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Relation Of Animal Production To Stocking Rate On Cultivated Pastures In Cerrados Areas Of Brazil, C J. Escuder

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The relationships among stocking rate, gain/animal, and gain/ha were compared on six grazed pastures. The experiment was established on an oxisol acrustox in Brazil. The pasture consisted of (1) jaraguagrass (J); (2) jaraguagrass plus legumes (J + L); (3) molassesgrass (M); (4) molassesgrass plus legumes (M + L); (5) pangolagrass (P); (6) Pangolagrass plus legumes (P + L); (7) mixture of grasses (jaragua, molasses, and pangola) plus legumes (JMP + L). Pasture of pangolagrass alone was discarded because of poor establishment. Four stocking rates were applied on each pasture, from 1.0 to 3.4 animals/ha. For all pastures, gains/animal decreased linearly …

Harvesting And Processing Effects On Alfalfa Protein Utilization By Ruminants, R Britton, D Rock, T Klopfenstein, J Ward, J Merrill

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is an efficient and important means of producing supplemental protein for ruminants. This research was undertaken to characterize the value of alfalfa protein for ruminants and to show how the protein is affected by different harvesting or processing regimens. The effects of maturity (prebloom, one-tenth, one half, and full bloom) and processing method (freeze dried [FD], sun cured [SC], and oven heated [HJ), on percentage of nitrogen (N), acid detergent insoluble N (ADIN), in-vitro rumen ammonia release (NH3), and in-situ rumen protein degradation, using dacron bags (BAG), were studied on irrigated alfalfa harvested over 2 years. …

Improving Hay Quality By Ammoniation, K J. Moore, V L. Lechtenberg, K S. Hendrix, J M. Hertel

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Experiments were conducted to determine the effect of hay ammoniation on hay consumption and weight gain by steers when the hay was fed unsupplemented and supplemented with energy and protein. Mature orchardgrass (Dacrylis glomerata L.) hay was baled in early June 1979 and treated with anhydrous ammonia at 30 g/kg of hay. Seven weeks after treatment the hay was uncovered and allowed to aerate for 3 days. It was then fed to weanling steer calves weighing approximately 225 kg each. Similar hay baled from the same field but not ammoniated was fed to separate groups of steers. Both the treated …

Effect Of Solvent Treatments On Intake And Digestibility Of Corn Stover, D M. Schaefer, M R. Ladisch, C H. Noller, V L. Lechtenberg

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Treatment of crop residues with low levels of sodium hydroxide has been shown to improve organic-matter digestibility and animal performance. One objective of these experiments was to evaluate the effects of three treatments -water, sodium hydrox­ide, and chelating metal cellulose-swelling solution-on solubilization of cell-wall components in corn (Zea m£rys) stover. The two latter treatments were balanced for level of sodium hydroxide application, which was .3 .2 % of stover dry matter. The second objective was to determine the effects of these treatments on in-vitro and in-vivo digestibility as well as on consumption of corn stover. Twelve growing ram lambs were …

High Mobility Group Motif Proteins’ Role In Fibrosis, Inflammation, And Vascular Injury In Systemic Sclerosis, Fabian A. Mendoza, Sonsoles Piera-Velazquez, Sergio A. Jimenez

Jefferson Institute of Molecular Medicine Papers and Presentations

Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is an idiopathic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by progressive cutaneous and systemic fibrosis, severe vasculopathy, and multiple humoral and cellular immunological alterations. The pathogenesis of SSc is highly complex and remains incompletely elucidated. The fibrotic process is a crucial component of SSc and is responsible for organ failure and high mortality. Although an increasing understanding of the fibrotic process has enabled the clinical development of antifibrotic therapeutic agents, these agents have limited clinical efficacy. Recently, the potential role of a group of transcription factors containing a High Mobility Group (HMG) motif, in the development and pathological manifestations …

Immune Suppression And Metabolic Reprogramming In Bactrocera Dorsalis Parasitized By Fopius Arisanus, Rehemah Gwokyalya, Jeremy Herren, Thomas Ogao Onchuru, Sahadatou Mama Sambo, Cassandra Purity Ronnie, Ndlela Shepard, Sunday Ekesi, Samira A. Mohamed

