Animal Sciences Commons^™

Summer Foraging Range And Diurnal Roost Selection Of Tri-Colored Bats, Perimyotis Subflavus., Dustin Bradley Thames

Masters Theses

Tri-colored bat populations are declining in eastern North America where the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans has been introduced. The pathogen causes disease and mortality in cave hibernating bats. Once considered a common species in Tennessee, tri-colored bats are now being considered for protection under the Endangered Species Act. There is a paucity of research examining the basic ecology of tri-colored bats. Research to fill these knowledge gaps is needed to inform conservation plans and to define critical habitat. The first objective of my research was to characterize the summer diurnal roosts of tri-colored bats and to examine roost selection at …

Rare Occurrences Of Free-Living Bacteria Belonging To Sedimenticola From Subtidal Seagrass Beds Associated With The Lucinid Clam, Stewartia Floridana, Aaron M. Goemann

Masters Theses

Lucinid clams and their sulfur-oxidizing endosymbionts comprise two compartments of a three-stage, biogeochemical relationship among the clams, seagrasses, and microbial communities in marine sediments. A population of the lucinid clam, Stewartia floridana, was sampled from a subtidal seagrass bed at Bokeelia Island Seaport in Florida to test the hypotheses: (1) S. floridana, like other lucinids, are more abundant in seagrass beds than bare sediments; (2) S. floridana gill microbiomes are dominated by one bacterial operational taxonomic unit (OTU) at a sequence similarity threshold level of 97% (a common cutoff for species level taxonomy) from 16S rRNA genes; …

Development And Evaluation Of Novel Vaccination Strategies For Campylobacter Control In Poultry, Xiang Liu

Masters Theses

Chicken is the primary natural host of Campylobacter, the leading bacterial cause of human enteritis in the US and other developed countries. Thus, mitigation of Campylobacter in chicken using innovative approaches, such as vaccination, will have a significant impact on food safety and public health. Our previous studies have demonstrated that the two outer membrane proteins, CmeC (the essential component of the CmeABC multi-drug efflux pump) and CfrA (a ferric enterobactin receptor), are feasible candidates for immune intervention against Campylobacter. DNA vaccine has appeared to offer various advantages for poultry, particularly when combined with in ovo vaccination. Chitosan-encapsulated …

Geographic Variation In The Lower Temperature Tolerance In The Invasive Brown Anole, Anolis Sagrei And The Native Green Anole, Anolis Carolinensis (Sauria: Polychrotidae), Laura Carolina Maria Rubio

Masters Theses

Invasive species are considered to be the second greatest threat to native biodiversity and several factors have been identified as contributing to the success of introduced species, including their initial genetic variation and the ability of populations to adapt to a new environment. Temperature has a significant impact on reptilian ecology and distribution since they ordinarily rely on external heat sources for the maintenance of body temperatures suitable for normal activity. Body temperature affects performance in these organisms given its importance for all aspects of behavior, locomotion, courtship and rates of feeding and growth. Critical thermal tolerances can, therefore, give …

Identifying The Spatial Distribution Of Three Plethodontid Salamanders In Great Smoky Mountains National Park Using Two Habitat Modeling Methods, Matthew Stephen Kookogey

Masters Theses

The main objective was to create habitat models of three plethodontid salamander species (Desmognathus conanti, D. ocoee, and Plethodon jordani) in GSMNP. To investigate the relationships between salamanders and their habitats, I used three models—logistic regression with use-availability sampling, logistic regression with case-control sampling, and Mahalanobis distance (D²)—for each species to gain a robust view of the relationships. The secondary objective was to compare the different modeling methods within and across the three species. Elevation was the dominant variable for all three species.

D² for D. conanti predicted low elevations, close proximity …

An Evaluation Of Population Estimators And Forage Availability And Nutritional Quality For White-Tailed Deer In Tennessee, Jared Tyler Beaver

Masters Theses

Given the white-tailed deer’s (Odocoileus virginianus; deer) popularity and potentially negative impact on forested systems; Arnold Air Force Base (AAFB) in Tullahoma, Tennessee, USA has made minimizing negative deer impacts on biodiversity a priority. To address these management issues, I initiated a study on AAFB to investigate deer survey techniques and the effects of deer density on forage availability across vegetative communities.

