Digital Commons Network^™

Acute And Chronic Effects Of Coal Tar And Asphalt Sealants On Salamanders, Thomas Bommarito, Richard Halbrook, Donald W. Sparling

KIP Data Sets and Technical Reports

The Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum) is a federally endangered species inhabiting pools of the Edwards aquifer in the City of Austin, Texas. The presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in these pools elicited concern for the conservation of the species because 4 PAHs have acute and chronic effects on aquatic organisms, including amphibians. These PAHs appear to be coming from sealants applied to pavements within the watershed of these ponds. To determine if Barton Springs salamanders could be a risk to these PAHs three laboratory experiments were funded by the Barton Springs Conservation Foundation and conducted by at Southern …

Orientation Of Vernal Pool Amphibians In An Industrial Forest Landscape, Emma Carcagno

Master's Theses and Capstones

Understanding the movement patterns of vernal pool amphibians is a critical aspect of effective conservation and land management. I used clearcutting to manipulate buffer widths at 11 vernal pools within an industrial forest landscape located in Maine. Forested buffers were either 30m or 100m wide, surrounded by 100m wide clearcut. Each pool was encircled with a drift fence and pitfall traps. I captured wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus ) and spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) as they entered and exited pools and documented orientation across three years. Orientation at all pools for both species was non-uniform, differed among pools, between species, and …

Distribution Of Epibionts And Their Effects On The Marine Snail Littorina Littorea In Northern New England, Laura Chelynne Page

Master's Theses and Capstones

Epibiosis, or the growth of one organism on another, is a common life history strategy in marine environments where space is at a premium. Many epibiotic organisms live on or in biotic hard substrates, such as shells. In the spatially competitive rocky intertidal of New England, hard substrate surface area is greatly increased by the presence of the non-native marine periwinkle snail Littorina littorea. The snail's shell can be exploited by epibiotic organisms such as barnacles, bryozoans, and encrusting calcareous algae. However, an in-depth examination of the prevalence and impact of epibionts on Littorina littorea in New England has not …

Experimental Evolution Of Vibrio Fischeri To Squid Symbiosis, Lauren Perry

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background. Co-evolution of Vibrio fischeri strains with Euprymna scolopes has led to isolates that are superior squid colonists [1, 2]. To better understand how V. fischeri adapts to symbiosis with squid we serially transferred a planktonic Hawaiian isolate, H905 [3], and the natural E. scolopes symbiont, ES114, in squid. We characterized derived isolates for colonization ability as well as other phenotypic traits that have been implicated as being important to symbiosis.

Results. We hypothesized that as a result of adaptation to symbiosis H905 would become more phenotypically similar to ES114. We see this trend in luminescence and siderophore production of …

Identification Of Photorhabdus Temperata Motility Mutants Altered In Insect Pathogenesis, Holli N. Rowedder

Master's Theses and Capstones

The entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora forms a specific association with its bacterial partner Photorhabdus temperata. The objective of this study was to identify genes involved in insect pathogenesis. Previously we generated a bank of 10,000 transposon mutants and identified 86 motility mutants and 11 calcofluor-binding mutants. The purpose of these experiments was to determine the effects of these defects on bacterial pathogenesis and mutualism. An insect mortality screen with host-model, Galleria mellonella, initially identified 14 mutants with altered insect pathogenesis. Four mutants were confirmed including one (UNH5832) with an enhanced pathogenesis response compared to the parental wild-type, while three other …

Disruption Of Cytokeratin 18-Containing Intermediate Filaments In Bovine Luteal Cells: Effects On Fas Expression, Progesterone Secretion, And Fasl-Induced Apoptosis, Alice Duncan

Master's Theses and Capstones

In the current study, the possibility that cytokeratin 18 (CK18)---containing intermediate filaments (IFs) protect bovine luteal cells from FasL-induced apoptosis was explored. Bovine corpora lutea (CL) from early and late stages of the luteal phase were collected and prepared for cell culture. The cultures were exposed to culture medium without (control) or with 5mM acrylamide for 4 hr to disrupt CK18 IFs. Subsequently, the cultures were exposed to fresh medium without (control) or with FasL (50ng/mL) for 24 hr to induce apoptosis. Acrylamide disrupted CK18 IFs without affecting microtubules, progesterone secretion (P>0.05), or cell viability (P>0.05). Surface expression …

