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Habitat Associations, Distribution, And Abundance Of Smith's Longspur (Calcarius Pictus), An Uncommon Species Of Concern In The Brooks Range, Alaska, Teri Corvus Wild

Biological Sciences

Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus) is a species of conservation concern in the U.S. and Canada, yet few studies have been conducted on their breeding grounds in the Arctic, which are expected to undergo dramatic changes due to climate change. For effective conservation, we need information on breeding distribution and abundance; thus I conducted surveys for Smith's Longspur and habitat characteristics across a broad geographic range that included twelve sites within Alaska's Brooks Range, June 2003-2009. My main objectives were to (1) locate breeding populations (2) describe habitats at local and broader geographic scales, (3) develop a predictive distribution map based …

Foxes And Food Subsidies: Anthropogenic Food Use By Red And Arctic Foxes, And Effects On Arctic Fox Survival, On The Arctic Coastal Plain Of Alaska, Garrett Savory

Biological Sciences

Food subsidies have the potential to impact wildlife on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska. Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes (L., 1758)) expanded their range into Arctic regions during the 20th century, and the availability of anthropogenic foods may have contributed to their success and persistence in the Arctic. Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus (L., 1758)) are also known to forage on anthropogenic foods in Prudhoe Bay and to forage on marine mammals on the sea ice, but it is unknown whether these strategies benefit survival of Arctic foxes. This thesis examined: 1) the importance of anthropogenic foods to the diets of …

Evolution In A Tropical Archipelago: Comparisons Within And Among 50 Species Of Philippine Birds, Kyle Campbell

Biological Sciences

Tropical islands are hotspots for speciation and the generation of genetic diversity within species. The islands of the Philippines have experienced dynamic biogeographic histories, making them excellent for studying the processes affecting the generation and distribution of genetic diversity. I tested hypotheses about the distribution of population genetic diversity within species and examined levels of genetic and phenotypic divergence within 50 species of Philippine birds. The first study empirically tested two models for the distribution of population genetic diversity (increasing diversity with decreasing latitude and decreasing diversity approaching range edges) and found no support for either model. This was not …

Causes And Consequences Of Geophagy In Snowshoe Hares (Lepus Americanus), An Important Generalist Herbivore Of The Boreal Forest, Suzanne Worker

Biological Sciences

Geophagy, the consumption of mineral soil, is believed to have several benefits for herbivores. Soils high in clay are often implicated in the detoxification of plant secondary metabolites. High mineral concentrations in soils may also provide nutrients that are poorly available from plants. Local observers report that snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) use a lick in the foothills of the Brooks Range, Alaska. Using soil from this lick and other mineral supplements, I conducted a series of feeding trials on captive snowshoe hares fed felt-leaf willow (Salix alaxensis) or a formulated ration to determine whether geophagy resulted in a physiological benefit …

Phylogeny Of Fomitopsis Pinicola: A Species Complex, John-Erich Haight

Biological Sciences

Fomitopsis pinicola sensu lato is a common, saprotrophic fungal species occurring over the large circumpolar region covering Eurasia and North America, and extending south along areas of high elevation. It colonizes hardwood and softwood substrates, causing brown rot decay of wood, and exhibits a wide variety of morphological types and colors. Since the late nineteenth century, attempts have been made to determine how many species were in the genus Fomitopsis. Early attempts described two to three species based on host specificity and morphology. By the mid twentieth century, extensive mating studies among single spore isolates had been completed revealing three …

Peeking Through A Frosty Window: Molecular Insights Into The Communities Of Arctic Soil Fungi, Ina Timling

Biological Sciences

Fungi are thought to be one of the most diverse groups of organisms in the Arctic. They drive mineral and energy cycles and influence the occurrence of other organisms as mutualists (mycorrhizae, endophytes, lichens), decomposers and pathogens. Nevertheless, information on fungal biodiversity and distribution patterns in relation to environments across the Arctic is still sparse. Molecular methods were used to examine the diversity and community structures of ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) associated with two principal arctic host plants, Salix aretica and Dryas integrifolia, as well as total soil fungal communities of adjacent disturbed and undisturbed areas of patterned-ground features across the …

Investigating The Effects Of Land Use On Small Mammal Populations, Emily Vincent

Student Research

Introduction
The DePauw Nature Park is an excellent site to study the effects of land use on ecosystems. The recent construction of a small farm and the recent restoration of farmland into a prairie provide sites to study how changes in land use affect ecosystems. We studied the effects of land use changes on small mammal communities at the campus farm, an old field next to the campus farm, and a restored prairie.

