Life Sciences Commons^™

Understanding Morphological Responses Of Typha (Cattail) Species To Nutrient Pollution, Anna Marie Shapiro

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In the Midwestern United States, Typha x glauca is a hybrid of the native Typha latifolia and the non-native Typha angustifolia. Typha x glauca is considered invasive, and it is dominating Typha latifolia when they co-occur. Wetlands in the Midwest face nutrient pollution, due to fertilization used within the agricultural industry. Wetlands are nutrient sinks, which store the increased levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients are known to increase Typha growth. Within this thesis, it was hypothesized that an increase of nitrogen in the wetland may increase the width of Typha leaves, making it difficult to distinguish the …

Quantifying Genomic Diversity And Growth In Iowa Bluegill, Jeremy Raymond Abels

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) is one of the most fished species in Iowa. However, after an initial stocking event, lakes rarely receive additional stockings owing to a high rate of natural reproduction. For this reason, the genetic diversity of Bluegill populations remains understudied in the context of fisheries and natural resource management. Additionally, the extent to which genetics influences the growth rate of Bluegill on a population level has not yet been extensively examined. The goal of this study was to understand the diversity of Iowa’s Bluegill population and to determine if there is a genetic association with growth …

Soil Organic Carbon Accumulation In Restored Native Prairies Over Time, Samrin Shahnaz

Honors Program Theses

With the recent focus on the causes and effects of climate change, the relationship between agriculture and climate change has become an important concern. Conventional farming maximizes crop production at the expense of ecosystem services like soil carbon storage. As the human population grows, it is vital to develop practices that balance crop production and ecosystem services.

We investigated organic carbon accumulation in restored prairie soil over the course of a decade. Our goal was to determine how organic carbon levels and soil bulk density changed over time, and how that change was influenced by species diversity and soil depth. …

How Exercise Affects The Musculoskeletal System In The Biological Sexes: A Literature Review, Lauren Connolly

Honors Program Theses

Exercise has countless benefits for the human body. Physical activity increases overall health and reduces the risk of developing many chronic diseases. While the entire body is impacted by exercise, the musculoskeletal system is perhaps targeted most directly. Muscle contraction is required to complete any form of exercise, which helps build muscle mass and consequently strengthens bones. The physiology of musculoskeletal growth after exercise is the same for all individuals. However, the magnitude of this growth is not the same for men and women. Men have a profound ability to gain muscle mass that most women are not capable of …

The Development Of A Photographic Atlas Of Plant Adaptations For Pollination, Bethany Van Dusseldorp

Honors Program Theses

Plants have biotic, abiotic, or both biotic and abiotic adaptations for pollination, depending on how they are structured and the attraction between the plant and pollinator. The main focus for this project was biotic adaptations for pollination, and how various plants are specifically structured for the insect, bird, or mammal to pick up the pollen and carry it to the next plant. Documentation, using image/focus stacking and macro photography, was done of the structures of various plants from the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) Botanical Center to support the reason for why plants are structured the way they are. While …

Developing Methods To Assess The Role Of Lumbricus Terrestris On Seed Predation In Prairie Restoration, Jacey R. Meier

Honors Program Theses

Tallgrass prairie used to cover Iowa and much of the midwest, but now only a small percentage of it remains. Many prairie restoration efforts are in place to revitalize Iowa’s former prairie landscape. Native prairie seed that is genetically diverse and regionally appropriate is expensive, and only 5-10% of the seeds planted germinate into seedlings. Ungerminated seed loss can occur many ways, one being due to seed predation. The common earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris, is a seed predator that has been observed to be present at prairie restoration sites by its numerous middens. The goal was to develop methods that would …

Changes In The Barley Stem Proteome In Response To Drought During Grain Filling, Mohammed Al Slamh

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Drought is the major environmental factor that limits crop yield worldwide. Crops are particularly vulnerable to drought at the reproductive stage. In cereals, grain filling during drought depends on the contribution of current photosynthesis products from the leaf and spike and carbohydrates stored mainly in the stem and remobilized to the grain. Even though stem reserve is an important source for grain filling, changes in the proteome of barley stem under drought have not been studied. Also, the molecular events associated with differential stem reserve remobilization under drought are not well understood. In this study, barley plants were exposed to …