Frequency Of Reovirus Detection In Biosolids: Comparison Of The Epa Cfr 503 Technique To Integrated Cell Culture - Quantitative Pcr, Elizabeth Gallagher

Master's Theses and Capstones

The public health threat from pathogens creates controversy for the land application of biosolids, a sewage treatment byproduct. Previous work has demonstrated that some enteric viruses are not detected with a plaque assay, the current method for virus detection in biosolids. The Integrated Cell Culture - Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (ICC-qPCR) assay, which combined quantitative PCR with seven days incubation in cell culture, allows for detection of more viruses.

To compare method sensitivities, a biosolid sample was seeded with mammalian orthoreovirus. 3x105 plaque forming units (PFU) per ml were detected by the plaque assay and 108 PFU equivalents per ml …

Expression Analysis And Stem Cell Engineering, Cara Rieger

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

The overall goal of the thesis was to develop tools to advance Investigations of stem cells in tissue engineering therapeutics for neurodegenerative disease and spinal cord injury. Two tools to characterize cell fate and a tool to separate a subset of neural cells were developed and evaluated. In the first study, a digital PCR technology, called polonies, was applied to measure mRNA from several key stem cell genes in small numbers of ES cells. Due to its properties, we hypothesized that polonies would be uniquely poised to profile stem cells. Polonies were counted for Oct3 in a sample of 10 …

Modeling And Identification Of Differentially Regulated Genes Using Transcriptomics And Proteomics Data, Thanura Elvitigala

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Photosynthetic organisms are complex dynamical systems, showing a remarkable ability to adapt to different environmental conditions for their survival. Mechanisms underlying the coordination between different cellular processes in these organisms are still poorly understood. In this dissertation we utilize various computational and modeling techniques to analyze transcriptomics and proteomics data sets from several photosynthetic organisms. We try to use changes in expression levels of genes to study responses of these organisms to various environmental conditions such as availability of nutrients, concentrations of chemicals in growth media, and temperature. Three specific problems studied here are transcriptomics modifications in photosynthetic organisms under …

The Effect Of Plant-Soil Feedback And Competition On The Invasion Of New Hampshire Thickets By Non-Native Shrubs, Kristina Vagos

Master's Theses and Capstones

Early-successional habitat is disappearing throughout the northeastern United States. Much of the remaining habitat is being invaded by non-native invasive shrubs suspected of altering native shrubland quality. To assess whether soil feedback and competition facilitate invasion, three native and three invasive shrub species were used in two greenhouse experiments. Soil feedback was examined by growing each species in soil cultured by the same species and those cultured by other species, in both tilled and non-tilled soil. Soil microbial communities were assessed using PLFA. Soil feedback effects were species specific and likely do not facilitate invasion. Additionally, cultured soil communities were …

Biology Discipline Assessment Report Spring 2009, Biology Discipline

Assessment of Student Learning Reports

No abstract provided.

Biology Discipline Assessment Plan 2009, Biology Discipline

Assessment of Student Learning Reports

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Particle-Associated Viruses On Disinfection Processes In Water Treatment, Jessica L. Tokson

Master's Theses and Capstones

This research focused on what accelerates or hinders virus-particle association, how the addition of turbidity affects both chlorine and ultraviolet light disinfection, and if sonication can disrupt virus-particle associations exposing viruses to disinfection methods.

A decrease in pH, from 7--4, was found to accelerate association by 2-logs. Calcium increased association by 2.74-logs, and total organic carbon decreased association by 0.36-logs.

