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Articles 5521 - 5550 of 20451

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The Effects Of An Applied Phyllosphere-Microbiome On Gas Exchange And Growth Of Soybean Infected With Pseudomonas Syringae: Harnessing The Power Of The Microbiome, Charles Agbavor May 2020

The Effects Of An Applied Phyllosphere-Microbiome On Gas Exchange And Growth Of Soybean Infected With Pseudomonas Syringae: Harnessing The Power Of The Microbiome, Charles Agbavor

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The microbiome is an important determinant of plant health, growth and resistance to stress. This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of the phyllosphere-microbiome on managing Pseudomonas syringae pv. Glycinea (Psg), gas exchange and growth of Glycine max L. Merrill. A greenhouse study was conducted in the summer of 2019. A field isolated and cultured soybean phyllosphere-microbiome was applied to purposely infected and uninfected soybean. Gas exchange, Psg density, chlorophyll concentrations, and percent nitrogen and carbon in the leaves were measured during the V3-V6 stages of soybean. Not surprisingly, there was a two-fold reduction in copies of Pseudomonas …

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The Sandy Bay West End Marine Reserve: Hawksbill Inhabitance And Reserve Suitability, Marsha Wright May 2020

The Sandy Bay West End Marine Reserve: Hawksbill Inhabitance And Reserve Suitability, Marsha Wright

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtle has been classified as critically endangered. Reductions in populations call for protective strategies, one being the implementation of protected areas. However, as a highly migratory species, preservation and restoration is difficult, as protection is required in nesting, foraging, and breeding regions. To establish adequate protected areas to aid hawksbill survival, a clear understanding of movement patterns between protected and unprotected regions is required. A foraging aggregation of juvenile hawksbills resides off the coast of Roatán, Honduras within the Sandy Bay West End Marine Reserve. The reserve is a protected area, but also spans the …

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The Expression Of Circadian Rhythms In The Non-Diapausing Mosquito Culex Pipiens F. Molestus, Natalie Rachel Epstein May 2020

The Expression Of Circadian Rhythms In The Non-Diapausing Mosquito Culex Pipiens F. Molestus, Natalie Rachel Epstein

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Mosquitos within the Culex pipiens species complex are primary vectors of West Nile virus in North America. The most common member of this complex in New Jersey, Cx. pipiens f. pipiens, is adapted to a temperate climate and females enter a diapause state as adults each winter. In contrast, its co-occurring sister taxon, Cx. pipiens f. molestus, is unable to enter the diapause state and both males and females continue feeding and breeding during winter months. Females additionally continue to lay eggs. The molestus form can do so because it is highly adapted to urban environments and is predominantly found …

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Contrasting Seasonal Presence Of West Nile Virus In Mosquitos Between Coastal And Inland Communities Of New Jersey, Domenica Mousa May 2020

Contrasting Seasonal Presence Of West Nile Virus In Mosquitos Between Coastal And Inland Communities Of New Jersey, Domenica Mousa

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

In 1999, West Nile Virus (WNV) was introduced to New York City, most likely by an infected bird or mosquito. Since then, West Nile has been detected in every one of the forty-eight continental states of the US, and outbreaks have occurred yearly. Mosquitos play an important role as the main vector for WNV transmission to mammals, birds and some reptiles. As New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the United States, WNV is an ever-present public health concern. High human population density may increase the probability of coming in contact with a WNV positive mosquito. The prevalence …

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Size Does Matter : Exposure And Effects Of Microplastics On The Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea Virginica), Erika Bernal May 2020

Size Does Matter : Exposure And Effects Of Microplastics On The Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea Virginica), Erika Bernal

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The global impact plastic pollution has on aquatic ecosystems is rapidly increasing and there are numerous studies highlighting the negative impacts from microplastic exposure. While the general effects of microplastics are becoming clearer, less is known about the specific impacts of the various polymers that make up plastic. Moreover, many studies show the effects of exposing organisms to microplastics of the same shape and size, which is an inaccurate representation of what organisms are exposed to in natural environments. I exposed the Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) to four types of polymers and analyzed their feces, pseduofeces, and internal tissues for …

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Home Range Size And Habitat Use : Analysis On The State Endangered Bobcat (Lynx Rufus) In Northwestern New Jersey, Rita Isabel Matos May 2020

