2019 Symposium Student Poster Presentations Abstracts
Choose a poster group by Department or Discipline below to jump down the page and view the Poster Presentation Abstracts for that group.
| (BIOLOGY – CONSERVATION BIOLOGY) Matthew Hewitt “Preliminary Analysis of Kit Fox Occupancy in the Trans-Pecos, Texas” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Patricia Harveson (Conservation Biology) Alexander Martinez “Estigmene Acrea Crossing Dunes with ‘Island Hopping’ Technique” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Chris Ritzi (Biology) |
| (PSYCHOLOGY – EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY) Gabriel Villarreal “A Survey of Teachers and Parents’ Perceptions of Financial Literacy Courses in High School” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Tiffany Culver (Educational Psychology) Albany Aldape “Perceptions of Zero Tolerance Programs in High School” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Tiffany Culver (Educational Psychology) Kimberly Luna “Investigating College Students’ Attitudes and Perceptions of Female Athletes” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alicia Trotman (Psychology) Annie Lenoir “Investigating Student’s Skill Levels in Creativity and Innovation at a Higher Education Institution” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alicia Trotman (Psychology) Jennifer Luna “Exploring Body Modification in the College Atmosphere: Attitudes of Wearers and Perceivers” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alicia Trotman (Psychology) Derek Rasor “Investigating West Texas’ Knowledge of Psychedelics, Life Satisfaction, and Their Search for Mystical Experiences” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alicia Trotman (Psychology) Nicholette Riojas “An Inquiry into College Students Using Prayer to Cope with Anxiety” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alicia Trotman (Psychology) Jeremiah Boatright “Examining the Relationship Between Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) and Trait Anxiety Among College Students” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alicia Trotman (Psychology) Rebecca Esquivel “Are you protected? Investigating Students’ Attitudes and Awareness of STD’s at a Rural University” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alicia Trotman (Psychology) Jodeci Gonzales Hall “Bringing to Light Past Sexual Experiences: Views of Partners in LGBTQ and Heterosexual Relationships” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alicia Trotman (Psychology) Jaime Leija “Examining the Relationship Effects of Shy and Non-Shy Gamers” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alicia Trotman (Psychology) |
| (ANIMAL SCIENCE) Anissa Garcia “Comparison of Digestibility of Forages in Jersey Steers Supplemented with Saccharomyces Cerevisiae on a High and Low Quality Forage Diet” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jamie Boyd (Animal Science) Noheli Gutierrez “Effects of DigestaWell Fiber-Power on in Vitro Digestibility of Alfalfa and Coastal Bermudagrass Hay Fed to Horses” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jamie Boyd (Animal Science) |
| (RANGE AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT- RANGE RESTORATION) Katherine Haile “Nutritional Differences Between the Genera Bouteloua and Aristida in the Marathon Basin of Texas” Faculty Mentor: Thomas Janke (Range Management) Jacob Locke “Pronghorn Forage Production in Relation to Cattle Grazing Regimes in Trans-Pecos, Texas” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Louis Harveson (Range and Wildlife Management) Taylor Daily “Comparison of Desert Bighorn Sheep Home Ranges Among Different Release Methods” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Louis Harveson (Wildlife Management) Peter Poulsen “Recap of My Experiences While Helping with the Trans-Pecos Kit Fox Distribution Project, Texas” Faculty Mentor: Thomas Janke (Wildlife Management) Julie Schmidt “Evaluation of a Technique to Eliminate Excessive Data in Camera Trap Surveys for Mesocarnivores in the Marfa Grasslands of Texas” Faculty Mentor: Thomas Janke (Wildlife Management) Maribel Glass “Unraveling the Truth about Knotgrass at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ryan O’Shaughnessy (Wildlife Management) Fabiola Baeza “Ecological Requirements for Two Grassland Obligate Birds in the Marfa Grassland, Texas” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Mieke Titulaer (Wildlife Management) Carolina Medina Nava “Reseeding Techniques on the Chilicotal Soil, Chihuahuan Desert, Texas, After Treatment with Tebuthiuron” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Bonnie Warnock (Range Restoration) |
| (DATA STORAGE AND MANAGEMENT) Cody Putman “A Review of Techniques for Archiving and Sharing Camera Trap Databases” Faculty Mentor: Thomas Janke (Data Storage and Management) |
| (CHEMISTRY) Yelixza Avila, Morgan Chandler (UNCC) & Dr. Kiril A. Afonin (Faculty Mentor) “Empirical Study to Assess Immunotoxicity of RNA Nanorings with Varied Functional Orientations” Faculty Mentor: Dr. David Leaver (Chemistry) |
