Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Fitness Of Interspecific Hybrids In The Genus Cyprinella: An Evaluation Of Swimming Performance In North American Stream Fishes, Jessica Wilks

Biology Theses

Due to anthropogenic pressures, freshwater ecosystems are being rapidly destroyed worldwide. Accordingly, human impacts have also resulted in the loss of native aquatic biodiversity. In particular, the introduction of non-native species to aquatic habitats is of great concern. Historically, the introductions of many non-native freshwater fishes are the result of commercial baitfish aquaculture, food industries, and private aquarium release. The red shiner (Cyprinella lutrensis) is a small stream fish that is endemic to the Central U.S., and its natural range is restricted to East of the Mississippi River. Since the 1950’s, red shiner have been commercially raised and transported …

The Effects Of Hydrologic Heterogeneity On Harmful Algal Blooms In Freshwater Reservoir, Lake Sinclair, Georgia, Margaret Blackledge

Biology Theses

Aquatic habitats are frequently studied after a major water quality problem like the occurrence of an algal bloom. In this study, A proactive rather than a reactive response was considered, where the complexity of conditions conducive to uncontrolled cell growth were studied before a bloom took place by sampling regularly. This study aimed to monitor water quality by monthly sampling of algal communities for approximately one year. As the base of the aquatic food web, algae are a highly diverse group of organisms with varying sensitivity to physical and chemical changes in the environment. Four shallow sites were monitored at …

Terrestrial Soldier Crab (Coenobita Clypeatus, Fabricius 1787) And Cerion Spp. (Röding 1798) Shell Relationship On San Salvador Island, Bahamas, Harley Hunt

Biology Theses

The Caribbean terrestrial soldier crab, Coenobita clypeatus(Fabricius 1787), coexist and utilize the shells of numerous species of land and marine gastropods. Soldier crabs rely on gastropod shells for protection as the crabs have a soft abdomen, leaving them vulnerable for predation and desiccation, threatening their survival. This creates a strong pressure to obtain well-fitting shells that provide adequate protection against water loss. Cerion of Röding (1798) shells are one of the most commonly used shells among living colonies of C. clypeatuson San Salvador Island. This study is interested in the frequency of shell use by C. clypeatus crabs …

Characterization Of Metals And Non-Metals In The Indian Oil Sardine (Sardinella Longiceps) In The Northern United Arab Emirates, Shaima Malik

Biology Theses

The marine ecosystems of the world are especially susceptible to pollution arising from anthropogenic sources. The Arabian Gulf ecosystem is a partially enclosed hypersaline system with increasing levels of pollution arising from ongoing development in the region. Marine biota are expected to be influenced by pollutants and levels of trace elements in marine species could be indicative of increasing pollution. Bioaccumulation of 19 elements (As, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sr, V, Zn) in 120 specimens of Indian oil sardines (Sardinella longiceps) purchased from local fish markets of …

A Floristic Survey Of Andalusia: A Historic Preservation Site In Baldwin County, Georgia, William Pharr

Biology Theses

A survey of the vascular plants of Andalusia, a historic preservation site located along Highway 441 north of Milledgeville in Baldwin County, Georgia, was conducted between August 2018 and February 2020. The site was the late home of esteemed author, Flannery O’Connor, and resides along the Georgia fall line, making it a historically significant area that could yield a unique plant community convergence, as well as rare endemic species. This floristic inventory provides baseline data on the species and plant communities of Andalusia for use in future studies regarding the flora of this area. A total of 191 vascular species …

Investigating The Effects Of Sea-Level Rise And Increasing Salinity On Procambarus Lunzi Of Sapelo Island, Georgia, Samuel Long

Biology Theses

Barrier islands have great ecological and economical importance and face a threat from increasing sea-level due to climate change. Erosion of existing freshwater lens and ocean inundation could greatly change freshwater availability on the island. This could have significant impacts on freshwater crayfish like Procambarus lunzi, which are complexly intertwined into the trophic food web of the island. This study’s goal was to investigate the salinity tolerance of this crayfish on Sapelo Island, Georgia, in an attempt to predict the possible effects and response to sea-level rise by this crayfish. Crayfish were wild-caught from the island in March, June, and …

Analysis Of Genetic Variation Of Western And Eastern Populations Of Socotra Cormorant (Phalacrocorax Nigrogularis) In The Uae, Salama Rashed Al Mansouri

Biology Theses

Understanding the genetic structure of threatened and endangered species is important in management and conservation efforts. Measuring the pattern and scale of genetic variation within and among populations is important for understanding population dynamics. It helps us improve our understanding of the ecological and genetic relation between the populations. The current research looks at the population structure of the endemic seabird of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Socotra cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis). The lack of genetic information, increased threats, and small breeding habitats of the Socotra cormorants, makes it important to investigate the genetic population structure in the …

A Study Of Environmental Factors Affecting Coral Species Growth In Western Region Of Abu Dhabi – Uae And The Arabian Gulf, Khulood Ahmed Eissa Al Ali

Biology Theses

This study aims to investigate possible effects of certain environmental factors particularly, high summer water temperature and increase of water salinity on the growth rate of endemic dominant coral species at the west coasts of the United Arab Emirates. The study investigated the dissolved trace elements concentrations and its relation to coral diseases.

