Digital Commons Network^™

(Winter Skate (Leucoraja Ocellata)) Jaw, Michael A. Birnbaum, David Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

No abstract provided.

An Approach To Estimate Angling Effort, Catch, And Harvest Of Burbot Lota Lota, Collin J. Mitchell

Biology Graduate Theses

Once commonly thought of as a nuisance, Burbot Lota lota are now being frequently targeted by anglers in Minnesota. However, the amount of angling effort directed at Burbot, the distribution of effort, catch, and harvest are unknown. Historically, creel surveys have been used to estimate angling effort, catch, and harvest. Additionally, digital cameras have been used independently and supplementally to estimate angling effort, catch, and harvest. In this study, we estimate angling effort, catch, and harvest of Burbot using creel survey techniques and motion-activated digital cameras on Bad Medicine Lake, Minnesota, while also investigating and exploring the limitations of these …

Life Among The Sand Grains, Will M. Ballentine, N. G. Roberts, M. K. Yap-Chiongco, K. M. Halanych, K. M. Kocot

Biology Faculty Works

Have you ever played with sand at the beach? Did you know you were also playing with thousands of tiny animals? The sand in the ocean is home to many small creatures called meiofauna, but you can only see them under a magnifying glass or microscope. Meiofauna are so tiny that sand grains seem like boulders to them. Meiofauna are too small to move these boulders, so they wriggle through spaces between them. Living in such tight spaces has led them to evolve long, skinny body shapes like worms. They also have special body parts to grip sand grains and …

The Role Of Secondary And Tertiary Structure In The Cap-Independent Translation Of Fgf-9 And Hif-1-Alpha, Amanda Michelle Whittaker

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Under normoxic conditions, eukaryotes initiate translation of RNA through eIF4E recognition of the 5’ cap. However, under cellular stress, eukaryotic translation must be initiated through a 4E-independent, or “cap-independent” mechanism, involving eukaryotic initiation factor 4G (eIF4G) binding directly to the 5’ untranslated regions (5’ UTR) of the RNA. eIF4G binding then recruits the ribosome to the transcript. While this mechanism is useful for translation of apoptotic transcripts and transcripts involved in cell survival, cap-independent translation is also utilized by oncogenic RNA for tumorigenesis. Previous work by our lab and others has categorized this recruitment and initiation mechanism as either internal-ribosome-entry-site …

Characterizing Malaria Infections In Caribbean Lizards: Parasite Niche Expansion & Host Response, Sarah J. Pangburn

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Malaria is historically one of the most severe parasitic human diseases and is still responsible for over half a million deaths annually. Plasmodium species, the causative agents of malaria, are often characterized by two hallmark features of their asexual stages: the invasion of vertebrate red blood cells and the presence of hemozoin pigment as a byproduct of host hemoglobin digestion. Despite their evolutionary relatedness to mammalian Plasmodium, wildlife malaria parasites are understudied, leaving their vast genetic diversity to be explored. Lizard-infective malaria parasites, for example, include over 100 species of Plasmodium and present a diverse array of phenotypes, some …

Watershed Land Use Decreases The Nitrogen Limitation Of Benthic Algal Growth In Coastal Wetlands Of A Large Oligotrophic Lake, Matthew J. Cooper, Michele C. Wheeler

Open Access Publishing Support Funded Articles

Introduction:

Identifying patterns in the primary limiting nutrients of basal trophic levels such as benthic algae can inform the prediction of potential ecological responses to anthropogenic nutrient loading. In coastal wetlands of the Laurentian Great Lakes, reduced concentrations of reactive nitrogen species such as ammonium and nitrate may limit algal growth, especially when nutrient loading is minimal. However, the response of benthic algae to macronutrient inputs remains understudied, especially in Lake Superior coastal wetlands.

Methods:

We conducted nutrient amendment assays using nutrient diffusing substrate devices in 25 coastal wetlands along the southwestern shore of Lake Superior in the spring, summer, …

The Mc4r Agonist, Setmelanotide, Is Associated With An Improvement In Hypercapnic Chemosensitivity And Weight Loss In Male Mice, Sarah N. Framnes-Deboer, Deanna M. Arble, Athena Rivera

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Obesity increases the risk of respiratory diseases that reduce respiratory chemosensitivity, such as Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome and sleep apnea. Recent evidence suggests that obesity-related changes in the brain, including alterations in melanocortin signaling via the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R), may underly altered chemosensitivity. Setmelanotide, an MC4R agonist, causes weight loss in both humans and animal models. However, it is unknown the extent to which setmelanotide affects respiratory chemosensitivity independent of body weight loss. The present study uses diet-induced obese, male C57bl/6 J mice to determine the extent to which acute setmelanotide treatment affects the hypercapnic ventilatory response (HCVR). We find that …

