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Spatial Variation In The Chemical Composition Of Natal Otholiths From A Reef Fish In The Galápagos Islands, Benjamin I. Ruttenberg, Robert R. Warner Dec 2006

Spatial Variation In The Chemical Composition Of Natal Otholiths From A Reef Fish In The Galápagos Islands, Benjamin I. Ruttenberg, Robert R. Warner

Biological Sciences

Over the past decade, researchers have used variation in the chemical composition of fish otoliths (earstones) to address a number of ecological questions, such as stock assessment and assessing rates of movement of individuals among habitats or life-history stages. However, these methods have yet to be applied successfully to the study of larval connectivity, a major unanswered question in marine ecology. Accomplishing this task requires a reference collection of pre-pelagic natal otoliths and accurate measurement of the chemical signatures of otoliths cores of recruits. We analyzed the chemical composition of natal otoliths from near-term benthic eggs of a damselfish (Stegastes …


Improved Monitoring Of Habs Using Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (Auv), Ian C. Robbins, G. J. Kirkpatrick, Shelley M. Blackwell, J. Hillier, Charles A. Knight, Mark A. Moline Dec 2006

Improved Monitoring Of Habs Using Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (Auv), Ian C. Robbins, G. J. Kirkpatrick, Shelley M. Blackwell, J. Hillier, Charles A. Knight, Mark A. Moline

Biological Sciences

Blooms of toxic algae are increasing in magnitude and frequency around the globe, causing extensive economic and environmental impacts. On the west coast of Florida, blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate Karenia brevis (Davis) have been documented annually for the last 30 years causing respiratory irritation in humans, fish kills, and toxin bioaccumulation in shellfish beds. As a result, methods need to be established to monitor and predict bloom formation and transport to mitigate their harmful effects on the surrounding ecosystems and local communities. In the past, monitoring and mitigation efforts have relied on visual confirmation of water discoloration, fish kills, …


The Lasthenia Californica Story: It Started With Flavonoids, Bruce A. Bohm, Nishanta Rajakaruna Nov 2006

The Lasthenia Californica Story: It Started With Flavonoids, Bruce A. Bohm, Nishanta Rajakaruna

Biological Sciences

Our laboratory's study of Lasthenia (Asteraceae) began with an examination of flavonoid profiles of all species of the genus. The finding of two distinct flavonoid races within the L. californica complex led us to investigate environmental factors that might have been responsible for selection of these particular forms. Data were gathered on soil chemistry, allozyme variation, breeding biology, the effect of water stress on plant growth, and ion uptake physiology. In conjunction with workers at other institutions, DNA studies were undertaken to determine evolutionary relationships between the two races. These studies led to the recognition that racial differences had arisen …


Textbooks: Expectations Vs. Reality: The Dna Story, William D. Stansfield Oct 2006

Textbooks: Expectations Vs. Reality: The Dna Story, William D. Stansfield

Biological Sciences

No abstract provided.


The Effects Of Carotenoid And Food Availability On Resistance To A Naturally Occurring Parasite (Gyrodactylus Turnbulli) In Guppies (Poecilia Reticulata), Gita R. Kolluru, Gregory F. Grether, Sandra H. South, Eric Dunlop, Andrea Cardinali, Linda Liu, Andreah Carapiet Oct 2006

The Effects Of Carotenoid And Food Availability On Resistance To A Naturally Occurring Parasite (Gyrodactylus Turnbulli) In Guppies (Poecilia Reticulata), Gita R. Kolluru, Gregory F. Grether, Sandra H. South, Eric Dunlop, Andrea Cardinali, Linda Liu, Andreah Carapiet

Biological Sciences

Dietary carotenoids have been shown to confer immunological benefits to some species of animals in which males also use these pigments to attract mates. Thus, the potential exists for an allocation trade-off between the sexual and immunological functions of carotenoids. Food availability may also influence immune system function. The present study examined the effects of carotenoid and food availability on the resistance of male guppies (Poecilia reticulata Peters) from four wild populations to the parasite Gyrodactylus turnbulli Harris. Intermediate levels of carotenoid ingestion resulted in the lowest parasite loads, which suggests that carotenoids strengthen parasite resistance at low levels …


Environmental Rearing Conditions Produce Forebrain Differences In Wild Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha, R. L. Kihslinger, Sean C. Lema, G. A. Nevitt Oct 2006

