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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Mercury Exposure And Short-Term Consequences On Physiology And Reproduction In Antarctic Petrels, Alice Carravieri, Jérôme Fort, Arnaud Tarroux, Yves Cherel, Oliver P. Love, Solène Prieur, Maud Brault-Favrou, Paco Bustamante, Sébastien Descamps Nov 2017

Mercury Exposure And Short-Term Consequences On Physiology And Reproduction In Antarctic Petrels, Alice Carravieri, Jérôme Fort, Arnaud Tarroux, Yves Cherel, Oliver P. Love, Solène Prieur, Maud Brault-Favrou, Paco Bustamante, Sébastien Descamps

Biological Sciences Publications

Mercury (Hg) is a pervasive contaminant reaching Antarctic environments through atmospheric transport and deposition. Seabirds as meso to top predators can accumulate high quantities of Hg through diet. Reproduction is one of the most sensitive endpoints of Hg toxicity in marine birds. Yet, few studies have explored Hg exposure and effects in Antarctic seabirds, where increasing environmental perturbations challenge animal populations. This study focuses on the Antarctic petrel Thalassoica antarctica from Svarthamaren, Antarctica, where the world's largest breeding population is thought to be in decline. Hg and the stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C, proxy of feeding habitat) and nitrogen (δ15N, …


Combining Ballast Water Treatment And Ballast Water Exchange: Reducing Colonization Pressure And Propagule Pressure Of Phytoplankton Organisms, Esteban M. Paolucci, Leila Ron, Hugh J. Macissaac Nov 2017

Combining Ballast Water Treatment And Ballast Water Exchange: Reducing Colonization Pressure And Propagule Pressure Of Phytoplankton Organisms, Esteban M. Paolucci, Leila Ron, Hugh J. Macissaac

Biological Sciences Publications

Species richness and species abundance (colonization pressure and propagule pressure, respectively) are commonly used to characterize invasion risk for ballast-water-mediated introductions, which can be high if either parameter is high. For practical reasons, the adopted IMO-D2 standard for organisms in discharged ballast water only considers total abundance of biological indicators, without consideration of species richness or source community. Here we explore the effect of ballast-water source, ballast water exchange, chlorination, or a combination of both (hybrid treatment) on both colonization pressure and propagule pressure for one IMO-D2 size class (≥10 µm and <50 >µm; phytoplankton). A strong reduction of propagule pressure …


Integrating Techniques: A Review Of The Effects Of Anthropogenic Noise On Freshwater Fish, Megan Mickle, Dennis M. Higgs Nov 2017

Integrating Techniques: A Review Of The Effects Of Anthropogenic Noise On Freshwater Fish, Megan Mickle, Dennis M. Higgs

Biological Sciences Publications

In recent years, the effects of anthropogenic noise on freshwater fish has been of increasing interest for fishery managers due to rising levels of this background noise. While it is clear that anthropogenic noise can have important impacts on mammals and marine fish, much less is known about these effects in fresh water. The influence of anthropogenic noise on freshwater fish can be quantified using the same methods as with marine species — through measuring changes in behavioural and physiological outputs. Here, we briefly review the literature regarding behavioural and physiological impacts of noise pollution on freshwater fish and further …


Sperm Competition, But Not Major Histocompatibility Divergence, Drive Differential Fertilization Success Between Alternative Reproductive Tactics In Chinook Salmon, Sarah J. Lehnert, Leila Helou, Trevor E. Pitcher, J. W. Heath, Daniel Heath Nov 2017

Sperm Competition, But Not Major Histocompatibility Divergence, Drive Differential Fertilization Success Between Alternative Reproductive Tactics In Chinook Salmon, Sarah J. Lehnert, Leila Helou, Trevor E. Pitcher, J. W. Heath, Daniel Heath

Biological Sciences Publications

Post-copulatory sexual selection processes, including sperm competition and cryptic female choice (CFC), can operate based on major histocompatibility (MH) genes. We investigated sperm competition between male alternative reproductive tactics (jack (sneaker) and hooknose (guard)) of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Using a full factorial design, we examined in vitro competitive fertilization success of paired jack and hooknose males at three time points after sperm activation (0, 15 and 60 seconds) to test for male competition, CFC and time effects on male fertilization success. We also examined egg-mediated CFC at two MH genes by examining both the relationship between competitive fertilization success …


