Animal Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of Common Herbicides On Organismal Interactions, Robert Chamberlin

All Theses

Pesticides are applied to agricultural lands to prevent undesirable weeds, animal pests, and fungi from harming crops and reducing crop yields. Pesticides are used in croplands at increasing rates around the world and have become an essential component of farming in recent decades. Often, rain, wind, and soil permeation move pesticides from farmlands to natural environments. Such contamination of natural environments by pesticides may threaten species by altering their behaviors, bodily functions, and the ways in which individuals interact. Atrazine and glyphosate are among the most widely used herbicides around the world and are useful in eliminating weeds, primarily in …

The Expression Of Intestinal Tight Junction Proteins Induced By 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3-Glycosides Supplementation To Reduce Bacterial Chondronecrosis With Osteomyelitis Lameness In Broilers, Kennedy M. Hicks

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Bacterial Chondronecrosis with Osteomyelitis (BCO) is a leading cause of lameness in broiler chickens, impacting animal welfare and commercial poultry production. Supplementation using organic trace minerals, vitamin D, probiotics, and prebiotics has been studied to mitigate BCO lameness incidences in broiler chickens. Our previous study demonstrated that feeding Panbonis®-G-1,25(OH)₂D₃ from Solanum glaucophyllum, containing 1 µg/kg G-1,25(OH)₂D₃, to broilers for the first 28 days of their production cycle reduced BCO lameness by approximately 50%. In this study, we investigated the impact of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D₃ supplementation on the expression of tight junction …

Ghosts In Glass: Ghost Crabs As Judges Of Glass Sand For Coastal Restoration, Emily Parrish

Honors Theses

Over 60% of the Gulf of Mexico coastline is actively eroding, which has resulted in thousands of miles of lost coastline over the last 100 years. This drastic loss of coastal land highlights the dire need for coastal restoration across the entirety of the Gulf Coast. A vital aspect of restoring these eroded areas is replenishing eroded substrate, traditionally conducted through offshore dredging of substrates which comes with high economic and ecological costs. Recycled glass sand may be able to fill this role and reduce our reliance on dredging while lowering the amount of glass waste entering landfills each year. …

Ghrelin And Decision-Making: Exploring Its Role In Food Reward, Novelty-Seeking, And Cost Valuation, Serina A. Batson

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

When low energy levels are detected, Ghrelin, a peptide hormone, is produced in the fundus of the stomach. Referred to as the "hunger hormone", Ghrelin is traditionally associated with increased food intake and blood sugar levels. A key modulator in the gut-brain interaction, Ghrelin's growth hormone secretagogue receptor can be found widely across the cortico-striosomal circuit. Critical for decision-making, Ghrelin-based manipulation of this circuit can directly affect reward and cost valuation. While Ghrelin is uniformly considered to increase the valuation of food-based rewards, little research has explored its impact on non-food-based rewards or its effects on cost valuation. Therefore, to …

A Comparative Study Of Urban And Natural Nesting Gray Hawks In The Lower Rio Grande Valley Of South Texas, Evan Farese

Theses and Dissertations

Urbanization can negatively impact birds of prey, which occupy higher trophic levels. The Gray Hawk (Buteo plagiatus) is a neotropical raptor inhabiting the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) of Texas, where it is threatened. The species’ ecology has been little studied and it is unclear how urbanization may affect population viability. I studied Gray Hawk reproductive success, diet, and thermal ecology at nests in urban and natural habitats in the LRGV. Camera trap data showed adults at urban nests delivered mostly avian prey, while mammalian prey was most frequently brought to natural nests. Data from temperature loggers showed …

Comparing Parasitism And Resistance To Flow In Two Populations Of Elimia Virginica, Morgan G. Hicok, Abbie Tomba, Kate Green

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

Snails are important in freshwater ecosystems as primary consumers and are good indicators of the stability of a habitat. Trematodes are parasitic flatworms that infect freshwater snails and can cause changes in metabolic function and growth. Flow rates and water levels are now more variable due to climate change, increasing stress and dislodgment in the snail population. This study investigates how parasites, shell morphology, and native flow environment influence resistance to disturbance. Elimia populations were sampled for differences in parasitism, shell morphology, and ability to withstand high flow environments in two different rivers. Sample sites at the Potomac River were …

