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Effects Of Vegetated Buffers On Salt Marsh Plant Composition And Groundwater Nitrogen Uptake, Joanne Singfield Glode

Master's Theses and Capstones

Vegetated shoreline buffers are a best management practice to reduce anthropogenic nitrogen influences on estuarine ecology. This study examined the effects of buffers on (1) groundwater chemistry; (2) the salt marsh border plant community (fertilized and control); and (3) Agropyron pungens response to fertilization. All buffer widths (5 to 15 meters) were somewhat effective at removing groundwater nutrients, with greater concentrations of TDN, NO3--N, NH4 +-N, and DOC found in groundwater wells upslope of the buffer. Although on-site manure storage resulted in 30-fold greater groundwater nitrate concentrations (mean 23 mg/L) at the widest buffer, no differences were found in nitrate …

Evaluating Accuracy Issues In Mapping Benthic Habitats: An Investigation In The Causes Of Misclassification And The Importance Of Segmentation Parameters, Meghan E. Graham

Master's Theses and Capstones

Benthic habitats are some of the most difficult habitats to map using remote sensing. In a study of six bays in the Texas Gulf Coast, maps were created from digital aerial imagery. Using an object-based image analysis (OBIA) approach, the image was classified with the Classification and Regression Tree (CART) technique to produce a draft map. The draft map was then extensively manually edited to produce a contractor map. Accuracy assessments of both maps revealed that the two were not significantly different. The objective of this study was to determine why the editing did not improve the draft map. Our …

Spectral Effects Of A Calcium Amendment On Red Spruce Foliage At Laboratory And Stand Scale, Will Robinson Kessler

Master's Theses and Capstones

Three sets of measurements were made to determine the effects of an October 1999 whole-watershed Ca-application on the chemical and spectral properties of red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) foliage at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. Results of our measurements showed significant differences between the Ca-treated watershed (WS1) and a nearby reference watershed (WS6). Foliar chemistry data collected in 2007 showed that concentrations of Ca, Sr, and oxalate remain higher in WS1, and the increase in oxalate is strongly linked to the level of total Ca, possibly by a Ca-oxalate crystal precipitation response. High-resolution laboratory spectral data measured from 400-2500 nm …

Early Performance Of Constructed Oyster Reefs In Great Bay, New Hampshire, Mark K. Capone

Master's Theses and Capstones

Several oyster reefs were constructed in Great Bay, New Hampshire using remotely-set oysters. A single large reef treatment and a cluster of several small reefs treatment were utilized to test hypotheses relevant to oyster restoration design, and to monitor early restoration reef performance. There was no significant difference in oyster size, density, and recruitment between two experimental reef structures, with both reef types having high survival and fast growth rates for the 2-year study. Both experimental reef structures had significantly higher recruitment rates than natural reefs in 2006, a year of relatively high recruitment (p < 0.05), and elevated yet not significantly higher recruitment rates in 2005, a weak recruitment year (p = 0.078). In situ fluorometry data showed that a restored reef can significantly impact chlorophyll-a levels in overlying water within two years of reef construction. Individual oyster clearance rates ranged from 1.87 L/hr--2.41L/hr.

Development, Production, Purification, And Activity Of Recombinant Lamprey Gonadotropin In S2 Drosophila And Chinese Hamster Ovary Cell Lines, Geoffrey Bushold

Master's Theses and Capstones

The objective of this research was to develop methods for the production and purification of recombinant lamprey GTH beta. The overall goal was to produce an active purified recombinant lamprey GTH that could be used for immunological, physiological, and histological studies to further understand the role of the gonadotropin in the sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus. Constructs with different combinations of tethered lamprey gonadotropin beta to human CG alpha and channel catfish gonadotropin alpha were transfected and expressed in stable cell lines of Drosophila (S2) cells and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Cell lines were grown at a large scale and …

Factors Affecting Insulin-Stimulated In Vitro Glucose Oxidation In Rat Epididymal Adipocytes, Lisa C. Merrill

Master's Theses and Capstones

Since Martin Rodbell published his collagenase method for isolating rat adipocytes from their stromal-vascular matrix in 1964, researchers have modified the procedure in an attempt to maximize results. These modifications are also purported to decrease the interlaboratory variability observed by researchers who utilize this procedure. Strict adherence to these modifications does not, however, necessarily result in robust, repeatable in vitro insulin-stimulated glucose oxidation. The purpose of this study was to optimize Rodbell's procedure for measuring in vitro glucose oxidation in rat adipocytes, and to measure the effect of meal feeding on this process.

