Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Discipline
- Keyword
-
- Marine and Biological Research (16)
- Biology (12)
- Swimming (6)
- Coral reef ecosystems (5)
- Ecology (5)
-
- Evolution (5)
- Medusae (5)
- College education (4)
- Foraging (4)
- Jellyfish (4)
- Marine biology (4)
- Microbiology (4)
- Propulsion (4)
- Assessment (3)
- Behavior (3)
- Design creationism (3)
- Feeding (3)
- Kinematics (3)
- Patch Reef Coral Community (3)
- Pleistocene Coral Reef (3)
- Reef Community (3)
- Acartia hudsonica (2)
- Airspace (2)
- Anatomy (2)
- Biodiversity (2)
- C3 plants (2)
- Cotyledons (2)
- Crassulacean acid metabolism (2)
- Creationism (2)
- Dehydration (2)
Articles 1 - 30 of 111
Full-Text Articles in Biology
Variation In Symbiont Density Is Linked To Changes In Constitutive Immunity In The Facultatively Symbiotic Coral, Astrangia Poculata, Isabella Changsut, Haley R. Womack, Alicia Shickle, Koty H. Sharp, Lauren E. Fuess
Variation In Symbiont Density Is Linked To Changes In Constitutive Immunity In The Facultatively Symbiotic Coral, Astrangia Poculata, Isabella Changsut, Haley R. Womack, Alicia Shickle, Koty H. Sharp, Lauren E. Fuess
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
Scleractinian corals are essential ecosystem engineers, forming the basis of coral reef ecosystems. However, these organisms are in decline globally, in part due to rising disease prevalence. Most corals are dependent on symbiotic interactions with single-celled algae from the family Symbiodiniaceae to meet their nutritional needs, however, suppression of host immunity may be essential to this relationship. To explore immunological consequences of algal symbioses in scleractinian corals, we investigated constitutive immune activity in the facultatively symbiotic coral, Astrangia poculata. We compared immune metrics (melanin synthesis, antioxidant production and antibacterial activity) between coral colonies of varying symbiont density. Symbiont density was …
Evaluating Acid-Aluminum Stress In Streams Of The Northeastern U.S. At Watershed, Fish Community And Physiological Scales, Benjamin J. Zdasiuk, Celia Y. Chen, Stephen D. Mccormick, Keith H. Nislow, Joel Singley, John T. Kelly
Evaluating Acid-Aluminum Stress In Streams Of The Northeastern U.S. At Watershed, Fish Community And Physiological Scales, Benjamin J. Zdasiuk, Celia Y. Chen, Stephen D. Mccormick, Keith H. Nislow, Joel Singley, John T. Kelly
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
In spite of overall improvements in air and water quality, biological stress from low pH and high concentrations of inorganic aluminum continue to impact fish and fish habitat in northeastern North America, with independent and interactive effects on individuals, populations and communities. Integrative indicators can therefore be useful in monitoring both impact and recovery across multiple scales. Using coupled water chemistry (pH, conductivity, and base cation and inorganic aluminum concentration), geographic (site elevation and watershed area) and biological (fish diversity, fish abundance, gill aluminum concentration and gill physiology) data, we developed an integrated indicator of acid-aluminum stress across the White …
Genome Sequence Of The Estuarine Synechococcus Sp. Strain Nb0720_010, Campbell A. Mackenzie, Marcia F. Marston, Javier F. Tabima, Nathan A. Ahlgren
Genome Sequence Of The Estuarine Synechococcus Sp. Strain Nb0720_010, Campbell A. Mackenzie, Marcia F. Marston, Javier F. Tabima, Nathan A. Ahlgren
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
Synechococcus spp. are unicellular cyanobacteria widely distributed in the world's oceans. We report the complete genome sequence of Synechococcus sp. strain NB0720_010, isolated from Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. NB0702_10 has several large (.3,000-amino acid) protein-coding genes that may be important in its interactions with other cells, including grazers in estuarine habitats.
