Digital Commons Network^™

The Genome Sequence Of The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, Adelges Tsugae Annand 1924, Bryan M.T. Brunet, Dustin T. Dial, Gaelen R. Burke, Carol D. Von Dohlen, Julia Douglas Freitas, Haley Sanderson, Afiya R. Chida, Samantha J. Jones, Fergal J. Martin, Leanne Haggerty, Stephen W. Scherer, Ioannis Ragoussis, Steven J.M. Jones, Robert G. Foottit, Nathan P. Havill

Biology Faculty Publications

The genome of the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) is presented in 10 chromosomal pseudomolecules along with 132 unplaced scaffolds for a combined length of 216.56 Mb. The genome is highly contiguous with an N50 of 20.54 Mb and its longest scaffold 37.41 Mb in length. The assembly recovered 97.7% of benchmarked universal single-copy Hemiptera orthologs (BUSCO) with an overall completion score of 98.6%. On the basis of chromosomal synteny with other aphid genomes, the hemlock woolly adelgid’s genome is composed of eight autosomes and two sex (X) chromosomes. Annotation of the assembly identified 11,800 coding genes, 1,930 …

Extraction And Optimization Of Flavonoids From Elaeagnus Pungens Thunb And Its Potential Impact On Blood Plasma Cholesterol In A Mouse Model, Qunqing Lu, Haozhe Liu, Xinxin Zhang, Nourhan Nassar, Ibrar Khan, Haji Gul, Zaigui Wang

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Elaeagnus pungens Thunb is a significant source of flavonoids with biological function. This study aims to develop orthogonal tests and alkali alcohol extraction methods for extracting flavonoids from leaves of E. pungens. The levels of factors in the orthogonal test were determined by pre-experiment, and the physiological efficacy was verified by the in vivo test. The results indicated that the optimal extraction yield was 4.07% when the solid-to-liquid ratio was 1:40, the concentration of ethanol was 60%, the extraction temperature was 80℃, and the extraction time was five h. The alkalialcohol extraction results demonstrated that the extraction yield of …

Limb Regeneration In Damselflies Based On Developmental Stage, Haven O. Clements

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

Injury is common in wild animals, yet some species possess an adaptive advantage: regeneration. Enallagma vesperum, a species of damselfly, exhibits this regenerative ability, though its persistence and effectiveness across developmental stages remain poorly understood. While previous studies indicate that regeneration ceases following adult emergence, it is unclear whether this ability also diminishes prior to the final larval molt. This study investigated the effectiveness of limb regeneration in E. vesperum across early and late larval instars. I hypothesized that earlier instars would exhibit greater regenerative success due to fewer competing energetic demands compared to later instars, which may prioritize …

The Effects Of Plastic Mulch And Irrigation On Hemp Chemistry And Leaf Endophytes, Allison Rietman, Connor Morozumi, Robert C. Pearce, Natalie Christian

Journal of Agricultural Hemp Research

As an emerging crop, cultivation techniques for industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) are still being developed and optimized. For example, irrigation and plastic mulching are some management practices that have been touted for their benefits in improving crop quality. Both techniques ensure ample water availability, which has often been attributed to improving hemp cannabinoid and terpene composition. In this study, we examined how supplemental irrigation implemented in a plastic mulch system influenced the cannabinoid and terpene profiles of one cultivar of CBD hemp, Lifter. We grew industrial hemp in field with plastic mulch and applied regular irrigation to one group …

Hooks For Four-Dimensional Ecology Education (4dee) Teaching With Differing Audiences Of Nonmajors, Sara E. Scanga, Vikki L. Rodgers, Loren B. Byrne, Justin R. St. Juliana, Jon M. Honea, Erica S. Tietjen, George Middendorf

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Nonmajors (i.e., undergraduate students not majoring in the natural sciences) constitute a majority of United States college graduates and are a large potential audience for courses with ecology content. However, nonmajors may be unmotivated to learn about ecology because they perceive it to be uninteresting and irrelevant to their everyday lives or career goals. Although the Four-Dimensional Ecology Education (4DEE) framework can be adapted for nonmajors courses as a starting point to improve student engagement, we suggest that nonmajors ecology instructors also use ecology hooks as effective gateways to 4DEE that will motivate and deepen student learning. Selecting and developing …

