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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

The Effects Of Canopy Structure On Photosynthesis In Sphagnum Mosses, Eric Matthew Ward Jun 2015

The Effects Of Canopy Structure On Photosynthesis In Sphagnum Mosses, Eric Matthew Ward

Honors Theses

In open habitats, Sphagnum grows with a dense architecture to retain water; mosses adapted to survive in shade persist in looser canopies. It is unknown if there is a physiological advantage of such rough canopies in the shade, but they may have enhanced photosynthesis at low light angles as would occur during spring or fall. It was hypothesized that the rough canopies would have enhanced rates of photosynthesis at lower angles. To test this, a photosynthesis system interfaced with a custom chamber was used to generate light response curves. Preliminary results of the study found no difference in photosynthesis with …


Species Delimitation And Phylogenetic Relationships Of The Wild Yams (Dioscorea) Native To Eastern North America, Tori A. Collins May 2015

Species Delimitation And Phylogenetic Relationships Of The Wild Yams (Dioscorea) Native To Eastern North America, Tori A. Collins

Honors Theses

Most taxonomic treatments currently recognize two to three species of native yams in eastern North America: Dioscorea villosa, D. floridana, and sometimes D. quaternata, a segregate of D. villosa. Earlier authors (e.g., J. K. Small) had recognized as many as five species (with D. hirticaulis and D. glauca also as segregates of D. villosa). Key morphological features in distinguishing these putative species are rhizome morphology (long and cord-like vs. thick and contorted), number of first leaves (1–3 vs. 4–7), and habitat (sandy, rocky, swampy). Unfortunately, these critical features are rarely collected and preserved on herbarium …


Expression Analysis Of A Glucose Oxidase Transgene In Tobacco, Jordan Burt Jan 2015

Expression Analysis Of A Glucose Oxidase Transgene In Tobacco, Jordan Burt

Honors Theses

Glucose oxidase (GOX) is an enzyme in plants that catalyzes the oxidation of glucose to hydrogen peroxide and Glucono delta-lactone[5]. We have expressed GOX under the control of an estrogen inducible system, XVE, to analyze the gene's expression under this system compared to a system using the 35s system. The 35s system contains a promoter that constitutively turns on the GOX gene in the Nicotiana tabacum plant which causes the gene to always be turned on. Leaf disc assays were performed with discs from 35s, XVE, and also wild type plants (not containing the GOX gene) in order to extract …


Studying The Effects Of Theraflu On The Growth Of Selenastrum Capricornutum, Hannah Gray Boren Jan 2015

Studying The Effects Of Theraflu On The Growth Of Selenastrum Capricornutum, Hannah Gray Boren

Honors Theses

Algae contribute to self-purification of streams and rivers and are necessary as food for fish and as components of aquatic food webs (1). However, too much or too little algae may create or be indicative of a problem. If nutrients are present in large amounts, algae growth may become excessive, resulting in algal “blooms.” These algal blooms can change the chemistry of the water, making it toxic to other aquatic occupants, including fish, birds, animals, and other plants (1). On the other hand, if nutrients in the water are limiting or are exhausted, algae growth is inhibited, which results in …