Life Sciences Commons^™

Human Diseases From Wildlife: A Review, Joe N. Caudell

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

Brown Bear And Human Recreational Use Of Trails In Anchorage, Alaska, Jessica A. Coltrane, Rick Sinnott

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Anchorage, Alaska, has 301,000 human residents and hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Anchorage also supports a viable population of brown bears (Ursus arctos). As a result, human–bear encounters are common. We used camera traps to monitor recreational trails near salmon spawning streams at 3 study sites during the summers of 2009 to 2012 to better understand daily and seasonal activity patterns of bears and humans on these trails. The more remote study sites had the least human activity and the most bear activity. Human–bear encounters were most likely to occur from July through early September due …

Parallel Universes? Increasing Connections Between Ipm And Wdm, Lynn Braband

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Managing damage by wild vertebrates often is important, and wildlife damage management (WDM) has incorporated important tenets of integrated pest management (IPM). However, largely separate academic backgrounds have nurtured the IPM and WDM communities. The controversial “hot button” topics have tended to differ. While WDM research and outreach have received some IPM funding, and wildlife studies occasionally appear in IPM journals, attendance at infrequent wildlife sessions during IPM meetings has been sparse. The objectives of this paper are to review important examples of collaboration, and evaluate possibilities for future synergy between these related disciplines.

Winter Habitat Associations Of Blackbirds And Starlings Wintering In The South-Central United States, Matthew Strassburg, Shawn M. Crimmins, Patrick C. Mckann, Wayne E. Thogmartin

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Birds can cause extensive crop damage in the United States. In some regions, depredating species comprise a substantial portion of the total avian population, emphasizing their importance both economically and ecologically. We used the National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count data from the south-central United States and mixed-effects models to identify habitat factors associated with population trend and abundance for 5 species: red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula), rusty blackbird (Euphagus carolinus), Brewer’s blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus), and European starling (Sturnus vulgaris). Overall, we found positive associations between bird …

Does Body Condition Affect Immediate Post-Capture Survival Of Ungulates?, Louis C. Bender

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Many factors are known or are thought to increase vulnerability to capture-related mortality in ungulates. I compared body condition of Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelson), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), and pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) to assess whether those that survived capture differed from those that did not. Fate of ungulates was generally not related to condition (F_1,646 = 1.6; P = 0.21), and this relationship was similar among species (species × fate interaction: F_4,646 = 1.3; P = 0.29), season of capture (species × season × fate interaction: F_6,646 = …

Quantitative Assessment Of Bullet Fragments In Viscera Of Sheep Carcasses As Surrogates For White-Tailed Deer, Luis Cruz-Martinez, Marrett D. Grund, Patrick T. Redig

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Avian scavengers, such as bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), can be exposed to lead through the consumption of spent lead from ammunition in carcasses of animals shot with lead-based projectiles. Few studies have examined the degree of bullet fragmentation in viscera (offal) of game mammals. Our objective was to quantify the number of bullet fragments deposited in sheep carcasses shot with different types of lead and lead-free, high-velocity centerfire rifle bullets and with lead projectiles fired from shotguns and muzzleloader rifles marketed for hunting white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). We hypothesized that after controlling for velocity, angle of …

Evaluating Competing Preferences Of Hunters And Landowners For Management Of Deer Populations, Gino J. D'Angelo, Marrett D. Grund

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Most state wildlife agencies consider public input in the management of whitetailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations. In 2013, we surveyed deer hunters (n = 3,600) and landowners (n = 4,604) in southwest Minnesota to gauge their preferences for managing deer. We hypothesized a priori that, irrespective of their perceived impacts of deer, hunters would prefer deer populations to be increased and landowners would prefer deer populations to be decreased. Our findings suggest that defining stakeholder groups according to primary associations with deer (i.e., farming and hunting) accurately categorized differences in tolerance levels for deer populations in …

Cost-Effective Approach To Reducing Collisions With Elk By Fencing Between Existing Highway Structures, Jeffrey W. Gagnon, Chad D. Loberger, Scott C. Sprague, Kari S. Ogren, Susan L. Boe, Raymond E. Schweinsburg

