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Articles 32521 - 32550 of 255971

Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Trends In Monitoring Of Australia’S Threatened Birds (1990–2020): Much Improved But Still Inadequate, Simon J. Verdon, Robert A. Davis, Ayesha Tulloch, Sarah M. Legge, David M. Watson, John C. Z. Woinarski, G. Barry Baker, Joris Driessen, Hayley M. Geyle, Hugh Possingham, Stephen T. Garnett Jan 2024

Trends In Monitoring Of Australia’S Threatened Birds (1990–2020): Much Improved But Still Inadequate, Simon J. Verdon, Robert A. Davis, Ayesha Tulloch, Sarah M. Legge, David M. Watson, John C. Z. Woinarski, G. Barry Baker, Joris Driessen, Hayley M. Geyle, Hugh Possingham, Stephen T. Garnett

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Monitoring is vital to conservation, enabling conservation scientists to detect population declines, identify threats and measure the effectiveness of interventions. However, not all threatened taxa are monitored, monitoring quality is variable, and the various components of monitoring are likely to differ in their rates of improvement over time. We assessed the presence of monitoring and monitoring quality, using a range of metrics, for all Australia’s threatened bird taxa from 1990 to 2020 (four assessments spanning 30 years). We used our assessments to understand decadal trends in the number of taxa monitored; monitoring quality; and the groups that conduct monitoring. The …

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Editorial - Contemporary Marine Science, Its Utility And Influence On Regulation And Government Policy, Piers Larcombe, Angus Morrison-Saunders, Peter V. Ridd Jan 2024

Editorial - Contemporary Marine Science, Its Utility And Influence On Regulation And Government Policy, Piers Larcombe, Angus Morrison-Saunders, Peter V. Ridd

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The purpose of this Research Topic is to evaluate the quality of contemporary marine science and to examine relationships between science, regulation and government policy in the marine environment. The quality of marine science matters; not just to advance knowledge on understanding marine ecosystems, but also to guide marine management. ...

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Advancing Sustainable Malting Practices: Aquaporins As Potential Breeding Targets For Improved Water Uptake During Controlled Germination Of Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.), Clare E. O’Lone, Angéla Juhász, Mitchell Nye-Wood, David Moody, Hugh Dunn, Jean P. Ral, Michelle L. Colgrave Jan 2024

Advancing Sustainable Malting Practices: Aquaporins As Potential Breeding Targets For Improved Water Uptake During Controlled Germination Of Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.), Clare E. O’Lone, Angéla Juhász, Mitchell Nye-Wood, David Moody, Hugh Dunn, Jean P. Ral, Michelle L. Colgrave

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The conversion of raw barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to malt requires a process of controlled germination, where the grain is submerged in water to raise the moisture content to > 40%. The transmembrane proteins, aquaporins, influence water uptake during the initial stage of controlled germination, yet little is known of their involvement in malting. With the current focus on sustainability, understanding the mechanisms of water uptake and usage during the initial stages of malting has become vital in improving efficient malting practices. In this study, we used quantitative proteomics analysis of two malting barley genotypes demonstrating differing water-uptake phenotypes in the …

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Escarpments Within Mediterranean Seagrass Posidonia Oceanica Meadows Increase Habitat Heterogeneity And Structural Complexity Enhancing Fish Diversity And Biomass, Enric Gomis, Enric Ballesteros, Irene Bernabeu, Karina Inostroza, Miguel A. Mateo, Oscar Serrano Jan 2024

Escarpments Within Mediterranean Seagrass Posidonia Oceanica Meadows Increase Habitat Heterogeneity And Structural Complexity Enhancing Fish Diversity And Biomass, Enric Gomis, Enric Ballesteros, Irene Bernabeu, Karina Inostroza, Miguel A. Mateo, Oscar Serrano

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Seagrass meadows provide important ecosystem services including carbon sequestration, coastal protection from erosion, and sustained biodiversity and fisheries thereby improving the wellbeing and livelihoods of coastal communities. The erosion of millenary deposits of intertwined roots and rhizomes of Posidonia results in the formation of three-dimensional structures named escarpments that constitute a biogenic reef habitat. However, the natural history of seagrass escarpments including their formation processes and their role as habitat for reef fauna and flora remains poorly understood. This research located and characterized Posidonia oceanica escarpments in Menorca (Balearic Islands) and compared structural complexity and fish assemblages among seagrass escarpments, …

