Animal Sciences Commons^™

The Role Of Habitat Shaping Motion Detection In Two Songbirds, Elena A. Ritschard, Luke P. Tyrrell, Esteban Fernández-Juricic

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Double cones of birds are photoreceptors associated with motion perception, and perceiving motion is highly important to detect predators. Predation risks varies between habitats and may impose selective pressures that could affect organisms’ traits. There is evidence that birds show interspecific variations in visual system properties, such as the photoreceptor densities (single and double cones) and distribution across the retina. However, little is known about the relationship between the distribution of double cones and predator scanning strategies in birds living in different habitats. The goal of this study was to compare double cones distributions of birds that live in open …

Panarchy Use In Environmental Science For Risk And Resilience Planning, David G. Angeler, Craig R. Allen, Ahjond S. Garmestani, Lance H. Gunderson, Igor Linkov

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

Environmental sciences have an important role in informing sustainable management of built environments by providing insights about the drivers and potentially negative impacts of global environmental change. Here, we discuss panarchy theory, a multi-scale hierarchical concept that accounts for the dynamism of complex socio-ecological systems, especially for those systems with strong cross-scale feedbacks. The idea of panarchy underlies much of system resilience, focusing on how systems respond to known and unknown threats. Panarchy theory can provide a framework for qualitative and quantitative research and application in the environmental sciences, which can in turn inform the ongoing efforts in sociotechnical resilience …

Breeding Season Avian Community Composition And Prey Availability In Eucalyptus And Slash Pine Plantations Of Southwestern Louisiana, Elizabeth J. Messick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The increased demand for wood products related to industries such as bioenergy and paper has resulted in a need for a consistent supply of raw materials. Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.) plantations have the potential to boost wood production for pulpwood and biomass feedstocks. Species characteristics such as rapid, indeterminate growth, coppice regrowth, resistance to disease and insects, and tolerance of a range of environmental conditions make these species successful short-rotation woody crops (SRWCs). Camden white gum (Eucalyptus benthamii), a more cold tolerant species, has made management of eucalyptus plantations viable in southern portions of the United States such …

Surveillance, Epidemiological, And Virological Detection Of Highly Pathogenic H5n1 Avian Influenza Viruses In Duck And Poultry From Bangladesh, Wahedul Karim Ansari, Md Safiullah Parvej, Mohamed E. El Zowalaty, Sally Jackson, Stephen A. Bustin, Adel K. Ibrahim, Md Tanvir Rahman, Han Zhang, Mohammad Ferdousur Rahman Khan, Md Mostakin Ahamd, Md. Fasiur Rahman, Marzia Rahman, Khm Nazmul H. Nazir, Sultan Ahmed, Md Liakot Hossenn, Md Abdul Kafi, Mat Yamage, Nitish C. Debnath, Graba Ahmed, Hossam Ashour, Md Masoud, Ayman Noreddin, Md B. Rahman

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) continue to pose a global threat. Waterfowl are the main reservoir and are responsible for the spillover of AIVs to other hosts. This study was conducted as part of routine surveillance activities in Bangladesh and it reports on the serological and molecular detection of H5N1 AIV subtype. A total of 2169 cloacal and 2191 oropharyngeal swabs as well as 1725 sera samples were collected from live birds including duck and chicken in different locations in Bangladesh between the years of 2013 and 2014. Samples were tested using virus isolation, serological tests and molecular methods of RT-PCR. …

Insects Have Agency But Probably Not Sentience Because They Lack Social Bonding, J. H. Van Hateren

Animal Sentience

Klein & Barron (2016) argue that insects have sentience because of functional similarities between the insect brain and vertebrate midbrain. Based on a recent theory of agency and consciousness, I argue that the functional similarities merely point to an advanced form of agency. Insects presumably lack the capacity for social bonding that may be required for subjective experiencing.

Bulletin No. 42: The Mamacoke Conservation Area, Glenn Dreyer, Robert Askins, Scott Peterson

Bulletins

No abstract provided.

Kentucky Warbler (Vol. 92, No. 3), Kentucky Library Research Collections

The Kentucky Warbler

No abstract provided.