Biology & Conservation Biology Poster Group – Student Information and Abstracts
Name: Matthew Hewitt (Conservation Biology)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Patricia Harveson (Conservation Biology)
Title: “Preliminary Analysis of Kit Fox Occupancy in the Trans-Pecos, Texas”
Poster: Graduate
Abstract: The kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) is a small fox species endemic to the desert grasslands of the western United States and northern Mexico. To date no research has been conducted on the Texas population, resulting in a lack of understanding about the distribution and abundance of kit fox in this region. We used trail cameras on a 3-km grid across suitable kit fox habitat in the Trans-Pecos region to gather presence and absence data. Surveys were conducted on private ranches in Presidio, Jeff Davis, Culberson, Hudspeth, El Paso, and Pecos counties beginning in March 2018. Trail cameras were used to survey each site for 13 consecutive days then moved to a new site. We placed a wooden stake extending 40 cm above the ground 5 m in front of each camera to serve as a size reference for animals captured in photos and as an elevated post for a fatty acid scent attractant. We also staked a can of wet cat food to the ground near the wooden stake to serve as an additional scent attractant. We labeled the species in photos in Adobe Bridge and organized our presence/absence data in program R using the package ‘camtrapR’. We analyzed our data using occupancy models which allowed us to estimate the distribution of kit foxes while taking into account imperfect detection. Occupancy and detection rates were estimated in program R.
Name: Alexander Martinez
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher M. Ritzi (Biology)
Title: “Estigmene Acrea Crossing Dunes with ‘Island Hopping’ Technique”
Poster: Graduate
Abstract: Estigmene acrea is a commonly recognized black fuzzy caterpillar that occurs over a broad distributional range. Due it’s broad range, it can utilize a variety of habitats during its quest for ideal habitats. For this reason, it has a broad diet, being capable of consuming and sequestering pyrrolizidine alkaloids from numerous Asteraceae. It is well documented how these caterpillars distribute through vegetated areas however, it is poorly understood how they distribute themselves in a poorly vegetated, arid habitat. The behavior to adjust for this condition appears to function as an “island hopping” technique. This was observed in that the caterpillars would be found to aggregate on a few plants in an area of varied available plants while moving southernly toward its preferred food source, Senecio flaccidus. The observations took place on November 4th, 2018 from 10:43 A.M. to 3 P.M. that same day. Three individual caterpillars were found crossing the dunes in the same manner. Each caterpillar was moving at a different pace due to the cool temperatures, but all three were moving south. Monahans Sand Hills State Park was visited again in December, but no further migration was observed at that time.
Psychology & Educational Psychology Poster Group – Student Information and Abstracts
Name: Gabriel Villarreal
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Tiffany Culver (Educational Psychology)
Title: “A Survey of Teachers and Parents’ Perceptions of Financial Literacy Courses in High School”
Poster: Undergraduate
Abstract: Research suggests that high school students should be educated on financial literacy. However, should financial literacy courses be offered in high schools along the border? In order to address this question, the parents and teachers of high school students were interviewed. Teachers and parents were asked to provide suggestions on how to teach students about financial literacy.
Name: Albany Aldape
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Tiffany Culver (Educational Psychology)
Title: “Perceptions of Zero Tolerance Programs in High School”
Poster: Undergraduate
Abstract: This study provides a description of how administrators, and teachers perceive zero tolerance in a high school. Each participant responded to a 10-item questionnaire, which included questions on (a) perceptions of school discipline, (b) opinions about zero tolerance, (c) perceptions of school violence, (d) opinions of projects that involve zero tolerance, (e) perceptions of evidence-based practice. While many parents, students, and even administrators may think that zero tolerance is effective, the results indicated that high school students may not result in positive outcomes.
Name: Kimberly Luna
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alicia Trotman
Title: “Investigating College Students’ Attitudes and Perceptions of Female Athletes”
Presentation: Undergraduate
Abstract: This study assesses rural Division III college students’ familiarity with sports and gender. And then it investigates their perceptions of femaile athletes.
