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Trflp Analysis Of The Effect Of A Forest-To-Gap Ectone On Soil Microbial Diversity, Ronald Smith

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

To investigate how soil microbial diversity is influenced by the formation of an experimental edge-creating gap within a southern New England oak-hickory forest, I used a molecular fingerprinting technique known as terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP). Sequence variability in the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene in soil bacterial communities is detected by differences in the length and abundance of fragments produced by digesting PCR products amplified from rRNA genes. The different patterns observed are assumed to represent unique phylotypes.

How does the forest-gap ecotone influence soil bacterial diversity? Based on other studies, I hypothesized that the edge would contain …

Comparison Of Guekensia Demissa Populations Along A Nitrogen Loading Gradient In Narragansett Bay, Ri, Janis Hall

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Anthropogenic eutrophication of coastal estuaries impacts these vital ecosystems by increasing primary production, hypoxic conditions, pathogen concentration, and greenhouse gas emissions, all of which are leading to the degradation of shorelines, disease transmission, and hypoxia-related fish kills. Narragansett Bay is a prominent feature of Rhode Island, making up over 500 km of coastline and acting as a watershed for over 2,000 square meters of land in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island. This estuary is important to both the economy of the state of Rhode Island and its fringing ecosystems are necessary for a healthy shoreline. The beaches of Narragansett Bay …

Investigating The Leaf Cuticle Of The Moss Physcomitrella Patens, Eric John Ricci

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

To minimize water loss, the aerial parts of vascular land plants are covered with a hydrophobic layer called a cuticle. The cuticle typically consists of two major components: cutin and waxes. In contrast to vascular plants, research reports indicate that some primitive nonvascular plants, such as mosses, lack a cuticle. This study attempts to reconcile contradictory literature reports about the presence of a waxy cuticle on the leaves of the moss Physcomitrella patens.

Histochemical staining was utilized to investigate the presence of a cuticle on Physcomitrella leaves. Experiments employing dyes that stain hydrophobic substances were generally consistent with the …

Investigating The Role Of P53 In The Germ Cell Apoptotic Pathway, Jamie Lamkin

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Investigation of the role of p53 in germ cell apoptosis pathways.

Dna Sequence Analysis Of A Bioluminescent Marine Bacterium, Benjamin Ryder

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Studies the sequencing of the DNA fragment containing the gene phaC (PHA synthase) and undertakes the search for open reading frames and putative gene matches in a bioluminescent marine bacterium.