Life Sciences Commons^™

Fuel Dynamics Across Southern Appalachian Landscapes, Horace Gambrell

All Theses

Although there have been several individual studies measuring hardwood fuels, across the central Hardwood Region and southern Appalachian Mountains, little is known of how hardwood fuels are distributed across the landscape. Understanding this distribution is essential for fire management planning. Previous studies suggest that the decay rate of litter and fine woody fuel is greater on mesic sites as compared to dryer sites. In the southern Appalachian Mountains, northeast facing slopes and protected bottoms are generally the more mesic sites, while southwest facing slopes and exposed ridge tops receive sunlight for longer periods and should be more xeric.
The objectives …

Laboratory Study Of Responses Of Anuran Amphibians To Roundup¨ Exposures: Experimental Design And Role Of Sediment, Latice Fuentes

All Theses

The contribution of incidental exposures of Roundup¨ herbicide to amphibian declines can be evaluated with carefully designed laboratory tests. Sensitive, sentinel species of larval anurans were exposed to two formulations: the original formulation of Roundup¨ and Roundup WeatherMax¨ in 96-hour acute, aqueous and water-sediment tests. An experimental design was developed that considered and held constant relevant laboratory conditions which produced precise, replicable data. Experimental design factors decreased variability and increased precision by considering and incorporating the following: 1) range-finding tests; 2) reference toxicity tests; 3) the relative sensitivity of the species tested; 4) differences in formulation; 5) the number of …

Three Dimensional Visualization Of Fire Spreading Over Forest Landscapes, Brian Williams

All Theses

Previous studies in fire visualization have required high end computer hardware and specialized technical skills. This study demonstrated fire visualization is possible using Visual Nature Studio and standard computer hardware. Elevation and vegetation data were used to create a representation of the New Jersey pine barren environment and a forest compartment within Hobcaw Barony. Photographic images were edited to use as image object models for forest vegetation. The FARSITE fire behavioral model was used to model a fire typical of that area. Output from FARSITE was used to visualize the fire with tree models edited to simulate burning and flame …

Trapping Small Hive Beetles, Aethina Tumida Murray, Inside Honey Bee Colonies, Maxcy Nolan Iv

All Theses

The small hive beetle, Aethina tumida Murray, (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) is an economically important honey bee pest, particularly in the southeastern United States. One method of controlling this pest is the use of an in-hive trap. Many different attractants have been developed and are used in such traps. Part one of my thesis involved testing a new attractant, a pollen substitute inoculated with the yeast Kodamaea ohmeri (NRRL Y-30722). Thirty-two test colonies were established with 0.9-kg (2-lb) packages of bees with queens. Eight colonies were placed in each apiary, and colonies received one of three treatments: 1) yeast-based attractant 2) apple …

Identifying The Cis-Acting Sugar Response Elements That Facilitate Glucose Signaling In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Frank Barretta, Jr.

All Theses

Identifying the initial sugar sensing and response activating mechanisms in plants has been difficult due to the dual functions of sugars as nutrients and as signaling molecules. In this study, we have examined transcript expression and promoter features of different genes encoding proteins for actin remodeling that have been implicated as targets of plant glucose signaling. Using Reverse Transcription PCR analysis, we confirmed that expression of two actin-associated genes, actin depolymerizing factor 9 (ADF9) and actin related protein 8 (ARP8), are repressed following a short-term glucose treatment of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. Glucose did not repress the expression of other ADF …

Comparison Of Caddisfly Species (Insecta:Trichoptera) In The Northern Saluda Watershed Over A Thirty-Seven Year Period, In Correlation With Land Development And Use., Michael Biondi

All Theses

Land use and development in South Carolina has greatly increased in the last 50 years. This study focused on land cover change in Northern Pickens County and changes in caddisfly populations at three sites in three sub-watersheds in the South Saluda River watershed. I collected caddisflies from March 31 to October 20 in 2005 and 2006 and compared them to collections performed at the same sites in the same manner in 1969 by John C. Morse for his Master's thesis. I used a geographic information system to assess the land cover change over this thirty-seven year period and correlated the …

Laboratory Studies Of Responses Of Anuran Amphibians To Roundup Exposures: Reference Toxicant And Components, Lindsay Moore

All Theses

Roundup¨ has been implicated as a possible cause for the declining amphibian populations in North America. Carefully designed laboratory toxicity tests are crucial for accurate risk assessment of the responses of anuran populations to incidental exposures of Roundup¨ herbicides. The overall objective of these studies was to determine the response of North American anuran species to exposures of Roundup¨ formulations and components to support or refute the claim that Roundup¨ is a factor in amphibian decline in North America. Aqueous 96 hour static non-renewal laboratory tests were utilized to (1) evaluate the effectiveness of copper sulfate as a reference toxicant …

