Life Sciences Commons^™

Winter Waterbird Ecology On The Great Salt Lake, Utah, And Interactions With Commercial Harvest Of Brine Shrimp Cysts, Anthony J. Roberts

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Interactions among commercial fisheries and birds have been studied in open ocean ecosystems and at aquaculture facilities. On the Great Salt Lake (GSL), Utah, USA, a commercial harvest of brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana) eggs (i.e. cysts) occurs annually during fall and winter. Coinciding with commercial harvest is the use of the GSL by millions of waterbirds which has the potential to result in conflict among industry and birds. The objectives of my research were to examine fall and winter ecology of birds using the GSL and interactions with the brine shrimp cyst harvest. I examined the influence of temperature and …

Determination Of The Expression Patterns Of Bovine Non-Classical Major Histocompatibility Complex (Mhc) Class I Proteins, Parveen Parasar

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This project was funded by the United States of Department of Agriculture (USDA), which funds research aimed at improving production and animal health. The aim of this study was to advance knowledge of maternal immune tolerance to the fetus and mechanisms bovine non-classical MHC class I proteins employ to interact with immune cells and render them inert towards the fetus.

A fetus is a tissue graft inside the mother’s uterus yet must be accepted by the mother to maintain a successful pregnancy. Reproductive insufficiency and pregnancy failure are major causes of production loss in cattle, especially in cloned animals. Knowledge …

Climate Change And Plant Demography In The Sagebrush Steppe, Aldo Compagnoni

Green Canyon Environmental Research Area, Logan Utah

No abstract provided.

2012 Annual Report, Various Authors

Annual Reports

No abstract provided.

Marek's Disease (Md, Range Paralysis, Gray Eye), David D. Frame, Sarah Tilley, Mark C. Bland

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes one of the most commonly diagnosed diseases of backyard chickens. The clinical signs of Marek's Disease are descriptively illustrated, and an objective plan for diagnosis and control are discussed in a format understandable to the general small flock and/or backyard chicken owner.

Roads And The Reproductive Ecology Of Hesperidanthus Suffrutescens, An Endangered Shrub, Matthew B. Lewis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

We studied the pollination ecology of the endangered Utah desert shrub, shrubby reed-mustard (Hesperidanthus suffrutescens). We also studied the impacts that dust from unpaved roads has on successful reproduction. In addition, we looked at the relationship between the total number of plants, the spacing of plants, and reproduction. We found that shrubby reed-mustard requires pollinators for successful pollination. Pollinators include many small native bees from the genera Andrena, Dialictus, and Halictus. Additionally, we found that reproduction of shrubby reed-mustard is limited, possibly due to scarcity of these bees. We found that dust from the road …

Analysis Of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Panels For Bovine Dna Identification, Kimberly A. Blanchard

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have great power in resolving questions of unknown parentage on ranches or dairies where errors could have been made in pedigree record keeping or when such records were simply not kept. Currently a panel of 88 SNPs based on a panel originally created by USDA-MARC is commercially available from the company Fluidigm^®. Our objective was to determine whether or not the number of SNPs could be reduced to form a smaller, more cost-efficient parentage-testing panel. A smaller panel would be beneficial to farmers and researchers alike in the reduction of time spent running and …

Evaluation Of Survey Methods And Development Of Species Distribution Models For Kit Foxes In The Great Basin Desert, Stephen J. Dempsey

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Historically, kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis) once occupied the desert and semi-arid regions of southwestern North America, ranging from Idaho to central Mexico. Their range-wide decline has warranted the kit fox to be designated as a state sensitive species in Utah. Once considered the most abundant carnivore in western Utah, the kit fox has been in steep decline over the past decade, creating a demand to determine kit fox presence in the Great Basin desert. Currently there is little consensus on which survey methodology is best for detecting kit fox presence. We tested 4 survey methods (scat deposition, scent …

Assessing Vehicle-Related Mortality Of Mule Deer In Utah, Daniel D. Olson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Roads are essential in modern societies, but as populations grow and traffic volumes rise, roads will continue to be built and expanded. As a result, the effects that roads have on wildlife will likely intensify, making it imperative that managers understand those effects so mitigation can be directed accordingly. In Utah, considerable areas of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) habitat have been bisected by roads. Mule deer are commonly involved in vehicle collisions and there is concern that roads and vehicle traffic are impacting populations. This project was conducted to determine the number and demographic effects of deer-vehicle collisions, …

Vital Rates, Population Trends, And Habitat-Use Patterns Of A Translocated Greater Sage-Grouse Population: Implications For Future Translocations, Orrin V. Duvuvuei

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) populations have declined range-wide with some local populations exhibiting dramatic decreases. In 2009–2010, radio-marked hens (30 hens in 2009 and 30 hens in 2010) were translocated from Parker Mountain in south-central Utah to augment a rapidly declining population on Anthro Mountain in northeastern Utah. Thirty-two resident female sage-grouse on Anthro Mountain were also radio-collared from 2009–2012.

