Biology Commons^™

Thermal Adaptation And Diversity In Tropical Ecosystems: Evidence From Cicadas (Hemiptera, Cicadidae), Allen F. Sanborn, James E. Heath, Polly K. Phillips, Maxine S. Heath, Fernando G. Noriega

Department of Biological Sciences

The latitudinal gradient in species diversity is a central problem in ecology. Expeditions covering approximately 16u549 of longitude and 21u49 of latitude and eight Argentine phytogeographic regions provided thermal adaptation data for 64 species of cicadas. We test whether species diversity relates to the diversity of thermal environments within a habitat. There are general patterns of the thermal response values decreasing in cooler floristic provinces and decreasing maximum potential temperature within a habitat except in tropical forest ecosystems. Vertical stratification of the plant communities leads to stratification in species using specific layers of the habitat. There is a decrease in …

Natural Variation In Gestational Cortisol Is Associated With Patterns Of Growth In Marmoset Monkeys (Callithrix Geoffroyi), Aaryn C. Mustoe, Andrew K. Birnie, Andrew V. Korgan, Jonathan Bruce Santo, Jeffrey French

Psychology Faculty Publications

High levels of prenatal cortisol have been previously reported to retard fetal growth. Although cortisol plays a pivotal role in prenatal maturation, heightened exposure to cortisol can result in lower body weights at birth, which have been shown to be associated with adult diseases like hypertension and cardiovascular disease. This study examines the relationship between natural variation in gestational cortisol and fetal and postnatal growth in marmoset monkeys. Urinary samples obtained during the mother’s gestation were analyzed for cortisol. Marmoset body mass index (BMI) was measured from birth through 540 days in 30- or 60-day intervals. Multi-level modeling was used …

Reverse Protection Assay: A Tool To Analyze Transcriptional Rates From Individual Promoters, Yan O. Zubo, Victor V. Kusnetsov, Thomas Börner, Karsten Liere

Dartmouth Scholarship

Transcriptional activity of entire genes in chloroplasts is usually assayed by run-on analyses. To determine not only the overall intensity of transcription of a gene, but also the rate of transcription from a particular promoter, we created the Reverse RNase Protection Assay (RePro): in-organello run-on transcription coupled to RNase protection to define distinct transcript ends during transcription. We demonstrate successful application of RePro in plastid promoter analysis and transcript 3' end processing.

Discrimination And Aggregative Patterns Among And Between Populations Of Entamoeba Spp., Katelyn M. Higgins

Honors Theses

Kin recognition facilitates the evolution of cooperation in animals, but its relevance in microorganisms and their behavior toward relatives remains unclear. The Entamoeba lineage constitutes an ideal model to determine the behavioral and signaling cues needed for aggregative preference. Chemical cues have been reported for E. histolytica but not E. dispar, suggesting cell-communication between con-specifics and behavioral differences with relevance for disease. Entamoeba varieties have been reported as ‘morphologically undistinguishable’. Two strains of E. invadens have been isolated from different hosts (VK-1: NS - Varanus komodoensis and IP1- serpentes) but were classified within the same ‘species’. Trophozoites …

Reproducible Hairy Root Transformation And Spot-Inoculation Methods To Study Root Symbioses Of Pea, Scott R. Clemow, Lindsey Clairmont, Lene H. Madsen, Frédérique C. Guinel

Biology Faculty Publications

Pea has lagged behind other model legumes in the molecular study of nodulation and mycorrhizae-formation because of the difficulty to transform its roots and its poor growth on agar plates. Here we describe for pea 1) a transformation technique which permits the complementation of two known non-nodulating pea mutants, 2) a rhizobial inoculation method which allows the study of early cellular events giving rise to nodule primordia, and 3) a targeted fungal inoculation method which allows us to study short segments of mycorrhizal roots assured to be infected. These tools are certain to advance our knowledge of pea root symbioses.

The Direct Role Of Enzyme Hydrolysis On Ammonium Regeneration Rates In Estuarine Sediments, Afonso C. Souza, Tamara K. Pease, Wayne S. Gardner

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Benthic ammonium (NH4 +) regeneration in coastal marine sediments has a fundamental role in nitrogen (N) cycling and N supply to primary producers. Nitrogen regeneration involves benthic microbial mineralization of organic-N, which, in turn, depends on protein hydrolysis. These processes were examined in Aransas Bay (Texas, USA) sediments by monitoring NH4 + evolution as a function of enzyme activity in controlled sediment slurries. Casein and tannic acid were added to evaluate the direct role of aminopeptidase on NH4 + production and the effects of a polyphenolic enzyme inhibitor, respectively. Casein additions increased the NH4 + concentration from 19 ± 0.3 …