The Inheritance Of Morphological And Behavioral Differences In The Mating Signals Of Sailfin And Shortfin Mollies, Stephanie Loveless

All Theses

Changes in mating signals often result in the development of new species, thus, understanding the genetic basis of traits that confer pre-mating reproductive isolation can shed light on the speciation process. This study used interspecific hybridization between poeciliid fish, a sailfin molly (Poecilia velifera) and a shortfin molly (P. mexicana), to generate reciprocal F1 and backcross hybrids to investigate patterns of inheritance of traits that contribute to mating signal differences between these two groups of mollies. The first part of my study focused on behavioral differences in the mating system of sailfin and shortfin mollies. I observed mating behaviors of …

A Microbiological Survey And Characterization, Andrew Daane

All Theses

In our study, two dairy compost heaps and one vegetable scrap compost heap were constructed on two research farms in Clemson, SC. Samples were taken from each heap from different locations at 8 elected intervals and analyzed for enterococci and VRE counts by spread plating on Bile Esculin agar (BEA) and BEA containing 6 g/ml of vancomycin, respectively. The initial populations of enterococci and VRE in compost were in the range of 6.46-7.43 and 5.36-6.70 log CFU/g, respectively. After 30 days of active composting the average VRE populations declined ca. 4.6, 4.07, 3.97 and 1.6 logs at the top, center, …

Preliminary Analysis Of The Ecology And Geography Of The Asian Nuthatches (Aves: Sittidae), Shaily Menon, Zafar-Ul Islam, Jorge Soberon, A. Townsend Peterson

Peer Reviewed Publications

We explored distributions of Asian nuthatch species in ecological and geographic space using ecological niche modeling based on occurrence data associated with specimens and observations. Nuthatches represent a well-defined clade occurring throughout the Northern Hemisphere, but are most diverse in southern Asia where 15 of the 24 species occur and where the lineage is believed to have evolved. Species richness was focused in a narrow east-west band corresponding to the forested parts of the Himalayas with a maximum number of nine species predicted present in these foci. The distributional predictions have a mid-elevation focus with highest species diversity between 1,000 …

Some Items To Consider Before You Change The Calving Season Of Your Beef Cow Herd, Randall D. Weidmeier, Adam Summers, D. R. Zobell, Dillon M. Feuz

All Current Publications

This publication gives important items to consider before changing calving seasons of beef cow herds.

The Ecological Importance Of Severe Wildfires: Some Like It Hot, Richard L. Hutto

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Many scientists and forest land managers concur that past fire suppression, grazing, and timber harvesting practices have created unnatural and unhealthy conditions in the dry, ponderosa pine forests of the western United States. Specifically, such forests are said to carry higher fuel loads and experience fires that are more severe than those that occurred historically. It remains unclear, however, how far these generalizations can be extrapolated in time and space, and how well they apply to the more mesic ponderosa pine systems and to other forest systems within the western United States. I use data on the pattern of distribution …

Identification And Characterization Of A Cadmium-Transporting P-Type Atpase In Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, David J. Adle

Department of Biochemistry: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Detoxification and homeostatic acquisition of metal ions are vital for all living organisms. Non-physiological heavy metals are toxic at low concentrations and represent major environmental hazards to human health. In particular, cadmium is a toxic environmental pollutant linked to a number of ailments including cancer, kidney and bone disease and reproductive disorders. The biological effects of cadmium toxicity which lead to human disease and the cellular mechanisms for cadmium defense are ill defined. Thus, the study of heavy metal detoxification systems represents an important research avenue to help combat cadmium related disorders.

The goal of this research project was to …

Successful Implementation Of Inquiry-Based Physiology Laboratories In Undergraduate Major And Nonmajor Courses, Giovanni Casotti, Loretta Rieser-Danner, Maureen T. Knabb

Biology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

"Absolutely Part Of What We Should Be Doing": Kevin Curry, Water Filters And The International Mission Of The Modern University, Andrew C. Holman

Bridgewater Review

No abstract provided.

