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Assessing The Effects Of Myxobolus Cerebralis And Other Environmental Factors On The Dynamics, Abundance, And Distribution Of Trout Populations In The Logan River, Utah, Ernesto A. De La Hoz Franco

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The presence of nonnative trout and the recent introduction of Myxobolus cerebralis in the Logan River drainage pose a threat to the native Bonneville cutthroat trout population (Oncorhynchus clarki Utah). The variability in the response of susceptible trout populations to M. cerebralis, causing agent of whirling disease, suggests that environmental factors may influence the effects of the parasite in infected environments. I investigated the relationship between temperature, discharge, substrate size, nutrient concentration (nitrogen and phosphorus), periphyton (chlorophyll a), and the relative abundance of Tubifex tubifex to the distribution, and prevalence of M. cerebralis in wild salmonid populations and …

Factors Affecting Spawning And Survival Of Bear Lake Bonneville Cutthroat Trout In St. Charles Creek, Idaho, Paul Burnett

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

I described the spawning ecology of the Bear Lake Bonneville cutthroat trout (BLBCT) in St. Charles Creek. I tracked cutthroat trout with used radio telemetry. I conducted redd counts to describe spawning conditions. Most cutthroat trout in the Big Arm strayed into the Bear River. Cutthroat trout migrations in the Little Arm and main fork were very limited (< 4 km). Redd distributions showed very similar patterns between 1989, 2000 and 2001 with most redds being built in the lowest kilometer of stream. Artificial fish transportation changed the redd distribution in 2002. More redds were built in the main fork and redds were distributed throughout the stream. Redds built in the main fork were characterized by lower levels of fine sediment and higher water velocities as compared to the redds built on the Little Arm. The results of this research will be used to aid resource managers in developing a management plan for wild BLBCT.

Premarital Education: Participation, Attitudes, And Relation To Marital Adjustment In A Sample From Northern Utah, Bryan D. Ramboz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes, participation in, and potential effectiveness of premarital education as a vehicle to promote more satisfying marriages. A retrospective survey instrument, including existing measures of religious values, willingness to invest in marriage, and marital satisfaction, was used to gather data to answer research questions related to couples' participation in, and attitudes about premarital education, and their influence on marital adjustment and satisfaction. Information about the amount of Time spent in premarital education, breadth of Topics covered, Training of the provider, and whether or not Testing was performed also was gathered and …

Foraging Behavior And Habitat Use Patterns Of Brown Bears (Ursus Arctos) In Relation To Human Activity And Salmon Abundance On A Coastal Alaskan Salmon Stream, Anthony P. Crupi Jr.

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Over the past decade, demand for recreation has increased as part of Alaska's doubling growth in tourism. Along the Chilkoot River, near Haines, fishing and bear viewing have become increasingly popular. I investigated the ecological and behavioral interactions there between brown bears, salmon, and humans between 2000 and 2002. My objectives were to: (1) determine if specific human activities differentially influenced bear activity and foraging behavior, (2) identify temporal and spatial habitat use patterns, (3) evaluate brown bear response to natural and human disturbances and quantify related flight distances, (4) investigate changes in bear foraging behaviors in response to prey …

Determining The Factors That Control Respiration And Carbon Use Efficiency In Crop Plants, Jonathan M. Frantz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In the literature on plant respiration, there are two viewpoints concerning the source of respiratory control: supply (photosynthate availability) or demand (temperature dependent) limitations. While different studies indicate the primary dependency for respiration is either the supply or demand side, the two paradigms cannot both be true. The relative importance of each paradigm may depend on a number of factors including period of time during which respiration is measured, phase of plant development, environmental conditions, and species.

Studies were performed using continuous CO₂ gas-exchange instrumentation to monitor short- and long-term changes in whole canopies of lettuce, tomato, soybean, and …

Breeding Bird Communities Of Major Mainland Rivers Of Southeastern Alaska, Jim A. Johnson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Because of the scarcity of information for bird communities at the major mainland rivers of southeastern Alaska, the main objective of this study was to provide baseline information including distribution, status, and habitat associations of breeding birds.

