Life Sciences Commons^™

Spatiotemporal Plasticity In Reproductive Readiness And Recruitment Of Ichthyoplankton Of Invasive Silver Carp Along A Western Invasion Front, Jessi L. Urichich

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Individuals of invasive species at the edge of their invasion distribution may exhibit enhanced reproductive capacity and phenotypic plasticity leading to accelerated range expansion. Environmental conditions in highly fluctuating environments at distribution edges may either promote or hinder such reproductive readiness and phenotypic plasticity. Dynamic habitat conditions and periodic disturbances experienced in prairie streams, such as drought (e.g., low-flow, high water temperatures), may potentially reduce suitable spawning environments and ichthyoplankton recruitment of invasive Silver Carp, potentially slowing range expansion or enabling management strategies that reduce abundance in the absence of a reproducing population. Female Silver Carp batch fecundity, Gonadosomatic Index …

Effects Of Winter Ticks (Dermacentor Albipictus) On The Reproduction Of Utah Moose (Alces Alces Shirasi), Samuel D. Robertson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Moose (Alces alces) are the largest and only solitary members of the deer family. The species can be found across many northern regions around the world. Moose are considered to have high intrinsic, recreational and ecological value. In recent years, there have been concerns about declining moose populations in portions of the species circumpolar range. Moose in Utah (Alces alces shirasi) belong to the Shiras subspecies, which is the smallest of the four subspecies found in North America. Utah moose are the southernmost naturally occurring moose population in the world. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources …

The Effects Of Ammonia On The Functionality Of Bovine Granulosa Cells, Micah Henrie

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

It is common practice in the livestock animal production industries to feed high levels of protein to maximize the yield of each animal in production. However, diets high in protein can cause decreased reproductive success within these animals. The causes behind this decrease are not fully understood. Increased dietary protein leads to increased levels of both ammonia and urea in the blood of the animal. These increased metabolite levels may be a possible explanation for the decline in reproductive success. The goal of this study is to identify how various levels of ammonia affect the function of bovine granulosa cells …

Evaluating The Effects Of 6-Day And 7-Day Fixed-Time Artificial Insemination Protocols Using Sex-Sorted Semen On Pregnancy In Beef Cattle, Nicole Noel Noga

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this study, 527 beef heifers from three locations across two states were enrolled between November 2020 and May 2021 for experiment 1, divided into three sub-experiments: 1A (n = 85), 1B (n = 383), and 1C (n = 59). These heifers were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups. Treatments 1 and 2 involved a 6-day CO-Synch + CIDR protocol, including administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH; 100 μg IM; Factrel; Zoetis Animal Health, Parssipany, NJ) and a CIDR insert (EAZI-BREED CIDR; 1.38g P4; Zoetis Animal Health) on Day 0, followed by prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α; 25 mg IM; Lutalyse …

Evaluating The Effects Of Parasite Infections On Reproductive Ability In Maine Moose, Isabella Costa

Honors College

Despite conservation efforts, moose have experienced increasing mortality rates. Winter ticks are known to cause anemia and lower reproductive potential in moose. Moreover, a genus of bacteria, Anaplasma spp., is known to cause a reduction in reproductive efforts in other animals, such as cattle. Because both winter ticks and Anaplasma spp. may affect female reproductive ability, the overall goal of this research was to determine if Anaplasma bacterial infections could be impacting female moose reproduction within the state of Maine. To address this, samples and biological data from moose were collected during hunter harvest, in collaboration with hunters and the …

On The Oviposition Of Homonota Aff. Darwinii In The Puna Region Of The Central Andes Of Argentina, Franco Valdez Ovallez, Rodrigo Gómez Alés, Rodrigo Nieva Cocilio, Tomás Martínez, Juan Carlos Acosta, José Villavicencio, Graciela Blanco

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Communal nest egg-laying refers to females laying their eggs with those of their conspecifics under or within artificial or natural structures. Homonota aff. darwinii is a recently discovered species that has not yet been formally described. The objective of this work is to characterise the oviposition of this species in the Puna region in the Central Andes of Argentina. We recorded the type and surface of the rocks where the eggs were laid, the temperature of the substrate, and the temperature of the rock surface facing the substrate. In addition, we recorded the daily temperature variation that a randomly selected …

