Animal Sciences Commons^™

Mutations In Dmrt3 Affect Locomotion In Horses And Spinal Circuit Function In Mice, Lisa S. Andersson, Martin Larhammar, Fatima Memic, Hanna Wootz, Doreen Schwochow, Carl-Johan Rubin, Kalicharan Patra, Thorvaldur Arnason, Lisbeth Wellbring, Göran Hjälm, Freyja Imsland, Jessica Lynn Petersen, Molly E. Mccue, James R. Mickelson, Gus Cothran, Nadav Ahituv, Lars Roepstorff, Sofia Mikko, Anna Vallstedt, Gabriella Lindgren, Leif Andersson, Klas Kullander

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Locomotion in mammals relies on a central pattern-generating circuitry of spinal interneurons established during development that coordinates limb movement. These networks produce left–right alternation of limbs as well as coordinated activation of flexor and extensor muscles. Here we show that a premature stop codon in the DMRT3 gene has a major effect on the pattern of locomotion in horses. The mutation is permissive for the ability to perform alternate gaits and has a favorable effect on harness racing performance. Examination of wild-type and Dmrt3-null mice demonstrates that Dmrt3 is expressed in the dI6 subdivision of spinal cord neurons, takes …

Sex Determination In Beetles: Production Of All Male Progeny By Parental Rnai Knockdown Of Transformer, Jayendra Nath Shukla, Subba Reddy Palli

Entomology Faculty Publications

Sex in insects is determined by a cascade of regulators ultimately controlling sex-specific splicing of a transcription factor, Doublesex (Dsx). We recently identified homolog of dsx in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Tcdsx). Here, we report on the identification and characterization of a regulator of Tcdsx splicing in T. castaneum. Two male-specific and one female-specific isoforms of T. castaneum transformer (Tctra) were identified. RNA interference-aided knockdown of Tctra in pupa or adults caused a change in sex from females to males by diverting the splicing of Tcdsx pre-mRNA to male-specific isoform. All the pupa and adults developed from Tctra …

Comparison Of Boer, Kiko, And Spanish Meat Goat Does For Stayability And Cumulative Reproductive Output In The Humid Subtropical Southeastern United States, Ashley N. Pellerin, Richard Browning Jr.

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Background: Longevity is the amount of time breeding females stay active in a herd by avoiding death or culling because of illness or reproductive failure. This is a trait of economic relevance in commercial small ruminant breeding herds as it affects lifetime reproductive output. The purpose of this study was to determine if breed of meat goat influences breeding doe survival rates and cumulative reproductive performance under semi-intensive management. Results: Boer (n = 132), Kiko (n = 92) and Spanish (n = 79) does were evaluated for longevity trends and cumulative kid production. The herd was managed on humid subtropical …

Effectiveness Of Phosphorus Fertilizers In Hydroponics And Glasshouse Settings With Moderate And High Organic Matter Soils, Jeffrey Sean Christian Summerhays

Theses and Dissertations

Phosphorus (P) is poorly soluble in most soils and, thus, has poor plant uptake efficiency. AVAIL® and Carbond P (CBP) are new fertilizer products shown to increase P use efficiency (PUE) and increase crop yields when grown in P limiting soils. Carbond P has specifically been seen to increases P uptake and crop yields in soils low in P, although effectiveness in regards to soil organic matter is unknown. The objectives of these studies were to determine if the mode of action for these products is related to physiological response, to determine if Carbond P is toxic to plant roots …

Characterization And Variable Expression Of The Cslf6 Homologs In Oat (Avena Sp.), Melissa A. Coon

Theses and Dissertations

(1,3;1,4)-β- D-glucan (β-glucan) is a plant cell wall hemicellulose and a main component of endosperm cell walls. The Cellulose Synthase F family of genes is involved in the synthesis of β-glucan. In this study full-length genomic sequences of CslF6 were obtained from multiple Avena species. Three unique alleles were found in each A. sativa line. Comparisons of these alleles to diploid Avena species allowed for identification of the genomic origin of each allele. The A and D genome alleles had identical amino acid sequences while the C-genome had 13 different amino acids. Global expression of CslF6 was completed at three …

