Life Sciences Commons^™

The Effect Of Genetic Relatedness On Mate Selection And Spatial Distribution In The American Alligator, Alligator Mississippiensis, Mark Hoog

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

To date, most genetic studies on the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) have focused on population genetics and multiple paternity. There have not been any studies looking at how relatedness affects alligator behavior and movement. This study focused on three main questions: 1) what is the genetic diversity among alligators in this location? 2) can parentage be accurately defined among parents and offspring? and 3) how does individual relatedness affect their spatial distribution? We examined the relatedness of 174 unique individuals from the Okefenokee Swamp Park, in South Georgia, USA. In addition, we placed Telonics^® satellite tags on …

The Effects Of Cucurbitacin B And Silmitasertib On Metastasis And Itga6 Using The Zebrafish Tumor-Xenograft, Alexandra Griffis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ninety percent of cancer deaths are resultant from the metastasis of cancer cells. When cancer cells translocate through blood vessels or the lymphatic system, they may form tumors outside of their primary site. The processes of metastasis can begin quickly; after onset, metastasis is unforgiving, as it does not participate with the body’s physiological systems in an orderly way. In the past, our lab produced results indicating that a cell adhesion molecule, Integrin Alpha-6, may contribute to cancer cells' ability to metastasize. Integrins mediate interactions between the cell and the Extracellular Matrix (ECM), regulating cell attachment and cell migration. With …

Spatial Drivers Of Freshwater Fish Biodiversity, Community Structure, And Diet Composition Across Georgia, Usa, Patrick Lewis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The geographic complexity of the Southeastern United States, in particular Georgia, is evident in the diversity of stream habitats present throughout that host unique stream fish communities but is threatened by anthropogenic activity. This spatial complexity can be captured through the ecoregion framework, which delineates areas of distinct habitat. However, this differing habitat character between ecoregions leads to different environmental pressures that may promote species heterogeneity between communities, may create intraspecific niche diversity in widely distributed species, and may complicate the transferability of widely accepted theoretical models of fish ecology between them. I analyzed a long-term fish community dataset, examining …

The Effects Of Warming Rate On The Thermal Tolerance Of A Southern Population Of Striped Bass (Morone Saxatilis), James Barrett

Honors College Theses

Climate change and global warming is an ever-growing concern for our environment and the survivability of the animals which inhabit it. With water temperatures expected to rise 2-3℃ in the next century, many aquatic organisms may be limited in their habitats based on their thermal tolerance (Lleras 2019). Southern populations of striped bass (Morone saxatilis) in the Southeastern United States could be some of the hardest hit by the effects of climate change due to their unusual life history as compared to the more northern populations of striped bass. These southern striped bass do not engage in coastal …

Effect Of Temperature On Morphology Of The Cardiorespiratory System Of Striped Bass (Morone Saxatilis), Alley E. Permenter

Honors College Theses

Climate change and temperature are two very important topics for the coming future. As climate change projections estimate a 2-3°C increase in water temperatures by the end of the century, the habitats of many aquatic organisms will be affected in more ways than one. Temperature has proven to be an integral part of the driving force that causes physiological, behavioral, and ecological patterns in aquatic organisms. Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and their responses to changes in water temperature have been a topic of interest due to the fact that the southern populations do not follow their northern counterparts …

The Relationship Between Chronotypes And Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Among Law Enforcement Officers, Alyssa N. Fail

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Much of the data associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors and circadian rhythms are done on shift workers; due to their line of work typically causing circadian disruption and sleep loss (Loef et al., 2019). Previous research incorporating chronotype and its influence on shift work has been explored; however, there is limited research focusing on law enforcement officers. Additionally, no known research has investigated the effect of chronotype on CVD risk factors among law enforcement officers. The aim of this study was to investigate the cardiovascular disease risk factors in law enforcement officers and their relationship with chronotypes. This cross-sectional …

