Animal Sciences Commons^™

Genetic And Environmental Determinants In The Evolution Of Alternative Mating Strategies In The Sailfin Molly, Poecilia Latipinna (Poeciliidae: Poecilia: Mollienesia), Elizabeth Lange

All Theses

Understanding the genetic and environmental factors responsible for differences in size, morphology and behavior can aid in determining how alternative male mating strategies evolve in natural populations. One important environmental factor is nutrition, as it underlies growth of both body size and morphological traits that are linked to alternative mating strategies in many animals. In sailfin mollies, Poecilia latipinna , male size is fixed at maturity, highly variable within populations and correlated with dorsal fin morphology and expression of alternative male mating behaviors. Large males with exaggerated dorsal fins use courtship behavior while small males with reduced dorsal fins use …

Fluctuating Viability Selection On Morphology Of Cliff Swallows Is Driven By Climate, Charles R. Brown, Mary Bomberger Brown, Erin A. Roche

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

The extent to which fluctuating selection can maintain evolutionary stasis in most populations remains an unresolved question in evolutionary biology. Climate has been hypothesized to drive reversals in the direction of selection among different time periods and may also be responsible for intense episodic selection caused by rare weather events. We measured viability selection associated with morphological traits in cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) in western Nebraska, USA, over a 14-year period following a rare climatic event. We used mark-recapture to estimate the annual apparent survival of over 26 000 individuals whose wing, tail, tarsus, and bill had been …

A New Barrussus Roewer, 1928 (Solifugae: Karschiidae) From Southern Turkey, Ayşegül Karataş, Müni̇r Uçak

Turkish Journal of Zoology

A new species of Barrussus, Barrussus telescopus sp. nov., is described from the Bolkar Mountains in southern Turkey. Males have an extremely elongated and bar-shaped ocular tubercule extended anteriorly between their eyes, which is the longest projecting ocular tubercule among all known males of Barrussus. The ocular tubercule of females has a short conical projection. Cheliceral movable fingers of type specimens have 5 anteriorly situated small teeth. Males have club-shaped ctenidia on the 4th and blunt-ended tubular ctenidia on the 5th opisthosomal sternites. The female has no ctenidia on its 4th opisthosomal sternite, with ctenidia on the 5th opisthosomal sternite …

Frontonia Anatolica N. Sp., A New Peniculid Ciliate (Protista, Ciliophora) From Lake Van, Turkey, İsmai̇l Yildiz, Naci̇ye Gülkiz Şenler

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The morphology, ciliature, and silverline system of a new ciliate, Frontonia anatolica n. sp., isolated from the bottom sediment of the eastern shore of Lake Van, a large alkaline lake in Eastern Anatolia Turkey, were investigated using live and silver impregnation methods. Frontonia anatolica n. sp. is characterised by an elliptical body shape; by an in-vivo body size of 101-134 x 47-67 \mum; by dorsoventral flattening of about 2:3 to 1:2; by 2 contractile vacuoles located in the anterior and posterior body parts, each with 6-7 collecting canals and 1 excretory pore; by about 93 somatic kineties; by 3 vestibular …

Comparison Of Geographic Variations In Typhlops Vermicularis (Merrem, 1820) (Ophidia: Typhlopidae) From The Iranian Plateau With Turkey And Turkmenistan, Mohadeseh Afroosheh, Nasrullah Rastegar_Pouyani, Seyed Kamran Ghoreishi, Haji Gholi Kami

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Typhlops vermicularis (Merrem, 1820) is one of the cosmopolitan species of the genus Typhlops that occupies a vast range of different localities from North Africa to western Afghanistan. In this study, different populations of T. vermicularis were investigated to clarify if there was any degree of geographic variation in this taxon throughout the studied range. For this purpose, 103 specimens of this taxon belonging to 12 populations from all over Iran, Turkey, and Turkmenistan were studied. Morphometric characters were examined by ANOVA and principal component analysis. Results showed that despite the vast distribution range of this species, there is no …

