Animal Sciences Commons^™

Behavioral Analysis Of Cryptoprocta Ferox At The Central Florida Zoo And Botanical Gardens, Rita R. Albert

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

The fossa, Cryptoprocta ferox, is the largest carnivorous mammal endemic to the island of Madagascar. C. ferox is currently listed as a vulnerable species by the IUCN Red List (2015) due to deforestation. Most fossas are now located in zoos for breeding and repopulation purposes, but research on captive mating has been limited due to the low numbers of successful breeding attempts in captivity. The Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens is home to two fossas, one male and one newly introduced female. This study notes behavioral changes in captive mating fossas, with a focus on the male fossa …

Using Fecal Diagnostic Tests To Assess The Prevalence Of Fasciola Hepatica In The United States Sheep Population, Brooke A. Delcambre

LSU Master's Theses

Fasciola hepatica, the common liver fluke, is endemic in the Pacific Northwest and Gulf Coast of the United States. To provide updated information on F. hepatica prevalence, as part of the USDA National Animal Health Monitoring System Sheep 2024 study, sheep operations in the top 30 sheep-producing states were identified, and producers were invited to participate. For each operation, feces were collected from at least eight sheep and pooled to form a single composite sample. Two methods were used to identify sheep infected with F. hepatica: fecal sedimentation and indirect sandwich ELISA. At the national level, across 318 operations, 7.1 …

Lameness In Dairy Cattle: A Practical Overview, Drew Swartz, Kalen Taylor, Jacob Hadfield, Justin Wyatt Clawson

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provides an overview of lameness in dairy cattle, including what it is, why it matters, and how to recognize and manage it. Information is geared toward producers, consultants, and educators.

Summer Research Internships In Agricultural Biotechnology For Off-Campus Undergraduate Students, Aaron J. Thomas

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Three Common Hoof Problems In Dairy Cows: What To Look For And How To Prevent Them, Drew Swartz, Kalen Taylor, Jacob Hadfield, Justin Wyatt Clawson

All Current Publications

This fact sheet covers the three most common hoof lesions in dairy cows and explains why they matter and how to prevent them on your farm.

Digital Dermatitis, Sole Ulcers, And White Line Disease In Dairy Cattle: Pathogens, Diagnosis, And Treatment, Drew Swartz, Kalen Taylor, Jacob Hadfield, Justin Wyatt Clawson

All Current Publications

This fact sheet focuses on three common hoof lesions in dairy cattle: digital dermatitis, sole ulcers, and white line disease, and describes how differences in pathogenesis and risk factors influence diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.

Reel Into Fishing!: Providing A Recreational Fishing Education Program For Youth, Amelia Valente, Douglas R. Zemeckis, Lisa Morse, Gene Nigro

Journal of Extension

New Jersey is known as the Garden State, but with over 130 miles of Atlantic coastline, it also has very productive marine ecosystems that offer numerous opportunities for recreational marine fishing. The International Game Fish Association, a nonprofit organization committed to the conservation of game fish and the promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices, collaborated with Rutgers Cooperative Extension to host a youth educational program entitled Reel Into Fishing! The objective is to educate participants through hands-on engagement on ethical fishing practices and marine science to help develop the next generation of responsible anglers.

Multi-Sensor Tracking Reveals The Extent Of Nocturnal Migration In Landbirds, Paul Dufour, Raphaël Nussbaumer, Paul Doniol-Valcroze, Yann Rime, Peter Adamík, Susanne Åkesson, Raphaël Arlettaz, Arnaud G. Barras, Nyambayar Batbayar, Andrea Contina

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Most bird species are diurnal but drastically change their diel cycle of activity to migrate at night. Nocturnal migration has been documented using different methods (e.g., experiments, radar and radio tracking, and acoustic monitoring), but accurately quantifying the proportion of nocturnal versus diurnal flight at the individual and species levels, and understanding how this behavior evolved across the avian tree, has remained methodologically challenging.1,2,3 Such uncertainty is not only of theoretical importance but also limits our ability to mitigate conservation threats, particularly from light pollution and building collisions.4,5,6 With multi-sensor …

Nonmarine Ostracods Of Northern Cyprus: Diversity, Ecology, And Global Island Comparisons, Ahmet Özdi̇lek, Okan Külköylüoğlu

