Animal Sciences Commons^™

The Dirt On The Ancient Maya: Soil Chemical Investigations Of Ancient Maya Marketplaces, Daniel Aaron Bair

Theses and Dissertations

Various criteria or lines of evidence have been used to identify ancient Maya marketplaces, including location near trade routes, artifactual evidence of trade, open space adjacent to transportation routes, proximity to public structures, low platforms and rock alignments to denote market spaces, and regular patterns in soil and floor chemical concentrations. Seibal and Mayapán were important economic Maya polities controlling the trade routes at the apex of their civilizations. The objectives of these studies were to apply geochemical and geospatial analyses of the soils and floors from public plazas and household patios, to discover the anthropogenic chemical residues of phosphorus …

Multidisciplinary Assessment And Documentation Of Past And Present Human Impacts On The Neotropical Forests Of Petén, Guatemala, Christopher Stephen Balzotti

Theses and Dissertations

Tropical forests provide important habitat for a tremendous diversity of plant and animal species. However, limitations in measuring and monitoring the structure and function of tropical forests has caused these systems to remain poorly understood. Remote-sensing technology has provided a powerful tool for quantification of structural patterns and associating these with resource use. Satellite and aerial platforms can be used to collect remotely sensed images of tropical forests that can be applied to ecological research and management. Chapter 1 of this article highlights the resources available for tropical forest remote sensing and presents a case-study that demonstrates its application to …

Developmental Contributions To Variation In Aspen Clones And The Influence Of Pre-Fire Succession Status On Aspen Regeneration Success, Eric A. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis includes two studies: The first examined developmental changes that take place in the physiology of aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) and to characterize developmental influences on patterns of phenotypic trait variation among different aged ramets within the aspen clones. We surveyed eight clones, each with 8 distinct age classes ranging from 1 to 170 yrs in age. Using regression analysis we examined the relationships between ramet age and expression of functional phenotypes. Eight of the phenotypic traits demonstrated a non-linear relationship in which large changes in phenotype occurred in the early stages of ramet development and stabilized thereafter. …

Dairy Farmer Attitudes And Empathy Toward Animals Are Associated With Animal Welfare Indicators, Camilla Kielland, Eystein Skjerve, Olav Østerås, Adroaldo José Zanella

Societal Attitudes Toward Animals Collection

Attitudes and empathy of farmers influence human–animal interaction, thereby affecting their behavior toward animals. The goal was to investigate how measures of attitude and empathy toward animals were associated with animal welfare indicators such as milk yield, mastitis incidence, fertility index, and the prevalence of skin lesions on cows. To assess empathy toward animals, a photo-based pain assessment instrument was developed depicting various conditions that could be associated with some degree of pain in cattle and included questions aimed at assessing attitudes toward animals. Photos of painful conditions are useful in eliciting measurable empathic responses to pain in humans. A …

Coastal And Marine Resource Condition Monitoring – Scoping Project: Final Nrm Report – Project 073007, Brett A. Human

Fisheries Research Reports

The marine and coastal environment of the Pilbara and Kimberley region in north-western Western Australia contains many assets, including remote and near pristine habitats, unique habitats within Australia, unique fauna and flora; as well as assets of value to commercial and industrial ventures; and for recreational human usage. However, there is a lack of monitoring in the Pilbara and Kimberley marine and coastal environments. This is in large part due to the remoteness of the area, making access difficult, and consequently making monitoring programs expensive to run in the region.

Integrated Fisheries Management: Draft Allocation Report – West Coast Demersal Scalefish, Integrated Fisheries Allocation Advisory Committee

Fisheries Management Papers

The Minister for Fisheries established the Integrated Fisheries Management Allocation Advisory Committee (IFAAC), under Section 42 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (FRMA), in 2004 to investigate IFM resource allocation issues and make recommendations to him on optimal resource use.

The IFAAC has prepared this report, which documents the committee’s initial position on allocations for the west coast demersal scalefish resource, along with the reasons for its conclusions as a basis for widespread community consultation. This report follows the IFAAC’s preliminary investigation of the west coast demersal scalefish resource sharing issues and consultation with stakeholders.

Integrated Fisheries Management Report. West Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource., Department Of Fisheries Western Australia.

