Animal Sciences Commons^™

Stomoxys Flies (Diptera, Muscidae) Are Competent Vectors Of Trypanosoma Evansi, Trypanosoma Vivax, And Other Livestock Hemopathogens, Julia W. Muita, Joel L. Bargul, John Mark O. Makwatta, Ernest M. Ngatia, Simon K. Tawich, Daniel K. Masiga, Merid N. Getahun

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Stomoxys flies are widely distributed and economically significant vectors of various livestock pathogens of veterinary importance. However, the role of Stomoxys spp. in pathogen transmission is poorly understood. Therefore, we studied the feeding patterns of these blood feeders collected from specific locations in Kenya to identify various vertebrate hosts they fed on, the livestock hemopathogens they carried, and to elucidate their role in pathogens transmission. Our findings show that field-collected Stomoxys flies carried several pathogens, including Trypanosoma spp., Anaplasma spp., and Theileria spp., which were also detected in the blood of sampled livestock, namely camels and cattle. The findings on …

Sheep And Goat Industry Funding Scheme 2023-24 Annual Report, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity published reports

I am pleased to present the 2023-24 annual report for the Sheep and Goat Industry Funding Scheme (Sheep and Goat IFS) to our participants, key stakeholders in the Western Australian (WA) sheep and goat industry, and the Minister for Agriculture and Food.

The WA sheep and goat industry has faced a challenging year. After a period of relative stability between 2010 and 2019, the WA flock has continued to decline since 2020, reaching its lowest point since 1952. This downward trend is expected to continue due to local factors such as increased turn-off and seasonal conditions, further compounded by political …

Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat Dynamics And Grazing, A Study Of Vegetation Indices And Survival, Codi R. Backen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

North American rangelands are vast, open landscapes that support diverse ecosystems and provide many ecosystem services. Many wildlife call sagebrush rangelands home, including the Greater sage-grouse (sage-grouse; Centrocercus urophasianus). Sage-grouse habitat encompasses 165 million acres across western North America, and this bird has been of conservation concern as their populations drastically declined since the 1960s. Rangelands are also grazed by livestock, which has the potential to negatively affect sagebrush ecosystems when overgrazed or overstocked, which could be detrimental to sage-grouse nesting habitat. Additionally, sagebrush rangelands undergo annual variations in precipitation, temperature, growing season length, and vegetation vigor, which has …

Tracking Fall Migration With The Motus Wildlife Tracking System: The Fate Of Window-Struck And Captive-Raised Passerines, Cailin O'Connor

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Many species of North American passerines migrate along the Atlantic flyway in the fall to reach winter habitats in the southeastern United States, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Birds face many perils along their journeys including window strikes, which kill over one billion birds per year in the United States alone. Some birds survive the impact and may continue their migration. These birds may suffer delayed mortality or show aberrant migration due to injuries. This research seeks to understand if window-struck birds that initially survive bird-building collisions survive into the future and, if so, if they migrate effectively. …

Impacts Of Toxic Fescue Seed Consumed By Pregnant Heifers On Maternal Blood Flow And Offspring Growth Parameters: Potential For Melatonin As A Therapeutic To Improve Offspring Growth, Rachel Scott

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The southeastern United States is home to endophyte-infected (E+), toxic, tall fescue grass. Consumption of E+ fescue by livestock has been linked to fescue toxicosis, a disease reported to cost the United States beef industry around $1 billion in annual losses. The primary objective of this dissertation was to evaluate the influence of pregnant cattle consuming E+ seed during gestation on uterine artery blood flow and growth performance of female offspring. The secondary objective was to investigate melatonin supplementation as a mitigation strategy for expected fescue-associated decreases in uterine artery blood flow and offspring growth performance. The study reported in …

Can Assessment Of Morphometrics Correctly Predict Species In Madtoms?, Harley C. Walden

ATU Scholars Symposium

Species delineation is commonly achieved through genetic analyses, but the utility of morphometrics as an alternative method remains unclear. This study investigates whether morphometric measurements can effectively differentiate species in madtoms (Noturus spp.). A total of 10 morphometric traits were measured from 50 individuals each of three madtom species: the Slender Madtom (Noturus exilis), the Black River Madtom (Noturus maydeni), the Ozark Madtom (Noturus albater), the Ouachita Madtom (Noturus lachneri) and the Freckled Madtom (Noturus nocturnus). Random forest modeling was employed to identify which morphometric variables most accurately distinguish between …

Distribution Of Mussels In Two Intermittent Upland Streams Of The Arkansas Valley Ecoregion, Aaron A. Brady, Seth Drake, Zach Crain, Kendall Moles

