Life Sciences Commons^™

Groundwater And Surface Water Contributions To Metals Loading In Bayhorse Creek At The Abandoned Ramshorn Mine Site Near Bayhorse, Idaho, Hannah L. Mcdonough

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) purchased property encompassing the abandoned Ramshorn mine to develop a state park. Because the abandoned copper-lead-silver mine was a potential hazard to the local creek and sediment, the IDEQ conducted several assessments to identify environmental risks. Between 2003 and 2006, the IDEQ completed a number of basic soil and water investigations in the location of mine waste. The IDEQ received investigation and cleanup funds through the EPA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) program.

The USFS allocated $10,000 toward a two-year master’s level project to …

Ecology And Behavior Of Coyotes In Urban Environments At Varying Spatial Scales, Sharon A. Poessel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

As urban development continues to increase throughout the world, wildlife species, including carnivores, will be affected either positively or negatively. Coyotes (Canis latrans) have learned to efficiently adapt to highly developed areas, and conflicts between humans and coyotes, such as attacks on humans and pets, are increasing. We conducted three studies of urban coyotes to understand the factors affecting habitat use by coyotes so that wildlife managers can reduce human-coyote conflicts. Each study was conducted at progressively larger scales, with the first study at a fine scale using captive coyotes, the second study at a local scale in the …

Introducing Two New Weed Control Tools: A "Smart" Spray Wand And A Wildland Weed Treatment Time Model, Bryan E. Dayton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Wildland invasive weed treatment, a primary task of land managers, is expensive. Variables including weed canopy cover, slope, land cover, and weed visibility can affect treatment time and cost. A partnership was established with the Department of Plants, Soils, and Climate at Utah State University, Providia Management Group (PMG Environmental LLC) and Jardyne Technologies to develop a wildland weed treatment time model to better understand the effect of these variables on treatment time.

The “smart” spray wand (SSW) is a new precision tool used to develop this model. The SSW is a spray wand with an integrated GPS and a …

Microbial-Derived Oils And Value-Added Products: Biosynthesis And Applications For Biofuel Production, Alex T. Mccurdy

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Efforts are being made to replace petroleum-derived fuels with biofuels in a cost competitive manner. It is apparent that the continued use of petroleum is futile as population and technological growth put increasing pressure on the demand for cheap energy and chemicals. Diminishing resources, civil unrest in the Middle East, and the impact of using petrochemicals on the environment are critical driving forces for research in generating renewable petroleum replacements that can be produced with a limited carbon-footprint. Today, biofuels are derived mostly from land-based plants, but their potential for displacing petroleum is limited due to the competition with available …

Binding Interactions Of (R)- And (S)-Hydroxypropyl-Com Dehydrogenases And The Zinc Knuckle Proteins Air1 And Air2, Jeremy W. Bakelar

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A thorough understanding of protein function requires knowledge of how proteins interact with their substrates and with other proteins. The work entailed in this dissertation describes the binding interactions of proteins from two different model systems: (1) the dehydrogenase enzymes R- and S-HPCDH and (2) the zinc knuckle proteins Air1 and Air2.

R- and S-HPCDH are highly similar enzymes (42% identical) that function in a unique metabolic pathway found in the soil bacterium Xanthobacter autotrophicus. The bacterium produces R- and S-HPCDH simultaneously to facilitate the transformation of two different forms of the organic …

Factors Contributing To The Conservation Of Phacelia Submutica (Boraginaceae), A Threatened Species In Western Colorado: Reproductive Biology And Seed Ecology, Alicia M. Langton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Conservation and recovery plans for rare species require biological and ecological information to discern how they may be susceptible to human disturbances. Phacelia submutica is a threatened annual species in western Colorado. Human activities including energy development, recreation, and livestock grazing are occurring within the species’ range. To provide conservation practitioners with a scientific basis for management, this research aimed to elucidate elements of the species’ ecology. Chapter 2 describes the reproductive biology of P. submutica. Potential insect pollinators were not observed during two years of observations. Floral traits and development ensure self-pollination and reduce the likelihood that insects …

Potential Of Forage Kochia And Other Plant Materials In Reclamation Of Gardner Saltbush Ecosystems Invaded By Halogeton, Rob C. Smith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Gardner saltbush ecosystems are increasingly being invaded by halogeton, a competitive annual weed that increases soil surface salinity and reduces plant biodiversity. This study was established on the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, in the Ashley National Forest near Manila, UT to evaluate the ability of forage kochia, Russian wildrye, tall wheatgrass, Indian ricegrass and Gardner saltbush, in monocultures and binary mixtures with Gardner saltbush, to establish and compete in ecosystems dominated by halogeton. A dormant seeding, with and without prior disking, was conducted to determine the ability of plant materials to establish. A spaced-plant evaluation was used to determine …

Trophic Status, Energetic Demands, And Factors Affecting Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Distribution In Pyramid Lake, Nevada, Nicholas A. Heredia

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The progression of human development across the landscape has caused declines to both terrestrial and aquatic fauna. Many fishes, specifically native salmonids, have seen reductions in both population size and geographic distribution resulting from reduced habitat, overharvest, and the introduction of non-native predators and competitors. A native North American fish particularly hard hit by these types of actions, Lahontan cutthroat trout, are now limited to less than 10% of their historical habitat, and currently occupy only half of the lakes that they once occupied.

