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Journal Of Undergraduate Research And Creative Activity Volume One

UReCA: The NCHC Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity

Contents:

HONORS PROGRAM INDUCTION 3

CAGE'S DUNGEON 18

EACH AND EVERY MINUTE 20

THE "G" WORD 21

DOLLHOUSE 22

"MY PAINTINGS WOULD BE NO DIFFERENT THAN A PICTURE IN A BIOLOGY TEXTBOOK" 23

OF LOVE AND OTHER ILLS 28

SYMPTOMS OF THE VIRUS 36

GODSPEED 43

PALM EPIPHYLL COVER SHIFTS TO HIGHER ELEVATIONS IN TROPICAL CLOUD FOREST, INDICATING LOCAL CLIMATE CHANGE 45

EVOLUTIONARY EXPLANATION FOR INVASIVE ABILITIES OF CENTAUREA STOEBE (SPOTTED KNAPWEED) IN INTRODUCED AREAS 56

CONNEXIN-43 AND TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY 72

MOVEMENTS IN DIALOGUE 93

JARGONS AND PIDGINS AND CREOLES, OH MY! 102

"SO DEAD AND BALD" DESTROYS THE …

Connexin-43 And Traumatic Brain Injury: A Potential Target For Therapeutic Intervention, Lauren R. Moore

UReCA: The NCHC Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a widespread, degenerative affliction with no current therapeutic interventions. The long-term degradation caused by TBI results from secondary injury cascades that are initiated by primary injury. An early and important step in the damage process is reactive astrogliosis in astrocytes. Astrocytes communicate through gap junctions, which are composed of two connexon hemichannels from the two communicating cells and these connexons themselves are composed of six connexin protein subunits. Connexin 43 (Cx43) is a particularly important connexin to gap junctional communication and could act either to preserve the astrocytes from oxidative stress, or to propagate the …

"My Paintings Would Be No Different Than A Picture In A Biology Textbook", Andi Kur

UReCA: The NCHC Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity

I find that there are innate balances in life, universal dichotomies that permeate our understanding of the world. My paintings are about a duality such as this that exists between art and science. We are told from youth that these subjects are poles in constant strain, as miscible as oil in water. I spent thirteen years in school believing that I must choose between the two, that it is unnecessary to carry both with me. Drawn between a distinct love of each, I realized how vehemently I disagreed. Everything: every rock to every tree to every person is suspended between …

Evolutionary Explanation For Invasive Abilities Of Centaurea Stoebe (Spotted Knapweed) In Introduced Areas, Erin Koren

UReCA: The NCHC Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity

Since every invasion and every exotic species presents a new challenge with novel invasion strategies, the invasion of Centaurea stoebe (synonymously referred to as C. maculosa) into North America will be used as a case study to deeply examine invasion strategies. Centaurea stoebe is a short-lived (approximately 3 years) perennial member of the aster family (Broz et al., 2007). It occurs in two different cytotypes, or with two different chromosomal factors. In its home range, it exists in both diploid and tetraploid cytotypes, but only the tetraploid version is present in introduced ranges in North America (See Figure 1; Treier …

Challenges Of Respecting Riparian Rights Around Hydroelectric Dams In Cameroon Since 1949, Séverin Nwaha

Journal for the Advancement of Developing Economies

The impact of electric energy on socio-economic development has attracted the attention of all categories of people in society. This is because of the role power plays in the economic and industrial sectors of any country. Public authorities seem to be more concerned with protecting capitalist interests at the detriment of the riparian population. Despite regulations and legal provisions, authorities are still not able to implement a rigorous policy in this sector in Cameroon due to administrative bottle necks, among other factors. Furthermore, the existence of multiple regulatory and management bodies creates confusion. Legislation related to this issue is usually …

Key To The Bat Fleas Of Mongolia, Ingo Scheffler

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

Fleas of the family Ischnopsyllidae belong to the common bat ectoparasites. The current taxonomic status of these insects in Mongolia includes seven species for which we provide a determination key.