Worms, Nematoda, Scott Lyell Gardner

Scott L. Gardner Publications

Nematodes are the most speciose phylum of metazoa on earth. Not only do they occur in huge numbers as parasites of all known animal groups, but also they are found in the soils, as parasites of plants, and in large numbers in the most extreme environments, from the Antarctic dry valleys to the benthos of the ocean. They are extremely variable in their morphological characteristics, with each group showing morphological adapta­tions to the environment that they inhabit. Soil-dwelling forms are extremely small; many marine species have long and complex setae; and parasitic species man­ifest amazingly great reproductive potential and large …

Morphological Similarities Between Spanish Pigeon Breeds., Pere Miquel Parés I Casanova

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Relationships among 30 pigeon breeds were studied using data from 31 morphological characteristics. The relationships between breeds obtained from the study were rather congruent with the classification used by fanciers groups. The average Euclidean distance between pigeon breeds was 0.93 ± 0.16 STD. The results obtained were very compatible with those described in the literature for each classificatory group. Three large, perfectly definite clusters could be observed in this tree. A cluster was formed by Balearic nonpouter breeds and the Catalan Bare Pigeon. Another cluster occupied an intermediate position and was formed by thief pouters. They shared some remarkable peculiar …

Oral Abscess Associated With Cranial Tooth Loss In Green Iguana (Iguana Iguana), Tzvetan Chaprazov, Rosen Dimitrov, Kamelia Stamatova Yovcheva

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The aim of this study was to describe the morphology and results of treatment of an iguana’s oral abscess. A case of unilateral oral abscesses with tooth loss in a male green iguana (Iguana iguana) was presented. Gingival necrosis and a pocket of caseous yellow-gray pus were visible in the soft tissues. Some cranial teeth were found loose within the necrotic tissue. Radiographic study showed decreased bone density. Treatment of the abscess involved opening up the pus-filled abscess and manually cleaning it out. The bacteriology confirmed a culture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa sensitive to enrofloxacin, gentamicin, and chloramphenicol.

Strike Mechanics Of An Ambush Predator: The Spearing Mantis Shrimp, M. Devries, E. Murphy, S. Patek

Faculty Publications, Biological Sciences

Ambush predation is characterized by an animal scanning the environment from a concealed position and then rapidly executing a surprise attack. Mantis shrimp (Stomatopoda) consist of both ambush predators (‘spearers’) and foragers (‘smashers’). Spearers hide in sandy burrows and capture evasive prey, whereas smashers search for prey away from their burrows and typically hammer hard-shelled, sedentary prey. Here, we examined the kinematics, morphology and field behavior of spearing mantis shrimp and compared them with previously studied smashers. Using two species with dramatically different adult sizes, we found that strikes produced by the diminutive species, Alachosquilla vicina, were faster (mean peak …

Morphology And Variation Of The Asiatic Wild Ass (Equus Hemionus Hemionus), Kati Schöpke, Annegret Stubbe, Michael Stubbe, Nyamsuren Batsaikhan, Renate Schafberg

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

A collection of recent skeletal remains from the Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus hemionus PALLAS) was prepared and stored in the Museum of Domesticated Animals “JULIUS KÜHN” in Halle, Germany.

The collection is based on carcass remains sampled between 2001 and 2006 under the leadership of Michael Stubbe during joint Mongolian-German Biological Expeditions

Skeletal remains of 43 individual specimens were studied (18 mares, 15 stallions, and 10 juvenile asses). The determination of sex and age was initially based on carcass information from observations made in situ in the field. Subsequently, skull traits, including dentition and development of canine teeth …

Morphological Investigations Of Microdrile Oligochaetes (Annelida, Clitellata) Using Scanning Electron Microscopy, Carlos Caramelo, Enrique Martinez Ansemil

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Over the past several years, the authors of this work have investigated external structures of microdrile oligochaetes using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Both published and still-unpublished data have revealed new structures of interest, especially those associated with mating, ciliate sense receptors, chaetae, and dorsal pores. Mating systems can be classified in 3 categories: grasping, coupling, and embracing. Ciliate sense receptors can be classified as poorly defined (unelevated), sensory buds, or papillae, and are provided with blunt cilia and/or sharp cilia. They are present along the whole body (including clitellum, budding, and regeneration zones), scattered on the prostomium, peristomium, and pygidium, …

First Record And Detailed Description Of The Male Of Ilyocypris Inermis Kaufmann, 1900 (Crustacea, Ostracoda), Necmetti̇n Sari, Okan Külköylüoğlu, Derya Akdemi̇r

