Animal Sciences Commons^™

Tail Biting In The Nursery: Evaluating Postural, Spatial, And Behavioral Differences Between Tail Biter And Victim Pigs, Storey L. Forster

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study examined behavioral differences among pigs classified as tail biters, victims, or neutral during the nursery period. A total of 192 undocked nursery pigs were assigned to eight pens and monitored for 30 days using the NUtrack system. Tail biting events were identified from video observations, and pigs contributing to the top 25% of observed tail biting activity were classified as tail biters. Based on weekly tail scoring, pigs assigned a maximum tail injury score ≥ 2 were classified as victims. All other pigs were considered neutral. A total of 700 tail biting events were observed. Thirty-eight pigs …

Application Of High-Pressure Processing To Improve The Color Of Dark Beef, Kara Ann Reynolds

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Deviation of beef from the bright cherry-red color preferred by consumers is often discounted or discarded at retail, resulting in substantial annual economic loss to the beef industry. One such deviation is dark cutting beef, which is characterized by a darker lean appearance that is undesirable to consumers and often rejected. Similarly, beef from mature cattle tends to exhibit a darker surface color, which can also reduce consumer acceptability. High-Pressure processing (HPP) has been investigated as a strategy to improve the color of dark cutting beef. Previous studies have focused on identifying pressure levels and holding times that optimize color …

Factors Affecting The Efficacy Of Free Choice Vitamin & Mineral Supplementation Programs, Tanner K. Wansing

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

While free choice vitamin and mineral supplements are widely used within the cow/calf sector, large knowledge gaps exist around the proper management of those supplements. This thesis discusses two factors affecting the efficacy of supplementation. The first interest was the stability of vitamin A when stored with a common free choice mineral supplement. This research addressed a critical data gap by generating information on vitamin A stability within the beef industry, as current data are predominantly based in the swine industry. Vitamin A was discovered to be stable until 4 months of storage regardless of storage conditions, whereas after 4 …

Fisheries Management Paper No. 313: Western Australian Statewide Small Pelagic Scalefish Resource Harvest Strategy, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Management Papers

Harvest strategies for Western Australia’s (WA) aquatic resources are formal documents developed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD, the Department) to support decision-making processes that ensure the outcomes are consistent with the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD; Fletcher 2002a) and Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM; Fletcher et al. 2012).

Harvest strategies are a key component of all contemporary fishery management systems and a requirement for certification under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC; Marine Stewardship Council 2018). The objectives of ESD are reflected in the objects of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (FRMA).

This Statewide …

Long Term Changes In Elk Group Size And Composition (2002-2023) In Relation To Wolf Hunting Sucess, Kennedy Price

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Elk (Cervus elaphus) in Yellowstone National Park exist within a predator-prey system shaped by long-term interactions with wolves (Canis lupus). This predator-prey system represents an important model for understanding how predation influences ungulate behavior and social organization. Predators affect prey behavior through direct and indirect interactions and may cause long-term changes. What this study strives to answer is if predator success can have long term effects on prey grouping behavior and age-sex structure. In a previous study, wolves were found to be most successful hunting medium sized group of elk (20-49 individuals) in Yellowstone National Park. …

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Host: Fleas And The History Of Pikas In North America, Josh Pletcher

All NMU Master's Theses

Parasite phylogenetics can offer windows into the cryptic evolutionary history of hosts, often highlighting events that are not recorded by the phylogenetics of the host. Pikas (small lagomorphs) host a diverse parasite community comprising endoparasites (e.g., coccidians, nematodes, and cestodes) and ectoparasites (e.g., fleas and mites). Phylogenetic analysis of pika endoparasites has revealed pikas evolved in Asia and colonized North America in two waves, and that contact between these two pika lineages allowed parasites to be transferred from one lineage to another and to survive the extinction of their original host. To uncover these cryptic histories, understanding the biogeography of …

Influence Of Induced Brumation On Health And Stress Indicators In Captive Thamnophis Elegans, Preston Papa

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Reptiles that live in temperate environments undergo prolonged periods of inactivity and reduced metabolism called brumation to survive seasonal periods of cold. Garter snakes (Thamnophis spp.) are known for congregations during seasonal brumation and are often held in captivity for research or as pets. Additionally, changing climate has influenced the brumation period of temperate reptiles including garter snakes all across North America. Understanding how natural populations may respond to changing environmental conditions such as shorter winters is important for conservation of the ecosystem. This study examined the health implications of artificially inducing brumation in garter snakes (Thamnophis …

Gaining Mussel: Evaluating Reintroduction Success Of Native Freshwater Mussels In Nebraska And Eastern Wyoming, Travis A. Moore

