Animal Sciences Commons^™

Causes And Consequences Of Range Expansion In The Genus Tyrannus, Alexander Joseph Worm

Student Theses and Dissertations

Investigating factors that influence species’ ranges and the potential consequences arising from expansion is vital in successfully predicting future distributions. Species-habitat associations are considered to be fixed, but if they are variable, inaccurate forecasts may occur. Additionally, hybridization with heterospecifics can affect species’ ranges, possibly preventing successful expansion. Here, I used two expanding bird species, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forticatus) and Western Kingbird (T. verticalis), to assess how differential habitat selection and hybridization may influence range expansion. First, I explored variation in habitat selection behavior of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers by comparing habitat selection patterns at the periphery with the historic core of …

Dopamine Levels In The Brain Of Rat Models Of Human Rheumatoid Arthritis, Amelia Stinson

Theses & Dissertations

Research Focus. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, debilitating, autoimmune disease that causes the destruction of bone tissue and the articular structures of joints. At least 30% of RA patient populations have cognitive impairment. Acidic dopamine (DA) is the principal neuroimmunotransmitter that links the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system together. The aim of the present study was to determine the levels of DA and its two acidic metabolites: 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) in arthritic induced rats, and whether their levels vary across four different parts of the brain: amygdala (AMG), front cerebral cortex (CX), hippocampus …

Economic Contribution Of The Agricultural Sector To The Arkansas Economy In 2015, Leah English, Jennie Popp, Wayne Miller

AAES Research Reports and Research Bulletins

Agriculture and associated agricultural activities are major contributors to the Arkansas economy. Agriculture is defined as the sum of agricultural production and processing activities, unless otherwise specified, and includes crop and animal production and processing, agricultural support industries, forestry and forest products, and textile goods. Agriculture contributes to the economy through direct agricultural production and value-added processing, and also leads to economic activity in other parts of the economy. This report is the tenth in a series of reports examining agriculture’s economic contribution to the Arkansas economy. The total economic contribution of agriculture (direct, indirect, and induced effects) on value …

Statewide Survey Of Boat-Based Recreational Fishing In Western Australia 2015/16, Karina L. Ryan, Norman G. Hall, Eva K. Lai, Claire B. Smallwood, S.M Taylor, Brent Stephen

Fisheries Research Reports

The statewide survey of boat-based recreational fishing includes three components: (i) off-site Phone Surveys (encompassing an initial Screening Survey, a longitudinal Phone-Diary Survey, and Post-Enumeration Surveys); (ii) on-site Boat Ramp Surveys; and (iii) a Remote Camera Survey.

Avs Corner, December 2017, Farzana Ferdous (Advisor), Caitlin Mathews, Emily Alexander, Brooke Redmond, Meghan Courey, Erika Jones, Wendy Guzman, Peyton Voirin, Morgan Forte

AVS Corner

No abstract provided.

Aquaculture Development Plans, Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Occasional Publications

Principles and Guidelines Relating to Aquaculture Development Plans to address Performance Criteria for Aquaculture Licences and Leases

The Effect Of Pet Ownership On Esl Students’ U.S. Academic Success, Emily Benjumea

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study examines the academic success of English as a second language (ESL) students based on ownership of and/or relationship with a pet, due to pets’ ability to benefit and support their owners. A survey was compiled for middle school, ESL students in the Fayetteville, Arkansas school district. The goal of the study was to discover if pet ownership has an effect on ESL student academic success in terms of the academic, social, and emotional aspects of school. It was found that pets aid in some academic aspects of school but more so in the social and emotional aspects such …

Lactational Performance And Energy Partitioning Of Dairy Cows Supplemented With N-Acetyl-L-Methionine During Mid To Late Lactation, Tyson George Grisenti

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The N-acetyl-L-methionine (NALM) molecule is a methionine (Met) derivative produced via acetylation of the L-Met α-amino group with an N-acetyl group. This molecule has been shown to be bioavailable and capable of fulfilling the dietary requirement for Met in animals and humans. The current experiment was conducted to test a hypothesis that lactating dairy cows fed with NALM would increase milk production by increasing N and energy utilization efficiencies in a dose dependent manner. Eight multiparous Holstein cows that were mid lactation (124 ± 13 days-in-milk) with similar milk production were used in a 4 x …

Development Of An Animal Model For Enterovirus For Evaluation D68 For Screening Of Antiviral Therapies, W. Joseph Evans

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) virus has become more prevalent over the last 15 to 20 years. EV-D68 attacks the respiratory system and can cause severe disease in individuals who have underlying respiratory problems. There have also been reports of individuals with EV-D68 showing signs of neurological system problems and acute flaccid paralysis. Because of the increase in patients with EV-D68 and also the potential for neurological disease, an animal model is needed to study the disease and to evaluate experimental therapies for EV-D68 infection.

