Animal Sciences Commons^™

Exploring Coastal Plain Fish Ecology Across A Range Of Early-Life-History Traits And River Types, Bridgette Nicolosi

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The ecological complexity of southeastern Coastal Plain rivers is reflected in the diversity of fish communities they support, yet the processes structuring early life dynamics remain poorly understood. This thesis explores the influence of environmental gradients on larval fish assemblage composition and American Shad (Alosa sapidissima) spawning phenology across two Georgia Coastal Plain river systems.

In the unregulated Ogeechee River, I investigated spatial and temporal variation in larval fish communities by comparing mainstem and tributary habitats to understand the role of tributaries in watershed-wide larval production. Larvae were collected biweekly from May to September 2024 at eight paired mainstem-tributary sites …

Stress And Behavior In Beef Calves During Weaning, Kathleen E. Tierney

Theses and Dissertations

Animal welfare in commercial livestock operations has been an increasing topic of concern. It is well known that stress can have significant behavioral and physiological repercussions. It is especially important in commercial operations to reduce stress, as animal efficiency is the leading priority. In an effort to reduce stress on animals and improve welfare in livestock operations, several studies have evaluated common husbandry practices. One of the most widely studied practices is weaning, which encapsulates the process of removing the young from the dam. Several studies have evaluated the effects of weaning on beef cattle through a variety of behavioral …

Comparative Semiotic Analysis Of Non-Verbal Communication: Apis Mellifera Waggle Dance And Human Kinesic Signaling Systems, Nishtha Tikalal

Honors Undergraduate Theses

There are many parallels between two seemingly disparate forms of non-verbal communication: the waggle dance of Apis mellifera (honeybees) and human kinesic signaling systems. Through a comparative semiotic analysis, this research aims to conduct a comparative semiotic analysis, investigating structural and functional similarities between these communication methods, challenging anthropocentric assumptions about meaning making in the natural world. This research employs a meta-synthesis approach, drawn from a methodological literature review to examine historical representations of bee-human relationships, semiotics of non-verbal communication, and the specific mechanisms of the waggle dance and human kinesics. This methodology involves systematic categorization and analysis of extracted …

Urban Coyotes As A Source Of Conflict With Humans: An Evaluation Of Common Management Practices, Paul D. Curtis, David L. Bergman, Angeline Barker, Daniel Bogan, Mary Ann Bonnell, Pierre Canac-Marquis, David Drake, Dave Kay, Brian F. Wakeling, H. Bryant White

Human–Wildlife Interactions Monographs

Wildlife often serves as a catalyst for conflict among stakeholders. Management actions that are intended to address sources of disagreement may initiate additional conflict. The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Human–Wildlife Conflict Working Group initiated an effort to identify management actions commonly used to address unwanted coyote (Canis latrans) interactions within urban environments and identify the benefits and challenges associated with each action. Challenges with coyotes in urban environments include aggressive behavior toward humans and pets, attacks, disease exposure, and domestic livestock damage. Although elimination of all attractants would prove preventative in most instances, in practice this …

Effects Of Ionophore And Yeast Addition To The Diet On Starch Digestion And Rumen Andblood Parameters In Sheep With Subacute Rumen Acidosis, Şevket Evci̇, Mehmet Aki̇f Karsli, Mehmet Demi̇rci̇, Gökhan Şen

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study aimed to investigate the prevention of acidosis in ruminants, which causes yield and financial losses, and toevaluate the effects of feed additives on starch digestion. Four male Bafra yearling lambs with cannulated rumens were used in a 60-daystudy. Each lamb underwent 10 days of adaptation to a ration and 5 days of sampling for four different rations including a control ration(CR), monensin ration (MR), Saccharomyces cerevisiae ration (SR), and a ration with the combination of monensin and Saccharomycescerevisiae (MSR). The experiment followed a 4 × 4 Latin-square design. Dry matter intake and digestion rates were recorded as 2404 …

Effects Of A Diet Supplemented With A Blend Of Protected Organic Acids And Essential Oilson Growth Performance And Cecal Microbiota Composition In Broilers, Mehmet Akan, Kadi̇r Serdar Di̇ker, Serdar Özlü, Murat Çelebi̇, Seyyi̇de Sariçam İnce, Barişhan Doğan, Okan Eli̇bol

