Symposium Proceedings

 

Note: Presentations are grouped by the student’s area of research (based on the faculty mentor’s academic department), not the student’s academic major.

 

Poster Session A: 

8:00 - 9:00 am

Animal and Food Science; Integrative Biology; Natural Resource Ecology and Management; Physiological Sciences; and Veterinary Pathobiology (50 posters)

 

Presentations:

 

A-01     Lauren Chaney

Research Presentation Title:  Bacterial Small Noncoding RNAs affecting Gene Expression in Eukaryotes

Faculty Research Mentor:  Darren Hagen, Animal and Food Sciences

 

Wolbachia is a highly studied bacteria found in over 70% of insects around the world. Based on recent research in Dr. Hagen’s lab he suggests that Wolbachia bacteria causes disruption in host’s reproduction abilities due to small noncoding RNAs binding to the host's DNA. This phenomenon is known as cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) and theoretically affects the way the host expresses genes. Similar research conducted by a fellow undergraduate student suggests the small RNAs produced by Wolbachia bind to Drosophila protein coding genes. This will cause a derangement in the protein expression of the Drosophila helping to explain cytoplasmic incompatibility. The goal of this project has allowed for further investigation into the relationships between bacterial small noncoding RNAs with protein coding genes in insects. Previous research in the Hagen Lab has shown evidence that several small noncoding RNAs could have binding potential to protein coding genes. The RNA library pools from Drosophila cells and Drosophila cells infected with Wolbachia have been sequenced and analyzed. The analysis shows several potential candidate 3’UTR sequences. The plasmid, pAc5-DsRed2-Sv40, has been the base for this experiment. The pAc5 plasmid contains an ACT5C promoter, the DsRed fluorescent gene, and an ampicillin resistance gene. Different 3’UTR sequences have been added to the plasmid to compare hybridization rates of the small noncoding RNAs. Each plasmid type will be transfected into Drosophila cells, one set infected and the other uninfected. If the small noncoding RNAs of the Wolbachia hybridize to the Drosophila protein coding genes then it is predicted to see an absence or decrease in the fluorescent protein expression. We will be able to recognize the small RNA as nontargeting if the small RNAs are not hybridizing or are low in numbers. With the use of different 3’UTR sequences we will be able to strengthen hybridization of different small RNAs to the Drosophila protein coding genes, reducing the amount of non-targeting RNAs. The more we understand about the significance between bacterial noncoding small RNAs and eukaryotic protein coding genes, the more questions we can answer about the linkage between bacteria affecting animal and human health.  

 

A-02     Isabelle Davison

Research Collaborators:  Alexis Main

Research Presentation Title:  Production genotype and seasonal impacts on beef steer calves’ immune phenotype

Faculty Research Mentor:  Janeen Salek-Johnson, Animal and Food Sciences

 

The beef cattle industry utilizes spring and fall calving seasons, which pose different challenges, mainly climatic and nutritional stressors. Additionally, intense genetic selection for growth further exacerbates the energetic cost of coping with environmental stressors, often resulting in a shift in energy allocations from growth to support the immune system. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of season (spring versus fall) and growth trait (high versus moderate) on calves’ immune phenotype. Spring- and fall-born calves sired by bulls selected for high (n=13 and n=17, respectively) or moderate growth (n=25 and n=19) were used. Body weights and blood and serum samples were collected and analyzed at three-time points: processing (3-4 months of age), weaning (6-7 months of age), and 60 days post-wean (DPW). Data were analyzed using PROC GLM with fixed effects of growth and season. At all-time points, spring steers weighed more than fall (p<0.0001). Plasma cortisol was differentially affected by season at weaning, with fall-born calves having higher concentrations than spring (p < 0.0001). However, by 60DPW, fall and spring were similar but moderate- tended to have greater concentrations than high-growth steers (p = 0.077). Interestingly, at each time point, immunoglobulin-G concentrations followed the same pattern (p ≤ 0.0001; growth × season), with concentrations consistently greater in the high-growth spring-born steers than in moderate ones. Conversely, the fall-born moderate-growth steers had higher concentrations than high ones. When comparing immunoglobulin-G concentrations between seasons, moderate growth was consistently greater in the fall than in the spring. However, no difference was seen between high-growth steers in the spring and fall. At branding, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) indicated that stress response was greater in the high-growth steers than in the moderate ones (p = 0.0231), while the spring-born calves had greater NLR than fall steers (p < 0.0001). By weaning, NLR only tended to be greater in fall steers than spring ones (p = 0.0673) but not different in 60DPW. These results indicate that the immune phenotype of calves selected for high or moderate growth is differentially affected by their birth season.  

 

A-03     Kinley De Leon

Research Collaborators:  Melanie Whitmore, Glenn Zhang

Research Presentation Title:  Synergistic Induction of Chicken Host Defense Peptide Synthesis by Imatinib and Butyrate

Faculty Research Mentor:  Glenn Zhang, Animal and Food Sciences

 

As antimicrobial resistance becomes a major healthcare concern, antibiotics have been banned from the U.S. livestock production, making it increasingly important to find antibiotic-free strategies to disease control and prevention. One promising approach involves boosting innate immunity by triggering the production of host defense peptides (HDPs), which act as the first line of defense against invading pathogens. A high-throughput screening assay has identified a variety of epigenetic compounds capable of enhancing HDP gene expression. These epigenetic compounds regulate gene expression and host response by modifying DNA and DNA-associated histones through processes like methylation, acetylation, and phosphorylation. Notably, our lab revealed that different classes of epigenetic compounds act synergistically to increase HDP gene expression. We hypothesize that chicken HDPs can be synergistically enhanced by the combination of butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid and histone deacetylase inhibitor, and imatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that suppresses histone phosphorylation.  To investigate the regulation of HDP gene expression by butyrate and imatinib, chicken HTC macrophages were treated with butyrate and imatinib individually or in combination for 24 hours. Total RNA was extracted and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) performed to analyze HDP gene expression using the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene as the reference for calculation of fold changes in gene expression. Three independent experiments were performed. We revealed that, while both butyrate and imatinib are each capable of inducing HDP gene expression, the combination showed a strong synergistic effect. Multiple chicken HDP genes, including AvBD1, AvBD4, AvBD7, AvBD9, and CathB1, were synergistically induced by butyrate and imatinib in HTC macrophages. For example, butyrate or imatinib alone enhanced AvBD9 gene expression by less than 150-fold; however, the combination resulted in an approximately 13,000-fold increase in AvBD9 expression. By leveraging their synergistic properties, butyrate and imatinib may represent an innovative antibiotic-free solution to infectious diseases, while addressing the challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance. 

 

A-04     Faith Howe

Research Collaborators:  Ping Xiao, Anna Goldkamp

Research Presentation Title:  The Impact of Long Non-coding RNA on Cell Cycle Regulation

Faculty Research Mentor:  Darren Hagen, Animal and Food Sciences

 

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been linked to the regulation of the cell cycle. Although AL353138 and LINC01670 are known to be associated with cell cycle regulation, their specific role remains unknown. In order to determine how they affect the cell cycle, we utilized RNA interference (RNAi) to knock them down in human fibroblasts (n = 12 AL353138, n = 12 LINC01670). Samples then underwent RNA sequencing, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were determined using the edgeR R package (false discovery rate (FDR) <  0.05, log-fold change (LFC) < -1.5 or LFC > 1.5).

Throughout the study, 526 DEGs were observed. Of these, 50 DEGs were unique to the AL353138 knockdown. Of which 11 were downregulated (FDR < 0.05, LFC > -1.5) and 39 (were upregulated FDR < 0.05, LFC < 1.5). Additionally, 346 DEGs were unique to the LINC01670 knockdown. Of these, 100 were downregulated (FDR < 0.05, LFC > -1.5) and 246 were upregulated (FDR < 0.05, LFC < 1.5). Furthermore, 130 DEGs were common to both AL353138 and LINC01670 knockdowns. Of which, 4 DEGs were downregulated (FDR < 0.05, LFC > -1.5) and 126 were upregulated (FDR < 0.05, LFC < 1.5). DEGs will soon undergo functional annotation using enrichr. This could provide a better understanding of how lncRNAs dysregulate the cell cycle and contribute to a greater understanding of the function of specific lncRNAs.

 

A-05     Hays McDonald

Research Collaborators:  C. Johnson, T. Vining, M. Major, G. Lamberti, M. Lopes, N. Bonmann, J. Moraes, and P. Beck

Research Presentation Title:  Effects of sire selection on puberty and reproduction of offspring selected as replacement heifers

Faculty Research Mentor:  Paul Beck, Animal and Food Sciences

 

Sire selection is important to maintain desired genetic capability of any cattle herd; therefore, selection of economic traits affect profitability by increasing pre- and post-weaning gain and carcass quality potential. Using heifers developed from sires selected for growth and milk traits may have long-term impact on sustainability of the cowherd by influencing mature cow size and milk production.  Our objective was to determine impacts of sires selected for high and moderate growth and high and low milk traits on growth and reproductive performance of replacement heifers. Therefore, we selected replacement heifers sired by bulls within the upper 5^th and 50^th percentiles of the Angus breed for yearling weight (YW) EPD as high growth (HG) moderate growth (MG), the upper 15^th percentile of the Angus breed for milk EPD as high milk (HM), and the lower 15^th percentile for low milk (LM) in a 2×2 factorial design resulting in 4 treatments: HG/HM, HG/LM, MG/HM, and MG/LM. Heifers (n = 46) from appropriate AI sires that were born and developed at OSU – Range Cow Research Center – South Range were selected as replacements. They were raised on a base diet of dry, dormant tall grass prairie, moderate quality grass hay following weaning and 2 kg/d of 16% crude protein concentrate supplement. Weights and biometrics were recorded at weaning and approximately 1-yr of age, and blood was collected 11 and 0 days before synchronization for progesterone analysis to determine pubertal status pre-breeding. Estrus was synchronized using the 14-day CIDR-PG with timed AI method followed by a 45-day natural service breeding period. Pregnancy checks were conducted by serum collection 35-d following AI and rectal palpation by a veterinarian 112 d after removal of the bulls. Statistical analyses were performed using the mixed procedure of SAS (SAS 9.4, SAS INC., Carey, NC). HG-sired heifers were 28kg heavier at weaning (P < 0.01) and 26kg heavier as yearlings (P < 0.01) than those sired by MG sires, while sire milk EPD affected neither (P ≥ 0.55). HG and HM sired heifers had greater hip heights, frame scores and thus greater (P ≤ 0.05) estimated mature body weight (EMBW). However, sire selection had no impact on percentage of heifers pubertal before breeding, AI pregnancy, or total pregnancy rates (P>0.24). In conclusion, selection of sires for HG and HM leads to increased productivity of offspring but gives rise to larger mature cows, which may pressure grazing resources in limited resource environments impacting long-term sustainability of the cow-calf enterprise.

