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Full-Text Articles in Animal Sciences

Alteration Of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (Vegfa) Isoform Expression Results In Abnormal Gonadal Function, Ningxia Lu Nov 2010

Alteration Of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (Vegfa) Isoform Expression Results In Abnormal Gonadal Function, Ningxia Lu

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In the female, vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) isoforms regulate follicle development and affect the initial primordial follicle pool. In male rodent testes, they are involved in the development of vasculature and seminiferous cords. The objective of the current study was to evaluate effects of Sertoli and Granulosa cellspecific production of VEGFA isoforms on vascular development and gonadal morphogenesis. We used a DMRT1-cre crossed to a floxed VEGFA mouse to determine potential phenotypes in male Sertoli-cell (VEGFA-DSertG) and female Granulosa-cell (VEGFA-DGranG) specific knockouts. In females, we found smaller ovarian weight, fewer corpus luteums (CLs) with some abnormal CL morphology, …


Identification Of Markers Associated With Sow Lifetime Productivity For Whole Genomic Selection, Daniel Ciobanu Jun 2010

Identification Of Markers Associated With Sow Lifetime Productivity For Whole Genomic Selection, Daniel Ciobanu

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Sows are more productive today than ever before. However, concurrent with increased prolificacy, high sow death losses and replacement rates are serious economic and welfare issues facing producers. Reproductive failure is the most frequent reason for culling sows. Length of productive life is moderately heritable and has high variance; thus, substantial genetic variation is expected to exist in most populations. Genetic improvement in the swine industry occurs from selection in nucleus herds and is then transmitted through the breeding pyramid in the multiplication process. Thus, it is critical to identify selection methods that can be applied in nucleus herds that …


Lidar Remote Sensing Variables Predict Breeding Habitat Of A Neotropical Migrant Bird, Scott J. Goetz, Daniel Steinberg, Matthew G. G. Betts, Richard T. Holmes Jun 2010

Lidar Remote Sensing Variables Predict Breeding Habitat Of A Neotropical Migrant Bird, Scott J. Goetz, Daniel Steinberg, Matthew G. G. Betts, Richard T. Holmes

Dartmouth Scholarship

A topic of recurring interest in ecological research is the degree to which vegetation structure influences the distribution and abundance of species. Here we test the applicability of remote sensing, particularly novel use of waveform lidar measurements, for quantifying the habitat heterogeneity of a contiguous northern hardwoods forest in the northeastern United States. We apply these results to predict the breeding habitat quality, an indicator of reproductive output of a well-studied Neotropical migrant songbird, the Black-throated Blue Warbler (Dendroica caerulescens). We found that using canopy vertical structure metrics provided unique information for models of habitat quality and spatial patterns of …


Reproductive Energetics Of Adult Male Yellow- Bellied Marmots (Marmota Flaviventris), Carmen M. Salsbury, K. B. Armitage Feb 2010

Reproductive Energetics Of Adult Male Yellow- Bellied Marmots (Marmota Flaviventris), Carmen M. Salsbury, K. B. Armitage

Carmen M. Salsbury

We examined the energy expenditure of adult male yellow-bellied marmots and its relationship to various female-defense characteristics critical to male reproductive success. Resting metabolic rates of males were estimated in the laboratory via oxygen-consumption analysis, and field metabolic rates were estimated using a doubly Labeled water technique. Male home-range size, number of females defended by males, dispersion of females in the habitat, and date into the active season were considered to be predictors of male energy expenditure in excess of maintenance costs (field metabolic rate minus resting metabolic rate). Energy expenditure was best explained by a defensibility index based on …


Observations Of Reproduction In Mountain Lions From Nebraska, Sam Wilson, Justin D. Hoffman, Hugh H. Genoways Jan 2010

Observations Of Reproduction In Mountain Lions From Nebraska, Sam Wilson, Justin D. Hoffman, Hugh H. Genoways