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Organic acids (OAs) and essential oils (EOs) have several positive effects on the gut microbiota of broilers. In this study, weaimed to determine the efficacy of a blend of protected OAs and EOs [P(OA+EO)] on the growth performance and cecal microbiota ofbroiler chickens. A total of 160 Ross 308 broiler chickens, including 80 male and 80 female birds, all 1 day old, were randomly distributedbetween the control group (basal diet) and the treatment group [basal diet + 300 g/t P(OA+EO)] according to an 8-pen arrangementwith 4 replicates of 20 birds. Body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), feed consumption (FC), …

Characterization Of The Biofilm-Forming Ability And Certain Virulence Characters Ofaeromonas Spp. Isolates From Rainbow Trout, Türker Çelebi̇, Ertan Emek Onuk, Esra Demi̇rbaş, Gökçen Di̇nç

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Aeromonas spp., commonly found in the aquatic environment, cause infections in both fish and humans. Their pathogenicitydepends on various virulence factors and ability to form biofilm. The current study aimed to determine the biofilm-forming capabilitiesand certain virulence characteristics of 25 Aeromonas spp. isolates obtained from rainbow trout in Türkiye. The biofilm-forming abilitiesof isolates were investigated comparatively using Congo red agar (CRA), the tube method (TM), and tissue culture plates (TCPs).Potential virulence factors, including hemolytic activity, gelatinase production, serine protease activity, DNase activity, and motility,were evaluated using phenotypic tests. Additionally, the distribution of four known virulence genes, namely aerA, exu, fla, …

Addressing The Productivity-Susceptibility Analysis In Data-Limited Fisheries For Understudied Fish In The Marine Aquarium Trade, Alice Wynn, Jemelyn Baldisimo, Gabrielle Baillargeon, Michael Tlusty, Andrew Rhyne

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The marine aquarium trade (MAT) harvests millions of coral reef fishes from the wild yearly. While the MAT supports fishers, hobbyists and marine education, harvested fishes are crucial in maintaining coral reef health and balanced marine cycles within their native habitats. Understanding the impact of the MAT on fish populations is critical for sustaining the trade in the long-term. Productivity-susceptibility analyses (PSAs) offer semiquantitative methods of analyzing the productive capacity of each fish stock, as well as its susceptibility to overfishing. The present study revises and expands upon a PSA conducted by Baillargeon et al. (2020) that focused on 32 …

Squid Paralarvae Turn With High Agility Using Jets Near The Reynolds Number Threshold For Viscous Domination, Ian K. Bartol, Alissa M. Ganley, Paul S. Krueger, Joseph T. Thompson

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Turning is critical for survival in the ocean, as marine animals need to maneuver to capture prey, elude predators, and navigate complex environments. While prior research has focused on turning performance of adult swimmers, less is known about early ontogenetic stages that locomote within lower Reynolds number (Re) regimes, especially young jetters. To evaluate squid paralarval turning proficiency and the role of the pulsed jet in maneuvers, recently hatched longfin squid Doryteuthis pealeii swimming in a viewing chamber were studied using digital particle image velocimetry and kinematic motion analyses. Paralarvae exhibited a wide repertoire of turning behaviors, including those performed …

Genome-Wide Snp Analyses Reveal High Gene Flow Of Endemic Smallscale Croaker (Boesemania Microlepsis) In The Lower Mekong Basin, Quyen Dang Ha Vu, Christopher E. Bird, Oanh Thi Truong, Sang Quang Tran, Ellen E. Biesack, Amanda S. Ackiss, Kent E. Carpenter, Binh Truy Dang

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The Smallscale Croaker, Boesemania microlepis, is a valuable fishery resource in the Mekong River basin that lacks clear biological data to understand its basic ecology and conservation management priorities. This species is common in the southernmost floodplain of the Mekong which extends from Tonlé Sap in Cambodia to the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. This floodplain is of particular biodiversity conservation concern because of the many upstream dams that restrict water flow in an ecology that relies heavily on a flood-pulse cycle. The literature regarding the biology B. microlepis in this region contains conflicting ideas that populations are both highly …

