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Other Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Keyword
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- Chromosome evolution (1)
- Climate change (1)
- Cryopreservation, Teratospermia, Teratozoospermia, Felid, Sperm, Glucose, (1)
- Ecological niche modeling (1)
- Genetic differentiation (1)
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- MHC, TLR, BD, BAC sequencing, bottleneck, host/parasite coevolution, Anolis, Podarcis (1)
- Melanoplus differntialis, Phenotypic plasticity, Environmental grain (1)
- Phylogeography, phylogenetics, bioinformatics, mexico, fish, aquatic, conservation (1)
- Polyploidy (1)
- Population structure (1)
- Vulpes vulpes, invasive species, population genetics, expansion, introgression (1)
Articles 1 - 6 of 6
Full-Text Articles in Other Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Chromosome Number Evolution, Phylogeography, And The Effects Of Climate Change On Species Distributions In Polyploid Plant Systems, Courtney H. Babin
Chromosome Number Evolution, Phylogeography, And The Effects Of Climate Change On Species Distributions In Polyploid Plant Systems, Courtney H. Babin
University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations
Polyploidy, a term used to describe organisms with cells having more than two paired sets of chromosomes, is a significant driver of diversification among land plants. Over a century of research has advanced our understanding of polyploidization in some taxa, but polyploid organisms remain understudied. In this dissertation, I investigate chromosome number evolution, phylogeographic structure, genetic differentiation, and the effects of climate change on ploidy level distribution using polyploid plant systems. In the first chapter, I inferred a molecular phylogeny of Allium, an economically important genus that includes cultivated crops and ornamentals, to investigate evolutionary transitions in chromosome number …
Structure And Evolution Of Lizard Immunity Genes, Trent Santonastaso
Structure And Evolution Of Lizard Immunity Genes, Trent Santonastaso
University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations
One of the most important gene families to play a role in adaptive immunity is the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). MHC class II loci are considered to be the most variable loci in the vertebrate genome, and studies have shown that this variability can be maintained through complex co-evolutionary dynamics between host and parasite. Despite the rich body of research into the MHC, there is comparatively little understanding of its genomic architecture in reptiles. Similarly, loci associated with innate immunity have received little attention in reptiles compared to other vertebrates. In the first chapter, we investigated the structure and organization …
A Change In Grain? Diet Induced Plasticity In The Generalist Grasshopper Melanoplus Differentialis, Austin M. Culotta
A Change In Grain? Diet Induced Plasticity In The Generalist Grasshopper Melanoplus Differentialis, Austin M. Culotta
University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations
Phenotypic plasticity is favored in heterogeneous environments in which alternative phenotypes can exploit alternative resources. However, it’s not clear whether phenotypic plasticity is useful in environments that become more homogenous over an organism’s life cycle. I studied a population of grasshopper Melanoplus differentialis that experiences high resource diversity as nymphs but low resource diversity as adults to determine if individuals can undergo diet-induced morphological plasticity in head shape to increase biting ability and ingestion of hard diets. Insects on a soft diet were larger and had greater bite force than those on a hard diet. Head structures related to chewing …
The Origin And Expansion Of The Eastern Red Fox, Adrienne Egge Kasprowicz
The Origin And Expansion Of The Eastern Red Fox, Adrienne Egge Kasprowicz
University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations
When new populations are first identified in a region there are multiple potential sources: introduction of a non-native species, extra-range expansion of a nearby population, or demographic growth of a previously unnoticed species. Red foxes were absent or rare in the mid-eastern portion United States until the late 1800s. Their origins potentially include natural population increase/expansion, translocations from Europe, and, eventually, 20th century fur farming. In this study I attempt to identify the relative impact of native expansion versus human mediated introductions of both colonial era European foxes and early 20th century fur-farm foxes on the establishment of red …
Statistical And Comparative Phylogeography Of Mexican Freshwater Taxa In Extreme Aquatic Environments, Lyndon M. Coghill
Statistical And Comparative Phylogeography Of Mexican Freshwater Taxa In Extreme Aquatic Environments, Lyndon M. Coghill
University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations
Phylogeography aims to understand the processes that underlie the distribution of genetic variation within and among closely related species. Although the means by which this goal might be achieved differ considerably from those that spawned the field some thirty years ago, the foundation and conceptual breakthroughs made by Avise are nonetheless the same and are as relevant today as they were two decades ago. Namely, patterns of neutral genetic variation among individuals carry the signature of a species’ demographic past, and the spatial and temporal environmental heterogeneity across a species’ geographic range can influence patterns of evolutionary change. Aquatic systems …
Metabolism And Cryo-Sensitivity Of Domestic Cat (Felis Catus) And Cheetah (Acinonyx Jubatus) Spermatozoa, Kimberly Terrell
Metabolism And Cryo-Sensitivity Of Domestic Cat (Felis Catus) And Cheetah (Acinonyx Jubatus) Spermatozoa, Kimberly Terrell
University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations
Teratospermia (ejaculation of ≥ 60% structurally abnormal spermatozoa) is prevalent among felids facing extinction risk, including the cheetah. This trait also occurs in certain domestic cat populations, providing a valuable research model. Multiple components of sperm function are disrupted in teratospermic cats, and even structurally normal spermatozoa from these ejaculates may be functionally compromised. Teratospermic ejaculates are highly sensitive to damage during cryopreservation, limiting the success of genome resource banking programs for species conservation. Although both teratospermia and cryopreservation are linked to disruptions in multiple energy-dependent sperm processes, the metabolism of these cells has not been investigated. This project explored …