Animal Sciences Commons^™

Fecal Near Infrared Spectroscopy To Discriminate Physiological Status In Giant Pandas., Erin E. Wiedower, Andrew J. Kouba, Carrie K. Vance, Rachel L. Hansen, Jerry W. Stuth, Douglas R. Tolleson

CALS Publications

Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) monitoring and research often require accurate estimates of population size and density. However, obtaining these estimates has been challenging. Innovative technologies, such as fecal near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (FNIRS), may be used to differentiate between sex, age class, and reproductive status as has been shown for several other species. The objective of this study was to determine if FNIRS could be similarly used for giant panda physiological discriminations. Based on samples from captive animals in four U.S. zoos, FNIRS calibrations correctly identified 78% of samples from adult males, 81% from adult females, 85% from adults, 89% …

Genetic Comparison Of Water Molds From Embryos Of Amphibians Rana Cascadae, Bufo Boreas And Pseudacris Regilla, Kori K. Ault, James E. Johnson, Holly C. Pinkart, R. Steven Wagner

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of the Sciences

Water molds that cause the disease saprolegniasis have been implicated in widespread mortality of amphibian embryos. However, because of the limitations of traditional identification methods, water mold species involved in die-offs or utilized in ecological studies often remain unidentified or identified only as Saprolegnia ferax. Furthermore, water mold taxonomy requires revision, so very distinct organisms may all be called S. ferax. Recent DNA-based studies indicate that the diversity of water molds infecting amphibian embryos is significantly higher than what was previously known, but these studies rely on culture methods, which may be biased towards taxa that grow best …

Climate's Role In Polar Bear Past [Letters], Kurt E. Galbreath, Joseph A. Cook, Eric P. Hoberg

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Striking temporal concordance between the new date for divergence of polar bears and persistent freezing of the Arctic Ocean suggests that this may be one of relatively few instances in which a specific paleoclimatological episode can be convincingly linked to a specific evolutionary event, and it provides vivid demonstration of climatic forcing as a determinant of diversification in biological systems.

Dual – Species Biofilm Formation By Shiga – Toxin Producing Escherichia Coli O157:H7 And O26:H11 Serotypes, Rong Wang, Norasak Kalchayanand, John W. Schmidt, Joseph M. Bosilevac

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

E. coli O26:H11 strains could outgrow O157:H7 companion strains in planktonic and biofilm phases, and also effectively compete with pre-colonized O157:H7 cells to establish themselves in mixed biofilms. E. coli O157:H7 strains were unable to displace preformed O26:H11 biofilms. Therefore, E. coli O26:H11 remains a potential risk in food safety.

Using Resistivity Arrays To Monitor Groundwater Impacts Near Runoff Holding Ponds, Roger A. Eigenberg, Bryan L. Woodbury

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

Mineral and organic salts from beef manure contained in precipitation runoff from feedyard pen surfaces can alter the conductivity properties of soil and water receiving it. Typically, holding ponds are constructed to control runoff from concentrated animal feeding operations. The integrity of these holding ponds has come under increased scrutiny since leakage has the potential to affect soil and groundwater quality. Traditionally, ponds are monitored by installing monitoring wells at key locations to evaluate the impact of these ponds on the environment. These monitoring wells are expensive and subject to ambiguous interpretation. A subsurface resistivity array was installed at a …

Evaluating The Potential Use Of Change-In-Ratio And Index Removal Techniques For Determining Harvest Rates And Efficiency Increases In The Western Rock Lobster Fishery Frdc Project 2009/019, Simon De Lestang, J Hoeing, Stuart Frusher, Norman G. Hall

Fisheries Research Reports

Objectives: 1. Assess current data sources and their potential for estimating harvest rates and increases in efficiency in the western rock lobster fishery using change in ratio and index removal techniques. 2. Evaluate whether additional sources of information are needed to produce more robust estimates of harvest rate and efficiency increase. 3. Assess whether the estimates of harvest rate and fishing efficiency are reliable and could be used for the management of the western rock lobster fishery.

Relative Efficiency Of Fishing Gears And Investigation Of Resource Availability In Tropical Demersal Scalefish Fisheries Frdc Report – Project 2006/031, Stephen J. Newman, Euan S. Harvey, Ben M. Rome, Dianne L. Mclean, Craig L. Skepper

Fisheries Research Reports

This project identified that there is substantial spatial variation in the demersal fish assemblages in the NDSF with some species more abundant in the north of the fishery and others in the south. At finer scales within sites and depths there is spatial variation associated with different habitats (e.g. sand vs sponge gardens or reef).

