Digital Commons Network^™

Modeling Functional Connectivity With Learning And Memory In A Mouse Model Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Lindsay Fadel, Elizabeth Hipskind, Steen E Pedersen, Jonathan Romero, Caitlyn Ortiz, Eric Shin, Md Abul Hassan Samee, Robia G Pautler

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Functional connectivity (FC) is a metric of how different brain regions interact with each other. Although there have been some studies correlating learning and memory with FC, there have not yet been, to date, studies that use machine learning (ML) to explain how FC changes can be used to explain behavior not only in healthy mice, but also in mouse models of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Here, we investigated changes in FC and their relationship to learning and memory in a mouse model of AD across disease progression.

Methods: We assessed the APP/PS1 mouse model of AD and wild-type controls …

What Are The Genetic Influences Of Alcohol Sensitivity And Alcohol Metabolism? A Narrative Review Of Human Studies, Erwin Murray, Karen G. Chartier Phd, Msw

UROP Posters

Background: Alcohol sensitivity and alcohol metabolism are two phenotypes associated with alcohol use disorder (AUD) influenced by genetics. This narrative review aims to answer “What are the genetic influences of alcohol sensitivity and alcohol metabolism?” to gain a better understanding of the genetic aspects of AUD.

Methods: A database search was performed in PubMed. Empirical human genetic studies published between 2009 and 2025 that focused on alcohol sensitivity (measured by the Self-Rating of the Effects of Alcohol scale) or alcohol-metabolizing genes were eligible for review. Studies were screened to determine inclusion for the current review.

Findings: Fifteen …

Investigating The Physiological, Metabolomic, And Transcriptomic Changes In Response To Telomerase Deletion In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Taizina Momtareen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Telomerase is an enzyme found in rapidly dividing cells that maintains chromosome ends and prevents the loss of genetic information during cell division. When telomerase is inactive, cells gradually lose their telomeres and eventually stop dividing. In yeast, a rare subset of cells can bypass this growth arrest by switching to a recombination-based mechanism to maintain telomeres. Therefore, yeast provides a powerful system to study this adaptation, as telomerase-deficient strains can generate 'survivors' that mimic the Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) pathway observed in some human tumors. In this work, my goal was to examine how a telomerase-null (TLC1 …

Joint Estimation Of Paternity, Sibships And Pollen Dispersal In A Snapdragon Hybrid Zone, Thomas James Ellis, David Luke Field, Nicholas H. Barton

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Inferring genealogical relationships of wild populations is useful because it gives direct estimates of mating patterns and variance in reproductive success. Inference can be improved by including information about parentage shared between siblings, or by modelling phenotypes or population data related to mating. However, we currently lack a framework to infer parent–offspring relationships, sibships and population parameters in a single analysis. To address this, we here extend a previous method, Fractional Analysis of Paternity and Sibships, to include population data for the case where one parent is known. We illustrate this with the example of pollen dispersal in a natural …

Detection Of Vkorc1 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Indicates The Presence Of Anticoagulant Rodenticide Resistance In Australia's Introduced Rats, Alicia F. Gorbould, Quinton F. Burnham, Michael T. Lohr, Annette Koenders

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

BACKGROUND: Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) are used globally to manage pest rodent populations. However, resistance to ARs in target rodent populations challenges pest control efforts and can increase risks to nontarget species. Resistance is frequently associated with nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) in the Vkorc1 gene, and this study carried out the first Vkorc1 survey of introduced rats on the Australian mainland. RESULTS: We identified three species of introduced rat using the cytochrome b gene across Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney: Rattus rattus (Linnaeus 1758) (Lineage I); Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout 1769); and Rattus tanezumi (Temminck 1844) (Lineage II). Three nsSNPs were …

