Life Sciences Commons^™

Analysis Of Pacific Harbor Seal Survival At Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Friday Harbor, Wa, Casey L. Martinez

Animal Science

The Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center cares for and releases dozens of Pacific Harbor Seals each year. Analysis of 161 seal records from mid-2004 to 2010 showed that the sex, weight, and age of the incoming seals are not statistically significant predictors of survival to release. The absence of wounds and injuries, on the other hand, is correlated with increased survival about two times greater than that of wounded seals.

Former Andrews Professor Ministers To Eunuchs Of India, Ashleigh Jardine

Lake Union Herald

No abstract provided.

The Freshwater Mussels (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionoida) Of Nebraska, Ellet Hoke

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

This paper reports the results of the first statewide survey of the freshwater mussels of Nebraska. Survey goals were: (1) to document current distributions through collection of recent shells; (2) to document former distributions through collection of relict shells and examination of museum collections; (3) to identify changes in distribution; (4) to identify the primary natural and anthropomorphic factors impacting unionids; and (5) to develop a model to explain the documented distributions. The survey confirmed 30 unionid species and the exotic Corbicula fluminea for the state, and museum vouchers documented one additional unionid species. Analysis of museum records and an …

The Vascular Flora Of Brown County, Nebraska, Megan K. Killion, Steven J. Rothenberger

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

Brown County, located in north-central Nebraska contains several native vegetation types including sand hills mixed-grass prairie, gravelly mixed-grass prairie, ponderosa pine forests/savannas, sand hills-borders/mixed-grass prairie, upland deciduous forest, and wet lands. The Nebraska Sand Hills, which make up approximately 80% of Brown County, cover about 20,000 square miles of the state. This study reports a total of 726 plant species, subspecies, and varieties for Brown County, representing 105 families and 358 genera. Fourteen new county records were collected. A list of the vascular flora for Brown County is given and an index of similarity is used to compare Brown County …

A Comparison Of The Clarendonian Equid Assemblages From The Mission Pit, South Dakota And Ashfall Fossil Beds, Nebraska, Nicholas A. Famoso, Darrin Pagnac

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

The Mission Pit locality (SDSM V5314), near Mission, South Dakota, has produced a large collection of equid teeth obtained from the Miocene Ash Hollow (=Thin Elk) Formation. Ashfall Fossil Beds (UNSM Ap-116), near Royal, Nebraska, has yielded an extensive collection of equid cranial elements and teeth derived from the Cap Rock Member, Ash Hollow Formation. The two sites are interpreted to be Clarendonian in age [12.5 to 9.0 Ma], but may contain faunal assemblages from differing Clarendonian subages.

The two sites exhibit a notably similar composition of equid genera, including the tribes Equini (Pliohippus, Calippus, and Protohippus …

Differential Il-21 Signaling In Apcs Leads To Disparate Th17 Differentiation In Diabetes-Susceptible Nod And Diabetes-Resistant Nod.Idd3 Mice., Sue M. Liu, David H. Lee, Jenna M. Sullivan, Denise Chung, Anneli Jäger, Bennett O V. Shum, Nora E. Sarvetnick, Ana C. Anderson, Vijay K. Kuchroo

Journal Articles: Regenerative Medicine

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that shows familial aggregation in humans and likely has genetic determinants. Disease linkage studies have revealed many susceptibility loci for T1D in mice and humans. The mouse T1D susceptibility locus insulin-dependent diabetes susceptibility 3 (Idd3), which has a homologous genetic interval in humans, encodes cytokine genes Il2 and Il21 and regulates diabetes and other autoimmune diseases; however, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of this regulation are still being elucidated. Here we show that T cells from NOD mice produce more Il21 and less Il2 and exhibit enhanced Th17 cell generation compared with …

Arkansas Corn And Grain Sorghum Perfomance Tests 2011, R. D. Bond, D. G. Dombeck, J. A. Still

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

Corn and grain sorghum performance tests are conducted each year in Arkansas by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The tests provide information to companies marketing seed within the state and aid the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service in formulating recommendations for producers.

