Animal Sciences Commons^™

Temporal Assessment Of Fish Communities In A South Central Plains Ecoregion Watershed, Tara L. Schnelting

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

Among South Central Plains ecoregion fish communities, there is limited knowledge of the importance of headwaters yet this information is needed to understand their role in fish communities. I addressed this gap by assessing seasonal changes in fish communities in headwater streams of the Moro Creek watershed, Arkansas. I conducted two studies pertaining to temporal fish community assessments: (i) utilize multi-season, community occupancy models to estimate μ (species probability), Ω (community occupancy mean), and p (detection probability) and (ii) utilize beta diversity (β) analyses to address the diversity across different scales in the headwaters of the Moro Creek …

Impacts Of Polyploidization On Endocrine Regulation And Vocalization In The Gray Treefrog Complex, Avery Thigpen

Honors Theses

Comparative genomics data suggest that vertebrates are descendants of ancestral polyploids and that historical polyploidization events fueled evolutionary innovations. For example, polyploidization can modify gene expression patterns and/or increase gene mutation rates to alter the phenotype. While considerable emphasis has been placed on the evolutionary impact of ancient polyploidization events, less is known regarding phenotypic modifications in extant polyploids. I examined circulating levels of adrenal glucocorticoids and gonadal steroids in the diploid-tetraploid gray treefrog complex to understand how polyploidization has impacted hormonal regulation. Furthermore, I examined the relationships between levels of these hormones and acoustic signals to examine if and …

Assisted Reproductive Technologies For Southern Cricket Frogs (Acris Gryllus), Audrey Grace Koltz

Honors Theses

Amphibians are facing the most drastic biodiversity declines of all vertebrates, with an estimated 41% of amphibians threatened with extinction. Captive breeding programs employ a variety of assisted reproductive technologies including environmental manipulation, hormonal therapies, artificial fertilization, and gamete preservation to augment vulnerable populations and optimize genetic diversity. Amphibians require a species-specific combination of environmental, social, and physiological cues to reproduce, which makes universal and successful captive breeding programs especially elusive. Here, I investigate assisted reproductive technologies for a small frog species, the southern cricket frog (Acris gryllus). Establishing successful methods for southern cricket frogs may yield promising results for …

Impact Of Unconventional Gas Extraction On Tributaries Of Tenmile Creek, Greene County, Pennsylvania: A 12-Year Perspective, Christian L. Beall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Much of southwestern Pennsylvania has been central to a rapid increase in development for unconventional natural gas extraction in the past two decades. The continued monitoring of streams over their lifetime as extraction sites is pivotal to understanding the effects of fracking on local waterways and their ability to provide for wildlife and human use. Here, using multiple indices of biotic integrity (IBI), I perform analyses of fish and macroinvertebrate communities as well as water chemistry on two streams, Bates Fork (with shale wells) and Fonner Run (without), as part of a follow-up to work performed there from 2010-2012. Fish …

Biomarkers That Could Explain Parasite-Induced Behavioral Alterations In The Golden Shiner (Notemigonus Crysoleucas) – Posthodiplostomum System, Laura D. Nicolas

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Trophically transmitted parasites require an intermediate host to be consumed and often manipulate host phenotype (i.e., morphology, physiology, and/or behavior) to increase predation risk by definitive hosts. Posthodiplostomum is a trematode with a complex life cycle involving snails as first hosts, fish as second intermediate hosts, and piscivorous birds as definitive hosts. In fish hosts, Posthodiplostomum infection has been linked to increased predation, suggesting suppression of antipredator behaviors. However, the specific physiological pathways remained unexplored and changes in the host’s neural, endocrine, and immune systems could be involved. Thus, I examined whether Posthodiplostomum infection intensity was associated with brain serotonin …

Demography Of Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys Temminckii) Along A Fishing Pressure Gradient, Luke T. Micek

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Passive fishing gear is a threat to the alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii). The spatio-temporal persistence of this threat and its impacts on M. temminckii populations has not been quantified. I quantified the density of passive fishing gear and the demographic parameters of M. temminckii along a fishing pressure gradient in East Texas streams. Most gear was abandoned and illegally deployed, with densities varying seasonally. Detectability of passive fishing gear declined with increasing gear age, water depth, and volume, but increased with increasing precipitation. Macrochelys temminckii catch per unit effort, abundance, and survival was lower at sites with …

