Life Sciences Commons^™

Systematics Of Malesian-Pacific Piper (Piperaceae), Rani Asmarayani

Dissertations

Comprised of ~2400 spp., Piper is a major clade in the magnoliid angiosperms. Three major groups are recognized in Piper, i.e., the Neotropical, Asian and South Pacific. Unlike Neotropical Piper,relationships in the Paleotropical Piper remain enigmatic. This study focused on the Paleotropical Piperwith emphasize on the Malesian-Pacific Piper, Malesia being the center of diversity of the genus in the Paleotropics. The goals are to evaluate relationships within Paleotropical Piper (chapter 1), to evaluate characters, morphological (chapter 1) and stem anatomical (chapter 2), that may distinguish clades, and to investigate the species boundaries focusing on the well-supported …

Where Are All Of Arkansas' Chinquapins? An Ecological Assessment Of Castanea Throughout The State, Logan Pierce Estes

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Around the turn of the twentieth-century, the chestnut blight fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica) was accidentally introduced into North America. This strong pathogen, which specializes on trees of the genus Castanea, spread rapidly and within half a century had nearly extirpated North America’s Castanea natives from their ranges. During this catastrophe, the American chestnut (Castanea dentata) garnered much of the scientific attention, pushing the other Castanea natives – the chinquapins – to the wayside. More than a century following the spread of the blight, little research into the ecology of North America’s chinquapins had been performed, leaving these trees significantly underrepresented. The …

Diversity And Phylogeny Of Sargassum (Fucales, Phaeophyceae) In Singapore, Zhi Ting Yip, Randolph Z. B. Quek, Jeffrey K. Y. Low, Bryan Wilson, Andrew G. Bauman, Loke Ming Chou, Peter A. Todd, Danwei Huang

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Sargassum species play key ecological roles on coral reefs, yet their diversity remains poorly known. Precise identification of Sargassum species, however, is improving with molecular genetic tools, though these have yet to be applied rigorously in Singapore. Historical records list 41 species, but no more than ten were verified based on herbarium vouchers, and even fewer (five species) were confirmed in the field based on a single nuclear gene marker in a previous study. Here, we revised the diversity of Sargassum in Singapore by examining all the morphologically distinct forms collected from the local coral reef environment. A total of …

Nurudea Zhengii Ren, A New Species Of The Rhus Gall Aphids (Aphididae: Eriosomatinae: Fordini) From Eastern China, Zhu-Mei Ren, Xu Su, Carol D. Von Dohlen, Jun Wen

Biology Faculty Publications

A new Rhus gall aphid species Nurudea zhengii Ren, sp. nov. collected from the Mountain Qixing in Shangrao County, Jiangxi Province, China is described and illustrated from alate viviparous female. The new species differs from the other Nurudea species in the length and proportion of antennal segments, the structure of antennal secondary sensilla, and the flower-like shape of the galls that are formed on its primary host. Its primary host plant is Rhus hypoleuca, whereas other Nurudea species are on R. chinensis.

Confirming World-Wide Distribution Of An Agriculturally Important Lacewing, Chrysoperla Zastrowi Sillemi, Using Songs, Morphology, Mitochondrial Gene Sequencing, And Phylogenetic Reconstruction, Zoe Mandese

Honors Scholar Theses

The Chrysoperla carnea-group of green lacewings is a cryptic species complex. Species within the group are morphologically similar, yet isolated from one another via reproductive mating song. Chrysoperla zastrowi, a species within the carnea-group, is currently described with a distribution ranging from South Africa to the Middle East and India. However, recent collections of carnea-group lacewings from Guatemala and California were preliminarily identified as Chrysoperla zastrowi based upon similarities in their vibrational courtship songs. This analysis aims to place six specimens, collected by collaborators in Guatemala, Armenia, Iran, and California, into a pre-existing phylogeny of the …

The Effect Of Genome Duplication On The Reproductive Ecology Of Plants, Laura Porturas

Theses - ALL

Whole genome duplication, or polyploidy, is the largest genomic alteration observed in nature. Polyploidy occurs in many different taxa, but is a widely tolerated and recurrent evolutionary phenomenon in plants. Although the importance of polyploidy in plants has been touted for approximately 100 years, we have yet to fully understand the ecological consequences of whole genome duplication on plant reproductive biology. Here I investigated how whole genome duplication impacts plant reproductive ecology. Specifically, I studied the effects of whole genome duplication on flowering phenotypes and the contributions of whole genome duplication to three premating barriers. I used a combination of …