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Abstract – Bactrocera dorsalis is a major horticultural pest. Biocontrol using parasitoids, such as Fopius arisanus, is a sustainable tool for managing this pest. However, the mechanisms enabling the successful parasitism of B. dorsalis are poorly understood. Using transcriptomic profiling, cellular bioassays, and targeted metabolite analyses, we investigated how F. arisanus modulates the immunity and metabolic activity of B. dorsalis to achieve a high parasitism rate. Our results revealed a weak and late encapsulation response of B. dorsalis towards F. arisanus. Additionally, parasitism reduced the number of circulating haemocytes by 35%, lowered constitutive granulocyte counts and inhibited phenoloxidase activity in …

Lesson 1. Makhózula Etáŋhaŋ Wiyútapi Ke: Tomato Journey From Tiny Seed To My Plate, Rachel Pastrana, Madhav P. Nepal

iLEARN Teaching Resources

In this engaging kindergarten food systems lesson, students become “Plant Parents” as they follow the remarkable journey of a tomato from a tiny seed to food on their plate. Through storytelling, observation, movement, and hands-on plant care, students explore how sunlight, water, and soil work together to support plant growth. Using the Lakota concepts of Makhózula (Abundant Land), Wopila (Gratitude), and Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ (We Are All Related), students learn that food is a gift made possible by the cooperation of people, plants, animals, and natural resources. Students observe and care for tomato seedlings, participate in outdoor exploration activities, and create …

Lesson 2. The Soil Doctors: Healthy Vs. Thirsty Soil Detectives, Rachel Pastrana, Madhav P. Nepal

iLEARN Teaching Resources

In this lesson, Kindergarten students in Norris, South Dakota, become "Soil Detectives" to investigate the health of Maka (the Earth). By using their hands to touch, squeeze, and compare local schoolyard soil, students learn to identify Maka Wasté (Healthy Soil) and Maka Puza (Thirsty Soil). This lesson utilizes communal storytelling and Lakota terminology to ground scientific inquiry in local Indigenous knowledge and South Dakota land history. Students apply Regenerative Agriculture principles by providing a "cure" protecting the soil with a natural blanket—and conclude with a Wóglaka (Reflection Circle) to share their experiences as young stewards of the land.

Lesson 3. Sky Explorers: The Rhythm Of The Moon And My Garden, Rachel Pastrana, Madhav P. Nepal

iLEARN Teaching Resources

In this kindergarten lesson, students become "Sky Explorers" as they investigate the patterns and rhythms of the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Through storytelling, movement activities, Oreo Moon modeling, outdoor observations, and hands-on exploration, students learn how Earth's rotation creates day and night and how the Moon changes appearance through predictable phases. Students explore the Lakota concepts of Wí (Sun), Haŋwí (Moon), and Mitákuye Oyás'iŋ (We Are All Related) while making connections between natural cycles, food systems, and plant growth. Students discover how people have long observed the Moon as a natural calendar and how farmers and gardeners use seasonal patterns …

Decorin Promotes Nascent Proteoglycan Retention In Cartilage Matrix By Strengthening Collagen Ii-Aggrecan Integration, Thomas Li, Gabriela Canziani, Yuchen Liu, Neil Patel, Biao Han, Mingyue Fan, Annie Porter, Bryan Kwok, Chao Wang, Qing Li, David E. Birk, Renato V. Iozzo, Irwin M. Chaiken, X. Lucas Lu, Robert L. Mauck, Lin Han

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM), a hydrated collagen II-aggrecan composite, undergoes dynamic turnover during both normal homeostasis and disease-associated remodeling. This study elucidates a crucial role for decorin in promoting the retention and stability of nascent aggrecan within this matrix. By applying bio-orthogonal click-labeling, we demonstrate that loss of decorin accelerates the release of nascent aggrecan under both physiological and inflammatory conditions, without affecting its preferential localization to the pericellular matrix. Conversely, supplementation with exogenous decorin mitigates inflammation-induced loss of nascent aggrecan, supporting its potential as a therapeutic target. At the molecular level, decorin exhibits strong binding affinity for aggrecan, and …

