Life Sciences Commons^™

Using Handmade Cloning To Reduce Oocyte Mitochondria In Reconstructed Embryos, Laura Adams

Student Research Symposium

Mitochondrial heteroplasmy, the presence of more than one population of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in one cell, can cause metabolic issues and reduced ATP synthesis, even at relatively low levels. The presence of this condition in somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos likely contributes to reduced prenatal and postnatal viability: the majority of the oocyte’s mitochondria is still present at the time of nuclear transfer, as well as through any further embryonic development post-fusion and activation. Though the somatic cell also contributes its mitochondria (which can successfully communicate with its nucleus), the oocyte’s mitochondria compose a greater proportion of the total …

Detecting Dna Oxidation In Sperm, Alexie Zwerdling

Student Research Symposium

Declining body-wide levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) that are present in normal aging men are linked to decreased sperm quality and DNA integrity. When NAD is low, the amount of oxidative stress on the DNA appears to be increased, due to the limited regeneration of the antioxidant glutathione, which is NAD-dependent. We therefore hypothesize that the increased sperm DNA damage in the aging male is caused by an elevated formation of 8-oxoguanine in the DNA, caused by increased oxidative stress when NAD levels are low. To test this hypothesis, a transgenic mouse model (ANDY mouse) was used to create …

Investigating The Primary Production Of Bear Lake's Filamentous Algal Blooms, Maycee Page

Student Research Symposium

Filamentous algae blooms(FABs) have been appearing on the Western Shore of Bear Lake within the last couple of years with minimal research done on them. Through YSI meter sampling of light and dark trials of Bear Lake’s Eastern and Western shores and Fluorometer analysis of samples of filamentous algae taken from each site, gross primary production(GPP), net ecosystem production(NEP), and community respiration were calculated. Through graphical analysis between many of the factors that were accounted for, one statistical significance found was between the mass in milligrams of periphyton produced and the gross primary production. The two have a negative correlation …

Roles Of Nad+ In Testicular Aging And Epigenetic Sperm Modifications, Renata Hoskova

Student Research Symposium

Since 1980, the average age of first-time fathers has been increasing. With increased age, sperm chromatin quality and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) levels are reduced. In order to condense around protamines, sperm DNA undergoes breaks, at which time epigenetic reprogramming occurs. In humans, about 2% of DNA stays wound to histones in spermatozoa. Histones carry post-translational modifications that control gene activity and have the potential to transmit epigenetic information to the offspring. Analysis of epigenetic sperm modifications is being conducted within niacin deficient versus niacin replete mice. The experimental plan includes the characterization of histone exchange in elongating spermatids via …

Fecal Microbiota Transfer (Fmt) From Tumor-Bearing Mice Fed The Total Western Diet (Twd) Does Not Contribute To A Higher Tumor Burden In Mice Fed A Healthy Diet, Porter Green

Student Research Symposium

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cause of cancer death in the United States. Diet and gut microbiome have shown to influence the development of colitis associated colorectal cancer (CAC). For this study, the goal was to determine the association between colon inflammation, diet and microbiome in the development of CAC in mice. The primary objective of this study was to determine the contribution of gut microbiota from mice donors who have previously consumed one of two basal diets: 1) the standard AIN93G diet, which is designed to promote rodent health; and 2) the total Western diet (TWD), …

Bolstering Southeast Asia's Livestock Biosecurity And Climate Change Resilience Essential For Global Health, Madelyn Kunzler

Student Research Symposium

A large factor of climate change is its effect on infectious zoonotic diseases. Zoonotic diseases are diseases that can be transferred from animals into humans. Cases of zoonotic diseases have increased as humans have interacted more with animals, and as worldwide travel has become more frequent. It is predicted that 60% of emerging human diseases will be zoonotic. The cases will continue to increase to due climate change. As climate change continues, research has shown that new diseases will emerge from the melting permafrost and ice caps. It is also likely that pre-existing diseases will be able to migrate to …

Roles Of Nad In Dna Repair And Response To Oxidative Stress, Micah Forbush

Student Research Symposium

It has become a common trend for people to start their families at a later age, often due to lifestyle choices like achieving career goals first and waiting to achieve financial stability. Along with this trend of increasing parental age comes another, the decrease in fertility. While it is well established that female fertility declines significantly with age, current research is showing that male fertility may be impacted just as much. NAD (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) is an important biochemical cofactor in most metabolic reactions, and importantly, is it also essential for DNA repair. As age increases in humans, the amount …