Home Range Size And Habitat Use : Analysis On The State Endangered Bobcat (Lynx Rufus) In Northwestern New Jersey, Rita Isabel Matos

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Knowledge of an animal's home range provides insights into their ranging patterns and the habitats they exploit. Carnivores serve a fundamental role in ecosystems due to their trophic significance. They require large areas to roam and when these areas are protected many other species benefit. In this study, thirteen bobcats (Lynx rufus) in northwestern New Jersey were captured between 2002-2016 and fitted with GPS telemetry collars to assess their home range sizes and habitat utilization. We determined that female bobcats utilized forested landscapes more so than males, and that males utilized agricultural landscapes more so than females. We did not …

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The Antiviral Effects Of Embelin On Hsv-1 In Cultured Vero Cells, Tony Elias May 2020

The Antiviral Effects Of Embelin On Hsv-1 In Cultured Vero Cells, Tony Elias

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a linear double stranded DNA virus that is responsible for one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases within the United States. However, treatment drugs for HSV-1 could be costly and may have side effects. In recent years the number of cases of drug resistant HSV-1 has increased, resulting in interest for novel treatments. This study aimed to investigate the antiviral effects of the reagent Embelin on HSV-1 infection in cultured Vero Cells. Embelin is a benzoquinone isolated from the plant Embelia ribes. Cell viability and cell proliferation assays were conducted to determine …

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Phytochemical Content And Anti-Breast Cancer Activity Of Kentucky Native Plants., Nicole A. Mcgrath May 2020

Phytochemical Content And Anti-Breast Cancer Activity Of Kentucky Native Plants., Nicole A. Mcgrath

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Plants are a proven and rich source of chemical diversity for the development of pharmaceuticals. Plants that are native to Kentucky are an underexplored resource that could lead to advances in treating human diseases such as cancer. Kentucky native plants, especially those with highly diverse or enriched chemical compositions are possible leads for therapeutic drug development. To explore the potential of native Kentucky plants for treatment of breast cancer, a list of prospective target plants was developed based on literature reports. This list was narrowed to 10 tissues for further in-depth chemical analysis including estimation of alkaloids, terpenes, and phenolics, …

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Investigation Of The Individual Soybean Root Nodule Microbiome, Parris Mica Mayhood May 2020

Investigation Of The Individual Soybean Root Nodule Microbiome, Parris Mica Mayhood

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Soybean is a valuable crop that establishes a symbiotic association with nitrogen-fixing microorganisms. Previous research suggests members of the genus Bradyrhizobium are the major nitrogen-fixing inhabitants of soybean root nodules. However, results from recent studies identified the presence of other bacteria, so called non-rhizobial endophytes (NREs), inside root nodules. All previous research has pooled nodules of different plants for bacterial community analysis, but this study investigated the presence and relative abundance of rhizobia and NREs within multiple root nodules of a single plant. Three sites were selected on Kendrick Farm in Springfield, MO, where three plants and rhizosphere soil were …

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The Effects Of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles On The Growth And Development Of Sorghum Bicolor (L.) Moenech, Adam Gregory Shoemaker May 2020

The Effects Of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles On The Growth And Development Of Sorghum Bicolor (L.) Moenech, Adam Gregory Shoemaker

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) have seen a drastic increase in their use over the past decade in various consumer products. ENPs will therefore enter terrestrial ecosystems and soils with increasing frequencies, yet research into the effects of ENPs on living organisms and crops is greatly lacking. Currently, there is only one major study reported on the effects of a single ENP, silver quantum dots, on Sorghum bicolor, the 5th largest crop in the world. I examined the effects of a commonly used metal oxide nanoparticle, titanium dioxide (TiO2), on the growth and development of sorghum grown in …

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Habitat Selection And Host Detection In The Salamander Mussel, Simpsonaias Ambigua, Eric A. Stegmann May 2020

Habitat Selection And Host Detection In The Salamander Mussel, Simpsonaias Ambigua, Eric A. Stegmann

