Life Sciences Commons^™

Neonicotinoid Bioaccumulation In Bluegill And Bullhead Within Lake Julia And Lake Zumwalde, Jake Stuber

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Brown Bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus, Yellow Bullhead Ameiurus natalis, and Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus are unique in their stark differences. Bullhead are scaleless bottom feeders that can tolerate high pollution and low O₂ conditions. In contrast, Bluegill are scaled, aggressive nesters and are less tolerant of high pollutants or low-oxygen conditions. Among these pollutants include a class of chemicals called neonicotinoids (hereafter referred to as neonics). Neonics are a class of insecticides primarily used within agriculture and pest management. Due to the effectiveness, application has escalated on a global scale. They have been well documented by many toxicology assessments. …

Comparison Of Calcified Structures To Estimate Ages Of Northern Pike Esox Lucius In Various Lakes, Kaed Rauk

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Northern pike Esox lucius are a dominant predatory fish in many aquatic systems. They can have significant impacts on the ecosystems they inhabit and are also a popular game fish among anglers. However, northern pike are a difficult species to age accurately. This study aimed to compare calcified aging structures to identify trends and determine which structure provides the most accurate age estimates. A total of 119 northern pike were sampled, and multiple structures from each fish were independently aged by two readers. The coefficient of variation (CV) was calculated for each structure to assess precision. Sectioned sagittal otoliths exhibited …

Size Structure Comparison Of Bluegill In Lakes With And Without Special Regulations, Jenna Lawin

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Lots of individuals have mixed feelings about special regulations for all sorts of game fish species such as northern pike Esox lucius, crappie Pomoxis spp., sunfish Lepomis spp., and so on. One species commonly sought after by many is bluegill Lepomis macrochirus. Bluegill are often deemed easy to find, catch, and clean. This study looks at three different categories of lakes (all lakes contain bluegill populations). The three categories are lakes with a five sunfish limit, lakes with a ten sunfish limit, and lakes without any special regulations. This study provides valuable insight into the size …

Ovipositional Behavior Of The Twig Girdler (Cerambycidae: Oncideres Cingulata) On Stems Of Mockernut Hickory (Carya Tomentosa) In Arkansas, R. Tumlison, L. Serviss

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The Twig Girdler (Cerambycidae: Oncideres cingulata) is a long-horned beetle that girdles stems of certain species of trees to prepare a habitat for its offspring. The stems eventually die, break, and fall from the tree, but the beetle usually had already laid its eggs within the stems. Eggs are laid singly, almost always at growth rings or leaf bases. Because the space for the young to develop is finite, laying too many eggs could cause reproductive failure and too few eggs would be suboptimal. We hypothesized that the female laying eggs should be able to evaluate the stem and …

Bulletin 4936: Guidelines To Importing And Keeping Regulated Animals In Western Australia, Win Kirkpatrick

Bulletins 4000 -

Updated:

• January 2026 after a review of permit keeping conditions.
• December 2025 for transfer of restricted keeping bird permit business to DPIRD.

Introduced, exotic or alien animals are species that have been brought to a country or location where they do not occur naturally. (Hereafter referred to as introduced species). Mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians that are introduced or relocated to new areas often cause problems to agriculture, the environment and the community. Problems occur when introduced species:

• damage agricultural crops
• displace and compete with native animals and plants
• carry disease or parasites
• damage property
• cause land degradation
• have a …

The Rna-Binding Protein Pumilio Limits Polymodal Noiception In Drosophila Larvae, Sara Palega, Hannah Davenport, Rebeccah K. Stewart, Jessica Horton, Andrew Bellemer

Microbiology & Molecular Cell Biology Faculty Publications

Nociception is the process by which the nervous system detects and processes information about potentially harmful environmental stimuli to generate behavioral and physiological responses. The process of nociception undergoes plasticity in response to injury, inflammation, and infection to shape the sensitivity of nociceptive circuits and the behavioral responses they control. We are increasingly aware that post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression shapes the sensitivity and plasticity of nociceptive sensory neurons and nociceptive behavior. In Drosophila, the Pumilio RNA-binding protein interacts with diverse target mRNAs to regulate their abundance and translation in a wide range of contexts including the establishment of …