I conducted a meta-analysis of all known reports (including the current study) conducted at major mainland rivers during the breeding season. I described bird species composition, distribution, abundance estimates, status, habitat associations, and guild membership for all birds recorded at 11 major mainland rivers. Based on incidental observations, 170 species were recorded by all studies. Of these, 134 species were known or suspected …

Factors That Influence The College Attendance Decisions Of Appalachian Students, Erica Chenoweth

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The current study sought to examine the factors that influence the decisions of Appalachian high school students regarding college attendance. Using Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory of human development (1986) as a theoretical basis, direct and indirect influences of environmental factors upon the academic aspirations of Appalachian youth were examined using survey methodology. Results indicated that predictors of college attendance for Appalachian students are not significantly different from those of students elsewhere. Variables reflective of individual academic preparation were most salient in predicting college aspirations for both males and females. Other important predictors included parent education, parent occupation, and socioeconomic status. …

Community Factors That Correlate With Middle-Adolescent Antisocial Behavior, Olga Kamenchuk

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Many adolescents nowadays display antisocial behavior. A large number of theories explaining origin of antisocial behavior have been developed in the last several centuries. The current study utilizes the "ecological" theoretical framework that allows the researcher to consider multiple ecological systems in which individuals operate and to focus on the community factors influencing antisocial behavior.

The researcher used part of the Prevention Needs Assessment survey to identify which community risk and protective factors correlate with middle-adolescent antisocial behavior. Analysis included intercluster, cluster-item correlations, and partial correlations. Results indicated correlations between antisocial behavior and a number of community risk factors, and …

On-Campus And Off-Campus Students' Ratings Of Instruction And Courses, Noriko Saeki

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The associations of student ratings of instruction and courses (SRIC) with noninstructional variables (e.g., class size, expected grade) were examined in three instructional delivery groups--on-campus, off-campus face-to-face, and distance education courses. Factor analysis of SRIC from a 20-item form yielded two highly correlated factors, which differed somewhat across the groups ("Course " and "Instruction"; "Course/Instruction" and "Interaction Opportunities /Instructor Availability"; "Course/Instruction" and "Interaction Opportunities/Helpfulness"). The only educationally significant (r² > .05) zero-order correlations were between SRIC total scores and expected grade, and were positive in all three groups (r² = .07, .08, .06). In multiple regression analyses, …

Test Of A Psychosocial Strain Model Of Delinquency For Mexican American Youth, Jose De Jesus Rodriguez

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purposes of this study were twofold: (1) to compare rates of delinquency between Mexican American and European American adolescents, and (2) to test the application of a model of delinquency designed to be especially relevant to Mexican American adolescents. The study is one of the first attempts to advance knowledge about delinquency among Mexican American adolescents through the development and test of a comprehensive model of delinquency. The model constructed as part of this study—labeled the psychosocial strain model—was unique in that it integrated variables from different theoretical perspectives and its construction was guided by knowledge of cultural and …

Short-Term Water Use Dynamics In Drainage Lysimeters, Musa V. Dlamini

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Turfgrass water use (seasonal turfET) and crop coefficients were determined and a mathematical soil-water balance model for non-weighing drainage lysimetcrs, which simulates the occurrence (timing and amount) of drainage, was developed. Pairs of non-weighing drainage lysimeters were used to determine crop coefficients for turfgrass in four locations in the state of Utah: Logan Golf and Country Club, Murray Golf Course, Brigham Young University (Spanish Fork) Experiment Farm, and Sunbrook Golf Course (St. George).

Daily weather data including air temperature, relative humidity, average wind travel, total solar radiation, precipitation, and average soil temperature were collected with an electronic weather station at …

Physiological And Biochemical Aspects Of Agrobacterium-Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) Interactions, David L. Parrott Jr.