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Bisexual populations of Ilyocypris inermis Kaufmann, 1900 were reported for the first time from 5 different aquatic bodies in Bolu and Erzincan (Turkey). The males were compared with the males of the other 11 species of the genus Ilyocypris (I. australiensis, I. biplicata, I. decipiens, I. dentifera, I. divisa, I. fallax, I. getica, I. gibba, I. lacustris, I. mongolica, and I. monstrifica) and described based on examinations of the soft body parts (e.g., hemipenis, legs, clasping organs) and valves. Ecological characteristics of habitats where the bisexual populations found were discussed for future studies.

New Record Of The Leafhopper Genus Busoniomimus Maldonado-Capriles From China (Hemiptera, Cicadomorpha, Cicadellidae) With Description Of A New Species, Bin Zhang, Zi Zhong Li

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The idiocerine leafhopper genus Busoniomimus Maldonado-Capriles, 1977 is recorded for the first time in China, and a new species, B. hainanensis sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Hainan Province, China. A key to species of the genus Busoniomimus is given, and a checklist of all known species of the genus Busoniomimus is also provided.

Optimal Body Size With Respect To Maximal Speed For The Yellow-Spotted Monitor Lizard (Varanus Panoptes; Varanidae), Christofer J. Clemente, Philip C. Withers, Graham Thompson

Research outputs 2012

Studies of locomotor performance often link variation in morphology with ecology. While maximum sprint speed is a commonly used performance variable, the absolute limits for this performance trait are not completely understood. Absolute maximal speed has often been shown to increase linearly with body size, but several comparative studies covering a large range of body sizes suggest that maximal speed does not increase indefinitely with body mass but rather reaches an optimum after which speed declines. Because of the comparative nature of these studies, it is difficult to determine whether this decrease is due to biomechanical constraints on maximal speed …

Structure And Chemical Analysis Of The Metathoracic Scent Glands Of Carpocoris Fuscispinus (Boheman, 1851) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) From Turkey, Di̇lek Durak, Yusuf Kalender

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Metathoracic scent glands (MTGs) of Carpocoris fuscispinus (Boheman, 1851) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) were studied in adult females and males. Structures of the glands were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, and the volatile fraction was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. MTGs of C. fuscispinus have many features in common: a large, median reservoir and paired lateral glands opening laterally at each anterior margin forming evaporation areas composed of mushroom-like structures, which are diagnostic for species-level taxonomy. In the MTGs of C. fuscispinus, 24 and 21 compounds were detected in females and males, respectively. Most of the chemical compounds are qualitatively similar in …

Determining The Composition Of The Dwelling Tubes Of Antarctic Pterobranchs, Lukasz J. Sewera

Honors Projects

Pterobranchs are a group of marine invertebrates within the Hemichordata, which share characteristics with both chordates and echinoderms.  Pterobranchs live in colonies of secreted tubes, coenicia, which are composed of a gelatinous material of unknown composition.  Visually, the tubes appear similar to the tunic of tunicates, a group of invertebrates within the Chordata. The nonproteinaceous tunic of tunicates is composed of cellulose, which is unusual.  The goal of this study was to determine the composition of the pterobranch coenicium. Some aspects of pterobranch phylogeny are still unclear even after multiple molecular and morphological studies.  Identification of any new shared characteristics …

Plastron Reduction And Associated Myology In Turtles, And Its Implications For Functional Morphology And Natural History, He Zhu

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study seeks to understand the locomotor implications of plastron reduction in turtles through dissection, description and qualitative and quantitative analysis of muscle masses. A comparative study will be conducted between a turtle species with a reduced plastron (Chelydra serpentina) and a species with a full plastron (Trachemys scripta elegans) to gain a better understanding of how the reduced plastron in snapping turtles affects their myology and gait. Quantitative data on muscular mass and length will be obtained for statistical comparison between the two clades. Data collected will be used to make inferences on gait, stance and natural history.

