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Articles 1 - 15 of 15
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Trematodes And Neorickettsia: Diversity Of Digeneans And Their Bacterial Endosymbionts (Neorickettsia) In Mollusk First Intermediate Hosts From Eastern Mongolia, Morgan Gallahue
Honors College Theses
This study focused on the survey of 34 freshwater snail samples collected from NE Mongolia for larval flatworm parasites in the class Trematoda. 32 of the snail samples were infected, and the parasites were identified based on morphology and DNA sequences. Nine of the identified parasite samples were screened for the presence of bacterial endosymbionts in the genus Neorickettsia in the family Anaplasmataceae. All of the samples screened for Neorickettsia were negative for the bacterium. Species of Neorickettsia are known to cause several diseases such as Sennetsu Fever (in humans) and Potomac Horse Fever. There have been relatively few reliable …
A Multi-Scale Investigation Of Habitat Selectivity In Coastal Plain Stream Fishes, Hayley A. Robinson
A Multi-Scale Investigation Of Habitat Selectivity In Coastal Plain Stream Fishes, Hayley A. Robinson
Honors College Theses
Studying the habitat use of Coastal Plain fishes enables us to develop a deeper understanding of how fishes thrive in this highly variable environment. Based on previous research by Dr. Roberts and his students, Coastal Plain fishes seem to sort into two groups: (1) species selecting stream reaches that continue to flow throughout the summer (i.e., fluvial species [F]) and (2) species occurring in streams that may stop flowing in late summer (i.e., nonfluvial species [NF]). For this study, I took a detailed look at eight of these species, spanning the F-NF gradient, and asked which environmental variables (e.g., water …
Molecular Survey Of Helminths Infecting Ground Dwelling Birds In The Grouse Subfamily Tetraoninae, Briana M. Sesmundo
Molecular Survey Of Helminths Infecting Ground Dwelling Birds In The Grouse Subfamily Tetraoninae, Briana M. Sesmundo
Honors College Theses
Alaskan grouse and ptarmigan (Galliformes) are important avian game species in Alaska. Interestingly, gallids harbor a fairly diverse helminth fauna, particularly cestodes, which may make birds with high parasite loads more susceptible to predation. Unfortunately, there is limited information available on the helminth fauna of Alaskan gallids, and no molecular surveys. The present study aims to develop baseline data on diversity of intestinal and subcutaneous (filariid) helminth infections in galliforms using morphological and molecular (DNA) approaches. These data can then be used to better understand changes in helminth community structure given current environmental volatility. The intestines, cloaca, liver and kidneys …
Analysis Of The Temporal Patterning Of Notch Downstream Targets During Drosophila Melanogaster Egg Chamber Development, Molly A. Rowe
Analysis Of The Temporal Patterning Of Notch Downstream Targets During Drosophila Melanogaster Egg Chamber Development, Molly A. Rowe
Honors College Theses
Living organisms require complex signaling interactions and proper regulation of these interactions to influence biological processes. Of these complex networks, one of the most distinguished is the Notch pathway. Dysregulation of this pathway often results in defects during organismal development and can be a causative mechanism for initiation and progression of cancer. Despite previous research entailing the importance of this signaling pathway and the organismal processes that it is involved in, less is known concerning the major Notch downstream targets, especially the onset and sequence in which they are modulated during normal development. As timing of regulation may be linked …
Developing Sensory Behavioral Assays For Zebrafish Autism Model, Shannon Wagner
Developing Sensory Behavioral Assays For Zebrafish Autism Model, Shannon Wagner
Honors College Theses
Individuals of all ages can suffer from a wide variety of symptoms and disabilities that could be diagnosed as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Due to new methods and technology, individuals are now being diagnosed in the first two years of their life, which is when the signs of ASD are initially exhibited. Individuals diagnosed with ASD share many similar disabilities and symptoms such as hyperactivity to social, visual, and auditory stimuli, as well as hyposensitivity to olfactory stimuli. Neural circuit-based alterations are widely considered as a cause for these behavioral aberrations. We have created behavioral assays using zebrafish larvae to …
Herbicide Toxicity To Non-Target Aquatic Organisms Does Not Increase In Mixtures With Surfactants, Courtney L. Telfort
Herbicide Toxicity To Non-Target Aquatic Organisms Does Not Increase In Mixtures With Surfactants, Courtney L. Telfort
Honors College Theses
Agricultural herbicides enter aquatic environments after rain events where they affect microscopic aquatic plants (phytoplankton) and animals (zooplankton) that form the base of aquatic food webs. Atrazine, an herbicide with low solubility in water, is often mixed with surfactants such as alkyl polyglucoside (APG) to improve effectiveness. Although APG has low-toxicity, a potential drawback to increased atrazine solubility is greater adverse effects on aquatic organisms. I hypothesized that atrazine and APG decrease phytoplankton abundance more than atrazine alone. Specifically, I predicted phytoplankton abundance should 1) decrease with increasing concentrations of the mixture compared to the same atrazine concentrations individually, and …
Ecomorphological Variation Among Redbreast Sunfish Populations Of The South-Eastern United States, Grayson Ariel Walker
Ecomorphological Variation Among Redbreast Sunfish Populations Of The South-Eastern United States, Grayson Ariel Walker
Honors College Theses
Individual populations of a species will morphologically adapt to their surrounding environment. It has been noted in the past that when species are placed under similar environmental conditions, they will evolve similar morphological structures and shape variation to overcome those obstacles. Redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus) were sampled from three different ecoregions (mountainous, Piedmont, and coastal plain) of 4 different isolated river basins in the southeastern North America. It was hypothesized that across basins, populations would show convergent morphological adaptations to mountain, piedmont, and coastal plain condition. I indexed using site elevation as an independent variable, serving as a …
Comparing Feeding Accuracy Between High And Low Predation Trinidad Guppies, Lydia J. Bonnell
Comparing Feeding Accuracy Between High And Low Predation Trinidad Guppies, Lydia J. Bonnell
Honors College Theses
Efficient feeding accuracy could increase an organism’s survival. Although local adaptation in Trinidad guppies is common, the effects on accuracy are unknown. Guppies were wild caught in 2015 and 2017, filmed while capturing prey. Accuracy wasn’t different within samples but differed across samples, possibly due to the prey types used.
