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Post-Emergence Movements And Habitat Use By Hatchling Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys Terrapin), Carolyn Decker

Open Access Master's Theses

Diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) require estuarine habitats for most aspects of their life cycles. However, adult female terrapins nest in coastal uplands, and hatchling terrapins use upland habitats following nest emergence. In these upland areas, hatchlings are particularly vulnerable to mortality risks from coastal land management activities such as mowing and tilling. From 2019 to 2021, we used small tracking devices to monitor hatchling movements and habitat use at a wildlife refuge in Rhode Island. When hatchlings emerged from nests in late summer and early fall, we attached a radio transmitter and passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag (n=46) or only …

The Dietary Intake Of Male And Female Bodybuilders During Competition Preparation, Garrett Grill

Open Access Master's Theses

Background The growing popularity of the sport of bodybuilding has led to the creation of new categories such as men’s physique, classic physique, figure, fitness, and bikini where little is known of the dietary strategies of these newer divisions. The primary aim of this study was to assess the kcal and macronutrient intake of bodybuilders during three time points of competition preparation and distinguish these strategies between divisions.

Methods This observational cross-sectional study consisted of one hundred forty-five participants (90 men aged 31.5 ± 8.9 and 55 women aged 31.7 ± 7.4). Participants completed a modified version of the Dietary …

Formative Evaluation Of A Steam And Nutrition Education Summer Program For Low-Income Youth, Jacquelyn Potvin

Open Access Master's Theses

Objective: To conduct an expert content review of the Project stRIde curriculum to assess the content, cultural sensitivity, feasibility, and curriculum standard adherence to inform revisions to the curriculum. Design: A formative evaluation was conducted from May- July 2020. Data from online surveys and virtual interviews were collected from an expert review panel. Setting: Surveys and interviews were completed virtually. Participants: Nine experts spanning the fields of nutrition education, cultural competency, elementary education, summer youth programming, and STEM outreach were recruited to participate in the survey and virtual interviews. Main Outcome Measures: Experts completed a 63-item questionnaire containing open- and …

From Catch To Consumption: Food Security Dynamics In An Indonesian Fishing Community, Nicole Roberts

Open Access Master's Theses

Food and livelihood security are key concerns for coastal communities in Indonesia as local and global drivers threaten fisheries across the archipelago. However, the focus of fisheries management and conservation on fish production excludes important aspects of the fish food system such as local economies, relationships, and cultures. For management and conservation policy to address food insecurity and marine resource declines, there is a need to understand local trade and consumption. In this study, we use value chain analysis and a “fish as food” framework to investigate the links between fish production, distribution, and consumption in an Indonesian fishing community …

Transtheoretical Model For Exercise: Measure Redevelopment And Assessing The Role Of Barriers In A Diverse Population, Kathleen Monahan

Open Access Master's Theses

Despite its well-documented success in differentiating stage of change (SOC) for readiness for regular exercise among primarily White populations, the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) exercise constructs have shown inconsistent results in understudied populations, such as Black and Hispanic/Latinx adults (Spencer et al., 2006). This cross-sectional study attempts to understand this trend by considering barriers to regular exercise among these populations. This study describes the development and validation of a novel barriers construct, as well as adapted constructs of Self-Efficacy (SE) and Decisional Balance (DB) within the TTM framework. Black and Hispanic/Latinx adults (n = 450) were recruited to complete this study. …

A Phylogenomic Approach To Explore Photosynthethic Stramenopile Evolution, Kristina Xenia Terpis

Open Access Master's Theses

Stramenopiles, Alveolates, and Rhizaria (SAR) are environmentally ubiquitous and form one of the most genetically diverse groups of eukaryotes on earth. Combined, these phyla encompass nearly half of all known eukaryotic genomic diversity. Stramenopiles comprise both non-photosynthetic taxa including important pathogens of animals and plants such as the gastric parasite Blastocystis and oomycetes like Phytophthora, the causative agent of the Irish Potato Famine. Additionally, photosynthetic members from the Phylum Ochrophyta, like the charismatic seaweeds such as giant kelp, create important ecosystems while diverse microbial phytoplankton including diatoms are fundamental to biogeochemical cycles and form the base of the food …

Influence Of Sex On Lower Limb Skeletal Muscle Oxidative Capacity And Muscle Diffusion In Endurance Trained Individuals, Lotte Black

