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2015

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Chemotaxis Of Central Nervous System-Derived Tumor Cells Within Controlled Microenvironments, Jennifer Rico Varela Jan 2015

Chemotaxis Of Central Nervous System-Derived Tumor Cells Within Controlled Microenvironments, Jennifer Rico Varela

Dissertations and Theses

Medulloblastoma (MB) is a malignant pediatric brain tumor known for its aggressive metastatic potential. Despite the well-documented migration of MB cells to other parts of the brain and spinal column, MB chemotaxis is poorly understood. Herein, we examined the in vitro migratory and cellular responses of MB-derived cells to external signaling of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB), and the stromal cell-derived factors 1-alpha (SDF-1). Experiments utilized transwell assays and immunocytochemistry to identify receptor activation in MB migration, and used a microfluidic platform to examine directionality, trajectory, and gradient- dependence of motile cells. Data …


Boron-Based Nanostructures : Synthesis, Functionalization, And Characterization, Eyrusalam Kifyalew Bedasso Jan 2015

Boron-Based Nanostructures : Synthesis, Functionalization, And Characterization, Eyrusalam Kifyalew Bedasso

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Boron-based nanostructures have not been explored in detail; however, these structures have the potential to revolutionize many fields including electronics and biomedicine. The research discussed in this dissertation focuses on synthesis, functionalization, and characterization of boron-based zero-dimensional nanostructures (core/shell and nanoparticles) and one-dimensional nanostructures (nanorods). The first project investigates the synthesis and functionalization of boron-based core/shell nanoparticles. Two boron-containing core/shell nanoparticles, namely boron/iron oxide and boron/silica, were synthesized. Initially, boron nanoparticles with a diameter between 10-100 nm were prepared by decomposition of nido-decaborane (B10H14) followed by formation of a core/shell structure. The core/shell structures were prepared using the appropriate precursor, …


Rangia Cuneata Clam Decline In Lake Pontchartrain From 2001 To 2014 Due To An El Niño Southern Oscillation Shift Coupled With A Period Of High Hurricane Intensity And Frequency, Michael A. Poirrier, Claire E. Caputo Jan 2015

Rangia Cuneata Clam Decline In Lake Pontchartrain From 2001 To 2014 Due To An El Niño Southern Oscillation Shift Coupled With A Period Of High Hurricane Intensity And Frequency, Michael A. Poirrier, Claire E. Caputo

Gulf and Caribbean Research

The clam, Rangia cuneata, occurs in low salinity zones of Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico estuaries. Prior to 2001, it was abundant in Lake Pontchartrain, a large and shallow oligohaline estuary, located north of New Orleans. However, abundance abruptly decreased by 96% after an extreme drought from an El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) shift (1998-2000). Stable higher salinities resulted in the establishment of higher salinity communities. The hooked mussel, Ischadium recurvum, increased abruptly and colonized live R. cuneata. Competition from I. recurvum and the R. cuneata decline occurred at the end of the drought, despite a decrease …


Investigating The Role Of Myristoylated Alanine Rich C Kinase Substrate's (Marcks's) Effector Domain In Lung And Brain Cancer Biology, Timothy D. Rohrbach Jan 2015

Investigating The Role Of Myristoylated Alanine Rich C Kinase Substrate's (Marcks's) Effector Domain In Lung And Brain Cancer Biology, Timothy D. Rohrbach

All ETDs from UAB

In this study, we investigated the role MARCKS's Effector Domain plays in lung and brain cancer biology. Initially, we identified that MARCKS was present in a range of lung cancer histologies including: squamous cell, adenocarcinoma, and normal lung tissues among others. In addition, lung adenocarcinoma patients with a mutation in the MARCKS gene correlated with decreased survival as determined by The Cancer Genome Atlas. In vitro studies identified that the phosphorylation status of MARCKS's Effector Domain was able to influence lung cancer radiation sensitivity. When MARCKS's Effector Domain was in a non-phosphorylated state, A549 lung cancer cell lines experienced increased …


The Electronic Structure Of Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals Formed On Metal Oxide Surfaces, Chad Allen Thibodeaux Jan 2015

The Electronic Structure Of Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals Formed On Metal Oxide Surfaces, Chad Allen Thibodeaux

