Animal Sciences Commons^™

The Influence Of Human Disturbance On Wildlife Use Of A Highway In South Texas, Thomas J. Yamashita

Theses and Dissertations

Roads can greatly impact wildlife. Wildlife vehicle collisions contribute to population declines while disturbance from human activity may prevent wildlife from using areas around roads. The construction of mitigation structures may lessen these effects through fine scale modification of animal use of roadside areas. In this thesis, how the construction of wildlife mitigation structures impacted the fine scale distribution of wildlife on State Highway 100 in Cameron County, Texas was examined. Spatial and temporal scale may also influence these relationships. The relationship between human activity and wildlife activity around the highway was explored and how the distribution of wildlife road …

Effects Of Supplementing Crystalline L-Valine And L-Isoleucine And A Novel Threonine Biomass In Reduced Crude Protein Diets Fed To Broilers, Derrell Trevor Lee

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Poultry nutritionists continue to identify methods to lower feed price without compromising broiler growth performance, processing yields, or animal well-being. A common approach is to reduce dietary crude protein (CP), the second most expensive component in a broiler diet. Subsequently, reducing CP will reduce the inclusion levels of intact protein sources (e.g., soybean meal [SBM]), which can be accomplished by supplementing individual amino acids (AA). This methodology not only reduces diet cost, pending if feed-grade AA are more economical, but can contribute to improving broiler health and environmental sustainability. Therefore, two experiments were conducted to evaluate individual feed-grade AA in …

The Consequences Of Non-Native Species Invasions On The Contemporary And Historic Trophic Ecology Of Native Sport Fish In A Lake Michigan Embayment, John Whitinger

All NMU Master's Theses

The widespread establishment of dreissenid mussels (Dreissena spp.) in Lake Michigan has strongly altered energy flow by sequestering nutrients in nearshore benthic habitats. Despite these ecosystem changes, little is known about their influence on resource partitioning in nearshore fish communities. Here we use stable isotope analysis to characterize the contemporary fish community and historic walleye (Sander vitreus) population of Lake Michigan’s Little Bay de Noc. We found species-specific differences in the δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C values for 14 fish species. High degrees of niche overlap between walleye, northern pike (Esox lucius), …

Insect Mediated Species Interactions: Examining Methods To Improve Artificial Buzz Pollination And Testing The Effects Of Plant Based Bioactive Compounds On Herbivore Life-History Traits, Mandeep Tayal

Theses and Dissertations

Pollination and herbivory are two major interactions in insect-plant ecology. Specialized pollination systems such as buzz pollination where pollen grains have to be extracted by bees with special thoracic vibrations and indirect flight muscles, is observed in ~6% of all flowering plants. Breeding and research programs in these species demand artificial pollination, but natural buzz pollinators are unreliable for this purpose. To find an alternative, we tested the pollen extraction efficiency of using inexpensive electric toothbrush over tuning fork (another commonly used device) in two buzz-pollinated species (Tomato and Silverleaf nightshade) at different buzzing frequencies and multiple buzzing time intervals. …

Distillers Dried Grains With Solubles: Determination Of Metabolizable Energy Values Using Regression-Based Assays And Their Correlation With Chemical Composition, Kenia Mitre

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The inherent variability and lack of standardization of in vivo assays to determine the metabolizable energy (ME) of DDGS has led to inconsistent values and limited its potential to use in broiler diets. Therefore, two experiments were conducted to characterize the content of nitrogen-corrected ME (MEn) in 11 DDGS sources obtained from various ethanol plants using a regression-based broiler assay and to attempt to develop equations to predict MEn based on its chemical composition. In experiment 1, the objectives were to determine the influence of inclusion level and feed intake on the resulting ME and MEn values of a single …

Frontal Vehicle Illumination Via Rear-Facing Lighting Reduces Potential For Collisions With White-Tailed Deer, Travis L. Devault, Thomas W. Seamans, Bradley Blackwell

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

nimal–vehicle collisions cause many millions of animal deaths each year worldwide and present a substantial safety risk to people. In the United States and Canada, deer (Odocoileus spp.) are involved in most animal–vehicle collisions associated with human injuries. We evaluated a vehicle-based collision mitigation method designed to decrease the likelihood of deer–vehicle collisions during low-light conditions, when most collisions occur. Specifically, we investigated whether the use of a rear-facing light, providing more complete frontal vehicle illumination than standard headlights alone, enhanced vehicle avoidance behaviors of white-tailed deer (O. virginianus). We quantified flight initiation distance (FID), the likelihood …

