Undergraduate Lower Division (Freshman and Sophomore)
- [83] A Look into Michigan’s Predators and Prey—the Turkey, the Deer, and the Coyote.
- [84] Activity Pattern Variation of Three Canine Species in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
- [85] Activity Patterns of American Black Bears, Gray Wolves and White-tailed Deer
- [86] Activity Patterns of Predators Ursus Arctos, Canis Lupus, and Prey Alces
- [87] American Fox, Fox Squirrel, and Cottontail Rabbit, Predator VS. Prey VS. Prey
- [88] Characterization of LAMP Primer Design Compared to Published Results
- [89] Comparison of Activity Patterns for American Beavers, Gray Wolves, and Muskrats
- [90] Daily Activity Activity Patterns of Gray Wolves, Coyotes, and White-tailed Deer
- [91] Daily Activity Patterns Between Gray Wolf, Snowshoe Hare and Northern Raccoon
- [92] Daily Activity Patterns Changes of the Coyote, Raccoon and American Red Squirrel
- [93] Daily Activity Patterns In a Predator-Prey Relationship
- [94] Daily Activity Patterns of a Snowshoe Hare, Coyote, and Owl Species
- [95] Daily Activity Patterns of American Black Bear, Coyote, and White-Tailed Deer
- [96] Daily Activity Patterns of Bobcats, Fisher, and Snowshoe Hare.
- [97] Daily Activity Patterns of Competitive Avian Species
- [98] Daily Activity Patterns of Coyote, Bear, and Whitetail Deer
- [99] Daily Activity Patterns of Coyotes, Red Foxes, and Snowshoe Hares
- [100] Daily Activity Patterns of Different Canids
- [101] Daily Activity Patterns of Gray Wolves and Their Prey
- [102] Daily Activity Patterns of Michigan Forest Squirrels
- [103] Daily Activity Patterns of Predators and Prey
- [104] Daily Activity Patterns of Predators and Prey
- [105] Daily Activity Patterns of Racoons, Coyotes, and Bobcats
- [106] Daily Activity Patterns of the Grey Fox, Bald Eagle, and Eastern Grey Squirrel
- [107] Daily Activity Patterns of the Large Canidea Family
- [108] Eating Patterns of Different Squirrel Species
- [109] Ecological Comparison of Vulpes vulpes, Canis Latrans, and Ursus Americanus
- [110] Effects of Coyote Presence on Daily Activity Patterns of Small Rodents
- [111] Evaluating Pika Colonization Through Parasite Histories
- [112] Evaluation of Peptide Nucleic Acid Oligomers as Clamping Probes in a LAMP Assay
- [113] Hormone-Induced Decidualization of Human Endometrial Stromal Cells
- [114] How Birds of Prey Affect the Daily Activity Patterns of Western Gray Squirrels
- [115] How Does the Coyote Influence the Prey Available to the Red Fox?
- [116] Interactions of the Bald Eagle, Red Fox, and Eastern Chipmunk in the USA
- [117] Natural History of Small Mammal Use of Human Cadavers
- [118] Nocuturnal Activity Patterns of American Badgers, Red Foxes, and Owl Species
- [119] Predator-Prey Daily Activity Patterns and Predator-Predator Competition
- [120] Predators and Prey: Eastern Cottontail, Red Fox, and Coyote Activity Patterns
- [121] Predatory Behavior effects on Activity Patterns of Bobcat, Red Fox, and Opossum
- [122] Predatory Interactions With North American Porcupines in Forest Habitats
- [123] Raptors Sweepin Away Competition
- [124] Temporal Relationship Between Red Fox, Eastern Cottontail, and Gray Wolf
- [125] The Activity Pattern of the Northern Flying Squirrel and its Predators
- [126] The Gray Wolfs, Their Prey, and Their Activity Patterns
- [127] The Relationship Between Alaskan Predators on a Salmon-rich Stream
- [128] To Analyze the Effects of Predation on Biodiversity
- [129] When Humans Aren’t Looking How do Species Activity Levels Change?
[83]
A Look into Michigan’s Predators and Prey - the Turkey, the Deer, and the Coyote
Johnathan Green, Freshman - Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
The white-tailed deer- (Odocoileus virginianus)-is a common North American herbivore that is populous across all of Michigan, as too is the omnivorous bird species wild turkey- (Meleagris gallopavo). These two are also a main food source to coyotes- (Canis latrans)-and because of this, white-tailed deer and turkeys have to partition the time they spend foraging and seeking out food with being observant of the coyotes. The goal of my research is to differentiate between the daily activity patterns of these three species; I hypothesized that there would be a statistical difference among these animals, meaning that a distinct activity pattern of nocturnal, diurnal, or crepuscular would arise. For my source of data, I relied on camera-trap data provided by Snapshot USA that I limited to the subgroups in Michigan, more particularly, those in a wild, forested setting. The camera traps all had the same, basic setup. Based on my Chi-square analysis, I was able to determine that the white-tailed deer has a crepuscular activity pattern, the wild turkey has a diurnal activity pattern, and the coyote is nocturnal. By understanding the activity patterns of these three animals, we can better understand how they interact with each other.
[84]
Activity Pattern Variation of Three Canine Species in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
Trinity Hinshaw, Sophomore - Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
The coyote (Canis latrans), the gray wolf (Canis lupus), and the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) are all known to be ecologically significant predators. All three are widely known canine species ranging in size, but also share similarities due to their close taxonomic relationship. Yet, they have many notable differences as a result of adapting to different drivers of speciation, such as competition or food source availability. Further, it is my goal to determine if there are differences in their daily activity patterns which have previously been observed as crepuscular. Data used for my research was collected using camera traps from the Snapshot USA project located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. By running a chi square test, I determined that coyotes are nocturnal, however, the red fox and gray wolf are indeterminant, or cathemeral. Studying daily activity patterns is vital to understanding a species ecological role and impact on their environment. Further research could determine how species activity patterns have impacted various wildlife populations and communities, as well as potential ecological drivers and disturbances that have caused these activity patterns.
[85]
Activity Patterns of American Black Bears, Gray Wolves and White-tailed Deer
Dana Rinkel, Sophomore - Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
While it is known that American black bears (Ursus americanus) and gray wolves (Canis lupus) are both predators to white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), all three species interact with each other through predation, as black bears and gray wolves prey on white-tailed deer. Within forests of the upper Midwest, black bears, wolves, and white-tailed deer have differing daily activity patterns, such as diurnal, nocturnal, crepuscular or cathemeral. Our goal is to have a better understanding of the daily activity patterns for white-tailed deer, wolves and black bears and we hypothesize that the activity patterns of all three species will overlap. To attain our goal, we used camera traps placed within the study area to document the activity of the species and determine if the pattern was irregular or distinct. Our primary results show that black bears are most active during the day, while white-tailed deer are mainly active around dusk and dawn, and wolves are active during the day and night, which shows that the activity patterns do have some overlap. Learning more about the activity patterns for black bears, gray wolves, and white-tailed deer can be helpful to learn more about their ecological impact on each other due to hunting and predation.
