Digital Commons Network^™

Impact Of Measurable Residual Disease Clearance Kinetics In Patients With Aml Undergoing Intensive Chemotherapy, Wei-Ying Jen, Koji Sasaki, Farhad Ravandi, Tapan M Kadia, Sa A Wang, Wei Wang, Sanam Loghavi, Naval G Daver, Courtney D Dinardo, Ghayas C Issa, Hussein A Abbas, Cedric Nasnas, Alex Bataller, Samuel Urrutia, Omer S Karrar, Sherry Pierce, Hagop M Kantarjian, Nicholas J Short

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The prognostic impact of measurable residual disease (MRD) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is unequivocal; however, the optimal time point for achieving undetectable MRD is unclear. We retrospectively studied patients with newly diagnosed (ND) AML who achieved remission with frontline intensive chemotherapy and had MRD assessed by flow cytometry after induction (time point 1 [TP1]) and after cycles 2 or 3 (TP2). Cases were grouped into MRD negative (Neg)/Neg, positive (Pos)/Neg, or Pos/Pos at TP1 and TP2, respectively. Of 1980 patients with ND AML, 277 met the inclusion criteria and were included in this analysis. The median relapse-free survival (RFS) …

Consumption Habitats Of Male And Female Lionfish Regarding The Production Of Eggs, Zalyn Baker, Natalie Tipsword, Sam Fisher

Symposium of Student Scholars

The lionfish, scientifically known as Pterois, belongs to the Scorpaenidae family, which is native to the Indo-Pacific Ocean, but has become an invasive species in the Caribbean Sea. First observed in Belize in 2008, lionfish have since become established in the Belize Barrier Reefs. Known for their ability to consume a wide range of species, lionfish compete with native fish for food resources. This invasive species poses a significant threat to the ecosystem due to their venomous spines, aggressive predatory behavior, lack of predators, and high reproductive rate, with lifespans extending up to 30 years. Our study aimed to investigate …

Microbial Source Tracking Protocols For Differentiation Of Fecal Bacteria From Cow, Deer, And Horse, Nika Shams, Michael Beach

Symposium of Student Scholars

Microbial source tracking (MST) attempts to identify specific animal sources of fecal contamination in the environment. While traditional fecal coliform enumeration can give a general measure of contamination, the specificity imparted by modern MST provides a more informative assessment of contaminants and their likelihood to affect human health outcomes.

We have been developing an MST system that detects DNA biomarkers from the gram-negative bacterial genus Bacteroides and the family Lachnospiraceae. They are strict anaerobes found in large quantities in the intestines of animals. Unlike E. coli or Enterococci, host-specific strains of Bacteroides and Lachnospiraceae exist. To this end, we …

Transcription Factor Binding And Discovery Of Novel Gene In The Opportunistic Human Pathogen, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Alaina Westee

Symposium of Student Scholars

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is a gram-negative, ubiquitously-found bacterium that primarily causes nosocomial, or hospital-borne, infections within immunocompromised patients. Therefore, it has been deemed a critical priority pathogen by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC), generating a need for research on its fundamental biology. The Van Dyke laboratory focuses on proteins called transcription factors, which promote or repress gene expression to regulate an organism’s functioning. We are specifically studying the cadmium-responsive transcription factor, CadR, due to the importance of metals in virulence and the lack of information on PA’s response to metal fluctuations. We intend …

Bloom: Behavioral Learning And Outcome Observation In Microbes, Sean Sarwar Haque, Luke Compton Wharton, Ming Lin, Razvan Voicu

Symposium of Student Scholars

Understanding how pathogens respond to physical changes in their environment is crucial for developing effective treatments and preventative measures. Current research often relies on static models or experimental data that either fail to capture the dynamic interactions within cellular environments or are not generalizable to other types of pathogens. This project aims to address this gap by creating a comprehensive cell simulation that models pathogens and their response to chemical, physical, and physiological changes. The proposed solution is a simulation that integrates biological data and computational modeling to replicate the behavior of pathogens in real time as they are affected …

Survey Of Mosquito Larval Habitats At The Ksu Field Station, Rose Sofia, Eli Lovvorn, Aspen Hartman, Andrew Haddow

