Life Sciences Commons^™

Rapid Plant Functional Trait Responses To Warming, Flooding, And Herbivory In High‑Latitude Coastal Wetlands, Cristina Chirvasa, Matteo Petit Bon, Kelvyn K. Bladen, Katharine C. Kelsey, A. Joshua Leffler, Tyler J. Williams, Karen H. Beard

Wildland Resources Student Research

Climate change is rapidly altering high-latitude coastal wetlands through increasing temperatures, more frequent flooding, and changing herbivore abundance and distribution. Examining plant functional trait responses to these drivers provides insight into how plant communities are shaped by climate change. We used a one-year full-factorial mesocosm experiment in coastal Alaska to assess immediate responses of two size-related traits (vegetative height and leaf area) and two leaf economics traits (specific leaf area [SLA] and leaf dry matter content [LDMC]) to warming, flooding, and goose herbivory in three dominant species across two wetland communities (Lowland and Upland) differing in landscape position. We sampled …

Habitat And Conditions Of Poisoning Of Toxic Plants In North America, Michael H. Ralphs

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

This paper presents a list of important poisonous plants in North America that are toxic to both livestock and humans. The aim of this paper is to present information to help reduce the risk of poisoning. The paper emphasizes the particular plant communities in which these plants grow. Some of these plants are endemic, growing on specific soils or specific ecological sites. Others are distributed more broadly throughout a vegetation type. A few of the plants are widespread, ranging over several broad ecosystems. In diagnosing poisoning, it is important to know what plants are expected to grow in the communities …

Utah Farmers Markets Impact Report: Strengthening Local Food Systems, Economic Resilience, And Community Well-Being, Jaclyn Pace, Steven Price, Roslynn Brain-Mccann, Joshua Cafferty, Blue Cook

All Current Publications

Utah's farmers markets are more than places to shop — they are essential community infrastructure. With more than 60 markets in operation across the state, people rely on their local market for food, leisure, and community connection. From 2023–2025, the Utah Farmers Market Network (UFMN) and Utah State University (USU) Extension led a three-year, mixed-methods evaluation to document the economic and social contributions of farmers markets across the state. Over three market seasons, more than 230,000 customer responses were collected at markets in St. George, Cedar City, Hurricane, Ogden, Murray, Wheeler Farm, Millcreek, Downtown Salt Lake City, and Price — …

Farmers Markets As Community Infrastructure: Evidence From A Three-Year Statewide Data Project In Utah, Jaclyn Pace, Roslynn Mccann, Blue Cook, Steven Price, Lorali Smith, Dianna Parkynn, Joshua Cafferty

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Utah farmers markets play a critical role in food access, small business viability, and community connection, yet limited statewide data document their impact. The Utah Farmers Market Network (UFMN) and Utah State University (USU) Extension conducted a mixed-methods evaluation (2023–2025) and found that farmers markets make valuable contributions to the community.

How Can We Protect Utah Vineyards From Insect Pests And Diseases?, Josh Westhora

Research on Capitol Hill

The Utah Plant Pest Diagnostics Lab (UPPDL) at USU conducts surveys of Utah vineyards for plant diseases and insect pests affecting production to notify growers of their presence. Last year’s survey was conducted without funding to provide immediate support to growers. Funding for this year’s has been requested through the USDA APHIS PPQ PPA 7721 program.

Plants Have A Chemical Defense To Protect Themselves From Herbivory, Isis Cordova

Research on Capitol Hill

All plants produce compounds for survival. My work focuses on how plants remember past attacks and whether that memory leads to stronger/faster responses.

Going With The Flow: Bear Lake Water Currents Make It Hard To Control Plants, Tia Lawrence, Maloree Mcdonald

Research on Capitol Hill

Bear Lake is a popular tourist destination straddling the Utah-Idaho border. It generates millions of dollars in revenue annually through tourism is thus a major part of the economy of both Northern Utah and Southern Idaho. Unfortunately, Bear Lake has been impacted by the introduction of invasive plant species like Eurasian watermilfoil.