Half Of The Habitat Of Australia's Highly Imperilled Narrow-Range Species Is Outside Protected Areas, Michelle Ward, Martine Maron, Jeremy S. Simmonds, Mark Lintermans, Nick S. Whiterod, David G. Chapple, Hugh P. Possingham, Sarah M. Legge, Rachael V. Gallagher, Brendan A. Wintle, Samantha Vine, Kita Ashman, Conrad J. Hoskin, Stephen T. Garnett, John C.Z. Woinarski, Ben C. Scheele, Cerin Loane, James A. Fitzsimons, Romola R. Stewart, Ayesha I.T. Tulloch, Isabel T. Hyman, Kate Pearce, Allan H. Burbidge, Tarmo A. Raadik, Gerald Kuchling, Arthur Georges

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Globally, species with small distributions face disproportionate extinction risk, with the impacts of land use change more likely to have catastrophic consequences. Identifying, protecting and managing sites where such species occur is essential for minimising their extinction risk. Yet across Australia, efforts to protect and manage such species' habitats have hitherto been insufficient. Here, we present an example of an analytical and interpretive pathway for the conservation of such species, for a continental-scale case study. We identified 305 Critically Endangered species that have narrow ranges (<20,000 km2), and are distributed in fewer than six discrete patches. We refined existing species' habitat maps with advice from 18 experts via a modified Delphi approach. We assessed how much of each species' habitat is outside protected areas and considered to have agricultural capability, potentially elevating risk of conversion. We identified ∼85,000 km2 of habitat (∼1% of Australia) for these 305 species that must receive protection and management if the nation is going to meet its commitment to halt new extinctions. Approximately half of this habitat is outside the protected area estate, including the entire distribution of 39 species. Approximately 55% of habitat outside of protected areas had at least some agricultural capability. Protecting and managing the habitats of these narrow-range species should be a high priority in state and national conservation policy. Our case study serves as a template for the identification of important habitat for threatened species and could be applied in other regions of the world.

Bio-Inspired Airfoil Design Based On The Aerodynamic Analysis Of A Bird Feather Microstructure, Jack C. Ihm

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study investigates the aerodynamic effects of a bio-inspired airfoil design based on the microstructure of a secondary feather from a female wood duck. The research hypothesized that incorporating barbs and barbules into an airfoil design would modify boundary layer behavior by introducing localized flow disturbances. To test this, a bio-inspired airfoil was developed by integrating the microstructure into a NACA 0012 airfoil and analyzed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations at angles of attack of 0°, 5°, 10°, and 15°. The results showed that the bio-inspired airfoil influenced boundary layer behavior, producing localized flow disturbances near x/c = 0.7 …

Investigating The Role And Expression Of Aquaporin 10 Paralogs In Spiny Dogfish (Squalus Acanthias), Esosa Omoregie

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Aquaporins (AQPs) are integral membrane proteins that facilitate the selective transport of water and small solutes across cell membranes, playing essential roles in maintaining osmotic balance in vertebrates. Among them, aquaglyceroporins such as AQP10 are capable of transporting water, glycerol, and urea, contributing to osmoregulatory and metabolic processes. This study investigated the expression, localization, and potential physiological roles of two AQP10 paralogs, AQP10C1 and AQP10C2, in the spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias), a marine elasmobranch that maintains osmotic equilibrium through urea retention and ion regulation. Using RT-PCR, quantitative PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry the study identified tissue-specific expression patterns of …

Disposal Of Nanoplastics By The Brain: Plastic Persistence And Upregulation Of A Putative Plastic-Degrading Enzyme After Exposure To Polystyrene-Infused Food, Callie C. Mauersberg

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Plastic is a ubiquitous material used in many domestic and commercial applications. Widespread use of plastic has led to environmental accumulation of plastic waste, and microplastics have inundated human food and water sources. Once consumed, it is well established that microplastics translocate from the gut to other tissues, including the brain, via the circulatory system. However, it is unknown if nanoplastics persist permanently in the brain. Additionally, it is not known if microplastics can be enzymatically degraded by phagocytic cells in the CNS, such as microglia and astrocytes. Alkane monooxygenase-homolog 7 (Alkbh7) is a mitochondrial enzyme that may …

Comparison Of Fish And Macroinvertebrate Communities In Natural And Constructed Wetlands In The Red River Basin In Texas And Louisiana, Justin L. Rea

