Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Supplemental Food On The Behavior, Aggression, And Paternity Status Of Male Indigo Buntings (Passerina Cyanea), Bradley Mcleod

Online Theses and Dissertations

Breeding is an energetically costly activity for birds. If energy-limited, birds may alter their time budgets, reducing time spent in some activities and spending more time in others. To date, no experimental study has investigated the possible effect of food availability on male mate guarding behavior. Additionally, previous results from food supplementation studies are mixed. My objectives were to determine how food supplementation might influence the breeding behavior of male Indigo Buntings (Passerina cyanea). I predicted that, compared to non-supplemented males, food-supplemented males would: 1) spend less time foraging, 2) spend more time singing, 3) spend more time mate guarding, …

Flight Vocalizations And Displays Of Adult Chimney Swifts (Chaetura Pelagica): Description And Function, Louise Ann Peppe

Online Theses and Dissertations

The vocalizations of many songbirds have been well documented and analyzed, but less is known about the vocal behavior of many non-passerines, including swifts. While flying alone as well as during aerial displays with conspecifics, Chimney Swifts (Chaetura pelagica) often utter a twitter call consisting of a series of high-frequency chip notes. However, little is known about the possible function(s) of swift flight displays and their twitter call. My objectives were to record, analyze, and document the aerial behaviors and associated vocalizations of adult Chimney Swifts. I studied swifts at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Madison County, Kentucky, where …

The Bioscience-Industrial Complex, Radical Materialist Aesthetics, And Interspecies Political Ecologies: The Unforeseen Posthuman Future In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein And Margaret Atwood's Maddaddam Trilogy, Sarah Sydney Lane

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This project traces how Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Margaret Atwood’s MaddAddam Trilogy, science fiction novels from the Romantic and contemporary literary periods respectively, contest the problematic relationships between subjecthood, science, ecological health, and patriarchal, capitalist societies by crafting radical materialist alternatives to such a system and its dualistic and destructive interpersonal/interspecies relations. Through the theoretical framework of ecofeminism that recognizes the conceptual linkages between women and nature in Western systems of thought, as well as psychoanalytical feminist critiques of the masculinization of scientific epistemology, this project examines the developmental and ontological overlaps between literary “masculine” and “scientific” subjects socialized under …

The Ethics Of Mourning: The Role Of Material Culture And Public Politics In The 'Book Of The Duchess' And The 'Pearl' Poem, Tarren Andrews

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This project is a socio-historic analysis of two late 14^th century dream visions: Chaucer’s Book of the Duchess and the Pearl poem. Utilizing Robert Pogue Harrison’s concept of objectifying grief through ritualized communal mourning, this thesis examines the ways in which mourning literature functioned as consolatory device, and a form of public performance for the powerful patrons who commissioned the pieces. By engaging with pre-existing communities of grief, material culture, and courtly discourse these poems perform the work of mourning while simultaneously enacting modes of public performativity that stress the ethics of grieving, and suggest that, for royal patrons, …

The Mountains And The Men, Caitlin Macdougall

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

No abstract provided.

Good Reasons, Rachel Mindell

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

No abstract provided.

It Looks Something Like This, Courtney M. Bird

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

No abstract provided.

What Is A Hole Made Of: Queer Identity And Grief In Autobiography Of Red And Red Doc>, Rachel Mindell

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

No abstract provided.

The Sun House, Max Kaisler

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

No abstract provided.

Melville's Mardi And The Book Of Mormon, Giordano Lahaderne

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

While Melville’s Mardi has long remained a puzzle to both readers and critics, scholars agree that his third novel marked a significant turning point in his writing career. It is with Mardi that Meville realized the novel as a form suited to grapple the various philosophical and religious questions he would famously explore in his following book, Moby Dick. Although scholars have already pinpointed many various sources for Mardi, this thesis examines the heretofore overlooked connections between Melville’s third book and the esoteric volume of American scripture, the Book of Mormon.

The first chapter of this thesis examines …

Fate Of Captive-Reared Bobwhite Quail Released In Central Kentucky, Adam Carter

Online Theses and Dissertations

The fate of pen-raised bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) released onto two farms (Site 1 and 2) and a reclaimed coal surface mine (Site 3) in south-central Kentucky during the summers of 2008 and 2009 was assessed. Of the 57 bobwhite quail radio-tagged and released in this study, the fate of 26 (45%) was unknown because the telemetry signal was lost and the birds could not be located. Within 34 days after release, mortality of the remaining 31 radio-tagged birds was 100%. Raptors, coyotes, and mesomammal predators were responsible for most (84%) of the identified quail mortality; accounting for the deaths …

Vocal Responses Of Blue Jays (Cyanocitta Cristata) To Raptors That Differ In Predatory Threat, Julie Dahl

