Animal Sciences Commons^™

Cook2024_Influence Of Planting Depth Data, Kyle A. Cook, Brad Geary, Phil S. Allen, April Hulet, Kevin Gunnell, Melissa Landeen, Shannon V. Nelson, Matthew D. Madsen

ScholarsArchive Data

This file contains the data description for the Cook2024_1_Influence of Planting Depth… Supplementary File.

The excel file contains two worksheets: 1) Lab Trial Data, and 2) Field Trial Data.

1) Lab Trial Data

A) Block: block (rep) of the sample

B) Soil Type: soil type for that sample- loam, sandy-loam, or loamy-sand

C) Seed Treatment: seed treatment, control or coated

D) Seeding Depth (mm): depth, in mm, the seeds were planted- 0, 3.2, 6.3, 12.7

E) Week 1 Emerge: total number of seedlings emerged in Week 1

F) Week 2 Emerge: total number of seedlings emerged in Week 2 (includes …

Fungicide Data, Amber Johnson

ScholarsArchive Data

This dataset contains emergence, biomass, and fungal biomass data collected during a laboratory study examining the effects of soil fungal level and seed coating treatment on the growth of bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata). Pathogenesis from soil and seed-borne fungus can limit success when restoring native species. Fungicides can combat fungal pathogens, but in some studies, fungicides treatments are ineffective at improving seedling emergence over untreated, control seed. These studies suggest low fungal presence due to dry conditions may be the cause of the ineffectiveness of fungicide treatments for some years and sites. This study tested if fungicide treatment …

Larson2023_Slow Release Of Ga3_Data, Alexandra J.S. Larson, Maureen Cartwright, Whitney D. Jones, Katrina Luce, Mei Chen, Kate Petersen, Shannon V. Nelson, David J. Michaelis, Matthew D. Madsen

ScholarsArchive Data

This file contains the data description for the Larson2023_Slow-release of GA3 Hormone… Supplementary File.

The excel file contains four worksheets: 1) Palmer’s germination, 2) Palmer’s biomass, 3) germination other species, 4) biomass other species. Blank cells indicate either no coating was used or there was no plant.

1) “Palmer’s germination” and “germination other species” A) Temp (o C): germination chamber temperature setting B) Species: common name of penstemon species tested (“germination other species” only) C) Treatment: seed coating treatment D) Final Germination percentage: percent of seed that germinated. E) FGP: final germination percent in decimal form F) Time to 50% …

Gibberellic Acid Data, Amber Johnson

ScholarsArchive Data

This dataset contains plant emergence and survival data collected from a field study which focused on overcoming seed dormancy. Seed dormancy can present a challenge within a restoration scenario where rapid establishment is required. Soaking seeds in gibberellic acid (GA₃) can overcome dormancy and increase germination but this treatment may not be effective outside the laboratory. An easier and potentially more effective method to apply this hormone is to coat seeds with a GA₃-impregnated polymer, which provides a slow release of GA₃. Seed dormancy can also be mitigated by creating a favorable microsite with …

Lymphocyte Proteomics For Monitoring Long Term Immune System Dynamics, Michaela Mccown

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Time dependent change in lymphocytes provides a necessary background for monitoring the development of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia from asymptomatic to malignant. Several bulk proteomics studies characterize differences between tumor cells and healthy B cells, yet the transition to symptomatic disease is not well understood. This could be shown by a longitudinal study beginning with asymptomatic patients if the rare tumor cells in early stages can be isolated from small volume blood draws and effectively characterized with few cells, such as was done here using healthy B cells to provide a baseline for such studies to discriminate routine fluctuation from pathogenic …

Human Health And Economic Costs Of Air Pollution In Utah: An Expert Assessment, Isabella Errigo

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Recent scholarship has found that air pollution damages our health and economy more than previously understood, with approximately one in four deaths associated with exposure to air pollution globally. However, translating these research findings into policy and behavior change at local levels remains a major challenge, partially because of mismatch between the scale of air pollution research (often national or global) and governance frameworks (typically local to regional). Here, we used an expert assessment to bridge this research-policy divide in Utah, USA. We combined quantitative and qualitative input from 23 Utah-specific researchers and specialists, asking for estimates of human health …

