Life Sciences Commons^™

Lewis’S Woodpecker Nest Success And Habitat Selection In Cottonwood Floodplain Versus Burned Conifer Forests, William M. Blake

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Breeding habitat selection influences reproductive outcomes. Habitat selection may be adaptive and benefit populations, but it can also be maladaptive with negative consequences for populations. Understanding habitat selection and its influence on reproductive success, especially in species of concern, is critical for effective management. Lewis’s Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) is a Species of Concern that has experienced national population declines. We studied its abundance and reproductive success in two commonly selected breeding forest types (i.e., cottonwood floodplain and mixed-conifer burned), and nest-site characteristics (nest availability, food availability, and vegetation attributes) that have the potential to yield strong differences in …

Zoning And Complementary Incentives To Protect Farmland: A Case For Missoula County, Kaitlin Mccafferty

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Urban sprawl reflects an inefficient use of land that diminishes both rural landscapes and quality of life turning farms, ranches and open space into siloed suburban communities. This results in less walkable cities with more traffic and air pollution, among other negative consequences. Farmland constitutes a particularly important resource that often faces degradation or loss due to sprawl. Higher quality agricultural soils are particularly desirable for development because they are flat and well-drained. Farmland is also important for urban communities concerning food security, environmental health, and economic well being. As American cities continue to grow, farmland around urban areas has …

Conflicting Hydraulic Effects Of Xylem Pit Structure Relate To The Growth-Longevity Tradeoff In A Conifer Species, Beth Roskilly

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Consistent with a ubiquitous life history tradeoff, trees exhibit a negative relationship between growth and longevity among and within species. However, the mechanistic basis of this life history tradeoff is not well understood. In addition to tradeoffs among multiple traits based on resource allocation conflicts, life history tradeoffs may arise from tradeoffs based on single traits under opposing selection. While a myriad of factors likely contribute to the growth-longevity tradeoff in trees, we hypothesized that conflicting functional effects of xylem structural traits contribute to the growth-longevity tradeoff. We tested this hypothesis by examining the extent to which xylem morphological traits …

Framing Contemporary U.S. Wild Horse And Burro Management Processes In A Dynamic Ecological, Sociological, And Political Environment, J. Derek Scasta, Jacob D. Hennig, Jeffrey L. Beck

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act (WFRHBA) of 1971 established all “unbranded or unclaimed” equids on U.S. public lands as “living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West.” Today, >72,000 feral horses (Equus ferus caballus) and burros (E . asinus ; WHB) live on western U.S. public rangelands. The number of WHBs exceeds the Bureau of Land Management’s maximum Appropriate Management Level (AML) of 26,715 by a factor of approximately 2.7 and has nearly doubled from 2007–2015. The AML was set to balance WHB numbers with rangeland health and support other uses such as wildlife habitat …

Spatial Ecology Observations From Feral Horses Equipped With Global Positioning System Transmitters, Jacob D. Hennig, Jeffrey L. Beck, J. Derek Scasta

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Our understanding of the spatial ecology of feral horses (Equus ferus caballus ) and burros (E . asinus ) in the United States is limited. Robust location data are needed to better understand the permeability of Bureau of Land Management Herd Management Area boundaries, relative to feral horse movement patterns and home ranges. To increase our understanding of feral horse movement, in February to March 2017, we deployed global positioning system (GPS) collars on 14 females ≥5 years old that were captured in the Adobe Town Herd Management Area (ATHMA) of southcentral Wyoming, USA. Herein, we report initial results from …

Resource Selection Of Free-Ranging Horses Influenced By Fire In Northern Canada, Sonja E. R. Leverkus, Samuel D. Fuhlendorf, Marten Geertsema, Brady W. Allred, Mark Gregory, Alexandre R. Bevington, David M. Engle, J. Derek Scasta

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Free-ranging or feral horses (Equus ferus caballus) were important to the livelihood of First Nations and indigenous communities in Canada. The early inhabitants of the boreal region of British Columbia (BC) capitalized on naturally occurring wildfires and anthropogenic burning to provide forage for free-ranging horses and manage habitat for wildlife. This form of pyric herbivory, or grazing driven by fi re via the attraction to the palatable vegetation in recently burned areas, is an evolutionary disturbance process that occurs globally. However, its application to manage forage availability for free-ranging horses has not been studied in northern Canada. Across Canada, there …

Twenty Years Of Spayvac® Research: Potential Implications For Regulating Feral Horse And Burro Populations In The United States, Ursula S. Bechert, Mark A. Fraker