[86]
Activity Patterns of Predators Ursus Arctos, Canis Lupus, and Prey Alces
Nadia Finley, Sophomore - Fisheries & Wildlife Management
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
When two large predatory species reside within the same area, we can observe high levels of competition, but also the ability of these species to coexist. Both the brown bear (Ursus arctos) and gray wolf (Canis lupus) are considered to be top predators in their given ecosystems, yet these two competitor species have very similar diets. Moose (Alces alces) make up a large portion of the brown bear and gray wolf diet in certain regions of the United States, thus the competition for moose can affect the daily activity patterns of these predators significantly. In areas where both brown bears and gray wolves occur, a common selection of species (i.e., moose), would result in these predators shifting their daily activity patterns due to high temporal overlap that could lead to increase conflict. In order to investigate these activity patterns further, data was collected using camera traps to create the SnapshotUSA dataset. Species data from Alaska was used to run a chi-square analysis and determine daily activity patterns. The results revealed that the majority of brown bears appeared to be nocturnal, whereas grey wolves were more diurnal. However, because the spread of data for moose exhibited no clear pattern due to equivalent detections during the nocturnal and diurnal time periods classified the moose activity as cathemeral. Moreover, brown bears and grey wolves will feed on moose at different times to avoid overlapping. Understanding the activity overlap of these species could provide insight to those who want to achieve the management of competition of larger predators.
[87]
American Fox, Fox Squirrel, and Cottontail Rabbit, Predator VS. Prey VS. Prey
Mitchell Russelburg, Sophomore - Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
Red Fox have hunted rabbits and squirrels and squirrels and rabbits have competed for food for centuries. Their predator versus prey versus prey relationship makes them perfect candidates for a study about borrows because all three species use them in different ways. The goal of this research project is to figure out how rabbit and squirrel activity patterns differ when in contact with foxes and the hypothesis is if American red foxes are inhabiting the same area as fox squirrels and cottontail rabbits, both the squirrels and rabbits activity will decrease. We will be placing cameras in trees around burrows where groups of rabbits and squirrels are living and watch to see how long they spend in the burrows and at what times they come out. Our results were that squirrels and rabbits spent most of their time in the burrows at dusk and dawn, since fox were active most at these times. This study is important because it can showcase how different prey species interact with each other, as well as how they interact with their main predator. It will scientists a better idea of their activity as well as schedules during different months.
[88]
Characterization of LAMP Primer Design Compared to Published Results
Scott Rose, Sophomore - Clinical Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Matthew Jennings - Clinical Sciences
Poster
The current worldwide pandemic of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) produces an urgency to find a way to quickly test people for the virus. Currently a Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) assay is the “gold standard” test to identify infected individuals. Therefore, I am seeking to use Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) as an assay to detect SARS-CoV-2. LAMP offers greater specificity and sensitivity compared to PCR. The overall objective will compare and characterize Dr. Jennings’ designed LAMP primers with published primer sets with confirmation of successful LAMP amplification via RT-PCR and gel electrophoresis. Using the products of LAMP, a RT-PCR shall confirm that SARS-CoV-2 amplification occurs reproducibly. Confirmation relies on a restriction enzyme digest to see whether the RT-PCR and LAMP reactions produced SARS-CoV-2 RNA. This project will help confirm that the Primers Dr. Jennings designed will detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA.
[89]
Comparison of Activity Patterns for American Beavers, Gray Wolves, and Muskrats
Margaret Lorenz, Freshman - Biology - Zoology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
American beavers (Castor canadensis) share the same niche as muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) by creating lodges and they compete with one another when their vegetation needs overlap. Beavers face predation from gray wolves (Canis lupus). The prediction is that beavers adjust their activity pattern in order to reduce competition with muskrats and to avoid predation from gray wolves. Activity patterns were found by using the Snapshot USA database. Beavers share the same nocturnal activity pattern with muskrats and gray wolves have cathemeral patterns that most likely adjust to the available prey's schedule. This research has revealed that beavers have a definitive schedule that is not heavily affected by competition or predation, but more research may need to be done where an overlap of beavers with muskrats or gray wolves is more well known.
[90]
Daily Activity Activity Patterns of Gray Wolves, Coyotes, and White-tailed Deer
Kyle Monroe, Sophomore - Fisheries & Wildlife Management
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
Gray wolves(Canis lupus), coyotes(Canis latrans) and white-tailed deer(Odocoileus virginianus) have a very large range with considerable overlap. White-tailed deer are a very popular game species, and this can cause conflict when coyotes and wolf populations rise. Key factors in white-tailed deer activity are food sources and availability. It is important to know the daily activity patterns of white-tailed deer, coyotes, and wolves to help inform potential predator-prey interactions. The goal of my research is to understand the daily activity patterns of wolves and coyotes compared to the white-tailed deer and to use these patterns to determine a conservation aim for deer. My hypothesis for my research was there is a significant difference in daily activity patterns between coyotes, gray wolves, white-tailed deer. Although there is a definite predator/prey relationship between these animals, gray wolves, and coyotes activity patterns are not based solely on deer activity. I used the Snapshot USA website, a camera trapping collaboration to collect data on the activity patterns of my three species. I then used a chi squared test to determine if each of the species was nocturnal, diurnal, crepuscular, or cathermal. White-tailed deer had 34,247 detections and they were crepuscular, wolves had 63 detections and they were cathermal, and coyotes had 2,294 and they were nocturnal. Potential ecological consequences of the results would be that in many areas the predator/prey relationship between Gray wolves, Coyotes, and White-tailed deer are stable, and not causing large fluctuations in deer populations. The results support that there is a significant difference in activity patterns of white-tailed deer, gray wolves, and coyotes.
[91]
Daily Activity Patterns Between Gray Wolf, Snowshoe Hare and Northern Raccoon
Taylor Luckhardt, Sophomore - Fisheries & Wildlife Management
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
Gray wolves (Canis lupus) are continuing to be reintroduced into the wild across the United States with various opinions coming from hunters, wildlife managers, and local citizens. Ecologically, gray wolves are considered a top predator that serve a key role in ecosystem structure. For example, gray wolves can serve as a way to control certain prey and even small predator populations that may grow rapidly due to the absence of large predators. In certain environments, the gray wolf may also be part of a unique relationship with species such as the northern raccoon (Procyon lotor), that could scavenge wolf kill sites for resources, or even allow for higher abundance of small prey, Snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) that are generally preyed upon by smaller carnivores. The goal of my project is to determine which species, northern raccoon or snowshoe hare, will be more active when gray wolves are active to better understand their predator prey relationships. To accomplish my goal, infrared camera traps were set across the United States to collect wildlife images contributing to the snapshot USA dataset. I conducted a chi squared analysis to determine species daily activity patterns, and results found that gray wolves are most active right at 7 am and the number of snowshoe hares and raccoons drop right at 7 am when wolves are present. I also conducted from our data that between 3 and 6 am raccoons are most active alongside gray wolves. When observing the relationship between the gray wolf and raccoon we see that they are most active together, this being raccoons could be “cleaning up” after the wolf.