Current use of infrared-triggered cameras (camera) for estimating deer populations does not provide a measure of precision critical for density estimation. I conducted a camera survey for deer in Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Units 1 and …

Capture-Recapture Of White-Tailed Deer Using Dna Sampling From Fecal Pellet-Groups, Matthew James Goode

Masters Theses

Reliable density estimates of game and keystone species such as white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are desirable to set proper management strategies and for evaluating those strategies over time. However, traditional methods for estimating white-tailed deer density have been inhibited by behavior, densely forested areas that can hamper observation (detection), and invalid techniques of estimating effective trapping area. We wanted to evaluate a noninvasive method of mark-recapture estimation using DNA extracted from fecal pellets as the individual marker and for gender determination, coupled with a spatial detection function to estimate density (Spatially Explicit Capture-Recapture, SECR). We collected pellet groups …

Impacts Of Predation Risk And Development On Susceptibility Of North American Anurans To Ranaviruses, Nathan Alden Haislip

Masters Theses

For over three decades, amphibian populations have been declining across the globe. Emerging infectious diseases are responsible for some of these declines. Ranaviruses have caused die-offs in wild amphibian populations on 4 continents, in 5 Canadian provinces, and in over 25 U.S. states. In order to understand host-pathogen dynamics, it is critical to establish baseline information on species susceptibility and the effects of natural stressors. The goal of my thesis research was to quantify the effects of anuran development and exposure to invertebrate predators on species-specific susceptibility to ranavirus. My experiments were designed in factorial arrangements, and consisted of exposure …

Four Aspects Of Dogwood Pollination: Insect Visitation, A Novel Approach To Identify Pollen, Floral Volatile Emission, And Tracking Parentage, Paul Raymond Rhoades

Masters Theses

Part 1: Visitation of potential pollinators to Cornus florida and C. kousa flowers was assessed in East Tennessee in 2008 and 2009. Data regarding insect visitation rates to multiple trees per location were gathered throughout the flowering period. Diurnal and seasonal variations in visitation were recorded. Pollen coverage was assessed on portions of captured insect exoskeletons that were most likely to contact the stigma. Eleven families in four insect orders were collected from C. florida and 26 families in five orders from C. kousa. The most important pollinators in eastern Tennessee were bees in the Andrenidae and Halictidae. The most …

Distribution Of Fishes And Changes In Biotic Integrity In The New River, Tennessee, R. Brian Evans

Masters Theses

Electrofishing samples of fishes were obtained from forty-two localities in the New River system, Tennessee during summer and fall 1996. Eight of forty-two species collected represent new records from the New River: Notropis telescopus, Moxostoma macrolepidotum breviceps, M. carinatum, Lepomis auritus, L. gulosus, L. microlophus, Etheostoma cinereum, and Stizostedion vitreum. Temporal changes in the distribution of fishes were detected by comparing historical collection records with fish samples from 1996. Older records were also employed in the compilation of a modified index of biotic integrity (IBI) that was used to assess changes in fish assemblage health during the past twenty …

Caloric Production Of Black Bear Foods In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Robert Michael Inman

Masters Theses

Understanding energetic potential of habitat patches is important for management designed to provide adequate habitat for wildlife species. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) has a high density of black bears that have been studied intensively from 1968-1997; habitats within the Park are relatively undisturbed, and similar vegetative cover types can be found throughout the southern Appalachian mountains. Black bear reproduction in the Park has been correlated to hard mast production, however little work has been done to assess the importance of soft mast. Geographic Information System (GIS) based habitat use models have been developed for bears in the Park, …

