Life Sciences Commons^™

Role Of Melatonin In Hibernation And Isolated Heart Activity, Dennis L. Palmer

Biology ETDs

Melatonin functions in the control of melanophore pigmentation of amphibians but its role in higher vertebrates is ill-defined. In mammals melatonin is produced within the pineal gland, where its formation is light dependent. This study consisted of three experiments: (i) a biological assay of commercial preparations of melatonin; (ii) response of hibernating ground squirrels exposed to cold and melatonin; (iii) response of isolated hearts to melatonin. Commercial preparations of melatonin were compared for their biological effectiveness by measuring the inhibition of compensatory ovarian hypertrophy in laboratory mice. Unilateral ovariectomy results in hypertrophy of the intact ovary of untreated mice. Unilaterally …

Comparative Foraging Behavior Of The Olive Warbler And Its Possible Competitors, Robert J. Secatore

Biology ETDs

The foraging activities of the Olive Warbler (Peucedramus taeniatus) and three other foliage-gleaning species were studied in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona during the summer of 1973. Grace's Warblers (Dendroica graciae), the most specialized of the four species, foraged most similarly to Peucedramus and is probably the latter is strongest potential competitor during the breeding season. The small size of D. graciae appeared to facilitate foraging in pine foliage and may be an important factor in promoting ecological segregation from the Olive Warbler. Audubon's Warblers (D. coronata) and Pygmy Nuthatches (Sitta pygmaea) were more generalized in their feeding activities …

The Α-Glycerophosphate Cycle In Drosophila Melanogaster Iv. Metabolic, Ultrastructural, And Adaptive Consequences Of Αgpdh-1 "Null" Mutations, Stephen J. O'Brien, Yoshio Shimada

Biology Faculty Articles

"Null" mutations previously isolated at the αGpdh-1 locus of Drosophila melanogaster, because of disruption of the energy-producing α-glycerophosphate cycle, severely restrict the flight ability and relative viability of affected individuals. Two "null" alleles, αGpdh-1^BO-1-4, and αGpdh-1^BO-1-5, when made hemizygous with a deficiency of the αGpdh-1 locus,Df(2L)GdhA, were rendered homozygous by recombination with and selective elimination of the Df(2L)GdhA chromosome. After over 25 generations, a homozygous αGpdh-1^BO-1-4stock regained the ability to fly despite the continued absence of …

Toxoplasma Antibodies In Wild And Domiciled Animals From Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, And The Philippines., Alan A. Marchiondo

Biology ETDs

Using the Sabin-Feldman Dye Test, sera from wild and domestic animals in Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Peru, and the Philippines were tested for the prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. The incidence of Toxoplasma in all animals from these areas was: Arizona (19.6%, 11 of 56), Colorado (28.6%, 2 of 7), Montana (41.7%, 73 of 175), New Mexico (31.3%, 178 of 569), Peru (0%, 0 of 3), and the Philip­pines (33.8%, 48 of 142). The overall prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma was 32.7% (312 of 952).

Nine fecal samples from wild felines contained Toxoplasma like oocysts which were experimentally …

Scripture Fundamentals, The Christian Scientist, And The Antithesis, Al Mennega

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.

Reproductive Status Of Alligator Juniper In Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico, Graham A. Mark

Biology ETDs

The primary object of this study was to determine the reproductive status of Juniperus deppeana Steud. In Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico. Due to the apparent scarcity of seedlings and young trees, eventual local extinction seemed likely.

Information about the population—its distributions in space and time, its fecundity and mortality rates—was gathered in the Monument. This, together with reported demographic traits of Juniperus spp., indicates that reproduction has indeed recently declined. However, due to the longevity of its members, the population could withstand at least a century of no reproduction before becoming seriously endangered.

Since reproduction has been generally poor …

Effect Of "Stressors" On Corticosteroid-Binding Globulin Activity In The Rat During Pregnancy, Muhammad Nasir Hussain

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Anatomical Specimens From Preserved Animal Discards, Harry L. Fierstine, Myron A. Amerine, Kathleen L. Bek

Biological Sciences

No abstract provided.

