Sperm Allocation In Relation To Female Size In A Semelparous Salmonid, 2016 University of Windsor
Sperm Allocation In Relation To Female Size In A Semelparous Salmonid, Yuya Makiguchi, Masaki Ichimura, Takenori Kitayama, Yuuki Kawabata, Takashi Kitagawa, Takahito Kojima, Trevor E. Pitcher
Biological Sciences Publications
To maximize reproductive success, males have to adaptively tailor their sperm expenditure in relation to the quality of potential mates because they require time to replenish their sperm supply for subsequent mating opportunities. Therefore, in mating contexts where males must choose among females in a short period of time, as is the case with semelparous species (which die after one intensely competitive short duration breeding season), selection on sperm allocation can be expected to be a powerful selective agent that shapes the male reproductive success. We quantitatively investigated sperm allocation patterns in chum salmon in relation to perceived female quality …
Standardized Measures Of Coastal Wetland Condition: Implementation At A Laurentian Great Lakes Basin-Wide Scale, 2016 University of Windsor
Standardized Measures Of Coastal Wetland Condition: Implementation At A Laurentian Great Lakes Basin-Wide Scale, Donald G. Uzarski, Valerie J. Brady, Matthew J. Cooper, Douglas A. Wilcox, Dennis A. Albert, Richard P. Axler, Peg Bostwick, Terry N. Brown, Jan J. H. Ciborowski, Nicholas P. Danz, Joseph P. Gathman, Thomas M. Gehring, Greg P. Grabas, Anne Garwood, Robert W. Howe
Biological Sciences Publications
Since European settlement, over 50 % of coastal wetlands have been lost in the Laurentian Great Lakes basin, causing growing concern and increased monitoring by government agencies. For over a decade, monitoring efforts have focused on the development of regional and organism-specific measures. To facilitate collaboration and information sharing between public, private, and government agencies throughout the Great Lakes basin, we developed standardized methods and indicators used for assessing wetland condition. Using an ecosystem approach and a stratified random site selection process, birds, anurans, fish, macroinvertebrates, vegetation, and physico-chemical conditions were sampled in coastal wetlands of all five Great Lakes …
Success Stories And Emerging Themes In Conservation Physiology, 2016 University of Windsor
Success Stories And Emerging Themes In Conservation Physiology, Christine L. Madliger, Steven J. Cooke, Erica J. Erica, Jennifer L. Funk, Kevin R. Hultine, Kathleen E. Hunt, Jason R. Rohr, Brent J. Sinclair, Cory D. Suski, Craig K.R. Willis, Oliver P. Love
Biological Sciences Publications
The potential benefits of physiology for conservation are well established and include greater specificity of management techniques, determination of cause–effect relationships, increased sensitivity of health and disturbance monitoring and greater capacity for predicting future change. While descriptions of the specific avenues in which conservation and physiology can be integrated are readily available and important to the continuing expansion of the discipline of ‘conservation physiology’, to date there has been no assessment of how the field has specifically contributed to conservation success. However, the goal of conservation physiology is to foster conservation solutions and it is therefore important to assess whether …
Energetic Physiology Mediates Individual Optimization Of Breeding Phenology In A Migratory Arctic Seabird, 2016 University of Windsor
Energetic Physiology Mediates Individual Optimization Of Breeding Phenology In A Migratory Arctic Seabird, Holly L. Hennin, Joël Bêty, Pierre Legagneux, Hugh G. Gilchrist, Tony D. Williams, Oliver P. Love
Biological Sciences Publications
The influence of variation in individual state on key reproductive decisions impacting fitness is well appreciated in evolutionary ecology. Rowe et al. (1994) developed a condition-dependent individual optimization model predicting that three key factors impact the ability of migratory female birds to individually optimize breeding phenology tomaximize fitness in seasonal environments: arrival condition, arrival date, and ability to gain in condition on the breeding grounds. While empirical studies have confirmed that greater arrival body mass and earlier arrival dates result in earlier laying, no study has assessed whether individual variation in energetic management of condition gain effects this key fitness-related …
Employing Individual Measures Of Baseline Glucocorticoids As Population-Level Conservation Biomarkers: Considering Within-Individual Variation In A Breeding Passerine, 2016 University of Windsor
Employing Individual Measures Of Baseline Glucocorticoids As Population-Level Conservation Biomarkers: Considering Within-Individual Variation In A Breeding Passerine, Christine L. Madliger, Oliver P. Love
Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Publications