Bat Ectoparasites Of Mongolia, Part 3, Ingo Scheffler, Ariunbold Jargalsaikhan, Idertsogt Bolorchimeg, Annegret Stubbe, Michael Stubbe, Andreas Abraham, K. Thiele

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

The fauna of Mongolian bats and their ectoparasites is not yet fully documented. This study analyzes ectoparasite samples of 15 bat species from diverse taiga, steppe, and desert locations. We recorded 27 parasite species in total and report their abundance, host preference, and occurrence herein. In describing a new bat fly species (Basilia dolchii n. spec.), reporting six parasite species never before recorded in Mongolia, and examining rare host species such as Myotis frater and Murina hilgendorfi, this work expands present knowledge in this research area. To assess respective individual and species-specific parasite loads comprised of different insects …

Fidelity And Survival Of Breeding Mallards In The Nebraska Sandhills, Zachary J. Cunningham, Larkin Powell, Mark P. Vrtiska

The Prairie Naturalist

Assessment of demographic parameters of a population allows managers to better understand factors affecting populations and increase efficiency of conservation efforts. Few data on demographics exist for mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) breeding in the Nebraska Sandhills. Thus, we used banding data to estimate probabilities of fidelity, survival, band recovery, and recapture of mallards banded in the eastern Sandhills, 2005–2008. Our recapture probability estimate for mallards was 0.074 (95% CI: 0.033–0.158), and the recovery probability estimate was 0.300 (95% CI: 0.156–0.497). Mallard annual survival was 0.795 (95% CI: 0.609–0.906) with a fidelity probability of 0.618 (95% CI: 0.283–0.868). High annual …

Review Of Following The Wild Bees: The Craft And Science Of Bee Hunting By Thomas D. Seeley, Katrina Klett

The Prairie Naturalist

Since the media’s coverage of the sudden losses of worker bee populations in many honeybee colonies during the winter of 2006-07 (a phenomenon that was later termed the Colony Collapse Disorder or CCD), there have been increasingly high levels of popular interest in bees and beekeeping in the United States. While a number of books have followed this wave of interest, Following the Wild Bees: The Craft and Science of Bee Hunting by Thomas Seeley is a fundamentally unique contribution to popular honeybee literature. The focus of the book is not on the current synergy of effects that are leading …

Fourteen New Species Of Sonoma Casey (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) With A Key To Species From Western North America, Michael L. Ferro

Insecta Mundi

Fourteen new species of faronine pselaphines in the genus Sonoma Casey are described: S. agitator (California); S. cardiac (Oregon); S. carltoni (Oregon); S. cataloochee (North Carolina); S. caterinoi (California); S. chandleri (California); S. cobra (California); S. colberti (California); S. maryae (Oregon); S. quellazaire (Oregon); S. rossellinae (California); S. stewarti (California); S. twaini (California); and S. virgo (California, Oregon). Thirteen are from western North America and one from the eastern U.S. These species bring the total diversity of the genus to 57 species—40 from western North America and 17 from the eastern U.S. A key to, and updated distributions for, all …

Nueva Especie De Kessleria Nowicki, 1864 Para Chile Central (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) Asociada A Maytenus Boaria Molina (Celastraceae), Danilo E. Cepeda

Insecta Mundi

The description of a new species of Kessleria (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) is presented, based on male

and female specimens obtained from laboratory rearing of material collected on their host, Maytenus boaria, of

the central region of Chile.

Se describe una nueva especie del género Kessleria (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) para Chile central,

en base a ejemplares macho y hembra, obtenidos de crianza de laboratorio de su hospedero, Maytenus boaria, de

la región central de Chile.

The Trichoptera Of Panama Iv. New Records For Caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) From The Republic Of Panama, Brian J. Armitage, Steven C. Harris, Roger J. Blahnik, Robin E. Thomson

Insecta Mundi

The Republic of Panama currently has 300 recorded species of Trichoptera distributed among 14 families. Herein we add 42 new country records for Panama, including one new family (Anomalopsychidae) and three new genera (Anomalopsychidae: Contulma; Hydroptilidae: Byrsopteryx and Cerasmatrichia). The newly recorded caddisfly taxa increase Panama’s total known fauna to 342 species, distributed among 15 families and 50 genera. These results are part of an ongoing effort to characterize the caddisfly fauna of Panama, and to evaluate that country’s major watersheds (cuencas).