Hunting By Expectation Or Optimal Foraging: A Study Of Patch Use By Chickadees, John Krebs, John Ryan, Eric Charnov

Biology Faculty & Staff Publications

When a predator exploits an environment in which food is patchily distributed, it has to continually make the decision of how long to stay in a patch. In this paper we examine this question using black-capped chickadees foraging in a large aviary for small pieces of mealworm hidden in artificial pine cones. The results of our experiments show the following: (a) when the birds encounter a long sequence of patches (groups of pine cones) each containing the same number of prey, they do not learn to expect a fixed number of prey per patch (Gibb's hypothesis of hunting by expectation); …

Bulletin No. 20: Tidal Marsh Invertebrates Of Connecticut, Nancy C. Olmstead, Paul E. Fell

Bulletins

36 pp. 1974. Descriptions and illustrations of over 40 species of mollusks, crustaceans, arachnids and insects found on our tidal marshes.

The Effects Of Temperature & Photoperiod On Molting Patterns Of Seasonal Populations Of The Crayfish, Orconectes Immunis (Hagen), Michael Molley

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Ninety-day experiments were initiated in January (Expt. 1), June (Expt. 2), and October (Expt. 3) 1972, to characterize molting patterns of Orconectes immunis (Hagen) at three different temperatures (20 C, 24 C, and 28 C) and three different photoperiods (6 L, 15 L, and continuous light). For each experiment 144 animals were collected from the seasonally predominate size class of that period. Light intensity was regulated to 15 foot candles + 10. Experimental conditions were arranged in a 3 x 3 design for statistical analysis using a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement of treatments.

In all cases molting frequency …

Studies On The Structural Polypeptides Of Bacteriophage N1, Jeffry J. Leary

Biology ETDs

The structural proteins of Micrococcus lysodeikticus bacteriophage N1 were studied by SDS-urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Electrophoretic analysis of highly purified virions revealed that N1 phage is composed of six structural polypeptides which were designated VP1 through VP6. Molecular weights of the virion polypeptides were estimated to be 103,000 (VP1), 76,000 (VP2), 66,000 (VP3), 51,000 (VP4), 26,000 (VP5), and 16,750 (VP6) daltons. Quantitative analysis of electropherograms of N1 indicated that VP4, VPS, and VP6 are major components of the virion representing 46%, 29%, and 19% of the weight of the virion protein, respectively. The three minor polypeptides VP1, VP2, and VP3 …

Age At Menarche: Accuracy Of Recall After Thirty-Nine Years, Albert Damon, Carl J. Bajema

Peer Reviewed Publications

Among 143 women whose menarcheal age was documented during a longitudinal growth study, recall 39 years after the even gave the following results: menarche was recalled as 0.2 years after earlier than the actual date (p<0.05), the standard deviation of recalled age was 0.3 years larger (p<0.01), and the coefficient of correlation, r, between actual and recalled age was 0.60 +/- s.e. 0.05.

Comments On "The Evolutionary Theories Of Charles Darwin And Herbert Spencer" By Derek Freeman, Carl J. Bajema

Other Scholarly Publications

In this paper certain crucial differences between the evolutionary theories of Charles Darwin and Herbert Spencer are explored. Particular attention is given to the Lamarckian basis of Spencer's evolutionary doctrine.

A Study Of Rna Bacteriophage 7s Infection Of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Deanne Benson

Dissertations and Theses

A study was conducted to find the effect of magnesium, calcium, manganese and zinc ions on the infection of Psudomonas aeruginosa strain 1C by RNA bacteriophage 7s. When an 18 hour progeny experiment was performed, it was found that magnesium, calcium and manganese had different effects on bacteriophage production and was dependent on the bacterial growth conditions. RNA bacteriophage 7s progeny production was significantly enhanced by the addition of magnesium to cultures of Psudomonas aeruginosa 1C grown in a magnesium deficient medium. Under these environmental conditions there was a slight increase in progeny in the presence of calcium. When Psudomonas …

Enzyme Reactions Using Ureidosuccinate As A Substrate During Pyrimidine Biosynthesis And Degradation In Cl. Oroticum, Penny Amy

Dissertations and Theses

Cells of Clostridium oroticum, an anaerobic bacterium, were grown on orotate as a carbon and energy source. Ureidosuccinase, an inducible enzyme in the pathway for pyrimidine degradation has been shown to convert ureidosuccinate to aspartate, CO₂ and NH₃ as reported by Liebenmm and Kornberg (7). Aspartate and CO₂ were formed in approximately a 1:1 ratio from ureidosuccinase activity.