 

A-06     Olivia Musslewhite

Research Collaborators:  Cassidy Reddout

Research Presentation Title:  Effect of Stress on Immune Response to a Parasitic Infection During Gestation

Faculty Research Mentor:  Janeen Johnson, Animal and Food Sciences

 

Pigs face many stressors throughout their lifetime, including social, temperature, and pathogens, all of which have been shown to affect their health and wellbeing. Keeping pigs healthy is vital to the efficiency of the swine production industry and should, therefore be held at a very high importance. The common belief is that high cortisol levels (stress) can suppress the immune system, thus rendering the animal more susceptible to infection or disease. This study aimed to investigate the impact of stress during mid-gestation on a pig’s immune response to a roundworm infection, a common infection in the swine industry. A 2x2 factorial design was implemented with independent variables of infection status (worms vs. no worms) and cortisol treatment (cortisol/stress vs. placebo/control). The gilts were fed hydrocortisone acetate capsules or placebo twice daily during mid-gestation for 21 days. Blood samples were collected for the gilts at 0, 7, and 21 days during the cortisol treatment period and analyzed to determine levels of cortisol, immunoglobulin E (IgE), Interleukin-17 (IL-17), Interleukin 4 (IL-4), and Interferon-gamma (IFN-y). The results for the sows demonstrated an interactive effect of maternal stress by infection that occurred for plasma IgE concentrations (p < 0.06), with plasma IgE being lower in the cortisol-treated and infected animals than in the non-infected ones. Cortisol, INF, IL-4, and IL-17 cortisol were not different (p > 0.10). However, at 21 days post-treatment, the cortisol-treated and infected gilts had lower IL4 than the non-infected ones (p = 0.05), while INF was suppressed in cortisol-treated gilts only (p = 0.05). In the piglets, those born to infected control gilts had higher (p = 0.017) cortisol than those born to stressed or non-infected ones. INF was suppressed (p < 0.10) in those born to infected gilts regardless of cortisol treatment. These results demonstrate that cortisol treatment may play a role in helping gilts cope with worm infection and that there was a carryover effect among the progeny.

 

A-07     Morgan Patterson

Research Collaborators:  Lily Hernandez, Alexis Main

Research Presentation Title:  The impact of prenatal stress on microbiome signature on the immune and welfare status of progeny

Faculty Research Mentor:  Janeen Salak-Johnson, Animal and Food Sciences

 

As maternal stress during the gestation period increases, offspring are more exposed to neurodevelopmental and gastrointestinal disorders (Appleton, 2018). The fetal development of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, also known as the stress axis, has been shown to have a lasting impact on the pathways between the brain and gut, ultimately influencing behavioral responses to stressors later in life (Jašarević et al., 2018). A fetus may be exposed to different microbial environments depending on the mother's stress exposure during pregnancy, including the type of stressor and when it occurs, further influences the microbial transfer from the dam to progeny. Moreover, exposure to the dam's microbial populations and the piglet's environment impacts the gut's colonization, as does the timing and frequency of exposure during gestational development. While there have been advances in understanding how pregnancy and maternal microbiota are transferred to the fetus, there are still several gaps. Specifically, one question is to determine if the transfer of maternal microbiota influences microbial diversity and development of physiological axes in the offspring post-natal. Therefore, it is vital to better understand the differential effects of chronic maternal stress and the period at which stress occurs on fetal development and microbial establishment, and the potential effect on progeny biological maturation. Sows were fed 70 mg of hydrocortisone acetate twice daily for 21 days during early, middle, or late gestation. Control sows were given a placebo during these same stages of gestation. Fecal samples were collected at birth from 4 piglets per litter and then weekly from 7 days old to 49 days of age. Fecal DNA was extracted using ZymoBIOMICS DNA Miniprep Kit following the manufacturer's instructions. Then, samples were sequenced using the Illumina sequencer at Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Data were analyzed using R to determine maternal and offspring groups' alpha and beta diversity, OTU grouping, and PCoA.

 

A-08     Coey Serapin

Research Collaborators:  Alexis Main, Cassidy Reddout-Beam, Janeen Salak-Johnson

Research Presentation Title:  Effects of Heat Stress on Primiparous Cow and Calf Immune Measures

Faculty Research Mentor:  Janeen Salak-Johnson, Animal and Food Sciences

 

Heat stress is a common problem in beef production which can have major impacts on cow reproductive and immune health. In utero, heat stress has been linked to long-term impacts of reduced birth weight and growth rate. This, combined with impaired passive and cell-mediated immune function in calves, reduces productivity, health, and overall well-being. This study aimed to determine the effect of heat stress on immune phenotype in late gestation of primiparous beef cows and their offspring. Thirty-four primiparous dams and their calves (n = 26 bulls; n = 7 heifers) were used. At calving, colostrum, whole blood, and serum samples were collected. Birth weights were recorded. Temperature and humidity data were collected (Mesonet) for 21 days, 7 days, and 3 days before calving, and the day of parturition (0 days). Thermal Heat Indexes (THI) were calculated from these averages and grouped into 4 heat stress scales: normal (<75), alert (75-78), danger (79-83), and emergency (>84). In dams, colostrum cortisol tended to be higher among those in the alert category than danger (p = 0.0828) when using 21-day averages. However, colostrum cortisol was higher among cows in the normal category than danger (p = 0.0987) when using 3-day averages. Neutrophil counts (p = 0.064) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR; p = 0.0742) tended to be higher among those cows in the danger category than normal when using the 0-day value, indicating that the ones in the danger category were more stressed based on these measures. In calves, the NLR of those born to cows in the danger category was higher than normal (p = 0.0417) at 0-day. The neutrophil percentage tended to be higher among those born to cows in the danger category than alert (p = 0.081), while the lymphocyte percentage tended to be lower among those born to cows in the danger category than alert (p = 0.0815) and normal (p = 0.057) at 0-day. It is evident from the immune phenotype of primiparous dams and their calves that there was an increased stress response to higher levels of heat stress closer to the day of parturition.

 

A-09     Sydney Speer, Liliana Porfirio

Research Collaborators:  Matthew Gorton, Adel Pezeshki

Research Presentation Title:  The Effect of Dietary Insulinogenic Amino Acid Restriction on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Neonatal Pigs

Faculty Research Mentor:  Adel Pezeshki, Animal and Food Sciences

 

Many commercial human infant formulas with a bovine milk-based protein source contain a protein content greater than what is naturally found in human breast milk. Prolonged consumption of protein greater than nutritional requirements in early infancy has been linked to increased risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes, which is characterized by decreased insulin sensitivity and impaired glucose homeostasis. Due to the negative impacts of low-protein diets on infant growth, their use in commercial formula is limited. Alternatively, dietary restriction of insulinogenic amino acids (IAA, i.e., Leu, Ile, Val, Thr, Phe, Arg, and Ala) may be considered. This study aimed to determine the impact of IAA restriction in formula on glucose and lipid metabolism in a neonatal piglet model for human infants. 32 seven-day-old Yorkshire barrows were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatment groups for 21 days: 1) NR: 0% IAA restriction; 2) R50: 50% IAA restriction; and 3) R75: 75% IAA restriction; with each diet being isonitrogenous and isocaloric. After 21 days, all animals were sacrificed, and liver, skeletal muscle, and white adipose tissue (WAT) samples were collected. Using RT-qPCR the expression of glucose and lipid metabolism and insulin signaling genes in target tissues was determined. Data were analyzed with Univariate GLM with Dunnett’s post-hoc (SPSS^®). Relative to NR, the R75 treatment group increased the mRNA abundance of key rate-limiting glycolytic enzymes and glucose transporters including hepatic glucose transport 1 (GLUT 1), hepatic pyruvate kinase (PFKL), hepatic pyruvate kinase liver type (PKLR), and WAT glucokinase (GCK). R50 increased the mRNA expression of hepatic and muscular PKLR. Insulin signaling markers significantly improved via increased mRNA of muscular serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT) and insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) when R75 was compared to NR. IAA restriction by 75% increased the mRNA expression of hepatic fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21), with R50 increasing the mRNA expression of hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (HADH). In conclusion, restriction of dietary IAA improved glucose and lipid metabolism in a neonatal piglet model likely through increasing the rates of glycolysis via upregulation of key glycolytic pathway enzymes, and gene expression of key enzymes involved in lipid metabolism. 

 

A-10     Feven Tesfaselassie

Research Collaborators:  Isabel Tobin

Research Presentation Title:  Ursolic Acid and Butyrate as Natural Antibiotic Alternatives

Faculty Research Mentor:  Glenn Chang, Animal and Food Sciences

 

Antimicrobial resistance is an urgent global health issue necessitating the development of effective antimicrobial alternatives for livestock and poultry production. This study aims to identify novel antimicrobial alternatives by inducing the synthesis of host defense peptides (HDPs), critical effector molecules of innate immunity with antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties. In this study, we investigated the ability of ursolic acid, a natural triterpene compound produced by various plants, to synergize with butyrate, a naturally occurring short-chain fatty acid, to induce HDP gene expression. Chicken HTC macrophage cells were stimulated with different concentrations of ursolic acid individually or in combination with sodium butyrate for 24 hours. Changes in HDP gene expression, including several avian β-defensins (AvBD) and cathelicidin-B1 (CATH-B1), were evaluated using RT-qPCR. Ursolic acid showed a strong synergy with butyrate to significantly induce the expression of multiple HDP genes in chicken HTC macrophage cells, suggesting the potential of ursolic acid and butyrate for further development as natural antibiotic alternatives for livestock and poultry.

