Cassandra MunroeGastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) limit the ability of small ruminant producers to raise animals on pasture. Haemonchus contortus, the most pathogenic GIN, causes anemia and poor growth and ultimately death in the most susceptible sheep and goats. To compound the problem, these parasites have developed resistance to all classes of chemical dewormers available for sheep and goats. Alternative methods must be found in order to effectively control GIN burdens and reduce productivity losses in SR. Previous studies have shown that condensed tannins demonstrate anthelmintic effects against parasites. Cranberry is a native crop to New England and is known to contain condensed tannins. This study looked into the anthelmintic effects of cranberry vine as a supplement in lambs with developing Haemonchus contortus infections. Twenty-seven lambs were divided into three groups and each orally administered a trickle infection of H. contortus (1000 infective larvae, three times per week for three weeks). The control group was fed 100% commercial sheep pellet, CV1 group was fed a 50% commercial pellet and a 50% cranberry pellet and CV2 group was fed a 100% cranberry vine pellet for nine weeks. Weight, fecal egg count (FEC) and hematocrit were monitored weekly. Within the three weeks after the infection matured there was a significant reduction in FEC in the lambs fed the cranberry vine pellet. Further research is needed to maximize the anti-parasitic efficacy against GIN in small ruminants.
Chris Mayer
Danielle ButlerIn recent literature, they have found a sharp decline in pollinating insects, such as native bees. This may lead to detrimental impacts on the United States’ blueberry crop production. In order to better understand the possible effects that this decline could have on the blueberry industry, we assessed the percent sugar in nectar, (reward for bees, but metabolic cost to plant) and the ability of six cultivars to self-pollinate and produce fruit at the University of Rhode Island’s East Farm. We studied these cultivars throughout the season by investigating a variety of factors associated with blueberry production, such as fruit set, mature berry mass, and berry sugar content in order to compare self-pollinated with open-pollinated bushes. Uncaged flowers had higher percent sugar than caged flowers in all cultivars except ‘Herbert’. Most cultivars, except ‘Collins’, produced significantly more mature fruit when open pollinated. ‘Collins’ has the ability to self-pollinate which may reduce the plant’s metabolic cost in attracting pollinators with nectar, pollen and floral scents. These results show the importance of pollinators (mostly bumble bees) in the blueberry production system. Future experiments will continue to evaluate and help us understand the coevolution between pollinators and plants as our climate continues to change and the effects it will have on both of these populations.
Deepica ChaudharyThe New England Cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) is native to northeastern states in the U.S., including New York. It is a signature species of young forests, sharing its habitat with a diverse biome of wild-life species. During the last 50 years, the population of the New England Cottontails (NEC) has been in rapid decline. It is suggested that the introduction of non-native Eastern Cottontails (S.Floridanus ssp.) and habitat destruction are some of the causes. A large aspect of the conservation efforts is to analyze distribution and genetic variance of NEC throughout their current habitat, using faecal and tissue samples. DNA was first extracted from faecal samples and underwent various processes - such as a polymerase chain reaction - to amplify a targeted region within the mitochondrial DNA. As a result, distinguishable characteristics appeared allowing identification of the sample. Prior to this analysis, unique New England Cottontail haplotypes had been identified. Following the analysis, at least two new haplotypes had been discovered - but many of the samples possessed one of the previously identified haplotypes. Additionally, the number of samples was narrowed down to display the minimum number of unique individuals within the years 2016-2018, using the longitude and latitude of the faecal samples. The purpose of this research is to aid the conservation effort of the New England Cottontail.
Delaney FisherMost organisms are restricted to a range of temperatures in order to develop normally from the embryo stage to adult. Specifically, during the early stages of development of the ascidian Ciona Intestinalis (C. intestinalis), a filter feeding tunicate, as the water temperature increases, abnormalities in the C. intestinalis phenotype increase as well, above a sharp temperature threshold. Data was collected by incubating the sea squirt embryos during the first 20 hours of development at a control temperature and higher temperatures, then counting and scoring the abnormalities. Data showed that a 4°C increase in water temperature, when compared to the control temperature, produced a majority of abnormal phenotypes. An in-situ experiment was performed on actin gene expression and found that the high temperature animal showed abnormal gene expression in both the early and late stage embryo. Future experiments should include more samples collected with greater consistency, temperature chase experiments, and more in-situ experiments for genes such as epidermis and notochord.
