Animal Sciences Commons^™

Changes In Area Affect Figure–Ground Assignment In Pigeons, Leyre Castro, Olga F. Lazareva, Shaun P. Vecera, Edward A. Wasserman

Perception Collection

A critical cue for figure–ground assignment in humans is area: smaller regions are more likely to be perceived as figures than are larger regions. To see if pigeons are similarly sensitive to this cue, we trained birds to report whether a target appeared on a colored figure or on a differently colored background. The initial training figure was either smaller than (Experiments 1 and 2) or the same area as (Experiment 2) the background. After training, we increased or decreased the size of the figure. When the original training shape was smaller than the background, pigeons’ performance improved with smaller …

Part I: Evaluation Of Student Assessment Of Learning Gains (Salg)In Two Different Biology 100 Classes Part 2: What Biology Concepts Are Important In General Education?: Analysis Of Seventeen Core Concepts, Jessica Marie Rosenvall Howelle

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this two-part study is to examine how to improve introductory level non-majors biology courses to improve student attitude and learning gains in the sciences. The first part of this study examines the collective effect of three different pedagogies (service learning, concept mapping and guest lectures) on student attitude and learning gains in a freshman, non-majors biology course. Two classes, one with the three pedagogies, and one without, were compared. Data were collected from two classes in Fall 2008 (one treatment and one control) and two similar classes replicated in Fall 2009. Learning and attitude gains were measured …

Wa Native Fish Strategy: Freshwater Fish Distribution Database And Website: Prepared For The Natural Resource Management (Nrm) Office – Nrm Project No. 063059, Roy Melville-Smith, Renae Larsen, Martin De Graaf, Craig Lawrence

Fisheries Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Measures Of Weight Distribution Of Dairy Cows To Detect Lameness And The Presence Of Hoof Lesions, M. Pastell, L. Hänninen, A. M. De Passillé, J. Rushen

Farm Animal Welfare Collection

There is increasing interest in automated methods of detecting lame cows. Hoof lesion data and measures of weight distribution from 61 lactating cows were examined in this study. Lame cows were identified with different numerical rating scores (NRS) used as thresholds (NRS >3 and NRS ≥3.5) for lameness. The ratio of weight applied to a pair of legs (LWR) when the cow was standing was calculated using a special weigh scale, and the cows were gait scored using a 1 to 5 NRS. Hoof lesions were scored and the cows placed into 1 of 4 mutually exclusive categories of hoof …

Assessment Of Lameness Prevalence And Associated Risk Factors In Dairy Herds In England And Wales, Z. E. Barker, K. A. Leach, H. R. Whay, N. J. Bell, D. C. J. Main

Farm Animal Welfare Collection

Visits were made to 205 dairy farms in England and Wales between October 2006 and May 2007 by 1 or more of 4 researchers. At each visit, all milking cows were locomotion scored (lameness scored) using a 4-point scale (0 = sound locomotion, 1 = imperfect locomotion, 2 = lame, 3 = severely lame). The mean prevalence of lameness (scores 2 and 3) across the study farms was 36.8% (range = 0–79.2%). On each farm, the presence within the housing and grazing environments of commonly reported risks for increased lameness was recorded. Each farmer was interviewed to gauge the ability …

Western Rock Lobster Fishery Harvest Strategy And Decision Rules Framework Proposals. A Discussion Paper., Department Of Fisheries Western Australia

Fisheries Management Papers

This paper outlines proposals designed to be used in an updated and improved Harvest Strategy and Decision Rules Framework (referred to as the ‘Decision Rules’) that has been developed to meet the short and long term sustainability and economic needs of the West Coast Rock Lobster Managed Fishery. This approach represents international ‘best practice’ for fisheries management and is consistent with the Commonwealth Government’s Fisheries Harvest Strategy Policy1 .