Frequency-Dependent Assembly Processes Determine The Coexistence And Relative Abundance Of Tropical Plant Species, David M. Defilippis, Joseph A. Lamanna, Stefan A. Schnitzer

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Testing the extent to which ecological communities are structured by deterministic (niche-based) assembly processes, resulting in predictable species abundance and composition, is a fundamental goal of ecology. Here we use a 10-year dataset of 55,156 lianas comprising 86 species in an old-growth tropical forest in Panama to test whether community assembly is consistent with niche-based assembly processes. We find that species diversity and community composition was maintained because species conformed to four general requirements of coexistence theory: (1) species have negative conspecific frequency-dependent feedback that control their local population size; (2) species have a stronger negative effect on their own …

Marine Protected Species Identification Guide 2025, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Occasional Publications

The Western Australian aquatic environment is home to a number of species that are protected under international agreements and national or state legislation. Many of these species occur in areas where fishing takes place, sometimes resulting in interactions between fishers and protected species. An interaction is considered to be any physical contact between a person, fishing vessel or fishing gear and a protected species, including captures, entanglements and collisions.

This guide has been developed to help you identify some common marine protected species in Western Australia that you may encounter while fishing.

It has been divided into 5 sections:

• …

Host Traits And Temperature Predict Biogeographical Variation In Seagrass Disease Prevalence, F.R. Schenck, J.K. Baum, K.E. Boyer, J.E. Duffy, F.J. Fodrie, J. Gaeckle, Torrie Hanley, C.M. Hereu, K.A. Hovel, P. Jorgensen, D.L. Martin, N.E. O’Connor, B.J. Peterson, J.J. Stachowicz, A.R. Hughes

Biology Faculty Publications

Diseases are ubiquitous in natural systems, with broad effects across populations, communities and ecosystems. However, the drivers of many diseases remain poorly understood, particularly in marine environments, inhibiting effective conservation and management measures. We examined biogeographical patterns of infection in the foundational seagrass Zostera marina by the parasitic protist Labyrinthula zosterae, the causative agent of seagrass wasting disease, across >20° of latitude in two ocean basins. We then identified and characterized relationships among wasting disease prevalence and a suite of host traits and environmental variables. Host characteristics and transmission dynamics explained most of the variance in prevalence across our survey, …

Identification Of Diverse Bacteriophages Associated With Bees And Hoverflies, Rohan A. Bandoo, Simona Kraberger, Cahit Ozturk, Michael C. Lund, Qiyun Zhu, Chelsea N. Cook, Brian Smith, Arvind Varsani

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Bacteriophages are the most numerous, ubiquitous, and diverse biological entities on the planet. Prior studies have identified bacteriophages associated with pathogenic and commensal microbiota of honeybees. In this study we expand on what is known about bacteriophages from the lineages Caudoviricetes, Inoviridae, and Microviridae, which are associated with honeybees (Apidae, Apis mellifera), solitary bees of the genus Nomia (Halictidae, Nomia), and hoverflies (Syrphidae). The complete genomes of seven caudoviruses, seven inoviruses, and 288 microviruses were assembled from honeybees (n = 286) and hoverflies in Arizona (n = 2). We used bacterial host predictive …

Distinguishing Classes Of Neuroactive Drugs Based On Computational Physicochemical Properties And Experimental Phenotypic Profiling In Planarians, Danielle Ireland, Christina Rabeler, Sagar Rao , '22, R. J. Richardson, Eva-Maria S. Collins

Biology Faculty Works

Mental illnesses put a tremendous burden on afflicted individuals and society. Identification of novel drugs to treat such conditions is intrinsically challenging due to the complexity of neuropsychiatric diseases and the need for a systems-level understanding that goes beyond single molecule-target interactions. Thus far, drug discovery approaches focused on target-based in silico or in vitro high-throughput screening (HTS) have had limited success because they cannot capture pathway interactions or predict how a compound will affect the whole organism. Organismal behavioral testing is needed to fill the gap, but mammalian studies are too time-consuming and cost-prohibitive for the early stages of …

Microbiome Metabolic Capacity Is Buffered Against Phylotype Losses By Functional Redundancy, Kayla Cross, Noelle Beckman, Benjamin Jahnes, Zakee L. Sabree