Evaluating Predictive Models For Predicting Total Score Of Beef Carcasses, Emmanuel Forson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The beef industry plays a vital role in global agriculture, with carcass quality and consumer preference being key determinants of market success. This thesis examines predictive modeling techniques for estimating the Total Score of beef carcasses, a composite measure representing yield and quality, primarily used by the Nebraska Cattlemen Association. Using data from the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Foundation Retail Value Steer Challenge (2000–2023), the study compares the performance of First Order Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) with three machine learning techniques: K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Random Forest, and Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM).

The analysis focuses on six key predictors: Hot Carcass Weight, Back …

Evaluating A Proprietary Tannin-Blend Product As An Alternative To Monensin And Tylosin Phosphate In Feedlot Cattle Diets, Luana D. Felizari, Luke K. Fuerniss, Jonathon L. Beckett, David S. Secrist, Guy D. Hufstedler, Bradley J. Johnson

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

This study evaluates the effects of a proprietary tannin blend (BX), supplemented with or without sodium monensin (MON), on beef cattle performance, carcass traits, and health. Steers (n = 2986; initial shrunk body weight (SBW) 254 ± 9.2 kg) were allocated into 48 pens (61–62 steers/pen; 12 pens/treatment) fed for 230 d. Treatments included (1) no feed additives (CTL); (2) BX (7.95 g/animal daily); (3) MON + Tylosin phosphate (TYL; 437.52 mg MON/animal daily + 80 mg TYL/animal daily); or (4) MON+BX (437.52 mg MON/animal daily + 7.95 g BX/animal daily). Data were analyzed in R 4.2.1 using a …

Birds Of A Feather: An Integrated Outdoor-Based Bird Study P-3 Curriculum Guide, Erin A. Buzza

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

In a post-pandemic world that places technology at the at the forefront, educators are searching for ways to help students connect with the natural world. This project aids teachers in tackling this challenge by using the study of birds as a motivation to engage students with the outdoors and local wildlife. To demonstrate how ornithology topics can be used as an integrated thematic unit, research regarding components of ecological literacy is presented. They include nature-based learning, outdoor learning, environmental education, and wildlife education. In addition to these pedagogies, the benefits of incorporating interdisciplinary learning within the classroom are also provided …

Rapid Identification Of Ambystoma Mexicanum Genotype Using Pcr Techniques, Elizabeth C. Dean

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Ambystoma mexicanum is an aquatic salamander species, commonly known as the axolotl, native to Mexico that is widely researched all over the world. In the wild, these salamanders have brown/black colored skin due to the presence of melanophores and xanthophores with shiny spots due to iridophores. In captivity, however, there are multiple different color morphs (phenotypes) of axolotls including leucistic, melanistic, and copper. Melanoid axolotls have black skin made by mostly melanophores, little xanthophores, and no iridophores. Melanistic genotypes such as melanoid and wild type color morphs are thought to be controlled by a single gene called Leukocyte Tyrosine Kinase …

Fisheries Research Report No. 351: Ecological Risk Assessment For The Western Australian Southern Nearshore Fish Resource, Kimberley A. Smith, Brett Crisafulli, Amber Quinn, Bianca Brooks, Gabby E. Mitsopoulos, Daniel Yeoh

Fisheries Research Reports

On 3 December 2024, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD, the Department) convened an ecological risk assessment (ERA) of the fisheries that access the Southern Nearshore Fish Resource (Resource). This Resource comprises a range of temperate fish species including Australian herring, Australian salmon, whiting, garfish, tailor and sandy sprat.

This document contains the results of the ERA as well as the background information used to support the ERA risk scoring process. This includes an overview of the Western Australian commercial, recreational and charter fisheries that access the Resource.

Dairy Digest, Legan...Dairy 2024-2025, Department Of Dairy And Food Science

Dairy Digest

This is the 2025 Dairy Club Digest. The Diary Club Digest is published annually by the South Dakota State University Dairy Club.
The Digest contains information and news about the activities and members of the SDSU Dairy Club for the academic year 2023 - 2024.