Temperature, Recreational Fishing And Diapause Egg Connections: Dispersal Of Spiny Water Fleas (Bythotrephes Longimanus), W. Charles Kerfoot, Foad Yousef, Martin M. Hobmeier, Ryan P. Maki, S. Taylor Jarnagin, James H. Churchill

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

The spiny water flea (Bythotrephes longimanus) is spreading from Great Lakes coastal waters into northern inland lakes within a northern temperature-defined latitudinal band. Colonization of Great Lakes coastal embayments is assisted by winds and seiche surges, yet rapid inland expansion across the northern states comes through an overland process. The lack of invasions at Isle Royale National Park contrasts with rapid expansion on the nearby Keweenaw Peninsula. Both regions have comparable geology, lake density, and fauna, but differ in recreational fishing boat access, visitation, and containment measures. Tail spines protect Bythotrephes against young of the year, but not larger fish, …

Investigating The Roles Of Ndj1 And Tid1 In Crossover Assurance In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Rianna Knowles

Master's Theses

Meiosis is the specialized process of cell division utilized during gametogenesis in all sexually reproducing eukaryotes, which consists of one round of DNA replication followed by two rounds of chromosome segregation and results in four haploid cells. Crossovers between homologous chromosomes promote proper alignment and segregation of chromosomes during meiosis.

Crossover interference is a genetic phenomenon in which crossovers are non-randomly placed along chromosomes. Crossover assurance ensures that every homologous chromosome pair obtains at least one crossover during Prophase I. Crossovers physically connect homologous pairs, allowing spindle fibers to attach and separate homologs properly. However, some organisms have shown an …

Linking Fruit Traits To Variation In Predispersal Vertebrate Seed Predation, Insect Seed Predation, And Pathogen Attack, Noelle G. Beckman, Helene C. Muller-Landau

Biology Faculty Publications

The importance of vertebrates, invertebrates, and pathogens for plant communities has long been recognized, but their absolute and relative importance in early recruitment of multiple coexisting tropical plant species has not been quantified. Further, little is known about the relationship of fruit traits to seed mortality due to natural enemies in tropical plants. To investigate the influences of vertebrates, invertebrates, and pathogens on reproduction of seven canopy plant species varying in fruit traits, we quantified reductions in fruit development and seed germination due to vertebrates, invertebrates, and fungal pathogens through experimental removal of these enemies using canopy exclosures, insecticide, and …

Seed Production With Insect Herbivory And Fungal Occurrence For The Rare Penstemon Haydenii, Kay L Kottas, James Stubbendieck, Erin E. Blankenship, Jay B. Fitzgerald

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

We quantified seed production and viability, floral herbivory and fungal infection on blowout penstemon (Penstemon haydenii S. Watson), an endangered species of the Nebraska Sandhills, USA, in order to determine the potential for perpetuation of this, and possibly other short-lived, rare perennials of fragmented habitats. Over three years, the number of seeds per infructescence averaged 518 (SE 29.01). Plants produced an average of 1398 seeds. Seed viability of 38% reduced reproductive potential to 531 viable seeds per plant. Plants in multiple blowout sites in two counties were assigned to one of four treatments: insecticide, fungicide, both, or neither (control). …

The Ringed Crayfish, Orconectes Neglectus Neglectus, In Nebraska With A Revision Of Its Distributional Range, Steven C. Schainost

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

Collections of crayfishes in Nebraska have yielded much new information on the distribution of the ringed crayfish, Orconectes neglectus neglectus. The distributional range of this species had been described as southwestern Missouri and northwestern Arkansas with extensions into Kansas and Oklahoma. Isolated, disjunct populations in northeastern Colorado, southwestern Nebraska, and northwestern and east-central Kansas were thought to be relict populations. Between 1995 and 2009, collections of crayfishes were made throughout Nebraska using various techniques including seining, trapping, dip-netting, and handgrabbing. To date, the ringed crayfish has been found in 56 streams in eight of Nebraska’s 13 river basins. In …

Assessment Of Water Quality And Response Rate Of Zooplankton In A Nebraska “Barrow Pit” After Rotenone Application, Brian C. Peterson, Byron W. Sellers, Nicolas J. Fryda, Keith D. Koupal

