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Is Immediate Flexibility Present In A Vocal Mimic, The Gray Catbird (Dumetella Carolinensis), Across An Urban Gradient?, Shannon K. Eppert

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Increasing urbanization has increased anthropogenic noise levels near developed areas. Urban noise is high amplitude and low-frequency, and these frequencies can overlap with the signals animals use to communicate, including bird songs. Many urban birds sing higher minimum frequencies in urban areas, which avoids some masking by noise, but the mechanism behind this difference is not well understood. Immediate flexibility is the ability to alter song in real-time in the presence of sudden noise, allowing for avoidance of masking and better signal transmission. I investigated if male catbirds increased signal transmission in the presence of anthropogenic versus high-frequency noise playback …

Using Predator Vocalizations To Deter Raccoon Predation On Nests Of Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys Terrapin), Colleen Elizabeth Naeger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Seasonal Habitat Use Of Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys Terrapin) In North Inlet, Winyah Bay, Georgetown, South Carolina, Danielle Elizabeth Capella

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Origin Of Ticks And The Genesis And Emergence Of Lyme Disease, Alan L. Gillen, Matthew Eakin

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Ticks are notorious for their capability of transmitting diseases that have debilitated humanity for thousands of years. They can confer lifelong chronic ailments via pathogenic bacterial species that they harbor inside themselves. These parasitic tick species, namely the Ixodes scapularis tick is responsible for hundreds of thousands of Lyme disease infections each year. This profound tick continues to produce the highest rate of zoonotic disease in the United States each year. Many may ask why these tick species are so infectious when ticks were originally designed by a benevolent God. Why would a good Creator choose to design a creature …

Microbial Find, Inform, And Test Model For Identifying Spatially Distributed Contamination Sources: Framework Foundation And Demonstration Of Ruminant Bacteroides Abundance In River Sediments, Corinne Wiesner-Friedman, Rachelle E. Beattie, Jill R. Stewart, Krassimira R. Hristova, Marc L. Serre

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Microbial pollution in rivers poses known ecological and health risks, yet causal and mechanistic linkages to sources remain difficult to establish. Host-associated microbial source tracking (MST) markers help to assess the microbial risks by linking hosts to contamination but do not identify the source locations. Land-use regression (LUR) models have been used to screen the source locations using spatial predictors but could be improved by characterizing transport (i.e., hauling, decay overland, and downstream). We introduce the microbial Find, Inform, and Test (FIT) framework, which expands previous LUR approaches and develops novel spatial predictor models to characterize the transported contributions. We …

Cryptic Constituents: The Paradox Of High Flux–Low Concentration Components Of Aquatic Ecosystems, Malin Olofsson, Mary E. Power, David A. Stahl, Yvonne Vadeboncoeur, Michael T. Brett

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The interface between terrestrial ecosystems and inland waters is an important link in the global carbon cycle. However, the extent to which allochthonous organic matter entering freshwater systems plays a major role in microbial and higher-trophic-level processes is under debate. Human perturbations can alter fluxes of terrestrial carbon to aquatic environments in complex ways. The biomass and production of aquatic microbes are traditionally thought to be resource limited via stoichiometric constraints such as nutrient ratios or the carbon standing stock at a given timepoint. Low concentrations of a particular constituent, however, can be strong evidence of its importance in food …

Informational Signage Increases Awareness Of A Rattlesnake In A Canadian Urban Park System, Jonathan D. Choquette, Alexis V. Hand

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Human–snake conflict results in negative outcomes for people and snakes, and if left unmanaged, could undermine conservation efforts. One approach to managing conflict between people and snakes is to use signage to inform members of the public on the presence of venomous snakes and measures to prevent snakebites. To be an effective tool, however, signs must first be noticed, then read and understood by the target audience. As part of conservation efforts targeting eastern massasauga rattlesnakes (Sistrurus catenatus) in southwestern Ontario, Canada, we tested the effectiveness of signage at increasing awareness of its presence, status and threats, and …

Overcoming Stress, Hunger, And Pain: Cocaineand Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Peptide's Promise, Willis K. Samson, Daniela Salvemini, Gina L.C. Yosten