[92]
Daily Activity Patterns Changes of the Coyote, Raccoon and American Red Squirrel
Ellie Korienek, Sophomore - Secondary Education
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
The coyote is a predator to many smaller species such as the American red squirrel and raccoon. The raccoon and coyote are known to be active at night while the squirrel is active during the day. Raccoons and coyotes appear to have activity patterns that strongly overlap while the American red squirrel has little to now overlap. Understanding whether there is a difference in daily activity patterns of the coyote, raccoon and American red squirrel when the other species are present is a primary focus. As species that all share some predator prey relationship with each other it would make sense that they affect each other’s daily activity patterns especially in the case of the raccoon and coyote as there is also competition between these species. Using trail cams set up through Snapshot USA to collect data tracking the activity patterns of each of the species throughout the United States there were a few conclusions we were able to come across. Though the results can be further expanded upon, the results do show that both raccoons and coyotes share a nocturnal activity pattern while the squirrels differ having diurnal activity patterns. The differing activity patterns between the predators and prey could be due to avoidance however, there has not been enough research to tell. Further research could be done to understand further on why the results came out the way that they did such as what the reasoning for the differing daily activity patterns that could be overlooked in this study.
[93]
Daily Activity Patterns In a Predator-Prey Relationship
Malena Michaelson, Sophomore - Environmental Science
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
Black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus), American badgers (Taxidea taxus), and coyotes (Canis latrans) are interacting species with a predator-prey relationship that have similar activity levels influenced by both season and time of day. These animals are found spread across the United States based mainly in grassland or forest ecosystems and rely on similar resources. The prairie dogs and badgers both create shelter for burrowing animals, and coyotes and badgers get their food supply from prey animals such as prairie dogs. I aim to find whether the daily activity patterns of the black-tailed prairie dogs, American badgers, and coyotes are different from one another, and I hypothesize that the daily activity patterns of American badgers and coyotes will align with those of black-tailed prairie dogs. Interspecies competition and population size can greatly impact activity levels, and I aim to collaborate with Snapshot USA and use camera trapping techniques to determine the activity levels for each species. From the results, the daily activity of the American badger and coyote are very similar as both animals are nocturnal. The chi-square for the black-tailed prairie dog and the coyote is <0.0005 while the chi-square for the American badger is 0.0025. The black-tailed prairie dog is diurnal likely due to its need to escape and hide from predators. This study is significant due to the characteristics of each species and the predator-prey interaction between all three in the North American forest and grassland ecosystems.
[94]
Daily Activity Patterns of a Snowshoe Hare, Coyote, and Owl Species
Micaela Douglas, Sophomore - Biology - Zoology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
Coyotes (Canis latrans), owl species, and snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) are being observed in the experiment in order to identify the daily activities of these animals and what affects the patterns. I hypothesize that each species in the experiment affect each other all the same and are in a tight knit group of a predator and prey relationship. They are all active around the same time of night so it is safe to assume that they interact nightly. Camera traps were set up to collect the data needed to confirm activity patterns for the coyote, owl species, and snowshoe hare. All three species have been observed to be nocturnal based on the results from the statistical analysis showing peaks of activity during the late or early hours of the day. Thus proving the hypothesis to be correct in the sense that all the species are nocturnal and play a crucial role in determining each others activity patterns.
[95]
Daily Activity Patterns of American Black Bear, Coyote, and White-Tailed Deer
Gabriella Stajdl, Freshman - Undecided
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jose Garcia - Academic Information Services
Poster
The American Black Bear and the Coyotes often share some of the same prey, including the White-Tailed Deer, which in turn causes their activity patterns to rely on each other. This can also cause each species average population to go up or down, depending on the American Black Bear’s or Coyote’s activity pattern in relation to the White-Tailed Deer, which may cause their average activity pattern to change. The goal is to figure out how each species activity patterns and habits affect the other species’ activity patterns and habits. We used camera traps from Snapshot USA to collect data for each species, over an average 24hour period, and then figure out their average activity pattern. From this data, we gathered that the White-Tailed Deer are most active around sunrise and sunset, with higher activity at night than day, and the American Black Bears and Coyotes are most active at night. Understanding these species’ activities in relation to each other can help us to better understand how all species work in relation to each other, and to help us figure out all the relations in the ecosystems.
[96]
Daily Activity Patterns of Bobcats, Fisher, and Snowshoe Hare.
Emily Hedmark, Sophomore - Fisheries & Wildlife Management
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
This project focuses on the different daily activity patterns between three different species. The three species that I chose to look at were bobcats, fishers, and snowshoe hares, because they all share a predator prey relationship amongst one another. My goal while conducting this study was to determine the daily activity patterns of bobcat, fisher, and snowshoe hare. Camera trapping data from snapshot USA was used to accomplish the goal. I hypothesized that there would be significant difference in daily activity patterns amongst the three species, because they all share a predator prey relationship. My results showed that both the bobcat and the snowshoe hare are nocturnal species, while the fisher is crepuscular. This study is important because it will show the predator prey relationship that the bobcat and fisher may have on the snowshoe hare, by showing information on sleeping patterns and active patterns. The results could benefit further studies by possibly shortening time spent gathering data.
[97]
Daily Activity Patterns of Competitive Avian Species
Kaylin Humphries, Sophomore - Biology - Zoology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
Daily activity patterns of organisms relies on many differing abiotic, such as the day/night cycle, and biotic factors, like competitions between species for resources and space. For owl species and bald eagles, their activity pattern may have a correlation with a biotic factor, that being their hostile and competitive interactions with corvid species, known as mobbing. Mobbing is a phenomenon when a swarm of corvids come together to attack or kill a bird of prey, and this done for resource competition and territorial reasons. Through studying the daily activity of each avian species, there may show an avoidance to interact between the organisms because it would result in mobbing. Camera traps across varying American landscapes were used to capture the frequency of activity through a day, over the course of a summer. It was confirmed that owl species have a nocturnal activity pattern while bald eagles and corvids had a diurnal activity pattern. This shows a possible correlation with the activity owl species and corvid mobbing, but not the bald eagles and corvid mobbing. While there was not a direct correlation between the daily pattern of corvids and bald eagles and the tendencies to mob, this phenomenon still greatly effects the interactions and distribution of avian life, and may prove useful in understanding the management and conservation of these avian species moving forward.
[98]
Daily Activity Patterns of Coyote, Bear, and Whitetail Deer
Alex Dolata, Sophomore - Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
The whitetail fawn population every year is significantly diminished by predation. Newborn fawns and early yearlings are the biggest target of predation because of their small size and inability to defend themselves. This study aims to determine the different daily activity patterns of the Odocoileus virginianus and their predators, the Canis latrans and Ursus americanus. We will be using camera trapping pictures collected by Snapshot USA in order to determine these activity patterns. It was found that the patterns were very closely related with the activity of the bear and coyote between 80%-90% at night and the deer active about 50% of the time at night in the Midwest. This study could lead to more important studies done for the configuring of the number of hunting tags to distribute to keep population of all under control.
