Digital Commons Network^™

The Thermal Performance And Tolerance Of Tropical Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata Amboinensis), Sancha Conway Holroyd

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

This thesis explores the theoretical and experimental applications of ecophysiological research for the management of aquatic organismal health within the ornamental trade. Ecophysiology investigates the interactions between an organism’s physiology and its environment, and offers a promising approach to improving the management of health outcomes for traded species. Chapter One presents a comprehensive and critical literature review that explores the potential of ecophysiology to redefine our understanding of health, by integrating ecophysiological perspectives into practice. Using Hatch’s (1962) theoretical framework as a foundation to define health, the review discusses the importance of understanding species-specific responses to key physio-chemical parameters for …

Application Of Deep-Learning To Deep-Sea Species Identification From Image-Based Data, Eleanor Cross

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

Vast areas of the world’s deep sea are unexplored, and the recent threats of deep-sea mining and trawling make exploration of these habitats a time-sensitive concern. Much of our understanding of the deep sea has been based on physical sampling of sediment habitats using trawls and grabs, however, modern methods of surveying the deep sea involve the acquisition of video footage using Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs). Use of image-based methods is particularly important for sensitive or vulnerable species such as cold-water corals, especially considering these species tend to inhabit hard substrate areas that cannot be sampled using trawls. Annotation of …

Physical Drivers Of Ecosystem Change Throughout The Tropical Indian Ocean, Ted Robinson

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

The past decade has seen improved awareness of increasing anthropogenic stress on marine ecosystems and their inhabitants. To understand how best to protect these ecosystems, it is vital to understand the linkages between physical oceanographic processes and ecosystem variability. To date there have been limited multidisciplinary investigations capable of resolving both local oceanographic influences and ecosystem response at tidal and interseasonal time scales. Here we present findings from three multidisciplinary research cruises to Chagos Archipelago, investigating the dynamics at Egmont, a tropical atoll, and Sandes, a shallow steep sloped seamount pinnacle. Our findings are then applied in a case study …

Predictors Of Weight Gain In The Rehabilitation Of Eastern North Atlantic Grey Seals (Halichoerus Grypus), Samantha Mcgivern

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

As large adult body size is subjected to strong selective pressures, other processes can be compromised before growth when there is resource limitation or stress during the growth phase. Stress has been linked with both weight loss and weight gain in a variety of taxa, and some stressors, such as physical disturbance, are known to affect the development of important physiological processes, e.g., diving physiology in marine mammals. With 40% of the world’s grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) population on UK shores, grey seal pups are frequently admitted to rehabilitation centres within their first four weeks – a crucial growth phase …

Using Thermal Imaging Data To Explore Behaviour In A Critically Endangered Frog Species, Craugastor Ranoides, Victoria Wakeham

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

Understanding a species behaviour, in particular behavioural thermoregulation, is important as it can indicate how well the species will adapt to changing environments, such as climate change. Ectotherms are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate warming as they rely on environmental conditions to regulate their body temperature and physiological functions. Thermal imaging can be used as a non-invasive method to study thermal behaviour. Thermal images measure the surface temperature of species as well as surrounding substrate. The present study used Craugastor ranoides, to gain insights into different behaviours at population level: behavioural thermoregulation, and using temperature variation across the …

Investigating Trade-Offs In Strength, Skill And Vigour In Pagurus Bernhardus, Joshua Le Pla

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

The ability to win contests is vital for securing the valuable resources individuals need for survival, or in some cases to secure mating opportunities. Therefore, fighting can have a strong influence over fitness, and much research has been carried out to identify and understand the traits influencing fighting ability, also known as resource holding potential (RHP). RHP has been found to be influenced by a wide range of factors including morphology, physiology, vigour and, more recently, skill. These factors are typically analysed in isolation from one another, so as to identify the individual impact of each trait. However, to gain …

Using Ecosystem Services Mapping In Deep-Sea Marine Spatial Planning, Giulia La Bianca

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

Assessing and mapping ecosystem services (ES) has emerged as an important practice to support natural resource management and set conservation priorities. This is recognised as useful in enabling simultaneous attainment of socio-economic and ecological goals. Yet there exists a bias towards assessing ES in terrestrial and coastal systems. Deep-sea applications are particularly scant. Assessing ES provided by the deep sea is undermined by the lack of ecological data and scientific understanding of the links between ecosystem components and human well-being. Thus, novel tools are required to translate existing deep-sea ES knowledge into Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), while maintaining acceptable levels …

