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2007

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Articles 3151 - 3180 of 3598

Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Distinguished Fellowship Awards Luncheon, John Owens Jan 2007

Distinguished Fellowship Awards Luncheon, John Owens

John Owens: Speeches and Appearances

What a great pleasure it is to see everyone gathered for this distinguished fellowship awards luncheon. My heartiest congratulations to each of you who is a fellowship recipient. I know all of us here today are so pleased for you, and so pleased to have you with us.

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A New Species Of Subulura (Nematoda: Subuluroidea) From Ground Squirrels, Spermophilus Spilosoma Bennett, 1833, In New Mexico, John E. Ubelaker, Roxanne Easter-Taylor, April Marshall, Donald W. Duszynski Jan 2007

A New Species Of Subulura (Nematoda: Subuluroidea) From Ground Squirrels, Spermophilus Spilosoma Bennett, 1833, In New Mexico, John E. Ubelaker, Roxanne Easter-Taylor, April Marshall, Donald W. Duszynski

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

A description is presented of a new species of Subulura Molin, 1860, Subulura novomexicanus, collected from the spotted ground squirrel, Spermophilus spilosoma Bennett, 1833, in New Mexico. The males are 24 to 29 mm long, precloacal sucker 1.7–2.0 mm from posterior end, spicules subequal 0.83–1.0 long, and gubernaculum Y-shaped 0.21–0.39 mm long. Females are 34–39 mm long, vulva near middle of body 14.06–22.00 mm from anterior end, and eggs 0.04–0.05 mm long by 0.03–0.04 mm wide. The new species is distinguished from Subulura ungulatus Erickson, 1938 in being longer and having spicules that are distinctively different in size and …

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Paranoplocephala Sciuri (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae), A Parasite Of The Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys Sabrinus), With A Discussion Of Its Systematic Status, Robert L. Rausch, Voitto Haukisalmi Jan 2007

Paranoplocephala Sciuri (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae), A Parasite Of The Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys Sabrinus), With A Discussion Of Its Systematic Status, Robert L. Rausch, Voitto Haukisalmi

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

This study redescribes Andrya sciuri Rausch, 1947 (Anoplocephalidae) from the northern flying squirrel, Glaucomys sabrinus (Shaw), in North America, to redefine the morphology and generic position of this poorly known cestode. Andrya sciuri is shown to belong unambiguously to the genus Paranoplocephala Lühe, 1910 sensu Haukisalmi and Wickström (2005). Paranoplocephala sciuri is compared with four species that resemble it morphologically, and features that can be used in its identification are presented. It is suggested that P. sciuri has speciated through a shift from arvicoline rodents (voles and lemmings) to G. sabrinus.

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An Epidemiological Model Of Rift Valley Fever, Holly D. Gaff, David M. Hartley, Nicole P. Leahy Jan 2007

An Epidemiological Model Of Rift Valley Fever, Holly D. Gaff, David M. Hartley, Nicole P. Leahy

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

We present and explore a novel mathematical model of the epidemiology of Rift Valley Fever (RVF). RVF is an Old World, mosquito-borne disease affecting both livestock and humans. The model is an ordinary differential equation model for two populations of mosquito species, those that can transmit vertically and those that cannot, and for one livestock population. We analyze the model to find the stability of the disease-free equlibrium and test which model parameters affect this stability most significantly. This model is the basis for future research into the predication of future outbreaks in the Old World and the assessment of …

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Structural Attributes Of The Hypogeous Holoparasite Hydnora Triceps Drège & Meyer (Hydnoraceae), Kushan U. Tennakoon, Jay F. Bolin, Lytton J. Musselman, Erika Maas Jan 2007

Structural Attributes Of The Hypogeous Holoparasite Hydnora Triceps Drège & Meyer (Hydnoraceae), Kushan U. Tennakoon, Jay F. Bolin, Lytton J. Musselman, Erika Maas

