Other Animal Sciences Commons^™

Care As Method: Sound, Duration, Relation In Contemporary Art Practice, Violet L. White

MFA in Visual Art

Abstract Care as Method: Sound, Duration, and Multispecies Relation in Contemporary Art Practice

This thesis proposes care as a method of artmaking, not a subject, theme, or aesthetic position, but the actual structural logic through which a body of work is built, sustained, and understood. Working at the intersection of ecological art practice and relational aesthetics, it asks what happens when the encounter at the center of the work is not between two people but between species, infrastructures, and histories of use and what obligations that encounter generates.

The argument is developed through six interconnected works: installations, sound compositions, sculptures, …

The Beat Behind The Bark: Investigating The Effects Of Music Tempo On Canine Physiological And Psychological States, Marley Lanier

Poster Presentations

Music is a universal component of human culture that has been demonstrated influencing emotional, cognitive, and physiological responses, specifically heart rate and hormonal responses (Mehr et al., 2019; Trappe, 2012). Recently, this research has expended to explore how music may affect non-human animals, particularly dogs, due to their roles as therapy animals, service animals, and human companions (Lindig et al., 2020; Gee et al., 2021). Being able to understand how music influences canine stress and relaxation hold important applications in environments such as shelters, veterinary clinics, and at home. One important feature of music is tempo, or beats per minute …

The Role Of Exotic Plants In The Diet Of Black-And-White Colobus Monkeys (Colobus Guereza) In Kibale National Park, Uganda, Michelle Gaykov

Theses and Dissertations

Exotic plants have both positive and negative impacts on their environment. They may act as additional food sources for the local fauna or as competition for local flora or leading to changes within a landscape or ecosystem. To considere the role of exotics in primate diet, this study focused on the dietary role of exotic plant species in the diet of a leaf-eating foregut fermenting monkey, the black-and-white colobus monkeys (Colobus guereza) in Kibale National Park, Uganda. Int this study, I followed individuals in two groups of black-and-white colobus monkeys for 21 days recording their food intake (0700-1900). I also …

Systematics Of Disk-Winged Bats (Thyroptera), Courtney L. Klumpp

Capstone Showcase

This thesis investigates the evolutionary relationships among disk-winged bats in the genus Thyroptera, a small group of Neotropical bats known for the adhesive suction disks on their wings and feet that allow them to roost inside tightly rolled leaves. The distinctive morphology and behavior of these bats have not been extensively documented, and their phylogenetic relationships remain only partially resolved. The goal of this research is to better understand how these species are related to one another and to determine whether the five recognized species of Thyroptera form a single monophyletic group. To address this question, morphological and genetic …

Manatee Dock Sign Distribution And Its Influence On Publicly-Sourced Sighting Reports In Alabama, Daniela Payán Arias, Sophia C. Corde, Ruth H. Carmichael

Gulf and Caribbean Research

No abstract provided.

Understanding Perceptions About And The Practice Of Integrated Pest Management And Biological Control Of The Filth-Breeding Flies By Individuals Involved In The Equine Industry In The United States, Virgillia Adele Beyer-Junfin, Theresa Pesl Murphrey, David Lawver, Barry Boyd, Amy Boren-Alpizar, Rilee Hall, Audra W. Richburg

Journal of Extension

Filth-breeding flies pose significant health risks and costs in the equine industry. Although an arsenal of management strategies exists, integrated pest management (IPM) utilizing biological control (BC) offers cost and labor efficient pest control for equine facilities. Yet, little data exists on IPM adoption across the equine industry in the United States. This quantitative study examines the knowledge, perceptions, and adoption of IPM of those involved in the equine industry. Findings reveal knowledge barriers and time constraints as major preventatives. Preferred communication channels for IPM information are also identified. Recommendations are made for further research and practice in IPM and …

Starting An Equine-Assisted Services Program, Makenna L. Pahlke

All Current Publications

Starting an equine-assisted services (EAS) program requires more than just access to horses and a passion for helping others. This fact sheet outlines the key considerations for communities and individuals interested in developing safe, sustainable, and impactful equine-assisted programs.