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Occurrences of mountain lions (Puma concolor) in Nebraska have been steadily increasing; however, reproductive activity in mountain lions has not been documented in the state. We present the first evidence of mountain lion reproduction in Nebraska since mountain lions recolonized the state in the early 1990s. On 28 February 2007, a spotted kitten was hit by a vehicle in northwestern Nebraska; and based on body length and weight, we estimate its age at 3.9 months. On 20 December 2008, a female mountain lion and spotted kitten were photographed in the northwestern part of the state. On 9 May …


Nest Desertion In A Reintroduced Population Of Migratory Whooping Cranes, Richard P. Urbanek, Sara E. Zimorski, Anna M. Fasoli, Eva K. Szyszkoski Jan 2010

Nest Desertion In A Reintroduced Population Of Migratory Whooping Cranes, Richard P. Urbanek, Sara E. Zimorski, Anna M. Fasoli, Eva K. Szyszkoski

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Reintroduction of an eastern migratory population of whooping cranes (Grus americana) into eastern North America began in 2001. Reproduction first occurred in 2005. Through 2008, eggs were produced in 22 first nests and 2 renests. All first nests failed–50% confirmed due to desertion by the parents and the remaining nest failures also consistent with the pattern of parental desertion. Nest failures were not related to stage of incubation, and they were often synchronous. Temperatures in winter and early spring affected timing of nest failure. An environmental factor such as harassment of incubating cranes by black flies (Simulium …


Survival, Reproduction, And Movements Of Migratory Whooping Cranes During The First Seven Years Of Reintroduction, Richard P. Urbanek, Lara E. A. Fondow, Sara E. Zimorski Jan 2010

Survival, Reproduction, And Movements Of Migratory Whooping Cranes During The First Seven Years Of Reintroduction, Richard P. Urbanek, Lara E. A. Fondow, Sara E. Zimorski

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

An effort to reintroduce a migratory population of whooping cranes (Grus americana) into eastern North America began in 2001. During 2001-2007, 125 juveniles were costume/isolation-reared and released: 106 were led by ultralight aircraft from Necedah National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), central Wisconsin, to Chassahowitzka NWR, central Gulf Coast of Florida, on their first autumn migration (ultralight-led or UL). The remaining 19 individuals were released directly on Necedah NWR during autumn of the hatch year (direct autumn release or DAR). Of 86 UL and 13 DAR cranes that completed their first spring migration, 72 (84%) and 5 (38%), respectively, returned …


Reproductive Health And Performance Of The Florida Flock Of Introduced Whooping Cranes, Marilyn G. Spalding, Martin J. Folk, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Richard Kiltie Jan 2010

Reproductive Health And Performance Of The Florida Flock Of Introduced Whooping Cranes, Marilyn G. Spalding, Martin J. Folk, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Richard Kiltie

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We retrospectively examined the reproductive parameters of 122 breeding-age whooping cranes (Grus americana) in a reintroduced flock in central Florida from 1992 to 2007. The flock performed poorly when compared with an existing wild flock for all reproductive parameters when controlled for age. Pairs first formed in 1995, nested in 1999, and the first chick fledged in 2002. By 2007, 19 of 63 clutches produced 25 chicks, 9 of which fledged. Drought conditions were ruled out as the sole cause of failure when the drought lessened and productivity increased, but not in all years. We examined adult health, …


Life History Features Of The Nonindigenous Three-Spined Stickleback (Gasterosteus Aculeatus Linnaeus, 1758) In The Gomishan Wetland (Southeast Caspian Sea, Iran), Rahman Patimar, Mariam Horry Najafabadi, Manizheh Ghadi Souraki Jan 2010

Life History Features Of The Nonindigenous Three-Spined Stickleback (Gasterosteus Aculeatus Linnaeus, 1758) In The Gomishan Wetland (Southeast Caspian Sea, Iran), Rahman Patimar, Mariam Horry Najafabadi, Manizheh Ghadi Souraki

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The Caspian Sea forms the southern limit of the distribution range of the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), but little is known about its life history in this area. A total of 362 specimens were collected from the Gomishan wetland (southeast Caspian Sea, Iran) to describe the stickleback's life history characteristics. Samples were taken monthly between February and July of 2008. The maximum ages of the population observed were 2+ years for males and 3+ years for females. The length-weight relationship (LWR) was estimated as W = 0.0042TL^{3.711} for immature specimens, W = 0.0095TL^{3.1328} for males, and W = 0.0057TL^{3.4678} for …


