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Genetic And Demographic Consequences Of Human-Driven Landscape Changes On Bird Populations: The Case Of Aphrastura Spinicauda (Furnariidae) In The Temperate Rainforest Of South America, Cintia Cornelius

Dissertations

Human activities, such as agriculture and forest exploitation, have modified landscapes worldwide. Despite a large accumulation of empirical and theoretical knowledge on habitat loss and fragmentation, some aspects remain poorly understood, especially those related to interactions between different forms of habitat degradation. The overall goal of this research was to study the effects of forest fragmentation and changes in forest structure on bird populations in a human-modified landscape in the temperate rainforest of South America using Aphrastura spinicauda (Furnariidae) as a model species. I evaluated i) if replacement of forest by open habitat leads to reduced dispersal influencing the genetic …

Pagamea Aubl. (Rubiaceae), From Species To Processes, Building The Bridge, Alberto Vicentini

Dissertations

Species delimitation have a great impact in scientific, environmental and other human activities, and is fundamental for understanding evolution. Plant species are usually delimited based on morphology and rarely species concepts are stated and analysis of variation made explicit. Botanists do see species as ?segments of evolutionary lineages?, but reproductive isolation is rarely addressed. Yet, reproductive isolation is necessary for understanding species, because speciation is the process of acquiring reproductive barriers. Almost any lineage will have species at different stages of isolation, and a single type of data will be insufficient for species delimitation. In plants, other biological processes such …

Mechanism Of Splicing Regulation By The Meiosis Enhancer Factor Mer1p In Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Javier Armisen Garrido

Dissertations

In eukaryotes, genes are presented in a series of coding and non-coding DNA regions (exons/introns) that are transcribed into a premature RNA (pre-mRNA). Introns can be removed from the mature premRNA, before its translation into proteins, in a process called splicing. The splicing reaction occurs in two highly regulated transesterification reactions inside of the cell nucleus, and it is catalyzed by the Spliceosome, involving the binding and release of five small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs). While some introns are constitutively spliced, others can be alternatively spliced, giving different exon combinations and therefore different proteins, increasing the protein diversity of the …

Reliability Of Krylov Subspace Methods - A Practical Perspective, M. Naumov, M. Manguoglu, C. C. Mikkelsen, A. Arsenieva, Ahmed Sameh

Department of Computer Science Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Comparative Mitochondrial Genomics Of Snakes: Extraordinary Substitution Rate Dynamics And Functionality Of The Duplicate Control Region, Zhi J. Jiang, Todd A. Castoe, Christopher C. Austin, Frank T. Burbrink, Matthew D. Herron, Jimmy A. Mcguire, Christopher L. Parkinson, David D. Pollock

Publications and Research

Background The mitochondrial genomes of snakes are characterized by an overall evolutionary rate that appears to be one of the most accelerated among vertebrates. They also possess other unusual features, including short tRNAs and other genes, and a duplicated control region that has been stably maintained since it originated more than 70 million years ago. Here, we provide a detailed analysis of evolutionary dynamics in snake mitochondrial genomes to better understand the basis of these extreme characteristics, and to explore the relationship between mitochondrial genome molecular evolution, genome architecture, and molecular function. We sequenced complete mitochondrial genomes from Slowinski's corn …

The Pan American (2007-07-26), Sandra Gonzalez

UTPA Archives - The Pan American Newspaper

57th Year, No. 32

An Integrated Water Quality Modeling System With Dynamic Remote Sensing Feedback, Yan Li

Theses

A coupled hydrodynamic-optical water quality modeling system based on Dynamic Data Driven Applications Systems (DDDAS) concepts that assimilates remote sensing data into a hydrodynamic model was developed and tested. The modeling system includes the hydrodynamic model (ALGE), a radiative transfer model (Hydrolight), and remote imagery (MODIS) as a dynamic feedback. The DDDAS was implemented through an Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF) with a small ensemble space. Large scale thermal structure and circulation patterns in Lake Ontario were simulated during the spring and summer seasons. High-resolution stream plume studies were performed in Conesus Lake and for the plume of the Niagara River …

Msbayes: Pipeline For Testing Comparative Phylogeographic Histories Using Hierarchical Approximate Bayesian Computation, Michael J. Hickerson, Eli Stahl, Naoki Takebayashi

Publications and Research

Background Although testing for simultaneous divergence (vicariance) across different population-pairs that span the same barrier to gene flow is of central importance to evolutionary biology, researchers often equate the gene tree and population/species tree thereby ignoring stochastic coalescent variance in their conclusions of temporal incongruence. In contrast to other available phylogeographic software packages, msBayes is the only one that analyses data from multiple species/population pairs under a hierarchical model. Results msBayes employs approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) under a hierarchical coalescent model to test for simultaneous divergence (TSD) in multiple co-distributed population-pairs. Simultaneous isolation is tested by estimating three hyper-parameters that …

Ranunculus Arvensis (Ranunculaceae), An Alien Weed New To Southern California, Richard E. Riefner Jr, Steve Boyd

Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany

We report the first known records of Ranunculus arvensis from southern California. This alien species shows a tendency to behave as a facultative wetland plant, and could become a pest in scoured washes and flood plains, ephemeral pools, and on disturbed stream banks in the coastal lowlands.

Cover Page

Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany

No abstract provided.