An addition of 5 NTU, the maximum turbidity level allowed by USEPA for unfiltered drinking water supplies, affected both chlorine and UV light disinfection showing differences in the rate of kill per dose. The association of viruses and particles can …

Comparative Genomics Exploration Tools, Shilpa M. Kulkarni

Master's Theses and Capstones

Comparative Genomics focuses on elucidating the genetic differences between different species or different strains of the same species by the comparative analysis of DNA sequences to identify functional elements and regulatory regions. This thesis describes the design and development of two software tools to support comparative genomics research. These tools were specifically developed to support the analysis and assembly of sequence data produced from innovative new DNA sequencing technology from 454 Life Sciences using the PicoTiterPlate(TM) device. This technology will dramatically affect comparative genomics research. Currently available software tools were developed to handle traditional shotgun sequences averaging 500-1000 base pairs …

Service Learning In A Non-Majors Biology Course Promotes Changes In Students’ Attitudes And Values About The Environment, Alissa Packer

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

I was interested in whether the inclusion of a service-learning experience would affect students’ attitudes and values about the environment. To investigate this question, I incorporated a service-learning project into the laboratory portion of one of the two sections of my non-majors biology course, and kept the lecture portions of the course identical. Several methods were used to assess the impact of the service-learning experience: the New Ecological Paradigm survey was used to measure changes in students’ attitudes and values about the environment at the beginning and end of the semester, and reflective writing assignments were used throughout the semester …

Revision Of The Ant Genus Crematogaster (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) In North America, Cynthia Ellen Morgan

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The natural history of thirty-eight species of the genus Crematogaster in North America has been discussed and distribution of specimens mapped. A dichotomous key to the workers of these species has been developed. I hypothesized that the species richness is not as great as previously thought in North America. A taxonomic review of these species has been made with the following changes:

Crematogaster cerasi Fitch 1855 senior synonym of C. browni Buren1968.

C. coarctata Mayr 1870 senior synonym of C. californica Emery 1895, C. mormonum

Emery 1895 and C. colei Buren1968.

C. depilis Wheeler 1919 senior synonym of C. larreae …

Numerical Modeling Of Hemodynamics In The Thoracic Aorta And Alterations By Dacron Patch Treatment Of Aortic Coarctation, Ronak Jashwant Dholakia

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a major congenital heart disease, characterized by a severe stenosis of the proximal descending thoracic aorta. Traditionally, surgery has been the treatment of choice for CoA. Dacron patch aortoplasty gained increased popularity after its introduction in the mid-twentieth century due to its advantages over other surgical treatment methods available at the time. A major complication with Dacron patch aortoplasty has been the formation of late aneurysm with as much as 51% incidence reported in follow up studies. The change in aortic morphology and formation of aneurysms after Dacron patch surgery could lead to local …

Tracking Bacterial Pollution In The Cains Brook/Mill Creek Watershed: Implications For Policy And Management, Aaron Kornbluth

Master's Theses and Capstones

Pathogenic fecal bacteria present a management challenge when they contaminate surface waters used by humans. This study examined the extent to which the ongoing Cains Brook/Mill Creek watershed restoration in Seabrook, NH has successfully characterized the problem of bacterial pollution and implemented mitigation practices. Guided by the policy sciences analytical framework, this study employed a policy implementation audit reviewing relevant bacteria source tracking data, interviews and online surveys as a means to triangulate multiple data sources. Results indicate that bacteria arise from multiple sources and impairments still exist, although bacteria levels were not generally high. Management activities have likely reduced …

Morphological Variation In Codium Fragile In The Northwest Atlantic, Lucy Elizabeth Pleticha

Master's Theses and Capstones

Codium fragile (Suringar) Hariot, an invasive Asiatic green alga, has colonized areas of the NW Atlantic within the past fifty years. The plant has a dichotomously branched cylindrical thallus made of tangled filaments surrounded by a dense covering of swollen filament tips, or utricles, terminating in pointed mucrons. This study's goal was to investigate morphological differences in NW Atlantic C. fragile populations to determine which subspecies are present. In the summer of 2008, I surveyed 24 sites from the Canadian Maritimes to Long Island Sound and evaluated size variation in utricles. Morphological investigations revealed a two-fold difference in utricle and …

Karyotyping And Localization Of Genes On The Chromosomes Of The Sea Urchins, Strongylocentrotus Drobachiensis And Strongylocentrotus Purpuratus, Celeste Chloe Eno

Master's Theses and Capstones

The purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus , is an important model for probing gene interactions during animal development and is the only non-chordate deuterostome for which a complete genome sequence is available. None of the genes cloned in this project have been localized on chromosomes, and maps of gene loci for S. purpuratus and for all sea urchin species do not exist. Here I provide a description of the first successful methods for karyotyping and localizing of specific gene loci on chromosomes of the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus and also of the related green sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis.