In Pyramid Lake, Nevada, where Lahontan cutthroat trout were once locally extinct, due to overfishing, water …

American Bison Ecology And Bison-Cattle Interactions In An Isolated Montane Environment, Dustin H. Ranglack

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

As bison are considered to be ecologically extinct, and negative interactions between bison and cattle are perceived to limit bison restoration and cattle production, I designed a series of studies to test for potential competition between bison (Bison bison) and cattle (Bos taurus) for forage on the Henry Mountains in southern Utah. These studies provide insight into key information gaps previously identified by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR), Bureau of Land Management, and the local grazing association. The results indicate that bison and cattle are not strong competitors for forage on the Henry Mountains. …

Effects Of Condensed Tannins On The Toxicity Of Fireweed (Senecio Madagascariensis) To Cattle, Carolyn L. Wong

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis) is a noxious and invasive weed affecting pastures in Hawaii, Australia, and South America. Fireweed contains compounds called pyrrolizidine alkaloids that are toxic to most grazing mammals. Toxic effects to cattle include irreversible damage to liver cells, hardening of the liver, and loss of liver function, which may lead to jaundice, swelling, and the accumulation of fluids in the stomach and other physiological malfunctions. External effects include rough appearance, diarrhea, low energy and dullness, photosensitization, and abnormal behavior, many of which can lead to death. Fireweed also can reduce pasture productivity by as much as …

Evaluating Process- And Constraint-Based Approaches For Modeling Macroecological Patterns, Xiao Xiao

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Macroecological patterns, such as the highly uneven distribution of individuals among species and the monotonic increase of species richness with area, exist across ecological systems despite major differences in the biology of different species and locations. These patterns capture the general structure of ecological communities, and allow relatively accurate predictions to be made with limited information for under-studied systems. This is particularly important given ongoing climate change and loss of biodiversity. Understanding the mechanisms behind these patterns has both scientific and practical merits.

I explore two conceptually different approaches that have been proposed as explanations for ecological patterns – the …

Synthesizing Research And Education: Ecology And Genetics Of Independent Fern Gametophytes And Teaching Science Inquiry And Content Through Simulations, Aaron M. Duffy

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The mission statements of Utah State University and the Department of Biology, as well as the requirements of funding agencies like the National Science Foundation encourage an integration of teaching and research. I have attempted to achieve that in my dissertation work by using tools I originally created to support and inform my biological research projects to teach science content and inquiry to middle school and undergraduate students.

Chapter 2 of this dissertation reports the results of surveys for Hymenophyllum wrightii, a fern with independent gametophyte populations in the Pacific Northwest, which improved our understanding of the range, distribution, …

Ringtail Distribution, Dermatoglyphics, And Diet In Zion National Park, Utah, Adrian Argie Roadman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Current scientific knowledge of the ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) is limited, thus impeding appropriate management decisions. Ringtails in Zion National Park, Utah, are rarely seen, but are involved in increasing occurrences of negative interactions with park visitors and employees such as food theft and denning in buildings, interactions which are harmful to both parties. To manage this conflict, an update to the general knowledge about the status of the population is required as the only previous study on ringtails in this area was conducted in the 1960s. Using noninvasive techniques provides dependable large-scale population information. I used two noninvasive detection methods …

Effects Of Dietary Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids On Colorectal Cancer And The Development Of The Total Western Diet-2, Sara Kellen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Western diet is commonly consumed by industrialized societies and characterized by an increased consumption of vegetable oils rich in omega-6 (n-6) fatty acids. This results in a higher ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids in the diet. Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are believed to induce a pro-inflammatory response in the body. Therefore, this change in PUFA concentration and/or ratio of n-6:n-3 in the Western diet may contribute to colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. Five identical diets, varying only in PUFA concentration and n-6:n-3 ratio, were fed to mice dosed with a carcinogen and an inflammatory accent (AOM+DSS). …

Assessing Changes In Waterfowl Population And Community Dynamics, Beth E. Ross

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Studying long-term ecological studies can help ecologists understand what causes populations and communities of wildlife to change. Understanding these causes can help guide conservation efforts. Additionally, results from long-term datasets allow ecologists to predict how populations may shift with global change. Ecologists can then determine necessary management action to maintain sustainable populations in the future. However, there can be a large amount of “noise” in a long-term dataset. If ecologists fail to account for this noise, they may make incorrect management decisions. For example, samples taken in two nearby locations will likely be more similar than samples taken from two …