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Storms Facilitate Airborne Dna From Leaf Fragments Outside The Main Tree Pollen Season, Mary Hanson, Geoff Petch, Beverley Adams-Groom, Thor Bjørn Ottosen, Carsten A. Skjøth Jan 2024

Storms Facilitate Airborne Dna From Leaf Fragments Outside The Main Tree Pollen Season, Mary Hanson, Geoff Petch, Beverley Adams-Groom, Thor Bjørn Ottosen, Carsten A. Skjøth

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Bioaerosols are useful indicators of plant phenology and can demonstrate the impacts of climate change on both local and regional scales (e.g. pollen monitoring/flowering phenology). Analysing bioaerosols with eDNA approaches are becoming more popular to quantify the diversity of airborne plant environmental DNA (eDNA) and flowering season of plants and trees. Leaf abscission from broadleaved trees and other perennial species can also indicate the status of plant health in response to climate. This happens primarily during autumn in response to seasonal growth conditions and environmental factors, such as changing photoperiod and reduced temperatures. During this period biological material is released …

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Acidophile Microbiology: From Extreme Environments To Biotechnological Applications, Elizabeth L.J. Watkin, Ivan Nancucheo, Axel Schippers Jan 2024

Acidophile Microbiology: From Extreme Environments To Biotechnological Applications, Elizabeth L.J. Watkin, Ivan Nancucheo, Axel Schippers

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

No abstract provided.

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Two Decades Of Seagrass Monitoring Data Show Drivers Include Enso, Climate Warming And Local Stressors, Chanelle Webster, Kathryn Mcmahon, Claire Ross, Eben Afrifa-Yamoah, Nicole Said, Renae Hovey, Belinda Martin, Simone Strydom Jan 2024

Two Decades Of Seagrass Monitoring Data Show Drivers Include Enso, Climate Warming And Local Stressors, Chanelle Webster, Kathryn Mcmahon, Claire Ross, Eben Afrifa-Yamoah, Nicole Said, Renae Hovey, Belinda Martin, Simone Strydom

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The drivers contributing to the trajectories of seagrass ecosystems is a key knowledge gap which limits our effectiveness in preventing their decline. Here, we present the key findings from the regional assessment of seagrass condition (shoot density) over time, which was undertaken to inform environmental impact assessment and monitoring as well as mitigation for the Westport program. To assess regional trends and drivers of these trends, data was collated from five regional seagrass monitoring programs, including the Cockburn Sound State Environmental Policy Seagrass Monitoring Program and marine park monitoring programs conducted by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. These …

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Conceptualising Project Environmental Impact Assessment For Enhancement: No Net Loss, Net Gain, Offsetting And Nature Positive, Angus Morrison-Saunders, Luis Sánchez Jan 2024

Conceptualising Project Environmental Impact Assessment For Enhancement: No Net Loss, Net Gain, Offsetting And Nature Positive, Angus Morrison-Saunders, Luis Sánchez

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

With declining biodiversity worldwide, the need for development proposals to deliver positive, not negative, environmental outcomes is clear. Arguably, this is a long-standing goal of environmental impact assessment (EIA). This article explores the extent to which current project EIA practice can achieve enhancement, no net loss or a net gain of biodiversity and Nature Positive goals. Using reflexivity, a conceptual approach is applied to policies and examples from practice. The environmental enhancement goal of EIA is explained. The mitigation hierarchy is applied to a hypothetical mining example for accomplishing no net loss/net gain of biodiversity through offsets. Nature Positive is …

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Rapid Discrimination Between Wild And Cultivated Ophiocordyceps Sinensis Through Comparative Analysis Of Label-Free Sers Technique And Mass Spectrometry, Qing Hua Liu, Jia Wei Tang, Zhang Wen Ma, Yong Xuan Hong, Quan Yuan, Jie Chen, Xin Ru Wen, Yu Rong Tang, Liang Wang Jan 2024

