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Articles 1 - 30 of 197
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Assessing The Feasibility Of Seaweed Farm-Offshore Wind Co-Location In New Jersey, Brianna Delaney Reynolds
Assessing The Feasibility Of Seaweed Farm-Offshore Wind Co-Location In New Jersey, Brianna Delaney Reynolds
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
New Jersey’s offshore wind energy sector may provide an opportunity to advance the seaweed farming industry through ocean multi-use. Yet, opportunities, constraints, and knowledge gaps for seaweed farm-offshore wind co-location remain largely uninvestigated. Here, I determine the suitability of native seaweed species for offshore cultivation in New Jersey and conduct a quick scoping review (QSR) to assess the knowledge base surrounding seaweed farm-offshore wind multi-use. Saccharina latissima and Fucus vesiculosus were identified as native species with commercial value for cultivation in New Jersey. Yet, offshore waters at the location of a wind development site had insufficient nutrients to meet the …
Dynamic Genomic Evolution Via Active Ltr Transposable Elements In Maize, Taylor Isles
Dynamic Genomic Evolution Via Active Ltr Transposable Elements In Maize, Taylor Isles
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Long terminal repeats (LTR) retrotransposons, found across eukaryotes, are transposable elements which can copy and insert themselves into other loci within a genome. These transposable elements are similar to retroviruses in that they rely on reverse transcriptase to “copy and paste” themselves elsewhere in the genome. From the RNA transcript they are able to use reverse transcriptase to make another DNA copy of themselves. This initially gave them the moniker, selfish genes. However, in the decades after the discovery of reverse transcriptase and LTR retrotransposons, it became known that non-genic DNA could have other functions. LTR retrotransposons are sources of …
Trophic Assessment Of The Invasive Hydrozoan Gonionemus Vertens Using Stable Isotope Analysis : You Are What You Eat, Diana Sisk-Gritz
Trophic Assessment Of The Invasive Hydrozoan Gonionemus Vertens Using Stable Isotope Analysis : You Are What You Eat, Diana Sisk-Gritz
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Gonionemus vertens, commonly known as the clinging jellyfish, is a small hydrozoan known for their conflicts with humans due to their neurotoxins that can lead to paralysis. Native to the Pacific Ocean, it has now invaded numerous ecosystems in the coastal waters of the Mediterranean Sea, Europe, and the United States. In the United States, it has flourishing populations from New Jersey to Maine. However, many questions remain as to how it arrived and spread, but equally important is what impact this species may have in the invaded communities they now reside. Research suggests that G. vertens actively feeds on …
Trends In Nestling Body Size In A Declining Population Of American Kestrels, Kristina M. Ollo
Trends In Nestling Body Size In A Declining Population Of American Kestrels, Kristina M. Ollo
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) are small falcons that feed primarily on large insects but also small mammals and birds. During recent decades kestrel populations have been declining in North America, for reasons still unknown. One plausible explanation is that nestlings are becoming malnourished over the years from lack of food resources and are fledging at smaller sizes. Fledging at a smaller size puts kestrel nestlings at greater risk of post-fledging mortality due to starvation or predation. Here we examined long-term trends in the morphological development of American Kestrel nestlings to see if there have been any significant changes over time. …
Neural Correlates Of Sub-Clinical Grandiose Cluster B Personality Disorders, Adriana Lavarco
Neural Correlates Of Sub-Clinical Grandiose Cluster B Personality Disorders, Adriana Lavarco
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
The Cluster B personality disorders (PDs) include antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), borderline personality disorder (BPD), narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), and histrionic personality disorder (HPD). With impulsivity being a commonly shared symptom across the cluster B personality disorders, specifically in BPD, the right and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) was targeted for TMS. Since these personality disorders are grouped together due to their shared ‘dramatic’ characteristics, the current study aimed to investigate the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on the presence of cluster B personality disorder traits in 13 healthy participants. We found that there is a significant decrease in …
Heat Stress Effects On Culex Pipiens Mosquitoes, Valeria Montoya