Turkish Journal of Zoology

There is a notable paucity of detailed information regarding the distribution and ecological characteristics of nonmarine Ostracoda in Northern Cyprus. Furthermore, a comprehensive assessment of their distribution across islands in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres is incomplete. To advance our understanding of ostracod diversity, distribution, and ecological preferences, a total of 79 aquatic sites in Northern Cyprus were randomly sampled between 18 May and 12 August 2022. A total of 64 ostracod taxa were identified, comprising 28 living species and 36 subfossils, with 18 species representing new records for the island. Additionally, five ostracod species were reported for the first …

Dietary Stability Of The Eurasian Beaver Revealed By Hair Stable Isotopes, Linas Balčiauskas, Rasa Vaitkevičiūtė Koklevičienė, Andrius Garbaras, Inga Garbarienė, Laima Balčiauskienė

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) is a keystone ecosystem engineer whose expanding populations increasingly occupy agricultural landscapes. Hair stable  isotope analysis was applied to reconstruct assimilated diet in 56 legally  hunted beavers in Lithuania in 2024–2025. Stable carbon isotope values were tightly  clustered (–25.53 ± 0.10‰ SE), while those for nitrogen showed greater variability (5.38 ± 0.20‰ SE), indicating limited interindividual dietary differentiation.  Generalized linear models revealed no significant effects of sex, year, or month, and  age-related differences were limited to the youngest individuals. Comparison with  published Polish data showed no significant differences in mean isotope values.  Overall, the results …

From Introduction To Biomass Dominance: The Invasive Fish Striped Piggy (Pomadasys Stridens) Reshaping Demersal Assemblages In The Eastern Mediterranean, Mehmet Cengi̇z Deval

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Rapid increases in the abundance and biomass of nonindigenous species have the potential to profoundly reshape demersal fish assemblages in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, yet quantitative evidence from long-term standardized surveys remains scarce. In the present study, temporal changes in biomass dynamics and community structure were assessed using fishery-independent trawl surveys conducted on the continental shelf of Antalya Bay (GSA 24) during two periods a decade apart (2009–2010 and 2020–2021), with particular focus on the Lessepsian striped piggy Pomadasys stridens. Based on the second survey, in which both daytime and nocturnal sampling were conducted, the biomass index (BI) differed significantly …

Comparative Cytogenetics Of Four Phelsuma Species: Insights Into Chromosome Evolution In Malagasy Gekkonidae, Marcello Mezzasalma, Gaetano Odierna, Fabio Maria Guarino, Elvira Brunelli

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Karyotype diversification and chromosome mutations (or macromutations) such as  inversions, fusions, and fissions represent understudied factors of biological evolution.  We present in this study one of the first experimental cytogenetic analyses  on the Malagasy day geckos of the genus Phelsuma. A molecular analysis was  performed using a trait of the mitochondrial 12S and a comparative chromosome  study with traditional Giemsa coloration, Ag-NOR staining and sequential C-banding  (C-banding + Giemsa + fluorochromes) on nine individuals of Phelsuma from different  localities. The molecular analysis allowed unambiguous identification of  three species (P. lineata, P. laticauda, and P. standingi), while two additional samples  likely …

Resource Assessment Report 9: South Coast Crustacean Resource 2045-25 Assessment, Emma-Jade Tuffley, Simon De Lestang

Resource Assessment Reports

The South Coast Crustacean Resource (SCCR) comprises southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii), western rock lobster (Panulirus cygnus), crystal crab (Chaceon albus), giant crab (Pseudocarcinus gigas), and champagne crab (Hypothalassia acerba). The resource is accessed primarily by the South Coast Crustacean Managed Fishery (SCCMF), which operates between Augusta in the west and the South Australian border in the east. Since the 2022–23 season, the SCCMF has been managed under an Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) system with Total Allowable Commercial Catches (TACs) set for four quota zones. Recreational fishing retains a small quantity of rock lobster only.

During the 2024–25 fishing season, …

Euscorpius Emae Sp. N. (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae), A New Scorpion Species From Montenegro, František Kovařík

Euscorpius

A new species Euscorpius emae sp. n. (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) from Montenegro is described, fully complemented with color photographs. E. emae sp. n. is morphologically unique by yellow to orange color, very narrow metasoma and enlarged chela. Pedipalp patella external trichobothria numbers are 4eb, 4eb_a, 2esb, 4em, 4est, 5et, and ventral aspect of patella with 9 trichobothria.

