Environmental Biology Masters Capstone, Antonio Gonzalez-Pita

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Human wildlife interactions (HWI) pose a complex challenge for wildlife managers. Human encroachment into wildlife habitat and the growing number of outdoor recreationists are increasing the frequency of contact and conflict, especially in regions such as the Front Range of Colorado. Geographic information systems (GIS), which use a combination of remote sensing and environmental survey data, allow for predictive spatial analyses of where human wildlife interactions are likely to occur. I used publicly reported observations of moose to create spatial predictive maps in a species distribution model framework. Slope and elevation were shown to be the strongest predictors of HWI, …

The Effects Of Habitat Characteristics And Location On Brook Trout Size Distribution, Bryce Groves

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Adfluvial Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis are known to typically grow larger than riverine Brook Trout. The Kabekona River in Hubbard County, Minnesota exhibits suitable habitat for both fluvial and adfluvial Brook Trout populations. The objective of this study was to analyze the relationships between depth, stream width, canopy cover, water temperature, sediment size, and distance from Kabekona Lake on Brook Trout size distribution in the Kabekona River. Brook Trout (n=35) were angled from the Kabekona River from August 24 to September 26, 2023. Each fish was measured and released, with habitat metrics being recorded at time of release. ArcGIS was …

Osteohistological Assessment Of Edmontosaurus Radii From The Liscomb Bonebed, Prince Creek Formation, North Slope, Alaska, Emma Griffin

Student Research Poster Presentations 2024

Hadrosaurs were one of the most diverse dinosaur groups in the Late Cretaceous period and are known for their numerous articulated skeletons and monodominant bonebeds (Wosik et al., 2020). They are more commonly known as duck-billed dinosaurs and are found globally including latitudinal extremes such as the artic and Antarctica. Edmontosaurus, a genus of hadrosaur, are herbivores and are very large growing up to 8,000 pounds. Edmontosaurus were known to travel in herds as a defense mechanism and were one of the last non-avian dinosaurs living during the late Campanian stage through the end of the Maastrichtian stage, right up …

Effect Of Walleye Fry Stocking On Future Gillnet Cpue, Alexander Barker

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Walleye Sanders vitreus for many states, is a key attractant of anglers from around North America. Due to immense popularity, management efforts have been conducted to maintain Walleye populations, especially in the form of stocking. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of Walleye fry stocking on gillnet catch per unit effort (CPUE). A total of 90 lakes were analyzed for this study within three defined regions of Minnesota, 30 from each region. The regions chosen for this study are the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources northern pike Esox lucius regulation regions which consist of the Southern, …

Feeding Systems And Fresh Lamb Color Stability, Koushik Mondal

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Consumers consider the surface color of fresh lamb as the indicator of freshness and wholesomeness, which affects their purchase decisions. The redox chemistry of myoglobin (Mb) determines the color of fresh lamb. Artificial raising on milk replacer (a pre-weaning strategy) as well as red clover supplementation are management strategies used in lamb production. This thesis focuses on the effects of artificial raising on milk replacer and red clover supplementation on the color and oxidative stability of fresh lamb.

In the first experiment, the effect of pre-weaning with milk replacer on the carcass attributes, color stability and lipid oxidation of lamb …

The Morphological Evolution Of The Inner Ear In Lacertoidea (Squamata), Cristian Hernandez

Biology Dissertations - Archive

The popularization of high-resolution computed tomography(HRCT) has produced a revolution in the field of comparative anatomy. This technology allows us to reach a level of morphological detail in our observations that has never been possible previously. Now we can perform digital dissections isolating structures of interest such as individual bones, soft tissue organs, and even generate 3D models of body cavities (endocasts) such as the braincase and inner ear. Encompassed with the progress of the HRCT, 3D geometric morphometrics have emerged as a common tool to address morphological questions in a statistical context that outperforms the traditional 2D geometric morphometrics. …

Estimation Of Probability Of Habitat Use Of Roosevelt Elk On The Olympic Peninsula, Vincent Michael Gugliotti