Rapid Discrimination Between Wild And Cultivated Ophiocordyceps Sinensis Through Comparative Analysis Of Label-Free Sers Technique And Mass Spectrometry, Qing Hua Liu, Jia Wei Tang, Zhang Wen Ma, Yong Xuan Hong, Quan Yuan, Jie Chen, Xin Ru Wen, Yu Rong Tang, Liang Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Ophiocordyceps sinensis is a genus of ascomycete fungi that has been widely used as a valuable tonic or medicine. However, due to over-exploitation and the destruction of natural ecosystems, the shortage of wild O. sinensis resources has led to an increase in artificially cultivated O. sinensis. To rapidly and accurately identify the molecular differences between cultivated and wild O. sinensis, this study employs surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) combined with machine learning algorithms to distinguish the two O. sinensis categories. Specifically, we collected SERS spectra for wild and cultivated O. sinensis and validated the metabolic profiles of SERS spectra using Ultra-Performance …

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Editorial: Recent Advances In Research And Development For Vegetable Crops Under Protected Cultivation, Giao N. Nguyen, Zora Singh Jan 2024

Editorial: Recent Advances In Research And Development For Vegetable Crops Under Protected Cultivation, Giao N. Nguyen, Zora Singh

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

No abstract provided.

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Suspended Particulate Organic Matter Supports Mesopredatory Fish Across A Tropical Seascape, Molly Moustaka, Tahlia J. Bassett, Leah Beltran, Michael V.W. Cuttler, Richard D. Evans, Daniel Gorman, Camille M. Grimaldi, Renee K. Gruber, Glenn A. Hyndes, Gary A. Kendrick, Natalie Travaglione, Shaun K. Wilson Jan 2024

Suspended Particulate Organic Matter Supports Mesopredatory Fish Across A Tropical Seascape, Molly Moustaka, Tahlia J. Bassett, Leah Beltran, Michael V.W. Cuttler, Richard D. Evans, Daniel Gorman, Camille M. Grimaldi, Renee K. Gruber, Glenn A. Hyndes, Gary A. Kendrick, Natalie Travaglione, Shaun K. Wilson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Understanding the sources of primary production supporting marine food webs is important for conserving critical habitats. However, the importance of allochthonous versus autochthonous production is often unclear. We identify the sources of primary production supporting three species of predatory fish (Lutjanus carponotatus, Lutjanus fulviflamma, and Lethrinus punctulatus) in the Dampier Archipelago, Western Australia. The proportions of mangrove, seagrass, macroalgae, and suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM) assimilated by fish of different life-history stages and from different habitats were determined using stable isotopes and Bayesian mixing models. While contributions of sources varied among species and habitats, we found that SPOM was an …

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Love Bites? Pre-Copulatory Behaviours Of Whale Sharks (Rhincodon Typus) At Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia, Christine Barry, Emily Lester, Micheal P. Doane, Luciana C. Ferreira, Michele Thums, Adrian C. Gleiss, Mark G. Meekan Jan 2024

Love Bites? Pre-Copulatory Behaviours Of Whale Sharks (Rhincodon Typus) At Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia, Christine Barry, Emily Lester, Micheal P. Doane, Luciana C. Ferreira, Michele Thums, Adrian C. Gleiss, Mark G. Meekan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Very little is known about the reproductive behaviours of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus). Here, we describe field observations of courtship behaviour by a whale shark at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. We witnessed and recorded following and biting behaviours by a sexually mature male of a smaller female. Following and biting are common events during courtship and copulation of other species of elasmobranchs. Our observations are consistent with earlier reports of courting behaviours in whale sharks provided by fishers, the pilot of a light plane and observations of courtship by a sexually mature male towards females held in aquaria.

