foundation species capable of deep-rooting, in semiarid shrub-steppe ecosystems. To test this hypothesis, we used periodic matrix …

Seasonal Patterns Of Arthropod Diversity And Abundance On Big Sagebrush, Artemisia Trientata, M P. Stanford, Nancy J. Huntly

Biology Faculty Publications

The sagebrush biotype is the largest in the western United States. This vast sagebrush community is thought to harbor equally vast and diverse arthropod communities, but these remain little explored. Our objective was to examine the diversity, abundance, and seasonal phenology of arthropod taxa found on the dominant shrub of the sagebrush ecosystem, big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata). We wanted to improve understanding of this little-studied arthropod assemblage that may play significant roles in the dynamics of sagebrush populations and the sagebrush ecosystem. We sampled free-living and gall-forming arthropods from a stratified random sample of sagebrush plants at the Barton Road …

Statistical Analysis Of Wastewater Remediation And Bio-Fuels Production Of Algae, Jay D. Jones

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The Logan city wastewater treatment system consists of a series of seven large aerated ponds (460 acres) that biologically treats 15 million gallons per day of wastewater from Logan city and six other communities. Tighter regulations of allowed phosphorus levels in the effluent have recently been implemented due to environmental concerns of a downstream reservoir. The Biological Engineering program at Utah State University, the Bio-fuels Center, the Utah Water Research Laboratory (UWRL) and the city of Logan are working together to remediate the wastewater treatment system using microalgae. Algal growth requires the uptake of phosphorus. Thus, phosphorus in the effluent …

Evolving Models: A Density-Based Approach To Modeling Sexual Dimorphism And Adaptive Speciation, Audrey Smith

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

In this paper, we begin by extending existing deterministic and individual-based ecological models for sexual dimorphism and adaptive speciation into density-based mathematical models describing the density or number of individuals with various trait values, or phenotypes. These density-based models describe the dynamics of a population of males and females using both clonal and sexual reproduction. Each generation, the populations are subject to mating, mutation, and ecological dynamics including infraspecific competition and carrying capacity of the environment. By avoiding individual-based models, we are able to avoid simulations and instead achieve repeatable results.

Implementing these models numerically, we are able to show …

Teaching Species, Mark W. Ellis, Paul G. Wolf

Biology Faculty Publications

A clear understanding of the term "species" is fundamental to the subject of evolution. However, introductory textbooks often fail to address this topic until one of the later chapters, after having used the term species in all preceding chapters. Furthermore, definitions of terms critical to a clear understanding of this subject are often vague or absent in chapters on species concepts. We feel the popular notion of a "species problem" has been unnecessarily inflated by this less-than-effective educational approach. Clearly addressing this essential subject at the beginning of a course on evolution will prepare students to learn the details and …

Complete Plastome Sequences Of Equisetum Arvense And Isoetes Flaccida: Implications For Phylogeny And Plastid Genome Evolution Of Early Land Plant Lineages, K. G. Karol, K. Arumuganthan, J. L. Boore, A. M. Duffy, K. D. E. Everett, J. D. Hall, S. K. Hansen, J. V. Mandoli, D. F. Mandoli, B. D. Mishler, R. G. Olmstead, K. S. Renzaglia, Paul G. Wolf

Biology Faculty Publications

Background Despite considerable progress in our understanding of land plant phylogeny, several nodes in the green tree of life remain poorly resolved. Furthermore, the bulk of currently available data come from only a subset of major land plant clades. Here we examine early land plant evolution using complete plastome sequences including two previously unexamined and phylogenetically critical lineages. To better understand the evolution of land plants and their plastomes, we examined aligned nucleotide sequences, indels, gene and nucleotide composition, inversions, and gene order at the boundaries of the inverted repeats. Results We present the plastome sequences of Equisetum arvense, a …

The Evolution Of Chloroplast Genome Structure In Ferns, Paul G. Wolf, J. M. Roper, A. M. Duffy

Biology Faculty Publications

The plastid genome (plastome) is a rich source of phylogenetic and other comparative data in plants. Most land plants possess a plastome of similar structure. However, in a major group of plants, the ferns, a unique plastome structure has evolved. The gene order in ferns has been explained by a series of genomic inversions relative to the plastome organization of seed plants. Here, we examine for the first time the structure of the plastome across fern phylogeny. We used a PCR-based strategy to map and partially sequence plastomes. We found that a pair of partially overlapping inversions in the region …

