Digital Commons Network^™

Natural History, Demography, And Home Range Characteristics Of A Southern California Population Of Phrynosoma Mcallii Inhabiting Atypical Habitat, Kirk Setser

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Phrynosoma mcallii inhabiting a topographically complex, sparsely vegetated, "mudhill" terrain site in southern California in 1999 and 2000 had low mortality rates, and small clutch sizes compared to previous data from this species. Females likely produced a single clutch of eggs in each year. Although this population occurs near a heavily used OHV trail, I did not detect any mortality due to OHV use.

Lizards did not center home ranges on obvious habitat features. Lizards maintained smaller home ranges and exhibited greater range fidelity than did lizards at other sites in other years. Phrynosoma mcallii share many area-use characters with …

Host Shifts In Phytophagous Insects: A Mathematical Modeling Perspective, Meenakshi Venkataraman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

I explored changes in predator-prey system stability with the addition of spatial heterogeneity in prey density dependent mortality. The results indicated that this addition led to greater stability for all prey spatial distributions if prey was aggregated or loosely aggregated. These results indicated prey spatial distribution was critical to population stability. I next explored whether predator emigration under the above conditions would lead to a host shift. I used Chesson and Murdoch's templates of host density independent (HDI) aggregation and host density dependent (HDD) aggregation in predators as the basis for my metapopulation models. I varied prey density dependent mortality …

An Evaluation Of Submersed Aquatic Vegetation Transplanting Methods For Lake Pontchartrain Restoration, Donald Anthony Rodrigue Jr.

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The general goals of this study were to evaluate transplant methods for Lake Pontchartrain submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) restoration, and to compare survival and expansion of transplanted SAV among four sites. Two experiments were conducted from summer 2000 through spring 2001 at two north shore and two south shore sites in Lake Pontchartrain. Experiment 1 involved testing the effects of transplanting with matting, staples, exclosures, and interspecific interaction on survival and expansion of Ruppia maritima and Vallisneria americana transplants in Lake Pontchartrain. Experiment 2 involved testing the effects of transplanting with matting, staples, and plugs on Ruppia survival and expansion. …

Physical Therapy And Womens' Health: Treating Low Back Pain During Pregnancy And Postpartum, Robin Borba

Whittier Scholars Program

This project is a close study of low back pain that women experience during pregnancy or postpartum. This study includes anatomy of the lower back, factors that affect Lumbar Lordosis, and physical and psychological changes during pregnancy. This project also includes an in depth analysis of lower back pain during pregnancy which includes symptoms, types, causes and risk factors. This paper demonstrates how physical therapy treats low back pain during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum and also includes a glossary, pictorial appendix and brochure.

Estimating Metazoan Divergence Times With A Molecular Clock, Kevin J. Peterson, Jessica B. Lyons, Kristin S. Nowak, Carter M. Takacs, Matthew J. Wargo, Mark A. Mcpeek

Dartmouth Scholarship

Accurately dating when the first bilaterally symmetrical animals arose is crucial to our understanding of early animal evolution. The earliest unequivocally bilaterian fossils are 555 million years old. In contrast, molecular-clock analyses calibrated by using the fossil record of vertebrates estimate that vertebrates split from dipterans (Drosophila) 900 million years ago (Ma). Nonetheless, comparative genomic analyses suggest that a significant rate difference exists between vertebrates and dipterans, because the percentage difference between the genomes of mosquito and fly is greater than between fish and mouse, even though the vertebrate divergence is almost twice that of the dipteran. Here we show …

Protection From The Effects Of Ultraviolet Radiation By The Encapsulating Structures Of Embryos Of Physa, A Freshwater Pulmonate Snail, Stacy Nielsen '04

