Digital Commons Network^™

Dynamic Terminal Investment In Male Burying Beetles, Paige A. Farchmin, Anne-Katrin Eggert, Kristin R. Duffield, Scott K. Sakaluk

Faculty Publications – Biological Sciences

The dynamic terminal investment threshold model posits that the propensity of an individual to terminally invest in response to an immediate survival threat, such as an infection, depends on other factors that alter an individual's residual reproductive value. Here, we explore the potential for dynamic terminal investment in burying beetles, insects that inter small vertebrate carcasses as the sole source of food for their offspring and that exhibit extensive biparental care. We injected males at two different ages with heat-killed bacteria and measured their reproductive output, predicting that immune-challenged males would show a longer period of parental care, consume less …

Divergent Density Feedback Control Of Migratory Predator Recovery Following Sex-Biased Perturbations, Daisuke Goto, Martin J. Hamel, Mark A. Pegg, Jeremy J. Hammen, Matthew L. Rugg, Valery E. Forbes

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Uncertainty in risks posed by emerging stressors such as synthetic hormones im-pedes conservation efforts for threatened vertebrate populations. Synthetic hor-mones often induce sex-biased perturbations in exposed animals by disrupting gonad development and early life-history stage transitions, potentially diminishing per capita reproductive output of depleted populations and, in turn, being manifest as Allee effects. We use a spatially explicit biophysical model to evaluate how sex-biased perturbation in life-history traits of individuals (maternal investment in egg production and male-skewed sex allocation in offspring) modulates density feedback control of year-class strength and recovery trajectories of a long-lived, migratory fish—shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus)—under spatially …

Using Phytoglycogen-Based Nanoparticles To Enhance Inosine Monophsophate Delivery Using Rainbow Trout And Bovine Models, Kristof Jenik

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Recently, there has been interest in the use of nucleotides in industrials feeds, with inosine monophosphate showing the most promising effects on growth and immunity. Rainbow trout and Alberta cattle are two of Canadas most profitable farmed animals, if their growth rates and immunity could be enhanced this would further improve their value. The impacts of IMP, a phytoglycogen-based nanoparticle (NP) and inosine monophosphate cationically bound to the phytoglycogen-based nanoparticle (IMP-NP) were characterized in rainbow trout in vivo and in vitro and in vitro in bovine cells. Rainbow trout that were fed an IMP-NP containing feed on average had higher …

Plant Science Decadal Vision 2020–2030: Reimagining The Potential Of Plants For A Healthy And Sustainable Future, Natalie Henkhaus, Madelaine Bartlett, David Gang, Lonnie J. Guralnick, Et Al.

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Plants, and the biological systems around them, are key to the future health of the planet and its inhabitants. The Plant Science Decadal Vision 2020–2030 frames our ability to perform vital and far‐reaching research in plant systems sciences, essential to how we value participants and apply emerging technologies. We outline a comprehensive vision for addressing some of our most pressing global problems through discovery, practical applications, and education. The Decadal Vision was developed by the participants at the Plant Summit 2019, a community event organized by the Plant Science Research Network. The Decadal Vision describes a holistic vision for the …

Nutrition, Behavior Change And Physical Activity Outcomes From The Pears Rct—An Mhealth-Supported, Lifestyle Intervention Among Pregnant Women With Overweight And Obesity, Kate M. Ainscough, Eileen C. O'Brien, Karen L. Lindsay, Maria A. Kenneally, Elizabeth J. O'Sullivan, Orna A. O'Brien, Mary Mccarthy, Giuseppe De Vito, Fionnuala M. Mcauliffe

Articles

Background: Diet quality and physical activity positively impact pregnancy outcomes among women with obesity, but successful lifestyle interventions require intense clinician time. We aimed to investigate the impact of a behavioral-lifestyle intervention (PEARS) supported by a smartphone app among pregnant women with overweight and obesity, on nutrient intake, behavioral stage-of-change and physical activity.

Methods: Pregnant women (BMI 25–39.9 kg/m2, measured, n = 565) were randomized at 15.6 weeks' gestation to the intervention (n = 278), or a control group (n = 287) (ISRCTN29316280). The intervention was grounded in behavior-change theory. Participants received nutrition (low glycaemic index and healthy …

Breastfeeding Practices 2008–2009 Among Chinese Mothers Living In Ireland: A Mixed Methods Study, Qianling Zhou, Katherine Younger, Tanya M. Cassidey, Wenyi Wang, John Kearney

Articles

Background

Migration to another country has a potential influence on breastfeeding practices. A significant difference in breastfeeding rates between Irish nationals and non-nationals has been reported. This study was conducted to explore breastfeeding practices of the Chinese in Ireland, one of the largest Irish ethnic groups, and to explore the influence of living in Ireland on breastfeeding practices. This is the first and the only migration study so far on breastfeeding practices among the Chinese in Ireland.

