Biology Commons^™

Influence Of Characteristics Of Marine Macroalgae On Feeding Preferences Of The Milkfish (Chanos Chanos) In Peninsular Malaysia, Lim Wai Yin

Student Works (2020-2029)

Herbivores can alter several ecological mechanisms including interactions between native and non-native autotrophs that may determine invasion success of the non-native autotrophs. This study looked into the autotroph-herbivore interactions in coastal marine ecosystems of Peninsular Malaysia, mainly to determine if autotroph nutritional components and geographical differences significantly influence herbivore feeding behaviours. The relative consumption rate (RCR) of milkfish (Chanos chanos Forsskål), a generalist herbivore obtained from the Straits of Malacca was documented through feeding trials using 12 macroalgal species collected from different coastal areas of the Straits of Malacca, the Straits of Johor, and the South China Sea. The herbivore …

Mechanistic Insights Into Strigolactone Biosynthesis, Signaling And Regulation During Plant Growth And Development, Kaiser Iqbal Wani, Andleeb Zehra, Sadaf Choudhary, M Naeem, M. Masroor A. Khan, Christian Danve Castroverde, Tariq Aftab

Biology Faculty Publications

Strigolactones (SLs) constitute a group of carotenoid-derived phytohormones with butenolide moieties. These hormones are involved in various functions, including regulation of secondary growth, shoot branching and hypocotyl elongation, and stimulation of seed germination. SLs also control hyphal branching of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, and mediate responses to both abiotic and biotic cues. Most of these functions stem from the interplay of SLs with other hormones, enabling plants to appropriately respond to changing environmental conditions. This dynamic interplay provides opportunities for phytohormones to modulate and augment one another. In this article, we review our current mechanistic understanding of SL biosynthesis, receptors …

Comparative Study Of The Rates Of Dispersal Of Triadica Sebifera (Chinese Tallow) And Imperata Cylindrica (Japanese Blood Grass) In North America, Jamie W. Dinella, Meem Noshin Nawal Khan

Student Publications

Chinese Tallow (Triadica sebifera) and Japanese Blood Grass (Imperata cylindrica) are two invasive species that wreck havoc on their invaded areas by reducing the biodiversity of their new environments. We studied the rate of dispersal of these two species in North America to determine which species spreads faster. We hypothesized that Chinese Tallow spreads faster than Japanese Blood Grass since Chinese Tallow was introduced in North America long before Japanese Blood Grass and has a greater number of seed dispersal methods (e.g. wind, water, bird, etc.) than Japanese Blood Grass. To test our hypothesis, we collected the record of Chinese …

Soil Chemistry And Enzyme Data Examining Impacts Of Callery Pear Stem Cutting, Michaela J. Woods, Grace K. Attea, Ryan W. Mcewan

Five Rivers MetroParks Collaboration Data Archive

This dataset encompasses information following the collection of soil from underneath cut and treated Callery pear stems and untreated Callery pear trees. Soil was assessed for moisture, pH, and enzyme activities.

Comparison Of Thermal And Hydrotime Requirements For Seed Germination Of Seven Stipa Species From Cool And Warm Habitats, Rui Zhang, Kai Luo, Dali Chen, Jerry M. Baskin, Carol C. Baskin, Yanrong Wang, Xiaowen Hu

Biology Faculty Publications

Temperature and water potential are two important environmental factors influencing germination and subsequent seedling establishment. Seed germination requirements vary with species and with the environment in which the seeds are produced. Stipa species dominate large areas of the Eurasian zonal vegetation, but comparisons of germination requirements between Stipa species from different habitats is limited. We investigated the effects of temperature and water potential on seed germination of S. grandis, S. purpurea, and S. penicillata from habitats with low temperatures and relatively abundant rainfall (cool habitats) and S. glareosa, S. breviflora, S. gobiea, and S. bungeana …

Rhizobacterial Species Richness Improves Sorghum Growth And Soil Nutrient Synergism In A Nutrient-Poor Greenhouse Soil, Mohammad Radhi Sahib, Zahida H. Pervaiz, Mark A. Williams, Muhammad Saleem, Seth Debolt

Horticulture Faculty Publications

Although microbes influence plant growth, little is known about the impact of microbial diversity on plant fitness trade-offs, intraspecific-interactions, and soil nutrient dynamics in the context of biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) research. The BEF theory states that higher species richness can enhance ecosystem functioning. Thus, we hypothesize that rhizobacterial species richness will alter sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) growth, soil nutrient dynamics and interactions (antagonism or synergism) in a nutrient-poor greenhouse soil. Using six rhizobacterial species in a BEF experiment, we tested the impact of a species richness gradient (0, 1, 3, 5 or 6 species per community) on plant growth, …