From Larvae To Livelihoods: Examining The Realities Of Black Soldier Fly Farming In Malawi, Emily Herriott

Capstone Collection

Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae offer a cost-effective, nutrient-rich alternative to synthetic fertilizers and conventional feed inputs such as soy, fishmeal, and maize bran in sub-Saharan Africa. In Malawi, where smallholder farmers grapple with declining soil fertility, high input prices, chronic food insecurity, and livestock nutritional challenges, BSF farming is emerging as a promising circular agricultural innovation. Despite its technical promise, the social, economic, and ecological realities of BSF adoption remain underexplored.This study investigates the early implementation of BSF farming in Malawi through the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, focusing on farmer experiences, challenges, and the social and structural processes shaping uptake …

United Seas For Resilient Reefs: A Blueprint For Coral Conservation Through International Cooperation, John J. Bohorquez, Maoz Fine, Dana I. Grieco, David A. Gill, Ali Al-Swalimih, Jacqueline Padilla-Gamino, Isaiah W. Bolden, Margaux Hein, Callum Backstrom, Melanie Mcfield, Raphael Martinez, Benjamin Midberry, Fahd Al-Guthmy, Ellen K. Pikitch, Natalia Benejam, Chen Azulay, Britt Ronen, Oren Levy, Anne Mcelroy, Karine Kleinhaus

School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences Faculty Publications

Coral reefs are one of Earth’s most vital and threatened ecosystems. They protect coastlines, generate billions of dollars of tourism revenue, support valuable fisheries, and contribute to the development of vital medicines. Yet half of the world's coral reefs have been lost in the last 50 years, and 90% of remaining reefs are projected to die off by the middle of this century, mainly due to warming seas from climate change.

Despite these challenges there is reason for hope. Some coral reefs – such as in the northern Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba – have demonstrated remarkable resilience to …

Field Journal: The Excluded Middle, Carrie E. Kouts

Masters Theses

What does it look like to engage with organisms and landscapes at the periphery of anthropocentric value structures? How does one break the internalized myth that the “built” environment is excluded from the natural world? When does a hyper-mobile and hyper-commodified society confront the exponential crisis of animal death? Within this series of journal entries, field notes, collection observations, weird prose, and sensory musings, one will find questions on the nature of being human and the complex narratives of care we encounter in a world shared with more-than-humans. Each handwritten vignette and photograph from daily life weaves a non-linear and …

The Manipulation Of Odor Availability Of Training Aids Used In Detection Canine Training, Katylynn B. Sloan, Michele N. Maughan, Caitlin E. Sharpes, Robin R. Greubel, Shawna F. Gallegos, Aleksandr E. Miklos, Lindsay D. Waldrop

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Detection canines can identify numerous substances for which they have been trained. Historically, and a point of ongoing contention, detection canine threshold (i.e., sensitivity or limit of detection) training has primarily focused on changing the weight of the training aid substance used. There has been minimal focus on other principles, such as surface area, confinement, and temperature, which can be manipulated to affect odor availability. That said, trainers have been manipulating odor availability for years without necessarily understanding the governing scientific principles. The aim of this review is to highlight the principles that control odor availability of a substance and …

Identifying Personality In Reptiles And Assessing Welfare Implications For Their Roles As Ambassador Animals In An Educational Setting, Valery Gonzalez

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined behavioral variability and personality in 13 reptiles used as ambassador animals at the American Museum of Natural History. Observations across seasons and novel object tests revealed individual differences, behavioral components, and correlations. Findings emphasize reptilian complexity, highlighting welfare implications while underscoring the need for further research.