Western Massasauga (Sistrurus Tergeminus): A Species Conservation Assessment For The Nebraska Natural Legacy Project, Colleen Rothe-Groleau, Melissa J. Panella

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: Publications

The Nebraska Natural Legacy Project recognizes the western massasauga (Sistrurus tergeminus) as a Tier I at-risk species. Provided are some general management recommendations regarding western massasaugas. Conservation practitioners will need to use professional judgment to make specific management decisions based on objectives, location, and a multitude of variables. This resource was designed to share available knowledge of this at-risk species that will aid in the decision-making process or in identifying research needs to benefit the species.

Criteria for selection as Tier I: State listed, G3

Estimated Population in NE: 1,000–2,500

Estimate based on: Field surveys

Trends since 2005 …

Reducing Inorganic Phosphorus In Poultry Diets: Nutritional Constraints And Strategies For Successful Implementation, Elizabeth Ann Lynch

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Applied poultry nutrition and feed manufacture science can be described as a “three-legged stool” supported by pellet quality, feed hygienics, and nutrient availability, where imbalance in any one component can compromise overall bird performance. The research presented herein primarily addresses feed hygienics and nutrient availability, with pellet quality serving as an underlying theme, to better understand how processing conditions and dietary formulation influence performance and nutrient utilization.

In Chapter 2, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of hygienizer retention time on bacterial reduction during feed manufacture using Enterococcus faecium as a Salmonella surrogate. Pellet mill motor …

Spiders In The World Of Pesticides: A Review, Jackson L. Mendillo

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Pesticides and other agrochemicals have varying effects on spiders depending on their mechanism of action and dosage, ranging from behavioral changes and ataxia, to reproductive changes and physiological stress, to lethal non-target effects. Additionally, peptide Hv1a has promising effects as a more narrow-spectrum pesticide.

Effect Of Organic Vs Inorganic Zinc Sources In Beef Cattle Diets During Gestation On Calf Immune Function And Colostrum Quality, Naija Sharpley

2026 Research Poster Competition

The objective of this study is to determine the effect of zinc supplementation in cattle feed on beef cattle during gestation and the influences of the trace mineral zinc on colostrum and calf immunocompetence measuring immunoglobulin concentrations and body weight. Cow-calf systems rely on the effectiveness and consistency of their nutritional intake. Beef cattle are fed forages and grain alongside specific minerals and supplements to meet nutritional requirements. The effectiveness of these trace minerals added to the diet helps to ensure that the animal gets the most out of its feed and the producer gets the most out of the …

Investigating The Potential Role Of Horse Flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) In The Mechanical Transmission Of Anaplasma Marginale And Theileria Orientalis To Cattle In Northwest Arkansas, Catherine Harrison

2026 Research Poster Competition

The cattle industry in Arkansas plays a significant role in the state’s agricultural economy; however, two emerging infectious diseases pose a threat to cattle health, producer livelihood, and animal welfare. The two diseases, anaplasmosis and theileriosis, are caused by organisms that enter the host’s bloodstream and infect red blood cells, leading to destruction of said cells. The shared symptoms of both diseases are fever, weakness, anemia (low red blood cell count), reduced productivity, weight loss, and possibly death. An important difference between symptoms is that, unlike anaplasmosis, theileriosis can cause abortion in cattle. Both diseases are known to spread through …

Differences In Cytokine Mrna Expression At The Site Of Primary And Secondary Vaccinations With Herpesvirus Of Turkeys (Hvt) In Egg-Type Chickens., Allie Bowerman