Exopolysaccharide From Mycelium Of Ganoderma Lucidum As A Potential Additive For Juvenile Red Hybrid Tilapia (Oreochromis Sp.), Pajaru Rahman Janathu Ferdaus

Student Works (2020-2029)

Functional feed additives are added during feed preparation to improve the growth performance and cellular defense for the fishes. Interaction of cellular biomolecules and dysfunction of red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) could be avoided by strengthening the antioxidant defense with antioxidant rich sources. As for this, a bioactive polysaccharide of Ganoderma lucidum was found to have its antioxidant bioactivities. Thus the potential of exopolysaccharide (EPS) extracted from the mycelium of G.lucidum as feed additive for red hybrid tilapia was evaluated in this research. In this experiment, one hundred twenty (120) juveniles were randomly divided into four groups and designated with …

Fermented Mycelial Biomass Of Ganoderma Lucidum As A Potential Additive For Juvenile Red Hybrid Tilapia (Oreochromis Sp.), Subramaniam Kumeera

Student Works (2020-2029)

The presence of antibiotic compounds in aquaculture is gaining higher interest worldwide due to the emergence as dangerous pollutants of the environment and to human health. However, feed additive play an important role in agriculture to reduce the usage of antibiotics and aquaculture productive performance. Therefore, the polysaccharide produced by Ganoderma lucidum is recognised due to its essential biological activities. Growing biomass from mycelium of Ganoderma lucidum (MGL) through submerged liquid fermentation (SLF) has been a fast and straightforward alternative compared to fruiting bodies. The study aims to observe the inclusion of biomass from MGL as a dietary supplement on …

A Survey Of Dairy-Goat Keeping In Zanzibar, Tiffanie Stone, Charles A. Francis, L. O. Eik

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Dairy goats with improved genetics for milk production were recently introduced onto small-scale farms in Zanzibar through governmental and non-governmental projects. These projects were meant to support small-scale farmers by improving both income and household nutrition through milk production. No follow up had been conducted to understand what effects dairy goat keeping had on these small-scale farms, or how they could be improved. A survey of 193 dairy goat farmers in Zanzibar was conducted, including 30% and 60% of all dairy goat farmers on Unguja and Pemba, the two largest islands, respectively. The objective was to understand the impact keeping …

Nutritional Strategies For Feeding Broiler Breeders On Hen And Progeny Performance, Antonio Beitia

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Over the last 60 plus years, broiler breeders have been under an incredible amount of genetic pressure. This genetic pressure comes from the continually increasing consumer demand for poultry products. The objective of this dissertation is to understand the effects of different nutritional and management practices on broiler breeder’s performance. The first series of experiments investigate the impact of broilerization on hen and early progeny performance. Broilerization is a process only used by genetic companies. The results from these experiments showed the adverse effects of broilerization on chick quality and hen performance. Follow up trials were performed to determine the …

Metatranscriptomics Analysis Of Ileum Microbial Communities In Necrotic Enteritis Chickens, Ruchita Uttarwar

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Necrotic enteritis (NE) is a recognized multifactorial disease that causes an annual loss of $6 billion to the poultry industry. Thus, it has become essential to carry a comprehensive study of the composition of chicken gut which hosts this disease. The objective of this research is to measure the changes occurring in microbiome inside intestinal ilium of NE affected broilers which were treated with tributyrin supplement. This supplement is an anti-inflammatory metabolite that stabilizes intestinal integrity. The experimental design consisted of two challenge groups (No -Challenge, Clostridium Perfringens (CP) - Challenge) and one treatment group (tributyrin). To our knowledge, this …

Effect Of The Prospect Of Transport On Captive Tiger Behavior And Fecal Cortisol In Naïve And Experienced Tigers, Callan Lichtenwalter

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With close to 5,000 captive tigers in the United States, it is vital to ensure that these tigers are receiving adequate welfare whether they are in an accredited facility, or privately owned. The goal of this study was to assess whether captive tigers at a rescue facility with experience being transported outside of the facility would respond differently to the presentation of their transport vehicle than their naïve counterparts who had only been transported within the facility. The behavior of 5 naïve and 7 experienced tigers (n = 12) located at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs, Arkansas was …