[99]
Daily Activity Patterns of Coyotes, Red Foxes, and Snowshoe Hares
Ariana Backlund, Sophomore - Biology and French
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
The coyote (Canis latrans), and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) are both predators of the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), with coyotes being one of the main predators; however, depending on the reproduction cycles of snowshoe hares during the winter months, coyotes will find other sources of food. Red fox mainly hunt smaller mammals than snowshoe hares, however, if a snowshoe hare senses the presence of red fox urine, they will avoid the area until the scent is gone. Coyotes and red fox have similar daily activity patterns, which is why they prey on similar, if not the same, species. This being said, if coyotes are mainly nocturnal creatures, and they are, then the red fox will mimic the daily activity pattern of the coyote, and the snowshoe hare will be active mainly during daylight to avoid their predators. In order to perform this research, data from Snapshot USA was used to create graphs and analyses that helped formulate the conclusions that were reached. The results of this research did not match the hypothesis, with all three species being nocturnal for the most part. Perhaps the most surprising result of them all was that snowshoe hares are the most nocturnal out of these three species. The understanding of the daily activity patterns of the snowshoe hare, red fox, and coyote and how they relate to one another is important to help better the understanding of other predator-prey relationships, where two species prey on – and potentially fight over – another species.
[100]
Daily Activity Patterns of Different Canids
Mason Slade, Freshman - Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
Mammal activity patterns are determined by food availability, reproductive stage, habitat selection, intraspecific interaction and predation risk. Studies suggest that predators are capable of adapting their activity to that of their prey, increasing capture success. For example, white-tailed deer and moose typically display a bimodal pattern, thus we could expect predators such as the gray wolf (Canis lupus) to also be bimodal. Further, gray wolves are even known to kill coyotes (Canis latrans) that in turn have been observed to kill red fox (Vulpes vulpes). The goal of my study is to determine if different sized canids differ in their activity patterns. I hypothesize that when gray wolves are most active, coyotes will have the lowest number of detections, while peaks of coyote activity will result in little red fox activity. Snapshot USA data collected using camera traps across the United states was used to run a chi square analysis, and create histograms showing the daily activity patterns for each canid species. The activity pattern of the red fox and gray wolf were found to be cathemeral, with the red fox being quite common at all times of the day but they gray wolf having a distinct peak of activity at sunrise. Further, the coyote was found to be primarily nocturnal having overlap with both other canids. Understanding canid interactions across the U.S. is important for gray wolf conservation as the species becomes less abundant due to hunting and reintroduction not being supported by local communities.
[101]
Daily Activity Patterns of Gray Wolves and Their Prey
McKinley Weakley, Sophomore - Biology - Physiology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
Gray Wolves (Canis lupus), white-tailed deer (Odocoieus virginianus), and the moose (Alces alces) are involved in a predator-prey relationship. The gray wolf prey on the moose and white-tailed deer. By studying the daily activity patterns of all three species will help discover if predator-prey relationships affect daily activity patterns. The purpose of the study is to see if the activity patterns of the gray wolf differ from the white-tailed deer and moose. To accomplish our goals, we collaborated with Snapshot USA and camera traps to obverse daily activity patterns of all three species. Camera trap data results indicate that the gray wolf activity patterns differed from both white-tailed deer and moose. This data is important to further explore predator-prey relationship and the impact it has on all species involved.
[102]
Daily Activity Patterns of Michigan Forest Squirrels
Nicole Cash, Freshman - Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
The eastern gray squirrel [Sciurus carolinensis], eastern fox squirrel [Sciurus niger], and American red squirrel [Tamiasciurus hudsonicus] all inhabit the boreal forests of Michigan and share a direct relationship as competitors for the same resources. The food-hoarding behavior of these species due to their competition aids in forest regeneration and seed dispersal. The goal of this study is to evaluate and compare the daily activity patterns of three these species to determine if their activity patterns differ from one another. It is hypothesized that the daily activity patterns of these species will not differ. Data for this study was gathered from Snapshot USA’s tree-mounted motion detecting camera traps which were deployed from September 2019 to October 2019, each collecting 400 camera nights of effort. They are positioned 0.5 meters off the ground, 200 meters from other cameras, in regular orientation (facing north,) and without bait. A chi square test was used to determine whether the three species display activity that is significant to any of three activity pattern categories or if the null hypothesis, stating that the data is not significant to any category, should be accepted and thus the species is cathemeral. The resulting p value of < 0.0005 for all three species demonstrates that the data is significant to an activity pattern category and the null hypothesis is rejected. Histograms created from the gathered data suggest that all three squirrel species have diurnal tendencies and there is no significant difference between their activity patterns. Measuring and comparing the daily activity patterns of the eastern gray squirrel, eastern fox squirrel, and American red squirrel is important for better understanding how these species relate to one another, the composition of forests due to their competitive food-hoarding behaviors, and the ecological and evolutionary factors that drive these squirrels’ behavior.
[103]
Daily Activity Patterns of Predators and Prey
Kristen Hall, Sophomore - Biology - Zoology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
Daily activity patterns vary by species due to biotic and abiotic factors, including the presence and absence of predators and prey. While observing the activity patterns of American black bear (Ursus americanus), gray wolf (Canis lupus), and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), we can observe if those factors come into play and compare species patterns for possible interactions. My goal is to see how their daily activity patterns compare. I believe that wolves and deer may have similar patterns as wolves predate heavily on deer, meanwhile bear may have a differing pattern due to their hibernation during winter and their predominately herbaceous diet. Deer will likely be most active when predators are not. I analyzed data from Snapshot USA to create graphs based on when the animals appear in the wild. From my results, the daily activity patterns of deer are definitively crepuscular, wolves are cathemeral, (can vary per pack, habitat, prey presence, etc.) and black bear are diurnal with most activity occurring in the evening. Studies like this are important because they help us understand where, when, and why these species are more likely to occur, helping aid us in their protection from extinction and hopefully increasing co-existence between humans and the millions of other species that call this Earth their home.
[104]
Daily Activity Patterns of Predators and Prey
Skylar Schlaff, Sophomore - Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
Coyotes (Canis latrans) and bobcats (Lynx rufus) share a common prey item, eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis). They have directly proportional relationships with one another; bobcats and coyotes have competition while squirrels are predated by them both. The main goal of the study is to determine if daily activity patterns between the three species interact with eachother. I hypothesized that bobcat and coyote activity patterns have little overlap to reduce competition between them, and gray squirrel activity would overlap with both coyotes and bobcats. I used Snapshot USA data to analyze what times of day each individual species was active. Snapshot USA uses camera trapping to monitor the daily activity patterns of multiple species. So, I completed statistical analysis on the three species of interest. I found the opposite of my original hypothesis; bobcats and coyotes are often active at the same times (nocturnal) and gray squirrels are diurnal with little overlap with both predators. This is likely because the squirrels are trying to avoid predation so their peak activity is when coyote and bobcat activity declines. The study is important because it looks at how competition between two predators affect a common prey species as well as how they affect eachother.