Fish Fauna Of The Upper Cumberland River Drainage In Tennessee, John T. Baxter

Masters Theses

This thesis reports the findings of an ichthyofaunal survey of the upper Cumberland River drainage in Scott, Campbell, and Claiborne counties, Tennessee. This drainage lies on the Cumberland Plateau in northeastern Tennessee and has been impacted by extensive coal mining activity in the region. Present in the drainage are five listed species of primary concern to this study, Phoxinus cumberlandensis, Ericymba buccata, Notropis rubellus rubellus, Etheostoma baileyi, and Etheostoma sagitta. An additional species found in this drainage, Etheostoma nigrum susanae, is being considered for protected status. Field work for this survey was conducted mainly during May-August 1996 and May-August …

A Repeatable, Visual Survey Of Three Rare Percina (Osteichthyes: Percidae) Fish In Little River, Blount County, Tennessee, Charles H. Heacock

Masters Theses

A recent apparent decline of the darter species in Little River, Blount County, Tennessee, suggested a deterioration on habitat quality was taking place. The objective of this study was to establish a baseline of the abundance and distribution of three large and easily recognized darter species (Percina aurantiaca, P. burtoni, and P. macrocephala) believed to be very pollution intolerant.

The study area included 27 river miles with 20 accessible sites which were determined by an area reconnaissance. Each site has been described, including diagrams and photographs, and was surveyed six times between July and October 1993. A review …

Distribution Of The Fishes Of The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Damien J. Simbeck

Masters Theses

Over 200 collections of fishes have been made within the boundaries of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, revealing a Park ichthyofauna of 74 native and 5 introduced fish species. Abrams Creek, containing the most diverse ichthyofauna in the park, currently contains only 35 of its historical 67 fish species. This loss of species resulted from intentional poisoning of eh creek to improve habitat for rainbow trout and impoundment of the lowest 2.6 miles by Chilhowee Reservoir.

Abrams Creek also contains a very unusual ichthyofauna in its upper portion. Several species found above its 25-foot waterfall have not been found …

Life History And Ecology Of The Barrens Topminnow, Fundulus Julisia Williams And Etnier (Pisces, Fundulidae), Patrick L. Rakes

Masters Theses

The life history of the Barrens topminnow, Fundulus julisia, was investigated in a two-year study from 1983 to 1985. The species is restricted to a few isolated springs and groundwater-influenced upland streams on the Barrens Plateau in the vicinity of Manchester in middle Tennessee. In most aspects of its behavior, including feeding and reproduction, this topminnow differs little from other members of the same genus. The fish is an opportunistic carnivore, feeding upon aquatic insects, crustaceans, and gastropods, as well as terrestrial insects that fall in water. Like other killifish, F. julisia has an extended breeding season that is …

Some Aspects Of Amino Acid Regulation In The Tobacco Hornworm, Manduca Sexta, J. Michael Henry

Masters Theses

The nature and roles of the high free amino acid levels found in the haemolymph of insects is poorly understood. In order to elicit aspects of the regulation and metabolism of haemolymph free amino acids, we have measured the concentrations, half-lives, turnover rates and rate of incorporation into haemolymph proteins for eight amino acids in the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta immediately prior to and throughout the larval-pupal transformation. Throughout this period the concentrations of alanine, arginine, glutamate, histidine, leucine, lysine, proline and valine each exhibited stage specific variations seemingly independent of blood volumes and levels of other amino acids. Half-lives …

The Distribution Of Fishes In The Little Tennessee River System, James Mckee Winfield Jr.

Masters Theses

This paper is the product of a study of the ichthyofaunal distribution within the Little Tennessee River. This system is a major tributary to the Tennessee River.

A total of 212 collections are included in this paper. Of this total, 67 were made by the author. The remainder of the collections were made by various agencies and individuals. Of the total number of collections made by the author, approximately half were done using diving gear and employing sight identification. The remaining collections were accomplished with the aid of seines.

