Life Sciences Commons^™

The Prevalence Of Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiae In Ixodes Scapularis Ticks In Southeastern Georgia, Heather Anne Merten

Legacy ETDs

Human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) is a newly emerging, tick-borne zoonosis in North America. The agent that causes HGE is very similar to Ehrlichia phagocytophilia and Ehrlichia equi, but has yet to be classified as a separate species.

This study was carried out in order to determine the prevalence rate of HGE infection in blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) in insular and mainland sites in southeastern Georgia using nested PCR techniques. Four locations were studied representing 2 barrier islands and 2 mainland sites. We hypothesized that areas that have low levels of human disturbance and are somewhat isolated will …

An Investigation Of Captive Florida Manatee (Trichecus Manatus Latirostris) Behavior And Social Interactions, Jennifer Sadler Young

Legacy ETDs

Human impacts such as pollution, habitat alteration, and boating have caused many injuries and deaths of the Florida manatee, Trichechus manutus latirostris. Rehabilitation centers have been established in Florida to help return sick or injured manatees back to the wild. Manatees that are released back to the wild after undergoing rehabilitation in captivity might lose some of their abilities to survive in the wild. A factor that might alter behavior in captive individuals was examined by determining if length of time spent in captivity influenced the behavior of manatees during rehabilitation. Even though all facilities follow similar guidelines, invariable …

Use Of Oak Hammocks By Neotropical Migrant Songbirds During Stopover In Coastal South Carolina, Scott Glen Somershoe

Legacy ETDs

Many species of Neotropical migrant songbirds have been reported to be declining in the last few decades, and the loss and fragmentation of stopover habitat has been implicated as a potential cause of these population declines. To manage properly a fragmented forest landscape for migrating songbirds information is needed on how the size and the habitat of forest fragments influence their use by migrants during stopover. Therefore, I conducted censuses of Neotropical migrant birds in eight oak hammocks of varying size (0.32-3.08 ha) at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, Jasper County, South Carolina. Censuses were conducted at 0600-1030 h during …

Effects Of Height And Vegetation On Success Of Bird Nests In Maritime Forests, Sharon M. Defalco

Legacy ETDs

Nest predation is an important source of mortality in songbirds and may contribute to declines in Neotropical migrants. I used artificial nests baited with fresh Japanese Quail and Zebra Finch eggs in conjunction with observations of natural nests to quantity the ettects ol nest height and vegetation on nest predation on St. Catherine's Island, a barrier island in southeast Georgia. Because of intense browsing by white-tailed deer. I predicted that lower, more exposed nests would be least successful. Artificial nests (n = 389) were placed in the field, and natural nests (n = 49) were observed, durintz April and May …

The Effects Of Low Ph On Sunfish Assemblages In Southeast Georgia, William Boyd Tate

Legacy ETDs

No abstract provided.

Cloning And Sequencing Of Sodium-Hydrogen Exchanger In The Gills Of The Long-Horned Sculpin (Myoxocephalus Octodecimspinosus), Danielle Lee Gunning

Legacy ETDs

No abstract provided.

Francis Harper Papers, Zach S. Henderson Library Special Collections

Finding Aids

This collection consists of the professional and personal papers of Cornell-trained naturalist Dr. Francis Harper. Materials span 1904-1972 and include field notebooks, correspondence, photographs, and audiovisual materials documenting the plant and animal life as well as human ecology of the Okefenokee Swamp area of South Georgia. The photographs within Series 1 show the flora, fauna, and people of the Okefenokee swamp. The photographs were taken by the Harpers while on their trips to the swamp. Photographs are all in black and white and range in size. The Field Journals chronicle his travels in the okefenokee, Canada, and New England. Materials …

Detection Of Ehrlichia Chaffeensis In Ticks Of The Georgia Coast And Barrier Islands Using Polymerase Chain Reaction, John Edward Whitlock

Legacy ETDs

Human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME) is an emerging, zoonosis transmitted to mammals by ixodid ticks. Prevalence of infected ticks and distribution of infection foci indicate relative risk of human exposure to ehrlichiosis and may be influenced by factors such as geographic isolation and human disturbance. To test this, individual and pooled lone star ticks, Amblyomma americanum (L.), collected from 3 populations from the coast and barrier islands of Georgia were screened for Ehrlichia chaffeensis Anderson, Dawson, Jone, and Wilson, the agent of HME. A species-specific, nested polymerase chain reaction (PGR) assay was used to amplify a 572 base pair fragment of …

The Effects Of Aerobic And Resistance Training On Mood State And Self-Esteem In Cardiac Rehabilitation, Cyndee M. Lee