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

Understanding the extent and depth of rotenone impacts on all trophic levels is essential to effective aquatic management. We examined changes in water quality tenets and zooplankton communities following the establishment of 3 ppm rotenone concentration in a Nebraska barrow pit. Dissolved oxygen initially decreased 57% and subsequently increased 298% the week following rotenone application. Turbidity decreased from 25.8 FAU ± 0.80 pre-treatment to 6.6 FAU ± 0.98 one year later. Total zooplankton (0.17/L ± 0.03) were limited prior to rotenone application and absent for the following 3 weeks. One year later the total number of zooplankton increased 1024%, and …

A Report Of Freshwater Sponge (Porifera: Spongillidae) In Central Nebraska, Todd S. Paulsen, W. Wyatt Hoback

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

Little has been reported about the occurrence of freshwater sponges in Nebraska and no publications have previously recorded from central Nebraska waters. A large colony of freshwater sponges was discovered on the steel interior walls of a sunken (3.5 meters) delivery truck in a sand/rock quarry of the Platte River Valley near Kearney, Nebraska. Samples were collected and characteristics of the sponge were examined under magnification. Morphology indicates the sponge is a member of the genus Ephydatia. Although the species was not conclusively determined, it shares the most characteristics with E. muelleri. This is the first confirmed record of …

Distribution Of Zooplankton In Harlan County Reservoir, Nebraska, Kathy M. Maline, Keith D. Koupal, Brian C. Peterson, W. Wyatt Hoback

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

The objective of this study was to determine the horizontal and vertical distribution of zooplankton in Harlan County Reservoir in order to assist in developing an appropriate zooplankton sampling regime for this and similar Nebraska irrigation reservoirs. Samples were collected at 16 sites distributed across 3 zones of the reservoir monthly in April, May, June, and July of 2007 using a 2.2 L Van Dorn sampler. Samples were collected at depths of 1, 4, and 7 meters, poured through an 80-μm filter, preserved, and identified to the lowest possible taxa. Total zooplankton densities in Harlan County Reservoir were statistically similar …

Assessing The Impact Of Non-Differential Genotyping Errors On Rare Variant Tests Of Association, Scott Powers, Shyam Gopalakrishnan, Nathan L. Tintle

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

Background/Aims: We aim to quantify the effect of non-differential genotyping errors on the power of rare variant tests and identify those situations when genotyping errors are most harmful. Methods: We simulated genotype and phenotype data for a range of sample sizes, minor allele frequencies, disease relative risks and numbers of rare variants. Genotype errors were then simulated using five different error models covering a wide range of error rates. Results: Even at very low error rates, misclassifying a common homozygote as a heterozygote translates into a substantial loss of power, a result that is exacerbated even further as the minor …

Exploitation Of Environmental Noise By An Araneophagic Assassin Bug, Anne E. Wignall, Robert R. Jackson, R. Stimson Wilcox, Phillip W. Taylor

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Predatory arthropods that specialize in invading webs and preying on the resident spiders ('araneophagic predators') face special challenges. As webs are exceedingly good at transmitting vibrations, it is difficult for a web invader to move through the web and remain undetected by the spider. An araneophagic predator that generates vibrations in the web may risk prey escaping or even counterattacking. To increase the chances of an undetected approach, predators may exploit episodes of environmental noise to approach, while their prey's ability to detect them is compromised ('opportunistic smokescreen behaviour'). Here we provide the first experimental evidence of convergent opportunistic smokescreen …

A Test Method For Optimal Micro-Screen Drum Filter Selection, Eoin Dolan, Ronan Oliver, Niall Murphy, Michael O'Hehir

Other resources

In order to meet increasing demand for seafood worldwide Recirculation Aquaculture Systems (RAS) are frequently used. These systems are susceptible to contamination by waste matter including faecal material in the water. It is imperative that this material is removed from the system. The maintenance of good water quality is a pre-requisite to the success of the operation. Negligence in this area will adversely affect animal growth rates and also the economic performance of the system.

