Animal Sciences Commons^™

Conspicuously Concealed: Revision Of The Arid Clade Of The Gehyra Variegata (Gekkonidae) Group In Western Australia Using An Integrative Molecular And Morphological Approach, With The Description Of Five Cryptic Species, Luke Kealley, Paul Doughty, Mitzy Pepper, J. Scott Keogh, Mia Hillyer, Joel Huey

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The methods used to detect and describe morphologically cryptic species have advanced in recent years, owing to the integrative nature of molecular and morphological techniques required to elucidate them. Here we integrate recent phylogenomic work that sequenced many genes but few individuals, with new data from mtDNA and morphology from hundreds of gecko specimens of the Gehyra variegata group from the Australian arid zone. To better understand morphological and geographical boundaries among cryptic forms, we generated new sequences from 656 Gehyra individuals, largely assigned to G. variegata group members over a wide area in Western Australia, with especially dense sampling …

The Microbiome Of The Gastrointestinal Tract Of A Range-Shifting Marine Herbivorous Fish, Jacquelyn Jones, Joseph D Dibattista, Michael Stat, Michael Bunce, Mary C Boyce, David V Fairclough, Michael J Travers, Megan J. Huggett

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Globally, marine species' distributions are being modified due to rising ocean temperatures. Increasing evidence suggests a circum-global pattern of poleward extensions in the distributions of many tropical herbivorous species, including the ecologically important rabbitfish

The Effect Of Using Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis) In Broiler Nutrition On Production Parameters, Slaughter Characteristics, And Gut Microbiological Population, Veselin Petricevic, Milos Lukic, Zdenka Skrbic, Simeon Rakonjac, Vladimir Doskoviç, Maja Petricevic, Aleksandar Stanojkovic

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the supplementation of different concentrations of rosemary in broiler diets from day 1 to 42 on growth performance, carcass quality, and cecal microbiological composition of chickens. The research was carried out with 1200 Ross 308 chickens, divided into 4 groups with 6 repetitions per group. The treatment groups were: control group (C) without rosemary, 0.2% rosemary group (0.2R), 0.4% rosemary group (0.4R), and 0.6% rosemary group (0.6R). Production parameters and the European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF) were determined. At the end of the trial 12 chicks per group were …

Effects Of Main-Stem Impoundments On Hydrology And Larval Fish Communities In Major Tributaries Of Two Large Midwestern Rivers, Jordan Pesik

Masters Theses

Anthropogenic modifications, like impoundments, have altered natural environmental conditions in most lotic systems and impacted fish ecology in many ways. We examined the effect of large river impoundments on fish reproductive behavior by studying the larval fish communities in tributaries of the impounded Illinois and unimpounded Wabash Rivers. We hypothesized that larval fish communities would be similar between the geographically proximal systems, but temporal structuring would depend largely on flow regimes. Biweekly larval densities were greatest among all taxa in the Wabash system, though overall communities were similar between systems. Of the six tributaries, the four smallest rivers were most …

Reproductive Health And Morphometric Comparison Of Catostomid Species In Two Midwestern Rivers, Bethany Ellen Hoster

Masters Theses

Wastewater treatment effluent, agricultural runoff, and impoundments can alter the water quality and flow regime of rivers. Fishes around the world are increasingly exposed to estrogenic compounds due to the discharge of wastewater into rivers. Estrogenic compounds, such as those found in birth control pills and soybean byproducts, are endocrine disruptors in vertebrates. The Sanitary District of Decatur serves the municipal and industrial entities of Macon County, IL, and discharges its effluent into the Sangamon River, which includes byproducts of industrial soybean processing. I assessed impacts of treated wastewater on the health of fishes in the Sangamon River. Abnormal caudal …

Using A Custom Landscape Classification To Understand The Factors Driving Site Occupancy By A Rapidly Declining Migratory Songbird, Elizabeth K. Schold

