Digital Commons Network^™

Role Of Melatonin In Hibernation And Isolated Heart Activity, Dennis L. Palmer

Biology ETDs

Melatonin functions in the control of melanophore pigmentation of amphibians but its role in higher vertebrates is ill-defined. In mammals melatonin is produced within the pineal gland, where its formation is light dependent. This study consisted of three experiments: (i) a biological assay of commercial preparations of melatonin; (ii) response of hibernating ground squirrels exposed to cold and melatonin; (iii) response of isolated hearts to melatonin. Commercial preparations of melatonin were compared for their biological effectiveness by measuring the inhibition of compensatory ovarian hypertrophy in laboratory mice. Unilateral ovariectomy results in hypertrophy of the intact ovary of untreated mice. Unilaterally …

Comparative Foraging Behavior Of The Olive Warbler And Its Possible Competitors, Robert J. Secatore

Biology ETDs

The foraging activities of the Olive Warbler (Peucedramus taeniatus) and three other foliage-gleaning species were studied in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona during the summer of 1973. Grace's Warblers (Dendroica graciae), the most specialized of the four species, foraged most similarly to Peucedramus and is probably the latter is strongest potential competitor during the breeding season. The small size of D. graciae appeared to facilitate foraging in pine foliage and may be an important factor in promoting ecological segregation from the Olive Warbler. Audubon's Warblers (D. coronata) and Pygmy Nuthatches (Sitta pygmaea) were more generalized in their feeding activities …

Toxoplasma Antibodies In Wild And Domiciled Animals From Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, And The Philippines., Alan A. Marchiondo

Biology ETDs

Using the Sabin-Feldman Dye Test, sera from wild and domestic animals in Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Peru, and the Philippines were tested for the prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. The incidence of Toxoplasma in all animals from these areas was: Arizona (19.6%, 11 of 56), Colorado (28.6%, 2 of 7), Montana (41.7%, 73 of 175), New Mexico (31.3%, 178 of 569), Peru (0%, 0 of 3), and the Philip­pines (33.8%, 48 of 142). The overall prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma was 32.7% (312 of 952).

Nine fecal samples from wild felines contained Toxoplasma like oocysts which were experimentally …

Reproductive Status Of Alligator Juniper In Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico, Graham A. Mark

Biology ETDs

The primary object of this study was to determine the reproductive status of Juniperus deppeana Steud. In Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico. Due to the apparent scarcity of seedlings and young trees, eventual local extinction seemed likely.

Information about the population—its distributions in space and time, its fecundity and mortality rates—was gathered in the Monument. This, together with reported demographic traits of Juniperus spp., indicates that reproduction has indeed recently declined. However, due to the longevity of its members, the population could withstand at least a century of no reproduction before becoming seriously endangered.

Since reproduction has been generally poor …

Studies On The Structural Polypeptides Of Bacteriophage N1, Jeffry J. Leary

Biology ETDs

The structural proteins of Micrococcus lysodeikticus bacteriophage N1 were studied by SDS-urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Electrophoretic analysis of highly purified virions revealed that N1 phage is composed of six structural polypeptides which were designated VP1 through VP6. Molecular weights of the virion polypeptides were estimated to be 103,000 (VP1), 76,000 (VP2), 66,000 (VP3), 51,000 (VP4), 26,000 (VP5), and 16,750 (VP6) daltons. Quantitative analysis of electropherograms of N1 indicated that VP4, VPS, and VP6 are major components of the virion representing 46%, 29%, and 19% of the weight of the virion protein, respectively. The three minor polypeptides VP1, VP2, and VP3 …

Isolation Of Hypoxanthine-Guanine Phosphoribosyl Transferase Deficient Mutants In A Mammalian Cell Line, Winston M. Sanford

Biology ETDs

The isolation of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase deficient mutants of Swiss mouse fibroblast cells was accomplished by exposure of large numbers of normal cells to the toxic antimetabolic agent 8-Azaguanine. Cell lines resistant to 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 μg/ml of 8-Azaguanine were obtained. Enzyme studies of these cell lines revealed an inverse correlation between the level of resistance to 8-Azaguanine and the activity of the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase enzyme. One exceptional mutant has been isolated with a resistance to 8-Azaguanine and an enzyme activity two-fold higher than the parent cell. These mutants are discussed in terms of genetic and biochemical defects …

Human Sperm Antigens And Antisperm Antibodies., Carol K. Dudley

Biology ETDs

An immune response to spermatozoa may result in the production of autoantibodies to sperm. Most studies of antisperm antibody have depended on sperm agglutination or sperm immobilization which only detect antibodies reacting with cell surface antigen. In the study reported here indirect immunofluorescence was used to examine antisperm antibodies to all components of sperm in vasectomized males. These antibodies were used to study the nature of sperm­specific antigens, located in subcellular regions of the human spermatozoa. The incidence of antisperm antibodies in vasectomized patients rises from 61% before surgery to 90% nine months after surgery. The antibodies present before surgery …

Agonistic Behaviour In Gila Woodpeckers., Gene L. Brenowitz

Biology ETDs

Agonistic behaviour of Gila Woodpeckers (Centurus uropygialis), including vocalizations, visual displays and other related behaviours, is described. Aggressive interactions with both con- and hetero-specifics were analyzed by stochastic processes. Results indicate that Gila Woodpeckers are far less aggressive than qualitative descriptions suggest and reasons for this discrepancy are presented.

