Animal Sciences Commons^™

Across-Ecoregion Analysis Suggests A Hierarchy Of Ecological Filters That Regulate Recruitment Of A Globally Invasive Fish, Przemek G. Bajer, Timothy K. Cross, Joseph D. Lechelt, Christopher J. Chizinski, Michael J. Weber, Peter W. Sorensen

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

Aim -- Even successful invaders are abundant only in a fraction of locales they inhabit. One of the main challenges in invasion ecology is explaining processes that drive these patterns. We investigated recruitment of a globally invasive fish, common carp (Cyprinus carpio), across three ecoregions to determine the role of environmental characteristics, predatory communities and propagule pressure on the invasion process at coarse and fine spatial scales.

Location -- Lakes across Northern Forest, Temperate Forest and Great Plains ecoregions of North America.

Methods -- We used data from 567 lakes to model presence or absence of carp recruitment …

Scales Of Resilience: Community Stability, Population Dynamics, And Molecular Ecology Of Brook Trout In A Riverscape After A Large Flood, Erin V. Rodgers

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Climate change in the northeastern United States currently and in future decadal predictions is characterized by warmer average temperatures and more frequent and intense storm events. Many aquatic organisms that thrive below a certain temperature threshold, such as brook trout, are being pushed towards their upper thermal limits, ultimately lowering their probability of survival and resilience to disturbance. In late-August and early-September 2011, Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee created an extended flood in the Delaware Water Gap region of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as much of the northeast. This dissertation examines the effects of this flood on …

Species Differences In Urinary Specific Gravity Of Various Nonhuman Primates, Patricia Drake

Honors Projects

Specific gravity is a urinalysis parameter that measures the concentration of excreted molecules in urine. Clinically, specific gravity measures the kidney’s ability to dilute or concentrate urine and reflects the concentration of urine during renal filtration. We explored species differences in the specific gravity of various primates’ urine samples, including Alouatta palliata, Alouatta caraya, Callithrix jacchus, Sapajus apella, and Saimiri sciureus. A refractometer was used to measure the urine samples. The urine samples obtained from the wild howler monkeys, Alouatta palliata, had a higher specific gravity than the other primate species’ samples, which were all obtained from captive animals and …

Contents, Discovery Editors

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Letter From The Dean, Michael Vayda

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Discovery: The Student Journal Of Dale Bumpers College Of Agricultural, Food And Life Sciences - Volume 16 2015, Several Authors

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Message From The Editorial Board, John R. Clark

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Bumpers College Students In Action, Discovery Editors

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Instructions For Authors, Discovery Editors

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Dietary Nucleotides In Sow And Nursery Piglet Diets On Reproduction, Growth, And Immune Response, I-Fen Hung

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

The objectives of these studies was to evaluate the effects of nucleotide (NT) supplementation of sow diets during late gestation and lactation and in nursery diets to elucidate the potential value of nucleotides for a variety of biological responses.

The studies conducted in the university research facilities showed that supplying nucleotides to sow diets during late gestation and throughout lactation had no effect on routinely measured reproductive responses or piglet growth postweaning. Nucleotides in the nursery diet had no effects on growth performance and intestinal morphology. However, the LPS-challenged pigs that consumed NT diets tended to lose less weight and …

Steroid-Dependent Regulation Of The Oviduct: A Cross-Species Transcriptomal Analysis, Katheryn L. Cerny

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Reproductive success depends on a functional oviduct for gamete storage, maturation, fertilization, and early-conceptus development. The ovarian-derived sex steroids estradiol and progesterone are known to affect functionality of the oviduct. Advances in microarray and NanoString technology allow for gene expression analysis to increase understanding of processes critical for fertility. Studies were conducted to investigate mechanisms regulating oviductal function in cattle and mice by using the Bovine Gene 1.0 ST array and the Mouse Gene 430-2.0 arrays (Affymetrix Inc., CA), respectively.

For the first study, oviducts were collected from heifers assigned to luteal or follicular phase groups. In the second study …

Impact Of Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue Seed On The Acute Phase And Metabolic Responses Of Cattle During An Immunological Challenge, Alexander W. Altman

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Acute phase responses (APR) and circadian rhythm of body temperature (CRT) changes to a minor, chronic stressor (endophyte) and major, acute stressor, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were evaluated in two experiments (E1:22 heifers; E2:24 heifers). Vaginal (E1 and E2) and rectal (E2) temperature probes recorded body temperature. Temperature was analyzed by cosinor analysis in each of 4 Phases: pre-endophyte (P1), endophyte exposure, pre-LPS (P2), post-LPS spike 1 (P3), post-LPS spike 2 (P4). During P1 of E1, amplitude (P=0.05), but not mean temperatures (P>0.10), differed across days (P=0.05). Endophyte affected E2 vaginal temperature amplitudes in P2 (P=0.07) and P4 (P=0.08) without influencing …