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

Estimating the probability of habitat use for a particular species is crucial to the direct management and conservation of that species. Without knowledge of habitat preferences, managers cannot effectively focus efforts on vital resources or landscape types. However, modelling probability of habitat use can be done in several ways which leaves room for variation and uncertainty in the estimates produced by each method. This study is an examination of the variation between two estimates of probability of habitat use while focusing on a particular subspecies of elk that inhabits a unique ecosystem relative to other elk subspecies. I modeled elk …

Fillet Weight Comparison For Bluegill, Black Crappie, And Yellow Perch, Mikenna A. Pattrin

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Panfish, including bluegill Lepomis macrochirus, black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus, and yellow perch Perca flavescens are three sought-after species. Anglers often perceive a change in regulations as an attempt at limiting the amount of harvest. However, the goal of many regulation proposals is to increase the size structure of panfish, allowing anglers to achieve their ideal harvest with less fish. The primary objective of this study was to assess the relationship between panfish fillet weight and total length to estimate how many fillets would be needed to reach a harvest weight of 0.5 lbs. The secondary objective was to …

Specific Measurements Of A Yellow Perch Head Compared To The Total Length, Alex Timm

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Yellow Perch Perca flavescens is a popular fish for harvesting in Minnesota. Because of this the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources survey populations with gill nets, however, some water bodies have Rusty Crayfish Faxonius rusticus that commonly consume most of the body leaving only the head to be accurately measured. The goal of this research was to see if there is a relationship between specific measurements of the head and the total length of the fish. The number of Yellow Perch sampled in this study was 72 and all came from Lake Bemidji in Minnesota during the month of October …

Trends In Monitoring Of Australia’S Threatened Birds (1990–2020): Much Improved But Still Inadequate, Simon J. Verdon, Robert A. Davis, Ayesha Tulloch, Sarah M. Legge, David M. Watson, John C. Z. Woinarski, G. Barry Baker, Joris Driessen, Hayley M. Geyle, Hugh Possingham, Stephen T. Garnett

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Monitoring is vital to conservation, enabling conservation scientists to detect population declines, identify threats and measure the effectiveness of interventions. However, not all threatened taxa are monitored, monitoring quality is variable, and the various components of monitoring are likely to differ in their rates of improvement over time. We assessed the presence of monitoring and monitoring quality, using a range of metrics, for all Australia’s threatened bird taxa from 1990 to 2020 (four assessments spanning 30 years). We used our assessments to understand decadal trends in the number of taxa monitored; monitoring quality; and the groups that conduct monitoring. The …

Characterizing The Habitat Use Of Pacific Coast Feeding Group Gray Whales (Eschrichtius Robustus) And The Spatial And Temporal Variability Of Their Benthic And Planktonic Invertebrate Prey In Northern California, Robyn E. Norman

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

As opportunistic foragers, the Eastern North Pacific population (~20,000) of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) feed on diverse benthic and planktonic invertebrates in northern Alaska foraging grounds before they undertake one of the largest yearly migrations of any mammal to breed in Baja California, Mexico. While most of the population travels to the summer foraging grounds in Alaska, a sub-group of whales (~230) called the Pacific Coast Feeding Group (PCFG) summer between British Columbia, Canada, and northern California. The diet of PCFG whales typically includes high-density and/or high-caloric prey items like mysids and diverse species of amphipods, yet a …

Nocturnal Behavior Of Communally Roosting American Crows (Corvus Brachyrhynchos), Caitlin M. Mrowiec

Masters Theses

During the winter months in Charleston, Illinois, thousands of American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) gather together each night to roost. While aspects of this impressive sight have been studied elsewhere, there is very limited information on how crows behave at night. Additionally, the mechanics and origins of communal roosting are not especially well understood, and the behaviors involved are not always consistently described. This study sought to provide a more complete assessment of crow communal roosting after sunset. I collected data between 2018 and 2020 by locating communal roosts and conducting continuous observations for 4 hours after sunset, with additional checks …

