Animal Sciences Commons^™

Varestrongylus Eleguneniensis Sp. N. (Nematoda: Protostrongylidae): A Widespread, Multi-Host Lungworm Of Wild North American Ungulates, With An Emended Diagnosis For The Genus And Explorations Of Biogeography, Guilherme G. Verocai, Susan J. Kutz, Manon Simard, Eric P. Hoberg

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Background: A putative new species of Varestrongylus has been recently recognized in wild North American ungulates based on the ITS-2 sequences of larvae isolated from feces during a wide geographic survey. No taxonomic description was provided, as adult specimens were not examined. Methods: Lungworm specimens were collected in the terminal bronchioles of muskoxen from Quebec, and a woodland caribou from central Alberta, Canada. The L3 stage was recovered from experimentally infected slugs (Deroceras spp.). Description of specimens was based on comparative morphology and integrated approaches. Molecular identity was determined by PCR and sequencing of the ITS-2 region of …

Evaluating The Effect Maturity On The Intake And Digestibility Of Switchgrass Hay Consumed By Beef Steers, David H. Davis

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

There has been increased interest in utilizing switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) as biomass. There are several challenges to developing this industry, and these have led to the potential use of switchgrass as hay for feeding beef cattle in Kentucky. The effect of increasing maturity on crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and nutritive values of switchgrass hay has been well documented, but few in vivo intake and digestibility trials have been conducted to assess this effect on animal performance when feeding beef cattle. Two in vivo intake and digestibility trials were conducted in 2011 …

Microsporidia Biological Control Agents And Pathogens Of Beneficial Insects, Susan Bjornson, David Oi

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

No abstract provided.

Revision Of Anacaena Thomson, 1859 Xi. Republic Of The Philippines (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae), Hendrik Freitag

Biology Faculty Publications

The species of Anacaena THOMSON, 1859 (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) of the Republic of the Philippines are revised. Fifteen new species are described: Anacaena albay sp.n., A. amplocomata sp.n., A. apo sp.n., A. balabag sp.n., A. cordillera sp.n., A. davao sp.n., A. destructa sp.n., A. emergens sp.n., A. hemisphaerica sp.n., A. levistriata sp.n., A. philippina sp.n., A. princesa sp.n., A. quezona sp.n., A. sulcata sp.n., and A. zamboangana. All species are endemic to the Philippines, twelve are aquatic, the habitat of three species is unknown. All Philippine species are morphologically similar to other species of the eastern Oriental Region and probably do …

Nest Destruction Elicits Indiscriminate Con- Versus Heterospecific Brood Parasitism In A Captive Bird, Rachel C. Shaw, William E. Feeney, Mark E. Hauber

Publications and Research

Following nest destruction, the laying of physiologically committed eggs (eggs that are ovulated, yolked, and making their way through the oviduct) in the nests of other birds is considered a viable pathway for the evolution of obligate interspecific brood parasitism. While intraspecific brood parasitism in response to nest predation has been experimentally demonstrated, this pathway has yet to be evaluated in an interspecific context. We studied patterns of egg laying following experimental nest destruction in captive zebra finches, Taeniopygia guttata, a frequent intraspecific brood parasite. We found that zebra finches laid physiologically committed eggs indiscriminately between nests containing conspecific eggs …

Animals' Capability To Bond And The Implications That Follow, Falyn Goldfarb

Honors College Theses

This paper explores the ways in which humans have historically viewed animals, with a focus on Descartes theory automata. Further concepts of the problem of different minds, inherent value, empathy, love, friendship, grief, isolation, anthropomorphism, and biochemistry (focusing on oxytocin, cortisol and the prefrontal cortex) are all explored. Numerous literature reviews are used as examples to fight against the argument that animals are merely machines and can therefore be used and abused. Animal social bonds, including parent-child, purely social, and animal-human, are analyzed for their evolutionary and biological purposes in attempt to highlight the relationships that are not obviously valuable …