[105]
Daily Activity Patterns of Racoons, Coyotes, and Bobcats
Mauricio Garcia Pajaro, Freshman - Biology - Zoology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
Camera trapping is a cornerstone of preservation efforts, as they can be used to not only track the overall population of certain species within a certain area but can also determine species’ daily activity patterns as well. To that effect, comparing the patterns of raccoons (Procyon lotor), coyotes (Canis latrans), and bobcats (Lynx rufus), can be important to help determine predator prey relationships. To achieve this, camera trap data collected by the Snapshot USA project and then analyzed to identify the daily activity patterns for each species. The research determined raccoons to be mainly nocturnal, while coyotes and bobcats exhibited diurnal patterns. Finding and researching these patterns can be key to rehabilitation efforts and breeding programs, as they help to increase the odds of survivals among individuals who have been released into their respective habitats.
[106]
Daily Activity Patterns of the Grey Fox, Bald Eagle, and Eastern Grey Squirrel
Aaron Busiel, Sophomore - Environmental Science
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
Interactions between different species of animals can mean life or death to some individuals, whether it be a predator prey relationship or even just one of competition. Using SnapShot USA camera trapping data I attempted to discern differences between Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Grey Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), and Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) daily activity patterns. I hypothesize the daily activity patterns of these three species will overlap slightly but the Grey Fox will remain mostly nocturnal hunting the Gray Squirrel at times when their activity patterns overlap, whereas the Bald Eagle will remain diurnal. I was able to determine that the Grey Fox was nocturnal, while the Eastern Gray Squirrel and the Bald Eagle were diurnal. The Grey Fox and the Eastern Gray Squirrel overlapped slightly in their activity patterns, but the Grey Fox and Bald Eagle did not overlap at all. The daily activity patterns of those three species gives them the best chance of survival and the ability to thrive in their habitats. Looking at the daily activity patterns of a variety of animals is a very interesting topic and should be investigated further. Activity patterns of animals offer an understanding of how and when animals interact with each other.
[107]
Daily Activity Patterns of the Large Canidea Family
Morgan Halley-Gluesing, Freshman - Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
Gray wolves, gray foxes, and coyotes are all medium-large sized predators that are members of the Canidae family meaning they potentially compete for resources and occasionally partake in within-in guild predation. Intra-guild predation is not an especially common occurrence so it is an important concept to better understand. The goal of this study is to better understand the daily habits of gray wolves, gray foxes, and coyotes which would increase our understanding of how they compete for resources; the hypothesis being tested is "Foxes will be more active in the early evenings and later mornings than the coyote and gray wolf". To test this hypothesis, data was gathered from the Snapshot USA Project which was compiled from camera trap data which was then analyzed to determine when each species was most active which allowed researchers to extrapolate potential higher competition time slots per day or times of potential avoidance by the species. The results of this study suggest that coyote and gray fox are nocturnal whereas gray wolves are cathemeral which may suggest that coyote and gray foxes compete with each other at a higher rate than they do with wolves. This study helps us to understand intra-guild competition and potential intra-guild predation which can help conservationists to understand how to manage the species, especially in regard to areas that may be lacking in certain resources, such as prey, which might cause higher competition rates.
[108]
Eating Patterns of The Albert’s Squirrel, The American Red Squirrel, and The Arizona Gray Squirrel
Erynn Messana, Sophomore - Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - BiologyPoster
The Albert’s squirrel, American Red squirrel, and the Arizona Gray Squirrel all live in similar habitats. Based on camera trap sightings of each of the three squirrel species, I will be examining how often each species is spotted and at what times of day. These particular squirrel species all live in very similar habitats, being forests, and will likely have daily activity patterns that are much the same because of their similar environments. What they do throughout their days is also similar to one another. I hypothesize that the Albert’s squirrel, American red squirrel, and the Arizona gray squirrels’ activity will solely be during the daytime, making them diurnal. Looking into squirrels’ daily activity patterns by observing sightings from camera traps could help experts look further into what squirrels do when they’re active and why it tends to be at a certain time of day.
[109]
Ecological Comparison of Vulpes Vulpes, Canis Latrans, and Ursus Americanus
Hannah Robinson, Sophomore - Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), coyotes (Canis latrans) and black bears (Ursus americanus) are all found in Michigan, using the same habitat and resources in different ways. The species have different behavioral patterns, yet utilize the same areas to find resources and establish their home range. Each of these species consume a similar range of resources consisting of plants, grasses, insects, and small mammals, however; they use these resources in different ways to benefit their commonly shared forest environments. The activity patterns of these three species are generally observed to occur either before dawn or after dusk, meaning they all have nocturnal tendencies, yet, they all have been seen to have some level of activity during the day. The coyote is the most active during the day out of black bears, coyotes, and red foxes. These species have less interaction with humans due to their activity being in early morning and late night hours. The red fox was found to be primarily active at night, while black bears had increasing activity as the day progressed, with activity peaking after dusk. In comparison to the red fox and black bears, coyotes had less nocturnal activity, but were still active after dusk.By further studying species activity patterns, scientists can expand their knowledge on how species interact with their ecosystems and how they use the same resources in ecologically unique ways.
[110]
Effects of Coyote Presence on Daily Activity Patterns of Small Rodents
Matthew Revord, Sophomore - Biology - Ecology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
Rodents are an essential piece of the forest ecosystem. They help to disperse seeds, break down decaying materials, and they are a major source of food for many predators. Although they have many predators, one that often comes to the mind of the general public is the coyote (Canis latrans). This could be because people are so used to domestic dogs chasing rodents through the woods. These canines have a particular talent for chasing squirrels up a tree, or chipmunks back into their burrow. To investigate the relationship between coyotes and rodents more we investigated the daily activity patterns of coyotes, American red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), and eastern chipmunks (Tamius striatus) in relation to one another. Our hypothesis is that their activity patterns would differ in a significant way. To achieve our goals, we used Snapshot USA’s database of camera trapping data in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. By analyzing the photos, we determined the times of the day that these animals were active when in the same environment. We used the chi squared test and histograms to determine that American red squirrels and eastern chipmunks are diurnal, while coyotes are nocturnal. These findings are important to develop a better understanding of the relationship between rodents and their environments. As rodents are highly influential in the distribution of seeds in their given environment, their removal has the potential to drastically change the distribution of species and species richness in the environment. Knowing the factors that could cause a die-off in rodents, such as coyote predation for example, could influence how we view rodent conservation efforts in the future.
