Digital Commons Network^™

Presence Of Porcine Endogenous Retrovirus C In Domestic Pigs In Kansas, Avery Welton, Eric T. Gillock

SACAD: John Heinrichs Scholarly and Creative Activity Days

There is currently a shortage of organs available to perform allotransplants in humans, prompting the exploration of xenotransplantation as an alternative. Xenotransplantation is the transplantation of living tissues between different species, with porcine tissues being a promising option. However, concerns arise regarding cross-species transmission, particularly in relation to Porcine Endogenous Retroviruses (PERVs). PERVs are retroviruses that are integrated into the germ-line cells of pigs and are permanently embedded in the host cell’s DNA, allowing for vertical transmission. Of significant concern is the infectious nature of two PERV subtypes, A and B, to humans, which can potentially recombine with the third …

The Effects Of Ocean Acidification On Sea Urchin Larval Survivorship And Development In Lytechinus Variegatus And Arbacia Punctulata, Emily Pace, Kacie Miller*, Nancy Dalman, Margaret (Meg) Smith

Georgia Journal of Science

Accumulated carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is one of the driving factors in ocean acidification as oceanic absorption of carbon dioxide alters ocean chemistry. Lower concentrations of carbonate ions and higher concentrations of hydrogen ions in the water adversely affect marine organisms, including sea urchin larvae, that use calcium carbonate in their skeletal structures. While there is a wide body of literature demonstrating an impact of lowered pH on sea urchin larval development and survival, it is unclear if the method of pH manipulation and the species being studied influences the results. To address this, we compared two commonly employed …

Examination Of Greenhouse Conditions That Influence Scale Infestation Rates On Begonia, Madeline M. Cusick

Honors College Theses

Scale insects are common pests within greenhouse and agricultural settings. I quantified scale infestation on Begonia x Richmondensis, also known as the Dragon Wing begonia, within the Armstrong Campus Greenhouse from March to November of 2023. Six different treatments accounted for variations in sunlight, humidity, and temperature within the greenhouse with the goal of determining the insect’s preferred environmental conditions. Morphological comparisons were also made between host plant Dragon Wing begonia and other begonias present within the greenhouse. Analysis indicated a significant difference in scale presence on replicate plants by zone and sunlight treatments, with more plants hosting at least …

Continuous Mowing Differentially Affects Floral Defenses In The Noxious And Invasive Weed Solanum Elaeagnifolium In Its Native Range, Alejandro Vasquez, Alexa Alaniz, Robert K. Dearth, Rupesh R. Kariyat

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

In weeds, disturbance has been found to affect life history traits and mediate trophic interactions. In urban landscapes, mowing is an important disturbance, and we previously showed that continuous mowing leads to enhanced fitness and defense traits in Solanum elaeagnifolium, Silverleaf Nightshade (SLN). However, most studies have been focused on foliar defenses, ignoring floral defenses. In this study we examined whether continuous mowing affected floral defenses in SLN using mowed and unmowed populations in South Texas, their native range. We found flowers of mowed SLN plants larger but lighter than unmowed plants. Additionally, flowers on plants that were mowed …

Teaching Evolutionary Principles With Ai Image Generators, Jacqueline Garnett

Generative AI Teaching Activities

The purpose of this assignment is for students to practice constructing phylogenies using the principle of parsimony. In this activity, students will use an AI Image Generator to create a grid of images of the same organism and identify a series of traits that vary to build a possible phylogenetic tree.

Using Mitochondrial Dna (Mtdna) To Investigate The Genetic Population Structure Of Harbor Seals (Phoca Vitulina) In Washington State, Maya Mijares

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) are the most abundant marine mammal in Washington State waters and consume many species of fish that hold significant cultural, economic, and ecological importance for humans. Hence, the management of harbor seal populations is of interest to many diverse communities throughout the state. Here, we describe the genetic population structure of harbor seals using mtDNA gathered from subsamples of male and female stranded harbor seals across varying ages and geographic locations. We employ Sanger Sequencing of the mtDNA D-loop to gather maternal genetic information and have found evidence of detectable genetic diversity in the mitochondrial genome …

Ashes To Algae: Phytoplankton Communities In Early Successional Ponds At The Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Lillie Tomlinson