The Effects Of Excess Dietary Sulfur Using Supplemental Sodium Sulfate On Beef Steer, Heifer, And Progeny Productive And Physiological Responses, Jamie Hawley

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

For studies 1 through 3, 20 steers of predominantly Angus breeding, were stratified by body weight (279 ± 13.2 kg), assigned randomly to 6 paddocks, and fed a low S ground corn and soybean meal supplement that did not contain any byproduct feeds (0.31% total dietary S; LS) or LS supplement with an additional 0.25% S provided from sodium sulfate (Na2SO4; 0.58% total dietary S; HS) for a 114-d growing phase. Steers were moved to feedlot (373 ± 0.2 kg), remained on prior dietary S treatments, and fed corn and soybean meal diets (0.19 and 0.42% total dietary S; LS …

Effects Of Ndf Digestibility On Lactating Jersey Cows: Observed And Modeled Performance, Kirby Craig Krogstad

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

Improving the digestibility of fiber and our understanding of how to feed it will optimize the ruminants’ niche in our society, which is to convert human inedible products to high quality protein in the form of meat and milk. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility has been studied and modeled for decades, but it is increasingly important as livestock production is scrutinized for resource use and sustainability. Increasing the amount of NDF fed and improving models of NDF digestibility will improve sustainability by increasing the precision at which we feed livestock which results in less nutrient and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. …

The Role Of Postnatal Adrenergic Manipulation In The Mediation Of Fetal Programming Adaptions In Growth And Skeletal Muscle Glucose Metabolism That Persist In The Juvenile Iugr-Born Lamb, Rachel L. Gibbs

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

Our 1^st study assessed growth deficits in IUGR juvenile lambs and the benefits of treatment with adrenergic and inflammatory mediators. Growth metrics including bodyweight, rate of gain, and crown-rump length were diminished by placental insufficiency-induced IUGR through 2 mo. of age but were recovered by daily clenbuterol or curcumin supplementation. Body composition metrics indicated by bioelectrical impedance, proximate analysis, and loin size revealed that fat-free lean mass, specific muscle group sizes, and protein-to-fat ratios were reduced in unsupplemented IUGR lambs but recovered to or even past controls in clenbuterol-supplemented lambs. From these findings, we conclude that IUGR impairs postnatal …

Sperm Decondensation And Male Pronuclear Formation In Bovine Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, Lauren Gatenby

LSU Master's Theses

This study assessed the effects both DTT and progesterone have on bovine spermatozoa to induce decondensation or the acrosome reaction in order to facilitate male pronuclear formation after ICSI. Sperm prepared by swim-up in a 5 mM concentration of DTT displayed time dependent morphological changes resulting in decondensation over a 6-hour period. An estimated 90% of treated sperm displayed early changes in morphology after the second hour of incubation. Sperm displaying partial decondensation of the nucleus was estimated as 42% by the 3^rd hour and increased to 62% by the 5^th hour of incubation. Fully decondensed sperm or …

Comparison Of In Vitro Inactivation Of Sars Cov-2 With Hydrogen Peroxide And Povidone-Iodine Oral Antiseptic Rinses, Avinash S. Bidra, Jesse S. Pelletier, Jonna B. Westover, Samantha Frank, Seth M. Brown, Belachew Tessema

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Purpose

To evaluate the in vitro inactivation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and povidone‐iodine (PVP‐I) oral antiseptic rinses at clinically recommended concentrations and contact times.

Materials and Methods

SARS‐CoV‐2, USA‐WA1/2020 strain virus stock was prepared prior to testing by growing in Vero 76 cells. The culture media for prepared virus stock was minimum essential medium (MEM) with 2% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 50 µg/mL gentamicin. Test compounds consisting of PVP‐I oral rinse solutions and H2O2 aqueous solutions were mixed directly with the virus solution so that the final concentration was 50% of …

Developing Alternatives To Protect Domestic Sheep From Predation In South Africa, David L. Bergman, Nico L. Avenant, Michael J. Bodenchuk, Eddie Steenkamp

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

South Africa has approximately 8,000 commercial small livestock farms and 5,800 communal/subsistence farmers throughout the country. Reported rates of small livestock loss to predation range from 3-13% and 0.5-19% from communal farming areas. A range of predators exist on the African continent, but in southern Africa major livestock losses are primarily due to black-backed jackal and caracal. South Africans have been managing caracals and jackals for over 300 years with no elimination of predation. During the aforementioned time frame, producers have used and/or developed a number of techniques including lethal, nonlethal, and integrated predator damage management to address predation losses. …

