Life Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of Depth, Distance To Shore, And Water Velocity On Organismal And Extra-Organismal Environmental Dna Concentrations In A Large River, Dylan Keel

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a sensitive tool for detection of aquatic species and concentrations of eDNA in water samples have been useful for estimating abundance. This study evaluated the effects of depth, distance to shore, and water velocity on the concentration of organismal and extra-organismal eDNA concentrations in the Klamath River, California (basin area ≅ 40,000 km²). At each of six river cross sections 32 water samples were collected, including surface samples and depth samples evenly distributed across the cross section, and eDNA concentrations were determined for the parasite Ceratonova shasta and Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, using …

Evaluating Non-Point Source Microplastic Pollution And Its Impact On Biota In The Huron River, Morgan H. Chaudry

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), like microplastics and pharmaceuticals, are a growing threat to aquatic ecosystems across the globe. Microplastics can be transported into waterways through a myriad of sources, including point sources such as wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and nonpoint sources, such as runoff. Microplastics can act as vectors for other CECs, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), into biota. The goal of this study was to evaluate 1) the importance of non-point sources of microplastic pollution to the Huron River, 2) if aquatic filter feeders ingest microplastics, and 3) how the interaction of microplastics and pharmaceuticals affect filter …

Directory Of Landscape Professionals Trained In Ecological Landscaping For Water Quality Protection (Updated 2023), Michelle Lemos

UNH Cooperative Extension

Many property owners want to implement ecological landscape practices that protect water quality, but don't have the knowledge, skills and/or desire to do it themselves.

The landscape contractors and other green industry professionals listed in the Directory have completed UNH Cooperative Extension training programs as indicated and have agreed to be listed in the Directory. You may contact one or more of the professionals listed in your area for a consultation. However, no endorsement of any individual or company by UNH Extension is implied.

Survival In Common Snapping Turtles, Chelydra Serpentina (Testudines: Chelydridae), In Western Nebraska, John B. Iverson, Geoffrey R. Smith

Faculty Publications

Annual estimates of survival for Common Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina) in western Nebraska USA were generated from mark-recapture data from nesting females encountered in 2005–2017. Our population models suggested no annual variation in either adult annual survival (0.947 ± 0.017 SE) or annual capture probability (0.294 ± 0.027 SE). However, there was a tendency toward higher survival in larger females. High annual survival (e.g. > 90%) characterises populations of Chelydra from Ontario to Texas.

Neuralink Must Think: Elon Musk’S Questionable Treatment Of Animal Test Subjects, Caleb Rader

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Your Brain On Meditation: Benefits Of Meditation For Spiritual & Physical Health, Ava Lausch

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Bohemian Rat-Sod:Y Rats Can Bop To The Beat Like Humans, Andrea Nyugen

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Did Trees Cause The Devonian Mass Extinction? Root Evolution And Hypoxia, Isabelle Small

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Are Jellyfish Actually Apex Predators? The Potential Of A Jellyfish-Dominated Ocean Ecosystem, Jackie Brick

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

The Sounds Of The Deep Sea: Is There A Monster In Our Depths?, Tanisha Shende

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Front Matter

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Conceptualizing The Construct Of Ocean Identity, Miriah R. Kelly, Jo-Marie Kasinak, Emma Mckinley, Caitlin Mclaughlin, Jamie M.P. Vaudrey, Jennifer Mattei

Biology Faculty Publications

The construct of ocean identity provides a valuable lens that can unpack the multiple dimensions of human connections with ocean spaces, and crucially places importance on the integration of cognitive, affective, and behavioral components. The construct of ocean identity is applicable in academic and professional contexts, and is largely unexplored from both qualitative and quantitative research perspectives. This comment article presents a revised definition of ocean identity and posits a useful conceptual framework based on a robust analysis of literature to unveil the multiple dimensions that may explain an individuals’ ocean identity. Here we identify a series of attributes that …

Evidence For A Single, Ancient Origin Of A Genus-Wide Alternative Life History Strategy, Kalle Tunström, Alyssa Woronik, Joseph J. Hanly, Pasi Rastas, Anton Chichvarkhin, Andrew D. Warren, Akito Kawahara, Sean D. Schoville, Vincent Ficarrotta, Adam H. Porter, Ward B. Watt, Arnaud Martin, Christopher W. Wheat