ATU Scholars Symposium

Freshwater mussels are facing an increasing need for conservation due to their declining populations. More data is needed on mussel distributions, especially in tributaries of large rivers to properly conserve and restore populations. Big Shoal Creek and Little Shoal Creek are two upland-tributaries of the Arkansas River (Lake Dardanelle) in which no records exist for freshwater mussel populations. We addressed this knowledge gap by sampling a total of 9 sites in Little Shoal Creek and 18 sites in Big Shoal Creek to determine the abundance and distribution of mussels in these streams. Mussels were sampled using a timed search approach. …

Using Guano To Determine Ozark Big-Eared Bat Cave Occupancy In Arkansas​, Lark E. Sybrant

ATU Scholars Symposium

The Ozark big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii ingens) is endangered in Arkansas and is known to have small populations, range restrictions, and specific habitat requirements in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest. Beyond their known range, there are other potentially suitable areas that have not been confirmed. We aim to test whether the non-invasive genetic analysis of guano samples can identify Ozark big-eared bat cave use and expand their known range. Additional locations need to be surveyed to ensure site protection, as unknown caves are susceptible to human disturbance and damage. Twenty-five sites were surveyed at the southeastern extent of their known …

Comparing Parasitism And Resistance To Flow In Two Populations Of Elimia Virginica, Morgan G. Hicok, Abbie Tomba, Kate Green

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

Snails are important in freshwater ecosystems as primary consumers and are good indicators of the stability of a habitat. Trematodes are parasitic flatworms that infect freshwater snails and can cause changes in metabolic function and growth. Flow rates and water levels are now more variable due to climate change, increasing stress and dislodgment in the snail population. This study investigates how parasites, shell morphology, and native flow environment influence resistance to disturbance. Elimia populations were sampled for differences in parasitism, shell morphology, and ability to withstand high flow environments in two different rivers. Sample sites at the Potomac River were …

Ultrasonography As A Method For Identifying Biological Sex In Captive Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus Alleganiensis), Logan N. Collom

Honors Theses

The hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) is the United States’ largest aquatic salamander and is mainly found across the eastern U.S. There are two subspecies of hellbenders, one of which is listed as endangered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the other considered a species of conservation concern and a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act. There have been several captive breeding programs established at zoos and universities across the U.S., which require a dependable method for sexing their individuals. Ultrasound imaging has previously been used to identify the sex of other amphibian species and track …

American Letters: Loren Eiseley

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

Except from: The Bird and the Machine, The Immense Journey (1957)

Floral Cues And Foraging Preferences In Various Species Of Wild Bumblebees, Olivia A. Dahl

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

There are costs and benefits for plants and their pollinators. Bumblebees play a crucial role in the dynamic plant-pollinator system. Flowers co-evolved with insects, birds, and mammals toward mechanisms that benefited, described from a human perspective, both host and forager. Characteristics such color, olfactory cues, and temperature attract pollinators, with bumblebees showing preferences for blue and yellow flowers, as well as flowers that are warmer. This study aims to answer three questions: 1) How does floral temperature at different times of day predict visit length in bumblebees? 2) Does bumblebee size affect visit length? 3) Is there an interaction between …

Quantifying The Decline In Avian Biodiversity: A Global Crisis And Its Implications For Environmental Education, Canaline Osaka

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

People care about what they love—and it’s easy to love--and fall in love, with birds. The

opportunities to promote bird diversity are legion, and applicable throughout K-12 education. For example, the Eastern Bluebird needs to nest in the cavities of dead trees, a habitat drastically denuded by large scale farming—or in specialized nesting boxes. A nationwide effort to build and install these boxes has brought the population back to healthy numbers since its 1970 low point. (Once one knows what they look like, one cannot miss these roadside homes—Western Bluebirds also benefit.) Students can also engineer bird houses and deters, …

American Letters: Albert H. Hochbaum

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

Excerpt from: Travels and Traditions of Waterfowl (1955)

Comparison Of Morphological Characteristics And Dna Sequences Of Platyhelminthes Within Dabbling And Diving Ducks Species, Elise A. Betcher, Karolyn M. Kolstad, Ashley L. Marks, Marguerite C. Reitano, Alexander J. Train

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Platyhelminthes, also known as flatworms, are among the most common parasites found in North American duck species. This phylum of parasites includes tapeworms and flukes. This study focused on identifying various Platyhelminthes found in Minnesota and Wisconsin wild ducks using both morphological characteristics and genetic sequencing. Both diving and dabbling species of ducks were used for this study, including green winged-teal (Anas carolinensis) and ring-necked ducks (Aythya collaris). Platyhelminthes were removed from legally harvested ducks and stained before examining and imaging under the microscope to identify key morphologic features for a presumptive identification. Subsequently, DNA was extracted …

A Population Study Of The Freshwater Turtles Of The Recently Expanded Lake Hydaway In Campbell County, Virginia, Joshua Sorenson

