Animal Sciences Commons^™

Territory Holders Are More Aggressive Towards Older, More Dangerous Floaters, Walter H. Piper, Katherine R. Lee, Brian Hoover

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Animals that show aggression often risk injury and incur steep energetic costs. Thus, aggression should occur at such times and towards such opponents as to maximize fitness. We tested hypotheses predicting adaptive territorial aggression in the common loon, a species in which ease of observation of territory owners and floaters (prebreeders) seeking to evict them provide a rare window onto owner-floater competition. As predicted, older, more competitive floaters (4-year-olds and upwards) tended to intrude into territories that had produced chicks the previous year (and, hence, were of high quality). Older floaters also showed predicted increases in aggression and territorial yodeling, …

Development Of Comprehensive Theoretical Morphospaces For Canine Cranial Morphology, Alexa Ortega, Nicholas Hebdon, Lindsay Waldrop

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Throughout the evolution of the family Canidae, there is a continuous belief that canines have an exceptional olfactory system which allows them to have a heightened sense of smell. Because of this olfactory sophistication, canines have become prevalent as detection animals in the military, homeland security, law enforcement, forensics, and civilian applications. However, while the trait is highly regarded, the exact role of nasal morphology is understudied. We aim to investigate the influences of nasal cavity and internal structure morphology in odor detection. However, nasal structure is a sophisticated morphological target and requires innovative solutions to capture the key variables …

Reckless Parenting With A Purpose, Walter H. Piper, Linda Grenzer

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

No abstract provided.

Anything For A Cheerio: Brown Capuchins (Sapajus [Cebus] Apella) Consistently Coordinate In An Assurance Game For Unequal Payoffs, Lauren M. Robinson, Mayte Martínez, Kelly L. Leverett, Mattea S. Rossettie, Bart J. Wilson, Sarah F. Brosnan

ESI Publications

Unequal outcomes disrupt cooperation in some situations, but this has not been tested in the context of coordination in economic games. To explore this, we tested brown capuchins (Sapajus [Cebus] apella) on a manual version of the Stag Hunt (or Assurance) Game, in which individuals sequentially chose between two options, Stag or Hare, and were rewarded according to their choices and that of their partner. Typically, coordination on Stag results in an equal highest payout, whereas coordinating on Hare results in a guaranteed equal but lower payoff and uncoordinated play results in the lowest payoff when playing …

Neurotranscriptomic Changes Associated With Chick-Directed Parental Care In Adult Non-Reproductive Japanese Quail, Patricia C. Lopes, Robert De Brujin

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

For many species, parental care critically affects offspring survival. But what drives animals to display parental behaviours towards young? In mammals, pregnancy-induced physiological transformations seem key in preparing the neural circuits that lead towards attraction (and reduced-aggression) to young. Beyond mammalian maternal behaviour, knowledge of the neural mechanisms that underlie young-directed parental care is severely lacking. We took advantage of a domesticated bird species, the Japanese quail, for which parental behaviour towards chicks can be induced in virgin non-reproductive adults through a sensitization procedure, a process that is not effective in all animals. We used the variation in parental responses …

Engineering And Characterization Of Human Β-Defensin-3 And Its Analogues And Microcin J25 Peptides Against Mannheimia Haemolytica And Bovine Neutrophils, Harpreet Dhingra, Kamaljit Kaur, Baljit Singh

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Mannheimia haemolytica-induced bovine respiratory disease causes loss of millions of dollars to Canadian cattle industry. Current antimicrobials are proving to be ineffective and leave residues in meat. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) may be effective against M. haemolytica while minimizing the risk of drug residues. Cationic AMPs can kill bacteria through interactions with the anionic bacterial membrane. Human β-Defensin 3 (HBD3) and microcin J25 (MccJ25) are AMPs with potent activity against many Gram-negative bacteria. We tested the microbicidal activity of wild-type HBD3, three HBD3 peptide analogues (28 amino acid, 20AA, and 10AA) derived from the sequence of natural HBD3, and MccJ25 …

Body And Tail Coordination In The Bluespot Salamander (Ambystoma Laterale) During Limb Regeneration, Cassandra M. Donatelli, Keegan Lutek, Keshav Gupta, Emily M. Standen

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Animals are incredibly good at adapting to changes in their environment, a trait envied by most roboticists. Many animals use different gaits to seamlessly transition between land and water and move through non-uniform terrains. In addition to adjusting to changes in their environment, animals can adjust their locomotion to deal with missing or regenerating limbs. Salamanders are an amphibious group of animals that can regenerate limbs, tails, and even parts of the spinal cord in some species. After the loss of a limb, the salamander successfully adjusts to constantly changing morphology as it regenerates the missing part. This quality is …