Movement, Habitat Use, Reproduction, And Commercial Harvest Of Paddlefish In Lake Dardanelle, Arkansas, Adam Geik

Theses and Dissertations from 2016

Paddlefish Polyodon spathula are a valuable commercial species throughout much of their range including Lake Dardanelle, one of the most important commercial paddlefish fisheries in Arkansas. While fecundity, mortality, and age and growth of paddlefish stocks in Lake Dardanelle have been assessed previously, information on their movements, habitat utilization, and commercial harvest rates is lacking. To help fill this information gap, 39 paddlefish were tracked a minimum of once per month from October 2014 through September 2015. Habitat selection was determined for eight macrohabitat types and four bathymetric habitat types by comparing percent usage to percent availability. Four high-use (≥10%) …

Effects Of Human Disturbance On Physiology, Behavior, And Ornamentation In The Eastern Bluebird, Lauren Marjorie Gillespie

Dissertations

Overall, few studies have focused on anthropogenic disturbance on wildlife physiology. Research has typically focused on how environmentally contaminated areas or anthropogenic disturbance (e.g. noise, human activity) influences biodiversity, community structure and behavior of individual animals. However, understanding how disturbance influences some aspects of physiology can require sacrifice of the animal, prohibiting ecologically relevant measures of behavior and reproductive success. This research strives to examine covariation between testosterone (T) and corticosterone (CORT), plumage ornamentation, and behavior in two populations of eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis) that differ in degree to which their habitat is modified by human activity.

In …

Neutering Of German Shepherd Dogs: Associated Joint Disorders, Cancers And Urinary Incontinence, Benjamin L. Hart, Lynette A. Hart, Abigail P. Thigpen, Neil H. Willits

Endocrinology Collection

German Shepherd Dogs are important in police and military work, and are a popular family pet. The debilitating joint disorders of hip dysplasia, cranial cruciate ligament tear (CCL) and elbow dysplasia can shorten a dog’s useful working life and impact its role as a family member. For this study, veterinary hospital records were examined over a 14.5-year period on 1170 intact and neutered (including spaying) German Shepherd Dogs for joint disorders and cancers previously associated with neutering. The diseases were followed through 8 years of age, with the exception of mammary cancer (MC) in females that was followed through 11 …

Insulin-Dependent Glucose Metabolism In Dairy Cows With Variable Fat Mobilization Around Calving, C. Weber, C. T. Schäff, U. Kautzsch, S. Börner, S. Erdmann, S. Görs, M. Röntgen, H. Sauerwein, R. M. Bruckmaier, C. C. Metges, B. Kuhla, H. M. Hammon

Physiology Collection

Dairy cows undergo significant metabolic and endocrine changes during the transition from pregnancy to lactation, and impaired insulin action influences nutrient partitioning toward the fetus and the mammary gland. Because impaired insulin action during transition is thought to be related to elevated body condition and body fat mobilization, we hypothesized that over-conditioned cows with excessive body fat mobilization around calving may have impaired insulin metabolism compared with cows with low fat mobilization. Nineteen dairy cows were grouped according to their average concentration of total liver fat (LFC) after calving in low [LLFC; LFC <24% total fat/dry matter (DM); n = 9] and high (HLFC; LFC >24.4% total fat/DM; n = 10) fat-mobilizing …

Improving Efficiency In Generating Submissions And Consistency Of Outcomes For Marine Stewardship Council (Msc) Based Assessments, Warrick Fletcher, Daniel J. Gaughan, Lynda Bellchambers Dr

Fisheries Research Reports

The prevalence of fishery certification schemes and associated ecolabels has grown over the last ten years with numerous ecolabels now in the marketplace e.g. Friends of the Sea, Naturland, SAI Global Trust (Parkes et al. 2010, Washington and Ababouch 2011, Ward and Phillips 2013). However, one of the most prominent and well regarded, particularly by eNGOs, is the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) (Gutiérrez et al. 2012, Ponte 2012, Bush et al. 2013, Ward and Phillips 2013) which accounts for greater than 10 % of annual global harvest of wild capture fisheries (MSC 2014b).

Gascoyne Demersal Scalefish Resource : Draft Harvest Strategy, 2016-2021. Version 1.0, Western Australia. Dept. Of Fisheries.

Fisheries Management Papers

Harvest strategies for aquatic resources managed by the Western Australian Department of Fisheries (the Department) are formal documents prepared to support the decision-making processes and ensure these processes are consistent with the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD; Fletcher 2002) and Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM; Fletcher et al. 2010). The objectives of ESD are reflected in the objects of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (FRMA), Section 3, and the draft Aquatic Resources Management Bill 2015 (ARMB), Clause 9, which will replace the FRMA once enacted.

North Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource : Draft Harvest Strategy, 2016-2021. Version 1.0, Western Australia. Dept. Of Fisheries

Fisheries Management Papers

Harvest strategies for aquatic resources managed by the Western Australian Department of Fisheries (the Department) are formal documents prepared to support decision-making processes and ensure these processes are consistent with the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD; Fletcher 2002) and Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM; Fletcher et al. 2010). The objectives of ESD are reflected in the objects of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (FRMA), Section 3, and the draft Aquatic Resources Management Bill 2015 (ARMB), Clause 9, which will replace the FRMA once enacted.

North Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource : Draft Harvest Strategy : 2016 – 2021 : Version 1.0, Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Management Papers

No abstract provided.

Gascoyne Demersal Scalefish Resource : Draft Harvest Strategy : 2016 – 2021 : Version 1.0, Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Management Papers

No abstract provided.

