Animal Sciences Commons^™

Seasonal Habitat Preference And Foraging Behaviour Of Post-Moult Weddell Seals In The Western Ross Sea, Kimberly T. Goetz, Michael S. Dinniman, Luis A. Hückstädt, Patrick W. Robinson, Michelle R. Shero, Jennifer M. Burns, Eileen E. Hofmann, Sharon E. Stammerjohn, Elliott L. Hazen, David G. Ainley, Daniel P. Costa

CCPO Publications

Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) are important predators in the Southern Ocean and are among the best-studied pinnipeds on Earth, yet much still needs to be learned about their year-round movements and foraging behaviour. Using biologgers, we tagged 62 post-moult Weddell seals in McMurdo Sound and vicinity between 2010 and 2012. Generalized additive mixed models were used to (i) explain and predict the probability of seal presence and foraging behaviour from eight environmental variables, and (ii) examine foraging behaviour in relation to dive metrics. Foraging probability was highest in winter and lowest in summer, and foraging occurred mostly in …

Interactive Effects Of Climate Change-Induced Range Shifts And Wind Energy Development On Future Economic Conditions Of The Atlantic Surfclam Fishery, Stephanie Stromp, Andrew M. Scheld, John M. Klinck, Daphne M. Munroe, Eric N. Powell, Roger Mann, Sarah Borsetti, Eileen E. Hofmann

CCPO Publications

Rising water temperatures along the northeastern U.S. continental shelf have resulted in an offshore range shift of the Atlantic surfclam Spisula solidissima to waters still occupied by ocean quahogs Arctica islandica. Fishers presently are prohibited from landing both Atlantic surfclams and ocean quahogs in the same catch, thus limiting fishing to locations where the target species can be sorted on deck. Wind energy development on and around the fishing grounds will further restrict the fishery. A spatially explicit model of the Atlantic surfclam fishery (Spatially Explicit Fishery Economics Simulator) has the ability to simulate the consequences of fishery displacement …

A Growth Model For Arctica Islandica: The Performance Of Tanaka And The Temptation Of Von Bertalanffy—Can The Two Coexist?, John M. Klinck, Eric N. Powell, Kathleen M. Hemeon, Jillian R. Sower, Daniel R. Hennen

CCPO Publications

Organisms increase in size over time (age) due to excess assimilation over metabolic (respiration) energy demands. Most organisms reach a maximum size with increasing age as gain and loss balance. The von Bertalanffy length-at-age relationship, which is commonly used in fishery assessment calculations, imposes such a maximum size. However, some fished species, such as ocean quahogs, Arctica islandica, are long lived and continue to grow at old age. The Tanaka age-at-length relationship has continued growth at old age, but is rarely used in stock assessment models. A modified form of the von Bertalanffy model is presented, which mimics the …

The Southern Ocean Ecosystem Affects The Entire World, Eugene J. Murphy, Nadine M. Johnston, Eileen E. Hofmann, Richard A. Phillips, Jennifer E. Jackson, Andrew J. Constable

CCPO Publications

The Southern Ocean, which flows around the Antarctic continent, is home to vast numbers of unique and remarkable animals, including penguins, albatrosses, petrels, seals, and whales. The ocean bursts into life every spring, fueling a summer feeding and breeding frenzy. During the dark winter months, there is little food and life is very harsh. Human activities such as fishing and pollution are affecting this ecosystem, as is climate change. These ecosystem changes matter beyond the Southern Ocean! Ocean currents carry nutrients and organisms into and out of the Southern Ocean. Many marine mammals and seabirds swim or fly in and …

Hide And Seek: An Exploration Of Antipredator And Predator Avoidance Mechanisms In Orthopodomyia Signifera In Response To Predation From Toxorhynchites Rutilus, Nathaniel Dahlberg