Biology Theses

This project plans to compare and contrast wetlands in northeast Texas and western Louisiana within the Mississippi River basin through sampling avian, fish, macroinvertebrate, amphibian, and reptile communities as well as hydrology, soil chemistry, and periphyton/algae biomass. The portion of the project that this study focuses on evaluated the fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages and their relationships within easement, natural and agricultural wetland types. A total of 15 wetlands were sampled consisting of 10 easements, 4 natural, and 1 agricultural wetland. The objectives of this project were to compare and contrast fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages in order to begin creating a …

Evaluation Of Microbial Contamination In Tube Well And Filter Water Of Lahore And Treatment With Copper Nanoparticles, Khadeeja Moazzam, Sumaira Mazhar

Journal of Bioresource Management

Water contamination is a global issue and different techniques are being devised to reduce water contamination. Among these techniques, use of nanoparticles for water purification is an efficient and cost-effective method with minimum or no side effect. Metal nanoparticles are known for their antibacterial activity against various pathogens. Synthesis of these nanoparticles using green synthesis methods minimizes the harmful effects while ensuring their antibacterial activity. Therefore, in the present work, it was aimed to evaluate the microbial contamination in water samples collected from different tube wells and filter plants located in different areas of Lahore, Pakistan for the isolation of …

Addressing Unprofessional Behaviors In The Clinical Learning Environment: Lessons From A Multi-Year Virtual, Intergenerational, Interdisciplinary Workshop, Stacey Rose, Anita Kusnoor, Phuong Huynh, Jocelyn Greely, Yesenia Rojas-Khalil, Doris Kung, Anne Gill, Nadia Ismail, Nital Appelbaum

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Optimizing the clinical learning environment (CLE) is a medical education priority nationwide.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We developed a virtual, one-hour workshop engaging students, housestaff and faculty in small-group discussions of five case scenarios adapted from reported unprofessional behaviors in the CLE, plus didactics regarding mistreatment, microaggressions and bystander interventions.

RESULTS: Over two sessions (2021-2022), we engaged 340 students and 73 faculty/housestaff facilitators. Post-session surveys showed significant improvement in participants' ability to recognize and respond to challenges in the CLE.

DISCUSSION: Our innovative workshop, including scenarios derived from institutional reports of unprofessional behaviors, advanced participants' knowledge and commitment to improve …

Development Of Conceptual Scaffolding-Assisted Formative Assessment For Enhancing Understanding Of Temperature And Heat, Ana Lailatul Fitriyah, Sentot Kusairi, Markus Diantoro

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This research aims to develop formative assessment media assisted by conceptual scaffolding to improve students’ understanding of temperature and heat, test its validity and practicality, and gauge student responses. Utilizing the ADDIE model, the research follows five stages: Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation. In the Analysis stage, a literature review was conducted to identify critical components, including formative assessment, conceptual scaffolding, concept mastery, and previous research. The Design stage involved identifying users, defining competencies and indicators, creating a storyboard, integrating assessment components, and determining mastery levels. During the Development stage, the assessment media were developed into a functional product. …

Composite Volume Learning Media Based On Augmented Reality To Enhance Students’ Visual-Spatial Intelligence, Ria Kurniawati, Susiswo Susiswo, Syamsul Hadi

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

Augmented Reality (AR) technology, a three-dimensional visual tool that integrates virtual objects or environments into real-world displays in real time (Azuma et al., 2001), is particularly useful for grasping complex concepts such as the composite volume of solids, which often confuses students when they need to decompose solids into their individual components. While previous research has predominantly focused on the introduction of solids, spatial nets, and the volume of singular shapes, this study aims to develop composite volume learning media based on AR to enhance students’ visual-spatial intelligence in a valid, practical, and effective manner, aligning with their concrete operational …

Students’ Concept Maps Profile On Environmental Pollution Material During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Sunarni Sunarni, Sri Widoretno, Puguh Karyanto, Bowo Sugiharto, Sri Dwiastuti, Chandra Adi Prabowo