Natural History, Ecology, And Conservation Of The Genus Polyphylla Harris, 1841. 1. New Species From The Southwestern United States And Baja California, Mexico, With Notes On Distribution And Synonymy (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae), Delbert A. La Rue

Insecta Mundi

Four new species of the genus Polyphylla Harris (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) from the

southwestern United States and Baja California, Mexico, are described and illustrated: Polyphylla anivallis, P.

koso, P. morroensis, and P. socorriana. Two nomenclatural changes are proposed: Polyphylla ratcliffei Young is

placed into synonymy with P. avittata Hardy and Andrews, new synonymy; P. uteana Tanner is removed from

synonymy and reinstated as a valid species, reinstated status. The females of P. monahansensis Hardy and Andrews

and P. stellata Young are described and illustrated. New distributional records and ecological associations

are amended for P. …

Armored Scales (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) From Warm Temperate Forests In Korea, Soo-Jung Suh

Insecta Mundi

Andaspis recurrens Takagi and Kawai, Hypaspidiotus jordani (Kuwana), Lepidosaphes kamakurensis

(Kuwana) and Selenomphalus distylii Takagi from warm temperate forests are newly documented in the Korean

fauna of armored scale insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae). Characteristics of these species are briefl y given and

illustrative photographs and information on their distribution and hosts are provided.

Key To Florida Alydidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) And Selected Exotic Pest Species, M. Andrew Jansen, Susan E. Halbert

Insecta Mundi

A key to the fourteen native Florida species and seven exotic pest species of Alydidae is presented here. The key uses external, non-genitalic morphology and allows for rapid separation of the native species and exotic pests included herein.

Corrections To Neotropical Rhinaspis Perty And Plectris Lepeletier And Audinet-Serville (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) Classifi Cation And Nomenclature, Andrew B. T. Smith

Insecta Mundi

The name Melolontha hypocrita Mannerheim, 1829 has been long unused, even though it is the type species of Hyporhiza Dejean, 1833. I examined the only known specimen from the type series and here designate it as the lectotype. Examination of this lectotype reveals that this species is best placed in the genus Rhinaspis Perty, 1830. Consequently, the genus Hyporhiza Dejean, 1833 is confi rmed as a junior synonym of Rhinaspis. Further, the replacement name Rhinaspis fuhrmanni is proposed for Rhinaspis hypocrita (Blanchard, 1850), a new secondary homonym of Rhinaspis hypocrita (Mannerheim, 1829). A homonymy problem was also discovered and …

A New Genus And Species Of Tanyproctini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) From The Coquimbo Region Of Chile, Andrew B. T. Smith, José Mondaca

Insecta Mundi

A new genus and species of Tanyproctini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) is described from the Coquimbo Region of Chile and compared with other taxa from Chile and neighboring countries.

Checklists Of Cucujidae, Laemophloeidae, And Silvanidae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea) From Iran, Michael C. Thomas, Hassan Ghahari

Insecta Mundi

The Iranian fauna of Cucujidae, Laemophloeidae, and Silvanidae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea) are summarized

in this paper. In total 2 species of Cucujidae (1 genus: Pediacus Shuckard), 6 species of Laemophloeidae (3 genera:

Cryptolestes Ganglbauer, Laemophloeus Dejean, and Placonotus MacLeay) and 7 species of Silvanidae (6 genera:

Uleiota Latreille, Psammoecus Latreille, Ahasverus Gozis, Nausibius Lentz, Oryzaephilus Ganglbauer, Psammoecus

Latreille, and Silvanus Latreille) are listed in this paper. Synonymies and distribution data are given.

New Antlion Records (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) From Paraguay, Olga Petko, Paul Smith, Lionel Stange, Sergio D. Rios

Insecta Mundi

New records of Myrmeleontidae from Paraguay are presented: Dimares elegans (Perty, 1833), Glenurus croesus Banks, 1922, Glenurus penningtoni (Navás, 1918a) and Vella fallax (Rambur, 1842). The total number of species now recorded from the country is fourteen among 11 genera. Specimens of Dimares elegans from east (Cerrado) and west (Chaco) of the Paraguay River are phenotypically distinct; those west of the Paraguay River are assigned to the form “lepida” Navás, 1912. More research is required to understand the taxonomic limits in this genus.