Fisheries Management Papers

This report on the West Coast Demersal Scalefish fishery is the third in a series of Integrated Fisheries Management (IFM) resource reports required under the Government policy on IFM. Under this policy, the Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Fisheries is required to approve a sustainability report for each fishery, which includes a clear statement on the recommended harvest level.

A Bycatch Action Plan For The Pilbara Fish Trawl Interim Managed Fishery., Department Of Fisheries Western Australia

Fisheries Management Papers

The effect of commercial fishing on bycatch species and the marine ecosystem generally, has emerged as a significant national and international issue. Environmental issues associated with bycatch – including impacts on the ecology of non-target species of fish and wildlife – are important issues to address in reducing the impacts, or potential impacts, of commercial fisheries.

In 1998, the National Standing Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture developed a national policy on fisheries bycatch. In 1999, the (then) State Minister for Fisheries adopted the national policy as his position on bycatch for Western Australia. The main objective of the policy is …

Integrated Fisheries Management Draft Allocation Report – West Coast Demersal Scalefish, Integrated Fisheries Allocation Advisory Committee. Western Australian Dept. Of Fisheries

Fisheries Management Papers

Integrated Fisheries Management (IFM) is an initiative aimed at addressing the issue of how fish resources in Western Australia can be best shared between competing users within the broad context of ‘Ecologically Sustainable Development’ (ESD) so that they can be managed on a sustainable basis.

Wpa News 85 (2010), World Pheasant Association

Galliformes Specialist Group and Affiliated Societies: Newsletters

WPA News (Summer 2010), number 85

Published by the World Pheasant Association

Bats Of The Grenadine Islands, West Indies, And Placement Of Koopman's Line, Hugh H. Genoways, Gary G. Kwiecinski, Peter A. Larsen, Scott C. Pedersen, Roxanne J. Larsen, Justin D. Hoffman, Mark De Silva, Carleton J. Phillips, Robert J. Baker

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Almost nothing is known concerning the chiropteran fauna on the Grenadine Islands, a chain of islands between St. Vincent and Grenada located near the southern end of the Lesser Antilles. Previously, only a single species—Glossophaga longirostris—had been reported from the Grenadines. Our research, conducted on 4 occasions over the period of 1980 to 2006, provided museum vouchers and genetic specimens for the addition of 4 other species to the known fauna of these islands—Noctilio leporinus, Artibeus lituratus, Artibeus schwartzi, and Molossus molossus. The Grenadines, being situated between St. Vincent and Grenada, occupy an important zoogeographic position. …

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 …

Invasive Species And Public Investment In The Green Economy, Invasive Species Advisory Committee

National Invasive Species Council

Invasive Species and Public Investment in the Green Economy, approved by ISAC on June 24, 2010

ISSUE

Invasive species are intricately linked to the economy. Trade, travel, and transport facilitate their spread. Invasive species management requires extensive human and financial resources. The impacts of invasive species can substantially undermine economic growth and sustainable development. United States Executive Order (EO) 13112 defines invasive species as “alien [non-native] species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health” and states that Federal agencies should …“not authorize, fund, or carry out actions that are likely …

Marine Bioinvasions And Climate Change, James T. Carlton, Sandra C. Lindstrom, Celia M. Smith, Jennifer E. Smith

National Invasive Species Council

BACKGROUND

Invasive species are second only to habitat destruction as the greatest cause of species endangerment and global biodiversity loss. Invasive species can cause severe and permanent damage to the ecosystems they invade. Consequences of invasion include competition with or predation upon native species, hybridization, carrying or supporting harmful pathogens and parasites that may affect wildlife and human health, disturbing ecosystem function through alteration of food webs and nutrient recycling rates, acting as ecosystem engineers and altering habitat structure, and degradation of the aesthetic quality of our natural resources. In many cases we may not fully know the native animals …

An Initial Map Of Chromosomal Segmental Copy Number Variations In The Chicken, Xiaofei Wang, Samuel N. Nahashon, Tromondae K. Feaster, Ann L. Bohannon-Stewart, Nathaniel Adefope

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Background

Chromosomal segmental copy number variation (CNV) has been recently recognized as a very important source of genetic variability. Some CNV loci involve genes or conserved regulatory elements. Compelling evidence indicates that CNVs impact genome functions. The chicken is a very important farm animal species which has also served as a model for biological and biomedical research for hundreds of years. A map of CNVs in chickens could facilitate the identification of chromosomal regions that segregate for important agricultural and disease phenotypes.

