Digital Commons Network^™

The Impacts Of Embryo Development And Asynchronous Hatching On Morphology, Growth, And Development Of Larval Burbot (Lota Lota)., Andrew J. Shapiro

All NMU Master's Theses

Burbot (Lota lota) are native fish in Lake Superior and typically spawn during the winter under the ice or by migrating up rivers. The early life history of larval burbot, where they dispurse, how fast they develop, and what their survival rates have not been extensively studied. Asynchronous hatching is a strategy used by other cod species as a bet-hedging strategy to ensure that some larvae are hatched in more advantageous conditions in a varying environment. Asynchronous hatching has been documented in burbot, but the extent of the period and the impacts that asynchrony has on the development of …

Sympatric Soil Microbe Interactions Between Streptomyces And Fusarium Isolates, Lehren A. Olk-Szost

All NMU Master's Theses

Interkingdom interactions between soil bacteria and fungi may play a critical role in occurrence of disease suppressive soils, yet our understanding of these interactions remains limited. Streptomyces are well-known producers of antimicrobial compounds important to medicine and agriculture. Production of these secondary metabolites is often mediated by quorum sensing. Most Streptomyces research occurs in single species experiments, yet new metabolites have been discovered in interspecies co-culture experiments. Interspecies, intergenic, and interkingdom co-culture research will likely reveal many valuable compounds, and strengthen our understanding of complex ecological interactions in soil microbiomes. Interactions between sympatric Streptomyces and Fusarium isolates from disease suppressive …

Trophic Dynamics Of The Lake Superior Fish Community, Ariel Edwards

All NMU Master's Theses

The Lake Superior food web has undergone many changes in recent decades, including the rehabilitation of the native apex predator lake charr (Salvelinus namaycush) and the introduction of several nonnative species. The trophic linkages and ecological requirements of the entire fish community, including predators and prey fishes, has not been assessed on a whole-lake scale in over a decade. Here, I investigated the trophic dynamics across multiple regions of the lake, and estimated the consumptive effect of lean lake charr in one region of Lake Superior. From April to October of 2021, a total of five predator, four …

Fecal Cortisol Metabolites: A Non-Invasive Method For Monitoring The Long-Term Health Of Free Ranging Brown Bears, Justin A. Pinero

All NMU Master's Theses

Ecotourism is a rapidly growing industry worldwide and has been used as a tool that can promote conservation. While ecotourism can serve as a mechanism to help conserve natural areas, increases in visitors present challenges for managers tasked with balancing conservation goals while ensuring positive visitor experiences. As such, managers and ecologists are increasingly using fecal cortisol metabolites (FCMs) to index stress associated with ecotourism. In this study, I sought to (1) quantify the relationship between blood cortisol levels and FCM concentrations in brown bears (Ursus arctos), and (2) evaluate whether ecotourism elicits a measurable stress response in …

The Possible Role For Basigin Receptor Function In The Induction Of Matrix Metalloproteinase Expression In Human Endometrial Stromal Cells, Amy Abel

All NMU Master's Theses

10-15% of couples worldwide are affected by infertility. The leading cause of infertility is implantation failure. Molecular communication in precise time and space between an implanting embryo and a receptive uterus is essential for successful implantation. Basigin has been shown to have vital functions within the implantation process. Basigin is best known for inducing the expression of matrix metalloproteinases. Basigin has been shown to induce MMP expression in vitro in human endometrial stromal cell lines (HESC). Understanding how basigin induces matrix metalloproteinases within normal cellular conditions will help researchers understand how these signaling cascades flow in the framework of implantation. …

The Status Of Invasive Dusky Slug (Arion) Species In The Upper Great Lakes: A Molecular Approach, Olivia W. Hall

