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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Evidence For The Alternative Pathway Of Complement Activation In The Nurse Shark, Lieneke Cecile Culbreath
Evidence For The Alternative Pathway Of Complement Activation In The Nurse Shark, Lieneke Cecile Culbreath
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Complement is activated via two pathways: classical (CCP) and alternative (ACP). The CCP has been demonstrated in the nurse shark. The ACP has not been demonstrated in any cartilagenous fish. Nurse shark serum was evaluated for complement activity by its ability to lyse heterologous erythrocytes. As CCP activity requires calcium and magnesium, activity of shark serum chelated with EGTA (a selective calcium chelator) or EDTA (a chelator of calcium and magnesium) was assessed. Activity remained in serum chelated with EGTA but not EDTA. Furthermore, activity of chelated serum was enhanced by added magnesium. Activation of shark complement by activators of …
Reproductive Ecology Of The Burrowing Owl, Athene Cunicularia Floridana, In Dade And Broward Counties, Florida, Brian Keith Mealey
Reproductive Ecology Of The Burrowing Owl, Athene Cunicularia Floridana, In Dade And Broward Counties, Florida, Brian Keith Mealey
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
From 1988 to 1990 a study of the reproductive ecology of the burrowing owl was conducted to determine seasonality and reproductive success in Dade and Broward Counties. Reproductive data for each of the three years (1988- 1990) reveal a higher reproductive success rate (54%) for 1990 than 1989 (40%) and 1988 (40%). Owls using previously used burrows had a higher success in fledging young (63%) than newly excavated burrows (19%). T-tests were conducted on several appendage measurements of male and female owls to determine sexual dimorphic traits. Metatarsus lengths of males and females were different (t=2.36, p=0.02). As of 1990,197 …