Comparison Of Morphological Characteristics And Dna Sequences Of Platyhelminthes Within Dabbling And Diving Ducks Species, Elise A. Betcher, Karolyn M. Kolstad, Ashley L. Marks, Marguerite C. Reitano, Alexander J. Train

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Platyhelminthes, also known as flatworms, are among the most common parasites found in North American duck species. This phylum of parasites includes tapeworms and flukes. This study focused on identifying various Platyhelminthes found in Minnesota and Wisconsin wild ducks using both morphological characteristics and genetic sequencing. Both diving and dabbling species of ducks were used for this study, including green winged-teal (Anas carolinensis) and ring-necked ducks (Aythya collaris). Platyhelminthes were removed from legally harvested ducks and stained before examining and imaging under the microscope to identify key morphologic features for a presumptive identification. Subsequently, DNA was extracted …

Diversity And Habitat Use Of Bats In Modified Suburban Landscapes, Brittany Morgera

Biology Presentations

Bats occupy critical ecological niches and perform important ecosystem services like controlling insect populations. However, humans have altered bat habitat substantially, resulting in the reduction of bat populations. The goals of this research are to assess bat diversity and habitat use across different levels of suburban habitat modification. To accomplish this, we deployed passive acoustic recorders at twelve locations with varying human impact in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. In accordance with The North American Bat Monitoring Program’s standards, acoustic analysis software was used to identify bat species. Manual identification methods from The Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative were used to verify these …

Passive Integrated Transponders: An Effective Marking Technique For Individual Identification Of Anaxyrus Fowleri?, Emily Leprell

Honors College Theses

With the rise of fungal disease such as Chytridiomycosis, known as chytrid, causing massive population declines for many species of frogs and toads (order Anura), specific conservation strategies are needed now more than ever. In many cases, being able to mark and identify individuals is a necessary step in developing an effective conservation plan. Individual identification allows researchers to obtain accurate population estimates, which are needed to test the progress and validity of conservation management decisions. However, due to their unique life history, including cutaneous respiration and a dichotomous lifestyle, anurans are among the most difficult wildlife species to …

Yellow Stingray (Urobatis Jamaicensis) Jaw, Marissa Rosas, David Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

No abstract provided.

Seasonal And Sex-Based Variation In Coyote Responses To Social Olfactory Stimuli, Giuliana Carneiro

Student Research Symposium

Coyotes (Canis latrans) are socially complex, often forming strong pair bonds that can persist across multiple breeding seasons³. Scent marking, particularly urine marking, is a key form of communication used to establish territory, convey reproductive status, and maintain social hierarchies¹. This behavior is influenced by factors such as sex and season, and is central to understanding their social dynamics⁴. This preliminary study is part of a broader investigation into coyote behavior, specifically examining how these factors affect responses to olfactory stimuli from familiar and unfamiliar individuals².

In this study, coyote …

Latency To Approach Social Olfactory Stimuli In Female Coyotes: Pairmate Vs Sibling, Jenny Malm, Caroline Long

Student Research Symposium

• Scent marking is a common form of communication among mammals, including coyotes¹.

Qualitative Assessment Of Coyote Olfactory Behavior In Response To Urine Stimuli, Sophie Isom, Caroline Long

Student Research Symposium

• The coyote (Canis latrans) marks territorial boundaries with scent cues.¹

Effects Of C-Section Birth On Vasopressin 1a Receptors In The Prairie Vole Brain, Caleb Hart

Student Research Symposium

The goal of this study was to understand how the brain might change depending on the birth experience: a vaginal birth or a cesarean section. C-sections have been associated with an increased risk of obesity and other behavioral and metabolic health conditions that are related to the function of hypothalamic hormones in the brain¹. Vasopressin is one neuropeptide hormone that is produced in the hypothalamus and influences a variety of metabolic functions and behaviors, including water balance and social pair bonding². This study used prairie voles to assess the effect of birth experience on the brain …

Atlantic Sharpnose Shark (Rhizoprionodon Terraenovae) Jaw, Nicholas Burchett, David Kerstetter, Derek Burkholder

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

No abstract provided.