All About The Prairie: Coloring Book Of Plants, Animals, And Insects Native To Iowa Prairies, Brianna Hull

Faculty Book Gallery

A coloring book with drawings of plants, animals, and insects that are native to Iowa. Includes the common and Latin names of the species as well as the Meskwaki names for some. -- Provided by the publisher

Wild Bee Visitors And Floral Source Associations In The Conservation Reserve Program Habitat In Ne Iowa, Ai Wen, Kenneth J. Elgersma, Mark E. Sherrard, Laura L. Jackson, Justin Meissen, Mark C. Myers

Data Sets

The spreadsheet documents data collected in the study described in the manuscript “Wild bee visitors and their association with sown and unsown floral resources in reconstructed pollinator habitats within an agriculture landscape”. Data included in the spreadsheet shows the name of each collected wild bee specimen and the flower species where the bee was collected. Data were used to construct the bee-pollinator network and calculate the network metrics for each study site.

Genetic Effect Of Long-Term Angling Pressure On Bluegill Populations In Small Impoundments In Kansas, Morganne Borsh

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) at UNI

Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) is a versatile sport fish popularly fished across Kansas. Over the last decade, Bluegill catch rates have decreased, likely from high angler harvest rates of larger individuals. Large males that exhibit parental care have high growth rates and aggressively defend nests, making them vulnerable to angling. Males that display cuckoldry behavior reach maturity sooner, exhibit slower growth rates, and are generally smaller. The goal of this study is to determine if fisheries-induced evolution resulting from long-term harvest has led to a decline in the growth rate of Bluegill. A total of 100 individuals were sampled from ten …

24andmore: Using Genomics To Improve Walleye (Sander Vitreus) Stocking In Iowa, Rachel Mcdonnell

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) at UNI

Walleye, Sander vitreus, is one of the top gamefish in Iowa. Due to poor natural reproduction in many Iowa waterbodies, populations are managed with stocking. There are two strains of walleye used to stock Iowa’s inland waters: a river strain derived from the Mississippi River near Genoa, WI and a lake strain derived from Spirit Lake, IA. Each strain may have unique characteristics relative to their environment that could affect the fitness and success of fish stocked. The goal of this study is to understand the genetic diversity within and between each strain to offer stocking guidance to the Iowa …

2020-2021 Tallgrass Prairie Center Highlights, Tallgrass Prairie Center, University Of Northern Iowa

Annual Reports

The Tallgrass Prairie Center empowers people to value and restore diverse, resilient tallgrass prairie. Our goals are to: 1) build the capacity of our partners and stakeholders to plant prairie and 2) expand public awareness of and appreciation for the prairie ecosystem.

The need for more diverse, native, perennial vegetation on the landscape has never been greater. Prairie is ideal wildlife habitat. Its deep roots hold the soil during even the heaviest rainfall, increase water infiltration and reduce nutrient pollution in our rivers. Over time, prairies can trap and store carbon. And let’s not forget the mental health benefits of …

Native Seed Scoop, Fall 2021, University Of Northern Iowa. Tallgrass Prairie Center.

Native Seed Scoop

The Native Seed Scoop newsletter provides native seed producers, service providers, and consumers with practical information. The goal of this newsletter is to improve information sharing among native seed stakeholders and help sustain a diverse, thriving native seed market.

Inside this Issue:

--- Events
--- Kudos
--- What's Your Scoop?
--- Species Spotlight: Whorled Milkweed, Asclepias verticillata
--- In the News
--- Production Topic: Companion Topic

Leaf Form Diversification In An Ornamental Heirloom Tomato Results From Alterations In Two Different Homeobox Genes, Hokuto Nakayama, Steven D. Rowland, Zizhang Cheng, Kristina Zumstein, Julie Kang, Yohei Kondo, Neelima R. Sinha

Faculty Publications

Domesticated plants display diverse phenotypic traits. However, the influence of breeding effort on this phenotypic diversity remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that a single nucleotide deletion in the homeobox motif of BIPINNATA, a BEL-LIKE HOMEODOMAIN gene, led to a highly complex leaf phenotype in an heirloom tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), Silvery Fir Tree (SiFT), which is used as a landscaping and ornamental plant. A comparative gene network analysis revealed that repression of SOLANIFOLIA, the ortholog of WUSCHEL RELATED HOMEOBOX 1, caused the narrow leaflet phenotype seen in SiFT. Comparative genomics indicated that the bip mutation in SiFT likely arose de novo …

The Mitochondrial Genome Of The Spiny-Wristed Fiddler Crab, Leptuca Spinicarpa Rathbun 1900, Amber Finke, James Demastes Ph.D., J. Antonio Baeza, Carl Thurman Ph.D.