Differential Patterns Of Microbiota Recovery In Symbiotic And Aposymbiotic Corals Following Antibiotic Disturbance, Shavonna M. Bent, Carolyn A. Miller, Koty H. Sharp, Colleen M. Hansel, Amy Apprill
Differential Patterns Of Microbiota Recovery In Symbiotic And Aposymbiotic Corals Following Antibiotic Disturbance, Shavonna M. Bent, Carolyn A. Miller, Koty H. Sharp, Colleen M. Hansel, Amy Apprill
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
Microbial relationships are critical to coral health, and changes in microbiomes are often exhibited following environmental disturbance. However, the dynamics of coral-microbial composition and external factors that govern coral microbiome assembly and response to disturbance remain largely uncharacterized. Here, we investigated how antibiotic-induced disturbance affects the coral mucus microbiota in the facultatively symbiotic temperate coral Astrangia poculata, which occurs naturally with high (symbiotic) or low (aposymbiotic) densities of the endosymbiotic dinoflagellate Breviolum psygmophilum. We also explored how differences in the mucus microbiome of natural and disturbed A. poculata colonies affected levels of extracellular superoxide, a reactive oxygen species thought to …
The Development Of Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (Cam) Photosynthesis In Cotyledons Of The C4 Species, Portulaca Grandiflora (Portulacaceae), Lonnie J. Guralnick, Kate E. Gilbert, Diana Denio, Nicholas Antico
The Development Of Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (Cam) Photosynthesis In Cotyledons Of The C4 Species, Portulaca Grandiflora (Portulacaceae), Lonnie J. Guralnick, Kate E. Gilbert, Diana Denio, Nicholas Antico
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
Portulaca grandiflora simultaneously utilizes both the C4 and Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) photosynthetic pathways. Our goal was to determine whether CAM developed and was functional simultaneously with the C4 pathway in cotyledons of P. grandiflora. We studied during development whether CAM would be induced with water stress by monitoring the enzyme activity, leaf structure, JO2 (rate of O2 evolution calculated by fluorescence analysis), and the changes in titratable acidity of 10 and 25 days old cotyledons. In the 10 days old cotyledons, C4 and CAM anatomy were evident within the leaf tissue. The cotyledons showed …
Plant Science Decadal Vision 2020–2030: Reimagining The Potential Of Plants For A Healthy And Sustainable Future, Natalie Henkhaus, Madelaine Bartlett, David Gang, Lonnie Guralnick, Et Al.
Plant Science Decadal Vision 2020–2030: Reimagining The Potential Of Plants For A Healthy And Sustainable Future, Natalie Henkhaus, Madelaine Bartlett, David Gang, Lonnie Guralnick, Et Al.
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
Plants, and the biological systems around them, are key to the future health of the planet and its inhabitants. The Plant Science Decadal Vision 2020–2030 frames our ability to perform vital and far‐reaching research in plant systems sciences, essential to how we value participants and apply emerging technologies. We outline a comprehensive vision for addressing some of our most pressing global problems through discovery, practical applications, and education. The Decadal Vision was developed by the participants at the Plant Summit 2019, a community event organized by the Plant Science Research Network. The Decadal Vision describes a holistic vision for the …
Phylogenetic, Genomic, And Biogeographic Characterization Of Anovel And Ubiquitous Marine Invertebrate-Associated Rickettsiales Parasite,Candidatus Aquarickettsia Rohweri, Gen. Nov., Sp. Nov, J. Grace Klinges, Stephanie M. Rosales, Ryan Mcminds, Koty H. Sharp
Phylogenetic, Genomic, And Biogeographic Characterization Of Anovel And Ubiquitous Marine Invertebrate-Associated Rickettsiales Parasite,Candidatus Aquarickettsia Rohweri, Gen. Nov., Sp. Nov, J. Grace Klinges, Stephanie M. Rosales, Ryan Mcminds, Koty H. Sharp
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