Results

Ninety six CNVs were identified in three lines of chickens (Cornish Rock broiler, Leghorn and Rhode Island …

Alaska Reflections: A Sampler

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

Table of Contents:

A Glacier Bird in Retreat
Bridging the Slough
The Great Eider Egg Hunt
Subsistence is for the Birds
Many are Cold, Few were Frozen
Experience is the Best Teacher
Reflecting

Actions To Implement And Complement The National System For The Prevention And Management Of Introduced Marine Pests In Western Australia, Fred E. Wells, Justin I. Mcdonald

Fisheries Research Reports

Introduced marine pests are regarded as one of the critical environmental issues worldwide which can damage the marine environment, including that of Western Australia. Most introduced species cause no apparent harm. A small minority of introduced species become pests, but these few can cause substantial economic and ecological damage.

On-Farm Welfare Assessment For Regulatory Purposes: Issues And Possible Solutions, Jan Tind Sørensen, David Fraser

Assessment of Animal Welfare Collection

On-farm welfare assessment has been used mainly for non-regulatory purposes such as producer education or to qualify for voluntary welfare-assurance programs. The application of on-farm assessments in regulatory programs would require four issues to be addressed: (1) selecting criteria that are widely accepted as valid by diverse citizens, (2) setting minimum legal levels, (3) achieving the high level of fairness and objectivity required for legally binding requirements, and (4) achieving the cost-efficiency needed for widespread use of the methods. Issues 1 and 2 pose a particular problem because different citizens disagree on what they understand as good animal welfare, with …

Trial And Budget Analysis Of Two Synchronized Artificial Insemination Breeding Programs For Beef First Calf Heifers, John Nino

Agribusiness

This study was designed to compare the benefits and costs of two different synchronized artificial insemination programs on two groups of beef first calf heifers. A financial budget was developed that would include cost of synchronized insemination per animal and the added value of a bred heifer compared to an open one.

The two synchronized programs were called controlled internal drug release (CIDR) and Ovsynch. They used a specific timeline and drugs to complete the synchronization process. A single low birth weight high calving ease bull was used for both groups to enforce conformity between the groups. Costs of all …

Future Management Of The Metropolitan Recreational Roe's Abalone Fishery., Metropolitan Roe's Abalone Recreational Fishery Working Group.

Fisheries Management Papers

Following the setting of a 40 tonne Total Allowable Recreational Catch (TARC) for the Perth recreational abalone fishery, a working group was formed to examine future management options.

The Metropolitan Roe’s Abalone Recreational Fishery Working Group (“the Working Group”) examined historical management, key principles, amenity of fishing, bag limits, license numbers, season length and timing of the season to assist its deliberations. A questionnaire was also sent out to 1,000 abalone recreational licence holders, with 20 per cent of licensees providing a detailed response.

Abalone Aquaculture In Western Australia. Aquaculture Policy., Department Of Fisheries Western Australia.

Fisheries Management Papers

The Department of Fisheries (“Department”) is committed to the development of a sustainable abalone aquaculture industry in Western Australia. As part of its commitment, the Department has developed this new Abalone Aquaculture Policy (“Policy”) to outline new arrangements for the management of the abalone aquaculture industry in the State.

The first policy on abalone aquaculture was released 10 years ago and in November 2009, the Department convened a stakeholder meeting with the abalone industry (the wild capture and aquaculture sectors) to discuss policy changes that would support the abalone aquaculture industry in Western Australia. Relevant issues included compliance, monitoring, biosecurity, …

Development Towards Commercialization Of Marine Fish Larvae Feeds – Microdiets: Final Frdc Report - Project 2004/258, Sagiv Kolkovski, John Curnow, Justin King

Fisheries Research Reports

The project specifically focused on developing formulated diets for marine fish larvae, specifically targeting more physical aspects of microdiets such as feeding methods, feed availability and particle recognition. A commercially ready microdiet formulation was developed that achieved better ingestion, digestion and survival for yellowtail kingfish than other commercially available diets. Two manufacturers of aquaculture feeds showed interested in the formulations, however neither of the companies have started producing the diet commercially.

