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Articles 1 - 5 of 5
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Selenium Burdens In Painted Turtles (Chrysemys Picta), Holly A. Gerberding
Selenium Burdens In Painted Turtles (Chrysemys Picta), Holly A. Gerberding
Honors Thesis
Tile drain systems are a critical advancement in agriculture that move excess water from crop fields to streams, ditches, and wetlands. Selenium is a necessary mineral but is considered toxic at high levels. Previous research indicates that wetlands with tile drains are at a higher risk for elevated selenium concentrations. Selenium enters the aquatic ecosystem via these tile systems and us taken up by invertebrates and continues to bioaccumulate mainly via direct transfer in higher trophic level taxa such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. For this study, painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) served as a model organism to …
Detection Of Neonicotinoids In Northern Leopard Frog (Rana Pipiens) Brains, Peyton G. Keller
Detection Of Neonicotinoids In Northern Leopard Frog (Rana Pipiens) Brains, Peyton G. Keller
Honors Thesis
Neonicotinoids are widespread and commonly used to fight agricultural pests. Unfortunately, these neurotoxic insecticides commonly reach nearby wetlands due to tile drainage systems and agricultural runoff. Non-target organisms, such as amphibians, use wetlands as habitat and are likely exposed to elevated neonicotinoid levels. We collected Northern leopard frogs and water samples from control and tile wetlands to compare imidacloprid brain concentrations and subsequent changes in brain morphology. Additionally, a lab-based experiment was conducted to further analyze the ability of imidacloprid and its metabolite, imidacloprid-olefin, to cross the blood-brain barrier. Tile wetlands had higher aquatic imidacloprid concentrations. Subsequently, amphibians collected from …
Using Bacterial And Fungal Inoculation Strategies To Aid In The Wetland Restoration Of Native Plants In Southern California, Amy Alverson, Karina K. Johnston
Using Bacterial And Fungal Inoculation Strategies To Aid In The Wetland Restoration Of Native Plants In Southern California, Amy Alverson, Karina K. Johnston
Honors Thesis
Planting of native species is a key part of ecological restoration, although the encroachment of invasive species and obstacles to seed germination can limit the success of revegetation efforts. The use of indigenous Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) have been shown to increase the long-term height and diameter of native plants and increase soil fertility in certain studies. Inoculation of seeds with native PGPR have also been shown to increase seed germination. In this study, the effect of different inoculation treatments on different plants native to southern California was studied at two sites in the …
The Potential Influence Of Abiotic Conditions On Mussel Species Abundance In San Francisco Bay, Alexandra G. Farrell, M. Christina Vasquez Dr.
The Potential Influence Of Abiotic Conditions On Mussel Species Abundance In San Francisco Bay, Alexandra G. Farrell, M. Christina Vasquez Dr.
Honors Thesis
Climate change has negatively altered seawater conditions, which may have severe implications for marine ecosystems. Mussels are susceptible to environmental changes since they are primary consumers and filter-feeding bivalves. Two species of particular interest to the West Coast of the U.S. are Mytilus galloprovincialis and M. trossulus. M. trossulus is native to the California Coast and was historically prevalent from Southern California to Washington. However, with increased shipping and rising seawater temperature, M. galloprovincialis, an invasive species from the Mediterranean, pushed the species range of M. trossulus poleward. M. trossulus is more tolerant of cold seawater with variable salinity while …
Investigating The Effects Of Urban Coyotes On Free-Range Cats In Culver City, California Using Occupancy Analyses Of Camera Trap Data, Rebecca Davenport, Melinda Weaver, Dr. E. Strauss
Investigating The Effects Of Urban Coyotes On Free-Range Cats In Culver City, California Using Occupancy Analyses Of Camera Trap Data, Rebecca Davenport, Melinda Weaver, Dr. E. Strauss
Honors Thesis
As a habitat generalist, coyotes are known to thrive in urban environments given the abundance and diversity of suitable food sources throughout the cityscape. Within Southern California, cats have been found to comprise a higher proportion of coyote diet than in other urban areas throughout the country. However, it is unclear what factors are contributing to these higher rates of cat depredation by coyotes in the Los Angeles region. While previous research suggests that coyote presence may have a negative effect on free-range cat distributions, few studies have determined whether urban green spaces affect coyote or free-range cat occurrence within …