Chloroplast Genome Sequence Of The Moss Torula Ruralis: Gene Content, Polymorphism, And Structural Arrangement Relative To Other Green Plant Chloroplast Genomes, M. J. Oliver, A. G. Murdock, B. D. Mishler, J. V. Kuehl, J. L. Boore, D. F. Mandoli, K. D. E. Everett, Paul G. Wolf, A. M. Duffy, K. G. Karol

Biology Faculty Publications

Background Tortula ruralis, a widely distributed species in the moss family Pottiaceae, is increasingly used as a model organism for the study of desiccation tolerance and mechanisms of cellular repair. In this paper, we present the chloroplast genome sequence of T. ruralis, only the second published chloroplast genome for a moss, and the first for a vegetatively desiccation-tolerant plant. Results The Tortula chloroplast genome is ~123,500 bp, and differs in a number of ways from that of Physcomitrella patens, the first published moss chloroplast genome. For example, Tortula lacks the ~71 kb inversion found in the large single copy region …

Unfurling Fern Biology In The Genomics Age, M. S. Barker, Paul G. Wolf

Biology Faculty Publications

Twenty-first century technology is addressing many of the questions posed by 20th-century biology. Although the new approaches, especially those involving genomic data and bioinformatic tools, were first applied to model organisms, they are now stretching across the tree of life. Here, we review some recent revelations in the ferns. We first examine how DNA sequence data have contributed to our understanding of fern phylogeny. We then address evolution of the fern plastid genome, including reports of high levels of RNA editing. Recent studies are also shedding light on the evolution of fern nuclear genomes. Initial analyses of genomic data suggest …

Mini-Lysimeters To Monitor Transpiration And Control Drought Stress: System Design And Unique Applications, Julie Chard, Marc Van Iersel, Bruce Bugbee

Techniques and Instruments

Methods for the precise control of drought stress have been a holy grail of plant biology research. Here we describe a five-container growth chamber system and a 16-container greenhouse system, each of which uses load cells to monitor and control the mass of a soil/plant system. The calibration and signal conditioning necessary to quantify transpiration over 10 minute intervals is described. Evaporation can be reduced to less than 1% of the transpiration rate by covering the container surface. Procedures for quantifying and correcting the effect of temperature on load cell output are described. Each system can be programmed to maintain …

The Sagebrush Steppe Treatment Evaluation Project (Sagestep): A Test Of State-And Transition Theory., J. D. Mciver, Mark W. Brunson, S. Buntin, J. Chambers, N. Devoe, P. Doescher, J. Grace, D. Johnson, S. Knick, R. Miller

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Needs Assessment For Continuing Education Of Federal Wildlife Damage Management Professionals, Jessica L. Tegt, Phillip D. Jones, Ben C. West

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The complexity of wildlife damage management requires professionals to continually acquire new knowledge and skills that can be obtained through continuing education. Current literature suggests that wildlife damage management personnel are not receiving adequate training either as new professionals entering the fi eld or through continuing training as existing professionals. To better understand the continuing education needs of wildlife damage managers, we conducted a nationwide, on-line needs assessment survey for supervisory personnel of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services program (hereafter, WS). The goal of our survey was to identify gaps in continuing …

Commentary Euthanasia Methods In Field Settings For Wildlife Damage Management, Timothy J. Julien, Stephen M. Vantassel, Scott R. Groepper, Scott E. Hygnstrom

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

Survival And Harvest Characteristics Of Giant Canada Geese In Eastern South Dakota, 2000–2004, Charles D. Dieter, Jeffrey S. Gleason, Bobby J. Anderson, Spencer Vaa, Paul W. Mammenga

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The population of giant Canada geese (Branta canadensis maxima) in eastern South Dakota has increased substantially since reintroduction efforts began in the 1960s. Breeding population estimates of Canada geese exceeded the population management objective of the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks by the mid-1990s and has continued to increase at an estimated rate of 3 to 5% per year. Goose-related crop damage complaints have also increased. In 1996, a September hunting season (September 1 to 15) was implemented in 10 counties in eastern South Dakota and was expanded in 2000 to include most of eastern South Dakota. …

Induction Of Ip-10 By Sars-Cov Infection Of Calu-3cells And Balb/C Mice, Y. Kumaki, C. W. Day, K. W. Bailey, M. H. Wong, M. K. Wandersee, R. Madsen, J. S. Madsen, N. M. Nelson, J. D. Hoopes, J. D. Woolcott, Z. T. Mclean, L. M. Blatt, A. M. Salazar, Dale L. Barnard