Methods

A sequential explanatory mixed methods approach was adopted. The first phase was a cross-sectional self-administered retrospective mailed survey, to explore breastfeeding practices …

Link Between Energy Investment In Biosynthesis And Cellular Resistance To Oxidative Insult: Test The Cost-Quality Hypothesis In Insects, Taiwo Bolanle Iromini

Masters Theses

“The metabolic cost of growth is the amount of energy invested to fuel the anabolic biochemical reactions of biosynthesis. It has been implicated in the efficiency of farm animals and fishes, thus, increased economic profit. The metabolic cost of growth in the cockroach nymph was reported to be 20-fold higher than that of the painted lady butterfly caterpillar. The cost-quality hypothesis was proposed to explain the extremely low biosynthesis energy cost in painted lady caterpillar when physiological and ecological processes the metabolic growth cost was attributed to could not. In this study, the cost-quality hypothesis was tested.

Midgut cells were …

Morphological And Heartwood Variation Of Santalum Macgregorii In Papua New Guinea, T. Page, G. K. Jeffrey, P. Macdonell, D. Hettiarachchi, Mary C. Boyce, A. Lata, L. Oa, G. Rome

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2020 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Santalum macgregorii (sandalwood), which is endemic to the southern part of Papua New Guinea (PNG), has been heavily exploited for its fragrant heartwood and is classified as threatened across its natural range. Domestication and smallholder agroforestry offer the means to preserve remaining diversity. This study was undertaken to understand the extent of remaining natural variation to support the species’s conservation and domestication. We evaluated morphological, heartwood and essential oil characters in 126 S. macgregorii trees in five populations (districts) in PNG’s Central, Gulf and Western …

Crossing Boundaries: Steps Toward Measuring Undergraduates' Interdisciplinary Science Understanding, Brie Tripp, Sophia A. Voronoff, Erin Shortlidge

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

A desired outcome of education reform efforts is for undergraduates to effectively integrate knowledge across disciplines in order to evaluate and address real-world issues. Yet there are few assessments designed to measure if and how students think interdisciplinarily. Here, a sample of science faculty were surveyed to understand how they currently assess students’ interdisciplinary science understanding. Results indicate that individual writing-intensive activities are the most frequently used assessment type (69%). To understand how writing assignments can accurately assess students’ ability to think interdisciplinarily, we used a preexisting rubric, designed to measure social science students’ interdisciplinary understanding, to assess writing assignments …

The Vimentin Rod Domain Blocks P-Selectin-P-Selectin Glycoprotein Ligand 1 Interactions To Attenuate Leukocyte Adhesion To Inflamed Endothelium, Fong Wilson Lam, Cameron August Brown, Christian Valladolid, Dabel Cynthia Emebo, Timothy Gerald Palzkill, Miguel Angel Cruz

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Acute inflammation begins with leukocyte P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) binding to P-selectin on inflamed endothelium and platelets. In pathologic conditions, this process may contribute to secondary organ damage, like sepsis-induced liver injury. Therefore, developing novel therapies to attenuate inflammation may be beneficial. We previously reported that recombinant human vimentin (rhVim) binds P-selectin to block leukocyte adhesion to endothelium and platelets. In this study, we used SPOT-peptide arrays to identify the rod domain as the active region within rhVim that interacts with P-selectin. Indeed, recombinant human rod domain of vimentin (rhRod) binds to P-selectin with high affinity, with in silico modeling …

Micronutrient Supplementation In Relation To Hair Loss Syndrome In California Mule Deer, Max W. Marquez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The Jawbone deer herd has been monitored on their wintering grounds since the 1950s and recently began decreasing over the last several years. The decline prompted an investigation into the reasons why. Coinciding with the population decline is the appearance of hair loss syndrome and two species of exotic lice. In order to evaluate the effects of hair loss syndrome and the influence of exotic lice infestation, 38 wild does from the herd were used in a modified-before-after-control-impact study. Does were treated with micronutrients selenium and copper via boluses in winter (December 2013-January 2014). Selenium treatment, at a dose of …

Assessing Methods For Estimating Biological Sex From Subadult Skeletal Elements, Dorota Zabnicka