Distribution Patterns Of Great Basin Conifers: Implications Of Extinction And Immigration, David A. Charlet

Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany

Factors influencing the distribution of scattered montane conifers on mountaintops in the Great Basin of North America were investigated. The sources of data were collections and observations on more than 300 mountain ranges in the region. All mountains in the region with at least one montane conifer species and all adjacent source areas were included in the data set. In all, 164 montane island sites and 40 mainland sites were used in the analyses. Physical data for each site were compiled and regression analyses were conducted to test the predictions of three island biogeography models: immigration, extinction, and equilibrium. These …

Reassessment Of Yucca Brevifolia And Recognition Of Y. Jaegeriana As A Distinct Species, Lee W. Lenz

Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany

A brief historical account of the Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia, Agavaceae) is presented. The geographical distribution, morphological and pollinator differences between subsp. brevifolia and subsp. jaegeriana are examined and the latter is raised to specific rank. The fossil Protoyucca and its possible relationship to the Joshua trees are considered together with implications as to the possible origin of the genus.

Semantic Web: Promising Technologies And Current Applications In Health Care & Life Sciences, Amit P. Sheth

Kno.e.sis Publications

No abstract provided.

Wood Anatomy Of Crossosomatales: Patterns Of Wood Evolution With Relation To Phylogeny And Ecology, Sherwin Carlquist

Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany

The seven families hypothesized by Sosa and Chase to comprise Crossosomatales possess relatively long vessel elements with scalariform perforation plates and scalariform to opposite vessel-ray pitting; tracheids; diffuse axial parenchyma; and heterogeneous rays. These and other primitive character states do not indicate relationships, but they do not offer any evidence against the idea that Crossosomatales are a natural order. Departures from the primitive character states are related to ecological adaptations. Crossosomataceae have simple perforation plates (scalariform briefly at the beginning of the secondary xylem), a feature correlated with the seasonal aridity of habitats occupied by the family, the sole family …

A Brief Nomenclatural Review Of Genera And Tribes In Theaceae, Linda M. Prince

Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany

The angiosperm family Theaceae has been investigated extensively with a rich publication record of anatomical, cytological, paleontological, and palynological data analyses and interpretation. Recent developmental and molecular data sets and the application of cladistic analytical methods support dramatic changes in circumscription at the familial, tribal, and generic levels. Growing interest in the family outside the taxonomic and systematic fields warrants a brief review of the recent nomenclatural history (mainly 20th century), some of the classification systems currently in use, and an explanation of which data support various classification schemes. An abridged bibliography with critical nomenclatural references is provided.

Notes On Native Vascular Plants From Mima Mound-Vernal Pool Terrain And The Importance Of Preserving Coastal Terraces In Orange County, California, Richard E. Riefner Jr., Steve Boyd, Roy J. Shlemon

Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany

We report the following noteworthy collections of native vascular plants from mima mound fields in coastal Orange County, California: Deschampsia danthonioides, Lepidium strictum, and Sagina saginoides (new county records), Lepidium oblongum var. oblongum (previously excluded from the flora), Deinandra paniculata, Holocarpha virgata subsp. elongata, and Navarretia prostrata (new localities in the county), and Hordeum brachyantherum subsp. californicum (uncommon species of local interest). A herbarium study, preparation of voucher specimens, and a generalized distribution, facultative wetland status, and taxonomic notes, where appropriate, are cited for each taxon. An overview of the mima mound micro-relief associated with coastal …

Waterfowl Population Status, 2007, Pamela R. Garrettson, Timothy J. Moser, Khristi Wilkins

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.............................................................................. 2

Status of Ducks

METHODS ....................................................................................... 5

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION..................................................7

REFERENCES.......................................................... 30

Status of Geese and Swans

METHODS ........................................................................................ 32

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION.............................................................. 34

Appendices

Appendix A. Individuals who supplied information on the status of ducks ....................................... 48

Appendix B. Individuals who supplied information on the status of geese and swans..................... 50

Appendix C. Strata and transects of the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey......... 52

Appendix D. Estimated number of May ponds and standard errors in portions of Prairie and Parkland Canada and the northcentral U.S. ......................................................................... 53

Appendix E. Breeding population estimates for total …

An Example Of How To Write The Statistical Section Of A Bioequivalence Study Protocol For Fda Review, William F. Mccarthy

COBRA Preprint Series

This paper provides a detailed example of how one should write the statistical section of a bioequivalence study protocol for FDA review. Three forms of bioequivalence are covered: average bioequivalence (ABE), population bioequivalence (PBE) and individual bioequivalence (IBE). The method of analysis is based on Jones and Kenward (2003) and a modification of their SAS Macro is provided.

Relaxin As A Diagnostic Tool For Pregnancy In The Coyote (Canis Latrans), Debra A. Carlson, Eric M. Gese

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The diagnosis of pregnancy in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris) often employs specialized equipment, experienced staff, and the cooperation of the bitch. These procedures can be challenging when the subject is a wild canid, particularly in a field setting. In addition, reproductive hormone assays are unreliable as a diagnostic tool because the estrous profiles of pregnant and pseudopregnant canines are similar. However, research has demonstrated that the hormone relaxin can be detected in maternal blood after embryonic implantation, but remains negligible in non-pregnant females. We investigated the use of relaxin as a diagnostic marker of pregnancy in the …

Aquatic Invasive Species As Hazards On Water Resources And Ecosystems In Texas, T. L. Arsuffi, Earl Chilton

2007

Water losses due to invasive species cost Texas hundreds of thousands of acre feet of water per year, water unavailable for instream flows, irrigation and other human uses. Innovative, proactive ecological research and public and policy awareness and education initiatives are instrumental to preventing further invasions and managing existing exotic species impacts in Texas aquatic ecosystems.