Both …

Temporal Expression Of Progesterone And Proteins Associated With Prostaglandin F2alpha-Induced Luteolysis In The Sheep, Darren E. Ferguson

Master's Theses and Capstones

To better understand the events associated with the functional and structural regression of the corpus luteum (CL), the temporal expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein, progesterone (P4), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and -2, cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and -2 was determined following three systemic infusions of PGF2alpha, in sheep. Luteectomies were performed at 0 hour (controls) or at -1, 1, 8, 16, and 24 hours relative to the third infusion of PGF2alpha. Plasma samples were also collected. StAR decreased 60 and 45% at the 16 and 24 hour time points, respectively, while P4 reached a …

Effects Of Forested Buffers And Wetland Characteristics On Vernal Pool Macroinvertebrate Assemblages, Joanne Evelyn Theriault

Master's Theses and Capstones

From 2005-2007, I sampled macroinvertebrates at 10 vernal pools to determine the effects of forested buffer treatments (30-m or 100-m). I grouped taxa into three subgroups: taxa enumerated and identified to genus (Trichopterans, Anisopterans, Coleopterans, and Hemipterans); taxa identified to family and documented as present or absent; and predatory taxa (enumerated and identified to genus). I measured hydroperiod, surface area, pH, conductivity, substrate cover, canopy cover, and annual and seasonal variability and used Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMS) to examine effects on composition. Finally, I analyzed NMS scores using Linear Mixed Models. Buffer treatments explained a significant amount of variation in …

An Assessment Of Stress In Acer Saccharum As A Possible Response To Climate Change, Martha Carlson

Master's Theses and Capstones

Climate change is projected to extirpate Acer saccharum throughout its range in the United States. The current investigation evaluates the potential of spectral indices of foliar reflectance, measures of leaf area and bud quality, and historic trends in sap sugar and wood increments for detecting stress in sugar maple.

Thirty trees were examined in 10 plots on 5 sugar bushes in or near the Bearcamp Valley, New Hampshire, over the course of the 2008 growing season. The study found water stress in 100% of trees; reduced chlorophyll content in 60%; early abscission of leaves in 80%; reduced growing season in …

Extrapolating Hyperspectral Anthocyanin Indices To Multispectral Satellite Sensors---Applications To Fall Foliage In New England, Erica Lindgren

Master's Theses and Capstones

Anthocyanin, thought to be a universal indicator of plant stress, is a red pigment found in many plant species and can seen in New England autumns. Detecting its presence is useful for ecosystem analysis and monitoring changes during autumn senescence. Currently fall foliage is subjectively measured; creation of a satellite-based anthocyanin index will provide an objective measurement and enhance understanding of the distribution of plant stress and senescence over large areas. Anthocyanin indices were tested hyperspectrally in a laboratory setting, then indices were simulated for Hyperion, MERIS, MODIS, and Landsat TM/ETM+ to see which most accurately represents changes in anthocyanin …

Temporal And Spatial Variations In Hydrothermal Fluid Abundances Of Degassing Metals Across An Eruptive Cycle At 9 Degrees 50 Minutes N East Pacific Rise, M Florencia Meana-Prado

Master's Theses and Capstones

The influence of eruptive activity on hydrothermal fluid trace metal abundances, especially those inferred to degas from shallow mid ocean ridge (MOR) magma bodies, remains poorly understood. These data and their variations in time and space are critical to improving our understanding of the quantitative links between mantle, crust, and MOR biological communities. Frequent sampling of hydrothermal vents at the 9°50'N East Pacific Rise provides an ideal suite for evaluating the evolution of vent fluid chemistry during eruption cycles. Fluid metal abundances are presented for metals with high degassing potential (210Pb, Pb and Cd) for a subset of these time-series …