Sickness Behaviors Across Vertebrate Taxa: Proximate And Ultimate Mechanisms, Patricia C. Lopes, Susannah S. French, Douglas C. Woodhams, Sandra A. Binning

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

There is nothing like a pandemic to get the world thinking about how infectious diseases affect individual behavior. In this respect, sick animals can behave in ways that are dramatically different from healthy animals: altered social interactions and changes to patterns of eating and drinking are all hallmarks of sickness. As a result, behavioral changes associated with inflammatory responses (i.e. sickness behaviors) have important implications for disease spread by affecting contacts with others and with common resources, including water and/or sleeping sites. In this Review, we summarize the behavioral modifications, including changes to thermoregulatory behaviors, known to occur in vertebrates …

Compounded Gabapentin For Felines: Associated Metabolic Processes And Analysis Of Potency, Johnny Altwal

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Pharmaceutical compounding provides pharmacists and clinicians the opportunity to create unique drug formulations that are better suited to a specific patient’s needs. This is especially prevalent in veterinary medicine where clinicians treat a variety of maladies in a large number of species, thereby requiring unique formulations to more easily deliver drugs to animals. Several examples of compounded veterinary formulations with sub-therapeutic potencies have been published, but none examine compounded gabapentin. Gabapentin is frequently compounded into an oral suspension for veterinary use from tablets or capsules for the purpose of pain management in felines and other small animals. The project’s goals …

An Investigation Into Country Of Origin Labeling, Species Authentication And Short Weighting Of Commercially Sold Frozen Fish Fillets, April M. Peterson, Gabrielle E. Mcbride, Seeret K. Jhita, Rosalee S. Hellberg

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

Proper labeling of seafood is important to prevent economic deception and protect public health. The goal of this research was to investigate prepackaged frozen fish for Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) compliance, species labeling, net weights/short weighting, and percent glaze. A total of 111 frozen prepackaged fish fillets were purchased from grocery stores in Southern California (USA). Samples were designated as COOL compliant if they displayed both procurement method and country of origin in accordance with COOL requirements. Species labeling was examined by comparing the species identified with DNA barcoding to the acceptable market names provided in the FDA Seafood …

Early Evidence Of Natal-Habitat Preference: Juvenile Loons Feed On Natal-Like Lakes After Fledging, Brian A. Hoover, Kristin M. Brunk, Gabriella L. Jukkala, Nathan Banfield, Andrew L. Rypel, Walter H. Piper

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Many species show natal habitat preference induction (NHPI), a behavior in which young adults select habitats similar to those in which they were raised. However, we know little about how NHPI develops in natural systems. Here, we tested for NHPI in juvenile common loons (Gavia immer) that foraged on lakes in the vicinity of their natal lake after fledging. Juveniles visited lakes similar in pH to their natal lakes, and this significant effect persisted after controlling for spatial autocorrelation. On the other hand, juveniles showed no preference for foraging lakes of similar size to their natal one. When …

Modeling Action Potential Reversals In Tunicate Hearts, John W. Cain, Luran He, Lindsay D. Waldrop

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Tunicates are small invertebrates which possess a unique ability to reverse flow in their hearts. Scientists have debated various theories regarding how and why flow reversals occur. Here we explore the electrophysiological basis for reversals by simulating action potential propagation in an idealized model of the tubelike tunicate heart. Using asymptotic formulas for action potential duration and conduction velocity, we propose tunicate-specific parameters for a two-current ionic model of the action potential. Then, using a kinematic model, we derive analytical criteria for reversals to occur. These criteria inform subsequent numerical simulations of action potential propagation in a fiber paced at …

Multidecadal Analysis Of Beach Loss At The Major Offshore Sea Turtle Nesting Islands In The Northern Arabian Gulf, Rommel H. Maneja, Jeffrey D. Miller, Wenzhao Li, Rejoice Thomas, Hesham El-Askary, Sachi Perera, Ace Vincent B. Flandez, Abdullajid U. Basali, Joselito Francis A. Alcaria, Jinoy Gopalan, Surya Prakash Tiwari, Mubarak Al-Jedani, Perdana K. Prihartato, Ronald A. Loughlan, Ali Qasem, Mohamed A. Qurban, Wail Falath, Daniele Struppa