Fish Tissue Digestion And Microplastic Polymer Identification Protocol Using Open-Source Ftir Database, Shawn L. Kissinger, Vick-Ariel Privert, Jason Bystriansky, Kyle A. Grice

DePaul Discoveries

Microplastic (MP) contamination in aquatic ecosystems poses significant concerns for environmental and public health, as seafood represents a critical food source worldwide. Despite increasing evidence of MP presence in marine organisms, efficient and accessible detection methods remain essential for characterizing contamination patterns and informing regulatory frameworks. This study extracted MPs from brain, gill, intestine, liver, and muscle tissues of gilt-head bream (Sparus aurata) and European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), two commercially important species from the Gulf of Cádiz, Spain, using a NaOH–HNO₃ chemical digestion protocol. Isolated particles were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, with …

What Are Vestigial Structures? Evidence For Evolution Explained, Ryan Bebej

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Evolution wasn’t something we talked about very much in my home or church when I was growing up.

Yet somehow, I came to believe that evolution wasn’t compatible with Christian faith. At the time that seemed okay, because I had heard that the evidence for evolution wasn’t very strong anyway.

That all began to change when I started studying biology in college. In different classes, I encountered some of the compelling evidence for evolution and common descent.

Vestigial structures were one of the topics that came up often in biology textbooks about these topics.

Today, biologists point to …

Longitudinal Patterns In Stygobiont Distribution In The Hyporheic Zone Of The Karst Spring-Fed San Marcos River, Texas, Usa, Kenneth Sparks, Benjamin F. Schwartz, Safra Altman, Kathryn E. Perez, Zoey B. Chanin, Caroline Mierzejewski, Benjamin T. Hutchins

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Groundwater-obligate taxa (stygobionts) exhibit variable degrees of habitat specialization, ranging from those restricted to single micro-habitats to generalists occurring in a broad range of habitat types. The karstic Edwards Aquifer is the most biodiverse and well-studied groundwater habitat in the continental United States, but some Edwards Aquifer-associated species also occupy the hyporheic zone of rivers downstream from karst. The goals of this research were to 1) assess the potential of the off-karst hyporheic zone as habitat for ‘karst’ species and 2) to determine how stygobiont richness, diversity, and abundance related to distance from karst in the hyporheic zone of a …

Tails From The Isle Of Devils: Two New Records Of Non-Native Invasive Scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones) Successfully Intercepted In Bermuda, Including The First Record Of Caraboctonidae, Danniella Sherwood, Mark Outerbridge, Struan R. Smith, Jenny Gosling, Myles Darrell

Euscorpius

Hadruroides sp. (Scorpiones: Caraboctonidae) is newly recorded as a successfully intercepted non-native invasive species in Bermuda, based on examination of a desiccated and damaged immature female specimen. A second record of an intercepted Centruroides gracilis (Latreille, 1804) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) is reported based on examination of an adult male.

Differences In Local And Systemic Immune Responses To Primary And Secondary Immunizations With The Herpesvirus Of Turkeys (Hvt) Vaccine In Layer Pullets., Allie K. Bowerman, Jossie M. Santamaria, Chrysta N. Beck, Gisela F. Erf

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

Marek’s disease, caused by a herpesvirus, is a major health issue in poultry production. In chickens, vaccination with live herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) provides effective protection. Little is known about the immune responses to the HVT vaccine. In this study, the immune responses to primary (V1) or secondary (V2) intradermal (i.d.) HVT vaccinations were examined. V1 and V2 were i.d. injected into growing feather (GF) pulps of six 9-week-old and six 19-week-old Light-brown Leghorn (LBL) pullets, respectively. Growing feather pulps and blood were collected before (0 h) and periodically through 10 d or 28 d post pulp injection (p.i.), respectively, …

Impact Of Social Media-Driven Feeding Practices On The Gut Microbiome Of Captive Asian Elephants (Elephas Maximus) In Surin, Thailand, Pongpreecha Malaluang, Nuttapon Bangkaew, Jaruwan Chaiyakhot, Patinya Patikae, Nattaya Watwiengkam, Phimphanit Choklikitumnuey, Thanaphat Phupanna, Sudachanok Phowiset, Prim Chuesaard, Tarid Purisotayo