Heat Stress Effects On Culex Pipiens Mosquitoes, Valeria Montoya
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Extreme weather events such as heat waves are becoming more frequent. This is a concern for both humans and other organisms like insects. Culex pipiens f. molestus mosquitoes are primary vectors of diseases including equine encephalitis, West Nile virus, Rift valley fever, and St. Louis encephalitis. With Cx. pipiens f. molestus being the primary vector of West Nile virus in North America, it is important to understand how more frequent heat waves affect their population dynamics. In this study, I compared the thermal tolerance of larval Cx. pipiens f. molestus that were exposed to prior heat stress to those that …
Effects Of Guest Interactions On Cownose Ray (Rhinoptera Bonasus) Behavior In A Zoo Touch Tank, Lauren Hope
Effects Of Guest Interactions On Cownose Ray (Rhinoptera Bonasus) Behavior In A Zoo Touch Tank, Lauren Hope
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Touch tanks are increasingly popular exhibits at zoos and aquariums, and are at the center of scientific engagement with the public. Touch tanks can provide benefits to marine species through conservation outreach and research, and to guests through education, recreation, and stress reduction. Cownose rays are a popular species found in touch tanks due to their putative stress tolerance and docile nature. Yet, questions remain about ray tolerance to captivity, and studies are rare on their behavioral responses to touch tank environments and guest interactions. Here, I used an observational study to examine: (1) baseline ray behavior in a touch …
Environmental Drivers Of Stress In Red Pandas (Ailurus Fulgens) : Behavior And Space Use Changes In Response To Redesigned Naturalistic Enclosures, Alexis Michelle Lawson
Environmental Drivers Of Stress In Red Pandas (Ailurus Fulgens) : Behavior And Space Use Changes In Response To Redesigned Naturalistic Enclosures, Alexis Michelle Lawson
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Animal welfare encompasses the physical and mental state of an animal, as well as how that animal is cared for. Recently, zoological settings have shifted from strictly housing animals to improving the welfare of the animal such that the goal of captivity is for residents to thrive. This is especially crucial as global wildlife numbers and biodiversity continues to decrease due to anthropogenic impacts such as poaching, mining, habitat destruction, fragmentation. Further confounding this issue is climate change, air pollution, invasive species, ocean acidification, and more. In particular, the red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is an endangered species whose declined 50% …
Social Exclusion : How Inhibition And Excitation Of The Dorsal Lateral Prefrontal Cortex (Dlpfc) Influences Feelings Of Social Exclusion, Anthony Minervini
Social Exclusion : How Inhibition And Excitation Of The Dorsal Lateral Prefrontal Cortex (Dlpfc) Influences Feelings Of Social Exclusion, Anthony Minervini
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Social exclusion refers to the experience of rejection by one or more people during a social event. Cyberball, a computer program, is one of the most common tools for analyzing social exclusion. Cyberball simulates a game of catch in which any number of individuals or computer- generated players can pass a virtual ball to one another. Regions of the brain that underlies pain perception include networks lined to the Dorsal Lateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC). Direct manipulation of this area may provide a better understanding of how the DLPFC can influence the perception of social exclusion. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was …
Wild Sea Cucumber Trade In Rural Madagascar : Consequences For Conservation And Human Welfare, Emily L. Rothamel
Wild Sea Cucumber Trade In Rural Madagascar : Consequences For Conservation And Human Welfare, Emily L. Rothamel
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Overexploitation of fisheries is a challenge to both marine conservation and human welfare. The trade of sea cucumbers is a multi-billion-dollar market, spanning over 70 countries. Global concern over unsustainable sea cucumber trade led to the inclusion of three species in CITES Appendix II, two of which are found in Madagascar (Holothuria fuscogilva and H. nobilis). I used 792 structured interviews (2015–2020) to study the intensity of sea cucumber collection and exportation in rural northeastern Madagascar, where 30% of all (terrestrial and aquatic) native species are threatened with extinction. Wild sea cucumber collection was common and increased tenfold during the …
The Characterization Of Minicoopr Cell Line Clones For The Expression Of Wild Type Form Of Icer, Samantha Moscoso
The Characterization Of Minicoopr Cell Line Clones For The Expression Of Wild Type Form Of Icer, Samantha Moscoso
