Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Spatial And Temporal Analysis Of Fecal Coliform Distribution In Virginia Coastal Waters, Jie Huang

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The collection of fecal coliform (FC) monitoring data in shellfish growing waters is primarily to assess public health risks from consumption of contaminated product. The data is also commonly used to assess the potential sources and loads of bacteria entering the aquatic system. This project is intended to extend traditional methods of developing these assessments, by applying an inverse modeling approach to improve the estimation of FC loads in the small watersheds typically contributing to shellfish growing waters in Virginia. Many fecal contamination studies in lower Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, have conveniently focused on analyses over relatively small spatial and temporal …

Effects Of Concurrent Phenathrene And Mycobacterium Marinum Exposure In The Zebrafish (Danio Rerio), Christopher M. Prosser

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

As a way to gain better understanding of how aquatic organisms respond within their natural environment, this dissertation set up a series of controlled laboratory experiments to investigate the effects of chemical and biological stressors on the zebrafish (Danio rerio). I performed a series of studies in which animals were simultaneously exposed to the toxicant phenanthrene, and infected with the bacterium Mycobacterium marinum. Unexpectedly, we found that at a high dose of phenanthrene (284 mug L-1) results in an antagonistic relationship between stressors with dually challenged fish having significantly higher survivorship than those exposed solely to phenanthrene. Dually challenged fish …

Net Microbial Activity, Vegetation Dynamics, And Ecosystem Function In Created And Natural Palustrine Forested Wetlands In Southeastern Virginia, Usa, Christian A. Hauser

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of Golf Course Landscapes On The Occupancy And Reproductive Success Of Eastern Bluebirds, Marie Louise Pitts

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Dietary Mercury Exposure On Spatial Memory Of Zebra Finches, Taeniopygia Guttata, Amanda Mae Bessler

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

The Development And Application Of An Antibody-Based Biosensor For The Detection Of The Petroleum-Derived Compounds, Candace Rae Spier

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Petroleum is one of the most important natural resources, but can also be problematic to environmental and human health. Petroleum is comprised of thousands of compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocycles, some of which are toxic and/or carcinogenic. Traditional analytical methods for environmental monitoring of low-level PAHs are time-consuming labor-intensive, and often laboratory-bound. Efforts to achieve timely, sensitive, and accurate analysis of PAHs in the field have become a priority for environmental research and monitoring. Antibody-based biosensors are presently being developed for environmental analysis. Anti-PAH antibody molecules can be coupled with electronic transducers to provide new biosensor technology …

Mercury Exposure Assessment Of South River Floodplain Birds, Jincheng Wang

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The studies involved in this thesis expanded the current project being conducted in Dr. Newman’s laboratory that aimed to define and quantify the impacts of mercury movement in contaminated aquatic and terrestrial food webs in the South River watershed (Virginia, USA). This expansion involved a two phase study, which fulfilled the requirement of a master thesis.

Previous research in our lab documented mercury biomagnification in the river itself and two floodplain locations on the South River watershed. Predictive models were built for mercury concentration in members of these food webs. These studies reached a preliminary conclusion that mercury biomagnification in …

The Impacts Of Shoreline Development On Shallow-Water Benthic Communities In The Patuxent River, Md, Cassie D. Bradley

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Natural coastal habitats throughout Chesapeake Bay are increasingly threatened with shoreline modification due to population growth and rising rates of development. The replacement of these natural coastlines with hardened structures such as seawalls (bulkheads) and stone revetments (riprap) not only compromises vegetation at the land-water interface, but also can influence several elements of local aquatic food webs. Effects of these alterations have been well-studied with respect to fish assemblages and intertidal communities, particularly in conjunction with larger-scale watershed development, and recently, interest has shifted toward investigation of the effects of shoreline development on subtidal benthic infaunal communities.
This study evaluated …

The Effects Of Hypoxia On Macrobenthic Production And Function In The Lower Rappahannock River, Chesapeake Bay, Usa, S. Kersey Sturdivant

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Human development has eroded Chesapeake Bay's health, resulting in an increase in the extent and severity of hypoxia (≤2 mg O2 l-1). The Bay's hypoxic zones have an adverse affect on community function and secondary production of macrobenthos. The production of macrobenthos is important as these fauna link energy transfer from primary consumers to epibenthic predators and demersal fish, and serve as the foremost pathway that carbon is recycled out of the sediment. Additionally, bioturbation, an essential macrobenthic function that causes the displacement and mixing of sediment particles, increases the quality of marine sediments. In the marine environment bioturbation is …