The Feasibility Of Using Drones To Count Songbirds, Andrew M. Wilson, Janine M. Barr, Megan E. Zagorski

Environmental Studies Student Conference Presentations

Point and transect counts are the most common bird survey methods, but are subject to biases and accessibility issues. To eliminate some of these biases, we propose attaching a recorder to a consumer-grade quadcopter (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, or UAV) to estimate songbird populations from audio recordings. We conducted a blind experiment using broadcast recordings to estimate the detection radius of a compact recorder attached to a UAV, and found that the detection radius did not vary significantly when the UAV was flown at elevations of 20, 40 and 60m. We field tested our system by comparing UAV-based bird counts with …

Polyandry In The Absence Of Fitness Benefits In A Species With Female-Biased Sexual Size Dimorphism, Marie Claire Chelini, Eileen A. Hebets

Eileen Hebets Publications

Most studies exploring the evolution of female mating systems focus on species in which females are either monandric (mate with a single male) or highly polyandric (mate with multiple males), but less is understood about variation in mating decisions within a species. How and why do females of a single species decide whether or not to copulate with additional mates? In this study we attempt to answer this question in the highly dimorphic crab spider, Mecaphesa celer, whose females may be either monandric or polyandric. We tested three hypotheses: (1) a female’s decision to remate is based on sequential mate …

Comparative Analyses Of Transcriptome Data From Beef Cattle Persistently Infected With Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus, Sara Michelle Nilson

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

Persistent infection (PI) with Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) is a major source of economic loss for the livestock industry. Persistent infection occurs when a dam is exposed to the virus during 42 to 125 days of gestation and the virus is passed to the fetus without an adaptive immune response. These PI calves serve as continuous sources of infection to others. The identification of differences in expression of gene networks and/or genetic markers associated with infection could assist in the development of novel strategies to prevent, control, or treat BVDV. To examine the host response to PI, RNA-Seq data …

Genome-Wide Association Study For Feed Efficiency Traits Using Snp And Haplotype Models, Kashly Rene Schweer

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

Feed efficiency has long been recognized for its economic importance in beef cattle production systems. Feed intake is not a routinely collected trait on-farm due to the expense of measuring individual feed intake. Identification of genomic regions associated with feed efficiency and its component traits would be advantageous for selection programs. The objective of this study was to uncover genomic regions associated with average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with SNP and haplotype Bayesian models. Phenotypes of ADG and ADFI along with genotypes from the BovineSNP50v2 array from crossbred steers and …

Evaluation Of Hematological And Serum Biochemical Profiles Associated With The Supplementation Of Zilpaterol Hydrochloride To Feedlot Heifers, Sara Elizabeth Sieren

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

Supplementation of zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH; Zilmax^®) to cattle has been suggested to have a negative impact on well-being of cattle. The objective of this study was to evaluate the hematological and serum biochemical profiles in feedlot heifers supplemented with ZH in a minimal stress environment. Heifers were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: Control (CON no ZH), or ZH (supplemented with ZH at 8.33mg/kg of feed on a DM basis). The study was conducted over a period of 25 d (-2 to 23), with three serum collection periods [-2 to 4 d (ZH supplementation began on …

The Effects Of Zinc Supplementation From Two Sources On Egg Quality And Bone Health In Laying Hens, Kelli Marie Martin

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

The objective of this study was to compare zinc sources and levels of supplementation on laying hen performance. Bovan White Leghorn hens were fed one of six dietary treatments in a 2x3 factorial arrangement consisting of two zinc sources (Availa®Zn or zinc sulfate) and three levels (40, 80, or 120 ppm). Treatments were randomly assigned to 48 cages with five hens/cage. Blocks provided eight replicates/treatment. Hens were housed in a tiered manure belt housing system providing 97.2 cm²/hen. Hens were given 110 g/hen/day of feed ad libitum. Feed intake, egg production, egg weights, egg components, eggshell strength, body …

Evaluation Of The Metabolic Response, Blood Chemistry Profile, And Cardiac Morphology Of Beef Heifers Supplemented With Zilpaterol Hydrochloride Followed By An Endocrine Induced Stress Challenge, Joe O. Buntyn

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

The objective of this study was to determine the metabolic, stress, hematology, organ weights, histology and cardiac anatomical features of beef heifers supplemented with zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) when exposed to a corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and arginine vasopressin (VP) challenge. Crossbred heifers (n = 20; 556 ± 7 kg BW) were randomized into two treatment groups: 1) Control (CON): no ZH, and 2) Zilpaterol (ZIL): supplemented with ZH at 8.33 mg / kg (DM basis). The ZIL group was supplemented ZH for 20 d, with a 3-d withdrawal period. On d 24, heifers received an intravenous bolus of CRH (0.3 µg …