Adipocytes from rats in 26 optimization experiments …

The Role Of Ompd In Adherence Of Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium To Macrophages And The Effects Of Mannan-Binding Lectin In Initial Attachment, Donna Louise Terrio

Master's Theses and Capstones

The binding of macrophages to the outer membrane porin proteins, OmpC and OmpD, and the effects of mannan-binding lectin (MBL) were investigated. MBL was isolated from pig serum in a multi-step affinity chromatography process and the purity of the samples was determined via sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under reducing conditions. An Immunoglobulin G (IgG) Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used to detect MBL. Porcine MBL was present in serum in approximately 30, 32 and 34 kDa monomeric forms. Bacterial binding assays were performed using Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium wild-type, ompC-deficient and ompD-deficient bacterial strains. These experiments were …

A Transcriptome Comparison Of Caenorhabditis Elegans Cultured In Laboratory And Soil-Like Environments, Richard A. Roy

Master's Theses and Capstones

Caenorhabditis elegans has been the subject of numerous microarray experiments designed to help understand gene expression and function. Many such experiments have assessed the animal's transcriptional response to simple perturbations of the traditional laboratory environment.

Numerous intergenic regions showed expression. The majority were environment specific but most that were mutually expressed were structurally similar to protein-coding genes. They may well be un-annotated exons or genes. The environment specific regions were significantly shorter, overall, than coding sequences, and may represent polypeptides or non-coding RNA with regulatory or other functions.

Proper Cellular Reorganization During Drosophila Spermatid Individualization Depends On Actin Structures Composed Of Two Domains, Bundles And Meshwork, That Are Differentially Regulated And Have Different Functions, Tatsuhiko Noguchi, Marta Lenartowska, Aaron D. Rogat, Deborah J. Frank, Kathryn G. Miller

Biology Faculty Research

During spermatid individualization in Drosophila, actin structures (cones) mediate cellular remodeling that separates the syncytial spermatids into individual cells. These actin cones are composed of two structural domains, a front meshwork and a rear region of parallel bundles. We show here that the two domains form separately in time, are regulated by different sets of actin-associated proteins, can be formed independently, and have different roles. Newly forming cones were composed only of bundles, whereas the meshwork formed later, coincident with the onset of cone movement. Polarized distributions of myosin VI, Arp2/3 complex, and the actin-bundling proteins, singed (fascin) and quail …

The Biology, Nymphal Stages, And Life Habits Of The Endemic Sand Dune Cricket Schizodactylus Inexpectatus (Werner, 1901) (Orthoptera: Schizodactylidae), Gökhan Aydin, Andrey Khomutov

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The biology, nymphal stages, and life habits of the endemic dune cricket Schizodactylus inexpectatus (Werner, 1901) (Orthoptera: Schizodactylidae) were investigated in this study carried out between 2000 and 2007 in the Çukurova delta (Adana province) and in Alata (Mersin province), Turkey. The study showed that S. inexpectatus, which is a nocturnal insect, passes through 9 nymphal stages, each characterised by its own body size. The present study showed that certain properties of burrows, such as their depths, do not depend on either adult or immature stages of the insect. Food preferences of cannibalistic species of S. inexpectatus were also investigated …

Protistan Predation And Tce Biodegradation In A Fractured Rock Aquifer, Joseph J. Cunningham Iii.

Master's Theses and Capstones

Despite extensive research on the resources required to initiate dechlorination of trichloroethene (TCE), slow rates and stalling continue to be observed in situ. The majority of research on biodegradation of TCE has focused resource availability, while predation is poorly understood. Predation has the potential to significantly alter bacterial abundance, and can play an important role in selecting what species are present, and determine if the community is capable of mineralizing TCE. The impact of protistan predation on TCE biodegradation rates, and occurrence and length of stalls was measured in this experiment. When protists were inhibited, TCE was mineralized. Protistan predation …

The Experimental Evolution Of Host Adaptation Of The Emerging Pathogen Burkholderia Cenocepacia, Crystal Nicole Ellis

Master's Theses and Capstones

I investigated the ability of Burkholderia cenocepacia, an opportunistic bacterial pathogen, to adapt to a host. Studies have identified trade-offs associated with environmental adaptation, but few have investigated host adaptation. Consequently, I studied effects of adaptation by B. cenocepacia to onions (Allium cepa) on the ability to kill Caenorhabditis elegans. I hypothesized that adaptation to onions would reduce virulence in C. elegans. I evolved twelve populations of bacteria in onion tissue medium for 500 generations. Then, I quantified fitness differences between evolved and ancestral populations by direct competition, having developed molecular marking techniques to discriminate among competitors. Competitions revealed fitness …

Distribution And Feeding Behavior Of Early Life Stages Of The Northern Shrimp, Pandalus Borealis, In Relation To The Spring Phytoplankton Bloom In The Western Gulf Of Maine, Erin B. Hobbs