Translocation Mortality And Local, Regional, And Continental Diet Of The Northern River Otter (Lontra Canadensis), Casey Craig Day

Theses and Dissertations

The northern river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a semi-aquatic carnivore whose range extends throughout most of the United States and Canada. The northern river otter experienced a severe range contraction post-European settlement, but due to widespread management has in recent decades begun to recover much of its former range and habitat. We translocated 27 river otters from Utah and Idaho to the Provo River, Utah from November 2009 through January 2012 in a reintroduction effort to restore the northern river otter to its native range. Of these 27 otters, 6 died as a result of effects related to the translocation. …

Birds In Residential Metropolitan New Orleans Neighborhoods And Their Relationships To The Batture And Yard Vegetation, Ruth A. Guymon

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Metropolitan New Orleans Neighborhoods were surveyed in order to determine how bird populations responded to distance from the batture, percent canopy cover, stem counts, and understory vegetation. Surveys were conducted in the spring and summer of 2010. It was found that batture birds, urban birds, and pooled birds all had greater species richness and abundance in the spring in areas with more canopy cover, higher stem counts, more understory vegetation, and distances closer to the batture. In the summer, batture birds had greater richness and abundance in areas with more canopy cover, higher stem counts, and more understory cover. This …

A Genetic Survey Of English Sole Populations In The Salish Sea, Elizabeth S. Gutierrez, Gary A. Winans, Jon Baker, Amanda Cope

STAR Program Research Presentations

This summer I interned at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, WA and participated in NOAA’s Salish Sea Project. The Salish Sea Project’s goal is to identify genetically distinctive groups of species in the Salish Sea that may have unique evolutionary and/or adaptive backgrounds. These findings will allow NOAA to promote and monitor the natural production of species in the Salish Sea, to select representative populations for experimental work regarding pollution, ocean acidification and climate change, to contribute to managing the ecosystem for intra- and inter-species diversity, and to help make informed decisions about adaptive management and marine protected …

Developing Monitoring Methods For Leptasterias Spp. As Sentinel Species In Detecting Local Environmental Changes, Zachary Sturbaum, Kathryn Nuessly, Riley J. Smith, C. Sarah Cohen

STAR Program Research Presentations

Leptasterias spp., a six-rayed sea star, is found in rocky intertidal habitats ranging from Alaska to central California. Leptasterias spp. can be monitored on a broad scale throughout their range by a variety of means using timed counts and random plot censusing in order to detect both large-scale and local-level changes in the environment due to climate change, land-based human activity, or other environmental events. Leptasterias brood their young externally until the embryos grow into fully developed juveniles. These juveniles disperse by crawling away, limiting their dispersal potential. This localized dispersal provides an opportunity to use Leptasterias spp …

Annual Review Of The World Pheasant Association, 2011/2012, World Pheasant Association

Galliformes Specialist Group and Affiliated Societies: Reports and Other Materials

Chairman of Trustees' report, Richard Carden

Obituary: Reinhard Kruger (1938?-June 14, 2012)

Treasurer's report for the year ended April 30, 2012, Jon Riley

Achieving our charitable objectives, Philip J. K. McGowan

Galliformes Specialist Group, Peter J. Garson and Ilse Storch

Conserving Djibouti's priority land animals, Philip J.K. McGowan

Assessing the future of species on the brink, Matt Grainger

Myanmar workshop, Philip J. K. McGowan

What is the status of peafowl in Vietnam? Tommaso Savini, Vy Nguyen, and Niti Sukumal

Highlights from the European Conservation Breeding Group, Ludo Pinceel

Pipar project

Kentucky Warbler (Vol. 88, No. 3), Kentucky Library Research Collections

The Kentucky Warbler

No abstract provided.

Individual Prey Choices Of Octopuses: Are They Generalist Or Specialist?, Jennifer A. Mather, Tatiana S. Leite, Allan T. Batista

Sentience Collection

Prey choice is often evaluated at the species or population level. Here, we analyzed the diet of octopuses of different populations with the aim to assess the importance of individual feeding habits as a factor affecting prey choice. Two methods were used, an assessment of the extent to which an individual octopus made choices of species representative of those population (PSi and IS) and 25% cutoff values for number of choices and percentage intake of individual on their prey. In one population of Octopus cf vulgaris in Bermuda individuals were generalist by IS=0.77, but most chose many prey of the …

Why (And How) Personalities In Invertebrates?, Jennifer A. Mather

Sentience Collection

No abstract provided.