Master's Theses

There have been many observations of larval Orthopodomyia signifera coexisting with the predator Toxorhynchites rutilus. There are three hypotheses that could explain how Or. signifera resists predation from Tx. rutilus. The first hypothesis states that larvae adapt behavioral changes that limit predation. The second hypothesis states thoracic setae serve as a physical defense that prevents Tx. rutilus from grasping Or. signifera. The third hypothesis states Or. signifera possess a chemical defense indicated by aposematic coloration. To test the first hypothesis larval Or. signifera were exposed to conspecific and heterospecific predation cues and their behavior was observed. Both cues …

The Problem Of Abandoned, Lost, And Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear In Eastern Caribbean Small-Scale Fisheries : Understanding The Challenges, Defining Solutions, Tricia Lovell

World Maritime University Ph.D. Dissertations

/="/">Abandoned, lost, and otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG—also termed derelict fishing gear) is a complex and significant global challenge for which strong, robust, and holistic governance is required. ALDFG is considered the most dangerous form of marine debris, as it is designed to capture marine organisms and can do so long after it has become derelict. While there has been an increasing body of work in academic literature on the scale, impact, and management of ALDFG, significant knowledge gaps still exist about how this challenge is affecting the small-scale fisheries of the Eastern Caribbean. This research has been designed …

Assessing The Bioavailability Of Infused Lysine And Rumen-Protected Lysine Supplements Using The Area Under The Curve Technique And The Plasma Free Amino Acid Dose-Response Method, Megan Vetter

Honors Theses and Capstones

The milk production of lactating dairy cows is dependent on factors such as housing conditions, lineage, climate, and health, but the quality of their diets is generally the most influential. Maintaining a proper balance of nutrients is necessary to achieve the greatest milk production at the lowest cost. Maximum feed efficiency is not only critical for increasing the economic profits of an individual farm, but also for increasing food supply without increasing environmental demand. Supplementing cows’ diets with lysine (Lys), an essential amino acid (AA), can aid in maximizing protein synthesis. Providing this nutrient in a rumen-protected (RP) coating can …

The Impact Of Wheat Resistance And Bio-Rational Insecticides Toxicity Against Cherry-Oat Aphid, Rhopalosiphum Padi L. (Hemiptera: Aphididae), Anisa Haq, Waheed Murad, Sarir Ahmad

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Aphids cause substantial damage to the wheat crop. In order to determine how host plant resistance and insecticides manage the Rhopalosiphum padi L. Current experiments were carried out to find the influence of host plant resistance and bio-rational insecticides against aphids in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop. Field experiments were carried out for two growing years (2017/18 and 2018/19) to access the resistance of wheat against the aphids. The field resistance of wheat is highly expressed in Pirsabak-08 variety (infestation range = 1-2.5) while the most susceptible variety is Faisalabad-08 (infestation range > 10). The varietal preference experiment results revealed …

Redescription Of A Little-Known Species, Cryptocephalus Surdus Rapilly, 1980 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae), With Notes On New Distribution Localities And Habitat Preference In Türkiye, Ali̇ Gök, Abdullah Hasbenli̇, İsmai̇l Şen

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Cryptocephalus surdus Rapilly, 1980 is a little-known species which was described based on specimens collected from Iran. Due to the fact that the species was described very briefly in its original description, the taxonomic features of the species are redescribed in here. In addition, information about additional taxonomic characters, habitats and distribution in Türkiye of this little-known species are given for the first time in this study. Habitus and genital features of the species are photographed. Habitat preference and a map showing the previous and new distribution localities of the species are provided.

First Record Of The Occurrence Of The Chinese Pond Mussel Sinanodonta Woodiana (Lea, 1834) (Bivalvia: Unionidae) In African Freshwaters: Oubeira Lake, Algeria, Lamia Bensaad-Bendjedid, Salah Telailia, Faiza Alliouche, Hassen Touati, Imen Ladjama

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The Chinese pond mussel Sinanodonta woodiana (Lea, 1834) (Bivalvia: Unionidae) is among the most invasive freshwater species worldwide. The last decades have seen its rapid geographical spread beyond the species' natural range, particularly in anthropogenically modified water bodies across Asia, America, and Europe where it is now very common. In this paper, we also confirm the presence of S. woodiana in Africa (Algeria) by establishing the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and Ramsar site Oubeira Lake as a new locality for its occurrence. In all likelihood, S. woodiana was accidentally introduced in the 1980s with Asian fish species imported from Hungary for …