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript encodes an eponymous peptide, CARTp, which exerts diverse pharmacologic actions in the central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as in several endocrine organs, including pancreas. Here we review those diverse actions, the physiological relevance of which had remained unestablished until recently. With the identification of a CARTp receptor, GPR160, the physiologic importance and therapeutic potential of CARTp or analogs are being revealed. Not only is the CARTp-GPR160 interaction essential for the circadian regulation of appetite and thirst but also for the transmission of nerve injury-induced pain. Molecular approaches now are uncovering additional physiologically relevant actions, …

Twenty Years Of Land Use And The Impact Of Nitrate, E. Coli And Chlorophyll For Two Lakes In North Central Texas, Alicia Lee

Biology Theses - Archive

Clean and safe drinking water is a human right. Global, federal, and state agencies that monitor the source and quality of drinking water are limited in power and oversight. Historically, human groups have replaced wetland habitat with cropland, disregarding the abundance of resources. To mediate the loss, human constructed artificial wetlands aid in cleaning natural water ways. In chapter one, four floating wetland structures were installed on Lake Arlington and historical water quality data from 2001-2018 was analyzed. Historical data included six variables: Chlorophyll α, Dissolved Oxygen, Temperature, Specific Conductivity and Turbidity. The Mann Kendall Seasonality Trend test found that …

Chemical And Genetic Analysis Of The Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response, Mustafi Raisa Amin

Biology Dissertations - Archive

Mitochondria are essential for energy production, metabolic signaling, calcium homeostasis, and other roles. Consequently, mitochondrial dysfunction can result in cellular decline and the onset of disease. Cells use the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) to facilitate the recovery of damaged mitochondria to restore homeostasis. Recent studies have shown that the UPRmt plays a vital role in tumorigenesis and cancer survival. Therefore, UPRmt inhibition may be used as an anticancer strategy with great therapeutic results. Moreover, a known paradigm exists between mitochondrial stress signaling and the regulation of organismal lifespan. Since the UPRmt is activated during mitochondrial stress, it is believed …

Genetic Innovation Through Gene Duplication In Drosophila, Seyedeh Mirsalehi

Biology Dissertations - Archive

Among several mechanisms, whole gene duplication is one of the major sources for the generation of new genes. A large portion of young genes that emerged through whole gene duplication in Drosophila are specifically expressed in the testes and fast evolving, i.e., their proteins are changing very fast between species under positive selection. In this dissertation, we have studied the rates of duplications and functions of newly duplicated genes in three different projects to understand the evolutionary pressures/drivers of this gene innovation. Chapter 1 is an introductory section. In Chapter 2, by using a comprehensive, detailed phylogenomic study, we examined …

Investigating The Microevolutionary Processes That Promote And Maintain Biodiversity And Trait Novelty, Thomas Joseph Firneno

Biology Dissertations - Archive

Gene flow, mutation, selection, and genetic drift influence patterns of speciation, adaptation, and biodiversity. In the age of genomics, we have been increasingly able to understand the interplay between these microevolutionary processes at the genomic level, and their link to the phenotype and the environment. This, in turn, has provided clarity to the patterns of diversity and biological innovation that these processes generate. My dissertation examines how these microevolutionary processes have influenced patterns of diversity and the evolution of a novel trait in true toads (Anura: Bufonidae). First, I explore what processes (gene flow, incomplete lineage sorting, poor taxonomic resolution) …

Corbicula Fluminea Effects On Survival, Growth, And Drift Of Juvenile Lampsilis Siliquoidea In Laboratory Exposures, Allison Nicole Sieja

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea, is an invasive species that is abundant and often co-occurs with native freshwater mussels. Corbicula is widely suspected of having negative effects on native mussels, but few studies have empirically tested this hypothesis. I used laboratory experiments to evaluate how adult Corbicula affected the survivorship, growth, and drift of juvenile Lampsilis siliquoidea. Survival and growth of newly metamorphosed mussels were tested in downwelling flow-through chambers with glass-bead substrate. Treatments were control (no clams), small adult clams, or large adult clams. After 28 days, large clams slightly but significantly reduced the number of juveniles …

