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Dna-Based Species Identification And Population Genetics Of The Eastern Subterranean Termite, Reticulitermes Flavipes, In The Southern Appalachian Mountains, Benjamin Collins

Honors Theses

This study investigates the distribution patterns of Reticulitermes flavipes, an important recycler of nutrients and well-known destroyer of man-made structures, in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. As a precursor to this work, it was first necessary to distinguish the target species from other co-occurring termite species. To combat this problem, a modified Polymerase Chain Reaction- Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay that uses a 384-bp segment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit II (COII) gene was designed. To test the accuracy of this tool, predictions made from using this method were compared to predictions made by genetic sequencing. This modified PCR-RFLP …

Influence Of Whole-Body Vibration On Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, Cecilia Drennen

Honors Theses

Exercise induced muscle damage (EIMD) results in delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Whole body vibration (WBV) may be a method that can be implemented to allow a subject suffering from DOMS to recover more quickly. The purpose of this study was to determine if WBV aids in managing symptoms of EIMD over a recovery period of 72 hours and to determine the effects of WBV on jumping performance following exercise-induced muscle damage. Measurements of performance like vertical jump height, peak-Z force, and pain pressure threshold were recorded. Twenty-seven recreationally trained females participated, and were damaged by performance of the eccentric …

Investigation Of Bax Vdac Interactions And Their Relationship Regarding Apoptosis In Drosophila Melanogaster, John Sullivan

Honors Theses

Cell mediated death, or apoptosis, is a critical biological process that once fully understood could unlock a potentially new understanding of the mechanisms of both cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. The general mechanism of apoptosis includes cytochrome c being released from the mitochondrial membrane through a channel created by an activated pro-apoptotic BH123 protein. Once the cytochrome c leaves the mitochondrial membrane it goes on to ultimately activate a caspase cascade, which results in cell apoptosis. Similar to BH123 channels, VDACs (voltage-dependent anion channels) are also pore-forming proteins that regulate the intake and output of metabolites from the mitochondrial intermembrane space …

Preliminary Investigations Into The Population Genetics Of The Horned Passalus Beetle, Odontotaenius Disjunctus (Coleoptera), In Forests Of The Southeastern United States, Rachel Yi

Honors Theses

As a major hotspot of biodiversity, the Appalachian Mountains have been a source of great interest for ecologists in many ways. The mountains' north-south orientation, varying degrees of elevation and environmental conditions, and historical cycles of glacial encroachment have been thought to contribute to this unusual level of population variation. As such, population genetic studies of species have been a growing area of investigation. Phylogeography, the study of how historical processes could lead to current geographic distributions of individuals and populations of a species, is a particularly prominent direction. The focus of this study examines the horned passalus and its …

The Effects Of Adrenergic Antagonists On Spatial Memory In The Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia Guttata), Taylor Williams

Honors Theses

The adrenergic system appears to be involved in the consolidation and reconsolidation of hippocampally dependent spatial memories in mammals. Based on connectivity, cell types, ontogeny and receptor distribution, the avian hippocampus is thought to be a homolog to the mammalian hippocampus. The adrenergic system appears to be fairly conserved but may show some species specializations. To determine if the adrenergic system plays a role in spatial learning and memory in birds, we used a series of experiments to investigate the role of α- and β-adrenergic receptors on spatial navigation and memory in an avian species, zebra finches, using the Day …

An Evaluation Of Soil Extracellular Enzyme Activity In Response To Burning As A Forest Restoration Technique, William M. Steward

Honors Theses

Burning is a method of forest restoration with the goal of returning natural tree species to ecosystems. Burning has a wide range of effects on an ecosystem, including the alteration of important soil processes and characteristics. One of the key components of soil is the activity of extracellular enzymes, which can be used to provide insight into the nutritional requirements of soil microbes as well as nutrient availability and cycling. Because enzymes are important in the overall functioning of soil and can be used to assess soil health, there is great need to examine the effects of burning on soil …