Interaction Of Dietary Supplements Of Organic Trace Minerals And Phytase On Growth Performance And Mineral Metabolism Of Replacement Pullets, Alfredo Mañón

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Effects of dietary supplementation with low levels of organic sources of trace minerals in place of normal levels of their inorganic salts and phytase on growth performance and mineral metabolism were evaluated in two studies using pullets of white and brown shell laying strains. The organic sources were proteinates of copper, iron, manganese and zinc and selenium yeast. A corn-soybean meal diet was fed alone, plus inorganic minerals or plus organic minerals, and with or without phytase in a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement. Twelve groups of 16 pullets, 2 weeks old, were used per treatment. Compared with inorganic minerals, …

Developing Microbial Biomarkers To Non-Invasively Assess Health In Wild Elk (Cervus Canadensis) Populations, Samuel B. Pannoni

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

The composition of the intestinal bacterial community (intestinal microbiome) of mammals is associated with changes in diet, stress, disease and physical condition of the animal. The relationship between health and the microbiome has been extensively demonstrated in studies of humans and mice; this provides strong support for its potential utility in wildlife. When managing elk (Cervus canadensis), federal and state agencies currently must rely on invasive sampling and coarse demographic data on which to base their decisions. By developing microbiome-based biomarkers that vary as a function of elk body condition and disease (i.e. microbial biomarkers), we hope to …

A Long-Term Investigation Of The Federally Threatened Desert Tortoise (Gopherus Agassizii) At A Wind Energy Facility In Southern California, Mirza Mickey Agha

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

With the recent increase in utility-scale wind energy development and current climate variation in the desert southwest US, researchers have become increasingly concerned with the reaction of wildlife and critical habitat. Understanding the relationships among monitoring efforts, climate, industrial landscapes and wildlife is critical to effective management. Given the need for information available on how these potential stressors affect terrestrial wildlife, my objective was to determine how climate variation, wind energy facilities (WEF) and monitoring efforts by researchers influence behavior and survivorship in a population of the federally threatened desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii). Data were collected via surveys, …

Estimating The Sex Composition Of The Summer Flounder Catch Using Fishery-Independent Data, Jason M. Morson, Eleanor A. Bochenek, Eric N. Powell, Emerson C. Hasbrouck, Jennifer E. Gius, Charles F. Cotton, Kristin Gerbino, Tara Froehlich

Faculty Publications

Models that account for sex-specific behavior and population dynamics are becoming more common in the stock assessment of sexually dimorphic fishes. However, such models can be data intensive and require some knowledge or assumptions about the sex ratio of fishery landings. A recent stock assessment review of Summer Flounder Paralichthys dentatus identified the need to account for sex-specific fishing mortality in the assessment model; however, no data on the sex composition of the catch were available. Fishery-independent, sex-specific information for this species is collected annually by the National Marine Fisheries Service's Northeast Fisheries Science Center during their bottom trawl survey. …

Effects Of Milk Replacer And Multivitamin-Mineral Supplementation On Performance Of Heat Stressed Dairy Calves, Steven Joseph Blair

LSU Master's Theses

Seventy-one Holstein calves were used to evaluate the effects of milk replacer (MR) feeding management alone or in combination with a multivitamin-electrolyte supplement on growth and mitigation of heat stress. Milk replacer treatments consisted of Land O’Lakes Herdmaker Supreme (20% CP, 20% fat) and Land O’Lakes Warm Front (27% CP, 10% fat). Calves received either 0 or 20 ml Palamountains Calf Boost® in MR once daily. Calves were offered treatments beginning on day 4. Calves on 27% CP : 10% fat MR were fed 2.72kg MR twice daily for the first three weeks of life, and 3.86kg twice daily until …

Effects Of Atp And Atp Inhibitors On The P2x7 Receptor, Holly Marie Salzbrenner

Honors Program Theses

Extracellular ATP has been shown to increase the permeability of cells via the P2X7 receptor. This relationship could be important in understanding the physiology of the inflammation that occurs in bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC). My research involved testing to see if this relationship between ATP and the P2X7 receptor is present. Then, potential inhibitors of ATP were tested so they can be used in further research involving ATP and BRDC. To test bovine cells, Mac-T cells were treated with ATP and incubated for various periods of time before Yo-Pro (a fluorescent molecule) was added. The percent change in fluorescence …