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Destruction of the architectural and subsequently the functional integrity of the lung following pulmonary viral infections is attributable to both the extent of pathogen replication and to the host-generated inflammation associated with the recruitment of immune responses. The presence of antigenically disparate pulmonary viruses and the emergence of novel viruses assures the recurrence of lung damage with infection and resolution of each primary viral infection. Thus, there is a need to develop safe broad spectrum immunoprophylactic strategies capable of enhancing protective immune responses in the lung but which limits immune-mediated lung damage. The immunoprophylactic strategy described here utilizes a protein …

A Delay-Discounting Primer, Gregory J. Madden, Patrick S. Johnson

Psychology Faculty Publications

Given the importance of research findings and the potential of further research to aid in the prediction and control of impulsivity, the primary focus of this chapter (and this book) is on choice and the failure of future events to affect current decisions. In this primer chapter, we consider two types of impulsive choice: (a) preferring a smaller-sooner reward while forgoing a larger-later one and (b) preferring a larger-later aversive outcome over a smaller-sooner one. The first of these is exemplified by the toy-pilfering child with whom we opened this chapter. Taking the toy is immediately rewarded, but it is …

Discounting And Pathological Gambling, Nancy M. Petry, Gregory J. Madden

Psychology Faculty Publications

Pathological gambling is a disorder characterized by excessive gambling. It often occurs in conjunction with substance use disorders, and research is beginning to examine the association between these disorders, especially with regard to impulsivity and discounting. In this chapter, we initially review the diagnosis and prevalence rates of pathological gambling, including its comorbidity with substance use disorders. We then describe relations between personality measures of impulsivity and pathological gambling. Gamblers' patterns of choices on the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and measures of delay and probability discounting are covered in depth, and we discuss the degree to which these choices are …

La Producción De Las Fresas Utilizando El Túnel Alto, Daniel Rowley, Brent Black, Dan Drost

All Current Publications

Las fresas locales y frescas son siempre un favorito en los mercados de productores y en los puestos ambulantes. Las fresas crecen mejor en las temperaturas alrededor de 70 a 75˚ F (21 a 24˚ C). Los inviernos fríos y los veranos calientes solo dejan una temporada de fresas muy corta. Se diseñan los invernaderos para mantener temperaturas óptimas para el crecimiento y se las puede usar para cultivar las fresas durante todo el año. Sin embargo, los invernaderos son muy costosos para construir y operar. Los túneles altos son relativamente baratos para construir, con algunos diseños costando menos de …

Cockroaches, Ryan S. Davis

All Current Publications

Cockroaches are one of the most difficult structural pests to eradicate because of their ability to hide, rapid reproduction, and resistance to and avoidance of many commonly used insecticide sprays and baits. Using an integrated pest management (IPM) program can greatly increase the possibility of successful control. There are 4 cockroach species that commonly infest structures in Utah, each with a specific biology; identify invading cockroaches before you develop an IPM plan. Proper identification of any pest will allow you to understand its biology, and use it against itself!

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Agenda, December 7, 2009, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Council on Teacher Education Report
• Scholarship Advisory Board Report
• EPC Items

The Utah Statesman, December 4, 2009, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Curriculum Subcommittee Minutes, December 3, 2009, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

Department of Agricultural Systems Technology and Education

• Inactivate Course
• Delete Course

Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences

• Title Change, Course Description Change
• Title Change, Prerequisite Change, Course Description Change, Add Repeatable for Credit
• Prerequisite Change

Department of Plants, Soils and Climate

• Delete Course

Department of Economics and Finance

• New Course
• Title Change, Prerequisite Change, Course Number Change

School of Teacher Education and Leadership

• New Course
• Course Description, Add Dual List
• Title Change, Course Description Change, Add Dual List
• Title Change

Department of Family, Consumer and Human Development

• New Course
• Prerequisite Change
• Grade Mode Change

Department of Health, Physical Education …

The Utah Statesman, December 2, 2009, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Insights, Fall, 2009, Utah State University

Discovery Magazine

Bi-annual alumni newsletter for the College of Science of Utah State University in Logan.

Creating Tomorrow, Fall 2009, College Of Engineering

College of Engineering Magazines

Annual magazine for the College of Engineering at Utah State University.