Wildlife Distribution Mapping And Analysis In Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique, Using Site And Satellite Imagery Data, Pinho Joaquim Munhequeira Mr

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

One of Mozambique's most important conservation sites, Gorongosa National Park has seen critical ecological changes over the past several decades resulting from climate variability, habitat loss, and political instability. This research integrates Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing to examine the relationship between vegetation dynamics and wildlife population, and distribution. The main goals of this study are to evaluate the spatial distribution of particular wildlife species: buffalo (Syncerus caffer), elephant (Loxodonta africana), hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), and zebra (Equus quagga), and determine the impact of vegetation density and land cover on their …

Biotime 2.0: Expanding And Improving A Database Of Biodiversity Time Series, Maria Dornelas, Laura H. Antão, Amanda E. Bates, Viviana Brambilla, Jonathan M. Chase, Cher F. Y. Chow, Ada Fontrodona-Eslava, Anne E. Magurran, Inês S. Martins, Faye Moyes, Alban Sagouis, Samuel Adu-Acheampong, Daniel Acquah-Lamptey, Dušan Adam, Penelope A. Ajani, Aitor Albaina, Pablo Almaraz, Jeongseop An, Roger Sigismund Anderson, Madelaine Jean Robertson Anderson, Alexsander Z. Antunes, Ivan Arismendi, Linda Armbrecht, Pedro Aros-Mardones, Sreejith Kalpuzha Ashtamoorthy, Narayanan Ayyappan, Gal Badihi, Joseph J. Bailey, Andrew H. Baird, Mark Edward Baird, Sreekumar Vadakkethil Balakrishnan, José António L. Barão-Nóbrega, Adi Barash, Miguel Barbosa, Jos Barlow, Claus Bässler, Matthieu Beaumont, Natalie Beenaerts, Tiago Octavio Begot, Wallace Beiroz, Ricardo Beldade, David M. Bell, Alecia Bellgrove, Jonathan Belmaker, Lisandro Benedetti-Cecchi, Cassandra E. Benkwitt, Pamela Medina-Van Berkum, Brandon T. Bestelmeyer, Matthew C. Betts, Maxwell Kelvin Billah, Anne D. Bjorkman, Magdalena Błażewicz, Christopher P. Bloch, Shane A. Blowes, Antonio Bode, Juliano A. Bogoni, Thomas Bolger, Timothy C. Bonebrake, Erik Bonsdorff, Roberta Bottarin, Luke N. Brokensha, Rob W. Brooker, Andrew J. Brooks, Helge Bruelheide, Thiago Almeida Bueno, Claire Laguionie, Mariana Lopes Campagnoli, James Cant, Erica Pellegrini Caramaschi, Alexandre Caron, Tadhg Carroll, Tancredi Caruso, Juan Carvajal-Quintero, Giuseppe Castaldelli, Edward Castañeda-Moya, Pedro V. Castilho, Sonia Zanini Cechin, Shahar Chaikin, Uchangi Manjunatha Chandrashekara, Tory J. Chase, Chaolun Allen Chen, Jorge José Cherem, Sei-Woong Choi, Erica M. Christensen, Alexander V. Christianini, Jackson Wing Four Chu, Peter Coad, Carl Van Colen, Lise Comte, Elisabeth J. Cooper, J. Hans C. Cornelissen, Eddy Cosson, Unai Cotano, Luc Crevecoeur, Shannan Kyle Crow, Graeme S. Cumming, Vanessa S. Daga, Gabriella Damasceno, Gergana N. Daskalova, Claire H. Davies, Robert A. Davis, Frank P. Day, Sussy De-La-Zerda, Amy Elizabeth Deacon, Indradatta De Castro-Arrazola, Steven Degraer, Kharran Deonarinesingh, Juan C. Diaz-Ricaurte, Christopher R. Dickman, Tara Dirilgen, Ciaran John Dolan, J. Emmett Duffy, Timothy E. Dunn, Giselda Durigan, Ciara Dwyer, Steven Earl, Dor Edelist, Graham John Edgar, Sally Edmonson, Ashley K. Elgin, Kari Elsa Ellingsen, Sarah C. Elmendorf, Ruth S. Eriksen, S. K. Morgan