Evolutionary Origins Of Three Rare Alpine-Endemic Species Of Lomatium (Apiaceae) In The Wallowa And Elkhorn Mountains Of Northeastern Oregon, Michael V. Ottenlips, Mary Ann E. Feist, Donald H. Mansfield, Gregory M. Plunkett, Sven Buerki, James F. Smith

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Premise of research. Shared ancestry and convergent/parallel evolution are the two primary causes of morphologically similar species occurring in similar climatic niches. Alpine habitats harbor a unique biodiversity that is often characterized by many convergences in life-forms, such as cushion and rosulate habits. Three species of Lomatium (L. greenmanii, L. erythrocarpum, and L. oreganum) are high-alpine specialists endemic to the Wallowa and Elkhorn Mountains of northeastern Oregon. Earlier studies suggested that two of these species might be sister taxa, but because of the prevalence of convergence in alpine habitats and recent studies that have highlighted …

Sensory Stressors Impact Species Responses Across Local And Continental Scales, Ashley A. Wilson

Master's Theses

Pervasive growth in industrialization and advances in technology now exposes much of the world to anthropogenic night light and noise (ANLN), which pose a global environmental challenge in terrestrial environments. An estimated one-tenth of the planet’s land area experiences artificial light at night — and that rises to 23% if skyglow is included. Moreover, anthropogenic noise is associated with urban development and transportation networks, as the ecological impact of roads alone is estimated to affect one-fifth of the total land cover of the United States and is increasing in space and intensity. Existing research involving impacts of light or noise …

Antioxidant Characterization Of Peanut Hairy Root Extracts Enriched With Prenylated Stilbenoids, Patrick Roberto

Student Theses and Dissertations

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is a prolific producer of prenylated stilbenoids that may confer health benefits in humans by their antioxidant activity. Therefore, the objective of this study was to use peanut hairy roots as a bioproduction system of extracts enriched with prenylated stilbenoids and evaluate their antioxidant activity in vitro. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay suggested that the whole extract and pure prenylated stilbenoids exhibit antioxidant activity. High-performance liquid chromatography combined with DPPH identified arachidin-1, arachidin-3, and arachidin-5 as the principle antioxidants in the extract. The DPPH assay revealed that the arachidin portion of the extract contains greater antioxidant capacity than …

Examining The Efficacy Of Cover Crops As An Integrated Pest Management Tool In Organic Farms In The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Lili M. Martinez

Theses and Dissertations

The Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) consists of a mix in subtropical and costal habitats, a combination that provides a favorable environment for the animals and plants that inhabit it. This is a problem for organic farmers as they refrain from using synthetic chemicals and therefore led them to seek other methods of dealing with insect herbivory. Of the many alternative methods available, we looked specifically at integrated pest management methods (IPM) to determine their efficacy in reducing insect herbivory among cash crops. Chapter II discusses an experiment performed in an organic farm in Edinburg, Texas consisting of a two-year …

Optimizing Species Selection For Forest Restoration In The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Faeqa Mohsin

Theses and Dissertations

Over the past four decades, the Lower Rio Grande Valley has been reforested with over 3.3 million native thornscrub plants in old agricultural land through transplanting native species. However, assessments of LRGV forest restoration efforts are scarce, and to address the knowledge gap, this study examined species-specific responses to restoration interventions (RIs) aimed at minimizing seedling mortality for optimizing species selection. A critical period for forest restoration in old croplands is the seedling stage, where high mortality occurs due to the interactive effects of abiotic stress, compromised soil nutrient status from intensive agriculture, and mammalian herbivory. So, we evaluated seedling …

Optimal Allocation Of Two Resources In Annual Plants, David Mcmorris

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The fitness of an annual plant can be thought of as how much fruit is produced by the end of its growing season. Under the assumption that annual plants grow to maximize fitness, we can use techniques from optimal control theory to understand this process. We introduce two models for resource allocation in annual plants which extend classical work by Iwasa and Roughgarden to a case where both carbohydrates and mineral nutrients are allocated to shoots, roots, and fruits in annual plants. In each case, we use optimal control theory to determine the optimal resource allocation strategy for the plant …

Effects Of 15 Local Medicinal Plant Species On Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1b And Dipeptidyl Peptidase 1v Activity As Herbal Antidiabetic Type 2 Remedies, Pamhidzai Dzomba, Chidavayenzi Tinevimbo