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Scat Dna As A Non-Invasive Method For Estimating The Abundance Of The Vulnerable Mala (Lagorchestes Hirsutus), Shannon Treloar, Cheryl Lohr, Anna J. Hopkins, Kym Ottewell, Shelley Mcarthur, Robert A. Davis Jan 2024

Scat Dna As A Non-Invasive Method For Estimating The Abundance Of The Vulnerable Mala (Lagorchestes Hirsutus), Shannon Treloar, Cheryl Lohr, Anna J. Hopkins, Kym Ottewell, Shelley Mcarthur, Robert A. Davis

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Context: Population-monitoring programs often use direct (e.g. live capture or spotlighting) or indirect (e.g. scats sightings) observations to estimate population abundance. Such methods, however, are often inadequate for rare, elusive, or cryptic species due to the difficulty in achieving sufficient encounters or detection rates. The mala (Lagorchestes hirsutus), a small native Australian macropod, listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, is difficult to capture, susceptible to capture myopathy, and not easily sighted in their dense habitat; consequently, the population size cannot always be estimated. The use of molecular markers to identify individual genotypes from non-invasively collected samples is increasingly being used …

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Development Of A Regional Climate Change Model For Aedes Vigilax And Aedes Camptorhynchus (Diptera: Culicidae) In Perth, Western Australia, Kerry Staples, Peter J. Neville, Steven Richardson, Jacques Oosthuizen Jan 2024

Development Of A Regional Climate Change Model For Aedes Vigilax And Aedes Camptorhynchus (Diptera: Culicidae) In Perth, Western Australia, Kerry Staples, Peter J. Neville, Steven Richardson, Jacques Oosthuizen

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Mosquito-borne disease is a significant public health issue and within Australia Ross River virus (RRV) is the most reported. This study combines a mechanistic model of mosquito development for two mosquito vectors; Aedes vigilax and Aedes camptorhynchus, with climate projections from three climate models for two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs), to examine the possible effects of climate change and sea-level rise on a temperate tidal saltmarsh habitat in Perth, Western Australia. The projections were run under no accretion and accretion scenarios using a known mosquito habitat as a case study. This improves our understanding of the possible implications of sea-level …

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Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy For Advanced Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma In Australia: A Retrospective Real World Cohort Study, Luke S. Mclean, Annette M. Lim, Mathias Bressel, Jenny Lee, Rahul Ladwa, Alexander D. Guminski, Brett Hughes, Samantha Bowyer, Karen Briscoe, Samuel Harris, Craig Kukard, Rob Zielinski, Muhammad Alamgeer, Matteo Carlino, Jeremy Mo, John J. Park, Muhammad A. Khattak, Fiona Day, Danny Rischin Jan 2024

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy For Advanced Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma In Australia: A Retrospective Real World Cohort Study, Luke S. Mclean, Annette M. Lim, Mathias Bressel, Jenny Lee, Rahul Ladwa, Alexander D. Guminski, Brett Hughes, Samantha Bowyer, Karen Briscoe, Samuel Harris, Craig Kukard, Rob Zielinski, Muhammad Alamgeer, Matteo Carlino, Jeremy Mo, John J. Park, Muhammad A. Khattak, Fiona Day, Danny Rischin

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: To review the outcomes of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment of advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) outside clinical trials. Study design: Retrospective observational study; review of patient records in fifteen Australian institutions. Setting, participants: All Australian adults with locally advanced or metastatic CSCC not amenable to curative surgery or radiotherapy treated with ICIs, 5 May 2017 – 23 May 2022, through a cemiplimab compassionate access scheme (Therapeutic Goods Administration Special Access Scheme) or who personally covered the cost of pembrolizumab prior to the start of the access scheme. Main outcome measures: Best overall response rate (ORR) according to …

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Investigation Of Campylobacter Concisus Gastric Epithelial Pathogenicity Using Ags Cells, Christopher Y. M. Luk, Seul A. Lee, Nicholas Naidovski, Fang Liu, Alfred C. Y. Tay, Liang Wang, Stephen Riordan, Li Zhang Jan 2024

Investigation Of Campylobacter Concisus Gastric Epithelial Pathogenicity Using Ags Cells, Christopher Y. M. Luk, Seul A. Lee, Nicholas Naidovski, Fang Liu, Alfred C. Y. Tay, Liang Wang, Stephen Riordan, Li Zhang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Campylobacter concisus is an oral bacterium. Recent studies suggest that C. concisus may be involved in human gastric diseases. The mechanisms, however, by which C. concisus causes human gastric diseases have not been investigated. Here we examined the gastric epithelial pathogenicity of C. concisus using a cell culture model. Six C. concisus strains and the human gastric epithelial cell line AGS cells were used. IL-8 produced by AGS cells after incubation with C. concisus was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and AGS cell apoptosis was determined by caspase 3/7 activities. The effects of C. concisus on actin arrangement in …