Legacy ETDs

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise training, aerobic and a combination of aerobic and resistance, on mood state and selfesteem in a sample of cardiac rehabilitation patients. A secondary purpose was to examine the influence of activity level on the psychological benefits received from the training programs. This study was conducted in a pretest/post-test format over an eight week period. Ten phase III participants (male = 9 and female = 1) volunteered from four cardiac rehabilitation centers in Georgia for participation in this study. Each participant read and signed an informed consent form …

Temporal And Spatial Variation In Abundance Of Migratory Birds At Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, Andrew Allen Kinsey

Legacy ETDs

Migratory birds spend a significant part of each year in transition between their breeding and resting grounds. During this transitional period migrants rely on stopover sites to provide them with the necessary habitat to replenish lost energy stores, rest, and wait for favorable weather conditions before continuing migration. The majority of stopover work related to passerines in North America has occurred along coastal migration routes. Meanwhile, relatively little work has been conducted at inland stopover sites, areas which may be equally important to migrating birds. Kennesaw Mountain is an isolated geographically prominent peak located in the foothills of the southern …

Genetic Variation Within And Among Populations Of Florida Burrowing Owls (Athene Cunicularia Floridana), Wendy T. Denton

Legacy ETDs

This study employed DNA Polymerase Chain Reaction (PGR) and Single-Stranded Conformation Polymorphisms (SSCP) on a mitochondrial control region target to assess population structure and possible gene flow in the Florida Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia floridana), a Florida Species of Special Concern. Although widespread in Florida, Burrowing Owls occur at low densities in semi-isolated populations that are susceptible to extirpation from human development and the demographic consequences of small population size. To better manage these populations, there is a need for data on the population genetic structure of the Florida Burrowing Owl. Therefore, I acquired DNA from Burrowing Owls …

Evaluation Of Coverboards For Sampling Salamanders In South Georgia, Charles Michael Houze Jr.

Legacy ETDs

Salamanders are important components of many forested communities. However, their fossorial habits and seasonality often make them difficult to sample. The use of artificial coverboards (coverboards) is a relatively new and little-studied technique for monitoring the terrestrial activity of salamanders Coverboards are designed to simulate fallen tree limbs and logs, and to provide a moist refuge for forest salamanders. Despite several studies, questions remain concerning the value of coverboards. Therefore, I conducted an experiment in 1996-1997 to determine whether coverboards are as effective for sampling salamanders as searching natural cover objects such as logs and branches. Using a paired design, …

Spiroplasma Diversity In Two Tabanid Flies And In Vivo Interactions Of Spiroplasma And Entomoplasma, Latonya T. Brown-Derrick

Legacy ETDs

Chrysops vittatus, a small deer fly, and Tabanus atratus, a horse fly, were captured concurrently in Bulloch County, Georgia during June through September of 1989-1997 Cultures were made from adult females, and the frequency and diversity of spiroplasma carriage were determined by deformation and endpoint testing.

Of the 90 Chrysops vittatus processed, 23 (25 .6%) carried spiroplasmas. The most prevalent spiroplasmas were representatives of group Vlll (20/23): strain B1357 (7/23); Spiroplasma syrphidicola (5/23); S. chrysopicola (4/23); strain TAAS-1 (4/23). Groups XVIII and XXXV were represented by S. Htorale (2/23) and strain B2649 (1/23), respectively.

Of the …

Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Arthrography, And Ultrasound In Diagnosing Rotator Cuff Tears: An Evaluation Of Agreement, Andrea Solsona

Legacy ETDs

Eleven patients who had a clinical suspicion of a rotator cuff tear were referred for a magnetic resonance imaging exam, an arthrographic exam or both. Additionally, all patients received a diagnostic ultrasound exam. The results of the imaging studies were compared to surgical or clinical diagnosis. Arthrography had 100% positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity. Magnetic resonance imaging had 100% PPV, 60% NPV, 78% accuracy, 100% specificity, and 67% sensitivity. Ultrasound had 80% PPV, 50% NPV, 64% accuracy, 75% specificity, and 57% sensitivity. Based on these results, taking into consideration the national average costs …

The Effects Of A Goal Setting Intervention And Dispositional Optimism/Pessimism On Selected Golf Skills: A Qualitative Design, Matthew James Wilson

Legacy ETDs

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a goal setting intervention on selected golf skills over the course of a competitive golf season. A secondary purpose of this study was to investigate a comparison of optimism and pessimism in relationship to goal attainment. Subjects (n=7) were elite golfers from a university men's golf team. A two-month goal setting intervention was implemented consisting of the individual golfers selecting three golf skills from five separate categories (fairways in regulation, greens in regulation, total putts per round, up and downs conversion rate, and putts per green in regulation) to …

The Effects Of Aerobics And Walking On Social Physique Anxiety And Self-Esteem Of Female College Students, Jessica L. Lloyd

Legacy ETDs

The purpose of this investigation was to explore the effectiveness of walking and aerobics as a way of modifying body image apprehension and self-esteem of female college students. Participants from this study comprised 88 (25 African Americans and 63 Caucasians) students from a Southeastern university. The participants were administered the 9-item Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS) (Martin, Rejeski, Leary, McAuley, & Bane, 1997) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) (Rosenberg, 1979). Body composition, body weight, body height, and body mass index (BMI) were also evaluated. The participants performed in a 9-week walking or aerobics physical activity class. At the completion …

Robert J. Boxer Papers, Zach S. Henderson Library Special Collections

Finding Aids

This collection consists of various drafts and the finished manuscript of Robert J. Boxer's 1997 textbook, Essentials of Organic Chemistry. Materials span 1988- 1997 and also include correspondence with publishers, including contracts.