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Agrobacterium tumefaciens and A. rhizogenes are the causal agents of gall or hairy root disease, but normally the bacteria do not cause disease in wheat. However, both bacteria grew without inhibition when exposed to intact or wounded wheat roots or embryos, and they colonized wheat root surfaces to levels similar to dicotyledonous plants. A. tumefaciens and A. rhizogenes induced 23% cell death after a 1-h exposure to wheat embryo cells grown in 7.4 mM O₂, while the extent of cell death at 2.1 mM O₂ was 8%. Contact with A. tumefaciens or A. rhizogenes caused cultured wheat …

Restoration Of Aspen In Different Stages Of Mortality In Southern Utah, Seth Ray Ohms

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Aspen clones of an aspen-dominated community in Southwestern Utah are declining, some having experienced high mortality coupled with in sufficient regeneration. The objectives of this study were to (I) determine if decadent, non-regenerating mature aspen stands could be regenerated through disturbance of the 111 auxin/cytokinin hormone relationship by clearcutting; (2) determine the extent of ungulate use of regenerating aspen ramets. Clearcuts were made in late summer of 2001 in 10 different clones that exhibited various levels of decline on a continuum from relatively healthy to extremely deteriorated. Nested wildlife/livestock exclosures were constructed in each clearcut plot, as well as in …

The Foraging Behavior Of A Solitary Bee, Diadasia Nigrifrons (Hymenoptera: Anthophoridae) On Sidalcea Oregana, Ssp. Oregana, Kimberly A. Kuta

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Foraging studies have established that bees typically obey a set of movement rules when foraging on vertical inflorescences: they begin foraging at the bottom of an inflorescence, move upward, visit a fraction of the available flowers, and leave before reaching the top of the inflorescence. These behaviors are purported to maximize bee foraging efficiency by concentrating their efforts on the most rewarding flowers and minimizing flower revisits. Bees also increase their efficiency by selecting inflorescences with many flowers, visiting more flowers per inflorescence, and remaining in resource-rich areas. To test these hypotheses on plants with more complicated flower arrangements, I …

Simulation Of Wind Dispersal Of Tree Seeds, Tree Colonization, And Growth Of Bottomland Hardwood Reforestation Sites Of The Mississippi Alluvial Valley, Timothy James Nuttle

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Tree community composition in bottomland hardwood reforestation sites is considerably less diverse than natural bottomland hardwood forests. This study sought to understand the mechanisms behind failure to develop diverse tree communities. First, I developed a mechanistic model of seed dispersal by wind in spatially variable environments. Second, I developed a spatially explicit simulation model of forest dynamics that includes this wind-dispersal model to investigate whether diversity is limited by dispersal or interactions among species and individuals. Finally, I performed model experiments to determine if manipulations of stand structure might help improve conditions for colonization of various species, thus enhancing diversity …

Species Pairwise Associations Over Nine Years Of Secondary Succession: Assessing Alternative Explanations And Successional Mechanisms, Lara R. Rozzell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The importance and mechanisms of species interactions are undetermined in most successional systems. I used correlations and null modeling to detect pairwise species associations between 33 plant species in the first nine years of secondary succession after logging and burning in a western Oregon Cascade forest. I tested for correlations between each species and soil nutrients, nonvegetative ground cover, and surrounding vegetation. More positive than negative associations were found at all sampling times. The proportion of positive associations decreased and negative associations increased through time. Up to 42% of associations at a sampling time were explicable by shared positive correlations …

Phylogenetic Position Of Pterocommatinae And Cavariella, And Implications For The Origins Of Host Alternation In Aphids, Carol A. Rowe

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Aphids are morphologically simple. Their numerous hypothesized convergent reductions, such as reduced siphunculi length in association with ant attendance, have made it difficult to define morphological synapomorphies that are necessary for phylogenetic studies. Thus, I used molecular characters both to reexamine the phylogenetic relationships of Cavariella and Pterocommatinae within Aphididae, and to further map host associations and life cycles onto these phylogenies to better understand the evolutionary lability of host alternation within Aphididae. Independent and combined analyses were performed under unweighted parsimony and maximum likelihood criteria for sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase II plus tRNA-Leucine plus partial cytochrome oxidase I …