Space Use And Annual Survival Of Hybridized Mouflon Sheep In Hawaii And Comparing Estimates Of Population Size Through Instantaneous Sampling And Photographic Capture-Recapture, Bradley Jay Adams

Theses and Dissertations

Significant efforts in conservation are devoted to the management and study of ungulates, due to their significant roles in ecosystems as well as their potential economic value. This is especially true for species considered exotic, such as mouflon sheep (Ovis musimon) in Hawaii. Effective management of an exotic species requires an understanding of ecological metrics such as space use, survival, and population size. We provided these metrics for a population of mouflon that have hybridized with feral sheep (Ovis aries) on the island of Hawaii. In Chapter 1, we quantified space use and annual survival of sheep in an area …

Multispecies Character Displacement In Mexican Poeciliopsis Fishes, Andrea J. Roth

Theses and Dissertations

Competition has long been recognized as a central force in shaping evolution, particularly through character displacement. Yet research on character displacement is biased as it has focused almost exclusively on pairs of interacting species while ignoring multispecies interactions. Unfortunately, communities are seldom so simple that only pairs of species interact, and it is not clear if inferences from pairwise interactions are sufficient to explain patterns in nature. A more realistic approach is to ask how traits evolve when multiple species interact. Here I explore the importance of multispecies competitive interactions on trait evolution in four congeneric species of livebearing fishes …

Effects Of Abscisic Acid (Aba) On Germination Rate Of Three Rangeland Species, Turmandakh Badrakh

Theses and Dissertations

Seeds sown in the fall to restore sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) steppe plant communities could experience high mortality when they germinate and seedlings freeze during the winter. Delaying germination until the risk of frost is past could increase seedling survival. We evaluated the use of abscisic acid (ABA) to delay germination of Elymus elymoides, Pseudoroegneria spicata, and Linum perenne. The following treatments were applied: uncoated seed, seed coated with ABA at 2.2, 4.4, 8.8, 13.2, and 17.6 g of active ingredient kg-1 of seed, and seed coated with no ABA. The influence of seed treatments on germination were tested at five …

Improving Cotton Agronomics With Diverse Genomic Technologies, Aaron Robert Sharp

Theses and Dissertations

Agronomic outcomes are the product of a plant's genotype and its environment. Genomic technologies allow farmers and researchers new avenues to explore the genetic component of agriculture. These technologies can also enhance understanding of environmental effects. With a growing world population, a wide variety of tools will be necessary to increase the agronomic productivity. Here I use massively parallel, deep sequencing of RNA (RNA-Seq) to measure changes in cotton gene expression levels in response to a change in the plant's surroundings caused by conservation tillage. Conservation tillage is an environmentally friendly, agricultural practice characterized by little or no inversion of …

Using Detection Dogs And Rspf Models To Assess Habitat Suitability For Bears In Greater Yellowstone, Jon P. Beckmann, Lisette P. Waits, Aimee Hurt, Alice Whitelaw, Scott Bergen

Western North American Naturalist

In the northern U.S. Rockies, including the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), connectivity is a concern because large carnivores have difficulties dispersing successfully between protected areas. One area of high conservation value because of its importance for connecting the GYE to wilderness areas of central Idaho is the Centennial Mountains and surrounding valleys (2500 km2) along the Idaho–Montana border just west of Yellowstone National Park. The current expansion of grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) and other large carnivore populations outside protected areas of Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park has placed a greater emphasis on potential linkage zones …

Evidence Of Ancient Maya Agriculture In The Bajos Surrounding Tikal, Guatemala, Adam Calvin Parker

Theses and Dissertations

Current Central American agricultural practices are environmentally and economically unsustainable, yet the ancient Maya who lived in the same region thrived for thousands of years. Archaeologists have attempted to understand the factors enabling the prolonged success and ultimate collapse of the Maya societies. Some have proposed that the karst seasonal wetlands, called bajos, that border many Maya sites in the region were an influential factor in the Maya's ability to flourish. For the past decade, researchers have used carbon isotope analyses to identify areas of ancient maize agriculture at Maya archaeological sites. In this study, we collected soil samples from …