Atlantic Sharpnose Shark (Rhizoprionodon Terraenovae) Neurocranium, Michelle Bassali, David Kerstetter, Ema Nagel

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

No abstract provided.

Atlantic Sharpnose Shark (Rhizoprionodon Terraenovae) Jaw, Michelle Bassali, David Kerstetter, Ema Nagel

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

No abstract provided.

Fisheries Management Paper No.286: Western Australian Octopus Resource Harvest Strategy, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Management Papers

Harvest strategies for Western Australia’s (WA) aquatic resources are formal documents developed to support decision-making processes that ensure the outcomes are consistent with the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD; Fletcher 2002a) and Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM; Fletcher et al. 2012). Harvest strategies are a key component of all contemporary fishery management systems and a requirement for certification under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). The objectives of ESD are reflected in the objectives of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (FRMA).

This Octopus Resource Harvest Strategy (Harvest Strategy) has been developed and revised in line with the Harvest Strategy …

Life Line Spring 2025, Otterbein Biology And Earth Science Department

Life Line - The Biology Department Newsletter

In this issue:

Greetings and Farewell!; COSI 2024; Ketchup, Culture, and an Unforgettable Conference; Alumna Earns PhD; Tortoises, Butterflies, and Cockroaches, Oh My!; Licking River Roundup 2024; Aquarium Students Explore Coral Restoration in Fiji; The Galapagos Islands: Geology, Ecology, Conservation, and Culture; Dr. Svitana Presents on Otterbein Lake Well Field; Cell Bio Pilots Unique Approach to Learning; Hoggarth to Retire, June 2025; AED is BACK on Campus!; The Greenhouse Gets a Lifeline; Acoustic Rabies Identification (ARID): A Sound-Based Approach to Rabies Testing

The Design, Construction, And Testing Of Mrna Vaccine Against Equine Herpes Virus, Bhawana Devkota

LSU Master's Theses

Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV 1) is a worldwide significant pathogen that causes respiratory illness, abortion, and neurological disorders in equine. Current vaccines, including live attenuated, inactivated, and subunit platforms, do not prevent viral latency, mucosal shedding, or cross-strain immunity, requiring alternative approaches. To address these gaps, this project explores the design, synthesis, and in vitro testing of an mRNA vaccine targeting immunogenic EHV 1 glycoprotein (gB, gC, gD, gG, and gM). Epitopes were computationally predicted using the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB), codon-optimized for Bos taurus, and cloned into pUCIDT vectors using SP6/T7 promoters. In vitro transcription (IVT) used nucleotide modifications …

Atlantic Sharpnose (Rhizoprionodon Terraenovae) Jaw, Rileigh Gonzalez, David Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

No abstract provided.

First Record Of Nesting Ecology And Tumor-Forming Disease In Endangered Green Turtles (Chelonia Mydas) On Taiping Island, Taiwan, Tsung-Hsien Li, Po-Yu Wu, Ming-An Tsai

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Taiping Island is an important sea turtle nesting site in Taiwan. However, information on the nesting ecology on Taiping Island is still limited. The present study was conducted between 26 April and 3 June 2023 with the objective of collecting primary data on the sea turtle species that nest on the island. A total of 20 individual nesting green turtles were identified. No other sea turtle species were recorded nesting during this period. Five percent of nesting sea turtles had external tumors. The mean curved carapace length of all nesting female turtles was 98.2 cm. A total of 28 clutches …

(Winter Skate (Leucoraja Ocellata)) Jaw, Michael A. Birnbaum, David Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

No abstract provided.