Evaluation Of A Proprietary Slow-Release Oxytocin Formulation On Corpus Luteum Function In Mares, Brendan Sarnecky

Student Research Symposium

Prolonging function of the corpus luteum (CL) is a method of suppressing estrus that relies on continued secretion of endogenous progesterone to keep mares out of heat naturally. The use of oxytocin treatment to prolong CL function is gaining increasing use, and the most common treatment protocol involves administration of 60 units of oxytocin intramuscularly (IM) once daily on days 7 to 14 after ovulation (8 daily treatments). Although that protocol induces prolonged CL function in â 70% of treated mares, the need for daily administration is a drawback to its use. Therefore, the objective of this study was to …

Employing Recombinant Adeno-Associated Viral Vectors For Delivery Of A Therapeutic Timp-3 Transgene To The Equine Distal Extremity, Anisa Rose Samhouri

Student Research Symposium

Equine laminitis is a condition that results in lameness, extreme pain, and in many cases, concludes in euthanasia. The epidermal and dermal layers of the hoof's lamina are stabilized by connective tissues. Homeostatic metabolic factors allow for healthy remodeling of the lamina. When laminitis occurs, the enzymes that degrade lamellar connective tissue are upregulated while the concentration of degradative inhibitors (TIMP-3) is not changed. The unbalanced state of the metabolic factors compromises the structural integrity of the lamina and allows for movement of the coffin bone within the hoof capsule. Gene therapy has manifested promising results for preventing laminitis. The …

Impact Of The Introduction Of Black Raspberries In A Standard Western-Style Diet On Colitis And Colorectal Cancer Risk In Mice, Daphne Rodriguez, Korry Hintze

Student Research Symposium

Approximately 1.4 million people suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, which is major risk factor for developing colitis associated colorectal cancer (CAC). Dietary interventions with the goal to reduce colon inflammation and encourage gut microbiome homeostasis may be a strategy to reduce the risk of CAC. The antioxidants and antiinflammatory compounds present in black raspberries (BRB) have demonstrated protective effects in the colon epithelium and may alter the composition of the gut microbiome. Previously, we showed that dietary supplementation with black raspberries significantly suppressed coliti and colon tumorigenesis promoted by the consumption of a Western type diet in mice. The goal …

Comparison Of Deer Repellents Applied To Azaleas And Pansies, Rebecca Mcpeake, Rachel Lipsey, Nicole Nichols, Garry Mcdonald

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The effectiveness of commercially-available repellents in reducing browse by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) was assessed on two varieties of azaleas (Rhododendron spp.)and one variety of pansies (Viola tricolor var. hortensis). Repellents examined included Plantskydd™ (liquid, granular), Deer Stopper™, Milorganite™, and Repels-All™. Evergreen azaleas in 15-gallon containers were observed during 3 trial seasons in October –May, 2012 –2015. During each trial, individual plants were treated with the maximum recommended level of each repellent, or no repellent, or no repellent with a wire cage to serve as a positive control. At the end of each trial, leaves …

Fish Eating Birds Can Spread Bacterial Diseases Between Catfish Ponds, Fred L. Cunningham, Katie C. Hanson, Lorelei Ford, Lanna Durst, Raleigh Middleton, Larry A. Hanson

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Severe outbreaks of Motile Aeromonad Septicemia disease in commercial catfish aquaculture ponds have been associated with a virulent Aeromonas hydrophila strain (VAh) that is genetically distinct from less virulent strains. We demonstrated that Great Egrets (Arde alba), Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus), American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), and Wood Storks (Mycteria americana) can carry and shed viable VAh after consuming fish infected with Vah.

Edwardsiella ictaluri and E. tarda are considered the primary species of Edwardsiella to cause disease outbreaks in North American catfish aquaculture. Genetic analysis has determined that most isolates designated as E. …

Feral Swine Disease Surveillance – National Targets And Pilot Projects, Vienna R. Brown, Rachel M. Maison, Thomas Gidlewski

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The National Feral Swine Damage Management Program (NFSP) in collaboration with the National Wildlife Disease Program (NWDP) and USDA APHIS Veterinary Services works to identify the diseases of national concern in feral swine. The current national disease surveillance program includes classical swine fever (CSF), swine brucellosis (SB), and pseudorabies (PRV). CSF is a foreign animal disease and feral swine samples collected and tested serve as part of Veterinary Services surveillance stream for this pathogen. Both SB and PRV have been eradicated from U.S. commercial swine operations; however, as they are endemic diseases in feral swine populations, monitoring of feral swine …