Invasion Science: Looking Forward Rather Than Revisiting Old Ground – A Reply To Zenni Et Al., Anthony Ricciardi, Tim M. Blackburn, James T. Carlton, Jamie T.A. Dick, Philip E. Hulme, Josephine C. Iacarella, Jonathan M. Jeschke, Andrew M. Liebhold, Julie L. Lockwood, Hugh J. Macisaac, Petr Pyšek, David M. Richardson, Gregory M. Ruiz, Daniel Simberloff, William J. Sutherland, David A. Wardle, David C. Aldridge Nov 2017

Invasion Science: Looking Forward Rather Than Revisiting Old Ground – A Reply To Zenni Et Al., Anthony Ricciardi, Tim M. Blackburn, James T. Carlton, Jamie T.A. Dick, Philip E. Hulme, Josephine C. Iacarella, Jonathan M. Jeschke, Andrew M. Liebhold, Julie L. Lockwood, Hugh J. Macisaac, Petr Pyšek, David M. Richardson, Gregory M. Ruiz, Daniel Simberloff, William J. Sutherland, David A. Wardle, David C. Aldridge

Biological Sciences Publications

No abstract provided.


Stable Isotopes Can Be Used To Infer The Overwintering Locations Of Prebreeding Marine Birds In The Canadian Arctic, Rolanda J. Steenweg, Glenn T. Crossin, T. Kurt Kyser, Flemming R. Merkel, Hugh G. Gilchrist, Holly L. Hennin, Gregory J. Robertson, Jennifer F. Provencher, Joanna M. Flemming, Oliver P. Love Nov 2017

Stable Isotopes Can Be Used To Infer The Overwintering Locations Of Prebreeding Marine Birds In The Canadian Arctic, Rolanda J. Steenweg, Glenn T. Crossin, T. Kurt Kyser, Flemming R. Merkel, Hugh G. Gilchrist, Holly L. Hennin, Gregory J. Robertson, Jennifer F. Provencher, Joanna M. Flemming, Oliver P. Love

Biological Sciences Publications

Although assessments of winter carryover effects on fitness-related breeding parameters are vital for determining the links between environmental variation and fitness, direct methods of determining overwintering distributions (e.g., electronic tracking) can be expensive, limiting the number of individuals studied. Alternatively, stable isotope analysis in specific tissues can be used as an indirect means of determining individual overwintering areas of residency. Although increasingly used to infer the overwintering distributions of terrestrial birds, stable isotopes have been used less often to infer overwintering areas of marine birds. Using Arctic-breeding common eiders, we test the effectiveness of an integrated stable isotope approach (13-carbon, …


Conservation Of Reef Manta Rays (Manta Alfredi) In A Unesco World Heritage Site: Large-Scale Island Development Or Sustainable Tourism?, S. T. Kessel, Nasreldin Alhasan Elamin, David James Yurkowski, T. Chekchak, Ryan P. Walter, R. Klaus, Graham Hill, Nigel E. Hussey Oct 2017

Conservation Of Reef Manta Rays (Manta Alfredi) In A Unesco World Heritage Site: Large-Scale Island Development Or Sustainable Tourism?, S. T. Kessel, Nasreldin Alhasan Elamin, David James Yurkowski, T. Chekchak, Ryan P. Walter, R. Klaus, Graham Hill, Nigel E. Hussey

Biological Sciences Publications

A large reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) aggregation has been observed off the north Sudanese Red Sea coast since the 1950s. Sightings have been predominantly within the boundaries of a marine protected area (MPA), which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2016. Contrasting economic development trajectories have been proposed for the area (small-scale ecotourism and large-scale island development). To examine space-use, Wildlife Computers® SPOT 5 tags were secured to three manta rays. A two-state switching Bayesian state space model (BSSM), that allowed movement parameters to switch between resident and travelling, was fit to the …


Dispersal Influences Genetic And Acoustic Spatial Structure For Both Males And Females In A Tropical Songbird, Brendan Graham, Daniel D. Heath, Daniel J. Mennill Oct 2017

Dispersal Influences Genetic And Acoustic Spatial Structure For Both Males And Females In A Tropical Songbird, Brendan Graham, Daniel D. Heath, Daniel J. Mennill