Consolidación De Información Hidrogeológica Secundaria Disponible De Los Sistemas Acuíferos De La Región Andina Comprendida En La Cordillera Oriental Y Los Valles Alto Y Medio Del Magdalena, Lizbeth Katherine Mejía Vega, William David Galvis Rojas

Ingeniería Ambiental y Sanitaria

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of The Canola Lip Mutant, Matthew Rafferty

Honors Program Theses

Canola (Brassica napus) is a broadleaf agricultural plant grown mainly in regions of the United States and Canada. Its seeds are used to produce edible oil (canola oil) as well as biofuel. The study of mutagenized wild-type Brassica napus seeds in the CAN-TILL project, (http://www.botany.ubc.ca/can-till/), led to the discovery of a phenotype called Lamina epiphylla (LIP ). The lip mutant is characterized by changes in leaf shape that cause the leaves to look trumpeted, among other variations. This research project compared wild-type Brassica napus leaf development with the lamina epiphylla mutant to assess leaf development and to determine the precise …

A Preliminary Systematic Analysis Of The Species Of Genus Physaria (Brassicaceae) Of Wyoming, Kayla Rethwisch

Honors Program Theses

Physaria is a recent and rapidly evolving genus of plants in the Brassicaceae family. Particularly problematic are the taxa in the “old” Physaria sensu stricto found in Wyoming, characterized by highly inflated, didymous fruits. Due to the plants in this group being of recent origin, the relationships among them are unknown. This study examined several samples from each taxon in a preliminary study of the taxonomy of these species. The resulting phylogenies were analyzed to determine relatedness among the species. By looking at gene regions, sections on the genomic sequence, it is possible to determine how these various plants are …

The Effects Of Hypergravity On Development Of The Heart And Behavior Of Xenopus Laevis, Stacey Howes

Honors Program Theses

Every living organism on earth has developed and evolved in a 1G environment. It is likely that any deviation from Earth’s standard gravity will influence development, particularly at early stages. Previous reports from this lab showed that body length is reduced and that ventricle size is increased during development at 7G. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of hypergravity on the development of the ventricular myocardial wall and neuromuscular responsiveness of Xenopus laevis. At early gastrulation, (Nieuwkoop and Faber Stage 10) embryos were placed in a centrifuge simulating 7G, 10G, 15G or 17G until they …

Using Seed Recovery Methods To Determine Causes Of Failed Germination In Native Prairie Species, Paige Leytem

Honors Program Theses

Prairie restorations are expensive and emergence rates as low as ten percent are often observed. This could be because seeds are exposed to dangers from microbial and fungal attack, as well as predation from granivores after planting. Our experiment aimed to determine the post-dispersal seed fates of four native prairie species after they had been planted in the soil and covered with an exclosure to limit vertebrate predation. It was performed in a prairie restoration on the University of Northern Iowa Campus in Cedar Falls, Iowa. I coated five sets of 100 seeds of each species (Elymus canadensis, Oligoneuron rigidum, …

Latitude And Environmental Pressure: Their Impact On Carapace Morphology In Three Species Of Fiddler Crabs (Genus Uca) Across The Atlantic Ocean, Katherine Susannah Mary Thomas

Honors Program Theses

Among semi-terrestrial fiddler crabs, three species from the subgenus Uca (sensu stricto) appear to be basal in the phylogeny of the genus: Uca major (Herbst 1782-1804), Uca maracoani (Latreille 1802-1803) and Uca tangeri (Eydoux 1835). These species evolved vicariantly as tectonic plates separated to form the Atlantic Ocean. Currently, the three species, found in Africa, South America, and the Caribbean, exhibit a high affinity for their respective tectonic plates. Inter- and intra-specific variation in carapace shape was assessed using geometric morphometrics to analyze 12 surface landmarks in the three species. In 314 female specimens, surficial coordinates were superimposed, standardized, and …

Testing The Utility Of Environmental Cluster Analysis Based Upon Biodiversity Surrogates Within Geographic Information Systems For Conservation Planning: A Case Study Of Inland Temperate Rainforest In The Northern Rocky Mountains, Matthew J. Heimel