Reproductive Phase Determination In Male Meagre (Argyrosomus Regius, Sciaenidae): Testis Development And Histologic Corroboration Of A Gross Anatomical Scale, Nuno Prista, Leonel Gordo, José Lino Costa, Maria José Costa, Cynthia Jones

OES Faculty Publications

Reproductive stage determination of male gonads has received sparse attention in fish biology literature with few studies detailing the building of gross anatomical- and histologic scales. The meagre (Argyrosomus regius) is one of the world's largest sciaenids and supports a significant regional fishery in European and North African waters whose reproductive patterns are yet to be fully investigated. In the present study, we derive a macroscopic grading system for meagre testis using semi-quantitative graphs that feature the testis variability along the species size range and time of the year. We then describe the histological stages and reproductive phases of male …

Steps Towards Successful Cryopreservation Of Fish Gametes: Improving Laboratory Protocols In The Zebrafish Model To Increase Gamete Viability And Efficiency, Megan Chastain

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Cryopreserervation is a powerful tool for the long term storage of genetic material from endangered species. While mammalian gametes have long been freezable, eggs and embryos from fish have yet to be successfully frozen. Furthermore, protocols for freezing fish sperm have low success rates. In an effort to overcome the limitations in gamete manipulation currently impeding successful fish gamete cryopreservation, I outline two experiment using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model for freshwater fish species. First, I attempted to extend working time in both eggs and sperm by incubating the gametes in rainbow trout oviductal fluid (RTOF), RTOF + HEPES, …

First Report Of Satellite Males During Breeding In Leptodactylus Latrans (Amphibia, Anura), Gabriel Laufer, Noelia Gobel, José M. Mautone, María Galán, Rafael O. De Sá

Biology Faculty Publications

Individual males can adopt alternative mating tactics. The occurrence of satellite males is a common behaviour across anuran taxa (e.g., Lithobates clamitans, Wells, 1977; Anaxyrus cognatus, Krupa, 1989; Dendropsophus ebraccatus, Miyamoto and Cane, 1980; Rhinella crucifer, Forester and Lynken, 1986). Satellite males take peripheral positions to calling males, and adopt alternate mating tactics in an attempt to intercept females that are attracted to calling males (Wells, 2007) to increase their own mating success. Satellite males could have an inexpensive form of mate-locating, avoiding predators, and saving energy (Arak, 1983). Furthermore, this strategy could play an important role in the genetic …

Mycoplasmas & Mycobacteria: Minimalists At Work, Shalee Killpack

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Mycoplasmas and mycobacteria are two types of opportunistic pathogens whose prevalence and virulence have long been underestimated. As a broad overview, this paper will explore the current understanding of these bacteria as well as some common pathological outcomes they can induce. Chronic infections, such as contagious bovine pleuropneumonia and Johne's disease, can have extensive health and economic impacts on animal industries when improperly managed. Contamination of biopharmaceuticals and human variants of disease, are also matters of concern as more research is conducted in these areas. A more detailed understanding of these bacteria is beginning to emerge-a view which reveals mycoplasmas …

Assessment Of Range, Habitat Use, And Diel Movement Of Flathead Catfish (Pylodictis Olivaris) In The Wabash River Using Ultrasonic Telemetry, Sarah Mary Huck

Masters Theses

Flathead Catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) are one of the most targeted species for recreational and commercial fishing within the Mississippi River Basin. With heavy harvest pressure placed on many populations, proper management is crucial; however, the species range, habitat requirements, and diel movement patterns have rarely been investigated in free flowing rivers. Therefore, I used ultrasonic telemetry with active tracking to monitor movement and habitat use of 44 Flathead Catfish from August 2012 to December 2013 in the lower 280 km of the Wabash River. This system is ideal to evaluate broad and fine scale movement of Flathead Catfish …

Recognition Of Two New Species Of Freshwater Crabs From The Seychelles Based On Molecular Evidence (Potamoidea: Potamonautidae)., Neil Cumberlidge, Savel Regan Daniels Phd