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
The transcriptional repressor Inducible cyclic-AMP Early Repressor (ICER) is an isoform of the cAMP-responsive element modulator (CREM) gene. ICER protein has tumor suppressor activity by regulating cAMP-induced transcription. ICER has been found to be effective in providing an anti-tumor effect when in many tumors including melanomas. Melanoma is an aggressive type of skin cancer that begins when there is an overproduction of melanocytes. Using a zebrafish model for melanoma, our laboratory has recently demonstrated that zebrafish that are expressing ICER in their melanocytes succumbed to malignancies at a much faster rate than the control Green Fluorescent protein (GFP)- expressing fish. …
Black Garlic Extract As An Antiviral For Herpes Simplex Virus-2 In Lung Cells, Jenna Rose Horowitz
Black Garlic Extract As An Antiviral For Herpes Simplex Virus-2 In Lung Cells, Jenna Rose Horowitz
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Allicin, a sulfur compound, is known for providing garlic with its unique fragrance and taste, as well as for its antimicrobial properties. This is one of many antioxidant compounds found in garlic, along with polyphenols and flavonoids. When raw garlic is aged using high temperatures and high humidity levels, it develops a black color and a sweeter taste. Garlic in this form, referred to as black garlic, contains higher levels of antioxidants than fresh garlic. Antioxidants play a vital role in alleviating cellular stress during viral infections. Once a virus particle attaches and enters a host cell, a slew of …
A Bioinformatics Approach For Evaluating Evolutionary Convergence Of Gene Family Size In Hematophagous Insects, Mbemba Ceesay
A Bioinformatics Approach For Evaluating Evolutionary Convergence Of Gene Family Size In Hematophagous Insects, Mbemba Ceesay
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
The act of blood-feeding can be nutritionally rewarding for blood-feeding arthropods. However, blood digestion can release pro-oxidant molecules such as heme and iron at potentially harmful levels. If left uncontrolled, this heme/iron can cause oxidative damage and eventually cell death. This has led to the evolution of various adaptations that protect blood-feeding arthropods against iron- and heme-associated damage. Here I postulate that the signature of this adaptation can be observed in patterns of gene family size. To test this hypothesis, I explore convergent evolutionary expansions and contractions of gene families in distinct lineages of hematophagous insects. Specifically, I compare the …
Optimizing Crispr/Cas9 Transfection Protocol To Generate A Tet-On Inducible Sk-Mel 24 Cell Lines To Better Study Icer, Abdulkader Hallak
Optimizing Crispr/Cas9 Transfection Protocol To Generate A Tet-On Inducible Sk-Mel 24 Cell Lines To Better Study Icer, Abdulkader Hallak
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Inducible cAMP Early Repressor (ICER) is a dominant transcription repressor of the cAMP Responsive Element Modulator (CREM) and cAMP Responsive Element Protein (CREB) family of transcription factors. ICER isoforms are differently expressed in various cell types and are involved in essential functions including hormonal regulation, circadian rhythm, spermatogenesis, and immune response. In the context of cancer, ICER is proposed as a tumor suppressor in leukemia, prostate, pituitary cancers, and melanoma. In melanoma, ICER is targeted for degradation during tumorigenesis and highly upregulated during regression, further highlighting its potency as a tumor suppressor. Inside the nucleus, ICER targets oncogenes and key …
Secondary Analysis Of Chip-Seq Dataset And Genomic Interactions Of Icer, Karem Rivera
Secondary Analysis Of Chip-Seq Dataset And Genomic Interactions Of Icer, Karem Rivera
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
The Inducible cyclic AMP (cAMP) Early Repressor (ICER) is an endogenous transcriptional repressor of the cAMP-mediated signaling gene transcription pathway and belongs to the CRE-binding protein (CREB)/CRE modulator (CREM) gene family. ICER is associated to many functions and biological processes in the immune system, brain, regulation of spermatogenesis, circadian control of transcription, apoptosis and metabolic functions, and of particular interest, has been shown to act like a tumor suppressor. Recent findings from our laboratory suggest that ICER might have a role in DNA repair, but further experiments need to be performed. In this research, we aimed to elucidate the function …
Examination Of Changes In Gene Family Size In Carnivorous Plants Through Genomic Analysis, Moonia Ammari
Examination Of Changes In Gene Family Size In Carnivorous Plants Through Genomic Analysis, Moonia Ammari
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
