Life Sciences Commons^™

Cherokia Georgiana Mitogenome Sequencing And Analysis, William Wittstock

Biology Theses

Despite the vast diversity of millipedes, complete genomic and mitogenomic data available in public databases is limited, hindering comprehensive studies on their classification, evolution, and genetics. Among the underrepresented taxa are the Xystodesmidae, a family comprising approximately 500 species with minimal mitogenomic data, and no complete genomes sequenced. Our research involves sequencing the mitochondrial genome of Cherokia georgiana, a representative of this diverse family with interesting traits that are not clearly defined at a genetic level. This research also serves as a pilot study to develop DNA extraction methods and protocols for whole genome sequencing. Multiple DNA extraction kits …

Heterogeneity Among Harveyi Clade-Specific Virulence Genes And Attribution Of These Genes To Possible Environmental Carriers, Cameron Brown

Biology Theses

In the face of global warming, waterborne pathogens are evolving rapidly and expanding geographically. The Vibrio Harveyi clade encompasses a number of human and aquatic organism pathogens, and due to their physiology, they may benefit from ongoing changes in the temperature, pH, and salinity of the global Ocean. With this, the Southeastern United States might become an accommodating environment for Harveyi clade species, and it is imperative to monitor for their abundance and distribution in the environment. A qPCR assay was developed for the detection and quantification of clade-specific virulence genes toxRvh, hly, toxR, luxR, srp, vhha, vhh, and vhp …

Examining Protein Localization Via Fluorescence Microscopy In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Lewis Barr, Richard H. Adams, Ellen France Phd

Biology Theses

Twenty-seven years ago, Saccharomyces cerevisiae became the first eukaryote to have its full genome sequenced, thus leading to the discovery that 30% of genes related to human diseases are orthologous to those in S. cerevisiae. Since then, 75% of the proteome has had its localization classified, and we sought to fill the remaining gaps of knowledge by identifying the localization of three proteins: Fsh3, Gid10, and Ade13, which function as a serine hydrolase, ubiquitin ligase, and adenylosuccinate lyase, respectively. To visualize cellular localization, we used a C-terminal GFP tagging strategy and subsequent fluorescence microscopy. Through colocalization analyses, we identified …

Toward Accelerometer Recording Of Pit Viper Foraging Behavior In Nature: Validation And Case Study With Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus Horridus), Morgan L. Thompson

Biology Theses

Accelerometer dataloggers are becoming increasingly common in field studies of animal behavior. Among the most difficult study subjects, and consequently, the most ideal candidates for accelerometer applications, are those for which simultaneous observation of key fitness-determining behaviors, such as foraging, across a sample of individuals in the wild is traditionally impossible or restricted to the use of proxy measures. This is the case for many solitary vertebrate predators, such as all pit vipers (Viperidae; Crotalinae). Large-bodied pit vipers are ambush (sit-and-wait) specialists that represent uniquely challenging and intriguing study subjects in predator ecology. Unlike many comparable avian or mammalian terrestrial …

The Effect Of Callery Pear (Pyrus Calleryana) On Soil Macrofauna (Diplopoda And Oligochaeta), Joseph M. Mcgee

Biology Theses

Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) is a relatively recent invader of North America. Its ecological effects are still being explored, including those affecting soil macrofauna such as millipedes (Diplopoda) and earthworms (Clitellata: Oligochaeta). These animals play important roles in many soil processes so understanding how they respond to invasive species is vital to soil health. A previous study exploring potential herbicide control was completed in 2019, however as of 2022 there are still treatment zones with little to no Callery pear alongside fully invaded plots, providing an optimal habitat mosaic for comparison. This allowed us to pursue two research …

Temperature Affects Nest Box Occupancy, Nest Success, And Nestling Size In A Southeastern Population Of Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia Sialis), Christopher G. Horacek