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Undocumented historical losses of sea turtle nesting beaches worldwide could overestimate the successes of conservation measures and misrepresent the actual status of the sea turtle population. In addition, the suitability of many sea turtle nesting sites continues to decline even without in-depth scientific studies of the extent of losses and impacts to the population. In this study, multidecadal changes in the outlines and area of Jana and Karan islands, major sea turtle nesting sites in the Arabian Gulf, were compared using available Kodak aerographic images, USGS EROS Declassified satellite imagery, and ESRI satellite images. A decrease of 5.1% and 1.7% …

Bovine Liver Supplement Labeling Practices And Compliance With U.S. Regulations, Anthony J. Silva, Olive J. Dahm, Rosalee S. Hellberg

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

Bovine liver supplements are sought after by consumers due to their nutrient-dense profile and high protein content. However, there is a lack of information regarding bovine liver supplement labeling practices. The objective of this study was to assess labeling practices and compliance with U.S. regulatory standards among commercially sold bovine liver supplements. The product labels for 49 bovine liver supplements were examined for required information, including a statement of identity; net quantity of contents; “Supplement Facts” label; ingredient statement; and name and place of business of manufacturer, packer, or distributor with domestic address or telephone number. Any claims made on …

Functional Morphology Of Gliding Flight Ii. Morphology Follows Predictions Of Gliding Performance, Jonathan Rader, Tyson L. Hedrick, Yanyan He, Lindsay D. Waldrop

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The evolution of wing morphology among birds, and its functional consequences, remains an open question, despite much attention. This is in part because the connection between form and function is difficult to test directly. To address this deficit, in prior work we used computational modeling and sensitivity analysis to interrogate the impact of altering wing aspect ratio, camber, and Reynolds number on aerodynamic performance, revealing the performance landscapes that avian evolution has explored. In the present work, we used a dataset of three-dimensionally scanned bird wings coupled with the performance landscapes to test two hypotheses regarding the evolutionary diversification of …

Plunging Floater Survival Causes Cryptic Population Decline In The Common Loon, Walter H. Piper, Jason Grear, Brian Hoover, Elaina Lomery, Linda M. Grenzer

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Populations of many vertebrates are declining and geographic ranges contracting, largely as a consequence of anthropogenic threats. Many reports of such decline, however, lack the breadth and detail to narrow down its causes. Here we describe population decline in the Common Loon (Gavia immer), a charismatic aquatic bird, based on systematic resighting and measurement of a marked population. During our 27-year investigation, age-adjusted chick mass has fallen by 11%, mortality among young and old chicks has increased by 31% and 82%, respectively, and fledging success has declined by 26%. Meanwhile, the return rate of marked nonbreeders (“floaters”) has …

Functional Morphology Of Gliding Flight I. Modeling Reveals Distinct Performance Landscapes Based On Soaring Strategies, Lindsay D. Waldrop, Yanyan He, Tyson L. Hedrick, Jonathan Rader

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The physics of flight influences the morphology of bird wings through natural selection on flight performance. The connection between wing morphology and performance is unclear due to the complex relationships between various parameters of flight. In order to better understand this connection, we present a holistic analysis of gliding flight that preserves complex relationships between parameters. We use a computational model of gliding flight, along with analysis by uncertainty quantification, to 1) create performance landscapes of gliding based on output metrics (maximum lift-to-drag ratio, minimum gliding angle, minimum sinking speed, lift coefficient at minimum sinking speed); and 2) predict what …

Data For "Consistent Differences In A Virtual World Model Of Ape Societies", Bart J. Wilson, Sarah F. Brosnan, Elizabeth V. Lonsdorf, Crickette M. Sanz

Business and Economics Faculty Data Sets

The zip file contains the data for the paper entitled "Consistent Differences in a Virtual World Model of Ape Societies" which appears in Scientific Reports.

Wild Mice With Different Social Network Sizes Vary In Brain Gene Expression, Patricia C. Lopes, Barbara König

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Appropriate social interactions influence animal fitness by impacting several processes, such as mating, territory defense, and offspring care. Many studies shedding light on the neurobiological underpinnings of social behavior have focused on nonapeptides (vasopressin, oxytocin, and homologues) and on sexual or parent-offspring interactions. Furthermore, animals have been studied under artificial laboratory conditions, where the consequences of behavioral responses may not be as critical as when expressed under natural environments, therefore obscuring certain physiological responses. We used automated recording of social interactions of wild house mice outside of the breeding season to detect individuals at both tails of a distribution …

Authentication Of Red Snapper (Lutjanus Campechanus) Fillets Using A Combination Of Real-Time Pcr And Dna Barcoding, Rachel B. Isaacs, Rosalee S. Hellberg

