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Behavioral Interactions And Mate Compatibility Influence The Reproductive Success Of New England Cottontails (Sylvilagus Transitionalis) In A Conservation Breeding Program, Hannah Petit, Louis Perrotti, Justin T. Richard

Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Faculty Publications

Wild populations of New England cottontails (NECs, Sylvilagus transitionalis) are declining and occupy a small proportion of their historic range. To conserve this species, wild-caught cottontails participate in a reintroduction breeding program. To increase the program’s productivity, this study described breeding behavior in pairings with (n = 3 pairings) and without (n = 9 pairings) reproductive success. Females were paired with two males consecutively and behaviors were recorded using 24 h continuous video footage. Activity peaked between 19:00 and 06:00. Copulation was only observed in successful pairings, and the gestation period was 31 days. Successful pairings had …

Enhancing Green Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus Drobachiensis) Production Toward Sustainability, Tara Plee

Open Access Dissertations

The green sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) fishery was once prosperous in the Gulf of Maine, peaking in the 1980s and early 1990s. However, since the early 1990s, the fishery has dramatically declined despite having harvesting restrictions. To sustain the industry, production through aquaculture is necessary, but hatchery production methods are not yet optimized, with settlement success and post-settlement survival as low as 1-5%, and the spatial scale for field grow-out may be limited in some regions due to climate change. Additionally, there are knowledge gaps in fishery management regarding whether oversized S. droebachiensis help sustain natural stocks. This …

The Distribution And Habitat Use Of Semi-Aquatic Mammals In A Changing New England Landscape, Josh Crockett

Open Access Dissertations

Semi-aquatic mammals (i.e., animals that depend on both terrestrial and aquatic environments for their daily needs) are an ecologically and economically important group, but they are often difficult to monitor because of their restricted habitat which makes them unlikely to appear in monitoring schemes designed for all mammals (e.g., camera trapping). Rhode Island is home to several semi-aquatic mammal species, including North American beavers (Castor canadensis), North American river otters (Lontra candensis), and muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus). Historically, these species were all exploited for their furs, which led to drastic declines in otter and (especially) …

Evaluating The Changes In Hip Function In Expectant Mothers Before And After Delivery: Correlation Between Hip Function And Delivery Outcome, Olivia Rose Greene

Open Access Master's Theses

INTRODUCTION: Worldwide, approximately 800 women die daily from preventable maternal causes of death (COD). These CODs (e.g. prolonged labor, hemorrhage) are frequently connected to biomechanical limitations during childbirth. There is increased risk for complications/death during labor/delivery if pelvis/hip anatomy does not biomechanically change enough. Monitoring pelvic/hip biomechanical changes throughout pregnancy may help detect complications that arise during or prior to labor/delivery.

METHODS: Sixteen females (10 nulligravid female control participants, 6 gravid female participants) were enrolled. All participants performed walking, stair ascent, and stair descent while lower extremity optical motion capture and electromyography data (bilateral hip/knee flexors/extensors) were captured. Controls were …

The Relation Between Internalizing And Externalizing Problem Behaviors And Stem Achievement, Ashley M. Harpin

Open Access Master's Theses

Internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors displayed in classroom settings have been linked to higher prevalence of academic underachievement compared to well-behaved counterparts (Van der Ende et al., 2016). While previous research has explored how these problem behaviors impact academic subjects such as reading and mathematics, fewer studies have examined associations between internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors and STEM achievement. This present study intends to fill that gap by testing relations between internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors exhibited in kindergarten and STEM achievement in the fifth grade. The data used for this study comes from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS), …

Testing The Role Of Supporting Positive Behaviors Between Child-Centered Parenting And Prosociality, Rachel Paige Lacroix

Open Access Master's Theses

This study explored the influence of child-centered parenting attitudes on children’s prosocial behavior. Furthermore, the role of supporting positive behaviors, a positive parenting strategy, was investigated as a possible explanation of the link in the hypothesized association. Specifically, the current study examined the following questions: (1) To what extent are child-centered mothering attitudes associated with prosocial behavior? (2) Does supporting children’s positive behaviors explain this association? The research utilized secondary, cross-sectional data capturing the parenting attitudes and maternal reports of child behavior from 255 mothers of children ages 3-5 years old. Analyses were performed using the bootstrap method to examine …