Adipokines Mediate Fat-To-Ovary Communication To Regulate Oogenesis, Adipocyte Size, And Lipid Storage In Drosophila Melanogaster, Chad Herbert Simmons

Theses and Dissertations

Humans have complex signaling pathways that allow them to store and expend energy based on nutritional quality and availability. Inter-organ signaling is used to communicate nutrient availability between organs based on nutritional needs and the rate of cellular division. Our main overarching question is to investigate how fat-derived signals affect adipocyte morphology and the maintenance of stem cells in the ovary. While signaling pathways, like insulin and mTOR, and some adipokines that are involved in inter-organ nutrient sensing have been identified, the exact nutrient reliant mechanisms of stem cell maintenance are not completely understood. Using Drosophila melanogaster as a model, …

Ground-Based Modeling Of Deep-Space Risks To The Spleen And Intestine In Mice, Edith Nathalie Pineda Sotomayor

Theses and Dissertations

Deep-space missions, such as those planned for the cis-lunar space and Mars, pose unique challenges to astronaut health due to prolonged microgravity (MG) exposure and low-dose chronic irradiation (CIR). Understanding the impact of these stressors on secondary lymphoid tissues, such as the spleen and intestine, is crucial for ensuring crewmembers' well-being, given the impracticality of conducting this research with human samples. Using a ground-based facility, we exposed C57BL/6 female and male mice to CIR (1.74 Gy at a dose rate of 0.0029 Gy/h) and/or simulated MG (SMG) via hind limb unloading (HLU) for one month. Spleen and intestinal tissues were …

Clinical Applications Of Probiotics: A Comprehensive Review Of Benefits And Challenges, Riyam Wissam Hassan

Maaen Journal for Medical Sciences

Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that help balance microbes in intestines and promote growth beneficial bacteria, they vary between bacteria, yeasts, and fungi and they are helpful to human health when taken in adequate and suitable amounts. In addition to maintaining intestinal health and help with digestion and absorption, also inhibiting development and preventing spread of harmful microorganisms. It exists in different forms, in the intestines and in the foods, products fermented, and in the pharmaceutical supplements. Because human health depends largely on the interaction between humans and these microorganisms known as probiotics, it has found that these organisms have vital …

Standardizing Sea Urchin Husbandry: Tank Effects, Gamete Production, And Co-Culture, Raven Amber Edwards

All ETDs from UAB

This dissertation seeks to further knowledge of sea urchin husbandry in three major areas that have so far not been investigated substantially: optimal conditions for housing sea urchins in a lab-based recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), impacts of repetitive spawning regimens on reproductive output, and co-culture utilizing juvenile oysters. All studies utilize a commercial recirculating aquaculture system that is relatively novel for culturing sea urchins. The first chapter investigated the influence of housing conditions on sea urchin growth outcomes. Under the conditions of this study, the size of the tank showed limited influence on growth; however, stocking density was found to …

Optimizing Plant Nutrient Uptake: Cost Function Sensitivity Analysis Of The Fun Model, Gabriel Alpay, Joshua B. Fisher, Renato K. Braghiere, Edward R. Brzostek, Gabriella R. Dauber, Kara Allen, Rosemary A. Fisher

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

This study explores the cost functions of the Fixation & Uptake of Nutrients (FUN) model, which aims to optimize the amount of carbon used when plants acquire their necessary nutrients from the soil to maximize nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) uptake while minimizing the carbon cost. Specifically, we aimed to quantify the sensitivity of FUN outputs to the parameters belonging to the cost of nitrogen and phosphorus uptake functions by arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi. We present three dimensions of sensitivity analysis: (1) adjusting all parameters at the same time; (2) keeping one parameter constant while varying the other; and, …

Life-History Stage-Dependent Effects Of Food Supplementation On Gut Microbiome Diversity In Sialia Sialis (Eastern Bluebird), Marcella D. Baiz, Allison Cornell