Online Theses and Dissertations

Anti-predator defense is an important adaptation in group-living organisms. Some species of flocking birds use referential calls to communicate predator presence and the level of threat posed by predators. Previous studies have revealed that two species in the corvid family, American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and Siberian Jays (Perisoreus infaustus), use referential calls to convey information about predator presence and level of threat. Because of their intelligence and flocking behavior, Blue Jays, like American Crows and Siberian Jays, may use referential calls to communicate raptor presence and threat. During the non-breeding seasons of 2014 and 2015, I recorded and subsequently analyzed …

Characterization Of Contaminants On Firefighter"S Protective Equipment A Firefighter's Potential Exposure To Heavy Metals During A Structure Fire, Donald F. Gagas

Online Theses and Dissertations

This research measured heavy metals, specifically cadmium, chromium, copper, and lead, on the surface of the firefighters bunker gear. Despite the fact that many studies have been conducted regarding the presence of organics in smoke emissions from structure fires, very few studies have investigated the extent of heavy metal emissions found during a structure fire. Using a wipe test procedure samples were collected from firefighters following a structure fire and analyzed for metals. Three locations on the bunker gear were used, the knee, elbow, and chest areas. The results showed that varying amounts of cadmium, chromium, copper and lead adhere …

Offspring Retrieval Behaviors After Brood Loss In The Convict Cichlid, Heather Witherspoon Govert

Online Theses and Dissertations

Parents provide care for their young in several different ways. One of these is searching for and retrieving any young that may become displaced from their nest. In monogamous biparental species, parents may share care of their young, including retrieval efforts. Convict cichlids (Amatitlania siquia) are an example of a monogamous biparental fish that show shared parental care of young. In the wild, these cichlids defend nests and search for missing young in response to complete or catastrophic brood loss. This retrieval behavior is important for both parents because parents, especially the males, have been observed to abandon their mate …

Methods Of Analysis For Fermentation Science Products Using Various Analytical Techniques, Casey Jay Howdieshell

Online Theses and Dissertations

Fermentation science, the study of microorganisms as they digest food sources to produce usable products for consumption, has been around since the dawn of modern civilization. Historically, the fermentation process has been utilized for the production of alcoholic beverages. More recently, however, the production of bioethanol and biodiesel as a fuel source alternative to classical fossil fuels has gained increased popularity. As with any synthetic process, derivations and optimizations for ideal production are needed. As such, analytical techniques must be implemented to ensure quality control and pinnacle efficiency. This body of work describes analytical techniques providing key qualitative and quantitative …

On The Trail Of Student Participants: Identifying Barriers To Hunting And Developing A Hunter Recruitment Profile For College Students In Kentucky, Justin Dean Kurtz

Online Theses and Dissertations

Over the past several decades the number of individuals participating in hunting has decreased dramatically. This issue is important as hunting plays a major role in the US economy, is also the basis for the modern model of wildlife conservation, and can serve as a conduit for individuals to experience nature.

The purpose of this research was to identify barriers to hunting for college students, as well as identify lifestyle factors that can be used to create a profile for college students who are ideal for hunter recruitment efforts. Students at Eastern Kentucky University, Northern Kentucky University, and Western Kentucky …

Vegetation-Based Metrics Of Biotic Integrity For Assessing The Ecological Condition Of Wetlands Of Kentucky, Tanner Matthew Morris

Online Theses and Dissertations

Over the last two centuries, wetland acreage across the world has significantly declined due to human disturbances. It has been estimated that Kentucky has lost over 80% of its wetland area. In response to these losses occurring across the United States, the Clean Water Act was passed to halt this dramatic decline and to restore the ecological integrity of waters of the United States. To enforce the Clean Water Act, a number of ecological assessment techniques have been developed to quantify the ecological quality of the waters of the United States. Kentucky recently adopted a rapid method for assessing the …

What Happened Last Night? Sleep, Sex, And Recollection, Amanda Gale Renfro

Online Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has repeatedly illustrated the beneficial influence of sleep on memory processes. Further, evidence has demonstrated the power of sexual valance to enhance memory for certain types of stimuli. The present study investigated the possible interaction effect between sleep and sexual valance on recollection memory in 44 undergraduate and graduate student participants at Eastern Kentucky University, based upon a method by Alger, Lau, & Fishbein (2012); however, in the current study, recollection memory items were words received audibly rather than visually. Behavioral data, electroencephalography (EEG), and skin conductance data was collected to assess memory performance, sleep progress, autonomic nervous …

The Effect Of Antibiotics On Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Biofilm Production, Courtney Paige Turpin