Assessing Chemical Control Of Earthworms At Airports, Thomas W. Seamans, Bradley F. Blackwell, Glen E. Bernhardt, Daniel A. Potter

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Earthworms originating from Europe (e.g., Lumbricus spp., Aporrectodea spp.), which are common in the United States and southern Canada can create hazardous conditions at airports by attracting birds that pose a threat to aircraft. These nonnative earthworms are also considered pests on golf courses and sports fields, as well as having detrimental effects on temperate boreal forests. No toxicants or repellents are currently registered for earthworm control in the United States. Our purpose was to identify products that could be used to repel or suppress nonnative earthworms on airports or other managed sites where they pose a hazard or nuisance. …

Length–Weight And Length–Length Relationships Of The Hogfish, Lachnolaimus Maximus, Off The Northern Coast Of The Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, Juan E.B. Pérez-Chacón, Alfonso Aguilar-Perera

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Described are the length-weight (LWR) and length-length (LLR) relationships of the Hogfish, Lachnolaimus maximus, off the northern Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Fish specimens collected (N = 292) with speargun from April to September each year from 2011 through 2013, ranged in size from 16.6-36.5 cm FL and 94-842 g in weight. There were significant differences in hogfish fork length between years (F_2,291 = 11.28, p < 0.05), with larger individuals found in 2012. The LWRs calculated were highly significant (p < 0.05, r² = 0.95 - 0.97; pooled data r² = 0.95) and significant differences between the slopes of the LWRs (F_5,291 = 245.94, p < 0.05) between the three years were detected. Exponent b in the LWRs (2.33 -2.70; pooled data 2.58) …

Are Land-Use Changes Reflected In Diets Of Mourning Doves (Zenaida Macroura) In Eastern South Dakota, Joshua B. Smith, Troy Grovenburg, Matthew A. Perrion, Jason M. Augspurger, Trevor W. Bultje, Anna M. Robinson, Brandi L. Crider, Datta Shubham, Jonathan A. Jenks

Natural Resource Management Faculty Publications

Food habits of the mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) have been extensively studied in the southern United States (McClure 1943, Korschgen 1958, Carpenter 1971) and consist primarily of vegetable matter throughout their range (Beckwith 1959). Diet studies in several states have indicated agricultural crops, specifically corn and wheat, were the most readily consumed plant seeds (Korshgen 1958, Carpenter 1971). Similarities observed in diets of doves were dependent on the agricultural crops available within the area. For example, in Missouri, some seasonal variability was documented suggesting doves forage based on food availability as much as by food preference (Korschgen 1958). However, in …

Food Habits Of Fall-Collected Age-0 Walleyes In Eastern South Dakota Glacial Lakes, B. J. Schall, M. J. Phayvanh, J. D. Grote, D. J. Dembkowski, M. R. Wuellner

Natural Resource Management Faculty Publications

Food habits of age-0 fishes can influence their growth and survival prior to the first winter (Hoxmeier et al. 2006, Shoup and Wahl 2011). Ontogenetic diet shifts in juvenile piscivorous fishes result in a transition in consumption from zooplankton to macroinvertebrates and eventually fish throughout development (Mittelbach and Persson 1998). Certain food items may be more energetically beneficial to fishes than others as consumption of prey fishes may lead to faster growth rates of predators, decreased overwinter starvation, avoidance of competition, and reduced predation risk (Werner and Gilliam 1984). By the time age-0 walleyes (Sander vitreus) have reached lengths of …

Supplementing Cow-Calf Pairs Grazing Smooth Bromegrass, Jason M. Warner, Annie J. Doerr, Galen E. Erickson Erickson, Rick J. Rasby, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A three-year study evaluated supplementing ethanol co-products mixed with low-quality forage to cow-calf pairs grazing smooth bromegrass as a method to replace grazed forage intake. Supplementing a 30:70 modified distillers grains plus solubles:cornstalks mixture reduced estimated grazed forage intake by approximately 40%. Doubling the stocking rate and supplementing did not impact cow or calf performance. A summer supplementation program designed to reduce grazed forage intake is a viable strategy for increasing stocking rate if forage for grazing is limited.

Effect Of Post-Weaning Management And Age At Weaning On Calf Growing And Finishing Performance, Jason M. Warner, Curtis J. Bittner, Karla H. Jenkins Jenkins, Rick J. Rasby, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The impact of post-weaning management system and calf age at weaning on growing and finishing performance was evaluated. During the growing phase, cattle in the fast-track system had improved intake, gain, and feed conversion. Although initial finishing weight was similar between systems, slow-track cattle had greater intake, gain, final body weight, and carcass weight. While the impact of age at weaning was negligible, the improvement in finishing performance for slow-track cattle demonstrates the value of different management systems.