Assessing The Effects Of The Spring Hunting Season Start Date On Wild Turkey Seasonal Productivity And Hunter Behavior, Joseph Quehl

Masters Theses

Many states throughout the Southeast have documented declines in wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) harvest and estimates of recruitment in poult-per-hen ratios. Wild turkey populations are driven by seasonal productivity, so the decline in these parameters may indicate a decline in the overall population. One hypothesis as to why we are seeing a reduction in productivity and a potential population decline is that the spring hunting season is disrupting the reproductive cycle by harvesting too many males before they have had the opportunity to breed, or by harvesting dominant males and disrupting the social hierarchy of the flock. Our …

Evaluating The Role Of The Bovine Vaginal Microbiome In Neonatal And Maternal Health Outcomes, Riley D. Messman

Theses and Dissertations

The dam vaginal microbiota is the first major microbial inoculating community within the neonate. The composition of the dam vaginal microbiota has implications in calf commensal microbiota development. Alterations of the dam microbial community prior to parturition could alter inoculating communities and immune responses in both the dam and calf. Thus, authors aimed to elucidate the microbial community composition of the bovine dam vaginal and calf nasal microbiota post-partum after utilizing betadine lavages (BL). The dam vaginal and calf nasal microbial communities and immune responses were evaluated at 0-, 15-, 30- and 60-day post-partum. Microbiota composition of the dam haircoat, …

Effect Of Supplementation Prior To Artificial Insemination And During Gestation In Beef Females, Landon Tadich

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Objectives of Experiment 1 was to evaluate the impact of increased energy prior to AI on BW, ADG, and reproductive efficiency in heifers developed on range or in a dry lot. During the winter development period (131 ± 3.5 d/yr) heifers (n= 100/yr) were assigned to either upland range (RANGE) or fed a dry lot diet in two pens that either remained constant (DLLO) or increased in energy prior to AI (DLHI). Heifers developed on RANGE grazed upland winter range until 38 d prior to AI where they then received the DLLO diet. Pre-breeding BW was greater (P £ …

Detection And Observed Correlations Of Statin And Beta-Blocking Pharmaceuticals In West Virginia Surface Waters And Ichthyofauna, Joseph W. Kingsbury

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Within this thesis the source, presence, and the estimated ecotoxicological effects of cardiovascular medicines, specifically statins and beta-blockers are described within the Buckhannon, Tygart Valley, and West Fork Rivers of West Virginia. Included within this thesis is a general introduction providing key background information and relevant research related to the source, presence, and known toxicity of statins and beta-blockers. Following the general introduction there are 3 distinct chapters. Chapter 1 focuses on the estimated demographic based source loadings and the surface water concentration characteristics of statins and beta-blockers within the three rivers. Chapter 2 investigates the effects of statins and …

Lifetime Inclusive Fitness Effects Of Cooperative Polygamy In The Acorn Woodpecker, Walter D. Koenig, Sahas Barve, Joseph Haydock, Eric L. Walters

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Although over 50 y have passed since W. D. Hamilton articulated kin selection and inclusive fitness as evolutionary explanations for altruistic behavior, quantifying inclusive fitness continues to be challenging. Here, using 30 y of data and two alternative methods, we outline an approach to measure lifetime inclusive fitness effects of cooperative polygamy (mate-sharing or cobreeding) in the cooperatively breeding acorn woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus. For both sexes, the number of offspring (observed direct fitness) declined while the number of young parented by related cobreeders (observed indirect fitness effect) increased with cobreeding coalition size. Combining these two factors, the observed inclusive …

2023 Cattlemen’S Day Full Report, Liz Boyle

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This report includes research conducted in 2022 on beef cattle management, reproduction, nutrition, and meat science conducted at Kansas State University.