Biology Faculty Publications

Diet can be an important health factor that links fitness to an individual’s ecology. The gut microbiome responds to diet changes and plays an important role in host physiology. Dietary interventions are known to impact gut microbiome composition, but long-term effects and to what extent these impacts vary among individuals at different life-history stages are unclear. To address this question, we performed a supplemental feeding experiment by providing live mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) to Sialia sialis (Eastern Bluebird) during the chick-rearing period. We produced 16S metabarcoding data to quantify gut microbiome diversity from fecal samples of adults and nestlings …

Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 149 - Economic Contribution Of Wild-Catch Fishing In Western Australia, 2024: Beyond Gross Value Of Production, Dipesh Maharjan, Vilaphonh Xayavong, Ben Fraser, Rebecca Thomas

Fisheries Occasional Publications

The wild-catch fishing industry plays a significant role in Western Australia’s economy, particularly in regional communities. This report summarises the economic contribution of the commercial wild-catch fishing sector in 2024, based on REMPLAN’s input-output (I-O) modelling methodology and DPIRD data and analysis. This report focuses on key economic indicators including total economic output, gross value added (GVA), and employment (FTEs).

Key findings:

• Total Economic Output of the wild-catch fishing industry is $1.22 billion (total value of goods and services produced, including intermediate inputs)
• Gross Value Added (GVA) of the wild-catch fishing industry is $487 million (value of profit, wages, salaries …

Dual Investigations Into Broiler Health: Mitochondrial Gene Expression In Ascites Susceptibility And G-1,25(Oh)₂D₃-Driven Modulation Of Bone And Gut Integrity In Lameness, Layla Hussein Al-Mitib

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Modern broiler production faces persistent challenges from metabolic and skeletal disorders, particularly ascites and bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO), which compromise animal welfare and production efficiency. This dissertation examines two key factors that contribute to these conditions: mitochondrial gene expression associated with pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS) and the role of intestinal barrier integrity in mitigating lameness. In the first study, the expression of mitochondrial genes COXII and ATP6 was evaluated in the breast, thigh, and lung tissues of three broiler genetic lines—ascites-susceptible (SUS), ascites-resistant (RES), and unselected relaxed (REL). While no significant expression differences were observed in muscle tissues, SUS …

Abiotic Factors Influencing Anuran Occupation Of Neotropical Brazilian Caves, Vinícius F. Sperandei, Willian Vaz-Silva, Tejerina-Garro L. Francisco

International Journal of Speleology

Despite increasing research on the Neotropical underground environment, anurans remain poorly understood in this habitat. It was analyzed scientific literature records of anurans in Brazilian natural caves and performed a redundancy analysis (RDA) to identify the environmental, taxonomic, geographic, geological and land-use variables that influence their cave occupancy. It was examined a total of 247 literature records, encompassing 83 species/morphospecies, which revealed distinct cave-dwelling tendencies. Some anuran species occupy caves at altitudes between 5 to 21 meters above sea level (m asl), in areas characterized by rocky outcrops and grassland. Others are associated with caves surrounded by forest, savanna, pasture …

Biosorption Of Crystal Violet Onto Fenugreek Seed Powder: Comprehensive Optimization Through Response Surface Methodology And Elucidation Of Dye Uptake Mechanism, Hasan M. Agha, Zaher Mundher Yaseen, Wafaa Raji Alfatlawi, Khansaa Al-Essa, Abdallah Reghioua, Hussein A. Kazem, Lee D. Wilson

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

This work investigates the efficacy of fenugreek seed powder (FSP), an agricultural product, as an economical and sustainable biosorbent for the extraction of crystal violet (CV) dye from aqueous environments. The biosorbent was analyzed using XRD, FTIR, and SEM-EDX, validating its amorphous structure, surface functional groups, and porous shape. Batch biosorption tests were adjusted utilizing a Box–Behnken design (BBD), incorporating three independent variables: FSP dose (0.02–0.1 g/100 mL), pH (4–10), and time (5–60 min). The model exhibited exceptional prediction accuracy (R² = 0.99, CV = 2.12%) and recognized all three variables as statistically significant (p < 0.05). The maximum CV removal attained was 91.8% efficiency at an FSP dose of 0.1 g/100 mL, pH 7, and a time of 60 minutes. FTIR examination indicated changes in the –OH, C=O, and C–O functional groups, signifying their participation in dye interaction, whilst SEM pictures validated dye deposition on the biosorbent surface. The biosorption process was ascribed to electrostatic forces, hydrogen bonding, π–π stacking, and pore filling. These findings underscore FSP as a viable, economical biosorbent for the removal of cationic dyes in wastewater treatment applications.