The traits associated with carnivory in plants have independently evolved within several orders of Angiosperm. Despite this lack of a common origin, carnivorous plants show many remarkably similar adaptations, suggesting that common evolutionary pressures may have shaped these species. Here, we hypothesize that one common trait carnivorous plants share is the number of genes associated with specific biological functions, such as nutrient transport. To test this hypothesis, we first identified genes and gene families in the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana that are associated with previously characterized biological functions that may be important for plant carnivory. We then compared the …
Parasite Variability In The Invasive Crayfish, Faxonius Rusticus, In Northern New Jersey, Nathan Martin Klunk
Parasite Variability In The Invasive Crayfish, Faxonius Rusticus, In Northern New Jersey, Nathan Martin Klunk
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
The Northeast United States has been thoroughly invaded by the well-known invasive crayfish species Faxonius rusticus (rusty crayfish). Similar to the exploration of man to new regions, the spread of invasive species can cause the introduction of new diseases and parasites while conversely the invader has to deal with the already existing diseases and parasites. For crayfish, the most notable of these is a fungal plague, which has a poorly understood distribution in the United States. In this study, I collected rusty crayfish in Northern New Jersey to better understand the locations where they exist in the state. I also …
The Susceptibility For Recreational Boating To Serve As A Vector For Harmful Algal Blooms, John Michael Thraen
The Susceptibility For Recreational Boating To Serve As A Vector For Harmful Algal Blooms, John Michael Thraen
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
To combat the spread of invasive and nuisance aquatic species, recreational boating has many recommendations and regulations in place for boaters to properly treat their boats in between uses in separate locations. While protection procedures are in place for preventing the spread of invasive mussel and plant species, there is no sufficient procedure in regard to the spread of cyanobacterial species. The objective of this study was to investigate whether common drying procedures employed in these treatment practices were capable of additionally preventing the spread of cyanobacterial species so as they may help prevent the spread of algal blooms throughout …
Spatial Distribution And Recruitment Of The Botrylloides Violaceus And Botryllus Schlosseri Tunicates In Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, Kaitlyn Maguire
Spatial Distribution And Recruitment Of The Botrylloides Violaceus And Botryllus Schlosseri Tunicates In Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, Kaitlyn Maguire
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Botrylloides violaceus and Botryllus schlosseri, colonial ascidians, are known invasive species of the North American Atlantic coast. The tunicates take residence and grow on native eelgrass (Zostera marina) blades, potentially negatively affecting eelgrass growth rate by means of smothering which reduces the plants ability to photosynthesize. Zostera marina is an important habitat, food source, and an indicator of environmental health. Invasive tunicates can decrease the amount of light that eelgrass receives which in turn, decreases the rate of growth of eelgrass. In the summer months of 2021, the relationship and abundance between the invasive tunicates B. schlosseri and B. violaceus …
Isolation And Analysis Of Single-Stranded Dna Aptamers For The Detection Of Ranavirus, Stephanie Zapata
Isolation And Analysis Of Single-Stranded Dna Aptamers For The Detection Of Ranavirus, Stephanie Zapata
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
The current molecular diagnostic methods for detection of deadly pathogens within a population can be time consuming and expensive. When surveying a population for the presence of a disease, time is a valuable resource. Therefore, a rapid pathogen test to use in the field will allow for faster detection of disease that can lead to determining a course of action for conservation of a species. Ranavirus is a double-stranded DNA virus that can cause mass mortality events in amphibian, reptile and fish populations. The disease can have the potential to wipe out entire populations or species if not controlled, having …
Assessment Of The Asexual Reproductive Strategies Of The Invasive Clinging Jellyfish Gonionemus Vertens, Valin Jarred Booker
Assessment Of The Asexual Reproductive Strategies Of The Invasive Clinging Jellyfish Gonionemus Vertens, Valin Jarred Booker