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

While methods for estimating the sex of adult skeletons are relatively accurate, these methods are often inconclusive when applied to subadults (non-adults), especially when many secondary sexual characteristics have not fully developed. Furthermore, existing methods for subadults are often tested on samples with relatively homogenous ancestries, calling into question their reliability in more diverse populations. This thesis reviewed techniques for estimating sex in subadult skeletal remains, and the most promising methods were retested on individuals of known sex between ages 3 and 17 years (n=39, 14 males, 25 females) from the Hamann-Todd Osteological Collection. Data collection included measurements of the …

Some Histopathological Findings In Dead Kihansi Spray Toads In Captivity, Joshua J Malago

Tanzania Journal of Science

Raising of Kihansi spray toad (KST), Nectophrynoides asperginis, in captivity is associated with disorders that can be fatal. Since diagnosis of these disorders cannot be confirmed grossly, the current study was aimed at exploring histopathological findings in dead KSTs kept under captivity in Tanzania. Dead KSTs were immediately recovered, observed for gross changes, fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, processed routinely, and stained sections reviewed for histological changes. Observed infectious agents were strongyloides (25.3%), ciliates (1.7%), lungworms (0.6%), fungi (3.4%) and bacteria (5.1%) or mixed infections (9%) of these agents. Noted histopathological lesions in affected organs included infiltration of inflammatory …

Histopathological Diagnosis Of Diseases Affecting Amphibians Inhabiting Kihansi Gorge, Tanzania, Joshua J Malago

Tanzania Journal of Science

Kihansi gorge is a natural habitat to Kihansi spray toad (KST), Nectophrynoides asperginis. The toad is extinct in its natural habitat partly due to diseases. Efforts to successfully re-introduce it are primed by awareness and mitigation of prevalent diseases at the gorge. This study aimed at exploring the prevalent amphibian diseases at and around Kihansi gorge. A total of 182 individuals from Petropedetes yakusini (n = 60), Nectophrynoides tornieri (n = 60) and Leptopelis uluguruensis (n = 62) species were collected, humanely sacrificed, fixed in formalin, routinely processed, sectioned, stained with haematoxylin and eosin and analysed for diseases by histopathology. …

Characterization And Domestication Of Wild Edible Mushrooms From Selected Indigenous Forests In Burundi, Vincent Nteziryayo, Donatha D. Tibuhwa, Prosper Kiyuku, Tatien Masharabu

Tanzania Journal of Science

In Burundi, minimum work has been done to comprehensively identify and commercialize high yielding local mushrooms. The previous studies carried out on mushroom cultivation have focused on exotic strains. This is the first study undertaken on domestication of wild edible mushrooms from Burundi indigenous forests. Nine samples were collected from four protected areas and characterized using phenotypic and molecular markers. Germoplasm isolation through tissue culture techniques, spawn production and cultivation studies were also undertaken. Mushroom samples were identified as Pleurotus citrinopileatus, Lentinus squarrosulus, Hypholoma fasciculare, Laetiporus sulfureus, Macrolepiota dolichaula, Trametes polyzona, Amanita zambiana, Lactarius delicious and Amanita verna. Spawn production …

The Need Of A Structured Tilapia Breeding Program In Tanzania To Enhance Aquaculture Production: A Review, Redempta A. Kajungiro, Levinus L. Mapenzi, Christer S. Nyinondi, Anna Norman Haldén, Aviti J. Mmochi, Mwita Chacha, Matern S.P. Mtolera, Hieromin A. Lamtane, Dirk Jan De Koning

Tanzania Journal of Science

Breeding programs are crucial for boosting productivity and increase sustainability of aquaculture. Over years, Tanzania has witnessed fluctuation in its capture fisheries production from 320,900 to 375, 535 and back to 362,595 metric tonnes in the years 2000, 2005 and 2016, respectively (URT 2016). The declining trend in fish production has made fish supply in the country unstable and conversely, increased the demand for fishes to about 730,000 metric tonnes in 2017. However, the local aquaculture production has not increased accordingly. Tanzania is importing fish mainly from Asia to meet its increased demand. In 2017, a total of 2,055,721 kg …

Antimicrobial Activities Of Endophytic Fungi Secondary Metabolites From Moringa Oleifera (Lam), Zuhura N. Mwanga, Esther F. Mvungi, Donatha D Tibuhwa

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study presents the antimicrobial activities of secondary metabolites of endophytic fungi isolated from a medicinal plant Moringa oleifera growing at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Two endophytic fungi were identified, Nigrospora sp. from leaves, and Fusarium sp. from roots and seeds. The disc method was used in testing the antimicrobial activities of the crude extracts of endophytic fungi secondary metabolites against four human pathogens, namely, Bacillus substilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. The results revealed that the crude extracts of endophytes secondary metabolites from leaves showed strong antimicrobial activities against two Gram positive bacteria and …

