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A Comparative Analysis Of Geometric Morphometrics Across Two Pseudemys Turtle Species In East Central Virginia, Kristin C. Dillard

Theses and Dissertations

The phylogeny of the turtle genus Pseudemys is poorly understood. In Virginia, many turtles have been found with indicator traits of both eastern river cooters (Pseudemys concinna concinna) and northern red bellied cooters (Pseudemys rubriventris). This study explores morphological evidence for hybridization between the two species across three riverine sites in east central Virginia.

Museum voucher groups for each species were analyzed for relative shell height and plastron length. The shape of the plastral scutes and upper jaw were analyzed using landmark-based morphometric software. These metrics were compared with measurements taken from 188 field-caught Pseudemys specimens. …

Systematics Of Collared Snakes And Burrowing Asps (Aparallactinae And Atractaspidinae) (Squamata: Lamprophiidae), Francisco Portillo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The Subfamilies Aparallactinae (collared snakes) and Atractaspidinae (burrowing asps) occur in multiple habitats throughout sub-Saharan Africa, and they include multiple poorly studied genera. The monophyly of these groups are well established, but relationships within the subfamilies are poorly known. My study contains samples from six of eight aparallactine genera, and both atractaspidine genera in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. I employed concatenated gene-tree analyses, divergence dating approaches, ancestral-area reconstructions, ancestral-state reconstructions, morphological analyses, and taxonomic assessments to infer phylogenies, biogeographic patterns, and evolutionary histories with a multi-locus data set consisting of three mitochondrial (16S, cyt b, and ND4) and …

Vector Competence Of Aedes Sierrensis And Culex Pipiens Complex (Diptera: Culicidae) For Dirofilaria Immitis (Spirurida: Onchocercidae) In Northern California, Jeffrey Allan Kurosaka

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Dirofilaria immitis Leidy (dog heartworm) is a life-threatening parasite transmitted by mosquitoes to domestic dogs. Endemic in the eastern United States, cases have become more prevalent over the last few decades. While prevalence in California is generally low, Lake and San Joaquin Counties have reported rates comparable to the East Coast at 3.73% and 0.71%(CAPC 2017), respectively. Aedes sierrensis is thought to be responsible for transmission in California, but in some cases, it exists in inadequate quantities and temporal ranges to explain parasite activity. Based on Huang et al. (2013) and Tran (2016), bloodfeeding patterns, and other vector criteria, Culex …

Nutritional Effects On Morphological Characteristics And Male-Male Competition Of Stag Beetle Aegus Chelifer Chelifer Macleay, 1819, Nut Songvorawit

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Stag beetles have great intraspecific variation in their bodies and weapon sizes, which are strongly influenced by the environment during the larval stage. However, the impacts of environmental factors affect on such variation and the links between environmental factors, morphological characteristics and behaviours are still unclear. This study first surveyed stag beetles discovered in natural habitat of a dry-evergreen forest in Chanthaburi province, Thailand, to roughly examine possible factors relating to growth of stag beetles. The occurrence and numbers of stag beetle larvae found in logs were high in those of a moderate decay class with relatively high nitrogen content …

Dna Barcoding Of Lepidopteran Hosts And Their Parasitoids At Chulalongkorn University Area, Kaeng Khoi District, Saraburi Province, Pornthap Kerkig

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Relationships between caterpillars and their parasitoids are poorly known due to the limitation of insect rearing and accurate identification. However, this knowledge is very important for controlling agricultural insect pests using parasitoids as natural enemies in biological control programmes and also for understanding interactions between caterpillar hosts and their parasitoids. During the recent decades, DNA barcoding technique has been developed and used for molecular identification, it could help identify both caterpillars and their parasitoids accurately and fast, also solve the problems about insect rearing. This research aims to preliminary study the relationships between caterpillars and their parasitoids at Chulalongkorn University …

ความหลากชนิดและความชุกชุมของมดในพื้นที่ที่ใช้ประโยชน์โดยมนุษย์ในอำเภอเวียงสา จังหวัดน่าน, อนงค์นาฏ เช็งสุทธา