A-11     Samuel Van Rhijn

Research Collaborators:  Gabriela Murphy, Anna Goldkamp, Maria Lopes, Nicolle Bonmann, Darren Hagen, Joao Moraes

Research Presentation Title:  Transcriptional Regulation of Bovine Conceptus Elongation

Faculty Research Mentor:  Joao Moraes, Animal and Food Sciences

 

The establishment of pregnancy is a well-regulated process that involves the development of a viable blastocyst, conceptus elongation, maternal recognition of pregnancy, implantation, and the onset of placentation. Pregnancy loss is a major factor limiting reproductive efficiency in livestock species. In cattle, most embryonic losses occur during the first month of gestation. The genetic and epigenetic regulation of embryonic and placental development in ruminants is still poorly understood. To investigate the transcriptome profile of the bovine conceptus during elongation, Angus heifers (n = 8) were superovulated and bred using semen from two proven high-fertile Bos indicus sires. Heifers were flushed on days 13-14 of gestation using a standard nonsurgical flushing technique. Recovered conceptuses were individually photographed and snap-frozen for total RNA extraction and bulk mRNA sequencing. Recovered conceptuses (n = 39) were classified based on size into ovoid (0.2 – 5mm; n = 6; pools 2-5 embryos), tubular (<15 mm; n = 7), or filamentous (>16mm; n = 7). Differentially expressed genes (DEG: FDR < 0.05) were determined using Edger analysis and were functionally annotated using ShinyGO 0.80. The most pronounced transcriptomic changes were identified between the ovoid and tubular stages, with 5,467 DEGs (2,802 upregulated and 2,665 downregulated) and affected pathways were primarily involved in ribosome and endoplasmic reticulum assembly, translation, and protein catabolic processes. Previous studies suggest that tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) target mRNA transcripts and play a role regulating gene expression, in the transition from Ovoid to tubular 6 down regulated tRFs targeting 635 DEGs were identified and 10 upregulated tRFs targeting 1,445 genes The transition between tubular to filamentous presented 559 DEGs (294 upregulated and 265 downregulated) and the significant pathways were involved in protein degradation, cell division, cell cycle, protein stabilization, and mRNA splicing. Our findings indicate that the greatest alterations in the transcriptome occur precisely at the initiation of elongation, suggesting that the bovine conceptus undergoes major structural changes at the outset of this process. This major shift in gene expression is presumed to be necessary to support the subsequent exponential growth phase of elongation, which is required for maternal recognition of pregnancy in ruminants.

A-12     Grace Baldwin

Research Collaborators:  Victoria Rhodes

Research Presentation Title:  Role of Medium Composition on Manganese Cytotoxicity in Rainbow Trout Gill Cells

Faculty Research Mentor:  Matteo Minghetti, Integrative Biology

 

Manganese toxicity is understudied even though levels above water quality criteria have been found in several locations. For instance, at Tar Creek superfund site located in northeast Oklahoma, levels up to 1500 μg/L were measured. Importantly, recent research has shown that the bioaccumulation of manganese in animals can lead to neurodegenerative diseases and syndromes including Parkinsonism. Therefore, to evaluate the toxicity of this metal in fish, we have used a model of the rainbow trout gill, RTgill-W1 cell line. Cells were seeded in 24 well plates at 250,000 cells/cm², incubated for 48 hours, and exposed to manganese for 24 hours in two different media.  The role of exposure medium composition was evaluated by manipulating the anionic composition so that one medium contained phosphate and the other did not. A chemical equilibrium model was used to determine the speciation of manganese in the different media. In L15/Ex manganese was present at 79.016% as free Mn, 0.029% as , 0.630% as  (aq), 4.057% as , 1.900% as , and 14.359% as . In Pfree manganese was present at 92.558% as free Mn, 0.028% as , 0.655% as  (aq), 4.484% as , 2.255% as , and 0.019% as . A multiple end point viability assay measuring metabolic activity, membrane integrity, and lysosome integrity was used to determine manganese cytotoxicity in RTgill-W1 cells. The results of this assay show that the cytotoxicity in the presence of phosphate was higher than in the absence of phosphate. This is unexpected because one would think that a medium which allows for more free ionic Mn would result in higher levels of cytotoxicity. Further research is needed to evaluate other factors of exposure medium such as the effects of calcium.

 

A-13     Aster Beaton

Research Collaborators:  Sawyer Shafer

Research Presentation Title:  Nutrient Life Cycles in Fruit Flies: Insight for Inquiry in the Secondary Science Classroom

Faculty Research Mentor:  Shawn Wilder, Integrative Biology

 

In modern scientific pedagogy, educational resources and standard principles have proven to be notably dynamic, especially in secondary education. In a given secondary science class, such as life science, numerous foundational ideas are to be conveyed within a very limited window that requires planning and cohesive strategy for linking previously understood and new concepts. Formatively instructing classes on various forms of natural occurrences and what they mean on a larger scale can be a challenge without a proper model to demonstrate core ideas through inquiry-based observations. A prominent example of this is the teaching of natural cycles in the environment, such as those related to various forms of life and how they interact with energy and nutrients. Common laboratory organisms, such as the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), provide model systems for testing a variety of questions and exposing students to the nature of science. To exemplify this, I will provide cultures of fruit flies with different nutrient treatments and test how they affect the population density and longevity of flies in the culture. This experiment will serve as a trial to examine which treatments may work well for a similar exercise in a classroom. I will also discuss how the results of this experiment can be translated to concepts for instructional material that would be used in a Secondary Life Science classroom to convey the principles of population dynamics and flexibility in animal life histories.  

 

A-14     Lana Daniels

Research Collaborators:  Isaac McEvoy

Research Presentation Title:  Effects of Weapon Deterioration on Fighting Outcomes in Pachylis neocalifornicus

Faculty Research Mentor:  Zachary Emberts, Integrative Biology

 

Competition is prevalent within the animal kingdom. These fights often occur between members of the same species over access to food resources and mating opportunities. Many of these species have evolved weapons, some of which can injure their competitors. High variability in these weapons exists both within and among species. Within species variation in weapon form has been largely attributed to genetic variation and rearing environment. However, the degree of weapon usage may also contribute to the variation in form observed within a wild population. This is due to the tendency for weapons to accumulate damage or wear from repeated use. Here, we provide experimental evidence that weapons in the giant mesquite bug Pachylis neocalifornicus can wear out from repeated use, and that this wear has important implications for dominance in fighting interactions. 

 

A-15     Hariette Diarra

Research Collaborators:  Bo Chang, Jamaal Jacobs

Research Presentation Title:  Impact of Habitat fragmentation on Connectivity using low and high Dispersers

Faculty Research Mentor:  Jamaal Jacobs, Integrative Biology

 

Habitat fragmentation is the breaking of one's habit to a smaller patched area. The process of habitat fragmentation has led to the loss of biodiversity in many habitats. Despite habitat fragmentation being considered a negative influence on biodiversity, some species benefit in areas after habitat fragmentation. Research in this field aims to uncover how characteristics such as differing abilities in dispersal affect abundance and distribution. Analyzing these trends contributes to a deeper comprehension of habitats and their influence on species' dispersal behaviors. For instance, if an environment is divided into two sections where one has abundant food while the other lacks it, species in the food-deprived area might struggle to reach the resource-rich section due to its geographical separation. Fragmentation sometimes could be considered a bad thing, due to it being harmful to biodiversity and affecting certain species. Due to certain specimens lacking the capability to disperse to certain resources to maintain a living. Filed studies are difficult due to experiments being costly and taking up space. The usage of C. elegans in this study is to help stimulate conditions and different patterns of fragmentations. By doing this it helps with looking at this expert to help see the effect distribution of species of different dispersal rates. When looking at the results of this experiment, the appearance of low dispersal C. elegans we noticed that typically do not tend to move out of the areas where they were originally planted. When looking at the high dispersal of C. elgans they tend to spread throughout the environment.

 

A-16     Connor Downs

Research Collaborators:  Calvin Schaefer, Erin Westeen

Research Presentation Title:  Influence of Feeding Ecology on the Skull Morphology of Venomous Snakes

Faculty Research Mentor:  Guin Wogan, Integrative Biology

 

Venom has evolved repeatedly across the Tree of Life and is an ecologically relevant phenotypic trait that is tied directly to the fundamental need for animals to acquire sustenance. Many aspects of the morphology of the venom delivery system have been shown to vary according to dietary specialization, and skull morphology may vary as well. Previous studies have investigated the role of dentition on morphological differences in snakes, and others have found differences in skull morphology within specific snake clades, but a broad scale study on how these factors may influence skull morphology in venomous snakes has not been attempted. The goal of this project is to examine how diet, venom composition, and dentition can influence variation in skull morphology in venomous snakes. We sampled a subset of venomous snake species across all venomous snake families from museum collections in addition to previously scanned snake skulls from Morphosource©. We used the R package “Squamatabase” to conduct a diet analysis by categorizing the selected snakes according to their dietary niche breadth. The three categories are: obligatory specialist, facultative specialist, and generalist. The snakes were also categorized by foraging mode, as either an ambush or active predator. We used microCT scanning to gather skull data from museum specimens. We then used Slicer3D to place physical landmarks on the skulls to create generalized meshes for every snake skull. We placed the same number of landmarks, in the same order, on homologous structures to capture the variance across snake families. We ran a phyloPCA (phylogenetic Principal Component Analysis) in R to examine the variation in skull morphology across the families. We analyzed the diet, skull, and foraging mode data with a phylogenetic ANOVA and phylogenetic signal (Bloomberg’s K) in R. We expect to see a significant correlation between foraging mode, diet, and skull morphology with the total sample size (n = 98). We will also use the ToxCodAn pipeline to explore if venom composition is significantly correlated with skull morphology. The data will allow us to potentially form a link between skull shape, diet, and venom profiles for the species in this study.  

 

A-17     Olivia Emerson, Grant Emerson

Research Collaborators:  Andrea Gensky

Research Presentation Title:  Studying the Auditory Impacts of Fragile X Syndrome on Mice

Faculty Research Mentor:  Elizabeth McCullagh, Integrative Biology

Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder and a primary genetic cause of autism. It is caused by a gene mutation and common symptoms include auditory hypersensitivity. In noisy environments, binaural hearing is used to determine sound source locations, which can be particularly difficult for individuals with FXS. FXS is hypothesized to originate from an imbalance in neural exhibition and inhibition, a key component of the ability to localize sounds, leading to a lesser ability to function in these hectic environments. In our project, we use a mouse model of FXS to better understand how FXS is affecting auditory sound localization ability. With the use of a reflexive behavioral paradigm, we can gain information regarding the FXS mouse’s response to sound. By using varying sound stimuli, we will test the mice’s prepulse inhibition (PPI) and acoustic startle response (ASR)1 . Ultimately, mice with FXS show delayed hearing development along with a lesser ability to inhibit a startle response. These issues may be seen around 12-14 days old (hearing onset begins) and 21 days old (another critical time point in auditory development). By studying mice with FXS, we can pinpoint when and how hearing development is affected and relate our findings to developmental delays seen in humans.

 

A-18     Avery Evans, Josh Mckinney, Kami Hill

Research Collaborators:  Margaret Emily New, Joseph Luberson, Elizabeth McCullagh

Research Presentation Title:  Arginine vasopressin (AVP), and oxytocin (OXT) expression on the brain sound localization circuit of small mammals with different social behavior strategies.

