Animal Sciences Commons^™

Maturation Of An Off-Channel Habitat Concept To Conserve Native Fishes In The Lower Colorado River, Paul C. Marsh, Thomas E. Dowling, Thomas F. Turner, Megan J. Osborne, Brian R. Kesner

Monographs of the Western North American Naturalist

Two endemic, “large river” fishes of the Colorado River basin of western North America, bonytail Gila elegans and razorback sucker Xyrauchen texanus, are among several critically endangered species in the system. Wild populations of bonytail are gone, and there are no self-sustaining populations of razorback sucker anywhere; reproduction occurs but recruitment does not. Both species have been under intensive management in the Lower Colorado River since the 1980s. Today, with the single exception of Lake Mead, remaining populations are composed entirely of repatriated individuals that depend on stocking for their continued existence. In 2003, a conceptual off-channel habitat (OCH) …

On-Farm Hog Processing Demonstration For Teenage Exhibitors: Blending Academic, Laboratory, And Farm-Based Learning, Katherine A. Wells, Chris L. Bruynis, Lyda G. Garcia

Journal of Extension

COVID-19 challenges induced a U.S. meatpacking industry bottleneck. [University] Extension identified the need and responded by creating a three-step hands-on training for teenage junior fair exhibitors. [University] Extension Meat Scientist and graduate students assisted in demonstrating an on-farm hog harvest and processing event in collaboration with a local Extension office for 4-H and FFA teenagers. To add a practical perspective, a local hog-producing and harvesting family was asked to assist with the event. An online post-survey reflected 90-100% gains in five educational areas and 100% said they would a similar event in the future and recommend it to a friend.

Duck Gut Metagenome Reveals The Microbiome Signatures Linked To Intestinal Regional, Temporal Development, And Rearing Condition, Lingyan Ma, Wentao Liu, Tao Zeng, Wen Wang, Qu Chen, Jiangchao Zhao, Guolong Zhang, Lizhi Lu, Hua Yang, Yingping Xiao

Animal Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

The duck gastrointestinal tract (GIT) harbors an abundance of microorganisms that play an important role in duck health and production. Here, we constructed the first relatively comprehensive duck gut microbial gene catalog (24 million genes) and 4437 metagenome-assembled genomes using 375 GIT metagenomic samples from four different duck breeds across five intestinal segments under two distinct rearing conditions. We further characterized the intestinal region-specific microbial taxonomy and their assigned functions, as well as the temporal development and maturation of the duck gut microbiome. Our metagenomic analysis revealed the similarity within the microbiota of the foregut and hindgut compartments, but distinctive …

Closing The Gap: Methodological Consideration In Predicting Suitable Habitat For Ouachita Fanshell (Cyprogenia Sp Cf Aberti) With Documentation Of Mussel Communities In Small Tributaries In The Ouachita River Watershed, Seth Drake

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

Freshwater mussels are one of the most imperiled taxonomic groups in the world, consequently, much effort is being expended to document the distribution of many mussel species. One tool that can aid in characterizing mussel distributions are species distribution models (SDM). I conducted two studies pertaining to freshwater mussel distributions: (1) utilize Maximum Entropy (MAXENT) modeling to predict potential areas of suitable habitat for the threatened Ouachita Fanshell (Cyprogenia sp cf aberti), and (2) survey small tributaries of the Ouachita River watershed to fill a portion of the information gap surrounding mussel communities in under-surveyed streams. Through changing …

Reproductive Success And Post-Fledging Ecology Of The American Robin (Turdus Migratorius) In Suburban Areas Of The Arkansas River Valley, Brandon Maiersperger

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

Study of the nesting and post-fledging periods is necessary to properly evaluate avian reproductive success. Birds breeding in suburban areas are threatened by a high abundance of predators and limited habitat availability. American Robins (Turdus migratorius) are common birds in suburban areas across North America, but their breeding ecology is understudied. The goals of my study were to: assess robin nest survival and its relationships with nest characteristics, evaluate fledgling survival, movement, and behavior, and determine the fledging sex ratio and sex-based plumage characteristics of fledglings. I found that robin daily nest survival (0.920) was lower than previous …

Offering Collegiate Livestock Judging As A Student Organization, Maryfrances Miller, Don W. Edgar, Lyle Logemann

Journal of Extension

Resource constraints have lowered the number of collegiate livestock judging teams, dropping the number of opportunities for collegiate judging, even though interest among students remains high. These opportunities can be provided for less expense through student-led extracurricular organizations. This approach increases the student initiative required, but also provides an increased opportunity for developing and demonstrating leadership skills.

