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Articles 1 - 18 of 18
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Ecological Niche Modeling Of Pteronotropis Hubbsi, The Bluehead Shiner: Evaluating The Effects Of Spatial Filtering And Maxent Features Across Various Spacial Extents, Justin Matthew Hernandez
Ecological Niche Modeling Of Pteronotropis Hubbsi, The Bluehead Shiner: Evaluating The Effects Of Spatial Filtering And Maxent Features Across Various Spacial Extents, Justin Matthew Hernandez
Biology Theses
Ecological niche modeling (ENM) has been extensively applied as a reliable tool in conservation biology. Still, challenges abound in generating optimal models, especially when using limited occurrence data. The bluehead shiner, Pteronotropis hubbsi, a threatened species of concern, was modeled throughout its range within the U.S. South Central Plains Ecoregion. The portions of states that overlap this region include Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. I used the Maxent software package (Phillips et al., 2006), as the ENM algorithm for this project. A maximum of 14 geospatial environmental layers (climatic, hydrologic, and geologic) were chosen to determine the species' association with …
An Integrative Approach To Species Delimitation In The Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus Catenatus) With An Emphasis On The Western Massasauga, S.C. Tergeminus, And Desert Massasauga, S.C. Edwardsii In Texas, Steven R. Hein
Biology Theses
The subspecies concept was originally introduced as a means to explain geographic variation in species with subspecific boundaries normally being designated by morphological variation. Because a growing wealth of studies have shown that these morphologically defined subspecies are often not reflective of true evolutionary history, it is important to reassess subspecific boundaries. Subspecific designations have conservational consequence with regards to management practices. I reassessed the subspecific designations of the massasauga rattlesnake, S. catenatus, using both ecological niche modeling and molecular phylogenetic techniques. The ecological niche modeling determined the western and desert massasauga, S. c. tergeminus and S. c. edwardsii occupy …
The Downregulation Of Short Neuropeptide Receptor (Snpfr) In The Red Imported Fire Ant Solenopsis Invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) And The Tawny Crazy Ant Nylanderia Fulva (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Using Rna Interference, And The Use Of An Anthranilic Diamide As A Novel Management Technique, Megan Rudolph
Biology Theses
The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), is an invasive species endemic to South America that was inadvertently introduced into the United States. This invasive species costs over six billion dollars (USD) annually and causes substantial ecological and agricultural damage. Anthranilic diamides are novel chemical insecticides that selectively target the insect ryanodine receptor in the endoplasmic reticulum, causing calcium release and insect mortality. In this study, cyclaniliprole, an anthranilic diamide, was used to cause significant mortality in S. invicta workers. RNA interference (RNAi) is a known regulator of biological systems in insects and was also used in …
Rna Interference: Potato/Tomato Psyllid, Bactericera Cockerelli, Oral Delivery Of Double-Stranded Rnai Construct, Bijaya Kumar Sharma
Rna Interference: Potato/Tomato Psyllid, Bactericera Cockerelli, Oral Delivery Of Double-Stranded Rnai Construct, Bijaya Kumar Sharma
Biology Theses
The potato/tomato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Sulc.), is a serious and economically important pest of the potato, tomato and other solanaceous crops. This insect is the putative primary vector of the phytopathogenic bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum which causes the Zebra Chip in potato. This disease has caused millions of dollars loss to the potato industry. While traditional management programs have minimized the negative impacts of this disease system, a sustainable alternative to chemical treatment is needed. Management of this pest by downregulation of endogenous mRNA using RNA interference (RNAi) technology is one of the best molecular method available; however, several technical …
Distinct Physiological Roles For The Two Isoforms Of The Er Chaperone Grp170 In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Yuanyuan Li
Distinct Physiological Roles For The Two Isoforms Of The Er Chaperone Grp170 In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Yuanyuan Li
Biology Theses
GRP170 is a large molecular chaperone found in the ER of all eukaryotes. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has two loci encoding GRP170: T24H7.2 (grp170a) and T14G8.3 (grp170b). The phenotypes of nematodes genetically deficient for either grp170a or grp170b were compared to a standard laboratory strain with functional grp170 loci. Worms that were deficient for grp170a developed 32% slower than the control strain. The loss of grp170a had a significant but modest reduction on the life span compared to the control strain. Worms deficient for grp170a also displayed significantly increased embryonic lethality and resulted in 6.9% arrested embryos. The loss of …
Home Range, Habitat Use, And Movements Of Native Northern Map Turtles (Graptemys Geographica), And Sympatric Invasive Red-Eared Slider Turtles (Trachemys Scripta Elegans), In The Upper Niagara River, Brian E. Haas
Biology Theses
Turtle populations throughout the world are in decline due to the effects associated with anthropogenic disturbances. Northern map turtles in the Upper Niagara River are facing the same effects associated with shoreline development, pollution, and human induced mortality. A biotelemetric study was conducted to understand the population structure, habitat use, and behavior of northern map turtles in the Upper Niagara River. Turtles were trapped, outfitted with radio and sonic transmitters, and tracked from August 2013 until April 2015. Invasive red-eared sliders, which also inhabit the Niagara River were captured and tracked to allow for comparison. This invasive species is a …