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

We have investigated the electronic structure of environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) formed on two different metal oxides: Cu(II)O and ZnO. Cu(II)O is known to be one of the most active metal oxides to form EPFRs. ZnO, however, forms the longest-lived EPFRs. First, we examined the adsorption of phenol on different crystal faces of ZnO. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) shows direct evidence of charge transfer away from the ZnO to the phenol. This differs from the hypothesized mechanism of EPFR formation that says that an electron is transferred to the metal oxide. UPS difference spectra also shows that the phenol …


I. Synthesis Of Ascarosides For Chemical Biology Studies In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Ii. A Photochemical Approach To Delavayine, And Iii. Remote Hydroxylation By Radical Translocation And Polar Crossover, Kyle Allen Hollister Jan 2015

I. Synthesis Of Ascarosides For Chemical Biology Studies In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Ii. A Photochemical Approach To Delavayine, And Iii. Remote Hydroxylation By Radical Translocation And Polar Crossover, Kyle Allen Hollister

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The foci of this dissertation are the synthesis of analogs for chemical biology studies, synthetic chemistry method development (with an emphasis on photochemistry), and the application of these methods toward total synthesis. Chapter 1 outlines the synthesis of an array of pheromone analogs that are derivatives of the dideoxy sugar ascarylose. Referred to as ascarosides, such compounds have recently been shown to influence important biological processes in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. C. elegans secretes ascarosides into its environment, where the compounds then act as signaling molecules by providing information on factors like population density. Chapter 2 describes the biological …


Nanoscale Gumbos: Size-Control, Characterization, And Applications As Enantioselective Molecularly Imprinted Polymers And Fluorescent Materials, Suzana Hamdan Jan 2015

Nanoscale Gumbos: Size-Control, Characterization, And Applications As Enantioselective Molecularly Imprinted Polymers And Fluorescent Materials, Suzana Hamdan

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Nanomaterials derived from a group of uniform materials based on organic salts (GUMBOS) have been introduced into the scientific literature through many analytical, biological, and technological applications. These nanomaterials, referred to as nanoGUMBOS, have been shown to display a number of interesting properties including fluorescence, magnetism, tumor targeting, and optoelectronic properties. Herein, we present major studies on nanoGUMBOS including synthesis and size-control, chiral molecular imprinting in polymers, as well as investigation of optical properties and quantum yield of fluorescent semiconductor-based nanoGUMBOS. Various strategies were introduced for production of well-defined nanoGUMBOS. Specifically, several methods based on sonochemistry, microwave, cyclodextrin, and surfactant-assisted …


Synthesis And Anti-Proliferative Activity Of N,N’-Bis(Arylmethyl)Benzimidazolium Salts, Travis M. Williams Jan 2015

Synthesis And Anti-Proliferative Activity Of N,N’-Bis(Arylmethyl)Benzimidazolium Salts, Travis M. Williams

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

A series of N,N’-bis(arylmethyl)benzimidazolium salts with hydrophilic and lipophilic substituents have been synthesized, characterized, and tested against select non-small cell cancer cell lines. Substituent variations on the imidazole ring have shown that lipophilicity and hydrophilicity can influence the imidazolium salts’ anti-proliferative activity and aqueous solubility.


Development Of New Linking Chemistry With The Fac-{Re(Co)3}+ Core For Eventual Applications In Radiopharmaceuticals In Imaging And Therapy, Aponsu Meregngna Pramuditha Lakmi Abhayawardhana Jan 2015

Development Of New Linking Chemistry With The Fac-{Re(Co)3}+ Core For Eventual Applications In Radiopharmaceuticals In Imaging And Therapy, Aponsu Meregngna Pramuditha Lakmi Abhayawardhana

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The facile labeling of biomolecules with a radionuclide is a key goal in radiopharmaceutical development. This study explores two different ligand systems for fac-[Re(CO)3L]+ complexes, that could be used in bioconjugation. The first approach uses a tridentate ligand having a sulfonamide linkage and modeled on previously evaluated fac-[Re(CO)3(N(SO2R)dpa)]PF6 complexes. The present goal was to develop new related sulfonamide complexes with more hydrophilic ligands designed to avoid the bioavailability problems that would plague the N(SO2R)dpa ligand system. A series of fac-[Re(CO)3(N(SO2R)dien)]PF6 complexes with different R groups linked to the central nitrogen of a symmetric tridentate sulfonamides were synthesized with the aim …