Evaluating Blood Pressure And Hypertension Awareness In Municipal Workers In The Southeast Us, Kayden R. Mcalvin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to describe municipal workers’ blood pressure (BP) status and awareness; the secondary purpose was to examine the association between BP misconception and department. Municipal employees in a southeastern rural community (n=75) were asked to participate in a 15-minute survey, including the BASIS Hypertension Awareness survey, and blood pressure measurements to determine hypertension risk. Results show a significant difference in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) between police with a higher DBP of 87.64 ± 10.9 mm Hg and fire departments 78.98 ± 11.1 mm Hg (p=0.005), a significant difference in DBP between city hall/public works …

Nanoparticle Conjugated Photosensitizer For Targeted Photodynamic Inactivation Of Cancer Cells, Symone D. Crowder

Honors College Theses

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is considered to be a potential replacement for traditional methods of chemotherapy. It includes the administration of photosensitizing agents (PS), which generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon excitation at a specific wavelength. With new outlooks and techniques, cancer research is advancing each day. It has allowed the progress of several theranostic drug delivery systems (DDS) exploring the area of nanomedicine.2 In the present work, a Rhodamine derivative, Rhodamine 6G (R6G) was used as the PS. In general, rhodamine compounds undergo cytotoxic reactions on photoexcitation by electron transfer reactions with folic acid within cells, making them a favorable …

Synthesis Of Trifluoromethyl Ketones By (Diethylamino) Sulfur Trifluoride (Dast)-Mediated Nucleophilic Trifluoromethylation Of Benzoic Acids, Michael A. Vescio

Honors College Theses

Within the past few decades, the presence of fluorine containing

organic molecules has increased significantly. Many of the

current industrial production methods are not cost-effective,

practical, or inherently safe. This work describes a new methodology

for the synthesis of trifluoromethyl ketones. Our new method involves

the use of benzoic acid and trifluoromethyl trimethylsilane (TMSCF₃) as starting

materials along with diethylamino sulfur trifluoride (DAST) as a reagent

to obtain moderate to good yields of expected products in a short

reaction times.

Turning Algal Biomass Waste Into A Sustainable Substrate For Oyster Settlement, Ariana Liezl M. Lipat

Honors College Theses

When an aquatic ecosystem becomes oversaturated with nutrients, algae in the water utilize the excess nitrogen and phosphorus present and grow uncontrollably. This creates algal blooms on the surface of the water that deplete oxygen levels in the water and kill numerous organisms in the process. One method used to solve this issue is through Algal Turf Scrubber (ATS) technology: a natural wastewater treatment process in which water polluted with excess nitrogen and phosphorus is pumped across a floway to be absorbed by a culture of algae before it flows out of the system. The algal biomass is harvested periodically …

Impacts Of Algal Morphology And Water Flow On Macroalgal Microplastic Capture, Cheyenne M. Adams

Honors College Theses

Microplastic pollution is a major area of concern in marine environments, especially as microplastics enter the food web. This study used pipe cleaners and two lichen species as algal mimics, and Chaetomorpha sp. and Chondrus crispus as model algal species to test the effects of morphology and biomass on microbead and foam capture. This study also utilized two different water flow methods: vortices and waves. Results suggest that water flow, as well as biomass and morphology, play a role in microplastic capture in macroalgae. For all mimics and algal species, except Cladonia lichens, turfs with increased biomass and length showed …

Influence Of Plant Density On Rainfall Interception By Spartina Alterniflora, Hannah K. Longaberger

Honors College Theses

Abstract

Spartina alterniflora is an abundant plant in eastern US and Gulf coast salt marshes; it is important in maintaining a diverse ecosystem. Salt marshes are impacted by rainstorms, which may affect erosion events. This project examined the partitioning of rainfall on single plants of various sizes and on central plants within different canopy densities of S. alterniflora. By calculating the rain stemflow (SF), throughfall (TF), and water adhered to the stem in S. alterniflora, we gained insight to rainfall partitioning with different plant features. My research found no statistically significant relationship between different plant features and SF, TF, …

The Use Of Silica Nanoparticles For Controlled Drug Delivery Of Nicotine, Jennifer C. Iwenofu

Honors College Theses

Drug molecules can be administered in different ways to the human body. Nanotechnology stands out over other alternatives by delivering drugs to specific locations and reducing reactivity time. In this research, the hydrogen bond between silica nanoparticles and the drug molecule, nicotine, were studied to controllably deliver nicotine by varying pH values.

