Life Sciences Commons^™

Morphological And Molecular Defects In Zebrafish Embryos (Danio Rerio) After Chromated Copper Arsenate Exposure, Kerry Jean Lee

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

This investigation identified the morphological defects caused by different concentrations of chromium, copper, and arsenic (CCA) on the developing zebrafish embryo; in addition to defects caused by the three combined components (complete CCA). A change in the DNA of the developing embryos in response to the three components of CCA and complete CCA was also determined. Early Dania rerio embryos were cultured for five days with various concentrations of CCA components and complete CCA. Morphological defects were assessed with light microscopy and DNA fragmentation was determined by agarose gel electrophoresis. Embryonic exposure of D. rerio to sub lethal concentrations of …

Feeding Behavior And Conditioning In Two Heterotrophic Dinoflagellates, Todd A. Egerton

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Growth and abundance of heterotrophic dinoflagellate predators are generally attributed to the availability of algal prey. Several species of dinoflagellates feed on a wide variety of food types including fish. However the actual feeding preferences of dinoflagellates have been much less studied. In the few studies that have been carried out on dinoflagellate feeding preference, none have looked at possible factors that may affect preference. I conducted three experiments on the toxic dinoflagellate Pfiesteria piscicida and the related unnamed species Cryptoperidiniopsis brodyi which, (1) calculated the feeding preferences between algal Rhodomonas prey and fish blood cells and identified factors that …

Landscape Ecology Of Birds On Mount Leconte, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Andreas P. Damalas

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Landbirds form a significant component of wildlife resources in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The present study explored how forest structure and composition of deciduous-coniferous ecotones influenced diversity, richness, and relative abundance of bird species and how bird species responded to the spruce-fir community.

Using a form of the variable-circular plot method, I conducted audio-visual censuses of diurnal birds on Mount LeConte. I established 212 geo-referenced census points on six trails, which were used as gradient-oriented transects (gradsects). I measured habitat characteristics at the same census points. I used forest community types for each point on gradsects to delineate …