An Evaluation Of Bovine Reproductive Function From The Microrna Expression In The Female To Performance Testing In The Male, Erin Amiss

All Theses

Reproductive function is crucial to the success of a beef or dairy herd. Both the female and male play significant roles in the outcome of bovine reproduction. The bull contributes to reproductive success in many ways, such as genetics. The initial role that the bull has in reproductive success is fertilization, whether natural or by artificial insemination. One method of assessing bull performance are central bull test stations, which are traditionally administered by a university, extension center, or are privately owned. Central bull tests assess the performance of bulls from various management systems, breeds, and ages. Some measurements taken during …

Reproductive Traits And Change In Body Shape Of Neonates In The Oak Forest Skink, Plestiodon Lynxe, Manuel Feria-Ortiz, Uri Omar García-Vázquez, Carlos Joaquín Pavón-Vázquez, Adrián Nieto-Montes De Oca

Publications and Research

Reproductive traits are critically important for understanding how organisms adapt to their respective environments. In this study, we provide information on relative litter mass (RLM) and other litter and neonate related characters of nine female Plestiodon lynxe captured in the field. We also recorded seven body dimensions in 16 neonates and 15 two-month juveniles, and on the basis of these dimensions we compared the body shape of these two age classes to detect changes in the proportions of body parts. The average litter size (4.55) is larger than that found in other viviparous species of Plestiodon, but smaller than …

The Reproductive Biology Of Small Fishes And The Clutch Concept: Combining Macroscopic And Histological Approaches, David C. Heins, Nancy J. Brown-Peterson

Faculty Publications

Accurate estimates of reproductive parameters important in understanding life history evolution and conservation of small fishes are dependent upon careful assignment of ovarian phases. Proper assignment is based upon the stages of propagule (oocyte) development, oocyte maturation and the location of any clutch or portion thereof within the ovaries. Macroscopic inspection and assignment of ovarian developmental phases have often been used for small freshwater fishes. By contrast, histological methods for assignment of reproductive phases have been developed and are widely used for marine fishes, but they have rarely been used for small freshwater fishes. We review oocyte development, ovum maturation, …

Effects Of Administration Of A Growth Promoting Implant During The Suckling Phase Or At Weaning On Growth, Reproduction, And Ovarian Development In Replacement Heifers Grazing Native Range, Shelby L. Rosasco, Emily A. Melchior-Tiffany, Cierrah J. Kassetas, Shad H. Cox, Richard L. Dunlap, Jennifer A. Hernandez Gifford, Eric J. Scholljegerdes, Robert A. Cushman, Adam F. Summers

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

Management strategies utilized during pre-breeding development of replacement heifers can impact fertility and the ovarian reserve. Angus- Hereford crossbred heifers (n = 233) were utilized over a 3-yr period to determine the effects of administration of a growth promoting implant at either branding or weaning on growth, reproduction, and ovarian development. Heifer calves were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: 1) nonimplanted controls (CON; n = 79), 2) implanted at approximately 2 mo of age (average calf age = 58 d) with Synovex-C (BIMP, n = 82), or 3) implanted at approximately 7 mo of age (average calf …

The Effects Of Poor Maternal Nutrition During Gestation In Sheep On The Reproductive Efficiency Of The Offspring, Morgan Dougherty

Honors Scholar Theses

Poor maternal nutrition during gestation negatively impacts fetal programming and the development of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis in the offspring. Reproductive health of ewes can be characterized by concentrations of reproductive hormones including follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and progesterone, particularly during the estrous cycle. We hypothesized that ewes born to dams that experienced poor maternal nutrition during gestation would have reduced reproductive capability and efficiency. This means that they would take longer to become pregnant and have reduced concentrations of reproductive hormones compared with those born to mothers fed the control diet. Pregnant dams (F0) were fed one …

Drivers Of Annual Fledging In The Mississippi Sandhill Crane Population 1991-2018, Henry W. Woolley, Scott G. Hereford, Jerome J. Howard,

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We studied trends in nesting, number of chicks fledged annually, and their environmental and biotic drivers in the wild population of Mississippi sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pulla) on Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge during 1991-2018. Population size, number of nests, and number of chicks fledged annually increased slowly but significantly over the course of the study. Increases in population size were related to both number of wild-reared chicks fledged annually and number of captive-reared chicks released each year, but wild-reared chicks had significantly higher survivorship than captive-reared chicks. Hurricanes transiently raised mortality rates but only Hurricane Katrina …

Twenty-Year Status Of The Eastern Migratory Whooping Crane Reintroduction, Hillary L. Thompson, Nicole M. Gordon, Darby P. Bolt, Jadine R. Lee, Eva K. Szyszkoski

