Life Sciences Commons^™

The Impact Of Invasive Lionfish On The Feeding Performance Of Endemic Spotted Scorpionfish, Nathaniel Zbasnik

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Invasive species, such as the red lionfish, Pterois volitans, are damaging many ecosystems around the world by out-competing native species. However, little work has been done to determine if P. volitans have a direct influence on the feeding performance of native species with which they compete. This study examines the feeding performance in terms of suction pressure, kinematic timing, and excursion distances of spotted scorpionfish, Scorpaena plumieri. Through multiple trials it was examined how S. plumieri modulate their kinematic behavior in response to P. volitans and a conspecific. The creation of a smaller buccal cavity and a decrease in time …

Roe, Edd (Fa 1027), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

FA Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1027. Student folk studies project titled: “Fishing,” which includes interviews and survey sheets about fishing in the Pennyroyal Region of Kentucky. Sheets may include information about a fish, bait, joke, belief, informant’s name, and motif index number.

Evaluating The Influences Of Karst Hydrogeology On Freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms In Kentucky Lakes, Robert T. Schaefer

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

A problem exists in Nolin River Lake and Rough River Lake in Kentucky, due to the increasing prevalence of cyanobacterial-based harmful algal blooms (CyanoHABs) and the threats they pose to local communities. These lakes were developed as artificial reservoirs from embankment. Further complicating the issue, the lakes are located within a heavily karstified region and there exists no plan or method currently for monitoring or managing CyanoHABs in a karst region with regard to groundwater inputs to the lake systems or their tributaries. A mixture of techniques and analysis methods was used to determine the best way to monitor and …

Melanin As An Oto-Protective Pigment In Two Fish Species: Poecilia Latipinna And Cyprinus Carpio , Bethany N. Coffey

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Melanin is the dark pigment found in most organisms that gives color to the skin, hair, feathers, and eyes of vertebrates. While melanin is known to also be present in the stria vascularis of the mammalian cochlea, its function in the inner ear is still unknown. Some previous studies have indicated that melanin may serve to protect the mammalian ear from hearing loss. Minimal previous research on melanin within the inner ears of fishes has been conducted. In this study, the melanin levels in the inner ears of different color morphs of two fish species (Poecilia latipinna and Cyprinus …

Phenotypic Plasticity Of Oral Jaw Dentition In Archosargus Probatocephalus, Cynthia E. Worcester

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Phenotypic plasticity, the capacity of a single genotype to exhibit variable phenotypes in different environments, is common in many species. A sample of wild caught Archosargus probatocephalus, also known as sheepshead, from Florida was randomly divided into two treatment groups: one group was fed soft prey, Mercenaria sp. muscle tissue, and the other group was fed hard prey, Mercenaria sp. in the shell, for 365 days. It was hypothesized that the sheepshead fed hard prey would have a thicker tooth enamel layer containing more calcium, and therefore be stronger than the tooth enamel layer of those fed soft prey …

Comparison Of Creel Survey Data To Traditional Sampling Techniques In Pit-Lake Fisheries Of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, Derek L. Rupert

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Populations of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, and bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus, were evaluated from five pit-lakes in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, to determine if accurate proportional stock density (PSD) data can be obtained from a mandatory creel survey. It was hypothesized that the proportion of stock-to-quality (300-400mm) and quality (+400mm) largemouth bass from four years (2007-2010) of creel survey data would be statistically similar to those generated through on-site sampling in 2011. Fish were collected via a combination of gill netting, seining, hook-and-line fishing, and boat-mounted electro-fishing. In two of the pit-lakes, the sampling-generated length frequency data was not significantly …

The Reproductive Biology Of The Paddlefish, Polyodon Spathula (Walbaum), In Lake Cumberland, Kentucky, John Hageman

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The reproductive biology of the paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) was studied on specimens collected from Lake Cumberland, Kentucky, from September 1983 to July 1984. A total of 500 specimens was studied. Reproductive activity was observed on 17 April 1984 in the Big South Fork of Lake Cumberland. Seasonal differences were observed in sex ratios with more males than females occurring in the winter and spring. Movements were observed throughout the year, but these were accentuated prior to reproduction in the spring. Lake Cumberland paddlefish became sexually mature by Age Group V in males and VIII in females. In the …

The Development Of Anatomical Features In Larval Fish In Conjunction With The Onset Of Exogenous Feeding, Irene Kokkala

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Observations were made on the appearance and development of anatomical features such as neural receptors (free neuromasts and taste buds), lateral line canals and bone elements of the mandibular and hyoid regions of the skull associated with the larval stages of the spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus) and northern hog sucker (Hypentelium nigricans). The results were related to known feeding habits and habitat selection.

Free neuromast development and appearance of the lateral line canal system in the spotted bass preceded that of the northern hog sucker. This accelerated development of the spotted bass was related to earlier …

A Survey Of Larval Caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) From Riffles Of Three Streams Of The Drake's Creek Drainage, Kentucky, With A Preliminary Investigation Of The Adult Trichoptera Of The Region, Michael Beiser

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

A total of 1665 larval caddisflies, representing four families and eight genera, was collected from seven stations in the Drake's Creek drainage from 1 November, 1982 through 15 October, 1983. The pattern of longitudinal distribution of the larvae, based on feeding relationships, in the West and Middle Forks of the system was consistent with studies by Wiggins and Mackay (1978), Andrews and Minshall (1979), and Ross and Wallace (1982) and the River Continuum Concept (Vannote et al. 1980). The Trammel Fork, a spring fed stream, showed a pattern of distribution contrary to the predictions of the Concept, suggesting that the …

Isolation And Identification Of Yeasts From The Barren River, Richard Vanenk

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The Barren River was sampled twice monthly for one year to obtain data on aquatic yeasts. Sites upstream and downstream of the Bowling Green sewage plant, as well as the sewage effluent, were sampled to ascertain if the effluent had any effect on the yeast population of the river. Sporadic yeast counts were obtained which averaged 40 CFU/ml for the effluent, while the river averaged 15 CFU/ml. A total of 318 yeasts were isolated and identified during the study, including 16 different genera with Cryptococcus being the most common. Cryptococcus laurentii occurred most frequently of the 67 different species identified. …

Some Aspects Of The Ecology Of Larval Fishes In Rough River Lake, Kentucky, Greg Allen Kindschi

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In Rough River Lake, Kentucky, some aspects of the ecology of larval and juvenile fishes were investigated from April – August, 1978. Larval fishes were collected weekly from the upper reaches of the lake from the surface and bottom, during daylight and dark periods.