Western Rock Lobster Fishery Harvest Strategy And Decision Rules Framework Proposals - A Discussion Paper, Western Australian Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Management Papers

This paper outlines proposals designed to be used in an updated and improved Harvest Strategy and Decision Rules Framework (referred to as the ‘Decision Rules’) that has been developed to meet the short and long term sustainability and economic needs of the West Coast Rock Lobster Managed Fishery. This approach represents international ‘best practice’ for fisheries management and is consistent with the Commonwealth Government’s Fisheries Harvest Strategy Policy.

Western Rock Lobster Fishery Harvest Strategy And Decision Rules Framework Proposals, Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Management Papers

No abstract provided.

A Survey Of The Management And Development Of Captive African Elephant (Loxodonta Africana) Calves: Birth To Three Months Of Age, Nicole L. Kowalski, Robert H.I. Dale, Christa L. H. Mazur

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

We used four surveys to collect information about the birth, physical growth, and behavioral development of 12 African elephant calves born in captivity. The management of the birth process and neonatal care involved a variety of standard procedures. All of the calves were born at night, between 7PM and 7AM. The calves showed a systematic progression in behavioral and physical development, attaining developmental milestones at least a quickly as calves in situ. This study emphasized birth-related events, changes in the ways that calves used their trunks, first instances of behaviors, and interactions of the calves with other, usually adult, elephants. …

Nebraska Bird Review (March 2010) 78(1), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union Treasurer's Report, December 31, 2009 ... 2

Winter Field Report, December 2009 to February 2010 ... 3

2009-2010 Christmas Bird Counts ... 17

Observations of Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) Color Banded in Nebraska and Re-sighted on the United States Gulf Coast ... 30

Subscription and Organization Information ... 35

Observations Of Piping Plovers (Charadrius Melodus) Color Banded In Nebraska And Re-Sighted On The United States Gulf Coast, Mary Bomberger Brown, Joel G. Jorgensen

Nebraska Bird Review

Threatened and endangered migratory birds present a challenge to conservation efforts because they use different habitats during different times of the year. As a result, successful efforts in one part of their range may be nullified by negative events taking place in other parts of their range. In many cases, information that links individual birds or populations to specific breeding, non-breeding, and migratory areas across the species' range is not available. Without these links, it can be difficult to coordinate conservation efforts across the species' range, and species recovery efforts may be less effective. The observation of uniquely marked individuals …

Subscription And Organization Information [March 2010]

Nebraska Bird Review

The Nebraska Bird Review is published quarterly by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Inc., as its official journal and is sent to members not in arrears of dues. Annual subscription rates (on a calendar-year basis only): $15 in the United States, $18 in Canada, and $30 in all other countries, payable in advance.

Single copies are $4 each, postpaid, in the United States, $5 in Canada, and $8 elsewhere. Send orders for back issues to Anita Breckbill, NOU Librarian, c/o Music Library, WMB 30, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588-0101 (or at the email address listed below).

Memberships in the NOU …

The Mayfly Newsletter, Peter M. Grant

The Mayfly Newsletter

The Mayfly Newsletter is the official newsletter of the Permanent Committee of the International Conferences on Ephemeroptera.

2010 Nebraska Swine Report

Nebraska Swine Reports

Contents:

Nutrition

Production Through Four Parities of Prolific Females Developed With and Without Energy Restriction

An Economic Analysis of Energy Restriction during Pre-Pubescence in Gilts

Effects of Distillers Grain with Solubles (DDGS) and Paylean® Supplementation on Carcass Quality, Color Stability, and Sensory Characteristics of Pork

The Effect of Corn Distillers Dried Grains With Solubles (DDGS) on Carcass Quality, Color Stability, and Sensory Characteristics of Pork

Utilizing Dried Distillers Grains With Solubles and Phytase to Alleviate Phosphorus Costs in Finishing Swine

Effects of Distillers Dried Grains With Solubles and Lactose on Growth Performance of Nursery Pigs

Lysine Requirement for Barrows Fed …

Proper Basic Hoof Care, Scott Mckendrick, Patricia Evans, Clell V. Bagley Dvm

All Current Publications

This publication provides information and procedures for proper hoof care and shoeing.