Faculty Research Mentor:  Elizabeth McCullagh, Integrative Biology

 

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXT) are both nonapeptide hormones known to regulate social behavior and are synthesized primarily in the hypothalamus. Although many studies have revealed the roles of AVP and OXT in mammals with different social behavior strategies, relatively few studies have provided a detailed analysis of the number of cells that contain AVP and OXT in different brain areas, especially in the brain sound localization circuits. We used immunohistochemistry to provide a detailed analysis of the number of AVP and OXT cells in regions of the auditory brainstem (LSO, MSO, and MNTB) of small mammals with three broad social classifications including solitary (Neotoma floridana, Dipodomys ordii, sigmodon hispidus), monogamous (Microtus ochrogaster, Onychomys leucogaster, Peromyscus maniculatus), and highly social (Rattus norvegicus, Cynomys ludovicianus, Mus musculus) species. We expected to see significantly more expression of AVP and OXT cells in the lateral superior olive (LSO), the medial superior olive (MSO) and the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) of highly social mammals compared to solitary mammals. We also expected that highly social mammals will have significantly larger MSO, LSO, and NMTB compared to both monogamous and solitary mammals. This study will extend previous findings, showing the size and approximately estimate the number of AVP and OXT cells in different sound localization brain pathways. 

 

A-19     Jorja Ford

Research Collaborators:  Elizabeth McCullagh, Jesse Hurd

Research Presentation Title:  Pinto bean and resistant starch supplementation on cognitive function and short and long-term memory

Faculty Research Mentor:  Elizabeth McCullagh, Integrative Biology

 

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which is worse in women than men, causes pathology progression and memory impairment. 70% of those affected by AD in the United States are women. Previous research has shown that the loss of estrogen women experience in menopause could be a trigger for AD and relate to the progression of more severe symptoms in postmenopausal women. Due to this previous research, this study investigates the effects of pinto bean (PB) and resistant starch (RS) supplementation on cognitive function and short and long-term memory in mice with an estrogen deficiency. To investigate this, thirty-two three-month-old female C57BL/6 mice were injected with vinyl cyclohexene dipoxide (VCD) or vehicle (VH) daily for 30 days  and randomly assigned to dietary treatment groups for 12 weeks (n=8/group): control (AIM-93M), 10% (wt/wt) PB, and RS (similar fiber content as PB). At the end of 12 weeks of dietary treatment, mice underwent a variety of tests to analyze their cognition, memory, and behavior: Open Field (OF) Maze, Y-Maze, and the Morris Water Maze (MWM). Data were analyzed using linear and linear mixed models with estrogen status (VCD vs. VH) and diet as factors. In the Y-Maze, RS and PB-supplemented mice showed better short-term memory and/or exploration. Whereas, in the MWM, VCD mice indicated having reduced long-term memory characteristics, mainly seen in the RS-VCD mice, contradicting the performances seen in the other mazes. The continuation of this project focuses on understanding how PB and RS alleviate menopause-related cognitive and memory decline.  

 

A-20     Erika Graham

Research Collaborators:  Guin Wogan

Research Presentation Title:  Do Stinkpot Turtles (Sternotherus odoratus) Follow Bergmann’s Rule?

Faculty Research Mentor:  Guin Wogan, Integrative Biology

 

Bergmann’s rule (BR) is a long standing ecogeographical rule that suggests that larger individuals tend to be found in colder climates, and smaller individuals are found in warmer climates Many endotherms follow BR, while evidence for ectotherms have shown the reverse. For turtles, however, this has been found to be more complicated, with the pattern differing between species. The common musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) is a turtle found in the eastern portion of the United States, with habitats ranging from Maine to Florida and into the Midwest. With this large difference in habitat and climate, this study aims to test the relationship between shell size and location to assess if intraspecific variation aligns with or is converse to BR. This will contribute to a better understanding of intraspecies variation among turtle species. For this research we have imaged museum specimens (n=58) from throughout the range and are digitally measuring shell characteristics so that we can assess if this wide-ranging species follows or doesn’t follow Bergmann’s rule. Preliminary data shows an increase in dorsal and ventral shell length with an increase in latitude suggesting that S. odoratus conforms to Bergmann’s rule. Subsequent analysis will involve the measurement and geometric morphometrics of additional shell components, including shell scutes. These results thus far show a similarity to endothermic patterns rather than other ectotherms. Although the specific mechanisms driving this pattern remain to be described, further solidifying a size pattern for this species will advance knowledge on evolutionary mechanisms. 

 

A-21     Brianna Hahn

Research Collaborators:  Olivia Aguiar

Research Presentation Title:  Physa snails: The effects of chemical herbicides

Faculty Research Mentor:  Barney Luttbeg, Integrative Biology

 

Atrazine, a common herbicide used for agricultural reasons against weeds has been shown to be a risk to many different species of animals such as amphibians and fish. Although it has been shown to have an impact on some vertebrates, the effects are less studied with invertebrates. In this study, Physa snails, better known as bladder snails, will be the study organism on the effects atrazine has on aquatic snail species and the offspring of the treated snails. Aquatic snails are important to many aquatic ecosystems for their ability to recycle waste products, control algae by consuming excess amounts, and feed on decaying plant matter and waste from other aquatic animal species. Atrazine as well as other herbicides and pesticides may impact their ability to efficiently fulfill their role in their environments. The Physa snails will be treated with different concentrations of Atrazine in controlled environments, measuring differences in their behaviors and physical shape then given time to reproduce to study the effects of Atrazine on their offspring to gain an understanding of the effects and impacts herbicides that are irresponsibly used or disposed of have on Physa snails.  

 

A-22     Raegan Hula

Research Collaborators:  Michael Reichert, Ivan De La Hera

Research Presentation Title:  How Phenotypic Characteristics and Environmental Factors Affect Feather Quality in Great Tits

Faculty Research Mentor:  Michael Reichert, Integrative Biology

 

Birds of all species rely on their feathers for their survival and reproduction. Feathers serve many purposes such as insulation of body heat, waterproofing, flight, displaying colors and patterns for mating, and camouflage. Therefore, the quality of a bird's feathers is particularly important to their wellbeing. Birds experience different qualities of feathers throughout various stages of their lives. My research question is how do characteristics such as age, sex, habitat, and season affect the quality of a bird’s feathers. To test this, black and yellow chest feathers were collected from individual great tits, from their native habitats in Ireland. Feathers were collected from individuals in both the winter and breeding season over several years of sampling. Each time a bird was captured its feathers were sampled and we recorded its age, sex, and other body measurements such as beak, leg, and tail feather length. After the collection and labeling of feathers, they were brought back to the lab where I measured various traits that are associated with feather quality including the length, number of barbs, and barb density of the feathers. I will use these measurements to test whether individual phenotypic characteristics and environmental factors affect their quality. With our large sample size (N=1272 samples) we have a unique opportunity to examine the factors that affect feather quality.

 

A-23     Noah Knotts

Research Collaborators:  Elisa Casadei 

Research Presentation Title:  Hooked on Plastic: Exploring the Effects of Microplastics in Trout

Faculty Research Mentor:  Elisa Casadei, Integrative Biology

 

Recent years we have witnessed a surge in research on microplastics (MP) and their impact on aquatic organisms, this is driven by concerns over environmental, aquatic, and human health. When plastics enter bodies of water, they break down into microplastics which contribute to climate change via release of greenhouse gases as well as increase global warming.  While studies have detected microplastics in aquatic organisms, including fish, the full extent of their effects on fish health and the consequences of bioaccumulation in fish tissues remain poorly understood. The effects of human consumption of potential pollutants from fish is yet to be studied, however there has been microplastics found in multiple human tissues. It is urgent to further understand the effects of microplastics not only in aquatic life but in humans as well. This study is aimed at finding the extent to which microplastics penetrate the membrane of fish cells, specifically rainbow trout gonad cell lines, (RTG-2 cells) and assess the effects on cellular gene expression in particular, immune responses, as well as mitochondrial functions. An in-vitro study will be performed where a monolayer of RTG-2 cells will be exposed to polypropylene (PP) a common and difficult-to-recycle plastic for various durations (6, 24 and 72 hours). Before exposure, polypropylene (PP) will be conjugated with a green fluorescent protein (GFP), to allow us to follow the PP transit. After cells have been exposed, we will compare them to the control group (not exposed) to determine the extent of exposure as well as run further testing such as fluorescent microscopy, H&E staining, and qPCR testing for gene expression, to learn more about the effects of microplastics. This study is important to understanding the basics of how microplastics affect trout cells so future in viro studies can further explain the holistic effects on the trout and further our knowledge of implications of MPs on trout and marine ecosystems and the overall effects of MPs on humans. 

 

A-24     Raygan Kyeremateng

Research Presentation Title:  Anthropogenic sound impact on Animal Behavior

Faculty Research Mentor:  Michael Reichert, Integrative Biology

 

Urbanization has a major impact on the natural world. One of the reasons why urbanization has an effect on the environment is because of sound pollution. Sound pollution generally comes from machinery and anthropogenic behavior; sound pollution disrupts vocal communication and can cause stress. Cricket (Gryllidae) are a group of organisms where individuals produce songs to attract mates. The aim for this project is to determine how urban sound pollution affects species’ ability to sense their environment and behavior. In this project, multiple house cricket (Acheta domesticus) will be placed in four treatments with exposure to different types of sounds (either silent environment, cricket mating song environment, urban traffic noise environment, or cricket mating song with urban traffic noise environment). We will then record several behaviors from each individual: male aggression, activity level, singing behavior, and latency to emerge from a shelter. I predict that house cricket individuals that are raised in environments with urban traffic noise will show more aggression, lower activity level, lower singing rates, and longer latencies to emerge due to the foreign noise contrasting with other sounds in the environment making it difficult to detect anything else in the environment. Due to the fact that urbanization is constantly occurring, it is important to understand how the many factors like sound pollution affect all taxa. 

 

A-25     Elena Lawson

Research Collaborators:  Jen Grindstaff, Angela Goff Riley 

Research Presentation Title:  How do individual limits of physiological flexibility determine plasticity of behavior in Zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata)?