Pick Up A Frog, Or Pet A Dog; Animals Are Our First Teachers, Allison Ratner

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation’s goal was an attempt to answer the question: What are the emotional, cognitive, and/or spiritual effects of children’s relationships/interactions with animals that potentially impact their development? By utilizing autoethnography, I analyzed instances from my own life where interacting with animals changed me permanently; my thinking, my knowing, my feeling, my judgement, my empathy, my attitude, and my ethics. With a standpoint rooted in the research of experts from the fields of psychology and education, I combined my personal knowledge gained over a lifetime, to grant merit to the profundity of children’s relationships with animals. With the analyzed data, …

Group And State-Specific Estimation In Animal Movement Models Using A Bayesian Approach, Anita Bhandari Sharma

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This research study investigates statistical approaches for modeling the movement patterns of white-tailed deer in Louisiana using GPS tracking data. We start by classifying the latent behavioral states using a hidden Markov model (HMM) and then integrate those inferred states into a state-dependent step selection framework to evaluate the land cover preferences. Standard HMMs, however, assume the same movement patterns for all animals, overlooking the differences due to characteristics such as sex, age, breeding season, etc.

To address this limitation, we extend the modeling framework to incorporate the group-level structure defined by similar characteristics or conditions to assess whether such …

Bioresource Management Via Least Cost Feed Formulation For Red Tilapia (Oreochromis Sp.): Application Of Linear Programming Technique, Boudjema Kamel, Redhouane Benfares, Affaf Kord, Toufik Milla, Belkacem Guenachi, Lynda Frai, Rachida Itcher, Hocine Kherzane

Journal of Bioresource Management

The method of linear programming (LP) was utilized to determine the relationship between the composition of nutrients of each ingredients, specifications for raw materials, cost and requirements for nutrients of the red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.), in order to define: (1) least cost ration formulation, (2) least cost diet, (3) minimum price of producing a particular diet after meeting a number of requirements. The resulting LP models were solved using the simplex algorithm. Therefore, our results show that, formulated feed had high protein content (31.92 %), Lipid (2.53), Moisture (9.10 %) and Ash (9.00 %). The utilization of diet …

Dental Remains Of Pachyportax (Bovidae) From Late Miocene Deposits Of Jhelum, Punjab, Pakistan, Saira Ashfaq, Muhammad Rizwan, Maryam Mushtaq, Umar Naveed Saqib, Sheraz Khan, Hifza Zahid, Muhammad Arshaid, Tabassum Nawaz

Journal of Bioresource Management

The upper Dhok Pathan Formation is characterized to newly found Pachyportax fossils from Late Miocene outcrops in the Hasnot region. The discovered dental remains of Pachyportax include upper and lower molars. Based on morphometry, the examined tooth material was identified, and the specimens were categorized as Pachyportax latidens and Pachyportax nagri. A well-known example is Pachyportax latidens, but Pachyportax nagrii stands out due to its rare fossil record from the middle Siwaliks. Potwar Pleateu is the most productive region for the deposition of vertebrate fossils (Pilbeam et al., 1979; Badgley et al., 2008). Bovids in open environments are …

Farrowing Performance And Piglet Characteristics Of Highly Prolific Sows In A Tropical Environment, Yosua Kristian Adi, Roy N. Kirkwood, Padet Tummaruk

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

The swine industry has witnessed a remarkable increase in average litter size in recent decades, driven by genetic advancements and breeding programs aimed at enhancing prolificacy. This rise in hyperprolificacy has presented both opportunities and challenges, particularly in tropical environments where factors such as ambient temperature and humidity can influence reproductive performance. This review synthesizes current knowledge on farrowing performance and piglet characteristics of highly prolific sows in tropical settings. Studies have reported a consistent increase in litter size globally, leading to challenges in farrowing management and piglet survival. Factors such as elevated ambient temperatures and extended farrowing durations have …

Scorpiops Reini Sp. N. From Yunnan, China (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae), Victoria Tang

Euscorpius

Scorpiops reini sp. n. is described from Yingjiang County (Dehong Prefecture, Yunnan Province) based on an adult pair. It can be readily discriminated from all of its congeneric geographic neighbors in Yunnan, namely S. jendeki Kovařík, 1994, S. shidian (Zhu et al., 2005), S. tongtongi Tang, 2022, and S. zhangshuyuani (Ythier, 2019). Within Yunnan, it resembles S. validus (Di et al., 2010) and S. yangi (Zhu et al., 2007) most, but can be identified by its large median ocelli (relative to the width of ocular subislet), pedipalp chelal finger morphology and pectinal tooth count. Beyond Yunnan, it shows the highest …