Biology Faculty Publications

Understanding the evolutionary origins and factors maintaining alternative life history strategies (ALHS) within species is a major goal of evolutionary research. While alternative alleles causing discrete ALHS are expected to purge or fix over time, one-third of the ~90 species of Colias butterflies are polymorphic for a female-limited ALHS called Alba. Whether Alba arose once, evolved in parallel, or has been exchanged among taxa is currently unknown. Using comparative genome-wide association study (GWAS) and population genomic analyses, we placed the genetic basis of Alba in time-calibrated phylogenomic framework, revealing that Alba evolved once near the base of the genus and …

Analyzing The Impact Of Zip Subfamily Ii Mutations On The Zinc And Iron Transport Of Zupt From Escherichia Coli, Bradley Vandecar

Wayne State University Theses

The disfunction or misregulation of the ZIP family of metal ion transporters has been linked to a plethora of diseases and cancers in humans. Zn2+ is the primary substrate for ZIPs and is transported through the M1 metal binding site, though this activity is stimulated through the binding of Fe2+ in the M2 metal binding site. The members of ZIP Subfamily II are predicted to have an inactive M2 site due to the lack of Fe2+ transport and from a previously generated homology model. This work utilizes homology modelling, whole cell metal ion uptake assays, and growth studies in minimal …

In Silico Drug Discovery For Sars-Cov-2 Papain-Like Protease, Olivia Haskin

Wayne State University Theses

SARS-CoV-2 Papain-like protease is an essential viral protein for viral replication. In our lab, we hypothesize that successful inhibition of this protease will stop viral replication and allow for clearance of the infection by the host. The work described here aimed to design and execute an in silico drug discovery workflow for successfully selecting PLpro inhibitors from the Mcule purchasable compound database. This work reports such a workflow and nine potential compounds for in vitro testing. This work also describes structural activity relationship analysis of a proprietary set of PLpro inhibitors synthesized by medicinal chemistry collaborators and makes recommendations for …

Screening Of Rice Genotypes Against Brown Spot Disease At Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal, Sanjok Timalsina

Graduate Student Scholarship

Brown spot of rice caused by Bipolaris oryzae (Breda de. Haan) Shoemaker is one of the major constraints of rice production in all rice growing regions of Nepal. To identify and select the sources of brown spot resistance in rice genotypes, a field experiment was conducted under the natural epiphytotic condition at National Maize Research Center, Rampur, Chitwan in 2022. A total of 10 genotypes, including susceptible check (Sabha Mansuli SUB-1) and resistant check (Sabitri) were tested. The field experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Brown spot disease assessment was done based on …

Mathematical Modelling Of The Interactive Dynamics Of Wild And Microsporidia Mb-Infected Mosquitoes, Charlène N.T. Mfangnia, Henri E.Z. Tonnang, Berge Tsanou, Jeremy Herren

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

A recent discovery highlighted that mosquitoes infected with Microsporidia MB are unable to transmit the Plasmodium to humans. Microsporidia MB is a symbiont transmitted vertically and horizontally in the mosquito population, and these transmission routes are known to favor the persistence of the parasite in the mosquito population. Despite the dual transmission, data from field experiments reveal a low prevalence of MB-infected mosquitoes in nature. This study proposes a compartmental model to understand the prevalence of MB-infected mosquitoes. The dynamic of the model is obtained through the computation of the basic reproduction number and the analysis of the stability of …

Vertical Structure And Trends In Co2 At The Cariaco Ocean Time Series Station: 1995-2017, Yrene M. Astor, Laura Lorenzoni, Digna T. Rueda-Roa, Frank E. Muller-Karger

Marine Science Faculty Publications

Changes in the vertical structure of pH (total proton scale at 25 °C or pHT), total alkalinity, total CO2 (TCO2), and partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) were examined at the CARIACO Ocean Time Series station (10º30'N, 64º40'W) from December 1995 to January 2017. Long-term trends were studied in the three water masses present in the Cariaco Basin: the surface layer (SL, located between 0-100 m depth), the Subtropical Underwater (SUW, with minimum depths between the surface and 105 m and maximums between 30-165 m depending on the season) and the deep water (DW, with minimum depths between 175-380 …