Prevalence Of A Chytrid Pathogen (Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis) In Eastern Hellbender Salamanders In New York And Pennsylvania, Linxuan Wu
Biology Theses
Amphibian populations are currently declining globally. There are many possible causes for these declines, among which an emerging infectious disease, chytridiomycosis, has been implicated. Chytridiomycosis in the U.S.A. is mainly caused by the Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. In this study, I used qPCR assays to detect the existence of this pathogen in the Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) populations in the Allegheny and Susquehanna River drainages of New York and Pennsylvania. Chytrid is most often tested by using skin swabs, but in this study, tail clips, dorsal skin, blood and eggs were tested as well. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis was detected …
Bactericera Cockerelli (Sulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae): Nearly Complete Mitochondrial Genome, Single Mitochondrial Genes And Complete Mitochondrial Genome Comparison, And Insecticide Resistance Genes Of Potato Psyllid Populations From North America, Amalia Rosa Lopez Montiel
Biology Theses
The potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Sulc.), is an economic pest of potatoes and other solanaceous crops, and the vector of the causal agent of zebra chip disease. The expanded distribution of the potato psyllid has resulted in the differentiation of biotypes (central and western), and haplotypes (southwestern and northwestern), according to analysis of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I (COI). In this study, the nearly complete (part of the control region unsequenced) mitochondrial genome from potato psyllid populations occurring in North America: Texas, Nebraska, California, Washington, northwest (Washington) and southwest (Arizona), were sequenced using next generation sequencing technology. The raw …
Using Ecological Niche Modeling And Genetics To Evaluate The Conservation Status Of The Texas Gartersnake, Thamnophis Sirtalis Annectens, Kayla N. Key
Biology Theses
The definition of a species has been argued extensively by philosophers and biologists resulting in the development of many different concepts which often contradict each other. An integrative approach using multiple types of data (e.g, morphological, ecological, behavioral, genetic) may be the most successful at correctly assigning taxonomic levels.Here, we use an integrative approach of ecological niche modeling and molecular genetics to investigate the taxonomy of a state imperiled gartersnake subspecies, Thamnophis sirtalis annectens, using ecological niche modeling and molecular phylogenetics analyses. Recently, it was given a conservation rank of S2 (imperiled) in the state of Texas and those that …
Lignocellulose Metabolism In A Fungus-Gardening Ant Symbiosis, Alexandria Demilto
Lignocellulose Metabolism In A Fungus-Gardening Ant Symbiosis, Alexandria Demilto
Biology Theses
Fungus-gardening ants exhibit a unique interaction with specific fungi in an obligatory symbiosis; ants feed and prune their fungal symbiont in exchange for nourishment. Cellulose is the most abundant plant compound found on earth and may serve as a rich carbon source to ants. Recent studies show that leaf-cutting (Atta and Acromyrmex) ants' fungus does not typically digest cellulose, but there have been few comparisons to the other higher attine fungus gardening ants. In this study, I measured the lignocellulose consumption of the higher fungus-gardening ants Trachymyrmex septentrionalis and Trachymyrmex arizonensis. Colonies were fed either a diet of Texas Red …
Triatominae (Hemiptera:Reduviidae) In Texas: Mitochondrial Genome Assembly, Trypanosoma Cruzi Detection, And Bacterial Community Analysis, Chissa-Louise Rivaldi
Triatominae (Hemiptera:Reduviidae) In Texas: Mitochondrial Genome Assembly, Trypanosoma Cruzi Detection, And Bacterial Community Analysis, Chissa-Louise Rivaldi
Biology Theses
The genus Triatoma contains vectors of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the pathogen responsible for Chagas disease. The following research presents several inductive studies to develop vector control approaches targeted to the genus or species level. Two-hundred and eighty-two insects were collected, identified, and tested for the presence of T. cruzi. Four species of the Triatoma genus were collected - the overall incidence of T. cruzi was 52% (T. gerstaeckeri -51%, T. lecticularia – 92%, other, 29%). From these 282 insects, the bacterial communities of eight specimens of T. gerstaeckeri were sequenced and analyzed using pyrosequencing technology. The bacterial communities …
Confirmation Of Potential Cyprinid Hosts For A State Threatened Freshwater Mussel Of East Texas, Erin P. Bertram
Confirmation Of Potential Cyprinid Hosts For A State Threatened Freshwater Mussel Of East Texas, Erin P. Bertram
Biology Theses
Previously suggested Cyprinid host-fish for the state threatened Texas pigtoe (Fusconaia askewi) and Louisiana pigtoe (Pleurobema riddelli) of East Texas were investigated. The Red shiner, Blacktail shiner, and Bullhead minnow were targeted as potential hosts. The viability of these fish as hosts was tested by collecting them from three different rivers of East Texas and housing them in an Aquatic Habitat Tank System (AHAB) to allow the natural development and release of glochidia or juvenile mussels that were attached to the fish in the wild. Juvenile mussels were molecularly identified with amplification of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) using the ND1 gene. …