Effect Of Silk-Based Hydrogel Topography On Intestinal Epithelial Cell Morphology And Wound Healing In Vitro, Marisa E. Boch

University Scholar Projects

Recent advances in the field of biomaterials have suggested that cells cultured on substrates resembling the native tissue mechanical properties, matrix and growth factor composition, and topography can adopt phenotypes that more closely resemble the in vivo tissue compared to cells cultured on non-mimetic constructs. Understanding the effect of culture substrate on in vitro tissue formation is important for bioengineering applications that include mechanistic studies of healthy tissue function and development of disease models. In this work, Caco-2 adenocarcinoma cells were seeded on flat and crypt-like topographies of 3D-printed cytocompatible hydrogels derived from silk fibroin protein. Silk hydrogels were selected …

Effect Of Silk-Based Hydrogel Topography On Intestinal Epithelial Cell Morphology And Wound Healing In Vitro, Marisa E. Boch

Honors Scholar Theses

Recent advances in the field of biomaterials have suggested that cells cultured on substrates resembling the native tissue mechanical properties, matrix and growth factor composition, and topography can adopt phenotypes that more closely resemble the in vivo tissue compared to cells cultured on non-mimetic constructs. Understanding the effect of culture substrate on in vitro tissue formation is important for bioengineering applications that include mechanistic studies of healthy tissue function and development of disease models. In this work, Caco-2 adenocarcinoma cells were seeded on flat and crypt-like topographies of 3D-printed cytocompatible hydrogels derived from silk fibroin protein. Silk hydrogels were selected …

Foraging Behavior, Taxonomy, And Morphology Of Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), With An Emphasis On Perdita (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae), Zachary M. Portman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Bees are the most important pollinators of flowering plants and are necessary for pollinating both wild plants and many of the crops that produce the food we eat. There are many different species of bees, with about 20,000 species worldwide and 4,000 species in the United States. Even though bees are important pollinators, there is still much we do not know about how many species there are and their biology. In order to better understand the species and their biology, I performed three projects that help fill these gaps by reviewing the species of a poorly known bee group, examining …

Microbial Diversity In The Eukaryotic Sar Clade: Illuminating The Darkness Between Morphology And Molecular Data, Jean David Grattepanche, Laura M. Walker, Brittany M. Ott, Daniela L. Paim Pinto, Charles F. Delwiche, Christopher E. Lane, Laura A. Katz

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Despite their diversity and ecological importance, many areas of the SAR—Stramenopila, Alveolata, and Rhizaria—clade are poorly understood as the majority (90%) of SAR species lack molecular data and only 5% of species are from well-sampled families. Here, we review and summarize the state of knowledge about the three major clades of SAR, describing the diversity within each clade and identifying synapomorphies when possible. We also assess the “dark area” of SAR: the morphologically described species that are missing molecular data. The majority of molecular data for SAR lineages are characterized from marine samples and vertebrate hosts, highlighting the need for …

The Mechanism Of Biotremor Production In The Veiled Chameleon (Chamaeleo Calyptratus), Samuel Tegge

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Vibratory communication has evolved in numerous animal groups, including insects, spiders, fishes, mammals, and was recently discovered in veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus). I examined the mechanism by which C. calyptratus produce these biotremors. Muscle activity data were gathered during simulated anti-predator responses via electromyography (EMG) with simultaneous recordings of biotremor production using an accelerometer. I correlated EMG data with the accelerometer data to implicate the muscles responsible for the production of the biotremors. Mixed-effect linear regression models described the mechanism, and a model selection framework determined which model fit the data best. I then used an analysis of variance to …

How The Egg Rolls: A Morphological Analysis Of Egg Shape In The Context Of Displacement Dynamics, Ian R. Hays

Theses and Dissertations

Very little is known about how morphology effects the motion, stability and the resulting viability of avian eggs. The limited research that exists focuses on the pyriform or ‘pointed’ egg shapes found in the Alcidea family. This unusual shell form is thought to suppress displacement and prevents egg loss on the cliffside nesting habitat of the Uria genera. Unfortunately, these studies never isolated or quantify the specific morphological features (elongation, asymmetry and conicality) of these pyriform eggs, which limits their applicability to other taxa and hampers a robust proof of concept. We isolated each feature as a variable, produced models …

Increasing Dietary Breadth Through Allometry: Bite Forces In Sympatric Australian Skinks, Domenic D'Amore, David Meadows, Simon Clulow, Jeremiah Sean Doody, David Rhind, Colin Mchenry