Exploring Microbiome Functional Dynamics Through Space And Time With Trait-Based Theory, Leonora S. Bittleston, Jessica R. Bernardin

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Microbiomes play essential roles in the health and function of animal and plant hosts and drive nutrient cycling across ecosystems. Integrating novel trait-based approaches with ecological theory can facilitate the prediction of microbial functional traits important for ecosystem functioning and health. In particular, the yield-acquisition-stress (Y-A-S) framework considers dominant microbial life history strategies across gradients of resource availability and stress. However, microbiomes are dynamic, and spatial and temporal shifts in taxonomic and trait composition can affect ecosystem functions. We posit that extending the Y-A-S framework to microbiomes during succession and across biogeographic gradients can lead to generalizable rules for how …

Ecological Correlates Of Alligator Snapping Turtle Bite Performance, Ashley Herrin Gagnon

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) is one of many turtle species facing conservation challenges. Nearly extirpated in the 1980s, it is currently the subject of a head-start initiative, of which, any lasting behavioral or physiological effects were—until now—unknown! To evaluate the ability of captive-reared individuals to excel in natural habitats, and to foresee any future research or conservation challenges regarding this animal, I explored a suite of variables that influence bite performance and behaviors including captive or free-ranging status, and environmental conditions including body temperature and season. My results indicated that free-ranging M. temminckii outperform those residing …

Investigating The Effects Of Harmful Cyanobacterial Blooms On The Vulnerability To Shell Disease Of Northern Red-Bellied Turtles (Pseudemys Rubriventris) In New Jersey, Stephanie Getto

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

In 2019, an unknown shell disease was reported in Northern red-bellied turtles (Pseudemys rubriventris), a freshwater turtle species with a range that mainly includes southern New Jersey through North Carolina. This study investigates the effects of harmful cyanobacterial blooms on the vulnerability to shell disease of freshwater Northern red-bellied turtles (Pseudemys rubriventris) in New Jersey by characterizing and enumerating cyanobacteria in lake water and within the epizoic community with a goal to provide data-driven recommendations for P.rubriventris conservation. Phytoplankton community composition and cyanotoxinconcentration were measured in two affected lakes (Daretown Lake and Elmer Lake) and one unaffected lake (Lake Fred) …

The Evolution Of Sex Differences In Mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx): Micro- And Macroevolution, Jerred Klint Schafer

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Primates show diverse patterns of adaptive color and body size dimorphism produced by inter- and intrasexual selection. However, the specific microevolutionary processes that produce variation in secondary sexual characteristics remain largely unexplored in primates. Furthermore, sexual conflict theory predicts that female and male secondary sexual traits can coevolve in an antagonistic manner and promote speciation. This dissertation explores the microevolution of secondary sexual characteristics in mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) and the macroevolution of these characters in anthropoid primates. I address the microevolution of mandrill facial coloration and body mass by estimating the heritability, phenotypic selection, and genetic evolution of these traits …

Native And Non-Native Ant Impacts On Native Fungi, Chloe Mokadam

Biology Theses

Organisms produce weapons for defense against pathogens and competitors. In response, competitors and pathogens develop resistance to these weapons. However, when a species invades a new range, its “novel weapons” may be more effective against native species that did not co-evolve with them. Via specialized glands and microbial associates, ants produce antifungal weapons for defense against entomopathogenic fungi. However, these weapons may have unintended secondary effects on non-entomopathogenic, soil and seed-borne fungi. The antifungals of non-native ants may be novel weapons, with greater negative impacts on native fungi that have not co-evolved with them. This research aims to test the …

Pedigree And Molecular Assessment Of Relatedness In A Captive Chimpanzee Population, Francesca Golus

Masters Theses

As a crucial component of biodiversity, genetic diversity contributes to variability among individuals, allowing populations of endangered species to be resilient in the face of changing environmental conditions. Zoological institutions have become a cornerstone of conservation efforts and a refuge for endangered species given threats imposed on wild populations by climate change, habitat fragmentation and degradation, and overexploitation. Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) are an endangered species experiencing drastic population decline in the wild, yet are common residents in zoos and wildlife sanctuaries. To sustain long-term, genetically viable populations of species of concern, zoos use studbooks and paternity testing to …