Effect Of Pen Size, Group Size, And Stocking Density On Activity In Freestall-Housed Dairy Cows, E. Telezhenko, Marina A.G. Von Keyserlingk, A. Talebi, Daniel M. Weary

Housing and Confinement of Farm Animals Collection

The purpose was to determine the effects of the physical dimensions of the pen and group size and stocking density on cow activity. Cows (randomly assigned to 4 groups of 6 animals each) were tested in pens with 24 or 12 lying places and in groups with 12 or 6 cows. All groups were tested in each of the 4 treatments with treatment order allocated using a 4 × 4 Latin square. The distance moved and the number of movements were calculated using 5-min scan sampling of video recordings over a 48-h period. Time spent lying down, number of lying …

Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: Investigation Of Chlamydiales-Like Organisms In Pearl Oysters, Pinctada Maxima Frdc Project 2008/031, Melanie Croxford, Brian J. Jones

Fisheries Research Reports

Objectives: • To further develop the current conventional PCRs being used to investigate two CLO’s in pearl oysters and use these PCRs in an attempt to gain further sequence data. An expansion of the current known sequence data will be used to develop a real-time PCR that is specific and sensitive enough to detect and differentiate between the two CLO’s in pearl oysters. The real-time PCR will be validated at two independent laboratories using known OOD-positive and negative control samples. • To test healthy versus OOD-affected pearl oysters to determine if the presence of either or both CLO’s plays a …

Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: Development Of A Dna Microarray To Identify Markers Of Disease In Pearl Oysters (Pinctada Maxima) And To Assess Overall Oyster Health: Final Frdc Report – Project 2008/030, David Raftos, Sham Nair, Melanie Croxford, Brian J. Jones

Fisheries Research Reports

Objectives: 1. To construct a cDNA library using healthy and stressed oysters. 2. To design and print DNA microarray slides for the analysis of diseased states in pearl oysters (P. maxima). 3. To use the DNA microarray to identify molecular markers that differentiate between pearl oysters that are stressed from those that appear to be healthy. To use the DNA microarray to test for markers of adverse health in pearl oysters that appear to be affected by environmental stressors other than OOD.

Policy On Habitat Enhancement Structures In Western Australia, Department Of Fisheries Western Australia.

Fisheries Management Papers

Habitat enhancement structures range widely in design. They generally aim to enhance fish habitat by providing a structure for fish and other aquatic life to colonise and potentially lead to an increase in their biological production.

The primary function of an artificial reef is to provide additional structure and habitat to support an increased production of fish ad other aquatic organisms.

Spring Field Report, March 2012 To May 2012, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

This spring was a definite mixed bag ornithologically, in large part due to the mixed bag of weather conditions. Spring Beauty flowers bloomed 10–14 days early at Fontenelle Forest (RBa). Observers were decidedly mixed in their assessments of the season; veteran observers commenting on the passerine migration noted “poorest spring for passerines that I can recall” (LE) and “the sheer numbers of birds seemed ridiculously high for this early date of May 3rd” (JR). It should be noted that the 3 May date saw record counts of a few passerine species at Fontenelle Forest: 65 American Redstarts, 60 Blackpoll Warblers, …

Exploring The Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia. Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Occasional Publications

This booklet is designed to assist you in exploring and appreciating the Houtman Abrolhos Islands. It provides a general overview on the attributes of the Abrolhos that make it so unique. A place rich in ecological, historical, economic and cultural significance for Western Australia.

Apart from being an introduction to the Abrolhos, the booklet also provides background and context for the various management plans and strategies developed and implemented to sustainably manage these Islands and their surrounding waters.

Snowy Owl Invasion Of 2011–12, Joel G. Jorgensen, Lauren R. Dinan, Thomas J. Walker Jr.

Nebraska Bird Review

The Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) is an Arctic breeder that regularly migrates to and winters in southern Canada and the northern United States (Parmalee 1992). The number of Snowy Owls moving south and the extent and timing of southward movements in any one year are believed to be dependent on interactions between populations of Snowy Owls and lemmings, the owls’ principal food resource (Parmalee 1992). Infrequently, relatively large numbers of Snowy Owls are observed in areas or regions where few are typically observed, and individuals are observed well south of the normal winter range. These occurrences are often …

Subscription And Organization Information [June 2012]

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 …

Nebraska Bird Review (June 2012) 80(2), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Spring Field Report, March 2012 to May 2012 ... 46

Snowy Owl Invasion of 2011–12 ... 72

Spring Field Days and Annual Meeting at Broken Bow, May 18–20, 2012 ... 77

[Correction … 77]

Subscription and Organization Information ... 83

Correction [June 2012]

Nebraska Bird Review

Correction: In the Winter Field Report, December 2011 to February 2012, two Golden Eagles were reported from the Ponca S.P. Christmas Bird Count (March 2012 NBR, page 9). This is incorrect; no Golden Eagles were seen on the Ponca Christmas Bird Count.