Find this collection in the University Libraries' catalog.

Nest Box Use, Reproductive Success, And Nestling Growth Of American Kestrels (Falco Sparverius) Nesting Along The Coastal Plain Of Georgia, Walter Roy Shuford

Legacy ETDs

In an attempt to increase breeding populations of American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) in Georgia, 402 nest boxes were erected in the Coastal Plain of Georgia beginning in 1994 through the spring of 1996. Nest box occupancy averaged 8% in 1996 and 9.7% in 1997, two fold the average in 1995. Occupancy at Fort Gordon military base averaged 27.5% (28 of 102) in 1996 and 29 4% (30 of 102) in 1997 Nest box use in all other areas averaged 13% (4 of 300) in 1996 and increased to 3% (9 of 300) in 1997. Clutch sizes for nests …

Acute And Chronic Exposure To Lead: Cellular And Behavioral Effects On The Pond Snail Helisoma Trivolvis, Virginia T. Bennett

Legacy ETDs

The focus of this study is on the effects of lead on Helisoma trivolvis, a pulmonate pond snail. Many species of molluscs are being used as bioindicators of environmental toxins. To provide a background for the reader, a brief history and description of the Phylum Mollusca (at the class level) is presented in Chapter 1. A second chapter (Ch. 2) is concerned with lead and its effects. A synopsis of past and present studies that show the interaction between lead and molluscs is given in Chapter 3, then two experimental chapters follow. The first experimental chapter (Ch. 4) is …

Small Miracles: Propagation Efforts Using Plants In The Family Hamamelidaceae, Martha Sasser Joiner

Legacy ETDs

Attempts were made to propagate five species in the family Hamamelidaceae by softwood cuttings or seeds. Local populations of witch-hazel Hamamelis virginiana L. and sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua L. supplied cuttings and seeds of these native American species. Cultivated plants of dwarf witch-alder Fothergilla gardenii Murray were used initially for cuttings. Later, three native populations of this species were located and cuttings were obtained from them. Also, for seed propagation studies, seeds of F. gardenii were obtained from the North Carolina Botanical Garden and seeds were obtained from cultivated plants of two Asian species, winter hazel Corylopsis sinensis Hemsley and Chinese …

Reproductive Ecology Of Pinckneya Bracteata (Bartram) Raflnesque (Rubiaceae), George H. Rountree

Legacy ETDs

Pinckneya bracteata is a small tree or large shrub that is indigenous to the coastal plain of extreme southern South Carolina, Georgia, and northern Florida. It in occurs in sunny, wet habitats and in small populations that are usually separated by distances of kilometers. This study examined the mating, dispersal, and germination systems of the species. Pinckneya bracteata was found to be protandrous and self incompatible. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and bumblebees ( Bombus spp. appear to be the primary pollinators. Seed fall velocity is important to the wind dispersal of seeds and decreases as seed size increases. Fall velocity is also …

The Role Of Sexual Selection In Structuring West Indian Passerine Communities, C. Lynne Starling

Legacy ETDs

Patterns of plumage dimorphism were examined among species of passerines native to 19 West Indian islands. Based on sexual selection theory, the predictions were made that dimorphic species: (1) occur on fewer and larger islands than monomorphic species due to reduced colonization ability and reduced survivorship imposed by sexual selection pressure, and (2) should be added to island communities disproportionately as area increases, an idea which was tested using linear models.

No significant difference was observed between number of islands or minimum island area occupied by dimorphics versus monomorphics. The traditional ANCOVA model best fits the data and suggests that …

Spiroplasma (Entomoplasmatales) Associated With Tabanidae (Diptera) And Lampyridae (Coleoptera), Jimmy Wedincamp Jr.