Potential Distribution Of Six North American Higher-Attine Fungus-Farming Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Species, Sarah F. Senula, Joseph T. Scavetta, Joshua A. Banta, Ulrich G. Mueller, Jon N. Seal, Katrin Kellner

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Ants are among the most successful insects in Earth’s evolutionary history. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding range-limiting factors that may influence their distribution. The goal of this study was to describe the environmental factors (climate and soil types) that likely impact the ranges of five out of the eight most abundant Trachymyrmex species and the most abundant Mycetomoellerius species in the United States. Important environmental factors may allow us to better understand each species’ evolutionary history. We generated habitat suitability maps using MaxEnt for each species and identified associated most important environmental variables. We quantified niche overlap …

Trade-Offs Between Survival And Reproduction In Starvation-Selected Drosophila Melanogaster, Tammara Beeghly

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Evolutionary outcomes are demonstrated by traits that affect an organism’s schedule of reproduction and survival. These life history traits are reflected in an organism’s physiology, development and behavior. Environmental changes, such as availability of nutritional resources, can profoundly affect evolutionary outcomes of individuals and populations. When shortages arise, there will be trade-offs in the allocation of resources, where one trait prevails at the expense of another.

In the laboratory, we can mimic conditions in nature and study the specific effects of the conditions that we re-create. In our case, over 100 generations of Drosophila melanogaster have been selected for starvation …

Landscape Scale: Inter- And Intraspecific Variation In Plant Interactions Along A Stress Gradient In The Sheep Range Of Nevada, Jordan Dowell

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Impending threats to shrubland ecosystems, posed by climate change, necessitate niche modeling efforts to project vegetation range shifts. However, efforts often remain unguided by individual-scale interspecific plant interactions. The stress gradient hypothesis posits that facilitation should increase in areas of high abiotic stress, only if the individuals are able to ameliorate the surrounding area via functional traits. The Sheep Range of Nevada was used to assess the role of functional traits as predictors of plant association. Larrea tridentata, Coleogyne ramosissima, and Artemisia nova were selected as shrubs with variable life history strategies and ranges in order to identify general patterns …

Bio Buzz Newsletter, Issue 18, December 2019, Denison Biology Department

Biology Buzz Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Biological And Psychological Implications Of Mindfulness Meditation For College Students, Kelsey Madison Dietrich

Honors Projects

The purpose of this capstone project was threefold: investigate the psychological implications of mindfulness meditation for college students enrolled in a semester-long course introducing these practices, investigate the biological implications of mindfulness meditation for these students, and create the Peer Education “Mindfulness” presentation for the Wellness Connection to introduce mindfulness meditation methods to a greater quantity of college students. The following paper describes the two components of this capstone project that examine the implications of mindfulness meditation opportunities available for college students specifically at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio.

Assessment Of Cytotoxic Activity Of Five Common Philippine Medicinal Plants Using Brine Shrimp Lethality Assay, Lloyd O. Balinado, Merab A. Chan

Biology Faculty Publications

A wide variety of plants in the Philippines are used to address several medical ailments; however, many of which have not yet undergone thorough pharmacological studies. The problem on the possible side effects caused by these medicinal preparations has, therefore, increased the interest in validating their safety for human use. The present study was conducted to determine the cytotoxicity of five common local medicinal plants. Annona muricata L., Cymbopogon citratus DC., Graptophyllum pictum (L.) Griff, Jatropha curcas L., and Piper betle L. were selected and subjected to crude aqueous leaf extraction. Extracts were then investigated for cytotoxicity potential using brine …

A Male-Female Genotype-By-Genotype Interaction Mediates The Effect Of Mating On Female Immunity In Decorated Crickets, Kylie J. Hampton

Theses and Dissertations

Sexually antagonistic coevolution should lead to the rapid divergence of male and female genotypes related to the effects of ejaculatory substances on female physiology. Hence, the outcome of mating should depend on an interaction between male and female genotypes. Although mating has been shown to influence female immune responses in diverse insect taxa, a male-female genotype-by-genotype effect on female immunity post-mating remains largely unexplored. Here, we investigate both the effects of mating on female immunity and the potential for a male-by-female genotype interaction on the form and magnitude of this response in decorated crickets. Females from three distinct genotypic backgrounds …