Spring Field Days And Annual Meeting At Broken Bow

Nebraska Bird Review

The 113th Annual Meeting and Spring Field Days were held in Broken Bow May 18–20, 2011. Meetings and meals took place at the Mid-Plains Community College and were hosted by Tim Hajda. Despite the unseasonably warm spring weather that had preceded the meeting, the 50+ members and friends in attendance found 164 species. Expected species from the Sandhills and surrounding habitats that were seen included Sharp-tailed Grouse, Greater Prairie Chicken, American Bittern, Black-crowned Night Heron, White-faced Ibis, Long-billed Curlew, Ovenbird, and Northern Waterthrush. Less common species observed included Glossy Ibis, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Black-necked Stilt, Whimbrel, Alder Flycatcher, Wood Thrush, …

Open Pulled Straw (Ops) Vitrification Of Mus Musculus Morula And Blastocyst Survival In Two Common Cryopreservation Medias, Gina Marie Cirimele

Animal Science

The objectives of this study were to: (1) determine an optimal cryoprotectant of mice embryos; and (2) determine whether morula or blastocyst stage is ideal for vitrification in both medias. One experiment was performed using two different medias for vitrification with open pulled straws (OPS) with morulae and blastocysts. In the first protocol, we called V, embryos were exposed to 10% ethylene glycol (EG) for 5 minutes, then 40% ethylene glycol and 0.6 M galactose for about 30 seconds, loaded into an OPS, and plunged into liquid nitrogen. In the second protocol, we called VG, embryos were exposed to 7.5% …

Efficiency Of Two Cryopreservation Methods Using Direct In-Straw Rehydration After Repeated Vitrification Of Mouse Embryos, Ashley Morgan Payne

Animal Science

Experiments were conducted to determine which of two direct in-straw rehydration methods was optimal for obtaining high survival of mouse embryos after repeated vitrification. The first vitrification method compared was a one-step design, designated “House method,” where embryos were equilibrated in 3.5 M ethylene glycol for 3 min before rapid plunge vitrification in 7 M ethylene glycol/0.5 M glucose/18% w/v Ficoll 70. The second method was the commercially available BoviPRO Embryo Vitrification Kit ^TM(MiniTube of America, Verona, WI), which first exposed embryos to 1.4 M glycerol for 5 min, then 1.4 M glycerol/3.6 M ethylene glycol for 5 min, …

Aquatic Heteroptera Of The Lake Manguao Catchment, Palawan And New Rank Of Rhagovelia Kawakamii Hoberlandti Hungerford & Matsuda 1961, Hendrik Freitag, Herbert Zettel

Biology Faculty Publications

Results of an inventory of the fauna of aquatic and semiaquatic true bugs (Insecta: Hemiptera) of small streams in a lake catchment of northern Palawan are presented. Twenty-one species were recorded. Taxonomic and ecological notes, distribution and collection sites are given for each identified taxon. Rhagovelia hoberlandti Hungerford & Matsuda 1961 is newly ranked as a subspecies of R. kawakamii (Matsumura 1913): Rhagovelia kawakamii hoberlandti Hungerford & Matsuda 1961, stat.n. Cercotmetus asiaticus Amyot & Serville 1843 is recorded for the first time from the Philippines. Endemic and few undescribed taxa are discussed. Additional environmental data of the sampled waters are …

An Analysis Of Coastal Marine Impacts Caused By Prehistoric And Historic Fishing Practices In Morro Bay, Ca, Darin Schmicking

Social Sciences

No abstract provided.

Response Of Sunshine Bass (Morone Chrysops X M. Saxatilis) To Digestible Protein/ Dietary Lipid Density And Ration Size At Summer Culture Temperatures In The Southern United States, Steven D. Rawles, Bartholomew W. Green, T. Gibson Gaylord, Frederic T. Barrows, Matthew Mcentire, Donald W. Freeman

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Temperature and ammonia levels often increase dramatically in ponds during summer production of sunshine bass and summer temperatures are projected to increase in the Southern United States. Extended periods of high ammonia result in fish stress, disease, mortality and significant loss of feeding days as producers attempt to reduce ammonia to manageable levels through reduced feeding or lower protein diets. A factorial feeding trial was conducted in temperature controlled tanks to investigate main and interactive effects of three digestible protein (DP) levels (33, 40, 47%), two lipid levels (10, 18%) and two ration levels (full fed: satiation, restricted: 80% of …