Symposium of Student Scholars

The greater Atlanta metropolitan area hosts numerous mosquito species that are nuisance biters and can transmit arthropod-borne diseases to humans. We surveyed the Kennesaw State University (KSU) Field Station – an incredibly biodiverse location – where student, staff, and faculty-led groups engage in outdoor research and teaching activities. The KSU Field Station located in Cobb County, GA is a heavily trafficked 25-acre property that may attract various mosquito species capable of transmitting pathogens to humans and animals alike. On August 27th, 2024, our team investigated the KSU Field Station to quantify and record potential water-holding containers that serve as mosquito …

Gubic: The Global Urban Biological Invasions Compendium For Plants, Daijiang Li, Luke J. Potgieter, Myla F. J. Aronson, Irena Axmanová, Benjamin Baiser, Marta Carboni, Laura Celesti-Grapow, Sonja Knapp, Ingolf Kühn, Ana Carolina Lacerda De Matos, Zdeňka Lososová, Flavia A. Montaño-Centellas, Petr Pyšek, David M. Richardson, Lauren B. Trotta, Rafael D. Zenni, Sarel S. Cilliers, Bruce D. Clarkson, Amy J. S. Davis, Rebecca W. Dolan, Marcin M. Dyderski, Franz Essl, Orou G. Gaoue, Joanne Gui, Charly Géron, Gustavo Heringer, Cang Hui, Anzar A. Khuroo, Stefan Klotz, Peter M. Kotanen, Holger Kreft, Frank A. Sorte, Jonas J. Lembrechts, Bernd Lenzner, Christopher A. Lepczyk, Scott Macivor, Cristina Martínez-Garza, Akira S. Mori, Charles Nilon, Jan Pergl, Stefan J. Siebert, Alyona S. Tretyakova, Toby P. N. Tsang, Kei Uchida, Mark Van Kleunen, Montserrat Vilà, Hua-Feng Wang, Patrick Weigelt, Peter Werner, Nicholas S. G. Williams, Marten Winter, Marc Cadotte

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

Abstract Urban areas are foci for the introduction of non-native plant species, and they often act as launching sites for invasions into the wider environment. Although interest in biological invasions in urban areas is growing rapidly, and the extent and complexity of problems associated with invasions in these systems have increased, data on the composition and numbers of non-native plants in urbanized areas remain scattered and idiosyncratic. We assembled data from multiple sources to create the Global Urban Biological Invasions Compendium (GUBIC) for vascular plants representing 553 urban centres from 61 countries across every continent except Antarctica. The GUBIC repository …

The Impact Of Diabetes On Neurovascular Integrity: A Special Focus On Pericytes And Endothelin-1, Mia Edgerton

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Diabetes increases the risk of stroke and Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (VCID). Diabetes also dysregulates the endothelin (ET) system. ET-1-mediated constriction of brain microvascular pericytes (BMVPCs) has been shown to contribute to brain hypoperfusion. However, there is a loss of BMVPCs in VCID, but underlying mechanisms of pericyte degeneration are poorly studied. ETA receptor activation can instigate phenotypical changes and cellular senescence in endothelial cells. . There is also emerging evidence that ETB receptor agonism improves outcomes in patients with cerebral ischemic stroke, but long-term effects, especially in diabetes, are unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to determine …

What To Do Now That You've Trapped A Nuisance Wild Animal, Cory Farnsworth, S. Nicole Frey

All Current Publications

This fact sheet outlines specific guidelines for legally responding to nuisance wild animals. Management best practices, animal use, euthanasia, and proper disposal are discussed.

Reviews And Syntheses: Variable Inundation Across Earth’S Terrestrial Ecosystems, James Stegen, Amy J. Burgin, Michelle H. Busch, Joshua B. Fisher, Joshua Ladau, Jenna Abrahamson, Lauren Kinsman-Costello, Li Li, Xingyuan Chen, Thibault Datry, Nate Mcdowell, Corianne Tatariw, Anna Braswell, Jillian M. Deines, Julia A. Guimond, Peter Regler, Kenton Rod, Edward K. P. Bam, Etienne Fluet-Chouinard, Inke Forbrich, Kristin L. Jaeger, Teri O'Meara, Tim Scheibe, Erin Seybold, Jon N. Sweetman, Jianqiu Zheng, Daniel C. Allen, Elizabeth Herndon, Beth A. Middleton, Scott Painter, Kevin Roche, Julianne Scamardo, Ross Vander Vorste, Kristin Boye, Ellen Wohl, Margaret Zimmer, Kelly Hondula, Maggi Laan, Anna Marshall, Kaizad F. Patel