Biological Sciences Publications

Animals exhibit diverse dispersal strategies, including sex-biased dispersal, a phenomenon common in vertebrates. Dispersal influences the genetic structure of populations as well as geographic variation in phenotypic traits. Patterns of spatial genetic structure and geographic variation may vary between the sexes whenever males and females exhibit different dispersal behaviors. Here, we examine dispersal, spatial genetic structure, and spatial acoustic structure in Rufous-and-white Wrens, a year-round resident tropical bird. Both sexes sing in this species, allowing us to compare acoustic variation between males and females and examine the relationship between dispersal and song sharing for both sexes. Using a long-term dataset …


Higher Colonization Pressure Increases The Risk Of Sustaining Invasion By Invasive Non-Indigenous Species, Hugh J. Macissaac, Mattias L. Johansson Oct 2017

Higher Colonization Pressure Increases The Risk Of Sustaining Invasion By Invasive Non-Indigenous Species, Hugh J. Macissaac, Mattias L. Johansson

Biological Sciences Publications

Considerable attention has been focused on the concept of Propagule Pressure (number of individuals introduced and introduction events) as a predictor of invasion success (975 papers). Much less well studied is the role of Colonization Pressure (number of species introduced; 24 studies), the complement of propagule pressure. Here we review the invasion history of the Laurentian Great Lakes to predict the risk of a future invasive (i.e. producing adverse ecological effects on other species) non-indigenous species based upon the number of species introduced (colonization pressure), using the recorded history of invasions in this system as our starting point. Historically, 52% …


Xenopus Pitx3 Target Genes Lhx1 And Xnr5 Are Identified Using A Novel Three-Fluor Flow Cytometry–Based Analysis Of Promoter Activation And Repression, Lara Nicole Hooker, Cristine Smoczer, Samuel Abbott, Mohamed Fakhereddin, John W. Hudson, Michael J. Crawford Sep 2017

Xenopus Pitx3 Target Genes Lhx1 And Xnr5 Are Identified Using A Novel Three-Fluor Flow Cytometry–Based Analysis Of Promoter Activation And Repression, Lara Nicole Hooker, Cristine Smoczer, Samuel Abbott, Mohamed Fakhereddin, John W. Hudson, Michael J. Crawford

Biological Sciences Publications

Background: Pitx3 plays a well understood role in directing development of lens, muscle fiber, and dopaminergic neurons; however, in Xenopus laevis, it may also play a role in early gastrulation and somitogenesis. Potential downstream targets of pitx3 possess multiple binding motifs that would not be readily accessible by conventional promoter analysis. Results: We isolated and characterized pitx3 target genes lhx1 and xnr5 using a novel three-fluor flow cytometry tool that was designed to dissect promoters with multiple binding sites for the same transcription factor. This approach was calibrated using a known pitx3 target gene, Tyrosine hydroxylase. Conclusions: We demonstrate how …


The Effects Of Stimulus Parameters On Auditory Evoked Potentials Of Carassius Auratus, Jessica R. Garabon, Dennis M. Higgs Aug 2017

The Effects Of Stimulus Parameters On Auditory Evoked Potentials Of Carassius Auratus, Jessica R. Garabon, Dennis M. Higgs

Biological Sciences Publications

Whole-brain responses to sound are easily measured through auditory evoked potentials (AEP), but it is unclear how differences in experimental parameters affect these responses. The effect of varying parameters is especially unclear in fish studies, the majority of which use simple sound types and then extrapolate to natural conditions. The current study investigated AEPs in goldfish (Carassius auratus) using sounds of different durations (5, 10, and 20 ms) and frequencies (200, 500, 600 and 700 Hz) to test stimulus effects on latency and thresholds. We quantified differences in latency and threshold in comparison to a 10-ms test tone, a duration …


Pathomimetic Avatars Reveal Divergent Roles Of Microenvironment In Invasive Transition Of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ, Mansoureh Sameni, Dora Cavallo-Medved, Omar E. E. Franco, Anita Chalasani, Kyungmin Ji, Neha Aggarwal, Arulselvi Anbalagan, Xuequn Chen, Raymond R. Mattingly, Simon W. Hayward, Bonnie F. Sloane May 2017