Dominant Tree Species As A Driver Of Forest Herb Community Assembly: The Peculiar Case Of Pawpaw (Asimina Triloba), Anna Wassel

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the drivers of community assembly is a key goal in ecology and conservation. One way to better understand community assembly is to understand how the presence or absence of dominant species– highly abundant species with a proportionally large effect on the ecosystem–affects assembly. This approach allows for a more generalized understanding of community assembly based on the presence or abundance of one species rather than pairwise interactions among all species in a community. In forests, studies on dominant tree species have focused on how they affect patterns of species diversity. In contrast, surprisingly little is known about how dominant …

Nueva Metodología De Análisis Para Determinar El Delito Ambiental De Ecocidio Por Glifosato En Cultivos Permanentes De Coca En Colombia, Rosalina González Forero, Jerry H. Kavouras, Érika González Ruiz

Biology Department Faculty Articles

El crimen organizado transnacional ha sido nefasto para el territorio colombiano, en especial el asociado a la producción de coca en la última década, lo que ha generado impactos económicos y sociales debido al aumento del conflicto e inseguridad en las zonas de influencia del cultivo. Esto se debe a que en el 2023 se tenían 230 000 hectáreas sembradas, lo que representa el 20 % de la superficie del país, con un impacto ambiental no cuantificado en términos penales. Este requiere de acciones de entidades estatales, así como de cooperación internacional, para adaptar estrategias y poder judicializar estos delitos …

Predation By The Brown Vine Snake, Oxybelis Koehleri, On The Autotomized Tail Of An Escaping Common Anole, Anolis Humilis, Jose M. Mora, Myzell Kenneth Amaro

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

During a natural history hike at La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica, we observed a Brown Vine Snake, Oxybelis koehleri, consuming the autotomized tail of a Common Humble Anole, Anolis humilis, which had escaped predation. This event represents a rare documented instance of a vine snake feeding exclusively on a detached lizard tail. Tail autotomy is a widespread anti-predator strategy among lizards, with the shed tail continuing to writhe post-detachment, potentially attracting predators. Lizard tails are lipid-rich and offer a convenient energy source, especially in resource-scarce environments. Although such behavior has been noted in other reptiles, it is seldom …

Computational And Mathematical Modeling Of Microbial Community And Host Responses To Microbiota-Directed Complementary Foods Administered To Children With Acute Malnutrition., Steven J. Hartman

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Globally, millions of children suffer from undernutrition, with stunting affecting 150 million and wasting nearly 50 million under five years old. Current interventions have shown limited effectiveness in mitigating long-term consequences such as stunted growth, cognitive deficits, and immune dysfunction. Through this body of work, I investigated the efficacy of a microbiota- directed complementary food (MDCF-2) as a next generation therapeutic food to combat childhood stunting. Across two randomized controlled trials involving Bangladeshi children with either moderate acute malnutrition or post-severe acute malnutrition, MDCF-2 significantly outperformed standard ready-to-use supplementary foods (RUSF), leading to significantly improved ponderal and sustained linear growth …

Chelidonium Majus L.-Containing Gel May Improve Diabetic Wound Healing By Modulating Mmp-2, Mmp-9, And Collagen Levels, Kaan Kaltalioğlu, Eli̇f Naz Gürsoy, Barbaros Balabanli, Zeki̇ Aytaç, Şule Coşkun Cevher

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Delayed wound healing in diabetic patients is a significant complication that reduces quality of life, prompting the continuous investigation of new therapeutic agents. This study designed to explore the dose-dependent effects of different parts of Chelidonium majus L. (CM), a medicinal plant traditionally used for skin disorders, on diabetic skin wounds.

