Digital Commons Network^™

Methods For Assessing Fish Populations, Kevin L. Pope, Steve E. Lochmann, Michael K. Young

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

Fisheries managers are likely to assess fish populations at some point during the fisheries management process. Managers that follow the fisheries management process (see Chapter 5) might find their knowledge base insufficient during the steps of problem identification or management action and must assess a population before appropriate actions can be taken. Managers will implement some type of assessment during the evaluation step as a means of measuring progress relative to objectives. Choosing how to assess a population is an important decision because managers strive to maximize their knowledge of a population while minimizing the time and money expended to …

Evaluating Food Availability And Nest Predation Risk As Sources Of Bias In Aural Bird Surveys, Bruce A. Robertson, Richard L. Hutto, Joseph J. Fontaine

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

The use of aural surveys to estimate population parameters is widespread in avian studies.Despite efforts to increase the efficacy of this method, the potential for ecological context to bias population estimates remains largely unexplored. For example, food availability and nest predation risk can influence singing activity independent of density and, therefore, may bias aural estimates where these ecological factors vary systematically among habitats or other categories of ecological interest. We used a natural fire event in a mixed-conifer forest that experienced variation in fire severity (low, intermediate, and high) to determine if aural surveys produce accurate density estimates of Dark-eyed …

The Impact Of Rare Taxa On A Fish Index Of Biotic Integrity, Haibo Wan, Christopher J. Chizinski, Christine L. Dolph, Bruce Vondracek, Bruce N. Wilson

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

The index of biotic integrity (IBI) is a commonly used bioassessment tool that integrates abundance and richness measures to assess water quality. In developing IBIs that are both responsive to human disturbance and resistant to natural variability and sampling error, water managersmust decide how to weigh information about rare and abundant taxa, which in turn requires an understanding of the sensitivity of indices to rare taxa. Herein, we investigated the influence of rare fish taxa (within the lower 5% of rank abundance curves) on IBI metric and total scores for stream sites in two of Minnesota’smajor river basins, the St. …

Translational Inhibition By Micrornas In Plants, Bin Yu, Hai Wang

Center for Plant Science Innovation: Faculty Publications

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are 21–24 nucleotide riboregulators, which selectively repress gene expression through transcript cleavage and/or translational inhibition. It was thought that most plant miRNAs act through target transcript cleavage due to the high degree of complementarity between miRNAs and their targets. However, recent studies have suggested widespread translational inhibition by miRNAs in plants. The mechanisms underlining translational inhibition by plant miRNAs are largely unknown, but existing evidence has indicated that plants and animals share some mechanistic similarity of translational inhibition. Translational inhibition by miRNAs has been shown to regulate floral patterning, floral timing, and stress responses. This chapter covers recent …

Mandibular Fractures In Short-Finned Pilot Whales, Globicephala Macrorhynchus, Mollie Sue Oremland, Bernadette Allen, P J. Clapham, Michael Moore, Charley Potter, James G. Mead

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

This study’s objective was to investigate mandibular fractures in 50 short-finned pilot whales, Globicephala macrorhynchus, from two mass strandings. Based on current theories that this species is sexually dimorphic and polygynous, hypotheses were: (1) males should suffer more frequent or more substantial mandibular fractures than should females, and (2) fracture occurrence should increase with male reproductive maturity and potential correlates of maturity, such as age and length. Fractures were described and correlated with physical characteristics to infer possible explanations for injuries. Mandibular fractures were surprisingly common in males and females, being found in more than half of the animals …

Long-Term Recovery Patterns Of Arctic Tundra After Winter Seismic Exploration, Janet C. Jorgenson, Jay M. Ver Hoef, M. T. Jorgenson