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

Red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) is a historically overfished and highly valued species that is commonly substituted with other fish, such as tilapia, rockfish, and other snapper species. The objective of this study was to assess the ability of real-time PCR to be used as a screening tool to rapidly test commercial fillets for the presence of red snapper, followed by species identification of negative samples with DNA barcoding. A total of 24 frozen, fresh, or thawed (previously frozen) fillets labeled as “red snapper” were tested with real-time PCR, along with 54 fillets from fish that are common substitutes …

Inspecting Species And Freshness Of Fish Fillets Using Multimode Hyperspectral Imaging Techniques, Jianwei Qin, Fartash Vasefi, Rosalee S. Hellberg, Alireza Akhbardeh, Rachel B. Isaacs, Ayse Gamze Yilmaz, Chansong Hwang, Insuck Baek, Walter F. Schmidt, Moon S. Kim

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

This study developed multimode hyperspectral imaging techniques to detect substitution and mislabeling of fish fillets. Line-scan hyperspectral images were collected from fish fillets in four modes, including reflectance in visible and nearinfrared (VNIR) region, fluorescence by 365 nm UV excitation, reflectance in short-wave infrared (SWIR) region, and Raman by 785 nm laser excitation. Fish fillets of six species (i.e., red snapper, vermilion snapper, Malabar snapper, summer flounder, white bass, and tilapia) were used for species differentiation and frozen-thawed red snapper fillets were used for freshness evaluation. A total of 24 machine learning classifiers were used for fish species and freshness …

Detection Of Fish Fillet Substitution And Mislabeling Using Multimode Hyperspectral Imaging Techniques, Jianwei Qin, Fartash Vasefi, Rosalee S. Hellberg, Alireza Akhbardeh, Rachel B. Isaacs, Ayse Gamze Yilmaz, Chansong Hwang, Insuck Baek, Walter F. Schmidt, Moon S. Kim

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

Substitution of high-priced fish species with inexpensive alternatives and mislabeling frozen-thawed fish fillets as fresh are two important fraudulent practices of concern in the seafood industry. This study aimed to develop multimode hyperspectral imaging techniques to detect substitution and mislabeling of fish fillets. Line-scan hyperspectral images were acquired from fish fillets in four modes, including reflectance in visible and near-infrared (VNIR) region, fluorescence by 365 nm UV excitation, reflectance in short-wave infrared (SWIR) region, and Raman by 785 nm laser excitation. Fish fillets of six species (i.e., red snapper, vermilion snapper, Malabar snapper, summer flounder, white bass, and tilapia) were …

Microplate Immunocapture Coupled With The 3m Molecular Detection System And Selective Plating For The Rapid Detection Of Salmonella Infantis In Dry Dog Food And Treats, Danielle K. Rosen, Miguel Gallardo, Mcclain Vail, Rosalee S. Hellberg

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

The objective of this study was to use microplate immunocapture (IC) to reduce the enrichment time required for detection of Salmonella in pet food with the 3 M Molecular Detection System (MDS) or selective plating on XLD. Dog food and pig ear treats were inoculated with Salmonella Infantis at concentrations of 10⁰–10⁴ CFU/25 g, followed by a 3-h enrichment, then microplate IC and 3 M MDS or microplate IC and selective plating on XLD. Another set of samples underwent a traditional 24-h enrichment followed by 3 M MDS or selective plating. Based on the results of three …

Pcr Cloning Combined With Dna Barcoding Enables Partial Identification Of Fish Species In A Mixed-Species Product, Anthony J. Silva, Michael D. Kawalek, Donna M. Williams-Hill, Rosalee S. Hellberg

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

DNA barcoding is a valuable tool for regulatory identification of fish species; however, it does not perform well when multiple species are present within the same food product. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the use of PCR cloning to identify fish in a mixed-species product that cannot be identified with standard DNA barcoding. A total of 15 fish ball mixtures were prepared with known amounts of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus), and walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus). Three subsamples from each fish ball underwent DNA extraction, full DNA barcoding (655 bp), and mini-barcoding (226 …

The Role Of Dislodgement In The Territorial Ecology Of The Owl Limpet, Lottia Gigantea, Ryan T. Kabala, Natalie Swinford, Maria J. Mason, William G. Wright

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Ascertaining the risks and benefits of different behaviors is a central goal of research on territoriality. Although most territorial behavior is ritualized, with concomitant reduced risks for both residents and intruders, this ritualization is generally found to be underpinned by rare, highly consequential, interactions. The agonistic behavior of the intertidal owl limpet, Lottia gigantea, involves defense of a feeding territory, and includes a relatively explosive thrusting response by territory holders against intruding conspecifics. We here ask whether this thrusting behavior is capable of entirely dislodging intruders from their rocky wave-swept substratum, thereby ridding the resident of future challenges by …