The Effects Of Disturbance Intensity On Total Bacteria Concentration In The Water Within Artificial Streams, Seth C. Davis

Honors College Theses

Bacterial communities persist longer in sediment than in the water because sediments offer beneficial conditions for proliferation and formation of self-sustaining colonies. However, environmental- and human-caused sediment disturbance may resuspend bacteria in the water, thus increasing the potential for harmful bacterial to interact with humans and other organisms. I tested the hypothesis that the level of sediment disturbance affects the abundance and duration of bacterial resuspension in artificial stream microcosms. Three treatments were administered: control (no disturbance), low intensity disturbance, and high intensity disturbance (n=5). Water samples were collected before disturbance treatment (P), and at 0, 6, 24, 48, and …

Type Of Synthetic Microfiber Influences Ingestion By Freshwater Worms, Sarah A. Martinez

Honors College Theses

Plastics enter the environment from many sources, including clothing made from synthetic textiles, which shed a form of microplastics (microfibers) during their production, use and disposal. The impacts of microfibers on freshwater organisms are relatively unknown, therefore we tested the hypothesis that short- and long-term effects of microfibers on the aquatic worm, Lumbriculus variegatus, depend on the type of synthetic microfiber present. Microcosms containing L. variegatus, sediment and water were exposed to either no fibers (control) or one of three microfiber treatments (nylon, polyester or olefin) at the same concentration for 48 hours or 28 days. At the …

Analysis Of The Light Responsive Azobenzene Peptide Nucleic Acid Duplexes, Kat Nguyen

Honors College Theses

Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are oligonucleotide analogues in which the sugar-phosphate backbone has been replaced by a pseudopeptide skeleton. Since PNAs use the natural nucleobases (Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, Uracil, and Guanine) found in either DNA and/or RNA, they are able to hybridize according to Watson-Crick base-pairing to form duplexes. PNA is a promising therapeutic agent because they can function as antigene or antisense chemical agents. To further enhance their utility, we aim to incorporate a photoswitchable moiety using azobenzene. Here, we report the results of the synthesis and purification of a photoswitchable 11 mer PNA along with initial characterization efforts.

Effects Of Water Quality On Oyster Health On Georgia Coast, Laurel Henderson

Honors College Theses

ABSTRACT

Oysters are an economically and ecologically important shellfish species found along most coastlines. Along the Georgia coastline, oysters form extensive reefs, and are economically important as a food source. In addition, oysters perform a vital role in maintaining water quality due to their high filtration capacity in coastal waters. Oyster reefs form solid, 3-D substrate that prevent coastline erosion and provide structure for numerous other coastal species to grow, including many commercially and recreationally important species. Water quality factors, such as temperature and salinity, can influence oyster density, condition, and growth, and ultimately affect the services the reefs provide …

The Potential Role Of Phenotypic Plasticity In The Ability Of Hydrocotyle Bonariensis To Occupy Two Different Habitats, Harold Ralph Parsons Iii

Honors College Theses

Phenotypic plasticity is the ability of an organism to change morphology and/or physiology in response to changes in the environment. Hydrocotyle bonariensis is a coastal perennial herb found in both coastal sand dunes and inland coastal plain habitats in Georgia. The purpose of this study was to determine if there were differences in leaf morphology for populations of H. bonariensis in coastal sand dune and inland coastal plain habitats. Leaf morphology and microenvironmental variables were compared between H. bonariensis populations at Tybee Island (TI), GA, representing the coastal sand dune habitat, and Georgia Southern University Armstrong Campus (GSU) in Savannah, …