Articles & Book Chapters

Ecomechanical measures of performance such as bite force may function as an indirect measure of niche. This study proposes that allometric changes in performance may contribute to niche separation, especially in a group where the specific mechanism(s) remains unclear. We surveyed the bite force and morphology of 5 wild caught, sympatric skink species in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Skinks were collected from trapline fences, weighed, photographed, and maximum bite force was measured with a piezoresistive force sensor. Morphological metrics were derived from photographs of the dorsum. Normalized morphological traits indicate interspecific variability in form, particularly in forelimb length, …

Morphology, Taxonomy And Mating‑Type Loci In Natural Populations Of Volvox Carteri In Taiwan, Hisayoshi Nozaki, Noriko Ueki, Mari Takusagawa, Shota Yamashita, Osami Misumi, Ryo Matsuzaki, Masanobu Kawachi, Yin-Ru Chiang, Jiunn-Tzong Wu

Publications and Research

Background: Volvox carteri f. nagariensis is a model taxon that has been studied extensively at the cellular and molecular level. The most distinctive morphological attribute of V. carteri f. nagariensis within V. carteri is the production of sexual male spheroids with only a 1:1 ratio of somatic cells to sperm packets or androgonidia (sperm packet initials). However, the morphology of male spheroids of V. carteri f. nagariensis has been examined only in Japanese strains. In addition, V. carteri f. nagariensis has heterothallic sexuality; male and female sexes are determined by the sex-determining chromosomal region or mating-type locus composed of a …

Ultrastructure Of The Tongue And Histochemical Featuresof The Lingual Salivary Glands In Buzzards, Emi̇ne Ümran Örsçeli̇k, Murat Erdem Gülti̇ken, Di̇nçer Yildiz, Durmuş Bolat

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The macroscopic characteristics of the tongues of 8 long-legged buzzards are described and scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the epithelial tissue of the tongue?s surface. Crossman?s modified triple staining method and hematoxylin and eosin dye were used to determine the locations and general histological features of the lingual salivary glands. The nature of the glandular secretions was examined by staining with PAS, AB pH 1.0, AB pH 2.5, and PAS-AB pH 1.0 and pH 2.5, and diastase enzyme digestion. PAS staining and weak, moderate, and strong methylation procedures as well as sialidase and hyaluronidase applications were performed. We …

A Characterization Of West Virginia Coyotes (Canis Latrans) Utilizing Skull Morphology, Katharina E. Scholer

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Coyotes (Canis latrans) are now found throughout North and Central America, but before European colonization were restricted to west of the Mississippi. Migration occurred in two major paths to the East; north over the Great Lakes (through Canada) and south below the Great Lakes. The location of these routes is significant because those migrating north interbred with the wolves that reside there. These hybrid animals are larger and behaviorally different from their western counterparts. It is possible to differentiate these hybrids morphologically and genetically. Hybrids are known to be located in Maine, New York, and Pennsylvania, but the interest of …

Leptodactylus Validus Garman, 1888 In Colombia: Its Distribution And Identification, Andres R. Acosta Galvis, Rafael O. De Sá

Biology Faculty Publications

Leptodactylus validus is reported for the first time for Colombia, corresponding to the tenth species of the L. melanonotus species group occurring in the country. In collections, all L. validus specimens were identified as L. colombiensis. Morphological, coloration, and ecological characters are provided to differentiate the two species in Colombia. Furthermore, the distribution of L. validus is expanded based on the examination of specimens in both collections and literature records. In addition, the advertisement call of L. validus from Colombia is compared with those reported for other continental and insular populations; the calls are slightly more similar to those …

New Tribal Placement And Review Of Parapucaya Prell And Pucaya Ohaus (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Dynastinae), Aura Paucar-Cabrera, Matthew Robert Moore

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The dynastine scarab genera Parapucaya Prell and Pucaya Ohaus have been historically classified in Pentodontini; however, that tribal classification is not supported under the current tribal circumscriptions. A discussion justifying the transfer of the genera Parapucaya and Pucaya from Pentodontini into Cyclocephalini is presented. This research is based on morphological observations (mandible shape and wing characters among others) and molecular data (genes 28S, COI, and 16S/ND1). A review of both genera is included, providing descriptions, diagnoses, distribution data, illustrations, and keys to species. A revised key to the world genera of Cyclocephalini is also included.