Hypotheses
We hypothesized that the abundance and diversity of small mammals would be highest in the restored prairie and lowest in the campus farm.

Methods
We used …

System For Staining Fungi And Protozoa, My Lien Dao

USF Patents

The present invention provides a method for the staining of fungi and microsporidia for observation with a light microscope based upon the presence of chitin in the composition of these organisms. With the method of the present invention a sample to be analyzed is treated with a solution of Ponceau S and Stains-all dye. The sample is then selectively decolorized and rinsed. The resulting sample is examined with a light microscope, or photographed for a permanent record, to identify the presence of a variety of microorganisms, to include fungi and microsporidia.

Stat3 Inhibitor Having Anti-Cancer Activity And Methods, James Turkson, Said Sebti, Richard Jove, Andrew D. Hamilton

USF Patents

A small-molecule Stat3 dimerization inhibitor, S3I-M2001, is described and the dynamics of intracellular processing of activated Stat3 within the context of the biochemical and biological effects of the Stat3 chemical probe inhibitor are elucidated. S3I-M2001 is a newly-identified oxazole-based peptidomimetic of the Stat3 Src Homology (SH) 2 domain-binding phosphotyrosine peptide that selectively disrupts active Stat3:Stat3 dimers. Stat3-dependent malignant transformation, survival, and migration and invasion of mouse and human cancer cells harboring persistently-activated Stat3 were inhibited by S3I-M2001. S3I-M2001 inhibited Stat3-dependent transcriptional regulation of tumor survival genes, such as Bcl-xL. The disclosed compound is useful as a new potential treatment for …

Arctic Passages: Maternal Transport, IñUpiat Mothers And Northwest Alaska Communities In Transition, Lisa Llewellyn Schwarzburg

Indigenous Studies

While the primary goal of the northwest Alaska Native village maternal transport program is safe deliveries for mothers from remote villages, little has been done to examine the impact of transport on the mothers and communities involved. I explore how present values (Western and Iñupiat cultural values) can influence the desire of indigenous women of differing eras and Northwest Alaska villages to participate in biomedical birth practices, largely as made available by a tribal health-sponsored patient transport system. The work that follows portrays the varying influences on these women and their communities as they determine the level of importance for …

Use Of Family History To Improve Colorectal Cancer Screening Outreach Among Alaska Native People, Diana Redwood

Psychology

Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality among Alaska Native people are the highest of any ethnic or racial group in the United States. First-degree relatives (FDRs), which include parents, siblings, and children of CRC patients, are at increased risk. There is a paucity of data on predictors of screening adherence among Alaska Native FDRs, and the extent to which screening outreach is occurring within the Alaska Tribal Health System (ATHS) for FDRs. There is also a lack of data available on barriers and facilitators to increasing screening outreach efforts in this population. This study assessed the prevalence of CRC screening …

Growth Of Chum Salmon In Relation To Population Abundance And Climate In The Eastern North Pacific Ocean And The Recruitment Of Pollock In The Eastern Bering Sea, Ellen Martinson Yasumiishi

Fisheries

Global climate change is expected to change the distribution and growth of marine species. Therefore, understanding how climate, ocean productivity, and population abundance affect the dynamics of marine species will help predict how growth and recruitment of marine species will respond to future changes in climatic and oceanic conditions. Statistically significant intertemporal correlations have been observed between a variety of environmental factors and recruitment, growth, mortality, and abundance of fish populations. However, because these correlative relationships are not reflective of the actual biophysical processes, the relationships can break down, particularly when used for forecasting. Failure of these simple correlative relationships …