Bacterial symbionts are integral to the health and homeostasis of invertebrate hosts. Notably, members of the Rickettsiales genus Wolbachia influence several aspects of the fitness and evolution of their terrestrial hosts, but few analogous partnerships have been found in marine systems. We report here the genome, phylogenetics, and biogeography of a ubiquitous and novel Rickettsiales species that primarily associates with marine organisms. We previously showed that this bacterium was found in scleractinian corals, responds to nutrient exposure, and is associated with reduced host growth and increased mortality. This bacterium, like other Rickettsiales, has a reduced genome indicative of a parasitic …
Stability Of Temperate Coral Astrangia Poculata Microbiome Is Reflected Across Different Sequencing Methodologies, Dawn B. Goldsmith, Zoe A. Pratte, Koty H. Sharp
Stability Of Temperate Coral Astrangia Poculata Microbiome Is Reflected Across Different Sequencing Methodologies, Dawn B. Goldsmith, Zoe A. Pratte, Koty H. Sharp
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
The microbiome of the temperate coral Astrangia poculata was first described in 2017 using next-generation Illumina sequencing to examine the coral’s bacterial and archaeal associates across seasons and among hosts of differing symbiotic status. To assess the impact of methodology on the detectable diversity of the coral’s microbiome, we obtained near full-length Sanger sequences from clone libraries constructed from a subset of the same A. poculata samples. Eight samples were analyzed: two sets of paired symbiotic (brown) and aposymbiotic (white) colonies collected in the fall (September) and two sets collected in the spring (April). Analysis of the Sanger sequences revealed …
Crassulacean Acid Metabolism As A Continuous Trait: Variability In The Contribution Of Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (Cam) In Populations Of Portulacaria Afra, Lonnie J. Guralnick, Kate Gladsky
Crassulacean Acid Metabolism As A Continuous Trait: Variability In The Contribution Of Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (Cam) In Populations Of Portulacaria Afra, Lonnie J. Guralnick, Kate Gladsky
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
Portulacaria afra L. is a dominant facultative CAM species growing in the Southeastern Cape of South Africa. P. afra is well adapted to regions of the Spekboom thicket in areas of limited and sporadic rainfall. P. afra populations occur in isolated drainages. We hypothesized the utilization of CAM would vary in the different populations in response to rainfall and temperature gradients. Carbon isotope composition can be used to determine the contribution of CAM in leaf tissue. P. afra leaves of populations were analyzed in transects running south to north and east to west in locations from the coast to elevations …
Season, But Not Symbiont State, Drives Microbiome Structure In The Temperate Coral Astrangia Poculata., Koty H. Sharp, Zoe A. Pratte, Allison H. Kerwin
Season, But Not Symbiont State, Drives Microbiome Structure In The Temperate Coral Astrangia Poculata., Koty H. Sharp, Zoe A. Pratte, Allison H. Kerwin
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
BACKGROUND: Understanding the associations among corals, their photosynthetic zooxanthella symbionts (Symbiodinium), and coral-associated prokaryotic microbiomes is critical for predicting the fidelity and strength of coral symbioses in the face of growing environmental threats. Most coral-microbiome associations are beneficial, yet the mechanisms that determine the composition of the coral microbiome remain largely unknown. Here, we characterized microbiome diversity in the temperate, facultatively symbiotic coral Astrangia poculata at four seasonal time points near the northernmost limit of the species range. The facultative nature of this system allowed us to test seasonal influence and symbiotic state (Symbiodinium density in the coral) on microbiome …
Pedagogy For The Pedosphere, Loren B. Byrne, Rachel K. Thiet, V Bala Chaudhary
Pedagogy For The Pedosphere, Loren B. Byrne, Rachel K. Thiet, V Bala Chaudhary
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
No abstract provided.