Native Freshwater Mussel Communities In The Lower Grand River, Michigan: Assessing Tributary Confluence Effects And Updating Survey Information, Grayson L. Kosak

Masters Theses

Freshwater mussels (Unionidae) are ecosystem engineers and keystone species vital to stream ecosystems yet represent the most imperiled group of freshwater fauna. Conservation of unionids necessitates further understanding how assemblages interact with watershed features. This study investigates mussel occupancy, distribution, and assemblage structure upstream and downstream of tributary confluences in the lower Grand River, Michigan, alongside updated surveys of the unionid community with comparisons to previous assessments conducted by Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) in 2002–2003. Unionid density, richness, and diversity were greater upstream of confluences. No significant distance-gradient effects were observed. Assemblage structure differed between upstream and downstream reaches …

A Meta-Analysis Of Seafood Species Mislabeling In The United States, Sarah Ahles, Christina A. Mireles Dewitt, Rosalee S. Hellberg

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

Seafood is vulnerable to mislabeling due to complex global supply chains, varying prices, and the similar appearance of species. While numerous studies have been published on seafood mislabeling, the focus is often on species known to be commonly substituted. Therefore, the overall mislabeling rates of seafood sold in the U.S. remain unknown, especially for the most consumed species. The objective of the current study was to compile the results of seafood mislabeling studies into a single resource to provide informative statistics on U.S. seafood mislabeling. A meta-analysis was conducted on U.S. seafood mislabeling studies that tested commercial samples of bony …

Administering Tolfenamic Acid To Gilts And Sows Before Artificial Insemination Did Not Improve Litter Size But Tended To Reduce Post-Service Serum Prostaglandin F2Α Levels, Pachara Pearodwong, Nithitad Jiebna, Padet Tummaruk

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

This study examined the impact of intramuscular administration of tolfenamic acid 10 min before artificial insemination (AI) on serum PGF2α levels and reproductive performance in gilts and sows. In Experiment I, 20 gilts were divided into two groups: control (n = 10) and treatment (n = 10). Serum samples were collected 30 min before and after insemination to measure PGF2α levels. In Experiment II, 175 gilts and sows were divided into control (25 gilts and 56 sows) and treatment (16 gilts and 78 sows) groups. In both experiments, the treatment group received an intramuscular injection of 2 mg/kg tolfenamic acid …

Star-Studded Stingers: Fluorescent Sensilla On The Scorpion Aculeus (Arachnida: Scorpiones), Graeme Lowe

Euscorpius

The aculeus of the scorpion telson was studied by UV fluorescence microscopy. Numerous brightly fluorescent punctae were observed on the non-fluorescent distal aculeus, including the tip region. The punctae were identified as aculear sensilla coeloconica (ASC), and were connected to fluorescent canals running through the cuticle. ASC were present in both sexes, and in adults and immatures as early as the second juvenile instar, but were absent from the first instar. The distal aculeus was found to be encased in a thick, non-fluorescent dark exocuticle (DX), covering an underlying thin, fluorescent hyaline exocuticle (HX). Fluorescent ASC were recorded from 183 …

Social Learning And Cultural Enrichment For Fish Welfare, Chiawen Chiang, Becca Franks

Animal Sentience

This commentary examines how understanding animal culture—shared behaviors and knowledge transmitted through social learning—plays a role in advancing welfare practices for captive fishes. Despite extensive evidence of fishes' complex sociocultural capacities, their psycho-social needs remain underestimated and unmet in zoos and aquaria. We explore what considering fish culture might mean for welfare practices: diverse social learning opportunities, cultural development, and thoughtful group management. More knowledge about wild fishes' lives will help bridge the gap between their full, complex lives and current captive welfare practices.