All NMU Master's Theses

I update the distribution of two cryptic slug species, Arion fuscus and Arion subfuscus, in the Upper Great Lakes of the United States using molecular identification methods. Arion fuscus has not previously been reported in the literature in this region, and Arion subfuscus has previously been reported as abundant. However, all previous distribution studies were determined using visual identification tools, which can result in misidentification between cryptic species. To molecularly re-examine these distribution maps, I used a mitochondrial ribosomal subunit 16S PCR amplification and subsequent SSpI and MfeI restriction enzyme digest to identify slug specimens. I collected slugs in …

Larval Fish Export In Response To Varying Compensating Gate Discharge At The Sault Rapids, St. Marys River, Signe F.K. Vandrunen

All NMU Master's Theses

The St. Marys River (SMR) forms the border between Michigan, USA and Ontario, Canada connecting lakes Superior and Huron. Discharge is controlled by a compensating gate system upstream of the SMR rapids. Because spring and summer discharge fluctuates widely, resource managers required information on how flow variability influences larval fish drift. I estimated annual larval fish export in relation to variable discharge during 2018-2021 and compared results to published habitat model predictions. Mean discharge and water temperature were lowest in 2021 and highest in 2019. Water warming rates during high discharge differed from low discharge trends. Across years, I identified …

Relating Metabolic Phenotypes To Movement Behavior In Brook Trout, Jacob E. Bowman

All NMU Master's Theses

Brook trout movement-related life history strategies vary considerably and range from individuals that stay within the same 100 meters their entire life to individuals that are potamodromous or anadromous. Potential drivers of movement life histories have been the subject of much research in fish, with genetic subpopulation explanations often failing to explain the phenomenon. Metabolic phenotypes have been suggested as a possible driver for expression of different movement life histories. I investigated if metabolic phenotypes are related to movement strategies within a population of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in Unnamed Creek, a tributary to the Rock River, Alger …

The Brown Bear Gut Microbiome: A Novel Tool For Conservation & Management, Sarah M. Trujillo

All NMU Master's Theses

Gut microbiomes (GMBs), complex communities of microorganisms inhabiting the gastrointestinal tracts of their hosts, perform countless micro-ecosystem services such as facilitating energy uptake and modulating immune responses. While scientists increasingly recognize the role GMBs play in host health, the role of GMBs in wildlife ecology and conservation has yet to be realized fully. Here, I use brown bears (Ursus arctos) as an ecological model to investigate (1) how both extrinsic and intrinsic factors influence GMB community membership and structure; and (2) the correlation between GMB membership and brown bear health metrics. To achieve these aims, I subsampled archived …

A Dynamic Landscape Of Fear: Human Impacts On Carnivore Communities, Tru Hubbard

All NMU Master's Theses

Mammalian carnivores are elusive, enigmatic species that often play keystone roles in ecosystems through direct (i.e., predation) and indirect (i.e., perceived predation risk) effects. Worldwide many carnivore species are experiencing rapid human-mediated population declines due to landscape change and habitat disturbance. For researchers, carnivores present unique challenges due to their large home ranges, low population densities, sensitivity to human disturbance, and direct persecution. Further, growing evidence shows that human activity can impact carnivore behavior and community structure by altering predator-prey interactions, shifting diel activity patterns, and altering wildlife movement leading to increased sightings, nuisance reports, and harvests. To investigate how …

Wolf Selection Of Human-Modified Linear Features And Cover Types When Hunting And Killing White-Tailed Deer Fawns, Austin T. Homkes

All NMU Master's Theses

Predators must optimize and adapt foraging behavior for multiple spatial scales to take advantage of abundant and vulnerable prey. Wolves (Canis lupus) live in human-modified landscapes where anthropogenic disturbances and landscape alterations can influence predator-prey dynamics. In southern boreal ecosystems, wolves rely heavily on seasonally abundant white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawns, which are highly susceptible to predation in their first weeks of life. My objective was to understand how anthropogenic disturbances—specifically timber harvest areas and linear features—and cover types influence where wolves hunt and kill fawns. During 2016–2019, I fit wolves with 20-min-fix-interval Global Positioning System …