Pathomimetic Avatars Reveal Divergent Roles Of Microenvironment In Invasive Transition Of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ, Mansoureh Sameni, Dora Cavallo-Medved, Omar E. E. Franco, Anita Chalasani, Kyungmin Ji, Neha Aggarwal, Arulselvi Anbalagan, Xuequn Chen, Raymond R. Mattingly, Simon W. Hayward, Bonnie F. Sloane

Biological Sciences Publications

The breast tumor microenvironment regulates progression of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) to invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). However, it is unclear how interactions between breast epithelial and stromal cells can drive this progression and whether there are reliable microenvironmental biomarkers to predict transition of DCIS to IDC.


Evidence Of Sound Production By Spawning Lake Trout (Salvelinus Namaycush) In Lakes Huron And Champlain, Nicholas S. Johnson, Dennis M. Higgs, Thomas R. Binder, Ellen J. Marsden, Tyler J. Buchinger, Steven Farha, Charles C. Krueger May 2017

Evidence Of Sound Production By Spawning Lake Trout (Salvelinus Namaycush) In Lakes Huron And Champlain, Nicholas S. Johnson, Dennis M. Higgs, Thomas R. Binder, Ellen J. Marsden, Tyler J. Buchinger, Steven Farha, Charles C. Krueger

Biological Sciences Publications

Two sounds associated with spawning lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in lakes Huron and Champlain were characterized by comparing sound recordings with behavioral data collected using acoustic telemetry and video. These sounds were named “growls” and “snaps” and were heard on lake trout spawning reefs, but not on a nonspawning reef, and were more common at night than during the day. Growls also occurred more often during the spawning period than the prespawning period, while the trend for snaps was reversed. In a laboratory flume, sounds occurred when male lake trout were displaying spawning behaviors: growls when males were …


Assessing Sexual Dicromatism: The Importance Of Proper Parameterization In Tetrachromatic Visual Models, Pierre-Paul Bitton, Kevyn Janisse, Stéphanie M. Doucet Jan 2017

Assessing Sexual Dicromatism: The Importance Of Proper Parameterization In Tetrachromatic Visual Models, Pierre-Paul Bitton, Kevyn Janisse, Stéphanie M. Doucet

Biological Sciences Publications

Perceptual models of animal vision have greatly contributed to our understanding of animal-animal and plant-animal communication. The receptor-noise model of color contrasts has been central to this research as it quantifies the difference between two colors for any visual system of interest. However, if the properties of the visual system are unknown, assumptions regarding parameter values must be made, generally with unknown consequences. In this study, we conduct a sensitivity analysis of the receptor-noise model using avian visual system parameters to systematically investigate the influence of variation in light environment, photoreceptor sensitivities, photoreceptor densities, and light transmission properties of the …


Odorant Organization In The Olfactory Bulb Of The Sea Lamprey, Warren W. Green, Karl Boyes, Charrie Mcfadden, Gheylen Daghfous, François Auclair, Huiming Zhang, Weiming Li, Réjean Dubuc, Barbara Zielinski Jan 2017

Odorant Organization In The Olfactory Bulb Of The Sea Lamprey, Warren W. Green, Karl Boyes, Charrie Mcfadden, Gheylen Daghfous, François Auclair, Huiming Zhang, Weiming Li, Réjean Dubuc, Barbara Zielinski

Biological Sciences Publications

Skip to Next Section Olfactory sensory neurons innervate the olfactory bulb, where responses to different odorants generate a chemotopic map of increased neural activity within different bulbar regions. In this study, insight into the basal pattern of neural organization of the vertebrate olfactory bulb was gained by investigating the lamprey. Retrograde labelling established that lateral and dorsal bulbar territories receive the axons of sensory neurons broadly distributed in the main olfactory epithelium and that the medial region receives sensory neuron input only from neurons projecting from the accessory olfactory organ. The response duration for local field potential recordings was similar …


Organization Of Glomerular Territories In The Olfactory Bulb Of Post-Embryonic Wild Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha, Cory L. Ochs, Tina Suntres, Alexandra Zygowska, Trevor E. Pitcher, Barbara Zielinski Jan 2017