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Environmental surrogates have been proposed as a method for addressing a lack of taxonomic data in biodiversity conservation planning. These surrogates, used as variables in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analysis, can be used in classification procedures to classify areas that are hypothesized to support or be able to support a targeted species or community. The peripheral range of the inland temperate rainforest’s (ITRF) in northwest Montana and northern Idaho was used as a case study for testing the utility of a method known as Environmental Cluster Analysis (ECA) within a GIS using abiotic environmental variables encompassing broad environmental attributes to …

Geometric Morphometric Analysis Of Skeletal Shape Variation Across The Pleuronectiformes, Corinthia R. Black

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Pleuronectiformes, commonly called flatfishes, is a large order of highly specialized fishes that display two eyes on one side of the head. Comprised of approximately 716 species, flatfishes share many similar characteristics. However, the complex history of the classification of the group reveals the diversity of shape across the order. This study focused on the diversity of shape across the order by examining skeletal elements. Landmark-based geometric morphometrics was used to visualize shape variation across the order of Pleuronectiformes. A total of 457 specimens were radiographed from collections at the University of Kansas Natural History Museum and the Smithsonian National …

Testing The Fertility And Allelopathic Abilities Of Arctotheca Prostrata (Salisb.) Britten (Asteraceae, Arctotideae), A South African Plant Species That Has Naturalized In California, Jordy Veit

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Arctotheca prostrata is a perennial plant species native to South Africa that reproduces vegetatively by long runners. In South Africa it also reproduces sexually, producing fruits with fertile seeds. The species was brought to California to serve as a ground cover but fruits had not been reported. Historically, it has been said to be infertile. This study tested the fertility of A. prostrata in California by crossing plants from California with each other and with plants grown from imported South African seeds. Pollen viability was tested and morphological measures were made on heads, leaves, and pollen. Mean Californian and South …

The Effects Of Two Different Recovery Postures During High Intensity Interval Training, Joana V. M. (Joana Vaya Malinao) Houplin

WWU Graduate School Collection

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of two different recovery postures, hands on head (HH) and hands on knees (HK), as a form of immediate recovery from high intensity interval training (HIIT). Furthermore, the study examined whether the two recovery postures influenced subsequent power performance in a Wingate Anaerobic Test. Twenty subjects were included and testing sessions were randomized for each subject. Each subject performed four intervals of 4 minutes of running (4X4) with three minutes of recovery between each running interval. During each three minute recovery interval, measurements recorded included: HRR for the first minute …

Morphological, Behavioral And Reproductive Inducible Defenses In Two Species Of Intertidal Gastropods, Christopher B. (Christopher Brooks) Morgan

WWU Graduate School Collection

An organism's ability to respond to threats in its environment can influence its fitness, as well as the community in which that organism lives. A common type of threat that organisms face is the threat of predation and there are many ways prey species respond to this threat. Some common ways include altering morphology, behavior or life- history strategy. Changes in morphology can make it harder for predators to consume prey while changes in behavior can decrease the probability of prey encountering a predator. Shifts in life-history strategy can alter when organisms are exposed to predation and increase the likelihood …

The Effects Of Agricultural Practices On Native Bee Community Structure And Highbush Blueberry Crop Production, Melanie J. (Melanie Joanne) Fabian

WWU Graduate School Collection

Insect pollinators are essential for facilitating cross pollination and reproduction in many crops and wild plants. Both managed honeybees and wild bees provide great monetary value through their role in the production of food crops via cultivated plants. These pollinators are threatened globally, with populations diminishing as natural habitats are destroyed and agricultural intensification increases. Demands for insect pollinated crops continue to rise, and with honeybee colonies continually on the decline due to Colony Collapse Disorder, exploring the factors affecting native bee communities is essential for ensuring sustainable pollination services in the future. Here, I studied the effects of farming …

Cochlear Development And Auditory Function In The Absence Of Thyroid Hormone Transporters Mct8 And Oatp1c1, Richard Sinn