Ant Queens Divide Tasks Among Themselves To Maximize Efficiency In Multi-Queen Colonies, Ian Brush

Research on Capitol Hill

Before workers arrive, founding queens must sustain the colony on their own. In single-queen colonies, one queen performs all necessary tasks. In contrast, when several queens co-found a colony, their contributions often differ: some queens invest more in egg-laying, while others devote more effort to brood care or nest maintenance.

At Utah Lake, Large Changes In Water Level Impact The Restoration Of Native Plant Species, Mac Havens

Research on Capitol Hill

Native plant communities at Utah Lake matter for top-class recreation opportunities, migratory bird populations, June Sucker recovery efforts, and local economies.

Utah Wildflower Microbes Boost Plant Growth Without Using Chemical Fertilizers, Rebecca Thorley

Research on Capitol Hill

Modern agriculture relies on chemical fertilizers to boost crop yields, but these short-term gains come at a steep cost:

Soil degradation: Chemicals kill beneficial soil organisms and damage soil structure over time

Water pollution: Fertilizer runoff contaminates rivers and lakes, creating toxic algae blooms

Rising costs: Fertilizer expenses now account for 30-50% of crop production costs

Climate impact: Fertilizer production and use generate significant greenhouse gas emissions

The challenge: Feed growing populations while restoring soil health and protecting the environment.

We Can Use Coyotes As A Model To Understand How Social Loss Alters The Brain, Rebekah Rowe

Research on Capitol Hill

While we understand some factors that increase psychological distress for grieving individuals, little is known about this biological basis.

Ovarian Transplants Drastically Improved The Health Of Post-Menopausal Mice, Nathan Mccoy

Research on Capitol Hill

Women generally experience health advantages compared to men before menopause. Following menopause, this advantage diminishes, and women become more susceptible to metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.

Crops Grown Below Ground Can Be 20-40°F Warmer Than Above-Ground Outdoor Crops, Jessie Miller

Research on Capitol Hill

At USU, 33% of students are considered food insecure. The walipini, a pit-style greenhouse, shows food can be grown year-round for a low cost.

Could Gene Editing Increase Chicken Resistance To Avian Influenza?, Alta Crane

Research on Capitol Hill

Avian Influenza is a viral infection that causes outbreaks of "bird flu," greatly affecting avian health. Influenza A virus (IAV) relies on various host factors for efficient replication. Previous studies in human cells have identified four genes as critical host factors required for IAV infection. To investigate whether similar host– virus interactions exist in avian species, we utilized gene editing systems to generate knockout fibroblast cell lines targeting those four genes and then applied these techniques to germ cells.

Aspen Graffiti Are Close To Trails And On Large-Diameter Trees, James A. Lutz, Soren Struckman, Joseph D. Birch

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Key results

1. Close to the trail

75% of all graffiti was within 60 feet of the trail.

2. On the largest trees

Graffiti was concentrated on the largest diameter aspen (larger than 8 in diameter).

3. Higher growth in marked aspen

Aspen with graffiti had 24% higher radial growth, relative to unmarked aspen. This is likely because people carve the healthiest aspen.

Pest Management For Utah Cut Flower Production: Insects And Their Relatives, Nick Volesky, Marion Murray, Melanie Stock

All Current Publications

Pest management is important in cut flower production, marketability, and farm profitability. This fact sheet focuses on animal pests (insects, arthropods, mollusks, and vertebrates), not diseases or weeds, and has two parts. Part 1 applies Integrated Pest Management (IPM): using preventive techniques, pest thresholds, and best management practices with pests in cut flower crop production. Part 2 highlights the top 10 common pests of cut flowers in Utah and their management.

Electric Pressure Cookers: What You Need To Know, Callahan Adams, Emily Smith

All Current Publications

Electric pressure cookers (EPCs) offer convenience, versatility, and efficiency in everyday cooking. EPCs offer multiple cooking functions beyond pressure cooking, including sautéing, slow cooking, steaming, cooking rice, and preparing yogurt. They are not suitable for pressure canning, as confirmed by multiple Extension research studies and national guidelines. When used properly, EPCs provide a safe and effective way to prepare meals quickly while saving counter and storage space.