Organization Of Glomerular Territories In The Olfactory Bulb Of Post-Embryonic Wild Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha, Cory L. Ochs, Tina Suntres, Alexandra Zygowska, Trevor E. Pitcher, Barbara Zielinski

Biological Sciences Publications

The post-embryonic odor imprinting paradigm suggests Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) acquire memory to stream-specific amino acid olfactory odors prior to emergence as fry. Because effects of olfactory experience on development can be examined by mapping olfactory sensory neurons extending into distinct territories of glomerular neuropil in the olfactory bulb, glomerular patterning from early yolk-sac larva to fry was documented in wild salmonids, a temporal scale not yet thoroughly explored. Labeling olfactory sensory neurons with anti-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (anti-KLH) revealed seven spatially conserved glomerular territories visible at hatch and well established by the late yolk-sac larva developmental stage. Because of the …


A Population-Level Analysis Of Morning Song: Exploring The Implications For Point Counts, Jennifer R. Foote, Lauren P. Fitzsimmons, Lynnea M. Lobert, Laurene M. Ratcliffe, Daniel J. Mennill Jan 2017

A Population-Level Analysis Of Morning Song: Exploring The Implications For Point Counts, Jennifer R. Foote, Lauren P. Fitzsimmons, Lynnea M. Lobert, Laurene M. Ratcliffe, Daniel J. Mennill

Biological Sciences Publications

Point counts are widely used for conducting ecological surveys of wild birds. Vocal output of birds varies with time of day, and therefore the results of ecological surveys should also vary with time of day. We modeled how males’ singing rates change over the morning. We calculated song rates in 3 min sampling periods (the standard sampling period used by the North American Breeding Bird Survey) and compared how detection rates vary as sampling period increases. We recorded singing activity in 15 neighbourhoods of breeding Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) with 16-element microphone arrays that recorded every song from every male …


Attenuation And Modification Of The Ballast Water Microbial Community During Voyages Into The Canadian Arctic, M. L. Johansson, S. R. Chaganti, N. Simard, K. Howland, G. Winkler, A. Rochon, F. Laget, P. Tremblay, Daniel D. Heath, Hugh J. Macisaac Jan 2017

Attenuation And Modification Of The Ballast Water Microbial Community During Voyages Into The Canadian Arctic, M. L. Johansson, S. R. Chaganti, N. Simard, K. Howland, G. Winkler, A. Rochon, F. Laget, P. Tremblay, Daniel D. Heath, Hugh J. Macisaac

Biological Sciences Publications

Aim: Ballast water is a major vector of non-indigenous species introductions world-wide. Our understanding of population dynamics of organisms entrained in ballast is largely limited to studies of zooplankton and phytoplankton. Bacteria are more numerous and diverse than zooplankton or phytoplankton, yet remain comparatively understudied. We apply a metagenomics approach to characterize changes in the microbial ballast water community over the course of three voyages on one ship, and assess the effects of ballast water exchange (BWE), spring/summer sampling month and time since voyage start. Location: Quebec City and Deception Bay, Quebec, and the coastal marine region offshore of eastern …


Invader Relative Impact Potential: A New Metric To Understand And Predict The Ecological Impacts Of Existing, Emerging And Future Invasive Alien Species, J. T.A. Dick, C. Laverty, J. J. Lennon, D. Barrios-O'Neill, P. J. Mensink, Robert J. Britton, V. Médoc, P. Boets, M. E. Alexander, N. G. Taylor, A. M. Dunn, M. J. Hatcher, P. J. Rosewarne, S. Crookes, Hugh J. Macisaac, M. Xu, A. Ricciardi, R. J. Wasserman, B. R. Ellender, O. L.F. Weyl, F. E. Lucy, P. B. Banks, J. A. Dodd, C. Macneil, M. R. Penk, D. C. Aldridge, J. M. Caffrey Jan 2017

Invader Relative Impact Potential: A New Metric To Understand And Predict The Ecological Impacts Of Existing, Emerging And Future Invasive Alien Species, J. T.A. Dick, C. Laverty, J. J. Lennon, D. Barrios-O'Neill, P. J. Mensink, Robert J. Britton, V. Médoc, P. Boets, M. E. Alexander, N. G. Taylor, A. M. Dunn, M. J. Hatcher, P. J. Rosewarne, S. Crookes, Hugh J. Macisaac, M. Xu, A. Ricciardi, R. J. Wasserman, B. R. Ellender, O. L.F. Weyl, F. E. Lucy, P. B. Banks, J. A. Dodd, C. Macneil, M. R. Penk, D. C. Aldridge, J. M. Caffrey