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Freshwater biodiversity is declining worldwide, and ponds have been found to be incredibly biodiverse freshwater habitats that provide important ecosystem services and create critical terrestrial-aquatic linkages. Phytoplankton are fundamental components of aquatic communities and provide ecosystems with oxygen, send energy throughout the food web, and are an important food source for organisms like zooplankton. The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens led to the formation of over 100 diverse ponds in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. This study aims to shed light on phytoplankton community dynamics and assemblages as well as regional differences in community dynamics in previously …

Shmoomics!, Winter Yi, Dan Pollard

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Science Communication is the practice of science which aims to connect public audiences to scientific knowledge. There has been an ongoing dialogue concerning the inaccessibility of such knowledge due to barriers such as paywalls and a lack in contextual knowledge. In order to explore this discussion and present an input, this project aimed to create weekly comic strips that briefly discuss one scientific paper a week as well as display each comic to the general public. What, if anything, must be sacrificed in order to convey an accurate retelling of information? How much of the original paper can be changed …

Transcriptomic Clues To Protein Homeostasis, Anna Byquist, Lina Dahlberg

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Protein misfolding is associated with many different diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and cystic fibrosis. Cells prevent the accumulation of misfolded proteins through conserved pathways, including Endoplasmic Reticulum Associated Degradation (ERAD). In the absence of proper ERAD function, cellular homeostasis is disrupted, and cells can become stressed. The ERAD mechanism is not fully understood, but it is becoming clear that the intersection of gene regulation and protein degradation are tightly linked (1). We approached this intersection using a strain of C. elegans that is lacking the gene F26F4.9, which encodes a putative ortholog of the mammalian ERAD gene …

Beneath The Surface: Exploring Endospore-Forming Bacteria In Brassica Seeds, Emmy Formiga

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

This study investigates the effects of endophytes, which are bacteria that reside within plants, on germination rates and growth of seeds in the Brassicaceae family. Brassicas, which are plants in the cabbage family, are widely grown in the Skagit Valley. Most of the Brassicaceae seed grown in the United States comes from the area surrounding Bellingham. Because of this, it is important to study the seed microbiome. Researchers have discovered that endophytes can defend plants against pathogenic invasions, as well as unfavorable environmental conditions. There have also been studies that found that endophytes can affect germination and growth of plants. …

Rodent-Mediated Seed Limitation Affects Woody Seedling Establishment More Than Invasive Shrubs And Downed Woody Debris, Brian M. Connolly, Chad Zirbel, John L. Orrock

Biology Faculty Scholarship

Seedling establishment is crucial for the development of self-regenerating tree populations. Determinants of tree establishment vary widely and may compound in their effects. Using a factorial experiment, we manipulated invasive shrubs, downed woody debris (DWD), and rodent access to evaluate factors limiting the establishment of six woody species (five native trees, one invasive shrub). Our results suggest these factors independently contribute to tree seedling establishment. Exclusion of rodents increased establishment threefold. Invasive shrub removal (Elaeagnus umbellata; Lonicera maackii) and the presence of DWD promoted establishment of two native trees (Pinus strobus; Sassafras albidum). Notably, …

Investigation Of The Growth Of Listeria In Plant-Based Beverages, Klaudia Bartula, Sambou Biagui, Máire Begley, Michael Callanan

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

The objective of the present study was to evaluate whether the content of sugar, protein, fat, or fibre in commercially available and specially formulated plant-based beverages (oat, soya and pea) influences the growth rates of Listeria. Beverages were inoculated with a strain cocktail of Listeria (approximately 1 × 103 CFU/mL), and the data demonstrated that Listeria could proliferate in all tested beverages. Moreover, varying concentrations of naturally occurring or added sugar (0–3.3%), protein (3.3–5%), fat (1.1–3.5%) and added fibre (0–1.5%) did not have a statistically significant (p > 0.05) impact on the growth rates of Listeria in the tested …

Bloom Or Bust: An Interdisciplinary Exploration Of Flowering Plants And How Climate Change Impacts Them, Carolyn Schmode

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Plants are vital to both natural ecosystems and human society. As climate change progresses, more frequent extreme weather events threaten the biodiversity of the Pacific Northwest. Plant responses to flooding, drought, temperature, and light involve signal transduction pathways that alter flowering times. As flowering times shift, plant/pollinator interactions decrease, limiting the plants' ability to survive and reproduce. My capstone is a literature review synthesizing how plants respond to changes in their environment related to climate change. I also explore plants as art, highlighting the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to the way we interact with plants.