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

Freshwater mussels are one of the most imperiled groups of organisms in North America, with over two-thirds of species considered threatened, endangered, or of special concern. These long-lived bivalves are essential to stream ecosystems, acting as filter feeders that improve water quality and as indicators of aquatic health. In Nebraska and Wyoming, native mussel populations have declined sharply due to habitat modification, pollution, and reduced connectivity. Two species of particular concern are the Plain Pocketbook Lampsilis cardium, listed as Tier I at-risk in Nebraska, and the Fatmucket Lampsilis siliquoidea, a Tier II at-risk species. In response, state agencies …

Honeybee Colony Response To Probiotic Supplementation And Grazing Practices, Katya M. Busenitz

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Honeybee health is a complicated issue. Studies were conducted to scale honeybee (Apis mellifera) health from the microbiome to the landscape. Colony health parameters were measured in response to probiotic administration. Colony capped brood production, colony summer weight gain, and Varroa mite incidence were measured. I found that applications of over-the-counter probiotics did not improve the measured parameters of honeybee health compared to a control group. Results suggest that probiotic application was not beneficial but positive benefits may depend on application method, brand, or strain of probiotics used. I also examined how colony health metrics responded to different …

Linking North American Demographic Trends To Mexican Non-Breeding Grounds In A Migratory Warbler, Majuwana Gamage Dulanthi Dileka Kariyawasam

Theses and Dissertations

Migration enables species to exploit seasonal resources despite high energetic costs and mortality risks, making it a key focus for conservation under environmental change. I investigated migratory connectivity in Orange-crowned Warblers using stable hydrogen isotopes (δ²H) from feathers collected at nine non-breeding sites across Mexico. Results indicated generally weak connectivity (MC = 0.18), with most sites hosting individuals from six breeding clusters across Canada and the United States. However, one northwestern breeding group showed strong connectivity, suggesting crosswise migration to eastern Mexico. By integrating these findings with long-term Breeding Bird Survey data, I detected contrasting population trends, with Pacific Coast …

Effects Of Serum And Commercial Serum-Free Media On Development Of In Vitro Produced (Ivp) Embryos In Cattle, Kyla Miller

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Serum-containing media has been shown to increase incidence of large offspring syndrome and to alter gene expression, protein synthesis, and cell signaling. These factors together can result in increased pregnancy loss when combined with assisted reproduction technologies. However, there are very few direct comparisons of commercial serum-free media (IVF Bioscience™) and serum-containing media on both IVF and cloned embryo development in cattle. The aim of this study was to determine the role of serum in oocyte maturation and subsequent embryo development. Three culture systems, including in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro culture (IVC), were used in this study. Both …

Assessing The Potential Of Taming Chicken Gut Commensal Bacteria Using Random Transposon Mutagenesis, Arjun Chapagain

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The chicken gut microbiome comprises hundreds of bacterial species whose functional roles remain largely unknown, in part because the tools needed to experimentally manipulate these organisms in their native community context have not been systematically developed or validated. This dissertation addresses the gap through three connected research chapters that progressively build a framework for transposon-based genetic delivery in the chicken cecal microbiome, moving from community-wide accessibility mapping to vector optimization to library preparation refinement. In Chapter 2, we established the community-level insertion landscape in chicken cecal metagenome using Himar transposon delivery via RP4 conjugation and aligned Tn-seq reads to a …

Ontogeny And The Effects Of Perinatal Stress In The First Immature Skeleton Of Teleoceras Aepysoma (Perissodactyla, Rhinocerotidae), Joe Gajewski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recovery of an immature fossil rhinoceros (Teleoceras aepysoma) skeleton (ETMNH 32999) from the Gray Fossil Site in Tennessee offers the first insights into the ontogeny of the species. ETMNH 32999 is interpreted to be a subadult male in an age class equivalent to ~17-20% of potential lifespan. Comparative analyses support the hypothesis that subadults of related taxa are typically ~91% of average adult size in most dimensions. However, certain cranial dimensions are substantially lower than expected in ETMNH 32999, averaging only ~74% of the average conspecific adult. Such departure from typical growth rates is suggested to be attributable …

Ecological Responses To Living Shoreline Restoration, Aaron S. Bland

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Coastal built communities and natural coastal ecosystems face similar and interrelated hazards: shoreline sediment erosion, shoreline retreat, and worsening storms, each of which is exacerbated by relative sea level rise. Living shorelines are coastal defense projects that incorporate natural habitats to provide more sustainable shoreline defense and improve the coastal ecosystem. Living shorelines have been widely adopted, but their performance has been highly variable, and the mechanisms of project success and failure are unclear. The overarching goal of this dissertation was to better understand the ecosystem responses to coastal restoration, focusing on the primary habitats of coastal salt marsh and …