Online Theses and Dissertations

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become an increasing burden worldwide. A highly resistant species is Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a nosocomial pathogen that produces a biofilm that enhances its resistance. This project examined the possibility of using bacteriocin, an internal protective toxin produced by some species of bacteria, as a potential treatment for resistant bacteria. In this study, standard broad spectrum antibiotics were used to treat P. aeruginosa to prevent biofilm formation. The biofilm was then analyzed to determine if the biofilm is inhibited or facilitated by each treatment. Optimal concentrations of antibiotics were determined to be effective at a concentration of 0.07mg/mL for …

Effect Of Variation In Nestling Hunger Levels On The Begging Behavior Of Nestlings And The Provisioning Behavior Of Adult American Kestrels, Katheryn Ann Watson

Online Theses and Dissertations

Little is known about how variation in nestling begging intensity influences the behavior of adult raptors and how responses of adult males and females to such variation might differ. My objective was to manipulate the begging intensity of nestling American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) and examine the responses of adult males and females. I studied 12 pairs of kestrels nesting in nest boxes from 1 March to 1 July 2014 at the Blue Grass Army Depot, Madison County, Kentucky. Nest boxes were modified with a separate compartment for a camcorder to record nestling behavior, and a second camcorder was placed outside …

Distribution, Movement, And Ecology Of Etheostoma Spilotum (Gilbert), The Kentucky Arrow Darter, In Gilberts Big Creek And Elisha Creek, Red Bird River Basin, Clay And Leslie Counties, Kentucky, Jonathan Bradley Baxter

Online Theses and Dissertations

The Kentucky Arrow Darter (KAD), Etheostoma spilotum, is an endemic species to the Upper Kentucky River Basin and is currently proposed for listing as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The ecology and population status of this benthic species is poorly understood, so this study was designed to investigate the species’ movement capabilities, population dynamics, and overall ecology in two streams (Gilberts Big and Elisha Creek) in the Red Bird Ranger District, Daniel Boone National Forest, Kentucky. Project objectives included quantification of movement patterns, identification of microhabitat use, and estimation of population size in both streams. Sampling was conducted during …

Examining The Impacts Of Valley Fills In Stream Ecosystems On Amphibian And Aquatic Insect Communities In Southeastern Kentucky, John Clayton Bourne

Online Theses and Dissertations

Chapter 1. Abstract: Biodiversity is not evenly distributed, and understanding factors that determine spatial patterns of species diversity remains a key question in ecology. Because of their relatively high abundance and complex life cycles, stream salamanders and aquatic insects are important trophic links and serve a critical role in transferring energy. Despite this importance little research has examined their community structure simultaneously in aquatic ecosystems. The primary objective of this research was to determine the structure of these communities across natural areas of southeastern Kentucky and understand what factors impact their abundances and distributions. To address this, we sampled eight …

A Comparison Of Management Strategies For The Federally Endangered Running Buffalo Clover (Trifolium Stoloniferum) On The Blue Grass Army Depot, Ky, Alexi David Dart-Padover

Online Theses and Dissertations

Running buffalo clover (Trifolium stoloniferum) is a federally endangered plant that appears to depend on habitat disturbance, although proposed management strategies such as cattle grazing, mowing, and herbicide application have never been compared in a controlled study. We evaluate the efficacy of these techniques on the Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD) in Madison County, KY, where one of T. stoloniferum’s largest populations occurs. Fifty-nine patches of T. stoloniferum on the BGAD were treated annually between 2012 and 2014 with combinations of mowing and grass-specific herbicide. Patches of T. stoloniferum also were exposed to one of three types of cattle exposure …

Spatial And Temporal Characterization Of The Physicochemical Parameters And Phytoplankton Assemblages In Dodurga Reservoir (Sinop, Turkey), Seda Hasirci Mustak, Eli̇f Tezel Ersanli

Turkish Journal of Botany

Physicochemical parameters and phytoplankton seasonal variation were investigated between August 2010 and July 2011 in Dodurga Reservoir. A total of 35 phytoplankton taxa were identified. Phytoplankton samples collected from surface samples in late winter, spring, and early and mid-summer were found to be influenced by nitrate, dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, and phosphate. However, early winter and autumn assemblages of the samples were influenced by total hardness, silica, water transparency, conductivity, organic matter, and oxidation reduction potential. The phytoplankton samples collected from different depths in early and mid-summer were found to be influenced by only temperature. Early and middle spring assemblages …

Metabolic And Molecular-Genetic Regulation Of Proline Signaling And Itscross-Talk With Major Effectors Mediates Abiotic Stress Tolerance In Plants, Aryadeep Roychoudhury, Aditya Banerjee, Vikramjit Lahiri