Theses and Dissertations

Land cover classifications are useful in a broad range of ecological applications, yet publicly available classifications are not always useful for the needs of specific projects. Custom classifications are always a possibility, however, they can be financially or computationally out of reach for many researchers. Here we present a custom 1m resolution land cover classification created using freely available imagery and a random forest classification approach. This classification detected shrub cover more accurately and at a finer resolution than previous classifications. With the creation of this map, we were then able to examine landscape factors influencing occupancy dynamics of the …

Neuromuscular Control Of The Calling Apparatus In The Túngara Frog (Engystomops Pustulosus), Kiran Kaur Grewal

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Male túngara frogs can add a distinctive note ("chuck”) to their mating call. Production of the chuck involves vibrating a pair of laryngeal fibrous masses that is attached to the vocal cords. The muscular control of this mechanism remains unknown. Recent studies revealed a split in the laryngeal dilator muscle, which unveiled the deep dilator as a novel laryngeal muscle with unique attachments, innervation, and (likely) function. The deep dilator may position the fibrous masses for chuck production. The goals of this study were 1) to confirm the innervation of the novel muscle through electrophysiology; and 2) to determine the …

Effect Of Exogenous Amylase And Protease On Ruminal Metabolism, Nutrient Digestibility, Rumen Microbiome, And Lactation Performance Of Dairy Cows Fed Freshly Ensiled Corn Silage Based Diets, Lauren Kaye Shearer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of feeding exogenous amylolytic and proteolytic enzymes on lactation performance of dairy cows fed freshly ensiled corn silage-based diets. We hypothesized that the addition of these enzymes would improve nutrient utilization and consequently lactation performance. Thirty-six Holstein cows [15 multiparous and 15 primiparous; DIM = 132 ± 48 and 6 cannulated (3 multiparous and 3 primiparous; DIM = 164 ± 50] were blocked by milk yield, DIM, parity, and body weights and used in a 9 wk randomized complete block design study.. Treatments were a 40% (DM basis) corn silage …

Evaluation Of An Essential Oil Blend And A Novel Soybean Variety As Alternatives To Preventative Antibiotic Use In Monogastrics, Samantha Tauer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Increasing consumer pressure to minimize antibiotic use and the implementation of the Veterinary Feed Directive in 2017 has increased research on alternatives to preventative antibiotics. This thesis focuses on evaluation of Ralco’s Microfused™ Essential Oils (MEO) fed to broilers and soybean meal from low allergenicity soybeans fed to weaned pigs and their potential use as alternatives to antibiotics. Essential oils are known to have antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiparasitic, and digestive stimulant effects. Low allergenicity (LA) soybeans were bred to contain significantly lower concentrations of the following anti-nutritional factors and allergenic proteins: Kunitz trypsin inhibitor, soybean agglutinin (lectin), and P34 (Gly m …

Walleye Fishery Ecology In Lake Oahe Of The Dakotas, Eli Felts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Walleye Sander vitreus is among the most popular sport fishes in North America and is the most sought-after fish in both South Dakota and North Dakota. Lake Oahe, a large main stem Missouri River reservoir, spans state boundaries and provides one of the most popular and productive Walleye fisheries in both Dakotas. The Walleye population of Lake Oahe has experienced wide fluctuations in abundance and size structure over the last 25 years which has caused high variability in angler use and satisfaction. Much of this variation is thought to be driven by Rainbow Smelt Osmserus mordax, which are the dominant …

Evaluation Of Berberine As An Alternative To Antibiotics In Nursery Pig Diets, Emily Scholtz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pig weaning process results in reduced growth performance and gut health of weaned pigs. Antibiotics can be added in diets for weaned pigs to improve growth performance and gut health, but their use is being discouraged because they can lead to development of antimicrobial resistant microorganisms. Thus, there is need for alternatives to antibiotics in diets for weaned pigs. The overall goal of this thesis research was to determine the effects of plant extracts (berberine, quercetin, and allyl isothiocyante [AITC]) as alternatives to antibiotics in weaned pig diets. The first objective of the research was to determine in vitro antimicrobial …

