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Articles 1 - 22 of 22
Full-Text Articles in Animal Sciences
Genome-Wide Analysis Of Acute Low Salinity Tolerance In The Eastern Oyster Crassostrea Virginica And Potential Of Genomic Selection For Trait Improvement, Alexandra J. Mccarty, Standish K. Allen Jr., Louis V. Plough
Genome-Wide Analysis Of Acute Low Salinity Tolerance In The Eastern Oyster Crassostrea Virginica And Potential Of Genomic Selection For Trait Improvement, Alexandra J. Mccarty, Standish K. Allen Jr., Louis V. Plough
VIMS Articles
As the global demand for seafood increases, research into the genetic basis of traits that can increase aquaculture production is critical. The eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) is an important aquaculture species along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the United States, but increases in heavy rainfall events expose oysters to acute low salinity conditions, which negatively impact production. Low salinity survival is known to be a moderately heritable trait, but the genetic architecture underlying this trait is still poorly understood. In this study, we used ddRAD sequencing to generate genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data for four F2 …
A Quantitative Genetic Analysis Of Commercial Traits In Polyploid Crassostrea Virginica, With An Evaluation Of Strategies For Genetic Improvement Of Triploids, Joseph L. Matt
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Triploids are a popular product in commercial oyster aquaculture and make up most of the hatchery-produced Crassostrea virginica farmed in the Chesapeake Bay. Despite their importance to commercial aquaculture, the potential of genetically improving triploid C. virginica from selective breeding and breeding strategies for their improvement had not been evaluated. In this dissertation, the prospect of improving triploid C. virginica through selective breeding was assessed with a quantitative genetic analysis from a field test, and breeding strategies for genetically improving triploids were compared by computer simulation. Heritability and genetic correlations involving commercial traits in triploids, including mass mortality associated with …
Stock Composition Of Striped Marlin (Kajikia Audax) In The Central North Pacific Ocean Inferred By Analyses Of Genome-Wide Molecular Markers, Jackson Martinez
Stock Composition Of Striped Marlin (Kajikia Audax) In The Central North Pacific Ocean Inferred By Analyses Of Genome-Wide Molecular Markers, Jackson Martinez
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Relative to many highly migratory fishes, Striped Marlin, Kajikia audax, exhibit considerable stock structure. At least four genetically distinct stocks of Striped Marlin have been delineated in the Pacific and Indian oceans, although stock composition in the central North Pacific (CNP) remains unclear and the presence of an additional stock in the North Pacific has been suggested in two recent studies. The goals of this research were to clarify the number of Striped Marlin stocks in the North Pacific and utilize temporal sampling to better understand the stock dynamics of Striped Marlin exploited by the Hawaii-based pelagic longline fishery (HBPLLF). …
Search For Selection: Genomic, Transcriptomic, And Phenotypic Investigations Of Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion Nebulosus), Jingwei Song
Search For Selection: Genomic, Transcriptomic, And Phenotypic Investigations Of Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion Nebulosus), Jingwei Song
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Climate change has resulted in both increased mean water temperature and higher frequencies of extreme water temperatures in coastal areas. These new thermal regimes exert strong selective pressure on the thermal physiology of coastal aquatic species. Phenotypic plasticity (the ability of one genotype to display multiple phenotypes) and local adaptation (increased fitness to local environment due to natural selection) dictate both short-term (from hours to days to weeks) and long-term (from years to decades) resilience of a species. To better predict how a species will respond to the negative impacts of climate change, one first needs to know the current …