Bioaerosol Size As A Potential Determinant Of Airborne E. Coli Viability Under Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation And Ozone Disinfection, Weixing Hao, Yue-Wern Huang, Yang Wang

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) and ozone disinfection are crucial methods for mitigating the airborne transmission of pathogenic microorganisms in high-risk settings, particularly with the emergence of respiratory viral pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 and avian influenza viruses. This study quantitatively investigates the influence of UVGI and ozone on the viability of E. coli in bioaerosols, with a particular focus on how E. coli viability depends on the size of the bioaerosols, a critical factor that determines deposition patterns within the human respiratory system and the evolution of bioaerosols in indoor environments. This study used a controlled small-scale laboratory chamber where E. …

How To Spark Bio Curiosity: An Innovative High School Biology Curriculum, Audrie Charles

Graduate Research Showcase

This project is a researched creative endeavor focused around the creation of an exemplary high school biology course. This presentation will showcase an original high school biology curriculum designed to ignite students’ innate curiosity and empower meaningful learning of core concepts like cell structure, genetics, evolution and ecology. Students revisit key ideas through a spiral curriculum that builds complexity, tackling open-ended problems and collaborating on hands-on inquiries like formulating hypotheses, designing experiments, collecting data and drawing evidence-based conclusions. Tangible projects allow students to demonstrate content knowledge in addition to critical thinking abilities like synthesizing concepts, evaluating claims and applying learning …

Quantifying Costs And Benefits Of Alternative Overwintering Strategies In A Southeastern Population Of Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus Horridus), John Powers, Amber Stubbs, Alfred J. Mead, Dominic L. Desantis

Graduate Research Showcase

Temperate reptile populations are under strong selective pressure to minimize the costs of extreme winter temperatures. For high latitude and high elevation snake populations, this has often favored communal overwintering behavior, wherein large numbers of conspecifics aggregate at optimal sites given the limited availability of such features in the environment. Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) are distributed across a wide latitudinal gradient in North America, and therefore represent ideal models for exploring how variable winter selective regimes might favor different strategies. Here, we leverage a unique intermediate population of C. horridus from central Georgia, USA, that exhibits both communal …

Development Of A Novel Biology Laboratory Course For Incarcerated Students, Elsa H.K. Spencer, Joanna R. Vondrasek

Inquiry: The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges

Federal second chance Pell grants were recently made widely available to incarcerated students in the United States to fund undergraduate education. Piedmont Virginia Community College was a pilot site for this expansion and began full scale implementation of transfer-oriented associate degrees at three correctional centers in its service area. The college did not have a biology laboratory curriculum that would meet general education requirements and be feasible in a correctional center, where students do not have internet access or even reliable computer (word processing or spreadsheet) access and where materials are restricted for entry. This paper will serve to introduce …

The Effects Of Land Use Change On Ant Communities In New England, Amelia K.L. Curry, Joseph A. Nelsen, Dale R. Stevens, Kaitlyn A. Mathis

Biology

Urbanisation and agricultural expansion are two of the most prevalent and intense forms of land use change worldwide and can have dramatic consequences on biodiversity and biotic community structure. Ants are extremely widespread, ecologically diverse and small ectotherms that are sensitive to changes from a wide range of environmental factors. Therefore, ants make an ideal study organism to examine the effects of anthropogenic land use change on biotic communities. In this study, we examined differences in ant species richness and community composition between urban parks, farms and forest fragments, and related these differences to environmental factors that vary among each …

Impacts Of Altitude On Plant Green Leaf, Fresh Litter, And Soil Stoichiometry In Subtropical Forests, Dehuang Zhu, Yan Zhou, Suhong Peng, Weiping Hua, Bin Luo, Dafeng Hui