What Is The Value Of Corn Residue To Grazing Cattle?, Emily Ann Petzel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The United States produces over 370,840,000,000 kg of corn grain and concomitantly more than 303,410,000,000 kg DM of non-grain corn residues (i.e., leaves, husks and stalk) from grain production annually. Although there is an abundance of available corn residue, only 12% of land planted to corn is grazed after harvest (Schmer, 2017), and based on current estimates of nutrient composition (NASEM, 2016), while 30% of available corn residues could maintain the entire United States cow herd. Grazing cattle often select diets with greater nutrient density and digestibility in comparison to the overall biomass available; however, most estimates of nutrient density …

The Monitoring Of Feather Mites (Acari, Astigmata) Of The Warbler (Aves: Sylviidae) Species In The Kızılırmak Delta, Samsun, Turkey, Esra Per, Meti̇n Aktaş

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Feather mites (Astigmata) are among the most common ectosymbionts that live on birds. The present research was conducted between 2010 and 2013 in the Kızılırmak delta Cernek Bird Ringing Station in Samsun, Turkey. Assessments of the taxonomy, collection methods, and the periodic host-species relationships of the mites collected were conducted for 591 individuals of 10 bird species belonging to the family Sylviidae captured using mist nets during the bird migration periods. Ten feather mite species were identified from the families Proctophyllodidae, Analgidae, and Trouesartidae. These species are Strelkoviacarus quadratus (Haller, 1882); Dolichodectes edwardsi (Trouessart, 1885); Proctophyllodes cetti Badek, Mironov, and …

New Record Of The Genus Scaptognathus (Acari: Halacaridae) From Antalya With A Checklist Of Marine Halacarid Mites Of Turkey, Furkan Durucan

Turkish Journal of Zoology

This paper presents the first results of a study on the Scaptognathus (Acari: Halacaridae) mites from the Mediterranean Sea coast of Turkey. Two species, S. hallezi Trouessart, 1894 and S. sabularius André, 1961, are newly recorded from Turkey. They are briefly described with drawings, habitats, and worldwide distributions. Additionally, a checklist is provided for the marine halacarid species of Turkey.

A New Species And Additional Record Of Terellia Robineau-Desvoidy(Diptera: Tephritidae) From Turkey With A Key For The Cerajocera Group, Mehmet Yaran, Murat Kütük, Vedat Görmez, Mürşi̇t Ömür Koyuncu

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Genus Terellia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 includes approximately 60 species throughout the Palearctic region. Larvae of Terellia develop in the flowerheads of the family Asteraceae. In this study, the authors collected species of Terellia from possible host plants in the summer of 2009 and 2017 in northeastern Turkey using an insect net. Collected materials were pinned and deposited in the Gaziantep University Entomology Laboratory. Upon identification, Terellia (Cerajocera) akguli sp. nov. has been described as a new species and placed in the subgenus Cerajocera. Also, T. (C.) armeniaca Korneyev, 1985 has been recorded for the first time in Turkey with this study. …

Checklist Of Sea Spiders (Arthropoda: Pycnogonida) From The Persian Gulf And The Gulf Of Oman With New Record Of Endeis Biseriata (Böhm, 1879) For The Region, Rudá Amorim Lucena, Yaser Fatemi, Martin Lindsey Christoffersen

Turkish Journal of Zoology

This is the first record of a pycnogonid for the Iranian coast. It is also the first record of an Endeis, and of Endeis biseriata, for the waters of the Gulf of Oman. A single specimen was collected in an algal bed of Padina sp., along Chabahar Bay, in February 2017. It is deposited in the Zoology Museum of the University of Hormozgan. E. biseriata is probably a native Indo-Pacific species that now has a wide world distribution, being probably pantropical. Morphological and ecological notes, as well as the distribution range of E. biseriata and a checklist of the species …

