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Identifying And Characterizing Non-Coding Rnas In The Dinoflagellate Karenia Brevis, Helen Namataka
Identifying And Characterizing Non-Coding Rnas In The Dinoflagellate Karenia Brevis, Helen Namataka
Master's Theses
When algal cells proliferate and accumulate in marine and fresh water systems, they form algal blo'oms. The majority of these blooms are beneficial, but a significant number are detrimental and are known as harmful algal blooms (HABs). A number of negative effects, including closing of recreational beaches and economic loss, are observed during HABs. Predictably, the longer a bloom persists, the greater its effects on human, environmental and economic health. Karenia brevis, a mixotrophic dinoflagellate, forms HABs, and blooms caused by this organism have been known to remain several months after formation. For these reasons, research has been conducted to …
Fungal Biofilm Colonization And Succession On Artificial Reefs In The North-Central Gulf Of Mexico, Amy Leigh Salamone
Fungal Biofilm Colonization And Succession On Artificial Reefs In The North-Central Gulf Of Mexico, Amy Leigh Salamone
Master's Theses
This study represents the first characterization of natural mixed-species fungal biofilm communities on artificial reefs in the marine environment. Previous fungal biofilm studies have failed to observe the naturally-occurring biodiversity in coastal areas, which comprise the most utilized zone of the marine environment. Artificial reefs can increase fishing yields, amplify oyster habitats, contribute to shoreline stabilization, promote good water quality, and deter pollution. Proper management practices of artificial reefs require knowledge of the colonization of these new habitats by marine organisms and their subsequent succession. Fungi, along with bacteria, archaea, protists, algae, and diatoms, quickly form a complex biofilm on …
Immunostimulatory And Cellular Toxic Effects Of Single-Stranded Rna On Cancer Cells, Chengwen Teng
Immunostimulatory And Cellular Toxic Effects Of Single-Stranded Rna On Cancer Cells, Chengwen Teng
Master's Theses
Whether 5'-triphosphate-single-stranded-RNA (5 '-ppp-ssRNA) is immunostimulatory was controversial in the literature. In order to clarify the immunostimulatory effect of 5'-ppp-ssRNA, we synthesized ssRNAs and tested the IFNp (interferon-beta) level and cellular toxicity of ssRNAs in SKOV3 cells. In this work, we confirmed that 5'-ppp-ssRNA (~ 60nt) was immunostimulatory and toxic in SKOV3 cells. 5'-ppp-ssRNA (~ 60nt) led to IFN-P induction and apoptosis in SKOV3 cells. Longer 5' ppp- ssRNA tended to have a higher immunostimulatory effect and cellular toxicity than shorter 5'-ppp-ssRNA. 5'-ppp-ssRNA was more immunostimulatory and toxic than 5'- 0H-ssRNA. If the incubation time of ssRNAs increased, the toxicity …
Effects Of Hurricane Disturbance On The Stopover Ecology Of Intercontinental Landbird Migrants In Coastal Louisiana, Emily Johanna Lain
Effects Of Hurricane Disturbance On The Stopover Ecology Of Intercontinental Landbird Migrants In Coastal Louisiana, Emily Johanna Lain
Master's Theses
Few studies have considered the impact of weather events on migratory birds during stopover, and essentially none on how hurricanes affect their stopover biology during spring passage. About two thirds of eastern North American forest breeding bird species migrate twice annually between temperate breeding areas and subtropical and tropical wintering grounds, and movement in relation to the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) is a conspicuous and important part of that migration system. During inclement weather or winds inconsistent with travel direction, migratory birds oft.en/a/lout and concentrate by the thousands in forest patches that occur along the northern coast of the GOM. …
Phase Speciation Of Carbohydrates And Dioxins In Rivers And Coastal Waters In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Kusumica Mitra
Phase Speciation Of Carbohydrates And Dioxins In Rivers And Coastal Waters In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Kusumica Mitra
Master's Theses
Dissolved carbohydrates (d-CHO), including monosaccharide (MCHO) and polysaccharides (PCHO), and particulate carbohydrates (p-CHO) are major components of natural organic matter and play an important role in biogeochemical cycles of carbon and other trace elements in marine environments. This study aimed to examine the abundance and partitioning of CHO between dissolved and particulate phases and their seasonal variations in the Mississippi Sound/Bight and Lake Pontchartrain. Laboratory mixing experiments were also carried out to examine the behaviour of CHO species along a salinity gradient. The phase partitioning of dioxin among three different phases, i.e., colloidal organic matter, particulate organic matter and sediments, …
Anode Material Testing For Marine Sediment Microbial Fuel Cells, Andrew John Quaid
Anode Material Testing For Marine Sediment Microbial Fuel Cells, Andrew John Quaid
Master's Theses
Research on the power production of the microbial fuel cell has increased in the past decade. The sediment microbial fuel cell is a type of fuel cell that uses the environment of submerged sediments to provide a natural voltage difference. The fuel cell is comprised of an anode buried in the sediment and a cathode that is held in the overlying water column. The process of electron transfer to the anode is catalyzed by anaerobic bacteria in the sediment. The anaerobic bacteria have that are able to catalyze the electron transfer have been termed exoelectrogenic. The increase in scientific research …
Evaluating Macrobenthic Indicators Of Organic Enrichment And Hypoxia Within The Coastal Mississippi Hypoxic Zone, Daneen P. Menke
Evaluating Macrobenthic Indicators Of Organic Enrichment And Hypoxia Within The Coastal Mississippi Hypoxic Zone, Daneen P. Menke
Master's Theses
Macrobenthic communities offer effective indicators of biotic integrity, but their use for distinguishing anthropogenic from natural stress is tricky because coastal taxa are eurytolerant. Effective coastal management calls for benthic indicators that respond to specific stressors, apply across different habitats, and reflect ecosystem function. Macrobenthic process metrics based on body-size descriptors should reflect ecosystem function and be useful for assessing the effects of eutrophication. Functional trait analysis should reflect the functional diversity of the community. Coastal Mississippi experienced widespread and sustained hypoxia throughout summer 2008. Site 6 located on the 10-m isobath in the center of the 2008 hypoxic zone …
Determining The Trophic Role Of Gulf Menhaden (Brevoortia Patronus) Using Carbon And Nitrogen Stable Isotopes, Zachary Olsen
Determining The Trophic Role Of Gulf Menhaden (Brevoortia Patronus) Using Carbon And Nitrogen Stable Isotopes, Zachary Olsen
Master's Theses
Gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus) play multiple roles in the Gulf of Mexico coastal ecosystem as filter feeders and as an important food source for many recreationally and economically important finfish. Gulf menhaden also support a large commercial fishery, and little is known about the impact of fishing on the role of this species as a filter feeder in the food web. This study examines the spatial, temporal and ontogenetic dynamics of food selectivity and trophic role observed in Gulf menhaden. The most important dietary item for juvenile fish was found to be phytoplankton (75.7% dietary composition) while that of subadults …