Faculty Research Mentor:  Jen Grindstaff, Integrative Biology

 

Plasticity in physiology and behavior is essential for survival, particularly in response to early life adversity. While behavioral plasticity is assumed to be tied to physiological state, the relationship is poorly understood, especially individual variation in plasticity. In a previous experiment, our lab measured corticosterone and cytokine levels in zebra finches in adolescence and adulthood to quantify individual physiological responses to early life adversity. In our current study, we are investigating how manipulated changes in endocrine and inflammatory responses impact activity, social behavior, and neophobia in zebra finches. With the knowledge from both of these experiments, we can assess how individual limits of physiological flexibility determine behavioral plasticity. For our present experiment, we manipulated the birds’ physiological states with three different treatments: corticosterone, LPS, and fluoxetine. Pairs of same-sex zebra finches were given these treatments over 18 days. The birds were first dosed with corticosterone to simulate a stress response. A week later, birds were injected with LPS to elevate inflammatory cytokine levels, and after another week, they were injected with fluoxetine to lower cytokine levels. Videos were recorded the day before a treatment was administered as a behavioral baseline for each individual. Videos were then recorded after each treatment to assess how behavior may have changed. We scored behavioral variables from the recorded videos to assess activity, prosocial or aggressive behaviors, and neophobia. We will use RStudio to analyze the effects of each treatment on each type of behavior. If physiological state determines behavioral flexibility in response to adversity, then we expect that manipulating the physiological state will alter behavioral responses. 

 

A-26     Elena Liebl, Mason Miller

Research Collaborators:  Michael Reichert

Research Presentation Title:  Exploring the Effects of Intensity of Aggression on Exploration in Crickets

Faculty Research Mentor:  Michael Reichert, Integrative Biology

 

Male house crickets (Acheta domesticus) display many aggressive behaviors and engage in aggression contests largely out of competition for females. Winning or losing these aggressive contests may have an effect on behavior in other contexts, including exploratory behavior, due to the winner-loser effect. Previous research showed that individuals would exit a shelter faster after winning an aggression contest, while crickets that lost the contest would exit the shelter slower, exhibiting positive or negative mental states. These contests may be won very quickly, as some crickets may accept a loss after few displays of aggressive behavior. Other contests may last longer and involve more intense and harmful interactions, involving injuries to the crickets. We predicted that the more intense the aggression contest was, the more of an effect it would have on the crickets’ behavior after the contest. The videos taken of the contests used for previous research were analyzed for the specific aggressive behaviors displayed. We analyzed a total of 94 videos, each video 5 minutes in duration. The behaviors were given a score from 1 to 4 based on how common and aggressive they were, with 1 being the most common and least aggressive, and 4 being the rarest and most aggressive. The contests were then given a total score by adding up all the behavior scores and how many times each behavior was exhibited. Analyzing and quantifying the crickets’ aggressive behaviors provides further insight into the impact that the winner-loser effect can have on individuals’ mental states and consequent decision making. 

 

A-27     Matt Lombardo

Research Collaborators:  Jamaal Jacobs

Research Presentation Title:  Effects of Dispersal Strategies in Fragmented Habitats using C. elegans

Faculty Research Mentor:  Bo Chang, Integrative Biology

 

Habitat fragmentation is a major threat to animal biodiversity and is a severe issue across the world.¹ Studies have found habitat fragmentation sometimes beneficial to species abundance, although not always. The loss of biodiversity due to habitat fragmentation has not been slowing down, making it a pressing issue.² Caenorhabditis elegans are considered a model organism, as they have very short lives, are easy to cultivate, and allows the study of larger phenomena on a smaller scale.³ We looked at how variations on dispersal strategies in C. elegans impact their survivability in fragmented habitats, and hypothesized that the fragmentation would have a larger negative impact on slower moving C. elegans strains, especially in high habitat fragmentation environments. The C. elegans were obtained from the Caenorhabditis Genetics Center (CGC) which provides strains with specified characteristics. Of those strains, four different locomotion characteristics of C. elegans were used (directed fast, directed slow, non-directed fast, non-directed slow). Escherichia coli (E. coli) was placed on square petri dishes to act as habitat patches. Trials started with 3 L4 individuals placed in the middle of the environment. Afterwards, the C. elegans were grown in a 20°C incubator for 120 hours. Total abundance and distribution were recorded via counting L3 and older individuals. Fragmentation was increased by having missing habitat closer to the center of the environment. Three designs used for fragmentation, all with the same coverage but different spacing (100001, 010010, 001100). The fast strains had relatively uniform distribution in all configurations. When set closer to the food the directed strains tended to stay put, but non-directed strains continued to roam. Slow moving strains saw continuous decline over more fragmentation, where fast moving strains has slower and less drastic decline. All strains saw lower abundance in fragmented habitats, and the spacing of fragmented habitats greatly impacted each strain. This supports previous theories that the impact on populations become more noticeable as the habitat fragmentation increases. The empirical data substantiates that dispersal rates are pivotal in success within fragmented habitats, which can be used for conservation in predicting species persistence in fragmented landscapes. 

 

A-28     Logan Smith

Research Collaborators:  Zachary Emberts, Lauren Cirino, Isaac McEvoy

Research Presentation Title:  The leaf-footed cactus bug Narnia femorta is not a cactus specialist

Faculty Research Mentor:  Zachary Emberts, Integrative Biology

 

Here, we investigated whether a recent host plant shift influences morphological traits in the leaf-footed cactus bug, Narnia femorata. Current evidence suggests that this species has been a cactus specialist for over 250,000 years. However, we recently found some populations of this species feeding on thistle. In this study, we compare the morphology of N. femorata populations found feeding on thistle compared to N. femorata populations found feeding on cactus. We found that both populations have similar body sizes. However, N. femorata found on thistle had longer mouthparts. This difference in adult mouthpart size is likely a result of feeding on thistle as a juvenile (i.e., the rearing environment). However, there may also be genetic differences. Now that population level differences have been observed and quantified, a reciprocal transplant experiment should be conducted. 

 

A-29     Kayleen Sugianto

Research Collaborators:  Michael Reichert, Kaleb Banks

Research Presentation Title:  Identifying Individual Crawfish Frogs Using Digital Photography

Faculty Research Mentor:  Michael Reichert, Integrative Biology

 

Identification of individual animals is important to estimate population numbers, identify environmental threats, and study behavior; however, traditional marking methods relied on marking the animal in invasive ways. The objective in this study is to use photographs to identify individual crawfish frogs (Lithobates areolatus) through dorsum and tympanum patterns. The species has experienced a decline in its populations over the years, and photograph identification as an alternative would eliminate the need for any kind of marking. We monitored a population over its entire breeding season and photographed each frog captured on each night and marked each individual with an RFID tag to confirm the accuracy of photo identifications. We used the photo ID software, Wild-ID, to process the images and identify matches, which were confirmed manually. The software correctly identified individuals in almost all cases and the combination of software and user identification was 100% successful in correctly identifying matches for images of both dorsum and tympanum. Because photographic identification was highly accurate, this method could be used exclusively to identify individual crawfish frogs, which has important implications for monitoring populations of this species of conservation concern. Photo ID therefore has major advantages over traditional marking methods because it is less invasive and also less expensive and time consuming. 

 

A-30     Gracie Toben

Research Collaborators:  Jesse Hurd, Gracie Toben, S. Nguyen, C. Sergott, C. Miller, D. Kelley, E. McCullagh

Research Presentation Title:  Effects of the social and olfactory environment on testicular function and circulating androgens in male prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster)

Faculty Research Mentor:  Elizabeth McCullagh, Integrative Biology

 

Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) are a socially monogamous rodent species native to the Great Plains region of North America and a popular model in neuroendocrine research. This study investigates the impact of social and olfactory cues on testicular function and circulating androgens in male prairie voles. Adult males were categorized into mated, unmated, and olfactory-exposed (OE) experimental groups. Mated males are housed alone with one female until harvest. Unmated males are housed in same-sex cages until harvest. OE males received soiled bedding from a designated female cage 2x per week until harvest. At harvest, the testes and cauda epididymis were removed and weighed. Sperm cells were extracted from the epididymides and quantified. A subset of testes from each group were evaluated histologically. Mated males have exhibited the largest testes and the most epididymal sperm cells. OE males exhibited moderately larger testes, as well as more mature sperm cells compared to unmated males, but smaller overall than the mated males. Histologically, the testes of mated and OE males exhibited significantly more tubules and increased numbers of spermatocytes in addition to early and late spermatids compared to unmated males. Unmated males exhibited more atrophic tubules and high Leydig:Sertoli cell ratios. ELISA fecal hormone assays will be used to determine alterations to male testosterone profiles in relation to exposure to female conspecifics or their odors. This will provide a measurement of unbound testosterone and metabolites, allowing for the characterization of functional peripheral testosterone.  

 

A-31     Cory Volosevich

Research Collaborators:  Neil Balchan

Research Presentation Title:  Toxin Composition and Geographic Venom Variation in Copperheads

Faculty Research Mentor:  Neil Balchan, Integrative Biology

 

Snake venoms are a complex biochemical cocktail comprised of various enzymes and proteins, and peptides contained in a venom gland located toward the posterior aspect of the head. Venomous snakes primarily use this complex cocktail for prey acquisition and as a defense mechanism against predators, and venom is injected through hollow fangs by muscle contractions squeezing the venom gland. Although the method is the same for venom injection, the composition of venom cocktails can vary wildly across species, landscapes, and individuals. Venom compositions may vary based on environment, diet, phylogenetic relationships, and other selection pressures. This study focuses on the toxin composition and variation in snake venoms from the copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) collected from different geographic locations across the United States. I use proteomics techniques, including absorbance-based enzyme activity assays to find differences in snake venom metalloprotease activity among individuals in my dataset. Molecular fingerprints of venom proteomes for each individual are generated via gel electrophoresis, and other assay techniques will be used to do determine toxin composition and variation among individual venoms. Snake venom metalloproteases (SVMP) are a group of multi-domain proteins and are responsible for the effects of venomous snake bites such as hemorrhaging, proteolytic degradation, and apoptosis and inhibition of platelet aggregation, and consequently are an important contributing toxin to the lethal activities of copperhead venoms. Preliminary data shows that there is variation in SVMP activity across my dataset, though high SVMP activity is present in all assayed individuals. This study improves our understanding of the evolution and ecology of copperheads more broadly and may offer insights on venom variation and snakebite management in other species. 

 

A-32     Arwa Ali

Research Collaborators:  Ashley Baragary

Research Presentation Title:  The relationship of different bacterial strain food source qualities on Caenorhabditis elegans.