Environmental Rearing Conditions Produce Forebrain Differences In Wild Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha, R. L. Kihslinger, Sean C. Lema, G. A. Nevitt

Biological Sciences

Recent studies suggest that hatchery-reared fish can have smaller brain-to-body size ratios than wild fish. It is unclear, however, whether these differences are due to artificial selection or instead reflect differences in rearing environment during development. Here we explore how rearing conditions influence the development of two forebrain structures, the olfactory bulb and the telencephalon, in juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) spawned from wild-caught adults. First, we compared the sizes of the olfactory bulb and telencephalon between salmon reared in a wild stream vs. a conventional hatchery. We next compared the sizes of forebrain structures between fish reared …


Testing An Ecophysiological Mechanism Of Morphological Plasticity In Pupfish And Its Relevance To Conservation Efforts For Endangered Devils Hole Pupfish, Sean C. Lema, Gabrielle A. Nevitt Sep 2006

Testing An Ecophysiological Mechanism Of Morphological Plasticity In Pupfish And Its Relevance To Conservation Efforts For Endangered Devils Hole Pupfish, Sean C. Lema, Gabrielle A. Nevitt

Biological Sciences

Imperiled species that have been translocated or established in captivity can show rapid alterations in morphology and behavior, but the proximate mechanisms of such phenotypic changes are rarely known. Devils Hole pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis) are endemic to a single desert pool and are characterized by a small body, large head and eyes, and lack of pelvic fins. To lessen the risk of extinction, additional populations of C. diabolis were established in artificial refuges. Yet, pupfish in these refuges rapidly shifted to a larger body, smaller head and eyes, and greater body depth. Here we examined how food availability …


Analysis Of Treatment Effects On The Microbial Ecology Of The Human Intestine, Anna L. Engelbrektson, Joshua R. Korzenik, Mary Ellen Sanders, Brian G. Clement, Gregory Leyer, Todd R. Klaenhammer, Christopher L. Kitts Aug 2006

Analysis Of Treatment Effects On The Microbial Ecology Of The Human Intestine, Anna L. Engelbrektson, Joshua R. Korzenik, Mary Ellen Sanders, Brian G. Clement, Gregory Leyer, Todd R. Klaenhammer, Christopher L. Kitts

Biological Sciences

A large number of studies have investigated gastrointestinal microbiota and changes in the gastrointestinal community. However, a concern in these studies is how best to assess changes in gastrointestinal community structure. This paper presents two different human trials where the fecal terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism data sets were analyzed to search for treatment effects. Principle components analysis and cluster analysis based on grouped data are compared with analysis of data by subject using distance coefficients. Comparison with baseline within an individual before grouping by treatment provided a clearer indication of treatment effects than did an evaluation of data grouped …


The Effects Of Dispersal And Recruitment Limitation On Community Structure Of Odonates In Artificial Ponds, Shannon J. Mccauley Aug 2006

The Effects Of Dispersal And Recruitment Limitation On Community Structure Of Odonates In Artificial Ponds, Shannon J. Mccauley

Biological Sciences

I examined the effects of isolation on the structure of both adult and larval dragonfly (Odonata: Anisoptera) communities forming at physically identical artificial ponds over two years. Isolation, whether measured by distance to the nearest source habitat or by connectivity to multiple sources, was significantly negatively related to the species richness of dragonflies observed at and collected in these ponds. These results indicate that dispersal and recruitment limitation acted as filters on the richness of communities at these artificial ponds. The richness of larval recruits in artificial ponds was lower than the richness of adult dispersers observed at ponds, and …


Population Divergence In Plasticity Of The Avt System And Its Association With Aggressive Behaviors In A Death Valley Pupfish, Sean C. Lema Aug 2006

Population Divergence In Plasticity Of The Avt System And Its Association With Aggressive Behaviors In A Death Valley Pupfish, Sean C. Lema

Biological Sciences

Behavioral differences can evolve rapidly in allopatry, but little is known about the neural bases of such changes. Allopatric populations of Amargosa pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis) vary in aggression and courtship behaviors in the wild. Two of these wild populations were recently found to differ in brain expression of arginine vasotocin (AVT)—a peptide hormone shown previously to modulate aggression in pupfish. These populations have been isolated for less than 4000 years, so it remained unclear whether the differences in behavior and neural AVT phenotype were evolved changes or plastic responses to ecologically dissimilar habitats. Here, I tested whether these …