Biodiversity Of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae), Vectors Of Important Arboviral Diseases At Different Altitudes In The Central Part Of Iran, Azim Paksa, Mozaffar Vahedi, Saideh Yousefi, Nasrollah Saberi, Sara Rahimi, Masoumeh Amin

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Risk assessment and vector control programs rely on a comprehensive knowledge of mosquito diversity in different areas. The present study aims to evaluate mosquito biodiversity in different areas of Sirjan County, Kerman Province, as one of the most important economic zones of Iran. Totally 4538 mosquitoes representing 19 species and four genera were collected and identified. Results showed that Culiseta longiareolata and Culex quinquefacsiatus were constant, Culex destricola, Culex pusillus, Culex pipiens and Culex laticinctus were common and the other captured species were accidental species in Sirjan County. In this study, Aedes vittatus was recorded for the first time in …

Distribution And Population Density Of Halyomorpha Halys (Stål, 1855) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) In Black Sea Region Of Türkiye, Ki̇bar Ak, Mansur Uluca, Celal Tunçer

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys, is a polyphagous invasive pest whose spread and damage are increasing with global commercial activities. In this study, following the invasion of Black Sea Region in 2018, spread, population density and change of the pest were investigated in the years 2019, 2020, and 2021, possible causes of spread and measures to be taken were evaluated. Course of population was monitored with pheromone traps placed in 141, 120, and 162 locations in 8 provinces along the coastline of Black Sea Region. High population density was detected at all locations of Artvin and Rize …

Condition Factor And Length-Weight Relationships Evaluation Of 15 Oxynoemacheilus Species (Cypriniformes: Nemacheilidae) From Iran, Atta Mouludi-Saleh, Soheil Eagderi, Erdoğan Çi̇çek, Edris Ghaderi

Turkish Journal of Zoology

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between the length and weight (LWR) of 15 Oxynoemacheilus species i.e. Oxynoemacheilus bergianus, O. brandtii, O. chomanicus, O. euphraticus, O. elsae, O. frenatus, O. karunensis, O. kiabii, O. kurdistanicus, O. longipinnis, O. parvinae, O. persa, O. marunensis, O. zagrosensis, and O. zarzianus from Iranian inland waters. LWRs with high coefficients of determination were calculated for all species. The values of the slope parameter (b) ranged from 2.225 in O. brandtii to 3.575 in O. euphraticus. Fulton's condition factor (K$_{F}$) ranged from 0.673 in O. persa to 1.407 in O. kiabili …

New Records Of Gastropods (Caenogastropoda And Heterobranchia) From The Turkish Coasts With Observations On Some Poorly Known Species, Bi̇lal Öztürk, Nesli̇han Türkçü, Banu Bi̇tli̇s

Turkish Journal of Zoology

This work presents information about 19 taxa recorded from different habitats at depths between 0.2 and 508 m in the last two decades, which are new records or poorly known species along the Turkish coasts. Among the identified species, Epitonium vaillanti, Melanella cf. lubrica, Melanella monterosatoi, Pelseneeria minor, Setia amabilis, Kurtziella serga, Rissoella diaphana, Rissoella inflata, and Spirolaxis clenchi are new records for the Turkish mollusc fauna, Eatonina pumila is new report for the Turkish coast of the Aegean Sea, and Eatonina ochroleuca, Acirsa subdecussata, Lamellaria latens, Setia pulcherrima, Setia valvatoides, and Turbonilla cangeyrani are species with rare distribution …

The Importance Of Shape Analysis Of The First Upper Molar In The Separation Of Two Subspecies Of The Hazel Dormouse (Muscardinus Avellanarius (Linnaeus, 1758)) In Northern Anatolia, Güli̇z Yavuz, Hati̇ce Mutlu Eyi̇son, Erkut Kivanç, Engi̇n Selvi̇, Nuri̇ Yi̇ği̇t, Ercüment Çolak