Ernest, Ruben Escribano, Paula Cabral Eterovick, Brian S. Evans, Jason D. Everett, Vesela Evtimova, Dan A. Exton, Andrew J. Fairbairn, Filipe Moreli Fantacini, Fabiano Turini Farah, Fábio Zanella Farneda, Mario E. Favila, Philippe Fernandez-Fournier, Braulio Fernández-Zapata, Diogo F. Ferreira, Carola Ferronato, Christopher R. Du Feu, Alessandra Fidelis, David A. Fifield, Vilmar Picinatto Filho, Walter Mesquita Filho, Robert N. L. Fitt, Carlos A. H. Flechtmann, William R. Fraser, Donna L. Fraser, Lídia Freixas, John Fryxell, Garrett J. Fundakowski, Scott Stanley Gabara, Elise Gallois, Mariana Garcia Criado, Emili García-Berthou, Joaquim Garrabou, Andrew R. Gates, Roberto Cazzola Gatti, Anna Gavioli, Tal Gavriel, Benoit Gendreau-Berthiaume, Xingli Giam, Carina Gjerdrum, Michael Glemnitz, Jasmin Annica Godbold, Daniel Gómez-Gras, Rodrigo Barbosa Gonçalves, Andy Goold, Richard R. Gordon, Menachem Goren, Fernando Vilas Boas Goulart, William G. Gould, Meagan M. Graboski, Nicholas A. J. Graham, Maurício Eduardo Graipel, Laura J. Grange, Aaron C. Greenville, Gary D. Grossman, Valeria A. Guinder, Peter Haase, Gary N. Haskins, Kris Havstad, Luise Hermanutz, Michael Julian Hames Hickford, Pamela Hidalgo, Pedro Higuchi, Andrew S. Hoey, Gert Van Hoey, Annika Hofgaard, Kristen T. Holeck, Robert D. Hollister, Richard T. Holmes, Mia Odell Hoogenboom, Joaquín Hortal, Tammy Horton, Chih-Hao Hsieh, Christine L. Huffard, Ida-Maria Huikkonen, Allen H. Hurlbert, Julian Hynes, Pascal Irz, Natalia Macedo Ivanauskas, Akemi Iwayama, Darren K. James, Ute Jandt, Anna M. Jażdżewska, Merlijn Jocque, Sophie T. Johnston, Samuel E. I. Jones, Faith A. M. Jones, Julia A. Jones, Edite Jucevica, Ugis Kagainis, Maiko Kagami, Jungwon Kang, Xuejia Ke, Erin Colleen Keeley, Rebecca Kinnear, Kari Klanderud, Uwe Klinck, Roel Van Klink, Stefan Klotz, Carolien Kockaert, Halvor Knutsen, Matti Koivula, Alessandra Kortz, Peter Kriegel, Chao-Yang Kuo, David J. Kushner, Rosina Kyerematen, Raphaël Lagarde, Lesley T. Lancaster, Ori Frid Landau, Wouter Van Landuyt, Eric R. Larson, Mai Lazarus, Cheol Min Lee, Jonathan S. Lefcheck, Jonas J. Lembrechts, Renato A. Ferreira De Lima, Romullo Guimarães Lima, Nathália G. S. Lima, Cristina Linares, Sandra C. Lindstrom, Francisco Lloret, John David Lloyd, Cleonice Maria Cardoso Lobato, David M. Lodge, Peter Richard Long, Celeste López-Abbate, Adrià López-Baucells, Julio Louzada, Maite Louzao, Antonella Lugliè, Micheli Ribeiro Luiz, S. Ellen Macdonald, Joshua S. Madin, André Lincoln Barroso Magalhães, Rajindra Mahabir, David Maphisa, Thomas Edward Martin, Marcio Martins, Patrick T. Martone, Silvia Matesanz, Shin-Ichiro S. Matsuzaki, Thomas J. Matthews, Iain Mccombe Matthews, Connie J. Maxwell, Kent P. Mcfarland, Brian J. Mcgill, Diane Marie Mcknight, Michael J. Mcwilliam, Jason Meador, Henning Meesenburg, Kristin Meier, Viesturs Melecis, Peter L. Meserve, Christoph F. J. Meyer, Anders Michelsen, Natali Olivia Roman Miiller, Marco Milardi, Nataliya Milchakova, Robert J. Miller, Jonathan Millett, Tom Moens, Luciano F. A. Montag, Jon Moore, Jörg Müller, Akhil Murali, Shauna Ann Murray, Isla H. Myers-Smith, Randall W. Myster, Masahiro Nakamura, Sasi Nayar, Francis Neat, James A. Nelson, Michael Paul Nelson, Boris P. Nikolov, Rym Nouioua, Collins Ayine Nsor, Michael O' Connor, Edward Adzesiwor Obodai, Amy Marie Offland, Romà Ogaya, Hisako