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

งานวิจัยในครั้งนี้ทำการศึกษาในเขตอำเภอเวียงสา จังหวัดน่าน ตั้งแต่เดือนมกราคม 2558 ถึงเดือนมกราคม 2559 ในพื้นที่ที่มีการใช้ประโยชน์จากมนุษย์ 3 ประเภท ได้แก่ ป่าชุมชน (CF), สวนป่าสัก (TP) และพื้นที่เกษตรแบบผสมผสาน (IF) วัตถุประสงค์ของงานวิจัยนี้ต้องการที่จะเปรียบเทียบความหลากหลายและความชุกชุมของมดในพื้นที่ที่มีการใช้ประโยชน์โดยมนุษย์และเพื่อศึกษาความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างปัจจัยสิ่งแวดล้อมบางประการต่อความชุกชุมของมด 3 ชนิด ได้แก่ มดน้ำผึ้ง Anoplolepis gracilipes มดแดง Oecophylla smaragdina และมดละเอียดท้องดำ Trichomyrmex destructor ทำการเก็บตัวอย่างมดทุก ๆ 2 เดือนโดยใช้วิธีเก็บตัวอย่าง 4 วิธี ได้แก่ การเก็บด้วยมือแบบกำหนดเวลา การใช้กับดักน้ำหวานผสมโปรตีน การใช้กับดักหลุม และ การร่อนดิน ผลการศึกษาพบมดจำนวนหกวงศ์ย่อย ได้แก่ วงศ์ย่อย Dolichoderinae วงศ์ย่อย Dorylinae วงศ์ย่อย Formicinae วงศ์ย่อย Myrmicinae วงศ์ย่อย Ponerinae และ วงศ์ย่อย Pseudomyrmecinae ซึ่งพบมดทั้งสิ้นจำนวน 40 สกุล 70 ชนิด (69 ชนิด และ 1 สัณฐานวิทยา) โดยที่มดชนิด Paratopula macta ได้ถูกค้นพบเป็นครั้งแรกในภาคเหนือของประเทศไทย ค่าเฉลี่ยของดัชนีความหลากหลายทางชนิดมด (Shannon - Wiener's diversity index (H')) มีค่าเท่ากับ 1.05, 0.90 และ 0.77 ในพื้นที่ IF CF และ TP ตามลำดับ ในขณะที่ค่าเฉลี่ยของดัชนีความสม่ำเสมอของชนิดมด (Pielou's evenness index (J')) มีค่า 0.31, 0.28 และ 0.26 ตามลำดับ อย่างไรก็ตามแม้ว่าจะไม่พบความแตกต่างอย่างมีนัยสำคัญในการเปรียบเทียบดัชนี …

Managing Sociality Of A Captive Female Bornean Orangutan From Breeding To Post-Partum At The Smithsonian's National Zoo, Marie Vergamini

Theses and Dissertations

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Orangutan Species Survival Plan® aims to maintain 100 Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) in captivity. Because investment in breeding these lineages is high, properly managing sociality of potential mothers is essential. This study assessed how behaviors of a captive breeding female at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo changed from pre-gestation through the offspring’s sixth month of age to improve breeding recommendations.

The infant Bornean orangutan was born September 2016. Results indicate that during breeding, the mother socialized most with two adult females. During pregnancy, the pregnant female socialized in less energy-consuming ways, i.e. grooming. …

The Status Of Snapping Turtles (Chelydra Serpentina) In Virginia: Population Viability, Demography, Regulatory Analysis, And Conservation, Benjamin C. Colteaux

Theses and Dissertations

Snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) are being harvested in unprecedented numbers in the United States (US) to meet the needs of international markets. Over three million live snapping turtles from farm and wild caught stock were exported from the US to Asia in 2012-14 alone. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, records indicate that 29,860 snapping turtles were commercially harvested between 2000 and 2015. Size limits are often used to regulate harvest pressure in snapping turtles and other game species. I analyzed the historic harvest of eleven US states to test the efficacy of minimum-size limit regulations at reducing commercial …

The Bee Fauna Of The Horse Mountain And Grouse Mountain Region, Humboldt County, California, Carrie Lopez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Recent concerns about the ecological well-being of bee communities in California and elsewhere have increased the need for monitoring programs and studies that evaluate the impact of habitat loss and alteration on bee diversity and abundance. Such studies depend critically on the expertise of people trained in taxonomy, but their numbers have declined in recent years. My primary goal was to gain a comprehensive first-hand experience with bee identification by documenting the fauna of a previously unstudied area in the mountains of northwestern California and by writing an identification key, intended for dedicated non-specialists, to the area’s 35 species of …

Seasonal And Ontogenetic Diet Shift Of Two Sympatric Cyprinid Fish Species From The Temperate Karamenderes River, Çanakkale, Turkey, Şükran Yalçin Özdi̇lek