Materials and methods: In diabetic rats, full-thickness excisional wounds were formed. CM-containing gels (aerial parts at 3%, 6%, 9% and root at 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%) were developed and applied to the wounds. After the treatment period, the rats were sacrificed, and wound healing activity was assessed macroscopically, histopathologically, …

Understanding The Effects Of Genetic Variation On Maize And Pennycress Root System Architectures And Their Interaction With Nitrogen, Alexander Euway Liu

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Roots are a critical yet hidden part of plants, providing physical support and access to resources such as nutrients and water. The development of a plant’s root system across time and space is referred to as root system architecture, which influences the effectiveness of resource capture. In modern agriculture, applications of nitrogen fertilizers are critical to maintain high yield. However, up to 70% of applied nitrogen is not utilized by the plant and escapes into waterways and the atmosphere, causing environmental harm. Efficient nitrogen uptake is limited by the ability of the plant to access and absorb nitrogen through its …

Abundance, Distribution, And Shoaling Of Driftfishes And Allies (Scombriformes: Stromateoidei) In The Pelagic Gulf Of Mexico, Juliet Tretler

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

The suborder Stromateoidei contains 80 species of mesopelagic fishes in five families distributed throughout temperate and tropical seas worldwide, including the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf hereafter). Mesopelagic fishes, especially those that spatially aggregate, serve as important forage items for commercially, recreationally, and ecologically important species of fish, marine mammals, and seabirds. However, knowledge of the ecology and trophic importance of stromateoid fishes in the Gulf is extremely limited. This study provides quantitative information on the species composition, abundance, distribution, and biomass contribution of the stromateoid species to the Gulf deep-pelagic fish assemblage, with comparison to “archetypal” mesopelagic fish families (e.g., …

Mir-9-5p Alleviates The Development Of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm By Regulating The Differentiation Of Cd4+Il-10+T Cells Via Targeting The Crosstalk Between Nrf2 And Nf-Κb Signaling Pathways, Hongfu Liu, Jinyi Zhang, Lubin Li, Benxiang Yu, Chunlei Zhang, Wenqiang Niu, Yawen Cheng, Hengyang Dong, Yukun Zhang, Xinlin Luo, Yanlian Xiong, Yueming Wang

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), a gradual segmental dilatation of the abdominal aorta, is associated with a high mortality rate. The pathophysiological molecular mechanisms underlying AAA remain unclear. In recent years, changes in miRNA levels have been reported to be involved in the development and treatment of AAA. This study aimed to investigate the potential targets and underlying mechanisms of miR-9-5p in attenuating AAA progression by modulating the inflammatory response.

Materials and methods: Biochemical kits were used to measure the levels of inflammatory factors, antioxidant enzyme activity, and serum oxidative stress in normal and AAA model mice. miR-9-5p overexpression was …

Lactic Acid Bacteria Alleviate Neuronal Excitotoxicity And Extend Caenorhabditis Elegans Lifespan, Bao Le, Thi Nhat Hong Nguyen, Seung-Hwan Yang

Turkish Journal of Biology

Aim: Neuronal cell death plays a critical role in the development of neurological disorders associated with aging. This study aimed to evaluate the beneficial effects of heat-killed lactic acid bacteria (hkLAB) on neuroblastoma cells and Caenorhabditis elegans.

Materials and methods: We pretreated heat-killed Lactobacillus fermentum CNU384 (hkCNU384), L. brevis CNU386 (hkCNU386), L. helveticus CNU395 (hkCNU395), and L. paracasei CNU396 (hkCNU396) at a concentration of 10⁹ CFU/mL to investigate their neuroprotective effects on glutamate-induced SH-SY5Y cells and their impact on the lifespan of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced C. elegans.