Ogura, Thomas A. Okey, Julian D. Olden, Luiz Gustavo Rodrigues Oliveira-Santos, Jeffrey C. Oliver, Esben Moland Olsen, Vladimir G. Onipchenko, Daniel Oro, Dais Ozolins, Krzysztof Pabis, Bachisio Mario Padedda, Facundo X. Palacio, Alain Paquette, Sinta Trilestari Pardede, David M. Patersib, Sarah Pausina, Raphaël Pélissier, Steven C. Pennings, Josep Penuelas, Felipe Walter Pereira, Nivaldo Peroni, Sergio Picó, Francesca Pilotto, Hudson Tercio Pinheiro, Oscar Pizarro, Roberto Pizzolotto, Francesco Pomati, Paulo Santos Pompeu, Dominique Ponton, Eric Post, Nicolas Poulet, Juha Pöyry, Steven J. Presley, Herbert H. T. Prins, Pieter Provoost, Kathleen L. Prudic, Vignesh Punjayil, Petr Pyšek, Pascal Querner, Juan Pablo Quimbayo, Indar W. Ramnarine, Daniel C. Reed, Peter Bernard Reich, Suzanne M. Remillard, Cerren Richards, Anthony James Richardson, Itai Van Rijin, Victor H. Rivera-Monroy, Christian Rixen, Kevin Peter Robinson, Ricardo Rocha, Ricardo R. Rodrigues, Cassy Rodrigues, Bjørn De Roos, Denise De C. De Rossa-Feres, Loreta Rosselli, Peter Charles Rothlisberg, Ana Rubio, Lars G. Rudstam, Catalina S. Ruz, Nancy B. Rybicki, Gunther Van Ryckegem, Andrew L. Rypel, Jon P. Sadler, Victor Satoru Saito, Sofia Sal, Renato Portela Salomão, Nathan J. Sanders, Flavio A. M. Santos, Tiago Gomes Dos Santos, Swapan Kumar Sarker, Sara E. Scanga, Marcus Schaub, Jochen Schmidt, Inger Kappel Schmidt, Robert L. Schooley, Alfred Schultz, Alberto Scotti, Amanda Serpell-Stevens, Filipe C. Serrano, Elizabeth H. Shadwick, Matthew Shaft, Thomas W. Sherry, Erika Mayumi Shimabukuro, Jacek Siciński, Caya Sievers, Fernando Rodrigues Da Silva, Ana Carolina Da Silva, Juliana M. Silveira, Tadeu Siqueira, Arunkumar Kavidapadinjattathil Sivadasan, Prasad Theruvil Parambil Sivan, Agnija Skuja, Amalia L. Slaughter, Jasper A. Slingsby, Joseph R. Smith, Bruno Eleres Soares, Martin Solan, Flaviana Maluf Souza, Gabriel B. G. Souza, Joshua L. Sprague, Ulrich Stachow, J. John Stadt, Christopher D. Stallings, Radoslav Hristov Stanchev, Emily H. Stanley, Brian M. Starzomski, Jose Mauro Sterza, Maarten Stevens, F. Gary Stiles, Stefan Stoll, Rick D. Stuart-Smith, Yzel Rondon Súarez, Laura Super, Sarah R. Supp, Tapio Sutela, Iain M. Suthers, Anna Suuronen, Kerrie M. Swadling, Daniel K. Szydlowski, Hisatomo Taki, Sara Jeanne Snell Taylor, Pablo A. Tedesco, Nils Teichert, Akira Terui, Gary P. Thiede, Anne Thimonier, Oliver Thomas, Peter Allan Thompson, Simon Thorn, Jeremy S. Tiemann, Luís Felipe Toledo, Anne Tolvanen, Maria Teresa Zugliani Toniato, Ignasi Torre, Marcos Adriano Tortato, Kumiko Totsu, Andrew Trant, Robert R. Twilley, Hirokazu Urabe, Pierre Valade, Nelson Valdivia, Martha Isabel Vallejo, Thomas J. Valone, Jan Vanaverbeke, Tiago Silveira Vasconcelos, Teppo Vehanen, Fábio Venturoli, Hans M. Verheye, Hendrik Jannes Wietse Vermeulen, Arne Verstraeten, Marcelo Vianna, Rui Vieira, João Paulo Santos Vieira-Alencar, Marc Vilella, Jean Ricardo Simões Vitule, Lien Van Vu, Robert B. Waide, Paige S. Warren, Joseph Paul Wayman, Sara L. Webb, Benjamin Weigel, Ellen A. R. Welti, Fritha West, Fulgor Westermann, Matthew A. Whalen, Ethan P. White, Claire E. Widdicombe, Richard Williams, Mark Williamson, Michael R. Willig, Sonja Wipf, Eric J. Woehler, Alje Woldering, Kerry D. Woods, Wu-Bing Xu, Ruthy Yahel, Zeren Yang, Kyle J. A. Zawada, Camila Zornosa-Torres, Assaf Zvuloni