An Approach To Estimate Angling Effort, Catch, And Harvest Of Burbot Lota Lota, Collin J. Mitchell

Biology Graduate Theses

Once commonly thought of as a nuisance, Burbot Lota lota are now being frequently targeted by anglers in Minnesota. However, the amount of angling effort directed at Burbot, the distribution of effort, catch, and harvest are unknown. Historically, creel surveys have been used to estimate angling effort, catch, and harvest. Additionally, digital cameras have been used independently and supplementally to estimate angling effort, catch, and harvest. In this study, we estimate angling effort, catch, and harvest of Burbot using creel survey techniques and motion-activated digital cameras on Bad Medicine Lake, Minnesota, while also investigating and exploring the limitations of these …

Marine Protected Species Identification Guide 2025, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Occasional Publications

The Western Australian aquatic environment is home to a number of species that are protected under international agreements and national or state legislation. Many of these species occur in areas where fishing takes place, sometimes resulting in interactions between fishers and protected species. An interaction is considered to be any physical contact between a person, fishing vessel or fishing gear and a protected species, including captures, entanglements and collisions.

This guide has been developed to help you identify some common marine protected species in Western Australia that you may encounter while fishing.

It has been divided into 5 sections:

• …

Halogeton And Greasewood Poisoning In Cattle And Sheep In Utah, E. Jane Kelly, Stephen T. Lee, Ammon Brown, Daniel Cook

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

Halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus) is a fast-growing annual plant while greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) is a perennial shrub of the Western States. Oxalates are the toxic principle in halogeton and greasewood. Most losses occur when hungry animals are allowed to graze in heavy stands of halogeton and greasewood. Halogeton and greasewood are always dangerous and become more toxic as the growing season progresses. Here we report on two clinical cases of halogeton and greasewood poisoning in cattle and sheep. Histologically, oxalate crystals were observed in the kidneys of the cow and sheep consistent with oxalate poisoning. Oxalate was …

Investigating The Impact Of Roundup® Exposure On Hearing In Channel Catfish (Ictalurus Punctatus), Joshua W. Adams, Daniel E. Holt

CSU Tower Day

Tower Day 2025 Undergraduate Poster 3rd place Winner

Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) such as Roundup® are used extensively worldwide, yet their potential to disrupt fish sensory physiology has remained relatively unexplored. Previous studies have established that glyphosate exposure can induce various neurotoxic effects in fish and other vertebrates—ranging from oxidative stress to altered neurotransmitter systems and anxiogenic-like responses. Despite these documented impacts, no published research has directly assessed whether glyphosate compromises auditory function in fish.

Here, we address this knowledge gap by examining the hearing sensitivity of farm- raised Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) following a 96-hour exposure to Roundup® (3 mg/L …

Ms Environmental Biology Capstone Project, Emily A. Patton

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

This is a masters Thesis for MS in Environmental Biology containing four chapters including a literature review, grant proposal, journal manuscript, and stakeholders report on a current environmental issue. (1) Noise Pollution and Avian Communication in Urban Ecosystems: When the Natural World Struggles to Hear Itself. Urban noise masks essential bird vocalizations, which harms avian fitness. Most species are displaced, and those few urban birds which counteract this noise with song adaptations likely experience trade-offs. America's noise policy remains undeveloped, threatening the health of both humans and avian wildlife (2) Application of Noise Barrier Technology for the Restoration of Urban …

Ms Environmental Biology Capstone: Evaluating Environmental Risks And Conflicts In Golf Course Landscapes, Meredith Boos

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

1) This review investigates the relationship between pesticide use on golf courses and in agriculture to determine whether the adverse health effects documented in agricultural settings also apply to golf course environments. While the negative health effects from agricultural pesticide use are well established, golf courses use pesticides with greater frequency and intensity, suggesting a potentially higher exposure risk for both workers and players.

2) This study proposes methods to quantify pesticide bioaccumulation on golf courses and adjacent lands. We hypothesize that areas surrounding golf courses will exhibit a spatial gradient of pesticide accumulation, increasing with proximity to treated sites …

Evaluating The Condition Of Age-0 Burbot In Relation To Diet, Cian Verbridge

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Burbot are becoming more and more popular for angling and aquaculture. However, populations have been declining across the world. Very little information is available about their early life and their interactions in the ecosystem due to challenges in sampling. Condition estimates and diet metrics were used to better understand the status of burbot in Lake Bemidji. Using backpack electrofishing, 45 young of the year burbot were collected. The lengths ranged from 86 to 146 mm and the wet weights ranged from 4.29 to 24.36 g. The stomach contents were removed and stored in ethanol for later analysis. The burbot were …