Immune Responses In Lactating Holstein Cows Supplemented With Cu, Mn, And Zn As Sulfates Or Methionine Hydroxy Analogue Chelates, L. M. Nemec, J. D. Richards, C. A. Atwell, D. E. Diaz, G. I. Zanton, T. F. Gressley

Physiology Collection

The aim of this study was to compare effects of inorganic sulfate versus chelated forms of supplemental Cu, Mn, and Zn on milk production, plasma and milk mineral concentrations, neutrophil activity, and antibody titer response to a model vaccination. Holstein cows (n = 25) were assigned in 2 cohorts based on calving date to a 12-wk randomized complete block design study. The first cohort consisted of 17 cows that had greater days in milk (DIM; mean of 77 DIM at the start of the trial) than the second cohort of 8 cows (32 DIM at the start of the trial). …

Food Availability, Foraging Behavior, And Diet Of Autumn Migrant Landbirds In The Boise Foothills Of Southwestern Idaho, Jay D. Carlisle, Karen L. Olmstead, Casey H. Richart, David L. Swanson

Intermountain Bird Observatory Publications and Presentations

Food availability and acquisition are critical components of a stopover site's suitability, but we know relatively little about how changes in food availability affect the stopover ecology of migrating landbirds. We examined fruit and arthropod availability in three habitats, studied foraging behavior and diet, and investigated use versus availability for passerines migrating through southwestern Idaho in autumn. Hemiptera dominated foliage-dwelling arthropod communities in all three habitats, whereas Hymenoptera were most numerous among ground-dwelling arthropods. Mountain shrubland had relatively high biomass of both ground-dwelling and foliage-dwelling arthropods, whereas conifer forest had high biomass of foliage-dwelling arthropods only and shrub steppe had …

Evaluation Of The Effects Of September Hunting Seasons On Canada Geese In Nebraska, Scott R. Groepper, Mark P. Vrtiska, Larkin A. Powell, Scott E. Hygnstrom

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Populations of temperate-nesting Canada geese (Branta canadensis) have increased in Nebraska, USA, resulting in an increased number of nuisance and damage complaints. September hunting seasons were initiated in southeastern Nebraska in 2004 to reduce populations of Canada geese. We analyzed band recoveries from Canada geese banded in southeastern Nebraska during their hatch-year (HY) or after-hatch-year (AHY) to determine whether September hunting seasons affected survival, harvest, and recovery rates. Survival analyses revealed that HY geese had higher survival than AHY geese (SAHY = 0.696, 95% CI = 0.679–0.713; SHY = 0.896, 95% CI = 0.786–0.953) and September seasons did …

Production And Degradation Of 4-Ethylphenol In Lactobacillus Sp. Pep8 Cultures And In Blended Swine Lagoon Enrichments, Clinton W. Copp

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

4-Ethylphenol (4-EP) is a malodorant of swine waste and is derived from a component of lignin called p-coumaric acid (p-CA). The production of 4-EP from lignin in swine waste is untested. Additionally, the effect of Fe (III) on 4-EP levels is unknown. Four experiments were performed to determine if Lactobacillus sp. pep8 cultures, as well as enriched swine lagoon slurries, could liberate p-CA from lignin and convert p-CA to 4-EP. Furthermore, it was tested if the addition of Fe (III) influences the conversion of p- CA to 4-EP.

Experiment 1 tested Lactobacillus sp. pep8 cultures to determine if the addition …

The Effects Of Drought On The Abundance Of The Blue Crab, Callinectes Sapidus, In The Ace Basin Nerr In South Carolina, Kirk Parmenter

All Dissertations

Blue crabs make up one of the most important commercial fisheries in the U.S. but there has been some concern over the health of blue crab populations due to large declines in landings seen in recent years. There is a significant positive correlation between river discharge and commercial landings suggesting that drought may be to blame for the recent decline in crab numbers. The work I completed for my dissertation tested multiple hypotheses examining the link between decreasing freshwater discharge, the subsequent rise in salinity, and the abundance of blue crabs in the ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve.
To …

Likely Effectiveness Of Netting Or Other Capture Programs As A Shark Hazard Mitigation Strategy In Western Australia, Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Occasional Publications

No abstract provided.