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The structure, function, and dynamics of Earth's terrestrial ecosystems are profoundly influenced by how often (frequency) and how long (duration) they are inundated with water. A diverse array of natural and human-engineered systems experience temporally variable inundation whereby they fluctuate between inundated and non-inundated states. Variable inundation spans extreme events to predictable sub-daily cycles. Variably inundated ecosystems (VIEs) include hillslopes, non-perennial streams, wetlands, floodplains, temporary ponds, tidal systems, storm-impacted coastal zones, and human-engineered systems. VIEs are diverse in terms of inundation regimes, water chemistry and flow velocity, soil and sediment properties, vegetation, and many other properties. The spatial and temporal …

Regulating Chemoresistance And Cancer Stemness: The Cdh17-Yap Pathway In Distinct Cellular States Of Lung Cancer Ctc Clusters, Zujun Que, Dan Qi, Yun Yang, Wang Yao, Jiajun Liu, Yan Li, Yuanyuan Yu, Luyao Wang, Fangfei Li, Ge Zhang, Erxi Wu, Jianhui Tian

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Drug resistance in metastatic lung cancer significantly contributes to patient mortality. This study explores the role of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), the precursors to metastasis, in driving this resistance. We aim to delineate the unique biological traits of CTC clusters in lung cancer and elucidate the mechanisms underlying their resistance to chemotherapy.

Methods: We used an ultralow adsorption plate to establish a CTC suspension culture system. Comparisons between adherent and suspension cultures of CTC-TJH-01 cells were made via Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), western blot, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry assays to evaluate cell proliferation, drug resistance, and cancer stemness. The …

Managing Lupin Sclerotinia: Know Your Risk And How To Respond, Ciara Beard, Geoff J. Thomas, Zia Hoque, Sarita Bennett, Pippa J. Michael, Rachael Crockett, Shannah Kanny, Montana Bradley

Grain and other field crops research reports

• Sclerotinia prevalence, particularly basal Sclerotinia (ground level infection) has increased significantly in Western Australia in the last five years. Since 2020, commercial crop surveys have found basal Sclerotinia more common in lupins than in canola, and it is difficult to manage.
• From 2021–2025 extensive research was conducted in the laboratory, glasshouse and field trials by research partners Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), Centre for Crop Disease Management (CCDM), Mingenew Irwin Group (MIG) and lupin growers. Key new findings applicable to lupin growers are:
• Sclerotinia infects narrow-leaf lupin via two pathways: canopy and basal. Basal infection is more …

Determining The Optimal Antioxidant Strategy: A Comparative Analysis Of Extractionmethods In Cistus Villosus L. Extracts Revealed By Lc-Hrms And Computationalmodeling, Hicham Bouakkaz, Ebru Erol, Khedidja Benarous, Gülaçti Topçu, Reguia Mahfoudi, Amar Djeridane, Mohamed Yousfi

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Cistus villosus L., a beloved tea herb, contains a treasure trove of potent antioxidants. Our research unveils thisancient ally’s potential to shield against oxidative stress, a modern health threat.Materials and methods: Antioxidant assays were conducted to evaluate the potency of ethyl acetate extract. IC50 values were determinedfor the extract in various antioxidant assays. Furthermore, molecular docking was employed for the examination of the 22 compoundsanalyzed through LC-HRMS. Additionally, ADMET and PASS investigations were conducted to evaluate their capability as antioxidantsand inhibitors of oxidant formation.Results: Each identified compound boasts a history of antioxidant prowess, building the natural defense arsenal of …

Enhanced Formulation And Comprehensive Analysis Of Novel Natural Ointments Withgrape Seed And Pomegranate Peel Infused In Olive Oil, Mebarka Imane Benguechoua, Madjda Benguechoua, Khedidja Benarous, Alaeddine Kaouka, Mohamed Yousfi

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: The global shift toward sustainable and organic alternatives in cosmetics and personal care has created a demandfor innovative and environmentally conscious formulations. This study aimed to develop novel natural ointments using beeswax andgrape seed (GS) and pomegranate peel (PP) extracts infused in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), and determine the physicochemicalcharacteristics, microbiological properties, and antioxidant activity as a way to valorize organic waste toward its application in thecosmetic industry. The research aimed to promote sustainability and effectiveness in the cosmetic industry.Materials and methods: Microbial analysis was performed on the oils and ointments, followed by the extraction of active compoundsusing …