Human–Wildlife Interactions

There are currently >75,000 feral horses (Equus ferus caballus) and burros (E. asinus ) on U.S. public lands, yet the Appropriate Management Level (AML) is set at just under 27,000. Wildlife managers, conservation biologists, and livestock ranchers are concerned about the impacts that these free-ranging horses have on shared rangelands. Immunocontraceptive vaccines may have the greatest potential to regulate horse population numbers once AML is reached; however, the vaccine must have multi-year efficacy to be both technically feasible and cost-effective. Immunocontraception based on porcine zona pellucida (PZP)-specific antigens is highly tissue-specific, targeting the ova, and blocking sperm binding through antibody …

Wild Horse Country: The History, Myth, And Future Of The Mustang, Seth J. Dettenmaier

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

Livestock Depredation By Bengal Tigers At Fringe Areas Of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, Assam, India: Implications For Large Carnivore Conservation, Jimmy Borah, Pranab Jyoti Bora, Amit Sharma, Soumen Dey, Anupam Sarmah, Niranjan Kumar Vasu, Nadisha Sidhu

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Bengal tigers (Panthera tigris) have cohabited with humans in India for centuries. However, with increasing human populations, human-tiger conflicts (HTC) have increased. Impacts of such conflicts are loss of human life, livestock depredations and retaliatory killings of tigers. Considering that Bengal tiger populations are in decline throughout their range, accurate information regarding the magnitude of the impacts of HTC is needed for tiger conservation. We analysed livestock depredation data collected over three years (April 2008 through March 2011) from villages near the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve (KTR) to determine impacts of HTC. During the study period, we documented 518 …

Strike Hazard Posed By Columbids To Military Aircraft, Melanie R. Colón, Ashley M. Long

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Wildlife-aircraft strikes threaten both human and animal safety and result in hundreds of millions of dollars per year in aircraft damage and lost flight hours. Large-bodied birds are especially hazardous to aircraft. However, given high-speed flight at low altitudes, military aircraft may be especially vulnerable to strikes and more susceptible to damage even when encountering small birds. We summarized all wildlife-aircraft strike records from Randolph Air Force Base (San Antonio, Texas) over a 25-year period and compared the number and cost of strikes across avian species and species groups. Because columbids (i.e., pigeons and doves) are among the most frequently …

Canid Vs. Canid: Insights Into Coyote-Dog Encounters From Social Media, Erin E. Boydston, Eric S. Abelson, Ari Kazanjian, Daniel T. Blumstein

Human–Wildlife Interactions

While the relationship between coyotes (Canis latrans) and house cats (Felis catus) may be characterized as one between predators and their prey, coyote interactions with domestic dogs (C. lupus familiaris) appear to be more varied and may include behaviors associated with canid sociality. While encounters between coyotes and dogs are difficult to observe, we capitalized on publically available video recordings of coyote-dog encounters to observe canid behaviors and examined 35 video clips downloaded from YouTube during fall 2014. We identified coyote-dog interactions that were playful, agonistic, or predatory; those that we could not clearly …

The Three Creeks Allotment Consolidation: Changing Western Federal Grazing Paradigms, Taylor Payne

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The federal government owns approximately 47% of all land in the western United States. In the state of Utah, about 64% of the land base is managed by the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). The government has historically issued permits to owners of private lands to allow the owners to graze their livestock on public lands. The permits (allotments) are generally of 10-year duration and allow for an annual season of use. In some cases, continued and repeated historical annual grazing practices may not be ideal for permit holders and their communities nor …

Wildlife As Pets: Reshaping Public Perceptions Through Targeted Communication, Rosanna M. Vail

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

Engaging People In Nature Stewardship Through Master Naturalist Programs, Mark Larese-Casanova, Michelle Prysby

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Master Naturalist programs across the country have reconnected Americans with nature for >20 years. Research suggests that reconnecting humans with nature benefits personal health and wellness, educates stakeholders about the importance of conservation, and enhances individual participation in stewardship efforts. Nationally, the Alliance of Natural Resource Outreach and Service Programs coordinates and supports Master Naturalist programs through facilitating collaboration and sharing of resources, as well as organizing an annual conference. We explore the Virginia Master Naturalist and Utah Master Naturalist programs as 2 examples of different, but highly effective, statewide programs to highlight the diversity of Master Naturalist programs. The …

Post-Release Activity And Habitat Selection Of Rehabilitated Black Bears, Patrick J. Myers, Julie K. Young