Global Change, Global Trade, And The Next Wave Of Plant Invasions, Bethany A. Bradley, Dana M. Blumenthal, Regan Early, Edwin D. Grosholz, Joshua J. Lawler, Luke P. Miller, Cascade J.B. Sorte, Carla M. D'Antonio, Jeffrey M. Diez, Jeffrey S. Dukes, Ines Ibanez, Julian D. Olden

Faculty Publications, Biological Sciences

Many non-native plants in the US have become problematic invaders of native and managed ecosystems, but a new generation of invasive species may be at our doorstep. Here, we review trends in the horticultural trade and invasion patterns of previously introduced species and show that novel species introductions from emerging horticultural trade partners are likely to rapidly increase invasion risk. At the same time, climate change and water restrictions are increasing demand for new types of species adapted to warm and dry environments. This confluence of forces could expose the US to a range of new invasive species, including many …

Pulmonary Diffusional Screening And The Scaling Laws Of Mammalian Metabolic Rates, Chen Hou, Michael Mayo

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Theoretical considerations suggest that the mammalian metabolic rate is linearly proportional to the surface areas of mitochondria, capillary, and alveolar membranes. However, the scaling exponents of these surface areas to the mammals' body mass (approximately 0.9-1) are higher than exponents of the resting metabolic rate (RMR) to body mass (approximately 0.75), although similar to the one of exercise metabolic rate (EMR); the underlying physiological cause of this mismatch remains unclear. The analysis presented here shows that discrepancies between the scaling exponents of RMR and the relevant surface areas may originate from, at least for the system of alveolar membranes in …

Abiotic Stress Responses In Photosynthetic Organisms, Joseph Msanne

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Cellular and molecular aspects of abiotic stress responses in Arabidopsis thaliana subjected to cold, drought, and high salinity and in two photosynthetic green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Coccomyxa sp. C-169, subjected to nitrogen deprivation were investigated. Cold, drought, and high salinity can negatively affect plant growth and crop production. The first research aimed at determining the physiological functions of the stress-responsive Arabidopsis thaliana RD29A and RD29B genes. Cold, drought, and salt induced both genes; the promoter of RD29Awas found to be more responsive to drought and cold stresses, whereas the promoter of RD29B was highly responsive to salt stress. …

Utilizing Fishermen Knowledge And Expertise: Keys To Success For Collaborative Fisheries Research, Noëlle Yochum, Richard M. Starr, Dean Wendt

Biological Sciences

Collaborative fisheries research provides a mechanism for integrating the unique knowledge, experience, and skills of fishermen and scientists. It is a joint intellectual endeavor that begins with the inception of a project and continues until its final stages, with each group having mutual investment in—and ownership of— the project. Collaborative fisheries research promotes communication and trust among fishermen, scientists, and managers and can provide much-needed scientifically valid data for fisheries management. It can enhance federal and state management data collection programs, which span broad sections of coastline, by increasing the ability to detect changes in local metapopulations that may be …

What Are The Effects Of Raw Vs. Pasteurized Milk Consumption On Growth Rate And Fertility In A Colony Of Mice?, Kari Sholing, Lindsay Ganong, Amy Olson

Nutrition Student Work

Interest in consuming unprocessed foods has led to assumptions that raw milk has health benefits over pasteurized milk. This study was designed to evaluate the belief that raw milk is nutritionally superior. Eighteen mice were randomly assigned to one of two groups: raw milk or pasteurized milk. Mice were grouped into breeding trios and given a fresh supply of milk every four hours between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. for 55 days. Milk consumption was tracked at each feeding by measuring the amount of milk that was provided and the amount of milk that was left from the previous feeding. …

Hands-On Labs (Hol): Using Technology And Web-Based Resources To Transform A Traditional Lab-Based Biology Course Into A Distance Learning (Dl) Hybrid Course, Across Schools At Pace University., Erica Kipp

Cornerstone 3 Reports : Interdisciplinary Informatics

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Effects Of Hypoxia On Sulfate Reducing Anaerobes, Annaliese K. Jones

Senior Honors Projects

Exploring the Effects of Hypoxia on Sulfate Reducing Anaerobes

Annaliese K. Jones

Sponsor: Bethany Jenkins, Cell and Molecular Biology

As a student about to graduate with a degree in Biological Sciences, I find myself faced with the need to find my own independent research interests and scientific voice. As a result of my interests in the fields of both microbiology and ecology, I am drawn to questions surrounding the role and behavior of microorganisms in the environment. With climate change being an issue capturing the attention of a large portion of the scientific community, I have chosen to focus my …