Twenty-three species and three categories of unknown larval and juvenile fishes, represented by 177,119 individuals, were collected. White bass and logperch larvae were the first to appear on April 15 with surface water temperatures of 18.5 C. Gizzard shad larvae dominated net collection while Lepomis spp. were the second most abundant. Larvae were primarily concentrated …

Seasonal Abundance & Diversity Of Fishes At Three Stations On The Middle Fork Of Drake's Creek, Warren & Allen Counties, Kentucky, David Bell

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

A total of 7,485 fish, representing 49 species, 25 genera, and 11 families, were electroshocked from three stations on the Middle Fork of Drake's Creek during the period January, 1972 through January, 1973. Community structure was influenced by seasonal changes in both numbers of species and numbers of individuals. The number of species per collection was at its highest, at all stations, during the month of September. The total number of species and individuals collected at each station progressively increased toward the upstream areas. Eleven of the forty-nine species collected during the course of the study provided 91.8% of the …

The Life History Of The Teardrop Darter, Etheostoma Barbouri Kuehne And Small, In Kentucky, Rory Flynn

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The life history of the teardrop darter, Etheoctoma (Catonotus) barbouri Kuehne and Small, was intensively studied from September, 1972, through August 1973. A total of 299 teardrop darters was seined from two isolated populations in Alexander and Little Muddy Creeks, Kentucky. These darters are known only to occur in second, third or fourth order tributaries of the Green River in Kentucky and Tennessee, and normally seek protection afforded by rocky or vegetated edges of such streams.

Gonosomatic ratios indicated that teardrop darters spawned from late March through late May in waters 12.5 - 15.5 C. Young females developed primary ova …

The Algal Flora (Excluding Class Bacillariophyceae) Of Foster's Pond, Allen County, Kentucky, Linda Garrett

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

A systematic survey of the algal flora (excluding Class Bacillariophyceae) of Foster's Pond, Allen County, Kentucky, was conducted from January 29, 1970, to March 25, 1971. Physical and chemical data were taken in order to characterize the quality of the water and examine its relationships to floral composition and periodicity insofar as the level of discrimination employed permitted.

A total of 119 taxa representing five divisions were identified. Twenty-five of these were previously unreported for the State of Kentucky.

Members of the Division Chlorophyta, which composed 66.4% of all the identified taxa, dominated the flora throughout the year. Desmid and …

Phytoplankton Periodicity In Shanty Hollow Lake, Warren County, Kentucky, David Hill

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

A study of the phytoplankton periodicity and its correlation with chemicophysical parameters, diel variation of the plankton, and the cyclomorphotic variation of Ceratium hirundinella was made in Shanty Hollow Lake, Warren County, Kentucky, from October, 1969, to August, 1970.

Phytoplankton samples were collected at zero and six feet with a Kemmerer sampler (31 October through 8 December) and with a ten -liter Birge-Juday plankton trap (23 December through 9 August). Water samples for the chemicophysical determinations were collected with a Kemmerer sampler. The phytoplankton samples were preserved with 5% formalin until they were enumerated. The chemicophysical determinations (pH, conductivity, dissolved …

Effects Of Photoperiod On The Occurrence Of Symbiotic Rotifers, Nematodes And Branchiobdellids Of Two Orconectid Species Of Crayfishes, Edward Van Metre

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Representative specimens of O. immunis and O. pellucidus were brought to the laboratory in order to investigate the influence of light on the occurrence of the symbionts encountered during the preliminary field study. After one week of acclimating the crayfishes they were distributed among environments control chambers that permitted exposure of the hosts and symbionts to 1) continuous light (C.L.), 2) a daily cycle of 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness (12L-12D) and 3) continuous darkness (C.D.).

The Effects Of Vitamins "A" & "D" Deficient Diets On Crayfish, Joseph Hale

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The literature on vitamins shows that the greater number of the studies made of vitamin "A" and "D" deficient diets have been confined to their efforts on the vertebrates. Only a few controlled experiments have been conducted to determine the effects of vitamin "A" and "D" deficient diets on the invertebrates.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of vitamin "A" and "D" deficient diets on crayfish.

Bacteria & Nitrate Nitrogen Content Of The Water Of Barren River, Gilbert Westerfield

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

A quantitative study of bacteria and nitrogenous compounds of Barren River in Warren County, Kentucky, was undertaken to determine the relation between the number of bacteria and the amount of nitrate nitrogen found.

The Bottom Fauna Of Drakes Creek: A Quantitative & Qualitative Study, Theodore Milam

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

An ecological study of the invertebrate animal forms exclusive of microscopic forms found in the waters of Drakes Creek in Warren County, Kentucky, was undertaken for the purpose of determining both the nature and amount of invertebrate animal life found in these waters. The Kentucky Fish and Game Commission has made several plantings of game fish in the waters studied. However, the fishermen report no appreciable increase of the fish life in these waters. In view of the failure of the fish to propagate properly in these waters, and because the other physical factors appeared favorable for the propagation of …