Syntheses And Characterization Of Bis(Amino)Cyclodiphosphazane Complexes Of Group 4- And -15 Elements, Mathew Etang Otang Jan 2015

Syntheses And Characterization Of Bis(Amino)Cyclodiphosphazane Complexes Of Group 4- And -15 Elements, Mathew Etang Otang

Theses and Dissertations

In the first part of this work, the interaction of sodium tert-butoxide and sulfur with Group 4 metal bis(tert-butylamido)cyclodiphosph(III)azanes dichlorides, {[tBuNP)2tBuN)2]MCl2}, where M is Zr or Hf, is reported. The reaction of two equivalents of NaOtBu with {[tBuNP)2tBuN)2]MCl2}, M = Zr, Hf, resulted in the isolation of the first metal alkoxide complexes {[tBuNP)2tBuN)2]M(OtBu)2}, 35 (M =Zr) and 36 (M = Hf) of cyclodiphosphazanes. The oxidation of compounds 35 and 36 with elemental sulfur yielded {[tBuNP=S)2tBuN)2]M(OtBu)2}, 37 (M = Zr) and 38 (M = Hf), respectively. Similarly, the oxidation of {[tBuNP)2tBuN)2]MCl2}, M = Zr, Hf, with elemental sulfur led to the …


The Door At The End Of The Hall Or Why There Is Life On Earth, And Why We Should Have Seen It Coming, Kirk Pearson Jan 2015

The Door At The End Of The Hall Or Why There Is Life On Earth, And Why We Should Have Seen It Coming, Kirk Pearson

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.


University Of Texas At Tyler Course Catalog, 2015 - 2016, University Of Texas At Tyler Jan 2015

University Of Texas At Tyler Course Catalog, 2015 - 2016, University Of Texas At Tyler

Catalogs

No abstract provided.


Challenges For Implementing A Ptsd Preventive Genomic Sequencing Program In The U.S. Military, Gabriel Lázaro-Muñoz, Eric T. Juengst Jan 2015

Challenges For Implementing A Ptsd Preventive Genomic Sequencing Program In The U.S. Military, Gabriel Lázaro-Muñoz, Eric T. Juengst

Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law

No abstract provided.


The Phytotronist And The Phenotype: Plant Physiology, Big Science, And A Cold War Biology Of The Whole Plant., David Munns Jan 2015

The Phytotronist And The Phenotype: Plant Physiology, Big Science, And A Cold War Biology Of The Whole Plant., David Munns

Publications and Research

This paper describes how, from the early twentieth century, and especially in the early Cold War era, the plant physiologists considered their discipline ideally suited among all the plant sciences to study and explain biological functions and processes, and ranked their discipline among the dominant forms of the biological sciences. At their apex in the late-1960s, the plant physiologists laid claim to having discovered nothing less than the “basic laws of physiology.” This paper unwraps that claim, showing that it emerged from the construction of monumental big science laboratories known as phytotrons that gave control over the growing environment. Control …


Predictive Habitat Suitability Models To Aid Conservation Of Elasmobranch Diversity In The Central Mediterranean Sea, V. Lauria, M. Gristina, M. J. Attrill, F. Fiorentino, G. Garofalo Jan 2015

Predictive Habitat Suitability Models To Aid Conservation Of Elasmobranch Diversity In The Central Mediterranean Sea, V. Lauria, M. Gristina, M. J. Attrill, F. Fiorentino, G. Garofalo

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.


Foraminifera Of The Fal Estuary (Cornwall), Including Taxa Associated With Maerl Beds, Mb Hart, K Cartwright, B Fisk, Cw Smart, C Consolaro, Jm Hall-Spencer Jan 2015

Foraminifera Of The Fal Estuary (Cornwall), Including Taxa Associated With Maerl Beds, Mb Hart, K Cartwright, B Fisk, Cw Smart, C Consolaro, Jm Hall-Spencer

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

No abstract provided.