Genetic Analyses Of Striped Bass In The Chesapeake Bay: An Investigation Of Connectivity Among Virginia Subestuaries And An Evaluation Of Close-Kinship Mark Recapture Methodology To Estimate Spawning Abundance., Savannah Michaelsen
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
The striped bass (Morone saxatilis) is an anadromous fish distributed along the eastern coast of North America that currently supports one of the most lucrative and important commercial and recreational fisheries in the region. Since the recovery of the Atlantic stock after a collapse in the late 1970s, studies have focused on understanding the connectivity of major spawning grounds and improving methods of abundance estimation. Studies support strong site fidelity of striped bass to major estuaries along the Atlantic coast, but there has been disagreement about connectivity within the largest spawning ground, the Chesapeake Bay. Additionally, no estimates exist for …
Multi-Scale Phylogenomics Of Gadiformes With Emphasis On Hakes (Merluccius, Merlucciidae), Adela Y. Roa-Varon
Multi-Scale Phylogenomics Of Gadiformes With Emphasis On Hakes (Merluccius, Merlucciidae), Adela Y. Roa-Varon
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Gadiformes include some of the most important commercially harvested fishes in the world (e.g. cods, hakes, and grenadiers). Currently, different authors recognize anywhere between 11 and 14 families, approximately 84 genera, and over 600 species. The monophyly of the order has been supported by both morphological and molecular data, yet the relationships among families and subfamilies remain poorly understood and interpreting phylogenetic patterns to date has been difficult. My dissertation research on multi-scale phylogenetics of Gadiformes with emphasis on hakes (Merluccius, Merlucciidae) has three primary objectives: (1) to improve the understanding of the phylogenetic relationships among families of Gadiformes (Teleostei); …
Blood Mercury Levels Of Zebra Finches Are Heritable: Implications For The Evolution Of Mercury Resistance, Kenton A. Buck, Claire W. Varian-Ramos, Daniel A. Cristol, John P. Swaddle
Blood Mercury Levels Of Zebra Finches Are Heritable: Implications For The Evolution Of Mercury Resistance, Kenton A. Buck, Claire W. Varian-Ramos, Daniel A. Cristol, John P. Swaddle
Arts & Sciences Articles
Mercury is a ubiquitous metal contaminant that negatively impacts reproduction of wildlife and has many other sub-lethal effects. Songbirds are sensitive bioindicators of mercury toxicity and may suffer population declines as a result of mercury pollution. Current predictions of mercury accumulation and biomagnification often overlook possible genetic variation in mercury uptake and elimination within species and the potential for evolution in affected populations. We conducted a study of dietary mercury exposure in a model songbird species, maintaining a breeding population of zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) on standardized diets ranging from 0.0–2.4 μg/g methylmercury. We applied a quantitative genetics …
Patterns Of Population Structure And Historical Dispersal In Squaloid Sharks: A Species-Level Approach Using Molecular Markers, Ana Christina Pimenta Verissimo
Patterns Of Population Structure And Historical Dispersal In Squaloid Sharks: A Species-Level Approach Using Molecular Markers, Ana Christina Pimenta Verissimo
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Squaloids (Order Squaliformes) are a highle diverse group of mostly deepwater habitats (> 200 m). Many species are regularly caught in commercial fisheries worldwide but their low productivity and correspondingly low intrinsic rebound potentials make them particularly vulnerable to population depletion and overexploitation. of special concern to fisheries management and conservation efforts are the spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias, the leafscale gulper shark Centrophorus squamosus and the Portuguese dogfish Centroscymnus coelolepis. These taxa have recently been declared overfished in several parts of each species' distribution but management efforts have been made to recover the "stocks" without a good understanding of the …
Female Plumage Coloration In Eastern Bluebirds, Sialia Sialis: Is It A Sexually Selected Trait?, Joanna Kay Hubbard
Female Plumage Coloration In Eastern Bluebirds, Sialia Sialis: Is It A Sexually Selected Trait?, Joanna Kay Hubbard
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.