The Effects Of Incubation Humidity On Broiler Chicks, Claire Caples

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Leg health issues are a welfare problem in commercial broiler chickens and an economic issue for the broiler industry. Broilers exhibiting leg abnormalities show altered gait, reduced ability to access resources, and increased lameness incidence. These leg health issues can result from many animal and environmental factors during incubation and post-hatch. Incubation strategies may contribute to the development of leg health issues, and recent research has increased focus on incubation factors affecting embryonic development and health and welfare post-hatch. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of high (80%), low (55%), and ideal (65%) humidity on …

Developing Protective Measures To Reduce The Incidence Of Bacterial-Induced Chondronecrosis With Osteomyelitis In Broiler Chickens, Alexa L. Thomas

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Bacterial Chondronecrosis with Osteomyelitis (BCO) lameness is a significant animal welfare and food safety issue affecting the commercial broiler industry in the United States and worldwide. Bacteria can translocate from the respiratory system and/or the gastrointestinal tract into the bloodstream, eventually settling in bone microfractures leading to necrosis and BCO lameness.

This study evaluated the effects of Probiotic 1 and Probiotic 2 on the incidence of BCO lameness in broiler chickens. Probiotic 1 was applied as a spray on Day 1-old chicks, while Probiotic 2 was administered prophylactically (orally in feed) from Day 1 to Day 56. Birds were assigned …

Fisheries Occasional Publication No.148 - Aquaculture Of Seaweed In Western Australia: Policy Principles Relating To Licences And Exemptions For The Aquaculture Of Seaweed In Western Australia, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Occasional Publications

of aquaculture, and clarifies the process and information required to assess applications for aquaculture licences, leases and exemptions for seaweed aquaculture in WA.

Development of principles will support decision-making for the take of wild seaweed and for the grant or variation of aquaculture licences for seaweed aquaculture.

Differences Between Media And Industry Professionals’ Views On Welfare Issues At Equine Racetracks In The United States, Olivia Burris

Honors College Theses

The objective of this project was to see if there was a difference in views between lay publications in the media and industry professionals regarding welfare issues occurring at equine racetracks. This study focused on the issues of drug usage and racing-related injuries in racehorses. This project examined current lay publications versus surveys of industry professionals discussing the specific welfare issues. These lay publications were reviewed and summarized for comparison to the industry professionals’ responses to the survey.

The Impact Of Maternal Age On The Expression Of Transgenerational Plasticity In Daphnia Pulicaria, Calvin Nguyen

2025 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Transgenerational plasticity refers to heritable, non-genetic changes in phenotype that persist across multiple generations and can enhance offspring survivability in variable environments. In Daphnia, increasing maternal age has been associated with maladaptive plasticity. To investigate this relationship, six clones were collected from two Wisconsin lakes and acclimated to laboratory conditions through a common garden rearing process. For each clone, ten replicates were generated and evenly divided between young (clutches 2–4) and old (clutches 5–8) maternal age groups. Offspring were exposed to three dietary treatments for three experimental generations: one fed only green algae, one fed only cyanobacteria (a nutritionally …

Assessing The Prevalence Of Ehrlichia Spp. In Ticks Associated With Canids In Arkansas, Eva J. Berryhill

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Canine ehrlichiosis is a disease that is commonly seen in dogs. In previous studies, the southeastern part of the United States has been identified as an area of high prevalence. Arkansas was included in the region where the prevalence is high. Changes in climate, household income, and tick population were identified as factors contributing to this high prevalence. Canine ehrlichiosis is caused by three Ehrlichia spp., which are E. canis, E. ewingii, and E. chaffeensis. Ticks are responsible for transmitting the disease, specifically R. sanguineus, D. variabilis, and A. americanum. For this study, the goal was to determine the prevalence …

Utilizing 16s Ribosomal Rna Sequencing To Identify Bacterial Species Colonizing Lame Birds With Bacterial Chondronecrosis With Osteomyelitis, Kara Hoover