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Collisions with large ungulates cause serious human and animal injuries and significant property damage. Therefore, wildlife crossing structures are increasingly included in new road construction to reduce wildlife–vehicle collisions, while still allowing wildlife to safely cross roads. Recently, state and federal transportation budgets have declined, concomitantly reducing the construction of wildlife crossing structures, which are generally tied to large-scale reconstruction projects that are delayed for decades into the future. Nevertheless, even during times of fiscal constraint or temporal delay, it is still necessary to reduce collisions with wildlife and maintain habitat connectivity. Therefore, it is important to find cost-effective and …

Relationship Between Spatial Distribution Of Sika Deer–Train Collisions And Sika Deer Movement In Japan, Akinao Soga, Shin-Ichiro Hamasaki, Noriko Yokoyama, Toshiyuki Sakai, Koichi Kaji

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Collisions between trains and sika deer (Cervus nippon) cause various problems involving animal and humans safety, as well as economic cost. A better understanding of deer crossing railway lines and deer–train accidents is necessary to develop effective mitigation measures. We investigated the collisions among habitat selection, railway-line crossing movement, and deer–train collisions. We predicted that the risk of deer–train collisions would increase with increasing probability of deer crossing railway lines, which is related to habitat selection surrounding in those areas. Deer stayed in forests to rest during the day and moved to grasslands or rice paddy fields to …

Distance-Dependent Effectiveness Of Diversionary Bear Bait Sites, Stephen F. Stringham, Ann Bryant

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Baiting black bears (Ursus americanus) to sites outside a community can alleviate famine-induced spikes in human–bear conflicts. But little is known about effects of distance between baits and communities. Bears were lured out of towns in California’s Tahoe Basin to baits in adjacent forests. Delay between onsets of baiting and decline in bear–human conflict was directly related to each community’s distance from the nearest bait. The amount and rate that conflicts declined were inversely related to distance. In 7 communities about 1 km from a bait, conflicts declined 41% after 1 month and 93% after 3 months; mean …

Response To David S. Lindsay Regarding “Self-Archiving Of Publications From The Journal Of Parasitology”, Sue Ann Gardner

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries: Faculty Publications

Response to ASP President, David S. Lindsay, regarding his editorial in volume 36, numbers 3-4, of the ASP Newsletter, titled “Self-archiving of publications from the Journal of Parasitology.” Concludes that the Society's contract with Allen Press will expire at some point and, in the interim, there is an opportunity renegotiate with them thoughtfully, or to look for a better outlet for the time-honored Journal of Parasitology. There are many publishing ventures arising from universities themselves, in libraries and academic departments, on viable and stable electronic platforms, that require very little overhead to administer. If even a fraction …

A Gis Assessment Of Ecoregion Representation In Chile's Existing And Proposed Integrated Network Of Protected Areas, Jessica Schutz

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Chile's state designated protected areas are reported to show representation bias and to be unable to meet conservation goals. Private protected areas are considered an important tool to resolve these issues, which has led to support for increasing the role of private protected areas in Chile and creating an integrated public-private protected area network. But the validity of the capacity of private protected areas to fix Chile's state protected area network bias, and the advantage of creating an integrated protected area network, have not been assessed. This study uses the most recent data on Chile's state, private, and international protected …

The Effect Of O Antigen Loss On The Protein Composition And Inflammatory Response Elicited By Klebsiella Pneumoniae, Bethaney Cahill

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative pathogen associated with numerous infections. Like all Gram-negative bacteria, K. pneumoniae naturally release outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) during all stages of cellular growth. OMVs are composed of the outer membrane components such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and outer membrane proteins and contain cytosolic and periplasmic proteins in the lumen. K. pneumoniae is often found to lack an O antigen. The absence of the O antigen has been reported to alter the protein content of the membrane which may further alter the immune response elicited by K. pneumoniae. Therefore the purpose of this study was to …

Effects Of Prescribed Fire On Upland Plant Biodiversity And Abundance In Northeast Florida, Peter D. Maholland