The Role Of Trpm5 In Dietary Fat Preference, Intake, And Body Composition, Dulce M. Minaya

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

We recently showed a critical role of Trpm5 in the transduction pathway for long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. In the present study, I have begun to investigate dietary fat preference and the propensity to develop dietary-induced obesity in Trpm5^-/- mice. My preliminary data shows that in male mice placed on a high fat diet, Trpm5^-/- mice did not enhance their caloric intake as observed in wild type mice. Most surprisingly, however, was that I did not observe the same differences in between female mice, which posits a potential gender effect of this pathway on dietary fat intake. Also, …

Advancing Digital Soil Mapping And Assessment In Arid Landscapes, Colby W. Brungard

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Soil information is required for arid and semi-arid land management decisions such as permitting livestock grazing or planning vegetation restoration projects. However, traditional soil mapping methods may not provide adequate soil information, because the scale of mapping often requires dissimilar soils to be grouped together and there are no estimates of map uncertainty. Traditional methods are also often too costly or impractical to implement in large, remote, public arid and semi-arid rangelands. Digital soil mapping (DSM) may be able to overcome these limitations. Digital soil mapping is the creation of pixel-based soil maps using quantitative statistical models that relate easily …

Foraging Ecology Of Cougars In The Pryor Mountains Of Wyoming And Montana, Linsey Blake

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

We conducted this study to better understand the impact of cougar (Puma concolor) predation in the Pryor Mountains of Wyoming and Montana. Managers of the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area and the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range were concerned that cougars were having a negative impact upon a small, isolated Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis) population and were hoping predation might be limiting a feral horse population (Equus caballus) that was in excess of the Appropriate Management Level set by the Bureau of Land Management. Wildlife tourism brings revenue to the park …

Nutrition And Genes Associated With Orofacial Cleft Birth Defects In Utah, Huong Dieu Meeks

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Orofacial clefts (OFCs) are facial malformations that happen during early pregnancy and have a complex and heterogeneous etiology, involving both genetic and environmental risk factors. This project examined the association between maternal nutrition, folate-related biomarkers, candidate genes involved in one-carbon metabolism (OCM), and OFCs in order to achieve more comprehensive knowledge of how nutrition and genetics influence OFC risk. All studies performed in this project used the data collected in the Utah Child and Family Health Study (UCFHS) and the Johns Hopkins International Cleft Consortium.

Neither maternal periconceptional multivitamin use nor healthy dietary pattern score alone was individually associated with …

Habitat Characteristics Of Mexican Spotted Owls (Strix Occidentalis Lucida) In The Canyonlands Of Southern Utah, Leah R. Lewis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Mexican Spotted Owls are considered a threatened species by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Therefore, they must be properly managed and protected by federal and state agencies. In this study I explored the habitat characteristics used by Mexican Spotted Owls in the canyonlands region of southern Utah. I spent three summer field seasons (May-September) from 2010 – 2013 locating Mexican Spotted Owl sites and measuring vegetative and geologic features at these sites. I found that canyon width and very tall vegetation influenced Mexican Spotted Owl presence, suggesting that these owls prefer narrow canyons that are vegetated with trees.

Based …

The Ecosystem Role Of Fishes In Lotic Environments, Christopher C. Wheeler

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

It is important for humans to understand how ecosystems work because we depend on them for a variety of products and services. For example, rivers and streams provide fisheries, improved water quality, and recreational opportunities to many individuals. In rivers, interactions among fishes, other stream plants and animals, and the physical river environment can influence continued provision of these valuable services. However, the role played by many freshwater fishes in the provision of these services remains unknown. Additionally, it is important to identify different factors that affect the outcome of interactions involving riverine fishes. To address these issues, I evaluated …

Investigations Of Cho 1-15 And Silk Gland Cell Line Development, Susan Kathleen Robinson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The BioProcessing Demonstration and Training Laboratory was established with a collaboration between Utah State University and Thermo Fisher-Scientific, Inc. This lab was developed into a fully functioning tissue culture facility. Demonstration of tissue culture procedures were necessary for the lab to be industry-fully qualified. The CHO 1-15 cell line protocols were optimized by establishing conditions for reproducibility in shaker flasks and bioreactors (2 to 250 L capacity). CHO 1-15 is the cell line of choice for protein production in the bio-manufacturing industry. Oxidative stress is a problem in the industry because it can cause a decrease in protein production. Mesobiliverdin …

Assessing The Impact Of Supplements, Food Aversions, And Silica On Medusahead Use By Sheep, Tyler Hamilton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Ranchers, farmers, land managers, and resource management agencies have been plagued with various types of invasive weeds for decades, ultimately affecting millions of acres of viable wildlife habitat, grazing, and recreational opportunities. Invasive weeds often have nutritional contexts that negatively affect animals in some way, increasing the incentive to avoid consuming it by various animal species and domestic livestock. With the current amount of land infested with this weed, and the limited knowledge of the reason for avoidance, the underlying causes of livestock avoidance require in-depth and fundamental understanding.

