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Articles 1 - 15 of 15
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Yeast Dynamin Associates With The Garp Tethering Complex For Endosome-To-Golgi Traffic, Uma Saimani
Yeast Dynamin Associates With The Garp Tethering Complex For Endosome-To-Golgi Traffic, Uma Saimani
MSU Graduate Theses
Yeast dynamin, Vacuolar Protein Sorting 1 (Vps1), has been implicated in recycling proteins and lipids from the endosome to the trans-Golgi network (TGN). Previous research showed a genetic interaction of Vps1 with all components of the GARP tethering complex, which anchors vesicles at the late Golgi membrane. I used the yeast two-hybrid system and pinpointed a 33 amino acid segment of Vps51, a GARP subunit, that interacts with Vps1. Based on sequence homology between Vps51 and its mammalian homolog ANG2 in the 33 amino acid stretch, I identified two key residues of Vps51, E127, and Y129, that bind Vps1. The …
Effect Of A Short-Term Field Experience On Student Outdoor Environmental Knowledge, Comfort Levels, Attitude, And Action Scores, Brandi Niccole Silvey
Effect Of A Short-Term Field Experience On Student Outdoor Environmental Knowledge, Comfort Levels, Attitude, And Action Scores, Brandi Niccole Silvey
MSU Graduate Theses
Many children today may not be familiar with nature due to lack of experience and education in the outdoors. If they are not exposed to nature, then they will not be as comfortable in the outdoors. This study evaluates the effectiveness of educational activities at the Watershed Center in Springfield, Missouri on high school students' and college level pre-service teachers' knowledge, comfort levels, attitudes, and actions toward the outdoor environment. Post-field trip responses of students who came to the Watershed Center were compared to students who did not participate in a field trip. Teachers were also surveyed to assess why …
Upper Thermal Limits Of Freshwater Mussels (Bivalvia, Unionoida) In Ramped Temperature Exposures, Kathryn Rae Cottrell Martin
Upper Thermal Limits Of Freshwater Mussels (Bivalvia, Unionoida) In Ramped Temperature Exposures, Kathryn Rae Cottrell Martin
MSU Graduate Theses
The purpose of this study was to determine the upper thermal limits of unionids. Three species of juvenile freshwater mussels were tested in lab experiments mimicking a diel pattern of temperature change (increasing 6 h, peak 2 h, and decreasing 8 h). The peak temperature fatal to half of the exposed population (LT50) was tested with respect to species, population, age, and seasonal acclimation. Mortality was monitored for 2 weeks after exposure. The smallest size classes were tested in a thermal cycler instrument, a novel application for testing mussels. LT50s for juveniles less than 3 weeks old were within 2-3°;C …
Endozoochorous Spread Of Nonnative Plant Species By White-Tailed Deer, Odocoileus Virginianus, Andrew Jordan Spychalla
Endozoochorous Spread Of Nonnative Plant Species By White-Tailed Deer, Odocoileus Virginianus, Andrew Jordan Spychalla
MSU Graduate Theses
Movement of plant seeds can be facilitated by endozoochory in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and elk (Cervus elaphus), but at rates that are unknown in natural systems. Spread of planted forage crops into wildlands, or nonnative invasive weeds into food plots would affect ecosystem processes and management costs. To address endozoochory, collections of fecal pellets from both ungulate species were done at the Current River Conservation Area in Southeastern Missouri. Randomly chosen individual pellets collected from nine food plots were planted in a greenhouse setting. After cold stratification of pellets (2°C at 15 days), pellets were either left whole or …
Gray Bat Migration In Missouri, Cheyenne Leigh Gerdes
Gray Bat Migration In Missouri, Cheyenne Leigh Gerdes
MSU Graduate Theses
Migration is an important and understudied aspect of the life histories of many species, particularly bats. Migration impacts conservation efforts, including efforts to manage the impacts of wildlife disease. The federally endangered gray bat (Myotis grisescens) is a migratory species with documented infections by Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the fungus that causes White-nose Syndrome (WNS). To better understand migration as it might relate to WNS, I quantified the timing and location of gray bat movements in Missouri using acoustic detectors and bat banding. I recorded calls at 4 maternity sites from January to May 2015, and used the R package PVAClone to …
Behavioral Responses Of Ringed And Spotted Salamanders To Diet-Related Cues From Predators, Kayla Shelton