The Impacts Of Aging, Sedentarism, And Exercise On Neurotrophic Factor Expression And Innervation In The Heart And The Effects Of Treatment With Α-Cgrp On Heart Function, Gabriel Almeida Alves

Dissertations

Neurotrophic factors (NFs) are important molecules responsible for development, differentiation, regeneration, and maintenance of new and mature neurons. Neurotrophic factors act as neurocytokines and may assist with the regulation of axonal and dendritic arrangements and synaptic plasticity between neurons themselves or with other non-neural target tissues. In this study, we analyze the levels of two NFs: glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF). Cardiomyocytes produce these neurotrophic factors which assist with the innervation pattern of the heart. The heart is innervated by the two branches of the autonomic nervous system; namely the sympathetic nervous system and …

Induced Cell Proliferation Initiated By Roxarsone (Rox) Is Not Sufficient To Prevent Acrylamide Impairments In Beas-2b Cells., Brett Lavigna Afiwa Tapoyo

Theses (2016-Present)

Natural environmental contaminants and xenobiotic compounds consumed by humans are likely to be deleterious to human health. This study evaluates the effects of the organoarsenic compound roxarsone and the organic compound acrylamide on BEAS-2B cells. Arsenic occurs naturally in the environment in inorganic and organic forms. Inorganic arsenics are carcinogenic to humans. Organic arsenics (organoarsenics) are less toxic, yet their level of toxicity cannot be ignored. Roxarsone (4-hydroxy-3-nitrobenzenearsonate) is a compound used as a poultry feed additive and antimicrobial agent. It promotes cell proliferation and possesses angiogenesis properties. Roxarsone (ROX) can be found in chicken breast meat; along with a …

Investigating The Detoxification Of Cadmium By The Tardigrade Hypsibus Exemplaris., Adedamola Olatoregun

Dissertations (2016-Present)

Heavy metals such as Cadmium are known stressors in aquatic environments due to being persistent in nature and the ability to bioaccumulate in organisms. Cadmium ranks 7th on the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry’s 2019 Substance Priority List. It is also listed as a substance of very high concern by the European Chemicals Agency. Thus, it is considered one of the most important environmental and occupational pollutants existing. This study aimed at investigating the cellular responses to the heavy metal Cadmium (Cd) and observe the processes that are involved in its detoxification. Tardigrade specimens (Hypsibius exemplaris) were exposed …

Characterizing Bacterial Communities Across A Nutrient Gradient Over Winter Months, Emily Jin Searles Stone

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

When trying to understand how anthropogenic activities affect patterns in community ecology, bacterial communities are frequently neglected. These bacterial communities are essential to the overall health and stability of several different ecosystems. As nutrient pollution increases, some bacterial taxa may increase, causing an imbalance in food web dynamics and disrupting biogeochemical cycles. Next-generation sequencing coupled with water chemistry measurements has allowed for association testing between site water characteristics and bacterial taxa. By examining bacteria along a natural nutrient gradient over winter months in Overpeck Creek in northern New Jersey, this research shows that anthropogenic activities, specifically nutrient pollution, can alter …

Photoperiod Manipulation Reveals A Light-Driven Component To Daily Patterns Of Ventilation In Male C57bl/6j Mice, Aaron A. Jones, Lauren R. Nelson, Gabriella M. Marino, Nakia A. Chappelle, Deborah A.M. Joye, Deanna M. Arble

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Obstructive sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that increases risk for cardiovascular disease and mortality. The severity of sleep-disordered breathing in obstructive sleep apnea patients fluctuates with the seasons, opening the possibility that seasonal changes in light duration, or photoperiod, can influence mechanisms of breathing. Photoperiod can have profound effects on internal timekeeping and can reshape metabolic rhythms in mammals. While the daily rhythm in ventilation is largely shaped by the metabolic rate, less is known about whether ventilatory rhythms are altered in accordance with metabolism under different photoperiods. Here, we investigate the relationship between ventilation and metabolism under …

Investigation Of Techniques And Their Application For The Cryopreservation Of Algal Species, Jazmine Leija

Theses and Dissertations

An alternative source for petroleum-based crude oils are algae derived biofuels. Fossil fuels are harmful for the environment, expensive and becoming scarce. There has been an increase in research on environmentally sustainable energy, using lipids derived from microalgae, which can be converted into biofuel. The use of microalgae as a source for biofuels has a lot of benefits including decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, rapid fuel production, absorption of carbon dioxide, and production of a renewable source of energy.