[111]
Evaluating Pika Colonization Through Parasite Histories
Cora Siuda, Freshman - Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kurt Galbreath - Biology
Poster
Pikas, small lagomorphs that live at high elevations across western North America and Central Asia, have a complex history of intercontinental exchange. Previous work on the tapeworms (genus Schizorchis) of pikas suggested that there were two separate waves of colonization into North America from Asia. One of these colonizations occurred during the Pliocene and another occurred during the Late Pleistocene. However, this earlier study did not include complete sampling of Schizorchis diversity. Depending on the phylogenetic placement of Schizorchis species that were not previously sampled, the timing of the earliest pika colonization of North America could be called into question, potentially suggesting that North American Schizorchis arrived in a single colonization event. To evaluate this possibility, I am adding new DNA sequence data - collected from Asia - that represents additional Schizorchis lineages. By doing so, we are reconstructing the evolutionary history of these lineages and providing a more complete picture of the history of pika colonization between Asia and North America.
[112]
Evaluation of Peptide Nucleic Acid Oligomers as Clamping Probes in a LAMP Assay
Teagan Blohowiak, Freshman - Clinical Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Paul Mann - Clinical Sciences
Poster
Peptide nucleic acids (PNA) are synthetic nucleic acid oligomers with high binding strength as they lack charged phosphate groups. This property gives PNA oligomers greater specificity for binding to complementary DNA sequences and a single PNA/DNA base mismatch is considerably less stable than the same DNA/DNA mismatch. PNA oligomers are thus useful as clamping probes in molecular diagnostic assays. The IDH1R132H mutation is an important diagnostic and prognostic biomarker used to characterize glioblastoma (GBM). This is because patients harboring the IDH1 mutation have improved overall survival following maximal resection. We previously designed a novel peptide nucleic acid loop-mediated isothermal amplification (PNA-LAMP) method that rapidly detects the IDH1 R132H mutation using a 16-mer PNA. In this method, the PNA prevents amplification of wild-type IDH1 DNA, while allowing amplification of the R132H variant. Here we compare the analytical sensitivity and specificity of PNA-LAMP methods utilizing a 16-mer or a 17-mer PNA.
[113]
Hormone-Induced Decidualization of Human Endometrial Stromal Cells
Margaret Lynch, Freshman - Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Robert Belton - Biology
Poster
Human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) are difficult to study in vitro due to their short window of viability outside of the human body. A previously developed, stable, immortalized HESC cell line retains reproductive hormone responsiveness to in vitro decidualization assays (Krikun et al 2004). Our laboratory aims to demonstrate that the same HESC cell line responds to estradiol and progesterone as described in the Krikun et al. paper. We hypothesize the HESCs will respond normally to reproductive hormones estradiol and progesterone. Treatment with both estradiol and progesterone, at the appropriate concentrations, will initiate decidualization in HESC cultures. HESC cultures will be treated with estradiol and progesterone individually or in combination for eight days to induce hormone-dependent gene expression changes. We will collect total mRNA and generate cDNA for quantitative, real-time polymerase chain reactions (qrtPCR). This data will allow measurement of the changes in gene expression following hormone treatments. If the cells respond normally to hormones, we expect to measure increases in expression of target genes IGFBP-1, PAI-1, and TF compared to the housekeeping gene β-Actin. We expect hormone-induced decidualization of the HESCs will increase expression of CD147 (Basigin) as demonstrated in mice (Chen et al. 2009). The data will lay a foundation for future experiments to determine the necessity of CD147 in the decidualization process. We will also include the results of this study in a developing manuscript from Dr. Belton’s laboratory which we anticipate publishing in late 2021.
[114]
How Birds of Prey Affect the Daily Activity Patterns of Western Gray Squirrels
Joshua Brooks, Sophomore - Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
Many prey species such as the western gray squirrel (Sciurus griseus), have been observed to shift their daily activity patterns as a measure to avoid predation. The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and a variety of owl species (Strix) are common predatory birds that prey on small mammals yet have previously been seen to be active at different times of the day. Further, I investigated the effects the two different birds of prey have with ranges of activity that spread throughout the day, have on the wester gray squirrels’ activity. I hypothesize that the squirrel will utilize the time periods when the predators are just beginning to become active, as well as when their activity is starting to decrease for the day, thus avoiding potential threats. Camera traps and Snapshot USA dataset were used to create activity histograms and run a chi square analysis to determine if a significant activity patter was displayed by each species. Results showed that the western gray squirrel was primarily active during the diurnal time period with a peak in the late afternoon hours when they had no overlap with owls, yet some with the bald eagle. Future research can build on this data to assess the birds of prey population in hopes of growth and successful conservation.
[115]
How Does the Coyote Influence the Prey Available to the Red Fox?
Kiara Yurk, Sophomore - Biology - Zoology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
Coyotes (Canis latrans) and red foxes often inhabit similar ecological roles that lead to conflict between the two species. There is significant prey overlap which leads to resource-competition between the coyotes and red fox. What we are trying to achieve with this research, is to understand how much of an impact Coyotes have on the resources, specifically prey, to the Red Fox. Using camera trapping data from Snapshot USA I determined the daily activity pattern of coyote, red fox, and a common prey species eastern cottontail rabbit. We were able to see that the activity patterns of all three species overlap in some areas. They activity patterns overlap in the later hours of the day, ranging from 18:00 to 22:00. Where coyotes and foxes overlap there can be significant prey competition that leads the less dominant species to use different resources. This study can be furthered if we were to also study the young/adults that the coyotes kill, and estimate what the ratio of foxes to coyotes is. It would help us truly understand the affect Coyotes have on the Red Fox as well as the interactions between them
[116]
Interactions of the Bald Eagle, Red Fox, and Eastern Chipmunk in the USA
Kalina Garza, Sophomore - Biology - Physiology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
Investigating the daily activity patterns of the bald eagle, red fox, and eastern chipmunk is critical to further understand how they interact due to the multiple predator-prey relationships among the species. Although it is not common for bald eagles to directly prey on red fox, when the competition is high the bald eagle is more than capable of preying on the small canid. More so, we observe that both the bald eagle and red fox share the eastern chipmunk as a common food source that could lead to an increase in competition and possible conflict between the two species. The goal of my research is to observe whether bald eagles shift their activity patterns due to high competition with ground predators (i.e., red fox) in order to successfully prey on the eastern chipmunk. To collect data, camera traps were set up on trees 0.5m high across the United States, capturing activity of these three species that created the Snapshot USA dataset. Following data collection, I conducted a chi square analysis to determine the daily activity pattern of each of my three species. The results show that bald eagles and eastern chipmunks were most active during the diurnal time period, whereas the red fox was mostly nocturnal but did appear during the day as well. This study allows for researchers to better understand how species that compete for prey resources interact and partition their time to avoid each other and could lead to more studies exploring species with similar relationships.