Determination Of In Situ Degradation Kinetics Of Some Legume Waste Not Used For Human Consumption, Şevket Evci̇, Mehmet Aki̇f Karsli

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the chemical composition, in situ ruminal degradation kinetics, and protein fractions of subsieve dry beans (DB), chickpeas (CCP), red lentils (RL), and green lentils (GL). Four samples of those legumes were utilized as replicates and were incubated for up to 48 h in the rumen of 3 rams. RL and CCP had higher organic matter (OM) than DB and GL. Crude protein (CP) was the highest in GL (P < 0.05). Ether extract (EE) concentrations were higher in CCP and DB compared to those of RL and GL (P < 0.05). Crude fiber (CF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents were the highest in RL (P < 0.05). The acid insoluble nitrogen (ADIN-N) content was similar in all samples evaluated. While RL had the lowest OM and CP degradability and water-soluble OM and CP concentrations, DB and CCP had the highest potentially degradable OM and CP contents at the end of the 48 h incubation period (P < 0.05). Escaped protein content was the highest in RL and the lowest in DB (P < 0.05). In conclusion, some of the pulse species that are produced locally and not suitable for human consumption can be used in the diet of ruminant animals as a source of protein based on OM and CP degradabilities and escape protein contents.

Evaluation Of Microbially-Converted Soybean Meal As An Alternative To Fishmeal In Weaned Pig Diets, Sue Sinn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Digestibility values determined in growing pigs may not apply to nursery pigs; thus, standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of AA in MCSBM and fishmeal (FM) were determined using 30 ± 1.6 kg BW ileal-cannulated barrows (n = 6) and 9.8 ± 1.2 kg BW barrows (n = 37; serial slaughter). Experimental diets included MCSBM, FM, and nitrogen-free where FM and MCSBM were included as the sole protein source. The SID of AA was 3-5% lower in MCSBM than FM when fed to 30 kg pigs. The SID of Arg and Met was greater (P < 0.05) in MCSBM than FM when fed to 10 kg pigs. The SID of AA was 12-20% lower in FM when fed to 10 versus 30 kg pigs but only 3-9% lower in MCSBM. A total of 336 barrows and gilts were weaned at 21 d of age (initial BW 6.1 ± 0.8 kg) and used in a performance trial. Pens of pigs were assigned to one of 6 experimental diets (8 pens/diet in two blocks). Treatment diets were fed in Phase I (7 d) and Phase II (14 d) with all pigs fed a common Phase III diet (14 d). Experimental diets included: 1) negative control (NEG) containing corn, soybean meal and whey, 2) NEG + acidifier (NEGA), 3) NEG + FM (POS), 4) POS + acidifier (POSA), 5) NEG + MCSBM (MCSBM), and 6) MCSBM + acidifier (MCSBMA). The FM and MCSBM were included at 7.5% and 5.0% in Phase I and II diets, respectively. Diets were formulated to meet the standard nutrient requirements for weaned pigs. Pig BW and feed disappearance was measured weekly and fecal scores were measured daily for the first 14 d postweaning as an indicator of PWDS. Performance (BW, ADG, ADFI, and G/F) was not significantly different among treatments. Treatment for PWDS occurred on different days in each block. Analysis of fecal score was completed separately by block. Pigs fed the NEG diets had higher (P = 0.02) fecal scores than pigs fed the POS diets on d 2 and 3 (block 1) and higher (P < 0.05) than pigs fed MCSBM or POS diets and diets with dietary acidifier on d 6 and 3 (block 2). At the end of Phase I and II, one pig/pen was humanely euthanized for digesta and tissue collection. Digesta pH was measured in the pyloric region of the stomach, duodenum, middle jejunum, ileum, cecum, and middle colon. There was an effect of location (P < 0.0001), where the pH was lowest in the stomach and increased until the ileum with a slight dip in the cecum and increased in the colon. There was no effect of ingredient, dietary acid, or their interaction within the gastrointestinal tract. At the end of Phase I, pigs fed NEG and POSA diets had similar pH (P > 0.10) from the stomach to the duodenum, …