Induction Of Larval Settlement In The Reef Coral Porites Astreoides By A Cultivated Marine Roseobacter Strain, Koty H. Sharp
Induction Of Larval Settlement In The Reef Coral Porites Astreoides By A Cultivated Marine Roseobacter Strain, Koty H. Sharp
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
Successful larval settlement and recruitment by corals is critical for the survival of coral reef ecosystems. Several closely related strains of γ-proteobacteria have been identified as cues for coral larval settlement, but the inductive properties of other bacterial taxa naturally occurring in reef ecosystems have not yet been explored. In this study, we assayed bacterial strains representing taxonomic groups consistently detected in corals for their ability to influence larval settlement in the coral Porites astreoides. We identified one α-proteobacterial strain, Roseivivax sp. 46E8, which significantly increased larval settlement in P. astreoides. Logarithmic growth phase (log phase) cell cultures of Roseivivax …
Bending Rules For Animal Propulsion, Kelsey N. Lucas, Nathan Johnson, Wesley T. T. Beaulieu, Eric Cathcart, Gregory Tirrell, Sean Colin, Brad J. Gemmell, John O. O. Dabiri, John H. Costello
Bending Rules For Animal Propulsion, Kelsey N. Lucas, Nathan Johnson, Wesley T. T. Beaulieu, Eric Cathcart, Gregory Tirrell, Sean Colin, Brad J. Gemmell, John O. O. Dabiri, John H. Costello
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
Animal propulsors such as wings and fins bend during motion and these bending patterns are believed to contribute to the high efficiency of animal movements compared with those of man-made designs. However, efforts to implement flexible designs have been met with contradictory performance results. Consequently, there is no clear understanding of the role played by propulsor flexibility or, more fundamentally, how flexible propulsors should be designed for optimal performance. Here we demonstrate that during steady-state motion by a wide range of animals, from fruit flies to humpback whales, operating in either air or water, natural propulsors bend in similar ways …
An Algorithm To Estimate Unsteady And Quasi-Steady Pressure Fields From Velocity Field Measurements, John O. Dabiri, Sanjeeb Bose, Brad J. Gemmell, Sean Colin, John H. Costello
An Algorithm To Estimate Unsteady And Quasi-Steady Pressure Fields From Velocity Field Measurements, John O. Dabiri, Sanjeeb Bose, Brad J. Gemmell, Sean Colin, John H. Costello
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
We describe and characterize a method for estimating the pressure field corresponding to velocity field measurements such as those obtained by using particle image velocimetry. The pressure gradient is estimated from a time series of velocity fields for unsteady calculations or from a single velocity field for quasi-steady calculations. The corresponding pressure field is determined based on median polling of several integration paths through the pressure gradient field in order to reduce the effect of measurement errors that accumulate along individual integration paths. Integration paths are restricted to the nodes of the measured velocity field, thereby eliminating the need for …
Effect Of Buckwheat (Fagopyrum Esculentum) On Soil Phosphorus Availability And Organic Acids, Angela R. Possinger, Loren B. Byrne, Nancy Breen E. Breen
Effect Of Buckwheat (Fagopyrum Esculentum) On Soil Phosphorus Availability And Organic Acids, Angela R. Possinger, Loren B. Byrne, Nancy Breen E. Breen
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
As a cover crop, buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) may increase soil-P availability. Buckwheat was grown in low-P and P-fertilized field plots, and organic anions were measured in rhizosphere soil. Soil-P availability was not affected by buckwheat, but the concentration of rhizosphere tartrate2– was significantly higher (p < 0.005) in low-P vs. P-fertilized plots. This suggests that organic-anion root exudation may have a role in buckwheat-rhizosphere P dynamics.
Uncovering An Obscure Trade: Threatened Freshwater Fishes And The Aquarium Pet Markets, Rajeev Raghavan, Neelesh Dahanukar, Michael F. Tlusty, Andrew L. Rhyne, K. Krishna Kumar, Sanjay Molur, Alison M. Rosser
Uncovering An Obscure Trade: Threatened Freshwater Fishes And The Aquarium Pet Markets, Rajeev Raghavan, Neelesh Dahanukar, Michael F. Tlusty, Andrew L. Rhyne, K. Krishna Kumar, Sanjay Molur, Alison M. Rosser
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
While the collection of fish for the aquarium pet trade has been flagged as a major threat to wild populations, this link is tenuous for the unregulated wild collection of endemic species because of the lack of quantitative data. In this paper, we examine the extent and magnitude of collection and trade of endemic and threatened freshwater fishes from India for the pet markets, and discuss their conservation implications. Using data on aquarium fishes exported from India, we try to understand nature of the trade in terms of species composition, volume, exit points, and importing countries. Most trade in India …