Using Acoustic Telemetry To Analyze The Impacts Of Common Carp On Wild Rice Restoration, Franklin Zomer

All NMU Master's Theses

Wild rice (Zizania palustris) is an important cultural, spiritual, and dietary resource to Lake Superior Ojibwe. Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) are an introduced species that negatively impact aquatic vegetation through changes in water quality, uprooting of plants, and consumption of seed. Acoustic telemetry was used to document Common Carp movements in Waishkey Bay in the upper St. Marys River, MI where wild rice habitat is present. Exclosures were established to measure the influence of carp presence on wild rice seeding success. Common Carp were observed to spend much of their time in Waishkey Bay but also …

Effects Of Infanticide Risk And Timber Harvest On American Black Bear Space Use, D. Cody Norton

All NMU Master's Theses

Space use is an important aspect of bear ecology that maybe influenced by infanticide risk and timber harvest. I used generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) to determine if female American black bear (Ursus americanus) space use was consistent with avoidance behavior to reduce infanticide risk in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan during the 2009–2011 and 2013–2014 breeding seasons. Females with cubs occupied core areas and home ranges of similar size and relative probability of male use to females without cubs. Additionally, females with cubs did not reduce movements during times of day when male movements were greatest. Female …

Seasonal Changes In Black-Capped Chickadee (Poecile Atricapillus) Social Structure And Gargle Vocalizations, James Vanorman

All NMU Master's Theses

Many organisms form social groups for many different reasons. Individuals within a group gain benefits from having a way of effectively communicating with their group, especially in organisms that maintain their social affiliations for long periods of time. In birds, vocalizations are the main means of communicating among individuals. When there are multiple groups of birds in an area, each group could share vocalizations. This sharing can then create local dialects. Black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) are small songbirds of temperate habitats of North America that group together in larger flocks every winter. Dialects of the gargle vocalization have …

Characterization Of Theranostic Peptides For Glioblastoma Multiforme, Aaron Mellesmoen

All NMU Master's Theses

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a type of primary CNS tumor in which viable treatment options do not exist. Standard of care including tumor resection, chemotherapy, and radiation does little to extend the 5-year survival expectancy past 5.1%. Herein, two small-peptide molecules with inherent antitumor activity, blood-brain barrier permeability, and capability for tumor-specific drug deliverance and intraoperative visualization (termed theranostic) were of focus. Confocal microscopy was employed to characterize in vitro specificity of chlorotoxin, a 4 kDa scorpion venom peptide, and rBSG, the recombinant 25 kDa non-glycosylated extracellular domain of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN; Basigin) isoform …

Delayed Effects Of Sub-Lethal Lampricide, 3-Trifluoromethyl-4-Nitrophenol (Tfm), Exposure On The Metabolic Physiology Of Juvenile Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser Fulvescens), Matthew J. Symbal

All NMU Master's Theses

The lampricide 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) can be lethal to juvenile lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) at high concentrations used to control invasive sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus). Little is known about how TFM would affect juvenile lake sturgeon (age-0) at the sub-lethal concentrations encountered during routine lampricide treatments; specifically, its effects on growth, stress response, and metabolism. Age-0 lake sturgeon were exposed to TFM concentrations at levels 0.0x, 0.5x, and 1.0x the minimum lethal concentration (mlc) of TFM required to kill 99.9% of sea lamprey larvae during a routine stream treatment. The mlc was estimated based on pH and alkalinity …

Better Health Through Horticulture: Using Horticulture To Influence Behavior And Reduce Stress, Rachel Ochylski

All NMU Master's Theses

Horticultural intervention in the form of gardening workshops connect participants to nature while they nurture another living organism. Horticultural intervention provides opportunities to socialize and engage in a meaningful activity, which have been recognized as helpful in the treatment of common mental health difficulties such as depression and anxiety. There is a lack of experimental studies based on quantitative data that focus on the effects of horticulture on holistic human health. The author evaluated the effects of a horticultural intervention on two separate groups, older adults and college students. The behavioral effects of engaging in gardening activities were evaluated using …