Elisabeth RicksAnimal production constructs a large part of the agricultural economy. This has prompted innovative techniques to increase health, welfare and production. Predisposition to metabolic disease begins with fetal development in the womb. The nutritional environment of the mother can have negative consequences on pancreatic development in the fetus (Hoffman et al. 2014). Cranberries have been shown to have an effect on circulating blood glucose levels in humans (Blumberg et al., 2013). Glucose metabolism is controlled by expression of genes. Optimization of primers for determination of gene expression is valuable in order to further research. This study utilized tissue from sheep (N=14) fed 2 different concentrations of cranberry vine pellet supplementation. It aimed to optimize four pancreatic, a housekeeping and 2 liver primers. Each of the selected genes play a part in energy metabolism, including PDX1, FGF2, IGF2, PGC1a, LXR, PPARa. One house keeping gene, RSP15, was also tested. Five of the seven genes were found to have optimal conditions, excluding FGF2 and PDX1. PDX1 will need to be redesigned and FGF was determined to not be expressed at all due to its time of activation. In the future gene expression will be analyzed and compared amongst groups. More genes such as INS and GCG will be analyzed in order to further knowledge of potential gene expression changes caused by cranberry vine pellet supplementation.
Emily FredsboBeluga whale reproduction knowledge is an integral component of the conservation of the species. Awareness of their mating strategies and methods can help determine the best implications to protect the whales and help increase the population numbers. Our study goal was to determine if behavior can be an indicator of breeding availability based on changes pre and post maturation. Behavioral observations were conducted on populations of beluga whales housed at Mystic Aquarium. The observations were categorized into social-interactions between whales, and non-social, or absence of interaction. Typical behaviors of courtship displays were observed and recorded, the individual who acted, as well as the recipient, were noted. Sexual maturity was tracked of an individual male beluga by ultrasound of the testes, and calculating the total testicular volume. The specific behaviors performed by this individual were analyzed. Attainment of maturity in the male was determined to be around thirteen years of age. An increase in genital presents, a courtship behavior, was found following the age of maturation, as well as an increase in the time he spent with a female whale. The behavior occurrences changed before and after the testes grew in size, indicating a change in behavior after maturation. If the behavior is altered between juveniles versus available males for breeding, are there behaviors the females are looking for in a higher-quality mate, limiting the number of successful conceptions?
Emma FernandesMany farmers face the reoccurring issue of bird damage significantly decreasing crop yield, and in turn, creating substantial economic loss. In the Northeast, this is especially true for farmers growing sweet corn. Farmers in Rhode Island recently reported that unprotected plantings suffered crop losses as high as 80% due to bird damage. Other attempts to deter birds from crop fields have proven either ineffective, unsafe, or too disruptive. Therefore, this study introduced employing laser robotic scarecrows in various farms around Rhode Island to try and combat said issue. This method has been used at a larger scale to avert birds from airports for years, but one of the main objectives is to do so at a much smaller, more affordable scale. This was done through the construction of said robots or selling the unassembled kits with instructions to local commercial farmers, and essentially collecting data to test their efficiency. Results exhibited that there was in fact less corn damage when under the protection of the laser scarecrow. Based on these findings, laser scarecrows could potentially be prevalent in the future of farming.
Ellie FeldermanOcean color is an important factor in determining the health of the seas. While satellites have been taking sea surface color measurements for decades, there is a need for in-situ hyperspectral data collection to provide accurate, comprehensive data on the wavelengths present in the surrounding waters. As our oceans are warming, color ranges are shifting with changes in phytoplanktonic communities. To understand these changes, we are in development of a hyperspectral radiometer to measure the wavelengths of light present at depth between 340 and 750 nanometers, pushing into infrared and ultraviolet light. The radiometer is still in the developmental stages, but can currently collect data and graph a spectrum. On-board data logging is the focus of the project at this stage.
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