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

This study investigated the effects of social media-driven live-streaming dietary supplementation on the gastrointestinal microbial community of captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) at the Elephant Kingdom, Surin Province, Thailand. A hierarchical two-tier observational design was used: Tier 1 compared a minimal-supplementation control group (Group H, n = 6) with a frequent heterogeneous-supplementation group (Group L, n = 18); Tier 2 compared, within Group L, low-frequency (Group A, ≤ 3 sessions per week, n = 7) and high-frequency (Group B, > 3 sessions per week, n = 11) live-streaming sub-groups. Faecal microbial profiles were obtained by 16S rRNA gene (V3–V4) …

Integrating Nutrition And Stress Into Life History Stages Of Wild Free-Ranging Female Pronghorn, Cole A. Bleke, Eric M. Gese, Juan J. Villalba, Shane B. Roberts, Susannah S. French

Wildland Resources Student Research

Studies addressing seasonal changes in diet quality and hormones are important for understanding the interactions between ecology and physiology. We collected fecal samples from free-ranging adult female pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) to examine the relationships between indicators of nutrition and glucocorticoid activity. This occurred during three population-level, life-history-correlated sampling periods across five subpopulations. We evaluated nutrition via fecal nitrogen, fecal 2,6-diaminopimelic acid (DAPA), and assessed glucocorticoid activity using fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM). We found positive relationships between fecal nitrogen and DAPA, whereas DAPA and fecal nitrogen with FGM varied in influence and strength, depending upon life history stage. Generally, …

Advances In Gene Editing Strategies For Viral Disease Resistance In Pigs: Knock-Out, Knock-In, And Overexpression Approaches, Zhao Namula, Takeshige Otoi, Aya Nakai, Megumi Nagahara, Maki Hirata, Fuminori Tanihara

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Highly contagious viral pathogens—such as porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, classical swine fever, and African swine fever—continue to pose serious threats to the swine industry and cause major global economic losses. Conventional disease control approaches, such as vaccination and biosecurity, are limited by viral heterogeneity and immune escape mechanisms. Gene editing technologies, most notably the CRISPR/Cas9 system, offer an innovative means of introducing innate viral disease resistance or resilience in pigs. The continuous improvement of these tools can provide a sustainable strategy to enhance animal welfare and global food security and reduce reliance on traditional control measures. This review provides …

Recent Advances In Sustainable Production Of Enriched Chicken Eggs: A Mini Review, Karim El-Sabrout, Ayman Abd El-Aziz

Jurnal Ilmu Ternak Universitas Padjadjaran

Enriched or “designer” chicken eggs have emerged as an important category of functional foods aimed at improving human nutrition through dietary manipulation of laying hens. This mini-review summarizes recent advances in egg enrichment strategies, focusing on omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant compounds. Omega-3 enrichment remains the most widely adopted approach, achieved through supplementation with flaxseed, fish oil, or microalgae, resulting in significant increases in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in egg yolk. Multi-nutrient enrichment, including selenium, vitamin E, and carotenoids, has also gained attention due to its potential in enhancing antioxidant capacity and health of hens …

Optimization Of Day-Old Chick (Doc) Parent Stock (Ps) Sales Allocation Using Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (Milp) And Ahp–Topsis: A Case Study Of A Breeding Company In Pangandaran Regency, Mutia Febiani, Achmad Firman, Andre Rivianda Daud

Jurnal Ilmu Ternak Universitas Padjadjaran

The poultry industry requires reliable Parent Stock (PS) output to maintain the continuity of broiler production systems. Breeding companies face operational and financial challenges in allocating Day Old Chick (DOC) Parent Stock (PS) sales between internal and external markets due to uncertainty in supply chain planning and market demand (Solano-Blanco et al., 2023). This study aimed to optimize DOC PS sales allocation using Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) and prioritize strategic allocation alternatives using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) combined with the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). Optimization results show that the maximum profit is achieved …

Effect Of Dietary Onion Peel Powder (Allium Cepa L.) As A Feed Additive On Production Performance In Broiler, Della Ariesba Putri Dulia, Edhy Sudjarwo, Osfar Sjofjan

Jurnal Ilmu Ternak Universitas Padjadjaran

This study aims to evaluate the use of onion peel powder (Allium cepa L) as a feed additive on feed intake, weight gain, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), Production Index, and Income Over Feed Cost (IOFC) in broilers. A total of 144 Lohmann strain broiler (unsexed) were treated from 1 to 35 days of age. There were 6 treatments with 4 replicates, consisting of 24 experimental cages, each filled 6 broilers. The experimental design used completely randomized design (CRD). The treatment groups were as follows: basal feed without antibiotics (P0-), basal feed + 0.1% antibiotics (zinc bacitracin) (P0+), basal feed + …