To develop the animal model, 4-week old AG129 mice that lack alpha and beta interferon receptors, making …

Gastrointestinal Parasites In Captive And Free-Ranging Cebus Albifrons In The Western Amazon, Ecuador, Sarah Martin-Solano, Gabriel A. Carrillo-Bilbao, William Ramirez, Maritza Celi-Erazo, Marie-Claude Huynen, Bruno Levecke, Washington Benitez-Ortiz, Bertrand Losson

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of the Sciences

Currently, there is a lack of surveys that report the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in the whiteheaded capuchin monkey (Cebus albifrons). We therefore assessed the presence and richness (= number of different parasite genera) of parasites in C. albifrons in wildlife refuges (n = 11) and in a free-ranging group near a human village (n = 15) in the Ecuadorian Amazon. In the 78 samples collected (median of 3 samples per animal), we identified a total of 6 genera of gastrointestinal parasites, representing protozoa, nematodes, acanthocephalans and cestodes. We observed a high prevalence (84%) across the 26 individuals, with the …

The Official List Of The Birds Of Nebraska, Mark A. Brogie

Nebraska Bird Review

The last published “Official List” of the NOURC (NOURC 2009) included 454 species. Since then the following species have been added:

Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) Accidental I-P 2010

Hooded Crane (Grus monacha) Accidental I-P 2011

Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway) Accidental I-P 2012

Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) Casual I-P 2012

Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus) Accidental I-P 2013

Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) Accidental I-P 2014

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) Accidental I-P 2014

Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna) Accidental I-P 2016

Pacific Wren (Troglodytes pacificus) Accidental I-P 2017

The Nebraska Bird Review, Volume 85 December 2017 Number 4

Nebraska Bird Review

Fall Field Report, August - November 2017, by W. Ross Silcock … 146-178

The Official List of the Birds of Nebraska, compiled by Mark A. Brogie …179-197

Ogallala Fall Field Days, Sept. 15 - 17, 2017, by Janis Paseka …198-203

Index to Volume 85 …204-218

Subscription and Organization Information … 219

Index To Volume 85

Nebraska Bird Review

Abreu, Shanin 58 ...

through

Ziegelbauer, Amanda 147

(15 pages)

Fall Field Report, August - November 2017, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

This fall season will be remembered as the fall with the mega-rarities. There were five, one of which, Pacific Wren, is a first Nebraska record. Based on occurrence dates, Hurricane Irma appears to have influenced the appearance of two of the megas, Black Vulture and Magnificent Frigatebird, neither of which provided opportunities for observers to view them, but both well-documented with photographs. There were an extraordinary TWO sightings of Harris’s Hawk, which together with the presence as of this writing (December 19) of one in northeast Kansas and a view of the species map in eBird strongly suggest a single …

Ogallala Fall Field Days, Sept. 15 - 17, 2017, Janis Paseka

Nebraska Bird Review

The 2017 NOU Fall Field Days took place in and around Ogallala on Sept. 15 - 17 with 55 in attendance. The weather on Friday was hot and windy, making finding birds a challenge. Overnight a cold front came through causing birders to shiver on Saturday and Sunday mornings, but the payoff was easier birding and some interesting species. Field trips were led by William Flack, Clem Klaphake, Wayne Mollhoff, Don Paseka, Ross Silcock and T. J. Walker. Locations included Cedar Point Biological Station, Lake Ogallala SRA, various beaches along the shore of Lake McConaughy SRA, Ash Hollow State Historical …

The Effects Of Feed Additives In Beef Finishing Systems And The Effect Of Rumen Degradable Protein Supplementation In Corn Residue Grazing Systems With The Use Of Distillers On Growth Performance, Robert M. Jones

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

One receiving trial evaluated the effect of the feed additive monensin (trade name: Rumensin) on steer growth performance in the receiving period while evaluating the effects of two receiving vaccinations on morbidity and mortality of newly received calves. No differences were observed in growth performance, morbidity rate or mortality rate between treatments for the first 28 d of receiving. A finishing trial evaluated the effect of the feed additive ractopamine hydrochloride (trade name: Optaflexx) on feedlot growth performance and carcass characteristics of crossbred yearling steers fed to differing degrees of finish. Feeding ractopamine hydrochloride at 300 mg improved ADG, G:F, …

The Spatial Ecology And Microhabitat Selection Of The Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus Miliarius) In Southwestern Missouri, Dylan Wallace Maag

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Despite a wide distribution throughout the southeastern United States, pygmy rattlesnakes (Sistrurus miliarius) have received less research attention than many other rattlesnake species. I captured a total of 33 S. miliarius at the Drury-Mincy Conservation Area (DMCA) and retained 14 large individuals (mostly gravid females) for a radio telemetry study. Snakes were primarily captured during evening road driving surveys and were encountered rarely with any other sampling technique. Sistrurus miliarius are widespread at DMCA where they were encountered in forest, savanna, and glade habitats. Snakes selected microhabitats with more vegetative cover and tree canopy closure than random sites …