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Thyroid hormone (TH) is essential for the development and maturation of the nervous system. The thyroid gland secretes an active form of TH, triiodothyronine, and a prohormone, thyroxine, into the blood. TH is charged, which prevents it from passively diffusing across cell membranes and thus requires cell membrane transporters to facilitate its movement into and out of cells. However, whether TH transporters are required for TH-mediated developmental events, including the auditory system, is largely unknown.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate two specific TH transporters, monocarboxylate transporter 8 (Mct8) and organic anion transporting polypeptide 1c1 (Oatp1c1), and …

Assessing The Potential To Improve The Basic Quantitative Skills Of Undergraduate Biology Students, Liliane E. (Liliane Elyse) Dethier

WWU Graduate School Collection

Collaboration between biology and mathematics has led to important advances in both fields. Recent advances in technology have made biology more quantitative, which makes interdisciplinary work increasingly important. In contrast, biology education has historically been less quantitative than the other sciences despite the need for biology education to prepare students to be scientifically literate and to do research. Biology educators must prepare students with appropriate skills to understand, communicate, collaborate, and compete for funding in this increasingly quantitative field. There is a growing awareness at many universities that undergraduate biology students frequently lack basic quantitative skills. This project followed models …

How Do Compounds Released By The Green Tide Alga Ulvaria Obscura Affect Development On Invertebrate Larvae?, Yolimar Rivera VáZquez

WWU Graduate School Collection

Green tides are vast accumulations of green macroalgae that, in the last decade, have become a common nuisance worldwide. Due to compounds the algae release, the blooms may negatively affect other organisms. Ulvaria obscura, a dominant contributor to green tides along the Pacific coast of the United States, produces, among other compounds, dopamine, a catecholamine and neurotransmitter known to affect settlement and metamorphosis of marine invertebrates. We tested the effects of U. obscura exudates and commercially purchased dopamine on fertilization, early development, and larval survival and morphology of the sand dollar Dendraster excentricus and Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. …

Assessing The Fishery And Ecology Of Sharks In The United Arab Emirates, Rima W. Jabado

Dissertations

Large scale shark population declines have been documented worldwide due to overexploitation and the lack of adequate management frameworks to conserve shark stocks. This study aimed at gaining an understanding of the national shark fishery and the trade in shark products from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Data were collected from June 2010 to October 2012 through interviews with local fishermen, market and landing site surveys, fishery independent surveys, and stomach content analysis. Interviews with local fishermen (n=126) provided information on the fishery characteristics and established that sharks were increasingly targeted due to their high value in the global fin …

Water Column Ammonium Concentration And Salinity Influence Nitrogen Uptake And Growth Of Spartina Alterniflora, Rachel Mactavish

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Salt marsh macrophytes, such as Spartina alterniflora, play a critical role in uptake and transformation of inorganic nitrogen before it reaches coastal waters, thereby reducing the potential for eutrophication. Although nitrogen availability typically limits S. alterniflora growth, it may be possible to exceed the nitrogen uptake capacity of S. alterniflora. Increasing either nitrogen concentrations or salinity are key factors regulating S. alterniflora nitrogen uptake. Investigating the effects of nutrients and salinity on S. alterniflora is important given that increases in inorganic nitrogen supply to surface waters from agriculture and urbanization occur simultaneously with freshwater withdrawals that reduce flow and increase …

Soil Microbial Community Distributions And Disease Suppressiveness In The Coastal Plain Of Georgia, Michael J. Sabula

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study compared the soil microbial communities of three vegetation types in the coastal plain of Georgia: 1. crop land actively in use for agricultural production, 2. transitional grassland in early stages of secondary succession, and 3. pristine unmanaged forest land. Microbial species diversity and quantities of microbial DNA were determined from each of these vegetation types at three separate locations near Statesboro, Georgia. Length heterogeneity PCR(LH-PCR) methods and subsequent analysis of fungal, bacterial, and metazoan communities by analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) revealed high within-group similarity by vegetation type, indicating land management intensity and vegetation cover is a strong determining …