Vines In The Landscape: Goldflame Honeysuckle, Saroj Burlakoti, Youping Sun, Shital Poudyal

All Current Publications

Goldflame honeysuckle is a moderately growing vine with a mature height of 10–15 feet and can spread around 3–6 feet in a single growing season. It grows well on fences, arbors, and trellises; however, canopy coverage is usually sparse and may not be suitable as a privacy screen. The vine grows well in full sun and well-drained soil, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies throughout the blooming season. It is hardy in USDA zones 5–9. Unlike Japanese honeysuckle (L. japonica), Goldflame honeysuckle is non-invasive and does not aggressively spread by runners.

Conditioned Feed Aversion As A Means Of Conditioning Livestock To Avoid Consuming Toxic Plants Growing In South Africa : An Overview, Leendert D. Snyman, Frederick D. Provenza

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

Significant economic losses to the livestock industry are caused by the ingestion of toxic plants in South Africa, among which the most dangerous ones are Moraea pallida (geeltulp), Urginea/Drimea sanguinea (rooislangkop), Senecio latifolius (Staggers Ragwort), and Geigeria ornativa (vermeerbos). Conditioned feed aversion is a potential means to address this issue. Treating animals with an aversive substance along with an extract of the sensory characteristics of a specific plant conditions animals to avoid the plant. Geigeria ornativa, unlike the other three plants, is non-aversive. Following treatment for aversion, the induced aversion fades with time and eventually breaks down. Continuous exposure …

A Case Study Of Suspected Sheep Losses Due To Chokecherry Not Death Camas, Kevin D. Welch, Clint A. Stonecipher, Stephen T. Lee, Daniel Cook, Benedict T. Green

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

Death camas (Zigadenus paniculatus) is a toxic plant often associated with poisoning cases in livestock, especially in sheep, in the spring on mountain foothills. Consequently, when sheep are found dead in mountain foothills, and death camas is present, it is often implicated as the potential cause of death. However, this may be over simplistic as there may be other plants that may also contribute to, or are the cause of, death in sheep. In this study, we present a case of approximately 200 sheep out of a band of 400 that died within 24 hours of beginning to …

Utah's Value-Added Food Processing Options, Karin E. Allen, Kynda R. Curtis, Makaylie Langford

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provides an overview of the benefits of producing and marketing value-added foods and outlines key considerations for new ventures. It also details the two primary programs available to smaller-scale processing in Utah—the Cottage Food Program and the Homemade Food Act—assisting producers in evaluating their products, markets, and resources to choose the best path forward.

Vines In The Landscape: Virginia Creeper, Saroj Burlakoti, Youping Sun, Shital Poudyal

All Current Publications

Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is a vigorous and aggressive deciduous vine in the grape family (Vitaceae), known for its rapid growth, dense foliage, and striking fall color. Some landscapers consider this plant a nuisance because of its aggressive growth, potential damage to weak structures, and difficulty in removing, but others love it for its potential for erosion control, rapid coverage, fall color, and as a bird and pollinator habitat.

What Goals? Which Point? Whose Purpose? A Critical Engagement With Sport Internalism, Francisco Javier Lopez Frias

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

In this article, I critique the dominance of internalism in sport philosophy and outline an alternative theoretical framework that integrates internal and external elements while striving to transcend the dichotomous language used to conceptualize sport. The analysis begins by claiming that internalism conflates three fundamental teleological aspects of sport: goals, point, and purposes. I argue that this conflation limits internalism’s ability to explain the complexity of sporting practices. By carefully distinguishing these elements, I illustrate their distinct roles in shaping sport and explore how they interact. I conclude by proposing that the alternative pluralist framework briefly sketched here enables a …

Thriving Hives, Beekeeping Monthly Calendar, Sheriden M. Hansen, Andree Walker-Bravo, Jaydee Gunnell

All Current Publications

This calendar was created in an effort to simplify and make beekeeping easier to understand and learn for the beginning beekeeper. The calendar offers a broad understanding of what is happening in the hive in addition to guidelines for basic beekeeping tasks on a monthly basis. The calendar also provides users with lists of in-bloom plants to look for in the landscape as the beekeeping season progresses. This can help beekeepers assess resources available for the bees in the landscape. In addition to the monthly tasks, suggested recipes for some of the feeding supplements and treatments mentioned in the calendar …

Interseeding Cover Crops Into Corn In The Intermountain West, Matt Yost, Jenae Dean, Michael Pace, Tony Richards, Andrew Wallace, Jacob Hadfield, Steven Hines, Cody Zesiger, Jody Gale, Rhonda Miller, Earl Creech, Matt Palmer

All Current Publications

Interseeding cover crops into corn may provide many benefits, such as weed suppression, nitrogen fixation from legume covers, and, most importantly, soil cover and forage for livestock after corn harvest. It also has the potential to negatively impact corn production if competition with covers for water and nutrients is too high. The purpose of this guide is to discuss recent research and experience with interseeding cover crops in the Intermountain West.