Name: Annie Lenoir
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alicia Trotman (Psychology)
Title: “Investigating Student’s Skill Levels in Creativity and Innovation at a Higher Education Institution”
Poster: Undergraduate
Abstract: The integration of innovation into Higher Education Institutions (HEI) is necessary in order for students to succeed in today’s workforce, as well as, their day-to-day lives. Higher order thinking skill levels indicate students’ abilities to think creatively and critically in order to solve problems. If students demonstrate higher level thinking skills, their abilities may correlate with curriculum and teaching methods centered around innovation. Research shows there are a limited number of innovation studies done at the college level, and many studies focus primarily on one subject matter at HEIs. This study aims to investigate the level of higher order thinking skills among students at an HEI. In particular, this investigation entails identifying classes and activities in all subject areas that may encourage higher level thinking skills, and if these skill levels may increase as students continue their education.
Name: Jennifer Luna
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alicia Trotman (Psychology)
Title: “Exploring Body Modification in the College Atmosphere: Attitudes of Wearers and Perceivers”
Poster: Undergraduate
Abstract: This is a qualitative study that aims to explore the perceptions of body modifications of college students and faculty in a rural university. This study also aims to explore if body modifications play a part in the development of preconceived ideas about the person with body modifications. Data will be collected through interview questions adapted from an instrument about stigma and body modification and analyzed using content analysis. Contact theory as well as social learning theory will be used to explain differences in perceptions. Previous studies have shown that older generations view body modifications more negatively than younger generations do. From this information it is hypothesized that the faculty participants will have more negative opinions on body modifications than the student participants and as a result may be more likely to develop preconceived ideas about people with body modifications. Other studies that have been conducted in this area have taken a quantitative approach whereas this study will focus on the qualitative aspect. A limitation to this study is the possibility of the participants withholding information due to being asked questions that may make them feel a sense of vulnerability. Because of this, information that may be of importance could not be used to better understand how body modifications can affect how people are treated in an academic setting.
Name: Derek Rasor
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alicia Trotman (Psychology)
Title: “Investigating West Texas’ Knowledge of Psychedelics, Life Satisfaction, and Their Search for Mystical Experiences”
Poster: Undergraduate
Abstract: Previous research in the area of psychedelics has shown that they may produce mystical experiences within individuals which mimic spontaneously occurring mystical experiences. It has also been shown that these experiences can have lasting positive effects on individuals’ quality of life. However, despite these findings, many people tend to have a negative view of psychedelics as a result of years of misinformation and propaganda against these substances. In this study, I am investigating the knowledge of the benefits and harms of psychedelics among residents of West Texas. I will also be assessing their experience with, and desire for, mystical experiences, as well as their overall life satisfaction. My analysis will center on using correlations to determine the strength of relationships among my variables. My first hypothesis is a positive correlation between participants’ desires to achieve mystical experiences and their positive views of psychedelics. In addition, my second hypothesis is that, due to West Texas being a rural area closely connected with nature, as well as an area where many churches can be found, a significant portion of participants will desire to have a mystical experience, but will be ignorant of, or even have negative views towards, psychedelics due to the aforementioned propaganda and misinformation surrounding psychedelics.
Name: Nicholette Riojas
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alicia Trotman (Psychology)
Title: “An Inquiry into College Students Using Prayer to Cope with Anxiety”
Presentation: Undergraduate
Abstract: A number of studies have previously been conducted to examine the effects prayer can play on the levels of stress and anxiety in individuals. Most studies focus on a specific sample of a population whether it be adults, educators, young children, etc. On the other hand, many studies navigate their attention towards specific forms of anxiety. For example, one study focuses solely on the effect prayer can have for students with test anxiety. This study will aim to analyze the correlation between frequent prayer, meaning daily prayer, and anxiety levels in college students with heavy workloads. Most college students are not only full-time students, but often also student athletes and student workers on top of their school careers and endeavors. This study will conduct surveys along with interviews in hopes of discovering if regular engagement of prayer can reduce feelings of anxiety.