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Broiler chicken lameness has become prevalent in recent years due to high growth rates in broilerchickens. Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO), the main cause of lameness, is characterized by necrosis of femoral and tibial heads in affected birds. Heavier birds are more susceptible to mechanical stress in these regions, which results in microfractures, leading to lameness. BCO lameness poses huge financial pressure to the poultry industry, as 14-50% of flocks can become affected during outbreaks. The purpose of this experiment was to identify bacterial species present in birds with BCO lameness. A total of 1,560 chicks were randomly distributed into …

The Effect Of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Supplementation On Humoral Immunity Against Bacterial Chondronecrosis With Osteomyelitis Lameness In Broiler Chickens, Bailey Herberger

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) lameness, the most predominant locomotive illness in fast-growing broilers, causes substantial animal well-being issues and affects broiler production, leading to huge financial losses. Several strategies, including feed supplementations using organic trace minerals, vitamin D, probiotics, and prebiotics, have been utilized to alleviate BCO lameness incidences in broiler chickens. Previous studies have indicated that feeding an additive of Panbonis^®-G-1,25(OH)₂D₃ from Solanum glaucophyllum containing 1 µg/kg G-1,25(OH)₂D₃ to broilers for the first 28 days of their production cycle reduced BCO lameness by more than 50%. In this study, we …

Effects Of Common Herbicides On Organismal Interactions, Robert Chamberlin

All Theses

Pesticides are applied to agricultural lands to prevent undesirable weeds, animal pests, and fungi from harming crops and reducing crop yields. Pesticides are used in croplands at increasing rates around the world and have become an essential component of farming in recent decades. Often, rain, wind, and soil permeation move pesticides from farmlands to natural environments. Such contamination of natural environments by pesticides may threaten species by altering their behaviors, bodily functions, and the ways in which individuals interact. Atrazine and glyphosate are among the most widely used herbicides around the world and are useful in eliminating weeds, primarily in …

Characterizing Environmental Background Microflora And Assessing Their Influence On Listeria Persistence In Dairy Processing Environment, Vaishali Poswal, Sanjeev Anand, Brian Kraus

Dairy Science and Food Science Faculty Publications: 2022 to Present

Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) may persist in food processing environments (FPEs) alongside diverse background microflora. While microbial communities in FPEs can in- fluence Lm survival, their role in supporting or suppressing its growth remains unclear. This study aimed to characterize the microflora in floor swabs and air samples collected from a dairy processing facility across three seasons and assess their potential impact on the growth of a Lm test strain previously isolated from a dairy processing environment. A total of 167 environmental isolates, representing 30 bacterial genera, were identified. Pseudomonas was consistently prevalent across all sample types. Seasonal shifts in bacterial …

Effects Of Intradermal Injections Of Lipopolysaccharide On The Local And Systemic Acute Inflammatory Responses In Turkeys, Delaney F. Roberts

Poultry Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

In chickens, the growing feather (GF) pulp has been established as a cutaneous bioassay to monitor and assess tissue/cellular immune activities in response to intradermal (i.d.) injections of test materials. The objective of this pilot study was to determine the suitability of the GF bioassay in turkeys by examining the acute inflammatory responses initiated by i.d. GF-pulp injections of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). For this, three, 5-wk-old turkey poults were used. Two poults had 8 GFs injected (10 μL/GF) with low (L)-LPS (0.1 μg/GF) and 8 GFs with high (H)-LPS (1 μg/GF), while a third poult had 8 GFs injected with endotoxin-free …

The Movement Ecology, Ranging Patterns, And Territoriality Of Azara’S Owl Monkeys (Aotus Azarae) In The Argentinean Chaco Forest, Jeremy D. Pustilnik

Master of Environmental Science Theses

Azara’s owl monkeys (Aotus azarae) are small, pair-living, socially monogamous primates that inhabit the Chaco Forest of South America. Their activity and life history patterns have been particularly well studied, however, their movement ecology and ranging patterns within their home ranges remains largely unknown. Herein I descriptively analyze these patterns with respect to time, space, ambient environment, and physical environment using spatial information on five owl monkey groups that were followed over the course of a year between 1998 and 1999 at a multi-decade-operating field site near Formosa, Argentina. Analysis of distance and speed moved during different diel …

Design And Optimization Of Aquaculture Gear: Development Of A Cage-Integrated Reeling Mechanism For Oyster Farming, Felicity Bryant