Estimation Of British- And Continental-Specific Heterosis Effects For Birth, Weaning, And Yearling Weight In Cattle, Lauren N. Schiermiester, R. Mark Thallman, Larry A. Kuehn Kuehn, Matthew L. Spangler

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Heterosis, assumed proportional to expected breed heterozygosity, was calculated for 6,834 individuals with birth, weaning, and yearling weight records from Cycle VII of the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center Germplasm Evaluation Program. Heterosis was further estimated by proportions of British x British (BxB), British x Continental (BxC), and Continental x Continental (CxC) crosses. Estimates of BxB, BxC, and CxC heterosis were significant for weaning and yearling weight. This study illustrated that differences among biological types exist and provide an opportunity to utilize specific breeds and exploit heterosis in a crossbreeding system to achieve production goals.

The Effects Of Source And Amount Of Nitrite On Quality Characteristics Of All-Beef Frankfurters, Eric Miller, Chad G. Bower, Amy L. Redfield Redfield, Gary A. Sullivan

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

In an effort to meet consumers’ demand for foods with more natural ingredients, processors have begun manufacturing meat products cured with natural nitrite sources. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality characteristics of all-beef frankfurters cured with traditional or alternative sources of nitrite and using equivalent amounts of nitrite. Frankfurters cured with alternative sources of nitrite had a slightly darker, less red exterior and slightly more yellow interior than those containing sodium nitrite. No differences were observed for pH or water activity. Both curing methods can be used to manufacture all-beef frankfurters with similar characteristics when using …

Stocking Rate Effects On Forage Nutrient Composition In Early Summer Pastures, Jared V. Judy, Jacki A. Musgrave, L. Aaron Stalker Stalker, K. H. Jenkins, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Nebraska Sandhills upland range pastures were used to measure the effectsof stocking rate on forage nutrient content in early summer pastures. Stocked pastures had lower CP, in vitroorganic matter digestibility, forage availability, and higher NDF compared with ungrazed pastures. Clipped samples of current year growth had greater CP and in vitro organic matter digestibility than diet samples. Observed results indicate early season grazing decreasesdiet nutrient content and forage availability compared with ungrazed pastures, suggesting that cattle were consuming both current and previous year growth.

Comparison Of Commercial Lick Tubs To Distillers Grains Supplementation For Calves Grazing Corn Residue, Mandi Jones, James C. Macdonald, Galen E. Erickson Erickson, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Kathleen R. Brooks, Dirk B. Burken, Robby Bondurant, Andrea K. Watson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Steer calves grazing irrigated corn residue were supplemented dried distillers grains plus solubles (DGS) or allowedcontinuous access to a commercial lick tub. Dried DGS was fed at 2.94 lb/steer/day and the lick tubs were consumed at 2.04 lb/steer/day (DM basis). Gain was greater for cattle supplemented with dried DGS (1.36 lb/day) compared to those with access to lick tubs (0.83 lb/day). Supplement efficiency varied between calves receiving dried DGS (46%) and those with continuous access to the lick tub (43%) when expressed on a DM basis. Values for dried DGS supplementation (48%) were not different for supplement efficiencyon an OM …

Nutrient Digestibility And Ruminal Ph Of Finishing Diets Containing Dry Milling Byproducts With And Without Oil Extraction, Melissa L. Jolly-Breithaupt, Adam L. Shreck, Jana L. Harding Harding, James C. Macdonald, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A metabolism trial was conducted to determine the effects of corn oil removal in condensed distillers solubles (CDS) and modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS) on nutrient digestibility and ruminal pH. Oil removal had no impact on DM, OM, or NDF digestibility in steers fed CDS or MDGS. However, steers fed de-oiled CDS had a lower fat digestibility than steers fed normal CDS. Average ruminal pH was lower for steers fed de-oiled MDGS than for steers fed normal MDGS, however no difference within CDS was observed.

Effect Of Distillers Grains Plus Solubles And Monensin Supplementation On Grazing Steers, Tyler L. Hasenauer, Terry J. Klopfenstein, James C. Macdonald Donald, Robby G. Bondurant, Dirk B. Burken

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Yearling steers rotationally grazing smooth bromegrass were individually supplemented monensin at 0 or 200 mg with modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS) at .05, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8% BW. Cannulated steers continuously grazing smooth bromegrass were assigned randomly to one of two treatments: 0.4% BW MDGS supplementation with 0 or 200 mg monensin. Monensin did not affect ADG of steers supplemented MDGS ≥ 0.4% BW. Steers supplemented with monensin had a decreasein estimated average forage intakefrom 16.16 lb to 14.75 lb/OM daily.