Can Adding Black Raspberries To The Western Diet Reduce Factors That Lead To Colorectal Cancer?, Tess Armbrust, Canyon Neal

Research on Capitol Hill

• Americans with leaky gut, or increased intestinal permeability, often develop chronic inflammation (colitis) and are at a greater risk for developing colorectal cancer (CRC).
• A poor diet, high in processed foods but low in fruits and vegetables, is another notable risk factor for CRC.
• Micronutrient supplementation reduces colitis and prevents progression to colitis associated colorectal cancer (CAC).
• Due to their high concentration of anthocyanins, black raspberries have demonstrated protective effects against inflammation in the body.
• Certain antibodies are indicative of inflammation which leads to CRC.

The Impact Of Insulin Dysregulation On Protein Metabolism In Horses, Caroline Margot Marcelle Loos

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Insulin plays a vital role in whole-body metabolism and provides a major anabolic stimulus for cellular signaling pathways, including those involved in the metabolism of glucose and protein. Consequently, insulin dysregulation (ID) is known to alter molecular signal transduction in insulin-sensitive tissues such as skeletal muscle, thereby disrupting glucose metabolism and compromising protein synthetic capacity. Our first objective was to induce ID in healthy horses by administering dexamethasone (DEX), a potent glucocorticoid, for 21 days. We evaluated the effects on insulin-stimulated muscle protein signaling components involved in the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. DEX-induced ID reduced insulin-stimulated activation of …

Factors Influencing Phosphorus Excretion By Horses, Ashley Lauren Fowler

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Excessive phosphorus (P) excreted by animals can affect water quality and cause eutrophication. Better understanding of factors that influence P utilization and excretion in horses may reduce the environmental impact of P. Two animal experiments were conducted that examined P excretion by horses. The efficacy of titanium dioxide as an external marker to calculate digestibility was studied concurrently with both animal experiments. Additionally, pasture P concentrations were evaluated over the growing season using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Experiment 1 examined P excretion by post-lactational mares fed a low P diet immediately prior to weaning compared to non-lactating controls fed an adequate …

On-Farm Utilization Of Precision Dairy Monitoring: Usefulness, Accuracy, And Affordability, Elizabeth A. Eckelkamp

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Precision dairy monitoring is used to supplement or replace human observation of dairy cattle. This study examined the value dairy producers placed on disease alerts generated from a precision dairy monitoring technology. A secondary objective was calculating the accuracy of technology-generated disease alerts compared against observed disease events. A final objective was determining the economic viability of investing in a precision dairy monitoring technology for detecting estrus and diseases.

A year-long observational study was conducted on four Kentucky dairy farms. All lactating dairy cows were equipped with a neck and leg tri-axial accelerometer. Technologies measured eating time, lying time, standing …

Dairy Cattle Hoof Disease Costs And Considerations For Prevention, Karmella A. Dolecheck

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Lameness is considered one of the most important health and welfare issues in the dairy industry. Understanding the total cost per case of disease-specific lameness can help producers select better treatment, prevention, and control strategies for their herds. The first objective of our research was to calculate the costs associated with 3 lameness causing hoof diseases: digital dermatitis, sole ulcer, and white line disease. To accomplish this, a survey of hoof health professionals (hoof trimmers and veterinarians) was conducted to identify treatment related expenditures per case. Data from the hoof trimmer responses to the survey and previously published research were …

An Evaluation Of Physiological And Behavioral Indicators Of Postpartum Diseases And Heat Stress In Dairy Cows, Amanda Renee Lee