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Anthropogenic activities are dispersing organisms at higher rates and this dispersal leads to organisms having a higher chance at becoming invasive. The Clinging Jellyfish, Gonionemus vertens, was originally from the north Pacific Ocean, but was identified in New Jersey’s coastal waters in 2016. G. vertens undergo a complex life history with an asexual polyp stage and the sexual medusa stage. Little is known about their polyp stage, which shows multiple asexual reproductive strategies that can generate high densities of medusa. Asexual reproduction of polyps was observed in 2020 to assess the rate of clonal production. Cultured polyps can have several …
Targeting Prosthetic Joint Infections Using Modified Egcg Derivatives With Antibiotics, Kavneet Chahil
Targeting Prosthetic Joint Infections Using Modified Egcg Derivatives With Antibiotics, Kavneet Chahil
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Prosthetic joint implantations have revolutionized orthopedic medicine by allowing individuals to regain physical function with minimal side effects. However, they are susceptible to post- surgical complications due to bacterial infections. Three significant bacteria that are responsible for the development of joint infections include Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which act by adhering to the prosthesis and form biofilms thus becoming antibiotic-resistant. It has been reported that green tea polyphenols, which are extracted from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, have antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti- inflammatory properties. The purified, and modified epigallocatechin-3-gallate-stearate (EGCGS) and palmitoyl-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (P-EGCG) are more …
Cas9 Grna And Homologous Recombinant Plasmid Integrate Inducible Ha-N-Icer In The Aavs1 Locus Of Sk-Mel-24 Cells, Douglas Job
Cas9 Grna And Homologous Recombinant Plasmid Integrate Inducible Ha-N-Icer In The Aavs1 Locus Of Sk-Mel-24 Cells, Douglas Job
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Melanoma is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer and is prone to metastasis. Once melanoma metastasizes, it is difficult to treat as patients often become immune to MAPK inhibitors and other therapeutic agents. Small molecules, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, have demonstrated success as an adjunct to melanoma treatment. As a small, 18kDa molecule with tumor suppressing properties, research using ICER continues to provide positive anti-tumor effects. ICER regulates cAMP-induced transcription as a powerful, dominant-negative transcriptional repressor. Recent research demonstrated that the fusion tag hemagglutinin (HA), when fused to ICER’s N-terminus, increased ICER’s half-life and apoptotic activity in …
Evaluation Of Kappa Opioid Receptor Specific Compounds And Their Effect On Ptsd-Like Behavioral Activity, Daniel Murnock
Evaluation Of Kappa Opioid Receptor Specific Compounds And Their Effect On Ptsd-Like Behavioral Activity, Daniel Murnock
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex and multifaceted neurological disorder that is characterized by intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviors, alterations in cognition and mood, and alterations in arousal and reactivity. Current studies utilize stress paradigms to mimic behavioral symptoms and neurobiological changes associated with PTSD. The project aims to instead utilize the kappa opioid system and three distinct Kappa Opioid Receptorspecific compounds (Salvinorin A, U50,488, and nor-BNI) to induce these changes. Pharmacokinetic analysis of Salvinorin A and U50,488 revealed a time of peak plasma concentration (Tmax) of 0.25 hours in both groups. 3-Chamber Social Novelty testing revealed a significant …
Effect Of Soil Conditions On Invasive Purple Loosestrife Compared To Native Species, Madeline Ruth Baum
Effect Of Soil Conditions On Invasive Purple Loosestrife Compared To Native Species, Madeline Ruth Baum
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) is an invasive plant that has degraded many wetland habitats since its initial introduction to the United States in the early 19th century. To aid in managing purple loosestrife, it is important to study how purple loosestrife grows under variable environmental conditions compared to common native species, which can help managers understand which habitats are most at-risk of invasion. High or low salinity and pH are often barriers to plant growth, and the stress caused by these environmental conditions can cause plants to deplete their starch reserves. If native species are more negatively affected by stressful …
Green Tea Polyphenols Egcg-S And P-Egcg Containing Formulations Effectively Inhibit Growth And Biofilm Formation Of Eskape Bacteria, Calvin William Taylor
Green Tea Polyphenols Egcg-S And P-Egcg Containing Formulations Effectively Inhibit Growth And Biofilm Formation Of Eskape Bacteria, Calvin William Taylor