A Place Called Pahaku, Paul A. Johnsgard

Papers in Ornithology

There is an area in eastern Nebraska where the Platte River, after flowing northeastwardly from the vicinity of Kearney for nearly 150 miles, enters the glacial drift bordering the Missouri Valley and turns directly east. Over its eastward course of about 50 miles, the river forms a shallow and wide sandy channel that is bounded to the south by forested bluffs and to the north by a wide wooded floodplain. One of these glacially shaped and loess-capped bluffs was known historically to the resident Pawnee tribe as Pahaku (usually but incorrectly spelled as Pahuk) Hill. This Pawnee word may be …

An Unfortunate Name—With A Nebraska Twist, Rick Wright

Nebraska Bird Review

The past days have seen an amusing conversation about bird names conducted on the online discussion group NEBirds—just the sort of thing to get us through these dog-day afternoons of August. The scientific name of the Paltry Tyrannulet, a tropical flycatcher, is Zimmerius vilissimus, the genus so named by Melvin Traylor after American ornithologist John Todd Zimmer, who had a Nebraska connection through the university and State Museum in Lincoln. Combining the bird’s specific epithet from 1859—long preceding the new genus name of 1977—resulted in an English meaning of the entirety as “the very contemptible Zimmer.” Not what Traylor …

Design, Planning, And Evaluation Of Upgraded Cattle Handling Facility, Lindsey Kaeli Tulloch

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This senior project discusses the design, planning, and evaluation of a livestock handling facility for Tulloch Ranches. The facility will be an upgrade to the facility currently used at the ranch in Pine Valley, California. The design parameters for the facility were narrowed down to the following: 1. Must reduce stress to animals during handling. 2. Must be cost effective to save labor and maintenance. 3. Must show improvement from the current set- up. The above parameters combine to form a system that enables the handlers of Tulloch Ranches to manage and work cattle in a more calm and humane …

Growth Hormone Alters Components Related To Differentiation, Metabolism And Milk Synthesis And Secretion In Mac-T Cells, Tasha Lynn Johnson

Master's Theses

The mammary alveolar cell-T (MAC-T) cell line is able to uniformly differentiate and secrete casein proteins in response to dexamethasone, insulin and prolactin and is extensively used to study bovine mammary epithelial cell function. Growth hormone (GH) has been shown to increase milk protein synthesis both in vivo and in mammary cell models, and induce cytoskeletal rearrangement in 3T3 fibroblast cell line and a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line. Few studies have focused on identifying the mechanisms involved in differentiated MAC-T cells’ response to GH. We tested the hypothesis that MAC-T cells would respond directly to GH and that …

Correction [June 2010]

Nebraska Bird Review

Correction: The name of the photographer of the Great Blue Heron nest on page 5 of the March 2010 issue of the Nebraska Bird Review was inadvertently omitted. The photo was taken by Edward Tickle.

Annual Meeting At Chadron

Nebraska Bird Review

Sixty-seven members and guests were in attendance at the 111th Annual Meeting of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union held at Camp Norwesca on May 14–16, 2010. The Camp Norwesca campus, located just south of Chadron State Park, proved to be an excellent birding location, providing good views of Evening Grosbeaks and Red Crossbills. Evening Grosbeaks were also found at Chadron State Park and at Beaver Wall in Sheridan Co.

Field trips were led by Wayne Mollhoff, Kathy DeLara, Ann Duey, Alice Kenitz, and Bruce and Donna Walgren. Rain on Saturday morning caused some last-minute changes to the trip itineraries. Among the …

Spring Field Report, March 2010 To May 2010, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

There was much of interest this spring. Early and late dates, early breeding, even a few rarities, are scattered through the species accounts. A few highlights are mentioned here. Mark Brogie found 6 species of Gallinaceous birds in one hour in Knox Co—quite a feat. Glossy Ibis reports continue to increase, and Mississippi Kites were found in new areas. Cranes made news: a leucistic Sandhill, another Common, and good numbers of Whoopings. Piping Plovers may be spreading out a bit, given the disappearance of the expanses of sand at L McConaughy, and amazing finds are being made by the team …

Nebraska Bird Review (June 2010) 78(2), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Correction ... 38

Spring Field Report, March 2010 to May 2010 ... 38

Annual Meeting at Chadron ... 63

An Unfortunate Name—With a Nebraska Twist ... 68

English and Scientific Alpha Codes for the Birds of Nebraska ... 70

Subscription and Organization Information ... 83