Effects Of Organohalogen Contaminants On Steller Sea Lion Survival And Female Reproduction In The Russian Far East, Adam Zaleski

Fisheries

The presence of persistent organohalogen contaminants (OCs) in the habitats of Steller sea lions, Eumetopias jubatus, may influence reproductive rates and possibly survival. The lack of recovery and the reduction in natality for the western stock has no apparent cause and OCs may be potential contributing factors. Among the most common synthetic OCs measured in marine mammal tissues are polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB). This project's focus was on the relationship between OCs and the western stock's lack of recovery. A suite of OCs were quantified from 239 hot-branded pups from 2001-2007 at …

Growth-Increment Formation Using Otoliths And Scales Of Juvenile Chinook Salmon, Brian Michael Walker

Fisheries

Freshwater growth of juvenile Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha influences survival and recruitment to the adult population. Retrospective analysis is used to measure salmon growth at previous ages, with fish size and growth assumed to be accurately reflected by otolith increments and scale circuli. I conducted a 122-d laboratory experiment to validate the relationship among body size, growth, and width to daily otolith growth increments and scale circuli in juvenile stream-type Chinook salmon. Fish total length was found to be proportional to otolith axis length (r² = 0.209, p < 0.001), otolith diameter (r² = 0.667, p < 0.001), and scale radius (r² = 0.538, p < 0.001). Somatic growth was accurately reflected by growth in otolith axis length (r² 0.65, p < 0.001) and growth in scale radius (r² = 0.449, p < 0.001). My study validated the assumption that fish body size and growth are reflected by otolith and scale size and growth- increment formation. The findings of my study can be used to ascertain body size at previous ages, which will help managers detect threshold sizes, examine the strength of size-selective mortality, and determine how growth rate affects smolt migration, early marine survival, and duration of ocean residency.

The Phylogeography And Population Genetic Structure Of Least Cisco (Coregonus Sardinella) In Alaska, Veronica M. Padula

Fisheries

The least cisco (Coregonus sardinella) is a whitefish species broadly distributed across the Arctic regions of Russia, Alaska, and Canada, and little is known about the genetic relationships among groups within this species. We investigated the genetic relationships among least cisco on two landscape scales. On a broader landscape scale, we investigated the relationships among populations across the state of Alaska by comparing mitochondria) DNA (mtDNA) sequences. On a finer landscape scale, we investigated the relationships among least cisco populations in closely located lakes on the Arctic Coastal Plain by comparing microsatellite DNA haplotypes. Data from mtDNA suggest that least …

Seasonal Movement Patterns And Habitat Occupancy Of Kotzebue Region Inconnu, Nicholas J. Smith

Fisheries

Inconnu Stenodus leucichthys are large, long-lived piscivorous whitefish harvested in subsistence and sport fisheries in Alaska. My study was conducted to describe the seasonal movements and habitat occupancy of inconnu in the Selawik and Kobuk River drainages, Alaska, from 2010 through 2012. Methods consisted of surgically implanting acoustic telemetry tags in 80 fish from both rivers in 2010 and 2011 (n = 320), and deploying a fixed array of 20 Vemco VR2W acoustic receiving stations affixed with archival tags throughout Selawik Lake and Hotham Inlet. Tagged inconnu detections revealed that Selawik and Kobuk River inconnu displayed a high degree of …

An Algorithm For Motion Estimation From The Tomographic Data, Alexander Katsevich, Michael Silver, Alexander Zamyatin

UCF Patents

In this paper we study local tomography (LT) in the motion contaminated case. It is shown that microlocally, away from some critical directions, LT is equivalent to a pseudo-differential operator of order one. LT also produces non-local artifacts that are of the same strength as useful singularities. If motion is not accurately known, singularities inside the object f being scanned spread in different directions. A single edge can become a double edge. In such a case the image of f looks cluttered. Based on this observation we propose an algorithm for motion estimation. We propose an empiric measure of image …

Stat3 Inhibitor Having Anti-Cancer Activity And Methods (Us), James Turkson, Andrew Hamilton, Richard Jove, Said Sebti