Control Of Alternaria Solani Resistance To Boscalid, Fluopyram, And Chlorothalonil, Andrew K. Hollingshead

Theses and Dissertations

Alternaria solani, cause of early blight, threatens potato yields. Fungicide resistance has made control of early blight difficult and there are concerns that in-season fungicide use results in resistance to boscalid, fluopyram, and chlorothalonil. Concern of high levels of resistance to boscalid a group 7 fungicide may confer cross-resistance to fungicides of the same group such as fluopyram. From 2014 to 2015, A. solani isolates were collected from field plots treated with boscalid, fluopyram, and chlorothalonil to test resistance levels. Isolates were determined resistant if EC50 values were higher than 5 µg ml-1. Boscalid and chlorothalonil mean EC50 values decreased …

Mountain Big Sagebrush (Artemisia Tridentata Ssp Vaseyana) Seed Production, Melissa L. Landeen

Theses and Dissertations

Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) is the most widespread and common shrub in the sagebrush biome of western North America. Of the three most common subspecies of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), mountain big sagebrush (ssp. vaseyana; MBS) is the most resilient to disturbance, but still requires favorable climactic conditions and a viable post-fire seedbank for successful unassisted recovery. This study was designed to assess MBS seed production throughout post-fire recovery. We performed 2 pilot studies to develop methods for estimating seed production and plant age. The results of the pilot studies and a space-for-time substitution strategy were used to measure …

Evaluation Of A Combination Approach To Pedagogy In A Soil Science Laboratory Classroom And An Environmental Site Assessment Sample, Emily Linda Gervais

Theses and Dissertations

Chapter 1 of this study explores research that has shown that the use of technology in the classroom can be beneficial to student learning. Additionally, a need for Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) instruction in university level core environmental science classrooms has been demonstrated. This study includes an investigation of the potential benefits of using a combination of pedagogies: web-based teaching tools and ESA instruction in a laboratory classroom. The research design included two class formats, one that employed web-based tools (PowerPoint and video) and ESA instruction, and one that did not, with four class sections. All classes were taught by …

Indications Of Ancient Maya Soil Resource Management In Northern Belize, Austin Michael Ulmer

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to use soil chemical properties, particularly carbon isotopes to describe the agricultural landscape in the Blue Creek region on the Rio Bravo Escarpment in northwestern Belize. The primary question associated with this study focused on the comparative agricultural potential of the soils between the upland karst environment and the lowland coastal plains using the distribution and frequency of ancient Maya maize production. Soil physical features, such as clay concentrations throughout profiles in conjunction with soil chemical properties were used to aid in determining the level of ancient maize production. Isotopic evidence suggests that anciently, …

Estimating Pinyon And Juniper Cover Across Utah Using Naip Imagery, Darrell B. Roundy

Theses and Dissertations

Expansion of Pinus L. (pinyon) and Juniperus L. (juniper) (P-J) trees into sagebrush (Artemisia L.) steppe communities can lead to negative effects on hydrology, loss of wildlife habitat, and a decrease in desirable understory vegetation. Tree reduction treatments are often implemented to mitigate these negative effects. In order to prioritize and effectively plan these treatments, rapid, accurate, and inexpensive methods are needed to estimate tree canopy cover at the landscape scale. We used object based image analysis (OBIA) software (Feature AnalystTM for ArcMap 10.1®, ENVI Feature Extraction®, and Trimble eCognition Developer 8.2®) to extract tree canopy cover using NAIP (National …

The Cascading Effects Of Invasive Grasses In North American Deserts: The Interactions Of Fire, Plants, And Small Mammals, Tiffanny R. Bowman

Theses and Dissertations

The landscapes of the Great Basin and Mojave Deserts are changing due to plant invasion. Highly flammable invasive grasses increase the size and frequency of fire causing a cascade of effects through the plant and animal communities. One of the most influential animal groups in desert systems is small mammals. We sought to learn how small mammals are impacted by fire and how their influence on the plant community differs between burned and unburned habitat. Small mammals did not have higher rates of mortality as a direct result of a controlled burn. In the Great Basin, there were short-term reductions …