Biological Sciences Publications

Predictions of the identities and ecological impacts of invasive alien species are critical for risk assessment, but presently we lack universal and standardized metrics that reliably predict the likelihood and degree of impact of such invaders (i.e. measurable changes in populations of affected species). This need is especially pressing for emerging and potential future invaders that have no invasion history. Such a metric would also ideally apply across diverse taxonomic and trophic groups. We derive a new metric of invader ecological impact that blends: (i) the classic Functional Response (FR; consumer per capita effect) and Numerical Response (NR; consumer population …


Invasion Science: A Horizon Scan Of Emerging Challenges And Opportunities, A. Ricciardi, T. M. Blackburn, J. T. Carlton, J. T.A. Dick, P. E. Hulme, J. C. Iacarella, J. M. Jeschke, A. M. Liebhold, J. L. Lockwood, Hugh J. Macisaac, P. Pyšek, D. M. Richardson, G. M. Ruiz, D. Simberloff, W. J. Sutherland, D. A. Wardle, D. C. Aldridge Jan 2017

Invasion Science: A Horizon Scan Of Emerging Challenges And Opportunities, A. Ricciardi, T. M. Blackburn, J. T. Carlton, J. T.A. Dick, P. E. Hulme, J. C. Iacarella, J. M. Jeschke, A. M. Liebhold, J. L. Lockwood, Hugh J. Macisaac, P. Pyšek, D. M. Richardson, G. M. Ruiz, D. Simberloff, W. J. Sutherland, D. A. Wardle, D. C. Aldridge

Biological Sciences Publications

We identified emerging scientific, technological, and sociopolitical issues likely to affect how biological invasions are studied and managed over the next two decades. Issues were ranked according to their probability of emergence, pervasiveness, potential impact, and novelty. Top-ranked issues include the application of genomic modification tools to control invasions, effects of Arctic globalization on invasion risk in the Northern Hemisphere, commercial use of microbes to facilitate crop production, the emergence of invasive microbial pathogens, and the fate of intercontinental trade agreements. These diverse issues suggest an expanding interdisciplinary role for invasion science in biosecurity and ecosystem management, burgeoning applications of …


Modeling Sampling Strategies For Determination Of Zooplankton Abundance In Ballast Water, M. R. Hernandez, M. L. Johansson, Y. Xiao, M. A. Lewis, Hugh J. Macisaac Jan 2017

Modeling Sampling Strategies For Determination Of Zooplankton Abundance In Ballast Water, M. R. Hernandez, M. L. Johansson, Y. Xiao, M. A. Lewis, Hugh J. Macisaac

Biological Sciences Publications

Ballast water has been a major source of non-indigenous species introductions. The International Maritime Organization has proposed performance standard that will establish an upper limit for viable organisms in discharged ballast. Here we test different sampling efforts for zooplankton in ballast water on a commercial vessel. We fit different probability density functions to find the most representative and evaluated sampling efforts necessary to achieve error rates (α, β) of < 0.05. Our tests encompassed four seasonal trials and five sample volumes. To estimate error rates, we performed simulations which drew from 1 to 30 replicates of each volume (0.10–3.00m3) for mean densities ranging between 1 and 20 organisms m− 3. Fieldwork and simulations suggested that > 0.5 m3samples had the best accuracy and precision, and that the Poisson distribution fit these communities best. This study provides the first field test of a sampling strategy to assess compliance …


Investigating Sources And Sinks Of N2o Expression From Freshwater Microbial Communities In Urban Watershed Sediments, C. Weisener, J. Lee, S. R. Chaganti, T. Reid, N. Falk, Ken G. Drouillard Jan 2017

Investigating Sources And Sinks Of N2o Expression From Freshwater Microbial Communities In Urban Watershed Sediments, C. Weisener, J. Lee, S. R. Chaganti, T. Reid, N. Falk, Ken G. Drouillard