Identifying And Quantifying Pelagic Organisms Around Seamounts, Atolls, And Islands In The Chagos Archipelago In Relation To Local Oceanographic Processes, Dannielle Sophie Eager

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

Topographic features, such as seamounts and atolls, are commonly identified as biodiversity hotspots that are key areas of productivity in an otherwise oligotrophic Indian Ocean. Whilst these sites of increased biomass are frequently identified, the oceanographic drivers that underpin the spatiotemporal distributions of biomass are not. If effective conservation measures are to be continued and implemented in regions such as the Chagos Archipelago Marine Protected Area (MPA) then the spatial variability of biomass and the physical drivers must be elucidated. This study presents case studies at Sandes seamount and Egmont atoll in the Chagos Archipelago identifying the distributions and behavioural …

'Man's Forgotten Friend': Dogs Appointed As Domesticated Companions And The Coronavirus Pandemic, Rebekah Gregory

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

The metaphorical confinement of national lockdowns saw the egocentric adoption of dogs appointed as domesticated companions. While public approval of ‘animal’ welfare legislation and the growing popularity of ‘green’ theory and industry has grown, ‘animals’ are still victim to the consumer and the anthropocentric cultures which promote individual, economic, social, and specifically ‘human’ advancement at all costs. Even though the reasons why ‘animals’ are victimised has been researched, how the pandemic has impacted upon this treatment and consumer culture’s/anthropocentrism’s influence has been somewhat absent within academic discussion. In fact, how the global events of COVID-19 have impacted upon dog treatment, …

Quantitative Raman Analysis Of Human Blood Serum Of Glaucoma Patients Supplemented With Macular Pigment Carotenoids., Joy Udensi, Ekaterina Loskutova, James Loughman, Hugh J. Byrne

Datasets

Carotenoids have been widely studied for their high dietary, antioxidant, and vision protection roles in the human body. Blood contains all major dietary carotenoids and hence presents as a suitable and efficient substrate for the estimation of dietary carotenoids in vivo. Following the 18-month supplementation of open angle glaucoma patients with macula pigment carotenoids (Lutein, Zeaxanthin and Meso-Zeaxanthin) in the European Nutrition in Glaucoma Management (ENIGMA) trial, Raman spectroscopic analysis of the pre-supplementation baseline and 18-month supplemented blood serum carotenoids from participants was carried out, to investigate the systemic impact of supplementation in the blood and explore a more direct …

Synthetic Microbial Communities For Plastic Upcycling, Isabel B. A. Valencia

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Plastic waste and human hunger pose major threats to the health and wellbeing of populations world-wide. Using microbial methods to upcycle polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic into value-added compounds such as single cell protein (SCP) for human consumption is a unique solution to both these issues. Two monomers of chemically deconstructed PET (DCPET), terephthalate (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG), have been previously shown to be biodegradable by enriched microbial communities. Using this top-down knowledge to inform the reconstruction of a minimal microbial community constructed from isolated members of these communities is a novel way to efficiently process these monomers via a …

Using A Reverse Visually Guided Reaching Task To Distinguish Between Healthy Aging And Early Alzheimer’S Disease, Brandon Woolman

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Changes in motor behavior may function as a proxy for cognitive decline. While Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with impairments in learning and memory, recent studies suggest that subtle changes in motor task performance may reflect early cognitive changes. For example, the visuomotor rotation task that manipulates visual feedback about hand position during reaching movements, can be used to examine cognitive changes in aging populations. The current study used the reverse visually guided reaching task (rVGR) which rotates visual feedback of participant’s hand position 180⁰ relative to the actual hand position. We sought to expand on previous literature by recruiting …

Understanding Subtle Gender Bias Recognition Among Witnesses In A Stem Undergraduate Context, Darnishia Lashalle Morris

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This dissertation builds on knowledge of how witnesses recognize subtle gender bias (often referred to as gendered microaggressions) in a STEM undergraduate context. This body of work provides a better understanding of the implications of observing these events of subtle bias and the role that recognition plays in providing opportunities to adopt stereotype defying behaviors. The impressions and influences on both witnesses who belong to the marginalized group (target witnesses) and those in majority groups (non-target witnesses) were examined. Three interrelated studies explored how recognition might disrupt the cyclic impact of subtle gender bias when participants witness collaborative STEM team …