UCF Patents

A small-molecule Stat3 dimerization inhibitor, S3I-M2001, is described and the dynamics of intracellular processing of activated Stat3 within the context of the biochemical and biological effects of the Stat3 chemical probe inhibitor are elucidated. S3I-M2001 is a newly-identified oxazole-based peptidomimetic of the Stat3 Src Homology (SH) 2 domain-binding phosphotyrosine peptide that selectively disrupts active Stat3:Stat3 dimers. Stat3-dependent malignant transformation, survival, and migration and invasion of mouse and human cancer cells harboring persistently-activated Stat3 were inhibited by S3I-M2001. S3I-M2001 inhibited Stat3-dependent transcriptional regulation of tumor survival genes, such as Bcl-xL. The disclosed compound is useful as a new potential treatment for …

The Governance Of Wolves In Transboundary Regions: A Triquetrous Study Of Ephemeral Agreements Transcending Sub-National And National Boundaries, Brett M. Parks

Natural Resources

Contradictory management objectives in adjacent jurisdictions can affect transboundary wolves and their associated socio-ecological systems. Elite interviews and case study methodology were used in this thesis to explore three transboundary wolf management agreements, their effectiveness, and their impacts on wolves, ecosystems and stakeholders. Separate agreements between the State of Alaska and: Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, and Denali National Park and Preserve, and an agreement between Italy and Switzerland show that despite a diversity of socio-ecological contexts, approaches, and hierarchical level of actors, transboundary wolf agreements are prone to ephemerality. The ephemerality of these agreements appears to be due primarily to …

Chancellor's Report 2013-12, John Pugh

Chancellor's Report

No abstract provided.

Soundings 2013-12-17, N/A N/A

Soundings

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Environmental Characteristics On The Fish Assemblages Of High Latitude Kelp Forests In South-Central Alaska, Terril P. Efird

Marine Biology

Alaskan kelp forests are patchy habitats, varying greatly in size, physical complexity, and biotic and abiotic characteristics, and are important to fish communities. Patchy habitats often support different communities on patch edges versus interiors, while patch size and physical complexity are typically correlated to the resident community structure. This study quantified the biological and physical heterogeneity within different sized kelp forests and identified which factors are important in structuring the associated fish communities. Fish and habitat surveys were conducted at ten kelp forests of varying sizes. Significantly different fish communities were found at edge compared to interior locations. The relative …

Carbon Biogeochemistry Of The Eastern Bering Sea Shelf, Jessica Cross

Marine Biology

The uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO₂) has caused perturbations to marine biogeochemistry in recent years, including decreasing ocean pH and carbonate mineral saturation states (Ω). Collectively termed ocean acidification (OA), these conditions hinder the growth of calcium carbonate shells and effectively reduce habitat for some marine calcifiers. Given that the Bering Sea is one of the world's most productive marine ecosystems and supports both commercial fishing industries and subsistence communities, it is integral to understand its susceptibility to OA. Here, new observations of the organic and inorganic carbon systems are used to identify mechanisms leading to CO₂ accumulation and …

Valproic Acid Causes Proteasomal Degradation Of Dicer And Influences Mirna Expression, Zhaiyi Zhang, Paolo Convertini, Manli Shen, Xiu Xu, Frédéric Lemoine, Pierre De La Grange, Douglas A. Andres, Stefan Stamm

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Valproic acid (VPA) is a commonly used drug to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorders. Known properties of VPA are inhibitions of histone deacetylases and activation of extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERK), which cannot fully explain VPA's clinical features. We found that VPA induces the proteasomal degradation of DICER, a key protein in the generation of micro RNAs. Unexpectedly, the concentration of several micro RNAs increases after VPA treatment, which is caused by the upregulation of their hosting genes prior to DICER degradation. The data suggest that a loss of DICER protein and changes in micro RNA concentration contributes to the …

A Pil1–Sle1–Syj1–Tax4 Functional Pathway Links Eisosomes With Pi(4,5)P2 Regulation, Ruth Kabeche, Assen Roguev, Nevan J. Krogan, James B. Moseley