Age, Growth, Length-Weight Relationship And Reproduction Of The Striped Seabream (Lithognathus Mormyrus L., 1758) (Sparidae) In The Beymelek Lagoon (Antalya, Turkey), Yilmaz Emre, İsmet Balik, Çeti̇n Sümer, D. Aytuğ Oskay, H. Özgür Yeşi̇lçi̇men Jan 2010

Age, Growth, Length-Weight Relationship And Reproduction Of The Striped Seabream (Lithognathus Mormyrus L., 1758) (Sparidae) In The Beymelek Lagoon (Antalya, Turkey), Yilmaz Emre, İsmet Balik, Çeti̇n Sümer, D. Aytuğ Oskay, H. Özgür Yeşi̇lçi̇men

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Age, growth, length-weight relationship and reproduction were investigated for striped seabream (Lithognathus mormyrus L., 1758) collected from Beymelek Lagoon (Antalya, Turkey) between February 2006 and January 2007. The ages of striped seabream ranged from 0 to 3 years for males and from 0 to 4 years for females. Their total lengths and weights ranged between 14.4 and 26.4 cm and 42 and 297 g for males and 14.3 and 27.4 cm and 40 and 329 g for females, respectively. The growth parameters of the von Bertalanffy equation were: L_{\infinity} = 28.3 cm, K = 0.456 year^{-1} and t_0 = -1.859 …


Growth And Reproduction Of Blotched Picarel (Spicara Maena Linnaeus, 1758) In The Central Aegean Sea, Turkey, Ozan Soykan, Akin Türker İlkyaz, Gülnur Meti̇n, Hasan Tuncay Kinacigi̇l Jan 2010

Growth And Reproduction Of Blotched Picarel (Spicara Maena Linnaeus, 1758) In The Central Aegean Sea, Turkey, Ozan Soykan, Akin Türker İlkyaz, Gülnur Meti̇n, Hasan Tuncay Kinacigi̇l

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Growth and reproduction of the blotched picarel, Spicara maena (Linnaeus, 1758), were determined based on specimens (n = 2547) collected from the central Aegean Sea between July 2004 and June 2007. The samples consisted of 71.9% females, 16.2% males, and 11.9% immature individuals. The sex ratio of females to males was 1:0.23. The length-weight relationship was W = 0.011L^{3.02}, W = 0.011L^{3.00}, and W = 0.011L^{2.99} for the combined sexes, females, and males, respectively. For all samples and both sexes the length-weight relationship showed isometric growth. The von Bertalanffy growth equation was fitted on the basis of mean length-at-age data, …


Growth And Reproduction Of Large-Scaled Gurnard (Lepidotrigla Cavillone Lacepède, 1801) (Triglidae) In The Central Aegean Sea, Eastern Mediterranean, Akin Türker İlkyaz, Gülnur Meti̇n, Ozan Soykan, Hasan Tuncay Kinacigi̇l Jan 2010

Growth And Reproduction Of Large-Scaled Gurnard (Lepidotrigla Cavillone Lacepède, 1801) (Triglidae) In The Central Aegean Sea, Eastern Mediterranean, Akin Türker İlkyaz, Gülnur Meti̇n, Ozan Soykan, Hasan Tuncay Kinacigi̇l

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Age, growth, and reproduction of the large-scaled gurnard were studied in the central Aegean Sea to provide fisheries managers with the essential data for science-based management. A total of 2342 samples were collected by trawl hauls between July 2004 and June 2007 from İzmir Bay (Turkey). The size of the samples ranged from 3.4 to 15.2 cm total length and the samples were composed of 35.2% females, 25.7% males and 39.1% immature individuals, with a female to male ratio of 1:0.73. The length-weight relationship was calculated as W = 0.0086L^{3.16} for all samples. The age composition of the samples was …