A Bovine Cell Line Resistant To Japanese Encephalitis Virus Entry But Permissive To Post-Entry Replication, Sang-Im Yun, Young-Min Lee

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic orthoflavivirus that poses a significant global health threat. It causes severe neuroinflammatory disease in humans and reproductive failure in swine. Because of the broad host range and cell tropism of JEV, identifying animal cell lines resistant to infection has been a persistent challenge. In this study, we demonstrate that Madin–Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells are resistant to JEV infection yet remain fully permissive to viral replication when transfected with viral genomic RNA. Using immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry, we show that MDBK cells, unlike the highly susceptible baby hamster kidney (BHK-21) cells …

Effect Of The Ahr Inhibitor Ch223191 As An Adjunct Treatment For Mammarenavirus Infections, Miguel Angel Pelaez, Jonna B. Westover, Dionna Scharton, Cybele Carina García, Brian B. Gowen

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

The family Arenaviridae encompasses zoonotic, rodent-borne pathogens (e.g., Lassa, Machupo, and Junín viruses) that cause severe viral hemorrhagic fevers with high case fatality rates. The current therapeutic landscape is severely limited, underscoring the urgent need for novel antiviral strategies. A promising approach involves combining directly acting antivirals with host-targeted antivirals. A compelling host-targeted antiviral target is the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). This ubiquitous ligand-activated transcription factor is a recognized pro-viral host factor across multiple viral families. Building on prior work with Junín and Tacaribe viruses, we investigated whether the AHR inhibitor CH223191 could enhance the virus-directed antiviral activity of favipiravir …

Optimal Drought Management Actions For Cattle Operations On The Uintah And Ouray Indian Reservation, Kynda R. Curtis, Tatiana Drugova, Man-Keun Kim

All Current Publications

In this fact sheet, we examine the drought management options available to cattle operations on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, the largest Native American reservation in Utah. Specifically, we discuss the results of a study that evaluated the economic outcomes of two common drought response strategies: herd reduction and supplemental hay purchases. We also provide recommendations for ranchers on optimal strategies, i.e., those that maximize profits for two rancher types, differentiated by their willingness to accept risk (risk-neutral) or avoid it (risk-averse).

Optimal Drought Management Actions For Cattle Operations On The Laguna Pueblo And Zuni Pueblo Indian Reservations, Tatiana Drugova, Kynda R. Curtis, Man-Keun Kim

All Current Publications

In this fact sheet, we examine the drought management options available to cattle operations on the Laguna Pueblo and Zuni Pueblo reservations in New Mexico. Specifically, we discuss the results of a study that evaluated the economic outcomes of two common drought response strategies: herd reduction and supplemental hay purchases. We also provide recommendations for ranchers regarding optimal strategies, i.e., those which would maximize profits, for two rancher types, differentiated by their willingness to accept risk (risk-neutral) or avoid it (risk-averse).

Biostimulant Applications In Watermelon Production, Evan A. Christensen, Milena Oliveira, Youping Sun, Grant Cardon, Dan Drost

All Current Publications

Watermelon is a water-intensive vegetable crop that is sensitive to drought and requires adequate nutrient supply for good yield and fruit quality. It is an important vegetable crop grown on 142,000 acres in the United States and 586 acres throughout Utah. Utah experienced its driest year on record in 2020 during a five-year drought (2019 to 2023). This affected local ecosystems, including the Great Salt Lake, which experienced record-low water levels. The drought also negatively affected the agricultural sector, including watermelon growers. Higher-than-average fertilizer prices in recent years have also threatened watermelon production. Growing awareness of agriculture's water use and …