Biology Theses

Given the critical role that temperature plays in avian reproductive biology, rising temperatures as a result of global climate change will likely impact reproductive success of many bird populations. Secondary cavity nesting birds, many of which rely on artificial nest boxes to maintain population levels, may be particularly at risk because increased temperatures inside nest boxes can determine whether nest boxes are selected, reduce nest success, and/or negatively affect the growth and survival of offspring. We examined the effect of nest box color on nest box temperature and the influence of nest box temperature, nest box color, entrance orientation, and …

The Impact Of Processing Body Proteins On An Adenovirus Infection, La`Quita Randolph

Biology Theses

Adenovirus is a nonenveloped, double-stranded DNA virus that contains a 36 Kbp genome. The E4 ORF3 region of its genome consists of an E4 11k protein that can reorganize host cell components by relocalizing cellular proteins. One such cellular component is the cytoplasmic processing body, which consists of proteins involved in translational repression of mRNA and mRNA degradation. During an adenovirus infection, processing body proteins Ddx6 and Pat1b have been shown to colocalize and form aggresomes. Aggresomes induced by E4 11k are specific to the adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad 5). In this study, cytoplasmic Pat1b foci were observed and quantified …

Integrating Radio Telemetry And Accelerometry To Evaluate The Scale-Dependent Effects Of Roadways On The Movement Patterns Of Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus Horridus), Anna F. Tipton

Biology Theses

Roadways are among the most widespread and disruptive anthropogenic land use features that influence the behavior and movement of wildlife. Negative impacts such as vehicle-induced mortality, habitat destruction and fragmentation, and the creation of barriers to movement have been well documented across taxa, but the fine-scale behavioral impact of roadways on smaller, cryptic species has yet to be directly examined. Using a novel integration of radio telemetry and tri-axial accelerometry, we evaluated the movement response of Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) to roadways in central Georgia. We quantified individual C. horridus movement and space use with both radio telemetry …

The Effects Of Hydrologic Heterogeneity On Harmful Algal Blooms In Freshwater Reservoir, Lake Sinclair, Georgia, Margaret Blackledge

Biology Theses

Aquatic habitats are frequently studied after a major water quality problem like the occurrence of an algal bloom. In this study, A proactive rather than a reactive response was considered, where the complexity of conditions conducive to uncontrolled cell growth were studied before a bloom took place by sampling regularly. This study aimed to monitor water quality by monthly sampling of algal communities for approximately one year. As the base of the aquatic food web, algae are a highly diverse group of organisms with varying sensitivity to physical and chemical changes in the environment. Four shallow sites were monitored at …

Soil Macroinvertebrates Responses To Wildfires In The Blue Ridge Mountains, Usa, Madeline Olliff

Biology Theses

Fire has been a prevalent disturbance on Earth for millions of years. Around the globe there are several regions that have become fire adapted, including the Southeastern United States. There have been few studies examining the effects of wildland fires on soil macroinvertebrates in the Blue Ridge Mountains, in spite of the importance of these animals to soil processes and their contributions to the biodiversity of these ecosystems. During the fall of 2016, the Southeastern USA experienced numerous, large wildfires. These fires offered an opportunity to study the effects of wildland fire on soil macroinvertebrates. We sampled sites from three …

Molecular Detection Of Pathogenic Leptospira And Microbial Source Tracking Of Fecal Pollution In San Juan, Puerto Rico, Taylor I. Chapman

Biology Theses

Leptospirosis, caused by pathogenic Leptospira, is endemic to tropical regions. Leptospira is released into the environment through the secretion of urine from animals, making it easily transmissible through water sources. The estuarian environment surrounding the area of San Juan, Puerto Rico and its high density of urban development creates ideal conditions for transmission of Leptospirosis. The goal of this study was to determine the presence of Leptospira in these surface waters and use Microbial Source Tracking (MST) to identify the possible source of pathogenic Leptospira. Eighty-seven water samples were collected during the dry (44) and wet (43) seasons. …

Terrestrial Soldier Crab (Coenobita Clypeatus, Fabricius 1787) And Cerion Spp. (Röding 1798) Shell Relationship On San Salvador Island, Bahamas, Harley Hunt