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Despite the long history of wildlife rehabilitation and the abundance of empirical knowledge of the behavior and resource selection of wildlife species, rarely does research bridge these disciplines. Such investigations could be of value to wildlife managers and rehabilitators by revealing the suitability of the habitat at selected release sites, the wild activities, behavior, and fitness of the captive-reared individuals, and ultimately the efficacy of the rehabilitation process. Rehabilitated carnivores warrant specific attention, given that they are wide-ranging and may behave in ways that threaten human safety or interests. We investigated the behavior of orphan, rehabilitated black bear cubs ( …

Conservation Of Threatened Canada-Usa Trans-Border Grizzly Bears Linked To Comprehensive Conflict Reduction, Michael F. Proctor, Wayne F. Kasworm, Kimberly M. Annis, A. Grant Machutchon, Justin E. Teisberg, Thomas G. Radandt, Chris Servheen

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Mortality resulting from human–wildlife conflicts affects wildlife populations globally. Since 2004, we have been researching conservation issues and implementing a comprehensive program to reduce human–bear conflicts (Ursus spp.; HBC) for 3 small, fragmented, and threatened grizzly bear (U. arctos) populations in the trans-border region of southwest Canada and northwest USA. We explored the temporal and spatial patterns of conflict mortality and found that HBC contributed significantly to the threatened status of these populations by causing decline, fragmentation, and decreased habitat effectiveness. Our program to reduce HBCs primarily included strategic private lands purchased to reduce human density in …

Lead Concentrations In White-Tailed Deer Tissue Due To Retained Bullets, Meghan C. Zimmer, Tod L. Osier

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Mobilization of lead from retained bullets may lead to elevated lead levels in game tissue with consequences for consumers. We investigated lead mobilization in 2 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) carrying retained lead ammunition from previous gunshot wounds. Lead concentrations in muscle tissue of deer with retained lead bullets were in the same range as control deer. In contrast, 1 deer had higher bone lead levels than controls, suggesting mobilization occurred. Our results suggest that lead mobilization to meat from retained lead bullets does not appear to pose a consumption risk for those consuming meat that is physically distant from lead …

Managing Wildlife Means Managing Information, Carl W. Lackey

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

Deep Sequencing Reveals Two Jurkat Subpopulations With Distinct Mirna Profiles During Camptothecin-Induced Apoptosis, İpek Erdoğan, Mehmet İlyas Coşacak, Ayten Nalbant Aldanmaz, Bünyami̇n Akgül

Turkish Journal of Biology

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs of about 19-25 nt that regulate gene expression posttranscriptionally under various cellular conditions, including apoptosis. The miRNAs involved in modulation of apoptotic events in T cells are partially known. However, heterogeneity associated with cell lines makes it difficult to interpret gene expression signatures, especially in cancer-related cell lines. Treatment of the Jurkat T-cell leukemia cell line with the universal apoptotic drug, camptothecin, resulted in identification of two Jurkat subpopulations: one that is sensitive to camptothecin and another that is rather intrinsically resistant. We sorted apoptotic Jurkat cells from nonapoptotic ones prior to profiling miRNAs …

Assessing Methanogenic Archaeal Community In Full Scale Anaerobic Sludge Digester Systems In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Munawwar A. Khan, Poojabahen G. Patel, Arpitha G. Ganesh, Naushad Rais, Sultan M. Faheem, Shams T. Khan

All Works

© 2018 Khan et al. Introduction: Anaerobic digestion for methane production comprises of an exceptionally diverse microbial consortium, a profound understanding about which is still constrained. In this study, the methanogenic archaeal communities in three full-scale anaerobic digesters of a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant were analyzed by Fluorescence in situ hybridization and quantitative real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) technique. Methods & Materials: Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed to detect and quantify the methanogenic Archaea in the sludge samples whereas qPCR was carried out to support the FISH analysis. Multiple probes targeting domain archaea, different orders and families of …

The Dynamic Nature Of Forage Preference And Microhistological Atlas, John J. Henderson

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Moose, Alces alces, are among the most iconic species in the northern circumpolar temperate forests. Multiple factors influence moose density. Winter is a time of severe dietary stress for moose because deciduous trees are leafless and available forage is limited to conifers with high plant secondary metabolites or low-energy deciduous twigs. Forage preference depends on the intrinsic forage properties, abundance of forage and environmental stressors. These stressors include predation risk and severity of climate that affect forage efficiency. We examined forage preference of moose on Isle Royale National Park during winter over a ten-year period. Diet was divided into …