[117]
Natural History of Small Mammal Use of Human Cadavers
Jordon Brown, Freshman - Fisheries & Wildlife Management
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jane Harris - Sociology and Anthropology
Poster
Small mammal scavenging of human cadavers is a prominent topic in forensic taphonomy literature. For example, scientists have described how small mammal scavenging can disrupt insect activity associated with the decomposition process of cadavers and how small mammal claw and teeth marks in soft tissue can promote skeletonization, both of which can have detrimental effects on the ability to determine the postmortem interval (time since death). The relationship between decomposing human remains, small mammal ecology, and the surrounding environment, however, remain largely unstudied. The goal of this project is to offer a natural history description of small mammal use of human cadavers and the immediate local environment around the cadaver. To achieve this goal, we documented small mammal activities, specifically Peromyscus spp., associated with human donor remains at the NMU Forensic Research Outdoor Station (FROST). Specifically, we documented nesting activities, travel corridors, and foraging activities to better understand the possible ecological implications of small mammal use of the donor remains. Along with these observations, we conducted an extensive literature review to determine how our observational data at FROST fit in with diverse perspectives and information from previous forensic studies involving small mammals. Based on our observations and literature review, it is clear that human remains may provide a substantial resource for small mammals through the use of human tissue for nutrients as well as shelter. By describing the natural history of small mammal activities at FROST, we hope to encourage forensic scientists to consider the ecological implications of human donor-based research on local small mammal communities.
[118]
Nocuturnal Activity Patterns of American Badgers, Red Foxes, and Owl Species
Abigail Marty, Freshman - Fisheries & Wildlife Management
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
Although we live our lives mostly active during the day, this is not the same of our animal mammalian relatives. In fact only 20% of mammals are diurnal, leaving nearly 70% of mammals being nocturnal (Giarla). While looking more in depth on three species: owls, American badgers (Taxidea taxus), and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), we plan to discover the daily activity patterns of these species and how they interact with each other. This study was important as all three species have the same diets (small mammals), so it was important to see if they were active during the same times so they would have to compete with one another. Our goal is to look at these three species' different activity patterns to see if they are in fact nocturnal like the majority of species. To accomplish this goal, we collaborated with SnapshotUSA to obtain data collected from camera traps all over the country. We then used chi-squares analyses and histograms to analyze the activity patterns of the three species. In the end, we found that red foxes and owl species are in fact nocturnal, yet the American badger did not have enough evidence to prove it was a nocturnal species and was found to be cathemeral (i.e. irregular activity). For the future, we would want to establish more camera trap evidence of American badgers so we have a larger pool of data to draw a better conclusion. These species interact with their environment by using specialized hearing, eyesight, and acute sense of smell to be able to adapt to the darkness of night. Without their individual adaptations, all three species would not have a competitive advantage with one another. The results of the three species is a competitive network between them, resulting in species richness among the community.
[119]
Predator-Prey Daily Activity Patterns and Predator-Predator Competition
Olivia Castles, Sophomore - Ecology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
Bobcats (Lynx rufus) and fisher (Pekania pennant) have a common prey, the eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). The fisher and bobcat may not be direct predators however, they do compete for prey and habitat that can result in conflict and predation. Therefore bobcat and fisher will alter their daily activity patterns to avoid competition over prey (i.e., eastern gray squirrel) and habitat throughout the United States. To identify the daily activity patterns, cameras were set up in order to capture all three species during their active and inactive periods, contributing to the Snapshot USA dataset. Utilizing a chi square analysis, it was discovered that eastern gray squirrels are diurnal (i.e., active between sunrise and sunset), fishers tend to be primarily diurnal, and the bobcat more nocturnal. These findings allow us to better understand how two competing species are able to share similar prey and/or habitat without increasing predator-predator conflict.
[120]
Predators and Prey: Eastern Cottontail, Red Fox, and Coyote Activity Patterns
Claire Burtrum, Sophomore - Environmental Science
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
Found in a wide array of habitats and existing in many of the same habitats as coyotes (Canis latrans), the red fox (Vulpes Vulpes), and coyote are predators to similar prey. Both the red fox and coyote are in a predator-prey relationship with the eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus). The goal of this study is to determine if the daily activity patterns of the three species differ, with the hypothesis stating: in forests, the eastern cottontail will not be active at the same hours as the red fox and coyote. To achieve these goals, we collaborated with SnapshotUSA to obtain data from game cameras in forests. The results of this study showed that both the red fox and coyote were nocturnal, with the eastern cottontail being crepuscular. Although there was some overlap in the daily activity patterns of the three species, the eastern cottontail’s daily activity pattern did differ from its’ predators- the red fox and coyote. Daily activity patterns can be influenced by a variety of factors and studying them can lead to a greater understanding of animal behavior and interactions.
[121]
Predatory Behavior effects on Activity Patterns of Bobcat, Red Fox, and Opossum
Arianna Still, Sophomore - English
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
The bobcat (Lynx rufus), Virginian opossum (Didelphis virginiana), and the red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) are a group of species that represent cascading predation down the food chain. At the top is the bobcat, capable of having top-down effects on both the red fox and the opossum due to the threat of predation, while the red fox can also prey on the opossum. Thus, studying the daily activity patters is important because it provides us evidence of which species are active at the same time, which could lead to an increase of interactions between these species. Given the predatory relationship among bobcat, Virginia opossum, and the red fox, I hypothesize that there will be top-down effect from the bobcat onto the red fox, and from the red fox onto the opossum that will ultimately drive their activity patterns along with the Snapshot USA dataset. After running a chi square analysis, I determined that the opossum, bobcat, and red fox are most active during the night and early morning making them primarily nocturnal with significant temporal overlap. This study will further research invitations predatory behavior or species that affect each other at multiple levels of the food chain, as well as serving as an important step for logging population data of predator and prey species across the U.S.
[122]
Predatory Interactions With North American Porcupines in Forest Habitats
Kayla Everett, Freshman - Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
Porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum) are a typically nocturnal species that have several defense mechanisms against predators with quills, burrowing, and climbing. Predators like coyotes (Canis latrans) and gray wolves (Canis lupus) can combat this by being active at similar times, as such is the evolutionary arms race. If gray wolves and coyotes are predators of North American porcupines, then their daily activity patterns will overlap. Using data from SnaphotUSA camera traps in forest environments, we analyzed the activity patterns of these three species using chi-squared analyses and histograms. We found that gray wolves were primarily diurnal, while coyotes and porcupines were both nocturnal. These results show that gray wolves likely do not rely on porcupines as a primary food source and coyotes likely have the largest negative effect on porcupine populations. Further research will allow us to determine just how much of an influence predation has on porcupine populations and if humans have a larger negative effect than predators by examining activity patterns and population changes in habitats located closer to urban settings against habitats located further away from human activity. Porcupines are vital parts of ecosystems as their foraging helps to maintain biodiversity and they are ecosystem engineers as they construct dens or dig burrows for hibernation in winter from natural sheltered areas and maintaining this species is important when it comes to maintaining biodiversity.