Faculty Research Mentor:  Bo Zhang, Integrative Biology

 

In most research regarding the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) the food source used to feed the worms is Escherichia coli (E. coli) not for the actual quality of the bacterium but because of its abundance and accessibility in the laboratory setting. The C. elegans have a preference for higher quality food sources which can lead to better growth and movement of the C. elegans. The use of different bacterial strains that vary based on quality, from high to low, would explain the movement of the C. elegans, and could be used to test the willingness of the worms to travel for a better food source. The smaller microbial size of the bacteria would promote easy uptake for the C. elegans which could also lead to greater movement to high quality souce. The three bacterial strains used in this study are as follows; Escherichia coli (E. coli) which is described as medium quality, DA1877 Comamonas which is described as high quality, and DA1880 Bacillus megaterium which is described as low quality. The C. elegans will be kept in maintenance on circular agar plates E. coli as their standard food source. There will be three different bacterial strains that will be placed on the trial square agar plates sized 100mm x 100mm. These trial agar plates will contain two of the three different bacterial strains to test movement between the two strains based on their quality. On each of the trial agar plates, the two different bacterial strains will differ in quality to determine the willingness of the C. elegans to move to the “higher” food source. For example, the agar plate will contain high-quality food source on one end and low-quality on the other. These trials will be in replicates of three. The agar plates will contain three L4 stage C. elegans on the plate after the resource has been added and will be incubated at 20°C for 120 hours and then counted to understand the distribution and population abundance of the C. elegans. 

 

A-33     Briana Crick, Mariela Kundak, Kenna Tatsch

Research Collaborators:  Katie Worden

Research Presentation Title:  Cattle, Collars, and the Current Climate

Faculty Research Mentor:  Courtney Duchardt, Natural Resource Ecology and Management

 

Management strategies differ for independent landowners throughout North America, but the considerations to a holistic approach are very much the same. To effectively balance range management and environmental awareness while facing climate instability, many companies have created new technologies to assist landowners. Some technologies that can help optimize decision-making and efficiency are: (i) RAP technology to assess the vegetation and establish grazing areas, (ii) hydrology tools to establish areas with erosion risk (RHEM) and monitor water and soil quality (SWAT+), (iii) virtual fencing (NoFence and Vence) and Precision Agriculture technology (SenseHub tags) to provide cost effective options for your operation,  and (iv)  Norm, the AI Ag Advisor, can provide information about adapting your management plan and setting goals for your operation. We surveyed students and ranchers to better understand their interest and knowledge about these technologies and to explore whether these tools will be applicable for a broad audience. 

 

A-34     Abby Cunningham

Research Collaborators:  Sydny Hager, Ryan DeSantis

Research Presentation Title:  Factors Controlling Fire Behavior in Cross Timbers Forests

Faculty Research Mentor:  Ryan DeSantis, Natural Resource Ecology and Management

 

Many tree species native to the Cross Timbers ecoregion, such as oaks, are generally fire tolerant. Eastern redcedar, a comparatively fire intolerant species, has caused significant impacts to Cross Timbers Forest structure and composition. While there is substantial evidence documenting the effects of eastern redcedar on fire in grassland ecosystems, effects of eastern redcedar on fire in forest ecosystems are relatively unknown. Considering the relatively recent increase in importance of eastern redcedar as a major component of Cross Timbers forests, it is necessary to understand the role of eastern redcedar fire dynamics. Using prescribed fire, we sought to investigate how the addition of eastern redcedar as a major forest component changes forest fire behavior. We hypothesized one of the major variables driving fire behavior would be fuel moisture. Data was collected in Cross Timbers forests on Oklahoma State University property adjacent to Lake Carl Blackwell. We used 65 (0.04 hectare) plots, totaling 2.6 total hectares of forest measured, representing 8 hectares of total forested area. Data collected included fuel and duff depth; 1-, 10-, and 100-hour fuel loading; fuel moisture collected immediately prior to burning for live and dead 1-, 10-, and 100- hour fuels; tree species; DBH; height; crown height and distance measurements; and live crown ratio. Following preliminary data collection, plots were burned in late August and early September. We found no significant relationships between fuel moisture and live crown ratio for any fuel category. However, eastern redcedar generally had high live crown ratio, and we observed reduced fire behavior in stands with high levels of eastern redcedar. Therefore, we speculate that the combined factors of fuel architecture, litter and duff moisture content, and fuel loading may be more impactful variables affecting fire behavior. 

 

A-35     Sereen Elkhalid

Research Collaborators:  MaKayla Friend, Gail Wilson, Alexius Wallace

Research Presentation Title:  A Healthful Harvest: The Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on the Growth of Culturally Important Native American Plants

Faculty Research Mentor:  Gail Wilson, Natural Resource Ecology and Management

 

In the post industrialized world, the use of “modern medicine” continues to grow as technology and scientific understanding expands. The powers of traditional medicine, as seen in the ethnobotanical practices of Native Americans, have contributed to modern medical treatments, drugs, and practices, and are prompting a societal shift towards the use of natural products for medicinal purposes. However, with this interest in natural medicine and the growing human population, medicinal plants have been overharvested and many are at risk of extinction. The objective of our study is to determine if inclusion of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi will serve as a biologically based environmentally sustainable and cost-effective method to increase plant survival and production when grown in low nutrient or damaged soils. These symbiotic fungi associate with >80% of all plant species, increasing nutrient availability and improving drought and pathogen tolerance. Plant-AM fungal interactions are generally considered mutually beneficial, but in fact, benefits can vary among plant species. However, benefits between medicinal plants and AM fungi have only been tested on approximately 50 out of 21,000 medicinal plant species. Therefore, in our study we determined if AM fungi improves production of 16 different medicinal plant species. We grew plants under greenhouse conditions with and without AM fungi to determine mycorrhizal benefit. As the Southern Great Plains are expected to experience more frequent and intense droughts, we selected 3 of these plant species to further assess the influence of AM fungi on drought resilience. To determine benefit, we will measure height, biomass, and AM fungal root colonization after 12 weeks. Due to the close symbiosis between AM fungi and most plant species, we hypothesize that these fungi will have a significant positive effect on medicinal plant growth under both well-watered and drought conditions.  By studying low input and sustainable production, our experiment contributes to the growing research on prairie restoration, ecological exploitation, and sustainable, low-cost medicinal plant production. We will also use our research to increase awareness on growing issues: destruction of the native prairie ecosystems and natural resources, both of which are very important to the livelihoods of Native Americans.  

 

A-36     Aryanna North, Addison Galante 

Research Collaborators:  Holly Todaro, Courtney Duchardt, Scott Loss 

Research Presentation Title:  Investigating the Influence of Precipitation on Avian Nesting Success: A Vote-Counting Meta-analysis  

Faculty Research Mentor:  Courtney Duchardt, Natural resource ecology and management

 

Climate change, coupled with alterations in land use, is a primary driver of global changes in biodiversity. Rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and severe weather events pose a significant threat to numerous species. Birds face multiple challenges associated with climate change because their life cycles, including breeding, migration, and non-breeding periods, are intricately linked to specific ecological conditions. Fluctuations in temperature and precipitation can influence reproductive success and population dynamics by shifting the timing of natural events such as spring green-up and insect emergence, consequently impacting food availability, and threatening population viability. Birds display a range of life history traits, and their diverse nesting strategies (e.g., ground vs. open-cup vs. cavity-nesters) may moderate impacts of changing weather and climate on reproductive success. Ground-nesting species, for example, may face heightened risks in the future if increased frequency and/or severity of flooding events leads to increased nest failures. To examine how precipitation and flooding events affect nest success of species exhibiting different nesting strategies, we will conduct a global vote-counting meta-analysis of peer-reviewed literature. We hypothesize that higher levels of precipitation, as well as flooding events, will be associated with reduced nest success, and that this effect will be especially strong for ground-nesting species. To test this hypothesis, we will conduct a vote count analysis to evaluate numbers of studies finding positive, negative, neutral, and mixed effects of precipitation on nest success. Understanding how changing weather patterns influence nest success is essential for developing informed conservation and management strategies that benefit declining bird populations. 

 

A-37     Julia Peace, Kayla Ward

Research Collaborators:  Gail Wilson, Alexius Wallace

Research Presentation Title:  Assessing Major Microbial Functional Groups: Does Aboveground Plant Diversity in Grasslands Reflect Belowground Microbial Diversity?

Faculty Research Mentor:  Gail Wilson, Natural Resource Ecology and Management

 

The specific objective of our study was to compare relative abundance of soil microbial functional groups following invasion by a non-native grass species (Bothriochloa bladhii), with non-invaded adjacent grassland. Relative abundances of soil microbial functional groups (gram-negative, gram-positive, saprophytic fungi, and arbuscular mycorrhizal [AM] fungi), and total microbial biomass were assessed using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) and neutral lipid fatty acids (NLFA). Phospholipids are essential biological membrane components of all living cells and are used to estimate active biomass of bacteria and fungi, because biovolume and cell surface area are correlated. NLFA’s are storage mechanisms of many fungi and are the primary energy source in AM fungi. Lipid extracts were isolated from soil and PLFA and NLFA using silicic acid chromatography. The PLFA and NLFA were then analyzed by gas chromatography and mass selection detection using a GCMS unit Agilent MS 5975C/GC 7890A. Biomarkers were selected for each functional group total microbial biomass. Abundances associated with these biomarkers were used to calculate total nmol g-1 soil. Our microbial data were combined with plant species composition data from grassland sites in Oklahoma composed of native plants or of a non-native grass species (Bothriochloa bladhii). Total above- and belowground biomass (g m-1) and plant species diversity were determined from each grassland site (n=6).  Our research shows plant species diversity is tightly linked to soil microbial diversity; a loss in plant species diversity resulted in the loss of potentially essential microorganisms. For example, native grasslands with high plant species diversity contained significantly greater AM fungal hyphae and spores, compared to the monocultures of B. bladhii, and these beneficial symbiotic microbes may be essential for native plant survival in restorations. Therefore, restoration of grasslands following eradication of invasive plant species may require amendments with native soil microbial communities.  

 

A-38     Carson Raper

Research Collaborators:  Omkar Joshi, Chris Zou, Rodney Will

Research Presentation Title:  Perceived risks of eastern redcedar encroachment among rural and non-rural residents in Oklahoma

Faculty Research Mentor:  Omkar Joshi, Natural Resource Ecology and Management

 

The encroachment of Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana, ERC) in the Great Plains has profoundly impacted the natural ecosystem and increased the fire risks at the urban-wildland interface. Many of the risks result directly from fire exclusion, which is among one of the most prevalent enablers of the invasion of ERC. With its rapid encroachment in sub-urban areas, active management is necessary to prevent further damage. A survey was conducted to assess the knowledge of ERC encroachment and perceived risks among the general non-rural (urban/suburban) and rural general residents in Oklahoma. Collected data were processed through ordinal logistic analysis. Findings indicated that individuals with knowledge of ERC encroachment, elderly residents, and those perceived to have longer drought periods were more likely to have a perceived risk of ERC encroachment. Additionally, respondents in rural areas were more knowledgeable about ERC encroachment than their urban or suburban counterparts. Study results suggest the need for outreach to educate urban and suburban populations on the potential negative impacts of ERC encroachment.  