Applying Community Ecology Principles To Assess Impacts Of The Harmful Algal Genus, Pseudo-Nitzschia, On Marine Bacterioplankton And Science Communication Challenges, Julie Maurer

Open Access Master's Theses

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are projected to increase in frequency and severity with climate change, especially in coastal areas which face serious public health risks, ecological damage, and economic losses when HABs occur. The neurotoxin-producing diatom genus, Pseudo-nitzschia, is a particularly concerning HAB group due to its ability to form high-density, toxic blooms in coastal areas such as bays and estuaries, and due to high toxin variability, which has both genetic and ecological influences. Pseudo-nitzschia HABs may be an emerging issue on the U.S. east coast, due to recent anomalous and toxic blooms that occurred in 2016 and 2017. …

Innovative Bioink Formulation For 3d Bioprinting Of Tissue-Engineered Intervertebral Disc Implants, Sophia Boiani

Open Access Master's Theses

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a significant contributor to back pain and disability globally, necessitating advancements in treatment options. This thesis presents the development and characterization of a novel bioink to be used for generating 3D bioprinted tissue-engineered constructs of the nucleus pulposus (NP) region of the IVD. The bioink, a composite of methylcellulose (MC, 7 wt%), polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA, 15 wt%), and Lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate (LAP, 0.1 wt%), is optimized for enhanced mechanical properties and cellular integration. Polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles were also incorporated in the hydrogel to potentially delivery growth factors in the future, which will support cell …

Investigating The Movements, Behaviors, And Interactions With Fisheries Of The Endangered Shortfin Mako Shark In The Western North Atlantic Ocean, Colby D. Kresge

Open Access Master's Theses

The shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) is common in both recreational and commercial fisheries. Makos have life history characteristics that make them vulnerable to overexploitation, which combined with data gaps and management challenges has led to makos being overfished and experiencing overfishing in the Western North Atlantic (WNA). Effective management of makos is hindered by limited information on their ecology, including their movements, behaviors, as well as interactions with fisheries. I leveraged a long-term satellite telemetry database of 67 individual makos to investigate their seasonal movement patterns and to describe a suite of movement metrics that together constitute …

Using Bird Odor To Deter Mammalian Predators From Depredating Shorebird Nests, Nicole D. Defelice

Open Access Master's Theses

Managing for populations of nesting piping plovers (Charadruis melodus) along the Atlantic coast has always been a challenge for state, federal, and conservation organizations. Though piping plovers face numerous threats, such as human disturbance and habitat degradation, controlling nest predators remain a challenge. In this study, we evaluated a non-lethal technique to deter mammalian predators from disturbing and predating shorebird nests by deploying chemically-extracted bird odors in areas where piping plovers historically nest, with the idea that predators will key in on the scents, realize there is no “food reward” associated with the scent, and then lose interest …

Range-Expanding Atlantic Blue Crab (Callinectes Sapidus) Abundance And Habitat Selection In An Anthropogenicallyaltered Tidal River Of Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, Madison Sachs

Open Access Master's Theses

Abundance of Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus is increasing in New England coastal estuaries which are well-documented blue crab habitat. Blue crab population and habitat were characterized in the anthropogenically altered Kickemuit River in Rhode Island, USA, to evaluate abundance, habitat use, and tolerances to anthropogenic impact. Crabs in dammed and undammed portions of the river were monitored for abundance, size, maturation, and sex from May to October 2023 using crab pots. Water quality and substrate data were collected to elucidate the relationships among crab population, seasonal environmental patterns, and habitat preference. It was hypothesized that benthic habitat characteristics would …

Investigating A Major 16s Rrna Folding Event In The Assembly Of The 30s Ribosomal Subunit, Brenna Levesque

Open Access Master's Theses

The ribosome is the large macromolecular machine responsible for protein synthesis, the final step of gene expression, in all cells. It is made up of ribosomal proteins (r-proteins) and ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and how these many components assemble into a functionally active particle is only poorly understood. In this thesis, I have used the extremely thermophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus as a model system to study the role of a specific ribosomal protein, bS20, in 30S ribosomal subunit assembly. Results from these experiments suggest a potential role in ribosome function once assembly has occurred.