Biology Faculty Publications

Many animals contain a species-rich and diverse gut microbiota that likely contributes to several host-supportive services that include diet processing and nutrient provisioning. Loss of microbiome taxa and their associated metabolic functions as result of perturbations may result in loss of microbiome-level services and reduction of metabolic capacity. If metabolic functions are shared by multiple taxa (i.e., functional redundancy), including deeply divergent lineages, then the impact of taxon/function losses may be dampened. We examined to what degree alterations in phylotype diversity impact microbiome-level metabolic capacity. Feeding two nutritionally imbalanced diets to omnivorous Periplaneta americana over 8 weeks reduced the diversity …

Population Variability Across Geographical Ranges: Perspectives And Challenges, Cleber Ten Caten, Tad Dallas

Faculty Publications

Populations fluctuate over time and across geographical space, and understanding how different factors contribute to population variability is a central goal in population ecology. There is a particular interest in identifying trends of population variability within geographical ranges as population densities of species can fluctuate substantially across geographical space. A common assumption is that populations vary more near species geographical range edges because of unsuitable environments and higher vulnerability to environmental variability in these areas. However, empirical data rarely support this expectation, suggesting that population variability is not related to its position within species geographical ranges. We propose that performance …

Spatiotemporal Patterns Of Chlorophyll-A Concentration In A Hypersaline Lake Using High Temporal Resolution Remotely Sensed Imagery, R. Douglas Ramsey, Soren M. Brothers, Melissa Cobo, Wayne A. Wurtsbaugh

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

The Great Salt Lake (GSL) is the largest saline lake in the Western Hemisphere. It supports billion-dollar industries and recreational activities, and is a vital stopping point for migratory birds. However, little is known about the spatiotemporal variation of phytoplankton biomass in the lake that supports these resources. Spectral reflectance provided by three remote sensing products was compared relative to their relationship with field measurements of chlorophyll a (Chl a). The MODIS product MCD43A4 with a 500 m spatial resolution provided the best overall ability to map the daily distribution of Chl a. The imagery indicated significant spatial …

Plasmodium Berghei Subpellicular Microtubule Protein-1 (Pbspm-1) Is A Microtubule Stabilizing Protein That Affects Schizont Development, Manuel Joseph Widuch

Master's Theses

In eukaryotes, microtubules (MTs) are regulated by microtubule-associated proteins (MAP), only a few of which have been characterized in the malaria parasite to date. Here we present the functional characterization of STOP axonemal protein 1 (SAXO1) of the rodent parasite Plasmodium berghei. The protein exhibits high sequence and organizational conservation to the subpellicular microtubule protein 1 (SPM1) of the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii and SAXO1 of Trypanosoma brucei. SAXO1 proteins are conserved in most eukaryotes where they form a protein family. We refer to this protein as PbSPM1. It is a 38 kD protein that is organized into an N-terminal …

Computational Investigation Of The Unveils Nsd2 Inhibition Potential Of Berberis Vulgaris, Sambucus Nigra, And Morus Alba Through Virtual Screening, Molecular Docking, Md Simulation, And Dft Analyses, Supriyo Saha, Vanshita Gupta, Ahad Hossain, Prinsa Prinsa, Jannatul Ferdous, Kiran Bharat Lokhande, Vikash Jakhmola, Sarkar M. A. Kawsar

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Nuclear receptor binding set domain protein 2 (NSD2) plays a key role in chromatin regulation and is associated with different cancers and other developmental problems. Berries are rich in major secondary metabolites with anticancer properties. Here, we virtually screened 145 berry phytochemicals as putative NSD2 inhibitors via structure-based virtual screening, molecular docking, MD simulations, and DFT and ADMET analyses. Among them, α-carotene had the maximum docking score of -9.9 kcal/mol, followed by sulfuretin and β-amyrin. MD simulation analysis revealed that the dynamic behavior of the ligand‒NSD2 complexes was within the limit, indicating no significant changes in the structural integrity of …

Halogeton And Greasewood Poisoning In Cattle And Sheep In Utah, E. Jane Kelly, Stephen T. Lee, Ammon Brown, Daniel Cook

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

Halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus) is a fast-growing annual plant while greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) is a perennial shrub of the Western States. Oxalates are the toxic principle in halogeton and greasewood. Most losses occur when hungry animals are allowed to graze in heavy stands of halogeton and greasewood. Halogeton and greasewood are always dangerous and become more toxic as the growing season progresses. Here we report on two clinical cases of halogeton and greasewood poisoning in cattle and sheep. Histologically, oxalate crystals were observed in the kidneys of the cow and sheep consistent with oxalate poisoning. Oxalate was …