Turkish Journal of Botany

Proline (Pro) accumulation is a common response of several plant species to combat abiotic stresses. Under stress conditions, Pro acts as an excellent compatible solute in the plant system, participating in the alleviation of stress sensitivity. Though the metabolic pathways associated with Pro are well studied, parts of its regulatory cascades are still not properly known. It has also been conjectured that epigenetic modifications regulate Pro metabolism during abiotic stress. Apart from Pro, the plant abiotic stress responses are essentially mediated by multiple effectors. Hence, proper analysis of the cross-talks of Pro with the other components of the abiotic stress …

Recent Advances In Potato Genomics, Transcriptomics, And Transgenicsunder Drought And Heat Stresses: A Review, Emre Aksoy, Ufuk Demi̇rel, Zahi̇de Nesli̇han Öztürk, Sevgi̇ Çalişkan, Mehmet Emi̇n Çalişkan

Turkish Journal of Botany

Sustainable potato production practices are crucial for food security and social sustainability in the future since potato is a highly nutritious food and it is considered as one of the most promising crops to reduce human hunger and poverty in the world due to its high yield potential. However, being a temperate crop, potato is exposed to various environmental stresses, including extended periods of drought and heat. The majority of potato genomics, transcriptomics, and transgenics studies concentrate on the characterization of molecular mechanisms governing cold hardiness of tubers and response and tolerance mechanisms against diseases. Likewise, potato breeding studies focus …

Screening Of Pvlea3 Gene Mrna Expression Levels With Qrt-Pcr In Differentbean Varieties (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) Subjected To Salt And Drought Stress, İlker Büyük, Sümer Aras

Turkish Journal of Botany

Bean is an edible grain legume species with the greatest selectivity in terms of ecological conditions. Increasing the yield per unit area depends on identification and breeding of species resistant to different ecological conditions. In this regard, we aimed to evaluate mRNA levels of the PvLEA3 gene and lipid peroxidation levels in 7 different bean varieties subjected to NaCl and PEG stresses. Lipid peroxidation analysis (MDA) and qRT-PCR analysis were performed with root and leaf tissues sampled at 3 and 27 h of stress conditions. All results showed that the PvLEA3 gene plays a key role in the defense mechanism …

Evaluation Of Metabolite Extraction Protocols And Determination Ofphysiological Response To Drought Stress Via Reporter Metabolites In Model Plant Brachypodium Distachyon, Özge Tatli, İlkem Emrah Ni̇kerel, Bahar Soğutmaz Özdemi̇r

Turkish Journal of Botany

Metabolomics aims to systematically gather (quantitative) information on metabolites in the cell and is commonly viewed as the "missing link" between genomics, transcriptomics, and physiology. Typical metabolomics platforms consist of two main steps, the quenching and extraction of metabolites from plant material and the (un)targeted quantification of the extracted metabolites. Brachypodium distachyon, a native grass species of the Mediterranean region, is an attractive model plant to study temperate crops. In recent years, despite an increasing interest in genomic and transcriptomic studies, metabolomics studies for B. Distachyon are still in their infancy. Drought, an abiotic stress factor, causes severe loss in …

Ameliorative Role Of Ss-Estradiol Against Lead-Induced Oxidative Stressand Genotoxic Damage In Germinating Wheat Seedlings, Muci̇p Geni̇şel, Hülya Türk, Serkan Erdal, Yavuz Demi̇r, Ebru Genç, İrfan Terzi̇

Turkish Journal of Botany

In the present study, to determine the effects of β-estradiol on the ability of plants to tolerate lead toxicity, β-estradiol (10 μM) and lead (1.75 mM), singly or in combination, were exogenously applied to wheat seeds. Although lead resulted in a marked increase in the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase (but not catalase), as well as an increase in the level of antioxidant compounds such as ascorbic acid and glutathione, this was insufficient to ameliorate the lead-induced oxidative injury or the superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, and malondialdehyde levels. However, β-estradiol was …

A Cgh Array Study In Nonsyndromic (Primary) Autism Patients: Deletions On16p13.11, 16p11.2, 1q21.1, 2q21.1q21.2, And 8p23.1, Kudret Esen Gümüşlü, Hakan Savli, Deni̇z Sünnetçi̇, Naci̇ Çi̇ne, Bülent Kara, Seda Eren Keski̇n, Rami̇s Ufuk Akkoyunlu

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: To detect specific molecular changes of DNA level in primary autism patients by using whole genome CGH array technology. Materials and methods: A cohort of 35 primary autism patients received clinical genetic testing by using an oligonucleotide-based CGH array platform to test for submicroscopic genomic deletions and duplications. Fluorescent in situ hybridization was performed in seven patients for confirmation of the results. Results: We found 16p13.11 deletion in thirteen patients, 16p11.2 deletion in twelve patients, 1q21.1 deletion in ten patients, 2q21.1q21.2 deletion in eight patients, and 8p23.1 deletion in seven patients. Conclusion: Our study indicates that genes in 16p13.11, …