Dartmouth Scholarship

Stable compartments of the plasma membrane promote a wide range of cellular functions. In yeast cells, cytosolic structures called eisosomes generate prominent cortical invaginations of unknown function. Through a series of genetic screens in fission yeast, we found that the eisosome proteins Pil1 and Sle1 function with the synaptojanin-like lipid phosphatase Syj1 and its ligand Tax4. This genetic pathway connects eisosome function with the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2] in cells. Defects in PI(4,5)P2 regulation led to eisosome defects, and we found that the core eisosome protein Pil1 can bind to and tubulate liposomes containing PI(4,5)P2. Mutations in components of …

A Departmental Focus On High Impact Undergraduate Research Experiences, Robin Kinnel, Adam W. Van Wynsberghe, Ian J. Rosenstein, Karen S. Brewer, Myriam Cotten, George C. Shields, Charles J. Borton, Sueann Z. Senior, Gregory S. Rahn, Timothy E. Elgren

Faculty Journal Articles

Undergraduate research experiences have become an integral part of the Hamilton College chemistry experience. The major premise of the chemistry department’s curriculum is that research is a powerful teaching tool. Curricular offerings have been developed and implemented to better prepare students for the independence required for successful undergraduate research experiences offered during the academic year and the summer. Administrative support has played a critical role in our ability to initiate and sustain scholarly research programs for all faculty members in the department. The research-rich curriculum is built directly upon or derived from the scholarly research agendas of our faculty members. …

Ataam Taikina: Traditional Knowledge And Conservation Ethics In The Yukon River Delta, Alaska, Chad M. Cook

Arctic and Northern Studies

This research was conducted in collaboration with rural Yup'ik residents of the Yukon River delta region of Alaska. The thesis explores traditional knowledge and conservation ethics among rural Yup'ik residents who continue to maintain active subsistence lifestyles. From the end of July through August of 2012, ethnographic field research was conducted primarily through participant observation and semi-structured interviews, documenting Yup'ik subsistence hunting and fishing practices. Research participants invited me beluga whale hunting, seal hunting, moose hunting, commercial and subsistence fishing, gathering berries, and a variety of other activities that highlights local Yup'ik environmental knowledge, practices, and ethics. Through firsthand examples …

Index To Volume 62, Human Biology Editors

Human Biology

No abstract provided.

Book Reviews, Human Biology Editors

Human Biology

Reconstruction of Life from the Skeleton. Edited by Mehmet Yasar Iscan and Kenneth A.R. Kennedy. 315 pp. A.R. Liss, Inc., New York, 1989. $49.50. (Reviewd by Marc S. Micozzi, National Museum of Health and Medicine)

The Foundations of Human Genetics, By Krishna R. Dronamraju. 211 pp. Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, Illinois, 1989. $40.75. (Reviewed by Dennis O.Rourke, University of Utah)

The Fabric of Mind. By Richard Bergland. 202 pp. Penguin Books Australia, Victoria, Australia, 1985 (reprinted 1988). $9.95 (paper). (Reviewed by Ted A. Rathbun, University of South Carolina)

The Colonization of the Pacific: A Genetic Trail Research Monographs …

Diversity Of Cultivable Bacteria Involved In The Formation Of Macroscopic Microbial Colonies (Cave Silver) On The Walls Of A Cave In Slovenia, Blagajana Herzog Velikonja, Rok Tkavc, Lejla Pašić

International Journal of Speleology

Karstic caves often support white, yellow, grey or pink microbial colonies that are termed ‘cave silver’ by speleologists. Using various sample pre-treatments and culture media, a wide variety of bacteria associated with these colonies were recovered from a cave in Slovenia, Pajsarjeva jama. Decreasing the inoculum size resulted in significant increases in viable counts, while pre-treatments had the opposite effect with the exception of microwave irradiation. While all growth media yielded viable counts, the maximal counts were observed on a low-nutrient TWA medium.

Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence of OTU representatives, the majority of the 80 isolates examined …