Behavioral Responses Of Ringed And Spotted Salamanders To Diet-Related Cues From Predators, Kayla Shelton
MSU Graduate Theses
Multiple species of Ambystoma can sometimes coexist in ponds, often forming a prey guild. In the Ozarks, ringed salamanders (Ambystoma annulatum) can coexist with marbled salamanders (A. opacum) and spotted salamanders (A. maculatum). Ringed and marbled salamanders lay their eggs in ponds in the fall and overwinter as larvae, whereas spotted salamanders breed in the spring. Ringed and marbled salamander larvae can be cannibalistic and can prey upon larvae of the other two species. Larvae should experience increased survival if they can discriminate between predators that have recently consumed another salamander (high risk) versus those that have not (low risk). …
Effectiveness Of The Qar Reading Strategy On Science Reading, Courtney Anne Broser
Effectiveness Of The Qar Reading Strategy On Science Reading, Courtney Anne Broser
MSU Graduate Theses
The Questions-Answer Relationship (QAR) is a reading strategy that guides student comprehension by allowing the student to demonstrate their ability to determine importance, make inferences, and monitor comprehension through questions. The study was conducted on high school students in physical science to determine if the implementation of the QAR would improve content area literacy knowledge and confidence from pre-test and post-test data. Pedagogies included modeling, collaboration, independent work, guided practice, direct instruction, and inquiry laboratories. Through the implementation of the QAR method, the researcher found that students that learned new reading strategies gained confidence and were more engaged in the …
Natural History And Conservation Of Bolitoglossine Salamanders In Central Panama, Leslie Caren Brinkman
Natural History And Conservation Of Bolitoglossine Salamanders In Central Panama, Leslie Caren Brinkman
MSU Graduate Theses
I conducted a mark-recapture study to assess the natural history of a Neotropical salamander community in three discrete 4–6 week sampling periods at Chorro Las Yayas, a protected natural area of about 8000 m2 in central Panama, during an extended drought. I captured 87 Bolitoglossa biseriata, 17 Oedipina complex, and 15 O. parvipes. Bolitoglossa biseriata, had a mean mass of 0.8 ± 0.4 g with a mean snout-vent length (SVL) of 31.45 ± 5.30 mm. Bolitoglossa biseriata was active throughout the night, and its detection rate varied with season, air temperature, and amount of precipitation in the previous 24 h. …
The Effectiveness Of Visits To Dickerson Park Zoo On Guests' Conservation Mindedness And Behavior, Sarah K. Foster
The Effectiveness Of Visits To Dickerson Park Zoo On Guests' Conservation Mindedness And Behavior, Sarah K. Foster
MSU Graduate Theses
Today, there are more than 10,000 zoos worldwide that provide the public with opportunities to observe and learn about endangered and threatened species from ecosystems all over the world. Through direct and emotional interactions with wildlife at zoos, more than 600 million guests a year have a chance to evolve from spectators to participants of conservation. A mixed-method survey strategy took place at Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield Missouri about the Species Survival Plan to understand guest’s conservation mindedness and behavior changes after a visit. Initial surveys were given in the zoo and the follow-up surveys were given online a …
Friends In Low Places: Responses Of A Benthic Stream Fish To Intra-Guild Alarm Cues, Kelsey Ann Anderson
Friends In Low Places: Responses Of A Benthic Stream Fish To Intra-Guild Alarm Cues, Kelsey Ann Anderson
MSU Graduate Theses
Many aquatic species produce chemical alarm cues that serve as a warning to nearby conspecifics. In mixed-species aggregations, individuals may also benefit by “eavesdropping” on the chemical alarm cues of other species that are in the same prey-guild. Rainbow Darters (Etheostoma caeruleum) are benthic fish that co-occur with native Ozark Minnows (Notropis nubilus), recently-introduced Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), and native Oklahoma Salamanders (Eurycea tyrnerensis), all of whom are vulnerable to the same predators. We tested the responses of darters to the damage-released alarm cues of conspecifics (positive control), minnows, and mosquitofish; alarm cues from Bumblebee Gobies (Brachygobius doriae) served as …
Yeast Dynamin Functions With Escrt-Ii At The Late Endosome And Potential Roles With Novel Binding Partners, Bryan Thien Banh
Yeast Dynamin Functions With Escrt-Ii At The Late Endosome And Potential Roles With Novel Binding Partners, Bryan Thien Banh
MSU Graduate Theses