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Diet composition and feeding relationships of two cyprinid species, Squalius cii and Barbus oligolepis, from the Karamenderes River, northwestern Turkey, were assessed over a 1-year period. Both species were omnivorous and fed mostly on benthic plant materials (particularly algae) and insects. The diet of B. oligolepis primarily comprised Bacillariophyceae, Diptera larvae, and other insects, while that of S. cii comprised filamentous algae (Cyanobacteria and Chlorophyceae), insect larvae, and adults. Ontogenetic shifts in diet were identified in both species. The ratio of Chlorophyceae in the diet of B. oligolepis showed a gradual increase with increase in its body size; moreover, the …

Mesomermis Devii Sp. Nov. (Nematoda: Mermithidae),A New Species Of Nematode From Devi Cave In Georgia, Olegi Gorgadze, Shalva Barjadze

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Adult female individuals of the nematode Mesomermis devii sp. nov. (Nematoda: Mermithidae) have been described. The host organism is not determined. The individuals were isolated from moist guano obtained in the dark zone of Devi Cave (West Georgia). The new species is characterized by the following: rounded and symmetrical apical end of the head; mouth aperture is located in the middle of the head terminus; 6 cephalic papillae are arranged in a single row; each papilla is equipped with 2 or 3 sensilla; stoma has uneven width and the pharyngeal tube is of even width along the whole length; small …

Amylase In The Hepatopancreas Of A Euryhaline Burrowingcrab: Characteristics And Modulation, Antonela Asaro, Roberto Paggi, Rosana De Castro, Alejandra Lopez Mañanes

Turkish Journal of Zoology

In spite of its inherent physiological importance, studies on the occurrence, characteristics, and modulation of amylase in euryhaline crabs are lacking. We investigated the occurrence of amylase forms and the effect of acclimation to different salinities on their number and made a partial purification and characterization of the major form present in the hepatopancreas of Neohelice granulata. Zymogram analysis revealed 5 amylase forms in crabs acclimated to 35 psu (seawater) and 37 psu, and an additional band at 10 psu, but with a major form (29 kDa) in all cases, which was partially purified and characterized. Amylolytic activity was maximal …

Review Of The Brachypterous Species Of Alloxysta Förster, 1869(Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea: Figitidae: Charipinae) With A Description Of Two New Species, Mar Ferrer Suay, Jesus Selfa, Maria Victoria Seco-Fernandez, Jili Pujade-Villar

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The aim of this study is to review the brachypterous species within the genus Alloxysta Förster, 1869. The known brachypterous species of Alloxysta have been compared with fully winged species in order to establish hypotheses regarding dimorphism for wing length and shape. This analysis is based only on the morphological features shared between species; breeding and genetic analyses will be necessary to test and refine these hypotheses. Two new brachypterous species are described here: Alloxysta curta Ferrer-Suay sp. nov. and Alloxysta pseudoconsobrina Ferrer-Suay sp. nov. Six species are revised. In total, there are now 8 brachypterous species known in this …

Heterochromatin Distribution And Localization Of Nors In The 2n = 48cytotypes Of Nannospalax Xanthodon And N. Ehrenbergi, Ati̇lla Arslan, Jan Zima

Turkish Journal of Zoology

We compared the C-banding pattern and the NOR distribution in 3 populations of N. xanthodon and N. ehrenbergi with 48 chromosomes from Turkey, with the aim to reveal variations between and within species. We have found distinct variation in the C-banding and the NOR distribution pattern among the 3 populations compared; each of them possessed its own specific chromosomal features. However, it is not possible to distinguish between intra- and interspecific variation, and the observed patterns cannot be utilized for unequivocal species recognition.

Neobisium (N.) Tothi Sp. Nov., A New Species From Hungary Andromania, And First Records Of Neobisium (N.) Noricum Beier, 1939 From Hungary (Pseudoscorpiones: Neobisiidae), János Novák

Turkish Journal of Zoology

A new pseudoscorpion species, Neobisium (Neobisium) tothi sp. nov., is described from Hungary and Romania. In addition, Neobisium (N.) noricum Beier, 1939 is reported from Hungary for the first time. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of the new species and the new specimens of N. (N.) noricum are presented here.