Honors Projects

The genus Physa includes freshwater pulmonate snails that inhabit shallow environments well within depths penetrated by ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The distribution patterns of egg masses of Physa sp. indicate that the snails lay egg masses in sunlit areas and the masses are attached to rocks and debris such as leaves and twigs. Each mass consists of a viscous jelly covering that encases a variable number of embryos, and each of the embryos is individually surrounded by an egg capsule. Field-collected masses were found to have debris and epifaunal organisms attached to the jelly. Preliminary studies of the effect of UV …

Development Of A Tool To Facilitate Participation Of Maori In The Management Of Stream And River Health, Colin R. Townsend

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

A cultural health index (CHI) for streams was developed in a program of collaborative research involving members of Ngai Tahu (an iwi [tribe] within the South Island of New Zealand) and ecologists at Otago University. The aim was to provide a tool for effective participation of Maori in resource management decisions. Five cultural values are of central importance to the nature of the CHI: mauri (spiritual life force), mahinga kai (traditional resource harvesting), kaitiakitanga (guardianship obligation), ki uta ki tai (mountains-to-the-sea holistic philosophy), and wai taonga waters that are treasured). The CHI has three components. Forty-six stream sites in two …

Variability In Spectral Backscatter Estimated From Satellites And Its Relation To In Situ Measurements In Optically Complex Coastal Waters, Mark A. Moline, Robert Arnone, Trisha Bergmann, Scott Glenn, Matthew J. Oliver, Cristina Orrico, Oscar Schofield, Sasha Tozzi

Biological Sciences

A large database of in situ bio-optical measurements was collected at the Long-term Ecosystem Observatory off the southern coast of New Jersey, USA. In part, the research effort focused on reconciling in situ estimates with satellite-derived estimates of the inherent optical properties (IOP). At 442 nm, in situ absorption values ranged from less than 0.2 to over 1.5 inverse metres. Satellite estimates of backscatter ranged from 0.002 to 0.03 inverse metres at 442 nm and showed significant variability in time and space during July 1999, reflecting the recurrent high frequency events that characterize the region—wind-mixing, storms and coastal upwelling. Despite …

Micrococcus Luteus - Survival In Amber, C. L. Greenblatt, J. Baum, B. Y. Klein, S. Nachshon, V. Koltunov, R. J. Cano

Biological Sciences

A growing body of evidence now supports the isolation of microorganisms from ancient materials. However, questions about the stringency of extraction methods and the genetic relatedness of isolated organisms to their closest living relatives continue to challenge the authenticity of these ancient life forms. Previous studies have successfully isolated a number of spore-forming bacteria from organic and inorganic deposits of considerable age whose survival is explained by their ability to enter suspended animation for extended periods of time. However, despite a number of putative reports, the isolation of non-spore-forming bacteria and an explanation for their survival have remained enigmatic. Here …

Variability In Measured And Modelled Remote Sensing Reflectance For Coastal Waters At Leo-5, Sasha Tozzi, Oscar Schofield, Trisha Bergmann, Mark A. Moline, Robert Arnone

Biological Sciences

A large database of in situ bio-optical measurements were collected at the LEO-15 (Long-term Ecosystem Observatory) off the southern coast of New Jersey, USA. The data were used to quantify the impact of coastal upwelling on near-shore bulk apparent (AOP) and inherent (IOP) optical properties. There was good qualitative agreement between the AOPs and IOPs in space and time. The measured IOPs were used as inputs to the Hydrolight radiative transfer model (RTE). Estimated spectral AOPs from the RTE were strongly correlated (generally R²>0.80) to measured AOPs. If optical closure between in-water measurements was achieved then the RTE …

Seasonal Dynamics Of Shallow-Hyporheic-Zone Microbial Community Structure Along A Heavy-Metal Contamination Gradient, Kevin P. Feris, Philip W. Ramsey, Chris Frazar, Matthias Rillig, Johnnie N. Moore, William E. Holben

