Life Sciences Commons^™

Conservation In The Context Of Climate Change: Practical Guidelines For Land Protection At Local Scales, Kevin Ruddock, Peter August, Christopher Damon, Charles Labash, Pamela Rubinoff, Donald Robadue Jr.

Peter August

Climate change will affect the composition of plant and animal communities in many habitats and geographic settings. This presents a dilemma for conservation programs – will the portfolio of protected lands we now have achieve a goal of conserving biodiversity in the future when the ecological communities occurring within them change? Climate change will significantly alter many plant communities, but the geophysical underpinnings of these landscapes, such as landform, elevation, soil, and geological properties, will largely remain the same. Studies show that extant landscapes with a diversity of geophysical characteristics support diverse plant and animal communities. Therefore, geophysically diverse landscapes …

Phosphatidic Acid Interacts With A Myb Transcription Factor And Regulates Its Nuclear Localization And Function In Arabidopsis, Xuemin Wang, Hongyan Yao, Geliang Wang, Liang Guo

Xuemin (Sam) Wang

Active Α-Macroglobulin Is A Reservoir For Urokinase After Fibrinolytic Therapy In Rabbits With Tetracycline-Induced Pleural Injury And In Human Pleural Fluids, Ali Azghani

Ali Azghani

Effects Of Natural Flooding And Manual Trapping On The Facilitation Of Invasive Crayfish-Native Amphibian Coexistence In A Semi-Arid Perennial Stream, Lee Kats, Gary Bucciarelli, Thomas Vandergon, Rodney Honeycutt, Evan Mattiasen, Arthur Sanders, Seth Riley, Jacob Kerby, Robert Fisher

Lee Kats

Aquatic amphibians are known to be vulnerable to a myriad of invasive predators. Invasive crayfish are thought to have eliminated native populations of amphibians in some streams in the semi-arid Santa Monica Mountains of southern California. Despite their toxic skin secretions that defend them from native predators, newts are vulnerable to crayfish attacks, and crayfish have been observed attacking adult newts, and eating newt egg masses and larvae. For 15 years, we have observed invasive crayfish and native California newts coexisting in one stream in the Santa Monica Mountains. During that period, we monitored the densities of both crayfish and …

Accounting For False Positive Detection Error Induced By Transient Individuals, Chris Sutherland, D Elston, X. Lambin

Chris Sutherland

Genetic Character Of Cyb5 Gene Among Different Pig Breeds.Pdf, Ying Bai, Jibin Zhang, Meiying Fang

Jibin Zhang

Impact Of Phytoplankton On The Biogeochemical Cycling Of Iron In Subantarctic Waters Southeast Of New Zealand During Fecycle, Robert Michael Mckay, S. W. Wilhelm, J. Hall, D. A. Hutchins, M. M. D. Al-R Shaidat, C. E. Mioni, S. Pickmere, D. Porta, P. W. Boyd

Robert Michael McKay

During austral summer 2003, we tracked a patch of surface water infused with the tracer sulfur hexafluoride, but without addition of Fe, through subantarctic waters over 10 days in order to characterize and quantify algal Fe pools and fluxes to construct a detailed biogeochemical budget. Nutrient profiles characterized this patch as a high-nitrate, low-silicic acid, low-chlorophyll (HNLSiLC) water mass deficient in dissolved Fe. The low Fe condition was confirmed by several approaches: shipboard iron enrichment experiments and physiological indices of Fe deficiency (F(v)/F(m) < 0.25, Ferredoxin Index < 0.2). During FeCycle, picophytoplankton (0.2-2 mu m) and nanophytoplankton (2-20 mu m) each contributed >40% of total chlorophyll. Whereas the picophytoplankton accounted for similar to 50% of total primary production, they …

Role Of Iron, Light, And Silicate In Controlling Algal Biomass In Subantarctic Waters Se Of New Zealand, Robert Michael Mckay, Philip Boyd, Julie Laroche, Mark Gall, Russell Frew

Robert Michael McKay

Phytoplankton processes in subantarctic (SA) waters southeast of New Zealand were studied during austral autumn and spring 1997. Chlorophyll a (0.2–0.3 μg L−1) and primary production (350–650 mg C m−2 d−1) were dominated by cells μm (cyanobacteria) in both seasons. The photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fυ/Fm) of cells was low (0.3), indicating physiological stress. Dissolved Fe (DFe) levels in surface waters were subnanomolar, and the molecular marker flavodoxin indicated that cells were iron stressed. In contrast, Subtropical Convergence (STC) and subtropical waters had higher algal biomass/production levels, particularly in spring. In these waters, DFe levels were >1 nmol kg−1, …