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Motivation: Here, we make available a second version of the BioTIME database, which compiles records of abundance estimates for species in sample events of ecological assemblages through time. The updated version expands version 1.0 of the database by doubling the number of studies and includes substantial additional curation to the taxonomic accuracy of the records, as well as the metadata. Moreover, we now provide an R package (BioTIMEr) to facilitate use of the database.

Main Types of Variables Included: The database is composed of one main data table containing the abundance records and 11 metadata tables. The data are organised …

The Impact Of Wild Pigs (Sus Scrofa) On Avian Occupancy And Vegetation Structure, Kenneth Wilson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Invasive species, particularly wild pigs (Sus scrofa), pose a significant threat to native ecosystems through both direct and indirect impacts. Wild pigs are large-bodied omnivorous species that can consume a wide variety of plants and animals and are known for destructive foraging behaviors, which likely threatens avian communities through habitat alteration and can impact the long term structure of ecosystems where they are present.

In chapter 1, we used a combination of avian point count surveys, vegetation assessments, and camera trap surveillance to quantify how the occupancy of breeding birds in bottomland hardwood forests changed in relation to …

Assessing Comprehension And Competence In Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus) On The Concept: Do Something Different, Charlotte M. Mulligan

Theses and Dissertations

Many studies have been conducted using a training paradigm based on the research of Pryor et al. (1969) wherein the participants are trained on the abstract concept: do something different. This paradigm challenges working memory and requires the participants to respond with a behavior, either previously trained or novel, which has not yet been offered within the session. The work of Braslau-Schneck (1994) expanded this concept and demonstrated the ability of dolphins to successfully complete this task in synchronized pairs, though the method of accomplishing this task remained unclear. The present research was conducted as part of a broader …

Postweaning Skull Growth In Living Didelphid Marsupials: The Case Of Gracilinanus Agilis And Cryptonanus Chacoensis, Iveth A. Villalobos Guerrero, Noé U. De La Sancha

DePaul Discoveries

Ontogeny is described as the history of an organism through its lifetime including development, growth, and allometry. The ontogenetic approach in cranial dimensions has proved useful in interpreting evolutionary patterns. Among the largest Didelphidae family of Neotropical marsupials, the species of Gracilinanus agilis and Cryptonanus chacoensis are poorly known. In this study, we address three questions; Is there sexual dimorphism in these species? What is the pattern of allometry? Which allometric patterns best describe the patterns in the skull and mandible? We applied geometric morphometrics to describe and test these differences using MorphoJ. A discriminant function analysis was performed to …

A Comparison Of Shaping And Imitation For Reducing A Dog’S Problem Behavior, Carlee Weir, Robbie Hanson

Theses

Over one million dogs have entered shelters in 2024 alone with approximately 31% of those dogs being relinquished by their owners (Shelter Animal Count, 2024). Further, non-aggressive behavioral issues are often cited as a primary cause for owner relinquishment (Best Friends Network Partners, 2018; Howard & DiGennaro Reed, 2014). Previous research has shown the effectiveness of training methods based on positive reinforcement to reduce problematic behavior with dogs and to increase desirable behavior, such as shaping and clicker training, and there has been a growing interest in the use of imitation during training. Fugazza and Miklosi (2015) compared a shaping …