Using Bivalves As An Indicator For Fecal Bacteria, Kamala Chuss

Honors Scholar Theses

This project focuses on the integration of fecal bacteria from warm-blooded animals into bivalve tissue, and the utilization of bivalves as an indicator for fecal bacteria in waterways. Bivalves may give a more representative long-term average of fecal bacteria in water as compared to direct water testing. The primary objective is to create a standard operating procedure to use bacterial testing of bivalves as a proxy for bacteria concentration in the water. This method can be used in places where bivalves do not already exist by adding them to a body of water, or by collecting bivalves that already exist …

Comparing Multivalent Cross-Linked Sodium Alginate/ Montmorillonite Beads Containing Curcumin Or Cayenne Pepper As Drug Carriers And Their Antimicrobial Resistance, Shionainn Traynor, Shubham Sharma

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

The aim of the following work was to investigate and compare curcumin and cayenne pepper in microbeads composed of sodium alginate (SA) crosslinked with montmorillonite (MMT) to act as drug carriers and their antimicrobial resistance. The microbeads were prepared through ion-exchange in multivalent solutions of CaCl₂, MgCl₂ and AlCl₃. The microbeads were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and the time required for intercalation of curcumin and cayenne pepper with MMT. Simulated intestinal fluid (pH 7.3) and gastric fluid (pH 1.2) at 37°C were used for comparison in swelling studies. …

Editorial - Sure Journal Vol 6, Anne M. Friel, Eva Campion, Sinead Loughran

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

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Technological Accessibility For Wildlife Telemetry Research, Andrew Danielson

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research

Over the course of two years, I conducted original research into improving accessibility for researchers in the field of wildlife telemetry. Wildlife telemetry is a technique used by biologists to track wildlife in the field, which requires the biologist to attach a small radio transmitter to an animal, usually using a specially designed collar, harness, or another means. These transmitters are battery powered and will emit or transmit a regularly timed radio signal that can be received by radio receivers carried by the researchers. Two issues faced by wildlife telemetry researchers are the cost of wildlife telemetry equipment and the …

Scorpions Of The Horn Of Africa (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Part Xxxiv. Four New Species Of Neobuthus From Somaliland (Buthidae), František Kovařík, Hassan Sh A. Elmi, František Šťáhlavský

Euscorpius

New information about taxonomy and distribution of the genus Neobuthus Hirst, 1911 is presented, based on material recently collected in Somaliland. Four new species are described, N. dhobo sp. n., N. opatovae sp. n., N. osoli sp. n., and N. verae sp. n. (Somaliland). An updated distribution map of the genus Neobuthus is provided.

Oregon State Rank Assessment For Mardon Skipper (Polites Mardon), Eleanor P. Gaines

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon state conservation status assessment for Mardon skipper (Polites mardon) using NatureServe methodology, 2024.

Safety, Immunogenicity, And Efficacy Of A Recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Vectored Vaccine Against Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus And Heartland Bandavirus, Philip Hicks, Tomaz B. Manzoni, Jonna B. Westover, Raegan J. Petch, Brianne Roper, Brian B. Gowen, Paul Bates

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Background: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (STSV) is a recently emerged tickborne virus in east Asia with over 18,000 confirmed cases. With a high case fatality ratio, SFTSV has been designated a high priority pathogen by the WHO and the NIAID. Despite this, there are currently no approved therapies or vaccines to treat or prevent SFTS. Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) represents an FDA-approved vaccine platform that has been considered for numerous viruses due to its low sero-prevalence in humans, ease in genetic manipulation, and promiscuity in incorporating foreign glycoproteins into its virions. Methods: In this study, we developed a …

Study Of The Brain Anatomy Of Three Extinct Marsupials: Thylacinus Cynocephalus, Thylacoleo Carnifex, And Silvabestius Johnnilandi, Francisco Garcia

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

Marsupials are pouched mammals that today are mainly found in Australasia and South America. Marsupials have proven to be quite intriguing to evolutionary biologists who note how some marsupials resemble placentals in anatomy due to convergent evolution, with both marsupials and placentals filling similar niches in their respective environments. As of today, studies interested in marsupial brain evolution have published descriptions of cranial endocasts for several species of marsupials, with the number of descriptions seeing a massive boost over the last 20 years with the arrival of CT imaging technology. However, no comprehensive study of brain evolution in marsupials has …

Climate Change Affecting Waterfowl Migration, Destiny Fox

D.U.Quark

Climate Change is a major environmental factor in waterfowl migration patterns. Migratory waterfowl are species of birds that live in or around wetlands, mainly including lakes, streams, and marshes. Contaminated bodies of water at stopover sites during migratory seasons can lead to death among many species of waterfowl, as well as water borne diseases from snail eggs. Changing environmental factors can also lead to negative effects on the bird’s ability to forage properly. These environmental factors include the evaporation of several wetlands that have led to waterfowl foraging in local farmers’ land. Focusing more heavily on improving satellite tracking could …