The Status Of Dwarfed Populations Of Short-Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma Hernandesi) And Great Plains Toads (Anaxyrus Cognatus) In The San Luis Valley, Colorado, Megan E. Lahti

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The San Luis Valley is a large valley formation in Colorado surrounded on either side by mountain ranges exceeding 4,267 m. Within the Valley, two of the 14 amphibian and reptile species are dwarfed: the short-horned lizard (Phrynosoma hernandesi) and the Great Plains toad (Anaxyrus cognatus). Since its initial reporting in 1968 and confirmation in 1981, no research further investigating this dwarfism has been conducted. I collected morphological measurements to determine the extent and patterns of dwarfism of both species. I then investigated the genetics of both species using mitochondrial DNA to determine whether they are …

Comparative Morphology Of Two Sympatric Species Of Hedgehog In Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia, Richard P. Reading, David Kenny, Sodnomphil Batdorj, James Murdoch

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

Daurian hedgehog (Mesechinus dauuricus) and long-eared hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus) inhabit Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia and both species appear to occupy similar niches. We gathered morphological measurements to test for differences between species and sexes. We hoped to gain insight into the mechanisms that allow the species to coexist. We collected morphometric data from 10 long-eared hedgehogs (6 male, 4 female) and 18 Daurian hedgehogs (10 male, 7 female, and 1 unknown sex). Only total body length in Daurian hedgehogs differed significantly between males and females. Otherwise, we found no significant differences between morphometric measures of …

Beitrag Zur Säugetierfauna Des Staatlichen Naturschutzgebietes Azas In Tyva/Südsibirien = Contributions To Fauna And Ecology Of Small Mammals Of State Nature Reserve “Azas” In The Republic Of Tyva /South Siberia, Annegret Stubbe, Michael Stubbe, V. V. Unžakov, A. P. Saveljev, N. I. Putincev, W. Stubbe

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

During 1988-2004 Russian and German biologists carried out a research of biodiversity of the mountain taiga within the territory of State Nature Reserve “Azas” (Republic of Tyva/Russia). Along with executing the main task – studying and development of an aboriginal population of Tuvinian beavers Castor fiber tuvinicus – materials on the fauna of small mammals of the Todzha kettle were collected. On the basis of samples (about 550 collected micromammals) information on the occurrence, reproduction and morphometric characteristics of four species of Insectivora, six species of Chiroptera and eleven species of small Rodentia inhabiting the territory of the reserve “Azas” …

Morphologic Deformation In A Ray: A Case Report, Gülnur Meti̇n, Akin Türker İlkyaz, H. Tuncay Kinacigi̇l

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study presents the data from a morphologic deformation diagnosis of a speckled ray (Raja polystigma Regan, 1923) individual which was sampled from İzmir Bay. Deformation was located on the head part of the specimen and no deformation was observed in other body regions.

Morphology And Infraciliature Of Some Haptorid Ciliates (Protista, Ciliophora, Haptoria) In Alkaline Soil Samples Of Van (Turkey), With Notes On The Ontogenesis Of Enchelyodon Nodosus Berger, Foissner & Adam, 1984, Naci̇ye Gülkiz Şenler, İsmai̇l Yildiz

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The morphology and infraciliature of 4 haptorid ciliates obtained from alkaline soil habitats in Van, Turkey, were investigated: Pseudoholophrya terricola Berger, Foissner & Adam, 1984, Paraenchelys wenzeli Foissner, 1984, Armatoenchelys geleii (Foissner, 1981), and Enchelyodon nodosus Berger, Foissner & Adam, 1984. The descriptions were based on live observations and silver impregnated specimens and morphometry. The main morphological characteristics of these species are similar to those described in the literature. However, the dorsal brush row 3 is longer than dorsal brush rows 1 and 2 in A. geleii, and E. nodosus has a long monokinetidal tail not reported previously. This is …

Revision Of The Ant Genus Procryptocerus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Cephalotini), Francisco Serna

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Ants of the genus Procryptocerus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are characterized by the protrusion of the clypeus forming a broad nasus and antennal scrobes over the eyes. The toruli are located directly posterior to the flanks of the nasus opposite to each other. The vertex is deflexed in most species. I present an in-group comparison of the external morphology focusing on the workers. I also present a general morphology for gynes and males. I analize previously mentioned characters as well as new ones, and clarify their character states in different species. For the metasoma I propose a new system of ant metasomal …

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 …

Ecology, Reproduction And Morphometrics Of The Common Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis Sauritus) And Eastern Gartersnake (Thamnophis Sirtalis) In West Virginia, Noah Mccoard