Labile physiological variables, such as stress hormones [i.e. glucocorticoids (GCs)], allow individuals to react to perturbations in their environment and may therefore reflect the effect of disturbances or positive conservation initiatives in advance of population-level demographic measures. Although the application of GCs as conservation biomarkers has been of extensive interest, few studies have explicitly investigated whether baseline GC concentrations respond to disturbances consistently across individuals. However, confirmation of consistent responses is of paramount importance to assessing the ease of use of GCs in natural systems and to making valid interpretations regarding population-level change (or lack of change) in GC concentrations. …
Temporal Overlap And Repeatability Of Feather Corticosterone Levels: Practical Considerations For Use As A Biomarker, 2016 Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research
Temporal Overlap And Repeatability Of Feather Corticosterone Levels: Practical Considerations For Use As A Biomarker, Christopher M. Harris, Christine L. Madliger, Oliver P. Love
Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Publications
The measurement of corticosterone (CORT) levels in feathers has recently become an appealing tool for the conservation toolbox, potentially providing a non-invasive, integrated measure of stress activity throughout the time of feather growth. However, because the mechanism of CORT deposition, storage and stability in feathers is not fully understood, it is unclear how reliable this measure may be, especially when there is an extended interval between growth and feather collection. We compared CORT levels of naturally grown feathers from tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) that were moulted and regrown concurrently and therefore expected to have similar CORT levels. Specifically, we compared …
Flight Mechanics And Control Of Escape Manoeuvres In Hummingbirds. I. Flight Kinematics, 2016 The Pennsylvania State University
Flight Mechanics And Control Of Escape Manoeuvres In Hummingbirds. I. Flight Kinematics, Bo Cheng, Bret W. Tobalske, Donald R. Powers, Tyson L. Hedrick, Susan M. Wethington, George T.C. Chiu, Xinyan Deng
Faculty Publications - Department of Biological & Molecular Science
Hummingbirds are nature’s masters of aerobatic manoeuvres. Previous research shows that hummingbirds and insects converged evolutionarily upon similar aerodynamic mechanisms and kinematics in hovering. Herein, we use three-dimensional kinematic data to begin to test for similar convergence of kinematics used for escape flight and to explore the effects of body size upon manoeuvring. We studied four hummingbird species in North America including two large species (magnificent hummingbird, Eugenes fulgens, 7.8 g, and blue-throated hummingbird, Lampornis clemenciae, 8.0 g) and two smaller species (broad-billed hummingbird, Cynanthus latirostris, 3.4 g, and black-chinned hummingbirds Archilochus alexandri, 3.1 g). Starting from a steady hover, …
Determination Of The Gut Retention Of Plastic Microbeads And Microfibers In Goldfish 1 (Carassius Auratus), 2016 University of Windsor
Determination Of The Gut Retention Of Plastic Microbeads And Microfibers In Goldfish 1 (Carassius Auratus), Stefan Grigorakis, Sherri A. Mason, Ken G. Drouillard
Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Publications
Microplastics are ubiquitous pollutants in aquatic habitats and commonly found in the gut contents of fish yet relatively little is known about the retention of these particles by fish. In this study, goldfish were fed a commercial fish food pellet amended with 50 particles of one of two microplastics types, microbeads and microfibers. Microbeads were obtained from a commercial facial cleanser while microfibers were obtained from washed synthetic textile. Following consumption of the amended pellet, fish were allowed to feed to satiation on non-amended food followed by fasting for periods ranging from 1.5 h to 6 days. Fish sacrificed at …
Resurgence Of Acropora Corals On Mid Shelf Patch Reefs, Southwater Caye Marine Reserve, Central Belize, 2016 Otterbein University
Resurgence Of Acropora Corals On Mid Shelf Patch Reefs, Southwater Caye Marine Reserve, Central Belize, Jillian J. Keefer
Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects
Acropora cervicornis (staghorn) and Acropora palmata (elkhorn) are ecologically important corals that grow quickly and provide topography and refuges for fish and invertebrates. Historically, Acropora was the most abundant coral in shallow patch reef zones in the Caribbean. During the 1980s, white band disease eliminated most Acropora causing a loss in rugosity and an increase of macroalgae on many reefs. Although Acropora remains rare throughout most of the Caribbean, this study documents its partial comeback and possible limiting factors in Southwater Caye Marine Reserve (SWCMR), Central Belize. Patch reefs in the reserve averaged 19% live coral cover with A. palmata …
Assessing The Success Of Outreach At Preventing The Movement Of Aquatic Invasive Species In Illinois, 2016 Loyola University Chicago
Assessing The Success Of Outreach At Preventing The Movement Of Aquatic Invasive Species In Illinois, Ellen Anne Cole
Master's Theses