Gravity Fed Hopper Flow Of Bulk Solids For Lunar Isru, Jason Bendixen Noe

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

With the return to the moon in the decade of the 2020s, there has been a renaissance of lunar technology development and innovation. This has been particularly true for the area of lunar ISRU (In-Situ Resource Utilization). One key area in ISRU that has been neglected is lunar regolith storage hopper research. Many lunar regolith ISRU researchers use storage hoppers in their work but do not document the properties when designing the hoppers or do not have the information at hand. Because of this, hopper design and documentation are poorly understood, and more research is needed. Hoppers are vital for …

Mechanical Properties And Cycling Fatigue Of Zn-Based Alloys: Effects Of Thermal Treatment, Henry D. Summers

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Zinc (Zn)-based alloys are attractive candidate materials for constructing bioresorbable coronary stents because of their near-ideal corrosion properties and biocompatibility. These alloys are primarily strengthened through alloying and thermomechanical processing by solid solution strengthening, grain refinement, and precipitate strengthening. The microstructural features responsible for these strengthening mechanisms are controlled through the thermal treatment of the alloys. While the static mechanical properties of Zn alloys have been studied, a gap in the literature remains related to their mechanical stability under dynamic loading conditions (fatigue) and creep, especially while subjected to physiological conditions. This work aims to characterize the effects of thermal …

The Integration Of Neuromorphic Computing In Autonomous Robotic Systems, Md Abu Bakr Siddique

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) have come a long way in many cognitive tasks by training on large, labeled datasets. However, this method has problems in places with limited data and energy, like when planetary robots are used or when edge computing is used [1]. In contrast to this data-heavy approach, animals demonstrate an innate ability to learn by communicating with their environment and forming associative memories among events and entities, a process known as associative learning [2-4]. For instance, rats in a T-maze learn to associate different stimuli with outcomes through exploration without needing labeled data [5]. This learning paradigm …

Matrix Stiffness Sensing By Nascent Adhesions And The Role Of Riam In Adhesion Assembly, Nikhil Mittal

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Mechanical stiffness of the extracellular matrix (ECM) impacts many cellular functions such as proliferation, migration, and differentiation. ECM stiffness is sensed by a cell via integrin-based focal adhesions (FAs) by changing conformation and biochemical activities of molecules within FAs by the exchange of the force between the ECM and filamentous actin (F-actin). Cells in turn respond to this stiffness by generating traction force that plays an important role in many biological events such as tissue morphogenesis, stem cell differentiation, wound healing, and cancer cell metastasis. The stiffness of the extracellular matrix induces differential tension within integrin-based adhesions. Understanding stiffness sensing …

Chemical Synthesis Of Sensitive Dna, Komal Chillar

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Over the past decades, researchers have tried various chemical methods to synthesize modified oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs, i.e. short segments of DNAs). Traditional ODN synthesis methods require strong basic, and nucleophilic conditions for the deprotection and cleavage of the ODN from the solid support. However, the sensitive ODNs containing labile functionalities are vulnerable to such harsh conditions. Sensitive ODNs have a wide range of applications in research and pharmaceuticals. To synthesize sensitive ODNs, researchers devised different strategies but no practical methods have been developed. To overcome these challenges, we developed alkyl Dim alkyl Dmoc technology. This innovative technology uses weakly basic and …

Examining Genome Size And Nutrient Influence On Damage Patterns, And Plant-Invertebrate Community Dynamics, Hailee B. Petosky

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Genome size (GS) varies widely among angiosperms and has been shown to mediate plant responses to nutrients. Variations of GS drastically impact plant growth, fitness, and competitive responses, influencing plant functioning, nutrient requirements, and potentially, consumptive interactions. Specifically, plants with larger genomes vary in their cellular nutrient requirements, affecting tissue quality, nutrient constraints, and invertebrate interactions. Furthermore, environmental nutrient enrichments are a key driver affecting ecosystem functioning and species interactions. Plant communities are impacted by both top-down and bottom-up controls of herbivores and nutrients, respectively, and alterations to these interactions may cause cascading trophic level effects to influence damage patterns …

Assessing The Nutritional Quality And Fate Of Saginaw Bay Dreissenid Mussel Veligers, Mitch R. Kehne

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The introduction and establishment of dreissenid species including zebra (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga (D. bugensis) mussels into the Laurentian Great Lakes has resulted in significant biological and ecological change over the past 30 years. Much of the current research completed to date on understanding dreissenid mussel impacts in the Great Lakes has primarily focused on the adult life stages with less known about the larval veliger form. The goals of this thesis were to; i) investigate veliger energy densities and fatty acid profiles to compare and contrast these nutritional metrics against pelagic zooplankton and; ii) determine …