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

In response to the increasing global demand for energy, oil exploration and development are expanding into frontier areas of the Arctic, where slow-growing tundra vegetation and the underlying permafrost soils are very sensitive to disturbance. The creation of vehicle trails on the tundra from seismic exploration for oil has accelerated in the past decade, and the cumulative impact represents a geographic footprint that covers a greater extent of Alaska’s North Slope tundra than all other direct human impacts combined. Seismic exploration for oil and gas was conducted on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, USA, in …

Crucial Role Of Mechanisms And Modes Of Toxic Action For Understanding Tissue Residue Toxicity And Internal Effect Concentrations Of Organic Chemicals, Beate I. Escher, Roman Ashauer, Scott Dyer, Joop L. M. Hermens, Jong-Hyeon Lee, Heather A. Leslie, Philipp Mayer, James P. Meador, Michael S. J. Warne

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

This article reviews the mechanistic basis of the tissue residue approach for toxicity assessment (TRA). The tissue residue approach implies that whole-body or organ concentrations (residues) are a better dose metric for describing toxicity to aquatic organisms than is the aqueous concentration typically used in the external medium. Although the benefit of internal concentrations as dose metrics in ecotoxicology has long been recognized, the application of the tissue residue approach remains limited. The main factor responsible for this is the difficulty of measuring internal concentrations. We propose that environmental toxicology can advance if mechanistic considerations are implemented and toxicokinetics and …

Stabilization Of Fragments To Enhance Asexual Recruitment In Acropora Palmata, A Threatened Caribbean Coral, Dana E. Williams, Margaret W. Miller

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Historically, fragmentation has been a successful life history strategy in Acropora palmata. However, in areas where the population is sparse and degraded, the survivorship of fragments is now compromised. This study aimed to determine whether stabilization of A. palmata fragments could increase their overall performance. Naturally occurring fragments were found and assigned to one of three treatments: stabilized to the natural substrate (1) using cable ties, (2) using epoxy or (3) tethered to the substrate as an unstabilized control. After 44 weeks, the general “performance” of the fragments was ranked based on their change in live tissue cover and …

An Overview Of The Spread, Distribution, And Ecological Impacts Of The Quagga Mussel, Dreissena Rostriformis Bugensis, With Possible Implications To The Colorado River System, Thomas F. Nalepa

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

The quagga mussel (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) was first found in the Great Lakes in 1989 and has since spread to all five lakes. Although its spread through the system was slower than that of the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha), once established, it replaced zebra mussels in nearshore regions and is colonizing deep regions where zebra mussels were never found. Outside the Great Lakes Basin, quagga mussels do not appear to be increasing to any extent in the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, even after being present in these rivers for over a decade. In contrast, numbers in …

Early Detection Of Population Fragmentation Using Linkage Disequilibrium Estimation Of Effective Population Size, Phillip R. England, Gordon Luikart, Robin Waples

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Population subdivision due to habitat loss and modification, exploitation of wild populations and altered spatial population dynamics is of increasing concern in nature. Detecting population fragmentation is therefore crucial for conservation management. Using computer simulations, we show that a single sample estimator of N_e based on linkage disequilibrium is a highly sensitive and promising indicator of recent population fragmentation and bottlenecks, even with some continued gene flow. For example, fragmentation of a panmictic population of N_e = 1,000 into demes of N_e = 100 can be detected with high probability after a single generation when estimates from …

Scwds Briefs: Volume 26, Number 1 (April 2010), Gary L. Doster , Editor, Scwds Briefs, Michael J. Yabsley

Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study: Publications

Table of Contents:

AI Diagnostics Research

White Nose Syndrome Update

More CWD News

Pneumonia Kills Bighorn Sheep

MCF in a Key Deer

National Feral Swine Mapping System

Brucella suis in North America

Sam Hamilton

Symptoms, Distribution And Abundance Of The Stem-Boring Caterpillar, Blastobasis Repartella (Dietz), In Switchgrass, Jarrad R. Prasifka, Jeffrey Bradshaw, Arvid A. Boe, Dokyoung Lee, David Adamski, Michael E. Gray

