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University of Richmond

Biology Faculty Publications

2008

Articles 1 - 8 of 8

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Spots Of Adult Male Red-Spotted Newts Are Redder And Brighter Than In Females: Evidence For A Role In Mate Selection?, Andrew K. Davis, Kristine L. Grayson Nov 2008

Spots Of Adult Male Red-Spotted Newts Are Redder And Brighter Than In Females: Evidence For A Role In Mate Selection?, Andrew K. Davis, Kristine L. Grayson

Biology Faculty Publications

As aquatic adults, eastern red-spotted newts (Notophthalmus v. viridescens) are generally green with two rows of dorsal spots, which vary in number between individuals and range in colour from orange to red. The function of these spots is unknown, but it is possible that they serve as sexual ornamentations and we examined this hypothesis by testing for sexual dimorphism in spot characteristics. We used an image analysis approach that has been used previously with this and other amphibian species to compare the number, size and colour – redness (hue score) and brightness – of spots in 100 male …

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Spiderworts: Not Just Another Pretty Face For Science, W. John Hayden Jul 2008

Spiderworts: Not Just Another Pretty Face For Science, W. John Hayden

Biology Faculty Publications

Species of Tradescantia, or spiderworts, are handsome plants. Several wild species, including the VNPS wildflower of the Year for 2008 (T. virginiana), can be found in eastern North America and additional species grace gardens, and hothouse conservatories. Spiderworts are not, however, just a bunch of pretty faces. Spiderworts have a long history of service to science, both in terms of teaching and pure research.

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A New Reproductive Mode In The Genus Melanzophryniscus Gallardo, 1961 (Anura: Bufonidae) With Description Of A New Species From The State Of Paraná, Brazil, José A. Langone, Magno V. Segallo, Marcos Bornschein, Rafael O. De Sá Apr 2008

A New Reproductive Mode In The Genus Melanzophryniscus Gallardo, 1961 (Anura: Bufonidae) With Description Of A New Species From The State Of Paraná, Brazil, José A. Langone, Magno V. Segallo, Marcos Bornschein, Rafael O. De Sá

Biology Faculty Publications

A new species of bufonid toad of the genus Melanophryniscus is described from a mountaintop that is part of the Serra do Mar in the northeastern State of Paraná, Brazil. Melanophryniscus alipioi sp. nov. is distinguished from other known species by its uniformly dark brown dorsal color and a unique breeding site. The new species reproduces in bromeliads, a reproductive mode previously unknown for this genus. This species might be susceptible to current habitat lost.

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What Do Students Have To Say About Ecology And Evolution? Using Podcasting To Apply Integrative Biology Themes Across The Tree Of Life, Amy M. Treonis, Malcolm Hill, Theresa Dolson, Sue Mcginnis, Elizabeth Miles Jan 2008

What Do Students Have To Say About Ecology And Evolution? Using Podcasting To Apply Integrative Biology Themes Across The Tree Of Life, Amy M. Treonis, Malcolm Hill, Theresa Dolson, Sue Mcginnis, Elizabeth Miles

Biology Faculty Publications

We describe a versatile podcasting assignment that requires students to (i) review primary and secondary literature relating to an assigned organism with the goal of identifying the main features of its ecology and evolution, (ii) prepare an enhanced podcast about their organism, and (iii) critique peer podcasts. The goal of this assignment is for each student to gain a fuller appreciation for and understanding of biological diversity. This assignment will enhance students' research, technology, and communication skills while reinforcing the main themes of integrative biology.

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2008 Wildflower Of The Year: Virginia Spiderwort, Tradescantia Virginiana, W. John Hayden Jan 2008

2008 Wildflower Of The Year: Virginia Spiderwort, Tradescantia Virginiana, W. John Hayden

Biology Faculty Publications

Spiderwort is an herbaceous perennial that arises from a cluster of rather stout overwintering roots. Stems may be solitary or more commonly clumped, and usually grow unbranched, reaching heights up to 40 cm tall. Stems are smooth or bear scattered short hairs. Leaves are 2—5 per stem, attached by means of a leaf sheath that is 13 cm long. Leaf blades are dull green, elongate, ending in a gradually tapered tip, flat or keeled, smooth (without hairs), and 1—3.5 dm long by 0.5—2.5 cm wide. Flowers occur in tight clusters located at the stem apex; bracts similar to the leaves …

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Spiderwort Is Vnps Wildflower Of The Year, W. John Hayden Jan 2008

Spiderwort Is Vnps Wildflower Of The Year, W. John Hayden

Biology Faculty Publications

The VNPS 2008 Wildflower of the Year (WOY) is spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana). This herbaceous perennial plant occurs throughout much of the eastern portion of the U.S. and is widespread in Virginia. Spiderwort blooms from April to July. The small flowers occur in clusters at the ends of the stems, atop several elongate bracts. Flowers have three petals that range from purple to rose or, rarely, white. Densely hairy stamens provide, perhaps, the easiest way to recognize spiderworts. Also, stalks of spent flowers droop below the flower cluster yielding an aspect reminiscent of spindly spider legs.

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Is The Amphibian Tree Of Life Really Fatally Flawed?, Darrel R. Frost, Taran Grant, Julian Faivovich, Raoul H. Bain, Alexander Haas, Celio F.B. Haddad, Rafael O. De Sá, Et Al. Jan 2008

Is The Amphibian Tree Of Life Really Fatally Flawed?, Darrel R. Frost, Taran Grant, Julian Faivovich, Raoul H. Bain, Alexander Haas, Celio F.B. Haddad, Rafael O. De Sá, Et Al.

Biology Faculty Publications

Wiens (2007, Q. Rev. Biol. 82, 55–56) recently published a severe critique of Frost et al.'s (2006, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 297, 1–370) monographic study of amphibian systematics, concluding that it is “a disaster” and recommending that readers “simply ignore this study”. Beyond the hyperbole, Wiens raised four general objections that he regarded as “fatal flaws”: (1) the sampling design was insufficient for the generic changes made and taxonomic changes were made without including all type species; (2) the nuclear gene most commonly used in amphibian phylogenetics, RAG-1, was not included, nor were the morphological characters that had justified …

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Leptodactylus Cunicularius Sazima And Bokermann Rabbit-Burrow Frog, W. R. Heyer, M. M. Heyer, Rafael O. De Sá Jan 2008

Leptodactylus Cunicularius Sazima And Bokermann Rabbit-Burrow Frog, W. R. Heyer, M. M. Heyer, Rafael O. De Sá

Biology Faculty Publications

Adult Leptodactylus cunicularius are moderately small. The head is longer than wide and the hind limbs are long (Table 1; Heyer and Thompson 2000 provided definitions of adult size and leg length categories for Leptodactylus). Male vocal sacs are internal, not externally expanded. The snout is protruding, not sexually dimorphic. Male forearms are not hypertrophied and males lack asperities on the thumbs and chest. The dorsum is variegated with small, often confluent, spots and blotches. There is a very thin interrupted mid-dorsal light stripe (pinstripe). Usually, there is a noticeable light, irregular, elongate, mid-dorsal blotch in the scapular region. …

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