Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Publication Type
Articles 1 - 5 of 5
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
I Ain't Afraid Of No Crab: Intertidal Gastropod Littorina Littorea Behavioral Response To Predation Risk By Carcinus Maenas, Isabelle Erin Smy
I Ain't Afraid Of No Crab: Intertidal Gastropod Littorina Littorea Behavioral Response To Predation Risk By Carcinus Maenas, Isabelle Erin Smy
Honors College
Littorina littorea is an intertidal, invasive gastropod species common in the Gulf of Maine. In this paper, I studied the avoidance and risk-reducing behavioral responses of L. littorea to predation risk by invasive crustacean species Carcinus maenas. Avoidance and risk-reducing behavior in this study are defined by the tendency to move towards the edge and out of a simulated tide pool and the tendency to reduce feeding. The goal of this study was to determine whether the exposure to chemical cues of predators resulted in an increase in avoidance behavior, risk-reducing behavior, and a reduction in the time before the …
The Impacts Of Embryonic Arsenic Exposure Of Fundulus Heteroclitus, Torey Bowser
The Impacts Of Embryonic Arsenic Exposure Of Fundulus Heteroclitus, Torey Bowser
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Arsenic is a toxic metalloid that exceeds safe drinking water standards in groundwater in many locations worldwide. Arsenic exposure in fish has been linked to destruction of gill tissues, impairment of growth, decreased muscle mass, memory impairment, increased aggression, and avoidance behaviors. We examined the behavior of mummichogs (Fundulus heteroclitus) following arsenic exposure during development in two studies. Embryos were collected from fish from three reference sites: Scorton Creek (SC), Massachusetts, Wells Harbor (WE), Maine, and Block Island (BLOC), Rhode Island and two contaminated sites: Callahan Mine (CM), Brooksville, Maine, and New Bedford Harbor (NBH), Massachusetts. Embryos were …
The Effect Of Embryonic Arsenic Exposure On The Sensorimotor Behavior Of Zebrafish (Danio Rerio), Laura Paye
The Effect Of Embryonic Arsenic Exposure On The Sensorimotor Behavior Of Zebrafish (Danio Rerio), Laura Paye
Honors College
The goal of this study is to determine the effect of arsenic exposure on vision in zebrafish (Danio rerio). The optic system of D. rerio is ideal for examining visual defects. Their eyes are similar to eyes of humans and can therefore be useful models in studies of human eye disease. Their optic system functions similarly to humans, so it is beneficial to observe how zebrafish are affected by contaminants in the environment. Arsenic is ubiquitous in groundwater, due to its natural presence in bed rock, but is elevated by human activities. In order to see any …
Hydroacoustic Analysis Of The Effects Of A Tidal Power Turbine On Fishes, Haley Viehman
Hydroacoustic Analysis Of The Effects Of A Tidal Power Turbine On Fishes, Haley Viehman
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Tidal currents help shape coastal marine environments and are essential in life cycles of many fish species. Areas with strong tidal currents are also targeted by humans for energy extraction via tidal energy turbines. The effects of these devices on fishes are difficult to predict because fish behavior within fast tidal currents is largely unstudied. Based at a tidal energy site in Cobscook Bay, Maine, this work sought to describe fish reactions to a tidal energy device, to understand the natural presence of fish at the site, and to provide guidance for future monitoring of tidal energy device effects in …
The Influence Of Sediment Characteristics On The Burrowing Behavior Of Juvenile Razor Clams, Ensis Directus, Robert Joseph Hallinan
The Influence Of Sediment Characteristics On The Burrowing Behavior Of Juvenile Razor Clams, Ensis Directus, Robert Joseph Hallinan
Honors College
Ensis directus, or the Atlantic razor clam, is an infaunal bivalve species whose geographic range extends along the Atlantic coast of North America, from Canada to South Carolina. In this study, I examined the burrowing behavior of large juvenile razor clams (shell length: 60-78 mm) in two sediment types: fine mud sediment and coarse sand sediment. I categorized the burrowing behavior into four independent phases: recovery, exploration, initiation, and tunneling and recorded the proportion and time of completion of each stage of burrowing. With each clam having been exposed to both sediment types, more razor clams burrowed in the fine …