All ribosomes are composed of two subunits, …

Genotypic And Phenotypic Analysis Of Crassostrea Virginica Populations For Use In Aquaculture, Angel Carrasquillo

Open Access Master's Theses

Increased production of eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) will be needed to meet consumer demand for seafood. To meet this demand for seafood in the face of disease and climate change, selective breeding has been proposed as a solution. This study evaluated the phenotypic traits of survival, growth, yield and disease acquisition of four wild eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) populations and two commercial lines from the Northeastern US at three grow-out sites in Rhode Island. We also investigated the genetic parameters of genetic difference between subpopulations (F_ST), inbreeding, percent of polymorphic loci, and heterozygosity in …

Evaluation Of The Effects Of O-Glcnacylation And Hypoxia On Estradiol Production By Bovine Granulosa Cells, Lauren Decastro

Open Access Master's Theses

The global population is on the rise putting pressure on the agricultural industry to increase production and increase the global food supply. The dairy industry has responded to this pressure by genetically selecting for higher milk production. This increase in production has coincided with a decline in fertility among dairy cows, due in part to a loss of reproductive cyclicity. Ovarian cyclicity and, in turn, reproductive cyclicity, is dependent upon proper development of ovarian follicles and the function of the cells that comprise the follicle and support the oocyte. One of these cell types is the granulosa cell. Granulosa cells …

Investigation Of Serum Resistance In Haemophilus Parainfluenzae, Morgan J. Mcpartland

Open Access Master's Theses

Around 50% of the United States adult population suffers from some form of periodontal disease. From gingivitis to severe periodontitis, periodontal disease is associated with a plethora of chronic and systemic diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, type-two diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. Prevention of periodontitis relies on the establishment and maintenance of a resilient, eubiotic oral microbiome. A key member of the healthy oral microbiome is Haemophilus parainfluenzae (Hp). Hp is a highly prevalent and abundant oral generalist. As a health-associated commensal, understanding its relationships within the microbial community and its interactions with the host may shed light …

Investigating The Role Of Fancd2 In Neurogenesis, Bahaa M. Noori

Open Access Master's Theses

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare human genetic disease characterized by bone marrow failure, congenital abnormalities, predisposition to cancer, accelerated aging, and premature mortality. FA is caused by mutations in any one of 23 genes. The FA proteins play a crucial role in the repair of DNA interstrand cross-links (ICLs) and the maintenance of genome stability. Recently, central nervous system (CNS) defects have become increasingly observed among FA patients. These include acute or chronic loss of neurological capabilities, accumulation of white matter lesions and large pseudo-tumor lesions with vasogenic edema, and retinal vasculopathy. These neurological manifestations have been coined Fanconi …

Exercise In The Dark: The Effect Of Ambient Light Intensity On The Subjective Exercise Experience, Anthony J. Fioravanti

Open Access Master's Theses

Exercise is a feasible way to reduce all-cause mortality, yet participation rates are paradoxically low. A growing trend of exercise classes in the dark has been anecdotally reported as a way to increase exercise participation by removing the element of comparison. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ambient light intensity on the subjective exercise experience. Specifically, the effect of ambient light levels on social physique anxiety and affective responses was measured during group cycling exercise in two different lighting conditions. It was hypothesized that social physique anxiety (SPA) would be lower when group cycling exercising …

Measuring Motivation For Effective Headache Self-Management: An Application Of The Transtheoretical Model Of Behavior Change, Hayley M. Lindsey

Open Access Master's Theses

Migraine is a highly prevalent disease that often reduces quality of life and can be a financial burden to individuals and societies. Migraine frequency and severity are associated with sleep, stress, exercise, diet, and treatment use. Effective migraine management likely requires the use of a multiple health behavior change model. The current study applied the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change to migraine among adults to better understand factors influencing adults’ readiness to practice effective migraine self-management. Focus groups were conducted with 22 adults experiencing recurrent migraines. Through thematic analysis, seven key themes emerged: 1) effective migraine self-management includes several health …

Heat Transfer Mechanisms In Gold Nanoparticles Studied Via Pump-Probe Measurements, Ludovica Palazzo