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The morphology of the hypogeous root holoparasite Hydnora triceps is highly reduced, and as with many holoparasites, the vegetative body is difficult to interpret. The vegetative body of H. triceps has been historically considered a "pilot root" studded with lateral appendages known as "haustorial roots." We found the vegetative body of H. triceps to consist of a rhizome with a thickened root-cap-like structure that covered a vegetative shoot apical meristem. From the apical meristem, procambial strands originated and developed into endarch collateral vascular bundles arranged radially around a pith without an interfascicular cambium. Xylem vessels had scalariform pitting and simple …

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Sensory Genes And Mate Choice: Evidence That Duplications, Mutations, And Adaptive Evolution Alter Variation In Mating Cue Genes And Their Receptors, Lisa Horth Jan 2007

Sensory Genes And Mate Choice: Evidence That Duplications, Mutations, And Adaptive Evolution Alter Variation In Mating Cue Genes And Their Receptors, Lisa Horth

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Fascinating new data, revealed through gene sequencing, comparative genomics, and genetic engineering, precisely establish which genes are involved in mate choice and mating activity—behaviors that are surprisingly understudied from a genetic perspective. Discussed here are some of the recently identified visual and chemosensory genes that are involved in mate choice and mating behavior. These genes’ products are involved in the production, transmission, and receipt of crucial sensory mate-choice cues that affect fitness. This review exposes newfound evidence that alternative splicing, gene-expression pattern changes, and molecular genetic variation in sensory genes are crucial for both intra- and interspecific mate choice and …

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Comparison Of Instrumental Methods For Measuring Seed Hardness Of Food-Grade Soybean, Mioko Tamura, Bo Zhang, Joyce Berger-Doyle, Pengyin Chen Jan 2007

Comparison Of Instrumental Methods For Measuring Seed Hardness Of Food-Grade Soybean, Mioko Tamura, Bo Zhang, Joyce Berger-Doyle, Pengyin Chen

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

Seed hardness is an important factor in determining soybean suitability for natto production. There is no established methodology for testing seed texture of soybeans. The objective of this study was to develop an efficient method by examining different instruments and seed parameters that could be potentially used for testing soybean seed hardness. Five food-grade soybean genotypes with different seed sizes were used to determine seed hardness and water-absorption capacity. Water absorption capacity was expressed by swell ratios for seed weight, seed dimension, and volume of water changes before and after soaking. Seed hardness test was conducted by a one-bite method …

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Addressing Issues In The Detection Of Gene-Environment Interaction Through The Study Of Conduct Disorder, Elizabeth Prom-Wormley Jan 2007

Addressing Issues In The Detection Of Gene-Environment Interaction Through The Study Of Conduct Disorder, Elizabeth Prom-Wormley

Theses and Dissertations

This work addresses issues in the study of gene-environment interaction (GxE) through research of conduct disorder (CD) among adolescents and extends the recent report of significant GxE and subsequent replication studies. A sub-sample of 1,299 individual participants/649 twin pairs and their parents from the Virginia Twin Study of Adolescent and Behavioral Development was used for whom Monoamine Oxidase A (MAOA) genotype, diagnosis of CD, maternal antisocial personality symptoms, and household neglect were obtained. This dissertation (1) tested for GxE by gender using MAOA and childhood adversity using multiple approaches to CD measurement and model assessment, (2) determined whether other mechanisms …

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In The News, M. R. Conover, R. M. Vail Jan 2007

In The News, M. R. Conover, R. M. Vail

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

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Columns The Director's Desk, Bruce D. Leopold Jan 2007

Columns The Director's Desk, Bruce D. Leopold

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

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The Soap Box Expanding Bear Populations Bring New Challenges To State Wildlife Agencies, Robert Southwick Jan 2007

The Soap Box Expanding Bear Populations Bring New Challenges To State Wildlife Agencies, Robert Southwick

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

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The Soap Box Are Coyotes Right- Or Left-Handed, And Who Cares?, Michael J. Bodenchuk Jan 2007

The Soap Box Are Coyotes Right- Or Left-Handed, And Who Cares?, Michael J. Bodenchuk