Dna Methylation Among Chestnut-Crowned Babblers, Caddie E. Nguyen

Honors College Theses

Many Australian birds, including chestnut-crowned babblers, commonly use cooperative breeding. In these species, individuals may delay or refuse dispersal to provide care to the offspring of the others instead of producing their own. This system challenges natural selection evolution and postulates that reproductively advantage genes will be more favorable. One possibility that contributes to chestnut-crowned babblers’ dispersal behavior is the epigenetic modifications interacting between the genome and the environment during development. Chestnut-crowned babblers (Pomatostomus ruficeps) are usually found in arid and semi-arid zones, which are varied and poor-conditioned. In the undesired conditions, helpers are needed for breeding to occur …

Skin Pigmentation And Arterial Stiffness In Young Health Black And White Adults, Zoe R. Lincoln

Honors College Theses

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is currently the leading cause of death worldwide, killing over half a million people in the US every year. This issue is only becoming more prominent, as both the world and US population are experiencing increased rates of CVD risk factors such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Black Americans specifically are experiencing increased rates of these risk factors, possibly due to lifestyle, socioeconomic, and genetic variables, ultimately leading to a higher prevalence of CVD in this population. One possible mechanism for this health disparity is racial differences in skin pigmentation, which can influence cardioprotective Vitamin …

In The Face Of Climate Change, Does Human Trampling Affect Dune Resilience And Alter Ecosystem Services?, Alexandra O. Findlay

Honors College Theses

Sand dunes play a valuable role on the coastline supporting unique native species and protecting beach communities. The City of Tybee Island, Georgia, USA has undergone extensive dune restoration to expand and rehabilitate its shoreline to better defend the town against the increasing frequency of hurricanes and storm surge. The project included the recovery of existing dune structures and construction of new dunes filled with sand pumped from offshore and vegetated with a variety of native species. To analyze the impact of human trampling on dune vegetation occurring adjacent to footpaths and crossovers in new and established dunes, we measured …

Analysis And Identification Of Lipolytic Bacterial Species For The Degradation Of Wastewater Lipids, Lindsay C. Smoak

Honors College Theses

The aim of this study was to isolate native bacterial strains from the wastewater treatment facilities of Statesboro, GA to identify their lipolytic activities. Obtained bacterial strains were further assessed via morphological and biochemical methods to determine their enzymatic capabilities. Use of the detergent Tween-20 in growth mediums was the first criteria to assess lipase activity, and these isolates were further investigated to quantitatively measure lipase presence and activity. Lipase protein was precipitated and dialyzed to perform a lipase activity assay, followed by Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate–Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) to confirm the presence of the lipolytic enzymes. Sanger sequencing was …

Sex And Starvation Influences Latrotoxin Expression In The Brown Widow Spider, Mattie Harris

Honors College Theses

Widow spiders (genus Latrodectus) are well-known for their potent venom. Seven latrotoxin proteins constitute the main components of widow spider venom. The vertebrate specific (α-latrotoxin) and insect specific (α-latroinsectotoxin) latrotoxins have been well-characterized with respect to structure and function. Regulation of latrotoxin gene expression is not well understood but sex and feeding could be factors influencing production. In this study, I used quantitative qPCR to (1) characterize the expression patterns of both the insect and vertebrate specific latrotoxins in male and female brown widow spiders (Latrodectus geometricus) to characterize sex-biased expression and to (2) study expression patterns …

Physiological And Biochemical Thermal Stress Conditions Of The Ribbed Mussel, Geukensia Demissa, From Exposed And Less Exposed Areas In The Intertidal Salt Marsh On Tybee Island, Georgia., Jody E. Erber

Honors College Theses

Geukensia demissa, the ribbed mussel, is a keystone species of Georgia’s coastline that is at risk of experiencing detrimental thermal stress due to climate change. G. demissa interacts positively with a species of salt marsh cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora. Mussels form aggregates beneath salt marsh cordgrass stems where they are shaded and less exposed to sun rays. However, some mussels end up in areas which lack cordgrass and are directly exposed to sun rays. Body temperatures of mussels from exposed areas were found to be higher than mussels from less exposed areas. Thermal stress levels of mussels can be …