Panhandle Research and Extension Center

A potential pest of switchgrass, Panicum virgatum L., was first detected in South Dakota in 2004, where death of partially emerged leaves was noted in a small proportion of tillers. Similar “dead heart” symptoms were observed in switchgrass in Illinois during 2008 and adults of a stem-boring caterpillar were collected and identified as Blastobasis repartella (Dietz). In 2009, a survey of the central United States was used to estimate the distribution and abundance of this insect. In eight northern states, B. repartella was consistently found in both cultivated plots and natural stands of switchgrass. In four southern states, B. repartella …

Descriptions Of Life-Stages Of Blastobasis Repartella (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Coleophoridae: Blastobasinae) And Observations On Its Biology In Switchgrass, D. Adamski, P. J. Johnson, A. A. Boe, Jeffrey Bradshaw, Alan Pultyniewicz

Panhandle Research and Extension Center

Blastobasis repartella (Dietz) is a borer in the proaxis and basal nodes and internodes of above ground stems of Panicum virgatum L. (Poaceae). The adult and immature stages are described herein, including diagnoses of the adult and larva, as this insect may be easily confused with a closely related grass-feeding congener, Blastobasis graminea Adamski, which is also known to occur in the United States. The biology of B. repartella is described. Figures of the adult, illustrations of the male and female genitalia, wing venation, the chaetotaxy of the larva (supplemented with scanning electron micrographs), and pupa are provided. Bassus difficilis …

Defending A Social Learning Explanation: A Comment On The Origins Of Shared Intuitions Of Justice, Christopher B. Jaeger

Vanderbilt Law Review En Banc

No abstract provided.

Ducks, Geese, And Swans Of The World: Tribe Cereopsini (Cape Barren Goose), Paul A. Johnsgard

Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World by Paul A. Johnsgard

Cape Barren Goose
Several recent studies have suggested that this unusual Australian gooselike bird is not very closely related to either the true geese or the sheldgeese, although it shares some traits with both groups. It has some unique traits, such as its unusually swollen bill, its adaptations to a terrestrial existence on the coastline and islands of the Bass Strait, and its very simple syringeal structure. Like the freckled duck, it is perhaps best considered as a survivor of a group transitional between the two major subfamilies of waterfowl that exist at the present time.

Ducks, Geese, And Swans Of The World: Tribe Anatini (Dabbling Or Surface-Feeding Ducks), Paul A. Johnsgard

Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World by Paul A. Johnsgard

Blue Duck ● Salvadori Duck ● African Black Duck ● Eurasian Wigeon ● American Wigeon ● Chiloe Wigeon ● Falcated Duck ● Gadwall ● Baikal Teal ● Green-winged Teal ● Speckled Teal ● Cape Teal ● Madagascan Teal ● Gray Teal ● Chestnut Teal ● Brown Teal ● Mallard ● North American Black Duck ● Meller Duck ● Yellow-billed Duck ● Gray Duck ● Philippine Duck ● Bronze-winged Duck ● Crested Duck ● Pintail ● Brown Pintail ● White-cheeked Pintail ● Red-billed Pintail ● Silver Teal ● Hottentot Teal ● Garganey ● Blue-winged Teal ● Cinnamon Teal ● Red Shoveler …

The World’S Waterfowl In The 21st Century: A 2010 Supplement To Ducks, Geese, And Swans Of The World, Paul A. Johnsgard

Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World by Paul A. Johnsgard

Since the 1978 publication of my Ducks, Geese and Swans of the World hundreds if not thousands of publications on the Anatidae have appeared, making a comprehensive literature supplement and text updating impossible. Janet Kear’s (2005) survey of the waterfowl family Anatidae and closely related screamers of the family Anhimidae included more than 3,700 references, of which a significant proportion appeared later than 1978. My revision of the Anseriformes (families Anatidae and Anhimidae) for the 2nd edition of J. C. Peters’ Check-List of the Birds of the World (Johnsgard, 1979) closely followed the classification structure and taxonomic sequence that had …