Utilization Of Corn Condensed Distillers’ Solubles And Forages In Management Systems For The Cow-Calf Enterprise, Jason M. Warner

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

Of the annual expenses necessary to maintain a beef cow, feed and forage are the greatest and most variable. Thus, nutrition programs for cow-calf operations must be developed using economical feedstuffs that optimize cowherd performance. The corn dry-milling industry provides several feedstuffs that are often the most economical sources of energy and protein, but considerations for storage and handling are necessary. Two experiments evaluated an alternative form of storing corn condensed distillers solubles (CCDS) by applying to grass hay windrows before baling. Round bales were treated with either 0 or 20% (Exp. 1); or 0, 16, and 32% (Exp. 2) …

Alternative Fabrication Methods For The Beef Carcass, Justine J. Hosch

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

To fabricate heavier beef carcasses alternative fabrication methods for the chuck and round were evaluated. Carcasses (364 to 386 kg) were selected for forequarter (n=32) and hindquarter (n=30) evaluation. Forequarter breaks at the third/fourth and fifth/sixth rib, with the rib beginning at the sixth/seventh rib, were processed into whole muscles. Bone, lean trim, fat, and muscles were weighed and Longissimus dorsi (LD) steaks were subject to Warner-Bratzler Shear Force (WBS). Both subprimals had over 60% lean yield and no differences among WBS results (P=0.49, 0.39, respectively). To evaluate effects of modifying the chuck/rib break short rib …

The Breeding Biology Of The Northern Pygmy Owl: Do The Smallest Of The Small Have An Advantage?, John F. Deshler, Michael T. Murphy

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

We explored the breeding biology of the Northern Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium gnoma) from 2007 to 2009 in a forested reserve in Portland, Oregon. Large body size is often assumed to give animals reproductive advantages, and we tested whether body size affected timing of breeding and examined variation in diet, breeding date, clutch size, and reproductive success to explore whether the presumed benefits of large body size are evident in this species. The average size of 13 clutches was 5.8, and nest success was high (92%); 22 successful nests fledged an average of 5.2 young. Dates of first laying varied …

Expression And Distribution Of Thiol-Regulating Enzyme, Glutaredoxin 2 In Porcine Ocular Tissues, Bijaya Prasad Upadhyaya

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Glutaredoxin 2 (Grx2), a thiol-regulating enzyme of oxidoreductase family and a mitochondrial isozyme of glutaredoxin 1, was discovered 11 years ago in our laboratory. Grx2 is present in the lens where it shows dethiolase, peroxidase, and ascorbate recycling activities. Recently, Grx2 has also been identified to protect the mitochondrial electron transport system with anti-apoptotic function. Since other eye tissues besides the lens are rich in mitochondria and are very sensitive to oxidative stress, we speculate the presence of Grx2 therein as an important redox regulator. This study is to investigate the expression and distribution of Grx2 in ocular tissues using …

Responses To Predator Recognition Odors In Marmorkrebs, Loren Samantha Beard

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Marmorkrebs is a parthenogenetic crayfish with no indigenous populations. They have been introduced in several countries and could become an invasive species. Individuals introduced in Germany had longer, sharper spines, suggesting an adaptation to predators via developmental plasticity. This was tested by exposing juveniles to the odor of a fish during development and comparing them to controls. Subsequent spine length or sharpness did not differ. Other crayfish detect predators via an alarm cue, hemolymph, and exhibit avoidant behavior in response. I hypothesized that Marmorkrebs would also treat hemolymph as an alarm cue. The behavior of adult crayfish exposed to food, …

In Vivo And In Vitro Digestibility Of A Complete Pelleted Feed In Horses, Cassandra Renee Sweeney