Equine Nutrition: Forages, Patricia Evans, Scott Mckendrick

All Current Publications

This publication explains differences in legume and grass hay and pasture and feeding suggestions

Poisonous Plants And Equine, Clell V. Bagley Dvm, Scott Mckendrick, Clark Israelsen

All Current Publications

This publication provides identification of plants that are toxic to horses and symptoms of poisoning in equine.

Equine Behavior: Prey Vs. Predator, Horse Vs. Human, Patricia Evans

All Current Publications

This publication describes what predator-like things humans do around horses and how you can work with a horse on its own terms.

Body Condition Scoring: A Management Tool For Evaluating All Horses, Patricia Evans

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes the body condition scoring system that evaluates horses on the amount of fat deposited in specific areas.

Identifying Alternative Waste Conversion Technologies For Use At California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, Matthew R. Bono

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This project was undertaken to identify and study alternative technologies for converting waste streams available on the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campus into energy. As a large campus on the Central Coast of California Cal Poly not only produces lots of waste, but has limited options for its disposal. Furthermore, the campus is in the midst of an on-going green initiative, and more efficient use of its waste products would be a welcome development for the entire campus community. This report gathers information on waste streams originating at Cal Poly and information about waste to energy conversion technologies. The …

Conserving Migratory Land Birds In The New World: Do We Know Enough?, John Faaborg, Richard T. Holmes, Angela D. Anders, Keith L. Bildstein

Dartmouth Scholarship

Migratory bird needs must be met during four phases of the year: breeding season, fall migration, wintering, and spring migration; thus, management may be needed during all four phases. The bulk of research and management has focused on the breeding season, although several issues remain unsettled, including the spatial extent of habitat influences on fitness and the importance of habitat on the breeding grounds used after breeding. Although detailed investigations have shed light on the ecology and population dynamics of a few avian species, knowledge is sketchy for most species. Replication of comprehensive studies is needed for multiple species across …

Foraging-Related Activity Of Bald Eagles At A Washington Seabird Colony And Seal Rookery, James L. Hayward, Joseph G. Galusha, Shandelle M. Henson

Faculty Publications

From 1980 to 1998, Washington's Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) population increased at an annual rate of 10. Over the same time period, foraging activity of Bald Eagles at marine bird breeding colonies also increased. From 1993 to 2008, we observed foraging-related behavior of Bald Eagles on Violet Point, Protection Island. This island hosts more than 70 of the breeding seabirds in Washington's inner seaways and serves as an important rookery for harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). We found that (1) eagles landed more frequently in seal haul-out (beach) areas than in gull-nesting (non-beach) areas of Violet Point, and that subadult eagles …

Winter Field Report, December 2009 To February 2010, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

This was a long, cold winter, but effects on birds were not particularly noticeable. Perhaps the relative blandness of the reports reflected the "normal" behavior of most birds when confronted with a cold winter and the seriousness of survival: birds were in places they should have been. Carolina Wrens may have been hit (more on that in the Spring Report), but a few species were present in higher numbers than might have been expected. Rusty and Red-winged Blackbirds and Brown-headed Cowbird were notable for higher winter numbers, as were Snow Buntings. Even more so, there were lots of Fox Sparrows, …

Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union Treasurer’S Report, December 31, 2009

Nebraska Bird Review

One-page spreadsheet constituting the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union treasurer's report at year end (December 31) of 2009. The grand total is $56,791.88.

2009–2010 Christmas Bird Counts

Nebraska Bird Review

Fourteen Christmas Bird Counts were held in Nebraska in the 2009–2010 season. The Ames count was cancelled due to weather, the Beaver Valley count returned after a year's absence, and the North Platte count was reinstated after not being officially run since the 1985–86 season. Although the average high and low temperatures were not exceptional, heavy snow cover affected most, if not all, of the counts. Roads were closed due to snow drifts, open water was limited, and at least three counts had to be rescheduled. The total number of species (116) was the lowest since 103 in 1997.