Vertical Migration Of The Toxic Dinoflagellate Karenia Brevis And The Impact On Ocean Optical Properties, Oscar Schofield, John Kerfoot, Kevin Mahoney, Mark A. Moline, Matthew Oliver, Steven Lohrenz, Gary Kirkpatrick Jun 2006

Vertical Migration Of The Toxic Dinoflagellate Karenia Brevis And The Impact On Ocean Optical Properties, Oscar Schofield, John Kerfoot, Kevin Mahoney, Mark A. Moline, Matthew Oliver, Steven Lohrenz, Gary Kirkpatrick

Biological Sciences

Vertical migration behavior is found in many harmful algal blooms; however, the corresponding impact on ocean optical properties has not been quantified. A near-monospecific population of the dinoflagellate Karenia brevis was encountered off the west coast of Florida. The community was tracked for 24 hours by following a Lagrangian drifter deployed at the beginning of the experiment. A suite of inherent optical and cellular measurements was made. Over the 24 hour period, the K. brevis population increased during the day with concentrations peaking in the late afternoon (1600 local daylight time) in the upper 2 m of the water column. …


Book Review: Evolution In Four Dimensions By Eva Jablonka And Marion J. Lamb, William D. Stansfield May 2006

Book Review: Evolution In Four Dimensions By Eva Jablonka And Marion J. Lamb, William D. Stansfield

Biological Sciences

No abstract provided.


Expression Profiling And Local Adaptation Of Boechera Holboellii Populations For Water Use Efficiency Across A Naturally Occurring Water Stress Gradient, Charles A. Knight, Heiko Vogel, Juergen Kroymann, Alice Shumate, Hanneke Witsenboer, Thomas Mitchell-Olds Apr 2006

Expression Profiling And Local Adaptation Of Boechera Holboellii Populations For Water Use Efficiency Across A Naturally Occurring Water Stress Gradient, Charles A. Knight, Heiko Vogel, Juergen Kroymann, Alice Shumate, Hanneke Witsenboer, Thomas Mitchell-Olds

Biological Sciences

We studied the physiological basis of local adaptation to drought in Boechera holboellii, a perennial relative of Arabidopsis thaliana, and used cDNA–AFLPs to identify candidate genes showing differential expression in these populations. We compared two populations of B. holboellii from contrasting water environments in a reciprocal transplant experiment, as well as in a laboratory dry-down experiment. We continuously measured the water content of soils using time domain reflectometery (TDR). We compared populations for their water use efficiency (WUE), root/shoot ratios (R:S) and leaf mass per unit area (LMA) in the field and in the laboratory, and identified candidate …


The Effects Of Carotenoid And Food Intake On Caudal Fin Regeneration In Male Guppies, Gita R. Kolluru, N. C. Ruiz, N. Del Cid, Eric Dunlop, Gregory F. Grether Apr 2006

The Effects Of Carotenoid And Food Intake On Caudal Fin Regeneration In Male Guppies, Gita R. Kolluru, N. C. Ruiz, N. Del Cid, Eric Dunlop, Gregory F. Grether

Biological Sciences

The trade‐offs involved in allocating carotenoid pigments and food to healing and regrowing damaged caudal fin tissue v. other functions were examined in guppies Poecilia reticulata, a species in which females prefer males that display larger amounts of carotenoids in their skin. The guppies were derived from four natural populations in Trinidad that differed in resource availability but not predation intensity. Carotenoids, food and site of origin did not affect either absolute or relative fin regrowth, which suggested that fin regeneration in guppies was not constrained by carotenoid availability. It is possible that carotenoid intake influences fin regeneration in …


Luther Burbank: Honorary Member Of The American Breeders' Association, William D. Stansfield Mar 2006

Luther Burbank: Honorary Member Of The American Breeders' Association, William D. Stansfield

Biological Sciences

No abstract provided.