Leucon (Crymoleucon) Rossi, A New Species (Crustacea: Cumacea: Leuconidae) From The Shelf Waters Of The Ross Sea (Antarctica), With A Key To The Genus Leucon South Of 60°S, Peter Rehm, Richard W. Heard

Faculty Publications

A new leuconid cumacean, Leucon (Crymoleucon) rossi n. sp., is described from depths of 84 to 458 m in the Ross Sea off the Victoria Land coast. Leucon rossi n. sp. is distinguished from other members of the genus by a combination of characters including 1) a blunt, horizontally directed pseudorostrum) Without a distinctly protruding siphon; 2) strongly developed antennal notch; 3) entire dorsomedian margin of carapace appearing serrate, armed with 14 to 19 anteriorly Curved spines in female (up to 21 in subadult males); 4) a small, but distinct, spine behind the frontal lobe; and 5) the uropodal peduncle …

Construction Of A New Model System In Saccharomyces Cerevisa To Study Yopo And Identify Its Targets, Laura Nejedlik

Dissertations

Yersinia species use a type three secretion system (TTSS) to inject Yersinia outer proteins (Yops) into the target cell. The effector YopO is a serine/threonine kinase which upon association with actin becomes active. However, activation of the kinase is not required for actin disruption. YopO also contains a Rho/Rac binding domain, but it is unclear how it affects these proteins.

We have established an expression system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to study YopO. The expression vector contains a GAL1 promoter for inducible expression of YopO as well as a V5 epitope used for visualization of each Yop. We have shown that …

Current Status And Long-Term Trends In Water Quality And Living Resources In The Virginia Tributaries And Chesapeake Bay Mainstem From 1985 Through 2007, Daniel M. Dauer, Harold G. Marshal, John R. Donat, Michael F. Lane, Suzanne C. Doughten, Frederick A. Hoffman

Status and Trends for Virginia Chesapeake Bay

The period prior to the implementation of the Chesapeake Bay Monitoring Program was characterized by a marked decline in the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay. The disappearance of submerged aquatic vegetation in certain regions of the Bay, declines in the abundance of some commercially and recreationally important species, increases in the incidence of low dissolved oxygen events, changes in the Bay's food web, and other ecological problems were related to deteriorating water quality (e.g. USEPA, 1982,1983;Officer et al.,1984; Orth and Moore, 1984). The results of concentrated research efforts in the late 1970s and early 1980s stimulated the establishment of …

Monogenic Control Of Sex-Limited Colouration In The Honey Gourami, Trichogaster Chuna, Jack Frankel

Department of Biology Faculty Publications

Of the numerous subtropical and tropical freshwater speciesof  fish,  labyrinth  fish  are  among  the  most  varied  in  bodymarkings and colouration patterns. Four taxonomic families(Belontiidae, Anabantidae, Helostomatidae, and Osphrone-midae)  of  the  suborder  Anabantoidei  comprise  the  ‘tradi-tional’  labyrinth  fishes,  a  group  of  about  80  African  andSoutheast Asian species (Linke 1991).  These Anabantoidsare popular with aquarists due to their interesting reproduc-tive behaviours, with males of most species brooding eggs intheir mouths or in floating bubble nests (Vevers 1980; Linke1991; Axelrod and Vorderwinkler 1995; Mills 2000).  Theyhave also been the focus of genetic, environmental, and mor-phological studies (Sommer 1982; Gosline 1985; Klinkhardtet  al.  1995; …

Characterization Of The Ap-1 And Nf-Kappa B Transcription Factors In The U-87 Mg Astrocytoma Cell Line, Denise L. Smith

Dissertations

Growth factors, signaling molecules and transcription factors are frequently mutated in cancer and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) has been shown to be over-expressed in most gliomas. In the astrocytoma cell line U-87 MG, the over-expression of PDGF has been shown to lead to over-expression of transcription factors activator-protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and it is believed that the individual subunits of AP-1 (c-Jun, JunB, JunD, c-Fos, FosB, Fra-1, and Fra-2) and NF-κB (c-Rel, p50, p52, p65, and RelB) play different roles in proliferation, survival and differentiation in the U-87 MG cell line.

To assess these different roles, transient …

Adverse Effects Of Chronic Circadian Desynchronization In Animals In A "Challenging" Environment, Fabian Preuss, Tueming Tang, Aaron D. Laposky, Deanna M. Arble, Ali Keshavarzian, Fred W. Turek

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Continuous disruption of circadian rhythms, as seen in human shift workers, has been associated with the development of a number of adverse mental and physiological conditions. However, scientific evidence linking circadian disruption to overall health, particularly in animal models, is not well documented. In this study, we have demonstrated that exposing C57BL/6J mice to 12-h phase shifts every 5 days for 3 mo had no effect on body weight or intestinal physiology. However, when animals were further challenged with dextran sodium sulfate to induce colitis, chronic shifting of the light-dark cycle led to a dramatic increase in the progression of …

Remarks On The Stability Of Some Size-Structured Population Models Iii: The Case Of Constant Inflow Of Newborns, Mohammed El-Doma

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

The stability of some size-structured population dynamics models are investigated. We determine the steady states and study their stability. We also give examples that illustrate the stability results. The results in this paper generalize previous results, for example, see Calsina, et al. (2003), El- Doma (2006) and El-Doma (2008).