Biology Faculty Research

BackgroundEcological stoichiometric characteristics of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) serve as crucial indicators of nutrient cycling and limitation in terrestrial ecosystems. However, our current understanding of stoichiometric characteristics in subtropical forests and their response to different climate conditions is still limited.MethodsWe selected six altitudes ranging from 700 m to 1,200 m to simulate different climate conditions of an evergreen broadleaf forest in Wuyi Mountain, Fujian Province, China. We investigated C, N, P, and K stoichiometry and homeostasis in the green leaves, newly senesced leaf litter (fresh litter), and soil of this forest.ResultsLeaf P and K levels …

Zooplankton Sensitivity To Climate-Driven Conditions In High-Elevation Lakes In Maine, Sadie Gray, Rachel Hovel

Student Scholarship

Lakes respond to climatic change with shifts in seasonality, stratification, primary production, biological community composition, and other conditions. Compared to larger lower-elevation lakes, “mountain” lakes are hypothesized to be more sensitive to some aspects of climatic change (e.g. watershed inputs from precipitation), but more buffered from others (e.g. snowpack stabilizing ice phenology). In this study of nine high-elevation lakes in the western Maine mountains, we evaluated the relationship between climate-linked lake conditions and zooplankton abundance and community composition. Water temperature, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll concentration, ice breakup date, secchi disk depth, and zooplankton abundance and taxonomic identification were collected from these …

Parasite Diversity Of The King Cobra (Ophiophagus Hannah), Indian Rat Snake (Ptyas Mucosa), And Spectacled Cobra (Naja Naja), Bailey Tator

ALL - Honors Theses

Thus far, there has been little research on the parasitic biodiversity in wild reptiles, particularly in India. Research has been done on the parasite diversity of certain species, such as the King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) and the Spectacled cobra (Naja naja), however these samples were purely from captive animals (Rajesh, 2015). This gap in knowledge is important to address because of how critical parasites are to the ecosystem and understanding their host population (Hudson, 2006). Parasites are some of the most biodiverse organisms, yet there is little work done to describe them in biodiversity hotspots such as the Western Ghats …

Exploration Of Cytotoxicity Of _Rabidosa Rabida_ Venom On Invertebrate And Vertebrate Cell Cultures, Martina Gooden

Honors Theses

Venom has been observed in thousands of species across different taxa. It can be adapted for different purposes, including prey capture or predator defense. Venom is found almost universally in spiders, but there has been little exploration of spiders that are not medically significant. Rabidosa rabida, the rabid wolf spider, is a common species whose venom has not been adequately investigated. Previous studies indicate that they do not require venom to apprehend easy prey in a laboratory setting, raising a question as to what their venom is adapted to do. To evaluate its effect on mammalian cells, L929 murine fibroblasts …

Ecological Niche Modeling Of Endemic Texas Crayfish Species Under Current Conditions, Sarah A. Burgett

Biology Theses

Crayfish play many important roles in freshwater ecosystems such as ecosystem engineering, bioindicator, and food resource. Even though they are important to ecosystems, they are highly understudied. There has been previous work done on ecological niche modeling on Texas crayfish species, but this study takes it a step further by combining soil, climate, and hydrology variables to model the ecological niches of three endemic species: Procambarus texanus, Procambarus nueces, and Procambarus fayettei. Ecological niche models were created for the three species of interest using the program Maxent. I found that P. texanus and P. fayettei have indistinguishable …

Effects Of Sex, Cadmium, And High-Fat-Diet On Accumulation Of Essential Metals In Mouse Kidneys., Justin Y. Xu, Adam Gaweda, Michelle Barati, Michael Merchant, Jun Cai, Lu Cai, Madhavi Rane

Undergraduate Research Events

Effects of cadmium and obesity on accumulation of essential metals in mouse kidney were evaluated. Starting in utero and continuing until 24 weeks postweaning, male/female mice were exposed to cadmium (0, 0.5, or 5 ppm) and were fed on Normal Diet (ND)/High-Fat Diet (HFD) post weaning. ICP-MS analysis was performed to evaluate cadmium and essential metals absorbed in the kidneys of aforementioned mice. Metals data obtained was analyzed using MANOVA with multiple comparisons (Bonferroni correction with p