The Therapeutic Potential Of Salvia Aegyptiaca Extracts In Ethanol-Induced Gastric Ulcer:Insights Into Macroscopic, Histopathological, And Biochemical Mechanisms, Walid Mamache, Smain Amira, Fatima Benchikh, Hassiba Benabdallah, Amor Bencheikh, Hind Amira, Roumaissa Ounis, Mohammed Abdallah Torki, Chahrazed Kaoudoune

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: This study explores the antiulcer activity of different doses of Salvia aegyptiaca (SAE) methanol (ME) and decoctedextracts (DE) on ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in rats.Materials and methods: Female Wistar rats weighing 180–200 g were divided into five groups: control, omeprazole (positive control),and extract-treated (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg). Ulcers were induced with absolute ethanol 30 min after treatment with the extracts.The experiment was followed by macroscopic and histopathological examination. In vitro tests were also conducted to assess lipidperoxidation, catalase activity, mucus content, glutathione, and protein levels.Results: The study found that 100% ethanol caused significant damage, including colour and mucus loss, …

Phytochemical Profile And Nematicidal Potential Of Essential Oil From Algerian Wildoriganum Vulgare Subsp. Glandulosum Defs., Amina Mezerket, Juan Emilio Palomares Rius, Souad Bouasla, Henia Saib

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: The root gall nematode Meloidogyne incognita constitute the most damaging species that infects many crops inAlgeria. The intense use of harmful agricultural chemical products has incited research to develop alternative methods with natural andecological advantages like essential oils extracted from plants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Origanum vulgaresubsp. glandulosum Desf. (Lamiaceae) essential oil on the development of the root-knot nematode M. incognita in potted tomatoes.Materials and methods: In pot trials, we assess the activity of O. vulgare subsp. glandulosum essential oil at two concentrations of0.75 and 0.37 mg /L against M . incognita. …

Antidiabetic Potential Of Polysaccharides From Algerian Saharan Zygophyllum Geslini Instreptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats, Houria Medjdoub, Waffa Bouali, Arezki Azzi, Nacera Belkacem, Nabila Benariba, Nawel Meliani

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Zygophyllum geslini, an endemic Algerian species, has numerous properties, especially as an antidiabeticdrug. In Algeria, this herb serves as condiment in Saharan dishes and as animal feed (Sheep, Goat and Camel). However, fewscientific studies have reported on the medicinal properties of this Saharan species. The aims of the present work were to study 1) thechemical aspects of polysaccharides extracted from this plant, 2) their inhibitory effect on pancreatic α-amylase in vitro, and 3) theirantihyperglycemic effect in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats in vivo.Materials and methods: First, polysaccharides were extracted from Z. geslini aerial part (ZGAP) in hot water and precipitated withethanol …

Antilipase Activities Of Cultivated Peppermint And Rosemary Essential Oils:In Vitro And In Silico Studies, Khadidja Bengana, Talia Serseg, Khedidja Benarous, Ari̇f Mermer, Yakup Şi̇ri̇n, Alaeddine Kaouka

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: The growing interest in essential oils clearly indicates the power of nature and aligns with our increasing need to findtherapeutic solutions in the natural world. This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects of the essential oils of Mentha × piperitaand Salvia rosmarinus, harvested from the Laghouat region of Algeria, against Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) and pancreatic lipasethrough both in vitro and in silico studies.Materials and methods: Essential oils were extracted via hydrodistillation and analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometryand spectrophotometry. Their antilipase activities were assessed using an inhibition assay, and molecular docking was performed withAutoDock Vina to explore interactions …

Investigating The Composition Of Fatty Acid, Tocopherol, And Sterol Contents Andantioxidant Capacity Of Oils From The Seeds Of Abelmoschus Esculentus L. Growing Inalgeria, Samira Nia, Madjda Benguechoua, Toufik Hadj Mahammed, Khatir Reggagui, Mohamed Yousfi

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Vegetable oils are considered a vital source of energy when glucose cannot be utilized. Therefore, research on newsources of oil that demonstrate nutritional value is necessary. Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), a member of the Malvaceae family, isa remarkable botanical specimen due to its various uses; its roots, stem, leaves, fruits, and seeds are all valued for their nutritional,therapeutic, and industrial value. This study aims to demonstrate okra’s fatty acid (FA) composition, tocopherol content, and sterolcontent and evaluate the antioxidant activity of the oils extracted from okra using three solvents.Materials and methods: The initial part of this study involved oil extraction …