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Terrestrial ecosystems in the southeastern United States have evolved with fire as a common disturbance and as a result many natural communities require the presence of fire to persist over time. Human development precludes natural fires from occurring within these communities; however, prescribed fire is considered to be a critical tool in the effort to restore fire-dependent ecosystems after decades of fire exclusion. Direct effects of fire on individual floral and faunal species as well as benefits to biodiversity at the landscape (gamma diversity) level have largely been supported in previous research. However, information on the effects of natural and …

The Reproductive Biology Of The Finetooth Shark, Carcharhinus Isodon, In The Northwest Atlantic Ocean, Amanda N. Brown

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Shark fisheries are a multimillion dollar industry in the United States and have significant contributions both recreationally and commercially. In order to maintain this industry, fisheries must be properly managed. An understanding of life history and reproduction is crucial in order to adequately manage shark fisheries. The finetooth shark, Carcharhinus isodon, is a member of the small coastal shark (SCS) fishery complex. It is found in Atlantic waters from South Carolina to Florida and throughout the Gulf of Mexico. This species has recently come under increased fishing pressure and has previously been overfished. New data is needed in order …

Characterization Of A Biosynthetic Pathway Yielding Anticancer Natural Products From A Marine Bacterium, Elle D. James

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Natural products are bioactive secondary metabolites produced by living organisms and are prevalently utilized as pharmaceutical drugs. Marine adapted organisms are a promising source of new natural products possessing unique chemical structures and biological activities. By studying the biosynthetic pathways employed by living organisms to produce natural products, insights into new strategies to generate molecules to combat disease and overcome drug resistance may be gained. This thesis study aimed to uncover the biosynthetic pathway employed by a marine actinomycete, Nocardiopsis sp. CMB-M0232, to catalyze the assembly of the nocardioazines. These molecules are a group of 2,5-diketopiperazine natural products that feature …

Habitat Value Of Restored Intertidal Shoreline For Fish And Macrobenthic Communities In Northeast Florida, Shannon K. Dunnigan

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Oyster reefs are declining worldwide, as well as the economic and ecological value of oysters to their respective systems. Numerous restoration efforts have been undertaken in hopes of re-establishing these shellfish populations. This study evaluated a restoration project within the Guana Tolomato Matanzas estuary in northeast Florida, U.S.A., to investigate community structure as well as seasonal patterns in species abundance and diversity of juvenile fish and benthic macrofauna within restored and unrestored intertidal habitats along the Guana Peninsula. The first objective was to determine whether the artificially created reefs provided similar quantity and diversity of benthic macrofauna as adjacent unrestored …

Non-Lethal Methods For Assessing Reproductive Status In Bonnethead Sharks (Sphyrna Tiburo), Brenda Carol Anderson

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Reproductive biology is a necessary element for the management of elasmobranch fisheries. Traditionally, characterization of elasmobranch reproduction has involved lethal sampling to examine gross reproductive structures and development of embryos. However, this method is counterproductive to the conservation of shark populations. One non-lethal alternative is the measurement of serum hormones, which often vary according to reproductive events. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) has been used to measure hormone concentrations in reproductive endocrinology, but can be problematic for researchers. Alternatively, chemiluminescence immunoassays (CLIA) are routinely used for measuring circulating hormone concentrations in low-volume, non-extracted human serum samples. However these assays have not been previously …

Molecular Identification And Functional Characteristics Of Peptide Transporter 1 (Pept1) In The Bonnethead Shark (Sphyrna Tiburo), Hannah Hart

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Many elasmobranchs are considered top predators with worldwide distribution, and in general these fish play an important role in the transfer of energy from the lower to the upper trophic levels within the marine ecosystem. Despite this, little research has been done regarding the rates of prey ingestion, digestion, and the processes of energy and nutrient absorption. Specifically understudied is enzymatic digestion within the intestinal brush border, which functions to break down macromolecules into smaller subunits for luminal absorption across the gastrointestinal epithelium. Given their carnivorous diet, the present study sought to expand knowledge on nutrient intake in elasmobranchs by …

Sindbis Virus Entry Of Mosquito Midgut Epithelia...Is Nramp Involved?, Florence Yi Ting Chim