Fine Structure Of The Malpighian Tubules In Gryllus Campestris(Linnaeus, 1758) (Orthoptera, Gryllidae), Irmak Polat, Nurcan Özyurt, Damla Amutkan, Zeki̇ye Suludere, Selami̇ Candan

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The Malpighian tubules are responsible for excretion and osmoregulation in insects. The Malpighian system consists of tubules that are closed at the distal end and extend from the point of junction of the midgut and hindgut. This organ helps the water and electrolyte balance of the internal metabolism by filtration with absorption of water and soluble materials as mineral salts from the hemolymph. In this study, the histology of Malpighian tubules in Gryllus campestris (Orthoptera, Gryllidae) has been examined in detail by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The distal ends of the Malpighian tubules in G. …

Identification Of Thyroid Hormone Receptors α And β Genes And Their Expression Profiles During Metamorphosis In Rana Chensinensis, Chuan-Chuan Du, Xin-Yi Li, Hua-Xin Wang, Kai Liang, Hong-Yuan Wang, Yuhui Zhang

Turkish Journal of Zoology

To explore the role of thyroid hormones in organ remodeling during the metamorphosis of amphibians, the cDNAs of two thyroid hormone receptors (TRα and TRβ) in Rana chensinensis were identified. The 1257 bp of rcTRα cDNA encoding 418 amino acids and the 1122 bp of rcTRβ cDNA encoding 373 amino acids were cloned. Their polypeptide sequences contain two highly conserved cysteine-rich zinc fingers in the DNA-binding domain, while rcTRβ is 42 amino acids shorter in its A/B domain when compared with rcTRα. Fifty-five amino acids differed between the TRα and TRβ domains. The rcTRα and rcTRβ mRNA levels in the …

Key To The Species Of Megachernes Beier (Pseudoscorpiones: Chernetidae),With Notes On M. Afghanicus And M. Pavlovskyi, Mahrad Nassirkhani, Reza Vafai Shoushtari

Turkish Journal of Zoology

An identification key is presented for all described species of the pseudoscorpions belonging to the genus Megachernes. Megachernes afghanicus Beier, 1959 is also considered as a junior subjective synonym of M. pavlovskyi Redikorzev, 1949.

The First Record Of Macrobiotus Vladimiri Bertolani, Biserov, Rebecchi & Cesari, 2011 (Tardigrada: Eutardigrada: Macrobiotidae: Hufelandi Group) From Poland, Bernadeta Nowak, Daniel Stec

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Tardigrade studies in Poland have been carried out for more than a century and to date, 102 species have been reported from this central European country. This constitutes nearly 9% of all known species within the phylum. Although previous studies have been thorough, a number of taxa now known to belong to species complexes have been treated in only a very general way. One such complex is the Macrobiotus hufelandi group, which has a worldwide distribution. To date, only three hufelandi group species have been recorded from Poland: M. hufelandi hufelandi C.A.S. Schultze, 1834; M. macrocalix Bertolani & Rebecchi, 1993; …

Proximate Analysis Of Indian Flying Fox's (Pteropus Giganteus) Natural Food, With A Note On Its Roost Variations In Urban Areas Of Lahore, Pakistan, Arshad Javid, Tayiba Gulraiz, Muhammad Ashraf, Muhammad Nadeem, Syed Makhdoom Hussain, Muhammad Altaf, Irfan Babu

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Food habits, nutrient preferences, and roost variations of Indian flying fox Pteropus giganteus were investigated for a period of 1 year in two public parks in Lahore, Pakistan. Bolus and guano samples of P. giganteus were collected on a monthly basis, and seeds of 32 plant species belonging to 23 genera and 15 families were identified from the ejecta samples. Of these 32 food species, 8 were native and 24 were exotic; 13 were commercially important, while 19 species had no mercantile value. Proximate analysis of the food items revealed that fruits with comparatively higher moisture content were utilized during …

Human Activity Mediates Reciprocal Distribution And Niche Separationof Two Sympatric Mongoose Species On The Pothwar Plateau, Pakistan, Riaz Hussain, Tariq Mahmood, Faraz Akrim, Hira Fatima, Muhammad Sajid Nadeem

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Ecologically and morphologically similar species living in sympatry are predicted to partition their resources, although the resources themselves may vary in time and space and in relation to extrinsic factors. We studied two sympatric species of carnivores that vary in their distribution along a gradient of human activity, and one species exploits a wider range of food sources. We recorded the distribution of the small Indian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) and the gray mongoose (Herpestes edwardsii) through reconnaissance surveys within high, medium, and low human activity areas of the Pothwar Plateau from November 2011 to June 2013. We found that the …

Macroinvertebrate Composition In The Metarhithral Zones Of The Munzur And Pülümür Rivers: A Preliminary Study, Zuhal Gülteki̇n, Rahmi̇ Aydin, Carola Winkelmann

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The aim of this work was the determination of the macroinvertebrate community in the metarhithral zones of the Munzur and Pülümür rivers. This is the first documented research on macroinvertebrates in the metarhithral zone of the Munzur and Pülümür rivers in the region of the city of Tunceli. In total, 30 taxa of 9 orders of benthic invertebrates were recorded at the four sampling sites. Larvae of Taeniopteryx caucasica (Plecoptera), Oligoneuriella baskale, and Ecdyonurus dispar (Ephemeroptera) were recorded for the first time in the province of Tunceli.