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

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Successful Use Of Neck Snares To Live-Capture Red Foxes, S. Nicole Frey, Michael R. Conover, Gary Cook Jan 2007

Successful Use Of Neck Snares To Live-Capture Red Foxes, S. Nicole Frey, Michael R. Conover, Gary Cook

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Box traps and foot-hold snares are common methods to live-capture study animals. However, these methods are frequently ineffective due to factors such as weather constraints, food availability, and target animal behavior. During a study of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) behavior, we examined the use of neck snares to live-trap study animals. We modified the neck snare using swivel cam-locks, deer stops to minimize damage to the animal. Additionally, we utilized our knowledge of red-fox behavior to set traps in a way that would reduce trauma to the captured animals. We snared 21 red foxes during the 3-year study …

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The Soap Box Birth Control Is Not For Everyone (Or Everything), Elizabeth Bingham Jan 2007

The Soap Box Birth Control Is Not For Everyone (Or Everything), Elizabeth Bingham

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

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Comparison Of Sampling Strategies To Estimate Abundance Of Double-Crested Cormorants In Western Mississippi, Aaron T. Pearse, Brian S. Dorr, Stephen J. Dinsmore, Richard M. Kaminski Jan 2007

Comparison Of Sampling Strategies To Estimate Abundance Of Double-Crested Cormorants In Western Mississippi, Aaron T. Pearse, Brian S. Dorr, Stephen J. Dinsmore, Richard M. Kaminski

Human–Wildlife Interactions

We compared 2 sampling strategies designed to estimate abundance of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus, hereafter cormorants) on aquaculture ponds in western Mississippi. Cormorants are a major predator of cultured channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) in this region; thus, estimating cormorant abundance is needed to better determine their economic impact. We independently designed a species-specific survey (i.e., cluster sampling) and a general survey (i.e., transect sampling) based on robust probability sampling theory to estimate abundance of this target population. During winters 2002–2003 and 2003–2004, we conducted 8 pairs of surveys and compared estimates of cormorant abundance and associated …

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Using Predator Exclosures To Protect Ground Nests From Red Fox, Ben C. West, Terry A. Messmer, Dominic C. Bachman Jan 2007

Using Predator Exclosures To Protect Ground Nests From Red Fox, Ben C. West, Terry A. Messmer, Dominic C. Bachman

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Nest predation often is cited as a primary cause for low recruitment and subsequent population decline of many ground-nesting bird species. In response, managers and researchers have developed a myriad of techniques to reduce rates of predation on ground nests. Fences to exclude predators from nesting areas have reportedly been a successful, albeit expensive, strategy to reduce predation rates. Although many studies have evaluated the use of exclusionary fences as a management tool, nearly all of these studies have evaluated the impact of fences in terms of nest success rather than by actual fence penetration by predators. Many authors, for …

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Population Viability Analysis Of Monk Parakeets In The United States And Examination Of Alternative Management Strategies, Stephen Pruett-Jones, James R. Newman, Michael L. Avery, James R. Lindsay Jan 2007

Population Viability Analysis Of Monk Parakeets In The United States And Examination Of Alternative Management Strategies, Stephen Pruett-Jones, James R. Newman, Michael L. Avery, James R. Lindsay

Human–Wildlife Interactions

In the United States, monk parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) are expanding their geographical distribution, and their overall population size is growing exponentially. Monk parakeets are causing widespread economic damage in the United States by nesting on utility structures, which leads to electrical fires and power outages. Although few life history data are available for the species from North America, extensive data are available from the species’ native range in South America. Incorporating data from South America into the population viability analysis program VORTEX, we simulated population growth in United States monk parakeets to determine whether it is likely that …

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Drive-By Netting: A Technique For Capturing Grebes And Other Diving Waterfowl, Joe N. Caudell, Michael R. Conover Jan 2007

Drive-By Netting: A Technique For Capturing Grebes And Other Diving Waterfowl, Joe N. Caudell, Michael R. Conover