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The native freshwater mussels, Order Unionida, have suffered many species extinctions and loss of abundance. Two important threats to native mussels are loss of habitat and loss of access to the vertebrate hosts of the parasitic mussel larvae. The Salamander mussel, Simpsonaias ambigua, is a habitat specialist, living under flat rocks. It is often found in direct association with its only known host, the common mudpuppy, Necturus maculosus. This association could result from movement and habitat selection by the mussels themselves. Alternatively, it might result from the deposition of juveniles by a resident host. Habitat selection and host …

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Novel Cyanoximates As An Alternative In Cancer Chemotherapy, Kafayat Aderonke Yusuf May 2020

Novel Cyanoximates As An Alternative In Cancer Chemotherapy, Kafayat Aderonke Yusuf

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Chemotherapy is one of the most effective treatment plans for several cancer types. The recurrent side effects derived from chemotherapy agents have warranted the search for novel chemical compounds with better efficacy and minimal side effects. In line with this idea, I investigated effects of a group of newly synthesized metal based chemical compounds called cyanoximates on HeLa human cancer cells. Cyanoximates used were Pt(DECO)2, Pt(MCO)2, and Pd(DECO)2 along with the chemotherapy drug cisplatin as a positive control. I found that the metal cyanoximates reduced cell viability via apoptosis, and that Pt(DECO)2 was most …

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First Report Of Sex Chromosomes In Night Lizards (Scincoidea: Xantusiidae), Stuart V. Nielsen, Brendan John Pinto, IráN Andira Guzmán-Méndez, Tony Gamble May 2020

First Report Of Sex Chromosomes In Night Lizards (Scincoidea: Xantusiidae), Stuart V. Nielsen, Brendan John Pinto, IráN Andira Guzmán-Méndez, Tony Gamble

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Squamate reptiles (lizards, snakes, and amphibians) are an outstanding group for studying sex chromosome evolution—they are old, speciose, geographically widespread, and exhibit myriad sex-determining modes. Yet, the vast majority of squamate species lack heteromorphic sex chromosomes. Cataloging the sex chromosome systems of species lacking easily identifiable, heteromorphic sex chromosomes, therefore, is essential before we are to fully understand the evolution of vertebrate sex chromosomes. Here, we use restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) to classify the sex chromosome system of the granite night lizard, Xantusia henshawi. RADseq is an effective alternative to traditional cytogenetic methods for determining a species’ sex …

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Microglia-Neuron Interactions In A Mouse Model Of Low Grade Neuroepithelial Tumors, Veolette Hanna May 2020

Microglia-Neuron Interactions In A Mouse Model Of Low Grade Neuroepithelial Tumors, Veolette Hanna

Honors Scholar Theses

Microglia are the macrophages of the brain and spinal cord, playing an important role in the immune response to disease states of the nervous system. This study conducts an investigation on the activity of microglia in response to low grade neuroepithelial tumors. Using mouse models and microglial markers, a qualitative and quantitative analysis of microglia activation, migration, and invasion within the brain cortex during early stages of tumor development was conducted. It was found that the presence of a low grade neuroepithelial tumor in the cortex of one hemisphere of the brain causes significant microglia activation in comparison to the …

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Completion Of Rle Line Integration Involves An Open "4-Way" Branched Dna Intermediate, Brijesh B. Khadgi May 2020

Completion Of Rle Line Integration Involves An Open "4-Way" Branched Dna Intermediate, Brijesh B. Khadgi

Biology Dissertations - Archive

Long Interspersed Elements (LINEs), also known as non-LTR retrotransposons, encode a multifunctional protein that reverse transcribes its mRNA into DNA at the site of insertion by target primed reverse transcription. The R2 Long Interspersed Elements (LINEs) specifically integrate in the 28S rRNA genes by a series of DNA binding, DNA cleavage, and DNA synthesis reactions. While the first half of the integration reaction, TPRT, is well understood, the second half of the integration reaction, second-strand DNA cleavage and second-strand DNA synthesis are much less well understood. A hitherto unknown and unexplored branched integration intermediate, an open ‘4-way’ DNA junction which …

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Phylogenetic Relationships Of Foliar Bacteria Within Cover Crops In An Organic Cropping System., Marcello B. Kuan, Derek Newberger, Christina Tran May 2020

Phylogenetic Relationships Of Foliar Bacteria Within Cover Crops In An Organic Cropping System., Marcello B. Kuan, Derek Newberger, Christina Tran