Predators, Predator Removal, And Sage-Grouse: A Review, Michael R. Conover, Anthony J. Roberts

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Populations of sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; i.e., sage-grouse) have been in a decline since the nineteenth century. We used our research, unpublished reports, and scientific literature to identify which predators kill greater sage-grouse and to assess whether lethal control of these predators benefited the species. We also asked state wildlife biologists and scientists if they had ever witnessed a predator kill sage-grouse. We identified 266 instances where the predator responsible for depredating nests or killing juvenile or adult sage-grouse could be ascertained. Most adult sage-grouse were killed by eagles (Accipitridae), owls (Strigiformes), or coyotes (Canis latrans), except …

Factors Influencing Common Raven Occurrence And Density Across Cold-Desert Sagebrush Ecosystems Of The Southwestern U.S., Shawn T. O'Neil, Peter S. Coates, Brianne E. Brussee, Pat J. Jackson, David J. Delehanty

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Common ravens (Corvus corax) are a predator of eggs and chicks of numerous species including greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). Raven abundance and distribution is increasing within sagebrush ecosystems as a result of anthropogenic resource subsidies. Despite concerns about subsequent predation pressure on sage-grouse, broad-scale spatial information about raven populations remains lacking. We used hierarchical occupancy and distance sampling models to map raven density and distribution in response to natural and anthropogenic landscape covariates using >15,000 point count surveys occurring within the Great Basin region since 2007. Anthropogenic factors contributing to greater raven occurrence included increased road …

Effects Of Common Ravens On Greater Sage-Grouse In The Great Basin, Region, Usa, Peter S. Coates, Shawn T. O'Neil, Joseph L. Atkinson, Brianne E. Brussee, Pat J. Jackson, David J. Delehanty

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Anthropogenic modification to ecosystems can result in the redistribution of species at higher trophic levels. Humans have re-organized predator-prey dynamics, namely by removing top predators and subsidizing more generalist mesocarnivore species. As a result, some mid-level predator species have increased in abundance and distribution, often to the detriment of lower-level species that are not adapted to increased predation rates. One example of a native avian predator that has experienced population increase following increased anthropogenic subsidization is the common raven (Corvus corax; hereafter, raven).The raven is an ubiquitous predator within sagebrush ecosystems in the western U.S.,and may contribute to …

Anthropogenic Subsidies Affect Common Raven Nesting, Space-Use, And Movement, Julia C. Brockman, Pat J. Jackson, Peter S. Coates, Perry J. Williams

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Common raven (Corvus corax) number shave increased drastically throughout the Great Basin. Anthropogenic resources provide subsidies for growing raven populations with potential negative impacts on prey species including species of conservation concern such as greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus).Our objective was to identify the effects of anthropogenic subsidies on raven nesting, space-use, and movement in sage-grouse habitat. We captured and radio-tagged 67 ravens between 2015 and 2018 and identified 70 nests during the 2018 breeding season. We found the majority of nests were built on anthropogenic structures. We also examined raven use of anthropogenic subsidies including highways, …

Foraging Ecology And Distribution Of Scaup (Aythya Spp.) On Arkansas Commercial Baitfish And Sportfish Farms, Stephen A. Clements, Brian Davis, Brian S. Dorr, Katie C. Hanson-Dorr, Luke A. Roy, Anita M. Kelly, Carole Engle, Scott C. Barras

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)and Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) have been reported to consume substantial quantities of golden shiners (Notemigonus crysoleucas), fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas), goldfish (Carassius auratus), and sunfish (Lepomis spp.) produced on Arkansas commercial baitfish and sportfish farms. The goals of this study were to investigate foraging ecology and distribution of Scaup at these facilities, and use this information to assist producers in administering bird harassment efforts more efficiently. During typical wintering period for Scaup in Arkansas (November-March), we conducted approximately 1,400 pond surveys to estimate abundance …

Fine Scale Characteristics Of Catfish Aquaculture Ponds Influencing Use By Double-Crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax Auritus) In Northwest Mississippi, Paul C. Burr, Jimmy L. Avery, Garrett M. Street, Bronson K. Strickland, Brian S. Dorr

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) are the main source of depredation at catfish aquaculture facilities in Northwest Mississippi, resulting in significant economic loss. Understanding factors related to pond selection by cormorants could aid in mitigation practices to minimize further loss. We constructed occupancy models to estimate the probability of cormorant presence on catfish ponds against multiple variables associated with each ponds physical surroundings and internal conditions. We also explored cormorant use of aquaculture and natural habitat by using logistic regression to model the proportion of cormorants on aquaculture compared to natural habitat and influences of seasonal variation. Cormorant presence …

Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles For Bird Harassment On Fish Ponds, Ciera A. Rhoades, Peter J. Allen, D. Tommy King

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The effects of aquaculture decline on piscivorous birds in the Mississippi Delta concern catfish farmers, with possible increases in fish loss and disease transmission. Piscivorous birds quickly habituate to most current methods of harassment (loud noises and visual disturbances) leading to increased depredation and disease. Our study was designed to test the efficacy of using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to effectively control piscivorous birds at fish farms. We hypothesized that a UAV would be more efficient at reducing the number of fish-eating birds on fish ponds than current forms of harassment. We conducted pre-treatment bird surveys, harassment observations, and post-treatment …

Efficacy Of An Avian Repellent Applied Using Drop Nozzle-Equipped Ground Rigs In Reducing Blackbird Damage To Sunflower, Page E. Klug, Michael H. Ostlie, Scott J. Werner

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

In North Dakota large flocks of blackbirds feed on ripening crops, after breeding and prior to migration, resulting in an annual damage estimate averaging $3.5 million for sunflower. Since the repellent needs to be ingested to be effective, one obstacle is applying sufficient repellent directly to the sunflower face. Thus, we tested efficacy of an anthraquinone-based repellent when applied via drop-nozzle to sunflower using enclosed blackbirds in a semi-natural field setting. We used a ground-rig equipped with 360 Undercover^® drop nozzle sprayers to apply 20 gal/ac of solution to sunflower plots with a product application rate of 1.0 gal/ac …

Reducing Prairie Dog Populations And Damage By Castration Of Dominant Males, Gary W. Witmer

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) occur widely across the prairie states of North America. They compete with livestock for forage, transmit plague, and damage lawns, landscaping, and property. Interest in non-lethal methods, such as immunocontraception, is growing; however, reductions in the population due to contraception may be offset by increases in survival because adults and yearlings are not subject to the energetic demands of reproduction, and lower densities may increase the amount of resources available to growing offspring. Surgical sterilization provides a means for modeling these effects. Thus, we castrated males prior to the 1998 breeding season to …

Vertebrate Community Response To Wild Pig Control In An Agroecosystem, D. J. Steakley, Adrienne Dykstra, Garrett Street, Bronson Strickland, Kurt Vercauteren, Michael Colvin, Marcus Lashley

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Biological invasions often have negative effects on native wildlife and in the case of feral swine, also can cause extensive agricultural damage. As a result, the rapidly increasing swine populations and associated damages have led to wide-spread control efforts focused in agricultural areas. In a previous study, via camera trapping, we determined feral swine reduced observed vertebrate species richness by 26% when they invaded remnant forest patches in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. To determine the effectiveness of removal efforts in recovering the lost vertebrate richness, in January 2018, we initiated a before-after control-impact designed experiment in 5 forest patches to …

Integrated Wild Pig Control™: The Flint River Project, Michael Foster, Rod Pinkston

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Integrated Wild Pig Control™ (IWPC™) utilizes is a systematic approach to enhance the lethal removal of feral pigs based upon seasons food sources and conditional avoidance behavior that occurs when animals are exposed to trapping events. This sequence involves extensive camera and visual surveillance to determine numbers and locations of pigs. This information was utilized to deploy remote trapping of animals. Initial emphasis is placed on the removal of entire sounders at one time. Removal of remaining pigs is accomplished by use of firearms typically at night using thermal imagery technology. In January 2017, JAGER PRO™ was hired to remove …

Kaput® Feral Hog Bait Containing 0.005% Warfarin: An Overview Of Its Usefulness Against Feral Hogs And Safety To Wildlife And Humans, Richard M. Poche', David M. Poche', Gregory A. Franckwoiak, Tyler Clark, Larisa Polyakova, Batchimeg Tseveenjav

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Warfarin has been approved for use in the United States as a rodenticide since 1948. The United States Environmental Protection approved Kaput^® Feral Hog Bait (0.005% warfarin) for use as a toxicant to control wild pigs in 2017. The level of warfarin is 80% less than in commercial rodenticide formulations. Since 1994 we have conducted wildlife safety studies examining the potential effects of warfarin on non-target mammals and birds. Over a 25-year period, non-target toxicity research was completed with European ferrets, pied magpies, mallard ducks, bobwhite quail, Norway rats, house mice, and American alligator to assess primary and secondary …