Senior Honors Theses

Freshwater turtles are an important part of the ecological systems in central Virginia. At the recently expanded Lake Hydaway, there are several turtle species for which their population characteristics were unknown, especially the prolific Eastern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta picta) and Red-bellied Cooter (Pseudemys rubriventris). For five weeks, the lake was surveyed for turtles using hoop nets, and the turtles were marked and measured. Population characteristics such as carapace length and sex ratio for the Eastern Painted Turtle and Red-bellied Cooter were calculated, as well as population estimates for those two species. The Red-eared Slider ( …

Meta-Transcriptomes Of The Microbial Communities Of The Different Developmental Life Stages Of Anastrepha Ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae), Erin L. Schuenzel

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

The Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens, is a polyphagous pest that is a constant threat to US agriculture because of its proximity to citrus production in border region of the United States and Mexico. Sterile Insect Technique has been used to manage and eradicate of the Mexican Fruit Fly. SIT, however, requires millions of sterile male flies to be released each week from mass-rearing facilities. The mass-reared colonies must deal with microbial infections that reduce survivorship, fecundity and male-male competition. Meta-transcriptomics joins culturing and next generation DNA sequencing techniques to understand these changing microbial communities. This study uses advances …

Survey And Analysis Of Rumen Microbiota In Yaks At Different Growth Stages, Shengwei Jin, Xinyue Liu, Yin-Cang Han, Yong-Gang Sun, Wei-Qin Ding, Ya-Qian Liu, Fa-Jie Gou, Jian-Yu Chen

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

This study investigated changes in the richness and composition of the rumen microbiome in yaks at various developmental stages. Eighteen healthy male yaks at the ages of 5 months (M5), 12 months (M12), and 24 months (M24) had samples of their rumen digesta taken for 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The 11087 amplicon sequence variations (ASVs) in total were found; the M5, M12, and M24 groups had 3585, 1146 and 5545 distinct ASVs, respectively. Alpha diversity indices Chao, Shannon, Sobs, and ace indicated significant differences among the groups. The principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) indicated significant changes in microbial community composition across …

A Redescription Of Leiurus Libycus (Birula, 1908), Stat. N. (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Ersen A. Yağmur, František Kovařík, Victor Fet

Euscorpius

Buthus quinquestriatus libycus was described by Birula (1908) from the Libyan Desert, based on a subadult male specimen. This taxon was later synonymized with Leiurus quinquestriatus (Ehrenberg, 1828) by Vachon (1949). In this study, we re-evaluate this taxon and recognize it as Leiurus libycus (Birula, 1908), stat. n., providing a redescription based on the holotype. The type locality of this species is clarified as western Egypt (between Alexandria and Fayum). We synonymize Leiurus aegyptiacus Lourenço & El-Hennawy, 2021 with L. libycus, stat. n., syn. n.

Data From: The Dynamic Responses Of The Mouse Gut Microbiome To Dietary Supplementation With Various Anthocyanin-Rich Foods In The Context Of A Western Diet, Abby D. Benninghoff

Browse all Datasets

Background/Objectives: Anthocyanin (ACN)-rich foods may support gut health by modulating the microbiome and reducing inflammation, potentially lowering the risk of colitis-associated colorectal cancer. However, the dynamic response of the gut microbiome to ACN-rich diets is not well characterized, including in the context of structural and compositional differences among ACN-containing foods. This study examined the temporal response of the mouse gut microbiome to dietary ACNs, focusing on the impact of structural variation. We hypothesized that microbiome shifts would occur rapidly but require sustained dietary ACN intake to persist. Methods: C57BL/6J mice were fed the total Western diet (TWD) supplemented with freeze-dried …

Diversity And Habitat Use Of Bats In Modified Suburban Landscapes, Brittany Morgera

Biology Presentations

Bats occupy critical ecological niches and perform important ecosystem services like controlling insect populations. However, humans have altered bat habitat substantially, resulting in the reduction of bat populations. The goals of this research are to assess bat diversity and habitat use across different levels of suburban habitat modification. To accomplish this, we deployed passive acoustic recorders at twelve locations with varying human impact in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. In accordance with The North American Bat Monitoring Program’s standards, acoustic analysis software was used to identify bat species. Manual identification methods from The Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative were used to verify these …

Passive Integrated Transponders: An Effective Marking Technique For Individual Identification Of Anaxyrus Fowleri?, Emily Leprell

Honors College Theses

With the rise of fungal disease such as Chytridiomycosis, known as chytrid, causing massive population declines for many species of frogs and toads (order Anura), specific conservation strategies are needed now more than ever. In many cases, being able to mark and identify individuals is a necessary step in developing an effective conservation plan. Individual identification allows researchers to obtain accurate population estimates, which are needed to test the progress and validity of conservation management decisions. However, due to their unique life history, including cutaneous respiration and a dichotomous lifestyle, anurans are among the most difficult wildlife species to …