Effects Of Salt And Nitrite Concentration On The Shelf Life Of Deli-Style Ham, Regan Elise Stanley

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

Deli-style hams were manufactured to measure the effects of salt and nitrite concentration on shelf life and physicochemical characteristics. Three replications of deli-style ham treatments were manufactured in a 3 x 4 factorial arrangement of salt concentration (0.7%, 1.4%, or 2.1%, meat block basis) and nitrite concentration and source (0 ppm, 100 ppm or 200 ppm sodium nitrite, SN, or 100 ppm sodium nitrite equivalent from pre-converted celery juice powder, CP; Veg Stable 506, Florida Food Products). Salt concentration, water activity, cook yield, and texture profile analysis (TPA) were measured on w 0. Color, pH, residual nitrite, and aerobic and …

Development Of Terminal And Maternal Economic Selection Indices In Beefmaster Cattle, Kathleen Pearl Ochsner

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

In the design of economic selection indices, the relative importance of traits in the breeding objective is reflected by their relative economic weighting. The objective of this study was to develop two economic selection indices for Beefmaster cattle: one for a terminal production system and one for a maternal production system. The terminal index was developed assuming bulls are mated to mature cows with all resulting progeny harvested. The maternal index was developed assuming bulls are mated to a combination of heifers and mature cows, with resulting progeny retained as replacements or sold at weaning.

National average prices from 2010 …

Impact Of Finishing Diets With De-Oiled Distillers Grains Or Antioxidant Containing Supplement On Beef Shelf Life, Katherine I. Domenech-Pérez

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

In its entirety this dissertation intended to address the impact of feeding several forms of de-oiled corn distillers grains plus solubles and the effect of supplementing OmniGen-AF as a potential antioxidant source for extending beef shelf life. In study one we learned that despite the de-oiling process, greater inclusion levels (65%, DM basis) of de-oiled wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) causes an increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) similar to the levels obtained with full-fat WDGS. Lower inclusion levels (35 and 50%, DM basis) of de-oiled WDGS have intermediate PUFA content in comparison to 65% de-oiled WDGS, full-fat WDGS …

Ruminant Supplementation Of Gluconeogenic Substrates Via Drinking Water, Gabriela Volpi-Lagreca

All Dissertations

Dark cutting or high pH meat is found in all meat species, inducing significant losses to the meat industry. Dark cutting meat is a direct consequence of low muscle glycogen at slaughter, which affects the normal acidification of meat during rigor development, hence, the ultimate pH remains high. The ultimate pH of the meat has a great influence on certain meat quality parameters, such as color, water holding capacity, and tenderness. An animal exposed to stress previous to slaughter may significantly depletes its glycogen reserves. This situation leads to a high ultimate pH if the animal is slaughtered before it …

Metabolomics Approach To Investigate Oxidation Stabilities In Different Bovine Muscles With Postmortem Aging, Danyi Ma

Open Access Theses

Postmortem aging has been extensively practiced in the meat industry for decades due to its beneficial impact on improving eating quality attributes. However, prolonged postmortem aging may adversely impact color and/or lipid oxidation stabilities of meat, leading to decreased display shelf-life and increased rancid off-flavor. As physical/biochemical changes occur during postmortem aging, metabolites that impart antioxidant or pro-oxidant activities are generated or consumed, which could be related to the oxidation stabilities of postmortem muscles with aging. However, the underlying mechanism of the aging-induced oxidation susceptibility has not been fully established. Therefore, the overall objective of this thesis was to understand …

Evaluating The Physical Welfare Of Dogs In Commercial Breeding Facilities In The United States, Moriah J. Hurt

Open Access Theses

Despite high levels of public concern, the state of commercial breeding (CB) dog welfare is largely unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the physical welfare of dogs in CB facilities and their environment in Indiana. This study specifically aimed 1) to characterize dog foot health in CB facilities as a function of the length of time dogs were housed on a given flooring substrate, 2) to characterize visual dog body cleanliness and visual kennel cleanliness as a function of the flooring substrate, 3) to determine the efficacy of kennel cleaning procedures and 4) to characterize the dog dental and …

Influence Of Dietary Component Manipulation And Feed Management Strategies On Growth And Rumen Development Of Weaned Dairy Heifers, Tana Shea Dennis

Open Access Dissertations

Well-developed replacement heifers provide a central foundation for the continued success of the dairy industry. Emphasis on improving pre-weaned calf nutrition has predominated in the industry, but opportunities exist to improve post-weaning heifer nutrition and management. We aimed to evaluate common feed management strategies seen in the industry and their effects on growth, feed efficiency (G:F), and rumen development of calves from birth to 8 mo of age using pen- and individually-fed animal trials. Little information exists regarding post-weaning performance and rumen development of calves fed conventional or high planes of nutrition pre-weaning; therefore, we evaluated two milk replacer feeding …