Repeated Observations Of Northern Goshawks Foraging As Terrestrial Predators, Robert A. Miller

Intermountain Bird Observatory Publications and Presentations

The Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis; hereafter goshawk) is a generalist predator occupying boreal and temperate forests of the Holarctic (Squires and Reynolds 1997). The diet of goshawks has been studied in many areas and varies substantially among study sites, but some avian and mammalian genera are consistently represented (Squires and Reynolds 1997, Squires and Kennedy 2006). Within the northern Great Basin of North America, the breeding-season diet of goshawks is often dominated by Belding's ground squirrels (Urocitellus beldingi, also known as Spermophilus beldingi; Younk and Bechard 1994, Miller et al. 2014). The local reliance upon …

Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser Fulvescens) Trophic Position And Movement Patterns In The Lower Niagara River, Ny, Eric Bruestle

Great Lakes Center Masters Theses

Lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens were once widely distributed throughout the Laurentian Great Lakes. However, widespread overharvest and habitat degradation has diminished their numbers. The lower Niagara River, NY contains one of the few remaining recovering populations of lake sturgeon in New York State. The goal of this study was to characterize the trophic position of lake sturgeon in the context of an invasive species dominated food web and to describe their movement patterns and residency within the lower Niagara River. Stomach content analysis and stable nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) and carbon (δ¹³C) isotope analysis of tissue was used …

Flushing Responses Of Golden Eagles (Aquila Chrysaetos) In Response To Recreation, Robert J. Spaul, Julie A. Heath

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Disturbance because of human activity, including recreation on wildlands, can affect bird behavior which in turn can reduce breeding success, an important consideration for species of management concern. We observed Golden Eagles (Aquila chysaetos) during the breeding season to determine whether the probability of flushing was affected by the type of recreationist, distance to encounter, eagle nest attendance, or date. We monitored eagles in 23 nesting territories from distant (600-1,200 m) observation points and recorded recreation activity within 1,200 m of eagles in the Owyhee Front of southwestern Idaho. In most (86%, n = 270) encounters, eagles did …

Time Series Forecast Analysis In Wholesale Broiler Markets, Christopher R. Sims

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In 2016 the chicken industry provided nearly 1.2 million jobs, 68 billion dollars in wages, 313 billion dollars in economic activity and 24 billion dollars in government revenue (John Dunham & Associates, Inc., 2016). Broiler production has changed dramatically from the early 90’s to the turn of the 21st century. Technological advancements, continuous improvements, production efficiencies and industry changes have made the industry the global market it is today. The poultry industry is an extremely volatile market with prices constantly fluctuating in response to input price volatility and demand and supply changes. These changes are often driven by world economic …

Evaluating Social Network Dynamics Of Bigg’S Killer Whales (Orcinus Orca) And Vessel Traffic Within A Transboundary Region: Implications For Conservation Management, Courtney Smith

Dissertations

The social lives of animals are defined by group dynamics based on the nature and strength of associations and movements between individuals, often resulting in highly complex and interconnected social networks. However, understanding of how environmental variables may shape this structure is poorly understood. Within the inland waters of Washington State and southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, mammal-eating Bigg’s (transient) killer whales occur in relatively small, but stable social groups. Group size and occurrence in recent years has increased, coinciding with a growing whale watching industry. Given the central importance of the social network within killer whale population dynamics, such …

Escorting Of Mother-Calf Pairs Of Humpback Whales (Megaptera Novaeangliae) In The Colombian Pacific During The Breeding Season, Natalia Botero Acosta

Dissertations

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) belonging to the “breeding G-stock” annually migrate from the Antarctic Peninsula and southern Chile to the southeastern Pacific to reproduce. Associations between mother-calf pairs and escorts were examined in the Gulf of Tribugá, northern Colombian Pacific, using photo-identification and behavioral/spatial sampling. Research hypotheses included: 1. The association between cows and escorts is short-lived, consistent with a male reproductive strategy, 2. The presence of escort(s) elicits a behavioral response from mother-calf pairs and, 3. The patterns of spatial distribution reflect the spatial segregation of maternal females. Groups were classified as mother-calf pairs (Mc), mother, calf …

Genetic Diversity Of Kemp's Ridley (Lepidochelys Kempii) Sea Turtles On South Padre Island, Texas, Hilary R. Frandsen

Theses and Dissertations

In 2010, researchers observed an abrupt decline in nesting numbers of the Kemp’s ridley following 35 years of positive growth. In wake of this halt, and subsequent lowered nesting averages, evaluation of the genetic diversity of remaining individuals is relevant to investigate the plausibility of a genetic bottleneck, and determine the reproductive stability of the Kemp’s ridley.