Vigilance And Foraging Behaviors Of Two Sciurid Species Between College Campuses And Urban Environments, Patrick Geyer, Zoe Buffington, Lorelei E. Patrick

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

A comparison between the extent that sciurid specimens display vigilance and foraging behaviors on college campuses against specimens within urban environments. Observations of fox squirrels and western gray squirrels were taken from the Squirrel-Net behavioral database used for this project. We found there was a significant difference between the percent vigilance behaviors and foraging behaviors on college campuses compared to urban environments. This suggests that squirrels residing on college campuses are more desensitized to pedestrian activity and foot traffic compared to squirrels that inhabit urban areas.

Materials And Methods Developed For The Recording And Analysis Of Behavior In The Common Marmoset (Callithrix Jacchus)., Christian Wintle

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Materials and methods developed for the recording and analysis of behavior in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus).

Christian J. Wintle^a, Jordan B. Hernandez^a,b,c, Dobromir Dotov^d, and Jonathan B. Clayton^a,b,e,f,g

^aDepartment of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA

^bNebraska Food for Health Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA

^cDepartment of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, NE, USA

^dDepartment of Biomechanics, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA

^eDepartment of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, …

Impact Of Equine Interaction During Psychotherapy On Anxiety And Depression For Residential Treatment Program Patients Experiencing Substance Withdrawal, Molly M. Friend, Molly C. Nicodemus, Clay Cavinder, Caleb Lemley, Pauline Prince, Katherine A. Cagle-Holtcamp, Rebecca M. Swanson

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

As incidences of substance use disorders (SUD) increase in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a need for more effective treatment approaches. Further, treatment approaches currently available struggle to retain patients during the period of substance withdrawal in early treatment due to patients’ withdrawal symptoms including increased feelings of anxiety and depression. Withdrawal symptoms have been linked to dysregulated cortisol concentrations present in this period. Psychotherapy incorporating equine interaction (PIE) has emerged in other populations as a treatment that decreases cortisol concentrations and improves treatment retention. The present study investigated the impact of 4 weeks of PIE on …

Multi-Year Effectiveness Of Pzp-22 In Free-Roaming Suburban White-Tailed Deer, Allen T. Rutberg, Kali M. Pereira, Kayla A. Grams, John W. Turner Jr.

Human–Wildlife Interactions

To address the challenge that is posed to the use of fertility control to mitigate human–deer (Cervidae) conflicts by the need to regularly re-inoculate free-roaming animals, we captured, ear-tagged, and hand-injected 68 individual adult female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) with the PZP-22 immunocontraceptive vaccine from February through April, 2014 to 2017, in the Village of Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, USA. Approximately 2.5 years after initial treatments, we booster-darted 29 of the previously treated females with either PZP-22 or native PZP (ZonaStat-D). We observed fawn production between 2014 and 2021. The combination of initial PZP-22 hand-treatments followed by single dart-delivered PZP …

A Year Of Wins For Farmed Animals, Lewis Bollard

General – Farm Animal Issues

Although the European Union shelved its ambitious farmed animal welfare reforms, there were other “wins” for farmed animals in 2023. There were 130 new corporate pledges to eliminate cages for laying hens and the worst abuses of broiler chickens. So far, over 1,000 corporate pledges have been fully implemented, and 39% of American hens, 60% of European hens, and 80% of British hens are cage-free, up from 6%, 41%, and 48%, respectively, a decade ago. The US Supreme Court upheld California’s Proposition 12, which bans the sale of eggs, pork, and veal from caged animals and their offspring in California. …

A Year Of Wins For Farmed Animals, Lewis Bollard

Nexus – UNEP – Animal Welfare, Environment, Sustainable Development

Although the European Union shelved its ambitious farmed animal welfare reforms, there were other “wins” for farmed animals in 2023. There were 130 new corporate pledges to eliminate cages for laying hens and the worst abuses of broiler chickens. So far, over 1,000 corporate pledges have been fully implemented, and 39% of American hens, 60% of European hens, and 80% of British hens are cage-free, up from 6%, 41%, and 48%, respectively, a decade ago. The US Supreme Court upheld California’s Proposition 12, which bans the sale of eggs, pork, and veal from caged animals and their offspring in California. …