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Since the 10-year status update in 2011, the first parent-reared whooping cranes (Grus americana) were released in the Eastern Migratory Population, the ultralight program (UL) ended, and cranes were released at new sites in eastern Wisconsin. During 2011-2020, 117 captive-reared whooping cranes were released; 75 costume-reared (35 in UL and 40 in the Direct Autumn Release program) and 42 parent-reared. There were no significant differences in 1- or 3-year survival rates based on rearing technique or release site. The population size remained at about 100 cranes during 2010-2018 but then decreased during 2018-2020 due to a reduced number …

Vigilance Of Nesting Whooping Cranes In Juneau County, Wisconsin, Nicole M. Gordon, Darby P. Bolt, Hillary L. Thompson

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Vigilance plays an important role in the detection of possible threats and reducing the risk of predation, including during the incubation period. We examined the visual vigilance of incubating whooping cranes (Grus americana) in Juneau County, Wisconsin, during the 2019 nesting season. We deployed 9 trail cameras and tagged crane presence and behavior in 32,801 photos which were used in our analysis. We assessed individual nest and environmental variables and their effects on vigilant behavior of incubating cranes using linear mixed-models. Vigilant behavior was defined by a posture in which the crane’s head was up, neck was erect, …

Field Trial Assessing The Use Of Sex-Sorted Semen In Beef Cattle, K. W. Aubuchon, J. A. Odde, C. Bronkhorst, E. M. Bortoluzzi, M. J. Goering, K. E. Fike, K. G. Odde

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:The objective was to evaluate the reproductive performance of sex-sorted semen on beef cows and heifers.

Study Description:For this trial, 320 Angus and SimAngus cows and heifers from four groups were used. Group 1 yearling heifers (n = 101) were synchronized using the melengestrol acetate plus prostaglandin F_2α(MGA-PGF_2α) protocol and Groups 2, 3, and 4 cows (n = 219) were synchronized using the 7-Day CO-Synch + CIDR protocol. Insemination was done with semen from an Angus sire (Group 1 yearling heifers and Group 2 young cows) sorted to contain>90% X-bearing sperm, or a …

Life History Of Swordfish, Xiphias Gladius, Caught In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Anna K. Millender, Jeremy M. Higgs, Nancy J. Brown-Peterson, Michael J. Andres, James S. Franks

Gulf and Caribbean Research

The current study examined 93 Swordfish, Xiphias gladius, (64 females, 27 males, 2 unknown) ranging in size from 77.6–246.3 cm lower jaw fork length (LJFL) from the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Samples were collected between March and August in 2005–2007, 2017–2019 and 2021. Age estimates of 51 Swordfish resulted in a maximum observed age of 11 years (205.0 cm LJFL) and 7 years (190.4 cm LJFL) for females and males, respectively. Observed and back—calculated length—at—age data were fitted to 4 growth models (2— and 3— parameter von Bertalanffy, Gompertz, and logistic). The 2—parameter von Bertalanffy was the model …

Defining Amino Acid Requirements Of Pregnant Sows: Challenges And Opportunities, Christian D. Ramirez-Camba

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The efficient use of protein in animal production is dependent on the protein supply and its constituent amino acids (AA) in relation to the animal's needs. Excess AA are deaminated, and the resulting nitrogen (N) is excreted, whereas suboptimal AA intake reduces animal performance. Both increased nutrient excretion and decreased animal performance reduce the overall efficiency of the production unit. In sows, AA requirements should be adequate for optimizing reproductive performance, as measured, for example, by the number of pigs produced per sow per year while limiting N excretion. There is a desire to feed pregnant sows AA levels that …

Cattlemen's Day 2022, Beef Cattle Research

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This report includes research on beef cattle management, reproduction, nutrition, and meat science conducted at Kansas State University.

