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Full-Text Articles in Animal Sciences

The Effects Of Large Vs Small Wave Stimuli On The Swim Distance Of African Clawed Toads (Xenopus Laevis), Tatiana Ally, Katarina Tomac, Adam Syed, Jackson Casteel, Kristy Tachji Jan 2019

The Effects Of Large Vs Small Wave Stimuli On The Swim Distance Of African Clawed Toads (Xenopus Laevis), Tatiana Ally, Katarina Tomac, Adam Syed, Jackson Casteel, Kristy Tachji

Undergraduate Research Posters 2019

The aquatic amphibian, African Clawed toads, also named Xenopus laevis, have been used to conduct experiments to analyze their sensory system. Toads use their lateral line system to detect water movement on the surface of the water to locate and catch their prey. This experiment analyzes the toad’s sensory system and the effectiveness of large and small wave stimuli on the toads’ ability to detect and swim to their prey. The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether the swim distance of African Clawed toads is longer with large wave stimuli or small wave stimuli. Toads were put in …


Estimated Effects Of Climate Change On The Reproductive Fitness Of The Northern Spotted Owl, Strix Occidentalis Caurina, Nadia Swit May 2016

Estimated Effects Of Climate Change On The Reproductive Fitness Of The Northern Spotted Owl, Strix Occidentalis Caurina, Nadia Swit

The Downtown Review

In this paper, the trends for current and future climate change were utilized to evaluate the potential reproductive success of the Spotted Owl, particularly the Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) subspecies. As breeding season would exert additional stressors on the animal, a time period of five months, from January to June, was selected for the spring breeding season in which to evaluate temperature change. Previous research performed by Weathers and colleagues (2001) concerning the California Owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis) formulated a thermodynamic equation that was utilized to compare the metabolic rate of the owl at …


The Ecological Impacts Of Non-Native Species On River Otter Populations, Nadia Swit May 2016

The Ecological Impacts Of Non-Native Species On River Otter Populations, Nadia Swit

The Downtown Review

Most nonindigenous species invasions can have negative consequences on an environment. Trophic systems may become altered as prey sources are depleted, which can have further implications on community and habitat structure. However, some species invasions can be positive as it can provide another food source for key stone species. The effects of invasive species are reviewed in the following paper for the North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) and the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra). In the case of the North American river, the introduction of the lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) has negatively impacted otter …


Functional Morphology Of Rat Hands And Feet: Correlation With The Ability To Grip Tree Branches During Locomotion, Jessica E. Fonce, Andrew R. Lammers Sep 2013

Functional Morphology Of Rat Hands And Feet: Correlation With The Ability To Grip Tree Branches During Locomotion, Jessica E. Fonce, Andrew R. Lammers

Undergraduate Research Posters 2013

Anatomy and function are usually closely related. Since locomotion on tree branches is common among mammals, we expect to find that the anatomy of the hands and feet is well-suited toward gripping narrow, cylindrical, branch-like substrates. We hypothesize that the ability of rats to grip arboreal supports relies on musculature responsible for adducting the first digit (thumb and big toe) and opposing medial-most and lateral-most digits. We dissected the hands and feet of four rat cadavers. There is a substantial muscle that may be responsible for the flexion/adduction of the thumb in the hands. We also found lumbricals, and dorsal …


Top-Down Regulation Of Litter Invertebrates By A Terrestrial Salamander, Bernard Michael Walton Jun 2013

Top-Down Regulation Of Litter Invertebrates By A Terrestrial Salamander, Bernard Michael Walton

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Terrestrial plethodontid salamanders are abundant predators within the forest floor litter of eastern North America, and are hypothesized to regulate soil and litter invertebrate density and species composition. I tested this hypothesis during a 6-yr study of the effects of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) on the invertebrate community of a forest site in northeast Ohio. Salamander surface density, invertebrate abundance, and community composition were monitored within 30 open, circular plots. Variation in plot occupancy by P. cinereus was achieved by supplying plots with differing amounts of artificial cover (0, 1, or 4 ceramic tiles) that served …


Kinetics Of Running On Arboreal Versus Terrestrial Substrates In Siberian Chipmunks, Eliza J. Dorsey Sep 2012

Kinetics Of Running On Arboreal Versus Terrestrial Substrates In Siberian Chipmunks, Eliza J. Dorsey

Undergraduate Research Posters 2012

Many mammals travel on both tree branches and flat ground in their natural habitat. Forelimbs were found to have the dominant role in braking on both substrates, while hindlimbs had the dominant role in propulsion on both substrates. However, the forelimb aided in propulsion more so than the hindlimbs contributed to braking on both substrates.


Functional Morphology Of Rat Hands And Feet: Correlation With The Ability To Grip Tree Branches During Locomotion, Jessica Elaine Fonce Sep 2012

Functional Morphology Of Rat Hands And Feet: Correlation With The Ability To Grip Tree Branches During Locomotion, Jessica Elaine Fonce

Undergraduate Research Posters 2012

Anatomy and function are usually closely related. Since locomotion on tree branches is common among mammals, we expect to find that the anatomy is well adapted for gripping narrow cylindrical branch-like substrates. Based on the anatomy alone, rats are built for locomotion across cylindrical branches as well as terrestrial substrates.


Diatoms As Indicators Of Water-Level Change In Freshwater Lakes, Julie A. Wolin, Jeffrey R. Stone Nov 2010

Diatoms As Indicators Of Water-Level Change In Freshwater Lakes, Julie A. Wolin, Jeffrey R. Stone

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Water-level changes result from a variety of geological, biological, and/or climatic processes. Many of these changes occur over long periods; others may be rapid or result from catastrophic events. In aquatic environments, diatoms are highly sensitive indicator organisms and their microfossils, deposited in lake sediments, can be used to infer environmental changes (Smol, 2008). Unambiguous diatom signals can be reconstructed from lakes isolated from marine or brackish waters (e.g. Fritz et al., this volume; Horton & Sawai, this volume). However, in freshwater systems lake-level changes are often recorded as increases in planktonic (free-floating) diatoms – although as discussed below, interpretation …