Passive Energy Recapture In Jellyfish Contributes To Propulsive Advantage Over Other Metazoans, Brad J. Gemmell, John H. Costello, Sean Colin, Colin J. Stewart, John O. Dabiri, Danesh Tafti, Shashank Priya
Passive Energy Recapture In Jellyfish Contributes To Propulsive Advantage Over Other Metazoans, Brad J. Gemmell, John H. Costello, Sean Colin, Colin J. Stewart, John O. Dabiri, Danesh Tafti, Shashank Priya
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
Gelatinous zooplankton populations are well known for their ability to take over perturbed ecosystems. The ability of these animals to outcompete and functionally replace fish that exhibit an effective visual predatory mode is counterintuitive because jellyfish are described as inefficient swimmers that must rely on direct contact with prey to feed. We show that jellyfish exhibit a unique mechanism of passive energy recapture, which is exploited to allow them to travel 30% further each swimming cycle, thereby reducing metabolic energy demand by swimming muscles. By accounting for large interspecific differences in net metabolic rates, we demonstrate, contrary to prevailing views, …
An In-Class Role-Playing Activity To Foster Discussion And Deeper Understanding Of Biodiversity And Ecological Webs, Loren B. Byrne
An In-Class Role-Playing Activity To Foster Discussion And Deeper Understanding Of Biodiversity And Ecological Webs, Loren B. Byrne
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
In a general sense, biodiversity is an intuitively simple concept, referring to the variety of Earth’s organisms. Ecologists, however, conceptualize biodiversity in a more nuanced, multidimensional way to reflect the enormous diversity of species, niches, and interspecific interactions that generate spatiotemporal complexity in communities. Students may not fully comprehend or appreciate this deeper meaning if they fail to recognize the full range of species in a community (e.g., the often-ignored microbes and small invertebrates) and how their varied interactions (e.g., mutualism, parasitism) and activities (e.g., ecosystem engineering) affect an ecosystem’s emergent structure (e.g., food webs) and function (e.g., decomposition). To …
Fluid Interactions That Enable Stealth Predation By The Upstream-Foraging Hydromedusa Craspedacusta Sowerbyi, K. Lucas, Sean Colin, John H. Costello, K. Katija, E. Klos
Fluid Interactions That Enable Stealth Predation By The Upstream-Foraging Hydromedusa Craspedacusta Sowerbyi, K. Lucas, Sean Colin, John H. Costello, K. Katija, E. Klos
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
Unlike most medusae that forage with tentacles trailing behind their bells, several species forage upstream of their bells using aborally located tentacles. It has been hypothesized that these medusae forage as stealth predators by placing their tentacles in more quiescent regions of flow around their bells. Consequently, they are able to capture highly mobile, sensitive prey. We used digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) to quantitatively characterize the flow field around Craspedacusta sowerbyi, a freshwater upstream-foraging hydromedusa, to evaluate the mechanics of its stealth predation. We found that fluid velocities were minimal in front and along the sides of the bell …
Propulsion In Cubomedusae: Mechanisms And Utility, Sean Colin, John H. Costello, Kakani Katija, Jamie Seymour, Kristen Kiefer
Propulsion In Cubomedusae: Mechanisms And Utility, Sean Colin, John H. Costello, Kakani Katija, Jamie Seymour, Kristen Kiefer
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
Evolutionary constraints which limit the forces produced during bell contractions of medusae affect the overall medusan morphospace such that jet propulsion is limited to only small medusae. Cubomedusae, which often possess large prolate bells and are thought to swim via jet propulsion, appear to violate the theoretical constraints which determine the medusan morphospace. To examine propulsion by cubomedusae, we quantified size related changes in wake dynamics, bell shape, swimming and turning kinematics of two species of cubomedusae, Chironex fleckeri and Chiropsella bronzie. During growth, these cubomedusae transitioned from using jet propulsion at smaller sizes to a rowing-jetting hybrid mode …
Diversity And Dynamics Of Bacterial Communities In Early Life Stages Of The Caribbean Coral Porites Astreoides, Koty H. Sharp, Dan Distel, Valerie J. Paul
Diversity And Dynamics Of Bacterial Communities In Early Life Stages Of The Caribbean Coral Porites Astreoides, Koty H. Sharp, Dan Distel, Valerie J. Paul
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
