Animal Sciences Commons^™

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

CCPO Publications

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

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

Turkish Journal of Zoology

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

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

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

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

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

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

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

The Effects Of Warming Rate On The Thermal Tolerance Of A Southern Population Of Striped Bass (Morone Saxatilis), James Barrett

Honors College Theses

Climate change and global warming is an ever-growing concern for our environment and the survivability of the animals which inhabit it. With water temperatures expected to rise 2-3℃ in the next century, many aquatic organisms may be limited in their habitats based on their thermal tolerance (Lleras 2019). Southern populations of striped bass (Morone saxatilis) in the Southeastern United States could be some of the hardest hit by the effects of climate change due to their unusual life history as compared to the more northern populations of striped bass. These southern striped bass do not engage in coastal …

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

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

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

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

Staff Perceptions Of Responsibility And Implementation Of Cognitive Enrichment For Non-Human Primates In Zoo Settings, Ember Nevada Toth

All Master's Theses

In zoos, caregivers have considered enrichment as vital for their animal collections’ physical health and development. Since primate species are endangered and continue to decline in numbers in their natural habitat, zoos are steadily becoming the only places we can view and learn about them. In today’s zoos, cognitive enrichment—which falls into overlapping categories of enrichment and does not yet have a universally accepted definition—is either absent or inconsistently offered. Providing challenges to stimulate cognitive well-being has been found to influence the overall welfare of captive primates. Cognitive enrichment is considered very important according to zookeeper surveys but is not …

Intestinal Parasite Infection In Tibetan Macaques (Macac Thebetana) In Eastern China, Miarisoa Ramilison

All Master's Theses

Grooming is one of the crucial social behaviors of primate species that functions to remove parasites and maintain social bonds. Although, much data exists to support the idea that grooming is essential in forming and sustaining social bonds among individuals, there is a lack of information about the extent to which it removes ectoparasites or contributes to the spread of internal parasites. To fill this gap in the literature, we investigated the relationship between social contact behavior including grooming and intestinal parasite infection in Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana). This species lives at Mt. Huangshan in China. We used …

Manipulating Social Mobility To Measure Group Stability In Crickets, Anne Tolo

All Master's Theses

Dominance hierarchies are typically formed so that members of the hierarchy can benefit from residing in a social structure where conflict is decreased, and each individual obtains a rank within the group. Members can either actively seek out a higher social rank to maximize fitness or remain in a lower position to benefit from the protection of living in a group. This study was designed to manipulate the social stability typically exhibited within hierarchies by experimentally increasing social perturbance in groups of tropical house crickets, Gryllodes sigillatus. Rank changes per unit time were used as a measure to understand …

Forest Patrol Guards And Caregivers' Perceptions Of Wild Chimpanzee Populations Near Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Sierra Leone, Virginia Sanchez

All Master's Theses

Relationships between humans and alloprimates, in particular between humans and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), have occurred for centuries. Chimpanzee discoveries by western philosophers date back to the 16^th and 17^th centuries, and their earliest accounts in West Africa suggest that chimpanzees interacted and lived in close contact with humans, thus shaping the way both species adapt to their environments. Humans occupy this same space along with chimpanzees, and we need them as much as they need us. The continued decline in wild populations of species such as chimpanzees can have negative impacts for biodiversity. Chimpanzees have a …

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

Master's Theses

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

A Theoretical And Computational Model For Aquaponics Systems, Isabella M. Digiulio

Honors Theses

Aquaponics, a sustainable farming technique combining the principles of aquaculture and hydroponics, suffers from uncertainty in its optimal operating conditions, preventing large-scale adoption of this technology. Relying on experimentation or full-scale testing to address these uncertainties is an approach that is material, labor, time, and cost intensive. As a result, aquaponics would benefit from a complete computational model of the system. This would allow for information to be gained without long and expensive experiments, but rather with knowledge of system operations and a modeling software package. In this study, the Activated Sludge Model 1 (ASM1) matrix framework, traditionally used in …

Development And Validation Of A Scale For Measuring Pet Owners' Loyalty To Their Pet*, Seda Çavuş Alan, Abdullah Özen, Nurhan Hali̇sdemi̇r

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Loyalty is a person's willingness to devote oneself to a cause and consists of concepts such as fidelity, not giving up, continuity, and stability. For this reason, this relationship stems from loyalty to be able to talk about a strong attachment between humans and animals. This study aimed to develop a measurement tool for the evaluation of the loyalty levels of people toward their pets. The qualitative method for determining the judgments in the scale will be called the pet loyalty scale; the quantitative methods (explanatory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis) were used to determine the validity and reliability …

Genotyping Of The Κ - Casein Gene By Pcr - Rflp (Acui Digestion) And Its Relationship To Milk Yield Traits In Anatolian Buffaloes, Murrah Buffaloes, And Their Crosses, Orhan Karadağ, Vasfi̇ye Kader Esen, Mehmet Aki̇f Yüksel, Mustafa Küçükkebabçi, Semi̇h Sevi̇m, İlkay Çeti̇n, Bi̇nnur Kaptan, Mehmet İhsan Soysal