The Effects Of Early Exposure To Prescription/Illicit Drugs And Drug Metabolites On Larval Zebrafish Behavioral And Motor Function Development, Jacob Thomas, Dena Weinberger, Bikram Subedi, Brandon Capps

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

THE EFFECTS OF EARLY EXPOSURE TO PRESCRIPTION/ILLICIT DRUGS AND DRUG METABOLITES ON LARVAL ZEBRAFISH BEHAVIORAL AND MOTOR FUNCTION DEVELOPMENT

A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Department of Biology

Murray State University

Murray, Kentucky

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Masters In Science

By Jacob Thomas, B.S., Murray State University

December 2024

Acknowledgements

Brandon Capps, who pretty much did a whole third of the legwork on this project and saved me lots of headaches;

Chandler Maddox, one of the University of Kentucky’s finest undergrads who came in from the top rope with a folding chair …

Behavioral Ecology Of The Colorado Brown Tarantula (Aphonopelma Hentzi): Activities Displayed Around The Burrow Through Juvenile Group Dispersal, Bradley Allendorfer

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The life history strategy of the Colorado brown tarantula (Aphonopelma hentzi) typically includes males spatially scattering in search for a female mate in the fall, followed by female attendance of fertilized eggs the following summer. Here, I highlighted aspects associated with this female parental care. Specifically, I compared the activities of maternal (egg-attending) tarantulas to their non-maternal (not egg-attending) counterparts, as this may be a costly time for these egg-attending individuals. I concluded that maternal individuals tended to show reduced activity at the burrow entrance, however; these, results were significant in only one comparison. After weeks of this parental care, …

An Updated Outline For Clearing And Staining Of Preserved Specimens, Sadie E. Smith

Honors Theses and Capstones

This protocol outlines a enhanced clearing and staining procedure for persevered specimens, focusing on the visualization of cartilage and bone in small taxa. With origins from O. Shultze's diaphonization methodology in 1897, the process of clearing and staining improves the clarity and contrast of intricate tissues. It is essential for studies in developmental biology, histology and anatomy. This protocol covers the key steps of the process while detailing the materials, solutions and estimated timeline for each step pertaining to specific taxa. The aim of the protocol is to standardize and provide guidance for procedures in the Biological Sciences department at …

Occupancy Of The Little Grass Frog (Pseudacris Ocularis), An Overlooked Longleaf Endemic, In A Managed Landscape, Anna M. Humphrey

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Amphibians are declining globally, with many declines associated with habitat loss. The longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) ecosystem historically covered most of the southeastern United States and supports a host of endemic amphibians. This ecosystem has declined by over 97% in the last two hundred years and many associated species have declined with it. The Little Grass Frog (Pseudacris ocularis) is a longleaf pine endemic anuran that has been understudied and under-surveyed; almost no information is known on the ecology of this species and no population studies have been conducted. My goals were to create an acoustic …

Comparing Ionoregulation And Modes Of Nitrogen Excretion Across The Life Cycle Of Parasitic And Non-Parasitic Lamprey Species, Shannon Davidson

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Abstract

Ionoregulation and nitrogenous waste (N-waste) metabolism in fishes has been extensively documented in teleosts and elasmobranchs, but less so in lampreys (Petromizontiformes). All lamprey species undergo metamorphosis which drastically changes their physiology and modes of feeding. However, differences in ionoregulatory mechanisms due to anadromous versus non anadromous life history strategies emerge following metamorphosis in different lamprey species. Furthermore, some species, such as anadromous juvenile sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), are parasitic and migrate to seawater (SW) to ingest blood protein from host fishes, while juveniles of freshwater (FW), non-parasitic species, such as the American brook lamprey …

How Does A Global Climate Cycle Affect The Reproductive Output Of A Neotropical Migratory Bird?, Abby K. Bressette, Emma Cummings, Daniel Albrecht-Mallinger, Lesley Bulluck