Human–Wildlife Interactions

We describe a new method (drive-by netting) for capturing grebes (Podiceps spp.) and other birds that dive under water to escape capture. We used a floating gill net to capture 203 eared grebes (Podiceps nigricollis) in 20 days in 1999 on the Great Salt Lake (GSL), 652 eared grebes in 41 days on the GSL in 2000, and 409 grebes in 20 days in 2001. Other species captured during the 2000 and 2001 fi eld seasons included 1 western grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis), 9 ruddy ducks (Oxyura jamaicensis), and 1 Canada goose (Branta …

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Land-Use Pattern, Urbanization, And Deer–Vehicle Collisions In Alabama, Anwar Hussain, James B. Armstrong, David B. Brown, John Hogland Jan 2007

Land-Use Pattern, Urbanization, And Deer–Vehicle Collisions In Alabama, Anwar Hussain, James B. Armstrong, David B. Brown, John Hogland

Human–Wildlife Interactions

With the rise in deer–vehicle collisions across the United States, the associated costs also have risen. Increasingly, however, researchers are learning that these collisions are not a random phenomena but follow a systematic pattern. Building on this insight, we explored the role of county characteristics in influencing the pattern and incidence of white-tailed deer- (Odocoileus virginianus) related auto collisions. Using county level data from 1994 to 2003 in Alabama, we tested several data models with the above mentioned factors as covariates. Our results showed that county characteristics, such as (1) having a deer population density (≥31/km2), (2) being …

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Public Opinion, The Leopold Report, And The Reform Of Federal Predator Control Policy, James W. Feldman Jan 2007

Public Opinion, The Leopold Report, And The Reform Of Federal Predator Control Policy, James W. Feldman

Human–Wildlife Interactions

This paper explores the role of public opinion in a landmark shift in the federal predator control program. In 1963, the Leopold Committee recommended extensive reform in the federal predator control program, predicting that growing public support for the environmental movement would force such a move if the government did not initiate a change. In the years following the publication of the Leopold Report, the U.S. Division of Wildlife Services reformed its predator control program and tried to improve its public image. Meanwhile, both environmentalists and ranchers fought to control public opinion about the issue. The 1972 ban on predacides …

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The Director's Desk The Role Of Knowledge In Developing People Skills, Ben C. West Jan 2007

The Director's Desk The Role Of Knowledge In Developing People Skills, Ben C. West

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

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Student Voices Avoiding Conflicts Between Wildlife Professionals And Local Hunters Over Efforts To Eradicate Exotic Game Species, Hans Sin Jan 2007

Student Voices Avoiding Conflicts Between Wildlife Professionals And Local Hunters Over Efforts To Eradicate Exotic Game Species, Hans Sin

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

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Introduction To Hwc's Special Topic Ecology And Management Of Feral Hogs, Stephen S. Ditchkoff, Ben C. West Jan 2007

Introduction To Hwc's Special Topic Ecology And Management Of Feral Hogs, Stephen S. Ditchkoff, Ben C. West

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

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Adaptive And Economic Management Methods For Feral Hog Control In Florida, Richard M. Engeman, Bernice U. Constantin, Stephanie A. Shwiff, Henry T. Smith, John Woolard, John Allen, John Dunlap Jan 2007

Adaptive And Economic Management Methods For Feral Hog Control In Florida, Richard M. Engeman, Bernice U. Constantin, Stephanie A. Shwiff, Henry T. Smith, John Woolard, John Allen, John Dunlap

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Feral hogs (Sus scrofa) negatively impact the environment in most places around the world where they have been introduced into the wild. In many places, hog removal is essential to protect special habitats, in particular, wetlands. This paper describes techniques developed for use in adaptive management approaches to enhance hog removal efforts in Florida, as well as methods to evaluate the economic impacts from hog management. A valuable adaptive management tool that can be an easily applied index to monitor feral hog activity is track plots. This method has been effective for monitoring hog distribution and relative abundance, …