Master's Theses and Capstones

The northern shrimp Pandalus borealis is a commercially important crustacean found in the deep waters of western Gulf of Maine. In order to develop better fisheries management practices, it is essential to understand variability in P. borealis recruitment. Analysis of samples collected along a coastal transect (during 2005 and 2006), indicate cross-shore distribution of early planktonic larval stages is consistent with observed benthic distribution of ovigerous females. Timing of larval occurrence in relation to the spring phytoplankton bloom suggests that a match/mismatch with abundance of phytoplankton and zooplankton prey may be a primary determinant of recruitment success. Among the potential …

Investigation Of The Sex Determination Mechanisms In Summer Flounder (Paralichthys Dentatus) And Black Sea Bass (Centropristis Striata), Heidi R. Colburn

Master's Theses and Capstones

In many cultured finfish species, sexually dimorphic growth is observed, therefore, understanding the mechanisms of differentiation in fishes is necessary for successful aquaculture. Summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus ) and black sea bass (Centropristis striata) are good candidate species for aquaculture because they easily adapt to culture conditions and have high market value. The production of monosex populations is advantageous in species exhibiting sexually dimorphic growth rates. The purpose of this research was to gain an understanding of the mechanisms involved in sex differentiation of summer flounder and black sea bass. In summer flounder, monosex female culture is beneficial because females …

Ecology, Distribution, Quantification, And Impact Of Introduced, Asian Porphyra Yezoensis F Yezoensis Ueda And Porphyra Yezoensis F Narawaensis A Miura In The Northwestern Atlantic, Jeremy C. Nettleton

Master's Theses and Capstones

Invasive species pose a threat to the balance of intertidal ecosystems. Recently, two forms of the non-native species, Porphyra yezoensis Ueda, were found at multiple sites between New York and Downcast Maine. A 2007 New England survey confirmed the presence of P. yezoensis f. yezoensis at nine sites, including two beyond its reported distribution. Porphyra yezoensis f narawaensis A. Miura was found at four sites in Long Island Sound. To assess the ecological impact of f. yezoensis and f. narawaensis on Northwest Atlantic macroalgal communities, monthly density and biomass data were gathered in 2008 from seven southern New England sites …

Acute Cellular Uptake Of Abnormal Prion Protein Is Cell Type And Scrapie Strain Independent, Christopher Scott Greil

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are fatal neurodegenerative diseases that include Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, bovine spongiform encephalopathy and sheep scrapie. TSE disease pathology and mechanisms within the central nervous system (CNS) of an infected host largely remains unclear. At the cellular level, the uptake of protease resistant prion protein (PrP-res), which strongly correlates with infectivity and is a valid marker for TSE infection, is one of the earliest events that must occur during TSE infection. Given the difficulty of clearly distinguishing input PrP-res from either PrP-res or protease-sensitive PrP (PrP-sen) made by the cell, the uptake of PrP-res from an infectious inoculum …

Small Mammal Habitat Associations In A Fragmented Agricultural Landscape, William Wall Hamrick

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to examine how small mammals select habitats in a fragmented agricultural landscape in southeast Georgia. I captured small mammals at 71 trap sites within 33 locations in Bulloch and Candler Counties, Georgia. Prior to trapping, each site was classified based on predominant habitat type. Within each trap site, habitat variables were quantified for capture and non-capture trap stations. Using GPS and ArcMap GIS, I quantified surrounding land cover associated with each trap site. A total of 398 individuals of 10 different species of small mammals were captured. Peromyscus gossypinus and Sigmodon hispidus were captured …

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Nitrogen Inputs To Rhode Island Coastal Salt Ponds - Too Much Of A Good Thing, Scott W. Nixon, Betty A. Buckley

Special Collections (Miscellaneous)

Reviews concerns about increase of nitrogen in Rhode Island salt ponds as a result of human activities.

Supplementary Figure 1, Melissa J. Coleman, Arani Roy, J. Martin Wild, Richard Mooney

WM Keck Science Faculty Papers

Supplemental data for "Thalamic Gating of Auditory Responses in Telencephalic Song Control Nuclei."

Extracellular Stimuli Specifically Regulate Localized Levels Of Individual Neuronal Mrnas, Dianna E. Willis, Erna A. Van Niekerk, Yukio Sasaki, Mariano Mesngon, Tanuja T. Merianda, Gervan G. Williams, Marvin Kendall, Deanna S. Smith, Gary J. Bassell, Jeffery L. Twiss

Faculty Publications

Subcellular regulation of protein synthesis requires the correct localization of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) within the cell. In this study, we investigate whether the axonal localization of neuronal mRNAs is regulated by extracellular stimuli. By profiling axonal levels of 50 mRNAs detected in regenerating adult sensory axons, we show that neurotrophins can increase and decrease levels of axonal mRNAs. Neurotrophins (nerve growth factor, brainderived neurotrophic factor, and neurotrophin-3) regulate axonal mRNA levels and use distinct downstream signals to localize individual mRNAs. However, myelin-associated glycoprotein and semaphorin 3A regulate axonal levels of different mRNAs and elicit the opposite effect on axonal mRNA …

Necrosis, Ryan Blackwell

A Midwestern Review: A Magazine of the Arts and Issues at DePauw University

No abstract provided.