Unraveling The Regulatory Basis Of The Desiccation Tolerance Trait In Selaginella Lepidophylla, Madhavi Anuradha Ariyarathne Hewa Babarandhage

Dissertations and Theses

Desiccation tolerance was a crucial adaptation for plants during their transition to terrestrial environments. Some spike mosses, including S. lepidophylla, have evolved the remarkable ability to tolerate extreme desiccation, enabling survival in arid regions of the world. However, the regulatory basis of this trait remains unknown. This dissertation aims to unravel the genetic basis of desiccation tolerance in Selaginella lepidophylla and its potential for improving crop abiotic stress tolerance. To achieve this goal, three objectives were pursued. Objective 1 focused on determining the regulatory role of the SlbHLH transcription factor (TF) by overexpressing it in Arabidopsis thaliana to assess its …

Documenting Range Expansion Of Two Invasive Tick (Acari:Ixodidae) Species In Eastern South Dakota, Braden Wojahn

Dissertations and Theses

This project documents the expanded zoogeographic ranges of the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) within eastern South Dakota. Ticks are important when considering a “One Health” approach, as many species are competent vectors of zoonotic pathogens causing human diseases and conditions such as Lyme disease, tularemia, rickettsia, and alpha gal syndrome. The research involved constitutes two steps. First, tick surveillance was conducted in eastern counties of South Dakota, spanning March 2021 through August 2022. Surveillance took place along edge habitat at recreation areas, state and public parks, wildlife management areas and refuges, and other natural …

Host-Microbe Interactions In Non-Native Estuarine Anemones: Biogeography And Temperature, Parker K. Lund

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Non-native species are increasing in prevalence around the world, resulting in negative economic and ecological impacts. However, the broad distributions of non-native species also offer a system for investigating the response of host-associated microbial communities to environmental factors across a range of ecological scales. At the broadest scale, I investigated the geography of microbial communities in the non-native estuarine anemone Diadumene lineata on the west coast of the United States of America. Across latitudes, microbial community composition was very similar and displayed a high percentage of Klebsiella spp. at all sites. However, the communities in California tended to exhibit higher …

Identifying Habitat Suitability And Connectivity For Roosevelt Elk (Cervus Canadensis Roosevelti) On The North Coast Of California, Ashley Ann Harper

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

As human development continues to expand, wildlife managers are faced with problems arising from human-wildlife conflict. To address conflict, it is vital to identify how animals view the landscape and move across areas of differing land use. On the North Coast of California, Roosevelt elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti) are widely considered to be a valuable resource but are viewed by some as a nuisance due to economic losses caused by property damage. The aim of this study was to identify suitable habitat and movement corridors for Roosevelt elk across Humboldt and Del Norte counties in northern California. Suitable …

Examining Coaching Styles: Understanding How Leadership Style Impacts Athlete's Motivation, Confidence Level, And Satisfaction At The Collegiate Level, Juan Perez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

A good coach can change a game. A great coach can change a life. There are a variety of different coaching styles all over the world. Each coaching style has its benefits and drawbacks on the impact it can have on an athlete. The study examined how coaching leadership style impacts an athlete's confidence, motivation, and satisfaction. Current collegiate athletes and former collegiate athletes were emailed a 103-question online survey focused on athlete perception of coaching style and how that impacts motivation, confidence, and satisfaction. The survey used The Leadership Scale for Sports (LSS), Vealey’s Trait Sport-Confidence Inventory (TSCI), Athlete …

Prevalence Of Batrachochytrium And Ranavirus In Southern Torrent Salamanders (Rhyacotriton Variegatus) In Northern California, Marilyn Violeta Sandoval

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Amphibian population declines around the world have been attributed in part to the emergence of deadly pathogens. However, the severity of the effects of pathogens on amphibian communities can vary by species and location. This study focuses on assessing the prevalence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), and ranaviruses in populations of southern torrent salamanders (Rhyacotriton variegatus). I also tested for association between environmental factors and the prevalence and viral load of the three pathogens in Northern California. A total of 309 skin swab samples were collected from salamanders in nine sites in …

