Summaries of recent senior theses in the UAF School of Natural Resources & Agricultural Sciences
Photo credit: Roseann Leiner
Photo credit: UAF Photo by Todd Paris
Photo credit: UAF Photo by Todd Paris
Photo credit: Log-Master Portable Sawmilling
Photo credit: © Bill Glude, Southeast
Alaska Avalanche Center
Lettuce seedling growth in flats with different
cell size and shape
Research by Cody Peterson
Containerized transplants are used extensively for lettuce production in Alaska.
Greenhouse studies were conducted to determine effects of container cell size
and shape on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Alpha) transplants. Volumes for
square containers were 10 mL and 50 mL. Volumes for round containers were 9.5
mL and 48 mL. Large square containers increased leaf number (11), height (172
mm), root (0.110 g), shoot (0.584 g) and total weight (0.695 g), and decreased
hypocotyl length (7.8 mm) compared to both square and round small container
cells. Although not measured, large leaf area, hypocotyl diameter, and volume
of roots were observed for transplants grown in large compared to small containers.
Effects of cell shape were inconclusive. Root to shoot ratio was not significantly
affected by container cell size and shape. 'Alpha' lettuce transplants produced
from large containers were of higher quality than transplants produced from
small containers. Further studies evaluating transplant growth, field performance,
cost, and compatibility are needed to fully analyze container size and shape
on lettuce production pertinent to Alaska.
Differences in qiviut quality between wild and domestic
muskoxen and variation among shoulder, side, and rump samples
Research by Jennifer L. Miller
Qiviut is a commercially valuable fiber derived from the undercoat of the muskox
(Ovibos moschatus). A previous study examined qiviut collected from the shoulders
of 299 wild muskoxen. In this project, qiviut samples were collected from the
shoulder, side, and rump of 20 muskoxen at the University of Alaska's Large
Animal Research Station, UAF Institute
of Arctic Biology. This study compares
shoulder samples from the wild and domestic animals. It also examines the variation
among shoulder, side and rump samples collected from the domestic animals.
After receiving training from training from animal scientist Milan Shipka on
handling the animals, Miller collected the fiber samples. They were measured
for average fiber diameter (AFD), fiber diameter distribution (SD), and coefficient
of variation (CV) at the Wool and Mohair Research Laboratory, Texas A&M
University. Miller measured staple length manually, under the direction of
fiber specialist Janice Rowell. With the aid of professor Mingchu Zhang she
is performing statistical analysis of the data. Miller expects to complete
her thesis in Spring 2006.
Electrical stimulation of reindeer carcasses during
field slaughter and the effect on meat tenderness
Research by George Aguiar
To meet State of Alaska regulations, field-slaughtered reindeer out on the
Seward Peninsula, Alaska, must be frozen immediately in the field after dressing.
This abrupt freezing may inhibit subsequent muscle tissue processes that influence
meat quality. Low voltage electrical stimulation (E.S.) has been used in the
beef industry to avoid undesirable meat characteristics due to flash freezing.
Twenty-six reindeer steers were field slaughtered during February and allowed
to abruptly freeze. Thirteen animals were stimulated prior to field dressing.
A paired comparison consumer evaluation test showed that front shoulder meat
from E.S. carcasses was statistically more tender than control carcasses (54
percent to 46 percent, p<.05, n=203). Electrical stimulation before abrupt
freezing in the field improves tenderness of fore shoulder reindeer meat.
Opportunities for a small portable sawmill in eastern
washington
Research by Cody Burgess
Technology has made portable sawmills efficient for cutting logs of various
sizes and producing lumber of all dimensions. Portable sawmills can be used
to custom cut lumber, taper saw for increased lumber recovery, and to minimize
labor costs. A case study was done in eastern Washington state using a Log-Master
Model 5 portable sawmill. The sawmill is owned and operated by Burgess Logging
Inc., a company that is attempting to expand their business. Eastern Washington
forests contain highly valuable species of timber, including ponderosa pine,
Douglas fir, western red cedar, and others. From June through August 2004,
6230 board feet of lumber were produced. Orders, stock material, and chunks
were sawed, which created a lumber recovery overrun of 511 board feet. The
results show that the Log-Master is efficient sawing logs between 8 inches
and 24 inches in diameter. Log scaling and lumber grading rules and techniques
were also studied in order to become more familiar with the sawmilling business.
Avalanche knowledge, experience, and behaviors among winter backcountry
users in Turnagain Pass, Alaska
Research by Michael Gibson
Information concerning the avalanche knowledge, experience, and behaviors
of winter backcountry users assists public land managers and avalanche educators
in developing effective education campaigns that consider what messages to
utilize and how to disseminate those messages. This study investigated the
relationship between these variables using an on-site survey to collect information
from motorized and non-motorized winter backcountry users at popular backcountry
access points in Turnagain Pass, Alaska, located in the Chugach National Forest.
Overall response rate was 92 percent. Across all respondents mean behavior
scores increased as knowledge and experience increased. The interaction of
knowledge and experience had a greater influence on behavior that looking at
the effects of each independently. Results indicate that avalanche knowledge
and experience interact at some basic level to positively influence behavior.
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Last modified March 28, 2008 by Marketing and Communications Web Developer.