Biology Theses

The Caribbean terrestrial soldier crab, Coenobita clypeatus(Fabricius 1787), coexist and utilize the shells of numerous species of land and marine gastropods. Soldier crabs rely on gastropod shells for protection as the crabs have a soft abdomen, leaving them vulnerable for predation and desiccation, threatening their survival. This creates a strong pressure to obtain well-fitting shells that provide adequate protection against water loss. Cerion of Röding (1798) shells are one of the most commonly used shells among living colonies of C. clypeatuson San Salvador Island. This study is interested in the frequency of shell use by C. clypeatus crabs …

Late Pleistocene Rodents From Clark Quarry, A Vertebrate Fossil Locality In Southeastern Georgia, Parker Rhinehart

Biology Theses

Clark Quarry is a Late Pleistocene fossil locality near Brunswick, GA, United States with a diverse vertebrate fauna. Morphological descriptions of Mammuthus columbi (Columbian Mammoth), snakes, amphibians, and birds from Clark Quarry have previously been completed along with a stable isotope analysis of M. columbi and Bison latifrons (Long-horned Bison) enamel. Herein, the rodent fauna is described using primarily teeth recovered by screen-washing quarry sediment. Nine rodent taxa have been identified, two of which are the extinct species Synaptomys australis (Florida Bog Lemming) and Neochoerus aesopi (Late Pleistocene Capybara). Of the remaining seven taxa, Erethizon dorsatum (North American Porcupine) and …

Assessing Moringa Oleifera Plants As Exposure Pathways For Heavy Metals In Highly Contaminated Areas, Marissa Louise Mayfield*

Biology Theses

This study examined the uptake of heavy metals by Moringa oleifera trees in both field and laboratory settings. The main goal of this study was to determine whether using Moringa, grown in heavily contaminated areas, as food or herbal supplements increases the risk of heavy metal exposure. The field component of this study was carried out in the Southern part of Kabwe, Zambia where a lead-zinc mine has left a legacy of severe environmental pollution in the neighboring areas. Moringa trees have several medicinal properties which is one of the reasons they were first introduced to the area. The trees …

Molecular Detection Of Host-Specific Fecal Bacteria In Three Major Watersheds Of Piedmont Georgia, Muhammad Amar

Biology Theses

Abstract

Fecal pollution is a major concern in creeks and rivers. The aim of this study was to enumerate fecal coliform bacteria and identify the source of contamination using Microbial Source Tracking at three different creeks (Mountain Oak, Long Cane, and Ulcohatchee) in the Piedmont region of Georgia. Data collected in this research will be used to formulate watershed rehabilitation plans to decrease the transfer of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) into these creeks. Samples were collected at several sites along the creeks (4 sites at Mountain Oak, 10 sites at Long Cane, and 5 sites at Ulcohatchee). The site locations …

Degradation Of Transcriptional Repressor Atf4 During Late-Phase Long-Term Potentiation, Spencer Smith

Biology Theses

Maintenance of long-term synaptic plasticity requires gene expression mediated by cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB). Gene expression driven by CREB can commence only if the inhibition by a transcriptional repressor ATF4 (activating transcription factor 4; aka CREB2) is relieved. Previous research showed that the removal of ATF4 occurs through ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated proteolysis. Using chemically induced hippocampal long-term potentiation (cLTP) as a model system, we investigated the mechanisms that control ATF4 degradation. We observed that ATF4 phosphorylated at Serine-219 increases upon induction of cLTP and decreases by about 30 min thereafter. Proteasome inhibitor β-lactone prevents the decrease in ATF4. We found that …

The Impact Of Fire On Soil Characteristics In The Maritime Forests On Sapelo Island, Ga, Courtney Nicole Scott

Biology Theses

Human activities have drastically altered natural fire regimes in countless ecosystems by suppressing and/or effectuating fires. In the past, management strategies were formulated to eliminate the occurrence of fire altogether but as we have become more aware of the benefits of fires such as reducing the amount of fuel build-up, recycling of nutrients for healthier plant communities and the promotion of biodiversity, prescribed burns are now considered an integral part of forest management. While many studies have explored the benefits of fires on plant communities, very few studies look at the impacts of fire on soil characteristics. Sapelo Island, which …