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Water Loss: A Postharvest Quality Marker In Apple Storage, Mahmood Ul Hasan, Zora Singh, Hafiz M. S. Shah, Jashanpreet Kaur, Andrew Woodward Jan 2024

Water Loss: A Postharvest Quality Marker In Apple Storage, Mahmood Ul Hasan, Zora Singh, Hafiz M. S. Shah, Jashanpreet Kaur, Andrew Woodward

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Apple fruit can be stored for long periods of time, especially with the use of controlled atmosphere storage, but like many fruits and vegetables are susceptible to water loss. Water loss can result in compromised appearance such as skin shriveling, as well as loss of firmness, and reduced saleable weight, which in turn affect the income of growers and other industry stakeholders. Preharvest factors that can influence water loss in apples during the postharvest period include climate, cultivar, fruit size, tree age, orchard practices, and harvest maturity. Postharvest factors such as the storage temperature, relative humidity, storage type, and duration …

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The Food And Habitat Effects Of Detrital Kelp As A Trophic Subsidy To Seagrass-Inhabiting Mesograzers, Jessica Billinghurst Jan 2024

The Food And Habitat Effects Of Detrital Kelp As A Trophic Subsidy To Seagrass-Inhabiting Mesograzers, Jessica Billinghurst

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Seascapes are connected through the transfer of energy from the movement of fauna, detritus, and nutrients among habitats. This exchange of resources can influence food web dynamics in the recipient system, increasing productivity and biodiversity, thus creating spatial subsidies. Spatial subsidies are usually characterised by the transfer of resources from highly productive donor systems to lower productive recipient systems. However, recent work suggests that recipient systems with comparably high productivity, such as seagrass meadows, may benefit from spatial subsidies. Kelp is regularly eroded from reefs and provides a vector for nutrient and detrital transfer to seagrass meadows, where it can …

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Novel Methods For Assessing Pulmonary And Cardio-Vascular Limitations To Aerobic Performance In Older And Younger Populations, Toni Haddad Jan 2024

Novel Methods For Assessing Pulmonary And Cardio-Vascular Limitations To Aerobic Performance In Older And Younger Populations, Toni Haddad

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Around the world, life expectancy is increasing, the ageing population is growing, and maintaining quality of life at an older age currently represents a major global challenge. While ‘successful ageing’ relies on a variety of factors, aerobic performance and exercise capacity are key determinants and attenuating their decline is of the utmost importance. The decrease in maximal oxygen consumption is often considered as a major determinant explaining the age[1]related decline in aerobic performance. Yet, multiple physiological systems are impaired with ageing and their contribution to aerobic limitation in older individuals is unclear. Understanding how the limitations to aerobic performance may …

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Using A Reverse Visually Guided Reaching Task To Distinguish Between Healthy Aging And Early Alzheimer’S Disease, Brandon Woolman Jan 2024

Using A Reverse Visually Guided Reaching Task To Distinguish Between Healthy Aging And Early Alzheimer’S Disease, Brandon Woolman

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Changes in motor behavior may function as a proxy for cognitive decline. While Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with impairments in learning and memory, recent studies suggest that subtle changes in motor task performance may reflect early cognitive changes. For example, the visuomotor rotation task that manipulates visual feedback about hand position during reaching movements, can be used to examine cognitive changes in aging populations. The current study used the reverse visually guided reaching task (rVGR) which rotates visual feedback of participant’s hand position 180⁰ relative to the actual hand position. We sought to expand on previous literature by recruiting …

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Exploring The Molecular Pathways Of Cell Death Induced By Pde3 Modulators, Aqsa Ahsan Jan 2024

Exploring The Molecular Pathways Of Cell Death Induced By Pde3 Modulators, Aqsa Ahsan