Omani Camels From A Cultural And Genomics Perspective, Al Muatasim Al Zadjali

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Dromedarian camel, Camelus dromedarius, is native to the Arabian Peninsula, including the Sultanate of Oman. These camels are used for food, milk, as well as show and racing competitions. Despite their economic and cultural importance research on camels in Oman is limited. The goal of this study was to examine their genomic variation, relationship with camels in other parts of the Arabian Peninsula, and to determine if selective breeding has led to the establishment of distinct breeds in Oman. Information was compiled from multiple sources to produce a comprehensive review on the breeding, management, economic and cultural use, …

Consumer-Focused Meat Science Extension Program Increase Consumer Confidence And Knowledge Of Meat Selection And Preparation, Stacy Zuelly, Yufei Guo, Melinda Dennis, Emily Ford, Melissa Davis

Journal of Extension

Science-based, meat science education is often limited outside of universities, creating possibilities to develop Extension activities to educate and impower consumers in principles of meat science. The Indiana BBQ Bootcamp was developed to provide consumers information on meat selection, proper cooking techniques, food safety, and meat seasoning (spice rubs and marinades) through demonstrations and product sampling. Attendees were surveyed before and after the program to report their confidence in their ability to perform basic meat science techniques. Responses to all survey questions showed significant increase in the attendees’ confidence demonstrating improvement in their meat science knowledge.

Ancient Wisdom, Modern Prosperity: Harnessing Traditional Ecological Knowledge To Revitalize Australia's Economy, Environment, And Human Wellbeing, Annabelle L. Baulch

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper explores the traditional knowledge of Australia’s Indigenous people and how it can improve Australia's environment, health, and economic prosperity to shape a more sustainable future. Indigenous Australians managed the land for thousands of years; however, being forced off the land following European colonization resulted in terrible cultural, social, and environmental disruption for Aboriginal Australians and made conservation efforts difficult. Wildfires, imported species, mining, and agriculture is steadily destroying the Australian ecosystem, contributing to climate change, species extinction, and gaps in our cultural and ancestral knowledge. Chapter One overviews Australia's environmental issues; it uses quantitative data to explore the …

Heavy Steers And Heifers Run At Low Stocking Rates Enhance Drought Resilience In A Pastoral Region Of Australia, Christophe D'Abbadie, Ross Kingwell, Philip E. Vercoe, Bradley Plunkett, Alan Peggs

Animal production and livestock research articles

CONTEXT

The semi-arid mulga lands of the Southern Rangelands of Western Australia experience frequent droughts. Maintaining a profitable animal grazing enterprise whilst preserving rangeland condition requires selecting an appropriate stocking rate and herd structure.

OBJECTIVE

We construct and apply bioeconomic models of beef enterprises for the semi-arid Southern Rangelands of Western Australia, to assess the profitability and relative riskiness of three different livestock production systems and three different stocking rates when exposed to different frequencies of drought.

METHODS

We construct bio-economic models of herd structures that separately focus on producing either: (i) 200 kg heifers and 210 kg steers (ii) …

Crossing The Ocean: The Importance Of Gene Flow In Island Evolution, Ethan F. Gyllenhaal

Biology ETDs

Islands have long been a critical arena for the development of ecological and evolutionary theory, particular due to persistent open-water gaps between them. In this dissertation I demonstrates how these caps are permeable, which can be leveraged to understand evolution on islands and more broadly. The first chapter develops this connection between ongoing, overwater gene flow and island biogeographic theory, and tests it on an archipelago species. The second take a three-pronged approach in demonstrating how over-water gene flow can bias phylogenetic inference, and how many phylogeographic metrics in islands are likely shaped by long-term gene flow. The final two …

New York City’S Rising Sea Level And Coastal Erosion: Approaches To Resiliency, Ryder D. Isidro

Student Theses 2015-Present

No abstract provided.

Eviction-Driven Infanticide And Sexually Selected Adoption And Infanticide In A Neotropical Parrot, Steven R. Beissinger, Karl S. Berg

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Significance

Infanticide and adoption are puzzling forms of sexual conflict and cooperation, respectively. However, both may be explained by sexual selection, where an individual later reproduces with the parent whose offspring it killed or adopted. While sexually selected infanticide is well known, evidence for sexually selected adoption is anecdotal. Our long-term study of a parrotlet in Venezuela found infanticide attacks were mostly enacted by nonbreeding pairs attempting to evict parents from their nests to usurp the cavity. Infanticide attacks occurred less often at nests where a parent died, and adoption by stepparents was as common as infanticide. Becoming an adoptive …

Identifying High-Value Tactical Livestock Decisions On A Mixed Enterprise Farm In A Variable Environment, Michael Young, John Young, Ross S. Kingwell, Philip E. Vercoe

Animal production and livestock research articles

Context

Australia is renowned for its climate variation, featuring years with drought and years with floods, which result in significant production and profit variability. Accordingly, to maximise profitability, dryland farming systems need to be dynamically managed in response to unfolding weather conditions.

Aims

The aim of this study is to identify and quantify optimal tactical livestock management for different weather-years.