Included in this paper is a list of the species of …

Fish Fauna Of The Hatchie River System, Wayne Calvin Starnes

Masters Theses

This thesis reports the findings of an ichthyofaunal survey of the Hatchie River system of northern Mississippi and southwestern Tennessee. This system represents the only drainage in that region which has not undergone large scale channelization, and it had previously been poorly collected. This survey was conducted mainly during August of 1972 with additional collections from other years also reported. Collections were made from the majority of streams in the entire drainage, and several methods were employed including seining, gill netting, trap nets, and the principal method, chemical application. A total of 108 collections is included, and the findings are …

Geographic Variation In The Primary Burrowing Crayfish, Cambarus Dubius Faxon And Cambarus Carolinus (Erichson) (Decapoda: Astacidae) In Tennessee With Notes On Ecology And Life History, Joel P. Dewees

Masters Theses

An investigation of Cambarus dubius and Cambarus carolinus was made in Tennessee to evaluate morphological Variation found in populations of these species and to determine aspects of life history and ecology. Taxonomic position and history of C. carolinus and C. dubius was reviewed and discussed. Three clines or possible subspecies in C. dubius were indicated in Tennessee based on both qualitative and quantitative evidence including: width and length of areola, shape and size of chelae, rostrum, central projection, mesial process, and color.

C. dubius populations from northern West Virginia and southern Pennsylvania were significantly different from populations to the south. …

The Responses Of Ecologically Dissimilar Populations Of The Water Snake, Natrix Sipedon Sipedon To Surface Extracts Of Prey Species, With Observations On Feeding And Defense Behaviors, Doris Gove

Masters Theses

Observations of defensive and feeding behavior of Natrix sipedon were made in the field and in the lab. Crypticity, mimicry of poisonous snakes, striking, production of cloacal secretion and tail autonomy were defensive behaviors discussed. Feeding behaviors discussed were hunting, catching prey and tongue-flicking.

Experiments were performed on the responses of snakes from ecologically dissimilar populations of N. sipedon to surface extracts of local prey species. The populations were: (1) a laboratory-reared litter of ten one-year-old snakes; (2) six wild-caught snakes from Sterchi's fish hatchery in north Knoxville, Tennessee; and (3) six wild-caught and eight newborn snakes (a litter) from …

Elevational Studies Of Silphidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) In Southeast Tennessee, Barry Charles Lumpkin

Masters Theses

During the period of June 17-December 2, 1970 baited pit-fall traps were used to collect 3467 specimens of Silphidae and related carrion frequenting Coleoptera at varying altitudes (800-6500 ft.) in southeast Tennessee. Ten species of Silphidae and representatives of five other families of beetles (Carabidae, Staphylinidae, Histeridae, Scarabaeidae, and Trogidae) were consistently collected from the traps during the study period. The genus Nicrophorous appeared to occupy the higher elevations in the study area while the genus Silphidae occupied the lower elevations. N. marginatus and N. hydrophiloides appeared to have their elevational centers at higher altitudes than those found in the …

The Fishes Of The Big South Fork Of The Cumberland River System, Charles Edward Comiskey

Masters Theses

This thesis reports the results of a survey of the fishes of the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River system in Tennessee and Kentucky. This system represents the southeasterly extension of the Cumberland River system.

The survey was conducted from June, 1968, to September, 1969, with the majority of the collecting being made in the summer months of both years. A variety of collecting techniques were employed. These included ten and twenty-foot small mesh seine nets, thirty and sixty-foot bag seines, gill nets and sodium cyanide.

A total of sixty-four collections are included, sixty-one made by the author, and …

A Study Of Population Density, Seasonal Movements And Weight Changes, And Winter Behavior Of The Eastern Box Turtle, Terrapene C. Carolina L., In Eastern Tennessee, Richard Albert Dolbeer

Masters Theses

During 1968, a quantitative and descriptive field study was made in a 23 acre woodland on a population of the eastern box turtle. The area was systematically searched and turtles were repeatedly collected, marked, weighed, and released. Trees were marked at 256 foot intervals so that the exact location of captured turtles could be recorded. A trailing device was used to study movements of some turtles.