A New Centruroides Species And First Record Of C. Tapachulaensis Hoffmann, 1932 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) From Honduras, Luis F. De Armas, Alex M. Cubas-Rodríguez

Euscorpius

A new species of striped bark scorpions, Centruroides lenca sp. n. is described, based on both sexes, from the Pacayita Volcano Biological Reserve (2,385 m a. s. l.), Ocotepeque Department, in the southwestern Honduras. By its general pattern, the new species resembles C. thorellii (Kraepelin, 1891), from which it clearly differs by having stronger and very darker pedipalp chelae, minute subaculear tubercle and basal pectinal plate with a large central pit in the female, among other diagnostic characters. Also, Centruroides tapachulaensis Hoffmann, 1932 is recorded for the first time from Honduras, on the basis of two observed or collected specimens …

Nature’S Menu: The Science Behind The Raw Dog Food Movement And How To Safely Add Raw Meat To Your Dog’S Diet, Finn Bush, Kate Padilla, Grace Mynatt

The Agora

The raw dog food movement has become increasingly popular among the dog owner community, gaining attention primarily on social media platforms. This article discusses the motivations, ethics, and proper food safety involved in feeding canines raw meat. Despite common belief, dogs have deviating needs from their wolf ancestors, therefore, while feeding a raw meat diet looks more “natural” there are serious unintended consequences of improperly utilizing raw meat. This article takes a comprehensive look into what the benefits and drawbacks of raw feeding may be, how to be responsible if choosing to convert to the raw feed method, and overall …

Highly Targeted Metabolomics Coupled With Gene Expression Analysis By Rt–Qpcr Improves Beef Separation Based On Grass, Grain, Or Grape Supplemented Diet, Lucas Krusinski, Chloe Castanon, Rosalee S. Hellberg, Isabella C. F. Maciel, Muhammad Ahsin, Stephan Van Vliet, Jason E. Rowntree, Jennifer I. Fenton

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

The objective of this study was to use a multi-omics (i.e., gene expression quantification, metabolomics, and fatty acid [FA] profiling) approach to separate and authenticate beef from three different dietary groups. In this 2-year study, Red Angus steers (n = 54) were randomly allocated to one of three treatments: (1) complex biodiverse pasture (GRASS), (2) total mixed ration (TMR) in feedlot (GRAIN), or (3) TMR in feedlot supplemented with 5% (dry matter) grapeseed extract for the last 30 days (GRAPE). FAs were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS), secondary metabolites were identified using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry …

Yellow Stingray (Urobatis Jamaicensis) Jaw, Marissa Rosas, David Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

No abstract provided.

Scorpions Of The Horn Of Africa (Arachnida, Scorpiones). Part Xxxvii. The Genus Hemiscorpius (Hemiscorpiidae), František Kovařík, Hassan Sh A. Elmi, František Šťáhlavský

Euscorpius

Occurrence of the rare in the Horn of Africa genus Hemiscorpius Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Hemiscorpiidae) is summarized, including a distribution map. A male of Hemiscorpius lipsae Kovařík & Lowe, 2022 from Djibouti is described for the first time. A new species Hemiscorpius huluul sp. n. from Somaliland is described, fully complemented with color photographs.

Effects Of Citric Acid, Synbiotic, And Probiotic Supplementation Through Drinking Water On Growth Performance, Carcass Yield, And Blood Biochemistry Of Broiler Chickens, Shahadot Hossain, Biswajit Kumar Biswas, Subir Das, Faija Sadia Pory, Rabin Raut, Fatima Yeasmin, Sharif Uddin Khan, Prantho Malakar Dipta, Sabbir Alom Shuvo, Tahera Yeasmin, Raihanul Hoque

Food and Animal Sciences Faculty Research

No abstract provided.

An Injury Healing On The Carapace Of Hottentotta Saulcyi (Simon, 1880) (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Fatih Yeşilyurt, Ersen A. Yağmur

Euscorpius

A new case of injury healing on the carapace is reported in a female Hottentotta saulcyi (Simon, 1880). An asymmetrical indentation was observed on the anterior part of the carapace, resulting from the healing of an old injury. The indentation is relatively deep, with muscle tissue visible inside it. Scar tissue is present at the end of indentation and healing tissue is present along its margins.

How Aza Zoos And Aquariums Are Helping To Fill The Gap, Erika Bauer, Grace Fuller, Candice Dorsey

Animal Sentience

Oldfield & Bonano (2024) identify significant gaps in scientific knowledge about certain animal taxa, such as reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and fish. Despite some efforts, published literature remains limited, forcing decision-makers to rely more on experiential knowledge than scientific evidence. AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums are uniquely positioned to bridge these gaps and advance animal welfare science by fostering collaboration, building partnerships, and promoting multi-disciplinary approaches to welfare assessments.