Open Access Master's Theses

The investigation of gold nanoparticle thin films for cancer therapy is a topic of significant interest in the scientific community. A comprehensive examination of their heat transfer properties is crucial to explore their potential applications in materials science and medicine. This study focuses on measuring and analyzing the heat transfer properties of gold nanorod thin films utilized in cancer therapy, with a specific focus on the effective electron-phonon coupling factor. The thin film was realized through the spin coating of a gold nanorod solution onto a hydrogel platform to ensure adherence between the solution and the glass coverslip. Using pump-probe …

Composite Hedonic Scores And Subjective Palatability Ratings In Young Adults Consuming Three Breakfast Meals Differing By Level Of Food Processing And Nutritional Quality, Ilayna Seibold

Open Access Master's Theses

Objective: To compare subjective palatability ratings across three meals differing by processing and nutritional quality (NQ) in healthy young adults. The aim was to match meals for subjective palatability in preparation for a larger crossover study. As such, an interim analysis was planned to determine if the meals were tracking towards similar ratings or not.

Methods: In this within-subjects individualized-testing study, 30 consented participants reported demographics. They each came for one 1-hour lab visit to sample three matched (flavor profiles, macronutrients, energy) test meals differing by processing and NQ: Low Ultra-Processed food (UPF)/High NQ (Meal 1), High UPF/High …

Associations Between Fatty Acid Status And Postpartum Depressive Symptoms In Ghanaian Women At 6 Months Postpartum: A Secondary Data Analysis, Kelly L. Zarka

Open Access Master's Theses

Introduction: Postpartum depression (PPD) affects 10-20% of women globally and has a negative impact on maternal and infant health. Omega-3 fatty acids have been implicated in psychiatric health due to their anti-inflammatory properties, contrasting with the proinflammatory effects of omega-6 fatty acids. Within Ghana, 2% of an estimated 2.3 million people are living with mental illness and are not seeking treatment due to poor attitudes surrounding mental health. We do not fully understand the risk factors associated with the development of PPD, and therefore how to inform pro-grams seeking to make positive reforms in this area.

Methods: This …

Migratory Patterns Of Sand Tiger Sharks (Carcharias Taurus) Along The Us East Coast, Bethany Deloof

Open Access Master's Theses

Sand tigers (Carcharias taurus) are often taken as bycatch in commercial fisheries and captured by recreational anglers despite being prohibited. They also have one of the lowest rates of reproduction among elasmobranchs, producing two offspring every two or three years. These traits have generated concern about the sustainability of sand tiger populations, both globally and along the US East Coast, and interest in characterizing movements and essential habitat for this species. A total of 396 sand tigers, ranging from 78 - 246 cm fork length and 100.33 - 285 cm total length, were tagged with acoustic transmitters from …

Learning From The Past: Environmental Impacts On Coral Performance, Reproduction, And Epigenetic Inheritance, Danielle M. Becker

Open Access Dissertations

Coral reef ecosystems face extreme challenges due to increasing ocean temperatures caused by anthropogenically induced global climate change and require reproductive replenishment for reef persistence. Corals and other marine invertebrates have exhibited the capacity for environmental memory, or the retention of information from prior environmental experiences, which can be inherited by subsequent generations (e.g., via non-genetic mechanisms). However, less is known about how molecular modifications in the coral epigenome influence acclimatization and adaptive responses to environmental variation within and across generations. Here, I present three manuscripts testing different mechanisms involved in coral’s physiological, reproductive, and epigenetic response to environmental perturbation …

Improving The Diet Quality Of Wic-Participating Women Using Digital Food Environments, Yarisbel Melo Herrera

Open Access Dissertations

Maternal diet plays a critical role during the perinatal period, impacting both short- and long-term health outcomes in women and their children. Lower-income individuals are at higher risk of having a low diet quality. Therefore, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) aims to reduce the negative impacts of low socioeconomic status on the diet of its participants (low-income pregnant and postpartum women and children up to age 5) to promote optimal short- and long-term health outcomes. Numerous studies show that WIC improves children’s diet quality, but associations in women have been insufficiently evaluated. While there …

Population Characteristics Of The Blue Crab (Callinectes Sapidus) In Rhode Island Coastal Waters, Katherine E. Rodrigue

Open Access Master's Theses

The blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) is an emblematic species for much of the mid-Atlantic and Gulf coasts, supporting vital fisheries in these areas. Evidence has shown that many species, including blue crabs, are undergoing northward shifting distributions. This has resulted in speculation about an increasing blue crab population and its capability to support a viable fishery in Rhode Island (USA) coastal waters. Currently, the blue crab is an unassessed species in Rhode Island, and few studies have focused on their population dynamics in the northeast region.