Ureidosuccinase was found to be a Mn+² requiring enzyme with a pH optimum of approximately pH 6.5. Enzyme activity is labile to O₂, temperature, pH, dilution and high ionic strength. The optimum conditions for storage …

Circadian Rhythm In Dugesia Tigrina And Its Correlation With Regeneration, Mary Michael Brandt

Theses & Dissertations

Plant and animal rhythms have caught the attention of astute observers throughout history, but it was not until the eighteenth century that research in the area really began. Of the many rhythms we casually observe in the creatures around us, the most familiar is the daily rhythm of activity and rest. Ordinarily, the cues of daylight and darkness help to keep plants and animals synchronized with the environment. But neither honeybees, plants, nor man depend entirely upon such cues—all will show their "time sense" even when isolated from the outside world in a deep mine, cavern, or similar situation. In …

Accumulative Coliform Population In A Five-Mile Section Of The Cibolo Creek, Norman Merrill Brown

Theses & Dissertations

A study of the accumulative coliform population in a five-mile section of Cibolo Creek near Schertz, Texas.

The greatest danger associated with water is that it may recently have been contaminated by sewage or by human excrement. Therefore, the protection of public water supplies from intestinal contamination is a necessary obligation of the public health authorities. If there happens to be a break in the protective chain (adequate treatment, disinfection, and protection of water supply), a chance exposure to fecal contamination could trigger an explosive outbreak of disease within a community. Modern technology and more sophisticated bacteriological methods have made …

Discharge Responses Of The Nematocysts Of The Stinging Nettle Chrysaora Quinquecirrha To External Stimuli, Christa Merz Hubbard

Master's Theses

Chrysaora quinquecirrha nematocysts and isolated in suspension were systematically exposed to a wide range of chemical and mechanical stimuli to determine which ones would initiate discharge.

Nematocysts in situ were found to be highly responsive to stimuli and showed well-marked, immediate discharge when treated with acid, base and electrical stimuli. Slight discharge occurred with salt solutions, beef extract, beef extract and contact, human hair and change in temperature.

Discharge increased with the concentration of the reagent or the strength of the mechanical stimuli. A significant increase in discharge occurred in isolated nematocysts treated with HCl, acetic acid and sodium hydroxide. …

The Benthic Communities Of The Eastern Rocky Shore Areas Of Goshen Bay, Utah Lake, Thomas Whitney Toole

Theses and Dissertations

Information about the benthic macroinvertebrate populations along the eastern shore of Goshen Bay, Utah Lake, Utah, can be used, in part, to determine future management of the lake. In the project herein reported, cement artificial substrate samplers were used to sample two types of substrate: rubble and compacted calcareous tufa. Monthly samples were obtained from each type of substrate from March 1972 to May 1973. An amphipod, Hyalela azteca and a chironomid, Dicrotendipes fumidus were the dominant organisms in numbers and tiomass. Amphipod numbers were dependent upon the amount of algal standing crop. Elimination of this area could affect the …

The Production Of Epoxysuccinic Acid By Fungi, John Dibble

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Seven strains of Aspergillus fumigatus and five strains of Paecilomyces varioti known to produce trans-l-epoxysuccinic acid (ESA) in a fermentation medium were compared for total acid production. It was found that A. fumigatus NRRL 2327 accumulated the greatest concentration of total acid determined by titration for soluble calcium.

Using a method of gas -liquid chromatography developed for this study, it was found that P. varioti NRRL 1123 accumulated significant quantities of ESA and succinic acid and a trace of an unidentified acid in a fermentation medium. The maximum accumulation of ESA was not reached by the 9th day of …

The Effects Of Dilute Copper Sulphate Concentrations On Selected Aquatic Invertebrates, Michael D. Campbell

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Ultrastructure Of Carteria Olivieri G.S. West (Chlorophyceae: Chlamydomonadaceae), Sharon Moore

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Carteria olivieri West (CHLOROPHYCEAE:CHLAMYDOMONADACEAE) is a quadriflagellated unicellular green alga similar to representatives of the genus Chlamydomonas. There exists within the genus morphological variation in reference to the chloroplast, pyrenoid(s), and stigma. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ultrastructure of Carteria olivieri.

Carteria olivieri was found to be ultrastructurally similar to other species of the genus which have been investigated. Major differences include the shape of the apical papilla and the diameter and origin of the pyrenoid tubules.

Coastal Vegetational Communities Of The Two Texas Barrier Islands, Boca Chica And Brazos, Baltazar Cisneros

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Two Texas barrier islands, Boca Chica and Brazos, have unique coastal vegetational communities that may be Influenced by several environmental factors. These environmental factors include temperature, precipitation, wind speed, sunshine exposure, day length, and dune height. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the total number of coastal plant species per station, season, and year and to consider environmental factors that may significantly affect the number and pattern of coastal species. Coverage comparison between aerial and land sampling and aerial vegetational zonation was also considered.

