Life Sciences Commons^™

Excess Chloride And Impervious Surfaces Reduce Over-Winter Quality Of Stream Algal Assemblages, Cassandra Mayle, Jessica Bieler, Sarah Whorley

Natural Sciences - Faculty Articles

Winter road salt use leads to the salinization of freshwater habitats. Freshwater organisms experience negative effects due to increased chloride ions, including algae in periphyton biofilms. This study examines the effects of road salt on algal assemblage composition, lipid production, and enzyme activity. Five streams throughout Erie County, New York, US were sampled monthly from October 2018 to March 2019. Chloride concentrations in all streams averaged 203.6 Cl - mg/L throughout the winter and had a highly significant relationship (r s ¼ 0.82) with developed land use. Algal biodiversity scores decreased with elevated salinity (r s ¼ 0.11). Algae exhibited …

Perceived Exertion During Moderate And Vigorous Physical Activity While Mask Wearing: A Quantitative And Qualitative Pilot Study, Jennifer L. Scheid, Corinne Edwards, Michael Seils, Sarah L. West

Articles & Book Chapters

There is limited research examining the perception of exertion during exercise while wearing a facemask. The current study examined if mask usage during moderate or vigorous physical activity (MVPA) changed the self-reported perception of exertion. Seventy-two adults (18 years and older) who were physically active before the COVID-19 pandemic completed a questionnaire that assessed exercise habits and perceptions of mask wearing during MVPA. Participants reported their ratings of perceived exertion (RPE, on a scale of 1–10) while exercising. Wearing a mask resulted in higher RPE vs. no mask during both vigorous (8.4 ± 0.2 vs. 7.4 ± 0.1; p < 0.001) and moderate PA (6.6 ± 0.2 vs. 5.6 ± 0.2; p < 0.001). Qualitative analysis revealed mostly negative perceptions of exercising while wearing a mask, including respiratory issues, detriments to cardiovascular endurance, and general discomfort. A total of 40% of participants reported that they stopped exercising in an indoor/public setting because of a mask mandate in their region. Participants reported participating in less vigorous PA (4.7 ± 0.4 vs. 4.0 ± 0.4 h/week; p = 0.046), but not less moderate PA (3.3 ± 0.3 vs. 3.0 ± 0.3 h/week; p = 0.443) pre vs. during the pandemic. Our study suggests that facemask usage during MVPA causes an increase in RPE and may be one reason for a decrease in vigorous PA during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Newly Recognized Theropod Assemblage From The Lewisville Formation (Woodbine Group; Cenomanian) And Its Implications For Understanding Late Cretaceous Appalachian Terrestrial Ecosystems, Christopher R. Noto, Domenic C. D'Amore, Stephanie K. Drumheller, Thomas L. Adams

Articles & Book Chapters

While the terrestrial fossil record of the mid-Cretaceous interval (Aptian to Cenomanian) in North America has been poorly studied, the recent focus on fossil localities from the western United States has offered a more detailed picture of vertebrate diversity, ecosystem dynamics and faunal turnover that took place on the western landmass of Laramidia. This is in stark contrast to the terrestrial record from the eastern landmass of Appalachia, where vertebrate fossils are rare and consist mostly of isolated and fragmentary remains. However, a detailed understanding of these fossil communities during this interval is necessary for comparison of the faunal patterns …

The Effects Of Roundup™ On Benthic Microbial Assemblages, Shannon Weatherley, Hannah Laird, Caitlyn Gatley-Montross, Sarah Whorley

Natural Sciences - Faculty Articles

Given the wide usage of Roundup, a common herbicide, the impacts of its presence in ecological communities are of great interest. Many studies have investigated the effects of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, on different factions of an ecosystem including on animals, plants, microorganisms, and nutrients. The current study expanded upon these works using Roundup instead of glyphosate to provide a realistic application in which to observe the development of microbial assemblages and nutrient composition in two different habitats. Winogradsky columns were prepared using benthic material from a ditch and a pond. Varying concentrations of Roundup were introduced to …

Commentary: Physiological And Psychological Impact Of Face Mask Usage During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jennifer Scheid, Shannon Lupien, Gregory Scott Ford, Sarah West

Articles & Book Chapters

In this commentary, we discuss the physiological effects of wearing masks for prolonged periods of time, including special considerations, such as mask wearing among those who engage in exercise training, and concerns for individuals with pre-existing chronic diseases. In healthy populations, wearing a mask does not appear to cause any harmful physiological alterations, and the potentially life-saving benefits of wearing face masks seem to outweigh the documented discomforts (e.g. headaches). However, there continues to be controversy over mask wearing in the United States, even though wearing a mask appears to have only minor physiological drawbacks. While there are minimal physiological …

Expression Of Multiple Engrailed Family Genes In Eyespots Of Bicyclus Anynana Butterflies Does Not Implicate The Duplication Events In The Evolution Of This Morphological Novelty, Tirtha Das Banerjee, Diane Ramos, Antónia Monteiro

