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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Assessing Changes In Freshwater And Marine Food Web Connections Following Restoration On The Penobscot River, Maine, Using Stable Isotope Analysis, Matthew Brewer Ms
Assessing Changes In Freshwater And Marine Food Web Connections Following Restoration On The Penobscot River, Maine, Using Stable Isotope Analysis, Matthew Brewer Ms
Student Scholarship
Oiadromous fish provide ecological subsidies to freshwater and marine food
webs, connecting both ecosystems. A main goal of the Penobscot River Restoration
Project was to increase connectivity between food webs by removing two mainstem
dams, improving fish passage, and reintroducing river herring through stocking.
Oiadromous fish now reach historic spawning habitat that was not accessible for
centuries. As a result, river herring runs in the Penobscot River increased from
2,336 fish in 2009 to over 3 million fish by 2018. To assess food web connectivity in
the Penobscot watershed, I analyzed stable isotopes from samples collected before
(2009-2010) and after …
The Roleo F Selectionin Maintaining Mhc Variationi N Mammals: Heterozygotaed Vantage,R Area Llelea Dvantagea Nd Mate Choice, Carol Titterton Ms
The Roleo F Selectionin Maintaining Mhc Variationi N Mammals: Heterozygotaed Vantage,R Area Llelea Dvantagea Nd Mate Choice, Carol Titterton Ms
Student Scholarship
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is the most polymorphic gene
region in jawed vertebrates. Its gene products play a critical role in determining
individual and population fitness by presenting foreign antigens to immune system
cells, thereby initiating immune response to pathogen and parasite infections and
cancer. I surveyed the literature to investigate how selection maintains such
important adaptive diversity in mammalian populations and how MHC diversity
affects individual and population fitness. Balancing selection in the form of either
heterozygote advantage or rare allele advantage has long been proposed as the key
mechanism for maintaining the extreme diversity in MHC gene …
Analysis Of Invasive Aedes Japonicus Populations And Bloodmeals In Rural, Suburban, And Urban Land-Use Conditions, Matthew Oberholtzer Ms
Analysis Of Invasive Aedes Japonicus Populations And Bloodmeals In Rural, Suburban, And Urban Land-Use Conditions, Matthew Oberholtzer Ms
Student Scholarship
Adult female mosquitoes were collected at six sites with differing land-use and
livestock characteristics to characterize populations and bloodmeal habits of the invasive
vector mosquito species, Aedes japonicus in Southern Maine. Mosquitoes were collected
and DNA was extracted for PCR amplification of cytochrome C oxidase I (COi)
mitochondrial DNA for barcoding analysis of vertebrate bloodmeals. A total of 7460
adult female mosquitoes were collected, with 444 being Ae. japonicus (5.6%). This
indicates an established breeding population of Ae. japonicus in Southern Maine. The
rural site adjacent to livestock had the highest yield of total mosquitoes as well as the
catch …
Alewife (Alosa Pseudoharengus) Contributions To Lake Phosphorus Budgets: Implications For Management, Meg "Rue" Farley Thurrell Ms
Alewife (Alosa Pseudoharengus) Contributions To Lake Phosphorus Budgets: Implications For Management, Meg "Rue" Farley Thurrell Ms
Student Scholarship
As human-made dams are removed and fish passage at dams is improved in
support of restoration efforts, anadromous alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) gain
access to historic spawning grounds. As they migrate to spawn, adult alewives import
marine derived nutrients to lakes and impoundments. Young of year alewives (juveniles)
export nutrients as they emigrate to the sea. These nutrients support primary
production and are incorporated into freshwater food webs. However, many lakes in
New England are mesotrophic or eutrophic. Additional nutrients, specifically
phosphorus (P), may exacerbate water quality issues. To examine these issues, I
compared outputs ofan alewife nutrient and population model …
Using Stable Isotopes And Diet Analysis To Assess The Potential For Competition And Coexistence Among Coyotes (Canis Latransl, Red Foxes (Vulpes Vulpes), And Gray Foxes (Urocyon Cinereoargenteus) In Maine, Henry M. Masters
Student Scholarship
When two species compete for food, one species typically outcompetes the other. Subordinate species can alleviate costs of competition by reducing diet overlap, promoting coexistence. Non-native coyotes (Canis latrans) and historically native gray foxes (Urocyon cineroargenteus) have expanded their range in Maine and may compete with native red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). To investigate competition, I analyzed stable isotopes and stomach contents to determine if coyotes, red foxes, and gray foxes differed in use of anthropogenic foods and trophic position. I predicted that coyotes utilize anthropogenic foods the least (lowest δ13C), and red foxes utilize …