Heterogeneous Rates Of Molecular Evolution Among Cryptic Species Of The Ciliate Morphospecies Chilodonella Uncinata, Laura A. Katz, Jennifer Deberardinis, Meaghan S. Hall, Alexandra M. Kovner, Micah Dunthorn, Spencer V. Muse

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

While molecular analyses have provided insight into the phylogeny of ciliates, the few studies assessing intraspecific variation have largely relied on just a single locus [e.g., nuclear small subunit rDNA (nSSUrDNA) or mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I]. In this study, we characterize the diversity of several nuclear protein-coding genes plus both nSSU-rDNA and mitochondrial small subunit rDNA (mtSSU-rDNA) of five isolates of the ciliate morphospecies Chilodonella uncinata. Although these isolates have nearly identical nSSU-rDNA sequences, they differ by up to 8.0% in mtSSU-rDNA. Comparative analyses of all loci, including b-tubulin paralogs, indicate a lack of recombination between strains, demonstrating that the …

Drosophila Piwi Functions Downstream Of Pirna Production Mediating A Chromatin-Based Transposon Silencing Mechanism In Female Germ Line, Sidney Wang, Sarah C.R. Elgin

Biology Faculty Publications & Presentations

Transposon control is a critical process during reproduction. The PIWI family proteins can play a key role, using a piRNA-mediated slicing mechanism to suppress transposon activity posttranscriptionally. In Drosophila melanogaster, Piwi is predominantly localized in the nucleus and has been implicated in heterochromatin formation. Here, we use female germ-line-specific depletion to study Piwi function. This depletion of Piwi leads to infertility and to axis specification defects in the developing egg chambers; correspondingly, widespread loss of transposon silencing is observed. Germ-line Piwi does not appear to be required for piRNA production. Instead, Piwi requires Aubergine (and presumably secondary piRNA) for proper …

Escape From Competition: Neighbors Reduce Centaurea Stoebe Performance At Home But Not Away, Ragan M. Callaway, Lauren P. Waller, Alecu Diaconu, Robert Pal, Alexandra R. Collins, Heingz Mueller-Schaerer, John L. Maron

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The greater abundance of some exotic plants in their nonnative ranges might be explained in part by biogeographic differences in the strength of competition, but these competitive effects have not been experimentally examined in the field. We compared the effects of neighbors on the growth and reproduction of spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe) in Europe, where it is native, and in Montana, where it is invasive. There were strong negative competitive effects of neighboring vegetation on C. stoebe growth and reproduction in Europe. In contrast, identical experiments in Montana resulted in insignificant impacts on C. stoebe. Although the …

Evolution Of Coordinated Mutagenesis And Somatic Hypermutation In Vh5, Barbara E. Wright, Karen H. Schmidt, Aaron T. Hunt, Dennis K. Reschke, Michael F. Minnick

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The VH5 human antibody gene was analyzed using a computer program (mfg) which simulates transcription, to better understand transcription-driven mutagenesis events that occur during "phase 1" of somatic hypermutation. Results show that the great majority of mutations in the non-transcribed strand occur within loops of two predicted high-stability stem-loop structures, termed SLSs 14.9 and 13.9. In fact, 89% of the 2505 mutations reported are within the encoded complementarity-determining region (CDR) and occur in loops of these high-stability structures. In vitro studies were also done and verified the existence of SLS 14.9. Following the formation of SLSs 14.9 and 13.9, a …

Genotypic And Phenotypic Variation In Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Reveals Signatures Of Secondary Infection And Mutator Activity In Certain Cystic Fibrosis Patients With Chronic Lung Infections, Ashley E. Warren, Carla M. Boulianne-Larsen, Christine B. Chandler, Kami Chiotti, Evgueny Kroll, Scott R. Miller, Francois Taddei, Isabelle Sermet-Gaudelus, Agnes Ferroni, Kathleen Mcinnerney, Michael J. Franklin, Frank Rosenzweig

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Evolutionary adaptation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the cystic fibrosis lung is limited by genetic variation, which depends on rates of horizontal gene transfer and mutation supply. Because each may increase following secondary infection or mutator emergence, we sought to ascertain the incidence of secondary infection and genetic variability in populations containing or lacking mutators. Forty-nine strains collected over 3 years from 16 patients were phenotyped for antibiotic resistance and mutator status and were genotyped by repetitive-sequence PCR (rep-PCR), pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Though phenotypic and genetic polymorphisms were widespread and clustered more strongly within than …