Los escarabajos de los géneros …

Learning From Disorder And Noise In Physical Biology, Taylor Emil Firman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Stochasticity, disorder, and noise play crucial roles in the functioning of many biological systems over many different length scales. On the molecular scale, most proteins are envisioned as pristinely folded structures, but intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) have no such folded state and still serve distinct purposes within the cell. At the scale of gene regulation, realistic in vivo conditions produce stochastic fluctuations in gene expression that can lead to advantageous bet-hedging strategies, but can be difficult to characterize using a deterministic framework. Even at the organismal scale, germband extension (GBE) in Drosophila melanogaster embryos systematically elongates the epithelial tissue using …

Neighborhood Variation Of Sustainable Urban Morphologicalcharacteristics, P. C. Lai, Sissi Si Chen, C. T. Low, Ester Cerin, Robert Stimson, Py Paulina Wong

Faculty of Design & Environment (THEi)

Compact cities and their urban forms have implications on sustainable city development because of high density urban settlement, increased accessibility, and a balanced land use mix. This paper uses quantitative means of understanding urban morphological characteristics with reference to the differing qualities of the urban form (i.e., street patterns, building volumes, land uses and greenery). The results, based on 89 neighborhood communities of Hong Kong, show varying degrees of regional differences in the urban built form supported by numerical statistics and graphical illustrations. This paper offers empirical evidence on some morphological characteristics that can be estimated objectively using modern geospatial …

Morphological, Genetic And Biochemical Characterization Of The Anti-Malarial Herb, Artemisia Annua Germplasm Collection At West Virginia University, Delini K. Samarasinghe

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Malaria is one of the deadliest diseases in human history. Nearly half of the world’s population, is at the risk in 106 countries. Only in 2016, this disease killed about 445,000 people, 72% of them being children under age five. It also accounts for US $12 billion dollars of direct costs in Africa alone. Five different species of Plasmodium cause malaria but P. falciparum is the most detrimental one, causing 50% of all malaria cases and is considered as the deadliest parasite in humans. Artemisinin (ART), a 15 C sesquiterpenoid is currently the only precursor to the most effective anti-malarial …

Revision Of The Taxonomic Status Of Aphis Floridanae Tissot (Hemiptera: Aphididae) Using Morphological And Molecular Insight, Doris Lagos-Kutz, Susan E. Halbert, David J. Voegtlin, Glen L. Hartman

Insecta Mundi

Morphological and cytochrome oxidase 1 (Cox1) data show that Aphis floridanae Tissot (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is not synonymous with A. nasturtii Kaltenbach. Instead, A. floridanae matches the morphological characters of A. impatientis Thomas. Additionally, the range of cytochrome oxidase 1 (Cox1) pair-wise distance of the multiple collections of A. impatientis on Cornus spp., Impatiens spp. and Erechtites hieraciifolius (L.) Raf. ex DC. is 0–0.39%. Therefore, we conclude that A. floridanae Tissot, 1933 is a junior synonym of A. impatientis Thomas, 1878, new synonymy. In addition, A. impatientis is re-described, including first descriptions of the ovipara and alate …

A New Combination And An Update Of Neotoumeyella Kondo And Williams, 2009 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae), Takumasa Kondo

Insecta Mundi

Based on morphological features of the adult female, the Brazilian soft scale, Mesolecanium ferum Hempel, 1920 (= Toumeyella ferum) (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) is transferred to the genus Neotoumeyella Kondo and Williams, 2009, as Neotoumeyella ferum (Hempel), comb. nov. The genus Neotoumeyella is rediagnosed in order to accommodate the unique features of M. ferum and an updated key to the six species of the genus is provided. An English translation of the Spanish redescription of M. ferum (as T. ferum) by Granara de Willink (2012) is also provided, with the author’s comments and interpretations

En base a las características …

A Remarkable Teratological Specimen Of Trichiotinus Rufobrunneus (Casey) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Trichiini), Héctor Jaime Gasca-Álvarez, Paul E. Skelley, Cuauhtemoc Deloya

Insecta Mundi

An unusual eye malformation observed in Trichiotinus rufobrunneus (Casey) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Trichiini), is described and illustrated. The functionality of the ectopic compound eye is discussed. According to label data, larval association with oak rotten log habitats is reported.

Se describe e ilustra una malformación inusual en los ojos de Trichiotinus rufobrunneus (Casey, 1914). Se discute la funcionalidad de los ojos compuestos ectópicos. De acuerdo con los datos de etiqueta, se reporta la asociación de la larva con madera de roble en descomposición.