Here, I evaluate the genetic diversity within a sampling of the Kemp’s ridleys on South Padre Island using two methods: targeting the mitochondrial control region and targeting the complete mitochondrial genome. Opportunistic samples were donated from juvenile ridleys on the East coast, and …

Reduction Of Escherichia Coli Surrogates For Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia Coli On Beef Cuts By Dipping In Lactic Or Peroxyacetic Acid For Short Or Extended Times And The Effect On Ground Beef Quality, Ashley Rae Mccoy

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

Shiga Toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are adulterants in ground beef. Antimicrobial interventions reduce STEC, but effectiveness may depend on application time and the impact on ground beef quality.

Objectives were to evaluate reductions in rifampicin-resistant E. coli (E. coli^RIF) on beef clod surfaces, and the effect on ground beef quality. Beef clods were sectioned and dipped in 4.5% lactic acid (LA) or 380 ppm peroxyacetic acid (PA) for 15 or 180 s. E. coli^RIF were inoculated (~5.3 log CFU/cm2) onto fat or lean tissue surfaces. Non- inoculated treatments were ground into ~454 g …

Management Strategies For Beef Heifer Development, Shelby Ann Springman

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

Four experiments were conducted to determine the impact of development systems, trace mineral source, and trace mineral supplementation on beef heifers. Experiment 1 utilized 300 Angus-based, spring-born heifers to evaluate postweaning heifer development systems on gain, reproductive performance, and feed efficiency as a pregnant heifer. Heifers were blocked by BW and randomly assigned to graze corn residue, upland range, or were fed 1 of 2 diets in a drylot differing in energy levels: high or low. Heifer development system did not impact AI or final pregnancy rates. Development cost per pregnant heifer was not different among treatments. Furthermore, pregnant heifer …

Methane From Lactating Dairy Cattle: Studies For Mitigation, Diurnal Variation, And Role In Energy Metabolism, Jared Vern Judy

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

Reducing methane production in dairy cattle has received an increased interest due to environmental concerns associated with its potency as a greenhouse gas. Methane represents lost energy in cattle and reduction may increase animal efficiency and productivity. Experiment 1 evaluated strategies of mitigating methane production in lactating dairy cattle with inclusion of dried distillers grains and solubles (DDGS), DDGS with added corn oil, and DDGS with added calcium sulfate and effects on energy and nitrogen balance. Inclusion of DDGS, corn oil, and calcium sulfate, increased DMI and milk yield. Methane production was reduced with addition of corn oil …

Evaluation Of Corn Condensed Distillers Solubles In Beef Cattle Diets And Grazing Double-Cropped Forages Following Corn Harvest, Benjamin H. Hansen

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

Corn condensed distillers solubles (CDS) is a protein and energy dense by-product from dry-milled production of ethanol. Recent oil extraction has posed modifications to the nutrient profile of CDS, suggesting that de-oiled CDS needs to be re-evaluated in beef cattle diets. Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of CDS in high-concentrate diets, forage-based diets, as well as evaluate the effects of CDS on diet digestibility and rumen fermentation parameters in forage-based diets. Feeding CDS in high-concentrate diets up to 20% of the diet DM or in combination with wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) improved performance and resulted …

Identifying Genetic Factors Influencing Sperm Mobility Phenotype In Chicken Using Genome Wide Association Studies, Primordial Germ Cell Transplantation, And Rnaseq., Sohita Ojha

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Sperm mobility is a major determinant of male fertility in chicken. In spite of low heritability of reproductive traits, sperm mobility has high heritability index which suggests presence of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) governing the trait. Our research focused on three objectives: i) to identify the QTLs affecting low mobility phenotype in chicken, ii) to understand the impact of Sertoli-cells and germ cells interactions in influencing the mobility phenotype and iii) to identify the genes and gene networks differentially expressed in male and female PGCs. To detect the QTLs, genome wide association studies (GWAS) was conducted which revealed the presence …

A Study Of The Prevalence Of Gastrointestinal Nematodes In Goats Obtained From Northwest Arkansas, Christine Rose Weingartz

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Parasitic helminths have always been an issue in small ruminant production; pathogens that pose great negative impact on goat health and productivity. Insufficient work has been done to document the prevalence of parasitic helminths in the United States, especially in the south and southeast, where the largest goat populations are found.

The aim of this study was to survey the prevalence of infections by gastrointestinal nematodes in goats in Northwestern Arkansas. Gastrointestinal tracts were examined from 41 goats of various locations around Northwest Arkansas. Worm species were identified and population burdens were determined. Coprology was correlated with the actual worm …