Prediction Of Feed Utilization Performance In Clarias Gariepinus Using Multiple Linear Regression In Machine Learning, Adekunle Oluwatosin Familusi

Journal of Bioresource Management

Machine learning models can be used to make predictions about nutrient utilization performance index using available proximate analysis data on feed composition. Data from similar experiments on nutrient utilization performance was used to fit a multiple linear regression model for the prediction of four performance indexes. The Specific Growth Rate and percentage inclusion with strength of 0.57 was noted along with a negative relationship between protein efficiency and protein content. A negative relationship between Nitrogen Free Extract (NFE) and Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) at NFE content ≥25 % was observed. PER was predicted with 85 % accuracy, while Weight Gain …

Studying The Effects Of Predatory Presence And Enrichment On Cryptoprocta Ferox Behavior, Julie Sharpe

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

The Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens houses two fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox), a male and a female. C. ferox is an endangered species of Malagasy mongoose from the island of Madagascar. In October of 2018, an amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) was moved across from the male and female C. ferox. This study was used to identify if the presence of P. p. orientalis would affect the stereotypic pacing behavior of the female C. ferox. Staff were also curious about the impact of daily-renewed enrichment on the frequency of pacing in the female. Our …

Self-Injurious Behavior Of A Captive Coragyps Atratus, Jennifer Bouchenot

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

As zoos become more numerous the challenge for keepers to ensure animal well-being and identify adverse behaviors becomes immense. Intelligent animals in captivity have a higher likelihood of participating in selfharm activities compared to their wild counterparts. Feather picking in birds is one such adverse behavior characterized by the individual breaking or removing feathers and, in severe cases, excision of the skin. This behavior increases the susceptibility to sickness and infection. In this study, a feather-picking captive Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) was observed preening, resting, and displaying self-mutilating behavior. Collected data were compared with a second non-mutilating specimen. …

Sanguinus Oedipus In A Habitat Of Brotherly Love, Haley Atkinson

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

This observational study analyzes the social dynamic and agonistic behavior between the two youngest males in a captive troupe of cotton-top tamarins, Sanguinus oedipus, found at the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens located in Sanford, Florida. The troupe consists of a breeding pair, two sets of twins, and a set of triplets– totaling nine individuals. The study focuses on the second-youngest and youngest males in the troupe and how they interact with each other. S. oedipus possess certain social and communication behaviors. The main behaviors observed in this study are vocalizations and movements indicating aggression between the two …

Toxin Transcripts In Crotalus Atrox Venom And In Silico Structures Of Toxins, Ying Jia, Ivan Lopez, Paulina Kowalski

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

The western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) is a common and widespread North American pit viper species, and its venom possesses medical applications. In this research, we identified 14 of the most common transcripts encoding 11 major venom toxins including transcripts for a three-finger toxin (3FTx) from the crude venom of C. atrox. In silico three-dimensional (3D) structures of 9 venom toxins were predicted by using deduced toxin amino acid sequences and a computer programme-MODELLER. The accuracy of all predicted toxin structures was evaluated by five stereochemical structure parameters including discrete optimised protein energy (DOPE) score, root mean square deviation (RMSD), …

Vertebrates On The Brink As Indicators Of Biological Annihilation And The Sixth Mass Extinction, Gerardo Ceballos, Paul R. Ehrlich, Peter H. Raven

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Library Materials

The ongoing sixth mass species extinction is the result of the destruction of component populations leading to eventual extirpation of entire species. Populations and species extinctions have severe implications for society through the degradation of ecosystem services. Here we assess the extinction crisis from a different perspective. We examine 29,400 species of terrestrial vertebrates, and determine which are on the brink of extinction because they have fewer than 1,000 individuals. There are 515 species on the brink (1.7% of the evaluated vertebrates). Around 94% of the populations of 77 mammal and bird species on the brink have been lost in …

Utah Land Management Evaluation And Assessment Network Needs Assessment, Jordan Smith

All Current Publications

It can be difficult to make and implement land management decisions that are informed by the best available science, satisfy different stakeholders, and are compliant with established policies and regulations. Local, state, and federal entities with the capacity to influence land management decisions, can benefit from an understanding of the shared needs of landowners and managers. This needs assessment reports on the shared information, funding, and research needs expressed by land managers and owners throughout Utah who make decisions about: (1) fire prevention and suppression; (2) livestock grazing; (3) fisheries; or (4) wildlife. The report provides a high-level assessment of …