Biological Sciences Publications

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) serve as point-source inputs for a variety of nutrients often dominated by nitrogenous compounds as a result of anthropogenic influence. These effluents can impact biogeochemical cycles in freshwater estuaries, influencing microbial communities in both the water and sediment compartments. To assess the impact of point source nutrients, a transect of sediment and pore water samples were collected from 4 locations in the Little River Sub-watershed including locations above and below the Little River Pollution Control Plant (LRPCP). Variation in chemistry and microbial community/gene expression revealed significant influences of the effluent discharge on the adjacent sediments. Phosphorus …


Revisiting Cdk Inhibitors For Treatment Of Glioblastoma Multiforme, Dorota Lubanska, Lisa Porter Jan 2017

Revisiting Cdk Inhibitors For Treatment Of Glioblastoma Multiforme, Dorota Lubanska, Lisa Porter

Biological Sciences Publications

Despite extensive efforts and continual progress in research and medicine, outcomes for patients with high-grade glioma remain exceptionally poor. Over the past decade, research has revealed a great deal about the complex biology behind glioma development, and has brought to light some of the major barriers preventing successful treatment. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) (stage 4 astrocytoma) is a highly dynamic tumour and one of the most extreme examples of intratumoural heterogeneity, making targeting with specific therapeutics an inefficient and highly unpredictable goal. The cancer stem cell hypothesis offers a new view on the possible mechanisms dictating the heterogeneous nature of this …


Capture-Induced Stress In Deep-Water Arctic Fish Species, A. N. Barkley, S. J. Cooke, A. T. Fisk, K. Hedges, Nigel Edward Hussey Jan 2017

Capture-Induced Stress In Deep-Water Arctic Fish Species, A. N. Barkley, S. J. Cooke, A. T. Fisk, K. Hedges, Nigel Edward Hussey

Biological Sciences Publications

No abstract provided.


Movements Of A Deep-Water Fish: Establishing Marine Fisheries Management Boundaries In Coastal Arctic Waters, Nigel E. Hussey, K. J. Hedges, A. N. Barkley, M. A. Treble, I. Peklova, D. M. Webber, S. H. Ferguson, D. J. Yurkowski, S. T. Kessel, J. M. Bedard, A. T. Fisk Jan 2017

Movements Of A Deep-Water Fish: Establishing Marine Fisheries Management Boundaries In Coastal Arctic Waters, Nigel E. Hussey, K. J. Hedges, A. N. Barkley, M. A. Treble, I. Peklova, D. M. Webber, S. H. Ferguson, D. J. Yurkowski, S. T. Kessel, J. M. Bedard, A. T. Fisk

Biological Sciences Publications

No abstract provided.


Acetolactate Synthase Regulatory Subunits Play Divergent And Overlapping Roles In Branched-Chain Amino Acid Synthesis And Arabidopsis Development, Mohammad H. Dezfulian, Curtis Foreman, Espanta Jalili, Mrinal Pal, Rajdeep K. Dhaliwal, Don Karl A. Roberto, Kathleen M. Imre, Susanne E. Kohalmi, William L. Crosby Jan 2017

Acetolactate Synthase Regulatory Subunits Play Divergent And Overlapping Roles In Branched-Chain Amino Acid Synthesis And Arabidopsis Development, Mohammad H. Dezfulian, Curtis Foreman, Espanta Jalili, Mrinal Pal, Rajdeep K. Dhaliwal, Don Karl A. Roberto, Kathleen M. Imre, Susanne E. Kohalmi, William L. Crosby

Biological Sciences Publications

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are synthesized by plants, fungi, bacteria, and archaea with plants being the major source of these amino acids in animal diets. Acetolactate synthase (ALS) is the first enzyme in the BCAA synthesis pathway. Although the functional contribution of ALS to BCAA biosynthesis has been extensively characterized, a comprehensive understanding of the regulation of this pathway at the molecular level is still lacking.


