Life Sciences Commons^™

Larval Development And Life History Of Phyllaplysia Taylori Dall (Opistobranchiata: Anaspidea), Cecilia Blackwell Bridges

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Taxonomic studies involving only adult forms of organisms may not necessarily provide complete information about differentiation of species or about the evolutionary relationships between species grouped in higher taxa. The taxonomic importance of embryonic or larval morphology has been limited only by the lack of detailed comparative morphological work on development. Fretter (1967) has shown that larval shell characteristics are reliable for taxonomic identification of some British prosobranchs. Ostergaard (1950) proposed using the structure of egg masses, larval shell type and developmental characteristics to confirm adult taxonomic position. In recent literature reviews of the larval biology of opisthobranch, it has …

The Effects Of Aging And Transformation On The Dna, Rna, Protein, And Hydroxyproline Content Of Fibroblasts (Wi 38) In Culture, James Michael Eichner

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The study of the aging process is the investigation as to how the passage of time affects cells, organs, and organisms. Aging is a very complex and incompletely understood phenomenon. This is reflected by the number of theories attributing aging to a variety of causative factors such as: (1) the somatic mutations occurring spontaneously or produced by ionizing radiation, which are thought to have some effect on again but are not responsible for the normal process; (2) the alteration of macromolecules as the cells of an organism age forming neoantigens and functioning in the autoimmune reactions; the Cross-linkage theory which …

Some Aspects Of Mercury Accumulation By The Purple Shore Crab Hemigrapsus Nudus Dana (Crustacea: Decapoda), Ralph Gene Swanson

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The present study has attempted to investigate some of the more basic questions concerning the toxicity and accumulation of mercury in the purple shore crab, Hemigrapsus nudus. This rocky intertidal denizen is found in abundance along the entire Pacific coast of the United States from Sitka, Alaska, to the Gulf of California where it dominates the mid-tide pool region. Local specimens were collected just north of the Pacific Marine Stations, Dillon Beach, Marin County, California. The animal is hearty and can be kept in a state of good health for long periods of time in the laboratory with minimum care …

A Medicated Dry Foam For Local Therapy In Infected Burns, Patrick Nicholas Catania

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Local burn therapy usually includes the application of medicated ointments and dressings in order to minimize and eradicate infection. As this approach to local therapy may present problems regarding application and removal techniques, it was the purpose of this study to formulate a topical dosage form that may be applied to denuded areas of the skin without inunction. Using the concept of topical films, a dosage form was formulated that is highly water soluble, flexible , and adherent to both denuded and intact areas of the skin.

Anticoagulant Half-Life Of Heparin In Human Subjects With Normal And Impaired Renal Function., Paul James Perry

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Numerous investigators have noted that individuals vary widely in their response to the anticoagulant, heparin. Animal model3 have suggested that patients with depressed renal function would be expected to clear heparin from the blood at a slower rate than patients with normal renal function.

Utilizing the Activated Coagulation Time clotting test, a method was developed to determine the anticoagulant half-life of heparin. The study calculated the half-life of heparin in a group of individuals with normal renal function and a population of patients in chronic renal failure. Intravenous heparin doses of 0,3 units/ml and 0.6 units/ml of blood were administered …

The Predatory Behavior Of Pisaster Ochraceus (Brandt), David A. Jillson

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The persistence of predator-prey systems in evolutionar time is a function of the efficiency with which the predator obtains its food, and the ability of the prey to avoid ex- tinction. One of the important components of survival of the system is environmental heterogeneity (Huffaker 1958).

Along rocky intertidal regions of the northern Pacific coast of North America, a major predator, the starfish Pisast ochraceus has a dominant effect upon patterns of distribution of many intertidal organisms (Paine 1966). Likewise, the distribution of intertidal fauna exert an effect upon the activities of Pisaster. Other biological interactions such an grazing activities …

Biological Aspects Of Speciation In Three Sympatric Euzonus Species At Dillon Beach, California (Polychaeta: Opheliidae), Steven Rhoads Parke

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

In the present study, information concerning morphology, ecology, fertilization and larval development of three sympatric species of Eusonus is presented. Morphological similarities are reviewed in part I. These similarities correspond with significant lack of variation found in larval development (part IV). Despite these similarities, as well as the ability to cross fertilize their species, the ecological and reproductive isolating mechanisms presented in part II and II provide a positive indication of the existence of three biologically distinct species. A comparative discussion reviews the efficacy of morphological criteria in differentiating the three closely related Euzonus species.

Models Of Primary Productivity In The Oceans, William Yi-Been Chang

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

A general mathematical equation relating variables affecting primary production has been developed to predict changes .in the vertical distribution of primary production in the oceans. The model is tested and shown to fit empirical observations from diverse oceanic areas.

Tissue Culture Of Camptotheca Acuminata Decaisne (Nyssaceae), Ron Charles Cooke

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Camptotheca acuminata Decaisne (Nyssaceae) is endemic to China. The plant was brought to the United States only on a few occasions and thus can be considered rare in this country. A search of the plant kingdom for species that produced anticancer substances revealed that ethanolic extracts of Camptotheca acuminata had such a property. The active constituent was identified eventually. Further testing and possible marketing of the active principle, and alkaloid, (camptothecin) depended on a combination of factors: obtaining the plant from China, organization of a mass planting program in the United States or chemical synthesis of the drug.

Due to …

Development In Lacuna And Littorina (Mesogastropoda: Littorinacea) From California With Emphasis On Egg Masses, Egg Capsules And Larvae, Talbot E. Murray Jr.

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

In the present study, characteristics of egg masses and egg capsules of the four most abundant California littorinaceans (Lacuna marmorata, L. unifasciata; Littorina planaxis, and L. scutulata) are described. Development within the egg capsule at ambient water temperature is followed to hatching and early weligers are described to facilitate their separation from the plankton.

Avoidance Learning In Drosophila Melanogaster, William Lucas

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The importance of showing that Drosophila are capable of learning an instrumental response would, with the information already known from genetic studies, enable researchers to possibly isolate the genetic basis of a simple learning process and thus gain greater insight into this phenomenon. If a reliable technique can be found for earning in Drosophila, a new field of research would be opened which could greatly add to our knowledge of the evolution of behavior.

The following two studies attempted to demonstrate that Drosophila can learn and also investigated which system, vision or olfaction, serves best in this capacity.