Developing A Gene Editing System To Study Haplodiploidy In The Jewel Wasp, Nasonia Vitripennis, Emily A. Muller Jan 2015

Developing A Gene Editing System To Study Haplodiploidy In The Jewel Wasp, Nasonia Vitripennis, Emily A. Muller

Scripps Senior Theses

Hymenopteran insects, which include all ants, bees and wasps, reproduce through a poorly understood form of reproduction known as haplodiploidy. A promising experimental system for understanding this developmental process is the jewel wasp, Nasonia vitripennis. A critical aspect of using Nasonia as a model is establishing an effective means for editing specific genes of interest so that their functions can be studied through genetic means. For my thesis research, I performed a pilot study of the gene editing method known as CRISPR in Nasonia. I targeted the single heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) gene present in the Nasonia genome …


I. Synthesis Of Ascarosides For Biological Evaluation And Ii. Development Of Visible Light-Promoted Selenofunctionalization And Grafting Of Aryl Iodides, Elizabeth Susan Conner Balapitiya Jan 2015

I. Synthesis Of Ascarosides For Biological Evaluation And Ii. Development Of Visible Light-Promoted Selenofunctionalization And Grafting Of Aryl Iodides, Elizabeth Susan Conner Balapitiya

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on analog synthesis for biological evaluation and visible light promoted method development. Chapter 1 centers upon the synthesis of Caenorhabditis elegans dauer pheromone analogs. C. elegans is a nematode which, in times of environmental stress, enters a dauer stage. Two highly conserved pathways, which play important roles in some diseases in higher organisms, monitor dauer formation: TGF-β and IGF-1. Dauer formation is triggered by the nematode’s chemosensation of the dauer pheromone, consisting of a group of previously-isolated ascarosides. These compounds differ in chain length, saturation, terminal functionality of side chain, ω vs. ω-1 oxygenation and presence of …


Strengthening Confidence In Climate Change Impact Science, Mary I. O'Connor, Johnna M. Holding, Carrie V. Kappel, Carlos M. Duarte, Keith Brander, Christopher J. Brown, John F. Bruno, Lauren Buckley, Michael T. Burrows, Benjamin S. Halpern, Wolfgang Kiessling, Pippa Moore, John M. Pandolfi, Camille Parmesan, Elvira S. Poloczanska, David S. Schoeman, William J. Sydeman, Anthony J. Richardson Jan 2015

Strengthening Confidence In Climate Change Impact Science, Mary I. O'Connor, Johnna M. Holding, Carrie V. Kappel, Carlos M. Duarte, Keith Brander, Christopher J. Brown, John F. Bruno, Lauren Buckley, Michael T. Burrows, Benjamin S. Halpern, Wolfgang Kiessling, Pippa Moore, John M. Pandolfi, Camille Parmesan, Elvira S. Poloczanska, David S. Schoeman, William J. Sydeman, Anthony J. Richardson

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Aim: To assess confidence in conclusions about climate-driven biological change through time, and identify approaches for strengthening confidence scientific conclusions about ecological impacts of climate change. Location: Global. Methods: We outlined a framework for strengthening confidence in inferences drawn from biological climate impact studies through the systematic integration of prior expectations, long-term data and quantitative statistical procedures. We then developed a numerical confidence index (Cindex) and used it to evaluate current practices in 208 studies of marine climate impacts comprising 1735 biological time series. Results: Confidence scores for inferred climate impacts varied widely from 1 to 16 (very low to …


Histomorphometric And Fractal Analysis Of Femoral, Tibial, And Metatarsal Compact Bone Samples In Sheep (Ovis Aries), Goat (Capra Hircus), And Roe Deer (Capreolus Capreolus), Alexandru Gudea, Andrei Stefan Jan 2015

Histomorphometric And Fractal Analysis Of Femoral, Tibial, And Metatarsal Compact Bone Samples In Sheep (Ovis Aries), Goat (Capra Hircus), And Roe Deer (Capreolus Capreolus), Alexandru Gudea, Andrei Stefan