Are Miami Blues In Cuba? A Review Of The Genus Cyclargus Nabokov (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) With Implications For Conservation Management, Deborah L. Matthews, Jacqueline Y. Miller, Andrew D. Warren, James K. Toomey, Roger W. Portell, Terry A. Lott, Nick V. Grishin

Insecta Mundi

We review the genus Cyclargus Nabokov (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) based on detailed comparative analyses of wing patterns, genitalia, and mitochondrial COI DNA barcode sequences, and suggest that Cyclargus is composed of four species: C. thomasi (Clench), C. woodruffi (W. Comstock and Huntington), C. ammon (Lucas), and C. dominica (Möschler). The following new subjective synonyms are proposed: C. erembis Nabokov syn. n. and C. kathleena K. Johnson and Matusik syn. n. are C. thomasi noeli (W. Comstock and Huntington); C. sorpresus K. Johnson and Matusik syn. n. and C. shuturn K. Johnson and Bálint syn. n. are C. ammon; and Cyclargus …

Diversity And Phylogenetic Relationships Of European Species Of Crepidostomum Braun, 1900 (Trematoda: Allocreadiidae) Based On Rdna, With Special Reference To Crepidostomum Oschmarini Zhokhov & Pugacheva, 1998, Romualda Petkevičiūtė, Virmantas Stunžėnas, Alexander E. Zhokhov, Larisa G. Poddubnaya, Gražina Stanevičiūtė

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty and Staff Publications

Background

Within the genus Crepidostomum Braun, 1900, identification of species and taxonomic decisions made only on the basis of adult morphology have resulted in great problems associated with evaluating actual diversity and validity of species. Life cycle data, while equal in importance to adult characters, are scarce, controversial or incomplete for most Crepidostomum spp. In this study, rDNA sequences generated from adult and larval Crepidostomum spp. and some other allocreadiid species were analyzed to reveal the diversity and phylogenetic relationships of the species and their host range. Detailed morphological description based on light microscopy, SEM tegumental surface topography and genetic …

Morphological And Behavioral Traits Associated With Locomotion In Lizards, Chase T. Kinsey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Morphology, locomotion, and behavior are co-adapted to optimize performance and ultimately fitness. Successfully navigating a complex environment is dictated by an animal’s locomotor behavior, and for some behaviors, its locomotor performance. The locomotor performance of an organism is directly related to the form and function of the structures involved in locomotion such that movement is efficient – that is, minimal loss of energy. The first chapter of this thesis focuses on the effects of obstacle placement and forelimb position on facultative bipedalism. Placing an obstacle beyond a lizard’s acceleration threshold did not affect the frequency of bipedal posture. Furthermore, the …

Further New And Little Known Species Of Ptyctimous Mites (Acari, Oribatida) From Cameroon, Wojciech Niedbala, Tomasz Osiejuk

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Nineteen species of ptyctimous mites were found in 20 samples collected in Cameroon: 15 samples from the Southwest region, near the ocean, and 5 samples from the Northwest region, inland. Two new species: Euphthiracarus (Pocsia) inaequatus sp. n. and Steganacarus (Rhacaplacarus) alius sp. n. are described and figured. Six species are new to Cameroon. The so far unknown instars of Mesoplophora (Mesoplophora) invisitata Niedbala, 1983: larva, proto-, deuto-, and tritonymph are described. The deutonymph and tritonymph of M. (M.) invisitata are compared with the corresponding stages of the related species. The tritonymph of the species of both subgenera, Mesoplophora and …

Extending The Fossil Record Of The Polytrichaceae (Bryophyta): Insights From The Early Cretaceous Of Vancouver Island, Canada, Alexander C. Bippus

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Diverse in modern ecosystems, mosses are dramatically underrepresented in the fossil record. Furthermore, most pre-Cenozoic mosses are known only from compression fossils, which lack detailed anatomical information. Lower Cretaceous deposits at Apple Bay (Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada) contain a diverse anatomically preserved flora that includes numerous bryophytes, many of which have yet to be characterized. Among them is a polytrichaceous moss that is described here as Meantoinea alophosioides gen. et sp. nov. Meantoinea alophosioides represents the first occurrence of gemma cups in a fossil moss and is the oldest unequivocal record of Polytrichaceae, providing a hard minimum age for …

Effects Of Manual And Mechanical Ammophila Arenaria Removal Techniques On Coastal Dune Plant Communities And Dune Morphology, Monique R. Silva Crossman

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The removal of invasive species as part of the restoration process can allow natives organisms to rebound. An ecosystem that incurs damages from invasive species is coastal sand dunes, which are dynamic systems. Some coastal sand dunes on the west coast of the United States have been invaded by Ammophila arenaria. The invasive grass, A. arenaria, is thought to alter and stabilize foredune morphology and reduce populations of native species. The objectives of my research are to examine the effects that manual and mechanical A. arenaria removal techniques have on coastal sand dune morphology and vegetative cover over time. …