Rangeland Monitoring Using Remote Sensing: An Assessment Of Vegetation Cover Comparing Field-Based Sampling And Image Analysis Techniques, Ammon K. Boswell

Theses and Dissertations

Rangeland monitoring is used by land managers for assessing multiple-use management practices on western rangelands. Managers benefit from improved monitoring methods that provide rapid, accurate, cost-effective, and robust measures of rangeland health and ecological trend. In this study, we used a supervised classification image analysis approach to estimate plant cover and bare ground by functional group that can be used to monitor and assess rangeland structure. High-resolution color infrared imagery taken of 40 research plots was acquired with a UltraCam X (UCX) digital camera during summer 2011. Ground estimates of cover were simultaneously collected by the Utah Division of Wildlife …

The Impacts Of Feral Horses On The Use Of Water By Pronghorn On The Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada, Amy Marie Gooch

Theses and Dissertations

Feral horses occupy 31.6 million acres throughout western North America. Feral horses share similar habitats with a wide range of animal species, including pronghorn. Since horses are larger and often more aggressive than other animals of this region, they are generally socially dominant over all other native ungulate species. Pronghorn share water sources with horses in areas where both occur. In situations where horses exclude pronghorn from water, pronghorn fitness may be impaired, especially during the hottest months of the year when water is limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate interference competition between pronghorn and feral horses …

Targeted Sequencing Of Plant Genomes , Mark D. Huynh

Theses and Dissertations

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has revolutionized the field of genetics by providing a means for fast and relatively affordable sequencing. With the advancement of NGS, whole- genome sequencing (WGS) has become more commonplace. However, sequencing an entire genome is still not cost effective or even beneficial in all cases. In studies that do not require a whole-genome survey, WGS yields lower sequencing depth and sequencing of uninformative loci. Targeted sequencing utilizes the speed and low cost of NGS while providing deeper coverage for desired loci. This thesis applies targeted sequencing to the genomes of two different, non-model plants, Artemisia tridentate (sagebrush) …

Cheatgrass Die-Off Phenomena: What Are The Short And Long Term Recovery Factors Of Bromus Tectorum Stand Failure?, Joshua Alan Nicholson

Theses and Dissertations

Observations of Bromus tectorum L. (cheatgrass or downy brome) monocultures have shown that populations are susceptible to stand die-off or replacement failures. Die-offs, where the seed bank from the previous year fails to emerge, occurs in cheatgrass stands and it is unclear the trigger or cause. The fungus Fusarium has been identified in plant and seed samples from die-offs and may drive die-off activity through pathogenicity. Die-off recovery may take several years but cheatgrass populations eventually reestablish. The purpose of our study was to determine whether Fusarium is a potential player in a die-off, and understand how die-offs recover after …

Identification Of The Infection Route Of A Fusarium Seed Pathogen Into Non-Dormant Bromus Tectorum Seeds, Janalynn Franke

Theses and Dissertations

The genus Fusarium has a wide host range and causes many different forms of plant disease. These include seed rot and seedling blight diseases of cultivated plants. The Fusarium-caused diseases of wild plants are less well-known. In this study we examined Fusarium sp. n-caused disease development on non-dormant seeds of the important rangeland weed Bromus tectorum as part of broader studies of the phenomenon of stand failure or ‘die-off’ in this annual grass. We previously isolated an undescribed species in the Fusarium tricinctum species complex from die-off soils and showed that it is pathogenic on seeds. It can cause high …

Fuel Response To Mechanical Mastication Of Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands In Utah, Alan Wyatt Shakespear

Theses and Dissertations

Pinyon-juniper woodland encroachment threatens ecosystem function and diversity on sagebrush steppe. Decreased fire frequency likely favors proliferation of pinyon-juniper woodlands and subsequent decline in desirable understory species. Increased tree cover produces hazardous canopy fuel loads that contribute to severe crown fires and threaten life and property at the wildland-urban-interface. Mechanical mastication converts large canopy fuels into small woody debris, altering wildfire dynamics from a potential crown fire to a more controllable surface fire. We measured fuel loading and cover on untreated, masticated, and masticated + burned treatments on 30-m transects within 30 X 33-m subplots, representing 45 different sites throughout …