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Histological sections of femur, tibia, and metatarsals originating from sheep (Ovis aries), goat (Capra hircus), and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) were examined in this study. Our research focused mainly on the quantitative characteristics of the microstructure of these bones. The areas, perimeters, minimum and maximum diameters of the secondary Haversian units, as well as structures of the primary osteonal units were assessed using comparative statistical methods. In addition to these parameters, the present paper investigated the usefulness of fractal analysis (fractal dimension and lacunarity), a new approach that quantifies the complexity and the emptiness pattern of biological structures. Moreover, our …


Substrate Stiffness Regulates Primary Hepatocyte Functions†, Vaishaali Natarajan, Eric J. Berglund, Dorothy X. Chen, Srivatsan Kidambi Jan 2015

Substrate Stiffness Regulates Primary Hepatocyte Functions†, Vaishaali Natarajan, Eric J. Berglund, Dorothy X. Chen, Srivatsan Kidambi

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Faculty Publications

Liver fibrosis occurs as a consequence of chronic injuries from viral infections, metabolic disorders, and alcohol abuse. Fibrotic liver microenvironment (LME) is characterized by excessive deposition and aberrant turnover of extracellular matrix proteins, which leads to increased tissue stiffness. Liver stiffness acts as a vital cue in the regulation of hepatic responses in both healthy and diseased states; however, the effect of varying stiffness on liver cells is not well understood. There is a critical need to engineer in vitro models that mimic the liver stiffness corresponding to various stages of disease progression in order to elucidate the role of …


Moving From Capstones Toward Cornerstones: Successes And Challenges In Applying Systems Biology To Identify Mechanisms Of Autism Spectrum Disorders, Nathan Kopp, Sharlee Climer, Joseph D. Dougherty Jan 2015

Moving From Capstones Toward Cornerstones: Successes And Challenges In Applying Systems Biology To Identify Mechanisms Of Autism Spectrum Disorders, Nathan Kopp, Sharlee Climer, Joseph D. Dougherty

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.


Interpersonal Safety Of Active Duty Women In The Deployed Environment Of Bagram Afghanistan, Cynthia Tara Ferguson Jan 2015

Interpersonal Safety Of Active Duty Women In The Deployed Environment Of Bagram Afghanistan, Cynthia Tara Ferguson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States Armed Forces, 30% of women in the military suffer physical assault each year; in 2009, there were 22 reported cases of sexual assault in the U.S. Central Command. Aggravated assault, gang violence, sexual assault, homicide, and suicide can damage the morale of military personnel at a deployed site and collectively cost millions of dollars over time. Interpersonal violence in the United States military is destructive to the military system and directly diminishes mission readiness. This study was designed to illuminate the environmental, cultural, and political influences that affect interpersonal safety among military women in the deployed …


Influence Of Maternal Prior Life Adversity On The Psycho-Neuroendocrine-Immune Profile During Pregnancy, Karen J. Kotz Jan 2015

Influence Of Maternal Prior Life Adversity On The Psycho-Neuroendocrine-Immune Profile During Pregnancy, Karen J. Kotz

Dissertations

Pregnancy is accompanied by a multitude of physical and psychological changes. Adaptation to these changes through reduced anxiety and attenuated stress responsiveness is necessary across gestation and into the postpartum period for optimal maternal-infant health. In contrast, exposure to higher amounts of stressors during pregnancy can disrupt neuroendocrine-immune processes required for successful pregnancy outcomes. Evolving evidence demonstrates that exposure to adversity early in life has long-lasting effects on stress response systems that alter stress reactivity during adulthood. Given this evidence, it is posited that women who experience greater pre-pregnancy adversity during their childhood are at greater risk for negative maternal-infant …


Sampling Strategies For Finite Population Using Auxiliary Information, Florentin Smarandache, Rajesh Singh Jan 2015

Sampling Strategies For Finite Population Using Auxiliary Information, Florentin Smarandache, Rajesh Singh

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

The present book aims to present some improved estimators using auxiliary and attribute information in case of simple random sampling and stratified random sampling and in some cases when non-response is present. This volume is a collection of five papers, written by seven co-authors (listed in the order of the papers): Sachin Malik, Rajesh Singh, Florentin Smarandache, B. B. Khare, P. S. Jha, Usha Srivastava and Habib Ur. Rehman. The first and the second papers deal with the problem of estimating the finite population mean when some information on two auxiliary attributes are available. In the third paper, problems related …


Readup Buildup. Thync - Instant Α-Readings, Florentin Smarandache Jan 2015

Readup Buildup. Thync - Instant Α-Readings, Florentin Smarandache

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

No abstract provided.


