Life Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of Short-Term Pesticides Exposure On Swimming Behavior, Tissue Morphology, Oxidative-Nitrative Stress, Antioxidant Expression, And Cellular Apoptosis In Kidneys Of Goldfish, Esmirna Cantú

Theses and Dissertations

The prevalence of pesticides in the aquatic environment continues to increase due to anthropogenic activities and poses a threat to aquatic organisms. The aim of this study was to determine the short-term exposure (one-week) of pesticide mixtures (metolachlor, linuron, isoproturon, tebucanazole, alconifen, atrazine, pendimethalin; azinphos-methyl) on swimming behaviors, kidney morphology, and expression of nitrotyrosine protein (NTP), dinitrophenyl protein (DNP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), renin, and cellular apoptosis in goldfish (Carassius auratus). Results indicated that both low- and high-dose pesticide mixtures decreased the distance swimming behavior. Histological analysis showed pesticide exposure alters kidney morphology. DNP, NTP, and renin expressions, and …

Effects Of Tributyltin Exposure On 8-Ohdg And Dsdna Expressions, Oxidative And Nitrative Stress In The American Oyster, Crassostrea Virginica, Mohan Kumar Dash

Theses and Dissertations

Environmental pollution increases due to anthropogenic activities. Different types of pollutants and/or chemicals impair growth, reproduction and development in aquatic organisms. Tributyltin (TBT, an organotin compound) is a tremendously toxic substance which widely uses as antifouling paints used in boats, hulls, and ships. The toxic effect of TBT is well documented in teleost species. The American oyster (Crassostrea virginica) is an ideal shellfish species to study on TBT exposure DNA lesion and oxidative/nitrative stress. In this study, the effects of TBT on 8’-hyrodxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG, a molecular marker), dsDNA, dinitrophenyl protein …

An Assessment On Microplastic Pollution In The Resacas Of The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Wesley D. Franklin

Theses and Dissertations

Microplastic pollution is a serious issue that impacts most aquatic environments. Microplastics have the potential to cause numerous detriments to the fitness and reproductive capability of many organisms. The resacas of the Lower Rio Grande are an understudied area that could be sinks for large congregations of microplastics. We analyze microplastic pollution in two species of fish as well as the sediment and water of eleven different pools from four resaca systems. We find that microplastics are present in every pool sampled.

Altogether 218 microplastic pieces are found from the water, sediment and fish samples. We find that microplastics are …

Interactive Effects Of Heat Stress And Pesticides Co-Exposure On Swimming Behavior, Oxidative Stress, Antioxidant Expression, And Redox Status In Common Goldfish (Carassius Auratus), Brittney Danielle Lacy

Theses and Dissertations

Aquatic ecosystems are inundated by environmental pesticides. This study, observed the dose-dependent effects of pesticides cocktail (metalachlor, linuron, isoproturon, tebucanazole, aclonifen, atrazine, pendimethalin, and azinphos-methyl) and elevated temperature (32 °C for 4-week exposure) on morphology of gills and kidneys, and expression of nitrotyrosine protein (NTP), dinitrophenyl protein (DNP), catalase (CAT), superoxidase dismutase (SOD), Na+/K+-ATPase, renin, and apoptosis in tissues of goldfish. Additionally, the effects on the free-swimming behavior were also observed. Histological analysis showed wide-spread damage in tissues at higher temperature and pesticides co-exposure. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated alterations in NTP, DNP, CAT and SOD expressions in tissues at higher temperature …

Analysis Of The Facilitative Interaction Between Batis Maritima And Avicennia Germinans As A Mangrove Restoration Strategy, Javier R. Navarro

Theses and Dissertations

The multiple experiments conducted in an Avicennia germinans forest in Laguna Vista, TX was focused on determining if facilitation theory could explain the behavior observed between the herbaceous halophyte Batis maritima and A. germinans. I hypnotized that a positive interaction exists but through which mechanisms of facilitation I did not know. The overarching theme of the study is the presence or absence of B. maritima. Facilitation theory tells us that positive interactions are most often found under stressful conditions such as those on the coastal tidal flat of the Laguna Madre. Locally B. maritima has been found to …

Assessing The Rehabilitation Status Of The Reflooded Bahia Grande, Texas Based On Trace Gas Fluxes, Benthic Macroinvertebrates, And Fish Community Data Along Salinity And Seagrass Gradients, Catherine M. Eckert

Theses and Dissertations

The Bahia Grande is a 6,500-acre tidal basin located at the southernmost tip of Texas. Tidal flow into this coastal estuary was cut off by construction projects in the 1930s, causing the basin to dry up for ~70 years. In 2005, a pilot channel was built to reconnect the estuary to tidal waters, allowing the basin to refill. However, the pilot channel, in addition to other barriers within the basin, do not allow for adequate tidal exchange, leading to intermittent, extreme hypersalinity. Presumably because of the extreme hypersalinity in parts of the Bahia Grande, seagrass beds, which play vital roles …

Histological Evidence Of Annual And Lunar Reproductive Rhythms Of Atlantic Sea Urchin, Arbacia Punctulata In The Gulf Of Mexico: Changes In Nutritive Phagocytes In Relation To Gametogenesis, Eleazar Hernandez Ii

Theses and Dissertations

Environmental phenomena such as temperature, photoperiod, tidal cycle, and lunar rhythm act as external cues that stimulate the reproductive activity of marine organisms. In this study, I report the annual and lunar reproductive cycles, and changes in nutritive phagocytes (NPs) in relation to gonadal maturation of Atlantic sea urchin (Arbacia punctulata, a primeval species). Monthly and weekly changes in gonadal development/maturation were observed histologically. In male, the testicular lobules were densely packed with sperm from June to August. In female, on the other hand, mature eggs first appeared in some ovaries in May, numerically increased from June to …