The Impacts Of Climate Change In Coastal Marine Systems, Christopher D.G. Harley, A. Randall Hughes, Kristin M. Hultgren, Benjamin G. Miner, Cascade J.B. Sorte, Carol S. Thornber, Laura F. Rodriguez, Lars Tomanek, Susan L. Williams Jan 2006

The Impacts Of Climate Change In Coastal Marine Systems, Christopher D.G. Harley, A. Randall Hughes, Kristin M. Hultgren, Benjamin G. Miner, Cascade J.B. Sorte, Carol S. Thornber, Laura F. Rodriguez, Lars Tomanek, Susan L. Williams

Biological Sciences

Anthropogenically induced global climate change has profound implications for marine ecosystems and the economic and social systems that depend upon them. The relationship between temperature and individual performance is reasonably well understood, and much climate-related research has focused on potential shifts in distribution and abundance driven directly by temperature. However, recent work has revealed that both abiotic changes and biological responses in the ocean will be substantially more complex. For example, changes in ocean chemistry may be more important than changes in temperature for the performance and survival of many organisms. Ocean circulation, which drives larval transport, will also change, …


Fossil History Of Billfishes (Xiphioidei), Harry L. Fierstine Jan 2006

Fossil History Of Billfishes (Xiphioidei), Harry L. Fierstine

Biological Sciences

This review characterizes each of the five extinct and extant families of billfishes and discusses the relevant literature. Families include: Hemingwayidae (monotypic; late Paleocene, Turkmenistan), Blochiidae (1 genus, 2 species; middle Eocene, Italy), Palaeorhynchidae (4 genera, ca. 22 species; early Eocene-possibly early Miocene, Europe, Iran, Russia, U.S.A.), Xiphiidae that includes the subfamilies Xiphiorhynchinae (1 genus, 9 species; early Eocene-late Oligocene, Egypt, Europe, U.S.A.) and Xiphiinae (monotypic; middle Miocene-present, world-wide temperate- tropical seas), and the Istiophoridae (3 genera, 13 species; middle Miocene-present; world-wide temperate-tropical seas). Billfishes first appeared in the region of the ancient Tethys Sea (or Paratethys), except for the …


The Ball Lightning Conundrum, William D. Stansfield Jan 2006

The Ball Lightning Conundrum, William D. Stansfield

Biological Sciences

The article focuses on the issue regarding the existence of ball lightning. The phenomenon regarding its existence is a reality accepted by most scientists, but how it is formed and maintained has yet to be fully explained. According to the author the rarity of ball lightning and the ease with which some of its characteristics can be confused with other Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO) that makes it unlikely to be the source of all but a few UFO reports.


The Enigma Of Coral Castle, William D. Stansfield Jan 2006

The Enigma Of Coral Castle, William D. Stansfield

Biological Sciences

The article discusses the mystery of how Coral Castle near Miami, Florida was built. It is believed that the castle was built by a single man using only simple hand tools. The man who said to built the castle was Latvia-born Edward Leedskalnin. How he supported himself and paid for the land and tools for building a castle is an important part of the mystery.


Rockfish Resources Of The South Central California Coast: Analysis Of The Resource From Partyboat Data, 1980-2005, John Stephens, Dean Wendt, Debra Wilson-Vandenberg, Jay Carroll, Royden Nakamura, Erin Nakada, Steven Reinecke, Jono Wilson Jan 2006

Rockfish Resources Of The South Central California Coast: Analysis Of The Resource From Partyboat Data, 1980-2005, John Stephens, Dean Wendt, Debra Wilson-Vandenberg, Jay Carroll, Royden Nakamura, Erin Nakada, Steven Reinecke, Jono Wilson

Biological Sciences

Rockfishes (Sebastes spp.) have historically comprised a large proportion of catches in the nearshore recreational fishery in California, but declining populations of some species have led to increasingly restrictive management of the resource. This report summarizes new and existing data on rockfishes of the south central coast of California. In 2003, the California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo placed observers on commercial passenger fishing vessels (partyboats) from the region. By the end of 2005, we had observed catches from 258 trips (8,839 fisher hours). We appended these data to partyboat catch statistics collected by the California Department of …


Using Latent Effects To Determine The Ecological Importance Of Dissolved Organic Matter To Marine Invertebrates, Dean E. Wendt, Collin H. Johnson Jan 2006

Using Latent Effects To Determine The Ecological Importance Of Dissolved Organic Matter To Marine Invertebrates, Dean E. Wendt, Collin H. Johnson

Biological Sciences

The uptake and utilization of dissolved organic matter (DOM) by marine invertebrates is a field that has received significant attention over the past 100 years. Although it is well established that DOM is taken up by marine invertebrates, the extent to which it contributes to an animal's survival, growth, and reproduction (that is, the ecological benefits) remains largely unknown. Previous work seeking to demonstrate the putative ecological benefits of DOM uptake have examined them within a single life stage of an animal. Moreover, most of the benefits are demonstrated through indirect approaches by examining (1) mass balance, or (2) making …