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

As the human population continues to grow, there is an increasing realization that there is a finite amount of land available to grow enough food to feed people in the long-term. Sustainable agriculture is one key part of the solution to this issue. One technique used in sustainable agriculture is cover cropping, which involves the planting of a non-cash crop that is used to restore nutrients or structure within the soil. Although these benefits of cover cropping are well documented, the effect that this practice has on the reduction of pathogens on cash crops has yet to be fully explored. …

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Phage Therapy: Using Evolution To Our Advantage, Paola N. Carrion Colon May 2020

Phage Therapy: Using Evolution To Our Advantage, Paola N. Carrion Colon

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

Many harmful species of bacteria have evolved to gain resistance to most common antibiotics, leading to infections that are very hard to treat because of the overuse of antibiotics. As a solution for this problem we are using phage therapy and evolution to our advantage. Bacteriophage or also called phage is a virus that infects and replicates within bacteria and archaea. In this poster, I will describe the different experiments that I have conducted into developing a new therapy in my internship with Felix Biotechnology that could save us from the next global problem.

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Diatom Morphology In Light Of A Changing Climate: A Focus On Aulacoseira Crenulata, Brighid Welchans May 2020

Diatom Morphology In Light Of A Changing Climate: A Focus On Aulacoseira Crenulata, Brighid Welchans

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Fossilized diatoms are arguably the most vital proxy record utilized in paleolimnology. Diatoms are unicellular microalgae that are the basis of countless food webs, are invaluable bioindicators, and generate nearly a quarter of global net primary productivity. Diatoms are affected by a variety of environmental factors but there is relatively little research on how environmental conditions impact diatom valve morphology, and in particular whether there is a correlation between incoming light and diatom pore morphology. This report focuses on the Amazon lowland lake Garzacocha, and analyzes the relationship between light levels and the corresponding size of Aulacoseira crenulata pores. We …

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Laying-Sequence Variation In Yolk Carotenoids Of Eastern Bluebirds, Jessica Barkhouse May 2020

Laying-Sequence Variation In Yolk Carotenoids Of Eastern Bluebirds, Jessica Barkhouse

Theses and Dissertations

Carotenoids are naturally occurring, fat-soluble pigments that play an important role in the embryonic development of songbirds. Female songbirds use different strategies to allocate these important maternal resources to their eggs. Little research has been done on whether North American songbirds exhibit laying sequence patterns in their allocation of carotenoids. We studied the laying-sequence variation in yolk carotenoids and egg metrics of nine full clutches of Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) in Columbus, Georgia. I predicted that Eastern Bluebirds would exhibit a brood reduction strategy, with the first-laid eggs containing a higher concentration of carotenoids than the last-laid eggs. …

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Estimating Taxonomic Diversity Using Centrum Growth Profiles And Stinger Morphology Of 36 Million Year Old Stingrays From North Dakota, Persia S. Tillman May 2020

Estimating Taxonomic Diversity Using Centrum Growth Profiles And Stinger Morphology Of 36 Million Year Old Stingrays From North Dakota, Persia S. Tillman

Theses and Dissertations

Stingrays are a diverse and popular group of vertebrates; however, nothing is known about the relationships between growth biology and climate change. Freshwater stingrays once inhabit the United States and Canada during very warm times in the geologic record. No stingray material has been recorded from the northern part of the United States for the last 33 million years. The Earth’s climate cooled from 50 to 33 million year ago when many warm adapted organisms were relegated to warmer, southern latitudes in North America. Today, freshwater stingrays only inhabit subtropical and tropical environments. We are interested in the freshwater stingrays …

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Earliest Known Material Of Amia, Bowfin, From The Sentinel Butte Formation (Paleocene), Medora, North Dakota, Abby Grace Moore May 2020

Earliest Known Material Of Amia, Bowfin, From The Sentinel Butte Formation (Paleocene), Medora, North Dakota, Abby Grace Moore