The Influence Of Invasive Species On Fishers’ Satisfactions, Caroline M. Laplante

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Invasives species are prevalent and widespread in North America. Outdoor recreational activities, such as fishing, introduce a point in which humans may interact with invasive species and have to adapt their own behaviors. Bigheaded carp in the Missouri River below Gavin’s Point Dam are a group of invasive fish species that were thought to be negatively relating to recreational fishers’ satisfactions. Using a content analysis and an importance-grid, we conclude that invasive species do not strongly relate to recreational paddlefish fishers’ satisfactions. Paddlefish fishers represent a small sub-set of recreational fishers in Nebraska and South Dakota. The content analysis revealed …

Comparing True Maternal And Paternal Care In Pair-Living, Ex-Situ Varecia Rubra (Red Variegated Lemurs) Contextualized Among Other Primate Cooperative Breeders, Payton Elizabeth Zuver

Dissertations and Theses

Observations of variegated lemurs in the wild have revealed a cooperative breeding strategy including extensive male care to young, primarily in the form of infant guarding. This thesis presents an analysis of the first quantitative assessment of true paternal and true maternal care from pair-housed, ex-situ red variegated lemurs (V. rubra) housed at the Lemur Conservation Foundation's Myakka City Lemur Reserve in western Florida. This study aims to answer specific research questions: How do paternal and maternal care compare when resources are abundant, and paternity is certain? Is male care instinctual? Is it driven by energetic necessity? If …

Comparing U.S. Groups’ Openness To Pro-Animal Actions, Jo Anderson, Zach Wulderk

USA

As animal advocates know, an outreach tactic that is successful with one person will not necessarily be successful with all people. Advocates rarely launch campaigns with no idea of who will be seeing their ‘asks’ (i.e., requests for pro-animal actions). Even in the case of passive tactics such as billboards, advocates may know who frequents that part of the city. For example, they may be near a university, meaning their audience will include a high proportion of students. The United States public is diverse and groups of people can differ greatly in their opinions. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, …

Anthropogenic Influences Of Play In The Green Monkeys Of Barbados, Rose Amrhein

2023 Midwest Ecology & Evolution Conference

There are multiple theories behind the evolutionary origins and functions of play behavior in the animal kingdom, all with varying levels of support. Some argue play originated as a byproduct of individuals having excess energy in a resource-rich environment while others argue it arose as a way for young individuals to enhance the physical and mental skills needed to survive into adulthood. Many believe that both these theories are coexisting and applicable to some degree. However, previous play studies usually focused on one group of organisms, failing to consider how animals’ environment directly impacts the structure of their play and …

Bringing Back Former Vegans And Vegetarians: An Obstacle Analysis, Jo Anderson, Coni Arévalo

Diet

People have a variety of motivations for switching to plant-based diets, yet not all people who begin the transition to a vegan or vegetarian (collectively called veg*n) diet maintain it long-term. In fact, Faunalytics’ study of current and former veg*ns (2014) found that the number of lapsed (former) vegans and vegetarians in the United States far surpasses the number of current veg*ns, and most who lapse do so within a year. Are these people the low-hanging fruit for diet advocates? They could be—there are many of them and they’re clearly at least somewhat willing to go veg*n, so maybe more …

Effects Of Social Context On Salivary Cortisol And Attention In Tufted Capuchins (Cebus [Sapajus] Apella), Andrew Desana

Master’s Theses

Social context alters cognitive performance, but the mechanisms for this remain unclear. One possibility is that stressors associated with social contexts mediate changes in cognitive performance by influencing attention. We conducted two experiments to investigate how social context affects performance on an attention task in capuchin monkeys (Cebus [Sapajus] apella). We additionally validated and measured physiological stress through salivary cortisol. In experiment one, capuchins were exposed to three conditions where they were either isolated or paired with an affiliative or agonistic social partner separated by a barrier. In experiment two, subjects received affiliative and agonistic conditions without barriers to allow …