Estimating Furbearer Density Using Trail-Cameras At The Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, Patrick M. Powers 9761971

Biology Theses

Density estimation is an important indicator of the health of wildlife populations and is commonly used to establish management practices. Trail-cameras offer a unique advantage in the density estimation of elusive animals as data can be collected without the need for physical capture. The objectives of this study were to estimate and compare furbearer density between two major habitats at the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge (PNWR) and to compare computed density values from paired cameras located at off- and on-road locations. An additional goal was to assess the usefulness of trail-cameras as a viable technique to estimate population density on …

A Floristic Survey Of Andalusia: A Historic Preservation Site In Baldwin County, Georgia, William Pharr

Biology Theses

A survey of the vascular plants of Andalusia, a historic preservation site located along Highway 441 north of Milledgeville in Baldwin County, Georgia, was conducted between August 2018 and February 2020. The site was the late home of esteemed author, Flannery O’Connor, and resides along the Georgia fall line, making it a historically significant area that could yield a unique plant community convergence, as well as rare endemic species. This floristic inventory provides baseline data on the species and plant communities of Andalusia for use in future studies regarding the flora of this area. A total of 191 vascular species …

Microplastic Abundance And Its Correlation With Potential Oyster Pathogen Vibrio Splendidus Along Coastal Georgia, Mishana Smith

Biology Theses

Microplastics have been introduced into the marine environment either directly from runoff or through the weathering of larger plastic debris. Currently, there was not widespread data on the distribution of microplastic particles in marine environments in the southeastern United States. Microplastic particles provide a surface for microorganisms to colonize and have the potential to serve as a vector for pathogenic bacteria distribution. Various studies have demonstrated that a wide variety of marine life can readily ingest microplastics due to their small size. The filter-feeding nature of bivalves exposes them directly to microplastics present in the environment. The purpose of this …

Investigating The Effects Of Sea-Level Rise And Increasing Salinity On Procambarus Lunzi Of Sapelo Island, Georgia, Samuel Long

Biology Theses

Barrier islands have great ecological and economical importance and face a threat from increasing sea-level due to climate change. Erosion of existing freshwater lens and ocean inundation could greatly change freshwater availability on the island. This could have significant impacts on freshwater crayfish like Procambarus lunzi, which are complexly intertwined into the trophic food web of the island. This study’s goal was to investigate the salinity tolerance of this crayfish on Sapelo Island, Georgia, in an attempt to predict the possible effects and response to sea-level rise by this crayfish. Crayfish were wild-caught from the island in March, June, and …

Several Vegetation Characteristics Affect Reproductive Success Of Grassland Birds At A Restored, Warm-Season Grassland In Central Georgia, Kayla B. Allen

Biology Theses

Grassland birds are experiencing major population declines due to habitat loss and fire suppression throughout North America. Large-scale grassland restoration efforts are ongoing, but there is little data on breeding bird productivity on restored habitats, nor on the impact of specific vegetation characteristics on reproductive output. Since 2005, agriculture fields at Panola Mountain State Park, GA have been undergoing restoration to warm-season grasslands; however, up until now there has been no monitoring of nest success or productivity. The goals of this project are to 1) quantify reproductive success and 2) determine which vegetation characteristics are associated with reproductive success. From …

Diatom Voucher Flora And Comparison Of Collection Methods For Biodiversity Hotspot Upper Three Runs Creek, Katie M. Johnson

Biology Theses

Surface freshwater is a scarce resource. Due to the scarcity and necessity of this resource, it is imperative that its quality is routinely monitored. One way of monitoring water quality is through biological assessments, which include examining algal assemblages. Regionally, little remains known of algal taxa in the southeastern United States. In the past, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (ANSP) conducted biological assessments along the Savannah River finding Gomphonema parvulum (Kützing) Kützing 1849 to be a dominant taxon rendering assessments inconclusive. Recent studies have provided evidence that species complexes and semi-cryptic taxa have been identified within the Gomphonema …