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Expiring Cp-25 And 3-Year Old Cp-42 Plantings For Monarch Habitat Quality, Schuyler Hop, Laura L. Jackson Ph.D.

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

Monarch butterflies have experienced a population decline of more than 80% in the past two decades, driven by the emergence of Roundup Ready beans and corn varieties. This development resulted in landowners spraying herbicides and killing all other plants in their field, including milkweeds, which is the genus of plants (Asclepias) that monarch caterpillars can only feed upon. Along with this development, an initiative to reintroduce native prairie ecosystems as part of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). In Iowa, over 80% of the land once was home to this prairie, now less than 0.1% of this rare ecosystem …

Evaluation Of Pre-Lysis Rinses To Improve Dna Yield And Purity, Joseph Correa, Emma Pellegrino, Marek K. Sliwinski Ph.D.

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

The widespread sampling of environmental DNA from soils has led to a fundamental shift in our understanding of Earth’s microbiome by identifying previously unknown microbes that have never been grown in the laboratory. Many of the published protocols for the extraction of environmental DNA differ based on the starting material. These differences include changes to buffer composition, detergents, and enzymatic digest. To remove this bias, we sought a standardized protocol for samples from Wind Cave National Park, which includes both above ground prairie soil and paleofill from the deepest depths of the cave system. Pre-rinsing samples with either of two …

Soil Organic Carbon Accumulation In Restored Native Prairies Over Time [Poster], Samrin Shahnaz, Kenneth J. Elgersma Ph.D.

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

With the recent focus on the causes and effects of climate change, the relationship between agriculture and climate change has become an important concern. Conventional farming maximizes crop production at the expense of ecosystem services like soil carbon storage. As the human population grows, it is vital to develop practices that balance crop production and ecosystem services.

We investigated organic carbon accumulation in restored prairie soil over the course of a decade. Our goal was to determine how organic carbon levels and soil bulk density changed over time, and how that change was influenced by species diversity and soil depth. …

Mitochondrial Genome Of Geomydoecus Aurei, A Pocket-Gopher Louse, Theresa A. Spradling, Alexandra C. Place, Ashley L. Campbell, James W. Demastes

Faculty Publications

Parasitic lice demonstrate an unusual array of mitochondrial genome architectures and gene arrangements. We characterized the mitochondrial genome of Geomydoecus aurei, a chewing louse (Phthiraptera: Trichodectidae) found on pocket gophers (Rodentia: Geomyidae) using reads from both Illumina and Oxford Nanopore sequencing coupled with PCR, cloning, and Sanger sequencing to verify structure and arrangement for each chromosome. The genome consisted of 12 circular mitochondrial chromosomes ranging in size from 1,318 to 2,088 nucleotides (nt). Total genome size was 19,015 nt. All 37 genes typical of metazoans (2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and 13 protein-coding genes) were present. An average …

Native Seed Scoop, Summer 2021, University Of Northern Iowa. Tallgrass Prairie Center.

Native Seed Scoop

The Native Seed Scoop newsletter provides native seed producers, service providers, and consumers with practical information. The goal of this newsletter is to improve information sharing among native seed stakeholders and help sustain a diverse, thriving native seed market.

Inside this Issue:

--- Panel Discussion – Native Seed: A Landowner’s Perspective
--- National Conference on Ecological Restoration (NCER)
--- Iowa Prairie Conference – Prairie Kinship
--- Iowa Roadside Conference
--- Tallgrass Prairie Center Updates
--- Native Seed News on the Web
--- Seed Test Variability Evaluated
--- Survey of Native Seed and Plant Consumers
--- Native Seed Highlights from SER2021

Designing Multifunctional, Cost-Effective Prairies For Dry Marginal Lands, Justin Meissen

Tallgrass Prairie Publications and Reports

No abstract provided.

Assessing Outcome Predictability In Prairie Strip Establishment, Justin Meissen, Alec Glidden

Tallgrass Prairie Publications and Reports

No abstract provided.