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Metabolic dysregulation, a critical hallmark of cancer, predisposes potential vulnerabilities for the development of targeted therapy. LKB1, a pivotal metabolic regulator and tumor suppressor, is often lost in many cancers. Our laboratory has unveiled that LKB1 suppresses phosphodiesterases (PDEs), and PDE3 modulators can selectively eradicate LKB1-deficient tumor cells. Through metabolic gene sgRNA library screening, Sarcolipin, an inhibitor of Sarcoendoplasmic Reticulum Calcium ATPase (SERCA), emerged as essential for cell death in this context. However, the precise molecular mechanisms by which PDE3 modulators exert their effects remain elusive. This study aims to uncover these mechanisms via RNA-Seq profiling and differential gene analysis, …

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Exploring Usability In Exercise Interventions: From Conceptualization To Measurement And Application, Anne Inger Mørtvedt Jan 2024

Exploring Usability In Exercise Interventions: From Conceptualization To Measurement And Application, Anne Inger Mørtvedt

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Exercise interventions hold promise for preventing and treating numerous conditions, diseases, and injuries. However, these interventions will only be effective if they are being used. Unfortunately, uptake and adherence to prescribed exercise and physical activity guidelines are insufficient. Some reasons for this include lack of knowledge, resources, flexibility, and enjoyment. Exercise program developers need to not only consider the effectiveness of the program during the development phase, but also involve end-users and receive feedback on program usability to determine likelihood of uptake and adoption. Usability testing can be used to detect barriers to use and implementation likelihood but has not …

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Chemical Synthesis Of Sensitive Dna, Komal Chillar Jan 2024

Chemical Synthesis Of Sensitive Dna, Komal Chillar

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Over the past decades, researchers have tried various chemical methods to synthesize modified oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs, i.e. short segments of DNAs). Traditional ODN synthesis methods require strong basic, and nucleophilic conditions for the deprotection and cleavage of the ODN from the solid support. However, the sensitive ODNs containing labile functionalities are vulnerable to such harsh conditions. Sensitive ODNs have a wide range of applications in research and pharmaceuticals. To synthesize sensitive ODNs, researchers devised different strategies but no practical methods have been developed. To overcome these challenges, we developed alkyl Dim alkyl Dmoc technology. This innovative technology uses weakly basic and …

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The Effects Of Experimental Warming On Root Respiration And The Fungal Community Of Tropical Forest Soil, Malik A. Sankofa Jan 2024

The Effects Of Experimental Warming On Root Respiration And The Fungal Community Of Tropical Forest Soil, Malik A. Sankofa

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Climate induced changes in tropical forests fungal communities could impact diversity and abundance, forest health, and carbon release/sequestration. Under warmer soil temperatures and over time, we hypothesized that arbuscular mycorrhizal, pathogen, saprotroph diversity and abundance would increase, that ectomycorrhizal and overall fungal diversity and abundance would decrease, and that root respiration would be unaffected. Experimental warming (+2-3 ℃) was conducted on root ingrowth cores at the Tropical Responses to Altered Climate Experiment (TRACE) in Puerto Rico. ITS2 metabarcoding was used to analyze fungal diversity and abundance in control or warmed root/soil samples. We found that warming decreased arbuscular mycorrhizal diversity, …

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Silphid And Carabid Beetles In An Experimental Forest Trial: Idna And Diets, And Insect-Human Relationships Can Better Inform Forest Management, Katherine E. Higdon Jan 2024

Silphid And Carabid Beetles In An Experimental Forest Trial: Idna And Diets, And Insect-Human Relationships Can Better Inform Forest Management, Katherine E. Higdon

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Insect conservation, primarily focused on pollinators, is a growing issue amid concerns of climate change and the purported sixth mass extinction of Earth’s biodiversity. However, the focus on charismatic pollinators ignores a large portion of ecologically important and beneficial species. Having broader knowledge of insect diets and the impacts of anthropogenic disturbance on diets can better inform more comprehensive management approaches while also providing valuable knowledge with regards to trophic relationships between multiple species within ecosystems. This ensures the health and stability of ecosystems beyond pollination services. This research started by establishing the utility of Silphid beetles for invertebrate DNA …