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Sindbis virus (SINV) is an arthropod-borne Alphavirus in the family Togaviridae. Sindbis virus has a broad host range that includes avian, mammalian, and human hosts; therefore, its receptor(s) is/are highly conserved. When the mosquito imbibes a viremic blood meal, the virus infects the midgut cells, disseminates into the hemolymph, and eventually infects the salivary glands. The midgut is an organ of transmission and the virus must overcome the midgut epithelia infection- and escape-barriers. Sindbis virus infection is determined by the chance collision of the glycoproteins with a compatible receptor. Research has supported the involvement of high-affinity laminin receptor and heparan …

Effects Of The Exotic Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis Invicta) On The Growth And Survival Of The Threatened Hooded Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia Minor), Edward Marques

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Plants and insects are some of the most biodiverse groups in the world and are constantly interacting. One unique interaction that has been observed occurs between carnivorous plants and insects; some plant species are capable of capturing and digesting insects for nutrients. Despite preying on these insects, there are cases where such interactions can been viewed as mutualistic. For instance, a nectar reward is produced by the plant to attract insects, and during visitation insects may fall prey to these plants. Additionally, carnivorous myrmecophytic plants may receive an added indirect benefit in the form of reduced herbivory, since ants have …

Reconciling The Two Cultures : A Case Study Of The University Of Northern Iowa, Elizabeth Ann Collins

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In 1959, chemist and author Charles Percy Snow gave a Rede Lecture at the University of Cambridge in which he named “Two Cultures”—the sciences and the humanities—which, according to his experience as someone who worked in both, were at odds with one another. His words elicited impassioned responses from critics who either agreed with Snow, believing this to be a detriment to society, or vehemently disagreed, believing Snow’s statements to be unfounded, and even antagonistic. This conversation, which had also found relevance in the United States, continues to be important today, and has changed over the years as institutions of …

Systematic Study Of The Biological Effects Of Nitric Oxide (No) Using Innovative No Measurement And Delivery Systems, Weilue He

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Nitric oxide (NO) is recognized as the most important small signaling molecule in the human body. An imbalance of NO is closely associated with many serious diseases such as neurological disorders, cardiovascular diseases, chronic inflammations and cancers. Herein two chemiluminescence-based devices (a real-time NO measurement device and a controllable NO delivery device) were developed to facilitate the NO quantitative study and obtain information for NO related drug design.

The first device used for real-time measuring NO(g) flux from living cells was developed and validated. The principle was to use a two-chamber design, with a cell culture chamber and a gaseous …

Hitchhiking Bats On The Great Lakes Of North America, Saska E.H. Lohi

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Bats can act as potential vectors for various zoonotic diseases and other pathogens. Therefore their interactions with people should be examined to mitigate potential risks. Bats are small flying mammals and hide in small crevices during daylight hours, making them difficult to observe. Consequently, they have a capacity to “hitchhike” on ships to be dispersed over large distances.

This study focused on anthropogenic unintentional bat translocations, i.e. hitchhiking bats. The study area is the Great Lakes region in North America. Using a web-based questionnaire survey, I asked the public about the frequency of bat-human encounters on ships, their nature, and …

Changes In Carbon Pools Influenced By Changes In Soil Texture, Slope, And Aspect A Decade Following Wildfire In Black Spruce Forests Of Interior Alaska, Gregory Houle

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Topography and parent material (PM) texture control site drainage owing to changes in water holding capacity, infiltration, and insolation. In turn, these factors also affect fire regime. However, the interactive effects of site physiography, edaphic controls, and wildfire severity on ecosystem carbon accrual after wildfire are poorly understood. Throughout the summer of 2004 an area the size of Massachusetts burned in interior Alaska, and several studies were initiated to investigate the controls on organic layer consumption. In this study we re-sampled organic layer depths, below ground carbon stocks, and site revegetation from 38 burned black spruce sites from the 2004 …

Gender Differences In Social Support During Injury Rehabilitation, Chelsey Ann Bruns