Effect Of Gowok (Syzygium Polycephalum) Fortification On The Physical Properties And Color Of Goat Milk Yogurt, Siti Rahmawati Zulaikhah, Triana Setyawardani, Juni Sumarmono

Jurnal Ilmu Ternak Universitas Padjadjaran

This study aimed to determine the effect of adding parts of gowok fruit (Syzygium polycephalum) on the physical properties of goat’s milk yogurt. A completely randomized design was applied with treatments consisting of fruit parts (rind, flesh of fruit, and whole seedless fruit) and addition levels (1, 2, and 3%) with three replications. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance followed by Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT). The results showed that gowok addition had a significant effect (P<0.05) on viscosity, syneresis, and color parameters, but no significant effect (P>0.05) on firmness and work of penetration. Yogurt viscosity ranged from 349.33 to 825 mPa·s and decreased with increasing gowok levels, while …

Bibliometric Analysis Of Applications And Research Trends On Whole Milk In Food Science, Nautus Stivano Dalle, Juni Sumarmono

Jurnal Ilmu Ternak Universitas Padjadjaran

This study maps the scientific landscape and research trends on whole milk in food science using a bibliometric approach. Data were collected from Google Scholar via Publish or Perish 8 (2020–2025) using the keyword "whole milk," yielding 291 documents after applying inclusion criteria. Descriptive and visual analyses were performed using VOSviewer and the Bibliometrix package to identify publication trends, collaboration networks, and dominant themes through co-authorship and keyword co-occurrence analyses. Results revealed fluctuating publication patterns, peaking in 2021 (60 articles) and declining in 2025 (41 articles). Keyword mapping identified four major clusters: microbiological characterization and probiotic potential, milk bioactive and …

Prediction Of Fermentation Parameters During Solid-State Fermentation Of Lemongrass Feedstuffs Using Nirs Combined With Spectral Correction Techniques, Alis Syarmalis, Agus Arip Munawar, Indra Wahyudi, Zulfikar Amir, Samadi Samadi

Jurnal Ilmu Ternak Universitas Padjadjaran

Lignocellulosic residues such as lemongrass (Cymbopogon nardus L.) waste have strong potential to be reused as livestock feed, helping improve sustainability and reduce environmental waste. However, their high lignin and crude fiber contents limit digestibility, making pretreatment necessary. One effective approach is solid-state fermentation (SSF) using white-rot fungi to enhance nutritional quality. During SSF, pH and moisture content are key indicators of process performance, but conventional measurement methods are slow and inefficient for real-time monitoring. In this study, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) combined with partial least squares regression (PLSR) was evaluated as a rapid and non-destructive method to predict pH and …

Physicochemical, Organoleptic, And Antioxidant Functional Characteristics Of Dangke Whey Protein Ice Cream Fortified With Butterfly Pea Flower Extract, Muh. Achyar Ardat, Raden Hilman Wirayudha, Ekajayanti Kining, Zakiah Wulandari, Irma Isnafia Arief

Jurnal Ilmu Ternak Universitas Padjadjaran

This study aims to develop a functional ice cream based on dangke whey pro‐ tein with the addition of butterfly pea flower extract. Four formulations were pre‐ pared by varying milk and whey proportions: P1 (100% milk), P2 (60% milk + 40% whey), P3 (40% milk + 60% whey), and P4 (100% whey), with 5% butterfly pea ex‐ tract added to each treatment. The results showed that higher whey substitution decreased pH and overrun values but prolonged the melting resistance of ice cream. Moisture content increased with whey proportion, whereas ash content remained relatively constant across treatments. Protein and fat …

Identification Of Beef Cattle Farms Population Dynamics In Ngombol District, Purworejo Regency, Hendarto Kurniawan, Tri Puji Rahayu, Danes Suhendra

Jurnal Ilmu Ternak Universitas Padjadjaran

The dynamics of the beef cattle population are crucial in the development. The lack of data on the population dynamics of beef cattle farming in Purworejo District has resulted in less effective population control. The purpose of this research is to examine and understand the factors that influence the dynamics of the beef cattle population in Ngombol District. This research was conducted through surveys and observations of 35 farmers recommended by policy stakeholders in five villages with the highest beef cattle populations in Ngombol District. The observations were recorded in a questionnaire containing statements that identified the dynamics of the …