[123]
Raptors Sweepin Away Competition
Mari McClure, Sophomore - Environmental Studies and Sustainability
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
All species have a daily activity pattern, through times of active and inactive parts in a 24-hour day, yet these patterns may tend to overlap between species. This research will investigate the importance of daily activity patterns with examining three raptors (bald eagle [Haliaeetus leucocephalus], owl species, and corvid species, with all similar diets consisting of smaller rodents and roadkill. With studying these three raptors with similar diets, it is important to observe how and if they affect one another’s hunting/scavenging patterns. Human disturbance can also be a role of food supplied to the scavengers, influencing population change. This project is targeting the idea of bald eagles and corvid species having the same activity pattern, with very little overlap with owl species. To have a better understanding and be able to compare these raptors’ daily activity pattern and potential overlap with one another, camera traps and the Snapshot USA dataset were used. When a chi square analysis was conducted, it determined that the bald eagle and Corvid Species activity pattern was most common during the diurnal stage, while owl species was nocturnal. Further understanding raptor species’ daily activity patterns, could be useful for better managing human disturbance along the roadside and show roles in competition among scavenging raptor species.
[124]
Temporal Relationship Between Red Fox, Eastern Cottontail, and Gray Wolf
Brianna Elizondo, Freshman - Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a fierce and independent hunter who primarily feeds on eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus) to satiate an important component in their diets. While the red fox may seem to be a dominant species in any ecosystem, they are not at the top of the food chain and often face competition from gray wolves (Canis lupus). Based on the established relationship among these three species, the red fox and eastern cottontail will display nearly congruent activity patterns since both are active during the crepuscular time period. Whereas, the gray wolf displayed cathemeral activity patterns with a minimal amount of peaks displayed during the twilight hours, which demonstrate the wolf altering its activity pattern to that of its prey. To accomplish my goal of solidifying this hypothesis, I collaborated with Snapshot USA to obtain data from camera traps deployed throughout the United States, and analyzed activity patterns via chi-squared analysis and histograms. Following the chi-squared analysis, I could confirm that there was an overlap in daily activity of all three species, suggesting that predators adapt their activity to that of their primary prey. Understanding the activity patterns of these species is a key principle in determining environmental issues in the ecosystem, and can apply to any range of species.
[125]
The Activity Pattern of the Northern Flying Squirrel and its Predators
Isabelle Payette, Sophomore - Biology - Ecology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
This study is looking at owl species, the northern flying squirrel, Glaucomys sabrinus, and coyotes, Canis latrans. All these three species interact with each other in terms of predation and prey. The purpose of this study is to determine the activity patterns of these three species. I hypothesize that they would have a similar type of activity pattern, either nocturnal, diurnal, cathemeral, or crepuscular. To achieve these goals, I collaborated with Snapshot USA to obtain data from camera traps throughout the US. I then used histograms to visualize when the species were active throughout 24 hours of a day and Chi-squared tests to determine daily activity patterns. The results showed that these three species do share the same daily activity pattern and are all nocturnal. For these species to be nocturnal they have to have a certain set physical characteristics. These physical characteristics could be the base for future research and could be applied to other species.
[126]
The Gray Wolfs, Their Prey, and Their Activity Patterns
Kjirsten Stumbris, Sophomore - Sports Science
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
The Eastern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger), Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), and the gray wolf (Canis lupus) are all related in a predator prey relationship. The daily activity patterns of the species depend on one another. The purpose of this research is to determine the daily activity patterns of Eastern fox squirrel, Eastern gray squirrel, and gray wolf. We predict that the two squirrel species have the same activity patterns while the wolf’s activity patterns differ. By collaborating with Snapshot USA, we gained access to data collected from camera traps throughout 10 locations. The results from the data collected was that the two squirrel species were both diurnal and the wolf is cathemeral. This information can be used to further investigate how activity patterns of wolves, or predators, can affect the activity patterns of squirrels, or prey.
[127]
The Relationship Between Alaskan Predators on a Salmon-rich Stream
Jordan Troeger, Freshman - Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
Alaska, often called the “last frontier” of North America, is home to a host of ecologically interesting and important organisms. It is one of the last truly wild places in North America and nearly 2.26 million visitors1 make their way to Alaska each year to view some of its most popular species, including brown bears (Ursus arctos), bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), and grey wolves (Canis lupus). These three predator species often utilize the same habitat and resources, which poses the question of whether or not they occur together temporally or avoid one another. I expect to find that, because of their shared prey species of salmon, the Alaskan predators of differing biological families (i.e., brown bear, bald eagle, and grey wolf) do occur together temporally, with their daily activity patterns closely mimicking one another. In order to determine these species’ activity patterns, I used the Snapshot USA’s camera trap data from the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve near Haines, Alaska. A chi-squared analysis of the resulting data showed that the brown bear, bald eagle, and grey wolf’s daily activity patterns did not closely mimic one another, with brown bears being predominantly nocturnal, bald eagles being mainly diurnal, and grey wolves being mostly cathemeral, which may be a result of low sample size. While this data does not support my hypothesis, it is still important to the conservation and management of these species. Looking at this data shows that the selected Alaskan carnivores fully use the 24-hour time period, despite partitioning their time differently. If this trend is mimicked throughout Alaska, scientists can determine the best regions of the state to establish protected lands, thus better mitigating the effects of human disturbance.
[128]
To Analyze the Effects of Predation on Biodiversity
Gavin Ransanici, Sophomore - Integrated Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
Red Foxes are highly adaptable to their surroundings and can feed on a wide spectrum of foods. While these critters can be a benefit to managing other populations so that one cannot dominate another, they could also pose a threat to the biodiversity in a given area. I believe that areas with higher fox populations, we will see a less and less diverse community of species. To measure this we looked at the populations of red foxes, grey foxes for the secondary consumers and ruffed grouse as our primary consumer. We examined a variety of factors that would have an effect on their predator-prey relationship including daily activity time, variation in diet, and preferred territories. After analyzing the daily activity patterns of these 3 species, we found that the ruffed grouse are strictly diurnal and foxes can be nocturnal or active during the day during some morning periods. These findings concluded that the grouse and fox spend very little time active at the same times and the odds of them encountering the other is uncommon yet not impossible. While foxes continue to serve as an important ecological tool for ecologists to study the conditions and health of the environment. We can learn from their behavioural patterns to gain an insight into what might be happening amongst other animals in a community.
[129]
When Humans Aren’t Looking How do Species Activity Levels Change?
Cece Cole, Sophomore - Pre-Vet
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Lafferty - Biology
Poster
The relationships between predators and prey are vital in understanding the food web hierarchy of such species. Levels of hierarchy within the same location, it is observed that the food web takes place between species that are coexisting. The coyote (Canis lantrans) preys on the greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) while the horned lizard (Phrynosoma) must avoid the predation of the greater roadrunner. Daily activity patterns are dependent on ecology and species interactions, and this can be demonstrated by the relationship between the greater roadrunner, horned lizard, and coyote. In the regions where all these species coexist it is hypothesized that the species will shift their daily activity pattern due to the predator/prey relationship. Using Snapshot USA camera trapping data, I determine the daily activity patterns of these species and inferred the interaction these species may encounter over a long period of time. The results of camera trapping draw to the conclusion of Canis lantrans being nocturnal, the Geococcyx californianus is a diurnal species from sunrise to sunset, and the Phrynosoma to be diurnal also, but at a shorter period towards the suns highest peaks. The study of daily activity patterns is important to learn about the ecology and behaviors within an ecosystem.