Effects Of Winter And Summer Thermal Variability Regimes On Growth And Metabolism In Brook Trout (Salvelinus Fontinalis), Spenser Chicoine

All NMU Master's Theses

Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) is a cold-water species with a narrow range of thermal tolerance. Climate change projections show that in addition to increases in average temperatures worldwide, daily thermal variability is increasing. Such conditions could prove challenging for brook trout and other ectotherms that are adapted to small temperature ranges. This research investigates how the growth and metabolic capacities of brook trout respond to long-term exposure to thermal variation. Groups of fish were reared under three thermal regimes: constant baily temperature, a 4°C daily range, and an 8°C daily range in a controlled lab setting. This was …

Beringian Biogeography: Patterns Of Intercontinental Dispersal And The Structuring Of A Holarctic Tapeworm Genus, Genevieve M. Haas

All NMU Master's Theses

The opening and closing of the Bering Land Bridge due to Pleistocene climate fluctuations facilitated the exchange of taxa between the Palearctic and Nearctic. While many studies have worked toward elucidating the role of Beringia in assembling northern faunas, relatively little work has focused on parasites. Here I examine the number and direction of transberingian colonization events within the Holarctic tapeworm genus, Arostrilepis Mas-Coma & Tenora, 1997. I performed maximum likelihood and multi-locus coalescent phylogenetic reconstructions using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences. Biogeographic ancestral range estimations were conducted on the resulting species phylogeny. My systematic reconstructions reveal as many as …

Basigin-2 Mediated Activation Of Erk1/2 Signaling In Human Glioblastoma Multiforme Cells, Erik R. Peterson

All NMU Master's Theses

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common malignant form of human brain cancer. GBM tumor cells overexpress the protein Basigin (Bsg) at the cell surface where it contributes to malignancy via stimulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression in surrounding normal tissues, resulting in the degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) surrounding tumors, promoting remodeling of the tumor borders, stimulating growth. In work by Belton et al. (2008), human uterine endometrial cells treated with a recombinant form of human basigin possessing the extracellular domain of the Bsg protein (rBsg-ECD) showed activation of the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway proteins, ERK1/2. …

Sub-Lethal And Lethal Effects Of A Neonicotinoid Pesticide On The Development Of Northern Leopard Frog Tadpoles., Travis A. Moe

All NMU Master's Theses

Well-known global declines in amphibian populations have sparked decades of studies into potential causes (Stuart et al. 2004). Pesticides are a suspected contributor to declining populations (Bruhl et al. 2013). Imidacloprid is the most widely used insecticide in the world, but few studies have considered its potential effects on anurans. I conducted a static-renewal experiment to monitor the lethal and sub-lethal, developmental effects in Northern leopard frog tadpoles exposed to three concentration levels (250 ng/L, 8.5 mg/L, and 85 mg/L) of imidacloprid in a laboratory setting. Survivorship was 0% by day 23 of exposure to imidacloprid at the previously lowest …

Molecular Subtyping Of Staphylococcus Aureus Isolates From The U.P. Community For The Presence Of Toxin-Encoding Genes, Carol I. Kessel

All NMU Master's Theses

Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause of human bacterial infections; however, humans can also be asymptomatically colonized with S. aureus. Asymptomatic carriers can potentially spread S. aureus infection to others. These infections can range from mild to severe. The pathology of a S. aureus infection is often dependent on which toxins are expressed and the virulence factors with which they are associated. One goal of this study was to isolate S. aureus from healthy, consenting adult volunteers who submitted nasal swabs for culture and qRT-PCR analysis to determine which strains are present in the community. This knowledge could …

Phylogenetic Studies Of The Madagascan Freshwater Crabs (Potamoidea, Potamonautidae, Deckeniinae), Rainee Stevens

All NMU Master's Theses

Relationships within the Madagascan freshwater crab fauna were examined based on unstudied specimens from all parts of Madagascar. This study allowed the examination of the validity of existing genera and species, and identified potential new taxa. The new specimens provided phylogenetic and evolutionary data, as well as new insights into the distribution patterns of the Malagasy freshwater crab fauna. In addition, the large number of new localities from previously unsurveyed areas of Madagascar allowed the construction of updated distribution maps.