Interspecific Variation In Patterns Of Adhesion Of Marine Fouling To Silicone Surfaces, Eric R. Holm, Christopher J. Kavanagh, Anne E. Meyer, Deborah Wiebe, Brian T. Nedved, Dean Wendt, Celia M. Smith, Michael G. Hadfield, Geoff Swain, Christina D. Wood, Kathryn Truby, Judith Stein, Jean Montemarano Jan 2006

Interspecific Variation In Patterns Of Adhesion Of Marine Fouling To Silicone Surfaces, Eric R. Holm, Christopher J. Kavanagh, Anne E. Meyer, Deborah Wiebe, Brian T. Nedved, Dean Wendt, Celia M. Smith, Michael G. Hadfield, Geoff Swain, Christina D. Wood, Kathryn Truby, Judith Stein, Jean Montemarano

Biological Sciences

The adhesion of six fouling organisms: the barnacle Balanus eburneus, the gastropod mollusc Crepidula fornicata, the bivalve molluscs Crassostrea virginica and Ostrea/Dendrostrea spp., and the serpulid tubeworms Hydroides dianthus and H. elegans, to 12 silicone fouling-release surfaces was examined. Removal stress (adhesion strength) varied among the fouling species and among the surfaces. Principal component analysis of the removal stress data revealed that the fouling species fell into two distinct groups, one comprising the bivalve molluscs and tubeworms, and the other the barnacle and the gastropod mollusc. None of the silicone materials generated a minimum in removal stress …


Factors That Influence Elastomeric Coating Performance: The Effect Of Coating Thickness On Basal Plate Morphology, Growth And Critical Removal Stress Of The Barnacle Balanus Amphitrite, D. E. Wendt, G. L. Kowalke, J. Kim, I. L. Singer Jan 2006

Factors That Influence Elastomeric Coating Performance: The Effect Of Coating Thickness On Basal Plate Morphology, Growth And Critical Removal Stress Of The Barnacle Balanus Amphitrite, D. E. Wendt, G. L. Kowalke, J. Kim, I. L. Singer

Biological Sciences

Silicone coatings are currently the most effective non-toxic fouling release surfaces. Understanding the mechanisms that contribute to the performance of silicone coatings is necessary to further improve their design. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of coating thickness on basal plate morphology, growth, and critical removal stress of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite. Barnacles were grown on silicone coatings of three thicknesses (0.2, 0.5 and 2 mm). Atypical (“cupped”) basal plate morphology was observed on all surfaces, although there was no relationship between coating thickness and i) the proportion of individuals with the atypical morphology, or …


Winter Profile Of Plasma Sex Steroid Levels In Free-Living Male Western Diamond-Backed Rattlesnakes, Crotalus Atrox (Serpentes: Viperidae), Gordon W. Schuett, Roger A. Repp, Emily N. Taylor, Dale F. Denardo, Ryan L. Earley, Edward A. Van Kirk, William J. Murdoch Jan 2006

Winter Profile Of Plasma Sex Steroid Levels In Free-Living Male Western Diamond-Backed Rattlesnakes, Crotalus Atrox (Serpentes: Viperidae), Gordon W. Schuett, Roger A. Repp, Emily N. Taylor, Dale F. Denardo, Ryan L. Earley, Edward A. Van Kirk, William J. Murdoch

Biological Sciences

Recent field studies on the reproductive ecology of western diamond-backed rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) from populations in southern Arizona showed significant differences in the concentration of plasma sex steroids (testosterone, T; 5α-dihydrotestosterone, DHT; and 17β-estradiol, E2) throughout the active season (March–October), and peak levels were coincident with the two mating periods (late summer and early spring). There is, however, no information on levels of sex steroids during winter. Similar to most snakes, hibernating individuals of C. atrox are typically inaccessible, but in southern Arizona, where environmental conditions are typically mild during winter, adult males frequently bask at …


Vibrio Parahaemolyticus Growth Under Low-Iron Conditions And Survival Under High-Magnesium Conditions, Chia-Hsin Ju, P.S. Marie Yeung, Jessica Oesterling, Daniel A. Seigerman, Kathryn J. Boor Jan 2006

Vibrio Parahaemolyticus Growth Under Low-Iron Conditions And Survival Under High-Magnesium Conditions, Chia-Hsin Ju, P.S. Marie Yeung, Jessica Oesterling, Daniel A. Seigerman, Kathryn J. Boor