Adherent-Invasive Escherichia Coli (Aiec) Promotes Mild Colitis In The C57bl/6 Il-10 Ko Mouse Model Of Crohn's Disease, Sarah Sm Zaw

Senior Theses

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Interleukin-10 knockout (IL-10 KO) mice are crucial in CD research. Adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) is a subgroup of E. coli. In one study, IL-10 KO mice colonized with AIEC developed colitis in the distal colon compared to wild-type (WT) mice. I investigated how AIEC NC101 WT affects colitis severity in IL-10 KO mice of the C57BL/6 genetic background. Similar results in both genotypes would enhance mouse strain accessibility. Germ-free C57BL6 IL-10 KO mice were divided into groups: colonized with AIEC NC101 for 12, 15, or 18 weeks, or kept germ-free. Histopathological …

Effects Of Wind Turbine Noise On Songbird Behavior During Nonbreeding Season, Yael Lehnardt, Jesse R. Barber, Oded Berger-Tal

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Anthropogenic noise is one of the fastest growing, globally widespread pollutants, affecting countless species worldwide. Despite accumulating evidence of the negative impacts of wind turbines on wildlife, little is known about how the noise they generate affects ecological systems. Songbirds may be susceptible to noise pollution due to their reliance on vocal communication and thus, in this field study, we examined how songbirds are affected by wind turbine noise. We broadcasted noise produced by one wind turbine in a migratory stopover site during the nonbreeding season. Throughout the study, we repeatedly monitored the acoustic environment and songbird community before, during, …

Old Vs. New: An Experiment On The Efficacy Of Complexity-Focused Reproductive Biology Lectures For Undergraduate Biology Students, Ive N. Muse, Shraddha Patel, Linda Fuselier

Undergraduate Research Events

Undergraduate reproductive biology courses are traditionally taught in a reductive manner, prioritizing a binary understanding of sex which oversimplifies reproductive behaviors and reproductive system development across diverse taxa. Although this binary approach to lessons on reproduction is intended to benefit students in learning foundational human reproductive concepts, it does not teach the most recent research in reproductive biology, which identifies reproductive variation as the norm. We designed and implemented a lesson on reproductive biology informed by the most current and accurate research and compared it to a traditionally taught biology lecture for first year majors. Students who received the experimental …

The Virginia Academy Of Science: A Scholarly Forum Over Decades For Students Of A Plant Ecologist, Stewart Ware

Virginia Journal of Science

As a newcomer to Virginia in 1968, I learned that annual meetings of the Virginia Academy of Science (VAS) were regarded as an excellent place for students to have their first experience giving a talk about their research to fellow scientists, and a place for faculty to get to know other Virginia scientists in their fields. Over the next four decades William and Mary students (undergraduate and graduate) and I were presenters or co-authors of 42 talks or posters at VAS annual meetings, 29 of them based on studies of plant ecology across Virginia. Two were talks by colleagues with …

An Analysis Of Novel Yeasts And Their Brewing Potential, Hannah Murray

Research Honors

Within the brewing community, there is a race to discover new ways to brew beers to create new flavor and smell profiles. Scientists across the globe are searching for novel species of yeasts which have the potential to enhance the flavor and smell of their beer. While most beers are brewed using one of a handful of domesticated yeast strains -- also known as pitching yeasts -- finding “wild” yeasts is one way to change fermentation products. Experimentation has been started on this front due to the wide array of properties that a wild yeast can change in a brew. …

Optimization Of In-Vitro Regeneration And Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation Of Lactuca Sativa, Mohamed Omer Elsiddig

Theses

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is a leafy vegetable consumed worldwide, mainly as a green salad. It is an herbaceous, self-pollinated annual plant of the family Asteraceae. Lettuce is low in calories, fat, and sodium. It is a good source of fiber, iron, folate, and vitamin C. Improving existing lettuce varieties for water use efficiency, photosynthesis efficiency, salt tolerance, increased nutritional content, etc., is the need of the hour, considering that lettuce is a crop ideal for vertical farming in the UAE.

This study aimed to develop a highly efficient in vitro regeneration and Agrobacterium- mediated transformation protocol for a popular …