Assessing Tropical Mammal Diversity And Distribution Using Noninvasive Methods, Tiff L. Degroot

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Central African tropical forests are rich in biodiversity and home to some of Earth’s most threatened mammals. However, mammals in the region are under increasing threat from habitat loss and degradation, coupled with an increased demand for wild meat. To conserve mammals, wildlife managers and community-led conservation efforts must understand the distribution and diversity of mammal communities. However, funding and logistical challenges make contemporary survey methods, e.g. ground surveys, difficult and expensive. Noninvasive methods allow efficient mammal diversity surveys with minimal field effort. Here, we use camera trapping and invertebrate-derived environmental DNA (“iDNA”) to assess mammal diversity and distribution in …

Epi- And Genomic Assessments Of Stamp Sand Toxicity And Population Structure Of Lake Superior Lake Trout (Salvelinus Namaycush) And Whitefish (Coregonus Clupeaformis), John C. Mccall

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Native Lake Superior salmonid conservation is a notable success, as the only Great Lake with stable lake trout (LT) and whitefish fisheries (LWF). To quantify toxicity to LT and LWF from legacy pollution by mine tailings at Buffalo Reef in the Keweenaw Peninsula and assess their genetic structure across U.S. waters, I used reduced representation bisulfite sequencing and genotyped ~750 fishes from Buffalo Reef and Lake Superior. ~200-300 epigenetic marks in Buffalo Reef LT and LWF indicated dysregulation of pathways related to DNA damage, immune response, stress, and metabolism, relative to Lake Huron and Michigan outgroups. Population genomic analyses showed …

The Effects Of Experimental Warming On Root Respiration And The Fungal Community Of Tropical Forest Soil, Malik A. Sankofa

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Climate induced changes in tropical forests fungal communities could impact diversity and abundance, forest health, and carbon release/sequestration. Under warmer soil temperatures and over time, we hypothesized that arbuscular mycorrhizal, pathogen, saprotroph diversity and abundance would increase, that ectomycorrhizal and overall fungal diversity and abundance would decrease, and that root respiration would be unaffected. Experimental warming (+2-3 ℃) was conducted on root ingrowth cores at the Tropical Responses to Altered Climate Experiment (TRACE) in Puerto Rico. ITS2 metabarcoding was used to analyze fungal diversity and abundance in control or warmed root/soil samples. We found that warming decreased arbuscular mycorrhizal diversity, …

Establishing A Two-Color Fluorescence Probe Assay For The Simultaneous Screening Of Glut5 And Glut2 Fructose Transporters In Live Cells, Oluwanifesimi Mary Afolabi

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The mammalian facilitative glucose transporter (GLUT) family comprises 14 members that mediate the transport of hexoses across cell membranes. GLUT5 is the only member specific to fructose, and together with GLUT2, which transports fructose in addition to glucose, they make up the primary fructose transporters in humans. This study introduces a novel two-color fluorescence assay designed to simultaneously monitor the activity of GLUT5 and GLUT2 in live cells. 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol (2,5-AM) a GLUT5 targeting compound has facilitated the development of various fructose-mimicking probes with a wide range of properties, such as radioactive imaging, fluorescent, photoactive, and drug delivery capabilities. Effective and …

Silphid And Carabid Beetles In An Experimental Forest Trial: Idna And Diets, And Insect-Human Relationships Can Better Inform Forest Management, Katherine E. Higdon

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Insect conservation, primarily focused on pollinators, is a growing issue amid concerns of climate change and the purported sixth mass extinction of Earth’s biodiversity. However, the focus on charismatic pollinators ignores a large portion of ecologically important and beneficial species. Having broader knowledge of insect diets and the impacts of anthropogenic disturbance on diets can better inform more comprehensive management approaches while also providing valuable knowledge with regards to trophic relationships between multiple species within ecosystems. This ensures the health and stability of ecosystems beyond pollination services. This research started by establishing the utility of Silphid beetles for invertebrate DNA …

Four Lessons To Build Upon: A Study Of Postsecondary Composition Classroom Curriculum, Tucker D. Nielsen

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Soft skills in technical professions may be valued by employers, but post-secondary students engage with a dichotomy arguing against the blend of soft and hard skills. This study utilized activities with LEGO® bricks to determine how plausible kinesthetic learning methods are within university composition classes. Four in-class activities based on the class’s four core assignments were spread across the Spring 2024 semester at Michigan Technological university. Through written reflections, lists, posters, and photos of students’ builds, students practiced and demonstrated engagement with identified composition and critical thinking skills.