A Cell Biology Laboratory Exercise To Study Sub-Cellular Organelles In Drosophila, Meghana Tare, Amit Singh

Biology Faculty Publications

The fast-changing scenario of undergraduate education puts emphasis on introducing students to hands-on techniques as part of their laboratory courses. In order to cater to large numbers of students and the time constraints involved with undergraduate level laboratory courses, there is a need for development of experiments that are cost effective and can be completed in a defined time frame. We have devised a laboratory exercise for teaching cell biology using the Drosophila melanogaster model. Drosophila can be reared in a short period of time in a cost effective manner. We used Drosophila tissue to study the sub-cellular organization of …

Evaluation Of Methods For Establishing Vegetation In Created Wetland Mitigation Sites In Eastern Nebraska, Andrew A. Miller

Student Work

Seventeen wetland mitigation sites in eastern Nebraska were evaluated, by vegetative zone, to assess the relative success of active and passive wetland vegetation establishment techniques. For sites with available records of species introduced, 46% of the seeded species and 31% of the transplanted species were successfully established suggesting that the intentional introduction of species (i.e. active methods) provides some degree of success in wetland creation. No significant differences were observed within or among active or passive methods for Species Richness (S), Shannon-Wiener diversity (H′), or the Floristic Quality Index (FQI) (Kruskall-Wallis test P < 0.05). However, while not statistically significant, general trends showed that, in the temporarily flooded zones, seeding resulted in both the highest overall plant diversity and highest FQI (S = 20.2, H′ = 1.74, FQI = 8.99) and, among species with cover values > 0.5%, the lowest percent non-native species (6.2%). …

Food Resources Of Carnaby’S Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus Latirostris) In The Gnangara Sustainability Strategy Study Area, Leonie E. Valentine, William Stock

Research outputs pre 2011

Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo is an endangered species, with less than 50% of the original population remaining (Garnett and Crowley 2000). A major threatening process includes habitat fragmentation and the removal of critical feeding resources (Cale 2003). The GSS study area in an important foraging area during the non-breeding season for Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo. Both native banksia woodlands and pine plantations have been recognised as an important food resource (Perry 1948; Saunders 1974b; Saunders 1980). Expanding urban populations and agricultural development has resulted in the removal of approximately 50% of native vegetation in the GSS study area. Within the remnant vegetation, the energetics, …

Winning The Cold War, Winston J. Craig

Lake Union Herald

No abstract provided.

Arkansas Corn And Grain Sorghum Performance Tests 2008, D. G. Dombek, R. D. Bond, I. L. Eldridge, R. M. Pryor

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

Corn and grain sorghum performance tests are conducted each year in Arkansas by the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. The tests provide information to companies marketing seed within the state and aid the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service in formulating recommendations for producers.

Arkansas Animal Science Department Report 2008, Zelpha B. Johnson, D. Wayne Kellogg

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

No abstract provided.

The Acute Effect Of A Single Treatment Of Graston Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization And Stretching On Active Knee Extension, Stephanie Janette Lopez

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Studv design: Single-blinded, pre-treatment/post-treatment, randomized groups. Objective: Determine the effectiveness of a single session of Graston instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (GISTM), stretching, and GISTM plus stretching on active knee extension (AKE) in healthy individuals with limited motion. Background: Individuals need adequate ROM in order to complete every day activities. Stretching and soft tissue mobilization are often used to increase ROM. The effects of Graston Technique on humans have not been widely studied in experimental situations. Methods: Forty participants (28M, 12F, 25.0±5.7 years, 1.7±0.09 m, 85.76±18.59 kg, mean ROM deficit of 38°±12°) randomly assigned to four different treatment groups: measurement only …

Meeting Report: Methylmercury In Marine Ecosystems—From Sources To Seafood Consumers, Celia Y. Chen, Nancy Serrell, David C. Evers, Bethany J. Fleishman, Kathleen F. Lambert, Jeri Weiss, Robert P. Mason, Michael S. Bank

Dartmouth Scholarship

Mercury and other contaminants in coastal and open-ocean ecosystems are an issue of great concern globally and in the United States, where consumption of marine fish and shellfish is a major route of human exposure to methylmercury (MeHg). A recent National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences–Superfund Basic Research Program workshop titled “Fate and Bioavailability of Mercury in Aquatic Ecosystems and Effects on Human Exposure,” convened by the Dartmouth Toxic Metals Research Program on 15–16 November 2006 in Durham, New Hampshire, brought together human health experts, marine scientists, and ecotoxicologists to encourage cross-disciplinary discussion between ecosystem and human health scientists and …