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Heavy metals contaminate numerous freshwater streams and rivers worldwide. Previous work by this group demonstrated a relationship between the structure of hyporheic microbial communities and the fluvial deposition of heavy metals along a contamination gradient during the fall season. Seasonal variation has been documented in microbial communities in numerous terrestrial and aquatic environments, including the hyporheic zone. The current study was designed to assess whether relationships between hyporheic microbial community structure and heavy-metal contamination vary seasonally by monitoring community structure along a heavy-metal contamination gradient for more than a year. No relationship between total bacterial abundance and heavy metals was …

Gc Fractionation Enhances Microbial Community Diversity Assessment And Detection Of Minority Populations Of Bacteria By Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis, William Holben, Keving P. Feris, Anu Kettunen, Juha H. A. Apajalahti

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Effectively and accurately assessing total microbial community diversity is one of the primary challenges in modern microbial ecology. This is particularly true with regard to the detection and characterization of unculturable populations and those present only in low abundance. We report a novel strategy, GC fractionation combined with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (GC-DGGE), which combines mechanistically different community analysis approaches to enhance assessment of microbial community diversity and detection of minority populations of microbes. This approach employs GC fractionation as an initial step to reduce the complexity of the community in each fraction. This reduced complexity facilitates subsequent detection of …

Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 6 - Anglers Guide To Assessing Reproductive Stage In Fish, Kim Smith, Mike Mackie, Department Of Fisheries Western Australia

Fisheries Occasional Publications

What is a gonad?

"Gonad" is a general term for a reproductive organ, and is used to describe both ovaries and testes. In male and female fish, the gonad is an elongated organ lying along the upper wall of the gut cavity (i.e. running immediately under the vertebral column). The gonad gonad has 2 lobes. Both lobes are attached to the body near the anus and extend forward inside the gut cavity.

As fish gonads ripen, they become larger, heavier and change colour. Immature and undeveloped adult gonads are very small, strap-like in shape, pinkish in colour and translucent (i.e. …

Recently Elected Fellows

Virginia Journal of Science

The Virginia Academy of Science elected three scientists at the 2004 Banquet: Harold G Marshall, Rosemary Barra, and Arthur F. Conway.

The Distribution Of Fox Squirrel (Sciurus Niger) Leaf Nests Within Forest Fragments In Central Indiana, Carmen M. Salsbury, Rebecca W. Dolan, Emily B. Pentzer

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

We examined the abundance and placement of leaf nests by fox squirrels in six urban woodlots in central Indiana ranging in size from 1.06 to 8.28 ha. Four of the woodlots were disturbed, or subject to extensive human impact, whereas the remaining two were nature preserves. We counted all leaf nests present in each woodlot and recorded nest tree characteristics. We then conducted a quantitative vegetation analysis of trees present and estimated percentages of herbaceous and shrub cover along a minimum of two 100 m transects at each site. Fox squirrels showed a preference to build nests in certain species …

Core Concepts In Biochemistry And Molecular Biology In An Integrated Mbbs Curriculum, M P. Iqbal

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

No abstract provided.

Importance Of Outcrossing For Fruit Production In Slickspot Peppergrass, Lepidium Papilliferum L. (Brassicaceae), Ian Robertson

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Plants with insect-mediated pollination are often assumed to be obligate outcrossers; i.e., pollen must be supplied from flowers of other individuals for pollination and subsequent fruit production. Indeed, many flowers with insect-mediated pollination exhibit incompatibility to their own pollen or have a separation in time between pollen production and maturation of the stigma on a given flower (Proctor et al. 1996). However, because the breeding systems of plants are diverse and include varying levels of outcrossing and selfing, experiments are required to determine whether pollination in a particular species occurs via outcrossing, self-pollination, or both. Here I report the results …

Soil Fungi Alter Interactions Between The Invader Centaurea Maculosa And North American Natives, Ragan M. Callaway, Giles C. Thelen, Sara Barth, Philip W. Ramsey, James E. Gannon