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

COMPLETION OF AN IN VIVO DIGESTIBILITY TRIAL IN HORSES AND IN VITRO DIGESTIBILITY ASSAY DEVELOPMENT

Cassandra Renee Sweeney

In vivo analysis of equine feed digestibility has been the gold standard since the late 1800's, although it can be time consuming, costly, and labor intensive. In vitro digestibility analysis may be more economical and beneficial to both feed manufacturers and consumers. The availability of accurate in vivo data is crucial for critical evaluation and validation of any potential in vitro method (Coles et al., 2005). Ten adult American quarter horse geldings were used in the in vivo digestibility evaluation of …

Nutritional Content Of Rhinoceros Auklet (Cerorhinca Monocerata) Bill Loads, Dustin Taylor, Ron Heintz

STAR Program Research Presentations

Nutritional Content of Rhinoceros Auklet Bill Loads

Dustin E Taylor

Abstract

An adult Rhinoceros Auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata) can only catch and carry a limited amount of prey to their nestlings after a foraging trip. The auklets therefore must maximize their efficiency by bringing back the most proportionally nutritious prey items to their nestlings. The prey carried back to the nesting sites (known as a ‘bill load’) can contain whole fish, as well as parts, most commonly fish heads. This study is aimed to determine whether returning with just heads to the nestlings was proportionally more nutritious than bringing …

Effects Of Pristane On Growth Of Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha), Brielle D. Kemis, Bonita Nelson

STAR Program Research Presentations

Pristane is a naturally occurring hydrocarbon that is generated by copepods in marine ecosystems. Organisms that eat copepods do not readily metabolize pristane, which causes it to accumulate throughout the marine food web. Understanding how pristane affects marine fish is essential because pristane is often used as a bioindicator in lab studies and may be influencing results in those studies. Also, this hydrocarbon may significantly reduce growth of marine fish in the wild. A previous study indicated that pristane is an appetite suppressant and growth retardant in fish. However, the study implemented a feeding regime with unnaturally high levels of …

Characterization Of The Involvement Of Integrins, Focal Adhesion Kinase, And Phospholipase C Enzymes Endogenous To The Oocyte In Bovine Fertilization And Oocyte Activation, Benjamin Rand Sessions

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Center for Integrated Biosystems (CIB) and Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences (ADVS) Department at Utah State University propose a multi-year molecular study of cattle gamete interactions to improve our basic understanding of fertilization. The CIB and ADVS will utilize existing collaborations in addition to recruiting state and federal funding sources to complete the extensive project.

Various laboratory techniques will be used to discover the molecular players of fertilization in hopes of shedding light on a variety of human infertility issues due to problems at the gamete level. A more complete understanding of fertilization could also lead to the development …

Cell Bioenergetics In Leghorn Male Hepatoma Cells And Immortalized Chicken Liver Cells In Response To 4-Hydroxynonenal Induced Oxidative Stress, Alissa Laura Piekarski

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Bioenergetic mechanisms responsible for ATP production are essential in carrying out maintenance and cell-specific functions. In this study, hepatocytes (liver cells) were used to test both endogenous and exogenous stress on cellular respiration. The secondary lipid peroxide, 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), was used because it alters bioenergetics by increasing mitochondrial proton leak that attenuates mitochondrial radical production and, therefore, endogenous oxidative stress. The major objective of this study was to demonstrate effects of HNE-induced oxidative stress on avian hepatocyte bioenergetics. Various chemical which help enable the determination of oxygen (O2) consumption linked to ATP synthesis (oligomycin), maximal O2 consumption (FCCP), and proton …

Comparative Response Of Different Broiler Genotypes To Dietary Nutrient Levels, Franco Javier Mussini

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Three studies were conducted to evaluate how the broiler has changed over the years due to intense genetic selection. Four different broiler genotypes, one unselected since the 1950's (HER) representing the old meat-type bird and three current strains (Ross 308, Ross 708, and a test product (TY)) were studied. Differences in growth, morphometry, and response in performance and processing yield to different nutrient levels were studied.

Experiment 1 evaluated growth and morphometric analysis. Birds of each strain were killed weekly from day 7 to day 56, necropsied and cut up parts and organs weighed. Measurement of small intestine segments …