Honors Theses

This project encompasses the design, fabrication, and testing of a cage-integrated reeling system aimed at reducing the physical labor required in oyster aquaculture at Bama Bay Oyster Farm, the last operational oyster farm in Mobile Bay. The proposed system includes two primary components: lightweight, modular oyster cages and a dual-winch reeling device for automated retrieval. Three cage prototypes—rectangular, oval, and hexagonal—were evaluated for structural performance and fabrication feasibility. The oval design was ultimately excluded due to practical fabrication limitations. The rectangular and hexagonal designs were fabricated using recycled materials and tested under the most extreme environmental conditions derived from years …

Inflammatory Response In Ucd200/206 Scleroderma-Prone Chickens To Intradermal Injection Of Silikon 1000, Katee L. Johnson

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Intradermal injections of silicone materials have resulted in chronic inflammation and fibrotic reactions in some individuals. The UCD200/206 line of chickens is characterized by spontaneous development of scleroderma/systemic sclerosis (SSc), a fibrotic autoimmune disease. This longitudinal study examined the cellular inflammatory activity initiated by SILIKON 1000 (a silicone product used as a filler in human skin) at the site of intradermal (i.d.) injection and in the peripheral blood in the SSc-prone UCD 200/206 (UCD) chickens and healthy White Leghorn (WL) controls. Specifically, the pulps of growing feathers (GFs) were i.d. injected with SILIKON or endotoxin-free, sterile PBS (8 and 3 …

The Effect Of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Supplementation On Humoral Immunity Against Bacterial Chondronecrosis With Osteomyelitis Lameness In Broiler Chickens, Bailey Herberger

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) lameness, the most predominant locomotive illness in fast-growing broilers, causes substantial animal well-being issues and affects broiler production, leading to huge financial losses. Several strategies, including feed supplementations using organic trace minerals, vitamin D, probiotics, and prebiotics, have been utilized to alleviate BCO lameness incidences in broiler chickens. Previous studies have indicated that feeding an additive of Panbonis^®-G-1,25(OH)₂D₃ from Solanum glaucophyllum containing 1 µg/kg G-1,25(OH)₂D₃ to broilers for the first 28 days of their production cycle reduced BCO lameness by more than 50%. In this study, we …

Influence Of Gossypol From Cottonseed Meal Fed To Pregnant Sows On Seminiferous Tubule Diameters In Male Offspring, Elizabeth Callaway

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Feral swine were first brought to the United States in the 1500s as a source of food and have been reported as an invasive species since then without an efficient method of population control. Ongoing research indicates that the total cost of the damage this species has caused estimates to around 1.5 billion dollars each year (USDA, 2023). Gossypol is a phenolic compound found in the cotton plant and can be administered in the form of cottonseed meal (CSM). Gossypol has been associated with reduced fertility in various species (Randel et al., 1992). Pregnant sows were fed cottonseed meal to …

Tracking Fall Migration With The Motus Wildlife Tracking System: The Fate Of Window-Struck And Captive-Raised Passerines, Cailin O'Connor

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Many species of North American passerines migrate along the Atlantic flyway in the fall to reach winter habitats in the southeastern United States, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Birds face many perils along their journeys including window strikes, which kill over one billion birds per year in the United States alone. Some birds survive the impact and may continue their migration. These birds may suffer delayed mortality or show aberrant migration due to injuries. This research seeks to understand if window-struck birds that initially survive bird-building collisions survive into the future and, if so, if they migrate effectively. …

Exploring Mimicry And Visual Communication In Woodpeckers: A Field Study Utilizing 3d-Printed Models, Lauren M. Smith

Biology Theses

The evolution of similar phenotypes poses an interesting challenge in evolutionary biology. While divergent ecologies may drive differing morphology, physiology, or behavior, similar phenotypes are often due to similar ecology or selection for mimicry. One prominent case of mimetic phenotypes is found in hairy and downy woodpeckers. While several hypotheses might explain the hairy-downy mimicry complex, I aimed to assess the idea that downy woodpeckers benefit from resembling hairy woodpeckers. To test this hypothesis, I used 3D-printed models of various woodpecker species in the field. These models were painted with colors that resemble woodpecker species. The experimental conditions were 3D …