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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

The Effects Of Diatom-Specific Polyunsaturated Aldehydes On Larval Zebrafish (Danio Rerio), Rachel Raymer Jan 2023

The Effects Of Diatom-Specific Polyunsaturated Aldehydes On Larval Zebrafish (Danio Rerio), Rachel Raymer

WWU Graduate School Collection

Diatoms are ubiquitous in marine planktonic and benthic environments and are common in diets for many lower-trophic organisms. Certain species of diatoms produce polyunsaturated aldehydes (PUAs) that can exist in particulate and dissolved forms. Diatom PUAs are known for negatively affecting the fecundity of their primary consumers, including invertebrate grazers like copepods and echinoderms. However, little is known about the effects of diatom PUAs on vertebrates that may be exposed to dissolved or ingested PUAs due to overlapping distribution with diatom populations. The purpose of this study was to test whether dissolved diatom PUAs affect the early life stages of …


The Effect Of Polyunsaturated Aldehydes On Zebrafish Larvae Heart Rate And Mortality, Soraya Jessa Apr 2022

The Effect Of Polyunsaturated Aldehydes On Zebrafish Larvae Heart Rate And Mortality, Soraya Jessa

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

This research provides insight on the effects that polyunsaturated aldehydes (PUAs) have on model species zebrafish heart rate and mortality. Zebrafish were used as an analog for forage fish, which are of both ecological and economic importance. Forage fish often interact with diatoms, some species of which have been known to emit allelopathic chemicals, PUAs. These chemicals can have a deleterious effect on invertebrates that cohabitate with or consume diatoms, but their effects on vertebrates was unknown. In the lab, zebrafish eggs were exposed to three different concentrations of PUAs plus two controls and observed to determine any effects on …


Investigating The Effects Of Climate Co-Stressors On Surf Smelt Energy Demands, Megan Russell Jan 2020

Investigating The Effects Of Climate Co-Stressors On Surf Smelt Energy Demands, Megan Russell

WWU Graduate School Collection

Surf smelt (Hypomesus pretiosus) are ecologically and economically important to the Pacific Northwest. They play a critical role in the food web and support numerous commercially important species and are an economically important baitfish. Surf smelt interact closely with the nearshore environment, utilizing approximately 10% of Puget Sound coastlines for spawning throughout the year. Surf smelt spawn at high tide and adhere fertilized eggs to beach sediment, causing their embryos to be exposed to air and seawater throughout embryonic development. Because of this unique life history, surf smelt may be susceptible to anthropogenic stressors including coastal development and …


Global Conservation Status And Threat Patterns Of The World’S Most Prominent Forage Fishes (Teleostei, Clupeiformes), Tiffany L. Birge Oct 2019

Global Conservation Status And Threat Patterns Of The World’S Most Prominent Forage Fishes (Teleostei, Clupeiformes), Tiffany L. Birge

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Conserving biodiversity is one of the greatest ethical responsibilities and challenges humans face. Understanding the conservation status of taxonomic groups provides a systematic way to prioritize efforts to combat biodiversity loss. The 405 species within the order Clupeiformes are the herrings, shads, sardines, anchovies, menhadens and relatives that include many of the most important marine forage fishes. These small, schooling fishes are economically, ecologically and culturally significant globally. Despite their contribution to global fisheries and our increasing reliance on these fishes for food and industrial commodities, they are generally poorly known with limited information regarding basic biology and population trends. …