Open Access Master's Theses

Near infra-red spectroscopy (NIRS) is a noninvasive methodology that allows in vivo measurement of the skeletal muscle tissue metabolism. Recently, a novel, of short duration, NIRS-based approach, based on a brief set of muscle contractions followed by a series of repeated intermittent arterial occlusions, has been validated to determine the skeletal muscle oxygen consumption (mV̇ O₂) recovery rate constant (k, min^-1), which is proportional to the muscle oxidative capacity. However, since its relatively recent introduction, the validity of this approach in investigating the difference in lower limb muscle oxidative capacity between female and male …

Transforming Campus Food Systems Through Agroecology: Pathways To Sustainability And Resilience, Ryleigh Mullens

Open Access Master's Theses

Conventional production practices undermine the social, environmental, and economic longevity and sustainability of the U.S. food system. Some postsecondary education institutions (PSEs) have sought to develop alternative, hyper-local food systems through the integration of campus farms into institutional supply chains. These institutions could serve as models for food systems at large; no research has been published on the dynamics and impacts of their efforts at self-provisioning on food system sustainability, resilience, and equity. This research modified existing agroecological resilience frameworks, expanding resilience indicators to include metrics of equity, an often overlooked component of resilience in social-ecological models. The modified framework …

Anti-Inflammatory Effects Of Polyphenol-Enriched Extracts, Chang Liu

Open Access Dissertations

Our laboratory initiated a comprehensive research program to investigate the phytochemical composition and biological effects of several botanical based natural products including pomegranate (Punica granatum), red maple (Acer rubrum), polyphenol-enriched maple (Acer saccharum) syrup extract, and various phytocannabinoids (Cannabis sp.). We hypothesize that these bioactive natural products can exert beneficial biological effects via their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

In Manuscript 1-4, we identified a series of phytochemicals from botanical extracts including pomegranate, red maple, phenolic-enriched maple syrup extract (MSX) and evaluated their biological activities for potential cosmeceutical and/or dermatological applications. In …

Examining The Leadership And Literacy Practices In Effective Title 1 Schools: A Multiple Case Study Of Schools That Foster Efficacy So All Can Learn, Wendy K. Amelotte

Open Access Dissertations

Under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law of 2001, professional learning activities and curricula, particularly in the area of literacy, were limited by the definition of reading put forth by the 2000 report of the National Reading Panel (see Duke & Carlisle, 2011). When NCLB was reauthorized as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), states and districts were allowed more freedom to redefine student achievement and school success, with hopes that a more “holistic approach” would allow for equitable learning opportunities for all children. Yet, today’s school leaders continue to grapple with how to bring research-based practices to life …

Identifying Novel Isotopic Tracers Of Marine Primary Producers To Study Food Web Carbon Cycles, Angela Stahl

Open Access Master's Theses

Eukaryotic microalgae play critical roles in global biogeochemical cycling, the efficacy of the biological pump, and the structure and function of most marine food webs. Compound-specific isotope analysis of amino acids (CSIA-AA) couples molecular-level biomarkers with stable isotope analyses to track the contribution of primary producers to food webs. Previous work has developed δ13CAA fingerprints for major groups of primary producers but categorized all marine algae together despite their vast taxonomic and ecological diversity. This work characterizes the δ13CAA fingerprints of four major groups of eukaryotic microalgae — diatoms, dinoflagellates, raphidophytes, and prasinophytes — in controlled cultures, and quantifies the …

Marine Debris Removal: A Case Study On South Korean Marine Litter Management, Eliya M. Baron Lopez

Open Access Master's Theses

Marine plastic pollution is an ongoing global problem, with adverse consequences on human health and marine ecosystems, and requires diverse solutions to eliminate leakages into the oceans via rivers, waste outflows, and direct dumping from vessels. Developed coastal states, like South Korea, have been quietly investing in marine litter management strategies that focus on coastal areas. South Korea is required by national law to establish marine debris management plans that implement policies to address the prevention, collection, and promotion of marine litter. One of these strategies include the implementation of floating debris containment booms (FDCB) in South Korean coastal and …

Several Factors And Their Role In Control Of Lepidoptera Populations, Alex K. Baranowski

Open Access Master's Theses

A number of factors influence Lepidoptera populations. The larvae are at the mercy of their environment, susceptible to the effects of poor food quality, and highly vulnerable to predation. In this thesis I present three manuscripts dealing with a small snapshot of what dynamics are at play in the control of Lepidoptera numbers.