 

A-39     Andrew Shepard

Research Collaborators:  Elizabeth Haymaker, Gail Wilson, Alexius Wallace

Research Presentation Title:  The role of grassland plant belowground traits in resilience to drought

Faculty Research Mentor:  Gail Wilson, Natural Resource Ecology and Management

 

Predicting shifts in grassland plant communities is a key challenge in a changing world. Grasslands and savannas cover 35% of the earth’s land surface, providing many essential ecosystem services but face ongoing threats and alterations such as loss of diversity and increasing aridity. Forecasts suggest increasingly greater drought intensity and duration and greater soil water limitation in Southern US grasslands. These alterations are important because the distribution, structure, and functioning of grasslands are influenced more strongly by precipitation patterns than any other driver. However, the influence of belowground traits on plant and ecosystem resilience to drought is poorly understood. Our research examines if plants alter certain root traits, specifically rhizosheaths, root system architecture, and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbioses, to increase resilience under drought. Rhizosheaths are complexes of soil particles, root hairs, and variable fungal and bacterial components cemented together by root and fungal mucilage and exudates, and we propose these formations are important for both water uptake and prevention of water loss from roots. However, very little research has been conducted on rhizosheaths and no information is available on the influence of soil texture in rhizosheath formation. Therefore, we selected four grass species and planted one per pot into one of five soil textures with increasing percent sand. The plants were subjected to three drought intensities to test how plants utilize their resources when under extreme stress due to increasing drought. Plants were harvested after growing for 16 weeks, and we are assessing rhizosheath formation, root architecture, and AM fungal root colonization to see if grasses change their root allocations in response to drought conditions. Additionally, we will determine if soil texture plays an important role in rhizosheath formation and examine potential consequences to root architecture and AM fungal associations due to alterations in rhizosheath formation. Identifying 

 

A-40     John Ternes

Research Collaborators:  Riley Lawson, Scott Loss, Timothy O'Connell

Research Presentation Title:  Systematic Review and Synthesis of the Global Literature on Bird-Window Collisions

Faculty Research Mentor:  Scott Loss, Natural Resource Ecology and Management

 

An estimated 1 billion birds are killed annually by windows in the United States alone. Despite the decades of research that confirm the status of bird-window collisions (BWC) as a major avian conservation concern, significant gaps in the literature remain. To promote a productive future for BWC research, we will perform a systematic literature review to identify where these gaps exist. The identification of these gaps in the BWC literature will inform conservation biologists of the areas in which BWC research should be targeted. We will synthesize the current BWC literature by searching through two online databases: Scopus and Web of Science. Title and abstract reviews will then be conducted to determine the relevance of search results. Studies determined to be relevant will then be subject to a full review in which key characteristics of study design and implementation will be noted. By synthesizing the results of these studies, we will establish key trends in the literature and identify what gaps remain.   

 

A-41     Kaitlyn Tucker

Research Collaborators:  Lindsey Buehler

Research Presentation Title:  Causes of Decline and Translocation Efficacy for Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs

Faculty Research Mentor:  Courtney Duchardt, Natural Resource Ecology and Management

 

 The black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) serves as a keystone species in North American ecosystems, yet populations have dropped to 2%-10% of their historic numbers within Oklahoma over the past century due to conflicts with ranchers and the spread of disease. Their burrowing and grazing nature provides a unique patchwork of habitat utilized by many species such as bison (Bison bison), elk (Cervus canadensis), burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia), and black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes). Despite their role as an ecosystem engineers and crucial role as a prey species, there is limited understanding about the effects of vegetation and reintroductions at the edge of their range. Documentation of successful translocations could improve management practices in a changing climate and could further improve conservation and management of associated species. In areas on their eastern range, such as Wichita Mountain National Wildlife Refuge (WMNWR), we found that decreasing populations correlated with increased vegetation biomass. Our study aims to identify the drivers causing population declines, rule out disease, and evaluate reintroduction success. To assess these metrics, we translocated 58 prairie dogs from Lawton, Oklahoma to WMNWR in October 2023. We have evaluated their survival during the winter months using PIT tag, survey counts, and will assess their reproductive success in the spring.  

 

A-42     Austin Vaughn

Research Collaborators:  Madeline Eori, Alexander Harman, Courtney Duchardt

Research Presentation Title:  Seasonal Variation in Herptile Use of Oklahoma's OCark Glades

Faculty Research Mentor:  Courtney Duchardt, Natural Resource Ecology and Management

 

Glades are arid, rocky openings typically found in the Ozarks and are characterized by shallow soil, little tree cover, drought-tolerant grasses, and forbs commonly found in prairies However, recent decades of fire suppression and over-grazing has allowed Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana), a shallow soil specialist, to persist in these areas subsequently increasing the overall tree cover and degrading the habitat. Other studies found that glades allow species typically only found in more western or southern areas to persist in the Ozarks, such as the eastern collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris collaris) and greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus). In other Ozark states, such as Missouri and Arkansas, an inventory of species that use glades and their importance has been well documented. While there are likely many glades within Oklahoma’s Ozarks, much less is known about them. The study's main objective is to better understand Oklahoma Ozark glades, and for this project specifically, we are focusing on the degree of reptile and amphibian use in winter. An array of herptiles are known to inhabit these systems, however little is known on a temporal scale for the state of Oklahoma. The lack of tree cover and leaf litter allow glades to produce higher daily temperatures than surrounding systems through direct penetration of solar energy into the shallow soil and bedrock year-round. This could mean glades provide more opportunities for thermoregulation in cooler months. Additionally, the abundance of natural refugia makes these systems an important resource for herptiles. We will use data collected between April 2023 – March 2024 from 11 glade sites in the Ozark Highlands ecoregion of Oklahoma to observe potential seasonal differences in herptile presence on glades. Overall, we expect to find more reptiles utilizing glades than amphibians due to the arid conditions. However, we predict the use of glade habitats to stay consistent with little seasonal variation. 

 

A-43     Morgan Buie

Research Collaborators:  Bailey Kleeberg, Colter Chitwood, Sue Fairbanks

Research Presentation Title:  Estimating Species Richness in an Ephemeral System  

Faculty Research Mentor:  Robert C. Lonsinger, Natural Resource Ecology and Management

 

Climate change-induced alterations in ecosystems can have profound effects on species diversity and ecological dynamics. Cimarron County, Oklahoma has experienced severe droughts since 2011, prompting an investigation into the limited knowledge surrounding terrestrial mammals present within the region. Camera traps are a minimally invasive way to sample terrestrial mammals across a large area. We attached trail cameras to trees or t-posts ~45cm off the ground at 160 opportunistic sites across the county. Cameras were deployed for ~28 days from May-August 2022 and 2023. We conducted a literature review to compile a community species list of 27 animals that had a predicted overlapping range with Cimarron County. Only species with a body mass ≥0.6kg were considered, to ensure accurate detection and identification on camera trap images. We analyzed ~300,000 images from a larger study of black bears in Cimarron County, Oklahoma, and categorized the county into four habitat types: mesa country, cropland, rangeland, and river bottom. Given certain aspects of the land and species behavior, it’s plausible that not every predicted species would appear on camera while occurring in the county. To account for imperfect detection, we collected data on diet preference, activity patterns, and sociality for each of the 27 species from our literature review to use as covariates. We also created a binary covariate of whether the species would be common (1) or rare (0) in the specified habitat type and ran a single-species occupancy model with each of the covariates placed on detection. We ran the model four separate times to assess species richness in each of the four habitat types. 25 of the 27 species from our species list were detected. Estimated richness (Ѱ) in each habitat type was Ѱ=0.63 for mesa country, Ѱ=0.71 for cropland, Ѱ=0.55 for rangeland, and Ѱ=0.48 for river bottom. Our results can be used to further understand species richness, guiding managers to implement strategies that help mitigate the effects of climate change, prioritize conservation efforts, and enhance community species richness and diversity. 

 A-44     MaKayla Friend

Research Collaborators:  Sereen Elkhalid, Alexius Wallace, Elizabeth Haymaker, Gail Wilson

Research Presentation Title:  Culturally Significant Native American Plants Cultivated Under Sustainable Commercial Greenhouse Production: A Case Study

Faculty Research Mentor:  Gail Wilson, Natural Resource Ecology and Management

 

The emerging demand for native prairie plants as ingredients in many herbal supplements, which have risen in popularity over the past decade, can be a source of natural ecosystem disruption; removal of native plant species from natural areas often has negative consequences. The use of native prairie plants in ethnopharmacological practices dates back to the Great Plains Tribes and continues to this day in Native American Communities. One solution to reduce disruption of native prairies is to cultivate native prairie plants in a greenhouse or nursery setting. Commercial production could reduce the strain on prairie ecosystems and protect native plant species, while providing medicinal plants to sustain native plant traditions. However, commercial cultivation can be economically and environmentally costly, requiring high levels of fertilizers that are often leached into waterways. An increase in agricultural research is needed for cultivation of prairie plant species on a scale large enough for the herbal supplement industry to be profitable. An essential factor of plant growth and survival in native prairies is their close association with mycorrhizal fungi. These beneficial fungi provide nutrients to plants grown in lower nutrient conditions. We propose more efficient medicinal plant cultivation may be achieved if producers can reliably reduce inorganic fertilizer amendments while maintaining or increasing productivity, quality, and performance, with the addition of AM fungi as a low-cost ‘biofertilizer’. An alternative, or complementary, practice to reduce inorganic fertilization is the inclusion of high-nutrient organic matter, as supplementation with organic matter has also been shown to promote plant growth. We propose using brewer’s spent grain as an effective, affordable amendment to mediate water retention in soil and provide nutrients needed for efficient crop production. Brewer’s spent grain is an abundant waste byproduct of the brewing industry, and is high in nutrients and fiber, yet typically discarded. Therefore, the objective of our study is to explore benefits provided by AM fungi or organic matter to reduce environmental and economic costs of medicinal plant production at a commercial level.