2026 Research Poster Competition

Marek’s disease, a lymphoma causing virus, remains a major concern in poultry production systems. Although vaccination with live herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) is crucial for controlling this disease, information on how the vaccine drives local/tissue immune responses that lead to protective immunity is limited. Using the growing feather (GF) in vivo bioassay, we assessed local cytokine mRNA expression following primary and booster intradermal (i.d.) HVT vaccinations in egg-type chickens. For this, six 9-week-old and six 19-week-old Light-brown Leghorn (LBL) pullets were i.d. injected into the pulp of growing feathers (GF; 10 µL/GF; 16 GFs/bird) with a primary (V1) or secondary …

Does Diverse Seeding Adoption Reduce Production Costs? The Case Of Diverse Forage Seeding Strategies In West Virginia., Ivan Andres Wong

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Feed and harvested forage represent a major share of production costs in Appalachian cow-calf systems, where a pronounced summer forage gap forces producers to rely on purchased hay. This thesis evaluates whether adopting diverse forage seeding strategies reduces production costs relative to the existing pasture management practice, accounting for the spatial heterogeneity of West Virginia’s production environments. The analysis proceeds in two steps. First, an unsupervised K-means clustering of 14 farms enrolled in the NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant field trial groups the farms into two agroclimatic clusters, Highland-Cool and LowlandWarm, using elevation, growing-season Growing Degree Days, growing-season precipitation, and soil …

Pbmc Transcriptome Analysis Following Lps Stimulation Reveals Distinct Inflammatory Strategies In Feed-Efficient And Inefficient Beef Cattle, Yarahy Leal

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Improving feed efficiency is a primary objective in livestock production, serving as a major driver of profitability and sustainability in beef cattle operations as feed costs continue to rise. Residual feed intake (RFI) and residual average daily gain (RADG) are widely recognized indicators of feed efficiency and are commonly used as selection traits to reduce production costs and environmental impact. Previous research suggests a functional shift in transcriptional activity associated with immunity depending on efficiency phenotype, with evidence of greater immune system robustness in more efficient animals. This dissertation examines the molecular mechanisms linking feed efficiency and immune competence and …

Optimization Of Feed Manufacturing Productive Capacity, Feed Quality, And Feed Safety Utilizing A Variety Of Pellet Die Parameters, Feed Additives, Conditioning Specifications, And Simulated Feed Bin Storages, Lucas Edward Knarr

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In Chapter 2, an experiment was conducted to determine if the inclusion of 1.50% mixer-added water (MAW) and/or 0.25% Azomite^® (AZM) would be suitable in alleviating concerns regarding pellet production rate and pellet quality when manufacturing feed with low-moisture corn. Furthermore, the authors aimed to determine if these additives had varying effects when utilizing different pellet die thicknesses. A 2 (Azomite; 0.00% or 0.25%) x 2 (mixer-added water; 0.00% or 1.50%) x 3 (pellet die thickness; 32 mm, 38 mm, or 45 mm) factorial arrangement was utilized to create the twelve experimental treatments, each manufactured …

Multi-Omics Analysis Of Immune-Metabolic Adaptation To Direct-Fed Microbial Supplementation In Newly Weaned Beef Steers, Adekunle Odunayo Ajiboye

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Immune and metabolic disruption during weaning represents a major challenge to health and productivity in beef cattle. This dissertation tested the hypothesis that supplementation with multi-strain direct-fed microbials (DFMs) modulates immune regulation and metabolic pathways associated with adaptation to weaning stress. To address this, whole-blood transcriptomics and plasma metabolomics were used to evaluate molecular and metabolic responses in newly weaned beef steers during the receiving period. Transcriptomic analysis identified differential expressions of genes associated with immune signaling and inflammatory regulation, indicating modulation of immune-related pathways without changes in growth performance. Metabolomic analysis revealed alterations in circulating metabolites related to amino …

Multi-Omic Characterization Of Immune And Metabolic Responses To Inflammatory Challenges In Sheep, Samanthia Raceine Johnson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