Theses and Dissertations

Amia calva is an icon in the field of comparative osteology, yet we have a poor understanding of the evolution of the genus because many fossil amiid bones have gone unidentified. Here we identify new material of the genus, Amia, with evidence of two unidentified species. Previously, the oldest known material identifiable as Amia cf. A. pattersoni, was a specimen from the Paleocene epoch of Alberta, Canada approximately 58 million years in age. Fossils of the two unidentified species of Amia were found in the Sentinel Butte Formation, a geologic formation of Paleocene age (~ 60 million years …

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Levels Of Cyclin B In Thp-1 Cells Incubated In Hibernating And Non-Hibernating Bullfrog Plasma, Lithobates Catesbeianus, Tharuka D. Pathmaperuma May 2020

Levels Of Cyclin B In Thp-1 Cells Incubated In Hibernating And Non-Hibernating Bullfrog Plasma, Lithobates Catesbeianus, Tharuka D. Pathmaperuma

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Hibernation is a process that occurs in nature where organisms undergo dormancy for long periods of time in order to improve their survival during extreme environmental conditions. During this time, organisms undergo physiological changes such as reduction in core body temperature and metabolic rate, as well as cells being impeded from going into mitosis. Alvarado et al. (2015) discovered that genomic DNA methylation is dynamic across torpor-arousal bouts during winter hibernation in thirteen lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus), indicating that physiological changes during hibernation are the results of more than simply cold temperatures slowing down metabolism and that …

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Physiological And Molecular Outcomes Of Chronic Post-Weaning Folate Deficiency, Abigail Joan Lawton May 2020

Physiological And Molecular Outcomes Of Chronic Post-Weaning Folate Deficiency, Abigail Joan Lawton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Folate is an essential B vitamin that serves as a primary one-carbon carrier in a number of essential cellular reactions; among these reactions are synthesis of purines, thymidylate, and methionine. As a result of these synthesis reactions, folate plays a key role in regulating nucleic acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, maintenance of DNA stability, and production of S-adenosylmethionine for methylation of nucleic acids, neurotransmitters, phospholipids, histones, and other proteins. As such, folate deficiency is associated with a number of adverse outcomes including various cancers, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive defects. Despite mandatory folate fortification in grains in many developed countries, a …

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Cloning And Expression Of Hydra Innexin 2, A Gap Junction Protein Required For Coordinated Contraction Of The Body Column, Ashley O'Brien May 2020

Cloning And Expression Of Hydra Innexin 2, A Gap Junction Protein Required For Coordinated Contraction Of The Body Column, Ashley O'Brien

Biology Theses

In invertebrates gap junctions are formed by the innexin family of proteins. Remarkably, the genome of Hydra magnipapillata contains 17 innexin genes. This study focused on Hydra innexin-2 (h-Inx2) which is expressed in nerve cells and plays a role in contraction of the body column. The gene sequence of H-Inx2 was obtained from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), the gene was synthesized externally and transferred to a vector suitable for expression in Xenopus oocytes (pcDNA3.1 CT-GFP TOPO). The TOPO CT-GFP vector includes a priming site for RNA polymerase which allows in vitro preparation of RNA. Another advantage is …

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Seasonal Habitat Usage Of Iowa Wood Turtles (Glyptemys Insculpta), Amanda Stewart May 2020

Seasonal Habitat Usage Of Iowa Wood Turtles (Glyptemys Insculpta), Amanda Stewart

Honors Program Theses

Iowa wood turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) were tracked using radio telemetry to compare juvenile, male, and female habitat usage during specific seasonal activity periods. Field data collected included: time, geographic location, habitat type, surrounding vegetation type and abundance, ambient weather conditions, turtle body temperature and mass, water depth (when aquatic), distance from water, behavior category, and amount of exposure to UV light. While active in 2017 – 2019, the wood turtle population at three Iowa sites was 53% terrestrial and 47% aquatic, with the most frequent respective habitats being emergent clearings (grasses, forbs, saplings) and lotic (river, stream, creek). …

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Exploring Interactions Of Phyllosphere Epiphytes With Plant Pathogenic Bacteria Pseudomonas And Xanthomonas On Tomato, Ashley D. Turner May 2020

Exploring Interactions Of Phyllosphere Epiphytes With Plant Pathogenic Bacteria Pseudomonas And Xanthomonas On Tomato, Ashley D. Turner