Assessing Population Genetic Structure Of Eastern Phoebes At A Migratory Stopover Site, Daniel Jones

Biology Theses

Migration is an energetically costly and stressful event and migratory stopover sites are important areas along the migratory route that birds stop at to rest and refuel. Migration timing and routes vary across and even within species, including differences between sexes, ages and populations. Most genetic studies of migratory birds occur on breeding grounds, but when breeding locations are not known, it is likely that genetic patterns can be assessed accurately at migratory stopover sites if certain conditions exist. First, if a species is philopatric – where individuals return to the same sites every year, gene flow across geographically separated …

Incidence And Prevalence Of Francisella Noatunensis Subsp. Orientalis (Fno) Pathogenic Infections In Feral Hawaiian Tilapia, Daquille Peppers

Biology Theses

Aquaculture has become a major food source for many countries and continues to grow each year. However, many of the fishes that are farmed are susceptible to pathogenic infections such as Francisellosis, a bacterial infection that contributes to disease and high mortality rate in many populations of farmed and wild fish around the world. In 1994, feral and farmed populations of tilapia (e.g. Oreochromis mossambicus) on Oahu, Hawaii were found to be infected with a novel Francisellosis strain, Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis (Fno). To prevent the spread of this pathogen, the Hawaii Department of Aquaculture (HDOA) initiated …

Molecular Detection Of Pathogenic Leptospira Throughout The Caribbean, Zamara R. Garcia Truitt

Biology Theses

Leptospirosis is a common widespread zoonotic disease found throughout the Caribbean. The infection is produced by a pathogenic Leptospira species found in tropical and subtropical regions. The severity of the disease ranges from a mild asymptomatic infection to death. Leptospirosis is a neglected tropical disease due to the lack of public awareness and health approaches. Therefore, misdiagnosis is common because the symptoms are similar to that of other tropical endemic diseases. The aim of the study was to determine the presence of pathogenic Leptospira in water samples collected from Puerto Rico and Trinidad. Sixty-four environmental water samples were collected throughout …

A Comparison Of Driving Versus Walking Roadkill Surveys On A Section Of Highway 212 In Baldwin County, Georgia, Kori Ogletree

Biology Theses

Due to wildlife mortality along roadways, wildlife managers need an efficient and effective way of surveying and identifying roadkill hotspots—locations that have high wildlife mortality rates. The number of roadkill in hotspots is influenced by animal movements in response to seasonal temperature changes, daily activity, surrounding habitat, road topography and physical road features. Due to ease of implementation and time constraints, driving surveys are more common because walking surveys are more labor intensive and time consuming. From February 2018 to February 2019, two survey methods, driving and walking, were used to monitor a 1.16 km section of Highway 212 in …

A Polyphasic Approach In Understanding Green Algal Ecology, Blia Lor

Biology Theses

Pithophora and Cladophora are two representative genera of the order Cladophorales as filamentous Chlorophyta. These two genera are major contributors to the total algal biomass of littoral communities in freshwater and shallow marine water and have been reported as nuisance algae as they proliferate fast with the influx of nutrients. However, the wide geographical distribution and the overlap of plastic morphological characteristics between the two genera have complicated taxonomic identification at species level and phylogenetic studies. In the present study, a population of a monospecific, filamentous algal community was collected in Jewell, Georgia from the Ogeechee River. The monospecific, filamentous …

The Snakes Of The Taunton Local Fauna (Pliocene: Mid-Blancan) Of Adams County, Washington, Donald Edward Walker Ii

Biology Theses

The Taunton local fauna is located in Adams county Washington and is Blancan in age (2.85-2.95 ma). This site yielded three hundred sixty-five fossil snake vertebrae. Of these, one hundred ninety-nine were identifiable to genus and twenty-one were identifiable to species. Analysis of the Taunton's ophidian faunal composition provides two notable accounts in attempting to reconstruct Blancan snake faunas. First, is the occurrence of the fox snake, Elaphe vulpina. This is the only account of this species in the Pacific Northwest. This is important since the fox snake's present range is restricted to the upper Midwest United States. Second, …