Infant Attraction: Why Social Bridging Matters For Female Leadership In Tibetan Macaques, Xi Wang, Dong-Po Xia, Lixing Sun, Paul A. Garber, Randall C. Kyes, Lori K. Sheeran, Bing-Hua Sun, Bo-Wen Li, Jin-Hua Li

Biology Faculty Scholarship

Leadership is a key issue in the study of collective behavior in social animals. Affiliation–leadership models predict that dyadic partner preferences based on grooming relationships or alliance formation positively affect an individual’s decision to follow or support a conspecific. In the case of many primate species, females without young infants are attracted to mother–infant dyads. However, the effects of mother–infant–female associations on affiliation–leadership models remain less clear. In free-ranging Tibetan macaques Macaca thibetana, we used social network analysis to examine the importance of “mother-infant-adult female” social bridging events as a predictor of who leads and who follows during group …

Diversity Of Trichoptera Emergence And Their Longitudinal Distribution Along Streams In Central Palawan, The Philippines, Hendrik Freitag, Wolfram Mey

Biology Faculty Publications

Trichoptera emergences were cumulatively collected from two rivers in central Palawan over 11 months by use of specially modified emergence traps. The quantitative samples were identified at species level. Fifty morphospecies, of which fifteen have been recently newly described, are recognized. The highest species diversity was found in pristine headwater streams. Leptoceridae were most speciose with eleven Oecetis spp., four Leptocerus spp., two Adicella spp., and one species each of Tagalopsyche, Triaenodes, and Triplectides. Highest abundances were observed for Ecnomus cabayugani (Ecnomidae), Dipseudopsis digitata, and Hyalopsyche winkleri (Dipseudopsidae) which contributed alone 34% of the annual emergence. A mid-stream site where …

Testing A Thermodynamic Approach To Collective Animal Behavior In Laboratory Fish Schools, Julia A. Giannini, James G. Puckett

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Collective behaviors displayed by groups of social animals are observed frequently in nature. Understanding and predicting the behavior of complex biological systems is dependent on developing effective descriptions and models. While collective animal systems are characteristically nonequilibrium, we can employ concepts from equilibrium statistical mechanics to motivate the measurement of material-like properties in laboratory animal aggregates. Here, we present results from a new set of experiments that utilize high speed footage of two-dimensional schooling events, particle tracking, and projected static and dynamic light fields to observe and control the behavior of negatively phototaxic fish schools (Hemigrammus bleheri). First, …

Rapid In-Vitro Inactivation Of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (Sars-Cov-2) Using Povidone-Iodine Oral Antiseptic Rinse, Avinash S. Bidra, Jesse S. Pelletier, Jonna B. Westover, Samantha Frank, Seth M. Brown, Belachew Tessema

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Purpose

To investigate the optimal contact time and concentration for viricidal activity of oral preparation of povidone‐iodine (PVP‐I) against SARS‐CoV‐2 (‘corona virus’) to mitigate the risk and transmission of the virus in the dental practice.

Materials and Methods

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) USA‐WA1/2020 strain, virus stock was tested against oral antiseptic solutions consisting of aqueous povidone‐iodine (PVP‐I) as the sole active ingredient. The PVP‐I was tested at diluted concentrations of 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%. Test media without any virus was added to 2 tubes of the compounds to serve as toxicity and neutralization controls. Ethanol (70%) …

Livestock Preference For Endophyte-Infected Or Endophyte-Free Oxytropis Sericea, Ipomoea Carnea, And Ipomoea Asarifolia, James Pfister, Daniel Cook, Stephen T. Lee, Dale R. Gardner, Franklin Riet-Correa

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

Fungal endophyte-infected forages have been shown to alter herbivore feeding preferences. The objective of this experiment was to compare the preference of cattle, sheep, and goats for plants containing (E+) and not containing (E-) fungal endophytes using freshly harvested Oxytropis sericea, Ipomoea carnea, and Ipomoea asarifolia. Goats and sheep rejected all forage choices regardless of endophyte status except for grass and alfalfa hay. Endophyte status had no influence on cattle forage preferences. Cattle rejected all Oxytropis sericea E+ and E- choices. Cattle discriminated between Ipomoea species, preferring Ipomoea carnea to Ipomoea asarifolia (P = 0.004). In all …