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Soil microbes may affect the way exotic invasive plants interact with native neighbors. We investigated the effects of soil fungi on interactions between the invasive weed Centaurea maculosa (spotted knapweed) and six species native to the intermountain prairies of the northwestern United States. We also compared the effect of C. maculosa on the composition of the soil microbial community to that of the native species. In the field, fungicide (Benomyl) reduced AM mycorrhizal colonization of C. maculosa roots by >80%. Fungicide did not significantly reduce non-AM fungi. When grown alone, the biomass of C. maculosa was not affected by the …

Inheritance Of Trunk Banding In The Tetra (Gymnocorymbus Ternetzi Characidae), Jack Frankel

Department of Biology Faculty Publications

The tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi) exhibits two phenotypes associated with trunk banding. Fish possess either a smoky-gray coloration with two prominent black vertical bands located directly behind the operculum (black tetra) or a lighter coloration and lack these bands (white skirt tetra). Segregation patterns observed from the progenies of 11 different crosses suggest that the inheritance of these phenotypes is controlled by two autosomal loci acting in a complementary fashion, with dominance at both loci required for the expression of the darker, banded phenotype.

Re-Assessment Of Carrying Capacities In The Ashburton River Catchment, Alan L. Payne, A M E Van Vreeswyk, K A. Leighton

Agriculture reports

Potential carrying capacities for land systems in the catchment of the Ashburton River were first estimated in 1983 as a result of a rangeland survey of the area undertaken during 1976, 1977 and 1978. Potential carrying capacity (termed capability capacity in the 1988 report) is a suggested sustainable level of use assuming that all pastures are in good range condition, the entire station is adequately watered for the effective management of livestock and seasonal conditions are average.

The Ashburton Land Conservation District Committee had previously requested a re-assessment of carrying capacities for Ashburton stations following the widespread establishment of buffel …

Particle Removal Rates By The Mud Shrimp Upogebia Pugettensis, Its Burrow, And A Commensal Clam: Effects On Estuarine Phytoplankton Abundance, Blaine D. Griffen, Theodore H. Dewitt, Chris Langdon

Faculty Publications

The burrowing shrimp Upogebia pugettensis is an abundant intertidal invertebrate of Pacific Northwest, USA bays and estuaries where it lives commensally with the bivalve Cryptomya californica. Suspension-feeding activities by the shrimp and by its commensal clam, as well as particle settlement within the burrow, represent 3 different components that could remove phytoplankton from water drawn into shrimp burrows. These 3 components together comprise what we call the ‘U. pugettensis shrimp-burrow complex’. In laboratory experiments, we measured particle removal by each of these components. Our results indicated that U. pugettensis itself is responsible for filtering the majority of phytoplankton removed …

Drosophila As An Emerging Model To Study Metastasis, Madhuri Kango-Singh, Georg Halder

Biology Faculty Publications

Metastasis is the primary cause of human cancer-related deaths. Two recent studies describe a system for testing how multiple genetic events synergize to promote neoplastic growth and metastasis in Drosophila, paving the way for systematic approaches to understanding metastasis using the powerful tools of Drosophila genetics.

Phylogeny Of The Polyneopterous Insects With Emphasis On Plecoptera: Molecular And Morpological Evidence, Matthew Dana Terry

Theses and Dissertations

Polyneoptera is an assemblage of eleven insect orders comprising the "orthopteroid" insects. It includes familiar insects such as grasshoppers, roaches, termites, earwigs and preying mantises; as well as the more obscure web-spinners, angel insects and ice-crawlers. We present a phylogenetic analysis of the polyneopteran orders based on 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, Histone 3, and a coded morphology matrix for an extensive sampling of taxa. We investigate the use of congruence between separate datasets as an a priori measure of alignment quality. Our results support the paraphyly of Polyneoptera, the monophyly of Dictyoptera, sister taxon relationships between Embiidina + Phasmatodea and …

Phylogenetic Systematics And Evolution Within The Family Scincidae, Alison Swindle Whiting