Quantitative Genetics Of Populus, Roba Bdeir

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Evidence for bark, stem and stomatal density adaptation to different climates in the model species Populus is seen in both the natural population as well as in the greenhouse, but the genetic basis of these adaptation remains poorly understood. The present thesis investigates bark texture, bark thickness, diameter and stomatal density variations among Populus population using two quantitative genetics methods to attempt understand the genetic system controlling inheritance of these traits and to associate them with respective genes. The first approach aimed at detecting quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with all phenotypic traits in an interspecific hybrid pedigree (Populus …

A Journey Towards Understanding Biology Holistically At The Nanoscale, Trevor Moser

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Characterizing biological processes with microscopy techniques that allow one to directly visualize the complexity of life is an important component of understanding both physiological function and structure. The wide spectrum of biological structures from individual proteins to whole ecosystems necessitates that multiple techniques are used to characterize all levels of organization. While existing techniques cover portions of this spectrum, continued improvement of established methods and development of new techniques is needed. This dissertation outlines my journey in enabling new approaches for imaging biosystems at various scales. Chapters 1 and 2 provide motivation for bioimaging and background for the use of …

The Abiotic Stress Response Of Hydroponic Vetiver Grass (Chrysopogon Zizanioides L.) To Acid Mine Drainage And Its Potential For Environmental Remediation, Jef Kiiskila

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Mining activities can generate acid mine drainage (AMD), an acidic discharge that contains elevated sulfate (SO₄^2-), soluble metals, and orange-yellow metal-containing particulates. AMD imposes ecological risks from metal toxicity and physical stress, which may physically spread to nearby water sources or biologically through bioaccumulation. Current methods for AMD treatment, such as chemical or passive biological treatments, are often non-sustainable. Chemical treatments can be expensive and create large amounts of secondary waste, whereas biological treatments like anaerobic wetlands require continuous maintenance through input of organic nutrients. The end goal of this research is to develop a cost-efficient and …

Ecological Implications Of Foraging And Life-History In Three Cold-Adapted Species, Andrew Von Duyke

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This research investigates the ecology of: ringed seals (Pusa hispida), moose (Alces alces), and bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus). Each of these species draws upon specialized strategies to meet the physical demands of life in their extreme environments. However, they are currently experiencing unprecedented changes in their habitats. This work adds to what is known about the behavior, physiology, and population dynamics of cold-adapted species—providing insights of value for an improved understanding of foraging and life-history theory, and informing conservation and ecosystem monitoring efforts. Chapter 1 provides a brief introduction to the scope of work …

Estimation Of Dbh Using Tree Variables Derived From Aerial Lidar For Ford Forest, Baraga, Michigan, Tugay Demiraslan

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This study implemented LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) remote sensing technology and applied ITD (Individual Tree Detection) methods as an approach to estimate some essential tree variables, such as DBH (Diameter at Breast Height), height, volume, and biomass for Ford Forest Research Center in Upper Peninsula, Michigan. There were 34 deciduous (1 bigtooth aspen, 9 red oaks, 20 sugar maples, 2 white birches, and 2 yellow birches) and 17 coniferous (2 eastern hemlocks, 11 red pines, and 4 white pines) subject tree species. There were two different available LiDAR datasets from the same area that were collected in 2011 and …

Algorithms For Reconstruction Of Gene Regulatory Networks From High -Throughput Gene Expression Data, Wenping Deng

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Understanding gene interactions in complex living systems is one of the central tasks in system biology. With the availability of microarray and RNA-Seq technologies, a multitude of gene expression datasets has been generated towards novel biological knowledge discovery through statistical analysis and reconstruction of gene regulatory networks (GRN). Reconstruction of GRNs can reveal the interrelationships among genes and identify the hierarchies of genes and hubs in networks. The new algorithms I developed in this dissertation are specifically focused on the reconstruction of GRNs with increased accuracy from microarray and RNA-Seq high-throughput gene expression data sets.

The first algorithm (Chapter 2) …

Identification Of Genes And Metabolites Involved In Durian Durio Zibethinus Fruit Ripening, Pinnapat Pinsorn

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Durian (Durio zibethinus M.), a major economic fruit, actively produces infamous sulfur-containing compounds during ripening. However, sulfur metabolism which is important in this fruit is rarely investigated. In this study, the integration of metabolomics using CE-TOF/MS and transcriptomics using de novo RNA-seq assembly was performed to reveal metabolic changes involved in sulfur metabolism and chemical composition related to fruit quality. During ripening, the expression level of genes involved in sulfur metabolism is concurred with the reduced sulfate ion content in placenta and the up-accumulation of sulfur metabolism-related metabolites in pulps. It is noteworthy that durian pulps highly accumulate γ-glutamylcysteine (γ-EC) …