In this study, we examine microbial communities of early developmental stages of the coral Porites astreoides by sequence analysis of cloned 16S rRNA genes, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP), and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) imaging. Bacteria are associated with the ectoderm layer in newly released planula larvae, in 4-day-old planulae, and on the newly forming mesenteries surrounding developing septa in juvenile polyps after settlement. Roseobacter clade-associated (RCA) bacteria and Marinobacter sp. are consistently detected in specimens of P. astreoides spanning three early developmental stages, two locations in the Caribbean and 3 years of collection. Multi-response permutation procedures analysis …
Opportunities For Public Aquariums To Increase The Sustainability Of The Aquatic Animal Trade, Michael F. Tlusty, Andrew L. Rhyne, Les Kaufman, Michael Hutchins, Gordon Mcgregor Reid, Chris Andrews, Paul Boyle, Jay Hemdal, Frazer Mcgilvray, Scott Dowd
Opportunities For Public Aquariums To Increase The Sustainability Of The Aquatic Animal Trade, Michael F. Tlusty, Andrew L. Rhyne, Les Kaufman, Michael Hutchins, Gordon Mcgregor Reid, Chris Andrews, Paul Boyle, Jay Hemdal, Frazer Mcgilvray, Scott Dowd
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
The global aquatic pet trade encompasses a wide diversity of freshwater and marine organisms. While relying on a continual supply of healthy, vibrant aquatic animals, few sustainability initiatives exist within this sector. Public aquariums overlap this industry by acquiring many of the same species through the same sources. End users are also similar, as many aquarium visitors are home aquarists. Here we posit that this overlap with the pet trade gives aquariums significant opportunity to increase the sustainability of the trade in aquarium fishes and invertebrates. Improving the sustainability ethos and practices of the aquatic pet trade can carry a …
Hormone And Metabolite Changes Associated With Extended Breeding Fasts In Male Northern Elephant Seals (Mirounga Angustirostris), Daniel E. Crocker, Rudy M. Ortiz, Dorian S. Houser, Paul M. Webb, Daniel P. Costa
Hormone And Metabolite Changes Associated With Extended Breeding Fasts In Male Northern Elephant Seals (Mirounga Angustirostris), Daniel E. Crocker, Rudy M. Ortiz, Dorian S. Houser, Paul M. Webb, Daniel P. Costa
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
We measured metabolic hormones and several key metabolites in breeding adult male northern elephant seals to examine the regulation of fuel metabolism during extended natural fasts of over 3 months associated with high levels of energy expenditure. Males were sampled twice, early and late in the fast, losing an average of 23% of body mass and 47% of adipose stores between measurements. Males exhibited metabolic homeostasis over the breeding fast with no changes in glucose, non-esterified fatty acids, or blood urea nitrogen. Ketoacids increased over the fast but were very low when compared to other fasting species. Changes within individuals …
Flow Structure And Transport Characteristics Of Feeding And Exchange Currents Generated By Upside-Down Cassiopea Jellyfish, Arvind Santhanakrishnan, Makani Dollinger, Christina L. Hamlet, Sean Colin, Laura A. Miller
Flow Structure And Transport Characteristics Of Feeding And Exchange Currents Generated By Upside-Down Cassiopea Jellyfish, Arvind Santhanakrishnan, Makani Dollinger, Christina L. Hamlet, Sean Colin, Laura A. Miller
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
Quantifying the flows generated by the pulsations of jellyfish bells is crucial for understanding the mechanics and efficiency of their swimming and feeding. Recent experimental and theoretical work has focused on the dynamics of vortices in the wakes of swimming jellyfish with relatively simple oral arms and tentacles. The significance of bell pulsations for generating feeding currents through elaborate oral arms and the consequences for particle capture are not as well understood. To isolate the generation of feeding currents from swimming, the pulsing kinematics and fluid flow around the benthic jellyfish Cassiopea spp. were investigated using a combination of videography, …
Trends In The Marine Aquarium Trade: The Influence Of Global Economics And Technology, Andrew L. Rhyne, Michael F. Tlusty
Trends In The Marine Aquarium Trade: The Influence Of Global Economics And Technology, Andrew L. Rhyne, Michael F. Tlusty
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
The marine aquarium hobby is a global industry with trade chains on six continents. This industry is undergoing rapid changes in hob byist preferences that are in part driven by global economies and technology. In an effort to better assess the past trends and help provide insight into future growth and demand, we assessed three different trade data sources, the United States-State of Florida Marine Life Landings, CITES stony coral imports, and United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s Law Enforcement Information Systems import data for ‘live rock’. Data for the past 10 years were analyzed and a clear trend of …
Discrimination, Crypticity, And Incipient Taxa In Entamoeba, Avelina Espinosa, Guillermo Paz-Y-Miño-C
Discrimination, Crypticity, And Incipient Taxa In Entamoeba, Avelina Espinosa, Guillermo Paz-Y-Miño-C