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Hydrologic Pathways Of A Northern Hardwood Catchment In The Great Lakes Basin Using End Member Mixing Analysis, Cory C. Burkwald Jan 2024

Hydrologic Pathways Of A Northern Hardwood Catchment In The Great Lakes Basin Using End Member Mixing Analysis, Cory C. Burkwald

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This study investigated the seasonality of hydrologic pathways, the role of wetlands in streamflow generation, and how hydrologic pathways affect the export of nutrients by streamflow in the Sturgeon River using endmember mixing analysis. The results indicated that streamflow consists of three main components: shallow subsurface water from wetland soils, shallow groundwater, and surface runoff from precipitation. Snowmelt plays a dominating role in regulating stream water chemistry (~80% volume at peak) during the snowmelt season and likely also after that. Wetland soils store snowmelt, together with rainwater though the fraction is unknown, and then gradually release through summer in the …

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Assessing Tropical Mammal Diversity And Distribution Using Noninvasive Methods, Tiff L. Degroot Jan 2024

Assessing Tropical Mammal Diversity And Distribution Using Noninvasive Methods, Tiff L. Degroot

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Central African tropical forests are rich in biodiversity and home to some of Earth’s most threatened mammals. However, mammals in the region are under increasing threat from habitat loss and degradation, coupled with an increased demand for wild meat. To conserve mammals, wildlife managers and community-led conservation efforts must understand the distribution and diversity of mammal communities. However, funding and logistical challenges make contemporary survey methods, e.g. ground surveys, difficult and expensive. Noninvasive methods allow efficient mammal diversity surveys with minimal field effort. Here, we use camera trapping and invertebrate-derived environmental DNA (“iDNA”) to assess mammal diversity and distribution in …

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A Multimolecular Perspective On The Success Of Wolf Recovery And Relocation, Samuel D. Hervey Jan 2024

A Multimolecular Perspective On The Success Of Wolf Recovery And Relocation, Samuel D. Hervey

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

With global biodiversity in decline and many species isolated in fragmented habitats, conservation efforts increasingly rely on natural recolonization and translocation to restore ecosystems. These strategies face challenges such as genetic erosion and habitat limitations, highlighting the need for effective monitoring practices. This research assesses the success of wolf recovery initiatives by examining long-term genetic and genomic health using both traditional and advanced molecular methods. First, we investigated the genetic health of 19 gray wolves (Canis lupus) relocated to Isle Royale National Park to restore ecosystem balance. Initial genetic assessments with microsatellites found that these wolves had genetic diversity metrics …

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Validation And Improvement Of Forest Health Risk Maps: A Case Study With Maple Decline/Dieback, Joseph R. Beeson Jan 2024

Validation And Improvement Of Forest Health Risk Maps: A Case Study With Maple Decline/Dieback, Joseph R. Beeson

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Forest health data collected in a two-phased survey of maple dieback was used to build on previous work, extending analysis into mapping implications. Using the National Insect and Disease Risk Maps (NIDRM) published by the US Forest Service as a baseline, we compared our collected data from 2009-2012 and 2021-2022 with the published 240m resolution sugar maple decline risk map, finding the NIDRM map to be a poor predictor of sugar maple dieback measured at the plots. Measured sugar maple crown dieback was also compared to measured soil characteristics and nutrient levels, and augmented with soil survey maps and long-term …

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Chemical Synthesis And Biological Application Of Sensitive Rna, Alexander T. Apostle Jan 2024

Chemical Synthesis And Biological Application Of Sensitive Rna, Alexander T. Apostle

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

In the field of epigenetics - the dynamic collection of chemical modifications that overlay DNA/RNA - there is increasing interest in the potential for therapeutic and research-based utilization of the epitranscriptomics: those epigenetic modifications specific to RNA. Epitranscriptomics can give us a new approach to understanding and treating RNA viruses, like SARS-CoV-2. Given viruses are often found modified by human epitranscriptomic machinery, understanding how these modifications can modulate virulence is of high interest. We have shown that the N1-methyladensoine modification causes RNA synthesis termination in the SARS-CoV-2 replication complex, and thus may explain the differences in symptoms observed in individuals. …

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