First Record Of Ptosima Walshii Leconte (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) In Maryland, Lawrence Barringer

Insecta Mundi

Ptosima walshii LeConte (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is reported from Maryland for the fi rst time, new state record. A single female specimen was collected in a Lindgren funnel in 2013. The known host for this species, Quercus macrocarpa Michx., is not reported from the trapping locality.

Bolivian Rhinotragini X. Odontomelitta Gen. Nov. (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), Robin O. S. Clarke

Insecta Mundi

Epimelitta postimelina Giesbert, 1996 and Odontocera apicula Bates, 1885 are transferred to the new genus Odontomelitta. Epimelitta postimelina, with closed procoxal cavities, cannot remain in Epimelittta Bates, 1870, a genus characterized by open procoxal cavities. The short elytra and tegmen (with caliper-shaped lateral lobes) of the aedeagus of both species excludes them from the genus Odontocera Audinet-Serville, 1833, with long elytra and tegmen (with strap-shaped lateral lobes). Both species are illustrated, and host plant and host flower records provided for O. apicula.

First Records Of The Iceryine Scale Insects Crypticerya Brasiliensis (Hempel) And Crypticerya Genistae (Hempel) (Hemiptera: Monophlebidae) For Colombia, Takumasa Kondo, Penny Gullan, Ana L. B. G. Peronti, Andra Amalia Ramos Portilla, Alejandro Caballero, Nelson Villarreal- Pretelt

Insecta Mundi

Abstract. Crypticerya brasiliensis (Hempel) and Crypticerya genistae (Hempel) (Hemiptera: Monophlebidae: Iceryini) are herein reported for the fi rst time in Colombia. The above two species and Crypticerya multicicatrices Kondo and Unruh and Crypticerya zeteki (Cockerell) are briefl y diagnosed based on the adult females. The presence of C. zeteki in Colombia is confi rmed and a key to the adult females of species of the tribe Iceryini reported in Colombia is provided.

Resumen. Se reportan por primera vez a Crypticerya brasiliensis (Hempel) y Crypticerya genistae (Hempel) (Hemiptera: Monophlebidae: Iceryini) en Colombia. Las dos especies arriba mencionadas junto con Crypticerya multicicatrices …

South American Coccinellidae (Coleoptera), Part Xvii: Systematic Revision Of The Genera Cyrea Gordon And Canepari And Tiphysa Mulsant (Hyperaspidinae: Brachiacanthini), Claudio Canepari, Robert D. Gordon, Guy A. Hanley

Insecta Mundi

Cyrea Gordon and Canepari (121 species) and Tiphysa Mulsant (2 species) are discussed, species are described, illustrations are provided, and a key to all recognized species is included. New synonyms recognized are:

Hyperaspis arrowi var. darwini Brèthes = Cyrea arrowi (Brèthes); Hyperaspis trivittata Weise, Hyperaspis mundula Weise = Cyrea emiliae (Mulsant); Cleothera scapulata Mulsant, Cleothera mercabilis Mulsant, Hyperaspis iheringi Weise = Cyrea flavoguttata (Mulsant); Cleothera gracilis Mulsant = Cyrea hexastigma (Mulsant); Cleothera triacantha Mulsant = Cyrea novemsignata (Herbst); Cleothera distinguenda Mulsant = Cyrea ormanceayi (Mulsant); Cleothera sexnotata Brèthes = Cyrea quinquenotata (Mulsant); Cleothera schaufussi Vogel and Hyperaspis adelaida Gorham = …

First Record Of Mastogenius Crenulatus Knull (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) In Massachusetts, Lawrence Barringer

Insecta Mundi

Mastogenius crenulatus Knull (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is reported from Massachusetts for the first time, new state record. The single male specimen was collected in a Lindgren funnel during 2014. This expands the range of this species in the Northeast to two states.