Methods

This study employed a whole-farm optimisation model to analyse a representative mixed enterprise farm located in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. Using this model, we investigated the economic significance of five key livestock management tactics. These included …

Anticipatory Behaviors And Vocal Expression In A Group Of Captive African Elephants (Loxodonta Africana), Matthew B. Rios

Theses and Dissertations

Animal vocalizations convey motivational and affective properties. Using passive acoustic monitoring and behavioral observations, this study investigated the relationship between vocal communication and anticipatory behaviors within a group of captive African elephants (Loxodonta africana) to inquire whether bioacoustic monitoring has the potential to be used for assessing captive animal welfare.

New Records Of Mesobuthus Rakhshanii Barahoei, 2022 In Iran (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Ersen A. Yağmur, Zhale Baghernavesi, Zahra Taherkhani, Parsa Akbari, Mohammad Moradi

Euscorpius

Mesobuthus rakhshanii Barahoei, 2022 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) was so far known only from the type locality in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran. We give a list of numerous new records of this species from the same province. A map and detailed illustrations are provided.

Fiddler Crab Gut Microbiomes As An Indicator For Eutrophication Due To Waste-Water Contamination In Estuaries, Madison L. Geraci

Honors Theses

Estuaries are unique biogeochemical zones in coastal systems that provide a myriad of ecological functions: providing habitat for critically important fishery species, diverse species of plants and animals, and contributing to nutrient cycling. Estuaries are vulnerable to anthropogenic stressors as they are intersections between marine and terrestrial communities and are often the hotspot of coastal development and activity. Estuarine sediments act as repositories for anthropogenic contaminants, including excess nutrient runoffs and waste-water pollution that can cause states of eutrophication. Microorganisms are sensitive to these environmental changes, presenting a unique opportunity of being useful bioindicators of environmental stress. Isolating microorganisms from …

Post-Mucilage Status Of The Teleost Fish Assemblages In The Sea Of Marmara, Mustafa Sari, Uğur Karadurmuş

Turkish Journal of Zoology

A frightening mucilage event occurred in the Sea of Marmara (SoM) from November 2020 to July 2021, leaving devastating effects on maritime industries, fishing activities and the benthic ecosystem. The mucilage led to intense fish mortalities, particularly affecting species like smelt, anchovy, and picarel, with severe consequences for benthic ecosystems and various marine species. This study aims to analyze the possible long-term effects of the recent mucilage disaster on species diversity and biomass by assessing the current status of teleost fish assemblages in the SoM. The data set is based on bottom trawl surveys carried out at 52 points at …

Occlusal Surface Variations In Genetically-Identified Specimens Of The Genus Apodemus (Mammalia: Rodentia) Distributed In The Northern Anatolia Region And Three Turkish Islands: Gökçeada, Marmara Island And Bozcaada, Duygu Korkmaz, Engin Selvi̇, Nuri Yi̇ği̇t, Ercüment Çolak

Turkish Journal of Zoology

A total of 134 Apodemus samples, whose genetic diagnoses had been previously conducted, were morphologically examined from 39 localities in Northern Anatolia, Thrace, Gökçeada, Bozcaada and the Marmara Island. The variation boundaries of dental variations in the distribution areas of five Apodemus species (Apodemus flavicollis, Apodemus witherbyi, Apodemus sylvaticus, Apodemus uralensis, Apodemus mystacinus) included in the research were determined. The defining morphological characters of Apodemus species, which have a complex taxonomic status, and their variations according to regions were identified using samples that had undergone genetic diagnoses. It was determined whether geographical barriers such as the Marmara Sea, the Bosphorus …

The Common Wall Lizard Podarcis Muralis (Reptilia: Lacertidae) Shows Diverse Food Preferences And Intraspecific Difference: A Study Case From Bulgaria, Emiliya Vacheva, Borislav Naumov

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The Common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) has the largest range among the genus Podarcis. Although there are a number of studies on its diet, data on regional level remains insufficient, particularly from a purely ecological perspective. We investigated 194 individual faecal samples of P. muralis obtained from two localities in western Bulgaria with the aim of clarifying the composition of the trophic spectrum of the species, as well as the intra-population characteristics in terms of age and sex. In one study site we compared the realized trophic niche (prey items from the faecal pellets) with the fundamental (invertebrates collected via …

Sexual Size Dimorphism Of Darevskia Schaekeli (Sauria: Lacertidae), Seyyed Saeed Hosseinian Yousefkhani, Saeed Morvari

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Sexual dimorphism has been established as one of the important evolutionary results in the process of sexual selection between males and females of different species. Distinct morphological features between males and females can also be seen in reptiles. Lizards of the genus Darevskia show sexual dimorphism, as Darevskia schaekeli was studied as an example. The morphological traits investigated between males and females of this species showed that head length, trunk length, length of forelimbs and hindlimbs as well as the number of femoral pores are more in males than in females. All these morphological traits, which were more in males …

Influence Of Vegetative Diversity During The Stocker Phase On Carcass Characteristics And Economic Returns Of Beef Steers, Sydni Borders, Jameson Brennan, Christina Bakker, Keith Underwood, Kyle Grubbs, John Jaeger, Ken Olson, Amanda Blair

Animal Science Research Report 2024

No abstract provided.