Bone Mineral Density Of The Common Bottlenose Dolphin, Tursiops Truncatus: A Proposed Model For Monitoring Osteological And Ecosystem Health, James Wright Burrus Powell

Dissertations and Theses

Bone mineral density (BMD) in the pectoral flipper of the common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, was examined to address the need to define a comprehensive target site for clinical osteodensitometric assessment and to establish ranges of observed bone density values for this species. Radii were analyzed using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), the accepted standard in human medical studies. Multiple loci within the radius were identified and assessed for their correlation to BMD of the entire bone. Radii BMD were also examined for differences based on sex, age, total body length, handedness, geographical affinity, and nutritional status at time …

Multidrug Resistance Regulators Mara, Soxs, Rob, And Rama Repress Flagellar Gene Expression And Motility In Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium, Srinivas Thota, Lon Chubiz

Biology Department Faculty Works

Production of flagella is costly and subject to global multilayered regulation, which is reflected in the hierarchical control of flagellar production in many bacterial species. For Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and its relatives, global regulation of flagellar production primarily occurs through the control of flhDC transcription and mRNA translation. In this study, the roles of the homologous multidrug resistance regulators MarA, SoxS, Rob, and RamA (constituting the mar-sox-rob regulon in S. Typhimurium) in regulating flagellar gene expression were explored. Each of these regulators was found to inhibit flagellar gene expression, production of flagella, and motility. To different degrees, repression via …

Oil Preference In Ants And Arthropod Diversity In Urban Environments, Itzel Guzman-Hernandez

Honors Theses

The success of certain ant species in urban areas is largely unknown. Available food in the environment could affect the composition of ants in urban areas due to a possible relationship between ant physiology and diet. I tested the oil preference of ants as a function of available arthropod prey in urban environments. I hypothesized that as arthropod diversity decreased, ant abundance at oil baits would decrease. Oil is an important nutrient that can affect ant body functions and activities. Ant foraging activities have been found to be affected by lipid depletion. A food source where ants can obtain oil …

Interactions Between Earliest Linearbandkeramik Farmers And Central European Hunter Gatherers At The Dawn Of European Neolithization, Alexey G. Nikitin, Peter Stadler, Nadezhda Kotova, Maria Teschler-Nicola, T. Douglas Price, Jessica Hoover, Douglas J. Kennett, Losif Lazaridis, Nadin Rohland, Mark Lipson, David Reich

Open Access Publishing Support Funded Articles

Archaeogenetic research over the last decade has demonstrated that European Neolithic farmers (ENFs) were descended primarily from Anatolian Neolithic farmers (ANFs). ENFs, including early Neolithic central European Linearbandkeramik (LBK) farming communities, also harbored ancestry from European Mesolithic hunter gatherers (WHGs) to varying extents, reflecting admixture between ENFs and WHGs. However, the timing and other details of this process are still imperfectly understood. In this report, we provide a bioarchaeological analysis of three individuals interred at the Brunn 2 site of the Brunn am Gebirge-Wolfholz archeological complex, one of the oldest LBK sites in central Europe. Two of the individuals had …

Impacts Of Shoreline Restoration And Source Of Nutrient Enrichment On Macrophytes And Epiphytic Algal Communities, Paige Marie Kleindl

Masters Theses

Macrophytes and their epiphytic algal communities are integral for optimizing littoral ecosystem functioning in lakes. Epiphytic algae’s placement on the plant’s surface can reduce light and nutrient availability (i.e., nitrogen and phosphorus) for the host macrophyte. Macrophyte and epiphytic algal proximity complicates these primary producer group interactions and responses to bioavailable nutrients in the water column or porewater. For example, epiphytic algae may have a competitive advantage over surface water nutrients compared to macrophytes, which may have a competitive advantage over porewater nutrients via root systems.

Muskegon Lake’s industrial history and designation as an Area of Concern prompted shoreline restoration, …

The Concept Of The Hologenome, An Epigenetic Phenomenon, Challenges Aspects Of The Modern Evolutionary Synthesis, Adena Collens, Emma Kelley, Laura A. Katz

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

John Tyler Bonner's call to re-evaluate evolutionary theory in light of major transitions in life on Earth (e.g., from the first origins of microbial life to the evolution of sex, and the origins of multicellularity) resonate with recent discoveries on epigenetics and the concept of the hologenome. Current studies of genome evolution often mistakenly focus only on the inheritance of DNA between parent and offspring. These are in line with the widely accepted Neo-Darwinian framework that pairs Mendelian genetics with an emphasis on natural selection as explanations for the evolution of biodiversity on Earth. Increasing evidence for widespread symbioses complicates …