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study aimed at investigating plant species that are used locally in Zimbabwe to manage diabetes type 2 and their respective modes of action using in vitro studies. The plants for this study were identified by ethnobotanical studies and their respective antidiabetic potentials were evaluated using protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP 1B) and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) inhibition assays. Out of the 15 plant species used to manage diabetes in traditional practices, 9 inhibited PTP 1B with half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) ranging from 0.03 ± 0.00 to 61.31 ± 0.70 µg/mL. The mechanism of inhibition deduced from Lineweaver-Burk …

Extraction, Derivatization, Characterization And Antifungal Investigation Of Limonene From Citrus Sinensis Peels, Ita Uwidia, Bodunde Owolabi, Richard Okafor

Tanzania Journal of Science

Limonene, a cyclic monoterpene is the main component in citrus oils. Oranges (Citrus sinensis) were sourced from a local market, peeled and the peels collected for this study. The orange peels were distilled using steam distillation to obtain the oil. The oil obtained was then distilled to obtain a pure colourless form of limonene (95%). The limonene (2 ml) was dissolved in dry chloroform (25 ml) and freshly distilled hydroiodic acid (57%; boiling point 127 °C) to give the derivative iodo-limonene (1.4 g; 30% yield). Another reaction of epoxidation of limonene was carried out by reacting limonene with hydrogen peroxide …

Assessment Of The Geochemical Characteristics Of Water And Surface Sediments Of Rufiji Mangrove Forest, Tanzania, Dativa Shilla, Daniel Shilla

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study was carried out to investigate the geochemical characteristics of the Rufiji mangrove systems using mineralogy and heavy metal analyses. Rufiji mangrove sediments showed predominance of fine grain size fractions with silt as the major component. Stoichiometric ratios of nutrients revealed phosphorus enrichment in Rufiji sediment. The overall order of heavy metal concentrations in sediments was: Fe > Mg > Mn > Zn > Cr > Ni > Pb > Cu > Co > Cd. There was no relationship between grain size and some of the heavy metal concentrations, except for Co, Cr, Fe, and Mg which negatively correlated with sand, and positively correlated with silt. The findings …

Uv Radiation Increases Flavonoid Protection But Decreases Reproduction In Silene Littorea, José Carlos Del Valle, Mª Luisa Buide, Justen B. Whittall, Fernando Valladares, Eduardo Narbona

Biology

Plants respond to changes in ultraviolet (UV) radiation both morphologically and physiologically. Among the variety of plant UV-responses, the synthesis of UV-absorbing flavonoids constitutes an effective non-enzymatic mechanism to mitigate photoinhibitory and photooxidative damage caused by UV stress, either reducing the penetration of incident UV radiation or acting as quenchers of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we designed a UV-exclusion experiment to investigate the effects of UV radiation in Silene littorea. We spectrophotometrically quantified concentrations of both anthocyanins and UV-absorbing phenolic compounds in petals, calyces, leaves and stems. Furthermore, we analyzed the UV effect on the photosynthetic …

Species Dispersal Modes In Amphitropical Plant Species Of North And South America, Samera Lemma Mulatu

Honors College Theses

Amphitropical disjunct plants are species that occur in both North and South America but not in the intermediate equatorial region. How amphitropical species dispersed across the Americas to their current distribution remains uncertain. To explain amphitropical distributions, three hypotheses were developed to test that (1) species dispersed successively through island hopping across the tropical zone in temperate microhabitats (= stepping stones), (2) species came to their current distribution through vicariance, or (3) species dispersed by a single long distance dispersal event. Twenty-five species were studied to infer their historical distributions with species distribution models in MaxEnt. Distribution models for each …

Characterizing The Role Of Β-Amylase3 In Cold Stress Response And Recovery In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Isabelle G. Houston

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Starch is a polymer of glucose that is used as an energy store in plants. Mobilization of starch has implications in abiotic stress survival and recovery. While the importance of carbon and energy allocation in plant survival has been explored, the specific roles of starch degrading enzymes in plant responses to stress are still unclear. β-Amylase3, or BAM3, is the principle starch degrading enzyme at night and is transcriptionally upregulated in response to cold stress in the plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Using single and quadruple knockout mutant plants, I aimed to clarify the role of BAM3 in the response to …

Effect Of Soil Moisture On Arrowleaf Balsamroot, Balsamorhiza Sagittata (Pursh) Nutt. Establishment, Sarah E. Hill