In the first manuscript of this thesis, a Bayesian hierarchical modeling method …

A Spatiotemporal Analysis Of Ocean Acidification In The Pacific-Arctic Region, Thomas V. Caero

Open Access Master's Theses

The Pacific-Arctic Region (PAR) is highly vulnerable to ocean acidification (OA) due to its low buffer capacity, carbonate concentration, and the regionally-amplified effects of climate change. Although it experiences the highest rates of OA globally, the existing literature lacks observation-based surface decadal OA rates for the PAR, primarily due to large data gaps. To address these limitations, we aggregated open-source carbonate datasets and established spatially-dependent relationships to predict surface total alkalinity (TA) using salinity and temperature (R²=0.93, MAE = 23 μmol kg^-1). We then applied these relationships to gridded sea surface salinity and temperature products …

Gateway To The Mind: Using Eye Tracking To Explore The Broader Autism Phenotype, Joseph Molski

Open Access Master's Theses

The Broad Autism Phenotype (BAP) is a term used to describe Autism-like symptoms in individuals not diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as well as the genetic transmission of these symptoms. Within this field of study, first-degree relatives, siblings, and parents are most often studied due to the direct path of genetic transmission. Within this group, there are several measurable characteristics used to explore the BAP. Of relevance to this study are neuropsychological characteristics, specifically potential atypicality while gazing at speaking human faces. While some studies have conducted analyses with this neuropsychological characteristic with siblings, there has yet to be …

Chemical Investigation Of Membrane Vesicles Isolated From Pseudoalteromonas Rubra, Margaret Hill

Open Access Master's Theses

The microbial communities of crustose coralline algae (CCA), a known substrate for coral recruitment, produce bioactive compounds that aid in the physiological processes of larval settlement and metamorphosis. One example is the proposed larval morphogen cycloprodigiosin which is produced by CCA-associated Pseudoalteromonas rubra strains. However, the lipophilicity of this compound limits its water solubility and raises questions regarding its delivery in the marine environment. In this study, we hypothesized that hydrophobic chemical signals are packaged within bacterial membrane vesicles (MVs). A combined genomic and metabolomic approach was used to investigate specialized metabolites produced by CCA-associated P. rubra strains KB1 and …

Land For Whom? Diversity, Land Trusts, And Farmers And Gardeners From Marginalized Backgrounds In New England, U.S., Julie C. Keller, Blake Harrison, Corey Lang

Environmental and Natural Resource Economics Faculty Publications

Land trusts in the U.S. play an important role in preventing the loss of farmland to development. Farmers seeking affordable land may benefit from these conservation efforts. Yet the distribution of these benefits across farmer groups is unclear. This study asks: To what extent are land trusts meeting the needs of farmers and gardeners from marginalized backgrounds? Interviews with land trust staff and focus groups with marginalized farmers and gardeners in New England, USA reveal discrepancies in how diversity and land access are discussed. Access to adequate, affordable land was a serious concern among farmers and gardeners, yet few land …

Policy Assessment Of Fisheries Management In The Face Of Climate Change: Implications For The New England Fishery Management Council, Grace Omer

Open Access Master's Theses

A comparative policy analysis was conducted to examine the current efforts, priorities, and goals for climate adaptive fisheries management at the Federal, Regional, and State level from 2014-2024 by categorizing the resulting documents into 4 climate adaptive management elements. We are currently encountering a novel challenge in effectively responding to environmental changes resulting from the effects of climate change. This study establishes the expectations of the Federal and State governments and how the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) is responding to those expectations. The federal government (through documents, legislation, and Executive Orders) has established a low bar of expectations, …