In my MS program, I sought to explore the relationship of …

Factors Influencing The Successful Regeneration Of Aspen In Southern Utah, Usa, Justin M. Britton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study addresses critical issues and concerns relating to aspen forest management across the Intermountain West. These concerns have been raised due to the declining condition of aspen forests. As a result, aspen decline has been a topic of interest among academics and popular media outlets alike in recent years due to the economical and ecological value of aspen. Some land managers and management agencies have used forest management techniques as a means to deal with this issue. These management techniques are designed to stimulate the reproduction of aspen in order to provide a bank of seedlings and saplings for …

Activated Carbon Decreases Invasive Plant Growth By Mediating Plant-Microbe Interactions, Nicole E. Nolan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

To restore lands invaded by dense, non-native vegetation, it may be necessary to develop targeted restoration tools than can remove the mechanism used by these non-native species as a competitive advantage. Activated carbon (AC) is one such tool, with the ability to disrupt the mechanisms of plant to plant communication (allelopathy) and positive plant to microbe communication commonly used by non-native species. Previous studies have shown the success of high concentrations, 1000g/m², of AC in native plant community restoration on a small scale. Here, our goals are twofold: first, to test AC effectiveness in restoring desirable plant communities …

Movement And Habitat Use Of Bonneville Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus Clarki Utah): A Case Study In The Temple Fork Watershed, Ryan L. Lokteff

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Movement patterns and habitat use of Bonneville cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki Utah) in tributaries of the Logan River watershed are greatly affected by habitat alterations created by North American Beaver (Castor canadensis). Evaluation of cutthroat trout habitat use in these watersheds is also complicated by biotic interactions with invasive brown trout (Salmo trutta) and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). My objectives in this thesis were to 1.) Evaluate the passage of beaver dams by each trout species in the Temple Fork watershed and 2.) Evaluate the habitat use of cutthroat trout in the presence …

A Comparison Of Antlions, Bees, Darkling Beetles And Velvet Ants Across Sand Dune And Non-Sand Dune Habitats At Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Nicole F. Boehme

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (AMNWR) supports nearly 30 organisms found nowhere else in the world. Most of these species are aquatic, dwelling in more than 50 seeps and springs within the over 24,000 acres of the refuge. Much of the research at AMNWR has centered on these unique and abundant springfed pools across the desert landscape. Many of the terrestrial habitats and species at the refuge have not been as well studied. In 2008, Bio-West, Inc. in Logan, Utah was contracted to inventory the terrestrial organisms present on the refuge. To investigate the terrestrial invertebrate fauna, with special interest …

Structural Change Of The Western United States Alfalfa Hay Market And Its Effect On The Western United States Dairy Industry, Joseph Patrick Cann

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Alfalfa is the fourth largest commodity grown in the Western U.S., representing 20% of the crop acreage over the past twenty years. In the last five years alfalfa hay price has doubled from what it was previously, indicating a possible structural change in the market. This research project was completed to test for this structural change using econometric analysis of the important demand components of alfalfa price. In addition to this, simulations of an average Utah dairy were completed to examine which ratio of forage crops provided the highest economic return to the operation.

To analyze the structural change of …

The Impact Of Participation In The Food Dudes Healthy Eating Program On Dietary Habits In Fourth And Fifth Grade Students In Cache County Utah After One Year, Amanda B. Jones

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Adolescents are not meeting the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables (FV). The Food Dudes Healthy Eating Program (FD), developed by researchers in the UK, has previously been shown to increase lunch time and overall FV intake in elementary school aged children. The aim of this study was to test if participation in the FD program during late elementary school could prevent decreases in FV intake and increases in junk food intake during the transition from elementary school into middle school.

A decrease in average lunchtime FV intake was seen at the beginning of the transition into middle school. …

Producing An Ovine Model Of Cystic Fibrosis, Kira Perry Morgado

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disease that significantly affects quality of life and lifespan. There are currently no effective animal models of CF that mimic the human disease state. This prevents the development of pharmaceutical treatments for patients. Sheep have been considered for a useful animal model because of their size, life expectancy, and similarities in their anatomy and physiology. In order to generate a sheep transgenic model to study CF we have produced two Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene targeting DNA vectors containing large regions of homology to the CFTR gene in sheep. One of …