Life Sciences Commons^™

Biogeography And Species Density Distributions Of Tasmanian Mammals, Jerry E. Bevers

Dissertations and Theses

Separated from mainland Australia by the Bass Strait, Tasmania has acted as an island preserve maintaining large populations of many mammalian species presently uncommon, rare, or extinct on mainland Australia.

There are few studies of Tasmanian mammal distributions. Recent distributional maps, based on information from surveys and mammal specimens, allowed for an investigation of the species density distributions of the terrestrial mammals of Tasmania. Compilation of species' distributional information into species density distributions provides an overview as to which areas may provide the most significant habitat for the greatest number of species; what geographic variations may influence species distributions; and …

The Electrokaryotype And Molecular Characterization Of Trypanosoma Cervi Isolates Using Recombinant Dna Techniques, J. Lindsley Bennett

Dissertations and Theses

The distribution of trypanosomes infecting wild ruminants of North America has only recently been investigated. Many isolates have been mensurally studied and were determined to be conspecific with Trypanosoma cervi. Widely divergent forms exist however, between host species and seasonally within a host. To determine the validity of all inclusions in the taxon and the extent of intraspecific variability, trypanosome isolates of moose, reindeer, antelope, muledeer, Roosevelt Elk and two discrete transplant populations of Rocky Mountain elk were characterized and differentiated using recombinant DNA techniques.

The Effect Of Plant Growth Regulators On The Growth Of Closterium Moniliferum, Cynthia Lehua Warnock Christensen

Dissertations and Theses

Physiologic responses to Gibberellic Acid (GA), 1-Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA), Benzylaminopurine (BAP), and Abscisic Acid (ABA), suggest that Closterium moniliferum has the ability to utilize these plant growth factors. The growth promoters NAA and GA both increased growth when added to the media. The cell division regulator BAP (a synthetic cytokinin). also had a promotive effect on growth. Abscisic acid was found to be inhibitive to growth.

Dna Fingerprinting Analysis Of Captive Asian Elephants, Elephas Maximas, Laura Louise Bischof

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis examined the effectiveness of DNA fingerprinting analysis for paternity ascertainment and the establishment of relatedness of captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximas). Eighteen Asian elephants from three North American zoos were examined. Thirteen of these elephants were wild caught. Relationships between these elephants and the remaining elephants born in captivity were known.

Hplc Analysis Of Myoglobin Tryptic Peptides From Selected Species Of Cetaceans, David Lawrence Hayteas

Dissertations and Theses

Due to the large gaps in the fossil record, the evolutionary history of the mammalian order Cetacea is incomplete and controversial. Increasingly researchers are utilizing molecular and biochemical procedures to supplement cetacean paleontology. One of these methods is the comparison of amino acid sequences of myoglobin among species of this order. since this method is time-consuming and expensive, an alternative procedure is desirable.

Methionine Metabolism In Fasciola Hepatica, Carol Theresa Ayer

Dissertations and Theses

5'-Deoxy-5'-methylthioadenosine (MTA) is derived from s-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) during the synthesis of the polyamines spermidine and spermine. Methionine can be regenerated from MTA by one of two mechanisms. In mammalian cells and some microorganisms, MTA is degraded to adenine and 5-methylthioribose-1-phosphate (MTR-1-P) via MTA phosphorylase. In certain other microbes, however, MTA is catabolized in two steps; first to adenine and 5-methylthioribose (MTR) via MTA nucleosidase followed by conversion of MTR to MTR-1-P via MTR kinase.

This study was to demonstrate the presence of MTA nucleosidase or MTA phosphorylase in both redia containing cercariae and adult Fasciola hepatica Linnaeus, 1758. If MTA …

Macroinvertebrate Drift Abundance Below Bonneville Dam And Its Relation To Juvenile Salmonid Food Habits, William Douglas Muir

Dissertations and Theses

There is a paucity of information concerning the invertebrate food resources available to juvenile salmonids in the Columbia River as they migrate seaward. Construction of mainstream dams has altered the temperature cycle, flow regime, and substrate which indigenous invertebrates were adapted to. Studies on how the macroinvertebrate community has adapted to these alterations have been neglected. This study was undertaken to help fill this void.

Macroinvertebrate drift samples were collected over a three year period in the Columbia . River downstream from Bonneville Dam. Samples were collected with a D-ring plankton net fished on the bottom for one-half hour. Two …