Mitochondrial A3 Adenosine Receptor As A Mechanism For The Protective Effects Of A3ar Agonists On Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain, Timothy M. Doyle, Kali Janes, Wen Hua Xiao, Grant R. Kolar, Hans F. Luecke, Michael Anne Gratton, Dilip K. Tosh, Kenneth A. Jacobson, Gary J. Bennett, Daniela Salvemini

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Alterations in mitochondrial function are the linchpin in numerous disease states including in the development of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain (CIPN), a major dose-limiting toxicity of widely used chemotherapeutic cytotoxins. In CIPN, mitochondrial dysfunction is characterized by deficits in mitochondrial bioenergetics (e.g., decreased ATP production) that are thought to drive the degeneration of the peripheral nerve sensory axon terminal sensory arbors in the skin (the intraepidermal nerve fibers; IENFs) and induce abnormal spontaneous discharge in peripheral nerve sensory axons. Preserving mitochondrial function is anticipated to prevent CIPN. We have now discovered that the G-protein-coupled receptor, A3 adenosine receptor subtype (A3AR), is …

Career: The Behavioral, Hormonal, And Neural Basis Of Coyote Monogamy, Sara M. Freeman

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

A Review And Meta-Analysis Of The Efficacy Of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi In Remediating Toxic Metals In Mine-Affected Soil, Sonali Banerjee, Jajati Mandal, Dibyendu Sarkar, Rupali Datta, Pradip Bhattacharyya

Michigan Tech Publications

Mines are natural reservoirs of various minerals, metals, and metalloids. Several heavy metals (HMs), such as Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Ni, are major anthropogenic pollutants that cause severe environmental pollution. The accumulation of these toxic HMs in soils has raised several concerns for crop growth, food safety, and marketing. Physiological and biochemical processes in plants are severely impacted by HMs, disrupting normal metabolic activities and reducing biomass production. Phytoremediation plays a pivotal role in addressing HM contamination by offering an eco-friendly, economical, and holistic solution. Similarly, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a significant role by forming a symbiotic relationship …

Characterization Of Dhdds Rp59 Knock-In Mouse Models Of Retinitis Pigmentosa, Mai Ngoc Nguyen

All ETDs from UAB

Cis-prenyltransferase (CPT), a prenyl chain elongation enzyme made up of two copies of dehydrodolichyl diphosphate synthase (DHDDS) and two copies of Nogo-B Receptor (NgBR), condenses metabolites from the mevalonate pathway to create dolichol, a sugar carrier required for glycosylation in all cells of the body. However, certain missense mutations in DHDDS cause non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa (RP59). Three missense mutations, K42E, T206A, and R98W have been found in RP59 patients that present the cardinal phenotypes of RP – diminished ERG responses, attenuated retinal vessels, bone spicule-like pigmentation, and retinal thinning due to photoreceptor loss. However, no global changes in glycosylation are …

Evaluation Of Green Tea Yoghurt Enriched With Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei E1 Microcapsules On Macrophage M1 Profile In High Fat-Fructose Diet Mice, Esha Ardiansyah, Nur Alfi Maghfirotus Sa’Adah, Rahmi Izati, Belinda Nabiila Al Faizah, Dawama Nur Fadlilah, Septhyanti Aprilia Kavitarna, Mochammad Fitri Atho’Illah, Siti Nur Arifah, Yoga Dwi Jatmiko, Muhaimin Rifa’I

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Obesity is caused by an energy imbalance that increases chronic low-grade inflammation, including macrophage cell infiltration. Adipose tissue macrophages are polarized into pro-inflammatory macrophage type 1 (M1), secrete large amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and activate transcription factors. Yoghurt with probiotics is popular at all ages for its health benefits and must be protected by microencapsulation. Green tea (Camellia sinensis L.) fortification provides yoghurt nutrients while improving its functional qualities and bioactivity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of microencapsulation of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei E1 in green tea yoghurt (GTY) on the profile of M1 macrophages in mice fed a …

Role Of Ring-Box E3 Ligases In Runx2 And Sp7 Protein Turnover During Osteoblast Differentiation, Abeera Sikandar

All ETDs from UAB

The bone matrix synthesis by osteoblast during skeletogenesis is regulated by several transcription factors and signaling pathways. Runx2 and Sp7 are master regulators of osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. Deletion of both genes in mice results in the complete failure of ossification. In humans, Sp7 and Runx2 genes mutations cause osteogenesis imperfecta and cleidocranial dysplasia, respectively. The progression of osteoblast differentiation requires a coordinated and temporal expression of Runx2 and Sp7 genes. Posttranslational modifications regulate the cellular levels and function of Runx2 and Sp7 proteins. Ubiquitination controls protein turnover through targeted degradation. The multi-subunit SCF-complex is the largest class of …