Overland transport of recreational boats is the major vector of dispersal for aquatic invasive species among North American waterbodies. These species have large economic and ecosystem impacts, and understanding their movement is essential to understanding the biodiversity and functioning of aquatic ecosystems across the continent. I surveyed Illinois boaters to determine patterns of recreational boat movement and the consistency with which boaters perform actions to prevent the spread of invasive species. Although most boaters perform these actions, a large minority do not and the network for invasive species spread on recreational boats still connects most waterbodies. Next, I interviewed managers …
Chronic Toxicity Of Binary Metal Mixtures Of Cadmium-Zinc And Cadmium-Nickelon Daphnia Magna, 2016 Loyola University Chicago
Chronic Toxicity Of Binary Metal Mixtures Of Cadmium-Zinc And Cadmium-Nickelon Daphnia Magna, Edgar Ramiro Perez
Master's Theses
This study characterizes binary-metal mixture effects of cadmium (Cd2+) + zinc (Zn2+) and Cd2+ + nickel (Ni2+) on Daphnia magna. Although acute studies have shown protective Ni2+ (Traudt et al. 2016) and Zn2+ effects (Meyer et al. 2015) against Cd2+ toxicity, no study has fully characterized a protective effect on D. magna at several endpoints (survival, reproduction, growth, and accumulation) on a chronic study. In this study, the titration design was selected to characterize the 21 day (21-d) chronic effects of the binary-metal mixtures on survival, growth, reproduction, and metal accumulation in D. magna. Using this design, increasing concentrations of …
Investigation Of Exoribonuclease-1 Function In Regulation Of Stem Cells During Planarian Regeneration, 2016 Wright State University
Investigation Of Exoribonuclease-1 Function In Regulation Of Stem Cells During Planarian Regeneration, Steven Gobinsing Sayson
Browse all Theses and Dissertations
Precise regulation of gene expression is crucial for the maintenance of pluripotency and proper differentiation of stem cells. Due to their exceptional capacity for stem cell-driven regeneration, planarians are ideal models to dissect mechanisms regulating gene expression that secure stem cell function in vivo. While mechanisms of transcriptional regulation of gene expression in stem cells have been extensively investigated, less is known about regulation at the post-transcriptional level. Exoribonuclease-1 (XRN-1) is a conserved enzyme in eukaryotes that catalyzes 5' to 3' exonucleolytic degradation of RNA. XRN-1 is known to be required for proper regeneration of Dugesia japonica. Here, I …
How Specialist And Generalist Herbivores Are Responding To Invasive Plant Threats, 2016 Wright State University
How Specialist And Generalist Herbivores Are Responding To Invasive Plant Threats, Lauren Elizabeth Shewhart
Browse all Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to investigate novel interactions of native herbivores (Abia inflata, Abia americana, Zaschizonyx montana, and Hyphantria cunea) with non-native plants in Ohio. No-choice and choice bioassays were conducted with adults and larvae to examine life history traits, performance, and preference of these herbivores feeding exclusively on native and non-native species and damaged and undamaged foliage. It was found that all organisms in this study can perform well and complete their whole life cycle on L. maackii. Adult A. americana will oviposit in non-native hosts however newly emerged larvae have …
Host Location And Host-Associated Divergence In Parasitoids Of The Gall Midge, Asteromyia Carbonifera, 2016 Wright State University
Host Location And Host-Associated Divergence In Parasitoids Of The Gall Midge, Asteromyia Carbonifera, Jeffrey L. Howell
Browse all Theses and Dissertations
Some of the world's greatest mysteries are the series of ecological and behavioral processes that promote adaptive radiation: when one species rapidly diverges into multiple descendants due to ecological selective pressures. Selective pressures from natural enemies have the potential to drive such radiations, as has been suggested in the diversification of the goldenrod gall-midge, Asteromyia carbonifera (Stireman et al., 2008, 2012). This complex, multitrophic system involves the midge species complex, their goldenrod host plants (Solidago sp.), and a suite of parasitoid enemies in the diverse wasp superfamily, Chalcidoidea. There is evidence that the midge is undergoing host-associated differentiation (HAD), in …
Genetic Analysis Of Male-Specific Lethality Between Caenorhabditis Briggsae:: Caenorhabditis Nigoni F1 Hybrids, 2016 Wright State University
Genetic Analysis Of Male-Specific Lethality Between Caenorhabditis Briggsae:: Caenorhabditis Nigoni F1 Hybrids, Vaishnavi Ragavapuram
Browse all Theses and Dissertations
Speciation occurs when there is a lack of reproduction due to genetic barriers. These genetic barriers to gene flow are referred as reproductive isolation mechanisms. Pre-zygotic and post-zygotic isolation are types of reproductive isolation mechanisms. In this project, post-zygotic isolation mechanisms were examined. Haldane's Rule states that in F1 hybrids, individuals of the heterogametic sex are less fit than those of the homogametic sex. Darwin's Corollary to Haldane's rule states that there is asymmetry in hybrid progeny between interspecific reciprocal crosses. Crosses done between Caenorhabditis briggsae males to Caenorhabditis nigoni females produce viable F1 hybrid females and males, yet the …