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Morphological features are important for intraspecific and interspecific variation. Teeth are important taxonomical characteristics because they can differ according to diet. Shape analysis of the first upper molar (M1) was used to determine geographical variations and effects of ecological changes on the population structure of Hazel dormice (Muscardinus avellanarius) living in Turkey. Both outline and landmark analysis, as well as a canonical variates analysis, showed significant differences in teeth shape between populations. With this technique, we separated out two subspecies: M. a. trapezius and M. a. abanticus.

Corrigendum: Evolution, Ecology, And Zoonotic Transmission Of Betacoronaviruses: A Review, Herbert F. Jelinek, Mira Mousa, Eman Alefishat, Wael Osman, Ian Spence, Dengpan Bu, Samuel F. Feng, Jason Byrd, Paola A. Magni, Shafi Sahibzada, Guan K. Tay, Habiba S. Alsafar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In the published article, there was an error in the legend for Figure 1 as published. The figure legend did not indicate that it has been adapted from Plowright et al. (2017). Copyright permission was obtained from Springer Nature to adapt Figure 1 from Plowright et al. (2017). The corrected legend appears below. Figure 1. Zoonotic risk distribution, pathway to spillover, and the multimodal role of the determinants of spillover. The zoonotic risk is demonstrated by the accumulated distribution of reservoir hosts and vectors that play a role in the pathway to spillover. The risk of spillover is determined by …

Using Intervention Analysis To Evaluate The Trends In Release Rates Of Recreational Fisheries Following Extensive Management Changes, Brett Crisafulli, Ebenezer Afrifa-Yamoah, Ute Mueller, Karina Ryan, David Fairclough, Johnny Lo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Changes to management of a fisheries resource are often required to ensure ongoing sustainability. However, such changes can sometimes lead to unintended effects such as increased release rates and associated post-release mortality. These effects may be highly variable between species and areas. Recreational fishing management changes were introduced on the west coast of Australia in 2009/10 to recover stocks of demersal scalefish. Key changes included reducing mixed species bag limits across management zones and increasing the minimum size limit for one species in some management zones. The restrictive catch limits resulted in increased release rates of key demersal species. However, …

Quantifying Residual Feed In A Fence-Line Feedlot Bunk Using Depth Camera Imaging Techniques, Jean Niwenshuti, Galen E. Erickson, Tami M. Brown-Bandl, Eric T. Psota, Yijie Xiong

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Feed bunk management requires intensive labor and relies on manual observation to estimate the amount of residual feed in the bunk. Alternative and innovative technologies were used to estimate the weight of residual feed in a concrete fence-line bunk using a depth camera. Depth cameras capture the distance between the camera and the object in their field of view. This study used a time-of-flight depth camera (Azure Kinect, Microsoft) to estimate the weight of residual feed in a partial fence-line concrete bunk using 11 common feed ingredients. The camera was fastened approximately 3.3 ft above the center of the bunk …

Extending Melengestrol Acetate Treatment From Fourteen To Eighteen Days In Beef Heifers, Dempster Christenson, Jordan M. Thomas, Daniel J. Kelly, R. Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

This study compared estrus synchronization, estrus response, and artificial insemination pregnancy rates of beef heifers fed melengestrol acetate the normal 14-day period or extended to an 18-day period using the melengestrol acetate -prostaglandin- heat detect and timed artificial insemination protocol. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate if extending melengestrol acetate feeding by 4 days increases the number of heifers ovulating, which would result in greater estrus response and pregnancy rate in the whole herd. Early estrus response following prostaglandin administration occurred in heifers who averaged an earlier estrus response after melegestrol acetate withdrawal but extending the melengestrol …

Unraveling A Paradox Of Habitat Relationships: Scale-Dependent Drivers Of Temporal Occupancy-Abundance Relationships In A Cooperatively Breeding Bird, Natasha D.G. Hagemeyer, Mario B. Pesendorfer, Walter D. Koenig, Eric L. Walters

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Context Spatial occupancy and local abundance of species often positively covary, but the mechanisms driving this widespread relationship are poorly understood. Resource dynamics and habitat changes have been suggested as potential drivers, but long-term studies relating them to abundance and occupancy are rare. In this 34-year study of acorn woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus), a cooperatively breeding species, we observed a paradoxical response to changes in habitat composition: despite a reduction in the availability of high-quality breeding habitat, the population increased considerably.