The methodological investigations have been conducted in a defined two sites at Baraka and Al Saadiyat area. In Barakah, three quadrates of 1.0 m3 have monitored the growth of Porites harrisoni by both photographically as well as by direct measurements of the targeted coral colonies in each …

Spatial And Temporal Variations In Abundance And Composition Of Benthic Macrofauna Associated With Seagrass Beds In Abu Dhabi, Maitha Mohamed Al Hameli

Biology Theses

This study compared the seasonal variations of macrofaunal communities found within the seagrass beds of protected areas and non-protected areas in Abu Dhabi. The study took into consideration the spatial and temporal differences of the sites and seasons as well as other environmental factors, like trace metals concentrations, water temperature, sediment composition, salinity and pH. The main objective and aim of this study is to investigate changes in the community structure of macrofauna with changes in location and seasons. Environmental parameters and biological samples were collected in-situ and analyzed at UAEU labs from both sites, during both seasons (winter and …

Gst Detoxifying Enzymes And Pyrethroid Insecticide Resistance Evaluation In The Red Palm Weevil In The Uae, Nasra Said Al Waheibi

Biology Theses

The red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is an important date palm tree insect pest in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the world. It causes severe damage to the date palm tree in the UAE and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). This insect entered the UAE in 1986 and since then it has been the most economic pest in the country. Larva is the damaging stage, which is concealed inside the tree trunk; a factor that makes early detection very difficult. Infested trees become weaker over time and can be easily broken by wind. Several chemical insecticides …

Honeybees In The Uae: Diseases, Associated Microbial Communities, And Parasitic Varroa Mites, Maitha Saif Abdullah Alshamsi

Biology Theses

Apis mellifera honeybees are the most important pollinator worldwide. Numerous diseases and parasites are causing the decreasing numbers of the A. mellifera honeybee. The main objective of this thesis was to study the A. mellifera honeybee pathogens and parasites along with the Varroa destructor mite. The study included (1) Studying bacterial communities associated with A. mellifera and A. florea in the UAE. (2) Conducting a molecular detection of A. mellifera honeybee pathogens in the UAE. (3) Studying Varroa mites and Varroa-associated pathogen in the UAE. DNA and RNA were extracted from A. mellifera honeybees and V. destructor mites. Subsequently, …

Two-Dimension Magnetotelluric Data Inversion Of Al-Mubazzarah Area (Al-Ain, Uae), Sadieh Mirza Khosravi

Biology Theses

Magnetotelluric (MT) is a geophysical technique that utilizes the naturally existing electromagnetic fields to study the electrical substructure of the Earth. The key role of MT in geothermal exploration is to detect and delineate geothermal resources and to locate the exploitable reservoirs through which hot fluids at depth can be extracted. A well-known hot spring in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is located in the Al-Mubazzarah area, Al Ain city. The MT method is used to study the electrical conductivity distribution beneath the Al-Mubazzarah area. This study focuses on the characterization of the subsurface electrical features and the geological structures …

The Development Of A Health, Safety And Environment Management System For An Integrated Gender Separated Campus In The Middle East Region – A Case Study, Fatima Sbait Salmeen Al Wahshi

Biology Theses

In recent years, concerns regarding health, safety, and environmental issues increased. This led to the development of integrated Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Management Systems in many organizations, including universities. The study of the current HSE management system of the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) has been conducted as a typical National university in the Middle East Region with the added unique feature of a large integrated campus with gender separation. Emphasis has been given to the E-shared laboratories of the UAEU as the interface between the two sides (male/female) of the campus. The E-shared laboratories incorporate most of the …

Rising Temperatures In Hot Regions – How Many Species Would Be Able To Survive?, Sounak Ghosh

Biology Theses

Temperatures are rising throughout the world but not uniformly. Different latitudes have varying degrees of temperature rise and the most rapid changes are happening in the higher northern latitudes while only minor warming is taking place in the hot tropical regions. It has been widely assumed that the biggest ecological impacts will be seen in the cooler northern latitudes and that the impacts in hot tropical regions will be much smaller. However, if species in hot regions are already close to their thermal limits and if species in cold regions are far below them, it may be that small temperature …

The Effects Of Socotra Cormorant Nesting Activities On Terrestrial Invertebrates Diversity And Abundance, Hiba Obaid Darwish Alshehhi

Biology Theses

Seabirds breed on off-shore islands or cliffs often in large aggregations during their 2- 6 month breeding seasons. During this period, seabirds perform an important role in the allochthonous transport of marine nutrients into these terrestrial environments. Depending on the size and density of these aggregations, the impact could be alteration of soil chemistry, vegetation or invertebrate diversity and distribution patterns, primarily through the deposition of large quantities of guano. We studied the impact of breeding aggregations of the Socotra Cormorants (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis) on Siniya Island, Umm Al Quwain, United Arab Emirates, typically ranging between 26,000 to 41,000 breeding pairs. …