Inhibitory Effects Of Carvacrol On Glucansucrase From Streptococcus Mutans And Salivaryα-Amylase: In Silico And In Vitro Studies, Samet Kocabay, M. Abdullah Alagöz, Bi̇rnur Akkaya

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Streptococcus mutans produces glucansucrase, an enzyme that converts sucrose into lactic acid, which lowers the pH in the oral environment and leads to tooth enamel demineralization, a key factor in dental caries. Additionally, glucansucrase facilitates the formation of extracellular polysaccharides, which promote bacterial adhesion to tooth surfaces. This study investigates the inhibitory effects of carvacrol, a natural compound, on glucansucrase activity both in vitro and in silico. Materials and methods: Glucansucrase enzyme was purified from S. mutans. The inhibitory effects of carvacrol against glucansucrase enzyme were investigated both in vitro and in silico. Results: In the presence of 50 …

Evaluating The Multifaceted Bioactivity Of Syzygium Aromaticum Essential Oil:The Central Role Of Eugenol, Noureddine Rahim, Chamseddine Derabli, Amina Bramki, Sara Mahdjoub, Sandrine Rup-Jacques, Ghozlane Barboucha, Stephani Hesse, Houssem Boulebd

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Syzygium aromaticum L. is a versatile plant traditionally used to treat digestive and respiratory issues, improve oral health, and relieve pain, particularly in regions such as Southeast Asia, South Asia, and parts of the Middle East. Its essential oil (EO), predominantly composed of eugenol, is rich in bioactive compounds. This study aims to clarify the specific contribution of eugenol to the antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal activities of S. aromaticum EO by comparing their individual effects. Additionally, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to examine the antioxidant mechanism of eugenol and its role in enhancing the overall activity …

Phytochemical Analysis And Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, And Cytotoxic Activities Ofxanthium Strumarium L. (Asteraceae), Ahmet Beyatli

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Medicinal plants are considered an important source of novel antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer agents. The main goal of this study was to define the beneficial properties of various extracts obtained from Xanthium strumarium. Materials and methods: Evaluations were conducted on the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extracts. High-performance liquid chromatography and diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) was used to determine the phenolic profiles of the extracts. DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays were used to evaluate the free radical scavenging properties of the X. strumarium extracts. The broth dilution method was used for antimicrobial activity assessments, the MTT assay was …

Metal Complexes Of Sulfamethazine/Benzoin-Based Schiff Base Ligand: Synthesis,Characterization, Dft Calculations, And Antimicrobial Activities, Kerem Buran

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: The global rise in bacterial resistance poses a significant challenge, exacerbated by the overuse of antibacterial agents. Schiff base-metal complexes have gained attention for their potential antimicrobial properties, attributed to their unique three-dimensional structures and modes of action, such as cell wall inhibition and membrane disruption. The aim of this study was to synthesize and characterize a novel Schiff base (L) derived from sulfamethazine and benzoin, and to develop metal complexes of it with Cu2+, Co2+, Ni2+, and Cd2+. This research sought to evaluate the antibacterial and antifungal activities of the synthesized Schiff base and its metal complexes to …

Environmental Stability Of The Simulated Forest Immersion Therapy (Sfit) Intervention, Amy Miner Ross, Reo J. F. Jones, Kylee Deterding, Ella Rasmussen

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Shinrin-yoku, forest bathing, has been shown to improve the pain experience in arthritis patients and the immune system in normal healthy patients. Yet, a simulated forest immersion therapy (SFIT) experience has not been tested in these two populations and specifically not in cancer patients. If SFIT complementary therapy in these two populations progresses, the intervention environment as designed needs to be tested. The purpose of this paper is to describe the SFIT setting and test the stability of the interventional environment. Methods: To operationalize SFIT, a protocol of dose delivery was designed and measured. Ambient and surface room temperatures, …

Aberrant Choroid Plexus Formation Drives The Development Of Treatment-Related Brain Toxicity, Tamara Bender, Esther Schickel, Celine Schielke, Jürgen Debus, David R Grosshans, Marco Durante, Insa S Schroeder

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Brain tumors are commonly treated with radiotherapy, but the efficacy of the treatment is limited by its toxicity to the normal tissue including post-irradiation contrast enhanced lesions often linked to necrosis. The poorly understood mechanisms behind such brain lesions were studied using cerebral organoids. Here we show that irradiation of such organoids leads to dose-dependent growth retardation and formation of liquid-filled cavities but is not correlated with necrosis. Instead, the radiation-induced changes comprise of an enhancement of cortical hem markers, altered neuroepithelial stem cell differentiation, and an increase of ZO1+/AQP1+/CLDN3+-choroid plexus (CP)-like structures accompanied by an upregulation of IGF2 mRNA, …