Biological Sciences

Since 1996, Vibrio parahaemoiyticus serotype 03:K6 and closely related strains have been associated with an increased incidence of V. parahaemolyticus gastroenteritis worldwide, suggesting the emergence of strains with enhanced abilities to cause disease. One hypothesis for the recent emergence of V. porahaemolyticus 03:K6 and related strains is an enhanced capacity for environmental survival relative to other strains, which might result in increased human exposure to these organisms. Therefore, the objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that survival or growth characteristics of clinical V. parahaemolyticus isolates differ from those of nonclinical isolates under different environmental conditions. Twenty- six …


A Reaction–Diffusion Analysis Of Energetics In Large Muscle Fibers Secondarily Evolved For Aerobic Locomotor Function, Kristin M. Hardy, Bruce R. Locke, Marilia Da Silva, Stephen T. Kinsey Jan 2006

A Reaction–Diffusion Analysis Of Energetics In Large Muscle Fibers Secondarily Evolved For Aerobic Locomotor Function, Kristin M. Hardy, Bruce R. Locke, Marilia Da Silva, Stephen T. Kinsey

Biological Sciences

The muscles that power swimming in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, grow hypertrophically, such that in juvenile crabs the cell diameters are


Lassen Volcanic National Park Small Vertebrate Inventory Project: Preliminary Results 2000-2004, John D. Perrine Jan 2006

Lassen Volcanic National Park Small Vertebrate Inventory Project: Preliminary Results 2000-2004, John D. Perrine

Biological Sciences

Biologists at Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California conducted an inventory of non-flying small mammals, amphibians and reptiles from 2000 through 2004. The four primary habitat types in the park (brush, forest, riparian and subalpine) were each sampled at one high elevation and one mid-elevation site in the park. Each of the eight sites was sampled for four six-day periods between June and September each year using a combination of pitfall, Sherman and Tomahawk traps, coverboards and unbaited automatic camera stations. This effort yielded 12,150 captures and 776 photo detections. A total of 649 voucher specimens, representing 19 mammal, …


Characterizing The Resident, Fermentative Microbial Consortium In The Hindgut Of The Temperate-Zone Herbivorous Fish, Hermosilla Azurea (Teleostei: Kyphosidae), Pat M. Fidopiastis, Daniel J. Bezdek, Michael H. Horn, Judith S. Kandel Jan 2006

Characterizing The Resident, Fermentative Microbial Consortium In The Hindgut Of The Temperate-Zone Herbivorous Fish, Hermosilla Azurea (Teleostei: Kyphosidae), Pat M. Fidopiastis, Daniel J. Bezdek, Michael H. Horn, Judith S. Kandel

Biological Sciences

The zebraperch, Hermosilla azurea Jenkins and Evermann, a warm-temperate marine fish species with a strictly macroalgal diet, has a relatively long digestive tract with an enlarged hindgut and an associated blind caecum (HC). In zebraperch sampled off Santa Catalina Island, California (33°19′42′′N; 118°18′37′′W) in years 1995 through 2001, direct cell counts, gut epithelium assessment of bacterial attachment, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) analyses verified that the zebraperch HC possesses a dense and morphologically diverse, fermentative microbiota. Bacterial cell counts and morphological diversity were significantly higher in HC contents compared to anterior gut regions, suggesting that microbial populations were growing along …


Phytoremediation: An Affordable Green Technology For The Clean-Up Of Metal-Contaminated Sites In Sri Lanka, Nishanta Rajakaruna, Kathleen M. Tompkins, Peter G. Pavicevic Jan 2006

Phytoremediation: An Affordable Green Technology For The Clean-Up Of Metal-Contaminated Sites In Sri Lanka, Nishanta Rajakaruna, Kathleen M. Tompkins, Peter G. Pavicevic

Biological Sciences

Phytoremediation, the use of plants to remediate sites contaminated with organic and inorganic pollutants, and phytomining, the technology involved in extracting the pollutants removed for commercial purposes, are rapidly-growing industries with multi-million dollar markets. This solar-driven, green technology is oftenfavored over more conventional methods of clean-up due to its low cost, low impact, and wider public acceptance. In this paper we discuss phytoremediation as a valid alternative for remediating contaminated bodies of soils and water in developing countries like Sri Lanka, where clean-up can often be stalled due to the high costs associated with traditional remediation technologies. While phytoremediation techniques …