Undergraduate Research Posters

El-Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) causes regional changes in climate and has been found to have varying effects on the survival, fecundity, and recruitment of migratory songbirds. This study seeks to better understand the effect of ENSO on the fecundity of Virginia-breeding Prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea; PROW), a neotropical migratory songbird. PROW breed in the Eastern United States and spend the non-breeding season primarily in Panama and Colombia. Ongoing research in Virginia has found a positive relationship between spring precipitation and predicted number of PROW fledgelings during La Niña, but the opposite during El Niño. To better understand this relationship, we …

Abalones At Risk: A Global Red List Assessment Of Haliotis In A Changing Climate, Howard Peters, Gina M. Ralph, Laura Rogers-Bennett

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

There is increasing awareness that marine invertebrates such as abalones are at risk from the combined stressors of fishing and climate change. Abalones are an important marine fishery resource and of cultural importance to Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. A highly priced marine delicacy, they are inherently vulnerable: individuals are slow-growing and long-lived and successful reproduction requires dense assemblages. However, their global conservation status is poorly understood. Using IUCN Red List methodology, we assessed the extinction risk to all 54 species of abalone (genus Haliotis). Of the 21 fished commercially for human consumption either now and/or in the past, 15 …

Long Term Trends In Mortality Rates Of A Smallmouth Bass Population, Caleb D. Anderson

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu are known as a popular sport fish for anglers. When a known smallmouth bass fishery appears to have a dwindling population, it raises questions about the population health. A common indicator of the health of the population is the mortality rate. By comparing mortality, conclusions can be made on whether smallmouth bass are dying at a different rate in the system over time. Therefore, the objective of this study was to see if there had been a significant change in smallmouth bass mortality over a span of thirty years in Round Lake (DOW:010204), Aitkin County, Minnesota. …

Relationship Between Northern Pike And Walleye Cpue In Minnesota Lakes, Simon Oslund

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Northern pike Esox lucius and walleye Sander vitreus are both top predators in freshwater systems. Due to their predatorial nature, high populations of one species can prohibit populations of the other species from thriving, specifically northern pike foraging on walleye. This information is tracked by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources through catch per unit effort (CPUE). CPUE data was gathered for all lakes in Beltrami County, Minnesota, and a regression analysis was done to test for a relationship between pike and walleye. It was found that the relationship between northern pike and walleye CPUE was significant (P = 0.02). …

The Effects Of Length, Weight, Age, And Gender On Mercury Concentrations In Burbot In North-Central Minnesota Lakes, Liam Hanley

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Burbot Lota lota in north-central Minnesota lakes have the potential to reach large sizes and consume large volumes of prey. This caveat may make burbot susceptible to higher rates of biocontamination, bioaccumulation and biomagnification. The objective of this study was to determine how changes in age, length, gender, weight, and lake affect total mercury concentrations in burbot. In this experiment 28 burbot were angled from three lakes: Cass (n = 17), Winnibigoshish (n = 4), and Bad Medicine (n = 7). Then tissue samples were taken from each fish and were lyophilized and homogenized. Homogenized tissue samples were analyzed by …

Relationship Between Fishing Hours And Number Of Fish Harvested From Upper Red Lake, Dylan Ohlenkamp

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Total hours fishermen spend fishing and total amount of fish harvested per year are some of the most important pieces of knowledge gained from creel surveys. They provide crucial information that assesses fisheries mortality and pressure. MN DNR uses their results from creel surveys to improve or impose regulations, and to maintain healthy fisheries. Based on results from similar studies, there is expected to be a positive relationship between hours fished and fish harvested. To determine the relationship between these two variables on Upper Red Lake, data from two years were selected when the variables were at their highest and …

A Guide To Otoliths Of Minnesota Fishes, Baylor J. Short

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Investigations into the diet patterns of piscivores can provide crucial information on predator-prey relationships, population dynamics, and responses to changing ecosystems. However, digestive processes often remove or alter physical characteristics that are traditionally used to identify consumed fish. This problem has been addressed to some degree with advances in molecular technologies, although these methods can be costly and require specific training and equipment to do so. In contrast, bony structures such as otoliths, vertebrae, cleithra, and others frequently have morphologies that are unique among families, genera, and species. Because these structures are resistant to digestion, they can be used to …