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
The field of medical microbiology has prospered for decades, finding treatments and cures for a multitude of bacterial infections. While success has been found in certain areas, challenges have arisen along the way. One of those challenges being the group of bacteria known as ESKAPE. The ESKAPE bacteria (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species) have developed their multidrug resistance through adaptation to excessive drug use or prescription, unnecessary antimicrobial utilization, and substandard pharmaceuticals. They are the major cause of nosocomial infections throughout the world. With the ever-growing concern of antibiotic resistance in treating …
Evaluation Of Ranavirus Major Capsid Protein Gene Sequence Mutations In United States East Coast Frog And Tadpole Populations, Erin Marie Tyll
Evaluation Of Ranavirus Major Capsid Protein Gene Sequence Mutations In United States East Coast Frog And Tadpole Populations, Erin Marie Tyll
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Infectious disease is a leading cause of death in ectothermic taxa including amphibians, reptiles, and bony fish. Frog Virus 3 (FV3) Ranavirus is a prominent pathogen that infects frog and tadpole populations with lethal consequences, especially for pre-metamorphosed individuals. Wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) are particularly susceptible to FV3 infection and mortality events. Conservation of this animal is a critical effort for the maintenance of these ecologically significant animals. Amphibians contribute to the regulation of insect pest levels, energy transfer between aquatic and terrestrial habitats, algae community productivity and function, and vertebrate biomass. Understanding genetic variations of FV3 is crucial to …
Feeding Preference Of The Sea Urchin Arbacia Punctulata For Algal Turf Over Kelp In A Degraded Kelp Forest Ecosystem, Kenneth J. Hamel
Feeding Preference Of The Sea Urchin Arbacia Punctulata For Algal Turf Over Kelp In A Degraded Kelp Forest Ecosystem, Kenneth J. Hamel
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Increasingly severe ocean warming and marine heatwave events are driving declines in habitat-forming kelps worldwide. Direct mortality from extreme temperatures, coupled with destabilization of kelp forest communities, commonly trigger ecological community shifts from dominant kelp forests to an algal turf dominated state. Opportunistic algal turf species are more resilient to warming and lack the fundamental structure of kelp forests, and thus reduce ecosystem services and biodiversity. Once in place, algal turf communities contain ecological feedback mechanisms, diminishing kelp recruitment, and potential recovery. The various feedback mechanisms and ecological thresholds that maintain or drive community shifts between kelp forest and algal …
Turning Tadpoles: Effects Of Salinity And Lateralization On Hyla Versicolor Escape Behaviors, Victor Lopiccolo
Turning Tadpoles: Effects Of Salinity And Lateralization On Hyla Versicolor Escape Behaviors, Victor Lopiccolo
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Road salt, which is used as a roadway deicer in the winter time, is a major contributor to the salinization of freshwater habitats. Amphibians are particularly vulnerable to the salinization of aquatic environments due to the reliance of many species on pond, lake, and stream habitat in their aquatic larval stage. This study examined how Northern Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor) tadpole behavior is affected by salinity in a multiple t-maze. Alternate turning is sequential turning in opposite directions. Alternating turns lead the animal further from the starting point, and are innate behaviors associated with foraging, exploration, and escape. A multiple …
Assessment Of Digital Imaging Flow Cytometry In Its Application Of Harmful Algal Blooms Monitoring, Melissa Mazzaro
Assessment Of Digital Imaging Flow Cytometry In Its Application Of Harmful Algal Blooms Monitoring, Melissa Mazzaro
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
As harmful algal blooms (HABs) are becoming an increasing global threat to the health of people, animals, and aquatic ecosystems, finding ways to efficiently detect and manage blooms is critical. Traditional methods of identifying and enumerating phytoplankton cells involve light microscopy; however, this is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process. Meanwhile, digital imaging flow cytometry is a relatively novel and rapid method of enumerating and identifying particles within phytoplankton samples. Previous studies have documented comparable digital flow cytometry results to microscopy results; however, there are concerns relating to the underestimation of cells and misidentification of particles with their automated classification systems. …