Developing Multispectral Imaging Techniques To Determine Canopy Coverage And Carbon Storage Of Seagrasses In The Gulf Of Mexico, Ivy Michelle Hinson

Theses and Dissertations

Although seagrass beds provide global ecosystem services, coverage is in rapid decline, with the capacity of seagrasses to sequester carbon of special concern. Current seagrass monitoring methods are labor intensive and may not offer a complete picture of coverage. Remote sensing offers the ability to oversee landscapes but water in coastal environments presents challenges, as the commonly used near-infrared wavelength dissipates in water.

This project aimed to provide reliable methodology to assess seagrass coverage using multispectral imagery taken from an unmanned aerial vehicle and to provide evidence for the link between seagrass coverage and stored belowground carbon for common seagrasses …

Evaluating Responses Of Benthic Macrofauna To Artificial Reef Presence In The Gulf Of Mexico, Douglas Faircloth

Theses and Dissertations

Artificial reef research has long concerned itself with the interactions of fishes and has tended to favor commercially valuable species. Because of this, a larger yet less known group that heavily benefits fishes have been overlooked; benthic macrofauna. Benthic macrofauna are marine invertebrates that live below the sediment-water interface and play many roles in the ecosystem. Macrofauna are important prey items, ecosystem engineers, and bioindicators, as well as being ubiquitous in the marine environment. Since macrofauna have been largely ignored in this field, not much is known regarding their interaction with the placement of artificial reefs. To try and fill …

Effects Of Elevated Temperature On Gonadal Functions, Cellular Apoptosis, And Oxidative Stress In Atlantic Sea Urchin (Arbacia Punctulata), Jackson B. Johnstone

Theses and Dissertations

Increasing surface sea water temperatures effect on growth, reproduction and development in marine organisms. Sea urchins are excellent indicator species and ideal model organisms to focus on. In this study, I tested the effect of higher temperatures on reproductive functions, heat shock protein (HSP, a chaperone protein produced by cells in response to heat stress) and nitrotyrosine protein (NTP, an indicator of reactive nitrogen species, RNS) expressions, cellular apoptosis, and ceolomic fluid (CF, a body fluid which regulates important physiological processes) conditions in Atlantic sea urchin at three different temperatures. Ten sea urchins were placed in each of six aquariums …

A Snapshot Of The Age, Growth, And Reproductive Status Of Gray Triggerfish (Balistes Capriscus, Gmelin 1789) On Three Artificial Reefs In The Northwest Gulf Of Mexico, Adam M. Lee

Theses and Dissertations

Age, growth, and reproductive status of gray triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) were identified from 2015-2016 on artificial reefs in the northwest Gulf of Mexico. Individuals ranged from 232-432 mm fork length with and a mean fork length of 319 mm. Individuals from age 0.2 to 5.2 yrs were observed with a weight to length relationship of Wg = 1.1 x -104 x FL2.7 (r2 = 0.94, n = 112), where FL = fork length (mm) and Wg = weight (g). A von Bertalanffy growth equation of Lt = 326(1 - e - 0.9 (t + 1.71)) was calculated irrespective …

Measuring Connective Capacity Throughout The Gulf Of Mexico Fishery Management Network, Anthony Rocha Lima

Theses and Dissertations

The Gulf of Mexico provides substantial resources along its 1,680-mile coastline, spanning 5 U.S. states and providing millions of pounds of seafood and hundreds of millions in revenue annually. Continued success of the fishery relies on the ability of a large, complex, multiagency network to find the best solutions to balance the needs of humans, as well as ensure long-term sustainability. Organizations with varying objectives require effective communication when addressing intricate ecosystem-based management topics such as endangered species and regional economies.

To better understand the connectivity within the Gulf fishery management network, an IRB reviewed survey was dispersed to the …

A Phylogeographic Analysis Of Black Coral (Antipatharia) On Artificial And Natural Reefs In The Northwestern Gulf Of Mexico, Heather Otte

Theses and Dissertations

NOAA's Islands in the Stream concept (IitS) of designating networks of marine protected areas as refugia in the Gulf of Mexico depends on genetic connectivity. Isolated habitats like those proposed by the IitS occur naturally off the Texas coast where hard-bottom structures protrude from mudflats, offering a small-scale study of the IitS feasibility. Two sequences, mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA and nuclear internal transcribed spacer, were used to build haplotype networks of Antipatharians (Anthozoa: Hexacorallia), corals with planktonic larvae that can act as a proxy for connectivity of other organisms. Two species showed no significant genetic differentiation or pattern of genetic …

Utilizing Accelerometer Telemetry Tags To Compare Red Snapper (Lutjanus Campechanus) Behavior On Artificial And Natural Reefs, Ethan T. Getz

Theses and Dissertations

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Artificial Reef Program has deployed over 2,800 hectares of reefing area composed of petroleum platforms, steel vessels, and concrete. Artificial reefs have been shown to support many important reef fishes such as red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus), however, few studies have compared fish behavior on artificial reefs and natural habitats. We examined activity levels, behavioral patterns and habitat preferences of red snapper over natural reefs, oil platforms and submerged ships. Telemetry tags (Sonotronics model MTT) with tri-axial acceleration range, average depth, and average temperature were programmed to optimize data collection and tag life. …