Using Immune Modulators To Ameliorate Aleutian Disease In Mink, Kie Hoon Jung

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Aleutian disease of mink (AD) is an immunopathological disorder induced by persistent infection with AD virus. Many breeds of mink seem to have a high susceptibility to AD. Interestingly, the primary feature of AD in susceptible adult mink is a chronic, fatal immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis comparable to that seen in human diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus. Because of its comparative aspects to human diseases and the substantial economic loss to the fur industries in the world, classical AD and the nature of the virus has been studied extensively for three decades. Currently no therapies are available and vaccination has …

The Journey Of Education: Characteristics Of Shoshone-Bannock High School And Community Members On The Fort Hall Indian Reservation, Ed Galindo

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This dissertation examined personal, cultural, school, and family factors that contribute to the decision of Native American students to remain in school until graduation or to drop out. One hundred eighty-one participants who had either graduated or dropped out of school completed a 140-item questionnaire. Participants lived on the Shoshone-Bannock Indian Reservation located at Fort Hall, Idaho.

Factors examined in the survey instrument included substance abuse by self or family members, peer pressure, trouble with the law, self-esteem, teen pregnancy, family structure, socioeconomic status, parents education, academic achievement, teacher attitudes and expectations, school attendance, tribal self-identity and pride, and bilingualism. …

Tips To Engage Family Members From Diverse Cultures In Their Children's Activities, Linda Skogrand

All Current Publications

No abstract provided.

Developing A Curriculum For The Nuisance Wildlife Control Industry In New York, Paul D. Curtis, Jill Shultz, Lynn A. Braband, Gordon Batcheller, Louis Berchielli

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The nuisance wildlife control industry continues to expand in New York State. Each year during the past 5 years, approximately 1,200-1 ,400 private Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators (NWCOs) were given authority to handle wildlife conflicts by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). These NWCOs were required to complete a trapper education course, and a personal interview or exam prior to obtaining a permit. The education and experience requirements for NWCOs varied by region in New York. The goals of this project were to: (1) develop a core curriculum for individuals who desired to handle nuisance wildlife and …

The Role Of Research In Expanded Regional Management Of Double-Crested Cormorants, Scott C. Barras, Mark E. Tobin

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The number of double-crested cormorants (Phala crocorax auritus) breeding in the Great Lakes states and provinces has increased during recent decades. Their abundance and foraging habits have thrust this species into conflict with the aquaculture industry and fisheries interests. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed a change in the management of double-crested cormorants recently to alleviate these conflicts, especially with aquaculture, natural resources, and federal fish hatcheries. Research activities should be an integral component of these expanded efforts to manage cormorants, including further investigations on cormorant impacts to the aquaculture industry and evaluations of the added benefits of …

Incorporating Experimental Design In Education On Managing Human-Wildlife Conflicts At Colorado State University, William F. Andelt

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Knowledge about how to design research experiments is important when evaluating the extent of damage caused by wildlife, the effectiveness of damage management interventions, as well as evaluating if the design, conclusions, and inferences of research conducted by others is appropriate. I emphasize experimental design in FW565: Managing Human-Wildlife Conflicts, a 3 credit senior/graduate level class that I teach at Colorado State University. I provide a 1-hour lecture on the basics of experimental design. I then provide an example of an elk (Cervus elaphus) repellent experiment and request students to indicate what were the treatments, dependent variables, etc. The students …

Educating Students About Wildlife Damage Management: A Cooperative Venture Between Academics And Extension At A Land Grant University, James B. Armstrong

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The discipline of wildlife damage management, under the broader umbrella of wildlife management, is an evolving field; techniques change and the social and political atmosphere that influences our actions is shifting constantly. As time /money constraints pinch tighter into the education system, it is imperative that we pool resources and expertise. Many schools are doing that already and this paper provides a synopsis of those efforts and addresses some of the concerns about not having a wildlife damage course. I sent out an email questionnaire to all state wildlife specialists and received responses from 24. The questionnaire focused on their …