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

The study investigates the performance of students in constructing Concept Maps (CM) related to environmental pollution material during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data reveals that the overall achievement in CM construction was suboptimal, with no component reaching more than half of its maximum potential. The highest achievement was recorded in the valid relationship component, which attained 9.75% of its maximum possible score. This was followed by the hierarchy component, achieving 7.34%, and the branching component at 3.42%. The pattern component ranked fourth with 1.31%, closely followed by the example component at 1.30%. The lowest performance was observed in the crosslink …

Analysis Of Students’ Problem-Solving Skills In Newton’S Law With 5e Learning Cycle, Nidya Desyana, Sutopo Sutopo, Nandang Mufti

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

The aim of this study is to identify students’ problem-solving skills in Newton’s laws through the implementation of the 5E learning cycle in the classroom. A pre-experimental design with a one-group pretest-posttest approach was employed. Data on problem-solving skills were collected from students’ pre-test and post-test responses to two essay questions. The indicator with the highest percentage of problem-solving skills was useful description (83% of students), while the indicator with the lowest percentage was specific application of physics (33% of students). Due to the non-normal distribution of the data, the Wilcoxon test was utilized. The results indicated a significant difference …

Design Of Motivational-Realistic-Pancasila Learning In Mathematics, Marup Marup, Suradi Tahmir, Ahmad Talib, Nurzatulshima Kamaruddin

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

Learning mathematics in class greatly influences students' learning success both in terms of knowledge and attitudes. In carrying out learning, a learning design is needed that can foster student motivation so that they provide learning outcomes to the learning objectives. Motivational-Realistic-Pancasila learning design is considered to be an alternative solution. Morela is a design that combines motivational, realistic indicators and Pancasila values. The teaching of mathematics in the classroom significantly influences students' academic success, both in terms of knowledge and attitude. To effectively carry out the teaching process, a well-designed instructional approach is necessary to foster students' motivation to achieve …

Chiropterophagy By The Siberian Weasel (Mustela Sibirica): The First Record In The Russian Far East, Valeriya E. Omelko, Mikhail P. Tiunov

International Journal of Speleology

Chiropterophagy is a widespread phenomenon, but only one case of bat consumption by sable has been documented in the Russian Far East. This study presents the first recorded instance of chiropterophagy by the Siberian weasel (Mustela sibirica) in the southern Russian Far East, based on excrement collected from the Solyanik Cave in the southern Sikhote-Alin Mountains in 2007. The excrement included bones from three bat species (Murina hilgendorfi, Myotis bombinus, Plecotus ognevi) and one vole species (Myodes rutilus). Our findings suggest that the Siberian weasel visits caves during the cold season, although …

Muramyl Peptide Blend Ameliorates Intestinal Inflammation And Barrier Integrity In Caco-2 Cells, Dmytro M. Masiuk, Victor S. Nedzvetsky, Giyasettin Baydas

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Intestinal barrier function depends on epithelial adhesion, which restricts permeability and microbial invasion from the internal environment. Impairment of barrier integrity and gut function is closely linked to pro-inflammatory changes. Inflammation is often the primary factor that provokes gut function disorders. The anti-inflammatory potential of postbiotics has been reported in recent years. Muramyl peptides (MPs) are small signaling molecules that stimulate intracellular pathogen receptors and can regulate cell responses. However, the molecular mechanisms of MPs' effects on intestinal cells remain unknown. The study of MPs treatment on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged Caco-2 intestinal cells aimed to investigate the postbiotic effects on intestinal …

Enriched Microbial Consortia From Natural Environments Reveal Core Groups Of Microbial Taxa Able To Degrade Terephthalate And Terphthalamide, Laura G. Schaerer, Sulihat Aloba, Emily Wood, Allison Olson, Isabel B. A. Valencia, Rebecca Ong, Stephen Techtmann

Michigan Tech Publications

Millions of tons of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are produced each year, however only ~30% of PET is currently recycled in the United States. Improvement of PET recycling and upcycling practices is an area of ongoing research. One method for PET upcycling is chemical depolymerization (through hydrolysis or aminolysis) into aromatic monomers and subsequent biodegradation. Hydrolysis depolymerizes PET into terephthalate, while aminolysis yields terephthalamide. Aminolysis, which is catalyzed with strong bases, yields products with high osmolality, which is inhibitory to optimal microbial growth. Additionally, terephthalamide, may be antimicrobial and its biodegradability is presently unknown. In this study, microbial communities were enriched …