Results: Our findings indicate that hkCNU395 and hkCNU396 protected against glutamate-induced cell death …

Silicon Is The Next Frontier In Plant Synthetic Biology, Aniruddha Acharya, Kaitlin Hopkins, Tatum Simms

Faculty Publications - Biological Sciences

Silicon has a striking similarity to carbon and is found in plant cells. However, there is no specific role that has been assigned to silicon in the life cycle of plants. The amount of silicon in plant cells is species specific and can reach levels comparable to macronutrients. Silicon is used extensively in artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and the digital revolution, and thus can serve as an informational molecule such as nucleic acids. The diverse potential of silicon to bond with different chemical species is analogous to carbon; thus, it can serve as a structural candidate similar to proteins. The discovery …

Applying Transcriptomics For Technology Development And Conservation In North American Marine Organisms, Cory Von Eiff

Dissertations

RNA biology is a rapidly expanding field, with many avenues of discovery among marine organisms. In this study, we analyze both mollusks and sawfish. First, we perform an evaluation of sRNA biogenesis pathways throughout Mollusca, with emphasis on the easter oyster, Crassostrea virginica. Understanding these molecules prescribes RNAi-based gene silencing approaches, benefiting genetic investigation and biotechnology. Similar to other animal groups, mollusks have conserved microRNAs (miRNAs), with some shared with ecdysozoans and deuterostomes; however, there is no evidence of an endogenous small interfering RNA (siRNA) pathway. These results suggest that long double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-based RNAi is not appropriate for gene …

Using Published Undergraduate Biomechanics Research On Hydra Mouth Opening To Train Undergraduates, Stephen Hackler, T. Goel, Jonah Pacis , '25, Eva-Maria S. Collins

Biology Faculty Works

Biophysics research is exciting because physical approaches to biology can provide novel insights, and it is challenging because it requires knowledge and skills from multiple disciplines. We have developed an undergraduate biophysics laboratory module that teaches fundamental skills such as time-lapse microscopy, image analysis, programming, critical reading of scientific literature, and basics of scientific writing and peer review. The module is accessible to students who are familiar with introductory statistics, cell biology, and differential calculus. We used published research on the biomechanics of Hydra mouth opening as a framework because it describes a stunning biological phenomenon: Hydra, a freshwater …

The Molecular And Behavioral Characterization Of The Murine Cre – Loxp Skeletal Muscle Synthesized Bdnf Knockout Model, Asha E. Rustad

All NMU Master's Theses

Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin essential for supporting the growth, differentiation, and health of neurons within the central and peripheral nervous systems. BDNF is also a member of the myokine family, where muscle synthesized-BDNF (msBDNF) is thought to facilitate the crucial bi-directional communication between the motor neuron and the muscle fibers it innervates. Since 2008, the Ottem Laboratory has investigated the role of msBDNF by employing Cre/LoxP recombinase technology to selectively delete the BDNF coding region within skeletal muscle of mice. This approach generates animals with either heterozygous or homozygous deletions of msBDNF, as well as BDNF …

Raptors As Secondary Dispersers Of Mycorrhizal Fungal Spores, Joseph Anderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Animals aid fungal dispersal by consuming fruiting bodies (e.g., truffles) and depositing spores elsewhere. Predators can act as secondary dispersers by preying on small mammals that eat truffles, although it is unclear how this dispersal may vary among species of raptors (hawks and owls) and fungal taxa. We experimentally fed four truffle taxa (with spores varying in size and wall thickness) to six raptor species (with differing gut morphology and acidity) to assess how spore viability and retention time may change between raptor casts and feces. Viability in smaller spores was more negatively affected by acidity compared to larger spores …

Effects Of Sediment Composition On Spartina Alterniflora And Juncus Roemerianus Productivity In Coastal Virginia: A Thin-Layer Sediment Placement Experiment, Caitlin Hemphill

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Climate change poses a major threat to the health of estuaries and their coastal wetland systems. The Chesapeake Bay’s coastal salt marshes are at high risk of inundation due to sea-level rise and land subsidence. Restoration techniques for maintaining coastal marsh resistance to sea-level rise are being developed and refined, with thin layer placement (TLP) emerging as a feasible solution in many areas of the United States. Despite TLPs use across the country, additional research is needed on species-specific responses, sediment types, and geographically focused studies in the lower Chesapeake Bay. My research addresses these gaps by combining both greenhouse …