Articles & Book Chapters

Gene duplication events often create genetic redundancy that can either lead to the appearance of pseudogenes or, instead, create opportunities for the evolution of novel proteins that can take on new functions. One of the genes which has been widely studied with respect to gene duplication is engrailed (en). En-family proteins are expressed in a morphological novelty, eyespots (in the center and in the outer gold ring), in the African squinting bush brown butterfly Bicyclus anynana, as well as in a more conserved pattern, the posterior compartment of a wing. In the present study, we used whole-genome sequencing and transcriptome …

Drive For Thinness Predicts Musculoskeletal Injuries In Division Ii Ncaa Female Athletes, Jennifer Scheid, Morgan Stefanik

Articles & Book Chapters

The female athlete triad is the interrelation of low energy availability, menstrual dysfunction, and low bone mineral density. Previously, the components of the female athlete triad have been linked to bone stress injuries. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between drive for thinness, a proxy indicator of low energy availability, and musculoskeletal injuries. Fifty-seven female athletes, from an NCAA Division II college, were followed throughout their respective sport season for musculoskeletal injuries. Women were grouped based on a median split of the drive for thinness score (high drive for thinness (DT) vs. low DT). At the …

Urbanisation Alters Fatty Acids In Stream Food Webs, Sarah Whorley, Nathan Smucker, Anne Kuhn, John Wehr

Articles & Book Chapters

Fatty acids are essential to macroinvertebrate growth and reproduction and can indicate food web structure and nutritional quality of basal resources. However, broad‐scale examinations of how catchment land cover and associated stressors affect the proportions of fatty acids (FAs) in stream food webs are few.

Here, we: (1) examine relationships among proportions of FAs among benthic periphyton and macroinvertebrate collector/gatherers, shredders, and predators; and (2) test if relationships between periphytic and macroinvertebrate FAs were altered due to the intensity of urban development in catchments.

Proportions of the ≥20‐C eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA 20:5ω3), arachidonic acid (ARA 20:4ω6), and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6ω3) …

Quantitative Heterodonty In Crocodylia: Assessing Size And Shape Across Modern And Extinct Taxa, Domenic D'Amore, Megan Harmon, Stephanie Drumheller, Jason Testin

Articles & Book Chapters

Heterodonty in Crocodylia and closely related taxa has not been defined quantitatively, as the teeth rarely have been measured. This has resulted in a range of qualitative descriptors, with little consensus on the condition of dental morphology in the clade. The purpose of this study is to present a method for the quantification of both size- and shape-heterodonty in members of Crocodylia. Data were collected from dry skeletal and fossil specimens of 34 crown crocodylians and one crocodyliform, resulting in 21 species total. Digital photographs were taken of each tooth and the skull, and the margins of both were converted …

Claw Morphometrics In Monitor Lizards: Variable Substrate And Habitat Use Correlate To Shape Diversity Within A Predator Guild, Domenic D'Amore, Simon Clulow, J. Sean Doody, David Rhind, Colin R. Mchenry

Articles & Book Chapters

Numerous studies investigate morphology in the context of habitat, and lizards have received particular attention. Substrate usage is often reflected in the morphology of characters associated with locomotion, and, as a result, claws have become well‐studied ecomorphological traits linking the two. The Kimberley predator guild of Western Australia consists of 10 sympatric varanid species. The purpose of this study was to quantify claw size and shape in the guild using geometric morphometrics, and determine whether these features correlated with substrate use and habitat. Each species was assigned a Habitat/substrate group based on the substrate their claws interact with in their …

A Systems Biology Approach For Studying Heterotopic Ossification: Proteomic Analysis Of Clinical Serum And Tissue Samples, Erin Crowgey, Jennifer Wyffels, Patrick Osborn, Thomas Wood, Laura Edsberg

Articles & Book Chapters

Heterotopic ossification (HO) refers to the abnormal formation of bone in soft tissue. Although some of the underlying processes of HO have been described, there are currently no clinical tests using validated biomarkers for predicting HO formation. As such, the diagnosis is made radiographically after HO has formed. To identify potential and novel biomarkers for HO, we used isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) and high-throughput antibody arrays to produce a semi-quantitative proteomics survey of serum and tissue from subjects with (HO+) and without (HO−) heterotopic ossification. The resulting data were then analyzed using a systems biology approach. …

Increasing Dietary Breadth Through Allometry: Bite Forces In Sympatric Australian Skinks, Domenic D'Amore, David Meadows, Simon Clulow, Jeremiah Sean Doody, David Rhind, Colin Mchenry

Articles & Book Chapters

Ecomechanical measures of performance such as bite force may function as an indirect measure of niche. This study proposes that allometric changes in performance may contribute to niche separation, especially in a group where the specific mechanism(s) remains unclear. We surveyed the bite force and morphology of 5 wild caught, sympatric skink species in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Skinks were collected from trapline fences, weighed, photographed, and maximum bite force was measured with a piezoresistive force sensor. Morphological metrics were derived from photographs of the dorsum. Normalized morphological traits indicate interspecific variability in form, particularly in forelimb length, …

The Runsmart Training Program: Effect On Oxygen Consumption And Lower Extremity Biomechanics During Running, Jennifer Bogulski, Steven Gonser, Doug Bush, Raechel Bugner, Lindsay Clark, Lisa Farrell, Kristen Swanson, Michael Ross

