Life Sciences Commons^™

Lead Content Of Hair Of Urban And Rural Populations Of Small Animals, Richard Brian Raymond

Dissertations and Theses

Hair from small mammals of roadside, urban parkland, wilderness, and antique populations was analyzed for lead by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Hair from roadside populations had a significantly greater amount of lead than hair from the ether groups. Hair from antique populations did not differ in lead content from that of current populations which are removed from immediate exposure to automotive exhausts.

Characteristics Of Arginase From The Terebellid Polychaete Pista Pacifica Berkeley, Karen Laurel O'Malley

Dissertations and Theses

Arginase has been found to occur in the tentacles, gut, and body wall of Pista pacifica Berkeley. Partially purified arginase from the intestine has a molecular weight of 200,000, a Km of about 155 mM, an arginase/canavanase ratio of 22, a pH optimum of 10.5, and a temperature optimum of 60°C. In addition, P. pacifica arginase is competitively inhibited by ornithine but is not inhibited by high arginine concentrations, nor by sulfhydryl reagents. The enzyme is not stimulated by exogenous manganese and breaks down into an active subunit under harsh treatment. The subunit has a Km of about 118 mM …

A Test Of The Simple Recessive Hypothesis For The Inability To Taste Phenyl-Thio-Urea: A Family Study, Susan I. Wolf

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis is a report on the analysis of family data gathered to test the simple recessive hypothesis for the inability to taste phenyl-thio-urea (P.T.C.). The simple recessive hypothesis states that the inability of a minority of persons to taste high concentrations of P.T.C. is due to the action of an autosomal recessive gene in the homozygous condition.

Growth Of Selenastrum Capricornutum Printz In Natural Waters Treated With Copper Sulfate, Gerald Eugene Schulz

Dissertations and Theses

The green alga, Selenastrum capricornutum Printz, was used in an algal bioassay to determine the toxic properties of copper in various natural lake waters of Oregon. Lake water was collected and brought back to the laboratory where it was treated with various copper concentrations and inoculated with a cell suspension of the test alga. Growth of the alga was determined by direct cell counts. The copper ion activity, pH, and absorbance of the test cultures were also determined. The growth of the alga was ·found to depend upon the water tested and also upon the copper concentration used.

Possible Avian Influences In The Distribution Of Dwarf Mistletoe, Paul James Zilka

Dissertations and Theses

The goal of this investigation was to determine the potential of birds as vectors for the movement of dwarf mistletoe seeds and the means by which such movement could occur. Birds would greatly speed the rate at which these parasites move horizontally or vertically through the forest. Five areas in Oregon, heavily infected by six species of Arceuthobium were studied. Observations of avian behavior point to 13 species whose general behavior make them potential vectors in the distribution of these parasites. More specifically, the roosting and subsequent bathing behavior of most forest birds proves a very important means of potential …

Purification And Characterization Of Dihydroorotase From Clostridium Oroticum, A Zinc-Containing Metalloenzyme, William Edward Balch

Dissertations and Theses

Dihydroorotase (4,5-L-dihydro-orotate amidohydrolase, EC 3.5.2.3) which catalyzes the reversible cyclization of N-carbamyl-1-aspartate toL-dihydro-orotate has been purified from orotate-grown Clostridium oroticum by a combination of streptomycin sulfate fractionation, DEAE-Sephadex chromatography, and hydroxylapatite chromatograpy. The enzyme has been shown to be omogeneous when subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Thin-layer gel chromatography with Sephadex G-200 indicated the enzyme to have a molecular weight of 110,000 ± 10,000. Sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis using two different buffer systems indicate the enzyme to be composed of two identical subunits with a molecular weight of 56,000 ± 5300. Dihydroorotase has been shown to be a zinc-containing …

Agonistic Behavior And Dominance In Townsend's Chipmunks (Eutamias Townsendii), Paul Evan Sherman

Dissertations and Theses

Agonistic behavior and dominance are described for captive Townsend's chipmunks (Eutamias townsendii). A total of 10,739 encounters was recorded; 6441 (59.9%) were agonistic. Chases (58.5%) and displacements (30.8%) were the predominant agonistic behaviors; threats (6.8%) and fights (4.l%) were relatively rare.

Stable, non-triangular hierarchies were rapidly established in 11 of the 12 groups of chipmunks observed; the presence of individuals of equal rank in some groups precluded strict linearity. Dominance positions did not change within a group, but reversals in rank and changes from equal to dominant-subordinate relationships occurred when the membership of groups was changed. One hierarchy …

Life Cycle, Additions To Biology, And New Hosts Of Apophallus Donicus (Trematoda: Heterophyidae) In Oregon, Delbert Raymond Niemi

Dissertations and Theses

Apophallus donicus is examined, its life cycle is described, and certain additions are made to its biology. It is thought, but not proven, that eggs are eaten by the first.intermediate host, the local stream snail FluI menicola virens, and the miracidia escape internally. Mother and daughter rediae stages result, the later producing cercariae which are shed into the water. After burrowing just beneath the skin in suckers (Catostomus macrocheilus Girard), rainbow trout (Salmo 9airdneri Richardson), coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch (Walbaum) squawfish (Ptychocheilus oregonensis Richardson), blackside dace (Rhinichthys osculus nubilus (Girard), redside shiners (Richardsonius balteatus balteatus (Richardson),and possibly other fish, the …

Some Aspects Of The Water Economics Of Townsend's Chipmunks, Ali Mokhtar Rahima

Dissertations and Theses

Water consumption, and weight loss in response to water deprivation and saline water consumption, were studied in the Eutamias townsendii townsendii from Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon. These chipmunks occupy moist Pacific Northwest forests. The results of these studies suggest that Townsend's chipmunks are dependent on sources of drinking water, at least for normal above ground activity, that their tolerance for water deprivation is comparatively low, and that they are unable to obtain a net gain of water by drinking 0.2 M sodium chloride solutions. Chipmunks cannot drink 0.4 M NaCl solution and survive for more than a few days. Metabolic …

Photosynthesis And Respiration Of Arceuthobium Tsugense, James Roger Miller

Dissertations and Theses

Dark respiration rates of the aerial shoots of Arceuthobium tsugense, obtained by manometric and IRGA techniques, show production of C0₂to range between 155-300 µl CO₂ g^-1h^-1 with evidence of seasonal variation. Experiments with ¹⁴C0₂ indicate that the aerial shoots are capable of some photosynthetic CO₂ fixation, with 10-15% of the available ¹⁴C incorporated by the plant tissue in one hour.The portions of the o aerial shoots which are most active in C0₂ fixation are the young terminal regions. Biochemical characterization of the products of photosynthesis reveals that 80-90% of …

A Survey For Leucocytozoon Simondi Mathis And Leger (1910) In Canada Geese Of The Malheur Wildlife Refuge, John Val Snively

Dissertations and Theses

Blood smears of blood collected in 1971 and 1972 from 291 Canada geese at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge were examined to determine the incidence of the avian malarial parasite, Leucocytozoon simondi. No parasites were found. Absence of blood parasites suggests that birds using migration routes to the north and northeast of Malheur are free of the disease.

The Leucocytozoon infections known in California waterfowl may be attributable to sources within the flyway east or northeast of California, to infected birds crossing over from other flyways, or abnormal conditions in the molting grounds of sub-adult and non-nesting birds where major flyways …