Tracking Changes In Bioavailable Fe Within High-Nitrate Low-Chlorophyll Oceanic Waters: A First Estimate Using A Heterotrophic Bacterial Bioreporter, Robert Michael Mckay, C. E. Mioni, S. M. Handy, M. J. Ellwood, M. R. Twiss, P. W. Boyd, S. W. Wilhelm

Robert Michael McKay

It is conventional knowledge that heterotrophic bacteria play a key role in the biogeochemical cycling of oceanic carbon. However, only recently has their role in marine iron ( Fe) biogeochemical cycles been examined. Research during this past decade has demonstrated an inextricable link between Fe chemistry and the biota, as >99% of Fe in marine systems is complexed to organic chelates of unknown but obviously biotic origin. Here we present a novel approach to assess and compare Fe bioavailability in low Fe HNLC waters using a bioluminescent bacterial reporter that quantitatively responds to the concentration of bioavailable Fe by producing …

Effect Of Phosphorus Amendments On Present Day Plankton Communities In Pelagic Lake Erie, Steven W. Wilhelm, Jennifer M. Debruyn, Osnat Gillor, Michael R. Twiss, Kasey Livingston, Richard A. Bourbonniere, Lisa D. Pickell, Charles G. Trick, Amanda L. Dean, Robert Michael Mckay

Robert Michael McKay

To address questions regarding the potential impact of elevated total phosphorus (TP) inputs (due to relaxed regulations of TP loading), a series of TP enrichment experiments were conducted at pelagic stations in the 3 hydrologically distinct basins of Lake Erie. Results of nutrient assimilation measurements and assays for nutrient bioavailability suggest that the chemical speciation, and not concentration, of nitrogenous compounds may influence phytoplankton community structure; this in turn may lead to the selective proliferation of cyanobacteria in the eastern basin of the lake. Assays with cyanobacterial bioluminescent reporter systems for P and N availability as well as N-tot:P-tot assimilation …

Fecycle: Attempting An Iron Biogeochemical Budget From A Mesoscale Sf6 Tracer Experiment In Unperturbed Low Iron Waters, Robert Michael Mckay, P. W. Boyd, C. S. Law, D. A. Hutchins, E. R. Abraham, P. L. Croot, M. Ellwood, R. D. Frew, M. Hadfield, J. Hall, S. Handy, C. Hare, J. Higgins, P. Hill, K. A. Hunter, K. Leblanc, M. T. Maldonado, C. Mioni, M. Oliver, S. Pickmere, M. Pinkerton, K. Safi, S. Sander, S. A. Sanudo-Wilhelmy, M. Smith, R. Strzepek, A. Tovar-Sanchez, S. W. Wilhelm

Robert Michael McKay

An improved knowledge of iron biogeochemistry is needed to better understand key controls on the functioning of high-nitrate low-chlorophyll (HNLC) oceanic regions. Iron budgets for HNLC waters have been constructed using data from disparate sources ranging from laboratory algal cultures to ocean physics. In summer 2003 we conducted FeCycle, a 10-day mesoscale tracer release in HNLC waters SE of New Zealand, and measured concurrently all sources (with the exception of aerosol deposition) to, sinks of iron from, and rates of iron recycling within, the surface mixed layer. A pelagic iron budget (timescale of days) indicated that oceanic supply terms (lateral …

Plasticity Of Total And Intracellular Phosphorus Quotas In Microcystis Aeruginosa Cultures And Lake Erie Algal Assemblages, Robert Michael Mckay, Matthew A. Saxton, Robert J. Arnold, Richard A. Bourbonniere, Steven W. Wilhelm

Robert Michael McKay

Blooms of the potentially toxic cyanobacterium Microcystis are common events globally, and as a result significant resources continue to be dedicated to monitoring and controlling these events. Recent studies have shown that a significant proportion of total cell-associated phosphorus (P) in marine phytoplankton can be surface adsorbed; as a result studies completed to date do not accurately report the P demands of these organisms. In this study we measure the total cell-associated and intracellular P as well as growth rates of two toxic strains of Microcystis aeruginosa Kütz grown under a range of P concentrations. The results show that the …

High-Throughput Imaging Of Neuronal Activity In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Dirk Albrecht, Johannes Larsch, Donovan Ventimiglia, Cornelia Bargmann