Theses and Dissertations

Recent studies have indicated the importance of resident microflora of plants in contributing towards overall plant health. Among difference components of the plant microbiome, Methylobacterium and Sphingomonas have been recognized as common residents of the phyllosphere for many host plants, however their role in disease control needs to be further investigated. The purpose of this study was to conduct experiments investigating the effectiveness of phyllosphere Methylobacterium and Sphingomonas isolated from red clover against common tomato phyllosphere bacterial pathogens, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato and Xanthomonas perforans. Additionally, this study uses X. perforans wild-type and X. perforans type VI secretion system …

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Investigating The Behavioral Response Of Lampsilis Ovata To Various Salinity Conditions, Victoria Good May 2020

Investigating The Behavioral Response Of Lampsilis Ovata To Various Salinity Conditions, Victoria Good

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The Pocket-book mussel, Lampsilis ovata, is a native freshwater bivalve species that is endemic to North America. The salinity tolerance of this species is of interest because anthropogenic salinization events and climate change factors threaten their natural freshwater habitats. Furthermore, the invasive freshwater bivalve species Corbicula fluminea has been shown to display significant salinity tolerance, which may lead to negative competitive interactions with native freshwater bivalve species if the salinization of freshwater habitats exceeds thresholds beyond which native species can effectively cope. It was hypothesized that L. ovata would be sensitive to salinity conditions above 1 g/L and respond …

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Assessing The Influence Of Riparian Invasion By The Shrub Lonicera Maackii On Terrestrial Subsidies To Headwater Streams, Erin C. Rowekamp, Julia I. Chapman, Ryan Mcewan May 2020

Assessing The Influence Of Riparian Invasion By The Shrub Lonicera Maackii On Terrestrial Subsidies To Headwater Streams, Erin C. Rowekamp, Julia I. Chapman, Ryan Mcewan

Biology Faculty Publications

Invasion of Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) into riparian areas of headwater streams creates strong potential for alterations of terrestrial subsidies that may drive bottom-up effects on aquatic biota. In this study, we analyzed effects of L. maackii on terrestrial subsidies in stream sites that represented a gradient of invasion intensity in temperate deciduous forests of southwestern Ohio (USA). Leaf litter biomass, terrestrial and aquatic fine woody debris (0.5–9.9 cm diameter) volume and count, and terrestrial and aquatic coarse woody debris (>9.9 cm diameter) volume were analyzed. Based on previous research, we hypothesized that sites with a higher …

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Pismo Clams (Tivela Stultorum) In Califorina: Population Status, Habitat Associations, Reproduction, And Growth, Alexandria R. Marquardt May 2020

Pismo Clams (Tivela Stultorum) In Califorina: Population Status, Habitat Associations, Reproduction, And Growth, Alexandria R. Marquardt

Master's Theses

Marine shellfish play a vital role in intertidal ecosystems and coastal communities, but many of these fisheries are small-scale and lack the necessary monitoring to ensure long-term sustainability. Effective management often requires information on key demographic parameters, such as population status, reproduction and growth. Pismo clams (Tivela stultorum) are a culturally important and iconic species in California, which supported a thriving commercial and recreational fishery throughout much of the 1900’s. However, Pismo clam populations have declined statewide in recent decades and are attributed to human harvest and predation by California sea otters (Enhydra lutris); However, no …

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Comparing Novel And Traditional Sampling Methodologies To Analyze The Population Status Of The Rio Grande Cooter (Pseudemys Gorzugi), Amy P. Bogolin May 2020

Comparing Novel And Traditional Sampling Methodologies To Analyze The Population Status Of The Rio Grande Cooter (Pseudemys Gorzugi), Amy P. Bogolin

Theses and Dissertations

The Rio Grande Cooter, Pseudemys gorzugi, is an understudied aquatic turtle species of conservation concern in the Rio Grande, Pecos, and Devils river systems. Traditional sampling methodologies for aquatic turtle species face numerous challenges, but novel sampling methodologies, such as drone-based surveys and environmental DNA analysis, may address these issues. This study compared novel sampling methodologies to traditional sampling methodologies in mean detections and identifications of aquatic turtle species, developed and implemented an environmental DNA assay to detect P. gorzugi, and characterized P. gorzugi habitat. Following an introductory chapter, each task is addressed by chapter and formatted to …

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