To meet the demands of the growing population, it is imperative to develop sustainable and applicable ways to improve animal health and productivity. The first step in doing so is understanding the mechanisms that govern health and immune response and find ways to appropriately modulate them to improve animal health and productivity. The objective of this study is to use multi-omic techniques to understand breed-specific immune responses in sheep that may contribute to their resistance and susceptibility to parasites and to a greater extent, immunocompetence. Known parasite-resistant breed, St. Croix (STC) were compared to parasite susceptible Suffolk (SUF) sheep for …

Evaluating Species At Risk In Data-Limited Fisheries: A Productivity-Susceptibility Analysis For Marine Aquarium Fish, Gabrielle A. Baillargeon, Alice A. Wynn, Jemelyn Grace P. Baldisimo, Michael F. Tlusty, Andrew L. Rhyne

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The marine aquarium trade (MAT) is a significant global industry harvesting millions of wild-caught, live coral reef fishes for public and private aquaria markets in the United States and Europe annually, while supporting fisher livelihoods in the Indo-Pacific. This diverse and species-rich trade is considered data-limited, creating barriers to quantifying the current and future socio-ecological sustainability of the fishery. We present a revised and expanded productivity–susceptibility analysis (PSA) that serves as a holistic risk assessment to estimate the vulnerability of marine aquarium fish to overfishing. Our global analysis includes 306 species that are actively in trade. Improvements to the PSA …

Challenging And Diagnosing Structured Population Models By Testing Predictions From Stochastic Demography, Stephen P. Ellner, Robin E. Snyder, Daniel T. Blumstein, Dylan Z. Childs, Joshua C. Fowler, Christina M. Hernández, Julien G. A. Martin, María Paniw, Yngvild Vindenes

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

1. Structured population models are parameterized to accurately project expected population sizes, stage/state distributions and population growth rates, but they also predict the variation in outcomes among individuals, such as the variance and skewness of lifetime reproductive output (LRO) and lifespan, the probability of never reproducing, and many other life-history metrics.

2. Testing such predictions about individual outcomes can be very useful model 'stress tests', because they depend on how components of the model (e.g. submodels for survival and fecundity) interact over multiple time steps, not just on the accuracy of the submodels. Because data on among-individual variation is rarely …

Letter From The Faculty Editor, Beth Kegley

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Featured Faculty Mentor/Student Team, Lauren Rogers, Danielle Reeves

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Intelligent Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (Idxa) And Small Animal Scanning As A Useful Tool To Measure Appendicular Bird Bone Mineral Density, Frank J. Dirrigl Jr., Samuel R. Buchanan

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Accurately assessing the bone mineralization status of birds is crucial for poultry production and wild bird studies. We investigated the use of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) using Small Animal Measurement software to measure bone mineral content (BMC) and areal bone mineral density (aBMD) in excised radii of the willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) as a bird model. Our exploratory tests involved 117 scans to evaluate scanning parameters, scanning board types, bone stabilization, scan mode and size, and region of interest placement. Results indicated that mean BMC or aBMD were each significantly different when scanned on a forearm positioner board …

If You Build It, Will They Stay? Fish Communities Continue To Utilize Restored Habitat A Decade Following An Instream Restoration, Alexis L. Vandenberg

Masters Theses

Lotic ecosystems are degraded at an alarming rate due to anthropogenic activities. In order to combat these changes, stream restorations are implemented to improve conditions such as water quality, habitat heterogeneity, and bank stability. However, the impacts of these restorations are often understudied and long-term impacts are unknown. Restorations are typically designed to be ‘fish attractors’; this idea is known as the ‘Field of Dreams hypothesis’ – ‘if you build it, they will come’. This study uses data collected in Kickapoo Creek, Coles County from 2009 to 2015 and again in 2021 and 2022 to assess the long-term impacts of …

Compositional And Functional Shifts In Fish Community Structure In Response To Low-Head Dam Removals, Joshua D. Bruegge