Intramuscular Nad⁺ Therapy And Neuroenergetic Symptom Modulation: An Exploratory Retrospective Human Pilot Study, Zachary J. Dickey Do, Kirtan Patel Bs, Randy Aldret Edd, Cscs, Atc, Navneet Sharma Md, Glenn Goodwin Do

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Abstract

Background: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) is a central regulator of neuronal energy metabolism, mitochondrial function, and axonal integrity. Following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and repetitive subconcussive exposure, neurons undergo a neurometabolic crisis characterized by impaired oxidative phosphorylation, increased ATP demand, and depletion of intracellular NAD⁺ pools. Pre clinical models demonstrate that NAD⁺ depletion contributes to central energy dysregulation, cognitive dysfunction, and axonal and neuronal degeneration through disruption of NAD⁺-dependent pathways including SIRT1-mediated mitochondrial resilience, PARP1-driven NAD⁺ consumption, and SARM1-associated axonal breakdown. Despite growing preclinical evidence supporting NAD⁺based neuroprotection, human clinical data remains absent.

Methods: A real-world clinical pilot …

The Three Sisters And Soil Health (Lesson 1), Mara Johnson, Madhav P. Nepal, Jiyul Chang

iLEARN Teaching Resources

In this lesson, students will begin a week-long unit on soil health that is connected to the chapter The Three Sisters from the book Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Students will begin the week by reading the chapter and answering discussion questions, and each subsequent day will build on this introduction with project-based learning activities. This module is designed to bridge traditional Indigenous knowledge with primary scientific inquiry, allowing students to explore soil nutrients, polycultures, and agricultural health in a way they can apply to their own lives and local food sovereignty efforts on the Rosebud Reservation.

Soil Health Analysis (Lesson 2), Mara Johnson, Madhav P. Nepal, Jiyul Chang

iLEARN Teaching Resources

In this lesson, students will build on the previous lesson (reading and analyzing the Three Sisters chapter from Braiding Sweetgrass) by experimenting on soil in their schoolyard. Students will collect soil samples from multiple locations around their school grounds and evaluate soil texture, structure, infiltration, color, organic matter, and pH. Students Through field observations and laboratory analysis, students examine how soil characteristics influence plant growth and ecosystem health. Students connect modern soil science with Indigenous agricultural knowledge, particularly the Three Sisters planting system described in Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. By exploring how healthy soil supports sustainable agriculture, …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Synergistic Bioactive– Organometallic Condensation Polymers, Francesca Isabel Mosca

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This research focuses on the synthesis and structural characterization of polymers with anticipated anticancer and antiviral properties by combining metal-containing Lewis acids, organotin dichlorides (R2SnCl2), Group 4 metallocene dichlorides (Cp2TiCl2, Cp2ZrCl2 and Cp2HfCl2), and triphenyl Group 15 metal dichlorides (Ph3AsCl2, Ph3SbCl2 and Ph3BiCl2), with biologically active Lewis bases, lamivudine, a synthetic nucleoside, and camphoric acid, a dicarboxylic acid, to achieve synergistic effect.

Five classes of polymers were synthesized using interfacial polymerization: lamivudine and organotin dichlorides, lamivudine and Group 4 metallocene dichlorides, camphoric acid and triphenyl Group 15 metal dichlorides, camphoric acid and organotin dichlorides, and camphoric acid and Group 4 …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Organometallic Polymers And Their Cytotoxicity Towards Human Cancer Cell Lines, Paul Peter Slawek

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This research aimed to synthesize organometallic polymers from dialkyl (methyl, ethyl, butyl, cyclohexyl, and octyl) and diaryl (phenyl) tin dichlorides and three organic monomers, dipicolinic acid (DPA), chloramphenicol (CH), and isomannide (IS), using interfacial polymerization. Structure-activity relationships were investigated through physicochemical characterization (light-scattering photometry, proton NMR, and IR spectroscopy) and cytotoxicity was evaluated against six human cancer cell lines (AsPC-1, PANC-1, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, HT-29, PC-3), with cisplatin serving as the reference standard.