Micro-screen drum filters are a popular solution for the removal of this material (Cripps, Simon J. and Bergheim, Asbjørn., 2000). These screens are nominally rated …

Integration Of Plant-Based Canopy Sensors For Site-Specific Nitrogen Management, Luciano S. Shiratsuchi

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The soil’s nitrogen (N) supply can vary drastically in the field, spatially as well as temporally making any soil prediction difficult even with very detailed mapping. Consequently, a plant-based approach wherein the measured canopy can indicate the N needs in a reactive and spatially-variable way can be a better approach than mapping, because integrate the soil N supply and translate the crop need on-the-go. The first experiment evaluated the performance of various spectral indices for sensing N status of corn, where spectral variability might be confounded by water-induced variations in crop reflectance. We found that water and previous crops effects …

Extent Of Coterminous Us Rangelands: Quantifying Implications Of Differing Agency Perspectives, Matthew Clark Reeves, John E. Mitchell

United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Rangeland extent is an important factor for evaluating critical indicators of rangeland sustainability. Rangeland areal extent was determined for the coterminous United States in a geospatial framework by evaluating spatially explicit data from the Landscape Fire and Resource Management Planning Tools (LANDFIRE) project describing historic and current vegetative composition, average height, and average cover through the viewpoints of the Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program administered by the US Forest Service. Three types of rangelands were differentiated using the NRI definition encompassing rangelands, afforested rangelands, and transitory …

Raptors Of Nebraska, Paul A. Johnsgard

Paul Johnsgard Collection

Nebraska is a regular host to 17 species of hawks, as well as two eagles and eight owls. Collectively, all these impressive-looking birds are known as “raptors,” which refers to their strong, sharply decurved and pointed beaks, their sharp, curved talons and their associated predatory abilities. Hawk and eagles are often called “diurnal raptors,” since they all hunt during daylight hours, whereas most of Nebraska’s owls hunt at night and are described as nocturnal raptors. But few biological statements lack exceptions, and some owls such as the burrowing owl are daytime-hunters, and some such as the great homed owl hunt …

Heritable Epigenetic Variation Among Maize Inbreds, Steve R. Eichten, Ruth A. Swanson, James C. Schnable, Amanda J. Waters, Peter J. Hermanson, Sanzhen Liu, Cheng-Ting Yeh, Yi Jia, Karla Gendler, Michael Freeling, Patrick S. Schnable, Matthew W. Vaughn, Nathan M. Springer

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Epigenetic variation describes heritable differences that are not attributable to changes in DNA sequence. There is the potential for pure epigenetic variation that occurs in the absence of any genetic change or for more complex situations that involve both genetic and epigenetic differences. Methylation of cytosine residues provides one mechanism for the inheritance of epigenetic information. A genome-wide profiling of DNA methylation in two different genotypes of Zea mays (ssp. mays), an organism with a complex genome of interspersed genes and repetitive elements, allowed the identification and characterization of examples of natural epigenetic variation. The distribution of DNA methylation …

Minimizing Bias In Biomass Allometry: Model Selection And Log‐Transformation Of Data, Joseph Mascaro, Creighton M. Litton, R. Flint Hughes, Amanda Uowolo, Stefan A. Schnitzer

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Nonlinear regression is increasingly used to develop allometric equations for forest biomass estimation (i.e., as opposed to the traditional approach of log‐transformation followed by linear regression). Most statistical software packages, however, assume additive errors by default, violating a key assumption of allometric theory and possibly producing spurious models. Here, we show that such models may bias stand‐level biomass estimates by up to 100 percent in young forests, and we present an alternative nonlinear fitting approach that conforms with allometric theory.

Beneficial True Bugs: Big-Eyed Bugs, Ricardo Ramirez, Ron Patterson

All Current Publications

Predatory insects can provide natural pest control by eating unwanted pests. Insect predators are one factor that help maintain pest populations at non-damaging levels, an action known as biological control. By conserving predatory insect populations, plants can be protected from pest attack and excessive damage.

Western Tentiform Leafminer Phyllonorycter Elmaella, Diane G. Alston, Michael E. Reding

All Current Publications

Western tentiform leafminer populations can vary tremendously between years or even between generations within a single year. A large population in Utah's commercial fruit districts hasn't been observed since the early 2000s. Increasing resistance to organophosphate insecticides and variable effectiveness of at least six parasitic wasp species that attack the leafminer can influence the population size.