2nd Place Research Paper: Shaping The Ape: Storytelling, Cultural Reflection, And Boundary Negotiation In Human-Ape Zoo Encounters, Abigail Bond Halling

Kevin and Tam Ross Undergraduate Research Prize

The typical Western zoo functions as a unique environment in which animals are frequently positioned as subjects of education and entertainment through the medium of storytelling. In this sense, the zoological institution can also be read as an extension of popular Western constructions surrounding nonhuman animals, particularly those who are symbolically charged characters in our collective imaginary– the great apes. Given the morphological, behavioral, and psychological similarities between humans and other great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans), nonhuman great ape enclosures at the Western zoo become spaces where humans are most radically confronted with navigating the boundaries of the “human-animal …

Understanding Vaccine Hesitancy In Veterinary Medicine: A Review Of Client Attitudes, Grace Moore

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Uncertainty toward vaccination, long recognized as a public health concern in human medicine, is increasingly recognized within veterinary contexts, posing risks to both animal and community health. This literature review examines the development, causes, and implications of reduced vaccine confidence in veterinary medicine, with emphasis on small animal and some large animal practices. The review combines historical and current research to explore how vaccination perceptions have evolved among veterinarians and clients, and how factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic have shaped current attitudes.

The literature highlights recurring themes surrounding vaccine reluctance in veterinary settings. Client perceptions of safety, efficacy, and …

Creatures Of Habit? Impact Of Chick Feeder Tray Location On Feed Consumption At 0-7 Days Of Age, Emily Kate Green

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Early chick nutrition is critical for establishing target growth performance characteristics in broiler chickens. This study evaluated factors within commercial broiler houses that potentially influence feed consumption during the first 7 days. Three trials were conducted in a 12.2 x 122 m commercial broiler house to assess the effects of house sectioning, spatial barriers, and feedline location. In Trial 1, a one-way experimental design was used in which the house was divided into four equal sections using migration fencing every 30.5 m. House sections served as a fixed factor. Feed was provided using chick trays placed beneath the feed line …

Developing An Independent Shallow-Water Survey For The Western Rock Lobster Fishery: Tracking Pre-Recruitment Abundance And Habitat Change, Lucy Rudd, Simon De Lestang, Owen Young, Benjamin Hebiton

Fisheries Research Reports

Background

Puerulus settlement has proven to be a good forecaster of legal recruitment of Western Rock Lobster entering into the commercial and recreational fisheries. However, in 2011, this relationship broke down, with average puerulus settlement levels not being reflected in commercial catch rates four years later. Some northern areas showed unexpectedly low catch rates, while other southern areas showed unexpectedly high catch rates. Since this change followed the 2011 marine heatwave, it was assumed that this event changed some component(s) which were important to the growth and survival of juvenile lobsters. It was determined that a better understanding of this …

Feeding Ecology In Coastal Systems, Randi L. Cannon

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Oysters (Crassostrea virginica) are critical foundation species in estuaries, providing numerous ecological and economic benefits. However, oyster populations have diminished worldwide. Effective oyster restoration and aquaculture require a mechanistic understanding of the physiological and environmental factors that govern oyster feeding, growth, and resilience under changing coastal conditions. We investigated how oyster ploidy and environmental conditions influenced oyster feeding and investigated how changes in abiotic conditions affected behavioral performance of oyster drills (Stramonita spp.), a key oyster predator. To better understand feeding responses and behaviors of both predator and prey we 1) used in-situ filter feeding assays to determine if feeding …

Landscape Connectivity And Wildlife Access To Water Across An International Border: Barriers And Opportunities For Facilitating Transboundary Movement, Bogdan Chivoiu, Erin L. Koen, Michael J. Osland, Christopher A. Gabler, Jerald T. Garrett, Ernesto Reyes, Stephanie A. Bilodeau, Mitch A. Sternberg, Jude A. Benavides, James Martinez

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Rapid global acceleration in the construction of physical barriers along international borders has greatly influenced biodiversity and animal movement. Physical barriers can fragment landscapes, hinder access to essential resources, impact long-distance migrations, and inhibit dispersal and gene flow. The effects of physical barriers on animal movement and landscape connectivity can be exacerbated in dryland environments where access to water is a limiting factor. In recent decades, the construction of border barrier infrastructure has accelerated along the international boundary between the United States and Mexico. Here, we used a landscape connectivity model to investigate the effects of barriers on wildlife access …