Distribution And Conservation Of Acomys Cilicicus (Mammalia: Rodentia) In Turkey, Ortaç Çeti̇ntaş, Ferhat Matur, Mustafa Sözen

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Acomys cilicicus is endemic to Turkey and known from a very restricted area. The exact distribution of the species was not known up to now and the IUCN status of the species was Data Deficient (DD). To determine the exact distribution area of the species, 39 localities within the historical distribution were surveyed by using 3243 Sherman traps between 2013 and 2016. Turkish spiny mouse samples were obtained from 14 of these 39 localities and the current distribution of the species was determined. We found that the Turkish spiny mouse has two isolated populations in the area between Silifke and …

First Results Of A Faunistic Survey On The Orthoptera Of Jadovnik Mountain, Southwestern Serbia, With Data On The Calling Songs Of Some Bush Cricket Species, Slobodan Ivkovic

Turkish Journal of Zoology

During field trips conducted in 2015 and 2016 at 22 different localities on Jadovnik Mountain, 68 species were recorded. The calling songs of 4 species were studied in detail, and a new song type of Isophya clara was described. Metrioptera brachyptera and Locusta migratoria are rerecorded for the first time in 40 years for the Serbian fauna.

Three New Truncatelloidean Gastropod Species From Turkey(Caenogastropoda: Littorinimorpha), Mustafa Emre Gürlek

Turkish Journal of Zoology

New species of Bithyniidae (Pseudobithynia adiyamanensis sp. nov.), Hydrobiidae (Pseudorientalia ceriti sp. nov.), and Bythinellidae (Bythinella yerlii sp. nov.) are described from three different locations in Turkey. Samples were collected in 2013 and 2016 and the shell and male genital tract morphology of the new species were studied. All of these new taxa were compared to congeners that live in Turkey and adjacent countries.

What Can Research On Nonhumans Tell Us About Human Dissonance?, Jennifer Vonk

Animal Sentience

Zentall’s thoughtful review of the literature on cognitive dissonance in nonhumans helps to highlight the common finding that similar outcomes in humans and nonhumans can be attributed to different underlying mechanisms. I advocate a more fully comparative approach to the underlying mechanisms, avoiding the assumption of shared processes in humans and nonhumans.

Dissonance Reduction In Nonhuman Animals: Implications For Cognitive Dissonance Theory, Cindy Harmon-Jones, Nick Haslam, Brock Bastian

Animal Sentience

We review the evidence for dissonance reduction in nonhuman animals and examine the alternative explanations for these effects. If nonhuman animals engage in dissonance reduction, this supports the original theory as proposed by Festinger (1957) over the revisions to the theory that focused on the self-concept. Evidence of animal sentience, including dissonance reduction, may be a source of cognitive dissonance.

Clarifying Concepts In Cognitive Dissonance Theory, Eddie Harmon-Jones

Animal Sentience

This commentary on Zentall’s target article focuses primarily on clarifying some postulates and variables in cognitive dissonance theory. I discuss the adaptive motivational functions of dissonance arousal and dissonance reduction, and attempt to clarify some past dissonance experiments and to tease apart a dissonance theory and contrast explanation of effort-justification-type effects. The evidence and arguments reviewed here support the explanatory power of cognitive dissonance theory in a wide variety of circumstances in human and nonhuman animals, but they depend on first defining concepts such as “cognitions” quite broadly, as Festinger did when he originally proposed the theory.

Cognitive Dissonance Or Contrast? It Could Be Both, Thomas Zentall

Animal Sentience

My target article suggested that cognitive dissonance may be accounted for by a simpler mechanism: contrast. Whether contrast can explain all cognitive dissonance effects is an empirical question, but it is always useful to try to distinguish simpler mechanisms from more complex cognitive ones. The insistence that cognitive dissonance is a human-only process quite different from contrast may be a self-serving means of justifying the exploitation of animals.

The Potential For Sentience In Fishes, Jay R. Stauffer Jr.

Animal Sentience

Balcombe’s book is filled with information on the biology, behavior, and life history of fishes. I do not agree with all his premises. I am still somewhat perplexed about the discussion of whether fish feel pain; I am not sure whether the distinction between nociception and pain makes any difference. Overall, however, his treatment of the principles of both natural and sexual selection is comprehensive and accurate, and has greatly increased my knowledge and awareness of the biology, ethology, and potential for sentience in fishes. In summary, this work has exposed me to new ideas about how to examine fishes …