Are Fish Consumption Advisories For The Great Lakes Adequately Protective Against Chemical Mixtures?, N. Gandhi, K. G. Drouillard, Arhonditsis, G.B. Arhonditsis, G.B., S. B. Gewurtz, S. P. Bhavsar Jan 2017

Are Fish Consumption Advisories For The Great Lakes Adequately Protective Against Chemical Mixtures?, N. Gandhi, K. G. Drouillard, Arhonditsis, G.B. Arhonditsis, G.B., S. B. Gewurtz, S. P. Bhavsar

Biological Sciences Publications

Background: The North American Great Lakes are home to > 140 types of fish and are famous for recreational and commercial fishing. However, the presence of toxic substances has resulted in the issuance of fish consumption advisories that are typically based on the most restrictive contaminant. Objectives: We investigated whether these advisories, which typically neglect the existence of a mixture of chemicals and their possible additive adverse effects, are adequately protective of the health of humans consuming fish from the Canadian waters of the Great Lakes. Methods: Using recent fish contaminant monitoring data collected by the government of Ontario, Canada, we …


Proanthocyanidin Accumulation And Transcriptional Responses In The Seed Coat Of Cranberry Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) With Different Susceptibility To Postharvest Darkening, José A. Freixas Coutin, Seth Munholland, Anjali Silva, Sanjeena Subedi, Lewis Lukens, William L. Crosby, K. Peter Pauls, Gale G. Bozzo Jan 2017

Proanthocyanidin Accumulation And Transcriptional Responses In The Seed Coat Of Cranberry Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) With Different Susceptibility To Postharvest Darkening, José A. Freixas Coutin, Seth Munholland, Anjali Silva, Sanjeena Subedi, Lewis Lukens, William L. Crosby, K. Peter Pauls, Gale G. Bozzo

Biological Sciences Publications

Edible dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) that darken during postharvest storage are graded lower and are less marketable than their non-darkened counterparts. Seed coat darkening in susceptible genotypes is dependent upon the availability of proanthocyanidins, and their subsequent oxidation to reactive quinones. Mature cranberry beans lacking this postharvest darkening trait tend to be proanthocyanidin-deficient, although the underlying molecular and biochemical determinants for this metabolic phenomenon are unknown.


Diet And Trophic Ecology Of The Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo Cuvier) From South African Waters, M. L. Dicken, N. E. Hussey, H. M. Christiansen, M. J. Smale, N. Nkabi, G. Cliff, S. P. Wintner Jan 2017

Diet And Trophic Ecology Of The Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo Cuvier) From South African Waters, M. L. Dicken, N. E. Hussey, H. M. Christiansen, M. J. Smale, N. Nkabi, G. Cliff, S. P. Wintner

Biological Sciences Publications

No abstract provided.


Origins Of The Greenland Shark (Somniosus Microcephalus): Impacts Of Ice-Olation And Introgression, Ryan P. Walter, Denis Roy, Nigel E. Hussey, Bjorn Stelbrink, Kit M. Kovacs, Christian Lydersen, Bailey Mcmeans, Jorundur Svavarsson, Steven T. Kessel, Sebastian Biton Porsmoguer, Sharon Wildes, Cindy A. Tribuzio, Steven E. Campana, Stephen D. Petersen, Dean R. Grubbs, Daniel D. Heath, Kevin J. Hedges, Aaron T. Fisk Jan 2017

Origins Of The Greenland Shark (Somniosus Microcephalus): Impacts Of Ice-Olation And Introgression, Ryan P. Walter, Denis Roy, Nigel E. Hussey, Bjorn Stelbrink, Kit M. Kovacs, Christian Lydersen, Bailey Mcmeans, Jorundur Svavarsson, Steven T. Kessel, Sebastian Biton Porsmoguer, Sharon Wildes, Cindy A. Tribuzio, Steven E. Campana, Stephen D. Petersen, Dean R. Grubbs, Daniel D. Heath, Kevin J. Hedges, Aaron T. Fisk

Biological Sciences Publications

Herein, we use genetic data from 277 sleeper sharks to perform coalescent-based modeling to test the hypothesis of early Quaternary emergence of the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) from ancestral sleeper sharks in the Canadian Arctic-Subarctic region. Our results show that morphologically cryptic somniosids S. microcephalus and Somniosus pacificus can be genetically distinguished using combined mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers. Our data confirm the presence of genetically admixed individuals in the Canadian Arctic and sub-Arctic, and temperate Eastern Atlantic regions, suggesting introgressive hybridization upon secondary contact following the initial species divergence. Conservative substitution rates fitted to an Isolation with Migration (IM) …