Comparison Of Disturbance Impacts To And Spatial Distribution Of Biological Soil Crusts In The Little San Bernardino Mountains Of Joshua Tree National Park, California, Nicole Pietrasiak, Jeffrey R. Johansen, Tasha Ladoux, Robert C. Graham

Biology

Biological soil crust ecology in the hot Mojave Desert is poorly understood with regard to crust distribution and abundance, as well as the impacts of trampling disturbance on crust development. Our objective was to study biological soil crusts in 2 areas of differing disturbance pressures in the high desert region of Joshua Tree National Park, California, with respect to visible crust cover and frequency, chlorophyll a, and soil stability. Impacts on biological soil crusts from 2 disturbance regimes, historic grazing and recent high knot traffic, were compared using a disturbance indicator. In addition, we measured a suite of abiotic and …

Expanding The Temporal Dimensions Of Developmental Biology: The Role Of Environmental Agents In Establishing Adult-Onset Phenotypes, Scott F. Gilbert

Biology Faculty Works

Developmental biology is expanding into several new areas. One new area of study concerns the production of adult-onset phenotypes by exposure of the fetus or neonate to environmental agents. These agents include maternal nutrients, developmental modulators (endocrine disruptors), and maternal care. In all three cases, a major mechanism for the generation of the altered phenotype is chromatin modification. Nutrient conditions, developmental modulators, and even maternal care appear to alter DNA methylation and other associated changes in chromatin that regulate gene expression. This brings a new, under-appreciated, dimension of gene regulation into developmental biology, and it also demonstrates the poverty of …

Prey Selection By The Northern Watersnake, Nerodia Sipedon, Kyle O' Connell

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Prey selection and composition of the northern waternake, Nerodia sipedon was investigated between 8/2010 and 3/2011 by palpation of stomach contents in the field and conducting laboratory trials. 41 snakes were captured, five yielded prey contents. Fish parts, freshwater mussels, and an insect exoskeleton were found. No amphibians were found despite availability at study sites. Snakes in the laboratory underwent 22 trials, feeding on 11 occasions. Snakes fed on an equal number of both fish species, revealing no selection. Further research is needed to determine the rate of digestion of N. sipedon.

The Y-Str Genetic Diversity Of An Idaho Basque Population, With Comparison To European Basques And Us Caucasians, Josu Zubizarreta, Michael C. Davis, Greg Hampikian

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Fifty unrelated Basque males from southwest Idaho were typed for the 17 Y-STR loci in the Yfiler multiplex kit (DYS19, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439, DYS448, DYS456, DYS458, DYS635, YGATA_H4.1 and DYS385a/b). A total of 42 haplotypes were identified, with no more than two individuals sharing a single haplotype. The haplotype diversity (HD) was 0.9935, and gene diversity (D) over loci was 0.457 ± 0.137. The Idaho Basque population was compared to the source population from the Basque autonomous region of Northern Spain and Southern France, as well as a US Caucasian population. The haplotype diversity …

Antitrypanosomal Activities And Cytotoxicity Of Some Novel Imido-Substituted 1,4-Naphthoquinone Derivatives, Franklin Ampy

Department of Biology Faculty Publications

The antitrypanosomal activities, cytotoxicity, and selectivity indices of eleven imido-substituted 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives and nifurtimox have been studied. Compared to nifurtimox (IC(50) = 10.67 μM), all the imido-naphthoquinone analogs (IMDNQ1-IMDNQ11) are more potent on Trypanosoma cruzi with IC50 values ranging from 0.7 μM to 6.1 μM (p < 0.05). Studies of the cytotoxic activities of these compounds on a Balb/C 3T3 mouse fibroblast cell line revealed that four of these compounds, IMDNQ1, IMDNQ2, IMDNQ3, and IMDNQ10 displayed selectivity indices of 60.25, 53.97, 31.83, and 275.3, respectively, rendering them significantly (p < 0.05) more selective in inhibiting the parasite growth than nifurtimox (selectivity index = 10.86).

First Records Of Paralaoma Servilis (Shuttleworth, 1852) (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Punctidae) In The Hawaiian Islands, Carl Christensen, Norine Yeung, Kenneth Hayes

Department of Biology Faculty Publications

We report the establishment of another globally invasive land snail species in the Hawaiian islands. Punctidae Paralaoma servilis (Shuttleworth, 1852) New state record Cowie et al. (1995) and Cowie (1997) reported the occurrence on the island of Hawai'i of an unidentified land snail tentatively assigned to the genus Striatura (Family Zonitidae). We now identify this species as Paralaoma servilis (Shuttleworth, 1852) (Family Punctidae) and report its occurrence also on the island of O'ahu (Fig. 1).