Immune-Endocrine Links To Gregariousness In Wild House Mice, Patricia C. Lopes, Esther H. D. Carlitz, Morgan Kindel, Barbara König

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Social interactions are critically important for survival and impact overall-health, but also impose costs on animals, such as exposure to contagious agents. The immune system can play a critical role in modulating social behavior when animals are sick, as has been demonstrated within the context of “sickness behaviors.” Can immune molecules affect or be affected by social interactions even when animals are not sick, therefore serving a role in mediating pathogen exposure? We tested whether markers of immune function in both the blood and the brain are associated with gregariousness, quantified as number of animals interacted with per day. To …

Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus Ostreatus) Stipe Peptides As In-Vitro Radical Scavenging, Ferrous Iron Chelating, & Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Compounds, Suraj Meharwade

Food Science (MS) Theses

Ferrous iron chelating, ABTS radical scavenging, and ferric reducing antioxidant activity of mushroom stipe peptides obtained using Protamex® and V8 protease has not been investigated. Additionally, the effects of peptides on protein carbonyl formation during myofibrillar oxidation is unknown. Oxidation of lysine, arginine, and proline in myofibrillar protein from red meat results in reduced meat quality owing to changes in water composition. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare the antioxidant performance of <1 kDa and 1-3 kDa mushroom peptides obtained by Protamex®-V8 hydrolysis against mushroom hydrolysate, mushroom protein, and mushroom stipe for radical scavenging, ferrous chelating, and ferric reducing activity, as well as their effects on protein carbonyl formation within a protein oxidation system. <1 kDa peptides exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.05) in-vitro ferrous iron chelating activity and ABTS radical scavenging activity as compared to mushroom stipe and 1-3 kDa peptides. Whereas, 1-3 kDa peptides demonstrated significantly …

Labeling Compliance And Species Authentication Of Fish Fillets Sold At Grocery Stores In Southern California, Priscila Liou, Angela Banda, Rachel B. Isaacs, Rosalee S. Hellberg

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

Seafood mislabeling has numerous consequences, including economic deception and food safety risks. The focus of this study was to investigate fish species labeling, use of acceptable market names, and Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) compliance for fresh fish fillets sold at grocery store seafood counters in Southern California. A total of 120 fillets representing 16 different categories of fish were collected from 30 Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA)-listed grocery stores. Each sample underwent DNA barcoding to identify the species. Acceptable market names were confirmed using the FDA Seafood List. Samples were determined to be compliant with COOL if both …

Effects Of Poor Sanitation Procedures On Cross-Contamination Of Animal Species In Ground Meat Products, Sunjung Chung, Rosalee S. Hellberg

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

The presence of <1% of an undeclared species in ground meat is generally thought to be indicative of cross-contamination as opposed to intentional mislabeling; however, this has not been experimentally tested. The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of poor sanitation on the cross-contamination of animal species in ground meat products, with the example of undeclared pork in ground beef. Cross-contamination was quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Three different sanitation treatments were tested with a commercial grinder (“no cleaning”, “partial cleaning”, or “complete cleaning”) in between grinding of pork and beef samples (13.6 kg each). A 100-g sample was collected for each 0.91 kg (2 lb) of beef processed with the grinder and each sanitation treatment was tested twice. For the “no cleaning” treatment, the first 100-g sample of ground beef run through the grinder contained 24.42 ± 10.41% pork, while subsequent samples (n = 14) contained <0.2% pork. With “partial cleaning,” the first sample of ground beef contained 4.60 ± 0.3% pork and subsequent samples contained <0.2% pork. Pork was not detected in ground beef following “complete cleaning.” These results indicate that incomplete cleaning of grinding equipment leads to species cross-contamination at levels of <1% in most cases. Proper sanitation procedures must be followed when grinding multiple species in order to prevent cross-contamination and product mislabeling.

Development Of A Dna Mini-Barcoding Protocol Targeting Coi For The Identification Of Elasmobranch Species In Shark Cartilage Pills, Rowena J. Zahn, Anthony J. Silva, Rosalee S. Hellberg

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

Many elasmobranch (shark and ray) species are considered threatened and their identification in processed products is important for conservation and authentication purposes. However, identification of elasmobranch species in shark cartilage pills has proven difficult using existing methodologies. The objective of this study was to develop a DNA mini-barcoding protocol using a ~130 bp region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene for species identification in shark cartilage pills. A total of 22 shark cartilage products underwent DNA extraction in duplicate using the DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit (Qiagen). The effectiveness of a clean-up step following DNA extraction was …