Articles & Book Chapters

As recreational running continues to gain popularity, more individuals are seeking ways to improve running performance. RunSmart is a running intervention program designed to enhance a runner’s form. In addition to correcting flaws in a runner’s form, RunSmart offers the opportunity for runners to continue a regular regimen while slowly integrating changes in form. The purpose of this case series was twofold: to determine if the RunSmart program coincides with improvements in oxygen consumption (VO₂), a variable often associated with better running performance times, and to evaluate the RunSmart program in regard to enhancing gait biomechanics. Five recreational …

A Survey Of Proteomic Biomarkers For Heterotopic Ossification In Blood Serum, Laura E. Edsberg, Erin Crowgey, Partrick Osborn, Jennifer Wyffels

Articles & Book Chapters

Background: Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a significant problem for wounded warriors surviving high-energy blast injuries; however, currently, there is no biomarker panel capable of globally characterizing, diagnosing, and monitoring HO progression. The aim of this study was to identify biomarkers for HO using proteomic techniques and blood serum.

Methods: Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) was used to generate a semi-quantitative global proteomics survey of serum from patients with and without heterotopic ossification. Leveraging the iTRAQ data, a targeted selection reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (SRM-MS) assay was developed for 10 protein candidates: alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, alpha-2 type I …

Flood Events Can Reduce Key Fatty Acid Content Of Early-Stage Benthic Algal Assemblages In An Urban Stream, Sarah Whorley, John Wehr

Articles & Book Chapters

Effects of urbanization on stream chemistry and biota have been widely examined. However, few studies quantify the effect of urban stream characteristics on the biochemical properties of basal food resources, such as benthic algae, which can affect aquatic consumers and food webs. A common feature of urban streams is the high frequency of short floods, which may disrupt aquatic communities and their biotic controls. These disturbances can create algal assemblages low in biomass and which remain in early successional stages. This study examined the effects of frequent flood events and macroinvertebrate grazing on biomass, elemental stoichiometry, and essential fatty acid …

The Dry Season Shuffle: Gorges Provide Refugia For Animal Communities In Tropical Savannah Ecosystems, J. Sean Doody, Simon Clulow, Geoff Kay, Domenic D'Amore, David Rhind, Steve Wilson, Ryan Ellis, Christina Castellano, Colin Mchenry, Michelle Quayle, Kim Hands, Graeme Sawyer, Michael Bass

Articles & Book Chapters

In the wet-dry tropics, animal species face the major challenges of acquiring food, water or shelter during an extended dry season. Although large and conspicuous animals such as ungulates and waterfowl migrate to wetter areas during this time, little is known of how smaller and more cryptic animal species with less mobility meet these challenges. We fenced off the entire entrance of a gorge in the Australian tropical savanna, offering the unique opportunity to determine the composition and seasonal movement patterns of the small vertebrate community. The 1.7 km-long fence was converted to a trapline that was deployed for 18-21 …

Varanus Panoptes (Yellow-Spotted Monitor) Toxic Prey Avoidance, J. Sean Doody, Hugh James, Christopher Walmsley, David Rhind, Matt Edgar, Maik Fidel, Domenic D'Amore, Simon Clulow, Colin Mchenry

Articles & Book Chapters

No abstract provided.

Active Fluorometry Improves Nutrient-Diffusing Substrata Bioassay, Sarah Whorley, Steven Francoeur

Articles & Book Chapters

Benthic algal nutrient bioassays traditionally have been done by measuring periphytic algal biomass that has grown on fertilized or unfertilized patches of habitat produced by nutrient-diffusing substrata (NDS). This method requires destruction of the accumulated periphyton communities and, thus, does not allow for convenient monitoring through time. Variable fluorescence methods of estimating algal biomass and photosynthetic activity have been used in aquatic environments, but generally not over different nutrient treatments and not for a substantial duration. We evaluated the use of a pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometer for measuring algal biomass and photosynthetic activity in conjunction with NDS over several …

Strophurus Ciliaris (Northern Spiny-Tailed Gecko) Communal Nesting, J. Sean Doody, Huge James, Derek Dunlop, Domenic D'Amore, Matt Edgar, Maik Fidel, David Meadows, Christopher Walmsley, Simon Clulow, Colin Mchenry

Articles & Book Chapters

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Biting And Pulling On The Forces Generated During Feeding In The Komodo Dragon (Varanus Komodoensis), Domenic D'Amore, Karen Moreno, Colin Mchenry, Stephen Wroe

Articles & Book Chapters

In addition to biting, it has been speculated that the forces resulting from pulling on food items may also contribute to feeding success in carnivorous vertebrates. We present an in vivoanalysis of both bite and pulling forces in Varanus komodoensis, the Komodo dragon, to determine how they contribute to feeding behavior. Observations of cranial modeling and behavior suggest that V. komodoensis feeds using bite force supplemented by pulling in the caudal/ventrocaudal direction. We tested these observations using force gauges/transducers to measure biting and pulling forces. Maximum bite force correlates with both body mass and total body length, likely …