Worldwide Distribution Of Allelic Variation At The Progesterone Receptor Locus And The Incidence Of Female Reproductive Cancers, Fatimah Linda Collier Jackson

Department of Biology Faculty Publications

Global patterns of the incidence of cancer are often attributed to environmental and lifestyle differences between regions. Less attention has been given to global patterns of allelic variation of genes that may contribute to the risk of developing cancer.We genotyped samples from 21 populations for four variants of the progesterone receptor (PR) gene. One is an Alu insertion in intron 7 which defines the PROGINS haplotype. The others include a promoter region SNP 331+ G/A (rs10895068), a haplotype defining T/C substitution in intron 6 (rs561650), and an A/T substitution (rs608995) in the 3' untranslated region of the gene. All variants …

Antitrypanosomal Activities And Cytotoxicity Of Some Novel Imido-Substituted 1,4-Naphthoquinone Derivatives, Clarence Lee

Department of Biology Faculty Publications

The antitrypanosomal activities, cytotoxicity, and selectivity indices of eleven imido-substituted 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives and nifurtimox have been studied. Compared to nifurtimox (IC(50) = 10.67 μM), all the imido-naphthoquinone analogs (IMDNQ1-IMDNQ11) are more potent on Trypanosoma cruzi with IC50 values ranging from 0.7 μM to 6.1 μM (p < 0.05). Studies of the cytotoxic activities of these compounds on a Balb/C 3T3 mouse fibroblast cell line revealed that four of these compounds, IMDNQ1, IMDNQ2, IMDNQ3, and IMDNQ10 displayed selectivity indices of 60.25, 53.97, 31.83, and 275.3, respectively, rendering them significantly (p < 0.05) more selective in inhibiting the parasite growth than nifurtimox (selectivity index = 10.86).

Multiple Paths To Encephalization And Technical Civilizations, David Schwartzman, George Middendorf

Department of Biology Faculty Publications

We propose consideration of at least two possible evolutionary paths for the emergence of intelligent life with the potential for technical civilization. The first is the path via encephalization of homeothermic animals; the second is the path to swarm intelligence of so-called superorganisms, in particular the social insects. The path to each appears to be facilitated by environmental change: homeothermic animals by decreased climatic temperature and for swarm intelligence by increased oxygen levels.

Suppression Of Phospholipase Dγs Confers Increased Aluminum Resistance In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Xuemin Wang, Jian Zhao, Cunxi Wang, Mohamed Bedair, Ruth Welti, Lloyd Sumner, Ivan Baxter

Biology Department Faculty Works

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is the major stress in acidic soil that comprises about 50% of the world's arable land. The complex molecular mechanisms of Al toxicity have yet to be fully determined. As a barrier to Al entrance, plant cell membranes play essential roles in plant interaction with Al, and lipid composition and membrane integrity change significantly under Al stress. Here, we show that phospholipase Dγs (PLDγs) are induced by Al stress and contribute to Al-induced membrane lipid alterations. RNAi suppression of PLDγ resulted in a decrease in both PLDγ1 and PLDγ2 expression and an increase in Al resistance. Genetic …

Lack Of Fire Has Limited Physiological Impact On Old-Growth Ponderosa Pine In Dry Montane Forests Of North-Central Idaho, Eric Keeling, Anna Sala, Thomas H. Deluca

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Reduced frequency of fire in historically fire-adapted ecosystems may have adverse effects on ecosystem structure, function, and resilience. Lack of fire increases stand density and promotes successional replacement of seral dominant trees by late-successional, more shade-tolerant species. These changes are thought to increase competition for limited resources among trees and to increase physiological stress of dominant, fire-adapted species. However, there has been little effort to directly investigate effects of lack of fire on the physiological status of old trees, especially in unlogged, protected forests. At four remote sites in the Selway-Bitterroot region of Idaho, we tested whether the physiological status …

Flexibility In The Patterning And Control Of Axial Locomotor Networks In Lamprey, James T. Buchanan

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

In lower vertebrates, locomotor burst generators for axial muscles generally produce unitary bursts that alternate between the two sides of the body. In lamprey, a lower vertebrate, locomotor activity in the axial ventral roots of the isolated spinal cord can exhibit flexibility in the timings of bursts to dorsally-located myotomal muscle fibers versus ventrally-located myotomal muscle fibers. These episodes of decreased synchrony can occur spontaneously, especially in the rostral spinal cord where the propagating body waves of swimming originate. Application of serotonin, an endogenous spinal neurotransmitter known to presynaptically inhibit excitatory synapses in lamprey, can promote decreased synchrony of dorsal–ventral …