Name: Jeremiah Boatright
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alicia Trotman (Psychology)
Title: “Examining the Relationship Between Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) and Trait Anxiety Among College Students”
Poster: Undergraduate
Abstract: Anxiety is a widely reported issue facing college students, whether due to exams or fulfilling the other responsibilities expected of a young adult. Trait anxiety is the general response of feeling anxiety towards perceived threats, consistent over an individual’s life. It appears that students prone to trait anxiety would be at an even greater disadvantage, and they along with anxious students in general may benefit from ways to relieve the anxiety other than medications which can have unpleasant side effects. Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is a psychosensory phenomenon which has gained online popularity as demonstrated by ASMR communities that have sites on Reddit and Facebook. While the amount of people capable of experiencing ASMR seems low, they have reported relaxing effects from the phenomenon (Barratt & Davis, 2015; Poerio, Blakely, Hostler & Veltri, 2018). In addition, another study found a correlation between ASMR susceptibility and the Neuroticism dimension of the Big Five personality inventory (Fredborg, Clark & Smith, 2017). My study will investigate correlations between trait anxiety and susceptibility to ASMR. If my results bear outcomes as mentioned in previous studies, the use of ASMR for relaxation could be a viable alternative specifically for those who may have trait anxiety.
Name: Rebecca Esquivel
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alicia Trotman (Psychology)
Title: “Are you protected? Investigating Students’ Attitudes and Awareness of STD’s at a Rural University”
Poster: Undergraduate
Abstract: In today’s society sex is a taboo topic. It is not often talked about in the ways it should. There has been intensive research on Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD’s) among universities all around the world. However, most of these studies focus on the statistical facts regarding STD’s among universities without focusing on why these rates are so high among students. One common question that comes up in several studies is how much knowledge college students truly have on STD’s (Goldsberry 2015). Research found that college students lack knowledge regarding STD’s and how to prevent them. Why do students lack critical information on sexually transmitted diseases when they are the most vulnerable group? The short answer is that students do not receive basic knowledge on safe sex in middle and high school. My study will investigate the extent of knowledge that students have about STDs at a rural university and the possible impact on their sexual behaviors.
Name: Jodeci Gonzales Hall
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alicia Trotman (Psychology)
Title: “Bringing to Light Past Sexual Experiences: Views of Partners in LGBTQ and Heterosexual Relationships”
Poster: Undergraduate
Abstract: The terms sexual assault, sexual orientation, gender, etc. all play a very “taboo” role within society today. Many individuals tend to “gloss over” these terms as if they happen too often to talk about, or for those who think otherwise, don’t happen often enough to be spoken about. Sexual Assault is an issue that continues to happen more and more each day. Many individuals like to identify their sexual assault/rape as an Unwanted Sexual Experience (USE) instead of labeling it otherwise (Murchison, Boyd, & Pachankis, 2016). The aim of this study is to allow individuals who identify as LGBTQ or Heterosexuals to discuss a traumatic experience they have gone through such as sexual assault. Most importantly, these results can add to the current literature, which claims more in-depth cases of USEs with college students are needed.
Name: Jaime Leija
Faculty Mentor: Alicia Trotman, Ph.D.
Title: “Examining the Relationship Effects of Shy and Non-Shy Gamers”
Poster: Undergraduate
Abstract: A number of studies have not looked at type of role-playing games that gamers’ play and how that influences their relationships offline (Eklund & Roman, 2017). Kowert, et al. (2014) report that many people who go online may have high anxiety, which may demonstrate itself as shyness. After extensive data analysis conducted by the authors, the shyness scores pointed out that these individuals rely on the internet to create a virtual-friendship/relationship vs. an offline-reality friendship/relationship (Ebeling-Witte et al., 2007). Shy individuals prefer to be online and express themselves with others in an online world rather than communicate with an individual in the real world. However, Kowert et al., (2014) communicate that shy gamers are benefitting in ways that strengthens their offline relationships when online. Many of the studies conducted with gamers have been specialized populations like partners in intimate relationships (Hellman et al., 2017; Lianekhammy & Van De Venne, 2015). Studies conducted in colleges though have looked mostly at friendships as opposed to romantic relationships. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of online gaming between shy and non-shy gamers and how it may affect their romantic relationships. My first hypothesis was shy gamers benefitted from gaming and it helped their offline relationship with their romantic partner. My second hypothesis was non-shy gamers had more problems with their offline romantic relationships. My sample consisted of 10 college students. My results were non-confirmation of both my hypotheses because I found that the number of hours that the gamer had invested and whether they had a romantic partner or not were not significant. Thus, the degree of shyness had no affect on gaming tendencies and quality of romantic relationship for my participants. Yet, I did find that if individuals were shyer, they tended to be less conscious of their romantic relationships.