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Precision dairy monitoring technologies can be used to monitor changes in physiology and behavior associated with transition period postpartum diseases and heat stress. Research Objective One was to evaluate how traditional visual examination, body condition, and locomotion with and without blood, milk, and urine variables and precision dairy monitoring technologies determine variable association with hyperketonemia, metritis, mastitis, hypocalcemia and retained placenta,. This was accomplished by monitoring cows 2 weeks before calving to 3 weeks after calving for any postpartum diseases using daily visual examination and automatically detected variables including activity, milk yield, milk components, lying behavior, feeding behavior, rumination time, …

The Effects Of Housing On Dairy Cow Comfort, Immune Function, Stress, Productivity, And Milk Quality, Matthew Richard Borchers

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Mastitis and milk quality affect every dairy farmer across the globe. Sand bedded freestalls are the industry standard for cow comfort, welfare, and the control of environmental mastitis. Compost bedded packs may be a viable alternative to the sand bedded freestall.

Compost bedded packs are maintained at a consistent level of moisture, nutrients, and aeration to favor compost microorganisms. Greater bacteria counts in bedding have traditionally been associated with increased mastitis rates and mastitis pathogens can be found in the pack and on the teats of cattle housed in even well managed compost bedded pack barns. In spite of this, …

Assessment Of The Serum Amyloid A Assay For Diagnosing Disease In Neonatal Foals, Samantha W. Strouss

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Diagnosing disease in equine neonates poses a challenge for the equine industry because of the nonspecific manifestations of many diseases and the rapid deterioration that occurs. The differential diagnostic procedure requires many laboratory tests, whose results take days to receive. Serum amyloid A (SAA) is the only major acute phase protein identified in the horse; it exists in low levels in the healthy horse and increases over 100 fold in response to inflammatory stimulus 6-8 hours post stimulus. A point of care test allows veterinarians to obtain a SAA concentration within minutes that indicates the existence of infection. Being able …

Whole-Body Protein Metabolism In Mature And Growing Horses Receiving Predominantly Forage Diets, Sophie A. Stratton

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

There has been limited investigation as to whether a predominantly forage-based diet can provide adequate amounts of limiting amino acids (AA) to horses. The first objective was to determine if AA supplementation of AA believed to be limiting to protein synthesis in forage-based diets would affect measures of whole-body protein metabolism in sedentary mature horses. The effect of forage type (timothy or alfalfa) and AA supplementation (lysine, threonine or histidine) on plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) and AA concentrations and measures of whole-body phenylalanine kinetics were evaluated. There was no effect of either forage type or AA supplement on rates of …

New Applications Of Radio Frequency Identification Stations For Monitoring Fish Passage Through Headwater Road Crossings And Natural Reaches, Ian R. Macleod, Charles J. Gagen

Faculty Publications - Biological Sciences

Within the Ouachita National Forest, roads and streams intersect each other thousands of times. Many of these road crossings alter stream hydrology and potentially limit longitudinal fish movement. To investigate the potential impacts of these road crossings on fish passage, we monitored movements of 3 native fish species (n = 2,171) individually tagged with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags in 2012 and 2013. We installed solar-powered RFID stations in 2 streams with road crossings and 2 reference streams without road crossings. Each of the 4 monitoring stations included a pair of antennas bracketing a road crossing (or similarly-sized natural reach) …

Proteome Fishing: A Reverse Docking Study, Meredyth Kinsella

Summer Community of Scholars Posters (RCEU and HCR Combined Programs)

No abstract provided.

A New Species Of Surazomus Reddell And Cokendolpher, 1995 (Arachnida: Schizomida) From Rondonia, Brazil, Lidianne Salvatierra

Turkish Journal of Zoology

A new species, Surazomus rafaeli sp. nov., is described based on a male from the State of Rondonia, Brazil. It is characterized by a long, pointed, and curved ventral projection on the pedipalp femur, and a short and conical ventral projection on the pedipalp patella. Moreover, the male flagellum has Vm5 distant from Vl1, lacks Dl2, and the middle portion of the flagellum's depression is raised and bearing Dm4.