Florida Sand Skink And Blue-Tailed Mole Skink: Expanding Geographic Coverage Of Genetic Analysis For Conservation, Emma Simpson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Lake Wales Ridge is important scrub habitat that has been increasingly altered since the post-Columbian settlement in Florida. This loss of habitat has caused extreme anthropogenic fragmentation within the Lake Wales Ridge resulting in isolation among extant scrub patches. To expand the geographic scope of previous studies and answer questions concerning population connectivity, we characterized genetic diversity and differentiation using cytochrome-b and microsatellite genetic markers for two endemic skink species: the Florida Sand Skink (Plestiodon reynoldsi) and Blue-tailed Mole Skink (Plestiodon egregius lividus). Both species display historical isolation between central and southern Lake Wales Ridge …

Stop, Then Go! Rapid Acceleration Offsets The Costs Of Intermittent Locomotion When Turning In Florida Scrub Lizards, Cheyenne Walker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Intermittent locomotion is a commonly used escape strategy with a wide array of potential benefits. Pausing may aid in locating a predator, crypsis, lowering energy costs, and avoiding obstacles. Turning may also benefit from intermittent locomotion by allowing an animal time to assess its surroundings; therefore, decreasing the chances of making a mistake and/or stumbling. Florida scrub lizards live in environments with a variety of obstacles such as turns. The goal of this study is to quantify the locomotor behavior and performance by lizards while navigating a 45° or 90° turn. Lizards were run along both a 45° and 90° …

Mortality In Interspecific Hybrids Of Nasonia Vitripennis And Nasonia Giraulti, Bonnie Cobb

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nasonia is a parasitoid wasp genus that serves as an emerging model for studying speciation due to an incompatibility between nuclear and mitochondrial genomes between sister taxa. Short generation times, easy rearing in a lab setting, producing large amounts of progeny, and whole genome sequencing make Nasonia is an excellent candidate for studying incomplete reproductive isolation. Nasonia have five chromosomes and exhibit haplo-diploid sex determination in which fertilized eggs develop into diploid females and unfertilized eggs develop into haploid males. Recessive phenotypes are hidden in diploid females but are laid bare in haploid males as there is no interaction between …

Population Genomics Of Redbreast Sunfish (Lepomis Auritus): Exploring Gene Flow And Local Adaptation In A Widely Distributed Freshwater Fish, Garret J. Strickland

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Little information is available concerning the distribution of genetic diversity in non-salmonid, non-imperiled, freshwater fish. In order to fill in this knowledge gap, I conducted a population genomics survey in Redbreast Sunfish (Lepomis auritus; RBS), a widespread, generalist species distributed along the Atlantic slope rivers of eastern North America. I sampled four basins (ACF, Savannah, Roanoke, and James) at eight sites each with a factorial experimental design. Sites were distributed among coastal plain, Piedmont, or mountain ecoregions in order to capture the greatest range of environmental states experienced by RBS, with the intention of finding evidence for local adaptation to …

Effects Of Various Golf Bag Loading Strategies On Perceived Exertion And Vertical Jump Performance, Austen Arnold

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: The sport of golf is increasing in popularity among both novice and skilled players alike. A round of golf necessitates players to cope with a range of physically demanding movement patterns. At the collegiate level, golfers must transport their clubs by loading them onto the body. Previous literature has yet to determine how different golf bag carrying positions influence periodic, unloaded jump performance and perceived exertion of the load carrying task. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate how different golf bag load carriage methods may influence vertical jump performance and perceived exertion. METHODS: Five golf bag …

Evaluation Of Hemp Seed Meal As A Fish Meal Replacement Through Growth And Digestibility Trials In Striped Bass (Morone Saxatilis), Anthony Sample

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Demand for seafood has continued to increase despite a stagnation in global wild-caught fisheries. Aquaculture has met this demand but suffers from numerous sustainability issues because of dependence on fish meal, which is unsustainable, sparking nutritional research into alternatives. Hemp seed meal has shown promise as an alternative due to its sustainable production and nutritional qualities. This study evaluated hemp seed meal as an alternative to fish meal through growth and digestibility trials with Morone saxatilis. A seven-week growth trial was conducted within a recirculating aquaculture system using a total of two control diets (commercial and constructed) and six …