Genomic Signatures Of Population History In A Pair Of Recently Diverged Australian Teal Support Strong Selection On The Z Sex-Chromosome, 2016 Wright State University
Genomic Signatures Of Population History In A Pair Of Recently Diverged Australian Teal Support Strong Selection On The Z Sex-Chromosome, Kevin Kyle Hawkins
Browse all Theses and Dissertations
Sex chromosomes are thought to be an important component of the genome associated with speciation and the buildup of reproductive isolation. Recent advances in sequencing technologies and improvements in population genetics and modeling techniques have made it possible to better assess genomic signatures of selection, genetic drift and gene flow in diverging lineages. Recent studies have shown elevated differentiation on the Z sex-chromosome between the Australian grey teal (Anas gracilis) and chestnut teal (Anas castanea). Here, we used next generation sequencing to scan ~3,400 autosomal loci and ~190 Z loci to examine genomic differentiation and signatures of selection and gene …
Chemosensitivity In Mealworms And Darkling Beetles (Tenebrio Molitor) Across Oxygen And Carbon Dioxide Gradients, 2016 Wright State University
Chemosensitivity In Mealworms And Darkling Beetles (Tenebrio Molitor) Across Oxygen And Carbon Dioxide Gradients, Andrew King Patterson
Browse all Theses and Dissertations
Breathing in most insects is controlled through a negative feedback loop consisting of signals (O2, CO2, pH), sensors (chemoreceptors), integrators (neural ganglia), and effectors (spiracles over tracheae). I hypothesized that mealworms and their adult counterparts Darkling beetles, Tenebrio molitor, can sense anoxic and hyperoxic environments and preferentially avoid these environments. I also hypothesize that mealworms are attracted to hypercarbia while Darkling beetles avoid hypercarbia. I constructed a test arena to create an O2 or CO2 gradient. Velocity, total distance traveled, and time spent in each area of the O2 or CO2 gradients …
The Effects Of Various Laundering Factors On The Recoverability Of Dna, 2016 Wright State University
The Effects Of Various Laundering Factors On The Recoverability Of Dna, Erin L. Houston
Browse all Theses and Dissertations
Criminals have been documented to launder clothing in an attempt to hide evidence; however, there limited studies on this type of evidence manipulation. This study looked at: 1) the effects of eighteen laundry additives at diluted and undiluted strengths on human blood, 2) the effects of a delay between deposit and laundering, 3) the amount of recoverable DNA on laundered clothing with different deposited volumes of blood, and 4) the transfer of genetic material within a primary load and between primary/secondary and primary/tertiary loads. There was a reduction in volume of DNA for some laundry additives. Nevertheless, all genotyped samples …
Evidence Of Morphological Variation Between Bluegill Lepomis Macrochirus Rafinesque, 1819 Populations Across Grand Lake St. Mary’S Watershed, 2016 Wright State University
Evidence Of Morphological Variation Between Bluegill Lepomis Macrochirus Rafinesque, 1819 Populations Across Grand Lake St. Mary’S Watershed, Anthony Jerome Bell
Browse all Theses and Dissertations
A myriad of factors have been shown to affect the morphology of freshwater fish. Despite the growing base of ecomorphology literature there is little information available exploring how these factors relate to body morphology of Centrarchidae, specifically in the Lepomis genera. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe variation in body morphology of Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) across Grand Lake St. Mary’s watershed area and test for covariation of morphology with size, sex, and habitat. Geometric morphometric methods were used to assess variation among individuals and general linear models were used to test for covariation of morphology with size, …
Fission Yeast As A Model Organism For Fus-Dependent Ycytotoxicity In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, 2016 Wright State University
Fission Yeast As A Model Organism For Fus-Dependent Ycytotoxicity In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Alan J. Cone
Browse all Theses and Dissertations
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative motor neuron disease that causes progressive paralysis and death by asphyxiation. There is no cure or effective treatment; however, previous research has identified several genes that appear related to the pathology of ALS. When mutated, these genes result in proteins that gain toxic functions and disrupt normal cellular processes. Fused in Sarcoma (hFUS) is a human transcription factor in the nucleus that binds to DNA and RNA. Mutations in hFUS are associated with both familial and sporadic cases of ALS, frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), and cancer. In ALS and FTLD, hFUS is mislocalized …