Host quality is a cornerstone of developmental success, with host suitability to the herbivore in question being affected by the plant’s nutritional profile and its defenses against herbivory. Plant genotype influences plant suitability to herbivores; domesticated plants selected for properties such as high fruit yield are demonstrably …

Applying Model Approaches In Non-Model Systems: A Review And Case Study On Coral Cell Culture, Liza M. Roger, Hannah G. Reich, Evan Lawrence, Shuaifeng Li, Whitney Vizgaudis, Nathan Brenner, Lokender Kumar, Judith Klein-Seetharaman, Jinkyu Yang, Hollie M. Putnam, Nastassja A. Lewinski

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Model systems approaches search for commonality in patterns underlying biological diversity and complexity led by common evolutionary paths. The success of the approach does not rest on the species chosen but on the scalability of the model and methods used to develop the model and engage research. Fine-tuning approaches to improve coral cell cultures will provide a robust platform for studying symbiosis breakdown, the calcification mechanism and its disruption, protein interactions, micronutrient transport/exchange, and the toxicity of nanoparticles, among other key biological aspects, with the added advantage of minimizing the ethical conundrum of repeated testing on ecologically threatened organisms. The …

Clinical Outcomes Of A Community Clinic-Based Lifestyle Change Program For Prevention And Management Of Metabolic Syndrome: Results Of The ‘Vida Sana/Healthy Life’ Program, Patricia Markham Risica, Meghan L. Mccarthy, Katherine L. Barry, Susan P. Oliverio, Kim M. Gans, Anne S. De Groot

Institute for Immunology and Informatics Faculty Publications

Introduction: As US Hispanic populations are at higher risk than non-Hispanics for cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes targeted interventions are clearly needed. This paper presents the four years results of the Vida Sana Program (VSP), which was developed and is implemented by a small clinic serving mostly Spanish-speaking, limited literacy population.

Methods: The eight-week course of interactive two-hour sessions taught by Navegantes, bilingual/cultural community health workers, was delivered to participants with hypertension, or high lipids, BMI, waist circumference, glucose or hemoglobin A1C (A1C). Measures, collected by Navegantes and clinic nurses, included blood chemistries, blood pressure, anthropometry, and an …

Performance Of A Native Butterfly And Introduced Moth On Native And Introduced Lineages Of Phragmites Australis, Adam M. Lambert, Lisa A. Tewksbury, Richard A. Casagrande

Plant Sciences and Entomology Faculty Publications

This study examined the performance of Poanes viator (Edwards) (Hesperiidae), a native North American skipper, and Rhizedra lutosa (Hübner) (Noctuidae), an introduced moth, reared on native and non-native, invasive lineages of Phragmites australis. Poanes viator is a generalist on monocots and larvae were also fed leaves of Zizania aquatica, a native macrophyte that the skipper commonly uses as a host plant. Larval survival and duration, pupal weight, and pupation time were compared for P. viator feeding on leaf tissue and R. lutosa feeding on rhizomes of either native or introduced plants. We also tested an artificial diet supplemented with P. …

Photoperiod Decelerates The Advance Of Spring Phenology Of Six Deciduous Tree Species Under Climate Warming, Lin Meng, Yuyu Zhou, Lianhong Gu, Andrew D. Richardson, Josep Peñuelas, Yongshuo Fu, Yeqiao Wang, Ghasserm R. Asrar, Hans G. De Boeck, Jiafu Mao, Yongguang Zhang, Zhousen Wang

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

Vegetation phenology in spring has substantially advanced under climate warming, consequently shifting the seasonality of ecosystem process and altering biosphere–atmosphere feedbacks. However, whether and to what extent photoperiod (i.e., daylength) affects the phenological advancement is unclear, leading to large uncertainties in projecting future phenological changes. Here we examined the photoperiod effect on spring phenology at a regional scale using in situ observation of six deciduous tree species from the Pan European Phenological Network during 1980–2016. We disentangled the photoperiod effect from the temperature effect (i.e., forcing and chilling) by utilizing the unique topography of the northern Alps of Europe (i.e., …

Seasonal And Interspecific Variation In Frugivory By A Mixed Resident-Migrant Overwintering Songbird Community, Wales A. Carter, Scott F. Pearson, Adam D. Smith, Scott R. Mcwilliams, Douglas J. Levey

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

Many temperate passerine bird species switch from diets of mostly invertebrates in the spring and summer to diets that include fruit and seeds in the fall and winter. However, relatively few studies have quantified diet composition or the extent of seasonal shifts during the non-breeding period, particularly among species and across communities with both residents and migrants. We measured carbon and nitrogen stable isotope values in food items (fruits, C₃ and C₄seeds, and insects from various trophic levels and plant communities) and in multiple tissues (feathers and plasma/whole blood) from 11 species of songbirds wintering in the …