Single Nucleus Multiomics Reveals The Drought-Driven Gene Regulatory Atlas In Arabidopsis, Jinbao Liu

All ETDs from UAB

The regulation of gene expression in plant responses to drought has been thoroughly in-vestigated in previous studies. Despite this, a detailed understanding of the cell type-specific regulatory mechanisms, encompassing multi-layered biological processes, is lack-ing. In this study, we report the use of single nucleus multiomic analysis in Arabidopsis seedlings in response to drought stress. Our single-nuclei RNA (snRNA) analysis deline-ated 14 distinct clusters representing major root and shoot cell types and discovered new cell type-specific drought markers. Integration of snRNA with single-nuclei ATAC (snATAC) data in leaf epidermis, root endodermis, and guard cells revealed accessible chromatin regions (ACRs)-linked genes predominantly …

The Evolutionary Ecology Of Reproductive System Variation In Haploid-Diploid Freshwater Red Macroalgae, Sarah Connelly

All ETDs from UAB

Reproductive systems describe the relative rates of sexual versus asexual reproduction and selfing versus outcrossing, governing the transmission of genetic diversity between generations and shaping evolutionary responses to environmental change. Though sex has inherent costs, it contributes to the reproductive system for most eukaryotes, generating incredible life cycle diversity. Life cycles are expected to be correlated with different reproductive systems. Diploid life cycles should be associated with outcrossing, whereas life cycles with a long-lived haploid phase are hypothesized to be associated with selfing and asexual reproduction. To test this hypothesis, we used ten polymorphic microsatellite loci to genotype 311 gametophytes …

Metabolic And Physiological Characteristics Of Diet Manipulation And Genetic Modification In Two Rat Models Of Aging, Soe Maung Maung Phone Myint

All ETDs from UAB

As society and human civilization advances, humans have begun to live longer and most people live to be longer than 60, which was not the case several decades ago. According to the World Health Organization(WHO), by the turn of the next decade at 2030, 1 in 6 people will be 60 years or older, accounting for almost 1.4 billion people. Aging affects people differently but in general, it has a propensity to induce widespread and progressive molecular and cellular damage which leads to a myriad of diseases and eventually death. The greatest risk factor for most of the chronic diseases …

Fta™ Card Use For Detection Of Mycoplasma Gallisepticum In Wild Birds, Linda Purvis, Dawn E.W. Drumtra

Georgia Journal of Science

Flinders Technology Associates (FTA) cards are increasingly accepted as an accurate method for nucleic acid detection, including testing for the presence of various avian diseases. However, the accuracy of FTA cards for detection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) in wild birds has not been published. Traditional techniques for testing MG in birds include serum plate agglutanation (SPA), hemagglutination inhibition (HI), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) all of which are time consuming and require significant financial investment into specialized equipment. We tested the efficacy of using FTA cards to detect MG in wild bird carcasses collected in …

Investigating The Impact Of Roundup® Exposure On Hearing In Channel Catfish (Ictalurus Punctatus), Joshua W. Adams, Daniel E. Holt

CSU Tower Day

Tower Day 2025 Undergraduate Poster 3rd place Winner

Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) such as Roundup® are used extensively worldwide, yet their potential to disrupt fish sensory physiology has remained relatively unexplored. Previous studies have established that glyphosate exposure can induce various neurotoxic effects in fish and other vertebrates—ranging from oxidative stress to altered neurotransmitter systems and anxiogenic-like responses. Despite these documented impacts, no published research has directly assessed whether glyphosate compromises auditory function in fish.

Here, we address this knowledge gap by examining the hearing sensitivity of farm- raised Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) following a 96-hour exposure to Roundup® (3 mg/L …

Measuring Spatial And Temporal Variation In Species Composition Of Ephemeral Pond Amphibian Assemblages Using Metabarcoding, Elizabeth Strasko

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Amphibian populations worldwide face severe threats, heightening the need for reliable monitoring methods. In this thesis, I explored and tested environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding protocols to survey amphibian assemblages in ephemeral ponds of the the Green River Preserve in central Kentucky, USA. First, I evaluated whether the commonly used mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene could effectively capture species-level variation in local amphibians for eDNA metabarcoding. Extensive primer design and testing revealed significant challenges in amplifying fragmented eDNA from water samples. In a second study, I applied a metabarcoding approach using the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA (12S) gene …