Biology Commons^™

The Use Of Emergent Rocks As Refugia For The Cheat Mountain Salamander, Plethodon Nettingi Green, Beth Anne Pauley

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Plethodon nettinqi was listed as a threatened species in 1989 by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Pauley, 1991). Its total range is within 5 counties in eastern West Virginia. There are fewer then 60 disjunct populations known and most populations are above 3,000 ft. and are associated with emergent rocks or narrow ravines with Rhododendron. It is hypothesized the P. netting! survived lumbering practices at the turn of the century by taking refuge beneath large emergent rocks and narrow ravines with Rhododendron. This study examined environmental factors associated with emergent rocks that might regulate the distribution of P. …

Genetic Variation Within And Among Populations Of Florida Burrowing Owls (Athene Cunicularia Floridana), Wendy T. Denton

Legacy ETDs

This study employed DNA Polymerase Chain Reaction (PGR) and Single-Stranded Conformation Polymorphisms (SSCP) on a mitochondrial control region target to assess population structure and possible gene flow in the Florida Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia floridana), a Florida Species of Special Concern. Although widespread in Florida, Burrowing Owls occur at low densities in semi-isolated populations that are susceptible to extirpation from human development and the demographic consequences of small population size. To better manage these populations, there is a need for data on the population genetic structure of the Florida Burrowing Owl. Therefore, I acquired DNA from Burrowing Owls …

Evaluation Of Coverboards For Sampling Salamanders In South Georgia, Charles Michael Houze Jr.

Legacy ETDs

Salamanders are important components of many forested communities. However, their fossorial habits and seasonality often make them difficult to sample. The use of artificial coverboards (coverboards) is a relatively new and little-studied technique for monitoring the terrestrial activity of salamanders Coverboards are designed to simulate fallen tree limbs and logs, and to provide a moist refuge for forest salamanders. Despite several studies, questions remain concerning the value of coverboards. Therefore, I conducted an experiment in 1996-1997 to determine whether coverboards are as effective for sampling salamanders as searching natural cover objects such as logs and branches. Using a paired design, …

Spiroplasma Diversity In Two Tabanid Flies And In Vivo Interactions Of Spiroplasma And Entomoplasma, Latonya T. Brown-Derrick

Legacy ETDs

Chrysops vittatus, a small deer fly, and Tabanus atratus, a horse fly, were captured concurrently in Bulloch County, Georgia during June through September of 1989-1997 Cultures were made from adult females, and the frequency and diversity of spiroplasma carriage were determined by deformation and endpoint testing.

Of the 90 Chrysops vittatus processed, 23 (25 .6%) carried spiroplasmas. The most prevalent spiroplasmas were representatives of group Vlll (20/23): strain B1357 (7/23); Spiroplasma syrphidicola (5/23); S. chrysopicola (4/23); strain TAAS-1 (4/23). Groups XVIII and XXXV were represented by S. Htorale (2/23) and strain B2649 (1/23), respectively.

Of the …

Partial Sequencing Of A Balbiani Ring Gene And Development Of A Molecular Probe, Kerri Ann Kurzeja

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The Environmental Protection Agency is currently developing sediment quality criteria in order to protect the nation's water sources. In order to assist in the development of standards for the disposal of heavy metals, our laboratory is undergoing sediment toxicity studies on Chironomus riparius. It is an EPA approved test organism that spends most of its life in the sediment. Following a previous study (Cochrane et al., 1994), the organism's response to heavy metals will be monitored on the genetic level. Several genes, including a Balbiani ring (BR) gene, which was the focus of this thesis, will be studied to determine …

Identification Of An Amylase-Like Gene In Chironomus Riparius, Loriann Mahurter

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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