Current Disposition Of Earwigflies, Merope Tuber Newman And Austromerope Poultoni Killington (Mecoptera: Meropeidae), In The Florida State Collection Of Arthropods, James C. Dunford, Louis A. Somma, David Serrano

Insecta Mundi

We provide the current holdings of Meropeidae in the Florida State Collection of Arthropods (FSCA). To date, FSCA holds a well-curated collection of extant meropeids representing 17 U.S. states and Western Australia (n = 316 Merope tuber Newman, five Austromerope poultoni Killington). Merope tuber records from Vermont, Texas, and South Carolina are published here for the first time. A total of 298 pinned M. tuber and four pinned A. poultoni; six M. tuber specimens preserved in 95% ethanol; and 12 M. tuber and one A. poultoni sputter-coated with gold-palladium for SEM are available for researchers interested in studying this unique …

Studies On Palaearctic Onthophagus Associated With Burrows Of Small Mammals. V. A New Species Of The Semicornis Group From South-Central Iran (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Onthophagini), Stefano Ziani

Insecta Mundi

A new Iranian, probably pholeophilous species of the scarabaeine genus Onthophagus Latreille, 1802, O. roessneri n. sp., is described, illustrated, and its placement in the semicornis group within the subgenus Palaeonthophagus Zunino, 1979 is discussed. A key to the species of the group is presented.

Revisión Del Género Oogenius Solier, 1851 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Rutelini), José Mondaca

Insecta Mundi

El género Oogenius Solier, 1851, es revisado y ahora incluye siete especies: O. arrowi Gutiérrez (Argentina), O. castilloi Martínez y Peña (Chile), O. chilensis Ohaus (Chile), O. kuscheli Gutiérrez (Chile), O. lariosae Martínez (Argentina), O. penai Mondaca (Chile), y O. virens Solier (Chile). El género es redescrito, adultos macho y hembra de cada una de las especies son caracterizados, fotografi ados, y los caracteres morfológicos de valor diagnóstico ilustrados. Se incluye una clave de identificación, un mapa de distribución e información general sobre la biología de las especies. Basado en el estudio del material tipo, O. chilensis barrosi Gutiérrez, 1949, …

Enoclerus Gahan: Predators Of Chemically Protected Ladybird Beetles (Coleoptera: Cleridae And Coccinellidae), Jacques Rifkind

Insecta Mundi

Four species of the genus Enoclerus (Coleoptera: Cleridae) are reported to prey on chemically protected Coccinellidae in North America. The possibility that aposematically colored Enoclerus also mimic prey ladybird species is discussed, and the further possibility that clerid predators acquire chemical protection through sequestration of ladybird prey’s toxic alkaloids is suggested as an important avenue of investigation. The data presented are primarily based on photographs taken by non-specialists, discovered through Internet search. The crowdsourcing of natural history observations can reveal aspects of animal behavior heretofore unreported and even unsuspected.

Five New Species Of Dipropus Germar (Coleoptera: Elateridae) From West-Central North America, And A Lectotype Designation For Elater Soleatus Say, Paul J. Johnson

Insecta Mundi

The species of Dipropus Germar (Coleoptera: Elateridae) of the west-central region of North America are taxonomically reviewed. Historical records of D. approximatus (Candèze), D. ferreus (LeConte), D. simplex (LeConte) and D. soleatus (Say) in the region are based on misidentifi cations. Dipropus pericu new species is described from Baja California Sur. Dipropus reinae new species, D. sonora new species and D. yaqui new species are described from southern Arizona, New Mexico and Sonora. Dipropus warneri new species is described from Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Dipropus sus (Candèze) is reported from Morelos, Sonora and Sinaloa as new state records …

A Revision Of The Genus Eremoleon Banks (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Nemoleontini), Robert B. Miller, Lionel A. Stange

Insecta Mundi

Descriptions or diagnoses are given for 36 species of New World Eremoleon including 12 new species:

Eremoleon attenuatus, E. durangoensis, E. jacumba, E. jamaica, E. inca, E. monagas, E. morazani, E. pygmaeus, E.

samne, E. tanya, E. tepuyiensis and E. venezolanus. A neotype is designated for Hesperoleon atomarius Navás 1933.

The larvae of 25 species are described and keyed. Keys to the adults and larvae are given, and biological notes are

provided. Twenty-five species were reared from larvae found in cave mouths, rock overhangs, or other less common

habitats; for example, E. nigribasis were found in deep recesses of …