Animal Science Poster Group – Student Information and Abstracts
Name: Anissa Garcia
Faculty Mentor: Dominique Vargas (Animal Science)
Title: “Comparison of Digestibility of Forages in Jersey Steers Supplemented with Saccharomyces Cerevisiae on a High and Low Quality Forage Diet”
Poster: Undergraduate
Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the effect on digestibility of forages using a daisy jar system with inoculum from steers supplemented with the yeast fermentation product Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Forages tested included ryegrass, wheat, orchard grass, alfalfa, and sorghum sudan hays. Samples were ground through a 1mm screen, placed in Ankom F57 bags, and run in triplicate to increase statistical significance. Two ruminally cannulated jersey steers were used in a switchback design. Animals were housed in a dry lot pen. The study consisted of 2 three-week periods, 2-week standardization followed by a 1-week test period. Diets offered for period 1 were steer A = 100% alfalfa hay w/o yeast product and steer B = 100% wheat hay w/o yeast product. Diets offered for period 2 were steer A =100% alfalfa hay +15g/h/d yeast product and steer B =100% wheat hay +15g/h/d yeast product. During the test week, rumen fluid contents were collected from each donor via a rumen cannula approximately 4hr after feeding and taken to the lab to be composited. The samples were incubated for 0h, 24h, 48h, 72h, and 96h. At the end of the incubation period bags were collected and cold shocked to stop microbial digestion. Samples were dried at 55oC and stored for later analysis. Model included trt (+/-yeast), forage, hr, and interactions foragehr and foragetrt. No significant differences were observed (P=0.38) on DM digestibility or NDF digestibility (P=0.76) with the supplementation of yeast fermentation product. Forage*Trt was significant (P= 0.03 DMdig, P= 0.02 NDFdig). Implications of this study are the inclusion of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product at a rate of 15g/h/d may not impact overall forage NDF or DM digestibility but may impact types of forage differently in an in vitro system using composited inoculum from donors on a forage diet.
Name: Noheli Gutierrez
Faculty Mentor: Dominique Vargas (Animal Science)
Title: “Effects of DigestaWell Fiber-Power on in Vitro Digestibility of Alfalfa and Coastal Bermudagrass Hay Fed to Horses”
Poster: Undergraduate
Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine if a commercial product (DigestaWell Fiber-Power, DWFP) containing Aspergillus niger, methionine, and B-vitamins, would improve in-vitro Dry Matter Digestibility (DMD) of alfalfa and coastal bermudagrass hays. Four mature Quarter Horse mares were fed 2% of their bodyweight daily of either alfalfa or coastal bermudagrass hay for 19d in a crossover design. DMD was determined using a ANKOM Daisy II incubator inoculated with 200g fresh feces and incubated for 48h or 72h at 37.5°C. Each vessel contained ground forage samples in filter bags replicated in triplicate. After incubation, filter bags were rinsed with cold water and dried for 24h in a 55°C forced air oven. Data were transformed to approximate normality, then analyzed using a general linearized model with main effects of forage, treatment, replicate, and feeding period. Across all incubations, DMD was higher for alfalfa than grass hay (p<0.0001), and vessels containing DWFP had higher DMD than controls (p=0.0064). The effect of DWFP was numerically advantageous not statistically significant at 48h (p=0.1008) but was at 72h (p=0.0020). Results indicate DWFP may enhance microbial fermentation in the equine hindgut, and subsequent in-vivo studies are warranted.
Range and Wildlife Management & Range Restoration Poster Group – Student Information and Abstracts
Name: Katherine Haile
Faculty Mentor: Thomas Janke (Range Management)
Title: “Nutritional Differences Between the Genera Bouteloua and Aristida in the Marathon Basin of Texas”
Poster: Undergraduate
Abstract: Two common grass types in the Trans-Pecos grassland regions are gramas (Bouteloua spp.) and threeawns (Aristida spp.). Their occurrence is important to land managers when determining rangeland health and forage availability. Gramas are typically viewed as more valuable than threeawns in terms of nutritional content. The objective of this project was to quantify any nutritional differences between these genres during the warm-wet growing season (July–October) of the Trans-Pecos region. The study site for this project was located on The Nature Conservancy’s Marathon Grassland Preserve, which is located northeast of Marathon, Texas in the Marathon Basin. Samples were collected using a stratified grid across the property following the rotation of the cattle herd (consisting of twenty-four Hereford cross heifers) through the three pastures. The stocking rate was set at 45.5 hectares (or 112.4 acres) per animal unit. Dry matter was determined by recording sample weights in the field after collection and again in the lab once they were dried. Samples were then ground using a Wiley Mill with a 1 mm grate in preparation for nutrition tests. We analyzed plant digestibility by examining neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and ash. We also calculated crude protein by multiplying each sample’s nitrogen content by 6.25. These aspects were selected for testing because they are the primary indicators of a forage’s nutritional content. This information will allow land managers to have a better understanding of the nutritional value of available gramas and threeawns on their property.