Is Increased Mutation Driving Genetic Diversity In Dogs Within The Chornobyl Exclusion Zone?, Megan N. Dillon, Allison N. Dickey, Reade B. Roberts, Jennifer A. Betz, Timothy Mousseau, Norman J. Kleiman, Matthew Breen

Faculty Publications

Environmental contamination can have lasting impacts on surrounding communities, though the long-term impacts can be difficult to ascertain. The disaster at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986 and subsequent remediation efforts resulted in contamination of the local environment with radioactive material, heavy metals, and additional environmental toxicants. Many of these are mutagenic in nature, and the full effect of these exposures on local flora and fauna has yet to be understood. Several hundred free-roaming dogs occupy the contaminated area surrounding the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, and previous studies have highlighted a striking level of genetic differentiation between two geographically …

Is Increased Mutation Driving Genetic Diversity In Dogs Within The Chornobyl Exclusion Zone?, Megan N. Dillon, Allison N. Dickey, Reade B. Roberts, Jennifer A. Betz, Timothy Mousseau, Norman J. Kleiman, Matthew Breen

Faculty Publications

Environmental contamination can have lasting impacts on surrounding communities, though the long-term impacts can be difficult to ascertain. The disaster at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986 and subsequent remediation efforts resulted in contamination of the local environment with radioactive material, heavy metals, and additional environmental toxicants. Many of these are mutagenic in nature, and the full effect of these exposures on local flora and fauna has yet to be understood. Several hundred free-roaming dogs occupy the contaminated area surrounding the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, and previous studies have highlighted a striking level of genetic differentiation between two geographically …

Mechanistic Insights Into Plant Community Responses To Environmental Variables: Genome Size, Cellular Nutrient Investments, And Metabolic Tradeoffs, Erika Hersch-Green, Philip A. Fay, Hailee B. Hass, Nicholas G. Smith

Michigan Tech Publications

Affecting biodiversity, plants with larger genome sizes (GS) may be restricted in nutrient-poor conditions. This pattern has been attributed to their greater cellular nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) investments and hypothesized nutrient–investment tradeoffs between cell synthesis and physiological attributes associated with growth. However, the influence of GS on cell size and functioning may also contribute to GS-dependent growth responses to nutrients. To test whether and how GS is associated with cellular nutrient, stomata, and/or physiological attributes, we examined > 500 forbs and grasses from seven grassland sites conducting a long-term N and P fertilization experiment. Larger GS plants had increased cellular …

Latitudinal Clines In An Ectothermic Vertebrate: Patterns In Body Size, Growth Rate, And Reproductive Effort Suggest Countergradient Responses In The Prairie Lizard, Travis R. Robbins, Tiffany Hegdahl

Biology Faculty Publications

Although we have evidence that many organisms are exhibiting declines in body size in response to climate warming, we have little knowledge of underlying mechanisms or how associated phenotypic suites may coevolve. The better we understand coadaptations among physiology, morphology, and life history, the more accurate our predictions will be of organismal response to changing thermal environments. This is especially salient for ectotherms because they comprise 99% of species worldwide and are key to functioning ecosystems. Here, we assess body size, growth rates, and reproductive traits of a vertebrate ectotherm, the prairie lizard, Sceloporus consobrinus, for multiple populations along …

Bat Cutaneous Microbial Assemblage Functional Redundancy Across A Host-Mediated Disturbance, Matthew Grisnik, Donald M. Walker

Biology

Understanding the processes and factors that influence the structure of host-associated microbial assemblages has been a major area of research as these assemblages play a role in host defense against pathogens. Previous work has found that bacterial taxa within bat cutaneous microbial assemblages have antifungal capabilities against the emerging fungal pathogen, Pseudogymnoascus destructans. However, our understanding of natural fluctuations in these cutaneous microbial assemblages over time due to shifts in host habitat is lacking. The objective of this work was to understand how the taxonomic and functional bat cutaneous microbial assemblage responds to seasonal shifts in host habitat. We hypothesized …