Feeding Behaviour Of The Reef Heron (Egretta Gularis Schistacea), Ahmed Abdalla Yousif Al-Ali

Biology Theses

Western Reef Heron (Egretta egularis) is a very common coastal resident bird species in the Arabian Gulf. In UAE, the subspecies “schistacea” also known as Indian Reef Heron occurs in mangroves inlets and other coastal and inland water bodies along the southern and eastern coast of the country. The present study aims to investigate the bird’s food, feeding behavior, morphs and its relationship with the habitat in Al-Zora Protected Area (Ajman - UAE) by establishing a feeding behavior ethogram and monitor its feeding frequency and its correlation with biotic and abiotic features of the study site. …

Phytochemical Screening, Elemental Composition And In Vitro Antioxidant Assessment Of Selected Uae Medicinal Plants, Amina Mukhtar Dirir

Biology Theses

Medicinal herbs have been used since prehistoric times to alleviate pain and to treat many different diseases. In recent decades, there has been a growing interest in natural product research, particularly on herbal plants and their bioactive constituents. The resurgence of interest in medicinal plants is primarily attributed to the inefficacy of synthetic medicines in combating many diseases as well as to their toxic and side effects. The flora of the UAE is rich with various medicinal plants that were utilized by the indigenous people for different therapeutic purposes. Unfortunately, there are still gaps of knowledge, research and development on …

Metagenomic Profile Of The Bacterial Communities Associated With Ornithodoros Muesebecki (Acari: Argasidae) Ticks On Socotra Cormorant Colony In The United Arab Emirates And Presence Of Three Important Pathogenic Groups In Them, Raheel Nasser Alkayyoomi

Biology Theses

Ticks are well known to transmit various pathogens including bacteria, viruses and protozoa to humans and animals. The soft tick (Omithodoro muesebecki) was common on a breeding colony of the Socotra cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis) in Siniya Island, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The aims of the study were: i) instigating the prevalence and conduct genetic characterization of the important bacterial pathogens Borrelia spp. (causal agents of relapsing fever), Rickettsia spp. (causal agent s of spotted fever), and Coxiella burnetii (causal agent of Q fever); ii) understanding the overall bacterial community associated with 0. Muesebecki by using Illumina-based metagenomics approach; and …

Synthetic Food Additives In Selected Beverages Sold In The Uae, Aysha Mohammed Aldhaheri

Biology Theses

The consumption of beverages is increasing around the world with the globalization of the food industry. Synthetic additives can cause a potential risk to human health when they are excessively consumed. Thus, it is important that the level of synthetic food additives do not exceed the CODEX standards and similar to authorized levels in United Arab Emirates (UAE) by Emirates Authority for Standards and Metrology (ESMA). The objectives of this thesis were to determine and analyze selected food additives in non-alcoholic beverages and to ensure that the quantified results comply with CODEX standards. The present research aimed at screening the …

Do Novel Weapons That Degrade Mycorrhizal Mutualisms Explain Invasive Species Success?, Philip L. Pinzone Mr.

Biology Theses

Invasive plants often dominate novel habitats where they did not co-evolve with local species. Several hypotheses suggest mechanisms that explain increased exotic plant success, including 'novel weapons' and 'degraded mutualisms'. Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) and European buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) are widespread plant invaders in North America that can dominate ecosystems. The goal of this study is to test whether these impacts are more consistent with novel weapons or degraded mutualism hypotheses. I examine tree seedling recruitment, (germination and initial survival) growth, (biomass) and mycorrhizal invasion (AMF content) as a function of F. japonica and R. cathartica …

The Effect Of Warming And Simulated Rainfall On Soil Microbial Community Structure And Function, Torri A. Ivancic

Biology Theses

Soil respiration, from plant roots and soil microbes, accounts for 60 – 80 percent of total ecosystem respiration, with the microbial component contributing approximately 54 percent. Global climate trends resulting from CO₂ emissions include increased soil temperatures and changes in precipitation regimes resulting in less frequent, more intense rainfall events. Soil temperature and moisture availability drive soil respiration rates, but how they impact the microbial respiration is poorly qualified. I investigated how the soil microbial community responds to changes in temperature and moisture availability in a laboratory based experiment. Soils from a mixed hardwood forest under two thermal regimes …

Effects Of Round Goby Presence On Invertebrate And Microbial Communities In Decaying Leaf Matter Of A Lake Erie Tributary Stream, Allyse M. Fischer

Biology Theses

Microbial communities are ubiquitous and carry out valuable functions in the environment. Decomposition of leaf material by microbial communities is important to return nutrients back to both terrestrial and aquatic organisms. Perturbations to the environment like the arrival of invasive species can have an impact on the structure and functions of the microbial community. The round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) is a Ponto-Caspian fish introduced into the Great Lakes which has since secondarily invaded tributary streams and rivers. Studies have shown they alter invertebrate communities, and these alterations have impacted organic matter decomposition. Stream studies suggest leaf litter decomposes …