Name: Jacob Locke
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Louis Harveson (Range and Wildlife Management)
Title: “Pronghorn Forage Production in Relation to Cattle Grazing Regimes in Trans-Pecos, Texas”
Poster: Graduate
Abstract: Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) have evolved in grasslands with a diet in which they prefer forage composed of highly nutritional forbs. However, grassland habitat for pronghorn has been lost throughout North America due to habitat fragmentation and degradation. Additionally, effects on how cattle grazing affect forb production are not well known in West Texas. Because of this, there is a need for a better understanding of how cattle grazing regimes affect forb production. To assess the effects of different cattle grazing regimes on forbs, we sampled vegetation during the growing season in the month of September. Our hypothesis is that there is a difference in forb production between a rotationally grazed pasture, a continuously grazed pasture, and a non-grazed pasture. We randomly sampled all grazing regimes using 96 (rotational grazing), 100 (continuous grazing), and 64 (non-grazed) 1 m2 plots. We collected all forbs in each plot and analyzed differences in biomass production, species diversity, and nutritional composition. Results from this study will compare which grazing regimes produce the most biomass and highest diversity of forbs. The knowledge gained from this study may be used by wildlife biologists and landowners alike in order to improve the suitability of pronghorn habitat by utilizing different cattle grazing regimes.
Name: Taylor Daily
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Louis Harveson (Wildlife Management)
Title: “Comparison of Desert Bighorn Sheep Home Ranges Among Different Release Methods”
Poster: Graduate
Abstract: Historically, desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) were a prevalent species throughout the Trans-Pecos ecological region of Texas. However, they were extirpated by the 1960s due to unregulated hunting, habitat loss, predation, and disease transmission from livestock. Restoration efforts have been successfully conducted by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to increase population numbers of resident desert bighorn (i.e., animals that currently populate a region of interest) at Black Gap Wildlife Management Area (BGWMA) through the use of translocations. In winter 2017-18, we radioed and released 30 resident (8 M, 22 F) and 70 translocated desert bighorn (36 M, 45 F). Of the 70 translocated, 28 (12 M, 16 F) were hard released (i.e., translocated animals immediately released onto landscape) and 42 (24 M, 18 F) soft released (i.e., released into an enclosure before the entire landscape). Preliminary home range size estimates were delineated, for each individual desert bighorn, using kernel density estimates, and were compared among the resident, hard, and soft released sheep. I hypothesized that home range size will be different for translocated desert bighorn and residents at 1-year post release. An analysis of variance showed hard released desert bighorn to have a statistically significant difference in home range size when compared to both resident and soft released (P < 0.01). These preliminary results will provide wildlife biologists with knowledge pertaining to first year movements of translocated and resident desert bighorn at BGWMA, as well as provide insight into approaches for future translocation efforts.
Name: Peter Poulsen
Faculty Mentor: Thomas Janke (Wildlife Management)
Title: “Recap of My Experiences While Helping with the Trans-Pecos Kit Fox Distribution Project, Texas”
Poster: Undergraduate
Abstract: During the 2018 summer 1 semester (30 May–5 July), I worked with the kit fox team on their Trans-Pecos kit fox distribution study. I was able to do this through the Borderlands Research Institute Undergraduate Research and Mentorship Program, combined with an internship class offered by Sul Ross State University. The goal of my internship was to assist the kit fox team with their fieldwork and lab work, and to learn the techniques used in the processes. During my internship, I worked in Jeff Davis and Culberson counties setting up baited camera traps. Cameras were set up near predetermined GPS points and baited with cat food and a fatty acid scent tablet. We would return 13 days later to retrieve the cameras and offload the photos for later sorting. While in the lab, I learned to use Adobe Bridge to label photos based on what animals were captured in the photos. While I was in the lab I sorted photos from cameras placed in Presidio County. Over the course of the internship, I logged over 100 hours of work, was able to visit numerous ranches, sorted and labeled 118,316 photos, and came away with new skill sets. Knowledge and technical skills gained during my internship will help me on future studies or projects that I may work on.
