Thesis (M.S.) in Ecology and Environmental Science--University of Maine, 2008. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 82-87).

Thesis (Ph. D., Civil Engineering)--University of Idaho, 2007. / Major professor: Peter Goodwin. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online (PDF file) by subscription or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (M.S. in food science)--Washington State University, May 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on July 28, 2009). "School of Food Science." Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Idaho, June 2006. / Major professor: Kenneth D. Cain. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online in PDF format.

Thesis (M.S.)--Tennessee Technological University, 2009. / Title from title page screen (viewed on Jan. 29, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2008. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Christopher S. Guy. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 46-50).

Thesis (MS)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2009. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Christopher S. Guy. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 64-72).

Evaluating the growth axis of an ancient species such as the Shovelnose Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus can aid in understanding the divergence of growth factors among a vast evolutionary span of vertebrates. It is hypothesized, that similar to teleosts and tetrapods, growth hormone (GH) mediates and stimulates the anabolic actions of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) in sturgeon. Using Shovelnose Sturgeon as a model, the objectives of this research were to identify the acute and chronic effects of exogenous recombinant bovine GH (rbGH) on IGF-I and IGF-II gene expression and investigate the roles IGF's have on whole animal growth and nutrient partitioning in the presence of chronic rbGH administration. In the first experiment, fish were injected with five different concentrations of rbGH (0, 30, 60, 120, 240 μg/g body weight (BW) rbGH)) and sampled at five time points (6, 12, 24, 36, 48-h post-injection). Hepatic and muscle tissue specimens were rapidly excised following euthanasia for mRNA isolation and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis of IGF expression. qRT-PCR analysis indicated hepatic IGF-I and IGF-II expression was significantly higher than muscle IGF-I expression, and IGF-II was not expressed in muscle. The highest rbGH concentration (240 μg/g BW) significantly increased hepatic IGF-I and IGF-II mRNA and muscle IGF-I mRNA expression levels at 48 hours post injection. After 6 weeks of bi-weekly rbGH administration in a second experiment, fish injected with rbGH at 240 μg/g BW gained significantly more length and weight than fish injected with the sham (0 μg rbGH; sesame oil), and whole body proximate analysis revealed rbGH treated fish had significantly higher amounts of protein. This research aids in understanding the regulatory and evolutionary principles of the vertebrate somatotropic axis through characterizing the endocrine regulation of growth in Scaphirhynchus sturgeon.

The pallid sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus is an endangered sturgeon distributed throughout the Mississippi River drainage. Habitat selection and movement have been identified as critical conservation information. Seventy-one pallid sturgeon were tagged with acoustic transmitters in the lower Mississippi River (LMR), and 53 sturgeon were tagged in the Atchafalaya River System (ARS). Twenty-two pallid sturgeon in the LMR and 30 in the ARS were monitored using stationary acoustic receivers to assess short-term movement. Pallid sturgeon in the LMR showed positive selection for island tip, outside-bend natural bank, wing dike, sandbar, outside-bend revetted bank, and secondary channel habitats. Pallid sturgeon in the ARS exhibited positive selection for both inside and outside-bend revetted banks, inside-bend natural banks, and water control structures. Fish selected against the main channel in both systems. Short-term movement in the LMR and ARS was minimal and not related to any of the tested environmental factors.

Thesis (M.S.)--Michigan State University, Fisheries and Wildlife, 2006. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Nov. 20, 2008) Includes bibliographical references (p. 95-106). Also issued in print.