2020 Symposium Posters

Every spring, Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata (Pursh) Nutt.) dots the landscape across the inland Pacific Northwest. Balsamroot’s copious blooms, numerous leaves, long lifespan, and resilience once established, make it popular in restoration seed mixes, although balsamroot displays erratic germination in the restoration context. Understanding the effects of variables, like the availability of soil moisture on the germination and establishment of balsamroot, could provide insights into the successes of restoration plantings, or planning. This study examines the relationship between soil moisture availability and balsamroot establishment, tracking growth and survival of balsamroot seedlings during their first season, across a range of …

Genetic Analysis Of Flower Color Differences Between A Hummingbird-Pollinated And A Self-Pollinated Monkeyflower (Mimulus) Species, Caitlin Foster

University Scholar Projects

Flower color plays an important role in pollinator discrimination and speciation. Understanding the genetic contributions to flower color differences between two closely related species, Mimulus cardinalis and Mimulus parishii, can improve understanding of how they developed different pollination syndromes and diverged from a recent common ancestor. M. cardinalis is hummingbird-pollinated and has large, bright red flowers while M. parishii is self-pollinated and has small, pale pink flowers. An F2 hybrid population between these two species was created to establish a platform for analysis of the genetic architecture controlling the differences in anthocyanin pigmentation. Statistical analysis of anthocyanin concentration distribution …

The Effects Of An Applied Phyllosphere-Microbiome On Gas Exchange And Growth Of Soybean Infected With Pseudomonas Syringae: Harnessing The Power Of The Microbiome, Charles Agbavor

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The microbiome is an important determinant of plant health, growth and resistance to stress. This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of the phyllosphere-microbiome on managing Pseudomonas syringae pv. Glycinea (Psg), gas exchange and growth of Glycine max L. Merrill. A greenhouse study was conducted in the summer of 2019. A field isolated and cultured soybean phyllosphere-microbiome was applied to purposely infected and uninfected soybean. Gas exchange, Psg density, chlorophyll concentrations, and percent nitrogen and carbon in the leaves were measured during the V3-V6 stages of soybean. Not surprisingly, there was a two-fold reduction in copies of Pseudomonas …

Exploring Interactions Of Phyllosphere Epiphytes With Plant Pathogenic Bacteria Pseudomonas And Xanthomonas On Tomato, Ashley D. Turner

Theses and Dissertations

Recent studies have indicated the importance of resident microflora of plants in contributing towards overall plant health. Among difference components of the plant microbiome, Methylobacterium and Sphingomonas have been recognized as common residents of the phyllosphere for many host plants, however their role in disease control needs to be further investigated. The purpose of this study was to conduct experiments investigating the effectiveness of phyllosphere Methylobacterium and Sphingomonas isolated from red clover against common tomato phyllosphere bacterial pathogens, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato and Xanthomonas perforans. Additionally, this study uses X. perforans wild-type and X. perforans type VI secretion system …

The Effects Of Salvia Hispanica On Biochemical Markers Related To Immune System, Hormone Regulation, And Lumbar Vertebrae In Postmenopausal Rat Model, Daisy M. Mendez

Theses and Dissertations

In women, with age and menopause there is increase in body weight and decreased immunity and bone mass. Due to severe side effects of currently available drugs for obesity and bone loss, new therapies with less side effects are sought after and alternative medications are becoming more popular. Recently, Salvia hispanica (SH), a herbal supplement is implicated in losing body weight. Currently, there is no information on how SH modulates obesity or bone health. In this study, effects of SH seed extract was investigated in a postmenopausal rat model on certain hormones, immune markers, and fourth lumbar vertebrae. The highest …

Can Desert Mosses Hide From Climate Change? The Ecophysiological Importance Of Habitat Buffering & Water Relations To A Keystone Biocrust Moss In The Mojave Desert, Theresa Ann Clark

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Empirical and observational studies suggest a keystone biocrust moss, Syntrichia caninervis, may be sensitive to future climate change in the American Southwest due to its uniquely sensitive water relations that appear particularly challenged during summer hydration-desiccation cycles. However, the potential mitigating roles of habitat buffering, acclimatization, and winter recovery on the vulnerability of this species remain largely unexplored. I investigated potential abiotic and biotic resiliency factors driving summer stress resistance and recovery in S. caninervis along present-day aridity gradients in the Mojave Desert to strengthen the climate change vulnerability assessment for this species common to biocrusts of North America, northern …