An Overview Of Current Blackbird Research In The Southern Rice Growing Region Of The United States, John L. Cummings, Michael L. Avery

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus), common grackles (Quiscalus quiscula), and brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) cause extensive damage to newly planted and ripening rice. The blackbird-rice problem has generated considerable public pressure in states such as Louisiana, Texas, California, Arkansas and Missouri, to find more effective methods of reducing damage caused by blackbirds. USDA/ APHIS/WS National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) works closely with various state rice growers associations and the USDA Wildlife Services (WS) state operational programs to address this high-priority issue. NWRC conducts a multi-faceted research program aimed at resolving blackbird-rice problems. Research focuses on determining the status of depredating species …

Vultures: Soaring To New Heights Or Flapping In The Breeze - A Texas Perspective, Denise M. Ruffino

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Common throughout the Texas landscape, turkey vultures (Carthartes aura) are routinely observed in a variety of habitats ranging from off shore islands to urban rooftops. Gregarious birds, turkey vultures are often joined by black vultures (Coragyps atratus) throughout the southeast where their ranges are sympatric. These communal roosts have increasingly become problematic for Texans incurring monetary losses from building and vegetation damage, livestock losses, and sanitary cleaning expenses. Additionally, human health and safety concerns rise proportionally with length of stay and population size. The North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and the annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) report positive population …

Use Of Alarm/Alert Call Playback And Human Harassment To End Canada Goose Problems At An Ohio Business Park, Philip C. Whitford

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Burgeoning resident Canada goose (Branta canadensis) populations have led to increased goose/human conflicts. Playback of recorded goose alarm/alert calls coupled with human harassment was used to attempt removal of resident geese from a 24.2 ha business park, Dayton, Ohio, 26 February-15 August 2002. Many geese present were reusing nest territories of previous years. Removal efforts began following territorial establishment. Call playback used 3 "Goosebuster" units (Bird-X Corp. Inc., 300 N. Elizabeth, Chicago IL 60607). Goose use of the property dropped from an estimated 1600-1800 goose hrs/day before testing to fewer than 150 goose hrs/day by week three and to 0 …

Within-Burrow And Surface Feeding Of Oat Grain By California Ground Squirrels, Ursula H. J. Mahl, Terrell P. Salmon

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Because the response of California ground squirrels to different baits varies with changes in the location, time, and mode of bait application, a solid understanding of ground squirrel foraging behavior is necessary for the development of effective, reduced risk baiting strategies. It has been assumed that ground squirrels will not consume bait placed in their burrows and that they may scatter it on the surface while clearing out their burrows. To determine how placing grain within the burrow affects the level of bait consumption by ground squirrels, we compared bait consumption when grain was applied within the burrow versus when …

Training Deer To Avoid Sites Through Negative Reinforcement, Dale L. Nolte, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Kelly R. Perry, Suzanne E. Adams

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Deer frequently visit areas where they may cause damage. Incidents along roadways and runways inflict numerous injuries to animals and humans, and cause considerable economic losses. Concerns are increasing that deer interactions with domestic animals may contribute to spread of disease. Deer foraging in residential areas, agricultural fields, or plant propagation sites can impede growth and possibly survival of desirable plants. We conducted a series of trials to determine whether mild electric shock would induce place avoidance in deer. Shock was delivered through a device attached to a collar. A noise cue was emitted as an animal approached a defined …

Wading Bird Management And Research On North American Aquaculture Facilities, Brian Dorr, Jimmy D. Taylor Ii

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Aquaculture in North America varies geographically with respect to species cultured, annual production, size, complexity, and spatial arrangement of facilities. Species assemblages of predacious birds using aquaculture facilities also vary with many of these industry characteristics. Wading birds are highly adaptable, relatively ubiquitous throughout the aquaculture industry, and often associated with fish depredation problems at aquaculture facilities. Suitability of information regarding the impacts of wading birds to aquaculture varies dramatically by depredating species and industry sector. Great blue herons (Ardea herodias) cause considerable depredation losses on trout aquaculture in the Northeast, and current research suggests that little blue herons (Egretta …