Rediscovery Of Eucerceris Zonata (Say, 1823) (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae), A Species Thought To Be Extirpated In Canada, Ludovic Leclerc, Deanna Dodgson, Matthias Buck

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Eucerceris zonata (Say) (Hymenoptera: Philanthidae), a weevil wasp species that was thought to be extirpated in Canada is rediscovered in Manitoba and Quebec. Collection records and validated citizen science observations confirm the continued presence of E. zonata in Canada during the last decade and a half. The newly discovered populations inhabit sand areas both in Manitoba and Quebec. Potential threats to the species at these sites are discussed.

Notes And New Records For Parasitoids Of Exotic Drosophilids In Indiana, Usa (Hymenoptera: Figitidae And Braconidae), Elizabeth Y. Long, M Andrew Johnston

The Great Lakes Entomologist

We report the first detection of two parasitoids of the invasive spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), in Indiana, USA: Leptopilina japonica Novković & Kimura (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) and Asobara c.f. rufescens (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). These wasps, newly reported here from Indiana, were detected in the drowning solution of Scentry spotted-wing drosophila monitoring traps located in a blueberry orchard in northern Indiana. These parasitoids were detected in monitoring traps from 10-June-2024 until 19-Aug-2024, with more detections of L. japonica than A. c.f. rufescens. We also report detection of the African fig fly, Zaprionus indianus Gupta (Diptera: Drosophilidae), in the drowning solution of …

Flowers Of Black-Seeded And Yellow-Seeded Oilseed Pennycress (Thlaspi Arvense): Abundance, Timing, And Potential Insect Visitors, Frank Forcella, Riley Ellarson, Russ W. Gesch, Alex Hard, Nicholas J. Heller, Sarah Jandricic, M D. Marks, Yesuf Mohammed, William L. Perry, Winthrop B. Phippen, Lucas M. Roberts, Samantha Wells, Tad L. Wesley, Julia Zhang

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Pennycress is being developed in the Midwestern USA as a new oilseed crop that provides numerous ecosystem services. These services include being an early spring source of pollen and nectar for flower-visiting insects. Most past research on pennycress flower visitors used wild genotypes of pennycress. All wild genotypes have seed coats that are black, which occurs because of high levels of proanthocyanadins (PACs). Concentrations of PACs are minimal in newly developed genotypes with yellow-colored seed coats. However, little is known regarding flower abundance and timing nor insect visitation preferences for black-seeded genotypes (BSG) or yellow-seeded genotypes (YSG) of pennycress. Flower …

The Effect Of Temperature And Vegetative Substrate On The Short-Distance Dispersal Behavior Of An Invasive Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) To A Protected Dune Thistle, Alyssa S. Hakes, Tina Czaplinska, Monica Paniagua-Montoya

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The invasion of a seed-eating weevil, Larinus carlinae (Olivier, 1807) poses a threat to the persistence of native Pitcher's thistle (Cirsium pitcheri), a federally-threatened plant in sand dune communities of the western Great Lakes. At Whitefish Dunes (Sturgeon Bay, WI. USA), seed predation by weevils is higher for thistles surrounded by native marram grass (Ammophila breviligulata) than for those located in sandy habitats. In this study, we observed how the local abiotic and biotic environment affects the short-distance dispersal behavior of L. carlinae. Weevils were captured on site and individually released on the sand approximately …

Occurrence Of Spotted Wing Drosophila (Drosophila Suzukii) In Wild Berries In Forested Areas Of Marquette And Keweenaw Counties, Upper Peninsula Of Michigan, Alexis M. Shatrau, Erika I. Hersch-Green

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Spotted-wing Drosophila (SWD, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, Diptera: Drosophilidae) is an invasive fly that targets unripe soft-fruits causing premature ripening, dehiscence, and rotting. While the presence of SWD in agricultural systems is well-documented, much less is known about the host range of SWD in wild areas, especially in more northern latitudes where colder temperatures and short summers are thought to restrict their life-cycles and limit population growth. In 2019 and 2020, we collected wild berries from two counties in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, with long, cold winters, to determine the prevalence, host range, and seasonal/temporal variation of SWD. We found …