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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Microbiome Assembly And Function In The Solitary Mason Bee, Osmia Lignaria (Megachilidae), Bailey Crowley Aug 2024

Microbiome Assembly And Function In The Solitary Mason Bee, Osmia Lignaria (Megachilidae), Bailey Crowley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Animal-microbe interactions can influence host biology, ecology, and evolution. The assembly and function of microbes found within animal hosts oftentimes depends on which species are involved. Advances in sequencing technologies have permitted the exploration of host-microbe interactions in a variety of animals, including bees. Early research aimed at understanding the microbiomes of social bees, such as honey bees and bumble bees, found that microbes prevent the spoilage of stored pollen, breakdown indigestible nutrients into smaller molecules available for uptake by the host, and also protect the host from pathogens. When environmental stressors, such as increased temperatures, disrupt the microbiome, the …


The Role Of Mycorrhizal Associations In Modulating Poplar Growth, Phytohormone Responses, And Mortality Under Elevated Co2 And Temperature Conditions, Joshua Jr Frank-Webb Jun 2024

The Role Of Mycorrhizal Associations In Modulating Poplar Growth, Phytohormone Responses, And Mortality Under Elevated Co2 And Temperature Conditions, Joshua Jr Frank-Webb

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Climate change poses significant challenges to forests worldwide, particularly the Canadian boreal forest. Populus spp. are ecologically and economically important tree species that have had declining growth and survival due to elevated temperatures and droughts associated with climate change. Symbiotic microbes, such as mycorrhizal fungi, may increase plant growth under climate change conditions by altering tree metabolic profiles and increasing tree access to water and nutrients. My thesis explores the relationship between mycorrhizal fungi and a Populus hybrid (Populus x canadensis) grown under a range of future climate scenarios: ambient CO2 (400 ppm) or elevated CO2 …


Thermal Ecology And Swimming Performance Of Native Tadpoles Dryophytes Femoralis In Central Florida, Jessalyn Aretz Mar 2024

Thermal Ecology And Swimming Performance Of Native Tadpoles Dryophytes Femoralis In Central Florida, Jessalyn Aretz

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Urbanization and climate warming have contributed to global amphibian declines in recent decades. Amphibians are particularly vulnerable to climate and urban-induced warming because their physiological processes are dependent on temperature across all life stages, but few studies have been done on tadpole responses to warming in comparison to adult responses. The study objective was to determine how the thermal ecology and swimming performance of a native Florida tadpole varied with rearing temperature and urban level, and whether these traits are plastic or adaptive. We collected eggs from wild populations of pine woods treefrog (Dryophytes femoralis) tadpoles at an urban and …


Environmental Implications Of Modern Food Production: An Analysis For The Conscious Consumer, Jessica T. Coming Jan 2024

Environmental Implications Of Modern Food Production: An Analysis For The Conscious Consumer, Jessica T. Coming

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This project explores the pathways by which agriculture affects the environment and determines which foods have the greatest climate, water, and land impacts. Agricultural effects on the environment are extensive, from loss of habitat and declines in regional biodiversity to disruption of global nutrient cycles and climate change. Global food production accounts for 26-34% of annual anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, makes up 38-46% of habitable land, and is responsible for 70% of freshwater extraction. The effect of agriculture on the environment is most significantly dictated by what type of food is being produced. Animal-based food products consistently have the highest …


Symbiosis Under Stress: Unraveling The Interplay Of Ocean Acidification And Rising Temperatures On Acropora Samoensis (Staghorn Coral), Jerald William Smolkin Jan 2024

Symbiosis Under Stress: Unraveling The Interplay Of Ocean Acidification And Rising Temperatures On Acropora Samoensis (Staghorn Coral), Jerald William Smolkin

Theses and Dissertations

This experiment explores the response of marine organisms to the combined challenges of ocean acidification and rising temperatures, with a focus on coral reef ecosystems. As global climate change threatens profound declines in coral reefs, understanding the multifaceted impacts of these stressors becomes crucial. The study observes cellular changes in A. samoensis tissues in four different groups, including control, Temp, pH, and Temp and pH. Results indicate significant breakdown of membrane compartmentalization and cell junctions, with notable degradation and calcium carbonate crystallization in pH-stressed samples. Additionally, chlorophyll extraction data support coral bleaching due to the expulsion of zooxanthellae. These findings …