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The aim of this study was to investigate the polymorphism of the κ - casein gene (kappa casein, CSN3) in buffaloes and determine its effects on milk yield traits. Data were obtained from 2016 to 2019 from all animals in the ongoing Anatolian Buffalo Breeding Project. Genomic DNA was collected from a total of 209 buffaloes of different ages and sexes, namely 31 Murrah, 46 Anatolian buffaloes, and 132 of their crosses (Murrah × Anatolian). Genotyping of CSN3 gene by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR - RFLP) technique with restriction enzyme (AcuI) revealed three …

A Comparative Profile Of Certain Biochemical And Hematological Parameters In Angora And Akkeçi Goats During The Transition Period, Rabi̇a Aktaş, Erkan Pehli̇van

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study investigated the comparative changes in hematological and certain biochemical parameters such as glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride calcium, phosphorus and total protein during the transition period in Angora and Akkeçi goats aged 2-4 years. For this purpose, blood samples were regularly taken from the vena jugularis of each goat at 3, 2, and 1 weeks before kidding (-3, -2 and -1), on the day of parturition (0) and 1, 2, and 3 weeks after kidding (+1, +2 and +3). According to the statistical analysis results, the differences between the averages of the groups in terms of MCHC, MCH, Lym, THR, …

Serum Trace Element Levels In Dogs With Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis, Aycan Nuri̇ye Gazyağci, Bengü Bi̇lgi̇ç, Berna Baysal Bakay, Duygu Tarhan, Alev Meltem Ercan, Songül Erdoğan, Hasan Erdoğan, Mehmet Erman Or, Kerem Ural

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Canine visceral leishmaniasis has been denoted as neglected despite being a very well-known disease. Trace element alteration has been recognized in humans with visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis, together with canine visceral leishmaniasis. The trace elements occupy a vital position in the immunological system, and host immune responses mitigate defense against leishmaniasis. We aimed to select trace elements in a total of 45 dogs of several breeds; those at the age of 11 months to 6 and from both sexes (26 male and 19 female) were enrolled in the study. The dogs included in the study were divided into leishmaniasis-infected and …

River Report. State Of Lower St. Johns River Basin, Florida: Water Quality, Fisheries, Aquatic Life, Contaminants, 2023, Environmental Protection Board, Jacksonville Florida, University Of North Florida, Jacksonville University, Gerry Pinto, Brian P. Zoellner, Christopher Baynard, Gretchen Bielmyer-Fraser, Dale Casamatta, Charles Closmann, Nisse Goldberg, Ashley Johnson, Scott Jones, William Penwell, Radha Pyati, Adam Rosenblatt

State of the River Report

No abstract provided.

A Diet Comparison Of Bluegill And Bluegill X Pumpkinseed Hybrids, Russell D. Zwiers

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus and pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus commonly prey upon macroinvertebrates but have been found to show different preferences to what type of macroinvertebrates. Hybrids of the two species have been found to display physical characteristics of both parents but prey selection of the hybrids compared to the parents is unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the diets of bluegill and bluegill x pumpkinseed hybrids to understand what each species’ preference is when it comes to food as well as finding how a hybrid’s diet compares to the pure breed of one of the two crossed …

Effects Of Velocity And Substrate Size On The Formation Of Zebra Mussel Druses, Ian Mott

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Zebra Mussels Dreissena polymorpha are an invasive bivalve species that are highly successful at dominating new environments. These invaders have been known to colonize substrate so thoroughly that all they have to attach to are members of their own species. When large mats of interconnected mussels completely cover a riverbed, it can have a drastic effect on the surrounding environment. This study serves to create a better understanding of the hydrologic parameters needed for Zebra Mussels to create these ecosystem-transforming colonies known as druses. Data was collected on a small stretch of the Upper Mississippi River in Northern Minnesota, previously …

Estimate Of Long-Term Phytoplankton Biomass In Lake Bemidji, William J. Peterson

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Phytoplankton are photosynthetic organisms that are the base of aquatic food webs. In a dimictic temperate lake such as Lake Bemidji, the environment adjusts with the changing water temperatures and sunlight levels. The phytoplankton in a dimictic lake are adapted to subsist in long term seasonal changes but the exact change to the number of phytoplankton in unknown. The focus of this study was to estimate the biomass of phytoplankton in a long term period including winter stratification and summer peak. From a period between March 2023 and October 2023 water samples were collected from the lake in the south …

Behavorial Response Of Diving Northern Elephant Seals (Mirounga Angustirostris) When Exposed To Predator Calls, Daphne M. Shen

Master's Theses

Understanding how marine mammals respond to and recover from acoustic stressors is crucial if underwater noise increases. The use of an animal-borne biologger that combines a speaker with a motion sensor allows for the collection of whole-dive and fine-scale data over repeated exposures under identical experimental parameters. This study determined whether northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris), a model for deep-diving marine mammals, exhibited a stereotypical behavioral response when exposed to killer whale whistles, an acoustic stressor. I examined changes in dive characteristics, measured duration of altered response, and observed behavior in response to repeated exposures. When exposed to the playback …

Oregon State Rank Assessment For California Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps Attenuatus), Misty Nelson