Fire And Ungulate Herbivory Differentially Affect The Sexual Reproduction Of Generalist And Specialist Pollinated Plants, Andrew Hollis Lybbert

Theses and Dissertations

Currently the size and frequency of wildfires are increasing at a global scale, including arid ecosystems that exhibit great sensitivity to disturbance. Fire effects on plant pollination and reproductive success in deserts are largely unknown. Plant dependence on animal pollinators for reproduction can increase the risk of reproductive failure if pollination services are hindered or lost. Species that depend on few taxonomically related pollinator species are expected to be most negatively affected by disturbances that disrupt pollination interactions. To assess fire and isolation effects on reproductive success in desert plant communities, and how wildfire influences the pollination success of generalist …

A Study Of The American Black Bear (Ursus Americanus) In Utah: An Analysis Of The Post-Denning Activities And Bear-Human Conflict, Julie Ann Miller

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined two different aspects of black bear (Ursus americanus) ecology in Utah. First, we determined the post-denning behaviors of female black bears in order to help management agencies protect bears from human disturbances as well as set spring hunts that minimize the taking of females with dependent young. We looked at the timing of den emergence (X = 25 March), the number of days at the den site post emergence (X = 11 days), and departure (X = 8 April) for female black bears in Utah from 2011—2013. We also analyzed the effects of cohort (lone …

Secondary Dormancy And Summer Conditions Influence Outcomes In The Pyrenophora Semeniperda - Bromus Tectorum Pathosystem, Katie Karen Hawkins

Theses and Dissertations

Variable mortality of Pyrenophora semeniperda–infected Bromus tectorum seeds has been referred to as a “race for survival.” Dormant seeds are highly susceptible to P. semeniperda infection. While much is known about primary dormancy little is known about secondary dormancy in B. tectorum seeds. Dormancy status is not the only variable determining outcomes within the Bromus - Pyrenophora pathosystem. Varying temperature and intermittent hydration may strongly influence germination outcomes of B. tectorum in the presence of P. semeniperda. While it has long been assumed that B. tectorum seeds are infected by P. semeniperda in the fall it was recently suggested that …

Population Genetics Of Greater Sage-Grouse In Strawberry Valley, Utah, Paula S. Dunken

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined population genetics of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in Strawberry Valley, Utah located in the north-central part of the state. The Strawberry Valley population of sage-grouse experienced a severe population decline with estimates of abundance in 1998 less than 5% (~150 individuals) of similar estimates from the 1930s (>3,000 individuals). Given the population decline and reduced genetic diversity, recovery team partners translocated sage-grouse from four different populations into Strawberry Valley over 6 years (2003-2008). Translocations have been used as a strategy to increase both population size and genetic diversity in wildlife populations. We assessed whether genetic diversity …

Nitrogen Use Efficiency Of Polymer-Coated Urea, Curtis J. Ransom

Theses and Dissertations

Plants require N to complete their life cycle. Without adequate concentration of N, crops will not produce their potential yields. For turfgrass systems, N fertilizer application allows for the maintenance of functional, aesthetic, and recreational properties. However, fertilizer mismanagement is common and leads to N pollution in the environment. Controlled-release and slow-release fertilizers can enhance nitrogen (N)-use efficiency, reduce N pollution, minimize the need for repeated fertilizer applications, and reduce turfgrass shoot growth and associated costs. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of these fertilizers in the Intermountain West, research is needed. The timing of N release was evaluated for …

Parturition Of Mule Deer In Southern Utah: Management Implications And Habitat Selection, Eric D. Freeman

Theses and Dissertations

Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are an ecologically, economically, and socially important species across much of the western United States. As such, populations and habitat are intensely managed by state game agencies. However, populations have been declining in recent decades and several factors have been implicated (e.g., climate, predation, competition, and habitat availability). Population dynamics of mule deer are driven by a combination of survival of adults and juveniles and reproductive rates. While adult female mule deer typically have consistently high annual survival rates (85% annually), juveniles are more easily affected by stressors (biotic and abiotic conditions) and therefore …