I compared population vital rates (i.e., nest and brood success, and survival) of resident and translocated hens in Anthro Mountain’s population to those of a translocated population in Strawberry Valley, Utah and the source population. Of these …

Ecology Of Coyotes On The Valles Caldera National Preserve, New Mexico: Implications For Elk Calf Recruitment, Suzanne J. Gifford

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Valles Caldera National Preserve (VCNP) managers were concerned about low elk recruitment observed at the same time as an apparent increase in sightings of coyotes and observations of coyote predation on elk calves. The goal of this study was to describe coyotes’ ecological interactions with elk, particularly coyote diet and movements on the Valle Grande, a large grassland meadow in the southeastern portion of the VCNP.

We examined coyote diet by quantifying undigested remains of food items in coyote scats (feces). The most frequent taxa were rodents (montane voles and pocket gophers), elk (adult and calf), insects (grasshoppers and beetles), …

Cougar Predation Behavior In North-Central Utah, Dustin L. Mitchell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Today’s ability to apply global positioning systems (GPS) collars to wild animals and track their movements, without inadvertently disrupting their daily routine, is a major benefit to wildlife research. Cougars are carnivorous predators that have been identified as being one of several possible causes for recent mule deer population declines throughout the Western United States. Past cougar predation studies have relied on snow tracking, radio-collar tracking, and modeling techniques to estimate cougar prey use and predation rates. These methods rely heavily on weather conditions, logistical availabilities, and broad assumptions, which have led to a wide range of predation rate estimates. …

Regulation And Expression Of Nanog, Oct4, And Sox2 In The Bovine Blastocyst Following Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer, Justin Scott Hall

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences Department (ADVS) and the Center for Integrated Biosystems (CIB) at Utah State University are studying various molecular mechanisms involved in the animal cloning process. This study involves the extensive network of people, facilities, equipment, and funding already associated with the CIB and ADVS joint project.

Cloning involves many molecular challenges that for the most part have become roadblocks for the normal development of the fetus. The mechanisms necessary to transform an adult cell into a competent stem cell that can then transform and develop into a healthy organism are poorly understood. Some of these …

Growth Performance And Nutrient Metabolism Of Pasture-Finished Beef Steers And In Vitro Fermentation Characteristics Of Pasture Forages In Continuous Cultures, Cuk Tri Noviandi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A 2-year grazing study was conducted to evaluate the growth performance, ruminal fermentation, carcass characteristics, and fatty acid compositions in subcutaneous adipose tissue of beef steers grazing tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Shreb.; TF) pastures without or with N fertilization. Nitrogen fertilization increased crude protein concentration of TF pasture and average daily gain of beef steers. Increase in total volatile fatty acids (VFA) and ammonia-N (NH₃-N) concentrations were detected in steers grazing fertilized TF. In comparison with steers on feedlot, pasture-finished steers had greater proportions of cis-9, trans-11 CLA and C18:3 n-3, …

Colorado River Cutthroat Trout Habitat Resistance And Resilience To Climate Change, Kate H. Olsen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Government agencies and private organizations spend large amounts of public money attempting to return ecosystems to a more natural state, which have often been harmed or even destroyed as a result of modern development. Colorado River cutthroat trout, Oncorhyncus clarki pleuriticus, are a subspecies of cutthroat trout. Cutthroat trout live in the Rocky Mountains of the western United States. The population of this particular subspecies has been severely reduced by human actions, and currently only 12% of its historic populations still exist. To improve the condition of cutthroat trout, fisheries professionals and biologists are working to restore natural populations. …

Winter Ecology Of Waterfowl On The Great Salt Lake, Utah, Josh L. Vest

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

I designed a suite of studies in coordination with Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) to evaluate waterfowl use of the GSL in winter and ecological aspects associated with GSL use. These studies provided insight into key information gaps previously identified by UDWR regarding management of GSL resources. Population surveys indicated total duck abundance was low when GSL surface elevations were low and wetland resources diminished because of persistent drought in the system. Also, ducks appear to use hypersaline parts of GSL more when freshwater habitats are limited from either drought or ice conditions. Common goldeneye, northern shoveler, and green-winged …

Characterization And Potential Utility Of Porcine Trophoblast-Derived Stem-Like Cells, Edison A. Suasnavas