Masters Theses

Low-head dams serve as intermittent barriers to aquatic connectivity and directly alter both upstream and downstream habitats and biotic communities. In 2018 and 2019, two low-head dams in the Vermilion River watershed of eastern Illinois were removed, reconnecting over 1,700 kilometers of upstream habitat within the basin. To determine the impacts of these dam removals, fish community surveys were conducted at 12 fixed sites across three reaches in two rivers from 2012-2022. This study assessed reach-specific temporal responses of the fish community and habitat characteristics. I linked trait expressions within the fish community to abiotic variables using the co-inertia RLQ …

Complexity Theory And Environmental Conservation Management: A Case Study With Coyote And Red Wolf Hybridization, Gretchen E. Mahalic

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Conservation biology and invasion biology are value-led scientific disciplines founded on environmental advocacy, operating at the intersection of research and action. Though these disciplines are known for their scientific veracity, unexamined values are often promulgated without scrutiny and drive decisions that work against good ecological outcomes. A case in point is that coyotes migrating into southeastern territory are framed as the greatest threat to the conservation of the endangered red wolf because hybridization is seen as diminishing their species integrity. Applying Val Plumwood’s ecofeminist account of dualistic frameworks, I will use this case to show how the vilification of the …

Impact Of Water Level Fluctuations On Fish Populations In Eastern South Dakota Rivers, Benjamin Schall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Riverine systems are highly dynamic, and changes in flow conditions can impact the population dynamics of fishes. Increased flows from historical averages in eastern South Dakota rivers have likely impacted fish populations. The goals of this study were to 1) better understand the changes in resource use by Blue Suckers Cycleptus elongatus through retrospective eye lens stable isotope analysis, 2) determine the effects of record flooding in the James River on complex woody habitat and Flathead Catfish Pylodictis olivaris population structure, and 3) assess the influence of river discharge and temperature on Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus and Flathead Catfish condition …

Notes On The Ichthyofauna Associated With Artisanal Fishing In A Severely Impacted Estuary In The Southwestern Gulf Of Mexico During The Rainy Season, Rodrigo Vivanco-Cadena, César Meiners-Mandujano, Roberto Martín Cruz-Castán

Gulf and Caribbean Research

No abstract provided.

Manatee Dock Sign Distribution And Its Influence On Publicly-Sourced Sighting Reports In Alabama, Daniela Payán Arias, Sophia C. Corde, Ruth H. Carmichael

Gulf and Caribbean Research

No abstract provided.

The Importance Of Hippotherapy: Improving The Lives Of The Disabled Through Alternative Therapy, Jennifer N. Stapleton

UROP Posters

For centuries, horses have been suggested as “healers” and “helpers,” although it wasn’t until the 1900s that horseback riding was scientifically proven as a treatment and rehabilitation method. The exploitation of hippotherapy, the implementation of the three-dimensional pelvic movement stimulated by the oscillation and gait of the horse to combat symptoms of diseases and disorders, has since become a flourishing field of study, but one that is often overlooked. Benefits of hippotherapy often include increased motor neuron function, facilitating proper anatomical alignment, and reducing spasticity. This research analyzes the diverse and dynamic nature of treatment that hippotherapy facilitates, exploring the …

Growing South Dakota (Winter 2026), College Of Agriculture, Food And Environmental Sciences

Growing South Dakota (Publication of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences)

[Page] 2 International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists: South Dakota rangelands take center stage
[Page] 4 The professor and the soil
[Page] 8 Range ready: Helping students bridge the gap between conservation and agriculture
[Page] 9 Resilient rangelands: Native Plant Initiative’s role in reviving South Dakota’s prairies
[Page] 10 Jackrabbits lead the charge in bison research and education
[Page] 12 Agricultural and biosystems engineering celebrates century of education
[Page] 16 SDSU Quarter Scale Tractor Club: An impact beyond awards
[Page] 18 Building a legacy of opportunity: Karen D. Stuck Endowment strengthens agricultural communication program at South Dakota State University
[Page] …