Algae cryopreservation aids in the maintenance of the best algae strains selected for producing lipids for biofuels. Cryopreservation will help minimize genetic …

Effects Of Early Corticosterone Treatment On Vocal Babbling In Wild Green-Rumped Parrotlets (Forpus Passerinus), Celia Rose Mclean

Theses and Dissertations

The stress axis of the endocrine system allows for animals to respond to environmental stressors in contextually appropriate ways. Elevated levels of the stress hormone corticosterone (CORT) in male songbirds can result in compromised song learning ability. Parrots form a sister group to songbirds, but it is unknown whether CORT affects vocal development in parrots. The goal of this study was to assess the effects of CORT supplements in green-rumped parrotlets (Forpus passerinus), a free-ranging parrot species in Venezuela. Bouts of vocal babbling were extracted from nest box videos and analyzed. CORT supplementation resulted in differences in babbling …

Neurovascular Regulation In Diabetic Retinopathy And Emerging Therapies, Liyang Ji, Hong Tian, Keith A Webster, Wei Li

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of vision loss in working adults in developed countries. The disease traditionally classified as a microvascular complication of diabetes is now widely recognized as a neurovascular disorder resulting from disruption of the retinal neurovascular unit (NVU). The NVU comprising retinal neurons, glia and vascular cells coordinately regulates blood flow, vascular density and permeability to maintain homeostasis. Disturbance of the NVU during DR can lead to vision-threatening clinical manifestations. A limited number of signaling pathways have been identified for intercellular communication within the NVU, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the master switch for …

Stage- And Sex-Specific Transcriptome Analyses Reveal Distinctive Sensory Gene Expression Patterns In A Butterfly, David A. Ernst, Erica L. Westerman

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background

Animal behavior is largely driven by the information that animals are able to extract and process from their environment. However, the function and organization of sensory systems often change throughout ontogeny, particularly in animals that undergo indirect development. As an initial step toward investigating these ontogenetic changes at the molecular level, we characterized the sensory gene repertoire and examined the expression profiles of genes linked to vision and chemosensation in two life stages of an insect that goes through metamorphosis, the butterfly Bicyclus anynana.

Results

Using RNA-seq, we compared gene expression in the heads of late fifth instar …

Leigh Syndrome: A Tale Of Two Genomes, Ajibola B. Bakare, Edward J. Lesnefsky, Shilpa Iyer

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Leigh syndrome is a rare, complex, and incurable early onset (typically infant or early childhood) mitochondrial disorder with both phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity. The heterogeneous nature of this disorder, based in part on the complexity of mitochondrial genetics, and the significant interactions between the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes has made it particularly challenging to research and develop therapies. This review article discusses some of the advances that have been made in the field to date. While the prognosis is poor with no current substantial treatment options, multiple studies are underway to understand the etiology, pathogenesis, and pathophysiology of Leigh syndrome. …

Neuroinflammation, Peripheral Inflammation And Gut Microbiome Profiles In Male Mice From Two Proposed Mouse Models Of Social Behavior Deficits, Sarah Parkinson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder marked by social deficits and repetitive actions. A communication pathway exists between the brain and gut called the gut-brain axis. It is thought that gut bacteria can secrete signaling molecules, triggering inflammation across the body. These studies attempt to determine if markers are expressed in two mouse models of ASD behaviors, BTBR and a valproic acid model. Immunohistochemistry of ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 from male mouse brain tissue showed no microglial activation in any group. Cytokine analysis did exhibit an increase in interleukin 1 (IL-1) in male adult mice only. …