Journal Articles

The Afrotropical freshwater crab genus Seychellum is endemic to the granitic Seychelles in the Indian Ocean (Mahé, Silhouette, Praslin, La Digue and Frégate). Here we describe two new cryptic species of Seychellum that represent two evolutionarily separate lineages of a previously monotypic genus. This raises to three the number of species of freshwater crabs known from Seychelles. Each species is endemic to either one island (Silhouette) or to a pair of islands (Mahé and Frégate, or Praslin and La Digue). The three species can be clearly distinguished as separate lineages by DNA analysis, haplotyping and examination of gonopod characters. The …

Global Patterns Of Freshwater Species Diversity, Threat And Cross-Taxon Congruence, Ben Collen Phd, Felix Whitton Phd, Ellie E. Dyer, Jonathan E.M. Baillie Phd, Neil Cumberlidge, William Darwall, Caroline Pollack, Nadia Richman Phd, Anne-Marie Soulsby, Monica Bohm Phd

Journal Articles

Aim Global-scale studies are required to identify broad-scale patterns in the distributions of species, to evaluate the processes that determine diversity and to determine how similar or different these patterns and processes are among different groups of freshwater species. Broad-scale patterns of spatial variation in species distribution are central to many fundamental questions in macroecology and conservation biology. We aimed to evaluate how congruent three commonly used metrics of diversity were among taxa for six groups of freshwater species.

Location Global.

Methods We compiled geographical range data on 7083 freshwater species of mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fishes, crabs and crayfish to …

The Reproductive Ecology Of Two Sympatric Demersal Fishes: The Naked Goby Gobiosoma Bosc And Striped Blenny Chasmodes Bosquianus, Rachel M. Tremont

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The naked goby (Gobiosoma bosc) and striped blenny (Chasmodes bosquianus) are sympatric oyster reef fishes within temperate estuaries. The reproductive biology and early life history of these fishes were described during two consecutive spawning seasons from 2012-2013 in North Inlet, SC. The naked goby and striped blenny spawning seasons lasted for 21 weeks and 30 weeks, respectively, for 2012 and 2013. The naked goby spawning season began 3 weeks later than the striped blenny spawning season for both years. The temporal offset in the start of their spawning seasons may reduce competition for nest habitat between the two species. Naked …

Testing Systems Of Avian Perch Deterrents On Electric Power Distribution Poles In Sage-Brush Habitat, James F. Dwyer, Kerrin W. Doloughan

Human–Wildlife Interactions

In Lincoln County, Washington, USA, greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and Columbian sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus) are managed as reintroduced and augmented populations, respectively. Predation by raptors and corvids is a concern, particularly where utility poles may provide hunting perches near leks (i.e., breeding areas). Perch deterrents may offer a mitigating strategy if deterrents reduce the frequency or duration of perching. To investigate the effects of various perch deterrents, we deployed deterrents on 5 power poles retained for use in this study when 33 poles were removed from occupied grouse habitat. We rotated deterrents among poles every 15 to 28 …

Influence Of Egg Oiling On Colony Presence Of Ring-Billed Gulls, Travis L. Devault, Paige M. Schmidt, Fred E. Pogmore, John Gobeille, Jerrold L. Belant, Thomas W. Seamans

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Egg oiling is a form of management in which bird eggs are coated with mineral or corn oil, preventing gas exchange through the shell and killing embryos. Unlike other nest disturbance techniques, egg oiling reportedly precludes colony abandonment and, thus, can be advantageous when managers wish to limit dispersal within the breeding season to other locations while stabilizing the population or reducing productivity. However, unintended, indirect effects of egg oiling are not well-characterized. We evaluated the influence of egg oiling on ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) within the Lake Champlain basin, Vermont, during the nesting season to determine whether egg oiling …

Integrating Mammalian Hazards With Management At U.S. Civil Airports: A Case Study, Kristin M. Biondi, Jerrold L. Belant, James A. Martin, Travis L. Devault, Guiming Wang