Interview With Jan Serie, Professor Biology And Director Of The Center For Scholarship And Teaching, Jan Serie

Biology Department Oral Histories

No abstract provided.

In Vitro Plant Regeneration From Petiole-Derived Callus And Characterization Of Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (Issr) Markers Of Amorphophallus Hewittii Alderw. (Araceae)., Douglas Charles Bertelsen

Student Work

The genus Amorphophallus contains many species that are sought after by collectors. A large proportion of these species do not reproduce quickly enough to satisfy the demand. Consequently, the establishment of micropropagation methods to increase the supply is desirable. Though several protocols for tissue culture do exist, these focus on species of agricultural importance that naturally reproduce vegetatively. This research demonstrated the successful in vitro reproduction of Amorphophallus hewittii Alderw., a species that is not known to reproduce vegetatively. The protocol avoided destroying the parent plant through use of petiole material. It concluded with direct transfer of shoots to soil, …

A Hybrid First Year Science Course For Engineering Students – Integrating Biology With Chemistry, David Harding, Pauline Schwartz, Jean Nocito-Gobel, Agamemnon Koutsospyros

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Biology is playing an increasingly important role in many engineering fields. With the typical engineering program already having a high credit hour requirement, the question becomes, how to best integrate biology concepts into a packed engineering curriculum. A typical biology course is not likely to introduce the important concepts of biology to engineering students. The solution here is to develop a hybrid course that integrates chemistry and biology. In the course, Chemistry with Applications to Biosystems, the concept is to develop a course that integrally links important concepts of chemistry and biology. The course focuses on the areas of biology …

Interview With Eddie Hill, O.T. Walter Professor Of Biology, Eddie Hill

Biology Department Oral Histories

No abstract provided.

Colon Cancer-- A Silent Killer, Katelyn Carman

Whittier Scholars Program

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths annually. The goal of this research is to (a) increase awareness of colon cancer by identifying anatomical and physiological changes that occur when cancerous polyps are present, (b) describe different genetic mutations that occur, (c) discuss preventative screening procedures and (d) explain different treatment options for colon cancer patients. There will be an additional section on the genetic link to colon cancer because it is thought to be the main cause of some cancerous polyps. Being aware of the potential risks associated with colon cancer can save lives.

A Comparison Of Pyronin Y-Methyl Green Stain And Methylene Blue Stain For Somatic Cell Count In Sheep Milk, Emily Mirek, Stacey O’Donnell

Senior Honors Projects

Somatic cell count is a key method used to evaluate the quality of milk in today’s growing dairy sheep industry. Somatic cells are body cells, primarily the white blood cells, found in a milk sample. If an infection such as mastitis is present, the number of somatic cells in the milk increases (Gonzalo, et al. 1992). Producers routinely perform somatic cell counts on cow and goat milk. For dairy cattle in the United States, the somatic cell count can not exceed 750,000 cells per milliliter, for commercial milk. For dairy goats the accepted limit is 1,000,000 cells per mL of …

Metropolitan-Micropolitan Difference In Available Labor Force Characteristics: Three Great Plains Labor Basins, Michael Walker, Brett Zollinger

Sociology Faculty Publications

This study explores differences in labor availability characteristics among those living in metropolitan and micropolitan areas. Data used in this study are from surveys of adults in two adjacent Midwestern states and from three separate labor basins. Primary patterns under examination include wage demands, benefit demands, distance willing to commute for a job, perceived underemployment and entrepreneurial propensity. Bivariate analyses show no relationship between basin size and entrepreneurial propensity nor between basin size and willingness to commute. However, basin size has significant influence on four of the seven dependent variables, even after controlling for many sociodemographic characteristics. In multivariate analyses, …

Identification And Control Of Pest Slugs And Snails For Broadacre Crops In Western Australia, Svetlana Micic, Ken Henry, Paul Horne

Bulletins 4000 -

The numbers of slugs and snails have increased in broadacre cropping in Western Australia with the use of minimum tillage and stubble-retention practices. The organic content of paddocks increases under such systems, providing an increased food source especially to young slugs and snails. Soil moisture content is greater over summer leading to higher survival levels of slugs and snails.

Slug and snail pests in Australia have come from other countries, mainly the Mediterranean region. They damage plant seeds (mainly legumes), recently germinated seeds, seedlings and leaves and can be a contaminant of grain at harvest.