Two criteria (Audience Expectations and Genre Expectations, were not demonstrated as clearly …

Divergent Response To Anthropogenic Change Within The Songbird Taxon: Insights From The Range Expansion Of The Northern Cardinal And Mitigation Mechanisms For Migratory Bird-Building Collisions, Jenna Brewer

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Anthropogenic activities have impacted ecosystems across the globe. However, wildlife species have exhibited heterogenous responses to these novel changes, with some species experiencing population growth, and others succumbing to population decline. I studied examples of both within the songbird taxon, focusing on drivers of range expansion in the Northern Cardinal and acoustic mitigation mechanisms for migratory bird-building collisions, a source of decline for many songbird species. I found that the Northern Cardinal’s range was primarily a function of climatic stress, which was supported by the modulation of the molt process across latitudes. Specifically, Northern Cardinals exhibited faster feather growth rates …

Combined Motivational Interviewing And Ecological Momentary Intervention To Reduce Hazardous Alcohol Use Among Sexual Minority Cisgender Men And Transgender Individuals, Carolyn Lauckner, Bryce Puesta Takenaka, Fidelis Sesenu, Jaime S. Brown, Sally J. Kirklewski, Erin Nicholson, Kimberly Haney, Reuben Adatorwovor, Donte T. Boyd, Keisa Fallin-Bennett, Arjee Javellana Restar, Trace Kershaw

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Background: Sexual minority cisgender men and transgender (SMMT) individuals, particularly emerging adults (aged 18-34 years), often report hazardous drinking. Given that alcohol use increases the likelihood of HIV risk behaviors, and HIV disproportionately affects SMMT individuals, there is a need to test interventions that reduce hazardous alcohol use and subsequent HIV risk behaviors among this population. Ecological momentary interventions (EMIs), which use mobile phones to deliver risk reduction messages based on current location and behaviors, can help to address triggers that lead to drinking in real time. Objective: This study will test an EMI that uses motivational interviewing (MI), smartphone …

Gwas Of Multiple Neuropathology Endophenotypes Identifies New Risk Loci And Provides Insights Into The Genetic Risk Of Dementia, Lincoln M.P. Shade, Yuriko Katsumata, Erin L. Abner, Khine Zin Aung, Steven A. Claas, Qi Qiao, Bernardo Aguzzoli Heberle, J. Anthony Brandon, Madeline L. Page, Timothy J. Hohman, Shubhabrata Mukherjee, Richard P. Mayeux, Lindsay A. Farrer, Gerard D. Schellenberg, Jonathan L. Haines, Walter A. Kukull, Kwangsik Nho, Andrew J. Saykin, David A. Bennett, Julie A. Schneider, Julie A. Schneider, Lindsay A. Farrer, Richard P. Mayeux, Subhabrata Mukherjee, Andrew J. Saykin, Walter A. Kukull

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified >80 Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD)-associated genetic loci. However, the clinical outcomes used in most previous studies belie the complex nature of underlying neuropathologies. Here we performed GWAS on 11 ADRD-related neuropathology endophenotypes with participants drawn from the following three sources: the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center, the Religious Orders Study and Rush Memory and Aging Project, and the Adult Changes in Thought study (n = 7,804 total autopsied participants). We identified eight independent significantly associated loci, of which four were new (COL4A1, PIK3R5, LZTS1 and APOC2). Separately testing known ADRD loci, 19 loci …

Respiranalyzer, Teng Zhang, Xinzheng Dong, Dandan Wang, Chen Huang, Xiaohua Douglas Zhang

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Motivation: The analysis of data obtained from continuous monitoring of respiratory signals (CMRS) holds significant importance in improving patient care, optimizing sports performance, and advancing scientific understanding in the field of respiratory health. Results: The R package RespirAnalyzer provides an analytic tool specifically for feature extraction, fractal and complexity analysis for CMRS data. The package covers a wide and comprehensive range of data analysis methods including obtaining inter-breath intervals (IBI) series, plotting time series, obtaining summary statistics of IBI series, conducting power spectral density, multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MFDFA) and multiscale sample entropy analysis, fitting the MFDFA results with the …