Five DPA/tin polymers were synthesized, with IC₅₀ values in the range of 0.60–0.71 μg/mL. Their cytotoxicity was significantly lower than that of cisplatin (0.0023-0.044 μg/mL), suggesting that …

Chromatin Insulators Homie And Nhomie Can Interact With Distant Copies Either Together Or Separately, With Distinct Outcomes For Enhancer-Promoter Interactions, Miki Fujioka, Wenfan Ke, Paul Schedl, James B. Jaynes

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Chromatin insulators, a.k.a. boundary elements, separate regions of the chromosome with distinct chromatin characteristics, including distinct histone modifications. This activity affects gene expression by allowing chromatin domains to be stably regulated and maintained. Insulators also block enhancer-promoter interactions and, somewhat paradoxically, facilitate other interactions, particularly when they stitch together distant regions of the chromosome by pairing with specific partners. Here we explore how long-range interactions facilitated by insulator pairing are affected by the presence of two potentially competing partners. Our results show that when two partners are present, they can reduce each other's effects on distant gene expression, suggesting that …

Uncovering Dkk1 As A Therapeutically Relevant Target In Aggressive Er+ Breast Cancer Using A Novel Antiestrogen, Kristen Young

Dissertations

Over 70 percent of breast cancers are estrogen receptor-positive (ERα+), meaning that the hormone estrogen drives tumor growth. Although first-line targeted therapies that directly block ERα from hormone-dependent pathologies are initially effective, almost half of patients ultimately progress. These patients show high mutational rates to the ESR1 gene that encodes for ERα. A hotspot missense tyrosine to serine mutation at position 537 (Y537S) initiates hormone-independent, allele-specific transcriptional programs that increase metastasis. While next-generation ERα-targeted therapies show promise, benefits are often limited compared to standard-of-care. Understanding the mechanisms of action used by the Y537S ESR1 breast cancer cells to evade therapeutic …

Discovery Of Bmi-Associated Gut Microbiome Signatures In The Awi-Gen 2 Cohort, Meriem Yagoubi

Theses and Dissertations

Obesity is increasing across sub-Saharan Africa amid rapid dietary, environmental, and urbanization transitions, yet the gut microbiome features associated with adiposity in African populations remain under-characterized. This study investigated whether species-level gut microbiome composition is associated with body mass index (BMI) in the AWI-Gen 2 cohort, and whether BMI-associated microbial signals remain detectable after accounting for the dominant geographic structure of the microbiome. Gut microbiome community structure and diversity were characterized across 1,665 participants, and differential abundance analysis was used to identify taxa associated with BMI after controlling for study site. Machine learning models were then trained to assess how …

Disease-Causing Mfn2 Mutants Impair Mitochondrial Fission Dynamics By Distinct Drp1 Dysregulation, Daniel Lagos, Pamela R. De Santiago, Nicolás Pérez-Bravo, Benjamín Cartes-Saavedra, Josefa Vial-Brizzi, Diego Troncoso-Chandía, Oliver Podmanicky, Rita Horvath, Verónica Eisner

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Mitochondria undergo fusion and fission. While DRP1 regulates fission, fusion is controlled by OPA1, MFN1, and MFN2. The balance between these processes and the crosstalk between machineries remains poorly understood. MFN2 mutations cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2 A (CMT2A), affecting mitochondrial fusion and morphology. However, their role in fission is unclear. Using skin fibroblasts from CMT2A patients (L248H and M376V MFN2 mutations) and wild-type mouse embryonic fibroblasts expressing these variants, we studied how MFN2 mutations impact mitochondrial dynamics beyond fusion. We analyzed mitochondrial morphology and dynamics by live-cell confocal microscopy and tested fusion/fission protein levels, oxygen consumption rate (OCR), extracellular …

Declination Of Groundwater Potential Zones Of Nashik, Maharashtra Using Geographic Information System With Analytic Hierarchy Process-Fuzzy Techniques, Madhusudhan M. Reddy, Bhogayya G. Naidu, Bharat N. Mulay, Ramanjaneyulu B, Ravi K. Kumar, Mirzi L. Betasolo, Praveen U. Goud, Snehal N. Chaudhari