Impacts Of Urbanization On Demographics And The Stress Level Of White-Tailed Deer In The Piedmont Of South Carolina, Cameron Bramhall

Graduate Theses

Population demographics and density studies are a common way of determining number of individuals in location. Understanding how many individuals and sex ratios can help estimate total populations for future potential management practices. For white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), commonly referred to as whitetail deer, like other cervids, having too many or too few individuals in an area can cause issues. Some of the issues that may arise with too many individuals include higher disease potential, and a general lack of resources leading to an increase in competition. As areas that were once habitat for whitetail deer become more and more …

West Coast Rock Lobster Resource Harvest Strategy, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Management Papers

Harvest strategies for Western Australia’s (WA) aquatic resources are formal documents developed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD, the Department) to support decision-making processes that ensure the outcomes are consistent with the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD; Fletcher 2002a) and Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM; Fletcher et al. 2012). Harvest strategies are a key component of all contemporary fishery management systems and a requirement for certification under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). The objectives of ESD are reflected in the objectives of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (FRMA) and the Aquatic Resources Management Act …

Kentucky Warbler (Vol. 100, No. 2, Department Of Library Special Collections

The Kentucky Warbler

No abstract provided.

Assessing Population Size And Survival Rate Of Pelophylax Bedriagae Caralitanus, In A Well-Protected Nature Park In Türkiye, Ayfer Şirin, Akın Kiraç, Gürçay Kıvanç Akyildiz, Eyup Başkale

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Estimating population trends provides valuable information for conservation biologists. Although there are many methods for estimating demographic rates, capture-mark-recapture (CMR) methods are known to be the most realistic method that can provide detailed data on individuals and populations, including the achievement of conservation goals. This study focused on determining the population trend of Pelophylax bedriagae caralitanus, Beyşehir frog using the CMR method in a protected area during the 2011 - 2019 breeding seasons. Our CMR data led to the selection of a model-considering constant survival rates, capture/recapture probabilities, and year-specific immigration/emigration patterns [Φ(··) y'(t) y''(t) p(··) = c(··) N(t)]-as the …

Phenotypic Plasticity In Pigmentation: Investigating Coloration Patterns In Anablepsoides Hartii Population Responses To Environmental Variation, Jasdeep Kaur

2024 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

In this study, we investigated the color-changing capabilities of Trinidadian killifish, Anablepsoides hartii, through exposure to varied color conditions over defined periods of time. Our experiment aims to understand adaptive responses when killifish are subjected to different color backgrounds, exploring their mechanisms to change color. By subjecting the species to different environmental color variations, we sought to discern color change patterns, which could indicate adaptive responses related to camouflage, stress, behavior clues, and physiological adjustments. Carefully controlling environmental factors, we monitored and documented the fishes’ color changes, aiming to provide insights into the interplay between fish’s developmental plasticity and its …

Livestock Water Requirements And Water Budgeting For South West Western Australia, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Animal production and livestock factsheets

Adequate supplies of good quality stock water are just as important as feed supplies during summer, a period when feed and water quantity and quality are at their lowest in the agricultural areas of Western Australia.

Information on this page will help livestock owners to calculate a water budget – before problems develop – to complement a feed budget.

How Variation In Activity Time And Duration At Water Sources Affects Feral Horse Vulnerability To Cougar Predation In Southern Nevada, Katelyn Davies

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Feral horses have become prominent in the Intermountain West. Approximately 43,000 horses are found in Nevada alone. With increasing numbers, they have become a large portion of ungulate biomass. Thus, it is important to understand their behavior, as they become integrated into western wildlife communities. However, little research has been conducted on the ecology of feral horses, and their relationships with native ungulates, carnivores, and local resources such as water.

To address these concerns, I outlined three objectives: (1) determine if horses changed their water visitation activity times in relation to temperature. As a primarily diurnal species, we were interested …

The Effects Of Ammonia On The Functionality Of Bovine Granulosa Cells, Micah Henrie

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

It is common practice in the livestock animal production industries to feed high levels of protein to maximize the yield of each animal in production. However, diets high in protein can cause decreased reproductive success within these animals. The causes behind this decrease are not fully understood. Increased dietary protein leads to increased levels of both ammonia and urea in the blood of the animal. These increased metabolite levels may be a possible explanation for the decline in reproductive success. The goal of this study is to identify how various levels of ammonia affect the function of bovine granulosa cells …