International Perspectives On Sustainable Agriculture In Cuba, B. Danielle Smith

University Honors Theses

Since the economic crisis following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba has restructured their agriculture with a greater focus on domestic production of domestically consumed produce, and a dramatic reduction of petroleum products in all aspects of food production. This overhaul has included the broad application of what is termed agroecology – agricultural practices which focus on principles of biodiversity and sustainability – and inter-farm cooperation facilitated by the National Association of Small Farmers (ANAP) and Campesino a Campesino. Academics and journalists from within and abroad have critically examined aspects of the novel reforms developed in the country …

The Impact Of Multiple Nursery Areas On The Population Structure Of Atlantic Menhaden, Brevooria Tyrannus, Kristen A. Anstead

OES Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the population structure and patterns of connectivity in marine fishes is essential when making predictions about a species' resiliency and persistence in an increasingly changing environment. The Atlantic Menhaden Brevoortia tyrannus is a clupeid that plays a critical role in the marine food web and supports one of the largest fisheries on the US East Coast. In addition to a decrease in overall numbers and spawning stock biomass, recruitment levels have remained low since the 1990s. Menhaden use numerous estuaries along the Atlantic coast for juvenile development before recruiting to the adult population and the contribution of each of …

Microbial Communities Colonizing Leaves During Early Decomposition Stages, Stephanie Harper

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Microbial communities associated with decaying leaves play an important role in the cycling of nutrients in stream ecosystems. In headwater streams that are deemed as heterotrophic, bacteria and fungi are main drivers of organic matter decomposition and thus partly responsible for facilitating the cycling of nutrients from leaves that fall into the stream. The main objective of this study was to compare microbial community composition between different leaf types during breakdown in stream ecosystems. To achieve this objective, I used a combination of field and laboratory trials. Field experiments were performed at the Luquillo Experimental Forest using Dacryodes excelsa and …

Antecedents Of Athletes’ Achievement Goal Orientations, Matthew Lachman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Theorized by Nicholls (1984), achievement goal theory describes the interaction of one’s perceived ability and two goal orientations, known as “task” and “ego,” that an athlete employs when setting goals. These goal orientations are what athletes employ when playing their sport. The result of this interaction is an athlete’s achievement behavior. Previous research has examined this theory extensively (Newton & Duda, 1999; Chin, Khoo, & Low, 2012; Smoll, Smith, & Cumming, 2007; White & Zellner, 1996). However, few studies have solely looked at factors that predict one’s achievement goal orientations. The purpose of this study is to address which demographic …

Phenology Of A Relict Population Of The Pitcher Plant Mosquito, Wyeomyia Smithii (Diptera: Culicidae), In Tattnall Co., Ga, Rachel L. Morreale

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Wyeomyia smithii Coquillett lives only within the pitchers of the purple pitcher plant, Sarracenia purpurea L. An isolated population of Wy. smithii occurs in Tattnall Co., GA isolated from other populations by over 300 km in all directions. In order to monitor the stability, phenology, and behavior of this population, fluctuations of the larval and pupal abundances (number/pitcher) were monitored over time. The density (number/mL) of Wy. smithii larvae present within pitchers was recorded from June 2012 until April 2014. Fluid volume contained in pitchers had a strong positive effect on larval abundance within the pitcher (r² = 0.624). …

Molecular Phylogenetic Relationships Of North American Dermacentor Ticks Using Mitochondrial Gene Sequences, Kayla L. Perry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dermacentor is a recently evolved genus of hard ticks (Family Ixodiae) that includes 36 known species worldwide. Despite the importance of Dermacentor species as vectors of human and animal disease, the systematics of the genus remain largely unresolved. This study focuses on phylogenetic relationships of the eight North American Nearctic Dermacentor species: D. albipictus, D. variabilis, D. occidentalis, D. halli, D. parumapertus, D. hunteri, and D. andersoni, and the recently re-established species D. kamshadalus, as well as two of the Neotropical Dermacentor species D. nitens and D. dissimilis (both formerly Anocentor). We sequenced portions of the mitochondrial …