Objectives We investigated the role of annual variation in food availability and long-term changes in habitat composition as predictors …

Fitting Time Series Models To Fisheries Data To Ascertain Age, Kathleen S. Kirch, Norou Diawara, Cynthia M. Jones

OES Faculty Publications

The ability of government agencies to assign accurate ages of fish is important to fisheries management. Accurate ageing allows for most reliable age-based models to be used to support sustainability and maximize economic benefit. Assigning age relies on validating putative annual marks by evaluating accretional material laid down in patterns in fish ear bones, typically by marginal increment analysis. These patterns often take the shape of a sawtooth wave with an abrupt drop in accretion yearly to form an annual band and are typically validated qualitatively. Researchers have shown key interest in modeling marginal increments to verify the marks do, …

Further Investigation Of Lead Exposure As A Potential Threatening Process For A Scavenging Marsupial Species, D. J. Hutchinson, E. M. Jones, J. M. Pay, J. R. Clarke, Michael T. Lohr, J. O. Hampton

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

There is a growing recognition of the harmful effects of lead exposure on avian and mammalian scavengers. This can lead to both lethal and non-lethal effects which may negatively impact wildlife populations. Our objective was to assess medium-term lead exposure in wild Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii). Frozen liver samples (n = 41), opportunistically collected in 2017–2022, were analysed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine liver lead concentrations. These results were then used to calculate the proportion of animals with elevated lead levels ( > 5 mg/kg dry weight) and examine the role of explanatory variables that may have …

In Silico Analyses Of Diversity And Dissemination Of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes And Mobile Genetics Elements, For Plasmids Of Enteric Pathogens, Suad Algarni, Jing Han, Dereje D. Gudeta, Bijay K. Khajanchi, Steven C. Ricke, Young Min Kwon, Douglas D. Rhoads, Steven L. Foley

Animal Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Introduction: The antimicrobial resistance (AMR) mobilome plays a key role in the dissemination of resistance genes encoded by mobile genetics elements (MGEs) including plasmids, transposons (Tns), and insertion sequences (ISs). These MGEs contribute to the dissemination of multidrug resistance (MDR) in enteric bacterial pathogens which have been considered as a global public health risk.

Methods: To further understand the diversity and distribution of AMR genes and MGEs across different plasmid types, we utilized multiple sequence-based computational approaches to evaluate AMR-associated plasmid genetics. A collection of 1,309 complete plasmid sequences from Gammaproteobacterial species, including 100 plasmids from each of the following …

Population Genetic Structure Associated With A Landscape Barrier In The Western Grasswren (Amytornis Textilis Textilis), Aline Gibson Vega, Michelle L. Hall, Amanda Ridley, Saul J. Cowen, Amy L. Slender, Allan H. Burbidge, Marina Louter, W. Jason Kennington

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Dispersal patterns can dictate genetic population structure and, ultimately, population resilience, through maintaining gene flow and genetic diversity. However, geographical landforms, such as peninsulas, can impact dispersal patterns and thus be a barrier to gene flow. Here, we use 13 375 genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to evaluate genetic population structure and infer dispersal patterns of the Western Grasswren Amytornis textilis textilis (WGW, n = 140) in the Shark Bay region of Western Australia. We found high levels of genetic divergence between subpopulations on the mainland (Hamelin) and narrow peninsula (Peron). In addition, we found evidence of further genetic sub-structuring within …