Nurse Practitioners’ Experiences Working With Patients Living With Morbid Obesity, Sharon A. Mclimans

Open Access Dissertations

Morbid obesity is recognized as a complex chronic medical disease which has been increasing at an alarming rate in the U.S. The etiologies of this disease involve a complex interplay of genetics, physiological, psychological, behavioral, socioeconomic, and environmental factors. Serious medical consequences are associated with morbid obesity including diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and increasing the risk of certain cancers. Research has shown individuals with morbid obesity have higher incidence of depression and are subjected to stigmatizing and biases across society including health care professionals. The monumental cost of health care associated with morbid obesity places enormous burden on our …

Phytoplankton Thermal Responses As Drivers Of Community Composition And Biogeography In A Changing Environment, Stephanie I. Anderson

Open Access Dissertations

Phytoplankton are biogeochemically relevant, sequestering 45 Gt of carbon each year, roughly equivalent to all terrestrial plants combined. Because of their ecological importance to marine ecosystems and the biosphere, many have sought to assess the factors that regulate phytoplankton communities and make projections for how they may fare in a future ocean. This endeavor has proven challenging as phytoplankton are incredibly diverse, with varied and unique evolutionary histories. To confront this complexity, phytoplankton are often distilled down to a few key physiological traits which have been mathematically characterized. In this simplification, insights regarding broad ecological trends can be discerned with …

Carrot Or Stick: Nudging Consumers Towards Healthier Choices Through Customized Price Incentives, Xintong Guan

Open Access Dissertations

In a market where consumers are increasingly concerned with maintaining a healthy diet and demand healthier foods, the role of retail grocery stores has been highlighted, as they exert a powerful influence on food choices. To increase more healthful food purchases, some food retailers have implemented marketing efforts to influence consumer food decision-making. However, due to the mixed findings on the effect of existing marketing interventions on improving purchasing of healthier foods, it is unclear which interventions work best to shift purchasing and what benefits they can bring to the retailer.

A promising approach to nudge healthy purchases with behavioral …

Predictors Of Paired, Singular, And No Action Among Middle School Students With Behavior Risks, Eva-Molly Petitto Dunbar

Open Access Dissertations

Understanding multiple health risk behavior change may contribute to the prevention of chronic illness. The present study examined drivers of behavior change over time within individuals with health behavior risks who were at risk for two behaviors. Participants were middle school students from a randomized controlled trial conducted across 20 middle schools within the state of Rhode Island using two transtheoretical model tailored, computer-delivered interventions in the school setting. Participants received an alcohol prevention program or an energy balance program. Analyses were conducted with participants who were at risk for both physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake (N = …

Differential Patterns Of Connectivity In Western Pacific Hydrothermal Vent Metapopulations: A Comparison Of Biophysical And Genetic Models, Corinna Breusing, Shannon B. Johnson, Satoshi Mitarai, Roxanne A. Beinart, Verena Tunnicliffe

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

Hydrothermal ecosystems face threats from planned deep-seabed mining activities, despite the fact that patterns of realized connectivity among vent-associated populations and communities are still poorly understood. Since populations of vent endemic species depend on larval dispersal to maintain connectivity and resilience to habitat changes, effective conservation strategies for hydrothermal ecosystems should include assessments of metapopulation dynamics. In this study, we combined population genetic methods with biophysical models to assess strength and direction of gene flow within four species of the genus Alviniconcha (A. boucheti, A. kojimai, A. strummeri and A. hessleri) that …

Surviving Heatwaves: Thermal Experience Predicts Life And Death In A Southern Ocean Diatom, Toby Samuels, Tatiana A. Rynearson, Sinéad Collins

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

Extreme environmental fluctuations such as marine heatwaves (MHWs) can have devastating effects on ecosystem health and functioning through rapid population declines and destabilization of trophic interactions. However, recent studies have highlighted that population tolerance to MHWs is variable, with some populations even benefitting from MHWs. A number of factors can explain variation in responses between populations including their genetic variation, previous thermal experience and the cumulative heatwave intensity (°C d) of the heatwave itself. We disentangle the contributions of these factors on population mortality and post-heatwave growth rates by experimentally simulating heatwaves (7.5 or 9.2°C, for up to 9 days) …

Meta-Analysis Of Primary Producer Amino Acid Δ15N Values And Their Influence On Trophic Position Estimation, Matthew D. Ramirez, Alexi C. Besser, Seth D. Newsome, Kelton Mcmahon