Will Climate Warming Amplify The Competitive And Predatory Effects Of A Range-Expanding Marine Gastropod (Acanthinucella Spirata)?, Bailey N. Mccann

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The effects of climate warming on the distribution of range-expanding species are well documented, but the interactive effects of climate warming and range-expanding species on recipient communities remain understudied. For example, with climate warming, range-expanding species may become a threat to local biodiversity due to their relatively stronger competitive or predatory effects on potentially weakened, or less well-adapted recipient communities. Acanthinucella spirata is a predatory marine gastropod that has expanded its distribution north along the California coast since the Pleistocene via a poleward geographical range shift, tracking climatic warming. To assess whether A. spirata has stronger predatory effects on the …

Effects Of Ph, Eelgrass, And Settlement Substrate On The Growth Of Juvenile Magallana (Crassostrea) Gigas, A Commercially Important Oyster Species, Johnny S. Roche

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Worsening ocean acidification (OA), resulting from ongoing absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) by the oceans, threatens marine life globally. Calcifying organisms, especially their early life stages, are particularly vulnerable; this includes the economically important Pacific oyster, Magallana (Crassostrea) gigas. Uptake of dissolved CO₂ through photosynthesis by seagrasses, like eelgrass (Zostera marina), may benefit calcifying organisms by increasing pH and carbonate availability. I conducted laboratory and field experiments to quantify carbonate chemistry modification by eelgrass and potential mitigation of OA impacts on growth in juvenile Pacific oysters. In the laboratory experiment, daytime …

Carnivore And Ungulate Occurrence In A Fire-Prone Region, Sara J. Moriarty-Graves

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Increasing fire size and severity in the western United States causes changes to ecosystems, species’ habitat use, and interspecific interactions. Wide-ranging carnivore and ungulate mammalian species and their interactions may be influenced by an increase in fire activity in northern California. Depending on the fire characteristics, ungulates may benefit from burned habitat due to an increase in forage availability, while carnivore species may be differentially impacted, but ultimately driven by bottom-up processes from a shift in prey availability. I used a three-step approach to estimate the single-species occupancy of four large mammal species: mountain lion (Puma concolor), coyote …

Establishing A Market Capacity And Economic Baseline For Forest Biomass Utilization In The Southern Cascade And Northern Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, California, Clarke Stevenson

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Attempts to address wildfire risk and forest resilience have increased substantially over the last 20 years with specific interest in removing excess vegetation from stands, commonly referred to as “forest biomass”. However, the market capacity for and the economics of biomass utilization have been a limiting factor to achieving statewide goals for forest health and fire resilience. This thesis looks at the Southern Cascade and Northern Sierra Nevada biomass supply chain to benchmark current market capacity for biomass utilization through mapping and harvest record analysis. It also calculates the net revenue of biomass mobilization based on costs developed from a …

Changes And Relationships Of Soil Aluminum, Organic Matter, And Hydrogen Ion Concentration With Rye Cover Crop, Arron Wilder

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Soil acidity is a common agricultural problem worldwide, as approximately 50% of all potentially arable soils are affected by pH limitations. At soil pH 3+) is considered to be the chemical form of aluminum in acid soil that hinders plant growth the most. Potentially, soil organic matter (SOM) can ameliorate the toxic effects of Al³⁺ on plants and microbes by binding with Al³⁺, thus preventing Al³⁺ (and other species of aluminum) from interacting in the rhizosphere. Increasing SOM also increases soil health indicators (i.e., microbial activity, soil water holding capacity, aggregate stability, porosity, etc.) while the …

The Effect Of Brain Breaks On Student Academic Performance And Behaviors In The K-12 School Setting; A Meta-Analysis, Jesse Singh

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The purpose of this meta-analysis is to examine the effect of brain breaks on academic performance and in-class behaviors in the K-12 educational setting. Also, to conduct subgroup (moderator) analyzes to determine if Brain Breaks were more effective for specific (school and student) population characteristics. Standard meta-analytical procedures were used to determine inclusion criteria, article searches in electronic databases, coding procedures, and statistical methods to synthesize data. Moderator and outcome variables were assessed using coding procedures to understand if Brain Breaks were effective or not. The brain break interventions researched in this study have shown to produce variable results in …