 

A-45     Katherine Miller

Research Collaborators:  Madeline Eori, Alexander Harman, Courtney Duchardt

Research Presentation Title:  Herptile Utilization of Man-made Coverboards versus Natural Refugia

Faculty Research Mentor:  Courtney Duchardt, Natural Resource Ecology and Management

 

Glades are rocky openings in woodlands that consist of herbaceous prairie vegetation and have very shallow soils that do not support tree growth. In recent decades, these glades have faced encroachment of eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana). Glades have been well-studied in other Ozark states, including Arkansas and Missouri, but there is limited knowledge on the ecosystem and species of glades in Oklahoma. The objective of a collaborative research project including Oklahoma State, University of Oklahoma, and Oklahoma Department of Wildlife (ODWC) is to establish a basis for glade management in Oklahoma. My project will focus specifically on herptile use of man-made coverboards versus natural refugia of rocks and logs on glades. Coverboards are commonly used in research, but generally in open fields where the coverboard may be the only source of refugia. We deployed a total of 21 small coverboards and 12 large coverboards throughout 6 glade sites at the Cookson Wildlife Management Area in Eastern Oklahoma. We will compare herptile use of small coverboards, large coverboards, and natural refugia using data collected on Ozark glades in the spring, summer and fall. This work will help to inform the ODWC the best way to assess herptile abundance on Ozark glades.

 

A-46     Coe Protzman

Research Collaborators:  Holly Todaro

Research Presentation Title:  Shrike a pose! Using trail cameras to estimate Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) occupancy

Faculty Research Mentor:  Courtney Duchardt, Natural Resource Ecology and Management

 

Accurate occupancy estimates are crucial for ecological research and conservation management. While point count surveys provide a method for obtaining long-term data for passerines, challenges associated with surveying species that have expansive territories may lead to biased estimates. The Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) is a near threatened predatory songbird, known for impaling and caching prey on thorns or barbed wire. Exhibiting raptorial behavior, this species occupies large territories consisting of open habitat with interspersed trees and shrubs for nesting and perching. The extensive territories occupied by the Loggerhead Shrike, despite being a passerine, present challenges when attempting to assess local populations through traditional point count surveys. Recognizing the constraints of point count survey methodology, we used 1 year of camera trap data to explore the potential effectiveness of trail cameras for estimating Loggerhead Shrike occupancy across large spatial scales. We deployed 30 cameras in Thunder Basin National Grassland (TBNG), and processed images to create a detection history for Loggerhead shrikes. Data from these cameras were analyzed alongside data from long-standing point counts in the same portion of TBNG to compare the efficacy of these two techniques. We had 62 detections of Loggerhead Shrikes using camera traps, with at least one observation recorded at 18 out of the 29 cameras. In contrast, point count surveys yielded only 4 detections. The naive occupancy estimate using cameras was 62%, contrasting with a naive occupancy of 15% obtained through point count surveys. We hypothesize at least 2 reasons for increased Loggerhead Shrike detections at cameras in comparison to point count surveys. Notably, point count surveys were only conducted during the spring, whereas the camera traps were detecting Loggerhead Shrikes predominantly in July and August. The accessibility of perches on the camera enclosures, coupled with disturbances that made perches more visible, could have contributed to the observed differences in detection rates. While our data suggests the potential viability of camera traps as an option for estimating the occupancy of bird species with large territories, further research is warranted to validate their reliability. 

 

A-47     Lauren Sellers

Research Collaborators:  Robert Lonsinger, M. Chitwood, Matthew Turnley

Research Presentation Title:  Evidence of serological differences between male and female pronghorn in a population of conservation concern

Faculty Research Mentor:  Robert Lonsinger; M. Chitwood, Natural Resource Ecology and Management

 

Physiological indicators are useful for determining the health status of individuals and populations. Blood serum chemistry evaluations assess the functionality of major organ systems of the body. Serum chemistry profiling is comprised of six distinct categories: kidney, liver, pancreas, protein profile, electrolytes, and miscellaneous chemistries. However, information about the range of expected blood serum chemistry values is scarce for some species, such as pronghorn (Antilocapra americana). Here, we focused on results from the indicators associated with liver and kidney function, protein profiling, electrolyte levels, and miscellaneous chemistries, with an emphasis on characterizing the range values for males and females and testing for differences between the sexes. During winter of 2022 and 2023, we collected blood serum samples from 128 (32 males:96 females) free-ranging pronghorns in the Oklahoma Panhandle – 68 in 2022 and 60 in 2023. Following collection, we centrifuged the samples to separate serum and stored the serum on ice until transported to a freezer. In December 2023, the blood serum samples were analyzed at Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory for total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), calcium (Ca2+), phosphorus (PHOS), glucose (GLU), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (CREA), bilirubin-total (TBIL), creatinine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), globulin (GLOB), albumin: globulin ratio (A/G Ratio), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH), magnesium (Mg2+), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), chloride (Cl-), and sodium: potassium ratio (Na+/K+ Ratio). We systematically analyzed the distribution of values for each variable utilizing mean, median, and standard deviation measures, alongside conducting t-tests to explore potential disparities between males and females. Results for males and females showed minimal variation in serum chemistry values, except for significant differences in CREA (P = 0.007), AST (P = 0.045), and GGT (P = 0.029) concentrations. Our baseline blood serum values for free-ranging pronghorn in Oklahoma highlight serological differences between males and females. While managers should investigate environmental and physiological factors affecting blood serum chemistry in pronghorn, our results set a foundation for crucial blood serum chemistry ranges essential for effective pronghorn management. 

 

A-48     Trinity McMahon

Research Collaborators:  Emily Nunan, Landon Butler

Research Presentation Title:  Augmented muscle mass blunts aging-induced cerebrovascular oxidant stress and inflammation

Faculty Research Mentor:  Joshua Butcher, Physiological Sciences

 

Cerebrovascular dysfunction is a key driver in the cognitive and sensorimotor decline that accompanies aging, contributing to the overall progression of vascular dementia. Exercise is an effective intervention to improve brain health and cognitive function, demonstrating positive effects on cerebral vasculature via a reduction in oxidant stress, thus delaying or partially reversing dementia symptoms. Age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia), however, is prevalent in adults over 50 and sarcopenic older individuals are frequently unable to take advantage of regular exercise, the most effective therapy to reduce risk of cognitive impairment, at a level that confers benefit. Interventions that can effectively replicate the effect of exercise are thus urgently needed to address the medical needs of a large population at exceedingly elevated risk for age-related cognitive impairment. The objective of the work is to determine if augmented muscle mass, a by-product of exercise, can ameliorate both skeletal and cerebrovascular dysfunction in an aging mouse model. Myokine myostatin is a potent negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth that contributes to reduced muscle mass in many muscle-wasting diseases, including aging. To date, research has focused on the protective effect of augmented muscle mass, using genetic or pharmaceutical inhibition of myostatin, in young and obese animals. Our hypothesis is that augmented muscle mass, via myostatin deletion, will improve muscle function and further, blunt the increase in oxidant stress and inflammation that drive cerebrovascular dysfunction in the aging brain. Young adult (3 mo.) and aged (24 mo.) male C57Bl/6J mice were used as controls, in combination with aged mice (24 mo.) with myostatin constitutively deleted. Augmented muscle mass and function were assessed using in vivo plantarflexion. Oxidant stress and inflammatory makers were assessed in micro vessels isolated from the whole brain, using commercially available ELISA’s and mRNA expression. Vascular function is being assessed using pressure myography and immunohistochemistry using the middle cerebral artery. Results show that augmented muscle mass, via myostatin deletion, was successful at increasing muscle mass in the aging mouse, blunting sarcopenia, and improving skeletal muscle function. Further, the aging cerebrovasculature had significantly increased expression of two of the NADPH oxidase isoforms (NOX1, NOX4), along with pivotal cytokines/chemokines associated with vascular inflammation, activation of microglia and astrocytes, and neuroinflammation (IL-1β and CCL5/RANTES). Biomarkers of oxidant stress (3-nitrotyrosine and 8-isoprostane) were also significantly elevated with aging. Taken together, augmented muscle mass may be an effective therapeutic target to prevent and rescue cerebrovascular function and inhibit cognitive decline in an aging population.

 

A-49     Emma Lathem

Research Collaborators:  Crystal Villalva

Research Presentation Title:  Effect of Interferons on Klebsiella pneumoniae Survival in Macrophages

Faculty Research Mentor:  Sunil More, Veterinary Pathobiology

 

Respiratory viral infections predispose patients to secondary bacterial infections. During the COVID-19 pandemic, secondary infections posed a significant challenge to global health with Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) among the most common. This study aims to investigate the role of antiviral type I interferons (IFNs) in facilitating the survival of Kp in macrophages. IFNs are antiviral proteins that are secreted during SARS-CoV-2 infection, but their role in bacterial infections such as Kp is not clear. Using mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages, we replicated the environment observed during human SARS-CoV-2 infection in conjunction with Kp. Bone marrow-derived macrophages were treated with IFN-β for 24 hours and subsequently challenged with Kp (MOI of 100) for an additional 24 hours. The macrophages were then lysed for the measurement of colony-forming units. Our findings revealed that the IFN-treated group exhibited a significant increase in bacterial load compared to the control group, suggesting a role for IFNs in exacerbating secondary infections. Furthermore, when we block this IFN response using an antibody, the bacterial clearance is restored. Future investigations will focus on determining the underlying mechanisms by which IFNs facilitate bacterial survival. Elucidating the role of IFNs in the pathogenesis of secondary bacterial infections, this study will contribute to our understanding of host-pathogen interactions.

 

A-50     Gavin Sears

Research Collaborators:  Cody Whitley, Paige Johnson

Research Presentation Title:  Epigenetic Modification of H3K9 Modulates the Innate Antiviral IFN Response

Faculty Research Mentor:  Rudra Channappanavar, Veterinary Pathobiology

 

The innate antiviral defenses depend largely on its ability to produce cytokines with antiviral effects such as the type I interferons (IFNs) and interferon stimulated genes (ISGs). The production and release of these cytokines is directly tied to the expression of these genes in the individual. It has been shown that histone H3 at lysine 9 (H3K9) is prone to epigenetic modification, with previous research showing that di-methylation of this site has led to suppression of the IFN response along with the expression of ISGs. Inhibiting the modification of these sites in fibroblasts enhanced the host’s antiviral response by upregulating IFNs and ISGs. With this being understood, it called to question if these results could be replicated in different cell models, specifically macrophages, which are a key source of antiviral IFNs. Preliminary research focused on stimulating macrophage antiviral response in the absence or presence of the inhibitor UNC, which blocks the action of the methyltransferase that induces the epigenetic change on H3K9. We expect that a similar effect will be seen in macrophage cell lines, which may open the potential for new therapeutic targets against viral infections. Early qPCR experiments on the IFN response with this inhibitor have shown to contradict this hypothesis, with the expression of IFNs and ISGs being reduced in the presence of the inhibitor. Further research is needed to elucidate the effects these epigenetic mechanisms have on macrophage cell lines and the innate immune response.