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
Persistent difficulties in resolving clear lineages in diverging populations of prokaryotes or unicellular eukaryotes (protistan polyphyletic groups) are challenging the classical species concept. Although multiple integrated approaches would render holistic taxonomies, most phylogenetic studies are still based on single-gene or morphological traits. Such methodologies conceal natural lineages, which are considered “cryptic.” The concept of species is considered artificial and inadequate to define natural populations. Social organisms display differential behaviors toward kin than to nonrelated individuals. In “social” microbes, kin discrimination has been used to help resolve crypticity. Aggregative behavior could be explored in a nonsocial protist to define phylogenetic varieties …
Cryptic Species: A Mismatch Between Genetics And Morphology In Millepora, Craig Tepper, Benjamin J. Greenstein
Cryptic Species: A Mismatch Between Genetics And Morphology In Millepora, Craig Tepper, Benjamin J. Greenstein
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
Millepore morphology is highly variable and shows signs of phenotypic plasticity. Two species of Millepora are present around the islands of the Bahamas: one exhibiting a strong, blade-like structure, Millepora complanata, and the other having a delicate branch-like structure, Millepora alcicornis. The phylogenetic relationship of these corals has been under considerable debate for many years. The existence of a range of intermediate growth forms exhibiting characteristics of both recognized species has led to the re-examination of this species complex. Several methods were employed to examine the taxonomic relationship including ecological abundance surveys, morphological thin-section analysis, and sequencing of …
Biomimetic And Live Medusae Reveal The Mechanistic Advantages Of A Flexible Bell Margin, Sean Colin, John H. Costello, John O. Dabiri, Alex Villanueva, John B. B. Blottman, Brad J. Gemmell, Shashank Priya
Biomimetic And Live Medusae Reveal The Mechanistic Advantages Of A Flexible Bell Margin, Sean Colin, John H. Costello, John O. Dabiri, Alex Villanueva, John B. B. Blottman, Brad J. Gemmell, Shashank Priya
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
Flexible bell margins are characteristic components of rowing medusan morphologies and are expected to contribute towards their high propulsive efficiency. However, the mechanistic basis of thrust augmentation by flexible propulsors remained unresolved, so the impact of bell margin flexibility on medusan swimming has also remained unresolved. We used biomimetic robotic jellyfish vehicles to elucidate that propulsive thrust enhancement by flexible medusan bell margins relies upon fluid dynamic interactions between entrained flows at the inflexion point of the exumbrella and flows expelled from under the bell. Coalescence of flows from these two regions resulted in enhanced fluid circulation and, therefore, thrust …
Antiamoebic Properties Of The Actinomycete Metabolites Echinomycin A And Tirandamycin A, Avelina Espinosa, Aaron M. Socha, Erica Ryke, David C. Rowley
Antiamoebic Properties Of The Actinomycete Metabolites Echinomycin A And Tirandamycin A, Avelina Espinosa, Aaron M. Socha, Erica Ryke, David C. Rowley
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
Entamoeba histolytica infects 50 million people per year, causing 100,000 deaths worldwide. The primary treatment for amoebiasis is metronidazole. However, increased pathogen resistance combined with the drug’s toxic side effects encourages a search for alternative therapeutic agents. Secondary metabolites from marine bacteria are a promising resource for antiprotozoan drug discovery. In this study, extracts from a collection of marine-derived actinomycetes were screened for antiamoebic properties, and the activities of antibiotics echinomycin A and tirandamycin A are shown. Both antibiotics inhibited the in vitro growth of a E. histolytica laboratory strain (HM-1:IMSS) and a clinical isolate (Colombia, Col) …
Predator-Induced Vertical Behavior Of A Ctenophore, Josefin Titelman, Lars Johan Hansson, Trygve Nilsen, Sean Colin, John H. Costello
Predator-Induced Vertical Behavior Of A Ctenophore, Josefin Titelman, Lars Johan Hansson, Trygve Nilsen, Sean Colin, John H. Costello
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
Although many studies have focused on Mnemiopsis leidyi predation, little is known about the role of this ctenophore as prey when abundant in native and invaded pelagic systems. We examined the response of the ctenophore M. leidyi to the predatory ctenophore Beroe ovata in an experiment in which the two species could potentially sense each other while being physically separated. On average, M. leidyi responded to the predator’s presence by increasing variability in swimming speeds and by lowering their vertical distribution. Such behavior may help explain field records of vertical migration, as well as stratified and near-bottom distributions of M. …