Optimization Of The Starch Chitosan-Based Flocculant Crosslinked By Ethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate On Removing Dypro 19 Textile Dye From Wastewater, Asep Nurohmat Majalis, Putri Ramadhani, Hendris Hendarsyah Kurniawan, Axel Dimaz Sanusi Pasaribu, Hafiizh Prasetia, Fitri Yuliani, Andreas Andreas, Hartati Hartati

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Dyes used in industry, especially textile dyes, are one of the water pollutants that receive much attention because they are potentially toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, and generally challenging to decompose naturally. Textile dyes from wastewater can be removed through coagulation-flocculation. However, conventional coagulation-flocculation based on Fe and Al salts and synthetic polymers often leaves residual pollution. In this research, the performance of the new biopolymer-based flocculant, namely starch-ethylene glycol dimetacrylate-chitosan (SEC), which can act as coagulants and flocculants in solid-liquid separation of textile dyes, has been optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) approach. The influences of several independent variables, such …

Breast Cancer Area Identification In Mammograms Using Expectation Maximization Gaussian Mixture Model, Rizki Khoirun Nisa, Dian Kurniasari, Favorisen R. Lumbanraja, Warsono Warsono

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Breast cancer accounts for 25% of all cancer diagnoses and 16% of cancer-related deaths among women globally, with high mortality rates due to late diagnosis. Early detection relies on imaging techniques such as mammography, histopathology, and breast ultrasound, with mammography being the gold standard due to its proven to detect breast cancer, thus it is effective for breast cancer treatment. However, mammogram images often produce noise and artefacts, complicating early-stage cancer detection and emphasizing the need for advanced image processing. Clustering algorithms such as K-means and Expectation Maximization - Gaussian Mixture Model (EM-GMM) have shown potential in image segmentation. This …

Interactions Of The Sars-Cov-2 Viral Genome 3’-Untranslated Region With Viral And Host Rnas, Caleb Frye, Mihaela Rita Mihailescu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the characterization of RNA-RNA interactions within the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome and with host microRNAs. As the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), SARS-CoV-2 has evolved rapidly since its appearance. This has warranted prompt characterization of the virus particularly of its single stranded RNA (ssRNA) genome. By using a combination of bioinformatics, biophysics, and/or biological assays, we analyzed the SARS-CoV-2 viral genomic RNA and uncovered interactions of genomic RNA with host RNAs, highlighting an underutilized method of targeting RNA viruses. We showed here that the conserved elements in the viral genomic …

Changes In Reef Fish Assemblage And Coral Reef Community In A Newly Established Marine Protected Area, Skye Neal

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Coral reef ecosystems are vital to sustaining marine biodiversity and provide invaluable resources to coastal communities. However, coral reefs across the globe are exposed to harmful local and global anthropogenic pressures that can lead to the mortality of key reef-building corals, consequently disrupting ecosystem functioning. Preserving biodiversity of coral reef systems continues to be a challenging topic in conservation. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are a globally recognised spatial management tool, designed to protect marine species and habitats from anthropogenic induced stressors. Here, using a long-term dataset collected over the last ten years from the unique coral reef system of Banco …

Investigating Climate Change And Nutrient Pollution Effects On Drupella Rugosa Coral Reef Destruction In Koh-Tao, Thailand, Beatrice Canteri

The Plymouth Student Scientist

The introduction and proliferation of invasive species in coral reef ecosystems play a pivotal role as significant contributors to ecological disturbance. These invasive species pose specific threats to the delicate equilibrium of coral reef health by disrupting nutrient cycling, modifying community structure, applying selective pressure on essential coral species, leading to ecosystem degradation. Embarking on an exploration of ecological intricacies, this study focuses on the invasive coral-feeding snail Drupella rugosa in Koh Tao and aims to explore how environmental variables affect its abundance. Although prior research elucidated the impacts of environmental stressors on coral reef degradation, methodological limitations and gaps …