The ecological correlates of Gila Woodpecker aggression were investigated and it appears that most aggression is related to defense of areas both intraspecifically and interspecifically. The effects of the two types of territoriality on the distribution of the species involved were compared and found to be significantly different. A model is …

A Study Of The Enteric Bacterial Population Of The Rio Grande From Cochiti Dam To Bernalillo, New Mexico And Of The Water Systems Of Cochiti, Santo Domingo And San Felipe Villages, Linda K. Fogleman

Biology ETDs

A bacterial survey of fecal coliforms, fecal streptococci, Arizona and Salmonella was made of the waters of the Rio Grande, its adjoining canals and ditches, and of the well water of three pueblos along the Rio Grande in New Mexico. The river and ditch survey consisted of sampling 11 sites from Cochiti Bridge south to the Bernalillo Acequia at Bernalillo, and took place between September, 1971 and November, 1972. Water was collected from six sites in Cochiti Village, five sites in Santo Domingo Village, and seven sites from San Felipe Village between May 25, 1972 and November 14, 1972. Six …

A Spectrographic Analysis Of Pinon Jay Vocalizations, Lyle Rae Berger

Biology ETDs

Vocalizations and behavior of banded pairs of adult Pinon Jays were recorded during 1972. Jays were housed in large outdoor aviaries. Fifteen distinct vocalizations were isolated in this study. During 1973 individual adult Pinon Jays were observed, and their vocal responses to other individuals were recorded under various circumstances in an attempt to quantify the functions of the calls iso­lated in the initial study. Six pairs of Pinon Jays were tested in this manner. A wild flock of unhanded Pinon Jays also was observed during 1972 and part of 1973.

The fifteen Pinon Jay vocalizations were examined with the aid …

The Effect Of Beta Radiation From Inhaled Yttrium-90 In Fused Clay Particles On Immunity To Listeria Monocytogenes In Mice., Ambrosio Sanchez

Biology ETDs

The author is greatly indebted to the Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute, Lovelace Foundation for Medical Education and Research for af­fording the opportunity to undertake this study. Research was performed under U. S. Atomic Energy Commission Contract AT (29-2) -1013. Particular gratitude is given to Drs. Roger O. McClellan and David L. Lundgren without whose advice, help and encouragement this endeavor would not have been accomplished. Further appreciation is given to Drs. Paul H. Silverman, Ronda F. Cooper and the late John W, Beakley, members of my graduate committee; Ann C. Ferris, Katherine R. Baca and Mildred B. organ for their …

Canalization Of Scutellar Bristles In Pyd And Pyd H Populations Of Drosophila Melanogaster., Rita Kathleen Bryson

Biology ETDs

No abstract provided.

Invasion Of A High Evaluation Burn By Engelmann Spruce, David R. Dreesen

Biology ETDs

The invasion of a high elevation burn (3500 m) by Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry) was investigated on the Santa Fe National Forest in north-central New Mexico. Population analyses and a field germination test of spruce seeds under various treatments were performed. The resistance of soil moisture blocks and soil temperatures were measured.

The fire which occurred in 1886 eliminated a climax spruce-fir forest and resulted in a subalpine grassland at elevations above the zone where aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) has invaded. The estimated crown coverage of trees in the grassland is less than 5%. Engelmann spruce comprises 92.5% of …

Perturbation Analysis Of Competition And Overlap In Habitat Utilization Between Dipodomys Ordii And Dipodomys Merriami, Gene D. Schroder

Biology ETDs

This study measures the magnitude of the competition between two nocturnal, desert rodents, Dipodomys ordii and D. merriami, on 10 unenclosed, 16 hectare plots along a narrow band of sympatry in south-central New Mexico. Population perturbations of one or the other species were periodically performed on eight of the plots, while natural population changes were monitored on two controls. The relative numerical responses of the kangaroo rats to these perturbations are thought to reflect the true magnitude of their competitive interaction.

A New Transport Medium For Neisseria Gonorrhoeae, Nissan Altstock

Biology ETDs

A new transport and holding medium, designated medium #505, has been formulated and tested against standard, commercially available media. The medium is a chemically defined mixture. The ingredients include: sodium chloride, sodium thioglycollate, buffered agar, Amberlite CG-400, methylene blue and IsoVitalex.

The experimental design included two phases. During Phase I, transport media were formulated and tested for their ability to maintain a viable culture of the non-pathogen Neisseria perflava for at least 21 days at ambient temperature (25° C). In Phase II, media that were able to maintain Neisseria perflava for at least 21 days were tested for their ability …