Name: Julie Schmidt
Faculty Mentor: Thomas Janke (Wildlife Management)
Title: “Evaluation of a Technique to Eliminate Excessive Data in Camera Trap Surveys for Mesocarnivores in the Marfa Grasslands of Texas”
Poster: Undergraduate
Abstract: Camera trapping has grown in popularity as a non-invasive method used by researchers and managers to monitor and study wildlife. Although there are many benefits to camera trapping, the collection of excessive and irrelevant photos can add up quickly. When conducting studies on mesocarnivores (species that are typically most active during crepuscular and nighttime hours), daytime captures are typically going to consist of non-target species. In grassland ecosystems, the movement of grass by wind and changes in ambient temperature easily trigger cameras to take photographs, resulting in large numbers of empty photos captured during daytime hours. Elimination of excessive daytime photos could prove beneficial in cutting down effort needed to analyze camera photo data. When eliminating photos, a concern is raised about data that could be lost, and which species could go undetected. To evaluate our technique, twenty cameras were placed throughout Presidio County during March 2018. All sites were baited with canned cat food, and cameras were set to capture a photo every three seconds if movement was detected. Photos were labeled and sorted using Adobe Bridge. We categorized “nighttime” survey photos as those taken after 1600 and before 1000 CST (Central Standard Time). This nighttime window included a minimum of 2 hours before sunset and 2 hours after sunrise to ensure all nocturnal and crepuscular activity were captured. For analyses, we compared species detected during daytime and nighttime hours to determine which species may have been missed using this dataset reduction technique.
Name: Maribel Glass
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ryan O’Shaughnessy (Wildlife Management)
Title: “Unraveling the Truth about Knotgrass at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge”
Poster: Graduate
Abstract: Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in San Antonio, New Mexico was established in 1939 to provide a critical stopover site for migrating waterfowl. This refuge serves as a wintering ground for thousands of ducks, geese, sandhill cranes and shorebirds each year. Refuge staff manage water using gates and ditches to create wetlands and mimic natural flooding cycles that migratory birds need to thrive. As a result, the middle Rio Grande continues to provide food and habitat for not only migratory birds but a diversity of wildlife. There have been reports of an increasing density of knotgrass (Paspalum distichum L.) in managed wetland units at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. This particular genus has been known to be invasive in wetlands and displace desirable vegetation if not managed properly (USDA 2015). It is still uncertain whether or not this grass is useful to avifauna and furthermore, how management prescriptions affect its abundance. However, the genus has also been known to provide a viable food source to ducks, geese, swans, and other water birds (UF CAIP 2015). The goal of this project is to determine if the productivity of paspalum in paspalum dominated wetlands provides a food source avifauna. An additional goal is to determine which and if any, management practices may facilitate the spread of paspalum.
Name: Fabiola Baeza
Faculty Mentor: Mieke Titulaer (Wildlife Management)
Title: “Ecological Requirements for Two Grassland Obligate Birds in the Marfa Grassland, Texas”
Poster: Graduate
Abstract: Grassland birds have declined more rapidly than any other avian group in North America. Declines have been linked to decrease of suitable habitat for grassland obligate species. Baird’s Sparrow (Centronyx bairdii) and Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammdramus savannarum) are among the species with the strongest negative population trends with an approximate annual decline of -2.6% and -2.8%, respectively. Given the fact that habitat plays a crucial role in the persistence of grassland obligate species, the main objective of this project is to evaluate bird-habitat relationships relative to habitat conditions for Baird’s Sparrows and Grasshopper Sparrows in the Marfa grasslands, Texas. Grassland birds were captured and fitted with very high frequency (VHF) radio transmitters during the winter of 2017-2018. Vegetation was assessed at bird points and an evenly spaced grid of points using a 5 m radius circle to obtain estimated percent cover of shrub, herb, grass, Russian thistle (Salsola sp.), bare ground, and other cover within the study area. With this data we developed a suitability model of the study area using boolean rasters for these two grassland obligates based on their habitat preferences from published literature. A better understanding of the ecological requirements of the birds will lead to better management operations.