Yeast dynamin, Vps1, is a dynamic protein implicated in multiple trafficking pathways and at several cellular locations including the Golgi, endosome, and vacuole. Previous studies have found that Vps1 genetically and physically interacts with several ESCRT-II (Vps22, Vps36) and ESCRT-III (Vps2, Vps24) components. In light of these findings, little is known about how Vps1 functions with the ESCRT system. In my study, I have mapped the interaction domains between Vps1 and Vps22/Vps36 as well as explored the potential roles of these proteins during the targeting of vacuolar hydrolase, Cps1. My results support the idea of Vps1 working at the endosomal …
Behavioral Responses By Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon Piscivorus) To Chemical And Visual Predator Cues, Kristen Lee Kohlhepp
Behavioral Responses By Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon Piscivorus) To Chemical And Visual Predator Cues, Kristen Lee Kohlhepp
MSU Graduate Theses
Predator detection and assessment of predation risk have important survival consequences for animals. However, responses to predatory threats can vary with different stimuli. Chemical cues are important for predator recognition but visual cues may elicit defensive responses. Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) exhibit an array of antipredatory behaviors that have been thoroughly characterized in response to human aggressors, but their responses to cues from other predators are poorly known. I conducted three experiments to evaluate cottonmouth responses to visual and chemical stimuli from predators and non-predators. Snakes exposed to predator chemical cues exhibited elevated tongue-flick rates compared to controls but did not …
Trophic Interactions And The Efficacy Of Milfoil Weevils For Biocontrol Of Eurasian Watermilfoil In Wisconsin Lakes, Kristopher Andrew Maxson
Trophic Interactions And The Efficacy Of Milfoil Weevils For Biocontrol Of Eurasian Watermilfoil In Wisconsin Lakes, Kristopher Andrew Maxson
MSU Graduate Theses
Eurasian water-milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L., henceforth “EWM”) is the most heavily managed nuisance submersed aquatic plant in the United States. EWM’s rapid spring growth and formation of dense surface mats inhibits native macrophyte communities, serves as poor-quality habitat for fish and macroinvertebrates, impacts recreation, and can clog water supply infrastructure. The milfoil weevil (Euhrychiopsis lecontei Dietz) has been associated with EWM declines in several states, though natural weevil densities are generally too small to effect control. Augmentative biocontrol has had varied success and fish predation may account for high weevil mortality. Weevils were augmented in 4 northern Wisconsin lakes in …
Size-Selective Predation By Ringed Crayfish (Orconectes Neglectus) On Native And Invasive Snails, Whitney Marie Kelley
Size-Selective Predation By Ringed Crayfish (Orconectes Neglectus) On Native And Invasive Snails, Whitney Marie Kelley
MSU Graduate Theses
As invasive species are introduced into new habitats, predator-prey interactions can be altered. Cipangopaludina chinensis is a large snail that has been introduced into numerous waterbodies throughout the United States, where it coexists with native snails and their crayfish consumers. This study examined the relative susceptibility of C. chinensis and two native snails (Elimia potosiensis and Physella gyrina) to predation by the ringed crayfish (Orconectes neglectus). I conducted field surveys of snails and crayfish in three Ozark streams, plus a series of four lab experiments to determine feeding rates and prey preference by O. neglectus on these three snail species. …
Venom Expelled By Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon Piscivorus) Across Different Prey Sizes, Prey Taxa, And Snake Body Temperatures, Kari Lynn Spivey
Venom Expelled By Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon Piscivorus) Across Different Prey Sizes, Prey Taxa, And Snake Body Temperatures, Kari Lynn Spivey
MSU Graduate Theses
Pit vipers possess a sophisticated venom delivery system enabling them to efficiently disable prey. To avoid retaliatory countermeasures, pit vipers typically release envenomated prey which are then trailed and consumed after succumbing to venom effects. Successful retrieval of released prey should vary with venom resistance and trail ability of prey types. The effects of prey size and prey type (mice, lizards, and frogs) on foraging behavior and venom expenditure in a cohort of juvenile cottonmouths was examined. Venom expenditure did not vary significantly among prey sizes or prey types. However, lizard prey were held significantly more often than mice. The …