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Wildlife incidents with U.S. civil aircraft cost an estimated $1.4 billion from 1990 to 2010, with mammals 5 times more likely to cause damage than other wildlife. We surveyed 2 general aviation (GA) airports and 6 Part-139 certificated (i.e., certified) airports to assess efficacy of management practices for mammalian species hazardous to aircraft. We obtained information on mammalian species present on airport grounds, types and estimated effectiveness of management techniques, and effort spent on wildlife management. We evaluated management techniques relative to aircraft–wildlife collisions (i.e., incident) frequencies taken from Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) National Wildlife Strike Database and species hazard …

Identifying People’S Most Preferred Management Technique For Feral Cats In Hawaii, Cheryl A. Lohr, Christopher A. Lepczyk, Linda J. Cox

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Feral cats (Felis catus) are abundant in many parts of the world and pose a threat to native wildlife. Human–wildlife conflicts regarding how feral cats should be managed have increased recently. In Hawaii, previous research has revealed that most residents would like to see the feral cat abundance reduced, but opinions differ regarding which techniques are acceptable for achieving this. This paper describes an analytical hierarchy process that combines rankings of decision criteria by Hawaii’s residents with expert knowledge of the costs and benefits associated with 7 techniques (live-capture and adoption, live-capture and lethal injection, live-capture and lethal gunshot, trap-neuter-release …

Farmers’ Perceptions Of The Impacts Of Human– Wildlife Conflict On Their Livelihood And Natural Resource Management Efforts In Cheha Woreda Of Guraghe Zone, Ethiopia, Dagne Mojo, Jessica Rothschuh, Mehari Alebachew

Human–Wildlife Interactions

There are several livelihood improvement and natural resource management campaigns being undertaken in Ethiopia. In Cheha Woreda District of Guraghe Zone, a research team from the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Holetta Research Center, is undertaking a watershed-level intervention to improve sustainable land management practices among resident agrarian families. In 2011, a household survey was conducted to assess farmers’ perceptions of human–wildlife conflicts (HWC) and the effects of these conflicts on land management in Cheha Woreda. One-hundred randomly selected households in the Cheha Woreda were asked to identify any wild or domestic animals that cause damage to their crops. Additionally, …

Wildlife Markets In South China, Alex T. Chow, Szeman Cheung, Peter K. Yip

Human–Wildlife Interactions

China is one of the largest consumers of wild animals for food and traditional Chinese medicine in the world. A large volume of illegal trade has been recorded in the primary cities, such as Hong Kong and Guangzhou, but the wildlife markets in secondary Chinese cities have not been investigated. This study was carried out in 7 cities in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. Wildlife trade data were collected using semi-structured interview, observation, and market survey. The study documented the selling of 97 animal species, >7,000 individuals. The most frequently used animal groups by quantity were reptiles (51%), followed by birds …

Determination Of Residue Levels Of Alpha-Chloralose In Duck Tissues, David A. Goldade, Randal S. Stahl, John. J. Johnston

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Alpha-chloralose (AC) is used to capture nuisance waterfowl so that they can be relocated. Concerns for food safety limit its use prior to or during the waterfowl hunting season. To determine its half-life in tissue, we administered AC to adult male (n = 7) and female (n = 5) mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) via oral gavage. A gel capsule containing 100 μCi of radioactive AC (14C-AC) and sufficient nonlabeled AC to produce a dose of approximately 30 mg/kg was given to each duck.The ducks were euthanized at 2, 6, 10, and 18 hours postdosing …

Forecasting The Spread Of Raccoon Rabies Using A Purpose-Specific Group Decisionmaking Process, Aaron M. Anderson, Stephanie A. Shwiff, Richard B. Chipman, Todd Atwood, Tyler Cozzens, Frank Fillo, Robert Hale, Brody Hatch, Joanne Maki, Olin E. Rhodes, Erin E. Rees, Charles E. Rupprecht, Rowland Tinline, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Dennis Slate

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and USDA Wildlife Services (WS) have been involved in an oral rabies vaccination (ORV) program for raccoons (Procyon lotor) that has slowed the westward spread of raccoon rabies. The objective of this study was to forecast the spread of the disease if an ORV zone was not maintained. A group decision-making process was designed to address the forecasting problem and was implemented using a group of 15 experts and 4 support personnel at a meeting at the USDA National Wildlife Research Center. Ten expansion regions were constructed that described the spread of …