The Effect Of Triaenophorus Crassus On The Condition Of Coregonus Artedi, Alexander Surma

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Cisco Coregonus artedi is, historically, the largest commercial fishery in the Great Lakes. The species is also important to commercial and recreational fisheries in inland lakes. Tapeworm Triaenophorus crassus larvae embed themselves into the flesh of Ciscoes, rendering the fish unmarketable to humans. Triaenophorus crassus is common in inland waters such as Leech Lake and Cass Lake, MN. One Canadian researcher has suggested that the parasite negatively affects the growth and weight of Ciscoes. Poor condition can reduce fecundity, leading to lower recruitment rates. This would mean a detrimental impact on not only individual fish, but the health of …

Relationships Between Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon Pyrrhonota) And Feather Coloration, Morphological Characteristics, And Colony Size, Sonja M. Brandt

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Environmental stressors such as drought and roadways can strongly affect breeding birds. Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon Pyrrhonota) are aerial insectivores that experience mortality from car collisions, because they often nest and hunt under bridges and road culverts. Individual traits that may convey social information, such as body condition, or feather coloration, might be associated with better coping around cars and other environmental stressors. Few studies have investigated relationships between coloration and other environmental stressors, such as water loss due to drought near the colony and foraging areas. Colony size can be heavily affected by various environmental factors such as water level …

Active Facilitation Of Helper Dispersal By Parents And Siblings In The Cooperatively Breeding Acorn Woodpecker, Natasha D. G. Hagemeyer, Walter D. Koenig, Eric L. Walters

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Offspring that delay dispersal in cooperatively breeding species have been hypothesized to gain direct fitness benefits via parental facilitation—being passively tolerated on their natal territory by their parents—thereby enjoying enhanced survival and increased probability of acquiring a breeding position in the population. Here we describe active facilitation in the acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) by parents and siblings assisting the dispersal of helpers in their social group. Helpers in this species compete for reproductive opportunities in “power struggles” that take place when all breeders of one sex die or disappear, creating a reproductive vacancy. Individuals compete at power struggles …

Baby's First Jets: A Kinematic And Hydrodynamic Analysis Of Turning In Cuttlefish Hatchlings, Alissa M. Ganley, Paul S. Krueger, Ian K. Bartol

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Turning is an important aspect of life underwater, playing integral roles in predator avoidance, prey capture, and communication. While turning abilities have been explored in a diversity of adult nekton, little is currently known about turning in early ontogeny, especially for cephalopods. In this study, we investigated the turning abilities of hatchling common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis, n = 49) and dwarf cuttlefish (Sepia bandensis, n = 30), using both kinematic and wake-based analyses. Using body tracking software and particle image velocimetry (PIV), we found that S. officinalis turned faster than S. bandensis, but both species …

Parasite Prevalence And Innate Immunity In Mud And Musk Turtles, Nicole Beckett

Honors Program Theses

Turtles are being infected by both ectoparasites (typically leeches) and endoparasites (typically blood parasites). It is unknown what the parasite intensity is of wild Central Floridian turtles is, and what effect this parasite load has on them. In order to determine these factors wild turtles (Sternotherus odoratus, Kinosternon baurii, and Kinosternon subrubrum) were caught from two locations, Mead Botanical Gardens, and Lake Virginia. Hoop traps were used to catch the turtles, which were then sampled and released. Captured turtles went through a series of measurements as well as a blood draw before release. Blood parasite levels were taken from the …

Compliance And Roughness In Relation To Gecko Locomotion, Brooklynn Campbell

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Geckos move efficiently through a variety of substrates, from swaying branches to wooden fences to the sides of structures. Previous studies have studied locomotion and adhesion on manmade and rough substrates; however, the work is limited when discussing locomotion and adhesion as a relationship of compliance and roughness. Ease of movement was quantified by speed, under the assumption that the faster a gecko moves, the easier it is for the gecko to cross the substrate. Gehyra oceanica geckos from Moorea, French Polynesia were tested on substrates varying in compliance and roughness with four different treatments in total. Compliance, roughness, and …