The present analysis included 62 unidentified specimens plus 13 identified species of Malagasy freshwater crab taxa that had already been …

Evaluation And Application Of Population Size Estimators To Assess Brook Trout (Salvelinus Fontinalis) Response To A Non-Native Salmonid Removal In A Small Michigan Coldwater Stream, Joseph P. Gerbyshak

All NMU Master's Theses

Non-native salmonids have been stocked into the Great Lakes since the 1870s and now naturalized populations use tributary environments to reproduce and for their juvenile life stage. Historically, brook trout were the only salmonid to inhabit the tributary environment and numerous studies suggest that exotic salmonids negatively affect brook trout by competing for limited resources. Other studies have been successful at removing non-native salmonids and the native populations increased. During this project 5,320 exotic salmonids were removed from a tributary of Lake Superior from 2008 to 2010 significantly reducing their density and young-of-year brook trout density increased by 260% the …

An Analysis Of The Differential Methylation And Expression Of Imprinted Genes In M. M. Musculus, M. M. Domesticus, And Their Hybrids, Anna P. Rice

All NMU Master's Theses

Epigenetics has been found to have an effect on many aspects of biology. Epigenetics refers to modifications of the double-stranded DNA molecule, which do not change the nucleotide sequence but do affect gene expression. DNA methylation is a type of epigenetic modification. Genomic imprinting is a pattern of gene expression that is primarily achieved through DNA methylation, and it results in the expression of only one allele at a particular locus. In this study, I analyzed the methylation patterns of five imprinted genes in the hybrids of two different lab strains of the house mouse subspecies, M. m. musculus and …

Diet Analysis Of Burbot From Eastern Lake Michigan: 1999-2012, Casey J. Hares

All NMU Master's Theses

The Lake Michigan fish community has undergone many changes due to introduction of non-native species, climate shifts, and management actions. Managers need to understand the time course of these alterations, including the time-frame of impact on the food web in the lake. I used a collection (1999-2012) of diet samples from burbot from eastern Lake Michigan to evaluate temporal alterations in burbot diet with particular attention to non-native vs. native forage. Catch per unit effort (burbot/net · day) decreased from a high of 5.82 burbot/net · day (± 2.19) in 2001 to a low of 0.750 burbot/net · day (± …

Identification Of Hcmv Ul97 In Gbm Cell Lines And A Possible Role For Ganciclovir, Thomas Mcfall

All NMU Master's Theses

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common form of malignant glioma, comprising 80% of all malignant gliomas. Recently, active Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) was identified in GBM cells, and has been a topic of debate concerning its role with tumor progression. This study used three established GBM cell lines; T98, LN229, and U87 in order to identify and examine the presence of HCMV phosphotransferase protein UL97. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction identified UL97 within two of the three cell lines, T98 and LN229. Western blotting confirmed that UL97 protein was being expressed and was present in both T98, and LN229 cell …

Characterization Of Varying Local Winter Stream Habitat And Its Impact On Coldwater Fishes, Jesse J. Haavisto

All NMU Master's Theses

Stream dwelling fish in temperate latitudes are subject to widely varying in-stream winter conditions. Understanding the relative importance of the different factors that contribute to these winter conditions is important in predicting how environmental shifts will affect fish communities. In this study, I examined stream sections within 13 streams located in Marquette and Alger Counties within the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Streams within a small geographical area were chosen to minimize latitudinal climate variation. Many in-stream winter conditions are driven by temperature so the importance of understanding how changing localized climate patterns may affect the structure and condition of fish …