Evaluation Of Foliar Sprays To Reduce Crop Damage By Canada Geese, Charles D. Dieter, Cody S. Warner, Curiong Ren

Human–Wildlife Interactions

South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks annually spends >$500,000 managing crop damage caused by grazing Canada geese (Branta canadensis). Foliar applications of a chemical feeding deterrent could provide an effective alternative to the methods currently being used to reduce damage. In 2011 and 2012, we evaluated Rejex-It Migrate Turfguard®, Bird Shield®, Avian Control®, and Avipel® as grazing deterrents. We used a ground sprayer to apply the treatments every 7 days to plots in soybean fields in Day County, South Dakota. We monitored activity in the plots using time-lapse photography. We began treating the plots after geese …

Scarred For Life: The Other Side Of The Fence Debate, Paul F. Jones

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

Regulation Of Tree Squirrel Populations With Immunocontraception: A Fox Squirrel Example, Sara K. Krause, Douglas A. Kelt, Dirk H. Van Vuren, James P. Gionfriddo

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Tree squirrels (Sciurus spp.) are highly successful immigrants to urban and suburban areas in North America and Europe, causing both economic and ecological damage. Control of such invasive populations is challenging but of increasing importance to local managers. We studied an invasive population of fox squirrels (S. niger) and applied an immunocontraceptive vaccine in an experimental study of demographic control. Here we integrate our data into a simple stage-structured population model to simulate population reduction under 2 treatment levels (60 and 80% of females, respectively) for vaccines lasting from 1 to 5 years. Contraception can be an effective …

Effects Of Removal On A Lightly Exploited Coyote Population In Eastern Nevada, Patrick J. Jackson

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Coyote (Canis latrans) removal is a common, yet controversial, management practice to increase game populations throughout the West. I studied the effect of removal on coyote populations in eastern Nevada from 2004 to 2008 and reviewed 27 available publications to determine the level of human exploitation on my study populations. Removals were performed by USDA Wildlife Services (WS) to benefit game populations and involved the use of trapping, neck snaring, and ground and aerial shooting. To determine if the removal had an effect on the coyote populations, I measured 3 parameters: the presence or absence of skewed sex …

Soil Quality Manipulation To Reduce Bird Presence At Airports, Theresa K. Johnston, Bruce Branham, Jeffrey Brawn

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Aviation safety is an important concern in wildlife management as bird strikes risk human lives and result in costly damage. Habitat management can decrease bird abundances locally at airports. We tested soil manipulation as a technique to reduce local bird presence by establishing experimental plots with either intact topsoil or “stripped” subsoil with the aim of decreasing foraging substrate for birds. We estimated invertebrate abundance, and observed bird presence from 2006 to 2008. More birds visited topsoil plots (151.5 birds/ ha/hour) than subsoil plots (72.7 birds/ha/hour). Topsoil plots supported a greater biomass of invertebrates than subsoil plots ( = 0.39 …

Efficacy Of Ropel® As A Coyote Repellent, Elizabeth A. Miller, Julie K. Young, Scott Stelting, Bruce A. Kimball

Human–Wildlife Interactions

We examined the repellency of a commercially available animal repellent to determine the efficacy of its application to objects that are attractive to coyotes (Canis latrans). Specifically, we aimed to both prevent chewing behavior by coyotes on a nylon-like strapping material, which is used to construct barrier-arresting systems on military airstrips, and determine the ability of the solution to prevent the animals from repeating the undesired behavior. We mixed Ropel® Animal and Rodent Repellent with a liquid latex sticker to form a 2% latex and 98% Ropel solution. We used a 2% latex and 98% water solution as …

Comment On Dieter Et Al. (2014), Leonard R. Askham, Michael E. R. Godfrey

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

In Defense Of Field Experiments: Response To Askham And Godfrey (2014), Charles D. Dieter, Cody S. Warner, Curiong Ren

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.