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Groundwater is a critical resource for agriculture and domestic use in the semi-arid region of Nashik District, Maharashtra, where overexploitation and erratic climatic conditions have led to declining groundwater availability. This study integrates Geographic Information System (GIS) with Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Fuzzy-AHP techniques to delineate groundwater potential zones (GWPZs) and identify suitable sites for artificial recharge. A total of ten thematic layers drainage density, rainfall, geomorphology, elevation, distance from river, geology, slope, land use/land cover, topographic wetness index (TWI), and curvature were derived from SRTM DEM, Landsat-8, and IMD datasets, representing key controls on groundwater recharge, infiltration, and …

Current Status Of Anthelmintic Resistance In Meat Goats: A Comparative Efficacy Study Of Albendazole And Fenbendazole In Maha Sarakham, Thailand, Minta Pipatsakulpak, Usanisa Boonum, Kotchakorn Roongruang, Benjawan Sae-Chue, Sukanya Leethongdee, Songsak Chumpawadee, Nattaya Watwiengkam, Pongphol Pongthaisong

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes threatens sustainable goat production globally. While resistance is well-documented in many regions, data from Thailand remain limited. This study determined the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes and assessed the efficacy of albendazole and fenbendazole in meat goats in Maha Sarakham province, northeastern Thailand. A two-stage cross-sectional study was conducted on 10 meat goat farms between August 2021 and March 2022. In Stage 1, fecal samples from 150 goats were examined using simple flotation and sedimentation techniques to identify parasite morphology. In Stage 2, the McMaster technique was employed to quantify fecal egg counts (FEC). Twenty-six goats …

Diversification Of Ghost Electric Fishes (Gymnotiformes, Apteronotidae) In Tropical South America: How Traits And Environmental Factors Constrain Macroevolutionary Diversification, Jonathan Gifford Allen

Doctoral Dissertations

Neotropical electric fishes (Apteronotidae) display remarkable phenotypic and ecological diversity, offering an exceptional system for studying macroevolutionary processes in freshwater environments. Here I investigate the morphological, ecological, and historical factors shaping diversification in the clade Navajini, with a focus on craniofacial evolution, species delimitation, and biogeographic patterns. First, using high-resolution micro-CT scans, 3D geometric morphometrics, and phylogenetic comparative methods, I analyze skull shape variation across Navajini. Key traits resulting from heterocephaly exhibit strong phylogenetic signal and reflect functional differentiation among genera. Sexual dimorphism contributes significantly to cranial disparity in some lineages, while others show conserved, modular patterns likely tied to …

The Relationship Between The Environment And Pollution With Surgical Outcomes And Disparities, Wendelyn Marie Oslock

ETDs from 2020-2029

Air pollution exposure has been linked to many surgically managed diseases and adverse health events that occur in the postoperative period. Despite this, the impact of air pollution on postoperative recovery is poorly understood. This knowledge gap may be one of the underlying mechanisms for persistent disparities in surgical outcomes. Previous studies have found racial and economic disparities in air pollution exposure. These same communities have been shown to experience worse surgical outcomes. The goal of this thesis is to explore if exposure to air pollution impacts surgical outcomes and determine if disparities in socioeconomic factors impact this relationship. The …

Growing Pains: The Loss Of Plasticity To Extreme Anoxia In Developing Embryos Of Austrofundulus Limnaeus, Patrick Ryan Clouser

Dissertations and Theses

Oxygen plays a pivotal role for most animal life on Earth, so much so that even short exposures to no oxygen, anoxia, can have severe effects on the animal's wellbeing. Conversely, aerobic recovery after anoxic insult can be just as detrimental. Some animals are the exception to this rule and demonstrate survival through anoxia and recovery. There has been a great deal of research around anoxia tolerant animals, but what remains unclear are the genetic underpinnings that determine the anoxia tolerant phenotype. RNA sequencing allows for the quantification of RNA transcripts within a sample, which can indicate if a gene …

Loss Of Mct1 Mediated Lactate Uptake Causes Delayed Endplate Maturation And Intervertebral Disc Degeneration, Maria Tsingas, Konstantinos Tsingas, Mei Smyers, Wujuan Zhang, Aaron R. Goldman, Eulisa Lawrence, John A. Collins, Makarand V. Risbud