Legacy ETDs

Abstract 1:

To determine the exit points of Spiroplasma from tabanids, 45 naturally infected Tabanus gladiator and 6 T. sulcifrons were restrained and fed 10% sucrose. The flies were allowed to feed for 24 hours and the resulting oral and anal specks were cultured in MID broth. Spiroplasmas were isolated from 21 of 51 oral specks but none of 23 anal specks deposited on plastic. In contrast, when anal specks were deposited in a sucrose solution, 9 of 28 anal specks in sucrose yielded spiroplasma cultures. Air-dried spiroplasma cultures in 5% sucrose survived for up to 30 days in the …

Characterization And Genetic Analysis Of A Pigmentation Mutant Of Neurospora Crassa, Craig West Banks

Legacy ETDs

The mutant overaccumulator of carotenoids, ovc. was obtained from the Fungal Genetics Stock Center in Kansas City, Kansas. This mutant had been isolated following UV irradiation of the colonial mutant col-4 and mapped to Linkage Group IV (R. Harding, 1984 Neurospora Newsletter 34: 23-25). Examination of ovc in our laboratory revealed that in addition to having increased pigmentation, the mutant was osmotic sensitive, failing to grow on 6% NaCl. Morphology of ovc closely resembles that of cut, another osmotic sensitive mutant in LG IV. A cross of ovc to the osmotic sensitive mutant cut failed to produce …

Quadriceps Strengthening Daily Adjustable Progressive Resistance Exercise (Dapre) Technique Versus Delorme's Progressive Resistive Exercises (Pre) Techniques, Paul R. Cleveland

Legacy ETDs

The purpose of this study was to determine if the DAPRE technique would significantly improve strength in the non dominant quadriceps muscle as opposed to Delorme's PRE technique for strengthening. Using a pretest posttest Cybex II strength test and applying a t-test for independent samples, it was found that after four weeks there was no significant difference between Group A (N=10) who exercised using Delorme's technique and Group B (N=10) who used the DAPRE technique It was concluded that possibly because of the low sample number, the short length of the exercise intervention, and using normal healthy subjects instead of …

Susceptibility Of Eumeces Species Skinks To A Southeastern Isolate Of The Lyme Disease Spirochete (Borrelia Burgdorferi), Gregory A. Cummins

Legacy ETDs

The SI-4 strain of Borrelia burgdorferi obtained from field collected Ixodes scapularis on Sapelo Island, Georgia, was infective to seven of eight cotton mice (Peromyscus gossypinus) by needle inoculation. I. scapularis larvae were then fed on them, and nymphs molting from these larvae were then fed on laboratory mice, Mus musculus, in an attempt to transmit the spirochete. One of three mice was successfully infected; confirmation of the presence of B. burgdorferi was made using BSK II culture and the polymerase chain reaction (PGR). A subsequent attempt was made to determine if SI-4 was infective for Eumeces …

Determinants Of Success In Experimental Introductions Of The Rodent (Mus Musculus) Onto Habitat Islands, Mark W. Krissinger

Legacy ETDs

I conducted an experimental test of the influence of supplemental food on persistence time of intentionally introduced (i.e. translocated) mice (Mus musculus) on four habitat islands. I determined the species composition of small mammals in the four insular patches of habitat (i.e. habitat islands) formed by Interstate Highway 16 and associated access roads at the US Hwy 301 interchange using standard live-trapping methods. Two of the habitat islands supported three resident rodent species, whereas the other two each supported one species.

After determining the initial species composition of the four habitat islands I released 14 uniquely marked individuals …

Acid-Base Regulation In Three Marine Teleosts: The Oyster Toadfish (Opsanus Tau), The Winter Flounder (Pseudopleuronectes Americanus), And The Long-Horned Sculpin (Myoxocephalus Octodecimspinosus), Dana Compton Mccullough

Legacy ETDs

In this study, three species of marine fish were exposed to a variety of dilute salinities in order to determine what effects exposure to diluted seawater may have on acid-base and ion balance. The oyster toadfish (Opsanus tau) and the winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) are considered to be able to live in a broad range of salinities, euryhaline (Evans, 1979). The long-homed sculpin, Myoxocephalus octodecimspinosus, is considered to be a stenohaline fish, not able to withstand drastic changes in ambient salinity (Claibome and Evans, 1988).

Initially, toadfish exposed to 20 mM diluted seawater took up …

Lewis M. Gould Papers, Zach S. Henderson Library Special Collections

Finding Aids

This collection consists of the writings and personal papers of Lewis M. Gould. Materials span 1918-1991 and include his writings for Stars and Stripes, poems, and various clippings.

Find this collection in the University Libraries' catalog.

Phenology And Bionomics Of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) In Glynn County, Georgia, Lisa M. Westberry

Legacy ETDs

Seasonal abundance and population densities of Culicoides species from sites in Glynn County, Georgia were surveyed using 15 New Jersey light traps during a 9-month period from April-December 1990. Environmental effects on the abundances were also analyzed. The three primary species present were: Culicoides furens (Poey), C. hollensis Mellander & Brues, and C. melleus (Coguillett). C. furens were collected year round, but predominantly during the summer. C. hollensis had a bimodal abundance (spring and fall) . C. melleus also had a bimodal abundance (late summer and fall).

Larval habitats of the primary species were identified …