Inherent Differential Propensity Of Dental Pulp Stem Cells Derived From Human Deciduous And Permanent Teeth, R.B. Zain, V. Govindasamy, A.N. Abdullah, V.S. Ronald, S. Musa, Zeti Adura Che Ab Aziz, S. Totey, R.R. Bhonde, N.H. Kasim

Research Publications (2006 to 2010)

Introduction: Lately, several new stem cell sources and their effective isolation have been reported that claim to have potential for therapeutic applications. However, it is not yet clear which type of stem cell sources are most potent and best for targeted therapy. Lack of understanding of nature of these cells and their lineagespecific propensity might hinder their full potential. Therefore, understanding the gene expression profile that indicates their lineage-specific proclivity is fundamental to the development of successful cell-based therapies. Methods: We compared proliferation rate, gene expression profile, and lineage-specific propensity of stem cells derived from human deciduous (SCD) and permanent …

Protective Effects Of Mucuna Pruriens Seed Extract Pretreatment Against Cardiovascular And Respiratory Depressant Effects Of Calloselasma Rhodostoma (Malayan Pit Viper) Venom In Rats, S.Y. Fung, N.H. Tan, S.M. Sim

Research Publications (2006 to 2010)

The protective effects of Mucuna pruriens seed extract (MPE) against the cardio-respiratory depressant and neuromuscular paralytic effects induced by injection of Calloselasma rhodostoma (Malayan pit viper) venom in anaesthetized rats were investigated. While MPE pretreatment did not reverse the inhibitory effect of the venom on the gastrocnemius muscle excitability, it significantly attenuated the venom-induced cardio-respiratory depressant effects (p<0.05). The protection effects may have an immunological mechanism, as indicated by the presence of several proteins in the venom that are immunoreactive against anti-MPE. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that the pretreatment may exert a direct, non-immunological protective action against the venom.

Substance Abuse And Violence Behavior, M.H. Habil, R. Abd Rashid, A.H. Sulaiman, H. Peters, M.M. Ahmad Zahari, A.S. Amer Nordin, H. Zakaria, N. Robson, M.A. Said, A. Ahmad Adham

Research Publications (2006 to 2010)

Objectives: This paper examines the relationship of various licit/illicit substances and their association with violent behaviors. Methodology: The selection of related articles was searched via various database including google scholar, ovid and sciencedirect search engines. Results: Most of the literatures suggest presence of association of various substance use with violent behavior but no definite causal relationship between them. Conclusion: Further study is needed to determine the extended relationship in between substance use and violence.

The Performance Of Durum And Bread Wheat Genotypes Associated With Yield And Yield Component Under Different Water Deficit Conditions, Ali Akbar Moayedi, Amru Nasrulhaq Boyce, Syed Shahar Barakbah

Research Publications (2006 to 2010)

Although drought stress has been well documented as an effective parameter in decreasing crop production in arid and semi arid regions, developing and releasing new varieties which are adaptable to water deficit conditions can be a constructive program to overcome unsuitable environmental conditions. The present study was carried out to study the performance of durum and bread wheat genotypes in relation to yield and yield component under different water deficit conditions. The experiment was laid out in split plot based on a complete randomized block design, with three replications at Mashhad Agricultural Research stations in Iran. Irrigation regimes were considered …

2009-2010 Financial Summary, Morehead State University. Budget & Financial Planning Office.

Morehead State University Financial Summaries Archive

2009-2010 Financial Summary of Morehead State University.

Part 6: Destination Of Choice: The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, Regional Studies Institute, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Despite attracting 700,000 visitors annually, the Aquarium is not familiar to many people. We examine the Aquarium and outline its role in the economic development of a key area of Virginia Beach.