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

During skeletal growth, it is thought that the lactate secreted by the glycolytic nucleus pulposus (NP) cells exits the intervertebral disc into circulation via endplates. Our current studies challenge this long-held notion. Mice with early postnatal, endplate, and annulus fibrosus-specific deletion of lactate importer, MCT1, exhibited disc degeneration characterized by NP cell loss and pronounced endplate structural changes. Using metabolic and transcriptomic approaches, we demonstrate that MCT1 loss inhibits endplate chondrocyte differentiation and that lactate serves both as a crucial TCA metabolite and promotes protein and histone lactylation and gene expression. These findings suggest that during skeletal growth, NP-derived lactate …

National Agricultural Library (Nal) Search., Leah Everitt, Sonya Lemke

Publications

SEARCH is the USDA National Agricultural Library (NAL)'s main discovery platform that provides integrated access to the NAL Digital Collections, Special Collections, PubAg and AGRICOLA. NAL SEARCH is a valuable tool for health science librarians, students, and professionals seeking veterinary science, nutrition, or animal experiment alternatives. This article aims to give users a comprehensive overview of this resource.

Wrack Lines Spring-Summer 2026 Volume Number 1, Margaret Cozens, Johann Heupel, Owen Placido, Paul Salopek, Judy Benson

Wrack Lines

“Building community around the places we love,” is the theme of the Spring-Summer 2026 issue of Wrack Lines magazine. Learn about the work of the Six Lakes Park coalition in Hamden, Riverfront Recapture in Hartford, MyCoast in southeastern Connecticut and the statewide land conservation conference. Additional stories tell about the artistry and mission of photographer-videographer Tomas Koeck, and National Geographic explorer Paul Salopek, who is traveling the world on foot.

Vitamin D–Amp Axis In Host Defense Against Fungal Infections, Nuraly S. Akimbekov, Ilya Digel, Svetlana K. Sakhanova, Kuanysh Tastambek, Dinara K. Sherelkhan, Mohammed S. Razzaque

School of Medicine Publications

Vitamin D–mediated regulation of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is an important focus in innate immunology and is aimed at elucidating the role of vitamin D in enhancing antimicrobial defense. AMPs are short protein chains that serve as a first line of defense against invading pathogens, including fungi, bacteria and viruses. Unlike conventional antibiotics, AMPs are produced endogenously and are less likely to induce antimicrobial resistance, making them promising candidates for treating infections caused by drug-resistant pathogens. Studies indicate that optimal vitamin D levels are essential for activating antimicrobial pathways and regulating AMPs that target multiple fungal pathogens. This article summarizes recent …

Napier Grass (Pennisetum Purpureum) Meal Modulates Growth Efficiency, Gut Morphology, And Systemic Health In Broiler Chickens, Eric Lim Teik Chung, Yee Lyn Ong, Nazri Nayan, Muhamad Faris Ab Aziz, Faez Firdaus Abdullah Jesse, Faizal Andri, Arissara Sopawong

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Grass and leaf meals, which include vital phytocompounds, have the potential to be a natural and safe alternative to antibiotics in the poultry industry. Therefore, this study aims to assess Pennisetum purpureum leaf meal and its phytocompounds on the health performances of colored-broilers. A total of 216 unsexed Sasso chicks were assigned to six diet groups. The negative control (T1) received a commercial basal diet without antibiotics, while the positive control (T2) received the same diet with oxytetracycline (100 mg/kg). Groups T3 to T6 received no antibiotics and included P. purpureum meal at 1.25, 2.50, 3.75, or 5.00 grams per …

An Integrative Approach To The Evolution Of Neotropical Whale Catfishes (Family: Cetopsidae), Daniel Akin

Doctoral Dissertations

The catfishes (order Siluriformes) represent over five percent of world’s vertebrate diversity. The story of vertebrate evolution remains incomplete without a thorough evaluation of catfishes, and the ichthyological community is yet to reach consensus on some of the deeper evolutionary patterns within this fascinating group. Our complete macro-evolutionary understanding of catfishes is inhibited by a paucity of information on the taxonomies, phylogenetics, ecologies, and life histories of many understudied groups of catfishes. One such group is the Neotropical whale catfishes of the family Cetopsidae. This dissertation provides an integrated approach to studying the family Cetopsidae. I use genomics to determine …