Developmental Programming In Response To Intrauterine Growth Restriction Impairs Myoblast Function And Skeletal Muscle Metabolism, Dustin T. Yates, A.R. Macko, M. Nearing, X. Chen, R.P. Rhoads, Sean W. Limesand

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Fetal adaptations to placental insufficiency alter postnatal metabolic homeostasis in skeletal muscle by reducing glucose oxidation rates, impairing insulin action, and lowering the proportion of oxidative fibers. In animal models of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), skeletalmuscle fibers have lessmyonuclei at birth. This means thatmyoblasts, the sole source formyonuclei accumulation in fibers, are compromised. Fetal hypoglycemia and hypoxemia are complications that result from placental insufficiency. Hypoxemia elevates circulating catecholamines, and chronic hypercatecholaminemia has been shown to reduce fetal muscle development and growth. We have found evidence for adaptations in adrenergic receptor expression profiles in myoblasts and skeletal muscle of IUGR sheep …

Validation Of Pcr-Based Assays And Laboratory Accreditation For Environmental Detection Of Aquatic Invasive Species, Invasive Species Advisory Committee

National Invasive Species Council

This white paper provides:

a) Background information on the use, accuracy and reliability of PCR-based assays such as environmentally sampled DNA (eDNA) for early detection of aquatic invasive species (AIS) and;

b) Recommendations for establishing a system for validating assays and accrediting laboratories that report on the presence or absence of AIS.

This white paper was developed by the members of ISAC and discusses the need for developing validation requirements for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and other DNA-based molecular assays that are increasingly being used to detect AIS. It does not provide a simplified checklist for evaluation of their ability …

Invasive Species And E-Commerce, Invasive Species Advisory Committee

National Invasive Species Council

ISSUE

Internet commerce (hereafter e-commerce) is a growing and vital part of the United States economy. Total e-commerce sales in the United States for 2011 totaled $194 billion, an increase of 16% over 2010. From 2002 to 2011, the proportion of reported e-commerce sales in the U. S. grew from about 1.4% to 5.5% of total retail sales (United States Census Bureau News 2012). Globally, e-commerce is expected to increase at a rate of 13.5% annually, amounting to $1.4 trillion in yearly sales by 2015 (Enright 2011). A portion of this activity includes the sale and trade of living organisms. …

Energy-Saving Hypothermia Reduces Flight Ability In Mourning Doves, Jennie M. Carr, Steven L. Lima

Symposium 2012

Overwintering birds are frequently exposed to thermal challenges that can quickly decrease energy reserves, thus leading to an increase in the risk of starvation. During these periods of energetic hardship, many avian species use nocturnal hypothermia to conserve energy that would otherwise be lost remaining warm throughout the night (McKechnie & Lovegrove 2002). However, a cool body temperature (Tb) may limit a bird’s ability to monitor the environment and may slow their response to a potential threat. Thus, birds likely trade-off between the benefits of energy-saving hypothermia and the potential costs of reduced behavioral responsiveness to predators (Welton et al. …

Fish Assemblage Dynamics And Red Drum Habitat Selection In Bayou St. John And Associated Urban Waterways Located Within The City Of New Orleans, Louisiana, Patrick W. Smith Mr.

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Bayou St. John (BSJ) and City Park Lakes and Lagoons (CPLL) are urban waterways in New Orleans, Louisiana. I studied habitat selection of red drum in BSJ, and fish assemblage change in BSJ and CPLL over 40 years. Temperature was found to be the best predictor of red drum habitat selection in Bayou St. John, while salinity and change in depth also were found to be good predictors for certain sites. Potential prey item abundance did not appear to influence habitat selection. Using data from 1971 – 2010, nearshore habitats in CPLL were affected by Hurricane Katrina, but have sense …

Formulating The Next Generation Of Cultured Dairy Foods, Phillip S. Tong

Dairy Science

No abstract provided.

Dermatopathy In Juvenile Angus Cattle Due To Vitamin A Deficiency, Thomas J. Baldwin, Kerry A. Rood, E. Jane Kelly, Jeffery O. Hall

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

In juvenile cattle, vitamin A deficiency is reported most commonly as a neurological condition; only rarely are there dermatologic manifestations. In the current study, alopecia, severe epidermal and follicular orthokeratosis, and acanthosis due to hypovitaminosis A are reported in 2 of 32 Angus calves, with a third animal suspected. Affected animals responded to vitamin A supplementation, and no additional calves displayed signs. Vitamin A acts on skin by regulating DNA transcription in keratinocytes, reducing the number of tonofilaments and desmosomes, both involved in cell-to-cell adhesion. Hence, adequate levels of dietary vitamin A are necessary for normal keratinocyte turnover, and deficiencies …