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A Landscape-Level Survey Of Feral Hog Impacts To Natural Resources Of The Big Thicket National Preserve, Pedro M. Chavarria, Roel R. Lopez, Gillian Bowser, Nova J. Silvy Jan 2007

A Landscape-Level Survey Of Feral Hog Impacts To Natural Resources Of The Big Thicket National Preserve, Pedro M. Chavarria, Roel R. Lopez, Gillian Bowser, Nova J. Silvy

Human–Wildlife Interactions

We conducted a survey of the impact of feral hog (Sus scrofa) on the natural resources of the Big Thicket National Preserve (BTNP), a unit of the National Park Service. We worked in 3 management units: Lance Rosier, Big Sandy, and Turkey Creek. Random stratified sampling was conducted to assess impacts from hog damage on resources by vegetation type at a landscape scale. Landscape features such as topography, soil moisture, soil type, and dominant vegetative cover types were used to predict hog damage. The overall damage to vegetation from hog rooting or wallowing averaged 28% within the 3 …

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Crop Diversification Leads To Diverse Bird Problems In Hawaiian Agriculture, Marni E. Koopman, William C. Pitt Jan 2007

Crop Diversification Leads To Diverse Bird Problems In Hawaiian Agriculture, Marni E. Koopman, William C. Pitt

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Over the last 20 years, Hawaii’s agriculture has shifted from a focus on sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum) and pineapples (Ananas comosus) produced on large farms to a diverse array of products produced on a multitude of smaller farms. This dramatic shift in production, in addition to the introduction of many new avian species, has resulted in a concomitant change in the problems faced by agriculture. We surveyed farmers to determine the extent of bird damage to crops, the species responsible, the crops most vulnerable, and control methods employed. Bird problems varied by island, but cardinals ( …

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Emeritus A Tribute To Frederick F. Knowlton, William H. Clay Jan 2007

Emeritus A Tribute To Frederick F. Knowlton, William H. Clay

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

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In Memory A Tribute To Glen Stevenson And Joe Harris, Angie Dustin Jan 2007

In Memory A Tribute To Glen Stevenson And Joe Harris, Angie Dustin

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

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Life In The Absence Of Oxygen: Alternative Electron Acceptors For Anaerobic Microorganisms In A Petroleum Environment, Meli̇ke Balk Jan 2007

Life In The Absence Of Oxygen: Alternative Electron Acceptors For Anaerobic Microorganisms In A Petroleum Environment, Meli̇ke Balk

Turkish Journal of Biology

Anaerobic microorganisms derive energy by transferring electrons from an external source or donor to an external electron sink or terminal acceptor and often have the capacity to reduce 2 or more terminal electron acceptors. The well-known type of microbial respiration, in which oxygen serves as an electron acceptor for the oxidation of organic carbon and/or hydrogen, has been studied elsewhere in detail. Anaerobic microorganisms are widely distributed in oil-producing vents, hydrothermal vents, volcanic hot springs, non-volcanic geothermally heated subsurface aquifers, and soil. In this study, anaerobic, thermophilic, and fermenting microorganisms in a petroleum sample from the Adıyaman region of Turkey …

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Identification And Characterization Of The Rat Dvl2 Gene Using Bioinformatic Tools, Lokman Varişli, Osman Çen Jan 2007

Identification And Characterization Of The Rat Dvl2 Gene Using Bioinformatic Tools, Lokman Varişli, Osman Çen

Turkish Journal of Biology

We identified and characterized the rat DVL2 gene using bioinformatics. In addition to the structure and chromosomal localization of the rat DVL2 gene, the transcribed and translated protein product of the gene was analyzed in silico. Results showed that the rat DVL2 gene consists of 15 exons and is located on the rat genomic contig WGA1854.3 on chromosome 10. Database searches using the rat DVL2 amino acid sequence as a query showed a number of homologous protein sequences in different species, including M. musculus, P. troglodytes, C. familiaris, H. sapiens, B. taurus, D. rerio, X. laevis, and T. nigroviridis. DAX, …

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