Characterization Of Recombinant Glycogen Debranching Enzyme From Corynebacterium Glutamicum And Application For Resistant Starch Production, Chay Sirirattanachatchawan

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Glycogen debranching enzyme (EC 2.4.1.25/EC 3.2.1.33) catalyzes a hydrolysis of α-1,6 glycosidic bond and a transfer α-1,4 glucan from donor molecules to acceptor molecules. The objectives of this research are to characterize a glycogen debranching enzyme from Corynebacterium glutamicum (CgGDE) and optimize resistant starch (RS) type 3 production using recombinant CgGDE. Recombinant CgGDE was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) and successfully purified by DEAE FFTM column. The calculated molecular weight of CgGDE was approximately 95 kDa and the protein existed as a trimer as analyzed by size exclusion chromatography. CgGDE showed the highest activity on amylopectin followed by glycogen, …

ฤดูสืบพันธุ์และนิเวศวิทยาการกินอาหารของปลาคางคก Allenbatrachus Grunniens (Linnaeus, 1758) บริเวณปากแม่น้ำปราณบุรี จังหวัดประจวบคีรีขันธ์, ทัพประดิษฐ์ มิตรเปรียญ

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

ปลาคางคกชนิด Allenbatrachus grunniens (Linnaeus, 1758) เป็นปลาน้ำกร่อยชนิดสำคัญและมีความสำคัญต่อระบบนิเวศ ปากแม่น้ำปราณบุรี จังหวัดประจวบคีรีขันธ์ ในอดีตยังไม่มีรายงานทางด้านวิชาการถึงบทบาทและการใช้ประโยชน์ของปลาชนิดนี้ จากบริเวณปากแม่น้ำ การศึกษาครั้งนี้ จึงทำการศึกษาฤดูสืบพันธุ์และนิเวศวิทยาการกินอาหารของปลาคางคกชนิด A. grunniens บริเวณปากแม่น้ำปราณบุรี โดยทำการเก็บตัวอย่างปลาชนิดนี้ (จำนวน 111 ตัว) จาก 5 สถานี (St1-St5) ระหว่างเดือนพฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2559 ถึง เดือนตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2560 ผลการศึกษาพบว่าการกระจายตัวของปลา A. grunniens สามารถพบได้แค่ 2 สถานี (St4 และ St5) เท่านั น ขณะที่ปลา A. grunniens ความยาวเหยียดเฉลี่ย 17.46±3.53 เซนติเมตร ข้อมูลทางด้านสัณฐานวิทยาและมิญชวิทยาแสดงให้เห็นว่าโครงสร้างของรังไข่จัดเป็นแบบไข่สุก ไม่พร้อมกัน (asynchronous development ovary) เนื่องจากประกอบด้วยเซลล์ไข่หลากหลายระยะ ที่สามารถแบ่งออกเป็น 4 ระยะ คือ โอ โอโกเนีย ระยะการเจริญของการพัฒนาเซลล์ไข่ขั้นปฐมภูมิ ระยะการเจริญของการพัฒนาเซลล์ไข่ขั้นทุติยภูมิ และระยะปล่อยเซลล์ไข่ ในขณะที่โครงสร้างอัณฑะในปลาเพศผู้จัดเป็น unrestricted spermatogonial testis ที่สามารถพบการกระจายของระยะสเปอร์มาโทโกเนียมตลอด ความยาวของท่อสร้างอสุจิ ทั้งนี้ ระยะสเปอร์มาโทไซต์ระยะแรก ระยะสเปอร์มาโทไซต์ระยะที่สอง ระยะสเปอร์มาทิดและระยะสเปอร์มาโทซัวก็ ยังสามารถพบได้ภายในท่อสร้างอสุจิ (สำหรับสัดส่วนเพศของปลา A. grunniens เป็น 1:1) จากค่าดัชนีความสมบูรณ์เพศ (GSI), ค่าดัชนีความ สมบูรณ์ของตับ (HSI) และการเปลี่ยนแปลงร้อยละของการเจริญของอวัยวะสร้างเซลล์สืบพันธุ์ พบว่าค่าดัชนีความสมบูรณ์เพศสอดคล้องกับการ เจริญของอวัยวะสืบพันธุ์ของปลาคางคกทั้งสองเพศ พบช่วงสืบพันธุ์สองช่วง [ช่วงแรกคือ ช่วงเดือนมกราคม พ.ศ.2560 ถึงเดือนกุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ.2560 และช่วงที่สอง คือ ช่วงเดือนกรกฏาคม พ.ศ.2560 ถึงเดือนตุลาคม พ.ศ.2560] A. grunniens …