Monograph Of The North American Freshwater Fish Leeches (Oligochaeta: Hirudinida ; Piscicolidae) And Molecular Phylogeny Of The Family Piscicolidae, Julianne I. Williams
Monograph Of The North American Freshwater Fish Leeches (Oligochaeta: Hirudinida ; Piscicolidae) And Molecular Phylogeny Of The Family Piscicolidae, Julianne I. Williams
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
The phylogeny of the Piscicolidae was analyzed from combined sequence data of 18S rDNA, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (CO-I), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit I (ND-I), and morphological data using parsimony. A worldwide distribution of Pisciolidae was represented for the first time in a phylogenetic analysis. While the family Piscicolidae was supported as a monophyletic group, the traditional subfamilies based on morphology were not supported. The Platybdellinae was polyphyletic and formed four distinct clades, and Bathybdella sawyeri did not group with any other platybdellids. The Piscicolinae was also polyphyletic, also forming four distinct clades. The pontobdellid genus Stibarobdella was …
Characterization Of Exotic Pathogens Associated With The Suminoe Oyster, Crassostrea Ariakensis, Jessica A. Moss
Characterization Of Exotic Pathogens Associated With The Suminoe Oyster, Crassostrea Ariakensis, Jessica A. Moss
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
The eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, once an integral part of the ecology and economy of Chesapeake Bay, has been severely depleted. Factors leading to the decline of the eastern oyster include over-harvesting, environmental degradation and disease pressure caused by the protozoans Haplosporidium nelsoni and Perkinsus marinus, known commonly as MSX and Dermo, respectively. Studies regarding the feasibility of introducing a nonnative oyster to the Bay were initiated, and field-based research on an Asian oyster, Crassostrea ariakensis, suggested that it might be a viable species for introduction. Research surrounding the proposed introduction has focused on recommendations such as those from the …
Genetic Analysis Of White Marlin (Tetrapturus Albidus) Stock Structure, John Graves, Jan Mcdowell
Genetic Analysis Of White Marlin (Tetrapturus Albidus) Stock Structure, John Graves, Jan Mcdowell
VIMS Articles
The genetic basis of stock structure of white marlin (Tetrapturus albidus Poey, 1860) was inferred from analyses of five tetranucleotide repeat microsatellite loci (n = 214) and the mitochondrial (mt)DNA control region (n = 99) of white marlin from four geographic regions in the Atlantic Ocean. Considerable genetic variation was present in all collections for all molecular markers. Analysis of replicate collections taken in different years from three regions revealed no significant differences in the distribution of allele frequencies among years within regions. The value of global F-statistics for both multilocus microsatellite data and mtDNA control region sequences approached significance …
A Genetic Analysis Of The Intraspecific Relationships Of Tropical Marine Shorefishes Common To Bermuda And The Southeastern Atlantic Coast Of The United States, Kelly R. Johnson
A Genetic Analysis Of The Intraspecific Relationships Of Tropical Marine Shorefishes Common To Bermuda And The Southeastern Atlantic Coast Of The United States, Kelly R. Johnson
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.
Molecular And Morphological Evolution Of The Amphipod Radiation Of Lake Baikal, Kenneth S. Macdonald Iii
Molecular And Morphological Evolution Of The Amphipod Radiation Of Lake Baikal, Kenneth S. Macdonald Iii
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
The amphipods of Lake Baikal, Russia, are a taxonomically and morphologically diverse group, and have been cited as a classic example of adaptive radiation. An unfortunate consequence of this diversity has been an instability of Baikal amphipod classification, with frequent revisions spurred by differing opinions about the phylogenetic utility of different characters. Classifications have never been based on a rigorous phylogenetic analysis of morphological data and only recently has the phylogeny of Lake Baikal's amphipods been examined using molecular tools. Unfortunately, most of these studies have led to a limited expansion of our understanding of Baikal amphipod systematics. Phylogenetic relationships …
A Molecular Phylogeny Of The Sparidae (Perciformes: Percoidei), Thomas M. Orrell
A Molecular Phylogeny Of The Sparidae (Perciformes: Percoidei), Thomas M. Orrell
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
The Sparidae are a diverse group of over 110 marine species whose putative six subfamilies have been defined primarily on the basis of dentition and feeding type. Monophyly of the subfamilies has not been tested, nor have the phylogenetic relationships of all sparid genera been hypothesized. I used mitochondrial DNA sequences from the complete cytochrome b gene (1140 bp) and the partial 16S gene (621 bp) in independent and combined analyses to test the monophyly of the Sparidae, elucidate the inter-relationships of the 33 recognized genera of the Sparidae, test the validity of the six subfamilies of the Sparidae, and …
Comparative Evolution Of Molecular Markers: An Analysis Of Genetic Variation Within The Blue Marlin (Makaira Nigricans), Vincent Patrick Buonaccorsi