The Prevalence Of Two Common Internal Parasites In White-Tailed Deer With And Without Significant Interaction With Domestic Sheep, Kathryn M. Metro, Mckenzie J. Weisser, Shelby N. Rorrer, Sunday O. Peters, George R. Gallagher

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of two internal parasites (strongylate nematodes and Nematodirus spp.) in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) sharing a home range with domestic sheep (Ovis aries), compared to deer likely having minimal contact with sheep. Fecal samples were collected from sheep (n=75), deer (n=99) within 300m of the sheep center, and deer (n=98) located 1.3km away from the livestock center, over a 7-week period during the summer. Sheep had the highest (p<.001) number of strongylate eggs (1,212.7 ± 2.8/g) compared to deer near the livestock facility (13.9 ± 0.3/g) or deer located away from the sheep center (18.3 ± 0.3/g). Eggs of Nematodirus spp. were greater (p<.001) in sheep (33.7 ± 0.5/g) compared to deer samples collected near the sheep center (5.1 ± 0.2/g) and deer away from the sheep facility (3.0 ± 0.1/g). Additionally, strongyle and Nematodirus spp. egg counts were different (p<0.001) in the fecal samples collected from deer residing closer to the sheep facility compared to those located farther away. Results of this study suggest the interactions of white-tailed deer and domestic sheep does not influence the prevalence of these internal parasites within the deer.

Comparison Of A 2-Layer Electric Fence And A Single Strand Electric Fence In Mitigating Browsing Of Impatiens By White-Tailed Deer, Shelby N. Rorrer, Mckenzie J. Weisser, Kathryn M. Metro, George R. Gallagher

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The objective of this study was to evaluate two electric fence configurations in minimizing damage to impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Each of 3 sites consisted of 3 plots (3mx3m), containing 16, evenly spaced impatiens planted on the perimeter of each plot. Plots within each site had a control, single strand and 2-layered electric fence. Control plots had no fencing. Single strand plots had one electrified wire attached to posts at 40 cm height, surrounding the plot. Two-layered electric fence had energized wire attached to posts at 25 cm and 60 cm height, …

Integrating Human Dimensions Studies And Human-Wildlife Conflict Data To Develop A Targeted Awareness Campaign About Coyotes In Florida, Angeline Scotten, Greg Kaufmann, Catherine Kennedy, Ann Forstchen, Ramesh Paudyal, Jacob Kline, Allison Perez

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) uses qualitative and quantitative data on people’s values, beliefs, attitudes, and understanding of wildlife species to optimize outreach efforts to reduce human-wildlife conflict. These data also help the agency develop and implement effective and acceptable programs on fish and wildlife management by reducing adverse impacts of fish and wildlife on Florida’s environment, economy, and human health and safety. Combining human dimensions information with human wildlife conflict incident data can serve as a powerful tool to help prioritize outreach efforts.

In last few years, FWC has supported several research projects to gain a …

Wild Horses, Livestock, And Wildlife Use Of Springs And Riparian Areas On The Devil's Garden, Laura K. Snell, David F. Lile, Madeleine Levy, Roger A. Baldwin

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

In Modoc County, located in northeastern California there is a unique rangeland area heavily populated by wild horses and managed primarily by United States Forest Service known as the Devil's Garden. Wild horses have significantly exceeded (4000 horses) appropriate management levels (206-402 horses) in recent years and expanded their range outside of the wild horse territory (258,000 acres) and on to private and tribal lands (over 450,000 acres). This increase has prompted concern about resource degradation particularly associated with riparian areas. In otherwise arid sage steppe rangelands, springs provide critical watering sources as well as wildlife habitat for sage grouse, …

Double-Crested Cormorant Colony Effects On Soil Chemistry, Vegetation Structure And Avian Diversity In A Southeastern Reservoir System, Leah Moran Veum, Brian Dorr, Katie Hanson-Dor, R. J. Moore, Scott A. Rush

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Ornithogenic material delivered by Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) from their nesting colonies have been documented to effect vegetation, soil chemistry and tree and plant health in the northern breeding grounds of Canada and the United States (U.S.). However, little work has been done on impacts to avian communities or in temperate forest ecosystems. We compared soil chemistry, vegetation and tree structure and diversity and effects on avian communities among colony islands, uninhabited islands and abandoned colony islands within Guntersville Reservoir, a temperate forest ecosystem. Concentrations of potassium (K), phosphorus (P) and nitrate (NO₃^-) in soil …