Manipulation Of The Solenopsis Invicta Virus-1 By Rna Interference In The Red Imported Fire Ant Solenopsis Invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), And Examination Of Differences In Resulting Micro Rna Expression, Patrick Rydzak
Biology Theses
The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), is an invasive ant species from South America to the United States and is responsible for approximately six billion dollars (U.S.) every year. In 2004, as part of an effort to find a self-sustained, long term biological control agent against S. invicta, researchers discovered the first ever known virus to infect Solenopsis sp., the Solenopsis invicta virus-1 (SINV-1). RNA interference (RNAi) is a known regulator of biological systems in insects and was used in this study to manipulate viral titers of SINV-1 in individual S. invicta workers and whole S. invicta …
Molecular Mechanism Of Cytokine Production By Human Lung Fibroblast In Response To Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Elastase, Kourtney Bass
Molecular Mechanism Of Cytokine Production By Human Lung Fibroblast In Response To Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Elastase, Kourtney Bass
Biology Theses
Pathogenicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections can be heavily influenced by the host inflammatory responses. P. aeruginosa secretes several extracellular products such as lipopolysaccharide, exotoxin A, and elastase. This bacterium is widely studied in acute and chronic lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and Cystic Fibrosis (CF). In order to understand part of the underlying mechanism, we focused on the role of Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase (PE) in provoking the host inflammatory response in an in vitro model. We hypothesized that PE stimulates cytokine and chemokine production by activating mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade through nuclear factor kappa …
Forest Sustainability In An Altered Landscape Requires Human Intervention, Adam C. Labatore
Forest Sustainability In An Altered Landscape Requires Human Intervention, Adam C. Labatore
Biology Theses
Recruitment success determines the abundance and composition of plant communities. Successful recruitment can be summarized as a simple dichotomy of establishment versus seed limitations. Establishment limitation occurs when plant populations are inhibited by habitat availability and quality, whereas seed limitation occurs when seeds fail to arrive in necessary densities. Recruitment failure undermines overstory sustainability if the existing trees cannot replace themselves. Preliminary analysis indicated tree recruitment failure at an urban nature preserve with too few tree seedlings to replace mature canopy trees. These data suggested that the urban forest was not sustainable. The overarching goal of the study was to …
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Elastase Induces Restructuring Of Actin Cytoskeleton By Phosphorylation Of Rhoa Proteins, Bidisha Pal
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Elastase Induces Restructuring Of Actin Cytoskeleton By Phosphorylation Of Rhoa Proteins, Bidisha Pal
Biology Theses
Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes aggressive infection in patients with pre-existing disorders and recurrent pulmonary infections in cystic fibrosis patients. Pathogenesis of P. aeruginosa infections is multifactorial owing to numerous virulence factors. The focus of this thesis research was to investigate whether P. aeruginosa elastase (PE) causes remodeling of the cytoskeleton by increasing the phosphorylation of RhoA GTPase proteins. In addressing our hypothesis, we utilized Small GTPase Immuno-sorbent Activation assays (G-LISA) and Enzyme linked Immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) to quantitate changes in the total as well as phosphorylated RhoA protein in Calu3 cell lines. Fluorescence microscopy aided in understanding the changes in morphological …
Distinguishing The Neches River Rose Mallow, Hibiscus Dasycalyx, From Its Congeners Using Dna Sequence Data And Niche Modeling Methods, Melody P. Sain
Distinguishing The Neches River Rose Mallow, Hibiscus Dasycalyx, From Its Congeners Using Dna Sequence Data And Niche Modeling Methods, Melody P. Sain
Biology Theses
The accurate identification of species that are in need of protection is one of the most essential challenges of conservation biology (Lovich and Gibbons, 1997). When deciding if a species needs conservation protection, there are two main scientific concerns that must be addressed: (1) determining if the taxonomic standing of the target species is upheld (i.e., if it is a real, rare species) and (2) deciding where the target species occurs or is likely to occur. In this study we used an integrative approach combining ecological niche modeling and molecular genetics to understand the taxonomy of a federally threatened Hibiscus …
Determining Best Practices For Freshwater Mussel Relocation Using Burrowing And Behavior, Lindsey Marie Griffin
Determining Best Practices For Freshwater Mussel Relocation Using Burrowing And Behavior, Lindsey Marie Griffin
Biology Theses
Of the 302 freshwater mussel species in North America, 70% are listed as imperiled or threatened. The increase in habitat impairments and reduction in mussel fauna has increased interest in relocations in regard to the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The most common time to conduct mussel relocations is July to September, when it is speculated that the least amount of reproductive stress will occur and the metabolic rate is high enough for reburying. Because summer is the most common time to relocate threatened or endangered freshwater mussels, the effects of extreme temperature differences (27°C to over 49°C) on burrowing …