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

1. Compound-specific stable isotope analysis of individual amino acids (CSIA-AA) has emerged as a transformative approach to estimate consumer trophic positions (TP_CSIA) that are internally indexed to primary producer nitrogen isotope baselines. Central to accurate TP_CSIA estimation is an understanding of beta (β) values—the differences between trophic and source AA δ¹⁵N values in the primary producers at the base of a consumers’ food web. Growing evidence suggests higher taxonomic and tissue-specific β value variability than typically appreciated.
2. This meta-analysis fulfills a pressing need to comprehensively evaluate relevant sources of β value variability and its contribution to …

The Importance Of Consulting Children And Young People About Data Literacy, Judy Robertson, E. Kay M. Tisdall

Journal of Media Literacy Education

Given the importance of data skills to the economy and the skills shortage within data science, educational policy makers have identified the importance of including technical and analytical data skills in the school curriculum. An equally important aim is to educate children and young people to become data citizens who are aware of the current uses of data in society, able to use data to make decisions in their lives, and are actively engaged in critiquing the societal implications of future uses of data. The paper will explore the meanings of data citizenship, in light of the findings of a …

Examining The Consumer Restaurant Environment And Dietary Intake In Children, Shannon M. Robson, Maya Vadiveloo, Sarah Green, Sarah C. Couch, James F. Sallis, Karen Glanz, Brian E. Saelens

Nutrition Faculty Publications

Within the away-from-home food environment there is a need to account for individual exposure (e.g., frequency of visitation) to that environment. The present study examined the consumer environment in both proximal and visited restaurants and their association with childrens’ diet quality and anthropometrics. A cross-sectional analysis used baseline data from the Neighborhood Impact on Kids (NIK) study (2007–2009). Participants were 6–12-year-olds living in King County, WA and San Diego County, CA. This analysis (conducted 2019–2020) examined relationships between nearby restaurant count, Nutrition Environment Measures Survey in Restaurants (NEMS-R) within the child’s block group, and weighted NEMS-R scores based on the …

Can We Make It? Coming-Of-Age In A Covid Kitchen, Maila Erickson

Senior Honors Projects

The Covid-19 pandemic has shifted how we interact with our communities and how we carry out our daily lives. If stories in the news and in social media are any indication, food seems to be a surprising focus of the pandemic for young and old. Personally speaking, I delved into cooking. I experienced the tensions at the grocery. I adjusted my food shopping habits. I felt like I grew up. I began to wonder how other people my age might have modified their food preparation habits and what the experience of cooking in quarantine meant to them. In this honors …

The Energy Savings-Oxidative Cost Trade- Off For Migratory Birds During Endurance Flight, Scott R. Mcwilliams, Barbara Pierce, Andrea Wittenzellner, Lillie Langlois, Sophia Engel, John R. Speakman, Olivia Fatica, Kristen J. Demoranville, Wolfgang Goymann, Lisa Trost, Amadeusz Bryla, Maciej Dzialo, Edyta Sadowska, Ulf Bauchinger

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

Elite human and animal athletes must acquire the fuels necessary for extreme feats, but also contend with the oxidative damage associated with peak metabolic performance. Here, we show that a migratory bird with fuel stores composed of more omega-6 polyunsaturated fats (PUFA) expended 11% less energy during long-duration (6 hr) flights with no change in oxidative costs; however, this short-term energy savings came at the long-term cost of higher oxidative damage in the omega-6 PUFA-fed birds. Given that fatty acids are primary fuels, key signaling molecules, the building blocks of cell membranes, and that oxidative damage has long-term consequences for …

A New Paraprobiotic-Based Treatment For Control Of Haemonchus Contortus In Sheep, John Sanders, Yue Xie, David Gazzola, Hanchen Li, Ambily Abraham, Kelly Flanagan, Florentina Rus, Melanie Miller, Yan Hu, Sierra Guynn, Austin Draper, Sridhar Vakalapudi, Katherine Petersson, Dante Zarlenga, Robert W. Li, Joseph F. Urban Jr., Gary R. Ostroff, Anne Zajac, Raffi V. Aroian

Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Faculty Publications

Haemonchus contortus is a critical parasite of goats and sheep. Infection by this blood-feeding gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) parasite has significant health consequences, especially in lambs and kids. The parasite has developed resistance to virtually all known classes of small molecule anthelmintics used to treat it, giving rise in some areas to multidrug resistant parasites that are very difficult to control. Thus, new anthelmintics are urgently needed. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crystal protein 5B (Cry5B), a naturally occurring protein made by a bacterium widely and safely used around the world as a bioinsecticide, represents a new non-small molecule modality for treating GINs. …