Partners In The Parks: Field Guide To An Experiential Program In The National Parks (First Edition), Joan Digby, Bill Atwill, Angela Calise, James Clarke, Rebecca Cole-Will, Rony Enriquez, Greg Fahy, Sarah L. Fann, Pavel Goriacko, Andy Grube, Kathleen King, Matt Nickerson, Joy Ochs, Elizabeth O’Donnell, C. P. Price, Heather Thiessen-Reily

National Collegiate Honors Council Monographs

When Joan Digby first proposed taking collegiate honors students into our national parks, I jumped at the chance. Within minutes of reading her email, I not only responded with an enthusiastic “Yes!” but went so far as to volunteer the resources of the Southern Utah University Honors Program to get things started. Nestled among 5 national parks in southwestern Utah, I felt our campus would be a natural focal point for the kind of program Joan envisioned. Within weeks we had laid the groundwork for a proof-of-concept pilot project at nearby Bryce Canyon National Park. Little did I know at …

A Review Of The Blaesiina (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae, Gymnetini), Brett C. Ratcliffe

University of Nebraska State Museum: Entomology Papers

The two genera comprising the subtribe Blaesiina (Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Gymnetini) are reviewed. Each genus contains two species, with Blaesia Burmeister occurring in southern South America and Halffterinetis Morón & Nogueira occurring in northern Mexico. Descriptions, keys, distributions, biology, and illustrations are provided. The biogeography of the Blaesiina is discussed with a hypothesis to explain the current disjunct distributions. I provide a new state record for Halffterinetis gonzaloi Morón & Nogueira in San Luis Potosí, Mexico.

Synopsis Of The Aroid Scarabs In The Genus Peltonotus Burmeister (Scarabaeidae, Dynastinae, Cyclocephalini) From Sumatra And Description Of A New Species, Mary Liz Jameson, Stanislav Jakl

University of Nebraska State Museum: Entomology Papers

We provide a synopsis of the Sumatran species in the scarab beetle genus Peltonotus Burmeister (Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Cyclocephalini), describe a new species of Peltonotus from Sumatra, and describe the male of P. cybele Jameson & Wada from Sumatra (previously known only by the female holotype). To enable identification, we include a key to the five Sumatran species of Peltonotus, comparative images and diagnoses for all species, and temporal and geographical distributions.

Wpa News 86 (2010/2011), World Pheasant Association

Galliformes Specialist Group and Affiliated Societies: Newsletters

WPA News (Winter 2010/2011), number 86

Published by the World Pheasant Association

Annual Report: College Of University Libraries & Learning Sciences Fy 2009-2010, Martha Bedard

Assessment and Statistics

No abstract provided.

Tapeheads, Nicholas Lucas

Theses & ETDs

In this digital age, predictions have been made for a future where machines surpass the intelligence of man and integrate themselves with humankind. Regardless of whether or not these predictions become reality, they still speak to the general trend of technology moving beyond the realm of tools that enrich our lives and into the territory of machines that enslave us. Furthermore, the majority of us do not understand these modern, digital machines as they are not transparent in their operation. TapeHeads realizes a microcosm of society where people are allowed to be creative by interacting with transparent, analog technologies through …

Fero Corpum Ferri An Exploration Of The Role Of Human Physiology Against A Backdrop Of Everincreasing Mechanical Supplantation, David Bennett

Theses & ETDs

This essay, Fero Corpum Ferri, is meant to accompany a thesis exhibition, comprised of paintings and drawings. The paintings are executed on a medium scale, composed of brightly colored anatomical, mechanical, and invented shapes. They intimate a Pop art or graffiti sensibility that remains coolly detached while approaching varying levels of anatomical and schematic depictions � from organs and machinery to cellular abstraction and invented mechanisms. The project continues the investigation of the tensions between humanity and the growing industrial landscape begun by the Dadaists in the early 20th century. The paintings and drawings in this series invoke metaphors for …