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Athletic injury can be a stress-inducing event that could have negative consequences on the psychological health of the athlete (Anderson & Williams, 1988; Gould, Udry, Bridges, & Beck, 1997). Injuries not only challenge the athlete physically, but also mentally challenge their ability to cope and overcome. A growing amount of research has indicated social support as a key factor in the rehabilitation process for an injured athlete (Yang, Peek, Lowe, Heiden, & Foster, 2010). Athletic injury causes an emotional disruption, and social support could influence the athlete’s reaction to the injury and his or her ability to cope with rehabilitation …

How Good Is Good Enough? Data Requirements For Reliable Crop Yield Simulations And Yield-Gap Analysis, Patricio Grassini, Lenny G.J. Van Bussel, Justin Van Wart, Joost Wolf, Lieven Claessens, Haishun Yang, Hendrik Boogaard, Hugo De Groot, Martin K. Van Ittersum, Kenneth Cassman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Numerous studies have been published during the past two decades that use simulation models to assess crop yield gaps (quantified as the difference between potential and actual farm yields), impact of climate change on future crop yields, and land-use change. However, there is a wide range in quality and spatial and temporal scale and resolution of climate and soil data underpinning these studies, as well as widely differing assumptions about cropping-system context and crop model calibration. Here we present an explicit rationale and methodology for selecting data sources for simulating crop yields and estimating yield gaps at specific locations that …

Selective Genotyping For Marker Assisted Selection Strategies For Soybean Yield Improvement, Benjamin D. Fallen, Fred L. Allen, Dean A. Kopsell, Arnold M. Saxton, Leah Mchale, J. Grover Shannon, Stella K. Kantartzi, Andrea J. Cardinal, P. B. Cregan, D. L. Hyten, Vincent R. Pantalone

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Using molecular markers in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] has lead to the identification of major loci controlling quantitative and qualitative traits that include: disease resistance, insect resistance and tolerance to abiotic stresses. Yield has been considered as one of the most important quantitative traits in soybean breeding. Unfortunately, yield is a very complex trait and most yield quantitative trait loci (QTL) that have been identified have had only limited success for marker assisted selection (MAS). The objective of this study was to identify QTL associated with soybean seed yield in preliminary yield trials grown in different environments and …

Using A Simple Leaf Color Chart To Estimate Leaf And Canopy Chlorophyll A Content In Maize (Zea Mays), Anthony Nguy-Robertson, Yi Peng, Timothy Arkebauer, David Scoby, James Schepers, Anatoly Gitelson

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

This study utilized a leaf color chart (LCC) to characterize the variation in leaf chlorophyll and estimate canopy chlorophyll in maize (Zea mays). The LCC consisted of four levels of greenness and was used to sort maize leaves in 2011 for three fields near Mead, Nebraska, USA. Leaf chlorophyll content for each color chart class was determined using two leaf-level sensors. The variation within each LCC class was reasonable (CV < 56%). The darkest color class predominated and indicated adequate fertilization rates using a SPAD. Canopy chlorophyll content was estimated using destructively measured leaf area index (LAI) and the LCC. This approach was verified with a method utilizing canopy reflectance collected by both satellite imagery and a four-band radiometer. The error between the two methods was reasonable (RMSE = 0.55-0.88 g m^-2; CV = 25.6-50.4%), indicating that both leaf and canopy chlorophyll can be estimated cheaply without a wet lab or field-based sensors.

Overexpression Of Sbmyb60 Impacts Phenylpropanoid Biosynthesis And Alters Secondary Cell Wall Composition In Sorghum Bicolor, Erin D. Scully, Tammy Gries, Gautam Sarath, Nathan A. Palmer, Lisa Baird, Michelle J. Serapiglia, Bruce S. Dien, Akwasi A. Boateng, Zhengxiang Ge, Deanna L. Funnell-Harris, Paul Twigg, Thomas E. Clemente, Scott E. Sattler

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway that generates lignin subunits represents a significant target for altering the abundance and composition of lignin. The global regulators of phenylpropanoid metabolism may include MYB transcription factors, whose expression levels have been correlated with changes in secondary cell wall composition and the levels of several other aromatic compounds, including anthocyanins and flavonoids. While transcription factors correlated with downregulation of the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway have been identified in several grass species, few transcription factors linked to activation of this pathway have been identified in C4 grasses, some of which are being developed as dedicated bioenergy feedstocks. In …