Smaller turtles were found to be more active in the fall as 37.3 percent of the turtles captured during September and October weighed less than 300 grams as compared to 23.3 percent during July …

A Census Of A Breeding Bird Population In A Virgin Spruce-Fir Forest On Mt. Guyot, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Frederick Joseph Alsop

Masters Theses

Purpose of the study: The purpose of this study was to determine as accurately as possible the density of the bird populations in a virgin spruce-fir forest before changes in the forest resulting from aphid damage occurred. Accounts of the kinds of birds to be found in the spruce-fir biome are numerous. Some taken in the Southern Appalachians date almost one hundred years ago (Brewster, 1886). These reports give excellent records of the numbers of species to be found, but none give the numbers of individuals of each species, the density, to be expected for a given unit of measure …

The Amphibians And Reptiles Of Chilhowee Mountain, Cleo Duke Wilder Jr.

Masters Theses

Introduction: In the past some reptiles and amphibians have been reported from the general area of Chilhowee Mountain (i.e., within the counties through which the mountain extends). However, no one has ever made an exhaustive study of these two groups of vertebrates on the mountain itself. The neighboring Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers one of the most interesting and extensively studied areas of the Southeast. The purpose of the present study has been to gather enough evidence for a comparison of the reptiles and amphibians of Chilhowee Mountain (more specifically, a representative part of the mountain most easily reached …

The Head Organs Of Cleidodiscus Mirabilis (Trematoda Monogenea), Theodore Gates Brown

Masters Theses

Introduction: Little or no detailed description has been heretofore attempted of Cleidodiscus, the work to date having been confined to taxonomy and general morphology (Mueller, 1934 and 1937; Mizelle, 1938; Mizelle and Cronin, 1943).

The head organs and cephalic glands were chosen for this study because of their conspicuous nature in the living animal and, at the same time, their confinement to a relatively small anatomical area. Since no minute description of these structures is known, an attempt was made to discover their exact histologic nature. The methods to be used were to include well known techniques of fixation, …

The Effects Of Alloxan On The Histology Of The Pancreas, Thyroid And Adrenal Glands Of The White Rat, Julien L. Cagle

Masters Theses

Introduction: Prior to 1943, two methods of producing experimental diabetes mellitus in laboratory animals were known, pancreatectomy and the injection of anterior pituitary extract. In that year, the discovery of a third method, the destruction of the pancreatic islands of Langerhans by the intravenous injection of alloxan, was announced by Dunn, Sheehan and McLetchie. These workers were conducting an investigation into the pathogenesis of the renal lesion of the crush syndrome and the similar condition which occurs in mis-matched blood transfusions. Substances were being tried which influence the lower renal tubules, such as uric acid and related compounds. Among the …

A Contribution To The Mollusca Of East Tennessee, Mary E. Hickman

Masters Theses

Summary: 1. Collections of mollusks were made in the northern part of Eastern Tennessee, particularly in the Clinch River in the vicinity of Norris Dam, from June 1935 to July 1937.

2. Twenty-three genera and forty species of pelecypods were collected and classified.

The pelecypods were abundant in the Clinch River in the vicinity of Norris Dam. Both nodulate and smooth shells were found in this region.

3. Twenty-two genera and fifty species of gastropods were collected and classified.

In the Clinch River near Norris Dam the longitudinal arrangement of Io was not in conformity with the findings of Adams. …

The Relation Of The Carbon Dioxide Tension Of The Water To The Hemoglobin Content Of The Blood, The Gaseous Content Of The Swim-Bladder, And The Ability Of The Fish To Extract Oxygen From The Water At Low Oxygen Tensions, Spurgeon Meek Wingo

Masters Theses

Probably in no field of biology is reasoning from analogy depended upon more than it is in human physiology to answer the questions which constantly arise in the mind of the investigator. This is particularly true of that phase of respiration which attempts to explain the apparent secretion of oxygen into the blood at low oxygen tensions. The secretion theory has found much favor with certain physiologists and in briefly presenting their case in his Text Book of General Physiology (1932) Mitchell has said as a point in its favor, "Glands of the swim bladders of many species of fishes …