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In mammalian pregnancy, the placenta is a very important organ which helps to establish a healthy pregnancy. Its functions could be described in four points: 1) It allows the fetus to receive gases and nutrients from the mother in a safe way; 2) it lets the fetus get rid of waste through the mother's kidneys; 3) it releases essential pregnancy-related hormones and growth factors that let the uterus hold the fetus; 4) it secretes immune response regulators to give the fetus immune protection against the mother. Abnormalities in the placenta can be the cause of death to the fetus. Mammalian …

Strategic Approaches To Develop Optimal Feeding Program Of Brown Midrib Corn Silage To Lactating Dairy Cows In The Intermountain West, Michael Shane Holt

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In two lactation studies reported in this dissertation, it was hypothesized that feeding 35% brown midrib corn silage (BMRCS) and 25% alfalfa hay (dry matter basis) would result in increased dry matter intake (DMI) around peak lactation compared with feeding conventional corn silage (CCS), causing longer peak milk production, and that feeding dairy cows in early lactation a 16% crude protein diet with fair quality alfalfa hay (FAH) in BMR-based diets would maintain milk production, reduce urinary N excretion, and improve N efficiency compared to those fed high quality alfalfa hay ( …

Apoptotic And Epigenetic Induction Of Embryo Failure Following Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer, Aaron Patrick Davis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The cloning of domestic species has tremendous potential, as the technology can be used in selective breeding, conservation, and the production of transgenic animals. The technique of cloning involves the transplant of DNA from a cell to a recipient gamete. Following transfer to a surrogate, the cloned embryo may successfully complete development to a live offspring. Despite intensive research, the success rate of cloning remains prohibitively low, and the potential benefits of cloning have not yet been realized. Embryos produced from cloning suffer from high rates of embryo degradation, implantation failure, and abortion. The goal of this dissertation research project …

The Micronutrient Profile Of The Typical American Diet Enhances Colorectal Carcinogenesis, Stephany Del Carmen Perez Monsanto

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The typical Western dietary pattern is characterized by the consumption of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods and has been linked to increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Our research group previously developed the total Western diet (TWD) that emulates typical human dietary intakes of macro- (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) on an energy density basis for rodents. In the present study, we sought to determine the impact of TWD on biomarkers of metabolic syndrome and obesity in comparison to a commercial 45% fat diet used for models of diet-induced obesity (DIO diet) and the standard basal AIN93G diet, …

Comparison Of Topographic Surveying Techniques In Streams, Sara G. Bangen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) Fish and Wildlife Program (FWP) mitigates impacts, including mortality, from hydroelectric dams in the Columbia River Basin for ESA-listed salmon and steelhead populations and other species of special concern. Given the extensive economic resources invested in mitigation and the incredible diversity of in-stream habitat across the Columbia River basin, questions have arisen about which sampling strategies are most tractable across the entire Columbia River Watershed, but also produce datasets that allow researchers to answer meaningful questions about salmonid populations and trends in habitat. In response to these issues, the NOAA Integrated Status and Effectiveness Monitoring …

Acid Ceramidase Maintains The Chondrogenic Phenotype Of Expanded Primary Chondrocytes And Improves The Chondrogenic Differentiation Of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Calogera M. Simonaro, Sylvain Sachot, Yi Ge, Xingxuan He, Victor A. Deangelis, Efrat Eliyahu, Daniel J. Leong, Hui B. Sun, Jeffrey B. Mason, Mark E. Haskins, Dean W. Richardson, Edward H. Schuchman

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Acid ceramidase is required to maintain the metabolic balance of several important bioactive lipids, including ceramide, sphingosine and sphingosine-1-phosphate. Here we show that addition of recombinant acid ceramidase (rAC) to primary chondrocyte culture media maintained low levels of ceramide and led to elevated sphingosine by 48 hours. Surprisingly, after three weeks of expansion the chondrogenic phenotype of these cells also was markedly improved, as assessed by a combination of histochemical staining (Alcian Blue and Safranin-O), western blotting (e.g., Sox9, aggrecan, collagen 2A1), and/or qPCR. The same effects were evident in rat, equine and human cells, and were observed in monolayer …

Identification Of Putative Origins Of Introduced Pigs In Indiana Using Nuclear Microsatellite Markers And Oral History, Joe N. Caudell, Blake E. Mccann, Robert A. Newman, Rebecca B. Simmons, Steven E. Backs, Brandon S. Schmit, Richard A. Sweitzer

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Feral swine (Sus scrofa) have been introduced throughout North America from various global locations (Mayer and Brisbin 1991). In some cases, sources for feral swine are provided through historical records, but for many newly established populations, the origins of feral swine are not known. Understanding the origins and dispersal patterns of feral swine is an important management consideration, because of the introduction of diseases to new locations, for prosecution of individuals who have trans-ported feral swine across state lines, and for allocating swine removal efforts appropriately to address swine translocations within a state or a management area.