Aboveground-Belowground Interactions: Roles Of Soil Biotic And Abiotic Factors On Switchgrass's (Panicum Virgatum) Growth, Defense Against Herbivory And Cell Wall Chemistry., Binod Basyal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Plants constantly interact with their biotic and abiotic soil environments. Most terrestrial plants form beneficial associations with soil microbes such as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which are widely known for their ability to transfer soil phosphorus and nitrogen to the host plants. They help plants tolerate drought stress and improve plant defense against herbivores such as plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs). This dissertation investigates the role of AM fungi on switchgrass’s (Panicum virgatum) growth, cell wall chemistry, and defense against PPNs using a combination of growth chamber and field studies. Switchgrass is a native warm-season species which is gaining traction as candidate …

The Effects Of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles On The Growth And Development Of Sorghum Bicolor (L.) Moenech, Adam Gregory Shoemaker

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) have seen a drastic increase in their use over the past decade in various consumer products. ENPs will therefore enter terrestrial ecosystems and soils with increasing frequencies, yet research into the effects of ENPs on living organisms and crops is greatly lacking. Currently, there is only one major study reported on the effects of a single ENP, silver quantum dots, on Sorghum bicolor, the 5^th largest crop in the world. I examined the effects of a commonly used metal oxide nanoparticle, titanium dioxide (TiO₂), on the growth and development of sorghum grown in …

Investigating The Effects Of Temperature On Lesser Celandine, Regina Bellian

The Downtown Review: An Interdisciplinary Journal Written and Peer-Reviewed by Mandel Honors College Students at Cleveland State University

This paper explores invasive species Ficaria verna (Lesser celandine) and the effects of temperature on its growth. Trials were completed with two treatments, 13OC cold temperature and 20OC ambient temperature. Germinated bulbils of Lesser celandine were planted on February 15, 2017 and placed in their respective growing chambers. The plants were watered weekly and monitored for growth until harvest on March 29, 2017. Upon harvest, the plants’ height, largest leaf diameter and biomass were measured after extraction from soil and the removal of the leftover soil debris. Average height was found to be 11.66cm for the cold treatment and 5.14cm …

A Basic Ddradseq Two‐Enzyme Protocol Performs Well With Herbarium And Silica‐Dried Tissues Across Four Genera, Ingrid E. Jordon-Thaden, James B. Beck, Catherine A. Rushworth, Michael D. Windham, Nicolas Diaz, Jason T. Cantley, Christopher T. Martine, Carl J. Rothfels

Faculty Journal Articles

Premise

The ability to sequence genome‐scale data from herbarium specimens would allow for the economical development of data sets with broad taxonomic and geographic sampling that would otherwise not be possible. Here, we evaluate the utility of a basic double‐digest restriction site–associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq) protocol using DNAs from four genera extracted from both silica‐dried and herbarium tissue.

Methods

DNAs from Draba, Boechera, Solidago, and Ilex were processed with a ddRADseq protocol. The effects of DNA degradation, taxon, and specimen age were assessed.

Results

Although taxon, preservation method, and specimen age affected data recovery, large phylogenetically informative …

Mechanisms Of Silencing Suppression By A Polerovirus P0 Protein, Natalie Holste, Hernan Garcia-Ruiz

School of Biological Sciences: Presentations

Maize lethal necrosis is an intense viral disease spreading across sub-Saharan Africa. Maize is the staple crop grown in sub-Saharan Africa, but most crops infected with maize lethal necrosis will not survive to harvest. This causes immense economic hardship and starvation within the population. Maize lethal necrosis consists of a combination of two viruses, Maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) and a virus from the genus potyvirus. In a recent study, a Maize yellow dwarf virus-RMV (MYDV-RMV)-like polerovirus, was repeatedly detected in plants with maize lethal necrosis. Poleroviruses have a silencing suppressor, P0 protein, and the mechanism of suppression is poorly …

Florida Mangroves Show No Evidence Of Thermal Acclimation Of Leaf Respiration: Implications For Coastal Carbon Cycling And Future Climate, Kylie Harris, Jeff Chieppa, Matt Sturchio, Michael Aspinwall

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Temperature controls of physiological processes that regulate C cycling in mangrove ecosystems remain understudied. New studies that investigate mangrove sensitivity to temperature could improve representation of coastal C cycling in global scale models. Respiration represents the second largest C flux between vegetation and the atmosphere, and roughly 50% of plant respiration comes from leaves. Leaf respiration increases with temperature, but thermal acclimation can dampen this response, and mitigate the positive feedback between temperature, respiration, and atmospheric CO2. We tested whether thermal acclimation of leaf respiration (R) to seasonal temperature changes and experimental warming is similar among three common mangrove species …