Dirk R. Albrecht

Neuronal responses to sensory inputs can vary based on genotype, development, experience, or stochastic factors. Existing neuronal recording techniques examine a single animal at a time, limiting understanding of the variability and range of potential responses. To scale up neuronal recordings, we here describe a system for simultaneous wide-field imaging of neuronal calcium activity from at least 20 Caenorhabditis elegans animals under precise microfluidic chemical stimulation. This increased experimental throughput was used to perform a systematic characterization of chemosensory neuron responses to multiple odors, odor concentrations, and temporal patterns, as well as responses to pharmacological manipulation. The system allowed recordings …

Extraction Of Dna From Plant And Fungus Tissues In Situ, Scott O. Rogers, Amal S. Abu Almakarem, Katie L. Heilman, Heather L. Conger, Yury M. Shtarkman

Scott O. Rogers

Background: When samples are collected in the field and transported to the lab, degradation of the nucleic acids contained in the samples is frequently observed. Immediate extraction and precipitation of the nucleic acids reduces degradation to a minimum, thus preserving accurate sequence information. An extraction method to obtain high quality DNA in field studies is described. Findings. DNA extracted immediately after sampling was compared to DNA extracted after allowing the sampled tissues to air dry at 21°C for 48 or 72 hours. While DNA extracted from fresh tissues exhibited little degradation, DNA extracted from all tissues exposed to 21°C air …

Welcome To The Journal Of Evolution And Health, Aaron Blaisdell, Paul Jaminet, David C. Pendergrass

Aaron P Blaisdell

Welcome to the first issue of the Journal of Evolution and Health! The Journal of Evolution and Health is the peer-reviewed, open-access journal of the Ancestral Health Society, a community of scientists, healthcare professionals, and laypersons who collaborate to understand health challenges from an evolutionary perspective.

Origin And Differential Selection Of Allelic Variation At Tas2r16 Associated With Salicin Bitter Taste Sensitivity In Africa, Michael C. Campbell

Michael C. Campbell

Extensión Y Límites Del Ecosistema Subterráneo, Alberto Sendra, Ana Sofia Reboleira

Ana Sofia P.S. Reboleira

No abstract provided.

Darwin Correspondence Project, Betty Landesman

Betty Landesman

Review of the Darwin Correspondence Project web site, http://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/

Conceptual Shifts Needed To Understand The Dynamic Interactions Of Genes, Environment, Epigenetics, Social Processes, And Behavioral Choices, Fatimah Linda Collier Jackson, Mihai D. Niculescu, Robert T. Jackson

Fatimah Linda Collier Jackson

Ecological Literacy: The Educational Foundation Necessary For Informed Public Decision Making, Catherine Cardelús, George Middendorf

George Middendorf

Female Rats Display Enhanced Rewarding Effects Of Ethanol That Are Hormone Dependent, Laura O'Dell

Laura Elena O'Dell

Background: Ethanol (EtOH) abuse is a major health and economic concern, particularly for females who appear to be more sensitive to the rewarding effects of EtOH. This study compared sex differences to the rewarding and aversive effects of EtOH using place-conditioning procedures in rats. Methods: Separate groups of adult (male, female, ovariectomized [OVX] female) and adolescent (male and female) rats received EtOH (0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 or 2.5 g/kg; i.p.) and were confined to their initially nonpreferred side of our conditioning apparatus for 30 minutes. On alternate days, they received saline and were confined to the other side. Following 5 …

Biology Of Human Life Laboratory Manual, Lee Lee, Joseph Riggio, Tin-Chun Chu

Tin-Chun Chu, Ph.D.

No abstract provided.

Physiological Effects Of Nickel Chloride On The Freshwater Cyanobacterium Synechococcus Sp. Iu 625, Brian Nohomovich, Bao T. Nguyen, Michael Quintanilla, Lee H. Lee, Sean R. Murray, Tin-Chun Chu

Tinchun Chu, Ph.D.

Lipid Signaling In Plants, Xuemin Wang, Kent D. Chapman

Xuemin (Sam) Wang

No abstract provided.