Comparative Evolution Of Molecular Markers: An Analysis Of Genetic Variation Within The Blue Marlin (Makaira Nigricans), Vincent Patrick Buonaccorsi
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Blue marlin diversity was assessed at mtDNA, scnDNA, microsatellite DNA, and allozyme molecular markers. Hierarchical analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that most genetic variation was maintained within populations, with a non-significant fraction attributable to variation among temporal replicates and between locations within oceans. In contrast, inter-ocean divergence was highly significant for a majority of loci within each marker class. Previous studies of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA; n = 104) genetic variation within the blue marlin revealed two distinct clades of haplotypes, one of which was present only in the Atlantic (the 'Atlantic clade'), at a frequency of 40% &(F\sb{lcub}st{rcub}& = …
The Phylogeny Of Coleoid Cephalopods Inferred From Molecular Evolutionary Analyses Of The Cytochrome C Oxidase I, Muscle Actin, And Cytoplasmic Actin Genes, David Bruno Carlini
The Phylogeny Of Coleoid Cephalopods Inferred From Molecular Evolutionary Analyses Of The Cytochrome C Oxidase I, Muscle Actin, And Cytoplasmic Actin Genes, David Bruno Carlini
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Although the fossil record of early cephalopods is rich and demonstrates the dominance of the group in Paleozoic times, the mainly soft-bodied coleoids (Cephalopoda: Coleoidea) are poorly represented. Therefore, little is known of the evolutionary history of coleoids through paleontology and current classifications of the subclass are based primarily on the morphology of extant representatives. A molecular phylogenetic analysis of the Coleoidea was therefore warranted. Phylogenetic relationships within the Coleoidea were constructed using molecular sequence data from one mitochondrial and two nuclear genes: cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) and two unlinked actin genes (Actin I and Actin II, respectively). A …
Phenotypic Clines In The Intertidal Snail Littorina Obtusata: The Role Of Water Temperature And Predator Effluent As Inducers Of Phenotypic Plasticity And Associated Trade-Offs In Shell Form, Geoffrey Clayton Trussell
Phenotypic Clines In The Intertidal Snail Littorina Obtusata: The Role Of Water Temperature And Predator Effluent As Inducers Of Phenotypic Plasticity And Associated Trade-Offs In Shell Form, Geoffrey Clayton Trussell
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
I examined variability in the shell form of 25 Littorina obtusata populations from Massachusetts to northern Maine. I chose this scale because the history of one of L. obtusata's principal predators, the crab Carcinus maenas, has changed dramatically in the past 100 years. Before 1900, Carcinus did not occur north of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, but by 1950 it had reached Canadian border. Moreover, in summer water temperatures during average 6-8&\sp\circ&C colder at northern locations. Shell thickness and mass increased and body mass decreased with increasing latitude. to test whether these patterns reflect plasticity in response to predators, snails from two …
Biogeography Of Amphi-Atlantic And Amphi-American Fishes: The Scomberomorus Regalis (Scombridae), Strongylura Marina (Belonidae) And Hyporhamphus Unifasciatus (Hemiramphidae) Species Groups, Heidi M. Banford
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Phylogenetic and historical biogeographic hypotheses were explored for three groups of teleost fishes that are hypothesized to share a common biogeographic track. Distributed across the eastern Pacific/eastern Atlantic (EP/EA) biogeographic track of Rosen (1975) are the Scomberomorus regalis (Scombridae), Strongylura marina (Belonidae) and Hyporhamphus unifasciatus (Hemiramphidae) species groups comprised of one eastern Atlantic; three, three and four western Atlantic; and two, two and four eastern Pacific species, respectively, for each group. In addition, two species in the Strongylura marina and Hyporhamphus unifasciatus groups, have invaded freshwater drainages of Central and South America. Each of the three species groups were found …
Genetic Relationships Among Geographically Isolated Populations Of Bluefish (Pomatamus Saltatrix), Catherine N. O'Neill
Genetic Relationships Among Geographically Isolated Populations Of Bluefish (Pomatamus Saltatrix), Catherine N. O'Neill
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.
Determination Of The Natal Origin And Genetic Stock Composition Of A Juvenile Feeding Population Of The Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta Caretta) In Chesapeake Bay, Jeffrey Worner Norrgard
Determination Of The Natal Origin And Genetic Stock Composition Of A Juvenile Feeding Population Of The Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta Caretta) In Chesapeake Bay, Jeffrey Worner Norrgard
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.
Comparative Ecology, Morphology, And Population Genetics Of Black Triggerfish, Melichthys Niger, Kathryn D. Kavanagh
Comparative Ecology, Morphology, And Population Genetics Of Black Triggerfish, Melichthys Niger, Kathryn D. Kavanagh
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.