Irvine Prairie Science Update, Justin Meissen

Tallgrass Prairie Publications and Reports

No abstract provided.

Irvine Prairie Restoration/Management Work Plan, Tallgrass Prairie Center, University Of Northern Iowa

Tallgrass Prairie Publications and Reports

No abstract provided.

Native Seed Scoop, Winter 2021, University Of Northern Iowa. Tallgrass Prairie Center.

Native Seed Scoop

The Native Seed Scoop newsletter provides native seed producers, service providers, and consumers with practical information. The goal of this newsletter is to improve information sharing among native seed stakeholders and help sustain a diverse, thriving native seed market.

Inside this Issue:

--- Fourth Public Meeting - An Assessment of Native Seed Needs and Capacities
--- Native Seed Stakeholder Meeting(s) 2021
--- Native Seed News and Info
--- Production Topic - Seed Cleaning
--- Species Spotlight
--- Other news . . .

A Review Of The Molecular Mediators Of Host-Baculovirus Interactions In Lepidoptera, Olivia Crouse

Honors Program Theses

Iowa farmlands occupy approximately 85% of its 35.7 million acres, and Iowa leads the United States in corn and soybean production, with an estimated 2.58 billion and 502 million bushels of corn and soybean produced in 2019, respectively. This successful trend in annual yields has span forty plus years and been consequential to the simultaneous implementation of agricultural- and science-based practices. Genetically modified corn and soybean crop varieties express genes from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) which encode insecticidal proteins that protect, with high specificity, against insect pests. While researchers continue to study the molecular mechanism(s) of Bt extensively, alternative environmentally safe …

The Systematics Of Physaria Sensu Stricto From Wyoming And Surrounding Areas, Jason Ratcliff

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Two genera of Brassicaceae – Lesquerella and Physaria – were recently united on the basis of monophyly. Classically, these genera have been distinguished based on morphology with 'traditional” Physaria species having doubly inflated (didymous) fruits. Molecular data consisting of ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) DNA sequences indicate Physaria has evolved from the larger Lesquerella genus, thus making Lesquerella a paraphyletic grouping as previously described. A revised treatment of the combined Physaria recognized 106 species within the genus, of which 26 taxa occur in Wyoming. Of the Wyoming taxa, those traditionally described as belonging to Physaria (i.e.Physaria sensu stricto) have …

24andmore: Using Genome-Wide Snps To Investigate The Genetic Diversity Of Iowa Walleye (Sander Vitreous) Broodstock, Rachel Ann Mcdonnell

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The stocking of Sander vitreus in Iowa waterbodies is one of the primary tools used by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to ensure healthy populations for enjoyable fishing experiences. A substantial amount of time and money goes into this effort, so stocking efficiency is vital. Knowledge of genetic diversity contained in the broodstock increases this efficiency by having a better understanding of which strain will survive and contribute to the fishery in certain environments. The objective of this study is to investigate the genetic diversity of Iowa S. vitreus broodstock to identify genetic ancestry and quantify the genetic …

Examining The Effects Of Netropsin On The Mobility Of Dna A-Tracts Using Capillary Electrophoresis, Jillian Miller

Honors Program Theses

A-tracts are sequences of repeated adenine bases that cause a natural curvature of DNA. The biological function of A-tracts is not fully understood. Research into how A-tract sequences affect mobility in an electric field contributes more knowledge in this area. For this research project, the electrophoretic mobility of multiple double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) fragments of the same length, with varying shapes due to the amount and orientation of A-tracts along the helix axis, was studied using capillary electrophoresis under varying conditions with the small molecule netropsin. Previous semesters of research showed a change in mobility due to shape of three fragments …

Evaluation Of Archeal Growth On Complex Media And Antibiotic Regimes, Melanie Miller

Honors Program Theses

The first Archaea that were studied by scientists came from extreme environments such as fissures at the bottom of oceans where hydrothermal vents formed. It was perhaps surprising that later sampling of environmental DNA revealed Archaea inhabit normal environments as well, for example they are globally distributed in soils. These mesophilic soil species were only recently grown in laboratory pure cultures. In this study, we will expand on this work by feeding the community of soil microbes with various dilutions of tryptic soy broth and other complex media in combination with an antibiotic regime. This will allow us to compare …