Contributions Of Groundwater Seepage To The Water And Nutrient Budget Of Mendums Pond Barrington, New Hampshire, Susan E. Wilderman

Master's Theses and Capstones

An understanding of the rates of groundwater seepage into and out of a pond or lake is important in assessing the flux of contaminants in a given system. Many studies have assessed the contribution of overland runoff and precipitation to freshwater pollution, but few have focused on direct measurement of groundwater inputs of nutrients and water to lakes. Spatial variation and natural heterogeneity of groundwater seepage around a large pond or lake can vary and make it an ambiguous and challenging parameter to quantify. The amount of groundwater seepage is thought to be related to the physical characteristics of a …

Design And Implementation Of A Statistical Analysis Tool For Two Biological States, Gang Lu

Master's Theses and Capstones

The major goal of research in this thesis is to design and implement a software tool (Q5+) that can easily, quickly and reliably search biomarkers by statistically analyzing mass spectrometry data from two different biological states. Q5+ implements most of the Q5 algorithm, a very good algorithm that is used for classifying mass spectrometry data (Lilien et al). Compared Q5 Q5+ improves the usability of Q5 by incorporating a Graphic User interface and Matrix Library. Results show that by running the same data, Q5+ and Q5 showed the equivalent classification ability. Q5+ also implements the Peak Screening feature, which can …

Are The World's Oceans Optically Different?, Mimi Szeto

Master's Theses and Capstones

With satellite technology, the dynamics of oceanic photosynthesis can be analyzed on a global scale using remotely sensed estimates of chlorophyll concentration. Such work is dependent on the performance of empirical ocean color algorithms that produce the chlorophyll estimates. In hopes to understand the sources of algorithm uncertainty, the NASA bio-Optical Marine Algorithm Data set (NOMAD) was analyzed. The OC4v.4 algorithm estimates were compared to NOMAD's in situ measurements, and a bias was apparent when the data were sorted by ocean (Atlantic, Pacific, and Southern). Several instrumental artifacts were found to be insignificant to the oceanic algorithm bias. Using a …

Assessing Spatial Distributions Of Cyanobacteria And Microcystins In Nh Lakes With Implications For Lake Monitoring, Amanda Lee Murby

Master's Theses and Capstones

Cyanobacteria pose a threat to the health of humans and wildlife when concentrations are high and the species present are toxic. However, routine monitoring of toxic cyanobacteria in lakes is not typical in the United States and, currently, there are no standards on the allowable limit of cyanotoxins in N.H. water bodies. Phycocyanin (PC) fluorescence was evaluated as an indicator for cyanobacteria densities, with implications for monitoring cyanobacteria and microcystins in lakes. PC fluorescence predicted cultured cyanobacteria, ranging from 0--900,000 cells ml-1 (Adj R 2 0.99, p<0.001). PC fluorescence was also useful for estimating microcystin (MC) concentrations among lakes of varying trophic status (p<0.001) and was more significant than net cyanobacteria counts were for predicting microcystin concentrations (p=0.049). Synoptic, horizontal sampling revealed the significant variability in the spatial distributions of cyanobacteria and microcystins in N.H. lakes.

Insect Responses To Invasive Shrubs In Early-Successional Habitats, Johanna L. Fickenscher

Master's Theses and Capstones

Early-successional habitats are valuable to wildlife species and susceptible to invasive shrubs, possibly negatively affecting biodiversity of whole communities. Insects provide energy links between plants and wildlife, thus, change in insect communities due to invasive shrubs may have detrimental impacts on wildlife---especially nesting songbirds. I gauged how invasive shrubs affect insect abundance, richness, and phenology using flight-intercept trapping and beat/sweeping methods. Lepidopteran larvae were provided a choice to consume native or invasive shrub foliage. Invasive shrubs negatively affected communities with reduced insect abundance and richness on individual shrubs as well as the entire habitat. Lepidopteran larvae preferred native shrub foliage …