Woody Vegetation Response To Over A Decade Of Deer Reduction In Indiana State Parks, Lindsay H. Jenkins, Michael A. Jenkins, Christopher R. Webster

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) population sizes increased rapidly throughout Indiana in the latter half of the 20^th century due to favorable landscape conditions and regulated hunting. Hunting was historically prohibited in state parks and deer became abundant to the point that vegetation communities were severely degraded from decades of chronic deer herbivory. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources implemented controlled hunts in the 1990s to reduce deer population abundance and allow vegetation communities to recover. In 1996 and 1997, long-term vegetation monitoring plots were established in sixteen state parks and six historically-hunted reference areas for comparison. We …

Management And Attitudes Towards Predators On Quail Plantations In The Southeastern United States, Olivia Souther, Cady Etheredge, Greg K. Yarrow

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Loss of habitat and predation are two of the primary reasons given for recent bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) population declines in the southeastern United States. However, the bobwhite quail remains a favored game species of many hunters throughout the southeastern states, a fact that is reflected in the many private and commercial quail plantations advertising quail hunts. A survey of private and commercial landowners in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Florida was conducted to determine the significance of predator control programs in the respondents’ management plans. Survey questions aimed to assess the respondents’ attitudes towards predators of bobwhite quail, the …

Characterization Of Habitat Attributes Associated With Wild Pig-Vehicle Collision Locations, James C. Beasley, Tracy E. Grazia, Paul E. Johns, John J. Mayer

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Over the past decade, the frequency of wild pig (Sus scrofa)-vehicle collisions (WPVCs) and number of human fatalities associated with these accidents in the United States has increased concurrent with the expanding populations of this invasive species. To better understand this widespread and growing human safety threat, we quantified habitat attributes associated with 311WPVC locations involving 370 wild pigs that occurred between 1983 and 2012 at the Savannah River Site in west-central South Carolina. At each collision site we measured the distance to the nearest wetland and stream, as well as the composition of habitats both immediately surrounding …

The Need To Address Black-Backed Jackal And Caracal Predation In South Africa, David L. Bergman, Ho De Waal, Nico L. Avenant, Michael J. Bodenchuk, Michael C. Marlow, Dale L. Nolte

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Prior to 1990, the four provincial governments of South Africa had a variety of programs in place to manage predation by black-backed jackals and caracals through lethal and nonlethal management in close cooperation with livestock farmers. During the 1990s the official programmes were phased out due to a multitude of factors including lower predation rates. Today, thousands of livestock (primarily sheep and goats, but also cattle and wildlife) are lost each day in South Africa due to black-backed jackal and caracal predation. The actual numbers are not known because not all losses are accounted or reported. It also does not …

Beyond Surveillance: Towards The Management Of Feral Swine Diseases, Michael J. Bodenchuk, Brian Mesenbrink, Bruce Leland

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Feral swine distribution and densities are greatest in Texas and related swine disease issues have emerged in a number of fronts. Beyond the standard surveillance protocols, the Texas Cooperative Wildlife Service program has initiated several feral swine projects to identify, contain or eliminate feral swine diseases and pathogens. This paper discusses these projects, the supportive data to quantify dis-ease management and the near-term trend in disease management.

Prairie Dog Management And Conservation Benefits, Michael J. Bodenchuk, Thomas D. Halstead, Michael A. Yeary

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Prairie dog management has evolved over the decades and present control efforts are often directed at management zones in support of prairie dog or black-footed ferret conservation. The availability of prairie dog management tools has also evolved. We present the efficacy and practicality of specific methods and provide examples of the conservation benefits of prairie dog management. Potential conflicts between conservation efforts and regulatory efforts of multiple agencies are also discussed.

Influence Of Double-Crested Cormorants On Food Web Productivity In Freshwater Ponds, Austin Butts, Kayla Frady, Kate L. Sheehan, Ron J. Johnson, Greg K. Yarrow

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Conflicts with wildlife are often based on the perceptions and concerns of citizens, industries, and managers. The gregarious nature of Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus; DCCO) makes their colonies highly conspicuous. Their feeding habits on forage and commercially important fishes have incited a human/wildlife conflict with this species. Colonies re-use roosting and nesting sites. In these areas guano deposits accumulate and are released into the environment where they have the potential to alter the food web through changes in productivity. This alteration can ultimately change the composition, abundance, and condition of fishery resources.

We investigate the influence of bird-derived …