Androgenic Hormones In Crustacean Aquaculture: A Review, Muzaffer Mustafa Harlioğlu, Ardavan Farhadi̇

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Increased demands of the seafood market have led to the rapid growth in crustacean aquaculture production in various parts of the world. Therefore, an expansion in the knowledge of the reproductive biology of crustaceans has become more important. Hormones released from the androgenic gland (AG) in crustaceans are liable for both the separation of primary and secondary sexual features and reproductive behavior. AG removal in male crustaceans causes a transformation of the intersex animals towards the females and a degeneration of spermatids and reproductive organs. AG implantation and injection of AG extracts are common approaches for crustacean masculinization. In this …

Relationship Of Molecular Breeding Value For Beef Tenderness With Heifer Traits Through Weaning Of Their First Calf, Robert A. Cushman, Gary L. Bennett, Richard G. Tait, Anthony K. Mcneel, Eduardo Casas, Timothy P.L. Smith, Harvey C. Freetly

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

Polymorphisms in μ-calpain (CAPN1) that beneficially associate with beef tenderness are reported to antagonistically associate with calving day in beef heifers and post-partum interval to estrus in beef cows. We, therefore, hypothesized that a molecular breeding value for slice shear force, calculated based on CAPN1 and calpastatin (CAST) genotypes, would demonstrate an antagonistic relationship between genomically predicted slice shear force and ordinal calving date in replacement beef heifers. A secondary objective of this study was to evaluate the association of a polymorphism in diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase (DGAT1) with reproductive traits in beef heifers. One hundred eighty-seven MARC III heifers (¼ Angus, …

The Impacts Of Climate Change On The Gulf Of Maine Northern Shrimp (Pandalus Borealis) Distribution, Reproduction, And Life, Hsiao-Yun Chang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Gulf of Maine northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) once supported a significant winter fishery for the Gulf of Maine (GOM). Although the shrimp fishery is not comparable to the lobster business, it provided fishermen and many coastal communities jobs and incomes in winters after lobster seasons. However, a moratorium has been put on the shrimp fishery since 2014 due to record low population abundance and perceived recruitment failures. The recruitment failures have been correlated with warming water temperatures over the past decade. The GOM has been recognized as experiencing rapid warming as a result of global climate change. …

Using Genomics To Measure Phenomics: Repeatability Of Bull Prolificacy In Multiple-Bull Pastures, Gary L. Bennett, John W. Keele, Larry A. Kuehn, Warren M. Snelling, Robert A. Cushman, Tara G. Mcdaneld, Aaron M. Dickey, Darrell Light

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

Phenotypes are necessary for genomic evaluations and management. Sometimes genomics can be used to measure phenotypes when other methods are difficult or expensive. Prolificacy of bulls used in multiple-bull pastures for commercial beef production is an example. A retrospective study of 79 bulls aged 2 and older used 141 times in 4–5 pastures across 4 years was used to estimate repeatability from variance components. Traits available before each season’s use were tested for predictive ability. Sires were matched to calves using individual genotypes and evaluating exclusions. A lower-cost method of measuring prolificacy was simulated for five pastures using the bulls’ …

Changes In Whole Blood Parameters In Beef Heifers May Contribute To Delayed Pubertal Attainment, Jessica A. Keane

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Pubertal development in beef heifers is a transient period that has many contributing factors. Previously in our lab, progesterone (P4) concentrations collected from heifers at weaning (Oct) to breeding (May) were used to identify four distinct pubertal groups: Typical, Early, Start-Stop, and Non-Cycling. There is limited research on heifers and the impacts of whole blood cell populations, particularly WBCs, during pubertal development; however, girls with differing puberty onset displayed altered concentrations of hematocrit, white blood cells (WBC), and hemoglobin concentrations. Thus, our hypothesis was that heifer pubertal groups with delayed or precocious puberty may have increased white blood cells or …

Observations On The Distribution And Status Of Selected Nebraska Mammals, Zachary P. Roehrs, Russell A. Benedict, Thomas E. Labedz, Hugh H. Genoways

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

Information on the distribution and current status of 25 species or subspecies of mammals occurring in Nebraska are presented. The species covered include one shrew, an armadillo, eight bats, 10 rodents (including two subspecies of one species), three carnivores, and one artiodactyl. Distributional information reported includes the first state record for one species (Sorex nanus) and new county records for 18 species. In Nebraska, we know that mammals are shifting their geographic ranges with some extending populations into the state, whereas others are expanding their geographic ranges within the state. The current status of six additional mammalian taxa …