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon state conservation status assessment for California Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus) using NatureServe methodology, 2023

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

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

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

Evaluation Of Feed Additives And Delivery Method For Receiving And Finishing Cattle, Thiago Lauro Maia Ribeiro

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Trace minerals (TM) and vitamins are essential to improve production output and efficiency in beef cattle. The first experiment was conducted to investigate if the delivery method of TM and Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast culture influence growth performance and hepatic TM content of receiving steers. The second experiment evaluated the effect of supplemental protected B - vitamins to finishing steers. Experiment 1 used Charolais x Angus steers calves (n = 192; 256 ± 14 kg) in a 49-d receiving experiment. Within 36h of weaning, steers were weighed, allotted to 24 pens (n = 8 steers/pen; 8 pens/treatment) and randomly assigned to …

In-Vivo Assessment Of A Direct-Fed Microbial On Lactation Performances, Blood Biomarkers, Ruminal Fermentation And Microbial Abundance In Transition To Mid-Lactation Holstein Cows, Marcela Bulnes Lopez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The transition period is a crucial stage in the lactation cycle and can lead to significant metabolic changes in cows. The use of nutritional interventions, such as direct-fed microbials, may assist cows during the transition from pregnancy to early lactation, reducing the occurrence of metabolic disorders and improving overall health. The primary goal of this study was to assess the effects of a commercial rumen-derived directfed microbial (DFM) product (Galaxis™ Frontier (GF) Native Microbials Inc., CA, USA) on various factors such as performance, blood biomarkers, rumen fermentation, and bacterial population in dairy cows during the transition period up to 100 …

Physically Adjusted Neutral Detergent Fiber System: Effects Of Dextrose And Non-Forage Fiber On Performance, Feeding Behavior, Digestibility, Rumen Fermentation And Rumen Bacterial Abundance In Dairy Cattle, Jorge Luis Bonilla Urbina

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The newly proposed physically adjusted NDF system (paNDF) system aims to maintain a favorable rumen environment (e.g., pH) by taking into account both the physical and chemical composition of diet. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the effects of water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and non-forage NDF inclusion in a paNDF system on production performance, rumen pH and fermentation profile, rumen bacterial abundance, feeding behavior and nutrient digestibility in late-lactating Holstein cows. Nine fistulated multiparous Holstein cows (2nd and 3rd parity) were used in a triplicated 3×3 Latin Square experiment. Each period lasted for 21 d with 14 d …

Evaluation Of Yeast Postbiotic In Sow Diets On Sow And Offspring Performance And Microbial Succession, Joel Kieser

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Litter size and the resulting nutritional demand on the sow continue to increase while sow mortality and culling rate are also increasing. Non-nutritive feed additives may enhance sow health and thereby improve offspring growth and productivity after weaning. Development of the gut microbiome in piglets via microbial succession is critical for maximizing their productivity and providing stability for overcoming weaning stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of yeast-based postbiotic supplementation in gestation and lactation diets on offspring performance through the nursery period and on whether a yeast postbiotic could impact the sow fecal microbiome as …

Diets Of Invasive Channel Catfish Are Subsidized By Invasive Riparian Trees, Christopher A. Cheek, Brandon K. Peoples, Reuben R. Goforth

Natural Resource Management Faculty Publications

Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) is an invasive, fruit- bearing riparian tree that dominates riparian zones of the San Juan River in the southwestern United States. Previous research in this river suggests olive fruit is common in diets of invasive channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), but its energetic importance is unknown (i.e. critical for catfish fitness vs. incidental consumption). We assessed Russian olive consumption in channel catfish diets bimonthly for 1 year, hypothesizing that olive consumption would be greatest during periods of high olive availability and low benthic aquatic invertebrate availability. We found that catfish consumed olive fruit throughout the year and …

Facing Into The Blizzard: Resiliency And Mortality Of Native And Domestic North American Ungulates To Extreme Weather Events, Jeff Martin

Natural Resource Management Faculty Publications

Unseasonably early blizzards in the northern Great Plains threaten large mammal populations unacclimated for variable and extreme winter conditions. This region averaged 22 blizzards per winter season during the 2010s, up from 6 during the 1960s, and is anticipated to average 32 blizzards by the 2050s. In early October 2013, the fatal Atlas Blizzard affected four livestock and captive species in 16 counties of western South Dakota. Expected one-week total death losses for the study area were estimated from national average background mortality rates: 161 cattle, 102 sheep, 9 horses, and 6 bison. However, observed death loss varied significantly (McNemar’s …

Rumen And Urine Amine/Phenol-Metabolome Of Beef Steers With Divergent Residual Feed Intake, Taylor S. Sidney

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cattle production is one of the most important agricultural industries in the United States. Despite its overall production efficiency, the industry is facing considerable adversities to its long-term sustainability due to population growth, decreased land availability, and the increase in global warming. Since feed efficiency imposes an immense influence on the cost of production for animals and is a major cost determinant for profitability, the improvement of feed utilization through the understanding of animal-to-animal variation in feed efficiency is pertinent to increase farm productivity and profitability. Residual feed intake (RFI) is a measure of feed efficiency and is defined as …