Inferring Exposure To Harmful Pseudo-Nitzschia Blooms From Ocean-To-Estuary Gradients In Domoic Acid Concentrations In Humboldt Bay Bivalves, Natasha Hope Ficzycz Winnacott

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) result from outbreaks of any of several different species of toxin-producing phytoplankton and that can have major detrimental effects on marine ecosystems and pose severe health and economic threats to human communities. Of particular concern along the United States West Coast are HABs of pennate diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia that produce the potent neurotoxin domoic acid (DA). The coastal ocean between Cape Mendocino, CA, and Cape Blanco, OR is a hotspot for Pseudo-nitzschia spp. HABs. Such blooms impact coastal fisheries and pose a potential threat to aquaculture operations in Humboldt Bay, California’s second largest estuary and largest …

Long-Line Culture Of Red Seaweed In The Pacific Northwest, Erika R. Thalman

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The goal of this study was to adapt open-water rope culture techniques to the native red seaweed Devaleraea mollis to support a new seaweed aquaculture industry in Humboldt Bay, California. The specific objectives for this study were to: 1) evaluate the growth of D. mollis cultivated at different depths and seasons (fall/winter, spring/summer), 2) estimate nutrients removed by D. mollis from the water, and 3) measure heavy metals and pesticides to determine potential health risk upon ingestion. Bundles of seaweed were inserted into 3 m long weighted vertical lines attached to two horizontal long-lines suspended by floats. Two four-month …

Effects Of Landscape Configuration Metrics On American Barn Owl Nest Box Occupancy And Hunting, Samantha D. Chavez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Harnessing ecosystem services, broadly defined as the benefits nature gives to people, is one approach to minimize the widespread negative impacts of agriculture on wildlife and biodiversity conservation. Conservation biological control is one such service that aims to use natural enemies to reduce crops losses from pests without the use of harmful pesticides, including rodenticides. In Napa Valley, California, human-made nest boxes are deployed on wine grape vineyards to attract barn owls (Tyto furcata) that depredate and remove thousands of rodent pests throughout the nesting season. However, the provisioning of this ecosystem service depends on whether a box …

Host-Microbe Interactions In Non-Native Estuarine Anemones: Biogeography And Temperature, Parker K. Lund

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Non-native species are increasing in prevalence around the world, resulting in negative economic and ecological impacts. However, the broad distributions of non-native species also offer a system for investigating the response of host-associated microbial communities to environmental factors across a range of ecological scales. At the broadest scale, I investigated the geography of microbial communities in the non-native estuarine anemone Diadumene lineata on the west coast of the United States of America. Across latitudes, microbial community composition was very similar and displayed a high percentage of Klebsiella spp. at all sites. However, the communities in California tended to exhibit higher …

Carnivore And Ungulate Occurrence In A Fire-Prone Region, Sara J. Moriarty-Graves

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Increasing fire size and severity in the western United States causes changes to ecosystems, species’ habitat use, and interspecific interactions. Wide-ranging carnivore and ungulate mammalian species and their interactions may be influenced by an increase in fire activity in northern California. Depending on the fire characteristics, ungulates may benefit from burned habitat due to an increase in forage availability, while carnivore species may be differentially impacted, but ultimately driven by bottom-up processes from a shift in prey availability. I used a three-step approach to estimate the single-species occupancy of four large mammal species: mountain lion (Puma concolor), coyote …

Genetic Evaluation Of The Current Distribution And Possible Diffrentations Between Lasiurus Borealis And Lasiurus Frantzii In Southwestern North America, Zeinab M. Haidar

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Several recent accounts of overlap and historic misidentifications regarding two species of the genus Lasiurus, Western red bat (Lasiurus frantzii) and Eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), have cast doubt on our understanding of their distribution, assumed spatial allopatry, and interactions in the United States Southwest. With the use of morphometrics and genetic sequencing, utilizing tissue collected from specimens throughout California and adjoining states, we have reassessed the current distribution, best practices for field identification, and genetic differentiation between both species. Appropriate species classification by region was achieved utilizing mitochondrial DNA, targeting the cytochrome c oxidase …