Name: Carolina Medina Nava
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Bonnie Warnock (Range Restoration)
Title: “Reseeding Techniques on the Chilicotal Soil, Chihuahuan Desert, Texas, After Treatment with Tebuthiuron”
Poster: Graduate
Abstract: Grasslands are important economically and ecologically, because they provide land for cattle grazing, wildlife habitat, and carbon sequestration. Because of this, efforts to improve desert grasslands have been ongoing for the last century. Due to its positive results, Tebuthiuron (Spike 20P) has become a popular restoration tool to control brush species such as creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) in the Trans-Pecos, Texas. In 2013, more than 3,000 ha in 3 different soil types were treated with Spike 20P to reduce brush encroachment in the Green Valley, Texas. However, grass establishment was not equal in all soil types. The Chilicotal soil had less grass recruitment 5 years post treatment compared to other soil types. The specific goal of the restoration project was to evaluate native grass reestablishment in treated Chilicotal soil by identifying and ameliorating recruitment limitations such as seed source, herbivory, soil moisture, and temperature. I used a mixture of 6 grasses; Oso Hall’s panicum (Panicum halii), La Salle Arizona cottontop (Digitaria californica), Van Horn green sprangletop (Leptochloa dubia), Santiago silver bluestem (Bothriochloa saccharoides), Permian whiplash pappusgrass (Pappophorum vaginatum), and chino grama (Bouteloua ramosa), placed at 3 microsites: bare ground, nurse plants, and microtopography. On each microsite, control points and 5 reseeding techniques: seedballs, seedballs covered with burlap, burlap tubes, seed broadcasting, and seed broadcasting covered with burlap, were implemented. Because we need more management-minded scientists and more science-minded managers, the results of the study will help future land stewards to understand how best to improve soil types with significant limitations.
Data Storage and Management Poster Group – Student Information and Abstracts
Name: Cody Putman
Faculty Mentor: Thomas Janke (Data Storage and Management)
Title: “A Review of Techniques for Archiving and Sharing Camera Trap Databases”
Poster: Undergraduate
Abstract: Camera traps have drastically changed the way researchers are able to study wildlife since they were first used in the early 20th century. Camera trap studies produce large amounts of data, which generally go unused once the study is finished. If these data archives were better integrated, then researchers could perform more comprehensive and robust studies, while at the same time cutting the amount of effort required. The objective of this project was to review and compare techniques of archiving and sharing camera trap data. For our data collection and comparison, individuals from various research agencies, programs, universities, and related industries were interviewed about which programs and systems they use to store or share camera trap photos (or similar data). An overview of storage capacity, ease of use, costs, and practicality for each of the programs and systems are included in the results. Findings from this review will allow researchers, landowners, and managers to more easily determine the best option(s) for storing or sharing their data archives, while at the same time hopefully encourage increased integration between camera trap studies.
Chemistry Poster Group – Student Information and Abstracts
Name: Yelixza Avila, Morgan Chandler (UNCC) & Dr. Kiril A. Afonin (Faculty Mentor)
Faculty Mentor: Dominique Vargas (Chemistry)
Title: “Empirical Study to Assess Immunotoxicity of RNA Nanorings with Varied Functional Orientations”
Poster: Undergraduate
Abstract: RNA nanorings offer an intriguing window of opportunity to revolutionize cancer therapeutics. However, there has not been a clear investigation of the RNA nanoring’s immunotoxicity in the design of therapeutic nucleic acids. From this arises the question of whether orientation of functionalization affects the immune response of the nanorings. In this study, the immune response to RNA nanorings with variations in the orientation of the functionalities were analyzed using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). RNA nanorings are hexagonal in shape and are assembled from intermolecular interactions between intramolecularly assembled monomers. Synthesis of the monomers incorporates the use of polymerase chain reaction, purification, and run-off transcription of DNA templates. Once each strand of the nanoring is synthesized, assembly of the ring is confirmed using electrophoretic mobility shift assays and atomic force microscopy. Immune response is characterized using a multiplex assay with PBMCs transfected with RNA nanorings. Fluorescence is then measured for human interferons alpha, beta, lambda, and omega. Preliminary results suggest that the number of functionalities and their orientation influence the immune response, which is also donor dependent. Results will be used to refine nanoring design to reduce or induce a desired immune system response.