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Two species of gartersnakes, Thamnophis, are found in West Virginia. Thamnophis sauritus , a semi-arboreal and semi-aquatic species, is listed as very rare and imperiled (S2) by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) while the other Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis, a terrestrial species, is secure (S5). During the summer of 2007, I traveled to 53 counties in West Virginia searching for habitat and these two species.Several Thamnophis sirtalis were found in a variety of habitats throughout the state, but only three Thamnophis sauritus were found. Reproductive aspects were compared between the two species by holding gravid females in captivity …

The Natural History And Distribution Of The Mountain Earthsnake (Virginia Valeriae Pulchra) In West Virginia, Daniel Ware

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The Mountain Earthsnake, Virginia valeriae pulchra, has received little attention in the literature to date. It is imperiled in West Virginia with only 6 to 20 populations known throughout the Allegheny Mountain and Ridge and Valley Physiographic provinces. Eighty snakes were collected during the 2006 and 2007 summers. Typical habitat is open fields with short grass, flat to moderate slopes that have scattered fine sandstone rocks near a source of water and forest edge. Fine sandstone rocks were the primary cover objects used. Snakes were sexually dimorphic with males having longer tails expressed as a percent of total body lengths …

A Taxonomic Study Of The Genus Acris And The Status Of Acris Crepitans Blanchardi (Harper), Blanchard's Cricket Frog, In Southern Ohio And Western West Virginia, Amy M. Hamilton

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Distributions of Acris crepitans and Acris gryllus cover most of the eastern United States with some overlap, and the subspecies Acris crepitans blanchardi and Acris crepitans crepitans also occur sympathric in parts of their ranges. My study analyzed 15 morphological characteristics of A. c. blanchardi, A. c. crepitans, and A. g. gryllus using Canonical Discriminate Analysis. Results support current taxonomy, showing the most separation between A. crepitans and A. gryllus and some overlap between A. c. blanchardi and A. c. crepitans. Sexual dimorphism was seen only in A. c. blanchardi and A. c. crepitans with females being larger …

Mating Systems, Copulatory Organ Size, And Scaling Relationship In Mollies (Poecilia Spp.), Martha Divver, Eric T. Schultz

EEB Articles

Copulatory organs rapidly evolve and are subject to complex selective pressures affecting mating success. One feature of copulatory organs that is subject to such selective pressures is size. Benefits of longer organs may include greater signal effectiveness in courtship and longer ‘reach’ when attempting copulations with evasive females. Costs of longer organs may include impaired locomotion, increased energetic cost or reduced mechanical compatibility with female genitalia. The optimal size for a copulatory organ may vary with mating behavior. The objective of this study is to examine among-species variability in copulatory organ size, body size and the relationship between copulatory organ …

Body Mass Index (Bmi) Of Normal Sandhill Cranes, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Marilyn G. Spalding, Kristen L. Candelora, Paul S. Kubilis, Stephen T. Schwikert

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We used linear and mass measurements to construct a body mass index (BMI) for 2 subspecies of sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis). We found that BMI declined during the spring and early summer period. We used the BMI to show that juvenile Florida sandhill cranes (G. c. pratensis) reach their full mass at about 270 days of age, near the age at which they begin to leave the company of their parents. We used mensural data to predict a minimum expected mass for normal sandhill cranes which could be then used to evaluate the relative health of …

Contribution To The Distribution, Morphological Peculiarities, And Karyology Of The Greater Noctule, Nyctalus Lasiopterus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), In Southwestern Turkey, Nuri̇ Yi̇ği̇t, Şafak Bulut, Ahmet Karataş, Pinar Çam, Fulya Saygili

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The Greater Noctule, Nyctalus lasiopterus, was recorded from southwestern Turkey for the third time. The dorsal fur of the Greater Noctule, which also covers the underpart of the wing membrane, along with the forearm and propatagium, is uniformly dark brown. The cranium shows typical characteristics of the noctule bats. In addition to these, the exoccipital is convex and is markedly visible in the planar view of the skull. There is a small depression mid braincase. The dental formula is i: 2, c: 1, pm: 1, m: 3/i: 3, c: 1, pm: 2, m: 3 = 32. The diploid number of …