Encyclopedia Of Animal Behavior, A. Payne, P. Starks, Aviva Liebert

Aviva E Liebert

The Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior has engaged-with great success-the efforts of many of the best behavioral biologists of the 21st century. Section editors drawn from the most accomplished behavioral scientists of their generation have enrolled an international cast of highly respected thinkers and writers-all of whom have taken great care and joy in illuminating every imaginable corner of animal behavior. This comprehensive work covers not only the usual topics such as communication, learning, sexual selection, navigation, and the history of the field, but also emerging topics in cognition, animal welfare, conservation, and applications of animal behavior. The large section on …

Germline Transgenic Methods For Tracking Cells And Testing Gene Function During Regeneration In The Axolotl, Shahryar Khattak, Maritta Schuez, Tobias Richter, Dunja Knapp, Saori Haigo, Tatiana Sandoval-Guzman, Kristyna Hradlikova, Annett Duemmler, Ryan Kerney, Elly Tanaka

Ryan Kerney

The salamander is the only tetrapod that regenerates complex body structures throughout life. Deciphering the underlying molecular processes of regeneration is fundamental for regenerative medicine and developmental biology, but the model organism had limited tools for molecular analysis. We describe a comprehensive set of germline transgenic strains in the laboratory-bred salamander Ambystoma mexicanum (axolotl) that open up the cellular and molecular genetic dissection of regeneration. We demonstrate tissue-dependent con- trol of gene expression in nerve, Schwann cells, oligodendrocytes, muscle, epidermis, and cartilage. Furthermore, we demonstrate the use of tamoxifen-induced Cre/loxP-mediated recombination to indelibly mark different cell types. Finally, we inducibly …

A High Omega-3 Fatty Acid Diet Has Different Effects On Early And Late Stage Myeloid Progenitors, Melinda Varney, James Buchanan, Yulia Dementieva, W. Hardman, Vincent Sollars

Yulia Dementieva

The effects of the polyunsaturated omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6) fatty acids (FA) on hematopoiesis are complex in that both FA forms are processed into leukotrienes, eicosanoids, and prostaglandins, which can have independent effects. These FA have antagonistic effects in that n-6 FA prostaglandins tend to be pro-proliferative and pro-inflammatory, while the effects of n-3 FA prostaglandins are the opposite. We have previously shown that diets high in n-3 FA reduce the size of the middle to later stage myeloid progenitor compartment in FVB X sv129 F1hybrid mice. To assay the effects of high n-3 FA diets on earlier stages …

Global Analysis Of Gene Expression Changes During Retinoic Acid-Induced Growth Arrest And Differentiation Of Melanoma: Comparison To Differentially Expressed Genes In Melanocytes Vs Melanoma, Mary H. Estler, Goran Boskovic, James Denvir, Sarah Miles, Donald A. Primerano, Richard M. Niles

Goran Boskovic

BACKGROUND: The incidence of malignant melanoma has significantly increased over the last decade. Some of these malignancies are susceptible to the growth inhibitory and pro-differentiating effects of all-trans-retinoic acid (RA). The molecular changes responsible for the biological activity of RA in melanoma are not well understood. RESULTS: In an analysis of sequential global gene expression changes during a 4-48 h RA treatment of B16 mouse melanoma cells, we found that RA increased the expression of 757 genes and decreased the expression of 737 genes. We also compared the gene expression profile (no RA treatment) between non-malignant melan-a mouse melanocytes and …

A Mechanistic Hypothesis Of The Factors That Enhance Vulnerability To Nicotine Use In Females, Laura O'Dell

Laura Elena O'Dell

Women are particularly more vulnerable to tobacco use than men. This review proposes a unifying hypothesis that females experience greater rewarding effects of nicotine and more intense stress produced by withdrawal than males. We also provide a neural framework whereby estrogen promotes greater rewarding effects of nicotine in females via enhanced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc). During withdrawal, we suggest that corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) stress systems are sensitized and promote a greater suppression of dopamine release in the NAcc of females versus males. Taken together, females display enhanced nicotine reward via estrogen and amplified effects of withdrawal via …

Anti-Inflammatory Protein Of Schistosoma Japonicum Directs The Differentiation Of The Wehi-3b Jcs Cells And Mouse Bone Marrow Cells To Macrophages, Shaomin Hu, Linlin Yang, Zhongdao Wu, Nai Ki Mak, Kwok Nam Leung, Ming Chiu Fung

Professor MAK, Nai Ki

Sj16 is an anti-inflammatory protein identified from Schistosoma japonicum. Our previous studies showed that recombinant Sj16 (rSj16) could suppress host's inflammatory responses and inhibit macrophage maturation. In the present study, the effects of rSj16 on the differentiation of the murine myeloid leukemia WEHI-3B JCS cell line and on mouse hematopoiesis were investigated. Our data demonstrated that rSj16 expressed and purified from Escherichia coli could suppress the proliferation of the WEHI-3B JCS cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, while not affect the viability of the cells. Further studies indicated that rSj16 induced macrophage differentiation of the WEHI-3B JCS cells, and …