Response Of Evergreen Perennial Tree Crops To Gibberellic Acid Is Crop Load-Dependent: Ii. Ga3 Increases Yield And Fruit Size Of ‘Hass’ Avocado Only In The On-Crop Year Of An Alternate Bearing Orchard, Lauren C. Garner, Grant Klein, Yusheng Zheng, Toan Khuong, Carol J. Lovatt

Horticulture and Crop Science

Despite problems of low fruit set, small fruit size and alternate bearing, the Hass cultivar dominates commercial avocado production worldwide. To increase yield and fruit size, gibberellic acid (GA₃) (25 mg L⁻¹) was applied at different stages of ‘Hass’ avocado tree phenology: (i) mid–late April (flower abscission), end of June–beginning of July (fruit abscission and beginning of the exponential phase of fruit growth), and mid-January (beginning of pre-harvest fruit drop); (ii) end of June–beginning of July; and (iii) mid-September (near the end of the major fruit abscission period; period of …

Revision Of The New World Genus Crassomicrodus Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Agathidinae), With An Identification Key To Species, José Isaac Figueroa, Michael J. Sharkey, Jesus Romero Nápoles, José Antonio Sánchez García, Ana Mabel Martínez, Victor López-Martínez, Samuel Pineda

Entomology Faculty Publications

A key to species and descriptions are presented for 14 species of the New World genus Crassomicrodus Ashmead. Seven new species, Crassomicrodus azteca, Crassomicrodus clypealis, Crassomicrodus costaricensis, Crassomicrodus jalisciensis, Crassomicrodus mariae, Crassomicrodus oaxaquensis,and Crassomicrodus olgae are described. Crassomicrodus fenestratus (Viereck) is synonymized with Crassomicrodus nigriceps (Cresson). Crassomicrodus melanopleurus (Ashmead) is recognized as a valid species.

Protecting A Portion Of The Beaver Dam Heath Conservation Focus Area And Initiating Innovative Conservation Financing In Berwick, Maine, Great Works Regional Land Trust

PREP Reports & Publications

This project permanently protected 28 acres in the Beaver Dam Heath Conservation Focus Area through a bargain sale of the fee simple interest. The Grants Meadow III parcel is 85% wetland. The remainder of the upland lies along Diamond Hill Road with adequate frontage for 2-3 house lots. This project involved outreach to the Town of Berwick for project funding to match the PREP funding awarded. GWRLT also received NAWCA funds to complete the project.

Management Of Alien Invasive Insect Pest Species And Diseases Of Fruits And Vegetables: Experiences From East Africa, B. Nyambo, S. Sevgan, A. Chabi-Olaye, S. Ekesi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The East African region is currently struggling to cope with several alien invasive insect pest species (AIS): the diamondback moth (DBM), fruit flies, Liriomyza leafminers, thrips and spider mites to name just a few. These insect pests have wide host range, are difficult to control with synthetic pesticides, and most are of quarantine status. AIS are becoming frequent pests in horticulture production systems, threat to food security, market access and rural livelihoods. The impact of these pests is aggravated by variability in climatic conditions, few taxonomic expertise for accurate and timely identification of new species, inadequate knowledge on viable alternative …

Horticultural Pest Management And The African Economy: Successes, Challenges And Opportunities In A Changing Global Environment, S. Ekesi, A. Chabi-Olaye, S. Subramanian, C. Borgemeister

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

In many African countries, horticulture is the fastest growing agricultural sub-sector contributing significantly to national incomes. Diverse vegetables, fruits and spices are grown for domestic and export markets. Horticultural exports in Africa has increased by more than 50% in recent years and currently contributes >20% of agricultural exports by volume and income generation. Despite the growth, production has not kept pace with increasing demand due largely to biotic constraints attributed to arthropod pests. Agricultural research aimed at reducing insect pest damage can lead to increased horticultural production and improved rural livelihoods. icipe in collaboration with National Agricultural Research and Extension …