Identification Of Bird-Associated Nonpoint Sources Of Microbial Contamination In Sediments, Savannah D. Mullins
Identification Of Bird-Associated Nonpoint Sources Of Microbial Contamination In Sediments, Savannah D. Mullins
Honors College Theses
Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), such as Enterococci, are commonly used to monitor the microbial contamination of recreational beach waters based on standards set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Sediment and sand may also harbor FIB and reintroduce these bacteria to the water column. Enterococci may be originated from various non-point sources such as humans and wildlife. Recent literature has shown that avian feces also harbor high concentrations of Enterococci. The purpose of this study is identify the relationship between Enterococci and avian-associated markers in sediments. Sediment samples were collected monthly from four sites at Kings Ferry Beach in …
The Sucking Louse Fauna Of Mongolian Rodents: Host Associations, Molecular Phylogenetics And Description Of Two New Species, Chase N. Robinson
The Sucking Louse Fauna Of Mongolian Rodents: Host Associations, Molecular Phylogenetics And Description Of Two New Species, Chase N. Robinson
Honors College Theses
This study aimed to screen Mongolian rodents for sucking lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera: Anoplura) to better understand host-parasite associations for this understudied region. Nine species, including 3 previously undescribed, from 4 genera were identified. A molecular phylogeny based on 2 mitochondrial genes of collected louse specimens is included.
Impact Of Seasonal And Host-Related Factors On The Intestinal Microbiome And Cestode Community Of Sorex Cinereus And Sorex Monticola, Katelyn D. Cranmer
Impact Of Seasonal And Host-Related Factors On The Intestinal Microbiome And Cestode Community Of Sorex Cinereus And Sorex Monticola, Katelyn D. Cranmer
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The intestinal microbiome of mammals plays a significant role in host health and response to environmental stimuli and can include both beneficial native bacteria as well as parasitic worms. In this study, I examined the intestinal cestode and bacterial communities of two closely related species of shrew, Sorex monticola and Sorex cinereus, over a six month period in 2016. Specimens were collected approximately every three weeks from May to October from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Cowles, New Mexico. A total of 79 shrews were prepared with the gastrointestinal tracts removed and flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen. An additional …
Effects Of Climate Variability: A Long-Term Perspective On Leaf Litter Processing In The Ogeechee River, Jose A. Sanchez
Effects Of Climate Variability: A Long-Term Perspective On Leaf Litter Processing In The Ogeechee River, Jose A. Sanchez
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) predicts a rise in temperatures and changes to precipitation patterns for the 21st century. These changes are expected to lead to a higher frequency of extreme events such as drought and floods which lead to the alteration of the hydrology, communities, and processes of freshwater ecosystems. Leaf litter decomposition in stream ecosystems is an important component of the energy and nutrient cycle representing a food source for aquatic organisms. This has made it a tool for assessing long term responses to disturbance due to changes in the assemblage of macroinvertebrates that …
Inferring Food Web Structure To Identify Seasonal And Longitudinal Patterns In Ogeechee River Invertebrate Communities, Julien Marc Buchbinder
Inferring Food Web Structure To Identify Seasonal And Longitudinal Patterns In Ogeechee River Invertebrate Communities, Julien Marc Buchbinder
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Understanding how the structure and function of aquatic communities vary across space and time is essential for proper management of freshwater ecosystems. Current management relies on rapid biomonitoring using metrics of community structure, but metrics that incorporate ecosystem processes and functions are only just beginning to see use in assessment and management. Food webs inferred from known species interactions have been proposed as a method of incorporating function into bioassessment without expending extra effort or sacrificing the cost-effectiveness of current monitoring schemes. To apply food webs in biomonitoring, it is first necessary to understand how communities and food webs vary …
Negative Effects Of Common Herbicides On Non-Target Invertebrates, Debbi Albanese
Negative Effects Of Common Herbicides On Non-Target Invertebrates, Debbi Albanese
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Three herbicide formulations, Roundup® Ready to Use Weed and Grass Killer, Bayer Advanced Southern Weed Killer for Lawns and Pure 20% Vinegar Solution were directly applied to eggs of four species of butterflies, Danaus plexippus, Papilio cresphontes, Papilio polyxenes and Papilio troilus. Roundup and Bayer Advanced containing 2,4-D, mecoprop-p and dicamba significantly reduced hatch success in all four species. Lethal and sublethal effects of these herbicides on the earthworm, Eisenia andrei, was also examined. Direct contact by E. andrei with a heavy dose of the herbicides applied to tops of soil 24 hours prior was lethal to earthworms. …
Bird Window Strikes On A College Campus: Mortality Estimates And Possible Mitigation, Antarius D. Mclain
Bird Window Strikes On A College Campus: Mortality Estimates And Possible Mitigation, Antarius D. Mclain
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Understanding the impact that human development has on wildlife populations is essential to preserving biodiversity. Bird populations are a good indicator of anthropogenic threats because they are sensitive to environmental change. Window strikes are a major source of mortality for bird populations. Studies have begun to monitor factors that cause window strikes and estimate the amount of birds killed annually by strikes. However, these estimates can be greatly affected by site dependent variables and scavenging of carcasses. My study addresses this issue by answering four questions: First, how many birds are killed annually on campus? Second, what factors complicate making …