Theses and Dissertations

Scincidae (skinks) comprise one of the largest families of lizards, and the more than 1300 species show great variation in body size and form, and are found worldwide in a diversity of habitats. The group presents many interesting questions ranging from the colonization of oceanic islands, to the evolution of limb loss, yet most of these and other questions remain understudied. The purpose of this dissertation is to use multiple mitochonidrial and nuclear DNA markers in connection with current cladistic methods to address evolutionary questions at many levels within Scincidae. In chapter one, a molecular phylogenetic study, based on six …

The Cohesion Protein Ord Is Required For Homologue Bias During Meiotic Recombination, Hayley A. Webber, Louisa Howard, Sharon E. Bickel

Dartmouth Scholarship

During meiosis, sister chromatid cohesion is required for normal levels of homologous recombination, although how cohesion regulates exchange is not understood. Null mutations in orientation disruptor (ord) ablate arm and centromeric cohesion during Drosophila meiosis and severely reduce homologous crossovers in mutant oocytes. We show that ORD protein localizes along oocyte chromosomes during the stages in which recombination occurs. Although synaptonemal complex (SC) components initially associate with synapsed homologues in ord mutants, their localization is severely disrupted during pachytene progression, and normal tripartite SC is not visible by electron microscopy. In ord germaria, meiotic double strand breaks appear …

Distribution And Dynamics Of Nitrogen And Microbial Plankton In Southern Lake Michigan During Spring Transition 1999-2000, Wayne S. Gardner, Peter J. Lavrentyev, Joann F. Cavaletto, Mark J. Mccarthy, B. J. Eadie, Thomas Johengen, James Cotner

Biology Faculty Research

[ 1] Ammonium and amino acid fluxes were examined as indicators of N and microbial food web dynamics in southern Lake Michigan during spring. Either (NH4+)-N-15 or a mixture of N-15-labelled amino acids (both at 4 muM N final concentration) was added to Lake Michigan water. Net fluxes were measured over 24 h under natural light and dark conditions using deck-top incubators and compared to microbial food web characteristics. Isotope dilution experiments showed similar light and dark NH4+ regeneration rates at lake ( 6 versus 5 nM N h(-1)) and river-influenced ( 20 versus 24 nM N h(-1)) sites. Ammonium …

A 1200 Year Record Of Hydrologic Variability In The Sierra Nevada From Sediments In Walker Lake, Nevada, Fasong Yuan, Braddock K. Linsley, Steve P. Lund, John P. Mcgeehin

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Measurements of the oxygen isotopic composition (δ¹⁸O) of the total inorganic carbon (TIC) fraction from cored sediments of Walker Lake, Nevada, were conducted at an average resolution of ∼3 years per sample over the last 1200 years. On the basis of radiocarbon analysis on the total organic carbon (TOC) fraction, a δ¹⁸O time series was created to reconstruct changes in hydrologic conditions back to AD 800. The timings of variations in the TIC δ¹⁸O record are generally consistent with the tree ring-based Sacramento River flow record spanning AD 869 to 1977, indicating that Walker …

Bayesian Statistics For Biological Data: Pedigree Analysis, William D. Stansfield, Matthew A. Carlton

Biological Sciences

No abstract provided.

Fossil Tuna Vertebrae Punctured By Istiophorid Billfishes, Vincent P. Schneider, Harry L. Fierstine

Biological Sciences

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Body Size And Temperature On Population Growth, Van M. Savage, James F. Gillooly, James H. Brown, Geoffrey B. West, Eric Charnov

Biology Faculty & Staff Publications

For at least 200 years, since the time of Malthus, population growth has been recognized as providing a critical link between the performance of individual organisms and the ecology and evolution of species.We present a theory that shows how the intrinsic rate of exponential population growth, , and the carrying capacity, rmax K, depend on individual metabolic rate and resource supply rate. To do this, we construct equations for the metabolic rates of entire populations by summing over individuals, and then we combine these population-level equations with Malthusian growth. Thus, the theory makes explicit the relationship between rates of resource …