Interesting …

Biogeography Of The American Pika (Ochotona Princeps) In Oregon And Southern Washington: Illuminating Genetic Relationships Among Disjunct Populations, George Washington Batten Iii

Dissertations and Theses

The American pika (Ochotona princeps) finds moderately warm temperatures (>25°C) lethally stressful, and at the end of the last Ice Age 10,000 years ago was forced to disperse to cooler, "sky island" mountaintops where they are almost exclusively found today. Thirty six subspecies are recognized, all established using morphological characters, and it is uncertain whether these subspecies' designations are corroborated by genetic analyses. This study elucidates three hypotheses regarding populations in Oregon and southern Washington: 1) O. p. fumosa constitutes a subspecies distinct form O. p. brunnescens, 2) the Columbia River constitutes a barrier to gene …

Age, Growth And Maturation Of Swordtip Squid (Photololigo Edulis) In The Southern East China Sea, Kae-Yih Wang, Kuo-Tien Lee, Cheng-Hsin Liao

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The reproductive biology, and age and growth of the swordtip squid (Photololigo edulis) in the East China Sea were examined based on the growth ring of statoliths from 1797 specimens during the period of November 2002 to November 2004. The maximum age observed was 261 days in female and 253 days in male, an evidence showing that swordtip squid has a longevity of about 9 months in both sexes. Growth in mantle length (ML) and body weight (BW) in both sexes was best described by the exponential model. There was significantly difference in somatic or statolith growth between the sexes. …

Passive Immunity To White Spot Syndrome Virus (Wssv) In Penaeus Monodon Treated With Monoclonal Antibodies Of The Heterologously Produced Vp28 Viral Envelope Protein, Jyh-Yih Chen, Kumarasamy Anbarasu, Chin-Yu Chen, Ying-Chuan Lee, Fan-Hua Nan, Ching-Ming Kuo

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a highly pathogenic and prevalent virus affecting shrimp culture worldwide including Taiwan. In the present study, the viral envelope protein, VP28, gene of the WSSV was cloned into a pET28a expression vector. VP28 was expressed as a protein with a 6-histidine tag in Escherichia coli and purified by a Ni-NTA column. Antiserum was raised against this recombinant VP28 protein in BALB/C mice, and it recognized the VP28 protein in purified virions and recombinant proteins. The antiserum was mixed with arginine (100 ppm), lysine (168 ppm), and phenylalanine (88 ppm), and the titer of the …

Antioxidant And Immune-Stimulating Activities Of Hot-Water Extract From Seaweed Sargassum Hemiphyllum, Pai-An Hwang, Chwen-Herng Wu, Shu-Yun Gau, Shih-Yung Chien, Deng-Fwu Hwang

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The hot-water extract of seaweed Sargassum hemiphyllum was evaluated antioxidant activity by using four different methods, including DPPH free radicals scavenging activity, Fe+2 chelating activity, superoxide anion radical scavenging activity and reducing power, and the immune-stimulating activity by using HB4C5 cells and J774.1 cells. It was found that the antioxidant activity was increasing in correlating with the concentration below 3.5 mg/ml. The HB4C5 cells showed the maximum relative activities of cell proliferation (174%) and IgM secretion (132%) at 120 µg/ml of hot-water extract. Overheating slightly reduced the immune-stimulating activity of hot-water extract. At 80 µg/ml, J774.1 cells showed the maximum …

Initial Findings On Visual Acuity Thresholds In An African Elephant (Loxodonta Africana), Melissa R. Shyan-Norwalt, Jeff Peterson, Barbara Milankow King, Timothy E. Staggs, Robert H.I. Dale

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

There are only a few published examinations of elephant visual acuity. All involved Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) and found visual acuity to be between 8′ and 11′ of arc for a stimulus near the tip of the trunk, equivalent to a 0.50 cm gap, at a distance of about 2 m from the eyes. We predicted that African elephants (Loxodonta africana) would have similarly high visual acuity, necessary to facilitate eye-trunk coordination for feeding, drinking and social interactions. When tested on a discrimination task using Landolt-C stimuli, one African elephant cow demonstrated a visual acuity of …