Results indicated the presence of 21 angiosperm families and a total of 54 species. …

Some Aspects Of The Life History Of The Southern Redbelly Dace, Chrosomus Erythrogaster Rafinesque, In Ivy Creek, Warren County, Kentucky, William Settles

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Various aspects of the biology of the southern redbelly dace, Chrosomus erythrogaster Rafinesgue, were intensively studied on a population in Ivy Creek, Warren County, Kentucky from 1971 to 1972. Reproduction in the southern redbellv dace occurred from May through June. Older, sexually mature individuals spawned early in the reproductive period while those in their first year of life spawned during late June. The number of eggs shed annually ranged from 140 to 681 with an average of 385. A positive correlation existed between the number of eggs shed and standard length.

Differences between the sexes of the species were marked …

Infection Of Smallmouth Bass And Goldfish By Two Species Of Saprolegnia, Cheryl A. Mcginley

Dissertations and Theses

This study consisted of several experiments designed to compare the ability of two species of fungi, Saprolegnia ferax and S. parasitica to grow on two species of fish, smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui) and goldfish (Carassius auratus), and to determine the criteria necessary for the development of these infections.

The results indicate that water in the fish tanks must be slightly acid (pH 6), warm (22°C), nonmoving, and that the fish must be wounded in order for fungal infection to occur. Cool water (18°C) and moving water, caused by aeration and filtration, are detrimental to fungal colony formation so that no …

Effects Of The Nerve During The Dedifferentiative Phase Of Limb Regeneration In The Mexican Axolotl, Ambystoma Mexicanum, Roberta Gail Wald

Dissertations and Theses

It is known that nerves are particularly critical during the early or dedifferentiative phase of limb regeneration. During this period in the innervated limb, cells just proximal to the amputation surface dedifferentiate, migrate to the limb tip, and undergo mitosis. These processes give rise to a population of undifferentiated mesenchymatous cells capable of redifferentiating into the missing components of the newly forming regenerate. The consequences of denervation stand in stark contrast to the normal events occurring in the innervated limb, because neither a blastema nor a regenerate forms.

Results from this study indicate that during the early portion of the …

Human Sperm Antigens And Antisperm Antibodies., Carol K. Dudley

Biology ETDs

An immune response to spermatozoa may result in the production of autoantibodies to sperm. Most studies of antisperm antibody have depended on sperm agglutination or sperm immobilization which only detect antibodies reacting with cell surface antigen. In the study reported here indirect immunofluorescence was used to examine antisperm antibodies to all components of sperm in vasectomized males. These antibodies were used to study the nature of sperm­specific antigens, located in subcellular regions of the human spermatozoa. The incidence of antisperm antibodies in vasectomized patients rises from 61% before surgery to 90% nine months after surgery. The antibodies present before surgery …

Isolation Of Hypoxanthine-Guanine Phosphoribosyl Transferase Deficient Mutants In A Mammalian Cell Line, Winston M. Sanford

Biology ETDs

The isolation of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase deficient mutants of Swiss mouse fibroblast cells was accomplished by exposure of large numbers of normal cells to the toxic antimetabolic agent 8-Azaguanine. Cell lines resistant to 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 μg/ml of 8-Azaguanine were obtained. Enzyme studies of these cell lines revealed an inverse correlation between the level of resistance to 8-Azaguanine and the activity of the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase enzyme. One exceptional mutant has been isolated with a resistance to 8-Azaguanine and an enzyme activity two-fold higher than the parent cell. These mutants are discussed in terms of genetic and biochemical defects …

Agonistic Behaviour In Gila Woodpeckers., Gene L. Brenowitz

Biology ETDs

Agonistic behaviour of Gila Woodpeckers (Centurus uropygialis), including vocalizations, visual displays and other related behaviours, is described. Aggressive interactions with both con- and hetero-specifics were analyzed by stochastic processes. Results indicate that Gila Woodpeckers are far less aggressive than qualitative descriptions suggest and reasons for this discrepancy are presented.

The ecological correlates of Gila Woodpecker aggression were investigated and it appears that most aggression is related to defense of areas both intraspecifically and interspecifically. The effects of the two types of territoriality on the distribution of the species involved were compared and found to be significantly different. A model is …