Northern Leopard Frogs In North Dakota: Assessing The Conservation Status Of A Widespread Amphibian Species, Justin David Lee Fisher Jan 2015

Northern Leopard Frogs In North Dakota: Assessing The Conservation Status Of A Widespread Amphibian Species, Justin David Lee Fisher

Environmental and Conservation Sciences

North Dakota’s midcontinent location within the Prairie Pothole Region is widely known for the dense wetlands. These highly productive wetlands are mixed within an agricultural mosaic which places increased pressure on water quality and overall wetland persistence. These threats to wetlands affects other, more common species which are presumed to have healthy populations but lack statewide information. Such is the case with the northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens). I examined genetic variation for 41 populations across the state. Genetic diversity was not correlated with latitude, but was negatively correlated with longitude. Along this genetic diversity gradient, there was a distinctive …


Effects Of Low Concentrations Of Carbon Nanotubes On Growth And Gas Exchange In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Rajeeva Voleti Jan 2015

Effects Of Low Concentrations Of Carbon Nanotubes On Growth And Gas Exchange In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Rajeeva Voleti

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The effect of pure single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) on plant growth and gas exchange was investigated in Arabidopsis thaliana. To date there has been no research on the effects of SWCNTs on whole plant physiology. A. thaliana seeds were directly grown in growth medium containing SWCNTs concentrations of 24.93micrograms/ml and 53.55 micrograms/ml. control plants were grown in media containing distilled water. I determined growth by measuring dry mass of plants. I determined gas exchange by measuring photosynthetic rates, stomatal conductance, transpiration rates, and water use efficiency. I also examined the following physiological mechanisms that would limit plant growth: ATP and …


Is Anthropogenic Cougar Mortality Compensated By Changes In Natural Mortality In Utah? Insight From Long-Term Studies, Michael L. Wolfe, David N. Koons, David C. Stoner, Patricia Terletzky, Eric M. Gese, David M. Choate, Lise M. Aubry Jan 2015

Is Anthropogenic Cougar Mortality Compensated By Changes In Natural Mortality In Utah? Insight From Long-Term Studies, Michael L. Wolfe, David N. Koons, David C. Stoner, Patricia Terletzky, Eric M. Gese, David M. Choate, Lise M. Aubry

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Understanding the interplay between exploitation and natural mortality is essential to guiding sustainable conservation of wildlife. Exploitation of carnivores by humans has long been thought to result in compensatory reductions of natural mortality among survivors. If rates of human exploitation exceed natural mortality, however, such actions will ‘add’ to overall mortality and could imperil the sustainability of such actions. We applied competing risk analyses to >/= 16 years of data for heavily harvested and semi-protected cougar populations in Utah to test the additive and compensatory mortality hypotheses, while accounting for parameter uncertainty. We additionally tested for presence of the two …


Is Anthropogenic Cougar Mortality Compensated By Changes In Natural Mortality In Utah? Insight From Long-Term Studies, Michael L. Wolfe, David N. Koons, David C. Stoner, Patricia Terletzky, Eric M. Gese, David M. Choate, Lise M. Aubry Jan 2015

Is Anthropogenic Cougar Mortality Compensated By Changes In Natural Mortality In Utah? Insight From Long-Term Studies, Michael L. Wolfe, David N. Koons, David C. Stoner, Patricia Terletzky, Eric M. Gese, David M. Choate, Lise M. Aubry

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Understanding the interplay between exploitation and natural mortality is essential to guiding sustainable conservation of wildlife. Exploitation of carnivores by humans has long been thought to result in compensatory reductions of natural mortality among survivors. If rates of human exploitation exceed natural mortality, however, such actions will ‘add’ to overall mortality and could imperil the sustainability of such actions. We applied competing risk analyses to >16 years of data for heavily harvested and semi-protected cougar populations in Utah to test the additive and compensatory mortality hypotheses, while accounting for parameter uncertainty. We additionally tested for presence of the two primary …